NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

With her whole school watching, a student asks a question of the International Space Station crew. Credit: NASA - Bill Ingalls

Wouldn't it be great if students could talk with an astronaut or cosmonaut on the International Space Station and ask them a question about their studies? Well, they can! Your school or education organization can host an In-flight Education Downlink with space station crew members. The downlinks are similar to a video conference. Students pose questions and watch from their school or science center as crew members answer the questions and demonstrate science, technology, engineering and math concepts in ways that are impossible on Earth.

Are you not sure if hosting an event is right for you? Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about hosting a downlink:

Is there a cost to host a downlink?
No. The downlink is provided at no cost to the host organization. However, the host organization may incur costs ranging from acquiring NASA TV to transporting students.

What type of technical equipment is required to host a downlink?
To host a downlink, you need to receive NASA TV through NASA's Live Interview Media Outlet, or LIMO, channel. Note that this is a special channel accessed via satellite and is not the NASA TV channel on your local provider’s channel lineup. For more information about the LIMO channel, please contact Teaching From Space at JSC-Teaching-From-Space@mail.nasa.gov. You also need to have two dedicated phone lines and the capability to broadcast the audio and video to your audience.

What size audience is required to host a downlink?
Although no set rule exists for how large the audience size must be, NASA is looking for large-scale events that impact the community and provide maximum use of time in orbit.

May I schedule a downlink for a specific date?
No. Downlink dates and times are subject to real-time mission operations and often move around on the schedule. It is very important for organizations to be flexible and prepared to reschedule their downlink if necessary.

What are my chances of hosting a downlink?
NASA receives many excellent proposals and only a few downlink opportunities -- the competition is tough!

When is the proposal deadline?
The International Space Station Expedition Calendar governs the schedule for proposal submission, review and acceptance. For information on the next downlink cycle, check the website or contact Teaching From Space at JSC-Teaching-From-Space@mail.nasa.gov.

What advice would you give to an organization interested in hosting a downlink?
Read the Planning Guide and attend a downlink online informational session. Previous experience shows that organizations that attend online informational sessions are more likely to be selected. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you have any questions, direct them to Teaching From Space at JSC-Teaching-From-Space@mail.nasa.gov.

Related Articles:
› Orbital Show-and-Tell
› This Was Surreal
› Students Connect Live With Spacefaring Astronaut
› Students Talk With Station Astronauts
› At the Crossroads of Discovery