Christa McAuliffe a result. On January 28, 1986, McAuliffe boarded "Challenger" with the other six crew members of STS-51-L. Just 73 seconds into its flight at an altitude of 48,000 feet, the shuttle broke apart, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. According to NASA, it was in part because of the excitement over her presence on the shuttle that the accident had such a significant effect on the nation. Many schoolchildren were viewing the launch live, and media coverage of the accident was extensive. The Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle "Challenger" Accident—also known as the Rogers Commission—was formed
Christa McAuliffe in education. Grants in her name, honoring innovative teachers, are provided by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the National Council for the Social Studies. In 1990, she was portrayed by Karen Allen in the TV movie "Challenger". The spaceship on the 1996–1997 children's science-fiction series "Space Cases", about a group of students lost in space, was called "Christa". In 2006, a documentary film about her and Morgan called "Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars" aired on CNN in the "CNN Presents" format. The film, produced by Renee Sotile and Mary Jo Godges, commemorated the 20th anniversary