National

Teacher-Astronaut's Husband Discusses Launch

Published August 10, 2007 at 10:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

Specialist Barbara R. Morgan, teacher-turned-astronaut, is helped with her helmet in the Operations and Checkout Building during suitup, before the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor.

When the space shuttle Endeavour launched two days ago, astronaut Barbara Morgan's husband, Clay, was in Florida with the couple's two sons.

The astronaut's family watched the launch from the roof of the observation deck.

When the shuttle lifted off safely, Morgan became the first teacher in space. She was the back-up to Christa McAuliffe, who was to have been the first teacher to have the honor. McAuliffe was killed in the 1986 Challenger disaster.

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Morgan's husband said when the countdown was at 20 seconds, he got nervous. Once the shuttle took off, he said he thought he was shaking, but realized the whole building he was trembling from the shock waves.

Clay Morgan is still nervous, but he said the beautiful launch made him confident that the rest of the mission would go well.