Astronaut to speak at NDNU commencement
Educator and former astronaut Barbara Morgan, chosen to address Notre Dame de Namur University students at the Belmont school's commencement ceremony May 9, said she is excited about the trajectory of the space program.
"It's an exciting time," said Morgan, who spoke with Catholic San Francisco by phone from Boise State University, where she handles policy development, advocacy and fund raising in science, technology, engineering and math as the school's Distinguished Educator in Residence. "There are so many opportunities for young people and I hope we keep those doors open."
Morgan, who received her teaching credential from NDNU in 1974, said NASA's plans to return to the moon to build a lunar base and to send a manned mission to Mars are both endeavors in which today's science students could play a part. She said the first phase, completion of the International Space Station, will be a feat in itself, with 16 nations overcoming barriers to build what she called a "remarkable spacecraft-laboratory."
Morgan's first and only flight in space was a 2007 mission to the ISS. She began her work with NASA more than 20 years earlier, when she was selected as the backup to teacher Christa McAuliffe for the "Teacher in Space" program. McAuliffe and six fellow crewmembers perished in 1986 when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after launch.
"Kids learn a lot by watching adults in a terrible situation," Morgan said of the disaster and its aftermath. "NASA asked me very publicly if I would continue. I felt it was important to figure out what we did wrong and to fix it, keeping the path to space open for young people."
After the Challenger tragedy, she returned to her teaching career but continued to work with NASA's Education Division, speaking to young people about the space program and consulting on science curricula. In 1998, NASA officials asked her to retrain as an astronaut, which led to her mission to the space station.
Morgan retired from the program in 2008, returning to work in education at Boise State.
"It was a tough decision," Morgan said. "Space exploration is very important, but my heart is completely in education."
By Michael Vick
From May 8, 2009 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
