October, 2017
Challenger Spotlight
2018 LEGO Design Challenges

The Challenger Learning Center of Colorado will continue to host our Lego® Design Challenge as we have in years past; however, due to the unexpected unavailability of federal funding, we will not be able to offer new Lego® kits to participating teachers and schools.

Any school with the appropriate Lego ® kits already in their possession is welcome to participate in the competition this year.

Here's what you need to know:
  1. Divisions and kits will remain the same as they were last year:

Grades K-1 will use the Early Simple Machines kits (Duplo Blocks). 

 

Grades 2-3 will use the Lego® Simple Machines kits (Standard size Legos®).

 

Grades 4-5 will use the Original Lego® WeDo kits (WeDo 2.0 kits are not allowed).

 

2. The competition will be held at the same location as last year, at Library 21C in north Colorado Springs. 

 

3. The competition will take place on a weekday evening, in late February or early March, 2018.  Dates and times will be confirmed within the next month.

 

4. Schools may bring one or two teams (4 students each) per division.

 
If you would like to participate in this year's competition, or have any additional questions, please email Ron Bush with the following information:

Ron Bush
719-598-9755
  1. Your Name (If you are not going to be the team coach, please give the coach's name and email as well.)
  2. School Name
  3. Division(s)/Grade Level(s)
  4. How many teams you plan to bring.
  5. In the case we have room for additional teams, would you be interested in bringing a third team from your school?
The deadline to sign up for this year's competition is Wednesday, November 1, 2017.
SeaPerch Design Challenge 2018
Due to the unexpected unavailability of federal funding, Challenger Learning Center will not be hosting a SeaPerch Competition for the 2017-2018 school year.
 
Please refer to the Official SeaPerch website, http://www.seaperch.org/, for information about other regional competitions, or go to http://www.seaperch.org/region_map and click on Colorado to request information from the regional contact.
 
Thank you for your past participation.  We hope we will be able to host a competition in the 2018/2019 school year!
Calendar of Events for Teachers
October 14 - Cool Science Carnival Day at UCCS
Who: STEM enthusiasts of all ages
Location: UCCS Campus
Time: 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Cost: Free

The Cool Science Carnival Day is always a blast for the entire family! Science shows, open labs, hands-on fun, and much more on the UCCS Campus. The Challenger Center will be hosting a hands-on underwater robotics booth.

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October 21 - Colorado Springs Mini Maker Faire
Who: STEM enthusists of all ages
Location: Library 21C (Briargate)
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Cost: Free

Maker Faire is a showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. The Maker Faire a place where people show what they are making, and learning.  Makers range from tech enthusiasts, to crafters, to homesteaders, to scientists, to garage tinkerers. Join us for some innovation!

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January 18 - Teacher Training

Who: Educators participating in a Simulator Mission.
Location: Challenger Center
Time:  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (dinner is provided)
Cost: Free

This training is designed for teachers who will bring students to participate in a Challenger Simulator Mission.  It will highlight student job assignments, and discuss opportunities for educators through Challenger.  If you have any questions regarding this training, please contact our Registrar.

Our Night Sky
October

October 5
Full moon.

October 8
Draconids meteor shower peak.  Due to the moon's brightness only a few meteors will be visible from this relatively minor shower.

October 22
Orionids Meteor Shower Peak.  This moderate shower will produce up to 20 meteors per hour.  The best viewing will occur after midnight.

Venus & Mars
They will appear close together, and bright in the eastern sky before sunrise. 

Saturn
Saturn will be visible in the southwestern sky after sunset.

See the International Space Station!

This website will calculate when and where you need to look to see the ISS in your city.
Teacher Web Resource
First Men on the Moon App

This app can be used on a tablet, phone or desktop.  It creates a multimedia presentation of the Apollo 11 landing.  It's the next best thing to being inside of the Eagle lander.
 
Space News
Australia Gets a Space Agency

Australia was the 3rd country in the world to launch a satellite, but it did not have its own space agency until now.  
 
Upcoming Global Launches
Oct 5
Florida
A ULA Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.
 
Oct 7
Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a communications satellite providing services to the US and Caribbean.
 
Oct 9
China
A Chinese Long March 2D rocket will launch a remote sensing satellite for the Venezuelan government.
 
Oct 9
California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 10 communication satellites for the Iridium company.
 
Oct 9
Japan
A Japanese H-2A rocket will launch a GPS satellite for the Japanese government.
 
Oct 12
Kazakhstan
A Soyuz rocket will launch a cargo delivery to the ISS.
 
Oct 13
Russia
A Eurockot Rockot will launch an Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency to monitor pollution.
 
Oct 17
California
An Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket will launch multiple Earth observation satellites, and CubeSats.
 
Oct 30
Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a communications satellite for South Korea.

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The Challenger Learning Center of Colorado | 719-598-9755
| registration@challengercolorado.org | http://www.challengercolorado.org/
10215 Lexington Drive,  Suite 110
Colorado Springs, CO 80920