My name is Irene Porro.

I am a director of the Christa McAuliffe center for Integrated Science Learning here at Framingham State University.

Challenger Learning Center is a space where we simulate, space missions.

Yes!

Yes!

So McAuliffe grew up in Framingham and was a student at Framingham State University.

She graduated with a degree in education.

Obviously, when she applied to be the first teacher in space, and was selected at that time, she was a teacher in New Hampshire, but her connection to Framingham was always extremely strong.

And so after, the accident, very shortly after that, the university decided to open an education center in her name.

I'm one of the program facilitators here, the Christa McAuliffe center at the challenger learning center.

We run simulated space missions for sixth to ninth graders.

But people of all ages here is, like hands on experiments, hands on things that they have to go through.

All the tasks that they have to do, they can actually take over, positions of astronauts or engineers or biologists, medical team and all this stuff.

So it's like they taking over professional, professional roles.

For us is to carry forward an education initiative.

It really embodies all of Christa's messages.

I don't think from my understanding that Christa was a person who was going to look back.

She was always looking at the next opportunity to do something meaningful.

You don't have to be an astronaut to be in space, so I don't have to be a specific, person to make an impact.

So she was able to do it.

I always tell people to kids especially, they can do it.

It's possible for anyone to do anything.

So that's the, that's the legacy we carry that if a teacher If you can go to space, you can go and do anything in the world.

To learn more and watch additional video, go to nhpbs.org/christa