The event now is scheduled to air live on NASA Television at 6:24 a.m. EDT Sunday

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA is updating the time for an event on Sunday, July 17, when space shuttle astronauts aboard the International Space Station will answer videotaped questions from middle school students. The event now is scheduled to air live on NASA Television at 6:24 a.m. EDT Sunday.

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During the broadcast, viewers will see shuttle Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson and Pilot Doug Hurley as they respond to approximately 20 student questions selected from nearly 150 videos. The videos from students participating in NASA's Summer of Innovation initiative also will air during the event.

The Summer of Innovation program seeks to advance excellence in summer and extended learning programming for underrepresented and underserved middle school students while inspiring them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The initiative also is tied closely to the White House's "Educate to Innovate" campaign.

"Learning about scientific principles and the impact of space on astronauts' bodies helps spark student curiosity," said Cindy McArthur, Teaching From Space project manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. "Microgravity is a unique research environment and hearing directly from astronauts who live and work in it can inspire students to study STEM disciplines."

The question-and-answer session is part of a series with educational organizations in the United States and abroad to improve teaching and learning in STEM subjects. It is an integral component of Teaching From Space, an agency program promoting learning opportunities, and builds partnerships with the education community.

For more information about the shuttle mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle  

For the latest schedule of on-orbit events during STS-135, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttletv

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education  

For more information about the Summer of Innovation program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/soi

SOURCE NASA