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APEX – Some students in Wake County got to learn about life in space from an astronaut in orbit.

Kids at Salem Elementary connected to the International Space Station through an amateur radio Wednesday.

They asked astronaut Don Pettit about his work and what it's like on board the space station. The school used the conversation to create a whole day of space-related lessons. Kids even got to design their own mission patch.

Some were surprised by his answers.

"I didn't expect them to wear, for a month at a time, their own clothes for like a month at a time, that's a little strange,” said Matthew Rice, 5th grader

"He was orbiting right over Australia, he was on the other side of the world and actually we are actually talking to him,” said principal Debbie Edwards. “It was just amazing. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We made history today at Salem Elementary, it was wonderful."

Salem was one of just five schools in the country chosen for the space station call.