SHARON
CHRISTA McAULIFFE
TEACHER IN SPACE PARTICIPANT PERSONAL DATA: Born September 2, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts. She is survived by husband Steven and two children. Her listed recreational interests included jogging, tennis, and volleyball. EDUCATION: Graduated from Marian High School, Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1966; received a bachelor of arts degree, Framingham State College, 1970; and a masters degree in education, Bowie State College, Bowie, Maryland, 1978. ORGANIZATIONS: Board member, New Hampshire Council of Social Studies; National Council of Social Studies; Concord Teachers Association; New Hampshire Education Association; and the National Education Association. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES: Member, Junior Service League; teacher, Christian Doctrine Classes, St. Peters Church; host family, A Better Chance Program (ABC), for inner-city students; and fundraiser for Concord Hospital and Concord YMCA. EXPERIENCE:
1971-1978 Thomas Johnson Junior High School, Lanham, Maryland. Teacher. English and American history, 8th grade and civics, 9th grade. 1978-1979 Bundlett Junior High School, Concord, New Hampshire. Teacher, 7th grade and American history, 8th grade. 1980-1982 Bow Memorial High School, Concord, New Hampshire. Teacher. English, 9th grade. 1982-1985 Concord High School, Concord, New Hampshire. Teacher. Courses in economics, law, American history, and a course she developed entitled “The American Woman,” 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. NASA EXPERIENCE:. 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.
(reprinted from NASA Astronaut Biographies) |