Kathryn Logan "I am an engineer and I love to solve problems. If I can find a way to state the problem, then I can design an approach to solve the problem."
Brick by Brick Astronauts could fashion bricks from moon dust to build temporary residencies.
By collecting high-silica moon dust (or chemically similar volcanic dust, since moon rock is scarce on Earth), placing it in a mold made from aluminum foil and then running electricity into it, Logan and her team are able to create a solid block of any shape that is about the same strength as concrete. 3:03 PM kvlogan104: Hello Tracy imtracynotstacy: Hello Thanks for taking the time to chat! kvlogan104: I am looking forward to it imtracynotstacy: First, let me start out by asking what your official title is. 3:05 PM kvlogan104: I am the Virginia Tech Samuel P. Langley Professor imtracynotstacy: Okay. And are you chatting with me from your office? lab? coffee shop? kvlogan104: I am in my office at the National Institute of Aerospace imtracynotstacy: What's the view from your window? kvlogan104: I am looking at beautiful sunshine on the other building in the quad and McGruder imtracynotstacy: You're in Virginia, right? 3:08 PM kvlogan104: Right...Hampton, VA close to Langley Research Center (LaRC) imtracynotstacy: How long have you been a researcher? kvlogan104: A "few" years...I retired from Georgia Tech after 32 years and I have been a Professor at Virginia Tech since 2004. 3:11 PM imtracynotstacy:
And when you talk to people, how do you explain to them what you do for
a living? People = family or friends (non sciency ones)kvlogan104: I tell them something like...I design new materials for Space Exploration...like the "Moon Brick" imtracynotstacy: Where did you get your inspiration for the Moon Brick? 3:14 PM kvlogan104:
While I was at Georgia Tech, I developed a new low cost technology to
make high performance materials for DOD. I theorized that I might be
able to use a similar technology to make materials of construction for
the Moon and Mars.imtracynotstacy: why the Moon or Mars? 3:18 PM kvlogan104:
Both the Moon and Mars have a regolith (soil-like material) on their
surfaces and NASA's plans are to return to the Moon and eventually go
to Mars. The astronauts will need a base station to work from and it
would be very difficult to carry materials of construction (bricks,
cememt) on the space vehicles from the Earth to the Moon or Mars. imtracynotstacy: I see. Here's a question you may have to ponder a bit before explaining: Walt
Disney liked to evaluate ideas from three different angles: as a
dreamer, a realist, and a cynic. What does the dreamer in you hope for
your work? The realist? The cynic? 3:22 PM kvlogan104:
The dreamer hopes to see "Moon Bricks" used in conjunction with other
building materials (polymer domes) to build habitats on the Moon and
Mars. The realist expects to see it take a "few years" to become a
reality. The cynic doesn't have an opinion... imtracynotstacy: :) You said you have been doing research for more than three decades now, What do you know now that you didn't know 30 years ago? 3:26 PM kvlogan104:
That's a difficult question...I have learned an unquantifiable amount
of information over the past 30 years....needless to say, too much to
list here. imtracynotstacy: Yeah, it's a pretty general question. Lemme ask you this: Of all of the research that you've done, of all of the questions you've tried to answer, what still baffles you? 3:32 PM kvlogan104:
I really don't accept "baffle." I am an Engineer and I love to solve
problems. If I can find a way to state the problem, then I can design
an approach to solve the problem. I continue to chip away until I find
a suitable answer. We are still studying and trying to understand how
to develop the Moon Brick. Right now, we have demonstrated the
proof-of-concept for a viable "brick" while making it in the Earth's
atmosphere. We are now taking it to the next level of viability by
developing the technology to work in a vacuum which is more similar to
the Moon's atmosphere. imtracynotstacy: How do you stay inspired in your work? 3:35 PM kvlogan104:
"Every" day, I see wondrous things happening in the lab or with my
students. My students are the key to what drives me...seeing their
thought process and watching their discoveries.imtracynotstacy: That's really great. It creates a nice image. What's it like to work with so many different people year after year? 3:41 PM kvlogan104:
Each person is different and approached thiings differently, there are
never duplicates, so I never know what to expect. Our laboratory
experiences involve getting our hands "dirty." We are experimentalists
and deal with the reality of what is happening. Many times our
experiments will not proceed as expected and will often surprise us
with new discoveries. A major challenge is to keep our focus on the
problem at hand and not be distracted by the many sidetrack
opportunities. We often finished our primary task, then have many new
ones to choose from. imtracynotstacy: Sounds like an environment that fosters a lot of creativity. If you could go back in time, is there anything you would change about your career or it's path? 3:45 PM kvlogan104:
No, I would not change anything. I have been very fortunate in that my
career has followed my degree area (Ceramic Engineering) and I have
been able to teach and conduct research in synthesis and processing of
high temperature, high performance materials my entire career. imtracynotstacy:
That's great. I wonder how many people can say that! So it sounds like
you work hard, but do you have any hobbies? Things you do in your spare
time (if you have any!) 3:48 PM kvlogan104: I have many hobbies that I slip in whenever and wherever I can: reading, gardening, jewelry making, sewing... imtracynotstacy: Do you listen to music in the lab? If so, what music?kvlogan104:
I typically do not listen to music in the lab since I really "listen"
to the music. I just recently got satellite radio and tried to listen
to it in the office, but I concentrate very hard on my work and am
distracted by the music. I do listen at home or on the airplane...I
like most music: Inya, Blues Brothers, "Island in the Stream," "In Da
Godda Da Vida," Giner Baker, Oldies, New York Dance Company, David
Cook...to name a few imtracynotstacy: Big list! 3:54 PM I get distracted by music during work, too! So here's an easy question: What do you usually have for lunch? kvlogan104: Peanuts, Almonds or Cashews... imtracynotstacy: That's it??? 3:55 PM kvlogan104:
Yep...most of the time I work through lunch. I eat a great breakfast
and a "reasonable" supper. Occasionally, I will go to lunch with one of
my colleagues or students. imtracynotstacy: Do you have any pets? 3:57 PM kvlogan104:
Yes, I have a wonderful black lab mix named Rustie (a female). She is
"very" smart and stays in the house. I also have a "free range" cat
named Calico. "Cal" doesn't really belong to me so stays outside. He
comes to visit from time to time, especially when I am looking at the
stars. imtracynotstacy: Free range. :) Okay, last question. What is the most unusual thing on your desk? 4:03 PM kvlogan104:
Well...Most of the things on my desk are boring: pencil, pen, notebook,
keys, cell phone... so in that respect, the most unusual thing on my
desk is a ceramic giraff holder with lollipops that was made by my
beautiful daughter when she was 14 years old (She is now the Mother of
my three beautiful grandchildren) who is very talented and a Mechnical
Engineer. imtracynotstacy: I have a ceramic swan made by my goddaughter! kvlogan104: Wow...they are wonderful aren't they?imtracynotstacy: Yes. Okay, well, thanks for giving me some insight into your life. It's nice chatting about your work and stuff that informs your work! kvlogan104: You are very welcome and thanks for the chat... imtracynotstacy: Have a great evening. 4:06 PM kvlogan104: Thanks...you too |
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Fast Facts About Kathryn LoganTitle: Samuel P. Langley Professor Institution: Virginia Tech Years working as a researcher: +30 What research question still baffles you? I really don't accept "baffle." What music do you listen to in the lab? I concentrate very hard on my work and am distracted by music. What's the most unusual thing on your desk? Ceramic giraffe holder with lollipops. Download Tech NowWhat's On Now
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