Preparing For Takeoff, Two Decades Later
It is two weeks and counting until the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour. For astronaut Barbara Morgan, the countdown clock has been running for more than two decades, CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports.
"People keep saying, '20 years, 20 years!' but it really seems like just yesterday," Morgan said.
It was 22 years ago today, July 19, 1985, when then Vice President George H.W. Bush called Barbara Morgan's name at a White House ceremony. She got second place in the contest to be the first teacher in space. Christa McCauliffe was the winner.
As McAuliffe's back up, Morgan trained with her and the Shuttle Challenger crew every day for six months, playing in zero gravity, planning lessons for the space flight.
On January 28th 1986, just 73 seconds into flight, and with the entire nation watching, the shuttle exploded and fell into the sea. Morgan lost seven good friends that day.
How did McAuliffe's death change Morgan?
"Well, it makes you really sad of course, just like it did for everybody," Morgan said. "Crista was and is and always will be a great representative of the teaching profession."
After the Challenger disaster, NASA decided civilians — teachers included — didn't be long on the shuttle.
Morgan would just have to become a full-fledged astronaut. It took 12 years, but on the same day John Glenn was named to a shuttle flight, NASA welcomed Morgan into the class of 1998.
Then, a second tragedy: The shuttle Columbia disintegrated on its way back to earth – the orbiter Morgan was assigned to ride on her first flight into space. Morgan was devastated, but undeterred.
She hung in there all those years.
"So did everybody else, and it's not hanging in there. Teachers don't 'hang in there,' teachers have persistence and patience," Morgan said.
When the Shuttle Endeavor takes off from the launch pad, Morgan will be in the same position — center seat, lower deck — as Christa McAuliffe was two decades ago.
"I actually haven't thought about that but we all keep the Challenger crew right here," she said, pointing to her heart.
She'll take with her the memory of those astronauts in her heart – and maybe carry a few butterflies in her stomach.
"I won't be scared, but I'll be focused and that's a good think," she said.