♪ MUSIC PLAYING♪
>> TWO LAUNCH, A NASA MISSION TO
DELIVER CRITICAL SUPPLIES AND
RESEARCH TO THE ASTRONAUTS
LIVING AND WORKING ABOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
LIFT OFF IS SCHEDULED FOR
11:17 A.M. EASTERN TIME.
GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
I AM TORI WITH A PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU JOIN
US DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO
WATCH THE NEWLY REDESIGNED CARGO
DRAGON SPACECRAFT BEGIN ITS
DEBUT FLIGHT.
TODAY KICKS OFF A NEW SERIES OF
RESUPPLY MISSIONS TO THE SPACE
STATION.
THE ORIGINAL DRAGON ONE
SPACECRAFT COMPLETED ITS 20th
AND FINAL CARGO RESUPPLY MISSION
EARLIER THIS YEAR.
NOW THE UPGRADED DRAGON 2 WILL
CARRY THE TORCH WITH MORE
CAPACITY FOR SCIENCE PAYLOADS.
WE WILL LIFT OFF ON A SpaceX
FALCON 9 CRS-21 FROM LAUNCH
COMPLEX 39A.
WE HAVE TEAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FOLLOWING TODAY'S OPERATIONS.
FROM SpaceX HEADQUARTERS IN
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
TO MISSION CONTROL, IN HOUSTON
AND RIGHT HERE IN FLORIDA.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE EXPERTS TALK
WITH HIM ABOUT THE SCIENCE ON
THIS MISSION.
THERE IS A LIVE VIEW AS WE
SPEAK.
WE ARE NOW AT T MINUS 30 MINUTES
AND COUNTING.
AS WITH ALL MISSIONS TO THE ISS,
THE LAUNCH WINDOW TODAY'S
INSTANTANEOUS.
THAT MEANS THE ROCKET MUST
LAUNCH AT THE EXACT SECOND OF
THE PLAN LIFTOFF IN ORDER TO
REACH THE CORRECT ORBIT TO GET
TO THE SPACE STATION.
CARGO DRAGON WILL DOCK TO THE
STATION AT ABOUT 1:30 P.M.
EASTERN TIME TOMORROW, AND
DRAGON IS OF COURSE PACKED WITH
CRITICAL SUPPLIES AND RESEARCH,
BUT ALSO A FEW ITEMS TO HELP
MAKE THE CREW FEEL A LITTLE MORE
AT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
WE WILL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT
THE SCIENCE ON BOARD.
BUT FIRST, HERE ARE SOME BASICS.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST LAUNCH
FOR SpaceX UNDER NASA'S
COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY SERVICES
CONTRACT AND THE COMPANY'S
21st MISSION OF ITS KIND.
THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH FLIGHT
FOR THE FALCON 9 THAT WILL ONCE
AGAIN RETURN TO EARTH TO BE
REFURBISHED FOR ITS NEXT
MISSION.
IT WILL DELIVER MORE THAN
6400 POUNDS OF RESEARCH AND
SUPPLIES TO THE ASTRONAUTS ON
BOARD, AND THIS WILL BE THE
FIRST FLIGHT FOR THE UPGRADED
CARGO DRAGON THAT WILL PERFORM
AUTOMATED RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING
WITH THE SPACE STATION.
SIERRA 21 IS UNIQUE IN SO MANY
WAYS.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MAKES
THIS CARGO MISSION STAND APART
FROM THE REST.
♪ MUSIC PLAYING♪
>> WE ARE ABOUT T MINUS 27
MINUTES AWAY FROM LIFTOFF.
JOINING MAIN NOW IS JOSHUA AND
MARIA WITH AN UPDATE ON THE
LAUNCH.
GIVE US SOME GOOD NEWS.
>> YES, WE DO HAVE GOOD NEWS.
WE HAVE INCREASINGLY IMPROVING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
AND JOSHUA, JOINED BY MARIE
LEWIS.
>> THANK YOU.
I KNOW IT IS EXCITING TO BE
HERE.
WE HAD A WAVE OFF YESTERDAY
BECAUSE A WEATHER AT A BOOSTER
RECOVERY SITE WAS LOOKING GREAT.
THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER TODAY.
>> LET'S LOOK AT THIS GRAPHIC,
WE HAVE A 70% CHANCE OF A GOOD
WEATHER CONDITIONS.
WE HAVE A 30 PERCENTAGE OF
VIOLATION OF THOSE WEATHER
CONSTRAINTS.
SOME THICK CLOUDS MOVING THROUGH
THE AREA QUICKLY PRAYED THAT
SPEED IS REALLY HELPING US.
THE LAUNCH PROCESS AND
COUNTDOWN, THINGS ARE PROCEEDING
WELL.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY
OF THOSE THICK CLOUD POCKETS IN
THE AREA.
WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE OF THAT.
COMING FROM OUR LAUNCH WEATHER
OFFICER.
WE APPRECIATE THOSE FINE FOLKS
TAKING GOOD CARE OF US.
>> FEELING BEGAN AT T MINUS 35
MINUTES.
IT'S WELL UNDER WAY NOW, THAT
ARE P1, WHICH IS ROCKET GRADE
KEROSENE, LIQUID OXYGEN FEELING
ON THE FIRST STAGE IS WELL
UNDERWAY.
T MINUS 16 MINUTES, ABOUT 10
MINUTES FROM NOW, WE WILL HEAR
THAT LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING HAS
BEGUN ON THE SECOND UPPER STAGE.
>> YEAH, WE HAVE A FULL STAFF ON
BOARD TODAY FROM COAST-TO-COAST
HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
WE ARE TRACKING THIS OURSELVES,
AS WELL THERE IS A SPACEX TEAM
HERE AND SUPPORT FROM NASA AS
WELL WITH IT TELEMETRY AND
COMMUNICATION OUT AND HOUSTON,
TEXAS AT THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER WE HAVE TEAMS FROM NASA'S
MISSION CONTROL WHOSE SUPPORT
SPACE STATION THERE.
AND THEN IN CALIFORNIA COME ON
THE WEST COAST AT HAWTHORNE, THE
SpaceX HEADQUARTERS ON MISSION
CONTROL AS WELL.
TEAMS ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON
THINGS AND THEY ARE LIKING WHAT
THEY ARE SEEING SO FAR.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GREEN.
THE RANGE IS GREEN AROUND THE
PAD.
THE AREA DOWNRANGE, THE ROCKET
IS HEALTHY.
WE HAVE NOT HEARD ANY
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, THE
BOOSTER LOOKS LIKE IT HAS SEEN
BETTER DAYS.
THAT IS BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN READ
SO MANY TIMES.
>> THIS WILL BE ITS FOURTH
FLIGHT WHICH WE ARE EXCITED FOR
PAGES THAT CAPABILITY TO USE A
FLIGHT PROVEN BOOSTER.
THERE YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN,
THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH FLIGHT
IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN
TODAY, DEMO 2, BOB AND DOUG USED
THE SAME BOOSTER EARLIER THIS
YEAR.
HERE WE GO FOR NUMBER FOUR.
>> YEAH, THIS BOOSTER HAS BEEN
PUT THROUGH ITS PACES.
THE CARGO DRAGON ON TOP IS THE
NEW UPGRADE.
THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM IS
WATCHING -- WILL BE WATCHING
THIS MISSION CLOSELY TO SEE HOW
THIS CARGO DRAGON PERFORMS
BECAUSE IT HAS SO MANY
SIMILARITIES TO THE CREW DRAGON
THAT JUST LAUNCHED THAT LAUNCHED
BOB AND DOUG EARLIER THIS YEAR.
HE WAS SEE ON THE BOTTOM PART OF
THE CAPSULE WHERE THE SUPER
DRACO'S WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR THAT
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM FOR THE
DREW -- CREW DRAGON DOESN'T
EXIST ON THE CARGO DRAGON.
THERE IS NO SEATS, BECAUSE IT IS
PACKED WITH FOOD INSTEAD OF
PEOPLE.
>> OBVIOUSLY THE PURPOSE OF THIS
MISSION TODAY IS TO GET CARGO
AND SUPPLIES TO THE SPACE
STATION.
THE DRAGON IS BROKEN APART INTO
TWO PARTS.
THERE IS A CAPSULE WHICH IS
PRESSURIZED AND HOLDS 9.3 CUBIC
METERS OR 328 OF CUBIC FEET
STORAGE SPACE.
IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE
SIZE OF A MINIVAN.
THAT IS ROUGHLY TWO MINIVANS
PACKED FULL OF STUFF.
AND THEN THE TRUNK, HAS TAKEN
GOOD USE OF THE VACUUM STORAGE
SPACE.
THAT IS ABOUT 37 CUBIC METERS,
OR 1300 CUBIC FEET.
A COUPLE OF OTHER NOTEWORTHY
THINGS, WE WILL NOT SEE SOLAR
RAYS DEPLOYED DURING THIS
FLIGHT.
THAT IS NOT PART OF THE DRAGON 2
OPERATION.
IT MAKES UP HALF OF THE TRUNK IS
THE SOLAR ARRAY.
AND THEN THE NOSE CONE WILL BE A
MILESTONE FOR US ON OUR FLIGHT
TODAY.
THAT NOSECONE BEING OPEN.
AS WE NEED TO DOCK WITH STATION,
WE NEED A SPACE TO BE ABLE TO
DOCK WITH STATION AND IT IS
UNDERNEATH HIS NOSECONE.
>> YOU CAN SEA WHEN THEY SHOT
THE CREW ACCESS ARM THAT HAS
RETRACTED ARRAY -- AWAY FROM
CARGO DRAGON.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SpaceX
HAS USE THAT ARM TO LOAD CARGO.
THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY USED BEFORE
FOR THE CREMATIONS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE
USED THAT ARM TO LOAD CARGO FOR
A CARGO RESUPPLY MISSION.
WE ARE NOW AT T MINUS 23 MINUTES
AND COUNTING.
WE HAVE AN INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH
WINDOW AT 11:17 EASTERN TIME.
SPACEX WILL ATTEMPT TO LAND IS
AT FIRST STAGE BOOSTER A FOURTH
TIME.
THIS TIME OVER THE ATLANTIC
OCEAN ON THE OF COURSE I STILL
LOVE YOU DRONE SHIP.
WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT
ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES AFTER
LAUNCH.
FOR NOW, TORI, WE WILL SEND THAT
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING IS
LOOKING GOOD SO FAR.
CARGO RESUPPLY MISSIONS FROM
U.S. COMPANIES LIKE THE ONE
TODAY ENSURE A NATIONAL
CAPABILITY TO DELIVER CRITICAL
SCIENCE RESEARCH TO THE SPACE
STATION.
THIS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASES
NASA'S ABILITY TO -- CONDUCT NEW
INVESTIGATIONS IN A MIXED
ENVIRONMENT.
THE ONLY LABORATORY IN SPACE.
THE ISS NATIONAL LEVEL GIVES US
A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THIS
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH.
>> SpaceX'S 21st RESUPPLY
MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION IS READY TO LAUNCH
FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
THIS MISSION WILL BRING CRITICAL
CARGO, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRATION PAYLOADS TO THE
ORBITING LABORATORY.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
LABORATORY IS PROUD TO SPONSOR
MORE THAN 15 PAYLOADS
REPRESENTING DOZENS OF
EXPERIMENTS TO FURTHER
FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH
AND TO ENGAGE THE NEXT
GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS AND
EXPLORERS.
HERE'S A QUICK LOOK AT SOME OF
THE PAYLOADS ON SpaceX CRS-21.
A LEADING PHARMACEUTICALS
COMPANY IS LAUNCHING A PROTEIN
CRYSTALLIZATION AIMED AT
IMPROVING DELIVERY FOR PATIENTS.
IN THIS EXPERIMENT, THE TEAM
WILL STUDY THE CRYSTALLIZATION
OF ANTIBODIES AND SPACE TO
IMPROVE THEIR CRYSTALLIZATION
BACK ON THE GROUND.
LAB CREATED PROTEINS DESIGNED TO
INTERACT WITH A SPECIFIC TARGETS
CALLED ANTIGENS WERE USED IN THE
TREATMENT OF SEVERAL DISEASES
INCLUDING CANCER.
THREE PROJECTS ON THIS MISSION
ARE FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.
THROUGH ITS JOINT INITIATIVES
WITH THE ISS NATIONAL LAB.
THEY ARE SMALL DEVICES
ENGINEERED TO GROW HUMAN CELLS
ON ARTIFICIAL SCAFFOLD TO MODEL
THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF
HUMAN TISSUES.
STUDYING TISSUE CHIPS IN SPACE
MAY ACCELERATE PATHWAYS TO
UNDERSTANDING DISEASE AND
DEVELOPING NEW TREATMENTS FOR
USE ON EARTH AND BEYOND.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL ISS
SPONSORED RESEARCH ON THIS
MISSION PLEASE VISIT ISSNATIONAL
LAB.ORG.
>> AMONG ALL OF THIS
LIFE-CHANGING SCIENCE, THE HEART
TISSUE CHIPS EXPERIMENT IS QUITE
FASCINATING.
JAZMINE HOPKINS IS STANDING BY
WITH A SPECIAL GUEST WHO CAN
TELL US MORE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM JASMINE HOPKINS.
JOINING ME TO TALK TO US MORE
ABOUT THE CARDINAL HARDSHIP
INVESTIGATION IS DOCTOR THOMAS
FROM THE STANFORD CARDIOVASCULAR
INSTITUTE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT THIS
INVESTIGATION IS ABOUT?
>> COLLABORATION BETWEEN
STANFORD CARDIOVASCULAR
INSTITUTE,.
[INAUDIBLE]
THE RESEARCH IS FUNDED BY THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
AND THE NATIONAL CENTER OF
TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES.
WE ARE A PART OF THE -- IT'S ONE
OF THE LEADING CARDIOVASCULAR
GROUPS IN THE NATION.
INTERESTED IN HOW HEART DISEASE
DEVELOPS AND HOW WE CAN USE
BETTER MEDICATIONS TO TREAT THEM
THE HARD EXPERIMENT LAUNCHING ON
THE ISS, WE ARE TYPICALLY
INTERESTED IN MICROGRAVITY AND
HOW IT AFFECTS THE HEART.
WE ARE DOING SO USING AN
ENGINEERED HEART TISSUE THAT IS
GROWN IN THE LAB WHICH IS
BASICALLY A SMALL MUSCLE STRIP
OF YOUR HEART THAT BEATS
SPONTANEOUSLY.
YOU MAY ASK WHY IS THIS RESEARCH
IMPORTANT?
SO, ON EARTH WE KNOW THAT OUR
HEART TAKES THE SHAPE OF THE V.
IN MICROGRAVITY IT TAKES THE
SHAPE OF THE L.
THE REASON BEING, IT'S
MECHANICAL UNLOADING.
MEANING, OUR HEART HAS TO WORK
HARD AGAINST GRAVITY TO PUSH ALL
OF THAT BLOOD THROUGHOUT OUR
BODY.
IT IS THAT EXERCISE THAT KEEPS
THE HEART HEALTHY AND FIT.
WHEN YOU TAKE THAT EXERCISE AWAY
FROM THE HEART, IN MICROGRAVITY,
AND HAS TO WORK LESS.
AS A RESULT, OVER TIME, LONG
DURATIONS OF TIME IT CAN GET
WEAKER AND LEAD TO A CONDITION
CALLED HEART FAILURE.
IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE'S
ABOUT 6.2 MILLION ADULTS WHO
SUFFER FROM THIS CONDITION OF
HEART FAILURE.
WE WANT TO USE MICROGRAVITY AS A
PLATFORM TO STUDY HOW THIS
PHENOMENON OCCURS AND TEST A NEW
DRUG THAT ARE FDA APPROVED TO
REVERSE THE EFFECTS OF THE AGING
, AND CARDIAC
COMPLICATIONS.
NOT ONLY THAT, THE RESEARCH WILL
PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO HOW THE
HEART MAY FUNCTION DURING
LONG-TERM SPACE EXPEDITION FOR
ASTRONAUTS AND SPACE EXPLORERS.
>> THAT IS FASCINATING.
WE KNOW OUR TEAM IN SPACE IS
EAGER TO GET THEIR HANDS ON
RESEARCH.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR TEAM
ON EARTH THAT HELPED YOU DEVELOP
IT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE ARE THRILLED TO BE A PART OF
THE SPACE BIOLOGY COMMUNITY.
IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO BRING
THE RESEARCH FROM THE LAB IT THE
LAUNCHPAD.
ME AND MY TEAM HAVE COME TO AN
APPRECIATION FOR HOW PROCESS IS
UNABLE TO MOVE THIS RESEARCH TO
THE ISS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY
TEAM SO WE CAN BRING UP MY TEAM.
HERE IS A PHOTO OF MY TEAM.
TO CELEBRATE THE TEAMWORK THAT
WE HAVE PUT INTO THIS CARDIAC
EXPERIMENT.
WE HAVE DESIGNED A MISSION PATCH
WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN
THAT SHOWS ALL OF OUR
COLLABORATORS ON THIS PARTICULAR
PROJECT.
AT THE CENTER YOU SEE THE
CARTOON HEART TISSUE THAT WE ARE
SENDING UP TO THE SPACE STATION.
WE ARE SUPER EXCITED AND
THRILLED.
GO NASA, GO SpaceX, GO DRAGON!
>> AWESOME.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE YOUR
SCIENCE LAUNCH TO SPACE.
LET'S GO BACK TO TORI AND THE
STUDIO FOR A LAUNCH UPDATE.
>> WE ARE NOW AT T MINUS 16
MINUTES AND COUNTING.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH SpaceX IN
HAWTHORNE WHERE THE COMPANY
DESIGNED AND BUILT ITS FALCON 9.
HOW'S IT GOING ON THE WEST COAST
>> MISSION CONTROL TEAMS ARE
MONITORING THE VEHICLE HEADING
INTO LAUNCH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
DRAGON DEBUTED IN 2012 IS THE
FIRST PRIVATE SPACECRAFT IN
HISTORY TO VISIT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SINCE THEN, DRAGONS HAVE MADE 23
TRIPS TO AND FROM PREY TODAY IS
ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FEW VEHICLES
THAT CAN DELIVER SIGNIFICANT
CARGO TO THE SPACE STATION AND
THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT CAN
DELIVER CARGO FROM THE STATION.
WE HAVE REFRESHED AND UPDATED
DRAGONS DESIGNED TO FLY PEOPLE
PRAYED WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THAT
TWICE THIS YEAR ON OUR DEMO 2
AND CREW ONE MISSIONS.
TODAY'S MISSION MARKS ANOTHER
FIRST FOR DRAGON AND THAT IS THE
FIRST FLIGHT OF THE CARGO
VERSION OF OUR UPDATED DRAGON
DESIGN.
DRAGON WAS DESIGNED FROM THE
BEGINNING TO BE REUSED.
TODAY WE HAVE ACTUALLY FLOWN
NINE DRAGON MISSIONS WITH REUSED
VEHICLES.
THIS NEW VERSION CAN SUPPORT UP
TO FIVE FLIGHTS TO AND FROM THE
SPACE STATION AS OPPOSED TO
THREE ON OUR PREVIOUS DESIGN.
IT'S ABOUT 20% LARGER.
DOUBLED THE POWERED LOCKERS ON
BOARD.
THE SPACE FOR POWERED SCIENCE
EXPERIMENTS, BIOLOGICAL LIFE
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AND IT ALSO
SPLASHES DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC
OCEAN WHICH ALLOWS US TO RETURN
THE SCIENTIFIC PAYLOADS WITHIN A
FEW HOURS AFTER LANDING.
ON THE OUTSIDE, THIS VEHICLE
LOOKS SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU MAY
HAVE SEEN ON OUR DEMO 2 AND CREW
ONE MISSIONS.
THIS VEHICLE IS CONFIGURED
DIFFERENTLY SINCE WE DON'T HAVE
PEOPLE ON BOARD.
IN THE PRESSURE SECTION WHICH IS
THE TOP PORTION THERE.
WHAT WE HAVE SWAPPED OUT THE
SEEDS AND CREW DISPLAYS FOR
CARGO RACKS AND STRAPS.
WE'VE ALSO REMOVED THE SUPER
DRACO ENGINES, ONLY BEING USED
TO CARRY ASTRONAUTS AWAY FROM
THE FALCON 9 IN THE UNLIKELY
EVENT OF A PAD OR A LAUNCH
ABOARD.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM HAS
BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE AND
COMPLEXITY SINCE WE DON'T HAVE
PEOPLE ON BOARD.
FLYING NASA ASTRONAUTS AND
KEEPING THE SPACE STATION FULLY
OPERATIONAL IS A TOP PRIORITY
FOR SpaceX.
THIS MISSION IS THE FIRST
OPERATIONAL RESUPPLY AS PART OF
NASA'S COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY
SERVICES CONTRACT AND WE ARE ON
CONTRACT TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES
THROUGH 2024.
THE WHOLE TEAM HERE IS SUPER
EXCITED TO SEE THIS DRAGON
ARRIVE AT THE SPACE STATION
TOMORROW PRAYED FOR THE FIRST
TIME EVER TO SEE TWO DRAGONS
ATTACHED TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
BACK TO YOU, TORI.
>> THANK YOU.
THESE UPGRADES TO THE CARGO
DRAGON BRING TREMENDOUS EFFORT
TO NASA AND ITS ABILITY TO
RESUPPLY THE SPACE STATION AND
CONDUCT CRITICAL RESEARCH.
JOINING US NOW IS LEAH AT
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON
TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS
MISSION.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION FLIGHT CONTROL
ROOM HERE IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AT
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
THIS IS CURRENTLY THE ORBIT 2
TEAM OF FLIGHT CONTROLLERS.
THEY ARE MONITORING THE SYSTEMS
ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION 24/7, 365 DAYS PER YEAR.
TODAY THEY ARE LED BY FLIGHT
DIRECTOR, PAUL.
THEY WOULD JUMP INTO ACTION
TOMORROW AS CARGO DRAGON
APPROACHES THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND ENTERS THE
APPROACH ELLIPSOID.
THAT IS AN IMAGINARY SPHERE
AROUND THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION THAT HELPS US MONITOR
VEHICLES AS THEY ARRIVE AND
DEPART, AS WELL.
CURRENTLY LIVING ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WE
HAVE SEVEN PEOPLE.
THAT CONSIST OF TWO RUSSIAN
COSMONAUTS,
SERGEY RYZHIKOV
, AND
SERGEY KUD-SVERCHKOV
AS WELL AS
KATE RUBINS
,
MICHAEL HOPKINS
,
SHANNON WALKER
VICTOR GLOVER
AND
SOICHI NOGUCHI
ONCE CARGO DRAGON ARRIVES TO THE
SPACE STATION IT WILL JOIN THE
CREW DRAGON AS WELL AS FOR THEIR
VEHICLES.
THAT WILL BE TWO RUSSIAN
PROGRESS RESUPPLY SPACECRAFT,
ONE RUSSIAN SPACECRAFT.
CARGO DRAGON WILL REMAIN ON
BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
BEFORE BEING PACKED UP WITH
CRITICAL SCIENCE AND SUPPLIES
AND SPLASHING DOWN IN THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN DELIVERING THAT
SCIENCE TO THE ANALYZED ON
EARTH.
WHEN CARGO DRAGON ARRIVES
TOMORROW, THE CREW ABOARD THE
I.S.S. WILL NOT CAPTURE IT AS
THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY USING THE
CANADA ARM 2, BUT INSTEAD NASA
ASTRONAUTS,
KATE RUBINS
AND
VICTOR GLOVER
WILL MONITOR THE ARRIVAL OF
CARGO DRAGON.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD HERE.
WE ARE EXCITED FOR A TODAY.
IT WAS SENT BACK TO YOU AT
KENNEDY.
>> WE ARE EXCITED FOR TWO LAUNCH
AS WELL.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME
OF THE RESEARCH THE EXPEDITION
64 CREW WILL BE CONDUCTING.
>> BIO ASTEROID IS AN EXPERIMENT
TO STUDY WHETHER WE CAN USE
MICROORGANISMS, BACTERIA OR
FUNGI TO EXTRACT ECONOMICALLY
INTERESTING ELEMENTS FROM
ASTEROID MATERIAL.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE WOULD
CALL A BIO MINING EXPERIMENT.
OTHERWISE MINING IS A HUMAN
EXPIRATION AND SETTLEMENT OF
SPACE.
JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION
AGENCY IS A MINIATURIZED VERSION
OF DEVELOPING HUMAN BRAIN.
IT REALLY MIMICS THE EARLY
STAGES OF A HUMAN BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT.
BEING ABLE TO PERHAPS ACCELERATE
THESE BRAIN ORGANIZE COULD HELP
US MAKE BETTER HUMAN MODELS.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY TREATMENTS OR
CURES.
>> IF YOU GO TO A HOSPITAL, OR A
CLINIC, AND YOU HAVE A MEDICAL
PROBLEM I CAN INFECTION YOU
OFTEN GET A BLOOD TEST CALLED A
WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT.
THAT IS THE CAPABILITY WE DO NOT
HAVE RIGHT NOW.
WE TEST OUT THIS DEVICE IN SPACE
SO THAT ASTRONAUTS CAN DIAGNOSE
AND TREAT THEIR OWN MEDICAL
PROBLEMS.
>> JAZMINE IS JOINING US AGAIN.
THIS TIME WITH AN EXPERT FROM
THE I.S.S. NATIONAL LAB.
>> THANK YOU.
YES, HERE TO TALK TO US ABOUT
THE U.S. NATIONAL LAB IS PATRICK
O'NEILL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE
AMAZING --
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE SLATED TO
HAVE 15 INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS
CARGO DRAGON THIS IS A LIFE
SCIENCE RICH MISSION.
HE IS SPOT ON WITH THAT.
FROM OUR'S PERSPECTIVE WE ARE
SEEING A WIDE ARRAY OF LIFE
SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS
MISSION.
I BELIEVE WE JUST SAW A VIDEO
FROM A GROUP OVER AT UC SAN
DIEGO.
WE HAVE INVESTIGATIONS BONDED
WITH THE CENTERS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH.
WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT
THAT.
THERE IS SOME MICROBIAL RESEARCH
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME BIG
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES SENDING
INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS MISSION.
IT DOES SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY
WE HAVE WITHIN THE LIFE/SCIENCE
COMMUNITIES AND THE TYPE OF
RESEARCH POSSIBLE ON THE SPACE
STATION.
>> WE KNOW THE U.S. NATIONAL LAB
IS MANAGING 15 PAYLOADS ON THIS
MISSION WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG
LIFT.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT STICKS
OUT TO YOU?
>> WHAT I WOULD SAY, WE ARE
SEEING A LOT OF INVESTIGATIONS
THAT ARE GOING UP FOR THE SECOND
OR THIRD TIME.
IT IS THE IDEA OF ITERATION.
WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE OUT OF
THIS IS THEY ARE LEARNING
SOMETHING THE FIRST TIME THEY
FLY.
BUT NOW THEY ARE ABLE TO
EXTRAPOLATE THAT AND TAKE IT
INTO THEIR NEXT INVESTIGATIONS
MAY MAYBE THAT LEADS TO APPLIED
APPLICATIONS ONE DAY DOWN THE
ROAD.
THEN A FITTING LIFE ON EARTH OR
SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR A
ROBUST AND THRIVING ECONOMY.
WHAT I WOULD SAY, TOO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENT
INVESTIGATIONS FLYING ON THIS
MISSION.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REALLY
EXCITING ASPECTS OF THE NATIONAL
LABORATORY.
THE FACT THAT WE ARE OPENING
ACCESS TO ALL TYPES OF RESEARCH
PRIDE WHETHER YOU ARE A SEASONED
RESEARCHER OR A YOUNG
RESEARCHER.
THE NOTION THAT THE SPACE
STATION IS AVAILABLE FOR
EVERYONE TO INCLUDE THE YOUNG
WHIPPERSNAPPERS AS WELL.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO
HOST MORE THAN 30 STUDENT
INVESTIGATIONS ON THIS MISSION.
>> THAT IS FANTASTIC.
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT WHAT YOU
MANAGE VERSUS WHAT NASA MANAGES?
>> NASA IS FOCUSED VERY MUCH SO
ON EXPIRATION, LIVING AND
WORKING IN SPACE.
THE HUMAN CONDITION SO WE CAN GO
TO PLACES LIKE THE MOON OR MARS.
THE NATIONAL LABORATORY IS TRULY
OPENING UP THAT UNIQUE SPACE
ENVIRONMENT OF THE SPACE STATION
TO RESEARCHERS THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES ARE YOU LOOKING AT
ANY TYPE OF RESEARCH DISCIPLINE
THAT MIGHT BRING VALUE BACK TO
OUR NATION OR SET THE FOUNDATION
FOR A THRIVING LOWER ORBIT
ECONOMY.
>> PATRICK, THAT IS FANTASTIC!
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF
THIS SCIENCE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE
TODAY.
LET'S GO BACK TO TORI FOR
ANOTHER LAUNCH UPDATE.
>> I AM SURE THE ASTRONAUTS ON
BOARD INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION ARE EAGERLY AWAITING
THEIR DELIVERY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY WON'T HAVE TO
WAIT MUCH LONGER.
WITH JUST ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES TO
GO BEFORE MARCH.
LET'S HEAD BACK OVER TO JOSHUA
AND MARIE TO TAKE US THROUGH
LEFT OFF.
>> GOOD NEWS TO REPORT.
WE HAVE HEARD VERY LITTLE
CHATTER.
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.
THE ROCKET IS HEALTHY.
AS YOU SAID, WE ARE INSIDE EIGHT
MINUTES RIGHT NOW, T MINUS 7:40.
>> YOU GET ANXIOUS WITHOUT MUCH
QUIET.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT IS A GOOD
THING.
WE ARE EXCITED TO HEAR FOR THIS
TODAY.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO HEAR A FEW
THINGS COMING UP.
ONE OF THEM A CALL FOR INTERNAL
POWER, THAT WOULD BE THE DRAGON
MOVING TO INTERNAL POWER.
MEANING IT IS PRIMED AND READY
TO LIVE ON ITS OWN.
WE ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR THE
ENGINE SHIELD TO BEGIN IN JUST A
MINUTE.
ACTUALLY IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS, WE
SHOULD HEAR THAT.
THAT IS THE COOLING OF THE
MERLIN ONE ENGINES IS THE BASE
OF THE FIRST AGE.
THAT IS TO PREPARE THEM TO
RECEIVE FUEL.
YOU DON'T WANT TO RUN
TEMPERATURES OF NEGATIVE 333
DEGREES AND TWO AT TEMPERATURE
-- -- ATMOSPHERIC
TEMPERATURES.
>> WE JUST HEARD THAT CALL FOR
THE ENGINE SHOW.
LESS THAN TWO MINUTES FROM NOW
WE SHOULD HEAR THAT THE RP ONE,
THAT IS NOT ROCKET GRADE
KEROSENE FEELING WILL BE
COMPLETE.
AND THEN THE ACTION WILL REALLY
START TO PICK UP AFTER THAT
POINT.
THE TRANSPORTER STRONG BACK
WHICH PROVIDES A FLUID, POWER
AND COMMUNICATION TO THE ROCKET
WILL OPEN ITS CLAMP AND TILT
BACK SLIGHTLY IN PREPARATION FOR
LEFT OFF.
THIS IS THE FIRST CARGO DRAGON
THAT WILL DOCK, NOT JUST DOC,
BUT DOC AUTONOMOUSLY TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON, IT WILL BE
APPROACHING, AND THEN TALKING TO
THE ZENITH PORT.
THAT HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME PORT
THAT THE CARGO DRAGON RESILIENCE
WILL LOCATE TO AFTER THIS TREND
DEPARTS IN JANUARY.
THAT WILL CLEAR THE FORWARD PORT
FOR CREW 2 ARRIVAL IN THE
SPRING.
IF YOU REMEMBER THAT GRAPHIC
THAT LEAH SHOWED WHILE SHE WAS
TALKING.
HE REMINDED ME OF A FULL PARKING
LOT.
THAT IS A GOOD THING.
A LOT OF VISITING VEHICLE
TRAFFIC AT THE SPACE STATION.
JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION,
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MENTIONED THAT
THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF DOZEN
MISSIONS WITH THE DRAGON TO
SPACE STATION.
THEY DIDN'T DOCK.
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE THERE.
JUST TO MAKE THAT POINT.
THE STAR OF THE SHOW HERE IN
ABOUT 5.5 MINUTES IS GOING TO BE
THE FALCON.
IT IS A TWO STAGE ROCKETS,
230 FEET TALL, 12 FEET IN
DIAMETER.
AT THE BASE OF THE ROCKET, YOU
HAVE NINE ENGINES THAT WILL
PRODUCE ROUGHLY
1.7 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST AT
LIFT OFF.
THE FIRST TWO THIRDS OF THE
ROCKETS, THE NEXT SEGMENT IS A
VERY DARK BLACK ENTER ADAPTER
THAT IS CONNECTING THE FIRST AND
SECOND STAGE.
IT ACTUALLY HOUSES THE MERLIN
VACUUM ENGINE WHICH WILL POWER
THE SECOND STAGE TO THE CORRECT
ORBIT.
DRAGON IS IN TERMINAL COUNT.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
WE ARE PROGRESSING FORWARD HERE.
THERE WE GO.
THERE IS THE INTERNAL POWER
CALL.
WE ALSO HAVE SLIGHT PART --
HYPERSONIC GRID FENCE AT THE TOP
OF THE FIRST STAGE AS WELL AS
CARBON LANDING FLAGS THAT WILL
HELP US PLAN FOR THE FOURTH
TIME.
>> THAT WILL BE REALLY EXCITING
TO SEE.
WE HAVEN'T HEARD IT JUST YET.
IF WE DO MOMENTARILY I WOULD
JUST STOP TALKING.
I MAY STOP MIDSENTENCE.
WE EXPECT TO HEAR THAT THE
TRANSPORTER ERECTOR WILL AT
LEAST SEE THAT CLAMP BEGINNING
TO OPEN IN PREPARATION TO TILT
BACK BEFORE LEFT OFF.
THAT SHOULD BE HAPPENING ANY
MOMENT NOW.
>> WHILE WE ARE WAITING.
WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO SPACE
STATION PRAYED WE TALKED ABOUT
THAT A GOOD BIT.
THE SPACE STATION IS ACTUALLY
OVERTOP THE INDIAN OCEAN HEADED
ON A WEST TO EAST TRACK ABOUT
TWO ROUND THE SOUTHERN PORTION
OF AUSTRALIA.
WE ARE ROUGHLY ON A 24 HOUR
INTERCEPT PACE TO GET THERE.
THAT'S A QUICK UPDATE FOR YOU.
>> AGAIN, WIN DRAGON DOCS IT
WILL BE TOMORROW, DECEMBER 7, AT
APPROXIMATELY 1:30 P.M. EASTERN
TIME.
YOU SEE THE TRANSPORTER ERECTOR
WHEN YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT OF
YOUR SCREEN, IT IS TILTING BACK
EVER SO SLIGHTLY.
THAT AGAIN IS WHAT HAPPENS IN
PREPARATION FOR LIFTOFF.
THAT TILT IS CONTINUING.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT IS COMPLETE.
JUST A GORGEOUS SKIES
SURROUNDING THE LAUNCH PAD NOW.
>> THE CLOUDS LOOK AS IF THEY
ARE STAYING OFFSHORE.
THINGS ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD
AT THE MOMENT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE JUST INSIDE T MINUS THREE
MINUTES.
UNLESS THEN A MINUTE WE SHOULD
HEAR THAT THE RANGE IS GO AND
STAINS CHOOSE LOCKS ARE CLOSED.
>> THAT WAS STAGE ONE, LIQUID
OXYGEN CLOSE UP ARE THE FEET --
THE FIRST STAGES FIELD.
YOU CAN SEE THE CONDENSATION
AROUND THE ROCKET, THAT IS A
MATTER OF THE CRYOGENIC
TEMPERATURE OF THE VEHICLE.
THE FUEL MIXING WITH THE
WEATHER.
WE FUEL AS CLOSE TO ZERO AS
POSSIBLE.
THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE USING
DENSIFY THE LIQUID OXYGEN.
TRYING TO PACK AS MUCH AS THEY
CAN IN THERE TO MAXIMIZE THE
PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE TO
SUPPORT THE CUSTOMER'S NEEDS.
>> WE ARE CLOSING IN ON T MINUS
TWO MINUTES AND EXPECT TO HEAR A
COUPLE OF CALLS MOMENTARILY.
THERE IS THE STAGE TWO LOCKS
CLOSEOUT CALL.
WE ARE NOW A MINUS 1:33 AND
COUNTING.
FALCON 9 SHOULD BE AT START UP
IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.
>> FALCON 9 STARTED.
>> DRAGON COUNTDOWN.
>> WE ARE AT T MINUS 0:50 AND
COUNTING.
>> COUNTDOWN ONE, GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> THERE IS THAT GO FOR LAUNCH
CALL WE LOVE TO HEAR.
T MINUS 0:38.
AT T MINUS 0:18 WE WILL SEE THE
SYSTEM BEGIN TO FLOOD THE PAD
JUST BEFORE LEFT OFF.
-- LIFTOFF.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, FOUR JIK, 3,
2, ONE, AND LIFT OFF OF THE
FALCON 9 UPGRADED CARGO DRAGON.
THE FIRST CARGO CAPSULE TO TALK
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
>> POWER AND TELEMETRY NOMINAL.
>> FALCON 9 IS SUPERSONIC.
>> A COUPLE OF IMPORTANT CALLS.
SUPERSONIC IS EXCEEDING THE
SPEED OF SOUND AND MAXIMUM
AERODYNAMIC PRESSURE FROM
PASSING THROUGH AN ATMOSPHERE
THAT IS STILL FAIRLY THICK WHILE
INCREASING SPEED TRAUMATICALLY.
THEY THROTTLE BACK SLIGHTLY TO
BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
VEHICLE CAN HANDLE THOSE LOADS.
THEY WILL ACCELERATE BACKUP.
A BEAUTIFUL SHOT ON SCREEN.
YOU CAN SEE THE PLUME COMING
OFF.
IT IS COMING OFF OF THE BASE OF
THAT FIRST STAGE WHERE THE NINE
ENGINES ARE FIRING.
WE HEARD THE CHILL CALL FOR THE
VACUUM ENGINE TO BEGIN AS WELL
PREPARING NOT TO TAKE THE SECOND
STAGE TO THE CORRECT ORBIT.
COMING UP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS,
WE WILL HEAR AND SEE A RAPID
SUCCESSION OF THINGS HAPPENING.
WE WILL HEAR A CALL FOR THE MAIN
ENGINE CUT OFF.
IT IS COMPLETING ITS JOB OF
GETTING THE SPACECRAFT OUT OF
THE ATMOSPHERE.
WE WILL ALSO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH
THE FIRST STAGE BEING SEPARATED
FOLLOWING TRAJECTORY BACK
TOWARDS THE DRONE SHIP.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT WILL BE THE
SECOND STAGE ENGINE START.
THAT IS THAT MERLIN VACUUM
ENGINE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
>> STAGE SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> YOU SEE A BEAUTIFUL SHOT OF
THE FIRST STAGE OF FALLING AWAY.
>> THAT MVAC CONFIRMED.
YOU CAN SEE THAT A NEW SCREEN.
YOU WILL SEE THAT ENGINE
INCREASINGLY GET MORE OF THAT
BEAUTIFUL ORANGE COLOR TO IT.
WE'RE JUST INCREASING THE HEAT
AND PICKING UP THE PACE.
THE CAMERA ANGLES YOU SEE ON ON
REVERSE SIDE OF THAT ENGINE.
YOU'RE SEEING THE SINGLE ENGINE
JUST FROM OPTION -- OPPOSITE
DIRECTIONS.
>> A BEAUTIFUL LAUNCH TODAY.
ALL CALLS HAVE BEEN NOMINAL UP
TO THIS POINT.
ALL THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT.
>> YOU SEE THAT FIRST STAGE
CONTINUING ON.
THOSE WILL NOT BE USABLE UNTIL
THEY REENTER THE ATMOSPHERE
QUITE OBVIOUSLY WITHOUT THE
ATMOSPHERE THAT KIND OF
DIRECTION HE ISN'T HELPFUL.
ONCE THEY ENTER THE ATMOSPHERE
YOU WILL SEE THOSE BEGIN TO MOVE
TO BE ABLE TO TARGET THAT
PINPOINT LANDING ON OF COURSE I
STILL LOVE YOU, THE DRONE SHIP.
>> WE HAVE LESS THAN FIVE
MINUTES.
>> A COUPLE OF GREAT NOMINAL
CALL OUT THERE.
JUST PREVIEWING WHAT IS AHEAD.
IN ABOUT 6.5 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT
, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE
ENTRY BURN FOR THE FIRST STAGE
HEADED TOWARDS THE DRONE SHIP.
THAT IS JUST A COMMUNICATION
CALL.
YOU MIGHT HEAR MORE OF THOSE AS
WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TODAY.
THAT IS JUST A MATTER OF GROUND
STATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD,
LITERALLY THAT HELP PICK UP
TRACK THE VEHICLE AS WE SEND
TELEMETRY DATA BACK TO THE
CONTROLLERS TO BE ABLE TO
MONITOR PROGRESS AND ENSURE
EVERYTHING IS PROCEEDING
NOMINALLY.
>> REALLY KNOW WHERE THEY, JUST
LAUNCHED HIS FOURTH PAYLOAD INTO
SPACE.
ONE OF THOSE ACTUALLY WAS MORE
SIGNIFICANTLY THAN A PAYLOAD,
BOB AND DOUG EARLIER THIS YEAR,
THAT SAME BOOSTER LAUNCHED TWO
HUMANS INTO SPACE.
AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THE
SAME BOOSTER HAS BEEN REUSED FOR
A FOURTH TIME.
>> TRAJECTORY IS NOMINAL.
>> AFTER RE- GET THAT ENTRY BURN
WE WILL HAVE SECOND STAGE ENTRY
CUT OFF THE WILL PUT US AT
HAVING A ROUGHLY SIX MINUTE BURN
OF THE SECOND STAGE.
WE ARE EXPECTING THE FIRST STAGE
OF PLANNING TO OCCUR.
IF YOU MINUTES WHERE WE WILL SEE
THE SEPARATION OF THE DRAGON
FROM THAT SECOND STAGE.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME BEAUTIFUL
SHOTS THIS MORNING IN
PREPARATION FOR LAUNCH.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET TO BRING
YOU THAT TO LIVE, AGAIN,
BEAUTIFUL TO SEE THAT DRAGON
JUST SEPARATE WHAT FEELS LIKE SO
GENTLY AT A COOL 17500 MILES PER
HOUR.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT IS REALLY
EXCITING TO LOOK BACK AND
REALIZE, YOU KNOW, THAT DRAGON
IS ON ITS WAY TO THE SPACE
STATION FOR THE FIRST OF NINE
CARGO RESUPPLY MISSIONS UNDER
THIS BRAND-NEW CONTRACT.
IT JUST SO HAPPENS, ON THIS DAY
IN HISTORY 22 YEARS AGO BEGAN
THE ASSEMBLY OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> TRAJECTORY NOMINAL.
>> OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE USHERING IN
THE ERA OF HAVING COMMERCIAL
COMPANIES CONTRIBUTE TO THAT
COLLABORATION.
WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE A
PART OF THIS PORTION OF HISTORY,
OF THE SPACE STATION AND OUR
EXPLORATION.
NOT ONLY TO LOWER ORBIT BUT DEEP
SPACE.
>> 22 YEARS LATER FROM THE VERY
BEGINNINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, NOW THEY ARE
HAVING TO MOVE SPACECRAFT AROUND
TO OPEN UP PORTS FOR ALL OF THE
NEW VISITING VEHICLES.
IT IS REALLY, REALLY AN AMAZING
ACHIEVEMENT.
RESULTS OF THE COOPERATION OF SO
MANY NATIONS OF GOVERNMENT
WORKING TOGETHER.
>> PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH ME.
IT HAS BEEN FUN.
WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT FOR US
HERE.
WERE GOING TO STAY WITH
SUPPRESSED -- REST OF THE
PROCESS.
A GREAT LAUNCH.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT FEW
MILESTONES.
>> THANKS, GUYS.
IF WE COULD GO BACK TO THE SHOT
OF THE VEHICLE.
WE ARE JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR
ENTRY BURN.
THAT IS WHERE WE IGNITE THREE OF
THE MERLIN ENGINE SPREAD WE ARE
SLOWING DOWN THE FIRST STAGE.
WE JUST SHUT THAT DOWN.
THAT BURN LASTING ABOUT 30
SECONDS.
FROM HERE ON OUT, YOU CAN SEE
THE ATTITUDE CONTROL THRUSTERS
FIRING THOSE LITTLE PLUMES OF
WHITE GAS.
THE GRID FINS, AS WE GET MORE
AND MORE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE ON
THE VEHICLE WILL GUIDE THE FIRST
STAGE TOWARDS OUR DRONE SHIP
NAMED, "OF COURSE I STILL LOVE
YOU" PRAYED LOOKING AT THE DATA
FOR THE SECOND STAGE, DRAGON IS
RUNNING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF
THE PROJECTED ORBIT ON THE
SECOND STAGE GOING FOR A ROUGHLY
CIRCULAR ORBIT.
ABOUT 11.5 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT
WE WILL SEE DRAGON SEPARATION.
AT THIS POINT, THE NEXT EVENT
COMING UP ON OUR SCREEN RIGHT
NOW, IS OUR SHOTS OF THE SECOND
STAGE.
THE NEXT EVENT COMING UP FOR THE
FIRST STAGE, FALCON 9'S LANDING
BURN.
THAT IS ABOUT 30 SECONDS AWAY.
WE WILL IGNITE A SINGLE CENTER
MERLIN ENGINE.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, DEPLOYED THE
LANDING LEGS AND ATTEMPT A SOFT
TOUCHDOWN ON OUR DRONE SHIP
NAMED, "OF COURSE I STILL LOVE
YOU", STATIONED OUT IN THE
ATLANTIC.
10 SECONDS OUT TO HER LANDING
BURN ON THE FIRST STAGE.
SECOND STAGE IS CONTINUING TO
LOOK NOMINAL.
A CALL FROM THE PROP TEAM.
THIS BURN EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT
0:25.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WE WILL
HAVE SHUTDOWN OF THE SECOND
STAGES MVAC ENGINE.
COMING UP IN JUST A FEW SECONDS
FROM NOW.
>> STAGE ONE LANDING LEGS
DIPLOID.
>> HOPEFULLY STICK THE LANDING.
THERE IS A SHOT FROM OUR DRONE
SHIP.
[APPLAUSE]
THERE IS THE FOURTH A SUCCESSFUL
LANDING OF THIS FALCON 9.
EXCITING NEWS, AS WELL.
THIS IS THE 100th SUCCESSFUL
FLIGHT OF FALCON 9.
IT IS OUR 68th SUCCESSFUL
FIRST STAGE.
YOU HEARD THAT CALL OUT THERE
FOR NOMINAL ORBITAL INSERTION.
THAT MEANS DRAGON IS IN THE
TARGET ORBIT STILL ATTACHED TO
OUR SECOND STAGE.
100 SUCCESSFUL LANDINGS OF
FALCON 9.
THE FOURTH LANDING WHICH FIRST
FLEW BOB AND DOUG TO SPACE.
COMING UP NEXT, IN ABOUT TWO
MINUTES FROM NOW, WE WILL EXPECT
TO SEE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT FROM THE SECOND
STAGE.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, WE
HAD AN ON-TIME LIFT OFF AT 11:1.
SUCCESSFULLY RECOVERED THE FIRST
STAGE WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
DRAGON ATTACHED TO THE SECOND
STAGE IN ORBITS COME AROUND THE
PLANET.
SECOND STAGE DOING SOME CHECKS
RIGHT NOW.
VERIFYING THAT IT'S ATTITUDE IS
APPROPRIATE FOR DRAGON
SEPARATION SHORTLY.
ALL IN ALL A VERY NOMINAL
MISSION SO FAR.
JUST WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
WITH THAT, I THINK WE CAN
ACTUALLY CHECK IN WITH THE
FLIGHT CONTROLLERS AT NASA'S
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER WHO HAVE
BEEN MONITORING THE MISSION.
HOW ARE THINGS GOING OVER THERE
GULF THANK YOU.
AN AMAZING LAUNCH, AND THINGS
ARE GOING WELL OVER HERE, TOO.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY
WILL BEGIN JOINT OPERATIONS
TOMORROW ONCE CARGO DRAGON
ENTERS THE APPROACH OF
ELLIPSOID.
IT IS 4 KILOMETERS BY
2 KILOMETERS BY 2 KILOMETERS IT
HELPS US MONITOR THE APPROACH OF
DEPARTURE OF EXISTING VEHICLES.
WE HAVE SEEN A SECOND STAGE
OPERATION.
OBVIOUSLY THAT FIRST STAGE
LANDING ON THE DRONE SHIP READ
THE NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE WILL BE
LOOKING FOR A SECOND CUT OFF AND
THEN EVENTUALLY SECOND STAGE
SEPARATION FROM THE CARGO DRAGON
WIN CARGO DRAGON WILL BEGIN
FLYING FREE ON ITS OWN.
WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR
SEPARATION TO COME IN ABOUT 0:3.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THERE WILL
BE SOME CHECKOUTS PERFORMED ON
THE SERVICE SECTION DRACO
THRUSTERS ON THE VEHICLE.
AT THE TIME OF LAUNCH TODAY, THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WAS
FLYING TUNA 57 STATUTE MILES
OVER THE SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN
WEST OF AUSTRALIA.
AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE
A FULL HOUSE ABOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION OF
SEVEN PEOPLE AND FIVE VISITING
VEHICLES THAT WILL TURN INTO SIX
TOMORROW.
A FULL PARKING LOTS, HOME FOR
THE HOLIDAYS.
WITH SECOND STAGE SEPARATION
CONFIRMED, CARGO DRAGON IS
FLYING FREE ON ITS OWN
CONTINUING ITS JOURNEY TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
NEXT MAJOR MILESTONE COMING UP
IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS WE WILL
BEGIN THE NOSECONE DIPLOID
BEGINNING THOSE BULKHEAD
THRUSTERS UNDERNEATH.
THOSE WILL BE USED FOR SOME OF
THE BURNS THROUGHOUT CARGO
DRAGON'S NEXT 24 HOURS AS IT
BEGINS ITS APPROACH TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE HEARD CONFIRMATION OF
NOSECONE DIPLOID AND SOME GOOD
CHECKOUTS OF THOSE THRUSTERS.
NEXT UP WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST,
THE SYSTEMS INTEGRATION OFFICE
MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION IS STANDING BY TO
TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
TODAY'S MISSION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US, JEFF.
>> MORE THAN HAPPY TO JOIN YOU.
>> I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR
YOU.
THE CARGO DRAGON IS NOW ON ITS
WAY TO THE STATION, CAN YOU
EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES AND
SIMILARITIES WITH THIS VEHICLE
WITH THE CREW DRAGON VEHICLE WE
SAW ARRIVE AT THE STATION LAST
MONTH.
ANY SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
IN THE RENDEZVOUS PROFILE FOR AN
AUTOMATED DOCKING?
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK TO
THAT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE VEHICLE, THE
OUTER LINE IS ESSENTIALLY THE
SAME, THERE IS SOME MINOR
DIFFERENCES.
THE AVERAGE I WOULD NOT PICK UP
THAT THERE IS ANY DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE CARGO AND THE CREW
VERSION OF THE VEHICLE.
AT THE SAME TIME, PROBABLY ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS
THAT FROM AN I.S.S. CREW AND
VEHICLE SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THE
VEHICLES ARE IDENTICAL.
THEY ARE EQUALLY SAFE VEHICLES
FOR CARGO AND CREW.
ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES, ONE OF
THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CREW
AND CARGO IS THERE IS NO SUPER
DRACO'S ON THE CARGO VEHICLE.
THERE IS NO NEED FOR A LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM TO PROTECT THE
CREW.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST
DIFFERENCE FROM AN OVERALL
SAFETY POINT OF VIEW.
THIS VEHICLE IS A LITTLE BIT
MORE CAPABLE, FROM A POWERED
LOCKER POINT OF VIEW, WHICH
HELPS US A LOT ON SCIENCE AND
RESEARCH.
WE HAVE EIGHT POWERED LOCKER
GOING UP, 12 COMING HOME FOR THE
DESCENT CARGO WHERE THE CREW
VEHICLE ONLY HAS ABOUT 4 POWERED
LOCKERS ON THE WAY HOME.
OBVIOUSLY A BIG PIECE IS WE HAVE
TO REMOVE THE CREW
ACCOMMODATIONS FROM THE CREW
DRAGON IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE
THE CARGO SCIENCE RESEARCH,
VEHICLE SYSTEMS, AND ALL OF THAT
KIND OF HARDWARE IN THE CARGO
VERSION OF THE VEHICLE.
LET ME SEE.
YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE
RENDEZVOUS PROFILE.
THE RENDEZVOUS PROFILE IS
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.
BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES,
INDEPENDENT OF WHICH PORT THEY
GO TO, I WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY
ARE THE SAME.
THE BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THIS
MISSION IS SpaceX 21, IS GOING
TO THE ZENITH PORTS.
BASICALLY EVERYTHING IS THE SAME
, THROUGH WHAT I WOULD CALL
INTERCEPT TO TAXIING WHERE IT
INTERCEPTS THE VELOCITY VECTOR
ON SPACE STATION.
AT THAT POINT WAS, THE VEHICLE
WILL BE ABOUT 220 METERS OUT.
RATHER STOPPING ON THE V BAR
THIS VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE,
90-DEGREE ROTATION ABOVE I.S.S.
SO, IT WILL BE A SICKLY ON THE
MINUS BAR ABOUT 200 METERS OUT.
FROM THERE, THE VEHICLE WILL
TRANSLATE FROM ITS FINAL WAVE BY
FOZ, WHICH WE CALL WAVE 2, WHICH
IS 20 METERS OUT.
FROM THERE, IT WILL PROCEED TO
DOCKING.
>> ONCE CARGO DRAGON DOCS WE
WILL HAVE TWO DRAGONS FOR THE
FIRST TIME AT ADJACENT PORTS ON
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
HOW WILL NASA AND SpaceX TEAMS
HANDLE THE OPERATIONS OF BOTH
VEHICLES FROM A TIMELINE A
COMMUNICATION LOOP STANDPOINT?
>> THAT IS A REALLY GOOD
QUESTION.
IT TURNS OUT THAT YOU CALLED IT
DUELING DRAGONS BUT I DON'T KNOW
IF I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD THAT
TERM.
THAT'S INTERESTING.
WE'VE KIND OF HAD TO PRACTICE --
OF THE TEAMS HAVE HAD QUITE A
BIT OF PRACTICE WHAT I WOULD
CALL DUELING DRAGONS, EVEN
BEFORE THE LAUNCH.
THAT WAS REALLY IN PREPARATION
FOR THE LAUNCH.
THERE IS A FAIR BIT OF
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
SpaceX TEAM AT HAWTHORNE, AND
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
AND AT TIMES WITH I.S.S.
EVEN BEFORE WE LAUNCHED HERE,
WITH THE CARGO DRAGON ON THE PAD
AND AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER,
THERE WERE SOME PREPARATIONS
THAT WE NEEDED TO DO.
THEY NEED TO CONFIGURE THEIR
CONSOLES.
SET UP THE COMMANDING AND VIEW
THEIR TELEMETRY.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMMUNICATING
TO CARGO DRAGON, AND NOT TO THE
CREW DRAGON ON I.S.S.
LIKEWISE, THE CREW DRAGON EVERY
30 DAYS OR SO, WE WAKE IT UP
WHICH IS BASICALLY ON QUIET MODE
WHEN IT IS ON I.S.S.
EVERY 30 DAYS WE DO A HEALTH AND
STATUS CHECK ON THE VEHICLE.
AGAIN, SpaceX AND 13, AND THE
NASA TEAM NEEDS TO RECONFIGURE
THEIR COMMANDING AND
COMMUNICATION METHOD WHICH --
WITH EACH OF THE VEHICLES SO IT
ACTUALLY NOW TALKS TO THE CREW
DRAGON AND NOT THE CARGO DRAGON.
THEY GET SOME PRACTICE ON THAT,
EVEN BEFORE SpaceX 21 WILL
SHOW UP TO I.S.S.
AS I EAT TO, THE CREW DRAGON WE
BASICALLY PUT IT IN NON- QUIET
SENT MODE, OR EXCUSE ME IN A
QUIET MODE WHEN IT'S NOT IN
ORBIT.
AS SOON AND CARGO DRAGON SHOWS
UP, IT BASICALLY GETS THE FULL
ATTENTION OF THE CREW AND THE
FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM.
MUCH OF ITS CARGO NEEDS TO BE
REMOVED WITHIN HOURS, IF NOT
DAYS.
WITH ALL OF THOSE SCIENCE AND
RESEARCH ON BOARD, PRETTY MUCH
IT GETS OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION
AND THE CREWS UNDIVIDED
ATTENTION FROM A TIMELINE
PERSPECTIVE.
>> THAT IS GREAT TOO.
ALWAYS PREPARED.
I LOVE IT.
WE DISCUSSED THE UPGRADE TO THIS
VEHICLE AND HOW IT IS VERY
SIMILAR TO CREW DRAGON CARRYING
AN INCREASED AMOUNT OF RESEARCH,
HARDWARE AND OTHER PAYLOADS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE
ASTRONAUTS ON STATION?
>> IN A WORD, THEY ARE GOING TO
BE LIKE EXTREMELY BUSY.
[LAUGHTER]
THIS VEHICLE IS BRINGING ALMOST
A METRIC TON OF RESEARCH,
SCIENCE, AND JUST ALL
UTILIZATION ITEMS ABOUT A METRIC
TON WORTH OF CARGO.
MUCH OF WHICH NEEDS TO BE
EXERCISED, WITHIN THE 30 DAY
MISSION, OR THEREABOUTS, I CAN'T
REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW MANY DAYS
WERE PLANNED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
28-31 IS WHAT I WOULD GUESS.
BUT MOST OF THAT WORK NEEDS TO
BE DONE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS
THERE.
THEY ONLY HAVE THE 30 DAYS OR SO
TO GET EVERYTHING OFF,
EVERYTHING EXERCISED, ALL OF THE
RESEARCH COMPLETED AND THEN THEY
NEED TO PACK IT, THE EXERCISE
RESEARCH, THEY NEED TO PACK THAT
TO COME HOME SO WE CAN QUICKLY
TURN IT AROUND AND GET IT TO THE
LABS ON THE GROUND HERE.
SO YEAH, THEY ARE GOING TO BE
SUPER BUSY IS WHAT I WOULD TELL
YOU.
>> I AM SURE THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR IT TO YOU.
-- TO IT.
>> THE BISHOP AIRLOCK WAS
CONCEIVED, DESIGNED, AND BUILT
BY NANO RACKS TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF ITS CUSTOMERS.
NANO RACKS RETAINS THE OWNERSHIP
OF THIS AIRLOCK.
THEY ARE REALLY DRIVEN TO FIND
PAYING CUSTOMERS IN ORDER TO
MAKE THE COMMERCIAL MODULE
PROFITABLE.
THESE USERS WILL LIKELY BE
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS, AND THESE
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
TRANSACTIONS, WE ARE HOPING, AND
I THINK THEY WILL WILL INCREASE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOWER
ORBIT.
IN THE PAST, WHAT WE CALL THE
JAPANESE EXPOSED MODULE AIRLOCK
HAS SOMETIMES BEEN A BOTTLENECK
FOR US TO DO MATERIAL SCIENCE,
AND MATERIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH,
CERTAINLY ALL OF THE VARIOUS
SATELLITES THAT WE HAVE BEEN
PUTTING OUT.
THIS IS A LARGER VOLUME, IT
GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
MORE DEPLOYS.
A LARGER GROUP AT A TIME IT
PROVIDES FLEXIBLY FOR OVERUSE
THAT WE CANNOT BRING INSIGHT.
TO ME IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEFF, FOR
JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING
THAT INFORMATION WITH A MISSION
WITH A SPREAD ARE STILL HERE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM IN HOUSTON.
FLIGHT CONTROLLERS ON MONITORING
THE STATUS OF THE STATION
ITSELF.
WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO
TOMORROW WILL BE THE ARRIVAL OF
CARGO DRAGON TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
ONCE IT CROSSES THAT APPROACH
ELLIPSOID, TEAMS WILL BEGIN
JOINT OPERATIONS WITH THE
SpaceX IN HAWTHORNE,
CALIFORNIA.
NASA ASTRONAUTS,
VICTOR GLOVER
, AND KATE RUBINS WILL MONITOR
THE APPROACH ON ARRIVAL OF CARGO
DRAGON AS IT MAKES THE FIRST
DOCKING BY A CARGO DRAGON TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THEY WILL BEGIN WORKING TO GET
THE HATCH OPEN ON CARGO DRAGON
PAIR THAT WOULD TAKE A COUPLE OF
HOURS BECAUSE IT INCLUDES
PRESSURIZING THE SPACE BETWEEN
THE HATCHES ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND ON CARGO
DRAGON ITSELF.
FOR RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING IS
LOOKING GREAT WITH A BEAUTIFUL
LAUNCH TODAY.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
ARRIVAL TOMORROW.
THAT IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE HERE
IN HOUSTON.
BACK TO YOU AT KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
>> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL LAUNCH AND
LANDING.
BY FAR, ONE OF MY FAVORITE
THINGS ON THE SPACE COAST.
THE RUMBLE NEVER GETS OLD.
CARGO DRAGON IS NOW ON ITS WAY
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
WITH THE HELP OF U.S. COMPANIES
LIKE SpaceX, AND OUR
ASTRONAUTS IN SPACE LIKE THE
EXPEDITION SAFETY FOR CREW, NASA
IS USING THE STATION TO CONDUCT
CUTTING AND -- EDGE RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT AND PREPARATION TO
SEND THE FIRST WOMAN AND THE
NEXT MAN TO THE MOON IN 2024.
AND THEN WE WILL USE WHAT WE
LEARNED THERE TO TAKE THE NEXT
GIANT LEAP TO SEND ASTRONAUTS TO
MARS.
YOU CAN TURN INTO DOCKING
COVERAGE ON NASA TV TOMORROW
STARTING AT 11:30 A.M. EASTERN
TIME WITH DOCKING AT 1:30 P.M.
THAT IS GOING TO WRAP UP OUR
COVERAGE.
FROM EVERYONE HERE AT NASA'S
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND OUR
COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS
MISSION VISIT NASA.GOV/STATION.
WE LEAVE YOU NOW WITH ANOTHER
LOOK AT TODAY'S SPECTACULAR
LAUNCH.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE.
GO SpaceX CRS-21!
>> 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,
1, 0. LIFT OFF OF THEIR FALCON
9, AN UPGRADED CARGO DRAGON.
THE FIRST CARGO CAPSULE TO DOCK
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.