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Space Day
With Anna-Maria McGowan
Program Manager, NASA Morphing Program
With Anne Breaks
Space Day Teen Spokesperson
Wednesday, April 30, 2003; 1 p.m. ET
Space Day 2003 (May 1) not only celebrates the future of space exploration, but also looks to the past by commemmorating the 100th anniversary of the Wright brothers first flight in Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
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Anna-Maria McGowan
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Anna-Maria McGowan, program manager of the Morphing Program at NASA
Langley Research Center, and Anne Breaks, Space Day Teen Spokesperson, were online Wednesday, April 30 at 1 p.m. ET, to discuss 100 years of aviation and aerospace accomplishments and the next generation of inventors, innovators, aviators and dreamers.
McGowan began her career as a co-operative engineering student while attending Purdue University, where she received her B.S. degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. She received her M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from Old Dominion University. As program manager, she directs, advocates, and plans the $12 million dollar NASA program that includes over 65 researchers from 20
branches at NASA Langley, numerous research grants with universities,
contracts, and collaborations with other government agencies. McGowan
also serves as one of NASA’s key leaders on smart and biomimetic
technologies for aerospace vehicles.
Eighteen-year old Anne Breaks of Calgary, Alberta is an aspiring astronaut
who represented Canada at the International Space School in Houston, Tex., in
2001 when she was 16. Determined to become a Canadian astronaut since the
age of eight, she is now in her senior year of high school and has been accepted at the University of Calgary for studies toward a specialization in aerospace medicine. She is also a teen spokesperson for the AeroSpace Museum of Calgary and a member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the Calgary Space Frontier Society, and the Calgary Space Day Planning Committee.
The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
washingtonpost.com:
A recent story about teen spokesperson Anne Breaks: Nurturing an Inner Passion for Space, (Post, April 29)
washingtonpost.com:
This is the correct article
washingtonpost.com:
Anna, Anne -- thank you for joining us today. For those who don't know, can you explain the history and purpose of Space Day and explain how you both got involved?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Space Day is an educational initiative that started several years ago to inspire the next generation of scientists to learn more about space and air. All of them are contained on the spaceday.org Web site. This year we're celebrating the centennial of flight.
My job at NASA develops technology for the future of flight.
Anne: I got involved by being a candidate for international space school, so I was able to be the teen spokesperson.
Washington, D.C.:
Anne, does Canada have a space program and, have any Canadians been into space already?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Yes, we have the Canadian Space Agency and there have been quite a few astronauts. Dr. Garnot is the first Canadian astronaut and the director of the Canadian Space Agency now. Last 2001 we had our first astronaut do a space walk, yes, there are lots of Canadian astronauts.
Washington, D.C.:
Anne -- what exactly is the morphing program?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: The morphing program is one led at NASA Langley research center. We test technologies for future airplanes, including micro and nano technologies, smart materials, bio-memetics, technologies derived from nature.
For example, bones are very lightweight, yet carry a lot of weight, so we're looking at developing materials that are lightweight and porous -- so their strong, but still lightweight.
Arlington, Va.:
What sort of events are planned for Space Day?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Space Day is tomorrow, May 1, and will involve a Noon cybercast and they can participate by logging into Spaceday.org. Other activities include results of the design challenges, where students design future aircraft and spacecraft. Opening ceremonies -- with John Glenn -- will be at the NASA Museum downtown. NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe will be part of the festivities as well.
Arlington, Va.:
Anne, when did you know you wanted to be an astronaut and has it been hard to stick to that goal? Any other interests that have distracted you from the push to space?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: I think I, ya, wanted to be an astronaut from when I was eight and was able to get involved with different activities.
Mostly what I thought of was -- I guess no. Most of the things I do, in one way or another, help go towards that goal. So, like being a doctor will help me.
Seattle, Wash.:
Do you think that we can get more interesting scientific results with unmanned probes to other planets than we get from manned spacecraft doing laps around Earth? Are there going to be more probes to Mars or perhaps the moons of Jupiter?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: In 2004 there's a robotic probe scheduled to be launched to one of the moons of Jupiter and see if there's an ocean or life under the ice. So there's a lot of different probes. There's also coming up a launch of a robotic station that will be placed on a comet or an asteroid.
Anna: From NASA's perspective, definitely you can fly into more dangerous areas with unmanned probes. The human body likes a comfortable environment, so to protect human life in space is quite a challenge. So we can explore farther with unmanned probes. So we see the use of unmanned crafts growing substantially in the growing years.
Washington, D.C.:
How has the Columbia tragedy changed people's perceptions of space flight? How is Space Day incorporating the event into the festivities?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: I think with the Columbia, people realized the dangers of the space program more than they did before and don't take it so much for granted.
Anna: Space travel is still a challenge. We are still exploring that frontier. We became used to see the shuttle taking off and landing. Space Day this year is celebrating the future of flight, so that really incorporates where we're going. We're going back to space, no question. We will return, we will determine what happened and continue to explore.
Alexandria, Va.:
Where do you expect space exploration to be 100 years from now?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Good question. Some of the things planned at NASA are to do medical research not able to be done on earth. So more medical experiments. Using space more for observing our atmosphere, our agriculture and taking more stock of what we observe. We see commercializing space as well.
Anne: I agree with Anna in that space will become commercial. In space school we learned about different laws regarding space. I think a lot of them will have to be changed. I think in 100 years, resources out there that we could use -- iron, for example -- and space can give us that. We just have to work towards that.
Virginia:
I'm 37 years old and 20 pounds overweight, but have good blood pressure and above-average strength and endurance. I have GOT to go into space. Please hire me. Thanks.
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: they can apply for the astronaut program on the NASA Web site. There are many opportunities with NASA even though you don't fly. So look at some of those opportunities to be involved.
Washington, D.C.:
What would you consider the highpoint of Space Day and how can I get involved?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: I'm a practicing engineer. I do this every day -- research. I work with space engineers, so this seems normal for me. So the highlight for me is meeting the kids and learning about going into space.
Anne: Same with me. The highpoint is being able to see the design challenge team and meet them and see their enthusiasm for space.
Alexandria, Va.:
Do you believe that NASA is getting the funding it needs and deserves? If not, what projects do you believe need more money to be successful?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: My project at NASA could really use more -- just kidding! NASA's funding has been reduced substantially, which has led to reductions in programs. NASA asked for additional program to reduce the space transportation system several years ago, so yes, as a practicing engineer at NASA, I'd say more funding would be helpful. NASA's budget is extremely small compared to others like DOD. The work we do is designed for the future. We do air travel and space travel. There are also non-aerospace applications that benefit our world -- contact lenses, velcro, appliances impacted by our research, medical advances.
Anne: I agree with what Anna says.
Silver Spring, Md.:
I remember having a classmate when I was in elementary school get into the Space program. Do you have many young students applying and what is the process these days as opposed to 15 years ago?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Well, I graduated from high school in 1987, so I guess it has been 15 years. It's still much the same. You need a solid education. Most of the applications are available on NASA's Web site. Being prepared is a big part of it. There are a lot of different fields you can go into and be a part of the program.
Anne: Education is the most important part. Without that, it's just a dream. It takes 40,000 people to send one astronaut into space. Those are 40,000 different jobs. It takes a huge variety. If you want to be an astronaut, go into what you love and be an expert at it.
Washington, D.C.:
Any thoughts on the current debate over the redesign of the Space Shuttle? Is the current model dated?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: The current model was developed in the 1960s. Of course, over the last several decades there have been numerous advances, but there is no doubt that a redesgign would allow us to do greater things. So while much of the interior is modern, as with any technology, relooking at the system fresh allows you to do more than retrofitting. You can't add things to a convection oven to make it a microwave oven. Considering what their working with, NASA engineers have done an incredible job.
Anne: Not only the space shuttle should be looked at again, but I think the spacesuits -- Russia has developed and changed their design. As for us, we haven't. I think they could probably work on it and go back to that funding question and find better and more affordable ways to do a space walk.
Vienna, Va.:
With new technology and science, how difficult is it for scientists and college graduates to enter the field of space sciences? Do you see difference in social standards such as young vs. old, more men than women, etc?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Yes, science is always a challenging field. But a good education is the place to start. The social environments we grow up in affect how we do the job, but the differences are celebrated and exploited as we do research. I'm considered a young engineer at 33 -- and I learn a lot from the young engineers and our senior engineers that design the craft that are flying.
Anne: Well, for me. I'm 18 -- pretty young. What people my age don't realize is that even though you're young you can work towards your dreams. Females shouldn't be scared to try things that are predominantly male. In Canada, a lot of people thought it was weird that I'd be in the Air Cadets. The ratio was one female to five males. I don't think it should matter.
Washington, D.C.:
My cousin works with NASA in Alabama and I understand there are several bureaus across the country that receive data from space missions and also administer the tests that are involved in the space missions. After the tragedy, he said that many workers and esp. managers were scared of losing their jobs. Are firings and layoffs increasing or heightened when something goes wrong?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Whenever there is a tragedy it does initiate a look at operation procedures. So, yes, there has been a reevaluation of how we do business. But some of the current firings may have already been planned due to economic issues. So its not just the Columbia tragedy. I would say there is still a lot of information coming from space -- satellites, space probes. Space and aeronautics research continues. It did not stop with the Columbia tragedy.
Alexandria, Va.:
Is there any measure to how effective Space Day has been in building excitement and desire in young students?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: For me, I've personally seen it. Back in Calgary I went to my old elementary school and a second grader came up and said, "Are you Anne Breaks? I want to be just like you!" These kids talked about how I and others have inspired them.
Anna: Space Day has grown substantially over the last several years. There are more students and schools participating. So there is more awareness and interest in space and future air travel.
Somewhere, USA:
Is Space Day a world-wide phenomena or is this basically a US/NASA-led event?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: There are 11 countries that are partners with Space Day -- Canada is one. It's definitely not just centered in the U.S. I'm from Canada and I know about it.
Anna: Space Day is about increasing awareness and information and everyone needs that -- in the U.S., Europe, etc.
Somewhere, USA:
Who funds Space Day?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: We have a Space Day non-profit foundation which helps with funding of the programs. We also have 75 national partners and associates who contribute volunteer support, activities, ideast, etc.
Anna: A lot is done through volunteer work. Sen. John Glenn, Anne and I.
New York, N.Y.:
Have either of you met with Sen. Glenn before? Are you excited?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: I haven't yet, but will tomorrow.
Anna: I haven't either and am really looking forward to it.
Fairfax, Va.:
What programs or events are involved in Space Day and how do schools across the country celebrate?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: We have tours, museums, science centers across the country planning events -- simulated space mission to landing parties. This is where the student signatures in space program come back. A lot of speaking circuits and workshops. Many museums and schools are broadcasting the Web chat tomorrow.
Charlottesville, Va.:
I am keen on learning about NASA and bio-nanotechnologies -- what future plans are there for adapting humans and other living organisms for long-term space habitation?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Good question. There is extensive human space environment research going on. A lot is helping us understand how the body adapts to space and how to allow us to stay longer in space. In bio-nano research we are understanding the amazing technologies available -- making lightweight materials, faster super computers and nano-developed technologies.
Maryland:
Anne, what is it that you need to do now in order to be an astronaut? Because of the selection process, do you foresee any obstacles?
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anne: One of the obstacles I'm going to have to get through is making my resume look the best. I'm going to work on my undergrad degree and hopefully get into Med school. But until then there's no chance I can.
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: To become in the space program, solid education is where it starts in a lot of different fields. So a very good undergraduate program and summer internships while in college. I did a Co-op program while in college and it was invaluable. This is where it all starts.
Anna-Maria McGowan and Anne Breaks: Anna: Watch the Webcast from noon - 1 p.m. tomorrow. The Spaceday.org web site has lots of info. Go to school and be a well-rounded student. It requires people who can work in groups, people with organizational skills, administrative skills, speaking skills. In becoming an astronaut one of the biggest skills is being able to work with others you don't know in a very small space with very hight risk.
Anne: Hand-eye coordination is also important.
washingtonpost.com:
That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the
discussion.
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