Boise welcomes space educator Barbara Morgan

The Morrison Center was almost filled to capacity Monday, Dec. 10. Many admiring fans joined the Discovery Center of Idaho to welcome Barbara Morgan, the Idaho teacher who was part of Mission STS-118 and spent Aug. 8 – 27 in space.

The Discovery Center worked in conjunction with NASA to bring her back to Idaho. Boise State University President Bob Kustra made the Morrison Center available for the event.

Morgan waited more than 20 years for her opportunity to go into space, and was among the first to participate as an educator in space on mission STS-118. Executive Director of the Discovery Center Janine Boire introduced Morgan.

“Barbara personifies tenacity, passion, good humor and boundless curiosity. We couldn’t have a better role model for Idahoans young and old alike.

We are honored to help welcome her home and look forward to joining in with all of Idaho to give her the ‘welcome home’ she so richly deserves,” Boire said. “It’s an honor to work in a community that works together like Boise.”

Morgan was greeted with not only a warm round of applause, but a standing ovation.

“Three words come to mind: oh, my, goodness,” Morgan said. “Thank you for this wonderful welcome back to where my family and I belong, back to Idaho.”

Morgan took her audience to space, with her story telling, vivid pictures and video clips.

She gave a walk through of her training, which took about a year to complete before embarking on what she recalled as the best experience in her life. The 13-day mission was far too short for her.

“My favorite part of going into space was doing the work and being a part of a great team, not just on board but on the ground as well,” she said. “I was a part of something really much bigger.”

Mission STS-118 was the 119th space shuttle mission and the 20th flight for the Endeavour, which will be retiring in 2010.

NASA is already working on the next vehicle that is projected to travel to the moon.

On Aug. 15 Morgan and three of her crew members spoke to a group of 18 students from all parts of Idaho via a downlink from the International Space Station. Students gathered at the Discovery Center of Idaho for this historic event. Morgan led a question and answer session from space.

“It [the Discovery Center downlink] should serve as a model for all downlinks,” Morgan said.

Morgan taught second through fourth grade in the McCall/Donnelly School System in the late 1980s – 1990s.

The City of McCall and executive director of the McCall/Donnelly Education Association have planned a series of public speaking engagements at schools and civic organizations throughout the Valley area. Morgan will return to Houston on Dec. 16 to work for NASA as part of the Educator Astronaut Project.

SONIA TREVIZO
News Writer

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