Space Team Online QuestChat

Date: January 31, 2001

Featuring: David Cox

Wed Jan 31 11:06:14 2001  The expert's featured url: http://quest.nasa.gov/space/team/cox.html


[ Linda/NASAQuest - 0 - 08:04:07 ]
This chat room is here to receive your questions for the chat on January 31 with David Cox. See David's profile at http://quest.nasa.gov/space/team/cox.html More information on this chat, as part of the series "Under Construction - the International Space Station" may be found at: http://quest.nasa.gov/space/events/ksc

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 4 - 09:33:52 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Space Team Online chat with David Cox from NASA Kennedy Space Center. One of the most important things David does is make sure that experiments never jeopardize the health and safety of the space shuttle crewmembers. His overall responsibility is to ensure to NASA that experiments in space to which he is assigned will be a success! The experiments David manages primarily deal with life sciences, along with a few physical science experiments.

[ DavidCox/KSC - 9 - 09:53:39 ]
Good morning everyone! I have settled in here at the computer and am very anxious to hear your questions!

[ DavidCox/KSC - 11 - 09:59:17 ]
RE: [FalconCoveMiddleSchool] What was your favorite experiment you developed?
Hello Falcon Cove! My favorite experiment that i have been involved in deals with growing wheat on the International Space Station. I am very impressed with how much we can learn from monitoring various growth characteristics of the plants. I have been involved with managing somewhere around a dozen experiments over the last three years. Each experiment usually costs anywhere from $500, 000 to 1 million dollars, which is rather cheap in NASA terms!

[ DavidCox/KSC - 13 - 10:04:09 ]
RE: [Ricky] Hi. I am going to be an Astronautical Engineer when I grow up. I have always been interested in space and space travel. I am wondering, what type of math is mostly used in astronautical engineering, and how so? Thanks.
Hi Ricky. Math and science are both very important to scientists and engineers. In order to be a good design engineer, you will need knowledge in the higher order mathematics such as Calculus and Differential Equations. These mathematical tools are used to predict the performance of whatever you are designing. This is extemely important when you are designing things that can danger human lives!

[ DavidCox/KSC - 15 - 10:10:31 ]
RE: [Kathy] You mention in your bio that you want to become an astronaut. What are you doing to get to that goal?
Hello Kathy. Becoming an Astronaut is something that many people dream of, including myself. I have been trying to diversify my experiences throughout my career at NASA. This has led me to my current position managing experiments that fly in space and are operated by Astronauts. I still have plenty of time to further develop my knowledge and background in human spaceflight which will someday make more marketable as an Astronaut candidate.

[ DavidCox/KSC - 17 - 10:14:52 ]
RE: [Dave] do you ever have arguments with the other countries involved with the ISS?
Hey Dave, GREAT name! The people involved with the International Space Station are extremely professional. I have never seen any arguments with other countries. Actually, after spending working with members from the Canadian Space Agency, Japanese Space Agency, French Space Agency, German Sapce Agency, and the European Space Agency the last couple of days, i was extremely impressed with everyone's dedication to space research and doing what is best for all humankind!

[ DavidCox/KSC - 19 - 10:24:30 ]
RE: [Victoria] Why would you want to grow plants in space?
Good Morning Victoria! We fly plants in space for many reasons. Through space research, we are able to learn more about the plants fundamental make up. This is very important to our ability to grow crops here on earth as well as understand the earth's ecological systems. We also need to learn more about the ability of plants to feed the Astronauts on long missions to other planets. You see, plants produce oxygen that we breathe, purify water, remove the carbon dioxide that we exhale, and give us food to eat!

[ DavidCox/KSC - 22 - 10:32:05 ]
RE: [DrMeriCummings/ClassroomOfTheFuture] Suppose we wanted to develop an experiment for ISS with an Earth component that all students could do. Where would we start? Could you walk us through the steps? Thanks!
Thanks Dr. Cummings. There are a number of ways that students can be involved in experiments. Actually, there is an experiment being conducted on board the International Space Station as part of the International JASON Student Program. They are growing soybean and other plants from seeds right now! Other methods of getting students invoved can be investigated through NASA's website at www.nasa.gov. Look for either Education Outreach or Research Opportunities. Happy surfing! The funding for these experiments are through NASA grants. This is where the Research Opportunities link will take you. Enjoy...

[ DrMeriCummings/ClassroomOfTheFuture - 26 - 10:36:01 ]
Thanks, David! Is the purpose of the ISS JASON plant experiments to observe the effects of the space environment on plant development? Can you refer us to a web site that might summarize that experiment?

[ DavidCox/KSC - 27 - 10:38:52 ]
RE: [Kay] How do you control body wastes from lab specimens (such as mice, etc.) onboard the shuttle or ISS to keep them from contaminating the air? It seems like microgravity would pose a problem.
Great question Kay! Waste products are certainly more difficult to deal with without gravity holding them to the desk top or floor. Therefore, we must use forced air circulation systems. And, yes, we must replace the filters much more frequently than you would change out your home air conditioner filter! Mice introduce more problems since their urine has a very strong odor. Typically, we will fly rats in place of mice. (They don't stink up the Station as bad!)

[ DavidCox/KSC - 28 - 10:49:48 ]
RE: [Laurie/WheelingWV] RE:One of the most important things David does is make sure that experiments never jeopardize the health and safety of the space shuttle crewmembers. Hi David, Here's my QUESTION: What are some of the dangers that you are most concerned about as you ensure astronaut (and cosmonaut) safety aboard the ISS? What are the risks that Life Science experiments (like growing wheat in space) may involve?
Hi Laurie! The primary safety concerns for biological experiments involve on of the ways in which we preserve the biological tissue. One of the ways that we stop cellular growth while the specimens are still in microgravity is to "fix" them. Some of you may remember in your biology class when you disected frogs? You noticed that the frogs looked alive, felt real, yet they were completely dead. Well, that is because the frog tissue was preserved with a chemical called Formaldehyde (sp?). Formaldehyde is a type of fixative that terminates the cellular growth without damaging the tissue. If such a chemical were to float into an Astronauts eye, it would certainly blind them! There are many other safety concerns, such as sharp edges, electrical shock, flamable materials, and the list goes on and on. Astronaut safety is our number one concern. Getting the experiment results is secondary.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 30 - 10:53:49 ]
I want to thank you for joining us today. David is actually out here at Ames with us, but he has to catch a plane back to Florida and the Kennedy Space Center. As David wraps up the last few questions we have time for, I wanted to let those of you asking astronomy questions know that there will be a webcast on astronomy this Friday. See http://quest.nasa.gov/space/events/jsc

[ DavidCox/KSC - 31 - 10:56:44 ]
RE: [Dave] In our class we read about that American civilian going up to the ISS on a Russian launch in April. What do you think about "Space Tourists" on the ISS?
Well. Dave, i am not so sure that there will be an American civilian on board the International Space Station very soon. I did hear some talk about civilians going to the Russian Space Station, MIR. Unfortunately, that may not happen since Russia is about to de-orbit their Space Station as a result of its age and free up people to work on the International Space Station. Personally, I would love to see civiliand fly in space! What an exciting vacation!! Right now, NASA's priorities are to get the International Space Station assembled as well as perform space research. Maybe in a few years, NASA will have a few tourist opportunities.

[ DavidCox/KSC - 33 - 10:59:14 ]
RE: [Linda/NASAQuest] I want to thank you for joining us today. David is actually out here at Ames with us, but he has to catch a plane back to Florida and the Kennedy Space Center. As David wraps up the last few questions we have time for, I wanted to let those of you asking astronomy questions know that there will be a webcast on astronomy this Friday. See http://quest.nasa.gov/space/events/jsc
Thanks Linda and all of the participants! And, don't forget to do your math and science homework!

[ DavidCox/KSC - 34 - 11:00:12 ]
Thanks Again!! It was really fun!!

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 35 - 11:03:45 ]
RE: [Laurie/WheelingWV] Thanks for answering my question about astronaut safety, David! Now, I want to know (I know this is secondary concern) how astronauts may unwittingly interfere with life science experiments flown on the ISS? Are you also concerned about human contamination of the "live" experiments?
Thanks Laurie and all participants. As I mentioned David has to catch his plane. Stay tuned, for the monthly events out of KSC (http://quest.nasa.gov/space/events/ksc). You'll have many chances to get the rest of your questions answered.