Directed/Produced By Renee Sotile & Mary Jo Godges
Narrated by Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon
“Christa’s Song” & original music by Grammy winner Carly Simon
“A compelling and honest account of Challenger 51L’s “Teacher in Space” mission. An inspiring tribute to a true American Hero.” Buzz Aldrin
“A riveting and unusually moving story, told from the inside.” Ken Burns
“An outstanding tribute to an extraordinary woman, this is highly recommended. Editor’s Choice.” Video Librarian
“Moving documentary and tribute…serves to motivate and inspire.” Booklist
“Celebrates the extraordinary life of the first teacher in space and her legacy. Recommended for all collections.” Library Journal
CNN PRESENTS WITH PAULA ZAHN | BROADCAST OVER 20 TIMES!
In 1986, space shuttle Challenger exploded, traumatizing the nation and taking the lives of the seven-member NASA crew. Among them was Christa McAuliffe, the first Teacher in Space. Reach for the Stars is her story.
In this film, for the first time McAuliffe’s family speaks out about the impact of her death, revealing the deep private loss behind the public tragedy and how it drastically altered their lives.
Previously unseen footage and candid interviews surround the events that tore a family apart and brought a nation to tears.
"The Traipsing Thru Films effort became the most riveting ever produced on a shuttle-era astronaut. It captured to perfection McAuliffe’s delightful exuberance during training and the stark reality of her untimely death and its impact on her family." -- Rick Houston, Author
Wheels Stop: The Tragedies and Triumphs of the Space Shuttle Program, 1986-2011
a learning tool in schools across the country 🎓 TEacher's Guide
In 2005, Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars, celebrating the life and legacy of Christa McAuliffe, premiered on the film festival circuit, with screenings at the prestigious High Falls Film Festival and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
In January 2006, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Christa McAuliffe’s passing and the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger, CNN aired Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars over 20 times, featuring an on-set introduction and narration by Paula Zahn.
Educators:
Grade Level: 7 -12, College (modify for grades 4-6) Subject Areas: U.S. History, Current Events, Science and Technology
Astronauts & OuterSPACE!
Space Shuttle Launch * Astronauts @BlueStar118
In the news
Join us Thursday, December 4 at 5PM in the Alumni Room at Framingham State University or via Zoom for the first Challenger Series event "Christa Corrigan McAuliffe, Symbol of Ordinary People Achieving Extraordinary Things"
This conversation will explore key formative moments in the life of Christa McAuliffe. Hear from speakers Kathleen Young, Producer, NHPBS and Anna Tucker, Director, Framingham History Center.
Learn more at cm-center.org/event/challengerseries1
See you there!
#Framingham #Christa #McAuliffe #Challenger #ChallengerAnniversary #NHPBS #FraminghamHistoryCenter
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Happy Birthday to Alan B. Shepard of Derry, NH. The first American in space in space would have been 102 years old today! McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center celebrates his life and legacy through space and aviation programming for all generations. ... See MoreSee Less
This week’s #TuesdayTrailblazer honors Christa McAuliffe, an inspirational social studies teacher who was chosen to be the first civilian in space. While her mission on the Challenger shuttle ended tragically, her passion for exploration and education continues to inspire today.
Born in 1948, Christa placed education at the center of her life. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College in 1970 and a master’s in education from Bowie State College in 1978 before dedicating her career to teaching middle and high school students in Maryland and New Hampshire.
In 1984, as shuttle flights became routine, NASA sought to reignite public excitement through the Teacher in Space Project, launched with the support of President Ronald Reagan. Christa, known at her school as the “Field Trip Teacher” for her belief in hands-on learning, saw the mission as the “Ultimate Field Trip.” Out of 11,500 applicants, she was selected to represent ordinary citizens taking part in the extraordinary.
Christa began training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1985, logging 114 hours in preparation to teach two lessons from orbit, one introducing the shuttle crew and their daily lives in space, and another exploring the science of spaceflight itself. Her participation in the mission ignited a renewed excitement for spaceflight across the nation.
On January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after liftoff, the Challenger tragically exploded, claiming the lives of Christa and her six crewmates. Yet, her legacy endures. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium was established in her memory. Each year, nearly 30,000 students and visitors walk through its doors, carrying forward her dream of learning through exploration -- the Ultimate Field Trip.
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Challenger Series — Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center ... See MoreSee Less
Challenger Series — Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center
cm-center.org
Remembering the 40th Anniversary of the Challenger disaster: January 28, 1986-2026. The Christa McAuliffe Center invites multigenerational audiences to a series of conversations that will explore k...
On July 19, 1985, NASA announced its final candidate selection for the Teacher in Space Project. School teachers Barbara R. Morgan (L), back-up, and S. Christa McAuliffe (R), primary. McAuliffe would be tragically killed six months later in the Challenger (STS-51-L) explosion. Following the Challenger disaster in 1986, Morgan would return to her previous occupation as an elementary school teacher until she was selected as a mission specialist astronaut by NASA in 1998. Barbara Morgan would eventually fly aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-118) in August 2007, twenty-two years after her initial selection in the Teacher in Space Project. ... See MoreSee Less
