Wallingford Library hosts Skype visit with NASA astronaut Jack Fischer

Wallingford Public Library will host a downlink with astronaut Jack Fischer from the International Space Station on Wednesday, July 5. The 20 minute downlink will occur between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm; a specific time will be assigned two weeks before the event and the exact information will be shared with the public and media as soon as it’s available.

Children ages five and up should visit the Children’s Department as soon as possible to submit a question they would like to ask astronaut Jack Fischer during the downlink. The deadline to submit a question is June 21st. Twenty questions will be selected prior to the event and Fischer will answer as many as possible LIVE from outer space!

The Wallingford Children’s Department applied to NASA earlier this year to participate in the organization’s in-flight educational downlink program. The Children’s Department has structured their summer reading theme, Race to Space, around the downlink and will be exploring the Space theme throughout the summer break. Various STEM activities will be offered in the Children’s Department of the library from June 24 – August 12. Additionally, library visitors will be able to view official artifacts from an archived NASA collection and students will participate in monitoring the growth of seeds that have been harvested from tomato plants grown on the International Space Station.

Head of Children’s Services, Sunnie Scarpa, said “I can’t thank everyone at the library enough for all the hard work they’ve been putting in to make this amazing event possible. In addition to encouraging students to continue reading and learning over the summer, this year we hope to inspire them to dream big and literally shoot for the moon!”

Wallingford families with children ages five and up can call the Library (203-284-6435) beginning June 7 to sign up to attend the downlink. This is event is free of charge, but participants must register beforehand as space is limited.

If you would like more information, please contact Allison Murphy, Children’s Librarian, at 203-284-6435 or amurphy@wallingfordlibrary.org.