= Challenger Center
= Challenger Learning Center Network
= NASA
World Premiere of “Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission” at the Austin, Texas Film Festival, March 14 and 18
Alexandria, VA, 09-Mar-10—
A historic 12-day journey to the International Space Station by private space explorer and Challenger Center Board Member Richard Garriott will have its world premiere at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. “Richard Garriott: Man on a Mission” will have two screenings at the 2010 conference. The first will be 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 14 at Austin’s Paramount Theater and the second will be Thursday, March 18, at 2:30 p.m., also at the Paramount.
Challenger Learning Center New Mexico is "Go for Launch"
Alexandria, VA, 05-Mar-10—
The Challenger Learning Center New Mexico, located on the Unser Discovery Campus in Los Ranchos, opens on Saturday, March 6, 2010 with a grand opening gala and welcomes its first school visit on Tuesday, March 9 from Albuquerque’s Ernie Pyle Middle School.
Challenger Center Mourns the Death of Space Artist Robert T. McCall
Alexandria, VA, 28-Feb-10—
Challenger Center for Space Science Education mourns the death of space artist Robert T. McCall, who died Friday, February 26 in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 90.
Challenger Center Live Interactive Webcast - Water on the Moon and the LCROSS Lunar Impactor Mission
Alexandria, VA, 24-Feb-10—
Challenger Center for Space Science Education hosts a live interactive webcast for teachers and students on Wednesday, March 10th at 1:00pm ET with Brian Day, NASA Education and Public Outreach manager. In this presentation, we will look at how our new generation of robotic probes has discovered water on the Moon and its importance to our exploration of the solar system. We will concentrate on the recent LCROSS lunar impactor mission which excavated one of the permanently-shadowed craters at the Moon’s South Pole. We will also take a brief look ahead to one of NASA’s next missions to the Moon, the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer scheduled for launch in late 2012. The webcast is free and open to the public. Visit http://webcasts.challenger.org.
Challenger Center Statement in Advance of Today’s Senate Hearing on NASA Budget
Alexandria, VA, 24-Feb-10—
Challenger Center for Space Science Education released the following statement in advance of today’s Senate hearing on the NASA FY 2011 budget proposal:
Challenger Center for Space Science Education fully supports NASA’s expanded educational activities, as embodied in the proposed 2011 budget.
Moon & Mt. Everest Rocks Now on Display on International Space Station
Alexandria, VA, 19-Feb-10—
Pieces of the Moon collected during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and carried to the summit of Mt. Everest by former NASA astronaut and Challenger Center Board Member Dr. Scott Parazynski are now on display in the cupola on the International Space Station.
Challenger Center Chairman-Elect Dr. Scott Parazynski Serves as Honorary Captain of U.S. Luge Team
Alexandria, VA, 03-Feb-10—
Former NASA astronaut Dr. Scott Parazynski is serving as an honorary captain of the United States luge team, which will compete in the upcoming Vancouver Games. Parazynski is Chairman-Elect of Challenger Center’s Board of Directors and a veteran of five Space Shuttle missions and seven space walks.
Challenger Learning Center at Paducah Hits Milestone with 50,000th Student to Fly Mission
Alexandria, VA, 03-Feb-10—
Wells Purdom from Lone Oak Middle School received a big surprise as he walked through the doors of the Challenger Learning Center at Paducah on Wednesday, February 3. He received balloons and shouts of congratulations as he became the 50,000th student to fly a mission at the Center.
The Challenger Center’s LEGO Robotics Team wins the Hudson Valley F.I.R.S.T. LEGO League Regional Qualifier Tournament
Alexandria, VA, 02-Feb-10—
The Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Center’s LEGO Robotics team, “Bricktron”, took first place honors at the Hudson Valley F.I.R.S.T. LEGO League (FLL) Regional Qualifier Tournament held last Saturday at the Grady Elementary School in Elmsford, NY.
Momentum Builds for Excellence in STEM Education
Alexandria, VA, 02-Feb-10—
Challenger Center for Space Science Education supports NASA’s investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in its budget released yesterday. The changing demographics of our nation make it imperative that the science community, and NASA in particular, attract diverse youth who will be able to meet the needs of a versatile technical and scientific future workforce. Reports warn that the United States needs to make a greater investment in STEM education to maintain and increase the skilled workforce needed in the 21st century. We need programs that give students the opportunity to engage in activities that will cause them to ask questions and think like scientists.
Challenger Center Supports President Obama’s Requested Increase in NASA’s Budget for Education
Alexandria, VA, 01-Feb-10—
NASA’s funding for educational programs is planned to increase by $100 million over the next five years to fund several new initiatives, including President Obama’s recently announced “Summer of Innovation” grants to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. NASA will also be expanding partnerships to find new ways to inspire the next generation of space explorers.
Challenger Center Remembers the Challenger Flight 51-L Crew
Alexandria, VA, 28-Jan-10—
Twenty-four years ago today the space shuttle Challenger and its crew of seven men and women launched into a clear blue sky at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Their mission, designated 51-L, was cut short that day, but their legacy of exploration and discovery lives on at nearly 50 Challenger Learning Centers worldwide.
Four Challenger Learning Centers Awarded Major NASA Grants to Inspire and Educate
Alexandria, VA, 15-Jan-10—
Missions to the Moon and to Mars and interactive climate change exhibits are among the projects NASA has selected to receive agency funding. A total of nine informal education providers, including four Challenger Learning Centers, will share $6.2 million in grants through NASA’s Competitive Program for Science Museums and Planetariums.
President Obama Announces New Funding for “Educate to Innovate” Program
Alexandria, VA, 11-Jan-10—
President Barack Obama announced new funding for the “Educate to Innovate” program during a White House event on January 6 that also honored educators from across the country for excellence in mathematics and science teaching and mentoring.
Rocks from the Moon and Mt. Everest Summit Headed to International Space Station
Alexandria, VA, 11-Jan-10—
A piece of the Moon collected during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 will have a new home on the International Space Station, along with a rock from the summit of Mt. Everest.
Additional Information
For Challenger Center media inquiries, please contact Challenger Center via e-mail at info@challenger.org; phone at (888) 683-9740 or (703) 683-9740; or by completing the Feedback Form.









