Join us virtually for this FREE 5-part series streaming to you LIVE from Space Foundation Discovery Center!
REGISTER BELOW FOR UPCOMING SESSIONS
This program will feature a variety of different astronauts throughout the school year. Each session will include an inspiring interview with the astronaut, live polls for student engagement, and a STEM hands-on activity with downloadable activity lesson plans. See below for specific session information and to register!
Co-Sponsored by USAFA Office of STEM Outreach
| UPCOMING SESSIONS | |||||
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| Session Date | Grade Level | Topic | Featured Astronaut | Registration | |
| Friday, February 9th, 2024 | 3rd-5th | What's It Like to Live in Space? Students will learn about what it takes for humans to live long term in space, specifically the medical and mental health problems we face when considering longer-term space travel like going to Mars, and what kinds of solutions we have in place and need to create to make this exploration possible. |
 Dr. Kjell Lindgren |
Register | |
| Tuesday, March 19, 2024 | All | Future of Solar Weather - Total Solar Eclipse & STEM Careers Students will learn all about space weather - what it is, how it's formed, and how it impacts life here on Earth, such as in the form of nothern lights and especially eclipses. We will focus on how to best engage with the upcoming total eclipse in April. They'll also dive into ideas for current and future STEM careers we will need to better protect ourselves from solar weather and engage with the resulting phenomenon. |
 Retired USAF Col. Eileen Collins |
Register | |
| TBD | 6th-12th | Lunar Outpost - Looking Ahead Students will learn about our future lunar outposts and how we can successfully build a sustainable lunar community - what kinds of insitu resources are availalble, how can we use them, what kind of problems do we need to solve now, and what kinds of jobs/career will be needed? |
TBD |
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| PREVIOUS AWA SESSIONS | |||||
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| Session Date | Grade Level | Topic | Featured Astronaut | Curriculum | |
| Wednesday, October 4th, 2023 | 3rd-5th | Back to the Moon Students will learn about the first missions to the Moon, the Apollo missions, that took place over 50 years ago, as well as our current return to the Moon missions known as the Artemis missions. They will explore how we are getting to the moon, why we are going to the moon, and what to expect when we get there. |
 Retired USAF Lt. Col. Duane “Digger” Carey |
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| Tuesday, November 14th, 2023 | 6th-12th | Space Technologies - Past, Present, and Future Students will learn about a variety of technologies we have used to explore space, such as space vehicles, satellites, space stations, launch vehicles, and deep space communication, such as telescopes. We will discuss some of the amazing technologies Dr. Thornton has worked on in her career, explore present experiments and technologies being used today, and then discuss what the future might look like with so many things in Earth's orbit and how we solve those problems. |
 Dr. Kathryn Thornton |
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| Tuesday, May 9, 2023 | 3rd-5th | Earth: Our Home, Our Mission Students will learn about our home planet. Earth: what makes it unique, why we should take care of it, and how we can take care of it, from space research that benefits Earth, to at-home ideas. |
 Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Susan Helms |
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| Monday, February 27, 2023 | 3rd-5th | Humans in Space Students will learn what happens to the human body when living in space versus on Earth, the challenges humans face with this, and required current and future spacecraft safety features. |
Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Susan Helms |
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| Tuesday, March 7, 2023 | 3rd-5th | Moon to Mars Students will learn about plans for humans to colonize the Moon and then Mars. They will learn about the Artemis Missions, constraints for getting to the Moon and Mars, and what a future life on Mars truly entails. |
Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Susan Helms |
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| Tuesday, March 21, 2023 | 6th-12th | Solar System & Beyond Students will learn about Earth-like exoplanets and moons that may either contain life or have the ability to support life, such as on Europa and Enceladus. What does life beyond Earth look like and how can we find it? |
Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Susan Helms |
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| Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | 6th-12th | Aeronautics Students will learn about the science of sound, specfically the speed of sound, Mach, sonic booms, and resulting effects on humans and animals. They will learn about a current Space Mission known as QUESST (Quiet Supersonic Flight Over Land) which utilizes a newly created aircraft, the X-59, designed to reduce loud sonic booms to quiet thumps. |
Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Susan Helms |
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| Tuesday, May 16, 2023 | 6th-12th | Technology Drives Exploration Students will dive into the phrase 'necessity is the mother of invention' through exploring how technology plays a role in driving human exploration of our universe and learning about one such mission known as DART. |
Retired USAF Lt. Gen. Susan Helms |
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