Students from Aurelia M. Cole Academy and South Lake High School in Clermont watched their questions travel beyond Earth Friday as NASA astronaut Chris Williams answered student questions live from aboard the International Space Station during a nationally streamed NASA broadcast.

More than 300 students participated in the STEM-focused event hosted at Aurelia M. Cole Academy, where students submitted questions about life in space, astronaut training, science experiments and the future of space exploration. Twenty-one Clermont student questions were officially selected and submitted to NASA.

Students asked everything from how astronauts sleep in space to how the trajectory must be maintained to stay in orbit.

“We actually have 16 sunsets and sunrises every day,” Chris says while explaining how astronauts keep track of time aboard the space station. “So we just go by our clocks.”

Student Jason asked what everyday task becomes the most difficult in space.

“In space, things just float everywhere,” Chris says. “If you’re trying to put things into a bag and keep it organized, it’s really hard because things just float out and float away. I lost a water bottle one time and it took me days to find it.”

Another student, Carrie, asked what message humanity should understand most about space exploration.

“I think that space exploration really represents our desire to explore and to understand and to go beyond what we know,” Chris says. “When we work together, all of us both in our country and internationally, we can do incredible things.”

Students also asked questions about medical emergencies in microgravity, space station safety, how astronauts communicate across different languages and how experiments are selected for missions aboard the station.

Williams encouraged students to continue pursuing their dreams even when goals may seem out of reach.

“I wanted to be an astronaut ever since I was a little kid,” he says. “I think what I would tell my 15-year-old self is to keep dreaming and to keep following your passions.”

The event was organized by Aurelia M. Cole Academy teacher Claudia Botero, who says the experience was meant to inspire students to see themselves in future STEM careers.

“This event represents the kind of opportunities we want for all children, opportunities that inspire curiosity, build confidence and show students from all backgrounds that they belong in STEM spaces,” Claudia says.

She says the application process for the NASA opportunity began in April 2025 and required coordination between teachers, school administrators, technology staff and Lake County Schools officials.

“Never stop asking questions because curiosity is what drives science forward,” Claudia told students following the broadcast. “Today, your questions reached space, but one day, you might be the ones answering those questions.”

Lake County Schools Superintendent Diane Kornegay praised the students and the opportunity to connect directly with NASA.

“Experiences like this inspire curiosity and show students that a future in STEM is within reach,” she says.

If you missed it, the program can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0KHcNXFkWE