Editing Barbara Morgan

{{Short description|American teacher and former astronaut (born 1951)}}
{{Other people}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox astronaut
|name = Barbara Morgan
|image = Barbara morgan.jpg
|caption = Morgan in 2006
|birth_name = Barbara Radding
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|11|28}}
|birth_place = [[Fresno, California]], U.S.
|death_date = 
|death_place = 
|spouse = Clay Morgan
|children = 2
|education = [[Stanford University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
|type = [[NASA astronaut]]
|selection = {{ubl|[[Teacher in Space Project]] (1985)|[[NASA Astronaut Group 17|NASA Group 17 (1998)]]}}
|time = 12d 17h 53m
|mission = [[STS-118]]
|insignia = [[File:STS-118 patch new.svg|30px]]
}}
'''Barbara Radding Morgan''' (born November 28, 1951) is an American [[teacher]] and a former [[NASA]] [[astronaut]]. She participated in the [[Teacher in Space Project]] as backup to [[Christa McAuliffe]] for the 1986 [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|ill-fated]] [[STS-51-L]] mission of the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']]. In 1998, eight years after the Teacher in Space Project had ended, she was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate, training as a [[mission specialist]]; astronaut Morgan flew on [[STS-118]] in August 2007. As such, she became the first teacher (by original career) to go into space.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-01-28|title=The story of Barbara Morgan, the first teacher in space|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-story-of-barbara-morgan-the-first-teacher-in-space|access-date=2021-08-10|website=PBS NewsHour|language=en-us}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Morgan was born to Dr. and Mrs. Jerry Radding in 1951 and raised in [[Fresno, California]], where she attended [[Herbert Hoover High School (Fresno)|Herbert Hoover High School]]. Following graduation in 1969, she was accepted to [[Stanford University]] in [[Palo Alto, California]], where she graduated with distinction in 1973 with a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in [[human biology|Human Biology]]. She obtained her teaching credential from [[Notre Dame de Namur University]] in nearby [[Belmont, California|Belmont]] in 1974.<ref name="bio1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/morgan_barbara.pdf|title=BARBARA RADDING MORGAN, NASA ASTRONAUT (FORMER)|access-date=April 14, 2021|publisher=NASA|date=July 2010|author=NASA}}</ref>

==Teaching career since 1974==
Morgan began her teaching career in 1974 on the [[Flathead Indian Reservation]] at Arlee Elementary School in [[Arlee, Montana]], where she taught remedial reading and math. From 1975 to 1978, she taught remedial reading/math and second grade at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School in [[McCall, Idaho]]. From 1978 to 1979, Morgan taught English and science to third graders at [[Colegio Americano de Quito]]  in [[Quito, Ecuador]], for a year. From 1979 to 1998, Morgan taught second, third, and fourth grades at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School.<ref name=ellis>{{cite book|last1=Ellis|first1=Lee|title=Who's who of NASA astronauts|date=2002|publisher=Americana Group Pub.|location=River Falls, WI|isbn=0966796144|page=[https://archive.org/details/whoswhoofnasaast0000elli/page/131 131]|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/whoswhoofnasaast0000elli|url-access=registration}}</ref>

==Teacher in Space Project==
[[Image:Teacher in Space Project McAuliffe and Morgan.jpg|thumb|left|[[Christa McAuliffe]] and Morgan in December 1985]]
Morgan was selected as the backup candidate for the NASA [[Teacher in Space Project]] on July 19, 1985. From September 1985 to January 1986, Morgan trained with [[Christa McAuliffe]] and the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']] crew at NASA's [[Johnson Space Center]], [[Houston, Texas]]. Following McAuliffe's death in the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]], Morgan assumed the duties of Teacher in Space Designee. From March 1986 to July 1986, she worked with NASA, speaking to educational organizations throughout the country. In the fall of 1986, Morgan returned to Idaho to resume her teaching career. She taught second and third grades at McCall-Donnelly Elementary and continued to work with NASA's Education Division, Office of Human Resources and Education. Her duties as Teacher in Space Designee included public speaking, educational consulting, curriculum design, and serving on the [[National Science Foundation]]'s Federal Task Force for Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering.<ref>{{cite news | first=Marcia | last=Dunn | title= NASA's Barbara Morgan Still Grounded Following Tragedy | date=2003-11-06 | publisher=Space.com | url =http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/ap_morgan_031106.html | access-date = 2007-08-22 }}</ref>

==NASA career==
In January 1998, 12 years after McAuliffe's death, Morgan was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate ([[mission specialist]]) and reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1998 to begin training to become a full-time astronaut. Following the completion of two years of training and evaluation, she was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch. She served in the Astronaut Office [[Capsule communicator|CAPCOM]] Branch, working in [[Mission Control]] as prime communicator with on-orbit crews.<ref>{{cite news | first=Jim |last=Banke |title= Barbara Morgan Rides Wave of Fame, Awaits Flight Assignment |date=2002-05-21 |publisher=Space.com |url =http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0605/17sts117118/ |access-date= 2007-08-22 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929110229/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0605/17sts117118/| archive-date= 29 September 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>

Like many other astronauts and [[cosmonaut]]s, Morgan is a licensed [[amateur radio]] operator, having passed the technician class license exam in 2003. This qualified her to use the facilities of the [[Amateur Radio on the International Space Station]] (ARISS) project.<ref>{{cite news | last=ARRL | title=Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, KD5VNP, Gets Ready to Launch into Space | date=2007-08-07 | publisher=ARRL Amateur Radio | url =http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/08/08/100/ | access-date = 2007-08-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203331/http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/08/08/100/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-30}}</ref><ref name="qrz">{{Cite web| url=http://www.qrz.com/detail/KD5VNP|title=Barbara Morgan - HAM Radio information| access-date=September 22, 2007| publisher=QRZ.com| year=2003|author=QRZ| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927002720/http://www.qrz.com/detail/KD5VNP| archive-date= 27 September 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>

Morgan was initially scheduled to fly on the [[STS-118]] mission on [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']] in November 2004. During the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|disaster]] that destroyed ''Columbia'' in February 2003, she was aboard a training [[chase plane]] which was following the shuttle as it prepared to land.<ref>Woodward, Tim. [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105691485/ "Disaster halts teacher's chance to fly — again"], [[Florida Today]], February 2, 2003, page 10A.</ref> As a result of the disaster, STS-118 was delayed until 2007 and was moved to [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']].

Morgan's duties as a mission specialist were no different than those of other crew members. While NASA press releases and media briefings often referred to her as a "mission specialist educator" or "educator astronaut", Morgan did not train in the [[Educator Astronaut Project]]. [[NASA Administrator]] [[Michael D. Griffin]] clarified at a press conference after STS-118 that Morgan was not considered a mission specialist educator, but rather was a standard mission specialist, who had been a teacher.<ref name="press1">{{Cite news | title=STS-118 Post-landing news conference - Comments by Dr. Michael Griffin, Administrator of NASA|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=Michael Griffin|work=NASA TV Post-landing news conference - August 21, 2007}}</ref>

Prior to her flight on STS-118, NASA seemed to limit Morgan's exposure to the press, but she did a series of interviews shortly before the start of the mission about what the crew of STS-118 would be doing to help build the International Space Station,<ref>{{cite news | first=Marcia | last=Franklin | title=Parabolic Tales: An Idaho journalist endeavors to tell an astronaut's story | date=2007-08-01 | publisher=Boise weekly | url=http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A259421 | access-date=2007-08-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810100046/http://www.boiseweekly.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A259421 | archive-date=10 August 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=NASA | title=Preflight Interview: Barbara Morgan | year=2006 | publisher=NASA | url =http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/morgan_interview.html | access-date = 2007-08-22 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070825115455/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/morgan_interview.html| archive-date= 25 August 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last= NASA | title=Second preflight Interview with Barbara Morgan | publisher=NASA | url =http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/interview2_morgan.html | access-date = 2007-08-13 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070920192310/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/interview2_morgan.html| archive-date= 20 September 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Associated Press | title= After 22-year wait, teacher ready for space trip | date=2007-08-07 | publisher=CNN | url =http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/08/07/morgan.profile.ap/index.html | access-date = 2007-08-22 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070918045821/http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/08/07/morgan.profile.ap/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-09-18}}</ref> commenting, "You know, there's a great sense of pride to be able to be involved in a human endeavor that takes us all a little bit farther. When you look down and see our Earth, and you realize what we are trying to do as a human race, it's pretty profound."<ref>{{cite news | first=Tariq | last=Malik | title= Teacher-Astronaut, Crewmates Glad to be Home | date=2007-08-22 | publisher=Space.com | url =http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070821_sts118_crew.html | access-date = 2007-08-22 }}</ref>

Three weeks after Morgan's mission ended, she conducted her first space education assignment at [[Walt Disney World]] in Florida. Morgan's words from that day were etched into a plaque on a wall of Mission: Space. The "Wall of Honor" contains quotes from notable people, such as [[Neil Armstrong]], [[John F. Kennedy]], [[Charles Lindbergh]], [[Stephen Hawking]], [[Carl Sagan]], [[Galileo]], and Christa McAuliffe. Morgan's plaque is placed beside McAuliffe's, which says: "Space is for everybody ... That's our new frontier out there."<ref name="post">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/10/teacher.astronaut/index.html|title= Teacher-astronaut takes mission to Disney|access-date=September 12, 2007|publisher=CNN / Associated Press|year=2007|agency=Associated Press |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070917032359/http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/09/10/teacher.astronaut/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = September 17, 2007}}</ref> This event was one of a series of lectures Morgan would complete.

===Spaceflight experience===
[[STS-118]], an assembly mission to the [[International Space Station]], successfully launched from Florida's [[Kennedy Space Center]] at 6:36:42&nbsp;p.m. EDT, 8 August 2007.<ref>{{cite news | last=NASA | title=STS-118 Status Report 01 | date=2007-08-09 | publisher=NASA | url =http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-01.html | access-date = 2007-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823131906/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-01.html|archive-date=2007-08-23}}</ref> Morgan served as [[Remote Manipulator System|robotic arm]] operator and transfer coordinator, coordinating the transfer of over {{convert|5000|lb|kg}} of cargo to the International Space Station, and bringing home over {{convert|3000|lb|kg}}.<ref>{{cite news | last=NASA | title=STS-118 Status Report #13 | date=2007-08-14 | publisher=NASA | url =http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-13.html | access-date = 2007-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823131906/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-13.html|archive-date=2007-08-23}}</ref> In addition to her other duties, Morgan participated in twenty-minute amateur radio question-and-answer sessions with young people at the Discovery Center of Idaho and other centers, and joined Mission Specialist [[Alvin Drew]] in an education event with young people at the [[Challenger Center for Space Science Education]] in [[Alexandria, Virginia]].<ref name="ham1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/STS118_morgan_radio.html|title=Barbara Morgan Talks With Students on Ham Radio|access-date=September 12, 2007|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070822024053/http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/STS118_morgan_radio.html| archive-date= 22 August 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | first=John | last=Schwartz | title=Astronaut Teaches in Space, and Lesson Is Bittersweet | date=2007-08-15 | work=New York Times | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/science/space/15shuttle.html | access-date = 2007-08-22 }}</ref> The event was hosted by June Scobee, widow of Space Shuttle ''Challenger''{{'}}s commander, [[Dick Scobee|Richard "Dick" Scobee]]. The center honored Morgan with the ''President George H.W. Bush Leadership Award''. STS-118 landed successfully at Kennedy Space Center on August 21, a day ahead of schedule due to concerns about [[Hurricane Dean]].<ref name="spacecomshort">{{cite web |last1=Malik |first1=Tariq |title=Astronauts Primed for Shorter Spacewalk at ISS |url=https://www.space.com/4240-astronauts-primed-shorter-spacewalk-iss.html |website=Space.com |publisher=Future US, Inc. |access-date=27 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427185356/https://www.space.com/4240-astronauts-primed-shorter-spacewalk-iss.html |archive-date=27 April 2021 |date=18 August 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=prlog.org | title=Welcome Home Barbara Morgan; More Teachers Should Fly | date=2007-08-21 | publisher=Space Frontier Foundation/US Rocket Academy | url =http://www.prlog.org/10028001-welcome-home-barbara-morgan-more-teachers-should-fly.html | access-date = 2007-08-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last=Space Frontier Foundation | title=Godspeed Barbara Morgan; Plans for Large Numbers of Teachers in Space | date=2007-08-08 | publisher=Space Frontier Foundation | url=http://www.space-frontier.org/PressReleases/2007/20070808barbaramorgan.html | access-date=2007-08-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927184314/http://www.space-frontier.org/PressReleases/2007/20070808barbaramorgan.html | archive-date=27 September 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Post-NASA career==
On June 28, 2008, Morgan announced that she would leave [[NASA]] for a teaching job at [[Boise State University]]. In August 2008, Morgan took a full-time position as a distinguished educator in residence; a dual appointment to BSU's colleges of engineering and education. There she advises, leads and represents the university in policy development, advocacy and fund-raising in science, technology, engineering and math.<ref name="releaseh08161">{{cite web |last1=Clem |first1=Kylie |last2=Yembrick |first2=John |title=H08-161: Astronaut Barbara Morgan to Leave NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2008/H08-161.html |website=NASA News |publisher=[[NASA]] |access-date=27 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427184557/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/releases/2008/H08-161.html |archive-date=27 April 2021 |date=27 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 4, 2008, Morgan received the "Friend of Education" award from the [[National Education Association]]. The following month, Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School opened in Meridian, Idaho.<ref>[http://www.mdsd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=62 Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106080923/http://www.mdsd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=62 |date=January 6, 2022 }}. Retrieved January 30, 2012.</ref>

She appeared on the 2020 [[Netflix]] documentary miniseries ''[[Challenger: The Final Flight]]''.<ref>[https://readysteadycut.com/2020/09/16/recap-challenger-the-final-flight-episode-2-help-netflix-series/ Challenger: The Final Flight episode 2 recap – “HELP!”], Ready Steady Cut, September 16, 2020</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Morgan received the [[Adler Planetarium]] Women in Space Science Award in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mullen|first=William|date=May 1, 2008|title=Adler award honors teacher-astronaut's grit|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-05-01-0804301071-story.html|access-date=2020-07-20|website=chicagotribune.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

Actress [[Mary Chris Wall]] portrayed Morgan in the 1990 television film ''[[Challenger (1990 film)|Challenger]]''.

==Personal life==
Morgan is married to writer Clay Morgan of McCall, Idaho;<ref name=mcmwfc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RGtfAAAAIBAJ&pg=2901%2C2845697|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|title=McCall man wins fiction contest|date=May 8, 1983 |page=2E}}</ref> they have two sons. She is a classical [[flutist]] who also enjoys [[jazz]], literature, hiking, swimming, and [[cross-country skiing]].<ref name="bio1" /><ref name="edu">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/STS-118_index.html|title=STS-118 Education Resources|access-date=September 12, 2007|publisher=NASA|year=2007|author=NASA| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070913021931/http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/STS-118_index.html| archive-date= 13 September 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="bio2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/morgan_barbara.htm|title=Spacefacts: Astronaut Biography: Barbara Morgan|access-date=September 12, 2007|publisher=spacefacts.de|year=2007|author=spacefacts.de| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190259/http://spacefacts.de/bios/astronauts/english/morgan_barbara.htm| archive-date= 27 September 2007 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/morgan_barbara.pdf NASA biography - Barbara Morgan] July 2010
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100201052103/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html NASA Shuttle Missions]
*[http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stseducation/home/index.html STS-118 Education Resources]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110726170532/http://www.idahopublictv.org/productions/specials/barbaramorgan/ ''Barbara Morgan: No Limits'', 2008 Idaho Public Television documentary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090518040033/http://ndnu.edu/public-relations/ndnu-news/newsBarbaraMorgan.aspx Barbara Morgan Commencement Speaker: Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont CA Commencement]
*[http://www.mdsd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=62 Barbara R. Morgan Elementary School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106080923/http://www.mdsd.org/Default.aspx?tabid=62 |date=January 6, 2022 }} - McCall, Idaho - opened 2008
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727225057/http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/getinvolved/benefit/wiss/ Adler Planetarium Women in Space Science Award]
* {{IMDb name|2837542}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4DzRKGKmQ8&t=1m55s Barbara Morgan interview] (1985) explaining how she wanted to fly in space since way back when the first chimp was being launched

{{NASA Astronaut Group 17}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Barbara}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American women astronauts]]
[[Category:Educator astronauts]]
[[Category:NASA civilian astronauts]]
[[Category:People from Fresno, California]]
[[Category:People from Valley County, Idaho]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:Notre Dame de Namur University alumni]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from Montana]]
[[Category:American women educators]]
[[Category:Boise State University faculty]]
[[Category:Amateur radio people]]
[[Category:Amateur radio women]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]]
[[Category:Space Shuttle program astronauts]]