Q&A: Portland kids have cosmic conversations with NASA astronaut

Published 5:00 am Friday, March 14, 2025

A group of Oregon Charter Academy students had an out of this world opportunity in March, chatting with an Oregon man in space.

Of the 20 students were three Portland kids who connected with NASA astronaut and Oregon resident Donald Pettit on Monday, March 10.

The school’s NASA club hosted the event, providing insights to life off Earth.

“From being the only school in Oregon to see the first scientific images of the James Webb Space Telescope to hosting monthly live streams from NASA space centers, this collaboration with NASA has given our students unparalleled access to space exploration,” said Dan Vasen, principal of ORCA STEM programs and champion of the school’s NASA club.

Two of the three Portland residents shared their experience:

Grace Choi, 17

Why did you join the NASA club?

I discovered the NASA club when I had the opportunity to be one of 12 students chosen to interview a NASA astronaut in 2020, when I was in seventh grade, through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Program.

When did you get interested in space and why?

As a child, one of my very first career aspirations was to become an astronaut. I’ve always appreciated space and enjoyed learning about topics like the general theory of relativity, the effect of space travel on behavioral health, and black holes. Since my first encounter with the NASA club in 2020, I’ve grown an interest in aerospace medicine, an interdisciplinary field that I plan on pursuing as a career.

What question(s) did you want to ask NASA astronaut Donald Pettit? Why?

“You recently took a picture containing the Milky Way, the rising sun, and other features visible from orbit. How is it like viewing exquisite sights like this in real time from the International Space Station?”

Exactly four days before I received the call from Mr. Vasen, I had come across Pettit’s Instagram page and was enthralled by a picture he took from the SpaceX Crew-9 Dragon vehicle’s port window. The picture captured a magical yet profoundly real view of elements far beyond what we are familiar with on the ground.

How does it feel getting to connect with a real NASA astronaut?

Absolutely surreal. I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity, which has truly inspired me to pursue my passion for aerospace medicine even further.

Can you describe your reaction when you discovered you’d connect with a real astronaut?

When I received the call from Mr. Vasen, the corners of my lips instantly curled into an uncontrollable smile. I paced around my room in excitement and ran downstairs immediately after the call to tell my parents.

Anything else you would like to mention?

Over the past few months, I have scheduled an extra 10 minutes before going to the gym or fencing practice to watch the International Space Station pass from my garage, occasionally waving with the thought that someone up there is probably looking down at the same time. With the busy time of junior year, taking these small opportunities to put my concerns in perspective has been grounding, and opportunities like these have shaped the way I interact with nature and the people around me.

Valy Lindsey, 14

Why did you join the NASA club?

Space is really beautiful and I’ve always wanted to learn more about it, being in the city, we don’t get to see the stars or anything beyond.

When did you get interested in space and why?

As a kid, I had older siblings who brought home projects about space. I was interested in the colors and planets at the start. Now I am interested in the science and the beauty of it.

What question(s) did you want to ask NASA astronaut Donald Pettit? Why?

“What technological changes or impacts have you experienced during your time as an astronaut?”

I am very interested in how they live daily and the challenges they face.

How does it feel getting to connect with a real NASA astronaut?

Surprisingly very normal since the astronauts don’t act like they’re better than others because of their jobs, instead they act just like any other person who believes in inspiring other kids who love space just as much and want to learn about it just like these astronauts have.

Can you describe your reaction when you discovered you’d connect with a real astronaut?

I was very excited and happy to know that I was going to meet someone who had gone to space either once or multiple times, seeing everything I only dreamed of, and for ORCA to be the lucky ones and hear about it is really cool and amazing.

Anything else you would like to mention?

I loved all of the details they gave about space and how the sun goes up or down during seasons, showing us how much daylight we had in every season.

“As a child, one of my very first career aspirations was to become an astronaut.”

Grace Choi, 17