What is Challenger Center?

Challenger Center for Space Science Education is a not-for-profit education organization created in 1986 by the families of the astronauts from Challenger Space Shuttle mission STS-51-L. Dedicated to the educational spirit of that mission, Challenger Center develops Challenger Learning Centers and other educational programs worldwide to continue the mission of engaging students in science and mathematics education.

Challenger Center’s network of Learning Centers throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom has been a recognized leader in educational simulation, with a strong standards-based emphasis. Challenger Learning Centers and Challenger Center’s award-winning classroom and teacher training programs use the excitement of space exploration to create positive learning experiences for students.

Our programs are designed to:

• Raise students’ expectations of success
• Develop critical communication, decision-making, team-building, and collaborative skills.

Why was Challenger Center created?

All seven crew members of mission STS-51-L were dedicated to education and reaching young people, which is one of the many reasons that Christa McAuliffe, America’s first Teacher in Space, was such an integral part of the outstanding team of pilots, scientists, and professionals.

Although that mission ended in tragedy, and the world’s students were not able to see Mrs. McAuliffe teaching lessons from the ultimate classroom, the family members of the crew most wanted to continue their mission of education. Thanks to their efforts, Challenger Center has given young people the unique ability to experience the wonders of exploration in the same way the crew had.

Does Challenger Center partner with other organizations?

Challenger Center has established partnerships, relationships, and collaborations with many prestigious science and education organizations. Click here for a list of partners.

How many teachers and students do you reach?

Thousands of students and teachers take part in Challenger Center programs every year. Through community outreach, school-based programs, and our Challenger Learning Center simulators, we provide countless resources, educational materials, and training to the educational community. Highlights include:

• Over 400,000 students participate in Challenger Learning Center missions each year.
• Tens of thousands of students participate in after-school, summer, and weekend programs held at Challenger Learning Centers.
• 25,000 teachers are trained through the Challenger Learning Center Network each year.

What is a Challenger Learning Center?

Challenger Learning Centers are technology-rich facilities located throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Staffed by master teachers, the core of each Learning Center is an interactive computerized simulator with a Mission Control room patterned after the NASA Johnson Space Center and an orbiting Space Station ready for exploration.

Challenger Learning Centers are located in school districts, museums, science centers, and university campuses. It is here that students become astronauts and engineers, solving real-world problems as they share the thrill of discovery on missions through the Solar System.

Where is the closest Challenger Learning Center to me?

Nearly 50 Challenger Learning Centers are found in over 30 states in America. International sites are located in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Using Challenger Center Online, there are several ways to find a Challenger Learning Center near you. We invite you to use interactive map that lists Challenger Center programs by state. You can also use the Search feature found on this site’s home page to locate a Learning Center by entering a Zip Code. Finally, a list of Challenger Learning Center sites can be found here.

How can I find out specific information about a Challenger Center program?

You’ve come to the right place! The easiest way to learn more about what we offer is by visiting the Programs section of this web site.

If you require additional information or have a specific question that wasn’t addressed online, we invite you to contact us by telephone at (888) 683-9740 or direct at (703) 683-9740.

What advice do you give to students interested in a career in science?

In school, the most important thing is to do well in all topics, but especially in mathematics and science. You also want to cultivate your interest in science, by reading and learning as much as you can, from books, scientific web sites, science TV programs, etc. If you have universities, research organizations, or NASA centers nearby, you may want to see if they offer internships to high school students. Many do, and it's a great way to spend a summer learning about what scientists do, and in many cases you get to do actual science, the results of which may be published in a scientific journal.

In most areas of science, a Ph.D. degree is a requirement to be a proper scientist, so that is your goal in your studies in college. As an undergraduate, you’ll learn about a variety of subjects, but in graduate school you concentrate on the scientific area of your interest. And there are some careers in science (such as lab assistants or computer scientists supporting telescopes operations) that do not require an advanced degree. It really depends on what level of involvement in scientific research you are interested in.

This looks like a long process, and it does take some time, but the main thing to remember is that if you are enjoying what you do, you have a lot of fun. Take each step as it comes, learn a lot about anything and everything that sounds exciting, make the right choices at the right times, and before you know it, you have reached your goal of having a career in science.