St. Peter School seventh-grader Lily Kelliher has always loved outer space.

“I used to have stars on my ceiling when I was a kid, and I always really liked it,” she said.

This past Thursday, she got the chance to ask two experts in all things space one question that she’s always wondered- what happens if astronauts get sick in space?

Astronauts Frank Rubio and Jasmin Moghbeli took sixteen questions from students throughout Rhode Island as part of the Rhode Island Science Teachers Association’s (RISTA) Statewide Lollapalooza, in collaboration with the East Bay Education Collaborative.

Rubio and Moghbeli are both currently stationed aboard the International Space Station, and got to showcase how the zero-gravity environment affected everyday tasks such as drinking water to students.

Rubio took Lily’s question, saying that the biggest issue when it came to staying healthy in space is staying in shape, as astronauts quarantine before launching to make sure they’re not bringing any viruses aboard the spacecraft.

“If somebody were to get sick, oftentimes, we’ll have a doctor on board, like me,” Rubio said. “If there aren’t any doctors on board, all the astronauts get certified as chief medical officers, meaning that they go through medical training so that they’re able to respond to any sort of emergency that we have here in space.”

Rubio has gotten the chance to become very familiar with space as well. Today, he became the first American astronaut to spend a full calendar year in outer space, and one of only seven humans ever to accomplish the feat.

The astronauts answered questions from other students throughout the state, including some about eating and sleeping in zero gravity, as well as the jobs astronauts have on the ISS and what they do for fun.

All students at St. Peter went to their usual classrooms from 1:30 to 2 p.m., shortly following their recess period, to watch the live presentation with their peers.

St. Peter School first heard about the opportunity for students to ask questions of astronauts last year. Science teacher Susan Unger submitted videos of eight of her students asking questions about life on the ISS shortly following that.

“This was in the spring,” Unger said. “We had an initial deadline to send in eight videos, and one of them was accepted by NASA.”

Lily learned she was selected to ask a question over the summer. She was the only Warwick student chosen.

For her, the galactic experience was one that was truly special, and she thought that the answer to her question and getting to learn more about life in space was interesting.

“I thought it was cool how they were all doctors on the spaceship,” Lily said.

As for the field of rocket science, Lily said that she would one day like to work as an astronaut, or with outer space in some form or fashion. The stars still are her favorite thing about the cosmos above.

Following the presentation, students were treated to popsicles before resuming usual classroom activities.