as reported on January 19th, 2006

MISSION Accomplished:

Huge crowd opens center
June Scobee-Rogers, the widow of Challenger astronaut Dick Scobee, addressed the children first when she spoke during the Challenger Learning Center of Kansas' Grand Opening ceremony held Wednesday afternoon.

The CLC of Kansas, located at 316 N. Washington, was packed full of area residents and leaders. There was standing-room only for the ceremony events

She told the children she liked the new center and she thanked the children who presented the roses for the Rose Ceremony. She explained to them that one of the roses was for her late husband, who was killed in the Challenger space shuttle explosion in January of 1986.

Scobee-Rogers, founder of Challenger Center for Space Science Education, then turned to the rest of the crowd and presented the ABC's of creating a Challenger center.

She said “A” is for “ability.” She said the first step is bringing in a team to work together on the project. She said she has heard several wonderful stories about building the CLC in Wellington.

Scobee-Rogers said “B” is for “belief. She said it is important to believe in yourself and the mission.

At this point, she told a story about her late husband's first flight, which was a solar max repair flight. She said as soon as he returned home, he told her all about what it was like to fly in space. She said his eyes sparkled as he told the story.

She illustrated that the mission was all that was important to him as he wasn't angry that President Ronald Reagan did not mention his name when he mentioned everyone else on the flight. Dick told her all that was important was that the job was done.

Scobee-Rogers said while space travel has several benefits, including benefits to technology for things like cell phones and MRIs, she personally believes there is more to it than that for the astronauts who risk their lives.

“I personally think God gives us curiosity and desire,” Scobee-Rogers said, which includes wanting to know more about outer space.

She said it would take 10,000 boxes of salt to have enough grains of salt to represent all of the stars in the galaxy.

“That's a lot of discovery to be made,” she said.

Finally, the “C” stands for “commitment,” which Scobee-Rogers commended the local Challenger team and community on keeping.

Scobee-Rogers pointed out that children will benefit in many ways from visiting the Challenger center. A visit may even spark interest in a few who may actually go on to become astronauts themselves and maybe even go on a mission to Mars.

To order pictures of CLCKS Grand opening click here:

www.kansasouttakes.com