Christa McAuliffe Day for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Saturday, January 28th. There are until the next observance.

On January 28, 2019, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu established Christa McAuliffe Day. She was a former Concord teacher who was chosen to travel into space with NASA scientists and sadly died only seconds after take-off. This was the 33rd anniversary of the accident. According to the official proclamation, Christa McAuliffe’s memory lives on, and the people of New Hampshire are proud to honor her important work and legacy.

📆 When is Christa McAuliffe Day?

This year, Christa McAuliffe Day is on January 28th. It is the 4th Saturday in January; in 2024, it is on Sunday.

Countdown to Christa McAuliffe Day

Did you know: In her NASA application, she wrote that she planned to keep a journal about how she was getting ready for the space trip, how the trip itself went, and how she felt during it.

You can also learn all cool things you didn’t know about and facts about January 28, 2023.

📜 History of Christa McAuliffe Day

Christa McAuliffe, a Concord social studies teacher, felt compelled to apply. Her application mentioned that she had watched the space program and wanted to be a part of it. She’d always been captivated by space, and she thought that ordinary men and women played an important role in history. This is maybe why McAuliffe was chosen from a pool of over 10,000 teachers to complete rigorous training in preparation for her space mission.

The NASA shuttle lifted off at 11:38 a.m. on January 28, 1986, only to explode 73 seconds later. Investigations eventually found that this was caused by a mechanical breakdown. McAuliffe and her fellow passengers died, but their hopes survived. As a result, the TISP was eventually superseded by the Educator Astronaut Project. Astronaut Mission Specialists, who were first chosen as astronauts and then given a unique mission, were made up of volunteers from the general public.

Her path and love of teaching inspired others all throughout the country and the world. Schools and educational institutions throughout the world have been named after her, education prizes and scholarships have been named after her, and science institutes retain her imprint. Her legacy has extended beyond space, with an asteroid named 3352 McAuliffe and two craters named McAuliffe, one on the moon and the other on Venus.

☑️ Christa McAuliffe Day facts

The Challenger mission had problems
The mission had been delayed for many days before the explosion, and on that fatal day, it was afflicted by a strong cold front that left ice on the launchpad.

The backup teacher completed McAuliffe’s mission
Barbara Morgan trained with McAuliffe as her backup, and on August 8, 2007, she accomplished what McAuliffe set out to do: she became a space teacher.

Her students watched the live launch
Students from Concord High School in New Hampshire, where McAuliffe taught social studies, cheered McAuliffe on while donning party hats and blowing noisemakers.

Things to do on Christa McAuliffe Day

Watch movies about her
McAuliffe may not have lived in the new digital age, but her name lives on. She has been the subject of several films and documentaries. Select your favorite and begin watching.

Learn about her life
Learn more about her life and work to commemorate it. You can find a number of books and other resources online and in your local bookstore or science center.

Visit her legacies
She has been included in a number of space-based installations. Find out if any such centers around you have a Christa McAuliffe exhibit, and make a point of going.

📅 Christa McAuliffe Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2024 January 28 Sunday
2025 January 28 Tuesday
2026 January 28 Wednesday
2027 January 28 Thursday
2028 January 28 Friday

Learn all January holidays, including Special Interest and other American holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Christa McAuliffe Day. So be sure to check back soon.