January 28

Space Shuttle Challenger Breaks Up

In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded as it began it's launch into orbit. The O-ring on it's right rocket booster failed, leading to the explosion and eventual break up of the shuttle. All seven members of the crew died, including Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher to be allowed to go into space via the US Teacher in Space Project.

The Teacher in Space Program began in 1987. Its goals were to inspire students in mathematics, science and space exploration. After the Challenger accident, the Teacher In Space Project was replaced by the Educator Astronaut Project. The new project was more demanding of teachers, and ultimately did not succeed. In the 1990s the project was abandoned.

While there is still an effort to promote teachers in space, only a few have ever reached orbit, none while teaching.

A Way to Celebrate

Many of us remember the Challenger accident. As we watched the launch, and subsequently the fall, we, as children and adults, learned the risks involved with space travel, as well as why it was an important achievement to human history.

While the Teacher in Space Project may be redefined or stalled over the years the dream lives on. That is one of the most encouraging aspects of our space program. We are persistent. We keep striving as a global community to reach farther, learn more, and ultimately, join together.

The missions into space cross many culture barriers. We have astronauts from all over the globe, who take great personal risk for human advancement. What better way to honor them than to go outside tonight and take a good look at the sky.

Our ancestors stared in wonderment, never knowing what was really out there. Having traveled to the moon, sent probes to other planets, and beamed back pictures from far beyond our reach, we are blessed to know much more than our forebears. Yet, as the saying goes, the more we know, the more we find out how little we know.