In an hour's time tonight, teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan will join the crew of the shuttle Endeavor on the latest mission into space. Barbara will fulfill a dream over 22 years in the making.

As some of you may recall, Christa McAuliffe was to be the first teacher in space back in 1986, but that mission ended in a tragic explosion. I vividly recall that day. My 6th grade teacher walked into our classroom and was anxiously fretting with her fingers while she got our attention. "Children," she said, "I have some terrible news..." I recall walking alone at recess that day, anxiously praying that God would somehow keep that crew safe. Their deaths didn't hit me until I saw the evening news for myself  

Barbara was the back-up teacher candidate to Christa 22 years ago. They became friends. Despite that tragedy in 1986, Barbara has not wavered in her passion for space exploration. She became NASA's ambassador to teachers and students and, in 1998, joined the astronaut corps when an effort was made again to send a teacher into space. She was scheduled to launch in the fall of 2001, until Columbia's tragic demise derailed plans. Despite the risks, Barbara remains committed to her dream, and possibly to see her friend Christa's mission accomplished.

I don't know how I missed this story until today, since I'm "plugged in" to so many news sources. I don't know why I got so emotional  reading about Barbara's story and why I'm still emotional writing this post. Perhaps I'm 11-years old again, heartache and unfulfilled hopes now projected onto Barbara as she slips "'the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God."     

Godspeed, Barbara.

Godspeed, Endeavor.