WASHINGTON -- NASA and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, Alexandria, Va., announced Thursday a cooperative Space Act Agreement to work together to encourage students to focus more on science, technology, engineering and mathematic studies and programs.

Through hands-on interactive educational activities, NASA and the Challenger Center will engage students, their teachers, their families, and the general public to help increase overall science and technology literacy.

Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, Challenger Center Founding Chairman, said, "We are overjoyed with the signing of this agreement with NASA. When Challenger was lost, the families came together to look for a fitting legacy to honor those we lost - and to carry on with their mission.”

This agreement with NASA will benefit the ongoing mission of the Challenger Center as well as allow the Center to work with America's space program.

The Challenger Center for Space Science Education was founded in 1986. Today the network of 50 Challenger Learning Centers across the U.S. trains more than 25,000 teachers annually to incorporate project- based learning and use the theme of space exploration to engage students in critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and teamwork. Over the past 22 years more than 8 million students have participated in Challenger Center programs.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

For more information about the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, visit:

http://www.challenger.org