I’ve mentioned previously the new Young Adult space series that Rebecca and I are writing to support the Challenger Learning Centers, Star Challengers.  The first book is about to be released, and the first press release just went out at GenCon last weekend, to be followed up by an official launch at the national Challenger Center conference in St Louis next week.

Here’s the text of the press release:

Challenger Learning Center Announces STAR CHALLENGERS: A Partnership with Catalyst Game Labs and Bestselling Authors to Promote Space Education

The Challenger Center for Space Science Education announces an innovative partnership with Catalyst Game Labs and international bestselling authors Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson. The result of this partnership is “Star Challengers,” a new series of science fiction adventures for young readers, with the goal of sparking interest in the space program and careers in science and technology.

Star Challengers was developed by Challenger Center founder June Scobee Rodgers, whose husband Dick Scobee commanded the last mission of Space Shuttle Challenger, and bestselling authors Moesta and Anderson. The Star Challengers novels feature the Challenger Learning Centers, taking readers to a future moon base, a space station, and an asteroid probe–all simulations offered by the actual  Challenger Learning Centers.

“These novels not only give us the chance to show entertaining science  fiction adventures, they also promote something close to my own  heart–the space program and an interest in our future,” says coauthor Anderson.

The first novel in the trilogy, Moonbase Crisis, was previewed August 6-8 in Indianapolis at Gen Con, the world’s largest gaming  convention. Loren Coleman, publisher of Catalyst Game Labs, added,  ”Star Challengers is one of the best fiction projects I’ve been  involved with in my fifteen years in the industry. It’s great fiction, and is accomplishing something important.” Catalyst is also developing a related card game featuring the Star Challengers.

The project has been more than ten years in development and has received enthusiastic endorsements from Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Sally Ride, Leonard Nimoy, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others.

June Scobee Rodgers stated, “I am happy to present the Star Challengers. Once you meet them and witness their courage and joy of discovery, you’ll want to join them on all their adventures.”  The  first copies of the new book will be given to attendees as a highlight  of the national Challenger Center conference in St. Louis, August  17.  The next two novels in the series will be released in 2011.

To read the first sample chapter and to learn more about the series, see www.starchallengers.com.

“Challenger Learning Centers reach 400,000 kids every year. Let’s hope they all grow up with the same “can do” spirit as the heroes in this wonderful book!” said Dan Barstow, Executive Director of the  Challenger Center.

The Challenger Learning Centers use space exploration as a theme and realistic simulations as a vehicle to inspire students with the exciting possibilities for the future while also teaching them how to work as a team and how to expect success. The Challenger Center  experience fosters in young people a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, encouraging them to pursue  studies and careers in these areas. The network of 48 Challenger  Learning Centers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom,  and South Korea reaches more than 400,000 students and 40,000 educators each year through simulated space missions, educational  programs, and teacher workshops. For further information, please visit http://www.challenger.org.

Catalyst Game Labs specializes in the production of high quality  products, from professional media tie-in fiction to roleplaying and  board games. They have been highly successful with their BattleTech and Shadowrun game tie-ins. Catalyst Game Labs is forming the Catalyst Press imprint to publish Star Challengers, as well as other print fiction. For further information, please visit http://catalystgamelabs.com

Anderson and Moesta co-wrote the bestselling, award-winning series of  Young Jedi Knights novels as well as their own Crystal Doors trilogy; Anderson is also well known for his work in the Dune and Star Wars universes.