Wisconsin Students Make Long-Distance Call to Space Station Astronaut

[NASA News Releases <hqnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

May 16, 2016  MEDIA ADVISORY M16-053 Wisconsin Students Make Long-Distance Call to Space Station Astronaut NASA astronaut and Expedition 47 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams works with the Wet Lab RNA SmartCycler on-board the International Space Station. Wetlab RNA SmartCycler is a research platform for conducting real-time quantitative gene _expression_ analysis aboard the ISS. The system enables spaceflight genomic studies involving a wide variety of biospecimen types in the unique microgravity environment of space. Credits: NASA Students in Winter, Wisconsin, will have the opportunity to speak with a NASA astronaut living and working aboard the International Space Station at 11:15 a.m. EDT Thursday, May 19. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Expedition 47 Flight Engineer Jeff Williams, a school district alumnus who launched to the space station on March 18 for a six-month stay, will talk to and take questions from students in fourth through 12th grade at the School District of Winter. Media interested in covering the event must contact Jeni Wergland at jwergeland@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The School District of Winter is located at 6585 West Grove Avenue. 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 -end- NASA news releases and other information are available automatically by sending an e-mail message with the subject line subscribe to hqnews-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe from the list, send an e-mail message with the subject line unsubscribe to hqnews-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.