Challenger Center, a leading science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
education organization, today announced that several of
the lessons Christa McAuliffe planned to perform aboard the Challenger
shuttle during the Teacher in Space mission will be completed aboard the
International
Space Station (ISS) this year. Challenger Center, in collaboration with
NASA and
STEM on Station, will work with
astronauts Joe Acaba, currently aboard the ISS, and Ricky Arnold, scheduled to arrive in March, to film the lessons.
“We are thrilled to work
with NASA’s educator astronauts to bring Christa’s lessons to life,”
said Lance Bush, president and CEO, Challenger Center. “For more than 30
years, we have continued the mission of the Challenger crew, reaching
more than 5 million students with our hands-on STEM programs. We are
honored to have the opportunity to complete Christa’s lessons and share
them with students and teachers around the world.”
Acaba and Arnold are both former educators and will film the activities over the next several months.
The lesson topics will
include effervescence, chromatography, liquids in zero-g, and Newton’s
law. Several of the lessons will be completed as originally planned by
Christa and a few will be reimagined based on materials available aboard
the ISS. The videos will be released alongside corresponding classroom
lessons and available on Challenger Center’s website (www.challenger.org) beginning this spring.
“Filming Christa McAuliffe’s lessons in orbit this
year is an incredible way to honor and remember her and the Challenger
crew,” said Mike Kincaid, Associate Administrator for NASA’s Office of
Education. “Developed with such care and expertise
by Christa, the value these lessons will have as new tools available
for educators to engage and inspire students in STEM is what
will continue to advance a true legacy of Challenger’s mission.”
Christa McAuliffe was a high school teacher who made history when she became the first teacher selected to go into space.
She had planned to film several demonstrations to be used as a part
of educational packages distributed to students and teachers across the
globe. The crew of the Challenger shuttle died tragically on the morning
of Jan. 28, 1986 when the shuttle broke
apart just 73 seconds after launch.
The announcement comes
prior to the 32nd anniversary of the Challenger accident and was made by
Acaba during a downlink hosted by Challenger Center and the
McAuliffe Center at
Framingham State University (FSU). FSU is Christa McAuliffe’s alma mater and home to one of Challenger Center’s 43
Challenger Learning Centers. Both the Christa McAuliffe lesson collaboration and downlink at FSU are part of NASA’s
Year of Education on Station initiative.
For more information about Challenger Center,
please visit www.challenger.
About Challenger Center
As a leader in science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center
provides more than 250,000 students annually with experiential education
programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities.
These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and
classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students
to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was
created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle
flight STS-51-L.
Lisa Vernal
Vice President of Communications
Challenger Center
2017 National Science Board (NSB) Public Service Award Recipient
422 First Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Main: 202-827-1580 |Direct: 202-827-1573
“The fact that their learning experiences remain
current—changing and growing with trends and technological
advancements—demonstrates their commitment to the mission and to those
that they continue to serve. One student at a time, Challenger
Center inspires the kind of curiosity that leads to further exploration
and success in STEM fields.” – NSB’s Committee on Honorary Awards
