Final Shuttle Crew Answers Student Questions From Space

WASHINGTON -- Space shuttle astronauts aboard the International Space
Station will answer videotaped questions from middle school students
participating in NASA's Summer of Innovation initiative. The event is
scheduled to air live on NASA Television at 7:09 a.m. EDT on Sunday, July 17.

During the broadcast, viewers will see shuttle Atlantis Commander
Chris Ferguson and Pilot Doug Hurley as they respond to approximately
20 student questions selected from nearly 150 videos. The student
videos also will air during the event.

The Summer of Innovation program seeks to advance excellence in summer
and extended learning programming for underrepresented and
underserved middle school students while inspiring them to pursue
careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The initiative also is tied closely to the White House's "Educate to
Innovate" campaign.

"Learning about scientific principles and the impact of space on
astronauts' bodies helps spark student curiosity," said Cindy
McArthur, Teaching From Space project manager at NASA's Johnson Space
Center in Houston. "Microgravity is a unique research environment and
hearing directly from astronauts who live and work in it can inspire
students to study STEM disciplines."

The question-and-answer session is part of a series with educational
organizations in the United States and abroad to improve teaching and
learning in STEM subjects. It is an integral component of Teaching
From Space, an agency program promoting learning opportunities, and
builds partnerships with the education community.

For more information about the shuttle mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

For more information about the Summer of Innovation program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/soi

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