LIVERMORE -- One day before summer vacation, students at Junction Avenue K-8 School got to interact with four astronauts -- one in person and the other three via a live feed from the International Space Station.

The whole school had been preparing for Wednesday morning's event by incorporating NASA-related lessons. For instance, first grade students learned about local former astronauts such as Tammy Jernigan, who was the master of ceremonies at the event.

The three astronauts on the overhead projector were dressed casually as they bobbed up and down in zero gravity among a backdrop of gadgets. They each answered questions from the students, letting the mic glide slowly through the air when they passed it.

"For astronaut Joe: Are you conducting any experiments that will help us here on Earth relating to energy conservation, waste reduction, or other issues?" asked Jessica, a sixth grader.

"Well, that's a great question; just living on the space station, we're doing a little bit of both," said Joseph Acaba, the first astronaut of Puerto Rican heritage who answered questions in Spanish and English. "We have solar arrays to get power from the sun. For our water, we recycle. What we might be urinating today, we'll be drinking shortly."

Cue student laughter as Dutch Astronaut Andr Kuipers pulled out his water container and took a swig.

"I can assure you that the only people having more fun than the students during

Another student asked astronaut Don Pettit about his efforts to grow plants on the station.

"We're not using hydroponics; we're using aeroponics," said Pettit, referring to a method of growing plants using bags full of humid air that encompass the roots.

The moisture that is injected into the bag is enriched with space compost made from astronaut leftovers. Pettit described how he is growing broccoli, sunflower and zucchini.

Link:

Livermore students hook up with space station astronauts