SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell on Tuesday bid a safe and successful mission to the seven astronauts of the Space Shuttle Endeavour as they waited for a Wednesday evening launch from Cape Canaveral.

Among the crew members are two California natives, one of whom is a former teacher.

Barbara Morgan, who was born in Fresno, graduated from Stanford University in 1973, and was an elementary school teacher for many years. She is the first full-fledged NASA astronaut designated as an Educator Mission Specialist. As such, she will carry out educational programs in addition to her other assigned flight duties, including operating Endeavour's robot arm.

Tracy Caldwell was born in Arcadia, graduated from California State University at Fullerton, and earned a doctorate in physical chemistry in 1997 at the University of California, Davis, where she also taught general chemistry laboratory.

"I am delighted that our state is so capably represented on the Endeavour by California natives Barbara Morgan and Tracy Caldwell," said O'Connell. "It is particularly gratifying that Mrs. Morgan is a teacher-astronaut, who will be able to serve as a source of inspiration, encouragement, and knowledge for today's students who will be tomorrow's space explorers. Dr. Caldwell, I would like to point out, is a graduate of my alma mater, CSU, Fullerton, and I and fellow alumni are tremendously proud of her.

"Both of these extraordinary women reflect the finest qualities of education in California and are a testament to our commitment to remaining a leader in the exploration and development of space. I wish them a successful mission and a safe return to earth," he said.

Morgan originally trained 22 years ago as the backup to Teacher-in-Space Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire social studies teacher killed along with six astronauts in 1986 when Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on liftoff. Morgan returned to teaching until 1998 when she was asked to join NASA's astronaut training program.

As with Morgan, this space flight will be the first for Caldwell, whose NASA training also began in 1998. They are among 27 astronauts from California who have flown or are scheduled to fly on space shuttle missions.

O'Connell said he hoped their courageous journey would encourage more students to study math and science in preparation not only for potential careers in space, but in the classroom as teachers.

"California is experiencing a critical shortage of well-trained science and math teachers," he said. According to a recent report by the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning and the California Council on Science and Technology, California must develop a system of sound policies and guaranteed funding that would ensure the state has an adequate supply of fully prepared and effective teachers in each of these disciplines.

"If our state is going to produce more scientists, more astronauts, more lifelong learners, we are must produce more qualified science and math teachers who can teach, inspire, and motivate our children," O'Connell said. "Students will be able to see for themselves the possibilities of space exploration and, perhaps, will grow up to become one of the lucky few who gets to fly among the stars."