With one minute to go, one student began wringing the bottom of her black T-shirt while a few others shifted their weight from side to side. The audience sat up a little straighter in their seats and leaned in toward the stage. “They look a little nervous,” said one parent to another.

Even with more than 50 people present, the Robinson Elementary gymnasium, filled with displays of the solar system and information about space exploration, was silent Wednesday morning.

At first, all that could be heard over the radio was static but after a few seconds, the static dropped and the voice of Jeffrey N. Williams, NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station, came in, “I read you loud and clear. Over.”

Many gave whispered cheers out of excitement. With only 10 minutes to maintain contact with the ISS, 12 students and two teachers from Robinson Elementary immediately began asking Williams a series of questions about what it’s like in space.

“Do you ever leave the International Space Station?” asked Jason Minton, fifth-grade teacher who has been working for the past 3 1/2 years to make this ISS contact through the program Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, which gives the opportunity for students to experience the excitement of amateur radio by talking directly with crew members of the ISS.

“We never leave the vicinity, but we do go outside,” answered Williams. “Tomorrow, I will go out for a 6 1/2 hour space walk.”

With a copy of their questions printed on notecards in case they got nervous and forgot, the students asked everything from how astronauts use the restroom to how they eat food without it floating. In return, Williams gave the students thorough and thoughtful answers, painting a picture of what it is like aboard the ISS.

“Using the restroom is different with no gravity. We use airflow to get the things to go where we want them to go,” said Williams. “(Food) does float if you let it go. Wet food is easier to eat because it sticks to the spoon or the container. With dry food, it’s fun to let it float up and then catch it in your mouth.”

Contact with the ISS has taken countless hours of planning for Minton with help from fourth-grade teacher Bill Malone as well as the Madison County Amateur Radio Club.

Doug Rose, member of the radio club who was recently transferred to Texas through his job, returned to control the equipment and conduct the contact.

“I was with the group when we started this project,” said Rose. “With the most experience with satellite contact and the proper equipment, I wanted to return to see the project through. I wanted to finish what I started.”

At approximately 10:16 a.m., Rose received the initial contact with Williams and in 10 minutes and 21 questions later, it was gone.

“It was fun,” said Deondre Gary, 8.

“It was very cool,” added Da’Sha Boyd, 10. “I learned that they eat with spoons just like we do it on Earth.”

Not only were the students excited about the contact, but the adults were as well.

“I think I am just as excited as they are,” said Philip “P.T.” Morgan, Anderson Community Schools board member. “I’m still sitting here in awe. I can’t believe I’m looking at wires hooked into the back of a radio and we’re able to talk with (astronauts) in space.”

Board member Douglas Vermillion agreed.

“I hope the kids take away a sense of how much smaller our universe is that it used to be when I was their age,” he said. “When I was young, there was no space exploration. I hope they appreciate the efforts many of the people who have gone into the space program have provided, some even giving their lives.”

After the contact ended, parents were beaming with pride. “I think it’s great,” said Jennifer Michael, mother to Ashley Michael, 9. “She did excellent. They all did. I think this helps give her a sense of the important job they are doing up there.”

“I think this is a wonderful experience (for my son),” said Dee Tilford, mother to 11-year-old Jamil Wilkerson. “I’m really excited. It makes me really proud.”

To go along with the ISS contact, Minton presented principal Beth Clark with a plaque that read an official star had been named after Robinson Elementary School.

“It was just a follow up to this experience,” said Minton. “I wanted to be able to include everyone since not all the students were able to ask the astronaut questions. It’s so everyone can be proud of the event.”

Minton said he is extremely proud of all the students and was thankful to everyone involved. “It’s a great way to start off the new year.”



Questions and answers

1. Do you ever leave the International Space Station?

We never leave the vicinity, but we do go outside. Tomorrow, I will go out for a 6 1/2 hour space walk.

2. How do you eat your food without it floating?

(Food) does float if you let it go. Wet food is easier to eat because it sticks to the spoon or the container. With dry food, it’s fun to let it float up and then catch it in your mouth.

3. Do you like being an astronaut?

I love being an astronaut. We do pretty cool things.

4. Do you get along with the other astronaut in the International Space Station?

We all get along very well. Our lives depend upon each other.

5. Do you feel weak when you come back to Earth?

We do feel weak when we come back because our muscles are not exercised. We exercise every day to minimize the effects.

6. How do you go to the restroom?

Using the restroom is different with no gravity. We use airflow to get the things to go where we want them to go.

7. Why do we need the International Space Station?

So we can live and work in space for a long period of time while trying to understand our solar system.

8. What is your favorite part of your job?

I love the space walk, I like to watch Earth out of the window and having conversations with people on Earth.

9. How do you sleep on the space station?

You can sleep almost anywhere, on the wall, on the ceiling. I sleep in a sleeping bag strapped down so I don’t bump into things.

10. What kinds of things can you see?

I can see ocean currents, I just saw a volcano erupting and I am going to look at the tropical storm over Cuba.

11. How do you take a shower?

We don’t take a shower. We take sponge baths with rinseless soap.

12. What would happen if you get close to the hottest planet?

We would need thermal protection from the heat.

13. When you went to space, did you get scared?

We had plenty of training and preparation that keeps us prepared. So, no, I didn’t get scared.

14. Do you have enough food supply?

We always have enough food. We are well supplied with the shuttle that just came up.

15. Is it fun feeling weightless?

It’s a lot of fun feeling weightless. We play with different things to see how they react.

16. What on Earth can be seen from the International Space Station?

Continents, city lights, airports with large runways, thunderstorms and the Northern Lights.