Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 9:54AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Hello - anyone out there to answer questions?
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 9:57AM PDT (-0800 GMT) The chat will
begin in about five minutes. Today we will talk with John James NASA's
Chief Toxicologist, and is responsible for studying chemicals that could
harm people in spaceflight and on the ground as well.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 9:57AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Deborah from the
NASA Johnson Space Center - Head, Neuroscience Labs - online to answer
questions.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 9:58AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
I've got a question, John, are spider plants good to take poisins out
of the air?
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 9:59AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Deborah, are you here to replace John?
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 9:59AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Scientists in our
labs study how space flight affects eye-head, eye- hand coordination,
Posture, locomotion, spatial orientation, and we study space motion sickness.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:00AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Not that I know
of.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:00AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Is it true that over half the astronauts throw up in space?
anonymous: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:01AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi J
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:01AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi Deborah
- thanks for introducing yourself.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:02AM PDT (-0800 GMT) No, it is true
that about 75% of all astronauts have some symptoms of motion sickness.
Probably slightly less than 25% actually vomit.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:02AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
If the astronauts were feeling really dizzy after eating lots of M&M's
up there, and they had to fly back, could Houston take over, and fly the
shuttle back without even having teatonauts at the controls?
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:04AM PDT (-0800 GMT) I've never known
anyone to get dizzy from eating M & Ms. There is an autopilot system for
the Shuttle, but as far as I know it has never been used.
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:04AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi I'm a little
clumsy at this, but I should be ready to answer questions now.
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:06AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Welcome John.
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:07AM PDT (-0800 GMT) John - a good
place to start may be to talk briefly about projects you are currently
working on.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:07AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Deborah, I've got a question, this weekend, I got this book that came
out, The Highly Sensitive Person. I talks about how 20% of the poplution
is very sensitive to sounds, crowded conditions, lights - my guess is
that is an astronaut were a "highly sensitive person" the wun'tb be eep
at all u hee H araronauts lece to ensure they have the neurological makeup
best suited to spacelife?
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:08AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
I see my questions was garbled, it should have said they wouldn't be able
to sleep at all
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:10AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
John, what is the best way to get toxics out of the air? Plants, filters?
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:10AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Some astronauts
have a little trouble sleeping the first night or two, but most have no
trouble at all. All the astronauts have regular complete physicals, but
no special tests of the kind of sensitivity you've been reading about
are done.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:12AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Here in California, our school is close to a highway, and we can smell
the pollution in the morning. I want to put up spider plants or something,
what are the best plants to filter the air?
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:12AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Hi, there. I'm a bit new at this. I'm wondering what are the basic biologies
which go into why a person gets sick in space.
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:12AM PDT (-0800 GMT) OK Andrea...Here
Goes: Most recently I have been working with Russian toxicologists and
engineers to determine where we have issues on air quality in the Mir
Space Station. For example, we have been seeing more formaldehyde than
we would like, so the question is where is it coming from. We are also
considering expanding our analytical chemistry methods to detect volatile
amines, which are produced by humans. These are the compounds that give
such a pleasant odor to locker rooms and old spacecraft.
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:13AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
John, I read your bio and was happy to read about your bunny. My neighbor
has about 7 (in separate cages). I can't picture what you would do day
to day. What is your schedule like today? What do you hope to get done
this week?
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:14AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Hi Don, are you a teacher - I'm up at Whisman school in Mt Vw.
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:15AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
John, if you find a bad substance, what do you do about it? Do you have
to design a filter for it or replace the part or what?
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:15AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Most scientists
believe that people get motion sick (car, air, space) when all the information
from the different sensory systems doesn't match up. For example, your
eyes may be telling you that you are moving, but your inner is says you're
sitting still.
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:16AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi Gloria!
The best methods to remove pollutants depends on the pollutant. Charcoal
filters are good for most pollutants and would work well for most of the
chemicals in the air that you can smell. Plants are at best marginally
effective.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:16AM PDT (-0800 GMT) That was supposed
to say your inner ear.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:18AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Deborah, I'm trying to apply your theory, I feel motion sick when I get
on a swing set. My eyes and body both tell me I'm moving, it all matches
up, but I still feel queezy.
Mark Stokes: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:18AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi John -
ancillary question to Andrea's. How is air quality maintained in the shuttle
and the MIR? Do they use filters (like scrubbers as in Apollo 13), or
have new techniques been developed?
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:18AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Deborah (is that what people call you?), I read that you do experiments
in Antarctica. What does that have to do with space and your expertise
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:22AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Gloria, It may
be that what isn't matching is what your eyes and inner ear are saying
about the speed and/or angles of swing motion. Don, The studies we are
doing in Antarctica are looking at psychological factors involved in living
in confined, isolated and hazardous environments. We study both individual
and team factors in small groups as an analog to small groups of astronauts
living on the space station for 6 mos or a year.
uhigh 5 grade: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:23AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi how old
is your bunny ,jhon?
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:24AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Also, Deborah, have you actually flown in the Vomit Comet? What is it
like? I met an interesting fellow at a wedding recently. He was trying
to get a group together to rent the KC-135 so a group could go on a joy
ride. He said it would cost aboput $2000. Does NASA do that...I read they
did for the Apollo 13 movie
ohn at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:25AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi Don- If
I see something in spacecraft air that is "bad", the first thing I do
is look for a source of the pollutant. For example, when we see too much
formaldehyde, we look around for life sciences experiments using formaldehyde
fixatives. Normally, such experiments are well contained, but sometimes
containment fails and the "bad" stuff get loose. Another cause of bad
stuff in the air could be leakage from a system that contains a chemical.
uhigh 5 grade: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:26AM PDT (-0800 GMT) John, are
you here
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:28AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Don, Yes I have
flown in the Vomit Comet many times, and it's great fun if you don't get
sick (luckily I don't). I don't think NASA normally rents out the KC-135.
They did do it for the Apollo 13 movie.
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:29AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
So Deborah. What is it like to be weightless? Do you have to be strictly
business or can you do some sumesaults and stuff? How long can you be
weightless for?
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:29AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Are there bad gases that escape from the toilet on the shuttle?
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:30AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Also, Deborah. What about Antarctica? I'll be quiet now and give you a
chance to answer.
uhigh 5 grade: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:32AM PDT (-0800 GMT) What kind
of " bad stuff" do you find in space John?
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:33AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi Mark- Your
question about how spacecraft air is scrubbed is a good one without a
simple answer. Some of the Apollo technologies are still used. For example,
the lithium hydroxide filter used to scrub carbon dioxide (remember Apollo
13?). Newer technologies involve regenerable sorbent beds that can be
dumpped to space.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:34AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Don, scroll back
for the answer to your Antarctica question. It starts with Gloria. I answered
here question and yours in the same message. Weightlessness is just like
floating. It takes practice moving around effectively, you have a tendancy
to want to "swim" and that doesn't work too well. Most of the time it's
all business - running experiments etc., but we manage to sneak in a summersault
or two.
UHigh LabSchool: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:36AM PDT (-0800 GMT) What do
you do during a normal work day? What is your salary? Do you have your
own lab? Are you doing something top secret with the CIA?! We are from
Baton Rouge, Louisiana and we attend University Lab School on the LSU
campus. Our names are Korey Patty,Morgan Field,Boone Tarlton,Henry Anderson,
and Meredith Patrick. PEACE!
Mark Stokes: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:36AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Thanks, John.
Those are usually the kinds of questions I ask - no simple answers. What
is a regenerable sorbent bed?
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:37AM PDT (-0800 GMT) To uhigh..grade
5 Where are you? I find bad stuff inside spacecraft, not space. Bad stuff
in spacecraft could be carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde,
etc.
UHigh LabSchool: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:38AM PDT (-0800 GMT) We have
added a new member to our crew. Claire Tonore. Please E- mail us back.
PEACE!
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:38AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Mark- The
regenerable bed can be a molecular sieve, solid amine, or charcoal.
UHigh LabSchool: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:39AM PDT (-0800 GMT) ARE YOU
THERE JOHN?????!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Stokes: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:39AM PDT (-0800 GMT) One last question
for John from me: I understand how and from what carbon dioxide and monoxide
could occur. What can create formaldehyde?
Hattie in Baton Rouge LA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:40AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
When did you first get interested in space? How did you get interested?
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:41AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
To UHigh Lab - aren't you the same people that put up something on teh
Great Plant Debate? I think I was looking at that part of smore and saw
some neat stuff from you
UHigh LabSchool: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:41AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hey John!
Us again.We are perticipating in the MIR Plant Project.
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:41AM PDT (-0800 GMT) UHigh Lab
- Welcome, and Yes - John is here - he is answering questions that have
been given earlier. Do you have a more specific question about the work
that John is involved with?
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:43AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
We were thinking about the Mir plant thing, that looked neat, but we didn't
have time. I was disappointed to hear from John that plants don't really
clear up the air that much.
Olivia : . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:44AM PDT (-0800 GMT) How many times
have you gone to space?
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:44AM PDT (-0800 GMT) UHigh LabSchool:
Sorry, I don't tell my salary. Yes, I have a couple of labs. As the head
of the Neuroscience labs my normal work day includes some management/administrative
duties (the yuk stuff), usually some data collection and/or analysis of
my data. I might also review research proposals or manuscripts of completed
research that have been submitted to some journal for publication. Sometimes
I write manuscripts about my own research or write book chapters about
my research.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:44AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
What is the Lousianna lab school?
UHigh LabSchool: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:46AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hey, John
It's us again. Do you get a lot of questions from people?
Uhigh lab: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:46AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Yes we do Andrea.
Don in Santa Cruz, CA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:46AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
Deborah, Sorry I soemhow missed your answer. So studying the folks in
antarctica sounds a lot more like psychology then medical stuff. I can't
recall reading about that in your background. Is there medical implications?
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:47AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Mark- Now
that I look at your question better, I see that my answer wasn't very
good. A regenerable bed is one that does not have to be replaced after
the bed is full of pollutants. It can be exposed to space vacuum and/or
heat to remove the pollutants (hence regenerated) and used again. This
is very important to spacecraft because bringing up new filters is very
expensive (about $10,000 per pound). Since you ask nonsimple questions,
does that mean you want to be a scientist?
Uhigh lab: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:51AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Gloria-The Louisiana
Lab school is a school grades K-12. Once we finish most of us go on to
college at LSU on campus because it is a continuation of our education.
Gloria from California: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:51AM PDT (-0800 GMT)
See you all, time to get back to class
: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:52AM PDT (-0800 GMT) John - thanks for that
regeneration clarification. So regeneration basically means releasing
the pollutants into space somehow and reusing the bed? No, I don't want
to be a scientist, but I'm really interested in how a lot of things in
spaceflight work, because, well, it's really interesting! These topics
arouse my curiosity.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:53AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Don, You're right-it's
definitely psychology stuff. Our medical operations branch is responsible
for astronauts physical and mental health. We do research, pass on what
we learn to the doctors so they can do whatever is best for the crew and/or
their families. In addition to the medical doctors, we have a psychiatrist
and a psychologist. There has been some research (not in the space program)
that psychological factors may effect peoples immune responses which could
affect their health.
Uhigh lab: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:54AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Gloria-to find
out more about our school and class go to http://www.uhigh.lsu.edu
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:54AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi all - any
last questions before John and Deborah have to leave?
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:56AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Hi Hattie!
Don't know if your question was for me or Deborah? I first became interested
in space after seeing Saturn through a telescope when I was 7-8 years
old. If you have never seen this planet through a telescope, you should.
It is well placed for observation in the early evening these days.
Mark Stokes: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:56AM PDT (-0800 GMT) No - thank
you for providing interesting information!
UHigh LabSchool: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:56AM PDT (-0800 GMT) The Louisiana
Lab School is a K-12 school. It is a small school with only 815 students.
We are in the fifth grade. This is a good school and is a lot of fun.
Our class has an Online webpage. Do you have a webpage?
Uhigh lab: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:57AM PDT (-0800 GMT) John, one more,
whats the longest youve ever been in space?
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:58AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Fare well
and thanks for the interest.
Deborah: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:58AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Talk to you next
time - thanks for the good questions!
Andrea/NASA: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:59AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Thanks to
all - great questions! -- and answers!
John at JSC: . . . . Wed, Nov 13, 10:59AM PDT (-0800 GMT) Uhigh lab-
Never been to space, except in my dreams!
