This January NHPR marks the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster with a multi-part series honoring the life, impact, and enduring legacy of Christa McAuliffe, New Hampshire’s teacher-astronaut.
Through Remembering Christa: 40 Years After the Challenger, NHPR will share personal stories from those whose lives were shaped by Christa, her mission, and the tragedy that reverberated across the nation.
Produced by NHPR’s Patrick McNameeKing, the multipart series will air each Wednesday in January across NHPR’s flagship news programs: Morning Edition, Here & Now, and All Things Considered.
Each segment will feature sound-rich oral histories with minimal narration—inviting listeners to experience the emotional landscape of those who remember Christa not only as a national figure, but as a teacher, colleague, mentor, and inspiration.
These intimate first-person accounts will explore themes of community, loss, courage, and the powerful influence Christa McAuliffe continues to have on education and civic imagination 40 years later. The series will also draw from archival material and listener memories, offering a shared space for reflection and remembrance.
NHPR is collaborating with the team behind The Big Question— NHPR’s community-powered project where we ask listeners a question about life in New Hampshire, gather their responses, and feature selected voices on air or online.
NHPR wants to know: How has Christa McAuliffe’s legacy touched your life?
This special partnership invites audiences to share how Christa McAuliffe’s story has touched their lives, further expanding the collective memory of her legacy.
NHPR may use your comments on the air, or reach out to you to get more information.
By weaving together voices from across the state, NHPR aims to honor Christa McAuliffe’s extraordinary legacy with the care, depth, and humanity it deserves.
About Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger:
Christa McAuliffe was a social studies teacher from Concord, New Hampshire, selected as the first private citizen and educator to travel to space through NASA’s Teacher in Space program.
On January 28, 1986, she and six other crew members tragically lost their lives when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. McAuliffe’s dedication to education, curiosity, and inspiring students has left an enduring legacy that continues to influence science education and space exploration.
