1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:15,280 Oh, hey Shelly. 2 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,920 Oh my gosh, Van, what is going on here? 3 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,560 You look like you were in a food fight. 4 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:22,560 You're on the losing side. 5 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:23,560 What are you doing? 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,760 Well, I was baking some cookies for the NASA Connect cast party. 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,760 They turned out kind of hard, though. 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:30,760 Hard is an understatement. 9 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:32,760 Van, you've got some real problems here. 10 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,760 Well, I thought maybe you could give me a hand and figure out what I'm doing wrong. 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:36,760 Well, is this your recipe? 12 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:37,760 Right. 13 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:38,760 Well, I can hardly even read it. 14 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:42,760 Well, it's a copy of a copy of a copy that my great-grandmother wrote a long time ago. 15 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,760 Oh, man, Van, you've got some problems. 16 00:00:45,760 --> 00:00:47,760 You know, but maybe. 17 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,760 Right now, WVEC Channel 13, they have a daily cooking show. 18 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:58,760 And if we are lucky, we may be able to actually catch the program 19 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:01,760 and have something to help you with your problem. 20 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:02,760 Okay. 21 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,760 Coming to you from Hampton Roads, Virginia, and the WVEC Channel 13 studio, 22 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:13,760 it's Cooking with the Stars with your host, Brittany Sutton. 23 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:14,760 Hi, everybody. 24 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:16,760 With me is this week's co-host, Daphne Reid. 25 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:18,760 Daphne, have you ever picked up a copy of Bon Appetit, 26 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,760 saw a picture of a delicious loaf of bread, and said, 27 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:22,760 Hey, I can make that. 28 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:23,760 All I have to do is follow the recipe. 29 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:25,760 Well, you do, and guess what? 30 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:26,760 It's not delicious. 31 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:27,760 It's a disaster. 32 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:31,760 Yeah, that's what happened to us last time we made some bread. 33 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,760 Last time we did our show on Italian food, this is what happened. 34 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,760 Yeah, I think the focaccia bread dough got the better of us. 35 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:38,760 Yeah. 36 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,760 Here to help us analyze the problem is a chemist from NASA Langley 37 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,760 who specializes in developing recipes for future aerospace material. 38 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:47,760 Our guest this week and our friend. 39 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:48,760 Dr. Catherine Fay. 40 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:49,760 Hi, Catherine. 41 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:50,760 Hi, how are you? 42 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:51,760 Hey, that's Catherine Fay. 43 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:53,760 I know her from work. 44 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,760 Catherine, great chefs are like, on some levels, great chemists. 45 00:01:57,760 --> 00:01:58,760 Now, we thought because you're a chemist, 46 00:01:58,760 --> 00:02:01,760 you might have some insight into what we did wrong last time. 47 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,760 Now, would you explain how a chemist follows a recipe? 48 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:05,760 Glad to help. 49 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:06,760 For us at NASA Langley, 50 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,760 our first step is to determine the requirements of the application. 51 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,760 In your case, you need bread for an Italian meal. 52 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:16,760 Making bread involves a chemical change. 53 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,760 This is different from physical change, such as the boiling of water. 54 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,760 That is, water becomes steam when heated, 55 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,760 but when steam cools, it becomes liquid again. 56 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,760 There is no change in the chemical identity of the substance. 57 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:32,760 A chemical change or reaction involves the conversion of one substance into another. 58 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,760 Mixing and baking bread is an example of a chemical change 59 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:40,760 because the flour, sugar, and other ingredients are converted into a loaf of bread. 60 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,760 Daphne, Brittany, having the proper ingredients is important. 61 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:47,760 However, also knowing the properties of the ingredients 62 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,760 is just as important in producing a successful recipe. 63 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:54,760 Knowing the properties can also help you determine what went wrong. 64 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:55,760 What were your ingredients? 65 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:59,760 We had flour, water, yeast, sugar, and salt. 66 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,760 Let's take a look at the properties of your ingredients. 67 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:06,760 Flour contains gluten-forming proteins, which allow the bread to rise. 68 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,760 Water helps the gluten make the dough rise. 69 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,760 Yeast causes the bread to rise and imparts flavor. 70 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,760 Sugar provides food for the yeast, and salt slows the yeast activity. 71 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:17,760 What was wrong with your bread? 72 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,760 Well, here's ours, and it sure looks like the bread didn't rise. 73 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,760 Now, I bought a loaf of focaccia this morning from the Chesapeake Bagel Bakery. 74 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,760 Let's take a look at the difference here. 75 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:30,760 Wow. 76 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:31,760 What went wrong? 77 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:33,760 There are three possibilities. 78 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,760 Too much salt, the yeast was dead, or insufficient rise time. 79 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:41,760 A successful recipe is determined by using the proper ingredients, 80 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:45,760 using the right amounts, mixing the ingredients properly, 81 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:47,760 and heating and cooling as required. 82 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:49,760 It's sort of like what we do at NASA Langley 83 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,760 for recipes of materials used in airplane and space vehicle research. 84 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:58,760 This means proper ingredients, correct processing, fabrication, and analysis. 85 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:00,760 Katherine, thanks for bringing some science to our show 86 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,760 and helping us clear up our focaccia flop. 87 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:04,760 Well, there you have it. 88 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:07,760 The right recipe begins with the right ingredients. 89 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,760 Yeah, we've also learned from Katherine that knowing the properties of those ingredients 90 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,760 can help the cook better predict what will happen 91 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,760 when the ingredients are mixed, substituted, or changed. 92 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,760 Our cooking and yours is likely to be more successful when you know this, 93 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:22,760 especially when you're trying to cook up a 94 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:24,760 recipe for the future. 95 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:49,760 [♪ music ♪ 96 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:54,760 You know, Van, I think Daphne Reid had a very important message there. 97 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,760 Basically what she was saying is that a good cook is more than having 98 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,760 just a recipe and the ingredients. 99 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:01,760 A good cook is like a kitchen scientist. 100 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:02,760 Right. 101 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:03,760 You know what I mean? 102 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:05,760 I mean, it's like you're gathering data from your cooking trials 103 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:08,760 and then making informed decisions about what ingredients to use, 104 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,760 how much to use, how to mix it up, and how to bake it. 105 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,760 You know, I wonder if Dr. Kathy Fay at NASA Langley 106 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,760 might be able to help us with your recipe. 107 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:20,760 That'd be great. 108 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,760 Maybe she could even help me rewrite my recipe. 109 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:25,760 These cookies are just so hard and crumbling. 110 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:26,760 Oh, yeah. 111 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:27,760 Okay, well then let's do this. 112 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,760 Why don't you stay here and clean this up, 113 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:31,760 get more ingredients out. 114 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:33,760 Meanwhile, I'll head on over to NASA Langley, 115 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,760 see if I can catch up with Kathy and her colleagues, 116 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,760 because they're doing some really neat things with aerospace materials 117 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:39,760 and structures. 118 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,760 Matter of fact, they're really cooking up recipes for the future. 119 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,760 You know, that sounds like a pretty good title for our NASA Connect show. 120 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:47,760 You're right. 121 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:49,760 Hey, and gang, how about this? 122 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:50,760 We'll leave him here. 123 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,760 You and I, let's head on over to NASA Langley and see if we can find 124 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,760 some things out there that's going to help Van in his recipe. 125 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,760 We'll visit researchers at NASA Langley to learn more about the recipes 126 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,760 they're cooking up for aerospace structures and materials, 127 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:07,760 and we'll see if any of their steps might be helpful to Van. 128 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,760 So take careful notes. 129 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,760 And while we're at it, let's learn a thing or two about the composite materials 130 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:16,760 NASA Langley is cooking up to build the airplanes and space vehicles of the future. 131 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,760 And as we go through the show, you'll be challenged by an experiment 132 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:23,760 in composite materials that students performed at Hugo A. Owens Middle School 133 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,760 in Chesapeake, Virginia. 134 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,760 Oh, and when you see this banner, that's your clue to check out for more fun, 135 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,760 information, and activities on the NASA Connect website. 136 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:33,760 That's right. 137 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:35,760 And be thinking about questions during this program, 138 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:38,760 because you're going to have a chance to call in and email in questions 139 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:39,760 to our NASA researchers. 140 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,760 Hey, Van, let's get cracking. 141 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,760 Whoa. 142 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:45,760 Kathy, hello. 143 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,760 Thanks for letting me come by here today. 144 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:48,760 Hi, Shelley. 145 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:49,760 No trouble. 146 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,760 This is my colleague, Roberto Cano, from the Composite Fabrication Laboratory. 147 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:53,760 Shelley, nice to meet you. 148 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:54,760 What's up? 149 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,760 What's up is my friend, Van Hughes. 150 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:58,760 He's trying to cook something up, 151 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:00,760 and he's having a little problem with his cookie recipe. 152 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:02,760 It seems that his cookies are way too hard. 153 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,760 They're not chewy, and they crumble very easily. 154 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,760 Well, Kathy, we saw you today on the WVECU Cooking with the Stars program 155 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,760 and thought maybe here at NASA Langley, 156 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,760 where you are involved with the Composite Materials Laboratory, 157 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,760 that there might be a recipe that you have that could help us 158 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,760 or some things that you do that could give us some advice 159 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,760 to help Van and his problem. 160 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:25,760 Bert and I would be glad to help. 161 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,760 In fact, the process that Bert and I follow in the Composite Fabrication Laboratory 162 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,760 might offer a solution to Van's problem. 163 00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:31,760 Oh, that's great. 164 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:32,760 But now I've got a question. 165 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:34,760 What is a composite material? 166 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,760 And just how is a composite material made? 167 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,760 A composite material is made of two or more different materials. 168 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,760 Composite materials have been used throughout history. 169 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:46,760 For instance, ancient Egyptians used a very basic composite material 170 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:49,760 in the construction of their houses, drawn mud. 171 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,760 They combined these two materials to make a third stronger one, brick. 172 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,760 One of our goals at NASA Langley is to develop stronger, more durable, 173 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:00,760 lighter weight materials for use on airplanes and space vehicles. 174 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,760 NASA Langley Research Center is the agency's center of excellence 175 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,760 for structures and materials research. 176 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,760 We can identify five steps in composite development. 177 00:08:08,760 --> 00:08:12,760 Van may use similar steps in planning and preparing a cooking recipe, 178 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,760 identify the application, develop materials to meet requirements, 179 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:20,760 process the material, test the material, and make structural components. 180 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:22,760 Okay, how about it? 181 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:26,760 Could you give me some examples of how these steps work for composite development? 182 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,760 Glad to. Let me explain the first step. 183 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,760 NASA has challenged their researchers to find ways to make planes 184 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:36,760 and space vehicles tougher, stronger, lighter, cheaper. 185 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:38,760 Our job as researchers is to develop new materials 186 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:41,760 or to improve on existing materials. 187 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,760 My work at NASA Langley involves development and characterization of polymers. 188 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,760 A polymer is a huge chain-like molecule built up by the repetition 189 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,760 of small, simple chemical units. 190 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:55,760 Polymers can be flexible or stiff, tough or brittle, strong but lightweight. 191 00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,760 Okay, so what's the next step? 192 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:00,760 Well, for a structural application, the polymer needs to be reinforced. 193 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,760 Typically, this is done with a carbon fiber. 194 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,760 And one way we combine the carbon fiber with the polymer is to make a prepreg tape. 195 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,760 Prepreg tape? 196 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:09,760 Well, let me show you what I mean. 197 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:13,760 The principle of prepregging goes back to the early days of aviation. 198 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,760 The planes were made of a wood structure covered with a skin of fabric coated with glue. 199 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,760 This combination of the glue and the fabric was a form of composite material. 200 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:25,760 We developed a prepreg material that combines a NASA Langley-developed resin system, 201 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,760 PETI-5, with the carbon fiber, IM-7. 202 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:32,760 This material was developed for applications for commercial supersonic aircraft. 203 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:38,760 To fabricate IM-7 PETI-5 prepreg, many ends of IM-7 carbon fiber are introduced into a dip pan. 204 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,760 In the dip pan, the fibers go over and under a series of bars. 205 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,760 When the resin solution is poured into the pan, 206 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,760 the bars help force the resin into the fiber bundles. 207 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,760 The now-coated fibers exit the pan and go through a series of ovens and nip rollers. 208 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:57,760 The oven and nip rollers process the material into a uniform tape that is taken up at the end. 209 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,760 This tape is referred to as prepreg and can now be used to make composite parts. 210 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:03,760 As layers of the new material are processed together, 211 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:07,760 it creates a tough structure that is lighter than metal but is strong and is stiff. 212 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:09,760 Well, this has been fascinating. 213 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:14,760 But what pointers might you be able to give to me so I can pass on to Van with his cooking problem? 214 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,760 Given that Van's requirements are soft and chewy cookies, 215 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,760 I recommend using half butter and half Crisco, 216 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:26,760 baking the cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a preheated oven for about 8 to 12 minutes. 217 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,760 Also, to make the cookies more chewy, he could add oatmeal, raisins, or chocolate chips. 218 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,760 But also, when you make a composite material, you need to test it to see how well it performs. 219 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,760 So I would recommend that Van test his cookies before he serves them to anyone. 220 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,760 Shelley, I'd recommend you talk to David McGowan and Dr. Ted Johnson. 221 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,760 They have a lot of experience in area testing. 222 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:46,760 Fantastic. I'm going to give Van a call with the information that you've shared with me. 223 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,760 Then I'm going to be on my way. So thanks so much for all your help today. 224 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:50,760 Appreciate it. 225 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:51,760 You're welcome. 226 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:54,760 Okay, Van, did you get all that? 227 00:10:54,760 --> 00:11:00,760 I've figured out some of the ingredients, and now all I have to figure out is the quantity of the ingredients. 228 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:06,760 Then I'll follow some of Kathy and Roberto's ideas on the oven temperature, baking time, and the properties. 229 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:11,760 Okay, great, Van. Meanwhile, I'm going to head on over to the materials testing and see what I can find out, 230 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:12,760 and I'll give you a call back. 231 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,760 Oh, okay. But it smells like I have some butter burning on the stove, so I'll talk to you later. 232 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,760 Hi, Ted, Dave. 233 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:24,760 Hi. Kathy Collins said you'd be coming over. 234 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:26,760 Seems like your friend Van has to test out his cookie recipe. 235 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:32,760 Yes, Van has a little problem. He's trying to get a cookie that tastes good, is chewy, and he doesn't crumble. 236 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:38,760 So I thought maybe if I came over here and saw the process to testing new materials, 237 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,760 maybe there's something I could learn from this to share with Van. Do you think you could help? 238 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:46,760 I think so. Ted and I both test and analyze structures for new aerospace and space vehicles. 239 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:50,760 I usually test them at room temperature, and Ted actually tests them at extreme temperatures. 240 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:57,760 Since I usually test at room temperature, the components that I test are larger than those that Ted uses in his thermal structural tests. 241 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:03,760 What typically happens here is the component of the vehicle structure that we're interested in is built and shipped to our labs. 242 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:08,760 We then apply sensors to it to help us understand how it behaves under different loads or forces. 243 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:14,760 This panel here is part of the keel or bottom section of a high-speed civil transport supersonic aircraft. 244 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:20,760 This vehicle will be capable of flying at speeds up to 2.4 times the speed of sound. 245 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:25,760 This panel is made from the IM-7 Petty V composite that Kathy and Roberto talked about. 246 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:33,760 This panel will be tested in tension, where we can use this machine to apply up to 1.2 million pounds of force onto the panel until it breaks or fails. 247 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:43,760 While we test panels here at room temperature, Ted also does thermal structural tests of smaller panels that are usually made of the same composite material. 248 00:12:43,760 --> 00:12:53,760 That's right. NASA has a research program to develop a reusable launch vehicle known as the X-33 and X-34, which we use to transport people and materials to orbit at a lower cost. 249 00:12:53,760 --> 00:13:05,760 In order to see how effectively adhesives and composites can work in harsh environments of space, I test relatively small samples of composite materials for liquid hydrogen propellant tanks in cyclic tests here. 250 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,760 In one test, we use liquid nitrogen and liquid helium to cool the specimen. 251 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:15,760 The panel is cooled to negative 423 degrees Fahrenheit, then a mechanical load is applied. 252 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:22,760 An example of how cold liquid nitrogen is, we'll dip this carnation into liquid nitrogen and see how brittle the flowers become. 253 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,760 In one test, we push materials to the max. 254 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:41,760 We simultaneously subject one surface of the panel to minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit, while at the same time subject the other side of the panel to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. 255 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:49,760 Sections of the material is then placed beneath a microscope to look for any cracks or flaws. 256 00:13:50,760 --> 00:14:01,760 If the flaws fall within unacceptable ranges during the time of these tests, we retest the material or even go back to the drawing board to change the fabrication process or the material. 257 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:07,760 Gentlemen, thank you so much for your time today and helping to explain to me the process of testing new materials. 258 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:14,760 But now that brings me back to Van. What would you suggest Van should do with his cookies? How should he test his cookies? 259 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:21,760 Well, I think he should try a bending test performed at room temperature. That way he can see how well the cookie holds up and whether or not it crumbles. 260 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:27,760 I'll take it to the extreme. You know me, Shelly. To test how well his cookie holds up, he should try a thermal dunking test. 261 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,760 First, where he dunks it in cold milk and then in hot chocolate. 262 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:36,760 Oh, those sound like some good tests. Thank you very much, and I'll report back to Van. Thanks again. 263 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:43,760 Uh-huh. And the thermal test, it went well? Great. All right, what about the bending test? 264 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:45,760 Well, I'm ready to test it now. 265 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:52,760 Oh, wow. These are bending really well. I think this recipe works. 266 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:56,760 Van, I think you're forgetting the most important test. 267 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:57,760 Oh, what's that? 268 00:14:57,760 --> 00:14:59,760 The taste test. 269 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:07,760 The taste test! Oh, right. Well, I'll call you back with my final results. But first, I have something planned. 270 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:20,760 While I get ready for this most important test, Shelly's going back to the NASConnect studio with some researchers who are on hand to take your phone calls and email questions about composite materials and future vehicles like the X-33. 271 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:32,760 Meanwhile, I'm going to send you to Hugo A. Owens Middle School, where you'll see students from the classroom of science teacher Bernadette Smith conducting an experiment examining the strength of several materials. 272 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:38,760 Follow along, and after that, you'll be challenged to make your own analysis and predictions based on their results. 273 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,760 Hi, we're students from Hugo A. Owens Middle School. 274 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,760 In Chesapeake, Virginia! 275 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:57,760 NASConnect asks our science and math teachers, Ms. Bernadette Smith and Ms. Angela Williams, to have our class investigate the strength and deflection of a composite material with and without the use of a reinforcement. 276 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:03,760 Ms. Smith reviews some vocabulary terms which will help us in our composite research. 277 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:09,760 A polymer is a large molecule built by the repetition of small, simple chemical units. 278 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:14,760 Nylon, polyester, Teflon, and rubber are examples of polymers. 279 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:21,760 A fiber is a long, thin strand of material such as nylon, hair, wood, or even glass. 280 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:28,760 Stress cracks are external or internal cracks in a body caused by the application of forces to the body. 281 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:36,760 Maximum deflection is the largest deflection that a body or structure is allowed to take while in use before failure. 282 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:41,760 Having reviewed these terms, we are now ready to divide into our research teams. 283 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:45,760 Here are the procedures we followed to do the experiment, and you can do it too. 284 00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:52,760 Cut out or buy six pieces of 8 by 15 centimeter poster board. 285 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:58,760 Two of these will be used without any reinforcement or binder. 286 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:06,760 Two will be used with the epoxy compound, and two will be used with the epoxy and a sheet of fiberglass. 287 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:12,760 For the epoxy preparation, put on the rubber gloves and safety goggles. 288 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:21,760 Then, squeeze out enough of the two-part epoxy to make a pool about the size of a quarter on the back of the poster board. 289 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:25,760 Mix thoroughly with the Popsicle stick. 290 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:30,760 Spread the epoxy evenly over the surface of the first poster board. 291 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:35,760 Take the second poster board and press the two pieces together. 292 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,760 Weigh the sample down to help consolidate it. 293 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:45,760 After you've done this, let the epoxy-reinforced poster board dry for 10 minutes. 294 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:50,760 Now we will prepare the fiberglass epoxy poster board composite. 295 00:17:50,760 --> 00:18:00,760 Spread the epoxy on the one side of the board with the epoxy and lay the piece of fiberglass on top of the glue. 296 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:09,760 Once this is done, lay the back of the second poster board on top of the fiberglass and press to form a sandwich. 297 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:14,760 The thickness of each sample is measured for strength calculation. 298 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:20,760 Our math teacher, Mrs. Williams, provides us with the numbers. 299 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:29,760 While the epoxy poster board and the fiberglass board are drying, it's time to begin testing the nine composite poster boards. 300 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:33,760 Take the two flat meter sticks and have them bridge the space between the two desks. 301 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:40,760 Using the ruler, measure the inside distance between the sticks at 6 centimeters apart so they will support the poster board. 302 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:42,760 This is called the span. 303 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:46,760 Once you have done this, tape down the meter sticks onto the desks. 304 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:55,760 Tie one end of the string onto a milk jug handle and tie the other end into a loop big enough to slide over the lengthwise part of the poster board. 305 00:18:55,760 --> 00:19:01,760 Be sure to measure out enough string so that the milk jug will dangle 5 centimeters above the ground. 306 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:08,760 This distance from the ground is our design maximum deflection and is the design requirement of this experiment. 307 00:19:08,760 --> 00:19:12,760 Now set the poster board over the meter sticks and let the jug hang down gently. 308 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:18,760 Carefully pour water into the jug until the test material is dense enough to send the jug to the floor. 309 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,760 Pick up the jug with the water and the string. 310 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:27,760 Place these onto the scale to determine how much weight caused the poster board to bend or flex. 311 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:35,760 Once we have tested the plain board, the epoxy board, and the fiberglass board, we will compare our data with the other teams. 312 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,760 Now we have finished our experiment. 313 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:47,760 Mrs. Williams helped us to think about what our data might tell us and what mathematical statements we might write to analyze the data. 314 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:56,760 Okay, joining me in the studio are Roberto Cano, a materials research engineer at NASA Langley here in Hampton, Virginia. 315 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:02,760 Also, Bill Millwood from the Space Transportation Program at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. 316 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:12,760 But before we take to our researchers and let you ask some questions, let's give you a chance to do your own computations using the data from the experiment you just saw. 317 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:18,760 Then, after this segment, our two researchers will be answering your email questions and taking questions from our viewing audience. 318 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:28,760 Okay now, look carefully at the data and using the information in the following diagram, work with your fellow students to answer the questions as read aloud by Dr. Catherine Fay. 319 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:34,760 Based on the data presented, which specimen has the highest flex strength? Why? 320 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:49,760 Based on the data presented, which specimen has the lowest flex strength? Why? 321 00:20:49,760 --> 00:21:14,760 Based on the data presented, which specimen has the lowest flex strength? Why? 322 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:15,760 Why? 323 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:54,760 Why is there such a big difference between the flex strengths of specimens 1 and 2? 324 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:33,760 Okay, we're back. And with me are Roberto Cano and Bill Millwood to answer your questions. 325 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:40,760 But to start things off, Bill, let me go to you. Give us a little bit more about this X-33 and X-34. What is this? What are they? 326 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:45,760 Thanks, Shelley. It's sort of like the cookie taste test. It's the final test for new materials. 327 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,760 Once they're developed in the lab and then tested on the ground, the next step is to fly them. 328 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,760 And the X-33 and X-34 do just that. They're both unpiloted test vehicles. 329 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:59,760 The X-34 flies at eight times the speed of sound. That's about 100 times faster than your parents would drive a car. 330 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,760 And the X-33 flies even faster, at 15 times the speed of sound. 331 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:08,760 They both will fly next year, and the materials will lead to lower-cost, reusable spacecraft in the future. 332 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,760 These future space vehicles will take us to Mars and beyond. 333 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,760 Wow. We are really talking about some future vehicles here, then, aren't we? 334 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:15,760 That's right. 335 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:20,760 Well, we already have some e-mail questions waiting for us, so let me go and take the first e-mail question. 336 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:25,760 That question, what are the different categories of composites? You probably want to take that. 337 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:30,760 Well, Shelley, there's polymer matrix composites, like we saw today during the show, which are reinforced plastics. 338 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:33,760 There's also reinforced metals, or metal matrix composites. 339 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,760 And you can also reinforce ceramics. You have ceramic matrix composites. 340 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:38,760 There's various types of composites that you can use. 341 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:43,760 Okay. So tell us, though, all these different composites, when do you know when to use which one? 342 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,760 It depends on the application, what the application needs, what the temperature used. 343 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:51,760 It really dictates what kind of matrix you're going to use and what kind of reinforcement. 344 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,760 Okay. So it's the requirements, then, in the application. 345 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:54,760 Yes. 346 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:56,760 All right. Well, I understand we've got a caller out there. 347 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:02,760 So, caller, hey, how about giving us your first name and your question, please? 348 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,760 How long does it take to build new airplane material? 349 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,760 How long does it take to build a new airplane? 350 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:15,760 Well, Phil, why don't you give us a little idea about the X-33, the X-34. What's the timeline on that? 351 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,760 Okay. These aircraft are very short, high-risk programs. 352 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:25,760 Both of them were contracted for a 30-month time period from the authority to proceed to first flight. 353 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:30,760 All right. So it'll take, like, maybe two years before we'd actually see this flying, then? 354 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:31,760 Three years. 355 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:32,760 Three years. 356 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:33,760 Yes. 357 00:24:33,760 --> 00:24:35,760 Okay. Very good. That was an excellent question. Thank you. 358 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:38,760 Well, I'm going to go back to the e-mail because we've got a couple more e-mail questions, 359 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,760 but call in with questions if you have them. 360 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:46,760 Our second e-mail question, how are composite materials being used with the X-33? 361 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:47,760 Let's go back to you, Bill. 362 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,760 Okay. With the X-33, this is a scale model. 363 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:55,760 The actual vehicle is much larger than this, and it's also larger than the X-34 by a slight amount. 364 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,760 It has two hydrogen composite tanks and a thrust structure. 365 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:00,760 The hydrogen tanks are for the fuel. 366 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,760 All right. Very good. 367 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:09,760 And the X-34, which will fly next May as well, it has a composite fuel tank up front 368 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:13,760 and also has a structure, which is a backbone of the vehicle, which is made out of composites. 369 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:17,760 And these two vehicles, by having lighter weight materials that are reusable, 370 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:20,760 will lead to less expensive spacecraft of the future. 371 00:25:20,760 --> 00:25:21,760 All right. Very good. 372 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,760 And I understand now we've got someone else who's interested in asking some questions. 373 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:27,760 So let's go back out to our viewers and our caller. 374 00:25:27,760 --> 00:25:33,760 Please help by giving us your first name and your question. 375 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:34,760 Is our caller there? 376 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,760 Yeah. My name is Trent Modesty. 377 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:40,760 Repeat the question again, please. 378 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:53,760 Okay. And my question is, when you put your hand in that liquid stuff, how do you get it so cold? 379 00:25:53,760 --> 00:25:57,760 Oh, okay. That's going back to where we saw Dr. Ted Johnson. 380 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:02,760 He actually had some protective wear on, and he had put a flower in there. 381 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:04,760 And that was, maybe you'd want to answer. 382 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,760 Do you want to answer anything about that, what he was doing there? 383 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,760 Well, he just stuck the flower in the liquid nitrogen, which froze it. 384 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:16,760 And when he was pulling it apart, he was using a cryogenic glove, which protected his hand. 385 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:18,760 All right. So he was doing a lot of safety there. 386 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,760 All right. Let's just take one quick final e-mail question. 387 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:24,760 And a quick response to this, please. 388 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,760 What are some examples in our daily lives where composite materials are being used? 389 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:29,760 Let's just have one of you. 390 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,760 Well, one place where composite is used is in sporting goods and tennis rackets 391 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,760 and other applications where you can use these types of materials. 392 00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:38,760 All right. Sporting goods. All right. 393 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:40,760 Well, I see we're quickly running out of time. 394 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,760 Roberta and Bill, thank you very much for joining us here today. 395 00:26:43,760 --> 00:26:44,760 Thank you. 396 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:51,760 And thanks to all the partners and guests that contributed to today's program. 397 00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:56,760 If you want to learn more about today's topic, visit our Web panel of experts. 398 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:59,760 And to try your own hand at becoming a production scientist, 399 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:03,760 then jump into our online experiment, Secret Formulas. 400 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,760 Finally, for a videotaped copy of this NASA Connect show and lesson plans, 401 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:11,760 contact CORE, the NASA Central Operation of Resources for Educators. 402 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:14,760 For NASA Connect, I'm Shelley Canright. 403 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,760 Hello? 404 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,760 Dan, hey. So tell me, how'd it go? 405 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,760 Do we have a flop or a future sensation? 406 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:23,760 What? I can't hear you. 407 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,760 What's all that noise in the background? 408 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:27,760 Where are you calling from? 409 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:32,760 I enrolled at Johnson and Wales University, College of Culinary Arts in Norfolk, Virginia. 410 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:34,760 I think I do have a future sensation. 411 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,760 The jumbo jet of all cookies. 412 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:40,760 The dough is prepared, the oatmeal and raisin fiber have been added, 413 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:42,760 and the oven's heated, the shape is made. 414 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:44,760 I think it's time for liftoff. 415 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,760 Let's do it again. 416 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,760 Oh, well. 417 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,760 Join us next time when we connect you to the world of math, science, and NASA. 418 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:08,760 For NASA Connect, I'm Van Hughes. Goodbye. 419 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,760 You know, you should have seen the size of the ball I whipped.