[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 0 - 06:30:36 ]
Welcome to our chat with Dionne Jackson. Dionne is a chemist at Kennedy Space Center and works with procesess associated with flight hardware and ground support equipment. Her profile and short video give you a good explanation of what that means so be sure to read and watch it at http://quest.nasa.gov/women/bios/dj.html

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 1 - 06:31:22 ]
This chat begins at 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, 2/13. Join us then!

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 3 - 08:59:15 ]
Good morning everyone and welcome Dionne. I think Dionne is on and just about ready to start taking questions so feel free to beginsending them in.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 7 - 09:03:55 ]
RE: [MrsLee] What were the most important classes you took in college to prepare you for you work?
Hi Mrs. Lee, They were my Chemistry courses.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 8 - 09:05:22 ]
RE: [Carla] Are there other things you wish you studied in school or other classes you could have taken that would have better prepared you for yoru work?
Hi Carla, There were classes that I wish I would have been able to take as a refresher course once I started working. And, there were classes, like Polymer Chemistry, that I wish I would have had time to take.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 9 - 09:06:28 ]
RE: [Tawana] Hi Dionne - I am wondering about your role models. Who were they and how did they influence you?
Hi Tawana, My role models were my parents and my high school Chemistry teacher, Mrs. Aumiller. My parents always believed in me and supported me. Mrs Aumiller made Chemistry fun and exciting.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 13 - 09:09:31 ]
RE: [Joyce] Will you be working on the Mars 2003 mission? Is your current work with the Martian experiments related to that?
Hi Joyce, No, I am currently not working on the Mars 2003 mission.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 14 - 09:10:15 ]
RE: [Samantha] What types of things did you do as a child that got you so interested in chemistry?
Hi Samantha, I participated in a NASA summer program for high school students.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 17 - 09:14:39 ]
RE: [MrsLeesclass] Can you tell us more about the Martian environment you are creating? How do you simulate a Martian environment?
The Mars environment is being simulated using an environmental chamber that allows you to control temperature and humidity. It also allows you introduce gases to the system. The Mars atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide (95%), nitrogen (2.7%), oxygen (0.15%) and argon (1.6%). That is a big difference to the earth, which is 77% nitrogen and 23% oxygen. We are able to simulate this gas mixture and control the temperature so that we can run experiments.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 18 - 09:15:36 ]
RE: [MrsLeesclass] What type of chemicals will you test in the Mars experiments? How can you create the same type of soil?
We will be testing materials in the environment. The soil is a simulant from Hawaii. It's chemical composition is very similar to that of Mars.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 19 - 09:16:47 ]
RE: [Carla] How much of your traiing did you learn on the job and how much in school?
I learned chemistry in school, but I learned about NASA and the materials that are used for the space shuttle and its supporting systems, after I started working.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 23 - 09:22:32 ]
RE: [Claire] Is chemistry a career that you can move onto to other types of work or is it pretty specified? What else could you do?
Hi Claire, The Chemistry field has so many applications: food, cosmetics, medical. Just about everything involves Chemistry.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 24 - 09:23:54 ]
RE: [Samantha] What kinds of things did you do when you were younger?
I did lots of stuff. My sisters and I played a lot. We read. We attended summer camps. My parents kept us very busy at Church and took us on many family outings.

[ Samantha - 25 - 09:24:45 ]
Are there any fun experiments for kids?

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 26 - 09:25:09 ]
RE: [Samantha] What types of chemistry experiments would you recommend to turn kids onto it?
That's kind of hard to answer. There is so much that you can do. You can start with a basic science fair projects book. It helps kids have fun with Chemistry using things around your house.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 27 - 09:27:41 ]
Try books like, "Astronomy for Every Kid" or "Chemistry for Every Kid". They are by Janice VanCleaves. Also, the internet has basic science fair websites.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 31 - 09:30:57 ]
RE: [Samantha] How do you now what the Martian environment is like?
NASA has used x-ray equipment on the Rover in order to determine the soil composition. Also, previous experiments allowed them to determine the composition of the atmosphere and the temperature.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 32 - 09:33:21 ]
RE: [Samantha] What is argon?
Argon is an element on the Periodic Chart. It is a gas. It is used in light bulbs.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 33 - 09:36:13 ]
RE: [Craig] Is the Hawaiin soil the most similar to the Mars? I thought Arizona was.
The volcanic ash taken from Pu'u Nene was selected and tested by Johnson Space Center and is most similar to the Martian soil.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 39 - 09:40:03 ]
RE: [Samantha] Are there any fun experiments for kids?
Samantha, There is also a book entitled "The Science Chef" by Joan D'Amico and Karen Eich Drummond. It is full of educational experiments and fun recipes you can do in the kitchen.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 40 - 09:40:47 ]
RE: [Terry] What is the experiment that you can do with baking soda that makes the top blow off? I saw it once and I forgot what they used.
Hi Terry, It's lemon juice. BE CAREFUL.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 41 - 09:43:54 ]
RE: [Craig] Why are you doing tests with Mars soil?Is there a particular mission you are working on?
The Martian Soil causes problems with electrostatic charge buildup. That's like you or me walking across the carpet and then touching a door knob. We get "SHOCKED". Well, that happens when the Martian soil comes into contact with certain materials. This can ruin computer systems and cause other systems to fail.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 42 - 09:44:21 ]
RE: [Claire] Dionne Do you think you will stay at NASA or will you try somethng else or another career?
It is my plan to retire from NASA.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 43 - 09:45:12 ]
RE: [Desiree] We liked your video.
Thanks Desiree. It was fun making it.

[ Desiree - 45 - 09:45:54 ]
What was the problem with the Challenger accident? Was that a chemical problem?

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 46 - 09:48:13 ]
RE: [Craig] Do we know there were volcanoes on Mars then?
I am not sure about there being volcanoes on Mars. You can try a search on the internet. There is a lot of information about Mars out there.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 47 - 09:50:04 ]
RE: [Terry] Is there any part of yor work that is dangerous? Have you ever had any accidents at NASA?
Terry, NASA has had accidents. We even keep track of our accidents and discuss them so that we can learn from our mistakes. We have learned that we have to daily employ safety precautions here at work and at home.

[ Kendall - 48 - 09:50:29 ]
What happens when you mix lemon joice and baking soda?

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 52 - 09:53:48 ]
RE: [Desiree] What was the problem with the Challenger accident? Was that a chemical problem?
The Challenger accident was caused by fire escaping out through the o-ring seal in the solid rocket boosters. It was too cold for launch and the materials were not designed to operate under such conditions. The fire hit a fuel line between the Shuttle and the External tank causing initial explosion.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 53 - 09:55:05 ]
RE: [Kendall] What happens when you mix lemon joice and baking soda?
You get carbon dioxide gas build-up.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 54 - 09:56:12 ]
RE: [MrsLeesclass] Have you invented any new things with the chemicals or experiments you work on?
I have not invented new things, but I have developed new procedures for some of the materials that have been submitted to the lab.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 59 - 09:57:44 ]
RE: [Andra] Are there any ways we, as lay-people, can volunteer to be involved with any projects at NASA? Any programs we can run on our computers or anything else we can do to help?
Hi Audra, NASA currently fly experiments aboard the Space Shuttle, that have been put together by students. I am not sure how you get started, but you can try contacting Public Affairs through the NASA Homepage.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 60 - 09:58:04 ]
RE: [Rita/CA] Was there any static problems or buildup with the Pathfinder or Mars Global Surveyer?
Hi Rita, Yes.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 61 - 09:58:49 ]
RE: [Rita/CA] Do you have kids? Do you think you could do your job and have kids?
No children yet and yes, I can still do my job.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 62 - 09:59:54 ]
RE: [Mike] If you held the soil of Mars and the Moon in your hand, what would be the difference?
Hi Mike, It's more than a visual difference (i.e color). It's the chemical compostion.

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 63 - 10:02:48 ]
It's just about time to end the chat with Dionne. If you can answer the last question Dionne that would be great. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us today. Please join us again at 11:00 for our chat with Aprille Ericsson Jackson.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 64 - 10:03:05 ]
RE: [Susan] Dionne, what is the difference between using spectroscopy for looking at material in your lab and using it to look at outerspace
Hi Susan, Spectroscopy is a technique that is used to identify materials. You use different instruments (which can be called spectrometers) depending on the information that you are seeking.

[ DionneJackson/KSC - 65 - 10:04:55 ]
RE: [DionneJackson/KSC] Hi Mike, It's more than a visual difference (i.e color). It's the chemical compostion.
Mike, I did not fully read your question. I was thinking the Martian soil and the Martian simulant. I don't know the difference between the Martian soil and soil from the Moon.

[ Rita/CA - 66 - 10:06:05 ]
Thank you Dionne for chatting with us.

[ Kendall - 67 - 10:06:05 ]
Bye Dionne thank you for talking to us today

[ MrsLeesclass - 68 - 10:06:05 ]
Thanks Dionne - we learned a lot today