About 24 students in Morocco participated in Montgomery County Community College’s second-ever international, virtual mission simulation through the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown recently. 

At 5 a.m. EST Wednesday, Oct. 8, students studying at the National School of Applied Science in Agadir, Morocco, launched the Destination Moon simulation, a dynamic science, technology, engineering and mathematics experience that places learners in the roles of engineers and astronauts. 

“Working together in mission control, they successfully launched a rocket into lunar orbit and navigated a landing on the moon’s surface” said Anjuli Aker, Program Coordinator at the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown. “During the mission, students encountered an unexpected emergency scenario, requiring quick thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving to ensure crew safety and mission success.”

This international experience was part of a two-day event held in collaboration with Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, former NASA astronaut and current board member of Challenger Center Headquarters, said Aker.

The mission marks the second international engagement for the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown, furthering its commitment to global STEM education and cross-cultural collaboration.

In September 2025, 24 middle school students at Adana Gundogdu College in Adana, Turkey, participated in the first international mission. Plans are in the works to host additional international missions in the future.

The Challenger Learning Center is part of a worldwide network of over 40 centers founded by the families of the astronauts tragically lost during the 1986 Challenger space shuttle mission and inspired by the legacy of America’s first Teacher-In-Space, Christa McAuliffe, and the hopes and dreams of millions of school children.

Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. Focused on inspiring and engaging students in grades 5-8, it serves as a regional hub of innovative STEM learning experiences where students of all backgrounds embark on simulated space missions in a fully immersive spacecraft, space station, and mission control, working together to run hands-on experiments and solve tough problems.

Every student has a role to play, building confidence in their own abilities and demonstrating the power of teamwork. Challenger Center missions create jobs for students to spark ongoing STEM engagement, college STEM degree exploration, pathways to STEM internships, apprenticeships and careers, and workforce development.

To learn more about the Challenger Learning Center at Montco Pottstown, visit landing page or email the Center.