Honoring Those Who Died in the Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster
In 2019, the United States Congress enacted Public Law 116-65, authorizing the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar to honor her and the six astronauts who perished in January 1986. McAuliffe was a social studies teacher from New Hampshire who was the first teacher to be selected as an astronaut in NASA’s “Teacher in Space” program.
Christa McAuliffe served as a payload specialist on mission STS-51L, launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Challenger crew included Commander Francis R. Scobee; Pilot Michael J. Smith, USN; Mission Specialists Ronald E. McNair, Ellison S. Onizuka, USAF, and Judith A. Resnik; and fellow civilian payload specialist Gregory B. Jarvis.
The entire crew was tragically killed when the Challenger space shuttle exploded after launch on January 28, 1986. The accident exposed serious flaws in engineering decision-making, organizational culture, and risk management within NASA and its contractors. It led to a prolonged suspension of shuttle flights, major redesigns, and significant changes in safety oversight. The “Teacher in Space” program was canceled following the disaster and replaced in 2004 with the NASA Educator Astronaut Project to educate teachers about NASA’s missions and space exploration.
Coin Design & Mintage Details
The 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar features an obverse designed by Laurie Musser and sculpted by the U.S. Mint’s Phebe Hemphill. The obverse depicts a portrait of Christa McAuliffe facing left. On the upper periphery is her name “CHRISTA McAuliffe,” and on the lower periphery are the year of striking “2021,”, the word “LIBERTY,” and the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST.”
The reverse of this silver dollar was designed by Emily Damstra and sculpted by Joseph Menna. It features McAuliffe raising her hand toward the sky as three high school-age students look up. Her hand is surrounded by seven stars in the sky, representing McAuliffe and her six astronaut colleagues who all perished. Above the stars is the phrase, “I TOUCH THE FUTURE – I TEACH.” The reverse also includes the official FIRST® logo, which represents the FIRST® robotics program, which engages young people and encourages them to learn and enjoy science, engineering, math, and technology. The lower periphery has “EPLURIBUS UNUM,” the denomination “ONE DOLLAR,” and “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.”
(A 2021-P Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar, Uncirculated, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
(A 2021-P Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar, Proof, Obverse [left], Reverse [right].)
Both the uncirculated and proof 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollars were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and both bear a “P” mintmark on the reverse. The coins were struck in .999 fine silver. Congress authorized a maximum mintage of 350,000 coins, and the United States Mint sold 16,044 of the uncirculated coins and 54,230 of the proof versions. A $10 surcharge was added to each 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar to support the FIRST® robotics program. The proceeds fund mentor-based activities that encourage young people to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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