Challenger Center Programming Options

In-Person Simulated Space Missions

Early Education

Micronaut Programs

Recommended Grade Levels:  K-2 or 3-5

In response to requests by early educators for a space education program that would be appropriate for their students, the UTC Challenger Learning Center developed the Micronaut Program. This program is a space-themed, content-rich experience for students in grade bands K-2 or 3-5. 

K-2 students participate in our Discovery Station, which includes a shuttle launch, trip to our Discovery STEM Space Station, and may include 1-3 additional programs. 

3rd-5th grade students participate in one of our Micro Missions, which are adapted versions of our full missions, customized for younger learners. They may also include 1-3 additional programs that are aligned with Tennessee science standards and enriching what they are learning in the classroom. 

Micronaut Timing, Pricing, and Capacity

Micronaut programs can accommodate 20 students per activity, rotating approximately every 40 minutes. 

Micro Mission/Discovery + 1 activity - 1.5 hours - $300 (40 student capacity)

Micro Mission/Discovery + 2 activities - 2 hours - $450 (60 student capacity)

Micro Mission/Discovery + 3 activities - 2.5 hours - $600 (80 student capacity)

MicroMars 

Recommended Grade Levels:  3rd+
Maximum Number of Participants per Program:  20
Program Length:  ~40 minutes
Mission:  MicroMars is a version of our full Expedition Mars simulation customized for 3rd-5th graders. It is currently our only micro mission being offered.

The year is 2076 and for 40 years humans have been studying Mars while on its surface. A few support structures have been built on Mars, but the primary living habitat and mission control are not on Mars itself; they are located approximately 5,800 miles above Mars on a moon named Phobos. Our mission begins by boarding the Mars Transport Vehicle (MTV) that shuttles astronauts and scientists from the base on Phobos to the surface of Mars.

All crew members work together to support the goal of this mission: searching for evidence of water on Mars. To accomplish the goal, the MTV carries parts for a new remotely operated vehicle (ROV) that must be built and programmed before today’s crew touches down on Mars. To ensure this happens crew members will check the health of the crew and safety of the MTV, search for mission satellites, and outline geologic signs of water.

Middle Grades and Higher

Expedition Mars

Recommended Grade Levels:  6th+
Maximum Number of Participants per Program:  34
Program Length:  ~2 hours
Mission:  The year is 2076. A handful of facilities have been established on Mars, including a greenhouse, a mobile geological survey base, and a centralized research habitat. The primary human habitat is not on Mars, but on one of its moons, Phobos. A large shuttle regularly ferries astronauts and scientists between the base on Phobos and the surface of Mars. This shuttle, or Mars Transport Vehicle (MTV), carries parts to build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to continue the search for evidence of life and water. However, when crew members discover an imminent threat to their MTV and the Martian surface facilities, they must act quickly to save their stations, their research, and their lives.​

Cost: $600/full mission; $1500 full day (2 missions + 2 classroom programs)

*All programs include optional use of lunch facilities

Lunar Quest

Recommended Grade Levels:  6th+
Maximum Number of Participants per Program:  34
Program Length:  ~2 hours
Mission:  In the not-too-distant future several permanent habitats on the Moon are home to astronauts and scientists conducting research. Human-operated vehicles and rovers search for resources critical to the expansion of lunar research. The new crew sent to help with the expansion faces a tough task and students will be challenged to make decisions that will impact the success of the mission. Teams will need to observe the Earth, sun, and beyond as they navigate to the moon and select sites for future lunar mining. Ultimately, the primary mission goal of keeping the crew safe will become a challenge as the teams will have to exercise their problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills before they can call the mission a success.

Cost: $600/full mission; $1500 full day (2 missions + 2 classroom Programs)

*All programs include optional use of lunch facilities

Virtual Simulated Missions

These exciting space-themed missions are designed for students in grades 4-8 and reinforce the importance of teamwork and collaboration, even in a virtual environment. Delivered to students in real-time by the Challenger Learning Center at Challenger STEM Learning Center at UTC, these experiences are perfect for remote, hybrid and socially distant classrooms. 

• One-hour engaging experiences delivered from start to finish by Center staff
• Aligned to national education standards
• No handouts or supplies needed
• Program requires devices with internet connection along with audio and video (optional) capability.
• Apple iPads are not compatible for these Missions.
• Features small group and whole class activities

Destination Moon

Researchers are returning to the Moon to build a second research base for astronauts to live and work. To get there, they’ll launch and fly Blue Origin’s reusable launch vehicle, New Glenn, and explore the Moon’s surface using Blue Origin's lunar lander, Blue Moon.

Destination Mars

Researchers are ready to explore Mars, but there’s one glaring problem – more than 40 million miles separate Earth from Mars. Students will go on a mission to analyze data and determine which of the Red Planet's moons, Phobos or Deimos, is the best location for building a research base.

These activities are included in your program, and they can also be stand-alone programs.  Standards-aligned and based on grade-level, our STEAM learning labs are exciting multi-sensory opportunities that enrich and expand upon what your students are learning in the classroom.  

Ask about our STEAM Learning Labs during your program intake meeting!

STEAM Learning Labs & Accompanying Programs

Kindergarten+

• Mini Moon Phases (40m) - This standards-based lesson not only has students learning the moon phases and their terminology, but actually puts students in the place of the earth! Students will experience how the relative positions of sun, earth, and moon interact to make full moons, new moons, eclipses, and more! Moon Phases for younger learners (k-2) is story-based and simplifies the modeling stations to make them kid-friendly!
• Nano Satellite Geofix (40m) - In our nanosatellite activity, teams of student engineers will learn about different types of satellites and their components. They will then inventory and assemble all of the necessary parts to construct a model of an actual nanosatellite!
• Micro Rockets (40m) - This short version of our pop rockets activity has students constructing and launching rockets with a solid/liquid fuel mixture. This version of pop rockets focuses more on engineering and concocting an ideal fuel ratio for flight, while the longer versions include more about rocket science and Newton's Laws.
• Telescope Tech (1st & 2nd | 40m) - Students will learn about the invention of the telescope and how it works, constructing their very own expanding telescope during this hands-on activity.     
• Micronauts to the Moon** (40m) - Micronauts learn about how rockets are constructed while creating and assembling their own rocket puzzle.
• Planet Walk (40m) - In this engaging kinesthetic activity, students will walk among the planets and experience the true scale of the solar system! Students will learn about the position, relative distances, and sizes of our solar system's 8 residents calculate and place the planets around our learning center. Best of all, young learners get to experience the way planets "walk" by engaging in movement-based learning!
• Stars Stations (40m) - In this activity, students will be taken on a journey through four different station, learning about how stars and light create patterns that decorate our night sky, forming the constellations that humans have known for years. Stations include 3-D pens, painting, chalk drawing, and punching holes, allowing students to create constellations and designs they can bring home with them!

3rd Grade +

• Galileo's Ramp (short form - 40m | long form - 2hr) - How on earth did Galileo come up with his "falling bodies" theory, one of the most baffling and revolutionary concepts from the world of physics? Students will be tasked with reproducing a significant experiment that demonstrated how objects of completely different masses still fall at the same velocity. Working collaboratively throughout this challenge, students will utilize the scientific method to gain a hands-on understanding of the relationship between mass and gravity, much like Galileo did centuries ago!
• Mini Mars Rover (1 hour) - In order to secure victory, students collaborate in pairs to construct a rover prototype that fulfills precise specifications established by NASA. Achieving success necessitates their adherence to a stringent budgetary framework throughout the process of designing and fabricating their model.
• Telescope Tech (40m) - Students will learn about the invention of the telescope and how it works, constructing their very own expanding telescope during this hands-on activity.
• Moon Phases (40m) - This standards-based lesson not only has students learning the moon phases and their terminology, but actually puts students in the place of the earth! Students will experience how the relative positions of sun, earth, and moon interact to make full moons, new moons, eclipses, and more!
• Planet Walk (40m) - In this engaging kinesthetic activity, students will walk among the planets and experience the true scale of the solar system! Students will learn about the position, relative distances, and sizes of our solar system's 8 residents calculate and place the planets around our learning center. Best of all, young learners get to experience the way planets "walk" by engaging in movement-based learning!
• Trouble Ladder (40m) - Trouble Ladder presents students with a sequence of challenges that will require them to utilize teamwork, time management, and fraction knowledge. Can you cross all of the obstacles before time runs out? Only time will tell!
• Stars & Constellations (40m) - In this activity, students will be taken on a journey through the life cycle of a star, learning how stars are created and what happens when they die! During the course of the journey, students will make observations of how light refracts to make the "twinkle" illusion, and they will see live demos of flame in order to illustrate the correlation between heat and color.
• Pop-Rockets - (short form - 40m | long form - 2hr) In this hands-on activity, students will work in pairs to construct a paper "pop" rocket. Students will practice using a graduated cylinder before creating their "rocket fuel": a mixture of solid fuel (alka-seltzer) and liquid fuel (water). After setup is complete, students will launch the rockets indoors, recording the height they reach. By utilizing data recorded on a table, students will analyze various combinations of solid/liquid fuel ratios and get a deeper understanding about Newton's Laws and the nature of unbalanced forces.          
• NanoSat 3D - In our nanosatellite activity, teams of student engineers will learn about different types of satellites and their components. They will then inventory and assemble all of the necessary parts to construct a model of an actual nanosatellite!

6th Grade +

• Everything previously listed can be adapted to fit the scheduling and academic needs of older students
• Clay Rockets (2 hours) - In this activity, teams of two work through the design process to construct miniature rockets suitable for indoor launch. They record data and adjust independent variables to see if they can make their rockets reach peak distance traveled!
• The Moon Rocks! (2 hours) - This activity, created in coordination with UTC Geology, investigates the formation of the moon, the nature of the moon's surface and interior, and the primary rock types that form the moon. Students will learn about geological investigation techniques as they investigate rock samples with hand lenses, classifying them by their geological features (hardness, streak, cleavage, porousness, etc)
• Moon Maneuvers (2 hours) - In this lesson, students will explore the rich history of moon exploration from the Apollo program to future planned manned missions. Through a timeline review, they will gain a deeper understanding of the technological advancements and achievements that have taken place in lunar exploration. To further engage with the material, students will locate specific features on a moon map using latitude and longitude coordinates, and plot these features on grid paper. Using this information, they will plan a lunar excursion with the shortest possible time, using measurement, conversion, and calculation skills to determine their total trip time. Finally, students will evaluate the results of their classmates' different route plans, providing an opportunity for collaborative learning and discussion. By engaging in these activities, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the intricacies of lunar exploration and the various scientific principles involved.
• Mars Rover (2 hours | mission accompaniment) - In order to secure victory, students collaborate in pairs to construct a rover prototype that fulfills precise specifications established by NASA. Achieving success necessitates their adherence to a stringent budgetary framework throughout the process of designing and fabricating their model.

For most programs, timing can be customized for group needs
 

Other Programs Offered

A Moc's First Year Courses

Be sure to schedule your FYE course as soon as possible to ensure your group has a spot!

We offer first year courses the chance to participate in our MicroMars mission to show them what the Challenger Center offers and help them bond as a team. Alternatively, first year Mocs have the opportunity to engage in our teambuilding setup, helping them to understand their strengths on a team as well as get to know their classmates!

 

 

Corporate and Business Teambuilding

We offer several Team Building opportunities for all groups that could benefit from time building the great team you already have!

Tours

Self-Guided Tours
The public is welcome to tour our exhibit space during normal business hours (8am-5pm M-F).

We have several one-of-a-kind artifacts that can only be found in our facility.

With advanced notice, a short guided tour can also be arranged. 

 

 

Professional Development

We offer several opportunities for Professional Development hours.  Depending the PD needs of your group this can be done in collaboration with Arts-Based Collaborative.

Please contact [email protected] for additional information regarding PD.