(WLS) -- The worlds of science and education come together at the Challenger Learning Center in Hammond, Indiana, which honors the legacy of the "Challenger seven," while inspiring future generations of explorers. Ultimately, high school teacher Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire was selected out of more than 11,000 applicants. She joined the six crew members of the space shuttle Challenger, which launched Jan. 28, 1986. The families of the crew members created Challenger Learning Centers to keep their legacies alive. We talk about those seven astronauts," said Lara Bates, executive director for Challenger Learning Center of Northwestern Indiana.