NASA Quest > Aerospace Team Online

Thu May 21 13:33:15 1998

[ Bill/NASAChatHost - 0 - 11:35:34 ]
This chat with Mina Cappuccio will begin at 12:00 p.m. on May 20th. If you are unable to join us live, you may post a question here. We will try to have your question answered during the live chat. You can read the archived chat to see the dialogue and your answer. This chat is in moderation mode so you will not be able to see your question posted now although it is in our que.

[ Mina/Ames - 1 - 11:58:54 ]
RE: [Bill/NASAChatHost] This chat with Mina Cappuccio will begin at 12:00 p.m. on May 20th. If you are unable to join us live, you may post a question here. We will try to have your question answered during the live chat. You can read the archived chat to see the dialogue and your answer. This chat is in moderation mode so you will not be able to see your question posted now although it is in our que.
I am here whenever you want to get started on the chat session.

[ Sarah/Greenmeadow - 3 - 12:02:05 ]
Hi Mina are you still working on the high speed civil transport?

[ Mina/Ames - 4 - 12:02:34 ]
Hi Sarah, Yes, I am still working on the high speed civil transport.

[ Mina/Ames - 7 - 12:04:06 ]
It has to do with the way the engine is designed. They design engines to put out enough thrust to compensate the weight of the airplane.

[ Sarah/Greenmeadow - 8 - 12:06:23 ]
Does it make it hard to put into the design?

[ Mina/Ames - 9 - 12:07:55 ]
I don't think so. The engine components that determine what airplane it can be installed on are the turbine and combustor.

[ Sarah/Greenmeadow - 10 - 12:09:14 ]
What is the best thing about your job?

[ Mina/Ames - 11 - 12:10:49 ]
I like working on airplanes. Especially those that fly supersonically. I have always worked on these kinds of airplanes. When I was at Boeing I worked on military aircraft.

[ Peter-AndersonElemSchool - 12 - 12:12:05 ]
I read that you tried to be an astronaut, will you try again?

[ Mina/Ames - 13 - 12:12:56 ]
Hi Peter, I never applied to be an astronaut. I have dreams to be one some day. Maybe I will apply in the future.

[ Mina/Ames - 16 - 12:14:49 ]
RE: [Chris-AndersonElemSchool] Would you like to fly on the high spped civil transport?
Hi Chris, Yes, I would like to fly on a HSCT. I have been working on this project for 8 years. I can't wait for it to be a real airplane some day so that I can fly in it.

[ Kara-AndersonElemSchool - 17 - 12:14:53 ]
Is everyone you work with a genius at math?

[ Mina/Ames - 19 - 12:16:21 ]
RE: [Parker/HomesteadHigh] Do the airplanes make a sonic boom when the wind is turned on in a supersonic wind tunnel
Hi Parker, Yes, these types of airplanes generate a sonic boom in air but not in the wind tunnel. The shock wave generated needs to propagate in atmospheric air to create a boom.

[ Mina/Ames - 21 - 12:17:32 ]
RE: [Kara-AndersonElemSchool] Is everyone you work with a genius at math?
Kara, Most people who work in filed of engineering must be proficient in math. Not everyone is a genius at math.

[ Peter-AndersonElemSchool - 22 - 12:18:05 ]
When you do a wind tunnel test is it fun?

[ Mina/Ames - 24 - 12:19:03 ]
RE: [Sarah/Greenmeadow] Mina, I didn't really get what you meant about the turbine and combustor could you say some more about that?
Sarah, A turbine is like a car engine. It is the motor that pushes the air it captures through the engine. The combustor is the component that mixes the air with fuel to make it hot. Hot air is what is needed to make the air go faster.

[ Mina/Ames - 28 - 12:20:45 ]
I like doing wind tunnel tests. Some times they are fun when you get very interesting data and it goes successful. It is however very hard work. You work long hours and have to be on top of all issues to make sure you are getting the best data possible.

[ Sarah/Greenmeadow - 33 - 12:22:00 ]
Okay so why do the turbine and combuster say where you should put the engine?

[ Mina/Ames - 34 - 12:22:17 ]
RE: [Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool] Mina did you work on the space shuttle?
No, I do not work on the space shuttle. I would like to some day.

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 35 - 12:22:32 ]
Rchael I'm 15 are you 12 or 13

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 37 - 12:23:38 ]
Mina so what do you do

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 40 - 12:24:27 ]
Rachel what school are you from and did you do the bioblast program.

[ Rachael/Home-rachael - 41 - 12:25:01 ]
Juan will you be here for the next chat

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 43 - 12:26:10 ]
Rachael maybe i'm not sure

[ Mina/Ames - 46 - 12:27:50 ]
RE: [Sarah/Greenmeadow] Okay so why do the turbine and combuster say where you should put the engine?
The turbine and combustor do not tell you where you should put the engine on the airplane. The engine sits inside a nacelle (or enngine pod). The nacelle is what is located on the airplane using criteria that has been established in the airplane business for many years.

[ Mina/Ames - 47 - 12:28:30 ]
RE: [Chris-AndersonElemSchool] What kind of airplane would you like to work on next?
Hi Chris, I would like to work on the space shuttle replacement next. It is called the X-33.

[ Mina/Ames - 49 - 12:29:40 ]
RE: [Kara-AndersonElemSchool] Did you ever meet an astronaut?
Kara, I have never met an astronaut. We have had astronauts come to speak to us at work, but have never met one personally.

[ Mina/Ames - 53 - 12:30:42 ]
RE: [Parker/HomesteadHigh] Have they completed installing the new fan blades in the 80X120 wind tunnel yet?
Parker, I don't think the blades have been installed in the 80x120 tunnel yet.

[ Mina/Ames - 57 - 12:32:13 ]
RE: [Sarah/Greenmeadow] Do you have to work in teams, we do all the time in our class.
Sarah, Yes, we work in teams alot. The projects I am working on involve working with people from different companies like Boeing. It is very iomportant that you can work with a team of people. You can share ideas and put out a better product.

[ Mina/Ames - 60 - 12:33:09 ]
RE: [Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool] Mina, what are some of the different uses of wind tunnels?
Juan, Wind tunnels can be used for a lot of things. They have been used to test airplanes, parachutes, cars, trucks, and even bullets.

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 62 - 12:33:23 ]
Rachael I'm from Hawaii

[ Mina/Ames - 64 - 12:34:31 ]
RE: [Lorraine-Lorraine/WaipahuHighSchool] Mina, have you been making any progress in your research?
Lorraine, Yes, I have been making lots of progress. One of the projects I have been working on is developing a new test technique for determining the propulsion induced effects on an airplane like the HSCT.

[ Mina/Ames - 66 - 12:35:35 ]
RE: [Peter-AndersonElemSchool] Will the x-33 go in a wind tunnel, will it have to be a special wind tunnel?
Peter, Yes, the X-33 will be tested and has already been tested in wind tunnels. It needs to be tested over a wide speed range. There are tunnels that exist that can do this.

[ Mina/Ames - 69 - 12:36:36 ]
RE: [Rachael/Home-rachael] Hello Lorraine. To Mina : Mina i do not know what to ask you.
Rachael, How old are you and do you have any ideas of what you would like to be when get older?

[ Mina/Ames - 72 - 12:37:50 ]
RE: [Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool] Mina, are you stronger in math or science?
Juan, I feel I am stronger at math than science. When I was in college I got to skip a math class and even got to teach math to other students. I like teaching math.

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 73 - 12:37:56 ]
Who here has gone through the Bio Blast Program?

[ Rachael/Home-rachael - 74 - 12:38:31 ]
I'm 13 and i want to work at NASA .

[ Mina/Ames - 75 - 12:39:12 ]
RE: [Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool] Mina, could you briefly explain the HSCT and what it stands for?
Juan, HSCT stands for High Speed Civil Transport. The HSCT would be the replacement for the Concorde and fly passengers tot heir destinations at over 2 times the speed of sound.

[ Kara-AndersonElemSchool - 78 - 12:40:37 ]
Do you like living in California? do you miss your family?

[ Mina/Ames - 79 - 12:41:04 ]
RE: [Sarah/Greenmeadow] Is that a wind tunnel test technique?
Sarah, The wind tunnel is used as a way to check out how good the nacelles are located on the airplane. Usually airplane designers at companies like Boeing using basic techniques they have learned in the past to locate the nacelles. Then engineers will check it out using computers. Finally, someone like me, will test a model of it in the wind tunnel to verify the design works.

[ Mina/Ames - 81 - 12:41:42 ]
RE: [Lorraine-Lorraine/WaipahuHighSchool] What is a X-33?
Lorraine, The X-33 will be the space shuttle replacement.

[ Mina/Ames - 83 - 12:42:37 ]
RE: [Chris-AndersonElemSchool] Did you ever get to fly a simulator?
Chris, No, I have never gotten to fly a simulator other than computer games. I have friends that have flown in a simulator.

[ Rachael/Home-rachael - 84 - 12:42:51 ]
got to go bye see you all next chat

[ Lorraine-Lorraine/WaipahuHighSchool - 85 - 12:43:32 ]
Thanks Mina for asking my questions. I have to go now. Bye!

[ Mina/Ames - 86 - 12:43:35 ]
RE: [Rachael/Home-rachael] I'm in 7th grade and i'm in 9th grade Science in that good or not.
I think taking science at any grade level is good. There are all kinds of sciences. Try to take as many as you can so you can get a taste of what it is about.

[ Sarah/Greenmeadow - 87 - 12:44:39 ]
Thanks for explaining about nacelles and combustors and turbines. You work sounds complicated, but you are nice!

[ Mina/Ames - 88 - 12:44:48 ]
RE: [Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool] Mina, would it produce a different sonic boom from the concorde? Can there be difference at all?
Different HSCT designs produce different levels of sonic boom. It is a function of the fuselage and wing shapes, and the speed they fly at.

[ Mina/Ames - 89 - 12:46:50 ]
RE: [Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool] Mina, what are nacelles?
Nacelles are engine pods that normally sit under the wing. A nacelle is made up of 3 components: inlet, engine, and nozzle. The inlet is the part ahead of the engine that captures the air. The nozzle is the part behind the engine that re-directs the hot air to give you thrust.

[ Juan/Waipahu-Juan/WaiapahuHighSchool - 91 - 12:48:35 ]
Mina thank you for your time and answers you are explanations were easy to understand. But I have to go so bye.

[ Mina/Ames - 92 - 12:48:46 ]
RE: [Kara-AndersonElemSchool] Do you like living in California? do you miss your family?
Yes, I like leaving in California and miss my family very much. I get to see my family every year around Christmas and try to go one other time in the year. I have one nephew and another is coming in August. I miss not being to play with my current nephew, Jonpaul, very much.

[ Mina/Ames - 93 - 12:49:47 ]
RE: [Peter-AndersonElemSchool] Will they test the x-33 at Ames? then you could work on it?
I hope the X-33 will be tested at Ames soon. It currently is being tested at NASA Langley in Virginia. The tunnels at Ames that would be used are currently down. They should be up next year.

[ Mina/Ames - 94 - 12:50:39 ]
I am having fun answering all your questions. I hope you have learned a little bit about how an engine is used on an airplane.

[ Mina/Ames - 96 - 12:53:09 ]
RE: [Mina/Ames] I hope the X-33 will be tested at Ames soon. It currently is being tested at NASA Langley in Virginia. The tunnels at Ames that would be used are currently down. They should be up next year.
Here is a little tidbit about the X-33. The engines on a plane like this or any space vehicle is not an air breathing engine. It is a rocket. A rocket is an engine that stores its fuel on board and burns it differntly. It does not use air like the engine on planes that you or I might fly on.

[ Kara-AndersonElemSchool - 97 - 12:53:36 ]
Do you think it would be hard to be an engineer and a mom?

[ Mina/Ames - 98 - 12:54:23 ]
RE: [Chris-AndersonElemSchool] Do you think you would like to be a pilot?
I would like to be a pilot. I have flown with friends that are pilots. They have let me take over the controls so I can fly. It is a fun thing to do, but is a very expensive hobby.

[ Mina/Ames - 101 - 12:55:46 ]
RE: [Kara-AndersonElemSchool] Do you think it would be hard to be an engineer and a mom?
For me it would be hard. I like to travel too much. I know some women that do both. It is all up to the individual. I also think you need support from your family to be able to do both.

[ Bill/NASAChatHost - 102 - 12:56:56 ]
Please send in your last questions now, we will end the chat in 5 minuetes

[ Mina/Ames - 104 - 12:57:40 ]
RE: [Peter-AndersonElemSchool] If you test it in the wind tunnel will it have a engine on it?
There are wind tunnel models that simulate the engine as part of the test. Most of the tests I have been on do not do this. I test the nacelles on the airplane. You don't need to simulate the engine for these types of models. Usually the engines are tested on what is clled a thrust stand.

[ Mina/Ames - 107 - 12:59:24 ]
RE: [Parker/HomesteadHigh] Do you turn the engine on the the wind tunnel
Engines can be turned on in the wind tunnel. I know of a test that was done in the 40x80 tunnel here at ames that has a real engine installed on an airplane. They ran the engine.

[ Mina/Ames - 109 - 12:59:50 ]
RE: [Chris-AndersonElemSchool] I'll look for you on the HSCT
I will look for you too.

[ Mina/Ames - 110 - 13:00:32 ]
RE: [Peter-AndersonElemSchool] Is that hard to do when the engine dosen't use air?
No it is not hard. It just means the vehicle needs to carry more fuel.

[ Mina/Ames - 112 - 13:01:33 ]
RE: [Peter-AndersonElemSchool] Thanks for all the news good luck to you!
Thank you. I hope all goes well for you. Maybe you will work for NASA and we can meet.