Other than benefiting from one of the world’s largest standing armies, an advanced nuclear weapons program, and a monarchical family political system that’s so locked-up citizens are afraid to say anything, you’d think North Korea doesn’t have a lot going for it. You’d be correct.
One unintended benefit of the totalitarian country is a clear view of the stars and planets in the night sky. That’s because their economy is so anemic, they don’t have power to illuminate their homes, streets or limited businesses after nightfall.
From space, the result has been the entire northern half of the Korean peninsula being totally dark after sunset. Other than a few lights in the capital of Pyongyang, pitch black is how it appears to astronauts on the Space Shuttle or International Space Station....
In the early 1960s, 11-year-old young Sharon Corrigan dreamed of seeing such amazing views from space. She lived in Boston and was fascinated by the entire space program, particularly in 1962, when John Glenn orbited the earth in Friendship 7. During his flight, she commented to a friend that “…someday people would be flying to the moon... I want to do that!” The silly things kids dream of. Or, not. Just seven years later, Neil Armstrong walked where she dreamed.
The following year, NASA announced they wanted to send a teacher on a Space Shuttle mission. They wanted someone to relate to students the experience of space flight and the experiments being conducted. They also wanted to increase public interest in the space program. Over 11,000 teachers applied. In 1985, Christa McAuliffe was one of 10 finalists.
Christa traveled to the Johnson Space Center for medical tests and interviews. In the end, she was the one chosen to fly aboard the shuttle Challenger. She went into training and onto TV programs. She was fearless. On The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson she stated, "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on."
On January 28, 1986, she boarded Challenger along with six other astronauts. Her historic launch was being watched live across the nation by countless schoolchildren, including hers. AT 11:38AM eastern time Challenger rose from the launch pad. A mere 73 seconds later, at an altitude of nine miles above the earth, Challenger exploded killing all seven aboard. The cause was said to be a faulty O-ring in the solid rocket booster.
McAuliffe was buried in Concord. The female pioneer has since been honored with The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord and the McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence at Framingham State University. Over 40 schools around the world have been named for her along with an asteroid – 3352 McAuliffe. The Soviet Union also named a crater after her on Venus.
The accolades and honors have continued. Perhaps, one of the most significant is happening this month –a commemorative US silver dollar coin.
The coin features an impressive portrait of McAuliffe on the front with the inscription, “2021 LIBERTY IN GOD WE TRUST.” On the reverse is an image of the teacher with three students. She is pointing skyward among seven stars representing the seven killed in the accident. At the top are the words, “I TOUCH THE FUTURE I TEACH.”
Each 1.5-inch coin struck from pure silver comes in a special presentation box and is being sold by the US Mint for $69 in uncirculated condition and $74 as a mirror-polished proof. More information can be found at: www.USMint.gov.
In her classes, it’s said Christa, "emphasized the impact of ordinary people on history, saying they were as important to the historical record as kings, politicians or generals.” Her involvement in and legacy with the space program underscores that. As for her childhood dream, the honor of being an astronaut and then appearing on a US silver dollar is better than walking on air – it’s like walking on the moon.
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