Christa McAuliffe were posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush. On January 28, 2016, Space Shuttle "Challenger" was honored once again, but in a uniquely memorable way. Dozens of teachers who competed alongside the fallen Christa McAuliffe traveled to Cape Canaveral, Florida, to remember those lost on that day 30 years ago. Christa McAuliffe's son Scott and her widower, Steven, also participated in the ceremony. After remarking on the fact that 30 years had indeed passed, Steven said "Challenger will always be an event that occurred just recently. Our thoughts and memories of Christa will always
Christa Merten Christa Merten Christa Merten (née Basche; 14 October 1944, Dobbertin, Germany – 1 July 1986, Marbella, Spain), was a West German athlete and Olympian who competed for West Germany in the 1960s and 70s in the 800, 1500 and 3000 meter runs and in cross country running. On July 31, 1971, she set a world record in Lübeck with Ellen Tittel, Sylvia Schenk, and Hildegard Falck in the 800 meter relay. Merten started the 1500 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 800 meter run at the 1971 European Athletics Championships, but failed to reach the finals. She