Mission and History

The Challenger shuttle crew, of seven astronauts -including the specialties of pilots, aerospace engineers, and scientists - died tragically in the explosion of their spacecraft during the launch of STS-51-L from the Kennedy Space Center about 11:40 a.m., EST, on January 28, 1986.

In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, the crew’s families came together, firmly committed to the belief that they must carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew’s educational mission. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

Challenger Center and its global network of Challenger Learning Centers use space-themed simulated learning and role-playing strategies to help students bring their classroom studies to life and cultivate skills needed for future success, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork.

A not-for-profit education organization, Challenger Center reaches hundreds of thousands of students and tens of thousands of teachers every year.

The Challenger Learning Center of Greater Rochester, in partnership with Monroe One BOCES, opened its doors in 1991. During the 2024-25 school year, we are working with a record number of fifth and sixth grade classes from around the Rochester metro and greater Finger Lakes region for our in-person Mission to Mars simulation. When students fly their Mission to Mars, not only do they have fun, but they also exercise the development of their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) process skills by completing curriculum-based activities aligned with New York State Learning Standards. Every single student is 100% engaged in a truly state-of-the-art facility that incorporates hands-on science activities that help improve problem-solving skills and enhance creative and critical-thinking abilities.