Recent content by Laura1013

It may actually launch today. All known technical problems have been waived or solved. Weather is 60% favorable as of 8:15 EDT this morning. The launch window is from 11:45 AM to 1:40 PM. Looks good!

Sadly, I've canceled my trip to Florida. The current status is no earlier than June 9, but it changes every day.

For the most part, a non-citizen cannot hold a U.S. government position. My advisor had to become a U.S. citizen before becoming a civil servant for NASA. This website may help you: http://www.usajobs.gov/EI9.asp.

Delay: The GLAST launch has been pushed back two days to June 5. This is due to some kind of testing issue with the Delta II rocket. The good news is, a potential delay to the Shuttle launch will have less of an impact on the GLAST launch.

Update: The launch is still on target for June 3. I got my official invitation a few days ago. They're worried about Space Shuttle launch delays due to weather, but we won't know about that until Saturday. B. Elliot: lol!

Yay successful landing! How exciting. :)

My university (in the U.S.) is one such that offers master's degrees along the way to a Ph.D. (I just got mine May 11). It often is a terminal degree for some students, but it's also a requirement for doctoral students in my program. In my case, it won't lengthen the amount of time it takes to...

I knew what specific area of astrophysics I wanted to research before I entered grad school (same area I studied as an intern the summer before senior year), but I think my case is unusual. I wouldn't stress out about it.

As of right now, all technical problems have been cleared. The biggest concern is the May 31 launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery. If that launch is delayed, so will the GLAST launch be. Weather is another concern. Unexpected technical delays can arise at any time, but right now, it's all clear.

I'll be down at the Cape for the launch. I'll let you all know how it goes. :)

I've known how much I love space since I was little. I went to Space Camp four times as a kid. Of course, I didn't know the term astrophysics back then, I just knew that cosmic bodies and space exploration were exciting! I was introduced to physics during my freshman year of high school, took...

Well said!

I agree with everyone else that professors generally are not at all bothered by students dropping by. Office doors can close if they're too busy. It's really not a big deal to just stop by; it's not rude nor disruptive. One of the primary duties of a professor is to talk to students. The...

If you do email first (probably a good idea), absolutely make sure that you use proper English and not net-speak. Write politely and formally.

Every bit of it will go toward paying back my undergraduate student loans. *sigh expensive colleges*