Christa McAuliffe

Christa McAuliffe full page autographed letter signed in preparation for the Space Shuttle "Challenger" - NASA's first teacher launched in space on a fatal mission

Single page ALS, 6" x 8.5" on light purple stationary stock. Dated "September 7", although the accompanying provenance fully dated the letter as September 7, 1985. Signed by Christa McAuliffe as "Christa". Center fold else fine condition. Accompanied by a signed detailed two page letter of provenance by the original recipient of the letter (Don LeBrun), who was a close friend and colleague of Christa's during her stay at Concord High in New Hampshire, later to become a vice principal in a neighboring district.

Teacher and astronaut McAuliffe was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to participate in NASA as Teacher in Space Projects, and she was scheduled to become the first teacher in space. As a member of mission STS-51-L, she was planning to conduct experiments and teach two lessons from Space Shuttle Challenger. On January 28, 1986, her spacecraft disintegrated 73 seconds after launch, and she was one of seven crew members killed.

Christa's warm, bubbly, effervescent letter is shown in full below:

"September 7

Dear Don,

Please convey my thanks to the C.E.A. for the lovely gold bracelet. I have been wearing it during my past few days of interviews and so many people have complimented me on my selection of jewelry!

I feel very strongly about remaining an active member this year even though I will not be in a classroom. It's so important that teachers unify and draw from each other strengths.

Thanks again - I'm off tomorrow for Houston -

Love,

Christa"