[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 0 - 22:54:40 ]
Hello and welcome to our second Women of NASA "Global Science & Technology Week" QuestChats! Our very special guest today is Lynn Cline, NASA's deputy associate administrator for International Relations. Lynn will discuss the evolution of the International Space Station partnership and what each country is contributing.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 1 - 22:55:39 ]
Be sure to read Lynn's bio BEFORE the chat begins so that you don't ask questions that have already been answered in her bio -- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/women/bios/cline.html

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 4 - 10:59:41 ]
RE: [Nicole] Has the chat started yet?
Hi Nicole! The chat will begin in 5 minutes... Have your questions ready :-)

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 5 - 11:06:04 ]
Welcome to our international space chat room. I'm ready to take questions.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 6 - 11:07:20 ]
Nicole: If you've got your questions ready, go for it! Because for the time being, you've got Lynn Cline all to yourself :-)

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 8 - 11:08:03 ]
RE: [Nicole] Hello Lynn. First I would like to say that I am really impressed with your achievements, and want to congratulate you.
Thank you -- it has been a fun and interesting career!

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 11 - 11:13:07 ]
RE: [Nicole] My question for you is: Can you tell me how much involvement Switzerland has in the European part of the space station?
Switzerland is one of eleven European nations who are combining their efforts to contribute to the International Space Station. The primary European contribution is a laboratory where astronauts will carry out experiments onboard the station. In addition, Europe will provide support to the station with launches of the Ariane vehicle. The total contribution from Europe is valued at $3.7B. Switzerland provides a small percentage of that.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 14 - 11:16:27 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] I have a question for you also! After you reading your bio, you strike me as the Madeline Albright of NASA! What is a typical day in your life at work like? Are you on the phone to seven different countries negotiating terms of the ISS...
When I did the space station negotiations, I was on travel about once a month for four years. Travel to Moscow, Tokyo, Paris, Ottawa, even Houston! Now that the negotiations are done and the agreements signed, I don't travel as much. However, since almost all of NASA's programs have an international component, each of us in this office are usually working on a daily basis with numerous issues, and several different countries. I tell my staff that juggling is a good career skill for this job!

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 15 - 11:18:02 ]
RE: [Nicole] I am a Swiss citizen living in the US and would someday soon like to become involved with the International Space Station. However, I do not know who/which organization to approach.
I recommend you talk to the European Space Agency. In fact, they have an office right here in the United States. I'd be happy to introduce you to the head of the Washington office, Mr. Ian Pryke!

[ Nicole - 18 - 11:19:12 ]
Yes please! An introduction from you would be worth so much to me.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 19 - 11:20:16 ]
RE: [Sandy/NASAChatHost] I echo Nicole's feelings with regards to all of your awards! It is a very impressive list! You bio states you have a BA/MA: what are they in? What is it that prepared you for such successes so far???
My academic background is in French language and culture. My minor was in cultural anthropology. Unfortunately, I have not really used my language skills for NASA, but understanding another culture and different perspectives, learning how to communicate in another language turned out to be good training. Now I have to "translate" between the scientific and technical community on one side and the diplomatic community on the other side. And negotiation skills are important, regardless of language.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 20 - 11:20:17 ]
Nicole: What kind of job are you interested in on the Station?

[ Nicole - 21 - 11:22:21 ]
I would like to be a Research Specialist - Astronaut

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 22 - 11:23:06 ]
RE: [Nicole] Do you speak many languages? What is the "international language"?
I used to be very fluent in French, but am a bit rusty since I don't use it in my work. I speak some German. Interestingly enough, English turns out to be the most common language in the space business. Even in the European Space Agency, which has 15 member states, I am told that they conduct their own meetings mostly in English. For publications, they use several official languages (French, Italian, German, English). The hardest has been working with the Russians because many of the Russian engineers have not studied English and our own people haven't traditionally studied Russian. We use formal interpreters a lot, but many of our astronauts can now speak both languages.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 23 - 11:24:38 ]
RE: [Nicole] I would like to be a Research Specialist - Astronaut
That's a great career goal. In the past, astronauts were mainly test pilots who came from a military career. Now, our astronauts come from many different backgrounds, from various areas of science -- life sciences, physics, Earth sciences, etc.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 24 - 11:26:39 ]
RE: [Nicole] I would like to be a Research Specialist - Astronaut
To find out more about astronaut selection, go to the JSC Astronaut Selection web site at: http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/jobs/jsc/aso/ascan.htm

[ Nicole - 25 - 11:26:58 ]
I speak German too. And I am trying to learn Russian - it is quite difficult :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 29 - 11:29:02 ]
RE: [Nicole] Thanks Sandy. I have seen that, but I don't know if that is only for American citizens.
Ahhhhh, good point! Give them a call/email!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 30 - 11:29:36 ]
Nicole: What about dual citizenship?!

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 31 - 11:29:40 ]
RE: [Nicole] It (to be an astronaut) has been my dream from a very young age. I am working hard to make it my reality.
I think one of the other chats this week is with Kathy Clark. She's our chief scientist for the space station and can probably give you some good thoughts on the type of research we expect to do on the station.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 32 - 11:31:17 ]
RE: [LynnCline/InternationalRelations] I think one of the other chats this week is with Kathy Clark. She's our chief scientist for the space station and can probably give you some good thoughts on the type of research we expect to do on the station.
Yes, Kathy did a webchat yesterday. I will have the chat archive up later this afternoon. You should definitely check it out Nicole.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 33 - 11:32:06 ]
RE: [Nicole] Lynn, does NASA hire international people too? Or do they require citizenship?
NASA operates under US Government rules. That means that mostly we hire US citizens. I recently learned that someone who has dual citizenship -- US and another country -- is considered a US citizen for hiring purposes. If you are a Swiss citizen, then the best option is to become a European astronaut and the European Space Agency (ESA) has an astronaut corps. They train with us and fly with us.

[ Nicole - 34 - 11:32:43 ]
Thanks Lynn. Yes, Sandy, that is a possibility. Although I have not enquired if the US allows dual citizenship. I thought not, but...

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 35 - 11:34:21 ]
Nicole: Since you are the only one here for Lynn's chat, how about you ask her questions for 5 more minutes and then we'll let Lynn get back to work.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 38 - 11:35:14 ]
RE: [Nicole] Ok. Thanks. And you would introduce me to Mr Pryke please Lynn?
Yes, Sandy has given me your e-mail, so I'll be in touch post-chat.

[ Nicole - 39 - 11:37:06 ]
Sure Sandy. I feel so priveleged to have had this chance to talk to both of you today. I have been quite perplexed about "what to do next". You see, I didn't find much information over the web regarding ESA...

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 40 - 11:39:14 ]
RE: [Nicole] Sure Sandy. I feel so priveleged to have had this chance to talk to both of you today. I have been quite perplexed about "what to do next". You see, I didn't find much information over the web regarding ESA...
Nicole: We're very happy to have you here chatting with us today :-) You've asked some great questions! Don't forget that the Forum is open all week to ask questions at anytime also. Lynn will answer you final question about Star City and then we'll let her get back to work.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 41 - 11:39:25 ]
RE: [Nicole] Do you know if most of the training still happens in Star City? Or was that just for MIR?
The training occurs in several locations, depending on the phase of the training and the astronaut's assignment. Basic training is done in the US and Russia. Since the astronauts onboard station need to know about the full system, including modules built in Russia and procedures for the Soyuz vehicle, training on those elements is done in Star City. In Houston, we have a station mock up to train on the "whole" station. The Canadians have a simulator for the robotic system training. And then, our astronauts also travel to countries where individual research experiments are built to learn about more detailed operations. One of the challenges for our trainers is to reach a common understanding on how much training is required, and where to do it, to be the most efficient.

[ Nicole - 42 - 11:39:31 ]
I have a ton of questions, but they are all still quite vague, since I know very little of the way that NASA interacts with the other countries. So I will say thank you for all for now, and hopefully we can e-mail each other Lynn. Thanks to you too, Sandy.

[ LynnCline/InternationalRelations - 43 - 11:40:56 ]
RE: [Nicole] I have a ton of questions, but they are all still quite vague, since I know very little of the way that NASA interacts with the other countries. So I will say thank you for all for now, and hopefully we can e-mail each other Lynn. Thanks to you too, Sandy.
Thanks for joining me today!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 44 - 11:41:33 ]
RE: [Nicole] I have a ton of questions, but they are all still quite vague, since I know very little of the way that NASA interacts with the other countries. So I will say thank you for all for now, and hopefully we can e-mail each other Lynn. Thanks to you too, Sandy.
You are most welcome Nicole! I wish you nothing but success in your career and look forward to seeing your name on ESA astronaut roster for the Station :-)