Programs

Richard Garriott is a preeminent game developer and son of NASA Skylab Astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott. As the next civilian to fly into space, Richard plans to follow the lead of Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan (STS-118), through interactive lessons before, during and after his spaceflight that will motivate and inspire students. His flight is currently scheduled for lift-off to the International Space Station in October 2008.

Richard is a former student of Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, the Founding Chairman of Challenger Center for Space Science Education. After the tragic loss of the Challenger space shuttle crew, Richard worked with Dr. Scobee Rodgers on the design of the first Challenger Learning Center. Richard will continue the mission of Teacher-in-Space Christa McAuliffe, as he engages students before, during and after his flight to the International Space Station.

Garriott's flight activities have the potential to reach children across the globe as he reaches out from the first Challenger Learning Center off the planet.

Garriott Science Challenge

When Richard is in space, he plans to record demonstrations of several science experiments students can do at home or in their classroom. After you conduct one of the experiments, your mission is to predict what will happen when Richard does this experiment in the weightless environment of space. Submit your prediction by video for our YouTube site.

For a list of the activities you can download or to submit a prediction, visit this section.

Earth Science Challenge

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. This project adds 50 student targets to Richard's list of photographs to take in space, one for each Challenger Learning Center. Students can choose a target that shows how well we are taking care of our planet over the next generation, looking 35 years into the future.

To participate, visit this section. Deadline is May 26th for submissions.

Engineering Design Challenge

Richard Garriott will do an experiment that is planned to show how much the International Space Station structure flexes over time. Engineers design very long or tall structures here on Earth to withstand environmental forces such as changes in temperature, high winds, and even earthquakes - in addition to bearing heavy loads. In weightlessness, the space station is carefully designed to withstand a variety of forces such as changes in temperature, drag due to its orbital velocity and the position of the solar arrays, flexing during reboosts which raise the stations' orbital altitude (which degrades over time due to drag), and vibrations caused by maneuvers to adjust attitude (or orientation) using spacecraft jets.

In our design challenge, students should design a very long or tall structure that can withstand flexing. Students then need to apply a force such as wind or shaking, and show the structure can survive. Videos of student designs should be submitted and will be posted on the Challenger YouTube site

Webcasts

Check out our live interactive webcasts with Richard Garriott, and his father, astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott in support of the Garriott Science Challenge. Upcoming webcast, Monday, April 21st at 12pm ET.

Podcasts (Audio Blogs)

Check out our audio blog podcasts with Richard Garriott talking about his career, spaceflight training and mission activities - hosted by Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, educator and Founding Chairman of Challenger Center. Upcoming podcast, April 30th.

Student Blog/Forum

If you want to ask Richard a question about his career, spaceflight training, upcoming mission, or the Science Challenge activities visit our student forum. You can submit a question or a comment of your own!

If you want to ask Richard a question about his career, spaceflight training, upcoming mission, or the Science Challenge activities visit our student forum. Submit a question or a comment of your own!

Student Patch Contest

Celebrate the Garriott Science Challenge activities by creating a design that symbolizes the adventure and discovery of space exploration! Students of all ages are encouraged to submit a design for a patch or t-shirt that represents Richard Garriott’s educational activities around his flight. If your design is chosen to represent the Garriott Science Challenge, Richard will fly it into space.
Deadline is MAY 15th for submissions.

Downlinks from Space

Students of all ages are encouraged to submit a question to their local Challenger Learning Center. Richard plans to hold several conversations with students and Challenger Learning Centers via downlinks while in space. To locate a Challenger Center near you, visit our Challenger Learning Center network page.

Garriott Challenge In the News

Links to press coverage are archived in this section.