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 A Search for Meaning in Disaster's Wake
Across the country, teachers, students, school administrators, and others tried—in public and private ways—to come to grips with the magnitude of the shuttle disaster.
February 5, 1986
5 min read
Education 'I Was Confused When I Saw Everyone's Head Go Down'
Residents in this snow-covered New England town united last week in churches, homes, and bars, trying to understand a public—yet very personal—tragedy.
Alina Tugend, February 5, 1986
5 min read
Education Counting Down for ‘The Ultimate Field Trip’
Observers groaned as NASA announced that, once again, the countdown for the space shuttle Challenger’s historic mission would be delayed.
January 29, 1986
5 min read
Education Teachernaut Plans TV Lessons From Aboard Shuttle
Sharon Christa McAuliffe, the Concord, N.H., high-school teacher slated to orbit the earth beginning Jan. 22, will teach two televised lessons from space—both beamed live by satellite to cable and public-television channels.
Elizabeth Rose, December 11, 1985
3 min read
Education 114 Teachers to Compete for Chance to Be First Private Citizen in Space
The Council of Chief State School Officers, the group chosen to coordinate the selection of the teacher who will fly on a space-shuttle mission, named the 114 candidates who will be considered for the journey.
Blake Rodman, May 22, 1985
8 min read
Federal Reagan Says Teacher to Be First Space Passenger
President Reagan announced that an elementary- or secondary-school teacher would be the first private citizen to fly on a space-shuttle mission.
Tom Mirga, September 5, 1984
4 min read