Teacher in Space Project Teacher in Space Project The Teacher in Space Project (TISP) was a NASA program announced by Ronald Reagan in 1984 designed to inspire students, honor teachers, and spur interest in mathematics, science, and space exploration. The project would carry teachers into space as Payload Specialists (non-astronaut civilians), who would return to their classrooms to share the experience with their students. NASA cancelled the program in 1990, following the death of its first participant, Christa McAuliffe, in the Space Shuttle "Challenger" disaster (STS-51-L) on January 28, 1986. NASA replaced Teachers in Space in 1998 with the Educator Astronaut Project, which required
Christa Harmotto Christa Harmotto Christa Deanne Harmotto (born October 12, 1986) is an American indoor volleyball player, a member of the United States women's national volleyball team and Turkey club Fenerbahce Grundig, a participant of the Olympic Games (2012, 2016), bronze medalist of the 2016 Olympic Games, 2015 World Cup, silver medalist of the 2012 Olympic Games, and a gold medalist of the 2014 World Championship. She played college volleyball at Pennsylvania State University team from 2005–2008. At Penn State, she had a .486 hitting percentage on the year, which led the nation. She was named the Big Ten Player of the