Our Mission: Inspire the Next Generation
Looking to the
Future While
Honoring Our Legacy
The Space Shuttle Challenger crew was dedicated to a mission inspired by education. In 1986, the families of the crew established Challenger Center as a way to honor their loved ones while keeping their educational mission alive. Since then, our STEM programs have inspired and engaged 6.5+ million students through experiential hands-on learning opportunities.
Years Championing STEM Education
Million+ Students Inspired
Challenger Learning Centers
Celebrating Our 40th Anniversary
2026 marks 40 years since our founding. Throughout the year, Challenger Center and our network of Challenger Learning Centers will honor the legacy of the Challenger Seven while celebrating four decades of inspiring millions of students through immersive, hands-on STEM learning experiences.
Stay tuned for national events, new educational resources, and national recognitions.
Together, we can awaken a passion for STEM in the next generation of pioneers and innovators.
Empower Every Student
Help us continue the educational mission of the Challenger STS-51L crew and ignite students’ potential in STEM.
Alumni Stories
When a student discovers the possibilities of STEM, it opens their world to a lifelong love of learning and opportunities.
Nina Arcot
Manufacturing Systems Engineer, Northrop Grumman
No matter where you are, you can be a mentor to someone.
No matter where you are, you can be a mentor to someone.
No matter where you are, you can be a mentor to someone.
... read more
Meet Nina
Caroline Combemale
Middle School Robotics Teacher
If a student says, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ I ask them, ‘What do you like to do?’ If they like to read, I might recommend they focus on research. If you like LEGOs, try engineering. It’s a lesson I first learned during my Mission with Challenger Center. Everyone had their own roles, with completely different skill sets, and we all had to work together to succeed.
If a student says, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ I ask them, ‘What do you like to do?’ If they like to read, I might recommend they focus on research. If you like LEGOs, try engineering. It’s a lesson I first learned during my Mission with Challenger Center. Everyone had their own roles, with completely different skill sets, and we all had to work together to succeed.
If a student says, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ I ask them, ‘What do you like to do?’ If they like to read, I might recommend they focus on research. If you like LEGOs, try engineering. It’s a lesson I first learned during my Mission with Challenger Center. Everyone had their own roles, with completely different skill sets, and we all had to work together to succeed.
... read more
Meet Caroline
Alexis Cryts
Aerospace Engineer
Experiences like those at Challenger Center are so important for students because they show how exciting STEM can be. Centers provide immersive, hands-on learning opportunities that spark curiosity and encourage exploration in high-demand STEM fields.
Experiences like those at Challenger Center are so important for students because they show how exciting STEM can be. Centers provide immersive, hands-on learning opportunities that spark curiosity and encourage exploration in high-demand STEM fields.
Experiences like those at Challenger Center are so important for students because they show how exciting STEM can be. Centers provide immersive, hands-on learning opportunities that spark curiosity and encourage exploration in high-demand STEM fields.
... read more
Meet Alexis
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