Teacher-Astronaut Gives Students a Lesson on Space

NEW YORK – Astronaut and teacher Ricky Arnold of NASA called a group of space students to talk to them about life astronaut: what scares them, how to dodge The Earth looks like that of space, and how students could one day access the space.

On Monday, June 25, students at Spruce Street School in New York received a call from the International Space Station. ask Arnold the most pressing questions about spaceflight while he was floating around the station. Arnold talked about what life is really like in space and encouraged students to get involved in topics such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ( STEM). The call is one of three live events taking place across the country as part of the Year of Education on the NASA station

Arnold inspired students with life stories on the space station. In addition to encouraging them to study STEM subjects, he encouraged them to "take advantage of the amazing teachers who will surround you throughout your career and build on them to prepare you for your career." [Astronaut Twins Mark and Scott Kelly Honored by NJ Elementary School (Gallery)]

Yesterday, students from the Spruce Steet School in New York asked questions about @astro_ricky about life and work on @Space_Station ! Watch the video to find out what advice Ricky has for students, why the view from space changes your life and how to avoid space debris is like the bullet hunter. pic.twitter.com/xKLRzWV55P

– NASA Education (@NASAedu) June 26, 2018

Of all the rewarding aspects of being an astronaut, Arnold described one of his favorites on board the space station: the view. "Watching our home planet [from the space station] is a life changing experience," Arnold said. He has expanded on this commentary, describing the "piercing blue color" by looking in the space. He added that "when you get up to look out the window for the first time, all you want to do is take all those you met and bring them here for a chance to get back on our" [19659005ArnolddescribedvariousaspectsoflifeonthespacestationtostudentssayingthatenjoyingandphotographingtheviewwasdefinitelywhattheylikedtodothemosttohavefunaddingthatastronautsalsolikereadingandplayingtheguitarintheirfreetimeButlifeinthespaceisnotallfunandgames"hesaidAsidefromthehardworkArnoldspoketostudentsthemostfrighteningmomentsthatastronautscancopewith

Fire, ammonia leaks and loss of atmospheric pressure are the three most frightening scenarios on board the station, Arnold said. But while astronauts are equipped to handle No matter what, he said that false emergency alarms in the middle of the night can be terrifying because at first they do not know if the danger is real.

Arnold also explained some of the difficulties Astronauts find themselves facing space debris, adding that trying not to touch space debris is like a "dodgeball game". He said that he sometimes even saw "shooting stars beneath us."

For students looking to follow in his footsteps and become astronauts, Arnold's key advice was "on the way." to be a balanced and persevering person! "

After Arnold left the view in video chat, students were able to ask further questions to a panel of NASA scientists and education experts." Matthew Pearce, Head of Education at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, encouraged students to get involved in STEM and pursue careers in STEM, claiming that "half of our workforce will be retiring from here five to ten years. "

Pearce used his own experience and his way to NASA to inspire students, saying that when he was a child, he thought," I can not get a job at NASA … and I was wrong. "

" There is a job for everyone at NASA, "said Pearce, whose panelists included a background in film, chemistry, physiology, education and more, have shared the unique experiences that led them to work at NASA, letting students know that they can pursue different careers and participate in NASA.

And while many students in the audience were very excited to learn that the Internet connection on the space station is pretty good, talking to an astronaut in the space seemed to inspire everyone in the crowd. Pearce left a last push of encouragement to the students as they left saying, "I hope to see you in the space."

Send an e-mail to Chelsea Gohd at [email protected] or follow her @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on @Spacedotcom Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.