In 1985, Christa McAuliffe Tells TODAY About Being A Challenger Crew Member | TODAY

Shortly after being announced as the first teacher to go into space, Christa McAuliffe appeared on TODAY in 1985. Speaking with Bryant Gumbel, McAuliffe described her disbelief at being part of the Challenger space shuttle crew and noted her desire to bring her own “wonder and that excitement” back to students. Asked about any fears, McAuliffe responded that “space flight today really seems safe.”
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#ChristaMcAuliffe #BryantGumbel #TODAY
In 1985, Christa McAuliffe Tells TODAY About Being A Challenger Crew Member | TODAY

[@Chicoandtheman]

You can clearly see why she was chosen. I mean she radiates such kindness and love. You just knew she was an amazing teacher and that her students loved her. She will never be forgotten.

[@BenRai2k]

@Baba_Bushida_Bando You guys are so silly. She looks nothing like the Christa claim she is.

[@Yobbie72]

10,000 teachers applied and they got the number down to 10 finalists. Christa was the "lucky" one selected. Breaks my heart to see her brimming with pride and optimism, and knowing what lay ahead. She now has a home, safe beyond the stars.

[@mocha.idiots]

No hate but- It was actually 11,500 teachers who applied

[@paprvutv1054]

She's alive.@@mocha.idiots

[@courtesyofdickboak]

She teaches at Syracuse university now

[@BenRai2k]

@@courtesyofdickboak Yah, if you are insane

[@ラーメンのボス]

@@BenRai2kno she still does. She reanimated as a zombie and reattached her bits and pieces.

[@bloodlegion4874]

That smile. Such a hearty and happy person. May she and her crew all Rest In Peace ❤️🙏🏻

[@thearcherwriter2342]

She had that genuinely beautiful energy. RIH Christa

[@lifewithsy7950]

Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins, was buried, and then rose again 3 days later, and through Him we can have eternal life.

[@mm369]

Sad 😔 she was excited and so close to her dreams becoming a reality. She was a great person/teacher, I’ve always been fascinated by her story and the tragedy.

[@lovintube25]

So true and the accident was so preventable. Just sad

[@Sssi4270]

Its a set up

[@chivasregal-mr1jc]

She is still alive, 7 crew members are still alive and well.

[@mosesluckett7568]

They knew that something was wrong with the spaceship before they put them in it I feel that this wasn't no accident.

[@mosesluckett7568]

How is they still alive on live television everyone saw the spaceship going up an exploding with crews on board how explain the explosion was intense how can anyone survive that.

[@alancooper7497]

What a absolute great woman.She will never be forgotten.Hero and a massive inspiration.Rest In Peace.

[@Sssi4270]

She is still alive some seem to have proof of. Crazy world is it not?

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

@@Sssi4270 shut up. Please. This isn’t some sick joke. This is real. She is dead. Stop making conspiracies

[@Sssi4270]

@@RichMiniön-r2m Sick joke?

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

@@Sssi4270 you are sick if you think for a second she is alive

[@Sssi4270]

@@RichMiniön-r2m Have you understood my comment or are you having trouble with reading English?

[@ac-ib9le]

My middle school science teacher applied and I’ll never forget the look on her face after we witnessed the tragedy on TV in class that day.

[@edwardfights4900]

Nothing compared to 9/11. Learn to watch a real tragedy in school?

[@AllisonMarie1993]

@Addison Dean And God wasn't watching over Christa McAuliffe? Or her husband or her children? God didn't care about them? Poor choice of words

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

@@edwardfights4900 it’s still a horrible tragedy

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

@@AllisonMarie1993 it’s not God not caring about them it’s us being morons and not listening to the people that made Challenger

[@marilyncorbett5402]

@@edwardfights4900 this response is insensitive and doesn’t even make sense like wtf

[@SomeoneFromIstanbul]

Beautiful face, beautiful smile… beautiful soul… rest in peace❤

[@chaosknight8428]

1:21 "Space flight today really seems safe" In hindsight, those words are so incredibly sad.

[@snootzie78]

the irony

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

Space flight is safe only if you follow logic and not politics

[@00tonytone]

@@RichMiniön-r2m FYI shes alive. They all are. In fact some of them didnt even change there name. It's all A hoax/fraud. If you still believe NASA went to the moon in 1969, your beyond help. The brainwashing trumps common sense. The ISS is a blue screen with CGI. You can actually see the wire harnesses and after a flip one of the other clowns moves it out the way. One time one got entangled on wire. Then when there horizontal to give that 0 gravity affect they tilt there heads upwards. But theres no up or down in space. Theres also a video of a moth flying around in fake station . Must of been a space moth. Dont believe me or hate the messenger. Do your own research. Start with ISS bloopers. Baby steps. They practically laugh right in front of our face.

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

@@00tonytone Okay Flat Earther, Go back to your AntiVaxx Facebook group and post your big brain thesis of how everything the government says is a lie. Why are you even here, why do want to belittle the incredible heroes that risked their lives by traveling into space for the benefit of us all, why do you want to deny the existence of the single greatest international project where the global superpowers came together and made the biggest outpost in space. why do you want to take America's pride away by contradicting that we even went to the moon, how do you think we won the cold war and space race against the soviet union?... please use common sense and logic, follow the millions of scientists that spent their lives researching about physics and astrophysics, don't listen to that Karen living next to you saying how all our accomplishments are fake and the Government is lying to us... use your head for once.

[@zhulza]

@@philothemell I didn't see anyone laugh?

[@siennacooper6885]

she was my teacher and we were watching it live from the classroom rip Mrs McAuliffe youll always be remembered

[@K_d_-dz6ps]

That’s amazing. I grew up in Florida near KSC and saw the Challenger disaster in person, when my kindergarten class watched from our school yard. That left a lifelong impression on my young mind. I have always thought about Challenger, especially Christa, and I always wondered about how her students coped with the disaster. Please share more about your experience, if you’re comfortable doing so.

[@crittoneida958]

That is very sad were crying in class

[@physicalivan]

she was killed

[@paprvutv1054]

Alive and well@@physicalivan

[@physicalivan]

@@paprvutv1054 agree. she is alive.

[@joeldiaz5857]

She radiate positive energy. We need people like her today.

[@someone8323]

Clear why she was chosen 😢 you can see that despite being so excited for this opportunity, she still keeps the focus on the students. “They’re the pioneers. They’re our future. Hope I can bring the perspective back to my students”. One of the best teachers who was full of dreams. We go gaga about celebrities but we never care about such good teachers. They’re the ones creating the doctors, nurses and astronauts of tomorrow. RIP Christa! You’re with the stars.

[@SJKIE]

fish food

[@dd65093]

Many of us don’t care about celebrities at all. I would say most grown men over 30

[@desertrose1226]

She was lovely -so sweet. She Reminds of my own Late Mom when she was young. 😢😢😢

[@wc6740]

Sorry for your loss.

[@Paralyzer]

This is surreal , she won a first class ticket to her own death . 😞 that’s hard to get a grip around . She was so excited to teach from space , instead her own family and the rest of the country watched her die 😔

[@mattyboyd4045]

Such a lovely woman. It’s so nice to hear a wonderful person talk. She passed, but she was so meant to be legend. Love her!!

[@tomtagliente1464]

She was truly the best choice. Her enthusiasm was infectious. CHALLENGER was such a huge loss to the country. It's still so sad, and I only wonder what could have been.

[@EllaKournikova1234]

What a amazing lady..its sad that Christa had no idea of the horrific accident disaster that was to follow one year later..such a sad loss..I am hoping that christa is up there in heaven now..looking down on earth and realise that she can look at wonderful space and earth forever..

[@astrokattt]

Well this is heartbreaking.

[@usern0th1ng]

the way she worried about the replacement for her students, such a caring teacher, rest in peace ☹️☹️❤

[@EmilioPacheco]

I'm from Brazil, but I happened to be in the United States when she gave this interview and I saw it. Only the day before we had visited Kennedy Space Center in Florida and our guide told us that the first private citizen to travel in the Space Shuttle would be a teacher. Then the next day I was glad to break the news to our group that the teacher had already been chosen and it was a woman. Our guide was a woman too, so she felt proud.

[@foxmccloud7055]

Came across this comment recently that said: "While Kathryn Johnson was making sure the math was correct and John Glenn was flying the mission, a 13yr old little girl was watching the flight and dreaming of flying in space herself. Unfortunately, that story must be told at another time."

[@aaronartale]

I can remember watching the launch live at school in 2nd grade. They brought TV's into all the classrooms

[@trishbaum6364]

Same here, I didn't comprehend what happend at first until I seen the look on my teachers face and I just couldn't believe they died right then we had just seen them waving as they got on. . Sad that her kids were watching too.

[@hikingwiththeshackletons]

She was so selfless, her each & every thought & motivation was towards everyone else. May she & the rest of the Challenger crew rest in peace. ❤️. You will never be forgotten

[@antonioalaimo2866]

Christa was a beautiful soul. Rest in peace

[@jtn1920]

So sad to the point of being disturbing. She had such an incredible soul.

[@freeedr]

Her niece lived two houses down from me at this time and was my brother’s best friend. On the day of the launch they set up a television in the cafeteria of the elementary school for everyone to watch. Christa’s niece got to sit right up front and center to watch and got to pick a friend to be with her. She chose my brother to sit with her. When the explosion happened it was horrifying. The teachers turned off the tv and sent the niece home to be with her family. Their family moved away soon after, I think because of the shakeup in the family after this. Absolutely terrible. The niece had been so happy and carefree before this and I never saw her that way again before they moved.

[@I_WANT_MY_SLAW]

It was probably because her aunt died.

[@desertrose1226]

Poor Christa.. and also Poor little girl. So sad and I can imagine even worse for young children who were watching..

[@warsin8641]

Man things sucked back then. Nasa without spaceX is just ugh

[@toddanthony6664]

I can certainly understand how America fell in love with her. God only knows what would’ve been.

[@armandoruiz8758]

The U.S government is actually using a name of a continent to its citizens and country. We are U.S. citizens. Citizens of the United States. The United States is a country but America its not a country America its a continent. The whole entire continent was already named America 269 years way before the United States of America became a nation or even existed. Everyone on the American continent is an American likewise Asia are Asians, Africa are Africans and Europe are Europeans.🤦....ok I have four questions for you and everyone in here!!! 1: Where or how the United States government got the name America from? 2: What happen first? The United States of America or the American continent? 3: What government divided the American continent? 4: What government added the North, the Central and the South to the American continent? Huh? 😎The democratic party and the republican party its a show nowadays. Its only to control us U.S citizens to be divided against each other meanwhile they are in control. Its a master mind controlling government B.S. I have a question name one government that is not corrupt? Exactly!!! Remember the U.S president its just a puppet. The ones behind doors are in control. Rothschild's, Rockefeller, Soros, Chase and what not. Just think about it. Let me tell you something. Ill make it easy, simple, nice and clear. People like you and I be in jail or prison in a heartbeat. To my knowledge no one is above the law but I guess not for some people.

[@aabll5993]

​?

[@abbieprice3430]

Thanks for another rare interview with Christa McAuliffe! She really seemed enthusiastic about wanting to go into space! Maybe one day, another teacher will be chosen to go into orbit and Christa could be there in spirit to help guide him or her as like a guardian angel or something!

[@t77777]

Look up Barbara Morgan. She's one of the other teachers that was selected alongside Christa, she went to space in 2007.

[@mcmlxii4419]

@@t77777 She wasn't "selected alongside Christa"...she was the runner up.

[@haumea420]

Man, this really breaks my heart for her and her family. What a tragedy. The explosion happened the day before my 4th birthday.

[@briandd27]

I was born in 85 but this lady's story interests me including the rest of her crew. I really wish someone would make a miniseries or movie about her story.

[@TonyGue]

She and the 6 crew were so brave to go on a spaceship knowing they could possibly die. They did so much and reached the peak of the human experience. May they all rip

[@tonyfrantz9942]

Hard to watch, only because I know what happens …. What an inspiring person she was …

[@เกียรติศักดิ์ขวัญเมือง-ห6ษ]

So sad

[@adape0884frank]

Aww she was a very special loving person and her students miss her very much😢 may she RIP.

[@jasonlinton9902]

She seemed like a very happy lady and so sweet its just so sad i remember being in school in the weeks leading up to the launch we were all so excited the teachers gave us a spaceship to color and the winner got a prize they were all humg up in the room the day of the launch i was only 8 years old at the time but i remember my teachers face and her hand over her mouth after it exploded us children didnt understand until we got home and our parents told us what had happened it was a sad day

[@inf1nity_yt]

This all seems like a cruel joke. Christa McAuliffe applied to go to space, got to the top 10 and got selected to go up on a Space Shuttle only to meet her demise only 73 seconds after liftoff. Edit: If only NASA had a little more patience this could've all been avoided

[@ruthlessluder]

Failures cannot be avoided. We just have to learn from them.

[@d.michele7042]

@@ruthlessluder this one could have been though. Engineers were telling management to not let the mission go through because of the weather and other factors, but NASA didn’t listen. Allegedly, one of the engineers behind it told his wife that it was going to blow up. They wanted quantity over quality. They were killed because of haste.

[@tom7131]

@@ruthlessluder this could have been avoided... read about it

[@alex-internetlubber]

@@d.michele7042 Yeah. More of a case to be made for Columbia though some think Columbia could also have been saved

[@turkalpkucur]

I am from Turkiye , I am 42. I was watching challenger getting ready to lift off.. We ,no matter which country you are from, all cried! especially Christa.. she and all beside 6 astranouts will always be in our hearts!

[@heisensaul5538]

This is heartbreaking to watch knowing what is going to happen in 6 months 😢She was so happy about this mission.

[@MissLalove123]

Little did she know she was signing up for her death... very sad..

[@brandonray4379]

She was so pretty. R.I.P Christa Mcauliffe

[@jakebee7205]

what a beautiful inspiring person.

[@robbiemckenzie7822]

I remember watching this the morning it aired. She was so happy and positive and you just wanted her to be successful. I wouldn't want to be able to imagine the fear, the heart break, and utter helplessness she must have felt in the 2 minutes and 45 seconds it took to fall to the ocean after the explosion.

[@UXB-p5u]

Absolutely heartbreaking to watch this remarkable young woman so full of life vitality and clearly so many wonderful idea's of including her students and no doubt inspiring a whole generation of futute pioneers. Christa's memory and legacy will never be forgotten nor will that of all her fellow Shuttle Astronauts 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@auhauahauhauh..]

I wasn’t born when the space shuttle exploded but ik it must have been really sad I’m learning about this in school and couldn’t help but search it up 😭

[@foxmccloud7055]

If Christa were alive to see the Inspiration 4 launch, she would be very proud and thrilled that private citizens are now flying in space.

[@queenbee6084]

She would have been 73 today..I remember I was in grade 6 when this happened

[@aquaman199]

And you still believe nasa right

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

@@aquaman199😒🖕your flat earth 🐎 💩. 🖕your conspiracy 🐎 💩. Now 🖕off.

[@elijahcaver2152]

Such a chilling response at 1:13.

[@villavilla4798]

So sad it had to end this way on January 28 1985. Rip. Blessings from Amsterdam, Holland, The Netherlands 🇳🇱🧡

[@msb3235]

1:24 Oh my god,😭 this part really break my heart...

[@ManuelMendez1]

0:28 "When I filled out the application"

[@jennybrannkarr2573]

She touched so many lives. I was so sad to see shuttle NASA explode. Some teachers touch the 🌎 with their knowledge. God bless her 🙏 ❤

[@HaveAniceDay2450]

Lovely person. Rip 🙏🏼

[@grinsko6741]

It is so achingly poignant when Krista says at 1:21: "Spaceflight today really seems safe".

[@SteffiReitsch]

I know! She didn't realize the danger. She totally trusted those people.

[@pawel115]

It wasn't safe then when this interview happened nor was it safe in 2003 many years later when Columbia disaster happened

[@asdf9890]

This was so sad, I was 9 years old at the time. It was like my favorite teacher or my mom dying in this tragedy. It was such a big deal for kids at the time, we were so excited for a teacher to go into space.

[@SteffiReitsch]

She was chosen out of 11,000. And look what happened to her. She was so beautiful and trusting , a mom in the prime of her life. Oh my god, this makes me CRY so bad! Especially when she says "Spaceflight today really seems safe". No! It will never be safe! Too many things can go wrong! It's been so long ago, but the memory of this awful tragedy all comes back after seeing this. I've got to go lie down.

[@beautifulcatastrophe]

Rest in peace

[@scott7521]

I wish I could go back in time and warn her.

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

@DeathAdder7😂😂 You actually believe those chodes?

[@JCStorm76]

@DeathAdder7Another conspiracy theorist

[@noodlehusband1374]

Rest in peace.

[@joseapsantos3633]

Boa noite, um belo momento maravilhoso e feliz. Adorei o vídeo.

[@AngieLemmon]

I was born in 91 and I first learned about The Challenger disaster when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. But it just stuck with me since. I just recently watched a documentary about Christa and It was heartbreaking. 7 beautiful souls gone too soon. And as awful and terrible as it is that they all lost their lives, it’s Christa’s story that affected me the most. NASA never should have launched that day 😞

[@danielteveraayt]

I went to the elementary school that was named after her.

[@mumandtwins]

I remember she said more about how safe she would be

[@jenhaley]

My school was in the pen pal program with her school in NH. We were known as the Milton Bradley school due to how close we were to Longmeadow.

[@makaylarose3604]

Longmeadow in MA? I’m from East longmeadow lol

[@jenhaley]

@@makaylarose3604 Hello from I-5!

[@jenhaley]

@@makaylarose3604 Hey neighbor! Funny seeing other Pioneer Valley folks in the comments section (Hazardville, CT).

[@aquaman199]

Funny how everyone knows her through someone

[@SG-hd1qg]

I almost feel like they shouldn't send you to space if you have kids

[@walterwhite6216]

There are parents that don’t fly together in the same plane

[@davidlee480]

@@walterwhite6216 Kobe and Vanessa had that pact.. they wouldn't fly together in case something happend.. just so sad those lives were lost 😪

[@Uneldo7]

3:06 "I also want to make sure my replacement at school is going to be comfortable for next year" This really brings on the tears.

[@monika.simonyte]

We have the same birthday, so sad 😢😢

[@WickedlyMe328]

My brother’s 3rd grade teacher was a finalist. They were watching it on TV as every kid in school did that day. I was only 4, have no memory of that day.

[@Blueflamexox]

It still bothers me so much that the challenger shuttle disaster literally was her first and last flight, and the fact that Christa, a genuinely and dedicated person, is the first teacher chosen to go to space...RIP😔

[@mpa1931]

Makes me tear up what happened to her, she did not deserve that fate.

[@carlin2235]

She was a humble woman, didn't deserve that final like any other Profesional.

[@ntom5579]

Rest well❤🙏🏼

[@Paigepebbbles]

Wow she’s so delightful and sweet

[@BlueWorld-03]

and ded

[@KingDrewPhilip]

1:21 “Space flight today really seems safe”. That’s really sad because her space shuttle mission was far from that.

[@jessicasimplicioreis3824]

R.I.P christa ...🖤🖤🖤🖤

[@davidvalentinmunguiavelez9814]

Que voz tan dulce y juvenil tenía.

[@MichaelSeaBelA]

Makes me sad, but it reminds me of my most favorite teacher similar to Christa I ever had in elementary school was Lisa.

[@Cartergoesharder]

My elementary school was named in her honor 🙏🏾

[@joshthomas911]

These are real heros!

[@randomsk8etc83]

I want the students to get ownership and their children or grandchildren will be pioneering that I want them to get perspective of that, I want to get my life in order, I have a family I want to get them set, I want my replacement to be comfortable, I feel like im reading about someone else. She is a kind soul and its almost like she knew

[@TSquared2001]

This was tough to remember

[@rosamaryful2]

(1:22) But it WAS NOT SAFE! It Blew Up😔 RIP🙏🏽

[@najamalam4486]

Such a kind loving soul ❤

[@rhonegillis6228]

She reminds me of sigourney weaver

[@desertrose1226]

I think Karen Allen/ Karen Carpenter..

[@cerillewellyn6282]

rip luv her x

[@TheFirstMrSue]

It’s so sad she never got to see the earth from that perspective.

[@qkings_Roblox]

bryant gumbel is such a god interviewer.

[@kalel311superman9]

she was really excited, very tragic what happened, i was only 4 years old, my mom watched the launch on tv like everyone else

[@spennydawg4487]

"I don't know what put me over the top.." Her rich, well connected husband. This all would have never happened if she wasn't on the flight. That "teacher in space" bs was a horrible idea. Space is not for everybody. They would have never launched that day if she wasn't onboard.

[@annieanonymous611]

This is quite chilling to watch. Bless her soul. Quite horrifying that NASA was so cavalier in their attitude to the astronauts lives. They all trusted that their lives would be the most important thing. Misplaced trust.

[@royalreviews5270]

I didn't know about the shuttle disaster until my dad told me. He was in highschool when it happened. I thought he was kidding sad to know he wasn't

[@EmmaElizabethPrice]

Rest in Peace

[@thisatuno]

“really seems safe” 😢

[@JCStorm76]

Uh oh

[@alecc3073]

She wasn’t afraid she said it seemed really safe :(

[@aprillovesdolphins869]

If I could change one historical event, it'd probably be the Challenger explosion. I'd love to have learned what she could've taught.

[@Yobbie72]

not world war II?

[@Johnny-be1nd]

Chernobyl?

[@rubyanddelilahandnani]

Slavery?

[@himwhoisnottobenamed5427]

Napoleon I?

[@erichall4548]

How do we know she wasn't potty trained....she made a BOOM BOOM in her space suit😁😁

[@JCStorm76]

Inappropriate

[@Destro7000]

Is she one of the astronauts who died in the explosion?

[@chaosknight8428]

Yes

[@brunoottina293]

Officially. The truth is quite different.

[@obsessedfae]

@@brunoottina293 what do you mean?

[@brunoottina293]

@@obsessedfae The official version is far from convincing and indisputable, Krystina.

[@RichMiniön-r2m]

@@brunoottina293 what? Speak normally. We don’t want to be in your make believe Sherlock Holmes Movie

[@Milkywayboy]

She said space flight today seems safe😥 poor thing

[@steelermia]

love her accent .. rip christa

[@BackWordsJane]

" I still can't believe that I'm going to actually be going into that shuttle" 😢

[@lindaeasley5606]

"Space flight today really seems safe" 😞

[@jaxong.2701]

Cool black & white checkered jacket there ....

[@marcocunego3326]

May God bless you