NASA astronauts visit Hallett Elementary

See a photo gallery from the event here.

"How do you sleep in space?" "How do you get away from meteors?" "Have you ever been to the moon?"

These were some of the questions NASA astronauts - retired U.S. Air Force colonels Bob Behnken and Eric Boe, retired Marine Corps Col. Doug Hurley and Navy Capt. Sunita "Suni" Williams - received from over 500 students at an assembly Feb. 8 at Hallett Elementary School.

The astronauts explained they were in the area to participate in water survival training at Fairchild Air Force Base's Survival School. The training is to prepare them to fly on the Boeing Starliner and SpaceX's Dragon capsules. NASA is contracting with Boeing and SpaceX to fly the astronauts to the International Space Station in the agency's commercial crew transport program.

The four astronauts are the first group to train with the spacecraft. During their training, the astronauts will provide feedback on both companies' spacecraft to help them meet NASA requirements. The first test flights for the transport program are scheduled for May 2018.

During the assembly, the astronauts also shared their experience about going into space and working on the International Space Station.

"It's only a seven-and-a-half minute long ride," Williams said, referring to the time it takes for the astronauts to leave Earth and reach the space station. She added that after NASA's Space Shuttle program ended in 2011, astronauts have been traveling to the space station via Russian spacecraft.

Following a video presentation, the astronauts took questions from students. Most of them were related to outer space, including "Is it your responsibility to go into space?" Hurley emphasized the importance of space travel and exploration.

"I don't think we've learned as much about our planet or others," he added.

Another question, one that has been debated in the past, was "Is Pluto a planet?" Williams explained that Pluto was considered a planet when she was younger, however that is no longer the case.

"But Pluto still has a place in our hearts," she added.

Shayley Taylor asked them "what's your favorite thing about being an astronaut?" Hurley answered with "getting to interact with kids."

"It's part of our mission," he said in a later interview.

In a Jan. 26 Cheney Free Press story, Taylor said she wanted to be a scientist. After the assembly, she hopes to "explore other planets and see if we can live on other worlds."

At the end of the assembly, Principal Cindy McSmith asked how many of her students were interested in space travel. Almost everyone in the crowd raised their hands.

Boe offered some advice for students who were interested in working for NASA.

"Study hard in school, keep doing what you're doing and have fun," Boe said.

One of those students is Kobe Turnbough, who is interested in becoming an engineer for NASA. Another is Julie Laird, who at first wanted to become a baker and travel to France as an adult.

"Now I'm thinking that I want to explore and study space, and join the Navy," she said, adding that she was inspired by Williams.

Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.

See a photo gallery from the event here.