"Ground Control...Permission...to Learn!"

Superintendent Eric J. Becoats told the student body at Neal Middle School that they were in for a “once in a lifetime” experience.

He was right. On Wednesday, April 25, students at Neal were treated to a science lesson like none they have ever experienced – they engaged in a live conversation with three astronauts currently 220 miles above Earth at the International Space Station. Additionally, Nancy Currie, a veteran astronaut of four space shuttle missions and now stationed as an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University, was on hand to speak with the students about life in space. She shared amazing pictures of Earth taken from space and brought examples of food and even the type of sleeping bag used by astronauts.

This event was one of only three to be held this year. The other two are scheduled for Boston, Massachusetts and San Jose, California. Durham Public Schools was honored to be selected by NASA and Neal Middle, one of the first STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) middle schools in North Carolina, was the ideal choice for hosting. It was made possible by the support of the East Durham Children’s Initiative.

After the event at Neal, teams from NASA went to Y.E. Smith, Oak Grove and Spring Valley elementary schools for additional presentations.

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"Ground Control...Permission...to Learn!"