Challenger Center Celebrates Space Exploration Educators Conference with National Challenger-7 Recognition

Washington, D.C. and Houston, TX (June 12, 2026) — Challenger Center proudly announces that the Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) has been selected as a recipient of the Challenger-7 Recognition, a national honor created as part of the organization’s 40th Anniversary celebration.

The Challenger-7 Recognition 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.

“This recognition honors organizations that carry forward the legacy of the Challenger crew by inspiring the next generation of explorers,” said Mike Kincaid, President and Executive Director of Challenger Center. “For more than three decades, SEEC has empowered educators with authentic connections to space exploration and the tools to spark curiosity in their students. Their commitment to experiential learning and educator engagement reflects the very values the Challenger crew championed.”

As part of Challenger Center’s 40th Anniversary, this tribute celebrates trailblazing organizations whose work embodies the Challenger crew’s enduring commitment to exploration, learning, and inspiration.

Hosted annually at Space Center Houston, the Official Visitor Center for NASA Johnson Space Center, SEEC invites educators from around the world to experience the rigor and wonder of space exploration. The three-day conference features immersive sessions with NASA scientists and engineers, hands-on experiences inspired by astronaut training, and opportunities for educators to connect and collaborate. For 32 years, SEEC has helped educators bring the excitement of space exploration into their classrooms. (Photo Courtesy, Space Center Houston)

“As a space exploration and science learning center, our purpose is to bring people closer to space,” said Daniel Newmyer, Chief Learning Officer at Space Center Houston. “We are honored to receive this award and will continue to champion opportunities that spark curiosity, encourage discovery, and ignite learning.”

Building on their shared commitment to educator engagement, Challenger Center and Space Center Houston are also announcing a new partnership to help expand access to SEEC for educators nationwide. This year, Space Center Houston will launch the first SEEC Summit, an intensive one-day professional learning experience designed to bring the spirit of SEEC to educators in communities across the country. (Photo Courtesy, Space Center Houston)

The inaugural SEEC Summit will be held at the Challenger Learning Center at Montco in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, on September 18^th and 19^th. Educators can register and learn more now.