Worcester students are about to have an out-of-this-world experience — literally. Local students are scheduled to speak directly with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS), a rare and inspiring opportunity that brings the wonders of space exploration right into the classroom.

Events like this, coordinated through programs that connect schools with NASA and working astronauts, give young people a chance to ask real questions of real space explorers orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth. For many students, a live conversation with someone floating in microgravity while traveling at 17,500 miles per hour is the kind of moment that sparks a lifelong passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Worcester has long prided itself on a strong tradition of education and innovation, and opportunities like this underscore the city’s commitment to giving its students access to extraordinary learning experiences. Being able to speak with an astronaut in real time — hearing firsthand what it is like to live and work in space — is the sort of hands-on, curiosity-driven learning that no textbook can fully replicate.

For the students involved, the conversation is sure to be memorable: a chance to ask the questions they have always wondered about, from what food tastes like in zero gravity to what Earth looks like from orbit. For Worcester as a community, it is a proud reminder that the city’s young people are being connected to the biggest stages imaginable — including, quite literally, outer space.

Details on which Worcester school or schools are participating and the exact date of the event were reported by Patch. Keep an eye out for updates as this exciting milestone approaches.

Sources: Patch