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International Space Station Inflight Education Downlinks (Inflight_Education_Downlinks)
07.10.09

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Experiment/Payload Overview

Brief Summary

International Space Station Inflight Education Downlinks (Inflight Education Downlinks) support the agency's efforts to encourage K-12 students to study and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). These events, facilitated by NASA's Teaching From Space Office use the unique experience of human space flight to promote and enhance STEM education. Teaching From Space works with the host organization to make the downlink event a highlight surrounding a well planned comprehensive suite of education activities.

Principal Investigator

  • Rene Flores, Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

    • Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

    Information Pending

    Payload Developer

    Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|

    Previous ISS Missions

    Inflight Education Downlinks have been performed continually on the ISS since Expediton 1.

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    Experiment/Payload Description

    Research Summary

    • International Space Station Inflight Education Downlinks (Inflight Education Downlinks) are coordinated by Teaching From Space (TFS) in conjunction with NASA JSC Public Affairs Office (PAO) and are approximately 20-minutes in length. These downlinks allow students and educators to interact with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station through a question and answer session.


    • Downlinks afford education audiences the opportunity to learn first-hand from space explorers what it is like to live and work in space. A downlink is essentially a modified videoconference in which participants hear and see the crewmembers live from space; although the crew does not see the audience.


    • Students pose questions related to classroom studies and watch from their school or science center as crewmembers discuss and demonstrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) concepts in ways that are unique to the environment of space. These events are broadcast live on NASA TV and streamed on the web.

    Description

    International Space Station Inflight Education Downlinks (Inflight Education Downlinks) provide students and educators with the opportunity to learn about science and the ISS by speaking to the crew in orbit. Prior to the event, students study the ISS, mission objectives and onboard science activities to develop questions they wish to ask the crew. Since the programs inception in 2001, Inflight Education Downlinks have allowed thousands of students the opportunity to participate in a downlink event where ISS crewmembers answered questions and performed educational demonstrations. Through educational broadcasting, more than 30 million students have watched the live downlink events.

    The number of Inflight Education Downlink opportunities available during each ISS increment varies and is determined by mission operations. These opportunities are coordinated and scheduled by TFS and NASA JSC Public Affairs. Members of the U.S. informal and formal education communities are eligible to host these large scale public events. Examples include museums and science centers, local school districts, national and regional education organizations, and local, state and U.S. government agencies. NASA provides this opportunity at no cost to the host organization. Host organizations interested in applying for an education downlink are asked to complete a proposal form outlining a comprehensive education package that supports national and state education standards and initiatives. Proposals are reviewed by a selection committee based on strength of proposal and number of opportunities. The proposal submission deadline is approximately three months prior to the start of an increment. For complete information and the proposal form, please contact the Teaching From Space Office at JSC-Teaching-From-Space@mail.nasa.gov.

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    Applications

    Space Applications

    Inflight Education Downlinks introduce the next generation of explorers to the environment of space.

    Earth Applications

    Using a new approach in the classroom on space flight, science, and mathematics will capture the imagination of students. Allowing students to participate in activities that directly involve NASA will inspire them to pursue careers in science and engineering.

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    Operations

    Operational Requirements

    An ISS video camera and the ISS communications equipment is needed during Inflight Education Downlink sessions. During the sessions the crewmembers answer questions or perform demonstrations for the students for a standard 20-minute education downlink event.

    Operational Protocols

    Inflight Education Downlinks require that the crew position themselves in front of the ISS audio and video equipment during each session.

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    Results/More Information

    As of April 2007, over 30 million students have participated in Inflight Education Downlink activities. Including a Channel One (network broadcast to schools) downlink to schools across the western U.S., reaching millions of students during Expedition 6 and a U.S. Department of Education downlink that reached millions of students around the country during Expedition 12.

    The following statements were written by seventh-grade students in Phelps, KY, after participating in a Teaching From Space event during Expedition 10:

    • "I have decided to become more educated and become some sort of scientist."

    • "I have been influenced - I want to get an education in a field of science or technology."

    • "Small towns have big technology too."

    • "I didn't know about all of the good jobs we could get when we grow up. My parents say they didn't have these opportunities when they were growing up but we do."

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imageCrewmembers on board the International Space Station (ISS) answered questions students asked in four languages during ISS Expedition 13 during the International Education Week event held on November 14, 2006, at the U.S. Department of Education. Image courtesy of the NASA Educational Technology Services.
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        imageFrom 210 miles above Earth, Naval Postgraduate School alumni and Expedition 14 ISS Commander, Michael Lopez-Alegria, thrilled an audience of students, faculty, staff and their kids April 5, 2007. Pictured above eight-year old Mark and nine-year old Julianne asked Lopez-Alegria what it's like to float and what do stars look like from the space. Lopez-Alegria did one better. He tumbled himself like a whirling dervish and then told Julianne that when they are on the far side of Earth, away from the sun, there are so many billions-of-stars that it's more like seeing a whitish background with little black specks! US Navy Photo by Javier Chagoya.
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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