[ Linda/NASAQuest - 1 - 10:46:41 ]
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[ Linda/NASAQuest - 2 - 09:57:49 ]
Hello Chat participants. We are here and ready for your questions. Please let us know as you sign on.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 3 - 09:59:42 ]
Hello, everyone, this is Perry Becker from the Kennedy Space Center

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 4 - 10:00:32 ]
Hi Perry, We have a couple of questions that came in early from South Africa. I'll post them for you.

[ Bertus - 6 - 10:00:37 ]
Would you preffur(sorry) a job at NASA??(I an in South-Africa)? BYE..

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 8 - 10:02:47 ]
RE: [Bertus] How is it to work at NASA????
Bertus, I really enjoy working at Kennedy Space Center for NASA. We are constantly working around the flight hardware and critical ground systems here, and we get to see the results of our work each launch day !

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 10 - 10:04:31 ]
RE: [Joy] What was it like the first time you saw the crawler?
Hello, Joy.....I saw the Crawler for the first time when I came down here to work as a co-op in 1984. I was really impressed with the enormous size of it (and still am today !)

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 11 - 10:06:53 ]
RE: [Joy] What childhood/youth experiences led you into this career choice?
Joy, I was always good at math and science in school, so I decided to go into engineering school when I was a junior in high school. From there the co-op program lead me to KSC. Once down here, the unique nature of the work is what drew me back here as a permanent employee once i graduated.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 15 - 10:10:57 ]
RE: [Patti] Do you actually get to drive the crawler?
Hello Patti....No, I don't actually drive the crawler. I am in the control room of the crawler, which is the room where the vast majority of all crawler systems are controlled from. I work with a great team of United Space Alliance contractor employees on the crawler. One of these guys actually drives, while the majority of us are back in the control room.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 17 - 10:14:09 ]
RE: [Jan] Could you explain a little more about what you do with regards to the launch pad?
Hi Jan....We have system engineering responsibility for the major structural systems on the launch pad, such as the Rotating Service Structure that "mates" to the orbiter while at the pad, and the Mobile Launch Platform, which the shuttle elements sit on while vertically stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building(VAB) or on the pad. We are responsible for maintaing these systems to support the shuttle program. We do a lot of project engineering work with these systems to install new modifications, etc. to them.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 19 - 10:16:05 ]
RE: [Patti] Does that mean that you are on the Crawler when it is in motion? What do you do there?
Yes,Patti, I'm on the Crawler during rollouts to the pad. I am typically in the control room of the crawler monitoring the numerous subsystems on board to insure everything is going well during the 6 to 7 hour trip to the launch pad.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 20 - 10:18:56 ]
RE: [Marc] Has a shuttle ever fallen off the crawler?
Hello, Marc.....The shuttle actually sets on the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP), and the crawler rolls under the MLP and lifts the entire structure up and carries it to the launch pad. We have a very sophisticated leveling system on the crawler to insure the shuttle stays vertical at all times !

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 24 - 10:22:04 ]
RE: [Joy] Do you run across very many unexpected problems in your work?
Hey, Joy, we can have quite a few unexpected problems in our line of work here. However, we have a system of checks and balances in place to insure to the best of our ability that the systems problems we do see will not adversely affect the shuttle.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 26 - 10:23:28 ]
RE: [Jan] What would I need to study if I wanted to work in your type of job for NASA?
Jan, a degree in mechanical/structural engineering would best apply for my line of work here. I graduated from the University of Louisville with a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 27 - 10:26:40 ]
RE: [Marc] Did you ever want to be an astronaut?
Marc, yes, as a kid I thought it would be great to be an astronaut (as most kids and young adults do !). However, I had open heart surgery when i was young, and that would keep me from being eligible. Also, as most of my co-workers can attest, I'm a little too tall and a little too big to be an astronaut! So, I'll have to stay put on the ground I suppose !!

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 29 - 10:28:52 ]
RE: [Joy] Are there any adverse weather conditions that would prevent you from letting a crawler begin it's trip to the launch pad?
Joy, good question....We will not roll a shuttle to the pad when we have any significant chance of lightning. For this reason, during the summer months we roll shuttles to the pad during the overnight hours, when the chance of lightning is the smallest (KSC and the central Florida area is said to be the lightning capital of the country !)

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 30 - 10:30:17 ]
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[ PerryBecker/KSC - 32 - 10:31:59 ]
RE: [Joy] What types of math and science do you use on a daily basis?
Joy, the engineering profession encompasses so many different types of math and science....I primarily deal with mechanical and hydraulic design projects, along with electronic control upgrades.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 34 - 10:34:52 ]
RE: [Jan] In your bio you speak of the weather protection system at the pad. Could you tell us what that is?
Joy, the orbiter weather protection system is a structural system connected to the Rotating Service Structure on the launch pad which protects the majority of the bottom side of the shuttle (its thermal protection system tiles) from adverse weather while on the pad (driving rain, hail, etc.)

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 35 - 10:38:13 ]
RE: [Marc] Do you work on your own vehicles at home too?
Marc, while going through high school and college it seemed like every weekend included a trip under the hood of my old car(s). I still do a lot of my own maintenance now, but save the big stuff for my head-mechanic friend !

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 36 - 10:41:52 ]
If you still have questions for Perry Becker, please post them now. We will stand by for a few more minutes before closing today's chat.

[ Joy - 38 - 10:47:21 ]
Thank you both, too!

[ Marc - 39 - 10:48:25 ]
This was fun! Thanks.

[ PerryBecker/KSC - 40 - 10:48:50 ]
RE: [Linda/NASAQuest] I want to thank you Perry for joining us today and sharing your experience with us. It's been a real treat for me, and I hope you'll be willing to do this again some time.
My pleasure, and I'll look forward to doing this again some time in the future !

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 41 - 10:50:35 ]
'Til next time! Thanks all for joining us. Do give us your feedback. It helps us to continue to bring you these quality moments online! http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats