×The information on this page is no longer updated and is available for archival information. Please visit our new website at: https://robotics.nasa.gov.
Welcome FIRST teams! We are happy to help your FIRST robotics team learn more about this season’s theme of space exploration, as well as help connect your
team with answers to any questions you may have as part of your research. Listed below are some frequently asked questions of professionals in the aerospace industry.
Still undecided?
Is your team is still unsure of what specific human spaceflight challenge to focus on? Read about the five categories of stresses and challenges that affect space travelers, narrowed down and under careful research by NASA's Human Research Program:
The Human Body in Space.
STEM on Station
STEM on Station is your connection to the International Space Station. There are many education downlinks to schools across the country where students ask the astronauts questions about the challenges of life on the International Space Station. We have highlighted a few question and answer sessions that your team may want to look at to see the answers to the questions from the astronauts!
Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams gives a guided tour of the ISS including the crew’s sleeping quarters, hygiene station (she even demonstrates brushing her teeth), restroom, and kitchen.
Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams gives a guided tour of the ISS including the Japanese, European, and American science experiment laboratories, exercise area (stationary bike), and the spacewalk airlock (including great detail about the spacesuit).
Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams gives a guided tour of the ISS including the station’s observation deck (the cupola), the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED), and the Permanent Multi-Purpose Module (PMM).
Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams gives a guided tour of the Russian segment of the ISS, which includes the Service Module, the Russian spacewalk airlock area, a docking probe hatch, and the Russian Soyuz.
Node 2 (docking stations, work benches, living quarters)
“The Lab” (American laboratory – science experiment area, negative 80degree freezers for experiments & astronaut health samples, Robonaut torso (before his legs were attached), exercise area, medical supply area, robotics workstation w/ robotic arm controls, robotic arm control simulator for training & practice)
Airlock (equipment lock & crew lock for spacewalks)
PMM or Permanent Multipurpose Module (stowage area – extra supplies, food, equipment, trash)
Node 3 (workout area w/ treadmill & “weight-lifting” (resistance) machine, water analyzer, bathroom, water/air processing system, hygiene kit)
Cupola (observation area to view Earth, robotic arm, exterior Japanese science experiments, satellite launcher, PMM, Soyuz, Progress, solar arrays)
Node 1 again (PWD or Potable Water Dispenser & refrigerators)
Node 2 again (Japanese laboratory – negative 80 degree freezers, glovebox, Spheres (robotic satellites for science experiments & demonstrations), workstation for the Japanese robotic arm, airlock, colloidal research area)
JLP or Japanese Experiment Logistics Module, Pressurized Section (storage in “Bungee Jail”)
PCS or Space Flight Systems (monitor showing how the station systems are doing, what Space-To-Ground communication channels are available)
Houston, We Have a Podcast
NASA's Johnson Space Center hosts the Podcast "Houston, We Have a Podcast" which has great talks about a few of the issues with deep space travel.
They have a five part series which talks specifically about the hazards of human spaceflight which we have linked below:
STEMonstrations
Also check out NASA's "STEMonstrations" (STEM demonstrations) series recorded on the International Space Station.
This series includes many topics the astronauts experience in space such as: Exercise, Nutrition, Water Filtration, Surface Tension, Newton's Laws of Motions, etc.
Q: How can I request a speaker for my FIRST event? A: As much as NASA's subject matter experts would love to attend community events we are unable to attend every event out there. However you can still request a NASA subject matter expert through
NASA's Speaker's Bureau. To request an expert please go to the How to Request a Speaker website.
+ NASA Home Page
