>> STATION, THIS IS HOUSTON,
ARE YOU READY FOR THE EVENT?
>> HOUSTON, THIS IS STATION,
WE'RE READY FOR THE EVENT.
>> JSC
PAO, PLEASE CALL FOR A
CHECK.
>> HOW DO YOU HEAR FROM ME.
>> HI, BRANDY, GREAT TO HEAR
FROM YOU, WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> JESSICA MEIR, CHRIS CASSIDY
AND DREW MORGAN, WE APPRECIATE
YOU JOINING US, IF YOU HAVE ANY
OPENING REMARKS, WE CAN HAVE
THOSE AND THEN JUMP INTO
QUESTIONS.
>> I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, WE
WOULD LIKE TO ALL GIVE OUR
THANKS TO THE DOCTORS, NURSES,
ALL THE MEDICAL PERSONNEL,
POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS,
REALLY EVERYBODY THAT IS ON THE
FRONT LINES DOWN THERE, DOING
THAT I REMEMBER BEST AND REALLY
SACRIFICING THEIR OWN LIVES,
PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE
FOR ALL OF THE HUMAN RACE DOWN
THERE.
WE GIVE OUR PROFOUND THANKS AND
HEART FELT THANKS TO ALL OF THEM
AND ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE UP
HERE, UNABLE TO REALLY
CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIGHT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOUR EFFORTS ARE APPRECIATED.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
WE'LL GET STARTED ON QUESTIONS
NOW.
PARTICIPANTS PLEASE PRESS STAR 1
TO LET ME KNOW YOU HAVE A
QUESTION AND STAR 2 TO WITHDRAW
THE REQUEST HE IF NEEDED.
WE'RE OPERATING DIFFERENTLY SO
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS GOES, BUT
LET'S START WITH CHRIS DAVENPORT
FROM "THE WASHINGTON POST".
>> THE TAKE, IT'S CHRIS
DAVENPORT FROM "THE WASHINGTON
POST."
I WONDER SINCE WE'RE ALL LIVING
IN QUARANTINE IF YOU HAVE ANY
ADVICE FOR PEOPLE COOPED UP IN
SMALL PLACES AND FOR CHRIS
CASSIDY SPECIFICALLY, I WONDER
IF YOU COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
LAUNCH WAS LIKE FOR YOU, WITHOUT
HAVING, YOU KNOW, YOUR FAMILY
AND ALL OF THAT CELEBRATION FOR
THE USUAL SEND-OFF?
THANKS, GUYS.
>> HI, CHRIS, NICE TO TALK TO
YOU AGAIN.
I'LL LEAVE THE ADVICE PART TO MY
COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE
FOR SIX MONTHS AND I'LL ANSWER
THE PART ABOUT WHAT WAS THE
LAUNCH LIKE.
I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, NO
MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU RIDE
ON A ROCKET TO SPACE, IT NEVER
GETS OLD OR, OH, I KNOW HOW TO
DO THIS.
IT IS AMAZING FROM THE MOMENT
YOU STEP OFF THE BUS.
YOU CLIMB INTO AN ELEVATOR, YOU
RIDE THIS ELEVATOR KNOWING THAT
YOU'RE RIGHT NEXT TO THIS
GIGANTIC MONSTER WITH SO MUCH
THRUST IN IT, IT'S JUST
INCREDIBLE AND THEN YOU STRAP IN
AND THE THING LIGHTS OFF AND YOU
JUST FEEL THIS IMMENSE POWER
PUSHING YOU AND PUSHING YOU,
PUSHING YOU, AND THERE'S SOME
CRAZY EVENTS HAPPEN THERE, WHERE
THE STAGING OCCURS AND THAT
SHAKES THE WHOLE THING.
DIFFERENT ACCELERATION PROFILES,
AND THEN FINALLY, THE ENGINES
CUT OFF AND YOU KNOW YOU'RE
STRAPPED IN AND NOT MOVING
ANYWHERE, BUT YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE KIND OF TUMBLING AROUND
HEAD OVER HEELS UNTIL YOUR BRAIN
SETTLES OUT AND KIND OF FIGURES
OUT WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
SO, THE RIDE WAS AMAZING.
THE SPACECRAFT PERFORMED
PERFECTLY, AND THEN, AS FAR AS
MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF THESE GUYS
WAS AT MAYBE FIVE KILOMETERS OR
SOMETHING AWAY AND I COULD SEE
THIS LILITH UP STAR IN FRONT OF
US AND THAT'S WHERE MY NEW HOME
WAS GOING TO BE.
I'LL LET THESE GUYS TALK ABOUT
ADVICE FOR OTHERS IN QUARANTINE.
>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT LIVING
IN ISOLATION IS SOMETHING THAT
WE'RE VERY GOOD AT AND I KNOW
THAT EVERYONE ON EARTH IS
EXPERIENCING THAT IN A NEW WAY
RIGHT NOW.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO LIVE BY
ROUTINE, THAT'S WHAT WE DO UP
HERE.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE AND WE FOLLOW
IT TO THE T.
MAYBE SURE WE'RE MOST EFFICIENT
AND EFFECTIVE WITH OUR TIME, OUR
EXERCISE, OUR PERSONAL HYGIENE,
OUR SLEEP, EVERYTHING IS
SCHEDULED OUT.
AND SO STICKING TO A SCHEDULE IS
VERY IMPORTANT AND THEN I THINK
ANOTHER THING THAT WE PRACTICE
UP HERE THAT ALLIES TO EARTH
RIGHT NOW.
BEING A GOOD CREW MATE.
HOW YOUR ACTIONS AFFECTS THE
ACTIONS OF OTHERS IS SOMETHING
WE DO ALL THE TIME AND
CONSTANTLY EVALUATING MAKING
SURE WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS
ALL THE TIME AND THAT CAN BE
TOUGH TO DO WHEN YOU'RE LIVING
FOR A LONG TIME IN CLOSE
QUARTERS.
>> OKAY.
GREAT.
NEXT WE ARE GOING TO GO TO BILL
HARWOOD WITH CBS.
>> A QUICK QUESTION FOR JESSICA.
SINCE YOU LAUNCHED, OBVIOUSLY,
ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPENED AFTER
YOU LEFT THE PLANET.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOU'RE
HEARING FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS
ABOUT HOW LIFE IS GOING ON
EARTH.
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
COMING BACK TO EARTH, AND WHAT
MAYBE YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT,
KIND OF YOUR WHOLE PICTURE MUCH
ALL OF THIS FROM SPACE AND SOON
YOU'RE GOING TO BE WALKING ON
EARTH.
THANKS.
>> YES, DREW AND I HAVE SPENT A
LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THAT.
IT IS QUITE SURREAL FOR US TO
SEE THIS WHOLE SITUATION
UNFOLDING ON THE PLANET BELOW.
WE CAN TELL YOU THAT THE EARTH
STILL LOOKS JUST AS STUNNING AS
ALWAYS FROM UP HERE, SO IT'S
DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE ALL THE
CHANGES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE
SINCE BOTH OF US HAVE BEEN UP
HERE.
I THINK FOR ME, IT WILL STILL BE
NICE TO GO BACK AND TO SEE SOME
FAMILIAR PLACES AND SOME
FAMILIAR FACES.
IT CERTAINLY WILL BE VERY
DIFFICULT FOR ME TO NOT BE ABLE
TO GIVE SOME HUGS TO MY FAMILY
AND FRIENDS.
THAT'S SOMETHING AFTER BEING UP
HERE FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND BEING
THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT I AM,
IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR
ME TO DO THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT
WILL BE PART OF THE GAME FOR A
WHILE.
WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT
BEFORE THIS CONFERENCE.
I THINK THAT I WILL ACTUALLY
FEEL MORE ISOLATED ON THE EARTH
THAN I DID UP HERE BECAUSE
THAT'S PART OF OUR EXPECTED
ROUTINE UP HERE AND WE'RE SO
BUSY WITH SO MANY OTHER AMAZING
PURSUITS AND WE HAVE THIS
INCREDIBLE VANTAGE POINT OF THE
EARTH BELOW.
WE DON'T FEEL THAT MUCH
ISOLATION.
WHEN YOU'RE BACK IN YOUR HOMES
AND EVERYBODY IS DEALING WITH
THE ISOLATION NOW, YOU CAN SEE
ALL THE THINGS AND PEOPLE NOW,
BUT YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH
THEM OR EXPERIENCE THEM AT ALL,
I THINK THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT
GOES AND HOW I ADJUST, BUT OF
COURSE, IT WILL BE WONDERFUL TO
SEE SOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AT
LEAST VIRTUALLY AND FROM THE
DISTANCE FOR NOW.
>> NEXT UP, JOEY FROM REUTERS.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING
THIS.
FOR EVERYONE, I JUST WANTED TO
ASK, THE FIRST COMMERCIAL CREW
VEHICLE IS CARRYING TO THE ISS
THIS SUMMER.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE SPACE
ARENA AND SPECIFICALLY WHAT WILL
ALL OF YOU BE DOING TO PREPARE
FOR THE NEW VEHICLE?
AND ONE OTHER FOR CHRIS CASSIDY.
THIS ISN'T YOUR FIRST TIME IN
SPACE.
DOES THIS MISSION ON THE ISS
FEEL ANY DIFFERENT KNOWING WE
DOWN ON EARTH ARE IN A PANDEMIC?
THANKS.
>> YEAH, THIS MISSION IS--
IT DOES FEEL DIFFERENT, I WILL
TELL YOU.
LEAVING EARTH AMIDST THE GLOBAL
CRISIS AND THE SHUTDOWN,
WORLDWIDE QUARANTINE, WE WERE
COMMENTING BEFORE WE LAUNCHED WE
KNEW AS A CREW WE WERE GOING TO
BE IN QUARANTINE ABOUT NINE
MONTHS AGO OR A YEAR AGO, THOSE
EXACT WEEKS, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW
THE WHOLE WORLD WAS GOING TO
JOIN US, SO THAT MAKES IT HARD
AND LEAVING ALL THAT BEHIND, I
DO--
MY HEART GOES OUT TO EVERYBODY
WHO IS DEALING WITH IT.
I WAS JUST ONLY SPENT A FEW
WEEKS ON EARTH DURING THAT
PERIOD, BUT THAT WAS ENOUGH TIME
TO KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY, REALLY
CHALLENGING FOR -- IN MANY WAYS
AND IT'S OFTEN THE SECOND AND
THIRD ORDER EFFECTS OF THE
SITUATION THAT I FOUND TO BE
REALLY UNEXPECTED, YOU KNOW,
LIKE WHAT IT DOES TO KIDS IN
SCHOOLS AND SPORTS AND
GRADUATIONS AND PEOPLE LEAVING
COLLEGE LOOKING FOR THEIR FUTURE
JOB AND IT'S JUST LOTS OF THINGS
YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT WHEN WE DO
SAY AT FACE VALUE WE'RE GOING TO
START QUARANTINE NOW.
AND THEN, YOUR FIRST QUESTION
RELATE TODAY COMMERCIAL CREW,
THESE GUYS WILL--
ARE LEAVING A COUPLE WEEKS SO
THEY DON'T HAVE ANY CHANCE OF
SEEING A COMMERCIAL CREW
UNFORTUNATELY, AND FOR ME, IT'S
LOOKING LIKE MY FRIENDS BOB AND
DOUG WILL ARRIVE ON SPACEX
TOWARDS THE END OF MAY, MAYBE
INTO JUNE.
IF THINGS GO WELL.
AND THAT'S A HUGE THING FOR US
AS A NATION AND FOR THE
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP ON THE
SPACE STATION.
RIGHT NOW, WE ONLY CAN GET TO
SPACE ON A RUSSIAN ROCKET, WHICH
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE
REDUNDANCIES IN ANY KIND OF
SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE AND WE'RE
REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE AN
ALTERNATE WAY TO GET BACK TO THE
SPACE STATION AND LAUNCH FROM
FLORIDA.
AND THEN ON A PERSONAL LEVEL,
I'LL BE EXCITED TO SEE BOB AND
DOUG.
I'VE KNOWN THEM FOR MANY YEARS.
WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER.
THEY'RE FRIENDS AND WITH THEIR
FAMILIES AS WELL AND SO IT WILL
BE REALLY SPECIAL TO HAVE SUCH A
HISTORIC MOMENT FOR OUR NATION
AND SUCH A COOL PERSONAL EVENT
FOR ME GREETING THEM AT THE
HATCH.
>> REMINDER TO PARTICIPANTS ON
THE PHONE TO PRESS STAR 1 IF YOU
HAVE A QUESTION.
NEXT UP, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
BRIAN OWENS FROM NATURE
MAGAZINE.
>> HI, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR
CHRIS IN PARTICULAR.
GIVEN THE PANDEMIC THAT WE HAVE
GOING ON, COULD YOU MAYBE TALK
ABOUT THE PRE-FLIGHT PRECAUTIONS
THAT YOU TOOK TO MAKE SURE YOU
WEREN'T BRINGING THE VIRUS UP
AND WHETHER IT WAS ANY DIFFERENT
THIS TIME THAN IN PREVIOUS
LAUNCHES?
>> SURE, I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK
ABOUT THAT.
I LEFT HOUSTON AT THE END OF
FEBRUARY AND IF YOU REMEMBER,
THE TIMING, IT WAS WHEN THERE
WAS A DISCUSSION IN CHINA, BUT
IT REALLY HADN'T CREPT INTO THE
AMERICAN NEWS CYCLE AND THE
AMERICAN DISCUSSIONS AT LEAST
WITH--
AT THE BIG LEVELS.
AND WE KNEW THAT IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT THE WHOLE WORLD
WAS GOING TO BE CONCERNED WITH
SO I REMEMBER WALKING OFF THE
AIRPLANE IN MOSCOW AND WONDERING
IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE TESTING
AND THERE WAS SOME MEDICAL
PERSONNEL THERE, BUT THE PROCESS
OF GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS WAS
EXACTLY THE SAME AS NORMAL.
AND THEN JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS
LATER, I DID GET THE
OPPORTUNITY, MY WIFE AND I TO
SPEND SOME TIME IN MOSCOW IN
THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS AND
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, IT WAS NO
LEAVING THE BASE WHERE WE DO ALL
OF OUR TRAINING, WHICH IS ABOUT
30 MILES OUTSIDE OF MOSCOW.
SO FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH
UNTIL LAUNCH, I DID NOT COME IN
CONTACT WITH--
WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THOSE
IMMEDIATE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH
THE LAUNCH PREPARATION AND THOSE
PEOPLE WERE ALSO IN THE SAME
QUARANTINE AS I WAS.
SO
SO--
AND WE WERE REALLY STRICT ABOUT
IT.
NORMALLY WHEN YOU GET TO
BAIKNOUR, THERE ARE PRESS
CONFERENCES AND SPACE
COOPERATION AND BUSINESSES AND
AGENCIES AND NONE OF THOSE
PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED INTO THE
BUILDING.
OR ANY MEDIA OR COMMISSIONS THAT
WE HAD WERE ALL DONE JUST LIKE
WE'RE DOING NOW WITH A VIDEO
CAMERA.
SO THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO
INTERACTION BETWEEN US AS A CREW
AND THE OUTSIDE POPULATION.
NOW, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
WE KNOW LOTS OF CASES WHERE
PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOOD TO
GO, BUT IT SNUCK INTO THEIR
WORLD, BUT I REALLY THINK THAT
IS ALMOST ZERO PERCENT CHANCE
FOR OUR CREW.
>> OKAY.
NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
SPACE.COM.
>> HI, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH
FOR TAKING QUESTIONS, I REALLY
APPRECIATE IT.
THIS WEEKEND WE'RE COMING UP ON
THE HISTORIC ANNIVERSARY OF
APOLLO 13 AND BEING ASTRONAUTS
IN AN ESPECIALLY UNUSUAL
SITUATION WITH THE PANDEMIC, I'M
CURIOUS, KIND OF WHAT LESSONS
YOU AS ASTRONAUTS TODAY DRAW
FROM APOLLO 13 AND THOSE
ASTRONAUTS WHO REALLY PREVAILED
IN EXTRAORDINARILY UNUSUAL
CIRCUMSTANCES?
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR YOUR
QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S
A REALLY INTERESTING COMPARISON
AND CONTRAST.
50 YEARS AGO WHEN APOLLO 13,
THEY HAD A CRISIS IN SPACE AND
THE FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM, MISSION
CONTROL ON THE GROUND PREVAILED
THROUGH THEIR INGENUITY, THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM AND BROUGHT THE
CREW HOME SAFELY.
AND NOW, JESSICA AND I ARE GOING
TO LAND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ON
BOARD HERE DURING THE APOLLO--
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO
13, WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO
EARTH.
I BELIEVE OUR LANDING DATE
CORRESPONDS WITH THE LANDING
DATE OF APOLLO 13 AND ONCE
AGAIN, NOW, THERE'S A CRISIS AND
A CRISIS ON EARTH.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE MISSION--
MISSION CONTROL CENTERS, THE
FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM ARE GOING TO
BRING US HOME SAFELY.
AND THEY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY
THIS JUST THE SAME AS EVERYONE,
IT'S CHANGED THE WAY THAT
COMMISSION CONTROL OPERATIONS
WORKED.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING HANDOVER
BETWEEN SHIFTS, BETWEEN TWO
DIFFERENT ROOMS TO MINIMIZE THE
CONTACT, BUT, YET, HERE THEY ARE
PERSEVERING AND THROUGH THEIR
INGENUITY AND THEIR
PROFESSIONALISM, THEY'RE GOING
TO RETURN US TO EARTH SAFELY,
JUST LIKE THEIR PREDECESSORS DID
50 YEARS AGO.
>> NEXT WE'RE GOING TO GO TO
KIRA FROM THE RED BULLETIN.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING
MY QUESTION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK, HOW CAN WE
LEARN AND ADAPT FROM THE
CHALLENGES WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AT
THIS CURRENT TIME IN A POSITIVE
WAY FOR THE EARTH AND HUMANKIND?
IS THERE ANY POSITIVE INSPIRING
ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE US GOING
FORWARD?
>> CERTAINLY, I HOPE THAT THERE
ARE SOME POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF
ALL OF THIS.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY TERRIBLE
SIDES TO WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT
NOW AND I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE
THAT, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO
TRY TO FIND THOSE, THE SILVER
LININGS AND THE POSITIVE
ELEMENTS.
ONE OF THOSE THAT SOME OF MY
FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT BACK HOME IS THE
CONNECTIONS THAT THEY'VE BEEN
ABLE TO FOSTER WITH THEIR LOVED
ONES.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REACHING
OUT TO FAMILY MEMBERS OR MORE
REGULARLY CORRESPONDING WITH
PEOPLE THAN THEY WERE BEFORE
THIS PANDEMIC SO I THINK THAT IT
IS BRINGING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF
THAT INNATE HUMAN ELEMENTS OUT
AND REMINDING PEOPLE OF THEIR
PRIORITIES AND WHAT IS TRULY
IMPORTANT.
SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN TAKE A
LITTLE OF THAT AND CHERISH THAT
AND MOVE FORWARD AND TREAT EACH
OTHER MORE HUMANELY EVEN AFTER
WE COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.
AND FOR US, IT'S PART OF OUR
EVERYDAY JOB AND WHAT WE TRY TO
DO AND SELECT ASTRONAUTS FOR AND
PREPARE ASTRONAUTS FOR, I THINK
THE SAME NOW GOES AS A BIG
CHALLENGE TO ALL OF THOSE DOWN
ON EARTH, TO TRY TO RISE OUT OF
THIS FROM THE OTHER SIDE,
BRINGING SOMETHING POSITIVE AND
TAKING SOMETHING POSITIVE AWAY
FROM IT.
IT'S CERTAINLY A CHALLENGING
THING TO DO, BUT I KNOW THAT
SOME OF THE POSITIVE STORIES
WE'VE SEEN FROM SOME OF THE
HEROES ON THE FRONT LINES, FOR
EXAMPLE, AND SOME.
CONNECTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE
HAVING IS BRINGING SOME OF THAT
TO LIGHT.
>> THANKS, JESSICA.
>> NEXT ONE TO KEN RICE FROM
KDKA-TV IN PITTSBURGH.
>> GOOD MORNING, A QUESTION
SPECIFICALLY FOR COLONEL MORGAN.
I'M CURIOUS, HOW CLOSELY HAVE
YOU, AS A PHYSICIAN, BEEN ABLE
TO FOLLOW WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
EARTH AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS
ON WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE
RETURNING TO A WORLD THAT IS SO
DIFFERENT THAN THE ONE YOU LEFT
AND WHAT MESSAGE MIGHT YOU HAVE
FOR YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
BACK HERE IN WESTERN
PENNSYLVANIA?
>> YEAH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D
ECHO WHAT JESSICA HAS ALREADY
SAID ABOUT JUST THE SENSE OF
PRIDE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS ALL ACROSS THE
WORLD, AND AT HOME IN THE U.S.
THAT HAVE RISEN TO THIS OCCASION
AND ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON
THE LINE.
AS AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, I
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE
AT THE DOORWAY OF A HOSPITAL OR
A FIELD HOSPITAL OR THE FRONT
LINES OF COMBAT AND THAT'S
EXACTLY THE SITUATION THAT
PHYSICIANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS
AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE
FINDING THEMSELVES IN ACROSS THE
GLOBE RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M JUST--
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF
THAT PROFESSION, BUT I'LL HAVE
TO ADMIT THAT THERE'S EVEN A
LITTLE BIT OF GUILT THAT I AM AS
SEPARATED FROM IT AS I COULD BE
AND WILL ONLY RETURN TO THE
MIDDLE OF THIS IN THE NEXT WEEK.
WE ALL EXPECT THAT THE EARTH
CHANGES, YOU KNOW, IN THE NINE
MONTHS THAT I'VE BEEN UP HERE,
IF THERE WAS NO PANDEMIC GOING
ON, THE EARTH HAD CHANGED.
YOU ADD THIS LAYER TO IT AND
IT'S VERY HARD TO FATHOM.
WE'RE ABLE TO WATCH THE NEWS UP
HERE AND SOMETIMES OUR NEWS IS A
LITTLE BIT DELAYED AND SO, AS
WE'RE WATCHING THINGS, WE'RE
GETTING IT THROUGH THE EYES OF
THE NEWS AND FROM OUR--
TALKING TO OUR FRIENDS AND
FAMILIES BACK HOME.
AND TRYING TO PAINT A PICTURE,
BUT IT'S HARD FOR US REALLY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED
AND HOW LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT
FOR US WHEN WE RETURN TO THE
EARTH.
SPEAKING OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY,
YOU KNOW, MY ROOTS GO VERY DEEP
IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.
BACK SEVERAL GENERATIONS.
AND THAT'S WHAT I HAVE ADOPTED
AS HOME EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T
GROW UP THERE, IT IS WHAT I DO
CONSIDER HOME AND I'VE THOUGHT
-- YOU KNOW, I'VE TAKEN LITTLE
PIECES OF WHO I AM UP HERE ON
ISS THE LAST NINE MONTHS AND
WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CAME WITH
ME AS WELL.
SO IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE, A
REAL HONOR TO REPRESENT THAT
PART OF THE COUNTRY, THAT PART
OF PENNSYLVANIA, THE PITTSBURGH
AREA, WITH ME HERE ON THE ISS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND
SQUEEZE IN ONE MORE, THIS FROM
BRAD ROGERS WITH WGME13
PORTLAND.
>> WELL, MY QUESTION IS FOR THE
TWO MAINERS, HOW ARE YOU DOING
UP THERE?
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WATCHING IN
MAINE.
ANY MESSAGE FOR THE PEOPLE OF
MAINE?
AND JESSICA, WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO MISS ABOUT SPACE?
>> THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I'M
GOING TO MISS, PROBABLY THE VIEW
OUT OF THE CUPOLA OR ANY OTHER
WINDOW AS WE'RE LOOKING DOWN AT
PLANET BELOW WITH ALL OF THE
PEOPLE, EVERYBODY IN MAINE,
EVERYBODY IN THE UNITED STATES,
EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE WORLD AND
EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE EVER
EXPERIENCED DOWN THERE.
THE FEELING THAT THAT GIVES YOU
AS A HUMAN, IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT
TO PUT INTO WORDS.
TO EVERYBODY IN MAINE, YOU KNOW,
CHRIS AND I ARE SO EXCITED TO BE
UP HERE TOGETHER.
WE KNOW THAT IT MEANS A LOT TO
PEOPLE DOWN THERE AND SO, IT
WILL BE ONLY EIGHT SHORT DAYS OF
OUR OVERLAP, BUT WE PLAN TO MAKE
THE MOST OF IT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY DOWN
THERE SO MUCH.
YOU KNOW, IT REALLY IS, AS TRITE
AS IT MAY SOUND, IT IS A JOURNEY
AND MY JOURNEY STARTED IN MAINE,
NORTHERN MAINE, A SMALL TOWN
CALLED CARIBOU AS PEOPLE KNOW.
AND THE SUPPORT THAT I HAD THERE
THROUGH MY EDUCATION, THROUGH MY
FAMILY AND FRIENDS WAS REALLY
UNPARALLELED AND I THINK REALLY
HAD A LOT TO DO WITH WHERE I
ENDED UP AND BEING RIGHT HERE ON
THE SPACE STATION.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.
WE ARE THINKING OF YOU
CONSTANTLY AND WE'RE EXCITED TO
BE SPEAKING TO MORE MAINERS JUST
NEXT WEEK.
>> AND DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT
MORE TO ADD THAN WHAT JESSICA
ELOQUENTLY SAID, BUT, I WAS IN
CONTACT WITH A LOT OF FRIENDS IN
MY LAUNCH WEEK AND THAT REALLY
MADE ME--
MADE FRIENDS FROM MAINE AND THAT
REALLY MADE ME FEEL GOOD AND
REMINISCE ABOUT THE TIME I HAD
AS A YOUNG GUY GROWING UP IN
MAINE.
AND WHAT I THINK FONDLY OF IS MY
HOMETOWN OF YORK, WE HAVE SOME
NICE BEACHES THERE AND I PICTURE
THAT WHEN WE'RE FLYING OVER THE
COUNTRY, I CAN PICTURE THE COAST
OF MAINE, THE SMELL OF THE
SEASHORE AND THE FRESH MOWED
GRASS IN THE SUMMERTIME ALONG
THAT SAME AREA, AND SMELLS ARE A
THING WE DON'T GET TO ENJOY UP
HERE SO MUCH.
AT LEAST I THINK SO.
BUT THE--
I'M JUST SO PROUD TO BE FROM
MAINE AND I SAY HI TO EVERYBODY
THERE.
I KNOW THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH
THE QUARANTINE JUST LIKE THE
REST OF THE WORLD IS AND I JUST
WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY
DOWN THERE FOR SUPPORTING OUR
MISSION.
WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE
REPRESENTING THE STATE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DREW,
JESSICA AND CHRIS, WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME FOR
THIS.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ALL THE TIME
THAT WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS
TODAY, BUT FOR THOSE SITTING IN,
BE SURE AND COME BACK AT 1:20
P.M.
P.M., THEY WILL BE TALKING WITH
STUDENTS ACROSS THEIR HOME STATE
OF MAINE.
YOU CAN WATCH THAT HERE ON NASA
TV.
WE'LL SEE YOU THEN.
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO
PARTICIPATED.
>> STATION, THIS IS HOUSTON,
ACR.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR EVENT AS WE
COUNT DOWN TO 20 CONTINUOUS
YEARS OF HUMANS LIVING AND
WORKING ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THANK YOU TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.
STATION, WE ARE NOW RESUMING
OPERATIONAL AUDIO