Sister City Connection

Saratoga Springs, New York - Chekhov, Russia
Sister City Relationship

Although separated by thousands of miles and 600 years difference in their beginnings as communities, Saratoga Springs and Chekhov, Russia have many common bonds. Both cities have friendly people with an interest in the world and a remarkable generosity of spirit. Saratoga and Chekhov can be described as "cities in the country". Both are surrounded by dairy farms, woodlands, parks, and mineral springs that supply the bottled water industries in both cities.

During the 2003-2004 school year students from both sister cities were involved in a joint Mars research project using a NASA satellite. The Odyssey satellite that currently orbits Mars was used to take images of Mars and to collect data. A combined team of 30 students and teachers from Saratoga and Chekhov traveled to the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University to be trained in the enhancement and analysis of Mars images. The analysis of this data was used to reach scientific conclusions to a joint research question posed as a result of group consensus. The joint MSIP (Mars Student Imaging Program) project was a huge success for both cities. We hope that this MSIP project was just the beginning for many future joint educational efforts. It is hoped that our joint team can do further research on Mars using the MSIP program in the area of infrared analysis. The use of the Internet and the possibility for distance learning offer limitless opportunity for sharing ideas and extending the boundaries of cultures and friendships.

A very active Saratoga-Chekhov Committee, led by the enthusiasm of founding chairperson Laura Chodos has worked to provide a strong base for further projects. More exchanges with groups in the two cities of Saratoga and Chekhov are being discussed for the future. Plans for future exchanges with the arts, education and the business community are in the planning stages. The Saratoga-Chekhov Committee operates a web-site designed to explain the future as well as the past efforts of the group. Visit the Saratoga Springs and Chekhov, Sister Cities International site for more information.

The Saratoga Springs NASA Club owes a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Saratoga-Chekhov Committee for their long term support that would allow such a wonderful joint educational effort to occur. This project provides evidence of the important enhancement that an international collaboration can bring to any educational program.