I should have been grateful. Instead, I was disappointed. I was not among the finalists for NASA’s Teacher-in-Space competition. The contest was announced in 1985, and 10,463 people from all 50 states applied. Being an astronaut was an early dream for me as I watched the space program’s progress, including the moon landing. My interest led me to be a high school Science teacher, and NASA’s competition to put the first private citizen, a teacher, in space was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.
The explosion of the Challenger was a reality check for the thousands of applicants and the millions of people who tuned in for the launch on Jan. 28, 1986, and saw the vehicle break apart 73 seconds into flight. All seven crew members aboard died, including Christa McAuliffe, a teacher.
My love for everything space-related did not wane after the accident. I was able to work for NASA as an Einstein Distinguished Educator, managing education programs in Washington and shepherding teachers and students to successful space shuttle launches. When I was asked to develop a lesson for the Retro Report video “Lessons from the Challenger Tragedy” (Transcript), I started with the O ring seal as a potential subject for student investigation. I learned that the original material, which became brittle in cold temperatures, was no longer available, and that rubber bands are not a good substitute.
Many students have not had a chance to investigate rocket physics, and small straw rockets are fun to build and test. If the rockets spark interest, there are many avenues to build more sophisticated vehicles. As humans venture out from Earth, I hope you will use these resources to encourage students to learn about rocket technology and the missions that will take us into space.
PEG STEFFEN is an award-winning former middle school and high school Science teacher, curriculum writer, education program manager for NASA and NOAA’s National Ocean Service. She is the managing editor of The Earth Scientist, the journal of the National Earth Science Teachers Association. You can subscribe to Retro Report’s education newsletter here and view past newsletters here.
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