Historical Highlights

As a not-for-profit educational organization partnering with museums, science centers, schools, universities and communities across North America, Challenger Center for Space Science Education continues to explore new teaching techniques, learning environments and instructional programs. The result has been acclaimed programs that change how teachers teach and students learn. 

April 1986 
Challenger Center for Space Science Education founded. 

May 1986-1987 
A full board of directors is established, including a diverse team of recognized leaders in education, aerospace, business, science and government. 

June 1987 
An international group of educators from nine-key museums and space-related organizations meet in Oracle, Arizona to formulate Challenger Center objectives and create the rudimentary blueprint for achieving them. 

July - September 1987 
Teacher in Space Education Foundation merges with Challenger Center, creating a diverse and experienced national faculty composed of NASA's 113 -Teacher in Space finalists. 

Four school-based museums from the meeting in Oracle, Arizona draft over 100 space-related science activities. These activities shape the content of the on-site simulation experience, as well as an extended set of classroom-based learning materials. 

July 1988 
The first Challenger Center National Conference at Johnson Space Center in Houston attracts over 250 educators from across the country. 

August 1988 
Prototype Challenger Learning Center space simulator opens at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. 

October 1983 
At the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) convention in Boston, Challenger Center publicly announces its space simulation program. As a result, over 100 applications are received from museums and science centers worldwide. 

January 1989 
Challenger Center Site Selections Committee approves the first four learning center applications. 

March 1989 
Challenger Center receives National Space Society's 1989 Space Pioneers Award. 

July 1989 
Second Challenger Learning Center, and the first owned and operated by a school system, opens at the Howard B. Owens Science Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.