Alexandria, VA – Dr. Scott Parazynski, a 16 year veteran of the NASA astronaut corps and avid mountain climber, recently discussed his life and career in an interview with Challenger Center for Space Science Education’s Founding Chairman, Dr. June Scobee Rodgers. This video podcast is part of a series of Challenger Center interviews with NASA astronauts and other acclaimed scientists and explorers aimed at introducing important role models to children through their life stories. To view this series, please visit Challenger Center’s non-profit YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/ccsse
An audio podcast version of the interview is also available on the Challenger Center website at www.challenger.org
Dr. Parazynski traveled to Mount Everest earlier this year in hopes of ascending a mountain he had aspired to his whole life. While on the summit he had planned to tie off two special memorial flags in honor of fallen astronauts and cosmonauts including the Challenger 51L crew. While Dr. Parazynski was unable to reach the summit, he asked a friend and climbing partner, Adam Janikowski to do the honors for him. Today, these space explorers are forever memorialized on top of the world, where the blue meets the black and the stars shine bright.
Dr. June Scobee Rodgers is the widow of Challenger 51-L Commander, Dick Scobee and led the effort to form Challenger Center for Space Science Education, an international education organization founded by the families of the astronauts lost during the last flight of the Challenger Space Shuttle in 1986. Through Challenger Center’s programs and its international network of Challenger Learning Centers, the diversity, spirit, and commitment to education that exemplified the Challenger 51-L mission continues to make an impact on students, teachers, and families today. A network of 50 Challenger Learning Centers across the nation, and around the world, carry on the Challenger STS-51-L mission by providing educational workshops and space simulations to over 25,000 teachers and 400,000 students annually. To learn more visit: www.challenger.org
For program information, please contact:
Shannon Rush, Development and Communications Associate
Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, VA
703-683-9740; srush@challenger.org
