Christa McAuliffe probable the O-rings had not provided a proper seal. Barbara Radding Morgan, her backup, became a professional astronaut in January 1998, and flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-118, to the International Space Station, on August 8, 2007, aboard "Endeavour", the orbiter that replaced "Challenger". McAuliffe was buried at Blossom Hill Cemetery in her hometown, Concord. She has since been honored at many events, including the Daytona 500 NASCAR race in 1986. The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord and the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence at Framingham State University are named in her memory, as are the
Maurice F. McAuliffe Joseph's Hospital in Stamford. McAuliffe was admitted to St. Francis Hospital on December 3, 1944, and placed in an oxygen tent. He later died at age 69. McAuliffe Hall on the campus of Fairfield University is named in honor of Bishop McAuliffe, who sanctioned the creation of the University in 1941. The Knight of Columbus Council 3181 - Bishop Maurice F. McAuliffe in Windsor, Connecticut is also named in his honor. Maurice F. McAuliffe Maurice Francis McAuliffe (June 17, 1875 – December 15, 1944) was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Hartford from