Women of NASA
Back To School Special
Chat Archive with Dionne Jackson
Date: October 5, 2000
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 0 - 08:57:17
]
Welcome to the live chat with Dionne Jackson. We will be starting in a
few minutes. If you have not done so already, be sure to check out her
profile so you can ask appropriate questions. Thank you!
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 4 - 09:06:20
]
We are members of the Young Women of NASA Student Advisory Council. We
will be moderating the chat today.
[ ECSU/Kristen - 5 - 09:09:01 ]
What kinds of things does being a chemist envolve?
[ BettyHernandezWYESRColombiaHolaJuventud - 6 - 09:09:25
]
Hi Dionne!!!! We are youngsters from Colombia. What kind of job do you
do at NASA?
[ JOVENESDELINSTITUTOLASALLE/BARRANQUILLACOLOMBIA - 7
- 09:10:19 ]
HELLO DIONNE, WE ARE STUDENS OF BARRANQUILLA-COLOMBIA. WE WANT TO KNOW
IF YOU SPEAK SPANISH.
[ Dionne - 9 - 09:11:21 ]
Hi Kristen, Chemistry is our way of life. Everything that we use involves
Chemistry. Common household items like soap, toothpaste, make-up or cleansers
to the materials that are used for the space shuittle.
[ Dionne - 10 - 09:12:37 ]
Hi Columbia, I am a Chemist for Nasa, working in our Materials Science
Lab. I know a little of Spanish, but not enough to converse. It has been
too long since I took a class.
[ Bonnie - 11 - 09:14:26 ]
How do you you balance your family and personal life with your career?
[ Dionne - 12 - 09:14:30 ]
Laurie, My field is not Biochemistry. However, Nasa has a new venture
of Chemistry and Biology going on. So it would be ideal to start studying
Biology in space.
[ Dionne - 13 - 09:16:09 ]
Hi Bonnie, It is difficult to juggle my personal life with my career.
It requires a lot of planning and praying because I commute from Daytona
Beach each day.
[ Dionne - 18 - 09:17:56 ]
RE: [JOVENESDELINSTITUTOLASALLE/BARRANQUILLACOLOMBIA]
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET IN NASA?
My summer internships with Nasa motivated me to work for Nasa.
[ Dionne - 19 - 09:18:54 ]
RE: [SARAH] Hi Dionne What inspired you to pursue
such an interesting career?
Hi Sarah, I like Chemistry and I liked working for Nasa during the summers
while I was in college.
[ Dionne - 20 - 09:19:24 ]
RE: [BettyHernandezWYESRColombiaHolaJuventud] How
have soap, toothpaste and other household items changed since the first
space flights?
Hi Betty, I think they smell better and the toothpaste tastes better.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 24 - 09:20:25
]
You can check out a video clip of Dionne on her profile page.
[ Dionne - 25 - 09:20:58 ]
RE: [bonnie] wow! you must really like your field
of work to be making such sacrifices! what makes it worth it?
Hi Bonnie, I really like my job and the people that I work with. Also,
the pay is good.
[ Dionne - 26 - 09:22:06 ]
RE: [Julie/CHS] How did you get selected to be
in the video? Were you nervous, because you looked so relaxed! We loved
it - you looked like a natural!
Hi Julie, I am not exactly sure why I was selected to appear in the video,
but I was very nervous. However, I do a lot of public speaking so I have
learned to overcome the butterflies in my stomach.
[ Dionne - 28 - 09:23:40 ]
RE: [JOVENESDELINSTITUTOLASALLE/BARRANQUILLACOLOMBIA]
HOW DO YOU FEEL WORKING WITH NASA?
Hi, I find working for Nasa wonderful. KSC is an evolving space center
and I like and thrive on the new challenges.
[ Julie/CHS - 29 - 09:25:17 ]
Can you tell us about the young girl who interviewed you? How did she
get to do that?
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 31 - 09:25:17
]
Julie- The girl who interviewed Dionne is a member of the Young Women
of NASA Advisory Council. Members of the council got a chance to interview
women who work at NASA after the STS-106 shuttle launch. Members of the
council will be moderating today's events.
[ Dionne - 32 - 09:25:53 ]
RE: [Julie/CHS] What other types of projects and
outreaches are you involved in?
Julie, I visit schools during the regular school year and speak to the
students about careers with NASA as well as what I do at NASA. I judge
science fairs during the spring. Also, I tutor 1st-12th graders once a
week at my church.
[ Dionne - 34 - 09:27:53 ]
RE: [LuisPinzon/Colcaro/Colombia] What is the difference
between the households items we use and the ones used in outerspace?
Luis, The Astronauts do not do that much cleaning in space. Their primary
goal is to conduct expermints or fulfill the space station requirments.
[ DiegoWongColegioAlemnBarranquilla/Colombia - 35 - 09:28:43
]
What kind of materials are being devepoved? In the case of Mars, had been
the project sucessfully done?
[ Dionne - 36 - 09:29:50 ]
RE: [LuisPinzon/Colcaro/Colombia] How did you get
your job at nasa?
During my senior year at Spelman, I received a call from the personnel
department and they asked if I wanted to be hired. So you see I am very
blessed. I did not have go out and find a job.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 37 - 09:31:19
]
We'd just like to remind you that this chat is being moderated, so not
all questions will be answered. If you'd like to find out more information
about Dionne Jackson and other Women of NASA, be sure to check out the
profiles at http://quest.nasa.gov/women/oct5profiles.html
[ Dionne - 38 - 09:32:08 ]
RE: [Dionne] Laurie, My field
is not Biochemistry. However, Nasa has a new venture of Chemistry and
Biology going on. So it would be ideal to start studying Biology in space.
Hi Diego, Currently, we are not developing new materials. We are testing
materials already being used in space operations to determine if they
will be compatible with the Martian environment.
[ JOVENESDELINSTITUTOLASALLE/BARRANQUILLACOLOMBIA - 40
- 09:32:39 ]
You mean that the autronauts don t take a shower in space? And what about
the ones that stay there for several days or months?
[ Dionne - 41 - 09:33:26 ]
RE: [Laurie] Hi, I am interested in the field of
biochemisrty, what advice do you have for a young woman entering that
feild? What obstacles have you come across?
[ Dionne - 43 - 09:35:05 ]
RE: [JOVENESDELINSTITUTOLASALLE/BARRANQUILLACOLOMBIA]
How are you working in the mission to Mars project you talk about in
your profile?
My responsibility is the soil simulant that was retrieved from a volcano
in Hawaii. The soil simulant has identical properties to that of the Martian
soil. It will be used for testing in our environmental chamber when we
test for material compatibility.
[ Dionne - 45 - 09:35:57 ]
RE: [INSTENALCO] HI, We´re students from INSTENALCO,
and we are really happy to be here
Hi, glad to have you.
[ Dionne - 47 - 09:37:26 ]
RE: [LuisGalvis/WYESRColombia/HolaJuventud/] Dionne,
I am almost finishing school and I want to study Aerospace Engineering
in the States. Could you recommend me a university?
Luis, That is kind of hard for me, but Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
in Daytona Beach is an excellent school.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 48 - 09:38:41
]
When we were at the shuttle launch, astronaut Julie Payette told us that
there are no showers in space. Astronauts wash with sponges. Please remember
that Dionne Jackson is a chemist, not an astronaut.
[ Dionne - 49 - 09:38:45 ]
RE: [JOVENESDELINSTITUTOLASALLE/BARRANQUILLACOLOMBIA]
In which projects have you worked in the KSC? Could you tell us about
the most important ones?
I have done so much at NASA for the past nine years, but I think that
the most exciting project that came into the lab was the astronaut sweat
that we had to analyze.
[ Dionne - 53 - 09:40:50 ]
RE: [Dionne]
Lauri, You might be able to find out more about the Biology concentration
if you go to the NASA webpage (www.nasa.gov)
[ Dionne - 55 - 09:41:24 ]
RE: [MariaHelenaColegioAleman/Colombia] Would you
like to go to the outspace? Have you ever apply the outspace
Maria, No way. My responsibilty is ground work.
[ Dionne - 57 - 09:42:43 ]
RE: [StudentsInstitutoLaSalle/Barranquilla/Colombia]
Hi INSTENALCO! Students from Instituto La Salle, Colegio Alemān, Colegio
Jose Eusebio Caro y Colegio Francisco de Miranda are in the Colegio Aleman´s
library. Dionne, you have so many fans in Barranquilla, Colombia!!!
Hi. Thank you for chatting with me today.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 59 - 09:44:21
]
There are only about fifteen minutes left to chat with Dionne. Please
send in any question you have now so that she has time to answer.
[ MariaHelenaColegioAleman/Colombia - 60 - 09:45:05 ]
What project are you working in now?
[ Dionne - 62 - 09:45:38 ]
RE: [MariaHelenaColegioAleman/Colombia] Tell us
about your main contribution to the space program
Maria, I think that my main contribution to the space program is to pass
on the knowledge that I have about NASA and how I came up through the
ranks as a student. I feel that it is my responsibility to give back to
my community because so many people helped me.
[ Dionne - 63 - 09:46:11 ]
RE: [MariaHelenaColegioAleman/Colombia] Have you
investigated samples of martia soil
Not the real Martian soil.
[ Dionne - 64 - 09:47:05 ]
RE: [StudentsInstitutoLaSalle/Barranquilla/Colombia]
Dionne, here in Barranquilla-Colombia we are celebrating the INTERNACIONAL
SPACEWEEK from October 4th to October 10th.
That sounds wonderful. What do you do (speakers, projects)?
[ Dionne - 66 - 09:48:24 ]
RE: [StudentsInstitutoLaSalle/Barranquilla/Colombia]
Since you re a Chemist, could you tell us how have changed the fuel
since the first missions to space? What kind of combustible do you use
now?
I am not sure what fuel was used for the Gemini or Saturn eras, but currently
they use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
[ Dionne - 68 - 09:50:08 ]
RE: [INSTENALCO] what information have NASA about
the water reservs that NASA said that marte has? What possibilities of
life marte has? -------
Life and water on Mars are the biggest, unanswered questions.
[ Dionne - 70 - 09:52:03 ]
RE: [MariaHelenaColegioAleman/Colombia] What kind
of chemicals can harm the spaceship?
During shuttle processing, the technicians and engineers have to be very
careful. The shuttle like lots of materials can be damaged by hazardous
and corrosive substances.
[ WYESR/Colombia - 71 - 09:52:05 ]
The International Spaceweek is coordinating by Spaaceweek, and Luis Rodrėguez
in Houston, Texas. Luis Rodriguez is a colombian engineer and founder
of WYSER.
[ Dionne - 73 - 09:55:24 ]
RE: [YasirisGutierrez/ColegioFranciscodeMiranda/Colombia]
You talked about the astronauts sweat analysis. Could you tell us more
more about it..? What did you find?
The requestors wanted to know what kind dissolved metals were in the sweat.
It was pretty interesting because on of the NASA chemists decided we need
a different kind of sweat to compare to the astronaut sweat. So he mowed
his lawn and collected his own sweat. We analyzed his sweat and the astronaut
sweat. Needless to say, I did not find any dissolved metals.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 74 - 09:55:42
]
Please note that there are only about five minutes left in the chat with
Dionne Jackson. The next chat will be with Kimberly Jenkins.
[ Dionne - 76 - 09:56:49 ]
RE: [INSTENALCO/BARRANQUILLA/COLOMBIA] What can
you tell us about today´s launch from ennedy´s Space Center?
Today's launch is STS-92, ship Discovery. It involves the International
Space Station.
[ Dionne - 77 - 09:58:23 ]
RE: [LuisPinzon/Colcaro/Colombia] What do you know
about "Mars Outreach Program" of NASA?
I'm sorry Luis, but it's been a couple of years since I have been involved
in that program.
[ Dionne - 78 - 09:58:50 ]
RE: [Thalia/ColegioAleman/Colombia] Have you heard
about Luis Rodriguez?. He told us about this chat with Space Team Online.
No. I do not know Luis.
[ DiegoWongColegioAlemnBarranquilla/Colombia - 79 - 09:59:11
]
Thank you very much for answering the german school´s questions
[ Dionne - 82 - 10:00:03 ]
RE: [MariaHelenaColegioAleman/Colombia] What project
are you working in now?
Simulating a Martian environment.
[ Dionne - 83 - 10:00:45 ]
RE: [WYESR/Colombia] All the students in Barranquilla,
Colombia want to thank to Dionne for this chat! Good luck in your job!
You re a wonderful woman.
Thanks again for chatting with me today.
[ WYESR/Colombia - 84 - 10:01:59 ]
It was a pleasure for us participating in this chat with Dionne Jackson!
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 85 - 10:02:40
]
Kimberly Jenkins' chat has been cancelled. Kimberly has been called to
escort a VVIP at KSC for today's launch.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 86 - 10:03:06
]
Please join us at 11 o'clock for the webcast with Lynn Harper.
[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 87 - 10:04:47
]
Thank you for participating in the chat today. You had great questions.
Sorry we couldn't answer them all. Thank you Dionne for being here today!
[ ColegioAleman/Barranquilla/Colombia - 88 - 10:07:13
]
Auf Wiedersehen und vielen Dank!!!
[ LuisPinzon/Colcaro/Colombia - 89 - 10:07:13 ]
I only want to say GOOD BYE AND THAKS in spanish: HASTA LUEGO Y GRACIAS
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