>> DRAGON COUNTING.
IN START-UP.
>> DRAGON, SpaceX, GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> WE ARE ABOUT 24 MINUTES AND
COUNTING FOR LIFTOFF FOR NASA
AND SpaceX'S COMMERCIAL
RESUPPLY MISSION.
THE SPACECRAFT WILL FLY MORE
THAN 5800 POUNDS OF SCIENCE,
SUPPLIES AND FOOD.
GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR
JOINING ME FOR LIVE LAUNCH
COVERAGE.
YOU JUST SAW FALCON 9 AND DRY
GONE RIGHT BEHIND ME AT KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER.
FUELING BEGAN 10 MINUTES AGO.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH
AT 8:44 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
THEY ARE IMPORTANT.
NASA AND ITS INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS CAN CONTINUE TO CONDUCT
MICRO-GRAVITY RESEARCH.
THEY HAVE LED TO SCIENTIFIC
ADVANCEMENTS RIGHT HERE ON
EARTH.
TODAY MORE THAN TWO DOZEN
EXPERIMENTS ARE PACKED ANNOY
DRAGON AWAITING LAUNCH.
WE HAVE MORE ABOUT THE MISSION.
NASA AND SpaceX WERE TARGETING
LAST MONTH TO LAUNCH.
>> THANKS.
IT'S GREAT TO BE COVERING
TODAY'S MISSION IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH NASA.
WE SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKS
WORKING THROUGH AN ISSUE ON
DRAGON AFTER TEAMS DISCOVERED A
SMALL VAPOR LEAK.
WE HAVE COMPLETED THOROUGH
INSPECTIONS AND REPLACED
COMPONENTS AND WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH NASA
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
NOW WE ARE READY TO LAUNCH.
THIS YEAR ALSO IS THE TEN YEAR
ANNIVERSARY OF DRAGON BECOMING
THE FIRST PRIVATE SPACECRAFT IN
HISTORY TO VISIT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
DELIVER CARGO AND RETURN TO
EARTH.
FIVE YEARS AGO WAS OUR FIRST
REFLIGHT OF THE DRAGON.
SINCE THEN WE HAVE MADE 31
FLIGHTS TO THE SPACE STATION
WITH 14 REFLIGHTS OF DRAGON.
TODAY'S MISSION WILL MARK OUR
THIRD DRAGON FLIGHT THIS YEAR
FOLLOWING THE CRUDE LAUNCHES OF
AXIUM 1.
THE CAPSULE FLYING TODAY IS OUR
FIRST THIRD FLIGHT OF A NEW
CARGO DRAGON WHICH SUPPORTED THE
21 AND 23 MISSIONS.
IT'S CERTIFIED FOR UP TO FIVE
FLIGHTS AND WILL JOIN THE CREW 4
SPACECRAFT.
MOVING DOWN IS OUR FALCON 9, OUR
REUSABLE TWO STAGE ROCKETS.
THAT LOWER PART IS THE FIRST
STAGE.
THE UPPER THE SECOND STAGE.
IT WILL BE FLYING FOR THE FIFTH
TIME.
IT HAS NINE ENGINES AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE FIRST STAGE.
THEY ARE WHAT ACCELERATE THE
VEHICLE THROUGH THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE AND TO THOSE VARIOUS
ORBITS IN SPACE.
WE HAVE A GREAT PHOTO OF THOSE
NINE ENGINES BEFORE WE ROLLED
THEM OUT TO THE PAD ON TUESDAY
MORNING.
WE ARE GOING TO ATTEMPT TO
RECOVER THIS OUT OFF THE COAST
OF FLORIDA.
THE BLACK STAGE IS THE SECOND
STAGE, THE STAGES SEPARATE ABOUT
TWO AND A HALF MINUTES INTO THE
FLIGHT AND THAT SECOND STAGE
IGNITES ITS VACUUM ENGINE.
A LITTLE LATER ON IN THE SHOW
WE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW DRAGON
NAVIGATES TO THE STATION AFTER
WE SEPARATE FROM FALCON.
FOR NOW, I WILL TURN IT BACK TO
YOU.
>> IN ADDITION TO SpaceX, NASA
TEAMS HERE IN FLORIDA AND
HOUSTON ARE MONITORING TODAY'S
LAUNCH.
YOU WILL HEAR FROM SANDRA JONES
WHO YOU SEE INSIDE WITH MISSION
CONTROL.
BUT FIRST, LET'S CHECK IN WITH
DARRYL.
>> EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD SO
FAR HERE FROM HANGER AE AT THE
SPACE FORCE SIDE OF THINGS.
YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME THE DATA
AND TELEMETRY FLOW THROUGH THIS.
OUT TO THE ROCKET WE GO.
YOU CAN SEE IT IS TWILIGHT HERE
ON THE EASTERN COAST OF FLORIDA
AT HISTORIC LAUNCH COMPLEX 39 A.
YOU CAN SEE THE ROCKET IS BEING
TANKED, THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR GAVE
THE GO AROUND 8/06 AND THAT RP 1
IS FLOWING INTO THE FIRST STAGE
AND SECOND STAGE.
ALONG WITH THE LIQUID NITROGEN.
YOU CAN SEE THE FILL LINE, WHERE
IT'S AT, AT THE PART THAT'S
CHILLING.
WE HAVE A SMALL ISSUE WITH THE
WEATHER.
WE ARE CURRENTLY 70% GO.
BUT THE LAUNCH WEATHER OFFICER
FOR THE SPACE FORCE BRIEFED
SpaceX'S LAUNCH TEAM ABOUT
THIS RIGHT HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THIS IS SOME WEATHER
IMAGERY THAT WE HAVE HERE.
STORMS ARE BUBBLING UP REALLY
HEAVY ALONG THE CENTER PART OF
THE STATE.
YOU CAN SEE IT'S ALL PUSHING TO
THE WEST WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE
THERE IS SOME EASTERLY FLOW.
HOWEVER, THE SPACE FORCE IS ABLE
TO MONITOR WHAT'S CALLED AN
OUTFLOW BOUNDARY THAT IS COMING
BACK TO THE EAST AND IS
SCHEDULED TO BE HERE AT THE
LAUNCH SITE AROUND T-0.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY ARE HOLDING
THE PERCENTAGE GO AT 70%.
NORMALLY THIS TIME IT WOULD BE A
LITTLE BIT HIGHER.
BUT THEY ARE GOING TO HOLD IT AT
70%.
THE CONCERNS ARE CUMULUS CLOUD
RULE.
WINDS ARE 15 TO 20 MILES PER
HOUR.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE ARE LOOKING
GOOD TO GO.
LET'S JOIN SANDRA FOR MORE.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M NASA'S SANDRA JONES HERE
INSIDE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM AT
THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN
HOUSTON, TEXAS.
MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON IS THE
NERVE CENTER FOR SPACE STATION
OPERATIONS AND OUR FLIGHT
CONTROL TEAM IS ON CONSOLE AND
READY TO SUPPORT TODAY'S CARGO
LAUNCH.
LEADING THE TEAM IN MISSION
CONTROL IS NASA FLIGHT DIRECTOR
SCOTT STOVER.
YOU SEE HIM ON YOUR SCREEN.
WHEN DRAGON ARRIVES TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON
SATURDAY, IT WILL DOCK TO THE
FORWARD PORT.
BOB HINES AND JESSICA WATKINS
WILL BE ON TAP TO MONITOR THAT
APPROACH.
DRAGON IS SLATED TO SPEND ABOUT
ONE MONTH ATTACHED TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
BEFORE IT RETURNS TO EARTH WITH
RESEARCH AND RETURN CARGO.
FOR NOW, EVERYTHING CONTINUING
TO LOOK GOOD ON THE STATION SIDE
FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH.
SO BACK OVER TO YOU, MEGAN.
>> WE ARE ABOUT 17 MINUTES
BEFORE COUNTDOWN AND LIFTOFF.
LET'S CHECK OUT SOME OF THE
SCIENCE FLYING ON THIS MISSION.
♪
>> A LOT OF IMPACTFUL RESEARCH
GOING UP WITH TODAY'S LAUNCH.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME
OF THOSE STARTING FIRST WITH
EMIT, EARTH SURFACE MINERAL DUST
SOURCE INVESTIGATION.
JOINING ME IS ROB GREEN.
WE ALSO HAVE NASA'S SENIOR
CLIMATE ADVISER.
>> WONDERFUL TO BE HERE.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME
VIDEO.
IT'S GOING TO BE ATTACHED TO THE
OUTSIDE OF THE SPACE STATION.
IT'S GOING TO STUDY MINERAL
DUST.
WHAT IS MINERAL DUST?
>> THEY ARE THE TINY PARTICLES
OF ROCKS IN THE DRY LAND REGIONS
THAT UNDER CONDITION OF HIGH
WIND ARE LAUNCHED IN THE
ATMOSPHERE.
THEY CAN BE DIFFERENT
COMPOSITION, THEY CAN HEAT OR
COOL OUR PLANET, PLAY A ROLE IN
CLOUD FORMATION AND MANY OTHER
IMPACTS.
RIGHT NOW WE KNOW ABOUT MINERAL
DUST BY 5,000 DIFFERENT
MEASUREMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN
ANALYZED.
BY THE TIME WE ARE DONE, WE'LL
HAVE A MILLION OBSERVATIONS TO
ADVANCE THE SCIENCE OF HOW
MINERAL DUST CAN HEAT OR COOL
OUR PLANET.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
THAT WE ARE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON
THESE ARID REGIONS.
YOU CAN SEE A DUST STORM FROM
AFRICA.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND HOW THEY MIGHT HEAT
OR COOL THE EARTH?
>> IT'S A GLOBAL PHENOMENA ON
EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPTION
PERHAPS ANTARCTICA.
IT CAN TRAVEL FROM AFRICA, TO
FLORIDA TO TEXAS.
AND HEATING OR COOLING, WHEN YOU
HAVE A GLOBAL PHENOMENA, ARE
THOSE DUST PARTICLES ABSORBING
ENERGY, HEATING OUR PLANET, OR
SCATTERING LIGHT BACK INTO SPACE
AND COOLING THE PLANET.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
HAPPENING NOW AND INTO THE
FUTURE.
>> SO, KATE, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S
GOING TO BE A REAL TOOL FOR US
WHEN WE ARE STUDYING CLIMATE
CHANGE AND THE EARTH'S CLIMATE.
IT'S NO SURPRISE IT'S ONE OF A
FLEET OF EARTH'S OBSERVING
SPACECRAFT.
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
MISSIONS IS THE STUDY OF EARTH.
WE CAN SEE THINGS LIKE CAR BOB
DIOXIDE, VEGETATION, CHANGES IN
THE ICE SHEET AND ONCE IT'S PUT
ON TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, IT WILL JOIN THAT
FLEET.
>> THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF
RESEARCH BEING DONE ON THE
GROUND.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS WHOLE
PORTFOLIO OF CLIMATE RESEARCH WE
ARE DOING, HOW WILL THIS HELP US
ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE?
>> THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT THE
PLANET, WE CAN LOOK TO DECISION
MAKERS AND PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT'S
HAPPENING ON EARTH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
EM IT ISN'T THE ONLY THING.
STUDENTS FROM M.I.T. BUILT WHAT
YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE ON THE
SCREEN.
THIS IS CALL BEAVER CUBE NAMED
AFTER THE SCHOOL'S MASCOT.
IT'S A SATELLITE ABOUT THE SIZE
OF A SHOEBOX.
IT WILL MEASURE OCEAN
TEMPERATURE AND COLOR.
T MINUS 11 MINUTES UNTIL THE
COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY SERVICES
MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
>> THANKS.
DRAGON IS CAPABLE OF
TRANSPORTING PEOPLE AS WELL AS
ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CARGO
TO AND FROM EARTH ORBIT LIKE WE
ARE ON TODAY'S MISSION.
STARTING FROM THE TOP OF THE
NOSE CONE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
TRUNK, IT STANDS ABOUT 27 FEET
TALL.
MADE UP OF TWO MAIN SECTIONS.
THE PRESSURIZED CAPSULE AND
TRUNK USED FOR UNPRESSURIZED
CARGO.
AFTER SEPARATING FROM FALCON 9,
DRAGON WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
USING ITS NAVIGATION SENSORS AND
ENGINES.
THE CAPSULE HAS 16 ENGINES USED
TO GET THE SPACECRAFT FROM ONE
PLACE TO THE NEXT.
WE HAVE GOT 12 OF THOSE SERVICE
SECTION DRACOS NEAR THE BOTTOM
OF THE CAPSULE AND FOUR NEAR THE
TOP BULKHEAD.
THEY ARE PRIMARILY USED FOR HIGH
THRUST MANEUVERS LIKE THE ORBIT
MANEUVERS NEEDED TO GET TO SPACE
STATION.
THEY ARE CAPABLE OF GENERATING
ABOUT 90 POUNDS OF FORCE IN THE
VACUUM OF SPACE.
THE SERVICE SECTION IS USED FOR
POINTING AND PRAGUES IN
PROXIMITY TO THE SPACE STATION,
YOU CAN SEE THEM FIRING HERE IN
THESE CLIPS TAKEN FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON
VARIOUS DIFFERENT DRAGON
MISSIONS AS THEY WERE
APPROACHING THE ORBITING
LABORATORY.
JUST LIKE THOSE MERLIN ENGINES
ON FALCON, WE USE THE DRACO
THRUSTERS ONCE THEY RETURN TO
EARTH.
THEY ARE READY TO SUPPORT THE
ON-TIME LIFTOFF.
>> TWO PEOPLE EXCITED ABOUT
TODAY'S LAUNCH ARE NEXT TO ME.
WE HAVE CLAIRE GREEN AND
BENJAMIN WHITFIELD.
THEY HAVE AN EXPERIMENT ON BOARD
AND ARE ABOUT TO TELL US ABOUT
IT.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> NICE TO BE HERE.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE
SCREEN.
WE HAVE PICTURES OF WHEN THE
TEAM WAS HERE EARLIER A COUPLE
OF WEEKS AGO, YOU WERE PREPPING
YOUR EXPERIMENT.
WHAT ARE YOU STUDYING?
>> WE ARE STUDYING THE UNIQUE
ABILITY TO BREAK DOWN THIN
PLASTIC INTO A NON-POLLUTIVE
PROPERTY.
>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO SEE IF
THIS HAPPENS IN MICROGRAVITY?
>> WELL, THE APPLICATION OF
BREAKING DOWN PLASTICS IS
BENEFICIAL ANYWHERE.
IT'S A PROBLEM THAT WE ARE
LEARNING HOW TO DEAL WITH.
IF WE CAN LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH
IT ON EARTH AND IN THE SPACE
STATION, THEN WE CAN EXTRAPOLATE
THAT TO OTHER ENVIRONMENTS.
>> WHY ARE YOU GUYS INTERESTED
IN TO SEE HOW THIS WILL REACT IN
SPACE?
IS IT BECAUSE WE AS AN
ORGANIZATION, WE ARE THINKING
ABOUT GOING FARTHER THAN WE HAVE
BEFORE.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
WE ARE PROPOSING THIS AS A LONG
TERM TRAVEL WASTE SYSTEM.
>> I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST
LAUNCH FOR BOTH OF YOU.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND.
THERE IT IS ON THE LAUNCH PAD,
FALCON 9 AND DRAGON.
INSIDE DRAGON IS YOUR
EXPERIMENT.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> IT IS SURREAL.
IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM.
AND IT'S ABOUT TO BE A DREAM
COME TRUE, NOT JUST FOR MYSELF
AND CLAIRE, BUT FOR OUR WHOLE
TEAM, FOR STUDENTS AT STANFORD,
WHO ALSO HAVE AN EXPERIMENT
GOING UP AND FOR ALL THE
STUDENTS WHO ASSISTED US IN OUR
CITIZEN SCIENCE.
>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU
DISCOVER.
ENJOY THE LAUNCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER STUDENT
EXPERIMENT ON BOARD.
THESE GUYS ARE IN COLLEGE, BUT
WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOLER HERE.
YOU SEE SALINE.
SHE DESIGNED A NEW METHOD OF
DETECTING WATER CONTAMINANTS.
IT CAN BE USED TO DETECT WATER
QUALITY IN SPACE AND IN REMOTE
PARTS OF THE EARTH.
ALL RIGHT.
WE ARE JUST UNDER SIX MINUTES.
OH, 6:56.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME.
LET'S BRING BACK DARRYL TO WALK
US THROUGH THE FINAL MOMENTS OF
THE COUNTDOWN.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANKS.
THE SpaceX TEAM IS NOT WORKING
ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THE
FALCON OR DRAGON AT THE MOMENT.
THE WEATHER, I HOPE IT CONTINUES
TO TREND WELL.
WE ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON CLOUDS
AND POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION.
WE'LL KEEP OUR EAR OUT TO THE
LOOPS TO MAKE SURE WE REMAIN
LAUNCH.
IT DOES REMAIN GO FOR LAUNCH AT
THIS TIME.
AT THIS POINT THE ROCKET
PROPELLANT FUEL IS LOADED ON THE
SECOND STAGE AND NEARLY FULLY
LOADED ON THE FIRST STAGE.
LIQUID OXYGEN IS COMPLETE AT
ABOUT T MINUS 2 MINUTES TO
LAUNCH.
WE ARE ALSO LOADING HELIUM GAS
INTO THE STAGES.
THE LOAD BEGAN BEFORE THE
BROADCAST WENT LIVE.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO TOP UP UNTIL
A MINUTE AND A HALF BEFORE THE
LAUNCH.
>> MAKE SURE ENGINE START-UP
GOES WELL, THEY PERFORM AN
ENGINE CHILL.
THIS WILL HAPPEN, HAS HAPPENED
AT T MINUS 7 MINUTES, FLOWED A
SMALL AMOUNT INTO THE TURBO
PUMPS.
THIS IS DONE TO AVOID A THERMAL
SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM WHEN THAT
FLOW OF SUPER CHILLED OXYGEN
HITS THE PROP SYSTEM.
IT BEGAN ITS START-UP SEQUENCE
AT T MINUS 35 MINUTES.
DRAGON NOW UNDERGOING VEHICLE
HEALTH CHECKS WITH THE NEXT BIG
STEP JUST BEFORE LIFTOFF, THE
CARGO SPACECRAFT TRANSITIONS TO
INTERNAL BATTERY POWER.
>> DRAGON IS IN TERMINAL COUNT.
>> WE JUST HEARD THAT CALL-OUT.
THAT'S PERFECT TIMING.
THAT LARGE SUV STRUCTURE IS
CALLED THE TRANSPORTER ERECTOR.
IT PULLS AWAY IN PREPARATION FOR
LIFT-OFF.
WE'LL SEE THE CLAMP ARMS START
TO RETRACT AND THEN SHORTLY
AFTER THAT, THE WHOLE STRUCTURE
PULL AWAY FROM FALCON 9.
IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES, FALCON
9 IS PERFORMING A SET OF FINAL
HEALTH CHECKS ON ITS PRIMARY
COMMUNICATION AND PROPULSION
SYSTEM IN PREPARATION FOR
LIFTOFF.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR CALL-OUTS
THROUGHOUT AS THE ENGINE
SUFFICIENTLY CHILLS AS WE GET
CLOSER TO LIFT-OFF.
YOU CAN SEE THOSE CLAMP ARMS
BEGINNING TO OPEN AROUND THE
SECOND STAGE IN BETWEEN SOME OF
THAT COOLING OF THE FLORIDA AIR
AROUND THE SECOND STAGE AND
SHORTLY AFTER WE'LL SEE THE
WHITE TRUSS STRUCTURE ON THE
RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEGIN
TO PULL AWAY FROM FALCON 9.
THERE YOU CAN START TO SEE
MOTION OF THE TRANSPORTER
ELECTOR AWAY.
IT WILL RECLINER A BIT BEFORE WE
STEP FURTHER INTO THE LIFT-OFF.
>> COMING UP IN JUST ABOUT A
MINUTE.
CHECKOUTS OF THE SECOND STAGE
ACTION TO AATORS.
THIS IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE
ENGINE WIGGLE TEST.
THIS IS WHEN SpaceX MOVES THE
THRUST NOZZLE SLIGHTLY TO MAKE
SURE THE THRUST HARDWARE IS GO
FOR FLIGHT.
THAT'S A VIEW OF THE TRANSPORTER
ERECT TORE TILTING BACK.
SpaceX DOES THE SAME CHECKOUTS
OF THE FIRST STAGE ENGINES.
THAT HAPPENS JUST SECONDS BEFORE
IGNITION.
AT THE TIME OF LAUNCH, 8:44:22,
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WILL BE OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN,
267 STATUE MILES IN ALTITUDE.
>> WE ACTUALLY HEARD JUST ABOUT
30 SECONDS AGO THAT LIQUID
OXYGEN LOADING IS COMPLETE ON
THE FIRST STAGE.
AND COMING UP HERE, JUST UNDER
20 SECONDS, WE'LL HEAR A SIMILAR
CALL-OUT ON THE SECOND STAGE.
THAT WILL WRAP UP LOADING ON
FALCON 9 IN PREPARATION FOR
LAUNCH.
DRAGON IS PORTLANDING ITS FINAL
HEALTH CHECKS TO MAKE SURE WE
ARE READY TO GO FOR RENDEZVOUS
WITH THE SPACE STATION ABOUT 38
HOURS FROM NOW.
I LOVE THIS SHOT OF THE PAD.
YOU CAN SEE THE CLOUDS FORMING
AROUND FALCON 9.
THERE'S A CALL OUT FOR LOAD
COMPLETE.
YOU CAN HEAR OR SEE THE WATER
VAPOR CONDENSING AROUND FALCON
9.
>> YOU SURE CAN.
JUST A FEW MINUTES LEFT IN
TWILIGHT.
A LITTLE BIT OF ILLUMINATION
MAKES IT NICE.
AT T MINUS 1 MINUTE, THEY WILL
TRANSITION TO INTERNAL POWER.
THEY WILL GUIDE THE ROCKET
THROUGH THE LAST SECONDS BEFORE
LIFTOFF.
>> FALCON 9 IS IN START UP.
>> DRAGON IS IN COUNTDOWN.
>> BOTH STAGES ARE NOW
PRESSURIZING FOR LAUNCH.
>> GO FOR FALCON 9.
>> RANGE IS GO, WEATHER IS GO.
>> T MINUS 30 SECONDS.
>> BEAUTIFUL TIME OF DAY TO
WATCH THIS LAUNCH.
IF YOU ARE OUT ON THE BEACH.
>> T MINUS 15.
>> AND HERE WE GO.
>> 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,
1.
ENGINE IGNITION.
AND LIFT-OFF.
LIFT-OFF OF SpaceX'S FALCON 9
ROCKET LAUNCHING DRAGON ON THE
25th MISSION TO REFLY THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WITH
COOL SCIENCE AND A NEW ADVANCED
INSTRUMENT TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
STUDY OUR PLANET'S CLIMATE.
>> POWER AND TELEMETRY NOMINAL.
>> WE ARE 50 SECONDS INTO
FLIGHT, SUCCESSFUL LIFT-OFF FROM
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
FALCON 9 IS HEADING TOWARD THE
POINT OF MAXIMUM AERODYNAMIC
PRESSURE.
THE POINT OF HIGHEST STRESS THE
VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S THE CALL-OUT FOR MAXIMUM
DYNAMIC PRESSURE.
FROM HERE THE STRESSES WILL GET
LOWER AND LOWER.
COMING UP, WE GOT FIVE EVENTS
BACK TO BACK.
THE FIRST WILL BE MAIN ENGINE
CUTOFF.
THAT'S WHERE ALL NINE ENGINES ON
THE FIRST STAGE WILL SHUT DOWN.
FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE STAGE
SEPARATION, THE FIRST AND SECOND
STAGES WILL SEPARATE.
THE FIRST STAGE WILL FLIP AROUND
TO MAKE SURE IT'S HEADING BACK
TOWARDS THE LANDING SITE.
AND THEN THE SECOND STAGE WILL
IGNITE THE VACUUM ENGINE TO
BOOST DRAGON INTO LOWER EARTH
ORBIT.
YOU HEARD THE CALL OUT FOR
ENGINE CHILLING.
THE LAST EVENT IS THE BOOST BACK
BURN, TO REDUCE THE VELOCITY OF
THAT VEHICLE AS WE PREPARE FOR
ATMOSPHERIC ENTRY.
ALL OF THOSE EVENTS HAPPEN OVER
45 SECONDS.
THEY ARE MAIN ENGINE CUT OFF,
STAGE SEPARATION, FLIP, ENGINE
START AND BOOST BACK BURN START.
ALL THOSE HAPPENING IN JUST
ABOUT FIVE SECONDS.
>> STAGE SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> FANTASTIC SIGHT.
>> AND NOW THE BOOST BACK BURN
IS UNDER WAY.
THE SHOT ON OUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW
IS OF THE MERLIN VACUUM ENGINE
ON THE SECOND STAGE.
AS THIS VIEW TOGGLES, YOU MAY
CATCH THE FIRST STAGE.
IT'S FIRING ITS ENGINES THAT
BURN ON THE FIRST STAGE LASTING
ABOUT 30 SECONDS.
YOU CAN SEE THE PLUME ON THE
FIRST STAGE AS WE DO THE BOOST
BACK BURN.
>> STAGE ONE BOOST BACK
SHUTDOWN.
>> SUCCESSFUL SHUTDOWN OF THE
FIRST STAGE MERLIN ENGINE.
SECOND STAGE ENGINE CONTINUING
TO BURN.
THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BURN UNTIL
THE T PLUS 8 MINUTES AND 40
SECONDS MARK INTO THE MISSION.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US,
WELCOME TO OUR 25th COMMERCIAL
RESUPPLY MISSION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
YOU ARE WATCHING OUR 30th
MISSION OF 2022.
AND THE THIRD DRAGON FLIGHT TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
THIS YEAR.
LIFTED OFF JUST ABOUT FOUR
MINUTES AGO FROM THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
ON YOUR SCREEN ARE VIEWS OF
FIRST STAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE.
CONTROLLING ATTITUDE TO MAKE ITS
WAY BACK HOME.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS A SHOT OF
THE MERLIN VACUUM ENGINE ON THE
SECOND STAGE PERFORMING ITS
BURN.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO BURN FOR
ABOUT ANOTHER FOUR MINUTES TO
TAKE DRAGON UP TO LOWER EARTH
ORBIT.
SPEAKING OF THE ENTRY SEQUENCE
ON THE FIRST STAGE TO MAKE ITS
WAY BACK TO THAT DRONE SHIP.
IT WILL HAVE TO EXECUTE TWO MORE
BURNS.
FIRST IS THE ENTRY BURN, WE'LL
IGNITE THREE OF THE ENGINES.
THAT SLOWS DOWN.
FOLLOWING THAT IS THE LAND CAN
BURN.
THEY WILL IGNITE A SINGLE MERLIN
ENGINE THAT WILL BRING THE
VEHICLE SPEED DOWN TO ZERO FOR A
SOFT TOUCHDOWN ON THE DRONE
SHIP.
WE GOT SOME GREAT SUNLIGHT ON
THE VEHICLE AND YOU ARE
PERIODICALLY SEEING PLUMES OF
WHITE.
THAT'S FROM THE NITROGEN GAS
THRUSTERS.
THEY ARE KEEPING THE FIRST STAGE
ORIENTED, ENGINES.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH THAT ENTRY
BURN, THE FANS WILL TAKE OVER
CONTROL AS WE START TO GET
ATMOSPHERIC AUTHORITY.
AND THEN THE FIRST STAGE WILL
ONLY USE THOSE GRID FINS TO
STEER BACK TOWARDS OUR DRONE
SHIP.
BURN EXPECTED TO START TEN
SECONDS FROM NOW.
JUST TAKING A QUICK LOOK IN,
STAGE 2 ENGINE PERFORMANCE.
NOMINAL.
CONTINUING TO BURN.
WE GOT ABOUT THREE MORE MINUTES.
>> ENTRY BURN STARTUP.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE VELOCITY ON
THE LEFT SIDE, RAPIDLY SLOWING
DOWN.
THAT BURN ONLY LASTING ABOUT 15
SECONDS.
NOW WE ARE DOING A QUICK
ATTITUDE CORRECTION TO MAKE SURE
WE ARE POINTING THE HEAT SHIELD
DOWN.
AND THAT ENTRY BURN, DEPOSITING
CARBON LOOK.
FALCON 9 ALSO HAS FOUR LANDING
LEGS MADE OF CARBON FIBER.
PLACED AROUND THE BASE OF THE
ROCKET.
THEY WILL DEPLOY JUST PRIOR TO
LANDING DURING THE LANDING BURN.
IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN
RECOVERING FALL TON 9, IT WILL
MARK THE 130th LANDING OVERALL
OF A FALCON 9 INCLUDING FALCON
HEAVY MISSIONS.
LANDING BURN COMING UP SHORTLY.
KEEP AN EYE OUT ON THE SPEED.
WE'LL SEE THAT COME ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO ZERO.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS THE DRONE
SHIP.
ALSO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LANDING
LEG DEPLOY.
>> STAGE 1 LANDING LEG DEPLOY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PEOPLE EXCITED BEHIND ME.
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, FIFTH
LANDING, 130th LANDING
OVERALL.
BEAUTIFUL SIGHT TO SEE.
COMING UP NEXT, SECOND ENGINE
CUTOFF NUMBER ONE.
WE'LL EXPECT THE MERLIN VACUUM
ENGINE TO STOP FIRING ABOUT 30
SECONDS FROM NOW.
THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT TO ITS
ORBIT AROUND OUR PLANET.
AFTER WE COMPLETE SECOND ENGINE
CUTOFF, WE'LL DO A QUICK CHECK
TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN THE
TARGETED ORBIT.
YOU HEAR THAT CALLED OUT AS A
NOMINAL ORBIT INSERTION OR GOOD
CALL OUT.
>> SHUTDOWN.
>> SO YOU HEARD A CALL OUT THE
LOOPS FOR A SHUT DOWN ON THE
VACUUM.
THERE'S NOMINAL ORBITAL
INSERTION.
THE GROUND TEAM HAVE ASSESSED
THE ORBIT AND STAGE 2 IS RIGHT
WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE.
THAT ALSO MEANS THAT DRAGON IS
RIGHT WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE
SINCE IT'S BEEN ARRIVING ON THE
SECOND STAGE THIS WHOLE TIME.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, WE
ARE ABOUT T PLUS 9:20 INTO THE
MISSION.
ON THE SCREEN NEXT TO ME IS A
VIEW OF THE MERLIN VACUUM
ENGINE.
THE SECOND STAGE HAS ONE MAJOR
TASK REMAINING, COMMANDING
SEPARATION OF THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT A FEW MINUTES FROM
NOW.
WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE VIDEO OF
SEPARATION FROM THE TOP.
WE GOT A QUICK GLIMPSE BEFORE.
WE HAVE A CAMERA THAT LOOKS UP
INTO THE TRUNK OF DRAGON AND
GIVES US A PEEK AT SOME OF THE
CARGO WE ARE TAKING IN THAT
UNPRESSURIZED SECTION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT PAYLOAD THERE
ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN.
THE CRS CAPSULE WILL BE JOINING
THE CREW 4 FREEDOM.
THEY WILL DOCK AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IT WILL BE HEADED TO THE FORWARD
HAR NON-ANY PORT ON NODE 2
EXPECTING IT TO ARRIVE ON THE
16th.
THERE IT WILL SPEND ABOUT ONE
MONTH ATTACHED AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AS FOR THE CARGO, WE ARE
DELIVERING MORE THAN 5800 POUNDS
OF SCIENCE RESEARCH, CREW
SUPPLIES AS WELL AS VEHICLE
HARDWARE TO THE ORBITING LAB AND
ITS CREW.
AMAZING, MORE VIEWS INSIDE THE
TRUNK.
AT THIS POINT THE SECOND STAGE
IS PERFORMING ITS FINAL CHECKS
TO ENSURE WE ARE NOT IMPARTING
ANY UNNECESSARY MOMENTUM OR SPIN
TO THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
ONCE THOSE CALCULATIONS ARE
COMPLETE, DRAGON AND SECOND
STAGE WILL COMMAND SEPARATION
AND SHORTLY FOLLOWING
SEPARATION, DRAGON WILL CONDUCT
A SERIES OF HEALTH CHECKS ON ITS
THRUSTERS.
CAB BIN, THERMAL AND SOLAR
SYSTEM NAVIGATION FOR THE
UPCOMING MISSION TO THE SPACE
STATION.
GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO GO.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SECOND
STAGE.
COMING UP REAL SHORTLY TO DRAGON
SEPARATION, THIS PARTICULAR
DRAGON PARKING ITS THIRD FLIGHT
AND IT'S ALSO THE FIRST THIRD
REUSE OF THE CARGO VEHICLE.
THIS VIEW LOOKING INTO THE TRUNK
OF THE DRAGON CAPSULE, THE
UNPRESSURIZED PORTION OF THE
VEHICLE THAT HAS SOME OF THE
PAYLOAD WE ARE TAKING UP TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PHENOMENAL.
FLOATING AWAY FROM FALCON 9
SECOND STAGE.
AGAIN, COMING UP NEXT, WE GOT
SOME SERVICE SECTION DRACO
CHECKOUTS AS WELL AS NOSE CONE
OPENING.
THAT WILL COMPLETE MY COVERAGE.
I WILL PASS IT OVER TO SANDRA TO
CHECK IN WITH THE TEAM THERE.
SANDRA.
>> THANKS.
WELCOME BACK INTO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
FLIGHT CONTROL ROOM.
THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL LAUNCH FROM
HERE IN MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE JUST STANDING
BY FOR CONFIRMATION OF THE NOSE
CONE DEPLOYMENT.
AND WE DID JUST GET CONFIRMATION
THAT THE NOSE CONE WAS
SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED.
THAT COVERS THE DOCKING
HARDWARE, THE RENDEZVOUS CENTER
AND THE BULKHEAD FORWARD DRACOS.
THE NOSE CONE WILL STAY OPEN
UNTIL AFTER THE MISSION AND
PRIOR TO REENTRY.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, NASA
AND CASE X'S 25th COMMERCIAL
REPLY MISSION LAUNCHED IN
FLORIDA AT 7:44 P.M. CENTRAL,
8:44 P.M. EASTERN TIME THIS
EVENING AND IS CURRENTLY IN
ORBIT HEADING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
DRAGON IS STILLED WITH OVER
5,800 POUNDS OF CARGO AND
SUPPLIES, INCLUDING SCIENCE
VARYINGS, HARDWARE AND FRESH
FOOD SUCH AS APPLES, ORANGES,
CARROT, CHEESE.
ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION RIGHT NOW IS THE SEVEN
PERSON EXPEDITION 67 CREW WHO
I'M SURE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO
THESE FRESH FOODS.
THE CREW INCLUDES BOB HINES,
EUROPEAN ASTRONAUT.
AS WELL AS JESSICA WATKINS AND
CHAULINDGRIN.
AND WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO
STAND BY ON THAT NOSE CONE
DEPLOYMENT CHECKOUT.
DRAGON IS SLATED TO DOCK TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION ON
SATURDAY AT APPROXIMATELY
10:20 A.M. CENTRAL TIME.
NASA ASTRONAUTS BOB HINES AND
JESSICA WATKINS WILL BE
MONITORING THE APPROACH OF
DRAGON.
EARLIER THIS WEEK NASA
RESTAURANT BOB HINES AND JESSICA
WATKINS SPENT TIME REVIEWING
PROCEDURES ON A COMPUTER AHEAD
OF THE RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING.
AND THE TWO FLIGHT ENGINEERS
WERE HIMSELF JOINED BY NASA
ASTRONAUT WHO HELPED STAGE CARGO
THAT WILL BE RETURNED INSIDE
DRAGON AT THE END OF ITS MONTH
LONG MISSION AT THE ORBITAL LAB.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO STAND
BY FOR CONFIRMATION THAT THE
NOSE CONE CHECKOUTS ARE
COMPLETE.
AND WE DID HEAR THAT THE FIRST
SET OF HOOKS IS ALREADY DRIVEN
AND THE SECOND SET OF HOOKS IS
DRIVING FOR THAT NOSE CONE
DEPLOYMENT.
ALL HOOKS ARE NOW OPEN.
EVERYTHING CONTINUING TO GO
SMOOTHLY.
WE SHOULD HAVE CONFIRMATION HERE
SHORTLY THAT THE NOSE CONE IS
SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED.
AND WE SHOULD HAVE CONFIRMATION
HERE SHORTLY.
AND AGAIN, THIS NOSE CONE COVERS
THE DOCKING HARDWARE AS WELL AS.
AND THE FORWARD BULKHEAD DRACOS.
>> WE ARE CONTINUING TO STAND BY
FOR NOSE CONE DEPLOYMENT.
AND WE DID JUST HEAR
CONFIRMATION THAT NOSE CONE
DEPLOYMENT IS COMPLETE.
WITH DRY NONE NOW SAFELY ON ITS
WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION AND THE NOSE CONE
SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED.
THAT WILL DO IT FOR US AT
MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON.
THANKS FOR JOINING TONIGHT.
I HOPE YOU WILL TUNE IN FOR
DOCKING COVERAGE ON SATURDAY
BEGINNING AT 9:00 A.M. CENTRAL,
10:00 A.M. EASTERN.
I WILL SEND IT BACK TO KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER AND MEGAN.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT WILL DO IT FOR THE COVERAGE
OF DRAGON, ON ITS WAY TO DOCK AT
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
IT'S SET TO DOCK AT 11:20 A.M.
EASTERN TIME.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
TRACKING ONE OF THE
EX-PAIRMENTS, YOU CAN DO THAT BY
SCANNING THIS QR CODE.
THAT'S JPL.NASA.GOV/EMIT.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH A REPLAY OF
TONIGHT'S SPECTACULAR LAUNCH.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR EVENING.
>> 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,
1, ENGINE IGNITION.
AND LIFT-OFF.
LIFT-OFF OF SpaceX'S FALCON
ROCKET ON THE 25th MISSION
WITH COOL SCIENCE TO STUDY OUR
PLANETS CLIMATE.