Chinese Students Space Out: Astronaut Teaches Live Lesson from 300 Kilometers Above Earth

According to a report last year from Beijing Normal University, women teachers constitute more than 74 percent of the faculty in Beijing’s primary and secondary schools. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that China’s “First teacher in space” is Wang Yaping, the only female astronaut on board the Shenzhou 10 and the second woman China has sent into space.

This morning's lecture, which was streamed live into classrooms across China and broadcasted on CCTV, was intended to teach primary and middle school students about physics. Wang also demonstrated the discussed theory while lecturing in orbit and interacted with the students and teachers gathered in Beijing.

People’s Daily also reports that “Compared with the lesson given by US astronaut Barbara Morgan in 2007, the lesson given by (Wang) in space will last longer and involve experiments that are more difficult to accomplish.”

Highlights include a demonstration of zero gravity:

And an explanation of how to tell if you have gained or lost weight in space:

An English summary and more photos available here.

You can watch the full lesson here.