NASA astronauts to answer questions from students in New York, Utah

Students from New York and Utah will have the opportunity to interact with NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station during two events. The astronauts will respond to prerecorded questions from the students.

At 11:30 a.m. EDT on June 23, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain will engage with students from P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School in Ridgewood, New York. Media wishing to cover the event must RSVP by 5 p.m. on June 20 to Regina Beshay at [email protected] or 347-740-6165.

On June 27 at 11:05 a.m., Ayers and McClain will answer questions from students at Douglas Space and Science Foundation, Inc., in Layton, Utah. Media must RSVP by 5 p.m. on June 25 to Sarah Merrill at [email protected] or 805-743-3341. Both events will be available for viewing through the NASA STEM YouTube Channel.

P.S. 71 Forest Elementary caters to students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Douglas Space and Science Foundation will host participants from its Science, Technology, Achievement Research camp. These initiatives aim to encourage student interest in careers within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through collaborations and practical experiences.

NASA's astronauts have lived aboard the International Space Station for nearly 25 years, conducting scientific research and developing skills for future exploration. Communication with NASA's Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston occurs continuously via the Space Communications and Navigation Near Space Network.

Research conducted on the space station yields benefits for people on Earth and supports NASA's Artemis campaign, which focuses on sending astronauts to the Moon in preparation for future missions to Mars.