OSU College of Education to host NASA Downlink on Nov. 30

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Stillwater Sixth Graders to Ask Questions of Astronaut at International Space Station (ISS)

Oklahoma State University's College of Education and NASA Education Projects will host an International Space Station Downlink with NASA Expedition 34 for sixth graders from Stillwater Middle School on Friday, Nov. 30, at the Wes Watkins Center Exhibit Hall. Students will have direct communication with NASA Astronaut and Mission Commander Kevin Ford, asking questions about life at ISS.

OSU has partnered with Stillwater Public Schools on the "Pioneers in Space" project, which represents one of just six downlink partners selected by NASA during this calendar year. In preparation for the Downlink, OSU teacher education students taught lessons in sixth grade science classes that highlight life in space and experiments happening aboard the International Space Station. Sixth grade students then submitted questions, and some have been selected for Ford to answer during the Downlink.

The program begins at 11:00 a.m. on Nov. 30 and will be streamed live at www.ostate.tv. Quinn Baldwin, library media specialist at Stillwater Middle School, will serve as emcee and Brian Hawkins, NASA Education Specialist, will present to students prior to the start of the Downlink, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.

In addition to the live streaming of the event, additional NASA Educational content will be available on www.ostate.tv on Nov. 30. Schools and teachers around the state and beyond are invited to participate by watching the Downlink live and viewing additional content. The Downlink will also be available on NASA TV.