Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, the First Teacher Selected to Go to Space

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Boston native, history teacher and astronaut Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe died thirty-five years ago, on January 28, 1986,  when the shuttle Challenger she was on exploded shortly after lift-off.  To honor her memory as the first teacher selected for space, the U.S. Mint is releasing a commemorative silver dollar coin of McAuliffe in 2021. 

In 1985, Christa was selected from more than 11,000 applicants as the first teacher to participate in a space mission. The world watched in excitement that day as McAuliffe and her fellow astronauts lifted off at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but that excitement turned to horror and grief as the spacecraft exploded seconds later. Read NASA's account of the disaster. 

She was later awarded the Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan and since her death has continued to inspire new generations to learn about space exploration. 


Christa Corrigan, photo courtesy of NASA

Born in Boston, Sharon Christa Corrigan was the eldest of five children of Grace and Edward Corrigan. She grew up in Framingham, married her high school sweetheart Steve McAuliffe, and began her career teaching high school students in Maryland and then New Hampshire.

Framingham State College, where McAuliffe received her teaching degree, created the Christa McAuliffe Center in her honor, dedicated to teacher excellence.

McAuliffe is part of BITA's 2019 Irish Women of Massachusetts series in celebration of Irish Heritage Month and Women's History Month. 

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