NASA program links up Fassett with International Space Station

Talk about long distance: Fassett Middle School students peppered an International Space Station astronaut with questions Monday as he orbited about 220 miles above North America - at 17,500 miles an hour.

Using ham radio airwaves, 16 students at the Oregon school had nearly 10 minutes to pose questions to Michael Fincke, commander of the station’s Expedition 18, as part of a NASA educational program. The Pennsylvania native, who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force, is on his second space station trip.

“Our planet is definitely incredible,” Colonel Fincke told Fassett’s about 550 students. “I wish all of you could see what I’m seeing right now.”

The Toledo Mobile Radio Association supplied ham radio equipment that provided the connection between Colonel Fincke and Fassett.

The exchange was part of a program called Amateur Radio on the International Space Station.

“It was really hurried, but luckily we got everything done in time,” said Spencer Mizelle, a Fassett eighth grader. “We got good answers. They were what we wanted to know. I learned a lot.”