Programs

Richard Garriott, preeminent game developer, private space explorer and son of NASA Skylab Astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott flew to the International Space Station in October 2008. Richard followed the lead of Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan through interactive educational activities before, during and after his spaceflight to motivate and inspire students. Richard is also 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 to design the first Challenger Learning Center.

Richard Garriott, private space explorer, salutes Challenger Center from the International Space Station!

 

 

Garriott Science Challenges and Video Blogs from Space

When Richard Garriott flew on the International Space Station, he recorded video blogs demonstrating science experiments students can do at home or in their classroom. After conducting one of the experiments, students can predict what will happen when Richard does this experiment in the weightless environment of space.
To complete the Science Challenges, visit this section. To see Richard's Video Blogs from space, visit this page.

Downlinks from Space

Richard Garriott completed three interactive live downlinks with students, schools and Challenger Centers from the International Space Station. Click here to view the live downlinks.

Our new Sports in Space Science Challenge sponsored by former NFL player Ken Harvey asks students, “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?” The new interactive online game lets students to try throwing a football, catching a pass and blocking an opponent in the 1G environment of Earth, the 1/3 gravity of Mars, and the 1/6 gravity of the Moon. The game, developed by partner Red Knight Learning Systems, features Richard and Ken as the players.

PLAY THE SPORTS IN SPACE GAME!

Earth Science Challenge

When Richard was in space, he took photographs of the Earth, many of which replicated photographs his father, astronaut Dr. Owen Garriott took 35 years ago on Skylab. This project added student targets to Richard's list of photographs. Students chose sites that can illustrate how well we are taking care of our planet over the next generation. Richard also took many photos of Challenger Learning Centers from space.

Engineering Design Challenge

Engineers design very long or tall structures on Earth to withstand environmental forces including temperature, high winds and earthquakes. In space, the space station is designed to withstand a variety of forces such as changes in temperature, drag and vibrations caused by maneuvers. Richard showed how much the station flexes while he was on orbit. In this challenge, students can design a very long or tall structure and apply a force such as wind or shaking to show it can survive. Students’ videos are posted on our Challenger YouTube site.

Art Challenge

Students celebrated the Garriott Science Challenge activities by creating designs that symbolizes the adventure and discovery of space exploration! Students of all ages created designs for a patch that represented Richard Garriott's educational activities around his flight that he flew into space.

Webcasts

Richard completed a series of webcasts for students about his training in Star City, Russia, his Earth Photography activities, the science challenges and Challenger Center webcasted his live downlinks from space.

Podcasts

Richard completed a series of podcasts for Challenger Center discussing his career, spaceflight training and mission activities.