Christa McAuliffe

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Christa McAuliffe (born Sharon Christa Corrigan; September 2, 1948 – January 28, 1986) was an American teacher who became an astronaut. She grew up in Massachusetts and later lived in Concord, New Hampshire.

Education and teaching
- She earned a bachelor’s degree in education and history from Framingham State College in 1970 and a master’s degree in education supervision and administration from Bowie State University in 1978.
- Christa taught social studies and other subjects at schools in Maryland and New Hampshire, and she later taught at Concord High School in New Hampshire. She cared about making history interesting and hoped to show students how ordinary people can influence the world.

Teacher in Space
- In 1985, Christa was chosen from more than 11,000 applicants to NASA’s Teacher in Space Project. Barbara Morgan was her backup.
- NASA wanted a teacher to fly into space so she could teach students from orbit and help people learn about space. Christa planned to conduct science experiments and record two lessons for students on Earth.

Spaceflight and death
- She joined the Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS-51-L. On January 28, 1986, the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, and all seven crew members died.
- The accident shocked the nation, especially because many schoolchildren were watching the launch and Christa was a beloved teacher.

Legacy
- Christa’s memory lives on in many schools, centers, and programs named in her honor. Notable examples include the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in New Hampshire and the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University.
- Her name appears on asteroid 3352 McAuliffe, a crater on the Moon, and a crater on Venus.
- In 2019, Congress passed the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act; silver dollars honoring her were minted in 2021.
- A statue of Christa was unveiled at the New Hampshire State Capitol on her 76th birthday, September 2, 2024. The statue is the first of a woman on the state house grounds and is inscribed with her quote: “I touch the future, I teach.”

Family
- Christa was married to Steven J. McAuliffe, and they had two children, Scott and Caroline. Steven later became a federal judge.