The Challenger Learning Center
Virtual Tour

                  
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Who Are You?

Welcome to the virtual tour of the Challenger Learning Center. We are happy to show you a glimpse of the exciting activities that await you on your journey to Mars.

WHAT IS THE CHALLENGER LEARNING CENTER?

The Challenger Learning Center is a state of the art Math, Science, and Technology education facility. Through an exciting simulated mission to Mars, we give students the opportunity to experience the excitement of space exploration, while using their science and math skills in an authentic, technology-based setting. Students chose one of nine different teams to specialize in, based on their own interests.

The Goals of Challenger are:

• To engage and increase student enthusiasm for science, mathematics, and technology.

• To improve student problem solving skills and enhance their critical thinking abilities.

• To teach students the importance of teamwork and communications.

• To foster a long term interest in science, math and technology.

• To inspire students to pursue that interest in their career choices.

YOUR MISSION:

THE NINE TEAMS

To take our Explorer 2 Spacecraft to Mars requires the cooperation and hard work of nine different teams. Teamwork is the key to a successful mission.

	PROBE Construct a probe and launch it to the Mars surface. Collect and record data to determine the next colony site.
	NAVIGATION Use computers to activate tracking sites, determine spacecraft course, set probe landing parameters, identify unknown objects orbiting Mars, and identify landing sites.
	REMOTE Use a glovebox to analyze rock and soil samples in order to determine where to build the next colony.
	ISOLATION Use robots to examine hazardous chemicals, damaged solar panels and radioactive filters. Analyze data by reading and creating graphs.
	MEDICAL Use computers and medical equipment to monitor and record heart rate, skin temperature, and visual and auditory reaction time.
	LIFE SUPPORT Monitor water, oxygen, and power for the spacecraft. Analyze microscopic images to monitor the effect of micro-gravity on cells.
	COMMUNICATIONS Establish verbal link between Mission Control and Spacecraft, and monitor satellite tracking stations.
	DATA Establish printed communications between Mission Control and Spacecraft, and decode encrypted messages.
	MEDIA Document the mission using digital photography. Create a personalized labeled CD-ROM of the mission photographs.

OTHER ACTIVITIES and FEATURES:

Teacher Training
The Challenger Learning Center is proud to be a leader in MST (Math, Science, and Technology) Education for New York State. Our Mission Commanders are New York State certified teachers. We offer a teacher Orientation for anyone bringing their classes for a mission. In addition to receiving a Teacher’s Manual, we provide on-line support and the option to use the BoSAT Challenger Kit. For more information, click here

Newsletter
Join our listserv and receive a free monthly newsletter which features one kid friendly activity for use in your classroom. To view sample archived Newsletters, click here

Challenger Kit
We are pleased to offer the BoSAT Challenger Science kit to all participating teachers. The kit features several activities and experiments for use prior to the mission. Perfect for astronaut training. To learn more about the BoSAT kit, click here.

Video Conferences
Before your mission, talk live with the Mission Commanders via video conferencing. Preview student roles and responsibilities. View and discuss live demonstrations. Engage in Q&A or long distance cooperative communication activities. To schedule a video conference click here.