As I travel around campus I find myself answering some interesting
questions about the Challenger Center and explaining what it is we do.  I
am constantly surprised by the number of people are not even aware that we
are on campus.  In an effort to provide a base level of understanding of
what we do I intend to update the university community on a periodic basis
about what is happening at the center.

Simulated Space Flight Missions:
        -  We have conducted 92 missions this academic year.  Annually we
will conduct approximately 320 missions.  Approximately 1/3 of the missions
involve Hamilton County students and the remaining are shared by Knoxville,
Nashville, Atlanta and various points in between.  These missions are
designed to reinforce math, science and technology instruction.  Each
mission last approximately 2 hours and involves up to 36 students in each
mission.  Student groups are primarily 5th through 8th grades.
Simultaneous with most missions we conduct 2 hours of hands-on science
programs.  This 2 hour hands on science program is necessary because
generally two classrooms will visit the center at the same time so as to
maximize transportation.  While one group participates in the mission the
second group participates in hands-on science.

Teacher Professional Development Workshops:
        -  This year we have planned for 19 workshops.  Six of those
workshops are mission simulation related and the remaining 13 involve
numerous other topics in science and math.  We have conducted 5 to date and
have 1 occurring on 2 December.  NASA participates in some of the workshops
but the majority are developed by the center based on the stated needs of
the Hamilton County Department of Education and surrounding school systems.
These workshops represent a new initiative for the center.

School Site Programs:
        -  We have developed exportable hands-on science programs that can
be delivered to the classroom.  We have booked six such programs and have
received numerous inquiries.  This represents a new initiative for this
year and seems to be starting off in a very positive manner.

College of Education and the Teacher Professional Development School:
        -  Each semester pre-service PDS students participate in various
facets of challenger center programming.  Many students observe and
participate in missions with specific objectives to accomplish.

AeroSpace Camps:
        -  We have conducted 4 camps this academic year.  We have 1-day,
2-day and 5-day camps.  The primary thrust of these camps are hands-on,
minds-on science in a fun environment.  We will conduct a 2-day and a 1-day
camp during the Christmas holidays.

I hope this provides some insight about what we do.  I will provide another
update later in this academic year.