Students Speak With Astronauts in Space

More than 300 Nassau County students participated in a live video conference with astronauts aboard the International Space Station, marking the first time that students from Long Island have been given the chance to talk live to astronauts in space. 

The event, sponsored by Cablevision and attended by County Executive Ed Mangano and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, was held at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. The National Air and Space Administration (NASA) Teaching From Space Office selected the Cradle of Aviation Museum to host the event. 

Cablevision sponsored the use of a live feed truck with a C-Band downlink that enabled the satellite link while News 12 Long Island's technical crew ensured a seamless video feed throughout the half-hour conference.  

In addition to making the video conference possible, News 12 Long Island videotaped the event and has made it available for viewing On Demand on News 12 Interactive, available on iO TV's Channel 612.

"The Cradle of Aviation Museum is especially thrilled to be able to host this unique program that offers students such direct insight into the International Space Station and its mission," says Cradle of Aviation Museum executive director Andrew Parton. "We are very grateful to Cablevision and News 12 Long Island for stepping in and volunteering their resources and technical expertise to make it possible. A program of this magnitude will inspire these students for years to come."

Students from several Nassau school districts had the chance to pose questions directly to space station crew members. The museum also conducted a pre-videoconference educational program that explored life on the space station, its mission and the space shuttle.

"Today, these Nassau County students became part of our nation's proud space heritage," said Mangano. "They spoke directly to astronauts orbiting hundreds of miles above the earth. I commend Cablevision and the Cradle of Aviation Museum for making the videoconference possible and know these students will remember it for a lifetime."

The teleconference took place during a mission manned by three American astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts that will include ongoing outfitting of the space station, training and experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical and materials science, technology development and Earth and space sciences. As with prior expeditions, many experiments are designed to gather information about the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body, which will benefit future space missions. 

Supervisor Murray added, "I am particularly gratified that this wonderful program is happening right here in Hempstead Town, home to so much aerospace history, including Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight. Thanks to Cablevision and the Cradle of Aviation Museum, we can add another 'first' ... as students speak directly to astronauts aboard the largest artificial satellite orbiting Earth."