Astronaut Appearances

NASA selects astronauts from a diverse pool of applicants with a wide variety of backgrounds, from scientists to pilots. From the thousands of applications received, only a few are chosen to be a member of the elite NASA Astronaut Corps. Each day at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, visitors get the rare opportunity to meet a veteran NASA astronaut.

Meet the Astronaut of the Day at any of the following opportunities.  See the Daily Schedule for the times for each when you arrive.

• The daily Astronaut Encounter briefings allow time for a presentation from the astronaut and a question-and-answer session, so be prepared to ask him or her what you have always wanted to know.
• Visitors can also get an astronaut’s autograph at The Space Shop and Shuttle Express at various times during the day.
• During the all-new Chat With An Astronaut, enjoy a sampling of food and beverages while having a group conversation with the Astronaut of the Day about what it is really like to live and work in space. This new add-on enhancement requires daily admission.

Astronaut Bio:

Barbara Morgan served on space shuttle mission STS-118 after following a uniquely challenging path to become a NASA astronaut.  When President Reagan announced the Teacher-in-Space program in 1985, Morgan and 11,000 other U.S. teachers applied for the opportunity.  NASA selected Morgan as back-up to Teacher-in-Space Christa McAuliffe, and she moved to Houston with McAuliffe to train with the Challenger space shuttle crew.  After the 1986 Challenger accident, Morgan returned to her public school classroom in Idaho, until NASA asked her to apply to the astronaut candidate class of 1998. 

Morgan flew aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in 2007 on a two-week mission to help construct the International Space Station, delivering a Truss segment, an External Stowage Platform,  and 5,000 pounds of science and crew equipment.  During the STS-118 mission, Morgan’s duties included serving as loadmaster, robotic arm operator, and flight deck crewmember for entry and landing, and teaching lessons to school children on Earth.  Morgan retired from NASA in 2008 to become Boise State University’s Distinguished Educator in Residence (now emeritus).  Following Morgan, three other public school teachers have become NASA astronauts.