[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 3 - 09:39:34 ]
Hello! Today's "Virtual Take Our Daughters to Work" chat with Julie Mikula will begin in about 20 minutes. Be sure to read Julie's bio before the chat begins: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/women/bios/jm.html

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 4 - 09:43:58 ]
A bit about Julie-- At age 10, while watching the Apollo Mission moon landing with the rest of the world, Julie set her own goals: to concentrate on science and engineering, earn a college degree, and land a position with NASA.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 5 - 09:54:04 ]
A bit more about Julie-- In addition to her interests in aviation and aerospace, Julie is married and the mother of two children, and she planned, designed and was the general contractor for her 3600-sq-ft log home!

[ JMikula/ARC - 7 - 09:58:48 ]
RE: [Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool] Hi Julie! How are you?
Hi Courtney, I am doing wonderful today, How are you?

[ Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool - 10 - 09:59:39 ]
ok!

[ JMikula/ARC - 16 - 10:03:13 ]
RE: [Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool] Jackson Middle School is in Titusville, Fl near the space center.
Courtney, Do you get to watch the launches often being so close to the space center?

[ Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool - 20 - 10:04:45 ]
I get to watch the launches all the time. I can see them from my back porch. We also go outside of our school and watch them when school is going on.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 19 - 10:04:21 ]
Hello everyone and welcome to Take Your Daughters to Work Day! Today we are pleased to have Julie Mikula with us. Julie is the manager of the world's premier Flight Simulation Laboratories (SimLab) Facility, which includes the world's largest motion base simulator, the Vertical Motion Simulator

[ JMikula/ARC - 21 - 10:05:00 ]
RE: [Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool] Julie- How do you manage two kids and your career at the same time?
Courtney, That is a good question. A lot of the managing is scheduling and preplanning. Taking every moment when not at work to give the kids quality time.

[ JMikula/ARC - 25 - 10:07:46 ]
RE: [Joanna-Mr.Stuart/RoxburyElemSchool] What is it like being the mother of 2 children and having a career in NASA?
It is wonderful and challenging having children and having a career. The life lessons learned having children apply everywhere into my life, especially work! Patience, understanding and respect for each other are key everywhere.

[ MrsMock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona - 28 - 10:11:04 ]
Hello Julie and Sandy, I will be entering some of my computer students questions today because they are currently occupied with Earth Day activities. Leslie (4th) wants to know if it was hard to get to where you are today?

[ Shana-daughter/toworkday - 29 - 10:11:06 ]
hello Julie,how are you today? i am at take your daughter to work day at KSC.

[ JMikula/ARC - 32 - 10:12:39 ]
RE: [Kim-LoriEckland/MerrimackEducationCenter] Do you miss your family while you work long hours at Nasa?
Flexibility is an important part of my schedules. The kids and I have talked about it. They understand there are times I take annual leave to be at their school and sometimes I may have to work later.

[ Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool - 33 - 10:12:41 ]
Hi shana!! I'm at daughter day at KSC too. Where does your mom work? Is she close to the VAB?

[ Shana-daughter/toworkday - 54 - 10:22:47 ]
hi courtney, i,m at work with my grandpa . my mom doesn't work and i can't go with my dad.

[ JMikula/ARC - 35 - 10:13:37 ]
RE: [Kim-LoriEckland/MerrimackEducationCenter] Can you describe what the VMS looks like?
The VMS is the world's largest motion base simulator. It is as big as a 10 story building.

[ Kim-LoriEckland/MerrimackEducationCenter - 37 - 10:13:56 ]
Hello, My name is Kim Trimby from Oxford MA, age 9 I am with my aunt today, at take your Daughter to work day, She does not have any children. She works at an Educational Technology Center. It's fun!

[ JMikula/ARC - 38 - 10:14:06 ]
RE: [Courtney-courtneywilson/JacksonMiddleSchool] Julie--You were an astronaut?
Not yet. I would love to be in the future.

[ JMikula/ARC - 39 - 10:15:32 ]
RE: [MrsMock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona] Austin (3rd): What is a Silver Snoopy award?
A silver snoopy award is a lapel pin that is of Snoopy in an astronuat suit. The astronauts nominate a person to receive this award. I was honored to receive one from them.

[ JMikula/ARC - 43 - 10:17:08 ]
RE: [gabrielle-David/HSBC] what is it like at nasa?
NASA is a great place to work. It is a privelige to work with so many talented people and work on the nation's future, like in researching questions about aircraft and space vehicles.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 49 - 10:20:33 ]
EVERYONE: Let's hold up on sending in questions for 5 minutes so that Julie can play catch up! She's trying to answer everyone's questions and she's typing as fast as she can! Thanks :-)

[ JMikula/ARC - 52 - 10:21:06 ]
RE: [MrsMock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona] Kimber (4th): Do you have to work a lot of overtime? What do you like to do with your kids? How old are they?
There are times when I do have to work overtime. I talk to my children on the phone whenever they need to when that occurs. The things we do together are all sports, camping, seeing plays and so many others. My daughter has been to my work several times and on Take your daughter to work day. They were with me when I received my snoopy award.

[ JMikula/ARC - 53 - 10:22:43 ]
RE: [MrsMock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona] Heather (3rd) - What does your family think of you wanting to be an astronaut?
They are excited about all the things I do at NASA, but my oldest is not quite sure she likes the idea of me ever going out in space.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 57 - 10:26:11 ]
RE: [Shana-daughter/toworkday] hi courtney, i,m at work with my grandpa . my mom doesn't work and i can't go with my dad.
Hi Shana! I think it's absolutely wonderful that your Grandpa brought you to work with him today :-) He must be a pretty special guy!

[ JMikula/ARC - 58 - 10:26:40 ]
RE: [Kim-LoriEckland/MerrimackEducationCenter] How fast does the vms go?
The VMS is a very powerful maching. It can go about what is called Three quarters of a "g" force in the vertical direction as well as move in all six degrees of freedom. To give you a feeling of three quarter of a "g", a fighter would feel 2.5 to 3 g's when doing a quick manuever.

[ JMikula/ARC - 60 - 10:28:13 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] How many women are there in your work field?
Not that many. In my building of about 140 people there are only about 10 - 15 women working in engineering or technical fields.

[ MrsMock-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona - 62 - 10:30:17 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] How many women are there in your work field? Not that many. In my building of about 140 people there are only about 10 - 15 women working in engineering or technical fields. Does that make it harder or easier for a woman to get a job like yours?

[ JMikula/ARC - 63 - 10:31:53 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] What classes did you take in college? Did the college you go to have a lot of women scientists?
In college I took many math, sciences and engineering type classes. If there was one area I would have strengthened in my schooling years it would be English. I can't tell you how important it is in everypart of life to be able to communicate clearly in both speaking and writing. There are times you only have seconds to get a very important message across to someone... Like this one.

[ JMikula/ARC - 67 - 10:34:27 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] What classes did you take in college? Did the college you go to have a lot of women scientists?
When I was going to college there were not that many going for the technical type of fields. It is such a rewarding field! I hope that has changed. It is wonderful to see women going for flight schools in the service.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 71 - 10:38:00 ]
RE: [Sarah-Mrs.Kornfeld/BeltonHighSchool] How old were you when you decided to become an astronaut?
Sarah: Julie is not an astronaut!

[ JMikula/ARC - 72 - 10:38:33 ]
RE: [Joanna-Mr.Stuart/RoxburyElemSchool] What did you do in space if you went up at all?
If I was able to have the chance, I would love to study the earth and it's relation to the universe. Maybe when we begin to see our planet in relation to all that is out there we would have a different perspective of our world and each other. Maybe we begin to see each other as more alike than different.

[ JMikula/ARC - 74 - 10:40:51 ]
RE: [Dave-LoriEckland/MerrimackEducationCenter] I understand that all the pieces of the space station are complete except for the Russian element, How do you feel this effects the progress of space exploration?
The space station is one of the most exciting things to me since the Apollo missions. It would open up so much for space exploration. Longer terms out in space, more oppurtunities for studies with more room and time. Another baby step to get us to reach further out to the stars!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 78 - 10:43:51 ]
JUST A REMINDER: There are 15 minutes left in today's chat with Julie. At the end of the chat, please take a moment to let the Quest Team know what you thought about this event and fill out the short survey at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys. Thanks :-)

[ JMikula/ARC - 79 - 10:43:54 ]
RE: [MrsMock-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona] Julie, I am truly impressed with how much you have accompished to date. What are your future goals?
There is so much I would still love to do! I would love to go back to college to either increase my aeronautics skills and knowledge, to study astronomy and space. To research more into simulation and human machine interfaces... There is so much out there.

[ JMikula/ARC - 82 - 10:47:04 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] In all of the things you have done , what was the most exciting?
There are so many things I could answer this with. Maybe flying the world's largest motion base simulator or getting my pilots liscense out of Moffet Air base.

[ JMikula/ARC - 83 - 10:48:18 ]
RE: [MICHAEL-David/HSBC] WHAT HOBBIES DO YOU LIKE?
The hobbies are endless, Astronomy, building and construction, all sports, reading, flying..

[ JMikula/ARC - 85 - 10:52:24 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] Do you think that there should be more opportunties for women in the science field? At your office, do women have as much authority as men?
I think girls and women should feel they can do whatever is in their hearts, to do whatever they know they would like to accomplish. There are more oppurtunities now than there ever has been. Go for it, at long as your willing to work for it.

[ MrsMock-Mrs.Mock/MontessoriSchoolofCorona - 88 - 10:54:59 ]
Thank you Julie for chatting today. Your accomplishments are impressive. You are a true role model for kids of both genders!

[ JMikula/ARC - 89 - 10:55:20 ]
RE: [Shana-daughter/toworkday] julie,do you like having 2 children?
Having children has been the most rewarding and challenging, thing in my life. Having my children has taught me so much about life,

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 90 - 10:55:57 ]
EVERYONE: There are just 5 minutes left in today's chat with Julie... Don't forget about filling out the short survey at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys

[ nicky-Nicky/ARC - 93 - 10:58:49 ]
Thank you Julie for answering all my questions. Some day I want to become a Scientific engineer. Happy take your daughter to work day!

[ JMikula/ARC - 94 - 10:59:49 ]
RE: [nicky-Nicky/ARC] Do you ever get nervous giving speeches to people?
In the beginning I was one of the worst speakers, but there were things I wanted to say, but couldn't get the messages across. I was bound and determined to overcome this. I worked hard at learning about giving speeches and communication. Today, after all the work I give so many tours and talks to all types of groups and people. I have been on TV and talk radios and given tours to the most interesting people, from Washington D.C.or to Princes from different countries. It has been great!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 95 - 11:01:03 ]
RE: [vicky-Vicky/UniversityofGuelph] Hi there, I hope I'm not too late, I messed up on the time zone thing. I guess if I were to ask one quick question from reading your profile, is , How did you get offered a position with NASA while in your senior year of university?
Vicki: Today's chat with Julie is just about to end. I'm sorry that you missed it too! However, if you want to stick around for another hour and chat with Solar Physicist Terry Kucera, go to the following URL. You do not need to register for this chat. http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/sso

[ JMikula/ARC - 96 - 11:03:26 ]
RE: [Sarah-Mrs.Kornfeld/BeltonHighSchool] What was it like to helpl build your log cabin? You must consider it a real accomplishment!!!
It was fun! There were challenging times to work out, but even those you can look at as part of the fun.

[ JMikula/ARC - 97 - 11:05:25 ]
RE: [vicky-Vicky/UniversityofGuelph] Hi there, I hope I'm not too late, I messed up on the time zone thing. I guess if I were to ask one quick question from reading your profile, is , How did you get offered a position with NASA while in your senior year of university?
I kept my eye open for any interviews with NASA and at the end of my junior year NASA came to Mich. State Univ. I interviewed with NASA then and they offered me the job.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 98 - 11:06:33 ]
EVERYONE; It's time to let Julie get back to work! Thank you so much for joining us today. Your questions to Julie were excellent! We hope you are inspired to go out there and be the very best you can be! Please join us again soon for another Quest chat!