Expedition 56

Background

In early 2018, ASHA promoted the ASHA Expedition 56 campaign, which was centered around a mission to the International Space Station. The campaign promoted Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts as part of intervention as well as engaging in interprofessional practice with colleagues, like science and math teachers.

Expedition 56 was led by astronaut Andrew Feustel, the spouse of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist, Indira Bhatnagar Feustel. While in space the crew promoted the importance of communication skills and took ASHA’s Annie Award interstellar! The Expedition 56 crew returned home in the fall of 2018. During the 2018 ASHA Convention, ASHA awarded Indira and Andrew the Stars of Communication ASHA Media Award, which recognizes outstanding efforts in highlighting the importance of communication in the context of space exploration.

ASHA's School Services team developed sample space-related activities for preschool through high school students that relate to phases of the space mission and return to Earth. Each activity addresses a language domain (i.e., listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and is paired with a sample state standard. Each standard is accompanied by a set of sample foundational skills students need to achieve the standard. Sample activities pertaining to the astronauts return home are provided below: