In 1986 Christa McAuliffe stepped from the classroom into history. As part of a radical new approach by NASA, she was to be the first civilian in space. While her mission on the shuttle ended tragically, her mission as a teacher continues. The idea for a planetarium was suggested by Louise Wiley, a teacher from Northwood, New Hampshire, and was chosen from among many other ideas because it combined Christa's dream of traveling through space with her dedication to teaching. In April, 1988, the New Hampshire Legislature appropriated funds to build the Planetarium, and ground breaking took place on October 26, 1988. Construction was completed in little more than a year. On June 21, 1990 the Planetarium began its mission to educate, incite and entertain learners of all ages in the sciences and humanities by actively engaging them in the exploration of astronomy and space science.
