Education

Teachers in Space: A Chronology

January 28, 1998 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

1982: NASA begins internal discussions on including private citizens in the space shuttle program.

Aug. 27, 1984: President Reagan announces NASA’s “Teacher in Space Project.’' More than 11,000 teachers apply.

June 1985: NASA chooses 114 semifinalists to be the first teacher in space, including two teachers from each state. A review panel, chosen by NASA and the Council of Chief State School Officers, selects 10 finalists.

July 18, 1985: NASA picks Christa McAuliffe as the flight candidate and Barbara R. Morgan as her alternate.

See Also

Sept. 9, 1985: Ms. McAuliffe and Ms. Morgan begin 100 hours of flight training at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Jan. 28, 1986: The shuttle Challenger carrying Ms. McAuliffe explodes during its launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., killing her and the six other crew members on board. The teacher project is suspended indefinitely.

March-July 1986: Ms. Morgan serves as teacher-in-space designee, speaking to educational groups around the country.

1988-1997: Shuttle flights resume, but the teacher project remains shelved. Ms. Morgan remains active in space-related projects.

January 1998: NASA announces that Sen. John Glenn is slated for a shuttle flight in October and that Ms. Morgan will soon start two years of astronaut training for a shuttle flight that could be in 2000.

A version of this article appeared in the January 28, 1998 edition of Education Week as Teachers in Space: A Chronology

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz News Quiz: Feb. 13, 2025: Ed. Dept Contracts | NYC 'Math Wars' | Public School Satisfaction | and More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Quiz image
Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times via TNS
Education Quiz News Quiz: Feb. 6, 2025: Reading Scores | Curriculum | Trump 'Indoctrination' Order | and More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of books on a shelf.
Illustration by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP