[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 1 - 21:35:46 ]
Our special guest today is Marta Bohn-Meyer from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, just north of Los Angeles, CA. Marta is the director of the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 2 - 21:38:18 ]
Dd you know... In 1991, Marta became the first female crew member assigned to the SR-71 aircraft. She considers her crew member status a great honor and privilege and explains that the opportunity was brought about because of what she calls her four rights: right time, right place, right enthusiasm and right qualifications.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 3 - 21:39:19 ]
Marta will be in the chat room and ready to take your questions at 7 am, PDT (10 am, EDT)... Be sure to read her bio BEFORE the chat begins. Thanks!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 10 - 07:03:13 ]
RE: [FleetDaughers] Good morning - we're here with 20 nine and ten year olds at Fleet's Take Our Daughters to Work Day
Good Morning Fleet Daughters :-) We're very happy you're here today!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 15 - 07:07:16 ]
RE: [PhilipsLighting] Hello Nasa we are about 35 girls here at Philips Lighting in Somerset NJ. Good Morning!!!
Welcome Philips Lighting in Somerset NJ!!! So glad to "see" you :-)

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 17 - 07:08:07 ]
RE: [Susan/HealthAllianceMedicalPlans] Good Morning. I will be here with 9 girls ages 9 to 15. We are an HMO Insurance Co.
Welcome to all the girls at Health Alliance!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 20 - 07:09:06 ]
RE: [Keisha] This is a test. Hello All.
Hi Keisha!

[ Pam - 23 - 07:11:21 ]
Good Morning This is United HealthCare of the Midlands

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 26 - 07:15:17 ]
Hi Everyone! I am finally online. Sorry I'm late but I'll make it up to y'all on the other end! Marta

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 32 - 07:17:17 ]
RE: [JamesHardieBuildingProducts] Good morning, we're here with seven girls for Take Your Daughter To Work Day.
Good Morning James Hardie and Girls!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 33 - 07:22:06 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] Good morning Marta - What inspired you to work for NASA
What inspired me? I was pilot before I started with NASA. I had a chance to work for NASA as a cooperative eductaion student in college. It was a great experience. I actually wanted to be an astronaut in those days! Not anymore - I am happy being a flight test engineer and manager!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 37 - 07:24:02 ]
RE: [Kaycie] What do you do at NASA?
I am currently athe Director for the Flight Operations organization at Dryden Flight Research Center. It is a big job...I am responsible for about 170 people including pilots, engineers, mechanics and aviaonics technicians. I am the first woman at Dryden to be the Director for Flight operations. I spend alot of time in meetings but I also get to do a lot of flying!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 39 - 07:26:21 ]
RE: [Carrie] What does it feel like in space?
I actually have never been in space...The airplanes that I fly in only got up to 85,000 feet or so. Astronauts go out into space. At 85,000 feet, the sky is very dark blue and you can see 'forever' It really is pretty. At night you can see Los Angeles lights from Phoenix Arizona!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 40 - 07:27:28 ]
EVERYONE: There are more than 100 questions in the question queue and half of them ask Marta about being an astronaut... Marta is NOT an astronaut!!! I won't be posting any astronaut-related questions.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 45 - 07:29:55 ]
RE: [PhiladelphiaDaughters/PricewaterhouseCoopers] Marta, Good Morning, how hard was it for you to get into the NASA program?
How hard? Actually for me it was fun - and not so hard. I started out with a goal: I wanted to be a test pilot...then I worked hard to get all the qualifications I could: I learned how to fly, I went to engineering college, I was a co-op student with NASA Langley, I found metors in the filed (I had several mentors that were test pilots and several that were engineers) When I found out what options were available to me, I set my sights and when NASA people found out what I wanted, they invited me to try. It has be busy, hard work since then but also lots of fun!!!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 49 - 07:33:22 ]
RE: [AnnaE] Is it hard being a girl at NASA? Are there many other women at NASA?
Is it hard being a girl at NASA? Absolutely not!!!! In fact I have found that people like to help people who help themselves - no matter what your gender, race or religion. I have never had a bad experience at NASA because I am female...I have had some 'bad experiences' but they were technical failures not problems caused by the fact that I am female!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 50 - 07:33:49 ]
RE: [MichelleandMeganPhilips] What does NASA stand for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 51 - 07:33:59 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] Is it scary to fly test planes?
Is it hard being a girl at NASA? Absolutely not!!!! In fact I have found that people like to help people who help themselves - no matter what your gender, race or religion. I have never had a bad experience at NASA because I am female...I have had some 'bad experiences' but they were technical failures not problems caused by the fact that I am female!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 53 - 07:34:49 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] Is it scary to fly test planes?
Is it hard being a girl at NASA? Absolutely not!!!! In fact I have found that people like to help people who help themselves - no matter what your gender, race or religion. I have never had a bad experience at NASA because I am female...I have had some 'bad experiences' but they were technical failures not problems caused by the fact that I am female!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 59 - 07:37:38 ]
RE: [Pam] How old were you when you first started flying?
I began flying when I was 14 years old...my parents thought I needed a hobby so they asked me wht I wanted to do...I said either fly or ride horses. No one in my family rode horses but my father worked for a major airframer...so flying won! I can not encourage you enough...really look into your hobbies - think about whether you can make your hobby your career...it will be a lot of fun that way!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 60 - 07:37:58 ]
RE: [KatieVictoriaJeannine] how long have you been an astronaut??????:)
TO EVERYONE: ONCE AGAIN --- MARTA IS NOT AN ASTRONAUT. PLEASE READ HER BIO...

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 63 - 07:40:57 ]
RE: [LaurenKarlieandDeana] Who was your biggest influence?
Probably my parents were the biggest influence on me. My parents always encouraged me to do my best at everything I did. I was a good student and loved to learn. I had a lot of good mentors too. If I was to say who my role model was, it would most likely be a Grumman Test Pilot named Don Evans. Don was responsible for my first airplane ride and he always encouraged me to try new expeierences...Don by the was was 55 years old when I met him...I was only 12!!! He was a great person.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 65 - 07:42:59 ]
RE: [LJB/OkiData] hi my name is melissa :being the first women crew member how did the rest of the crew members treat you?
I was the first female crew member in the SR-71, that is true...but the rest of the crew members didn't even notice. As far as they were concerned, I was a crewmember and had a job to do - just as they did. We rarely ever talk about me being a female!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 67 - 07:45:17 ]
RE: [courtneyatphilips] whats zero gravity like?
Zero G??? It is really restful! I fly acrobatics for a hobby in an airplane my husband and I built...I spend a lot of time at zero g and like it...if you get a chance this summer, stand by the edge of a swimming pool and relax as much as you can and let yourself fall in and 'sink' to the bottom...that will feel like zero g.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 71 - 07:47:33 ]
RE: [Eduarda] When did you first discover this love for flying?
I loved flying the first time I flew - when I was 14. I like the way the cars looked on the street. As I learned more I like the fact that one can travel too. Later I learned to fly acrobatics and that is my greatest flying love. I love it so much that I competed for - and gained a spot on the 2000 US aAerobatics team - I will be competing at the World Aerobatic Championships in France this year!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 72 - 07:49:25 ]
RE: [JordanandKate] did you have fun studing
I love to study. It is part of learning - part of life. Studying doesn't mean looking a books all day...I study the clouds, the trees, birds, other people..all the time I am studying - it is treuly part of life...I also study the books - but if I am confused or don't understand something, I ask other people for help.

[ LJB/OkiData - 75 - 07:50:29 ]
Hi...Marta, we all appreciate you answering all these people's questions......THANKS!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 76 - 07:51:20 ]
RE: [KrystinNatalieandAmanda] We know shes not an astronaut,but have you ever thought about being one?
I thought about being an astronaut when I was very young - then became a flight test engineer/pilot. Later, after I began working for NASA I reconsidered my thoughts of being an astronaut...I really like fl;ying too much - so now I am very happy being a pilot. Would I go into space...YOU BET!!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 77 - 07:53:59 ]
RE: [LaurenKarlieandDeana] Who was your hero when you were little
My heros were - are my father and mother. They worked very hard so that I could have opportunity. My public figure hero is most likely Baron Von Richtoven...an early flying ace...I wanted to be as good a pilot as he was!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 81 - 07:55:18 ]
RE: [LJB/OkiData] Hi! my name is Nicole and were you interested in astronomy as a kid.
I was interested in astonomy as a matter of fact...I would lay out on the grass in the summer and look at the stars. I enjoyed school sponsored trips to the planetarium too.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 82 - 07:56:42 ]
RE: [KrystinNatalieandAmanda] Have you ever crashed when you were flying???
I am lucky...I have never crashed an airplane. I have had a few minor incidents wherein I had to land quickly but I never crashed or broke an airplane so badly that it couldn't fly again!

[ Philadelphia/PricewaterhouseCoopers - 83 - 07:56:46 ]
You are an inspiration to all the young women. - Carline Daniels

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 85 - 07:58:16 ]
RE: [LJB/OkiData] Do you ever get sick of your job?
I never get sick of my job...somedays I like it more than other like when I fly or when I get to share my experiences with others that are interested...I really don't like the meetings part of my job...but that is part of it and I try to do my best at that too!!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 86 - 07:59:28 ]
RE: [Donna] How much time did you spend co-opting? Did the co-op program run parallel with the university time?
I was a co-op while I was in college. I actually worked for NASA when I was not in a class semester. My total co-op time was only 10 months BUT it took me 3 years to collect all that!!!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 87 - 07:59:44 ]
EVERYONE: There are only about 10 minutes left in today's chat with Marta. PLEASE DON'T SEND ANYMORE QUESTIONS. There are more than 200 questions in the queue still. Thank you :-)

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 88 - 08:00:47 ]
RE: [LJB/OkiData] Hi my name is Josie Do you have any children???????
I have no children unless you want to count my dog. His name is FORD which stands for Found On Road Dog. He is a rottweiller and is the freindliest dog you willl ever meet. And he is as big as a person too!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 89 - 08:02:55 ]
RE: [BarbaraGares/PricewaterhouseCoopers] Question from Lakia McDonald - How much do you make?
I make enough money to enjoy my hobbies and have a quality of life that is comfortable. US Government employees salary schedule is a a matter of public record and salaries for engineers and managers range from 30,000 a year to over 100,000 a year.

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 90 - 08:04:20 ]
EVERYONE: Marta has volunteered to stay and answer questions for until 8:30 am, PDT (11:30 am, EDT). THANKS Marta :-)

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 91 - 08:04:47 ]
RE: [JamesHardieBuildingProducts] Is it hard to balance a personal life with your professional life?
I would have to say that I have to work at having a balance but I do it because I want to. Since my hobby (flying aerobatics) is so similar to my profession, it might be easier for me. It also helps that my husband is as interested in flying and airplanes as I am!!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 97 - 08:06:20 ]
RE: [Philadelphia/PricewaterhouseCoopers] You are an inspiration to all the young women. - Carline Daniels
Thank you for your kind words. I find that sharing my experience withthose that are interested is insirational for me too. I enjoy my work and enjoy sharing what I can.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 98 - 08:07:17 ]
RE: [rsstk] where do you live rihgt now?
I live in southern California about 45 minutes way from NASA Dryden

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 99 - 08:09:08 ]
RE: [FleetDaughters] How long is your regular work day?
My regular work day starts at 630 in the morning and ends at about 430 in the afternoon. My 'duty' day is from 730 to 400 so I do put in a few hours extra every day...but I enjoy what I do so it is not a hardship on me! By the way, I get up each day at 430 in the morning!!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 100 - 08:11:33 ]
RE: [JamesHardieBuildingProducts] Is it hard to be a pilot?
I don't think it is hard to be a pilot - but it requires work. There are special skills required and you have to practice regularly - flying is alot like any other learned behavior...to enjoy it you have to do it well...to do it well, you have to proactice. I practice flying every week for at least 3-4 hours!!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 104 - 08:14:33 ]
RE: [PhilipsLighting] I want know if you can tell me how to be a worker at NASA
If you want to work for NASA, yo have to begin by getting a good education...as you determine your field of interest, you can specialize so that you can find as NASA Center in which excells in your area of interest. Our moderator can give you all the information you need to find out how to contact NASA centers in your area.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 105 - 08:16:25 ]
RE: [JamesHardieBuildingProducts] What is the best month to fly?
The best part about flying is you can do it all year 'round. Summers ar nice because it is pretty...but winters are pretty too. Fall is nice - especially if you live where the tree leaves color. Spring is good too because you can watch the earth come alive after winter!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 106 - 08:18:05 ]
RE: [Philadelphia/PricewaterhouseCoopers] If you ever had a chance to be something else, what would it be? - Jeaninne Carroll
I think I would be either a teacher or an Air Traffic Controller. But to do either, I would want to have had all the experience I have had already. Some day I will change careers - you might see me in fron of a classroom yet!!!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 107 - 08:18:09 ]
RE: [MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC] If you want to work for NASA, yo have to begin by getting a good education...as you determine your field of interest, you can specialize so that you can find as NASA Center in which excells in your area of interest. Our moderator can give you all the information you need to find out how to contact NASA centers in your area.
Check out NASA's web site at: http://www.nasa.gov -- Here you will find information about all of NASA's centers around the country and what their specialties are. Also, each NASA center has an "Education Resource Center" where you can get more info on jobs. All you have to do is phone the NASA center nearest you and ask for the ERC.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 112 - 08:20:16 ]
RE: [Philadelphia/PricewaterhouseCoopers] How can I study to be a pilot like you? - Latoya Johnson
I would begin by going to the local airport (a small one preferably) and talk to the people there. Pilots love to give people a chance to see the world like the birds see it. Ask someone if they might give you a flight...If you like it, start taking lessons...the rest just takes time!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 113 - 08:21:21 ]
RE: [Philadelphia/PricewaterhouseCoopers] When did you start "goaling" to work with NASA? At what age?
I begain working for NASA when I was 19. I was a student worker.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 114 - 08:23:34 ]
RE: [Kaycie] what kinds of planes do you fly and which one is your favorite?
At NASA I fly in F-18's F-16's F-15's and the SR-71. I have also flown in F-14's, T-37's, B-57's and a few more. Proivately I fly Pitts Specials, Cessnas Pipers, and a whole raft of other airplanes. My favorate is the one I am flying at the moment - whatever it is...I love them all!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 115 - 08:24:04 ]
RE: [JordanandKate] Is your rank in your job high at NASA?
Yes, I am a Senior manager at NASA Dryden.

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 116 - 08:25:54 ]
RE: [JamesHardieBuildingProducts] How did you get involved with flying acrobatic airplanes, and where do you fly them?
I began flying aerobatic because I wanted a mental and physical challenge when I few...aerobatics - competition - is just that. It is a lot like gymnastics only we do it in the air...it is hard work to think about the maneuvers and hard work on the hody as I pull up to 10 g's...but I LOVE it!!!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 117 - 08:32:38 ]
EVERYONE: Unfortunately, it's time to let Marta get back to her real job. THANK YOU so much to all of you for your great questions! We hope you enjoyed yourselves and that you are inspired to go out and do whatever it is you dream of doing! From myself, Marta and all of NASA Quest, we wish you all the best!

[ MartaBohnMeyer/DFRC - 118 - 08:32:41 ]
I think that's all folks! I enjoyed talking with you. If I may give one last set of ideas and advice: 1. Find a hobby 2. Try to turn your hobby into a career 3. Find a mentor. 4. Ask your mentor to help you. 5. Have fun! 6. Share your enthusiasm. 7. Leave a good impression> I spent my life to date being in the right place at the right time, that is true...but I also worked hard to have the right qualifications and the right level of enthusiasm for all that I do. I am proud of what I have accomplished - but I want to accomplish so much more...I will keep working at it just as you must. There are four 'rights' in my book: right place, right time, right qualifications and right level of enthusiasm. YOU GO GIRLS!

[ Sandy/NASAChatHost - 119 - 08:35:07 ]
An archive of this chat will be available later today. Also, please be sure to let us know how we did on the chat by filling out a short survey form at -- http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/qchats/qchat-surveys