Trailblazing STEM Educators Embark on Space Coast Adventure

Earlier this spring, Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced the winners of the 2024 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award —Jenn Donais, Sarah Leonard, and Darryl Newhouse. Each teacher and their respective schools were awarded $5,000, free access to Challenger Center STEM programming, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to be honored at the 2024 AIAA Awards Gala. In addition, these phenomenal educators were also invited to join Club for the Future, Blue Origin’s nonprofit, at a space launch experience…and last month, it was time for the trip!

When our three awardees, Jenn, Sarah, and Darryl, along with representatives from our team and AIAA, touched down in Florida, we were giddy with excitement to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Space Coast. We couldn’t even have imagined how much we would get to see and learn.

Launch of GOES-U

We kicked off the trip by heading to Banana Creek to watch NOAA’s GOES-U satellite launch the fourth and final satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series.

For most of us, it was our first time witnessing a launch in person. We sat on the bleachers with bated breath, using our Visitor badges as make-shift fans to shield us from the Florida heat. We knew a storm was rolling in, and the possibility of the launch being delayed was high… but then, the countdown started. 3…2…1…lift off! We all stood up to watch GOES-U disappear into the blue sky. And then, what felt like moments later, the boosters returned. At first, we were surprised there was no noise from the boosters, but a minute later, a sonic boom ripped through the bleachers, and the crowd cheered!

“Getting to see the things we talk about in the classroom firsthand is so incredible,” shared Sarah. “I can’t wait to bring this real-world experience back to my students.”

Blue Origin Tour

The next day, we went to Blue Origin’s manufacturing facility for an exclusive tour. It was an exciting and rare opportunity to see where the company’s new, reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle, New Glenn, is built.

As soon as we walked through the doors, New Shepard, Blue Origin’s fully reusable, suborbital rocket system, towered over us. Heather Nelson, Club for the Future’s Director, shared that prior to the first launch, she had the chance to help paint the feather on the side of the rocket… by hand!

“We are honored and excited to have these educators here with us,” said Heather. “If we want to see millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth, we have to inspire the next generation to pursue STEAM careers, and these educators make that happen.”

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Our next stop was the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Here, we explored exhibits on the grand history of space exploration, including an up-close view of space shuttle Atlantis. We also learned about the future of space travel and saw models and replicas from other space companies.

The complex also offered various simulator experiences, like Blue Origin’s New Shepard Flight to Space VR Simulator, where we got to experience what it might feel like to be launched into space firsthand. We spent four hours here and felt like we could have hung around to learn more for days…but it was time for our last tour of the day.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) Tour

Our final stop of the day was the historic Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, where launch provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) is doing some truly cutting-edge work.

We met with two Launch Operations staff members for a tour of ULA’s newest development: the Vulcan Centaur rocket system. In addition to touring ULA’s complex, we also saw their Mission Control room and their integration facilities.

Jenn shared, “My favorite part of this experience has been getting to tour the facilities and see all the amazing things in store for the future of space exploration. Seeing that we’re going to go back to the moon is so thrilling and I can’t wait to tell my students all about it!”

Inspiring Students Through Real-World Experiences

This was an incredible and enriching experience for each of our Trailblazing STEM Educators who plan to take what they learned back to the classroom.

“I’ve seen stuff that my students don’t know anything about,” answered Darryl. “So now I can take the knowledge I have back to the classroom and excite more kids about the opportunity of possibly working for Blue Origin, or ULA, or the US Space Force!”

“By inspiring these educators here, they can then take that excitement and inspiration back to the classroom,” says Heather. “These teachers are the conduit to the future and we’re so proud to support them.”

Challenger Center is honored to partner with AIAA, Club for the Future, and Blue Origin, sharing the goal of inspiring the next generation of explorers and innovators.

Previous Trailblazing STEM Educator Launch Experiences

Read all about our 2022 and 2023 Trailblazing STEM Educators.