40: Christa McAuliffe

Christa McAuliffe

Sharon Christa McAuliffe (née Corrigan) was born September 2, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Christa was the oldest of 5 Children born to Edward and Grace Corrigan.

From a young age she went by her Middle Name, Christa.

Christa attended Marian High School in Framingham, Massachusetts and graduated in 1966.

She went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in 1970 from Framingham State College (today Framingham State University.)

In 1970, she married Steven J. McAuliffe and they moved to the Washington DC area so Steven could attend Georgetown University Law Center where they had two Children.

Also in 1970, Christa taught American History at Benjamin Foulois Junior High School in Morningside, Maryland.

From 1971 to 1978, she taught History and Civics at Thomas Johnson Middle School in Lanham, Maryland.

While Teaching she also received here Master of Arts in Education Supervision and Administration from Bowie State University in Maryland.

In 1978, they moved to Concord, New Hampshire, when Steven accepted a job as an Assistant to the New Hampshire Attorney General.

Christa taught 7^th and 8^th Grade American History and English in Concord, New Hampshire, and 9^th Grade English in Bow, New Hampshire, before taking a teaching post at Concord High School in 1983.

In Concord, Christa and taught several courses including American History, Law, and Economics, in addition to a self-designed course: "The American Woman".

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan announced the Teacher in Space Project to find an “Ordinary Person” and Teacher who could teach Students from Space.

Christa became one of more than 11,000 Applicants and on July 19, 1985 Christa was announced as the new Teacher Astronaut.

After being chosen to be the first Teacher in Space, McAuliffe was a guest on several Television Programs, including Good Morning America; the CBS Morning News; the Today Show; and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

There was a renewed interest in the Space Program not seen since the 1960s.

On January 28, 1986, Christa McAuliffe boarded Challenger with the other 6 Crew Members of STS-51-L.

Only 73 seconds into its flight at an altitude of 48,000 ft the Shuttle broke apart, resulting in the deaths of all 7 Crew Members.

Millions of Americans (including School Children) watched this happen live on TV.

Christa McAuliffe was 37 years old.

Christa McAuliffe was buried at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord. New Hampshire.

Many Scholarships and Memorials bear her name across the United States.

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire was built in 1990.

On September 2, 2024 - McAuliffe's 76thBirthday - a Atatue of the Astronaut was unveiled at the New Hampshire State Capitol.