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Sometime It Is Rocket Scienceweather balloons, the Internet, and streaming video for NASA |
November 1999 Slightly over a year ago, I changed job positions at NASA. I'd been in the same organization in the Electrical Power group, with minor reorganization Al changes, for over 12 years, and was truly ready for a change. I updated my resumé and government application, filled out one of the arcane inside-NASA job applications, and failed to get the job I applied for. But one of the people I'd called to ask about the job I applied for offered me a chance to come work with her group, with the bonus of getting to write my own job description. Left: Linda Porter in the Spirit of Science. Credit: Bob Moder? I'm really enjoying work again! I'd gotten myself into a corner
doing research no one cared about in my previous area, basically
all by myself. Now I'm working with a team of people, and enjoying
the work.
Left: Ed Myszka working on the balloon payload. Credit: Bob Moder? We have two to three science writers on staff who interview scientists about their research. The writer turns what they learn into an article, adding graphics and background material as needed. They submit their article for review to the scientists, and make any corrections needed. Then the article is reviewed by the Science Roundtable, which includes scientists from various areas, and representatives from the Education Office, Media Relations, Scientific Outreach, Headquarters Media Relations, and pretty much anyone who wants to join in. Right: The logo for the Space Science News, or Science.NASA.gov, web site. Check it out! Once the story passes muster, we do final editing, modifying, linking, and massaging it to post it on our web site (check it out at http://science.nasa.gov/). We send a message out to our mailing list (about 100,000 people have signed up) with a brief description and web-link to the article. We do about five stories a week, more or less. Posting stories (ie., this process) is a good part of my day to day job. |
Right: A balloon, almost ready to launch. The payload is the white boxes sitting on a ladder in front of the image. Click on the image for a larger version. Left: A top view of the payload, with six capsules of Xerogel, and 5 JustBorn Peeps Credit: Bryan Walls
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