Peshtigo students in awe talking to astronaut, learn about life in space

PESHTIGO, Wis. (WLUK) -- It was an exciting day at Peshtigo Elementary Learning Center.

NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei took questions from the International Space Station on what it's like to be in space.

And there's a family connection to the area that makes it all worthwhile.

One of the teachers, Jodi Van Vooren, is Vande Hei's cousin.

"I thought about it the first time that he went to the space station," said Van Vooren.

She's tried having Mark speak to the schools students before to no avail.

But that's not the case anymore.

"About a month ago I opened my email, and there was an email from NASA," said Van Vooren. "And it just said that he picked us to do a live event with, so I was quite excited."

Then came the hard part of picking which students would be asking questions.

Fifth-grader Easton Baty was one of the lucky ones as well. He was nervous at first, a slim smile and shrugged shoulders showing the expression well.

That was until he asked the all-important question.

"How do you get into the space station?" asked Baty.

As there's a brief pause for the signal to get sent back down the earthlings...

"Very carefully is the simple answer," Vande Hei responded.

Others, like fifth-grader Dominic Suave, understand how special the opportunity was.

"I've never talked to an astronaut. I mean, I haven't been at NASA," said Suave. "They can recruit me if they want."

And with Vande Hei celebrating his birthday from the ISS, a special song was sung by the class.