After a unit on space in the students’ science class, McCracken, who will be teaching fifth grade in the same district next year, had asked her students to come up with questions they still had about space.

“Their questions were so incredibly thoughtful and curious,” she said.

McCracken reached out to many NASA scientists or representatives via email. Though she had received a lot of automated messages and some “no, thank you,” responses, her email was forwarded to Anne Marie Demme, who is a representative at NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement. Demme put her in touch with some scientists who were willing to answer some student questions.

The class of 13 students got to speak with Dr. Ryan Watkins, program scientist for NASA’s Exploration Science Strategy and Integration office, and Dr. Mary Coan Skow, NASA HQ chief program officer and strategic evaluation program manager via Zoom, according to McCracken.

Watkins and Skow spoke about their respective journeys to NASA and what projects they are currently working on like In-Situ Resource Utilization and a future Mars landing.

They also spoke about chemical engineering, astronomy and planetary sciences, as well as working on the Blue Moon Lander and on the Artemis Mission, according to McCracken.

NASA also sent goodie bags to students.

“It was an amazing opportunity for us to see science in action, and was awesome to have my students interact with some influential women in science,” McCracken said.