[♪♪♪]
>> AND YOU'RE LOOKING LIVE AT
THE CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT ON
TOP OF A ROCKET SET TO LAUNCH TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IN A FEW HOURS.
BUT NOW, THEY'RE LIVE INSIDE THE
ROOM RIGHT HERE, GETTING THEIR
SPACE SUITS ON.
THIS IS A LIVE LOOK INSIDE THE
ROOM WHERE THREE AMERICANS AND
ONE EUROPEAN ASTRONAUT ARE
COMPLETING THEIR CHECKOUTS OF
THEIR SPACE SUITS.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA
FOR LIFE COVERAGE OF SPACEX'S
CREW-4.
WITH ME IS MEGAN McARTHUR.
YOU KNOW THIS PROCEDURE WELL.
>> I'M SUPER EXCITED TO SEE MY
FRIENDS GETTING READY TO FLY
WITH BIG SMILES ON THEIR FACES.
>> IT STARTED WHEN THEY WOKE UP
8:37P.M. YESTERDAY BECAUSE IT
JUST ROLLED OVER.
>> WE THINK OF JUST LAUNCH TIME,
BUT THEY'VE BEEN UP FOR A WHILE,
GOING THROUGH THE STEPS TO GET
READY TO LAUNCH THE ROCKET.
>> WE WANT TO INVITE YOU AT HOME
WHO ARE PARTICIPATING, YOU CAN
PARTICIPATE, REALLY, BY TWEETING
NASA.
THERE, YOU'LL HEAR THE
OPERATIONAL AUDIO.
WE'LL HAVE THAT PLAYING IN THE
BACKGROUND FROM TIME TO TIME.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
COMMENTS ARE IN THE BACKGROUND
SO YOU CAN HEAR IT, BUT IN
ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE TEAMS
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE'LL GET UPDATES FROM SPACEX
HEADQUARTERS IN HAWTHORNE,
CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS MISSION
CONTROL CENTER IN HOUSTON AND
FLORIDA, AND, OF COURSE, THE
ROCKET IS ON THE PAD.
WE'LL TALK WITH CREW-3 ASTRONAUT
RAJA CHARI, WHO IS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
RIGHT NOW MAKING PREPARATIONS
FOR CREW-4.
THIS IS THE ROCKET AND THE
SPACECRAFT, AND THIS IS THE
SUIT-UP ROOM IN THE NEIL
ARMSTRONG OPERATIONS AND
CHECKOUT BUILDING AT THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER WHERE ASTRONAUTS
HAVE BEEN GETTING READY ALL THE
WAY BACK TO APOLLO 7, AND THEN,
IN THIS BUILDING, TO GEMINI 3.
>> YOU'RE GETTING INTO YOUR
SPACE SUIT, MAKING SURE THAT
EVERYTHING FITS THE WAY IT'S
SUPPOSED TO, MAKING SURE THE
SUIT HAS ITS PRESSURE INTEGRITY
CHECKED, SO THIS IS KIND OF THE
BUILD UP OF THE EXCITEMENT
THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE FOR
THEM THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
>> EACH ONE OF THE CREW-4
ASTRONAUTS IS IN HIS SEAT THAT
IS MOULDED EXACTLY AS IT IS IN
THE SPACECRAFT, RIGHT?
>> YES.
THE IDEA IS THAT SATE IS GOING
TO CRADLE YOU THROUGH THE
VARIOUS DYNAMIC PHASES OF
FLIGHT, SO YOU WANT IT TO FIT
YOU PRETTY WELL.
.
>> CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, MEGAN,
YOU WERE IN THAT ROOM JUST ABOUT
A YEAR AGO?
>> IN SOME SENSES, IT FEELS LIKE
IT WAS A LIFETIME AGO, BUT IN
OTHER WAYS, IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS
JUST A YEAR AGO, BUT DEFINITELY
HAVE GOOD MEMORIES OF BEING IN
THAT ROOM AND HAVING THAT
EXCITEMENT BUILD.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE EQUIPMENT
AGAINST THE WALL, THE GRAY
COLORED EQUIPMENT WITH THE DIALS
AND THE SWITCHES AND KNOBS.
THAT'S ORIGINAL FROM THE SHUTTLE
AND APOLLO ERA.
THIS IS LEFT IT THERE AS KIND OF
AN HOMAGE TO THE ERA OF SPACE
FLIGHT.
>> BEING THERE BEFORE, I'M A
PERSON THAT APPRECIATES HISTORY,
AND THE HISTORY OF THAT ROOM AND
ACHIEVEMENTS, THE DAY STARTED IN
THAT ROOM, SO IT'S NEAT TO SEE
THAT THERE.
THE SPACEX TEAM RUNS A VERY
EFFICIENT PROCESS.
THEY'VE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES,
AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE
THEIR PROCESS AS THEY LEARN
THINGS.
>> WE ARE ON AN INCREASE OF THAT
PACE.
JUST GOT THE COMMERCIAL CREW
BACK, AND THE PRIVATE CREW THAT
JUST CAME BACK.
SO LET'S JUST GET TO KNOW
CREW-4.
EACH ASTRONAUT BRINGS A DIVERSE
SET OF EXPERIENCES TO TODAY'S
FLIGHT.
THAT ASTRONAUT THAT YOU SEE
SITTING IN THE CHAIR, LET'S
START WITH HIM.
.
>> LET'S INTRODUCE YOU TO THE
TWO MISSION SPECIALISTS, JESSICA
WATKINS.
SHE CONSIDERS LAFAYETTE,
COLORADO, HER HOMETOWN.
TALENTED RUGBY PLAYER IN
COLLEGE.
HER COLLEGE WON THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2008.
I BELIEVE IT WAS STANFORD.
SHE WAS A FELLOW AT THE
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY.
SHE COMPLETED SEVERAL
INTERNSHIPS WITH NASA, INCLUDING
ONE TESTING SYSTEM DESIGNS FOR
THE MARS PERSEVERANCE MISSION.
SHE BECAME AN ASTRONAUT IN 2017,
A TURTLE, TALK MORE ABOUT THAT,
AND JUST LIKE BOB, SHE'S GOING
INTO SPACE FOR THE VERY FIRST
TIME.
>> YEAH, IT'S A BIT OF A TURTLE
TAKEOVER I THINK WHAT WE'RE
EXPERIENCING ON SPACE STATION
RIGHT NOW.
JESSICA IS AN OUTSTANDING CREW
MEMBER.
IT'S BEEN FUN TO GET TO KNOW
HER.
JUST THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
KNOWLEDGE SHE BRINGS, AND WHEN
SHE SMILES, IT LIGHTS UP THE
ROOM.
I THINK THIS CREW IS GOING TO
HAVE A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER.
>> WHAT YOU'RE CALLING OVER TO
THE SUIT TECH, WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
>> THERE'S A VARIETY OF THINGS
THAT THEY COULD BE CHECKING AT
THIS POINT.
>> THE SECOND CREWS SPECIALIST
IS SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI.
SHE NOW LIVES IN ITALY WITH HER
PARTNER AND TWO CHILDREN.
IN 2011, SHE EARNED HER ATTACK
FIGHTER WINGS AND LAUNCHED BOARD
SPACE TO OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, SHE WAS
AWARDED THE KNIGHT GRAIN CROSS
OF THE ORDER OF MERIT FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF ITALY.
>> SHE'S A GREAT PERSON TO BE
AROUND, SO THEY'RE REALLY GOING
TO WORK WELL TOGETHER.
THEY'VE GOTTEN TO SPEND SEVERAL
MONTHS TRAINING AND GETTING TO
KNOW ONE ANOTHER, AND I THINK
THIS MIX OF TRAINING AND SKILLS
SKILLS
-- EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS IS
GOING TO BLEND REALLY WELL.
>> LOOKING AT THAT BLUE BOX,
WHAT IS THAT THERE?
>> YOU CAN GET QUITE WARM IN
THAT SUIT, SO THEY'RE
PREEMPTIVELY MAKING SURE THAT
THE CREW MEMBERS AREN'T GETTING
OVERHEATED DURING THIS WAIT
TIME.
>> THESE CREW MEMBERS WILL BE
PART OF EXPEDITION 67.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH OUR TEAM
MONITORING LAUNCH AT SPACEX
HEADQUARTERS IN HAWTHORNE,
CALIFORNIA.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HEY, THANKS, DARRELL, AND HI,
EVERYBODY.
THRILLED TO BE BACK HERE AT
HAWTHORNE FOR ANOTHER CREW
LAUNCH.
>> PER USUAL, SUPER EXCITED
ABOUT CREW 4 TODAY.
WELCOME TO MISSION CONTROL IN
HAWTHORNE.
THIS IS WHERE THE TEAMS ARE
STAFFED AROUND THE CLOCK AS WE
COUNT DOWN TO LIFTOFF.
THE MISSION DIRECTOR IS IN
CHARGE OF THE ROOM AND TASKED
WITH MAKING REAL-TIME DECISIONS
TO ENSURE MISSION SUCCESS.
THE PERSON THAT YOU'LL HERE
TALKING IS THE CREW OPERATIONS
AND RESOURCES ENGINEER, WHICH
YOU'LL HEAR HIM REFER TO THEM AS
CORE THROUGHOUT THE BROADCAST.
AND IN AS IT HAS ITS OWN TEAM
MEMBERS BACK IN MISSION CONTROL
HOW FAST ON.
WE'RE GOING TO CHECK IN A LITTLE
BIT LATER WHERE THEY'RE
PREPARING FOR CREW DRAGON'S
ARRIVAL.
>> TODAY'S TRIP TO THE SPACE
STATION WILL TAKE ABOUT 22
HOURS, WITH DRAGON FLYING
AUTONOMOUSLY THE WHOLE WAY.
AT T-MINUS 3:39.20 TO LIFTOFF,
LET'S GO DOWN TO ANDY.
HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING?
>> THINGS ARE LOOKING WELL.
AT T-MINUS FOUR HOURS, THERE WAS
A BRIEFING BY THE SPACEX LAUNCH
DIRECTOR.
THERE'S NOTHING TO REPORT ON THE
ROCKET.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING REALLY
GOOD TONIGHT.
THE ONLY PEOPLE REMAIN ON THE
PAD ARE THE ONES NEEDED FOR
INGRESS OF THE ASTRONAUTS, AND
THE ROCKET IS CURRENTLY POWERED
ON.
ON TOP OF FALCON NINE,
EVERYTHING WAS PRESSURED ABOUT
AN HOUR AGO.
LAUNCH RANGE IS ALSO READY TO
SUPPORT AND WE'RE EXPERIENCING
NO ISSUES AT THIS TIME.
THE WEATHER IS CONTINUING TO
COOPERATE AS WE COUNT DOWN TO
LIFTOFF, SO AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS
LOOKING GOOD FOR TONIGHT'S
LIFTOFF.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO SEND IT
OVER TO DARRELL AND MEGAN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IT'S T-MINUS 3:37 AND COUNTING
HERE AT THE LAUNCH PAD IN
FLORIDA.
LESS THAN AN HOUR AGO, THEY GOT
A WEATHER BRIEFING, AND
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SUIT-UP
ROOM AND ASTRONAUT CREW
QUARTERS.
THE TECHS ARE NOW FINISHING UP.
EACH CREW MEMBER, THEY'RE IN
THEIR OWN CUSTOM SPACE SUIT
INSIDE THE HISTORIC ASTRONAUT
HEADQUARTERS SEAT-UP ROOM, AND
AT T-MINUS 3:30, THEY WILL BE
MAKING THEIR WAY OUT OF THE
FAMED CREW SUIT-UP, AND THEY'LL
BE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE
ELEVATORS AND DOWN TO THE FIRST
FLOOR WHERE THEY'LL BE GREETED
BY THEIR FAMILIES AND SEVERAL
WELL WISHERS, AS WELL.
THERE WILL BE SOME E.D.M. BEFORE
THEY HEAD OUT TO THE PAD.
YOU SEE IN THE UPPER RIGHT OF
YOUR SCREEN THERE, THE CHIEF OF
INTEGRATION TEST OFFICE, AND
HE'S KEEPING THEM ON TIME IN THE
ROOM, RIGHT, MEGAN.
>> WELL, THERE'S A TEAM OF FOLKS
MANAGING THAT OPERATION.
HE MAKES SURE THAT THE OPERATION
FOR THE QUARANTINE FACILITY
OPERATES SMOOTHLY.
EVERYTHING FROM THE AIR
CONDITIONING TO THE FOOD TO
EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, HE'S
MAKING SURE THAT THAT RUNS
SMOOTHLY FOR EVERYBODY THERE, BY
IS AN IMPORTANT JOB, AND BOY,
THEY SURE DO FEED US WELL DURING
THAT TIME.
>> AND THERE IS ANOTHER TURTLE
IN THERE.
>> ANOTHER TURTLE.
>> SHE'S SUPPORTING THE
ASTRONAUTS, WEARING, AS YOU
NOTICE, THE BLACK SPACEX NINJA
SUIT, AS YOU CALL IT, AND
THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.
>> YEAH, BECAUSE THE TEAM IS
KIND OF ONE TEAM, IS THE IDEA,
AND SHE BLENDS IN WITH THE REST
OF THE TEAM, BUT IT IS NICE TO
HAVE THAT ONE NASA
REPRESENTATIVE KNOWING THAT, YOU
KNOW, THEY'RE HOLDING ONTO ANY
MESSAGES OR ANY INFORMATION THAT
WE NEED TO PASS BACK AND FORTH.
>> SO MEGAN, YOU WERE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE STANCHION --
>> CREW CHECKOUTS AND DONNING
ARE COMPLETE.
WE'RE ON SCHEDULE.
>> OKAY.
THEY LOOK FINISHED, AND WE'RE
ALL READY TO GO.
AS I WAS MENTIONING, YOU WERE ON
BOTH SIDES, BOTH AS AN ASTRONAUT
FOR CREW-2, BUT YOUR HUSBAND BOB
BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY, CREW-1.
>> AS A FAMILY MEMBER WITH NO
ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PROCESS, IT'S
A LITTLE NERVE RACKING TO
REALIZE YOU'RE NOT PARTICIPATING
IN THIS MAJOR THING THAT'S
HAPPENING.
>> THIS IS OUR FEARLESS LEADER,
SOMEBODY ALWAYS IN COMMAND, AND
I JUST REALLY RESPECT.
>> HE WAS THE BACK UP CREW ON MY
FIRST FLIGHT, SO WE'VE SPENT A
LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.
>> A LITTLE KNOWN FACT ABOUT
JESSICA WATKINS IS SHE HAS A
SIXTH SENSE TO KNOW WHENEVER
SOMETHING IS IN FREE FLIGHT
AROUND HERE AND CATCH IT.
I REALLY WANT TO SEE HOW SHE
MANAGES THAT.
>> SHE IS PHENOMENAL.
SHE JOINED OUR CREW A LITTLE BIT
LATE, BUT SHE JUMPED IN AS
THOUGH SHE'D KNOWN US A LOT.
>> TO SEE HER EXPERIENCE AND THE
EXPERTISE THAT SHE BRINGS, AND
HER LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY
SPECIAL, AND BOB HEINZ, A
FARMER, IS A TEST PILOT.
HE IS THE PILOT FOR OUR
SPACECRAFT.
IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO GET TO
WORK WITH HIM AND TO LEAN ONTO
HIS FLYING TEST PILOT
EXPERIENCE.
>> HE WILL ALWAYS BRING A DAD
JOKE, SO YOU CAN ALWAYS BE
PREPARED FOR THAT.
>> WHEN WE'RE IN SPACE, WE 100%
PUT OUR LIVES IN THE HANDS OF
OUR CREW MATES.
>> WE COME TOGETHER AND REALLY
BALANCE EACH OTHER OUT AND JUST
REALLY BECOME ONE CREW.
>> THIS IS THE OPERATIONS AND
CHECK OUT BUILDING HIGH ABOVE
AND INSIDE IS SOME BEAUTIFUL
ARTWORK.
MEGAN, THIS IS SOME ARTWORK THAT
CAME TO US FROM AROUND THE
WORLD, PART OF THE CHILDREN'S
INTERNATIONAL ARTWORK 2022.
THEY'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB
PUTTING THESE LITTLE POINTINGS
TOGETHER.
THEY WERE IN CATEGORIES, AS YOU
CAN SEE -- PAINTINGS TOGETHER.
THEY WERE IN CATEGORIES, AS YOU
CAN SEE.
I LOVE THIS ONE.
THEY'VE GOT A SPACE STATION, AND
IT'S TETHERED TO THE EARTH.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE CHILDREN
WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR ART
CONTEST.
IT IS UP ON THE WALL, AND ALL
THE ASTRONAUTS WHO WALK BY WILL
SEE THE ART WHEN THEY WALK RIGHT
BY.
>> VERY GOOD.
THROUGHOUT THE MISSION, WE WANT
TO INVITE YOU, FOR THE NEXT 3.5
HOURS, TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS
FOR MEGAN.
GOT THE EXPERT ON HAND.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS USE THE
HASHTAG #ASKNASA ON TWITTER, SO
WE'LL GET THE QUESTIONS TO HER.
WE'VE GOT A QUESTION.
MEGAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN LIVE
AND WORK ON THE SPACE STATION AT
ONE TIME?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO WHEN I ARRIVED ON BOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THERE WAS ALREADY -- CREW1 WAS
THERE, AS WELL AS A SOYUZ CREW,
SO THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 11 OF
US ON THE SPACE STATION.
IT DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE
CROWDED, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF
THE HARDWARE THAT YOU NEED TO
USE, LIKE THE TOILET OR THE
GALLEY THAT YOU NEED TO PREPARE
YOUR FOOD.
IT IMPEDES OUR ABILITY TO DO OUR
WORK, BUT WE ALL LEARN TO LIVE
THEIR SAFELY
>> TAKES MORE PLANNING AND
ORGANIZATION.
>> EXACTLY.
>> THE SCIENCE OF THE SPACE
STATION, I HEARD IT DESCRIBES
EXACTLY AS A -- DESCRIBED
EXACTLY AS A FIVE-BEDROOM HOUSE.
ON THE OUTSIDE, IT'S AS LARGE AS
A FOOTBALL FIELD.
>> YES.
THE LIVING SPACE IS SMALLER THAN
THE EXTERNAL STRUCTURE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EQUIPMENT,
POWER GENERATION AND
DISTRIBUTION EQUIPMENT THAT ARE
NOT PART OF THE LIVING SPACE,
BUT IT IS PART OF THE SPACE
STATION STRUCTURE, SO THE
FIVE-BEDROOM HOUSE IS A CLOSER
NUMBER.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION AS
WE'RE WAITING FOR THE ASTRONAUTS
FROM CREW FOUR TO WALK OUT.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MANUAL
FEATURES ON THE SPACEX CREW
CAPSULE?
>> THE MANUAL FEATURES ARE
DESIGNED IN THE EVENT -- THE
VEHICLE IS DESIGNED TO BE
LARGELY AUTOMATED IN CREW
CONTROL.
WE THINK ABOUT MANUAL FLYING IS
A CAPABILITY, SHOULD THAT BECOME
NECESSARY.
WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO BECOME
NECESSARY, BUT IT WAS TESTED OUT
ON THE ORIGINAL DEMOMISSION.
>> AND AS A PILOT, THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD TO KNOW
WELL.
>> WE HAD TO KNOW -- SHANE AND I
TRAINED THAT TOGETHER, AND IN
THE EVENT, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE
HAD AN UNSUCCESSFUL DOCKING, WE
WOULD HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE
VEHICLE WAS DOCKING THE SPACE
STATION APPROPRIATELY AND
SAFELY, AND IF IT WASN'T, THEN
THERE WAS SOME MANUAL CONTROL
THAT WE WOULD TAKE CONTROL.
>> YOU WANT THAT ABILITY TO JUMP
IN AND TAKE IT.
GREAT QUESTION.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER QUESTION.
WHAT'S THE LAUNCH TRAJECTORY AND
VISIBILITY FOR THE CREW-4
LAUNCH.
AS WE LOOK HERE AS SOME OF THE
MEDIA AND FAMILY MEMBERS
GATHERING, YOU CAN SEE, ON THE
LEFT-HAND SIDE, BILL NELSON,
NASAs ADMINISTRATOR, FORMER
FLORIDA SENATOR.
YOU SEE CREW-4 COMING, AS WELL.
>> LOOK AT THOSE SMILES.
>> GREAT SMILES.
THERE IN THE ELEVATOR THEY GO.
YOU CAN SEE THEM ON THE WALL,
FOLKS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS
PROGRAM.
>> YES, I REMEMBER THAT WHEN I
GOT ON THE ELEVATOR.
WE DON'T GET TO INTERACT WITH
THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE.
IT'S A NICE REMINDER OF HOW
LARGE AND HOW DEDICATED THIS
TEAM IS.
>> GOT THE ELEVATOR CLOSED AND
NOW THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY DOWN
FROM THE FOURTH FLOOR TO THE
FIRST FLOOR, AND WE ARE JUST NOW
MOMENTS AWAY AS A RESULT FROM
SEEING THE CREW-4 EXIT THE
OPERATIONS AND CHECK OUT
BUILDING.
>> YES.
SO EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING.
>> YOU WAIT FOR A COUPLE OF
MOMENTS, AND THE SPACEX TEAM
WILL GIVE YOU THE QUEUE TO WALK
OUT.
>> SINCE YOU MENTIONED THAT, WE
THOUGHT WE'D GIVE YOU A LOOK
BACK.
THERE YOU ARE IN YOUR SUIT,
SAYING GOOD-BYE TO YOUR SON.
>> AND THEN, IN APRIL, CREW-2,
THIS WAS YOUR LAUNCH, AND NOW,
THE ROLE WAS REVERSED.
YOU WERE IN THE ASTRONAUT SUIT,
GETTING READY TO LAUNCH, AND
YOUR SON WAS THERE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND I WAS
LISTENING OUT FOR THAT LAUNCH
AMERICA, AND I COULD HEAR IT
FROM PROBABLY 20 FEET AWAY.
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL MOMENT SKBL
--
>> AND NOW, WE LOOK AT THE DOORS
OPENING FOR CREW-4, WHERE THEIR
ROCKET AWAITS THEM AS WELL AS
THEIR SPACECRAFT.
THE CREW DRAGON FREEDOM.
USUALLY, WHEN THE FIRST SPACEX
TECH COMES OUT, THE ASTRONAUTS
ARE NOT FAR BEHIND.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP THERE,
THE NASA MEAT BALL LOGO AND THE
VARIOUS PATCHES AROUND IT.
THOSE HAVE BEEN PUT THERE BY
PREVIOUS CREWS.
>> YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE MEAT
BALL.
IT'S BEEN COVERED BY PREVIOUS
MISSION STICKERS, BUT THAT'S
PART OF THE TRADITION, AS WELL.
>> THE DOORS OF THE TESLAS ARE
NOW OPENING, AT T-MINUS 3:21
UNTIL LIFT OFF.
YOU CAN SEE THE MARKINGS ON THE
GROUND.
THE FAMILY WILL BE GO BEYOND
THAT, AND THE ASTRONAUTS WILL
STAY BEHIND THE YELLOW, BUT
THERE'S A SCENE IN PREVIOUS
VIDEOS WHERE THE FAMILY WILL BE
ALLOWED TO GO UP TO THE CAR.
>> YES.
ONE THE ASTRONAUTS ARE IN THE
CAR AND THE WINDOWS ARE ROLLED
UP, THE FAMILY WILL GET TO GET A
LITTLE CLOSER, WHICH IS NICE.
>> THERE THEY ARE.
>> THE ASTRONAUTS OF CREW-4 ARE
GETTING READY TO GO TO SPACE,
TAKING THEIR FIRST STEPS
OUTSIDE.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, JESSICA
WATKINS, ROBERT HINES, KJELL
LINDGREN, AND SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI.
HERE'S THAT MOMENT, MEGAN.
>> IT'S A WONDERFUL MOMENT, JUST
SEEING THE SMILES ON THE FACES
OF YOUR LOVED ONES, JUST KNOWING
THAT THEY'RE THERE FOR YOU.
IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.
>> BIG SMILES ALL THE WAY
AROUND.
I REMEMBER YOU SMILING, AS WELL,
MEGAN, AND THEN, YOU TOLD ME
THERE WAS A REASON, THAT YOU
WANTED TO SEND A MESSAGE.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW YOUR FAMILY
MEMBERS WILL REACT, ESPECIALLY
IF YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, SO
THE MAIN THING IS TO SHOW THEM
THAT IT IS A HAPPY OCCASION,
THAT YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT.
MY GOAL WAS TO HEAD OFF ANY
TEARS THAT MIGHT BE COMING, BUT
REALLY, MY SON ENDED UP JUST
BEING A TROUPER.
THERE WAS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT
AROUND HIM THAT THAT HELPED BUOY
HIM UP IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> DIDN'T HE BREAK FREE, MOMMY,
I LOVE YOU?
>> I WAS WORRIED HE WAS ACTUALLY
GOING TO COME THROUGH THE ROPES,
BUT HE DID NOT DO THAT.
I THINK FOR BOB'S LAUNCH,
THERE'S AN IMAGE OF HIM TRYING
TO GET THROUGH THE WINDOW, BUT I
MANAGED TO HOLD ONTO HIM.
HE'S A LITTLE BIT SMALLER THEN.
>> ONE OF OUR ASTRONAUTS REALLY
SOAKING THAT IN.
I BELIEVE THAT'S KJELL.
>> YEAH, DON'T WANT TO MISS THAT
PHOTO.
>> IT REALLY DOES IT LOOK LIKE
HE'S POSING, AND THE WAVE.
GREAT SHOT FROM THE HELICOPTER
ABOVE OR IS THAT BOB HINES?
>> I THINK SO.
>> YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT SHOT FROM ABOVE WAS
ACTUALLY FROM ONE OF OUR
PHOTOGRAPHERS.
NOT THE HELICOPTER, WANT TO
CORRECT THAT.
OUR HELICOPTER WILL FOLLOW THE
ENTIRE WAY, AND NOW, THE
FAMILIES COME IN.
>> YES.
THEY GET THAT UP CLOSE TIME WITH
THEIR LOVED ONES, AND THAT'S
REALLY SPECIAL.
ANY LAST LITTLE MESSAGES THAT
YOU WANT TO SHARE PRIVATELY OR
JUST HANDS UP AGAINST THE GLASS,
JUST A SPECIAL MOMENT.
>> AND MEGAN, EVERY PLATE ON THE
TESLAS ARE GO4LAUNCH, WHICH IS A
NICE TOUCH.
AS THEY GET READY TO GO.
YOU TRY TO SHARE WHY YOU BELIEVE
IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THESE
THINGS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE
RISKY, AND THEY BENEFIT MANKIND,
AND THEY BENEFIT ALL OF US.
>> AND THERE GOES OUR CONVOY,
ROLLING OUT TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
THE LAST TEN MILES, A 20-MINUTE
DRIVE.
THEY WON'T SEE MUCH IN THE DARK,
BUT THIS IS THE WAY TO SPACE.
>> YES.
THIS IS A NICE RELAXATION
MOMENT.
YOU'VE JUST GONE THROUGH A HAPPY
SCENE, BUT AN EMOTIONAL SCENE,
NONETHELESS, AND THIS IS KIND OF
A TIME TO LEAN BACK IN YOUR
CHAIR A LITTLE BIT.
FOR ME, IT WAS BLARING SOME
FAVORITE SONGS, BUT IT'S JUST
TIME FOR A LITTLE BIT OF
RELAXATION BEFORE THE JOURNEY.
>> NOW, WE'RE SET TO ACROSS
NASA'S FACILITY ON THE WAY TO
LAUNCH PAD 39.
>> WHY DO WE EXPLORE IN YOU
KNOW, I THINK VENTURES OUT INTO
LOW EARTH ORBIT AND BEYOND HELPS
US TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHO WE
ARE IN OUR PLACE IN THE SOLAR
SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSE.
MY NAME IS KJELL LINDGREN, AND
I'M THE COMMANDER FOR NASA'S
SPACEX CREW-4 MISSION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I GREW UP IN AN AIR FORCE
FAMILY, SO I WAS BORN IN TAIWAN
AND SPENT THE FIRST FOUR YEARS
OF MY LIFE THERE.
WE LIVED IN KANSAS AND ILLINOIS,
AND THEN, WE WERE TRANSFERRED TO
ENGLAND.
IT WAS A PHENOMENAL LIFE.
IT REALLY OPENED MY EYES TO WHAT
IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN.
I THINK I WAS INSPIRED BY THE
VERY FIRST SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH
IN APRIL OF 1981.
>> THE FIRST SPACE SHUTTLE, AND
THE SHUTTLE HAS CLEARED THE
TOWER.
>> AND THAT, I THINK, IS REALLY
WHEN THIS DREAM WAS JUST BURNED
INTO MY CONSCIOUSNESS, AND SO I
CHARTED OUT A PATH.
I WENT TO THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY,
MAYBE TO BECOME A TEST PILOT,
AND THEN, TO JOIN NASA AS AN
ASTRONAUT.
THAT PATH TOOK SOME TWISTS AND
TURNS, AND I ULTIMATELY DID NOT
BECOME AN ASTRONAUT BUT WENT
ONTO FLIGHT MEDICINE.
I FOUND A WAY THAT I COULD
SUPPORT FLIGHT CREWS, BUT I
STILL HAD THAT DREAM THAT
PERHAPS I WOULD GET TO DO THAT
JOB SOMEBODY.
IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO GET
THE CALL THAT I HAD BEEN
SELECTED INTO THE ASTRONAUT
OFFICE.
IT FELT LIKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE CULMINATION OF THE HARD WORK
THAT I HAD INVESTED IN GETTING
TO THAT POINT WAS AN AMAZING,
REALLY, DREAM COME THROUGH.
IN 2014, I WAS ASSIGNED TO MY
FIRST MISSION AND SPENT 141 DAYS
LIVING AND WORKING ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THAT TRULY WAS THAT REALIZATION
OF LIVING AND WORKING THAT
DREAM, AND EVERYTHING IN THAT
MOMENT WERE REALLY, REALLY
SPECIAL.
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO GET
SELECTED FOR THE CREW-4 MISSION,
AND ON TOP OF THAT, TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMAND.
GETTING TO FLY WITH THIS AMAZING
CREW WITH FARMER AND SAMANTHA
AND CRISTOFORETTI, WE'RE ONE
SMALL PART OF A TEAM THAT
REACHES AROUND THE NATION AND
AROUND THE WORLD.
AS WE PUSH FORWARD TO MARS, TO
THE MOON, WE ARE FACING ALMOST
INSUR MOUNTABLE CHALLENGES.
AS WE MEET THOSE CHALLENGES, WE
ARE BECOMING BETTER AS AN
ORGANIZATION, AS A SPECIES.
>> MEGAN, YOU REMEMBER THIS
VIEW.
THIS IS FROM THE FIRST TESLA IN
THE CONVOY AS THEY ROLL TOWARDS
THE PATH.
YOU WERE ROCKING OUT RIGHT ABOUT
THAT TIME.
>> YES.
I SELECTED MORE METALLICA AND
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, AND SHANE
WAS SOMETHING ELSE, BUT WE CAME
TOGETHER ON U2.
>> I AM ROBERT HINES, AND MY
FATHER WAS STATIONED AT FORT
BRAGG.
I GOT COMFORTABLE SHOWING UP IN
NEW PLACES AND BEING ABLE TO
MAKE FRIENDS.
WHEN I WAS A KID, I 100% WANTED
TO BE A PILOT FOR AS LONG AS I
COULD REMEMBER.
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF,
BEING A TEST PILOT IS NOT GOING
OUT THERE AND FLYING BY THE SEAT
OF YOUR PANTS.
WE PLAN OUT EVERY MISSION AND
ALL THE RISKS THAT ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH THAT MISSION.
THAT REALLY DOES DOFF STALE WELL
WITH SPACE FLIGHT.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A TEST PILOT
AND A TEST PILOT AND AN
INSTRUCTOR PREPARED ME FOR WHAT
I'M ABOUT TO DO.
IT WAS ACTUALLY A DAY AFTER MY
BIRTHDAY WHEN I GOT THE PHONE
CALL, AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
WHEN I TOLD MY WIFE, SHE
COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, EITHER.
I CAN'T WAIT TO PILOT THIS
VEHICLE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE HONOR, AND
IT'S SOMETHING IN MY WILDEST
DREAMS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT
WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
GETTING A CHANCE TO PILOT ONE OF
THE NEWEST VEHICLES ON THE
PLANET IS A TRUE HONOR.
ON LAUNCH DAY, I AM 100% MOST
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE KICK IN
THE PANTS WHEN THOSE ROCKET
MOTORS LIKE -- LIGHT UP.
BEING AN ASTRONAUT IS AN
INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY AS
WELL AS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HOPE
TO SHOW IS REGARDLESS OF OUR
RESPONSIBILITIES, IF WE PUT OUR
MINDS TO A SINGLE MISSION, WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.
>> HERE, YOU SEE THE CONVOY
MAKING RIGHT THERE IS RIGHT IN
FRONT OF THE HISTORIC TYPE
VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING.
>> ONE DAY, THERE'S GOING TO BE
A BIG MOON ROCKET OUT OF 39-B.
>> BEAUTIFUL SHOT THERE AS THE
CREW GOES RIGHT BY US.
IN FACT, HERE AT THE HOST DESK,
THERE'S OUR CAMERA AT THE
GROUND, WITH THE SHOT, AND YOU
CAN HEAR THE HELICOPTER
OVERHEAD.
NOW, THE CREW CONVOY'S
APPROACHING PAD 39-A, AND THAT'S
AN AREA KNOWN AS THE BLAST
DANGER AREA OR B.D.A.
BEFORE ANYONE ENTERS THIS AREA
AROUND THE LAUNCH PAD, SPACEX
AND NASA TEAMS, THEY CONDUCT AN
INTERNAL GO, NO-GO POLL TO MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S SAFE TO ENTER.
LET'S HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR
MISSION SPECIALISTS, JESSICA
WATKINS.
>> EXPLORING IS ABOUT PUSHING
THE BOUNDS OF WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE
ARE AS HUMANS.
WE GET THAT INTRINSICALLY AS
HUMANS.
MY NAME IS JESSICA WATKINS, AND
I'M A MISSION SPECIALIST ON
CREW-4 ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
MY PARENTS ALWAYS STRESSED THE
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING A GOOD
EDUCATION AND FINDING SOMETHING
THAT YOU WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT,
AND SO FINDING GEOLOGY, FINDING
THAT LOVE OF MINES, THAT
PASSION, WAS REALLY A TURNING
POINT FOR ME IN MY CAREER.
MY GRADUATE WORK FOCUSED MOSTLY
ON THE GEOLOGY OF MARS.
IT WAS PART OF MY INTEREST IN
WANTING TO PURSUE INTERNSHIPS IN
NASA AND GAVE ME EXPOSURE TO THE
DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT
CAREERS ARE POSSIBILITY IN THIS
GEOLOGY FIELD.
JUST WANTING TO WORK AT NASA IS
SETTING OUT A DREAM FOR YOURSELF
AND STOWING IT IN THE BACK OF
YOUR HEAD, AT LEAST IN MY CASE.
THE DAY THAT I RECEIVED A PHONE
CALL INVITING ME TO COME DOWN TO
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER AND BECOME
AN ASTRONAUT WAS REALLY A DREAM
COME TRUE.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE
LATEST ASTRONAUT, JESSICA
WATKINS.
>> AND I STILL AM WAITING FOR
SOMEBODY TO PINCH ME AND WAKE ME
UP.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE FIRST
WOMAN ON AN INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION LONG DURATION CREW IS
MEANINGFUL TO ME.
IT'S IMPACTFUL TO BE A PART OF
THE LEGACY THAT SO MANY BEFORE
ME HAVE PAVED THE WAY TO ENABLE
ME TO BE HERE NOW.
AS MUCH AS I CAN BE A SMALL PART
OF THAT LEGACY, I'M HONORED TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
BEING SELECTED TO BE A PART OF
THIS CREW-4 MISSION IS TRULY AN
HONOR.
I'M EXCITED TO FLY WITH KJELL,
SAMANTHA, AND BOB.
ALL THREE OF THEM BRING
DIFFERENT TALENT AND DIFFERENT
EXPERIENCES, BUT I THINK THE
FOUR OF US COALESCE AS A CREW.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT MOMENT OF
EXHALE AND EXCITEMENT ALL AT THE
SAME TIME.
>> NASA ASTRONAUT JESSICA
WATKINS THERE AS WE FOLLOW THE
CONVOY OUT TO THE PAD.
LOOKING AHEAD A LITTLE BIT,
ABOUT T-MINUS 2:35, THE
ASTRONAUTS WILL ENTER THE DRAGON
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SUIT
TECHS AND GET BELTED IN THERE.
DIRECTING YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME
SPACE FACTS IN THE LOWER
LEFT-HAND CORNER.
THERE THEY ARE, GOING AROUND THE
SPACEX'S HORIZONTAL INTEGRATIONS
FACILITY, MEGAN, AND AT THIS
POINT, WHEN YOU'RE PULLING UP TO
THE ROCKET, PROBABLY HARD TO SEE
BECAUSE IT'S SO TALL, BUT YOU
KNOW IT'S THERE, AND YOU'RE
INSIDE THE LAUNCH PAD AREA.
>> YOU REALLY ARE, AND I THINK
ACTUALLY THEY EXPRESSED IT
REALLY WELL AS A BUILDING OF
EXCITEMENT.
THIS IS THE DAY I'VE BEEN
WORKING FOR, BUT THIS NEXT THING
THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO DO IS EVEN
MORE AMAZING AND EXCITING.
SO THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING,
AND THE FOCUS AND ATTENTION THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO BRING IS
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.
>> WE DON'T SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF
TIME ON THE LAUNCH PAD, SO
GETTING TO SEE IT FOR US IS
ALWAYS A VERY SPECIAL THING, AS
WELL.
IT DOES LOOK VERY DIFFERENT NOW
UNDER THE NEW OWNERS, BUT YOU
CAN STILL SEE THE BONES OF IT,
OF THE HISTORICAL STRUCTURE THAT
WAS THERE, SUPPORTING ALL THE
SHUTTLE LAUNCHES.
>> SPEAKING ABOUT IT, WE'RE
PANNING AROUND IT, BUT THAT WAS
THE OLD ROTATING SERVICE
STRUCTURE THAT WOULD CONTAIN THE
SERVICE BAY OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE
SO YOU COULD GET INTO IT.
>> THERE'S THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE ARRIVAL AND BEFORE THE CREW
MAKES THEIR WAY TO THE ELEVATOR
AT THE GROUND LEVEL OF PAD 39-A,
LET'S HEAR FROM MISSION
SPECIALIST AND ESA ASTRONAUT
SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI.
>> I GOT THE CALL TO BE AN
ASTRONAUT ONE EVENING.
I GOT THE FEELING THAT THE
UNIVERSE JUST STOPPED, TURNED
AROUND, AND SMILED AT ME.
MY NAME IS SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI, AND I AM A
MISSION SPECIALIST ON THE CREW-4
MISSION ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
I GREW UP IN A SMALL VILLAGE IN
THE NORTHEASTERN ALPS IN ITALY.
I GREW UP SKIING AND ENJOYING
THE OUTDOORS.
MY PARENTS OWNED A HOTEL, BUT WE
ACTUALLY LIVED IN THE HOTEL.
IT WAS OUR HOME.
I STARTED DREAMING ABOUT
BECOMING AN ASTRONAUT EARLY ON.
THE FACT THAT I WAS GROWING UP
IN A PLACE, WHERE I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND PLAY
WITH OTHER KIDS AND GET PASSION.
I COMPLETED MY HIGH SCHOOL IN
ITALY, AND THEN, I APPLIED TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH FOR
THEIR ENGINEERING DEGREE, AND
THEN, SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
HAPPENED.
THE OPPORTUNITY OPENED UP OF
ACTUALLY JOINING THE ITALIAN AIR
FORCE AS A PILOT.
THAT HAD NOT BEEN POSSIBLE FOR
ME STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
BECAUSE THE FIGHTER PILOT
PROGRAM DID NOT ACCEPT WOMEN.
THE ASTRONAUT JOB IS REALLY
ABOUT THIS BROAD SPECTRUM OF
THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO MASTER,
RATHER THAN BEING A SPECIALIST
THAT HAS MASTERED VERY, VERY
WELL FOR A VERY LONG TIME JUST
ONE THING, SO I'M REALLY
GRATEFUL IN HINDSIGHT.
GETTING SELECTED FOR CREW-4 WAS
AMAZING, BECAUSE GETTING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
GETTING TO EXPERIENCE AGAIN THAT
CONFIRMATION FROM BEING AN EARTH
BOUND CREATURE TO BEING THIS
SPACE LIVING CREATURE AND BEING
A PART OF THAT VERY, VERY
SPECIAL LIFE UP THERE AND THE
OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ONCE AGAIN
IN SPACE.
>> AND THOMAS PESQUET, YOU
REMEMBER THAT WELL.
THERE'S A SHOT OF LAUNCH PAD
39-A.
AT THE TOP, CREW-4 FREEDOM,
RIDING ON TOP OF THE FALCON 9
ROCKET BELOW.
THIS FALCON 9 ROCKET, WHEN IT
FLIES TODAY, IT'LL BE THE FOURTH
TIME THAT THIS BOOSTER HAS
FLOWN, SO A REUSE, THAT'S THE
FIRST TIME FOR A ROCKET TO BE
USED FOUR TIMES FOR A FLIGHT.
>> VERY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE -- ALL THE PARTS AND
PIECES PASS THE NECESSARY SAFETY
CHECKS AND THEIR FLEET LEADERS
ARE BEING USED ON UNCREWED
VEHICLES SO THEY CAN PUSH THOSE
BOUNDARIES AND GET MORE AND MORE
DATA BUT WITH AN UNCREWED
VEHICLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY, AND THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT MAKES THIS CYCLE OF
REUSABILITY WORK SO WELL AS
ADMINISTRATION OF NASA HAS MADE
A PRIORITY OF STUDYING CLOSELY
THIS BOOSTER.
LET'S TAKE ANOTHER QUESTION.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO BECOME ASTRONAUTS IN
THE FUTURE?
I'M SURE YOU GET ASKED THIS
QUESTION A LOT.
>> I DO.
I REMEMBER ASKING THE SAME
QUESTION WHEN I WAS YOUNG.
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING TO RK WOULD
AS A PROFESSIONAL ASTRONAUT,
LOOK FOR YOUR GOVERNMENT, IT'S
GOING TO INVOLVE LOOKING AT YOUR
SCHOOLING.
WHAT KINDS OF SCHOOLING DID YOU
PARTAKE IN?
IT'S GOING TO BE ENGINEERS,
SCIENTISTS, THAT KIND OF
BACKGROUND.
IT CAN BE FOLKS WORKING ON
SUBMARINES.
AND THEY GET READY TO RIDE UP TO
THE ELEVATORS WHERE THE CREW
ACCESS ARM IS.
THE ORIGINAL ELEVATORS.
THEY'VE BEEN RENOVATED, BUT
THOSE ARE THE SAME ELEVATORS
THAT YOU GOT INTO AS BOTH A
SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT AND A CREW
DRAGON MEMBER.
WORKING IN A TECHNICAL FIELD,
ASTRONAUTS DO NOT WORK AS SOLO
AGENTS.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT YOUR TEAM
SKILLS, WHICH CAN BE LEADERSHIP
SKILLS AND FOLLOWER SKILLS, SO
MY ADVICE IS SEEK OUT TEAM
PROJECTS, WHETHER THEY'RE A PART
OF YOUR FORMAL EDUCATION OR
SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO ON THE
SIDE THAT YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS
DEVELOP TOGETHER, THOSE TEAM
EXPERIENCES WHERE YOU'RE WORKING
TOGETHER TO BUILD SOMETHING ARE
REALLY VALUABLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
GREAT VICE.
AS WE SEE THE FIRST TWO
ASTRONAUTS MAKE THEIR WAY OUT OF
THE ELEVATORS AND TOWARDS THE
CREW ACCESS ARM.
SOME FIST PUMPS WITH THEIR CREW,
AND THEN, THEY'LL MAKE THEIR WAY
TO A TELEPHONE FOR A LAST CALL,
OR A LAST CALL BEFORE THEY LEAVE
EARTH TO FAMILY MEMBERS.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
SO THIS IS ABOUT THE POINT THAT
THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED
ONES HOPE THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR
PHONE ON AND IT'S NOT ON MUTE.
THERE'S THAT BEND BACK AGAIN.
THERE SHOULD BE A NAME FOR THAT
MOVE.
>> HOW ABOUT JUST LEAN BACK
LOOK?
>> YOU'VE GOT TO FIT THE ROCKET
IN THERE SOMEHOW.
>> I'M GOING TO WORK ON THAT,
MEGAN.
I'LL GET WITH YOU LATER.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WE HAVE
SAMANTHA AND JESSICA GETTING
READY TO GET IN THE ELEVATOR.
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, BOB AND
KJELL.
IT HAS VERY LARGE BUTTONS FOR
DIALING THE NUMBERS BECAUSE
YOU'VE GOT THE GLOVES ON.
>> YOU CAN'T PUT THE PHONE UP
NEXT TO YOUR EAR.
YOU'RE KIND OF SHOUTING TO THE
PHONE.
>> DID YOU HAVE TO MEMORIZE THE
NUMBERS?
>> I THINK THERE WAS SOMEBODY
THERE TO DIAL THEM, BUT YOU'RE
RIGHT.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE CHEVRONS ON
THE GROUND AND THE DIRECTION
THAT THEY POINT.
THEY HAVE A PURPOSE, AS WELL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY'RE POINTING IN THE
DIRECTION IN CASE THERE'S A
CONTINGENCY.
THEY'RE ONE SIGNAL THAT'S EASY
TO SEE IF THERE'S DARKNESS OR
SMOKE TO DIRECT YOU AWAY FROM
THE ROCKET AND TO THE BASKETS
THAT YOU WOULD RIDE TO GET FAR
AWAY FROM THE LAUNCH PAD.
>> AND NOW, OUR MISSION
SPECIALISTS HAVE CAUGHT UP.
LOOKS LIKE BOB HINES IS HAVING A
NICE LITTLE CONVERSATION THERE.
>> IT'S NICE, BECAUSE YOU
REALIZE THAT THIS IS PROBABLY
GOING TO BE THE CLOSEST TO
NATURE YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN A
WHILE, AND FEELING THE BREEZE ON
YOUR FACE.
>> SAMANTHA AND JESSICA TAKING
THE ADVANTAGE TO DO WHAT YOU
JUST SAID, TO LOOK OUT AT PLANET
EARTH ONE LAST TIME.
I HEARD THE ASTRONAUTS FROM CREW
THREE TALKING ABOUT THE OTHER
DAY.
TOM MARSHBURN TALKED ABOUT JUST
WANTING TO HAVE THE WIND BLOW ON
HIS FACE, ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE
A HOT BATH.
>> I WENT RUNNING IN THE RAIN,
AND IT FELT WONDERFUL, WITH THE
RAIN RUNNING DOWN MY FACE AND
DOWN MY NECK AND INTO MY
CLOTHES, AND IT WAS GREAT.
>> SPACE IS NICE TO VISIT, BUT
IT'S GOOD TO GET BACK HOME.
>> IT IS.
>> IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US,
YOU ARE WATCHING THE PREPARATION
OF THE LAUNCH OF CREW4.
WELCOME.
NASA ASTRONAUT IS -- MEGAN
McARTHUR IS GIVING US INSIGHT,
AS WELL.
>> LOVE THAT SHOT.
CLOSE OUT SCENE, NOT FAR BEHIND.
THEY HAVE SOME WORK TO DO TO GET
THEM INSIDE.
AND NOW OUR MISSION SPECIALISTS
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
THAT PHONE CALL.
WE ARE T-MINUS 2:45 AND COUNTING
UNTIL THE LIFT OFF OF CREW-4
FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
THIS IS NOW A LOOK INSIDE THE
WHITE ROOM.
KJELL HAS ARRIVED.
>> WE ARE AT T-MINUS 2:45.
THE CREW HAVE ARRIVED AT THE
WHITE ROOM AND ARE PREPARING FOR
INGRESS.
WE ARE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.
>> YOU SEE HE'S GOT THE SHARPIE
IN HIS HAND, AND HE'S SIGNING
THE WHITE WALL.
>> YES, HE'S SIGNING THE WALL.
ALL OF THE CREWS WHO HAVE
LAUNCHED FROM THERE PREVIOUSLY
HAVE SIGNED THEIR ROOM.
IT IS A REALLY SMALL SPACE
THAT'S BEING USED TO DO FINAL
SUIT PREPARATIONS.
IT DOES HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT IN THERE,
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE THE
TIME AND ACKNOWLEDGE THESE
TRADITIONS THAT ARE BEING BUILT
AND RENEWED THERE.
>> YOUR NAME IS ON THAT WALL.
>> ON THAT WALL.
>> HOPEFULLY THEY DIDN'T WRITE
OVER IT.
>> OH, YEAH, I MIGHT HAVE TO GO
BACK AND CHECK.
>> WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AFTER THE
LAUNCH.
>> HOPEFULLY, IT'S ALL GOOD.
>> IN FACT, THAT SHARPIE IS AN
ITEM ON A CHECKLIST.
>> IT IS.
>> TO MAKE SURE IT'S THERE.
AND HERE COME OUR NEXT TWO
ASTRONAUTS.
>> FINISHING UP ONE LAST PHONE
CALL, IT LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN,
THEY'LL WALK UP TOGETHER.
.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THE PHONE CALLS
ARE WRAPPED UP.
AND HERE COME JESSICA AND
SAMANTHA.
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE SAYING
SOMETHING.
>> CAN'T TELL WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING.
>> BUT YOU CAN FEEL THE ENERGY
ALONE.
WE ARE INSIDE THE 2:42 MARK.
SIMPLY MEANS THE ASTRONAUTS ARE
GETTING INSIDE CREW DRAGON.
THEY HAVE COVERS ON THEIR BOOTS
THAT MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING
IS KEPT CLEAN UPON ENTERING THE
CAPSULE.
SAMANTHA FLASHING US THE CREW-4.
THAT'S A GREAT SHOT, LOOKING
BACK OUT TOWARDS THE ARM.
THOSE 3-D HELMETS ARE PRINTED
AND CUSTOMIZED.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S CHECK BACK IN WITH OUR
TEAM AT SPACEX HEADQUARTERS IN
AUTO THORN, CALIFORNIA.
SEND IT BACK OVER TO JESSIE AND
DAN.
>> THANKS, DARRELL.
IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THE
COUNTRY STARTING TO INGRESS THE
DRAGON VEHICLE AND GET READY FOR
THEIR TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
A QUICK CLARIFICATION.
THEIR TRIP WILL BE ABOUT 16
HOURS LONG AS THEY LIFT OFF THIS
MORNING.
>> YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT THE MIDDLE
OF THIS RANGE.
RIGHT NOW, THEY -- THEY'RE
INGRESSING THE CASTLE.
THEY'RE IN THE WHITE ROOM.
IT'S THE END OF THE ACCESS ROOM.
THERE'S A SALE THAT EXTENDS FROM
THE WHITE ROOM AROUND THE
CAPSULE THAT KEEPS OUT ALL THE
MOISTURE, HUMIDITY FROM THE
FLORIDA WEATHER, SO EACH OF THE
CREW MEMBERS, THEY'RE DOING THE
SIGNING.
THEY'RE ALSO GETTING A POD CHECK
AND OBJECT DEBRIS CHECK, MAKING
SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT BRINGING
IN ANY DUST, DEBRIE -- DEBRIS
PARTICLES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING
TO BE GOING INTO SPACE FOR THE
NEXT SIX MONTHS.
EVERY PART OF THIS PROCESS VERY
PRECISE.
YOU DID SEE AS THE CREW
INGRESSED THROUGH THE HATCHWAY,
THEY PUT THEIR HAND OVER THE
HELMETS.
THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T
DAMAGE ANYTHING AS THEY'RE
ENTERING THE VEHICLE.
>> KJELL DID IT BACK ON CREW-1
AS HE WAS THE SPACEX NINJA THAT
HAD TWO UMBRELLAS AS IT WAS A
RAINY DAY, SO GETTING A LITTLE
FAME.
THIS IS NOT HIS FIRST TRIP DOWN
THIS WALKWAY, BUT THIS TIME,
HE'S GETTING STRAPPED IN.
THEY'VE GOT A FIVE-POINT HARNESS
THAT'S GOING TO BE STRAPPED IN.
THEY'RE GOING TO WEAR THESE
SUITS FOR WHAT WE ALL THE
DYNAMIC PHASES OF THE FLIGHTS,
WHEN THE CREW DRAGON IS GOING TO
BE MAKING MANEUVERS.
THEY'LL PUT THEIR SUITS BACK ON
WHEN THEY GET BACK INTO THE
DOCKING WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, AND THEN, THEY'LL
WEAR THEM AT THE END OF THE
MISSION AT UNDOCKING AND SLASH
DOWN.
ONCE THEY ARE STRAPPED IN,
THEY'LL DO SOME COMCHECKS AND
ADJUST THEIR SEAT POSITIONS.
THESE DRAGON SEATS ARE ACTUALLY
CUSTOM-MADE FOR EACH CREW
MEMBER.
THEY KIND OF GO HAND IN HAND FOR
THEIR CUSTOM SUITS, AND THEY'RE
KIND OF AN EXTENSION OF THE
DRAGON VEHICLE, SO PRETTY COOL,
THEY GET THEIR OWN CUSTOM-MADE
SEATS, CUSTOM-MADE SUIT, WHICH
IS KIND OF LIKE THEIR OWN
PERSONAL A.C. SYSTEM.
>> YEAH.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO AND SEE
TAKE PLACE.
WE'LL HEAR THE CORE, THAT'S
ESSENTIALLY THE VOICE OF MISSION
CONTROL HAWTHORNE, WHICH FOR
TODAY IS ARTHUR BARRIO.
THEY'LL DO A QUICK COMCHECK, AND
YOU'LL HEAR THEM CALL DOWN AS
COMMANDER, PILOT OR P.L.T., AND
THEN SPECIALIST ONE AND
SPECIALIST TWO.
WE'LL DO THOSE COMMUNICATIONS
CHECKS OVER A COUPLE OF
DIFFERENT PATHS, BOTH THROUGH
GROUND SITES AND WHAT'S KNOWN AS
TDRIS, GROUND CHECKING AND DATA
SATELLITES, SAME SATELLITES THAT
WE USE ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, AND THE SAME IS
USED TO GET COMMUNICATION TO AND
FROM DRAGON.
NOW THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ON
BOARD DRAGON, ABLE TO INTEGRATE
INTO THE SYSTEMS, UMBILICALS,
WE'LL DO ANOTHER SYSTEM CHECK,
AND THEN, THE CREW WILL BE ONE
STEP CLOSER TO LAUNCH.
>> THE CREW-4 ASTRONAUTS ARE IN
THEIR SEATS.
THEY'VE INGRESSED DRAGON, AND WE
DO STILL HAVE THE SUIT TECHS
THERE, STILL ASSISTING THEM WITH
GETTING THEM SETTLED IN AND
PREPARED FOR THEIR MISSION
TODAY.
THE SUIT CHECKS HELP WITH
GETTING THEIR HARNESSING
STRAPPED FOR EACH OF THE CREW
MEMBERS, GETTING THEIR
UMBILICALS ATTACHED, AND AS DAN
MENTIONED, THEY WILL BE DOING
SOME COMCHECKS HERE AS SOON AS
THEY ARE STROPED INTO THEIR
SEATS.
>> AND THEN, YOU'LL SEE THEM
USING THEIR ARMRESTS.
ONE IS TO ACTUALLY ENABLE THE
COMMUNICATIONS.
THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR VOX
SETTINGS, AUDIO SETTINGS, JUST
FOR THINGS LIKE THAT INSIDE THE
HELMET.
THEY'RE IN A ROTATED POSITION
RIGHT NOW, BUT AFTER WE GET
THROUGH A COUPLE OF MORE STEPS,
WE'LL GET THROUGH SEAT ROTATION.
THEY ROTATE THE SEATS BY A
LITTLE LESS THAN 30° TO PUT THEM
IN THE LAUNCH POSITION, AND THIS
IS TO ORIENT THEM JUST FOR THE
BEST POSITION FOR MANAGING THE
G-LOADS UP HILL.
IT ALSO GIVES THEM DIRECT ACCESS
TO THOSE DISPLAYS.
>> AND THERE'S SOME PRETTY COOL
FEATURES ABOUT THESE SUITS, AS
WELL.
THE HELMETS, YOU MENTIONED THE
AUDIO ATTACHMENT ON THEIR
ARMRESTS, THE HELMETS THEMSELVES
HAVE THE AUDIO BASICALLY
DESIGNED INTO THEM, AND THE
HELMETS ARE 3-D PRINTED, WHICH
IS PRETTY COOL.
THE SUITS ARE FLAME RESISTANT,
AND THE GLOVES, AS DAN
MENTIONED, THEY WILL BE USING
THOSE DISPLAY SCREENS ABOVE THE
PILOT AND COMMANDER SEATS.
THOSE GLOVES ARE ACTUALLY
DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO USE ON
THAT TOUCHSCREEN.
>> AND THAT TOUCHSCREEN IS WHERE
KJELL LINDGREN AND ROBERT HINES
HAVE ALL OF THEIR INFORMATION.
IT'S ALSO THE MEANS OF MANUAL
PILOTING FOR DRAGON.
THERE'S NO CONTROL STICKS, NO
FLIGHT STICKS.
IT'S ALL TOUCHSCREEN.
IN FACT, DRAGON HAD A REALLY
COOL INTERACTIVE, WHERE YOU
COULD DO IT ON THE WEB WHEN WE
DID DEMO-2 TWO YEARS AGO.
AGAIN, THE FLIGHT DESIGNED TO BE
AUTONOMOUS THE WHOLE WAY, BUT
THE CONTROLS CAN BE USED, AND
BOTH KJELL LINDGREN AND ROBERT
HINES TRAINED TO JUMP IN IF NEED
BE TO PILOT DRAGON.
YOU SEE BUTTONS BELOW THE
TOUCHSCREEN.
THOSE ARE HARD LINE ITEMS, LIKE
DEINITIATING ORBIT OR ABORTING
FIRE, AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO
GETTING THE SUIT TECHS OUT OF
THERE.
>> YEAH.
WE HAD SOME FIST BUMPS, AND
THESE SUIT TECHS ARE NOW EXITING
THE DRAGON CAPSULE.
>> WE SHOULD BE COMING UP ON THE
COMMUNICATIONS CHECKS AND SUIT
LEAK CHECKS, SO WE SHOULD BE
GETTING SOME CALLOUTS FROM THE
CORE, THE CREW RESOURCE AND
OPERATIONS ENGINEER COMING UP IN
JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES, SO
AGAIN, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF
THOSE MILESTONES COMING UP.
WE'RE GOING TO DO THESE
COMMUNICATIONS CHECKS, THE LEAK
CHECKS, AND AFTER WE GET THROUGH
ALL OF THOSE, WE'LL BE A LITTLE
BIT CLOSER TO CLOSING OUT SOME
OF THE PAD OPS.
THAT CLOSEOUT TEAM WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOSING THAT
SIDE HATCH ON THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT, WHICH WILL GET ITS
OWN LEAK CHECK, AND ONCE THAT
SIDE HATCH IS CLOSED AND AFTER
THE LEAK CHECK, IT'S NOT OPENED
AGAIN UNTIL DRAGON SPLASHES DOWN
AT THE END OF THE MISSION.
>> THERE'S A LOOK AT THE CREW-4
CREW INSIDE OF THE DRAGON
CAPSULE THERE.
[Please stand by]
>> WE'RE JUST STANDING BY FOR
THE COMMUNICATION CHECKS TO PICK
UP.
THAT'S THE CORE OF THE CREW
OPERATION RESOURCE ENGINEER.
ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN
HE'S SITTING BEHIND US HERE AT
HAWTHORNE.
WE'LL HEAR HIM GIVE A CALL TO
THE CREW.
>> CDR, MS 1, MS 2.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> CORE COPY IS LOUD AND CLEAR.
COM CHECK IS COMPLETE.
STAND BY.
>> THERE WILL BE A SWEEP OF
GROUND OPERATIONS ACROSS THE
PLANET TO GET DATA TELETRY ALONG
WITH THE PRIMARY DATA RELAY
SATELLITES.
>> FREEDOM, SPACEX COM CHECK.
>> SPACEX, FREEDOM HEARS YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> CORE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> STAND BY FOR COM CHECKS IN MD
AND LD IN LAUNCH CONFIGURATION.
>> DRAGON MD ON COUNTDOWN ONE,
COME CHECK.
>> MD, LOUD AN CLEAR, STAND BY
FOR COM CHECK.
>> MD, LOUD AND CLEAR.
GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.
>> GOOD TO HEAR YOURS AS WELL.
>> FREEDOM, COUNTDOWN ONE, COM
CHECK.
>> LD, FREEDOM LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> STAND BY FOR COM CHECK DRAGON
TO GROUND.
>> FREEDOM, LD DRAGON TO GROUND
COM CHECK.
>> FREEDOM, LOUD AN CLEAR.
>> LD, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> FREEDOM SPACEX LAUNCH
CONFIGURATION COM CHECKS ARE NOW
COMPLETE.
WAIT FOR SECTION 2 OF 4.00.
>> COPY.
>> SPACEX, FREEDOM, WE'RE READY
>> REPORT WHEN INITIATING.
>> WE'RE HEARING THAT THE COM
CHECKS HAVE BEEN DEPLETED
DEPLETED--COMPLETED
SUCCESSFULLY.
AND REALLY NO ISSUES IN WORK AS
THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
SMOOTHLY.
WE HEARD UPDATES FROM THE TEAM
THAT THINGS ARE ON SCHEDULE
SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH IS ALWAYS A
GOOD THING FOR LIFT OFF.
>> THE DRAGON LAUNCH HAS
COMPLETED THEIR MAJOR ACTIVITIES
FOR THE ASTRONAUTS.
THE TEAM IS ALSO LOCATED--
>> INITIATING ZEROTATION.
>> IN THE KENNEDY SPACE STATION.
YOU HEARD THE CALL OUT WE'RE
BEGINNING ZERO ROTATION.
IT WILL TILT BACK INTO LAUNCH
CONFIGURATION.
THERE IT GOES.
WAVES TO TECHNICIANS AS THEY
CONTINUE TO ROTATE UP.
THIS DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS GETS
THEM READY FOR ASCENT.
BUT ALSO GIVES THE PILOT AND
COMMANDER ACCESS AND BETTER
VISIBILITY TO THE SCREENS THAT
YOU SEE IN FRONT OF THEM.
AFTER SEAT ROTATIONS WE SHOULD
BE GOING NO ANOTHER ROUND OF
SUIT CHECKS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE LAST
OPERATIONS BEFORE WE CLOSE THE
SIDE HATCH.
>> FREEDOM SPACEX, SEATS ARE IN
LAUNCH POSITION.
>> COPY.
>> THERE IS CONFIRMATION THAT WE
DID SUCCESSFULLY ROTATE THE
SEATS.
JUST A QUICK UPDATE ON RANGE AND
WEATHER.
BOTH ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WEATHER NOT
ONLY AT THE LAWFUL SITE BUT
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
SITUATIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE IN THE
EVENT THAT THEY HAVE TO SPLASH
DOWN.
IF THE CREW HAD TO COME BACK TO
EARTH.
>> SECTION 3 SUIT CHECK
PREPARATION.
>> OKAY, WE COPY.
WE'RE A GO.
3.1 SUIT PREPARATION.
>> TEAMS ARE GETTING READY TO
START THE CHECKS ON THE SPACE
SUITS.
SO THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO
COUNTDOWN.
WE'RE AT T MINUS THREE HOURS
BEFORE LIFT OFF.
WE'LL CHECK IN WITH CHELSEA AT
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON,
TEXAS.
>> HEY WELCOME TO HOUSTON.
WE'RE ACTIVELY MONITORING THE
SPACE STATION AS WE SPEAK.
THE CREW IN ORBIT HAS COMPLETED
A NUMBER OF TASK TO PREPARE CREW
4 LIKE SETTING UP TOOLS, MONITOR
DRAGON'S ARRIVAL AND MANY OF
THEIR CLOTHES AND OTHER
BELONGINGS LAUNCHED ON PREVIOUS
CARGO LAUNCHES AND ARE AT THE
PACE STATION NOW.
THE TEAM IS IN CONSTANT
COMMUNICATION WITH THE LAUNCH.
THE NASA FLIGHT DIRECTOR WILL BE
CONDUCTING A SERIES OF GO HE IS
AND NO GOES FOR DRAGON'S
APPROACH.
FOR NOW WE'LL CONTINUE FOLLOWING
ALONG AT KENNEDY.
>> IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US IT
IS T MINUS TWO HOURS AND 17
MINUTES AND COUNTING.
IN THOSE ARE THE RESTAURANTS.
THE CREW 4 ASTRONAUTS
COMMUNICATING WITH THE CORE
THERE.
WE ARE READY FOR ANOTHER
BEAUTIFUL CREW LAUNCH.
WE HAVE MEGAN McARTHUR, PILOT
FROM CREW 2, SO GRATEFUL THAT
YOU'RE HERE SHARING YOUR INSIGHT
AND YOUR STORIES.
>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE AND
WATCH THEM GO THROUGH ALL THESE
ACTIVITIES STEP BY STEP, AND I'M
EXCITED TO SEE EVERYTHING THAT
COMES UP.
>> BRINGS BACK MEMORIES.
>> IT SURE DOES.
>> I REMEMBER YOU WERE PLAYING A
GAME FROM WE WERE PLAYING A
GAME.
THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME
WHERE NOTHING WAS HAPPENING
SPECIFICALLY.
YOU DO REVIEW YOUR JOB AND YOU
THINK ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN
AND HOW YOU'LL RESPOND, BUT
THERE WAS ALSO TIME TO KILL.
AND WE WERE ENTERTAINED DURING
THE TIME DOWN.
>> JAMAL WAS GREAT FOR THAT.
>> HE WAS.
>> OUR CRUISE DIRECTER.
>> HE BROUGHT A LOT OF LEVITY.
AS YOU LOOK INSIDE THE FREEDOM
CAPSULE FOR US, CLOSEST TO US IS
KJELL LINDGREN, AND THEN BOB
HINES.
THE SEATS HAVE BEEN ARTICULATED
INTO LAUNCH POSITION, AND IT
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ON THEIR BACK
FROM THE ORIENTATION OF THE SHOT
INTEREST.
IS THAT PRETTY ACCURATE?
>> THAT IS ACCURATE.
WHEN THEY FIRST CLIMB IN, THE
SEATS ARE IN A LOWERED POSITION.
IT'S EASIER TO INGRESS BUT IT IS
DIFFICULT FROM THAT OTHER
POSITION TO SEE AND INTERACT
WITH THE SCREENS.
SO WITH THE SEATS RAISED LIKE
THAT, THEY'RE TILTED A LITTLE
BIT MORE ON THEIR BACKS AND
THEY'RE ABLE TO MONITOR THEIR
POSITION AND THEIR DATA.
>> A LOOK AT THE DISPLAY
SCREENS.
LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT WHAT CREW-4
ASTRONAUTS WILL BE DOING AFTER
THEY ARRIVE ON STATION.
♪
>> CREW-4 IS THE CREW ROTATION
FLIGHT FOR THE SPACEX DRAGON
VEHICLE.
>> CREW-4'S GOALS ARE TO SAFELY
AND SUCCESSFULLY GET TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND THEN TO SPEND THE ALLOTTED
TIME LIVING AND WORKING IN SPACE
MEETING ALL THE PLANNED RESEARCH
AND SCIENCE AND MAINTENANCE
GOALS OF THE SPACE STATION
PROGRAM.
>> WE'RE ALL SUPER EXCITED ABOUT
THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY ON A CREW
DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
THAT VEHICLE IS A SUPER COMPLEX,
MODERN VEHICLE THAT ENABLES US
TO GET TO SPACE EFFICIENTLY, AND
SAFELY.
>> MY ROLE AS PILOT ON THE
DRAGON VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY TO
MONITOR AND MAINTAIN THE SYSTEMS
OF THE VEHICLE ITSELF.
TO GET A CHANCE TO PILOT ONE OF
THE NEWEST VEHICLES ON OR OFF
THE PLANET IS A TRUE HONOR.
>> GETTING SELECTED FOR CREW-4
WAS AMAZING.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION AND EXPERIENCE A GAIN
THAT TRANSFORMATION FROM BEING
AN EARTH BOUND CREATURE TO A
SPACE-LIVING CREATURE.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE SPACE
STATION, YES, THE FIRST THING
THAT STRIKES IS THE WEIGHT AND
MOVEMENT.
>> IT WAS HOME FOR FIVE MONTHS
IN 2015.
WE ARRIVED ON ORBIT.
REALLY WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS
MY BRAIN ADJUSTED TO THE IDEA OF
FLOATING.
NOT THAT I WAS GOOD AT IT, BUT
THE NOVELTY OF IT, THE FACT THAT
OUR BRAINS CAN ADAPT TO
SOMETHING SO NOVEL, TO
DIFFERENT, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
SO UNACCUSTOMED TO FOR ALL OF
OUR LIVES, AND THAT IT CAN ADAPT
LIKE THAT IS AMAZING.
>> THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION IS A NATIONAL LABORATORY
BUILT TO DO SCIENCE.
>> THE CONNECTING ELEMENT
BETWEEN ALL THE EXPERIMENTS THAT
WE DO UP THERE IS THE SPACE
ENVIRONMENT IN WEIGHTLESSNESS
AND MICRO GRAVITY.
>> WHEN YOU DEAL WITH CHECKS
SYSTEMS, ONE WAY TO LEARN HOW
THEY WORK IS TO START REMOVE
VARIABLES.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE A
CHALLENGE DOING ON EARTH IS
REMOVE THE EFFECTS OF GRAVITY.
BUT TAKING THINGS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WE
CAN REMOVE THAT AND SEE HOW
THESE COMPLEX SYSTEMS WORK, HOW
THINGS GROW.
HOW THEY DEVELOP.
WE DO SO MUCH RESEARCH THAT
HELPS DEVELOPMENT HERE ON EARTH,
ABOUT YOU IT IS HELPING NASA'S
PIVOT INTO SPACE EXPLORATION.
>> UNDERSTANDING HOW TO DO
SPACEWALKS AND ROW WITHOUTIC ARM
ACTIVITIES, THEY ARE NECESSARY
FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LUNAR
ORBIT, ON THE LUNAR SURFACE AND
ON OUR WAY TO MARS.
>> WE HAVE AN AWESOME
OPPORTUNITY TO BE
REPRESENTATIVES OF HUMANITY, AND
WE DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.
WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE THAT
OPPORTUNITY AND WE'RE EXCITED
ABOUT SHARING THE JOURNEY WITH
ALL OF YOU.
>> THERE IS SO MUCH WORK THAT
THE CREW DOES ONCE THEY GET UP
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
BUT AT THE MOMENT AS YOU LOOK
LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE DRAGON
CAPSULE, THEY'RE ON THE GROUND.
HOW LONG, MEGAN, DOES IT TAKE
FOR RESTAURANTS ONCE YOU GET
THERE?
IT THEY HAVE TO LAUNCH, FLY,
RENDEZVOUS AND GET TO THE SPACE
STATION.
ARE YOU READY TO GO?
OR DOES IT TAKE TIME?
>> IT TAKES SOME TIME FOR THE
BODY TO ADJUST, BUT IT HELPS
THAT YOU'RE WORKING DURING THAT
TIME THAT YOUR BODY IS
ADJUSTING.
THE SPACE STATION IS A UNIQUE
ENVIRONMENT WITH THE MICRO G
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE CAN'T
DUPLICATE ON EARTH FOR ANY LONG
DURATION OF TIME.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU EXCITED TO GET
TO WORK, ON THE SCIENCE PROJECTS
BUT YOUR BODY ADAPTS THE SOONER
YOU GET INVOLVED IN IT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
SCIENCE AND MORE IN-DEPTH ABOUT
MEGAN ABOUT SOME OF THE
EXPERIMENTS THAT SHE WORKED ON
AS WELL AS SOME THAT ARE IN THE
FUTURE.
THAT'S COMING UP LATER IN THE
SHOW.
BUT WE'RE CURRENTLY T MINUS 2
HOURS 10 MINUTES AND COUNTING.
LET'S HEAD BACK OUT TO SPACEX
HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA WHERE
DAN AND JESSE WILL BE PICKING UP
OUR COMMENTARY.
>> GREAT, THANKS, DARRELL.
IT WILL TAKE YEARS OF HARD WORK
TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE WITH
FLYING CREW.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREW DRAGON
REALLY STARTED WITH CARGO DRAG.
IT WAS DESIGNED FROM THE
BEGINNING TO FLY HUMANS TO
SPACE.
BEFORE WE COULD FLY HUMANS OUR
ATTEMPT IMPLEMENTED A NUMBER OF
DESIGN UPGRADES TO MAKE SURE
THAT DRAGON FALCON 9 WERE
SUITABLE FOR FLYING VEHICLES.
NOW SINCE DEMO 2 IN MAY OF 2020,
SPACEX HAS BEEN REGULARLY FLYING
MISSIONS FOR NASA AT THE CADENCE
OF ONE FLIGHT EVERY SIX MONTHS.
CREW-4 WILL BE SPACEX'S FIFTH
SPACE FLIGHT FOR NASA, FOLLOWING
THE CREW SPACE FLIGHT AND THREE
MISSIONS TO THE SPACE STATION.
NOW WE WILL IT WILL WILL BE
SPACEX'S SEVENTH CREW FLIGHT
INCLUDING INSPIRATION 4.
IT WAS REALLY EXCITING AS IT
WILL NOT BE THE LAST OFS KIND.
IN FACT, COMMANDER OF THE
INSPIRATION 4 MISSION WILL
RETURN TO ORBIT WITH SPACEX
UNDER THE POLARIS PROGRAM, WHICH
IS A SERIES OF MISSIONS TO
ADVANCE DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION
WHILE RAISING AWARENESS FOR
ST. JUDE'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
THE MISSIONS WILL CULMINATE WITH
HUMANS ON BOARD.
THE FIRST MISSION POLARIS DAWN
IS TARGETED NO EARLIER THAN THE
FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION TO MISSION
COMMANDER, IT WILL INCLUDE PILOT
SCOTT POTEET, AND SPECIALISTS
AND MEDICAL OFFICER.
JARED WILL PERFORM THE
FIRST-EVER COMMERCIAL SPACEWALK.
IT IS FLYING HIGHER THAN ANY
DRAGON TO DATE AND WILL REACH
THE HIGHEST EARTH ORBIT EVER
FLOWN.
>> NASA'S EFFORTS PARTICULARLY
WITH THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM
AND CERTIFICATION OF SPACEX
DRAGON ARE BUILDING A FOUNDATION
FOR A ROBUST U.S.-LED COMMERCIAL
ECONOMY IN LOWER EARTH ORBIT.
COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION IS A
BIG ONE.
THAT IS TRANSPORTATION TO SPACE
BUT ONE ELEMENT FOR OUR LARGER
PLAN OF COMMERCIALIZATION.
WE'RE ENABLING THE DEVELOPMENT
OF COMMERCIAL SPACE STATIONS,
PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSIONS AND
DEMAND FOR IN-SPACE
MANUFACTURING AND MORE.
WE JUST WRAPPED UP THE MISSION
WITH AXIOM SPACE.
THAT WAS A BIG PART OF THIS
EFFORT.
THAT WAS THE FIRST ALL PRIVATE
ASTRONAUT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THEY LIFTED OFF APRIL 9TH ON THE
SPACEX FALCON 9 ROCKET, AND BAD
WEATHER PREVENTED THEM FROM
COMING HOME.
IN THAT DRAGON ENDEAVOR FOR THE
AX 1 MISSION, THERE WAS THE
COMMANDER MICHAEL LOPEZ, PILOT
LARRY CONNOR AND SPECIALIST ETON
FIBY AND MIKEPATHY.
THEY SPENT TIME IN ORBIT
INCLUDING AN EXTENDED STAY ON
BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION THEY JUST RETURNED
DURING THIS WEEK.
DURING THAT MISSION THEY
PERFORMED HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF
RESEARCH.
MORE THAN 2500 DIFFERENT
EXPERIMENTS.
THIS IS HELP TO GO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK FOR REALLY EXCITING
STUFF COMING UP INCLUDING THE
AXIOM STATION, WHICH IS GOING TO
BE A COMMERCIAL SPACE STATION
ATTACHED TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND IS CURRENTLY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
LOWER EARTH ORBIT WE KNOW IT'S
INCREDIBLE SPACE FOR RESEARCH,
ASTRONAUT DEVELOPMENT AND
TRAINING TO GO TO THE MOON.
WE STILL NEED TO TRAIN OUR
ASTRONAUTS AND LOWER EARTH ORBIT
IS THE PLACE TO DO IT.
AND THOUSANDS OF EXPERIMENTS
OVER THE DECADES ON BOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
A LOT MORE TO COME.
WE'RE AT THE DAWN OF LOWER EARTH
COMMERCIALIZATION.
WE SAW THE SUIT CHECKS.
WE'RE GETTING READY FOR THE
HATCH TO CLOSE.
LET'S SEND IT BACK TO DARRELL
AND MEGAN.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, DAN, AS WE AWAIT SIDE
HATCH CLOSURE YOU CAN SEE THE
TEAMS WORKING THERE.
HATCH STILL OPEN.
THEY'LL BE INSPECTING IT VERY
CLOSELY.
THEY'LL CLOSE THE ENVIRONMENT IN
SPACE AND SO YOU WANT A GOOD
SEAL.
# AS WE AWAIT FOR THEM TO
CONTINUE THEIR WORK.
LESS TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE CREW
COMMANDER KJELL LINDGREN.
HERE HE IS.
>> MY NAME IS KJELL LINDGREN,
I'M THE COMMANDER FOR NASA'S
CREW-4 MISSION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I WANTED TO BE AN ASTRONAUT FOR
AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
I THINK I WAS INSPIRED BY THE
SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH OF 1981.
THAT'S WHEN THIS DREAM WAS JUST
BURNED IN MY CONSCIOUSNESS.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE SELECTED
FOR THE CREW-4 MISSION.
ON TOP OF THAT, TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMMAND.
GETTING TO FLY WITH THIS AMAZING
CREW I FEEL GRATEFUL TO BE ON A
TEAM WITH THEM.
WE'RE MALL PART OF A LARGER TEAM
THAT SPANS THE NATION AND THE
WORLD.
WE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THE BEST AND
BRIGHTEST AS WE CHASE SOMEWHAT
IMPOSSIBLE GOALS.
>> THERE YOU SEE THE CLOSE OUT
TEAM.
GOING THROUGH THEIR LAST
PROCEDURES TO SHUT THE SIDE
HATCH.
SEATED NEXT TO KJELL LINDGREN IS
PILOT AND NASA ASTRONAUTS BOB
HINES.
>> I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE ALL
HAVE IN US AN INNATE DESIRE TO
GO EXPLORE AND SEE NEW THINGS.
WE HAVE A VERY UNIQUE POSITION
IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND GALAXY
TO BE ABLE TO LOOK OUT THERE AND
STEP OUT AND CONTINUE TO
EXPLORE.
MY NAME IS BOB HINES.
I'M THE PILOT FOR NASA'S CREW-4
MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
WHEN I WAS A KID, I 100% WANTED
TO BE A PILOT.
WHEN I GOT THE PHONE CALL
OFFERING ME THE POSITION OF THE
PILOT ON THE CREW-4 MISSION I
JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I CAN'T WAIT TO PILOT THIS
VEHICLE.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE HONOR AND
SOMETHING THAT I NEVER THOUGHT
IN MY WILDEST DREAMS THOUGHT IT
WOULD BE A POSSIBILITY.
ON LAUNCH DAY I'M MOST LOOKING
FORWARD TO THE KICK IN THE PANTS
WHEN WE'RE HEADING OFF THE
LAUNCH PAD.
>> HE'S GOING TO GET THAT KICK
IN THE PANTS, RIGHT, MIGGEN?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> IN SEAT NUMBER ONE IS MISSION
SPECIALIST AND NASA ASTRONAUTS
JESSICA WATKINS, WHO WILL BE
MAKING HER FIRST TRIP TO SPACE.
>> MY NAME IS JESSICA WATKINS,
AND I'M A MISSION SPECIALIST FOR
THE CREW-4 MISSION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THE STUDENT TO BE THE FIRST
BLACK WOMAN ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION ON A LONG-DURATION
CREW IS EXCITING.
IT IS IMPORTANT AND IMPACTFUL TO
ME TO FOR ME TO BE PART OF THE
LEGACY THAT SO MANY BEFORE ME
HAVE PAVED THE WAY TO ENABLE ME
TO BE HERE NOW.
AS MUCH AS I CAN BE A SMALL PART
OF THAT LEGACY, I'M HONORED TO
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
# THIS IS TRULY AN HONOR.
WE GET THIS AWESOME OPPORTUNITY
TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF
HUMANITY AND WE DON'T TAKE THAT
LIGHTLY.
WE'RE SUPER HONORED TO HAVE THAT
RESPONSIBILITY AND WE'RE EXCITED
ABOUT HAIRING THE JOURNEY WITH
ALL OF YOU.
>> LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IN SEAT
NUMBER FOUR IS CREW-4 MISSION
SPECIALIST AND EUROPEAN SPACE
AGENCY ASTRONAUT SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI.
>> I GOT THE CALL TO BE AN
ASTRONAUT ONE EVENING.
I HAD A FEELING THAT THE WHOLE
UNIVERSE JUST TURNED AROUND AND
SMILED AT ME.
MY NAME IS SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI, AND I'M A MISSION
SPECIALIST ON THE NASA CREW-4
MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
I DREAMED OF BEING AN ASTRONAUT
PRETTY EARLY ON.
THE RESTAURANT'S JOB IS ABOUT
THIS BROAD SPECTRUM OF THINGS
THAT YOU HAVE TO MASTER RATHER
THAN BEING A SPECIALIST THAT HAS
MASTERED ONE THING.
IN 2014 I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF
FLYING TO SPACE FOR THE FIRST
TIME TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
BEING SELECTED FOR CREW-4 WAS
AMAZING.
TO EXPERIENCE BEING PART OF VERY
SPECIAL LIFE THERE.
>> THOSE ARE YOUR ASTRONAUTS
FROM CREW-4.
A LOT OF 4s IN THIS MISSION.
IT IS THE CREW-4, FOURTH
OPERATIONAL FLIGHT.
FOURTH FLIGHT OF A RE-FLOWN
BOOSTER.
>> OKAY.
>> WE'RE TAKING OFF IN THE
FOURTH MONTH OF 2022, LOTS OF
FOURs.
>> FOUR VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE
GETTING READY TO LAUNCH TONIGHT.
>> INDEED.
THIS IS A GREAT CREW.
YOU CAN TELL THAT THEY BONDED
OVER THE TIME THEY'VE BEEN
>> WE WANT TO REMIND YOU, YOU
CAN ASK A QUESTION.
SEE HOW, PUT THE #ASK NASA INTO
TWITTER AND SEND US A TWEET.
ONCE WE SEE IT, WE'LL GO THROUGH
THEM AND PASS THEM ALONG TO HER.
SHE HAS BEEN ANSWERING THEM ALL
EVENING.
AN KEEP THOSE QUESTIONS COMING.
IN THE MEANTIME, LET'S GET OVER
TO ANDY IN SPACEX HEADQUARTERS
FOR THE LAUNCH OPERATIONS
UPDATE, ANDY?
>> THANKS, DARRELL.
WE'RE JUST UNDER T MINUS TWO
HOURS UNTIL LIFT OFF.
HEY HEARD COMMUNICATIONS FROM
THE DRAGON TEAM AND THE CREW AS
WELL.
AND THEY'RE NOW IN FLIGHT
POSITION AND THE CLOSE OUT WILL
VERIFY THE CABIN ENVIRONMENTS
AND THEN CLOSE THE HATCH OF THE
DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
AFTERWARDS, THEY'LL PERFORM THE
FINAL LEAD CHECK ON THE HATCH.
ONCE THAT IS FINISHED, THE TEAM
WILL RETRACT, AND THE CLOSE OUT
TEAM WILL LEAVE THE PAD AT
T-MINUS ONE HOUR LEAVING JUST
THE ASTRONAUTS ON THE PAD.
AS FOR THE FALCON 9 TEAM,
THEY'RE PREPARING THE
COMMUNICATION CHECKS WITH THE
ASTRONAUTS THAT IS DUE IN JUST A
FEW MINUTES HERE.
SPACEX ENGINEER HAVE PRESSURIZED
THE STORAGE BOTTLES.
THESE ARE COMPOSITE OVER RAP WRP
PRESSURE VESSELS AS PROPELLENT
IS DRAINED OUT FROM THE FIRST
AND SECOND STAGES OF ASCENT.
WE'LL TOP THEM OFF IN THE LAST
HALF HOUR BEFORE LIFT OFF.
WE USE PRESSURIZED GASSES TO
SPIN THE MERLIN IN TURBO PUMPS.
THE FIRST STAGE ENGINES NEED TO
BE RESTARTED FOR THE LANDING
STAGES.
THE GASSES ARE USED FOR ADDED
CONTROL SYSTEMS WHICH HELPS WITH
VEHICLE ORIENTATION AND FOR
DEPLOYING THE LANDING.
WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR WEATHER
AND LAUNCH SITES IN AND AROUND
THE WORLD IN CONTINGENCY AND
LANDING ZONES.
WE'RE AT T MINUS 1 HOUR 57
MINUTES AND COUNTING.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD HEAR
HERE.
I'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, HERE AT THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER THE WEATHER
IS FANTASTIC.
WE HAVE A COOL EVENING AND CALM
CONDITIONS WHICH IS PERFECT FOR
LAUNCH.
AS WE WAIT FOR THEM TO CLOSE THE
SIDE HATCH WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
THERE YOU SEE THE QUESTION UP ON
YOUR SCREEN.
THE QUESTION IS, MEGAN, HOW
WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FIRST
MOMENTS AFTER ARRIVING TO THE
SPACE STATION?
>> WELL, IT'S SUCH A MAGICAL
MOMENT.
IN FACT, ONCE THE HATCHES ARE
OPENED, AND YOU FINALLY GET TO
COME THROUGH.
FOR ME HAVING WORKED AROUND THE
SPACE STATION PROGRAM FOR SO
MANY YEARS BUT NEVER ACTUALLY
NEVER SEEN IT, IT WAS SPECIAL TO
COME THROUGH AND SEE THE
ENVIRONMENT.
PLUS YOU HAVE ALL THESE SMILING
FACES, THE FOLKS WHO ARE GOING
TO BE COMING HOME, IT'S PRETTY
OVERWHELMING.
LOTS OF HUGS, LOTS OF SMILES.
YOU KNOW YOU FINALLY REACHED
THIS GOAL THAT YOU WORKED SO
HARD TO ATTAIN.
>> AND YOU'RE SEEING ASTRONAUTS
THAT YOU USED TO TRAIN WITH,
THAT YOU KNOW WELL, AND YOU
WOULD HAVE THEM COMING OVER AT
YOUR HOUSE.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
LONG-LOST FRIENDS.
I SAW MY FRIEND SHANNON, AND A
BIG HUG.
AN YOU'RE LEARNING TO MOVE IN
THAT ENVIRONMENT.
YOU NOTICE THE PEOPLE WHO JUST
ARRIVE.
YOU GO TO HUG AND THE WHOLE BODY
SWINGS BY.
IT'S A PRETTY FUN RODEO TO
WATCH.
>> SLINGING PEOPLE AROUND ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THERE IS A LOT OF JOY.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT
ONE.
AND GO FOR SPACE LAUNCH ASKS.
HOW LONG WILL THE CREW-4 AND
CREW-3 ASTRONAUTS BE ON THE
SPACE STATION TOGETHER?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT
QUESTION.
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A DIRECT
HAND OVER.
MEANING THAT THE CREW-4
ASTRONAUTS WILL ARRIVE AND SPEND
SEVERAL DAYS WITH THE CREW-3
ASTRONAUTS BEFORE WE CHECK THE
WEATHER AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS
OKAY FOR THE CREW-3 ASTRONAUTS
TO COME HOME.
TYPICALLY THAT'S DESIGNED FOR
FOUR OR FIVE DAYS.
THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
THAT WILL BRING HOME THE CREW-3
ASTRONAUTS SAFELY.
>> YOU DIDN'T GET TO HAND OVER A
CREW.
>> NO, WE DID NOT IN BUT THERE
WAS A REASON THAT YOU PASS ALONG
A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE.
>> YES GO ON TO THEM.
>> HAND OVER IS REALLY IMPORTANT
BETWEEN CREWS.
THERE IS SO MUCH THAT YOU CAN
LEARN FROM THE BOOKS.
IF YOU WILL, OR FROM THE
SIMULATION, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH
MORE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN
FROM THE REAL ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE THE LUXURY, MARK VAN
DEHIGH WAS UP THERE.
HE'S A SUPER HERO.
WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF GOOD LANDING WEATHER KNOWING
THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE THERE TO
SHOW EVERYONE THE ROPES THAT WAS
ARRIVING ON CREW-3.
OF COURSE, WE WOULD HAVE LOVED
TO BE THERE TO ENJOY THEIR
COMPANY FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT IT
DOES GET PRETTY CROWDED.
>> DOES THE CREW PARTICIPATE IN
ANY PRE-LAUNCH TRADITIONS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO CREWS MAY HAVE THEIR OWN
SPECIFIC PRE-LAUNCH TRADITIONS.
THEY'LL DO THAT ON BOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AS
WELL WHEN THERE IS A NEW VEHICLE
COMING AND GOING.
WE LIKE TO PUT OUR STICKERS ON
EVERYTHING.
>> AND SPECIAL FOR THIS CREW,
THEY GOT TO GO OUT AND SEE THE
SLS ROCKET WHICH WAS ON THE PAD.
RECENTLY THEY WENT BACK INTO THE
VAB.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT TON.
BUT THAT WAS A SPECIAL
OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM, WHICH NOT
A LOT OF CREWS.
>> NOT MANY CREWS--WELL,
EVENTUALLY WE'LL GET TO SEE MORE
OF THAT.
BUT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A
SPECIAL MOMENT GOING TO VISIT
THE MEGA MOON TOGETHER AND
THINKING THAT THIS COULD BE THE
NEXT RIDE FOR SOME OF US.
THAT HAD TO BE PRETTY SPECIAL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THEY GOT INSIDE THE GATE AS
WELL.
AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR
THEM.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THOSE SOCIAL
MEDIA QUESTIONS.
KEEP THEM COMING.
SHUTTLE GRAVITY ASKS, WHY HAVE
MANY OF THE SPACEX CREW MISSIONS
LAUNCH AT NIGHT?
THAT'S FUNNY.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT.
>> WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT
THAT.
I'M NOT SURE THAT WE CAME UP
WITH THE ANSWER.
>> WELL, DID YOU.
>> ORBITAL MECHANICS ARE
COMPLICATED.
THAT'S MY ANSWER.
WE DEFINITELY CAME
>> CONDITIONS ARE USUALLY BETTER
AT NIGHT.
IF THE LAUNCH ENDS UP HAPPENING
AT NIGHT IT'S JUST THE WAY IT
IS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE SPENDING OUR
ENTIRE OVERNIGHT GETTING READY
FOR THIS LAUNCH.
WHICH IS INTERESTING.
DEMO-2 AND CREW-1, CREW-1, I'M A
LITTLE FUZZY ON.
I BELIEVE IT WAS DAYTIME.
BUT CREW-2, CREW-3, CREW-4, ALL
OVERNIGHT.
THE AXIOM MISSION WAS DURING THE
DAY.
>> YES.
>> SO REALLY WHAT I REMEMBER
FROM SHUTTLE DAYS IS AT THE
LAUNCH GETS BETTER, THE TIME
GETS EARLIYER BY 23 MINUTES DAY
BY DAY.
THEY USED TO DO THE LAUNCH MATH,
IT COULD BE SO MUCH EARLIER.
IT'S REALLY WHERE IS THE SPACE
STATION AT THE TIME OF THE
LAUNCH SITE AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT
FOR IT TO BE DIRECTLY OVER HEAD.
>> IT IS AN INSTANTANEOUS WINDOW
WHEN IT IS OVER HEAD.
ARE WE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER
QUESTION?
LET'S DO IT.
WE HAVE REACHED AN IMPORTANT
MILESTONE AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE
SCREEN AS WE'RE WATCHING OUTSIDE
THE SPACECRAFT, THE CREW DRAGON
FREEDOM.
THE CLOSE OUT CREW THERE IF THE
WHITE ROOM APPEARS TO HAVE THE
HATCH SHUT.
NOW THEY'RE CHECKING FOR LEAKS.
WHILE THEY DO THAT, LET'S TAKE
THIS LAST QUESTION.
WHAT KIND OF FOOD WILL THE
ASTRONAUTS HAVE ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?
>> SO FOOD IS SO IMPORTANT, AS
YOU CAN IMAGINE.
>> THE SIDE HATCH NOW CLOSED.
WE'LL BE COMMENCING HEALTH
CHECKS FOR THE SYSTEM.
EXPECT TRANSITION BACK TO HATCH
CLOSE.
>> THERE'S YOUR CONFIRMATION.
>> FOOD IS SO IMPORTANT FOR ANY
LONG DURATION MISSION OF COURSE.
BUT ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION THERE ARE SOME
CHALLENGES TO PROVIDING A VARIED
MENU.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT
PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT TASTES.
THEN YOU HAVE LIMITED ABILITY TO
KEEP FRESH FOOD FRESH.
THE FOOD HAS TO BE WHAT WE CALL
SHELF STABLE.
AT A COULD BE LIKE CANNED FOOD
BUTS ITS FOOD THAT WE HAVE TO
ADD WATER TO.
THEY WORK VERY HARD TO PROVIDE
LOTS OF DIFFERENT FLAVORS TO
HELP PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT
PALLETS.
I LIKE THE MANGO FRUIT SALAD AND
CHICKEN PINEAPPLE SALAD WITH
BASIL TOMATO SOUP ON THE SIDE.
BUT A BROAD MENU FOR LOTS OF
DIFFERENT TASTE BUDS.
>> YOU'RE MAKING ME HUNGRY.
IS THAT REHYDRATED FOOD?
>> SOME OF IT IS REHYDRATED, AND
SOME IS PACKAGED TO BE SHE HAVE
STABLE.
>> THANK YOU TO THE AUDIENCE FOR
SENDING QUESTIONS IN.
WE'LL KEEP TAKING THEM AS LONG
AS WE'RE COUNTING DOWN HERE.
WE'VE GOT AN HOUR AND 48 MINUTES
LEFT IN THE LAUNCH.
AND THEN AN HOUR UNTIL THE PAD
TEAM WRAPS UP IT'S FINAL CHECKS
AND CLEARS THE WHITE ROOM.
THAT'S WHEN THE ACTION WILL
REALLY PICK UP WITH THE CREW
ACCESS ARM RETRACTING, AND THEN
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM AND
THEN LOADING.
WE'LL KEEP YOU LIVE INTO THE
ACTION.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN
THERE, AND THE CREW WHO WILL BE
SITTING TIGHT FOR THE NEXT HOUR
OR SO, THEN WE'LL PROVIDE MORE
CONTEXT ABOUT THIS MISSION.
IN THE MEANTIME LET'S HEAD OVER
TO HOUSTON FOR A CLOSER LOOK AND
WHAT THE CREW WILL BE DOING WHEN
THEY REACH THEIR DESTINATION.
CHELSEA?
>> HEY, THANKS, DARRELL.
WHEN CREW 4 ARRIVES, THEY'LL
OFFICIALLY BECOME EXPEDITION 67
FLIGHT ENGINEERS.
ONCE ON BOARD THEY'LL DO
SOMETHING CALLED THE DIRECT HAND
OVER JUST LIKE WHAT ASTRONAUT
MEGAN McARTHUR WAS TALKING
ABOUT.
CREW-3 WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE
CREW-4 AN ORIENTATION, SHOW THEM
THE ROPES WHICH MIGHT BE
PARTICULARLY HELPFUL FOR FIRST
TIME SPACE FLYER JESSICA WATKINS
AND BOB HINES.
AND DIRECT HAND OVER ALSO HELPS
CONTINUOUS U.S. PRESENCE ON THE
SPACE STATION.
A RECORD THAT WE'VE HELD FOR
ALMOST 22 YEARS.
BUT THE SPACE STATION IS AN
ORBITING LABORATORY AND THEY'LL
JUMP RIGHT IN ON RESEARCH
INVESTIGATIONS.
SO I'LL TOSS IT OVER TO MEGAN,
WHO CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT THE
EXCITE BE EXPERIMENTS THAT
CREW-4 WILL BE WORKING ON.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE
EVERYONE TO DAVID PARKER, THE
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY DIRECTOR
OF EXPLORATION.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M GREAT.
>> I DO KNOW WHY YOU'RE EXCITED.
THIS IS YOUR FIRST LAUNCH AT
KENNEDY.
>> IT IS MY FIRST LAUNCH FROM
KENNEDY.
>> AND THIS IS SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI'S SECOND TRIP ONCE
SHE LAUNCHES FROM HERE.
ONCE SHE GETS THERE, HE'LL BE
WORKING ON A LOT OF SCIENCE
EXPERIMENTS?
>> YES, THAT'S TRUE.
SHE'LL BE WORKING ON THE
EUROPEAN LAB CALLED COLUMBUS.
MANY EXPERIMENTS HAVE BEEN
STARTED, BUT FOR EXAMPLE, SHE'S
WORKING ON DNA RESEARCH, AND
RELATED TO AGING.
THAT'S RELATED TO ONE OF OUR OWN
INTERESTS WHICH IS OSTEOPOROSIS.
IT'S LINKING WHAT WE'RE DOING ON
BOARD THE SPACE STATION THAT IS
REALLY RELEVANT TO US BACK ON
EARTH.
>> WE KNOW THERE BONE LOSS THAT
HAPPENS TO ASTRONAUTS WHILE IN
SPACE.
ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING,
NASA AND ESA ARE NOT JUST
PARTNERS.
YOU'RE PLAYING A CRITICAL ROLE
IN OUR RETURN TO THE MOON, THE
NASA ARTEMIS PROGRAM.
>> YES, I HAD THE LOVELY
OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND SEE THE
SLS ROCKET.
WE'RE SUPER EXCITED POSSIBLE
PART OF THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM.
RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE ROCKET
IS THE FIRST OF OUR EUROPEAN
SERVICE MODULES, THE POWER
PROPULSION FOR ASTRONAUTS TO
TAKE THEM TO THE MOON.
>> YES.
>> AND THE FIRST ONE, THE
ROCKET, AND THE SECOND ONE IS
ALREADY DELIVERED TO THE STATES
AND WE'RE BUILDING MORE, MAYBE
UP TO SEVEN, EIGHT, AND NINE.
WHERE ARE THE ASTRONAUTS GOING
TO FLY TO?
WELL, THE FIRST PLACE IS THE
LUNAR GATEWAY, A THOUSAND TIMES
FURTHER OUT THAN THE SPACE
STATION.
ESA IS BUILDING TWO OUT OF THE
THREE HABITATION MODULES.
ONE OF THEM WILL HAVE THE
WINDOWS THAT WILL ALLOW THE
ASTRONAUTS TO LOOK DOWN FROM THE
MOON.
>> THAT'S WHY INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS ARE SO IMPORTANT.
WE'RE SO GOD TO HAVE YOU AS PART
OF THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM.
AND WHAT DOES ESA HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH RETURNING FROM THE
MOON.
>> I ALWAYS SAID THAT THE MOON
IS THE EIGHTH CONTINENTS OF
PLANET EARTH THAT IS
UNDISCOVERED.
I SAY THE MOON IS A MUSEUM OF
4 BILLION YEARS OF HISTORY.
WE JUST KIND OF WENT TO THE
MUSEUM GIFT SHOP, GRABBED
SOUVENIRS AND CAME HOME.
NOW WE'LL GO BACK, EXPLORE IT,
AND DO THE JOB PROPERLY.
AND UNRAVEL IT'S SECRETS.
>> SO MUCH THAT WE HAVE AHEAD OF
US.
YOU'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON STEM AS
MUCH AS WE ARE HERE IN THE U.S.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.
AND SAMANTHA WILL DO OUTREACH
PROJECTS AND EDUCATION PROJECTS.
SOME COOL EXAMPLES WE HAVE A
COUPLE OF TINY COMPUTERS ON
BOARD THE COLUMBUS LABORATORY.
AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL BE
CHALLENGED TO CREATE SOFTWARE
THAT WILL BE UP LOADED IN ORBIT.
>> I CAN'T GET OVER THE FACT
THAT THIS IS YOUR FIRST LAUNCH
AT KENNEDY.
I NEED TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO YOU
WHEN YOU WATCH THIS FIRST LAUNCH
BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
GO NUTS.
>> AS MUCH AS AN ENGLISH PERSON
EVER GOES NUTS.
>> YES, I DO HOPE YOU DO ENJOY
TODAY'S LAUNCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> GUYS, BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MEGAN AND LOOKING
FORWARD TO HIS REACTION.
HE'LL STAY COMPOSED, SO HE SAYS.
>> THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.
>> WE JUST HEARD ABOUT THE
SCIENCE FROM THE EUROPEAN
PERSPECTIVE.
HERE IS A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF
THE LIFE-CHANGING SCIENCE THAT
ASTRONAUTS ARE PERFORMING ON
BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION RIGHT NOW.
>> THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION IS A STATE OF THE ART
MICRO GRAVITY LABORATORY THAT IS
UNLOCKING DISCOVERIES NOT
POSSIBLE ON EARTH, AND HELPING
US PUSH FURTHER INTO DEEP SPACE.
>> EVERY DAY WE'RE ANSWERING BIG
QUESTIONS ABOUT EARTH AND ABOUT
SPACE AND ABOUT WHERE WE CAME
FROM AND ABOUT WHERE WE'RE
GOING.
BUT THE OTHER THING WE'RE DOING
IS WE'RE LEARNING MORE QUESTIONS
TO ASK.
>> MICRO GRAVITY TURNS ALMOST
EVERYTHING WE KNOW UPSIDE DOWN.
LIQUIDS BEHAVE COMPLETELY
DIFFERENTLY.
FIRE BURNS IN NEW WAYS.
BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS REVEAL
SURPRISES.
>> THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT
HAVE MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD
WATCH.
>> STUDYING WAYS TO GROW FOOD IN
MICRO GRAVITY.
>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THESE
THIS IS PRETTY AMAZING.
>> WE'RE LEARNING HOW HUMAN
BODIES REACT TO LIGHT IN SPACE
AND KEEPING CREW MEMBERS SAFE
AND STRONG ON LONG SPACE
EXPLORATION MISSIONS.
>> THEY'RE AWESOME ON EARTH AND
AWESOME IN ZERO GRAVITY.
>> WE'RE TESTING TECHNOLOGIES
THAT WILL BE CRITICAL TO OUR
RETURN TO MOON AND GREAT LEAP TO
MARS.
OUR RESEARCH HAS BENEFITS ON OUR
HOME PLANET, ALLOWING US TO FIND
NEW WAYS TO COMBAT DISEASE BACK
ON EARTH AND DEVELOP
TECHNOLOGIES TO DELIVER CLEAN
WATER TO REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN
NEED.
THE SPECTACULAR VANTAGE POINT OF
200 MIELS ABOVE OUR PLANET
SUPPORTS OUR MONITORING OF
EARTH'S CLIMATE, NATURAL
DISASTERS AND PLANET LIFE.
>> OUR PLANET EARTH IS STUNNING.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE WE ARE
IN THE WORLD, I JUST SEE BEAUTY
IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
>> THE GROWING NEW SPACE ECONOMY
SO VITAL TO CONTINUED PROGRESS
IN SPACE IS FLOURISHING IN LOWER
EARTH ORBIT.
WE'RE INSPIRING FUTURE
GENERATIONS FROM A PLATFORM THAT
IS ONE OF THE LARGEST
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS OF
OUR TIME.
WE'RE DOING SCIENCE AT 17,500
MIELS PER HOUR.
COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
>> SOME OF THE GREAT SCIENCE
TAKING PLACE ON BOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE FOR YOU RIGHT
NOW.
THE CREW INSIDE DRAGON THERE.
CREW FOUR RECEIVE THEIR POST
INGRESS BRIEF.
THE TEAMS ARE TRACKING NO ISSUES
AT THIS MOMENT.
THEY ALSO JUST COMPLETED
COMMUNICATIONS CHECKS WITH THE
KEY MEMBERS OF THE FALCON LAUNCH
TEAM.
THEY'RE STANDING BY FOR THE
COMPLETE HATCH COMPLETION.
THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
NOW NASA ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD THE
SPACE STATION HAVE BEEN BUSY
PREPARING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF
CREW-4.
I RECENTLY SPOKE TO ASTRONAUT
ROGER CHARRY WHO IS IN SPACE
RIGHT NOW ABOUT HOW THEY'RE
GETTING READY AND THE CONNECTION
HE HAS WITH TWO CREW-4
ASTRONAUTS.
I COVERED YOUR LAUNCH FROM
CAPE CANAVERAL AND I REMEMBERED
WHAT YOU LOOKED LIKE THEN AND I
SEE YOU NOW.
I'M CURIOUS, DID YOU GET A
HAIRCUT?
AND IF SO, HOW DID YOU CUT YOUR
HAIR IN SPACE?
>> YES, SO WE'VE DONE A FEW
HAIRCUTS.
WE USED CLIPPERS WITH A VACUUM
HOSE ATTACHED TO IT.
I CAN DO THE FRONT HALF OF MY
HEAD IN THE MIRROR AND THEN I
THEN DO THE BACKSIDE OF MY HEAD.
>> I CAN'T BUT HELP NOTICE YOU
HAVE AN INFLATABLE GLOBE THERE
ATTACHED TO YOUR LEG.
WHAT IS THAT FOR?
>> IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EARTH,
OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS
WHETHER WE CAN WATCH THE LAUNCH
OR SEE THE ORBITAL EXERTION,
THEY'LL BE WATCH BE OUT OF THE
CAPE.
BASED ON WHERE WE'RE AT
HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A DECENT
VIEW.
AS LONG AS WE'RE ON THE HALF OF
THE EARTH THAT CAN VIEW THE
CAPE, WE MIGHT GET A CHANCE TO
SEE THE ROCKET AND MAYBE THE
INSERTION INTO ORBIT BUT IT IS
DEPENDENT ON ATMOSPHERIC
CONDITIONS AND WHERE WE ARE IN
THE ORBIT RELATION TO THEIR
LAUNCH.
>> WE'RE GETTING READY TO SEND
CREW 4 TO YOU.
HOW ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR
THEIR ARRIVAL?
>> THAT'S FUNNY YOU ASKED.
JUST YESTERDAY WE CAUGHT THE
VISITING VEHICLE SS SELLERS AND
BROUGHT IT ON BOARD THE SPACE
STATION.
AND THAT SPACE STATION HAS A
WHOLE BUNCH OF SUPPLIES FOR
CREW-4.
WE'VE BEEN UNPACKING IT AND AND
SOME OF THE SUPPLIES IT BROUGHT
UP ARE FOOD, CLOTHES AND OTHER
ITEMS FOR CREW-4.
WE STARTED TO DISTRIBUTE THOSE
AROUND THE STATION PRE-POSITION
THEM FOR THEM.
THEN WHEN IT GETS CLOSER IN TIME
WE WILL HE START TO UNPACK THOSE
BAGS AND SET UP THEIR CREW
QUARTERS FOR THEM.
>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR EXPERIENCE, WHAT YOU
REMEMBER MOST ABOUT YOUR LAUNCH
DAY WHEN YOU GUYS LAUNCH FROM
CAPE CANAVERAL AND WENT UP TO
THE SPACE STATION ABOUT SIX
MONTHS AGO.
>> YES, I THINK FOR ME ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT STRUCK ME DURING
THE FIRST STAGE WAS JUST SORT OF
THE VISCERAL FEEDBACK YOU GET IN
THE ROCKET, AND HOW QUICK YOUR
SENSES ARE.
THE NEXT THING YOU REALLY FEEL
THE JOLT BETWEEN THE FIRST AND
SECOND STAGE.
SO AS THE FIRST STAGE GOES OUT,
YOU FEEL YOURSELF KIND OF GO
WEIGHTLESS FOR A SECOND.
A FEW SECONDS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.
THEN WHEN YOU'RE FLOWN BACKWARDS
IN YOUR SEAT AGAIN AND YOU FEEL
THAT ACCELERATION.
THE FIRST SPOT OF THE SPACE
STATION WE HAPPENED TO SEE AS
THE SUN IS 40 KILOMETERS AWAY.
AND THE SUN LOOKED LIKE IT WAS
MADE OUT OF GOLD.
IT WAS PRETTY COOL AS WE WATCHED
OUR NEW HOME GET CLOSER TO US.
>> THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE, AND
JUST A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO
BEHOLD.
THANKS FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
SO, WHAT EXPERIMENTS HAD A THAT
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE
PAST FEW MONTHS REALLY STOOD OUT
AND YOU'VE REALLY ENJOYED
WORKING ON.
>> ONE THAT I REALLY ENJOY
WORKING ON IS ONE WITH THE
COMBUSTION EXPERIENCE.
JUST THE IDEA OF SPACE, FIRE IN
SPACE IS SOMETHING YOU DON'T
WANT TO MIX.
YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME AND
ENERGY WHEN YOU DESIGN THOSE
EXPERIMENTS TO CONTAIN
COMBUSTION.
YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO GET OUT
IN THE ATMOSPHERE HERE.
BUT THE REWARDS OF THAT RESEARCH
HAVE LED TO THINGS DISCOVERING
COOL FLAMES AND SOME POTENTIAL
FOR LOWER RATHER DONE EMISSION
AND COMBUSTION WHETHER IT IS
FROM CARS OR FACTORIES.
THE PROMISE OF IT IS PRETTY
AMAZING.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU, GUYS.
AND HAVE FUN WATCHING THE CREW-4
LAUNCH.
WE'LL BE WATCHING FROM HERE AND
CAN'T WAIT TO WELCOME KJELL AND
THE CREW ON BOARD.
>> WELL, THANKS TO ROGER AND THE
TEAM FOR MAKING HIM AVAILABLE.
AS YOU LOOK OUT AT THE FALCON 9
ROCKET WITH THE CREW FREED AM.
HAS GROWN A VERY THICK MUSTACHE.
WHEN YOU SEE HIM AGAIN,
APPARENTLY IT'S AN AIR FORCE
THING.
>> MARCH.
PRETTY HAD YOU ARE THAT MARCH IS
OVER.
LET'S SEE WHAT HE'S GOING WITH
THAT.
>> APPARENTLY HE MISSED A COUPLE
OF WEEKS.
BUT SO HE WE GET TO WATCH THE
LAUNCH FROM THE SPACE STATION.
WHICH IS SOMETHING I THINK IS
VERY COOL.
NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE AUGUST
AREA FOR LAUNCH.
CREW-4 WOULD BE ON BOARD FOR
THAT LAUNCH.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE
TO BE KIND OF LUCKY TO SEE A
LAUNCH FROM THE SPACE STATION.
>> YOU DO HAVE TO BE KIND OF
LUCKY.
WE HAVE SEEN THEM.
AGAIN, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
THAT THE TRAJECTORIES ARE
DEVELOPMENT WITHIN ONE ANOTHER
AND THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF LUCK
INVOLVED AS WELL.
ALSO, YOU CAN SEE SOME ORBIT
VEHICLES GOING HOME AGAIN.
AND THEY DID CAPTURE VIEW # BURN
WAS VIEWED REALLY WELL.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST NIGHTS THAT
HE WERE WE WERE UP THERE.
COULD YOU TOES TO HIM BECAUSE I
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO EVEN FINE A
CAMERA MUCH LESS THAN
PHOTOGRAPHING A MOVING OBJECT.
IT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK OUT BUT
THE TEAM ON THE GROUND WILL TELL
US WHAT THEY THINK IT WILL BE.
>> HOPE THAT WORKS OUT FOR CREW
FOUR.
MEG.
IT TOMORROWS LIKE YOU AND DO YOU
REMEMBER THAT?
>> YES.
>> YOU WERE THE FIRST RESTAURANT
OUT OF THE SPACEX DRAGON AFTER
SPLASH DOWN.
THERE WAS YOUR LOOK.
>> IT WAS A GOOD MOMENT.
IT'S A LITTLE PAINFUL GETTING
OUT.
YOU HAVE THIS WONDERFUL TEAM
THAT REACHES IN AND HAULS YOU
OUT.
THERE ARE STRAPS CONNECTED TO
YOUR SUIT AND THEY REACH IN AND
HAUL YOU OUT.
THEY IMMEDIATELY PUT YOU ON A
STRETCHER.
EVERYTHING HURTS AT THAT POINT.
YOUR BECOME HURTS.
I WAS REALLY GRATEFUL THAT I
FELT WELL.
I DID NOT FEEL AM I'M GETTING A
BIG SMILE FROM MY MEND.
>> SHANNON WALKER ONE OF OUR
GUEST HOSTS FOR THE PREVIOUS
LAUNCH C-3.
AND ROGER AND THE REST OF THE
CREW-3 TEAM, WHEN THEY RETURN
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION NEXT WEEK IT WILL BE A
GREAT MOMENT JUST LIKE THE ONE
WE SAW RIGHT THERE WITH MEGAN
McARTHUR.
AND NASA'S MEGAN CREW GOT A
CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH CREW-3.
AND REFLECTS ON A BUSY COUPLE OF
YEARS ON THE FLORIDA COAST.
>> JESSICA, IT'S GREAT HAVING
YOU HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS IS WHERE YOU'LL BE ON
LAUNCH DAY INSIDE ONE OF THE
CONTROL LAUNCHES HERE.
BUT YOUR CREW-3 MISSION MANAGER.
HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED IN CREW-4?
>> WELL, THAT'S CORRECT.
I'M THE CREW-3 MISSION MANAGERS.
AND FOR CREW-4 MISSION CREW
MANAGER IS WITH A SPACEX AND
SPACECRAFT TEAM.
BUT WE HAVE MANY TEAMS THAT
SUPPORT FROM DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE OUR LAUNCH VEHICLE TEAMS
AND FOLLOWING THE LAUNCHES FOR
THE MISSION MANAGER.
THIS IS WHERE I'M AT, WE ALSO
HAVE A GROUP OF ENGINEERS THAT
SUPPORTS THE MISSION CONTROL
CENTER AND SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT THE TEAMS THERE WITH THEM.
MONITORING THE ACTIVITIES FROM
LAUNCH TO DOCKING.
>> WITH A IS YOUR ROLE ON LAUNCH
DAY HERE?
>> I'M LISTENING TO THE BOOTH.
OR APE ISSUES.
BOGEY AWARE OF WHAT THE ISSUES
ARE AND REPORTING THEM TO THE
TEAM AND MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE
LATEST INFORMATION SO OUR NASA
OPERATION, WHO IS A SPICE # THAT
WILL SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THEIR
MISSION.
>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BE
SO INTERTWINED WITH GROUP FOUR?
>> WELL, I NEED CREW 4 TO LAUNCH
SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE CREW-3 GET
HOME.
AS CREW 3 GETS INTO ISS THERE IS
A FIVE-DAY HAND OVER PERIOD FOR
THE CREW THREE.
ONCE THAT HAND OVER IS COMPLETE
DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER WE'LL
ASSESS READINESS AND THEN WE'LL
BE COMING HOME.
>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH
THE SPECIAL CREW PROGRAM?
>> I'M FAIRLY NEW WITH
OPERATIONAL CREW.
"FIRST DAY OF WORK I IT WAS
CRAZY THAT I NEEDED TO
EXPERIENCE WITH MY FIRST WEEK ON
THE JOB.
BUT SINCE THEN THIS IS MY FIFTH
MISSION THAT I'VE LAUNCHED, AND
IT'S A INCREDIBLY FAST CADENCE.
IT SEEMS THAT WE LAUNCH THE
MISSION AND THEN WE HAVE THE
NEXT MISSION COMING UP AND WE'RE
GETTING READY FOR IT.
IT'S VERY REWARDING.
>> WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?
THAT THE JOB IS REWARDING?
>> WE'RE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR
SPACE PROGRAM.
WE'RE LAUNCHING AGAIN ASTRONAUTS
FROM AMERICAN SOIL, SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE SINCE THE
SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM, AND
HAVING THIS CADENCE WHERE WE'RE
DOING IT EVERY SIX MONTHS.
IT KEEPS US EXCITED AND
MOTIVATED TO KEEP CONTINUING
DOING THAT.
>> JESSICA, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE WITH ME TODAY.
>> I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU.
>> BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA AND MEG.
SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
LAUNCH OF CREW-4 SO SHE CAN
BRING CREW-3 HOME.
WE'RE 1:29 MINUTES FROM THAT
HAPPENING.
WE ARE A HE LOOKING AT THE
DRAGON CAPSULE.
WE JUST HAVE AN UPDATE.
WE HAVE A GOOD SIZE LEAP CHECK.
THE TEAM THERE WRAPPING UP THE
WORK AS THEY CONTINUE TO
PROGRESS TOWARDS LIFT OFF.
LET'S SEND IT BACK OUT TO
CALIFORNIA AND SPACEX'S ANDY
TRAN.
>> THANKS, DARRELL.
YEAH, AS YOU JUST MENTIONED
UNDER 90 MINUTES NOW UNTIL LEFT
OFF, AND WE SAW THAT THE HATCH
WAS CLOSED, AND WE HEARD THAT
THE LEAP CHECK WAS SUCCESSFULLY
PERFORMED.
IF YOU HAVE A VIEW THROUGH THE
LARGE WINDOWS THAT YOU SEE ON
SCREEN OF PAD 39 H THAT'S FIVE
KILL MOTORS EAST.
FALCON 19 IS LOADING LEGAL YUM
AND NITROGEN GAS ON THE VEHICLE.
AND CHECK OFFS ARE COMPLETE AND
THE FINAL REVIEW HAS BEEN
PERFORMED EARLIER TODAY AND IT
IS UNDER WAY.
THE SPACEX ENGINEER WILL CHECK
WITH THE TEAM AND VERIFY THAT
WE'RE STILL GOOD TO CONTINUE THE
COUNT YOUNG.
THE NEXT ACTIVITY IS TO PRIME
THE MERVIN 1 D ENGINE FOR
IGNITION.
THEY'LL ENSURE THAT THE PROPEL
ATLANTA ON "N" THE GROUND TANKS
ARE CORRECTLY KILLED PRIOR TO
LEADING.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT AS
WE'VE HAD REALLY JUST A GREAT
AND SMOOTH COUNTDOWN SO FAR.
WITH THAT, I DO WANT TO CHECK IN
WITH DAN AND JESSE, WHO HAVE A
VERY SPECIAL UPDATE FOR US.
>> BEFORE NIP CLIMBS ON BOARD
DRAGON FOR A FLIGHT IN SPACE
THEY'LL SPEND LAFAYETTE TIME
HERE AT THE SPACEX SIMULATORS IN
HAWTHORNE.
NOW, BEFORE WE DIVE INTO THIS
ONE, JESSE IS GOING TO WALK US
THROUGH THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
>> YES, JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF
THE SIZE OF DRAGON.
THE CAPSULE WITH THE TRUNK
ATTACHED TO IT IS 1.8 MITRE
TALL.
THAT'S THREE AND A HALF TIMES
THE HEIGHT OF SHAQUILLE O'NEAL.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF SHAQS.
>> THE DIAMONDBACKS IS FOUR
METERS AND THE PIE LOAD MASS
THAT CAN CARRY UP TO SPACE IS
6,000 KILOGRAMS.
IN CASE YOU WANTED TO BRING A
LARGE AFRICAN ELEPHANT WITH YOU
TO OUTER SPACE, YOU TOTALLY
COULD.
THE RETURN MASS IS HALF OF THAT,
3,000 KILOGRAMS WHEN RETURNING
BACK TO EARTH.
>> SPACEX HAS A NUMBER OF
SIMULATORS, MOCK-UPS FOR THE
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF DRAG.
AND THIS ONE RIGHT HERE IS AT
THE VERY TOP PART OF DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
THIS IS WHAT WILL BE OPENING
ONCE THEY TALK.
SO THERE IS A CRANK RIGHT THERE
AND AN IDENTICAL ONE ON THE
OTHER SIDE.
THERE IS A DECAL THAT WILL TELL
YOU WHICH DIRECTION AND HOW TO
OPEN THIS.
SO AFTER WE MOVE THE HANDLE OUT
WE CAN JUST START TO OPEN IT UP.
THERE IS A SMALL DATER IN THE
WINDOW THAT WILL TELL US HOW
CLOSE WE'RE GETTING.
AFTER WE GET ALL THE WAY DOWN,
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR TELL TALE
POP AND THEN IT'S TIME TO OPEN
UP THE HATCH.
IT OPENS UP PRETTY SLOWLY.
>> YES, SO NOW IT MAY LOOK LIKE
DAN IS REALLY STRUGGLING TO OPEN
THE DOCTORS, BUT, IN FACT, THE
HUNCHES ARE DESIGNED WITH
DAMPERS.
THAT THEY'LL FULLY OPEN NO
MATTER HOW MUCH YOU PUSH OR PULL
ON THE HAMP DOOR.
THE DOOR OPENS UP THROUGH THE UP
TEARIER OF THE DRAGON VEHICLE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
DOCTOR DOESN'T SWING AND HIT
ANYTHING INSIDE THE VEHICLE OR
HARM ANYONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE
AS WELL.
AND THE SAME WITH CLOTHING.
AGAIN, IT MAY LOOK LIKE DAN IS
STRUGGLING, BUT THIS IS PER
DESIGN ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS TO
FULLY CLOSE THE HATCH DOOR.
>> SO NOT JUST PRACTICING HOW TO
OPEN AND CLOSE IT, BUT THE SEALS
AND COVERS THE HATCH WAY.
THERE IS A WINDOW HERE AND THE
PRESSURE EQUALIZATION VALVE THAT
CAN BE USED TO MANUALLY EQUALIZE
PRESSURE BETWEEN DRAGON AND THE
SPACE STATION.
>> THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY
COMPONENTS THAT OUR TEAMS GET TO
DO AND TRAIN THE CREW ON.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ANY OF
THE WORK AT SPACEX TAKE A LOOK
AT SPACEX.COM/JOBS AND CHECK IT
OUT.
NOW LET'S GO OVER TO KENNEDY.
>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT
LITTLE SHOW AND TELL THERE OF
THE HATCH, MEGAN, YOU'RE
FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE TRAINING ITEMS
THAT WE WOULD USE WHEN WE WOULD
GO OUT TO HAWTHORNE TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE UNDERSTOOD HOW THAT
MECHANISM WORKED.
>> DIDN'T YOU SAY THAT YOU WOULD
DO THAT FASTER.
>> MAYBE A LITTLE BIT.
>> WE'RE CURRENTLY T MINUS 1
HOUR 20 MINUTES.
THE ASTRONAUTS ARE RIGHT THERE.
KJELL LINDGREN, BOB HINES,
JESSICA WATKINS AND SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI.
THEY'LL DO THE CHECKS.
WE HAD THE COMMON LEAP CHECKS.
WE CLOSED THE HATCH.
WE GOT A SECURE FEEL ON THAT.
WE HAVE THAT CONFIRMED.
WE ALSO STARTED TO BEGIN THE
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM AND
COMMUNICATION CHECKS.
THAT'S ALL CONDUCTED BY THE
FALCON LAUNCH TEAM.
THESE CHECK OUTS ARE PART OF THE
STANDARD LAUNCH, AND IT'S
CRITICAL THAT EVERYTHING IS IN
WORKING ORDER BEFORE THAT LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET OFF
THE PAD SHOULD SOMETHING GO
AWRY.
>> THIS IS ONE THING ABOUT THIS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS THAT
YOU HAVE A WAY TO GET THE CREW
SAFELY AWAY FROM A ROCKET THAT
MIGHT BE EXPERIMENTING AN OFF
CONDITION.
IT'S ONE OF THE GREAT
CAPABILITIES THAT THIS SYSTEM
BRINGS.
>> IF IT WAS NECESSARY TO GET
AWAY FROM A ROCKET THAT IS
HAVING AN OFF NOMINAL EVENT
THAT'S HOW FAST YOU WOULD BE
MOVING.
>> EXACTLY.
WHETHER IT'S ON THE GROUND OR
TRAVELING UPHILL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THINGS CAN HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY
AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
AUTOMATICALLY AS WELL.
>> CREW THREE IS SCHEDULED TO
FLASH DOWN NEXT WEEK.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT.
MEGAN WILL BE THERE.
>> I WILL?
>> MEGAN McARTHUR.
THE SHIP THAT MEGAN WAS NAMED
AFTER, YES.
>> OH, LOOK AT THAT.
>> THE SHIP WAS NAMED AFTER YOU.
THE SPACEX SEA FARING VESSEL WAS
NAMED AFTER OUR OWN MEGAN
McARTHUR.
THIS IS THE SHIP.
BEAUTIFUL INSIDE.
PREVIOUSLY IT WAS NAMED GO
NAVIGATING.
SPACEX RENAMED THE SHIP MEGAN AS
WELL.
THEY HAVE ANOTHER SHIP.
THEY RENAMED IT SHANNON IN HONOR
OF SHANNON, THE FIRST WOMAN TO
FLY.
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN IT IN PERSON
YET.
I HAVE HEARD ABOUT IT.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A REAL HONOR.
IT'S FUNNY TO ME AS ON
OCEANOGRAPHER THAT I FLEW TO
SPACE AND THAT WAS NAMED AFTER
ME.
I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THAT
HISTORY.
>> THE GOOD SHIP MIGGEN PICKED
UP A CREW.
THEY WENT OUT AND PICKED UP THE
AXIOM CREW, WHO LANDED OFF THE
COAST OF JACKSONVILLE.
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
>> HOPEFULLY HE'LL GET TO SEE IT
AND GET A SELFIE WITH IT.
>> THAT'S ON MY LIST.
>> SPEAKING OF HISTORY-MAKING
ASTRONAUT WE NOW HAVE A SPECIAL
MESSAGE FROM ONE OF THE
ASTRONAUTS WHO FLEW CREW
DRAGON'S FIRST CREW FLIGHT.
>> HOW di MEGAN, IT'S YOUR
HUSBAND BOB.
I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO MISS THE
MELODIOUS SOUND OF MY VOICE.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
WATCHING THE CREW-3 SPLASH DOWN
TOGETHER AS A FAMILY WHEN YOU
URN.
FOR CREW-4, KJELL, BOB, JESSICA
AND SAMANTHA, I WISH FOR YOU THE
BEST.
I KNOW YOU TRAINED HARD AND I'M
EXPECTING GREAT THINGS FROM YOU
WHILE YOU'RE ON BOARD.
I WOULD CAN GIVE YOU THE PIECE
OF ADVICE FOR ME ITS HARD TO
BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN NEARLY
TWO AIRS SINCE I LAUNCHED ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY ON
BOARD JUST A FEW SHORT MONTHS.
IT ELEMENTS SEEM SURREAL BUT I'M
REMINDED EVERY DAY BY THE GREAT
ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I SEE THAT
WE ACHIEVED SOMETHING, AND IT IS
REAL AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH WHILE
IN ORBIT.
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND GOOD
LUCK LUCK.
BYE, MEGGEN.
>> OH, THAT'S A GREAT MESSAGE.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR SURPRISING ME
WITH THAT.
THAT'S AWESOME.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
MOMENT.
THAT WAS MEGAN HE IS HUSBAND AND
HISTORY-MAKING ASTRONAUT FROM
DEMO 2.
A NICE MESSAGE FOR YOU AND
CREW-4.
I KNOW YOU MISS THE MELODIOUS
SOUND OF MY VOICE.
YES.
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK ME SINCE I FLEW
IN THE SAME VEHICLE AND SAME
SEAT AFTER BOB ON CREW DRAGON
ENDEAVOR.
DID HE LEAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU
ON THE SPACE STATION?
WHAT I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE, HE
LEFT ME A FULLY FUNCTIONING
SPACECRAFT TO GET ME HOME AGAIN.
THERE IS NO GREATER GIFT THAN
THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE SPACE
FLIGHT BUSINESS.
>> I WOULD FULLY AGREE WITH
THAT.
LET'S JOIN MEGAN WHO IS WITH
PHIL McALLISTER, THE DIRECTOR
AT NASA.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THIS BEING THE
FOURTH CREW FLIGHT.
WHAT KIND OF MILESTONE DOES THIS
REPRESENT?
>> WELL, IT REPRESENTS THAT
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE
VEHICLES TEN YEARS IN
DEVELOPMENT.
ALL THAT DEVELOPMENT WE'RE
FLYING.
AND IT'S GRATIFYING.
TO HAVE FOUR MISSION IN TWO
YEARS IT IS AMAZING.
IT HAS PICKED UP THE PACE AND
IT'S JUST WHAT WE WERE LOOKING
FOR.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THAT THIS
PROGRAM HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR
TEN YEARS.
>> YES.
RING WITH GO TO SEE MORE
COMMERCIAL CREW?
>> WE WANTED TO BE ONE OF MANY
CUSTOMERS.
AND TO SEE THAT COME FROM
FRUITION BECAUSE THERE WAS
SKEPTICISM ABOUT THAT.
WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS GOING
TO PLAY OUT.
NOW IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR.
THE DEMAND FOR HUMAN
TRANSPORTATION IS VERY STRONG,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS MORE
AND MORE, WHICH IS JUST WHAT
WE'RE DOING.
>> EXACTLY.
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF
FOSTERING THESE COMMERCIAL
EFFORTS IN LOWER EARTH ORBITS?
NASA HAS SO MANY OTHER GOALS.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN
THIS PARTICULAR PRESENCE.
>> I THINK YOU SAID IT, BECAUSE
NASA HAS ALL THESE GOALS.
IF WE MAINTAIN ALL THE FOOTPRINT
OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST,
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GO AS FAR IN
THE FUTURE AND FAR OUT IN THE
SOLAR SYSTEM AS WE WANT.
IT'S TIME TO TURN IT OVER TO THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
THEY'VE SHOWN, THEY HAVE SHOWN
THAT THEY'RE CAPABLE WITH NASA'S
HELP OF DOING THAT MISSION SO WE
CAN DIRECT OUR RESOURCES TO
REACH THE MOON AND MARS.
J CAN YOU REMEMBER A BUSIER
TIME?
>> I CANNOT.
I WAS HERE FOR THE LAST SHUTTLE
MISSION.
I REMEMBER BEING AT THE HOTEL,
AND NOW THERE ARE FIVE MORE
HOTELS AND YOU STILL CAN'T GET A
PLACE.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN INVIGORATING
FOR THIS ECONOMY, THE LOCAL
ECONOMY, BUT ALSO NASA.
>> JUST THIS MONTH WE'VE SEEN
THREE DIFFERENT VEHICLES ON THE
PAD THERE.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY THE BUSIEST
TIME THAT I CAN THINK OF IN MY
MEMORY FOR SURE.
THE AXIOM SPACECRAFT CAME DOWN
LESS THAN THREE DAYS AGO.
AND IT'S JUST WHAT WE'VE BEEN
WORKING FOR.
WE WANT TO FLY AND NOW WE'RE
DOING IT.
>> VERY REWARDING.
>> YES, WHEN WE COMPLAIN ABOUT
IT, WHAT ARE WE COMPLAINING
ABOUT?
IT'S OUR JOB.
THE NICE TO BE FLY GOING I
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING
HERE.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S
LAUNCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LET'S GO TO HAWTHORNE FOR
ANOTHER CHECK ON THE COUNTDOWN.
>> THANKS, MEGAN.
NOW WE'RE JUST AT T-MINUS 1
HOUR.
AND JUST UNDER 15 MINUTES AWAY
FROM LAUNCH.
AND IT GET MORE EXCITING AS WE
APPROACH THAT T-0.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE CREW
INGRESS THE VEHICLE.
THE CLOSE OUT TEAM HELPED TO
ATTACH THE UMBILICALS.
THEY PERFORMED SUIT LEAK CHECKS
AS WELL AS COM CHECKS WITH THE
CORE AND LAUNCH DIRECTOR AS
WELL.
>> AFTER THE SUIT LEAK CHECKS
WERE COMPLETE, WE HAD THE HATCH
CLOSE, AND THE CLOSE OUT TEAM
WAS ABLE TO CONFIRM.
THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE.
THERE WERE CLOSE OUT TEAM IS
GETTING READY TO DEPART.
WE'LL SEE THEM MOVE OUT OF THE
WHITE ROOM AND THEY'LL LEAVE THE
AREA.
AFTER THEY'RE G.O.P. THE ONLY
PEOPLE LEFT AT THAT PAD AREA ARE
THE ASTRONAUTS.
THE FINAL WEATHER CHECKS HAVE.
>> CLOSE OUT TEAM HAS DEPARTED.
>> COPY.
>> THERE THE CORE GIVING THAT
UPDATE.
CLOSE OUT TEAM HAS DEPORTED THE
CREW ARM.
THEN IT'S JUST CREW-4 ON THE
PAD.
THAT'S IT, AND THEN WE'RE
GETTING CLOSER TO LAUNCH.
WEATHER IS LOOKING FANTASTIC.
VERY LOW PROBABLE ABLE VIOLATION
OF THE LAUNCH SITE AND THE
AACCIDENT CORRIDOR WEATHER WHERE
THE--THEY HAVE, SO WE'RE NOT
LOOKING AT ANY HOLDS FOR OUR
LAUNCH TODAY.
>> GREAT NEWS ON THAT WEATHER.
WE WILL HE ALSO DO A FINAL GO,
NO-GO POLE.
THE VARIOUS TEAMS AT NASA AND
SPACEX WILL MAKE SURE THAT
CONTINUES ARE GOD WITH FALL 9.
SO NOW, ETC. CHECK BACK IN WITH
HOUSTON FOR A STATUS OF DOT
ABOUT THE TEAM SUPPORTING THE
SPACE STATION ON THEIR READINESS
TO.
>> HEY, THANKS, JESSE.
THE TEAM HERE AT MISSION CONTROL
REPUTATION SAY THEY'RE READY FOR
THE LAWFUL EARLIER.
THE NEW JERSEY HE WAS ASKING THE
FLIGHT CONTROLLERS, THAT THEIR
FOCUS AREAS WERE ONLINE AND
WORKING PROPERLY.
THIS INCLUDES THE LIGHT SUPPORT
SYSTEMS, COMPUTERS THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO COMMAND THE SUB
SYSTEM, AND OUR ABILITY TO--THE
CAN YOU IN.
WHEN THE SPACE STATION LAUNCHES
THE CREW WILL BE FLYING OVER
ROMANIA.
AS THEY GET READY FOR THEIR
MORNING ROUTINE THEY'LL MAKE
SURE THAT THEY'RE REFRESHED AND
READY TO RECEIVE THE CREW.
WE'LL CONTINUE MONITORING THE.
NUMBER.
>> THANKS, CHELSEA.
THE TWO-2 ASTRONAUTS ARE
CURRENTLY ON BOARD OF THE SPACE
STATION.
THEY SPENT SIX MONTHS IN
CONDUCTING LIGHT MATERIAL, AND.
NUMBER.
>> ALSO TO DELIVER BENEFIT TO US
BACK HERE ON EARTH.
ALL THAT RESEARCH LAYS THE
GROUNDWORK FOR THE FUTURE
EXPLORATION TO THE MOON AND MARS
STARTING WITH THE ARTEMIS
MISSION.
>> YES, THE COMMANDER OF THE
CREW THREE AND CREW THREE
MISSION.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PHASES
OF FLIGHT FROM LAUNCH TO ENTRY.
HE'S TURNLY ENGINEERING FLIGHT.
NOW, HE IS HE WAS BORN TO
MILWAUKEE BUT CONSIDERS SEATER
FALLS IOWA AND HOMETOWN.
>> AND ALSO ON BOARD, THE PILOT
OF THE CRUCIAL SPACECRAFT, THE
NECKED IN NUMBER TESS' THE
COMMANDER OF EXPEDITION 67, AND
NATIVE FOR FATE NUMBER DAVIS WAS
SELECTED AT BILLION CANDIDATE
AND IS A SYSTEMS SPECIALIST FOR
CREW-3.
HE'S CURRENTLY SERVING AS A
FLIGHT ENGINEER FOR EXPEDITION
67.
DARREN WAS BORN IN POCATELLO,
AWE, BUT CONTINUES RICHMOND,
WASHINGTON HOLDING THEY ARE
NUMBER DURING ALL THOSE DYNAMIC
FACES, LAUNCH, RE-ENTRY, DOCKING
AND UNDOCKING.
HE'S ALSO A FLIGHT ENGINEER, AND
THIS IS HIS FIRST VISIT TO
SPACE.
THAT CREW IS ON BOARD.
THEY'RE PREPARING FOR THE
ARRIVAL AND THEIR TURN BACK TO
WATER WELCOME.
>> DARRELL?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAN AND
JESSE.
WELCOME FOR COVERAGE FOR THE
MISSION.
WE ARE CURRENTLY AT T-MINUS 8
HOUR 1 HOUR AND 8 MINUTES.
AND 3:52 AND 55 SECONDS.
WE'RE TRACKING NO ISSUES WITH
MALL CON NINE.
THE RANGE IS GREEN.
THE WEATHER IS COOPERATING.
AND HELEN GROUND, BOB HINES,
THEY'LL TRANS MOVE IT TO THE
PAD.
NOW WE'RE SEEING THEM LIFE ON
THAT ROCKET THAT YOU SEE ON YOUR
SCREEN RIGHT THERE, AWAITING
LIFT OFF.
SO MEGAN, AS THEY WAIT FOR THIS,
WHAT IS THE CREW DOING IN THIGHS
MOMENTS?
CLOSE-OUT CREW IS LEAVING?
IT'S JUST THE ASTRONAUTS INSIDE
THE SPACECRAFT?
>> YES, YOU CERTAINLY REALIZE
THAT AS THE MATCH CLOSES THAT
YOU'RE NOW GETTING CLOSE TO THE
LAUNCH.
IN BETWEEN THERE IS QUITE A LOT
OF DOWN TIME.
THEY'LL BE ENTERTAINING EACH
OTHER, TELLING STORIES.
AND PLAYING GAMES.
I'VE SEEN SOME SMILES ON FACES.
I THINK THEY'RE IN THERE HAVING
FUN AND GETTING READY.
>> SMILES FROM CREW-4, INDEED.
IT'S BEEN GOOD TO SEE OVER THE
NEXT HOUR WE'LL CONDUCT A SERIES
OF POLLS TO GET READY FOR
LAUNCH.
THE CREW WILL ON THE LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM AND FUELING OF THE
FALCON 9 WILL BEGIN.
THAT'S A BIG MOMENT.
>> IT IS A LONG DAY.
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT THEM
GETTING READY TO FLY, I THINK
ABOUT THE STORY THAT I HEARD YOU
TELL ABOUT THAT FLIGHT UPHILL.
YOU HAVE GOTTEN PAST THE TOUGH
MARK.
YOU LIFTED OFF.
CREW-2 IS IN SPACE.
AND YOU FELT LIKE EVERYTHING WAS
OKAY.
THEN THERE WAS THIS SUDDEN
ALARM.
>> YES.
>> YOU RECOUNT THAT STORY.
>> SURE.
IT WAS KIND OF--AGAIN, A VERY
LONG DAY.
YOU'RE EXHAUSTED FOR A LOT OF
REASONS.
IT WAS OUR BEDTIME.
WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THE GO TO DRESS
IN OUR PAJAMAS, PULL OUT OUR
SLEEPING BAGS AND HUNKER DOWN
BEFORE THE RENDEZVOUS BEGINS THE
NEXT DAY.
WE GOT THE CALL FROM SARA SAYING
WE'RE TRACKING AN CONNECT THAT
IS GOING TO GET TOO CLOSE TO
YOU.
WE NEED YOU BACK IN YOUR SUITS
AND PUT EVERYTHING AWAY.
I THINK YOU HAVE 15 OR 20
MINUTES.
THAT WAS AN IMMEDIATE SCRAMBLE.
THERE WAS NO TIME TO REALLY
THINK ABOUT IT.
WE JUST HAD TO GO INTO THE DRILL
OF PRACTICING THOSE MOTIONS WE
HAD DONE AT HOME.
AND OUR AWESOME MISSION
SPECIALIST GOT SHANE AND I IN
OUR SUITS AND STRAPPED IN OUR
SEATS AND THEN WE HAD TO PUT
EVERYTHING AWAY.
EVERY SLEEPING BACK, EVERY SOCK,
THAT WAS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
WORK.
JUST AS WE GOT THE LAST ZIPPER
ZIPPED, WE GOT THE CALL SAYING
THAT IT WAS A FALSE ALARM AND
THERE WAS NOT AN OBJECT OUT
THERE ON A TRAJECTORY ON US.
IT FELT LIKE THE SIMULATOR THAT
WE WERE DONE WITH THE TASK AND
WE WERE READY TO MOVE ONTO THE
NEXT THING.
IT WAS A GOOD PRACTICE.
IT GOT OUR HEART RACING.
>> IT WAS A FALSE ALARM, AND
SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPROBABLY
ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM.
THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
>> LET'S GO OUT TO HAWTHORNE,
ANDY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR US?
>> WE HAVE A SMOOTH COUNTDOWN SO
FAR.
AND WE HEARD THAT THE CREW HAD
LEFT THE BAD.
RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST THE CREW
INSIDE DRAGON.
FOR FALCON 9, FINAL PROPULSION
CHECK OUT.
THIS INVOLVEMENTS CHECKING
CYCLING EVOLVES AND SYSTEM
PNEUMATIC.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE TASKS TO
PERFORM.
FIRST WE NEED TO RETRACK THE
CREW ACCESS ARM AWAY FROM THE
DRAGON CAPSULE TO ITS LAUNCH
POSITION.
THAT WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN T-MINUS
44.
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM WILL BE
ARMED.
ONCE THESE TWO EVENTS ARE
COMPLETE, THE DRAGON WILL BE
READY FOR DRAGON PROPELLENT
LOADING.
ONCE WE BEGIN TO LOAD
PROPELLENT, THERE IS NO
OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE T-0.
WE DO ONLY GET ONE CHANCE AT IT
TODAY.
THE GOOD NEWS WE'RE AT T-MINUS 1
HOUR 1 MINUTE AND COUNTING.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GREEN.
I'LL SEND IT BACK OVER TO JESSE.
>> THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
TODAY'S LAUNCH MARKS THE FOURTH
TIME A ROTATIONAL CREW WILL FLY
A COMMERCIAL SPACECRAFT.
KJELL LINDGREN IS COMMANDER OF
THE CREW-4 SPACECRAFT AND
MISSION RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL
PHASES OF FLIGHT.
KJELL SPENT MOST OF HIS
CHILDHOOD ABROAD AND RETURNED TO
THE UNITED STATES TO EARN A
DOCTORATE OF MEDICINE IN AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
HE SERVED AS THE DEPUTY CREW
SESSION FOR STS 130.
AND FLEW ON EXPEDITION ON 34 AND
35 AND LOGGED 141 DAYS IN
SPACISH PARTICIPATED IN TWO
SPACEWALKS AND MORE THAN 100
DIFFERENT SCRIBES EXPERIMENTS ON
STATION.
>> AND BOB HINES IS THE PILOT OF
CREW DRAGON FREEDOM TODAY.
HE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR SPACECRAFT
SYSTEMS AND PERFORMANCE AND
SECOND IN COMMAND ON THIS
MISSION.
BORN IN FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH
CAROLINA, DECEIVE A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN ENGINEERING.
AND THEN WENT ON TO COMPLETE A
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.
A LOT OF SCHOOL.
HE WAS SELECTED AS RESEARCH
PILOT AT NASA'S JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER AND THEN GOT THE CALL TO
BE AN ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE.
>> JESSICA WATKINS IS A MISSION
SPECIALIST FOR CREW-4.
THIS WILL BE JESSICA'S FIRST
TRIP TO AFTER THEY ARE SELECTION
IN 2017.
SHE'LL WORK WITH THE COMMANDER
AND PILOT DURING THE DYNAMIC
LAUNCH.
SHE EARNED A BACHELOR'S DEGREE
FROM STANFORD AND DOCTORATE IN
GEOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES.
SHE WAS A POST DOCTORATE FELLOW
WHERE SHE COLLABORATED AS A
MEMBER OF THE SCIENCE TEAM FOR
MARS ROVER CURIOSITY.
>> AND SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI
ALSO A MISSION SPECIALIST.
THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENT
GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY MUNICH, GERMAN.
SHE ALSO ATTENDED THE NATO JOINT
JET TRAINING PROGRAM AT SHEPHERD
AIR FORCE BASE IN U.S. WHERE SHE
EARNED HER FIGHTER PILOT WINGS
IN 2006.
SHE WAS SELECTED AS AN ASTRONAUT
IN 2009 AND THEN FLEW SPENDING
200 DAYS IN SPACE.
EACH OF THESE FOUR CREW MEMBERS
WILL JOIN EXPEDITION 67 AND 68
ONCE THEY ARRIVE AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> WE'RE UNDER AN HOUR AWAY FROM
LAUNCH.
SO WE'RE GETTING INTO REALLY THE
EXCITING PART OF THE COUNTDOWN.
WE HEARD THAT THE CREW--THE
CLOSE OUT CREW HAS LEFT THE ARM.
THEY'RE OUT OF THE AREA.
AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO
PROPEL ATLANTA LOADING AND SOME
EXCITING MOMENTS.
THE COMPANY'S FIFTH CREW SPACE
FLIGHT FOR NASA.
WE HAVE THE DEMO 2 TEST FLIGHT
AND OPERATIONAL CREW.
THIS WAS ALSO SPACEX'S SEVENTH
CREW SPACE FLIGHT OVER ALL.
INCLUDING THE INSPIRATION 4
MISSION AS WELL AS THE AX 1
MISSION WHICH RECENTLY CAME
HOME.
>> TODAY OUR CREW IS FINDING THE
NEWEST DRAGON OF OUR FLEET AND
WE'LL TAKE WIDE ON THE FALCON 9
IN SUPPORT OF THE MISSION IN
JUNE OF LAST YEAR.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT COUNTDOWN SO
FAR.
WEATHER HAS BEEN LOOKING REALLY
GOOD FOR T-ZERO AND THE
EXCITEMENT CONTINUES TO PICK UP
AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE T-ZERO
MARK.
>> IT HAS GONE REALLY SMOOTHLY
SO FAR TODAY.
WE STARTED WITH THE SUIT UP JUST
OVER THREE HOURS AGO.
WHERE THE SPACEX TEAM PUT TON
THEIR SUITS AND DID THE INITIAL
CHECK OUT BEFORE THEY GOT TO THE
CREW WALK OUT.
THAT'S WHERE KJELL, BOB, JESSICA
AND SAMANTHA GAVE FINAL GOODBYES
AND WAVES TO FOLKS GATHERED
OUTSIDE OF THE OPERATION AND
CHECK OUTBUILDING BEFORE THEY
CLIMBED INTO AND BEGAN THE
ROUGHLY 20 MINUTE RIDE OUT TO
PAD 39-A.
>> WE DID WATCH AS THE CREW
BOARDED AND HEADED TOWARDS THE
NASA CAUSE AWAY.
ONCE THEY ARRIVED AT THE PAD THE
CREW TOOK A MOMENT TO ENJOY THE
VIEW OF THE VEHICLE.
THEY'LL TAKE FLIGHT ON THIS
MORNING AND THEN HEADED UP--
>> WE'RE CYCLING ORBIT ISOLATION
VALVES.
J THE SYSTEM COM BETWEEN THE
CREW AND GROUND.
AGAIN, AS THEY HEADED UP THE
SIXTH SERVICE STRUCTURE THEY
BEGAN THE PROCESS.
THEY THEN PERFORMED A SERIES OF
CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
SUITS SEAT AND VEHICLE
INTERACTIONS WERE ALL
FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
>> THEY MADE THEIR WAY TWO AT A
TIME DOWN, DOWN THAT CREW ACCESS
ARM AND THEN GETTING IN ONE AT A
TIME INTO THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
WE SAW KJELL AND BOB MAKE THE
WALK FIRST.
FOLLOWED BY SAMANTHA AND
JESSICA.
AND THEY WERE HELPED INTO THE
VEHICLE BY THAT CLOSE-OUT TEAM
WHICH A LITTLE WHILE AGO WE DID
HEAR THAT THEY MADE THEIR WAY
OFF THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
THEY WERE ABLE TO CLOSE THE
HATCH WITH THE CREW SAFELY
INSIDE.
EXECUTE THE LEAP CHECK AND SO
WE'RE LESS THAN AN HOUR TO GO
NOW.
SO THINGS ARE GOING TO START TO
REALLY PICK UP AS WE GO THROUGH
A SERIES OF GO, NO GO PULLS TO
THE ESCAPE SYSTEM AND START THE
PRO--PROPELLENT LOADING.
>> THE DRAGON PULL FOR PROP
LOADING WILL BE COMING UP HERE.
AND THEN AT T-MINUS 45 MINUTES
THERE WILL BE AN INTERNAL
MISSION CONTROL.
>> AT THIS TIME YOU'RE GO FOR
SECTION 6.
WHEN YOU'RE READY, PLEASE REPORT
GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> COPY.
GO FOR 6.
>> PAUSING FOR COMS BETWEEN CORE
AND ASTRONAUTS.
WE'LL HAVE AN INTERNAL HAWTHORNE
PULL AND THEN A PULL FOR
PROPELLENT LOAD APPROXIMATING.
ONCE WE GET TO THE T MINUS 45
MINUTE MARK, THEY'LL GET CLOSE
FOR THE ARM LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM.
THAT'S THE SAFETY SYSTEM IN
PLACE THAT WILL SEPARATE THE
CREW FROM THE ROCKET.
EITHER ON THE PAD OR DURING THE
FLY UPHILL.
>> ONCE WE REACH 5 MINUTES FROM
LIFT OFF, PROPELLENT WILL BE
UNLOADING FUEL AND OXIDIZER IN
THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES OF
FALCON 9.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO GET VIEWS OF
THE CREW.
WE'LL GET READY TO REPORT THEIR
READINESS FOR LAUNCH.
THEIR THEY'RE IN THEIR SUITS
THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PHASE.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST
STANDING BY FOR THESE FINAL
POLLS, THEN WE'LL GET INTO
PROPELLENT LOADING.
LET'S SEND IT BACK NOW TO THE
TEAMS IN FLORIDA.
OVER TO YOU, DARRELL.
>> THANK YOU, DAN.
AND SINCE WE LAST SAW YOU OUR
TEAM HAS GROWN.
CHECK THIS OUT.
[ CHEERING ]
MEGAN McARTHUR AND I WANT TO
WELCOME A GROUP OF NASA SOCIAL
PARTICIPANTS.
THEY'RE STANDING BEHIND US AND
ALL AROUND US.
GUYS, WELCOME.
[ CHEERING ]
>> SO YOU MIGHT ASK, WHAT ARE
NASA SOCIAL PARTICIPANTS?
THIS IS THEM AND NASA PUTS OUT
AN OPEN ENVYTATION TO SOCIAL
MEDIA INFLUENCERS TO COME OUT TO
KENNEDY.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT PICTURES OF
SOME OF THE STOPS THEY WENT
THROUGH AROUND KENNEDY.
THEY TOUR THE AREA IN DAYS
LEADING UP TO LAUNCH, AND IT
ENDS WITH A ROCKET LAUNCH.
THEY GET TO SEE IT AS CLOSE AS
YOU CAN POSSIBLY GET.
THE SAME DISTANCE THAT MEDIA AND
VIPS GET TO WATCH IT.
NASA PARTICIPANT KNOWN AS THE
GALACTIC GAL ON INSTAGRAM.
YOU'RE HERE WITH ALL OF YOUR
NASA PARTICIPANTS.
HOW IS IT GOING SO FAR?
>> IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING.
THIS IS MY FIRST NASA SOCIAL.
I STARTED MY PLATFORM DURING
COVID.
WE HAVEN'T HAD SOCIALS SINCE
THEN.
IT HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY
INCREDIBLE.
I KNOW WE HAD A DELAY.
SOME OF US WENT HOME.
SOME OF US STAYED.
WE GOT TO COME BAND SEE SO MANY
THINGS.
I'VE GOTTEN TO MEET SO MANY WOLF
PEOPLE FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS
OF LIFE.
SOME OF THEM ARE ARTISTS.
SOME OF THEM ARE FOODIES AND
SOME ARE INFLUENCERS.
IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL TO BE HERE
AND EXPERIENCE THIS FOR
EVERYONE.
>> EACH ONE OF YOU UNA
SUBSTANTIAL AUDIENCE AND WE'RE
SO GRAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO DO
THAT.
WHAT HAS BEEN A FAVORITE PART
THAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR?
>> THAT'S A REALLY HARD
QUESTION.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY
AMAZING, OF COURSE.
I THINK THE BEST PART FOR ME HAS
BEEN WAS GETTING TO SEE THREE
DIFFERENT ROCKETS ON THEIR BADS
AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS JUST REALLY SOLIDIFIES FOR
ME WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE.
SPACEX IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE
THAT RIGHT HERE WITH MY OWN
EYES.
>> THERE WAS A LAUNCH LAST WEEK.
YOU HAVE A HE SEEN TWO LAUNCHES.
SO.
>> WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGING
ASPECTS TO COMMUNICATING SCIENCE
IN THIS CAGE AND AGE?
>> YEAH, I THINK COMMUNICATING
SCIENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA IS
REMAIN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS OF
PEOPLE'S ATTENTION A LOT OF
TIME.
MOST OF MY CONTENT IS ON TIKTOK
IN THE FORM OF SHORT VIDEOS.
IT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATE AND
KEEP YOUR AUDIENCE ENGAGED FOR
35 SECONDS.
SPACE CAN BE CRITICIZED A LOT
ESPECIALLY FROM THE GENERAL
PUBLIC THAT MIGHT NOT BE
OTHERWISE CONNECTED TO PEACE.
I THINK THAT'S COMMUNICATING,
WHY CREDIT PHYSICAL.
>> THEY WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION
FOR NASA ASTRONAUT MEGAN
McARTHUR.
WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU ASK AN
ASTRONAUT?
>> I'M SURE WE HAVE A LOT OF
YOUNG PEOPLE WATCHING.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE, WHAT ARE SOME
THINGS YOU WOULD CREME WEEING
FAT.
>> WHAT I THINK OF ANY GENDER,
BE CURIOUS AND TRY NEW THINGS.
DON'T DECIDE ONE THING, AT FIVE
YEARS OLD THERE IS ONLY THIS THE
ONE THING.
SO BE CURIOUS.
ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONSELELELELEL.
>> OUT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE
THROUGHOUT THE SHOW WE'VE BEEN
TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS AT THE
#ASK NASA THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
WE HAVE TIME FOR A FEW MORE
BEFORE MARK THIS FOR MEG.
WHILE OPPOSITE THE SPACE
STATION, WITH WHY.
>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
I THINK MEETING THE CHALLENGE
EVERY DAY.
MEETING THE SCHEDULE EVERY DAY.
AND WHATEVER THAT PROUD TOM SOME
DAYS YOU FROM.
>> SO FOR THE 200 DAYS.
I'M CALLING IT 200 DAYS.
[ CHUCKLING ]
IT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT.
TO IMAGINE FOR ME, WHAT WAS THE
FUNISH THING ABOUT SPACE?
FLOATING AROUND?
THIS WOMAN WAS FLOATING AROUND
IN SPACE.
>> IT'S THE CAMARADERIE.
RIGHT?
IT'S THE SILLY TIMES THAT YOU
HAVE WITH YOUR CREW MATES, THE
IDEAS YOU COME UP WITH.
ONE DAY WE TAPED IT TO A BALANCE
ALONE.
AND THEN RELEASED.
OF COURSE, AND IT'S UP IN THE
LAB AND STUFF LIKE THAT WHEN YOU
HAVE DOWN TIME.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT SCREEN
EXPERIMENT, IT'S A LOT OF FUN
AND IT'S GREAT TEAM BUILDING IN
IT IS VERY, VERY SERVICE.
FOR THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR BEING
HERE.
Y'ALL ARE FANTASTIC.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LET'S NOW CHECK IN WITH ANDY
AT SPACEX IN CALIFORNIA.
>> THANKS, DARRELL, IT IS T
MINUS 47 MINUTES AND COUCHING.
THEY'RE REVIEWING DATA FROM THE
CHECK OUT OVER THE LAST HOUR.
THEY'RE GETTING READY FOR
READINESS.
AND THE EXCITING THING IS THAT
THIS IS THE LAST POLL BEFORE WE
LIFT OFF.
THE SPACEX ENGINEERS ARE VOTING
ON THEDOWN DOWN LAUNCH PROCEED
CURE.
THEY WILL PLAN ON MISSION
DIRECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE ALSO READY.
HE WILL EARLIER YOU SUE A
VEHICLE CALLED THE BAB.
THEY HAVE A PATH TO 3 A AND THEY
SEE FALCON #.
>> THE TEAM IS READY FOR
DOWNLOADING AND LAUNCH.
FOR NONURGENT BRIEF THE CD OR LD
FOR COUNTDOWN.
FOR THOSE AFFECTING THE SAFETY
OF THE OPERATION, OPERATORS WILL
HAVE HOLD ON THAT COUNTDOWN
NECK.
PROCEED INTO THE LAUNCH OF OUR
SOW AGAINST.
AT 2, MINUS 10 SECONDS.
RELY ON WORK CRITERIA FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE COUNT.
# # IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE,
EVERYONE IN WERE YOU WILL REMAIN
AT THEIR POST WHILE EVERYONE IS
EVACUATED.
>> AWESOME.
SO WE HEARD AT THE VERY END OF
THAT, THAT WE ARE PROCEEDING
WITH THE CREW ARM MOVEMENT AM.
>> CONTROL IN THE LOCKDOWN STATE
UNTIL THE LAUNCH SYSTEM IS
DISARMED.
>> IT DOES TAKE A FEW MINUTES
FOR THE CREW ARM TO FULLY
RETRACT, AND THEN AFTER THAT
WE'LL BE REMOVING THE ARM
POSITION.
>> RETRACTION HAS STARTED.
>> WE'VE GOT AN AMAZING START OF
THE.
AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A
FEW MINUTES TO FULLY RETRACT,
AND THEN THE NEXT MAJOR ACTIVITY
WILL BE ARMING THAT LAUNCH
SYSTEM.
WE'RE MONITORING THE CLEARANCE
IN OUR AREA AROUND THE LAUNCH
PAD AS WELL AS SEE FACE CRASHED
THE.
>> HERE AT KATIE SPACE CENTER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE
ACCEPTABLE FOR LIFT OFF JUST 43
MINUTES FROM NOW.
AGAIN, EVERYTHING IS GOING
SMOOTHLY ON TODAY'S COUNTDOWN.
I'M GOING TO SEND IT BACK OVER
TO YOU, DARRELL.
HOW ARE THINKS GOING?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANDY.
AND THE CLOCKDOWN CLOCK
CONDITIONING AS A T MINUS TO
MINUTES REASON THEY HAVE LET THE
WHILE ROOM AND THEY ARE NO
LONGER IN THE PICTURE IN A YOU
SEE.
ALSO, PACE X TEAM HAVE PULLED GO
ON THE HE WILL NUMBER SPACEX
DRAGON FREEDOM REPORTS FROM FROM
WE'RE STANDING BY FOR THE NEXT
MAJOR, MINOR STONE.
WE SAW THE ARM RETRACT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE MILESTONES
THAT WE'LL SEE IN PREPARATION OF
LIFT OFF.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
>> WE'LL KNOW WHEN THE CREW
ACCESS ARM RETRACTION IS
COMPLETE.
>> THAT IS A CREW, ACCESS ARM
IS.
MEGAN, THE PROPEL ATLANTA
LOADING INTO THE FALCON 9
ROBERT.
THIS IS A BIG MOMENT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS WAS A NEW CAPABILITY
DEVELOPED FOR THIS VEHICLE TO
REDUCE THE OVER ALL TIMELINE.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE
COMBINED TEAMS LOOKED VERY
CLOSELY TOGETHER FROM A SAFETY
PERSPECTIVE DURING THE
COMMISSION OF THIS WEEK.
THAT'S WHY THE LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM IS SO CRUCIAL.
THAT IS A DYNAMIC ARM, AND WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO KEEP
SOMETHING FACE, THAT LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM IS ARMED AND
THAT'S COMING UP.
I REMEMBER THE DEMO CREW TELLING
US TO EXPECT THE LINES.
>> YOU NOT QUITE INSTANTANEOUS.
BUT A VERY LOUD SHOULD.
THE PREPARATION OF PLAYING
FREEDOM.
>> SPACEX FOR THE LAUNCH ESCAPE.
>> AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO
GIVE YOU A GO FOR SECTION SEVEN.
>> SO WHAT DOES HE DO TO HARM
THIS?
>> IT'S A COMMAND THAT IS SENT,
MAKE THAT A VALID EXIT STRATEGY.
>> AND AS THE PILOT YOU'RE
THERE.
>> MM-HMM.
>> COPING YOUR EYES ON ALL THE
SYSTEM?
>> YES, SENDING OUT COMMANDS AND
THAT'S THE CORRECT THING THEY
SHOULD BE DOING.
>> WHEN THE PROPELLANTS
UNLOADING.
BOB SAYS IT SOUNDED LIKE
A GURGLING SOUND.
I THINK EVERY'S EXPERIENCE IS
FLIGHTILY DIFFERENT.
>> LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM,
VERIFIED ARM.
IN ALL RIGHT.
MY MEMORY OF WHAT OCCURRED ON
THE SOUND OF THE SPACE AGENCY
DID NOT HAPPEN.
SO WE ALL JUST TESTED SEVERAL
DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> WE HEARD THE CULL OUT, IT.
>> THAT CHANGES THE WAY FOR THE
LOADING OF PROPELLENT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> LIQUID OXYGEN.
AND RB 1.
IT'S A REFINED CARE ROW SCENE
FOR SPACE FLIGHT.
A LOOK FROM HIGH ABOVE.
FROM THE LAUNCH TOWER ONTO THE
CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT AND
ROCKET BELOW.
THAT BOOSTER GETTING READY TO
FLY FOR THE FOURTH TIME.
WE GOT THE ELS CALL A LITTLE
EARLY.
AS FAR AS A SCHEDULE IS
CONCERNED WE'RE RUNNING AHEAD.
BUT WE'RE IN A GOOD PLACE
BECAUSE PROPEL ATLANTA LOAD
STARTS AT T MINUS 35 MINUTES.
>> THE CREW, WHILE NOT ACTIVELY
INVOLVED IN THE PROPEL
ATLANTA-LOADING ACTIVITIES
THEY'LL BE MONITORING WHEN THE
ACTIVITIES START LOADING THE
SPECIFIC TANKS AND SPECIFIC
PROPELLENT SO THEY CAN HAVE A
SENSE OF WHERE THE VEHICLE IS AT
EVERY MOMENT.
>> A LIVE LOOK AT BASE OF BAD
39-A.
A LAUNCH TOWER.
AND THE STRONG BACK, WHICH IS
PART OF THE TRANSPORTER ERECTOR.
IT IS IN THE FOUR GROUND.
>> YOU HEARD THERE, IN 60
SECRETARY.
VENTING THOSE TANKS IN ADVANTAGE
OF THE PROPEL ATLANTA LOAD.
IT'S 3:15 A.M. DAYLIGHT TIME
HERE ON THE FLORIDA SPACE COAST.
THE OVERNIGHT LAUNCH.
WILL LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY HERE
IN FLORIDA.
THE SPACECRAFT AT THE VERY TOP
IS A NEW ONE.
CREW DRAGON FREEDOM NAMED BY THE
CREW.
ALTHOUGH PARTS OF IT ARE BEING
REUSED.
THE HEAT SHIELD, THE MATERIAL
FROM THE HEAT SHIELD.
FROM THE VERSE TIME THEY'VE USED
THE COMPOSITE HEAT KJELL
PROJECT.
THIS IS ANOTHER ADVANCEMENT.
THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT FLIGHT LOADS
ON IT TO TEST IT AND QUALIFY IT.
NASA HAS APPROVED IT, AND IT'S
READY TO GO.
THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE OF
THE SALTWATER INENVIRONMENT.
BUT THEY FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO
GET THAT READY FOR ANOTHER GOAL.
>> THAT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
THAT YOU MENTIONED IS VERY
STRICT.
MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS ARE MESSED SO THIS
ARE NO SAFETY IMPACT TO REDUCING
THESE SPECIES OF HARDWARE.
BEING ABLE TO USE AND REUSE
PIECES IN THE PAST, TO BRING
DOWN THE EFFICIENCIES AND THE
CAUSE, AND ULTIMATELY THE
RELIABILITY AS WE'RE ABLE TO USE
FLIGHT-PROVEN HARDWARE OVER AND
OVER AGAIN.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WE DID NOT WORK WITH THEM.
THEY WORKED ON THE RUSSIAN
SEGMENT, IT DID NOT DISRUPT OUR
ONGOING SCIENCE WORK THAT WE'RE
DOING THAT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR
OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
CARRY OUT A MOVIE PRODUCTION AS
WELL AS CARRY OUT THE ACTUAL
WORK OF THE SPACE STATION.
>> SETTING AN EXAMPLE OF THE
CONTINUED PRIVATE USE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, AND
I GUESS YOU DIDN'T PHOTO BOMB
THEIR SHOTS?
>> I DID NOT.
>> WE ARE NOW COUNTING TOWARD
THE LAUNCH.
TODAY WILL BEGIN THE SIX-MONTH
ROTATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THE LAUNCH SYSTEM IS ARMED.
THAT HAPPENED AS THEY TARTED
LOADING THE PROPEL ATLANTA.
THE DRAGON WILL NEED FUEL AND
TOGETHER THE PROPELLANTS FEED
THE ENGINES THAT MOVE THE DRAGON
INTO ORBIT AS WELL AS THE EIGHT
SUPER DRACO SYSTEMS IN AN
EMERGENCY SCENARIO.
THEY HAVE TRAINED FOR THAT
CONSISTENCY AND THEY ARE READY.
>> THANKSISH YEAH, WE'RE
CONTINUING TO COUNT DOWN THE
FINAL MINUTES AND EVERYTHING IS
STILL LOOKING GOOD FOR FALCON 9
AND DRAGON FOR LIFT OFF JUST
ABOUT 32 MINUTES FROM NOW.
AT THE T-MINUS 35 MINUTE MARK,
THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE
T-MINUS 2 MINUTE MARK.
THE FUEL WE USE IS REFINED
KEROSENE REFERRED TO AS RP 1.
THE DENSIFIED OXIDIZER ALLOWS US
TO STORE MORE OXIDIZER.
ONCE WE HAVE THE FLAME GOING
WE'LL ADD THE KEROSINE FUEL AND
IT WILL RAMP UP THE FUEL POWER.
YOU MIGHT SEE THE GREEN FLASH,
THAT'S THE SECOND ENGINE IGNITES
TWO AND A HALF MINUTES INTO
FLIGHT.
TOPPING OFF HELIUM INTO PRESSURE
VESSELS IS ALSO UNDER WAY.
THIS IS USED AS THE FLOAT IS
PULLED OUT FROM THE MERLIN
PUMPS.
IN DURING RECENT FLIGHTS THIS
SHOULD BE THE SOUNDS SORT OF
FAMILIAR.
RANGE AND WEATHER AGAIN AS THEY
HAVE BEEN ALL NIGHT ARE REALLY
TRACKING GREEN.
WE'RE REALLY CONTINUING NO
PROBLEMS, AND THERE REALLY IS A
LOW PROBABILITY OF VIOLATION FOR
WEATHER.
AS A REMINDER, TODAY IS AN
INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH.
IF WE HEAR A HOLD FOR ANY
REASON, WE'LL HAVE TO STAND DOWN
AND OUR TARGET BACK UP
OPPORTUNITY FOR TOMORROW NIGHT
WITHIN JUST 24 HOURS FROM
TONIGHT'S PLANNED LAUNCH.
LET'S TURN IT OVER TO JESSE AND
DAN.
>> JUST UNDER 30 MINUTES TO
T-ZERO TODAY.
FOR CREW FOUR, THE ASTRONAUTS TO
REACH STATION WILL TAKE 16
HOURS.
>> THE GROUND OPERATION TEAMS
ARE DOING A SERIES OF SYSTEM
CHECKS TO ENSURING THAT DRAGON
AND FALCON 9 ARE READY FOR
LAUNCH.
YOU'RE LOOKING OVER THE
SHOULDERS OF OUR TEAM AS THEY
PREPARE FOR LIFT OFF.
WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK
OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE ASSET
PORTION OF THIS MISSION IS GOING
TO LOOK LIKE.
>> ONCE WE HIT T-ZERO, WE'LL
WATCH THE LIFT OFF AND MAKE
THEIR ASCENT.
>> ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT
HAPPENS 50 SECONDS INTO THE
FLIGHT, MERLIN ENGINES WILL
THROTTLE DOWN.
IT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
STRESS THAT THE VEHICLE WILL
HIT.
>> AND WE CAN THROTTLE DOWN OUR
NINE MERLIN ENGINES AGAIN.
FROM THERE AT TWO AND A HALF
MINUTES INTO FLIGHT WE HAVE A
SERIOUS OF THREE EVENTS THAT
WILL HAPPEN IN RAPID SUCCESS.
>> ALL RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH
OTHER.
THE FIRST ONES THIS IS WHERE THE
FIRST STAGE DETACHES FROM THE
SECOND.
IT WILL MAKE THE WAY BACK TO
EARTH AND WE'LL SEE THE ENGINE
LIGHT UP, PROPEL THE SECRETARY
STAGE ALONG WITH THE FOUR-CREW
ASTRONAUTS WILL ASCEND INTO
ORBIT.
>> THE FIRST IS THE ENTRY BURN.
WHERE THREE OF THE NINE ENGINES
THERE REIGNITE AND SHUT DOWN
AGAIN.
THAT HELPS TO SLOW THE STAGE
DOWN AND PREPARATION FOR
RE-ENTRY INTO THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE.
>> 60 SECONDS AFTER DRAGON GETS
IN ORBIT.
FALCON 9 WILL LAND BACK ON
EARTH.
THE LANDING BURN IS A SINGLE-IF
ENGINE BURN THAT WILL BRING THE
VEHICLE DOWN RAPIDLY TO
TOUCHDOWN AND LAND ABOUT NINE
AND A HALF MINUTES INTO THE
MISSION.
>> WHILE FALCON 9'S FIRST STAGE
IS LANDING, THE DRAGON WILL
SEPARATE FOR THE SECOND STAGE WE
WILL AWAIT FOR THE VEHICLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS
NICE AND STABLE FOR THE TWO
SPACECRAFTS SEPARATE.
WE SHOULD GET A GREAT VIEW FROM
THE SECOND STAGE AS IT FLIES
FREE.
ONCE DRAGON IS A SHORT DISTANCE
AWAY, IT WILL GO THROUGH A
NUMBER OF CHECK OUT'S
IMMEDIATELY.
THEY WILL INCREASE IS THAT
SEPARATION DISTANCE.
THESE ARE NOT THE SUPER DRACOS.
THOSE ARE DISABLED AS SOON AS WE
HIT THIS POINT ON ORBIT.
THEY'RE ONLY USING THE ABORT
SCENARIO ONCE IN OUTER SPACE.
AND THOSE WILL BE DISABLED FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE MISSION.
>> 40 SECONDS AFTER OPERATION,
DRAGON'S KNOWS SEQUENCE WILL
AGAIN.
IT WILL TAKE FOUR MINUTES FOR
THE KNOWS CONE HOOKS TO UNLATCH,
AND FROM THERE IT WILL BE 16
HOURS FOR DRAGON TO GO THROUGH
THE RENDEZVOUS AND APPROACH
PHASES UNDERGOING PHASING BURNS
JUST ESSENTIALLY RAISING ITS
ORBIT AND CHASING DOWN THE
ORBIT.
LET'S CHECK BACK IN WITH
CHELSEA.
>> THE COP CENSUS IS THAT
EVERYTHING IS PROCEEDING
NORMALLY.
THE TEAM IN HAWTHORNE, HOUSTON
AND ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD THE
SPACE STATION WILL MONITOR THE
AUTONOMOUS DOCKING OF THE SPACE
DRAGON TONIGHT.
THEY EXPECT HATCH OPENING TO
TAKE PLACE AN HOUR AND A HALF
AFTER DOCKING.
ONE ONCE ON BOARD THE ASTRONAUTS
WILL BE GREETED BY COMMANDER TOM
MARSH BURN.
THEY'LL NO LONGER BE REFERRED TO
AS CREW-4 BUT RATHER FLIGHT
ENGINEERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
HERE AT MISSION CONTROL THEY ARE
ON CONSULT OVER SEEING THE TEAM
FOR LAUNCH AND DOCKING.
WE'LL BE ON AIR CONTINUOUSLY
THROUGH CREW-4'S ARAINFALL.
DOCKING IS EXPECTED AT
8:15 EASTERN.
I'LL TOSS IT BACK TO THE TEAM IN
FLORIDA.
I'M EXCITED FOR LAUNCH, HOW IS
IT LOOKING?
>> SO ARE WE.
WE'RE LOOKING GREAT WEATHER-EYES
PEER.
THE FOURTH RESTAURANT ROTATION
MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPAY STATION UNDER NASA'S
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD ONE,
FOLKS.
THE FOUR ASTRONAUTS ARE TRAPPED.
COMMANDER KJELL LINDGREN, PILOT
BOB HINES, MISSION SPECIALIST
JESSICA WATKINS AND SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI.
THEY'RE TRAPPED IN THEIR SEATS
AND WE CAN SEE A LIVE SHOT OF
THE ROCKET AS WE LOOK TO THE
SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
THE ROCKET FUELING OPERATION IS
WELL UNDER WAY.
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS
ARMED.
THAT MEANS THAT CREW DRAGON IS
PREPARED TO LAUNCH ITSELF AWAY
FROM THE FALCON 9 IF THERE
SOMEONE AN EMERGENCY ON THE PAD
OR AFTER LIFT OFF.
WE'RE COUNTING DOWN TO THAT LIFT
OFF AT 352.55 IN THE MORNING
EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME.
SO FAR EVERYTHING LOOKS RIGHT
ON.
>> I'M STARTING TO GET REALLY
EXCITED.
>> WHEN YOU'RE SITTING INSIDE
THAT SPACECRAFT HOW DID YOU
FEEL?
>> AT THAT POINT YOU'RE REALLY
FOCUSED.
YOU STOP WITH THE CHITCHAT AND
YOU'RE VERY MUCH WATCHING THE
PROGRESS OF THE PROPELLANT
LOADING, KNOWING THAT THE TIME
IS COUNTING DOWN AND YOU'RE JUST
REALLY STARTING TO GET YOUR HEAD
IN THE GAME AND BE READY FOR
WHAT IS HAPPENING NEXT.
>> THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS PART OF
THE COUNTDOWN IS THAT PROPELLANT
FLOWING IN.
YOU CAN SEE THE SYSTEMS AS YOU
LOOK ON THE SCREEN AND
MONITORING THEM.
THE TEST FLIGHT FROM TWO YEARS
AGO, IF YOU COULD BELIEVE IT,
THE SAFE DELIVERY AND RETURN OF
CREWS ONE AND TWO.
CREW TWO BACK ON EARTH.
SIX MONTHS AGO.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE WITH US THE
PILOT FROM CREW-2, MEGAN
McARTHUR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN A
YEAR AGO.
>> IT WAS SIX MONTHS THAT YOU
WERE UP UP IN SPACE.
HAVE YOU IT'S NOTICED THAT YOU
WERE IN SPACE?
ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HAVING BEEN
IN SPACE COMPLETELY PASSED?
>> I WOULD SAY 90% BACK TO EARTH
NORMAL.
THERE ARE SOME LINGERING THING
SUCH AS BACK PAIN AND JOINT PAIN
THAT POP UP, AM I OLDER NOW OR
IS EARTH JUST HARDER.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, BACK TO
NORMAL.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> AS WE CONTINUE TO COUNT DOWN
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE NEXT CALL
OUT.
IT SHOULD BE STAGE 2, RP 1 LOAD
COMPETE.
WE'LL START LOADING STAGE 2 WITH
LIQUID OXYGEN.
>> AT THE VERY TOP IT IS ALSO
VENTING.
>> S AN IMPRESSIVE SITE.
I FORGET THAT I CAN LOOK OVER MY
SHOULDER AND SEE IT IN REAL
LIFE.
>> IN FACT, YOU JUST DID THAT.
WE CAN'T SEE YOU ON CAMERA, BUT
MEGAN TURNED, AND WANTED TO SEE
THAT IT WAS THE SAME THING THAT
SHE WAS LOOKING AT ON SCREEN,
AND, INDEED, IT IS.
WE'RE BRINGING YOU LIVE PICTURES
OF THE LAUNCH OF CREW-4 FROM THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
LIFT-OFF TIME 3:52:00 A.M.
EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, WE
WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE CREW
ON BOARD.
DR. KJELL LINDGREN, HE WAS
IMPORTANT IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN.
HE SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME IN
ENGLAND.
HE HAS A DOCTORATE IN MEDICINE.
HE SERVES AS AT NASA FLIGHT
SURGERY AND THEN WAS SERVED IN
EXPEDITION 44 AND 45 AND TODAY
IS HE IS THE COMMANDER OF CREW
DRAGON.
SITTING NEXT TO HIM IS PILOT BOB
HINES WHO WAS BORN IN
FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.
HE HAS A MASTER OF SCIENCE DREG
IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND
STEPS 21 YEARS IN THE AIR FORCE
AS A TEST PILOT FIGHTER PILOT.
YOU SERVED AS PILOT, TOO.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE PILOT WORKS VERY CLOSELY
WITH THE COMMANDER AND YOU WORK
VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER.
>> JESSICA WATKINS CONSIDERS
LAFAYETTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AS
HER HOMETOWN.
SHE IS A GEOLOGIST.
AND TESTED FOR THE MARS ROVER.
SHE BECAME AN ASTRONAUT IN 2017,
ONE OF THE MANY.
SHE'S GOING UP IN SPACE FOR THE
VERY FIRST TIME AS A MISSION
SPECIALIST.
THE SECOND MISSION SPECIALIST IS
SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI, SHE WAS
BORN IN MILAN, ITALY.
SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN, SHE'S A
FIGHTER PILOT AND SHE LAUNCHED
INTO SPACE ON BOARD SOYUZ FOR A
LONG DURATION SPACE FLIGHT.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER SHE WAS
AWARDED THE KNIGHT GRAND CROSS
OF THE ORDER OF MERIT FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF ITALY, AND TODAY
SHE RETURNS TO SPACE AS A
SPECIALIST.
EACH OF THESE FOUR CREW-4
MEMBERS WILL BE PART OF
EXPEDITION 67 ONCE THEY ARRIVE
AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
WE JUST HEARD THE CALL OUT FOR
STAGE 2 PROP OUT.
IF YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE RADIO
YOU CAN FIND THE LAUNCH COVERAGE
ON THE FREQUENCY THAT YOU SEE AT
THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.
ALL THAT HAVE CAN BE HEARD HERE
ON THIS SPACE COAST.
MEGAN LET'S TALK.
YOUR SCIENCE.
YOUR TEAM SPENT 199 DAYS IN
SPACE, YOU CALL IT 200.
A SPACEX RECORD FOR AN ENTIRE
CREW OF ASTRONAUTS.
OF ALL THAT TIME SPENT ON SPAY
STATION, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW
THE SPACE STATION ACTS AS A
LABORATORY.
>> THE SPACE STATION IS A UNIQUE
ENVIRONMENT.
THE LONG-TERM ACCESS TO MICRO-G
ENVIRONMENT THAT SCIENTISTS
CAN'T SIMULATE ACCURATELY HERE
ON EARTH.
IT'S THE ABLE TO RUN THESE
EXPERIMENTS THAT TEACH US
FUNDAMENTAL THINGS ABOUT FLUID
MECHANICS, COMBUSTION AND THAT
CAN LEAD TO DISCOVERIES THAT
WITH BENEFIT US IN SPACE AND
BACK ON EARTH, LIKE
UNDERSTANDING DISEASES WELL
ENOUGH TO CREATE NEW TREATMENTS
FOR THEM OR UNDERSTANDING
COMBUSTION IN NEW WAY TO ALLOW
US TO BUILD CLEANER-BURNING
ENGINES.
>> WHAT WAS THE MOST IMPRESSIVE
THING THAT STANDS OUT IN YOUR
MIND?
>> IT'S HARD TO CHOOSE A
FAVORITE.
ONE THAT IS ALWAYS POPULAR IS TO
EAT.
WE GOT TO GROW CHILI PEPPERS
THAT HAILED FROM HATCH,
NEW MEXICO, AND THEN WE GOT TO
MONITOR THEM OVER A PERIOD OF
MANY MONTHS.
IT WAS A FRUITING PLANT THAT
TOOK A LONG TIME TO FRUIT AND
LONG DURATION MISSIONS IT WILL
PROVIDE VITAMIN C AND MINERALS
AND THEY'RE TASTY.
SO THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
>> THAT'S A BONUS.
GROWING PLANTS IN SPACE IS PART
OF DEEPER SPACE EXPLORATION.
ESPECIALLY GROWING THEM IN MASS
AMOUNTS.
>> THAT WILL BE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF FLYING IN OWES MISSIONS.
>> THE BOOSTER HAS FLOWN THREE
PREVIOUS TIMES.
THERE YOU CAN SEE IT THERE WITH
THE SOOTY NASA ASTRONAUTS A
MEATBALL ABOVE THEM.
THAT'S THE CREW-4 BELOW.
THIS FLOAT WILL BE THE FOURTH
FOR THAT BOOSTER, WHICH IS A
FIRST FOR NASA AND ESA
ASTRONAUTS.
NOW AT THE TIME THAT THAT LIKES
AND TAKES THAT INTO SPACE, THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WILL
BE 260 MIELS OVER WESTERN
ROMANIA.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT CHASING
DOWN STATION.
WHEN THIS THING LIGHTS, THEY'LL
STEP THE NEXT 16 HOURS CHASING
DOWN THE INTERNATIONAL SPIES
STATION.
FOR AN RENDEZVOUS AT 8:15 THIS
EVENING.
THERE IS A SPECIAL GUEST THERE.
THAT ISEN APOLLO ASTRONAUT
HARRISON SCHMIDT.
HE IS A MOON WALKER, YOU MAY
RECALL.
NUMBER THEY HAPPENED ON THE
MOON.
WHAT AN HONOR TO HAVE HIM
WATCHING TONIGHT.
HE, A GEE ROLLS, WATCHING
ANOTHER GEOLOGIST.
JESSICA WATKINS GOING UP TO PACE
SPACE HARRISON SCHMIDT IS ONE OF
THE FOUR SURVIVING RESTAURANTS
WHO WANTED TO WALK OPPOSITE THE
NUMBER AS WE GET READY TO LIGHT
THIS CANDLE, AND BY THE WAY,
SAMANTHA CRISTOFORETTI'S
BIRTHDAY WAS YESTERDAY.
>> YES.
>> IT'S A PRAYED GOOD BIRTHDAY
CELEBRATION.
>> IT IT WILL I'VE HEARD IT BY
LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
A KICK IN YOUR PANT, AND YOU'RE
ACCELERATING AND NUMBER THEN IT
ACCELERATES DOWN AND BACK UP
BEGIN.
GETTING READY TO EXPERIENCE
THAT.
WE'RE LET'S TOSS IT TO ANDY AT
SPACEX CALIFORNIA.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT'S
GETTING MORE AND MORE.
THINGS ARING PHYSICAL CON 911 WE
WERE FINISHED AROUND THE T MINUS
MARK.
IT'S CONTINUOUS LOADING ON THE
FIRST STAGE AND I BELIEVE THIS
WILL WRAP UP.
THE DIRECTOR AND TEAM ARE
REPORTING NO ISSUES.
COMMUNICATION ARE PLEAT CREW IS
STRAPPED IN AND READY TO GO.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CREW
COME AT AT NUMBER TELL' PROVIDE
UP SIGHT INTO EVERY'S NUMBER
RIGHT NOW I'M JOINED BY DAN.
DAN, WHEN WE--WE'RE GOING TO
HEAR SOME CALL OUTS FOR
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FORT MODES,
RIGHT?
>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
UPHILL--
>> SPACEX THROWS CONFIRM.
>> THE BEEN A PRIVILEGE
PREPARING FOR THIS LAUNCH AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I WISH YOU GREAT MISSION.
GOD'S SPEED.
TIME FOR YOU TO FLY.
>> COPY.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR THANKS
TO OUR NASA SPACEX, FORGETTING
OUR FAMILIES.
AND FOR GETTING US TO THE
THRESHOLD OF THIS OPPORTUNITY.
A HEART-FELT THANK YOU TO EVERY
ONE OF YOU WHO MADE THIS
POSSIBLE.
>> SO, CREDIT CREWS REPORTED
THEY'RE READY TO GO AND READY TO
LAWFUL.
AS YOU MENTION, WE'LL HEAR A
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CALLOUTS
FROM ON TOP OF NUMBER THESE ARE
TELLING THE CREW ESSENTIALLY
WHICH DIRECTION DRAGON IS GOING
TO BE POINTING WHEN IT
PERFORMANCE A BURN OF THOSE
ENGINES.
IT ALSO GIVES YOU AN IDEA WHERE
THEY'RE LIKELY TO COME DOWN IF
WE HAVE AN ABOTTOM UP ON THE
HILL.
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THE FIGHTS IN
THE KEY FOLD.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR
PRACTICE JOKE TORE, IT WILL BE A
NINE NINE MINUTE TRIP, AND RIGHT
NOW WE'RE A COUPLE MORE OF THAT
COMING UP.
STARTING IN SEVEN MINUTES.
>> YES, AT T-MINUS SEVEN MINUTES
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN ON THE
FIRST STAGE.
THIS IS WHERE WE INJECT A SMALL
AMOUNT OF LIQUID OXYGEN INTO THE
MEASURE GIN TOUCHES BEFORE UP
INVITING THE FULL LOCK.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DON'T SHOCK THE ENGINES BECAUSE
LIQUID OPPOSITE JEN IS
IMPORTANT.
WE DO THE SAME EXACT THING IN
THE SECOND CALL.
THAT'S COMING UP IN 15 SECONDS.
WE SHOULD HEAR THE CALL OUT OVER
THE NET.
>> A SMALL AMOUNT OF LIQUID
OXYGEN ON THE BOTTOM OF THE
FIRST STAGE.
NOW WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MORE
VEINS COMING UP.
RIGHT ABOUT T-MINUTE MOUSSE SIX
MINUTES, IT WILL BE COMPLETE.
WE'LL HAVE ALL THE RP 1 FULLY ON
BOARD.
THAT'S AT 99% NOW.
THAT SHOULD BE AT THE SAME
MOMENT.
WE'LL HEAR A NUMBER OF CALL OUTS
RELATED TO THE DRAGON FLIGHT
COMPUTER.
THEY'LL GET READY TO CONFIGURE
FOR TERMINAL COUNT.
WE HEAR THAT THE RP # LOAD IS
COMPLETE.
THAT WAS A LITTLE EARLIER.
WE HEARD THAT THE SECOND STAGE
COMPLETED A SHORT TIME AGO.
COMING UP WE'LL HEAR THE CALL
OUT FOR DRAGON TO TRANSITION,
AND TERMINAL COUNT AND THEN
WE'LL HEAR THE PROPELLENT TANKS
GETTING READY TO PRESSURIZED
ADDING TO THE STRUCTURAL REPORT
AS WE GET READY FOR THE STRONG
BACK TO RETRACKS.
IT WILL BE A COUPLE OF DRESS
FIRST AND THEN WE SWING IT OPEN
AT THE MOMENT OF LIFT OFF.
IT'S PROVIDING ALL THE FUELING
LINE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT
GASSES BEING LOADED ON FOR THE
VEHICLE.
THOSE ARE COMING UP.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO CHECK THROUGH
A COUPLE MORE FUELING MILESTONES
AS WELL.
THE FINAL ONE WE'LL HEAR JUST
TWO MINUTES BEFORE FLIGHT WHEN
WE GET THE SECOND OXYGEN FINISH
ON BOARD IF THAT HALF.
>> DRAGON IS CONFIGURED FOR
TERMINAL COUNT.
>> THANK YOU FOR REASONING D
THAT THAT CALL OUT THAT WE JUST
HEARD, FALCON 9 IS BEGINNING TO
PRESSURIZE FOR THE I DON'T KNOW
BACKDOWN STACK THERE IS A LONG
TRUST STRUCTURE.
WE HAVE A CLAMP ARM AT THE END
OF DRAGON.
RIGHT NOW THOSE CLAMP ARMS ARE
BEGIN TO GO OPEN UP.
YOU CAN SEE THEM RIGHT BEHIND
ALL THE WHITE CLOUDS AROUND THE
VEHICLE.
ONCE THIS IS FULLY OPEN, IT WILL
GO BACK TO ITS PRE-CONDITION.
AND AS WE GET CLOSE FOR T-0 IT
WILL CONTINUE TO CONTINUE BACK
TO LIFT OFF AND CLEAR THE LAUNCH
PAD.
THERE'S A GREAT SHOT OF THIS AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN,
OPENING WIDE OPEN, AND WE SHOULD
SEE THAT STRUCTURE TO THE RIGHT.
THIS WHOLE SEQUENCE TAKES ABOUT
A MINUTE, A LITTLE OVER A MINUTE
FOR THE COMPLETE--WE EXPECT THIS
TO COMPLETE IN 15 MINUTES.
YOU CAN SEE ON SCREEN, THEY'RE
STARTING TO DECLINE AWAY FROM
DRAGON AND FALCON 9.
ALL THE OXIDIZER IS LOADED ON TO
STAGE ONE.
IN ABOUT A MINUTE WE SHOULD HEAR
THE LAST CALL OUT RELATED TO
PROPELLANTS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE STAGE TWO
LOCKS LOAD COMPLETE.
THAT'S THE LAST OF THE
PROPELLANT LOADING.
>> ON TERMINAL COUNT AND
INTERNAL POWER.
AS WE WAIT FOR THAT CALL OUT TO
ALL OF THE WHITE CLOUDS THAT YOU
SEE ON SCREEN.
THAT IS NORMAL AND EXPECTED FOR
US AT THIS STAGE OF THE
COUNTDOWN.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT BUILD
UP.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
KEEP THE TANKS AS FULL AS
POSSIBLE AND BE WARM AND THE AIR
IN FLORIDA IS HELPING TO CREATE
THOSE CLOUDS AROUND THE VEHICLE.
STAGE TWO LOCK LOAD IS COMPLETE.
DRAGON IS IN AUTO IDLE.
>> THE GAS CLOSE OUT HAS
STARTED.
WE'RE NOW ISOLATING THE FEED
LINES FOR THE DIFFERENT GAS
STATIONS FROM THE FALCON LINE.
AND THEN GET VENTED.
THAT WILL GO OVER BOARD.
THROUGH UMBILICALS AND THROUGH
THE STRONG BACKING.
COMING UP, AT T-MINUS ONE MINUTE
WE'LL HEAR THAT HE'S IN COUNT
DOWN AND WE'LL HEAR THAT THE
FLIGHT TERMINATION SYSTEM IS
ARMED.
THAT WILL MOVE UP TO START UP
AND TAKE OVER CONTROL.
DRAGON IS IN COUNTDOWN.
>> THE DRAGON SYSTEM IS IN
COUNTDOWN.
>> GO FOR CREW-4 LAUNCH.
>> SPACEX.
>> #.
>> 30 SECONDS AWAY FROM LIFT
OFF.
T-MINUS 20.
>> T-MINUS 15 SECONDS.
TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX,
FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE,
ZERO.
IGNITION.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
FREEDOM SOARS.
ALL NINE MERLIN ENGINES HAVE
LIFTED.
>> THERE'S OUR CALL OUT FOR MAX
Q.
>> STAGE ONE.
>> RIGHT AFTER MAX Q WE'LL BEGIN
TO THROTTLE THOSE UP AGAIN.
>> IN A MINUTE WE'RE GOING TO
START OFF WITH THE MAIN ENGINE
CUT OFF.
THOSE ENGINES THAT YOU SEE LIT
UP ON SCREEN.
THOSE ARE GOING TO CUT OFF IN
PREPARATION FOR STAGE SEPARATION
WHERE THE FIRST AND SECOND
STAGES WILL SEPARATE FROM ONE
ANOTHER.
AND THEN THE SINGLE MERLIN
VACUUM ENGINE WILL IGNITE AND
CONTINUE TO CARRY OUR CREW 4
ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
>> STATION CONFIRM.
>> STAGE SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE SECOND STAGE IS LIT.
CONTINUING TO CARRY THE CREW-4
ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
>> THIS IS A FANTASTIC VIEW.
ON THE LEFT HAPPENED SIDE THIS
IS THE FIRST STAGE.
NOW SEPARATED FROM THE SECOND
STAGE BUT IT IS STILL
ILLUMINATED FROM THAT SINGLE
MERLIN VACUUM STAGE.
THE CREW IS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE
OF THE ENGINE THAT YOU SEE ON
THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF YOUR
SCREEN.
THEY'RE CONTINUING IN THEIR
JOURNEY TO OUTER SPACE.
>> DRAGON IS POINTED IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
CONTINUING ITS FLIGHT TO ORBIT.
WE HEARD THAT BERMUDA CALLED
OUT, ONE OF THE GROUND STATIONS.
WE'LL HAVE THE DUELING BOXES FOR
A WHILE AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY
DOWN.
THE SECOND STAGE FIRING UPHILL A
LITTLE OVER EIGHT MINUTES INTO
THE FLIGHT.
DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING NOW.
>> THIS WILL BURN FOR ABOUT 30
SECONDS.
BEFORE HITTING THE DENSER PART
OF THE EARTH AS ATMOSPHERE THE
ENGINE PERFORMING AS EXPECTED.
WE'LL GET TO THE SECOND STAGE
CUT OFF.
>> THIS SINGLE-ENGINE CAN
PRODUCE 200,000 POUNDS OF
THRUST, AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY
FEELING IT.
>> GREAT CALL OUT THAT WE'RE
HEADED IN THE DIRECTION WE NEED
TO.
AND WE JUST HEARD FROM KJELL THE
COMMANDER.
TRAJECTORY SUCCESSION.
FIRST STAGE WILL BEGIN ITS WAY
BACK HOME.
THE SECOND STAGE WILL WRAP UP
ITS JOB OF DELIVERING THESE
ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
WE DON'T SEE IT ON SCREEN, BUT
THE FIRST STAGE IS MAKING THE
WAY BACK TO OUR DRONE SHIP.
>> NOMINAL TRAJECTORY IN 30
SECONDS IT WILL START ITS ENTRY
BURN.
THINGS LOOKING VERY GOOD FOR THE
ASCENT PORTION.
FOR THOSE JUST JOINING US, WE
ARE UNDER EIGHT MINUTES INTO
FLIGHT WE HAVE FOUR ASTRONAUTS
THAT ARE PART OF THE CREW-4
OPERATIONAL MISSION.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND
SIDE REIGNITED BEFORE WE HIT THE
DENSER PARTS OF THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE.
THIS STAGE HAS ONE MORE BURN.
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN JUST
BEFORE THE T-PLUS NINE MINUTE
MARK.
THE ENTRY BURN COMPLETE
TERMINAL, WE'RE IN THE FINAL
STAGES.
WE'RE GOING TO PASS THROUGH
ORBIT PHASES.
ALONG THE NORTHEASTERN SEABOARD
OF THE U.S. ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
AND SCOTLAND.
THE CALL OUT OF SHANNON,
IRELAND, THAT'S INDICATIVE OF
OUR FINAL ABORT ZONE IF AFTER
THIS SECOND STAGE ENGINE SHUTS
OFF ITS ENGINE WE'RE GOING TO BE
LISTENING--THE CREW ON ON PACE
SIX.
HERE IS THE VIEW.
>> GLAD TO BE IN ORBIT.
IN LANDING LEGS HAVE BEEN
DEPLOYED RETURNING BECOME TO
THE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
JUST LIKE THAT, A FOURTH LANDING
OF THE CREW-4 MISSION.
PRIOR TO THIS WE SAW THE CREW.
BEHEADER THAT THE CREW HAD BEEN
SUCCESSFULLY UP SETTERING
THROUGH A GOOD OR CUT CAN
U OF U.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE A
COUPLE OF ZERO INDICATORS, WE
HAVE ARE PRESIDENT OBAMA I
BELIEVE WE HAVE A MONKEY NOTING
OVER.
>> THE FIRST VIEW EXPERIENCING
MICRO GRAVITY.
THEY'RE STILL APATCHED TO THAT.
>> HE'LL COAST?
COM PHOTOGRAPH.
>> THAT CAN BE USED TO CANCEL
OUT RATE TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY'RE ON A STABLE COAST.
WE'LL SEE GIANT PRAYER PARTNER.
>> WE SHOULD BE JUST.
A MINUTE AWAY FROM THAT SEPARATE
ARREST.
FAMILY ALL AROUND THE SERVICE
SECTION OF THE DRAGON CAP
ACTUAL.
WE'LL ALSO START TO GO RUDD OF
APPROACH THESE DIFFERENT PHASES
BURN AS HE'S BEING CHASED DOWN
THE PACE STAGE.
FAMILY.
>> TYPICALLY WE'LL GET A SHOT
LOOKING AT THE UN?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD
SEPARATION.
A GOOD READ.
SO STARRING MOUNTAIN LION HOOPS
WHEN ARE FOVEOLE.
>> WELL, ALTHOUGH THE CREW AS WE
SEE THEME HERE INSIDE OF DRAG.
THEM ROW FOVEOLE IT'S SO GREAT
TO SEE THEM FLAILING FRAY PAPPED
IF NATCH SPACE STATION.
>> LD.
I HOPE YOU.
YOU FORM.
>> DREAM ALIVE.
IN FROM THE FREEDOM WE WANT IT
THANK YOU "F" FORE-IF I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE VOW.
FOUL BALL.
>> FROM THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR,
FROM THE CHIEF.
FOAM AFTER THEM HE SAID WE'VE
GOT 16 F PREVIEW TO CAN YOU
PRAYER PARTNER GIRLS WILL BE
ABLE IT GET THEIR ADVISERS OPEN
AND IT WILL INTO THEIR FILM WELL
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAN.
AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT WAS PHENOMENAL HERE AT THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WATCHING
THE LAUNCH OF CREW-4 WHILE MEGAN
McARTHUR, MASSAH DRAWN, AND
FAMILY.
>> IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO
SEE A LUNCH UP CONTRACT NOVEL.
>> IT WAS SO LOUD.
SO FAMILY FROM IT WAS THE MASS
FOR FOG PHOTOGRAPHING WE ALSO
HAVE A HE WELSH TEST WHO?
BARACK OBAMA FOR THOSE WHO DON'T
KNOW, HARRISON WAS THE LAST
PERSON TO STEP ON THE MOON WITH
A A POLITICIAN 17 IN 1972.
WHICH DREW AT FEW WE LAPPEDDED
IN THE VAIL DEEPER THAN THE
REASON BARACK OBAMA IN I'VE HAVE
BEEN HAPPY TO BE STANDING HERE 5
YEARS AGO.
FOAM IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
I WORKED A LITTLE BIT IN HOUSTON
WITH THE LIE BAREL SAMPLES.
CURL THING A AVENUE HE WENT,
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THERE IS A GEOLOGIST ON
BOARD.
THE IMPORTANT OF OFFING HOW MUCH
I GAINED MY PLACINGNAL
EXPERIENCE FROM LEARNING TO FLY
238s IN FOVEOLE THAT GOES TO
THE MAP.
IN ARTEMIS WILL RETURN US TO THE
MONDAY.
FOWL MAYBE ARTEMIS--THE THIRD
FINAL IS THE OF IT F OLD
TECHNOLOGIES AND NEW UNLESS.
THE FOREIGN TAKING NASA IT WILLS
AND MOVE SPACEX CORPORATION HAS
TURNED OUT TO BE AT
EXTRAORDINARILY IF, UM,' GLAD
THAT YOU'RE HERE THAT YOU
WITNESS TO BE THANK YOU FOR
INVITING ME.
IT'S BEEN GREAT AND EVERYONE MY
BEST IN NASSAU.
PEP FOAM THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
IF WHICH CONTROL AT THE POSSESS
TWO TOO MUCH AT THIS TOMB IT
MOUNTAIN LION IT WAS A LOT OF
PRESSURE WORKING WITH NASA.
WE HAVE REREMAINEL FOAM EX-POUR
RATION WAS THURSDAY.
AND FOLLOWING SOME OF THIS CAME.
ROW NOVEMBER HE'S ALSO A VERY
FIRST DEGREE ROLE MODEL FOR US
IN EUROPE, BUT WORLDWIDE, AND
THIS IS ALSO ON TOP OF THE www.
>> WEAPPRECIATEALLTHEWORKTHATPIZ
ZAHASDONEFORTHENASATEAMANDCOMMER
CIALCREW.
YOUCANSEESAMANTHAONFAR,FARINTHEA
MNICE.
WEHAVEDEPLOYEDTHEKNOWSZONEFROMTH
EFRONTOFDRAG.
THAT'SANIMPORTANTMILESTONEFORTHE
DRAGONTODOCKATTHEINTERNATIONALSP
ACESTATION.
THECREWPALESTINIANSOPPOSITETHEIR
FLIGHTTHREATENSTHATFILMONEOFTHEE
XCITEINGTECHNOLOGYSTHATYOUHAVEAV
AILABLERIGHTNOWISTHEEUROPEANARMN
T.
I'MTRUSSTRADEON.
INTHEPRETTYNEAT.
>> WELAUNCHEDITLASTYEAR.
IT'SPRETTYNEAT.
YOUCANREALLYMOVEITANYWAYAGOWE'RE
OFFSAMANTHA'SBASK.
THISISAREUNIQUEPIECEOFHARDWARE.
NOTEVERYONEKNOWS.
BUTYESTERDAYWASSAMANTHA'SBIRTHDA
Y.
TODAYSHEFLYSUPTOSPACE.
TONIGHT'SBIRTHDAYGIFTISTOTHESPAC
ESTATION.
WELITACANNED.
>> WELL,THAT'SRIGHT.
WELITAMASSIVECANDLE.
YOUHAVETHEMEPSTATETHATAREGOINGTO
BESEEKINGTOFUNDS,YOU'LLBELOOKING
F
ORFUNDINGFROMTHEM.
WHATISNEXTFOROFYOU.
>> THECANDYSPACECENTER.
THISISNOTMYDAYJOB.
MYDAYJOBISTALKINGWITHPOLITICIANS
ANDPUTTHEPROGRAMTOGETHERFORTHENE
XTTHROWYEARS.
WEHAVEAVERYIAMYESTERDAYWEHADAVER
YNICE,CONSTRUCTSIVEMEETINGWITHTH
EADMINISTRATORANDHISTEAM.
WEHAVEMANYPROJECTSINTHEPIPELINEW
HEREWE'REWORKINGTOGETHER,ANDWEWA
NTTOINTENSIFYTHEACTIVITIES.
IMENTIONEDTHESPACESTATIONWHEREWE
CONTINUEYOURISSUPPLYOFACTIVITYS.
OFOURHARDWARE.
IFTHISISNORMALLYTHETIMETOLOAFTHE
PROCEEDING.THENWE'REPREPARINGTOA
SAOURCONTRIBUTIONTONASA,ANDWEARE
A
LSOPLANNINGMISSIONSTOTHEMOON.
WEHAVEALOUDNUMBERTHRUSTINGTHEMAS
SNOTHEMOON,WHICHWASNECESSARY.
ANDWEHAVEMANYOTHERACTIVATESWHERE
WEWORKVERYNICELY,VERYCLOSELYWITH
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ASA.
ITCAUSEDANDWEHADTOSTOPANDSUSPEND
THISCORPORATIONANDBRINGUPCREDIBL
EFIREEROFDOMINICANREPUBLIC.
RAILROADDOTHEMATHINREPLACINGTHOS
ECOMPONENTSWHOARERASHWHOYETWILLH
AVETIMETODOTHATWHY.
ESAINNOVEMBERWHENWECOMEINTOSPEAK
TOTHEMEMBERSWHENWEHADTHATPARTYER
,PARTLYOFYOURHARDWARERIGHTNOW.IO
>> I'VESEENITLASTTIMEANDJUSTTHED
AYBEFOREYESTERDAYOUTINTHEOPENAIR
ANDIHAVETOSAYTHISISSOIMPRESSIVE.
I'MVERYPROUDTOBEPARTOFTHEESE.
YOUCANNUMBERAVERYQUICKELEMENTS.
GOODLUCKTOYOU.
>> THANKYOUVERYMUCH.WELL,MENTIOS
PACESTATION,NASAHASPROVIDEDAILYE
ARTOGOIT.
>> THEINTERNATIONALSPACESTATION.
ANDUNPARALLELEDLABORATORYFORCUTI
NGEDGERESEARCHUNACHIEVEIBLEINEAR
TH'SGRAVITYFORTHEBENEFITOFALLHUM
ANITY.
ANOBSERVATORYFOREARTH'SEVOLVEING
CLIMATE.
OUR HOME UNTIL 2030.
AS THE STATION ENTERS IT'S THIRD
DECADE, IT IS BUZZIER THAN EVER.
DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY FOR HUMAN
EXPLORATION MISSION TO THE MOON
TO MARS.
HUMANITY FUTURE IS AN EVER
EXPANDING TEAM OF NATIONS AND
COMPANIES ENABLING EXPLORATION
TOGETHER AND FOR THE BENEFIT
EVER ALL.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IS A CRITICAL STEP ON A GREAT
JOURNEY AHEAD TO THE MOON AND
BEYOND.
>> TODAY'S LAUNCH IS THE FOURTH
OPERATIONAL MISSION FOR NASA'S
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
IT HAS SEEN MANY SUCCESSES IN A
FEW SHORT USE.
MEGAN IS BACK NOW WITH
LEADERSHIP FROM OUR NASA
PROGRAM.
>> YES, I'M HERE WITH DANA,
DEPUTY MANAGER OF NASA'S
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF TODAY'S
LAUNCH?
>> IT'S SO EXCITING.
THE LARGES NEVER GET OLD.
I'M EXCITED TO BE HERE ON THE
BALCONY AND WATCH NEW PEOPLE
WATCH THE LAUNCH.
THAT'S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR TO
HEAR THAT.
>> OUR MISSION IS NOT DONE.
WE'RE ALWAYS WATCHING.
I DON'T BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF
UNTIL WE LAND THE CREW GO WHAT
IS REALLY COOL, RIGHT AFTER LIVE
OFF WE HEARD THE COMMANDER KJELL
GIVE A SHOUT OUT.
>> YES, I THINK THAT WAS
AWESOME.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GROUT PEOPLE
WHO WORK IN OUR PROGRAM, AND
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT TIRELESS
DAYS WORKING BOTH SPACEX AND
NASA.
I APPRECIATE THAT SHUT OUT BY
KJELL.
>> HAVE WE ACHIEVED OUR GOAL.
>> YES, WE HAVE DEFINITELY
ACHIEVED OUR GOAL.
COMPANIES DELIVERING OUR
ASTRONAUTS TO SPACE.
IT HAS OPENED THE DOORS FOR THE
PRIVATE INDUSTRY AS WELL,
ENABLING THAT SPACE
TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE HAD TWO PRIVATE MISSIONS IN
THE LAST YEAR.
SPACE X HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
I THINK WE'VE GONE ABOVE AND
BEYOND MEETING THOSE GOALS.
>> YOU'VE REALLY BEEN THE
SPRINGBOARD IN WHAT WE CAN
EXPECT IN OUR NEAR FUTURE WITH
ALL OF THESE COMMERCIAL
PROGRAMMING.
>> EXACTLY.
IT'S A NEW ERA WITH NASA AND
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
DARRELL AND MEGAN, BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
KJELL, BOB, JESSICA AND SAMANTHA
ARE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AT
8:15 EASTERN TIME TONIGHT.
MEANWHILE, SPACEX YouTube
CHANNEL WILL JOIN LIVE COVERAGE
ROUGHLY TWO HOURS PRIOR TO
DOCKING.
AND ALTHOUGH OUR COVERAGE AT
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IS
CONCLUDING, WE'LL TURN IT OVER
TO HOUSTON FOR ALL THE WAY TO
THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
MEGAN, WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IT
IS A BIG MOMENT.
>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE
BEEN WORKING TOWARDS PRETTY MUCH
YOUR WHOLE CAREER.
IT'S A FANTASTIC MOMENT WAITING
FOR YOUR FRIENDS WAITING FOR
YOU, SMILING AT YOU.
THERE IS A LOT OF EMOTION AND A
LOT OF JOY, AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO
GET STARTED ON A PRETTY GREAT
ADVENTURE.
>> BOB HINES AND JESSICA WATKINS
FLYING FOR THE FIRST TIME, I
WONDER WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR
THEM.
>> I'M SURE THEY'RE STILL
PROGRESS--PROCESSING.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE GREAT THINGS
FROM THEM ONCE THEY REACH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
BIG SMILES ALL AROUND.
>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE
WORK THEY WILL DO.
FOR THOSE WATCHING ONLINE.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK
AT THE DESCRIPTION BELOW THE
VIDEO.
WE'LL HAVE A NEW LINK FOR THE
CREW-4 PHASE.
THAT COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE
SHORTLY.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON NASA TV.
YOU WON'T NOTICE A THING.
COVERAGE WILL CONTINUE.
AND ALSO A POST LAUNCH NEWS
CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED ON NASA
TV.
AND YOU CAN FIND MISSION UPDATES
AT ANY TIME ON TWITTER @NASA,
@SPACEX.
AND NOW BEFORE WE SIGN OFF, I
WANT TO THANK MEGAN McARTHUR
FOR BEING ON THE LAUNCH PROD
CAST AND SHARING YOUR INCREDIBLE
INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCES ON AN
OVERNIGHT THAT STARTED
YESTERDAY, AND WENT INTO TODAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT.
>> FANTASTIC.
GREAT TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT.
AND SO, NOW WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH
A LITTLE BIT OF A REPLAY.
AND THANKS TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS
WHO CAME HERE TO NASA, SOCIAL
PARTICIPANTS WHO JOINED US AND
WHO IS NOW GOING TO SHARE THE
STORIES OF THEIR ADVENTURES WITH
THEIR AUDIENCES.
WE THANK ALL OF YOU WHO IS
WATCHING RIGHT NOW.
HERE ARE NOW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE
JOURNEY TO ORBIT OFF THE EARTH
FOR THE EARTH.
TAKE CARE EVERYONE, AND KEEP
LOOKING UP.
♪
>> THIS IS SUIT UP ROOM.
INSIDE THE OPERATIONS AND CHECK
OUTBUILDING AT THE KENNEDY SPACE
STATION CENTER.
>> THERE THEY ARE.
>> JESSICA WATKINS, BOB HINES,
KJELL LINDGREN, AND SAMANTHA
CRISTOFORETTI.
SAMANTHA AND JESSICA THERE.
BOB HINES AND KJELL LINDGREN.
HERE COME JESSICA AND SAMANTHA.
THE CLOSE OUT CREW THERE APPEAR
TO HAVE THE HATCH SHUT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]