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Today's chat will be MODERATED to help Janis keep up with our questions. This means we will post a few questions in the chat room at a time.

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DON'T WORRY if you don't see your questions on your screen immediately. We will post new questions in the chat room every few minutes.

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At the conclusion of today's chat, please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us. Visit our QuestChat Information Center at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats and use our feedback feature to send your comments to us. We look forward to hearing from you!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 6 - 11:30:05 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Black History Month chat with Janis Davis-Street from NASA Johnson Space Center. Janis Davis-Street is a nutritionist and works in the life sciences. She is part of a team whose job is determining the nutritional requirements for space flight. This means finding out what foods and nutrients are important for astronauts as they venture into space.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 7 - 11:31:10 ]
Greetings!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 8 - 11:31:35 ]
And now, here is Janis Davis-Street to answer your questions.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 11 - 11:33:27 ]
RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] YOU HAVE LIVED AN MANY PLACES WITCH DO YOU FIND MORE CONFORTABLE? (PLEASE EXCUSE SPELLING)
I probably enjoyed living in Ontario the best. Texas is running a close second, but my heart is still in Guyana where I was born.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 12 - 11:33:32 ]
RE: [MrsS] Hello!
Welcome Mrs. S. We're just getting started with our chat with Janis Davis-Street. Please submit your questions!

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 14 - 11:34:19 ]
RE: [MrsS] Hello!
Hi!

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 15 - 11:35:28 ]
RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE? IF SPANISH HOW WAS THE TRANISHION TO THE U.S.?
English is the native language in Guyana. We speak the Queen's English, so there has been some transition: e.g. we spell colour with a "our"

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 18 - 11:38:24 ]
RE: [MrsS] We are a fourth grade class just starting a study on space and space stations. We would like to know why astronants eat speical foods (i.e. dehydrated)? And, are their special nutrients that bodies need in space that they don't need as much on earth?
Many of the foods are regular foods that have been dehydrated. The Shuttle produces water from the fuel cells (from hydrogen and oxygen), so we can reduce launch mass by shipping the foods without water. On the space station, there will be fewer dehydrated foods. Some nutrients are needed in different amounts. Our job is to understand how these needs are different.

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RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] DO YOU HAVE FURTHER PLANS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE SPACE PROGRAM OR DO PLAN ON GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
I am planning to do both. Our group is very interested in education outreach and much of what I study at the University I try to apply to space flight.

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RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] FROM WANTING TO BE A DOCTER WHAT MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND? WHAT MOVED YOU TO BECOME A NUTRITIONIST?
I decided to go into nutrition because I was fascinated about the way the body is able to utilise food.

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RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] WHAT PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR INCORPERATING COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ABOUT SPACE REASERCH AND LIFE SCIENCE INTO CLASS ROOMS? HOW WOULD IT WORK?
I am hoping to develop computer-based instructional materials that incorporate space biology into traditional classroom curriculum

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RE: [EdisonSchool] Hello my name is Lory Denis. I go to Edison Middle School in West Orange NJ. The first quest that I want to ask you is why did you choose to be a nutritionist.
Lory, see Janis' response in Message #23. Thanks!

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RE: [MrsS] We read in your on-line journal that Vitamin D is a concern. Could you tell us what other nutrients that have to be adjusted in space? Do you then plan menus that have foods with these nutrients in them for the astronants?
Other nutrients of concern include iron and sodium (too much of these is a problem in space flight), water (to prevent renal stones), antioxidants (which may reduce risks associated with radiation), and calcium (for bones). We are also concerned about astronauts eating enough calories

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 30 - 11:45:18 ]
RE: [MrsS] We read in your on-line journal that Vitamin D is a concern. Could you tell us what other nutrients that have to be adjusted in space? Do you then plan menus that have foods with these nutrients in them for the astronants?
Our group defines what the nutrient requirements are. The food scientists then plan the actual menus. Our groups work very well together.

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RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? WHAT ARE SOME REQUIERMENTS NEEDED?
Study hard. Focus on your science subjects and math, and most of all believe in yourself.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 35 - 11:48:31 ]
RE: [MrsS] About how many calories should an astronant eat? Since it is hard to exercise, should it be less?
The amount of calories required inflight appears to be similar to those on the ground. Exercise will increase those requirements, but we have not found a need for less food inflight.

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RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] IN A PERSONAL NOTE, WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? WHY? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEXICAN DISH OR DO YOU ENJOY MIDLE EAST FOOD MORE? IF YOU FIND MIDDLE EAST FOOD MORE TO YOUR APEAL, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORTIE DISH.
I enjoy gospel music, jazz, calypso, reggae, and some opera. I think Middle Eastern beats Mexican in my book - I enjoy the garlic flavors and spicy dishes.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 39 - 11:51:30 ]
RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] IS THIS JOB TIME DIMANDING? IFSO, DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR FAMILY EVENTS OR FUNCTIONS?
I have been managing to balance work, school and home life. It does get quite busy, as you can imagine

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RE: [MrsS] Are the astronants able to get all of their nutrients from food, or do they take vitamins and supplements as well?
The food system is designed to provide adequate nutrition.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 43 - 11:54:28 ]
RE: [Aztecs/SD/CAL] GIVE US A BRIEF DISCRIPTION ON HOW IT IS LIKE IN GUYANA?
Guyana - is a tropical country with weather much like Houston (Hot, humid, and rainy). We have 2 seasons - wet and dry. Our people are of African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, English, and Native American heritage.

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RE: [MrsS] What other parts of the space program interest you? Would you want to join another area later in your career?
I enjoy all aspects related to human physiology. Nutrition offers the opportunity to interact with many disciplines, so it is actually the ideal place to be.

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RE: [Joy] What doastronautslike to eat best?
Much like on Earth, astronauts' food likes are very individual. However, shrimp cocktail has been reported to be a crew favorite.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 50 - 11:59:38 ]
RE: [MrsS] Thank you so much for answers to our questions! We are on the east coast, so our school day is about to end and we have to sign off. Again, THANK YOU! From the fourth graders here in Brockport, NY
Thank you for your interest in NASA. I enjoyed answering your questions.

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RE: [MrsS] Thank you so much for answers to our questions! We are on the east coast, so our school day is about to end and we have to sign off. Again, THANK YOU! From the fourth graders here in Brockport, NY
Mrs. S, we're glad you could join us today. Please send any comments you have about today's chat to us at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats. Have a good day!

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 52 - 12:01:00 ]
RE: [sandra] what happens if one of the astronauts is vergetarian? do you have special recepies?
We have had vegetarian astronauts. There is enough variety in the menu that food selections can be made. As we move towards Mars and the Moon we are developing more plant-based, regenerative food systems.

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RE: [Lisa] Have you tried to eat any of the space food?Which is your favorite?
I have tasted a few - most are regular foods that have been dehydrated. Others are natural form, and some are MREs (like the army uses). NASA has developed some special items - like tortillas that last longer at room temperature

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RE: [sandra] Janis, do you think about the "toilet factor" when you select the food for the astronauts?
In the early days of the space program (1960s) there was some concern regarding this. Most of the food is planned based on what provides adequate nutrition.

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RE: [sandra] Janis, did you learn to be a chef before you came to the Nasa?
No - my background is in Nutritional Biochemistry.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 63 - 12:19:58 ]
RE: [JanisatJSC/NASA] No - my background is in Nutritional Biochemistry.
We study biochemistry, physiology, statistics, calculus and whole host of science/math subjects. I did take a food science course, which was enjoyable.

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RE: [Tanya] Have you found there to be any foods that are harmful to astronauts going into space?
There are no harmful foods -we take great care to make sure that the foods are safe (no spoilage) and have the appropriate shelf life. Great question

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 68 - 12:24:36 ]
RE: [Tanya] Did the astronauts have to eat special food on the days immediately preceeding their launch?
No - astronauts can eat their favorite foods during the quarantine period (7 days) immediately before flight

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 70 - 12:27:36 ]
RE: [Tanya] Do you think livestock would survive the travels into space in order to provide an ongoing food supply? Some of my students are considering taking cows into the mars community, but I am not sure if gravity would adversely effect their ability to provide milk.
At this point NASA isn't planning to take livestock into space. There has been some development work on other animals like fish, rats, quail eggs. We have more to learn about animal physiology in space.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 72 - 12:30:30 ]
RE: [Tanya] Since most of the food is dehydrated, do the astronauts have trouble staying hydrated for the length of the mission? IS there a water filtration system that allows them to recycle/reuse water?
Water is produced as a by-product of the fuel cells, and this is used to rehydrate the food and provide drinking water. Recycling water has been done on Mir and is planned for the Space Station. Ground based studies have shown that this is effective.

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 74 - 12:31:46 ]
RE: [Tanya] Thank you so much for your time! We look forward to more chats, this was a great opportunity for the kids.
Thanks for your interest in the space program. I enjoyed answering your questions.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 75 - 12:34:26 ]
This concludes today's Black History Month chat with Janis Davis-Street from NASA Johnson Space Center. We would like to thank everyone for joining us today, and offer our special thanks to Janis for sharing her time, career experience and expertise with us. THANK YOU, Janis!

[ JanisatJSC/NASA - 76 - 12:35:31 ]
RE: [Oran/NASAChatHost] This concludes today's Black History Month chat with Janis Davis-Street from NASA Johnson Space Center. We would like to thank everyone for joining us today, and offer our special thanks to Janis for sharing her time, career experience and expertise with us. THANK YOU, Janis!
You're very welcome. I enjoyed the interactions with the students and teachers, and hope that they will continue to be interested in 'Nutrition and Space'.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 77 - 12:37:51 ]
We hope you can join us for our next Black History Month chat with Daniel Winterhalter from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Be sure to check our Black History Month chat schedule at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats/special/mlk00 for more information about this and our upcoming chats.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 78 - 12:50:09 ]
A final reminder to send your thoughts about today's chat with us at http://quest.nasa.gov/qchats. Thank you again for joining us and have a good day!