Out of dozens of organizations across the country, Worthing Early College High School was selected for a unique educational event put on by NASA.

On Wednesday, with the help of Mission Control, astronauts on board the International Space Station took questions from students live. The students prerecorded their questions via video.

Astronauts Mark Vande Hei, Raja Chari, and Tom Marshburn are currently on ISS Expedition 66. They answered questions about black holes, space pollution, and international relations.

“I know there are a lot of countries working together in the International Space Station. How does the command structure work there?” said one student.

“Astronauts are selected by an international group who then put them in rockets and bring them up here to the space station.” said Marshburn. “It’s a wonderful collaboration, one that’s not based on defense or competition but purely to explore.”

The astronauts also answered several questions about food in space and living in zero gravity.

“I got happy for a second when I saw them moving around, floating; I’ve always wanted to see that,” said senior Imandra Briones.

The in-flight education downlink event only lasted 20 minutes, but it’s an experience Principal Everett Hare said these students will remember forever.

“This is something that’s going to stick with our students for the rest of their lives, and it’s a valuable memory for them as they continue to grow and take on the rest of the elements of their journey in the world,” he said.

Expedition 66 is scheduled to end in early 2022.