Public can watch astronaut Feustel speak live from International Space Station during Purdue commencement

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — At Friday’s (May 11) spring commencement ceremony, Purdue University will award an honorary doctorate to NASA astronaut and alumnus Andrew J. “Drew” Feustel (pronounced FOY-stull), who is stationed aboard the International Space Station.

NASA will air a portion of the commencement ceremony, including the honorary degree conferral, live on NASA TV in a broadcast beginning at approximately 7:35 p.m. at www.nasa.gov/live. Purdue President Mitch Daniels’ speech also will be part of the broadcast. All of Purdue’s six commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed in their entirety at http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/3d86e.

Feustel, a Purdue College of Science graduate (BS ’89, MS ’91), will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree via a live link to the ISS during the 7:20 p.m. Friday ceremony in the Elliott Hall of Music on Purdue’s campus. During the ceremony, Feustel will also give remarks, which are scheduled to begin at 7:56 p.m.

Ordinarily, a Purdue dean places the ceremonial hood on honorary degree recipients, but for obvious logistical reasons, an exception has been made in this case. Fellow Boilermaker and NASA astronaut Scott Tingle, who is also stationed on the ISS, will stand in and place the hood on Feustel.

A news release with more details can be found here. 

Contacts: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu 

Tim Doty, 765-496-2571, doty2@purdue.edu