Columbia Memorial Space Center to host Astronaut Commemoration Day honoring fallen crews

DOWNEY — The Columbia Memorial Space Center will host Astronaut Commemoration Day on Saturday, Jan. 24, offering a free, daylong program honoring astronauts lost in the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia missions while highlighting science education opportunities for students and families.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Space Center, 12400 Columbia Way, and is open to the public. Visitors will be able to explore exhibits on the history of the American space program, take part in hands-on activities and hear from special guest speakers.

This year’s commemoration includes a special program marking the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The anniversary falls Jan. 28 and remembers the seven-member crew of the STS-51L mission, including teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe and astronaut Judith Resnik.

The anniversary holds particular significance for the Space Center, which is home to California’s only Challenger Learning Center. The immersive simulated space mission experience was recently upgraded and is part of a national network created by the families of the Challenger crew to inspire future scientists and explorers. During Saturday’s event, children will learn about each Challenger astronaut and how the crew’s educational legacy continues in Downey.

Opened in 2009 as the official national memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia, the Space Center also honors the engineers who worked in the Downey area and contributed to NASA programs for more than seven decades, including the Apollo capsules and the space shuttle orbiters.

Looking ahead, the Space Center is developing “Inspiration,” a nearly 40,000-square-foot education complex designed to expand year-round science programming. Plans call for new indoor and outdoor learning spaces and the restoration and display of the historic “Inspiration” space shuttle mockup. Built in 1972 by Rockwell International, the prototype served as an engineering and payload-fitting tool for all orbiters that later flew in space.

Organizers say Astronaut Commemoration Day reflects the Space Center’s mission to ignite curiosity and creativity through engaging programs, world-class exhibits and community events.

More information about the event and ongoing programs is available at columbiaspacescience.org.