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Nine CU-Â鶹ӰԺ astronaut alumni will stand proudly at Folsom Field May 12 during Spring 2000 Commencement as a jet squadron thunders overhead in salute to past and present university space pioneers who played key roles in the nationÂ’s space exploration.

Facilities for the assembly and test of space flight experiments and hardware -- in addition to other leading edge research -- will get a boost with the construction of the new Discovery Learning Center by CU-Â鶹ӰԺ’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. The college will break ground on the new research and learning laboratory on May 12 at 2 p.m., following spring commencement.

The University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ’s 50-year involvement in AmericaÂ’s space program comes to life in the CU Heritage Center, a museum packed with exhibits depicting the universityÂ’s history. The space gallery, one of seven galleries tucked away on the third floor of Old Main, displays numerous articles taken into space by CUÂ’s 15 astronaut alumni. Visitors also can learn about the universityÂ’s contributions to space exploration and the technology that dots the solar system after CUÂ’s 50-year involvement in the quest to explore and learn about space.

A new, high-speed fiber-optic network capable of sending the equivalent of scores of encyclopedia sets per second is up and running in Â鶹ӰԺ, connecting CU researchers with colleagues at major federal laboratories and the City of Â鶹ӰԺ. "This joint project is an excellent example of the goals of the administrationÂ’s Information Technology Initiative," said U.S. Congressman Mark Udall, who spoke at a news briefing on the subject at CU-Â鶹ӰԺ April 28. "ItÂ’s a wonderful model for partnering among local, state and federal government agencies."

Since the late 1940s, when CU-Â鶹ӰԺ scientists first begin designing and launching instruments on sounding rockets, the campus has become known worldwide for its extensive space science, exploration and education program.

CU-Â鶹ӰԺ researchers have made a large number of astronomy and space discoveries in recent years that have impacted the nation and world. Following is a list of some -- but certainly not all -- of the major accomplishments faculty and students have achieved in recent years.

The University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ College of Engineering and Applied Science is accepting applications for the 33rd High School Honors Institute to be held on campus July 31 to Aug. 2.

An Earth-orbiting satellite designed and built primarily by undergraduate CU-Â鶹ӰԺ students will measure atmospheric ozone and solar ultraviolet radiation as part of a larger educational effort involving K-12 students around the world. Dubbed the Citizen Explorer, the 100-pound satellite is slated for launch aboard a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in August 2000. The flight is being provided free of charge by NASA, which has designated the Citizen Explorer as a secondary payload.

Three science instruments launched in 1998 aboard a $5 million satellite designed and built by CU-Â鶹ӰԺ students, faculty and engineers are returning a treasure trove of valuable data, according to project scientists.

The University of Colorado at Â鶹ӰԺ jumped to 28th in the Yahoo! Internet Life survey of AmericaÂ’s Most Wired Colleges 2000, up from 61st last year. CU-Â鶹ӰԺ also now ranks 17th among all public research institutions across the country, and, for the second consecutive year, is first in the Rocky Mountain Time Zone.