The Town of Ramapo
CHALLENGER CENTER
Newsletter
NOVEMBER 2021
‌


‌

FORMER CHALLENGER CENTER EMPLOYEE TAKES ZERO-G FLIGHT!
Former Town of Ramapo Challenger Center employee, Sawyer Rosenstein, was selected as one of 12 AstroAccess ambassadors to experience weightlessness aboard a plane flown by the Zero Gravity Corporation. The 12 ambassadors who have mobility, vision, and hearing disabilities tested how they could perform in an environment of periods of weightlessness and high gravity. The Zero-G plane flies in a series of parabolic arcs that allows the participants to experience weightlessness, as well as g-forces similar to those found in lunar, Martian, and spacecraft launch and reentry environments. The ambassadors completed a series of multiple experiments and demonstrations to test how the environment onboard a spacecraft could be modified to be accessible to astronauts regardless of their disabilities. Sawyer, who is now a news producer at WPBF TV in Florida and a host of the "Talking Space" podcast, found the experience to be "surreal." On the very first parabola Sawyer floated to an upright position and he realized, "for the first time in 15 years I was standing." Sawyer now wonders what it must be like for those who actually become astronauts, and if he will ever get the chance to experience a real space flight.
Ad Astra Sawyer!

CHALLENGER CENTER
AND AIAA LAUNCH
STEM EDUCATION AWARD
Challenger Center Headquarters and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
have launched the Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. The award will celebrate five K-12 educators who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Winners of this award will receive:
  • $5,000 award to the educator
  • $5,000 award to the educator’s school or organization
  • A trip to Washington, DC, to be honored at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala
  • Free access to Challenger Center’s STEM education programs
To learn more about the award click on the following link:
TEACHERS-IN-SPACE SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
PD WORKSHOP
SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER
Teachers – How would you and your students like to learn how to communicate with actual satellites and eventually send your own satellite into space!

Find out how by attending the
Teachers in Space
Professional Development Workshop
at the Ramapo Challenger Center.


WHAT: Simple Satellite Communications
(4-hour PD Workshop)

WHEN: Wednesday, November 10th
8:30am – 1:00pm

WHERE: Town of Ramapo Challenger Center
225 Route 59 Airmont, NY

MATERIALS: You provide your own laptop PC
Teachers in Space provides everything else
including bagel, fruit, & beverage breakfast!

COST: FREE
Call the Challenger Center - 845-357-3416
to enroll – Space is limited.

With the inexpensive equipment and instruction Teachers in Space provides in this workshop, you and your students can begin working with satellites already in orbit. You will learn how to build the necessary equipment and skills for satellite tracking and communications before you move on to eventually building and launching your own experimental satellite. 

ROBOTICS, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING
AND FLIGHT SIMULATOR
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
A MAJOR SUCCESS!
Starting this fall the Challenger Center began offering LEGO, Ozobot and Sphero robotics, computer programming, and flight simulator after-school programs, with nearly every class achieving full enrollment. New sessions are beginning early in November. LEGO We-Do Robotics is designed for students in grades 1 - 5 new to robotics. Advanced LEGO Machines, for students in grades 3-8, is offered for We-Do graduates or those with LEGO building experience. A new program, Ozobot and Sphero Robotics, is designed for students in grades 2 - 6. Computer programming using SCRATCH software is for students in grades 3 - 6, and anyone in grades 5 and higher (adults too!) can take the flight simulator course.

For more information and to register call the Challenger Center at 845-357-3416, or click on the following link:


SCHOOL, SCOUT
AND PARTY PROGRAMS
RETURN TO THE CHALLENGER CENTER!
The Challenger Center is now open for limited enrollment school, scout, and party group programs.

For more information call the Challenger Center at 845-357-3416.

LAST ROCKET LAUNCH OF 2021 SEASON TO BE HELD AT WELDLER PARK!
The last rocket launch of the 2021 season is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th, at Weldler Park in Monsey, NY. The launch starts at 3pm and will go to 5pm, or until there are no more rockets to launch. Everyone is invited to attend this free event. Bring your own rockets to launch or just come and watch. 

Remaining 2021 Launch Schedule

November 6

Town of Ramapo
Challenger Center