McAuliffe, Christa (1948–1986)

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McAuliffe, Christa (1948–1986)

American educator and space pioneer. Born Sharon Christa Corrigan, Sept 2, 1958, in Boston, MA; died in space shuttle, Jan 28, 1986; dau. of Edward C. Corrigan (accountant) and Grace George Corrigan (teacher); attended Framingham State College, BA, 1970, Bowie State College, MEd, 1978; m. Steve James McAuliffe, Aug 23, 1970; children: Scott (b. 1976) and Caroline (b. 1979).

First private American citizen selected to fly in space and 1st civilian to die on the space shuttle, taught in several Maryland and New Hampshire schools and developed a women's history course (1970–85); won NASA's Teacher-in-Space competition (1985); killed on space shuttle Challenger (Jan 28, 1986).

See also Grace George Corrigan, A Journal for Christa (1993); and Women in World History.

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