Oklahoma Students to Speak to NASA Astronaut on Space Station

Students from Jenks Middle School in Jenks, Oklahoma, will have the opportunity to speak with a NASA astronaut currently living and working aboard the International Space Station at 10:35 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 26. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

Space station Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough, who launched to the space station on Oct. 19 for a four-month stay, will answer questions from eighth grade students currently studying Earth and space.

Media interested in covering the event should contact Rob Loeber at rob.loeber@jenksps.org. The event will take place at the Jenks High School Performing Arts Center, located at 205 East B St.

This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of the NASA Office of Education’s efforts to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning in the United States. Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station through the agency Office of Education’s STEM on Station activity provides authentic, live experiences in space exploration, space study and the scientific components of space travel, while introducing the possibilities of life in space.

For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

For more information, videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation