Teaching Profession Collection

Teachers in Space

Read highlights of Education Week’s coverage of the federal Teacher-in-Space program since its inception in 1984.

Education Teacher Will Be Shuttle’s Next Civilian Passenger
While investigations of the Challenger disaster intensified, NASA announced that Idaho teacher Barbara R. Morgan had been invited to follow in Sharon Christa McAuliffe’s footsteps and become the first U.S. civilian in space.
J.R. Sirkin, February 19, 1986
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7 min read
Education NASA Suspends Education Activities
Despite protests from many groups, NASA placed all educational activities associated with the ill-fated teacher-in-space project on hold after the Challenger explosion.
J.R. Sirkin, February 12, 1986
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5 min read
Education Across the Nation, Personal Tributes to Shuttle Crew
Americans of all ages responded to the space-shuttle tragedy by joining in efforts to memorialize the seven lost astronauts and to keep alive their pioneering spirit.
Blake Rodman, February 12, 1986
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6 min read
Education Shocked Nation Mourns the Loss of McAuliffe
Sharon Christa McAuliffe, who was to be the first teacher and the first “ordinary person” in space, died with six other crew members of the shuttle Challenger when it exploded 10 miles above the Florida coast.
M. Sandra Reeves, February 5, 1986
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2 min read
Education Aftermath of a Tragedy
Education Week reporter Blake Rodman's first-hand account of the Challenger explosion.
Blake Rodman, February 5, 1986
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11 min read
Education Leaders Pay Tribute to Shuttle Crew
Albert Shanker, president of the American Federation of Teachers, called Ms. McAuliffe a "symbol of hope and optimism for teachers and students around the nation."
James Hertling, February 5, 1986
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1 min read
Education 'I Watched the Space Age Being Born; I Would Like to Participate'
Applicants for the "Teacher in Space" program were asked to answer several essay questions. Christa McAuliffe’s responses follow.
February 5, 1986
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4 min read
Education Finalists Knew of Risks on 'the Frontier'
Eight finalists took a year off from teaching to work for NASA in promoting links between education and space exploration.
James Crawford, February 5, 1986
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4 min read
Education Teacher in Space: A Strategy to Widen NASA's 'Civilian' Support
Long before last week's ill-fated launch, the project had succeeded in capturing the imagination of tens of thousands of teachers and their students.
J.R. Sirkin, February 5, 1986
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8 min read
Education More Space Flight for Teachers, President Says in Brief Address
Only hours after last week’s shuttle explosion, President Reagan said in a nationally televised address that the country would continue to send civilians—including teachers—into space.
James Hertling, February 5, 1986
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2 min read
Education Encourage Students to Express Their Feelings, Experts Suggest
Experts on children’s mental health last week urged adults to encourage students to talk about the space-shuttle deaths and to be receptive listeners.
Lynn Olson, February 5, 1986
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6 min read
Student Well-Being TV Brought the Trauma to Classroom Millions
It was the classroom lesson no one had anticipated.
Lynn Olson, February 5, 1986
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8 min read
Education Community Leader, Advocate for Teachers, Mother of 2
Sharon Christa Corrigan was born in Boston on Sept. 2, 1948, the daughter of Grace and Edward G. Corrigan. She grew up in Framingham, Mass., a Boston suburb.
Alina Tugend, February 5, 1986
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2 min read
Education National Broadcast of Lessons Planned
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is preparing a nationwide television broadcast to schools next week as part of an effort to salvage its imperiled teacher-in-space project.
J.R. Sirkin, February 5, 1986
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6 min read
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