QuestChat

Date: September 18, 1998

Featuring: Dennis Chamberland
Commander, Scott Carpenter Space Analog Station
NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 0 - 09:39:32 ]
Hello to our early arriving Space Team Online-Challenge Project participants! The Space Team Online-Challenge chat with Dennis Chamberland will begin in approximately 20 minutes. Be sure you have read Dennis' autobiography at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/challenge/team/chamberland.html before joining this chat. Once the chat begins, Dennis will attempt to answer as many of your questions as he can, but please be patient. We are scheduled to have many participants online for today's chat, so we ask that you post one question at a time, and please wait a few minutes before posting new questions. This will greatly help us to keep up with and answer your questions.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 1 - 09:40:00 ]
In the event that we begin to receive too many questions during the chat, the chat will be "moderated." This means that only a few questions will be posted at a time to allow Dennis to keep up with us. If the chat is moderated, your questions will be posted to the chat room as Dennis answers those ahead of you.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 2 - 09:40:24 ]
As a reminder, please remember to enter "Your Handle" in the box provided, before posting questions to the chat room. Once you've done this, please let us know that you have logged on for today's chat. At the conclusion of today's chat, you will have an opportunity to give us feedback about it.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 4 - 09:50:35 ]
RE: [HolyFamilySchool-Ms.Botero/HolyFamilySchool] Can we begin to submit questions now or should we wait till you tell us to begin?
Ms. Botero, we will begin our chat in about 10 minutes. Please hold your questions until that time. Thank you for joining us today!

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 6 - 09:58:00 ]
Good Afternoon !

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 7 - 09:58:19 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Hello again Oran!
Hi Stephanie! We'll begin our chat shortly. Stay tuned!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 9 - 09:58:49 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Space Team Online-Challenge chat with Dennis Chamberland! Dennis is the designer and builder of the Scott Carpenter Space Analog Station. He explains: "In our office, we design what are called 'Advanced Life Support Systems'. In other words, when we go to live in space permanently (like on the moon and Mars) we will have to bring all our oxygen, water, food and those things that will keep us alive for very long periods of time. We do research in living life support systems, called bioregenerative life support systems. That means, our life support systems are made up of very large gardens of crops like wheat, tomatoes, beans, peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes and other foods that the future space colonists can eat."

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 10 - 09:59:17 ]
RE: [Sherwood-Mr.Boyd/SherwoodElementarySchool] Hello!
Hello Sherwood from Key Largo

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 11 - 09:59:24 ]
And now, here is Dennis Chamberland to answer your questions.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 13 - 10:00:51 ]
The Scott arpenter Station is on the bottom of the lagoon and all systems are working. We are ready for the Challenge mission.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 17 - 10:01:44 ]
RE: [MrLaster/RussellElementary-Mr.Laster/RussellElementary] Hello, we know the chat hasn't started but can you confirm that our messages are being received. WE had some problems with that on our end yesterday. Thanks!
We read you - any questions, Mr. Laster?

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 20 - 10:02:25 ]
RE: [MrLaster/RussellElementary-Mr.Laster/RussellElementary] Hello, we know the chat hasn't started but can you confirm that our messages are being received. WE had some problems with that on our end yesterday. Thanks!
Mr. Laster, your message is received "loud and clear," and the chat is now open. If the chat is moderated today, your questions will not appear on your screen immediately. We will moderate the chat if we receive too many questions in the chat room for Dennis to answer at one time. A message will be posted if moderation is initiated.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 21 - 10:02:40 ]
RE: [HFS-Ms.Botero/HolyFamilySchool] What are the highlights of being a bioengineer?
I enjoy the concept of connecting living systems with nonliving systems.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 24 - 10:03:40 ]
RE: [Sommre/RussellElementary-Mr.Laster/RussellElementary] How did you come up with the MARS program?
MARS = Mission to America's Remarkable Students - it is to sshare the ideas of NASA space life sciences with the public.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 28 - 10:04:37 ]
RE: [Sommre/RussellElementary-Mr.Laster/RussellElementary] Have you ever tried to bring an animal into the SCA?
We are not allowed to take animals into the station - government policy.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 30 - 10:05:29 ]
RE: [Katie/RussellElementary-Mr.Laster/RussellElementary] How did you come up with the idea for a space analog station?
It is a model for space - underwater systems are often used as space models.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 31 - 10:06:50 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Do mushrooms or other fungi grow well in space? Are they just not considered to be grown in space because they do not produce oxygen?
Fungi and mushrooms ARE being considered for space foods - because they are protein producers - and they do, in gact, consume oxygen and not produce it - but that's ok. (What ELSE will we have on our pizzas?)

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 32 - 10:07:35 ]
RE: [Chelle/RussellElementary-Mr.Laster/RussellElementary] Do people live longer in space as compared to Earth?
We have not been there long enough to know this answer. But we are going to be looking at that.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 33 - 10:07:55 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] How deep will the analog station be situated?
About 20 feet.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 36 - 10:08:42 ]
RE: [HFS-Ms.Botero/HolyFamilySchool] Why do you want to retire underwater?
To live there is very exciting, beautiful and a nice place to get away from the "rat race" - rats can't live there!

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 37 - 10:09:35 ]
RE: [Timothy/RussellElementary] What is the longest period of time that anyone has occupied the SCA continuously? What were some of the effects?
The record is 11 continuous days last summer. There effects were cramped legs - but it wasn't bad.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 39 - 10:10:22 ]
RE: [Katie/RussellElementary] Do you like your career as an inventor? What types of unexpected challenges do you face?
Daily unexpected challenges are common and expected. We are continuously facing the unexpected and solving problems.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 44 - 10:11:23 ]
RE: [Katie/RussellElementary] Has the SCA ever put anyone's life in danger?
No - and we continuously pray that it will not. While there is risk in any human activity, our task is to make SAFETY FIRST and worry about that before anything else - and we do.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 45 - 10:12:29 ]
RE: [HFS] What do you in the course of the day?
It depends on what job I have assigned myself each day - if I am on surface duty or if I am on underwater duty - determines what I do.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 46 - 10:13:27 ]
RE: [Katie/RussellElementary] How do they go to the bathroom in the SCA? Is it a system similar to that on the shuttle?
The SCSAS toilet is a "porta-potty" designed for use in high pressure environments but the shuttle has a $23 million toilet designed for use in space.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 47 - 10:14:17 ]
RE: [MrLaster/RussellElementary] Dr. Chamberland, thank you for your time. Our questions are all submitted. We'll sign off and just watch now.
Thanks for the great questions and yur interest! Have a great day - smile!

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 51 - 10:15:49 ]
RE: [Katie/RussellElementary] Did NASA turn down your first application (after college)? If so how did you react to the disappointment?
They didn't turn it down - they just didn't have any open slots. I just kept on trying- which is the secret to success. Einstein said, "100 times I rty, 99 times I fail, one time I succeed." Edison said, "Success is 99% perspiration, 1% success."

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 52 - 10:16:04 ]
RE: [Sherwood] Do you know what year you plan on retiring?
No.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 53 - 10:16:47 ]
RE: [HFS] Are there any risks with Mr. Glenn's age? (Concerning the tests to be conducted on him in space).
There are no more risks for Sen. Glenn than with any other astronaut, or we would not be able to allow him to fly. He will be OK!!!

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 56 - 10:17:59 ]
RE: [HFS] What do you do during underwater duty then?
We are busy every minute, except after dinner when we are usually able to read or watch a movie. We do web casts, telephone links, grow plants, work outside the station and just keep busy.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 58 - 10:19:22 ]
RE: [Tiffany] Do any of your children want to join NASA in the future?
None of my six children have indicated such an interest - but I never try and decide their futures for them - like Mark Twain said, "I have found out how to advise my children. I find out what they want to do then advise them to do it."

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 61 - 10:20:30 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] How is living in the ocean like living in space? There's alot of pressure in the ocean, and a lack of it in space.
Correct - however - there is no air, it is "weightless" and it is remote. Your "craft" must be airtight and it is also remote. There are many similarities, but it is not totally alike.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 62 - 10:21:11 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] How many people will be on the station at a time?
Three normally, but four for one hour visits. It is very small.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 64 - 10:21:58 ]
RE: [HFS] What tests are you going to perform on Sen. Glenn?
Medical examinations such as bone loss, and muscular effects.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 67 - 10:23:15 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] Do you plan on getting more pets, and have any of your pets been involved in any of your projects? (not counting the childhood cat!)
No - I am now the Chairman of the KSC animal care and use committee and I am very careful not to violate the law or hurt my pets, whom I love very much. They are my friends and family and I very carefully treat hem that way. (My mom had to teach me these lessons- ouch!)

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 68 - 10:24:11 ]
RE: [HFS] How do you sleep in space?
They strap the astronauts into sleeping bags mounted on the walls of the shuttle vertically. Their arms hang out of the bag and float in space. It looks wierd.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 71 - 10:25:51 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] We can't remember if you mentioned in your bio if you have ever been in space. Have you?
I have never been in space - but would like to go.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 72 - 10:26:23 ]
RE: [HFS] Do you want to travel in space?
Yes - I would like to go to Mars or the Moon. (Doesn't everybody?)

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 74 - 10:28:18 ]
RE: [HFS] Do you ever get frustrated with your job?
Yes - but everyone does once and awhile. I never met anyone who didn't get frustrated now and then. (I believe that's why they call it "a job", hu?

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 77 - 10:29:54 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] You mention you read in the station. What types of things go you read?
I like science fiction and action adventures and I always read my Bible each day.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 80 - 10:32:00 ]
RE: [Eugene] Somedays people from NASA saw fly plates (UFO)? It's real? or only Hollywood cinema producer flam? Please, without funs Only.
Ok, no funs... UFO's are "unidentified flying objects", not necessarily things from space or aliens. But no one on earth understands all things - so we wait until there is evidence for everything we see. We will probably never understand everything and there will always be new surprises - it is, after all, a very large universe. Said one astronomer, "The universe is not stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we CAN imagine."

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 81 - 10:32:46 ]
RE: [HFS] What is the most interesting experiment you've ever done?
Build and launch the Scott Carpenter Station.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 84 - 10:33:43 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Do you have to travel a lot in your job?
Yes I do - and lots of travel is not so fun when you have a large family to keep up with. I don't travel unless it is necessary, but I am away a lot. (I try and take my wife and children with me whenever I can.)

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 85 - 10:34:31 ]
RE: [HFS] Does your family worry about you while you are conducting these tests?
No they do not. They know I am a very careful person and a safety professional.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 86 - 10:34:47 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] How old are you? (answer is optional)
I am 47 years old.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 91 - 10:37:36 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] What is the next after the SCA for you?
We are discussing taking the station to the St. Lawrence river in Canada next August.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 111 - 10:45:53 ]
Note - the Canada trip is only being discussed - it is not confirmed yet.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 92 - 10:37:54 ]
RE: [Eugenebline] Your work connect with UFO?
No UFO connections.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 93 - 10:38:15 ]
RE: [HFS] What's your favorite space food?
I like Kudo bars - real "Aquanaut" food.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 98 - 10:39:30 ]
RE: [HFS] Why the St. Lawrence river?
At the request of a Canadian community. It is a very clear and a beautiful site.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 99 - 10:39:48 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] How is the station transported?
On a very large truck.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 100 - 10:40:45 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] If one wants to go into a space-related field, is it advisable to take the broad field (like mechanical engineering), and emphasize on space within that field (aerospace engineering). Or, would you highly recommend taking the initial space-related course first?
Engineering is probably the broadest applicapable field, although there are also opportunities in most other disciplines. It will broaden as the work expands.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 104 - 10:42:22 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Where exactly in the St. Lawrence will the station be? Are visitors allowed to see the craft submerse or reemerge?
Brockville - yes visitors will be permitted to watch from the shore.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 105 - 10:43:34 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] Who actually built the station (a company?) and was it built on site?
We (NASA) designed it and a Florida company built it from our plans. Then we contracted for a Florida company to wire and thhen we outfitted it ourselves.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 107 - 10:44:11 ]
RE: [HFS] How big is the station (in measurements)?
13 feet long, 13 feet high and 8 feet wide, 21,500 pounds in weight.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 109 - 10:45:16 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Does the station have propellers or engines to allow it to swim around?
No- it would then be a "submarine" and not a "station" or a "habitat" by definition. Good question though - most people think it can move, but it does not.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 112 - 10:46:38 ]
RE: [HFS] Why isn't the station larger?
It is as large as it can be and still fit on a truck or the highway. It had to be mobile to take it from place to place.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 118 - 10:50:11 ]
RE: [Yoshihide/UtsunomiyaJapan] Good Afternoon! Please tell me. What is inportant factor which we live in space for long time?
Good afternoon! We need more information on human health (life sciences) before we know whether the human body can tolerate the environment.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 119 - 10:50:32 ]
RE: [Stephanie/Edmonton] Is the station prone to fierce underwater creatures?
Only the humans.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 121 - 10:51:59 ]
RE: [SherwoodElementary] With the exception of your science teacher who saved you from the spit wads, did you have a scientific "idol" when you were growing up?
I really looked up to my science teacher (which you know about) and my dad (a great engineer of enormous practical abilities). Otherwise, I looked up to Albert Einstein because he taught me (through his writings) "how" to think in a scientific way.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 123 - 10:52:59 ]
RE: [HFS] How do you take a shower (or bath) in space?
In space you have to wrap up in a "bag" (Skylab) and spray water over you with a wand. It then had to be vacummed off before opeing the bag.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 125 - 10:54:38 ]
RE: [HFS] Does bacteria grow in space?
Bacteria grow very well in space - there is some evidence that "biofilms" (found everywhere) do well there as most other species. (As you know, without bacteria of the right kind in the intestines) humans would get sick.

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 127 - 10:55:32 ]
RE: [HFS] What college did you go to?
Oklahoma State University

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 128 - 10:55:47 ]
RE: [HFS] Once it is vacummed, where does the water go?
Into a waste tank.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 129 - 10:56:42 ]
At this time, we would like to thank our participants for joining us for today's chat with Dennis Chamberland.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 130 - 10:57:06 ]
A very special thanks to Dennis for sharing his time with us online today!

[ HFS - 131 - 10:57:15 ]
Thank you Mr. Chamberland for allowing us to chat with you today!

[ Stephanie/Edmonton - 133 - 10:57:22 ]
Thank you for answering our questions. Good luck on your future underwater journeys!

[ SherwoodElementary - 134 - 10:57:29 ]
Thank you. Bye!

[ Linda/HereWithDennis - 135 - 10:58:26 ]
Bye all, It's been fun to be on this end of a chat. Thanks Oran. Keep in touch with the schedule of events. Things are hopping!

[ Dennis/SCSAS - 132 - 10:57:18 ]
Thank you for your interesting questions!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 136 - 10:58:50 ]
RE: [Linda/HereWithDennis] Bye all, It's been fun to be on this end of a chat. Thanks Oran. Keep in touch with the schedule of events. Things are hopping!
Linda, we enjoyed it. Thank YOU, too!