Saturday was out of this world for about a dozen Girl Guides in Halifax.

They got the chance to speak to Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk, who was in the International Space Station, orbiting somewhere over Alaska.

Thirsk, who's on his second space mission, captivated the hushed audience at the public library in Bayers Lake as he carefully answered each question — everything from whether he can see pollution on Earth to how he bathes.

"He took time to learn our names, say hi to us and talk actually to us and I think it was really cool," said 13-year-old Taylor Thibault.

Guide leader Barbara Kent said the experience brought the concept of space travel, and other issues, down to earth for the girls.

"They're up there, we can't see them [but] we know they're there — they're like a lot of things we know [are] there. It's like pollution, there, but we can't always see it," she said.

"But to ask an astronaut that's up there looking down on Earth, this tiny little Earth, 'Can you see evidence of pollution on Earth from space?' and he said, 'Yes I can' — now that's pretty awesome."

The 10-minute chat with the International Space Station took months of planning.

But Tracy McNaughton, another Guide leader, thinks it was well worth the effort. She hopes the experience will encourage some the girls to pursue a career in science.

"This is a great exposure and hopefully it will give them that little bit of excitement that maybe will lead in that direction," she said.

The conversation took place over a telephone line linked to ham radio operators in California, who contacted the space station.