Chat Room Transcript - Chat Session, March 31, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

Nina Patel in our expert from NASA. She can tell you about herself and
   then you may ask her questions.

<Noni Thomas> alright

<Nina Patel> Hi Guys, - Hope everyone is doing well :)
> Remember there are several of you and she will answer as she can.

<Brian Siela> Mrs. Cole, do you know about the new ISS robot?

<Nina Patel> I work at Johnson Space Center working on Flight Software

<Nina Patel> currently working on Orion Spacecraft Design work

<Aaron Hellman> wow

<Brian Siela> Nice

<Callie Hill> sounds like fun!

<Nina Patel> Yes the ISS Robot is called Dexter

<Nina Patel> they just launched it during the last mission

<Brian Siela> knew it

<Nina Patel> it is a small robotic arm that goes at the end of the RMS
   which is Remote Manipulator System

<Brian Siela> oh

<Nina Patel> and helps during ISS Space walks

<Brian Siela> Who designed it?

<Nina Patel> Canadians built it for us

<Aaron Hellman> :D

<Brian Siela> Go Canada

<Noni Thomas> so what so did you attend

<Nina Patel> So - you all must be aware that NASA is working on
   Constellation Program

<Brian Siela> Mrs. Cole, what is your average day like

<Brian Siela> ?

<Nina Patel> I went to Pennsyvania State University

<Nina Patel> and did my Bachelors in Computer Science
> Nina were you also in the co-op program at JSC?

<Nina Patel> I joined NASA 3 yrs ago as a fulltime employee.

<Brian Siela> :O

<Nina Patel> Yes, I was part NASA Johnson Space Center's Coop
   Program

<Nina Patel> and did 4 Co-op Rotations while in University

<Brian Siela> Did you like the co-op program?

<Nina Patel> it delayed my graduation for 1 yr but opened door to NASA
   and working for some very neat projects

<Nina Patel> in flight software, robotics etc

and working for some very neat projects

<Nina Patel> in flight software, robotics etc

<Brian Siela> Do your work on the flight simulaters?

<Nina Patel> definately, Coop program is very much recommended and is
   a way to get your foot in NASA

<Noni Thomas> do u regret doing the co-op program because it delayed
   your graduation

<Callie Hill> i love robotics! what kind of things do you actually work on
   with the robots?

<Nina Patel> I did not work with Flight Simulators

<Nina Patel> One of the Coop projects i worked on was for this Dexter
   robot

<Nina Patel> it was a research project for Augmented Reality

<Brian Siela> I liked how they used the hammer to install it. :)

<Nina Patel> where you overlay Virtual Graphics on top of the real world

<Devon Rieth> What got you interested in Computer Science and Flight
   Software?

<Nina Patel> and using Tracking software can track the motion on the
   camera

<Nina Patel> attached at the end fo the robotic arm taht can help
   astronauts during robotic operations

<Nina Patel> I developed interest in computers while i was in high school

<Nina Patel> and took programming class

<Aaron Hellman> So you pretty much write the code that enables the
   astronauts to use the hardware easily?

<Nina Patel> and like solving puzzles and math

<Brian Siela> Was it difficult to learn?

<Devon Rieth> What language(s) did you learn?

<Nina Patel> so computer science was a way to pursue taht :)

<Katie Jaycox> How heavily do you use Java?

<Nina Patel> at work i do not use JAVA much

<Noni Thomas> what classes would you suppose we take in high school
   to pursue the career in which you are in?

<Katie Jaycox> yay! :)

<Nina Patel> but while in uinversity i did lots of java programming for
   web appilcations

<Nina Patel> i learnt C, C++, Java, Prologue, Lisp

<Nina Patel> It is not difficult to learn - usually you need to know the
   Fundamentals

<Katie Jaycox> I haven't heard of Lisp? I'm taking a course for Java right
   now and my teacher is terrible...

<Nina Patel> and if you get the basics and fundamentals down then each
   language is preety much the same with some difference

<Nina Patel> as one of more powerful than other depending on what you
   are designing

<Nina Patel> yes getting good programming teacher is important

<Nina Patel> especially if you are starting out and that is always goign to
   be a challenge

<Jason Lingle> Which language is used most at NASA?

<Nina Patel> dont let that drive you away from your interest thoough

<Nina Patel> C

<Nina Patel> and C++

<Nina Patel> so what all are you interested in

<Nina Patel> ?

<Nina Patel> pursuing?

<Nina Patel> any thoughts or still exploring?

<Callie Hill> mechanical engineering for me!

<Katie Jaycox> cool. Why those languages? What are the advantages?
   I'm actually really interested in Chemical engineering.

<Brian Siela> Aerospace engineering

<Nina Patel> thats great

<Nina Patel> each of those have applicability in NASA

<Nina Patel> thats what is so great abotu working here

<Nina Patel> i work with electrical, mechanical, aerospace, industrial

<Nina Patel> all engineers

<Nina Patel> even though i am in comptuers as we have to interact with
   each other while building a single sytem

<Aaron Hellman> a single system is? like the new arm

<Nina Patel> sure

<Nina Patel> Dextre for example

<Noni Thomas> what type of work do you do on the computers?

<Nina Patel> would need mechanical engineer, electrical engineer,
   comptuer scientists and engineers + some industrial engineer discplines

<Brian Siela> Will you be programing the computers for the moon base?

<Nina Patel> currently i am working on Orion Spacecrafts flight software
   team

<Nina Patel> on command and data handling subysstem software

<Katie Jaycox> wow!

<Nina Patel> actually the software development is done by our contractor
   force

<Nina Patel> :)

<Nina Patel> Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, United Space Alliance etc

<Nina Patel> won the Orion Spacecraft contract

<Brian Siela> Lockheed sure gets around

<Katie Jaycox> they've got the money to do it. :)

<Brian Siela> yup

<Nina Patel> we NASA oversee them and do our own inhouse software
   prototyping of those subsystem to help them during desing process

<Nina Patel> and intergration and testing phases

<Nina Patel> If you all aware of subsystems

<Brian Siela> Do you work with other programmers from around the
   world?

<Nina Patel> there are several in a space craft

<Nina Patel> sure

Aaron Hellman> so is the programming laguage in english then?

<Nina Patel> Acutally, for Orion Spacecraft they have chosen an internal
   network system

<Nina Patel> taht is developed in Vienna Austria

<Nina Patel> by a university

<Aaron Hellman> language*

<Nina Patel> and we are collaborating with them

<Brian Siela> Cool

<Nina Patel> we have some software tools

<Nina Patel> that are developed by company in UK

<Nina Patel> and i work with engineers there as well

<Nina Patel> i interact with engineers designing other subsystems within
   the space craft

<Nina Patel> for example, guidiance naviagation control, propulsion,
   power subystem, vehicle managmenet subsystem

<Devon Rieth> What's the most interesting thing you've done because of
   your job?

<Nina Patel> they all are part of Space craft's Avoinics
Nina Patel> The most interesting thing would be

<Nina Patel> writing small piece of software, certifying it for space, and
   flight it on Space Station

<Nina Patel> For my previous project - i worked on a Video Ssytem

<Katie Jaycox> Which subsystems do you work with most?

<Nina Patel> where we built the system to downlink teh high defination
   television video live from Space Station to Ground

<Nina Patel> and i was part of software team for that

<Nina Patel> Actually, i work with all the subystems equally cause
   command and data handling subysstem is teh centeral core of the whole
   space craft

<Callie Hill> what's a typical work day like for you?

<Nina Patel> typical day at work would be

<Brian Siela> Did you do programming on the Deep Impact mission?

<Nina Patel> you come in, open your email inbox which has 50 emails
   wiating for you to response

<Nina Patel> :)

<Nina Patel> half of them would be urgent, important

<Callie Hill> haha

<Nina Patel> actions

<Nina Patel> while you try to wrap your brain aroudn them - your outlook
   calender sends message saying

<Nina Patel> you have meetings coming up

<Nina Patel> you attend several meetings a day to resolve some technical
   design issues

<Nina Patel> based on the project milestone deadlines

<Nina Patel> on your free time (which you really dont have) you are
   working in the lab or yoru desktop programmign yoru subystem

<Nina Patel> or playing with some software tools

<Nina Patel> no i did not work on software for deep impact mission :)

<Nina Patel> that wuld be JPL

<Nina Patel> Usually any project at NASA

<Nina Patel> goes trhough life cycle reveiws

<Nina Patel> you usually start with SRR - which is Systems
   Requirements Review

<Nina Patel> where you define what your system is really suppose to do

<Nina Patel> very high level

<Nina Patel> then come SDR which is System Design Review where you
   draft initial design of your system based on intial requirements from
   previous review

<Nina Patel> then PDR - Preliminary Design Review

<Nina Patel> CDR - Critical Design Review

<Nina Patel> FRR - FLight Readiness Review

<Nina Patel> in between all of these reviews you do DAC - Design
   Analysis Cycles

<Nina Patel> where you are constantly working, modifying, changing
   requirements and design

<Brian Siela> Do you have to go through meetings with all these
   reviewers?

<Nina Patel> between PDR and CDR - you actually build the hardware
   and software

<Nina Patel> sure

<Nina Patel> thats what i am doing everyday right now

<Nina Patel> Orion space craft had it's PDR coming up

<Nina Patel> this eyar

<Nina Patel> Year
> What would be the time frame of these for a complete project/

<Tehreem Bilal> is this similar to design and manufacturing process?

<Nina Patel> and everyone is crunching to make sure we are ready for
   that

<Nina Patel> depends on teh project

<Nina Patel> Orion is intended for first flight by 2012

<Nina Patel> yes it is similar to design and manufacturing process

<Nina Patel> Are you all familiar with Constellation and Orion?

<Callie Hill> somewhat

<Tehreem Bilal> same here
> Could you give us some infor on them?

<Nina Patel> Constellation is basically a program similar to

<Nina Patel> Space Shuttle program or International Space Station
   Program

<Nina Patel> Just like Space shuttle has different elements to it to build up

<Nina Patel> Constellation is same way

<Nina Patel> You have CLV or ARES - which is the Crew Launch
   Vehicle

<Nina Patel> basically a Rocket :)

<Nina Patel> on top of it sits the Orion

<Nina Patel> which si Crew Exploration Vehicle

<Nina Patel> CLV carries Orion to Space

<Nina Patel> then you have CaLV - which is Cargo Launch Vehicle

<Nina Patel> which will carry LSAM - Lunar Surface Access Module
   and EDS - Earth Departure Stage

<Nina Patel> to Space

<Aaron Hellman> So does building the hardware-does that entail the
   entire structure or moe like electric boards and computer parts?

<Callie Hill> is orion going to go into orbit or land on the moon or what?

<Nina Patel> entire structure + electrical boards and comptuers parts

<Nina Patel> that go inside of the structure

<Tehreem Bilal> What about Constellation?

<Nina Patel> Orion is going to go to Orbit and Dock to the space station
   during first round

<Nina Patel> All of the above - Orion, CLV, CaLV, LSAM, EDS are
   part of Constellation Program

<Nina Patel> During the Lunar Phase - Orion will Randevous with
   LSAM and EDS

<Nina Patel> meaning Orion, LSAM and EDS will be docked to each
   Other

<Nina Patel> and EDS will be fired to take Orion and LSAM to the moon

<Nina Patel> that will happen in 2019

<Callie Hill> cool!  will anyone be on it, or is an unmanned mission?

<Nina Patel> once Orion and LSAM reaches Moon's orbit - then LSAM
   will be detached and will land on Moon

<Nina Patel> while Orion stays in Moon's orbit

<Nina Patel> yes there will be 4 astronauts

<Nina Patel> thats the plan :)

<Brian Siela> cool

<Tehreem Bilal> awesome

<Nina Patel> after LSAM lands on the moon

<Nina Patel> and mission on moon is finished - portion of LSAM will
   come back to moon's orbit

<Nina Patel> and dock back to Orion

<Nina Patel> Crew will transfer back into Orion

<Nina Patel> and come back to earth

<Katie Jaycox> bye guys, I've got to go do my homework.

<Callie Hill> how long will the entire mission take?

<Nina Patel> on in the end all returns from CLV, CaLv, LSAM, Orion,
   EDS will be just Orion
> Bye Katie, thanks.

<Nina Patel> They are working on that time line and am not exactly sure

<Nina Patel> so how did you all get interested in HAS

<Nina Patel> ?

<Tehreem Bilal> promise you wont laugh?

<Nina Patel> :)

<Callie Hill> my math teacher thought i'd be interested :]
> no laughing...

<Nina Patel> i wont laugh

<Jason Lingle> A friend told me about it. He went last year.

<Devon Rieth> I've always been interested in engineering, and HAS gave
   me chance to work towards what kind.

<Tehreem Bilal> i really, very seriously, want to be an astronaut

<Tehreem Bilal> saw posters in six different schools for has

<Nina Patel> thats a very achievable dream :)

<Brian Siela> Math teacher got an email and gave it to me

<Tehreem Bilal> in the last two years. thought it would be fubn

<Tehreem Bilal> ***fun
> Tehreem, probably many of the HAS students have that same goal.

<Tehreem Bilal> thanks!

<Tehreem Bilal> still

<Nina Patel> and HAS + Coop Program + Pursuing somethign that you
   like in engineering

<Nina Patel> is a way to get to NASA

<Nina Patel> not only way but a way

<Tehreem Bilal> sorry, i'm really defensive. most of the people i tell laugh
   at me
> You are among all the most wonderful "space nerds" that are the
   smartest and brightest and best students.

<Brian Siela> :)
> We all love being around others who share our interests and goals.

<Tehreem Bilal> thank you, but i believe "geek" would be correct word to
   use here :)

<Nina Patel> You will love coop program in taht case
> maybe, but nerds are just so much more fun.... ???

<Tehreem Bilal> :D

<Nina Patel> as it allows you to exploit yoru interest within NASA

<Devon Rieth> What is the co-op program?

<Audrey Katz> haha

<Nina Patel> and allows you to meet different astronauts, hear them
   speak, attend different NASA scientist lectures
<Brian Siela> lectures.....

<Nina Patel> and also visit and get familiar with different labs, facilities at
   NASA

<Nina Patel> Co-op program is available at NASA Johnson Space center

<Nina Patel> where you come down work for NASA for a semester
   while in university

<Nina Patel> usually NASA requires 3 mandatory coop torus

<Nina Patel> *tours
> Many of our HAS students have been in the co-op program and are
   now working at NASA

<Tehreem Bilal> what do they mostly do?
> Nina are you still a mentor for the summer program?

<Nina Patel> I have done two HAS in past

<Nina Patel> but am not doign one this summer due to work load

<Nina Patel> however, HAS is one of the best education outreach we
   have down here

<Victor Lopez> That sounds great! As I have been going around visiting
   colleges they keep telling me how competitive NASA Co-Ops are and
   how they only accept a couple students from each University.. do you
   have any thoughts on this?

<Nina Patel> and students i have had, had loved it and learnt so much
   from it

<Nina Patel> Yes -

<Nina Patel> if you are interested in NASA Co-op program - start the
   process early

<Nina Patel> be persistent

<Nina Patel> if they dont accept you first time its okay

<Nina Patel> you apply again

<Tehreem Bilal> how do i sign up for the coop program?

<Nina Patel> usaully they start looking for sophomore in university

<Nina Patel> when you attend the university - contact your university
   career office to see if they have NASA as part of their recruiters

<Nina Patel> and if they are part of it then make sure you attend the
   career fair when NASA is visiting

<Nina Patel> and make contact with them

<Nina Patel> if they are not part of recruiters tehn ask uinversity that you
   are interested in tehir coop progam and to add them

<Nina Patel> you can also contact the NASA Coop office

<Nina Patel> coop.jsc.nasa.gov/index.html
Nina Patel> and see if they come down at your university for recruiting

<Tehreem Bilal> thanks

<Nina Patel> what all universities you all are looking into?
> Be sure to check the website for requirements so you will know what
   you need to do early... GPA, etc.

<Callie Hill> texas a&m

<Victor Lopez> Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, University of
   Texas, Purdue, (And the Academies... but can't exactly do Co-Ops in
   those (:)

<Tehreem Bilal> not sure yet

<Nina Patel> sure you can

<Nina Patel> UT, Purdue has coop ties with NASA

<Nina Patel> Embry Riddle does as well
> Embry Riddle too.

<Nina Patel> i know someoen at Embry Riddle in Preston, AZ

<Nina Patel> who is currently Cooping at Dryden Space Center

<Nina Patel> in California

<Brian Siela> Is Embry Riddle a good school?

<Tehreem Bilal> where did you go and what did you major in?

<Nina Patel> Yes - i have heard great thigns about it and actually in my
   current branch we have a coop from there

<Nina Patel> he is a comptuer engineer

<Nina Patel> embry riddle in Florida

<Nina Patel> I went to Pennsylvania State University

<Nina Patel> and Majored in Computer Science

<Nina Patel> I plan to pursue my masters from Carniege Mellon
   University in Pittsburg

<Nina Patel> in Software Engineering

<Nina Patel> and Majored in Computer Science

<Nina Patel> I plan to pursue my masters from Carniege Mellon
   University in Pittsburg

<Nina Patel> in Software Engineering

<Victor Lopez> Participating Schools for JSC Co-Op --->
   http://coop.jsc.nasa.gov/schools.html

<Callie Hill> i get mail from that school all the time!

<Nina Patel> which school?

<Callie Hill> carnegie mellon

<Nina Patel> Right Victor - if the school is not listed in therea nd you plan
   to attend it

<Nina Patel> you can talk to the school and get them tied to NASA coop

<Nina Patel> many universities have done that

<Nina Patel> Carniege Mellon is an execellent school as well
> One of the greates things about working at NASA is working with so
   many incredibly intelligent people.

<Nina Patel> :)
> That is one place you won't ever get laughed at for being smart!

<Nina Patel> yes - we have over 200 students here at JSC

<Nina Patel> all part of coop program or some intern program

<Tehreem Bilal> how selective are the programs?

<Nina Patel> they are pretty selective

<Callie Hill> what's the difference between the coop and the intern
   program?
> We are just about out of time.
> Thank you so very much Nina for all the great information.

<Nina Patel> intern program - you usually just do it once over the summer

<Nina Patel> or so...

<Nina Patel> coop program - you get to come back atleast 3 times
> You all have been outstanding in this chat session!

<Nina Patel> Thank Lisa

<Nina Patel> and Thanks everyone for asking amazing questions

<Callie Hill> thanks nina!

<Nina Patel> i loved talking to you all and hopefully you found this
   information helpful

<Brian Siela> thanks!

<Tehreem Bilal> thank you nina!

<Nina Patel> Goodluck wtih HAS

<Nina Patel> and your senior year

<Brian Siela> :)

<Nina Patel> and University admissions :)

<Nina Patel> you all will do fantastics

<Brian Siela> lol

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