Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Talk about a long distance call: On Wednesday, students at Crayton Middle School were able to talk to astronauts live from the International Space Station.
"Today we're talking to astronauts on the ISS," student Samantha Rhea exclaimed, "and we're asking them questions about what they do and stuff!"
This school is one of only three in the country chosen to speak with NASA's Expedition 30 Commander Dan Burbank and Flight Engineer Don Pettit, aboard the International Space Station.
"It's like, really interesting," said student Diamond Williams, "because I really haven't ever done anything like this and this is the only time I can do it and I'm only in 7th grade! So it's really exciting."
During set up it was clear that the kids weren't the only ones excited, as the school administrators and teachers all smiled in anticipation.
"Our hope is that our students will see math and science used in the real world," said Anne Carbone, a math teacher at the school, "and how it's used in the space station to develop products that will help humanity."
As well as a teacher, Carbone is also a NASA volunteer. She had been orchestrating Wednesday's event for the past year.
"Station, this is Crayton Middle School, how do you hear me?" Carbone asked to a live feed.
"Middle school, this is Space Station. We hear you loud and clear!" said Burbank from space.
Once communication was established the questions began. Every student in the 7th grade submitted questions to NASA, and then NASA chose which questions the astronauts would answer.
"How do you stay in contact with your family?" asked one student.
"What is the most exciting experiment that you are working on now?" asked another.
Then one student asked, "Have you discovered the effects that space may have on the growth of a living organism such as a plant?"
Burbank responded, "There are a number of different effects on the space station, the prime example of that is us!"
"It was exciting!" said Carbone. "The minute that we connected I could see the students faces and I was so excited! I could not believe that we were actually speaking with the astronauts on the space station."
After about 30 minutes the downlink was over but the excitement lingered.
"I was happy but scared! It was fun though!" said Diamond who got to ask a question.
"I feel very special, I feel one of a kind, one in a million!" said Emanual Prioleau, who's question was also chosen.
The feed ended with a friendly sign off, "It was great to have you aboard today."
The astronauts were on a tight schedule as they could only communicate with the schools as the station passed over South Carolina.