Afterschool Webinar:

Lights On Afterschool w/NASA: Pilot, Astronaut, Leader! Oh my!

Monday, Nov 8, 2021 03:00 PM ET

 

Live Q&A with Students: Pilot, Astronaut, and Leader! Oh My!

 

Watch Event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME_QNuGO1IQ

 

NASA received many more questions from students that there was time for during the event. Most popular questions are grouped into categories and answered here.

Pam Melroy's Background

Several students were fascinated with Ms. Melroy’s exciting career and the path she followed.

Questions:

  • How long have you been with NASA?
  • What did you study in college to work for NASA?
  • On which shuttle did you go into space?
  • What aircraft did you fly in the Air Force?
  • How many women have been to space?

Answers:

Ms. Melroy was selected as an astronaut candidate in 1994. She has been to space three times (STS-92, STS-112, STS-120) and is one of only two women to command a space shuttle. She is currently the NASA Deputy Administrator. Read more about her education and career here:

Careers at NASA Questions:

  • What jobs do aerospace engineers have?
  • How can I become an astronaut?
  • What are careers at NASA?

Answers:

Life Aboard the ISS

Students were curious about all things ISS and had many more questions than Ms. Melroy had time to answer.

Questions:

  • What's a day in space like?
  • What do you eat in space?
  • What’s it like to have a pizza party in space?
  • Can you eat tacos?
  • Can you watch YouTube in space?
  • How does water react when poured in outer space?
  • What do you do for fun in space?
  • What is the most time a NASA astronaut has spent in space?
  • How do you tell time in space?
  • How close can you get to the sun in the space station?
  • How long does it take to get to the ISS?
  • Does being in space effect your health?

Answers:

These are all great questions. Check out these websites to learn about life on the ISS. The ISS orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 250 miles and does not travel further out into space. The sun is almost 93 million miles from Earth, much too far for human travel.

Spacesuits

Did you know a spacesuit is a mini spacecraft? Spacesuits protect astronauts from the dangers of being outside the spacecraft. Spacesuits have evolved since the earliest days of space travel.

Questions:

  • Why do you have to wear space suits?
  • How are spacesuits made?
  • Are there different sizes of astronaut suits?

Answers:

Spacesuits have evolved since the earliest days of space travel. Spacesuits come in different sizes and the newest suits will be custom fit for each astronaut.

Rockets and the Space Shuttle

Pam Melroy went to space on the Space Shuttle, the world’s first reusable spacecraft. The final flight of the Space Shuttle was in 2011. NASA will return to the Moon on the Space Launch System (SLS), the most powerful rocket ever build.

Questions:

  • How much fuel goes into a rocket?
  • What is inside of a rocket ship?
  • How does it feel when you take off in the rocket?
  • How big is the Space Shuttle?

Answers:

NASA has many resources on rockets. Check out the ones below.

Microgravity

Questions:

  • Why is there no gravity in space?
  • What does zero gravity feel like?

Answers:

Some people think there is no gravity in space. In fact, there is a small amount of gravity everywhere in space.

Moon

Questions:

  • How long does it take to get from the Earth to the Moon?
  • What is the Moon made of?

Answers:

It takes approximately 3-4 days for astronauts to travel from the Earth to the Moon. Read more about Artemis, NASA’s return to the Moon.

Mars

Questions:

  • Is there life on Mars?
  • Where is Mars located in the Universe?

Answers:

Planets and the Universe

Questions:

  • How many planets are there in the sky?
  • Does space really go on forever?
  • What's at the center of our galaxy?
  • How do black holes work?

Answers: