Space exploration creates possibility. Every rocket launched into orbit represents how far humanity is willing to go to seek new horizons and explore the unknown. The astronauts on the Challenger shuttle flight STS-51L were dedicated to this vision of discovery, with a special emphasis on learning. Through the Teacher In Space Project, they sought to inspire a passion for math, space, and science in the children of Earth.
39 years ago on January 28, 1986, we tragically lost the Challenger STS-51L crew. I was a freshman in college at the time, and the following summer, I started as an intern at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. The experts I worked with that year were driven that much harder to go back to space, to live up to the Challenger Crew’s legacy of a love of discovery.
It wasn’t until the 1990s, when I was running the intern program at JSC, that I saw how powerful that legacy is. In their interviews, many candidates told me they remembered the Challenger mission—how they watched the launch in their 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classrooms, and how the experience inspired them to pursue a career at NASA. Many of those interns I hired are leaders at NASA today.
Back then, students dreamed of the programs that are today’s reality, from reusable rockets to a permanent presence in space. The space industry has never felt more electric with possibility. Yet the challenges within STEM education can feel equally daunting. The country faces shortages of middle and high school teachers in STEM fields, and chronic absenteeism nationwide limits student exposure and success in these critical fields. How can we recover the fun of learning and inspire tomorrow’s innovators to reach for the stars?
Resilience Breeds Innovation
One of the most inspiring things about children is their ability to take on challenges and not just overcome them but emerge even stronger. Our students are resilient and full of hope for the future. Today’s kids aren’t afraid to dream big and explore, fueled by innovations across the STEM and education fields. They are taking virtual field trips to Hawai’i’s lava fields and the surface of the Moon; they are joining robotics clubs; and they are debunking science myths in video projects. Students face today’s problems with the newest tools and technologies, and they are shooting for the moon. It’s so amazing to see students inside our simulators working on things that fuel their passion.
Challenger Center embodies this resilient attitude, carrying forth the memory of the lost Challenger astronauts to urge innovation and celebrate the promise of the future. This organization was founded by the Challenger families as both a living tribute to the seven crew members and as a way to inspire children and ignite their potential. Since joining Challenger Center just over a month ago, I’ve already had alumni reach out to me and tell me how meaningful this organization was to them when they were students. Their stories are powerful and represent the legacy we aim to cultivate every day.
Challenger Center’s Living Legacy
As I look to the future of Challenger Center, I’m excited by what’s to come. In 2025, we have so much to look forward to, including:
- Opening a new Challenger Learning Center in Northeast Alabama;
- Partnering with RAND on a study of the impact of our programs;
- Bringing Virtual Missions to students in Africa through a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University;
- Working with NASA SCoPE to connect engineers and scientists directly to students at Challenger Learning Centers;
- Partnering with GLOBE to help Challenger Learning Centers become environmental data collection hubs for their communities;
- And much more!
It’s a year filled with possibilities for both the space field and Challenger Center. I know that together, we would make the Challenger Crew proud by continuing to dream big and be courageous in the face of any obstacles to reach students with the STEM experiences that inspire them.
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