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Tallahassee's Challenger Learning Center threw a party for December's scheduled James Webb Space Telescope launch

A large room holds several science displays that people are looking at.
Tom Flanigan
/
WFSU Public Media
The main exhibit hall inside Tallahassee's Challenger Learning Center

NASA's huge James Webb Space Telescope is set to launch Dec. 18th. In recognition of the upcoming occasion, Tallahassee's Challenger Learning Center hosted a pre-launch party for the historic mission on Saturday, Nov. 20.

An animated movie in the center's planetarium told the tale of the ordinary little yellow star - like our sun - trying to find some planets of its own. His search includes an encounter with a red giant star.

(Yellow Star) "Are you angry with me?"

(Red Star) "No, I'm not angry."

(Yellow Star) "Well, you look red and angry!"

(Red Star) "No, man, I'm cool. Red Stars are cool."

The Challenger Center's David Fierro said this and other fun happenings was in anticipation of a special space launch.

"The James Webb is amazing! It's the next generation of space telescopes. Everyone knows about the Hubble. This is what's next."

And what's next for the Challenger Center, he said, is a return to full function very soon.

"The planetarium has reopened. We're showing films there. And we're really excited about January, because we're going to be able to reopen the rennovated IMAX theatre."

Tallahassee's Challenger Learning Center was among just a handful of sites nationwide picked to host the pre-launch celebration for the James Webb Space Telescope.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.