>> STATION, THIS IS HOUSTON.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE EVENT?
>> HELLO, HOUSTON.
THE EXPEDITION CREW 63 IS READY
FOR THE EVENT.
>> JSCPAO, CALL IN FOR A VOICE
CHECK.
>> EXPEDITION CREW 63, THIS IS
JCSPAO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> WHEN YOU OPENED THE DRAGON,
DID IT HAVE THAT NEW CAR SMELL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU COULD TELL WHEN WE OPENED
THE VEHICLE.
>> WE'LL START OFF WITH A
QUESTION FROM BILL HARWOOD, CBS.
LET'S START OFF WITH A QUESTION
FROM BILL HARWOOD, CBS.
>> HEY, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW.
TESTING, ONE, TWO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> I CAN HEAR YOU, BILL.
>> THANK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO WHAT
BOB WAS DESCRIBING THE RIDE,
KIND OF LIKE GOING UPHILL.
IN THE SECOND STAGE FEEL, YOU
MADE IT SOUND LIKE IT WAS A
LITTLE ROUGHER THAN THE SHUTTLE
IN THE MAIN ENGINE.
I WONDER IF THERE WAS EVER A
POINT WHEN YOU LOOKED OVER AT
DOUG AND WENT WOW, THIS WASN'T
WHAT I WAS QUITE EXPECTING.
>> WELL, BILL, YOU TOOK THE
WORDS QUITE OUT OF OUR MOUTH.
YESTERDAY FIRST STAGE WAS
SMOOTHER THAN SECOND STAGE, WHAT
ANY OF US WERE EXPECTING.
I THINK WHEN WE WERE GOING
UPHILL, WE TRIED TO VERBALIZE
THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE WERE
HAVING.
BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, WE WERE
SENSING THE SAME THINGS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO QUESTION FROM STEVEN
CLARK.
>> HI.
THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTIONS.
STEVEN CLARK FROM SPACE FLIGHT
NOW.
JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT --
[Inaudible]
>> -- THAT WAS NOT EXPERIENCED
REALLY DURING SHUTTLE, IGNITE A
SHUTTLE DURING FLIGHT.
I ALSO WONDERED WHAT YOUR SPACE
SUITS WERE LIKE DURING FLIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I THINK THE QUESTION WAS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STAGING THE
SPACE SHUTTLE AND THE DRAGON
SINCE WE DIDN'T SHUTDOWN THE
ENGINES ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE
LIKE WE DID FOR FIRST STAGE AND
SECOND STAGE.
THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE BOOSTERS ON THE SHUTTLE AND
THAT SECOND STAGE.
I THINK WE ALL FELT AND HEARD
THE CLUNK ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
I THINK DOUG COMMENTED ON IT
FIRST, THAT WE FELT SOME EARLY
ZERO G WHEN WE WERE GETTING
READY TO TRANSITION TO THE
SECOND STAGE FROM THE FIRST
STAGE, AND WE COMMENTED ON IT.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE
SUITS, AND DOUG, DO YOU WANT TO
COMMENT ABOUT THE SUITS IN
GENERAL?
>> YEAH.
BOB AND I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF
TIMES IN THE SUITS.
I THINK WE'VE DONNED AND DOFFED
THOSE SUITS A COUPLE OF HUNDRED
TIMES.
THE SUITS, IF YOU'RE NOT
FAMILIAR WITH, THEY'RE
CUSTOM-MADE.
THEY'RE MUCH EASIER TO GET IN
AND OUT OF IN ZERO G, AS WE'VE
LEARNED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF
DAYS.
THEY WORKED VERY WELL, AND
EVERYTHING WE EXPECTED GOING
UPHILL.
>> LON GRESH, THE VERGE.
>> IS THERE ANY CHANGES THAT YOU
WOULD MAKE IN THE FUTURE WHEN
FLYING CREW DRAGON?
>> WAS THERE ANY CHANGES THAT
YOU WOULD MAKE, IS THAT YOUR
QUESTION?
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY THAT
WE WOULD MAKE.
>> WE'RE NOT HEARING YOU, LAURA.
LET'S MOVE ONTO ROSA ARAGON.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION, AND I'M GLAD TO SEE
YOU WELL UP THERE.
AS YOU KNOW, HOUSTON IS THE HOME
FOR MANNED SPACE FLIGHT, AND THE
PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU FROM TIMBER
GROVE, THOSE WHO KNOW YOU FROM
NASA, YOU KNOW, SEEING YOU TRAIN
AND YOUR JOURNEY TO GET TO WHERE
YOU'RE AT TODAY, SOME OF YOU MAY
BE LIKE YOUR SONS, WHO ARE
YOUNGER, AND MAY BE INSPIRED BY
WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE
WHO ARE WATCHING FROM HOUSTON,
FROM ALL OF THOSE AREAS IN SPACE
CITY?
WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE TO THEM?
>> WELL, I THINK MY FIRST THING
I WOULD SAY ABOUT THAT, YOU
KNOW, IS JUST NEVER QUIT WHAT
YOU'RE DOING.
THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY LONG ROAD
FOR BOB AND I.
WE LAST FLEW IN 2010 AND 2011,
AND WHEN NASA STOPPED FLYING
SHUTTLES, THAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF 2011, AND IT'S JUST TAKEN
THAT HARD WORK AND DEDICATION
OVER THE LAST EIGHT, ALMOST NINE
YEARS NOW TO LAUNCHING ROCKETS
BACK FROM THE UNITED STATES,
BACK TO STATION, DOCKING WHERE
SHUTTLE USED TO DOCK.
I WOULD JUST SAY TAKE A MESSAGE
FROM NASA IN THAT ANYTHING IS
POSSIBLE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A REALLY ROUGH
COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND JUST TO BE
ABLE TO SHOW THE COUNTRY WHAT
THE AGENCY'S MADE OF, WHAT THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM DID, AND
WHAT SPACEX DID.
I HOPE THEY TAKE SOME PRIDE AND
SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AT
SEEING THAT.
>> I THINK FOR BOTH OF US, ALSO,
THE HOUSTON AREA IS WHERE WE
CALL HOME NOW, AND IT CERTAINLY
IS TRUE THAT THE HOME OF JOHNSON
SPACE CENTER, THE HOME OF HUMAN
SPACE FLIGHT, THAT IS OUR HOME,
THE HOME OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
WE HAVE EXCELLENT SUPPORT THERE.
I HAD A PARADE, INTERESTINGLY,
SOCIAL DISTANCING NEIGHBORS
LINING MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE
HALF MILE OR SO AS I DEPARTED MY
WAY TO ELLIGTON FIELD DOWN IN
FLORIDA.
TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY
BACK HOME, THANKS FOR
EVERYTHING, AND WE JUST COULDN'T
HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I KNOW THAT PROBABLY MEANS SO
MUCH TO THEM.
GODSPEED.
>> LET'S GO TO QUESTION FROM
CHRIS DAVENPORT.
>> HI.
IT'S CHRIS DAVENPORT FROM THE
"WASHINGTON POST."
THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME ON
YOUR FLIGHT.
I WON'T TAKE UP MUCH OF YOUR
TIME.
I WONDER IF YOU COULD WALK US
THROUGH SOME OF THE
TECHNOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE SHUTTLE, AND THEN
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE DURING
THE CENTRAL PHASE THAT STOOD OUT
TO YOU GUYS.
THANK YOU.
>> HEY, CHRIS.
GOOD TO TALK WITH YOU.
I THINK JUS GENERICALLY, THE
SHUTTLE ROCKETS HAD ENGINES THAT
BURNED FOR 2.5 ENGINES.
THE FALCON 9s ENGINES BURNED FOR
ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME.
THE PHASE THAT BOB AND -- THAT
WE COMMENTED ON WAS IN FIRST
STAGE.
THE FIRST STAGE ENGINE SHUT OFF,
AND IT TAKES A SECOND -- ALMOST
A SECOND.
MAYBE LESS THAN THAT, BUT IT
SEEMED LIKE IT TOOK SOME TIME
BETWEEN THE BOOSTER SEPARATING
AND THEN THE MERLIN VACUUM
ENGINE STARTING.
SO AT THAT POINT, WE GO FROM
ROUGHLY 3 Gs TO ZERO Gs FOR HALF
A SECOND.
AND THEN, WHEN THAT MERLIN
VACUUM ENGINE STARTS AGAIN, WE
GO TO 3 Gs AGAIN FOR A FEW
MINUTES.
IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO TALK TO
THE SPACEX FOLKS TO FIND OUT WHY
IT WAS ROUGH DURING SECOND STAGE
THAN THE SHUTTLE FROM THOSE
THREE ENGINES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO MARSHA FROM THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS.
>> HI, EVERYONE UP THERE.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'VE CAPTURED
THE FLAG YET, HAVE YOU PUT YOUR
HANDS ON IT YET, AND IS IT
ABOARD YET, AND IF YOU'RE
--
SINCE YOU PUT IT OUT THERE NINE
YEARS AGO.
>> IT WAS RIGHT ON THE HATCH
WHERE CHRIS LEFT IT NINE YEARS
AGO, AND I THINK HE'S GOT A
NOTE, DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE WITH
CREW DRAGON.
SO DEPENDING ON HOW LONG WE STAY
UP HERE, YOU CAN BET WE'LL TAKE
IT WITH US WHEN WE DEPART BACK
TO EARTH.
FROM THAT STANDPOINT, I THINK,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT
THIS FLAG BEFORE MANY TIMES OVER
THE LAST YEARS SINCE WE LEFT IT
HERE ON S.C.S. 135.
AS I SAID, JUST RETURNING LAUNCH
CAPABILITY TO AND FROM THE
UNITED STATES, THAT'S WHAT THIS
FLAG REALLY MEANS.
AND I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE,
IT'S TO THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE, FROM THE
FOLKS AT SPACEX TO THE FOLKS AT
NASA TO THE FOLKS WITHIN THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM, AND WE
JUST ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE
TO TAKE IT HOME WITH US, AND
THAT'LL BE OUR PLAN HERE IN A
MONTH OR TWO OR THREE OR FOUR,
DEPENDING ON, AS BOB SAYS, WHAT
UNCLE KIRK LETS US DO.
>> LET'S GO TO A QUESTION FROM
MARK CROW, AVIATION WEEK.
>> MARK CROW, AVIATION WEEK.
MY QUESTION IS FOR CHRIS
CASSIDY.
FROM SKILLS, WHAT DO BOB AND
DOUG BRING TO THE I.S.S., AND
HOW WILL OPERATIONS RAMP UP
INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY IN THE
COMING WEEKS?
>> WELL, EXPERIENCE GOES A LONG
WAY, AND THESE GUYS ARE IN THEIR
THIRD FLIGHT.
IN MY OPINION, IT DOESN'T MATTER
EXPERIENCE.
IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH
UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM AND THE
METHODOLOGY WITH WHICH WE WORK
HAND IN HAND WITH MISSION
CONTROL, AND ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT AND GRASP ALL THOSE
CONCEPTS, THE WORK PART IS -- I
DON'T WANT TO SAY EASY, BUT IT
JUST HAPPENS TOGETHER.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT.
TODAY IS DAY ONE, AND THEY'RE
HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING,
UNLOADING THE VEHICLE.
WE'VE GOT HTV AT OUR FEET, AND
WE'LL BE WORKING IN THERE VERY
SHORTLY, PROBABLY AFTER HANGING
UP FROM THIS CONVERSATION.
TOGETHER, THE THREE OF US WILL
BE TACKLING THE OVERALL MISSION
OF THE SPACE STATION, WHICH IS
IS CONDUCTING SCIENCE, ALLOWING
THAT SCIENCE TO OVERALL RUN THE
SPACE STATION, AND THEN, THERE'S
SOME OBJECTIVES IN THE MIX.
WE'LL GET SOME TIME FOR
POTENTIAL SPACEWALKS.
WE DON'T JUST SIT UP HERE AT
DINNER AND DECIDE WHEN ALL OF
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE DONE.
THE PRIORITIZATION IS MADE IN
HOUSTON, AND THEN, WE EXECUTE
THE PLAN, SO THE THREE OF US ARE
EXCITED TO GET AFTER IT
TOGETHER.
>> JOY ROULETTE WITH REUTERS.
>> HEY.
I WAS WONDERING SINCE YOU GUYS
MADE IT TO THE SPACE STATION AND
NOT KNOWING HOW LONG YOU'RE
GOING TO STAY THERE FOR, DOES IT
FEEL WEIRD?
AND I WAS WONDERING IF DURING ON
YOUR WAY TO THE SPACE STATION,
YOU NOTICED ANYTHING UNEXPECTED
THAT YOU DIDN'T EXPERIENCE
DURING TRAINING OR SIMS.
THANKS.
>> WELL, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK SEVERAL RECENT CREWS
HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE
UNCERTAINTY HISTORICALLY FOR HOW
LONG THEIR MISSION DURATION WAS
GOING TO BE, BUT I GUESS MAYBE
ON THE PERCENTAGE SCALE, DOUG
AND I HAVE MAYBE THE MOST
UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE IT COULD BE
RELATIVELY SHORT OR WE COULD
POTENTIALLY DOUBLE OR TRIPLE
MAYBE WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY
EXPECTED FOR US JUST A FEW SHORT
MONTHS AGO.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT STRANGE.
I'M TRYING TO EXPLAIN IT TO MY
SON, JUST SIX YEARS OLD, AND
FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, HE'S JUST
EXCITED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET
A DOG WHEN I GET HOME.
HE'S ACCEPTING THAT UNCERTAINTY,
AND CONTINUING TO SEND MESSAGES
TO ME WHILE I'M ON ORBIT.
AS FAR AS UNEXPECTED THINGS,
WHEN WE WERE HEADING UPHILL, I
THINK I SAID THIS YESTERDAY, BUT
THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES IS JUST
THE DYNAMICS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
THE VIBRATION, THE EXPERIENCES
THAT WE FELT ACTUALLY RIDING A
REAL ROCKET, GOING THROUGH THE
FUELING OPERATION, THAT WAS A
NEW EXPERIENCE FOR US.
AS YOU KNOW, THE SPACE SHUTTLE
WAS FUELLED WHEN THE ASTRONAUTS
ARRIVED.
DOUG AND I WENT THROUGH THE
FUELING OPERATION ON BOARD THE
DRAGON, SO GOING THROUGH AND
HEARING THE VALVE SOUNDS AND THE
LITTLE SOUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH
THAT OPERATION, THAT WAS A NEW
EXPERIENCE FOR US, BUT NOTHING
OUT OF TRAINING.
THE TEAM DID A GREAT JOB OF
RECORDING THAT INFORMATION AND
PLAYED THAT BACK FOR US TIED TO
THE AUDIO, SO WE'VE HEARD ALL
THOSE SOUNDS PRETTY MUCH BEFORE.
THAT WAS REALLY HELPFUL.
WE'VE GOT THE SAME TOOL COMING
HOME, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE
HOW THAT MATCHES UP WITH OUR
EXPERIENCE.
>> ROBERT PERLMAN.
>> THANK YOU.
HI CHRIS, DOUG, AND BOB.
FOR DOUG AND BOB, I WONDER IF
DURING THE ASCENT OR DURING YOUR
OVERNIGHT PERIOD, WAS THERE A
POINT WHERE THE SENSE OF HISTORY
SORT OF SEEPED IN WHERE YOU
ALLOWED YOURSELF TO JUST
CONSIDER THE HISTORY THAT YOU
WERE MAKING, WHAT -- AND WHAT
WERE THOSE SPECIFIC MOMENTS?
THANKS.
>> HONESTLY, ROBERT -- GOOD TO
TALK TO YOU -- I DON'T KNOW IF
WE EVER REFLECTED ON IT OVER THE
19-HOUR RENDEZVOUS.
YOU MAY HAVE RANDOM THOUGHTS
GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD NOW AND
THEN, BUT I THINK OVER THE LAST
NINE YEARS, BOB AND I HAVE BEEN
FOCUSED ON THIS MISSION AND
FLYING THIS MISSION, AND THAT'S
WHAT WE REALLY PUT OUR ENTIRE
EFFORT MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY
INTO, FROM THE TIME WE WALKED
OUT OF THE O.N.C. BUILDING.
AND SO WE DOCKED WITH SPACE
STATION, AND OF COURSE, WE'RE
STILL DOING IT, BUT IT WAS JUST
FOCUSING ON EVERYTHING WE COULD
DO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID
EVERYTHING WE COULD DO TO MAKE
SURE WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL
RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING, AND THEN
TAKING IN MANEUVERS, NUANCES,
ANYTHING WE CAN LET FOLKS BE
AWARE OF WHEN THEY FLY THAT
VEHICLE.
FOR ME, ANY WAY, THE HISTORICAL
ASPECT OF IT IS CERTAINLY
NOTABLE, BUT I THINK IT'S
SOMETHING TO MAYBE CONSIDER
AFTER THIS MISSION'S COMPLETE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT EVEN IN ANY
WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM HALFWAY
THROUGH THE MISSION YET.
WE'VE JUST DOCKED.
WE'VE STILL GOT TO DO OUR
MISSION HERE WITH CHRIS, AND
THEN UNDOCK, DEPART, AND DO A
REENTRY AND THEN A LANDING AND
THEN A RECOVERY.
SO PLENTY OF WORK TO DO, AND,
YOU KNOW, WE'LL PROBABLY THINK A
LOT MORE ABOUT THAT WHEN THE
TIME COMES.
>> HANAKKA WHITERING WITH
SPACE.COM.
>> HEY, GUYS.
HANAKKA WHITERING WITH
SPACE.COM.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW, HAS THE
SPACE STATION CHANGED MUCH SINCE
YOU WERE THERE OR DOES IT SEEM
LIKE HOME FOR YOU?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,
BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BEST
THINGS WAS BEING ABLE TO MAKE A
CALL HOME.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE
GONE INTO ORBIT, AND I'VE GOT A
LITTLE BOY WHO GOT TO WATCH THAT
FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I WANTED TO SHARE THAT
EXPERIENCE WITH HIM WHILE I WAS
FRESH IN HIS MIND.
HE WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE TRIP
BACK TO HOUSTON AFTER WATCHING
THE DOCK DOWN IN FLORIDA, SO
THAT WAS A WONDERFUL THING FOR
ME.
AS FAR AS THE SPACE STATION
GOES, I'LL TELL YOU, IT SEEMS A
LOT LIKE IT WAS WHEN I WAS HERE
LAST.
THERE'S QUITE A BIT MORE SCIENCE
GOING ON, AND A LOT MORE
EQUIPMENT ON SOME OF THE RACKS,
ESPECIALLY IN NODE THREE.
WE DID COMMENT ABOUT THE AIR
LOCK CONFIGURATION, IT'S NOT AS
CLEAN AS HOW CHRIS AND I
REMEMBER IT FROM OUR SHUTTLE
EXPERIENCES, BECAUSE THOSE
FLIGHTS WERE REALLY ABOUT THE
ASSEMBLY OF SPACE STATION, AND
THE AIR LOCKS WERE READY TO GO.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO CONFIGURATE
EACH AREA FOR THE TASK AT HAND,
AND STOWAGE WAS MOVED AROUND FOR
OUR ARRIVAL.
PROBABLY A LOT OF CARGO WAS
MOVED AROUND FOR THE ARRIVAL
FROM JAPAN.
THERE'S SO MUCH GOING ON THAT
YOU'VE GOT MORE STUFF THAN YOU
HAVE PLACES TO JUST STOW IT
WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, FULLY BEING
ABLE TO CONDUCT THE OPERATION.
ANYTHING TO ADD, DOUG?
>> LET'S GO ACROSS THE POND TO
JACKIE GODDARD FOR THE TIMES.
>> THANK YOU.
JACKIE GODDARD FOR THE TIMES OF
LONDON.
FOR THIS MISSION,
CONGRATULATION.
THIS FEELS FUNKY FROM EVERYTHING
TO THE SPACECRAFT, TO THE TOUCH
SCREENS, TO THE SUITS.
DOES THIS FEEL LIKE THE JETSONS?
CAN YOU DESCRIBE SOMETHING ABOUT
THE RIDE UPHILL?
SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US, THE
CHILD IN US NEEDS TO KNOW IS HOW
WAS THE CREW DRAGON TOILET?
THANK YOU.
>> WELL, IT'S GOOD TO TALK TO
YOU.
LET ME THINK.
FROM A FUTURISTIC STANDPOINT,
SPACEX, THAT COMPANY HAS TRIED
TO BE VERY FORWARD THINKING AND
CUTTING EDGE, AND IT IS ONE OF
THE FACTORS THAT WENT INTO THE
DESIGN OF THE CREW DRAGON AND
OUR SPACE SUITS AND EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE VEHICLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR US, AS THE
TEST PILOTS, SO TO SPEAK, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE THERE TO EVALUATE
HOW IT DOES THE MISSION, AND SO
FAR, IT'S DONE JUST ABSOLUTELY
SPECTACULARLY.
IT'S A VERY CLEAN VEHICLE.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE THINK IT'S A
REALLY COOL LOOKING VEHICLE.
I KNOW MY SON THINKS SO, AND IT
DOES EVERYTHING WE NEED IT TO DO
FOR THIS MISSION, SO WE'RE VERY
HAPPY WITH THAT PART OF IT.
LET'S SEE...THE TOILET.
I THINK WE HAD A BET TO SEE WHEN
THAT QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE
ASKED ABOUT DRAGON, AND IT WORKS
VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE WERE
USED TO IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE,
AND IT WORKED VERY WELL.
WE HAD NO ISSUES WITH IT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NEXT IS PETER KING.
>> GOOD MORNING.
PETER KING WITH CBS NEWS RADIO.
AND I KNOW, BOB, YOU WERE YOU
WERE THERE TO HELP DOUG AND
CHRIS WITH THAT SHORTHAND
SITUATION.
IT ALSO GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO
EVALUATION DRAGON'S PERFORMANCE
IN LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO THE
ELEMENTS.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR?
>> WELL, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT, THAT WE'LL PUT THE DRAGON
THROUGH ITS PACES IN PREPARATION
FOR THE CREW ONE FLIGHT.
WE ALREADY SPENT QUITE A BIT OF
THE DAY PREPARING BASICALLY
DRAGON TO SERVE ITS PURPOSE AS A
LIFE BOAT OR AN EMERGENCY
DEPARTURE VEHICLE, SO DOUG AND I
SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME
GETTING THE EQUIPMENT PREPARED
SO THAT THAT VEHICLE IS READY TO
GO AND EXECUTE THAT MISSION.
AND WE PROBABLY DID A LITTLE
MORE AS A PART OF THAT THAN
OTHER CREWS WILL DO IN THE
FUTURE.
WE'VE PERFORMED SOME CONNECTIONS
WITH THE SYSTEMS TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE CAN CONFIGURE THE
COMMUNICATIONS WITH EVERYTHING
FROM THE SOYUZ BACK TO HOUSTON
IF WE NEED TO DO THAT INSIDE OUR
SMALL VEHICLE.
ALL THAT WORKS, AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO DO SMALL THINGS LIKE
THAT.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO POWER DOWN
DRAGON AND TAKE IT TO ITS
HIBERNATED STATE.
SINCE IT'S HER FIRST FLIGHT, WE
ARE PUTTING HER THROUGH THE
STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING
WE NEED, IT'S READY FOR THE
MISSION, INCLUDING A SAFE HAVEN,
IF WE NEED TO GO FROM ON BOARD
THE SPACE STATION, AND THEN
WE'LL FOCUS ON HELPING TLIS OUT
ON THE SPACE STATION SIDE.
>> LEO ENRIGHT.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT
LAUNCH AND ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
WAS DIFFERENT THIS TIME.
YOUR FINAL CALLOUT BEFORE CECO
WAS SHANNON, TO WHICH MISSION
CONTROL REPLIED, COPY, SHANNON.
A LOT OF PEOPLE IN IRELAND WERE
WONDERING, WHAT WAS THAT ALL
ABOUT?
>> WELL, HELLO, IRELAND.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THE ASCENT TRAJECTORY OFFERS US
SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IF
NEEDED WITH THE LAUNCH VEHICLE
TO ABORT, AND SOME OF THOSE
SCENARIOS INVOLVE ABORTING
FAIRLY CLOSE TO KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER ON THE EAST COAST OF THE
UNITED STATES, ALL THE WAY UP TO
CLOSE TO NEWFOUNDLAND IN CANADA.
WHEN WE GET UP HIGH ENOUGH, WE
WERE GOING TO ABORT FORWARD TO
THE U.K., THE IRELAND AREA,
SPECIFICALLY, BEFORE THE ENGINES
SHUTDOWN.
THAT'S OUR CALL TO MISSION
CONTROL IN HAWTHORNE THAT WE SEE
THE CHANGE IN THE ABORT
DESTINATION IF THAT EVENTUALITY
IS NEEDED.
>> SOPHIE SANCHEZ, CHICAGO NOW.
>> HELLO FROM CHICAGO.
DOUG, AS A TEST PILOT, WHAT WAS
IT LIKE TAKING CONTROL OF THE
ENDEAVOR FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND
IF YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE DOCKING PROCEDURE AND
HOW IT COMPARED TO THE SOYUZ
DOCKING PROCEDURE.
THANK YOU.
>> FLYING THE DRAGON WAS EXACTLY
HOW WE EXPECTED IT TO BE, AND
THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT
WE WANTED TO DO THE MANUAL
FLIGHT TEST TWICE.
SO WE DID IT SHORTLY AFTER WE
GOT TO ORBIT ON OUR FIRST DAY,
AND THEN, WHEN WE WERE ON THE
FINAL PORTION OF THE DOCKING
AXIS, WE DID IT AGAIN YESTERDAY,
AND IT'S ALL TO PROVE THAT THAT
CAPABILITY WORKS FOR FUTURE
CREWS IF NEED BE.
MOST FOLKS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE
FACT THAT DRAGON IS DESIGNED TO
BE TOTALLY AUTOMATED FROM THE
TIME IT LAUNCHES TO THE TIME IT
RETURNS TO EARTH.
IF THERE ARE ANY SYSTEMS
GLITCHES, WE LIKE TO KNOW IF WE
TAKE IT OVER MANUALLY, THE
VEHICLE WILL DO WHAT WE NEED IT
TO DO.
>> DAVE MOSIER.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR
FLIGHT.
IT WAS AMAZING TO WATCH.
CHRIS, WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST
THING YOU FELT OR THOUGHT ASSEN
-- AS ENDEAVOR APPROACHED THE
I.S.S.
AND I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION
A DIFFERENT WAY: WHAT'S A
FIVE-STAR REVIEW, AND WHAT'S
YOUR REVIEW OF THE SPACE SUITS
IF YOU HAD TO REVIEW THEM
ON-LINE?
THANK YOU.
>> I'LL TAKE THE FIRST PART OF
THE QUESTION.
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND?
WELL, THERE WAS SEVERAL PHASES.
ONE WAS DURING LAUNCH, AND THAT
WAS QUITE EXCITING FOR THE THREE
OF US ON BOARD.
WE FLEW DIRECTLY OVER THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER A FEW
MINUTES AFTER LAUNCH.
WE WERE OUT OVER THE OCEAN
DURING THE TIME OF IGNITION,
PLUS, WE WERE IN THE DAY, AND
K.S.C. WAS IN THE DAY, SO WE
DIDN'T SEE THE ACTUAL LAUNCH,
BUT THAT WAS VERY, VERY
EXCITING, AND THE THREE OF US
WERE CHEERING MUCH LIKE YOU
WERE, I'M SURE.
FAST FORWARD TO YESTERDAY, WHEN
YOU WERE WATCHING THE VEHICLE DO
ITS STAIR STEP UP TO ALTITUDE.
WE COULD SEE IT FAR AWAY, 19 OR
20 KILOMETERS, AND IT GOT
BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER.
AND IT GOT TO ME, THAT LITTLE
TINY DOT WAS GOING TO BE FIXED
ABOUT 15 METERS FROM WHERE I WAS
STANDING, SO TO SPEAK.
AND THEN, THEY CAME UP TO OUR
SAME ALTITUDE AND STARTED COMING
IN DIRECTLY ON THE DOCKING AXIS.
I HAD THE CAMERA OUT AT ONE
PARTICULAR POINT, AND I REALIZED
THAT INSIDE THAT SPACECRAFT WERE
TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES AND
FRIENDS, AND THEY'RE GOING
17,500 MILES PER HOUR, AND WE'RE
GOING 17,500 MILES PER HOUR, AND
THEM WITH A COMPUTER AND BACKING
IT UP, AND WE COULD MONITOR THE
PROCESS ON THE TELEMETRY.
IT WAS A PRETTY AMAZING THING,
JUST REALIZING WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
AND THEN, YOU PULL IN THE
HISTORIC ASPECT OF THE WHOLE
DAY, WHAT IT MEANS TO AMERICA,
WHAT IT MEANS TO THE WHOLE SPACE
PROGRAM, WHAT IT MEANS TO
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION, IT JUST WAS
AWE-INSPIRING.
BACK TO OPERATIONS, BUT IT WAS A
PRETTY IMPRESSIVE DAY, AND I'M
JUST HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT.
>> AS FAR AS THE DOCKING WAS
CONCERNED, DRAGON FLEW PRETTY
SIMILAR TO SHUTTLE.
IT HAD VERY SIMILAR
CHARACTERISTICS.
THE AUTOMATION WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE SAME AS BOB AND I WERE
COMING IN.
I THINK THE THING WE MENTIONED
WAS WHEN WE WERE DOCKING, WE
DIDN'T FEEL THE DOCKING.
IN SHUTTLE, YOU FELT A LITTLE
BIT OF A JOLT.
NOTHING REAL HEAVY, BUT YOU FELT
IT, AND WE ASKED THE GUYS ON
BOARD STATION THE SAME QUESTION,
AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT, EITHER,
WHICH WAS TYPICAL.
THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME.
EITHER JUST THE VELOCITIES OR
THE STRENGTH OF THE DOCKING
MECHANISM REALLY ABSORBED ANY --
ANY INERTIA AS WE CAME INTO
DOCK, AND IT WAS PRETTY NEAT
THAT WE COULDN'T FEEL ANYTHING
ON BOARD ENDEAVOR.
>> I THINK FOR BOTH DOUG AND I,
WE'D HAVE TO GIVE THE SUITS A
FIVE-STAR RATING.
EACH SUIT IS POINT DESIGNED FOR
A VERY SPECIFIC MISSION.
THIS ONE IS POINT DESIGNED FOR
US TO SIT IN OUR SEATS AND
PROTECT US IF THERE'S A FIRE OR
A PROBLEM WITH THE ATMOSPHERE ON
BOARD THE DRAGON -- IT'S SMOKING
OR LEAKING OUT.
THESE SUITS DIDN'T HAVE TO DO
THAT JOB FOR US, SO THAT WAS
NICE.
BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY WERE
READY.
WE HAD GREAT CHECKS OF THE SUITS
AS THEY CONTINUED UPHILL, AND
PRELAUNCH.
I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT
THE SPACEX TEAM.
CHRIS, TRIGG, MARIA, AND ALL THE
MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HAVE DONE A
GREAT JOB, GETTING THEM TAYLORED
TAYLORED
-- TAILORED FIT ON US, AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THEM ON.
>> HOUSTON, THAT CONCLUDES THE
EVENT AS WE COUNT DOWN TO 20
CONTINUOUS YEARS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR EVENT
AS WE COUNT DOWN TO 20
CONTINUOUS YEARS ON THE INCIDENT
SPACE STATION SPACE STATION.
-- ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
THANK YOU FROM MISSION CONTROL
AND JSCPAO.
WE ARE NOW RESUMING NORMAL
COMMUNICATIONS.