Challenger Center and Coalition for Space Exploration Join Forces for Aerospace Education

Space Ref: Challenger Center and Coalition for Space Exploration Join Forces for Aerospace Education
Challenger Center becomes Coalition's newest Partner level member

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Today the Challenger Center for Space Science Education (Challenger Center) joins the Coalition for Space Exploration (Coalition) as a Partner level member to educate and inspire a new generation of aerospace workers and space explorers. The announcement was made at the Next Generation Suborbital Researchers Conference in Orlando.

Challenger Center and the Coalition both strive to ensure that America remains a leader in space, science and technology. One important facet of that leadership includes a well-trained and competitive workforce which begins with a heightened interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

"The opportunities and challenges facing students and educators have never been greater. We welcome the Challenger Center and its network of Learning Centers as a partner as they work to inform, educate and inspire a new generation of aerospace workers and explorers," said Glenn Mahone, chairman of the Coalition.

This partnership builds upon numerous activities between Challenger Center and Coalition member companies over the past 25 years. Most recently, the Coalition supported the education and public outreach activities conducted by the Challenger Center at NASA's 2010 Desert RATS in the Arizona desert.

"In the past 25 years our network of Challenger Learning Centers has served more than 4 million students. Last year alone we reached 400,000 students. In the years ahead we seek to increase that number ten-fold by further expanding our reach via the Internet, a series of mobile services, and continued participation in missions and expeditions on Earth and in space. Working closely with the Coalition will provide access to an immense wealth of expertise and mentoring within its member companies," said Scott Parazynski, M.D., chairman of the board, Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

About the Coalition for Space Exploration

The Coalition for Space Exploration is a group of space industry businesses and advocacy groups that collaborates to ensure that the United States remains the leader in space, science and technology by reinforcing the value and benefits of space exploration with the public and our nation's leaders, and building lasting support for a long-term, sustainable strategic direction for space exploration. To learn more visit http://www.spacecoalition.com

About the Challenger Center for Space Science Education
Using space exploration as a theme and simulations as a vehicle, Challenger Center for Space Science Education and its international network of 48 Challenger Learning Centers create positive educational experiences that raise students' expectations of success, fosters a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and inspires students to pursue studies and careers in these areas. Challenger Center's network of Challenger Learning Centers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea reach more than 400,000 students each year through simulated space missions and educational programs, and engage over 40,000 educators through missions, teacher workshops and other programs. To learn more visit http://www.challenger.org