NASA space shuttle becomes floating classroom: long-distant learning unlocks career opportunities for Alaskans.

As NASA Pilot William Oefelein became the first Alaskan in space last December, Alaskans were the only students in the world who were able to speak directly to the entire crew of STS-116 while they were in space. Through a live GCI video downlink from the shuttle on Dec. 21, more than 300 students from all over Alaska, including students at the Challenger Learning Center in Kenai, asked questions such as "How does microgravity affect the growth of plants on the space station?" and "What has been the most exciting and most difficult parts of your mission so far?" With an Alaska flag as a backdrop, Oefelein and the entire crew of astronauts sat before a video camera and spoke into a microphone as they answered the students' questions. Students in different regions of the state were able to join this linkup using GCI videoconferencing technology. It's too early to tell how many budding astronauts or aspiring NASA scientists were created through this activity, ...