[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 5 - 09:46:10 ]
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[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 6 - 09:47:06 ]
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[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 7 - 09:48:20 ]
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[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 8 - 09:59:09 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Space Team Online chat with Mark Weller from NASA Kennedy Space Center. Mark Weller is responsible for the electrical power system at Launch Pad-B. As the Electrical Engineer for the Pad, he is involved in some way with just about every Pad related operation. Because of the extensive wiring and conduits that travel in many directions at the Pad, Mark goes into places few others see, like the Catacombs, the Rubber Room, and the Payload Changeout Room (PCR).

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 9 - 09:59:32 ]
And now, here is Mark Weller to answer your questions.

[ Niafrommillinniummiddleschool - 11 - 10:00:00 ]
Hi,My name Nia. I attend Millinnium Middle School in Sanford,FL. Mrs.Shaws 8th grade algebra class our taken a trip to Kennedy space center on November 9th. Other students and I have some question to ask you.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 14 - 10:02:54 ]
RE: [James/DurbanSouthAfrica] How often has it happened that the secondary location for landing has had to be used as a result of the primary location not being suitable
HI James, Up to now the use of the secondary sites overseas have not been required for an actual landing. This would occur if there was a problem on take-off and the shuttle had to abort. Luckily, that has never happened.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 15 - 10:04:38 ]
RE: [mattmillennium] Do you know if NASA has any plans for a new space shuttle
Hi Matt, NASA has many plans in work for different space craft like the shuttle. I expect the shuttle will be around for many more years though.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 19 - 10:08:01 ]
RE: [millinniummiddleschool8thgradeclass] The first question how may Space Camp be educational to our algebra class?
Hi Nia, I hear space camp is really neat. I believe that you would learn a lot about physics and could use the math you learn in class to predict the results of different experiments. I used simple algebra to solve a problem with making quick adjustments to the angles of the visual landing aids. Math is very useful in engineering.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 20 - 10:10:06 ]
RE: [Michelle] Are the alternate landing sites in Spain, Morocco and Gambia intended mostly for use in the event the shuttle can not be placed into proper orbit? Would they ever be used for a regular landing?
That's correct Michelle. These sites would only be used in an emergency. It would be far too expensive to use them for a regular landing, because then we would have to haul the orbiter back to KSC on the back of a 747.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 22 - 10:14:41 ]
RE: [Nick] What is the rubber room?
Hi Nick, I was hoping someone was going to ask me that. The Rubber room is a room located under the launch pad. It is made up of a steel dome room which is floating on rubber isolators. It was the escape area used during the Apollo launches and it could not be removed when the pad was modified for the shuttle. In case of an emergency on the pad, the astronauts would slide down ( a very long way!) a vertical tube to the Rubber Room and wait for the danger to clear!!

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 27 - 10:17:22 ]
RE: [James/DurbanSouthAfrica] , I don't know if I'm correct in assuming this but the Airforce base used for alternate landings, is the runway similar in length to that of KSC's?
Hi James, I am not sure which airforce runway you are speaking of. I do know that the shuttle runway is one of the longest, and most certainly [most] level ever constructed. Its length is 15,000 ft or 4572 meters long. By the way, my wife Shelly was born in South Africa!

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 28 - 10:18:54 ]
RE: [Nick/GlenElmRegina] Would you ever go in space
Hi Nick, If I ever was offered the chance to go into space, I would. I believe it would be an unforgettable experience.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 29 - 10:20:52 ]
RE: [Chrissymillennium] Hi. I wanted to know how NASA gets the money to make and get all the equipment you guys need.
Chrissy, I work for United Space Alliance and we receive funding from NASA as a contractor. NASA is a government agency, and they receive their funding from taxes that all of us pay!

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 32 - 10:23:46 ]
RE: [mattkrystal_at_millennium] on your first shuttle landing-were you nervous?
You bet! I was actually on the Shuttle Training Aircraft or STA. Astronaut Jeff Ashby was the pilot. We made ten dives, or simulated shuttle landings, to the runway here at KSC. The first dive was very exciting. It was like going over the top of the highest rollercoaster you have ever been on! It was an experience I will never forget.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 33 - 10:28:16 ]
RE: [Meri] Could you give an example of a math calculation you would need to use in determining safe electrical configurations for a launch?
Hi Meri, we use math to solve many electrical problems. One thing we do every launch is test the resistance of certain critical receptacles. We measure the resistance between the conductors. If there is a problem with the cable insulation, then the resistance would be low. We use ohms law ( E (voltage) = I (current) * r (resistance). If there is 480 volts between the two conductors and only 10 ohms of resistance between these two conductors you can calculate how much current it would draw. If too much, then the cable or the breaker would trip open.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 37 - 10:32:21 ]
RE: [Chrissymillennium] Has U.S. History about Early Americans ever helped you?
Chrissy, It was difficult for me sometimes to understand how important history was when I was in school. Now I love to learn about our history and the history of other countries like those I get to visit. I find that it explains a lot about the people and their ways. I also feel that if the people of a country educate themselves about world history, then they will be less likely to make mistakes that were made in the past. Also, it never hurts to learn from the great individuals of the past to better ourselves.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 38 - 10:35:55 ]
RE: [James/DurbanSouthAfrica] Mark, in all your experience of shuttle landings, have you ever witnessed any close calls?
Hi James, As far as I know, there have not been any close calls on landing. I see you have another question about the stress on the shuttle during the time it breaks the sound barrier. I do not know if it experiences and increase in stress at that moment, but I am sure that it has been designed to take far more stress than it would experience under a normal launch and landing!

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 43 - 10:38:24 ]
RE: [Rachel/MillenniumMiddleSchool] Hi. I'm from Mrs.Shaw's algebra honors class and i have a question. Were you there when the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up? If you were, how did you feel and what caused the insident to acure??
Hi Rachel, I did not work here during that time. I do remember where I was though. Many of the people I work with were here and have told me it was a very sad time. Even today, it is sometimes difficult for them to talk about.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 44 - 10:41:01 ]
RE: [mattkrystal_at_millennium] Where can we go to get information on space camp?
Hi Matt, I believe that if you type in "Space Camp" on an online search, you will find the home page for NASA's Space Camp programs. I'm sorry that I do not know it right off hand.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 45 - 10:42:55 ]
RE: [Chrissymillennium] How do you like your co-workers?
Chrissy, I like all of my co-workers! Sometimes after work we get together and have barbecues and some of us like to go golfing.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 48 - 10:46:52 ]
RE: [mike] Are their any up coming ideas for a new shuttle or space related gagets. Do you know if NASA will send a youth into to space. Is the space programs planing to populate in space or in the moon.
Hi Mike, NASA is working on many new ideas and developing all kinds of space gadgets. Right now, they are working on unique tools required to build the space station. I don't believe there are any plans to send youths in space yet, but someday maybe! I believe that colonies on the moon are possible, but that is still a long way off. We will get there one day, but we have to do it one step at a time.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 49 - 10:49:02 ]
RE: [mattkrystal_at_millennium] Do you get scared when you land the shuttle, anymore?
Hey Matt, I don't actually land the shuttle. I just set up the equipment on the ground that guides the orbiter in. I believe that the astronauts do not get scared when they fly the shuttle. They are very well trained and have many hours of flying experience in many different types of planes.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 51 - 10:51:48 ]
RE: [Nick/GlenElmRegina] What started the fire on the MIR space station
Hello Nick, I am not sure of what actually started the fire on Mir. I know that Mir is scheduled to be brought back down and destroyed in the process in the near future. It was a good Space Station and soon we will have a brand new one.

[ MarkWeller/KSC - 52 - 10:53:59 ]
RE: [mattkrystal_at_millennium] How many years did you have to go to UCF to do what you do what you do today?
I went to UCF about 3 years. My total college career span was about 5 years. It was well worth it. Sometimes it felt like I was never going to finish. Now I can hardly believe that over 10 years has passed since the day that I graduated!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 56 - 11:02:31 ]
This concludes today's Space Team Online chat with Mark Weller from NASA Kennedy Space Center! We would like to thank Mark and everyone for joining us today!

[ Rachel/MillenniumMiddleSchool - 57 - 11:03:23 ]
Thank you very much and it was nice talking to you!!!

[ Adam/Millennium - 58 - 11:03:23 ]
This is Chrissy and Carl. We just wanted to thank you. It was nice talking to you.

[ Adam/Millennium - 59 - 11:03:23 ]
This is Adam from Mrs. Shaw's class....thank you for talking to us

[ Adam/Millennium - 60 - 11:03:23 ]
This is Mrs. Shaw, I just wanted to thank you also, the students have really enjoyed talking to you, and hate to leave....

[ Dean - 61 - 11:03:23 ]
thank you for chatting with us at millinum middle school.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 62 - 11:05:50 ]
Be sure to respond to our online survey at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats. Join us for our next Space Team Online chat with Leland Jackson from NASA Johnson Space Center. Be sure to read Leland's profile at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/team/jackson.html to prepare questions. Have a good day!