Christa McAuliffe: Teacher in Space (9/2/48-1/28/86)
“ I touch the future. I teach.”
A bronze statue of Christa McAuliffe – the woman who lost her life soon after becoming the first private citizen to fly into space – has been erected and unveiled on Sept. 2, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire. The 8 ft. tall bronze statue, created by Benjamin Victor, sits atop a granite pedestal. The monument depicts a smiling Christa, clad in a NASA flight suit, as she strides to the launch pad. I came across this statue by happenstance when I was visiting my son and his family. And I’m so glad I did. Christa’s contribution to the world, to science and to women should never be forgotten. She gave her life for the pursuit of knowledge as she searched for the perfect lesson. Christa wanted to show her students that reaching for the stars was an attainable goal. My kind of woman.
Christa was a 37-year-old high school science teacher teaching in Concord, New Hampshire, when she was selected from 11,000 applicants to become the first private citizen to become an astronaut. She definitely had the right stuff. After training as a payloads specialist, Christa was assigned a 6-day mission on the Challenger that would deploy and track satellite data But tragically, seven seconds into flight, one of the shuttle’s solid rocket boosters failed, resulting in the vehicle breaking apart, killing McAuliffe and her crewmates. She left behind a husband and 2 children. A horrific day.
If you believe in silver linings, you’ll take comfort in knowing that Christa has become a Lasting Legacy, a title so revered it’s usually reserved for heads of state, gifted athletes, award-winning actors, beloved musicians and prolific writers. Yet the city of Concord considers Christa a hometown hero and in her honor, they’ve recently established a McAuliffe-Shephard Discovery Center which houses science exhibits, space observation lookouts, model jets, a planetarium as well as an outdoor science playground. Also, Gov. Sununu issued an executive order that resulted in the creation and implementation of the statue that’s housed on the grounds of Concord’s US Capital Hall, along with other men of historic prominence. She’s the only woman that’s been given this honor. The space world has also remembered her well. Thirty-two years after the accident, two former teachers/astronauts who’ve been working on the International Space Center have videotaped a few of her science lessons she’d planned to teach from space. Her place in the space mission has not been ignored.
Christa has become a symbol of hope and opportunity. For the Everyman. For teachers. For children. For women. Ms. McAuliffe loved to tell her students “Reach for it. Push yourself as far as you can go.”
Remember Christa’s bravery the next you watch a space launch. Remember Christa’s unflinching faith in the unknown as you reach for the stars.
Rock on Christa!