Christa McAuliffe tragically died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986.
Christa McAuliffe, born Sharon Christa Corrigan, was a high school social studies teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, who was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to participate in the NASA Teacher in Space Project. She was slated to become the first teacher in space and was assigned to the Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS-51-L.
The mission was highly publicized and anticipated, as it aimed to demonstrate NASA’s commitment to bringing space exploration closer to the general public and inspiring students across the nation. McAuliffe was to conduct experiments and teach lessons from space to her students on Earth.
On the morning of January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Tragically, just 73 seconds into its flight, the shuttle broke apart due to the failure of an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster. The failure caused a breach in the shuttle’s external fuel tank, which led to the explosion that destroyed the vehicle.
All seven crew members aboard the Challenger were killed, including Christa McAuliffe. The disaster was a significant setback for NASA and led to a 32-month suspension of the Space Shuttle program. It also prompted the establishment of the Rogers Commission, a presidential commission tasked with investigating the accident.
The loss of McAuliffe and her fellow crew members was felt deeply by the nation and particularly by the educational community. In the aftermath of the tragedy, schools and scholarships were named in her honor, and educational programs were established to continue her legacy of teaching and exploration.
