Sacramento's Challenger Learning Center is Number One in California

September 25, 2008

Space travel is more popular in Sacramento than any other place in California. According to figures released by the Challenger Center for Space Education Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, the Sacramento site sent more “astronauts” on simulated space missions over the past year than the Challenger Learning Centers in San Diego, Oakland, or Atwater. In fact, out of the 48 Challenger Learning Centers in the international network, only 8 centers have higher attendance than Sacramento.

“We flew 250 student missions during the last year,” said Catherine Gray, Director of the Challenger Learning Center located at the Discovery Science and Space Center on Auburn Boulevard. “Teachers see the value in our program and return with their classes year after year. Teachers report that after a mission, their classes are more focused on science and math because students have a more concrete understanding of the long-term value of those subjects.  A Challenger Learning Center mission is more than a field trip: it is a fun educational experience that meets curriculum requirements.”

The Challenger Learning Center also offers several types of two-and-a-half-hour simulated space missions for the general public. Community Missions are open to anyone over the age of 9, and are offered about once a month on a Friday evening. The next opportunity is Friday, October 10, when the Challenger Learning Center will celebrate NASA’s 50th Anniversary. Groups with 16-34 members may schedule a private mission at any time. The center also offers full- and half-day team-building missions for business and other organizations.

“Space missions are very popular with a wide variety of groups,” said Catherine. “Scouts, large families, various organizations, and clubs such as the Red Hat Ladies enjoy the camaraderie and fun – as well as the ‘astronaut’ experience.”

Crew members on a simulated Challenger mission may assigned to one of 8 different teams: Remote, Medical, Life Support, Probe, Navigation, Data, Isolation, or Communications. Team members are divided between Mission Control – a room modeled after Johnson Space Center, and the Spacecraft – modeled as a space vehicle of the future. According to the scenario being flown – there are 3 different scenarios – team members may work with glove boxes, remote control robot arms, assemble and launch probe rockets, and many other tasks that real astronauts must accomplish for a successful mission.