[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING CHRISTA McAULIFFE AND THE ENTIRE ``CHALLENGER'' CREW

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I wish to salute the memory of the seven 
brave crewmembers of Space Shuttle Challenger, who perished on a 
mission of exploration and discovery 30 years ago today, on January 28, 
1986. I honor the memory of all seven Challenger crewmembers: Gregory 
Jarvis, Judith Resnik, Francis Scobee, Ronald McNair, Michael Smith, 
Ellison Onizuka, and Christa McAuliffe.
  Indeed, Congress permanently honors the Challenger crew with a 
painted lunette medallion of the crew prominently placed in the Brumidi 
Corridor of the Capitol Building, one floor below this Chamber. In that 
painting, six of the crewmembers are depicted holding their helmets in 
their arms, but one crewmember, Christa McAuliffe, is holding in her 
arms not her helmet but a globe.
  For Granite Staters and for teachers and educators all across America 
and the world, there is a very special place in our hearts for Christa 
McAuliffe, a social studies teacher at Concord High School who was 
selected from more than 11,000 applicants to become the first NASA 
teacher in space.
  During a year of extensive training at NASA before the mission, 
Christa created science lessons that she planned to teach from space 
while on board Challenger, broadcasting her lessons and observations to 
students all across Earth.
  As a former teacher, I witnessed the impact that Christa's 
participation had on students and teachers. The Challenger was 
integrated into the classroom curriculum, allowing students to discover 
a passion for science. We continue to see the contributions of the 
Challenger's crew in the students who pursue careers in the sciences 
and in the success of recent NASA missions.
  I am especially pleased to witness Christa McAuliffe's continuing 
impact in advancing education in the STEM fields--science, technology, 
engineering, and math--and encouraging young people--especially young 
women--to pursue careers in STEM fields.
  A few months after the accident, the families of the Challenger's 
crew created the first Challenger Center for Space Science Education, a 
nonprofit that engages students and teachers in hands-on education in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Since then, 40 
Challenger learning centers have opened their doors in the U.S. and 
other countries, and they are expanding opportunities for innovative 
programs and activities in STEM .
  We all appreciate that this is a very difficult day for the many 
outstanding professionals at NASA. On that day, they lost seven 
wonderful colleagues. Our heart goes out to the NASA family and the 
families of all seven crewmembers on this day of remembrance.
  As an astronaut, Christa McAuliffe was on a mission to outer space. 
But, as a teacher, she was also on a personal mission to educate and 
enlighten. She opened the eyes of young people around the world to the 
wonders of our planet and universe. Today, we remember and honor her 
bravery, her passion for teaching, and her tremendous legacy.

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