13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II The Space Shuttle: 7. Teacher in space
67 snips
Aug 25, 2025 
Christa McAuliffe, a dedicated social studies teacher from New Hampshire, shares her extraordinary journey as the first teacher selected for NASA's Teacher in Space program. She discusses the importance of engaging the public through education and the excitement of training for a historic mission. Christa also highlights the camaraderie built with fellow educators and addresses concerns around sending private citizens into space. The emotional lead-up to the launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger becomes a moving testament to the risks and dreams associated with space exploration.
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Publicity As A Strategic Goal
- NASA recruited a teacher to reignite public interest and secure political support for the shuttle programme.
- Sending a popular educator into space aimed to reconnect schools and millions of students with the shuttle's story.
High-Speed Training Flights
- Krista and Barbara flew in T-38 jets and experienced aerobatics to bond with their commanders and build trust.
- Krista described flying upside down and seeing the Earth flip perspective, which deeply affected her.
Zero-G Training On The KC-135
- The teachers also flew on NASA's KC-135 'Vomit Comet' and experienced weightlessness, laughing throughout the flight.
- They practised zero-g games like leapfrogging and dancing to get comfortable in microgravity.
