Jan 28, 1986
At 11:38 a.m. EST, on January 28, 1986, the space shuttle
Challenger lifts off from Cape Canaveral,
Florida, and Christa McAuliffe is on her way to becoming the first ordinary U.S. civilian to travel into space. McAuliffe, a 37-year-old high school social studies teacher from
New Hampshire, won a competition that earned her a place among the seven-member crew of the
Challenger. She underwent months of shuttle training but then, beginning January 23, was forced to wait six long days as the
Challenger's launch countdown was repeatedly delayed because of weather and technical problems. Finally, on January 28, the shuttle lifted off.