WISE, Va. -- It was a special day for some Southwest Virginia students. A special event was planned for the day to get the students excited about space exploration. The astronauts called the students gathered at UVa-Wise.

For some students in Southwest Virginia, the day started with a short trip to UVa-Wise for a long distance call that only a few schools nationwide have ever received.

Just over 4,000 people, mostly students, filled the seats, aisles and concourse to learn about the space program. They were especially interested in what Billie Reed of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority said was happening at the NASA launch facility on the Virginia coast at Wallops Island. "We are going to the moon from Virginia in 2013," Reed explained.

This is the type of goal that will create excitement, especially in these students. This event is to help promote space exploration and for Reed, this is a chance to showcase Virginia's space facility. "We are the group in the Commonwealth that has developed the commercial space port at Wallops on NASA property through a relationship with NASA," Reed said.

Thursday's event was a joint effort to re-ignite interest and enthusiasm for space exploration among young people.

At events like this, certainly seeing some of the items used by people who have been to space is one of the big attractions. Those items included gloves used in space and even a suit that was worn by the second man to walk on the moon.

Jack Kennedy was a main force in putting this event together that required a large number of man hours."There have been so many volunteers at UVa-Wise, and Mountain Empire and public school systems throughout the region and partnerships with NASA," he said.

And allowing two astronauts to talk about there experience in space especially when coming from a small community as Iranian immigrant Anousheh Ansari did. "Even if you are far away from those opportunities, there is no reason you can't reach them," he said.

Two-time shuttle astronaut Leland Melvin says just keeping focus on education is important for students."Kind of back then into wanting to get to know more about the STEM areas, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math for what they love doing, which is football or video games," he said.

From astronauts to items of space history and even a live chat with the International Space Station, this event had it all to energize students.

Virginia has several space projects including Wallops Island. Here are some more facts about Virginia's Space facilities: the new crew capsule "Orion" splash tests have been at Langley the past few months.

An engine fire test is planned for April.

A rocket launch is targeted for this summer

A satellite launch to study the moon's atmosphere could take place by the end of 2013.

Watch Video: Students Talk To Space Station