SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. — Some Space Coast students got a chance to have an out of this world conversation Wednesday as they made a personal connection with the International Space Station.

What You Need To Know

  • Students a Coastal Community School in Satellite Beach spoke remotely with NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who is currently working and living on the International Space Station

  • Williams was part of the two-member Boeing Starliner mission that, due to spacecraft issues, will remain there until next February

  • Students were able to ask Williams about life aboard the ISS and what her experience there has been like

Students at Coastal Community School in Satellite Beach spoke to NASA astronaut Suni Williams, who was part of the two-member Boeing Starliner mission that launched from Space Coast in June — and who, due to spacecraft issues, will remain there until next February.

The kids asked questions and learned a lot about life on board the ISS, and about Williams' experience there.

It’s all part of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program, which allows students all over the planet to talk with crew members directly.

The event at Coastal Community School was put on by the Platinum Coast Amateur Radio Society.

The group's goal is to use amateur radio to inspire students to go into STEM careers.

During the event, students encouraged Williams to hang in there as she completes an eight-month assignment on the ISS that was supposed to only last eight days.

“I think it’s very cool and interesting, i just feel bad she got stuck up there for a while,” said fourth grader Violet Bienias.

“It’s probably a little hard, because she was talking about her dog in the questions, so I imagine she misses her dog and other members of her family,” said eighth grader Jack Harrison.

School officials say the conversation with Williams was more than a year in the making.