( CNN ) -- Ever since the dawn of the space program , more than 55 years ago , the world has been fascinated with astronauts and space exploration . So it was pretty exciting when CNN got to do its first iReport interview from outer space . Dozens of CNN viewers and readers sent in questions for NASA 's Steve Swanson , who has more than 15 years of experience on space missions and was open to answering any and all queries about life 250 miles above Earth . Answering from the International Space Station on Tuesday , Swanson took on the iReporters ' questions -- many of them from children -- with aplomb . There was a 7-year-old girl 's question about what it feels like when you blast off from Earth , an inquiry about NASA 's plans to explore reusable spacecraft , and one question that every astronaut has probably been asked before : `` What do you do in your free time in space ? '' The cutest moment had to be when 5-year-old Brockton Estrada of Brandon , Florida , told Swanson he wished he could join him up there . `` Brockton , I wish you could come up here too . You 'd love it , '' Swanson said , with his microphone floating in the air . Then he did a somersault to show the boy what you can do when you 're not limited by gravity . Swanson is commander of Expedition 40 to the International Space Station and will spend six months in space , returning to Earth in September . First Lady Michelle Obama answers iReport questions .
The iReporters interviewed astronaut Steve Irwin . He was ready to answer anything . Find out what astronauts do in their free time .