.
>> 5, 4 --
>> LIFTOFF.
WE HAVE A LIFTOFF.
>> ROGER.
>> LIFTOFF.
>> HOUSTON, THE EAGLE HAS
LANDED.
>> 3, 2, 1, 0.
LIFTOFF.
AMERICANS RETURN TO SPACE AND
DISCOVERY CLEARS THE TOWER.
>> DISCOVERY.
>> DISCOVERY, READY TO DEPLOY.
>> EVERYBODY IN THE ISSUE
SHUTTLE PROGRAM, IT IS A GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
♪
>>> ON TUESDAY, NASA BUTCH
WILMORE AND SUNI WILLIAMS LANDED
THEIR T-38 JET AT THE LAUNCH AND
LANDING FACILITY AT THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA.
THE CREW RETURNED FROM HOUSTON
WHERE THEY ARE AT WORK
CONTINUING THEIR QUARANTINE OF A
THE SCRUB OF THE FIRST LAUNCH
ATTEMPT ON MAY 6.
SINCE THEN MISSION TEAMS WORKED
TO SOLVE VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH
THE SPACECRAFT.
THE CREW ARE AT QUARANTINE AT
THE NEIL ARMSTRONG CHECKOUT
BUILDING BEFORE SATURDAY'S
LAUNCH BUT NOT BEFORE TAKING A
DISTANCED SELFIE WITH SOME OF
THE FOLKS, BOEING EMPLOYEES AT
THE OLD SHUTTLE LAND FACILITY.
WELCOME INSIDE TO THE TV
AUDITORIUM HERE AT THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER.
I AM DARYL WITH NASA AND YOUR
MODERATOR FOR PRELAUNCH NEWS
CONFERENCE, THE SECOND ATTEMPT
OF NASA AND BOEING CREW FLIGHT
TEST OF IS SCHEDULED FOR EXACTLY
12:25:40 A.M. EASTERN TIME ON A
ULA ATLAS V ROCKET THAT JUST
RETURNED TO THE PAD YESTERDAY
MORNING AT SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX
41.
OUR PANEL TODAY A FINE GROUP.
JOINING ME TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS STARTING FROM MY LEFT
ARE NASA ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR
JIM FREE.
STEVE STICH, MANAGER OF NASA'S
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
DANA WEIGEL DANA WEIGEL IS HERE.
MANAGER OF NASA'S INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION PROGRAM.
>> NEW TO OUR PANEL NASA
ASTRONAUT MIKE FINCKE, BACK-UP
PILOT AND PILOT FOR STARLINER 1,
FIRST ROTATIONAL FLIGHT FOR NASA
AND BOEING.
MARK NAPPI, A BOEING VICE
PRESIDENT AND PROGRAM MANAGER
FOR THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT
AND COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS AND MARK
BURGER, CFT LAUNCH WEATHER
OFFICER WITH THE 45th WEATHER
SQUADRON BASE AT THE CAPE
CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION.
OF COURSE, WE ARE JOINED HERE IN
THE ROOM BY MEMBERS OF THE
MEDIA, AS WELL AS ON THE PHONE.
WE WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS, OF
COURSE FOLLOWING A BRIEF OPENING
STATEMENT BY EACH OF OUR
PANELISTS.
START RIGHT NOW WITH JIM.
>> THANKS, DARYL.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
THANKS FOR JOINING US AGAIN FOR
OUR NEXT ATTEMPT TO LAUNCH THE
FIRST CREWED ELEMENT OF THE
BOEING STARLINER FAMILY.
WE CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT MORE
ABOUT THE SYSTEM SINCE OUR FIRST
LAUNCH ATTEMPT ON THE 6th OF
MAY.
THE TEAMS, AS ALWAYS, CONTINUE
TO WORK DILIGENTLY TO ENSURE
THAT WHEN WE DO LAUNCH THIS TEST
FLIGHT, WE ARE READY TO CONDUCT
IT SAFELY.
YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF US ON
MULTIPLE OCCASIONS MENTION THAT
WE WILL FLY WHEN WE ARE READY.
THE TEAMS HAVE BEEN TAKING THE
RIGHT STEPS TO CONDUCT THE
NECESSARY TESTING ANALYSIS TO
GET US READY AND YOU HEAR A LOT
MORE ABOUT THAT TODAY.
WE TALKED LAST FRIDAY AND THEN
ENCOURAGED MANY OF THE FOLKS OF
THESE TEAMS TO TAKE SOME TIME
OFF, SPREAD SOME TIME WITH LOVED
ONES OF MEMORIAL DAY AND BE
RESTED.
FOLKS RETURN TUESDAY TO TACKLE
THE LAUNCH WEEK AND WILL
CONTINUE THE WORK IN MORE
DETAIL.
AND I WILL LET STEVE AND DANA
DISCUSS AND OTHERS AS THEY GET
INTO THE DETAILS.
HOLDING OUR AGENCY FLIGHT TEST
READINESS REVIEW ON WEDNESDAY
WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY THE SPACE
MISSION ASSOCIATE MINISTER KENT
BARSOCKS.
THE TEAM BROUGHT A NUMBER OF
ANALYSES AND GO FORWARD PLANS TO
THE ELEMENTS YOU HEARD ABOUT
FROM THE VALVE REPLACEMENT,
HELIUM LINK AND THE FAULT TOLL
RANGES.
BROUGHT IT TO THAT DELTA FLIGHT
TEST READINESS REVIEW BECAUSE WE
WANTED THE WHOLE TEAM TO HEAR
AND CONSIDER THE EVALUATION AND
ACCEPTANCE OFLE CFE AFFECTED
SYSTEMS AND OVERALL SYSTEMS
BASED ON OUR HUMAN RATED
CERTIFICATION PLAN, THE PACKAGE
THAT STEVE WILL TALK ABOUT.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO LEARN THAT
IS WHAT SPACE FLIGHT IS ALL
ABOUT LIKE THE STARLINER ON
SPACE STATION WITH THE ULTIMATE
GOALS OF KEEPING OUR CREWS SAFE
GOING TO LIVING THERE AND
RETURNING.
AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL KEEP
LEARNING FROM THIS TEST FLIGHT
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD FOR US
INCREASING OUR KNOWLEDGE AND
UNDERSTANDING OF THIS NEW
SPACECRAFT AND OVERALL SYSTEM.
JUST A REMINDER -- AND I AM NOT
STEALING DANA'S THUNDER FOR ISS,
MORE THAN 23 YEARS, WE HAVE
PEOPLE WORKING AND LIVING OFF OF
THIS PLANET, CLEARLY CHANGING
THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY IN
MY OPINION.
THE LABORATORY HOSTED 3,000
RESEARCH INVESTIGATIONS FROM 108
COUNTRIES.
A CRITICAL TEST FOR EVERYTHING
THAT NASA IS TRYING TO DO TO
UNDERSTAND AND OVERCOME THE
CHALLENGES OF LONG DURATION
SPACE FLIGHT.
THE RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRATIONS CONDUCTED ON ISS
AND SOME OF WHICH MOVE THROUGH
THE -- MOVE THROUGH CASES ARE
DONE SO WITH -- WITH BENEFITING
LIFE HERE ON EARTH, BUT THEY
ALSO WILL HELP US AND ARE
HELPING US PREPARE FOR THOSE
MISSIONS BEYOND LEO.
THE MISSIONS THAT WILL BE FOR
COMMERCIALLY YO AND THOSE
MISSIONS THAT WILL TAKE US TO
THE MOON AND ON TO MARS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING
HERE.
WITH THAT, LET ME OFFER HIGH
SINCERE THANKS TO EVERY
INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKED TO GET US
BACK HERE.
THAT INCLUDES THE CREW WHO
PARTICIPATED IN A LOT OF THE
DISCUSSIONS.
WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE WORKED
SINCE THEN, BUT IT IS THE
INDIVIDUALS.
THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE SPACE VERY
SPECIAL AND HELP WITH THE FOCUS
ON KEEPING OUR CREWS SAFE.
LET ME THANK THEM INDIVIDUALLY
FOR THEIR WORK.
WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER
TO STEVE.
>> THANKS, JIM.
THANKS FOR THOUGH KIND WORDS.
AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU
FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM AND OUR
CREWED FLIGHT TEST.
IT HAS BEEN A BUSY FEW DAYS EVEN
SINCE WE LAST TALKED TO YOU LAST
FRIDAY AND GAVE YOU AN UPDATE ON
FRIDAY.
AND AS JIM SAID ON WEDNESDAY, WE
HAD THE DELTA AGENCY FLIGHT
READINESS REVIEW WHERE WE WENT
THROUGH THE READINESS OF SEVERAL
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF GETTING
READY FOR THE FLIGHT.
WE TALKED OF THE HELIUM LEAK IN
THE P 2D 2 AND WENT WITH THAT
WITH THE BOARD AND THE AS A
RESULT NEBLT OF THE METHODS THAT
WE TALKED ABOUT ON FRIDAY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT TOPIC.
THE PARACHUTE CROSSOVER TOPIC ON
THE BLUE ORIGIN FLIGHT THAT
OCCURRED RECENTLY AND WE WILL
TALK ABOUT THAT LATER.
AND WE MADE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD
PLAN FOR THE UNITED LAUNCH
ALLIANCE FOR THE REGULAR LAKES
OF THE VALVE AT THE PAD.
I KNOW A LONG ROAD TO GET HERE.
VERY EXCITING FOR ME TO BE HERE.
IT WAS EXCITING -- I GOT HERE
JUST AFTER BUTCH AND SUNI
ARRIVED ON TUESDAY.
AND GREAT TO SEE THEM HERE.
WHEN THE CREW ARRIVES, YOU KNOW
WE ARE CLOSE TO LAUNCH AND WE
HAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE PAD NOW.
I AM VERY PROUD OF THE TEAMS
THAT HAVE WORKED VERY HARD OVER
THE LAST TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AS
JIM SAID.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET A LITTLE
BIT OF DOWN TIME ALONG MEMORIAL
DAY WEEKEND AND I CAN TELL WHEN
WE CAME BACK ON TUESDAY, PEOPLE
WERE MORE RESTED AND READY TO GO
OF HITTING OPERATIONS READY TO
LAUNCH.
ON CRACK NOR JUNE 1, 12:25
EASTERN IS THE LAUNCH TIME AND
DOCK 25 AND A HALF YEARS LATER
AT 1:50 P.M. ON SUNDAY JUNE 2.
IF WE HAVE TO SCRUB FOR SOME
REASON, WE HAVE A BACK-UP
OPPORTUNITY SUNDAY JUNE 2 WITH A
LAUNCH TIME OF 12:03 EASTERN AND
STAND DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS
AND HAVE BACK-UPS ON JUNE 5 AND
JUNE 6.
YOU KNOW, IT IS GREAT TO ALL BE
HERE ON THE PANEL.
I WILL TELL YOU A FEW THINGS WE
WORKED ON THE LAST FEW DAYS AND
WE CAN GO INTO MORE DETAIL.
WE RECEIVED FROM DATA FROM
SPACEX ON A REFLECTOR ON ISS
THAT SHOWED DURING THEIR DRAGON
APPROACHES AND PORT RELOCATES
DEGRADATION FROM ONE OF THE
REFLECTORS.
SPACEX PROVIDED DATA TO US.
WE TOOK THAT DATA AND GAVE IT TO
MARK AND THE BOEING TEAM AND RAN
SOME SIMULATIONS TO MAKE SURE
THE REFLECTOR WASN'T THERE
OVERALL, WE WOULD GO AHEAD AND
DOCK SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE
RENDEZVOUS NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
WE DID THAT IN THE INTERIM.
KUDOS FOR SPACEX FOR SHARING
DATA WITH US.
ONE OF THE THINGS I AM SEEING
NOW AMONG THE ENTITIES THAT
FLIES INTO SPACE IS THE SHARING
OF DATA THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
I MENTIONED THAT BLUE ORIGIN HAD
A RECENT HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT
WHERE THEY HAD A PARACHUTE THAT
DID NOT FULLY INFLATE.
STARLINER USES SOME SIMILAR
COMPONENTS TO THAT PARACHUTE
SYSTEM IN TERMS OF BRIEFING LINE
AND BRIEFING LINE CUTTERS THAT
CUT THAT PARACHUTE SYSTEM.
BLUE TO ARE REBEGIN -- ORIGIN
SHARED DATA WITH THE FLIGHT.
SHARED IT WITH NASA, SPACEX AND
BOEING AND ABLE TO GO THROUGH
THE PARTICULAR COMPONENTS ON
STARLINER AND MADE SURE WE HAVE
GOOD SEPARATION FROM THAT
PARTICULAR PARACHUTE THAT
COULDN'T FULLY INFLATE.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE DATA AND
THAT IS GOOD TO GO FLY.
AND THEN FINALLY, ONE OF THE
LAST THINGS WE WORKED WAS, THERE
WAS A COMPONENT ON STATION.
DANA WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT
THAT NEEDED TO BE SENT UP.
AND WE REPACKAGED CARGO ON THE
STARLINER AND FLYING UP ABOUT
140-POUND ITEM FOR DANA AND THE
SPACE STATION THAT REALLY NEEDS
IT.
WE HAD TO REMANIFEST SOME OF THE
CARGO ON STARLINER AND THAT WAS
DONE TODAY.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE SEEN OUT OF
THE BOEING AND NASA TEAM AND THE
ULA TEAM WORKING WITH OUR SPACE
STATION TEAM IS A LOT OF EWE
GUILTY IN THE LAST WEEK DEALING
WITH THESE THINGS AS THEY COME
UP WHICH TELLS ME THAT WE ARE
READY TO GO FLY AND TAKE IT ONE
STEP AT A TIME AND WATCH THE
VEHICLE.
MARK WILL TALK OF THE WEATHER.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD SHOT AT THE
WEATHER.
AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO WATCH
THE ONSHORE FLOW A LITTLE BIT
AND OTHER THAN THAT, WE ARE
READY TO GO FLY WHEN THE VEHICLE
AND CREW IS READY.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DANA.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE
TODAY.
WEDNESDAY'S AGENCY REVIEW WAS
VERY THOROUGH.
WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION OF
THE HELIUM LEAK AND VALVE
TOLERANCE.
AND THE TEAM DID A FANTASTIC JOB
BRINGING A THOROUGH DISCUSSION
ON THE FLIGHT RATION MALL IN.
I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD SOLID
STANDPOINT TO FLY THIS FLIGHT.
FROM THE STATION'S STANDPOINT,
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS INTEGRATED
SAFETY.
SAFETY OF THE TWO VEHICLES AS
THEY OPERATE TOGETHER TO
RENDEZVOUS DOCKING WITH A JOINT
MISSION AND ALSO UNDOCK.
THOSE ISSUES SPECIFICALLY DON'T
CHANGE THE INTEGRATED OPERATION
SPACE THAT IS THE SUBJECT FOR
DEORBIT AS STEVE MENTIONED.
WE HELD OUR MANAGEMENT READINESS
REVIEW YESTERDAY MORNING.
EVERYBODY CALLED GO INCLUDING
THE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS.
AS STEVE MENTIONED WE GOT
SURPRISE BY AN ON-BOARD ANOMALY
THIS WEEK.
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, OUR
PROCESSOR ASSEMBLY HAD A
FAILURE.
THAT URINE PROCESSOR TAKES
THE URINE AND PROCESSES IT IN A
WATER RECOVERY SYSTEM.
SENDS IT DOWNSTREAM INTO A WATER
PROCESSOR THAT TURNS IT INTO
DRINKING WATER.
THE STATION IS DESIGNED TO BE
CLOSED-LOOP AND HAVE THE URINE
CONTINUOUSLY ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
DRINKING WATER.
WHEN THAT PROCESSOR FAILED, WE
ARE IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE
TO STORE URINE ON STATION.
WE CAN DO THAT.
BAGS AND TANKS UP THERE FOR THAT
PURPOSE AND LIMITED INVENTORY.
THE INTENT IS TO RECOVER AND GET
THE EQUIPMENT GOING AGAIN.
IN THIS CASE, THE PUMP THAT
FAILED WAS REALLY EXPECTED TO
RUN UNTIL ABOUT THE FALL TIME
FRAME AND OUR NEXT SPARE
MANIFESTED ON THE NORTHRUP
GRUMMAN FLIGHT THAT GOES UP IN
AUGUST.
IT FAILED A LITTLE EARLIER AND
PUT US IN A POSITION TO STORE
MORE URINE, ADDING TWO MORE
CREWMEMBERS TO THAT FURTHER
CONSTRAINS THE STORAGE
CAPABILITY WE HAVE ON BOARD.
SO WE WORKED WITH THE BOEING
TEAM OR ISS TEAM AND OUR CM
C
CARGO TEAMS FOR A QUICK CHANGE
TO THE PLANS FOR THE STARLINER
MANIFEST.
ON WEDNESDAY, WE FLEW IT OUT TO
KENNEDY.
GOT IT TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
AS STEVE MENTIONED IT IS QUITE
LARGE.
PACKED CONFIGURATION, IT IS IN A
BAG ABOUT THREE FEET LONG BY 20
INCHES BY 20 INCHES ABOUT 150
POUNDS TOTAL.
PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL SIZE.
AND THE KEY FOR THE FLIGHT WAS
NOT TO PERTURB THE MASS
PROPERTY.
WANTED TO KEEP THE MASS OF THE
VEHICLE THE SAME.
WE WORKED TO FIND CARGO WE COULD
OFFLOAD AND DISPLACE WITHOUT
IMPACTING THAT.
WE ENDED UP PULLING OFF TWO CREW
SUITCASES.
THOSE HAVE CLOTHES ON THEM.
YOU ARE USED TO TECHNICAL TERMS
-- BUT SUITCASES LIKE WE TAKE ON
VACATION.
GENERAL CLOTHES ON BOARD AND
CREW CAN USE THAT INSTEAD OF THE
SPECIFIC ITEMS THEY WILL FLY UP.
HUGE KUDOS FOR THE WHOLE TEAM
FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE.
TURNED IT AROUND RAPIDLY FROM
THE BOEING TEAMS, ISS AND CARGO
TEAMS WERE OUTSTANDING TO GET TO
THIS POINT TO CAPTURE THIS
LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY AND SEND UP
THIS CRITICAL SPARE TO STATION.
WE WILL PUT IT IN PRETTY SOON
AFTER THE VEHICLE ARRIVES.
WE WANT TO GET THAT CAPABILITY
UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.
OTHER NEWS ON BOARD SPACE
STATION.
LET'S SEE, ON TUESDAY THE
PROGRESS 86 VEHICLE OR 86T
UNDOCKED TO FREED UP FOR PORT
88.
THAT VEHICLE LAUNCHED YESTERDAY.
IT IS FROM FREE FLIGHT.
DOCK TOMORROW MORNING SATURDAY
7:45 EASTERN TIME.
FIVE HOURS BEFORE THE CFT
LAUNCH.
THE CREW ON BOARD IS WORKING
THROUGH EVA PREPARATIONS.
WE HAVE A SERIES OF SPACE WALKS
WE WILL DO THIS SUMMER STARTING
AROUND JUNE 13.
SO THEY WILL CONTINUE WORKING
THROUGH THAT.
AND IF BUTCH AND SUNI IS UP
THERE WITH US DURING THAT TIME
FRAME, WE WILL STILL CONDUCT
THE EVA AND WE CAN MOVE THEM IF
WE NEED TO FOR ANY STARLINER
CRITICAL ACTIVITIES THAT WOULD
HAVE PRIORITY OVER THOSE EVAs.
FROM A STATION STANDPOINT, OUR
CREW, OUR GROUND TEAMS, WE ARE
READY TO GO FLY THIS MISSION AND
EXCITED THAT WE ARE ON THE
DOORSTEP OF THIS HISTORIC
MISSION.
WITH THAT, I WILL HANDMIKE MIKE.
>> GOOD AFTERHAND IT OVER
TO MIKE FINCKE.
CATCH AT THAT POINT WILMORE AND
WILLIAMS, BUTCH AND SUNI, THEY
ARE MY DEAR FRIENDS AND I HAVE
BEEN TRAINING WITH THEM IN FOR A
LONG TIME.
MOST IMPORTANTLY FOR THIS, THEY
ARE CREW TEST PILOTS AND THEY
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET
FLIGHT TEST DATA THAT WILL HELP
CONTINUE THE CERTIFICATION
PROCESS FOR STARLINER SO THAT
STARLINER 1, 2, 3, AND TO
INFINITIY AND BEYOND CAN BE --
CAN FLY AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO
IT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
AND DEPENDS ON -- ON BOEING, BUT
OTHER MISSIONS ARE AVAILABLE OUT
THERE TOO.
THEY ARE VERY EXCITED FOR
TOMORROW'S LAUNCH.
BUTCH AND SUNI, THEY HAVEN'T
SEEN THE CAPSULE SINCE I TOOK
THEM TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
AND WE SCRUBBED.
SO IT WASN'T ME, BUT THEY
HAVEN'T SEEN THE CAPSULE SINCE
THEY STRAPPED IN MAY 6.
SO THEY ARE ACTUALLY BACK IN THE
CAPSULE.
SHOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT NOW
FOR COM CHECKS TO MAKE SURE THAT
THE COM SYSTEMS ARE WORKING.
TALKING THROUGH THE SATELLITES
AND MAKING THEIR MCC, THE
MISSION CONTROL CENTER IN
HOUSTON, THE BOEING MISSION
CONTROL CENTER IN FLORIDA, AS
WELL AS REQUEST THE UNITED
LAUNCH ALLIANCE AND WE WILL ALL
TALK TO EACH OTHER TOMORROW.
THEY WILL TAKE A SNEAK PEEK AND
GET REACQUAINTED WITH THE
CAPSULE ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW
CARGO CONFIGURATION THAT WILL
JUST MAKE EVERYTHING READY --
EVEN MORE READY FOR TOMORROW.
I CAN SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN
QUARANTINE SINCE END OF APRIL.
THEY ARE VERY EXCITED TO GO --
GO LAUNCH SOON.
BUT IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PROCESS
LEARNING MORE ABOUT STARLINER
ALONG THE WAY.
THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT OUR
SPACECRAFT, THE SAFER AND MORE
SUCCESSFUL WITH OUR MISSION.
BUTCH AND SUNI, I TALKED TO THEM
AND THEY HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE
IN OUR ROCKET.
THEY HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN
OUR SPACECRAFT AND IN OUR
OPERATIONS TEAMS.
AND IN OUR LEADERSHIP MANAGEMENT
TEAMS.
AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY READY TO
GO.
AND SPEAKING OF OUR SPACECRAFT
OVER TO MARK NAPPI FROM BOEING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THE TEAMS ARE ON STATION AND
MONITORING THE SPACECRAFT AS WE
SIT HERE AND TALK TO YOU.
THEY REPORTED THIS MORNING AT
3:30, POWERED UP THE VEHICLES
AND THEY HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUS
MONITORING MODE AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK THE LAUNCH
PREPS AND THE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN
LEADING UP UNTIL TOMORROW
MORNING AT 4 A.M. WHEN THE
LAUNCH TEAM WILL COME IN AND
START SUPPORTING THE MISSION.
SO FAR, THERE HAS BEEN NO ISSUES
THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH
THE SPACECRAFT, SO ALL IS GOING
WELL.
YESTERDAY, WE PERFORMED
A L MINUS 2 BRIEFING AND THE
PURPOSE OF THAT IS TO CLOSE ANY
OPEN ISSUES OR LOOK AT THE
CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE
THE MAY 6 LAUNCH ATTACK AND MAKE
SURE WE HAVE THEM ALL CLOSED AND
TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT MEETING WAS SUCCESSFUL AND
WE GO A GO TO PROCEED TO LAUNCH.
TODAY, THERE WAS AN L MINUS CREW
BRIEFING THAT WENT WELL ALSO,
AND SO WE ARE READY TO SUPPORT
GOING DOWN INTO THE LAUNCH
COUNTDOWN STARTING TOMORROW AT 4
A.M.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO FLYING THIS
MISSION.
WE -- THIS IS A TEST FLIGHT.
WE KNOW WE ARE GOING TO LEARN
SOME THINGS.
WE ARE GOING TO IMPROVE.
AND THAT IMPROVEMENT STARTS WITH
STARLINER 1, MIKE, FOR YOUR
MISSION.
AND IT WILL BE -- IT WILL BE
EVEN BETTER THAN THE MISSION WE
ARE ABOUT TO FLY.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT
OVER TO GARY.
>> THANKS, MARK.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE
HERE TODAY PREPARING FOR OUR
FIRST HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT LAUNCH
TO DELIVER BUTCH AND SUNI TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THE ROCKETS HIT THE PAD.
DOING OUR FINAL LAUNCH
PREPARATIONS TODAY AS MARK
TALKS, MAKING SURE THAT
EVERYTHING IS WORKING BETWEEN
THE LAUNCH VEHICLE AND THE
CAPSULE.
FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR TEAM,
TODAY IS A CREW SYNC DAY.
THEY ARE GETTING SET BECAUSE THE
TEAM COMES IN AT 1:00 IN THE
MORNING TO START THE LAUNCH
COUNT AND SUPPORTIVE OF
TOMORROW'S LAUNCH.
EVERYTHING IS GOING SMOOTH.
WE ARE NOT WORKING ANY ISSUES
AND TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY THANK
THE NASA AND BOEING TEAMS FOR
WORKING WITH US TO GET THROUGH
THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE
MAY 6 AND LOOKING FORWARD TO
LAUNCH TOMORROW.
WITH THAT, WE WILL TURN IT OVER
TO MARK BURGER, OUR LAUNCH
WEATHER OFFICER.
>> THANK YOU, GARY.
HEADED INTO JUNE AND EARLY
MORNING LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
WITH FLORIDA WEATHER, THAT WOULD
OFTEN MEAN THUNDERSTORMS.
NO SUCH CONCERN FOR TOMORROW.
GENERALLY LOCAL WEATHER AND
WEATHER DOWN THE -- DOWN THE
ASSENT CORRIDOR OVER THE THICK
LOOKED ACCEPTABLE TO US.
LOCAL WINDS.
IT IS TURNING BREEZY WITH
A STIFF ONSHORE FLOW AND
MONITORING IT FOR TOMORROW.
LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS ON THE
FORECAST GRAPHIC, 90% CHANCE OF
GO WEATHER.
NOT CONSIDERING ANY RAIN OR
THUNDERSTORMS, MAYBE A FEW
CLOUDS, BUT NOT ANYTHING
CONCERNING FOR US.
IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE WINDS
WILL BE A LITTLE FEISTY
TOMORROW, NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF
THE MAGNITUDE OF THE WINDS BUT
ALSO THE DIRECTION OF THE WINDS.
AGAIN, A PRETTY GOOD ONSHORE
COMPONENT NEARLY PERPENDICULAR
TO THE COAST AND TIGHTENS AND
RESTRICTS US A LITTLE BIT IN
TERMS OF FAVORABILITY.
BUT AS YOU KNOW WINDS ARE A
HIGHLY VARIABLE FACTOR IN TIME
AND SPACE AN HOPEFULLY GET OFF
WITHOUT A HITCH.
LOOKING AT THE BACK-UP
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT DAY
OBJECT SUNDAY.
SIMILAR WEATHER CONDITIONS.
LUCKILY WINDS DO EASE A LITTLE
BIT NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF
MAGNITUDE BUT THE DIRECTION A
LITTLE MORE SOUTHEASTERLY OR
EAST-SOUTHEASTERLY NOT QUITE ON
TO THE COASTLINE.
THAT GIVES US A LITTLE MORE
LATITUDE AS WELL.
AND MAY TAKE UP A FEW MORE
CLOUDS AND OTHERWISE, VERY
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR, AGAIN,
EARLY JUNE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MARK.
WHEN I SAID A.M. AT THE
BEGINNING, I MEANT P.M.,
12:45:40 PM.
DON'T SHOW UP OVERNIGHT.
YOU WILL BE EATEN BY BUGS.
TAKE YOUR QUESTION BEGINNING NOW
HERE AT THE ROOM IN KENNEDY.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND, STATE
YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION AND WHO
YOU ARE ASKING THE QUESTION.
START WITH MARSHA.
>> PROBABLY FOR YOU, STEVE.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE
GAME PLAN SINCE SOME A MONTH
AGO?
IS IT STILL PLANNED TO BE A
EIGHT-DAY DOCKING TO THE SPACE
STATION.
BY MY COUNT THE EARLIEST COMING
BACK ON JUNE 10.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT?
>> RIGHT NOW I AMMING -- I KNEW
YOU WOULD HAVE THAT QUESTION,
MARSHA.
RIGHT NOW THE MISSION WILL BE
EIGHT DAYS ALONG THIS FULFILL
ALL THE OBJECTIVES WE TALKED
ABOUT.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO
AND MANUAL PILOTING AND
HABITABILITY.
WE WANT TO HAVE THE AVAILABILITY
TO DO SAFE HAVEN OF THE CREW IN
STARLINER IF THERE IS A PROBLEM
IN ISS.
WE WILL DO ALL THIS.
BUT THE EARLIEST LANDING MONDAY
JUNE 10.
AND THAT WILL BE AN UNDOCK
AROUND CENTRAL, 4:50 A.M.
CENTRAL.
LANDING AT WILCOX WILL BE THE
FIRST ONE AROUND 10:16 CENTRAL.
AND WE HAVE BACK-UP AT JUNE 11
AT WHITE SANDS.
THAT LANDING TIME 5:35 CENTRAL
TIME.
ONCE AGAIN, ONCE WE GET STOCKED,
WE WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO
CHECK STARLINER OUT.
CHECK OUT ALL THE SYSTEM.
ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO FOR
A LONG INCREMENT FIGHT.
THERE IS A CHANCE WITH THESE
OPPORTUNITIES STAY A LITTLE
LONGER AND WAIT FOR THE WEATHER
TO GET GOOD.
STAY UP A LITTLE LONGER.
>> IRENE.
FRONT HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
IRENE FOX WITH AVIATION WEEK.
TWO QUESTIONS FOR DANA.
FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU NEED THE
PROGRESS 88 TO DOCK PRIOR TO CFT
LAUNCH?
AND FOR STEVE, CAN YOU GIVE MORE
DETAIL WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE NS
25 PARACHUTE AND WHAT THE
POSSIBLE OVERLAP IS WITH
STARLINER.
THANKS.
>> IN TERMS OF PROGRESS 88, IF
THEY HAD A PROBLEM DOCKING AND
IN FREE FLIGHT PAST THE TIME OF
LAUNCH, WE WOULD WANT TO STAND
DOWN TO LET THEM DOCK.
ANYTIME YOU HAVE A SPACECRAFT IN
FREE FLIGHT.
A LIMITED DURATION IT CAN STAY
IN FREE FLIGHT.
WE WOULD HAVE THE PRIORITY AND
DEAL WITH WHATEVER ANOMALY,
FINISH THE DOCKING AND GET INTO
DISCUSSIONS OF WHERE TO LAUNCH.
>> I WILL TALK IS A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN WITH
BLUE ORIGIN.
BLUE ORIGIN HAS DONE A JOB OF
WORKING WITH US AND
UNDERSTANDING WHAT WILL HAPPEN
WITH THE PARACHUTE TEST.
THAT WAS ACTUALLY A CREWED
FLIGHT.
ONE OF THE PARACHUTES DIDN'T
FULLY INFLIGHT.
THE WAY A PARACHUTE WORKS IS, IT
CAN HAVE SEVERAL STAGES OF WHAT
WE CALL REEFING.
THE PARACHUTE DOESN'T FULLY
INFLATE FOR LOADS.
IN THIS CASE, ONE OF THE
PARACHUTES WAS SORT OF STUCK IN
WHAT I WOULD CALL FIRST STAGE
SOME AMOUNT -- THE PARACHUTE WAS
NOT FULLY OPENED.
THE WAY THAT WORKS, A LINE OR
BAND AROUND THE THROAT OF THAT
PARACHUTE THAT KEEPS THAT
PARACHUTE BEING UNABLE TO OPEN
FULLY.
WHAT WE FOUND THAT THE CUTTERS
FOR SOME REASON DID NOT CUT THAT
LINE TURNS OUT WE USE A SIMILAR
CUTTER THAT BLUE ORIGIN USES.
IT WAS IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE
DATA.
WE LOOKED AT THE DATA OF OUR AND
FIRED THEM 150 TIMES.
WE HAD GOOD SEPARATION.
NO ISSUE WITH ANY OF OUR CUTTERS
AND SUPERB IN CUTTING
THE REEFING LINE AND GOOD FLIGHT
SEPARATION.
>> ALL RIGHT, JEFF RIGHT HERE.
>> JEFF FOR STEVE LOOKING AHEAD
A LITTLE BIT.
ASSUMING WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL
LAUNCH IN THE COMING DAYS AND A
NOMINAL ISSUES.
STILL TIME TO GET STARLINER FOR
THE FIRST PART OF NEXT YEAR?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL
WORK ON AFTER THE FLIGHT.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE
CREW FLIGHT TEST AND COLLECTING
ALL THE DATA WE NEED.
OBVIOUSLY THE PATH FOR STARLINER
1 IS TRULY THE CREWED FLIGHT
TEST.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TOWARD
CERTIFICATION.
WE WILL GO FLY THE FLIGHT AND
LOOK AT THE DATA COMING OUT OF
THE FLIGHT AND MAKE THE RIGHT
CALL.
WE GO THROUGH CERTIFICATION.
WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE.
MARK AND I HAVE BEEN SUPER BUSY
WORKING A CREW FLIGHT TEST AND
HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE.
>> JOEY FOR OUR NEXT QUESTION.
>> THANKS.
JOEY FOR STEVE.
FOLLOW UP ON THE BLUE ORIGIN
QUESTION.
IS NASA INTERESTED IN LEARNING
HOW TO FIX THE BAND ISSUE.
DID YOU OPEN ANY INVESTIGATION
ON THAT.
OR ARE YOU CONTINUING TO WORK
WITH THEM?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT BLUE ORIGIN
HAVE BEEN OUTSTANDING.
WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS -- A
PARACHUTE COMMUNITY BETWEEN
SPACEX, BOEING, NASA AND BLUE
ORIGIN.
A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT
REALLY WORK ON THESE PARACHUTES.
BLUE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN
INVESTIGATION.
THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AT SHARING
THE DATA FROM IT.
THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE WHAT I
WOULD CAUSE A ROOT CAUSE AND
WILL BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW ALONG
WITH THEM.
>> AIRBORNE MAKES THE PARACHUTE
FOR ALL OF THREE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO THE REEFING
CUTTER MANUFACTURER IS.
>> ALL RIGHT, KENT.
>> KENT KRAMER, SPACE UP CLOSE.
THANK YOU.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY.
GREAT ROLLOUT TODAY.
MY QUESTION IS FOR STEVE AND
MARK NAPPI.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOME DETAILS
ABOUT THE HELIUM ISSUE, PLEASE.
CAN YOU TELL US, FIRST OF ALL,
WHAT WAS THE RATE OF LOSS.
I HEARD A WHOLE BUNCH OF
DIFFERENT NUMBERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT LOSS
OF HELIUM, LIKE IN POUNDS, HOW
MUCH WOULD IT BE AND WHAT IS THE
VOLUME, WHAT IS THE WEIGHT YOU
HAVE IN THE HELIUM TANK.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ON A
PERCENTAGE BASIS.
HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THAT HELIUM
LEAK?
WHAT IS THE MARGIN THAT YOU
HAVE?
TO YOU HAVE MORE THAN ONE HELIUM
TANK AND GO TO DIFFERENT DOG
HOUSES?
TALK ABOUT THE HELIUM, THANKS.
>> MAYBE I WILL START AND LET
MARK ADD IN.
THE LEAK, WE TALKED ABOUT IT
FRIDAY INITIALLY AT THE LAUNCH
PAD IN THIS P 2D
THRUSTER PHLANGE, 700 PER SQUARE
INCH A MINUTE.
WE DID MORE TESTING AND THE LEAK
RATE INCREASED TO 7080 POUNDS
PER MINUTE.
AND KEEP IN MIND, THAT LEAK RATE
-- THE VOLUME IS VERY SMALL.
SO IT IS LIKE 15 CUBIC INCHES OF
VOLUME AND PROBABLY THE SIZE OF
A SOFT BALL IN TERM OF VOLUME.
WHEN WE CLOSE THE MANNI
FOLD VALVE, A SMALL ONE.
AND IT WILL LOOK GREAT.
WE HAVE ROUGHLY -- I THINK HOW
TO CLARK RISE THIS IN TERMS OF
THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF HELIUM.
WE HAVE A MARGIN OF ABOUT --
WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT 500 PSI
OF MARGIN HELIUM TANK.
GOES 3,000 PSI AND QUITE A BIT
OF MARE TWIN FOR THE MISSING AND
OUR RATIONALE TO GO FLY.
AND AGAIN, WE WILL POWER UP THE
VEHICLES TODAY.
AND WHEN WE GET IT TO THE PAD
TOMORROW AND ACTIVATE THE
PROPOSITION, YOU HAVE THE LEAK
RATE.
WE SEE THE LEAK IN THE TANK AND
SEE WHAT WE EXPECT IT TO BE AND
IF MARK HAS ANYTHING TO ADD.
>> THERE ARE ABOUT 50 POUNDS OF
HELIUM ON BOARD AND THIS LEAK,
IF IT WAS LEFT OPEN TO VENT ALL
THE TIME IT WOULD LOSE A HALF A
POUND A DAY AND PLENTY OF MARGIN
LEFT OVER.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THE DOCKING
STATION, WE WILL CLOSE
THE MANIFOLD AND ISOLATE FROM
THE TANK AS MARK SAID.
I BELIEVE IT IS TWO TANKS.
TWO TANKS ARE PLUMED TOGETHER.
TANKS ARE TOGETHER.
AND EACH OF THOSE TWO TANKS HAVE
HAVE TWO MANIFOLDS.
>> GO TO THE PHONE LINES.
BILL HARWOOD IS ON THE LINE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND
APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING IN THE
ROOM WITH YOU.
A QUICK FOLLOW-UP ON HELIUM AND
I REALIZE NOBODY EXPECTS FOR
THERE ARE TO HAPPEN.
WHEN DO YOU PRESSURIZE THE
SYSTEM -- WHEN WILL ENGINEERS
HAVE A CHANCE TO CHECK THE LEAK
TO GIVE CONTEXT TO THE COUNT
DOWN FINALLY, IF THE LEAK RACE
WENT UP, WILL THE SOLUTION TO
MANI FOLD AND THE DEORBIT
SCENARIO AND IS THERE SOME RATE
THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FLY.
>> THANKS.
THAT IS WHAT WE SPENT THE LAST
WEEK OR TEN DAYS WORKING ON ALL
THESE CON BEGINNING AGAIN SEE
CASES.
THE TEAMS HAVE LOOKED AT WHEN WE
LOOK T-MINUS FOUR HOURS.
O'CLOCK TOMORROW MORNING AND
THIS ONE WE WILL SEE IF THIS
LEAK HAS INCREASED OR NOT AND IF
IT HAS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.
THE MANAGING OF THE SYSTEM IS A
LOT OF WHAT THE TEAMS WORKED ON
OVER THE LAST -- LAST TWO WEEKS.
WHAT IF IT CAUSE US PRIOR TO
LAUNCH AND LOOK AT THE FLIGHT
RATIONALE.
ALL THE CONDITIONS FOR THE
LAUNCH TEAM AND THE SAME THING
FOR FLIGHT.
IF WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN LEAKS
AND ADDITIONAL LEAKS, WHAT IS
THE CRITERIA OF WHAT WE WOULD
DO.
THIS IS LAID OUT IN THE FLIGHT
RULES.
THE TEAM HAS BEEN TRAINED.
THE CREW IS INFORMED.
AND WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE TO FLY.
>> LET ME ADD THAT THE CREW
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE
BOEING FACILITIES IN HOUSTON TO
PRACTICE THE CONTINGENCIES.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTING THEM BUT IN
CASE WE HAVE BEEN, OUR FLIGHT --
OUR FLIGHT PROCEDURES AND THE
CREW ARE WILL BE ABLE TO SAFELY
COME HOME AND DEORBIT PART OF
OUR RISK TRADE-OFFS AS WE GET
CLOSER TO FLIGHT RATIONALE.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE PHONE
LINE.
MIKE MAIDENBURG.
GO AHEAD.
>> THANKS, DARYL.
SOME OF YOU GUYS MAY HAVE SUCH
ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.
BUT STEVE AND MARK, REGARDING
THE DESIGN VULNERABILITY AND A
PLAN TO ADDRESS THAT.
HAVING GONE THROUGH THE REVIEW
THIS WEEK COULD YOU EXPLAIN ONE
MORE TIME OF THE BIT MORE OF
ACCEPTING THAT RISK, HOWEVER
REMOTE FROM CFT, THANKS.
>> I WILL START AND WE WILL LET
MARK ADD TO IT.
AS WE TALK ABOUT ON FRIDAY,
DIFFERENT METHODS DEORBITING THE
VEHICLE.
MMAC THRUSTERS.
THOSE ARE THREE OM ACs PER DOG
HOUSE.
WE HAVE DOG HOUSES ALL THE WAY
TOP, BOTTOM, FORWARD AND
STARBOARD DOG HOUSE.
TURNS OUT FOR CERTAIN FAILURE
CASES, WE WOULD LOSE OMAC
CLUSTERS AND IN OTHER WORDS FROM
WE LOST THE HELIUM MANNIFOLD DUE
TO THE VALVE NOT WORKING
PROPERLY AND LINE LEAK THAT WE
HAVE TO BE WAY BIGGER THAN WHAT
WE ARE SEEING IN THIS PHLANGE,
WE WOULD LOSE THIS DOG HOUSE AND
THREE HERE.
AND TWO MORE.
AND THE OPPOSING DOG HOUSE OF
THOSE SOFTWARE SAYS, CAN'T FIRE
THOSE OMACS BECAUSE OF
ASYMMETRICAL.
AND WILL HAVE THE LOSS OF TWO
ADJACENT DAYS HOUSES, THE HELIUM
SYSTEM AND TWO ADJACENT DOG
HOUSES, THE TOP IN PORT OR THE
TOP IN STARBOARD TO GET IN THE
SITUATION WHERE WE NEED THE IN
RCS THRUSTERS.
VERY LOW PROBABILITY THAT WILL
HAPPEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
POTENTIAL FAILURE MODES, BUT WE
HAVE A WAY TO GET OUT OF THAT
AND THAT IS WHEN WE WILL LOSE
THIS.
IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN FLIGHT
THAT WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO
HAPPEN AND MANAGING THE SYSTEMS
THAT WE DON'T GET INTO THE
SCENARIO PREFLIGHT, WE WILL USE
THESE FOUR RCS JETS TO DEORBIT
IN THE SEQUENCES WE TALKED ABOUT
ON FRIDAY.
SEE IF MARK HAS ANYTHING.
>> TALK TO THE PROCESS THAT WE
GO THROUGH TO COME TO THESE
CONCLUSIONS WITH SAFE FLIGHT
RATIONALE.
THERE IS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
DISCIPLINES THAT GET INVOLVED.
AND WE WALK THROUGH THESE STEP
BY STEP.
AND THE LEVEL OF WHAT IF
QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED IS
PRETTY AMAZING TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS
GOING ON.
WHAT OUR PROBLEM IS.
WHAT OUR SOLUTION ARE.
WHAT IF WE ARE WRONG?
THAT TOOK PLACE OVER THE LAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
NOT ONLY OUR TEAM WITH BOEING
AND NASA WORKED THIS TOGETHER,
AND WE HAVE INDEPENDENT PEOPLE
COME IN FROM BOEING AND NASA
THAT LOOK OVER OUR SHOULDER TO
MAKE SURE WE ARE ANSWERING THE
QUESTION IN ADDRESSING THIS
ISSUE CORRECTLY.
WITH THAT, BESIDE BEING A LOW
PROBABILITY WE HAVE IN THIS
SITUATION.
VERY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THE
SOLUTION WE CAME UP WITH WORKS.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S COME BACK TO
THE ROOM AND GENTLEMAN ON THE
THIRD ROW.
>> THANK YOU.
I AM COVERING THE SPACE PROGRAM
IN SPANISH.
LAST PRESS CONFERENCE, YOU
MENTIONED THAT BOEING IS SEEKING
THE POTENTIAL REDESIGN OF THE
PROPULSION SYSTEM.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW -- I THINK
I DID THIS QUESTION BEFORE.
IS THIS -- THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE
BEFORE STARLINER 1?
IF THAT IS THE CASE, HOW DOES
THIS AFFECT THE CERTIFICATION OR
THE APPLICATION ON STARLINER 1?
>> AS FAR AS A REDESIGN GOES,
NO, THIS WILL NOT BE UNDER THE
REDESIGN.
WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO IS THIS
LEAK HAS SOMEHOW SNEAKED ITS WAY
THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
WHAT WE SUSPECT IS THAT THE SEAL
WAS SOMEWHAT DAMAGED DURING
INSTALLATION OR DEBRIS IN THERE
THAT CAUGHT UP AND NOT ALLOWING
-- THE SEAL TO SEAL PROPERLY AND
OBVIOUSLY WE LIKE TO SCREEN THAT
BEFORE WE GET THIS FAR.
WHAT WE ARE DOING FOR STARLINER
1, COMING UP WITH A SCREENING
TECHNIQUE TO APPLY TO ALL THE
OTHERS BEING BUILT UP FOR
STARLINER 1 TO NOT HAVE THE SAME
SITUATION.
>> THE VULNERABLITY WITH THE OR
BIT TO MAYBE DO A LITTLE MORE
TESTING FOR THOSE TWO BIG BERMS
OR A SOFTWARE CHANGE THAT WILL
ENABLE EVEN MORE MURDERS
THRUSTERS TO FIRE.
>> LET'S GO TO THE PHONE LINE
REAL QUICK AND GET STEVEN CLARK.
STEVEN, GO AHEAD .
>> HI, THANKS FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION, DARYL.
STEVEN CLARK.
TO FOLLOW UP ON AN EARLIER
QUESTION, ABOUT THE FLIGHT RULE
FOR THE PREMIUM LEAK.
YOU PRESSURIZE THE SYSTEM
AT MINUS FOUR HOURS TOMORROW.
THE LAST TIME YOU CHECKED THE
LEAK WAS 70 TO 80 POUNDS PER
SQUARE INCH.
WHAT WAS THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF
LEAK RATE TO PRESS ON WITH THE
LAUNCH TOMORROW?
>> TURN TO OUR RESIDENT FLIGHT
DIRECTOR ON THE PANEL.
>> YEAH, WE COULD MANAGE ABOUT
ROUGHLY A DOUBLE THE LEAK RATE.
AND QUICK IMAGINE IT IN FLIGHT.
WHAT WE WILL DO IS LOOK AT --
ONCE THE SYSTEM IS PRESSURIZED
AND OPEN.
WE WILL LOOK AT HOW MUCH HELIUM
IS BEING USED FROM THE TANKS.
WE TALK OF TWO TANKS.
WE WILL LOOK AT THE -- WE KNOW
WHAT THAT -- WHAT THAT DROP IN
HELIUM WILL BE PER HOUR IN THE
TANK THIS SIZED LEAK AND LOOK AT
THAT TO MAKE SURE IT HAVEN'T
CHANGED.
IF IT HAS CHANGED, WE WILL
ISOLATE THE MANNIFOLD AND LOOK
AT IT AND UNDERSTAND THE LEAK.
AND CRY TER YE IN PLACE THAT
WILL SAY IF WE STOP AND TALK
ABOUT IT OR READY TO GO FLY.
>> AND WILL ROBINSON-SMITH IS ON
THE PHONE.
GO AHEAD.
>> YES, HI, EXCUSE ME, THANKS,
DARYL.
WILL ROBINSON-SMITH FOR
PREFLIGHT SPACE NOW.
IF THERE WERE TO BE A ISOLATION
OF THE MANIFOLD, YOU WOULD STILL
BE ABLE TO PROCEED WITH LAUNCH.
IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING THAT
CORRECTLY AND IF THERE IS A
SPECIFIC LEAK WHERE YOU WILL
FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE STANDING
DOWN AND TAKING A DEEPER LOOK AT
IT?
THANKS.
>> LIKE I SAID, WE WILL LOOK AT
THE LEAK RATE AND LOOK AT THE
DROP IN THE TANK, RIGHT.
WE HAVE A CRITERIA OF 20 PSI PER
HOUR AND ISOLATE MANIFOLDS AT
THE LEAK RATE.
THE LEAK HAS CHANGED AND THE
MANIFOLD WE WILL LOOK AT THAT.
WE WOULDN'T LAUNCH -- THE PART
OF THE BEAUTY OF THE STARLINER
SYSTEM, IT HAS AN INCREDIBLE
ABORT SYSTEM AND ALL THE OMAC
THRUSTERS AND OVERALL
MANEUVERING THRUSTERS IN EACH OF
THE DOG HOUSES AND WE WOULDN'T
LAUNCH WITH A MANIFOLD ISOLATED.
WE COULD MANAGE IT ON ORBIT IF
WE SAW A CHANGE IN THE LEAK
RATE.
WE COULD CLOSE THE DOG HOUSE.
WE LOOKED AT THE STATION, AND
WITH THE DOG HOUSE DOWN, WE
COULD APPROACH STATION.
EFFECTS WITH THE MISSION THE OR
BIT CAPABILITY SO THEN YOU
REALLY HAVE A CRITERIA UP TO
30 PSI PER HOUR IN THE TANK THAT
WE WOULDN'T LAUNCH ABOVE THE
30 PSI PER HOUR IN THE TANK.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE GOT A
NUMBER OF REPORTERS ON THE
PHONE.
SO WE WANT TO STAY THERE FOR THE
MOMENT AND PICK UP ANDREA
LINEFELDER.
>> HI.
THIS IS ANDREA OF THE "HOUSTON
CHRONICLE."
THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS.
FIRST IS FOR MARK NAPPI.
I KNOW IT WAS SAID THAT YOU LOOK
AT CERTIFICATION AFTER THIS
FLIGHT TEST IS BACK HOME.
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU PREVIOUSLY
SAID THAT YOU ARE HOPING THAT
NASA CAN CERTIFY STARLINER BY
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
IS THAT TIME ESTIMATE IS
REALISTIC OR SHOULD I REMOVE IT
FROM THE ARTICLE.
FOR DANA, I WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK
CARRIES 140 POUNDS OF CARGO TO
STATION.
AND THE TWO CREW CASE THAT WERE
REMOVED FROM BUTCH AND SUNI OR
FOLKS ON THE STATION.
THANKS.
>> I WILL TAKE THE EASIER ONE
FIRST.
LET'S SEE, THERE ARE OTHER CARGO
HEADED TO STATION.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THE RECENT
CHANGE TO ACCOMMODATE THIS --
THIS HUMP, THAT ONE, THAT BAG,
FULLY PACKED IS ABOUT 150
POUNDS.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE HAD TO DO AS
A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE.
OF COURSE, OTHER CARGO ON THE
VEHICLE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE CREWS HAVE GOT
SPACE SUIT PARTS AND A FEW OTHER
THINGS THAT ARE BEING TAKEN UP
NOR US.
THE TWO SPECIFIC SUITCASES THAT
CAME OFF HAD CLOTHES FOR BUTCH
AND SUNI IN THEM AND CREW
SPECIFIC -- WHAT WE CALL HYGIENE
EQUIPMENT THAT CREWMEMBERS CAN
PICK THEIR UNIQUE HYGIENE
MATERIALS.
GENERIC SHAMPOO, SOAPS, WHATEVER
THAT THEY CAN USE WITH THE
GENERIC SUPPLIES AND THAT IS
WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH CLOTHING.
USE THE GENERIC SUPPLIES THEY
HAVE ON BOARD.
THE REASON WE HAVE THEM ON BOARD
IN CASE A CARGO RESUPPLY DOESN'T
GET FLORIDA AND KEEP A CERTAIN
AMOUNT ON BOARD.
>> THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
ABOUT 80% OF THE CERTIFICATION
PROCESS, WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO
GO DO TODAY AND HAVE BEEN DOING
THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND THAT
PLAN CLOSES BY NOVEMBER TO HAVE
A CERTIFICATION REVIEW OF NASA.
THE 20% OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT
LESS THAT IS LEFT OVER IS
RELIANT ON THE MISSION, OF
THE CFT FLIGHT.
THERE ARE LIKELY GOING TO BE
SOME KIND OF ANOMALIES OR THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO -- DATA THAT
NEEDS TO COLLECT FROM THE CFT
FLIGHT.
WE NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE DATA AND
ANALYZE IT AND UNDERSTAND IT AND
PART OF WHAT WE BRING TO THE
CERTIFICATION REVIEW, THE
RESULTS OF THAT.
SO -- OBVIOUSLY THE LONGER IT
TAKES TO FLY CFT, THE SHORTER
THAT PERIOD COMES -- FOR US TO
REVIEW THAT DATA AND -- AND MAKE
THAT REPORTS ARE WRITTEN AND WE
UNDERSTAND IT.
THAT IS THE VARIABLE.
HOW MANY THINGS -- HOW MANY
IN-FLIGHT ANOMALIES ON CFT AND
WHEN DO WE BRING THE VEHICLE
BACK AND DO WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME
TO TURN IT AROUND BY NOVEMBER.
IF WE DON'T, THEN WE WILL MOVE
THAT REVIEW OR DO PARTIAL
REVIEW.
SO -- BUT -- GETTING THE
CERTIFICATION REVIEW DONE AS
SOON AS WE CAN IS IMPORTANT
REGARDLESS OF WHEN WE FLY.
>> ALL RIGHT, BACK TO THE ROOM
AND MARSHA, YOU ARE IN THE
FRONT.
>> MARSHA, ASSOCIATED PRESS.
TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
STEVE, HOW DEEP INTO JUNE CAN
YOU KEEP TRYING IF THINGS DON'T
WORK OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK.
AND FOR MIKE, WHEN THE CREW IS
AT QUARANTINE IN HOUSTON, CAN
THEY GO HOME OR STUCK NOT SEEING
THEIR HOME SINCE THE END OF
APRIL?
HOW TOUGH HAS IT BEEN THIS
QUARANTINE FOR SO LONG?
>> YEAH, WE HAVE LAUNCH
OPPORTUNITIES AS I SAID JUNE 1
AND 2, 5 AND 6.
THEN I THINK WE WILL HAVE TO
TALK WITH GARY.
WE HAVE A STANDOWN FOR A NUMBER
OF DAYS TO DO REPLACEMENT OF
BATTERIES ON THE LAUNCH VEHICLE,
ON THE ROCKET AND HAVE TO TALK
WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE
AFTER THAT.
GARY CAN COMMENT ON HOW THE
STAND -- HOW LONG IT TAKES TO
REPLACE THE BATTERIES.
>> THE MAGNITUDE OF THE
BATTERIES, LOOKING TO CHANGING
OUT.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TEN DAYS.
>> YES.
SO REAL QUICK BUTCH AND SUNI AND
HOW CLOSE THE QUARANTINE HAS
BEEN.
SO THEY -- THEY WERE ABLE TO GO
BACK TO HOUSTON.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO TRAINING
THERE AND WE TAKE THE HEALTH
STABILIZATION PROGRAM VERY
SERIOUSLY.
WE LEARN A LOT -- ESPECIALLY WE
LEARN A LOT DURING COVID AND
BUTCH AND SUNI WAS ABLE TO GO
HOME A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF
MAINTAINING SEPARATION WITH THE
-- WITH THE FAMILY, BUT, YOU
KNOW, BARRY WILMORE IF YOU KNOW
HIM, REALLY LIKES TO SIT ON HIS
LAWNMOWER AND CUT HIS GRASS.
THE BEST MANICURED LAWN IN HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUNI ENJOYED
SPENDING TIME FOR HER PUPPIES.
HER DOGS AND THAT -- AGAIN,
KEEPING THE CREW MOTIVATED AND
-- AND FOCUSED ON THE MISSION IS
IMPORTANT.
AND ABLE TO AGE IN WITH THE
FLIGHT DOCKS AND SO THEY ARE
BACK HERE OBVIOUSLY AND READY TO
GO.
>> ALL RIGHT, IRENE, HERE IN THE
FRONT.
>> I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS FOR
DANA, MARK OR MIKE AS WELL.
WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT,
IF CFT LAUNCHED ON MAY 6 AND THE
LEAK WAS DISCOVERED, WAS THE --
WAS THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE
WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A
BACK-UP DEORBIT BURN.
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN RECOGNIZED AND WOULD HAVE
PAN SOLUTION TO DEVELOP
THE 4 RCS DUA BURN AND WAS THAT
OBVIOUS OR AFTER WENT THROUGH
THIS AND NOT IN THE HEAT OF
NEEDED TO GET THIS CREW HOME.
I AM TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF
WHAT DISCOVERING THIS BEFORE
LAUNCH SORT OF PROVIDES.
THANKS.
>> I WILL START.
YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO LAUNCH
BACK ON MAY 6, WE WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN ON ORBIT AND SEEN THIS
LEAK WHEN WE DOCKED AND SAW
THE MANIFOLD AND SAW THE LEAK.
WE WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH THE
SYSTEM AND DISCOVERED WE WOULD
HAVE THIS VULNERABILITY.
HARD FOR ME TO SPECULATE.
I THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN IT
AND FIGURED OUT THE SOLUTION
THAT WE COME UP WITH.
THE TEAMS WHEN WE FOUND THE
LEAK, DIDN'T TAKE THAT LONG AND
WHEN WE STARTED TALKING LOSING A
DOG HOUSE, THE VULNERABILITY.
WE WOULD UNDERSTAND IT PRETTY
WELL IN OR BIT AND WOULD LOOK AT
WHAT THE OPTIONS WERE.
MARK MAY HAVE MORE.
>> PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE
FORWARD ON THAT, I AM 99.9% SURE
WE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT.
AS PART OF THIS TROUBLE
SHOOTING, WE BUILT A FAULT WHERE
WE SEE WHERE THE LEAK WOULD HAVE
OCCUR.
WE DISCOVERED THE TOLERANT
ISSUE.
HAD THIS OCCURRED IN PLAY WE
WOULD HAVE HAD AN UNEXPLAINED
ANOMALY AND WE WOULD HAVE
LEARNED THE SAME THING.
SO I AM VERY CONFIDENT WE WOULD
HAVE CAUGHT THIS.
>> THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE
FLIGHT PROCEDURES AND
UNDERSTANDING WITH RCS AND
4 RCS.
SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD THE OTHER
WAY.
BUTCH AND SUNI WAS ABLE TO BE
THERE FOR THE PROCEDURE
DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THE TESTING
OUT.
HAD THEY BEEN UP IN SPACE, THEN
THEY ARE TRUSTEE BACK-UPS AND
STARLINER 1 CREW WOULD HAVE
JOINED THE TEAM AND HELPED WITH
THAT.
SO -- WE THINK WE WOULD HAVE
GOTTEN TO A SIMILAR IF INTO THE
NOT THE SAME ANSWER.
>> OKAY, PACK IN THE FRONT OF
THE ROOM.
JOEY?
>> THANKS.
QUESTION FOR STEVE AND MARK.
HAVE YOU FOUND OUT ANYTHING MORE
ABOUT WHY YOU THINK THE SEAL
FAILED AND LED TO THE HELIUM
LEAK?
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU GUYS ARE
CONTINUING TO BE INTERESTED IN?
AND THEN FOR MARK, IF THE DELAY
GOES BEYOND THURSDAY AND THE
ROCKET HAS ITS BATTERIES
REPLACED.
ONE ON STARLINER HAVE TO BE
REPLACED.
AND HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE.
>> START WITH THE QUESTION.
WE ARE STAYING HUNGRY TO FIND
OUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SEAL.
LET'S LEARN AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
WE HAVE SOME DOG HOUSES THAT WE
ARE CURRENTLY TAKING APART IN
THE KRULCTS AND WE PLAN TO TAKE
THEM APART LOOKING AT THE SEALS
CLOSING AND SEE ANYTHING THAT
WILL GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ON
WHAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH
THIS ONE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR THE
ROOT CAUSE AND TRY TO BUILD
EVIDENCE ON WHAT IT IS.
WE KNOW THE SEAL.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW DAMAGE OR
SOME KINDS OF DEBRIS IN THERE
AND KIND OF THE LEADING CAUSES
AND WE WILL WORK TO TRY TO
DETERMINE WHAT THAT IS OR WHAT
THAT WAS.
ON THE SECOND PART OF THE
QUESTION, WAS ON -- THE WORK ON
STARLINER.
WE HAVE LIMITED LIFE ITEMS THAT
WE WOULD GO TAKE CARE OF AS
WELL, BUT ALL FITS UNDER THE
WINDOW OF GARY'S LIKE
TERMINATION BATTERY SYSTEMS
BEING CHANGED OUT.
>> BACK TO THE PHONE LINES
AND MARINA CORRINE IS ON THE
LINE.
>> HI, MARINA CORRINE WITH THE
ATLANTIC.
QUESTION FOR ANYONE THAT KNOWS
THE ANSWER.
WHAT IS BUTCH AND SUNI PLANNING
TO HAVE FOR BREAKFAST BEFORE
LAUNCH?
>> I AM SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT
ANSWER AND I CALLED THEM UP
TODAY AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY
WERE HEADED TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT ANSWER.
BUT I ASSURE YOU IT WILL BE A
DELICIOUS BREAKFAST.
>> OKAY.
WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER QUESTION ON
THE PHONE LINE.
ANTHONY SPECTRUM.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
MY QUESTIONS TODAY.
I WANT TO TRY TO WRAP MY HEAD
AROUND THIS AND TRYING TO USE
THIS IN TERMS THAT MOST PEOPLE
DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND THAT IS AN AIRPLANE AND
THERE WAS A LEAK LIKE IN.
I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IT
WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE OFF.
I AM TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY
NASA AND BOEING SAYS WE HAVE A
GOOD BACK-UP PLAN.
WE CAN LAUNCH THIS.
BUT WHY DON'T WE PLAY IT ON THE
SAFE SIDE, ROLL IT BACK.
TAKE THE STARLINER OFF THE
ROCKET AND FIX THE SEAL.
THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER
THAT AND WE WILL SEE WHAT MARK
HAS TO ADD.
I THINK -- YOU KNOW, FIRST OF
ALL, WE -- WE LOOKED REALLY HARD
AT WHAT OUR OPTIONS WERE WITH
THIS PARTICULAR PHLANGE AND --
AND THE FACT THAT THIS PHALANGE
HAS FUEL LINE INTO THE -- AND A
LINE AND A HELIUM LINE GOING
INTO THE PHLANGE MAKES IT
PROBLEMATIC TO WORK ON AND WHAT
WE REALLY TAKEN AN APPROACH FOR
THIS SIZE LEAK, WHEN MARK TALKED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A HALF A POUND
A DAY OUT OF 50 POUNDS OF TOTAL
CAPABILITY IN THE TANK.
I MEAN, A REALLY, REALLY SMALL
LEAK AND WELL WITHIN THE MARE
TWIN THAT WE HAVE.
SOMETIMES FOR SPACE FLIGHT, WE
PLAN FOR CONTINGENCY AND PLAN A
VEHICLE TO HAVE MARGIN AND WE
HAVE MARGIN IN THE HELIUM TANK
AND WE LOOK REALLY HARD AND
UNDERSTAND THAT MARGIN AND TO
UNDERSTAND THE WORSE CASES AND
WE TOOK THE TIME TO GO THROUGH
THAT DATA AND WE REALLY THINK
THAT WE CAN MANAGE A LEAK BEFORE
WE LOOK AT IT BEFORE IT LAUNCHES
AND IF IT GOT BIGGER IN FLIGHT
WE COULD IMAGINE IT AND HANDLE
IT ON FRIDAY A LEAK 100 TIMES
WORSE THAN THIS.
IN THIS ONE PHLANGE.
WE LOOKED AT ALL THE DATA.
WE CONCLUDED THAT THE SMARTEST
THING TO DO WAS TO FLY THE
MISSION AND FLY IT SAFELY.
AND WE WILL SEE MARK HAS MORE.
>> JUST A MATTER OF SAFETY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM.
DIDN'T COME TOWN TO MAKING
TRADES.
IT CAME DO YOU KNOW 2012 SAFE OR
NOT.
AND IT IS SAFE.
AND THIS IS WHY WE DETERMINED
THAT WE COULD GO FLY WITH WHAT
WE HAVE.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE
FLOOR.
LEAH WAINWRIGHT WITH IRISH
TELEVISION.
GO AHEAD.
>> I THINK THIS IS FOR MARK.
WONDERING OF TRANSATLANTIC ABORT
SCENARIOS.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY REFERENCE TO
A TRANSATLANTIC ABORT ZONE.
I AM WONDER WHAT HAPPENS.
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH IT AND
ASSUMING THIS WOULD BE A WATER
LANDING AS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
PARACHUTE ON TO SHANNON AIRPORT.
>> NO, WE WILL NOT BE LANDING IN
SHANNON AIRPORT.
A PERIOD OF TIME OVER THE NORTH
ATLANTIC OCEAN.
A SPOT OVER THE NORTH ATLANTIC
OCEAN.
A NORTH ATLANTIC EXCLUSION ZONE
THAT WE DON'T WANT TO LAND
BECAUSE THE WATER COLD, WEIGHTY
AND DANGEROUS STARLINER WITH
A DUAL ENGINE, HAS THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR EXCLUSION ZONE
TO HEAD BACK TO CANADA AND
APPLIES KIND OF A BURN POINTS
TOWARD CANADA AND CALL THAT A
ST. JOHN'S ABORT.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK, WE
WILL CONTINUE THE FLIGHT AND
CONTINUE AND WE -- AND WE FLY
OUTSIDE OF ON TO THE IRISH COAST
ON THE WATER AT A SPECIFIC
POINT.
A GUIDED ENTRY SEQUENCE AND WILL
TAKE US -- TAKE US CLOSE TO
SHANNON, IRELAND RIGHT OFF THE
COAST.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY -- WE ARE
COUNTING ON YOU -- FOR THE IRISH
COAST GUARD TO PICK UP MY
CREWMATES AND GET THEM BACK TO
THE U.S.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE
PHONE.
TIM FERNHOLTZ.
GO AHEAD.
>> HI THERE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION.
THIS ONE IS FOR MIKE, CAN YOU
SHARE THE ASTRONAUT OFFICE IN
THE LAST WEEK GOING THROUGH THE
ANALYSIS AND COMING UP TO THIS
FLIGHT RATIONALE.
WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON IT
AND OFTEN CURIOUS WHAT IT IS
LIKE FOR A ASTRONAUT TO FLY IN A
VEHICLE WITH THIS.
CURIOUS EVENT THAT HAPPENED IN
YOUR OWN CAREER?
>> FROM AN ASTRONAUT PERSPECTIVE
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
AND WE MENTION IT HERE THAT THE
NASA COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM
OFFICE AS WELL AS THE BOEING
COMPANY HAVE INCLUDED US, BUTCH
AND SUNI AND THEIR
REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL OF OUR
FLIGHT OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE,
AND WE ARE PART OF THE TEAM.
WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.
WE UNDERSTAND THE DISCUSSIONS
AND THE RISKS THAT ARE BEING
TALKED ABOUT BEING MITIGATED.
BUTCH AND SUNI HAVE A STRONG
VOICE.
IF THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
SOMETHING, THEY WOULD SEND UP
THROUGH THE CHAIN TO THE CHIEF
ASTRONAUT WHO WILL TAKE IT
FORWARD IF YOU ASK BUTCH AND
SUNI DIRECTLY AND THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT WE
HAVE CHOSEN A GOOD PATH FORWARD.
AS FLIGHT TESTERS AND AS
ENGINEERS, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE KNOW GIVING BIRTH TO A
NEW SPACECRAFT THAT IS DRAMATIC.
WE HAVE A NEW SPACECRAFT AND YOU
NEED TO LEARN ALL ABOUT IT AND A
GREAT EXERCISE IN UNDERSTANDING
ABOUT THE -- ALL THE NUANCES OF
A SPACECRAFT AND HOW WE WORK
TOGETHER AS TEAM.
A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF FINDING A
TRICKY PROBLEM AND COMING UP
WITH SOLUTIONS AND STREAMING A
LOT OF WHAT IFS AND MAKING SURE
THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN AND WE
HAVE IT IN PLACE.
THIS IS ABOUT DEVELOPING.
NOT OPERATIONS AS MUCH.
WE SEE THESE KIND OF THINGS IN
AIRPLANE PROGRAMS I HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED WITH.
THIS AS WELL AS FIRST PART --
FIRST TIME WE GOT TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I REMEMBER I WAS THERE FOR THAT.
LEARNING HOW THINGS OPERATED.
WHAT PIECE ALSO FAIL SOONER
RATHER THAN LATER AND WE KNOW
OUR SPACE STATION VERY WELL AND
WILL GET TO LEARN STARLINER
THROUGH A LOT OF OPERATIONS EVEN
BETTER.
THIS IS -- I WON'T SAY PAR FOR
THE COURSE, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE
DO HOW IT IS TO DEVELOP A NEW
SPACECRAFT AND UNDERSTAND NOT
EVERYTHING WILL BE PERFECT AND
WE HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS AND
UNDERSTANDING AS WE MOVE FORWARD
COMFORTABLY AND THE CREWS AS
PART OF IT NOT JUST BUTCH AND
SUNNY BUT ALL OF US HAVE A VOICE
AND WE ARE EXCITED OF LAUNCH AND
EVERY CONFIDENCE IN THIS
MISSION.
>> WELL SAID, MIKE.
WE WILL END THIS ON THOSE WORDS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
JOIN US AND THE MEDIA IN THE
ROOM AND ON THE PHONE.
REMINDER AT AT ROCKET WITH A
CREWED STARLINER SPACECRAFT
12:45:40 EASTERN TIME TOMORROW
JUNE 1.
COVERAGE ON NASA PLUS AND OUR
WEB SITE, NASA.GOV/LIVE BEGINS
8:15 A.M. EASTERN TIME WITH
SPECIAL GUEST STAR MIKE FINCKE
IS ON THE BROADCAST.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SHOULD BE ENTERTAINING AS WELL
AS INFORMATIVE.
UNTIL THEN, EVERYONE HAVE A
GREAT AFTERNOON AND GO CF TEAM!