Bangor's Challenger Learning Center unveils renovations

Bangor science and learning center shows off nearly $2.5M in renovations

BY David Ledford Maine

PUBLISHED 1:05 PM ET May 13, 2025 PUBLISHED May 13, 2025 @1:05 PM

BANGOR — Bangor’s Challenger Learning Center recently went through nearly $2.5 million in renovations.

According to Challenger Learning Center Executive Director Kirsten Hibbard, $2.186 million of that came through congressionally directed spending, while roughly $250,000 came through fundraising efforts.

The facility is one of more than 40 centers worldwide that were built in the years following the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster to honor the fallen crew members and to educate K-12 students about the world of science, technology, engineering and math.

“We use space as a spark,” said Hibbard. “But it really is letting students, for a day, try out a STEM job.”

Hibbard said the Bangor location is a frequent field trip destination for Maine kids and the upgrades include new monitors, robotics and simulations to better reflect modern space missions.

“When they’re here, they get to run simulations of NASA-like missions,” said Hibbard. “So, they get to go back to the moon, they get to go on a mission to Mars, and while they’re doing it, they have professional, STEM, jobs as if they’re in Mission Control or they’re astronauts in order to conduct that mission.”

Hibbard says this is their biggest upgrade since opening in 2004.

A robotic arm in the Challenger Learning Center’s “Spacecraft” room. (Spectrum News/David Ledford)

“I think the best part is our Mission Control consoles look like real Mission Control,” said Hibbard. “We had kind of an Apollo era look to it before but now we have this new modern look and new modern equipment. And our space lab is larger and we’re able to do more.”

The center underwent renovations between December 2024 and February 2025.

“We get to run new missions, we have new hardware, new software to run missions,” said Hibbard. “We weren’t able to before. My favorite one is our new Earth mission, which is really meant for 8th, 9th, 10th graders so we can serve higher grade levels.”

To schedule a trip or learn more, visit astronaut.org.

“At the end of the day a student can say, ‘I did that, I could do that, I think I’m going to think about this job for the future.’ And that can be pretty powerful.”