Recommended reading

Behind the camera: Astronauts talk with students from space station | Space photo of the day for May 29, 2025

News
By published

Expedition 53 crewmates Nichole Ayers and Takuya Onishi take part in an educational outreach downlink from the International Space Station, as seen from behind the scene.

NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi spoke with students from the International Space Station on May 20, 2025, in a behind-the-camera view. (Image credit: NASA)

Nichole Ayers with NASA and Takuya Onishi with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), both Expedition 53 crewmates, are seen on board the International Space Station broadcasting their answers to students questions about life on orbit.

What is it?

How do astronauts record their frequent video conversations with children and others on the ground? This photo, taken by an unidentified crew member aboard the International Space Station reveals the set-up.

On May 20, 2025, Ayers and Onishi replied to questions submitted by students from schools in New York and Ohio. In this photo, they are shown during the first session, fielding the pre-recorded queries from Long Beach Middle School in Lido Beach.

Where is it?

As is often used for such video sessions, Ayers and Onishi are set up in the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, JAXA's primary contribution to the orbiting complex and its largest science facility.

The International Space Station orbits Earth at about 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the planet.

Why is it amazing?

Besides being a rare behind-the-scenes view of a regular activity aboard the space station, this photo also answers a question that one of the students may have asked that day. If astronauts are in microgravity aboard the space station, how do they stand still and upright during a long Q&A session on camera?

Look carefully at Ayers' and Onishi's feet and you can see they are hooked under a blue metal bar positioned there for just such a reason. If you look along the lower wall closer to the camera, you can also see foot restraints for when astronauts are working with the science racks.

While astronauts have demonstrated being able to "stand" without such tools, every motion they make can start them slowly tumbling or spinning in place.

Where can I learn more?

You can read more about the activities aboard the International Space Station and you can watch astronauts demonstrate the effects of motion in microgravity.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Robert Z. Pearlman
Robert Z. Pearlman
collectSPACE.com Editor, Space.com Contributor

Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, a daily news publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018.In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2021, he was honored by the American Astronautical Society with the Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History. In 2023, the National Space Club Florida Committee recognized Pearlman with the Kolcum News and Communications Award for excellence in telling the space story along the Space Coast and throughout the world.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.