About Us

Challenger family members, Board of Directors, and executive staff were given a private tour of Johnson Space Center. The photo was taken in the Apollo Era Mission Operations Control Room (used during the STS-51-L flight).

Cosmic Rendezvous: An Evening Among the Stars Gala

On October 24, 2003, the Westin Galleria in Houston, Texas, hosted a special gala in support of Challenger Center. The evening, which also honored the lost crew members of Apollo 1, Challenger STS-51-L, and Columbia STS-107, drew over 500 guests.

The gala's program included a moving tribute to the crew members, as well as remarks from NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, Challenger Center Founding Chair June Scobee Rodgers, and television journalist Hugh Downs. A special message came from 250 miles above the festivities when Ed Lu and Yuri Malenchenko sent greetings from the International Space Station. Recording artists Eddie Anders, Mark Wills, and Lee Greenwood provided musical performances.

A presentation of the Challenger Seven award was given to Houston philanthropist Dr. Carolyn Farb. The award, given rarely, recognizes those individuals who have made a personal commitment to Challenger Center to continue the 51-L crew's education mission. Dr. Farb has been a longtime supporter of the organization, having fostered support for the first Challenger Learning Center at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The event raised over $200,000 for Challenger Center. The funds will be used to develop a classroom of the 21st century in support of the Challenger Learning Center Network.

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.