INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IN-FLIGHT EDUCATION DOWNLINKS (IN-FLIGHT EDUCATION
DOWNLINKS)
Research Area: Educational Demonstrations
Expedition(s): 1-ongoing
Principal Investigator(s): ● Becky Kamas, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston,
Texas
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
International Space Station In-flight Education Downlinks (In-flight Education Downlinks)
support the Agency's efforts to encourage K-12 students to study and pursue careers in science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Downlinks are facilitated by Teaching from Space, a
NASA Education office, and use the unique experience of human spaceflight to promote and
enhance STEM education.
EARTH BENEFITS
In-flight Education Downlinks provide a new
approach for capturing the imagination of
students with respect to spaceflight and
STEM subjects. Additionally, allowing
students to participate in an activity that
utilizes NASA-unique resources inspires
them to pursue careers in science and
engineering.
SPACE BENEFITS
In-flight Education Downlinks introduce the
next generation of explorers to the
environment of space.
RESULTS
As of July 2013, millions of students have
participated in In-flight Education Downlinks,
including 6 million students that were
reached during a Channel One (network
broadcast to schools) downlink during
Expedition 18 and the STS-119 mission.
The following quotes are from students and
educators that have participated in a
downlink:
From 210 miles above Earth, Naval Postgraduate School
alumni and Expedition 14 International Space Station
Commander, Michael Lopez-Alegria, thrilled an audience of
students, faculty, staff, and their kids on April 5, 2007. Pictured
above is 8-year-old Mark and 9-year-old Julianne Lopez-Alegria
asking Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria what it’s like to float in
microgracity and what does Earth look like from space. Photo
by Javier Chagova.