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[Background: In 2007, the space shuttle mission STS-118
launched with Christa McAuliffe’s backup Teacher in Space candidate Barbara
Morgan. Though more than a score of
years after the loss of Challenger’s crew, STS-118 was a reminder of the morning of January 28, 1986. That week Christa McAuliffe planned to
perform both live and filmed science lessons (1.4 MB pdf file). These lost lessons, prepared for
the nation and world’s school children, were never done. This project delves into those undone
educational activities. Indeed, after
studying its content, all will appreciate NASA’s, Christa’s and Barbara’s
efforts as well as Bob Mayfield’s in carefully researching, preparing and
training for the performance of the six “Challenger lost lessons.” Though lost in the sense that they perished with Challenger and her crew, recounting, redoing, and examining them is, in a sense, a
resurrection. As such, they become a tribute to Christa and her courageous
crewmates, the CHALLENGER SEVEN.
Chronology: The happenstance of this editor discovering a copy of
Bob Mayfield’s, discussion of the six planned on orbit science demonstrations
led to the project. Mayfield was a NASA
Educational Specialist during the 1980s. His work greatly impressed this author, a spacecraft design
engineer. Fascination focused on the
extent of the science and engineering performed in the conception, preliminary
planning, and earth-based exercises of the lost
six lessons. Added to this
were the mock-up planning practices and
zero-g demonstrations of the lessons by
Christa, Barbara, Bob, and the NASA team.
Mayfield’s
narrative descriptions of the apparatus involved in each of the six science
experiments were excellent. All were
written in the best descriptive technical writing prose. However, not being able to view the described hardware made understanding
difficult.The paper did not include
sketches.Able assistance from NASA JSC media sources, Mike Gentry, Celeste
Wicks and Dr. Jennifer Ross-Nazzal, the JSC Historian,came to the editor’s rescue.They provided both excellent photos and
videos of Christa, Barbara, and Bob going through the scripted on-orbit performance
of the lost six lessons. Additionally, an internet search found the NASA
Educators’ Guide for the pair of on-orbit live experiments. The
Approach: The basis for the project is Mayfield’s article on the hardware development of the six lost lessons. To its content, this editor adds photos, video clips, and supporting narrative supplementingMayfield’s observations and writings.These additions are set off in brackets, [….], to distinguish them from Mayfield’s work for the JSC Education Office. The editor, using the videos and Mayfield’s descriptions, has authored classroom versions of each of the six lost lessons. Often included are sketches and images of the apparatus related to the experiments. To assist the classroom teacher in performing each of the lessons, the scripted experiments are included in the project. They are attached to the body of Mayfield’s work and accessed on the CDROM via holding down the CTRL key and clicking on the individual items listed above, “hydroponics, magnetism,…etc.”. Each includes a materials list, precautionary comments where appropriate, setup, as well as step by step instructions for performing each experiment.
The
NASA 1985 publication TEACHER IN SPACE
PROJECT Guide explains why virtually no follow on material was prepared for
performing the six lost lessons in the classroom. The Guide states regarding the plans for the six filmed lessons:
Filmed Activities: In addition to live lessons, McAuliffe will conduct
a number of demonstrations during the flight. These filmed activities (the six lost lessons) will be used as part of
several educational packages to be prepared and distributed after the
Obviously,
because of the loss of Challenger, no
subsequent educational packages were
prepared and distributed after the
Likewise,
no follow-up to the pair of Live Lessons ensued. For that reason, this project
treats them in the same fashion as the lost filmed demonstrations. However, Mayfield’s paper devoted much less
discussion to the live lessons. Nevertheless, the archived video content gave them as much attention as
those planned for filming aboard Challenger. Therefore, they are treated in equal detail
in the concluding chapters of this project.
Because much understanding of the lost lessons comes from viewing Christa and others in video clips, the project is recorded on a CDROM able to display Christa’s, Barbara’s, and Mayfield’s actions, words, and findings. In this sense, it becomes a worthy substitute for Christa’s planned on orbit filming of the six lost lessons. Using the CDROM, educators can replicate that which Christa was not able to share from orbit. But, fortunately, her wonderful teaching gift and spirit is captured on video tape. Though performed both on earth and in NASA’s zero-g aircraft rather than on orbit, Christa’s remarks and actions in training for the six experiments accomplish most of her lesson plans.
While
more than a score of years have passed, her often quoted remark is once more
validated through this project, “I touch the future, I teach”. Students experiencing the six lost lessons will fulfill Christa’s
prophetic words. They are the future
touched by Christa’s teaching gift. May
all who participate in this project know the same warmth and admiration for
Christa as those who selected her as NASA’s first teacher in space.] JRW – Houston - 2007
For
added information or copies of the project, contact the project editor Jerry
Woodfill, at ER7, NASA JSC,
The
project is a work of the Automation, Robotics, and Simulation Division of the
