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Challenger Center is a leader in providing STEM education opportunities to 6+ million students

10/13/2026

💫 Congratulations to Challenger Learning Center Woodstock on reaching this special milestone anniversary! For the past 25 years, the Center has provided immersive STEM experiences to students in Woodstock, Illinois.

🔗 Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4yLp1mY

10/11/2026

🌍 It’s ! From October 11-17, this year's theme spotlights how critical minerals impact Earth’s systems. Geoscience plays a key role in monitoring and managing these resources responsibly so they can help protect our planet and also power space exploration, scientific discovery, and the technologies we rely on every day.

Interested in inspiring future geoscientists? 🌋⛏️🪨 Check out two of our programs that involve studying Earth and how it changes:

➡️ In Observation Earth, our virtual program, students work to protect the planet by analyzing data from satellites and monitoring global events that could cause an emergency for the crew on the International Space Station. https://bit.ly/4yL0yOs

➡️ In Earth Odyssey, our in-person simulation, students capture a malfunctioning satellite that's collecting data about Earth and launch a new satellite to learn more about the climate and its impact on our planet. https://bit.ly/3V3JJvm

Want to learn more about Earth Science Week? Visit: https://bit.ly/3l3iDko

10/09/2026

💫 Congratulations to Space Camp on receiving the Challenger-7 Recognition award! This morning Mike Kincaid, CEO and President of Challenger Center presented the award to Robin Soprano, Vice President of Space Camp at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, Alabama.

For over 40 years, Space Camp has provided immersive, hands-on camps and programs for so many young people around the world, making space exploration feel within reach and giving them the chance to see themselves as astronauts, engineers, scientists, and leaders.

The Challenger-7 Recognition is part of Challenger Center's 40th anniversary and celebrates organizations whose work reflects the spirit, vision, and values of the crew of Space Shuttle Challenger STS‑51‑L mission—championing exploration, inspiring curiosity, and advancing STEM learning for future generations.

🔗 To learn more about U.S. Space & Rocket Center, visit: https://bit.ly/4AZqpn8

10/09/2026

🚀 On October 1st, SpaceX Crew-13 launched successfully, carrying astronauts Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, and Sergey Teteryatnikov to the International Space Station for a six-month mission.

We would like to highlight a member of the crew and her special connection to the legacy of Challenger. Commander Jessica Watkins, the first Black woman to lead a crew to orbit, knew early on that being an astronaut was in her future. As a young child, Jessica attended an after-school enrichment program at Judith A. Resnik Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Established in 1995, the school honors NASA astronaut Judith Resnik, the second American woman in space and a mission specialist on the Challenger STS-51L crew. Learning about Judith’s story as a child inspired Jessica to pursue a career in space.

Jessica’s journey is proof that the Challenger crew’s legacy lives on in everyone who believes what’s possible. We are wishing the whole crew the very best, and we look forward to their safe return in March 2027!

10/08/2026

Congratulations to the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution on receiving the Challenger-7 Recognition! 🎉

From interactive exhibits and stargazing parties to programs that connect young people with the wonders of space and resources that support educators, the Museum has a long history of inspiring the public to explore STEM through experiences that make science and space feel exciting and within reach.

As part of the 40th Anniversary of Challenger Center, the Challenger-7 Recognition celebrates organizations whose work reflects the spirit, vision, and values of the Challenger 51-L crew. Museum Director Chris Browne accepted the award during the Museum’s Fall 2026 Town Hall Meeting at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

Challenger Center is proud to recognize its team’s amazing work inspiring the next generation of explorers, scientists, engineers, and innovators. 🌎🚀✨

10/05/2026

🍎 It’s World Teachers’ Day! Today, we celebrate all educators who have made, and continue to make a difference in the lives of students every day.

Here at Challenger Center, we want to recognize one of our own team members, Andre, who spent years at a bilingual public school in New York educating and inspiring students.

"During my experience as a bilingual teacher in a predominately latine school, I was impressed when my students would creatively bring their cultural lived experiences—whether food, music, or sayings—into the work and own their learning by making it part of their day-to-day life. I would relish it when I would learn how they see the world, and at the same time make the learning process theirs."

10/04/2026

🚀 kicks off today! This year’s theme, Rocket Revolution, celebrates how advances in launch technology are creating more opportunities to explore space.

Inspiring students to pursue STEM is a key part of what this week means, and it starts by sparking curiosity right in the classroom. Explore some great educational toolkits and resources to help bring that excitement to the next generation of innovators here: https://bit.ly/4yst9Yz.

For space education and outreach events in your area, visit: https://bit.ly/2MmS5ew.

10/03/2026

⭐ Jolie was 15 years old when she heard the Space Shuttle Challenger had been lost and, like so many others, she was left heartbroken. Years later, she joined the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) as an intern at Iowa's first Challenger Learning Center. It was there that she found the inspiration to become a STEM educator, and today she serves as Director of STEM Innovation at SCI.

🔗 Read more of her story here: https://bit.ly/4hZJSg7

09/30/2026

🫶 Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) in Pottstown, PA!

Educators joined us for a day of hands-on STEM learning and fun activities, connecting with fellow educators, and, of course, participating in one of our immersive space simulations in a mission to the Moon.

The day concluded with a reception where teacher and former NASA astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger spoke about her personal journey to becoming an astronaut and shared inspiring stories from her own mission to the International Space Station.

⭐ A special THANK YOU to our guest speakers and staff at Challenger Learning Center Montco Pottstown, host Montgomery County Community College, and partners at Space Center Houston for helping make this event a great success!

09/30/2026

💫 In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, we're spotlighting just a few of the many Hispanic American pioneers whose incredible achievements and innovations have shaped our world and continue to inspire future generations everywhere.

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750 First Street NE, Suite 1050
Washington D.C., DC
20002

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http://www.challenger.org/

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