Astronauts to Make Virtual Connection With Students

Astronauts flying on a space shuttle mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope for a final time will speak to middle school students across America simultaneously at 1:15 p.m. EDT, April 30, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Through NASA's Digital Learning Network (DLN), students at five middle schools and an invited student audience at Goddard will talk to the shuttle crew. Topics of discussion will include details about the upcoming STS-125 mission to service Hubble. Astronauts also will discuss career diversity among the crew. Each has a doctorate degree in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics discipline.

The goal of the DLN is to enhance NASA's capability to deliver unique content by linking students and educators with NASA experts. The DLN offers videoconferencing or Webcasting at no charge, providing interactive educational experiences to students and teachers from kindergarten to college across the country and around the world.

Schools selected to participate are Junior High School 145 Arturo Toscanini, Bronx, New York; Brenham Junior High School, Brenham, Texas; and South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency, Shelton, Washington. Two NASA Explorer Schools, Greencastle-Antrim Middle School, Greencastle, Pennsylvania, and Middle School at Parkside, Jackson, Michigan, also will participate.

Anyone can view the 45-minute event live online.