Located inside McWane Science Center, the Challenger Learning Center Alabama is a technology-packed learning environment that immerses students and teachers in a unique space mission simulation. 

Upon mission arrival, a pre-flight briefing is held to give students their assignments and an overview of the mission.  Each student is assigned to one of the eight teams that form the crew. 

During the mission, students become engineers and scientists as they work in teams, accept responsibility, experience shared trust, build communication skills, and develop problem-solving techniques. 

These components reinforce inquiry-based learning and allow students to apply math and science concepts to real-life situations.

Reserve a Challenger Learning Center mission and receive a FREE technology based program.

Make a Reservation
Your reservation includes FREE admission to the Exhibit Halls before or after your Challenger program! To book your mission, call (205) 714-8467.

Micronaut Mission

Grades: K-4    

Capacity: 10-40 participants

Fee: $250        Length: 1 hour
Fee: $350        Length: 2 hour
         
The Micronaut Mission is a simulated space mission designed specifically for students in K- 4th grade that takes place aboard the International Space Station. Students become scientists, engineers, and mathematicians as they engage in a variety of hands-on experiments while traveling 230 miles above the Earth’s surface.

ACOSS:
Kindergarten: 1, 3, 4, 11
1st grade: 1, 2, 3, 11
2nd grade: 1, 2, 11
3rd grade: 2, 12, 14
4th grade: 2, 8

Rendezvous with a Comet

Grades: 4-8

Capacity: 16-34 participants

Fee: $500

Length: 2 hours

Young scientists and engineers serve as astronauts on a daring exploration of comets. Their mission is to successfully plot a course to rendezvous with a comet and launch a scientific probe into its tail. Students will be assigned to stations and launched into space to work aboard a space station. Together, they will encounter many challenges and surprises while gaining first-hand insight into teamwork and problem-solving.

ACOSS:
4th grade – 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10
5th grade – 2, 11
6th grade – 1, 10, 11
8th grade Standards – 1

Optional FREE Technology Program: Grades 3-5 Nano-Technology
Grades 6-8 Techno Geeks

Voyage to Mars

Grades: 5-12

Capacity: 16-34 participants

Fee: $500

Length: 2 hours

A team of astronauts has been living on the Mars base Chryse Station for the past two years and now it is time for them to return home. A new crew has arrived in the Mars Transportation Vehicle. The student crews will work as a team to select landing sites on Mars, determine correct entry and departure trajectories, and build and launch probes to continue the scientific exploration of Mars.

ACOSS:
5th grade – 1, 2, 3, 5, 11
6th grade – 1, 2, 10
8th grade – 1, 4

Optional FREE Technology Program:
Grades 9-12 Robotics Challenge