The Challenger Space Center’s mission is to inspire, excite, and educate people of all ages about the mysteries and wonders of space, science, and the universe in which we live.

The Challenger Space Center is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The Center has won the following awards:

• Best Science Lesson from the Arizona Republic
• Best Place to See Stars from the New Times
• First Place Best of the West Award for K-12
• Education for the Smithsonian Educators Conference
• West Valley Treasure, WESTMARC