A Kickmeuit Middle School (KMS) student will be among a group of Rhode Island students given the unique opportunity to participate in a live question and answer session with two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) this Thursday.

Those interested can tune into NASA Live TV from 1:30-1:50 p.m. (tentative time) on Thursday, Sept. 14 to watch NASA astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Frank Rubio aboard the ISS answer video-taped questions of students from throughout Rhode Island. Senator Jack Reed will introduce the statewide NASA Astronaut Lollapalooza In-Flight Event (Expedition 69).

For the live In-Flight Event, RISTA committee members (Jay Fogleman, Helaine Hager, Kathy Jessen Eller, Cathy Jimenez Long, and Tiffany Risch), and NASA vetted and chose 16 videos from among the 85+ student questions shared.

Students are from the following teachers and schools: Dr. David Upegui of Central Falls High School, Cathy Jimenez Long of Cranston High School West, Jillian Schneider of Kickemuit Middle School in Warren, Jim Kaczynski of Lawn Avenue School in Jamestown, Diana McLaughlin of Monsignor Clarke Catholic Regional School in Wakefield, Michelle Pereira of Nayatt Elementary School in Barrington, Susan Unger of St. Peter School in Warwick, and Jessica Higgins of Wilbur & McMahon School in Little Compton.

A question by Kyleigh St. Martin, an 8th grader at KMS, was chosen for the event.

“We are excited to host a watch party and see our own students' questions being answered by the Astronauts”, said Jillian Schneider, 7th grade teacher at KMS. “Our students are thoughtful, curious and motivated.”

At Kickemuit Middle School, 7th grade students will participate in activities from NASA’s Next Gen STEM program throughout the week leading up to the event. Additionally, students will participate in a team building activity where they will simulate a mission aboard the ISS. The school will also be hosting a NASA spirit day in conjunction with this event.

This event will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023 and tentatively from 1:30-1:50 pm. Registered watch party participants will be alerted to any changes in the timing or in the event that the downlink is canceled last minute. NASA encourages watch party organizers to plan related STEM activities in case the astronauts cannot participate at the last minute.

Some Rhode Island teachers, students and communities will participate by holding a watch party, viewing a demonstration from a RI Space Grant Consortium college student and participating in a live Q&A Session with Astronomers and Engineers.

The event will provide personalized, compelling phenomena to help K-12 students develop STEM identities, connect students with space research, and encourage state-wide engagement in space exploration. Education downlinks will provide audiences the opportunity to learn first-hand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space. NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement facilitates these events, designed to enhance student interest, learning, and performance in STEM.