Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe

McAuliffe's N.A.S.A Portrit (www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/mcauliffe)

Christa C. McAuliffe is a truly inspiring person. She was born on September 2, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts. When she was a kid she saw the first shuttle go in space and ever since dreamt of going in this deep and dark place. She believed in everything she did and gave 100% at it. When she was in high-school she met a young man with brown hair named Steven and at 16 years old she agreed to marry him but wished to wait until they finished college. She got her masters and her bachelor in all her college. She had 2 kids named Scott and Caroline.

After her kids were born she said she didn't have to teach anymore (she loved teaching), but that bored Christa to death so she decided to get a babysitter and teach in 8th and 9th grade again (social studies and history). She loved each one of her students and they loved her. When Ronald Reagan was president he held a contest to pick a civilian to go on a space mission in a shuttle, The Challenger, and she volunteered. Out of ALOT of people she was picked one of the finalist of about 10 to 15. She said she wasn't going to win, but kept believing and guess what.... she was picked.

On the first day the shuttle was supposed to launch it was very COLD in Cape Canaveral. Some of the mechanics worried if the shuttle could handle it. They were very scared so they moved it to January 28th, 1986. The mechanics still believed it was way too cold, but they had to go on. Christa planned on making 2 social studies lessons from the shuttle, but it blew up 73 seconds after liftoff and everyone aboard was killed.