[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 16 - 10:58:10 ]
RE: [kate-kate/homeschool] This is Kate again- am I in the right place?
Kate, you are in the right place. We will begin our chat in a few minutes. Please stay tuned!

[ Tremayne - 18 - 11:02:43 ]
Tremayne has logged in

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 19 - 11:03:40 ]
Welcome, Tremayne! We will start shortly.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 21 - 11:04:53 ]
Hello everyone! Welcome to today's Shuttle Team Online Web chat with Vic Cooley from NASA Johnson Space Center!

Victor leads a team of engineers at NASA Johnson Space Center who are designing different aspects of the future International Space Station (ISS). With the help of computer models, Victor and the engineers are working with different designs to determine how the space station will be affected when a space shuttle docks to it.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 22 - 11:05:24]
And now, here is Vic Cooley to answer your questions.

[ massey-Massey/TheWhiteLakeSchool - 24 - 11:07:03 ]
Massey (Briana) - I play volleyball, too. How long did you play?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 31 - 11:10:21 ]
Briana at Massey, thanks for your interest in volleyball. I've been playing since 1992.

[ Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary - 26 - 11:08:05]
Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary: How many people are working to design the Space Station?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 32 - 11:11:41 ]
Mrs. Simonis, about 300 NASA employees and about 2000 contract engineers, business folks, and other specialists.

[ kate-kate/homeschool - 27 - 11:08:06 ]
How do you simulate the docking procedures.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 34 - 11:12:50 ]
Kate, Docking procedures are simulated by having 1) a computer model representing the mass and stiffness of the space station, and 2) a force time history of the forces applied to the space station when the orbiter, or a Russian vehicle, docks to the station.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 29 - 11:09:07 ]
RE: [Tremayne] Hi Vic, Tremayne from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ. in FL. As a senior majoring in Aerospace engineering, what would you say the job outlook looks like in becoming part of the Space Station team?

Hi Tremayne, I think that the outlook for more engineers being employed in all space programs is very good. In Space Station, after we get it built, folks will be needed to operate it and conduct the science experiments on it. Also, we will be going to Mars in about 18 years.

[ massey-Massey/TheWhiteLakeSchool - 30 - 11:09:21 ]
How did you get out of the army?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 36 - 11:13:43 ]
Massey, I was enlisted for two years ('75-'77) and then received an honorable discharge.

[ Tremayne - 35 - 11:13:22 ]
Vic, what computer modeling software do you use to model the station for vibration "testing?" And secondly, where did you first gain experience in using this software?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 40 - 11:16:17 ]
Tremayne, we use NASTRAN as a structural modeling and response tool for station vibration and loads. I was initially trained in NASTRAN as an undergraduate in the Mechanical Engineering Dept. at Ohio State University. NASTRAN remains the tool of choice for structural analysis, although there are others.

[ Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary - 37 - 11:14:36 ]
Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary: When the actual building starts, where will the parts of the Space Station be built?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 42 - 11:18:24 ]
Mrs. Simonis, the station will be assembled in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) which is approximately 220 nautical miles high. The orbit plane is inclined 58 degrees relative to the equator. This higher than typical orbit inclination is to accommodate the Russian launch site of Biakinor.

[ kate-kate/homeschool - 38 - 11:14:39 ]
How exactly will the shuttle dock to the Space Station?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 48 - 11:21:18 ]
Kate, The shuttle docks under manual control of the shuttle pilot. It docks very slowly, using vernier thrusters, 25 lbs. each. When it contacts the docking port of the station, an automatic hatch "grasping" mechanism pulls the two vehicles closer together and seals the connection so that the hatches may be opened. It is a procedure very similar to docking with the Russian space Station, Mir.

[ massey-Massey/TheWhiteLakeSchool - 39 - 11:15:15 ]
Massey - How does being in space affect contact lens wearers?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 51 - 11:23:57 ]
Massey, Although I don't have personal experience, I know that some astronauts wear contact lenses. Others choose to wear glasses. To my knowledge there are no adverse effects of wearing contact lenses in space. Several experiments have been conducted regarding the wearing of lenses both in the pressurized environment of the shuttle as well as during EVA when one wears a pressurized space suit to go for a space walk.

[ Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary - 41 - 11:17:12]
Which countries are involved in building the ISS?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 53 - 11:25:24 ]
Mrs Simonis, Japan, Canada, Russia, Italy, and the European Space Agency representing Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and other European Countries, are jointly building the International Space Station with the United States.

[ massey-Massey/TheWhiteLakeSchool - 44 - 11:19:53 ]
If you wanted to be an astronaut, why did you enlist in the army?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 56 - 11:27:07 ]
Massey, At the time I enlisted in the Army I was 20 years old. I needed a way to pay for college. At that time I wanted to be a medical doctor. I didn't have an ambition to be an astronaut at that time.

[ Tremayne - 45 - 11:19:58 ]
WOW! That's what we use here at Embry-Riddle. Do you model and test the subcomponents, or did you have to come up with an algorithm of the entire station (or maybe a combination of both), either of which must be very time consuming?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 59 - 11:30:03 ]
Tremayne, Space Station sub-components are modeled first and tests are performed to validate those models, then the test verified sub component models are analytically connected to give us a model of the "integrated" structure as it will be when assembled on-orbit. The integrated structure is too big to test on the ground - some parts of it, like the deployed solar arrays, won't carry their own weight - so they can't be deployed on the ground.

[ Tremayne - 60 - 11:30:59 ]
Thanks.

[ massey-Massey/TheWhiteLakeSchool - 47 - 11:20:51 ]
How large will the ISS be (physical dimensions)?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 65 - 11:32:18 ]
Massey, the space station will be over 300 feet wide (from solar array to solar array) and about 200 feet long (along the flight axis). It is about 150 ft high. I don't know the exact dimensions.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 70 - 11:35:36 ]
RE: [moondoggie] Hi Vic. I am an aerospace engineering major and I was wondering that since I am mainly interested in working for NASA how one goes about getting through the application process. Where does the applicant obtain an application or how does this work?

[ VicCooley/JSC - 80 - 11:38:59 ]
RE: [Oran/NASAChatHost] Moondoggie, you can find out how to contact NASA centers regarding employment opportunities online. You may wish to start with the NASA Home page site, at http://www.arc.nasa.gov. You will find plenty of information here to begin your search. Good luck!
NASA is currently in a hiring freeze, however that will eventually be lifted, although it may be several years from now. The best way to be hired, and even small numbers of individuals are getting hired this way despite the freeze, is through a NASA co-op program. NASA has co-op arrangements with many universities and colleges around the country. Perhaps you could request a list of such colleges and departments through the home page address that Oran gave earlier.

[ moondoggie - 64 - 11:32:05 ]
Tremayne do you like being at ERAU? Do they instruct very well?

[ Tremayne - 68 - 11:33:53 ]
ERAU has been a great experience for me, and they've made changes to the Engineering curriculum which I think are great. Unfortunately, I am a senior now and can't really reap the benefits of the changes. All of the instructors have an extensive background in industry and higher education. They're EXCELLENT!

[ VicCooley/JSC - 71 - 11:35:42 ]
RE: [Massey-Massey/TheWhiteLakeSchool] I heard on the news that in the year 2000 we will all be living in a space station. How true is that? Will mankind ever live on a space station?
The year 2000 is only 26 months away. At that time three astronauts will be living on the International Space Station (ISS).

[ moondoggie - 72 - 11:36:04 ]
Tremayne: that's great. I had a lot of information from ERAU but I never submitted my application because I'm a wee bit behind on my math courses. Do they instruct on engineering a space shuttle since that is my primary goal?

[ Tremayne - 79 - 11:38:43 ]
moondoggie: That's one of the positive changes that they've made, and that is shifting the focus of the curriculum from airplanes to space vehicles. My senior design project is based on the X-prize competition in which we are developing a Single Stage to Orbit vehicle to carry 3 people to 100kM.

[ moondoggie - 84 - 11:39:52 ]
Tremayne : hey that's pretty spiffy :)

[ VicCooley/JSC - 83 - 11:39:50 ]
RE: [Farwell-Dave/FarwellMiddleSchool] Farwell Middle School students are just logging in. 2 sixth graders and 6 8th graders
Hello. welcome.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 91 - 11:43:19 ]
RE: [kate-kate/homeschool] Can you explain a little about the amount of vibration that takes place during docking.

kate, the docking is very soft and astronauts and cosmonauts aboard Mir during docking of the orbiter have said that they do not even feel the contact. Running on on-board treadmills is a different story, however. The Russians have had to limit the pace with which the cosmonauts can run on the Mir treadmill because the repetitious foot-fall forces were exciting the solar arrays into resonant motion that could easily be seen through the windows - and it was large enough in amplitude to concern the structural engineers.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 92 - 11:43:45 ]
RE: [Tremayne] Oran, if you haven't stopped by Space Camp outside the front gates of Moffett, stop in and tell them Tremayne sent you. I worked there helping to setup operations, and lived in the Bachelor's Quarters on Moffett.
Tremayne, actually, I have met with Chris? who heads Space Camp here (Ames/Moffett) several times, and visited the camp once. However, if I ever have an opportunity to return, I'll let them know that I heard from you!

[ VicCooley/JSC - 94 - 11:44:06 ]
RE: [moondoggie] Vic how old were you when you started working for NASA?
I was 32 when I started working for NASA.

[ Tremayne - 97 - 11:45:54 ]
moondoggie: if I may answer your question -- Astronauts are American citizens and Cosmonauts are Russian Citizens -- put simply--who travel into space I forgot to add...

[ moondoggie - 106 - 11:47:45 ]
Tremayne thank for clearing that up. It's most helpful. I had always heard the terms but never understood the difference. I thought maybe it had to do with experience or education.:)

[ VicCooley/JSC - 101 - 11:46:32 ]
RE: [moondoggie] what is the difference between an astronaut and a cosmonaut?
Astronaut is the term Americans use, Cosmonaut is the corresponding Russian term.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 103 - 11:46:53 ]
RE: [Farwell-Dave/FarwellMiddleSchool] How many people would fit into a space station that you would design
The ISS will accommodate a crew of seven.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 112 - 11:49:48 ]
RE: [Tremayne] Thank you once again Oran, Vic, and others. I have class in a few minutes and regretfully have to depart. Vic, good luck, and maybe I'll be part of your team someday soon!
Tremayne, we're glad you could join us today. Please join us again for our upcoming chats. Good luck to you, as well

[ moondoggie - 114 - 11:50:15 ]
bye Tremayne have a wonderful time in class.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 115 - 11:50:40 ]
RE: [Farwell-Dave/FarwellMiddleSchool] What is the best part about building a space station?
For me, the best part of space station building is the personal challenges I've faced in "people relations." The Space Station program office is a stressful place to work, and I've had to learn ways to cope with the stress. In the act of doing this I've discovered many interesting things about relaxing, meditation, physical exercise, the importance of adequate sleep, etc. All of this so that when I come into the office, I can cope with the stress, keep my wits when I have to argue my position against others who may not see the needs the same way I do.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 119 - 11:51:39 ]
RE: [Farwell-Dave/FarwellMiddleSchool] Do you ever get bored with designing space stations?
Even though it is a very exciting job, it does have its drudgery also.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 122 - 11:52:45 ]
RE: [Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary] What is going to be better about this space station than Mir?
The ISS is designed to accommodate experimentation substantially more so than Mir.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 125 - 11:54:03 ]
RE: [Vince-CRG] What about scientific human settlements on the Moon? Are we capable of that yet?
A return mission to the Moon is a critical part of the Mars program. It will teach us how to build an outpost off of this planet.

[ Elizabeth/SherrodElementary - 105 - 11:47:30 ]
VicCooley/JSC My class is in 5th grade in Palmer, Alaska and we are studying space programs.

[ Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary - 120 - 11:52:06 ]
Hello Alaska; we are fifth graders from Kaukauna, Wisconsin.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 139 - 12:01:54 ]
RE: [Farwell-Dave/FarwellMiddleSchool] What are your highest expectations?
My highest expectations are that the ISS program will serve as a pathfinder for other large scale projects requiring global cooperation. I also expect that we will go to Mars in 20 years and that the ISS will be a critical part in developing the technology needed for that. Also ISS will provide a testbed for basic research in fluid physics, materials science, and crystal growth. This is because in the microgravity environment of ISS, the gravity driven processes of convection, and other gravity driven transport process, are eliminated and other more subtle processes like diffusion become the prominent transport processes. This allows the scientist to examine the unmasked processes and discover things about them that would be masked on earth. This knowledge will allow scientists and engineers to improve materials (stronger and more durable), make combustion processes more efficient, and form new disease fighting drugs. All of these processes occur at a chemical and molecular level.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 141 - 12:03:53 ]
RE: [Vince-CRG] Vic now tell us the truth. Are there aliens out there that you know of?
I know of no aliens, at least none that I've personally met. Thanks for your interest in the space station and please check out the Space Station Home Page. Much information is given there about the assembly sequence, size, and other features. Thanks, again.

[ VicCooley/JSC - 144 - 12:05:12 ]
The Space Station Home page is http://station.nasa.gov/crew/training/blacksea/

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 142 - 12:03:54 ]
RE: [moondoggie] Oran can you tell us when the next scheduled chat will be?
Moondoggie, our next chat will be on Wednesday, October 22 at 1:00 a.m. Pacific time, with Ted Fabian from NASA Lewis Research Center. Ted is a computer scientist there. You can keep updated with our Shuttle Team Online chats by visiting http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/events/interact.html .

[ Elizabeth/SherrodElementary - 124 - 11:53:47 ]
Vic, due to our time differences and scheduling my class wasn't able to be here much of the chat. However, we wanted to say that we really admire NASA and your work, and we appreciate you taking the time to talk to everyone.

[ kate-kate/homeschool - 130 - 11:56:32 ]
Thank you very much for taking time to chat with us today. I really appreciate your work at NASA.

[ Mrs.Simonis/TannerElementary - 134 - 11:58:35 ]
Mr. Cooley thank you for answering our questions. Good Luck with ISS!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 136 - 12:00:24 ]
Thank you to everyone for joining us for today's chat with Vic Cooley from NASA Johnson Space Center. Unfortunately, we will now be ending our chat. Due to the high number of participants today, we were unable to answer some of your questions, but we encourage you to join us for our future Shuttle Team Online chats!