Estella Gillette 12/17/96

Good morning! Estella's ready for questions.

I'm checking in from Houston, TX where it's cold this morning! It's just
over 30 degrees and it's supposed to get into the 20's tonight!

Estella- I'm like the idea of getting to select the astronauts. How did
you get yor job?

I get to select astronauts because I am director of equal opportunity
programs. I sit on the selection board to help others understand the value
of diversity and having alltypes of folks become astronauts. My job is
easy, though, since our folks here are pretty good about appreciating
others.

Do you know Shannon Lucid or any of the astronauts? Is is hard to pick
them?

I do know Shannon Lucid quite well! She was one of the first 6 women
selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1978. We selected 35 then. She's a
really neat lady who doesn't act any different than any other folks here.
She's a wife, a mother, and a really great employee!

I read the archive chat about the selection process. I am wondering how
long most of the applicants have to work at NASA before they can apply?
Who was the youngest astronaut selected?

Steve Hawley was the youngest astronaut selected for a long time. I
do believe we have a younger one now, but I'd have to check that.

To meet the basic qualifications to become an astronaut, you do not have
to work for NASA. Your work experience, however, does have to be at least
3 years after you get your bachelor's in engineering, biological or
physical science, or math. The work has to be relative to work NASA does.

Have you ever met any astruants? Have you ever been inside a real
spaceship?

I have met many astronauts. I actually worked directly with them for about
6 years when I was Chief of Administrative Support in the Astronaut
Office. I loved working with them. They areregular people--they just know
a lot and have practiced what they know very well. Plus, they get
topractice a lot because they have to train very hard for what they do! 
-I have only been inside of mockups of the spaceship. I have, however,
been inside theKC-135, which is an airplane used to train astronauts to
fly in zero-G. I wasn't in it when it was flying, though...

Have you ever met Don Thomas?

-I have met Don Thomas. He worked here at NASA in another organization
before he wasselected to the Astronaut Corps. He actually worked in the
same organization that I started to workin when I first came to NASA. He,
of course, worked there many years later than I, since I've been
here much longer than he (just means that I'm older than he!).

Do they still let laypeople on spce flights after the Christa McAllife
accident?

We have not had a lay person fly on a space flight since the accident. We
do fly folks selected by other countries and by companies--they are called
payload specialists. But usually theyare scientists or engineers who have
an experiment to handle during the flight.

Where you working for NASA at the time the accident involving the lay
person happened? If so, how did the people at NASA react?

-Yes, I was working with the astronauts when we had the accident. It was a
very sad time for the people here and for our Agency. I will never forget
the day it happened. But, good things do happen from these traumatic
events. I have become closer friends with some of the spouses of the
astronauts who were killed. Lorna Onizuka is my friend--her husband
Ellison was also my very good friend. Lorna and I became friends after the
accident--she's a great person! 

You said that you got to select astronauts. How do you decide who is the
best one for the job?

To select an astronaut, we go through a long process. It begins with
accepting the applications, determining who is qualified, then filtering
through to see who we will keep to consider for the remainder of the
process. For example, this last selection process we had over
2200 qualified applicants. We narrowed that group down to about 500, then
123 for interviews, and selected 35. It's a long process and the factors
will vary depending on what kinds of skills we need at that particular
time.

How would I get a copy of the astronaut application forms?\

If you call 281-483-5907, they can mail you the application brochure that
will tell you how to apply. Or, write Duane Ross/NASA JSC/Code AHX a note.
I'd give you his e-mail address if I could remember it now.
http://www.nasa.gov/hqpao/new_FAQ_answers1.html#addresses

In what field do I have the best chance at becoming an astronaut? And,
would it be for mission specialist, payload specialist, or pilot?

Can you tell us the difference between the 3. What actually is a payload
specialist?

Payload specialist is a person, usually working for a private company,
mission specialist is someone who actually is an astronaut by career, and
pilot flys the shuttle - I think!
I think a payload specialist is actually someone who specialises on the
payload (baggage) of the shuttle.The payload specialist is a person who is
hired to fly on the Shuttle for just one flight. It's rather like a
temporary person versus a full-time permanent person. The payload
specialist is temporary--the astronaut is full-time and permanent. The
payload specialist is working specifically on an experiment for his/her
country or company. Usually, those countries or companies reimburse NASA
for any expenses incurred.

So do payload specialists not necessary have space flight experience?

That's correct, payload specialists do not have to have space flight
experience.

Have Astronaut positions ever been filled by NASA researchers/engineers?
If so, how often has/does this happen?

So do only the astronauts have to apply through your process? Who selects
the pilots and the payload specialists?

-Only the astronauts have to apply through our NASA process. The others
will be referred to NASA through separate boards comprised of specific
members selected by the countries or companies. All candidates must meet
NASA's qualifications, however.

How would I contact former astronauts? I know I can write to the current
ones by writing to Mail
..
To contact former astronauts, you can also write to CB. They keep a
current list of ALL astronauts--present and former. 

I found a place on the net with some great astronaught addresses. I can't
remember the site, but here's a few interesting ones. Buzz Aldrin:
Strarcraft Enterprise, 233 Emerald Bay, Luguna
Beach, CA 92651

And Neil Armstrong: P.O. Box 436 Lebanon OH 45036

How old do you have to be before you can apply for a job to becom an
astronaut, or to work with NASA?

There is no age requirement to be an astronaut. As long as you meet the
education and physical requirements, you are qualified. Of course, the
selection depends on other factors, like experience.


Are most of the pilots on the shuttles other kinds of pilots first or do
they specifically train to be a
space shuttle pilot?

All of the pilots who fly the Shuttle come with that experience already.
The requirement to qualify for the pilot astronaut position is 1000 hours
of high-performance aircraft experience, those with 3000 pound thrust per
engine or more. Naturally, most of our folks have a military pilot
experience. It's tough to go out and rent an airplane this big to
qualify--so, military pilots are the primary resource for our pilot
astronaut cadre.

**********

Firstly, I'm an 15 year old Australian and would absolutely LOVE(!!!) to
get a job at NASA. Did you find that your Mexican background went against
you for getting your job?
In your biography, you said that you wanted to be a secretary. What made
you become interested in NASA? Did you have any role models?

I started as a secretary because I had my mom's influence. She had been
one in her younger days in Mexico. Since she wanted her 3 girls to have a
good job, and since that's all she knew, she encouraged us to do that.
Fortunately, I really liked being a secretary. As a matter of fact, I
still work very closely with Professional Secretaries International
because I believe that this is a great way to start working, when you
can't go straight to college. It really made a difference for my
future career. I learned some skills, like interacting with people,
getting organized, that I still use in my job now.


Do you work 5 days a week, or do you just work on certain days when the
need you? What do you do in your free time, if you have any?

I work about 55 hours a week, mostly 5 days a week. I am on what we call
an irregular tour of duty--only the first 40 hours count. When I do have
free time, I work on things at home, like landscaping. I also like to sew
and to bake. Generally, most of my other time is spent with
Professional Secretaries or with outreach activities, like career days. 

Estella, how long have you been working for NASA?
If you don't mind, how old are you?

I came to NASA in October 1964. That pretty well tells you how old I am,
too! Actually, I'm not embarrassed to tell my age. I turned 51 in August.
I'm a lot younger than my mom was at 51! And I certainly don't feel much
older than when I got here--just smarter!

Estella, you definately don't look like you 51 years old.

If you don't mind me asking, why did you and your family imigrate from
Mexico to America?

Have you ever wanted to go up in space, or have you always enjoyed doing
the work you do?

Do you work in one place, or do you travel around to work? 

-I do travel a lot. It's a fun job that I have and traveling makes it more
fun. But, traveling can be a burden, too, when you have other things you
have to do at work and at home!

Where do you travel to mostly?

Do or have you ever gone around speaking to people about you job?

I really going out to speak to folks! We do a lot of that from JSC. I
especially like to speak to women's groups and to student groups,
especially the really young ones. It's never too early to
start planting our NASA "seeds" so that we can start growing young people
like you all for later recruitment!

Estella thanks so much for answering my questions.

Thanks Estella for a very inspiring chat. (Even at 2 in the morning over
here!) P.S. - If you know her, could you please tell Pamela Melroy that
her visit to Australian Space School REALLY inspired
somebody. (ME!)

Well, folks, my time is up! I have genuinely enjoyed our interaction this
morning. I'm really pleased to know that there are many of you out there
who are interested in our astronaut program. Hopefully, I'll see you for
an interview some day soon! Have a great holiday season!

John - Where is the Australian Space School?

It's actually more like a space camp. It's held for a week every year in
Sydney, Australia to inspire kids around the world about space. (It's full
name is Australian And International Space School -
non Aussies are welcome!) 


Tish--Again, my pleasure...

Thank you for coming - and you will most definitely see me for a interview
(whenever I get a degree and some experience!). Till then, Leslie:)