Christa McAuliffe Status: Lost In Flight 9/2/1948 – 1/28/1986 Nationality: American Type: Government Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sharon Christa McAuliffe (born Sharon Christa Corrigan; September 2, 1948 – January 28, 1986) was an American teacher and astronaut from Concord, New Hampshire and one of the seven crew members killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.