ADTO # 80 - October 1, 1999

PART 1: Upcoming Chats!
PART 2: Smart Filters Wanted
PART 3: NASA Centers Work Together

UPCOMING CHATS

QuestChats require pre-registration. Unless otherwise noted, registration
is at:  http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/chats/#chatting

Join us for a special series of chats focusing on the HSCT!

The passenger jet of the future is taking shape! NASA and a team of U.S.
aerospace companies have developed a concept for a next-generation
supersonic passenger jet -- the High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT). The
HSCT would fly 300 passengers at more than 1,500 miles per hour - more
than twice the speed of sound!

Technology to make the HSCT possible is being developed as part of NASA's
High-Speed Research (HSR) program, which began in 1990. The HSCT is
expected to cross the Pacific or Atlantic in less than half the time of
modern subsonic jets. The HSCT is expected to make its debut in 2015. More
about the High Speed Civil Transport at
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/events/hsct.html


Tuesday, October 5, 1999, 10 AM Pacific Daylight Time:
Linda Bangert, aerospace technologist


Linda tests airplane models in wind tunnels and simulates jet
engine exhaust using high pressure air. The results of these tests help
her understand how propulsion may affect certain aircraft designs. In
addition to supporting testing for military aircraft, Linda
also tests designs for future supersonic passenger airlines during take
off and landing speeds (about 180 miles per hour).

Read Linda Bangert's profile and field journals prior to joining this
chat. http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/women/bios/lsb.html

Tuesday, October 14, 1999, 10 AM - 11 AM Pacific
Aerospace Team Online QuestChat with Bruce Gilbaugh

Bruce Gilbaugh is responsible for bringing different computer systems
together, and testing hardware that brings real word conditions into the
computer environment.

Read Bruce Gilbaugh's profile prior to joining the chat.
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/aero/team/gilbaugh.html

SMART FILTERS WANTED

NASA's Quest Project currently offers question-and-answer services in
four areas: Mars and Martian exploration, aeronautics and
aerodynamics, human spaceflight (space shuttle and space station),
and Saturn/Cassini. These q&a services are made possible by two
groups of people: NASA experts who answer questions and volunteer
smart filters who process answers and make the system work. Our
question-and-answer manager, Chris Tanski, is establishing a pool of
people who wish to serve as volunteer smart filters for one of these
projects. Currently, there is a minimal need for new folks to serve
as smart filters however this need changes over time and new folks
are added all the time.

The smart filter's job is to take incoming questions from students
and, using web-based software and lots of instructions, get answers
using a variety of methods. There's lots of support along the way and
the job is very satisfying. There are two minimum requirements for
being a volunteer smart filter:

1-You need to be able to spend at least 30 minutes every other day
processing questions (sometimes more, usually less). This is a very
important requirement, so please don't reply unless you know you have
the time.

2-You need to be able to read and follow detailed and picky instructions.

If you are interested in being added to the waiting list and meet the
above requirements, send email to Chris Tanski. If you have a
specific area from the above four that you'd like to work for,
indicate that otherwise he'll add you to the general waiting list.
Folks on this list are usually called up to be an active smart filter
within a month or two.

Thanks for your support.

NASA CENTERS WORK TOGETHER

By Linda Bangert

August 19, 1999

I am the Level III Manager for the High Lift element of the High Speed
Research (HSR) Program at NASA Langley Research Center in
Virginia. Most of my involvement with this test has had to do with
model procurement. As HSR winds down the budget gets cut, and the
Boeing contract, which provides a lot of the test support, gets cut back
so that the NASA people are having to fill in. That's why I am here at
Ames.

To procure a model the most important thing is to understand what it is
you want. That seems straightforward, but you really have to think
about it and put it into words it is not. To write a statement of work
that you can understand and that the contractor can bid on with minimal
chance of misinterpretation is not trivial. My high school English skills
pay off here. It's very important for an engineer to speak and write
clearly so that other people understand what he is trying to do.

I almost never have all the information I need when I begin the
procurement process. I have to take a best guess. If I know that more
information is going to be forthcoming I have to write the statement of
work so that it tells when the information will be available. If
information comes up which changes the statement of work this will
cost more money.

Part of what makes this test interesting is that the model has pieces that
were built by four different model shops. This makes life really
complicated. We have four sets of drawings, some that interface with
others and some that don't interface with others. Some of the parts that
are being tested here have been tested before and other parts are new.
We need to be careful that we have sorted through the parts to make
sure that we have all the parts we need and have left behind or put away
the parts we don't need so no one gets confused. This model is very
modular. It was built that way on purpose, but because of that it has got
a lot of pieces.

Throughout this program the main fuselage and inboard wing have
stayed the same, and we have added leading and trailing edge flaps,
changed the tail, the canard, different outboard wing panels, and more.

Mina Cappuccio is the main focal here at NASA Ames Research Center.
Normally there is a whole cadre of Boeing support people that look at
the data, compare it with other tests, compare it with Computational
Fluid Dynamic predictions, and fine tooth comb it for accuracy to make
sure all the corrections were applied accurately. Since they are not here
I am trying to help. I am plotting up some of the data, and am working
with some of the Boeing people who are still involved, but back at Seattle
I've been phoning and emailing back and forth to make sure we understand
the test plan.

I have enjoyed my visit to California. People here think it's hot long
before we start complaining back east. I've enjoyed the cool weather,
and I did a little sightseeing. This is the end of my second week, and I
am going home tomorrow. I was ready to go home sooner because my
three-year-old girl said, "Mommy, how many days until you come
home?" on the phone the other day.