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Christa McAuliffe: Shuttle Casualty.

Christa McAuliffe: Shuttle Casualty

Field review by the editors.

Concord, New Hampshire

Heavily promoted as the First Teacher in Space in 1986; she never made it because the Space Shuttle Challenger on mission STS-51-L blew up.

McAuliffe was from Concord, and had been selected for NASA's Teachers in Space Project. The plan was for her to conduct a few classes in orbit, but the vehicle malfunctioned and broke apart over the north Atlantic Ocean a minute after launch.

Her statue was unveiled on Sept. 2, 2024, created by artist Benjamin Victor, and located on the grounds of the New Hampshire State Capitol. It would have been her 76th birthday.

Christa McAuliffe: Shuttle Casualty

Address:
Capitol St., Concord, NH
Directions:
Stands on the left front lawn of the New Hampshire State House. On the north side of Capitol St. midway between N. State St. and US-3/N. Main St.
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Nearby Offbeat Places

Statue of Franklin PierceStatue of Franklin Pierce, Concord, NH - < 1 mi.
Donkey Kong MuralDonkey Kong Mural, Concord, NH - < 1 mi.
Doorstep Defended by Franklin Pierce, Vacant Lot Where He DiedDoorstep Defended by Franklin Pierce, Vacant Lot Where He Died, Concord, NH - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Thanksgiving Holiday Heroine, Newport, NH - 34 mi.

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