Idaho Students to Speak with NASA Astronauts on Space Station

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Feb 06, 2018, 02:47 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Students from Boise State University and Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho, will speak with NASA astronauts living, working and doing research aboard the International Space Station at noon EST Thursday, Feb. 8. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

Students will travel to Timberline High School for the call to Expedition 54 astronauts Joe Acaba, Mark Vande Hei, and Scott Tingle aboard the space station, posing questions about life aboard the space station, NASA's deep space exploration plans, and doing science in space.

Acaba and Vande Hei arrived at the space station Sept.12 and will return to Earth this month. Tingle arrived Dec.19 and is scheduled to return to Earth in April.

Boise State University and Timberline High School were selected through a competitive process to host a call with the space station. Students have been preparing for the event by studying the station, astronaut biographies, and the current research and activities happening aboard the orbiting laboratory. About 300 high school and college students are expected to be at Timberline High School during the downlink.

Media interested in attending the event should contact Dan Hollar via email at [email protected] or phone at (208) 890-8309. Boise State University will host the event at Timberline High, 701 E. Boise Ave. in Boise.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of NASA's Year of Education on Station, which provides extensive space station-related resources and opportunities to students and educators.

Follow the astronauts on social media:

https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts/

See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation/

SOURCE NASA