[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 4 - 07:59:48 ]
Felix Soto Toro reviews, designs, builds, tests and implements engineering designs used in the Shuttle and Payload Operations Development Laboratories. He ensures these hardware designs operate properly and safely.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 5 - 08:00:12 ]
We now welcome Felix to our online forum to answer your questions.

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 7 - 08:13:29 ]
RE: [Ben] What are the Future plans for the space missions and experiments?
Hello Ben, Most of the space missions are intended to test some of the experiments on Earth and Sciences in order to get a better feeling about our planet. An example of that was our last mission where we studied the earth intensively. A lot of pictures were taken. Please refer to the following web page for more information: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/missions.html. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 11 - 08:33:37 ]
RE: [Tonya] What has NASA found on Mars to indicate that it can one day be a planet like Earth?
Hello Tonya, It will take a while to decide when or whether or not it can be similar to our environment. However, a more in dept investigation on this concern can be answered in this web page: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/mars/science/clouds.html I hope this helps a little. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 14 - 08:36:10 ]
RE: [Alex] Did you ever wish you could be an astronaut, too?
Alex, I wish I could experience the life of an astronaut. Especially, when I could be able to make a better impression on those people who have a low self esteem and do not think that dreams can be achieved. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 16 - 08:38:48 ]
RE: [Alex] What do you consider to have been your biggest challenge?
Alex, I consider my biggest challenge to be the experience in large successful projects that are overseen by NASA Executives. Once I complete my Ph.D. I hope to get involved in a project that will give me a better visibility among those people. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 17 - 08:43:25 ]
RE: [Deborah] Does NASA ever see the ocean being habitable by humans?
Hello Deborah, I think that a lot of issues must first be resolved such as the ones observed on mission 059. Check this web site to get more information: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-59/mission-sts-59.html I hope that this will be an option in the future since 2/3 of our planet is water, where it certainly will make sense to live on as well. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 20 - 09:17:00 ]
RE: [Holly] What is the temperature on Mars?
Hi Holly, Based on the following mission, the temperature of the Mars rover had to withstand some temperature parameters. (see the following web page: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/mars/rovercom/rovfaqt.html) Also, to get a better feeling about understanding why should be learn more about this planet and its similarities to Earth, you should visit this other web site: http://mars3.jpl.nasa.gov:80/mgs/sci/explore/why.html I hope I could help. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 23 - 09:45:24 ]
RE: [Anjana] What was the most challenging experience in your process of becoming a NASA engineer?
Hello Anjana, I feel that the most challenging experience in becoming a NASA engineer happened while I was studying in College. I knew that back in 1986, there were only limited ways to becoming a NASA engineer. One of them was throughout the Cooperative Education Program (CO-OP) and the other one was to wait until I graduated to apply and be accepted. I had to make a choice and hope that it worked for me. I chose to apply as a CO-OP engineer trainee and take longer to graduate but at the end I knew that I will have a better chance of being offered a job with NASA... and it worked out. So, I will say that the hardest part was to decide when I wanted to apply and know that I will not graduate in four years or less. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 25 - 10:08:29 ]
RE: [Rachael] Is it true that Pluto is being demoted as a planet?
Hello Rachael, I am not an expert on this subject but as per the following reading in this planet from http://www.planetscapes.com/solar/eng/pluto.htm It did not seem that this was an issue in 1998. Please contact Flavio at mendez@mdsci.org or at mendez@avion.stsci.edu He is an astronomer and could give you better information on your planetary concerns. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 26 - 10:53:59 ]
RE: [Rachel] Is there a fifth state of matter? If so, what is it?
Hello Rachel, The states of matter that I know are the same as the ones listed on the following web pages: http://members.tripod.com/drkumar1/newpage2.htm http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=0206F000 I am not familiar with a fifth one at the current time. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 27 - 10:56:39 ]
RE: [Aileen] How long does NASA project that a space station will be operational on Mars?
Hello Aileen, The last time I heard, during the year 2004, NASA will have a habitat in the surface of Mars. If you want to get further information, please go to the following web page: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station Felix

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 31 - 07:51:07 ]
RE: [Ana] What do you do exactly in your job'
Ana, you can learn more about Felix's job by reading his profile at http://quest.nasa.gov/space/team/soto_toro.html.

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 32 - 08:03:37 ]
RE: [Ana] Has NASA got new information about the "new" planet?
Hello Ana, To learn about this concern, please visit the following web page where they have really good updated information that our Hubble Space Telescope was able to capture. http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pr/1998/19/ Good luck. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 33 - 08:05:47 ]
RE: [Ana] What do you do exactly in your job'
Hello Ana, Thanks for asking that question. I am an electrical engineer who works developing automated systems to help keep operational costs down (save money). For more specifics, visit the web page that Oran suggested: http://quest.nasa.gov/space/team/soto_toro.html Good luck. Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 34 - 08:06:08 ]
RE: [Oran/NASAChatHost] Ana, you can learn more about Felix's job by reading his profile at http://quest.nasa.gov/space/team/soto_toro.html.
Oran, Thanks for taking care of that concern. Felix

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 35 - 08:10:34 ]
RE: [FelixSotoToro/KSC] Oran, Thanks for taking care of that concern. Felix
No problem, Felix. By the way, good morning! :-)

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 36 - 08:13:01 ]
RE: [Ana] What do we have to do to work in NASA?
Hello Ana, You can work for NASA at any stage of your academic career. NASA has many programs that will bring you in as a Volunteer or as a paid temporary or permanent employee. To be compensated (paid) for your work you must be at least 16 years of age. If you will be going to College, I suggest that you apply to the CO-OP program. To get information on this, please visit the following Kennedy Space Center web page: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/admin/coop/ For other University Programs, visit: http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/univ/programs/programs.htm. Good luck.

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 45 - 11:49:20 ]
RE: [Maz] Do you believe there was life on Mars? Why or why not?
Hello Maz, I believe that there must be some sort of "life" in every environment of the Universe. To me, there is does not necessarily has to be in the shape of a human, plant, animal or microorganism. To me it is matter of what you vision to be life. For example, to me, the ski itself has its own "state of mood" like humans have. Sometimes humans feel depress or happy, just like the ski is cloudy or clear. I hope this help you understand my own personal opinion as you wanted to know. For other opinions on this subject, please log into this web page: http://quest.nasa.gov/mars Yours truly, Felix

[ FelixSotoToro/KSC - 46 - 11:49:41 ]
RE: [Maz/NagelMiddleSchool] Do believe that humans will ever live on Mars?
Hello Maz, I believe that human curiosity will takes us to places that you might not even think about going today. For this reason, I think that you will be able to visualize humans living in Mars as well. Please log in to the following web page to find out more about your Mars' concerns. http://quest.nasa.gov/mars Felix

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 49 - 16:19:28 ]
This concludes our Space Team Online bilingual forum with Felix Soto Toro from NASA Kennedy Space Center. We would like to thank everyone for their great questions. We also extend our thanks to Felix for sharing his career experience and expertise with us during the last few days of our forum. THANK YOU, Felix!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 50 - 16:21:00 ]
An archive of this forum will be available within the next day or so. We invite you to visit our online schedule to learn about upcoming chats, forums and panel discussions with NASA experts. Visit our schedule at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats/schedule for more information.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 51 - 16:22:33 ]
As a final reminder, visit our NASA QuestChat Information home page to read others' comments about our chats and forums, as well as send us yours. The QIC home page is available at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 52 - 16:23:00 ]
Thank you again for your participation in this week's forum with Felix Soto Toro. We look forward to hearing from you again. Have a great day!