STEM Center to Take Students on Space Missions Virtually

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 04/30/18

The city that put a man on the moon is now hoping to send students into space. Houston Community College has announced plans to open the latest "Challenger" learning center, a facility for K-12 students to gain STEM exposure by heading to space — virtually. Each center provides an immersive experience. Students occupy a mission control room and a space station where they perform labs, run experiments and analyze data during a "mission." The idea is to help students gain grounding in science, technology, engineering and math concepts while also testing out their teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills as emergencies arise.

The Challenger Learning Center of Las Cruces running a space mission. Source: Challenger Learning Center.

The Challenger Learning Center of Las Cruces running a space mission. Source: Challenger Learning Center.

The new site will be the 41st one built around the world. The community college system applied to the Challenger Center in Washington, D.C. to open the operation. Approval came in March as the first step to kick off a $2 million fundraising campaign that will support construction of the 10,000-square-foot center. The institution's hope is that the center will provide a STEM pathway to lead students into higher education.

"This will add to HCC's growing innovative educational offerings that already include participation in the city's new innovation corridor in Midtown and partnerships with NASA and the University of Houston to build a Mars surface habitat and other additional facilities for manned missions to Mars." said HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado in a prepared statement. "Today's students are the innovators, explorers and designers of tomorrow. We must nurture their excitement and inspire their imagination."

The Felix Fraga Academic Campus, where the center will be located, offers courses in engineering, maritime logistics, drafting, math, physics and astronomy. The school also has an observatory used by students and the community.

The Challenger Center is a non-profit founded by the families of those who died in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger accident. The goal of the center is "to carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew's educational mission," according to its website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • illustration of a human head with a glowing neural network in the brain, connected to tech icons on a cool blue-gray background

    Meta Introduces Stand-Alone AI App

    Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.