It’s hard for many of us to believe, but Tuesday, January 28 marks the 17th anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle tragedy. Media representatives are invited to come out to the Challenger Space Center to see the living legacy of these American heroes and explorers of new frontiers. A sneak preview of a new theater presentation, Galileo’s Expeditions, will be shown throughout the day. Galileo’s Expeditions is sponsored by the Valley Saturn retailers. In memory of the dedication of the Challenger astronaut crew, the Center is offering free general admission throughout the day.
In addition to observing some of the educational activities reserved and scheduled for specific students (described below), guided and self-guided tours will alternate with the theater schedule. Along with the sneak preview of Galileo’s Expeditions, documentaries and commemorative films will play throughout the day.
Galileo’s Expeditions realistically portrays futuristic flight through our Solar System, with planetary images based on the latest data from NASA. This theater presentation brings this renowned scientist and mathematician back to life and takes him on an expedition to several of the interesting worlds that he discovered back in the 17th century. The showing of Galileo’s Expeditions will alternate with documentaries commemorating the Challenger mission and crew.
SCHEDULED STUDENT ACTIVITIES: On Tuesday the 28th, the Center will be carrying out the education mission of the Challenger Shuttle with nearly 200 students scheduled to learn more about space and science throughout the day. At 9:30 a.m., the excitement of the day begins, when grade-schoolers from Tolleson Elementary launch into space via the simulated scenario, Rendezvous With a Comet. At 12:30 p.m., Mission Control and the Space Station simulators will be taken over by a group of middle-schoolers from Paradise Valley’s Copper Canyon Elementary. Also at 9:30 a.m., 42 energized kindergartners from Desert Harbor Elementary in Peoria will be participating in the Center’s popular Space Place program, with another 40 kindergartners from Fletcher Heights Charter School taking their Space Place turn at 12:30 p.m.
