A group of students at Robert Drake Primary School in Thundersley, Essex had the unique opportunity to connect with astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station (ISS), located 250 miles above Earth. The call allowed the children to ask her various questions, including what it’s like to watch TV in space, her favorite places to fly over, and whether time feels different up there.
The school’s head of science, Hanna Simpkin, expressed her excitement about the experience, particularly highlighting its significance for young girls. “It’s really important, especially for the girls. It’s wonderful that we have a female astronaut to inspire them,” she noted.
During the interaction, the students posed 15 questions to Williams. They were eager to learn about the educational paths needed to become an astronaut. Williams, who joined the ISS with Barry Wilmore on June 5 for an eight-day mission, currently faces a delay in returning to Earth due to issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft, with a projected return in February 2025.
Before the communication started, 11-year-old Leonardo described the experience as “really nerve-racking and exciting at the same time,” while eight-year-old Noah felt proud of himself for having the chance to speak with an astronaut. Nine-year-old Olive shared her aspiration to become an astronaut, stating, “My dream job was originally to be an astronaut. I think you have to work really hard, try experimenting on things, and know a lot of calculations. I feel like it’s made my hopes go bigger.”
For context, the International Space Station travels at a staggering speed of 18,000 miles per hour, orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes and allowing its crew to witness 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. To counteract the effects of microgravity, astronauts must exercise twice daily to maintain muscle and bone health.
