[ Kate/NASAChatHost - 14 - 10:37:16 ]
ATTENTION! INSTRUCTORS, TEACHERS AND COORDINATORS. PLEASE email Jeffrey_M._Aron@HUD.GOV at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development to let him know you have participated in this Webcast and Chat. This will allow him to stay in direct contact with you to provide information about unique opportunities like this one in the future.

[ Kate/NASAChatHost - 15 - 10:03:38 ]
If you are unable to view the event with Real Player, you CAN STILL PARTICIPATE! Please enter your questions in the Chat Room. They will be answered in text form my Sarah Enticknap who is with Astronaut Mike Anderson for this event.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 40 - 13:00:21 ]
Welcome to today's NASA Quest/HUD web cast with Astronaut Michael P. Anderson. We're glad you could join us today, and will begin posting your questions shortly. To see the live web cast transmission, click on the "Watch the Video Button" to your left. Please stay tuned!

[ MikeAnderson - 44 - 13:08:24 ]
RE: [Zach] What did you find the most interesting activity on your trip in space?
My most interesting activity was the actual rendezvous and docking with Mir. It looked like a star at first and then we could see details. It looked miraculous. So rendezvous and docking was the best.

[ MikeAnderson - 46 - 13:10:02 ]
RE: [John] Now that we have gathered data on all our astronauts, is there any data to show (of those who have gone in to space) physiological, or psychological differences during or after the trip?
We do a lot of experiments on each other to determine the effects of spaceflight on the human body. All of this information is on the Internet. There are some physiological effects. Fluids shift in your body and for the first few days I felt as if I was standing on my head. There are other effects. Because you don't use your muscles, they shrink and you get weaker. After nine days, I was a bit wobbly when I got off the shuttle. Psychologically, it boosts your spirits. It's great to look back at the Earth.

[ MikeAnderson - 48 - 13:11:44 ]
RE:[ John - 41 - 13:04:02 ]
Your colleague, Astronaut Joan Higginbotham visited us here in Baltimore on saturday February 26. Would you do a comparison for us of the difference between your current responsibility and hers?
Joan and I work in the same branch in the astronaut office, in Hardware/Software Integration office. The space Station has been designed to run on a computer, so computers are very important. So we spend a lot of time at KSC, hooking all the parts together and run the software through it and make sure it all works together.

[ MikeAnderson - 50 - 13:15:30 ]
RE: [John] How are astronauts prepared to deal with dissention , conflicts, and or sabotage aboard ship in outer space?
The flights that we have had to date have been relatively short. The longest flight has been 18 days. So there hasn't been much problem with dissention. Of course we train together, so we know each other very well. On space station crews will be together for long periods of time, so now we have a lot of special training to teach people to deal with conflict. So it's very important to us. We don't want to waste time with people not getting along. Hopefully we can take the lessons we learn from training up onto the Space Station.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 51 - 13:15:58 ]
ATTENTION! INSTRUCTORS, TEACHERS AND COORDINATORS. PLEASE email Jeffrey_M._Aron@HUD.GOV at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development to let him know you have participated in this Webcast and Chat. This will allow him to stay in direct contact with you to provide information about unique opportunities like this one in the future.

[ MikeAnderson - 53 - 13:17:34 ]
RE: [Sharonda] What was the first thing that you thought about when you was in space for the first time? Did you think about Death God or just being up there exploring the world? What was your thoughts of being in space for the first time?
The first thing I thought about when I got to space was the fact that all of these years of hard work and training had paid off. My dream had finally come true. I think dreams are very important. You should find out what your dream is and pursuit it. When we went from the gravity of earth to the zero gravity of space, I knew my dream had come true. When you look back at Earth and see how beautiful it is, you realize how special it is. I felt very honored and blessed to be allowed and being able to travel into space and see this.

[ MikeAnderson - 57 - 13:19:48 ]
RE: [Joshua] Did you study physics and astronomy partly because you knew you wanted to get involved with space flight or did you decide later in your career to expand in to space missions?
I think it's a combination. When I was small and wanted to be an astronaut, I went and found out what I needed to do to be an astronaut. Back then, all the astronauts were military, so I decided I needed to be a military pilot. But I also needed a technical background. So it was natural for me to study physics and astronomy. There were certain things I needed to do to accomplish my dream and even though physics is a hard subject, I knew I had to do it.

[ MikeAnderson - 58 - 13:23:23 ]
RE: [RJ/Escondido] Has being black made it harder to get where you are?
Throughout life, every individual faces challenges. The key to facing those challenges is having confidence and faith in yourself. Instead of giving up, I always looked for an open window of opportunity. You have take advantage of those windows. Whatever obstacles face you, don't let them stop you. Be willing to work hard to get all the tools you need so you can take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.

[ MikeAnderson - 59 - 13:25:03 ]
RE: [Dakota] I like to read science fiction. Do you have a favorite science fiction book?
I used to read a lot of science fiction, but in college I didn't read so much. But I watched TV and my favorite show was Star Trek. I also watched Lost in Space when I was kid. It was the hottest TV show. What I got out of these shows was that here were these people traveling in space, and there was nothing more exciting than traveling among the stars, meeting these other peoples. Even though it's fiction in the books, it is actually happening at NASA.

[ MikeAnderson - 63 - 13:29:06 ]
RE: [stephanie] what do you eat in space?
We eat the same food in space that we eat down here. The space shuttle isn't very big, so we have to package the food in a compact form. We don't want to carry a lot of weight, so the food is light as it can be. We also don't have a refrigerator so it's packaged so it won't spoil. So most of the food we take up is freeze dried so it's smaller, lighter, and won't spoil. Water has to be added in orbit. So if I want some cornflakes, I inject some hot water, shake it around, and let is sit for about 5 minutes. And then I take my spoon and enjoy my breakfast.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 64 - 13:30:56 ]
ATTENTION! INSTRUCTORS, TEACHERS AND COORDINATORS. PLEASE email Jeffrey_M._Aron@HUD.GOV at the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development to let him know you have participated in this Webcast and Chat. This will allow him to stay in direct contact with you to provide information about unique opportunities like this one in the future.

[ MikeAnderson - 65 - 13:33:51 ]
RE: [shawn] Is the training to be an astronaut very difficult?
It is difficult, but it is also a great deal of fun. It lasts about a year. You're called an Astronaut Candidate for the first year. First you learn to fly the T-38, and then you learn all about the systems on the shuttle, and then you start doing simulations. This training can be very intense, but it can be lots of fun. We also did land and water survival during training.

[ MikeAnderson - 70 - 13:35:21 ]
RE: [Kate] Did you have fun while you were in space?
Yes. I had a great deal of fun in space. There's nothing like it. Looking back at the planet below is great. Also, there's no gravity. Once you adapt, it's marvelous to just float around and take advantage of microgravity. Going to the Mir was great, visiting the cosmonauts in their "house."

[ MikeAnderson - 71 - 13:39:30 ]
RE: [Gretchen] Have you always wanted to be an austronat?? What other jobs would you like to try out and see if you like other jobs?
I guess I have to break it up into 2 parts. Within NASA, I would love to do a spacewalk. You put on the self-contained space suit and step out into space. So doing a space walk is something within NASA that I'd like to do. One day I'm going to leave NASA and pursue other interests and I think I'd like to be a teacher. It's important and lots of fun. I'd like to teach about science and math.

[ MikeAnderson - 72 - 13:40:26 ]
RE: [Rebecca] Have you ever brought home souveniers for your friends and family?
NASA allows every astronaut to fly 20 items for their own personal use, so I've taken things for my mom and dad and brought them back for them.

[ MikeAnderson - 73 - 13:41:30 ]
RE: [Sean] If you were to write a job description of what you do, how would it read?
A job to tackle the unknown, and take part in man's greatest adventure.

[ MikeAnderson - 79 - 13:42:46 ]
RE: [Kassi] what kind of books would you bring if you could bring books to space on you r space journeies?
We're so busy that we didn't have time for extra books so the only books we have are checklists and books that tell us how to operate and run the space shuttle. If I were on ISS, I'm sure I'll take a collection of science fiction. I think it'd also be good to have a good history book.

[ MikeAnderson - 83 - 13:46:10 ]
RE: [Cory] Who are your heroes?
I have a bunch of different heroes, but my dad is my #1 hero. He worked three jobs to provide for me.

[ MikeAnderson - 84 - 13:46:46 ]
RE: [mikestewart] Did you find normal life to be difficult in space?
It took a couple of days to adjust. Washing your face and brushing your teeth is a bit different in space. But you get used to it.

[ MikeAnderson - 85 - 13:47:30 ]
RE: [Tina] Do you have any astronauts that you really admire??
The original seven Mercury astronauts -- Gus Grissom, John Glenn, and the others. We all admire them for the bravery and dedication.

[ MikeAnderson - 86 - 13:47:50 ]
RE: [Drena] Do you have a family??? Are you married?? From Ayieko in Jackson Michigan
Yes, I'm married and have children.

[ MikeAnderson - 87 - 13:48:33 ]
RE: [Leona] do you think that more people should become astronauts?
I wish everyone could see what I've seen from space. I hope one day more people have the opportunity to go to space and you won't have to be an astronaut.

[ MikeAnderson - 92 - 13:49:29 ]
RE: [ Samantha - 82 - 13:45:20 ]
Did you train with any females?
About 22% of the current astronaut corps is female, and that's one thing that's different from teh original seven. When I came in 1995, there were all sorts of educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are opportunities for everyone.

[ MikeAnderson - 97 - 13:52:14 ]
RE: [Gretchen] Do you have any pets at your house?
I have a hamster called Misty, Hammy, or whatever we decide that day.

[ MikeAnderson - 98 - 13:52:57 ]
RE: ['] how long can you be in space ?
The longest anyone has been in space is about 400 days. That was a cosmonaut. Once we're on the International Space Station, I think we'll find out the answer to that question.

[ MikeAnderson - 103 - 13:54:47 ]
RE: [Kassi] what was it like for you when you took off?
The thing that felt the best was the satisfaction of knowing that I'd achieved my dream. That goes back to how you prepare yourself for being an astronaut. Preparing for whatever it is you want to be is what it's all about. When my dream came true, my sense of pride was immense.

[ MikeAnderson - 104 - 13:55:07 ]
RE: [Kenneth] Are you ready to go again
I'm ready to go right now. Sign me up and I'll go any time.

[ MikeAnderson - 106 - 13:56:06 ]
RE: [Justyn] How come we've only been to the moon once???
We've been to Moon six times. We haven't been back since then because we've been working with the Shuttle and the Space Station. But we still have questions about the Moon, and we may go back there in the next 10 years or so, and then on to Mars and beyond.

[ MikeAnderson - 107 - 13:58:46 ]
RE: [Patrick] what was the first thing you notied about zero grativy?
The first thing I noticed was how clumsy I was. I bumped into everything. I learned you have to do things very slowly and very carefully.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 108 - 14:00:12 ]
This concludes today's live web cast and chat with Astronaut Michael P. Anderson. We hope you have enjoyed today's special event. An archive of today's session will be available soon. Have a good day!