♪♪
>> NEW POSSIBILITIES ARE OPENING
UP BETWEEN COUNTRIES.
>> LIFTOFF.
>> DISCOVERY READY TO DEPLOY.
♪
>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO NASA'S
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA
FOR THE PRELAUNCH NEWS
CONFERENCE FOR NASA'S SPACEX
CREW-2 MISSION.
THIS WILL BE SPACEX'S THIRD
FLIGHT WITH CREW TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AS
PART OF THE AGENCY'S COMMERCIAL
CREW PROGRAM.
I'M MARIE LEWIS WITH NASA PUBLIC
AFFAIRS.
WE HAVE EXPERTS HERE TO BREAK
DOWN THIS MISSION FOR US.
TO MY LEFT IS STEVE STITCH,
MANAGER OF NASA'S COMMERCIAL
CREW PROGRAM.
MANAGER OF NASA'S INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION PROGRAM, BENJI
REID SENIOR DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAM AT SPACEX,
NORM KNIGHT DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF
NASA FLIGHT OPERATIONS, MANAGER
OF JAXA INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION PROGRAM, CHIEF
SCIENTISTS FOR NASA'S
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
PROGRAM AND LAUNCH WEATHER
OFFICER WITH U.S. AIR FORCE
45th WEATHER SQUADRON.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A PAIR OF
SPACESUITS.
THESE ARE THE ACTUAL SPACESUITS
WORN BY ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN
AND DOUG HURLEY.
>> WE HAD OUR LAUNCH THIS
MORNING.
WE REVIEWED ALL THE OPEN WORK
COMING OUT THE AGENCY FLIGHT
MANAGEMENT REVIEW AND THE
SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLES.
WE CONCLUDE THEY WERE GO FOR
LAUNCH.
WE'RE STILL ON TRACK FOR 6:00,
7:00 EASTERN LAUNCH.
THAT WILL PUT DOCKING AT AROUND
4:30 A.M.
IF WE LAUNCH ON THURSDAY AS
PLANNED.
OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS, IT'S
BEEN A VERY BUSY TIME FRAME HERE
ON SATURDAY, WE HAD THE STATIC
FIRE OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE
CREW-2 VEHICLE.
FIRED ALL THE NINE ENGINES AND
REVIEWED ALL THE DATA FROM THAT.
THOSE COMPARED REALLY WELL FOR
THE CREW-1 FLIGHT.
NO ISSUES COMING OUT OF THAT
FIRE.
ON SUNDAY THE CREW GOT IN THE
VEHICLE.
THEY SUITED UP IN THE SUIT ROOM
AND THEY WALKED THROUGH THAT
WHOLE TIMELINE HOW THEY WILL GO
OUT TO THE LAUNCH PAD AND GET IN
THE VEHICLE AND GET IN THEIR
SUITS AND HOOK THE SUITS UP TO
THE VEHICLE, CLOSE THE HATCH.
THE SUITS ALL PERFORM GREAT.
GREAT DRESS REHEARSAL FOR
LAUNCH.
AS WE TALKED ABOUT AFTER THE
FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW, WE DID
HAVE ONE ISSUE THAT WE NEEDED TO
RESOLVE.
THAT WAS THE ADDITIONAL LIQUID
OXYGEN THAT WE THOUGHT WAS ON
THE VEHICLE.
WE LOOKED AT THAT RELATIVE TO
THIS FLIGHT, WE CONCLUDED THAT
AMOUNT OF LIQUID OXYGEN IN THE
FIRST STAGE WAS WELL WITHIN
FAMILY OF THE PERFORMANCE
ANALYSIS, WELL LISTEN THE LOADS
AND STRUCTURE CONTAIN OF THE
VEHICLE, WE CAN HANDLE ANY
CONTINGENT WITH LOCK ON THAT
BOARD.
WE WILL GO TO PROCEED WITH THAT
KIND OF LOCK ON THE VEHICLE.
WE HAD AN EXCEPTION AT THE
FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW, WE
CLOSED THAT.
I SIGNED THAT EXCEPTION.
THE MAIN THING WE'RE WATCHING
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS IS THE
WEATHER.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A LAUNCH WEATHER
BE GO AND ABORT WEATHER, ALL
ABORT THE GROUND TRACK TO
PROTECT THE CREW AND VEHICLE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY, LOOKING AT THE WEATHER.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE
HERE.
BEFORE COMING OVER HERE, WE WERE
THINKING ABOUT ALL THREE CREW
MISSIONS.
THIS IS OUR THIRD CAPSULE.
THE FIRST STAGE WAS USED BY
CREW-1.
IT'S EXCITING TO SEE ALL THOSE
THREE MISSIONS IN THAT ONE
VEHICLE.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
WELCOME AGAIN TO TODAY'S
POST-LAUNCH READINESS REVIEW
PRESS BELIEF.
THE MONTH OF APRIL WILL CONTINUE
TO BE A BANNER MONTH FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
EVERY WEEK IN THE MONTH OF APRIL
WE'LL DO A MAJOR HUMAN SPACE
FLIGHT DYNAMIC ACTIVITY.
WE STARTED IN THE MONTH WITH THE
DRAGON RELOCATION FROM THE
FORWARD PORT TO THE ZENITH PORT.
WE FOLLOWED FEW DAYS LATER WITH
SOYUZ LAUNCH.
JUST LAST FRIDAY, WE HAD A SOYUZ
LANDING.
THREE PEOPLE CAME HOME AND
ALLOWED US TO HAVE TEN PEOPLE ON
ORBIT FOR ABOUT A WEEK PREPARING
US FOR THE CREW-1 CREW-2
HANDOVER MISSION.
OUR LIFE.
SUPPORT SYSTEMS WORKED.
NO ISSUES AT ALL.
WHILE WE'RE PLANNING FOR A FIVE
DAY MISSION, WE'RE PREPARED TO
HAVE BOTH CREW-1 AND CREW-2 UP
THERE FOR UP TO 20 DAYS.
THIS WEEK WE'RE HERE TALKING
ABOUT THE CREW-2 LAUNCH.
LIKE I SAID, JUST AN AWESOME
TIME TO BE IN HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT
AND A GREAT PLACE TO BE WORKING
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
WITH THE CREW-2 LAUNCH, WE
WELCOME THE EUROPEAN SPACE
AGENCIES ASTRONAUT FOR THE FIRST
TIME ON DRAGON.
WE ALSO WELCOME BACK THE
JAPANESE AEROSPACE EXPLORATION.
TRULY AN INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM.
INSIST OUR FUTURE WHERE WE'LL
HAVE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ON
OUR VEHICLES FOR THE FUTURE.
IT'S A GOAL AND THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE PLANNING TO BE.
THIS CREW WILL STAY UP A FULL
DURATION, APPROXIMATELY SIX
MONTHS.
THEY WILL PERFORM OVER 260
EXPERIMENTS ON BOARD.
ONE OF THE MAJOR BENEFITS OF THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM, IS WITH
THE FOURTH CREW MEMBERS WE'RE
ALLOWED UTILIZATION OF RESEARCH,
AMOUNT OF TECHNOLOGY WITH THE
ARTEMIS PROGRAM.
JUST AN AWESOME TIME AGAIN TO BE
WORKING ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
AS I TALKED AFTER THE FLIGHT
READINESS REVIEW, APRIL 22nd
IS EARTH DAY.
JUST REMINDER WE HAVE A NUMBER
OF EXPERIMENTS ON BOARD,
COLLECTING DATA EVERYDAY FOR
SCIENTISTS TO STUDY THE EARTH.
WE HAVE ACTIVITIES ON BOARD, FOR
EXAMPLE, WATER RECOVERY THAT WE
CAN REPURPOSE THAT TECHNOLOGY
AND USE IT TO BENEFIT PEOPLE
HERE ON EARTH.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THIS MISSION.
WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE
COMMISSION CREW PROGRAM AND
CONGRATULATE THE SPACEX TEAM.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO BENJI.
>> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
WE'RE EXCITED TO FLY CREW AGAIN.
IT'S SUPER COOL TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS SO
QUICKLY.
IF I DO MY MATH RIGHT, LESS THAN
A YEAR WE WOULD HAVE FLOWN AS
MANY PEOPLE IN THIS PARTNERSHIP
WITH NASA AS FLOWN IN THE
MERCURY PROGRAM.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
NUMBER ONE ALWAYS, WE WANT TO
THANK THE AGENCIES AND OUR
PARTNERS NASA, JAPANESE SPACE
AGENCY AND THE EUROPEAN SPACE
AGENCY.
OF COURSE THE FAMILIES OF ALL
THE ASTRONAUTS FOR THEIR TRUST
AND ALLOWING US TO FLY THEIR
ASTRONAUTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO
SPACE AND BRING THEM HOME SAFELY
AGAIN.
NOT ONLY IN THIS LAST YEAR, HAVE
WE FLOWN SO MANY AND WE'LL HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY SO MANY
MORE HUMANS TO SPACE.
WE HAD COUPLE OF OTHER RECORDS.
IT WAS OUR FIRST COMMERCIAL
ORBITAL SPACE LAUNCH OF HUMANS
IN HISTORY.
ALSO OUR LONGEST MISSION,
LONGEST MISSION FOR AN AMERICAN
CREW VEHICLE IN HISTORY.
LOT OF FIRST AND LOT OF GOOD
STUFF HAPPENING.
ANOTHER THING THAT IS GREAT IS
THAT IN LESS THAN 11 MONTHS, THE
JOINT NASA AND SPACEX TEAM,
WE'RE FLYING NASA ASTRONAUTS ON
A FLIGHT PROVEN DRAGON AND A
FLIGHT PROVEN FALCON.
THAT WILL BE ANOTHER FIRST AND
VERY IMPORTANT THING, WE HAVE
TALKED BEFORE FLYING ON REUSED
VEHICLES ON FLIGHT PROVEN
VEHICLES IS KEY TO OUR GREATER
FLIGHT RELIABILITY AND LOWERING
THE COST OF ACCESS TO SPACE.
WHICH IS ULTIMATELY WHAT HELPS
US MAKE LIFE MULTIPLANETARY.
THIS IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
HUGE THANK YOU TO THE NASA TEAMS
THAT WORK WITH US AND THE
INTERNATIONAL PARTNER TEAM TO
MAKE THAT A REALITY COMING UP
THIS WEEK.
WE ALSO LIKE TO THANK NASA FOR
THE AWARD FOR THE HUMAN LANDER
SYSTEM.
THIS IS A HUGE HONOR.
TRULY A GREAT THING FOR US TO BE
PART OF THE ARTEMIS TEAM.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THAT
HAPPEN.
THAT PROGRAM ITSELF JUST LIKE
THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM,
JUST LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND THE PROGRAMS
BEFORE IT, ARE PUSHING HUMAN
EXPLORATION FURTHER THAN EVER
BEFORE, PARTICULARLY WILL PUSH
HUMAN EXPLORATION IN A MORE
DIVERSE WAY THAN EVER BEFORE.
THIS IS A GREAT THING.
RIGHT NOW, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT
THE CREW-2 VEHICLES WHERE WE
STAND NOW ON OUR LAUNCH PAD, A
VIDEO I THINK.
THIS IS A GREAT DRONE VIDEO.
YOU CAN SEE IT.
GREAT VIEWS HERE OF FALCON.
YOU CAN SEE THE NASA LOGO ON THE
SIDE.
YOU CAN SEE THE DRAGON ON TOP,
CREW ARM EXTENDED EXACTLY WHERE
THE CREW WILL WALK ACROSS AND
GET IN THEIR VEHICLE TO GO TO
SPACE.
AS MANY OF YOU WILL REMEMBER,
THAT IS THE SAME TOWER THAT HAS
BEEN USED BY THE SHUTTLE THEMES
AND ALSO BY THE APOLLO CREWS
WHEN THEY FLEW TO THE MOON.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE FOR
THIS HISTORICAL LAUNCH PAD HERE
AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
THESE ARE OUR VEHICLES.
ALL OF OUR TEAMS ARE READY.
WE CONTINUE TO DO A NUMBER OF
TESTS -- NUMBER OF ANALYSISES OF
DATA.
WE COMPLETED THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF TESTS TO GET TO
THIS DAY.
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THESE KINDS
OF REVIEWS, WE CALL THEM
PARANOIA REVIEWS.
WE WANT TO BE PARANOID.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE FLY
THESE PEOPLE SAFELY AND BRING
THEM HOME SAFELY.
WE CHECK UNDER EVERY ROCK.
WE ASK EACH OTHER AND WE
CHALLENGE EACH OTHER ALL THE
TIME.
WE PRACTICE A LOT AND ONE OF THE
PRACTICES THAT WE DID WAS THE
DRY DRESS REHEARSAL.
THAT'S WHERE THE CREW GETS
SUITED UP, THEY GET IN THEIR
VEHICLE AND THEY BRING THEM OUT
TO THE PAD.
THEY GO UP IN THAT TOWER THAT
YOU SAW THERE ACROSS THE CREW.
THEY GET IN THE SEATS IN THE
DRAGON AND WALK THROUGH
EVERYTHING ON THE TIMELINE AS IF
IT WAS LAUNCH DAY.
THE CREW DOING THAT, THE GROUND
TEAMS ARE ALL DOING THEIR JOBS
AND ALL OF OUR FLIGHT OPERATORS
ARE IN THEIR SEATS BACK AT
HAWTHORNE, HERE AT THE CAPE AND
HE WAS WHERE, WALKING THROUGH
THE STEPS AND THE PROCEDURES AND
ENSURING THAT WE'RE READY TO GO.
WE TAKE THAT DRY DRESS UP TO THE
MOMENT OF LAUNCH.
ENSURE WE'RE GOING TO BE READY
AND PRACTICE THAT.
OUR TEAMS ARE DOING EVEN
ADDITIONAL PRACTICES LIKE I
MENTIONED, WE CONTINUE TO WANT
TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS
GREAT.
WE'RE CONTINUING DOWN THAT PATH
AS WE GET READY FOR THURSDAY.
SPEAKING OF THAT DRY DRESS, WE
GOT SOME PHOTOS.
THERE IT IS.
GREAT SHOT.
YOU CAN SEE THE VEHICLE BUT IN
FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DOWN THERE
IS THE CREW.
WE SHOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHO
THEY ARE AND WHO THEY ARE AS
PEOPLE.
WE GOT MEGHAN AND SEAN, THERE'S
LOT OF FAMILIES THERE.
LOT OF HARD WORK AND TIME AND
PEOPLE THAT SUPPORTED THEM OVER
THE YEARS.
IN PARTICULAR, IN MY HEART,
THERE'S A LITTLE BOY OUT THERE
WHO'S MOM IS FLYING.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE PAY THE DO
OF ATTENTION TO.
WE ASK OURSELVES ALL THE TIME,
WILL WE BE WILLING TO FLY OUR
FAMILIES ON THESE VEHICLES?
THAT'S A TEST FOR US.
THIS IS A GREAT SHOT OF THEM.
IF YOU GET TO KNOW THEM AND
WATCH THEM, THEY'RE A FUN TEAM.
EXCELLENT TEAM.
LET ME TALK A MOMENT ABOUT
WEATHER.
WE'LL HEAR MORE FROM OUR WEATHER
OFFICER ABOUT THE LOCAL WEATHER
AND THE LAUNCH WEATHER.
IT'S A GOOD REMINDER, IT'S NOT
JUST ABOUT LAUNCH DAY WHEN WE'RE
LAUNCHING CREW.
WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE
ENTIRE TRAJECTORY.
IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, WE WANT
DRAGON TO BE ABLE TO LAUNCH
ESCAPE OFF THE ROCKET.
THAT MEANS THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO COME DOWN IN THE OCEAN ALL
POINTS ALONG THAT POTENTIAL
ESCAPE PATH.
WE'RE WATCHING THE WEATHER NOT
JUST HERE TO CAPE BUT ALL ALONG
THAT PATH UP THE NORTHERN
SEABOARD ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.
WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT RAIN,
WE'RE LOOKING AT WINDS, AND
LIGHTNING.
ALL KINDS OF THING TO MAKE SURE
IT'S RIGHT.
MANY POINTS ALONG THAT TRACK
WE'RE WATCHING IT.
FUNDAMENTALLY, THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF PLACES WHERE WE CAN
SAY, WE DON'T FEEL GOOD ENOUGH
ABOUT FLYING THE CREW TODAY.
WHILE WE'RE AIMING FOR THURSDAY
AS STEVE TALKED ABOUT 6:11
EASTERN, WE'LL WATCH THE
WEATHER.
WE'LL MAKE A DECISION IF WE NEED
TO MOVE TO THAT NEXT DAY ON
FRIDAY.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE LAUNCH
OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON ORBIT OF
THE SPACE STATION, WE'LL HAVE
TWO DAYS ON AND TWO DAYS OFF.
AS STEVE MENTIONED, WE'LL BE
TALKING TO THE SPACE STATION
BASED ON THIS FIRST OPPORTUNITY.
THEY'LL BE UP THERE FOR ABOUT
SIX MONTHS.
IT'S IMPORTANT ALWAYS TO BE
THINKING ABOUT THE CREW THAT
WE'LL BE BRINGING HOME A FEW
DAYS AFTER THAT.
BRINGING THAT CREW HOME IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
RECOVERY CREWS ARE READY.
THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINING AND
REVIEWING AND PRACTICING AND
CHECKING ALL THEIR HARDWARE.
FINALLY, I THINK IT'S ALWAYS
IMPORTANT TO THANK ALL THE
DIFFERENT CREWS.
WE HAVE KENNEDY AND JOHNSON AND
MARSHALL WHO ALL PLAY A KEY ROLE
ON THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM
AND SUPPORTING US.
WE HAVE THE 45th SPACE WING
HERE AT THE CANAVERAL SPACE
FORCE STATION.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THEM.
THANK YOU TO THE ASTRONAUTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FLYING YOU IN
SPACE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH
MIDLEGS.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.
WE'RE 48 HOURS FROM LAUNCH.
THIS IS WHERE THE EYES ARE
DOTTED AND TSS ARE CROSSED.
I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO
SHANE.
THE DREW IS DOING GREAT.
DRY DRESS WENT VERY WELL.
ON OUR WAY TO LAUNCH.
THE CREW IS GETTING AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE
BRIEFINGS, GET PREPPED FOR
LAUNCH, SPEND SOME TIME WITH
THEIR FAMILIES, THEY GET DOWN
TIME TOMORROW, WAKING UP VERY
EARLY ON THURSDAY MORNING FOR
THE LAUNCH.
THE REVIEWS THAT HAVE BEEN
TALKED A LOT ABOUT CULMINATED
WITH THE LAUNCH READINESS
REVIEW.
THOSE REVIEWS HAVE BEEN
EXTREMELY THOROUGH ESPECIALLY
WITH THE REFURBISHED FALCON HAND
DRAGON.
WE'RE CONVINCED IT'S SAFE TO
FLY.
SAFETY HAS BEEN NUMBER ONE IN
ALL THESE REVIEWS.
THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.
THIS BUSINESS OF HUMAN SPACE
FLIGHT IS UNFORGIVING.
THEY GUARANTEE THE CONTINUED
SAFETY AND IT WAS DEFINITELY
PRESENT IN THESE REVIEWS THIS
WEEK.
YOU STEP BACK AND YOU LOOK, IT'S
HARD ENOUGH IN A REGULAR
ENVIRONMENT, YOU PUT COVID ON
TOP OF THAT, IT'S BEEN
EXCEPTIONALLY IMPRESSIVE WITH
THESE TEAMS.
THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO PULL
TOGETHER.
THE CADENCE IS VERY GOOD FOR THE
ATTEMPTS BETWEEN SPACEX AND
NASA.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A
SUCCESSFUL MISSION.
JUST VERY EXCITING TIME.
WITH THAT, TURN IT OVER.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ON BEHALF OF JAXA, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK NASA AND SPACEX WHO
WORKED SO HARD FOR CREW-2 LAUNCH
AND PREPARATION AND CONTINUING
ISS PREPARATION.
IT'S GREAT FOR ME TO BE HERE
WITH YOU.
I WELCOMED CREW-2 AT THE LCC
LAST FRIDAY.
THEY LOOKED SO CHEERFUL AND
CONFIDENT.
I SPOKE WITH JAPANESE ASTRONAUT.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE HE'S READY FOR
THE LAUNCH.
THE JAPANESE EXPERIMENT MODULE
IS ALSO READY AND WAITING FOR A
NEW CREW.
I'M VERY EXCITED AT THE TWO
JAPANESE ASTRONAUTS.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
COMING OF THE LAUNCH AND WISHING
GREAT SUCCESS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
GOOD MORNING HERE IN THE U.S.
AND GOOD AFTERNOON IN EUROPE
THAT ARE FOLLOWING THIS.
WE LIKE TO START TO THANK IT
NASA AND THE SPACEX TEAMS TO GET
US THIS FAR AND THIS CLOSE TO
THE LAUNCH.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED THAT FOR IT
FIRST TIME A EUROPEAN ASTRONAUT
AND FLY ON THE CREW DRAGON TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT THE
LAUNCH AND SUPPORT THE MISSION
IN ITS ENTIRETY AND
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME.
WE HAVE FOUR CREW MEMBERS ON
ORBIT.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF CREW TIME
AVAILABLE TO DO THE SCIENCE THAT
WE NEED TO DO ON BEHALF OF THE
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, THE
EUROPEAN SCIENTISTS AROUND THE
WORLD.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND IN TIME OF
COVID HOW IMPORTANT
UNDERSTANDING OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
IS FOR THE FUTURE OF ALL OF US
HERE ON EARTH.
WE HAVE ALSO BIG COMPLIMENT
EXPERIMENTS FROM OUR FRENCH
PARTNER AGENCY THAT IS
SUPPORTING DURING THIS FLIGHT.
WE DON'T ONLY HAVE EXPERIMENTS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS MISSION ON
THE 15th OF JULY.
MLM MODEL WILL LAUNCH AND ATTACH
TO THAT MODEL WILL BE THE
EUROPEAN ROBOTIC ARM.
IT'S A PROGRAM THAT WE HAD
LAUNCHED LONG TIME AGO.
WE HAVE WAITED TO COMMISSION THE
EUROPEAN ROBOTIC ARM AS PART OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE SPACE
STATION AND PLAY A ROLE IN THE
INITIAL COMMISSIONING OF THE
ERA.
FINALLY, THIS IS JUST A START
FOR US WITH A SERIES OF MISSION,
WE WILL HAVE MORE FROM GERMANY
FLYING BY THE END OF THE YEAR
ALSO IN THE SPACEX VEHICLE TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AND THEN NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE
FLYING.
ONE AND A HALF YEARS, WE'LL HAVE
EUROPEAN ASTRONAUTS ALONG BOARD
OF THE SPACE STATION.
EXCITING TIMES FOR EUROPE TO BE
THERE DURING THE LAST PART OF
THE MISSION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO
WELCOME MATTIAS ON ORBIT WHILE
HE'S COMMANDER OF THE ISS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE NASA AND
SPACEX TEAMS TO GETTING THIS
YEAR.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO GO FLY.
>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS
INTERNATIONAL CREW FLYING TO
THIS SPACE STATION.
THEY BRING WITH THEM THE
CAPABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
MANY OF THE INVESTIGATIONS GOING
ON OVER 260 DURING THIS
INCREMENTAL.
LOT OF THE FOCUS FOR THE
INVESTIGATIONS FLYING ONLY THE
CREW-2 DRAGON WILL BE IN THE
HUMAN IMMUNE FUNCTION.
FIRST WE HAVE CELESTIAL IMMUNITY
AND INVESTIGATION FLOWN BY THE
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WHO
WILL BE LOOKING AT THE
CAPABILITY TO FLY BLOOD MONO
NUCLEAR CELLS.
UP NEXT, WILL BE THE TIME
EXPERIMENT.
CHARACTERIZING HUMAN IMMUNO
DEFICIENCY, FLYING TISSUE CLIPS
WITH THP CELL LINE, IT'S A
LEUKEMIA CELL LINE, WILL BE
LOOKING FOR CHANGES IN THE
IMMUNE RESPONSE BASED ON
MICROGRAVITY AS THE STIMULATING
FACTOR.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME STEM EDUCATION
FLYING ON THE CREW DRAGON 2.
THAT WILL BE THE STORYTIME AND
SPACE 8 DEMONSTRATION PACKET
WHICH IS A HEAT TRANSFER DEMO
EXPERIMENT THAT'S GOING TO GO
ALONG WITH OUR DEMONSTRATION OF
READING IN SPACE.
THAT STORY WILL BE PART OF OUR
CELEBRATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN
LITERACY DAY ON MAY 19th.
YOU CAN READ ALONG WITH ANOTHER
MILLION PLUS YOUNG READERS.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD BE
AMISS THE IF WE DIDN'T MENTION
WE'RE LAUNCHING ON EARTH DAY.
WE GOT MANY INVESTIGATIONS ON
BOARD THE SPACECRAFT, SPONSORED
BY OUR SCIENCE MISSION
DIRECTORATE.
WE HAVE THE CREW WHO HAVE THE
BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE FOR THIS
EVENT.
I'M SURE IT WILL LOOK GREAT.
THANK YOU.
>> NOW FOR WEATHER UPDATE FROM
OUR LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'LL BE SPEAKING PRIMARILY
THROUGH THE WEATHER HERE IN THE
LAUNCH AREA.
THE LAUNCH CONDITIONS.
UNLIKE THE WEATHER, WE'VE BEEN
SEEING OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS
HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, THE
WEATHER HERE IN THE AREA IS
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD FOR THURSDAY
AND FRIDAY.
IF WE CAN TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT
THE SATELLITE IMAGERY.
YOU CAN SEE LOT OF CLOUD COVER
OVER FLORIDA NOW.
THAT'S DUE TO A FRONT THAT'S
BEEN STALLED OUT OVER OUR AREA.
WE HAD SOME WAVES OF LOW
PRESSURE RIDING ALONG IT,
BRINGING SOME WET AND STORMY
WEATHER OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS.
THERE'S SOME HIGH STRONG AREA OF
HIGH PRESSURE UP IN THE MONTANA
AREA.
THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING TO THE
RESCUE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE PUSHING TO
THE SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE NEXT
FEW DAYS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE HELP CLEARING
OUT ALL OF THAT MOVES AND --
MOISTURE AND PUSHING THAT FRONT
TO THE SOUTH BY THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY.
IF WE CAN GO TO THE LAUNCH
FORECAST, WE HAVE 20%
PROBABILITY OF VIOLATION.
80% FAVORABLE.
THE WINDS WILL BE A BIT BRISK 17
TO 22 MILES PER HOUR COMING FROM
THE NORTH-NORTHEAST, HIGH
PRESSURE STILL CENTERED FAIRLY
FAR AWAY FROM THE NORTH AND
WEST.
IT'S GOING TO CREATE A BIT OF
PRESSURE GRADING.
THE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE
LIFTOFF WINDS.
WE GO TO THE BACKUP DAY, WINDS
DIE DOWN LITTLE BIT, 12 TO
17 MILES PER HOUR.
IT'S THAT HIGH LIED --
TEMPERATURE 70 DEGREES.
JUST A SMALL CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION BUT 10% COC.
WE'LL BE 90% FAVORABLE FOR THAT
BACKUP DAY ON FRIDAY.
THAT CONCLUDES MY WEATHER.
>> WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS
ON OUR PHONE LINE.
I DO WANT TO REMIND FOLKS, WE
ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOURSELF TO
ONE QUESTION AND ALSO LET US
KNOW WHO YOU ARE ASKING IT TO.
WE WILL START WITH GINA FROM ABC
NEWS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THIS IS FOR JOEL.
11 PEOPLE IN THE SPACE STATION
TRENT OH -- PRESENT A CERTAIN
CHALLENGE.
WHAT ADJUSTMENTS DID YOU MAKE
FOR THIS?
>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?
>> DO YOU NEED TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS ON THE SPACE STATION
FOR THIS CREW?
>> THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS
YOU HAVE TO DO.
WE HAVE TO FIND SOME CONSUMABLES
FOR THE EXTRA CREW MEMBER.
UP TO LOOK AT SLEEPING
ARRANGEMENTS.
WE'LL HAVE TEMPORARY SLEEPING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CREW
MEMBERS.
WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY
OF OUR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS,
OXYGEN GENERATION AND CARBON
DIOXIDE REMOVAL.
ONCE WE GET THE CREW MEMBERS ON
BOARD, THEY'LL DO AN EMERGENCY
DRILL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CREWS ARE READY FOR EMERGENCY.
THESE ARE STANDARD THINGS THAT
WE'VE DONE FOR HAND OVERS IN THE
PAST.
THE COOL THING AGAIN, THE ADDED
CREW MEMBER ALLOWS ANOTHER SET
OF HANDS-ON BOARD TO HELP US
WITH RESEARCH AND UTILIZATION
AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.
>> THANK YOU, JOEL.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MARSHA
DUNN WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY QUESTION IS FOR BENJI,
PLEASE.
I'M INTERESTED IN THE REUSE WHEN
YOU'RE FLYING CREWS, DO YOU HAVE
ANY MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FLIGHTS
THAT YOU WOULD USE THE CAPSULE.
WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE LIKE USING
A REUSING A DRAGON CAPSULE EVERY
YEAR LIKE SEEM TO BE STARTING
OUT TO DO?
IN SPACESUITS, CAN THEY BE ALTER
FOR ARE YOU EXCUSE, -- ALTERED
FOR REUSE?
>> WHEN I TAKE ONE OF THE
SPACESUITS HOME WITH ME --
EVERYBODY HERE ASKED IF THEY CAN
TRY ONE ON.
IN TERMS OF THE SUITS, I'LL
START THERE, THE REALITY IS
THAT, THE SUITS ARE SOMEWHAT
CUSTOM TAILORED FOR EACH
ASTRONAUT.
THEY ARE THOSE ASTRONAUTS SUITS.
WE DON'T REALLY PLAN TO REUSE
THOSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CREW EQUIPMENT
THAT WE DO REUSE.
PART OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM.
WE GO TO CERTIFICATION,
QUALIFICATION PROCESS WITH NASA
TO REEXCUSE -- REUSE THOSE.
IN TERMS OF THE VEHICLES, THE
DRAGON FROM THE BEGINNING, THE
DRAGON 2 VEHICLE, DESIGNED FOR
FIVE REUSES AT LEAST.
WE'VE BEEN QUALIFYING TO THAT
AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NASA
TO LOOK AT FIVE.
THERE ARE SOME COMPONENTS THAT
WE WILL PUT NEW ON.
WE'LL REPLACE.
SOME WILL WORK THROUGH OTHER
QUALIFICATIONS AND CERTIFICATION
TO SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GO WITH
REEXCUSE WITH THOSE.
FALCON WAS QUALIFIED FOR UP TO
TEN FLIGHTS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO PUSH THAT
FOR NON-HUMAN MISSIONS.
WE WANT TO SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GO
AND SORT OF HOLY GRAIL OF SPACE
FLIGHT IS REUSABILITY.
IN TERMS OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT
FOR FALCON, WE'RE WORKING WITH
NASA.
WE'RE CERTIFIED FOR THIS
UPCOMING REUSE.
WE WILL ASSESS HOW MANY MORE
FLIGHTS WE CAN REUSE FALCON FOR.
>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM STEVEN
CLARK AT SPACE FLIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU, STEVEN CLARK, I
WAS WONDERING MAYBE YOU CAN TALK
ABOUT THE FORECAST FOR THE
WEATHER?
HOW IT'S LOOKING NOW?
IS IT LOOKING GOOD AND IS IT
MARGINAL?
WHEN WILL YOU HAVE A BRIEF ON
THE RECOVERY WEATHER ON DECISION
WHETHER TO LOAD THE CREW ON
THURSDAY MORNING?
>> I'LL TAKE THAT QUESTION.
WE HAVE WEATHER BRIEFINGS
STARTING ABOUT 48 HOURS OUT FROM
LAUNCH.
WE HAD OUR FIRST ONE THIS
MORNING LOOKING AT BOTH DAYS
PRIMARILY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
THE LAUNCH WEATHER LOOKS REALLY
GOOD FOR BOTH DAYS AS BRIAN
TALKED ABOUT.
ONLY CONCERN WAS WINDS AROUND
THE PADS FOR THAT VERY FIRST
OPPORTUNITY ON THURSDAY.
DOWN RANGE WEATHER IS LITTLE BIT
TRICKIER.
HAS THIS HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM
MOVES OVER THE ARKANSAS AREA,
THAT COMBINED WITH THIS FRONT IS
CAUSING SOME PRETTY HIGH WINDS
IN SOME OF THE AREAS DOWN RANGE
AND PRETTY HIGH WAVES.
WE HAVE TO WATCH THOSE.
THE TWO DAYS RIGHT NOW I WOULD
SAY FRIDAY LOOKS BETTER THAN
THURSDAY.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT
WEATHER.
I HAVE ANOTHER BRIEFING 24 HOURS
OUT TOMORROW AND TAKE A LOOK AT
THOSE TWO DAYS.
WE'LL FIGURE OUT WHAT THE RIGHT
TIME TO MAKE THE DECISION IS,
WHETHER IT'S TOMORROW OR TAKING
IT DOWN CLOSER IN THE LAUNCH.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
IRENE WITH AVIATION WEEK.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY QUESTION IS FOR BENJI REID.
WITH THE HLS AWARD, HOW WILL
THAT IMPACT THE DEVELOPMENT AND
TESTING OF STAR SHIP AND ARE
THERE ANY LESSONS LEARNED
ALREADY FROM THE COMMERCIAL CREW
PROGRAM THAT SPACEX PLANS ON
FOLDING INTO THE HUMAN RATING OF
THE HLS SYSTEM.
THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
MOSTLY FOCUSED ON CREW,
COMMERCIAL CREW.
I WILL CERTAINLY SAY AS WE WORK
WITH NASA AS WE GO THROUGH
DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FOR
OUR USE FOR OTHER CUSTOMER USE,
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH NASA IN A
TRANSPARENT AND TIGHT
PARTNERSHIP.
WE LIKE TO SAY THAT WE FLY
BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE
AND TRANSPARENCY.
IT'S A KEY CORNERSTONE HOW WE
WORK TOGETHER WITH NASA.
WE'LL ALWAYS CONTINUE THAT PATH
IN TERMS OF DIRECTION.
EVERY FLIGHT WE FLY WITH PEOPLE
ON BOARD AND EVERY TEST THAT WE
DO TOWARDS THOSE FLIGHTS IS
LESSONS AND DATA THAT WE USE TO
MAKE FLIGHTS SAFER AND MORE
RELIABLE FOR OTHER CREWS IN THE
FUTURE ON WHATEVER VEHICLE THEY
MAYBE ON.
ABSOLUTELY.
WE WILL LEVERAGE ALL INFORMATION
WE HAVE EVERY TIME FOR FUTURE
DRAGON FLIGHTS AND OTHER
FLIGHTS.
EVEN FOR ALL OF OUR OTHER
CUSTOMERS, WHETHER CARGO ON
SATELLITES.
WE'LL BE APPLYING LESSONS TO
LOOK FOR RELIABILITY.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DAVID
CURLEY WITH THE DISCOVERY
CHANNEL.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE HOPING YOU CAN TELL US
MORE ABOUT STARSHIP.
ON THE LOCK ISSUE, CAN YOU GIVE
US A VOLUME?
WE ONLY HEARD INCHES.
IS IT LESS THAN A PERCENT OR ONE
OR TWO PERCENT.
WHAT'S THE ACCEPTABLE NUMBER OF
VOLUME PERCENTAGE WISE?
>> I'LL ADDRESS THE LOCKS
QUESTION FIRST.
I DON'T HAVE A EXACT NUMBER OF
VOLUME.
LAST THURSDAY, WE TALKED ABOUT A
FEW INCHES.
IT'S ON THE ORDER OF 2500 OR
3000 POUNDS OF EXTRA LOCKS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE MASS OF THAT
VEHICLE, IT'S A VERY SMALL
PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL WEIGHT
OF THE VEHICLE.
THE SYSTEM CAN HANDLE THAT FROM
PERFORMANCE PERSPECTIVE.
WE CAN HANDLE THAT EXTRA WEIGHT
ON THE VEHICLE.
THE TANK CAN HANDLE THE LOADING
FROM EXTRA LOCKS.
THERE'S A CONTINGENCY THAT PUTS
PRESSURE ON THE TANK IF IT NEEDS
TO.
O
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GREAT QUESTIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN
ROBOTIC ARM.
THIS IS CORPORATE PROGRAM THAT
WE HAVE WITH OUR RUSSIAN
COLLEAGUES FROM COSMOS.
THE ARM IS BUILT IN EUROPE.
EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE OPERATED
BY THE COLLEAGUES FROM COSMOS
FROM BENEFIT OF THE RUSSIAN
SEGMENT.
I KNOW THEY HAVE SOME CREW
LOCATIONS THAT THEY WANT TO DO
WITH IT.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCIENCE
PAYLOADS THAT THEY WANT TO
INSTALL AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE
RUSSIAN SEGMENTS.
THAT INITIAL OPERATION THAT ARE
PLANNED FOR THE NEXT YEAR, YEAR
AND A HALF.
WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE AREA
WILL BE USED TO FURTHER ENHANCE
THE RUSSIAN SEGMENT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF OUR RUSSIAN
COLLEAGUES FOR THE OPERATIONS
AND FOR THE EXECUTION OF ALL THE
TASKS THAT THEY WILL PLAN FOR
THE EUROPEAN ROBOTIC ARM.
IN TERMS OF THE CADENCE OF THE
ASTRONAUTS, WE WILL HAVE THREE
ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD OF THE ISS.
OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE
EUROPEAN ASTRONAUT MISSION PER
YEAR.
LIKE WE HAD IN THE PAST THROUGH
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE OUR SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE TO LEVERAGE
THE SUPPORT OF OUR EUROPEAN
MEMBER STATES FOR THE ISS.
IF YOU MIGHT KNOW, WE ARE
STARTING A NEW ASTRONAUT
SELECTION THIS YEAR.
WE WILL HAVE THE NEW CREW BY END
OF '22 BEGINNING OF '23.
IT'S OUR HOPE THOSE NEW PEOPLE
CAN ALL FLY TO THE ISS BEGINNING
IN '25.
THEREFORE, FOR US, THE EXTENSION
OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION BEYOND 2024 IS KEY AND
WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL OUR
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS AND NASA
ON MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE
EXTENSION OF THE ISS.
>> THANK YOU, FRANK.
THAT WILL DO IT FOR OUR
QUESTIONS.
I KNOW OUR GUESTS HERE TODAY
HAVE HAD A LONG DAY.
IT'S ONLY 8:30 IN THE MORNING.
WE WILL WRAP IT UP NOW.
AS A REMINDER, OUR NEXT MEDIA
EVENT FOR THIS MISSION IS A
BRIEFING WITH THE NASA
ADMINISTRATORS AND OTHERS.
THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER TOMORROW
APRIL 1st AT -- APRIL 21st
AT 8:30.
FOLLOWING THAT IS NASA SOCIAL
EVENT.
YOU CAN WATCH THAT LIVE ON
NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
LAUNCH ONCE AGAIN IS SCHEDULED
FOR EARTH DAY, THURSDAY
APRIL 22nd AT 6:11 A.M.
EASTERN TIME.
LAUNCH COVERAGE STARTS 2:00 A.M.
THURSDAY MORNING.
JUST BEFORE CREWS SUIT UP AND
LIVE COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH DOCKING AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
SCHEDULED FOR APPROXIMATELY 5:3Y
MORNING.
FOR MORE ABOUT THIS MISSION GO
TO NASA.GOV/COMMERCIAL CREW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SEE YOU SOON.