Asknasa - Blog Posts

World Teacher Appreciation Day!

On #WorldTeachersDay, we are recognizing our two current astronauts who are former classroom teachers, Joe Acaba and Ricky Arnold, as well as honoring teachers everywhere. What better way to celebrate than by learning from teachers who are literally out-of-this-world!

During the past Year of Education on Station, astronauts connected with more than 175,000 students and 40,000 teachers during live Q & A sessions. 

Let’s take a look at some of the questions those students asked:

The view from space is supposed to be amazing. Is it really that great and could you explain? 

Taking a look at our home planet from the International Space Station is one of the most fascinating things to see! The views and vistas are unforgettable, and you want to take everyone you know to the Cupola (window) to experience this. Want to see what the view is like? Check out earthkam to learn more.

What kind of experiments do you do in space?

There are several experiments that take place on a continuous basis aboard the orbiting laboratory - anything from combustion to life sciences to horticulture. Several organizations around the world have had the opportunity to test their experiments 250 miles off the surface of the Earth. 

What is the most overlooked attribute of an astronaut?

If you are a good listener and follower, you can be successful on the space station. As you work with your team, you can rely on each other’s strengths to achieve a common goal. Each astronaut needs to have expeditionary skills to be successful. Check out some of those skills here. 

Are you able to grow any plants on the International Space Station?

Nothing excites Serena Auñón-Chancellor more than seeing a living, green plant on the International Space Station. She can’t wait to use some of the lettuce harvest to top her next burger! Learn more about the plants that Serena sees on station here. 

What food are you growing on the ISS and which tastes the best? 

While aboard the International Space Station, taste buds may not react the same way as they do on earth but the astronauts have access to a variety of snacks and meals. They have also grown 12 variants of lettuce that they have had the opportunity to taste.

Learn more about Joe Acaba, Ricky Arnold, and the Year of Education on Station.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

Would you smooch an alien?

Depends what he looks like!

Hi Jeanette, what will you be doing while aboard the ISS next year? Will you be researching anything interesting? I'm a recent mathematics/astrophysics grad and I'm really curious about what goes on in the ISS :)

Aboard the ISS all crewmembers are research subjects in and of themselves, so we will learn how human beings can live longer and longer in microgravity. We will also maintain the space station which is a huge experiment in and of itself. Then there will be experiments in material science, biotech experiments, as well as plant science.

Did the training ever get so hard that you would regret getting into this?

No because the end goal is space!

What extra-curricular activities do you suggest to make the most of our time in high school for a job in NASA?

There are so many great things to get into. I regret that I worked mostly in high school and didn’t spend more time in extracurricular activities. If I could go back, I would be more active in sports because that helps with learning about teamwork and keeps you fit. Lastly, I would get involved on an academic team to keep your brain fit.

Not a question, but I just want to say that today is my daughter Erin's 7th birthday and she's wearing her NASA shirt and I want to thank you so much for being such an amazing inspiration to my daughter, myself, and women and girls everywhere. <3

Adorable! Please continue to encourage her to reach for the stars. 

What dose it feel like being inside a space suit?

The suit weighs about 300 pounds. We are made neutrally buoyant in the pool, but over time we can become negatively buoyant. The suit can feel heavy, even the bearings can become stiff, so it can be difficult to operate in the suit. With practice and the help of a great spacewalk team, we can make a spacewalk look seamless.

Do you ever feel despair at work just because of your colour? Are you constantly under pressure to prove your worth? And do you feel like a brand endorsement of the organisation you work for when they say "first African American space station crew member"? I understand it could also be a matter of pride for you. Why should origins be used as a leverage for the image of the company? In fact, why should it matter at all? I apologise if these questions are inappropriate. I'm not yet an adult.

Since I have no problems with who I am, I never feel despaired. If other people have a problem, then that’s their problem. I will never take on anyone else’s problem. I do the same work as my colleagues, and I don’t accept less.

Did you have a favorite astronaut as a kid? If not, who were your inspirations? :)

Of course Mae Jemison was an inspiration, but I didn’t have a favorite. Because how do you pick out of such a great group?

What specific area of space research most excites you? Could be something being explored currently, or something you would like to see work done on in the future.

My twin sister worked on genetics in graduate school, and she continues to research ideas in genetics. She comes up with a lot of great ideas for what we can study in space, especially now since genetics is a focus on the space station. I’m looking forward to continuing with the genetics experiments and seeing what we learn.

Do you ever get to work along side people you use to look up to?

I did get a chance to work with some people that I really looked up to, and I was surprised by their generosity and giving me great advice. They’re busy people, and they spent hours giving me great advice. 

Hi Jeanette, I want ask you wich was your first employment? Have a good day

I was 14 years old, and I worked at United Way doing data entry. They were going from the card files to all digital, and I could only work in the summer.

Have you seen Hidden Figures? What did you think

I have seen Hidden Figures, and I was very proud that NASA supported the telling of the story. Despite the circumstances of the time, it shows that we worked well together to get a human being in space. 

6th grade South Lamar student, Alexis S., asked, " How old are you & how many hours a day do you train to be ready for space?"

I am 46 years old, but I don’t feel like I’m 46 because I have the best job in the world. I train everyday at least 8 hours, and even on the weekends I’m constantly thinking about work. 

Did you ever have insecurities while chasing your goal of becoming an astronaut? Were there pressures placed on you, by yourself or others, that you had to overcome? And if so, how did you overcome them? -Emma

Emma, I think everyone has insecurities about going into the unknown. The trick is not letting them get in the way. I think if you’re passionate about what you want, no amount of insecurities will keep you from it. 

Did you have an innate talent for math? Or did you struggle and practiced until you understood it? I wanted to become an aerospace engineer but after taking a class I decided psychology was more suited for me because I struggled with equations but thrived with the psychological terms

Anything you don’t know is hard until you learn it. There are a few geniuses in the world, but most people study and work hard to learn what they love. Even the smartest amongst you actually put in a lot of time to learn the things that they want, and no one is an exception. You have to put in the time.

How can people in the US help the space program?

I used to think STEM was a buzzword, but actually in the United States we do need more students entering into the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math fields. By doing this, they can help develop technologies to help get humans further and further into deep space and discover new things about the universe. 

What's your main source of motivation?

First, I love what I do, and what has motivated me is the love that I have for science and learning new things. Then there are people who support you and keep you motivated. My mother was a source of motivation, as well as my family. My advisor Dr. Chopra was also a big supporter through graduate school. 

Morning Jeanette. My 10 year son old recently told me his dream job that he would love to do is to become an Astronaut or be apart of a team that builds a spaceship. What is your best suggestion for me as his parent to help expose him to know what life is like for an astronaut and how much work did you put in your education to help you solidify your career that I can use as encouragement for him? Thanks again and you're AWESOME.

I spent 11 and a half years in school after high school, so I tell this to students because it takes a lot of investment in educating yourself. Then even beyond that, gaining experiences that are meaningful. After graduate school, working at Ford Motor Company and the CIA really taught me how to be a detailed scientist as well as working operationally in the field. I also did internships to help hone and sharpen skills as an engineer. I was happy with my career, and then I applied.

What is the scariest part of your job?

I love my job, and I think the scariest thing for me is making a mistake. So I work hard to learn everything I can to avoid making mistakes and be as methodical as I can to avoid that.

Which do you think you'll miss more after your first trip? Space when you're back on Earth or Earth when you're up in Space?

I think that I will miss space when I’m back on Earth. One astronaut when she returned said that gravity sucks, so I’m looking forward to finding out what that’s like.

would you actually want to live on mars?

I would like to live on Mars, but I do know we have a lot of research we have to do to sustain life on there. I’m looking forward to all that we learn on the International Space Station as well as future missions.

Are you scared about going up into space?

I’m not scared, but I have a healthy amount of nervousness because I don’t know exactly what to expect. I have a lot of great advice, but you don’t know until you actually get there.

Hi! When did you know that you wanted to become an astronaut?

As a kid, I thought being an astronaut was the coolest thing, but I never thought I’d be selected. While working at the CIA, I decided to go out and apply because I thought it was my last chance to actually apply.

What was your fav sci-fi show/book/movie growing up?

I was a big fan of Doctor Who, and of course Star Trek!

Hello! Jeanette Epps here ready to take your @nasa questions!

In Case You Missed It...

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir sat down and answered your questions during a Tumblr AnswerTime session! 

But don’t worry, we’ve got a recap for you! In addition to the highlights below, you can check out the full AnswerTime here. 

Astronaut Jessica Meir was selected as part of our 2013 astronaut class (which was 50% women!) and is currently training to go to space. She could be one of the first astronauts to ride in the Orion spacecraft, which will carry humans deeper into space than ever before. 

Let’s check out some of her responses...

Follow astronaut Jessica Meir for more: @Astro_Jessica on Twitter and Instagram and follow the Orion space capsule as it prepares to fly to deep space on Twitter and Facebook. Follow NASA on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Thanks for all of the great questions!  Follow me at @Astro_Jessica on Twitter and Instagram and follow the Orion space capsule as it prepares to fly to deep space on Twitter and Facebook.  Follow NASA on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Will NASA send astronauts to the moon again or any other planet within the next ten years?

@nasaorion spacecraft will launch on the Space Launch system (the largest spacecraft every built, even bigger than the Saturn V rocket!).  Both are under construction @nasa currently, and this is the spacecraft that will take us beyond the low earth orbit of the International Space Station, whether that be the Moon, Mars, or beyond.  We will conduct test missions with astronauts on Orion in the early 2020s, and a first mission will take us 40,000 miles beyond the Moon!

Jessica, first of all, I love you. Second, what's it like being a part of the first class that was 50% female?

Thank you!  The best part is that I think the fact that our class is 50% female simply reflects how far our society has come, and that is a great thing!  To us, there really is no difference on whether or not we are female or male, what backgrounds we come from, etc., we are one team, one family, all contributing to the same cause (which is an extraordinary feeling!).  I’m definitely very proud and honored to be part of the 21st astronaut class.