Umiujaq to outer space: Nunavik students chat with astronaut

It's pretty difficult to sleep in space and it takes a long time to become an astronaut.

Those are a couple of the lessons learned by students at Kiluutaq School in Umiujaq, Que., through a live conversation they had with Kimiya Yui, a Japanese astronaut currently in space. 

Grade 7 student Gerry Patterson got to ask a few questions to Yui during the 10-minute conversation, which was broadcast in the school's gymnasium.  

"Are dreams different in space? Why did you want to become an astronaut and was it difficult to achieve?"  

The short answer to the last question is "Yes."

After learning that it took Yui 30 years of training and preparation to become an astronaut, Patterson decided he'll pass on that career. But he still thought it was "pretty cool" speaking with an astronaut in space, and that's a successful outcome in the eyes of Matthew Bryan, the school's principal.

Bryan said the goal of the project was to get students excited about coming to school. 

"I believe it really did that," he said. "It sparked a lot of interest."

Bryan said the sound quality of the short call wasn't great, but it still captivated the students. 

"You could drop a pin in the gymnasium and hear it because everyone was very attentive." 

The project was organized by the Canadian Space Agency.