Challenger Learning Centre Bundaberg

What is a Challenger Learning Centre?

Challenger Learning Centres are a United States based, NASA aligned, education program aimed at giving hands on STEM education for youth across a range of ages. They aim to inspire students to study STEM through offering experiences in conducting simulated missions to space.

Challenger Centres came about following the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster when family members of the ill-fated launch came together to complete part of NASAs mission, being to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers through delivering science lessons from space.

Why Bundaberg?

Bundaberg was approached by the Challenger organisation to host Australia’s first ever Challenger Centre given the links between the region and the 1986 mission.

This link featured a small piece of Bert Hinkler’s original glider being on board the Challenger Space Shuttle at time of disintegration.

Following the disaster, this small piece of Bert’s glider was recovered off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida by NASA’s recovery team and now resides in the Bundaberg Hinkler Hall of Aviation (pictured below).

This piece of Bert Hinkler’s glider rib was flown by Francis R. (Dick) Scobee as part of the Official Flight Kit aboard the orbiter “Challenger”, STS 52-L, January 28, 1986.

This connection between Bundaberg and world leaders in science, technology, science and maths will be strengthened through the establishment of the Challenger Learning Centre Bundaberg.

Further information on Challenger Centres can be found at https://www.challenger.org/.