The radio link-up was made possible through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) project.
In response to the opening question, "What did you feel when you looked at the Earth from space for the first time?" Hague said: "I realized that what I saw was something totally different from what we can see on the maps of our planet. From outer space, I couldn't see any frontiers and I felt the unity of humankind."
One of the students, Amelia Szymanek, described the experience as unforgettable. "Talking to an astronaut... I still can't believe it happened," she said. "When he uttered my name, it sent shivers down my spine."
The radio connection could not last longer than 12 minutes and it had to take place while the ISS was flying over Europe at an altitude of 412 kilometers, travelling at a speed of 8 km per second.
Expedition 72 began on September 23 and will end in the spring of next year.
In the first half of 2025, another project by the European Space Agency will offer school students the chance to communicate with Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański, who is set to participate in an upcoming ISS mission.
(mk/gs)