In this special edition of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado in a Q&A-style conversation that explores the more personal side of life in space.
They dive into questions about what astronauts can bring with them whether they have access to phones, cameras, or music and how those small comforts shape the experience of being far from Earth. The conversation also turns reflective, touching on the idea of human connection in space and whether distance changes the way astronauts feel connected to others back home.
Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.
This was originally recorded April 6th, 2026 10AM (MDT)