（C）

AstronautJimVosshasenjoyedmanymemorablemomentsinhiscareer，includingthreespaceflightsandonespacewalk.Butherecallswithspecialfondnessadecidedlyearthbound（为地球引力所束缚的）experienceinthesummerof1980whenheparticipatedintheNASAASEESummerFacultyFellowshipProgram.Voss，thenascienceteacheratWestPoin，wasassignedtotheMarshallSpaceFlightCenter'spropulsion（推进）labinAlabamatoanalyzewhyahydraulicfuelpumpseal（液压燃料泵的密封圈）onthespaceshuttle（航天飞机）wasworkingsowellwhenprevioussealshadfailed.Itwasaseeminglytinyproblemamongthevastcomplexitiesofrunningthespaceprogram.YetitwasimportanttoNASAbecauseanycrackinthesealcouldhaveledtodestructiveresultsfortheastronautswhoreliedonthem.

“IworkedabitwithNASAengineers，”saysVoss，“butIdiditmostlybyananalysis.Iusedahandheldcalculator，notacomputer，todoathermodynamic（热力学的）analysis.”Attheendofthesummer，he，liketheotherNASAASEEfellowsworkingatMarshall，summarizedhisfindingsinaformalpresentationanddetailedpaper.ItwasavaluablemomentforVossbecausetheASEEprogramgavehimaddedunderstandingof NASA，deepenedhisdesiretoflyinspace，andintensifiedhisapplicationforastronautstatus.

Itwasnotaneasyprocess.Vosswasactuallypassedoverwhenhefirstappliedfortheastronautprogramin1978.Overthenextnineyearshereappliedrepeatedly，andwasfinallyacceptedin1987.Sincethenhehasparticipatedinthreespacemissions.The50yearoldArmyofficer，wholivesinHouston，isnowintrainingforafour-monthmissionasacrewmemberontheInternationalSpaceStationstartinginJuly2000.

　VosssaystheASEEprogramiswonderfulforallinvolved.“ItbringsinpeoplefromtheacademicworldandgivesNASAaspecialpropertyforaparticularperiodoftime.ItbringssomefresheyesandfreshideastoNASA，andestablishesalinkwithourcollegesanduniversities，”Vossexplains.“There'sanexchangeofinformationandanexchangeofperspectivesthatisveryimportant.”

Fortheacademicside，Vosssays，theASEEprogramalso“bringsinstitutionsofhigherlearningmoreinsightintonewtechnology.Wegivethemanopportunitytoworkonrealworldproblemsandtakeitbacktotheclassroom.”