The field of education, while one of great honor, and one many of us consider a true calling is not one ripe with heroes. Christa McCaulie in her short career as an astronaut proved to be a hero, and to many who knew her personally and professionally she was also a genuinely nice person and a fantastic teacher. Christa left a legacy that few can match and it is appropriate that her story be revisited on a regular basis both as an inspiration to aspiring teachers and a source of renewal for seasoned educators.
There is no greater calling than to be a teacher and while Christa certainly earned her position as astronaut it was to her great credit that she did this to bring attention to her real profession that of a teacher. As for every great teacher Christa's professional goal was to instill interest and knowledge into her real love, the students. As Christa is quoted as saying, "I touch the future, I teach."
This book is worth reading and is certainly one that every educator should put on his or her shelf. I hope that this book is one that will contribute to an ongoing honor and legacy for this great American hero. A teacher first and always.

Read if you: Want to know more about a passionate teacher gone too soon.

This is a reprint/revision of an earlier book published some years ago (the main update seems to be an acknowledgment of the passing of Christa McAuliffe's mother). For a short biography (under 100 pages), it is a fine overview of McAuliffe's career, her NASA training, and the Challenger tragedy.

Librarians and booksellers: There are plans to make a movie based on McAuliffe's life (starring Michelle Williams). Production was supposed to start last year, but there doesn't seem to be any more news other than the announcement made in 2018. Since this is (I believe) the only modern biography of Christa McAuliffe, you will probably want this when the movie is out. (Problem is is that who knows when that will be!)

Many thanks to University of Nebraska Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Teacher In Space is about teacher Christa McAuliffe who got the chance to ride in the Space Shuttle Challenger - that was supposed to be heading into space but unfortunately never made it back in 1986.  The forward was written by her mother, who has since also passed.  Christa was from New England - spending time in Boston as well as Concord.  She was selected out of many finalists as the one chosen for President Reagan's "Teacher in Space" program.  Unfortunately due to problems with an O-ring, the shuttle exploded.  I was too young to remember this happening, but had heard a lot about Christa growing up and remember a trip to the Discovery Center named after her in Concord on a trip to visit my Uncle who lived there when I was a kid.  The book also includes a bunch of photos in the middle, all the prep that went into getting ready to board a space shuttle.  While this event was tragic, I thought this book really did Christa, her life and her love of teaching a great service.

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

I will never forget sitting in my elementary school classroom and watching the Challenger explode. It will forever be etched in my memory. Since I was so young, I don't know much about the crew. The author did a great job of introducing Christa McAuliffe to those that don't know who she was. Her dedication to education and her students is admirable and also to the public school system. She was an inspiration whose life ended way too soon.

I was a child in 1986 when the Challenger disaster happened. I remember watching the sad events unfold live in front of the eyes of my fellow elementary school students and still experience the dread when I see video of that tragic day. I was most interested in Christa McAuliffe, a female astronaut and science teacher who was excited to be able to telecast her science classes from space during this mission.

While this book can't escape the looming tragedy, it is a testament to the hard work, dedication and faith of Christa and her fellow astronauts. "Teacher In Space" is a heartfelt, touching story of a woman who made great strides for other future astronauts while still planning on teaching during her expedition. Christa's community of educators was not willing to let her dream perish in flames--they picked up where she left off and continued to honor her legacy while remaining committed to teaching others. This book gives the reader fresh eyes of the tragedy and allows McAuliffe's legacy to continue.

I was an early reader, thanks to #NetGalley and University of Nebraska Press. All opinions are my own.

With the Dragon launch fever, I was interested in this book. Amazing that NASA wants to make the dream possible for those who are not in traditional astronaut role career paths. This book went into great detail of the courageous Christa both as person and teacher. Wow imagining all the tests that you have to go through makes you appreciate the ones that make the cut. Inspiring for students, teachers and everyone.

I was only three years old when Challenger exploded, so I have no memories of my own in regards to this event. Yet it is one that has endlessly grabbed my attention when I learned about it years later. Even as an adult, I have never stopped learning about NASA, space travel, the discoveries made, and even the tragedies. Time and again we've risen up after falling, honoring those who gave their lives in the pursuit of knowledge by going even further.

Christa McAuliffe was killed along with the six crew members aboard Challenger on January 28th, 1986. She'd been one of 10,000 applicants vying for the spot, and finally was named the winner of the NASA Teacher in Space Project. She would be conducting experiments in space that would be shown in classrooms all across the US.

She would never get the chance, however, because a little over a minute after take-off massive explosions tore the Challenger apart in mid-air. The crew compartment remained intact and investigations have concluded that all seven were still alive when they hit the water - nearly three minutes after the initial explosions. There is no doubt for many who knew him that Michael J. Smith did his best to pilot the remainder of the craft the entire way down in an attempt to save himself and his crew.

Though the book is new to me, it is a revised edition of the earlier text. I am not sure what information is new and what was written then, though I do know that it was updated in part to include the passing of McAuliffe's mother in 2018.

Christa's story is important, because it is truly a testament to a teacher's love for her students students across the country, and her chosen field. She embarked on a journey to broaden the horizons of many and though her dream was cut short, her legacy has made just such a thing possible.

Despite being such a short biography (around 100 pages), it is filled with so much detail and we really get to know McAuliffe, what drove her to apply, and why she was such a beloved teacher at Concord High School. She was incredibly dedicated and her passion for instilling knowledge into young minds was obvious.

Today there are about 40 schools all over the world named in honor of Christa McAuliffe, as well programs, fellowships, and more.

This was a very insightful look at Christa McAuliffe. She was a very passionate teacher and cared about each of her students. She not only touched the lives of her students but the whole world. This novel shows how Christa McAuliffe’s legacy continues to live on!