Stop Microsoft
Miscellaneous => The Lounge => Topic started by: voidmain on 11 October 2002, 04:50
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I can't get enough of this stuff. Check out the cool videos:
http://www.nasa.gov/misc/ettvcam.html (http://www.nasa.gov/misc/ettvcam.html)
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quote:
Originally posted by void main:
I can't get enough of this stuff. Check out the cool videos:
http://www.nasa.gov/misc/ettvcam.html (http://www.nasa.gov/misc/ettvcam.html)
Simply amazing.
I wish people would spend more money investing in the space program than making bombs and starting stupid wars. I mean, don't people realize that earth is a very small place in the middle of a gigantic universe?
If half the effort were put in to the space program than all the other crap we waste time and money on we would already have settlements on the Moon and Mars. But people are short sighted creatures, they only look at the hear and now.
What a bunch of loosers. This stuff is stunning!
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meh.... it isnt great quality, it was boring after a couple seconds of the first video..... I think I'lll isten to some Deep Purple instead.
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does this have anything to do with Linux???
...moving it to the lounge...
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For real. Whats a good way to become an Astronaut?
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Well, things may have changed but usually the basic qualifications were being highly educated, great physical condition, several thousand hours in a fighter jet (or) being a scientist of some sort relating to the mission, applying for the program, having an incredible amount of luck, being accepted (hope none of those terrorists slip into *that* flight school), passing the program, etc, etc.
I actually took the wife and kids down and witnessed the STS-98 launch close up (closest one can get without being a family member, had a military friend stationed there that got us special passes). It was one of the most amazing things I have seen.
Actually before the launch at the visitors center they had an Astronaut there that flew on a couple of shuttle missions. He talked for an hour or two about that exact question and what life was like on the shuttle, and the space program in general past/present/future. It was actually quite humorous when he got a question from one of the kids about how they went to the bathroom on the shuttle. He probably spent 5 minutes on that one.
The astronaut's name was Story Musgrave who has been up on 6 space flights. He was the oldest American to fly at the age of 61 (I believe John Glenn went up at around 75 so I don't think he still holds that record). I recall he said he grew up on a farm (like me), don't recall but am pretty sure it was in the midwest (like me), but he got smart and became an astronaut (unlike me). I got the whole thing on video tape. Haven't watched it in a while but it was a very good speech and Q&A session.
But if you want more current and accurate details here ya go:
How to become and astronaut (http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/outreach/jobsinfo/astronaut.html)
[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]
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Yeah i was looking at that page and I have to say there is a small part of me inside that dares to dream that big.
And that is why I am thinking in going in the Military while going ahead with a Masters in Enginering or something of that nature.
The only problem is that I had stoped school for 3 1/2 years because of financial and family reasons. And those three years are for me like a huge gap that am trying to fill up like a SOB now.
I will apply for avy league schools and I am hoping that they will accept me and then take it from there and hope I will end up working for them.
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I say "go for it!". Dream that big. Even if you fall slightly short you will be better off than 99.999% of the humans on this earth. I don't know if there is any secret but I think the more education you have the more likely you are to get there (and don't eat too many potato chips along the way).
I would research the backgrounds of the current astronauts and try and take a similar path. My guess is that they will have some sort of high level science degrees. And of course the pilots usually are the best of the best and would have a lot of flying time with great records and lots of education. But I don't know any more about it than Joe Blow so do some research. I could watch that video tape again and see if Story had any tips because I do recall him going over that question and spending some time on it.
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(http://smile.gif) Thanks VoidMan. Its always good to hear someone for a change to say something like that.
Hell even though i been to hell and back since I came to USA, i never forgot my goals and even though I had many chances of "bailing out" and return back and have it easy with people that I know, in Greece, i never allowed it to my self.
And one thing that draws me to USA, big time, is the fact that I was always seen like the underdog, kinda the same like USA was viewed some decades ago.
Anyway ill stop with the drama :D
But as you said, education is the key and a good dose of lucky charm :D
I was looking few weeks ago at the pbs web site and they had a section about astronauts and their bios. And one of them, get this, has a BS in music :eek: and two Masters in EE. Talk about being creative.
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quote:
Originally posted by bazoukas:
I was looking few weeks ago at the pbs web site and they had a section about astronauts and their bios. And one of them, get this, has a BS in music :eek: and two Masters in EE. Talk about being creative.
Two masters in EE??? Liked it so much he went back for seconds I guess. (http://smile.gif) I enjoyed college but not high school. I was young and dumb when I went through high school and it didn't interest me in the least. Little did I know....
I waited almost 10 years before taking my first college class. I believe I ended up with a 3.96 GPA. But it was tough because I had a day job so I had to squeeze classes in a night, I'm guessing similar to what you are doing. It was a lot of work but worth it. However, I didn't like it enough to want to make a career out of going to school, like some people do (my sister, she's a lawyer).
I had no money at the time and going to work during the day, school at night, and having a family was pretty tricky and too much work for me. Maybe after the kids get out of school and I make enough money to retire I'll go back to school and try and get into the astronaut program myself. (http://smile.gif) Just keep your chin up. I can assure you there is gold at the end of the rainbow if you stick to your dreams, even if in the end they take you somewhere else that you didn't even realize you wanted to go until you got close.
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errr yeah two Masters in EE was off the wall there . :confused: :confused: sowwy.
Here is some of his bio.
How He Got into Orbit
Education:
Bachelor of arts degree in music, Florida State University, 1972 Master of science degree in aeronautical engineering, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, 1980
Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School; designated Naval Aviator 1974
And it goes on and on. Talk about dedication.
Winston Scott (http://www.pbs.org/kcts/astronauts/people/frameset.html)
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Yep, he's got plenty-o-fighter experience. F-14, F-18, and A-7. Not to mention helicopter time. And it would appear that he doesn't even get to ride in the front seat of the shuttle. (http://smile.gif)
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ouch I didnt think of that lol.
F-14s man. Did you work on them? Those are my big love!!!
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quote:
Originally posted by psyjax:
Simply amazing.
I wish people would spend more money investing in the space program than making bombs and starting stupid wars. I mean, don't people realize that earth is a very small place in the middle of a gigantic universe?
If half the effort were put in to the space program than all the other crap we waste time and money on we would already have settlements on the Moon and Mars. But people are short sighted creatures, they only look at the hear and now.
very true, and i agree, but i think, while spending less money and effort on bombs and so forth is a good idea, that we should perform some serious housekeeping as a species and as a planet before we fritter it all away on space missions.
I do think that space stuff could turn out to be very important once we have done enough of it, however i think that there are more pressing things at stake in the meantime, and that until we sort out our own affairs (which will not happen in a hurry at this rate, so why not blow it all on the space program regardless?), i don't think we should really be throwing a lot of money into space.
Good pictures though right enough, not the most entertaining, some of them, but i liked them because you know you are looking at something you would not be likely to see in person. It's good that communications are up to the standard that they can telecast pictures from space like this, and have themon websites.
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quote:
Originally posted by bazoukas:
F-14s man. Did you work on them? Those are my big love!!!
Nope, F-14 are Navy birds. They are getting quite old now but yes they have always had one of the largest cool factors. I worked the F-16, F-4, and A-10.
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Let's not forget Chuck Yeager; HE'S the guy that SHOULD have been the First American in orbit!
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quote:
Originally posted by bazoukas:
For real. Whats a good way to become an Astronaut?
Ironically enough. Join the Navy. Most astronauts fly Navy birds first. I tried to do this. But the F**king Navy, and the airforce refused me - physical reasons, sent me off the rails for a few years, don't get too hyped - cos I failed and I almost destroyed my life in reaction.
Get a scientific qualification, look at all the Astronauts, by the time they went up they were qualified to the hilt. Anything Engineering, or science based will give you an ample boost. Good ones may be Geology, Chemistry, physics will be definite bonus, electronic engineering would also give you a good start.
Another common factor is that the astronaut is something they hope will happen, but they keep their sights on the here and now, the next bird, the next qualification. Always plugging away to fill an area where they lack knowledge.
Good luck.
[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: pkd ]
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Don't forget Aeronuatical Engineering. I don't know the figures but I would guess that would be a common one in the astronaut bio.
And even though I came from an Air Force background I can see how the Navy guys might have an advantage. I mean taking off and landing on a carrier has to give some bonus points. Hell, anyone can land a plane on a runway that doesn't move, is 300' wide and 12,000' long (over two miles).
I was just a mechanic but I flew Cessnas in the aero club on the base. When I landed on our runway I could land and stop within the length of the white stripes that are designated as the touch-down target for the big planes. And I would turn off on the first taxiway at the beginning of the runway. I could have done about 10 touch and goes before reaching the end of the runway. (http://smile.gif)
[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]
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Yeah, that little nugget still gets me thinking. But It's historical. The Airforce intervention in NASA only really happened when Nixon decided to fuck everything up and gave the USAF remit to use space as a war zone, NASA was originally based around Navy research, who kind of invited the USAF on board (as a peace keeping deal between the services)
And Chuck Yeager got a raw deal.
[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: pkd ]