:: discovery museum | school & group programs

• Grades 5 and above
• Mission Control Operations Center
• Space Station Simulator
• Mars Simulation/Scenario
• Teacher Training with NASA and Challenger Center Materials
• Pre- and Post-Visit Curriculum

Challenger is a visually exciting and state of the art educational experience. The Challenger Learning Center's goals are to:

• Engage and enhance student enthusiasm for science, mathematics and technology
• Inspire students to pursue this interest in career choices
• Improve student problem solving skills
• Demonstrate the value of teamwork and communication
• Enhance creative and critical thinking abilities

The families of the seven Challenger astronauts founded the Challenger Center for Space Science Education to continue the crew’s educational mission and to prepare youth to "live wisely and productively in a technological and interdependent world." We invite you and your class to join us on our latest mission.

MISSION: RETURN TO THE MOON
On July 20th, 1969, Neil Armstrong, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin and Michael Collins made history with the first successful landing on the surface of the Moon. Between 1969 and 1972 one dozen men would leave footprints, tire tracks, and hundreds of experiments on the surface of our nearest neighbor. After Apollo 17 the changing social, political, and economic climate caused NASA to shift its focus closer to home. Space shuttle astronauts and those on board Earth orbiting facilities like Skylab, Mir and the more recent International Space Station do their work within a few hundred miles of Earth's surface. Now it is time to once more break free of Earth's gravity and Return to the Moon!

The year is 2045. The mission is to establish a permanent base on the Moon that will be used to observe, explore and test the feasibility of off - Earth settlements. Astronauts on board the Spacecraft and scientists in Mission Control will have to work together to successfully complete the mission. Along the way a damaged probe will have to be repaired, lunar samples analyzed, and an appropriate site for the new Moon Base will have to be selected. While some crew members are busy with these tasks, others will have to ensure that communications run smoothly and that the health and safety of the crew is protected.
We challenge you and your students to take this exciting journey with us.

Pair your Challenger Mission with our new lunar Planetarium show ONE SMALL STEP...
Click here for details
Or our Moon Mania Science Demonstration
Click here for details

Fee for Challenger Learning Center:
$450 per mission for up to 25 students.
Add $18 per student up to 36. (2 Hour Mission plus classroom materials).

Maximum group size: 36
Minimum group size: 20

Teacher training and classroom preparation with NASA and Challenger Center materials necessary prior to visit.
For more information, call David Mestre at 203 372-3521 x 118.

Mission Prep materials are now available on-line in Adobe PDF format.

Mission Prep Book - Contains activities to help prepare your students for the tasks they will perform during the mission.

Mission Prep Book: The Essentials - An abbreviated version of the Mission Prep Book. This document outlines pre-mission activities you must complete to ensure that your students have an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.

Moon Book - Contains activities to help your students learn more about the Moon.

Challenger Mission ID Badges:
Have custom ID badges made for your students to wear on their mission, and then take home. Have your class design a Mission Patch, or use the Challenger logo. $50.00 for up to 20 badges, $1.50 per additional badge. Advance notice required. Ask for details at time of booking.