CHARLOTTE, NC (February 24, 2026) – Discovery Place is bringing NASA science directly into local neighborhoods with the launch of NASA Community Space Stations, a series of interactive STEM events designed to engage students and families across the greater Charlotte region. 

Discovery Place, a NASA Community Anchor institution, was selected in January as one of 18 institutions nationwide to serve as a NASA STEM Innovator regional hub, expanding access to STEM education and connecting communities to NASA science, technology and exploration. 

“Expanding access to STEM education is central to Discovery Place’s mission and our impact in the Carolinas,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, President and CEO of Discovery Place. “Through the NASA Community Space Stations events, we aim to meet families where they are—inspiring curiosity about space science while connecting NASA’s work to real-world challenges facing our communities.” 

NASA Community Space Stations events feature interactive activity stations, stargazing experiences led by local astronomers and opportunities for students and families to hear from experts in the field about their career paths and research. The events also highlight how NASA’s scientific and engineering endeavors can inspire solutions to challenges such as housing availability, food waste, water quality and climate change. 

Designed to reach historically underserved communities, the events deliver NASA-themed educational programming in community-based settings. Discovery Place is coordinating the programming with community partners across North and South Carolina, including: 

• Winding Springs Elementary School 
• Huntersville Elementary School 
• J.V. Washam Elementary School 
• Richmond County Schools 
• The Catawba Nation 

NASA Community Space Stations events are being held at Ada Jenkins Center, Hamlet Middle School and Catawba Cultural Center. 

“We’re excited to welcome Discovery Place’s NASA community event to the Ada Jenkins Center. Experiences like this help students and families see themselves as scientists, engineers and explorers—sparking curiosity and opening doors they may not have imagined,” said Leslie Wilson, Director of Educational Partnerships at Ada Jenkins Center. “When partners come together around learning in this way, the impact on our community is powerful.” 

“Hamlet Middle School is thrilled to team up with Discovery Place for NASA Night, an out-of-this-world community event that will enhance middle school students’ science knowledge,” said Monica L. Robinson, Principal at Hamlet Middle School. “Students will explore standards from the NC Standard Course of Study related to Earth’s place in the universe, survival in extreme environments, physics and future solutions, human body systems, atmosphere, energy and forces. Families will enjoy cosmic fun and a chance to reach for the stars right here in our own backyard.” 

Additionally, as part of the NASA Community Anchor network, Discovery Place Science developed and recently debuted “NASA’s Pursuit of the Unknown,” a new Planetarium experience at the Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre. The show highlights current and future NASA missions, including the International Space Station, Artemis and the James Webb Space Telescope. The Museum also has new science lab experiences (included with admission) where guests can analyze carbon dioxide, water quality and population data to develop solutions to anticipated challenges in the Charlotte region. 

Imagery for media use can be found here. 

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About Discovery Place  
Discovery Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the leading hub for science learning in the Carolinas dedicated to the exchange of ideas, scientific exploration and creative expression to stimulate innovative problem-solving and learning. Discovery Place’s network includes four distinct museum experiences—Discovery Place Science, Charlotte Museum of Nature (currently under construction), Discovery Place Kids-Huntersville and Discovery Place Kids-Rockingham. For more information about Discovery Place, visit discoveryplace.org.