Located near the University of New Hampshire campus, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center was established in 1991 after the tragic space shuttle Challenger disaster. It is named after the teacher, Christa McAuliffe, who lost her life in the accident, as well as Alan Shepard, the first American in space. It specializes in education and exploration of Earth, astronomy, aviation and space science. There is a planetarium, exhibits, many different programs offered, a cafe that hosts private events and a science store.