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Author
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Topic: Space Cover 200: Teacher in Space Project
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Bob M
Member Posts: 1332
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-09-2013 12:25 PM
   
Space Cover of the Week, Week 200 (February 10, 2013) Space Cover #200, NASA's Teacher in Space Project Covers The Teacher in Space Project was announced by President Reagan in August 1984 and more than 10,000 teachers applied for the opportunity to fly in space on the Space Shuttle. NASA selected two teachers from each state and US territory, for a total of 114 semi-finalists. From the 114 semi-finalists, ten Finalists were chosen and announced on July 1, 1985. Then from those ten, Concord, New Hampshire school teacher Christa McAuliffe was chosen to become the first teacher to fly in space. Immediately after the ten finalists were announced, this collector got busy sending two covers to each of the ten Finalists for their autographs. Between September 1985 and mid-January 1986, all ten Finalists returned my covers nicely signed. Appropriate "Public Education" stamps were added to the covers and off they went to KSC to be postmarked for the launch of the first school teacher aboard Challenger on Space Shuttle mission STS-51L. But a fun project and nice set of signed covers turned into a somber reminder of the fate of Christa and the others aboard Challenger on January 28, 1986. The Teacher in Space cover above was canceled for STS-51L and has four stamps affixed commemorating teaching and education (via Ken Havekotte). Next is a photo of all ten Finalists together during their visit to the Marshall Space Flight Center in September during MSFC's 25th anniversary celebration (via T-in-S Finalist, Kathleen Beres). The covers below were autographed by the following Teacher in Space Finalists: Christa McAuliffe, New Hampshire; Barbara Morgan, Idaho; Kathleen Beres, Maryland; Robert Forester, Indiana; Judith Garcia, Virginia; Peggy Lathlaen, Texas; David Marquart, Idaho; Richard Methia, Massachusetts; Michael Metcalf, Vermont; and Niki Wenger, West Virginia.  
(Please note: This is our two hundredth Space Cover of the Week presemtation, "covering" almost four years and displaying several hundred space covers of all types, and providing a huge amount of information about space cover collecting going all the way back to the beginning of space cover collecting). |
Ross
Member Posts: 334
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-10-2013 08:08 AM
A wonderful set of covers, Bob. I've also tried to collect signatures of various teacher in Space candidates with some success, although not on matching covers postmarked on the fatal day! Of the finalists I'm missing McAuliffe, Marquart and Methia. However, I do have the signatures of another 25 of the candidates (not sure if these are all semi-finalists or not).It's also worth noting that SCCS produced a long series of covers devoted to the Teacher in Space program. One example is shown below.  Finally a couple of my favorite covers. They actually look better in real life.  
Question: Does anyone have a list of the 114 semi-finalists? |
MSS
Member Posts: 350
From: Kolo, Poland
Registered: May 2003
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posted 02-10-2013 09:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Ross:
Question: Does anyone have a list of the 114 semi-finalists?
Here is it.------------------
Astronauts, Cosmonauts & their flights |
stevedd841
Member Posts: 139
From: millersville, maryland, usa
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 02-10-2013 05:49 PM
Bob, a very happy number 200 Space Covers of the Week, and what a fitting collection of covers to display, the Teachers in Space of the U.S. Space Shuttle Program. Two of the teachers in this group that you have would fly on a space shuttle mission, and the first one, Christa McAuliffe, would give her life in service to her country as the first teacher and astronaut to fly. This is a favorite cover of mine signed by Christa, and I have to say it would be hard for me to part with it. She still is very much missed.  |
Ross
Member Posts: 334
From: Australia
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-11-2013 07:51 AM
A big thanks to MSS. That's just what I was looking for. | |
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