[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 4 - 06:00:14 ]
We welcome you to enter out contest based on the work Linda and Doug perform. Please see details on the schedule page or at: http://quest.nasa.gov/women/TODTWD00/contest.html You may enter this contest at any point througout the day up until 3:00p.m. Pacific Time.

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 5 - 06:04:00 ]
RE: [LindaKennedy/JSC] OK - we're here
Doug and Linda are on-line now and ready to accept your questions.

[ LindaKennedy/JSC - 11 - 06:16:11 ]
Hi Joyce Everything is exciting - everything everyday is different and we get to work with exciting people. There really aren't too many things that we don't like, but at times it can get very stressfull because of tight schedules.

[ LindaKennedy/JSC - 12 - 06:18:00 ]
Hi Sarah, we could easily work for corporations in the public affairs department, media, or even some types of jobs in the entertainment industry - show business. we could make more money there, but the job here is very rewarding.

[ LindaKennedy/JSC - 13 - 06:20:33 ]
Hi Kim - i started out with an associates degreee in Journalism Administration, followed by about 20 years working in the entertainment industry. I now have an equivilent of a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.

[ LindaKennedy/JSC - 16 - 06:22:06 ]
RE: [kim] Doug - does it matter if you are a male or female in your job. Has it ever made a difference?
Hi, Kim. Thanks for asking questions today!! In the world of Public Affairs I think there's some advantage in being a woman. I think that often times, women are actually better communicators than men....and in this field communications is evertything!

[ LindaKennedy/JSC - 17 - 06:25:03 ]
RE: [Jamieandhermom] I am wondering how you would get into NASA to work in the Public Affairs office. It sounds so exciting? Did you do other NASA work first? What other types of Public Affairs work do you do - is it always with astronauts?
Jamieandhermom, THere are all kinds of different jobs in NASA Pubic Affairs. Working with TV, print media, film production crews, etc. etc. The best step toward getting a job in this area is to get a BA in journalism, pubic affairs or tv/radio production. I did other work in NASA before Public Affairs, including policy analysis and human resources.

[ Doug - 19 - 06:29:23 ]
There is no such thing as a typical day!! Everyday has new and often exciting challenges. I can spend time coordinating interviews with astronauts, dealing with a dissatisfied person requesting an astronaut appearance, or talking to a national tv commentator! You never know! This is Linda - I have to concur with Doug in the fact that every day is different. I set up public appearances for the astronauts to travel aroud the world. We're always talking with different folks from all walks of life - Everyone seems to have so many things in common, yet so varied a lifestyle.

[ Doug - 21 - 06:31:54 ]
RE: [Shayage10] Is most of your work at Johnson or do you travel? Do you travel with astronauts or other NASA people?
Yes, most of the work is located at JSC in Houston, but I do travel sometimes, over to Kennedy Space Center, NASA HQ in Washington D.C., and sometimes with astronaut to their appearances. Last summer I escorted Eileen COllins to New York for a state fair...that was a lot of fun, practically like a rock concert!

[ Doug - 25 - 06:33:59 ]
RE: [Shayage10] Is most of your work at Johnson or do you travel? Do you travel with astronauts or other NASA people?
I'm basically a "boiler room" type person - I work strictly out of our office. Mostly because there is not a large budget for extra travel - The astronauts usually go on appearances without an entourage.

[ Doug - 26 - 06:36:03 ]
RE: [FedExkids] Who is your favorite person or person you most admire that you worked with?
Linda Kennedy! Yes, her, and others all across NASA. The people here are really dedicated! A special experience occurred last year when I rode in a simulator with John Young and Neil Armstrong. I never expected to do that, and I'll never forget it!

[ Linda - 33 - 06:38:17 ]
RE: [FedExkids] Who is your favorite person or person you most admire that you worked with?
Doug Peterson! He has provided so much support to our office and is great to work with! Also, each and every astronaut that I have met and worked with. Since they are all willing to ride those rockets - then - believe me - that's courage - They are all heros.

[ Doug - 36 - 06:40:29 ]
RE: [Rita15] How many public affairs people work at NASA? How many work with astronauts? Are you only at Johnson or do other NASA offices work with astronauts?
Rita, I'm not sure how many people work in NASA Public Affairs, but I'd guess that each NASA center has at least 35-50 people in civil service or contractor positions. We here at JSC do the most work with astronauts, but people at Kennedy, Marshall, and Headquarters work with them a lot too!

[ Linda - 38 - 06:41:46 ]
RE: [Henry/WHS] How many hours per week do you work? Does it fluctuate?
The work week really fluctuates depending on the number of trips we need to work that week.

[ Linda - 39 - 06:43:08 ]
RE: [Henry/WHS] What is the difference in what both of you do?
I work the astronaut appearance trips local, domestic, and international - It involves all the planning, travel, and coordination with the sponsor and the astronaut.

[ Doug - 40 - 06:45:40 ]
RE: [Patti/CJHS] What can my school do if we want to have an astronaut visit?
Right now it is very difficult to get an astronaut to go out and visit schools. This is because their work is SO busy. They are training constantly for the missions to build the International Space Station.

[ Linda - 41 - 06:46:38 ]
RE: [ofelia] Since you coordinate all the public appearances of NASA staff, do you also make appearances and interviews on your own?
Thanks for the question and that would be terriffic - but only the astronauts do public appearances from our office.

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 44 - 06:48:14 ]
Please remember that we are chatting with Doug Peterson and Linda Kennedy who work in the Public Affiars office at Johnson Space Center. If you question is not related to their careers or work we will not post it. You may read their profile linked from the schedule page at: http://quest.nasa.gov/women/TODTWD00/schedule.html

[ Doug - 45 - 06:48:27 ]
RE: [MrsReulingFoster] Hi! I'm Amy Sanders. What do you do if someone gets sick in space?
Yes, some astronauts do get sick in space, but usually only at the beginning of the mission. There are a number of countermeasures, but in some cases they just take an anti-motion sickness medicine.

[ Linda - 46 - 06:49:31 ]
RE: [Daniella10] Once you are an astronaunt can you live anywhere?
All current NASA astronauts are based out of Houston.

[ Doug - 49 - 06:50:58 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] If you had an opportunity to take another job, would you take it or stay at the job you have now with NASA?
It depends on what the other job was. I'm interested in other jobs at NASA HQ and Kennedy Space Center right now. But it all depends on what becomes available. I'd like to work more in congressional relations.

[ Doug - 50 - 06:52:31 ]
RE: [ofelia] What would be the best advice you can give to girls to overcome their fears of speaking with the public?
Girls and boys need to practice public speaking to get good at it. My daugthers (3) all have had to do many presentations at school, and I think that is great practice. Also, study your topic, and know it cold. And then practice before giving the actual speech!

[ Doug - 56 - 06:53:24 ]
RE: [Deborah7] Do you see your family every day or are you like firemen that live at work some days and go home?
Yes, I see the family everyday except when on travel...which is not really that often.

[ Doug - 57 - 06:54:52 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] If the astronauts don't visit schools, what kind of appearances do they do?
The astronauts are still doing a very limited number of school visits, as well as other visits. The problem right now is that we are all booked up.

[ Doug - 59 - 06:56:13 ]
RE: [ofelia] How do you juggle your time between your personal life and your work?
Balancing family and work is always a huge challenge, because you enjoy both so much. The most important thing to do is focus on each when you are there, don't be distracted by the other role.

[ Doug - 60 - 06:57:28 ]
RE: [ofelia] How do you deal with annoying reporters?
The best thing to do with difficult reporters is to respond as accurately and quickly as possible. Often times their questions are really good and will be coming from other reporters soon, so you might as well get to the answer as soon as possible.

[ Linda - 61 - 06:58:55 ]
There really isn't anything I don't like. The most difficult thing is to tell folks it is not possible to support their appearance request.

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 64 - 07:01:03 ]
Linda and Doug only have about 5 minutes left so we'll give them a chance to catch up on the posted questions. Remember you can enter the contest based on their work at any time today and win COOL NASA prizes. You can find the contest linked from the schedule page at:http://quest.nasa.gov/women/TODTWD00/schedule.html

[ Linda - 65 - 07:01:39 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] If the astronauts don't visit schools, what kind of appearances do they do?
Actually, astronauts do visit schools, but there is not a lot of time right now as Doug mentioned.

[ Linda - 66 - 07:03:43 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] What is the background required to enter public relations - what can we study?
Public relations is a good place to start - but whatever your interests are is a good place to start while in grade school and though graduation - everything is so varied - Knowledge is power!

[ Doug - 69 - 07:09:06 ]
RE: [Daniella10] how do the engines work? When they take you to outerspace do they just do their job then become junk or are they recycled?
The engines work through buring chemical fuels. On the shuttle, after the solid rocket boosters burn out they fall to the ocean and are towed back to Florida to be refurbished and used again. The liquid fuel external tank is used just once for each shuttle mission, and then falls back to Earth.

[ Tish/NASAChatHost - 70 - 07:09:53 ]
Well you can see that Doug and Linda have VERY busy schedules and it's time to close this chat and let them get back to their work. They are just answering up the few questions we have remaining in the room but we cannot take any further. Please remember to check out the contest linked from the schedule page. Thank you Doug and Linda for you time and insight into your work. We all appreciate it!

[ Doug - 71 - 07:10:09 ]
RE: [ofelia] Doug, Why do you like to work in congressional relations? Do you have political aspirations someday?
Oh, I've always really enjoyed politics, ever since watching my first national party convention when I was 11. I might run for office someday, but that's way out in the future right now!~

[ Doug - 72 - 07:12:18 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] How old do you have to be to become an astronaut?
There isn't a specific age requirement, but to be selected as an astronaut you need a lot of education and experience...so much that you'd probably be in your late twenties or early thirties. You need a technical degree such as science, engineering or math, and then you need at the minimum three years of technical work experience. But really most people have much more. But if you want to....you CAN DO IT!

[ Linda - 73 - 07:14:09 ]
RE: [Lyndsay] were you scaredon the first day you went to work?
Yes - Everyone at somepoint is the new kid on the block - Especially in this type of environnment where so many folks are coming and going - for whatever reasons..... But it didn't take long before everyone - including the astronauts - to make you feel at home and comfortable.

[ Nicolette - 74 - 07:15:00 ]
Thank you for your time yo spent with us. This was fun, Bye

[ Henry/WHS - 75 - 07:15:00 ]
Thanks I loved this!

[ Shay - 76 - 07:15:00 ]
Thank you Doug and Linda - I learned a lot. I like your jobs

[ ofelia - 77 - 07:15:00 ]
Thank you so much for giving your time today.

[ LindaandDoug - 78 - 07:15:35 ]
Thank you very much - We both really enjoyed this opportunity to participate in this venture. Have a great day.