Flying on a space shuttle is like riding a rollercoaster that produces 7.8 million pounds of thrust at takeoff. You’ll be pulled by a force three times that of gravity on Earth, and within eight minutes, you’ll reach a velocity of 17,500 miles per hour. But don’t let that scare you, astronauts are always prepared for the wild ride! Learn about launching on a space shuttle from an astronaut and get your questions answered in real-time! Be sure to check out the latest episode of STEM in 30 first, The Space Shuttle at 40, to prepare.

You can tune in to the webcast on this page or watch on Facebook Live on the STEM in 30 Facebook page.

STEM in 30 is the National Air and Space Museum’s webcast series for middle school students. Tune in every month to share the fascination of aviation and space with your students.