MetroWest Daily News The design for the 2021 Christa McAuliffe Silver Dollar has officially been released by the United States Mint. McAuliffe, a Framingham native and a high school social studies teacher in Concord, New Hampshire, was the first participant in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Teacher in Space (NASA) program. She and six astronauts died when the Challenger exploded on Jan. 28, 1986. “This silver dollar will celebrate the life and legacy of a true pioneer, a passionate educator, and an inspiration to millions. We hope this coin will honor Christa McAuliffe’s memory, and we are proud to assist in the continued legacy of her mission to inspire young people to become science and technology leaders,” said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder in a pre-recorded video.