Astronaut schoolteacher Barbara Morgan has waited 22 years for the opportunity to fly in space. (AP Photo/George Shelton)

by Mark Silva

First Lady Laura Bush, calling as "one schoolteacher to another,'' today called Barbara Morgan, the teacher from Utah slated to fly as a "teacher in space'' aboard the space shuttle Endeavour this week.

"Mrs. Bush expressed congratulations from one schoolteacher to another and noted that she and the president appreciate Ms. Morgan’s commitment to America’s space program, to teaching, and to students,'' said Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for the first lady. "Mrs. Bush concluded the call noting that Americans — and lots of excited teachers and students — will be watching the mission with a lot of pride.''

With pride and more.

The memory of the catastrophe of the space shuttle Challenger, which launched with schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe in 1986, remains imprinted in the national psyche. Morgan had trained with McAuliffe and was assigned as the back-up teacher in space for that launch.

Laura Bush calling astronaut and former teacher Barbara Morgan, from the residence of the White House. White House photo by Shealah Craighead.