SESSION 1 (more info here on CEC webpage)
Tours of the Tennessee STEM Challenger Center start every 15 minutes from 4:01 to 5:48 PM. The thirty-five Challenger Centers located through the United States are hands on laboratories with the mission of igniting a passion for STEM in the next generation of leaders and innovators. Established to honor the lost crew of the space shuttle Challenger and to keep their educational mission alive, over 6 million K-9th grade students have participated in hands-on Earth & Space Science, Engineering, Life Science and Physical Science “missions”. The Chattanooga Challenger Center was one of the first to open, and it celebrates thirty years of operations in 2024.
A special exhibit will be on display containing local artifacts from the past 100 years of engineering and the engineering club in the Tennessee Valley. Pictures will be taken of your “crew” as you begin your tour, and you will have the option of saying a few words that will be recorded for a video time capsule to be opened in 2124. Both picture and video will be made available to you in electronic format as a memento of your crew’s evening.
The tours will include hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks and a visit with guest host Mike Holman, registered professional engineer and fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management. Mr. Holman served as a junior engineer in the US Space Shuttle Program, and recently as the Senior Manager for Northrop Grumman’s strategic NASA launch vehicle programs including the Space Launch System for the Artemis 1 return mission to the moon. As Safety and Mission Assurance Chief Engineer he brings a fascinating perspective on the Challenger Space Shuttle Missions and the next 100 years of Space Exploration.
Tickets include food & parking. Students age 18 & under may attend free with an adult but must register. This event flows into SESSION 2 across the street at UTC Benwood Foundation Auditorium at 6:30pm.
