Osage Students Talk to Stars: Students to Hear from NASA Astronaut Nicole Mann Aboard Space Station

Communications
NASA Graphic with Sponsorship

Osage Nation students will have the opportunity to hear from crew members aboard the International Space Station. Astronauts will answer questions from students at Daposka Ahnkodapi, the Osage Nation Language Immersion School, and Osage students from the community at a LIVE event on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at the Osage County Fairgrounds, 320 Skyline Dr, Pawhuska, OK. The  event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the live NASA Downlink scheduled for 10:30 a.m. All in-person attendees will need to be inside the building by 10:15 a.m. in order to take part in the live NASA Downlink 10:30 a.m. broadcast (*Due to the uncertain nature of spaceflight, there’s a chance that the time slot could shift). 

Nicole Mann, the first Native American woman in space, will be among the space station crew talking to the students. The public is invited to attend the event located at the Pawhuska Fairgrounds and take part in a variety of STEAM-related activities sponsored by the Osage Nation Education Department. If you plan on attending, please RSVP here. If you are unable to attend in-person, all are invited to watch on NASA TV or stream from the NASA website.

𐓻𐓣͘𐓤𐓘𐓻𐓣͘ 𐓘𐓬𐓘 𐓨𐓣͘𐓥𐓘𐓤’𐓟 𐓪𐓥𐓣͘𐓟 𐓘𐓬𐓙 translates to "the children are talking to the stars."

“Osage Nation is committed to giving our youth every opportunity possible to put them on the path to success,” said Osage Nation Chief Standing Bear. “A huge thank you to our leaders in education and NASA for understanding how impactful this experience will be for our students.”

Osage Nation Education Department Director Mary Wildcat and NASA team members have been working closely together for months to bring this incredible opportunity to Osage youth.

“Our focus is to empower these children with the knowledge that they can do anything they put their minds to, then support them along the way,” said Director Wildcat. “This event really embodies what we’re trying to do here and we appreciate that NASA shares our mission to educate and inspire Native youth.” 

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance, and interest in STEM. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Near Space Network Tracking and Data Relay Satellites. Daposka Ahnkodapi students are frequent viewers of NASA TV, a website that provides live coverage of launches, spacewalks and other mission events by NASA.

“This experience is something our students will remember for the rest of their lives,” said Daposka Ahnkodapi Superintendent Patrick Martin. “We have organized a variety of space-related activities leading up to this event starting with a rocket launch this summer with the Osage Nation STEAM program. The kids are incredibly excited about this opportunity and we encourage the community can come experience this with us.”

Community members are invited to view the live event, participate in STEAM-related activities and enjoy refreshments. The free event is open to the public. If you are unable to attend, downlinks are broadcast live on NASA TV and NASA Live, to watch – 

  1. Download the NASA TV app on your mobile device 
  2. Watch NASA TV on your computer – www.nasa.gov/nasatv
  3. Check your TV guide for the NASA TV channel in your area

ABOUT OSAGE NATION STEAM: The Osage Nation STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Program allows students to engage in activities integrating the STEAM concepts usually taught as separate subjects. Activities and resources are provided to emphasize the application of information to real-life situations. The program is geared to improve students’ knowledge and interest in STEAM subjects in their classroom and make the students aware of the possibility of STEAM related careers. The program is being implemented at the Wahzhazhe Early Learning Academies, the Osage Nation Head Start and the Daposka Ahnkodapi. Also, there are opportunities offered such as camps, field trips, competitions, and special events for Osage students throughout the year. Find out more at osagenation-nsn.gov.

Media interested in covering the event should contact Wahzhazhe Communications at: communications@osagenation-nsn.gov.