Space Team Online QuestChat

Date: October 23, 1998

Featuring: Stephen Long
ISS Flight Controller
NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 5 - 08:26:49 ]
Hello to our early arriving Space Team Online chat participants! Today's Space Team Online chat with Stephen Long from NASA Johnson Space Center will begin at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Time. Be sure you have read Stephen's autobiography at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/team/long.html before joining this chat.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 6 - 08:27:16 ]
Once the chat begins, Stephen will attempt to answer as many of your questions as she can, but please be patient. The chat will "moderated" if Stephen gets behind in answering your questions. This means that only a few questions will be posted to the chat room at a time. Don't worry if your questions do not appear on your screen immediately. They will be posted as Stephen answers those ahead of you.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 7 - 08:27:45 ]
As a reminder, remember to enter "Your Handle" in the box provided, before posting questions to the chat room. Once you've done this, please let us know that you have logged on for today's chat.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 8 - 08:29:06 ]
At the conclusion of today's chat, we ask that you take a few minutes to let us know what you thought about it. For your convenience, you may use our online feedback forms at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys. We look forward to hearing from you!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 9 - 08:58:56 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Space Team Online chat with Stephen Long from NASA Johnson Space Center! Stephen is part of a group called CATO, which stands for Communication and Tracking Office. Presently, Stephen is preparing to be an International Space Station (ISS) flight controller. He is in training, learning all the radio systems used on the ISS a nd the systems' capabilities. After training, he will be on console at Mission Control. His first flight to work on console is scheduled to be the 4th U.S. flight supporting the ISS, approximately August 1999.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 10 - 08:59:21 ]
And now, here is Stephen Long to answer your questions.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 19 - 09:01:58 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Valerie] How did you get so interested in electronics?
Well I became inerested in electronics when I was a boy. My father also is in electronics.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 22 - 09:04:05 ]
RE: [NBC/Joshua-Mrs.Hodges/NBC] Are you excited about your upcoming flight?
Yes, Joshua I very excited.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 23 - 09:06:54 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Danielle] Whut made you go to NASA?
Well I was just very lucky that NASA came to my school. So I gave them a resume, and ask me for an interview.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 25 - 09:08:34 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary] Mr. Long, How many years did it take to get involved with NASA once you applied?
Well I applied for my job three months before graduating from college and two month later I was here.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 26 - 09:09:37 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/Douglas/Katrina] When you were a kid was it hard to just get settled and then have to move?
Yes, I had a real hard time making new friends.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 30 - 09:10:37 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan-Mrs.Hodges/NBC] When you get your Dalmatian, what will you name it?
I want to name my Dalmatian Suzy

[ StephenLong/JSC - 31 - 09:11:58 ]
RE: [NBC/Eric] Where do you go cycling?
I like to cycle in the Hill Country of Texas. Thats near Austin.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 32 - 09:15:02 ]
RE: [NBC/Alexis] Mr. Long, I am interested in someday maybe working with NASA. Do you have any tips?
Yeah, work hard in all your school work it pays off. The big subject I use are Math and Science. And please stay in school.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 38 - 09:16:32 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan] What made you decide to join the Army?
Duncan, I joined the Army because I had dropped out of high school.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 39 - 09:18:14 ]
RE: [Gigi] How do you use math in your job?
Everyday I have to solve problems related to communication systems. A lot of Calculus.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 40 - 09:19:52 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan] Are you excited to go to Moscow?
Duncan, yes I very excited to be going to Moscow. I have always liked to travel to new places.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 41 - 09:24:19 ]
RE: [Stephanie] Can you explain your job better? What do you enjoy about it?
The neat thing about my job is that it's always change. This is a big plus for me, I'll never get bored. I'll add a journal enter soon that explains my job in detail.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 47 - 09:26:24 ]
RE: [Chris] What goes into becoming a communications expert on a shuttle mission?
Chris, it takes many hours of read, studing, and practice to become an expert.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 48 - 09:27:51 ]
RE: [Stephanie] As a child, did you ever imagine you would work with NASA?
Stephanie, I never dreamed of working at NASA.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 49 - 09:29:06 ]
As a reminder, let us know what you thought about today's chat at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 50 - 09:30:12 ]
RE: [pam] What will you actually be responsible for on the flight?
pam, I'll be responsible for all the different radios that the astronuats need to do their jobs.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 53 - 09:33:05 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Ashley] What is it like to work for NASA. HOw is it different thatn other companies?
Good question. The big difference between NASA and other companies is that we get to sent people and equipment into space.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 54 - 09:34:59 ]
RE: [Katie] Why do we need to spend a lot of money to get a space station instead of finding new cures for cancer?
Katie, the space station is one of the new place we hope to find cures for cancer.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 55 - 09:36:14 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan] What was the shortest time you stayed in one place?
Duncan, I lived in Minnasota for only three years.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 60 - 09:38:31 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Zac] I like to play video games. Do you and do they help yu improve any skills for your job?
Yes, Zac I like playing video games, but they have not helped me will my job. But in the future who knows.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 61 - 09:40:01 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Chris] Have you ever watched a space shuttle lauch up close?
No Chris I have not had the chance, but some day so I hope to get the chance to see a launch.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 62 - 09:42:19 ]
RE: [JAN] Explain the connection between flight controller and a science background.
JAN, this is a good question. I use science very day as a flight controller.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 63 - 09:45:33 ]
RE: [Katie] How do you talk to the astronaunts?
Katie, we use radios to talk to the astronuats when thier on orbit, and I get to talk to them a lot here at work.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 64 - 09:46:24 ]
RE: [Joshua] I think that talking to you is very interesting. I thank you for your time.
Well thank you Joshua!

[ StephenLong/JSC - 71 - 09:48:10 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan] What band instrument did you play?
I played the Tuba.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 73 - 09:50:08 ]
RE: [MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Melinda] What would you do for a job as a second choice if you weren't an electronics specialist?
Melinda, I guess I'd be a History or Math Teacher.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 76 - 09:51:26 ]
RE: [Stephanie] Did your family support you in your decision to join the Army?
Yes, my family was very supportive when I joined the Army.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 77 - 09:53:04 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan] Which do you like better, mountian biking or road?
Duncan, I like to ride on the road more so then Mountian Biking.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 78 - 09:53:51 ]
We'd like to remind everyone to let us know what you thought about today's chat by using our online feedback surveys at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 79 - 09:56:31 ]
RE: [Devon] What kind of radio do you use to talk to people in space?
Devon, we have around seven different radios, with fun names like S-band and Ku-band.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 80 - 09:57:43 ]
RE: [NBC/Duncan] Right now I'm playing the Tuba too!!
Duncan, keep a stiff upper lip.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 81 - 09:59:22 ]
RE: [NBC/Joshua] What kind of classes did you have to go through to be where you are today?
A lot of Math and Science classes.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 86 - 10:03:55 ]
RE: [Eric] Do you like answering and talking to other people on the Internet? I think that talking to you was very interesting and fun. My science group was brainstorming ideas to study on the other day. Our main idea was space. The other day I saw the movie Lost In Space. Have you? After I saw that movie I wanted to learn more about space because in the movie takes place in the year 2058. In that time the people had discovered and explored many other galaxies. They had also built many space stations in the different galaxies that were many light-years away. I thought that it was very interesting. If you haven't seen the movie you should go see it, if you have what did you think of it?
Eric, I have seen Lost in Space. I like it a lot, cool FX.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 88 - 10:06:29 ]
RE: [Joshua] In school, what were your favorite subjects?
My favorite subject in school was Math.

[ StephenLong/JSC - 89 - 10:10:01 ]
RE: [Alexis] Who will be going to the ISS when you are in Mission Control for the first time?
I do not know which astronuats are assigned to my flight yet.

[ MrsSullivan/DouglasElementary/Zac - 70 - 09:47:44 ]
Thank you Mr. Long for letting us talk with you. This is our first chat. We will take part in more. We now have to attend an assembly with a visiting author: Jane Stroschin. Have a great flight in 1999!!!

[ Eric - 85 - 10:01:08 ]
I think you are cool.

[ Joshua - 72 - 09:49:45 ]
Bye-Bye

[ Stephanie - 42 - 09:24:29 ]
Thank you for taking time to talk to me , but it's time for me to go. thanks again.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 90 - 10:16:04 ]
This concludes today's Space Team Online chat with Stephen Long from NASA Johnson Space Center. Thank you to EVERYONE for joining us today!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 95 - 10:19:38 ]
A special thanks to Stephen Long from NASA Johnson Space Center for sharing his time and expertise with us online today!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 91 - 10:16:41 ]
We would like to remind you to give us feedback about today's chat at http://quest.arc.nasa.govqchats/qchat-surveys.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 93 - 10:18:13 ]
Be sure to join us for our next Space Team Online chat on Thursday, November 4 at 9:00 a.m. PST with Sherri Carlson from NASA Kennedy Space Center. You can find out more about this chat on the STO chat schedule page at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/chats.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 94 - 10:18:57 ]
To learn about other chats with NASA experts, visit our schedule of events page at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/common/events.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 96 - 10:20:16 ]
Thank you again for joining us for today's chat.