>>> HELLO AND WELCOME.
WE ARE HERE AT NASA'S KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA TO TALK
ABOUT NASA'S NEWEST MISSION THE
ICON EXPLORER SHORT FOR
IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER
LAUNCHING TOMORROW NIGHT.
IT WILL STUDY THE IONOSPHERE,
THE LOWEST REGION OF SPACE OVER
LAPPING WITH THE UPPER FEAR PEER
WITH TERRESTRIAL WEATHER
INTERACTS WITH SPACE WEATHER.
WE CARE ABOUT IT BECAUSE OUR
ASTRONAUTS TRAVEL THROUGH AND
OUR GPS SIGNALS AND RADIO
COMMUNICATIONS BOUNCE OFF OF IT.
IT IS.TO OUR INTERESTS.
WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF PANELS TO
TALK ABOUT IT.
STARTING WITH THE SCIENCE THAT
IS GOING TO BE DONE ITSELF AS
TALKING ABOUT THE SPACECRAFT.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A PANEL TO
FOCUS THE LAUNCH AND WHAT
GOTITOUS THIS POINT AND OUR
FINAL PANEL WILL TALK ABOUT THE
WEATHER AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT
TOMORROW NIGHT.
WE WILL BE TAKING QUESTIONS
AFTER EACH PANEL FOR JUST THOSE
PEOPLE.
FROM THE ROOM AND FROM THE PHONE
AT THAT POINT.
LET'S GET STARTED.
WE HAVE UPHERE NIKKI FOX THE
DIRECTOR FOR HELIOPHYSICS AT
NASA HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
TOM EMLE THE PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR FOR ICON.
AND WE HAVE STEVE GRIME WITH
NORTHRUP GRUMMAN.
WITH THAT NIKKI, I WILL START
WITH YOU. GIVE US CONTEXT.
WHY DOES NASA WANT TO STUDY THE
IONOSPHERE.
>> THE STUDY OF HELIOPHYSIC
SYSTEM STUDYING EVERYTHING UNDER
THE SUN.
IT IS EVERYTHING THE SUN HAS AN
IMPACT ON ALL THE WAY THROUGH
OUR PLANET AND THE EDGE OF OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM.
THE SUN HAS A PROFOUND IMPACT ON
OUR ATMOSPHERE.
IN FACT, IT IONIZES IT.
IT TAKES THE MOLLUL COOS THERE
AND GIVES THEM A CHARGE.
WE CALL THAT THE IONOSPHERE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO STUD
THEREGION.
IT'S INTERESTING PHYSICS IS
GOING ON AND IT IS LIKE HAVING
A PLASMA LAB IN OUR BACKYARD
JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILES UP AND
WE GET TO THE LAB.
IT IS, AS YOU NOTED, VERY
IMPORTANT THE SPACE WEATHER.
IT'S WHERE WE SEE AURORA.
IT IS ONE BIG SIGN THERE IS
A BIG SPACE WEATHER EVENT
HAPPENING.
ALSO WE USE THE IONOSPHERE TO
BOUNCE RADIO SIGNALS OFF IT AND
IF WE COULD BRING UP THE VIDEO
OF THE RADIO SIGNALS, PLEASE AM
YOU SEE THEM BOUNCE OFF IT.
WE SEND OUR GPS SIGNALS THROUGH.
IT THIS IONOSPHERE IS
CONTINUALLY CHANGING AND IS VERY
DYNAMIC.
THAT CAN HAVE A BIG IMPATH ON
OUR ABILITY TO DO THESE TYPE OF
COMMUNICATION.
NOT JUSTICE IS IT A GREAT PLACE
TO GO AND STUDY PLASMA PHYSICS
BUT HAS A BIG SPACE WEATHER
IMPACT ON US.
WE CAN'T WAIT.
>> ONE THING WE TALKED ABOUT
YESTERDAY WE MENTION IS NASA IS
GOING TO THE MOON IN 2024 WITH
THE ARTEMIS MISSION AND THIS
RELATES TO THAT AS WELL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THE BIG THING FOR US IS MAKING
SURE OUR ASTRONAUTS AND OUR
HARDWARE GOING UP TO DO THIS
INCREDIBLE ARTEMIS MISSION WE
ARE ALL EXCITED ABOUT, 2024,
THAT WE PROTECT THEM.
AND PROTECTING ASTRONAUTS IS
A GOAL OF NASA AND UNDERSTANDING
THIS REGION THEY HAVE TO FLY
THROUGH AND ALL THE
COMMUNICATIONS WILL WORK THROUGH
IS PARAMOUNT TO US.
>> AND TOM, YOU AND I WERE
HAVING CONVERSATION ABOUT OTHER
REASONS TO BE EXCITED ABOUT THE
IONOSPHERE.
>> LIKE NIKKI SAY, IT'S
A REMARKABLE PHYSICS LABORATORY.
OUR ASTRONAUTS SPEND ALL OF
THEIR TIME IN THE IONOSPHERE.
THE CONDITIONS, MANY OF THE
IMAGES WE HAVE TODAY TO SHARE
ARE TAKEN BY ASTRONAUTS AND THE
SPACE STATION OF THE REMARKABLE
CONDITIONS IN THE UPPER
ATMOSPHERE YOU CAN SEE WITH YOUR
OWN EYES.
>> IT'S DIFRESULT TO STUDY,
CORRECT?
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER GRAPHIC FOR
THAT THAT SHOWS THE REGION OF
INTERESTS.
THE IONOSPHERE STARTS WITH THE
EDGE OF SPACE, ABOUT
100-KILOMETERS.
WHAT IS REMARKABLE ABOUT THAT
RECENTLYON IS IT STARTS TO GLOW
FROM THERE UPWARDS.
THE GRAPHIC SHOWS THE DIFFERENT
EMISSIONS OF THE UPPER
ATMOSPHERE WE HAVE.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO GET THERE
WITH AN AIRPLANE, OBVIOUSLY.
YOU CAN'T GET TO SPACE WITH JUST
A REGULAR PLANE.
THE PEGASUS, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT
THAT LATER, FROM AN AIRPLANE,
BUT IT HAS TO BE A ROCKET.
TELL LAUNCH ICON IN MUCH HIGHER
ALTITUDES AND LOOK ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO THE BOUNDARY OF SPACE
WHERE THOSE LOWER ORBITS ARE
IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A SATELLITE
UPTHERE AS WELL.
>> TELL US MORE, NIKKI, ABOUT
THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT ICON
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO TACKLE.
>> WE TPAUBGSED ABOUT THE FACT
THERE IS THIS IONOSPHERE AND IT
IS VERY DYNAMIC.
BECAUSE IT IS VERY DYNAMIC WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
IT.
IT'S A MYSTERY.
WHY IS IT SO DYNAMIC?
PROBABLY UNTIL ABOUT 10 YEARS
AGO WE REALLY THOUGHT THAT
EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON,
ALL OF THE CHANGES IN THION
SPHERE WERE DRIVEN BY THE SUN
AND SOLAR WIND ENTERING THE
ATMOSPHERE AND CAUSING THESE
CONTINUAL CHANGES.
THEN AS WE STUDIED MORE AND MORE
THE SHEER AMOUNT OF DYNAMICS
GOING ON AND THE SHEER AMOUNT OF
ENERGY IS TOO MUCH TO BE JUST
COMEING FROM THE SUN.
AND SO WE REALIZE IT IS THE
WEATHER WE EXPERIENCE HERE ON
EARTH.
THERE ARE HURRICANE, TORNADOES,
BIG WEATHER SYSTEMS THAT ARE
ACTUALLY KIND OF FORCING UP FROM
BELOW AND THEN MEETING THIS
SPACE WEATHER COMING IN FROM
ABOVE IT AND THIS MIXING REGION
OF WHERE THE TWO WEATHER
SYSTEMS, SPACE WEATHER AND
TERRESTRIAL WEATHER ARE MIXING
TOGETHER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO GO AND
UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE UNTIL RECENTLY
THAT WE HAD THIS EXTRA SORT OF
ENERGY INPUT.
WE ARE EXCITED.
WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING THIS
SKPHEUGZ PLANING THIS MISSION
SINCE 2013 AND SO WE CAN'T WAIT
FOR IT TO LAUNCH TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THERE IS SO
MUCH TO DISCOVER IN THIS REGION.
WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK
AT IT THOROUGHLY BEFORE.
HOW IS ICON GOING TO GET
UNPRECEDENTED VIEWS AND
OBSERVATIONS OF THIS REGION?
>> ICON CARRIES INNOVATIVE
INSTRUMENTS.
CARRYING THE LARGEST INSTRUMENTS
WE COULD PUT IN THE FERRING OF
THE PEGASUS.
WE LOOK DOWN FROM OUR ORBIT
THROE60 -- 360 MILES ALTITUDE
WITH DIFFERENT IMAGER,
ULTRAVILOT AND INTER FERROMETER.
AND THE SUN IS IONIZING THE
UPPER ATMOSPHERE, THAT'S WHY IT
GLOWS.
IF WE HAVE A MOVIE, I THINK OF
SOME THE AIR GLOWING FROM THE
SPACE STATIONS.
HERE YOU CAN SEE THE RED GLOW IS
STRIATED AND LOOKS LIKE THE
AURORA, BUT IT'S NOT.
IT'S DUE TO DIFFERENT PROCESSES.
THE GLOW FROM THE PEAK OF THE
IONOSPHERE.
THE GREEN GLOW IS THE BOUNDARY
OF SPACE ITSELF.
A CHEMICAL GLOW THAT STARTS WITH
CHEMISTRY DRIVEN BY THE SUN.
ALL THE SCIENCE TARGETS ARE
SITTING RIGHT THERE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CHANGE IN
THE COLOR AND RED AND GREEN IF
THE AIR IS MOVING TOWARD US OR
AWAY FROM US.
IT IS VERY PRECISE MEASUREMENTS
WE HAVE TO MAKE.
WE CARRY AN INSTRUMENT TO
MEASURE CONDITIONS AT THE
IONOSPHERE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS
WITH THE TOP OF THE IONOSPHERE
TO THE BOTTOM OFT IONOSPHERE.
>> OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT THE
ONLY WAY WE ARE STUDYING.
GIVE US THE LARGER PICTURE.
>> A GOLD IMAGER.
IT SITS ON A COMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE AND GIVES US FULL
HEMISPHERIC IMAGES OF AIR GLOW
LIKE TOM TALKED ABOUT.
ALL THE DIFFERENT PLASMA THAT IS
IN THIS REGION GIVING US THIS
FULL DISC VIEW.
ICON WILL COME ALONG AND PROVIDE
THE MEASUREMENTS FLYING RIGHT
THROUGH SOME OF THE PLASMA
BUBBLES WE HAVE BEEN IMAGING
WITH GOLD FOR NEARLY A YEAR NOW
AND THE REMOTE SENSING OF
LOOKING RIGHT DOWN THROUGH THE
IONOSPHERE AT ALL THE DIFFERENT
LAYERS.
IT IS A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WE
WILL HAVE.
OF COURSE, LOOKING FORWARD TO
THE FUTURE WE ARE LAUNCHING IN
A FEW YEARS A GRAVITY WAVE
EXPERIMENT THAT WILL GO UP THAT
WILL GO IN THE ISS AND LOOKING
FURTHER FORWARD TO GEOSPACE AND
LOOKING AT THE MISSIONS COMING
ON-LINE.
THIS PROTECTIVE LAYER.
THE TOP OF OUR ATMOSPHERE.
IT IS OUR FRONTIER WITH SPACE.
>> I WOULD SECOND THAT.
I THINK THAT GOLD IS A GREAT
ASSET FOR ICON, IN FACT.
IF YOU SHOW THE MOVIE AGAIN, IT
SHOWS THE CORRESPONDENCE WHAT WE
HAVE FOR SPACE WEATHER
COORDINATED WITH CLOSE UP AND
LOOKING AT SPACE WEATHER THAT
HAPPENS WITH HURRICANES.
WE FLY AIRPLANES INTO THE
HURRICANES TO SAMPLE THEM AND
GAIN MORE INFORMATION AND THAT'S
WHERE ICON AND GOLD WILL BE ABLE
TO COMBINE AND DO FOR SPACE
WEATHER.
>> TAKE US DEEPER INTO THE
SPACECRAFT AND HOW ALL THE PARTS
WILL WORK TOGETHER AND WE MIGHT
GO AFTER THAT TO STEVE TO TALK
ABOUT HOW NORTHRUP GRUMMAN
BROUGHT THIS INTO FRUITION.
>> WE HAVE AN IMAGE OF THE
SPACECRAFT OBSERVATORY WHICH IS
NOW THE PAY LOAD FOR THE PEGASUS
WRAPPED UP AND READY TO GO
BEFORE THE FERRING GOES ON THE
PEGASUS.
YOU SEE THE SOLAR PANELS AND
THEY UNFURL AND GIVE US THE
POWER.
THE INSTRUMENTS ARE EXPOSED AT
THE TOP.
THEY WILL BE ON THE BOTTOM SIDE
OF THE SPACECRAFT POINTED DOWN.
THIS SHOWS THEM CLEARLY WITH THE
SOLAR PANELS REMOVED.
WE ARE CONNECTED AND PUT THE PAY
LOAD TOGETHER AT THE TOP AND
PASS IT OFF TO NORTHRUP WHO DID
THE REST OF THE WORK TO BUILD UP
THE OBSERVATORY.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND
THE WHOLE TEAM THE UC BERKELEY
AND BILL CRAIG, PROGRAM MANAGER,
WHO JUST THE LEADERSHIP AND
EXCEPTIONAL DRIVE TO GET THIS
PROGRAM COMPLEATED WAS REALLY
EXCEPTIONAL AND NIKKI, THE TEAM
AT NASA HEADQUARTERS.
THE SUPPORT FOR THE MISSION HAS
BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T
THANK THE EXPLORER'S OFFICE AS
WELL AND THE TEAM AT NASA
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER WITH
THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND
EXPERTISE.
IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE IMAGE.
WE ARE PROUD.
ICON MISSION AND THE SUCCESS WE
HAVE HAD IN DEVELOPING THAT.
IT BUILDS ON A 35 YEAR LEGACY OF
SUCCESS IN PROVIDING SUCCESSFUL
MISSIONS TO NASA AND THE SCIENCE
COMMUNITY.
THE ICON MISSION IS A WORK HORSE
FOR THE SMALL AND MID-SIZED
EXPLORER MISSIONS.
THE LATEST WAS THE TEST MISSION
THAT LAUNCHED FROM THE CAPE ON
APRIL OF LAST YEAR.
AND THAT IS DOING WELL IN
MISSION UTILITY AND OVER ALL
VALUE.
THIS IS A HIGH CAPABILITY BUS
FOR THE ICON MISSION.
FUSTART AT THE BOTTOM, IT IS
WHAT WE CALL THE SPACECRAFT BUS
THAT PROVIDES THE ATTITUDE
CONTROL, STABILITY, POSITIONING,
THE POINTING OF THE INSTRUMENTS
TO MAKE SURE WE GET MAXIMUM
SCIENCE UTILITY.
TOM MENTIONED THE SOLAR RAYS.
THEY ARE LIKE THOSE MOST PHONES
HAVE ON THEIR HOUSES THESE DAYS.
THEY TAKE SOLER ENERGY AND
CONVERT IT TO CURRENT ENERGY
THAT POWERS THE SPACECRAFT AND
ALLOW ITS TO FUNCTION.
A MASTER COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS
THE SPACECRAFT AND DOES THE
FUNCTIONALITY AND IN ADDITION TO
THE S-BAND COMMUNICATION LINKS
TO DOWNLOAD IT AND UPLOAD
COMMANDS FROM THE GROUND.
IT'S A REALLY COMPACT SCIENCE
PLATFORM.
IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE IN MASS
WEIGHT IF YOU WILL OF YOUR
REFRIGERATOR AT HOME WITH MORE
FUNCTIONALITY, OF COURSE.
THE SPACECRAFT, THE BUS,
INTEGRATED ALL OF THE
INSTRUMENTS THAT BECAME THE
OBSERVATORY THAT.
HAS BEEN TESTED, VERIFIED AND
CERTIFIEDLET I'M HAPPY TO REPORT
WE ARE NOW GO FOR LAUNCH.
IF THE WEATHER IS SUCCESSFUL
TOMORROW THIS WILL BE THE 9TH
MISSION NORTHRUPGRUMMAN HAS
PROVIDED THE FULL TURN KEY
SOLUTION TO, I MEAN THE
SPACECRAFT AND FULL
CERTIFICATION AND LAUNCH SURFACE
AS WELL.
WE ARE EXCITED AT THE CAPE AND
UC BERKELEY AND MISSION CONTROL
CENTER.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MATERIAL
EVENING.
>> FAN -- TOMORROW EVENING.
>> FANTASTIC.
WE HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION UP
HERE, WHICH IS NIKKI, YOU HAVE
TALKED ABOUT OVER SEEING THIS
LARGE HELIOPHYSICS PORTFOLIO.
GIVE US ANOTHER STEP BACK OF HOW
ALL THIS FITS TOGETHER.
>> I HAVE TO SAY BEING
A HELIOPHYSICS DIRECTOR IS
FABULOUS.
I HAVE ALL THESE IMPORTANT KEY
LOCATIONS.
THE SOLAR PROBE LAUNCHING LAST
YEAR IN AUGUST UP IN THE COROANA
TELLING US EVERYTHING THAT IS
HELPING WITH OUR STAR.
AND THE IMPORTANT THING, OF
COURSE SWHAT THAT IS DOING TO US
HERE ON EARTH AND SHAPING OUR
VERY SORT OF PROTECTIVE BUBBLE
WE TRAVEL AROUND THE MILKY WAY
IN.
WE HAVE VOYAGER ALL THE WAY OUT
THERE.
BUT WE HAVE ALL THESE KEY
LOCATIONS REALLY COVERED WELL
BOTH ICON AND AS TOM MENTIONED,
ICON AND GOLD WILL PUT NEW
MEASUREMENTS TOGETHER TO PUT IN
OUR MODELS THAT WILL MAKE
TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO
PREDICT SPACE WEATHER AND
PROTECTING OUR ASTRONAUTS IN
SPACE.
IT IS A GREAT TIME TO BE
A HELIOPHYSICIST.
TO WRAP UP, GO PEGASUS, GO ICON.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU.
WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE
ROOM FOR STARTERS.
>> THE MISSION IS TWO YEARS LATE
AND WONDERING HAS IT EVOLVED
SCIENTIFICALLY DURING THAT TIME?
HAVE YOU TWEAKED THE
INSTRUMENTS, ADDED NEW PURPOSE,
WHATEVER?
ANY CHANGES IN THAT REGARD?
AND THE LATEST MISSION COST, IF
YOU COULD REVIEW THAT TOO.
>> SO WE HAVEN'T CHANGED ANY OF
THE INSTRUMENTS, THEY ARE STILL
PERFECT AND JUST AS THEY WERE
DESIGNED.
I HAVE TO SAY, TKWR-RBGS HAS
BEEN A TWO YEAR DELAY.
WE HAVE LEARNED MORE SCIENCE,
GOLD WE HAVE A YEAR'S WORTH OF
GOLD IMAGES.
IF ANYTHING WE ARE A LITTLE MORE
EXCITED ABOUT WHAT ICON IS GOING
TO BRING TO US.
AND NO CHANGE TO THE DESIGN OF
THE SPACECRAFT OR INSTRUMENTS AT
ALL.
BUT MORE EXCITEMENT IN THE
SCIENCE.
>> THE MISSION COSTS?
>> I CAN'T.
IT IS STILL -- WE HAVE NOT
DISCOVER TODAY TO BE OVER WHAT
IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE.
>> DESPITE THE DELAY.
>> AND WE CAN GET YOU THE
NUMBERS FOR SURE AFTER.
>> YES.
>> THE GENTLEMAN BEHIND.
>> STEVEN CLARK FROM SPACE
FLIGHT NOW.
TOM OR NIKKI COULD TALK ABOUT
HOW OBSERVATIONS FROM ICON COULD
HELP SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION
SPECIFICALLY IN FORECASTING
VERSUS JUST LEARNING HOW THE
PLASMA LAB WORKS.
>> IT REALLY IS BENEFITING THE
MODELING.
OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU FLY THROUGH
THE NEW REGIONS YOU ARE GETTING
NEW INFORMATION AND YOU START TO
UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE MUCH
BETTER.
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SPACE
WEATHER WE HAVE MODELS THAT GO
FROM THE SUN TO THE MUD AND
KNOW, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
SURE WE ARE PUTTING THE RIGHT
PHYSICS IN.
GETTING THIS UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW THE
TERRESTRIAL WEATHER AND SPACE
WEATHER ARE MIXING TOGETHER, YOU
PUT EXACTLY THE RIGHT PHYSICS IN
THE MODELS AND THEN YOU CAN
DRIVE THEM WHERE YOU KNOW WHAT
IS HANKING AT THE SUN WITH THE
PARKER SOLAR PROBE AND DRIVE THE
THE MODELS USING THE SOLAR DATA
AND YOU HAVE A MUCH MORE
ACCURATE PREDICTION OF WHAT THAT
SOLAR WIND IS GOING TO BE
DRIVING IN THIS REGION.
TOM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD?
>> SPACE WEATHER WE THINK OF
LIKE A REALLY LARGE SOLAR FLARE
THAT ARRIVES AT EARTH AND CAUSES
DISRUPTION.
THAT'S A SPACE STORM.
SPACE WEATHER IS THE CHANGES ONE
DAY FROM THE NEXT IN THE
IONOSPHERE.
AND AS WE DISCUSSED WE THOUGHT
THAT WOULD BE NOT THAT EXCITING,
BUT NEAR THE EQUATOR IT CHANGES
DRASTICALLY FROM ONE DAY TO THE
NEXT.
IT IMPLIES THERE IS CHANGES IN
THE WINDS FROM ONE DAY TO THE
NEXT PUSHING THE PLASMA THIS WAY
OR THAT WAY.
THAT'S NOT BUILT IN ANY OF OUR
CAPE ABLTSS OR MODELS FOR
PREDICTION RIGHT NOW.
IF WE ACTUALLY SEE THE WIND
BLOWING EAST ONE DAY AND WEST
THE OTHER, THAT WOULD BE
A SURPRISING RESULT IN AND OF
ITSELF.
AND MEASURING THE EFFECTS OF THE
WINDS IMMEDIATELY.
THERE ARE SUN TO MUD MODELS
TRYING TO CAPTURE THIS
CAPEABILITY IF THERE IS
SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE
MIDWEST, SOME LARGE STORM FRONT
THAT GENERATES SOMETHING HIGHER.
BUT THOSE HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN
VERIFIED.
WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO
UNDERSTAND THE DAY-TO-DAY
CHANGES IN THE IONOSPHERE WE
CAN'T PREDICT RIGHT NOW.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO MARSHA A
QUESTION QUESTION.
I UNDERSTAND TO DO A SHOUT OUT
WHO USED THE MOST RECENT COUPLE
OF MONTHING TO DO A COMPLETE
TEST OF THE OBSERVATORY TO MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING WAS, WOOING.
YOU THINK TWO YEAR ITS JUST SAT
THERE.
NO, THEY PUT OUT THE SOLAR
PANELSES AND EXERCISED ALL THE
MOTORS.
IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY
BEAUTIFUL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
NORTHRUP TKPWRUL AN AND BERKELEY
BERKELEY.
I JUST WANT TO DO THAT.
>> THE SPACECRAFT WAS KEPT NOT
ONLY CLEAN BUT DRY AND DIDN'T
HAVE ISSUES WITH MOISTURE
INCURSION OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD
AFFECT THE ELECTRONICKICS
CAPABILITY.
WE DID A FULL COMPREHENSIVE
PERFORMANCE TEST TO EXERCISE ALL
THE MAIN ELEMENTS OF THE
SPACECRAFT AND SOFTWARE AND ONE
OF THE KEY CONCERNS WAS THE
POTENTIAL FOR A SOLAR RAY
HICCUP, IF YOU WILL, DURING
DEPLOYMENT.
WE DEPLOYED AND IT WENT WELL AND
IT IS VERY HIGH LEVEL CONFIDENCE
FOR TOMORROW.
>> ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS
EXACTLY THIS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE
DONE TO MAKE SURE THE SPACECRAFT
IS STILL OPERATING L. DID YOU
FIND ANYTHING YOU HAD TO
REPLACE?
>> NO, EVERYTHING WAS NOMINAL.
A COUPLE MINOR HICCUP, LEARNING,
IF YOU WILL.
BUT NOTHING OUT OF FAMILY.
MY MAIN CONCERN WAS THE SOLAR
ARRAY WITH THE 5 PANEL
DEPLOYMENT.
>> SCIENCE QUESTION I HAVE.
YOU MENTIONED THE ISS IS IN THE
IONOSPHERE.
IS IT MAKING MEASUREMENTS RIGHT
NOW AND TALKED ABOUT INSTRUMENTS
GOING UP THERE SOON.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> INSTRUMENT THAT WILL LUNCH
2023.
IT IS FROM OUR EXPLORER LINE AND
GOING UP ON THE ISS AND
A GRAVITY WAVE MEASUREMENT.
IT WILL BE AAGAIN, LOOKING DOWN
DURING THE BIG SWEEPS AND SO,
YOU KNOW, YET ANOTHER REALLY
IMPORTANT MEASUREMENT FOR US TO
ADD TO OUR IT SCIENCE.
TODAY IS ALL ABOUT ICON.
>> THERE IS NO IONOSPHERIC
MEASUREMENTS ON THE ISS MADE
TODAY, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
WE HAVE CUBE SATES MEASURING THE
IONOSPHERE AND THE IT SYSTEM,
BUT FROM THE ISS OTHER THAN ALL
THE CAMERAS, THE PWOUFL IMAGES
TAKEN FROM THE ISS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE'LL HAVE ONE QUESTION FROM
THE PHONE AFTER THAT.
>> QUESTION FOR NIKKI, I
BELIEVE.
THE ALTITUDE OF THIS ICON
SATELLITE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT
360 MILES OR SO, I UNDERSTAND.
COULD YOU PROVIDE TO MY VIEWERS
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONTEXT
OF THAT ALTITUDE COMPARED TO,
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIFFERENT ZONES
IN THE IONOSPHERE.
WHAT OTHER SATELLITES ARE UP
THERE IN THAT REGION.
ALSO WITH RESPECT TO SATELLITES
THAT THE IONOSPHERE MIGHT
INTERFERE WITH LIKE -- COULD YOU
GIVE US A SENSE OF THOSE
DISTANCES FROM THE EARTH?
>> THAT WAS YOUR
WE ARE NOT GOING TO BOOST ICON.
WE'LL GO IF 575 AND STAY THERE
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
ABOVE THAT NOAA SATELLITES.
WE WANT THIS ORBIT, A 27 DEGREE
INCLINATION, SORT OF A SCIENCE
ORBIT.
MANY OTHERS ARE IN POLAR ORBITS
AND THE 90 DEGREE INCLINATION.
THAT IS 800 TO 900-KILOMETERS:
THE GPS SATELLITES, THE DENSITY
OF THE IONOSPHERE CAN CAUSE
ERRORS IN GPS.
THOSE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
KILOMETER ORBITS.
AND GEOSYNCHRONOUS.
[INAUDIBLE]
>> CERTAIN LEVELS.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE?
>> WE ARE ON THE TOP SIDE
IONOSPHERE.
THE MAIN PEAK IS THE F-LAYER 300
TO 400-KILOMETERS OR 200,
300 MILES.
DEPENDS ON YOUR LATITUDE.
THE ECQUESTIONITORIAL IONOSPHERE
IS PUMPED UP BY WHAT WE KNOW OF
THE EQUAITORIAL WINDS.
THERE IS A WIND DYNAMO THAT
DRIVES ELECTRIC FIELDS.
IT IS STILL THE LOWEST.
WE ARE ON THE TOP SIDE OF IT.
IT'S A NICE, SMOOTH FUNCTION OF
ALTITUDE WITH A PEAK OF
300-KILOMETERS, A LITTLE HIGHER
AND WE ARE ON THE TOP OF IT AND
WE ARE STILL CONNECTED TO THAT.
THE E-REGION BELOW THAT IS
DRIVEN BY -- IT IS THE RED LAYER
YOU SEE.
AS YOU GET LOWER YOU WIND UP
WITH MOLECULAR IONS.
LET THAT IS WHERE YOU HAVE THE
STROPBGZ INTERACTION AND WISH
YOU COULD SPEND YOUR TIME.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT REMOTELY.
E-REGION IS 1 20-180-KILOMETERS
JUST BELOW 100 MILES.
AND THAT'S A GOOD SPOT FOR US.
THAT'S THE OTHER REGION THAT IS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ICON.
>> GEOSYNCHRONOUS IS MUCH HIGHER
AND THEY ARE IN THE OUTER BELT
OF THE RADIATION BELT THAT
RESPONDS TO SPACE WEATHER AND
A LOT OF HIGH ENERGY PARTICLES
AND THE ENTIRE RADIATION BELT
CAN GROW AND UNGULF INSTRUMENTS
THAT DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE
RADIATION BELT.
>> WE WILL GO TO THE PHONES.
WE HAVE CHRIS WITH NASA SPACE
FLIGHT.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> I HAVE FOR THIS PARTICULAR
MISSION WHY AN EQUATORIAL ORBIT
INSTEAD OF POLAR ORBIT.
WHAT DOES THIS ADVANTAGE GIVE
YOU OVER A POLEAR ONE.
FOR NORTHRUP GRUMMAN CAN YOU OUT
LINE SINCE THE LAST LAUNCH
ATTEMPT A YEAR AGO WHAT HAVE YOU
GUYS BEEN DOING WITH PEGASUS AND
WHAT WERE THE FIXES OR THE ROOT
CAUSE OF THAT ISSUE THAT YOU
IDENTIFIED AND FIXED FOR
TOMORROW'S ATTEMPT?
THANK YOU.
>> I THINK TOM WILL ANSWER THE
WHY EQUATORIAL AND HOLD YOUR
QUESTION ON THE PEGASUS.
YOU WILL HAVE A WHOLE BRIEFING
ON THAT LAUNCH SYSTEM.
IF WE CAN HOLD THAT UNTIL THE
NEXT PANEL WHEN THE REAL EXPERTS
ARE UP HERE.
>> THERE IS A GRAPHIC SOMEWHERE
ELSE, NOT HERE, THAT SHOWS FROM
THE EQUATORIAL ORBIT OUR WIND
INSTRUMENT, MAKING MEASUREMENTS
TO THE NORTH OF THE SATELLITE
ACROSS THE EQUATOR.
AND THE SAME FIELD LINE AT THE
MAGNETIC EQUATOR AND YOU CAN
FOLLOW IT DOWN TO WHERE THE WIND
MEASUREMENT IS MADE.
THAT'S NOT ACHIEVABLE WITH
A POLAR ORBIT.
YOU HAVE TO TPH-BT NEAR
EQUATORIAL ORBIT.
LOW LATITUDES ARE WHERE SOME OF
THE LARGEST TIES IN THE UPPER
ATMOSPHERE THAT ORIGINATE IN THE
LOWER ATMOSPHERE AND ARE NOT
GRAVITATIONAL TIDES, THEY ARE
NOT LUNAR TIDES OR SOLE ATIDES,
JUST MOTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
SENTED ON A PLANETARY SCALE.
THEY ARE LARGEST AT LOW
LATITUDES.
WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE LOW
LATITUDES FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS.
>> WHERE ALL THE ACTIONS
HAPPENING.
>> ICON GOES WHERE THE ACTIONS.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM
THE PHONES.
I THINK.
WILL TRY ONE MORE TIME.
WE WILL MOVE ON.
ANY LAST QUESTIONS BEFORE WE
CHANGE IT UP?
WE'LL BE GOING ON TO OUR SECOND
PANEL THEN.
WE'LL MOVE.
IN THE MEANTIME WE HAVE A VIDEO
FOR YOU SHOWING THE LAUNCH
SEQUENCE AND DEPLOY.
♪
SNOW STPHOETS.
♪
>> WE ARE BACK WITH OUR NEW
PANEL.
WE HAVE THE VICE PRESIDENT OF
SPACE LAUNCH PROGRAM.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE
ABOUT WHAT BRINGS US ALL THE WAY
TO LAUNCH TOMORROW.
>> THANK YOU.
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK THE
MEDIA FOR BEING HERE THIS.
IS HOW WE GET OUR MESSAGE OUT
PRIMARILY TO OUR TAXPAYERS WHO
ARE FUNDING THIS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
THAT CONDUIT FOR THEM.
AND I DO WANT TO THANK OUR TEAM
THAT I HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE
OF LEADING STARTING WITH LAUNCH
SERVICES PROGRAM HERE AT KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER.
OUR PARTNERS NORTHRUP GRUMMAN.
OUR CUSTOMERS, HEADQUARTER THE,
NASA HEADQUARTERS AND NASA
GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER OUR
& OUR ULTIMATE CUSTOMER WHICH IS
THOMAS, YOU HEARD BEFORE AT UCB
BERKELEY.
I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR DELAYING
YOU GUYS FOR THE LAST 11 MONTHS.
WE WANTED TO GET THINGS RIGHT ON
THIS ROCKET.
THERE WAS NO -- WE HAVE NO
SECOND CHANCES AND WE WANT TO
GET IT RIGHT.
IN THE MONTHS THAT HAD PRECEDED
THIS, WE HAD DONE A NUMBER OF
TESTS BOTH ON THE GROUND AND WE
HAD TAKEN THE ROCKET UP SEVERAL
TIMES TO TRY AND LICK THIS
THING.
WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO SEE IT IN
FLIGHT AND FLIGHTS ARE VERY
DIFFICULT TO MODEL ON THE
GROUND.
YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPONENTS
GOING ON AT ONCE.
YOU NOT ONLY HAVE THE ALTITUDE,
YOU HAVE THE VIBRATION AND AIR
BUFFETTING, THE AIRPLANE IS
MAKING ITS OWN VIBRATIONS WITH
THE TURBINES GOING.
THE ATMOSPHERE IS A LITTLE BIT
LESS AS WE GO UP.
AND FUNNY THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU
ARE AT ALTITUDE AND THE
TEMPERATURES GET COLDER AND IT'E
HAD A NEW COMPONENT GO AND WE
MIGHT HAVE POSSIBLY SEEN THIS
GREMLIN SHOW UP BEFORE.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A VISUAL CUE
INTO IT.
NOW WE DID.
AND WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT
IT.
AND THAT'S WHAT HAS TAKEN US
THIS LONG TO COME ON GRIPS WITH
WHAT THOSE THINGS WERE THAT WERE
MAKING OUR RUDDER POSITION
INDICATOR GET ACTIVE.
SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO
SEE IN FLIGHT.
SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED
SINCE WE PUT SEVERAL FIXES IN.
I HOPE THAT KIND OF SKPHRAEUPBS
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING --
EXPLAINS WHAT WE HAVE DONE
DOING.
WE PUT THE SPACECRAFT ASIDE
WHILE WE DID THIS TEST SO WE
DIDN'T PUT IT IN HARM'S WAY.
IF WE CAN ROLL A VIDEO I HAVE.
THIS IS THE ICON SPACECRAFT.
AND THIS IS THE SOLAR RAY DEPLAY
AND CPT THEY SPOKE OF EARLIER IN
AUGUST INTO SEPTEMBER TO MAKE
SURE DURING THE HIATUS BEING
KEPT.
THIS IS A SHOT OF THE SPACECRAFT
BEING MATED TO THE PEGASUS.
THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 9TH.
ON SEPTEMBER 25th WE BROUGHT
IT OUT TO THE FIRST REUSABLE
ZERO STAGE THAT L-1011 STAR
GAZER YOU SEE THERE.
AND THIS IS THE FLIGHT CREW
BRINGING IT IN ON ITS FLIGHT
HERE ON OCTOBER 1 TO THE SKID
STRIP AT THE CAPE CANEVERAL AIR
FORCE STATION.
I WANT TO THANK THE FOLKS AT THE
45th SQUADRON HERE.
AND THE FOLKS AT THE 30th
FOR SUPPORTING US ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THIS.
AND SO I SAID A LOT AND WE SAW
THIS VIDEO.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS TOMORROW.
THE TEAM WILL GET WORKING ON THE
ROCKET ABOUT 2:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON.
WE'LL HAVE OUR MANAGEMENT ON
STATION ABOUT 5:00 IN THE
AFTERNOON.
IT WILL BE POWERING UP THE
PEGASUS THE L-10-11.
IF ALL GOES WELL WE'LL LIFTOFF
FROM THE SKID STRIP ABOUT 8:32
IN THE EVENING AND 58 MINUTES
LATER WE'LL BE IN THE DROP BOX.
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DROP ICON
AND THE PEGASUS AND LIGHT IT UP
AND SEND IT ON ITS WAY.
WE DO HAVE A 90 MINUTE WINDOW.
IF THE FIRST ATTEMPT IS ABORTED
OR WE'RE LATE DOING SOMETHING ON
THE GROUND OR THE WEATHER GETS
US, WE DO HAVE A SHORT BUFFER
THERE OF ABOUT AN HOUR, 1:15
WHERE WE CAN ADJUST AND STILL
MAKE IT SO THAT ICON CAN LAUNCH
TOMORROW.
WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
PHIL JOYCE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO SECOND A LOT OF THINGS
YOU SAID ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED TO GET US TO THIS
POINT.
IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT A TEAM
WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF ADVERSITY
AND ICON IS NO DIFFERENT.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX
MACHINE.
WE SAW SOME THINGS ON OUR
PREVIOUS LAUNCH ATTEMPT NONE OF
US WERE COMFORTABLE WITH.
WE DECIDED TO STAND DOWN AND GO
ADDRESS THOSE AND MAKE SURE WE
REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS
HAPPENING THERE.
THAT REQUIRED A REALLY EXTENSIVE
GROUND TEST MODELING SIMULATION
AND FLIGHT-TEST ACTIVITY TO GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF WHAT WAS REALLY
AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING
PROBLEM, ONE OF THE MOST I HAVE
SEEN IN MY CAREER IN THIS
BUSINESS OVER SOME 30 YEARS.
BUT WE GOT THERE.
WE, WITH NASA UP ABLE TO GET TO
SOME SURPRISING RESULTS THAT
TOLD US MORE ABOUT THE SYSTEM WE
HAVE ON THE PEGASUS.
AND EDUCATED TOUTS POINT WHERE
WE COULD MAKE SOME REALLY SMART,
CORRECTIVE ACTION.
WE IMPLEMENTED THOSE AND GOT ALL
THE STAKE HOLDERS ON BOARD AND I
WANT TO THANK THE SCIENCE TEAM
AND HEADQUARTERS TEAM AND ALL AT
GODDARD AND AT BERKELEY FOR
STICKING WITH US AND ACTUALLY
BEING PART OF THE SOLUTION HERE.
I THINK IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT
THE STRENGTH OF OUR RELATIONSHIP
AND THE TEAMWORK THAT WE HAVE
ENJOYED AT NORTHRUP GRUMMAN OVER
THE LAST THREE DECADES ON
PEGASUS WITH NASA.
IT'S BEEN A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
AND ONE WE WILL CONTINUE WITH
NASA.
ALL THE THINGS WE DID IN TERMS
OF QUALIFYING AND THE
FLIGHT-TESTS THAT WE PERFORMED
WITH THE SYSTEM IN ITS MODIFIED
STATE GIVE US CONFIDENCE.
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN
A LAUNCH DAY.
WE ARE ALL FIRED UP AND READY TO
GO AT NORTHRUP LOOKING FORWARD
TO GIVING ICON A GREAT RIDE.
>> FAN OF THETAIC.
FANTASTIC.WE'LL GO TO QUESTIONS.
>> I UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE
44th MISSION FOR PEGASUS.
CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE ARE ANY
FUTURE MISSIONS ON THE BOOKS AND
WHEN WILL THE NEXT PEGASUS
MISSION BE?
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY CURRENT
CONTRACTS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO
REPORT WE HAVE TWO PEG CUS
VEHICLES IN A PRETTY ADVANCE
STATE OF INTEGRATION THAT ARE
AVAILABLE.
WE ARE TALKING TO SEVERAL
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS FOR THOSE.
OUR L-10-11 AIRCRAFT IS AS
HEALTHY AS EVER.
THE TEAM KEEP ITS IN TIPTOP
SHAPE AS ILLUSTRATED AS GETTING
OUT HERE WITHOUT ANY MAJOR
PROBLEMS ON THE AIRCRAFT.
THAT WILL BE THE SITUATION FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND
CONTINUING PEGASUS AS LONG AS
THERE ARE CUSTOMERS.
>> COULD ONE OR BOTH OF YOU SORT
OF TALK IN MORE DETAIL ABOUT
WHAT YOU WERE SEEING ON THE
LAUNCH ATTEMPT LAST YEAR WITH
THE RUDDER MOVEMENT AND WHAT THE
INVESTIGATION SHOWED WAS THE
CAUSE AND WHAT CORRECTIVE
ACTIONS YOU IMPLEMENTED TO
RESOLVE IT.
JUST MORE DETAIL.
I'M NOT SURE I FULLY GRASP WHAT
YOU WERE SEEING.
>> SO THE PEGASUS SAFE-1 FLIGHT
IS AN AIRPLANE.
THERE ARE THREE CONSTROLL
SURFACES, AND IT WAS THE RUDDER
ACTION THAT WE WERE SEEING
ANOMALOUS POSITION, NOISE IN THE
FEEDBACK LINE.
WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEM BUT
THEY WERE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH WE
WERE CONCERNED IF WE LAUNCHED
WITH THAT CONDITION WITH NOISE
SPIKES IT COULD CAUSE A BAD DAY.
WE ELECTED TO STAND DOWN AT THAT
POINT AND DO AN INVESTIGATION.
WE PULLED THAT HARDWARE OFF THE
ROCK SKPET GOT IT INTO THE LABS
IN ARIZONA AT NORTHRUP GRUMMAN
AND REPLICATED AS BEST WE COULD
AND OMAR POINTED OUT HOW HARD IT
IS TO DO ON THE GROUND.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND SET
THE TESTS UP AND RECREATE THE
PROBLEM AND THAT ENABLED US TO
GET TO THE CAUSE OF IT.
AND IDENTIFY SEF RAT PARTS OF
THE SYSTEM THAT MADE US MORE
VULNERABLE TO THAT KIND OF
NOISE.
AS ANY KIND OF COMPLEX PROBLEM
LIKE THIS AND THIS IS WHY THE
INVESTIGATION TOOK A LONG TIME,
USUALLY HAS SEVERAL CAUSAL
FACTORS AND THIS WAS NO
DIFFERENT.
THERE WERE FIVE OR SIX DIFFERENT
THINGS WE THOUGHT WERE COUPLING
INTO THIS PHENOMENON WE WERE
SEEING AND WHAT WE DID TO
CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECT
ALL OF THOSE.
WE MODIFIED OUR INSTRUMENTS TO
BE LESS SENSITIVE AND THE
CIRCUIT TO BE MORE ROBUST TO THE
ENVIRONMENT THAT IS A UNIQUE AND
CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT.
WE WENT BACK AND DEMONSTRATED
THE MODIFIED SYSTEMS WOULD
HANDLE THOSE ENVIRONMENTS IN THE
LAB AND THEN WE CONTACTED TWO
TEST FLIGHTS, ONE THAT SIMULATED
A FERRY FLIGHT THE ONE LAST WEEK
AND THE OTHER SIMULATED A LAUNCH
ATTEMPT WHERE IT IS CONFIGURED
DIFFERENTLY AND COULD SEE
A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
AND VERIFIED BOTH OF THOSE
CONDITIONS WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF
THE SPIKESES RETURN.
THE FINAL TEST AND ALL OF US
WERE ON PINS AND NEEDLES FOR
FIVE AND IA HALF-HOURS WHILE THE
AIRCRAFT TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE
CAPE.
WE WERE MONITORING THAT CIRCUIT
THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AND WERE VERY
HAPPY TO REPORT IT WAS AS CLEAN
AS ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN.
THAT GIVES US GREAT CONFIDENCE
GOING FORWARD INTO TOMORROW'S
ATTEMPT WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM
BEHIND US.
BUT JUST IN CASE, WE HAVE
INSTITUTED SOME NEW MISSION
RULES TO LOOK FOR THESE KIND OF
THINGS AND WITH NASA WE'LL
EVALUATE ANYTHING WE SEE DURING
THE LAUNCH ATTEMPT AND MAKE
A CALL THAT IS COMPLETELY BASED
ON MISSION SUCCESS.
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT
GETTING THE SALTS TO ORBIT.
-- SATELLITE TO ORBIT.
>> A QUICK FOLLOW-UP FOR PHIL.
YOU MENTIONED THE NEW HARDWARE,
ARE THOSE THE FIN BATTERIES
FLYING ARE IF THE FIRST TIME AND
WAS THERE ANY RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THAT AND THE SIGNATURES?
>> THE THIN BATTERY, NOT NEW.
THEY ARE THE THERMAL BAT WEES WE
HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR MANY YEARS.
THE CONTROL UNIT, THE
ELECTRONICS THAT CONTROL THE
SE-- SERV O IS NEW AND WE DID
SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS TO.
>> WHERE WILL THE DROP ACTUALLY
OCCUR?
WHERE WILL THE PLANE BEING, WHAT
ALTITUDE AND HOW MANY ON BOARD
FOR THE DEPLOY IN.
>> WE ARE GOING TO BE ABOUT
50-100 MILES OFF DAYTONA BEACH
WHEN THE DROP OCCURS.
WE HAVE A 40-MILE LONG BOX TO
LAUNCH IT IN.
YOU WILL GET A SPECIAL TREAT AND
YOU WILL HEAR ALL ABOUT THE
FLIGHT CREW AND THE AIRPLANE IN
THE NEXT PANEL.
39,000 FEET.
>> WE HAVE QUESTION FROM THE
PHONES.
>> IN TERMS OF THE DROP BOX
LOCATION, YOU CAN LAUNCH
ANYWHERE WITHIN THAT IF I AM
UNDERSTANDING IT CORRECTLY,
RIGHT.
IF THERE IS A THUNDERSTORM AT
THE PREFERRED DROP LOCATION YOU
CAN RECONFIGURE AND GET TO
ANOTHER PART IN THAT BOX AWAY IF
WEATHER IF NEEDED, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> IN THEORY, YEAH, WE COULD
STEER AROUND IT.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS
FLY AN AIRPLANE WITH I ROCKET
UNDER IT ANYWHERE NEAR
A THUNDERHEAD.
YEAH, IF THE CONDITIONS ARE
RIGHT AND WE ARE ABLE TO GET
EITHER AWAY FROM THE THUNDERHEAD
OR HIGH ABOVE IT, WE MIGHT BE
ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
IN REALITY MOST THUNDERHEADS ARE
ANYWHERE FROM TEN THOUSAND FEET
TO 50,000 FEET OR MORE.
IT WOULD BE VERY UNLIKELY.
WE COULD CERTAINLY STEER AROUND
SOME OF THEM.
WE CAN DELAY THE FLIGHT OR
LOITER FOR A LITTLE BIT AND DO
ANOTHER RUN IN CASE TIME IS
HELPING US AND HAVING THAT
THUNDERHEAD OR WHATEVER IT IS WE
ARE TRYING TO AVOID.
>> ANY MORE QUESTIONS FROM THE
ROOM BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
YES, SIR.
>> FOR PHIL, THE PEGASUS CONCEPT
DROPPING A ROCKET FROM AN
AIRPLANE IS VERY UNIQUE.
IS ANYBODY ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE
WORLD DOING THIS OR IS IT UNIQUE
TO NORTHRUP GRUMMAN.
>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF OUR
FRIENDSA THE VIRGIN AND THEY
HAVE NO WING AND LAUNCH IT FROM
A S*EFRB47.
-- 737.PEGASUS WAS THE FIRST PY
DEVELOPED SPACE LAUNCH VEHICLE
AND AIR LAUNCHED SPACE LAUNCH
VEHICLE WITH A FIRST NIGHT IN
1990 AND THIS IS MISSION 44.
IT'S BEEN A VERY ROBUST SYSTEM
CAPABLE OF A THOUSAND POUNDS TO
LOWER EARTH ORBIT AND CAN LAUNCH
FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT'S ONE OF OUR CROWN JEWELS.
>> THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD
PANEL.
AND AN INTERMISSION WE WILL SHOW
YOU A MOVIE ON THE LAUNCH,
NASA'S LAST PEGASUS LAUNCH FROM
DECEMBER OF 2016.
>> DROP ON MY MARK.
3, 2, 1.
GO FOR RELEASE.
AND DROP.
PEGASUS IS AWAY.
MISSION THE PEGASUS ROCKET
HADDING HURRICANE FORECASTERS
UNDERSTAND AND PREDICT THE
INTENSITY OF HURRICANES.
>> HELLO, WE ARE BACK.
WE NOW HAVE WITH US BILL *UL
RICH A WEATHER OFFICER AND DON
WALLERS THE CHIEF PILOT OF THE
NORTHRUP GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT WE
WERE JUST HEARING B. AND FOR
STARTERS, TELL ME ABOUT WHY THE
45th SPACE WING.
>> OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS TO
ENSURE SAFE ACCESS TO SPACE.
THE 46th WEATHER SWAUD RON
IS THE WEATHER COMPONENT.
TO MAKE SURE OUR LAUNCH
CUSTOMERS IN THE EASTERN RANGE
ARE LAUNCHING INTO SAFE WEATHER
CONDITIONS WE USE A VARIETY OF
WEATHER TOOLS TO MAKE SURE THEY
ARE DOING SO INCLUDING WEATHER
RADAR, HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE
IMAGERY AND LIGHTNING DETECTION
EQUIPMENT AND WEATHER BALLOONS.
WE USE THAT TO EVALUATE A TOTAL
OF 10 LIGHTNING LAUNCH CRITERIA
TO ENSURE THE CUSTOMER IS NOT
LAUNCHING INTO ADVERSE WEATHER
CONDITIONS AND IS IT IS MEANT TO
STEER THE VEHICLE CLEAR OF ANY
POTENTIAL THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE
ON-GOING OR POTENTIALLY DEVELOP
OR THOSE CLOUDS THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY TRIGGER LIGHTNING
A ROCKET IN THE VICINITY.
THIS IS CHALLENGING IN THAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT THE DROP BOX
BEING ABOUT 50-100 MILES
OFFSHORE.
IT IS NOT REALLY IN THE PRESENCE
OF SOME OF THE GROUND SENSORS WE
TYPIC LAUNCH IT IS 50-100 MILES
OFFSHORE.
WE CAN SUPPLEMENT THAT
INFORMATION WITH OUR RADAR AND
HIGH RESOLUTION SATELLITE
IMAGERY.
HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF THE DAY
WE WILL BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE
LIGHTNING WATCH CRITERIA AND
HELPS THEY WILL LAUNCH FROM
39,000 FEET IN THE ATMOSPHERE
ABOVE MOST OF THE WEATHER WE
EXPERIENCE HERE ON THE GROUND.
>> SO WHAT IS THE WEATHER GOING
TO BE LIKE?
>> OH, GEEZ.
I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO ASK ME
THAT QUESTION.
[LAUGHING]
UNFORTUNATELY HERE I AM ON STAGE
AGAIN BEING THE BEARER OF BAD
NEWS AND HAVE THE LAST COUPLE OF
LAUNCHES BUT THEY HAVE GOTTEN
OFF THE GROUND AND THIS ONE WILL
AS WELL.
BUT FOR TOMORROW IF WE LOOK AT
SATELLITE IMAGERY RIGHT NOW, WE
HAVE A COUPLE SYSTEMS THAT ARE
GOING TO KIND OF INTERFERE WITH
TOMORROW'S LAUNCH.
YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ORGANIZED
CLOUDINESS OFF THE EAST COAST OF
FLORIDA UP THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TRIGGERS
THUNDERSTORMS UP AND DOWN THE
COAST.
WHAT YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE UNDER
THE CLOUDS UP ANDUN DO THE
EASTERN SEABOARD IS THE COLD
FRONT.
THAT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE CLOSER
TO US DURING THE DAY TOMORROW
AND EXPECTED TO SHIFT TO THE
SOUTH ON THURSDAY.
IF WE LOOK AT TOMORROW'S
FORECAST WITH THE PRESENCE OF
THE SURFACE TROUGH AND THE COLD
FRONT TO OUR NORTH, CONDITIONS
WILL BE QUITE UNSTABLE TOMORROW
LIKE THEY ARE TODAY, LIKE THEY
WERE LAST NIGHT.
SUCH THAT WE EXPECT SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA EVEN
TOMORROW EVENING.
NOW THE WINDS AND TEMPERATURE
YOU SEE THERE IS WHAT THE
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
FOR TAKE OFF, WHICH IS LIGHT
WINDS OUT OF THE NORTHEAST 7-9
MILES PER HOUR AND TEMPERATURES
IN THE LOW 80s.
THERE WILL BE, UNFORTUNATELY,
SCATTERED SHOWERS IN THE
VICINITY OF THE AREA.
BUT ALSO, AND ESPECIALLY THERE
WILL BE MORE ACTIVITY OUT OVER
THE ATLANTIC WATERS.
OUR PRIMARY CONCERN CITIZEN
CUMULOUS CLOUD RULE AND
LIGHTNING RULE.
AND IF WE GO -- HOPEFULLY WE
DON'T NEED A 24 HOUR DELAY.
CONDITIONS WILL BE BETTER FOR
TAKE OFF AND HAVE A SLIGHTLY
STRONGER WIND THAT CAN BE
A CROSS-WIND CAN BE BE AN ISSUE
FOR TAKE OUT, WINDS OUT OF THE
NORTHEAST AND SHOWERS EXPECTED
TO BE LOWER AS WE SEE THE COLD
FRONT, IT IS STILL EARLY FOR
A COLD FRONT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.
IT WILL BRING IN DRIER AIR FROM
THE NORTH.
OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE
CUMULOUS CLOUD RULE.
I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS, BUT
ULTIMATELY WE'LL DO THE BEST
WITHAL THE TOOLS AT OUR DISPOSAL
TO MAKE SURE TOMORROW'S LAUNCH
OR POTENTIALLY THURSDAY NIGHT'S
LAUNCH WILL BE AS SAFE AS
POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
LET'S GO TO DON.
TELL US ABOUT PILOTING,
HOPEFULLY WITH GOOD WEATHER,
WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE IS LIKE
WHEN YOU TAKE OFF.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE
WEATHER BRIEFING.
WE RELY ON A LARGE GROUP OF
PEOPLE TO GIVE US INFORM TAOEUGZ
ERNE SURE THE SAFETY OF THE --
ENSURE THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THE
SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT.
OUR MAIN CONCERN ON THE GROUND
ARE PRECIPITATION, WINDS AND
LIGHTNING.
ONCE WE ARE IN THE AIR ONE OF
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE L-10-11
SYSTEM IS IT IS A VERY MOBILE,
FLUID SYSTEM AND TACTICALLY WE
CAN MOVE AROUND SOME OF THE
STORMS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
ONCE WE ARE IN THE DROP BOX.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO HAVE
A CLEAR SHOT FOR THE ROCKET.
BUT THE CREW HAS SOME
FLEXIBILITY TO HELP DEVIATE
AROUND SOME OF THE STORMS
LOCALLY.
ON THE GROUND FOR TAKE OFF IT IS
WATER, WIND AND LIGHTNING.
>> I THINK WE HAVE A VIDEO OF
THE PATH THAT YOU EXPECT TO
TAKE.
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE
ENTIRE PROCESS OF DROPPING OFF?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE PLANNED A 58-MINUTE FLIGHT.
THE GOAL IS FOR US TO BE AT THE
LAUNCH BOX AT A SPECIFIC TIME AT
A SPECIFIC SPEED AT A SPECIFIC
ALTITUDE.
IT WILL TAKE OFF OUT OF THE SKID
STRIP FLYING A PATTERN AWAY FROM
THE LAUNCH BOX TO GAIN ALTITUDE.
AS SOON AS WE GAIN ALTITUDE
WE'LL TURN BACK TOWARD OUR
LAUNCH POINT AND TAKE WEATHER
OBSERVATIONS OVER THE LAUNCH BOX
AND WE'LL FLY OUT AROUND, TURN
AROUND AND GIVE US TIME TO
CONFIGURE THE SYSTEMS FOR
LAUNCH.
WHEN WE HIT THE LAUNCH BOX OR
HIT THE LAUNCH POINT WE'LL DROP
THE ROCKET AND TURN SLIGHTLY OUT
OF THE WAY AND WATCH THE ROCKET
FLY OFF.
>> WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU
ARE IN THE PLANE AND YOU DROP
THE PEGASUS.
>> IT IS THE MOST EXCITING PART
OF THE FLIGHT.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WE TAKE A 52 --
PLANE IS FLYING IN A STABLE
CONDITION.
WHEN YOU DROP 52,000 POUNDS ALL
AT ONCE THE LIFT ON THE AIRPLANE
STILL EXISTS AND AS THE ROCKET
FALLS WE LOSE THAT GRAVITY, WE
LOSE THE 52,000 POUNDS AND THE
PLANE CLIMBS FAIRLY RAPIDLY
ABOUT 1,200, 1,500 FEET AS THE
ROCKET IS FALLING.
NOT ONLY IS THAT AN EXCITING
PART OF THE FLIGHT, IT GIVES US
SEPARATION FOR SAFETY FROM THE
ROCKET AS WE DROP IT.
>> WE ARE HOPING FOR SMOOTH
SKIES TOMORROW.
AND WE WILL GO TO QUESTIONS IN
THE ROOM.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ON BOARD FOR
THE LAUNCH?
AND HOW MANY SECONDS AFTER THE
ROCKET DROPS DOES IT IGNITE AND
WHO IS ACTUALLY -- SOMEBODY
PUSHING A BUTTON OR IS IT AUTO
MATED FOLLOWING THE DROP?
>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON BOARD
MINIMUM IS 5.
WE HAVE THREE PILOTS AND TWO
LAUNCH PANEL OPERATORS.
OCCASIONALLY WE DO BRING
ADDITIONAL PILOTS OR LAUNCH
PANEL OPERATOR ALONG FOR
TRAINING.
I THINK WE WILL HAVE SEVEN ON
THIS PARTICULAR LAUNCH.
THE ROCKET DROPS FOR FOR FIVE
SECONDS BEFORE IGINATION TAKES
PLACE AS LONG AS ALL THE SAFETY
PARAMETERS ARE GO FOR IGNITION.
THE LAST QUESTION?
THE UNIQUE PART OF PEGASUS IS
THAT WHEN WE FLY INTO THE LAUNCH
BOX THE CREW IS JUST SORT OF THE
INSTRUMENT FOR A HUGE TEAM ON
THE GROUND MONITORING ALL THE
SAFETY PARAMETERS.
AS SOON AS WE ARE IN THE LAUNCH
BOX WE WAIT FOR A COMMAND FROM
OUR LAUNCH CONDUCTOR TO DROP THE
ROCKET AND IT IS ACTUALLY HE IS
BEHIND YOU, MY CO-PILOT IS THE
ONE WHO FLIPS UP THE SWITCH AND
PHYSICALLY DROPS THE ROCKET.
>> IS THAT DONE --
>> ONCE THE ROCKET IS CLEAR OF
THE THE AIRPLANE IT IS AUTON
MOUSE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TWO QUESTIONS FOR DON.
SINCE VUDONE THIS BEFORE, CAN
YOU DESCRIBE THE PHYSICAL
SENSATION OF THAT FEELING ON THE
AIRPLANE WHEN IT WANTS TO CLIMB
SO QUICKLY AND YOU LET GO OF THE
ROCKET?
AND I HAVE ONE FOLLOW-UP.
>> THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT.
IF YOU HAVE RID TPHEPB A RIDE
THAT PUSHES YOU DOWN IN YOUR
SEAT RATHER QUICKLY.
WE LOSE THE WEIG
DISSIPATING ENERGY WE CAN LEVEL
THE PLANE AGAIN.
>> THE NUMBERS, WHAT IS THE
TARGET ALTITUDE, AIR SPEED.
>> ALTITUDE 39,000.
TARGET AIR SPEED FOR LAUNCH IS
.82 MACH AND OUR LAUNCH HEADING
IS ABOUT 113 DEGREES MAGNETIC.
>> TWO QUESTIONS.
FIRST OF ALL, IS THIS A CERTAIN
MEETING THAT TAKES PLACE
TOMORROW AT A CERTAIN TIME AT
WHICH IT WILL BE DECIDED WHETHER
THE WEATHER WILL BE FAVORABLE OR
ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL LAUNCH
TIME?
OR TIME WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AROUND
8:30 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT
HAPPENS IF BOTH WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM
A WEATHER PERFORMANCE?
WHAT HAPPENS?
IS THERE A BACK UP DATE AFTER
THAT OR WHAT?
>> WRAPPING UP, SO ANSWER
QUICKLY.
>> YTHERE WILL BE A MEETING --
YES, THERE WILL BE A MEETING
TOMORROW.
SENIOR MANAGEMENT MEETS WITH
NASA TO DECIDE WHAT THE RISK
FACTORS ARE AND THE PROBABILITY
OF SUCCESS IS.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THURSDAY
AND FRIDAY AS BACK UP DAYS.
>> FANTASTIC.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION WE
WEREN'T ABLE TO ANSWER AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE NIKKI IS
AVAILABLE THE COST.
>> THE COST, THE NASA COST IS
252 MILLION.
AND WE'RE HAPPY WE HAVE NOT
VIOLATED THAT COST AT ALL.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T
22,000 MILES UP FROM ABOVE THE
SEA SURFACE.
>> FANTASTIC.
PLEASE TUNE IN FOR THE LAUNCH
COVERAGE WHICH WILL BE TOMORROW
NIGHT.
NASA.GOV/LIVE.
WE HAVE HAD GREAT FUN TODAY.
LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW.
GOODBYE.