[ Linda/NASAQuest - 3 - 08:13:23 ]
If you attempt to post messages in the chat room at this time, they will not appear on your screen. However, they will remain in our chat queue and may be posted during the chat. We look forward to hearing from you!

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 5 - 09:57:17 ]
RE: [Bertus] Hi I Hope I am Not too late for the chat.South_African time are different from GMT.If not I would like to say Hi to Brion and I want to know where I can get Pictures of earthKAM.Thanks Alot again and have a good day....Greetings from S.A..
Hi Bertus, Thanks for checking in. We will be starting in about 1/2 hour. Do hope you can join us live! If not, feel free to submit your questions, and we will post them to the chat room after 10:30 Pacific time.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 7 - 10:27:21 ]
RE: [Linda/NASAQuest] Hi Bertus, Thanks for checking in. We will be starting in about 1/2 hour. Do hope you can join us live! If not, feel free to submit your questions, and we will post them to the chat room after 10:30 Pacific time.
The images are available at the University of California at San Diego EarthKAM web page at WWW.earthkam.ucsd.edu

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 8 - 10:32:19 ]
Good morning (at least here in California). Brion is online from Houston, and ready for your questions!

[ BrionAu/JSC - 11 - 10:34:23 ]
Hello everyone! I'm very happy and ready to answere questions about how students can control a payload from their schooland accompish research and learning all at once.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 13 - 10:39:56 ]
RE: [Jay] Does the EarthKam travel on all the shuttle flights? Will there be one permanently on space station?
No it doesn't. Only the missions that Dr. Sally Ride has requested that it fly and it is coordinated throught all of NASA. The astronauts must receive training on how to set it up and how to resolve problems if we have any. Lots of teamwork involved in making it fly! The students on the ground must also prepare (learn how to target specific geographic points and more).

[ BrionAu/JSC - 15 - 10:44:45 ]
RE: [John] When the camera is on the shuttle, is there a point in the orbit where you can't control it from Earth?
We control when the camera takes pictures by compiling a "script" which runs on a laptop computer connected to the camera. since we know the precise position of the orbiter, we sync up when the orbiter will be over the geographic point to be photographed. The sript is prepared one orbit in advance.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 17 - 10:47:27 ]
RE: [Thomas] Can my school participate in the project? How?
Yes, any school can participate. It will require partnering up with a representative from NASA and receiving approval of a research project. The details for becoming involved are located on the EarthKAM Web Page at WWW.earthkam.ucsd.edu

[ BrionAu/JSC - 21 - 10:49:51 ]
RE: [Jason] Who came up with the idea for EarthKAM?
Dr. Sally Ride! She had an idea and coordinated the project with the NASA administrator Dr. Dan Goldin and began working with the office in NASA in charge of educational outreach. EarthKAM was originally known as KidSat.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 23 - 10:52:36 ]
RE: [Terry] Can you explain what you're wearing in the picture in your biography?
I'm wearing a clean-room gown, hat and shoe covers ("bunny-suit"). I am inside the Orbiter Endeavour, working with the Pilot Dom Gorie on training and making sure all of the EarthKAM components will fit.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 26 - 10:55:03 ]
RE: [EastMiddleSchool] Thanks for your answers, We have to go now - We'll come back and see the answers to the rest later.
Be sure to visit our NASA QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats to send us feedback about today's chat. We look forward to hearing from you again soon!

[ BrionAu/JSC - 27 - 10:58:02 ]
RE: [Brenda] What's it like to know a famous astronaut like Sally Ride?
It's very nice and and reminds me that working anywhere with anyone is possible if you prepare. Working at NASA is a lifelong dream that is now realized. Dr. Sally Ride is a very busy, intelligent and extreamly nice person to work with. She understands the necessity of teamwork and counts on me to do my job.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 28 - 10:59:07 ]
RE: [EastMiddleSchool] Thanks for your answers, We have to go now - We'll come back and see the answers to the rest later.
It's been my pleasure!!! Reach for the Stars.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 29 - 11:01:36 ]
RE: [John] What happens if the timing is off? Can you correct the "script" in real time?
No. We have to get it right the first time!

[ BrionAu/JSC - 30 - 11:04:56 ]
RE: [Debbie] How does something that's made for middle school get onto the shuttle?
The whole payload must be designed, tested and certified for flight prior to any operations happening in space. This is my main job. After getting approval to fly, it must be flown as a "test" before receiving a full certification for flight.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 32 - 11:10:25 ]
RE: [Ozzie] Do you ever still want to be an astronaut?
Yes I do. I would jump at the chance to become an astronaut. Only a few qualify to be astronauts and they rely on a very large group of NASA employees to make their on-orbit time as safe and productive as possible. I'm very proud to be part of their support team.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 33 - 11:12:18 ]
RE: [Ron] Can anyone see the pictures that have been taken? How often has it flown?
All of the images available at the EarthKAM Web Site at WWW.earthkam.ucsd.edu

[ BrionAu/JSC - 35 - 11:18:17 ]
RE: [Ron] Can anyone see the pictures that have been taken? How often has it flown?
The EarthKAM payload has flown seven times. The most recent was STS-99 (February 2000). We are now getting the payload ready for operations aboard the International Space Station. We should begin operations shortly after the U.S. Laboratory Module is carried up on what we know as flight 5A.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 36 - 11:20:52 ]
As I do not see any more questions coming in, I want to personally thank Brion for his time today answering student questions. We hope you have enjoyed today's NASA Quest Space Team Online chat with Brion Au from NASA Johnson Space Center. As a final reminder, please visit our NASA QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats to send us your feedback about today's chat.

[ BrionAu/JSC - 38 - 11:23:15 ]
RE: [Linda/NASAQuest] I want to thank Brion for his time. If you are online live and still have a question, please get it to us now so Brion can get back to his job.
Thank-you everyone for the questions. The questions were very good. My time was certainly well spent.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 39 - 11:23:56 ]
An archive of today's chat will be available soon. Thank you again for joining us today and have a good day.