Chat Room Transcript - Chat Session, April 1, 2008 @ 6:00 pm

<Jason Smith - NASA> Hi everyone.

<Brian Siela> Hello!

<Jason Smith - NASA> I will start with just a word or two about
   myself.

<Jason Smith - NASA> I work here at NASA in the Mission control
   center.

<Jason Smith - NASA> I work in the Flight Dynamics area.

<Jason Smith - NASA> This means that my group is responsible for
   planning where the shuttle is going.

<Jason Smith - NASA> We plan all the burns to make sure that the
   shuttle gets to dock with the space station.

<Jason Smith - NASA> And we plan how it will get back to the
   ground safely.

<Jason Smith - NASA> On a personal note, I grew up in NJ, went to
   school at BYU and MIT and have 3 daughters.

<Jason Smith - NASA> If you have any questions, I will try my best
   to answer them. I appologize if I am slow.

<Marah Perez> hi!

<Tehreem Bilal> what goes into planning burns?

<Jason Smith - NASA> First we have to know where the shuttle is.

<Jason Smith - NASA> We do this using tracking stations located
   around the world, as well as some satellites in orbit.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Then, we have computer programs which
   help us figure out where we need to go.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Basically, we tell it where we want to be and
   when we want to be there, and the computer crunches the numbers
   to tell us how to get there.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Other questions?

<Larry Hoelscher> How does a burn actually propel the shuttle in
   space?

<Jason Smith - NASA> In order to change your location in orbit, you
   must change your velocity.

<Jason Smith - NASA> This is done using thrusters. These are
   basically jet engines. They use very explosive chemicals which,
   when combined create a controlled explosion.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The hot gases are forced through a jet. One
   of Newton's laws is that for each action there is an opposite
   reaction.

<Jason Smith - NASA> So, when the gas come out the back of the
   jet, the shuttle is propelled forward.

<Tehreem Bilal> what kind of chemicals are used?

<Jason Smith - NASA> It is actually very similar to rockets on the
   ground.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Monomethal hydrozene and nitrogene
   tetroxhyde - those spellings are a guess :)

<Larry Hoelscher> But on ground there air particles to push against,
   isn't space almost a vacuum?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Actually, I think it is hydrazene

<Jason Smith - NASA> Larry, space is a vacuum. But objects in orbit
   are simply in free fall around the Earth.

<Marah Perez> space still has air particles which helps the push,
   right?
Marah Perez> space still has air particles which helps the push,
   right?

<Jason Smith - NASA> If you ever see astronauts in video from
   space, when they push off the wall with their arms, they float the
   opposite direction.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The same is true in a larger sense for the
   whole vehicle. When a jet fires one direction, the vehicle moves the
   other direction.

<Tehreem Bilal> is there a reason those particular chemicals are
   used? is the reaction between them more powerful than between
   other combinations of chemicals?

<Marah Perez> so if you want to move the vehicle left, you have to
   move it right? is that what your saying Mr. Smith?

<Jason Smith - NASA> The main reason is that those particular
   chemicals will combust simply by coming into contact with each
   other.

<Jason Smith - NASA> So, the only thing the system has to do is
   open a valve. In your car, you need fuel and oxygen, but you also
   need a spark plug to start the explosion inside the engine.

<Jason Smith - NASA> On the shuttle, we want to keep things very
   simple so that we have as little chance as possible for things to
   break.

<Tehreem Bilal> dont other chemicals react the same way?

<Jason Smith - NASA> I will stop here by saying that I am not a
   propellant expert. There are other considerations such as weight,
   and specific impulse, but I will not pretend to be an expert

<Marah Perez> what kind of schooling did you have to have to be
   where you are now Mr. Smith?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Marah - yes, to move the vehicle to the left,
   we would have to push on the right side of the vehicle. We would
   do this by firing jets on the right side.

<Marah Perez> kool

<Larry Hoelscher> Is there a proper angle for re-entry, or does it
   depend on the correlation of the shuttle to the earth?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Marah - The minimum requirement is a four
   year degree in a science or engineering discipline.

<Jason Smith - NASA> I personally studied mechanical engineering
   as an undergraduate. I also did a masters degree in aeronautics and
   astronautics.

<Jason Smith - NASA> However, the people I work with in Mission
   Control have a wide variety of engineering and science
   backgrounds, so it really depends on your interests.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Larry - Good question. As you suspect, the
   angle at reentry is very important.

<Jason Smith - NASA> If it is too steep, heat will build up too quickly
   and the shuttle could burn up.

<Jason Smith - NASA> If it is too shallow, the shuttle could skip out
   of the atmosphere and would not re-enter. Or would re-enter in the
   wrong location.

<Marah Perez> Do you also have to have any experience to go along
   with your degrees?

<Jason Smith - NASA> The actual angle is dependent on the mission
   and it calculated using computers.

<Larry Hoelscher> Thanks

<Jason Smith - NASA> Marah - I think if you are asking about prior
   full-time work experience, it is not technically a requirement, but it
   could help.

<Tehreem Bilal> how long have you been working with nasa?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Also, many people start out working as
   co-ops while they are still in college.

<Marah Perez> ok..kool!

<Jason Smith - NASA> Although I did not do this, I know a lot of
   people who did. I am sure you will have a chance to learn more
   about the co-op program this summer.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Tehreem - I have been here for four years.

<Marah Perez> Great!

<Jason Smith - NASA> Other questions. Did I miss someone's
   question above?

<Tehreem Bilal> what else do you as flight control?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Good question. I have basically three parts to
   my job.

<Jason Smith - NASA> First, when the shuttle is actually flying, we
   have to support in Mission Control 24/7.

<Jason Smith - NASA> We do this basically as shift work.

<Jason Smith - NASA> So, we have 3 teams of people who work 8
   hours each. The bad news is that this means I may have to work
   during the night.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The good news is, it is a lot of fun to see the
   shuttle fly. They do some really amazing things in space, particularly
   now as they are assembling the space station.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The second part of my job is simulations.

<Jason Smith - NASA> This happens when the shuttle is not flying.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Simulations are like practice.

<Marah Perez> like under water simulation! lol

<Jason Smith - NASA> We sit in the control center, and folks in
   other rooms use computers to pretend that the shuttle is flying.

<Jason Smith - NASA> They can also pretend that things break. The
   flight control team then has to respond to fix the problem

<Marah Perez> what kind of schooling did you have to have to be
   where you are now Mr. Smith?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Marah - yes, to move the vehicle to the left,
   we would have to push on the right side of the vehicle. We would
   do this by firing jets on the right side.

<Marah Perez> kool

<Larry Hoelscher> Is there a proper angle for re-entry, or does it
   depend on the correlation of the shuttle to the earth?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Marah - The minimum requirement is a four
   year degree in a science or engineering discipline.

<Jason Smith - NASA> I personally studied mechanical engineering
   as an undergraduate. I also did a masters degree in aeronautics and
   astronautics.

<Jason Smith - NASA> However, the people I work with in Mission
   Control have a wide variety of engineering and science
   backgrounds, so it really depends on your interests.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Larry - Good question. As you suspect, the
   angle at reentry is very important.

<Jason Smith - NASA> If it is too steep, heat will build up too quickly
   and the shuttle could burn up.

<Jason Smith - NASA> If it is too shallow, the shuttle could skip out
   of the atmosphere and would not re-enter. Or would re-enter in the
   wrong location.

<Marah Perez> Do you also have to have any experience to go along
   with your degrees?

<Jason Smith - NASA> The actual angle is dependent on the mission
   and it calculated using computers.

<Larry Hoelscher> Thanks

<Jason Smith - NASA> Marah - I think if you are asking about prior
   full-time work experience, it is not technically a requirement, but it
   could help.

<Tehreem Bilal> how long have you been working with nasa?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Also, many people start out working as
   co-ops while they are still in college.

<Marah Perez> ok..kool!

<Jason Smith - NASA> Although I did not do this, I know a lot of
   people who did. I am sure you will have a chance to learn more
   about the co-op program this summer.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Tehreem - I have been here for four years.

<Marah Perez> Great!

<Jason Smith - NASA> Other questions. Did I miss someone's
   question above?

<Tehreem Bilal> what else do you as flight control?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Good question. I have basically three parts to
   my job.

<Jason Smith - NASA> First, when the shuttle is actually flying, we
   have to support in Mission Control 24/7.

<Jason Smith - NASA> We do this basically as shift work.

<Jason Smith - NASA> So, we have 3 teams of people who work 8
   hours each. The bad news is that this means I may have to work
   during the night.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The good news is, it is a lot of fun to see the
   shuttle fly. They do some really amazing things in space, particularly
   now as they are assembling the space station.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The second part of my job is simulations.

<Jason Smith - NASA> This happens when the shuttle is not flying.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Simulations are like practice.

<Marah Perez> like under water simulation! lol

<Jason Smith - NASA> We sit in the control center, and folks in
   other rooms use computers to pretend that the shuttle is flying.

<Jason Smith - NASA> They can also pretend that things break. The
   flight control team then has to respond to fix the problem

<Marah Perez> That must be funny to see..that reminds me of owen
   wilson goes into the control room on Armagedon

<Tehreem Bilal> what kind of problems do you come across?

<Jason Smith - NASA> These simulations can be very difficult, as
   the people training us work hard to make us think.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The good news is that we can learn a lot
   during these events, but the bad news is that they can be very
   stressful.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The third part of my job is office work.

<Jason Smith - NASA> This is when we do not have a mission or a
   simulation that is going on.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Office work includes glamourous things like
   answering email, attending meetings, and writing reports.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The good news is that every once in a while,
   I can do other fun stuff, like chatting with all of you.

<Tehreem Bilal> o-la-la! :)

<Marah Perez> lol!

<Jason Smith - NASA> Tehreem - the list is endless.

<Jason Smith - NASA> There can be very minor trivial problems, like
   a sensor that fails.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Or there can be very serious problems, like a
   fire or loss of cabin pressure.

<Jason Smith - NASA> The point is to train the team to work through
   whatever possible thing could happen during a real mission.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Fortunately, during most missions, nothing
   major goes wrong.

<Jason Smith - NASA> But every once in a while the flight
   controllers are asked to work a big problem, and they need to be
   prepared if that time comes.

<Tehreem Bilal> cool

<Jason Smith - NASA> Anything else?

<Tehreem Bilal> even with the boring stuff, do you enjoy what you
   do?

<Jason Smith - NASA> Tehreem - I consider myself very lucky in
   that I can honestly say that I love my job.

<Jason Smith - NASA> Unfortunately, many people are not so lucky.

<Marah Perez> Your luck is similar to our luck sir...

<Tehreem Bilal> yup

<Jason Smith - NASA> I am a big believer that you must love what
   you do. No amount of money can compensate for not liking your
   job.

<Marah Perez> If you do something you don't enjoy, you will waste
   your life
> We have about 8 minutes left on this session. Any last questions?

<Tehreem Bilal> i'm good. thanks so much for your time Mr. Smith!

<Marah Perez> Thanks Muchos!
> Our next guest should be here in just a minute. Does anyone have
   any questions about the program?

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