This week marked the 25th Anniversary of the Challenger disaster. I was teaching at an independent high school in Pasadena, CA, and doing lots of triathlons, including the Ironman. I heard about the competition to be "Teacher-in-Space", spoke with my school administration, and everyone thought it would be a great idea to apply.
One had to write seven essays as part of the application process, and the one I worked hardest on was about what I would do with the experience in space to further education about space and science. I had a Ph.D. in History, and I was teaching U.S. History and a course on China and Japan. But I really thought it would be great to integrate "going into space" into all kinds of programs: looking to the future, exploring new worlds, expanding technology, using space as a metaphor for innovation in all walks of life. I am pretty enthusiastic and upbeat. Obviously, I was not selected. For the rest of my teaching career, however, not only did I proudly post my certificate on my office wall, I also continued to receive all kinds of materials from NASA. I always shared these with my history students. At least, I could give back in a small way.
The morning of the disaster itself, I was in Napa Valley a few days ahead of the Napa Valley Marathon, which I would be running on Saturday. I went for a training run, and got back to the bed and breakfast to find people gathered around the small screen television in the office, and when I asked "What's up?" they told me. I nearly collapsed. Even today, I sometimes think about it.
This week, the news shows have been filled with commentary about the Challenger disaster, 25 years later, but they haven't mentioned what I think is most interesting. Just about every elementary school student in the U.S. in 1986 was in a room where the televisions were tuned to the Challenger take-off, and they witnessed that disaster firsthand. A generation of children, now adults, when asked what historical event most affected their lives, cite the Challenger disaster. It touched more people, in some ways, than 9/11, since most were not tuned in at the time of the crashes into the World Trade Center. Yet, I wonder how many of those millions of students can now explain why the Challenger failed - a problem that actually was solved.
I would not be here writing had I been the teacher-in-space, but I think about Crista McAuliffe often. She taught American History at a high school in New Hampshire, and would have been such a great spokesperson for space exploration and its significance. Many lessons were learned because of the disaster, but what a terrible sacrifice, for all seven aboard. Here's a link to a short video of the disaster, to watch once again, to honor those lost. Challenger disaster video
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