Aero Team Online QuestChat Forum

December 3 - 10, 2001

Featuring: Donald Mendoza, Lorie Richardson, Andy Hahn, Donovan Mathias, and Ken Schrock

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 3 - 15:52:36 ]
Welcome to the chat room for the Centennial of Flight: Rediscovering the Challenges of Flight Forum. This room has been set up so students can ask questions and share their insights with NASA experts Donald Mendoza, Lorie Richardson, Andy Hahn, Ken Schrock and Donovan Mathias about what life would be like without airplanes. The forum will start December 3 and run through December 10. This forum is part of a series including many events to celebrate the Centennial of Flight, December 2001. To learn more about this event, go to -- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/aero/centennial/.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 4 - 15:53:31 ]
PLEASE_NOTE: This is a moderated chat room, so nothing goes online in the main room until it passes through the moderator. The moderator will check the room several times each day, during the length of the forum, to add questions and comments.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 5 - 15:53:56 ]
You may go ahead and place questions in the chat room now to be answered during the forum, though the room won't be active until December 3. Please don't post test messages or repeats -- though you may not see your question, it is in the chat room Again, PLEASE do not repeat your questions. Enjoy the forum :-)

[ Ken - 6 - 10:47:58 ]
Hi, I'm just checking to see if any one is logged on and has some questions. I'm looking forward to chatting with you.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 7 - 10:50:37 ]
The forum room is now open. Our topic is what life would be like without airplanes, and anything else related :-)

[ AndyHahn/ARC - 11 - 13:15:08 ]
RE: [ASTRONAUT] well i wanna know is only the citizens of usa allowed to work with nasa or citizens of other countries are also allowed to work with nasa ?
There are many non-U.S. citizens who work with NASA. Not only do they perform support services, but they can work for prime contractors, like Boeing, and work for foreign governments. The International Space Station is called that precisely because NASA is partnering with other countries. There are many projects in both space and aeronautics where non-U.S. citizens can work.

[ DonovanMathias/ARC - 12 - 14:29:06 ]
RE: [Joseph] I guess my message isn't a direct question, but i'm 15 and i'm intrested in becoming an areonautic engineer. My great uncle worked for nasa..and i'm not sure how i shuld begin. I'm thinking of asking a local engineering company if i could be a "helper" and learn the ropes... but what should i do to become an engineer? Thanks
Hi Joseph- NASA, and many engineering companies, have internship programs that you may be able to participate in. Try looking at web pages of companies near you or you can call the companies directly, though it is easiest to get a position if you know someone that works there already. My first job at NASA was as an intern, and I learned a lot. Be persistent and you'll find a company that will give you a chance to work with them.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 22 - 15:04:32 ]
RE: [justinelines] So do you fly often
I fly on commercial aircraft several times a year for my job. I'm working on my pilot's license, but haven't had time or money to fly since my son was born. If I could arrange it, I would fly to work every day. :-)

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 23 - 15:09:14 ]
RE: [Frank] I was thinking about Fed Ex and UPS. They must be a major part of the air traffic. Am I right?
You are correct. Air cargo is a very important part of the industry, and does have a major influence with the airspace they fly through. The main difference for them is that they usually fly through the night -- that's how they get people packages the next day. An advantage for the flight crews and aircraft designers is cargo doesn't move much in flight like people do, and cargo won't mind a little turbulence, since it's usually well packaged.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 24 - 15:11:33 ]
RE: [Sarah/Greenmeadow] I know airplanes help us travel, How many airplanes fly each day?
I don't know how many airplanes travel worldwide every day. I do know that Dallas-Fort Worth airport handles more than 120 planes landing an hour during a rush, and they have several rushes a day! In the U.S. national airspace system there can be thousands of planes in the air at one time.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 25 - 15:12:39 ]
RE: [Joseph] I guess my message isn't a direct question, but i'm 15 and i'm intrested in becoming an areonautic engineer. My great uncle worked for nasa..and i'm not sure how i shuld begin. I'm thinking of asking a local engineering company if i could be a "helper" and learn the ropes... but what should i do to become an engineer? Thanks
Joseph: Since you are 15, I would assume that you have just begun high school. This is a great time to start thinking about the future! I have 3 pieces of advice for you: 1. Take all the college prep classes available to you and do your best to develop disciplined study habits and earn good grades. This is the foundation you will need for success regardless of the field or profession you ultimately choose. The better you do, the more options you will have in choosing colleges and professions. 2. Read, read, and read some more. Perhaps the best way to get an accurate view of what any profession is like is to read about it. Reading allows you to learn about something, become passionate about something or helps you decide to pursue something else. I would recommend books like Homer Hickam's "October Sky : A Memoir," Chuck Yeager's autobiography, Michael Collin's "Carrying the Fire," Phil Scott's "The Shoulders of Giants," which happen to be some of my personal favorites because they span the entire aeronautical spectrum from engineering, science and flying. However, there are many other good ones that are available. Movies and the web are also fantastic resources at your disposal. 3. Experience all the science you can, especially about fluid mechanics and aeronautics. Build models, fly models and fix them when they crash. This hands on experience develops the intuitive foundation that together with your academic foundation will carry you as far as you want to go. Start to develop an awareness of how nature works, watch birds and other animals. There is much to be learned and applied from nature to technology. 4. Finally, to some it all up: Prepare yourself by taking all the college prep course you can and do your best. Learn as much as you can about the profession by reading about it. Extend your classroom studies to the rest of your environment and gain some hands on experience (a job at local engineering firm would be a great way to get exposed to the profession). Continue these activities throughout college, so that when you graduate your transition into professional engineering will be successful, fun and rewarding.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 26 - 15:16:31 ]
RE: [Emma] Would we have computers without airplanes?
Emma: Yes we would have computers without airplanes, but they probably would not be as powerful. In fact many of the early driving forces behind the rapid advancements in computer technology arose from the computation requirements to model airflow about an aircraft.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 27 - 15:23:55 ]
RE: [Stella] Do you think airplanes contribute to world peace?
Emma: Absolutely! Aircraft have been a major influence in integrating the world's populations. People are able to visit and live in places they otherwise could not. Thus, in general people have become more knowledgeable, aware and accepting of others. However, in the unfortunate circumstances leading to war or disputes between countries, air power has been a deciding factor in restoring the peace.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 28 - 15:42:23 ]
RE: [Dan] What is a historical invention that made flying possible?
Dan: There are many scientific and technical breakthroughs that came from the foundation of flight. However, with respect to powered flight, one of the last developments put into practice was the concept of control to stabilize the aircraft. The Wright brothers used "wing warping" (modulating the wings shape in flight) as a way to control the aircraft's center of pressure so that the pilot could overcome the upsetting and destabilizing effects of wind gusts (a pilot was now in control of the aircraft as opposed to being a passenger dependent on the good nature of the wind). Today all modern aircraft control surfaces are based on this concept.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 29 - 15:49:32 ]
RE: [Eric] Planes are fast, How fast do they go compared to trains? and boats?
Eric: Commercial jets usually fly around 550 miles per hour (MPH), trains about 70 MPH, and boats about 40 MPH. So roughly a jet travels about 10 times the speed of trains and boats. This does not include bullet (high speed trains) or speed boats.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 30 - 15:55:59 ]
RE: [Kristina] Is it safer to fly or drive?
Kristina: It's 22 times safer flying in a commercial jet than traveling by car, according to a 1993-95 study by the U.S. National Safety Council ago. In fact, fewer people have died in commercial airplane accidents in America over the past 60 years than are killed in U.S. auto accidents in a typical three-month period.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 31 - 16:16:10 ]
RE: [Andre/MLK] Does every country have military planes?
Even the Swiss, who have been historically neutral in international wars (World War I and II), maintains a fleet of military aircraft. We've seen recently that military cargo planes can be used for food distribution, like in Afghanistan. Also, technologies developed for fighter aircraft can be used for civilian aircraft. Fly-by-wire technology, researched at NASA Dryden, and put in to production first on the Lockheed Martin F-16 Falcon fighter, was then used commercially on the Airbus A320 passenger/cargo plane. Anti-lock brakes have been used for years on aircraft, and have only in the last decade appeared on cars and motorcycles.

[ AndyHahn/ARC - 32 - 16:51:18 ]
RE: [Joseph] I guess my message isn't a direct question, but i'm 15 and I'm intrested in becoming an areonautic engineer. My great uncle worked for nasa..and I'm not sure how i shuld begin. I'm thinking of asking a local engineering company if i could be a "helper" and learn the ropes... but what should i do to become an engineer? Thanks
Hi Joseph, I know how you feel. I didn't really know how to get started either. Since engineering is a very technical business, you are going to want a firm foundation in math, science, and computer programming. You should be enrolling in advanced classes in high school to make your first year or so of college go better. Also, don't neglect your English classes, because communication (particularly written) is important too. You will eventually have to choose an undergraduate program, which is tough because so few colleges have bachelor's degree programs that are aimed specifically at aerospace engineering. One way of narrowing your choices down is to ask schools that have master's degree programs for a list of undergrad programs that tend to turn out their students. This is a good way of finding out which programs prepare students well, even if you don't plan on going for your master's degree. I think it is a good idea to be an intern at some point fairly early in your schooling because this kind of work isn't for everyone, and you will want to find out if it is right for you before your curriculum becomes too specialized. That's probably any time before your third year of college. While we have had high school students as interns, you might want to wait until after your first year of college before you try interning yourself. That way, it will be easier for your mentor to find much more realistic tasks that give you a much better introduction to the kind of work that we do. I hope that you find this helpful and good luck.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 43 - 18:40:23 ]
RE: [Sarah/Greenmeadow] I know airplanes help us travel, How many airplanes fly each day?
Approximately 60,000-80,000 aircraft fly in the U.S. National Airspace System a day. This includes all commercial aircraft. I am not sure if this figure includes private aircraft.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 44 - 18:47:08 ]
RE: [justinelines] So do you fly often
I do not have my private pilot's license, but I did take several private flying lessons and did ground school for flying. Previously, I flew in small private airplanes as the copilot quite often, but I am not currently doing so.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 45 - 18:48:25 ]
RE: [Johnny] how many aircraft are in the air at one time
Approximately 4,000-5,000 aircraft are flying in the U.S. National Airspace System at one time.

[ AndyHahn/ARC - 49 - 13:49:45 ]
RE: [Neogirl] My question a bit stupid but what do you think: How soon every man will be able to fly to the stars? (I love the stars and I'm crazy about the planets, I wish one day every man could fly to the stars without being a special trained astronaut. I just hope this will happen befor I die.)
Wow, that's a tough question. I am reminded of several famous quotes where the person making predictions has looked really foolish 50 or 100 years later. Still, I'll go out on a limb and say that unless we can figure out how to travel faster than the speed of light, then most people will not get to travel to any other star systems. This is basically because the nearest star is Proxima Centauri, and it is 4.22 Light Years away. That means that a round trip at the speed of light would take 8.44 years and we can't achieve even a small fraction of the speed of light. Let's just say that it would take a long time to get there and back. Also, you would have to take all of your air, water, food, and fuel with you. That would make the trip not only time consuming, but very expensive. So, I don't think that we'll be able to go that far within your lifetime. One bright note is that space tourism inside our own solar system could become possible. We have already seen one man pay to visit Mir space station and Richard Bransom has said that he would consider building a space hotel. So, who knows, maybe you will be able to vacation in Earth orbit and take a cruise to Mars in the future. That would be quite an adventure, too.

[ AndyHahn/ARC - 50 - 16:49:20 ]
RE: [Ellen] I think that airplanes create the need for speed. without out airplanes our world would be more relaxing.
Hi Ellen, good question! I'm not sure whether airplanes create the need for speed or vice versa. I think that history shows that whenever a faster gizmo comes on the scene, it changes everyone's expectations. On land we saw stage coaches, trains and cars alter the speed of travel. On water we saw Viking longboats, clipper ships, piston steamships, turbine steamships, and gas turbine ships each in turn shrink the planet a little more. Messaging went from messengers walking around to carts to pony express to telegraph to radio to telephone to email, all the way to electronic chat rooms (like this one). Each time, what was perfectly useful yesterday became obsolete and people just expect that messages or goods will be delivered at the latest benchmark speed. Airplanes have contributed to this, being the fastest way to move goods and people available. Because of air freight, I actually expect that something I order online today will be at my doorstep tomorrow. It's mind boggling when you think of it. Still, now that I know it is possible, I expect that level of service. When something takes longer, I worry. Maybe I should just relax and be thankful that my shiny new gadget doesn't take months to show up at my door, like it used to. I guess it's really up to the individual to decide whether and how to use any given technology and how to deal with their own expectations.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 53 - 10:33:58 ]
RE: [Neogirl] My question a bit stupid but what do you think: How soon every man will be able to fly to the stars? (I love the stars and I'm crazy about the planets, I wish one day every man could fly to the stars without being a special trained astronaut. I just hope this will happen befor I die.)
Your question is not stupid. There are many people wrestling with the answers to your exact questions. As of now, our spaceships travel only a fraction of the speed of light. The nearest star is about four light years away. That means if we could have huge jumps in technology and could get up to one fourth the speed of light, it would take more than sixteen years to get there, not including time to get up to speed, or slow down once we're almost there. I watched Neal Armstrong walk on the moon as a kid, and have wanted to be an astronaut ever since. We've got to work on advancing the technology to be able to get more of us up in to space. Are you going to become an engineer and help us with our task? All of us at NASA would be glad to have you come join us. :-)

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 54 - 10:46:06 ]
RE: [Ted] What do you think the world would be like without airplanes?
If there were no airplanes, and the same business was being transacted by other modes of transportation, things would cost more, and there would be more people hurt in traffic accidents. If all the people flying for business or pleasure were driving, there would be more cars on the road, and statistically there would be more accidents. Moving the cargo would also put more trucks and trains on the roads, or intersecting roads, and more accidents. Things would cost more, because there are some industries that need their material the next day. A plane can easily fly overseas in a night. Crossing the Pacific in any kind of boat is going to take days, if not weeks. That's the practical, tangible reasons. If you ever get the opportunity to fly in an airplane (if you haven't already) the wonder of looking out the window and seeing the ground slip away, finding your house, learning your geography is so much enhanced by what you see from the air. When I travel for work, I always feel sorry for people that are so busy they don't have the time to look out the window at the scenery below, around, and above them. You can see in one view what would have taken a pioneer in a covered wagon weeks to make across. I think aircraft have changed the way we view the world. Will you be the one who comes up with the next vehicle that's just as revolutionary?

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 55 - 10:51:33 ]
RE: [Cathy] This is just a comment. I teach Junior High Science and I have many students who are very interested in the planets, space travel, etc. I try to encourage them to keep it up. Thanks for everything you people do at NASA.
Teaching junior high science is a critical role. You have the opportunity to excite your students to push themselves, to believe in themselves. You may be the first person to say, "Yes, you can do that. You can work hard and get a job with NASA." We appreciate you working long hours preparing lessons, and grading papers, and encouraging your students, all for the payback of seeing the light come on in a student's eyes when they understand the new concept, or realize that they can ascend further than they had thought possible. Keep up the good work. :-)

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 56 - 11:05:09 ]
RE: [Jason] What types of material does space vehicle use? and which is the best material to withstand friction and heat during re-entry?
Aluminum alloys are still used extensively in aerospace. 35% of the aluminum market in the US is for aerospace (64% is for soda cans). Phenolic resins that ablate have been the standard for re-entry for decades, with silica tiles used for shuttle. Ablate means as they get really hot, they melt off and carry some of the heat away with them. Heat transfer is the big problem for reentry. If you let the heat get through to the structure it could melt it, much less be pretty toasty for the astronauts. Composites are edging out aluminum for many parts of aircraft. Fiberglass is a type of composite that's been around for some time. Little strands of glass fiber are embedded in to an epoxy. There's interesting materials engineering work seeing what to use as the fiber, and what to use in place of the resin. In addition to your math, science and programming work, a materials engineer gets to set up test fixtures to see how much load (weight) a structure can take before it breaks. So if you enjoy building stuff, and then seeing what it takes to break it, you may have the aptitude to be a materials engineer. The trick is to do analysis and experiments so you can know exactly how much a structure can handle, before it breaks. If you know how to make it just strong enough so it won't break, but as light as possible, you'll get rewards at work -- because if the structure is lighter, you can carry more payload or use less fuel, which is a goal of the company making the vehicle.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 57 - 12:41:28 ]
RE: [Ted] What do you think the world would be like without airplanes?
Ted: I think the world would be very different than it is now, and in many ways. However, the most significant difference would be that the world would be much more divided and people would have much less exposure to other cultures. This is so because airplanes have made commerce (both goods and people) between large global distances very practical and convenient.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 58 - 12:51:20 ]
RE: [Ellen] I think that airplanes create the need for speed. Without out airplanes our world would be more relaxing.
Ellen: You make an interesting point and I agree with it to a degree. However, there will always be people who ask for more, more and more and these are the ones that create stress (we are largely responsible for our own stress). Imagine how stressful it must have been to cross the continental U.S. in a covered wagon or to cross the Pacific Ocean in a wooden ship. I would argue that the airplane has made these voyages far more comfortable and relaxing than they otherwise would be.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 59 - 13:03:06 ]
RE: [Alyssa] Would we have planes if we didn't have computers?
Alyssa: Airplanes pre-date the computer (remember the first powered aircraft flight occurred in 1903, decades before the first practical computer was developed) so the answer to your question is yes. However, without computers aircraft would not be as fast, safe, efficient or effective as they are today.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 60 - 13:08:45 ]
RE: [Cathy] This is just a comment. I teach Junior High Science and I have many students who are very interested in the planets, space travel, etc. I try to encourage them to keep it up. Thanks for everything you people do at NASA.
Cathy: All students should have a teacher like you. Your enthusiasm and encouragement makes a great difference!

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 61 - 14:07:49 ]
RE: [Neogirl] My question a bit stupid but what do you think: How soon every man will be able to fly to the stars? (I love the stars and I'm crazy about the planets, I wish one day every man could fly to the stars without being a special trained astronaut. I just hope this will happen befor I die.)
Neogirl: Many people, including I, share your dream! Unfortunately, our understanding of nature does not allow for speeds practical enough for people to travel to other stars, let alone other planets. In fact, current physical theories do not allow for travel faster than the speed of light. This does not mean it is not possible, it very well may be, we just do not know how to do it. Consider that there are a few people alive today that were witness not only to travel by covered wagon but also by space ships! This in itself is quite a range -- unfortunately going from the space shuttle to an interplanetary space ship is orders of magnitude more difficult than going from covered wagon to the shuttle. But, as long as there are kids like you that ask these very intelligent questions and pursue them with a passion…who knows what is possible.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 62 - 15:35:30 ]
RE: [Alyssa] Would we have planes if we didn't have computers?
Hello Alyssa. As Don Mendoza already noted, airplanes do predate computers. Computers are used in all aspects of aviation now, though. For example, scientists at NASA Ames Research Center are working with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to create software tools on computer screens using very sophisticated algorithms to help air traffic controllers manage air traffic. Ultimately, with these computerized tools available, the traveling public will be able to fly safely, efficiently and faster in a more and more complex National Airspace System.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 69 - 06:09:09 ]
RE: [Cathy] This is just a comment. I teach Junior High Science and I have many students who are very interested in the planets, space travel, etc. I try to encourage them to keep it up. Thanks for everything you people do at NASA.
Thanks to one of my junior high school science instructors, I became even more interested in aviation. I did not know very many female pilots, so she was a real inspiration to me. I have a feeling you are the kind of instructor that would have changed my life, too. I am humbled to think of your responsibility and influence in young people's lives.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 70 - 06:09:57 ]
RE: [Ted] What do you think the world would be like without airplanes?
Airplanes, like television or computers, have had such a dramatic impact on our lives that is difficult to imagine life without them. Thanks to these inventions, we can see, meet and experience other cultures and ideas otherwise unavailable to us. As human beings, we have expanded our minds and our hearts as a consequence of our opportunities. We have grown because we tolerate and accept cultural differences, and even encourage them now.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 73 - 06:36:51 ]
RE: [Wendy] Was there a big competition to be the first to fly?
Yes, lots of people were trying to fly first. Otto Lilienthal's glider flights in Germany in the 1890's seemed an inspiration to many to try for the next step. Samuel Langley (NASA Langley was named after him) had a steam boiler-operated airplane he tried to fly off of a riverboat. He had the backing of the U.S. government (they paid for his plane), and lots of theoretical work to back him up. The Wright Brothers wrote to him for information. What helped the Wrights get off the ground was their observations and experimental data. By observing birds, and doing lots of experiments with gliders, they came across the idea of wing warping for control. They built a wind tunnel for testing their airfoils. They also designed and built a gasoline engine that was light enough for an airplane, yet still had enough power to do some good. The French were definitely interested in aeronautics. There's a video clip of French people greeting Lindbergh when he landed. I believe the estimate was 500,000 people! We get our word empennage (tail control surfaces) from the French, since they did a lot of design work. When World War I started it was French, British, German and Dutch planes that first took to the skies. The next great race is for the X Prize (www.xprize.org), which is to see who can be the first to get passengers in to space. It's set up along the same line as the race for New York to Paris that made Lindberg famous. My bet would be on Burt Rutan. The man knows how to design aerospace vehicles like no other. I think he will be remembered in history as one of the top aircraft designers of all time.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 74 - 06:46:13 ]
RE: [Zac] How is flight important to computer technology?
Some may say the aerospace industry started the computer industry with the requirements for the Apollo trajectory computer prompting Texas Instruments to create the integrated circuit (computer chip). However the computer industry has taken off, and not been driven as much by the aerospace industry requirements. One of the exceptions is the clustering of thousands of processors linked together for big tasks like computational fluid dynamics. The aerospace requirements of high reliability for computers that run flight control systems have caused some inventive use of the computers out there. Military fighters, and many commercial airliners are 'driven' by their flight computers, and the pilots just give inputs to the flight control system computers. To cover computer glitches, there are typically three flight control system computers. They 'vote' to look for two or three answers that are the same. If one of them is different then the other two, it is ignored, and the answer that is the same on two is what's used to control the aircraft, or rocket. Reliable computing is an interesting topic that NASA is researching. If there could be only one computer that is so reliable that it doesn't need the other two, there could be a lot of weight, money, and electrical power saved. So maybe I've talked myself out of my original position. Yes, aerospace does have an important influence to the computer industry.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 79 - 13:11:33 ]
RE: [Karen] If there was no airplanes I think the world would seem bigger.
Karen: I agree, without aircraft the world would seem much bigger because it would take much longer to travel great distances.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 80 - 14:06:39 ]
RE: [Neil] Why can't we fly like birds?
Neil: Birds have a very special physiology that humans do not -- including feathers, wings, more efficient metabolisms (birds can convert food into energy better than humans), and very hollow and light bones. This combination allows birds to achieve several critical conditions that we humans cannot such as: aerodynamic efficiency (low drag), low weight, and a power-to-weight ratio that is compatible with the size of their wings. The closest we have come to bird-like flight is the human-powered Daedalus that used very light materials, large wings and a very strong and light cyclist to turn a propeller using pedals.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 81 - 14:13:37 ]
RE: [Steve] Do you think we would have more boats and trains if there were no planes?
Steve: Yes, I do believe that there would be more trains and boats if there were no aircraft. However, right now we have a transportation system that uses all of these elements to various degrees. In fact, because of the increase in air travel, the other modes have and will become more important in the future.

[ KenSchrock/MSFC - 82 - 14:51:40 ]
RE: [Ellison] Don't you think there is no way we wouldn't have airplanes?
If the airplane hadn't been invented, I agree that research into faster transportation means would have uncovered it. Our hypothetical research vehicles may have gone from a boat to a hydrofoil or jet boat, like they use in the swamps, to a ground effect vehicle, to a three degree of freedom flight vehicle. Maybe we would have progressed from balloon to a blimp, or dirigible to a winged vehicle. I'm curious to see what the next generation of flight vehicle will be -- a flying car we drive to and from work, or an affordable spacecraft that takes off and lands at the airport, like any other aerospace vehicle. NASA is working on this second option, where going to space looks the same as taking a cross country flight does now. Will you come help us work on it?

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 83 - 18:44:37 ]
RE: [Ellison] Don't you think there is no way we wouldn't have airplanes?
According to NASA Administrator Dan Goldin, humans could set foot on Earth's next door planet MARS between 10 and 20 years from now. With the kind of desire humans on Earth have to explore and settle space, it is likely that we will continue to have airplanes.

[ LorieRichardson/ARC - 84 - 18:53:27 ]
RE: [Karen] If there was no airplanes I think the world would seem bigger.
Karen: I agree that the world would seem bigger without airplanes. The world certainly seems smaller having airplanes. We can visit with our friends and do business with people all over the world thanks to air transportation; they hardly seem faraway at all.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 89 - 14:19:52 ]
RE: [Deb] Some people say its dangerous to fly. What do you say?
Deb: It's 22 times safer flying in a commercial jet than traveling by car, according to a 1993-95 study by the US National Safety Council. In fact, fewer people have died in commercial airplane accidents in America over the past 60 years than are killed in US auto accidents in a typical three-month period.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 91 - 14:41:40 ]
RE: [Peter] Do you think they might have invented helicopters?
Peter: Leonardo De Vinci conceptualized the helicopter in the late 1400s, long before human flight was achieved (almost 400 years before the first person went up in a balloon!) . So, I would say that eventually the helicopter would have been invented. This demonstrates that there is much to learn from nature and that humans, and other animals, use mimicry (as De Vinci observed, many animals can hover like a helicopter) as a way to evolve.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 92 - 14:44:51 ]
RE: [Sam] Maybe we would have had more things like blimps?
Sam: Yes, it is reasonable to think that had airplanes not been invented that blimps would have seen more use. In fact, this was exactly the case until airplanes became practical modes of transportation.

[ DonMendoza/ARC - 93 - 07:54:07 ]
RE: [Steve] will NASA solve air traffic problems?
Steve: NASA, particularly Ames Research Center, is very involved with the National Air Transportation System. Many of the technical advancements made at ARC have already been incorporated into the system. However, it is a system, and as such it has many components including ground and sea modes. So, the challenges facing the system are primarily under the purview of the Department of Transportation (DOT), but NASA is very supportive of the DOT and works closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to bring new technologies into the cockpit, control tower and other elements involved in air transportation.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 94 - 16:08:36 ]
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