[DERROL NAIL] GOOD MORNING. YOU'RE LOOKING LIVE
AT NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WHERE THE SUN IS UP
AND SOON SO WILL CREW-11.
IN JUST A FEW HOURS, FOUR CREW MEMBERS,
INCLUDING TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS, WILL RIDE THIS FALCON 9 ROCKET
OFF THE PLANET AND HEAD FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[EPIC MUSIC PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
[GUS GRISSOM] I FEEL THE LIFTOFF. THE CLOCK HAS STARTED.
[JOHN GLENN] ROGER, ZERO-G, AND I FEEL FINE.
[SCOTT CARPENTER] GODSPEED, JOHN GLENN.
[NEIL ARMSTRONG] HOUSTON, TRANQUILITY BASE HERE.
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.
[CHARLES DUKES] ROGER, TRANQUILITY. WE COPY YOU ON THE GROUND.
[MAN 1] NEW POSSIBILITIES ARE OPENING UP
FOR SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION BETWEEN COUNTRIES.
[OVERLAPPING VOICES]
[MAN 2] DISCOVERY, GO AT THROTTLE UP.
[MAN 3] DISCOVERY, ROGER, GO FOR DEPLOY.
[EILEEN COLLINS] THANKS TO YOU AND EVERYBODY IN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
THE CREW IS GO FOR LAUNCH.
[FREDERICK HAUCK] COPY THAT. NICE TO BE IN ORBIT.
[JESSICA MEIR] WE HAVE FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS TO GET WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
[DERROL NAIL] GOOD MORNING FROM AMERICA'S SPACEPORT HERE IN FLORIDA.
THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT LAUNCH PAD 39A,
THE VERY SAME PAD THAT SENT APOLLO TO THE MOON
AND NOW LAUNCHES CREW MISSIONS TO LOW EARTH ORBIT.
TODAY, THE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR SPACECRAFT
SITS READY FOR FLIGHT ATOP A FALCON 9 ROCKET.
LAUNCH IS SET FOR 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME,
AND THIS IS CREW-11'S MISSION,
THE LATEST MISSION UNDER NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM,
CONTINUING REGULAR CREW ROTATIONS TO STATION
FROM UNITED STATES SOIL.
I'M NASA'S DERROL NAIL, AND THIS IS OUR LIVE LAUNCH BROADCAST.
WITH ME IS NASA ASTRONAUT
AND SPACE FORCE BRIGADIER GENERAL, NICK HAGUE.
HE WAS CREW-9'S COMMANDER, FLEW INTO SPACE.
HE'S A SPACE WALKER, AND TODAY HE IS MY CO-HOST.
WE ARE NOT ON CAMERA.
WE WILL BE ON CAMERA IN ABOUT THREE HOURS, BUT YOU WILL HEAR OUR VOICES ONLY.
NICK, IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
[NICK HAGUE] DERROL, IT'S A THRILL TO BE HERE TODAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING DAY.
[DERROL NAIL] WE HAVE A BIG JOURNEY AHEAD OF US.
THERE'S SO MUCH TO SEE AS WE DOCUMENT CREW-11'S JOURNEY
TO THE LAUNCH PAD, THAT LAUNCH PAD THAT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE.
THE CREW TODAY THAT IS FLYING INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ASTRONAUTS.
NASA ASTRONAUT, ZENA CARDMAN, SHE IS OUR COMMANDER FOR TODAY.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF ALL FOUR OF THEM.
SHE'S THE THIRD FROM THE LEFT.
NASA ASTRONAUT, MICHAEL FINCKE, IS OUR PILOT.
HE'S THE SECOND FROM THE LEFT.
JAXA ASTRONAUT, KIMIYA YUI,
HE IS OUR MISSION SPECIALIST AND HE'S ON THE FAR RIGHT.
AND THEN ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT, ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT OLEG PLATONOV.
HE IS OUR MISSION SPECIALIST TODAY.
THEY WILL LAUNCH ABOARD DRAGON ENDEAVOUR, MAKING ITS SIXTH TRIP TO SPACE,
AND ITS RESUME ALREADY INCLUDES, OF COURSE,
THE HISTORIC DEMO-2 MISSION, CREW-2, AXIOM-1, CREW-6,
CREW-8, AND NOW CREW-11.
IT'S OLD RELIABLE, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT THAT HISTORY THERE.
SO CROSSING PATHS WITH ENDEAVOUR, I WAS UP THERE
ON THE STATION WITH CREW-8 AND GOT TO SEE IT UNDOCK.
SO IT'S FABULOUS TO SEE THE VEHICLE MAKING ANOTHER TRIP BACK.
AND IT'S EVEN BETTER TO SEE THE SMILING FACES
OF CREW-11 IN THAT SHOT WITH THE BOOSTER BEHIND THEM.
[DERROL NAIL] NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THE CREW.
WE'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THEM IN THEIR OWN WORDS AS WELL.
BUT FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY ESTEEMED CO-HOST,
GENERAL NICK HAGUE.
HE JOINED NASA'S ASTRONAUT CORPS IN 2013.
THERE HE IS, FRESH FACED FROM KANSAS.
A NATIVE THERE, HE HOLDS DEGREES IN AERONAUTICAL
AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERING FROM THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY AND MIT.
ON HIS FIRST MISSION TO SPACE IN 2018,
HE SURVIVED A LAUNCH ABORT, A DRAMATIC IN-FLIGHT FAILURE
OF HIS SOYUZ ROCKET OVER KAZAKHSTAN.
HE AND HIS CREWMATE, ALEKSEY OVCHININ,
RETURNED SAFELY, AND NICK WENT ON TO SPEND 203 DAYS
ABOARD THE SPACE STATION
ON THIS FOLLOW UP MISSION IN 2019.
THEN IN 2024,
HAGUE WAS ASSIGNED TO NASA'S CREW-9 MISSION AND UPGRADED
FROM PILOT TO COMMANDER,
WHEN THE CREW WAS REDUCED FROM FOUR TO TWO.
THE CHANGE ENABLED THE INTEGRATION OF NASA ASTRONAUTS, BUTCH WILMORE
AND SUNI WILLIAMS, WHO RETURNED TO EARTH ABOARD CREW-9
FOLLOWING THE UNCREWED LANDING OF STARLINER.
AFTER A SUCCESSFUL MISSION,
THE CREW SPLASHED DOWN IN MARCH OFF THE COAST OF TALLAHASSEE,
BRINGING HAGUE'S TOTAL TIME IN SPACE TO 374 DAYS,
INCLUDING FOUR SPACEWALKS.
WHAT A HISTORY THERE.
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. AND MOST RECENTLY, CREW-9.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. IT'S A-- YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT,
I THINK IT SYMBOLIZES OR EPITOMIZES
JUST THE NATURE OF SPACEFLIGHT AND HOW DYNAMIC IT IS.
AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST THE UNPREDICTABILITY ASSOCIATED
WITH MY HISTORY IN THE SPACE PROGRAM,
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT ALL OF IT, IT'S DYNAMIC IN NATURE.
AND IT SHOWCASES THE PROFESSIONALISM, NOT JUST BY THE CREWS,
BUT BY THE TEAMS ON THE GROUND, BOTH HERE AT KSC
AND JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND AROUND THE GLOBE,
THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO RESPOND
TO THAT DYNAMIC CHALLENGE
AND MAKE IT HAPPEN DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT INCLUDES THE CREW
THAT'S PROVIDING US THIS SHOT RIGHT NOW,
THE KENNEDY FLIGHT OPERATIONS TEAM IN THEIR HELICOPTER
WITH A CAMERA THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE LAUNCH PAD THAT WE CAN SEE.
THEY'RE GETTING A BEAUTIFUL SHOT AS THAT STARSHIP LAUNCH TOWER
COMES INTO VIEW, ANOTHER CAPABILITY THAT SPACEX HAS.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.
BUT BACK TO THE TEAM AND ALL THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO GETTING THIS CREW READY.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T SEE THE CREW.
WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE THEM IN THE SUIT UP ROOM.
WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THEM, GET THEIR SUITS CHECKED OUT.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE SEE THAT SHOT?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THE DAY STARTS WITH SOME MEDICAL CHECKS,
AND YOU'RE CHECKING IN WITH YOUR DOCTOR TO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU'RE FEELING GREAT.
AND IT'S THAT LAST LITTLE SYNC WITH THE MEDICAL TEAM,
AND THEN YOU'RE OFF TO GET ON BASICALLY YOUR UNDERWEAR.
YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ON YOUR DIAPER.
YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ON YOUR UNDERGARMENTS
AND GET READY TO WALK OVER INTO THE SUIT-UP ROOM,
SHAKE EVERYBODY'S HAND, AND THEN SLIP INTO YOUR LAUNCH AND ENTRY SUIT.
IT'S A MOMENT THAT'S KIND OF FULL OF ANTICIPATION AND NERVES,
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE DONE THE SUIT-UP PROCESS
DOZENS OF TIMES BEFORE.
IT'S SUPER FAMILIAR, BUT THERE'S JUST SOMETHING,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME ENERGY IN THE AIR, KNOWING THAT,
HEY, THIS TIME YOU PUT IT ON, THE NEXT TIME YOU TAKE IT OFF,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE FLOATING AROUND IN ZERO GRAVITY.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
UM, AND SO IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS WITH NICK,
HE HAS TREMENDOUS ANSWERS.
I WANTED TO FOLLOW UP, AS HE MENTIONED, PUTTING ON HIS DIAPER,
BUT I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT TO YOU, THE AUDIENCE, TO DO THAT.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] JUST SEND US A NOTE. HEY, WE ARE…
MONITORING COMMUNICATIONS ACROSS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MEDIA CHANNELS.
JUST USE THE HASHTAG "#ASKNASA."
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS ON FACEBOOK, X, YOUTUBE, AND TWITCH,
AND WE'LL FORWARD THAT QUESTION. WE'LL TAKE IT LIVE ON AIR.
WE'LL TAKE AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE CAN AND HAVE NICK HAGUE
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN THE MOMENT. HE HAS EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER.
THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER ASTRONAUT WHO HAS…
ABORTED IN FLIGHT OFF THE TOP OF THE ROCKET
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THAT IN MORE DETAIL AS WELL LATER IN THE SHOW.
A LIVE LOOK, LOOKING UP AT THE ENDEAVOUR CAPSULE
AT THE TOP OF THE FALCON 9 ROCKET. YOU MENTIONED ALL THE CHECKS,
YOU MENTIONED SUITING UP. YOU ALSO GET A WEATHER BRIEF AT THIS TIME.
AND THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE WEATHER BRIEF THAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS MOMENT
IS THAT WE JUST LEARNED WE GOT UPGRADED TO A 90% GO FOR TODAY.
THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT SUPPORT THIS 90% GO
ARE CLEAR AND SUNNY SKIES.
THE ONLY SMALL CONCERN AND THE REASON IT'S NOT A 100%
IS BECAUSE THERE IS, IN SUMMERTIME IN FLORIDA,
AS YOU KNOW, NICK,
YOU'VE BEEN HERE NOW FOR A DAY OR SO, IT'S HOT AND HUMID IN FLORIDA.
AND THIS TIME OF YEAR IN JULY IS OUR PEAK THUNDERSTORM SEASON.
SO WE GET A DEVELOPING SEA BREEZE THAT STARTS TO BLOW IN.
AND WHEN THAT COOL AIR FROM THE SEA MEETS THE WARM AIR
OVER THE LAND, WE GET PERCOLATION, WE GET THUNDERSTORMS.
SO IT IS 90%.
BUT WHEN THAT SEA BREEZE STARTS UP, IT'S EXPECTED THAT,
THE LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER FOR TODAY,
ESTIMATED THAT THAT SEA BREEZE IS GOING TO FORM STORMS FURTHER INLAND.
SO GIVING US THE 90%.
[NICK HAGUE] MAN, THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED THAT,
IT SOUNDED VERY NEGATIVE FOR A 90% CHANCE OF GO.
YEAH, NO, LOOK AT THAT PICTURE. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE,
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE WEATHER HERE IN FLORIDA,
BUT IT'S ALL ALONG THE ASCENT CORRIDOR UP THE EAST COAST,
AND WEATHER'S LOOKING AWESOME.
[DERROL NAIL] AND I KNOW AS AN ASTRONAUT, YOU APPRECIATE HAVING ALL THE DATA.
SO I'M JUST DOING THE SAME THING FOR THE AUDIENCE OVER HERE,
-GIVING THEM ALL THE DATA. -[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY.
[DERROL NAIL] BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. POINT TAKEN.
AND THIS VIEW RIGHT HERE SHOWS IT.
WE HAVE A SPECTACULAR DAY SHAPING UP HERE IN FLORIDA.
IT IS HOT AND HUMID, THAT'S FOR SURE. WE WERE OUT EARLIER.
AND, IN FACT, YOU SAW SOME FELLOW ASTRONAUTS WHO ARE HERE
-THAT YOU GAVE A BIG HELLO TO. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. YEAH.
YEAH, YOU KNOW, SO THE… THE…
LAUNCHING HUMANS INTO SPACE IS A REALLY BIG DEAL,
AND SOMETIMES I THINK WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN HERE,
YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT. YOU SEE WHO SHOWS UP,
AND… THIS--
WHAT WE'RE DOING IS NOT INCONSEQUENTIAL HERE.
THIS IS NOT ROUTINE.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND FOUR PEOPLE INTO SPACE,
AND PEOPLE JUST NEED TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT, CHALLENGING,
BUT IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THIS.
SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
FOR TWO AND A HALF DECADES.
-IT'S IMPRESSIVE. -[DERROL NAIL] IT IS AMAZING.
I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY.
THIS IS THE CREW THAT IS GOING TO BE ON STATION
WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TURNS 25 YEARS
OF CONTINUOUS HUMAN PRESENCE.
AND I TRIED TO THINK ABOUT IT IN CONTEXT OF EVERYDAY PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF,
AND I WAS THINKING, IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR HOUSE,
IF YOU'VE LIVED IN YOUR HOUSE FOR TEN, 20, 25 YEARS,
IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT THERE WAS A HUMAN BEING
IN YOUR HOUSE AT ALL TIMES, 24/7 FOR 25 YEARS.
THERE WAS NEVER A MOMENT WHERE THERE WASN'T A HUMAN INSIDE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE GO ON VACATIONS, WE GO SHOPPING, WE DO THINGS,
YOU KNOW, AND WE LEAVE OUR HOUSE.
BUT THIS HOUSE, THIS HOUSE FLOATING AROUND THIS PLANET,
NEVER HAS IT BEEN INTERRUPTED.
-THAT'S AMAZING. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
YEAH, AND WE SPENT THE FIRST TEN YEARS LIVING IN IT
-WHILE IT WAS BEING BUILT. [LAUGHS] -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
[NICK HAGUE] FOR ANYBODY WHO'S EVER LIVED THROUGH A RENOVATION,
THEY KNOW WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
-[DERROL NAIL] HEY, LOOK AT THIS. -[NICK HAGUE] OUTSTANDING.
[DERROL NAIL] THERE IS OUR COMMANDER. WE ARE IN THE SUIT-UP ROOM.
THAT'S ZENA CARDMAN, AND SHE'S GETTING THE FINAL CHECKS FOR HER SUIT.
THIS IS THE HISTORIC SUIT-UP ROOM.
ONE OF SEVERAL SPACES ON THE THIRD FLOOR
OF THE NEIL A. ARMSTRONG OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT BUILDING,
KNOWN AS CREW QUARTERS.
THE CREW HAS BEEN LIVING AND WORKING HERE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK,
THEIR FINAL STOP BEFORE LAUNCH,
AND THEIR HOME BASE THROUGH PRE-FLIGHT QUARANTINE.
THEY ACTUALLY CAME IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS ON A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY,
SO IT'S ONLY BEEN SIX DAYS IN QUARANTINE OR SO.
AND NOW THEY ARE GETTING READY TO GET THE FINAL CHECKS
FOR THEIR SUITS WHILE THEY PUT ON ALL THE FINAL COMPONENTS AS WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, THEY START QUARANTINE ACTUALLY
BACK IN HOUSTON FOR A WEEK BEFORE THEY EVER COME BACK DOWN TO FLORIDA.
SO THEY HAVE ABOUT TWO WEEKS IN QUARANTINE TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING
IN THEIR SYSTEM CLEARS OUT BEFORE THEY HEAD UP
TO THE SPACE STATION.
[DERROL NAIL] NOW THEY'RE IN THEIR LAUNCH SEATS.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE SEATS THAT THEY'RE SITTING IN
IS EACH ONE OF THESE SEATS MATCHES IDENTICALLY TO THE ONE INSIDE
THE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR SPACECRAFT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR SUIT LEAK CHECKS HERE.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ZIPPED UP.
THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEIR SUIT WOULD HOLD PRESSURE.
NOW, WHEN THEY LAUNCH IN THESE, YOU DON'T EXPECT THEM TO PRESSURIZE.
IT'S ONLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THAT YOU'D NEED IT TO PRESSURIZE.
SO IN THE UNPRESSURIZED CONFIGURATION,
THEY'RE ACTUALLY REALLY COMFORTABLE TO SIT IN.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, YOU KNOW THAT GUY'S READY TO GO.
THAT'S MIKE FINCKE, OUR PILOT FOR TODAY. CALL SIGN "SPANKY."
GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
AND HE'S A LIVE WIRE SOMETIMES.
[NICK HAGUE] HE IS. HE KEEPS YOU ON YOUR TOES. ABSOLUTELY.
-AND YOU CAN SEE HIS SMILE. -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS] I THINK HE HEARD US.
-[LAUGHS] BIG WAVE. -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS]
[DERROL NAIL] WHAT KIND OF FEELINGS
ARE THEY GOING THROUGH IN THIS MOMENT? WHAT ARE THEY FEELING?
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW, FROM JUST BEING THERE,
PUTTING THE SUIT ON,
YOU CAN IMAGINE YOU'RE PUTTING ON A PRESSURE SUIT,
SO THERE'S A PLASTIC BLADDER INSIDE OF THERE.
SO YOU'RE PUTTING ON ESSENTIALLY A ZIPLOC BAG
THAT IS SHAPED THE SIZE OF YOU.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME MATERIAL ON THERE TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER.
SO IT CAN GET QUITE WARM, ACTUALLY.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY HOOK UP THE UMBILICAL.
YOU CAN SEE THERE IT'S PROVIDING PRESSURE, BUT IT'S ALSO PROVIDING COOLING AIR,
BLOWING IN THERE WHILE THEY'RE SITTING THERE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE YOU START SWEATING.
SO IT'S QUITE SIMILAR TO JUST STEPPING OUT THE DOOR HERE IN FLORIDA TODAY.
YOU STEP OUT AND YOU START SWEATING.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, LET'S GET TO KNOW THE CREW TODAY, CREW-11.
AND WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK BY STARTING WITH OUR COMMANDER FOR TODAY,
SOMEONE NICK HAGUE KNOWS VERY WELL, ZENA CARDMAN.
NASA ASTRONAUT ZENA CARDMAN IS COMMANDING CREW-11.
SHE WAS BORN IN URBANA, ILLINOIS,
BUT CALLS WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, HER HOMETOWN.
SHE IS A SCIENTIST AT HEART WITH DEGREES IN BIOLOGY AND MARINE SCIENCE
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL.
BEFORE JOINING NASA,
ZENA DID FIELDWORK IN SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS ON EARTH,
INCLUDING ANTARCTICA, THE CANADIAN HIGH ARCTIC,
AND VOLCANIC TERRAIN IN IDAHO AND HAWAII.
SHE WAS SELECTED AS PART OF NASA'S 27 ASTRONAUT CLASS
KNOWN AS "THE TURTLES."
ZENA WAS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED TO CREW-9,
BUT WAS LATER REASSIGNED TO COMMAND CREW-11
TO SUPPORT CHANGES IN STATION OPERATIONS.
AND WHEN SHE'S NOT TRAINING FOR SPACEFLIGHT,
SHE ENJOYS ROCK CLIMBING, WRITING POETRY, AND POWERLIFTING.
AND THERE SHE IS WITH A BIG SMILE AND A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.
SHE SHAKES HANDS WITH SOME STAFF THERE.
WE MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED THE COMMANDER OF CREW-9.
YOU KNOW THIS SITUATION WELL BECAUSE YOU WERE THE PILOT AT THAT TIME.
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. -[DERROL NAIL] YOU SWITCHED TO COMMANDER.
SHE WAS REASSIGNED TO A LATER MISSION.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
HOW DID THAT WORK, AND WHY WAS THAT THE CASE?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO THE DECISION TO MAKE THAT CHANGE WAS MOTIVATED
BY THE NEED TO GET BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS HOME.
THE STARLINER SPACECRAFT,
THE DECISION WAS MADE TO RETURN THAT WITHOUT A CREW,
AND SO WE NEEDED TO CREATE SPACE IN THE CREW-9 VEHICLE.
AND SO VERY LATE, WITHIN A MONTH OR SO OF OUR LAUNCH,
THE DECISION WAS MADE TO GO FROM A CREW OF FOUR TO A CREW OF TWO.
AND SO THEN HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
YOU FIND OUT ON FRIDAY, THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND THEN ON MONDAY,
ZENA AND STEPHANIE AND I ARE IN THE SIMULATORS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "OKAY, SO HOW DOES THAT IMPACT US OPERATIONALLY?"
AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS
TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY.
AND SO IT'S A TREAT TO BE HERE TO SEE ZENA GETTING READY TO LAUNCH,
JUST KNOWING THAT THE PROFESSIONAL THAT SHE IS
IN TERMS OF HOW WE RESPOND
TO THOSE DYNAMIC SITUATIONS THAT SPACEFLIGHT THROWS AT YOU.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY. AND FOR THOSE WHO REMEMBER,
IF YOU WERE WATCHING CREW-9,
ZENA CARDMAN WAS OUR CO-HOST WHEN NICK HAGUE WENT UP
INTO SPACE AND SPENT THE FIVE HOURS DOCUMENTING HIS JOURNEY.
NEXT UP IS MICHAEL FINCKE. HE IS OUR CREW-11 PILOT.
HE GOES BY THE CALL SIGN "SPANKY," AND THERE HE IS.
HE'S A PENNSYLVANIA NATIVE AND A VETERAN OF THREE PREVIOUS SPACE FLIGHTS,
SPENDING MORE THAN A YEAR OF HIS LIFE IN ORBIT.
HE FIRST FLEW TO SPACE IN 2004 AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER ON EXPEDITION 9,
THEN RETURNED IN 2009 TO COMMAND EXPEDITION 18,
WHERE HE HELPED PREP THE STATION FOR FUTURE SIX PERSON CRUISE.
IN 2011, HE TOOK PART IN THE FINAL FLIGHT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE "ENDEAVOUR."
WHAT A COINCIDENCE, TODAY HE FLIES ENDEAVOUR.
THAT WAS STS-24 WHEN IT WAS SHUTTLE, AND HE LOGGED
THREE MORE SPACEWALKS ALONG THE WAY.
FINCKE'S ALSO BEEN A KEY PLAYER IN NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW EFFORTS,
SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOEING STARLINER.
HE SERVED AS A BACKUP PILOT FOR A CREW FLIGHT TEST,
HELPING SHAPE STARLINER'S AVIONICS AND SOFTWARE FROM THE GROUND UP.
HE ALSO CO-HOSTED A LAUNCH BROADCAST. OUTSIDE OF SPACEFLIGHT,
HE'S A PASSIONATE LEARNER, INTO GEOLOGY, ASTRONOMY,
READING, AND LANGUAGES,
AND HE'S CONVERSANT IN BOTH JAPANESE AND RUSSIAN,
CERTAINLY A SKILL THAT WILL COME IN HANDY
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND INSIDE HIS CAPSULE.
AS HE GIVES US A BIG WAVE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, NO, SPANKY'S AN UNBELIEVABLE HUMAN.
HE IS SO SHARP.
HE'S ALSO A RETIRED AIR FORCE OFFICER, FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER.
I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE I'M A FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER AS WELL,
SO WE SHARE SOME OF THE SAME PERSPECTIVES.
IT WAS FUN TO WORK WITH HIM
ON THE STARLINER PROGRAM AND JUST LEARN EVERYTHING YOU COULD FROM HIM.
HE'S A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE.
[DERROL NAIL] FOURTEEN YEARS AFTER FLYING ENDEAVOUR
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TO HELP BUILD IT,
HE IS FLYING DRAGON ENDEAVOUR TO SEE THE FINISHED WORK.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. IT'LL BE EXCITING FOR HIM 'CAUSE IT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT
-SINCE HE'S BEEN THERE LAST TIME. -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
[NICK HAGUE] SO SOME THINGS WILL BE VERY FAMILIAR
AND SOME THINGS WILL BE NEW.
[DERROL NAIL] LET'S MOVE ON NOW TO OUR MISSION SPECIALISTS.
ONE FOR CREW-11 IS KIMIYA YUI,
REPRESENTING THE JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY OR JAXA.
HE'S A FORMER TEST PILOT AND AIR FORCE OFFICER.
YUI GRADUATED FROM JAPAN'S NATIONAL DEFENSE ACADEMY IN 1992
AND ROSE TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN THE JAPANESE AIR SELF-DEFENSE FORCE.
HE WAS SELECTED AS A JAXA ASTRONAUT IN 2009
AND MADE HIS FIRST TRIP TO SPACE IN 2015,
SPENDING 142 DAYS ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AS PART OF EXPEDITIONS 44 AND 45.
DURING THAT MISSION, HE MADE HISTORY
AS THE FIRST JAPANESE ASTRONAUT TO CAPTURE JAXA'S H-II TRANSFER VEHICLE,
A CRUCIAL PIECE OF CARGO HARDWARE.
HE ALSO HELPED BUILD OUT A NEW EXPERIMENTAL MODULE INSIDE THE KIBO,
JAPAN'S LABORATORY ON STATION,
AND HE CARRIED OUT 21 EXPERIMENTS ON BEHALF OF JAXA.
IN 2016, YUI WAS NAMED CHIEF OF JAXA'S ASTRONAUT GROUP,
AND TODAY HE'S ON HIS WAY BACK TO SPACE.
SHARES A LOT OF SIMILARITY WITH YOUR BACKGROUND, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, NO, KIMIYA IS GREAT AND I'VE HAD THE CHANCE
TO WORK WITH HIM INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE LAST DECADE
AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE TREATS OF BEING PART OF THE ASTRONAUT CORPS
IS GETTING TO WORK WITH OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
AND OUR COLLEAGUES
AND TO SEE JUST THE SAME SENSE OF PASSION THAT THEY SHARE
FOR THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE THAT EVERYBODY IN THE U.S. DOES.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT COMMON BOND,
EVEN FROM A COUNTRY CLEAR ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S INFECTIOUS AND IT'S UNIVERSAL.
[DERROL NAIL] AND YOU GET TO GO OVER THERE TO THOSE LOCATIONS AND TRAIN
-WITH THEIR AGENCIES AS WELL, RIGHT? -[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT'S SOME OF THE SPECIAL PARTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM
IS GETTING TO GO VISIT, EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE,
-MAYBE EVEN SING A LITTLE KARAOKE. -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A STORY, SOMETHING YOU'VE DONE.
-LET'S ROUN-- [LAUGHS] -[NICK HAGUE] NOT WELL.
[DERROL NAIL] I WON'T PUT YOU ON THE SPOT AND ASK YOU TO HUM A FEW TUNES,
A COUPLE SPACE TUNES, AT LEAST NOT YET.
LET'S ROUND OUT THE CREW AND GET TO OLEG PLATONOV.
HE'S OUR MISSION SPECIALIST FLYING TO SPACE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
HE'S A COSMONAUT WITH ROSCOSMOS.
THERE HE IS.
THAT, OF COURSE, IS RUSSIA'S SPACE AGENCY.
HE'S A GRADUATE OF THE KRASNODAR HIGHER MILITARY AVIATION SCHOOL OF PILOTS,
WHERE HE EARNED A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AND THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT.
PLATONOV COMPLETED HIS COSMONAUT TRAINING IN 2018
AND WAS CERTIFIED AS A TEST COSMONAUT THAT SAME YEAR.
EARLIER THIS YEAR,
ROSCOSMOS ANNOUNCED HE WOULD LAUNCH TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
ABOARD A CREW DRAGON VEHICLE AS PART OF CREW-11,
MARKING A NEW CHAPTER IN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION.
HE IS MARRIED, HAS ONE CHILD, AND TODAY BEGINS HIS FIRST JOURNEY TO SPACE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE HIM IN THE SUIT-UP ROOM.
HE'S JUST FINISHED HIS LEAK CHECK,
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE PICTURES WITH ALL THE SUPPORT CREW.
YOU KNOW, IT'S EXCITING.
THE FIRST TIME YOU'RE GETTING READY TO SUIT UP TO GO,
THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE DONE THE DRY DRESS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO,
SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.
BUT WHAT WAS MISSING DURING THE DRY DRESS THAT'S THERE NOW
IS ALL OF THE EMOTIONS LEADING UP TO THE MOMENT OF LIFTOFF.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL DRY DRESS.
EVERYTHING WENT ACCORDING TO PLAN.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FOLLOWED BY A STATIC FIRE, BUT THAT WAS…
THAT STOPPED AT AROUND 54 SECONDS.
THEY THEN DID THE STATIC FIRE THE NEXT DAY AND IT CHECKED OUT.
THERE WAS AN ISSUE APPARENTLY WITH SOME GROUND EQUIPMENT,
BUT MOVED PAST THAT PRETTY QUICK.
AND GOT A TEST FIRE, A FULL-DURATION TEST FIRE
OF THOSE ENGINES THAT THEY WILL RIDE TODAY.
[NICK HAGUE] YEP, ALL SYSTEMS GO.
[DERROL NAIL] EVERYONE WHO YOU SEE IN THE ROOM WEARING A BLACK NINJA SUIT,
WE CALL THEM NINJA SUITS, THERE THEY ARE,
ARE SPACEX EMPLOYEES,
EXCEPT FOR THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE, NUMBER 30.
THAT IS ASTRONAUT MARCOS BERRÍOS.
HE IS IN THE ROLE OF ASTRONAUT SUPPORT PERSON,
OR WHAT WE CALL THE ASP. AND TELL ME WHAT HIS ROLE TODAY WILL BE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO HE'S THE DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE CREW.
EFFECTIVELY, HE'S THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FLIGHT OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE
AND THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE.
HE IS THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO RIDE WITH THE CREW
AND THE LAUNCH PAD TEAM ALL THE WAY TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
HE'LL BE THERE AT THE WHITE ROOM AND BE ABLE TO OBSERVE AND MAKE SURE
THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL AND ALSO, YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER THE CREW NEEDS,
HE'S THERE TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET THAT LAST LITTLE SUPPORT
UP UNTIL THE HATCH CLOSES.
[DERROL NAIL] DID YOU CALL UPON THE ASP FOR ANY REASON IN ANY OF YOUR FLIGHTS?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, I'M TRYING TO THINK.
[DERROL NAIL] SEARCH THROUGH THE ARCHIVES.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, NO, IT WAS JUST COMFORTING TO KNOW, YOU KNOW,
AND SO IT'S LIKE, "HEY, CAN YOU LET MY WIFE KNOW?"
YOU KNOW, PASS A LITTLE MESSAGE.
YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S SOME, YOU KNOW, EMOTIONAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT ASPECTS OF THIS
MORE THAN JUST LOGISTICAL ASPECTS.
AND IT WAS NICE TO KNOW THERE WAS SOMEBODY ALWAYS THERE WATCHING YOUR BACK.
-[DERROL NAIL] COMFORTING. -[NICK HAGUE] YEP.
[DERROL NAIL] IT REALLY MUST BE.
HE'S A FELLOW ASTRONAUT. HE'S IN YOUR OFFICE.
YOU SEE HIM REGULARLY, SO…
AND ESPECIALLY ON THE TRAINING FOR THE MISSION,
YOU SEE HIM THROUGHOUT.
[NICK HAGUE] AND FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, HE'S BEEN IN QUARANTINE WITH THE CREW.
SO YOU'VE GOT VERY CLOSE CONTACT WITH THEM.
AND THEY'RE WATCHING
AND FOLLOWING AND TRACKING EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON
WITH YOU AND GIVING YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
[DERROL NAIL] AS WE SEE THE CREW THERE, THE FOUR MEMBERS OF CREW-11…
SPENDING THEIR LAST MINUTES WITH MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE HELPED THEM SUIT UP TO THIS POINT.
THEY'LL DEPART IN THEIR CREWS TO GO OUT TO THE PAD.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW THIS CREW TRAINED EXTENSIVELY FOR THIS MISSION.
NICK, TALK ME THROUGH SOME OF THE TRAINING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE SHORTLY
THAT BEGINS WITH, WELL, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
I SEE A CARD GAME STARTING TO FORM AND ASTRONAUTS GATHERING AROUND THE TABLE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT AND A TRADITION AS WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THE ASTRONAUTS ARE NOT ANYTHING
IF THEY'RE NOT SUPERSTITIOUS.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TRADITIONS.
THE CHIEF OF THE OFFICE, YOU CAN SEE THERE, JOE ACABA,
IS DEALING OUT A GAME.
THE GAME CHANGES, YOU KNOW, EVERY MISSION.
IT'S REALLY UP TO THE CHIEF OF THE OFFICE
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT GAME'S GOING TO BE.
BUT THE GOAL IS THE SAME.
YOU GO UNTIL THE COMMANDER WINS,
AND YOU HAVE SHAKEN OFF ALL OF THE BAD LUCK, IF YOU WILL.
SOMETIMES IT CAN GO QUICK.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED A FEW HANDS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT.
[DERROL NAIL] WHAT GAME DID YOU PLAY?
[NICK HAGUE] WE JUST WENT
-STRAIGHT HIGH CARD. -[DERROL NAIL] HIGH CARD?
-YEAH, I SEE THAT A LOT. -[NICK HAGUE] HIGH CARD.
IT WAS SIMPLE, AND IT TOOK ONE HAND, AND WE WERE READY TO GO.
[DERROL NAIL] AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS DECK OF CARDS THAT THEY'RE USING
IS THE DECK OF CARDS THAT WAS DESIGNED,
HAS THE DRAWINGS OF ZENA CARDMAN.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SHE'S A LOT OF THINGS. SHE'S ALSO AN ARTIST.
AND SO SHE HAS A TENDENCY TO DO UP A SPECIAL DECK
OF CARDS FOR CREWS THAT SHE'S ASSOCIATED WITH.
AND LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DOWN TO THE FINAL TWO.
[DERROL NAIL] SHE KEEPS WINNING.
FINALLY, I THINK SHE--
-NOPE, SHE'S STILL… [LAUGHS] -[NICK HAGUE] NOPE, NOPE…
[DERROL NAIL] MIKE FINCKE AND THE COMMANDER STILL HOLDING IN.
[NICK HAGUE] WE MAY HAVE TO SHUFFLE THE DECK.
[DERROL NAIL] THIS MAY BE A FIRST, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S THE WAY YOU ALWAYS WANT IT.
YOU'RE PLAYING AGAINST YOUR BOSS.
[DERROL NAIL] DOWN TO THE COMMANDER AND THE CHIEF.
[NICK HAGUE] THERE YOU GO.
NOW WE GOT IT. IT'S TIME TO GO.
[DERROL NAIL] CHIEF OF THE ASTRONAUT, JOE ACABA, FINALLY WINNING THAT HAND.
IT TOOK HIM ONLY ABOUT 20 HANDS.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
LIKE YOU SAID, THIS IS THE POINT. YOU WANT THE COMMANDER…
TO SHAKE OFF AND BURN OFF ALL THAT BAD LUCK.
I SEE ANOTHER ASTRONAUT THERE IN THE CORNER
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE THERE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEP, ERIC BOE.
HE IS THE CHIEF OF OUR VITO OFFICE,
SO BASICALLY THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE THAT OWNS THE CREW QUARTERS.
ALL RIGHT, THEY'RE LINING UP.
THEY'VE SAID THEIR LAST GOODBYES.
YOU SEE ALL THE NINJAS THERE, THE SPACEX SUPPORT PERSONNEL.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE SAME ONES THAT HAVE SUPPORTED YOU THROUGH TRAINING
AND YOUR WEEKS OF TRAINING OUT IN HAWTHORNE.
[DERROL NAIL] SPEAKING OF TRAINING,
LET'S GET BACK TO THAT TRAINING VIDEO THAT WE WERE GOING TO SHOW
JUST A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
AND TALK ME THROUGH, NICK, WHAT KIND OF TRAINING THIS IS.
[NICK HAGUE] SO HERE WE'VE GOT SOME SEARCH AND RESCUE TRAINING.
AND SO THIS IS IN THE NEUTRAL BUOYANCY LABORATORY
AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. THE CAPSULE THERE,
THE FOCUS OF THIS TRAINING IS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE THE CAPSULE.
SO WE HAVE A GENERIC CAPSULE THAT YOU GET OUT OF,
AND THEN WE SIMULATE WHAT YOU WOULD NEED TO DO IF YOU LANDED
IN WATER AND NEEDED TO BE RESCUED BY SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCES.
[DERROL NAIL] WHILE SOMEBODY SPRAYS YOU IN THE FACE WITH A HOSE?
[NICK HAGUE] WELL, IN THEORY, BUT THAT'S TO SIMULATE THE HELICOPTER
ABOVE HEAD AND THE PROP WASH THAT YOU WOULD GET THERE
FROM THE RESCUE FORCES THAT COME OUT OF DET 3 HERE
JUST AT PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE
AND THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCES THAT DOD HAS STATIONED
AROUND THE GLOBE THAT CAN RESPOND IF NEEDED.
[DERROL NAIL] AND HERE, OF COURSE, EMERGENCY TRAINING?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ON BOARD, YOU'VE GOT TO BE THE JACK OF ALL TRADES,
AND SO YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO A MEDICAL EMERGENCY
IF YOU NEEDED TO.
AND SO WE PRACTICE INTEGRATED TRAINING TO RESPOND TO SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS HELP.
[DERROL NAIL] ALL RIGHT, OUR CAMERAS THAT WERE IN THE SUIT-UP ROOM
ARE NOW REPOSITIONING
FOR THE ASTRONAUTS' DEPARTURE FROM THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS.
AND WHILE THEY DO THAT, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU, THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND BEING A PART OF TODAY'S COVERAGE,
THE LAUNCH OF CREW-11 TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE'RE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS LIVE USING THE HASHTAG "#ASKNASA."
SO IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK,
X, OR TWITCH, OR STREAMING,
JUST DROP US A QUESTION AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION.
WE'RE HERE. NICK'S READY.
AND WE'VE GOT A FEW QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, THOUGH, CHECK OUT THIS VIEW FROM UP HIGH.
THIS IS THE BUILDING AND THE FACILITY THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT,
ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS, INSIDE ANOTHER BUILDING,
THE OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT BUILDING.
[NICK HAGUE] YEP, O&C. AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE…
[NICK HAGUE] YOU CAN SEE THE CARAVAN LINED UP THERE GETTING READY TO, UH,
YOU KNOW, THE CONVOY OF SUPPORT VEHICLES
LINED UP AND READY FOR THE CREW TO COME OUT AND HOP IN.
[DERROL NAIL] THOSE THREE TESLAS WILL RIDE OUT TO THE PAD.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO ASTRONAUTS IN TWO CARS.
AND OF COURSE, THESE ARE EQUIPPED
TO KEEP THE ASTRONAUTS COMFORTABLE AS THEY DRIVE OUT
TO THE PAD, WHICH IS ROUGHLY A 20-MINUTE DRIVE
FROM THIS LOCATION.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THEY'VE GOT LITTLE, UH, COOLING PACKS
THAT YOU CAN CONNECT TO.
SAME COOLING PACKS YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN IN THE FOOTAGE
FROM THE SUIT ROOM WHILE THEY WERE STANDING AROUND
AND SAYING THEIR LAST GOODBYES THAT THEY WERE HOOKED UP TO.
UM…
THEY'LL MOVE THOSE COOLING PACKS INTO THE CARS.
UH, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU DON'T HOOK UP TO THAT COLD AIR,
-YOU'LL START TO SWEAT PRETTY QUICKLY. -[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
ESPECIALLY IN THIS HEAT, IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE FAMILIES COMING IN TO, UH…
TO BE ABLE TO SAY THEIR GOODBYES.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, WE'VE GOT A QUESTION THAT CAME IN.
UNICORN TAIL ON X ASKS,
"HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BUILD THE ROCKET AND PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF?"
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO WE HAD THE FORTUNE, UH, AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR CREW-9
TO MEET THE TEAM OUT IN HAWTHORNE THAT BUILT THE BOOSTER
AS IT WAS BEING READY TO SHIP OUT.
AND… AND, UH, IT'S JUST, IT'S AMAZING TO SEE.
AND EVERY TIME YOU PEEL BACK ANOTHER LAYER OF THE TEAM,
YOU FIND ANOTHER GROUP OF 30 OR 40 PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST WORKING TIRELESSLY.
AND, SO, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES MONTHS, UH, YEARS TO GET TO THAT POINT.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BOOSTER HERE THAT'S FLOWN BEFORE,
AND HOW CAN YOU TELL THAT? IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SOOT ON THE SIDE.
AND SO THE TURNAROUND FOR THE VEHICLES, OR FOR THE ROCKETS, IS MUCH QUICKER.
BUT THE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION TAKES SOME TIME.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THIS BOOSTER THAT YOU MENTIONED
FLYING TWO PREVIOUS FLIGHTS,
STARLINK AND AXIOM IV, WHICH WHAT'S IMPRESSIVE
TO ME ABOUT THAT IS AXIOM IV WAS JUST LAST MONTH.
AND SO THEY HAVE GOTTEN, SPACEX HAS, ABLE TO TURN AROUND THE REFURBISHMENT
OF A BOOSTER IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME IS INCREDIBLE.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW.
[DERROL NAIL] A BEAUTIFUL VIEW, AND WE MENTIONED THE HEAT.
THERE IS A HEAT ADVISORY TODAY.
BUT IN THE EARLY GOING, THE COOL HOURS OF THE MORNING,
SPACEX DID SOME GET-AHEAD WORK TODAY
TO PREPARE FOR PROPELLANT LOAD, WHICH COMES MUCH LATER IN OUR TIMELINE,
AROUND T-MINUS-35 MINUTES, ABOUT THREE HOURS FROM NOW.
BUT SOME FORWARD WORK THAT THEY WANTED TO GET DONE
IN THE COOL TEMPERATURES BEFORE THAT HEAT REALLY GETS CRANKING.
EXPECTING PROBABLY UP AROUND 90 TODAY
WHEN WE GET TO OUR TOP HEAT INDEX FOR THE DAY.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PAD CREWS
DON'T HAVE THE FORTUNE OF THE ASTRONAUTS WHO ARE HOOKED UP TO COOLING PACKS.
AND SO THEY'VE GOT TO,
YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THE ENTIRE TEAM STAYS SAFE.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE TEAM,
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE LAUNCHING OF A ROCKET.
THOUSANDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAUNCHING HUMANS INTO SPACE.
AND SO, NICK, NOT TOO LONG AGO, JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO,
YOU CAME TO THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO VISIT, TO SAY THANK YOU
TO A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED YOUR CREW-9 MISSION.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S A TREAT.
IN THE LEAD UP TO LAUNCH, IN THE MONTHS OF TRAINING,
YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU'RE SO SCHEDULED.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO MEET EVERYONE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH THE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING,
EVERYBODY FROM THE TOP FLOOR DOWN TO THE GUYS HERE IN THE MAIL ROOM,
EVERYBODY SERVES A CRITICAL FUNCTION THAT KEEPS THIS MACHINE WORKING
AND FLOWING AND ABLE TO DO THE THINGS
THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO WITNESS THAT ARE JUST REALLY HARD TO DO.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO IT WAS A TREAT TO COME OVER HERE
TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
IT'S A TREAT TO VISIT OVER ON THE SPACE FORCE SIDE
AT CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION AND PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE.
THAT JOINT TEAM, YOU KNOW…
MAKES THIS PLACE EXTREMELY SPECIAL. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE,
THIS IS THE PREEMINENT PLACE TO LAUNCH HUMANS INTO SPACE.
AND THAT WORKFORCE MAKES IT HAPPEN EVERY DAY.
[DERROL NAIL] AND IT IS STILL THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD
AT THE MOMENT WHERE YOU CAN LAUNCH ASTRONAUTS TO THE MOON.
AND OF COURSE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN EARLY NEXT YEAR
WITH THE ARTEMIS II MISSION. A VERY SPECIAL PLACE INDEED.
AND NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DOORS THAT CREW-11 WILL EXIT OUT OF.
THIS IS A VERY HISTORIC PART OF THE WALKOUT.
IT'S CALLED WALKOUT.
THIS IS WHERE ALL FOUR CREW MEMBERS COME OUT.
WE ARE GOING TO WATCH THEM LEAVE THE CREW QUARTERS AND THEN COME OUT
TO GREET THEIR FAMILY THAT WE SHOWED YOU IN THOSE WIDE SHOTS.
YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE COVERAGE OF THE LAUNCH
OF NASA AND SPACEX'S CREW-11 TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE ARE CURRENTLY T-MINUS THREE HOURS AND 32 MINUTES UNTIL LIFTOFF.
WE ARE AWAITING THE CREW'S DEPARTURE OF THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS,
WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR A LITTLE LESS THAN A WEEK,
PREPARING FOR THEIR MISSION TO GO INTO SPACE.
INSIDE NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE HALLWAY THAT THEY'LL WALK DOWN.
EARLIER THEY WERE GETTING SUITED UP AND HAVING THOSE SUITS CHECKED OUT
WITH PRESSURE CHECKS.
THIS IS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE ART IN THE HALLWAY
THAT THE ASTRONAUTS WILL WALK DOWN.
YOU KNOW, IN MANY SENSES, THIS 26,000 SQUARE FOOT AREA
THAT THE ASTRONAUTS-- YOU GET TO USE WHEN YOU GET READY
TO DO A MISSION RESEMBLES VERY MUCH A COLLEGE DORM ROOM.
I'VE BEEN THROUGH THERE. THAT'S WHAT IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IT'S NOT OVERSTATED.
BUT THAT ART ON THE HALLWAY THERE REALLY ADDS A TOUCH.
[NICK HAGUE] IT DOES.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE INTRIGUE
OF SPACE EXPLORATION THAT HARNESSES THE IMAGINATION
AND HUMANITY'S CREATIVITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE ARTWORK THAT THEY'VE GOT DISPLAYED THERE,
THE ARTWORK THAT I GET SENT IN THE MAIL FROM KIDS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
AND IT JUST, IT LETS YOU KNOW
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING SO VERY ORGANIC
ABOUT THE NEED TO EXPLORE.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT IS AWESOME. I CAN IMAGINE GETTING THOSE PICTURES,
HOW MOVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS WHEN A YOUNG PERSON TAKES THE TIME
TO CREATE AN IMAGE INSPIRED BY WHAT THEY SEE YOU DO,
WHAT THEY SEE YOUR COLLEAGUES DO.
YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO ASTRONAUT NICK HAGUE.
BRIGADIER GENERAL WITH THE US SPACE FORCE.
HE IS HERE TO PROVIDE US COMMENTARY
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE OPERATION LEADING ALL THE WAY UP
TO LIFTOFF AND A LITTLE BIT THEREAFTER
UNTIL THE ASTRONAUTS GET INTO ORBIT. WE WILL DOCUMENT EVERY MOVE.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU CAN SEE THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE MOVED INTO POSITION THERE.
THEY'RE WAITING FOR THIS WALKOUT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE.
THERE'S LOTS OF GOODBYES LEADING UP TO LAUNCH AND LAST OPPORTUNITIES.
AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW DAYS,
THERE'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILIES ARE IN QUARANTINE
AS WELL SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE SPECIAL MOMENTS AND QUIET MOMENTS
AND SAY THE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO SAY BEFORE THEY LEAVE FOR SIX MONTHS PLUS
BUT THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE YOU GET TO LOOK YOUR SPOUSE,
YOUR KIDS IN THE EYE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, "GOODBYE, LOVE YOU,
AND I'LL SEE YOU IN A FEW MONTHS."
[DERROL NAIL] AND THOSE VEHICLES THAT WILL TAKE THEM AWAY
FROM THEIR FAMILY AND OUT TO THE LAUNCH PAD
AWAITING THEIR VEHICLE, THIS IS THE BACK OF ONE OF THEM.
AND THEY ALWAYS MAKE A CUSTOM MESSAGE
FOR EACH OF THE TESLAS THAT GO OUT THERE TO THE LAUNCH.
SOMETIMES IT'S ONE MESSAGE ON ALL OF THEM.
IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE THREE WORDS FOR EACH OF THE THREE TESLAS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, ONE OF THEM IS "LAUNCH."
THE NEXT ONE AND THE SECOND ONE YOU CAN SEE IS "LIVE."
AND YOU CAN, YOU HAVE TO REVERSE THE ORDER, RIGHT?
YOU'VE HEARD OF THAT PHRASE THAT YOU SEE ON SIGNS OFTENTIMES,
SOMETIMES IN PEOPLE'S HOMES, "LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE."
WELL, THIS TODAY IS "LIVE, LAUGH, LAUNCH."
AND YOU MIGHT ASK, WHAT HAVE THE OTHER CREWS CHOSEN?
WELL, WE HAVE THE ANSWER FOR YOU. WHAT IS IN A NAME?
THE LICENSE PLATES HAVE BEEN BRANDED GOING ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE DEMO-II MISSION, WHICH USED THE ISS BOUND FOR THEIRS.
CREW-1 CHOSE LATER EARTH.
CREW-2, REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE.
CREW-3, SEND IT. FOUR, GO FOR LAUNCH.
FIVE, BLASTOFF WITH THE NUMBER FIVE IN IT. CREW-6, CREW DRAGON.
CREW-7, "BYEEEEE." I THINK I DID THAT LONG ENOUGH.
THERE'S SEVEN LETTERS, BY THE WAY. "BYEEEEE" IN THERE.
[NICK HAGUE] OH, OKAY. NOW I GET IT.
[DERROL NAIL] JESSICA MEIR, THAT WAS HER MISSION.
SHE POINTED THAT OUT.
CREW-8, YAY SPACE.
CREW-9, I DON'T KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THIS ONE, BUT "READY4IT."
[NICK HAGUE] "READY4IT."
[DERROL NAIL] YOU WERE READY FOR IT. THAT WAS YOUR MISSION.
CREW-10 WAS "LIF10FF" WITH A TEN IN THE MIDDLE.
LIVE, LAUGH, LAUNCH.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TIME THAT THEY'RE SPENDING
WITH THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEY'RE ABOUT TO DO THAT NOW.
AND IT TIES IN WITH WHAT YOU WERE SAYING EARLIER.
HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT IS AN IMPORTANT ENDEAVOR,
EXPLORATION, SO KEY TO THE FABRIC OF THIS COUNTRY.
-BUT IT'S RISKY. -[NICK HAGUE] IT IS, IT IS, YOU KNOW,
BUT IT'S NOT RISK FOR THE SAKE OF RISK, YOU KNOW?
SO ASTRONAUTS ARE NOT ADRENALINE JUNKIES.
WE MANAGE RISK PROFESSIONALLY, YOU KNOW, AND WE MAKE DECISIONS.
IT'S NOT JUST THE ASTRONAUTS TOO IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY DOWN
FROM AT THE TOP FROM PROGRAM MANAGERS, THE ADMINISTRATOR, ALL THE WAY DOWN.
IT'S THE JOB OF MANAGING THAT RISK
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IS WORTH IT.
IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RISK,
YOU WOULDN'T GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING.
AND SO…
THE CREW MEMBERS ARE WILLING PARTICIPANTS,
THE FAMILIES, AT LEAST THE SPOUSE SIGNED UP FOR IT.
THE KIDS MAY HAVE BEEN UNWILLING PARTICIPANTS IN ALL OF THIS.
AND SO IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A STRESSFUL TIME FOR THE FAMILIES TO,
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO WATCH THEIR LOVED ONE GO
AND STRAP ONTO THE TOP OF A ROCKET.
AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO GIVE KUDOS TO NASA
AND ITS SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
FOR HOW IT TAKES CARE OF THE CREW AND THEIR FAMILIES
IN A TIME LIKE THIS.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU TALK ABOUT THAT AND JUST ADDING A LITTLE MORE DETAIL THERE,
ASTRONAUTS COME DOWN FROM YOUR OFFICE
TO BE WITH THE FAMILIES DURING THE LEAD UP TO LAUNCH.
AND SO HAVING THE PRESENCE
OF THOSE ASTRONAUTS WHO HAVE BEEN THERE AND DONE IT IS,
IS, I WOULD IMAGINE, PRETTY IMPORTANT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS.
[NICK HAGUE] IT IS. YOU KNOW, IT'S A FAMILIAR FACE.
THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE IS PRETTY SMALL. THERE'S LESS THAN 50 OF US.
AND SO EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND SO HAVING THAT PERSON THAT YOU CAN TRUST AND LEAN ON
FROM A CREW MEMBER PERSPECTIVE,
YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO HOP IN THAT TESLA THERE.
I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
MY BUDDY IS THERE TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY.
AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE THERE TO HELP THEM THROUGH
EVEN A COMPLETELY NORMAL FLIGHT IS GOING TO BE AN EMOTIONAL EVENT.
AND THEY'RE THERE TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE ASTRONAUTS AND THE ASTRONAUT CORPS,
THERE'S A WHOLE TEAM OF SUPPORT THAT NASA'S PUT IN PLACE,
PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT.
APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE.
THEY HAVE UNTIL T-MINUS TWO HOURS AND 43 MINUTES
PER THE GREEN LIGHT TIME, SO WE HAVE MARGIN.
[DERROL NAIL] WILL YOU FINISH THE THOUGHT?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND IT'S…
YOU KNOW, ITS…
THEY'RE WALKING OUT NOW. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
[DERROL NAIL] NO, THAT'S OKAY. THERE'S ZENA CARDMAN,
MIKE FINCKE, THE COMMANDER AND PILOT,
OUR TWO MISSION SPECIALISTS, KIMIYA YUI, OLEG PLATONOV,
AND INTO THE ELEVATOR THEY GO.
FROM THE THIRD FLOOR DOWN TO THE FIRST, THE BANNER BEHIND THEM FRAMING THEM UP.
WITH ALL OF THEIR PHOTOS, AND IN GOES THEIR TEAM.
THEY'LL GET ORDERED INTO THE ELEVATOR, AND THE DOORS WILL CLOSE,
AND DOWN THEY WILL GO.
[NICK HAGUE] SO IF THIS WAS A 100 YARD DASH,
THEY JUST LEFT THE BLOCKS. THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH.
[NICK HAGUE] AT THAT MOMENT, WHEN YOU START WALKING
DOWN THE HALLWAY, NOW THE TRAIN'S STARTING TO MOVE.
[DERROL NAIL] SO YOU REALLY KNOW, LIKE, YOU'RE LEAVING THE ROOM.
YOU'RE LEAVING WHERE YOU LIVED.
YOU'RE TAKING THAT JOURNEY OUT TO THE PAD.
[NICK HAGUE] BAGS ARE PACKED, READY TO GO.
[DERROL NAIL] WANT TO TAKE YOU BACK TO A MOMENT
WHERE THE CREW GOT TOGETHER AND SIGNED THEIR MISSION PATCH.
THIS IS A TRADITION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW SINCE THE RESUMPTION
OF THE CREW FLIGHTS FROM AMERICAN SOIL.
EACH CREW MEMBER, THERE'S ZENA CARDMAN, OUR COMMANDER, SIGNING THE PATCH.
MIKE FINCKE AS WELL.
YOU SIGNED THIS PATCH, NICK, FOR CREW-9.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, JUST ABOVE THERE SO YOU CAN SEE THE CREW-9 PATCH.
-OH, HE'S GOING. -[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] I LIKE THAT.
[NICK HAGUE] OLEG'S GOT A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S WHAT MIKE FINCKE SAID ABOUT OLEG.
HE SAYS, "HE'S EVEN FUNNIER THAN HE IS,"
WHICH I GUESS MIKE THINKS QUITE HIGHLY OF HIS OWN SENSE OF HUMOR.
I KNOW I'VE LAUGHED WHEN I'VE BEEN AROUND HIM BECAUSE HE'S A FUNNY GUY.
[NICK HAGUE] HE IS QUITE FUNNY.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE PATCHES AROUND THE DOOR.
THERE SHOULD BE A CREW-11 PATCH AROUND THERE AS WELL.
YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE GOOD EYES TO SEE THAT, THOUGH.
THAT'S AN EYE CHART.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, IT'S AN EYE CHART TEST.
THIS, OF COURSE, ANOTHER PLACE WHERE CREWS PUT THEIR PATCHES
BEFORE THEY GO OUT.
THAT AREA AROUND THE DOOR AND THE FRAMING WAS REPLACED AT ONE POINT IN TIME,
BUT EVERY CREW THAT HAS LAUNCHED FROM CREW QUARTERS GOING BACK
TO APOLLO HAS PUT A PATCH AND A STICKER
UP ON THAT FRAME, AT LEAST GOING BACK TO WHERE THEY CHANGED IT.
THE RIDE FROM THIS LOCATION WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SECURITY ESCORT,
SO THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTIONS ON THEIR JOURNEY
OUT TO THE LAUNCH PAD,
AS IT SHOULD BE HERE AT AMERICA'S SPACEPORT.
AS THEY DRIVE OUT TO THEIR DESTINATION, WHICH YOU SEE THERE.
[LAUNCH DIRECTOR] KORAK COUNTDOWN. SIDE HATCH IS OPENED.
THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE.
WE STILL HAVE MARGIN TO T-MINUS TWO HOURS, 38-MINUTE
GREEN LIGHT TIME.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THERE YOU HEAR AN UPDATE FROM THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR AT SPACEX
AND INFORMING US THAT THEY'RE BEHIND SCHEDULE OUT THE PAD,
BUT THEY'VE GOT MARGIN.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, MARGIN'S IMPORTANT. YOU SEE THE CLOCK THERE,
THREE HOURS AND 20 MINUTES, COUNTING DOWN TO THE SECONDS.
THE WAY YOU'VE GOT TO LAUNCH INTO SPACE, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE ORBIT OF THE STATION IS OVERHEAD WHEN YOU LAUNCH,
AND SO IT HAS TO BE TIMED DOWN TO THE SECOND.
[DERROL NAIL] AND HERE THEY ARE, CREW-11,
WALKING OUTSIDE FOR THE FINAL TIME BEFORE LAUNCH
-AND INTO A MISSION YEARS IN THE MAKING. -[CROWD CHEERING, APPLAUDING]
[LAUNCH DIRECTOR] KORAT COUNTDOWN. CREW WALKOUT IS UNDERWAY ON SCHEDULE.
[DERROL NAIL] COMMANDER ZENA CARDMAN, PILOT MICHAEL FINCKE,
JAX ASTRONAUT KAMIYA YUI, AND ROSCOSMOS' OLEG PLATONOV.
[CROWD CHEERING, APPLAUDING]
[DERROL NAIL] I SEE SOME CREW-11 SHIRTS DOWN THERE.
AND THAT'S ZENA CARDMAN THAT WE SEE ON THE LEFT.
MIKE FINCKE ON THE RIGHT.
I'VE SEEN XENA DO THAT A NUMBER OF TIMES, MAKING THE HEART SYMBOL WITH HER HANDS.
CERTAINLY SENDING HER LOVE TO HER FAMILY WHO HAVE SUPPORTED HER.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU DON'T GET THERE ON YOUR OWN.
NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE GOTTEN THERE ON THEIR OWN.
IT TAKES THE SUPPORT
AND LOVE OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES,
AND IT'S A, IT'S A TEAM SPORT.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU SEE MIKE FINCKE ON THE RIGHT THERE.
THE PILOT HE IS FLYING.
HE IS FLYING ALONG IN HIS KIT.
A GAMOSA… WHICH HE IS…
HE TELLS US HIS WIFE IS OF INDIAN ORIGIN AND…
A GAMOSA IS USED IN THE STATE OF ASSAM TO…
IT'S KIND OF A SCARF, AND SO HE'S TAKING THAT WITH HIM.
HE'S TAKEN A SCARF FROM HIS SIDE OF THE FAMILY,
THAT SIDE OF THE FAMILY. FOR ALL FOUR OF HIS FLIGHTS.
A TOKEN CERTAINLY OF THEIR BLESSING ON THIS FLIGHT TODAY,
BUT ALSO HAS SENTIMENTAL PURPOSES.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, LITTLE BITS AND PIECES OF HOME
THAT WE CAN TAKE ALONG WITH US. AND, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED
THAT WE'RE BIG INTO TRADITIONS AND RITUALS AND SUPERSTITIONS,
AND YOU'LL FIND THAT LOTS OF CREW MEMBERS
HAVE THEIR LITTLE TOKEN OF GOOD LUCK.
YOU CAN SEE HIM CONNECTING TO THAT COOLING AIR.
THEY'VE BEEN OFF OF IT FOR A FEW MINUTES NOW
AND SO LITTLE WARM IN THE FLORIDA AIR.
LAST GOODBYES AS THE DOORS COME DOWN
AND THEN IMMEDIATE FAMILY WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP
TO THE WINDOWS AFTER THEY CRACK THEM.
[DERROL NAIL] YEP, THEY'RE GOING TO ROLL THOSE WINDOWS DOWN A LITTLE BIT
AND GIVE SOME LAST WORDS BEFORE LAUNCH
AND BEFORE THEY DEPART THE OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT BUILDING.
INSIDE ZENAS TESLA THERE,
SHE'LL HAVE THE FLIGHT SURGEON GOING WITH HER.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE LENGTHS WE GO TO
TO PRESERVE THAT QUARANTINE. YOU KNOW, YOU WAIT TILL THEY MAINTAIN
THEIR DISTANCE WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE CARS.
ONCE THEY GET INSIDE THE CARS, THERE'S STILL SOME DISTANCE.
ALL THE PERSONNEL THAT ARE IN THE CARS WITH THEM
HAVE ALSO BEEN IN QUARANTINE THIS ENTIRE TIME.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THE CREW MEMBERS THAT ARE IN QUARANTINE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS.
IT'S A GROUP OF SEVERAL DOZEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO QUARANTINE.
[DERROL NAIL] I WANT TO POINT OUT SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY IS HERE.
HE IS NASA'S ACTING ADMINISTRATOR.
ALSO SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION HERE SUPPORTING THE LAUNCH TODAY
AND THE CREW THERE AT THE WALKOUT.
HE'S THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE GLASSES AND THE BLUE SUIT COAT,
WHICH I THINK IS SECOND FROM THE RIGHT. THERE HE IS.
SHOT OVER HIS SHOULDER.
HE JUST TOOK THE REINS OF NASA A FEW WEEKS AGO.
HE'S DOING SO ON AN ACTING BASIS UNTIL…
AN ADMINISTRATOR CAN BE NOMINATED AND THEN CONFIRMED BY CONGRESS.
A LOOK INSIDE THE WINDOW, ZENA CARDMAN.
GIVING SOME WAVES.
AND I IMAGINE…
EMOTIONS MUST BE RUNNING HIGH.
[NICK HAGUE] HOW CAN THEY NOT? [LAUGHS]
YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT FOR A LONG TIME, AND NOW YOU'VE,
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SAID YOUR GOODBYES.
IT'S TOUGH TO SAY GOODBYE TO FAMILY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE
FOR A WHILE, BUT YOU'RE ALSO EXCITED TO GET THAT CAR ROLLING
AND GET ON WITH IT.
[DERROL NAIL] AND INDEED THEY ARE OFF.
CREW-11 ON THE ROAD TO LAUNCH PAD 39A.
TESLAS ARE ROLLING OUT FROM THE NEIL ARMSTRONG BUILDING,
ESCORTED BY SECURITY FOR THE 20-MINUTE DRIVE.
LIO SEALS ARE REMOVED AND INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE.
THIS IS ABOUT TEN MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE AND WE HAVE PLENTY
OF MARGIN TO OUR GREEN LIGHT TIME.
TEAM IS MAKING UP.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, THAT'S A GOOD CALL OUT THERE.
WE WERE RUNNING 15 MINUTES BEHIND,
BUT AS YOU HEARD FROM THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR,
THEY HAVE MADE UP FIVE MINUTES,
NOW CURRENTLY ONLY TEN MINUTES BEHIND SCHEDULE,
BUT THEY DO HAVE MARGINS,
SO THERE IS THE TEAM AND THE LAUNCH TEAM WILL CONTINUE
TO WORK THIS, AND THE FLIGHT CREW RIGHT NOW HEADED OUT TO THE PAD.
THEIR NEXT STOP, A ROCKET WAITING TO LAUNCH THEM INTO ORBIT.
NO PRESSURE, JUST YOUR AVERAGE COMMUTE TODAY, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S NOT YOUR AVERAGE COMMUTE.
YOU GET THIS POLICE ESCORT WITH HELICOPTER SUPPORT,
AND YOU GET TO RUN EVERY RED LIGHT AND RUN EVERY STOP SIGN.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THERE.
OF COURSE, I SAY THAT IN JEST.
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL ROAD TRIP FROM THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS
OUT TO THE LAUNCH PAD WHERE THEY WILL JOIN UP
WITH THEIR SPACECRAFT AND ROCKET. WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT THIS CREW.
WE WANT TO SHARE THEIR STORY IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
SO LET'S HEAR FROM THE COMMANDER OF CREW-11, ZENA CARDMAN,
AS SHE SHARES HER PATH FROM FIELD SCIENCE TO SPACEFLIGHT.
[ZENA CARDMAN] I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS, SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION
IS JUST INNATE TO US AS HUMAN BEINGS.
THAT'S WHY TODDLERS ASK SO MANY "WHY" QUESTIONS.
IT'S JUST PART OF WHO WE ARE.
IN MANY WAYS, I THINK TRYING TO EXPLORE SPACE GENERATES SOLUTIONS
TO PROBLEMS THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE HAD.
MY NAME IS ZENA CARDMAN, AND I AM THE COMMANDER
OF NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I WAS BORN IN CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, ILLINOIS, BUT I GREW UP IN WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA.
I GREW UP ALMOST LIKE AN ONLY CHILD.
I HAVE TWO OLDER BROTHERS, BUT THE YOUNGER OF THE TWO
ACTUALLY WENT OFF TO COLLEGE WHEN I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.
AND SO I LEARNED TO PLAY IN MY BACKYARD A LOT,
PLAY WITH FRIENDS,
USE MY IMAGINATION AND EXPLORE THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND ME.
I STUDIED BIOLOGY AS AN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT.
THIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE I HAD A REALLY EXCELLENT
HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHER WHO INSPIRED ME
TO PURSUE RESEARCH ON MY OWN, EVEN AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
BUT WHILE I WAS AT COLLEGE, I ALSO GOT TO KNOW MICROBIOLOGY.
I GOT TO KNOW GEOSCIENCES AND CHEMISTRY.
I WOUND UP DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH IN OCEANOGRAPHY,
MARINE SCIENCES DEPARTMENT AND STUDYING IN REMOTE LOCATIONS LIKE ANTARCTICA.
I ALSO, WHILE I WAS AN UNDERGRADUATE, BECAME A CREATIVE WRITING MINOR
AND I'VE ALWAYS REALLY VALUED THAT CHANCE TO STUDY
THE CREATIVE SIDE OF MY BRAIN AND EXPLORE OUR NATURAL WORLD
THROUGH THAT SIDE AS WELL.
I LOVE BEING AN ASTRONAUT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PATHWAYS
TO GET TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE SPEND LONG DURATION PERIODS, SO MANY MONTHS LONG,
LIVING AND WORKING ON BOARD THAT SPACE STATION,
AND IT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON RESEARCH.
A LOT OF THAT RESEARCH IS ON OUR HOME PLANET,
AND A LOT OF THAT RESEARCH IS ON US AS HUMAN SUBJECTS.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ACTUALLY A TEST SUBJECT
FOR A LOT OF THE MEDICAL RESEARCH THAT WE'RE DOING ON BOARD THE ISS.
I'VE SIGNED UP FOR A VERY LARGE,
ALL-ENCOMPASSING MEDICAL STUDY CALLED CYPHER, AND THIS,
I THINK, IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL AS WE START THINKING
ABOUT GOING FOR LONGER DURATIONS AND FARTHER PLACES
LIKE THE MOON AND MARS.
MY ROLE AS COMMANDER IS TO BRING OUT THE BEST
IN MY CREWMATES FROM THE MOMENT WE START TRAINING
UNTIL THE MOMENT WE GET BACK TO EARTH AND THEN SOME.
AND SO I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THAT LARGER MISSION OVERVIEW
AND HOW MY CREWMATES ARE DOING AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR EACH OTHER.
SPACE FLIGHT, BY DEFINITION, REQUIRES COLLABORATION
AND REQUIRES MORE THAN ONE PERSON.
AND THE CHANCE TO BE PART OF SOMETHING MUCH LARGER
THAN MYSELF HAS BEEN HUMBLING AND INSPIRING
AND DEEPLY FULFILLING. EVEN SINCE I WAS A CHILD,
LOOKING UP AT THE STARS, LOOKING UP AT THE COSMOS IS INSPIRING.
IT HELPS ME ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
WHO ARE WE? WHERE ARE WE?
I DON'T THINK WE GROW IF WE DON'T CHALLENGE OURSELVES.
I THINK THAT'S TRUE FOR MYSELF. IT'S TRUE FOR TEAMS.
AND IT'S TRUE FOR US AS A SOCIETY AND AS A SPECIES.
WE HAVE TO TAKE SOME RISKS.
WE HAVE TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES IN ORDER TO PUSH OURSELVES.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE DISCOVER DURING MY CAREER
AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
[DERROL NAIL] THE VERY CAPABLE AND TALENTED ZENA CARDMAN,
THE COMMANDER OF CREW-11.
NEXT UP, ASTRONAUT MICHAEL FINCKE, A VETERAN OF THREE MISSIONS
AND FOUR SPACEWALKS, AS HE REFLECTS ON WHAT KEEPS HIM COMING BACK TO SPACE.
[MICHAEL FINCKE] HUMAN BEINGS, PART OF OUR NATURE, PART OF WHO WE ARE,
OUR IDENTITY IS EXPLORERS. BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE EXPLORE,
WE IMPROVE OUR LIVES AND OUR SITUATIONS. IT'S JUST NATURAL.
MY NAME IS MIKE FINCKE, AND I'M THE PILOT FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I GREW UP IN PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, HOME OF THE MIGHTY STEELERS.
AND IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO GROW UP, LOTS OF GREAT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES,
A TIME THAT WAS TOUGH ECONOMICALLY,
BUT A PLACE WHERE WE KNEW THAT DREAMS COULD COME TRUE.
WHEN I WAS LIKE TWO AND THREE YEARS OLD, MY PARENTS WOULD WAKE ME UP
FROM WHATEVER NAP I WAS TAKING TO WATCH MOON LANDINGS.
WE DID MANY MOON LANDINGS BACK IN THE LATE '60S AND EARLY '70S.
AND THAT MADE A BIG IMPRESSION ON ME.
SO I KNEW THAT BACK THEN, EVEN WHEN I WAS LIKE THREE,
THAT I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT. I WANTED TO GO WALK ON THE MOON.
I WANTED TO GO EXPLORE SPACE.
SO I LEARNED TO READ SO I COULD READ MORE ABOUT SPACE.
AND THE MORE I READ, THE MORE EXCITED I BECAME.
WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ENGINEERING WAS.
I KNEW WHAT MATH AND SCIENCE WERE, PHYSICS.
I WAS KIND OF GOOD AT THAT MATH.
I TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH AND WENT TO AN ENGINEERING PROGRAM
AT THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, MIT.
THANKFULLY PAID FOR BY AN AIR FORCE ROTC SCHOLARSHIP,
AND THEN HUSTLING WITH SIDE GIGS ON THE WEEKENDS.
AND I GOT TO STUDY AIRPLANES AND ROCKETS, TWO OF MY FAVORITE THINGS.
SO I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE FROM MIT WITH TWO DEGREES,
AND THEN THE SUMMER AFTER GRADUATION,
I HAD A REALLY WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IN SOVIET UNION.
FORTUNATELY, I'D STUDIED RUSSIAN LANGUAGE,
SO I KNEW ENOUGH RUSSIAN TO GO WITH SOME COLLEAGUES.
AND WE SPENT THE SUMMER
AT MOSCOW AVIATION INSTITUTE STUDYING COSMONAUTICS.
AND THEN I SPENT THE NEXT YEAR AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY GETTING A MASTER'S
IN AERONAUTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS.
I LOVE THE SPACE STATION. I HELPED BUILD IT.
I HELPED THE FIRST MODULES GET READY HERE ON PLANET EARTH.
AND HAVE HAD THE JOY OF LIVING ABOARD THE SPACE STATION
FOR TWO LONG-DURATION MISSIONS SO FAR.
WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
THAT SPACE IS A GREAT PLACE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE.
WHEN WE ARE ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
WE'RE STILL GRAVITATIONALLY CONNECTED TO PLANET EARTH,
BUT WE'RE FREE FALLING, SO LIKE WE'RE IN MICROGRAVITY.
SO YOU TAKE THAT BIG G OUT OF THE EQUATION
AND THEN YOU CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON PHYSICALLY.
WE'RE ALSO OUTSIDE THE ATMOSPHERE SO WE CAN LOOK
TO THE UNIVERSE BEYOND US
WITHOUT ATMOSPHERIC INTERFERENCE, WHEN I'M ON A SPACEWALK,
I CAN LOOK OUT TO THE WHOLE UNIVERSE AND I CAN SEE HOW SMALL OUR PLANET IS,
AND HOW BIG AND WONDERFUL THE REST OF THE UNIVERSE IS,
AND IT'S CALLING TO US.
WE NEED TO EXPLORE AND GO SEE THE WHOLE UNIVERSE THAT'S OUT THERE.
SPACE EXPLORATION IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO ME AS A PERSON.
RIGHT, WE ALL KIND OF HAVE OUR PASSIONS.
AND FOR ME, SINCE I WAS LIKE TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD,
I WANTED TO GO TO SPACE, EXPLORE SPACE. AND I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DO THAT.
HALF MY LIFE I'VE BEEN AN ASTRONAUT.
I'VE REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED EXPLORING SPACE.
[DERROL NAIL] PILOT MIKE FINCKE AND HIS TEAM AS YOU JUST SAW THEM PASS
THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING WHERE ARTEMIS II,
A MOON ROCKET, IS BEING STACKED.
LET'S HEAR NOW FROM JAX ASTRONAUT KAMIYA YUI
ON RETURNING TO THE STATION, REPRESENTING JAPAN,
AND WHAT THIS MISSION MEANS TO HIM.
[KAMIYA YUI] I THINK PEOPLE, I MEAN, HUMANKIND HAS A DESIRE
TO EXPLORE AND ALSO EXPAND OUR AREA OF ACTIVITIES.
SPACE IS A GREAT PLACE TO EXPLORE BECAUSE EARTH IS SO SMALL.
WE STILL HAVE UNKNOWN PLACES, BUT EARTH IS, GENERALLY SPEAKING,
SO SMALL COMPARED WITH SPACE. MY NAME IS KIMIYA YUI.
I'M A MISSION SPECIALIST FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I WAS BORN IN A VERY, VERY SMALL VILLAGE IN NAGANO PREFECTURE.
SO UP THERE, I WAS ABLE TO SEE VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL STARS IN THE NIGHT SKIES.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY, I DID STARGAZING, AND I LOVED STARS.
I REALLY WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR UNIVERSE,
AND I WANT TO GO EVERYWHERE AS LONG AS I LIVE.
WHEN I WAS ALREADY LIKE TEN YEARS OLD,
I ALREADY WANTED TO BECOME AN ASTRONAUT OR ASTRONOMER.
I GRADUATED FROM THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACADEMY,
AND AFTER THAT I ENTERED JAPANESE AIR FORCE,
JAPAN AIR SELF-DEFENSE FORCE, THEN BECOME A FIGHTER PILOT,
THEN A TEST PILOT, AND THEN BECAME AN ASTRONAUT.
WE DO SCIENCE IN SPACE BECAUSE WE HAVE CONSTANT MICROGRAVITY IN THE ISS.
WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THAT CONDITION ON THE EARTH.
SPACE STATION ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING OUR KNOWLEDGE
AND ALSO WE CAN PRODUCE NEW MATERIALS
OR MEDICINES IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR FUTURE BRIGHTER.
GOING TO MOON OR MARS IS VERY DIFFICULT,
SO WE NEED TO TEST OUR MATERIALS, AND ISS IS A GREAT TEST BASE.
SO, CREW LEVEL, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIMENTS ON ISS,
AND JAXA ESPECIALLY, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE NEW CARGO VEHICLE, HDB-AX.
THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER,
BUT WE CAN CARRY MORE STUFF TO THE ISS.
TEN YEARS AGO, I WENT TO SPACE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT CHANGED A LOT.
AND FOR ASTRONAUTS, IT BECAME MUCH MORE CONVENIENT TO LIVE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A GOOD PLACE FOR COOKING.
NOW WE HAVE A GALLERY.
I WAS ABLE TO SEE A LOT OF,
I MEAN, A LOT OF STARS AND ALSO BEAUTIFUL EARTH OR MOONS.
THIS MISSION INSPIRED ME, AND I REALLY WANT
TO PASS THAT ACTUAL INSPIRATION TO OTHER PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.
ISS IS ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES TO HAVE A DREAM AND WORK TOGETHER
AND MAKE THE DREAM COME TRUE.
SO IF YOU SEE ISS IN THE NIGHT SKY,
PLEASE THINK ABOUT YOUR DREAM, ABOUT HOW TO MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE.
[DERROL NAIL] AND FINALLY, ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT OLEG PLATONOV,
SHARING HIS THOUGHTS AS HE PREPARES FOR HIS VERY FIRST FLIGHT TO SPACE.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]
[OLEG PLATONOV, IN RUSSIAN]
[IN ENGLISH] MY NAME IS OLEG PLATONOV AND I AM A MISSION SPECIALIST
FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[IN RUSSIAN]
[SOFT MUSIC CONCLUDES]
[DERROL NAIL, IN ENGLISH] AND THOSE ARE ALL FOUR MEMBERS OF CREW-11.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US,
WE ARE CURRENTLY T-MINUS THREE HOURS AND ONE MINUTE
UNTIL LIFTOFF OF THOSE FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE UP CREW-11,
LIFTOFF TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND THIS IS THEIR RIDE, A FALCON 9 ROCKET
WITH A SPACECRAFT CALLED "ENDEAVOUR," SITTING AT THE VERY TOP.
THAT CREW WALKWAY THAT YOU SEE
CONNECTING THE LAUNCH TOWER AND THE ROCKET,
ASTRONAUTS WILL SOON BE WALKING ACROSS THAT WALKWAY
AND INTO THEIR SPACECRAFT TO GET STRAPPED IN TO GO TO SPACE.
RIGHT NOW, THEY JUST ARRIVED AT THE BASE OF THE PAD,
AND HERE IS A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF LAUNCH PAD 39A,
WHICH SITS JUST 500, 600 FEET AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,
THE BEACH THERE, WHICH, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CALM STATE OF THE OCEAN,
WE HAVE VERY LIGHT WINDS. WE HAVE SUNSHINE.
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR LAUNCH.
NINETY PERCENT GO IS WHAT OUR LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER
IS REPORTING OUT FOR WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF LIFTOFF.
THAT TIME, 12:09 AND 24 SECONDS P.M. EASTERN TIME.
AS WE GAZE UP AT THE SKY, SEEING JUST SOME VERY THIN CIRRUS CLOUDS UP AHEAD,
THOSE, NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL WHEN WE GET READY TO LAUNCH.
WE'RE GREEN ACROSS THE BOARD RIGHT NOW, RUNNING JUST A LITTLE BIT BEHIND
ON THE PROCEDURES OUT AT THE PAD AT LAST CHECK, ABOUT TEN MINUTES.
BUT SPACEX CREWS ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO CATCH THAT TIME UP.
AND THIS MISSION OPERATION TIMELINE, IT SHOULD BE NOTED,
HAS PLENTY OF MARGIN IN IT.
WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE NOW
IS THE ASTRONAUTS WALKING UP TO THEIR ROCKET
TO GET A LOOK AT THE 1.8 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST
THAT CAN BE GENERATED BY THIS MACHINE AS IT TAKES THEM UP INTO SPACE.
THAT MOMENT COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THEY, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST PULLED UP TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
GOT ABOUT THREE HOURS UNTIL LIFTOFF.
AND SO THIS IS YOUR LAST BATHROOM BREAK BEFORE YOU'RE STRAPPED INTO A SEAT
AND HOSTAGE FOR THE NEXT THREE HOURS…
-[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS] -…SO MUCH NEEDED RESPITE.
AND THEN, ONCE YOU RIDE THAT ELEVATOR UP TO THE TOP,
IT'S JUST THIS STARK CONTRAST.
YOU SEE YOUR ROCKET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, AND IT'S THIS AMAZING FEAT OF ENGINEERING,
AND THEN THE BACKDROP IS THE BEAUTIFUL FLORIDA COAST,
AND THE WAVES CRASHING ONTO THE BEACH, AND A BREEZE IN THE FACE,
AND IT'S JUST A SPECTACULAR MOMENT
ONCE YOU GET TO THE TOP OF THE LAUNCH TOWER.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU'VE PAINTED QUITE A WORD PICTURE THERE
AND WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE
THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ASTRONAUTS
AS WE DOCUMENT THEIR JOURNEY UP THE LAUNCH TOWER
ACROSS THE WALKWAY AND INTO THEIR CAPSULE.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE WANT TO TAKE SOME QUESTIONS
THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKING, AND GETTING, AND RECEIVING
FROM OUR AUDIENCE THAT'S WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD,
THOSE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR QUESTIONS FORTH TO OUR ASTRONAUT CO-HOST, NICK HAGUE,
A BRIGADIER GENERAL WITH THE SPACE FORCE AND A NASA ASTRONAUT.
AUSTIN ASKS, "MY SON, KNOX, AGE EIGHT, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW DO YOU GET
TO THE SPACE STATION WHEN IT ORBITS AROUND THE EARTH SO FAST?"
-AND THAT IS FAST-- -[CORE] CORE COUNTDOWN.
ADVANCED TEAM HAVE COMPLETED THEIR PREPS FOR CREW ARRIVAL
AND CREW ARE HEADING UP THE TOWER ON SCHEDULE.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S GREAT NEWS. SOUNDS LIKE THEY MADE UP
ALL OF THAT TEN MINUTES THAT THEY WERE BEHIND,
THAT'S A GREAT CALL OUT.
YES, STATION GOES 17,500 MILES PER HOUR, HOW ARE YOU GONNA CATCH UP WITH THAT?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO KNOX HAS GOT HIS FINGER RIGHT ON IT.
YOU'VE GOTTA START GOING THAT FAST.
SO, THE ROCKET'S GONNA TAKE OFF GOING VERTICAL, AND IT'S ACCELERATING.
BUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES INTO FLIGHT,
THE ROCKET PITCHES OVER AND IS BASICALLY GOING HORIZONTAL,
AND CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE AS IT FALLS BACK DOWN TOWARD THE EARTH.
AND SO YOU'RE TURNING ALL OF THAT FUEL,
THE 1.8 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT,
YOU'RE TURNING ALL OF THAT INTO VELOCITY.
SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING ZERO MILES PER HOUR.
AFTER NINE MINUTES OF LIGHTING THAT ROCKET,
YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING 17,500 MILES PER HOUR.
AND IT'S TIMING.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE COUNTING DOWN TWO HOURS AND 56 MINUTES
TO LIFTOFF TO THE SECOND, BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE EARTH ROTATES
UNDERNEATH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION'S ORBITAL PLANE,
AND THEN THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE OFF,
SO IT'S AN INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THAT INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW
AT EXACTLY 12:09 AND 24 SECONDS P.M. EASTERN TIME.
YOU TALK ABOUT CATCHING UP TO THE ISS THE DAY THAT WE HAVE
AND THE TIME GETS THEM THERE BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE SAME ORBITAL PLANE.
OUR FIRST TWO ASTRONAUTS CLEAR FROM THE BIO BREAK.
ZENA CARDMAN, MIKE FINCKE WALKING OUT
AND GETTING A LOOK AT THEIR ROCKET ARM IN ARM.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S A TALL ROCKET, SO IT'S HARD TO ACTUALLY LOOK UP THAT.
SO YOU'VE GOTTA LEAN BACK TO BE ABLE TO REALLY SEE IT.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE MIKE FINCKE, WHO'S ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE,
HAS A LITTLE MORE LEAN.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT HIM IS HE'S WEARING AN UPGRADED SUIT,
CALLED AN R-II.
[CHUCKLES] THERE'S ZENA, LET'S GO, JUST CIRCLING HER ARMS, LET'S JUST GO.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
[DERROL NAIL] BUT HE'S WEARING AN UPGRADED SUIT
THAT SPACEX SAYS HAS MORE MOBILITY AND MORE FLEXIBILITY IN IT.
[NICK HAGUE] WELL, HE JUST DEMONSTRATED THAT, I GUESS.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, HE SURE DID, DIDN'T HE?
[NICK HAGUE] OH, NO, ZENA WASN'T GONNA BE OUTDONE.
NO, IT'S AWESOME TO SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, THE EXCITEMENT,
THE EMOTIONS THAT YOU FEEL AS YOU'RE GETTING READY
TO DO SOMETHING, LIKE LAUNCH INTO SPACE.
ASTRONAUTS ARE HUMANS. THEY FEEL ALL THOSE SAME EMOTIONS.
AND SO IT'S FUN TO SEE SOME OF THE EXCITEMENT
COME OUT AND ON DISPLAY.
[DERROL NAIL] SPILLOVER RIGHT THERE ON THE LAUNCH PAD
BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TIME FOR THINGS TO GET SERIOUS
ONCE THEY GET INTO THE CABIN.
WE TURN ON THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM AND START FLOWING PROPELLANTS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, JUST LIKE YOU SAID,
A NICE MOMENT AT THE BASE OF THE LAUNCH PAD
WHERE THOSE EMOTIONS SPILL OUT.
BUT TALKING ABOUT THE SUIT, MIKE FINCKE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS WEARING,
YOU CAN CONTRAST HIS SUIT WITH ZENA'S.
IT LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT IT'S CONSTRUCTED DIFFERENTLY.
IT HAS A CIRCUMVENTIAL ZIPPER AS OPPOSED TO A VERTICAL ZIPPER.
SO AS YOU KNOW, YOU GOT INTO YOUR SPACESUIT LIKE A ONESIE.
HIS SPACESUIT HAS BEEN UPGRADED,
AND REDESIGNED, AND HAS THAT CIRCULAR ZIPPER
THAT ALLOWS SEVEN INCHES OF FLEXIBILITY IN THE SUIT
SO YOU CAN ADAPT IT TO DIFFERENT BODY SIZES.
WHEREAS THE SUIT THAT YOU WORE, AND THAT ZENA IS WEARING,
AND THE REST OF THE CREW,
HAS TO BE TAILOR-MADE AND THERE'S NOT MUCH ADJUSTMENT ON THOSE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND IT'S ALSO A DEMANDING ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE MOBILE WHEN IT'S UNPRESSURIZED,
BUT THEN WHEN YOU INFLATE THIS, YOU ALSO HAVE TO CREATE A VOLUME
WHERE YOU CAN BE INSIDE OF THIS RIGIDIZED SUIT
AND BE IN THERE COMFORTABLY FOR HOURS IF NEED BE.
AND SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE TO GET A SUIT THAT DOES THAT.
AND SO THIS NEXT GENERATION OF SUIT IS DESIGNED
TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT WIDER RANGE A LITTLE EASIER.
[DERROL NAIL] IT'LL BE GOOD FOR THE ASTRONAUTS,
MORE COMFORTABLE, MORE FLEXIBLE,
ESPECIALLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, WHEN YOU PRESSURIZE IT,
WHICH I GUESS, IT'S LIKE A GIANT, JUST HUMAN-SIZED BALLOON.
THIS IS A GREAT SHOT
FROM OUR FLIGHT OPERATIONS TEAM HERE AT KENNEDY.
YOU CAN SEE THE TWO CREW MEMBERS, SOMEWHAT SMALL,
GETTING READY TO ENTER THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
AND HERE THEY COME, COMMANDER ZENA CARDMAN AND PILOT MIKE FINCKE.
GETTING READY TO BOARD DRAGON ENDEAVOUR. AND THEY ARE ALL SMILES.
[NICK HAGUE] EAR TO EAR GRINS. IT'S AWESOME TO SEE.
[DERROL NAIL] AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VISTA BEHIND THEM
AS YOU LOOK OUT AT THE VIEWS OF THE SPACEPORT.
-MIKE JUST GAVE US THE TWO GUNS. [LAUGHS] -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS]
[DERROL NAIL] HE'S A CHARACTER.
AND BEFORE THEY GET INTO THE SPACECRAFT,
SOME IMPORTANT BUSINESS AT HAND HERE WANTING TO MAKE SURE
THAT NO FOD OR FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS GOES INTO THE SPACECRAFT.
SO THE TWO SUIT TECHNICIANS AND THE CLOSEOUT CREW THERE,
MAKING SURE THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF THAT
AS WELL AS THIS TRADITION RIGHT HERE, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. GOTTA SIGN THAT WALL.
THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING.
AND SO EVERY CREW THAT'S LAUNCHED OFF OF…
YOU KNOW, COMMERCIAL CREW, CREW DRAGON LAUNCHED OFF OF 39A
HAS BEEN ABLE TO SIGN…
SIGN AROUND THAT NASA MEATBALL. IT'S LITTLE MOMENTS LIKE THAT
THAT CONNECT YOU WITH THE LEGACY OF THE PROGRAM
AND MAKE YOU FEEL CONNECTED IN A WAY WHERE YOU UNDERSTAND,
"YOU KNOW, HEY, I'M TAKING THE NEXT STEP,
AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP."
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT GOT ME TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN TAKE THIS STEP,
AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING AFTER ME
-THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE STEPS. -[CORE] CORE ARM COUNTDOWN,
CREW ARE IN THE WHITE ROOM, AND THIS IS ON SCHEDULE.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU'LL HEAR THESE AUDIO CALL-OUTS FROM TIME TO TIME
FROM THE CREW OPERATIONS AND RESOURCE ENGINEER WITH UPDATES,
AND WE'LL PAUSE TO LISTEN TO THEM.
HERE ARE THE TWO MISSION SPECIALISTS NOW DOING THEIR ROCKET RECLINE,
LOOKING UP AT THEIR RIDE.
[NICK HAGUE] I THINK THEY STUDIED TECHNIQUE FROM ZENA AND MIKE…
-[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS] -…'CAUSE THEY HAD IT DOWN.
[DERROL NAIL] SEEMED KIND OF LIKE A ROCK AND ROLL KIND OF POSE, DIDN'T IT?
THEY WILL BE RIDING THE OTHER ELEVATOR.
THIS, OF COURSE, IS HERITAGE SPACE SHUTTLE EQUIPMENT.
THOSE ELEVATORS, THEY USED TO JUST HAVE NUMBERS IN 'EM.
AND THEY'RE HEADED UP TO THE 275 FOOT LEVEL.
SO 28 STORIES HIGH ARE THE CREW ON THE LEFT
ALL THE WAY UP AT THE TOP.
THE CREW AT THE BOTTOM NOW GETTING READY TO ASCEND THAT DISTANCE.
SPACEX CHANGED THE BUTTONS INSIDE A LITTLE WHILE AGO
TO HAVE THE TOP BUTTON FOR 275 SAY,
-SPACE. -[NICK HAGUE] SPACE.
-[DERROL NAIL] YEAH. DID YOU PUNCH IT? -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. [CHUCKLES]
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S PRETTY COOL. I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SPACE.
CAN YOU PRESS SPACE FOR ME?
DID YOUR FELLOW CREW MEMBERS SAY, CAN-- "SPACE, PLEASE…"
-[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS] -…CAN YOU PRESS THAT BUTTON FOR ME?
[NICK HAGUE] MAKE EVERYBODY WAIT UNCOMFORTABLY LONG.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS] THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD DO.
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, MAYBE. -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
SO, MIKE CAREFULLY GETTING INTO THE SPACECRAFT HERE,
WHICH TAKES A BIT OF PHYSICAL EFFORT, RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANNA TOUCH THAT SEAL
BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT PROTECTS YOU FROM THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT OF SPACE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT SIDE HATCH IS GONNA STAY CLOSED THE ENTIRE TIME YOU'RE IN SPACE.
THE NEXT TIME YOU'RE GONNA OPEN THAT IS WHEN YOU'RE BOBBING AROUND
IN THE PACIFIC
AND THE RECOVERY TEAMS OPEN IT UP TO GET YOU OUT.
[DERROL NAIL] OF COURSE, WE'RE GONNA DO LEAK CHECKS ON THAT HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
[NICK HAGUE] AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO PASS THAT.
SO YOU'RE HYPERVIGILANT ABOUT HARDWARE.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT TRANSITION TO SERIOUSNESS.
AS YOU'RE WALKING OUT THAT GANTRY,
THAT'S WHEN YOU START TO BUILD AND FLIP THAT SWITCH IN YOUR MIND OF,
"OKAY, THIS IS SPACEFLIGHT HARDWARE.
THIS IS THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S GONNA KEEP ME ALIVE."
YOU BECOME THAT HYPERVIGILANT PERSON THAT YOU NEED TO BE.
[DERROL NAIL] LAST TWO CREW MEMBERS THERE,
THE MISSION SPECIALISTS WALKING DOWN THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
AND THE FINAL TWO CREW MEMBERS,
MISSION SPECIALISTS OLEG PLATONOV AND KIMIYA YUI,
ARM IN ARM, THUMBS UP, READY TO GO.
SPLIT SCREEN THERE, LOOKING OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE WHITE ROOM
YOU MENTIONED THE MISSION, THIS CREW IS LEAVING THE GROUND
WITH A BASELINE OF AT LEAST SIX MONTHS,
HALF A YEAR IN SPACE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
BUT THEY ARE BEING CONSIDERED, AND RESEARCH, AND STUDY,
AND CERTIFICATION PROCESS IS UNDERWAY
TO EXPAND THIS TO AN EIGHT-MONTH INCREMENT,
TWO MONTHS LONGER.
AND SO THE PLAN IS, FOR THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM,
WHICH IS HERE AT NASA, IS TO CERTIFY THE SPACECRAFT DRAGON
TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM FOR A RETURN EIGHT MONTHS LATER.
WE KNOW THEY CAN LIVE ON STATION FOR EIGHT MONTHS.
WE'VE HAD ASTRONAUTS LIVE THERE FOR A YEAR.
-[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM. -[DERROL NAIL] UM,
BUT THAT IS A LONG-DURATION SPACEFLIGHT.
AND SO THE HOPE IS THAT THEY CERTIFY 'EM FOR EIGHT MONTHS
AND THEY CAN RETURN EIGHT MONTHS LATER, HOPING TO GET IT BY OCTOBER.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, SIXTH FLIGHT OF ENDEAVOUR,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO,
UH, IF YOU'RE-- FROM A CREW PERSPECTIVE,
YOU KNOW, THE MINDSET HAS TO BE, I'M GOING FOR EIGHT MONTHS.
AND THEN IF IT ENDS UP NOT TURNING OUT THAT WAY,
THEN THAT'S, I GUESS, A PLEASANT SURPRISE OR UNFORTUNATE,
DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE AT THE MOMENT,
'CAUSE EVERY DAY IN SPACE IS A GIFT.
AND, UH-- NO, IT'LL BE EXCITING FOR 'EM.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE UP THERE,
YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY CREW MEMBERS, CHRISTINA KOCH, WAS UP THERE A YEAR.
SHE LAUNCHED WITH ME ON MS-12. UM, SO WE KNOW HOW TO DO IT,
AND WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY WHEN THEY STAY UP THERE THAT LONG.
IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO EXPECTATIONS AND EXPECTATION MANAGEMENT
WITH CREW MEMBERS AS WELL AS FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE ENTIRE TEAM
THAT HAS TO SUPPORT THIS PARTICULAR MISSION
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE CREW AND THEIR FAMILIES,
BUT THAT ENTIRE SUPPORT NETWORK IS ON CALL WHILE THEY'RE ON ORBIT.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT TO THINK ABOUT.
I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT JUST HOW--
THAT KIND OF PUTS THE FAMILY, AS YOU MENTIONED,
ON CALL THAT ENTIRE TIME.
THEY HAVE THE MOMENTS WHERE THEY GET TO CONNECT WITH YOU
VIA VIDEO PHONE AND HIGH-SPEED CONNECTION, BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE UP THERE, THAT--
THEY KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT HERE ON EARTH, YOU'RE IN SPACE,
AND YOU'RE-- YOU AND YOUR CREW ARE BEING SUPPORTED
BY THIS INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY, WHICH HAS BEEN DOING IT
FOR 25 YEARS COME NOVEMBER 2ND.
YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE LAUNCH COVERAGE
OF NASA AND SPACEX'S CREW-11 LAUNCH TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I'M DERROL NAIL, AND I'M JOINED
BY NASA ASTRONAUT AND BRIGADIER GENERAL NICK HAGUE.
WE'VE COUNTED DOWN ABOUT AN HOUR AND 20 MINUTES SO FAR.
AND WE'RE CRUISING TO LIFTOFF. T-MINUS TWO HOURS AND 44 MINUTES.
T-ZERO IS 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
A LOOK AT THE SIGNATURES ON THE WALL INSIDE THE WHITE ROOM.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE
IF WE COULD MAKE OUT MY CO-HOST'S SIGNATURE THERE,
-NICK HAGUE. -[NICK HAGUE] YOU WON'T. YOU WON'T.
-[DERROL NAIL] NO? -[NICK HAGUE] I LAUNCHED OFF SLICK FORTY
OVER AT CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION.
-[DERROL NAIL] INDEED YOU DID. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH,
SO THERE'S TWO LONELY SIGNATURES OVER THERE ON…
ON SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 40 RIGHT NOW.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT WAS A LATE CHANGE,
AND MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT,
BECAUSE YOU WERE INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO LAUNCH OFF AT 39A.
[NICK HAGUE] YES, WE WERE THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST TO LAUNCH OFF,
WE WERE ACTUALLY THE FIRST HUMANS TO LAUNCH OFF OF THAT LAUNCH COMPLEX.
THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS, YOU MENTIONED THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS
FOR EXTENDING THE LIFE OF ENDEAVOUR.
SAME KIND OF THING HAPPENS FOR THE GROUND STATIONS,
THE LAUNCH COMPLEXES.
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THAT PROCESS DONE IN TIME
TO SUPPORT US TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH OFF THERE.
SO IT WAS A THRILL TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, BE A MEMBER OF THE SPACE FORCE
AND LAUNCH OFF OF A SPACE FORCE LAUNCH COMPLEX.
-[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S PRETTY COOL. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
[DERROL NAIL] AND YOU'RE THE ONLY TWO SIGNATURES THERE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. WELL, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIX THAT.
-HOPEFULLY WE CAN FIX THAT. -[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
YES, ABSOLUTELY. SPACEX HAS TWO LAUNCH PADS HERE
THAT ARE HUMAN RATED FOR SPACE FLIGHT AND THAT GIVES THEM GREAT REDUNDANCY.
GREAT CAPABILITY AS WELL FOR NASA TO HAVE ACCESS TO.
RIGHT NOW, THE TEAMS ARE WORKING IN PARALLEL.
THE CREW MEMBERS INSIDE DRAGON GETTING SETTLED INTO THEIR SEATS
THAT THEY WILL RIDE UP INTO SPACE
WHILE OUTSIDE, THE CLOSEOUT CREW HANDLES THE MATTER OF MAKING SURE
THAT THE SEAL'S INTEGRITY AROUND THE SIDE HATCH IS MAINTAINED.
AND THEN, ONCE THEY GET 'EM ALL SETTLED,
AND FINISH UP THEIR WORK INSIDE WITH THE CREW, THEY'LL DEPART.
YOU CAN SEE NUMBER 22 STILL INSIDE.
THE SUPPORT CREW WILL COME OUT OF THE CAPSULE
AND THEY'LL SHUT THAT HATCH THAT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, THAT SIDE HATCH.
AS NICK MENTIONED…
WHEN THAT IS SHUT AND THEY'VE SECURED IT,
THEY WILL LEAK TEST IT TO MAKE SURE IT CAN WITHSTAND THE RIGORS
OF THE HARSH ENVIRONMENTS OF SPACE.
BUT IN ORDER TO SEE AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE CREW THAT'S INSIDE
BOTH CREW-- BOTH OF THE CLOSEOUT CREW MEMBERS HERE TAKING A KNEE.
[NICK HAGUE] AND YOU CAN SEE A COUPLE OF THE NINJAS INSIDE.
THEY'RE, YOU KNOW,
PRINCIPALLY GETTING EVERYBODY STRAPPED IN NICE AND SNUG.
THEN THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDING THEM WITH SOME OF THEIR PERSONAL EQUIPMENT.
YOU SEE THE WHITE SATCHELS THAT THEY'LL WEAR ON THEIR THIGH.
IT'S A PLACE TO PUT THEIR TABLET AS WELL AS SOME WRITING UTENSILS
AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MAY NEED IN TERMS OF PERSONAL GEAR.
AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S SITUATED 'CAUSE ONCE YOU'RE STRAPPED IN…
THEY DON'T WANT YOU COMING OUT OF THOSE STRAPS
UNTIL YOU'RE FLOATING AROUND.
[DERROL NAIL] CERTAINLY WANT ALL THAT IN ORDER AND IN PLACE
FOR THE VERY EXCITING RIDE UP INTO SPACE, BUT IT'S ALSO GONNA BE A LONG ONE, NICK.
THIS IS A 38.8 HOUR PHASING, WHICH MEANS FROM THE TIME THAT THEY LIFT OFF
TO THE TIME THAT THEY DOCK TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
ALMOST 40 HOURS IN SPACE.
THIS IS THE LONGEST RIDE TO SPACE SO FAR
FOR NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM FLYING THE DRAGON,
WHICH WE ARE NOW IN OUR 12TH FLIGHT, CREW-11, THE 11TH OPERATIONAL MISSION,
BUT WE HAVE TO INCLUDE DEMO-2, WHICH WAS THE FIRST TEST FLIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, 40 HOURS IS A LONG TIME.
SO IT ONLY TAKES, YOU KNOW, LESS THAN TEN MINUTES TO GET TO SPACE.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
[NICK HAGUE] AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THIS GETS BACK TO THE QUESTION BEFORE
OF HOW DO YOU CATCH UP TO THE SPACE STATION?
WELL, WE…
PHASING IS THE WORD THAT WE USE,
BUT ESSENTIALLY IN DIFFERENT ORBITAL ALTITUDES,
YOU MOVE DIFFERENT SPEEDS.
AND SO WE ADJUST THE ORBITAL ALTITUDE OF THE DRAGON CAPSULE
TO ALLOW IT TO CATCH UP TO THE SPACE STATION.
AND IN THIS CASE, IT'S GONNA TAKE 40 HOURS TO DO.
MOST OF THAT TIME, YOU KNOW,
A FEW MINUTES AFTER THEY HAVE ARRIVED ON ORBIT,
THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR SPACESUITS OFF
AND THEN ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE CAMPING OUT INSIDE THE DRAGON CAPSULE,
WAITING FOR THOSE 40 HOURS TO ELAPSE
SO THAT YOU CAN DOCK, AND OPEN THE HATCH, AND GET TO WORK.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S ASTRONAUT NICK HAGUE, COMMANDER OF CREW-9,
FLEW JUST A COUPLE MISSIONS AGO FOR NASA,
-ALSO FLEW-- -[OPERATOR] SPACEX, DRAGON,
READY FOR COMM CHECK.
[CORE] SPACEX COPIES, WE ARE CONFIGURED.
SO, SEAT ONE, SEAT TWO, SEAT THREE, SEAT FOUR, COMM CHECK.
[KIMIYA YUI] SEAT ONE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
[ZENA CARDMAN] TWO, LOUD AND CLEAR.
[MICHAEL FINCKE] THREE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
[OLEG PLATONOV] SEAT FOUR, LOUD AND CLEAR.
[CORE] CORE LOUD AND CLEAR.
UMBILICAL, COMM CHECK COMPLETE, REPORT WHEN READY FOR SEAT ROTATION.
[DERROL NAIL] SO YOU JUST HEARD
FROM EACH ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD,
AS THEY WENT THROUGH ALL OF THEIR COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE CREW OPERATIONS AND RESOURCE ENGINEER,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CORE.
YOU HEARD HIM COMMUNICATING WITH EACH ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS JUST NOW.
AS I WAS MENTIONING, NICK HAGUE FLEW TWO SOYUZES TO SPACE.
THE FIRST ONE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE STATION,
WAS AN IN-FLIGHT ABORT, CAME BACK DOWN TO THE GROUND.
YOU FLEW AGAIN THE SECOND TIME…
ON MS-12, YOU DID MAKE IT TO STATION.
WE ARE GETTING READY TO DO THE SUIT LEAK CHECKS.
BUT FIRST…
WE WANNA TAKE SOME SOCIAL QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG.
NICK HAGUE IS OUR ASTRONAUT EXPERT AT THE READY
IF YOU WANNA SUBMIT A QUESTION, PLEASE DO. WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
JUST USE #ASK NASA…
ON THE PLATFORMS THAT WE HAVE, ON FACEBOOK, X, YOUTUBE, AND TWITCH.
AND WE HAVE A QUESTION IN, THE LOWER RIGHT HAND OF YOUR SCREEN.
YESBENI ASKS, "WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART IN BECOMING AN ASTRONAUT?"
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S A DIFFERENT ANSWER
DEPENDING ON WHICH ASTRONAUT YOU ASK.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO TRAIN TO BE ABLE TO DO,
WHETHER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, OPERATE HIGH-PERFORMANCE JETS,
AIRCRAFT, SPACECRAFT,
OR LEARN THE ENGINEERING BEHIND ALL THE SYSTEMS ON BOARD
OF THOSE THAT KEEP US ALIVE,
TO THE MEDICAL SUPPORT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
'CAUSE YOU NEED TO BE THE DOCTOR FOR THE CREW.
BUT I THINK, FOR ME, THE SINGLE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT
WAS LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE AT THE AGE OF 38.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
[NICK HAGUE] AND YOU KNOW, GETTING SELECTED
AND THE FIRST DAY ON THE JOB, I STARTED MY RUSSIAN LANGUAGE TRAINING TO--
BECAUSE TO BE ON BOARD THE SPACE STATION,
YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN,
-REGARDLESS-- -[DERROL NAIL] IT'S A REQUIREMENT?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU COME FROM.
SO, YOU KNOW, KIMIYA, NATIVE JAPANESE,
BUT HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN.
AND SO IT'S AMAZING HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
IF YOU DIDN'T GROW UP LEARNING A SECOND LANGUAGE VERY YOUNG,
HOW HARD IT IS TO REWIRE YOUR BRAIN
-LATE IN LIFE. -[OPERATOR] SPACEX, DRAGON,
READY FOR SEAT ROTATION.
[CORE] COPY. READY FOR SEAT ROTATION.
ALL OTHER TEAMS ARE READY,
SO WE WILL BE INITIATING SEAT ROTATION NOW.
[OPERATOR] COPY.
[DERROL NAIL] AND SO YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE THOSE SEATS ARTICULATE UPWARDS.
THIS IS THEIR ENTRY POSITION,
BUT THEY WILL NOW BE ARTICULATED INTO LAUNCH POSITION
SO THAT THEY ARE RESTING ON THEIR BACKS AND ABLE TO SEE THOSE SCREENS
JUST ABOVE THEM, JUST ABOVE THE HEADS OF THE PILOT AND COMMANDER,
YOU CAN SEE ZENA CARDMAN CURRENTLY TOUCHING SOME OF THE BUTTONS
IN THE SCREEN JUST AHEAD OF HER, THE HEADS-UP DISPLAY. AND THERE THEY GO.
GETTING SOME WAVES…
FROM THE CAMERA PERSON WHO IS ON THE LAUNCH TOWER
RIGHT BEFORE THEY BACK OUT AND SHUT THE HATCH.
BOOTS UP.
[NICK HAGUE] YEP, THAT POSITION IS IMPORTANT
'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE LAUNCHING,
YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT G-FORCE IS COMING THROUGH YOUR CHEST
'CAUSE IT'S EASIER FOR YOUR BODY TO HANDLE.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU'RE LANDING AND THE IMPACT OF LANDING,
YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE IN THAT MORE UPRIGHT ORIENTATION.
IT'S ALL FOR CREW SAFETY.
IT DOES ALLOW THEM TO SEE THE DISPLAYS BETTER.
[CORE] DRAGON, SPACEX, SEATS ARE IN THE LAUNCH POSITION.
WITH THAT, YOU ARE GO FOR SECTION TWO, SUIT LEAK CHECK PREPARATION.
[NICK HAGUE] AND NOW THAT THEY CAN SEE THOSE DISPLAYS BETTER,
THEY CAN START OPERATING THEM. AND SO ZENA IS GONNA STEP THROUGH
SUIT LEAK CHECKS HERE WITH THE REST OF THE CREW.
[DERROL NAIL] I DID NOT KNOW THAT THEY ARTICULATED THEM DOWN FOR REENTRY.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AFTER THE MAIN CHUTES OPEN,
-THEN THEY ROTATE DOWN. -[DERROL NAIL] HOW ABOUT THAT?
[NICK HAGUE] ACTUALLY, ONCE YOU COME BACK THROUGH A CERTAIN G-LEVEL ON REENTRY,
THAT'S THE TRIGGER, AND THEN THEY ROTATE,
-AND THEN, YOU-- -[DERROL NAIL] AUTOMATICALLY COME DOWN?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU GET CHUTES AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
[DERROL NAIL] NOW THAT WE HAVE CREW-11 SEATED INSIDE OF THE SPACECRAFT,
WE WANNA GO BACK AND…
AND HEAR THE STORY OF YOUR FIRST SPACEFLIGHT, NICK,
WHICH WAS, TO SAY THE LEAST, AN ADVENTUROUS ONE.
ONE THAT DID NOT END WITH YOU GETTING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
BUT RATHER AN IN-FLIGHT ABORT.
THIS HELPS US UNDERSCORE JUST HOW IMPORTANT SAFETY IS
IN THIS MOMENT AS THE ASTRONAUTS PREPARE. SO HERE YOU ARE.
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, GETTING READY TO LAUNCH FOR MS-10,
GIVING A WAVE GOODBYE. TALK ME THROUGH YOUR FIRST SPACEFLIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PICTURE,
IT ALMOST SNAPS ME STRAIGHT BACK.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY IN THE STEPPES OF KAZAKHSTAN.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON, YOU KNOW, THE SAME LAUNCH PAD THERE,
THAT YURI GAGARIN LAUNCHED INTO SPACE ON.
AND SO YOU FEEL THAT DEEP CONNECTION, THAT LEGACY I TALKED ABOUT,
THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE AND--
SO WE'RE GETTING READY TO WALK UP TO THE ELEVATOR.
THERE'S A FEW STAIRS. IT'S A TURN-BACK PHOTO OP
AND WAVE TO THE MANAGEMENT THAT'S TAKING YOU ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE BASE OF THE ROCKET THAT'S SITTING THERE
THAT'S WHITE WITH FROST BECAUSE IT'S FULL OF ROCKET FUEL AT THAT POINT.
AND YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING YOU DREAM OF. IT'S, UH, YOU KNOW--
AT THAT POINT, I'VE SPENT 40+ YEARS DREAMING ABOUT THAT DAY HAPPENING
AND THEN LIFT OFF.
-[DERROL NAIL] AND THEN-- -[CORE] COPY, TEAR COMPLETE.
YOU HAVE A GO FOR SECTION THREE, SUIT LEAD CHECK.
[DERROL NAIL] SO AS WE LISTEN IN, THE SUIT LEAD CHECKS--
[OPERATOR] CHECK, GO FOR SECTION THREE.
[DERROL NAIL] THEY WILL PRESSURIZE THE SUITS OF THE CREW INSIDE THE CABIN.
VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.
AS YOU'RE LIFTING OFF HERE, WHAT ARE YOU FEELING?
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW, IN MANY RESPECTS,
THE FEELING OF THE SOYUZ LIFTING OFF THE LAUNCH PAD
IS VERY SIMILAR TO DRAGON. THE ROCKETS ARE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE.
YOU FEEL JUST KIND OF THIS SLOWLY INCREASING PRESSURE
OF BEING PUSHED DOWN INTO YOUR SEAT.
THE RUMBLE AND KIND OF THE SUBTLE VIBRATION AS YOU'RE GOING,
BUT IT'S PRETTY SMOOTH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN LIKEN IT
TO BEING IN AN ELECTRIC CAR
AND SOMEBODY JUST KIND OF SMASHING THE ACCELERATOR,
PUSHING YOU INTO YOUR SEAT, AND YOU'RE OFF.
AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, A SMOOTH RIDE FOR THE FIRST TWO MINUTES
LEADING UP TO THE POINT WHERE THOSE EXTERNAL BOOSTERS
YOU SEE ON THE BASE OF THE ROCKET ARE EMPTY,
AND THEN THEY NEED TO SEPARATE FROM THE ROCKET.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO THIS MOMENT RIGHT HERE, NICK,
WHEN THOSE BOOSTERS DIDN'T DO QUITE WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ONE OF 'EM DIDN'T.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PROPEL THEMSELVES AWAY FROM THE CENTER, THE CORE STAGE.
ONE OF THEM DIDN'T DO THAT AND ACTUALLY IMPALED THE CORE STAGE,
CAUSED IT TO ESSENTIALLY DISINTEGRATE IN THAT SPLIT SECOND.
SO WE'RE 30 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH, GOING 4000 MILES AN HOUR,
KIND OF POINTED STRAIGHT UP. AS THAT HAPPENS, IT TILTS US A LITTLE BIT,
AND IN THAT SECOND IN WHICH ALL THAT OCCURS,
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM PULLS US, MY CREWMATE ALEKSEY OVCHININ,
THE COMMANDER ON THE MISSION, AND I TO SAFETY.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THAT SHOT IS THE SHOT BEFORE.
IF WE LOOK BACK TO THAT ONE, IT'S BLURRY BECAUSE THAT'S A SCREENSHOT
FROM JUST HOW VIOLENTLY THINGS WERE SHAKING--
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IN THAT INSTANT,
YOU KNOW, THE INDICATIONS TO US ARE A FLASHING RED LIGHT,
AN ALARM'S GOING OFF,
AND THEN THERE'S A LITTLE RED INDICATOR THAT SAYS THERE'S A ROCKET EMERGENCY.
AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO BEING SHAKEN KIND OF SIDE TO SIDE FOR A SECOND OR SO.
AND THEN IT'S PEACEFUL 'CAUSE AT THAT POINT WE'RE GOING SO FAST,
WE'VE COME OFF, WE'RE JUST KIND OF COASTING UPHILL
IN THIS SLOW TUMBLE TO THE EDGE OF SPACE.
AND I CAN REMEMBER LOOKING OUT AS WE GOT TO THE TOP OF THAT TRAJECTORY
AND SEEING THE DARK BLACK OF SPACE AND THE CURVE OF THE EARTH BELOW
AND THINKING TO MYSELF, WELL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE TODAY.
-[DERROL NAIL] JUST NOT GONNA MAKE IT. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IN THE MOMENT, YOU HAVE THOSE LITTLE MOMENTS
WHERE THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION POPS OUT.
NOW IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT STARTS TO SET IN, OKAY, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO SURVIVE?
AND THAT'S, GET BACK INTO THE PROCEDURES.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT AND SO THAT VIEW WE SAW
FROM LOOKING UP IN THE SKY
YOUR ROCKET IS COMING APART, YOU NO LONGER CAN RIDE THAT INTO SPACE
IT'S DONE. NOW, YOU'RE ON THE EMERGENCY SYSTEMS
AND YOU COME DOWN BACK TO EARTH AND THAT'S YOU ON THE RIGHT
IN THE MIDDLE, RIGHT MIDDLE, HUGGING YOUR WIFE…
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. -… AND THAT
LOOKS LIKE QUITE THE DEEP EMBRACE
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ITS THE--
IN THE MOMENT, WHEN YOU'RE RESPONDING, THE TRAINING KICKS IN,
YOU'RE ABLE TO COMPARTMENTALIZE ALL OF THE EMOTION OF THE SITUATION.
IT'S IN THE AFTERMATH OF THAT, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S LESS THAN SIX HOURS AFTER WE HAD LAUNCHED
THAT WE'RE BACK AT THE AERODROME THERE AND…
AND THAT'S WHEN THE EMOTIONS, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S-- YOU'RE HUMAN. THAT'S WHEN IT COMES OUT.
AND… AND, YOU KNOW, KATIE HAD WITNESSED ALL OF THAT
AND GONE THROUGH THAT ROLLER COASTER RIDE
AT THE SAME TIME, ALONG WITH MY KIDS AND MY FAMILY THAT WERE ALL THERE,
WITH LESS INFORMATION THAN I HAD, 'CAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH IT.
THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY 20 MINUTES WHERE SHE DIDN'T KNOW
-WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS. -[OPERATOR] X, DRAGON, FOUR NOMINAL SEATS.
[CORE] DRAGON, WE SEE THE SAME.
CLOSEOUT TEAM WILL PERFORM FINAL CLOSEOUT STEPS
AND THEN EXIT THE CAPSULE.
YOU CAN PROCEED TO SECTION FOUR SIDE HATCH CLOSE
AND REPORT WHEN READY TO CLOSE HATCH.
-[DERROL NAIL] AND JUST A QUICK NOTE… -COPY, PROCEEDING SECTION FOUR CLOSEOUT.
…WE ARE STILL TRACKING THE OPERATIONS INSIDE THE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR
THAT YOU SEE THERE.
THEY ARE DOING CHECKOUTS OF THE SUITS,
PRESSURIZING THEM, GETTING READY FOR LAUNCH.
AS WE LISTEN TO A VERY IMPORTANT STORY THAT NICK HAGUE JUST TOLD US
ABOUT SURVIVING AN IN-FLIGHT ANOMALY WHERE HIS ROCKET CAME APART,
BUT THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM FOR SOYUZ SAVED HIS LIFE
AND THE LIFE OF HIS CREWMATE AND BROUGHT THEM BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YEAH, THE WAY YOU PHRASE THAT IS IMPORTANT.
[DERROL NAIL] THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM,
THE ENGINEERS THAT DEVELOPED THE ESCAPE SYSTEM…
THE PEOPLE IN THE FACTORY THAT ASSEMBLED IT,
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT I DON'T GET TO MEET
OR WOULD NOT NORMALLY GET TO MEET,
THE SPACE PROGRAM, THE HUMAN EXPLORATION OF SPACE IS BUILT ON TRUST.
TRUST IN THAT EVERYBODY WHO'S GOT A JOB IS COMMITTED TO BEING PERFECT IN THAT JOB.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE CREW THAT RIDES ON TOP OF THE CAPSULE,
BUT IT'S EVERYBODY.
AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOUR DECISION, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY,
YOUR ACTION IS GONNA BE THE ONE THAT SAVES THE DAY.
[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT'S WHY YOU OFTEN HEAR SO MANY TIMES
THE ENGINEERS UTTERING HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO GET THE JOB RIGHT,
TO DO IT RIGHT, TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS READY FOR LAUNCH.
AND THIS CREW HAS THEIR LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
WE WILL GO THROUGH THEIR CHECKS, WE'LL CHECK THE HEALTH OF IT,
AND WE'LL ALSO ARM IT FOR LAUNCH.
[CORE] DRAGON SPACEX, COMM CHECK.
[ZENA CARDMAN] SPACEX, DRAGON LOUD AND CLEAR.
[CORE] CORE HAS YOU LOUD AND CLEAR. TDRS COMM CHECK IS COMPLETE.
STANDBY FOR COMM CHECKS WITH DC, MD, AND LD IN THE LAUNCH CONFIGURATION.
DRAGON, DC ON COUNTDOWN ONE, COMM CHECK.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DC, DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR.
DC, LOUD AND CLEAR. STANDBY FOR COMM CHECKS WITH MD.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON, MD ON COUNTDOWN ONE, COMM CHECK.
MD, DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR.
MD, LOUD AND CLEAR AS WELL.
STAND BY FOR COMM CHECK OVER DRAGON TO GROUND.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU'RE LISTENING TO COMMUNICATION CHECKS.
DRAGON, MD ON DRAGON TO GROUND, COMM CHECK.
[DERROL NAIL] THROUGH EACH OF THE THREE PATHS TO THIS SPACECRAFT.
MD, DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR.
MD, LOUD AND CLEAR. STAND BY FOR COMM CHECKS WITH LD.
DRAGON, LD, ON COUNTDOWN ONE, WITH A COMM CHECK.
LD, DRAGON LOUD AND CLEAR.
LD LOUD AND CLEAR STANDBY FOR COMM CHECK ON DRAGON TO GROUND.
DRAGON, LD, DRAGON TO GROUND, COMM CHECK.
LD, DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR.
LD LOUD AND CLEAR.
DRAGON SPACEX,
LAUNCH CONFIGURATION COMM CHECKS ARE COMPLETE.
DRAGON COPIES AND CREW ARE READY FOR SIDE HATCH CLOSURE.
COPY CREW READINESS FOR SIDE HATCH CLOSURE.
CLOSEOUT TEAM IS TAKING FINAL STEPS IN PREP FOR THAT CLOSURE
SO STAND BY FOR THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.
THE VEHICLE WILL THEN TRANSITION TO PAD HATCH CLOSED.
ENSURE ALL ITEMS ARE SECURE FROM NOW THROUGH LAUNCH.
DRAGON COPIES. GO GO.
[DERROL NAIL] THOSE COMMUNICATION CHECKS, NICK,
WERE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF THE CREW MEMBERS
TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK TO SOME VERY IMPORTANT MEMBERS OF THE LAUNCH TEAM.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, SO YOU'VE GOT THE COMM CHECKS YOU'VE BEEN HEARING WITH CORE,
WHICH IS REALLY THE VOICE FROM THE SPACEX CONTROL ROOM TO DRAGON.
BUT YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR, THE MISSION DIRECTOR IN THERE AS WELL.
AND THEN IT GETS MORE COMPLEX
BECAUSE YOU'RE CHECKING MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET THE COMMUNICATIONS THERE,
WHETHER GOING DIRECT FROM GROUND TO DRAGON
OR WHETHER USING THE TDRS RELAY SATELLITES.
SO, COMMUNICATION'S CRITICAL, BEING ABLE TO VERBALLY TALK,
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER CONNECTION
THAT YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT IS THE TELEMETRY
AND THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION DOWN TO THE GROUND.
DRAGON IS A HIGHLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND HAS A PRETTY CLOSE COUPLE
WITH MISSION CONTROL ON THE GROUND
TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR ALL OF THAT AUTOMATION.
YOU'RE WATCHING LAUNCH COVERAGE OF NASA AND SPACEX'S CREW-11 MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
NICK HAGUE, OUR ASTRONAUT CO-HOST TODAY, WALKING YOU THROUGH THE OPERATIONS,
JUST TOLD A VERY POWERFUL AND MOVING STORY
ABOUT HIS FIRST LAUNCH, WHICH ENDED WITH A FLIGHT ABORT.
BUT BROUGHT HIM AND HIS CREW MEMBERS SAFELY
TO THE GROUND, BACK TO HIS FAMILY.
HE LAUNCHED AGAIN ON MS-XII.
BUT THAT STORY BROUGHT FORTH A QUESTION ON SOCIAL THAT WE WANNA TAKE NOW.
WE'RE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS LIVE AND BRINGING THEM TO NICK,
WHO'S ANSWERING THEM AS WE GO.
SO OSKAR ASKS, "NICK, YOU'RE ONE OF THE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN HISTORY
WHO HAVE EVER ABORTED IN FLIGHT. HOW DID IT FEEL AS IT HAPPENED?"
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
IT'S… SO, IT'S…
WE SPEND… OSKAR, WE SPEND SO MUCH TIME TRAINING
FOR WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG.
I VENTURE THAT WE SPEND ABOUT 95% OF OUR TRAINING FOCUSED ON WHAT TO DO
IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
AND SO THE SITUATION OF THE ABORT IS ONE THAT ALEKSEY AND I PERFORMED
IN THE SIMULATOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS BEFORE WE LAUNCHED AND EXPERIENCED IT.
AND SO THERE'S THE ONE TIME IN THE SIM. IT'S A VERY SHORT SIMULATION.
THE ACTUAL FLIGHT WAS LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.
THE SIMULATION IS LESS THAN 20 MINUTES.
BUT WE HAD RUN THOSE PROCEDURES.
AND THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL OF THAT TRAINING IS THAT YOU GET VERY DISCIPLINED
AT RUNNING PROCEDURES BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THAT THOSE PROCEDURES ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GONNA KEEP YOU SAFE
WHEN THINGS DON'T GO RIGHT.
SO, IN THE MOMENT, THERE IS THE,
YOU KNOW, THE, "OH, BOY" MOMENT WHEN IT'S HAPPENING.
THE ALARM'S GOING OFF, THE LIGHT'S FLASHING,
EVERYTHING'S KIND OF SHAKING, AND IT TAKES YOU A SECOND OR TWO
TO FULLY PROCESS EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AND THEN THERE'S THE, YOU KNOW, I HAD THE REALIZATION THAT,
YOU KNOW, IF THIS WAS GONNA BE A REALLY BAD DAY,
IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, SO I'VE GOT A CHANCE.
SO, THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT ALEKSEY AND I IS FOR BOTH OF US TO DO OUR PROCEDURES
AND FOCUS ON THOSE.
AND SO YOU COMPARTMENTALIZE ALL OF THOSE EMOTIONS.
YOU KIND OF SET THOSE TO THE SIDE AND YOU FOCUS ON DOING YOUR JOB.
AND SO WE RUN THROUGH THE PROCEDURES AND WE TALK
WITH MISSION CONTROL IN MOSCOW AND SURPRISINGLY,
YOU KNOW, I SPENT SO MUCH TIME IN STAR CITY TRAINING,
THAT RUSSIAN THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEING PAINFUL TO LEARN,
THAT IS JUST NATURALLY COMING OUT
BECAUSE ALL OF OUR COMMUNICATIONS ARE IN RUSSIAN.
AND…
AND THEN IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU TOUCH THE GROUND,
THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCES COME AND EXTRACT YOU.
YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THERE WITHIN LIKE TEN MINUTES.
THEY COME AND EXTRACT US AND PULL US OUT OF THE PARACHUTES.
IT'S AT THAT MOMENT WHEN YOUR BODY CAN RELAX.
YOU CAN STOP FOCUSING ON ALL THE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO
TO BE SAFE 'CAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE SAFE.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN SHOCK, KIND OF, ROLLS OVER YOU.
AND YOUR BODY JUST TRIES TO PROCESS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.
WE'RE HUMAN. YOU CAN'T BOTTLE THAT STUFF UP FOREVER.
AND SO IT WAS A…
YOU COULD HEAR THE WAVER IN MY VOICE WHEN I CALLED KATIE
AND ON THE SATELLITE PHONE AND SAID, "HEY, I'M OKAY."
I ACTUALLY HAD TO LEAVE A VOICEMAIL BECAUSE SHE HAD HER PHONE OFF.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] OH, NO.
[NICK HAGUE] BUT WE HAVE THAT VOICEMAIL,
AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN TO IT,
AND IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
[DERROL NAIL] WOW. THANK YOU, OSKAR, SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION…
AND THANK YOU, NICK, FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL ANSWER.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO DOCUMENT CREW-11'S STEPS
THROUGH THEIR MISSION OPERATIONAL TIMELINES
GETTING READY FOR LAUNCH YOU SAW THIS CLOSEOUT CREW REMOVE
A PROTECTIVE COVER AROUND THE SEAL NOW THEY ARE EXAMINING THAT SEAL
AND DOCUMENTING TAKING PICTURES OF IT BECAUSE ONCE THEY SHUT THAT DOOR
IT NEEDS TO BE AS AIRTIGHT AS THEY CAN POSSIBLY GET IT
SINCE YOU'RE GOING INTO THE VACUUM OF SPACE
AND IT NEEDS TO PROTECT ALL FOUR CREW MEMBERS INSIDE
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, A SINGLE STRAND OF HAIR ACROSS THE SEAL CAN BE ENOUGH
TO CAUSE IT TO FAIL THE LEAK CHECK.
SO IT'S GOTTA BE COMPLETELY PRISTINE.
-[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY. -[NICK HAGUE] IT'S GOT TO BE PRISTINE.
[DERROL NAIL] AND WE'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN
IN PREVIOUS MISSIONS WHERE EXACTLY JUST THAT,
A HAIR ENDED UP ON THE SEAL.
AND ONCE THEY DID THE PRESSURE CHECK, THEY SAW IT, OPENED IT BACK UP,
FOUND IT, REMOVED IT.
AND THEN RESEALED IT, AND THEY WERE GOOD TO GO FOR LAUNCH.
AND SO THERE'S A BIT OF MARGIN IN THIS COUNTDOWN,
AND WE'RE IN THAT KIND OF FLEXIBLE TIME RIGHT NOW
WHERE THEY HAVE TIME TO WORK THROUGH METHODICALLY ON THIS PROCEDURE.
NICK, WE DON'T WANNA END THE STORY WITH THE END OF MS-X.
WE WANNA GO TO MS-XII, WHICH WAS THE NEXT SPACEFLIGHT,
YOUR NEXT LAUNCH. AND HERE YOU ARE NOW WITH A CREW OF THREE.
YOU SAID, I'M GOING BACK.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
THAT'S THE JOB. I MEAN, WE EXPLORE BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT,
AND SO THAT DOESN'T CHANGE LAUNCH TO LAUNCH TO LAUNCH.
THE MINDSET TO GET BACK ON TOP OF THE ROCKET
ISN'T ANY DIFFERENT THE FIRST TIME
THAN IT IS THE SECOND TIME THAN IT IS THE THIRD TIME. THAT'S…
WHY AM I WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS RISK?
WHY IS MY FAMILY WILLING TO ACCEPT THIS RISK?
AND IT'S BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING UP THERE IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, THE LEARNING ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY
AND HOW WE INTERACT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US
AND MORE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE AROUND US.
THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT. AND SO THAT'S WHY YOU DO IT.
AND SO THIS TIME, NIGHT LAUNCH.
SO I GOT A DAY LAUNCH AND A NIGHT LAUNCH, A TWOFER.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] LUCKY YOU.
[NICK HAGUE] IT WAS BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU SAW CHRISTINA HAD JOINED.
SHE WAS GOING UP FOR A YEAR-LONG MISSION,
AND ALEKSEY AND I GAVE IT ANOTHER SHOT,
AND IT WAS FLAWLESS ALL THE WAY TO DOCKING.
A SPECTACULAR FLIGHT.
-[DERROL NAIL] AND THIS WAS IN 2019. -[NICK HAGUE] 2019.
[DERROL NAIL] JUST A LITTLE… A LITTLE LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER MS-X
-IN OCTOBER OF 2018? -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, FIVE MONTHS.
SO WE HAD THE LAUNCH, YOU KNOW,
SO WE HAD OUR LAUNCH ABORT AND THEN TWO MONTHS LATER…
TWO MONTHS LATER, MS-XI LAUNCHED, AND THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM.
THEY DIAGNOSED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ROCKET,
AND THEN FIVE MONTHS LATER, WE WERE ON BOARD.
IT TAKES A LOT TO KEEP THE STATION GOING.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR 25 YEARS,
AND SO THAT DRUMBEAT OF ROTATIONS OF CREWS HAS TO KEEP GOING.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
AND YOU FULFILLED YOUR ROLE IN THAT PHOTO WE JUST SAW
WAS THE COMPLETION OF A SUCCESSFUL MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WHEN YOU RETURNED FROM SPACE
AND WERE BEING BROUGHT OUT OF THAT CAPSULE,
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH IT WAS… I MEAN, IT'S IRONIC
'CAUSE WHERE OUR ABORT LANDED WAS IN THE NORMAL LANDING ZONE.
WE LANDED THERE ALMOST A YEAR TO THE DAY LATER IN THAT LANDING ZONE.
AND SO IT WAS THE CULMINATION OF A PRETTY…
A PRETTY INTERESTING YEAR NEEDLESS TO SAY
[DERROL NAIL] HOW ABOUT THAT AS YOU LOOK AROUND, RIGHT?
-AND GO I REMEMBER THIS PLACE. -[BOTH LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] BUT YOU FELT A LOT DIFFERENT.
[NICK HAGUE] YES, ABSOLUTELY. IT'S…
SPACEFLIGHT CHANGES YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
YOU KNOW, THAT OVERVIEW EFFECT THAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT.
THE WAY YOU PERCEIVE THE GLOBE AND HOW CONNECTED WE ARE
AND JUST HOW SPECIAL THE EARTH IS.
IT'S PROFOUND. I WISH WE COULD GET MORE PEOPLE UP THERE.
[DERROL NAIL] I HEAR THIS TIME AND AGAIN FROM OTHER ASTRONAUTS THAT…
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW, WE GET…
WE'RE ALMOST UP TO 700 PEOPLE NOW THAT HAVE GONE INTO SPACE.
I'D LOVE THAT TO BE, YOU KNOW, 700,000 PEOPLE,
EVEN IF IT'S FOR SHORT BITS OF TIME, YOU KNOW.
AS A VETERAN THAT'S DONE A SUBORBITAL FLIGHT
AS WELL AS AN ORBITAL FLIGHT, IT'S ALL GOOD.
[DERROL NAIL] I'M SURE MANY OF OUR AUDIENCE,
I KNOW I WOULD LOVE TO GO SOMEDAY.
AND THAT'S, OF COURSE, THE AIM OF THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM
IS TO MAKE SPACE MORE ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE.
AND SO, FINALLY, YOUR MOST RECENT MISSION, 2024,
IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR…
NOT TOO LONG AGO, YOU LAUNCHED BACK INTO SPACE ON CREW-9.
THIS, OF COURSE, LAUNCHED FROM RIGHT HERE ON THE SPACE COAST,
LAUNCH COMPLEX 40, AS YOU MENTIONED,
THE FIRST CREWED MISSION FROM THAT PAD. BUT THERE WAS ONLY TWO OF YOU.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
THIS WAS A CREW OF TWO FOR A SPECIAL REASON.
YOU HAD AN IMPORTANT MISSION FOR CREW-9.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, THE SEAT ONE AND FOUR THERE YOU CAN SEE ARE EMPTY
ON THE UPHILL PORTION.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT WAS TO ACCOMMODATE BUTCH AND SUNI COMING BACK HOME
WITH ALEX AND I, NINE MONTHS, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS LATER.
SO WE WERE LAUNCHING ON A NORMAL ROTATIONAL MISSION TO THE STATION.
AND PLANNING TO DO OUR SIX-MONTH LONG-DURATION MISSION.
AND JOB ONE, AS SOON AS WE OPENED THAT HATCH,
WAS INTEGRATING BUTCH AND SUNI INTO THE CREW-9 CREW
AND THEN CONTINUING TO DO THAT RESEARCH MISSION.
[DERROL NAIL] THERE YOU ARE LIFTING OFF.
[NICK HAGUE] I GOTTA SAY THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE WEATHER TODAY IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS BACK THEN.
WE HAD A HURRICANE BLOW THROUGH A DAY OR SO BEFORE,
AND THEN THERE WAS A WINDOW AND A LITTLE HOLE IN THE WEATHER,
AND WE SHOT THROUGH IT.
I THINK THEY'VE GOT A BETTER WEATHER TODAY.
[DERROL NAIL] THERE YOU ARE WITH YOUR FULL CREW OF FOUR
ON THE WAY BACK HOME.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU CAN SEE BUTCH IN THE FAR FIELD THERE.
SUNI'S JUST OFF THE CAMERA CLOSE TO US. AND…
YEAH, COMING HOME.
[DERROL NAIL] A VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSION, CREW-9,
BRINGING BACK HOME BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS.
I IMAGINE, DID YOU HAVE TO KIND OF WRANGLE SUNI OUT OF THAT SPACE STATION?
-SHE LOVES BEING IN SPACE. [LAUGHS] -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING] YOU KNOW…
I THINK IT'S UNIVERSAL.
I MEAN, YOU WANNA GET HOME TO SEE YOUR FAMILY
AFTER BEING GONE FOR THAT LONG.
YOU WANNA GET BACK TO SOME OF THE THINGS YOU MISS
ABOUT BEING ON EARTH. BUT YOU'RE ALSO SAD.
SAD TO CLOSE THE HATCH
AND TO LEAVE THAT THAT ENVIRONMENT UP THERE THAT'S JUST SO SPECIAL,
YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GONNA GET BACK
IF YOU'RE EVER GONNA GET BACK
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S FUTURE IS… [SLIGHTLY CHUCKLING] YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND IT IS JUST SO…
IT JUST HAS SUCH A HUGE EFFECT…
ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU KNOW, AND YOU BRING THAT BACK. AND SO…
MISSING OUT ON BEING ABLE TO FLOAT AROUND OR LOOK OUT THE WINDOW OR, YOU KNOW,
IN SOME RESPECTS, SEE ALL OF MY, YOU KNOW, MY CREWMATES.
SO I HAVEN'T SEEN ALEX SINCE RIGHT AFTER LANDING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ALEKSEY AND OLEG SINCE THE STATION,
AND SO YOU FEEL THIS SENSE OF TIME PASSING AND THE MOMENT ENDING.
[DERROL NAIL] WE ARE T-MINUS TWO HOURS AND TEN MINUTES UNTIL LIFTOFF OF CREW-11,
NASA AND SPACEX'S ROTATIONAL MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IN A LITTLE LESS THAN AN HOUR, WE ARE GOING TO EXPAND COVERAGE
WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM SPACEX JOINING OUR LAUNCH BROADCAST.
AND WE'LL COME UP ON CAMERA SO YOU CAN SEE US,
SEE NICK LIVE IN THE FLESH HERE
AS HE STEPS US THROUGH THE OPERATIONS TODAY
ALL THE WAY TO LIFTOFF AND INTO ORBIT.
A NOTE ABOUT THE WEATHER.
THE LAUNCH TEAM
AND THE LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER ARE DISCUSSING CONDITIONS
BOTH HERE AND ALONG THE ASCENT CORRIDOR.
WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE PICKING UP.
AROUND 14 KNOTS AND THEN PEAKING TO 18 KNOTS AT LAUNCH TIME.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO EVALUATE CLOSELY.
THE WINDS HAVE TO BE WITHIN A CERTAIN RANGE
BEFORE THEY'LL GO FORWARD WITH PROP LOAD,
WHICH OF COURSE IS A VERY CAREFUL AND DELICATE OPERATION.
IT'S AUTOMATED FOR SPACEX,
BUT WHEN YOU START LOADING A ROCKET WITH PROPELLANT,
A LOT OF CARE HAS TO BE GIVEN TO EXTERNAL INFLUENCES LIKE THE WEATHER.
[CORE] DRAGON SPACEX, WE'RE COMMENCING HEALTH CHECK
FOR LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
YOU CAN EXPECT A MOMENTARY FLIGHT COMPUTER STATE CHANGE
FOLLOWED BY TRANSITION BACK TO PAD HATCH CLOSED.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPY.
[NICK HAGUE] AND SO YOU MENTIONED THE WEATHER
AND IT GETS RIGHT TO THE POINT THAT THEY'RE MAKING HERE IS
THE WEATHER'S GOTTA BE GOOD
SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM CAN BE USED
SO WE CAN ARM THAT BEFORE WE START LOADING THAT PROPELLANT.
SO AT THE MOMENT WE START LOADING ALL THIS DANGEROUS STUFF ONTO THE ROCKET,
WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CREW HAS GOT A WAY
TO GET OUT OF THERE IN A HEARTBEAT IF THEY NEED TO.
AND ONSHORE WINDS MAY SEEM LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT A BIG DEAL,
BUT IF YOU'RE COMING DOWN UNDER A PARACHUTE ON A CAPSULE
THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO LAND ON LAND,
YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T DRIFT ONTO THE LAND.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY WATCH ALL OF THOSE CONDITIONS.
[DERROL NAIL] CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THOSE WINDS
AND SO THE TEAMS WILL BE EVALUATING THIS AGAIN JUST
BEFORE PROP LOAD OF COURSE THIS IS A FORECAST
THAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW
BUT WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO THE WINDS IN THE MOMENT
THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO LAUNCH
OR GETTING READY TO ARM THE ESCAPE SYSTEM RATHER
AND THEN BLOW PROPS COULD BE DIFFERENT.
SO THAT'S WHY WE WATCH IT IN REAL TIME.
WINDS ARE NOTABLY FICKLE HERE AT THE SPACEPORT
BECAUSE OF WHAT NICK JUST SAID.
THAT SEA BREEZE, IT GETS KICKING UP.
YOU CAN SEE OUR FLAG OUT BY THE LAUNCH CLOCK RIGHT NOW
STARTING TO…
STARTING TO BLOW JUST A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE COUNTDOWN
GOING INTO T-MINUS, 50 MINUTES.
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT THOUGH, ISN'T IT?
[DERROL NAIL] IT IS INDEED.
AND WHAT HAS SHAPED UP TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR LAUNCH SO FAR.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, WE'D LIKE TO…
INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CREW.
CREW-11 GOING INTO SPACE TODAY CONSISTS OF THE COMMANDER,
NASA ASTRONAUT ZENA CARDMAN.
SHE HOLDS A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MARINE SCIENCES, FROM UNC CHAPEL HILL.
CARDMAN HAS EXPERIENCE WITH NASA RESEARCH IN THE CANADIAN HIGH ARCTIC
AND HAS SUPPORTED REAL-TIME STATION OPERATIONS
AND LUNAR SURFACE EXPLORATION PLANNING.
SHE ALSO LIKES ROCK CLIMBING AND POWERLIFTING IN HER FREE TIME.
SHE TRAINED FOR CREW-11 AS THE COMMANDER BUT WAS REASSIGNED TO CREW-11
AND IS NOW THE COMMANDER HERE.
AND SHE HAS,
BY VIRTUE OF ALL THAT TRAINING, A LOT OF TRAINING FOR A FIRST-TIME FLYER.
[NICK HAGUE] SHE IS WELL-PREPARED.
AND YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN WELL-PREPARED FROM DAY ONE.
SHE HAD DONE A BACKUP FLOW PRIOR TO THE CREW-9 ASSIGNMENT.
[DERROL NAIL] OH.
[NICK HAGUE] BUT IT WAS A THRILL TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE,
YOU KNOW, SPEND THE ROUGHLY 18 MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE CREW-9 LAUNCH,
BEING ABLE TO TRAIN SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH HER.
SHE'S A PHENOMENAL CREWMATE AND IS GONNA DO AN AMAZING JOB.
[DERROL NAIL] YOUR CREW-11 PILOT IS NASA ASTRONAUT MICHAEL FINCKE,
A VETERAN OF THREE SPACE FLIGHTS.
FINCKE HAS COMPLETED NINE SPACEWALKS,
TOTALING 48 HOURS AND 37 MINUTES OF EVA TIME,
AND HAS SPENT 382 DAYS IN SPACE.
FINCKE IS A CERTIFIED PILOT FOR BOEING STARLINER
AND SPACEX CREW DRAGON, AS WELL AS A CO-PILOT,
FLIGHT ENGINEER ON SOYUZ,
AND A MISSION SPECIALIST ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
FINCKE ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH HIS FAMILY, TRAVELING, GEOLOGY,
AND LEARNING NEW LANGUAGES.
-UNLIKE YOU, NICK. [LAUGHING] -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] MICHAEL FINCKE LOVES TO LEARN HIMSELF A NEW LANGUAGE.
[NICK HAGUE] WE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT IN THAT REGARD.
NO, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE OPENS UP YOUR APPRECIATION
FOR THEIR CULTURE AND GIVES YOU A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECTS OF TRAINING,
IT'S ALSO BEEN ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING.
[DERROL NAIL] I WANTED SO BADLY TO LEARN A SECOND LANGUAGE.
I STUDIED FRENCH. IT DID NOT STICK.
BUT I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THOSE WHO CAN SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE.
BUT THANK GOODNESS FOR SMARTPHONES AND APPS THAT NOW TRANSLATE FOR YOU.
[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] SO I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING OUT ON LESS.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
[DERROL NAIL] OUR MISSION SPECIALISTS, LET'S GET TO THEM.
JAXA ASTRONAUT KIMIYA YUI IS CREW-11 MISSION SPECIALIST NUMBER ONE
WITH ONE 142 DAYS IN SPACE.
THIS WILL BE YUI'S SECOND TRIP TO THE SPACE STATION.
YUI FLEW AS A FLIGHT ENGINEER
FOR EXPEDITION 44, 45,
AND BECAME THE FIRST JAPANESE ASTRONAUT TO CAPTURE JAXA'S H-II TRANSFER VEHICLE
IN NOVEMBER OF 2016.
YUI WAS ASSIGNED AS CHIEF OF THE JAXA ASTRONAUT GROUP.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND HE HAD TO LEARN ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN
IN ORDER TO FLY TO THE STATION.
SO, I GUESS THIS IS THE NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO GIVE
TO ALL THE KIDS THAT ARE LISTENING. "I WANNA GROW UP AND BE AN ASTRONAUT."
PROBABLY THE ONE THING YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO DO
IS KNOW TWO LANGUAGES OR MORE.
[DERROL NAIL] HMM.
-WELL, THAT TAKES ME OUT. -I SAID KIDS, DERROL.
-[DERROL NAIL] OH, OKAY. -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S STILL A CHANCE?
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] MISSION SPECIALIST NUMBER TWO IS OLEG PLATONOV.
THE CREW-11 MISSION SPECIALIST IS ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT OLEG PLATONOV.
THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
HE GRADUATED FROM THE KRASNODAR HIGHER MILITARY AVIATION SCHOOL OF PILOTS
WITH A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING AND MILITARY RANK OF LIEUTENANT.
HE IS MARRIED WITH ONE CHILD
AND APPARENTLY IS THE COMEDIAN OF THE GROUP.
[NICK HAGUE] I THINK THEY ALL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR.
-[DERROL NAIL] YEAH? -[NICK HAGUE] OH, YEAH.
AND YOU SEE THAT EXPRESSED, YOU KNOW,
EVEN AS THEY WERE JUST MAKING THEIR WAY OUT TO THE PAD AND UP INTO THE CAPSULE.
LOTS OF SMILES, LOTS OF LAUGHTER.
[DERROL NAIL] WE DID SEE THAT
AS THEY WERE COMING ACROSS THE CREW ACCESS ARM EARLIER,
AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE SPACECRAFT.
T-MINUS TWO HOURS AND THREE MINUTES AND COUNTING…
UNTIL LIFT OFF OF CREW-11.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S A LONG WAIT.
NOW THEY'RE STRAPPED IN AND THERE'S NOT MUCH TO DO.
AND SO YOU HAVE TIME TO REFLECT AND THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE…
I GUARANTEE YOU THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS THEY NEED TO DO,
BUT THEY'RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT HELPED THEM GET INTO THAT SEAT.
THE TRAINING TEAMS, THE OPS TEAMS,
EVERYBODY THAT SUPPORTED THEM ALONG THE WAY, THEIR FAMILIES,
THEIR FRIENDS, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN THE SUPPORT NETWORK
TO GET THEM TO THIS DAY.
[DERROL NAIL] AS CREW-11 REFLECTS, WE WANT TO REFLECT ON THEIR DESTINATION,
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY LABS EVER BUILT.
HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK NOW AT HOW SCIENCE HAPPENING UP THERE
AND THEIR DESTINATION IN LOW EARTH ORBIT
IS IMPROVING LIFE FOR ALL OF US DOWN HERE ON EARTH.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
[NARRATOR] THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ISN'T JUST A SYMBOL.
IT'S A POWERHOUSE OF CUTTING-EDGE SCIENCE,
CONSTANTLY REVEALING SECRETS THAT DEFY EARTH'S LIMITATIONS
AND DRIVE US FARTHER INTO THE COSMOS.
OUR MISSION IS RESEARCH AND SCIENCE.
WE HAVE EXPERIMENTS MOUNTED
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE STATION THAT ARE LOOKING AT EARTH.
WE STUDY OUR OWN BODIES AND HOW THEY REACT TO SPACE,
TO WEIGHTLESSNESS, TO RADIATION.
AND THAT HELPS NOT ONLY US GO ON FURTHER IN FUTURE MISSIONS,
BUT ALSO HELPS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH BACK HOME.
AND THEN WE STUDY LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS AS WELL, LIKE MATERIALS, COMBUSTION,
ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT HELP US UNDERSTAND LIFE BACK ON EARTH.
YEAH.
[NARRATOR] MICROGRAVITY DOESN'T PLAY BY THE RULES.
IT FLIPS THEM UPSIDE DOWN, TRANSFORMING HOW LIQUIDS FLOW,
HOW FLAMES BURN,
AND UNRAVELING BIOLOGICAL MYSTERIES BEFORE OUR EYES.
I SAW SOME HEART TISSUES BEATING IN SPACE, AND IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
[FEMALE ASTRONAUT] SO, TONG, WE SEE THAT TOP ONE BEATING.
-LOOKS LIKE HAPPY HEART CELLS. -[MONITOR BEEPING]
[NARRATOR] BUT WE'RE NOT JUST ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
WE'RE EXPLORERS DIVING HEADFIRST INTO THE CHALLENGE
AND HARNESSING THE POWER OF THIS UNPARALLELED PLATFORM,
JUST AS WE HAVE BEEN FOR DECADES.
WE'RE ON A RELENTLESS QUEST FOR ANSWERS,
SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND THE INTRICATE WORKINGS
OF THE HUMAN BODY IN SPACE AND ENSURING FUTURE CREWS STAY SAFE
ON THEIR DARING JOURNEYS BEYOND EARTH'S ORBIT.
THE HUMAN ASPECT OF HUMAN SPACE EXPLORATION
IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR DECADES TO COME.
[NARRATOR] AND WHEN IT COMES TO TECHNOLOGY,
WE'RE NOT WAITING AROUND.
WE'RE DISCOVERING NEW WAYS TO GROW CROPS IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS
AND ENGINEERING INNOVATIONS TO TACKLE EARTH'S GREATEST CHALLENGES.
[JESSICA WATKINS] WE HAVE AMAZING TECHNOLOGY
THAT ALLOWS US TO RECYCLE WATER AND CREATE WATER FOR US TO DRINK.
IT'S DELICIOUS.
[NARRATOR] MICROGRAVITY ISN'T JUST A CURIOSITY,
IT'S A GAME CHANGER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DISEASES BACK ON EARTH,
PAVING THE WAY FOR BREAKTHROUGHS THAT BENEFIT US ALL
AND ENABLING NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES IN SPACE.
[ANDREAS MOGENSEN] WELCOME AXIOM III
ONBOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[NARRATOR] FROM OUR VANTAGE POINT MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED MILES ABOVE EARTH,
WE ARE NOT JUST SPECTATORS.
WE'RE GAINING UNPRECEDENTED INSIGHTS INTO THE WORLD WE CALL HOME,
AND WE'RE SHARING OUR FINDINGS OPENLY.
WE'RE NOT JUST ACHIEVING RESULTS TODAY.
WE'RE SPARKING INSPIRATION IN FUTURE GENERATIONS OF EXPLORERS
AND EMBRACING THE POWER OF GLOBAL COLLABORATION
AS WE REACH FOR THE STARS.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?
TOBY, GREAT QUESTION.
MY FAVORITE EXPERIMENT WAS THE ONE THAT I GOT TO EAT.
IT WAS US GROWING HATCH CHILI PEPPERS IN OUR PLANT HABITAT.
STATION HUNTSVILLE ON TWO. WE HAVE VIDEO IN NODE ONE.
LOOK AT THOSE CHILI PEPPERS.
[NARRATOR] AND AS WE SOAR THROUGH SPACE AT 17,500 MILES PER HOUR
EACH MOMENT IS A STEP CLOSER
TO UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF OUR EARTH, OUR UNIVERSE,
AND PROPELLING OUR PIONEERING SPIRIT EVEN FARTHER INTO SPACE,
SO COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
[DERROL NAIL] NICK, YOU SPENT MORE THAN A YEAR CUMULATIVELY…
-[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM. -…OF TIME
ON THAT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO THE THINGS THAT YOU WORK ON,
WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND AS SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE STUFF?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THERE'S SUCH A VARIETY UP THERE.
GROWING STEM CELLS, DOING GENE EDITING, WORKING WITH MATERIALS,
TRYING TO EXTRUDE FIBER OPTICS OR 3D PRINTING METAL
OR ORGANIC TISSUE, TRYING TO PRINT ORGANS.
GROWING LOTS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD,
WHETHER IT'S TOMATOES OR ALGAE OR LETTUCE,
IT'S SO FUN TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S HARD TO PICK A FAVORITE OUT OF ALL OF THAT.
BUT IT'S FASCINATING.
AND WHAT'S BEEN FUN IS LOOKING FROM 2019 WHEN I DID MY FIRST EXPEDITION
TO THE MOST RECENT EXPEDITION, BEING ABLE TO SEE THE GROWTH
IN COMPLEXITY OF THE SCIENCE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO UP THERE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIRST START DOING THINGS,
YOU'RE LIKE, "I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S GONNA WORK."
AND ONCE WE START TO FIGURE OUT AND ADJUST,
NOW WE'RE ABLE TO START TO REALLY REAP THE REWARDS OF ALL OF THAT EFFORT.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE SCIENCE
THAT'S GOING ABOARD THIS MISSION, THIS IS PRETTY ADVANCED STUFF.
YOU TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, STEM CELLS AND THE EARLY GOING
WHEN YOU WERE WORKING WITH THEM ON STATION.
NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MASS PRODUCE STEM CELLS,
WHICH CAN BE MADE AT A HIGHER QUALITY AND HIGHER YIELD.
IN MICROGRAVITY, THE ENVIRONMENT
THAT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION PROVIDES FOR SCIENTISTS
THAT YOU CAN'T REPLICATE ON THE GROUND.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. AND WE GO THERE TO ASK QUESTIONS
THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO.
AND THEN WHEN WE FIND THAT ANSWER,
IT USUALLY LEADS TO A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.
BUT THAT'S THE NATURE OF DISCOVERY.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF BUILDING KNOWLEDGE.
AND AS WE GAIN THIS KNOWLEDGE, WE START TO IDENTIFY THESE AREAS WHERE,
"HEY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE,"
TO SPACE THAT WILL BRING BENEFIT BACK DOWN TO EARTH FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THEN WE CAN REALLY START TO EXPLOIT THAT.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT IS EXCITING BECAUSE IN THE END
THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR RIGHT IS NOT ONLY TO ADVANCE EXPLORATION GOALS
BUT ALSO TO MAKE LIFE BETTER HERE ON EARTH AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IN ITS 25 YEARS HAS CERTAINLY DONE THAT.
AN UPDATE AS YOU WATCH OUR OPERATIONS HERE.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL AS THE CLOSEOUT CREW IN THE WHITE ROOM
ON TOP OF THE LAUNCH TOWER SEALS UP THE HATCH
TO THE ENDEAVOUR SPACECRAFT.
THAT SIDE HATCH IS HOW THE CREW OF FOUR MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE CAPSULE,
AND NOW IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TEAM THAT YOU SEE HERE
TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT DOOR HAS A GOOD SEAL,
A GOOD TIGHT SEAL, BEFORE IT STARTS TO FLY
HUNDREDS OF MILES PER HOUR, THOUSANDS OF MILES PER HOUR,
AND THEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES PER HOUR. [CHUCKLING]
SO THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT JOB.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU'RE THROUGH THAT HUNDREDS PRETTY FAST.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] WHAT'S THE RIDE LIKE ON THE DRAGON SPECIFICALLY AT LIFTOFF?
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S SMOOTH.
-[DERROL NAIL] YEAH? -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT FEELS SO SMOOTH.
[DERROL NAIL] LIQUID PROPELLANT?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, SO YOU DON'T LIKE…
I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO FLY ON THE SHUTTLE,
BUT THE SHUTTLE WAS ROUGH BECAUSE OF THE SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS.
-[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY SAID. -[NICK HAGUE] YOU DON'T HAVE THAT,
AND THE THRUST LEVEL IS A LITTLE SLOWER HERE,
SO IT ALSO DOESN'T LIKE THROW YOU OFF THE PAD.
IT'S A SLOW ACCELERATION, BUT IT'S A CONSTANT INCREASE
IN THAT ACCELERATION THAT JUST KEEPS GOING TO THE END OF FIRST STAGE.
IT'S JUST SUPER SMOOTH.
AND THEN WHEN THE FIRST STAGE IS DONE, IT SEPARATES,
AND THEN THERE'S FIVE SECONDS OR SO
BEFORE YOU LIGHT THE SECOND STAGE ENGINE,
UPPER STAGE, AND SO YOU'RE WEIGHTLESS.
[DERROL NAIL] UH-HUH.
[NICK HAGUE] AND THAT WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN SOYUZ,
BECAUSE SOYUZ, HOT STAGES,
AND SO YOU NEVER HAVE THAT PERIOD OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.
AND SO THE, YOU KNOW,
YOU SPEND FIVE SECONDS AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OKAY, WE'RE WEIGHTLESS,
I'M READY FOR IT TO LIGHT, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET THERE."
AND THEN IT CONTINUES ON. SO IT'S A SMOOTH RIDE ALL THE WAY UP.
[DERROL NAIL] THE SECOND STAGE IS A KICKER THOUGH, ISN'T IT?
[NICK HAGUE] IT ALL STARTS SLOW.
SO THE G STARTS AND THEN IT SLOWLY RAMPS UP.
SO THERE'S NOT TOO MANY JARRING MOMENTS FLYING ON A DRAGON.
[DERROL NAIL] WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT THE SCIENCE.
LET'S DIVE INTO WHAT CREW-11 WILL BE DOING.
THEY WILL BE BUSY
AT T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND 53 MINUTES UNTIL THEY LIFT OFF TO GET THERE.
WE HAVE TWO ASTRONAUTS AND ONE COSMONAUT INSIDE CREW-11 RIGHT NOW.
INSIDE OF DRAGON ENDEAVOUR, I SHOULD SAY,
ON TOP OF A FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM LAUNCH PAD 39A
HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
THIS CREW, OF COURSE, AS YOU SEE THEM RIGHT HERE,
HEADED TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
TO HELP MAINTAIN THIS VERY SPECIAL ORBITING LAB.
ONCE ON BOARD, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
CREW-11 WILL BECOME MEMBERS OF EXPEDITION SEVENTY-THREE SEVENTY-FOUR.
THEY WILL CONDUCT RESEARCH TO DEVELOP THE PRODUCTION
OF NUTRIENTS IN SPACE, SUCH AS VITAMINS.
THEY WILL ALSO EVALUATE MASS-PRODUCING HUMAN-INDUCED PLURIPOTENT STEM CELLS,
OR IPSCS, TO DEVELOP CELL-BASED THERAPIES FOR DISEASES
SUCH AS CANCER.
AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS.
CREW-11 WILL TEST USING PHASE THERAPY TO TREAT BACTERIAL INFECTIONS.
AND THESE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT,
AND YOU WERE TELLING ME THIS YESTERDAY WHEN WE WERE GOING OVER THE SHOW
AND PREPPING FOR THE SHOW, AND I ASKED YOU,
"IS AN INFECTION OR A CUT WORSE IN SPACE THAN IT IS ON GROUND?"
AND YOU SAID, "YES."
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE SUPPRESSED.
THEY DON'T OPERATE AS EFFICIENTLY IN SPACE AS THEY DO ON THE GROUND.
AND ONE OF THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I WAS A SUBJECT FOR UP THERE,
AND IT'S AN ONGOING EXPERIMENT, IS LOOKING AT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
AND JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY DOES IT GET SUPPRESSED LIKE THAT.
BUT, YEAH, IF YOU CUT YOURSELF AND IT GETS INFECTED UP THERE,
IT TAKES LONGER TO HEAL.
SO, DON'T CUT YOURSELF WHEN YOU'RE IN SPACE.
-[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING]
[DERROL NAIL] I JUST WROTE THAT DOWN AS MY NOTES FOR WHEN I FLY ONE DAY.
-[NICK HAGUE] YES. PRO TIP. -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] PRO TIP.
YEAH, AND IF YOU DO, AND YOU WERE EXPLAINING YESTERDAY,
IF YOU DO CUT YOURSELF,
IT'S NOT LIKE THE BLOOD GOES OUT INTO SPACE.
IT HOLDS TO YOUR FINGER…
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. YEAH, IT DOES. -…BECAUSE OF SURFACE TENSION.
[NICK HAGUE] WATER DOES AMAZING THINGS UP THERE.
-[DERROL NAIL] JUST WEIRD STUFF. -[NICK HAGUE] IF YOU GET WATER, IT FLOATS,
AND WE SEE ALL THESE VIDEOS WHERE IT'S FLOATING AS A BUBBLE
IN FRONT OF THEM, BUT IF YOU PUT YOUR FINGER INTO THAT,
IT JUST KIND OF ADHERES TO THE SURFACE OF YOUR HAND
AND KIND OF CRAWLS ALL UP YOUR ARM.
AND THEN IT'LL STOP AND THEN IT BECOMES BODY TEMPERATURE.
AND THEN YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL THERE'S WATER ON YOUR HAND
BECAUSE THERE'S NO MOTION ASSOCIATED WITH IT
BECAUSE IT'S JUST STUCK IN THAT ONE SPOT. IT DOESN'T EXERT ANY WEIGHT ON YOUR SKIN,
IT'S THE SAME TEMPERATURE. SO, YOU JUST DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.
AND SO, YOU'LL HAVE WATER GLOBS ON YOU
AND JUST NOT NOTICE UNTIL SOMETHING GETS WET.
[DERROL NAIL] OR SOMEBODY SMELLS YOU IF IT'S SWEAT.
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S TRUE. THAT'S TRUE.
IT'S POLITE TO JUST HAND THEM A TOWEL.
-[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING]
[DERROL NAIL] TEAM…
ALL RIGHT. WE'RE COMING UP ON T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND 50 MINUTES.
SO FAR, A SMOOTH COUNTDOWN.
WE SAW CREW-11 AT T-MINUS FOUR HOURS…
GET SUITED UP.
THEY LEFT THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM HERE,
GOT INTO THEIR TESLAS,
RODE OUT TO THE PAD AFTER SAYING GOODBYE TO THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
UNDER SECURITY ESCORT,
DROVE BY THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING ON THE WAY,
WHICH IS HOUSING CURRENTLY A MOON ROCKET SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH OF THAT CREW,
A TEST FLIGHT AROUND THE MOON IN EARLY NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN THEY MADE IT TO THIS LAUNCH PAD, LAUNCH PAD 39A…
WHERE IN A LITTLE UNDER TWO HOURS, THEY WILL LIFT OFF
BOUND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WITH AN INSTANTANEOUS WINDOW
OF 12:09 AND 24 SECONDS P.M. EASTERN TIME.
WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE WEATHER LOCALLY
SHOWING A LOT OF PROMISE AS IT'S A SUNNY DAY,
A VERY HOT JULY DAY HERE IN FLORIDA AS THEY TYPICALLY ARE THIS TIME OF YEAR.
BUT THE WINDS HAVE KICKED UP JUST A BIT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE TEXTURE ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN THERE.
AND THE LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER IS MONITORING WINDS.
EXPECTED TO INCREASE RIGHT AROUND THE T-0.
SO, AS NICK POINTED OUT EARLIER, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT LAUNCH CRITERIA
THAT THEY HAVE TO MONITOR
SO THAT THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM CAN OPERATE PROPERLY.
THAT WOULD TAKE THEM OUT OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
WINDS NEED TO BE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THE RIGHT STRENGTH
IN ORDER FOR THAT SYSTEM TO OPERATE CORRECTLY.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT LAUNCH WEATHER HERE OR RATHER AROUND THE WORLD
ALONG THE ASCENT CORRIDOR…
WHERE THERE ARE AREAS WHERE JUST IN CASE, JUST LIKE YOU, WHEN YOU ABORTED,
THERE WAS AN AREA FOR YOU TO GO ON LAND BECAUSE SOYUZ LANDS ON LAND.
WITH DRAGON, YOU HAVE ABORT LOCATIONS ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD
-AND THEN BEYOND? -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW,
EFFECTIVELY IT'S ALL THE WAY UP THE EAST COAST AND THEN
KIND OF YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU WOULD NEED
BECAUSE YOU'LL BE IN ORBIT AT THAT POINT
ANY FURTHER ON IS JUST OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND.
AND SO WE WATCH THE WEATHER, WE WATCH THE SEA STATES,
WE MAKE SURE THAT IF WE NEEDED TO GO AND PICK UP A CREW
BECAUSE THEY HAD TO ABORT AND THEY LANDED IN ONE OF THOSE ZONES,
THAT THE SEARCH AND RESCUE FORCES WILL BE ABLE TO GET INTO THOSE LOCATIONS,
THAT THE WEATHER'S GOING TO SUPPORT THAT KIND OF OPERATION.
AND SO, WEATHER'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX WHEN IT COMES TO SPACE FLIGHT.
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
AND PREPARE FOR ALL THOSE DIFFERENT CONTINGENCIES.
[DERROL NAIL] WE'VE GOT THE SPLIT SCREEN THERE
WITH CREW-11 ON THE INSIDE.
THAT CAMERA WITH A PROMINENT SHOT OF PILOT MIKE FINCKE'S KNEES, DEAD CENTER.
-[CHUCKLING] -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING]
[DERROL NAIL] BUT THE REST OF THE CREW IS ALSO THERE.
TO MIKE FINCKE'S, TO SCREEN LEFT, IS MISSION SPECIALIST OLEG PLATONOV.
TO FINCKE'S LEFT, TO OUR RIGHT, MOVING RIGHT TO THE TWO POSITIONS,
WOULD BE OUR COMMANDER, ZENA CARDMAN.
AND TO THE FAR, FAR RIGHT, NEXT TO THE WINDOW, IS KIMIYA YUI.
[NICK HAGUE] THERE'S A LOT OF RIGHTS AND LEFTS THERE, DERROL .
-[DERROL NAIL] YEAH. -[NICK HAGUE] WE NEED SOME
-ON-SCREEN GRAPHICS TO MAKE IT… [LAUGHING] -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING]
YES, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT. AND SO, AFTER YOU'RE DONE HERE TODAY,
WE WILL BE DRAFTING YOU INTO OUR PRODUCTION TEAM.
-[NICK HAGUE] OH, OKAY, GREAT. [CHUCKLING] -[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLING]
WE COULD USE THE HELP.
NO, WE'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM THAT DOES A GREAT JOB, BUT…
I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU CAN MAKE OUT BELOW THE CREW CARGO.
-[DERROL NAIL] AH, YES. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO THERE'S
CARGO SUPPLIES FOR THEM,
BUT THERE'S ALSO SCIENCE THAT THEY BRING UP,
AS WELL AS SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT.
SO, THERE'S THREE PALLETS THAT ARE
BELOW THOSE FOUR SEATS THAT ARE CHOCK FULL OF GEAR.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THE RED ONE, THAT'S LIKE FIRST AID KIT, POSSIBLY?
[NICK HAGUE] YOUR RED ONE IS THE LIFE RAFT.
-[DERROL NAIL] LIFE RAFT, OKAY. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
SO, WE SHOWED A CLIP OF THAT IN THE NBL AT THE VERY BEGINNING
WHERE YOU THROW THAT OUT AND THERE'S A BOTTLE.
AS YOU THROW IT, THE ROPE WILL EXTRACT AND THEN EVENTUALLY
PULLS ON A BOTTLE THAT INFLATES IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE CRAWLING INSIDE OF IN THE NBL FOR TRAINING.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT ALSO LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD WATER WINGS. [CHUCKLING]
[NICK [NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING] PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES, YES.
[DERROL NAIL] THEY LOOKED LIKE WATER WINGS TO ME.
[NICK HAGUE] YES. WE TRAINED FOR THAT KIND OF THING.
SO, IT'S A STANDARD YOU HAVE TO MEET TO BE ABLE TO, ALL OF YOU,
GO FROM THIS CONFIGURATION THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW
TO PUT ON THE PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE AND GET OUT OF THE CAPSULE IN 90 SECONDS.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, THEIR DESTINATION WHEN THEY LAUNCH
AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME
IS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OR ISS.
THIS WILL BE COMMEMORATING A SIGNIFICANT ANNIVERSARY
ON NOVEMBER 2ND.
WHEN WE GET TO THAT DATE, WE WILL HAVE HAD 25 YEARS
OF CONTINUOUS HUMAN PRESENCE ABOARD THIS ORBITING LABORATORY.
AND LIFTOFF. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS UNDERWAY.
[NICK HAGUE] WE ARE IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE SPACE STATION RIGHT NOW
IN TERMS OF THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THERE.
[MAN] ONE OF THE GREAT LEGACIES
OF THE SPACE STATION IS NOT JUST GOING TO BE SCIENCE,
BUT VERY IMPORTANTLY, THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION.
THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST PROMINENT INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR EXPLORATION.
[PULSING MUSIC PLAYING]
[NICK HAGUE] FIVE YEARS, EVERY ROUGHLY SIX MONTHS OR SO,
A CREW DOING A ROTATIONAL MISSION WITH A HANDOVER,
AND IT'S BEEN A THRILL TO BE A PART OF THOSE ROTATIONAL MISSIONS.
TO BE ABLE TO JUST WATCH THE EVOLUTION OF SCIENCE
AND SEE HOW WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO REALLY UTILIZE THE LABORATORY
TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THOSE CLOUDS CAME FROM. THEY NEED TO BLOW AWAY.
[CHUCKLING SOFTLY]
SO, THE CREW'S SITTING IN THERE,
T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND FORTY-TWO MINUTES.
THIS IS THE…
THE MOMENT WHERE CREW IS SITTING IN THERE
AND YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT TO DO EXCEPT REFLECT.
THE NEXT BIG EVENTS ARE WHEN YOU ARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM
AT ABOUT 45 MINUTES, T-45. PROP LOAD WILL START ABOUT T-35.
THAT'S WHEN THERE'S ACTIVITY AND YOU START TO BRING IN FOCUS.
NOW, IT'S A TIME-HONORED TRADITION IN SPACEFLIGHT
TO HAVE TO ENDURE LONG MOMENTS OF WAITING
FOR BIG THINGS TO HAPPEN.
THAT'S A BETTER VIEW. I DON'T SEE THE CLOUDS.
AND RIGHT NOW, I'D LIKE TO HAND IT OVER TO MISSION CONTROL.
THE TEAM AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IS TYING IN WITH US.
HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?
[SANDRA JONES] HEY NICK, HEY DERROL, WE'RE DOING GOOD OVER HERE.
THIS IS MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON
IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION'S FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM
AT NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
THE TEAM CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR LAUNCH AND IS BEING LED TODAY
BY FLIGHT DIRECTOR SCOTT STOVER.
TODAY WE WILL BE LAUNCHING THE 11TH ROTATIONAL CREW MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
UNDER THE AGENCY'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
FOLLOWING CREW-11'S ARRIVAL,
THE SPACE STATION WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 11 CREW MEMBERS
REPRESENTED BY THREE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ABOARD FOR JUST A FEW DAYS.
ONCE ONBOARD,
CREW-11 WILL GO OVER A BRIEF HANDOVER PERIOD AND PROCEDURES
WITH THE OFF-GOING CREW-10, INCLUDING A SAFETY BRIEFING
AND ORIENTATION, AND THEN THE NEW CREW WILL JUMP RIGHT IN
TO HELP ADVANCE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND DEMONSTRATE NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
AFTER A FEW DAYS OF HANDOVER ACTIVITIES,
THE MEMBERS OF CREW-10 WILL PREPARE FOR THEIR UNDOCKING
AND RETURN TO EARTH.
DIRECT HANDOVERS BETWEEN CREWS ALLOW FOR CONTINUITY
OF THE ACTIVITIES AND HELPS TO ENSURE A CONTINUOUS
U.S. PRESENCE ON THE SPACE STATION, WHICH IS ABOUT TO CELEBRATE 25 FIVE YEARS
OF CONTINUOUS PRESENCE IN NOVEMBER. AHEAD OF CREW-10'S RETURN,
JAXA ASTRONAUT TAKUYA ONISHI WILL TURN OVER COMMAND
OF THE SPACE STATION TO ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT SERGEY RYZHIKOV.
THE SPACE STATION IS CURRENTLY IN EXPEDITION 73.
AND IN THE FALL, NASA ASTRONAUT CHRIS WILLIAMS
AND ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT SERGEY KUDZFURCHKIN
AND SERGEI MIKHEYEV WILL JOIN THE ON-ORBIT CREW.
SHORTLY AFTER, THE DEPARTURE OF THE SOYUZ MS-27
WITH NASA ASTRONAUT JONNY KIM COMING HOME WILL MARK THE COMMENCEMENT
OF EXPEDITION 74,
WHICH WILL BE LED BY THE NEW COMMANDER, MIKE FINCKE.
ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, COMING UP AFTER TODAY'S LAUNCH.
WE CONTINUE WITH THE COUNTDOWN, AND WITH UNDER TWO HOURS BEFORE LAUNCH,
WE'LL SEND IT BACK OVER TO THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
DERROL AND NICK.
[DERROL NAIL] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SANDRA.
BACK HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND THIRTY-EIGHT MINUTES AND COUNTING
UNTIL LIFTOFF OF CREW-11 ABOARD A FALCON 9 ROCKET.
THE SPACECRAFT, THE SPACECRAFT ENDEAVOUR, THE FLIGHT LEADER CURRENTLY
IN THE FLEET OF DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
IT IS A LOVELY DAY HERE IN FLORIDA.
YOU'RE LOOKING UP IN THE SKIES NOW, AND AS TYPICAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR,
STARTING TO GET A LITTLE CUMULUS CLOUDS FORMING
AS THE COOL SEA BREEZE MAKES ITS WAY OVER LAND,
ENCOUNTERING THE WARM AIR HERE IN FLORIDA. HOT AND HUMID AIR.
SO, WE ARE EXPECTING TO GET A FEW CUMULUS CLOUDS,
THAT WAS A MINOR CONCERN FOR WEATHER. WE ARE STILL A 90 PERCENT GO,
BUT THAT TEN PERCENT WAS FOR CUMULUS CLOUDS,
AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THEM FORMING IN OUR SHOTS AROUND THE PAD.
BUT WE'RE NOT EXPECTING THAT TO BE…
CLUMPED OVER TOP OF THE PAD AT T-0, SO WE'RE STILL 90 PERCENT GO.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS CREW-11 DID, THEY CAME TOGETHER AS A TEAM…
AND THEY DESIGNED THIS PATCH THAT YOU SEE HERE.
THIS IS A TRADITION FOR ALL SPACEFLIGHT MISSIONS,
HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT MISSIONS, AND SCIENCE MISSIONS.
YOU DESIGN A MISSION PATCH.
AND THIS IS THE ONE FOR CREW-11.
THE COLORS OF THIS PATCH CELEBRATING THE THREE NATIONS THEY REPRESENT…
AND THE THREE STARS THAT YOU SEE THERE…
THE ONES WITH THE STARBURST…
THEY HONOR THEIR SPACE AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER, THE THREE OF THEM,
NASA, ROSCOSMOS, AND JAXA.
THE TWO SUNBEAMS THAT YOU SEE COMING FROM THE UPPER RIGHT SHINING DOWN,
WELL, THEY MAKE THE NUMBER 11, SHINING ON A TINY BLUE DOT,
OUR HOME ON EARTH. THE DRAGON LOOKS ON,
OF COURSE, A NOD TO BOTH THE SPACECRAFT AND THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION,
WHILE A RED FLAME WRAPS AROUND IT ALL,
SYMBOLIZING THE FULL JOURNEY, LAUNCH, LIFE IN SPACE,
AND A SAFE RETURN HOME. AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY,
YOU CAN SEE A TRIBUTE TO THEIR CHILDREN\ IN THE STARS.
THIS IS A REMINDER THAT THE MISSIONS LIKE THIS,
AS WE KNOW, WE GOT THE QUESTION FROM EIGHT-YEAR-OLD KNOX EARLIER,
THEY HELP TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION.
APPRECIATE ALL THOSE YOUNG FOLKS WHO GET THE BUG FOR SPACE KNOWLEDGE
AND TO LEARN ABOUT SPACE AND EXPLORATION, WHICH REQUIRES A GOOD FOUNDATION
IN STEM, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT ALL STARTS WITH EDUCATION.
I THINK KIDS GROW UP, CHILDREN GROW UP INHERENTLY CURIOUS.
I MEAN, WE ALL HAVE, WE'VE BEEN THERE AND WE'VE ASKED WHY,
AND WE'VE ALL BEEN IN THE POSITION WHERE WE'VE HAD,
YOU KNOW, SOMEONE SIT THERE AND JUST CONTINUE TO ASK WHY, WHY, WHY.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING ON THE STATION
WITH ALL OF OUR RESEARCH, ALL OF OUR EXPLORATION.
WE'RE ASKING THE QUESTION WHY IN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS
AND TRYING TO FIND THE ANSWERS.
-WE'RE JUST WIRED THAT WAY. -[DERROL NAIL] HMM.
IT IS SO TRUE.
AND SPEAKING OF KIDS, KIDS ARE ON THE MIND OF SOME OF OUR CREW MEMBERS.
TALKING ABOUT OLEG PLATONOV.
HE HAS A CHILD WHOSE TOY HE IS BRINGING ABOARD
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, TAKING ONE OF HIS KIDS' TOYS
SO THAT IT WILL BE A SPACE FLIGHT FLOWN TOY…
-[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM. -…WHEN IT COMES BACK DOWN TO EARTH,
ALONG, OF COURSE, WITH PICTURES AND SOME OTHER ARTIFACTS.
BUT EACH ONE OF THE CREW MEMBERS GETS TO TAKE SOMETHING UP,
-AND THAT'S WHAT OLEG'S TAKING. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
SO, I HOPE IT'S NOT HIS KID'S FAVORITE TOY.
-[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING]
BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO BE WITHOUT IT FOR A WHILE.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT MIGHT CAUSE MORE OF A PROBLEM ON EARTH.
[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING]
BUT IT'S SOMETHING ABSOLUTELY THAT OLEG'S CHILD'S GONNA
JUST CHERISH THE REST OF HIS LIFE.
AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING UP LITTLE THINGS
TO BE ABLE TO GIVE AS MEMENTOS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS HUGE.
[DERROL NAIL] OLEG'S FELLOW MISSION SPECIALIST, KIMIYA YUI,
WELL, HE'S BRINGING A LOT OF PICTURES OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES.
AND ONE OF THE PICTURES HE'S GOING TO TAKE UP,
HE'S GOING TO THEN GIVE BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE HIM THE PHOTOS.
SO, THAT'S A TOUCHING THING.
WE TALKED EARLIER IN THE SHOW ABOUT WHAT MIKE FINCKE IS BRINGING UP.
HE'S BRINGING UP A GAMOSA FROM THE STATE OF ASSAM.
HE, OF COURSE, SAID IN A PRESS CONFERENCE RECENTLY,
HE'S BEEN MARRIED 25 AND A HALF YEARS…
TO A WIFE, HIS WIFE OF INDIAN ORIGIN.
AND THE GAMOSA IS A SILK SCARF THAT CARRIES WITH IT THE BLESSINGS
FOR HIS TRIP TO THE ISS FROM HER SIDE OF THE FAMILY.
AND HE'S TAKEN ONE NOT ONLY ON THIS MISSION,
BUT HE'S TAKEN THAT GAMOSA
ON ALL THREE OF HIS PREVIOUS MISSIONS AS WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. GOOD LUCK CHARM. I'D STICK WITH IT.
-IT'S WORKING WELL FOR HIM. [CHUCKLING] -[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLING] THAT'S RIGHT.
WHATEVER YOU TOOK ON YOUR FIRST FLIGHT,
I HOPE YOU PUT SOMEWHERE, BURIED SOMEWHERE.
[CHUCKLING] NO, JUST KIDDING.
[NICK HAGUE] SO, I USED THE SAME ZERO-G INDICATOR ON ALL THREE FLIGHTS.
-[DERROL NAIL] DID YOU? -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
-[DERROL NAIL] YOU'RE LIKE… -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING]
[DERROL NAIL] YOU'RE LIKE, "NO, I'M NOT BUYING ANY OF THIS LUCK STUFF."
YOU'RE LIKE, "LET'S STICK WITH WHAT WORKS."
[NICK HAGUE] I TRUST THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S A GREAT ANSWER.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, FINALLY, ZENA, OUR COMMANDER,
SHE'S, OF COURSE, TAKING, LIKE THE REST, PHOTOGRAPHS OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
BUT BECAUSE OF HER PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT TO CREW-9,
THE MISSION THAT YOU ENDED UP COMMANDING, HER STUFF WENT UP EARLY.
AND… ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE IS TAKING UP AND SHARED
WITH THE PUBLIC WAS THAT SHE HAS SOME CARDS THAT WERE WRITTEN
BY HER LATE FATHER THAT SHE INCLUDED IN CREW-9.
BUT NOW WE'RE COMING UP ON ANNIVERSARIES AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME
THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN WITH HER.
AND SHE GETS TO NOW SEE THOSE CARDS AGAIN WHEN SHE ARRIVES
-AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
IT'S TRULY TOUCHING. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS…
ONCE ALEX AND I GOT TO THE STATION, BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE GOT THAT STUFF SET ASIDE AND READY FOR HER,
KNOWING THAT SHE WAS GOING TO COME IN TRAIL.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SPECIAL MOMENT FOR HER.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S RIGHT. YOU ACTUALLY HAD HER STUFF PUT INTO PLACE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. PACKAGED IT ALL UP. YEAH.
SHE MAY EVEN HAVE A BIRTHDAY GIFT UP THERE WAITING FOR HER, WHO KNOWS?
-[DERROL NAIL] WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL. -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING]
[DERROL NAIL] TEASER.
-WHAT IS IT? [LAUGHING] -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHING]
NICE TRY.
[DERROL NAIL] WELL…
IT'LL BE UP TO HER ON WHETHER SHE SHARES OR NOT, BUT WE'LL STAY TUNED.
-WE WILL STAY TUNED. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
THOSE THINGS SHOW YOU THAT IT IS A VERY HUMAN ENDEAVOR.
WE'RE NOT JUST LAUNCHING SATELLITES INTO SPACE.
THERE'S THIS EXPLORATION ASPECT, BUT THERE'S THIS LAYER OF HUMANITY
OVER THE TOP OF IT THAT'S SO IMPORTANT,
AND ALL OF THESE LITTLE GESTURES JUST BRING THAT TO LIGHT.
[DERROL NAIL] WE ARE CURRENTLY ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES
UNTIL LIFTOFF OF DRAGON,
FLYING CREW-11 TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THERE YOU SEE ENDEAVOUR, THE CAPSULE AT THE VERY TOP.
SIXTH FLIGHT TODAY FOR THAT CAPSULE,
THE NUMBER OF HISTORIC FLIGHTS THAT IT HAS UNDER ITS BELT,
BEGINNING WITH DEMO-2 AND THEN GOING ON TO CREW-2,
AXIOM-1, CREW-4, CREW-8.
LONG HISTORY WITH CCP, THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM,
WHICH HAS A FOND PLACE IN THE HEARTS OF THE FOLKS
WHO WORK FOR CCP FOR THIS SPACECRAFT.
SPENT A LOT OF TIME REVIEWING DATA AND EXAMINING IT,
GETTING IT READY FOR EACH FLIGHT THAT IT FLEW FOR NASA.
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S A WORKHORSE.
[DERROL NAIL] IT IS. AND AS YOU KNOW, SPACEFLIGHT IS HARD ON EQUIPMENT.
SO THOSE CHECKS AND EXAMINATION OF THE DATA
AND LOOKING OVER THE CRITICAL SYSTEMS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF MAKING SURE
THAT THAT CAPSULE CAN CONTINUE ON. IT'S CURRENTLY AT ITS SIXTH FLIGHT,
BUT THESE SPACECRAFT WERE ONLY CERTIFIED FOR FIVE.
CCP DID A RECERTIFICATION, MOVING IT UP TO SIX FLIGHTS.
ULTIMATELY, SPACEX WOULD LIKE TO FLY THESE CAPSULES 15 TIMES.
AND THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE READY FOR 15 TIMES REUSE.
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING AND LOOKING OVER THE DATA
TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH MORE OF THE SYSTEMS NEED TO BE REVIEWED
IN ORDER TO CERTIFY IT FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS.
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY IT.
THAT'S THE GOAL HERE IS TO MAKE THESE SPACECRAFT AND ROCKETS REUSABLE,
BRINGING DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY THE COST OF SPACEFLIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND HOPEFULLY OPENING SPACE UP TO SO MANY MORE.
[DERROL NAIL] AS WE WAIT FOR THE UPCOMING JOINER,
LESS THAN 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM JOINING OUR FRIENDS WITH SPACEX
AS THEY WILL CONTINUE ON WITH US IN OUR LAUNCH COVERAGE.
WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY UP ON CAMERA. WE'LL TURN OUR CAMERAS ON,
THEY'LL TURN THEIRS ON AND…
WE'LL GET TO SEE EVERYBODY FROM OUR LOCATIONS…
AROUND THE UNITED STATES,
BOTH HERE IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE,
IN PARTICULAR WHAT CREW-11 IS GOING TO BE WORKING ON.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THEY'RE FACING IS HOW DO YOU GROW VITAMINS IN SPACE
OR EVEN USE VIRUSES TO HELP FIGHT BACTERIA ON A SPACECRAFT?
WELL, FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF,
CREW-11 HAS BEEN TRAINING TO SUPPORT CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH
LIKE THIS ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
FIRST UP, BIONUTRIENTS THREE.
THE STUDY IS LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE ESSENTIAL VITAMINS AND NUTRIENTS IN SPACE
SO ASTRONAUTS CAN STAY HEALTHY ON LONG MISSIONS.
THEY'LL BE TESTING SAMPLES LIKE YOGURT, KEFIR,
AND A YEAST-BASED DRINK TO SEE HOW WELL THEY WORK IN MICROGRAVITY.
NEXT UP IS STEM CELL X, IP-I, WHICH USES SPACE TO GROW STEM CELLS.
THESE STEM CELLS CAN TURN INTO ANY TYPE OF CELL IN THE BODY
AND COULD ONE DAY HELP TREAT DISEASES LIKE CANCER.
GROWING THEM IN MICROGRAVITY MAY PRODUCE MORE VOLUMES OF CELLS,
MASS PRODUCING THEM,
AND BETTER ONES THAN WE CAN MAKE ON EARTH.
AND THEN THERE'S GENES IN SPACE-12. IT'S TESTING PHASE THERAPY,
WHICH USES VIRUSES THAT COULD TARGET AND KILL BACTERIA.
IT COULD BE A POWERFUL ALTERNATIVE TO ANTIBIOTICS,
ESPECIALLY IN SPACE WHERE INFECTIONS CAN BECOME HARDER TO TREAT.
SOME REALLY FASCINATING RESEARCH HAPPENING ON BOARD STATION.
IN ADDITION TO THE HUMAN RESEARCH SIDE OF THINGS,
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER,
EACH ONE OF THESE ASTRONAUTS WILL BE STUDIED,
MANY OF THEIR BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS AND THEIR, OF COURSE,
BIOLOGICAL DATA WILL BE STUDIED AS THEIR TIME COMES TO A CLOSE
IN SPACE AND STUDIED AFTERWARDS, STUDIED DURING, STUDIED AFTERWARDS,
AND POSSIBLY IT BEING AN EIGHT-MONTH MISSION.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AS CREW MEMBERS
TO VOLUNTEER TO BE A HUMAN TEST SUBJECT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTS
THAT ARE FOCUSED ON HOW DOES MICROGRAVITY
AND THE SPACE ENVIRONMENT, THE HIGH RADIATION ENVIRONMENT,
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY?
AND IT RUNS THE GAMUT FROM JUST…
MUSCLE AND BONE HEALTH ALL THE WAY DOWN TO GENETIC STRUCTURE
AND HOW THAT CHANGES
OR HOW OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS MIGHT BE SUPPRESSED…
AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS
AND WE'RE STILL LEARNING.
[DERROL NAIL] SPACE IS HARD ON THE HUMAN BODY, IS IT NOT?
[NICK HAGUE] IT IS.
BUT THE BODY IS SO AMAZING IN HOW IT ADAPTS.
IT IS CONSTANTLY RESPONDING TO THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US.
AND WE DON'T REALLY SEE THAT ON EARTH
BECAUSE THE CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND US
AREN'T DRAMATIC ENOUGH.
BUT WHEN YOU PULL US OUT OF EARTH AND PUT US INTO SPACE,
THAT DRAMATIC CHANGE,
YOU GET TO WATCH YOUR BODY RESPOND TO ALL OF THAT,
WHETHER IT'S SPINAL GROWTH AND STRAIGHTENING
THAT CAUSES YOU TO GROW A LITTLE BIT TALLER.
WHETHER IT'S THE FLUID SHIFT AND THE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION
WITHIN YOUR VASCULAR SYSTEM IS MORE BALANCED
AND YOU FEEL THAT IN YOUR HEAD.
IT GOES EVEN TO THE WAY YOU PERCEIVE THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND YOU
AND YOUR MENTAL PREDICTIONS OF HOW THINGS BEHAVE.
YOU START TO PREDICT AND THINK IN WEIGHTLESSNESS.
ALL OF THAT ADAPTS. AND YOU'VE GOT A FRONT ROW SEAT FOR IT.
-SO, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. -[DERROL NAIL] LITERALLY.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING]
EXPERIENCING THE CHANGES HAPPENING WITHIN YOUR OWN BODY,
JESSICA MEIR SAYS SHE CAME BACK AND SHE COULD ACTUALLY SEE BETTER
THAN SHE DID BEFORE BECAUSE OF THAT
THE PRESSURE OF MICROGRAVITY EXERTING DIFFERENTLY
ON HER EYEBALL THAN IT DOES
UNDER BEING BACK ON THE EARTH WITH REGULAR GRAVITY.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT SOURCE
OF WHY THOSE CHANGES IN VISION HAPPEN,
WHY THE CHANGES IN OUR EYES OCCUR.
I WISH I HAD HER PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW I'M WEARING GLASSES…
-[LAUGHING] …AS A RESULT OF THAT. -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING]
-SO, IT CAN GO BOTH WAYS. -[NICK HAGUE] IT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] OKAY. AND WHO KNOWS, NICK,
YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN BOUND FOR GLASSES ANYWAY, NO?
[NICK HAGUE] WELL, I MEAN, EVERYBODY IS AT SOME POINT.
-[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLING]
YOU JUST CALLED ME OLD. IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED?
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING] IT WAS VERY SUBTLE.
-YOU DID CATCH IT, THOUGH. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, I DID.
[DERROL NAIL] T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND 23 MINUTES.
I'M DERROL NAIL WITH NASA COMMUNICATIONS,
AND I'M JOINED BY NICK HAGUE, NASA ASTRONAUT
AND BRIGADIER GENERAL WITH THE SPACE FORCE.
WE HAVE SOCIAL QUESTIONS.
KEEP THEM COMING. WE'VE HAD SOME GREAT ONES SO FAR.
JUST USE THE HASHTAG "#ASKNASA" AND SEND US THOSE QUESTIONS ON FACEBOOK,
X, YOUTUBE, AND TWITCH.
WE'VE GOT A PERSON WHO'S MONITORING OUR SOCIAL FEEDS RIGHT NOW
LOOKING FOR GREAT QUESTIONS. AND HERE'S ONE FROM JOSHUA R. COLLINS.
"DOES THE WHOLE CREW HAVE THE SAME DOCTOR
OR DOES EACH CREW MEMBER HAVE THEIR OWN?"
IS IT THEIR REGULAR PERSONAL DOCTOR OR A NASA MEDICAL TEAM DOCTOR?
[NICK HAGUE] SO, EACH SPACE AGENCY PROVIDES A MEDICAL TEAM
TO SUPPORT THEIR ASTRONAUTS OR COSMONAUTS.
SO, YOU'LL… FOR CREW-11 IN PARTICULAR, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
A NASA FLIGHT DOC TEAM OF A SURGEON, A FLIGHT SURGEON,
PRIMARY AND DEPUTY, THAT WILL SUPPORT ZENA AND MIKE.
AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SEPARATE MEDICAL TEAMS
SUPPORTING KIMYA AND THEN A ROSCOSMOS TEAM SUPPORTING OLEG.
THOSE, YOU KNOW, IN THE NASA,
IF I LOOK AT HOW NASA SUPPORTS US WITH MEDICAL,
THE PERSONAL DOCTOR IS YOUR FLIGHT DOCTOR.
AND SO THE PERSON THAT SEES YOU DAY TO DAY FOR THE YEARS
LEADING UP TO YOUR MISSION IS THE SAME PERSON
THAT IS SUPPORTING YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR MISSION,
AND THEN AFTER YOUR MISSION WHEN YOU'RE REHABILITATING
AND THEN BEYOND.
AND SO THAT FLIGHT MEDICINE TEAM IS ONE OF THOSE KEY RELATIONSHIPS
THAT YOU DEVELOP ONCE YOU JOIN THE ASTRONAUT CORPS.
[DERROL NAIL] A FLIGHT SURGEON FOR EACH SPACE AGENCY.
AND THEY GO WITH THEM UNTIL THEY GET TO THE PAD.
AND THEN THEY BREAK OFF. THEY'RE STANDING NOT TOO FAR AWAY,
JUST IN CASE THEY ARE NEEDED FOR ANY REASON.
BUT THOSE… EXACTLY AS YOU SAID, THOSE FLIGHT SURGEONS STANDING BY.
GIVE YOU A COUPLE UPCOMING MILESTONES.
T-MINUS 47 MINUTES, WE'RE GOING TO GET AN LD BRIEF.
THAT'S FROM THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR AT SPACEX,
AND WE'RE MONITORING WEATHER CONDITIONS ALONG THE ABORT CORRIDOR,
ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON THE WINDS HERE LOCALLY.
THEY'VE PICKED UP A LITTLE MORE THAN WERE INITIALLY FORECAST
AT T-MINUS ONE HOUR, JUST ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM NOW
THE CLOSEOUT TEAM WILL DEPART THE PAD.
THAT WAS THE TEAM THAT WAS GETTING THE CREW ALL READY
INSIDE THE SPACECRAFT AND THEN SEALED UP THE HATCH.
THEY WILL DEPART, IT'LL JUST BE THE CREW OUT THERE ON THE PAD.
IT'LL BE THEM
AND DRAGON ENDEAVOUR THAT YOU SEE RIGHT THERE AT THE TOP.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THIS CAPSULE TODAY.
IT'S TAKING ITS SIXTH SPACE FLIGHT.
SINCE ITS FIRST FLIGHT IN 2020 FOR DEMO-2,
SPACEX'S ENDEAVOUR DRAGON HAS BEEN A WORKHORSE
FOR NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM, FLYING MISSION AFTER MISSION.
IT HAS SAFELY CARRIED ASTRONAUTS
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FIVE TIMES.
DEMO-2, CREW-2 IN 2021, AXIOM MISSION ONE IN 2022,
CREW-6 IN 2023, AND CREW-8 IN 2024.
IN ALL, ENDEAVOUR HAS FLOWN NINE NASA ASTRONAUTS,
THREE SPACE TOURISTS, TWO ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUTS,
ONE RETIRED NASA ASTRONAUT, ONE ESA ASTRONAUT,
AND AN ARAB ASTRONAUT FROM THE UAE
TO AND FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
CREW-11 MARKS ENDEAVOUR'S SIXTH MISSION,
THE FLIGHT LEADER TO THE ISS.
AND WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH DANCING FROM CREW-1.
APPARENTLY CHOREOGRAPHED AS WELL… LOOK AT THAT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THEY HAD THEIR ACT TOGETHER.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING]
WHAT CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE MOVES DID YOU DO, NICK?
-DON'T DANCE. YEAH, THAT'S ONE THING… -[DERROL NAIL] "DON'T DANCE?"
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S ONE THING THAT DIDN'T TRANSLATE INTO SPACE.
YEAH, I DON'T DANCE ON EARTH, AND I DIDN'T DANCE IN SPACE.
[DERROL NAIL] BUT YOU CAN DO SOMERSAULTS AND FLIPS AND TWISTS THOUGH.
[NICK HAGUE] YES, ESPECIALLY AS YOU'RE ZIPPING AROUND THAT SPACE STATION.
-I MEAN, IT'S… -[NICK HAGUE] IT'S FUN.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, MAN, IT LOOKS LIKE IT…
[NICK HAGUE] EVERY DREAM YOU HAD AS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD OF FLYING AROUND,
AND YOU GET TO DO THAT EVERY DAY.
[DERROL NAIL] I USED TO DREAM THAT AS A KID SO OFTEN
THAT I COULD JUST FLAP MY ARMS AND FLY. IT WAS A RECURRING DREAM THAT I HAD.
AND SOMETIMES I WOKE UP REALLY ACTUALLY BELIEVING THAT I COULD FLY.
I CAN IMAGINE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE ISS,
YOU WAKE UP AND IT'S LIKE YOU GET TO JUST DO IT AGAIN DAY AFTER DAY.
-IT'S REAL. THAT DREAM IS REAL. -[NICK HAGUE] IT'S YOUR NEW NORMAL.
AND YOU JUST HAVE FUN WITH IT.
YOU FLOAT OVER AND GRAB YOUR DRINK BAG TO REHYDRATE YOUR MORNING COFFEE.
AND YOU CAN DO A BACKFLIP BETWEEN THAT AND THE WATER DISPENSER.
AND YOU JUST PLAY WITH IT. YOU DON'T NEED TO USE UTENSILS TO EAT.
YOU CAN JUST PUT THE FOOD OUT IN THE AIR IN FRONT
OF YOU AND PRETEND LIKE YOU'RE IN AN AQUARIUM.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHING]
[NICK HAGUE] SO, THOSE FLAGS WERE HANGING DEAD FOR A WHILE,
BUT THEY'RE BLOWING AGAIN.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, THAT'S THE BREEZE THAT, UH, THE FORECASTERS LOOKED
AT THE CHARTS AND THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE AROUND THE…
ALL THE INSTRUMENTS THAT WE HAVE AROUND THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
AND, UH, EARLY THIS MORNING FORECAST AN EARLIER KICK UP TO THOSE WINDS.
AND SO, WE'RE SEEING THEM NOW.
THEY'VE GOT A FORECAST FOR 14 KNOTS AROUND LIFTOFF TIME
WITH A PEAK OF 18 KNOTS.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO REEVALUATE THAT,
UH, HERE IN ABOUT 25 MINUTES OR SO.
OF COURSE, WE'LL BE LISTENING IN TO THE LAUNCH COMMUNICATIONS BY THE TEAM,
MAKING SURE WE KEEP YOU UPDATED TO THEIR PROGRESS.
WE HAVE A LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY TODAY AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
BUT IF FOR SOME REASON THE WEATHER DOES NOT WORK OUT,
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THE FOLLOWING DAYS.
TOMORROW ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST, WHERE WE HAVE AN 85% GO FOR WEATHER
WITH THE ONLY CONCERN BEING POTENTIAL CUMULUS CLOUDS
LIKE WE'RE SEEING TODAY.
THE ONLY THING THERE IS THAT THE ASCENT CORRIDOR GOES UP
IN TERMS OF ITS RISK.
BECAUSE THERE IS A TROUGH OF DISTURBED WEATHER COMING
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WILL BE OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC BY THEN.
SO, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'LL HAVE TO MONITOR.
THAT'S WHY TODAY IS SUCH A PERFECT SPOT BECAUSE THAT IS LOW RIGHT NOW.
THAT, UH, POTENTIAL CONCERN IS AT A VERY LOW STATE.
SO, FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE, UH, CONTINUE TO HAVE GREEN CONDITIONS.
WE'RE GREEN AT THE MOMENT, AND THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
WE'RE T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES UNTIL THE LIFTOFF OF CREW-11
ON A FALCON 9 ROCKET TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE OR STREAMING,
WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US
AS WE GET READY TO LAUNCH FOUR HUMANS TO SPACE
FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
CREW-11 WILL BE THE LATEST CREW TO FLY AS PART OF NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM,
WHICH USES PRIVATE COMPANIES TO TRANSPORT PEOPLE
TO AND FROM THE ORBITING LAB FROM U.S. SOIL.
THOSE PEOPLE, NASA ASTRONAUTS,
LIKE THE ONE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME RIGHT NOW, NICK HAGUE.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT COUNTDOWN SO FAR. WEATHER IS 90% GO.
GOT THE EXCITEMENT PICKING UP AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO OUR T-ZERO.
AT THIS POINT, NICK, THE CREW HAS HAD, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER,
A LOT OF TIME TO REFLECT.
BUT THE ACTIVITY IS GOING TO START PICKING UP.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING, IT'S AN INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW.
AND SO, YOU HAVE TO START BACKING UP FROM THAT
OF THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
AND… AND THE BIG ONE IS, RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SITTING ON A ROCKET THAT'S EMPTY.
SO, THEY'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE
UNLESS THEY PUT SOME, UH, PUT SOME JUICE IN THE ROCKET.
SO, THAT'S GOING TO START AROUND THE T-MINUS 35 TIMEFRAME.
AND BEFORE WE START TO LOAD ALL OF THAT, UH, THOSE EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS ARMED.
AND… AND SO WE'LL GO THROUGH A DEBRIEF PRIOR TO THAT
TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S GOOD, THEN WE'LL ARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM
AND THEN START WITH THAT PROP LOAD.
SO, THERE'S SOME BIG THINGS AND… AND AS YOU'RE SITTING THERE,
THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION,
YOU UNDERSTAND HOW ONCE THEY MAKE THE DECISION TO GO,
ONCE WE LAUNCH THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE OR ARM THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM,
YOU'RE ON A LIVE ROCKET.
AND IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, THE SYSTEM CAN MAKE A DECISION
THAT IT'S GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY PULL YOU TO SAFETY.
UM… AND IT'S DESIGNED TO DO THAT. YOU WANT IT TO DO THAT.
[CHUCKLES] BUT YOU ALSO REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, IN… IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND,
YOU COULD… COULD BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT SITUATION
-THAN YOU ARE RIGHT THERE. -[DERROL NAIL] YOU WOULD KNOW THAT WELL
AS, UH, YOUR MISSION, UH, HAD AN IN-FLIGHT ABOARD IN 2018
WHILE FLYING SOYUZ MS-10.
BUT THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM WORKED PERFECTLY AND BROUGHT YOU
AND YOUR CREWMATE DOWN SAFELY TO GROUND,
UH, TO YOUR FAMILY AND, UH, YOU DUSTED OFF YOUR BOOTS,
GOT BACK ON FIVE MONTHS LATER AND SUCCESSFULLY GOT INTO SPACE ON MS-12.
SO, THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS… IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT
TO A SUCCESSFUL MISSION.
[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY. AND WE TEST THEM RIGOROUSLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, SPACEX DID AN IN-FLIGHT ABORT TEST.
UH, THEY'VE DONE, UH, PAD ABORT TESTS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE… THEY'VE SHAKEN THIS SYSTEM OUT
TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU NEED IT, IT'LL BE THERE FOR YOU.
[DERROL NAIL] THIS WILL BE A 38.8-HOUR TRANSIT
FROM THE GROUND HERE AT KENNEDY
TO DOCKING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SO, THE CREW THAT YOU SEE THERE…
I HOPE THEY HAVE SOME…
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. [LAUGHS] -…AUDIOBOOKS AND SOME MOVIES.
-[NICK HAGUE] WELL, THERE'S AN-- -[DERROL NAIL] BECAUSE THAT'S A LONG TIME.
[NICK HAGUE] THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
THERE ARE TWO WINDOWS AND THERE'S A HECK OF A VIEW OUT THERE.
-UM… -[DERROL NAIL] NO DOUBT.
[NICK HAGUE] AND, UH, YOU KNOW,
BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND 40 HOURS STRAPPED INTO SEATS LIKE THAT.
AFTER THEY GET INTO… INTO ORBIT, UH, ONCE THE NOSE CONE OPENS
AND THEY'RE KIND OF CLEAR OF THE SECOND STAGE, THE UPPER STAGE,
UH, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO UNSTRAP AND TAKE THOSE SUITS OFF.
THEY'LL DRY THEM OUT AND PUT THEM AWAY.
AND THEN THEY'LL BE ESSENTIALLY IN SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRT, UH, PANTS,
AND IT'S A PRETTY COMFORTABLE, SPACIOUS PLACE, UH, UH, TO HANG OUT IN.
AND, UH, THEY'LL BE CAMPING IN DRAGON FOR 40 HOURS UNTIL THEY, UH,
UNTIL THEY GET TO THE STATION.
A FEW HOURS BEFORE THEY GET TO THE STATION,
THEY'LL HAVE TO GET BACK IN THE CONFIGURATION
THAT YOU SEE THEM HERE, UH, DO THEIR LEAK CHECKS WITH THE SUITS.
ALL STUFF VERY SIMILAR TO ACTUALLY GETTING IN THE CAPSULE ON THE LAUNCH PAD.
[DERROL NAIL] IS IT ROOMY IN THERE?
IT DOESN'T LOOK ROOMY FROM THIS SHOT, BUT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DRAG IN
-THAN WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT HERE. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, I… IT IS QUITE ROOMY.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF VOLUME.
AND WHEN YOU'RE IN SPACE, YOU THINK ABOUT FLOATING,
YOU THINK ABOUT VOLUME AND NOT NECESSARILY SURFACE AREA.
AND… AND SO, THE VOLUME YOU DON'T SEE IS ABOVE THE DISPLAYS.
UH, YOU CAN FIT A COUPLE PEOPLE UP IN THE SPACE ON THE TOP OF THE SCREEN
THAT'S OFF SCREEN THAT YOU JUST CAN'T SEE.
AND THEN DOWN BY THE CARGO UNDERNEATH THEIR FEET,
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF SPACE DOWN THERE.
SO, THOSE FOOTRESTS YOU CAN TAKE OFF. UH, KIND OF STUFF THEM UNDER THE SEATS.
IT CREATES THIS NICE BIG VOLUME.
UH, YOU CAN PULL OUT YOUR FOOD AND YOUR DRINKS.
YOU CAN STICK THINGS TO THE WALLS. AND, UH, UH… YOU KNOW?
BUT IT’S LIKE CAMPING IN AN SUV.
UH, THERE'S ROOM, BUT YOU'RE STILL IN AN SUV.
[DERROL NAIL] AND YOU'VE GOT TO COMMUNICATE LIKE, UH,
"HEY, EXCUSE ME, CAN YOU-- CAN I GET OVER THERE OR CAN I GET AROUND YOU?"
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. YOU KNOW, "LET ME PUT UP THE PRIVACY CURTAIN."
-"I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM." [LAUGHS] -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LIVE VIEW OF CREW-11
AT LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
STAY RIGHT HERE. IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS,
WE'LL BE EXPANDING OUR LIVE LAUNCH COVERAGE.
GOOD MORNING. YOU'RE WATCHING LIVE LAUNCH COVERAGE
OF NASA AND SPACEX'S 11TH ROTATIONAL FLIGHT
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I'M NASA'S DERROL NAIL, JOINED ONCE AGAIN BY NASA ASTRONAUT NICK HAGUE,
WHO'S BEEN WITH US FOR THE PAST THREE HOURS.
LIFTOFF IS SET FOR 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME FROM LAUNCH PAD 39A
HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. AND BEFORE WE CONTINUE, A QUICK REMINDER
ABOUT NICK'S INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE IN SPACE.
GENERAL NICK HAGUE WAS SELECTED AS A NASA ASTRONAUT IN 2013.
HIS FIRST FLIGHT TO THE SPACE STATION IN 2018 ENDED IN A LAUNCH ABORT
FOLLOWING A ROCKET BOOSTER FAILURE ON SOYUZ MS-10,
A DRAMATIC ESCAPE THAT HE AND HIS ROSCOSMOS CREWMATE SURVIVED SAFELY.
HE RETURNED TO SPACE IN 2019 HERE ON SOYUZ MS-12,
SPENDING 203 DAYS ON THE ISS.
AND LAST FALL, HE COMMANDED NASA'S SPACEX CREW-9 MISSION THERE.
YOU SEE HIM GETTING READY TO GO WITH COSMONAUT ALEKSANDR GORBUNOV.
IN TOTAL, NICK HAS LOGGED 373 DAYS IN SPACE
AND COMPLETED FOUR SPACEWALKS.
IT'S SO GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY AS YOU'VE BEEN SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE,
THE LESSONS YOU LEARNED,
YOUR EXPERIENCE IN SPACE AND SOME OF THE HUMAN EMOTIONS
THAT EVERY ASTRONAUT GOES THROUGH ON A DAY LIKE TODAY.
YEAH, NO, DERROL, IT'S A THRILL TO BE HERE.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE'RE… WE'RE GETTING READY TO… TO LAUNCH FOUR HUMANS INTO SPACE.
UH, THAT'S A…
IT… IT IS SUCH AN AMAZING THING THAT IS SO HARD TO DO.
AND TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS IT AND THEN JUST BE A PART OF THAT LEGACY
OF DOING IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR DECADES IS A THRILL.
RIGHT, AND A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY BY ALL INVOLVED.
CREW-11 IS LAUNCHING FROM PAD 39A, AND WE'RE NOW JUST OVER AN HOUR AWAY.
ONCE THEY ARRIVE AT THE STATION, THEY'LL JOIN EXPEDITION 73, 74,
AND IN JUST THREE DAYS, CREW-10 WILL RETURN HOME.
THIS WILL BE WHAT'S CALLED A QUICK THREE-PLUS-TWO CREW HANDOVER.
YOU ARE CREW-9,
YOU GET A LITTLE TIME WITH THE CREW THAT'S COMING UP,
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TIME.
IT IS, 'CAUSE YOU… YOU'RE LIVING ON THE SPACE STATION.
SO, YOU TRAIN FOR HOW TO WORK ALL THE SYSTEMS,
BUT THE… THE REAL LIVING ASPECT OF IT
IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN REALLY ONLY DO IN MICROGRAVITY, IN THAT WEIGHTLESSNESS.
UH, AND… AND IT REALLY IS… IS SOMETHING THAT YOU TRY TO MAXIMIZE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S TAKE YOU THROUGH CREW-11'S LAUNCH DAY PREPARATIONS.
SO FAR THIS MORNING, NICK HAGUE HAS BEEN WITH US THROUGHOUT.
AFTER WAKING UP AND GRABBING A BITE TO EAT,
THE CREW SUITED UP INSIDE THE HISTORIC CREW QUARTERS,
A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK DECADES.
SPACEX TEAMS HELPED THEM INTO THEIR CUSTOM PRESSURE SUITS,
AND JUST LIKE THE OTHER CREWS BEFORE THEM,
THEY GATHERED AROUND A TABLE FOR A CARD GAME
TO BURN OFF ANY LINGERING BAD LUCK BEFORE LAUNCH.
AFTER THAT, THEY FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
OF EVERY NASA ASTRONAUT SINCE APOLLO 7 IN 1968,
WALKING OUT TO GREET A CROWD OF FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS WITH A BIG WAVE.
THEN IT WAS INTO THEIR TESLA'S
FOR A SECURITY ESCORTED RIDE OUT TO LAUNCH PAD 39A.
A 20-MINUTE JOURNEY FILLED WITH ANTICIPATION AS THEY DROVE UP
WITH THEIR ROCKET IN SIGHT.
ONCE THERE, THEY LOOKED UP, GOT A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT THE ROCKET,
WALKED THROUGH THE CREW ACCESS ARM, AND CLIMBED INTO THEIR SPACECRAFT.
AND NOW, THERE THEY ARE AT THE TOP OF THIS ROCKET,
INSIDE THAT ENDEAVOUR CAPSULE,
AND THEY ARE AWAITING THE NEXT BIG MILESTONES,
THE FUELING OF THE ROCKET AND THE ARMING OF THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST,
WE ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS TO NICK HAGUE.
JUST USE THE HASHTAG "#ASKNASA" ON THE PLATFORMS FACEBOOK,
YOUTUBE, X, AND TWITCH. WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
SO, SEND US THOSE QUESTIONS. HE'S GOT ANSWERS, AND HE'S GOT GOOD ONES.
ALSO, IF YOU'RE WATCHING YOUTUBE, BE SURE TO REFRESH YOUR PLAYER OR BROWSER
SO YOU CAN JOIN OUR LIVE CHAT.
AT THIS TIME, WE ARE EXPANDING OUR COVERAGE
TO INCLUDE OUR PARTNERS AT SPACEX.
SO, LET'S WELCOME IN THE SPACEX AND NASA COMMENTATORS
JOINING US LIVE FROM HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA,
HOME TO THE SPACEX MISSION TEAM. WELCOME ABOARD.
THANKS, DERROL.
SO EXCITED TO BE JOINING YOU AND NICK HAGUE HERE AND JOSEPH.
I'M SOMYA SRIVASTAVA, A CERTIFICATION ENGINEER HERE AT SPACEX.
AND I'M JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI WITH NASA COMMUNICATIONS.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, IT'S A THRILL TO BE HERE TODAY
AND EXCITING TO BE JOINING YOU AGAIN FROM MISSION CONTROL HERE IN HAWTHORNE
AS WE COUNT DOWN TO LIFTOFF OF CREW-11 JUST OVER AN HOUR FROM NOW.
CREW-11 IS OUR 11TH OPERATIONAL MISSION WITH SPACEX,
FLYING ASTRONAUTS FOR LONG-DURATION MISSIONS
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
AND THE 12TH AS A PART OF NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM
WITH SPACEX.
CREW-11 HAS TWO FIRST-TIME FLYERS ON BOARD,
AS WELL AS A VETERAN NASA ASTRONAUT
AND A VETERAN JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY,
OR JAXA ASTRONAUT, MAKING THEIR RETURN TO MICROGRAVITY.
THE MULTINATIONAL CREW ALSO REPRESENTS THREE DIFFERENT SPACE AGENCIES,
NASA, JAXA, AND ROSCOSMOS.
TODAY'S CREW WILL FLY ABOARD DRAGON ENDEAVOUR,
WHICH WAS THE FIRST OPERATIONAL DRAGON TO CARRY CREW ON BOARD…
DURING SPACEX AND NASA'S DEMO-2 MISSION IN 2020
WITH ASTRONAUTS BOB AND DOUG.
ENDEAVOUR HAS BEEN PRETTY BUSY SINCE THEN, HAVING ALSO FLOWN NASA'S CREW-2 MISSION,
AX-1 AND NASA'S CREW-6 AND CREW-8 MISSIONS.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST DRAGON TO FLY SIX TIMES.
OVERALL FOR THE DRAGON FLEET,
THIS WILL BE DRAGON'S 49TH VISIT TO THE SPACE STATION
AND ITS 19TH HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT MISSION OVERALL
AND THE FIFTH DRAGON FLIGHT JUST THIS YEAR.
NOW, OVER THE LAST THREE PLUS HOURS,
CREW-11 HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH ALL THE DETAILED PROCESS
OF GETTING READY FOR THEIR MISSION
AS YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG WITH NICK AND DERROL FROM THE CAPE
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. SO, LET'S INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CREW.
IN THE COMMANDER'S SEAT IS NASA ASTRONAUT ZENA CARDMAN,
WHO WILL BE CONDUCTING HER FIRST SPACE FLIGHT.
SHE HOLDS A MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MARINE SCIENCES
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL.
CARDMAN HAS EXPERIENCE WITH NASA RESEARCH IN THE CANADIAN HIGH ARCTIC
AND HAS SUPPORTED REAL-TIME STATION OPERATIONS
AND LUNAR SURFACE EXPLORATION PLANNING.
NOW, TO THE NEXT OF ZENA IS GOING TO BE PILOT MIKE FINCKE,
A VETERAN OF THREE SPACE FLIGHTS.
FINCKE HAS COMPLETED AN IMPRESSIVE NINE SPACEWALKS,
TOTALING 48 HOURS AND 37 MINUTES
OF THE TIME SPENT OUTSIDE THE ORBITING LABORATORY.
HE'S ALSO SPENT A TOTAL OF 382 DAYS IN SPACE.
AND FINCKE IS CERTIFIED PILOT FOR THE BOEING STARLINER,
AS WELL AS SPACEX CREW DRAGON,
A PART OF THE NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM,
AS WELL AS THE COPILOT AND FLIGHT ENGINEER ON SOYUZ.
AND A MISSION SPECIALIST ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE,
STS-134, THAT WAS SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR,
AND FITTING THAT HE FLIES ON DRAGON ENDEAVOUR TODAY.
SERVING AS A MISSION SPECIALIST, OR PARDON ME, SOMYA,
SERVING AS A MISSION SPECIALIST IS GONNA BE JAPAN AEROSPACE,
-JAXA ASTRONAUT KIMIYA YUI. -[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] YEAH.
AND TODAY'S FLIGHT WILL BE YUI'S SECOND TRIP TO THE SPACE STATION.
HE WAS SELECTED AS AN ASTRONAUT BY JAXA IN 2009
AND HAS LOGGED 142 DAYS IN SPACE.
AND TO ROUND IT ALL OUT, ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT OLEG PLATONOV
IS ALSO SERVING AS A MISSION SPECIALIST AND WAS SELECTED AS A COSMONAUT IN 2018.
AND WE… AND WILL BE MAKING HIS FIRST SPACE FLIGHT TODAY.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] NOW, AS WE GET CLOSER TO ONE HOUR AWAY FROM LIFTOFF,
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING WITH CREW-11
ONCE ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
CREW-11 WILL BE BRIEFLY BECOME MEMBERS OF EXPEDITION 73,
AND THEN EXPEDITION 74 IN THE FALL.
FOLLOWING DEPARTURE OF SOYUZ MS-27 SPACECRAFT,
THAT'S WHEN THE EXPEDITIONS WILL CHANGE OVER
AND THAT DEPARTURE WILL FEATURE NASA ASTRONAUT JONNY KIM.
THEY'LL ALSO CONDUCT SPACE STATION MAINTENANCE
AND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND PLANT CELL DIVISION,
FINDING ALTERNATIVES TO ANTIBIOTICS AND MICROGRAVITY,
INVESTIGATE PRODUCING ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS
ON DEMAND FOR LONG-DURATION MISSIONS,
AND STUDY HOW SPACEFLIGHT AFFECTS HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY.
THE CREW WILL ALSO ENGAGE WITH STUDENTS WORLDWIDE VIA THE HAM RADIO
AND USE ITS EXISTING HARDWARE WITH NEWLY INTEGRATED SOFTWARE
TO TEST A BACKUP LUNAR NAVIGATION SOLUTION.
SO, AS THE CREW CONTINUES TO PREPARE AS DOES THE TEAM ON THE GROUND,
LET'S CHECK IN WITH ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR BROADCAST TEAM RONNIE,
HERE WITH SPACEX, FOR AN UPDATE ON ALL THINGS ON THE ROCKET,
THE CAPSULE, THE CREW, AND MORE. RONNIE.
THANKS SO MUCH, JOSEPH.
I'M RONNIE FOREMAN, A SENIOR SALES MANAGER,
JOINING YOU TODAY FROM THE SPACEX STATICS DESK.
IT CONTINUES TO BE A SMOOTH COUNTDOWN,
AND WE ARE LOOKING GOOD FOR AN ON-TIME LIFTOFF,
WHICH IS AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME
FROM THE HISTORIC LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A IN FLORIDA.
NOW, COMING UP HERE IN JUST ABOUT 15 MINUTES,
WE'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING IN FOR OUR TEAM TO REPORT
OUR FINAL READINESS FOR PROPELLANT LOAD WITH A FINAL GO, NO-GO POLL.
OF COURSE, HERE ON THE GROUND, TEAMS WILL BE STAFFED AROUND THE CLOCK
IN MISSION CONTROL, WHICH IS JUST BEHIND ME HERE IN HAWTHORNE,
TO MONITOR DRAGON AND THE MISSION,
NOT JUST TODAY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MISSION,
FROM LIFTOFF TO CREW-11'S ARRIVAL AT THE SPACE STATION,
ALL THE WAY THROUGH SPLASHDOWN WHEN OUR ASTRONAUTS RETURN HOME.
ON CONSOLE OR ON HEADSET IN MISSION CONTROL,
AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
[CORE] ISOLATION VALVES TO EQUALIZE LOW FLOW PRESSURE.
[STAFF MEMBER] DRAGON, COPY.
[VERONICA FOREMAN] WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD LIVE ACTION THERE
FROM OUR TEAMMATES IN MISSION CONTROL.
THE MISSION DIRECTOR IS THE ONE IN CHARGE OF THE ROOM
AND TASKED WITH MAKING THOSE REAL-TIME DECISIONS
THAT ENSURE MISSION SUCCESS.
THE PERSON WE JUST HEARD TALKING TO THE ASTRONAUTS IS THE CREW OPERATIONS
AND RESOURCE ENGINEER,
WHO WE'LL REFER TO AS THE CORE THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST.
OUR FOUR ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS ARE FOCUSED ON VEHICLE SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING AVIONICS, NAVIGATION AND CONTROL,
SOFTWARE, PROPULSION, LIFE SUPPORT,
AND COMMUNICATION WITH GROUND SUPPORT TEAMS.
APART FROM MISSION CONTROL HERE,
OUR FALCON 9 TEAM IS CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE LAUNCH
AND LANDING CONTROL CENTER AT HANGARX IN FLORIDA.
SO, WITH LESS THAN AN HOUR UNTIL LAUNCH, WE ARE SETTLING IN FOR FINAL CHECKOUTS,
PROPELLANT LOADING AND LAUNCH. BACK TO YOU, JOSEPH.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RONNIE,
AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE UPDATES
AS WE ARE GETTING THAT LIVE ACTION IN REAL TIME,
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THOSE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CREW
AND EVERYTHING, UH, SURROUNDING CREW-11 AND THEIR LAUNCH HERE TODAY.
NOW, NASA HAS ITS OWN TEAM MEMBERS AT NASA'S MISSION CONTROL CENTER
IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION'S FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM,
AND THAT'S IN HOUSTON, TEXAS,
WHERE ANOTHER TEAMMATE OF OURS FOR TODAY'S BROADCAST, SANDRA JONES,
YOU'VE HEARD FROM HER EARLIER. SHE-- THAT'S WHERE SHE'S LOCATED
AND HAS BEEN BUSY PREPARING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
FOR DRAGON'S ARRIVAL.
NOW, THE TEAM IN HOUSTON IS CURRENTLY WORKING
THROUGH THEIR GO/NO-GOS AND LOOKING TO CONFIRM
THAT THE STATION IS READY TO RECEIVE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR
AND THE NEW CREW.
NOW, FOLLOWING LIFTOFF FOR THE FLIGHT TODAY,
IT'S GOING TO TAKE ABOUT 39 HOURS. YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT PHASING.
SO, A GOOD STAIR STEP JOURNEY TO GET TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WITH DRAGON FLYING AUTONOMOUSLY THE ENTIRE WAY.
DOCKING IS TARGETED FOR THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 2ND AT 3:00 A.M. EASTERN,
AT 12:00 A.M. PACIFIC TIME.
AND JUST LIKE AUTOPILOT ON A COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT,
THE CREW ALWAYS HAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE MANUAL CONTROL
OF THE SPACECRAFT IF NEEDED.
WE ARE NOW AT T-MINUS 58 MINUTES AND COUNTING DOWN TO TODAY'S LAUNCH.
WHILE WE WAIT, LET'S CHECK IN WITH NASA'S SANDRA JONES
AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP AT MISSION CONTROL IN HOUSTON.
SANDRA, HOW'S IT GOING OVER THERE?
[OVERLAPPING RADIO CHATTER]
AND WELCOME BACK TO MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON
HERE AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
WE ARE HERE IN THE HUB OF HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT AT NASA.
THE TEAM HERE HAS POLLED GO FOR LAUNCH, AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IS READY FOR THE CREW TO LIFT OFF AS THEY BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY
TO THE ORBITING LABORATORY.
AT THE TIME OF LAUNCH, THE SPACE STATION WILL BE TRAVELING 260 MILES
OVER THE SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN.
IN THE HOME STRETCH OF THE RENDEZVOUS, NASA AND SPACEX FLIGHT CONTROLLERS
WILL ENTER INTO WHAT WE CALL INTEGRATED OPERATIONS,
WHERE BOTH FLIGHT CONTROL TEAMS WILL CONDUCT A SERIES OF GO/NO-GO POLLS
FOR DRAGON ENDEAVOUR'S DOCKING TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
ROTATIONAL MISSIONS LIKE CREW-11 HELP NASA CONTINUE
TO MAXIMIZE THE IMPORTANT RESEARCH
AND TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS MADE POSSIBLE
ONLY IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION'S UNIQUE MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT.
THE SPACE STATION IS CRITICAL FOR NASA TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE COMMERCIAL
LOW EARTH ORBIT DESTINATIONS,
AND TO UNDERSTAND AND OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES
OF LONG-DURATION SPACEFLIGHT NECESSARY FOR A LONG-TERM PRESENCE
ON THE MOON AND CREWED MISSIONS DEEPER INTO THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
INCLUDING ONTO MARS. NOW, HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MISSION
AND WHAT CREW-11 WILL HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO
DURING THEIR STAY ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[PULSING MUSIC PLAYING]
[MICHAEL FINCKE] INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
ONE OF HUMANITY'S GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR.
FIFTEEN COUNTRIES WORKING TOGETHER AND ADDING MORE ALL THE TIME
THAT HAVE HELPED PLAN, BUILD, AND FLY THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND IT JUST SHOWS WHAT HUMAN BEINGS CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
AS CREW-11, WE ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH ONBOARD A DRAGON SPACECRAFT
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[KIMIYA YUI] WE ARE ACTUALLY CONTINUING THE ISS MISSION
FOR ALMOST A QUARTER CENTURIES.
RIGHT NOW, CREW-10 CREW MEMBERS ARE WORKING VERY HARD ON THE ISS.
SO, WE GOT THAT RESULT, AND ACTUALLY WE DO MORE RESEARCHES,
THEN-- AND PASS THAT INFORMATION TO CREW-12.
[IN RUSSIAN]
I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PAYLOADS WE GET TO WORK WITH.
IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING DAY-TO-DAY LIFE WHERE ONE HOUR YOU MIGHT BE, UH,
FIXING THE TOILET, AND THEN THE NEXT HOUR, YOU'RE WORKING ON A PHYSICS EXPERIMENT
STUDYING FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES OF OUR UNIVERSE.
[MICHAEL FINCKE] WE'RE GONNA BE UP THERE FOR A LOT OF TIME.
AND WE'RE GOING TO, EVERY DAY, BE IN SPACE, LOOK AT THE EARTH GO BY,
AND ACCOMPLISH SOME REALLY AMAZING SCIENCE.
WE WILL DO MATERIAL SCIENCE AND HUMAN RESEARCH IN SPACE,
LOTS OF EXPERIMENTS, AND THEN MAYBE DO SOME SPACE WALKS.
IT'S A REALLY FUN CREW TO BE ON.
WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP EACH OTHER
TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION.
[KIMIYA YUI] SO, WE HAVE VARIOUS KINDS OF DIFFICULT TRAINING TOGETHER.
FOR EXAMPLE, EMERGENCY TRAINING IN BUILDING 9
OR EMERGENCY TRAINING IN SPACEX.
THIS KIND OF TRAINING ACTUALLY MAKES OUR BONDS STRONGER.
[OLEG PLATONOV, IN RUSSIAN]
[ZENA CARDMAN] IN SOME WAYS, MY ONLY EXPECTATION FOR THE MISSION
IS TO FLY AND RETURN HOME SAFELY AND STILL FRIENDS WHEN WE GET BACK.
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO PLAY AROUND WITH, TO STUDY,
TO EXPLORE, AND I'M REALLY OPEN TO EVERY POSSIBILITY,
WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE ALL CAME FROM OTHER CREWS.
KIMIYA YUI-SAN AND I, UH, BOTH CAME FROM STARLINER-1.
OLEG WAS ON A SOYUZ MISSION BEFORE THIS, AND ZENA, OF COURSE, WAS ON CREW-9.
BUT WE ALL CAME TOGETHER WITH OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE,
MELDED INTO A REALLY FUN TEAM,
READY TO GO FLY TO OUR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[DERROL NAIL] AND WE'RE BACK AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA
AS WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SHOT FROM OUR FLIGHT HELICOPTER RIGHT THERE
OF THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING.
THE ARTEMIS II MISSION, THE ROCKET INSIDE, WILL LAUNCH EARLY NEXT YEAR
FOR ASTRONAUTS AROUND THE MOON.
BUT WE ARE FOCUSED NOW ON THAT LAUNCH PAD THAT YOU SEE RIGHT AHEAD OF US,
WHICH IS LAUNCH PAD 39A AND THE FALCON 9 ROCKET
WITH THE ENDEAVOUR SPACECRAFT ON TOP OF IT.
WE'VE GOT FOUR ASTRONAUTS INSIDE RIGHT NOW,
GETTING READY TO LAUNCH TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND WE'VE GOT NICK HAGUE, NASA ASTRONAUT, WITH US,
CO-HOSTING OUR LAUNCH BROADCAST TODAY.
AND NICK, WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU THAT HAVE BEEN COMING IN FROM SOCIAL.
-WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MORE? -I’D LOVE TO TAKE A FEW.
BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB SO FAR,
SO, LET'S PUT THAT NEXT QUESTION UP ON THE SCREEN.
THIS IS COMING IN FROM #ASKNASA.
"DURING CRS MISSIONS…" THESE ARE CREW-- UH, THESE ARE CARGO RESUPPLY MISSIONS.
"WITH DRAGON, I NOTICED THAT MOST OF THE TIME,
THERE IS… UH, THERE IS CARGO IN THE TRUNK,
BUT I NEVER SEE ANY OF THE TRUNK DURING CREW MISSIONS. WHY IS THAT?"
YEAH, THE CREW MISSIONS FLY UP… UP WITH AN EMPTY TRUNK,
UH, AND THAT'S REALLY, UH, A MASS CONSTRAINT,
UH, SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE.
UH, PEOPLE REQUIRE A LOT OF CLOTHING, THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF FOOD,
UH, AND ALL OF THOSE SUPPLIES HAVE TO GET ON,
UH, AND SO THAT COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF SOMETHING IN THE TRUNK.
GREAT ANSWER. T-00:51 MINUTES AND COUNTING,
AND NOW, WE'RE COUNTING DOWN TO THE MOMENTS
BEFORE WE ARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM AND START FUELING THE ROCKET.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET'S SEND IT OVER TO NASA'S TONI JARAMILLO,
WHO IS STANDING BY LIVE AT ONE OF THE BEST VIEWING LOCATIONS
HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
SHE'S JOINED BY NASA'S ACTING ADMINISTRATOR,
-SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY. TONI? -HEY, THANKS, DERROL. THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST VIEWING LOCATIONS
WHERE OUR GUESTS HAVE AN AMAZING VIEW OF THE ROCKET AT THE LAUNCH PAD,
OFF TO MY LEFT HERE.
AND JOINING ME IS SECRETARY SEAN DUFFY, NASA'S ACTING ADMINISTRATOR.
SECRETARY DUFFY, YOU KNOW, DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THE CREW
-BEFORE THEY HEADED OUT TO THE LAUNCH PAD? -I DID.
I WAS BEHIND THE GLASS YESTERDAY WITH THEM.
UH, AGAIN, I WOULD TELL YOU, THESE-- UH, THEY'RE RIGHT OUT OF CENTRAL CASTING.
UH, SO SMART, SO PERSONABLE, UH, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY MIKE,
WHO ACTUALLY FLEW ON THE SHUTTLE MISSIONS.
BUT THIS IS ZENA'S FIRST TRIP INTO SPACE. SO, YEAH, I GOT TO TALK TO THEM.
AND AGAIN, THEY SEEMED A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT REALLY, REALLY EXCITED.
AND, UH, TODAY IS THE BIG DAY.
I… I THINK THEY'RE, UH, THEY'RE JUST WAITING FOR THE LAUNCH AND,
-YOU KNOW, GETTING TO THE SPACE STATION. -ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE ALL GETTING READY FOR THAT LAUNCH, YOU KNOW?
AS YOU GET READY FOR YOUR FIRST LAUNCH AS ADMINISTRATOR,
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO THE NASA AND SPACE COMMUNITY
THAT CONTINUE TO HELP PAVE THE WAY TO THE STARS?
SO, LISTEN, I THINK THIS-- THE… THE TEAM HAS BEEN SO IMPRESSIVE AT NASA,
BUT ALSO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS, UH, AGAIN, SPACEX, BLUE ORIGIN, BOEING,
THAT ARE BUILDING THE VEHICLES THAT GET US INTO SPACE.
UM… AND AGAIN, WHAT--
WHEN WE GO TO THE SPACE STATION, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT WHAT WE LEARN ON THESE MISSIONS IS WHAT'S GOING TO GET US TO THE MOON
AND THEN FROM THE MOON TO MARS,
WHICH IS, I THINK, UH, THE DIRECTION THAT NASA HAS TO BE.
-WE ARE SPACE EXPLORATION. -ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, AS YOU GET READY FOR YOUR FIRST LAUNCH EXPERIENCE,
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM CREW-11
AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING AS YOU LEAVE NASA?
WELL, LISTEN, I'VE LEARNED THAT THEY'RE REALLY WELL-TRAINED.
UM… I-- I'M COMING FROM DOT.
THE SAFETY COMPONENTS THAT GO INTO, UH, MAKING SURE THESE LAUNCHES HAPPEN
AND HAPPEN SAFELY IS REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
THE CHECKS, DOUBLE CHECKS, TRIPLE CHECKS.
UM… BUT MOVING FORWARD, LISTEN, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ARTEMIS.
SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ARTEMIS, RIGHT?
WE'RE GOING TO THE MOON. WE'RE GOING BACK.
AND IN AMERICA'S 250TH BIRTHDAY, UH, ARTEMIS II IS GOING TO LAUNCH.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AROUND THE MOON AND BACK.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LAND IN THAT ONE.
BUT THEN ARTEMIS III, WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE MOON.
WE'RE GOING TO LAND. WE'RE GOING TO STAY FOR SIX DAYS.
THE LONGEST TIME BEFORE THAT WAS THREE DAYS.
AND THEN FROM THERE, WE'RE GOING TO START DEPLOYING,
UH, ALL OF THE ASSETS WE NEED TO BUILD OUR BASE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON THE MOON.
WE'RE NOT PUTTI… WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUR FLAG AND LEAVING.
WE'RE GOING TO STAY, LEARN, AND THEN GO TO MARS.
AGAIN, THERE'S CRITICAL REAL ESTATE ON THE MOON.
UH, WE WANT TO CLAIM THAT REAL ESTATE, UH, FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PARTNERS,
UH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT MISSION.
ABSOLUTELY. A LOT OF EXCITING MISSIONS COMING AHEAD.
I MEAN, YOU JUST MENTIONED ONE, I GUESS.
WHAT SHOULD BE THAT NEXT EXCITING MISSION THAT THE PUBLIC CAN LOOK FORWARD TO?
WELL, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ARTEMIS II, RIGHT?
AGAIN, GOING BACK… GOING BACK TO THE MOON.
UM… AND AGAIN, SOMETIMES YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S, UH,
IT'S-- WE ALREADY DID THAT, RIGHT? WE DID THAT IN THE APOLLO PROGRAM,
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH TECHNOLOGY TO GET US THERE,
UM, IT'S REVOLUTIONARY.
AND WHAT I LOVE IS SOMETIMES PEOPLE GO, LIKE,
"WELL, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US ON EARTH?" WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?
WELL, THERE'S THE EXPLORATION POINT OF BEING AN AMERICAN,
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO. WE EXPLORE, WE WERE PIONEERS.
BUT ALSO, WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR SCIENTISTS, OUR ENGINEERS,
UH, THE MACHINISTS, THE WELDERS,
THE JOBS THAT ARE CREATED AND THE QUALITY AND INNOVATION IN ROCKETS
THAT ARE… THAT ARE HAPPENING IN AMERICA
AND THE… THE TIME FRAME IN WHICH WE CAN PRODUCE THEM IS AMAZING.
AND WE HAVE GREAT COMPETITION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A SPACEX.
SO, OVER HERE, IT'S A SPACEX, UH, ROCKET, WHICH-- THEY HAVE BEEN REMARKABLE.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE OUR OTHER PLAYERS WHO ARE… WHO ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT.
AND THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS.
AND AGAIN, WE WANT TO HAVE A VIBRANT
PRIVATE SECTOR BUSINESS THAT PARTNERS WITH NASA
AS WE ACCOMPLISH THESE MISSIONS.
ABSOLUTELY. AND WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO ARTEMIS II.
SECRETARY DUFFY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
NOW, WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO OUR TEAM IN HAWTHORNE.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
THANKS, TONI.
THAT WAS AN AWESOME INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR DUFFY.
WE ARE ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT CREW-11 DOES
AND ACCOMPLISHES ON THEIR MISSION.
BUT NOW LET'S BRING IT BACK TO MISSION CONTROL HERE IN HAWTHORNE.
AND THE TEAMS ARE CONTINUING TO PREPARE FALCON 9 AND DRAGON FOR LAUNCH.
FALCON 9 IS THE FIRST ORBITAL CLASS ROCKET THAT IS CAPABLE OF REFLIGHT.
TOGETHER, FALCON 9 AND FALCON HEAVY HAVE COMPLETED
MORE THAN 519 LAUNCHES, AND OVER 448 REFLIGHTS.
INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE, AND TODAY,
THE BOOSTER THAT CREW-11 WILL BE USING IS GOING TO ATTEMPT TO LAND
AT LANDING ZONE 1, WHICH IS JUST DOWN THE COAST
FROM NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
THIS WILL BE THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THIS PARTICULAR FIRST STAGE BOOSTER
AFTER SUPPORTING A STARLINK MISSION EARLIER,
AND RECENTLY, AXIOM MISSION 4.
THAT WAS THE SUCCESSFUL FOURTH PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] RAPID REUSABILITY DRASTICALLY REDUCES LAUNCH COSTS,
AND IT'S THE KEY INNOVATION THAT IS MAKING SPACE MORE ACCESSIBLE
FOR THE ENTIRE SPACE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.
WHILE THIS YOUNG BOOSTER IS ON ITS THIRD TRIP TO SPACE,
WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS QUALIFYING OUR FLEET OF FALCON BOOSTERS AND FAIRINGS
TO SUPPORT UP TO 40 MISSIONS EACH.
FOR THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING ALONG,
WE'RE CURRENTLY AT 29 FLIGHTS OF A SINGLE FALCON BOOSTER,
WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY WILD.
INCREASING FALCON'S FLIGHT COUNT PROVIDES VALUABLE INFORMATION
AND DATA ON REPEATED REUSE,
WHICH IS A SUPER CRITICAL ELEMENT IN MAKING LIFE MULTI-PLANETARY.
THIS SAME SPIRIT OF CONTINUOUS ITERATION AND INNOVATION
DOES NOT STOP WITH FALCON 9.
NASA AWARDED SPACEX A CONTRACT TO DEVELOP THE U.S. ORBIT VEHICLE,
A MODIFIED DRAGON DESIGNED TO GUIDE THE SPACE STATION
THROUGH A CONTROLLED RE-ENTRY INTO EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
AND WHEN THE TIME COMES
AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION REACHES ITS END OF OPERATIONAL LIFE,
WHICH, TRUST ME, IT STILL HAS A LOT OF LIFE TO GIVE RIGHT NOW,
DRAGON WILL HELP ACHIEVE THAT SAFETY ORBIT.
DURING THE CRS-31 CARGO RESUPPLY MISSION,
DRAGON SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED A REBOOST TEST FOR NASA
THAT DEMONSTRATED DRAGON'S ABILITY TO CHANGE THE STATION'S ORBIT.
AND WE'LL SEE A SIMILAR TEST COMING UP, AND THAT'LL HELP INFORM PLANS
FOR THE UPCOMING COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY MISSION,
NUMBER 33 WITH SPACEX,
WHERE DRAGON WILL FLY AN EXTENDED MISSION AND REPEAT THAT REBOOST DEMO
WITH A MODIFIED TRUNK CALLED THE BOOST TRUNK.
THIS MODIFIED TRUNK WILL GIVE DRAGON THE ABILITY
TO CHANGE THE STATION'S VELOCITY BY UP TO TEN METERS PER SECOND.
AND TESTING THESE ADDED CAPABILITIES WILL PROVIDE NASA
WITH ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR STATION OPERATIONS
IN THE COMING YEARS.
AND YET ANOTHER INNOVATION THAT SPACEX IS WORKING ON
IS THE INTRAVEHICULAR SPACESUITS, OR IVA SUITS,
THAT ASTRONAUTS WEAR DURING DRAGON MISSIONS.
THESE SUITS ARE WORN BY THE ASTRONAUTS WHILE THEY'RE INSIDE THE SPACECRAFT,
VERSUS THE EXTRAVEHICULAR EVA SPACESUITS THAT ARE…
[CORE] GO FOR PROPELLANT LOAD AND LAUNCH.
FOR ALL OPERATORS IN MCCX AND HANGAR X,
BOTH CONTROL ROOMS WILL GO INTO LOCKDOWN AT T-MINUS 45 MINUTES
AND WILL REMAIN IN THAT STATE UNTIL LES IS DISARMED.
ALL OPERATORS ARE TO REMAIN AT THEIR CONSOLE
AND MAINTAIN A STERILE COCKPIT
UNTIL MD CONFIRMS SUCCESSFUL DISARMING OF THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM
FOLLOWING ORBIT INSERTION OR PROPELLANT OFFLOAD
IN THE EVENT OF A SCRUB.
FOR NON-URGENT NO-GO CONDITIONS,
BRIEF THE CE OR LD, AND THEY WILL APPROVE ABORTING THE COUNT.
FOR URGENT ISSUES AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATION,
OPERATORS SHALL CALL, "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" ON THE COUNTDOWN NET.
LAUNCH CONTROL WILL ABORT THE LAUNCH AUTO-SEQUENCE IMMEDIATELY
AND PROCEED INTO LAUNCH ABORT.
AT T-MINUS TEN SECONDS, LAUNCH CONTROL WILL BE HANDS-OFF
AND RELYING ON AUTOMATED WORK CRITERIA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNT.
OPERATORS ADVISE LAUNCH DIRECTOR
WHETHER STRUCTURAL BREAK-UP OR FIRE IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING,
PER DRAGON MANUAL FLIGHT ESCAPE RULES.
LAUNCH CONTROL, YOU MAY PROCEED WITH ARMING THE CREW ARM FOR MOVEMENT.
[LAUNCH CONTROL] ARMING CREW ARM FOR MOVEMENT.
CREW ACCESS ARM RETRACTION STARTED.
[DERROL NAIL] AND WE ARE WATCHING THE CREW ACCESS ARM…
ROTATE AWAY FROM THE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR AND THE FALCON 9 ROCKET.
THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE VIEW, NICK, FROM UP HIGH, 275 FEET IN THE AIR.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND SO AS THE ARM GOES AWAY,
THAT'S REALLY YOUR FIRST UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW
OUT THOSE TWO WINDOWS INSIDE THE DRAGON CAPSULE.
UNIQUE TO DRAGON FOR SOYUZ FLYERS,
YOUR WINDOWS DON'T OPEN UNTIL YOU GET ALL THE WAY UP TO ORBIT
AND COME OUT OF THE FAIRING.
SO, HERE YOU CAN SEE
WHAT THE WEATHER'S DOING OUTSIDE FOR YOURSELF.
[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLES]
AND THERE THEY ARE, STRAPPED IN, CREW-11, OUR NEXT BIG MILESTONE…
[LAUNCH CONTROL] CREW ACCESS ARM RETRACTION COMPLETE.
…AS WE HEAR THAT THE CREW ACCESS ARM HAS COMPLETED ITS RETRACTION.
OUR NEXT BIG MILESTONE…
IS TO HAVE THE ASTRONAUTS DROP THEIR VISORS
AND START UP FOR SECTION 7 IN THEIR OPERATIONS.
[CORE] SPACEX, YOU ARE GO FOR SECTION SIX, CLOSE VISORS AND ARM LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPIES, GO FOR SECTION SIX,
CLOSING VISORS AND ARMING LES.
[DERROL NAIL] THEY MAY HAVE RENUMBERED THE PROCEDURES,
-'CAUSE IN THE PAST, IT WAS SECTION 7. -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLES]
[DERROL NAIL] WE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN THAT UPDATE.
BUT THIS IS A CRITICAL MOMENT, INDEED.
AND THAT CREW ACCESS ARM, IT CAN ROTATE QUICKLY BACK TO DRAGON
IN THIS MOMENT…
[ZENA CARDMAN] SPACEX, DRAGON, VISORS CLOSED, ARMING LES.
…IN THIS MOMENT IN BETWEEN, BEFORE THEY HAVE
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM FULLY ARMED.
INDEED, INDEED. SO, THE COMMANDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO ZENA AND MIKE AT THE DISPLAYS. SHE'S ARMING THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM NOW.
AS THAT'S ARMED, THERE'S ALSO A BUTTON THAT'S GOING TO SHOW UP,
THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO AN EMERGENCY EGRESS,
WHICH WILL COMMAND THAT ARM TO SWING OVER RATHER RAPIDLY.
AND BY THE TIME YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR SEAT AND READY TO OPEN THE SIDE HATCH,
THE ARM'S IN PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN GET TO THE ESCAPE TOWER.
FROM THE ESCAPE TOWER, OF COURSE, THEY WOULD ZIP-LINE DOWN TO SAFETY,
TO WAITING VEHICLES, AND THEN EXIT THE…
[CONTROL] LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS VERIFIED ARMED.
…THE BLAST DANGER AREA.
NOW WE HAVE THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM ARMED.
THIS IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SYSTEM, NICK,
THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO USE…
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPY.
…ON ONE OF YOUR MISSIONS,
MS-10, BACK IN 2018, THAT SAVED YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF YOUR FELLOW CREW MEMBER.
IT'S PART OF SPACEFLIGHT TODAY.
WHAT DOES IT PROVIDE FOR THIS CREW IN THIS MOMENT?
YEAH, IN THIS MOMENT, IT'S A SAFETY NET.
SO, THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY TRYING TO DETERMINE,
"IS EVERYTHING GOING OKAY?"
AND IT DOES THAT WITH LOOKING AT A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT PARAMETERS.
BUT AS LONG AS THOSE STAY WITHIN BOUNDS, IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.
BUT IF SOMETHING CHANGES, OR IF THERE IS A HANDLE
THAT THE CREW CAN INITIATE THE LAUNCH ESCAPE,
IF THAT'S ACTIVATED,
THEN THIS IS GOING TO SEPARATE THEM FROM THAT ROCKET
AND GET THEM TO A SAFE DISTANCE.
AND IT'S FROM THE POINT RIGHT NOW ON THE PAD,
ALL THE WAY UNTIL THEY'RE IN ORBIT.
THEY'VE GOT THAT CONTINUAL SAFETY NET THERE TO PROTECT THEM.
THAT CAPSULE CAN GET UP IN A HURRY TOO,
AS YOU WERE MENTIONING, WITH THESE ABORT SYSTEMS.
THEY GOT TO MOVE QUICKLY, GOING 436 MILES PER HOUR
IN A MATTER OF 7.5 SECONDS.
THE DRAGON CAN DO THAT WHEN IT FIRES UP ITS SUPER DRACO ENGINES,
-IF IT WERE NEEDING… -MM-HMM.
…TO GET AWAY FROM THE PAD IN A HURRY.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. YOU WANNA--
WE'RE ABOUT TO LOAD THE ROCKET FULL OF FUEL AND OXIDIZER.
AND SO, IF THAT ENERGY IS RELEASED,
YOU NEED TO BE AS FAR AWAY FROM IT AS YOU CAN BE.
AND SO THAT ESCAPE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO GET THEM AWAY IN A HEARTBEAT.
[DERROL NAIL] AS LONG AS EVERYTHING CONTINUES NOMINALLY, THAT'S OUR HOPE,
THAT THAT SYSTEM WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY
AS WE MARCH TOWARDS LOADING THOSE PROPELLANTS
NICK WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THAT BEGINS AT T-MINUS 35 MINUTES AND COUNTING.
ANOTHER BIG MOMENT WHEN THEY START FLOWING RP-1,
ROCKET PROPELLANT-1, WHICH IS A REFINED FORM OF KEROSENE,
SIMILAR TO JET FUEL, AS WELL AS THAT OXIDIZER…
THAT TOGETHER, PRODUCE THAT 1.8 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST
TO LIFT THAT ROCKET AND THE CREW INTO SPACE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT MOMENT,
BUT IT'S ALSO AN EXHILARATING MOMENT
BECAUSE THIS IS WHEN YOU START TO HEAR THE ROCKET COME ALIVE.
THE PUMPS AND THE FLUID MOVING, AND THE VIBRATIONS, AND IT'S…
YOU KNOW, DRAGON STARTS TO HAVE A PERSONALITY, IF YOU WILL.
[DERROL NAIL] HMM. YOU CAN HEAR THOSE SOUNDS, RIGHT?
VALVES MOVING AND CLICKING.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU FEEL IT. YEAH, YOU HEAR IT, YOU FEEL IT.
[DERROL NAIL] T-MINUS 37 MINUTES AND COUNTING UNTIL LIFT-OFF.
WE'RE JUST TWO MINUTES AWAY…
FROM BEGINNING TO LOAD PROPELLANT INTO THE FALCON 9 ROCKET.
WEATHER IS LOOKING GOOD AT THE MOMENT. WE ARE 90% GO.
THERE WAS A SMALL CONCERN FOR CUMULUS CLOUDS IN THE AREA.
THAT'S JUST THE TEN PERCENT BECAUSE OF, OF COURSE, THIS IS JULY IN FLORIDA.
AND YOU CAN SEE EVEN NOW, NICK,
THE SEA BREEZE FROM THE COOL OCEAN STARTING TO CREATE…
FALCON 9 TANKS ARE VENTING FOR THE START OF PROPELLANT LOAD.
…STARTING TO CREATE THOSE LITTLE CUMULUS CLOUDS
BUBBLING UP AROUND THE PAD.
WE HAD A CLEAR SKY EARLIER.
WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT NOW, BUT OVERALL, WE'RE EXPECTING
-THAT THAT SHOULD BE CLEAR. -[NICK HAGUE] I SEE BLUE.
[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLES] IT'S THE GLASS HALF FULL. I LIKE THAT.
AS LONG AS WE HAVE THAT BLUE SKY STRAIGHT OVERTOP OF THE ROCKET
AND TEN MILES OUT, WE ARE GOOD TO GO.
AND SO FAR, RIGHT NOW, GREEN CONDITIONS.
THE RANGE IS CLEAR, THE AREA AROUND THE PAD.
BOAT TRAFFIC HAS BEEN CLEARED BY RANGE OPERATIONS.
OUR PARTNERS AT THE UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE,
CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION…
WHERE NICK, OF COURSE, YOU IN THE SPACE FORCE,
A BRIGADIER GENERAL, HAVE CLEARED THE RANGE.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING IT, MAKING SURE THAT…
NO ONE CAN GET INTO THE PATH OF THE ROCKET
FROM DOWN ON THE GROUND OR IN THE OCEAN.
FOR THE REASON, THAT IF ANYTHING WERE TO HAPPEN
AND ANY EQUIPMENT OR ANY SPACECRAFT PARTS WERE TO COME DOWN ON THEM,
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO POSE A RISK TO THOSE BELOW.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, PUBLIC SAFETY IS IMPORTANT,
BUT IT HIGHLIGHTS JUST THE EXPANSIVE TEAM, THAT EVEN FOR THIS ONE PLACE,
THE NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER,
AND THEY'RE NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS.
[DERROL NAIL] OUR FOUR-PERSON CREW, TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS, ONE JAXA ASTRONAUT,
AND A ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT, SEATED IN LAUNCH POSITION…
MONITORING THEIR SYSTEMS ON THEIR HEADS-UP DISPLAYS.
IN THE FOREGROUND ON THE RIGHT, THAT IS A LAUNCH TOWER FOR STARSHIP,
THE VEHICLE THAT SPACEX IS CURRENTLY TESTING AND DEVELOPING
FOR USE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN THE HUMAN LANDING SYSTEM FOR NASA.
THE LAUNCH AUTO SEQUENCE HAS STARTED.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THAT'S THE CALL
THAT BEGINS THE PROPELLANT FLOWING INTO THE ROCKET.
AND NOW WE ARE ON AN AUTONOMOUS TIMELINE,
COUNTING DOWN TO ZERO AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
THIS IS A GOOD MILESTONE.
IT REALLY SIGNALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SPACE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S-- YOU KNOW, THE CLOCK IS DEFINITELY TICKING.
UP TO THIS POINT,
THE CREW'S BEEN STRAPPED IN FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO HOURS.
THERE'S BEEN MARGIN BUILT INTO THE SCHEDULE, JUST IN CASE,
YOU KNOW, THE SIDE HATCH DOESN'T PASS ITS LEAK CHECK
OR A SUIT DOESN'T--
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER POPS UP, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE MARGIN.
AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO LIFT-OFF, THAT MARGIN DISAPPEARS.
AND SO NOW WE'RE ON A PRETTY TIGHT TIMELINE ALL THE WAY DOWN.
YOU KNOW, 35 MINUTES TO LAUNCH,
THE VISORS HAVE BEEN CLOSED SINCE THEY ARMED THE LAUNCH ESCAPE.
IT'S BEEN ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES.
IT'S AT THIS POINT WHERE I'M SITTING THERE GOING,
"I WISH I HAD SCRATCHED MY NOSE BEFORE I PUT MY VISOR DOWN…"
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
…AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO DO THAT
'CAUSE THEY'RE GONNA BE LIKE THIS FOR ANOTHER 45 MINUTES
WITH THE VISORS DOWN.
[DERROL NAIL] BOY, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LONG TIME
-WHEN YOU PUT IT THAT WAY. [CHUCKLES] -[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLES]
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, THERE'S GREAT ANTICIPATION, RIGHT?
THIS IS THE MOMENT THEY'VE BEEN TRAINING FOR.
A YEAR IN THE MAKING FOR ZENA CARDMAN, WHO'S ESSENTIALLY TRAINED TWICE,
-EVEN LONGER THAN THAT. -[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM.
[DERROL NAIL] THEY HAVE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS MOMENT FOR SO LONG
AND TRAINING SO INTENSELY, AND HERE IT IS UPON US.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, THE TIME FOR REFLECTION
WAS IN THOSE TWO HOURS LEADING UP TO THIS POINT.
AT THIS POINT, NOW IT'S THE MENTAL REHEARSING.
THEY'RE CHAIR FLYING EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
DURING THE NEXT TEN MINUTES WHEN THEY LIFT OFF,
AND ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO,
AS WELL AS THE COUPLE FEW ACTIVITIES
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ONCE THEY GET TO ORBIT.
[DERROL NAIL] CHAIR FLYING.
THAT'S WHAT OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW,
AND WE'LL STAY WITH THEM AS WE COUNT THIS DOWN.
FOR NOW, LET'S SEND IT OUT TO SPACEX IN CALIFORNIA.
AS DERROL MENTIONED,
PROPELLANT LOADING OF BOTH RP-1 AND LIQUID OXYGEN
BEGAN AT T-MINUS 35 MINUTES, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE,
AND WEATHER IS OUR MAIN WATCH ITEM RIGHT NOW.
BUT I AM HEARING FROM OUR VEHICLE TEAMS THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD
FOR BOTH FALCON 9 AND DRAGON.
SO, NEXT UP, AT ABOUT T-MINUS 30 MINUTES,
THE SPACEX LAUNCH DIRECTOR WILL INFORM THE CREW
WHEN LOADING OF CRYOGENIC HELIUM WILL BEGIN,
FIRST ON STAGE ONE, AND THEN ON STAGE TWO, ABOUT FOUR MINUTES LATER.
STAGE TWO RP-1 LOADING SHOULD WRAP UP
AT ABOUT T-MINUS 20 MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS.
THEN AS WE APPROACH T-MINUS 16 MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS,
WE SHOULD HEAR A CALL-OUT
THAT STAGE TWO LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING HAS BEGUN.
SO, WITH ALL OF THOSE CONSUMABLES BEING LOADED ONTO THE ROCKET,
IF WE HAVE TO CALL A HOLD FOR ANY REASON AT THIS POINT,
LIKE POTENTIALLY DUE TO WEATHER,
WE WOULD HAVE TO STAND DOWN AND TARGET OUR BACK-UP LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY,
WHICH IS TOMORROW, FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE AN INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW TODAY.
SO, LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO DO A LITTLE ORBITAL MECHANICS 101.
AN INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW MEANS
THAT WE NEED TO LAUNCH AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME,
AND THAT'S DRIVEN BY OUR PLANNED RENDEZVOUS POINT,
WHICH IS THE LOCATION WHERE DRAGON AND STATION MEET IN SPACE.
RIGHT NOW, THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS ORBITING THE EARTH
AT MORE THAN 17,000 MILES PER HOUR, AND DRAGON NEEDS TO CATCH UP TO IT.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE TO DELIVER DRAGON TO THE CORRECT ORBIT.
WE DO THAT BY TIMING ITS TRAJECTORY, RELATIVE TO THE ORBITING LABORATORY,
SO THAT THEY'RE BOTH IN THE SAME PLACE IN SPACE AT THE SAME TIME.
A PRECISE LIFT-OFF TIME IS CRUCIAL FOR HITTING THAT RENDEZVOUS POINT.
NOW, AGAIN, THAT MEANS THAT AT THIS POINT, IF WE HEAR A HOLD CALLED,
WE'LL BE STANDING DOWN AND LIKELY TARGETING
THAT BACK-UP LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW.
FOR NOW THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAND IT BACK TO SOMYA AND JOSEPH
TO TALK TO US ABOUT WEST COAST RECOVERY. SOMYA?
THANKS FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT, RONNIE.
WE ARE NOW AT T-MINUS 31 MINUTES AND COUNTING
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER
TO GETTING OUR CREW-11 ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE.
ONCE THEIR MISSION IS COMPLETE AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR CREW
TO SPLASH DOWN BACK ON PLANET EARTH,
THEY'LL BE HEADING TO ONE OF SEVERAL TARGETED SITES
SUPPORTED BY SPACEX.
UNTIL RECENTLY, DRAGON RECOVERIES PRIMARILY OCCURRED
OFF OF THE COAST OF FLORIDA.
THIS YEAR, SPACEX MOVED DRAGON RECOVERY OPERATIONS
OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA TO ALLOW DRAGON TO COMPLETE ITS DEORBIT,
BEFORE SAFELY JETTISONING THE TRUNK OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
WHEN THEY RETURN, CREW-10 WILL BE SPACEX'S THIRD CREW MISSION
TO SPLASH DOWN IN ONE OF THE NEW LOCATIONS
FRAM2 WAS THE FIRST BACK IN APRIL THIS YEAR,
FOLLOWED BY AXIOM 4 IN JULY.
THE NEW SPLASHDOWN LOCATIONS ARE NEAR L.A., OCEANSIDE, AND SAN DIEGO.
THE RECOVERY VESSEL, SHANNON, WILL BE STATIONED IN LONG BEACH
TO SUPPORT THE NEW WEST COAST SPLASHDOWN OPERATIONS.
SPREADING THESE SUPPORTED SITES ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
HELPS TO MAXIMIZE THE RETURN OPPORTUNITIES,
LOWERING THE CHANCE WE'LL HAVE TO WAVE OFF DUE TO BAD WEATHER.
AND WHEN THE SPACECRAFT RE-ENTERS, THOSE…
THOSE IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA MAY HEAR A BRIEF DOUBLE CLAP
OF A THUNDER-LIKE SOUND KNOWN AS A SONIC BOOM.
I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR ONE MYSELF ONE DAY, BUT TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE ON
AND TO MOVE OPERATIONS TO THE WEST COAST HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE TO WATCH,
BOTH FROM THE SPACEX STANDPOINT AND FROM NASA,
TO SEE THE TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WORKING TOGETHER,
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
AND LIKE NICK MENTIONED EARLIER,
THERE'S AN ARMY BEHIND EVERY ONE OF THOSE MOVEMENTS,
AND GETTING READY AND PREPARING FOR THESE WEST COAST SPLASHDOWNS.
SO, IT'S GOING TO BE PHENOMENAL TO WATCH AND SEE
NASA'S FIRST CREW MISSION RETURN ON THE WEST COAST.
WELL, BACK TO TODAY'S MISSION, CREW-11, AS THEY CONTINUE TO GET READY TO GO.
THEY'RE INSIDE NOW HALF AN HOUR UNTIL LAUNCH TIME.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT MORE, AND A BIT MORE,
AND LEARN ABOUT THE ASTRONAUTS FLYING TODAY.
[UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYING]
[ZENA CARDMAN] I THINK IT'S REALLY INNATE IN OUR HUMAN NATURE
TO WANT TO KEEP EXPLORING AND TO KEEP PUSHING BOUNDARIES.
EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IN SPACE IS ULTIMATELY FOR EARTH
AND FOR THE HUMAN SPECIES.
WE ARE HAVING A LOT OF GOOD EXPERIMENTS ON ORBIT,
MAKING NEW MEDICINES.
THAT IS ACTUALLY GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.
BY UNDERSTANDING HOW TO LIVE AND WORK IN SPACE,
LIKE WE HAVE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
WE CAN NOW BECOME A MULTI-PLANETARY SPECIES
BY HAVING BASES ON THE MOON AND BASES ON MARS.
[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]
[ZENA CARDMAN, IN ENGLISH] FOR ME, IT'S A REALLY COMPELLING GOAL
TO GO FARTHER AND FARTHER AFIELD IN SPACE
AND PUSHING OUR BOUNDARIES AS A HUMAN SPECIES THAT WAY,
LEARNING MORE ABOUT OUR OWN HOME PLANET AS WE TRY TO GO FARTHER.
[MIKE FINCKE] WE'VE BEEN GOING AND LIVING ABOARD
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR 25 YEARS.
WE'RE READY TO MAKE THE NEXT STEPS.
WE'RE READY TO GO TO THE MOON. WE'RE READY TO GO TO MARS.
WE'RE READY TO EXPLORE THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
WE UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTS OF WHAT LIFE IN SPACE
DOES TO THE HUMAN BODY, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE THOSE STUDIES.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE GETTING READY, AND GET READY AND GO TO THE MOON AND MARS,
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO TO SPACE.
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S HEAD BACK OUT NOW TO A LAUNCH VIEWING LOCATION
WHERE TONI IS AT, FOR ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH SOME SPECIAL GUESTS.
TONI.
HEY, THANKS, DERROL. THAT'S RIGHT.
JOINING ME IS DR. STEVEN PLATTS AND DR. LORI GLAZE,
TO TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HUMAN RESEARCH
THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THIS MISSION.
YOU KNOW, STEVE, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT WHAT HUMAN RESEARCH CREW-11 WILL BE CONDUCTING?
SURE. WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THE LAUNCH.
WE HAVE TEN EXPERIMENTS RELYING ON CREW-11.
EVERYTHING FROM CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM,
ALL THE WAY TO GENOMICS, THE FULL BREADTH,
AND ADDRESSING MANY VERY IMPORTANT RISKS FOR US TO GET TO THE MOON AND MARS.
[ANTONIA JARAMILLO] THAT'S A LOT. YOU KNOW, SPEAKING OF THE MOON AND MARS,
LAURIE, HOW DOES THE HUMAN RESEARCH CONDUCTED ON SPACE STATION
HELP US FOR THOSE FUTURE MISSIONS TO THE LUNAR SURFACE, AND EVENTUALLY MARS?
I'M SO GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO EXPLORE THE MOON AND MARS.
IT'S HERE.
WE ARE ACTUALLY LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY FROM OUR FIRST CREW LAUNCH,
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEND FOUR CREW
OUT AND AROUND THE MOON FOR TEN DAYS, AND BRING THEM BACK.
AND THEN ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THAT,
WE'RE GOING TO LAND ON THE MOON, AND WE NEED TO BE READY, RIGHT?
WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THE TRIPS TO THE MOON,
AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO MARS.
OUR CREW ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO THRIVE
IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE IN MICROGRAVITY,
PERHAPS FOR AS LONG AS A YEAR.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEM TO PERFORM ON THE SURFACE OF MARS,
UNDER ONE-THIRD GRAVITY, AND DO THEIR EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES.
SO, WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO REACT
AND RESPOND TO THAT ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE EXPERIMENTS THAT ARE BEING DONE ON SPACE STATION TODAY,
IT'S SUCH A UNIQUE LABORATORY,
WHERE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT STEVE'S TALKING ABOUT,
WE CAN STUDY PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO BONES,
MUSCLES, BLOOD FLOW.
MENTAL HEALTH IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT PART
OF THIS ACTIVITY.
AND THE EXPERIMENTS THAT WE CAN DO, FOR EXAMPLE, GROWING PLANTS WITHOUT SOIL,
RECYCLING WATER, IF WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECYCLE WATER,
MAYBE 98% OF THE WATER THAT THE CREW USES.
THAT'S LESS RESOURCES WE NEED TO BRING ALONG.
AND THEN SENSORS THAT CAN DETECT,
FOR EXAMPLE, SOLAR STORMS, SO THAT OUR CREW CAN TAKE SHELTER
OR PROTECT THEMSELVES WHILE THEY'RE ON THEIR JOURNEY.
SO, AGAIN, THE EXPERIMENTS THAT ARE BEING DONE
ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO OUR PLANNING, WHICH, AS I SAID,
WE'RE LAUNCHING IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
-WE NEED TO BE READY. -THAT'S RIGHT.
I MEAN, A TON OF VALUABLE RESEARCH THAT WE ARE GATHERING.
YOU KNOW, SPEAKING THEN ON, YOU KNOW,
THE RESEARCH FOR CREW-11, STEVE, I HEARD, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S A NEW EXPERIMENT THAT'S GOING TO SPACE STATION.
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.
YEAH, THAT'S CALLED MANUAL PILOTING, AND WHAT THAT IS LOOKING FOR IS…
THE ABILITY FOR THE CREW TO LAND A VEHICLE ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.
SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SENSORY MOTOR ASPECTS,
BALANCE, COGNITION, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LORI WAS TALKING ABOUT,
AND PUTTING THEM ALL TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE A SIMULATOR
THAT ACTUALLY MOVES IN ALL DIMENSIONS
AND ALLOWS THE CREW TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ACTUALLY LANDING A SPACECRAFT.
AND WE'RE DOING THAT PRE-FLIGHT.
WE HAVE SOME DEVICES ON STATION WHERE WE CAN DO IN-FLIGHT MEASURES,
AS WELL AS POST-FLIGHT.
SO, THAT WILL GIVE US A GREAT IDEA OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO
TO PREPARE THE CREW TO LAND ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.
[ANTONIA JARAMILLO] THAT'S GREAT.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LORI, TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE BENEFITS
OF TRAVELING THEN, BEYOND LOW EARTH ORBIT NOW.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THE REASONS WE'RE GOING TO THE MOON,
AND EVENTUALLY, THE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT PRESENCE
ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON, A BASE, PER SE, THAT WE CAN GO BACK
AND VISIT MULTIPLE TIMES, IS THE SCIENCE THAT WE WANT TO CONDUCT
ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON WILL BE INCREDIBLE.
WE'RE GOING TO A PLACE THAT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT
THAN WHERE THE APOLLO ASTRONAUTS LANDED, SO TOTALLY UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT,
DIFFERENT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, DIFFERENT GEOLOGY OF THE ROCKS.
WE ANTICIPATE THERE IS WATER ICE BENEATH THE SOIL
IN SOME PLACES NEAR THE SOUTH POLE,
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LAND HUMANS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.
SO, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO INCREDIBLY UNIQUE SCIENCE,
BUT WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE
THE HUMAN RESEARCH ASPECTS FOR LONGER DURATION STAYS
ON THE SURFACE OF THE MOON, WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO LIVE AND WORK.
AND THAT WILL AGAIN FEED FORWARD
-TO HELP US BE BETTER PREPARED FOR MARS. -ABSOLUTELY.
A TON OF EXCITING THINGS COMING UP. THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
NOW WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO DERROL AND NICK.
THANK YOU, TONI. CREW-11'S TIME IN ORBIT
WILL TEACH US HOW TO KEEP HUMANS HEALTHY IN SPACE FOR THE LONG HAUL.
MEANWHILE, ON THE MOON-FACING SIDE OF NASA'S WORK,
ARTEMIS II ASTRONAUTS, INCLUDING COMMANDER REID WISEMAN,
ARE TRAINING FOR A VERY DIFFERENT CHALLENGE,
A TEN-DAY MISSION AROUND THE MOON.
AND BEFORE THEY LAUNCH, NASA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ARE MAKING SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO GET THEM HOME,
EVEN IN AN EMERGENCY.
HERE'S REID WITH A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK.
[INQUISITIVE MUSIC PLAYING]
HI, I'M NASA ASTRONAUT, REID WISEMAN, COMMANDER OF ARTEMIS II.
I'M HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA, AND AS YOU CAN SEE,
WORK IS WELL UNDERWAY FOR OUR NEXT MISSION TO THE MOON,
BOTH ON LAND AND OFF THE COAST.
BACK IN JUNE, TEAMS WITH NASA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
USED AN AREA OF OPEN WATER OFF KSC
TO REHEARSE PROCEDURES FOR A POSSIBLE RESCUE
AFTER AN ASCENT ABORT FROM THE SLS ROCKET.
INSTEAD OF USING ASTRONAUTS, THEY USED A SET OF TEST MANNEQUINS
STAGED INSIDE THE CREW MODULE TEST ARTICLE,
A FULL-SCALE MOCK-UP OF THE ORION SPACECRAFT.
YOU CAN SEE PARARESCUERS JUMPED FROM A PLANE INTO THE WATER
WITH THEIR SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT, THEN APPROACHED THE SPACECRAFT,
OPENED THE CAPSULE, AND TRANSPORTED THE MANNEQUINS
TO THE HELICOPTER SAFELY FOR MEDICAL CARE.
THIS WAS ONE OF TWO EMERGENCY PROCEDURES THEY REHEARSED,
SHOULD THEY NEED TO RESCUE ME, VICTOR, CHRISTINA, AND JEREMY
DURING AN ABORT SCENARIO.
AND BACK TO YOUR OWN LAND,
NOW THAT THE UPPER STAGE INTEGRATION IS COMPLETE
INSIDE THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING,
TEAMS WITH NASA'S EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS
HAVE BEEN RUNNING SLS-INTEGRATED TESTING,
WHERE THEY POWERED UP BOTH THE CORE STAGE AND BOOSTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME,
IN PREPARATION FOR OUR TEN-DAY JOURNEY AROUND THE MOON.
THAT'S A LOOK AT YOUR ARTEMIS MOON MINUTE.
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
FOR MORE ARTEMIS UPDATES, SCAN THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT HERE
OR VISIT NASA.GOV/ARTEMIS-II.
-NICK, I KNOW YOU'RE EXCITED FOR ARTEMIS. -ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, ONE OF YOUR FELLOW ASTRONAUTS YOU'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH,
-CHRISTINA KOCH, IS GOING UP. -YEAH, YEAH.
YOU KNOW, THE ASTRONAUT CORPS IS SMALL, SO YOU KNOW EVERYBODY IN THE CORPS,
AND SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE ALL FOUR OF THEM TAKE THEIR TRIP…
TRIP AROUND THE MOON. IT'S EXCITING.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME FOR NASA, MORE THAN 50 YEARS.
ALL RIGHT, NOW LET'S SEND IT BACK TO SPACEX IN HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DERROL AND NICK.
AND IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO HEAR THAT INTERVIEW AND THAT MOON MINUTE.
AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW INTERWOVEN
WHAT'S BEING DONE WITH THESE CREWED MISSIONS
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, AND HOW THEY IMPACT, MOVING FORWARD,
AND THE ARTEMIS CAMPAIGN, SO, INCREDIBLE TO SEE
HOW THOSE TWO CREWS AND HOW THOSE TWO MISSIONS WORK TOGETHER.
NOW, AS WE GET BACK TO TODAY'S LAUNCH, WE'RE NOW APPROACHING 20 MINUTES AWAY
IN THE COUNTDOWN FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT FALCON 9 THAT'S ON YOUR SCREEN NOW,
AND THAT IS A TWO-STAGE ROCKET THAT IS 29-FEET TALL
AND GETTING READY FOR LIFT-OFF, AND AGAIN, APPROACHING 20 MINUTES AWAY.
AT LAUNCH TIME, IT PRODUCES MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST.
SOMYA, THAT IS IMPRESSIVE FIREPOWER.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] YEAH, AND ROCKETS LIKE FALCON 9
DON'T USE ALL THAT THRUST JUST TO GO STRAIGHT UP.
EARLY IN FLIGHT, FALCON 9 PERFORMS A GRAVITY TURN,
WHICH IS A SMOOTH PITCH MANEUVER…
STAGE TWO, RP-1 LOAD COMPLETE.
…HEARING GOOD CALL-OUTS OVER THE NETS,
WHICH IS A SMOOTH PITCH MANEUVER THAT TILTS THE ROCKET SIDEWAYS
TO BUILD UP HORIZONTAL VELOCITY.
YOU MAY HEAR THIS CALL-OUT ABOUT TEN SECONDS INTO LAUNCH
AS THE VEHICLE IS PITCHING DOWNRANGE.
AND ONCE THE FIRST STAGE COMPLETES ITS PORTION OF THE MISSION,
IT SHUTS DOWN AND SEPARATES.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] A STAGE ROCKET LIKE FALCON 9
SHEDS THAT BOOSTER TO ELIMINATE THE WEIGHT
AND UNCOVER THE MERLIN VACUUM ENGINE ON STAGE TWO.
TO REACH ORBIT, THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO GO FAST,
HITTING AN ORBITAL VELOCITY OF ABOUT 28,000 KILOMETERS AN HOUR.
AND THAT'S JUST TO KEEP FROM FALLING BACK TO EARTH DUE TO GRAVITY.
THAT'S FAST ENOUGH TO LAP THE EARTH IN ABOUT 90 MINUTES
OR FLY FROM NEW YORK TO HERE IN HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA,
IN UNDER TEN MINUTES, WHICH IS ABOUT SEVEN TIMES FASTER
THAN THE U.S. AIR FORCE'S SR-71 BLACKBIRD.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] AFTER STAGE SEPARATION, TODAY'S BOOSTER WILL BE LANDING
AT LANDING ZONE 1 AT CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION.
THIS PARTICULAR BOOSTER WILL BE RETURNING TO EARTH FOR ITS THIRD TIME.
THE SECOND STAGE TAKES OVER FROM THERE,
POWERED BY A SINGLE MERLIN VACUUM ENGINE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE MVAC.
WITH ITS EXTENDED NOZZLE AND OPTIMIZED DESIGN,
THE MVAC DRIVES MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE,
PRODUCING 220,000 POUNDS OF THRUST IN THE VACUUM OF SPACE.
ON TODAY'S MISSION, WE'LL LIGHT THAT ENGINE FOUR TIMES
BEFORE DEPLOYING THE FINAL PAYLOAD INTO ORBIT.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] NOW, SO MUCH OF WHAT MAKES FALCON 9 REMARKABLE
HAPPENS IN-FLIGHT.
[CORE] DRAGON, SPACEX FOR COUNTDOWN CHECK-IN BRIEF.
[ZENA CARDMAN] READY TO BEGIN.
OKAY, ZENA, WE HAVE HEALTHY DRAGON, HEALTHY FALCON 9,
JUST LIKE LAST TIME, SO, PROP LOAD IS PROCEEDING NOMINALLY.
WE DO HAVE ONE WATCH ITEM THAT HAS POPPED UP.
THERE IS A POP-UP STORM CELL THAT IS JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE PAD.
CURRENTLY NOT VIOLATING ANY LCCS,
BUT WE ARE MONITORING THIS PARTICULARLY CLOSELY
AS IT'S MOVING OFF-SHORE.
WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF IT STARTS TRENDING TOWARDS BLOCKING LAUNCH TODAY,
BUT AGAIN, NOT EXPECTING THAT AT THIS TIME.
DRAGON COPIES ALL, WE'VE GOT A HEALTHY DRAGON, HEALTHY FALCON.
WE'RE PROCEEDING TOWARDS LAUNCH.
ONLY WATCH ITEM IS A STORM CELL
THAT IS NORTH OF THE PAD, MOVING OFF-SHORE.
WE'LL CONTINUE MONITORING, BUT OTHERWISE LOOKING GREAT.
THAT'S A GOOD READBACK.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND GREAT COMMUNICATIONS THERE
FROM THE TEAM HERE AT SPACEX ON THE GROUND IN HAWTHORNE,
MONITORING WHAT WE'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON
THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST HERE TODAY, IS THAT WEATHER POPPING UP,
BUT EVERYTHING ELSE LOOKS STRONG AND HEALTHY.
THE FALCON 9, THE CAPSULE ITSELF, AND THE CREW,
THEY'RE STILL READY TO ROLL AS WE'RE NOW ABOUT 17 MINUTES AWAY
FROM THE LAUNCH.
NOW TALKING BACK TO FALCON 9,
AND WHAT REMARKABLE HAPPENS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN FLIGHT.
IT'S THE FIRST STAGE, LANDING ITSELF ON LAND
OR ON A DRONE SHIP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN.
THE FAIRINGS THAT CAN PARACHUTE BACK ALL READY FOR ANOTHER FLIGHT TO SPACE.
EVERY PART OF FALCON 9 IS A PART OF A LARGER DESIGN
THAT COMES TOGETHER TO DO ONE THING, AND THAT'S ESCAPE EARTH'S GRAVITY.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] AND GETTING TO SPACE IS THE FIRST STEP
TO BUILDING OUR MULTI-PLANETARY FUTURE.
AT THE TOP OF FALCON 9 TODAY,
THE CREW IS SITTING INSIDE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR.
DRAGON HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ADVANCING OUR FUTURE IN SPACE
BY SAFELY TRANSPORTING CREW TO AND FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY FIVE DRAGON SPACECRAFT SUPPORTING HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT MISSIONS.
ENDEAVOUR, RESILIENCE, ENDURANCE, FREEDOM, AND OUR FIFTH AND FINAL DRAGON, GRACE,
WHICH JUST LAUNCHED THE AXIOM 4 MISSION LAST MONTH.
DESIGNED WITH SAFETY AS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY,
DRAGON IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING UP TO SEVEN PASSENGERS
TO AND FROM EARTH ORBIT.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT HAS…
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER] STAGE TWO LOX LOAD HAS STARTED.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] …16 DRACO THRUSTERS. YOU HEARD THAT GREAT CALL OUT THERE
AS THE FUELING CONTINUING TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE ROCKET.
AND THOSE 16 DRACO THRUSTERS CAN BE USED IN SPACE
TO HELP NAVIGATE THE SPACECRAFT TO ITS DESTINATION,
EACH PROVIDING 90 POUNDS OF FORCE.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE EIGHT SUPER DRACO THRUSTERS
USED FOR AN ABORT,
WHICH ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE ONCE THE CREW IS IN ORBIT.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] TO DATE, DRAGON HAS BEEN TO ORBIT 53 TIMES,
INCLUDING 48 TRIPS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AND 18 HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT MISSIONS.
AND AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER,
TODAY'S DRAGON, ENDEAVOUR, HAS BEEN PRETTY BUSY,
HAVING ALSO FLOWN NASA'S CREW-2 MISSION,
AXIOM-1, AND NASA'S CREW-6 AND CREW-8 MISSIONS.
OVERALL FOR THE DRAGON FLEET,
THIS WILL BE DRAGON'S 49TH VISIT TO THE SPACE STATION,
AND ITS 19TH HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT MISSION OVERALL,
AND THE FIFTH DRAGON FLIGHT THIS YEAR.
DRAGON IS THE FIRST PRIVATE SPACECRAFT TO TAKE HUMANS TO THE ORBITING LAB,
HAVING FLOWN 300,000 POUNDS OF CARGO AND MORE THAN 1,000 EXPERIMENTS TO SPACE,
AS WELL AS 70 CREW MEMBERS REPRESENTING 20 COUNTRIES.
OUR VERSATILE DRAGON SPACECRAFT
CAN AUTONOMOUSLY DOCK WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WHEN OUTFITTED WITH A DOCKING ADAPTER,
WHICH IS JUST HOW IT'S CONFIGURED FOR TODAY'S FLIGHT.
AND WHEN IT'S NOT GOING TO THE SPACE STATION
AND IT'S IN FREE-FLYER MODE,
THE DOCKING ADAPTER CAN BE SWAPPED OUT FOR A CUPOLA
AS IT WAS BACK DURING THE INSPIRATION4 MISSION.
ANOTHER OPTION WE HAVE IS THE SKYWALKER HARDWARE,
WHICH SUPPORTS EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITIES OR SPACEWALKS
AS WE DID DURING THE POLARIS DAWN MISSION.
AND AMAZINGLY,
THERE HAS BEEN A DRAGON IN SPACE FOR 1,358 CONSECUTIVE DAYS SINCE CREW-3.
NOW WITH T…
WITH T-MINUS 0 COMING UP IN ABOUT 14 MINUTES OR SO,
OUR TEAMS ARE CONTINUING TO DO A SERIES OF SYSTEM CHECKS
TO ENSURE DRAGON AND THE FALCON 9 ARE READY
WITH FUELING CONTINUING TO GET UNDERWAY.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE MONITORING THAT WEATHER
THAT THE TEAMS HERE AT SPACEX ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON
AND HAVE BEEN RELAYING UP TO THE CREW.
SO, LET'S CHECK IN WITH RONNIE WITH THE LATEST.
THANKS, JOSEPH.
SO, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE ARE STILL ON TRACK
FOR AN ON-TIME LAUNCH TODAY.
AND WE'RE MONITORING LOTS OF DIFFERENT FACTORS
AS WE GET CLOSER TO LIFTOFF.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, BOTH DRAGON AND FALCON 9,
OF COURSE, CARRYING OUR CREW, 11 ASTRONAUTS, CONTINUE TO BE HEALTHY.
YOU HEARD THAT WE'VE WRAPPED UP STAGE TWO RP-1 LOADING,
AND THAT STAGE TWO LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING ALSO WRAPPED UP ON TIME
AT ABOUT 16 AND A HALF MINUTES TO GO.
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS ALSO ARMED.
THAT'S, OF COURSE, THE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO PROPEL DRAGON AWAY FROM FALCON 9
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
AND THE EASTERN RANGE IS MONITORING KEEP OUT ZONES
ALONG THE FLIGHT ASCENT CORRIDOR
AND IS TRACKING NO ISSUES FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH.
WEATHER CONTINUES TO BE A WATCH ITEM, SO WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
BUT FOR NOW, WE ARE GO FOR THE SIXTH MISSION OF DRAGON ENDEAVOUR.
IT IS A FANTASTIC MILESTONE FOR DRAGON, AND HERE AT SPACEX,
WE COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED.
SO, TO ADD A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA TO OUR CELEBRATION,
I'VE GOT OUR DRAGON PLUSH HANGING OUT WITH ME HERE
IN FRONT OF MISSION CONTROL.
NOW, THIS GUY IS NOT THE ZERO GRAVITY INDICATOR
FOR TODAY'S MISSION,
BUT DO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THAT ONCE CREW-11 REACHES ORBIT.
THIS IS THOUGH, A FUN NOD
TO ALL THE SUCCESSFUL FLIGHTS THAT DRAGON HAS MADE,
AND ALL OF THE CREWS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY TO WORK WITH.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE TODAY'S FLIGHT MILESTONE,
AND I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED JOINING YOU ALL.
THANKS FOR JOINING ME AT THE STATUS DESK FOR ALL OF OUR COVERAGE TODAY.
WITH THAT, GO, DRAGON, GO, CREW-11,
AND I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO SANDRA FOR A STATUS UPDATE FROM HOUSTON.
THANKS, RONNIE. THAT PLUSH IS CUTE. I'M GONNA HAVE TO GET ONE FOR MYSELF.
BACK HERE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM
AT NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON, TEAMS CONTINUE TO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK
TO MONITOR ACTIVITIES ABOARD THE ORBITAL OUTPOST.
LEADING THE TEAM INSIDE THE ROOM TODAY IS NASA FLIGHT DIRECTOR SCOTT STOVER.
THE TEAM IN MISSION CONTROL AND THE TEAM IN HAWTHORNE,
AS WELL AS THE ASTRONAUTS ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
WILL TRACK THE AUTONOMOUS DOCKING OF DRAGON ENDEAVOUR
WHEN THEY ENTER INTO JOINT OPERATIONS.
THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE SPACECRAFT ENTERS
THE APPROACH ELLIPSOID,
WHICH IS THE INVISIBLE BOUNDARY STRETCHING FOUR BY TWO-BY-TWO KILOMETERS
THAT HELPS US MONITOR ALL ARRIVING AND DEPARTING SPACECRAFT.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
ONCE DOCKED, CREW MEMBERS IN BOTH DRAGON AND ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WILL PERFORM A SERIES OF LEAK CHECKS,
AND THEN WILL WORK TO OPEN THE SPACECRAFT'S HATCH
FOR CREW-11 TO FLOAT INTO THE SPACE STATION
AND BEGIN THEIR STAY.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE HATCH WILL BE OPENED
ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AFTER DOCKING OCCURS.
WHEN THEY ENTER THE ORBITAL OUTPOST,
CREW WILL BE GREETED BY THE REST OF THE EXPEDITION 73 CREW
AND WILL COME TOGETHER FOR OPENING REMARKS.
BUT FOR NOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE ALL FROM US HERE IN MISSION CONTROL FOR TODAY,
AS THE ANTICIPATION CONTINUES TO BUILD FOR LAUNCH
IN LESS THAN 20 MINUTES FROM NOW.
SO, HOW'S IT LOOKING ON THE SPACE COAST, DERROL?
WELL, WE'VE GOT A MIX IN THE WEATHER.
THERE'S SOME CLOUDS THAT ARE BUILDING, BUT SO FAR STILL LOOKING GOOD,
OKAY, FOR LAUNCH. IT'S A WATCH ITEM AT THE MOMENT,
AND SO WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYES TO THE SKIES.
ALSO, THIS IS A FIRST FOR OUR BROADCAST TEAM RIGHT HERE.
AN ASTRONAUT WHO ONCE SAT RIGHT HERE WHERE NICK IS SITTING AS A COMMENTATOR,
IS NOW MINUTES FROM FLYING TO SPACE.
ZENA CARDMAN WAS ONCE IN THIS VERY SEAT,
THE ONE THAT NICK HAGUE IS SITTING IN NOW, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.
SHE WAS SUPPORTING NICK AS HE LAUNCHED WITH CREW-9.
SHE WAS ORIGINALLY SET TO COMMAND THAT MISSION,
BUT WHEN CREW-9 HAD THE SHIFT AND HAD THE CHANGE UP OF ASSIGNMENTS,
SHE HAD TO STEP BACK TO HELP GET THE TEAM OFF THE GROUND.
AND HERE'S WHAT SHE SAID, NICK,
AFTER WATCHING YOU AND YOUR CREW GO INTO SPACE.
EVERY CREWED LAUNCH THAT I HAVE EVER WATCHED
HAS REALLY BROUGHT ME A LOT OF EMOTION.
THIS ONE TODAY WAS ESPECIALLY UNIQUE.
I THINK IT WAS HARD NOT TO WATCH THAT ROCKET LIFT OFF WITHOUT THINKING,
"THAT'S MY ROCKET AND THAT'S MY CREW."
BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN THINK THAT.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE STEPHANIE WILSON HERE TODAY.
BUT, I MEAN, THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS MISSION HAPPEN.
AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON ORBIT WHO WILL BE TAKING THIS CAPSULE HOME.
AND IT MAKES ME VERY PROUD TO KNOW THAT I AM ONE OF MANY PEOPLE
WHO CAN SAY, "THAT'S MY CREW, THAT'S MY ROCKET."
MAKES ME REALLY PROUD,
MAKES ME FEEL VERY CONNECTED TO THIS MISSION
THAT WE ALL GET TO TAKE PART OF.
GO, CREW-9.
AN EMOTION-FILLED ZENA CARDMAN IN THAT MOMENT,
AND SHE IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME WORDS ANY MOMENT NOW.
[CORE] DRAGON SPACEX, CONFIRM CREW DISPLAYS
ARE CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH.
YOUR THOUGHTS ON HEARING THAT AFTER YOU LAUNCH?
[ZENA CARDMAN] SPACEX DRAGON, DISPLAYS ARE CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH.
IT IS OUR HONOR, OUR PRIVILEGE,
AND OUR CHOICE TO TAKE PART IN SOMETHING MUCH GREATER
THAN ANY INDIVIDUAL,
BUT IT'S THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE THIS ENDEAVOR GREAT.
TO EACH OF YOU AT SPACEX AND NASA,
TO OUR PARTNERS AT JAXA AND ROSCOSMOS,
TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MENTORS, YOU FLY WITH US TODAY.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE]
[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]
THANK YOU.
WITH GRATITUDE AND FOCUS, CREW-11 IS READY.
-[DERROL NAIL] AND MORE WORDS-- -[FLIGHT DIRECTOR] CREW-11,
SENTIMENT IS THE SAME ON THE GROUND FROM EVERYONE STAYING HERE.
WE HAVE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU IN THE PREPARATION FOR THE MISSION.
LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THE SAME IN FLIGHT.
GOOD LUCK. ENJOY THE RIDE.
AND MORE WORDS FROM ZENA CARDMAN.
-WE JUST HEARD FROM HER LIVE. -YEAH.
YEAH, IT'S…
LIKE I STARTED THE SHOW,
THERE ISN'T ANY PLACE I'D RATHER BE THAN HERE TODAY.
WHAT ZENA SAID IS SO TRUE, YOU KNOW?
AND IT'S THIS PALPABLE FEELING THAT,
"HEY, THAT'S MY CREW."
"THOSE ARE MY FRIENDS."
YOU KNOW, THERE'S… YOU KNOW, "HEY, THAT'S MY COMMANDER."
AND JUST TO BE HERE AND KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW,
I'VE DONE MY SMALL PART TO HELP SUPPORT THEM ALONG THEIR WAY,
AND THERE'LL BE MORE SUPPORT THAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE.
AND TO BE ABLE TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES,
EVERYBODY ELSE THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT IS…
THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS ALL SO SPECIAL, IS IT'S NOT ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL.
SPACEFLIGHT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S ALL ABOUT US WORKING TOGETHER.
[DERROL NAIL] 100%, WELL SAID, NICK.
AND KUDOS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR SHOWING AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF CLASS.
YOU SIGNED UP TO DO THIS ROLE
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING INTO SPACE.
AND WE HEARD FROM YOU SAYING, "I WANT TO BE THERE FOR ZENA."
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, AND GO, CREW-11.
AND SO, WITH JUST SEVEN MINUTES TO GO, A LITTLE OVER SEVEN MINUTES,
WE WANT TO SEND IT BACK TO HAWTHORNE FOR THE FINAL COUNTDOWN.
THANK YOU, DERROL. THANK YOU, NICK.
AND THOSE WERE BEAUTIFUL WORDS FROM ZENA CARDMAN.
YOU CAN HEAR THE EMOTIONS BEHIND THEM
AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING READY FOR LAUNCH.
AND THEY SAY CREW-11 IS READY.
AS YOU MENTIONED, ABOUT SEVEN MINUTES AND CHANGE TO GO UNTIL WE HAVE LIFTOFF.
AND WE'RE STILL AWAITING THE FINAL PROPELLANT LOADING TO COMPLETE.
AND THEN WE'LL GET INTO ENGINE CHILL,
AND MORE MILESTONES WILL BE ALONG THE WAY.
IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A NINE-MINUTE RIDE TO ORBIT,
AND THEN DRAGON IN THE SECOND STAGE
WILL CONTINUE TO COAST FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER THAT
ONCE THE FIRST STAGE AND SECOND STAGE HAVE PERFORMED.
YOU'LL BE HEARING SOME OF THOSE PERFORMANCE CALLS
AS WE GET INTO THAT FINAL COUNTDOWN AND THEN AFTER LIFTOFF.
THESE ARE SPACEX FLIGHT CONTROLLERS REPORTING ON THE TRAJECTORY,
SPEED, BOOSTER AND PERFORMANCE, AND THE KEY MILESTONES.
BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER CALLS THAT YOU'LL HEAR THE CREW MAKE AS WELL,
ESPECIALLY AFTER LIFTOFF.
THE CREW WILL REPORT OUT A FEW NUMBER AND LETTER COMBINATIONS
WHICH MARK DIFFERENT ABORT ZONES THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT
UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
THE FIRST TWO, ONE A AND ONE B, ARE ABORT MODES AVAILABLE.
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER] ENGINE CHILL HAS STARTED.
AND RIGHT ON CUE FOR THE ENGINE CHILL THAT HAS BEGUN.
AND THOSE FIRST STAGE ABORT ZONES, AGAIN, ONE A AND ONE B,
FOR THAT FIRST STAGE. NEXT ARE TWO A THROUGH E.
THOSE WILL COME INTO PLAY ONCE THE SECOND STAGE KICKS IN,
BUT WE'LL ONLY HEAR THAT TWO A CALL.
AND DIVERTING A LITTLE BIT FROM THE OTHER NAMING SYSTEMS,
WE'LL HEAR THE CALL "SHANNON," WHICH REFERS TO SHANNON, IRELAND.
THIS MEANS THAT THE CREW COULD TARGET OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND
IF THEY NEEDED TO ABORT LATE IN THAT SECOND STAGE BURN.
YOU'LL HEAR THESE DIFFERENT CALLS
THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT UPHILL ALONG THE WAY.
AND THE PERFORMANCE CALL-OUTS FROM THE GUIDANCE, NAVIGATION,
AND CONTROL OFFICER, AND ALSO THE PROPULSION LEAD.
SO, WE'RE COMING UP ON T-MINUS SIX AND A HALF MINUTES.
WE HEARD THAT THE ENGINE CHILL IS STARTED,
AND THAT MEANS THAT THAT SMALL TRICKLE OF FUEL
MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE ENGINE TO PRIME IT BEFORE LAUNCH.
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER] STAGE ONE FUEL LOAD COMPLETE.
SO, WE ALREADY HEARD THAT STAGE ONE ENGINE CHILL
HAS ALREADY STARTED, WHICH IS A KEY PROCESS
THAT PREPARES THE ENGINES FOR FLIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, THE PROP IN THE TANKS IS ISOLATED FROM THE ENGINES.
SORRY,
THE PROP IN THE TANKS HAS ALREADY STARTED TRICKLING
IN TO THE MERLIN ENGINE PUMPS AS THE ENGINES ARE CHILLING
FOR THE START SEQUENCE.
AND WE DO THIS BECAUSE THE SUPER CHILLED AND DENSIFIED LIQUID OXYGEN
IS REALLY, REALLY COLD.
AND WE USE THIS PROCESS TO BRING THE ENGINE HARDWARE DOWN
TO A COOLER TEMPERATURE BEFORE FLOWING ALL OF THE LOCKS
AND PROPELLANT INTO IT DURING FLIGHT.
AT LIFTOFF,
FALCON 9 IS CONSUMING 700 GALLONS OF FUEL PER SECOND.
SO, ENGINE CHILL HELPS US TO PREVENT THERMAL SHOCK
AND ENSURES NOMINAL ENGINE PERFORMANCE.
SHORTLY COMING UP,
WE SHOULD ALSO HEAR THE CALL OUT FOR STAGE ONE RP-1 LOAD COMPLETION.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AS YOU MENTIONED, ENGINE CHILL IS NOW UNDERWAY.
WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THOSE NEXT CALL-OUTS.
IT'LL BE COMING UP HERE SHORTLY
AS WE ARE NOW ALMOST FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM LIFTOFF,
AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GONNA CONFIGURE FOR TERMINAL COUNT.
AND THAT WILL BE A CALL FOR DRAGON TO CONFIGURE TO TERMINAL COUNT
AND TRANSITION INTO INTERNAL POWER.
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER 1] FALCON 9 TANKS ARE PRESSURIZING FOR STRONGBACK RETRACT.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND AT THIS POINT, THE DRAGON ONBOARD COMPUTERS--
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER 2] …CONFIGURE FOR TERMINAL COUNT.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] PERFECT, RIGHT ON SCHEDULE,
AND THOSE ONBOARD COMPUTERS NOW TAKING CONTROL OF THE SPACECRAFT.
YOU ALSO HEARD THE CALL OUT FOR PRESSURIZING
TO GIVE EXTRA STRUCTURAL STABILITY FOR THE ROCKET AS IT MAKES ITS WAY UPHILL.
SO, WE'RE APPROACHING NOW FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES AWAY,
AND THEN AROUND THAT TIME, YOU'LL HEAR, YOU MENTIONED IT THERE,
THE STRONGBACK RETRACT,
AND THAT'LL PROVIDE ACCESS TO FALCON 9'S FUELING LINES
AND UMBILICALS FOR PROP LOAD, AND DIFFERENT GASES BEING LOADED ONBOARD.
BUT RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING'S STARTING TO WRAP UP, AND SOMYA--
IT'S EXCITING TO GET TO THIS…
[ZENA CARDMAN] STRONGBACK RETRACT HAS STARTED.
…EXCITING TO GET TO THIS POINT OF THE COUNTDOWN.
AS YOU HEARD IT RIGHT THERE, THE STRONGBACK RETRACT IS ON ITS WAY.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] SO, WE HAVE A GREAT VIEW ON OUR SCREEN
OF THE CLAMP ARMS OPENING UP JUST AROUND STAGE TWO UNDER DRAGON
IN PREPARATION FOR STRONGBACK RETRACT.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT VIEWS UP ON OUR SCREEN
OF THAT HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] YOU CAN SEE IT JUST MOVING EVER SO SLIGHTLY
AWAY FROM FALCON 9 AND THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT,
THOSE CLAMP ARMS OPENING.
AND AGAIN, THOSE LATE STAGES,
THOSE FUEL LINES STARTING TO WIND DOWN THEIR FUELING PROCEDURES
AS WE'RE ABOUT TO HIT T-MINUS THREE MINUTES UNTIL LAUNCH.
SECOND STAGE LOADING WILL WRAP UP SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST,
AND YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED THOSE WHITE CLOUDS VENTING
FROM AROUND THE ROCKET. THAT ISN'T SMOKE, THAT'S…
[CAPCOM] STAGE ONE LOX LOAD COMPLETE.
…THAT'S CONDENSATION AS STAGE ONE LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING
HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
AS LIQUID OXYGEN WARMS SLIGHTLY INSIDE THE TANKS,
SOME OF IT BOILS OFF, AND THAT GAS IS VENTED TO MANAGE PRESSURE.
WHEN THE VENTED OXYGEN HITS THAT WARM FLORIDA…
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER] TERMINAL COUNT AND ON INTERNAL POWER.
…IT INSTANTLY CONDENSES INTO THOSE CLOUDS.
AS YOU JUST NOW HEARD, THE DRAGON NOW IN PROP LOAD COMPLETE,
ON INTO INTERNAL POWER, IT'S FULLY FUELED.
THE ROCKET AND CREW-11 ARE READY FOR LIFTOFF.
AND THIS ROCKET NOW TRANSITIONING INTO INTERNAL POWER.
THE GAS CLOSEOUTS WILL ALSO BEGIN TO PURGE ALL THE FEED LINES
AND ALLOW FALCON 9 TO BE ISOLATED. AND THEN THEY'LL GET VENTED OVERBOARD
THROUGH THE UMBILICALS
AND STRONGBACK RETRACT.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] SO, COMING UP IN JUST UNDER 20 SECONDS,
WE SHOULD HEAR THE CALL OUT
THAT LOX LOAD WILL BE COMPLETED ON STAGE TWO,
WHICH WILL MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE ONE MILLION POUNDS OF PROPELLANT
LOADED ONTO FALCON 9 AT THAT POINT.
WE'RE COMING UP ON THAT CALL OUT IN JUST A FEW SECONDS FROM NOW.
[CAPCOM] STAGE TWO LOX LOAD COMPLETE.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] NOW THAT THAT'S COMPLETE,
WE WILL VENT DOWN THE TE,
WHICH WILL PRODUCE A WHITE CLOUD OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROCKET,
WHICH IS TOTALLY NORMAL AND EXPECTED.
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER] DRAGON IS IN AUTO IDLE.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AUTO IDLE PUTS THAT ROCKET IN A STATE
THE FLIGHT COMPUTERS UNDERSTAND BEFORE IT TAKES OVER.
THAT'S MAKING SURE THE TRANSITION TO THE FINAL COUNTDOWN IS SMOOTH,
AND ALL THE FLIGHT COMPUTERS ON BOARD ARE IN SYNC WITH EACH OTHER
AND CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH. WE'RE NOW 90 SECONDS AWAY FROM LAUNCH.
[ZENA CARDMAN] GROUND GAS CLOSEOUT HAS STARTED. EXPECT LOUD VENTING.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND THERE'S THE GAS CLOSEOUT
THAT SOMYA WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT. AND NOW INSIDE,
80 SECONDS FROM THE LAUNCH OF NASA SPACEX'S CREW-11.
[FLIGHT DIRECTOR] ON COUNTDOWN THERE. HOLD, HOLD, HOLD.
WE ARE STANDING DOWN FOR VIOLATION OF WEATHER RULES.
[CORE] I'LL TRY TO SEE IF IT'S ABORTED.
[SOMYA SRIVASTAVA] SO, AS YOU'VE HEARD OVER THE NETS,
THAT WE DID JUST HAVE A HOLD CALLED AT THE T-MINUS ONE MINUTE MARK.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND THAT HOLD DUE TO WEATHER,
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON.
OUR TEAM HERE IN SPACEX AND HAWTHORNE, AS WELL AS NASA,
WERE MONITORING THAT THROUGHOUT TODAY'S BROADCAST
IN PREPARATION FOR LAUNCH.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, STANDING DOWN LOOKS TO BE THE CASE,
AS THE WEATHER HAS CREATED THAT VIOLATION.
BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR,
AND AWAIT FOR THE NEWS OFFICIALLY FROM THE TEAMS ON THE GROUND,
AS THAT WEATHER VIOLATION LOOKS TO COME INTO PLAY FOR LAUNCH TODAY.
[FLIGHT DIRECTOR] DRAGON SPACEX. BAD LUCK ON WEATHER THERE.
WE JUST GOT CLIPPED BY A CUMULUS CLOUD RIGHT OVER THE PAD,
SO ENDED UP SCRUBBING FOR WEATHER.
WITH THAT, YOU ARE GO TO PROCEED TO 5.100,
FOR LAUNCH SCRUB. WE'LL BEGIN OFF LOADING THE ROCKET.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPIES ALL, 5.100.
TOO BAD, BUT WE'LL BE READY NEXT TIME.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND THERE YOU HEARD THE CALLOUT TO THE CREW
THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE WEATHER JUST NOT PLAYING ALONGSIDE
WITH TODAY'S EXCITEMENT OF A LAUNCH FOR NASA SPACEX'S CREW-11.
BUT WE HAVE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST TODAY
THAT THERE ARE BACKUP OPPORTUNITIES STARTING AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.
11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME, IS WHAT THE TARGET TIME IS
FOR TOMORROW'S NEXT ATTEMPT FOR LAUNCH FOR CREW-11.
BUT IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE, SOMYA, WITH THAT T-MINUS ONE MINUTE.
BUT YOU HEARD ON THE LOOPS THERE THAT IT WAS JUST CLIPPED,
AS THEY SAID, BY A CUMULUS CLOUD, TO VIOLATE THE WEATHER RULE.
SO, UNFORTUNATELY,
TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT HAS BEEN SCRUBBED DUE TO WEATHER.
AND THERE ARE A THOUSAND DIFFERENT WAYS THAT A LAUNCH CAN GO WRONG.
AND SO, WE WANT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY,
EVEN IF IT IS A WEATHER SCRUB.
SO, WE WILL STAY WITH COVERAGE OF THE CREW
AS WE FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THE EGRESS PROCEDURES
AND MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO CREW QUARTERS FOR NOW.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND YOU SAID THE KEY WORD RIGHT THERE,
AND THAT IS SAFETY.
THE SAFETY OF THE CREW AND EVERYONE INVOLVED
ON THIS LAUNCH AND OPPORTUNITY,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT EVEN IN YESTERDAY'S PRESS BRIEFINGS
WITH ALL THE PROGRAM MANAGERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF NASA, SPACEX,
ROSCOSMOS, AND JAXA, IS THAT WE'LL LAUNCH WHEN WE'RE READY,
AND EVERYTHING LINES UP THE WAY IT NEEDS TO BE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO WEATHER, NOT THE CASE TODAY.
BUT TO RECAP AND LOOK BACK AT EVERYTHING THAT CREW-11 HAS DONE,
THEY WALKED RIGHT UP TO THE T-MINUS ONE MINUTE TO LAUNCH MARK
AS EVERYBODY WAS SAFE AND SOUND.
THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR PROCEDURES EARLIER TODAY,
DID SUIT LEADING CHECKS, ALSO DID COMMUNICATIONS CHECKS,
AND WERE ABLE TO GO ALL THE WAY OFF TO THE PAD,
CLIMB ABOARD THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT AND GET READY FOR LAUNCH TODAY.
BUT AGAIN, UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO WEATHER, IT WILL NOT HAPPEN,
AND WE WILL TARGET THAT NEXT LAUNCH ATTEMPT,
WHICH AGAIN IS GONNA BE TOMORROW AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
WE WILL STAY WITH COVERAGE OF THE CREW
AS WE FOLLOW THEM THROUGH THE EGRESS PROCEDURES,
GETTING OUT OF THE SPACECRAFT,
AND MAKING THEIR WAY BACK TO CREW QUARTERS.
AND TO DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA HEAD BACK OUT ONTO THE SPACE COAST OF FLORIDA
AND JOIN DERROL NAIL AND TEAM,
AS TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11
HAS BEEN SCRUBBED DUE TO WEATHER.
-DARRELL. -ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOSEPH AND SOMYA.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR COVERAGE THERE.
AND NOW BACK HERE WITH NASA ASTRONAUT NICK HAGUE.
WE JUST RETURNED FROM BEING OUTSIDE.
WE WERE PLANNING TO WATCH THE LAUNCH
RIGHT THERE FROM A NICE VIEWING SPOT HERE AT THE PRESS SITE,
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN AS WE WALKED OUT, NICK,
WE GOT A SENSE THAT THIS MIGHT NOT HAPPEN
BECAUSE CLOUDS HAD BEEN BUILDING IN AROUND THE AREA.
WE HAD DARK CLOUDS OVERHEAD OF US.
WE GOT UP ON OUR AREA TO WATCH THE LAUNCH
AND HEARD A PHASE ONE LIGHTNING ALERT GO OFF.
AND THEN, I JUST…
MY HEART KIND OF SANK A LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT BE IT.
YEP. THEN YOU SEE THE CLOCK STOP.
-YES. -AND YOU KNOW IT'S HAPPENED.
SO, IT'S DISAPPOINTING.
BUT THERE'S A REASON WE DO IT, AND THAT'S TO KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE.
IT'S SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
AS YOU LOOK AT THIS SHOT HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT JUST RIGHT OVER TOP,
YOU'VE GOT SOME DARKENED CLOUDS IN THE AREA.
THIS WAS A RESULT OF A SEA BREEZE THAT WHEN WE STARTED THE DAY,
THE LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER IMPROVED OUR FORECAST TO 90% GO.
BUT THERE WAS A 10% CONCERN.
THAT THE SEA BREEZE WAS GONNA DEVELOP EARLIER IN THE DAY
THAN ORIGINALLY FORECAST.
AND THAT SEA BREEZE, WHICH IS VERY,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY COMMON HERE IN FLORIDA IN JULY,
ONCE THAT AIR STARTS MOVING OVER THE OCEAN AND ONTO LAND,
AND MEETS THE WARM AIR,
OUR BLUE SKIES WENT TO CUMULUS CLOUDS SCATTERED ACROSS THE SPACEPORT.
AND WE JUST HAD ONE GET JUST INSIDE THE TEN-MILE RADIUS.
[CORE] DRAGON SPACEX, FOR AWARENESS,
WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MINUTES FOR THE PROP OFFLOAD TIME.
SO, IT SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY 1700 UTC
WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH 5.100.
AND ROTATE THE SEATS.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT FIVE ZERO MINUTES FOR PROP OFFLOAD.
SO, 1700 UTC FOR THE REST OF FIVE DECIMAL ONE, ZERO, ZERO,
AND SEAT ROTATION.
[FLIGHT DIRECTOR] GOOD READBACK.
[DERROL NAIL] AND SO, REAL QUICK, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, NICK?
THEY ARE GOING TO ROTATE THE SEATS?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW
THAT RIGHT NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT A FULLY FUELED ROCKET
WITH AN ARMED LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
AND SO, THE CREW IS IN THE SAME POSTURE
THAT THEY WERE IN THE 45 MINUTES LEADING UP TO LAUNCH.
THEY'VE GOT A TO BE IN THAT POSTURE UNTIL THEY CAN OFFLOAD ALL THAT PROPELLANT
WHICH TAKES ABOUT THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF TIME
TO OFFLOAD AS IT TOOK TO PUT ON,
AS WELL AS DISARM THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
AND SO, THIS IS A VERY ACTIVE ROCKET RIGHT NOW,
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM,
IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG, EVEN NOW IT'S STILL PROTECTING THEM.
[DERROL NAIL] IT'S A GREAT NOTE THERE,
BUT THIS IS VERY MUCH A DYNAMIC SITUATION EVEN NOW
WITH A SCRUB CALLED.
THE TEAMS HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THEIR PROCEDURES
TO SAFE THE LAUNCH PAD, THE ROCKET, AND THE CAPSULE,
FROM BEING JUST MINUTES FROM LAUNCH.
AND WE WERE IN THAT POSTURE READY FOR LAUNCH,
AND NOW WE HAVE TO UNDO THAT, RIGHT? [NICK HAGUE] YEAH,
YOU'VE GOTTA BACK OUT OF ALL OF THAT.
AND THEN ONCE THE ROCKET IS DEFUELED,
WE'VE GOT ALL THE FUEL OUT OF THERE,
WE CAN DISARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
YOU STILL NEED THE PAD TEAM TO BE ABLE TO COME AND GET OUT THERE
TO GET INTO THE WHITE ROOM AND HELP OPEN UP THAT SIDE HATCH
AND GET THE CREW OUT.
AND SO, THE SCRUB PROCESS IS NOT A QUICK ONE.
[DERROL NAIL] JUST TO FINISH A THOUGHT THAT I HAD SAID,
AND I THINK THIS VIEW ON THE LEFT BASICALLY SHOWS YOU WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
THAT'S RAIN ON THE RIGHT HALF OF THE SCREEN THERE.
THAT'S A RAIN CLOUD WITH RAIN COMING DOWN.
AND ON THE LEFT HAND,
WE WERE DEALING WITH SUN POKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS ON OUR SIDE.
WE COULD LITERALLY SEE THE CLOUDS KIND OF GOING OVER TOP OF OUR HEADS,
GETTING CLOSE TO THE PAD.
AND THE STANDOFF AREA IS A TEN-MILE RADIUS AROUND THE PAD
FOR THESE DARK CLOUDS AND CUMULUS CLOUDS.
AND THAT IS A SAFETY FACTOR. WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
THAT IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO SEND A ROCKET
THROUGH A TALL CLOUD LIKE THAT
THAT COULD GENERATE SOME ENERGY FROM THE ROCKET PASSING THROUGH IT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, JUST THE SAME
AS IF YOU'RE ON A COMMERCIAL AIRLINE FLIGHT,
YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WANT YOUR PILOT TO TAKE YOU THROUGH A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT WITH A ROCKET.
[DERROL NAIL] AND SO WE ARE ERRING ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY IN THIS SITUATION.
BUT AS NICK POINTED OUT,
THE ROCKET THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT IS A FULLY FUELED,
READY TO LAUNCH, FALCON 9.
AS WE NOW SEE, THEY ARE STARTING TO ALLOW SOME OF THE LIQUID OXYGEN TO VENT OFF
AS THEY BEGIN DETANKING THE ROCKET
FROM ITS SUPER CHILLED LIQUID OXYGEN AND ITS RP-1,
WHICH IS THE KEROSENE-BASED PROPELLANT.
[FLIGHT CONTROLLER] DRAGON SPACEX, PROPELLANT OFFLOAD UPDATE,
ESTIMATING ABOUT 45 MORE MINUTES FOR PROPELLANT OFFLOAD.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPIES, ADDITIONAL 45 MINUTES
FOR PROP OFFLOAD.
[DERROL NAIL] NOW AS YOU RECALL YOUR PROCEDURES FOR THE CREW…
GETTING OUT OF THE CAPSULE
AND GETTING BACK INTO THEIR VEHICLES, AND GOING BACK.
TAKE ME THROUGH THE TIMELINE OF THE SCRUB PROCEDURE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCEDURE.
YOU'RE RUNNING THE LAUNCH PROCEDURE IN REVERSE, ESSENTIALLY.
AND SO, THEY'RE STRAPPED IN,
THE SEATS ARE ROTATED UP IN A LAUNCH CONFIGURATION.
AS SOON AS THEY DETANK,
THEY'RE GONNA DISARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
SO, YOU'RE LOOKING AT, I THINK IT'S 45 MINUTES,
TO GET RID OF THE LIQUID OXYGEN AND RP-1.
ONCE THAT'S OFF, THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DISARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM,
ROTATE THE SEATS DOWN,
AT THAT POINT, THE ARM WILL COME OVER AND THE GROUND TEAM,
THE PAD TEAM, WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP THERE.
THEY'LL OPEN THE SIDE HATCH AND THEN HELP THEM GET OUT OF THE CAPSULE
JUST LIKE THEY HELPED THEM GET INTO THE CAPSULE.
SO, YOU'RE LOOKING ON THE ORDER OF, YOU KNOW, AN HOUR, A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
[DERROL NAIL] AND YOU WANT THAT ROCKET FULLY DETANKED?
-[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY. -[DERROL NAIL] YEAH.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT CRYOGENIC PROPELLANTS,
-OXIDIZERS MOVING. -[DERROL NAIL] MOVING. FLOWING.
[NICK HAGUE] FLOWING. AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THAT'S ALL SECURE BEFORE YOU PUT PEOPLE AROUND IT.
THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED. IT'S DIFFERENT ON OTHER LAUNCH VEHICLES.
OTHER LAUNCH VEHICLES, THE SOYUZ I LAUNCHED ON
WAS FUELED WHEN WE SHOWED UP TO IT.
BUT WHILE YOU'RE MOVING THE FUEL ON AND OFF,
YOU MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND THE SLS ROCKET IS SIMILAR IN THAT.
IT GETS FULLY FUELED AND TANKED,
AND THEN THEY BRING THE ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD.
SPACEX DOES IT SO THEY CAN DO THAT TANKING
AS THE VERY LAST PART OF THE MISSION TIMELINE.
AND THIS ALSO ALLOWS FOR A QUICK TANKING,
RELATIVELY SPEAKING, FOR A ROCKET…
AND THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DETANK IT.
BUT THEY'RE USING SUPER-DENSIFIED LIQUID OXYGEN AS WELL.
SO…
YOU MENTIONED IT, HIGH ENERGY SYSTEMS ARE ENGAGED HERE,
AND SO WE ARE NOW UNWINDING THAT
AS WE AS WE PROCEED THROUGH THE SCRUB PROCEDURE.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US,
WE SCRUBBED THIS LAUNCH AT T-MINUS ONE MINUTE AND SEVEN SECONDS
UNTIL LIFTOFF.
WE HAD A HEALTHY ROCKET, A HEALTHY SPACECRAFT,
WE HAD A CLEAR RANGE, AND WE JUST HAD WEATHER IN THE AREA.
A CUMULUS CLOUD THAT JUST CLIPPED THE RADIUS NEARBY WITHIN THE LAUNCH AREA,
THE TEN MILE RADIUS.
IT GOT INTO THAT STANDOFF AREA,
AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE SCRUB FOR THE DAY,
BECAUSE THAT IS A SAFETY MEASURE TO KEEP THE CREW,
THAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN,
SAFE FROM ANY POTENTIAL HAZARDS
THAT COULD DEVELOP AS A RESULT OF THE WEATHER.
NOW THIS VIEW GIVES YOU A CLEAR LOOK AT EXACTLY WHERE THE CLOUDS ENDED UP NOW,
JUST ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER WHEN WE WERE SUPPOSED TO LIFT OFF,
RIGHT OVER TOP OF US. THEY WERE CERTAINLY IN THE AREA.
WE HEARD THE LIGHTNING WARNING GO OFF.
AND SO, WE KNEW WHEN WE WERE STANDING OUT THERE
WATCHING THIS LAUNCH THAT THAT WAS A BAD SIGN.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING. I'VE SEEN IT GO BOTH WAYS, RIGHT,
WHERE WE GET A LAUNCH FORECAST
THAT IS 85% NO GO.
BUT YOU FIND A HOLE IN THE CLOUDS THAT'S JUST TEN MILES IN RADIUS,
AND IT'S ALL AROUND THE LAUNCH PAD,
-AND YOU CAN LAUNCH. -[NICK HAGUE] YEP.
[DERROL NAIL] THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
WE HAD A 90% GO WITH ONLY A 10% CHANCE, BUT THIS IS FLORIDA IN JULY.
THESE THINGS CAN POP UP LITERALLY JUST FROM, YOU KNOW,
THE DAILY SEA BREEZE COLLISION THAT WE HAVE OVER LAND.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, WEATHER IS DYNAMIC,
AND WE THROW A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY AT IT,
WE THROW A LOT OF SCIENCE AT IT, AND IT STILL BAFFLES US SOMETIMES.
SO, THE MENTAL SHIFT THAT YOU MAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENS,
YOU'VE GOTTA…
YOU'VE GOTTA ATTEMPT TO NOT MAKE THE MENTAL SHIFT IMMEDIATELY
BECAUSE IT IS, YOU KNOW,
IT IS A LIVE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM THAT YOU'RE IN.
AND… BUT INEVITABLY, THERE'S THE,
"OKAY, SO ONCE WE GET OUT OF HERE, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP?"
"WHEN IS OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY GONNA BE?"
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN LOOKING AT WEATHER PREDICTIONS FOR DAYS OUT.
SO, THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE IMPACTS TO THE PHASING
AND THE MISSION PROFILE MIGHT BE,
THE POTENTIAL FOR BAD WEATHER IN THE UPCOMING DAYS.
AND SO THEY'RE ALREADY STARTING TO THINK ABOUT,
"OKAY, SO WHAT'S THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY?"
AND THEN HAVING TO GET INTO THE…
THE PSYCHE OF, "OKAY, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN."
AND IT IS TO THE T, TO THE MINUTE, DO IT AGAIN.
UH, SO IT'S VERY MUCH A GROUNDHOG DAY.
[DERROL NAIL] ALL OF IT.
-EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF THE… [CHUCKLES] -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU KNOW, ROUGHLY SIX-HOUR COUNTDOWN
-WHERE IT BEGINS FOR THE ASTRONAUTS. -[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM.
[DERROL NAIL] AND YOU MENTIONED THE BACKUP DAYS.
JOSEPH MENTIONED THOSE BEFORE HE TOSSED OVER TO US,
BUT IT'S WORTH MENTIONING AGAIN.
OUR BACKUP OPPORTUNITIES ARE TOMORROW,
FRIDAY, WITH A T-ZERO AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
OUR COVERAGE WOULD BEGIN AT 7:30 A.M. ON NASA+.
THE WEATHER FOR TOMORROW IS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER
THAN IT WAS TODAY, BUT WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU, RIGHT?
WE SCRUBBED TODAY. IT'S 85 PERCENT GO.
THE CONCERN IS THE SAME, BECAUSE THE SAME PATTERN COULD DEVELOP.
UM, IT'S CUMULUS CLOUDS BUILDING UP AND AROUND THE PAD, BUT I WILL ADD THIS.
WE HAVE MOVED A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE DAY,
SO, THE LATER THAT SEA BREEZE DEVELOPS, THE BETTER OPPORTUNITY
WE'LL HAVE FOR GETTING SOME CLEAR WEATHER.
IF WE CAN'T DO IT TOMORROW,
THEN OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE SATURDAY, AUGUST 2ND.
WE'D STILL HAVE AN 85 PERCENT GO FOR SATURDAY.
SAME CONCERN WITH CUMULUS CLOUDS HERE AT THE LAUNCH PAD.
IN BOTH OF THOSE CASES-- WELL, LET ME TALK ABOUT THE BACKUP NUMBER TWO.
THE T-ZERO FOR THAT DAY WOULD BE 11:21 A.M.
FOR A LAUNCH, AND THAT WOULD BE AN INSTANTANEOUS WINDOW.
AND YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE THE PATTERN.
WE MOVE ABOUT 22 MINUTES EARLY EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE…
DELAY FROM THIS PARTICULAR T-ZERO TODAY.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, THAT'S ORBITAL MECHANICS.
WE'VE GOT TIME. YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT ONE? [LAUGHS]
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SURE. SO THE INTERNATIONAL… [LAUGHS]
[BOTH LAUGH]
[NICK HAGUE] OH. YEAH, NO, YOU'VE GOT TO WAIT FOR THE…
THE PLANE OF THE ORBIT OF THE STATION TO CROSS OVERHEAD,
AND IT JUST WORKS OUT EACH DAY THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, IF IT HAD COME OVERHEAD A COUPLE MINUTES EARLIER TODAY,
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LAUNCH. THE WEATHER WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[DERROL NAIL] I JUST MENTIONED THE BACKUP OPPORTUNITIES.
ONE THING ABOUT BOTH OF THESE NEXT LAUNCH OPPORTUNITIES,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY HAVE OUR EYES SET
ON THE ASCENT CORRIDOR
BECAUSE NOW THERE IS A TROUGH THAT IS APPROACHING A LINE OF STORMS
COMING ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF THE U.S.
AND IT IS GOING TO MAKE ITS WAY OUT INTO THE OCEAN.
AND SO THAT COULD DISTURB THE WEATHER ALONG THE ASCENT CORRIDOR,
WHICH IS AN AREA WHERE, UM,
IF DRAGON WERE TO SUFFER SOME KIND OF ANOMALY,
SOMETHING THAT WASN'T EXPECTED AND NEEDED TO COME OFF THE TOP OF THE ROCKET,
IT WOULD SPLASH DOWN ALONG THE ASCENT CORRIDOR.
THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE SEA STATES,
RIGHT? HOW MUCH SLOSHING AROUND IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE IN THE OCEAN.
YOU NEED GOOD CONDITIONS, A BASELINE OF CONDITIONS,
UH, IN ORDER TO PULL ASTRONAUTS OUT OF A FLOATING CAPSULE
WITH A HELICOPTER AND A BOAT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT JUST SHOWS THE COMPLEXITY,
THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.
IT'S NOT A FORECAST AT A PARTICULAR POINT, YOU KNOW, AT-- ON…
ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, YOU KNOW, AT THE LAUNCH PAD.
IT'S IF YOU IMAGINE THIS 3D TRAJECTORY
OF THE ROCKET'S PATH GOING UP TO ORBIT,
YOU'VE GOT TO CLEAR ALL OF THAT FOR WEATHER,
BUT NOT JUST CLOUDS AND RAIN AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS,
BUT LIKE, WIND SHEAR AND DRASTIC CHANGES IN THE WIND DIRECTION
CAN CREATE PROBLEMS FOR THE ROCKET.
AND THEN, IN CASE, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A NEED
TO RETURN THEM EARLY OR TO ABORT,
YOU ALSO HAVE TO CLEAR THE WEATHER ON THE SURFACE
ALONG THAT PATH AS WELL. IT, YOU KNOW, MY, UH…
JUST AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF RESPECT FOR THE TEAMS,
YOU KNOW, BOTH AT SPACEX AND ALSO AT THE YOU KNOW, SPACE LAUNCH DELTA 45
OVER ON THE SPACE FORCE SIDE, THE WEATHER SHOP THERE,
IN TRYING TO PUT THEIR ARMS AROUND ALL OF THIS.
UH, LIKE I SAID, WEATHER IS REALLY COMPLEX AND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE GOT A CHANCE, A 90 PERCENT CHANCE,
YOU TAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END AND SEE WHAT MOTHER NATURE GIVES YOU.
[DERROL NAIL] AND I'M SURE AS AN ASTRONAUT,
WHEN IT'S YOUR ARSE IN THE SEAT,
YOU WANT THAT LEVEL OF AWARENESS, THAT LEVEL OF SCRUTINY
GIVEN TO THE WEATHER THROUGHOUT THE TRAJECTORY,
THROUGHOUT THE LAUNCH AREA AND THE LAUNCH PERIOD?
[NICK HAGUE] OH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, IMMENSE RESPECT FOR THEM,
KNOWING THAT THEIR JOB IS WATCHING MY BACK. AND--
[CAPCOM] DRAGON SPACEX PROPELLANT OFFLOAD UPDATE.
ESTIMATING 37 MORE MINUTES FOR PROPELLANT OFFLOAD.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPY. THIRTY-SEVEN MORE MINUTES.
-[NICK HAGUE] THE CLOCK TICKS SLOWLY. -[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] HOPE YOU GOT 37 MINUTES WORTH OF STORIES, NICK.
BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE I WAS SAYING, IT…
IT JUST TAKES SO MUCH TO DO THAT WHEN YOU'RE SITTING IN THAT SEAT THERE,
IF YOU GET THE CALL FOR A SCRUB, THERE'S NO QUESTION.
IT'S… YOU GUYS ARE THE EXPERTS.
[NICK HAGUE] THIS IS THE SAFEST THING FOR US TO DO RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'RE ALL IN.
YOU'RE NOT SECOND-GUESSING.
[DERROL NAIL] BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THAT MOMENT WHEN WE WERE STANDING OUT THERE,
-YOU'RE LIKE, "OH." -[NICK HAGUE] THERE'S THE DISAPPOINTMENT.
THERE'S THE KNOWING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS ALL AGAIN. THE…
I MEAN, THE DISAPPOINTMENT NOT JUST FOR THE CREWS, BUT, YOU KNOW,
THE TEAM THAT'S IN QUARANTINE WITH THE CREW HAS GOT GROUNDHOG DAY AGAIN.
THE FAMILIES, THE LITANY OF GOODBYES THAT YOU'LL SAY AGAIN.
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL TOLL
OF GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT AGAIN. AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, EARLIER ON
IN THE BROADCAST, I MENTIONED THE…
LIKE THE PSYCH SUPPORT TEAM THAT NASA HAS IN PLACE
THAT'S THERE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE CREW MEMBERS,
TO THE FAMILY IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
UH, EVEN WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY MINOR,
UH, NOT STRESSFUL, SOMETHING HAPPENS, THERE'S STILL AN EMOTIONAL TOLL,
AND THEY'RE THERE TO SUPPORT EVERYBODY THROUGH IT.
AND THAT'S JUST BECAUSE NASA RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE
OF THAT KIND OF SUPPORT.
AND SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.
[DERROL NAIL] SO CRITICAL. IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US,
YOU ARE WATCHING LIVE COVERAGE
OF THE LAUNCH BROADCAST FOR NASA AND SPACEX'S CREW-11.
TODAY, WE SCRUBBED THE LAUNCH ATTEMPT DUE TO WEATHER IN THE AREA.
WE HAD CUMULUS CLOUDS BUILDING UP WITHIN THE STANDOFF ZONE
FOR WEATHER LIKE THAT.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SHOT RIGHT HERE,
THE WEATHER FINALLY MADE IT RIGHT OVER THE PAD.
AND SO, NOW…
WHILE WE HAVE A FUELED ROCKET ON THE PAD AND WE'RE LOOKING,
AND IN FACT, DETANKING AT THIS MOMENT TO BRING THE DYNAMIC NATURE
OF THE SITUATION OUT THERE AT THE PAD DOWN TO BASICALLY GROUND ZERO,
RESET EVERYTHING, DETANK THE PROPELLANTS, OFFLOAD THEM,
PULL THE ASTRONAUTS OFF AND GET THEM BACK TO CREW QUARTERS.
WE LOOK AHEAD TO OUR NEXT ATTEMPT, WHICH IS TOMORROW,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 1ST, AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
OUR COVERAGE WOULD BEGIN AT 7:30 A.M.
FOR WHAT WE WILL NOW AFFECTIONATELY CALL "LAUNCH GROUNDHOG DAY."
[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] AND YOU CAN SEE THERE THE START TIME IS 7:35 A.M.
SO IT'S, UH… IT'LL SAVE YOU THREE-- FIVE MINUTES IF…
IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO JOIN US RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT.
-WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
[DERROL NAIL] NICK, WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AS WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT DOESN'T DIMINISH IS THE ENERGY,
THE EXCITEMENT, THE ANTICIPATION.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO TURN RIGHT AROUND
AND IT'LL BE THERE AGAIN TOMORROW BECAUSE THAT'S LAUNCH DAY.
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW,
YOU GOT A CREW THERE, A BUNCH OF PROFESSIONAL SPACE FLYERS,
AND THAT'S HOW THEY APPROACH THE JOB,
JUST LIKE EVERYBODY IN THE PROFESSION.
UM, TODAY'S LAUNCH DAY. GET UP FOR IT. AND THAT'S WHAT YOU WORK FOR.
AND… AND ALL OF THAT PASSION WILL BE THERE AGAIN TOMORROW.
[DERROL NAIL] ALL RIGHT. LET'S TOSS IT BACK OUT TO OUR COLLEAGUES
AT SPACEX IN CALIFORNIA.
THANKS SO MUCH, DERROL.
SO COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU BOTH MORE.
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE ARE EFFECTIVELY DOING THE LAUNCH PROCEDURES IN REVERSE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DETANKING FALCON 9.
SO WE'RE TAKING ABOUT A MILLION POUNDS OF RP-1 AND LIQUID OXYGEN OFF THE VEHICLE
SO THAT OUR CREW CAN SAFELY EXIT THE SPACECRAFT.
ON MONDAY, OUR CREW ACTUALLY WORKED THROUGH A DRY DRESS REHEARSAL.
SO THEY WENT THROUGH A LOT OF THE PROCEDURES THAT THEY DID TODAY,
EXACTLY AS THEY DID THEM TODAY IN PREPARATION FOR LAUNCH.
NOW THAT WE'VE CALLED THAT HOLD DUE TO WEATHER,
WE'RE STANDING DOWN FOR TOMORROW,
WE'RE ACTUALLY JUST FOLLOWING THROUGH
WITH THE REST OF THE DRY DRESS REHEARSAL PROCEDURES.
THE CREW IS GOING TO EXIT OR EGRESS THE SPACECRAFT,
AND THEN AS WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING, GO BACK INTO THAT QUARANTINE PROCESS.
MEANWHILE, OUR TEAMS ON THE GROUND ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND KEEP AN EYE
ON THE HEALTH OF THE VEHICLE AND OUR CREW, OF COURSE,
BUT ALSO CONTINUE THOSE VEHICLE SIDE CHECKOUTS
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE READY FOR THAT NEXT LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW
AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 30 MINUTES, A LITTLE BIT MORE,
WAITING ON THAT DETANKING.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE GOT A VIEW OF CREW-11 THERE
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN,
AND DOWN IN THE CORNER, YOU CAN SEE THAT DRAGON SPACECRAFT
SITTING ON TOP OF THE ROCKET, STILL AT LC-39A
AT SPACE FORCE BASE IN FLORIDA.
WE'RE OF COURSE GONNA KEEP FOLLOWING THE CREW, KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THEM
AS THEY FOLLOW THROUGH THESE EGRESS PROCEDURES,
AND THEN MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO THE CREW QUARTERS
TO MAINTAIN THAT QUARANTINE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN NOW
IN THE LEAD UP TO LAUNCH FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
ANYTIME WE HAVE CREW ONBOARD THE VEHICLE, SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
SO WHILE OUR TEAMS CONTINUE THROUGH THIS DETANKING PROCESS,
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO CONTINUE OUR COVERAGE
AND STAY WITH OUR CREW
UNTIL WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE SAFELY DEPARTED OUR LAUNCH PAD.
OF COURSE, ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'LL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON TOMORROW
IS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE WEATHER SYSTEMS EVOLVE.
UM, ANYONE WHO HAS EVER JOINED US FOR A LAUNCH FROM FLORIDA
OR FOLLOWED ALONG WITH OUR COVERAGE OF PREVIOUS MISSIONS
KNOWS THAT WEATHER, ESPECIALLY ON THE SPACE COAST,
CAN EVOLVE PRETTY RAPIDLY.
UM, SO AS WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON EVERYTHING
FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS OR SO IN THE LEAD UP FOR LAUNCH TOMORROW,
WE'LL BE WATCHING THE SAME THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT TODAY.
WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT WEATHER AT THE LAUNCH PAD EITHER,
WE'RE ALSO TRACKING THE ENTIRE ASCENT CORRIDOR
AND THE SPLASHDOWN LOCATIONS.
AND THE VERY UNLIKELY EVENT THAT FOR SOME REASON
WE HAD TO ABORT OUR CREW IN FLIGHT,
WHEREVER DRAGON EXITS THE FLIGHT PATH TO WITH OUR CREW SAFELY INSIDE
ALSO NEEDS TO BE A SAFE ZONE FOR RECOVERY.
SO, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE ASTRONAUT MISSIONS,
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE GOOD WEATHER
KIND OF AROUND THE PLANET BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] YEAH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, RONNIE,
AS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH TODAY'S COVERAGE
OF NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 TODAY, AND BACK HERE IN HAWTHORNE.
AND YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT WAS THE BIGGEST KEY,
WHETHER IT'S PROP LOADING OR OFFLOADING,
THE PROCEDURES THAT WERE NEEDED AND REQUIRED TO DO SO,
WHETHER IT WAS THE STATIC FIRE
OR PREPARING FOR ACTUAL LAUNCH DAY TODAY, AND THAT IS SAFETY.
AND THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THROUGHOUT THE MISSION, THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST TODAY,
BUT EVEN GOING INTO THE PRE-LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY
WITH ALL THE PROGRAM MANAGERS,
REPRESENTATIVES FROM NASA HEADQUARTERS,
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM, SPACEX,
ROSCOSMOS, AND JAXA. THAT WAS THE BIGGEST KEY FOR THEM
IS THAT WE WILL FLY WHEN WE ARE READY TO FLY,
WHETHER IT'S HARDWARE OR THE WEATHER THAT SURROUNDS THE CREW ITSELF.
AND THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY WHAT HAS OCCURRED TODAY
WITH THAT VIOLATION COMING IN.
AND TO RECAP, THAT VIOLATION AND THAT HOLD WAS CALLED
RIGHT UP AT THE T-MINUS ONE-MINUTE MARK TO LAUNCH.
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE A GREAT VIEW OF THE DRAGON SPACEX SPACECRAFT
THAT IS SITTING UP ON TOP THERE WITH CREW-11 STILL INSIDE.
AND RONNIE, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE STILL HAVE ABOUT A LITTLE…
ABOUT HALF AN HOUR OR SO
FOR THAT DETANKING OF THE FALCON 9 ROCKET.
THERE YOU CAN SEE THE CREW JUST TAKING IT EASY, RELAXING.
THEY'RE JUST KIND OF WAITING THEIR TURN,
WAITING NEAR THE TIME IS AGAIN TO SAFELY PREP THE ROCKET.
YOU'LL SEE THE CREW ACCESS ARM WHEN THE TIME COMES,
COME BACK INTO VIEW AND CONNECT ITSELF TO THE SPACECRAFT AS WELL.
AND THEN THE CREW WILL EXIT EGRESS
AND THEN ULTIMATELY MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO CREW QUARTERS.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH YOU, UM, THIS ENTIRE TIME
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE VISUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT CREW-11
IS SAFE AND SOUND BACK IN CREW QUARTERS.
AND AGAIN, WE'LL PREPARE FOR A LAUNCH ATTEMPT,
WHICH WILL AGAIN BE TOMORROW.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PROGRAMS TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY AS WELL,
IS THAT UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY DID NOT WORK OUT,
BUT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES,
WHETHER THEY NEED TOMORROW, THE SECOND, THE THIRD,
A STAND-DOWN DAY FOR THE FOURTH, AND THEN BEYOND.
SO THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES APLENTY.
AND AS STEVE STICH, THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM, MENTIONED
THAT IT'S A GOOD WINDOW OF CHANCE FOR THIS CREW TO MAKE ITS WAY UP
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND SO FORTH.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIG ONE THERE.
AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S TO COME FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11.
AS MENTIONED, THAT THE NEXT LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY
WILL BE AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME TOMORROW.
AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE LAUNCH COVERAGE FOR NASA+,
THAT'LL START AROUND 7:35 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
AND WE'LL GET TO HEAR FROM DERROL, NICK AND THE TEAM
AS WE GO THROUGH THESE SAME PROCEDURES
AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, TODAY, DUE TO WEATHER
AND THAT CUMULUS CLOUD RULE
THAT CAME IN RIGHT AT THE T-MINUS ONE-MINUTE MARK,
UH, RIGHT UP INTO THE VERY LAST MOMENTS OF THE COUNTDOWN.
THAT HOLD WAS CALLED THAT WE HEARD OVER THE COMMUNICATIONS LOOPS
FROM THE TEAMS HERE IN SPACEX,
AS WELL AS THE NASA TEAMS MONITORING CLOSELY STANDING BY AS WELL.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THOSE CLOUDS ARE ROLLING ON IN
OVER TOP OF THE ROCKET, THE SPACECRAFT, AND THE LAUNCH PAD ITSELF, SO…
TRIED TO GET AHEAD OF IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE CASE,
WE'LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW.
BUT SO FAR, EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF THE DETANKING
AND UPDATES PROVIDED REGULARLY WITH EVERYONE ON THE LOOPS,
THE CREW BEING INFORMED, THE TEAMS ON THE GROUND INFORMED,
AND COMMUNICATION CONTINUING TO ROLL OUT
AS WE FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE DETANKING OF TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT
FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 AND THOSE ON BOARD,
WHICH ARE COMMANDER ZENA CARDMAN AND PILOT MIKE FINCKE,
THOSE TWO OF NASA, KIMIYA YUI OF JAXA, AND OLEG PLATONOV.
[CAPCOM] DRAGON SPACEX PROPELLANT OFFLOAD UPDATE.
ESTIMATING 25 MORE MINUTES FOR PROPELLANT OFFLOAD.
[ZENA CARDMAN] DRAGON COPY, 25 MINUTES FOR PROP OFFLOAD.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND A GREAT UPDATE THERE
THAT THERE'S STILL ABOUT 25 MORE MINUTES LEFT
IN THAT DETANKING OF THE FALCON 9 BEFORE THAT CREW ACCESS ARM
AND THE PROCEDURES TO TAKE THE CREW AND EGRESS THEM OUT
OF THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT CAN BEGIN. BUT AGAIN, THAT CREW-11 TEAM THERE,
YOU CAN SEE THEM SITTING COMFORTABLY IN THEIR CHAIRS,
JUST WAITING THEIR TIME
AND BEING PATIENT WITH THE PROCESS IS EVERYTHING WORKING
TO MAXIMIZE THE SAFETY OF THE CREW, SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE,
AND THE AREA SURROUNDING THE LAUNCH PAD ITSELF.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, AGAIN, SCRUBBING TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT DUE TO WEATHER,
BUT OUR NEXT ATTEMPT WILL BE COMING TOMORROW MORNING
AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE CREW WORK BACK
TO THEIR LAUNCH PROCEDURES, THE TEAMS ON THE GROUND,
AND LIKE NICK MENTIONED EARLIER,
DERROL AND NICK OVER ON THE SPACE COAST
THAT SPACE FLIGHT IS THE ULTIMATE TEAM SPORT,
AND YOU NEED A LOT OF TEAMMATES TO MAKE THINGS LIKE SPACE FLIGHT
AND LAUNCHES HAPPEN, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEING ENACTED RIGHT NOW.
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO WEATHER AND A SCRUB,
BUT, UH, THAT PUT INTO PLAY WITH ALL THE PROCEDURES NEEDED AND NECESSARY.
SO THAT IS WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY STANDING.
SO A LITTLE INSIDE 25 MINUTES OF THE DETANKING
IN THE FALCON 9 ROCKET, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ALONG
THROUGH THE EGRESS PROCEDURES
AS CREW-11 WILL THEN BEGIN TO MAKE THEIR WAY
BACK TO CREW QUARTERS
WE ARE…
[VERONICA FOREMAN] SO OF COURSE, WE ARE DISAPPOINTED IN THAT WEATHER…
UH, WEATHER SCRUB TODAY, BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS
THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY INTERESTING TESTAMENT
TO THAT HUGE TEAM WORKING TOGETHER LIKE YOU JUST MENTIONED.
UM, WE HAVE, OF COURSE, CREW-11
SAFELY ON BOARD DRAGON AND FALCON 9 RIGHT NOW
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAD NO ISSUES IMPEDING TODAY'S LAUNCH
FROM EITHER FALCON 9 OR THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT,
OR ANY OF THE GROUND SYSTEMS SUPPORTING THIS VEHICLE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ENGINEERING TEAMS AT PLAY HERE.
WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE EVERYONE SUPPORTING THE CREW,
THE GROUND SIDE TEAMS. ALL OF THAT WAS WORKING AS EXPECTED.
UM, ULTIMATELY, THE SAFEST WAY TO LAUNCH A ROCKET SAFELY
IS TO HAVE DONE IT BEFORE.
UM, SO THE FACT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO STEP THROUGH THESE PROCEDURES,
WE HAVE THESE CRITICAL FLIGHT RULES ABOUT SAYING
WHEN DO WE KNOW THIS VEHICLE IS GOING TO BE SAFE TO OPERATE
IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF MAKING SURE
THAT WE EXECUTE EVERY MISSION SAFELY.
UM, SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS A BUMMER
THAT WE AREN'T ABLE TO GO THROUGH AT LAUNCH TODAY,
IT IS A REALLY GOOD SIGN THAT WE SAW NO VEHICLE SIDE ISSUES,
EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER,
AND CALLING IT OFF WHEN THAT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
SO WITH THAT, WHILE WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS,
LIKE WE MENTIONED, WE ARE GOING TO KEEP OUR COVERAGE GOING
ALL THE WAY THROUGH UNTIL CREW-11 EGRESSES THE SPACECRAFT
AND THEN EXITS THE PAD.
UM, BUT I'LL TOSS IT BACK OVER TO DERROL AND NICK FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
[DERROL NAIL] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, RONNIE,
BACK HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
AND A LOOK OUT FROM THE PRESS SITE.
WHEN YOU LOOK OUT EAST, IT LOOKS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
IT SURE DOES AND IT WAS, UM,
BUT OVER TOP OF THE LAND WE HAD THOSE CUMULUS CLOUDS BUBBLE UP,
AND THEY CREATED SOME STORM CLOUDS
THAT GOT JUST A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE ROCKET,
SO THE LAUNCH WAS SCRUBBED AT T-MINUS ONE MINUTE AND SEVEN SECONDS.
SO CLOSE, BUT, UH,
JUST NOT GOING TO TAKE THE CHANCE WITH THAT KIND OF WEATHER IN THE AREA,
EVEN THE LOCAL, UH, WARNING SYSTEM,
PAGING SYSTEM, LET US KNOW THAT, UH,
THERE WAS A POTENTIAL FOR LIGHTNING IN THE AREA,
EVEN AS WE WERE AT THE T-MINUS TWO MARK.
SO YES, WHILE EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD OUT OVER THE ATLANTIC,
UH, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR JOURNEY THROUGH A HOT FLORIDA SUMMER DAY.
UH, WE WERE SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
WE HAD DOCUMENTED THE CREW GETTING READY FOR LAUNCH,
STARTING AROUND T-MINUS FOUR HOURS AND TEN MINUTES.
AND WE WALKED THAT JOURNEY FROM SUIT UP TO DRIVE OUT.
WE SAW THE CREW ASCEND THE LAUNCH TOWER THERE,
GET UP TO THE TOP OF THE LAUNCH TOWER, GET INTO THEIR SPACECRAFT.
AND PREPARE FOR LAUNCH AND ALL THE SYSTEMS,
THE HIGH ENERGY SYSTEMS THAT CAME ONLINE,
METHODICALLY GOING THROUGH THE LAUNCH OPERATIONS
UH, UNTIL WE REACHED T-MINUS ONE MINUTE AND SEVEN SECONDS
AND THEN WE GOT THE CALL FOR THE SCRUB.
LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER DAVID TAGER KEPT THE LAUNCH TEAM INFORMED
OF THE DEVELOPING SITUATION, AND LET THEM KNOW
THAT, UH, THE SEA BREEZES COULD BE FORMING THIS MIX
OF… [CLEARS THROAT] …EXCUSE ME, CUMULUS CLOUDS
THAT WE SEE IN AND AROUND THE AREA.
AND SO NOW, WE HAVE A DYNAMIC SITUATION ON THE PAD,
AND THE REASON THAT WE ARE STILL HERE IS BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE ASTRONAUTS
INSIDE THAT CAPSULE RIGHT THERE.
FOUR CREW MEMBERS, ZENA CARDMAN, PILOT MIKE FINCKE, KIMIYA YUI,
AND OLEG PLATONOV,
-WHO APPEARS TO BE TAKING A NAP, I WOULD. -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS]
[DERROL NAIL] I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO DO?
[NICK HAGUE] YOU GOT TO WAIT FOR THEM TO DETANK, AND SO THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S ACTUALLY FUN, SOME OF THE SHOT OF THE ROCKET THAT YOU SEE,
UH, THE SIDE VIEW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A FUEL GAUGE
BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE FROST IS MELTED OFF
OF THE SIDE OF THE ROCKET AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH OF THE FUEL IS LEFT
IN THAT FIRST STAGE.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT SHOT.
IF WE CAN TAKE THAT WIDE SHOT THERE, THAT--
IT ALMOST SERVES AS KIND OF A DETANKING GAUGE
TO SEE WHERE THE FROST LINE IS.
[NICK HAGUE] THERE YOU GO. WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY.
-[DERROL NAIL] YEP, THEY'RE ABOUT HALFWAY. -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS]
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, IT'S GOING DOWN.
AND THEY RECAPTURE THAT LOX AND THAT FUEL, OF COURSE, FOR THE NEXT ATTEMPT.
UM, YOU LOSE A BIT OF LOX BECAUSE, AFTER ALL, THAT STUFF BOILS OFF.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, THAT'S WHY THEY WAIT TO LOAD IT UNTIL SO LATE,
BECAUSE IT'S SO COLD.
IT STARTS TO WARM AND EXPAND AND BOIL OFF, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE IT.
[DERROL NAIL] SO THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES, OR THE QUESTION THAT I WILL ASK NOW IS…
WHAT DO THE ASTRONAUTS DO AFTER THEY GET OUT OF THEIR CAPSULE
AND GO BACK TO THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS?
THIS KIND OF SERVED LIKE A DRESS REHEARSAL.
THEY HAVE NOW HAD TWO OF THEM, WHICH IS GOOD PRACTICE
FOR, YOU KNOW, AN OPERATION LIKE THIS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NEED TO PRACTICE ANYMORE. SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THE CAPSULE.
EVERYTHING RUNS IN REVERSE ALL THE WAY BACK
TO THE O&C BUILDING TO CREW QUARTERS.
UH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF YOUR SUITS,
THE SUIT TECHS, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THOSE ALL CLEANED UP
SO THAT YOU'RE READY TO TRY AGAIN TOMORROW.
AND THEN I GUARANTEE YOU THAT ALL FOUR OF THEM,
THE FIRST THING ON THEIR MIND IS, OKAY, SO LET'S…
WHEN ARE WE HAVING THE MEETING TO TALK ABOUT
IS TOMORROW A VIABLE LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY?
IS THE WEATHER GOOD? ARE THE SYSTEMS GOOD?
IS THE PHASING WORK SO THAT WE CAN GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE?
IS THAT GOOD? AND THEN GET THE THUMBS UP TO PRESS FOR TOMORROW,
OR IF THINGS AREN'T LINING UP RIGHT,
THEN WHEN IS THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY AFTER THAT?
AND, OF COURSE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE CHECKING IN WITH FAMILY.
UH, I IMAGINE THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE CHECKING IN WITH FAMILY
ON THE RIDE BACK TO O&C.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY. AND I HAVE ALSO HEARD,
AND I HAVE SEEN CREWS DO IN THE PAST, UH,
CHECK OUT WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE AT THE BEACH HOUSE.
-[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS] -[DERROL NAIL] BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
IT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT THERE AND, UH,
KIND OF… KIND OF TAKE THE STRESS OF THE DAY,
-AND THE SCRUB OFF FOR JUST A FEW HOURS? -[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW… IF YOU'RE…
IF TRYING AGAIN TOMORROW, THEN THERE'S PROBABLY…
-[DERROL NAIL] NOT ENOUGH TIME. -[NICK HAGUE] …NOT ENOUGH TIME.
UH, YOU MAY WANT TO TRY TO TAG UP WITH FAMILY AGAIN.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO SCRUB AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FEW DAYS,
THEN YOU CAN… HEY, LET'S JUST HAVE A QUIET EVENING
AND STEP AWAY FROM THE CREW QUARTERS,
GO OUT TO THE BEACH HOUSE, PUT YOUR FEET IN THE OCEAN.
[DERROL NAIL] SO, TOO QUICK OF A TURNAROUND.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT CAN BE. IT CAN BE.
[DERROL NAIL] SO IN THAT CASE, MAYBE, YOU KNOW,
SINCE THERE'S FOUR OF THEM,
THEY JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PICKLEBALL MATCH.
-KIND OF LET OFF SOME STEAM… -[NICK HAGUE LAUGHS]
[DERROL NAIL] …AND THEN GET BACK TO QUARANTINE.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW… MAYBE NOT ANY ATHLETIC EVENTS.
WE DON'T WANT TO RISK ANY LATE INJURIES PRIOR TO LAUNCH. [LAUGHS]
[DERROL NAIL] I HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PRETTY, SOMEWHAT SAFE SPORT,
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU KNOW, IT IS A SPORT AT THE END OF THE DAY.
YOU KNOW, JESSICA MEIR AND CHRISTINA KOCH, THEY PLAY PICKLEBALL.
-[NICK HAGUE] OH, YEAH. -[DERROL NAIL] YEAH.
[NICK HAGUE] I HAVE NOT GOT INTO THAT YET.
[DERROL NAIL] YOUR FELLOW ASTRONAUTS.
[NICK HAGUE] I'LL HAVE TO PICK THEIR BRAINS
ON THE FINER NUANCES OF PICKLEBALL RULES
BECAUSE SOMETHING ABOUT-- THERE'S A KITCHEN INVOLVED.
-AND I JUST-- THERE'S… -[DERROL NAIL] YES.
-[NICK HAGUE] THERE'S LOTS OF RULES. -[DERROL NAIL] THERE'S LOTS OF RULES.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] WELL, WE HAVE A CREW THAT PLAYS HERE, NICK, AND IN FACT,
AFTER OUR LAUNCH BROADCAST HERE, WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING OUT.
-SO IF YOU WANT TO LEARN… -[NICK HAGUE] OKAY.
-[DERROL NAIL] …YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US… -[NICK HAGUE] THANK YOU FOR THE INVITE.
-[DERROL NAIL] …IN THE 90-DEGREE HEAT. -[BOTH LAUGH]
[NICK HAGUE] STILL A BEAUTIFUL ROCKET.
[DERROL NAIL] IT IS INDEED, AND…
IT'S GOING TO STAY THERE OVERNIGHT.
IT CAN RAIN ON THE ROCKET. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.
WE CAN HAVE STORMS IN THE AREA. THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. UM…
AFTER WE DETANK IT, OF COURSE.
WHILE WE'RE SITTING HERE AND WE'VE GOT FOLKS WATCHING,
-WHY DON'T WE TAKE SOME SOCIAL QUESTIONS? -[NICK HAGUE] SOUNDS GREAT.
[DERROL NAIL] ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, WE SCRUBBED OUR LAUNCH.
EARLIER TODAY, AT 12:08 P.M. EASTERN TIME
T-MINUS ONE MINUTE AND SEVEN SECONDS.
OUR QUESTION COMES FROM HEY-AVIATE,
"I WANT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT ANY ADVICE THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL
APART FROM THE USUAL REQUIREMENTS?"
I'M GOING TO ASSUME THE USUAL REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE
-A STEM BACKGROUND, RIGHT? -[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM.
[DERROL NAIL] SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING OR MATHEMATICS, BUT LIKE,
WHAT GIVES PEOPLE AN EDGE THESE DAYS?
BECAUSE IT'S SO COMPETITIVE, NICK, LET'S BE HONEST.
-[NICK HAGUE] IT IS. -[DERROL NAIL] IT'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
-HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE ASTRONAUT CORPS? -[NICK HAGUE] LESS THAN 50.
-[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
YOU KNOW, IN EACH CLASS THAT,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S MAYBE 10,000 APPLICATIONS FOR A DOZEN SPOTS.
-[DERROL NAIL] TEN THOUSAND APPLICATIONS. -[NICK HAGUE] SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS YOU NEED A STEM MASTER'S DEGREE.
AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO GET THAT FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATIONAL BASELINE.
-[DERROL NAIL] YEAH. -[NICK HAGUE] UM…
SO, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY THINK ABOUT
THAT GET EVALUATED.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'RE WATCHING CREW-11 HERE.
THEY'VE BEEN STRAPPED INTO THESE SEATS FOR…
ABOUT THREE HOURS NOW. THEY'VE GOT ANOTHER 30 MINUTES OR SO.
AND SO, PATIENCE AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE
A LITTLE-- ENOUGH PERSONAL DISCIPLINE
TO BE ABLE TO SIT STILL AND WAIT FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S…
IT'S SOME OF THOSE SOFT SKILLS, THE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS,
HOW YOU MANAGE YOURSELF,
HOW YOU MANAGE YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH THE PEOPLE ON YOUR TEAM
THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE BRING PEOPLE IN FOR INTERVIEWS,
AND WE LOOK HOW THEY INTERACT
BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE IN TIGHT, CONFINED PLACES WITH…
WITH YOUR CREWMATES AND IT'S GONNA BE STRESSFUL SITUATIONS,
AND HOW DO YOU MANAGE THAT STRESS, AND…
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ARE TOUGH TO PUT ON A RESUME,
BUT THEY REALLY COME OUT WHEN YOU START TO EVALUATE CANDIDATES
THAT COME DOWN AND INTERVIEW FOR THE JOB.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S SO KEY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE OBSERVED
WITH MANY OF THE ASTRONAUTS, UH. WHO I'VE HAD THE HONOR,
AND THE PRIVILEGE TO DO LAUNCH BROADCASTS WITH.
AS WE LOOK AT A SCREEN THAT CAN SHOW US, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, NICK,
YOU CAN SEE THE RAIN COMING DOWN NOW, OUT THERE AT THE LAUNCH PAD.
-[NICK HAGUE] OH, YEAH, YOU CAN. -[DERROL NAIL] SO IT DID, UH…
DID FINALLY RAIN ON THE ROCKET.
THIS IS A SUN SHOWER, THOUGH, AT THE MOMENT
BECAUSE THE SUN IS SHINING ON THAT ROCKET AT THE SAME TIME
THAT IT GOT A LITTLE RAIN COMING DOWN.
BUT, UM… TO THE POINT THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT,
UM, THOSE SOFT SKILLS. IT'S…
AFTER HAVING DONE A NUMBER OF LAUNCH BROADCASTS WITH ASTRONAUTS,
IT'S LIKE, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM,
EASY TO GET ALONG WITH, SUPER SMART, ADAPTS TO SITUATIONS REAL QUICKLY.
I SEE THESE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS IN EVERYBODY.
I SAY ALMOST ALL BECAUSE, WELL, YOU KNOW.
[NICK HAGUE] SOME PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH. I APOLOGIZE.
-[DERROL NAIL] THE JURY IS OUT. -[BOTH LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] THE JURY'S STILL OUT ON THIS ONE. NO, I TEASE GREATLY.
THIS HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PLEASURE SINCE NICK WALKED IN THE DOOR YESTERDAY,
AND WE DID OUR LAUNCH BROADCAST DEBRIEF. IT'S REALLY GREAT HAVING YOU.
-IT REALLY TRULY IS. -[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW, SO THE…
THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE SOMEBODY IS HOW DO YOU DEVELOP THAT?
BECAUSE YOU CAN DEVELOP THOSE SOFT SKILLS.
AND IT'S TRYING TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU BECOME MORE ADAPTABLE
IF YOU'VE BEEN IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS,
AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO EXPAND YOUR COMFORT ZONE,
AND THEN TRYING TO JUST BE A GREAT TEAMMATE.
YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE LEADER, YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE FOLLOWER,
BUT WHAT DOES MY TEAM NEED ME TO DO?
AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE SIMPLE THINGS, IF YOU FOCUS ON THAT OVER YEARS,
AND IT TAKES DECADES TO GROW INTO THE PEOPLE WE SELECT,
YOU CAN GET TO WHERE YOU NEED TO BE.
[DERROL NAIL] IF YOU'RE SEEKING FAME AND GLORY,
IF THAT'S THE REASON THAT IT SPARKS YOU.
[NICK HAGUE] WRONG PROFESSION.
[DERROL NAIL] WRONG PROFESSION, THAT'S RIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] I THINK I SAID IT EARLIER, THIS SPORT IS NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS.
-[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S RIGHT. -[NICK HAGUE] IT'S TEAM.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THAT WAS NEVER BETTER EXEMPLIFIED RECENTLY
IN OUR COMMERCIAL CREW,
AND THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF,
BUT ZENA CARDMAN, THE COMMANDER WHO'S ABOARD THE ROCKET
AND SPACECRAFT TODAY, HER STANDING DOWN
AND SUPPORTING YOU AND YOUR TEAM, UH,
WHEN YOU LAUNCHED AFTER SHE GOT PULLED OFF THAT MISSION.
ANOTHER QUESTION IN FROM AQUAA.
"WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN THE ROCKET IS LAUNCHED?"
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS EARLIER IN THE BROADCAST, BUT THIS IS…
LIKE, TALK ME THROUGH REAL-- GIVE ME SOME SENSORY DETAIL HERE.
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SURE. -[DERROL NAIL] WHAT ARE THE FEELS?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, UM, BEFORE I DO THAT,
I WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN ON YOUR LAST COMMENT AND JUST SAY,
YOU KNOW, SO, WE PUT THE SPOTLIGHT ON ZENA
BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE STRAPPED INTO A ROCKET TODAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, STEPHANIE WILSON DID THE EXACT SAME THING.
AND I'M EQUALLY EXCITED TO SEE HER STRAP INTO A ROCKET AND GET HER FLIGHT.
UM, THEY ARE THE EPITOME OF THE PROFESSIONALISM
THAT THE ASTRONAUT CORPS STRIVES TO BE.
[DERROL NAIL] ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. YEAH, SO WHAT'S IT FEEL LIKE TO,
SO AS YOU'RE WALKING TO, WE'LL JUST TAKE IT,
-YOU PUSH SPACE ON THE ELEVATOR. -[DERROL NAIL] [LAUGHS]
-GOING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. -[NICK HAGUE] ABSOLUTELY.
YOU RIDE THE ELEVATOR UP, AND IT'S ACTUALLY,
THE ELEVATOR GOES FAST ENOUGH THAT YOUR EARS POP,
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING UP A LOT OF FLOORS OF STAIRS,
SO YOU'LL FEEL THE PRESSURE CHANGE IN YOUR EARS,
JUST LIKE IF YOU WERE IN A BIG SKYSCRAPER
AND, YOU KNOW, GOING FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP.
AND THEN YOU STEP OUT OF THE--
STEP OUT OF THE ELEVATOR AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THIS--
FOR ME IT WAS THIS GENTLE BREEZE COMING OFF THE OCEAN
BECAUSE YOU'RE SO HIGH UP, YOU JUST GET THIS NICE COOL BREEZE.
AND IT'S JUST GREEN AS YOU LOOK OUT, GREEN AND THEN THE BLUE OF THE OCEAN.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS METALLIC STRUCTURE THAT'S THERE,
AND THE LAUNCH TOWER DOESN'T REALLY SWAY OR ANYTHING,
IT'S SO BEEFY, YOU CAN SEE IT THERE IN THE PHOTO.
UM, AND THEN YOU GET INTO THE GANTRY ARM,
AND YOU START WALKING OUT TO THE CAPSULE,
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SURROUNDED…
BY THIS VISUAL OF THIS TUBE LEADING YOU TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
AND SO THEN THAT'S WHERE EMOTION STARTS
TO COLOR HOW YOU'RE SEEING EVERYTHING.
AND-- AND THE WHITE ROOM IS CHILLED DOWN,
IT'S COOL, SO THAT THE VEHICLE'S COOL, AND YOU CLIMB IN.
AND AS SOON AS YOU CROSS THAT THRESHOLD OF THE SIDE HATCH,
IT FEEL-- YOU KNOW, BEFORE IT WAS LIKE YOU'VE DONE IT ONCE, MAYBE TWICE,
AND IT'S UNFAMILIAR, BUT IT'S STILL SENSORY OVERLOAD TO SOME DEGREE.
AS SOON AS YOU GET INSIDE THE CAPSULE, YOU'VE TRAINED FOR SO LONG,
IT FEELS LIKE HOME.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOU'VE SPENT…
EVERYTHING'S EXACTLY WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE.
AND SO THEN THE SIDE HATCH CLOSES.
AND THEN…
PROP LOADING, THAT'S REALLY WHERE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE,
THE ROCKET COMES TO LIFE. THE PUMPS START SPINNING UP.
YOU CAN HEAR THE FUEL FLOWING. YOU FEEL THE VIBRATIONS.
YOU GET VENTING THAT'S HAPPENING.
AND THAT'S WHEN YOU FEEL, LIKE,
SO I'M-- I'M ON A THING.
I'M NOT ON A MACHINE.
I'M ON THIS THING THAT'S GOT A PERSONALITY,
THAT'S GOT THIS LIFE INSIDE OF IT.
AND THEN AT THE MOMENT OF LIFTOFF, THERE'S JUST, YOU KNOW,
THE ENGINES LIGHT UP AND YOU GET THIS SUBTLE VIBRATION
AND YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE OF YOUR BODY BEING PUSHED
INTO YOUR SEAT. JUST, YOU KNOW, YOUR BACK IS BEING PUSHED IN.
AND IT'S-- AND IT'S…
YOU KNOW ALL THE MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF THRUST THAT ARE HAPPENING,
AND IT'S JUST SQUEEZING YOU IN THAT SEAT, AND IT'S JUST CONTINUING
TO PUSH YOU IN THAT SEAT AS YOU KIND OF CREEP OFF,
AND IT'S SMOOTH.
AND SO IF YOU'VE BEEN IN AN ELECTRIC CAR
AND SOMEBODY JUST KIND OF SLOWLY PRESSES THE ACCELERATOR
AND THEN JUST KEEPS MASHING IT
UNTIL IT'S ALL THE WAY DOWN, EVENTUALLY YOU'RE PRESSED
INTO YOUR SEAT AND YOU'RE ACCELERATING,
AND IT'S LIKE THAT, BUT YOU DON'T STOP FOR NINE MINUTES.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS] THE FEELING OF ACCELERATION GOES THAT LONG.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU'VE GOT STAGING IN THE MIDDLE, SO IT STARTS AT ONE G,
AND THEN YOU BUILD UP TO FOUR AND A HALF,
AND THEN IT DROPS OFF DURING STAGING TO NOTHING FOR A FEW SECONDS,
AND THEN IT STARTS BACK UP AGAIN AND BUILDS UP,
AND THEN IT STOPS AND YOU'RE IN SPACE.
AND SO THOSE NINE MINUTES ARE JUST THIS AMAZING ROLLER COASTER RIDE
THAT IS LIKE SUPER SMOOTH WITH A LITTLE BIT OF VIBRATION.
AND THE WHOLE TIME YOU'VE GOT THESE WINDOWS
THAT YOU CAN LOOK OUTSIDE AND WATCH IT ALL HAPPEN
AS THE EARTH KIND OF DISAPPEARS DOWN BELOW.
AND YEAH, IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL. I WISH EVERYBODY COULD DO IT.
[DERROL NAIL] NO DOUBT. I WISH I COULD DO IT.
THAT IS… WHAT A GREAT EXPLANATION
OF WHAT YOU EXPERIENCE FROM BEGINNING TO END.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, WE ARE…
WE ARE LIVE WITH LAUNCH COVERAGE OF NASA AND SPACEX'S CREW-11.
THE LAUNCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
SCRUBBED FOR THE DAY. YOU SEE THE WEATHER IN THE AREA
CAUSED A SCRUB AT T-MINUS ONE MINUTE AND SEVEN SECONDS
JUST AT 12:08 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
THE CREW IS INSIDE THE CAPSULE AT THE TOP. THEY ARE SAFE.
THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE FINISH, THE COMPLETION
OF DETANKING THE ROCKET OF ITS HIGHLY ENERGETIC PROPELLANTS,
WHICH WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING NOW.
JUST SHOULD BE-- JUST ANOTHER 15 MINUTES OR SO.
OUR NEXT ATTEMPT FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH, PROVIDED THAT AFTER THEY REVIEW
THE DATA FROM TODAY'S SCRUB,
SHOULD ALL THAT LOOK GOOD AND CHECK OUT,
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH
IS AUGUST 1 AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
WEATHER FOR TOMORROW IS 85% GO.
THE ONLY AREA THAT IS A WATCH ITEM, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT WATCH ITEM,
IS THE WEATHER THAT'S GOING TO BE DISTURBED
ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD AFTER WE GET A TROUGH
OF DISTURBANCES MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE EASTERN ATLANTIC.
GOING BACK-- GOING BACK TO YOUR DESCRIPTION ABOUT LAUNCHING,
WHAT ARE THE EMOTIONS? RIGHT? SO, IS…
WHEN YOU FIRST LAUNCH,
I'M IMAGINING WHEN IT LIGHTS AND THAT FIRST THRUST OFF THE PAD,
-[NICK HAGUE] MM-HMM. -[DERROL NAIL] ANXIETY, A LITTLE FEAR.
WHAT-- WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
[NICK HAGUE] YOU FEEL, YOU KNOW,
FOR ME, IT'S THE SWIRL OF EMOTIONS UP TO THAT POINT.
I'VE GOT A SWIRL OF EMOTIONS LEADING UP TO IT WHERE THERE'S THIS…
THIS DESIRE TO BE PERFECT, RIGHT? I DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE.
I DON'T WANT TO LET DOWN THE PEOPLE THAT SPENT THE BETTER PART
OF A COUPLE YEARS TRAINING ME TO BE PERFECT IN THE MOMENT.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES.
THERE'S THIS ANTICIPATION OF THE UNKNOWN.
ESPECIALLY ON YOUR FIRST LAUNCH WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO REALLY EXPECT.
BUT EVEN ON SUBSEQUENT LAUNCHES,
IT'S THE UNKNOWN OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
THE-- YOU KNOW, JUST THAT HEIGHTENED SENSE
OF VIGILANCE THAT YOU NEED
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REACT IN THE MOMENT APPROPRIATELY.
THERE'S THE JOY OF, LIKE, I'M GETTING TO DO THIS THING
THAT I LOVE TO DO AND I'VE WANTED TO DO
-AND NOW'S THIS MOMENT. -[DERROL NAIL] I'M DOING IT!
[NICK HAGUE] SO THERE'S INTENSE EXCITEMENT AND JOY.
THERE'S A TINGE OF SADNESS BECAUSE EVERYBODY YOU LOVE
IS DOWN ON THE GROUND AND YOU JUST SAID GOODBYE.
AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE THEM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
AND SO IT'S THIS BLENDER OF EMOTIONS, BUT…
AS THE CLOCK TICKS CLOSER TO T-MINUS ZERO,
THE FOCUS STARTS TO-- TO NARROW IN,
AND IT BECOMES, "OKAY, NOW I'M IN OPERATOR MODE."
"LET'S EXECUTE. WE GOT A MISSION TO DO."
AND SO AT THE MOMENT YOU LIFT OFF, YOU'VE GOT A RADIO CALL
AND YOU'VE GOT RADIO CALLS YOU NEED TO MAKE ALL THE WAY UP
JUST TO CONFIRM WHAT LAUNCH ABORT PHASE
THAT YOU'RE IN AND ALL OF THAT.
AND SO YOU'RE TRYING TO ABSORB AND MONITOR EVERYTHING
THAT'S GOING ON AND LISTEN
TO WHAT AND SEE WHAT THE VEHICLE IS TELLING YOU.
YOU HAVE TO PUT THAT SWIRL OF EMOTIONS OFF TO THE SIDE…
-[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. -[DERROL NAIL] …AND DO A JOB.
IN THAT EXTREMELY EXCITING MOMENT.
[NICK HAGUE] AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S A SKILL YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN THE JOB,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST LAUNCH THAT THAT HAPPENS. THERE'S--
IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
AND SO WE TRAIN TO BE ABLE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND,
BUT THEN ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU CAN'T JUST BOTTLE THAT STUFF UP.
SO YOU GOT TO PROCESS IT AT SOME POINT.
AND SO FINDING THE RIGHT WAYS TO PROCESS THAT
AND THE RIGHT MOMENTS TO PROCESS THAT.
[DERROL NAIL] FASCINATING TO LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO A LAUNCH DAY,
TO THE LAUNCH MOMENT, THE EMOTIONS, THE FEELINGS,
AND THE PREPARATION, THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO GET THROUGH IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH US, NICK.
LET'S TOSS IT OUT TO SPACEX IN CALIFORNIA FOR OUR CONTINUED DOCUMENTATION
AND COVERAGE OF TODAY'S SCRUB LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] THANK YOU, DERROL. THANK YOU, NICK. AND FOR ALL THAT INSIGHT,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE PROCESS AS INTRICATE AS THIS ONE,
WITH THE DETANKING CONTINUING FOR FALCON 9,
AS AGAIN, TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT FOR FALCON 9
OR FOR CREW-11 NASA SPACEX CREW-11--
DRAGON, COPY.
PREPARE TO DISARM LAS FOR SECTION TWO OF FIVE THOUSAND ONE ZERO ZERO.
[RADIO STATIC]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] THAT WAS SOME GREAT CALL-OUTS RIGHT THERE
FROM UP IN THE CREW CAPSULE.
PARDON ME, THE SPACECRAFT IS CREW-11 RECEIVING UPDATED INFORMATION
FROM THE TEAMS HERE ON THE GROUND AND THE CORPS HERE
IN HAWTHORNE COMMUNICATING THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES
NEEDED TO DETANK THE VEHICLE IN FALCON 9.
AND THEN AGAIN, THEY'LL GO INTO THOSE PROCEDURES
OF BRINGING THE CREW ACCESS ARM, DISARMING THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
THE GROUND SUPPORT TEAMS THAT HELPED CREW-11
INTO THE VEHICLE, THEY'LL BECOME ON SITE
AND THEN HELP THEM OUT OF THEIR VEHICLE AS WELL. AND THEN--
SPACEX, DRAGON, DISARMING LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
-[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND THAT'LL HELP-- -COPY, WE'RE WITH YOU.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THEIR EVENTUAL RETURN
TO CREW QUARTERS SO AGAIN THERE YOU HEARD THAT THE DISARM
OF THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS UNDERWAY
AND THAT WAS THE VOICE OF COMMANDER ZENA CARDMAN
COPYING THOSE COMMANDS FROM THE CORE COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS
IN SPACEX HERE IN HAWTHORNE. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT AT THE MOMENT
BUT STILL A COUPLE MORE STEPS TO GO AND THEY'VE GIVEN CONTINUOUS UPDATES
ON THE PROCESS OF HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE
TO DETANK THE FALCON 9 OF BOTH THE RP-1,
THAT ROCKET GRADE KEROSENE, AS WELL AS THE LIQUID OXYGEN TANKS
NECESSARY TO THEN AGAIN--
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS DISARMED.
YOU'RE GO TO OPEN VISORS AND THEN PROCEED TO SECTION THREE.
DRAGON, COPY.
GO TO OPEN VISORS AND PROCEED TO SECTION THREE.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
CREW ARM ENGAGE SEQUENCE HAS STARTED.
[RADIO STATIC]
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND AGAIN, GREAT COMMUNICATIONS THERE
AS YOU'RE LOOKING INSIDE THE CREW ACCESS ARM
AS IT'S BEGINNING TO SWING BACK
TOWARDS THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
AND YOU SAW JUST MOMENTS BEFORE THAT, CREW-11 BEING ISSUED THE OKAY
TO OPEN UP THEIR VISORS AND BEGIN THEIR PROCESS--
CONTINUE THEIR PROCESS OF WHAT WILL BE EGRESSING
OR EXITING THE VEHICLE HERE IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT CREW ACCESS ARM SLOWLY BUT SURELY MAKING ITS WAY,
BE BUTTRESSED UP AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT
AS WE CONTINUE ON OUR…
SPACEX DRAGON READY FOR SEAT ROTATION.
-[RADIO STATIC] -COPY, CREW, READY FOR SEAT ROTATION.
WE WILL INITIATE THAT NOW.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] SO AGAIN, GREAT COMMUNICATION
HAPPENING BETWEEN THE TEAM AND SPACEX
AND CREW-11 ON BOARD THE DRAGON ENDEAVOUR SPACECRAFT
AS TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT…
HAS BEEN SCRUBBED DUE TO THE CUMULUS CLOUD RULE
AND ANOTHER LAUNCH ATTEMPT WILL BE COMING TOMORROW.
AND THAT LAUNCH ATTEMPT WILL BE AT 11:43 A.M.
EASTERN TIME AND OF COURSE WITH DARRELL AND NICK,
THE TEAM OUT IN KENNEDY, THE TEAM HERE AT SPACEX
AND AT JOHNSON-- NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM
WILL BRING YOU RIGHT BACK
AND GET YOU PREPARED FOR ANOTHER LAUNCH ATTEMPT
FOR CREW-11, AND AGAIN, THAT'LL BE TOMORROW AUGUST 1,
AS WE TURN OVER TO A NEW MONTH AT 11:43 A.M.
EASTERN TIME AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WILL
HOPEFULLY BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY THEN,
EN ROUTE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AND SYNC UP WITH THEIR CREW-10 COLLEAGUES,
AS WELL AS THOSE OF SOYUZ MS-27,
AND THAT CREW OF SEVEN ON BOARD
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WILL BE--
DRAGON SPACEX, SEATS ARE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION.
WE WILL BE WORKING THROUGH STEPS WITH THE CLOSEOUT TEAM
TO RETURN TO THE PAD TOWER AND OPEN UP THE SIDE HATCH.
I'LL KEEP YOU ABREAST OF THEIR PROGRESS.
DRAGON, COPY.
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND A GREAT LOOK INSIDE THAT CREW ACCESS ARM
AS IT HAS NOW MADE ITS WAY
RIGHT UP AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
AND CREW-11 SITTING COMFORTABLY WITH THEIR VISORS OPEN,
JUST RECENTLY GIVEN THAT COMMAND.
THE SEAT ROTATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED
AND THEY ARE NOW STRETCHING THEIR LEGS.
YOU CAN SEE MIKE FINCKE FLEXING THE ANKLES A LITTLE BIT
AND PREPARING TO EGRESS THE CAPSULE AND DRAGON ENDEAVOUR HERE
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. BUT TO GO BACK TO WHAT WE WERE SAYING,
THEY WERE HEADING UP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
WHERE CURRENTLY A CREW OF SEVEN
WILL LOOK TO WELCOME IN THIS CADRE OF FOUR,
INCLUDING THE COMMANDER OF EXPEDITION 73,
TAKUYA ONISHI OF JAXA, HIS BEST FRIEND, KIMIYA YUI,
AS A MEMBER OF CREW-11. SO IT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME
IN SEVERAL YEARS THAT TWO JAXA ASTRONAUTS
HAVE BEEN ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
TOGETHER, AND WHAT BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THAN WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND
THAT GETS TO COME UP AND PAY A VISIT WITH YOU.
BUT NASA'S ANNE MCCLAIN AND NICHOLE AYRES, ALONG WITH JONNY KIM,
ALSO ON BOARD, ALONG WITH ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUTS KIRILL PESKOV,
SERGEY RYZHIKOV, AND ALEXEY ZUBRITSKY,
WILL ANXIOUSLY AWAIT THEIR ARRIVAL
ONCE THEY CAN GO FOR THAT SECOND LAUNCH ATTEMPT,
WHICH AGAIN WILL BE TOMORROW,
AUGUST 1 AT 11:43 A.M.
EASTERN TIME, AS TODAY'S ATTEMPT WAS SCRUBBED DUE TO WEATHER.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE DETANKING PROCEDURES
THAT SHOULD BE WRAPPING UP HERE PRETTY SOON.
AS YOU SAW, THE CREW ACCESS ARM HAS SWUNG BACK INTO PLACE.
THE GROUND SUPPORT TEAM WILL MAKE ITS WAY UP TOWARDS THE SPACECRAFT
TO HELP THE CREW EXIT, EGRESS, AS THEY SAY, THE CAPSULE AS WELL,
AND THEN WE'LL STAY WITH LIVE COVERAGE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE CREW'S RETURN
TO CREW QUARTERS WHERE THEY WILL REMAIN IN QUARANTINE,
AND THAT'S WHAT DERROL NAIL AND NICK HAGUE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING
OF THOSE PROCEDURES AND HOW THINGS WILL SHAPE UP
AND READY TO TURN THE PAGE FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO-- TOMORROW.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
SO AS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ALONG AND KEEP UPDATES WITH THE EGRESS
OF NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 AND THE NEXT CREW ROTATIONAL MISSION
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, I'D LIKE TO JOIN
AND BRING IN MY COLLEAGUE HERE IN HAWTHORNE FOR ANOTHER UPDATE,
AND RONNIE ON ALL THINGS WITH THE SPACECRAFT, FALCON 9,
AND THE EGRESS PROCEDURES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ONGOING.
[VERONICA FOREMAN] THANKS SO MUCH, JOSEPH.
YEAH, SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY FOLLOWING VERY CLOSELY
AS WE MOVE THROUGH THESE DETANKING
AND THEN THESE UPCOMING EGRESS PROCEDURES.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG
WITH THIS MISSION SINCE WE PICKED UP OUR LAUNCH COVERAGE TODAY,
YOU CAN REALLY TELL THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING
THAT WE DID IN THE LEAD UP TO LIFTOFF NOW JUST IN REVERSE.
SO A COUPLE OF MINUTES AGO, WE HEARD THE CALL OUT
THAT THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISARMED.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE COLOR THERE,
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF EIGHT SUPERDRACO THRUSTERS,
IN ADDITION TO A LOT OF AVIONICS AND CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT THEM.
AND THOSE ENGINES PROVIDE FAULT-TOLERANT PROPULSION
FOR DRAGON'S LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
IN THE EXTREMELY UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY,
THOSE SUPERDRACO ENGINES CAN ACTUALLY POWER DRAGON
OFF THE TOP OF FALCON 9 AND AWAY FROM THE LAUNCH VEHICLE
IN LESS THAN EIGHT SECONDS.
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, OBVIOUSLY, THOSE ENGINES ARE EXTREMELY POWERFUL.
SO WE ONLY WANT THAT SYSTEM ARMED
AND CAPABLE OF DOING THAT EMERGENCY EXIT PROCEDURE
WHEN IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
OUR FLIGHT RULES DICTATE THAT THAT IS NECESSARY
ANYTIME WE HAVE PROPULSION AND ASTRONAUTS ON-- ON BOARD THE VEHICLE.
SO RIGHT NOW, KNOWING THAT WE'RE CLEARING THE COMPLETION
OF THAT DETANKING PROCESS, IT WAS SAFE
TO GO AHEAD AND DISARM THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
NOW, OF COURSE, ON YOUR SCREEN, YOU'VE GOT THIS VIEW OF THE CREW ACCESS ARM,
WHICH IS THE PRIMARY WAY THAT OUR ASTRONAUTS WALK
OUT FROM THE WHITE ROOM,
SORRY, TO THE WHITE ROOM, AND THEN ENTER THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
ALL THESE SYSTEMS WE HAVE WORKING TOGETHER,
THE SUPERDRACOS THAT ARE PART OF THE LES.
THE CREW ARM ENGAGE SEQUENCE IS COMPLETE.
CREW ARM IS FULLY ENGAGED AND PINNED.
[RADIO STATIC]
[VERONICA FOREMAN] CONFIRMATION THERE THAT WE'VE GOT THE CREW ARM FULLY ENGAGED
AND READY FOR OUR ASTRONAUTS TO BEGIN THAT EGRESS PROCESS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT'S GOING TO START
BY HAVING OUR GROUND SUPPORT TEAM COME BACK UP AND HELP
WITH THAT HATCH-OPENING PROCEDURE.
[RADIO STATIC]
AND I'M GETTING CONFIRMATION HERE THAT OFFLOAD HAS BEEN COMPLETED,
WHICH AGAIN IS WHAT WE EXPECTED WHEN WE HEARD THAT WE WERE OKAY
TO DISARM THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
IT'S REALLY WORTH NOTING, THOUGH, THAT DRAGON
IS A TREMENDOUSLY CAPABLE SPACECRAFT.
IT IS NOT JUST A CAPSULE HOUSING THESE ASTRONAUTS.
WE HAVE MANEUVERABILITY AVAILABLE TO THEM
THROUGH THE 16 DRACO THRUSTERS
THAT WE USE TO ORIENT THE SPACECRAFT DURING THE MISSION.
WE OBVIOUSLY USE THOSE REALLY--
RELY ON THEM REALLY HEAVILY AS WE DO ALL OF THE MANEUVERS
IN OUR APPROACH TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND THEN THE SUPERDRACO THRUSTERS THAT ARE PART OF THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM,
AS WELL AS ALL OF THE AVIONICS, THE CONTROLS,
EVERYTHING THAT OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE USING TO MONITOR THE VEHICLE PROGRESS,
BOTH NOW IN MORE OFF-NOMINAL SITUATIONS LIKE THIS,
WHERE WE'VE HAD A SCRUB DUE TO WEATHER,
BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THEIR FLIGHT TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, OUR CREW TODAY WAS SCHEDULED
FOR ABOUT A 38-HOUR TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE GETTING
FROM OUR MISSION CONTROL TEAM IS DISPLAYED INSIDE OF DRAGON FOR THEM.
WE'RE STILL SEEING LITTLE BITS OF RAIN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EARLIER,
BUT IS STILL REALLY INTERESTING, ANYTIME YOU ARE LEAVING EARTH,
WE'RE MONITORING WEATHER NOT JUST AT THE LAUNCH SITE.
IT'S REALLY ALL THE WAY ALONG THE ASCENT CORRIDOR.
OBVIOUSLY, FALCON LIFTS OFF AND THEN DOES A GRAVITY TURN
SO THAT WE CAN GET UP TO SPACE GOING 17,500 MILES AN HOUR HORIZONTALLY.
WE'RE NOT JUST GOING UP.
SO WE'RE MOVING THROUGH A HUGE PORTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
ON OUR TRIP TO SPACE.
AND THE WEATHER FOR THAT ENTIRE ASCENT NEEDS TO BE CLEAR.
AND AGAIN, IF WE WERE GOING TO LEVERAGE THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM
IN FLIGHT FOR ANY REASON, YOU'D HEAR ON A TYPICAL ASCENT,
OUR CREW WILL CALL OUT CERTAIN ABORT MODES
WHERE THE CAPSULE MIGHT HAVE TO, SORRY, THE SPACECRAFT MAY HAVE TO
EJECT TO IN THE INSTANCE THAT ANYTHING WERE TO GO WRONG.
THAT WEATHER ALSO NEEDS TO BE GOOD.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE CREW, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE HEALTHY.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, ANYTIME WE HAVE CREW ENTERING
OR EXITING THE VEHICLE, WE'RE WORKING THOSE CAREFULLY REHEARSED
AND FINE-TUNED PROCEDURES LIKE WE'RE SEEING THEM STEP THROUGH NOW.
[RADIO STATIC]
[VERONICA FOREMAN] THE VIEW YOU HAVE ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW
IS HISTORIC LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A.
SPACEX HAS MADE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE CREW ACCESS TOWER
THAT YOU SEE OVER THERE.
IF YOU FOLLOWED ALONG WITH ANY OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
OR ON PREVIOUS WEBCASTS,
YOU KNOW THAT WHEN OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE READY
TO BOARD DRAGON, THEY ACTUALLY GO TO AN ELEVATOR INSIDE THAT TOWER
AND HIT THE SPACE BUTTON BEFORE GOING UP
TO THAT CREW ACCESS ARM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BRIDGING
BETWEEN THE TOWER AND JUST BEHIND DRAGON ON YOUR SCREEN.
RIGHT NOW, OUR GROUND SUPPORT TEAMS ARE PREPARING TO ASCEND THE TOWER
AND GO OVER. AND LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER,
WE'RE GOING TO HELP WITH THAT HATCH OPENING
AND THEN HELP OUR CREW EGRESS THE SPACECRAFT.
FROM THERE, THEY'LL BE GOING BACK INTO QUARANTINE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ASTRONAUTS MAINTAIN
THAT QUARANTINE ENVIRONMENT OFTEN AWAY FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY
IN THE LEAD-UP TO LAUNCH
SO THAT THEY'RE 100% HEALTHY WHEN WE GET THEM UP
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SO, TO MAINTAIN THEIR WELL-BEING
AHEAD OF OUR NEXT LAUNCH ATTEMPT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED
FOR TOMORROW AT 11:43 A.M EASTERN
THEY'RE GOING TO GO BACK INTO THAT QUARANTINE ENVIRONMENT
GETTING SOME NICE VIEWS OF CREW-11 IN THEIR SEATS THERE
EARLIER ON, WE ALSO HEARD DISCUSSION
THAT WE WERE ROTATING OUR SEATS BACK INTO THE VERTICAL POSITION.
WE ROTATE OUR ASTRONAUTS TO LAY ON THEIR BACK
AHEAD OF LIFTOFF BECAUSE IT IS MORE COMFORTABLE
WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE HIGH G-FORCE LOADING OF ASCENT
TO HAVE THAT PRESSURE GO THROUGH YOUR CHEST.
SO ANYTIME YOU SEE A PHOTO OF AN ASTRONAUT IN DRAGON
OR ANY HISTORICAL SPACECRAFT,
YOU KNOW YOU SEE THEM IN THAT RECLINED POSITION.
THE SEATS ON DRAGON ARE ANOTHER REALLY NUANCED
AND SOPHISTICATED PART OF THE SPACECRAFT.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT ROTATION
AND THEN MOVE THEMSELVES BACK INTO THE HORIZONTAL POSITION
IN THE EVENT OF AN EGRESS LIKE THIS.
BUT WE ALSO HEARD DISCUSSION EARLIER THAT WE CAN REMOVE THOSE FOOT RESTS
TO GIVE THE CREW SOME ADDITIONAL ROOM
INSIDE THE SPACECRAFT FOR THEIR TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SEEING SOME SMILES FROM THE CREW THERE.
AND OF COURSE WE'RE FOLLOWING ALONG VERY CLOSELY HERE,
NOT JUST WITH OUR COVERAGE, BUT OF COURSE
THE ENTIRE MISSION CONTROL GROUND SUPPORT TEAM.
EVERYONE'S KEEPING A CAREFUL EYE ON ALL OF THESE PROCEDURES
BECAUSE ANYTIME WE HAVE ASTRONAUTS ONBOARD THE SPACECRAFT,
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS REHEARSED DURING DRY DRESS.
AND YOU CAN SEE OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH IT, RIGHT?
THEY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE HAVING A PRETTY GOOD TIME WAITING TO EXIT DRAGON,
GO BACK, GET A LITTLE REST, AND THEN TRY AGAIN.
[RADIO STATIC]
[JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI] AND TO THAT POINT TOO, RONNIE,
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THEM WITH THOSE SMILES TOO.
THIS HAS BEEN A CREW THAT WE HEARD IN EARLIER PORTIONS OF THE BROADCAST TODAY
THAT THEY'VE ALL BEEN COMING FROM DIFFERENT MISSIONS
AND DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS.
AND TO HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND TO BE A TEAM PLAYER IS A CRUCIAL COMPONENT
OF BECOMING AN ASTRONAUT AND A COSMONAUT.
AND SEEING THOSE SMILES FOR THEM AND KNOWING THEIR JOURNEY
AND THEIR PATH AND THEIR HISTORY AS A NASA ASTRONAUT
OR A JAXA ASTRONAUT, OR A ROSCOSMOS COSMONAUT,
YOU KNOW THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STEP
IN THAT PATH AND THAT JOURNEY THAT THEY'VE HAD ALONG THE WAY
SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE THEM WITH-- WITH ALL SMILES, THEY'RE--
THEY'RE A CREW THAT IS VERY EMOTIONAL, VERY THANKFUL, VERY SUPPORTIVE,
OF EACH OTHER AND OF THE MISSION BUT ALSO VERY HAPPY,
AND I HEAR A LOT ABOUT EACH CREW MEMBER HAS VERY UNIQUE SENSE OF HUMOR
SO DURING THAT 39-HOUR OF PHASING,
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE JOKES WERE GOING TO BE LIKE, EXCHANGED,
THE STORIES THAT WERE GOING TO BE TOLD, AND FOR TWO OF THEM
AS FIRST-TIME FLYERS EXPERIENCING IT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
IN OLEG PLATONOV OF ROSCOSMOS AND ZENA CARDMAN, THE COMMANDER OF NASA.
SO TO SEE THEM SHARING SMILES, TELLING STORIES, AND JUST KNOWING
THAT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AWAITS THEM AROUND THE CORNER,
AGAIN, TOMORROW'S NEXT OPPORTUNITY AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN,
CERTAINLY HAS THEM IN BRIGHT SPIRITS, IT SEEMS.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO STAY WITH OUR LIVE COVERAGE
OF THE EGRESS PROCEDURES OF NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11
AS THEIR LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY THIS MORNING,
UNFORTUNATELY COMES TO A CLOSE DUE TO A WEATHER VIOLATION.
THEY WERE SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH AT 12:09 A.M. EASTERN TIME,
BUT THAT VIOLATION CAME INTO PLAY RIGHT IN THE KEY MOMENTS
OF THE COUNTDOWN, ALMOST RIGHT UP TO T-MINUS ONE MINUTE LEFT
IN THE COUNTDOWN. THEY CALLED THE HOLD,
AND ADDRESSED THE CREW THAT WEATHER, UNFORTUNATELY,
WAS NOT COOPERATING WITH THEM
AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO STAND DOWN FROM TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT
AND MAKE THEIR WAY BACK TO CREW QUARTERS AFTER DETANKING
AND SAFELY EGRESSING THE VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
BUT AGAIN, OPPORTUNITIES TOMORROW AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,
SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES APLENTY HERE IN THE NEAR FORESIGHT
FOR NASA'S SPACEX CREW-11 TEAM.
SO WITH THAT, WE'LL DEPART FROM HAWTHORNE FOR THE MOMENT AND HEAD BACK
OUT TO THE SPACE COAST AND CHECK IN WITH DERROL AND NASA ASTRONAUT NICK HAGUE.
[DERROL NAIL] THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE CREW.
I'M HERE WITH NICK HAGUE, NASA ASTRONAUT.
AND IN A MOMENT LIKE THIS, WHEN I LOOK AT THE CREW BIDING THEIR TIME,
WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE MOMENT TO EGRESS OUT
OF THIS CAPSULE AND GET BACK TO THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS,
I SEE MIKE FINCKE TALKING A LOT.
IN A MOMENT LIKE THAT, IT'S PRETTY GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO'S A JOVIAL,
TALKABLE FELLOW LIKE MIKE FINCKE WHO LIKES TO CRACK JOKES.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW,
NOW, HUMOR IS A GREAT TOOL,
AND BEING ABLE TO FIND THE HUMOR IN JUST ABOUT ANY SITUATION IS A TRUE TALENT
AND A BENEFIT TO THE TEAM.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SITTING HERE.
YOU SAW THE GANTRY ARM IS BACK UP TO THE CAPSULE.
PAD TEAM'S GETTING ACCESS.
THEY'RE GOING TO POP OPEN THE SIDE HATCH HERE AND GET THEM
OUT OF THE-- OUT OF THE CAPSULE.
SO NOW'S THE TIME THEY CAN RELAX A LITTLE BIT.
THEY'RE IN A SAFE STATE
AND THERE'S DEFINITELY-- THEY'VE TURNED THE CORNER
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, OKAY, WHAT'S OUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY?
[DERROL NAIL] NEXT TO MIKE FINCKE IS ZENA CARDMAN,
THE COMMANDER OF THIS MISSION.
IS IT THE COMMANDER'S RESPONSIBILITY
TO KIND OF REGROUP THE TEAM EMOTIONALLY?
I MEAN, THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL ASTRONAUTS AND COSMONAUTS,
SO I KNOW THEY KNOW HOW TO GATHER THEMSELVES AND GEAR UP
FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT. BUT IT'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THE--
YOU KNOW, EVERY PERSON ON THE CREW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES
AND ALSO FEELS A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TEAM.
THE COMMANDER IS THE ONE THAT ULTIMATELY IS ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THAT CREW,
THE WELL-BEING OF THAT SPACECRAFT AND MAKING REAL-TIME CALLS.
AND SO COMMANDER'S JOB IS TO READ THE ROOM
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TEAM NEEDS IN THAT MOMENT.
AND MAYBE THAT NEEDS-- YOU NEED TO RE-CAGE.
MAYBE IT'S CRACK A JOKE.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU'VE GOT TO READ THE ROOM.
IT GETS BACK TO THOSE SOFT SKILLS I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.
[DERROL NAIL] WE ARE AWAITING THE COMPLETION OF DETANKING
OF THE FALCON 9 ROCKET.
A MOMENT THAT, WHEN IT ARRIVES,
WILL ALLOW FOR THE ASTRONAUTS TO EGRESS FROM THE DRAGON.
MAKE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE PLATFORM AND DOWN TO THEIR WAITING TESLAS,
WHERE THEY WILL BE DRIVEN BACK A 20-MINUTE DRIVE
ACROSS THE SPACEPORT UNDER SECURITY ESCORT…
BACK TO ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS.
AND WE HEAR THE CALL THAT DETANKING IS COMPLETE.
AGAIN, DETANKING IS COMPLETE.
THAT PAVES THE WAY FOR THE CLOSEOUT CREW. [LAUGHS]
SO A LITTLE HAND BATTLE THERE BETWEEN THE COMMANDER AND PILOT.
PAVES THE WAY FOR THE CLOSEOUT CREW TO COME UP AND ASCEND THE TOWER,
MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE BLAST DANGER AREA, AND HELP THE ASTRONAUTS MAKE THEIR WAY
OUT OF THE SPACECRAFT.
AND THERE YOU SEE AT THE BASE, HERE COMES THE CLOSEOUT CREW.
HAVE THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE CLOSEOUT CREW MAKING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE ACCESS TOWER.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FINAL STEPS UP TO THE 275-FOOT LEVEL.
WHERE THEY GO INTO THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
AT THIS POINT, NICK, THE…
YOU CAN SAY THAT THE ROCKET HAS BEEN SAVED.
[NICK HAGUE] YES. YOU DETANK THE ROCKET, THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS OFF.
AS SOON AS THOSE TWO THINGS WERE COMPLETE,
THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO ROTATE THE SEATS AND POP VISORS
AND ESSENTIALLY SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR THE PAD CREW TO SHOW UP.
WE SAW A PAD CREW WALKING DOWN THE ARM.
THEY'LL PUT SOME SAFETY RESTRAINTS IN PLACE TO-- TO SECURE THE GAP
BETWEEN THE ARM AND THE CAPSULE AND POP OPEN THAT SIDE HATCH.
DRAGON SPACEX, THE TEAM HAS REACHED THE WHITE ROOM.
WE'RE NOW BEGINNING PREPARATIONS FOR CONFIGURING
THE WHITE ROOM AND SIDE HATCH OPENING.
DRAGON, COPY.
[DERROL NAIL] SOUNDS LIKE THE HATCH-- OH, NO, SELFIE. IT'S SELFIE TIME.
[DERROL NAIL AND NICK HAGUE LAUGH]
[DERROL NAIL] KIMIYA HAS GOT HIS TABLET OUT AND HE'S TAKING A SELFIE.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT PICTURE WILL GO IN THE GRAND SCHEME
OF PICTURES THAT THEY'LL BE TAKING, ESPECIALLY WITH A LAUNCH DAY,
A REAL LAUNCH DAY WHERE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, BUT ON A REAL LAUNCH DAY--
[DERROL NAIL] YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS, RIGHT?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND YOU WOULDN'T RISK TAKING THE TABLET OUT
AND POTENTIALLY DROPPING IT AND THEN HAVING THE LAUNCH,
YOU KNOW, THE PAD CREW HAVING TO COME BACK IN
-AND DIG THAT OUT. -[DERROL NAIL] GREAT POINT.
[NICK HAGUE] SO THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
TO GET SOME PHOTOS YOU MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE GET.
NOT THE EASIEST THING
TO WORK WITH A TABLET LIKE THAT WHEN YOU'RE WEARING BIG GLOVES.
-[LAUGHS] -[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT. YES, THOSE GLOVES.
SO NOW THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN.
-YEAH, THOSE GLOVES ARE TOUCH SENSITIVE. -[NICK HAGUE] YES.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU CAN USE THEM ON THE TABLETS AND THEY WORK,
BUT THEY DO LOOK PRETTY BULKY.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, AND YOUR FINGERS, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S SOME LAYERS ASSOCIATED WITH IT,
SO YOU'RE NOT AS DEXTEROUS AS YOU WOULD BE OTHERWISE.
AND-- YOU GET USED TO IT, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME
IN TRAINING SITTING IN THE SUIT,
WORKING IN THE CAPSULE,
WEEKS AT A TIME IN HAWTHORNE OUT IN LOS ANGELES.
[DERROL NAIL] AS THE CLOSEOUT CREW BRINGS THEIR EQUIPMENT
NECESSARY TO UNSEAL THE SIDE HATCH,
OPEN IT UP AND GET THE CREW OUT.
THE ASTRONAUTS HAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR CONVERSATION,
TALK ABOUT THE NEXT LAUNCH ATTEMPT…
TAKE SELFIES.
SO YOU LAUNCHED THREE TIMES, AND YOU NEVER HAD A WEATHER SCRUB?
-[NICK HAGUE] NEVER HAD A WEATHER SCRUB. -[DERROL NAIL] THAT IS FORTUNATE.
[NICK HAGUE] YES, INDEED. WE HAD A DELAY. WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY SCRUB.
WE HAD A DELAY BECAUSE OF A HURRICANE COMING THROUGH.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT, BUT WE SAW THAT WELL IN ADVANCE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, NEVER GOT TO THE POINT WHERE WE DID THAT.
ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, AND THE POINT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER,
EVERY CREW PRACTICES A SCRUB WHEN THEY DO DRY DRESS.
-[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT. -[NICK HAGUE] AND SO YOU GET TO GO THROUGH
THE PROCEDURES MINUS ALL OF THE WAITING
FOR THE PROP LOAD TO GO ON AND THE PROP LOAD TO COME OFF.
[DERROL NAIL] THERE HAVE BEEN ASTRONAUTS WHO HAVE SCRUBBED DUE TO WEATHER
FIVE TIMES.
FAMOUSLY, OUR FORMER NASA ADMINISTRATOR, BILL NELSON,
TELLS THAT STORY ALL THE TIME ABOUT FIVE SCRUBS TO GET TO LAUNCH.
-I THOUGHT, OH, MAN. -[NICK HAGUE] IT-- SPACE IS HARD.
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS GOING INTO EVERYBODY FEELING COMFORTABLE
THAT IT'S SAFE TO LAUNCH.
[DERROL NAIL] IS THERE ANY WAY TO PUT IN A FOOD ORDER BACK AT CREW QUARTERS?
[NICK HAGUE] FOOD WILL BE WAITING BECAUSE YOU GOT TO REMEMBER
-THEY SUITED UP ALMOST SIX HOURS AGO. -[DERROL NAIL] I'D LIKE THAT.
[NICK HAGUE] SO IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THEY'VE HAD A MEAL.
THERE'LL BE FOOD WAITING.
AND THE STAFF AT CREW QUARTERS DOES AN AMAZING JOB
OF MAKING SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT THE RIGHT FOOD,
IT'S NUTRITIOUS FOOD. UH…
THEY DO AN AMAZING JOB THAT EXTENDS NOT JUST FROM CREW QUARTERS,
BUT ALSO GETS INTO THE FOOD SYSTEM ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND, YEAH, IT'S JUST, AGAIN, EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING,
THERE'S ANOTHER FACET OF, HEY, THERE'S THIS TEAM,
AND THEY ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD AT DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
AND WHAT THEY DO IS SO CRITICAL, AND, YOU KNOW,
THE FOOD BIOP IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.
[DERROL NAIL] I HEAR GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE CHEF OVER THERE
AND HIS ABILITY TO MAKE THESE MEALS THAT ARE REQUESTED
YOU KNOW, BY PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, RIGHT?
THE INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTS ASKING FOR CUISINE FROM THEIR HOMELAND.
AND I HEAR THEY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU SEE THE CLOSEOUT CREW ON THE LEFT, THEY ARE SECURING
THE WHITE ROOM TO THE--
TO THE CAPSULE.
AND THEN THEY'LL BEGIN UNBOLTING THE FASTENERS
THAT HOLD THAT SIDE HATCH IN.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU WANT TO MIND THE GAP.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DROP.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, THAT'S A GAP. [CHUCKLES]
JUST 275 FEET STRAIGHT DOWN.
AND SO THIS CREW, OF COURSE, IS PLANNING ON A THREE PLUS TWO HANDOVER.
NOW, DOES THAT CALCULUS CHANGE?
[NICK HAGUE] WELL, YOU SAW THE HANDOVER IS GOING TO BE INFLUENCED BY WEATHER AS WELL,
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD WEATHER TO LAND.
SO EVEN IF WE CAN LAUNCH THEM, CREW-10'S GOT TO HAVE GOOD WEATHER TO LAND.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT CALCULUS CHANGE.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HANDOVER ACTIVITIES
AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE ONE CREW,
YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY SHOW THE ROPES A LITTLE BIT TO THE OTHER CREW
BEFORE THEY LEAVE, IS STILL CRITICAL.
BUT THAT IS ALSO TEMPERED WITH,
WELL, WE HAVE A WINDOW OF GOOD WEATHER HERE,
OR WE HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A WINDOW OF BAD WEATHER THERE,
AND TRYING TO FIND THAT SPOT, THAT SWEET SPOT TO BRING EVERYBODY HOME.
[DERROL NAIL] LOTS OF MOVING PARTS WITH REGARDS TO THE PLANNING IN THAT REGARD.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, MOTHER NATURE GETS A VOTE.
-[CHUCKLES] EVERY TIME. -[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLING]
SO THEY MUST MAINTAIN QUARANTINE ALONG WITH THE SUPPORT TEAM.
HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO WHETHER OR NOT THEY GET TO SEE
OR TALK TO A FAMILY IN CLOSE PROXIMITY?
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO THE FAMILY WILL MAINTAIN QUARANTINE.
THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY WILL MAINTAIN QUARANTINE…
[DERROL NAIL] THEY DIDN'T BREAK IT AFTER THEY DROVE OFF?
[NICK HAGUE] …UP AND THROUGH THE LAUNCH,
SO THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS,
YOU CAN STILL BE ABLE TO GO TO THE BEACH HOUSE AND HAVE DINNER
WITH THE FAMILY IF YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO THAT KIND OF THING.
[DERROL NAIL] OKAY.
[NICK HAGUE] BUT YEAH, QUARANTINE, IT'S SERIOUS BUSINESS
BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE CREW SAFE ON ORBIT,
AND WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE SICKNESS UP THERE.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S ANOTHER TEAM THAT MONITORS ALL OF THAT
AND MAKES SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN IT.
[DERROL NAIL] FOR PILOT MIKE FINCKE,
IT'S BEEN 14 YEARS SINCE HE LAST FLEW TO SPACE,
DOING SO ABOARD STS-134 IN 2011.
THE SECOND TO LAST FLIGHT,
THE PENULTIMATE FLIGHT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
AND HE SAID THAT HE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IT WILL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER DAY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING FOR HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS TELLING US THAT HE SAW A SPACE STATION HERE
ON THE GROUND, HERE ON EARTH,
THE SEGMENTS OF THIS INCREDIBLE ORBITING LABORATORY,
WHICH IS THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL FIELD IN SPACE.
HE SAW ALL THOSE PARTS AND MODULES ON THE GROUND, HELPED ASSEMBLE IT…
BUT DID NOT SEE THEM--
I THINK, LIVING IN IT CONTINUOUSLY AT THAT POINT, RIGHT?
[NICK HAGUE] NO, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS AT THAT POINT,
BUT THE CONFIGURATION HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE HIS LAST VISIT.
[DERROL NAIL] I SEE.
[NICK HAGUE] AND WE'VE ADDED NEW MODULES.
YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, THE BEAM MODULE HAS BEEN ADDED RECENTLY,
OR THE NANORACKS AIRLOCK IS ANOTHER FEATURE
THAT'S BEEN ADDED RECENTLY.
[DERROL NAIL] MODERN MODULES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN.
[NICK HAGUE] YES, MODERN FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN EXPERIMENTS
THAT THEY'VE BEEN TESTING OUT
OR COMMERCIAL PARTNERS HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON BOARD.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL CREW COMING AND GOING
HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE LAYOUT
AND JUST THE WAY WE LIVE IN THE STATION
FROM A NODE 2 PERSPECTIVE.
AND SO IT'LL BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH
THE LAST TIME HE WAS THERE.
SO AS FAMILIAR AS HE IS WITH IT, THE FLOW OF LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT ON BOARD.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS INTERESTING BEING ON BOARD
WITH DON PETTIT AND BUTCH WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS
YOU KNOW, FROM A US CREW PERSPECTIVE.
WE ALL KNEW THE STATION FROM PREVIOUS FLIGHTS,
BUT WE ALL KNEW IT IN DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS
AND HAD DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS,
SO IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE ALL OF US ADAPT
TO THE NEW WAY TO LIVE ON THE STATION.
-[DERROL NAIL] HMM. -[NICK HAGUE] IT'S ALIVE.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, YEAH.
SO WE GOT A QUESTION THAT HAS COME IN FROM JOSEPH ZAKRZEWSKI,
OUR COMMENTATOR IN HAWTHORNE.
[NICK HAGUE] OKAY.
HE HAS A QUESTION. HE WANTS TO KNOW,
"DO YOU MIX UP THE PROCEDURES TOMORROW?"
"SO, FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF EGGS BENEDICT, DO YOU EAT OATMEAL?"
"DO YOU PUT YOUR LEFT SHOE VERSUS YOUR RIGHT SHOE?"
HE'S JUST CURIOUS.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PERSONAL QUESTION.
HOW SUPERSTITIOUS ARE YOU?
DO YOU NEED TO CHANGE UP SOMETHING JUST TO--
TO TURN THE TIDE OF FATE YOUR DIRECTION?
[DERROL NAIL] OR DO YOU NOT WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING
BECAUSE YOU'RE CONCERNED IT MIGHT THROW YOUR OWN PERSONAL PREPARATION OFF?
[NICK HAGUE] FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I KEEP A ROUTINE CONSISTENT.
EVEN DURING QUARANTINE AND THE WEEKS LEADING UP,
IT'S NOT LIKE I'M TRYING TO HAVE EVERY MEAL I'M GOING TO MISS…
CRAMMED INTO TWO WEEKS.
YOU KNOW, THE MEALS I'M GOING TO MISS OVER SIX MONTHS.
IT'S HAVING SOME LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY.
WHAT DO I NORMALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? WHAT DO I--
I DON'T WANT MY BODY TO GO THROUGH THAT KIND OF SHOCK.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT. 'CAUSE YOU CAN ORDER ANYTHING,
BUT IT'S PROBABLY SAFER TO GO WITH SOME FOOD THAT YOU'RE USED TO HAVING.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU ORDER ANYTHING, AND EVERYTHING CARRIES SOME CONSEQUENCE.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION, JOSEPH.
AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB THAT YOU AND SOMYA DID TODAY,
AND RONNIE AS WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT WAS OUTSTANDING.
[DERROL NAIL] JOSEPH AND SOMYA, I BELIEVE, ARE… NEW TO OUR CREW--
OUR CREW LAUNCH BROADCASTS.
SO WE HAVE A QUESTION COMING IN FROM THE CAMERAMAN,
WHO'S ASKING ABOUT THE DEVICES THAT ARE STRAPPED TO THE KNEES
OF EACH OF THE ASTRONAUTS.
[NICK HAGUE] SO IT'S CALLED A "SATCHEL."
YOU KNOW, IN THE AVIATION WORLD, YOU'D HAVE A KNEEBOARD
SO THAT YOU COULD PILOT AN AIRCRAFT
AND THEN ALSO HAVE A PLACE TO DRAW, WRITE DOWN, TAKE NOTES.
THIS IS A LITTLE BEEFED-UP VERSION, SO IT HAS THE KNEE PAD FEATURE
WHERE THERE'S PAPER THAT YOU CAN TAKE NOTES ON
AND WRITE THINGS DOWN SO YOU DON'T FORGET THEM.
BUT THEN UNDERNEATH IT,
THERE'S THAT SATCHEL THAT CONTAINS A HEADLAMP.
IT'S GOT A CHARGING CORD FOR THE TABLET.
IT'S GOT A VALSALVA DEVICE SO THAT YOU CAN CLEAR YOUR NOSE,
EARPLUGS IF YOU NEED THEM, HEADPHONES IF YOU NEED THEM.
SO IT HAS THE PERSONAL EQUIPMENT THAT YOU MIGHT NEED
WHILE YOU'RE LAUNCHING,
OR JUST OPERATING INSIDE OF DRAGON, BOTH UPHILL AND DOWNHILL.
[DERROL NAIL] THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
IF YOU JUST JOINED US, WE ARE WALKING OUR ASTRONAUTS
THROUGH THE SCRUB PROCEDURES
FOR AN ATTEMPT AT LAUNCH AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TODAY.
WE SCRUBBED OUT AT T-01:07… DUE TO WEATHER.
A VIOLATION OF A WEATHER CONSTRAINT FOR CUMULUS CLOUDS.
TOO CLOSE TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
HEY, WE GOT A QUESTION IN FROM CEZ RICCI.
"MY FIVE-YEAR-OLD, BOSTON,
WHO IS NUMBERS OBSESSED,
WANTS TO KNOW HOW HIGH THE ROCKET WILL GO."
HOW HIGH WOULD THE ROCKET GO?
SO HE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE ALTITUDE,
WHICH I'M CALLING BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID
ABOUT THE ROCKET LAUNCHING STRAIGHT UP INITIALLY
BUT THEN TURNING TO THE HORIZONTAL,
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU'RE GOING INTO ORBIT
RATHER THAN TRYING TO REACH SOME FARAWAY DESTINATION.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, SO THE PROFILE THAT THE ROCKET'S GOING TO TAKE--
-AND WE SEE THE SIDE HATCH OPENING UP. -[DERROL NAIL] AND THEY'RE IN.
[NICK HAGUE] AND EVERYBODY'S CELEBRATING.
-[DERROL NAIL] ALL RIGHT, HOORAY! -[NICK HAGUE] FRESH AIR.
[MISSION CONTROL] DRAGON SPACEX, WITH THE HATCH OPEN,
WE'LL BE HANDING YOU OFF TO THE CLOSEOUT TEAM FOR EGRESS.
SEE YOU SOON.
[NICK HAGUE] AND SO THE ROCKET'S GOING TO INITIALLY GO STRAIGHT UP
TO GET SOME CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND.
AND THEN IT TURNS HORIZONTAL.
AND AT ABOUT THE 200-KILOMETER MARK,
IT'S TURNED HORIZONTAL.
AND ALL OF ITS THRUST IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT DOWNRANGE.
IT'S TRYING TO COVER GROUND ON THE EARTH.
AND IT ESSENTIALLY IS COASTING
AND SLOWLY FALLING BACK DOWN TO THE EARTH
UNTIL IT'S REACHED THAT 17,500 MILES PER HOUR,
AND AT WHICH ITS ARC OF ITS FALL MATCHES THE CURVATURE OF THE EARTH.
BUT IT'S ONLY A FEW HUNDRED KILOMETERS UP.
AND THEN AS WE SPEND THE NEXT 40 HOURS,
OR WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE SPENT 40 HOURS RENDEZVOUSING WITH THE SPACE STATION,
THEY WOULD HAVE RAISED THAT 200 KILOMETERS UP TO THE 400 KILOMETERS,
OR 250 MILES THAT THE STATION LIVES AT.
SO IT'S NOT THAT FAR UP.
IT'S THE DISTANCE BETWEEN… MAJOR CITIES IN THE US.
IT'S DRIVABLE IF YOU COULD DRIVE THERE.
[DERROL NAIL] CAPE CANAVERAL TO MIAMI.
[NICK HAGUE] THERE YOU GO. IT'S NOT THAT FAR.
AND WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IS,
IF YOU'VE FLOWN ON A PLANE AND YOU LOOK OUT THE WINDOW OF A PLANE,
YOU CAN SEE A REALLY LONG WAY,
BUT YOU'RE LOOKING THE ENTIRE DISTANCE THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.
THE SPACE STATION, WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN,
YOU'RE LOOKING A REALLY LONG WAY,
BUT IT'S ONLY THE LAST FEW MILES
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.
AND SO THE EARTH-- THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH IS REALLY CLEAR.
AND SO IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT'S THAT FAR AWAY.
IF YOU FLY OVER NEW YORK CITY, YOU CAN SEE CENTRAL PARK
IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN WITH JUST YOUR NAKED EYE.
YOU CAN SEE MAJOR BRIDGES.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU FLY OVER SAN FRANCISCO,
YOU CAN SEE THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE.
THESE THINGS STICK OUT PRETTY PROMINENTLY.
IT'S JUST SURPRISING HOW CLEAR EVERYTHING IS.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT. LOOKING--
SLICING THE ATMOSPHERE THROUGH ITS THINNEST POINT,
RIGHT OVER TOP OF IT, VERSUS LOOKING OUT ACROSS IT,
OUT YOUR WINDOW, AS YOU MENTIONED, WITH ALL THAT ATMOSPHERE…
INHIBITING YOUR VIEW.
-[NICK HAGUE] IT DISTORTS EVERYTHING. -[DERROL NAIL] YEAH.
WHICH IS ALSO WHY YOU GET A SUNBURN BETWEEN 11 AND TWO O'CLOCK
AND NOT AT, YOU KNOW, SEVEN IN THE MORNING OR SEVEN AT NIGHT, RIGHT?
BECAUSE THE SUN HAS TO TRAVEL THROUGH ALL THAT ATMOSPHERE.
-[NICK HAGUE] WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN. -[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S RIGHT.
ALL THIS… [CHUCKLES] …PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY NASA.
[NICK HAGUE] MOST, BUT NOT ALL, OF THE STATION WINDOWS HAVE A SPECIAL COATING
TO MINIMIZE UV EXPOSURE.
[DERROL NAIL] BUT NOT ALL?
[NICK HAGUE] WELL, SOME OF THEM, WE DON'T WANT THAT
BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS.
YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO COLLECT SCIENTIFIC DATA THROUGH THEM.
AND SO THOSE, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
YOU KNOW, THOSE, IF YOU'RE IN THEM FOR,
YOU KNOW, A HANDFUL OF MINUTES WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION,
-YOU CAN GET BURNED. -[DERROL NAIL] HOW ABOUT THAT?
ALSO, DO YOU PUT SPECIAL CAMERAS IN THOSE WINDOWS AS WELL,
OR DO YOU JUST SHOOT
THROUGH THE REGULAR UV-PROTECTED ONES?
[NICK HAGUE] YOU CAN-- WE JUST USE THE REGULAR CAMERAS THROUGH--
THERE MAY BE OTHER MORE SCIENTIFICALLY-FOCUSED CAMERAS,
BUT I CAN TAKE OUR STANDARD CAMERA
AND SHOOT OUT THE ONES WITHOUT THE UV FILTERS AS WELL.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] THE US LAB WINDOW WHARF IS NOT UV-PROTECTED.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT MAKES SENSE.
IT'S INTERESTING.
[NICK HAGUE] FORTUNATELY, THE WINDOW THAT LOOKS DOWN DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE
-A LOT OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT. -[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] UNLESS THE STATION'S IN A WEIRD ORIENTATION.
[DERROL NAIL] AND WHAT ABOUT REFLECTED LIGHT OFF THE OCEAN?
[NICK HAGUE] IT'S STILL BRIGHT. YEAH.
AND EVEN WITH THE UV COATINGS IN THE CUPOLA,
WHEN THE SUN POPS UP,
YOU CAN FEEL THE HEAT OF THE SUN ON YOUR FACE.
-[DERROL NAIL] OH, I BET. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. IT'S--
SUN'S PRETTY POWERFUL.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, WITH NO ATMOSPHERE TO PROTECT YOU AT ALL.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT THAT MUCH FARTHER AWAY FROM THE SUN
OR CLOSER TO THE SUN THAN EARTH IS.
-[NICK HAGUE] BUT YOU FEEL IT. -[DERROL NAIL] YEAH.
[NICK HAGUE] I SEE OLEG GETTING OUT.
[DERROL NAIL] ALL RIGHT. WE GOT ONE OUT.
THREE TO GO.
AND THEY JUST GO REVERSE ORDER.
THE OPERATION WILL LOOK VERY SIMILAR TOMORROW, AS YOU MENTIONED,
THE GROUNDHOG DAY EFFECT.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO, RIGHT?
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SIGN THE SIDE OF THE WHITE ROOM.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU KNOW, YOUR SIGNATURE'S THERE ALREADY.
[DERROL NAIL] IT'S ALREADY THERE.
WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU NOT DO?
I'VE STUMPED THE ASTRONAUT, I THINK.
-COULD BE A TRIVIA QUESTION. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
OTHER THAN SIGN,
MOST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD DO ARE ALL SCRIPTED OUT. YEAH.
YOU KNOW, EVEN THE GOODBYES,
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY GOODBYE.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT.
[NICK HAGUE] EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID IT THE DAY BEFORE.
[DERROL NAIL] AND HERE COME OUR ASTRONAUTS DOWN THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE PUTTING ON RAIN JACKETS.
[NICK HAGUE] PONCHOS. THAT'S A NEW ONE FOR ME.
I DID NOT GET TRAINED IN THE SPACEX RAIN PONCHO.
[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLES]
WELL, NOW THESE ARE SPACESUITS THAT DON'T LIKE WATER.
[NICK HAGUE] INDEED. THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW--
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY DESIGNED FOR THAT.
[DERROL NAIL] AND THEY ALSO CARRY UMBRELLAS WITH THEM,
THE CLOSEOUT CREW DOES,
SO THAT EXTRA LAYER OF PROTECTION.
BUT THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME. I'VE NOT SEEN THIS BEFORE.
IF THERE IS A SHOT THAT REALLY EXEMPLIFIES
WHAT WE WENT THROUGH TODAY, IT'S THIS ONE.
[NICK HAGUE CHUCKLES]
[DERROL NAIL] ASTRONAUTS PUTTING ON RAIN PONCHOS WITH SPACESUITS ON.
[NICK HAGUE] AND SO THEY COME OUT OF THE GANTRY.
THEY HAVE TO WALK DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS OVER TO THE ELEVATOR.
AND SO WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUTTON IN THERE THAT SAYS "SPACE."
THERE'S ALSO A BUTTON IN THERE THAT SAYS "EARTH."
[DERROL NAIL] YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
COME BACK TO EARTH, EVERYONE.
THERE'LL BE ANOTHER CHANCE TOMORROW.
RAIN ON THE LENS TELLS THE STORY.
NOW WE HAVE THESE PASSING RAIN CLOUDS GOING OVER THE PAD.
OF COURSE, THIS WAS THE REASON FOR THE SCRUB
AT 12:08 P.M. EASTERN TIME TODAY.
WE SCRUBBED THE LAUNCH ATTEMPT OF NASA AND SPACEX'S CREW-11 LAUNCH
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
NOW LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW
AT 11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
OUR COVERAGE ON NASA+ AND OUR STREAMING CHANNELS
STARTS AT 07:35 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
AND SO NEXT UP,
WE ARE WATCHING AS THE ASTRONAUTS GO DOWN THE TOWER,
MAKING THEIR WAY TO THEIR TESLAS,
WHICH ARE PARKED AT THE BASE OF THE LAUNCH PAD
WHERE THEY LEFT THEM EARLIER TODAY,
ABOUT THREE HOURS AGO.
AND THEY'LL GET BACK IN THEIR RIDE
AND HEAD BACK TO ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS,
THE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE CONFINES
OF THE OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT BUILDING.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR A LAUNCH TOMORROW.
ONE THING THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED…
TEAMS FROM SPACEX AND NASA
AND THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM WILL TAKE A CLOSE LOOK
AT THAT WEATHER IN THE ASCENT CORRIDOR TO SEE IF…
IT IS WORTH TAKING A SHOT.
YES, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SPACE STATION,
BUT THEY WILL WANT TO SEE
IF THAT SITUATION IS GOING TO WORK OUT.
IF THE WEATHER'S NOT TOO DIFFICULT TO…
EXTRACT THE CREW FROM THE DRAGON
SHOULD THEY HAVE AN EMERGENCY ABORT,
COME OFF THE TOP OF THE ROCKET AND SPLASH DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
FORTUNATE FOR US,
ASTRONAUT NICK HAGUE HAS CHANGED HIS DEPARTURE FLIGHT,
SO HE'S GOING TO STAY WITH US ANOTHER DAY.
[NICK HAGUE] I'LL BE HERE.
[DERROL NAIL] GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE CREW THROUGHOUT THE OPERATIONS,
BOTH GETTING READY FOR LAUNCH, AND OF COURSE,
IN THIS CAPACITY FOR A SCRUB PROCEDURE,
BUT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO SEE THIS LAUNCH TODAY IN PERSON.
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MEDIA, 222 CREDENTIALED MEDIA,
WHO ARE WITH US RIGHT HERE ON SITE,
WHO ARE HERE TO DOCUMENT
AND REPORT OUT THE RESULTS OF TODAY'S LAUNCH.
THEY ALL HAVE TO CHANGE THEIR PLANS AS WELL.
HOTELS, STAYS, TO RESET FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, YOU THINK…
WITH THAT MUCH OF A RIPPLE EFFECT,
THAT MUCH MOMENTUM AND INERTIA
TO "LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN," THAT THERE'D BE THIS GO FEVER,
AND THAT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW DISCIPLINED THE PROCESS IS
TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "NOPE, TODAY'S NOT THE DAY."
"WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE."
"WE'LL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW."
AND, YOU KNOW, IT DOES PUT A HUGE RIPPLE
AND A LOT OF CHANGE ON EVERYBODY.
AND IT STRESSES THE TEAM.
BUT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
AND THE RAINY RIDE BACK TO ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS
REQUIRES US TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD
IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDOW.
DID YOU BRING AN UMBRELLA BECAUSE WE'RE IN A STUDIO WHERE YOU KNOW--
IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT SHOT BACK TO THE PRESS SITE.
[NICK HAGUE] I'VE GOT TEN FEET TO GET TO MY CAR ONCE THAT DOOR IS OPEN,
SO I SHOULD BE OKAY.
[DERROL NAIL] YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?
[NICK HAGUE] I WON'T MELT. [CHUCKLES]
[DERROL NAIL] YOU DON'T HAVE A BLACK RAIN PONCHO ON YOU?
[NICK HAGUE] NO, I'M NOT CRITICAL SPACEFLIGHT HARDWARE.
[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
WELL, YOU ARE CRITICAL TO OUR LAUNCH BROADCAST,
I WILL TELL YOU THAT, MY FRIEND.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S BEEN FUN.
IT'LL BE FUN TO DO IT AGAIN.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
WE'LL NEED YOU TO BRING ALL NEW MATERIAL TOMORROW.
[NICK HAGUE] MY SON WOULD TELL YOU IT'S JUST THE SAME STORIES OVER AND OVER.
-[CHUCKLES] -[DERROL NAIL LAUGHS]
[NICK HAGUE] THAT LOOKS LIKE SOME SERIOUS RAIN OUT THERE.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, THAT'S HITTING THE WINDSHIELD A LITTLE HARDER THAN--
THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU AND I WERE OUTSIDE WATCHING THE LAUNCH
AND JUST SAW THE RAIN OFF INTO THE DISTANCE.
IT WAS LIKE WE'VE GOT STORMS REALLY BUILT UP.
AND THIS IS THE FORMULA THAT WE HAVE.
THIS IS CONSISTENT… JULY.
METEOROLOGICALLY SPEAKING, IN JULY, WE HIT THE HIGH POINT
FOR THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY AND BUILDUP,
BUT IT'S NOT TILL AUGUST WHERE WE ACTUALLY GET THE HIGH FOR RAIN.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER MELODY LOVIN,
WHO'S OVER THERE AT THE 45TH SPACE WING.
SO AUGUST IS OUR-- ARE HIGH FOR RAINFALL EVENTS,
AND IT REALLY DUMPS RAIN.
NOT NECESSARILY THUNDERSTORMS,
BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE SAME.
WE GET HIGHS FOR THUNDERSTORMS IN JULY.
WE GET HIGH RAIN TOTALS IN AUGUST.
SO AUGUST IS, OF COURSE, THE MONTH
THAT FLORIDIANS TURN OFF THE SPRINKLERS AND…
YOU KNOW, HAVE TO BE CONCERNED NOW ABOUT STANDING WATER.
YOU SAW THE HELICOPTER.
HELICOPTER'S STILL THERE WITH THE TEAM.
WITH THEM ON THE SECURITY RIDE BACK TO ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT JUST THERE FOR TV PURPOSES.
THEY ARE THERE TO KEEP AN EYE ON EVERYTHING
AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY
WHO IS SOMEWHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE
WITH REGARDS TO THIS CREW.
[NICK HAGUE] YEP. CRITICAL SUPPORT, SECURITY.
[DERROL NAIL] THEY JUST LET US STRAP A BROADCAST CAMERA ON TOP OF THE--
OR UNDERNEATH THE HELICOPTER, AND IT'S VERY HELPFUL THOUGH.
WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT.
[NICK HAGUE] IT GETS AMAZING VIEWS.
[DERROL NAIL] THEY REALLY DO.
AND THEY'RE OUT THERE FLYING IN THE RAIN, SO WE APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS TODAY.
THEY DID A GREAT JOB WITH THOSE SHOTS AROUND THE PAD.
ANOTHER KEY ASPECT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL WITH US,
AS FEW AS YOU ARE,
NASA IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY.
AND SO WHEN THE ASTRONAUTS ARE IN MOTION,
WHETHER IT'S A SCRUB OR IT'S A PATH TO THE PAD,
WE ARE REQUIRED TO LET THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
AND TAXPAYERS KNOW HOW WE DID IT THAT DAY.
WE DIDN'T GO TODAY,
AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE DID INSTEAD.
WE DETANK THE ROCKET AND WE MOVE THE CRA--
MOVE THE CREW FROM THE ROCKET BACK TO THEIR CREW QUARTERS.
[NICK HAGUE] YOU KNOW IT'S COMING DOWN WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE THE VAB.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH, YOU SEE THE SHADOW OF IT,
JUST THE OUTLINE OF IT RIGHT THERE, RIGHT?
YEAH, YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN A GOOD--
A GOOD DOWNPOUR.
SO AGAIN, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE STILL WATCHING,
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW,
BUT LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, THE TEAMS AT SPACEX AND NASA ARE GOING
TO EVALUATE THE WEATHER DOWNRANGE.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PICTURE TO SEE
IF A LAUNCH ATTEMPT MAKES SENSE FOR TOMORROW.
BUT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW SHOULD THEY NEED IT.
11:43 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
BROADCAST START TIME 7:35 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 2ND
AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 3RD.
WHEN YOU GET TO AUGUST 4TH,
AS WE UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE LAUNCH PLANNERS,
THAT IS A DAY WHERE WE HAVE TO STAND DOWN
BECAUSE OF THE PHASING.
THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED.
IT'S LONGER THAN THE MINIMUM 40 HOURS
TO GET TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SO AUGUST 4TH IS NOT ON THE TABLE AS A LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY.
BUT THEN THE 5TH, 6TH AND 7TH ARE.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH. YOU KNOW, THAT REALLY JUST HELPS PROTECT
FOR THE BACK END OF THE MISSION WHEN YOU HAVE TO UNDOCK
BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE LONG PHASING THERE.
AND THE DRAGON IS CERTIFIED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS
TO BE FREE FLIGHT SEPARATE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND SO YOU DON'T WANT TO USE UP ITS LIFE JUST GETTING THERE.
[DERROL NAIL] MAKING THE LEFT-HAND TURN NOW FROM SATURN CAUSEWAY
ONTO NASA CAUSEWAY.
HALFWAY HOME TO ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS,
AND I'VE BEEN ON THE NASA CAUSEWAY
WHEN THE SECURITY DETAIL COMES ROLLING DOWN YOUR WAY.
THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF A SINKING FEELING
BECAUSE, HONESTLY, YOU NEVER KNOW
IF THEY HAVE A GIGANTIC ROCKET RIGHT BEHIND IT
AND THEY NEED YOU TO PULL OVER
AND SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR THEM TO GO BY.
OR IF IT'S IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, NOT AS OFTEN,
BUT YOU'VE GOT AN ASTRONAUT CREW COMING BY, WHICH IS COOL NONETHELESS,
BUT THEY CLEAR THE ROADS, AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE OVER
-WHEN YOU SEE THAT SECURITY CAR COMING. -[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
IT'S FUN TO DRIVE AROUND KSC AND CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION
BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON THE ROAD.
AND HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET STUCK BEHIND A ROCKET?
[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLES] IT ONLY HAPPENS HERE, RIGHT?
-[NICK HAGUE] ONLY HERE. -[DERROL NAIL] PLACES WHERE YOU LAUNCH,
BUT IT LITERALLY…
AND I CAN'T HELP, I GOT TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW AND I JUST HAVE TO GAZE
AT THIS GIANT ROCKET BOOSTER MOVING DOWN THE ROAD.
AND MANY TIMES IT'S FLOWN TO SPACE.
SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW,
FLOWN SPACE HARDWARE GOING RIGHT BY YOU ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE.
[DERROL NAIL] RIGHT THROUGH THE RED LIGHT, AS IT SHOULD BE.
[DERROL NAIL AND NICK HAGUE CHUCKLE]
[DERROL NAIL] YOU SEE THEM WITH THE THREE LANES AND THE ROAD RIGHT THERE.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, IT'S TWO LANES.
SO THIS SIDE IS USED IN THE CASE OF MOVING HARDWARE.
SO IF THE HARDWARE IS LARGE ENOUGH
SUCH THAT IT WON'T FIT ON A TWO-LANE ROAD,
THEY GOT THE THREE-LANE ROAD AS AN OPTION.
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S WHEN YOU'RE TALKING BIG ROCKETS.
[DERROL NAIL] OH, YOU'RE TALKING REAL BIG STUFF RIGHT THERE, YEAH.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE HARDWARE THAT IS REQUIRED
TO WORK ON THE ROCKETS, RIGHT?
THAT STUFF IS PRETTY LARGE AS WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH, IT'S AMAZING TO COME OUT HERE
AND TO GET THE GLIMPSES OF ARTEMIS II,
AND JUST THE SIZE AND ENORMITY OF-- YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT FALCON 9
TAKES US TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
AND THEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IT TAKES TO GET TO THE MOON,
AND IT'S AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE MORE DIFFICULT.
[DERROL NAIL] ABSOLUTELY.
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S GOING TO BE AN IMPRESSIVE LAUNCH TO WATCH.
[DERROL NAIL] NO DOUBT.
AND AS YOU SAY, AND HAVE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE,
WITH CREW ON IT,
NOT ONLY IS AN IMPRESSIVE ROCKET WHEN IT LAUNCHES,
TALKING ABOUT THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM
AND ARTEMIS II COMING UP EARLY NEXT YEAR,
WE SAW ARTEMIS I BACK IN 2022,
BUT YOU'VE GOT JUST THE--
THE ENORMITY OF THAT ROCKET BLASTING OFF
AND THE THUNDER AND THE POWER THAT IT EMITS.
JUST LIKE YOU SAY, YOU GOT TO HAVE A LOT OF HORSEPOWER TO GET TO THE MOON.
DID YOU GET A CHANCE TO GO OVER TO THE VAB AND SEE THE SLS?
[NICK HAGUE] I HAVEN'T BEEN ON THIS TRIP.
I WILL.
-[DERROL NAIL CHUCKLES] -[NICK HAGUE] I'M SURE.
[DERROL NAIL] IT'S WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION.
IN YOUR CASE, THEY WILL LAY OUT THE RED CARPET.
[NICK HAGUE] THEY'RE OVER THERE DOING SOME PRETTY KEY TESTING
THAT HAPPENED TO COINCIDE--
THEY'VE GOT THE ARTEMIS II CREW OVER THERE, DOING SOME INITIAL CHECKOUTS.
IT'S EXCITING TIMES. THE MISSION'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
AND BEFORE LONG, FOUR OF MY FRIENDS ARE GOING TO STRAP
TO THE TOP OF THAT AND GO VISIT THE MOON.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
[DERROL NAIL] THAT IS GOING TO BE--
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SO HAPPY FOR REID WISEMAN AND VICTOR GLOVER,
CHRISTINA KOCH AND JEREMY HANSEN,
WHO I GOT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH IN NIAGARA FALLS
WHEN WE WERE COVERING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
THEY WERE SAYING THE OTHER DAY IN A PRESS CONFERENCE
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND EACH OTHER LONG ENOUGH NOW,
FOR SOME YEARS NOW, TRAINING,
THEY JUST KNOW EACH OTHER INNATELY.
THEY KNOW WHEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE MOOD SHIFT.
THEY KNOW WHEN MAYBE THEY'RE NOT FEELING SO WELL OR DON'T WANT TO TALK,
DO WANT TO TALK.
IT'S JUST THERE'S THIS UNSPOKEN THING, RIGHT? YOU KNOW THAT PERSON SO WELL.
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AS A CREW. RIGHT?
YOU WANT TO BE SO-- YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN A DYNAMIC SITUATION.
I ALMOST KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO BEFORE YOU DO IT,
OR YOUR NONVERBAL CUES TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO KNOW.
[DERROL NAIL] YEAH.
[NICK HAGUE] THAT'S WHY WE TRAIN THE WAY WE TRAIN.
[DERROL NAIL] THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO PUT THAT…
YOU KNOW, PERIOD INTO THAT SENTENCE THERE,
BECAUSE THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.
SOMETIMES I LOOK AT THE TRAINING, LIKE, "WOW, THAT'S A LONG TIME TRAINING."
BUT THE BETTER INTEGRATED YOU ARE, THE MORE YOU KNOW YOUR CREW MEMBER,
YOUR FELLOW CREW MEMBERS, THAT JUST--
LIKE YOU JUST SAID, THAT HAS TO LEND ITSELF
TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF MISSION SUCCESS.
WELL, IT'S THE LAST LEG HERE AS WE MAKE OUR WAY.
YOU CAN SEE THE OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT BUILDING ON THE LEFT IN VIEW,
GETTING READY TO WRAP UP OUR COVERAGE HERE.
THE ASTRONAUTS, THEY'RE UP ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THAT BUILDING.
THEY HAVE 26,000 SQUARE FEET OF…
BEDROOMS, WORKOUT FACILITIES, MEDICAL CHECKOUTS, CAFETERIA.
[NICK HAGUE] EVERYTHING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE.
[DERROL NAIL] DON'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE.
[DERROL NAIL AND NICK HAGUE CHUCKLE]
[DERROL NAIL] AND WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE ALL STARTED THIS THING…
OH, ABOUT SIX HOURS AGO, NICK.
[NICK HAGUE] YEAH.
[DERROL NAIL] THIS WAS THE STARTING POINT.
WELL, WE REALLY APPRECIATE, IF YOU'RE STILL WITH US,
JOINING US FOR OUR LAUNCH ATTEMPT TODAY,
THE ATTEMPTED LAUNCH OF CREW-11 BY NASA AND SPACEX.
WE WERE SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH AT 12:09 P.M. EASTERN TIME
BUT SCRUBBED OUT OUR ATTEMPT AT 12:08,
JUST ABOUT ONE MINUTE AND SEVEN SECONDS BEFORE WE WERE SET TO LIFT OFF.
WE HAD A WEATHER VIOLATION ON THE RANGE INSIDE THE TEN-MILE RADIUS AREA,
HAD A CUMULUS CLOUD THAT JUST SWOOPED ON IN
AND FOULED THE LAUNCH-- THE WEATHER CRITERIA,
AND SO THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.
IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, AS WE'VE SAID FOR THE PAST HOUR OR TWO,
THIS IS THE REASON
THAT WE HAVE SO MUCH SAFETY SURROUNDING THE ASTRONAUTS
AND SO MANY LAUNCH COMMIT CRITERIA.
THESE CRITERIA WHEN VIOLATED,
WE DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES. WE FOLLOW THROUGH
AND PULL THE CREW OUT AND RESET FOR ANOTHER TIME.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.
TODAY IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS WHO WERE WITH US TODAY.
I WANT TO THANK SPACEX, OF COURSE,
AND THE TEAM OVER AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
FOR JOINING US ON THIS LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
AND THANK YOU, SIR, BRIGADIER GENERAL.
MY PLEASURE.
-YOU'LL BE BACK TOMORROW? -ABSOLUTELY.
HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.
AND IF WE DO CHOOSE THAT ATTEMPT FOR TOMORROW,
WE WILL BE ON THE AIR AT 07:35 A.M.,
BUT STAY TUNED TO OUR NASA SOCIAL CHANNELS.
WE WILL UPDATE YOU WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION
ABOUT WHICH LAUNCH ATTEMPT WE END UP LOOKING FOR.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THEM, AS I MENTIONED,
GOING UP TO AUGUST 3RD.
WE SKIP THE 4TH, AND THEN HAVE THE 5TH THROUGH THE 7TH.
SO STAY TUNED TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
WE'LL BRING YOU THE LATEST INFORMATION
ON WHEN THAT NEXT LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY WILL HAPPEN.
UNTIL THEN, HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. H.