Spotlight

The Space Foundation is now seeking nominations for induction into the Space Technology Hall of Fame® for 2012. Anyone can submit a nomination of a technology that was developed anywhere in the world for use in space and then modified or adopted for use on Earth. Nomination information, including online and downloadable nomination forms, is…

In keeping with our mission to “advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity,” the Space Foundation supports the belief that future success in space depends on an educated workforce and that aggressive STEM education is a critical component of workforce development. This belief drives many of our programs, including our comprehensive STEM-based education…

What happens when electronics overheat? The short answer is: nothing good. In microgravity, natural convection does not occur, which makes cooling equipment a challenge. So how do you keep electronic and computer components from overheating in space — especially on non-rotating satellites where one side is constantly exposed to extreme solar temperatures and one side…

In June, teachers in the Space Foundation Space Across the Curriculum class “PreK-2 Early Childhood Space Exploration,” learned age-appropriate, hands-on STEM activities for very young children. The course focuses on national standards and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) principles that can be immediately transferred to the classroom. Activities are designed to provide Early Childhood educators…

“I knew nothing about geology when I started this class. Now I’m ready to teach my students plate tectonics,” said Linda Martin, a middle school science teacher from Jacksonville, Fla. Martin traveled to Colorado Springs in June to attend the Space Foundation teacher professional development course, “Earth Systems Science: Planetary Geology,” the first of four Space Across the Curriculum courses…

Teachers from across the nation are descending on Colorado Springs to attend five different Space Across the Curriculum courses conducted by the Space Foundation and held at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute. Thanks to a donation from Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. the teachers attending the classes will be better able to stay connected with those back home.…

Rockets are an effective way to teach students the fundamental processes of propulsion, Newton’s Laws of Motion and the physics of space travel. They’re also fun. Twenty teachers from four states spent a week in June at the Space Foundation Discovery Institute in Colorado Springs learning how to use rockets to excite their students about…

The Space Foundation welcomes the We Want Our Future initiative as its newest Certified Educational Product partner. Launched and managed by University of Colorado graduate students and based in Boulder, Colo., the We Want Our Future initiative is a worldwide outreach project that challenges students to dream about what they want their future to look…

Teachers who are planning for the fall school year can find online help with these resources. The Space Foundation offers a National Science Standards Lesson Bank, free and downloadable for PreK-12 educators. See these national science standards-based lessons at www.sciencestandardslessons.org/ PBS has resources for teachers online at www.pbs.org/teachers/ See what NASA has to offer at: www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/index.cfm And don’t forget…

This issue of Space Watch contains synopses of the second half of the 27th National Space Symposium, which was held April 11-14 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. The first half was covered in the May edition of Space Watch. Well over 9,000 people were involved, including speakers, attendees, exhibitors, staff, 100+ co-sponsors…