Archived chat with Rose Grymes

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 4 - 10:04:29 ]
I bet many of you are just back from Spring Vacation, or Ski Week, or something. I am, too. Is there anyone out there?

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 6 - 10:26:44 ]
Hi, Sarah. The Space Station's primary use will be scientific investigations--but it will have a distinct advantage over the Shuttle. On ISS, we will be able to do longer term experiments in microgravity. This is particularly important in the life sciences--for example, on ISS we can look at multiple generations of plant growth, seed to seed in orbit.

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 8 - 10:28:25 ]
RE: [Sarah] Will the space station be used for science like the shuttle is?
Another important aspect of the long term capability of ISS is doing repeat experiments. In scientific investigations, one try is NEVER enough--we need to repeat observations to get a statistically meaningful answer.

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 9 - 10:29:57 ]
RE: [Sarah] Cool! Will the astronauts grow food?
NASA researchers at Ames Research Center in California, Johnson Space Center in Texas, and Kennedy Space Center in Florida are all experimenting on plants for food crops--calculating how much plant biomass is necessary to support the crew, both for food and for oxygen generation. Plants can also help recycle the water used in flight.

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 11 - 10:33:22 ]
RE: [Sarah] So When will the space station be launched?
The Space Station will be built in orbit--pieces of it, modules we call them, are being designed and constructed by NASA and by our international partners. These will be launched and brought into orbit using transport, like the Shuttle, then moved into the right relationships and constructed in space! We're certainly going to be 'living' and 'working' in space--and 'working' pretty hard! Tell me a little about yourself, Sarah, are you interested in exploring space?

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 14 - 10:39:19 ]
RE: [Sarah] I don't know if I would like to go into space. I have read about Mir and it sounds scary to have fires and crashes. I like to read about it vicariously (is that how you spell that work?) I like the movie Appollo 13 but i was worried for the kids and the moms.
Yes, that IS how you spell vicariously. Of course, NASA and the Russian Space Agency, like all others, work very hard and very carefully to make sure that space exploration is as safe as we can make it. But you're right, it takes brave and motivated people. You might be interested in reading some of the biographies posted at the NeurOn site, also part of the Quest website. NeurOn talks about Neurolab, a life sciences mission scheduled for launch in April, and lets you meet a variety of people who are working to support the mission, both on the ground and in flight.

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 15 - 10:40:48 ]
RE: [Sarah] I'm in 6th grade do you think the space station will be in space when I am through college like in 10 yrs?
Well, the current projections have modules launched and some operational in the 2002-2005 time frame. So it looks like the Station will be very much a 'go' while you're in college. My daughter is in 8th grade. She's thinking about being a lawyer. What's your favorite subject? (Even if it's not your best!)

[ Sarah - 16 - 10:42:09 ]
I am best at math but right now I like science best

[ Sarah - 17 - 10:42:49 ]
We are studying rocks and geology

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 21 - 10:45:34 ]
RE: [Sarah] I am best at math but right now I like science best
Science and math sounds like a great combination--if you're studying geology you might like to check out the website about Lunar Prospector at http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov. Don't forget English and Writing, though. Look how we're communcating, you and I. I spend a lot of time at a computer, writing to people using electronic mail and producing all kinds of written documents and reports. Being able to communicate clearly in your writing is VERY important. By the way, how am I doing?

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 22 - 10:46:03 ]
RE: [Sarah] do you know the address for Nueron??
NeurOn is http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/neuron

[ Rose/NASAAmes - 23 - 10:46:49 ]
RE: [Sarah] THis chat was fun! I have to go to band now, is there going to be another one maybe I can tell my teacher?
This is better answered by our moderator, Bill. Bill?

[ Bill/NASAChatHost - 24 - 10:47:10 ]
There will be a second program about the Space Station on February 26 call "Open For Business". Following this program there will be a second web chat @ 10:00a on the following page: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/chat/prj-ltc/special/main/chat.cgi

[ Bill/NASAChatHost - 25 - 10:57:44 ]
Is there any last questions for our expert?

[ Bill/NASAChatHost - 26 - 11:02:10 ]
We will have to end the chat now. Thanks to everyone who participated today!