Orbiting Space Shuttle Astronauts Answer Questions from Students Nationwide
WASHINGTON -- Students in elementary and middle schools nationwide
will have their questions about space answered live on Feb. 14 by
space shuttle astronauts orbiting 220 miles above Earth.
The students, who attend nine NASA Explorer Schools nationwide,
submitted their questions to NASA via video. Space shuttle Pilot
Terry Virts and Mission Specialist Kathryn Hire will answer the
students' questions on NASA TV. The call is targeted for 10:34 p.m.
to 10:54 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 14, but could take place five to 15
minutes earlier or later. Viewers should consult the NASA TV schedule
to confirm timing. Any questions the astronauts do not answer will be
answered later by subject matter experts during an event on NASA's
Digital Learning Network.
Virts and Hire launched to space Monday, Feb. 8, aboard space shuttle
Endeavour from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During their
13-day mission, Endeavour's crew are conducting three spacewalks and
delivering the Tranquility node and a cupola to expand the space
station.
The NASA Explorer Schools that submitted video questions are:
Phenix City Intermediate School in Phenix City, Ala.
Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School in Elk Grove, Calif.
Sequoia Middle School in Portersville, Calif.
Vintage Math, Science and Technology Magnet School in North Hills,
Calif.
Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School in Sanford, Fla.
Stewart Magnet Middle School in Tampa, Fla.
Vance Elementary School in Asheville, N.C.
Vernon School in Portland, Ore.
John B. Cary Elementary School in Richmond, Va.
The NASA Explorer Schools project establishes a three-year partnership
between NASA and schools in diverse communities to address local
challenges in science, technology, and mathematics education. The
goal is to bring educators, administrators, students, and families
together in sustained involvement with NASA's education programs.
The event is part of a series with educational organizations in the
U.S. and abroad to improve teaching and learning in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics. The in-orbit call is part of
Teaching From Space, a NASA project that uses the unique environment
of human spaceflight to promote learning opportunities and build
partnerships with the kindergarten through 12th grade education
community.
NASA Television will air video of Virts and Hire during the downlink.
For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information,
visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
For information about NASA Explorer Schools, visit:
http://explorerschools.nasa.
For information about NASA's education programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education
For information about the space shuttle, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle
Source: NASA
