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Christa McAuliffe
by Nathaneel

Sharon Christa McAuliffe was the first teacher to fly into space. McAuliffe was born September 2, 1948, the oldest child of Edward and Grace Corrigan.

By 1984, space shuttle flights had become a lot more ordinary occurrences to many Americans. NASA wanted to rekindle the excitements that once had surrounded the whole space program. NASA thought that if ordinary citizens were involved, a good ''talker'' who could communicate the excitements of traveling in space, the public might be enthusiastic again.

Christa McAuliffe graduated from a college called Framington State College in Massachusetts, in 1970 with a degree in history. Christa's love of teaching soon took her back to the classroom. First, Christa taught at Bow Memorial School, then she moved to a school called Concord High School. Christa was also very active in the community church, a tennis club, the local play house, the YMCA and Concord Hospital. In addition, she was also a Girl Scout leader, and a jogger, and she was also a swimmer. Christa taught school until the birth of her first child named Scott.

In 1986, Christa McAuliffe stepped from the classroom into history. As part of a radical new approach by NASA, she was to be the first civilian in space. While her mission on the shuttle ended tragically, her mission as a teacher continues. Christa began training at NASA's facility in Houston on September of 1985. At first she was worried that all the other astronauts might think that she was just along for the ride. When the opportunity came for Christa McAuliffe to apply to be the first teacher in space, everyone who new Christa McAuliffe said, "take a shot at it."

Born September 2, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts. She is survived by husband Steve and two chidden. Her listed recreational interest included, jogging, tennis, and volleyball.

Christa McAuliffe was selected as the primary candidate for the NASA Teacher in Space Project on July 19, 1985. She was a payload specialist on STS 51-L which was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 11:38:00 EST on January 28, 1986. The crew on board the Orbiter Challenger included the spacecraft commander, Mr. F.R. Scobee, the pilot, Commander M.J. Smith (USN), three mission specialists, Dr. R.E. McNair, Lieutenant Colonel E.S. Onizuka (USAF), and Dr. J.A. Resnik, and fellow civilian payload specialist, Mr. G.B. Jarvis. The STS 51-L crew died on January 28, 1986 when Challenger exploded after launch.

When Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff ,a whole bunch of horrified school children and also grown ups where watching from schools, homes and also from world wide offices. Christa McAluiffe's alma mater. Framingham State College,
that was the college she went to.
 

Credits:

http://www.framingham.com/history/profiles/christa.htm

http://www.starhop.com/cm_bio.htm

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mcauliffe.html

http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_christa_mcauliffe.htm

Pictures:

http://www.framingham.com/history/profiles/christa.htm

http://www.starhop.com/cm_bio.htm