New Date & Time: TBD

30 Venture Way, Bangor ME

Launch

The Next Era

RSVP (Not Open)

It is with a heavy heart that we must inform you that the 40th Anniversary event, scheduled for January 27th, has been cancelled.

Unfortunately, our guest speaker is unable to travel to Bangor due to the unforeseen circumstances that have unfolded at the Bangor Airport this week. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and truly appreciate your understanding.

The Challenger team plans to reschedule this special anniversary event for a future date, which we will share as soon as details are confirmed.

NASA's Challenger Center 40th anniversary logo with a large black number 40, a rocket launching into space, stars, and a blue planet, encircled by text reading 'CHALLENGER CENTER' and 'Launch the Next Era' with years 1986 and 2026.

Launch the Next Era is an event welcoming community supporters to reflect, learn, and look forward on the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster at the Challenger Learning Center of Maine.

Join us for an inspiring evening that honors the legacy of Challenger while exploring the future of space exploration, innovation, and STEM education. The program will feature a special presentation by Dr. Kenneth Harris II, NASA engineer and nationally recognized STEM leader who worked on the James Webb Space Telescope. He will share insights from his work in aerospace and discuss the importance of inspiring the next generation of explorers, engineers, and problem-solvers.

Together, we will commemorate the past, celebrate resilience and discovery, and engage our community in conversations about how STEM education continues to shape the future for learners across Maine as we launch into the next era.

This adult, invite only event will be held at The Challenger Learning Center of Maine starting at (TBD). We hope to see you there!

A circular logo for Challenge Learning Center in Maine with a rocket launching into space, stars, and a blue hill, with the words "Challenge Learning Center" around the top and "Maine" at the bottom.

Connect With Dr. Harris

Dr. Kenneth Harris II is a distinguished aerospace engineer, author, speaker, and STEM advocate whose work blends technical excellence with educational outreach.

Recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s most impactful young leaders in science, he began his career at NASA as a teenager and has since contributed to multiple satellite missions and served in significant technical and leadership roles such as Deputy Lead Integration Engineer for the James Webb Space Telescope and in senior engineering positions. Beyond his engineering achievements, Dr. Harris actively champions STEM education, delivers keynotes globally, and engages audiences through media appearances and outreach efforts on and off kennethfharris.com

Continue scrolling to read his media kit below or click the button to visit Dr. Harris’ website.

Learn More
A collage of five images featuring Dr. Kenneth F. Harris II: a man seated on a stage, a man giving a presentation, children and an adult taking a selfie, a scientist working in a lab, and a speaker pointing at a large screen.
A woman and a young man being interviewed in a room with large windows, lighting equipment, and printed posters about science and engineering projects.