[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 3 - 10:12:07 ]
Portions of today's chat will be MODERATED to help Rick keep up with our questions. This means we will post a few questions in the chat room at a time.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 4 - 10:12:52 ]
DON'T WORRY if you don't see your messages appear on your screen immediately during moderation. We will post your questions in the chat room every few minutes once we get started.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 5 - 10:15:11 ]
At the conclusion of today's chat, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us. Visit our NASA QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats to use our online feedback forms after today's chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 11 - 10:32:03 ]
Hello and welcome to today's National Engineers' Week chat with Rick Hashimoto from Boeing.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 12 - 10:32:14 ]
Rick Hashimoto is responsible for ensuring that any changes in Space Shuttle design or processes or procedures do not cause problems. Rick also studies possible hazards that could occur on the shuttle, from its preparation on the ground through its landing after a mission.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 13 - 10:32:34 ]
And now, here is Rick Hashimoto to answer your questions.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 18 - 10:34:46 ]
As a reminder, we will post a few questions in the chat room at a time for Rick to answer. More questions will be posted every few minutes. But DON'T WORRY-- we see your questions in our chat queue and will post them soon!

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 19 - 10:36:54 ]
RE: [John] What are some of the problems that occur with shuttle design changes?
John, Like a car mechanic. Some good intended design and procedure changes may not turn out as well as expected because when we begin to analyze changes from different perspective, there may be some adverse effects. Perhaps a light weight plastic material is good for weight but may not last as long in a space environment.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 21 - 10:42:08 ]
RE: [Rizwan] What is the material used in space shuttle cockpit and shuttle protection tiles.
Rizwan, Because of its strength and light weight, Aluminum is used extensively on the Space Shuttle including the Cockpit. The thermal protection system is a carbon-carbon composite to protect the vehicle from the high temperature re-entry condition.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 25 - 10:45:51 ]
RE: [JoshCorbinAnthony] What inspired you to be a safety engineer?
I first started in the mechanical design area in the Apollo Program as you may know. When I changed jobs at a different company they needed someone to help with the Reliability and Safety area. Because I liked working with numbers, I decided to try and that's kind of history?

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 26 - 10:47:21 ]
RE: [Dick] Rick, your background & foreground are similar to mine.I found out about your chat on the Quest. I am getting more involved with a similar program here at Goddard with NASA Mike.Lets chat later if you like. I put up now as I may be in meeting later. Dick
Dick, If you're at Goddard, I'll need your last name to look you up in the NASA directory.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 29 - 10:50:16 ]
RE: [Rizwan] what is the maximum space shuttle altitude limit on which it travel.
Although the attitude for the Shuttle depends on each mission, it can be as high as 200 nautical miles (250 statute miles)

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 31 - 10:52:57 ]
RE: [JoshCorbinAnthony] What is it like to be this far away from home?
This far away from home? 250 miles from earth is not too far. There's hundreds of people working on the ground to monitor the Shuttle as well as a constant communication between the Shuttle and the ground - so you're never really far from "home".

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 33 - 10:57:04 ]
RE: [JoshCorbinAnthony] What was your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school was math, science, and art. That's why my objective at school was to try my "hand" at mechanical design. Back then we used a drafting board, paper, and slide rule as opposed to computers.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 35 - 10:59:34 ]
While Rick continues to answer our questions, we once again invite you to share your comments with us. Visit our NASA QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats to use our feedback feature.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 38 - 11:03:01 ]
RE: [Rizwan] I am from pakistan can i apply as a payload specialist in NASA STS program an d what are the nesseccary qualification required for the payload specialist.
Rizwan, you can learn about the requirements for becoming a mission specialist on the NASA Astronaut Biographies page, at http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 40 - 11:04:38 ]
RE: [Rizwan] is space shuttle is equiped with the GPS and what is the estimate cost of space shuttle
The GPS has flown on the Shuttle as a test equipment on the certain flight but has not been used as a standard equipment. The Star Tracker has been used from the beginning as one of the standard Shuttle navigation equipment.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 41 - 11:07:21 ]
RE: [John-Mrs.Jaramillo/LEAH] Is there a software program you might recommend for a future scientist entering high-school that would allow for experimenting with space design?
I'm not a software person so I'm not sure how to answer this. C++ and UNIX are used in many programs we use on the ground.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 43 - 11:09:04 ]
RE: [JoshCorbinAnthony-Mrs.Meredith/JeffersonElementarySchool] Have you ever missed any mistakes on a space shuttle, if so what happend?
Unfortunately mistakes are made - that's why we have several checks before procedures are executed.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 45 - 11:11:52 ]
RE: [Pam-Mr.Rodkey/KeystoneOaksHighSchool] Rick, we are high school students who also enjoy astronomy, science, and math. We were wondering if you have to be super smart to pursue a career similar to yours?
I don't think one needs to be real smart to work in this field. Fortunately everyone is not a Rocket Scientist. There's all kind of opportunity at various levels - but it would help to be willing to put a 100% effort into it.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 47 - 11:14:31 ]
RE: [Pam] Rick, What type of tests do you perform on the shuttles? And how long do they take?
Although most of the tests were already performed during the development of the Shuttle. Anytime there's new things added test for strength and durability must be performed. Also in a vacuum environment - outgassing / offgassing of materials must be considered.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 50 - 11:18:56 ]
RE: [Pam] What does it take to become an aerospace engineer? Are there a lot of jobs in this career? Where did you go to college? What colleges do you recomend?
I went to my local community college before I transferred to my local State University. To cut cost, I commuted from home without living in a dorm. Most major colleges and university has a program in engineering and sciences that you might examine. As stated earlier, I don't think you need to be real smart to work in this field because there's all kind of opportunity at various levels.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 54 - 11:21:12 ]
RE: [JoshCorbinAnthony] Is the work you do hard?
The work can be challenging - not just on a mental level but also on other aspect. I believe the work we do is at a level that satisfies us without making it too frustratingly difficult.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 55 - 11:21:14 ]
We would like to invite you to participate in our other National Engineers' Week chats this week, as well as our month long series of Black History Month chats with NASA experts. Check our NASA QuestChat home page at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 56 - 11:23:45 ]
RE: [Pam] Rick, If you could give one good piece of advice to the class of 2000 what would it be and why?
One good advice - do more than 100% - it may not be easy but not that much more. Just doing 105% and 110% could be having a product that's OK and great.

[ Pam - 57 - 11:24:25 ]
Thank you for your time. We appreciate it greatly and will use the knowledge you gave us and pass it along to our classmates.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 58 - 11:24:51 ]
RE: [Pam] Thank you for your time. We appreciate it greatly and will use the knowledge you gave us and pass it along to our classmates.
Pam, we're glad you could join us for today's chat, and hope to hear from you again!

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 60 - 11:25:49 ]
RE: [JoshCorbinAnthony] How many hours do you work in a day?
I sure would hate to scare anybody. Let's just say were allowed to work 8 hours a day for a 40 hour week but to do the little extra to satisfy myself - I put in a little more.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 61 - 11:29:05 ]
This concludes today's National Engineers' Week chat with Rick Hashimoto from Boeing. We would like to thank everyone for joining us today, and for your great questions. Our special thanks to Rick Hashimoto for sharing his time and career experience with us today. THANK YOU, Rick!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 62 - 11:30:17 ]
A final reminder to our participants and observers to visit our NASA QuestChat Information Center to send your feedback to us, and learn about our upcoming National Engineers' Week and Black History Month chats this month. You can reach the QIC at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats.

[ RickHashimoto/Boeing - 63 - 11:30:25 ]
Thanks for the opportunity once again to participate in this program. The hour goes by too quickly. I hope I can do this again. Thanks to all and have a great day!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 64 - 11:31:44 ]
RE: [RickHashimoto/Boeing] Thanks for the opportunity once again to participate in this program. The hour goes by too quickly. I hope I can do this again. Thanks to all and have a great day!
Our pleasure, Rick. We enjoyed having you with us today, and hope to have you online again. Have a great day yourself!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 65 - 11:32:17 ]
Thank you again to our participants for joining us for today's chat, and we hope you're able to join us online again in the near future. Have a good day!