Programs

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   Talk to a Moon Scientist

Live Interactive Webcast with Dr. Barbara Cohen Wednesday December 10th at 2:00pm ET about NASA's plans to return to the Moon.

Click here to archived watch webcast

Webcast Presentation (ppt, 7 MB)

Join Challenger Center for Space Science Education for a live interactive webcast, Wednesday, December 10th at 2:00pm ET with Dr. Barbara A. Cohen, a planetary scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Dr. Cohen will take questions from participants and talk about lunar science and NASA's Constellation Program that plans to send humans back to the Moon. The first decades of the 21st century will be marked by major lunar science and exploration activities. The Moon is a witness to 4.5 billion years of solar system history, recording that history more completely and more clearly than any other planetary body. Dr. Cohen will discuss outstanding issues in lunar science today and the most intriguing scientific opportunities made possible by robotic and human exploration of our Moon. The live interactive webcast is free and open to the public.

Dr. Cohen works for the NASA Lunar Precursor Robotics Program on the Lunar Mapping and Modeling Project. She studies meteorites from the Moon, Mars and asteroids and has been to Antarctica twice to hunt for them. She also works on the Mars Exploration Rovers; Spirit and Opportunity. She supports NASA's lunar flight projects as the co- chair of the Science Definition Team for NASA's robotic lunar landers, nodes of the International Lunar Network, providing geophysical information about the Moon's interior structure and composition.

   Challenger Learning Center goes to Japan!

Webcast with Sheree Kearns, Director of the Challenger Learning Center in Jacksonville Florida

Click here to view archived webcast from Japan

Ms. Kearns presented photos and stories from her journeys across the country of Japan as a member of the fall delegation with the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) Teacher Program. Ms. Kearns visited schools across Japan and met with teachers, and answered questions from students and teachers live during the webcast about Japanese schools, life and culture. Ms. Kearns also visited cultural sites and local industries and meeting with government officials during her trip. The JFMF program is designed to increase understanding between the people of Japan and the United States by inviting U.S. elementary and secondary educators to visit Japan and share their experiences with fellow Americans upon their return.

 

   Live Downlinks from the International Space Station with Richard Garriott

Video Downlink, Monday, October 20th

Click here to view archived event.

If above link does not open, please use this link.

Amateur Radio Downlinks

Thursday, October 16 - Entire Broadcast (Firewall Friendly)

Thursday, October 16th - Part 1 (YouTube)

Thursday, October 16th - Part 2 (YouTube)

Friday, October 17th - Entire Broadcast

Richard Garriott, private space explorer and son of NASA’s Skylab Astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott, spoke with students from ten Challenger Learning Centers and two schools in three downlink conversations.

The videoteleconference event was held in Reston, Virginia and involved two local schools and four Learning Centers. This event was sponsored by Challenger Center, NASA and KZO Innovations. Challenger Center Founding Chairman, Dr. June Scobee Rodgers hosted the event. Students posed intriguing questions, such as, What does the Earth look like from space?, Do you think that someday we will live in space? Ind in support of Richard's planned on-orbit activities for students, playing sports in space, "How will you compensate for your players lack of ability to gain momentum?"

Two audio conversations were held with Richard Garriott and students from seven Challenger Learning Centers and included a special guest, Richard’s father, former astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott. These events were sponsored by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team.

WEBCAST WITH RICHARD GARRIOTT & SOYEON YI

(August 20, 2008)

The Korean astronaut Soyeon Yi, a nanotechnology engineer from Seoul, completed a series of experiments and educational events for her country while she was onboard the ISS this past April flying under a commercial agreement between Russia and South Korea. In these webcasts she taught Richard about her experiences and the demonstrations she performed in space.

 

WEBCAST WITH RICHARD GARRIOTT & SOYEON YI

(August 13, 2008)

The Korean astronaut Soyeon Yi, a nanotechnology engineer from Seoul, completed a series of experiments and educational events for her country while she was onboard the ISS this past April flying under a commercial agreement between Russia and South Korea. In these webcasts she taught Richard about her experiences and the demonstrations she performed in space.

 

SPORTS IN SPACE: Richard Garriott Webcast with Ken Harvey, Former NFL Player

(July 22, 2008)

Richard Garriott, the next civilian to visit the International Space Station, teams up with former NFL player and four time pro bowler, Ken Harvey and Challenger Center to discuss how future athletes will play sports in space. Asking students questions such as "What happens when you block an opponent on Mars, leap for a reception on the Moon, or throw a tight spiral on the space station?”

 

Earth Photography : Richard Garriott Webcast

(May 2008)

When Richard Garriott is in space, he plans to take photographs of the Earth, many of which will replicate some of the photographs his father, astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott took 35 years ago on Skylab. Looking at astronaut photography over time, we can see changes that have happened on Earth over the last generation. We can use this information to see how humans have impacted different regions on the planet over time and to make predictions about what may occur in the future. This webcast features Soyeon Yi, the Korean astronaut and is only available on YouTube.

 

Richard Garriott Webcast From Star City, Russia

(April 21, 2008)

On April 21, Challenger Center held a live interactive with Richard Garriott, son of NASA Skylab Astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott and the next civilian to fly to the International Space station, planned for this October. Over 200 students and teachers talked to Mr. Garriott about his training in Star City Russia.

Webcast PPT (4 MB)

Plants in Space

(February 19, 2008)

John Gruener, Johnson Space Center - John Gruener works in the Constellation Office at the NASA Johnson Space Center designing systems for supporting astronauts living and working on the Moon. A systems engineer in the area of advanced mission planning and conceptual design of spacecraft and surface systems for the exploration of both the Moon and Mars, Mr. Gruener received a master's degree in physical sciences from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, with an emphasis in planetary geology. He works closely with scientists in the development of scientific instruments and science operations that could be used on the Moon or Mars, and says "I am basically a space farmer trying to figure out how we will grow plants in space. Someday plants could give us food, oxygen, and clean water for our life support systems."

Webcast PPT (15 MB)
Webcast Chat Transcript (49 KB)

Webcast with the International Space Station and Constellation Program

(February 5, 2008)

Patrick Buzzard, NASA engineer from the International Space Station and Constellation Program talks about the future of the International Space Station and the upcoming Constellation program that includes the new Space Shuttle replacement vehicle, Orion, and answers questions from students.

Download Constellation PowerPoint Presentation  (6 MB)

Download ISS PowerPoint Presentation  (24 MB)

Download Webcast Transcript Document   (34 KB)

Webcast with Barbara Morgan, Educator Astronaut

Challenger Center for Space Science Education’s live webcast of Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan (back up to Christa McAuliffe, the first Teacher in Space) held at the Buehler Challenger and Science Center in Paramus, New Jersey. Astronaut Morgan speaks about her recent flight on the space shuttle Endeavour and shows photographs. Morgan was responsible for maneuvering the robotic arm and for cargo exchange between the shuttle and the International Space Station.

Morgan presented certificates to New Jersey teachers who participated in the NASA Engineering Design Challenge to design a plant growth chamber with their students for use by future astronauts living and working on the Moon.

Morgan began her teaching career in 1974 in Montana, and she was selected as the backup candidate for the NASA Teacher in Space Program in 1985. Following the Challenger accident, Morgan resumed her teaching career in Idaho. Selected by NASA as a mission specialist in 1998, Morgan worked in Mission Control after her astronaut training. She also served in the Robotics Branch prior to her 2007 mission where she accumulated over 305 hours in space.

Thanks to KZO Networks and the NASA Teaching from Space Office, the NASA Johnson Space Center' Constellation Program Office and the NASA Kennedy Spaceflight Center's Office of Biological Sciences for their support of our Plants in Space series in support of the NASA Design Challenge. For more information about participating in the Design Challenge through your local Challenger Learning Center, click here.

Plants in Space (October 30, 2007)

John Gruener, Johnson Space Center - John Gruener works in the Constellation Office at the NASA Johnson Space Center designing systems for supporting astronauts living and working on the Moon. A systems engineer in the area of advanced mission planning and conceptual design of spacecraft and surface systems for the exploration of both the Moon and Mars, Mr. Gruener received a master's degree in physical sciences from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, with an emphasis in planetary geology. He works closely with scientists in the development of scientific instruments and science operations that could be used on the Moon or Mars, and says "I am basically a space farmer trying to figure out how we will grow plants in space. Someday plants could give us food, oxygen, and clean water for our life support systems."

Webcast Chat Transcript (50 KB)
Webcast PPT (15 MB)

Plants in Space (October 23, 2007)

Dr. Raymond M. Wheeler, Kennedy Space Center - Dr. Raymond Wheeler is a plant physiologist in the Biological Sciences Office at NASA's Kennedy Space Center studying crop production data for bioregenerative life support for long duration space missions. Dr. Wheeler received a BS from Penn State University and an MS and PhD from Utah State University.  Prior to joining NASA in 1990, Ray worked as a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin and as a research plant physiologist. His expertise in horticulture techniques to support humans in space has led to studies in photosynthesis as a basis for life support in space (and on the Earth), and prototype closed human life support systems.  Ray served as the lead for Crop Research Element in NASA's Advanced Life Support Program.

Webcast Chat Transcript
Webcast PPT (5 MB)

Plants in Space (October 16, 2007)

Dr. Gary W. Stutte, Kennedy Space Center - During the past ten years, Dr. Gary Stutte has worked
at Kennedy Space Center to determine the feasibility of using plants as bioregenerative life support systems for long duration space missions. Dr. Stutte is the principal investigator for several spaceflight experiments designed to grow plants in microgravity.  Although he was born in Oklahoma, Dr. Stutte considers Arkansas his home. He attended the University of Arkansas for two years in the Horticultural Food Sciences Program, finishing his BS degree in Biology at the Oklahoma State University. Dr. Stutte has a Masters Degree in Horticulture for the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from the University of California, Davis.

Webcast Chat Transcript
Webcast PPT (1.8 MB)

Spirit of Flight (October 30, 2007)

Challenger Learning Center of Greater Washington nationwide webcast and videoconference with NASA and the Department of Transportation’s Garrett A. Morgan Transportation and Technology Futures Program. The assembly held at Cameron Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia and involved 25 schools from several states. It was designed to expand awareness of the importance of flight and to inspire and motivate today’s youth in the core subject areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and consider a career in the aerospace industry. Challenger Learning Center staff engaged students in interactive astronaut training activities and presented students with an opportunity to participate in NASA’s Engineering Design Challenge.

STS-118 Crew Inspires Local D.C. Students (October 2, 2007)

The crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour talks to middle school students about their flight to the International Space Station and about careers in science, math and technology at an event hosted at the Department of Education and supported by the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. For the press release, click here.

Downlink with the Space Shuttle - Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan and Mission Specialist Al Drew (August 16, 2007)

Featuring a live conversation between the space shuttle crew and Challenger Learning Center students from across the country, hosted by Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, Founding Chairman.

NASA Biographies of Barbara Morgan and Benjamin Alvin Drew.

Astronaut Q&A with Students (August 15th, 2007)

Morning Session and Afternoon Session featuring conversations with astronauts Dr. Joseph P. Allen, William F. Readdy & Dr. Roger Crouch and Challenger Learning Centers and students from across the country.

NASA Biographies of Dr. Joseph P. Allen, William F. Readdy and Dr. Roger Crouch

Living on Mars...on Earth (July 2007)

Challenger Center and the Mars Institute hosted the project "Earth as a Classroom for Exploring other Worlds" webcast that took place on July 16-20, 2007, from Devon Island in the Arctic Circle with former astronauts William Readdy and Leroy Chiao, and astrobiologists Matthew Reyes and Keith Cowing and ten Challenger Learning Centers. Devon Island, a dry polar desert environment similar to Mars, is situated 800 miles from the North Pole and is the location of a large ancient meteorite impact, Haughton Crater. The Haughton-Mars Project, established in 1996, is a research platform for simulating space exploration on other worlds.

Additional Information

For more information on Challenger Learning Center programs, please contact a Learning Center Coordinator via e-mail at info@challenger.org; by telephone at (877) 443-5701 or (816) 471-7770; or by completing the Feedback Form.