The Educator Astronaut Project is a NASA program designed to educate students and spur excitement in math, science, and space exploration. It is a successor to the Teacher in Space Project of the 1980s that was cancelled after the death of Christa McAuliffe in the Space Shuttle Challengerdisaster (STS-51-L). NASA halted the teachers project amid concerns surrounding the risk of sending civilians to space.
History
Educator Astronauts Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenberger, Richard Arnold, and Joseph Acaba during a microgravity flight
In the 1990s, NASA created the Educator Astronaut Project, which carries on the objectives of the Teacher in Space Program—seeking to elevate teaching as a profession and inspire students. Unlike the Teacher in Space Program, educator astronauts are fully trained astronauts who do the same jobs and duties that any other astronaut does.[1] They fly as crew members with critical mission responsibilities, as well as education-related goals. In addition to their technical assignments, they assist other astronauts in connecting to students and teachers through space exploration.[2][3][4][5]
Barbara Morgan, the backup to Christa McAuliffe in the Teacher in Space Project, remained involved with NASA after the Challenger disaster and continued to work with NASA's Education Division until her selection as a mission specialist in 1998. Morgan completed two years of astronaut training and evaluation, and began official duties in 2000. Morgan became the first former teacher to travel to space on STS-118. 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 AdministratorMichael 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 once been a teacher.[7] Morgan's duties as a mission specialist were no different from other Shuttle mission specialists.
References
^NASA. "Preflight Interview with Barbara Morgan". NASA. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
^. Spaceflight.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on February 3, 2003. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
^'Teachers in Space' will endure February 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^Civilians in Space. Bookrags.com. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
^NASA Assures That Teachers Will Fly in Space November 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^NASA (October 8, 2004). "NASA's New Astronauts Meet The Press". NASA. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
^Michael Griffin, NASA TV: STS-118 Post-Landing briefing
February 22, 2023
educator, astronaut, project, nasa, program, designed, educate, students, spur, excitement, math, science, space, exploration, successor, teacher, space, project, 1980s, that, cancelled, after, death, christa, mcauliffe, space, shuttle, challenger, disaster, n. The Educator Astronaut Project is a NASA program designed to educate students and spur excitement in math science and space exploration It is a successor to the Teacher in Space Project of the 1980s that was cancelled after the death of Christa McAuliffe in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster STS 51 L NASA halted the teachers project amid concerns surrounding the risk of sending civilians to space History Edit Educator Astronauts Dorothy Metcalf Lindenberger Richard Arnold and Joseph Acaba during a microgravity flight In the 1990s NASA created the Educator Astronaut Project which carries on the objectives of the Teacher in Space Program seeking to elevate teaching as a profession and inspire students Unlike the Teacher in Space Program educator astronauts are fully trained astronauts who do the same jobs and duties that any other astronaut does 1 They fly as crew members with critical mission responsibilities as well as education related goals In addition to their technical assignments they assist other astronauts in connecting to students and teachers through space exploration 2 3 4 5 Joseph M Acaba Richard R Arnold and Dorothy Metcalf Lindenburger were selected as the first educator mission specialists in the 2004 class 6 Both Acaba and Arnold were part of the crew of STS 119 a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station ISS which was flown by Space Shuttle Discovery in March 2009 Metcalf Lindenburger flew on STS 131 in April 2010 also visiting the ISS aboard Space Shuttle Discovery Barbara Morgan EditBarbara Morgan the backup to Christa McAuliffe in the Teacher in Space Project remained involved with NASA after the Challenger disaster and continued to work with NASA s Education Division until her selection as a mission specialist in 1998 Morgan completed two years of astronaut training and evaluation and began official duties in 2000 Morgan became the first former teacher to travel to space on STS 118 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 once been a teacher 7 Morgan s duties as a mission specialist were no different from other Shuttle mission specialists References Edit NASA Preflight Interview with Barbara Morgan NASA Retrieved August 13 2007 STS 118 mission summary Spaceflight nasa gov Archived from the original on February 3 2003 Retrieved August 7 2011 Teachers in Space will endure Archived February 27 2007 at the Wayback Machine Civilians in Space Bookrags com Retrieved August 7 2011 NASA Assures That Teachers Will Fly in Space Archived November 25 2006 at the Wayback Machine NASA October 8 2004 NASA s New Astronauts Meet The Press NASA Retrieved August 13 2007 Michael Griffin NASA TV STS 118 Post Landing briefing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Educator Astronaut Project amp oldid 1134062075, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
