Space Center Houston Provides Free Interactive Virtual Learning Experiences for the Everyday Explorer

HOUSTON, TX – The nonprofit Space Center Houston is adding to its wide range of virtual learning experiences for the everyday explorer to be a part of what’s happening now in space exploration. The center will take you beyond the museum walls and bring science learning to you – making science and space exploration accessible for everyone.

The science center has launched a new challenge series as part of its Innovation Gateway community science initiative, presented by BHP and supported by Repsol; a virtual Apollo 13 mission exhibit; and, on its social media pages, has several weekly blog series including Mission Mondays, Trivia Wednesdays and the new “History Up Close” video series featuring an insider look at the museum’s extensive artifact collection.

“Space Center Houston is committed to making science and space exploration accessible for everyone,” said William T. Harris, president and CEO of the science and space exploration learning center. “We’re all united during this unprecedented time, and we want to offer support to further science learning, which is more important to our future than ever before. Though we’re temporarily closed, we’re still passionate about space and dedicated to providing unique learning experiences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) resources. There’s more ways than ever to take part in space exploration virtually.”

Discover planetary science, human spaceflight and engineering with experienced STEM educators. Anyone can compete in a new series of challenges through the Innovation Gateway community science initiative. The first challenge is designing a spacecraft for a specific mission. Participants will be judged on the detail of the research, the plausibility of the mission and the creativity of the spacecraft. This series is dedicated to offering anyone the opportunity to provide useful solutions to further space exploration and humanity. Winners from multiple age categories will be featured on the center’s social media pages. Submissions began today April 10. To participate visit, spacenter.org/innovate.

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission with a new virtual “Apollo 13: A Success Failure” exhibit. Experience the mission that was to be the third moon landing, but instead became a successful failure that charted the course for valuable lessons learned in history. The exhibit is told through a timeline of events as the mission unfolded. For further exploration, this exhibit will be updated regularly, so check back for a series of new Apollo videos.

For those looking for the latest in space news and historic feats, check out the Space Center Houston blog. Weekly every Friday, the “History Up Close” video series features unique insight and new looks at some of the center’s artifacts. The series recently launched, featuring a peak inside the Mercury Faith 7 capsule. Space Center Houston members receive this series exclusively first.

Experience an online video archive of two years of Space Center Houston’s monthly Thought Leader Series, presented by UTMB Health. Hear from space experts, including current and former NASA flight controllers, retired NASA astronauts, leading women in space and more speak on a variety of topics. Take a virtual tour of the museum. Download the Space Center Houston free app for augmented reality, videos and audio stories about the future and historic feats in human space exploration. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

Although Space Center Houston is temporarily closed, the center is diligently working to enhance digital access to the museum’s collection and creating new online learning experiences for people of all ages. To join Space Center Houston’s virtual learning experiences, visit spacecenter.org.