The Challenger Space Center has signed a partnership agreement with Minor Planet Research, Inc. (MPR), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (www.minorplanetresearch.org) based in Fountain Hills, Arizona, that is dedicated to the search for, and physical studies of, asteroids and comets, particularly Near Earth Objects (NEOs). NEOs are asteroids or comets that pose a potential collision hazard with Earth by virtue of their mass, velocity, and orbital paths through space.

MPR’s research programs are conducted under the leadership of Dr. Edward L.G. Bowell of the Lowell Observatory’s Near-Earth-Object Search (LONEOS) program, and
Dr. Daniel D. Durda of the Southwest Research Institute. MPR recently announced the discovery of the closest asteroid ever known to pass the Earth without hitting the atmosphere (2003 SQ222), discovered by Observer Bob Cash, using software designed by Robert Denny of Mesa, Arizona, and images provided by the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.
The agreement between Minor Planet Research and the Challenger Center provides for an Asteroid Discovery Station (ADS) to be installed at the Challenger Center. The ADS will provide professional-level opportunities for students and others to make discoveries of solar system objects, particularly main belt asteroids. Students, teachers, and the public using the Asteroid Discovery Station will log on to the MPR portal at the Challenger Center to download images provided by the Lowell Observatory. These images constitute “virgin” data. As NEOs are observed, student detection reports will be reviewed by MPR for content and completeness, and forwarded to the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts for confirmation. The successful student(s) will receive official recognition and credit for their discoveries. The installation of the Asteroid Discovery Station at the Challenger Center, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year, will mark the first time that the opportunity to discover asteroids and earn discovery credit will be made routinely available in a public setting.

“We are pleased to partner with Minor Planet Research in this exciting new scientific endeavor,” said Sandi Hicks, Executive Director of the Challenger Space Center. “We look forward to being the catalyst to inspire new generations to learn more about the many mysteries of the universe in which we live.”

“Not only will students be learning valuable science, they will be conducting valuable science,” said James Ashley, Associate Director for MPR and inventor of the ADS concept.  “2003 SQ222 would have been missed if we had not been searching for it visually. We’re hoping students will feel this excitement when they realize they are the first people to look at these images, know that these kinds of discoveries are possible, and feel a sense of responsibility in helping to protect the planet from asteroid impact.”