Why do people working at NASA like working at NASA so much?

[OHCHUTE 0]

You can sit there and watch a robot shovel dirt on TV
You can go out and crash a plane and see how the crash dumies take it.
You can burn stuff in a lab to see when it melts
You can sit there and surf the net, read, watch movies for as long as it takes the vehicle to get there.
You could go take a scuba dive in the pool.
You can go to elementary schools and tell the kids all the fun stuff you do at work
You can go along in the plane that works to make people weightless, and even sit in back to become weightless if you want.
You can snack on space food in between breaks.
You don't even have to go to work while the vehicle is on its way there so long as you can be reached by cell.
You can visit a huge telescope in a far off place, like Hawaii to look at the planet up close where you've sent the vehicle.
You can go home and wait for the space vehicle to return, then go back to work when the vehicle got here.
You can put in 30 years, retire, go home, and get paid as nearly as much as you were getting while at home waiting for vehicle to come home.

You can visit the Space Museum on the mall with your kids and point to the craft and say: I put that screw in there and that screw went to the moon and back

What's not to like about working at NASA!

[DanG 1]

Do you have a point?

- Dan G

[jakee 1,594]

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You can sit there and surf the net, read, watch movies for as long as it takes the vehicle to get there.

And where did you get your information about this life of ease and luxury at NASA?




As an aside, I've just seen the Big Bang Theory episode with Buzz Aldrin's cameo. Genius!

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[OHCHUTE 0]

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Do you have a point?

There was a recent study as blasted in the media, rating worker satisfaction midst federal agencies. Most agencies showed high dissatisfaction and low moral. NASA however rated worker satisfaction the highest.

CAN YOU SEE WHY?

Aside from having some activity moved to private contractors, what's not to like about working at NASA?

I'd pay to get to do some of the stuff they do at NASA the reason private contractors are working to create private services that people will pay for as there's FUN FUN FUN stuff to do, as WORK, at NASA!

[DanG 1]

You're trying to imply that NASA employees don't do any work, and that's why they like it there. Is it possible that they like doing important scientific work, and get a sense of acomplishment that most people don't get from work?

Nah, it must be because everyone is lazy and shitty.

- Dan G

[OHCHUTE 0]

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You're trying to imply that NASA employees don't do any work, and that's why they like it there. Is it possible that they like doing important scientific work, and get a sense of acomplishment that most people don't get from work?

Nah, it must be because everyone is lazy and shitty.

Your characterization is wrong. You need to define what work is and about what accomplishments are regarding any work. I was talking about fun. Some people view their work as fun and exciting. Frankly, I'd find viewing a monitor of a remote vehicle on mars boring. But having the ability to store the video for later viewing while visiting Hawaii to view mars from a high power telescope might be fun.

I'm jealous. No one funds my research, or whim of interest because I'd really like to understand fully the mating habits of sharks around the world that I'd could go visit all the finest dive/fish locations or better yet, since this is a skydiving forum, learn about wings while skydiving that I'd get to do 1,000 jumps with associates at others expense to find out all about it of course we'd have to go to Dubai too to test inversions HA HA. What luxury.

It's not a question of laziness, its a question of getting to do stuff you want to do and get paid for it. Who wouldn't consider their job at high satisfaction level? NASA a playground/ toys for tinkerers. Perhaps the coolest place for anyone to work. All the best equipment, toys, stuff to do and study.... don't you wish you worked there?

[jakee 1,594]

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I'm jealous. No one funds my research, or whim of interest because I'd really like to understand fully the mating habits of sharks around the world that I'd could go visit all the finest dive/fish locations

You think no one is paid for researching sharks? Maybe it's because you haven't done the work needed to be in a position to apply for a place on a research team.

Do you think people get to just walk into NASA because they think space is kinda cool? I doubt it, so complaining that no-one is ready to throw money at you to finance your whims is frankly little more than petulance.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[Channman 2]

Well, as a former Dude that got to take a dip in both pools, WETF / NBL hang out with some cool guys and gals bouncing around in a KC-135 over the Gulf of Mexico, have the oppertunity to be in an EMU (Spacesuit) on several occasions performing 3 Point Tool / Centerline Latch exercises among other awesome stuff, yea it was a more than AWESOME JOB.

I learned a damn lot there, such as 3D Modeling using AutoCad then Pro Engineer. Designed and fabricated some really cool stuff that the Astronauts trained on and or used in space. Can't believe I had this opportunity...PEOPLE want believe me if I told them I had this kind of job.

I've been involved in several IMAX productions, HOLLYWOOD movies such as Armageddon, Space Cowboys, with my personal photo being in Life Magazine, National Geographic and did I mention Discovery Channel.

Hell, man what’s not to like about that job. Did we do any work HELL NO, we were too busy having a blast in Designing new hardware, producing fabrication packages, fabricating, Welding, testing, engineering, attending Preliminary Design Reviews and making every effort to ensure that our few gifted friends that had the opportunity to strap their butt to a Roman candle could do so with somewhat an expectation that we could get them to space and back.
WORK we didn't do any work. How in the hell can you be working when you’re having a blast at doing something you LOVE.

Merry Christmas

[blueblur 0]

I grew up a NASA brat outside Langley. I vividly remember my dad taking me into the lab on the weekends while he was doing vibration testing on the trellis structure that became part of the current space station. I was 5-7 or so and hitting this huge structure with a little wired hammer and now that thing is in space! He left to start law school, he got bored... My step-mom is a lead project manager and developing some of the newest high-tech can't-tell-anybody aerospace toys. She absolutely loves her job.

My uncle (dad's brother) is one of the project leads on the new Orion capsule's launch-abort system that strips the capsule with the astronauts off the rocket and lands it safely when there's an emergency. He sent me the video of the first successful test of the full-size system with a note that the team said "today we saved those astronauts' lives". VERY fulfilling!

I think for most it's the fulfillment of working on a project that is much much bigger than yourself and seeing it succeed and potential advance Man's knowledge of things and capabilities.

In every man's life he will be allotted one good woman and one good dog. That's all you get, so appreciate them while the time you have with them lasts.

- RiggerLee

[wmw999 2,587]

I too am a former NASA geek. I had a friend who interviewed for a job doing what I did, and got the call that night asking if he wanted it. He agreed that yes, he absolutely did, and when and where could he start.

They settled all that, and he was about to hang up when they asked him "Don't you want to know how much it pays?"

He said "It doesn't matter."

NASA was full of people like that; they were enthralled by the opportunity to contribute to something they could really identify with.

Yeah, I got to listen to the chit-chat between the shuttle crew and the ground, and watch launches etc. Of course, that listening to the chit-chat included monitoring all of the software output so that I knew what was happening during my shift, and could answer any question that came my way, or was prepared if something unexpected happened.

It was way cool, but it was also work.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[OHCHUTE 0]

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I grew up a NASA brat outside Langley. I vividly remember my dad taking me into the lab on the weekends while he was doing vibration testing on the trellis structure that became part of the current space station. I was 5-7 or so and hitting this huge structure with a little wired hammer and now that thing is in space! He left to start law school, he got bored... My step-mom is a lead project manager and developing some of the newest high-tech can't-tell-anybody aerospace toys. She absolutely loves her job.

My uncle (dad's brother) is one of the project leads on the new Orion capsule's launch-abort system that strips the capsule with the astronauts off the rocket and lands it safely when there's an emergency. He sent me the video of the first successful test of the full-size system with a note that the team said "today we saved those astronauts' lives". VERY fulfilling!

I think for most it's the fulfillment of working on a project that is much much bigger than yourself and seeing it succeed and potential advance Man's knowledge of things and capabilities.

OH another perk, get your family members jobs there? COUNTRY CLUB at the expense of the rest of us, who actually work to support this expense.

Like I said: what's not to like?

[DanG 1]

Yeah, it's all just bikini models and Hawaii vacations.

I don't work for NASA, but I do work for a NASA contractor. Right now I'm writing hundreds of pages of reports regarding the structural integrity of a part of the Orion spacecraft that you've never heard of.

It's very sexy.

- Dan G

[Channman 2]

> new Orion capsule's

One of the last things I work on prior to leaving NASA. We had a Large full scale mockup we were modifing for crew training.

Was out at the NBL visiting old friends and got to see it being used for testing.

[blueblur 0]

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OH another perk, get your family members jobs there? COUNTRY CLUB at the expense of the rest of us, who actually work to support this expense.

Like I said: what's not to like?

Ok... I'm going to say this once and be done. You're an idiot. I'm guessing that's a little bit of a sarcastic comment. But either way, nepotism was absolutely not tolerated at any level. All of my family members were in completely different departments and none were in positions to be able to hire another family member.

Not to mention the fact that between the three of them they have more years of education than you have probably been alive. (Especially when you add my mother into the mix who spent two years there as the assistant inspector General for NASA)

Don't ever insult the intelligence, drive, experience and work of anyone that has ever worked for that particular part of the government. Our lives would be drastically different without the advances NASA has given us.

In every man's life he will be allotted one good woman and one good dog. That's all you get, so appreciate them while the time you have with them lasts.

- RiggerLee

[Remster 30]

Why do you people continuously feed trolls?

Remster

[Channman 2]

> COUNTRY CLUB at the expense of the rest of us

Well I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my fellow countrymen for the 25 years of financial support you given me. I hope you find your investment was worth it for some of the great achievements we/I was able to afford you. I'm not able, at this time to reimburse you for your financial sacrifice, but please be comforted that every dollar that came my way was used in support of the children. Thank you

Respectfully Submitted,

Channman

[blueblur 0]

Eh, I jumped in as a "hey I know cool shit about NASA too" and he turned out to be an idiot. I'm a sucker I guess.

In every man's life he will be allotted one good woman and one good dog. That's all you get, so appreciate them while the time you have with them lasts.

- RiggerLee

[Channman 2]

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Why do you people continuously feed trolls?

DAMIT!!!, OHCHUTE I didn't realize that's what I was doing. Them trolls can be tricky...Bastards

[lawrocket 3]

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Them trolls can be tricky...Bastards

Turns out that NASA researchers are studying trolls as we speak. They got the funding for it.

Fuck those NOAA guys and their shark research. They are wannabes.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[OHCHUTE 0]

Come on guys. There's a fundamental shift away from NASA and it might have to do with the work they've been doing:

A couple of ounces of Moon dust isn't able to fuel a zillion cars.
Finding water on Mars might not be as important as finding a way to put water back into the Colorado. I think it would be fun, and rewarding researching ways to do that!

As we enjoy those wonderful exploits lets not allow our own planet to go to ruin as we seek to exploit yet another planet. We've done enough damage here. JeesH Hawiii is being buried at the moment with plastic sand that the whole of NASA might have figured a way to prevent that sunumi! Our seafood supply is under immense threat. OH that's NOAA. Let's hope they're on that one!

My argument is about priorities, True, we had to go to the moon to learn about dust, but building a colony there? Why?

[jakee 1,594]

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A couple of ounces of Moon dust isn't able to fuel a zillion cars.
Finding water on Mars might not be as important as finding a way to put water back into the Colorado. I think it would be fun, and rewarding researching ways to do that!

As we enjoy those wonderful exploits lets not allow our own planet to go to ruin as we seek to exploit yet another planet. We've done enough damage here. JeesH Hawiii is being buried at the moment with plastic sand that the whole of NASA might have figured a way to prevent that sunumi! Our seafood supply is under immense threat. OH that's NOAA. Let's hope they're on that one!

And all of the money that could have been spent on these other areas of research has gone to NASA. Yep, only NASA and no-one else. Those greedy bastards.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[OHCHUTE 0]

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Why do you people continuously feed trolls?

My research suggest the first to introduce TROLL and does TROLL calling, is a TROLL as they add nothing to the conversation. They either don't understand the conversation or, refuse to understand just to give a rise. And that's being a troll. Now what don't you understanding about job satisfaction for a job that lets you do what you want, not working on things that might be a tad more valuable, such as: rebuilding a coastline after Sandy for inhabitants when it s a known fact that people living there are more suseptable to lung problems from sand filled air. That rebuilding there might not be advisable, let alone the land will be sunken in 100 years once they put it back into the sea to make land out of it!

If NASA was required to really work on things that made a difference might reduce our costs, and help us out more. But I suppose worker satisfaction might go down in that regard.

[lawrocket 3]

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Finding water on Mars might not be as important as finding a way to put water back into the Colorado.

It might not be, based on the individual. But isn’t the point of exploration to see what’s out there? Or, like Apollo 16, to see what isn’t there? We’re still exploring the earth and finding new things. “Man must explore.” – David Scott
At this very moment 40 years ago, Cernan and Schmitt had awakened from their rest after the final walk on the moon – six hours from liftoff from the moon. Nobody has since been there. We’ve explored a few miles of it and that’s it.
The exploration of the moon has allowed us to figure out ways to exploit it. The GRAIL Mission – satellites Ebb and Flow – will be crashed into the moon. They studied the moon’s lumpy gravity field that has the effect of screwing up orbits and crashing satellites. A satellite released by Apollo 16 crashed into the moon a month after it was released.
I think exploration is pretty amazing. Within 20 years, all of our Apollo astronauts will be dead. There won’t be anyone around anymore to talk about what it was like. I think we will lose an awful lot when that happens.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[jakee 1,594]

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If NASA was required to really work on things that made a difference might reduce our costs, and help us out more. But I suppose worker satisfaction might go down in that regard.

Not to mention the fact that it's not what NASA is for. There are a lot of people at NASA working incredibly hard, largely because they want to be involved in the kind of work NASA does. If NASA did something else most of them wouldn't be there.

By the way, what do you do?

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[lawrocket 3]

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If NASA was required to really work on things that made a difference might reduce our costs, and help us out more.

So you don’t think the technology that results from NASA research and funding helps us out? Apparently, solar cells, structural analysis software and high intensity LEDs are things that make a difference….

Yes, I am a libertarian who thinks space exploration is one of the best uses of taxpayer money

My wife is hotter than your wife.