Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will host the first Facebook Live chat with astronauts on the International Space Station from Facebook HQ on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 9:55am PT. The live stream links people on Earth with NASA astronauts Tim Kopra, Jeff Williams, and Tim Peake. Viewers can post questions in the comments on Facebook. The goal is to bring space closer to the public through a simple live video Q and A.
Why this live chat matters
This is the first Facebook Live with astronauts on the ISS, turning a social feed into a direct line to space. It shows how live video can connect a global audience with a place that orbits Earth every 90 minutes.
For NASA, this is outreach at scale. As of early 2016, Facebook reached about 1.65 billion monthly users, which gives this event a huge potential audience. Live questions from students, space fans, and first time viewers can spark interest in science and spaceflight.
It also highlights how everyday tools can share complex work. Astronauts can talk about life in microgravity, science tests, and daily routines in a way that feels close and clear to viewers.
Time, place, and where to watch
The stream is set for Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at 9:55am PT, live from Facebook HQ to the ISS. The live video will run on Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook Page and on NASA’s Facebook Page. Viewers can watch on desktop or mobile without any extra app.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, June 1, 2016 |
| Start time | 9:55am PT • 12:55pm ET • 4:55pm UTC |
| Host | Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook HQ |
| Guests | Tim Kopra, Jeff Williams, Tim Peake on the ISS |
| Where to watch | Mark Zuckerberg Facebook Page and NASA Facebook Page |
| Format | Live video Q and A with audience comments |
If you miss the start, you can join mid stream. Replays are usually available on the same Facebook posts after the event ends.
How to ask the astronauts your question
You can send your question in the comments on the Facebook posts for the live stream. Keep it short and clear so it can be picked quickly during the Q and A.
- Go to Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook Page or NASA’s Facebook Page before the start time.
- Find the live post and type your question in the comments with your name and city.
- Stay on the stream and watch for answers as the host reads selected questions.
Questions about daily life in space, science work on the station, and how the crew trains often get the best answers. Avoid long multi part questions. If many people ask the same thing, the host may combine them into one.
Who will be on the call from the space station
The call features Tim Kopra, Jeff Williams, and Tim Peake speaking live from the orbiting lab. They are part of an Expedition crew that lives and works about 400 kilometers above Earth.
Tim Kopra is a NASA astronaut and engineer who has served as a space station commander. Jeff Williams is a NASA astronaut with multiple long stays on the ISS. Tim Peake is a European Space Agency astronaut and former test pilot from the United Kingdom.
Together they run science tests on topics like human health, fluid physics, and Earth views. They also handle station upkeep, spacewalk prep, and cargo work with visiting ships.
What to expect during the stream
The host will open with a short hello and then move into audience questions. The crew will answer in turns while floating in view of station cameras.
You may hear short audio delays due to the space to ground link. The ISS orbits Earth at about 28,000 kilometers per hour, so signal paths can shift as ground stations hand over the link.
If the video drops for a moment, stay on the page and it will usually resume on its own. Rewatch clips after the event to catch any answers you missed.
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