Pioneers of the Sky

Christa McAuliffe

A social studies teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, Christa McAuliffe was selected from more than 11,000 applicants in 1985 to be NASA’s first “Teacher in Space.” Her selection set off immense interest in the space program, particularly among schoolchildren. Sadly, McAuliffe and the entire crew of mission STS-51-L aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger died after the shuttle broke apart moments after launch on January 28, 1986. Despite the tragedy, McAuliffe’s legacy lives on through research centers, scholarships and memorials bearing her name.