TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Of course, what everyone remembers about the Challenger crew is that there was a teacher among them, Christa McAuliffe.
Even today, education is the legacy for that crew.
After the horrific explosion on January 28, 1986, the families of the astronauts decided to carry on their legacies by creating the Challenger Learning Center.
There are more than 40 locations across the US, South Korea, Canada, and United Kingdom, including the one here in Tallahassee.
The Challenger Learning Center in Tallahassee opened its doors in 2003 through the help of many people.
One of those people was Tallahassee resident Dr. Norman Thagard, who is a retired astronaut and is close friends with the family of one of the astronauts killed during the mission.
The hope is that these centers will give children an interest in science and math-related subjects.
"Our goal everyday is to continue their mission of fostering interest in STEM, space exploration and to really inspire students to pursue higher education and careers in these fields," said Samantha Reaves, Communication Manager at Challenger Learning Center.
More than 500,000 students nationwide and 40,000 locally participate in the Challenger Learning Center programs every year.
At the Tallahassee Center, there is a Space Simulator that allows people to better understand what goes into a space mission.
