Astronaut Jeff Williams took a time out during his stay in the International Space Station to speak with students from his hometown of Winter, Wisconsin, through a video uplink with NASA.
Around 320 students looked on from the bleachers of Winter’s middle-school gym as Williams took questions via satellite link from their classmates. The students asked questions about everything, from bone and muscle loss in space to whether solar energy is used to power the International Space Station.
“What are you personally researching and what will be done with it when the experiments are finished?” asked fifth-grader Albert Blair.
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‘Williams explained their experiments cover areas like plant and cell growth and DNA, but he said the bulk of research focuses on the human body.
“This morning, I was doing ultrasound scans of the muscles in my legs trying to understand again the impact on the muscle — muscle strength — by using the exercise protocol that we have on board,” he said.
Williams explained that astronauts use a harness with bungee cords to pull them down onto a treadmill and then resistance is added to simulate gravity on Earth.
Williams said the data they collect is then sent to Earth where it will be analyzed by teams of researchers.
Winter Schools community outreach coordinator Jeni Wergeland said they wanted this conversation to focus on science.
“And all the things that are involved in what is the purpose of the space station?” she said. “What are we doing and how is going to relate to us in our lives?”
Many students wanted to know about a rodent research study being done to test bone and muscle density loss in animals. Williams said the mice aboard the space station are doing well.
“We have sensors in there to keep track of the environment that they’re living in and they have stayed very, very healthy, very lively,” said Williams. “They’ve supported the research program very well.”
When one student asked about whether they had brought any mouse traps, he noted the mice are being closely monitored and contained.
“We always have controls to make sure they don’t get away,” he said. “It would be very tough to find a mouse onboard the space station, I’m sure.”
Williams is one of six astronauts currently aboard the space station. He is set to break the record for the American who has spent the most time in space this summer. This is his fourth mission in space.
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