scrappinghappy
Pearl Clutcher
“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say “Hello.” Goodbye. I’m late...."
Posts: 4,306 
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Post by scrappinghappy on Aug 2, 2017 18:14:14 GMT
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
I'd love a cup of tea. #1966
Posts: 7,394
Location: Third Rock from the sun.
Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 2, 2017 18:16:37 GMT
Is it April 1st?
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
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Post by AnotherPea on Aug 2, 2017 18:21:33 GMT
Did you read the description? If you did, did you understand it?
If not, don't be blinded by any distaste for the current administration. This is a reasonable and necessary job.
Life outside of our planet doesn't have to resemble anything from Hollywood. It could be a simple bacterium that hitchhikes on a shuttle. A bacterium that could devastate our species. Even though it is incapable of thought.
adding... I would think it would make more sense for a microbiologist or someone in life sciences to hold this position rather than an engineer...
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Mystie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,299
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Post by Mystie on Aug 2, 2017 18:21:59 GMT
Um. Did you read the job description?
"Planetary protection is concerned with the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration. NASA maintains policies for planetary protection applicable to all space flight missions that may intentionally or unintentionally carry Earth organisms and organic constituents to the planets or other solar system bodies, and any mission employing spacecraft, which are intended to return to Earth and its biosphere with samples from extraterrestrial targets of exploration....The Planetary Protection Officer (PPO) is responsible for the leadership of NASA's planetary protection capability, maintenance of planetary protection policies, and oversight of their implementation by NASAs space flight missions.
It's not somebody sitting behind a big gun to blast at aliens, it's to keep potentially bad biological shit from coming into our environment or from going into other planets' environments. And of course it's a six-figure job. My husband works a six-figure job at NASA and he earns every dime of it.
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Post by tracyarts on Aug 2, 2017 18:32:23 GMT
Think "The Andromeda Strain" instead of "Independence Day".
The job is to minimize risk of incoming/outgoing contamination of microorganisms on probes, vehicles, etc... that enter and leave our atmosphere through the space program.
It's a legitimate concern. Especially since when we look for signs of life on Mars and other planets/moons, were really only expecting to find microbes. But if something from Earth survives the trip on a probe, it ruins the mission.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Aug 2, 2017 18:42:20 GMT
Actually, I find this to be a fairly practical position for exactly the reasons stated by AnotherPea. Hoping they print someone with at least a scientific background on board but an engineer isn't totally useless. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 20, 2024 13:24:29 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 18:46:28 GMT
Most people who have a 6 figure income, earn that and usually aren't paid enough.
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Post by ChicagoKTS on Aug 2, 2017 19:51:40 GMT
Too late. Aliens have already taken over the White House.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 2, 2017 19:55:06 GMT
the news said the salary was $187,000.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Aug 2, 2017 19:57:17 GMT
Sounds like a sweet job. Sign me up.
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MizIndependent
Drama Llama
Quit your bullpoop.
Posts: 5,836
Jun 25, 2014 19:43:16 GMT
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Post by MizIndependent on Aug 2, 2017 19:58:03 GMT
the news said the salary was $187,000. Sure...the topmost of the salary range, which is actually $124,406 to $187,000 according to the job listing. And when you read the list of education qualifications that this position requires, I don't think it's really all that out there of a range - especially since they're trying to attract the "best and brightest" for it. |
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
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Post by AnotherPea on Aug 2, 2017 20:00:25 GMT
I don't understand why people seem to think that government employees should not make salaries that would match their private sector counterparts.
Can't bitch about unqualified government officials and bitch about taxpayer money going to high salaries at the same time.
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Post by papersilly on Aug 2, 2017 20:00:38 GMT
the news said the salary was $187,000. Sure...the topmost of the salary range, which is actually $124,406 to $187,000 according to the job listing. And when you read the list of education qualifications that this position requires, I don't think it's really all that out there of a range - especially since they're trying to attract the "best and brightest" for it. for some reason, i might have more confidence in this person protecting us from aliens than #45 protecting us period. |
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Post by yivit on Aug 2, 2017 23:52:50 GMT
That's really not a very high salary when you realize they'll have to live in the DC area. Despite what some think, government positions typically pay less than their private sector counterparts. BTW, this isn't a new position. We've had Planetary Protection Officers for decades (since Apollo). Dr Conley holds the position currently and the position is being moved to another office within NASA, hence the job opening. Interesting fact about the current PPO: She was a research scientist during Shuttle and one of her experiments was onboard Columbia when it exploded. The experiment survived the explosion and re-entry and they were able to retrieve some of the data from the experiment. She's a biology geek.  |
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on Aug 3, 2017 0:01:24 GMT
Well, in fairness Trump did say he was creating big great paying jobs!! 🤣 |
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 3, 2017 0:13:43 GMT
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Post by SunnySmile on Aug 3, 2017 0:20:38 GMT
I think you need to read the job description more carefully. I think this is a legitimate job. Biologic contaminants that could wipe out the human race is not neccessarly "aliens" as Hollywood would make them out to be.
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