AllMovie

Discover how a social studies teacher from Concord, New Hampshire was selected to become NASA's first civilian astronaut as documentary filmmakers Renee Sotile and Jo Godges explore the remarkable life of Christie McAullife, the beloved educator who lost her life when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on January 12, 1986. Selected from thousands of applicants for the journey into the stars, McAullife's personal mission was to make space exploration exciting for school children everywhere. Intellectually curious and spirited from a young age, she displayed strong leadership skills early in life and strived to inspire the same in others. In addition to hearing McAullife describe her sense of inspiration in her own words, viewers also hear from her family and NASA officials, the latter of whom offer unique insight into the disaster and its lingering effects on the American space program. By working closely with McAullife's mother, Grace Corrigan, the filmmakers celebrate the life of the teacher who continues to inspire people everywhere even two decades after her untimely death.