Christa McAuliffe was an American teacher and astronaut selected to be the first private citizen to fly in space. Born on September 2, 1948, in Framingham, Massachusetts, she was a social studies teacher at Concord High School in New Hampshire. McAuliffe was chosen from over 11,000 applicants to participate in the Challenger space shuttle mission, where she planned to conduct educational experiments and share her experiences with students. Tragically, on January 28, 1986, the Challenger shuttle exploded just 73 seconds after liftoff, resulting in the loss of all seven crew members, including McAuliffe. Her legacy continues to inspire educators and students, and she is remembered for her dedication to teaching and her dream of making space accessible to everyone.