Photo: NASA / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Barbara Morgan was born on November 28, 1951 in Fresno, California, United States and is credited as an astronaut and teacher. As of 2026, Barbara Morgan is 74 years old. Schooling on record includes Herbert Hoover High School and Stanford University. Awards on record include Women in Space Science Award (2008).
My Take
What moves me about Barbara Morgan is not just that she reached orbit, but the long road she walked to get there. Serving as Christa McAuliffe's backup for the doomed Challenger mission meant carrying an unimaginable weight, yet she stayed the course and eventually flew herself. A Stanford-educated teacher turned NASA astronaut, she embodies the rare adult who didn't just tell kids to dream big but lived it on the highest stage. Her 2008 Women in Space Science Award feels almost understated. To me she represents quiet persistence over spectacle, and that's exactly the kind of role model I admire most.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Barbara Morgan
- Name (Japanese)
- バーバラ・モーガン
- Reading
- ばーばら・もーがん
- Born
- November 28, 1951 (age 74)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Rabbit
- Origin
- Fresno, California, United States
- Occupation
- astronaut / teacher
2. Background
- High school
- Herbert Hoover High School
- University
- Stanford University
Awards & achievements
- 2008 Women in Space Science Award
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-21
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Barbara Morgan born?
Born November 28, 1951 (age 74).
Where is Barbara Morgan from?
Barbara Morgan is from Fresno, California, United States.
What does Barbara Morgan do?
Barbara Morgan works as astronaut, teacher.
Astronaut — see all → · Teacher — see all → · More people from the United States →