NASA Quest > Aerospace Team Online

Aero Team Online QuestChat

Date: June 28, 2001

Featuring: Don Mendoza

Thur Jun 28 Expert profile at: http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/mendoza

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 3 - 16:05:26 ]
Welcome to the Centennial of Flight Webcast with Jack Boyd! Questions in the chatroom will be answered by Don Mendoza. Please read the expert's profiles prior to the event -- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/events/centennial/

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 5 - 16:07:00 ]
You may go ahead and place questions in the chatroom now to be answered during the webcast. PLEASE don't post test messages or repeats -- though you may not see your question, it is in the chatroom.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 6 - 13:41:13 ]
Welcome to all our educators!!

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 7 - 13:59:43 ]
Welcome Don Mendoza!

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 11 - 14:03:01 ]
For a really cool full-color trading card on Jack Boyd that you can print up and give to your students, please see: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/chats/cards/CC-boydj.pdf

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 12 - 14:09:03 ]
RE: [Christina] Donald, what are some important contributions NASA has made in the history of flight?
Ames has been in existence for 60 years and has a long rich history of contributions but several that stand out are: 1. Design and construction of several wind tunnels that have impacted every major aircraft design in the US. 2. The development of the "blunt body" concept which enabled vehicles to safely re-enter the atmosphere. 3. The navigation system that enabled the Apollo missions to successfully land on the moon and return to earth. 4. The development of the Pioneer spacecraft which was the first man made object to leave the Solar System.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 14 - 14:12:51 ]
RE: [ChugachTeam] Donald, how do you go about convincing people that safety is not an obstacle?
NASA is about exploration and therefore involves risk or danger. If people are informed about these dangers and how they might impact the successful completion of their mission, then they usually began to see safety as an asset.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 16 - 14:15:17 ]
RE: [Greg] Donald: Do you get a lot of resistance from scientists when you try to employ safety measures?
Sometimes scientists do show resistance to safety, but after showing them all the unnecessary failures due to the lack of safety they usually come around.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 18 - 14:21:05 ]
If you are interested in finding out more about NASA Quest and our calendar of events, we can add you to our listserv. Send your email address (it will not be placed in the main room).

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 19 - 14:21:32 ]
RE: [Terri] Donald: What kind of influence (negative/positive)did your teachers (K-12) have on your career choice?
As with all people, I have had a variety of K-12 teachers -- some good, some not so good. In general, I think the teachers who were the most open minded and turned on by what they were teaching influenced greatly, but indirectly. This is so because I saw people who were radiating and happy because they had knowledge, and the curiosity to ask questions. I wanted to have this, too.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 21 - 14:26:09 ]
RE: [Sandi] What type of research does a safety engineer do?
Most of the research safety engineers conduct is based on statistics because we try to foresee hazards, so that they can be eliminated prior to actually building or operating something. Therefore, we use lots of existing accident data and try to model it using the properties of the system under consideration. Also, we conduct lots of energy propagation analysis. This is so that if something does go wrong (releases energy), then people and other resources will still be protected.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 23 - 14:27:42 ]
RE: [Linda] How many years of school did you have to go to?
I have had 20 years of formal education but more outside the classroom.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 25 - 14:30:43 ]
RE: [Randy] Donald, What changed, as far as safety, after the Challenger accident.? It seems to take a catastrophe for people to become aware of the importance of safe.
After Challenger, much changed in the way of procedures, requirements, reviews, testing and operations. However, the most significant change was with peoples attitudes, and with the NASA culture in general.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 28 - 14:35:20 ]
RE: [Larry] Donald, how do you decide what is "acceptable" or "necessary" risk?
This may be the most difficult aspect of the job because so many different perspectives and requirements come into play. There are general guidelines that are used and they are based on a benefit to expected loss ratio. This ratio differs depending on the undertaking. NASA has the following priorities: The Public, The Flight Crews, The Work Force, and high value resources.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 29 - 14:41:33 ]
RE: [Margie] How has the knowledge that you received from your experiences for NASA impacted your local community of Yoaquim Valley farmers.
I think the most significant impact has been an awareness that the universe extends beyond the Valley, and that it is out there for all to know. In terms of specific impacts, I believe the use of basic safety practices has protected many workers that would otherwise be in unnecessary danger.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 30 - 14:49:09 ]
RE: [Dawna/HAROLD] WHAT WAS YOUR LATEST PROJECT THAT YOU HAD SAFETY CONCERNS OVER ?????? AND WERE YOU ABLE TO OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE
The last major program I was involved with was the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), a 747 with a large telescope mounted in its side. One of the issues concerned a potential asphyxiation hazard in a certain cavity of the aircraft. The issue was resolved by altering the design, incorporating oxygen monitors and developing appropriate procedures. The resulting hazard has been minimized and its potential for occurring is almost zero.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 18 - 14:21:05 ]
I want to thank our NEW participants and Don for sharing his expertise and time with us today!!

[ Greg - 31 - 14:49:58 ]
Donald: Good-bye! It was interesting.

			Aero Team Online QuestChat Date: June 28, 2001 Featuring: Don Mendoza Thur Jun 28 Expert profile at: http://quest.nasa.gov/aero/mendoza [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 3 - 16:05:26 ] Welcome to the Centennial of Flight Webcast with Jack Boyd! Questions in the chatroom will be answered by Don Mendoza. Please read the expert's profiles prior to the event -- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/events/centennial/ [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 5 - 16:07:00 ] You may go ahead and place questions in the chatroom now to be answered during the webcast. PLEASE don't post test messages or repeats -- though you may not see your question, it is in the chatroom. [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 6 - 13:41:13 ] Welcome to all our educators!! [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 7 - 13:59:43 ] Welcome Don Mendoza! [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 11 - 14:03:01 ] For a really cool full-color trading card on Jack Boyd that you can print up and give to your students, please see: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/chats/cards/CC-boydj.pdf [ DonMendoza/ARC - 12 - 14:09:03 ] RE: [Christina] Donald, what are some important contributions NASA has made in the history of flight? Ames has been in existence for 60 years and has a long rich history of contributions but several that stand out are: 1. Design and construction of several wind tunnels that have impacted every major aircraft design in the US. 2. The development of the "blunt body" concept which enabled vehicles to safely re-enter the atmosphere. 3. The navigation system that enabled the Apollo missions to successfully land on the moon and return to earth. 4. The development of the Pioneer spacecraft which was the first man made object to leave the Solar System. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 14 - 14:12:51 ] RE: [ChugachTeam] Donald, how do you go about convincing people that safety is not an obstacle? NASA is about exploration and therefore involves risk or danger. If people are informed about these dangers and how they might impact the successful completion of their mission, then they usually began to see safety as an asset. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 16 - 14:15:17 ] RE: [Greg] Donald: Do you get a lot of resistance from scientists when you try to employ safety measures? Sometimes scientists do show resistance to safety, but after showing them all the unnecessary failures due to the lack of safety they usually come around. [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 18 - 14:21:05 ] If you are interested in finding out more about NASA Quest and our calendar of events, we can add you to our listserv. Send your email address (it will not be placed in the main room). [ DonMendoza/ARC - 19 - 14:21:32 ] RE: [Terri] Donald: What kind of influence (negative/positive)did your teachers (K-12) have on your career choice? As with all people, I have had a variety of K-12 teachers -- some good, some not so good. In general, I think the teachers who were the most open minded and turned on by what they were teaching influenced greatly, but indirectly. This is so because I saw people who were radiating and happy because they had knowledge, and the curiosity to ask questions. I wanted to have this, too. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 21 - 14:26:09 ] RE: [Sandi] What type of research does a safety engineer do? Most of the research safety engineers conduct is based on statistics because we try to foresee hazards, so that they can be eliminated prior to actually building or operating something. Therefore, we use lots of existing accident data and try to model it using the properties of the system under consideration. Also, we conduct lots of energy propagation analysis. This is so that if something does go wrong (releases energy), then people and other resources will still be protected. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 23 - 14:27:42 ] RE: [Linda] How many years of school did you have to go to? I have had 20 years of formal education but more outside the classroom. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 25 - 14:30:43 ] RE: [Randy] Donald, What changed, as far as safety, after the Challenger accident.? It seems to take a catastrophe for people to become aware of the importance of safe. After Challenger, much changed in the way of procedures, requirements, reviews, testing and operations. However, the most significant change was with peoples attitudes, and with the NASA culture in general. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 28 - 14:35:20 ] RE: [Larry] Donald, how do you decide what is "acceptable" or "necessary" risk? This may be the most difficult aspect of the job because so many different perspectives and requirements come into play. There are general guidelines that are used and they are based on a benefit to expected loss ratio. This ratio differs depending on the undertaking. NASA has the following priorities: The Public, The Flight Crews, The Work Force, and high value resources. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 29 - 14:41:33 ] RE: [Margie] How has the knowledge that you received from your experiences for NASA impacted your local community of Yoaquim Valley farmers. I think the most significant impact has been an awareness that the universe extends beyond the Valley, and that it is out there for all to know. In terms of specific impacts, I believe the use of basic safety practices has protected many workers that would otherwise be in unnecessary danger. [ DonMendoza/ARC - 30 - 14:49:09 ] RE: [Dawna/HAROLD] WHAT WAS YOUR LATEST PROJECT THAT YOU HAD SAFETY CONCERNS OVER ?????? AND WERE YOU ABLE TO OVERCOME THIS CHALLENGE The last major program I was involved with was the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), a 747 with a large telescope mounted in its side. One of the issues concerned a potential asphyxiation hazard in a certain cavity of the aircraft. The issue was resolved by altering the design, incorporating oxygen monitors and developing appropriate procedures. The resulting hazard has been minimized and its potential for occurring is almost zero. [ Lori/NASAChatHost - 18 - 14:21:05 ] I want to thank our NEW participants and Don for sharing his expertise and time with us today!! [ Greg - 31 - 14:49:58 ] Donald: Good-bye! It was interesting.