NASA Digest, Vol 40, Issue 6

September 12, 2016  MEDIA ADVISORY M16-108 Napa Students to Speak to Space Station Astronaut Alum Expedition 49 Flight Engineer Kate Rubins and Expedition 48 crewmate Jeff Williams of NASA outfit spacesuits inside of the Quest airlock aboard the International Space Station for an Aug. 19 spacewalk. On Sept. 14, Rubins will talk to current students of her high school alma mater from her orbital office/home during a 20-minute Earth-to-space call. Credits: NASA Students at Vintage High School in Napa, California, will have the opportunity to speak with a NASA astronaut living and working aboard the International Space Station at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 14. The 20-minute, Earth-to-space call will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. Expedition 49 Flight Engineer Kate Rubins, a 1996 Vintage High School graduate, will answer questions from the students. Media interested in covering the event should contact Elizabeth Emmett at elizabeth_emmett@nvusd.org. Vintage High School is located at 1375 Trower Ave. In preparation, students have been learning about topics related to Rubins' research, including DNA sequencing. Rubins launched to the station July 6, and in August, conducted the first DNA sequencing in space. She will return home in October. 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/education/stemonstation