Following the tragedy of the January 28, 1986 Challenger 51-L “Teacher in Space” launch, the families of the Challenger crew vowed to continue the crew’s mission of broadening scientific knowledge through education. 

Led by June Scobee Rodgers, wife of Shuttle Commander Dick Scobee, on April 24, 1986 the families created a living memorial to Commander Richard “Dick” Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialist Ron McNair, Mission Specialist Ellison Onizuka, Mission Specialist Judy Resnik, Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis and Teacher in Space Participant Christa McAuliffe. The organization created a clear mission: “The Challenger Center will be the symbol of our nation’s continuing support of space exploration and an affirmation of our faith in the future. It will re-energize our country’s commitment to educational excellence and increase scientific literacy among our people.”

The following year, citing national concern over student achievement and teaching methods at the K-12 level, especially in mathematics and the sciences, Challenger Center outlined its long-term goals:

• To increase student interest in and enthusiasm for the sciences, mathematics, and technology
• To improve students’ knowledge and problem-solving skills in these fields
• To teach students to work in teams and think critically

The first Challenger Learning Center opened at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in 1988. There are now more than 40 Challenger Centers located throughout the United States, South Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with more opening every year.  Today, more than 500,000 students nationally, none of whom were even born when the Challenger accident occurred, participate in Challenger Center programs annually. More than 6,000 educators learn the value of simulation for classroom use, adding to the 30,000 classrooms where Challenger Center school-based programs have been made available.

The CLC is the K-12 educational outreach facility of the Florida A&M University – Florida State University College of Engineering and strives to foster long-term interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); create positive learning experiences; and motivate students to pursue higher education and careers in these fields. Serving over 60,000 students per year from the tri-state service area, the CLC has become a tourism destination for tour groups, schools and families with K-12 students in addition to serving as an attraction for local groups and families.