Maine Center Gets Full Renovation

Earlier this month, I made the drive to Bangor, ME, for the grand re-opening of the fully renovated Challenger Learning Center of Maine. The simulator looks out of this world! 

Thanks to a $2.2 million Congressionally directed spending award and more than $876,000 in local contributions, the Maine team has transformed every part of its learning environment: from Mission Control to Spacecraft and Transport Room. The reopening was a celebration of community effort, where supporters got to see firsthand what they helped build, even flying a Mission to repair satellites from the International Space Station.

But for me, the real highlight was meeting the people behind the transformation. I’ve known Kirsten Hibbard, the Center’s Executive Director, in her role as a member of our Board of Directors. But this visit gave me the chance to meet her team of Flight Directors, their local board members, dedicated volunteers, and the local donors who showed up in force to celebrate this milestone.

A Pioneering Spirit In Maine

I first worked with this team back in 2020, while I was still at NASA. Two astronauts from Maine—Chris Cassidy and Jessica Meir—were aboard the International Space Station at the same time. The folks at Challenger Learning Center of Maine, in collaboration with Space Grant, pulled off an extraordinary downlink event during the pandemic, connecting thousands of students across the state with the astronauts for a live Q&A. 

That spirit of innovation has only grown. Today, Challenger Learning Center of Maine is helping to lead the charge in our efforts to expand access to hands-on STEM learning. Their pioneering use of our Virtual Missions has reached rural students across Maine and remotely-located students nationwide. And, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, they’re bringing Missions to hundreds of students across Africa.

Launching the Next 20 Years

This completely renovated simulator represents what’s possible when a community comes together. Everyone, from local donors, small businesses, Senators, and volunteers, played a part. That’s not just a fundraising effort. That’s a team with a mission.

And it’s fitting, because Mission teams are what we build here.

When students walk through the doors of a Challenger Learning Center, they’re stepping into the role of Mission Controllers. Whether they’re selecting a Martian moon for human settlement or launching satellites to study Earth’s climate, they are taking a step to becoming the scientists, engineers, and leaders we’ll need tomorrow. 

We’re always thinking about the future and the next generation of pioneers. Challenger Learning Center of Maine was established over 20 years ago, and this is the first major renovation they’ve undergone in that time. But with these renovations, the students of Maine are set for the next 20 years with a Center that can run our latest simulations using state-of-the-art technology in a space that’s more immersive than ever.

A space mission is one of the best metaphors for the world our students are growing up in: complex, fast-moving, and deeply interconnected. Solving the challenges ahead requires real teamwork, critical thinking, and resilience. These are the skills we build in our Missions, and these are the values that brought this renovation to life.