Students Hear from NASA Astronaut Live from the International Space Station

Da Vinci Science Center recently delivered an extraordinary STEAM experience that brought space exploration directly to our community. More than 400 students from across the Lehigh Valley gathered at the Science Center for a live Earth‑to‑space program featuring NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who joined from aboard the International Space Station to answer students’ prerecorded STEAM questions in real time.

Prior to the event, students recorded thoughtful questions on topics such as how astronauts prepare for missions, what daily life is like in microgravity, how scientific experiments are conducted in orbit, and how research aboard the ISS benefits life on Earth. Hearing a NASA astronaut respond to their questions from 250 miles above the planet gave students a rare and powerful look at the reality of human spaceflight.

This program offered students far more than a glimpse into life aboard the ISS. It helped them understand how astronauts contribute to scientific discovery, how space‑based research drives innovation on Earth, and how STEAM careers open doors to exploration and problem‑solving. It also showcased the collaboration and technology that make Earth‑to‑space communication possible, drawing on more than 25 years of continuous research aboard the ISS in fields such as medicine, engineering, climate science, and deep‑space exploration. Bringing this work into a local learning environment gave students and guests a meaningful look at the global effort behind space science and the importance of continued exploration.