Katharina Buczek
She spent a total of one hundred and twenty days at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, undergoing astronaut training. There, Christa took flights that simulated the zero-gravity she would encounter while in the space station and learned the cockpit’s operation controls.
And by the end of her training, she was even awarded the title of “Payload Specialist” by NASA.
Taking Off For Space Flight
Christa’s space shuttle was initially supposed to launch on January 22, 1986. However, numerous unforeseen weather events and technical issues delayed the mission multiple times.
So, nearly a week later, Christa and the rest of her crew climbed aboard the shuttle on January 28, 1986, and finally prepared for launch.
And even though Christa only got to see her family on holidays throughout the entire four-month training period leading up to this milestone, she still held them close in her heart. She brought along her daughter’s necklace, her son’s stuffed frog, and her husband’s class ring.
Moreover, her husband and two children were also stationed on the roof of the Launch Control Center to witness the momentous mission in person.
Tons of Christa’s students also traveled to cheer on their teacher and watch the launch in person; meanwhile, the rest of her students congregated in their school cafeteria to tune in on television.
Tragedy Strikes
The Space Shuttle Christa boarded, known as the Challenger, took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 11:38 a.m. But, only seventy-three seconds later, there was a disastrous failure.
While Christa’s family and students, near and far, were cheering her on, the Challenger unexpectedly exploded and crumbled to pieces. And tragically, Christa– along with her other six crew members– were sent speeding toward the ocean almost fifty thousand feet below.
