Barbara Morgan made history as NASA’s first Educator Astronaut, bridging her passion for teaching with space exploration after transitioning from a career in education to mission specialist on STS-118.

Barbara Morgan began her teaching career in 1974 on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana, later teaching in Idaho and Ecuador. Selected as the backup candidate for NASA’s Teacher in Space Program in 1985, she trained with Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger crew. After the Challenger accident, Morgan became the Teacher in Space Designee, working with NASA and educational organizations nationwide.

In 1998, Morgan was selected as NASA’s first Educator Astronaut, completing two years of training and serving in various technical roles, including CAPCOM and the Robotics Branch. She logged over 305 hours in space as a mission specialist on STS-118, an assembly mission to the International Space Station in 2007. During this mission, she operated the shuttle and station robotic arms and served as loadmaster and flight deck crewmember.

After retiring from NASA in 2008, Morgan became the Distinguished Educator in Residence at Boise State University, with appointments in the colleges of Engineering and Education. She continues to make public appearances, sharing her experiences and inspiring future generations.