Robert Morgan, University School's technology coordinator, is speaking with Euclid-born astronaut Sunita Williams on board the International Space Station. She's spending six weeks in space to rewire the space station. And at 12:14pm last Friday, an auditorium packed with young boys and teachers from the private University School made contact with her.
Robert Morgan: How do you copy Sunny? Over. Romeo Bravo Victor this is November Alpha 1 Sierra Sierra. I have you broken. Over.
The radio contact between University School and NASA was requested by Astronaut Sunita Williams, because she knows some students there. As the International Space Station, orbiting 220 miles above North America comes into range, University School and NASA have nine minutes for a select group of boys to ask Williams a series of questions that have been pre-screened by NASA.
Sunita Williams: I'd be happy to answer questions from University School. Over.
Adam Tropper: I'm Adam Tropper. What most surprised you in space? Something you didn't expect? Over.
Sunita Williams: Hi Adam. I think what surprised me most is how easy it is to loose things cause everything keeps floating away if you don't have some velcro on it.
Tim Lash: Hi, my name is Tim Lash. What does it feel like to hold the world record for the longest space walk for women? Over.
Sunita Williams: Hi Tim, I think I'm just pretty much lucky. I was in the right place at the right time. But I think there s going to be a future of explorers of your generation who are going to shatter that record so I look forward to it being broken.
Robert Morgan: NA1SS this is KSRBB thank you Sunny. Here's the next student.
Ben: Hi, this is Ben. How does it feel to reenter the atmosphere? Over.
Sunita Williams: Well I haven't done that yet. This is my first space flight so I'll make sure I get back to you guys and tell you what it like when I get back this summer. My flight's going to be able six months so when I come back I'll write you and tell you what it's like. Over.
Robert Morgan: KSRB1BB. Over.
After radio contact with Williams and the International Space Station was lost, a group of six graders thought it was the coolest thing they'd experienced at University School.
Humzah Kireshi: I didn't think that we would get any signal at all. Seriously. But to have that equipment be able to so that it pretty amazing.
Andrew Berdot: I've always wanted to go up into space, just to see how it is with zero gravity. It always seems (a lot of) fun. Now this makes me what to go up into space even more.
Are you really going on peruse a career in space now?
Andrew Berdot: I'll try to.
Sixth graders, Humzah Kireshi and Andrew Berdot say even though their contact with Sunita Williams and the International Space Station was only nine minutes last Friday, they boys think the memories it created for them and their classmates will inspire them for years to come. Lisa Ann Pinkerton, 90.3.