The Teacher in Space Project (TISP) was a NASA program designed to inspire students, honor teachers, and spur interest in mathematics, science, and space exploration. The project would carry teachers into space as Payload Specialists (non-astronaut civilians), who would return to their classrooms to share the experience with their students. NASA replaced Teachers in Space in 1998 with the Educator Astronaut Project, which required its participants to become astronaut Mission Specialists. The first Educator Astronauts were selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 19 in 2004.
In 2007 school teacher and astronaut Barbara Morgan finally made it to space on the shuttle Endeavour.
Morgan talks about her years teaching, her preparations for the flight, and her time in space.