NASA Astronaut Chris Williams spoke directly with students at Old Hammondtown School via video chat while orbiting the Earth from the International Space Station on Wednesday, Feb. 11. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
MATTAPOISETT — While orbiting the Earth aboard the International Space Station, NASA Astronaut Dr. Chris Williams spoke live with students at Old Hammondtown School during a video conference held on the Wednesday afternoon before February vacation.
The entire school gathered in the cafetorium for the virtual event, which was organized by Old Hammondtown Reading Specialist Katie Samost, who is Dr. Williams’ sister-in-law. Students submitted questions in advance, and during the call Dr. Williams answered several of them, personally addressing students by name and generating excitement throughout the room.
Students asked thoughtful and wide-ranging questions, including what it felt like to see Earth from space for the first time, whether moving in microgravity feels like swimming or floating, how astronauts shower in space, and whether it’ll be difficult to walk again upon returning to Earth.
During the live connection, Dr. Williams provided a virtual tour of portions of the International Space Station and demonstrated how water behaves in microgravity, allowing droplets to float freely before capturing them midair. Students watched as he moved effortlessly through the station’s modules and even demonstrated how astronauts eat by enjoying a floating candy.
Dr. Williams described daily life aboard the station, explaining how astronauts secure their sleeping bags to the wall, maintain hygiene without traditional showers, and balance advanced scientific research with routine maintenance. Dr. Williams also shared what it’s like to work collaboratively with astronauts from multiple countries and experiencing foods from around the world during his mission in outer space.
“I think I speak for all staff and students at OHS when I say that we are grateful to Dr. Chris Williams for taking the time to talk to us from the International Space Station,” said Samost. “Some of the highlights from the video call were being able to see the Earth outside the space station window, watching Dr. Williams float through the modules of the ISS, and even watching him eat a floating M&M. OHS students demonstrated their scientific inquisitiveness with the questions they submitted to Dr. Williams. It was a wonderfully enriching experience for our students.”
Dr. Williams is currently serving as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station as part of Expedition 74. He launched on Nov. 27, 2025, aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft for a long-duration mission expected to last approximately eight months.
Selected by NASA in 2021 as part of the agency’s 23rd astronaut candidate class, Dr. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Stanford University and a doctorate in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining NASA, he worked as a clinical physicist and researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
While in orbit, Dr. Williams is contributing to scientific investigations and technology demonstrations that advance understanding of living and working in microgravity, research that has applications both in space exploration and on Earth.
“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect our students directly with a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station,” said Principal Stephanie Wells. “Experiences like this ignite curiosity and show students that science, exploration, and big dreams are within reach.”
Superintendent Michael S. Nelson also expressed appreciation to Dr. Williams and to the staff who helped organize the event, noting that opportunities like this reinforce the district’s commitment to science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.
“We are grateful to NASA and to Astronaut Williams for taking the time to connect with our students while serving aboard the International Space Station,” said Superintendent Nelson. “Opportunities like this spark curiosity, reinforce the value of STEM education, and encourage students to think beyond the classroom.”
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Students were excited to have their questions addressed by NASA Astronaut Dr. Chris Williams via livestream during a school assembly held in the cafetorium at Old Hammondtown on Wednesday, Feb. 11. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
NASA Astronaut Chris Williams spoke to students via video chat while orbiting the Earth from the International Space Station. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
Students at Old Hammondtown School gathered in the cafetorium for a live video call with NASA Astronaut Dr. Chris Williams aboard the International Space Station. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
Old Hammondtown School students watched and listened as NASA Astronaut Dr. Chris Williams answers their questions during a live video conference from space. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
NASA Astronaut Dr. Chris Williams currently serves as a flight engineer aboard the International Space Station during Expedition 74. (Photo Courtesy Old Rochester Regional School District and MA Superintendency Union #55)
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