[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 5 - 09:02:26 ]
Welcome to today's NASA Quest Space Team Online chat with Tony Ceccacci from NASA Johnson Space Center.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 6 - 09:02:57 ]
And now, here is Tony Ceccacci to answer your questions.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 10 - 09:05:39 ]
RE: [MrsSinclair] Mr. Ceccacci, I am from Michigan too! I love the Detroit Tigers and also share your sense of pride for the 1968 World Series. On a personal note, who was your favorite tiger?
My favorite '68 Tiger was Willie Horton

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 14 - 09:11:22 ]
RE: [Maria] When you mean "on loan" do you mean you will be returning to your previous job or will this turn out to be permanent? What are some of the flight rules? On your prior assignment, how do the shuttle fuel cells generate water?
Answer 1 - Yes, I'll be returning to my previous job. I was lucky enough that my boss let me go to do the X-38 project but I had to promise I'd come back (Maybe he thought I needed a rest). Answer 2 - Flight Rules are a list a different failures that could occur on the orbiter and what actions we should take if that failure occurs. For instance, if we lost 2 Fuel Cells (we only have 3) the rules say that we will come home at the next opportunity. Answer 3) The Fuel Cels generate water by the chemical reaction of Hydrogen and Oxygen.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 15 - 09:13:43 ]
RE: [IndunilFernandoindividualinSriLanka] I am very sorry that i could not make it in time.Iwould like to ask Mr.Ceccacci,whether it would be usefull to obtain a Degree IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING,to some day join the NASA as an ASTRONAUT?
Yes. A degree in Aerospace Engineering or any Engineering degree is a step in the right direction to becoming an astronaut. We need smart folks like you to ensure we have a future in space.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 17 - 09:15:27 ]
RE: [Gregory] Hello, Mr. Ceccacci I was wondering (I am in High School) what classes would I have to take to get a job at NASA?
The classes you take in High School should concentrate on Math, Science and physics. These will help you when you go to college and get your engineering degree.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 19 - 09:17:51 ]
RE: [Duncan] What is a parafoil?
A parafoil is a very maneuverable parachute. It's rectangular in shape and allows you to steer it to an exact spot. If you've ever seen skydivers this is the kind of chute they use.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 21 - 09:20:10 ]
RE: [Karl] How long will it be before you will have an X-38 that will be able to hold passenger?
Karl, The X-38 vehicle I'm working on is an engineering flight test vehicle and won't hold any passengers. The current schedule shows that the space operational CRV (X-38's other name) should be ready by the year 2005.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 23 - 09:22:55 ]
RE: [Shannon] What is the purpose behind the design of the X-38 (the way it is built)?
Shannon, The purpose of the X-38 (Crew Return Vehicle) is to be the emergency lifeboat on the International Space Station. The CRV will be used to return the crew to earth in an emergency (Crew sick, station has a leak) if the shuttle is not docked to the station.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 27 - 09:26:13 ]
RE: [Andrew] Whatsubject do you want to teach if you become a teacher?
Andrew, I was thinking that when I do go into teaching I want to teach Kindergarten or grades 1-3 so I'll have to be smart in all subjects. I want to get the kids interested in what's going on all around them (space, engineering, etc.) and try to plant the seed that we need them to go school including college can you guys are our future.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 30 - 09:28:57 ]
RE: [JoecFahn] Will you nencourage young children to follow in your footsteps.
Yes definitely! They are our future. I never imagined that I would be where I am today. I just want the kids to know that the sky's the limit. Whatever they put their mind to they can achieve.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 31 - 09:31:31 ]
RE: [shelie] did your family being by your side help make you become what you are today?
Shelly, my parents were really neat and wanted to make sure I did all I could to have and get better then what they had. They supported me 100%. Couple things that I learned from them that have stuck with me forever are : Treat people like you want to be treated and whatever you do give it 110%

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 34 - 09:34:46 ]
RE: [DuncanLondonOntarioCanadaNearDetroit] The ISS is behind schedule in construction. How much longer do you think it will take to complete?
Unfortunately like you said, the station is behind schedule. This is based on a variety of reasons but everyone here in NASA is learning by those reasons. The current schedule has the station complete data of around mid 2005. The station lifetime is currently to 2020. So we'll have a long time to utilize it's capabilities.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 35 - 09:36:54 ]
RE: [KAC] Do you still play baseball even if you didn't make the pros?
I retired from baseball but have replaced it with softball. I'm on a team here at JSC and we play a couple times a week and on tournaments during the weekend (when are girlfriends and wives will let us).

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 38 - 09:38:33 ]
RE: [BlingblingKatie] You mentioned that you would like to become a teacher. Would you be waiting to teach until after you are finished with nasa, or after a while quit nasa and start your teaching career???
Most likely after I complete all the goals I want to achieve at NASA. I'm going to start classes to get my teaching certificate this fall and who knows.....

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 42 - 09:40:45 ]
RE: [Gohan] Since you have a lot of responsibillities do you ever mess up or lose track of your work?
Gohan, No sir. We understand the responsibility we have (crew persons lives are in our hands) so we ensure that we stay on the ball.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 44 - 09:48:14 ]
At the conclusion of today's chat, be sure to visit our NASA QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats to share your thoughts about today's chat with us. We look forward to hearing from you!

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 45 - 09:49:03 ]
RE: [Nicolett] Do you think that schools should focus more on flight in science class?
Nicolett, Not really. They have a good plan to get you guys educated. But I do feel they need to get you guys informed of the opportunities and technologies that are being developed.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 46 - 09:51:36 ]
RE: [Ashley] How did you like hanging out of a helicpoter? Are you going to be there when they test the Vheicle201?
Ashley, It was great. Cold at 12,000 ft but what a great view. As far as V-201 testing, I'll most likely be doing a new job so I won't support it in a helicopter.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 49 - 09:53:04 ]
RE: [Nicolett] How many projects have you worked on since you got your job?
Everytime I turn around it seems they're handing me something new to do. I Love it and the responsibility! As far as the number of things, I lost count.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 50 - 09:53:58 ]
RE: [Maria] Mr. Ceccacci, Do you really think that these chats are beneficial for 7,8,9 graders? Because I'm thinking of incorporating them into my classes comprised of these students. (By the way our program is sponsored by NASA, Proyecto Access.)(Visit our web site if you get a chance, ellserver3.njcu.edu/proyecto)
Hi Maria, It's good to see you "trying our chats on." I want to assure you that I have not forgotten your desire to participate with us this summer. We are actually considering some bilingual chats. If you are receiving the STO Updates, you'll certainly receive notice should we be able to schedule some. Let me hear from you again.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 51 - 09:55:31 ]
RE: [Shannon] I am currently a high school student and I would some day like to work for NASA. In a newsletter I receive from NASA, it said I had to be 16 to get a job with NASA. Is there anyway to get involved now? (I just turned 15).
Shannon, Yes, get involved to show you are interested. I would contact the human resource folks at any NASA center and ask them what you can do to make sure you are in the system.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 52 - 09:57:43 ]
RE: [Brenda] Tony, thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity. I teach in St.Thomas, Ontario, not far from Detroit, and my class is here watching this chat. They really appreciate this chance to talk to you. Our (Duncan's) next question is when do you think NASA will get to Mars?
Well as you know we have landed on Mars with the lunar rover a couple years ago. As far as manned presence on Mars the goal and vision of NASA is to be there around 2015. That means we have a bunch of work ahead of us.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 55 - 10:00:35 ]
RE: [Marie] Is there anything you can do about the threats of canceling the science program?
Haven't heard any talk of canceling the science program. What we need is the continued support from the public to ensure this doesn't happen. There have been many new technologies, medical advancements that have come form the space program. We need to continue it for the future.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 57 - 10:03:52 ]
RE: [Shannon] Early on in the ISS assembly, I read that it was estimated to be finished around 2002-2004. How much has that date changed since the Russians (perhaps others too) have fallen behind due to their economic problems?
Shannon, The schedule shows completion around Mid 2005. Hopefully the Russians can maintain that schedule.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 61 - 10:08:05 ]
RE: [Shannon] Will the ISS threaten to drop orbit again and if it does, will this continue to be a threat?
Because of the drag in space, the ISS orbit will always decay. Whenever we get the opportunity, we do orbit adjust burns to raise the orbit to keep the ISS from falling out of the sky. We use the shuttle, we use the Russian progress vehicles and we use the current Russian attitude control system (FGB) that is in orbit.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 62 - 10:08:42 ]
RE: [Shannon] You just mentioned that the lifetime of the ISS is currently to 2020. After this, what does NASA plan on using?
The NASA vision is to hopefully go back to the Moon and then onto Mars.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 65 - 10:11:03 ]
RE: [Shannon] Mr. Ceccacci, thank you for taking time to answer our questions. I was wondering how many people work in your department/field at JSC?
In my department I have 70 folks. At JSC, there are approximately 4000 employees.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 67 - 10:13:56 ]
RE: [JoecFahn] Have you always loved science or did you see a plane one day and fell in love with them.
Good question. Growing up in Detroit, I was more interested in cars than space so that's where I really wanted to work. But I had the opportunity to come work at JSC and haven't regretted that decision. Not to many people do what I do, and the people I work with (including astronauts) are great!

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 70 - 10:16:40 ]
RE: [Shannon] Are there any specific colleges to go to that would help someone work for NASA?
I would go to a college with a good engineering school! There are many different colleges represented here at NASA (Purdue, Texas A&M, U of Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc.)

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 71 - 10:18:02 ]
RE: [Marina] What was your old classmates from high school's respond when they saw you in your fastinating job?
They couldn't believe it!

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 75 - 10:21:46 ]
RE: [Lorrell] How much time and effort do you feel you need to put forth in order to spend time with your kids, and give the project your all?
I don't have any kids yet, but what's important to me is to make sure I have a balanced work and home life (and when I do have kids I'll make sure of that). That is stressed by all our managers. Of course there are times you need to work extra long to get a task completed and that is required. I enjoy my job tremendously but I also realize that life is to short to spend it all day at work.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 77 - 10:24:04 ]
RE: [Linda] Do you ever get discouraged or want to give up when something was very dificult?
No ma'am. We all get discouraged sometimes, but we need to press forward with what we think is the right thing to do to get our jobs completed. Myself, I like stress, action, etc. and do my best under these circumstances. That's why I loved being a flight controller and doing what I am doing know.

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 79 - 10:27:23 ]
RE: [Nicole] Did a teacher influence you to want to become a teacher?
Not really. I Love working with kids and have a good relationship with them (must be because I have never grown up). I just have seen to many kids not given the opportunity or not told that they can do anything their mind can dream. I want to be a teacher for the "little" kids (K-3) and hopefully influence them to reach for the stars.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 80 - 10:28:07 ]
We are delighted that so many of you have been able to continue with us. We are nearing the hour and a half time (already Tony has indulged us with an extra half hour). We don't want to keep him away from his job though. Please don't forget to give us your feedback at the end of this chat at: http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 81 - 10:28:43 ]
RE: [KAC] Have you ever wanted to just follow directions from a leader instead of being the leader?
SOmetimes you like to be responsible for just yourself and not all the folks that work for you. But then you realize your a leader of the future and you get going again...

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 82 - 10:29:38 ]
RE: [Shannon] Now that you are at NASA and you have seen what astronauts do, would you ever like to leave Earth and see what space is like?
I'd Love to go into space. It would be a "neat" trip!

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 83 - 10:31:08 ]
RE: [Shannon] What do you believe we will accomplish in space exploration in the coming 30 years?
We are looking at a successful space station that benefits all mankind, looking at revisiting the Moon and of course going to Mars (and vist the Martians.

[ Linda/NASAQuest - 84 - 10:32:22 ]
Thank you Tony for your answers to our questions. This has been fun for me, and I hope both fun and a learning experience for all.

[ Shannon - 85 - 10:32:45 ]
NASA and Mr. Ceccacci, thanks for this great opportunity and thanks for chatting with us!

[ TonyCeccacci/JSC - 86 - 10:33:25 ]
RE: [Linda/NASAQuest] Thank you Tony for your answers to our questions. This has been fun for me, and I hope both fun and a learning experience for all.
Thanks to everyone for their questions. Have a Great Day!