Two astronauts aboard the International Space Station ( ISS ) are going torecreate experimentsthat would have been perform by a teacher that lost her life in the Challenger catastrophe 32 years ago .
Christa McAuliffe was one of seven people who miss their lives when Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on its means to orbit on January 28 , 1986 . She had been define to become the first Teacher in Space , a NASA program to take civilians to outer space .
On the Shuttle , McAuliffe planned to carry out experiments , learn lessons , and impart a tour of the Space Shuttle called “ The Ultimate Field Trip ” . Sadly , none of that came to pass when the Shuttle exploded .
But cosmonaut Joe Acaba , who is currently on the post , and Ricky Arnold , who is launching in March 2018 , are be after to recreate her experiments and deterrent example , giving school children a opportunity to experience McAuliffe ’s legacy .
" It ’s been 32 year since we lost the Challenger gang . One of them , of course , was Christa McAuliffe , the first teacher in infinite , so I ca n’t think of a better time or a better seat to make this announcement , " said Acaba in a alive flow on Friday , January 19 , verbalise to pupil from Framingham State University in Massachusetts .
" I would wish to announce that Ricky Arnold and I , over the next several months , will be working with the Challenger Center [ a non - profit constitution found after the Challenger cataclysm ] to record several of Christa ’s original lesson programme that she was to do in space . "
Several of her lessons will be recreated , with the theme admit effervescence , chromatography , liquids in zero - g , and Newton ’s law . Some are proceed to be performed as she would have done them , while others will be reimagined with usable material . telecasting will be released on the Challenge Center’swebsitein the spring .
McAuliffe ’s flight would have been the starting of an ambitious “ civilians in space ” program from NASA , with her mission being follow by a journalist , an artist , and then just about anyone . The program was drop after the Challenger disaster – but McAuliffe ’s pioneering mission will dwell on thanks to Acaba and Arnold .
“ Filming Christa McAuliffe ’s lesson in orbit this year is an incredible direction to honor and call back her and the Challenger crew , ” Mike Kincaid , Associate Administrator for NASA ’s Office of Education , said in astatement .
“ Developed with such care and expertise by Christa , the value these lessons will have as unexampled tools available for educators to engage and inspire students in STEM is what will continue to advance a true legacy of Challenger ’s mission . ”
