NASA Astronauts to Answer Questions from Students in New York, Utah

NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain will answer questions from students in two separate events:
The first event will take place on June 23 at 11:30 a.m. EDT, where students from P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School in New York will submit their questions.
The second event will occur on June 27 at 11:05 a.m., where students from Douglas Space and Science Foundation, Inc. in Utah will ask their questions.
Both events aim to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through ongoing collaborations, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.
The events will be broadcast on the NASA STEM YouTube Channel, allowing students to learn from astronauts about life aboard the International Space Station and the latest research and technologies being developed.

NASA astronauts (left to right) Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers pose for a portrait together aboard the International Space Station. Moments earlier, Ayers finished trimming McClain’s hair using an electric razor with a suction hose attached that collects the loose hair to protect the station’s atmosphere.

NASA

Students from New York and Utah will hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station as they answer prerecorded questions in two separate events.

At 11:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, June 23, NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain will answer questions submitted by students from P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School in Ridgewood, New York. Media interested in covering the event must RSVP by 5 p.m. Friday, June 20, to Regina Beshay at: rbeshay2@school.nyc.gov or 347-740-6165.

At 11:05 a.m. on Friday, June 27, Ayers and McClain will answer questions submitted by students from Douglas Space and Science Foundation, Inc., in Layton, Utah. Media interested in covering the event must RSVP by 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, to Sarah Merrill at: sarahmonique@gmail.com or 805-743-3341.

Watch the 20-minute Earth-to-space calls on NASA STEM YouTube Channel.

P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School will host kindergarten through fifth grade students. Douglas Space and Science Foundation will host participants from the Science, Technology, Achievement Research camp. Both events aim to inspire students to imagine a future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers through ongoing collaborations, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.

For nearly 25 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN’s (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network.

Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the space station benefit people on Earth and lays the groundwork for other agency missions. As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars; inspiring explorers and ensuring the United States continues to lead in space exploration and discovery.

See videos of astronauts aboard the space station at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

-end-

Gerelle Dodson
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
gerelle.q.dodson@nasa.gov

Sandra Jones
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

Details

Last Updated

Jun 18, 2025

Location

NASA Headquarters

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Q. When will NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers and Anne McClain answer questions from students?

A. They will answer questions from students at two separate events: June 23 (11:30 a.m. EDT) for P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School in New York, and June 27 (11:05 a.m.) for Douglas Space and Science Foundation, Inc., in Layton, Utah.

Q. How can media cover the events?

A. Media interested in covering the events must RSVP by specific dates to designated contacts: Regina Beshay at rbeshay2@school.nyc.gov or 347-740-6165 for the New York event, and Sarah Merrill at sarahmonique@gmail.com or 805-743-3341 for the Utah event.

Q. What is the purpose of these events?

A. The events aim to inspire students to imagine a future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers through ongoing collaborations, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences.

Q. How long will the Earth-to-space calls last?

A. The 20-minute Earth-to-space calls will be broadcast on NASA STEM’s YouTube Channel.

Q. What is the significance of the International Space Station (ISS)?

A. The ISS has been continuously occupied by astronauts for nearly 25 years, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth.

Q. How do astronauts communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center?

A. Astronauts aboard the ISS communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston through SCaN’s (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network.

Q. What is the Artemis campaign about?

A. The Artemis campaign aims to send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars, inspiring explorers and ensuring the United States continues to lead in space exploration and discovery.

Q. Who will be hosting the events?

A. P.S. 71 Forest Elementary School will host kindergarten through fifth-grade students from New York, while Douglas Space and Science Foundation, Inc., will host participants from the Science, Technology, Achievement Research camp in Utah.

Q. How can people watch videos of astronauts aboard the ISS?

A. Videos of astronauts aboard the ISS can be seen at https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation.

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