Christa McAuliffe: Teacher, Astronaut

On Jan. 28, 1986, teacher Christa McAuliffe nearly became the first civilian in space.

On Jan. 28, 1986, teacher Christa McAuliffe nearly became the first civilian in space. As America watched in horror, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after lift-off, killing McAuliffe and her six fellow astronauts. The tragedy captured worldwide attention and, decades later, remains emblazoned in our national consciousness. Here are 25 things you might not know about McAuliffe and her mission aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger.

1. She was born Sharon Christa Corrigan in Boston, Massachusetts, Sept. 2, 1948, the oldest of five siblings.

2. Her father was an accountant, her mother a substitute teacher.

3. She was inspired by Project Mercury, America’s first manned space flights, and a childhood friend recalled her predicting buses would one day drive across the moon.

4. In 1966, she graduated from Marian High School in Framingham, Massachusetts, where she was a standout softball player.

5. She graduated from Framingham State College with bachelor degrees in American history and secondary education in 1970.

McAuliffe aboard a T-28 NASA training planes in Houston, Texas, Sept. 30, 1985 (AP Photo)

From left: Ellison Onizuka, Mike Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair and Judith Resnik (NASA / AP Photo)

18. While in orbit, McAuliffe was planning to teach two 15-minute lessons to be broadcast by PBS covering what life was like inside the Space Shuttle and highlighting the technological advances made by the space program. In addition, she was to film lessons about gravity, magnetism and hydroponics.

23. Along with McAuliffe, Commander Francis R. “Dick” Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialist Ronald McNair, Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist Judith Resnik, and Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis died in the accident.