UPPER ST. CLAIR, Pa. -- From 216 miles above the earth, some students in Upper St. Clair Friday morning made an out-of-this-world contact.

They were actually talking to astronaut Mike Fincke on the space station.

With the help of amateur radio operators, and a transmitter and receiver set up in front of the school, there was a nine-minute window of opportunity. And when that opportunity came, contact was made.

The students got to ask questions of the local astronaut from Emsworth.

Luke Walker asked, "Hi, this is Luke. What do the stars look like from orbit and do they twinkle? Over."

Fincke said, "Hi, Luke. That's good question. The stars do not twinkle because twinkling is caused by defraction in atmosphere. But, on other hand, I don't see the stars as much as I thought would because the earth below is so bright -- even at night -- it's pretty bright."

Ten years ago, teacher Pat Palazzolo set up a similar transmission with astronauts aboard the Shuttle Discovery.

She said two of the participating students now work for NASA, and one for the White House.