ISS to call high school simulated ISS

CLOVIS, Calif., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Buchanan High School pupils in Clovis, Calif., taking part in a 48-hour space station simulation, will be able to chat with a real space station crew member.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said the students will participate in a live in-flight education downlink with the International Space Station from 12:35 a.m. to 12:55 a.m. EDT Monday. The live question-and-answer session will feature Expedition 17 astronaut Greg Chamitoff.

NASA said the students are taking part in the Columbia Project, a simulated space station experience that exposes them to the challenges of human space exploration. The program, in its third year, engages the students in creating mock-ups of the space station and mission control, rocket fabrication, astronaut selection and training, mission control and station operations.

The downlink will air live on NASA television and be streamed on the Web at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv.