Students across the United States will be able to speak with NASA astronaut Anil Menon aboard the International Space Station during a live, interactive call marking National STEM Day. STEM creator Mark Rober will join the event from California.
Hosted by NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, the Earth-to-space call is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Nov. 4. NASA will stream it on its flagship YouTube channel, with additional engagement through its Learn With NASA channels.
Menon will answer questions about life and work in microgravity, becoming an astronaut, and the technology behind human spaceflight. He will also demonstrate how familiar activities, including eating and conducting experiments, differ in the station’s microgravity environment. Rober will discuss how curiosity, creativity, and hands-on problem-solving influenced his career, from working as a NASA engineer to creating STEM content.
The event also marks a new collaboration between NASA and the ClassCrunchLabs Foundation. The organizations say they will combine NASA educational resources with CrunchLabs’ hands-on engineering content to expand access to STEM learning for students across the country.
NASA describes the downlink as part of its efforts to connect students with practical science and engineering experiences and introduce them to aerospace careers. Educators and families are encouraged to watch the event for National STEM Day.
Sources: NASA Breaking News.