The tragic explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986 is still a wound on our national psyche—more so because it wasn’t just astronauts who pledged their lives to the dangers of space who were killed in the tragedy. Also on board was a New Hampshire [1] high school science teacher named Christa McAuliffe, who had promised to speak to her students from space.
Even though she didn’t live to do that, her spirit still speaks to generations of school children at theChrista McAuliffe Planetarium (2 Institute Dr., 603/271-7827, www.starhop.com [2], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily; open Fri. until 9 p.m., $9 adults, $8 students and seniors, $6 children 3–12, free children under 3) established in her name.
One of the most modern planetariums in the country, the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium features a 40-foot dome with shows of the night sky, as well as interactive exhibits such as a rocket-making workshop and a space shuttle flight simulator.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-england/new-hampshire
[2] http://www.starhop.com