Created By: Robyn Stumler

The Legacy of Christa McAuliffe

Christa was born September 2, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts.

She graduated from Marian High School in 1966, and married her high school sweetheart, Steven.

Christa was a mother of two:-Scott

-Caroline

She was part of many organizations and outside activities such as:

-Junior Service League-A Better Chance Program (ABC)

-National Council of Social Studies - and many more…

NASA - the federal agency that institutes and administers the civilian programs of the U.S.

government that deal with aeronautical research and the development of launch

vehicles and spacecraft.

The Challenger - a shuttle developed in the 1980’s that blew up within seventy-three seconds of liftoff due to cold conditions.

Graduated from Marian High School.

Christa received a bachelors of arts degree in 1970 from Framingham State College.

And also received a Masters Degree in Education in 1978 from Bowie State College.

Christa’s Education

Christa McAuliffe and Barbra Morgan (bottom) training for the

space shuttle mission.

Christa McAuliffe and Dick Scobee in Shuttle mission simulator.

Christa taught at many different schools within 15 years.

- 1970-1971 – Benjamin Foulois Junior High School; American History

- 1971-1978 – Thomas Johnson Junior High School; English and American History

- 1978-1979 – Rundlett Junior High School; American History

- 1980-1982 – Bow Memorial Middle School; Social Studies

- 1982-1985 – Concord High School; Economics, Law, American History, and a course she developed entitled

The American Woman.

Christa’s Teaching Career

Christa was selected as the primary candidate for the NASA Teacher in Space Program on July 19,

1985.

She was pay load specialist, an astronaut trained to handle highly complex or classified equipment carried aboard a space shuttle and to conduct

experiments in space, on the STS- 51 L.

NASA Experience

The Teacher in Space Program was created to get the public informed and more involved with NASA’s experiments and research.

They thought if they took a teacher to space people would connect more than they would

if only astronauts went to space.

What is the Teacher in Space Program?

Christa McAuliffe and her first training flight.

President Reagan made an announcement about the Teacher in Space Program on August 27, 1984.

Christa heard about the project while in a Washington D.C Conference.

She put in an application on the last day they were being accepted, February 1, 1985.

More than 11,000 teachers applied for the opportunity to take a global classroom of students

on the Ultimate Field Trip.

How did Christa McAuliffe become part of this project?

She was to teach several lessons from the space shuttle Challenger to America’s

Classrooms .

She also, was to explain roles, describe experiments, and demonstrate preparation of food, movement, exercise, hygiene and sleep while aboard the space shuttle Challenger.

Christa’s Roles and Responsibilities aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Christa’s Plan for the Classroom was to conduct two fifteen minute lessons from orbit for

broadcast by the public broadcasting system, as well as film various demonstrations on topics

such as magnetism, Newton’s Law, and hydroponics in microgravity.

What was her plan for the Classroom?

The launch was originally set for January 23, 1985, but due to cold conditions it was

postponed.

The rescheduled launch was January 28, 1985.

The Challenger was launched at 11:38:00 a.m. EST.

The space shuttle exploded within seventy-three seconds of lift-off.

The Explosion of The Challenger

Cold Conditions causing the o-rings not to work properly.

Old parts were put on the Challenger just before launch.

What were the contributing Factors?

Thiokol Engineers requested that NASA put off the Challenger Launch once again due to

conditions.

Thiokol engineers expected o-ring failures at launch ignition.

Reagan’s response was “God, Thiokol. When do you want us to launch? Next April?”

What was Reagan’s Response?

Christa’s tombstone.

Two days after the tragedy, Concord High School reopened.

Although teachers took attendance, students did not have to go to class.

Often, when classes did meet it was open discussion for students and teachers to comfort

their emotions toward the tragedy.

Teaching routine did not return until the end of February.

What was the Schools response?

Christa’s Parents to the left. An unidentified man on the right.

Kids in the classroom watching the Challenger space shuttle Explosion.

In Christa’s memory, the city had planted flowers and trees in a park near her home and scholarships

have been established in her name. Many awards and programs have been dedicated in

her honor, such as; Christa McAuliffe Teaching Fellowship and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium in New Hampshire have also been built in her memory. The people of her community remembered the smaller things – her smile, her enthusiasm and how she always seemed to be doing ten things at once. They remember her bringing home – baked cookies to Sunday school class, or opening her home to high

school students who needed someone to talk to.

How is Christa McAuliffe Remembered today?

Planetarium in memory of Christa McAuliffe.

Arlington Memorial Sight of Christa McAuliffe.