SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A La Jolla High School teacher who was a finalist for the Teacher in Space program reflects on the 40th anniversary of the Challenger disaster and how the tragedy shaped her mission to carry on her friend's legacy. After the disaster, McMillan received a final letter in the mail from McAuliffe containing what would be the last correspondence from a woman she called a friend. Love, Christa.’Following the tragedy, McMillan dedicated herself to carrying on McAuliffe's legacy in space education. For me, that meant promoting space education," McMillan said. Today, that mission continues through nonprofits inspired by the Challenger disaster and private sector involvement in space exploration.