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National Conference in Philadelphia • March 26-29, 2025
Science From Space
Lessons Learned
Thursday, March 27 • 9:30-10:30 AM
Speaker: Richard R. Arnold II
About the Session
This session will share the experiences of former educator turned NASA astronaut, Ricky Arnold in a fun, informational, and inspiring way. The conversation will explore several aspects of Ricky’s life, especially his years as an astronaut. Ricky will share what it was like to live and work on the International Space Station including the experience of spacewalks, conducting scientific experiments, and what astronauts do in their free time. As a classroom teacher in many countries prior to his astronaut selection, Ricky will share what the transition was like to his role as astronaut and what skills he brought to the table as a classroom teacher. Lastly, Ricky will provide words of encouragement to the NSTA audience and share how critical they are to the future of science and our endeavors in space exploration.
Richard R. Arnold II
Richard R. Arnold II was selected by NASA in May 2004. Before his NASA career, the Maryland native worked in the marine sciences and as a teacher in places like Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. During STS-119, he accumulated more than 12 days in space. The objective of the mission was for the delivery of the final pair of power-generating solar array wings and a truss element for the International Space Station. While onboard, he conducted more than 12 hours of spacewalks. Arnold most recently served as served as Flight Engineer on the International Space Station for Expedition 55 and 56.