[♪♪]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO
TODAY'S FINAL BRIEFING ON THE
UPCOMING CREW ONE MISSION.
THIS'LL BE THE FIRST OPERATIONAL
FLIGHT WITH ASTRONAUTS ABOARD
THE CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT AND
FALCON ROCKET TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE JOINED BY
THE ASTRONAUTS OF THAT MISSION.
THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH ON
OCTOBER 31.
SHANNON WALKER IS THE MISSION
SPECIALIST FOR CREW ONE.
SHANNON WAS SELECTED AS AN
ASTRONAUT IN 2004.
SHE LAUNCHED TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
ABOARD A RUSSIAN SOYUZ
SPACECRAFT AND SPENT 161 DAYS IN
SPACE IN 2010.
NEXT, WE HAVE VICTOR GLOVER.
VICTOR IS THE PILOT OF THE CREW
DRAGON SPACECRAFT AND SECOND IN
COMMAND FOR THE MISSION.
HE WAS SELECTED AS AN ASTRONAUT
IN 2013 AND THIS IS HIS FIRST
SPACE FLIGHT.
HE IS A NAVAL AVIATOR, A KMOND
COMMANDER IN THE U.S. NAVY.
AND MICHAEL HOPKINS GREW UP ON A
FARM OUTSIDE RICHLAND, MISSOURI,
HAS AGREES IN EAR -- DEGREES IN
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING.
FINALLY, SOICHI KNOGUCHI LAUNCHD
ON SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT 114 AND
RETURNED ABOARD A SOYUZ
SPACECRAFT IN 2009.
NOW WE'LL HEAR BRIEF REMARKS
FROM THE CREW, AND THEN, WE'LL
TAKE QUESTIONS ON THE PHONE,
PLEASE PRESS STAR, ONE TO ASK A
QUESTION AND STAR, TWO TO
WITHDRAW A QUESTION.
YOU CAN ALSO ASK QUESTIONS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA USING THE HASHTAG
#ASKNASA.
MIKE, OVER TO YOU FOR REMARKS.
>> THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO'S
JOINING US TODAY, BUT FIRST, A
FEW THOUGHTS.
CREW ONE IS READY.
WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY BECOME A CREW
UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY, EARLY
MARCH, AND SINCE THAT TIME, THE
CREW AND THE ENTIRE TRAINING
TEAM HAVE DONE AN AMAZING JOB
GETTING US READY AND TO THIS
POINT.
IT CERTAINLY HELPS, WHEN YOU
HAVE A SHORT TIMELINE LIKE THAT,
ENTHUSE
THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED CREW
MEMBERS, AND CERTAINLY SHANNON
AND SOICHI FALL INTO THAT
CATEGORY.
I'M EXCITED TO BE SITTING HERE
NEXT TO SHANNON, VICTOR, AND
SOICHI.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY GREAT
ASTRONAUTS, THEY'RE GREAT
PEOPLE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK OUR SPACE
FLIGHT FAMILY.
TRAINING FOR SPACE FLIGHTS CAN
BE VERY CHALLENGING AND
DIFFICULT FOR THE FAMILIES, AND
THIS YEAR HAS ADDED A FEW EXTRA
CHALLENGES, AS WELL, AND OUR
FAMILIES HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
I THINK WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL TO BE
ABLE TO SHARE THIS EXPERIENCE
WITH OUR FAMILIES.
THIRD, YOU HEARD MEGAN MENTION
THAT OUR FLIGHT IS ON THE 31st
OF OCTOBER, SO THAT IS A SLIP OF
A LITTLE OVER A WEEK FROM THE
21st OF OCTOBER.
YOU KNOW, THE CREW DOESN'T HAVE
CONTROL OVER LAUNCH DATES, BUT
WHAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER IS OUR
READINESS.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD WITH
OUR TRAINING TEAM, OUR
LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND MAKE SURE
WE'RE READY AS WE WORK THROUGH
THESE SLIPS TO THE LAUNCH DATE.
AND FINALLY, I WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE AT
SPACEX, AT NASA, AROUND THIS
COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD
THAT HAVE HELPED US GET TO THIS
POINT.
IT IS VERY EXCITING TO BE A PART
OF A NEW ERA IN THE HUMAN SPACE
FLIGHT PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE USING
COMMERCIAL COMPANIES TO GET US
TO THE HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT
PROGRAM.
I THINK WE ALL FEEL HUMBLED AND
EXCITED TO PLAY A SMALL PART IN
THAT:
THAT.
VICTOR?
>> I WANT TO THANK GOD FOR
GETTING ME TO THIS POINT, MY
FAMILY, AND ALL THE WORKERS IN
NASA AND SPACEX WHO HAVE GOTTEN
US TO THIS POINT IN THE MIDST OF
THE PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU.
WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO
SOICHI.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE HERE WITH
THIS CREW, TO BE A PART OF THE
NEXT FLIGHT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, AND I'M GRATEFUL
TO BE PART OF THE EFFORT TO MAKE
THIS WORK.
[SPEAKING JAPANESE LANGUAGE]
>> THAT'S IT.
SHANNON, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, SOICHI.
AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO ECHO MY
CREW MEATES AND ALL THE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE MADE THIS PEOPLE.
SOICHI AND I JOINED LATER, SO
IT'S BEEN A VERY INTENSIVE SIX
MONTHS OF TRAINING, BUT I AM
EXCITED TO GET BACK TO THE SPACE
STATION.
>> THANKS, EVERYONE.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO BACK TO MIKE.
I THINK YOU HAVE A SPECIAL
UPDATE FOR US.
>> THAT'S RIGHT, MEGAN.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THE
QUESTIONS, WE DID HAVE ONE MORE
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WE WANTED TO
MAKE.
AS MOST OF YOU ARE PROBABLY
AWARE, SHORTLY AFTER GETTING ON
BOARD FOR THE DM-2 MISSION, DOUG
AND BOB ANNOUNCED THE NAME OF
THEIR VEHICLE, ENDEAVOR.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT, AND
WE'RE EXCITED TO NAME OUR
VEHICLE.
HOWEVER, RATHER THAN GET ON
ORBIT, WE THOUGHT WE WOULD SHARE
THAT WITH YOU TODAY.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, THE
DRAGON CAPSULE 2107 WILL HENCE
FORTH BE KNOWN BY THE CALL SIGN
RESILIENCE.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE DEFINITION
OF RESILIENCE, THAT MEANS
FUNCTIONING WELL IN TIMES OF
STRESSOR
STRESS OR OVERCOMING CHALLENGING
OR STRESSFUL EVENTS, AND I THINK
THAT ALL OF US WILL AGREE, THIS
YEAR HAS BEEN THAT.
DESPITE EVERYTHING, SPACEX,
NASA, HAS KEPT THE PRODUCTION
LINE OPEN AND FINISHED THIS
AMAZING VEHICLE THAT'S GETTING
READY TO GO ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
SO THE NAME RESILIENCE IS REALLY
IN HONOR OF THE SPACEX AND THE
NASA TEAMS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S IN HONOR
OF OUR FAMILIES, OF OUR
COLLEAGUES, OF OUR FELLOW
CITIZENS.
OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
AND LEADERS THAT HAVE SHOWN THAT
SAME QUALITY, THE SAME
CHARACTERISTICS THROUGH THE
DIFFICULT PATCH.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR PATCH,
THERE'S NO NAMES ON THE BORDER
OF THE DESIGN, AND THAT WAS ON
PURPOSE.
IT REPRESENTS THE COUNTLESS
PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED ON
GETTING US READY FOR THIS
MISSION.
THAT SAME APPLIES TO THE NAME OF
THIS VEHICLE, RESILIENCE.
IT IS NOT JUST A CONNECTION TO
THE FOUR OF US, BUT WE REALLY
FEEL LIKE IT IS A CONNECTION TO
ALL OF YOU, TO EVERYBODY.
WE HOPE THAT IT BRINGS A SMILE
TO YOUR FACE.
WE HOPE THAT IT PROVIDES
SOMETHING POSITIVE IN YOUR
LIVES, AND, QUITE FRANKLY, WE
HOPE THAT IT'S AN INSPIRATION,
THAT IT SHOWS WHEN YOU WORK
TOGETHER, THERE'S NO LIMIT TO
WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.
SO WITH THAT, THE NAME, WE'RE
ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT, BUT
WE'RE READY FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING
THAT.
NOW, WE'LL GET ONTO SOME
QUESTIONS.
LET'S START WITH MARSHA DUNN
WITH ASSOCIATED PRESS.
>> YES, HI.
I SUPPOSE THIS QUESTION'S FOR
ONE OF THE TWO PILOTS.
DO YOU CONSIDER -- I KNOW THIS
IS THE FIRST OPERATIONAL
MISSION, BUT DO YOU ALSO SEE IT
AS SORT OF A TRUNKATED
OPERATIONAL, IF YOU WILL, AND
THIS IS BECOMING ROUTINE, AND
TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPACE
FLIGHT PREPARATIONS.
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> I'LL START, AND YOU CAN CHIME
IN, AS WELL.
WITH SPACE FLIGHT, THERE'S
NOTHING ROUTINE ABOUT IT.
YOU DO SOMETIMES GET INTO A
RHYTHM WITH IT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS
A VERY DANGEROUS BUSINESS.
YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE THAT
VERY SERIOUSLY.
CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THE DM 2
MISSION WAS THE OFFICIAL
DEMONSTRATION TEST FLIGHT OF
THIS VEHICLE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A
LOT OF FIRSTS WHEN WE GET UP
THERE AND FLY.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'RE TAKING
FOUR CREW ON BOARD, SO THAT PUTS
MORE CHALLENGES ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE IN SPACE FOR
SIX MONTHS, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE
LEARNING THINGS ABOUT TIME AND
SPACE, AND THE IMPACTS OF THAT
ENVIRONMENT.
SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A
CERTIFIED VEHICLE, BUT WE ALSO
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S GOING TO
BE SOME NEW FEATURES, AND I'LL
LET IKE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE
NEW CAPABILITIES THAT WE WILL BE
DEMONSTRATING WHEN WE'RE ON
BOARD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO OUR VEHICLE HAS NEW HARDWARE.
WE ALSO HAVE NEW SOFTWARE THAT
ENABLES US TO UNDOCK FROM ONE
DOCKING PORT, SAY, THE FORWARD
DOCKING PORT AND REPOSITION TO
THE ZENITH ON TOP.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FEATURES
THAT WE WILL BE EXERCISING FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
BUT ALSO, THE -- THE WAY THE
ADMINISTRATOR PUT IT WHEN HE WAS
ASKED, BOB AND DOUG'S MISSION
WAS THE DEVELOPMENTAL TEST
MISSION.
OUR MISSION IS LIKE AN
OPERATIONAL TEST MISSION, SO AS
SOON AS WE HIT DAY 64, THAT'S
GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME THAT
A CREW DRAGON AT THE SPACE
STATION HAS RESET MILESTONE, AND
EVERY DAY AFTER THAT WILL BE NEW
TERRITORY.
>> QUESTION, LET'S GO TO LAUREN
GRESH WITH THE VERGE.
>> HI.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THIS -- MY QUESTION IS FOR THE
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS.
YOU'RE CURRENTLY SETTING TO FLY
RIGHT BEFORE ELECTION, AND
SHANNON SAYS SHE INTENDS TO BE
VOTING
VOTING FROM SPACE.
AND I'M WONDERING IF YOU'LL BE
DOING THE SAME.
>> WE'LL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE
ELECTION.
IT WAS EASIEST FOR US TO SAY WE
WERE GOING TO VOTE FROM SPACE,
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
DO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO MICHAEL SHEETS FROM
CNBC.
>> HI, ALL.
YOU ALL COME FROM VERY DIFFERENT
BACKGROUNDS, IN TERMS OF YOUR
EXPERIENCES, WITH SPACE FLIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, VICTOR, IT'S YOUR
FIRST, SOICHI, IT'S YOUR THIRD.
I WONDER IF YOU'VE GOTTEN TO GEL
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AS WELL
AS PREPARING.
>> I'LL START, AND I'LL LET THE
GUY WHO'S PREPARING FOR HIS
THIRD SPACE FLIGHT ADD TO IT.
THAT'S WHAT'S MADE THIS CREW SO
SPECIAL.
YOU LOOK AT VICTOR, AND YEAH,
THIS IS HIS FIRST SPACE FLIGHT,
BUT HE BRINGS A WEALTH OF
EXPERIENCE FROM THE NAVY TO THE
TABLE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HE'S A ROOKIE
FROM A SPLAS FLIGHT PERSPECTIVE,
HE CONTRIBUTE DOES ALL THE TIME,
AND I REALLY RELY ON HIM ALL THE
TIME.
SHANNON HAS FLOWN BEFORE, AND
SHE'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME
AROUND JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
BOTH SHE AND SOICHI HAVE TRAINED
AS A LEFT SEAT FLYER ON THE
SOYUZ.
SO EVEN ON THIS CAPSULE, THEY
DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF ALL OF THE
DAY PLAYS THAT VICTOR --
DISPLAYS THAT VICTOR AND I DO,
SOMETIMES, THEY'RE SITTING
THERE, AND THEY'RE SEEING THINGS
THAT VICTOR AND I MAY NOT SEE
BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY ON OTHER
DISPLAYS.
SO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT
EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY
HELPFUL.
AND THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY,
ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS
PANDEMIC AND HOW WE'VE BEEN
TRAINING IS, WHEN WE GO OUT TO
SPACEX, FOR EXAMPLE, AND TRAIN,
WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 24
HOURS A DAY, AND -- AND THAT
GIVES YOU -- THEY'RE LAUGHING,
BUT THAT GIVES YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW EACH
OTHER OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE,
SO WE'VE SHARED A LOT OF NIGHTS
SITTING AROUND THE DINNER TABLE,
TALKING ABOUT THINGS OTHER THAN
SPACE FLIGHT, AND THAT'S BEEN
HELPFUL, AS WELL.
>> SOICHI, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
WANT TO ADD ANYTHING IN TERMS OF
YOUR THIRD SPACE FLIGHT.
>> YEAH.
IN TERMS OF THIS, VICTOR AND
MIKE STARTED TWO YEARS AGO SO
THEY WOULD KNOW THE SYSTEM
INSIDE AND OUT.
SHANNON AND I JOINED LAST MARCH,
SO RELATIVELY SHORT.
ALL OF US CONTRIBUTES TO THIS
WONDERFUL TEAM, AND EVERYBODY
BRINGS SOMETHING TO THE TABLE.
SHANNON AND I HAVE THE LUXURY OF
FLYING IN THE SOYUZ AND THE
DRAGON, AS WELL.
ALL OF US, THIS DIVERSITY
DEFINITELY BRINGS THE TEAM'S
RESILIENCE, AS WELL, SO THIS IS
THE ONE FOR ALL, ALL FOR ONE.
THAT COMES FROM SHANNON, BUT
DEFINITELY, THE FOUR OF US
CONTRIBUTED THE WONDERFUL TEAM
OF THIS CREW.
>> YOU KNOW, IF I COULD ADD ONE
LITTLE SHORT THING, WE HAVE
CAPTURED THE BEST OF THE
TRAINING FROM THE SOYUZ TRAINING
FLOW, AND THE SHUTTLE FLOW,
WHERE YOU HAD A BIGGER CREW, AND
TO REALLY SEE THE BEST OF BOTH
WORLD'S HAS MADE IT SPECIAL.
WE HAVE A TON OF FUN TRAINING
TOGETHER.
>> AUWESOME.
LET'S GO TO BILL HARWOOD FROM
CBS NEWS.
>> WE'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, BUT
TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF HAVING
FOUR USOS CREW ON BOARD THE
SPACE STATION.
HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT IS THAT TO
THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY, AND CAN
SOMEONE EXPLAIN IKE'S NICKNAME?
>> WELL, WE'LL LET IKE EXPLAIN
HIS NICKNAME.
BY THE TIME WE GET UP TO THE
SPACE STATION, KATE WILL BE
THERE ALREADY, SO THERE WILL BE
FIVE ON THE USOS SIDE OF THE
SPACE STATION.
THE WORK THAT WE CAN GET DONE
WITH MORE THAN ONE OR TWO PEOPLE
IS ADDITIONAL TO THE AMOUNT THAT
CAN GET DONE WITH ONE OR TWO
PEOPLE.
SO THE ABILITY FOR US TO
ACCOMPLISH WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED GOES WAY HIGH WITH
MORE PEOPLE ON THE STATION.
[laughter].
>> OKAY.
SO IT'S AN ACRONYM.
IT'S SHORT FOR I KNOW
EVERYTHING, AND IT SERVES AS A
REMINDER TO KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT,
SO I'LL START THERE.
>> VERY NICE.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO ONTO DAVID CURLEY WITH
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
>> THANKS FOR TAKING THE CALL,
EVERYBODY.
TO VICTOR, AND EVERYBODY, HI, GO
MUSTANGS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE ISSUE WITH THE HEAT SHIELD
AND THE TILES, AND ARE YOU
COMFORTABLE WITH THIS THAT
EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE
COMFORTABLE WITH?
>> YEAH.
SO ACTUALLY, ALL FOUR OF US HAVE
BEEN FOLLOWING THE ISSUES WITH
THE HEAT SHIELDS THAT WERE FOUND
WITH THE DM-2 MISSION.
IT'S ANOTHER NOD TO THE
EXPERIENCE THAT WE BRING TO THIS
CREW.
NOT I OR IKE, BUT SOICHI, AND
SHANNON'S HUSBAND WAS ON THAT
MISSION, AS WELL.
THEY BROUGHT A LOT TO THAT,
HAVING LIVED THROUGH COLUMBIA.
I WOULD SAY YES, WE'RE FOLLOWING
THAT VERY CLOSELY, BUT I WOULD
SAY THERE IS AN AMAZING TEAM
THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER
TO WORK THIS ISSUE, AND WE ARE
CONFIDENT IN THIS TEAM AND THEIR
ABILITY TO FIND THE RIGHT
SOLUTIONS.
>> THANKS.
LETs
LET'S GO TO MARINA CORREN WITH
THE ATLANTIC.
>> HAVE YOU THOUGHT YET ABOUT
WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO EAT FOR
BREAKFAST ON LAUNCH DAY, WHICH,
I GUESS, IS NOW GOING TO BE MORE
OF A MIDNIGHT SNACK?
>> A LOT.
>> I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A GOOD
IDEA.
>> YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, WE HAD
A -- ONE OF OUR FIRST MEETINGS
TODAY JUST ON WHAT THAT SCHEDULE
IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, SO A LOT
OF THOSE LITTLE DETAILS IN TERMS
OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO EAT, AND
WHEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT
MEAL, WE'RE STILL WORKING
THROUGH THOUGHS.
BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE'RE
GOING TO BE WELL FED.
THE TEAM DOWN AT K.F.C. -- IN
FACT, EVEN HERE AT JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER, THE MEALS THAT WE'LL
HAVE HERE AND THE MAEALS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HERE WILL BE
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
>> ONE THING THAT IKE MENTIONED
IS WE'RE TAKING THE GOOD THING
FRZ THE U.S. SHUTTLE SIDE AND
THE RUSSIAN SOYUZ SIDE.
WE STARTED TO PICK SOME OF THE
GOOD TRADITIONS WE LIKE FROM THE
SOYUZ SIDE AND TRYING TO KEEP
THE OTHER GOOD SIDE FROM THE
SHUTTLE SIDE, SO WE CAN ENJOY
THE BEST SIDE OF THOSE TWO
WORLDS, AND WE CAN START A NEW
TRANSITION.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO TO MIRIAM KRAMER FROM
AXIOS.
>> HI.
THE QUESTION IS FOR ALL Y'ALL
THREE ASTRONAUTS.
I'M CURIOUS WHAT YOU ALL SEE AS
YOUR ROLE AS ASTRONAUTS WITHIN
THE BROADER CONTEXT.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> I'LL START.
I THINK -- I THINK BWHAT WE CAN
SHOW OR DEMONSTRATE, ALL FOUR OF
US, IS JUST THE UNITY AND IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT BACKGROUND
YOU COME FROM, BUT WHEN YOU ALL
WORK TOGETHER, AS I MENTIONED,
NOT ONLY IN THE NAME OF
RESILIENCE, YOU CAN COME
TOGETHER AND DO SOME REALLY
AMAZING THINGS.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING.
WE ALL STARTED AT DIFFERENT
PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE'VE ALL HAD SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
PATHS THAT HAVE TAKEN US HERE,
BUT WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT
THEM, THERE'S A LOT OF
SIMILARITIES THERE, AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE DO BRING A LOT TO
THE TABLE, AND THE FOUR OF US
ACTUALLY TOGETHER IS -- IS A
MUCH STRONGER PRODUCT IN THE
END.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO SELLEN BARBER WITH
GANNETT PUBLICATIONS.
>> MIKE, THIS IS A QUESTION FOR
YOU.
HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO HAVE THIS
HONOR, NOT ONLY RETURNING TO
SPACE, BUT BEING THE COMMANDER
OF THIS HISTORIC MISSION,
LAUNCHING FROM THE LAUNCH PAD
39-A.
AND THEN FOLLOWING UP, HOW HAS
YOUR TRAINING CHANGED FROM YOUR
PREVIOUS MISSION.
THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, THANKS.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S QUITE
AN HONOR.
AS A FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER, AS A
BACK SEATER, IF YOU WILL, IN THE
AVIATION WORLD, I DON'T HAVE
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO COMMAND.
I THINK THAT -- THAT THESE NEW
VEHICLES, MOVING FORWARD, THEY
SHOW THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE
OUT THERE FOR -- FOR OTHER FOLKS
THAT -- THAT DON'T NECESSARILY
HAVE THE TAKE BACKGROUND AS,
SAY -- SAME BACKGROUND AS, SAY,
VICTOR IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE.
IT IS HUMBLING, BUT I WILL TELL
YOU THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE IN
THE EXPERIENCE THAT, FOR
EXAMPLE, VICTOR BRINGS TO THE
TABLE WITH ALL OF HIS
OPERATIONAL HOURS IN THE F-18
WITH THE NAVY, AND SO I
CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO
UNDERPLAY THAT, AND I ALSO WANT
TO SAY THAT I HAVE TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF THAT, AND I
MENTIONED IT EARLIER, AS WELL,
THAT BOTH SHANNON AND SOICHI
HAVE TRAINED AS A LEFT-SEATER IN
THE SOYUZ, WHICH MEANS THEY WERE
SECOND IN COMMAND.
THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED ONTO
TAKE COMMAND.
IT'S FUNNY.
I'M SITTING HERE AS THE
COMMANDER, BUT IN REALITY, I
HAVE THE LEAST EXPERIENCE OF ANY
OF THESE THREE IN TERMS OF BEING
A COMMANDER.
SO I RELY ON THEM HEAVILY
THROUGHOUT THIS TRAINING FLOW,
AND I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO
RELY ON THEM AS WE CONTINUE TO
GO UPHILL AND GET ON BOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I THINK I FORGET WHAT THE SECOND
PART WAS -- OH, I'M SORRY.
THANK YOU, VICTOR.
SEE WHAT I MEAN?
YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCES,
CLEARLY, THERE HAS BEEN A -- A
LOT OF BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
TRAINING OVER IN RUSSIA.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM ARE --
ARE LOGISTICS ASSOCIATED -- YOU
KNOW, WHEN YOU GO OVER AND TRAIN
IN RUSSIA, YOU'RE GOING FOR
THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX WEEKS AT
A TIME BEFORE WE GET TO GO HOME.
WHEREAS HERE, WE GO OUT TO
SPACEX, SPEND A WEEK IN
HAWTHORNE, BEFORE WE GET TO GO
HOME TO OUR FAMILIES.
SO I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW
THAT PIECE -- THAT'S NICE.
IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SEE YOUR
FAMILY AND LOVED ONES ON THE
WEEKENDS, SO OUR HATS GO OFF TO
OUR COLLEAGUES AND TEAMMATES
THAT ARE CONTINUING TO GO
THROUGH THE RUSSIAN FLOW,
BECAUSE IT DOES PRESENT A FEW
MORE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH
IT.
THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS
THIS IS NEW.
THE SOYUZ PROGRAM IS AN
ESTABLISHED PROGRAM, AND THEIR
CREWS HAVE DEMONSTRATED, THEY'RE
GOING THROUGH THE SAME.
ONE OF MY LAST TEAMMATES, JOE
ACABA, ON THE LAST SOYUZ, WHEN I
WAS GETTING READY TO GO OVER, I
DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I WAS READY.
I TOLD THAT TO JOE, AND HE SAID
TRUST THE SYSTEM.
BY THE TIME HEYOU GET READY TO
LAUNCH, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
READY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT THIS TIME.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU TO REASSURE
YOU THAT BY THE TIME YOU'RE
GETTING READY TO LAUNCH TO THIS
PRESS CONFERENCE THAT YOU WERE
GOING TO BE READY, SO WE HAD TO
FIGURE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT ON
OUR OWN, AND I'M HAPPY AND
THANKFUL TO SAY THAT WE HAVE
FIGURED IT OUT, AND THIS CREW IS
READY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S TAKE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS
COMING IN.
THIS IS FOR SOICHI.
THIS'LL BE THE THIRD SPACECRAFT
THAT YOU'RE FLYING ON.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN
TRAINING?
>> YES.
I'M FORTUNATE TO EXPERIENCE
THREE DIFFERENT SPACECRAFT
TRAINING.
THIS TRAINING FOR DRAGON IS DONE
BY SPACEX ITSELF.
THEIR APPROACH IS A LITTLE
DIFFERENT, BUT I WOULD SAY IT'S
REALLY EFFECTIVE.
AS I TOLD YOU EARLIER, SHANNON
HAVE A VERY CONDENSED FLOW,
ABOUT SIX MONTHS FROM THE
SCRATCH TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS GREAT, THE
FOUR OF US THAT CAME UP TOGETHER
WITH THE RIGHT WAY OF OPERATING
A SPACECRAFT.
WE AS A TEAM COME UP WITH THE
RIGHT APPROACH, AND I'M PRETTY
SURE, LIKE MY COMMANDER SAID, WE
ARE READY TO FLY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FROM JACKIE ON FACEBOOK, WHAT
WOULD YOU SAY TO AN ASPIRING
ASTRONAUT?
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK THE THREE
THINGS I'D GENERALLY SAY WHEN I
GET THE PRIVILEGE TO GO TO YOUNG
FOLKS IS TO BE GRITTY,
G-R-I-T-T-Y, WHICH MEANS TO BE
TOUGH, TO BE A LIFELONG LEARNER,
AND TO BE A GOOD TEAMMATE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
FROM ELAINE BARKER ON TWITTER,
HOW COMFORTABLE DO YOU ALL FEEL
IN THE MOCKUPS OF THE CAPSULE
BEING FOUR PEOPLE INSIDE?
>> I'LL TAKE THAT.
I THINK IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE
COMPARED TO THE SOYUZ, WHICH HAS
THREE.
IT'S A MUCH TIGHTER SPACE WHERE
YOU'RE ACTUALLY SITTING.
THE SOYUZ DOES HAVE ANOTHER
COMPARTMENT WHERE IT HAS
STORAGE.
IN THE CREW DRAGON, IT'S JUST
ONE COMPARTMENT WHERE YOU'RE
STORING PEOPLE AND CARGO
ALTOGETHER.
BUT IT MAKES IT FEEL A LITTLE
BIT LESS SPACIE-ISH, BUT IT'S
COMFORTABLE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO BACK TO SOME MORE PHONE
QUESTIONS.
ROBERT PEARLMAN FROM COLLECT
SPACE.
>> HI.
WHAT DOES THE CONTINUOUS 20
YEARS OF HUMAN HABITATION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, AND
IN THE LESS 20 YEARS, THERE HAVE
BEEN LESS THAN 20 PEOPLE WHO
WERE WOMEN AND INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERS, AND NOW, WITH VICTOR,
YOU'RE BECOMING THE FIRST
AFRICAN AMERICAN TO BECOME A
SPACE STATION CREW MEMBER.
>> WELL, I'LL START.
TO BE ABLE TO FLY ON A SPACE
VEHICLE, THAT IS A PRIVILEGE.
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE ON THE SPACE
STATION FOR SIX MONTHS, AND
DURING THAT TIME, TO BE THERE
FOR THE 20 ANNIVERSARY OF HUMAN
PRESENCE ON THAT STATION, AND TO
POTENTIALLY LAUNCH ON THE 20th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUNCH OF
EXPEDITION ONE IS JUST SPECIAL
AND RELATES TO SOMETHING THAT
MIKE SAID EARLIER.
YOU KNOW, THE POWER OF TEAM
WORK, WHEN WE COME TOGETHER TO
WORK ON THE SAME THING, THAT
THERE'S NO LIMIT TO WHAT WE CAN
ACCOMPLISH.
IT IS TRULY A PRIVILEGE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NOW LET'S GO TO CHELSEA GOLD
WITH SPACE.COM.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
SO KIND OF ON A SIMILAR NOTE.
THIS IS A QUESTION FOR VICTOR.
AS ALBERT MENTIONED, YOU WILL BE
THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CREW
MEMORY
MEMBER FOR A LONG DURATION SPACE
MISSION.
I WONDER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
EMBARKING ON YOUR FIRST MISSION
WHILE MAKING HISTORY?
>> WELL, I TRY NOT TO THINK
ABOUT IT.
I WANT TO COME BACK AND DO MY
JOB VERY WELL.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT
AFTER I COME HOME AND GET BACK
TO MY FAMILY SAFELY.
SO I WOULD SAY LET US ACCOMPLISH
THAT FIRST.
IT'S BITTER SWEET, I CAN'T SAY
WHY IT'S TAKEN US THAT LONG, BUT
I HOPE TO GO UP AND DO MY JOB TO
THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AND COME
BACK AND TELL YOU MY STORIES
AFTERWARDS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO JOEY ROULETTE FROM
REUTERS.
>> HI.
I'M WONDERING WHAT CASTING A
BALLOT IS LIKE FROM SPACE AND
WOULD LOVE TO HEAR ANY GOOD TIPS
THAT YOU CAN SHARE FROM BOB AND
DOUG THAT THEY PASSED ALONG FROM
THEIR MISSION.
>> I CAN TALK ABOUT CASTING
BALLOTS IN SPACE SINCE I DID IT
LAST TIME FROM THE SPACE
STATION.
THEY BASICALLY SEND YOU AN
ELECTRONIC FILE.
IT'S A PDF, AND YOU MARK YOUR
CHOICES, AND YOU E-MAIL IT BACK
TO THE -- OH, I FORGET THE TITLE
OF THE PERSON, BUT THE PERSON
WHO'S IN CHARGE OF THE ELECTION
FOR THE COUNTY.
AND SO THEN, THAT GETS COUNTED
INTO ALL THE BALLOTS THAT ARE
BROUGHT BACK.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE, VERY
STRAIGHTFORWARD.
>> I'LL JUMP IN, IN TERMS OF BOB
AND DOUG.
WE WERE UNFORTUVERY FORTUNATE,
THEY GOT UP IN ORBIT, TO HAVE A
CONFERENCE WITH THEM.
AND ONCE THEY RETURNED, SAME
THING.
WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
WITH THEM.
AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS
ABOUT THAT IS YOU GET TO HEAR
LITTLE DETAILS THAT DON'T SHOW
UP IN A TRAINING PROGRAM OR A
TRAINING LESSON, AND SOME OF
THOSE THINGS ARE SIMPLE.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS MAY NOT
SEEM LIKE A LOT, BUT, FOR
EXAMPLE, THEY TALKED A LOT ABOUT
SOME OF THE SOUNDS THAT OCCURRED
DURING THE FUELING PROCESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST, AND SO
HAVING ASTRONAUTS IN THE
CAPSULE, ON THE ROCKET, AS
YOU'RE DOING THAT IS A LITTLE
BIT DIFFERENT.
SO HAVING THEM DESCRIBE SOME OF
THOSE SOUNDS IS HELPFUL BECAUSE
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT DURING THE
PROCESS, IT'S EXPECTED, AND
YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT EACH
OTHER, SAYING, AM I SUPPOSED TO
HEAR THAT?
AND THEY TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THE FEELINGS.
WHEN I SAY FEELINGS, I'M TALKING
ABOUT THE FEELING OF THE VEHICLE
WHEN IT'S COMING IN.
IT HELPS SET THE EXPECTATIONS
AND HELPS YOU PREPARE FOR THOSE
EVENTS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO PAUL RIVERA WITH
WEST 2 NEWS NBC.
>> YEAH, THANKS FOR TAKING MY
CALL, MY QUESTIONS.
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE DIVERSITY
OF THE CREW, AND THIS SORT OF
PEGS OFF OF AN EARLIER QUESTION,
HOW IMPORTANT THIS DIVERSITY OF
THE CREW TO FUTURE SPACE
EXPLORERS THAT LOOK TO YOU AND
SAY, THIS PERSON IT IN THESE
SHOES DOING THIS, I MIGHT BE
ABLE TO DO THIS MOVING FORWARD
BECAUSE THEY TOOK THAT STEP?
>> I THINK YOUR QUESTION IS A
GREAT ANSWER, AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS ONE OF
THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THIS CREW
IS PEOPLE OUT THERE CAN TAKE A
LOOK AT IT AND FIND SOMETHING
SIMILAR, FAMILIAR TO THEM, AND
WE HOPE THAT THAT CAN BE AN
INSPIRATION, TOO.
I MENTIONED THIS A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER, AND I'LL MENTION IT
AGAIN.
WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT OUR
BACKGROUNDS, THERE'S A LOT OF
SIMILARITIES THERE, AND SO, YOU
KNOW, I JUST -- YOU KNOW,
FOCUSING ON THOSE SIMILARITIES
IS PRETTY IMPORTANT, AS WELL,
BUT ALSO CELEBRATING OUR
DIFFERENCES AND HOPING THAT THAT
CAN INSPIRE FOLKS FROM ALL
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD
I THINK IS A GREAT THING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO GINA SINCERRI FROM
ABC NEWS.
>> SHANNON, YOU'VE ALREADY GOT
SUBSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE ON BOARD
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WHAT ARE YOU BRINGING FROM YOUR
LAST EXPEDITION TO THIS THAT
WILL MAKE THIS EXPEDITION
DIFFERENT FOR YOU?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I HAVEN'T THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT
THAT.
I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT I WILL BRING IS MY
EXPERIENCE, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE A VERY CONCRETE ANSWER, BUT
MY EXPERIENCE OF HAVING ALREADY
LIVED AND WORKED THERE WILL GIVE
ME A HUGE HEAD START AND MAKE ME
MUCH MORE EFFICIENT THAN I WAS
THE LAST TIME I FLEW.
KNOWING HOW THE SPACE STATION IS
LAID OUT, KNOWING HOW IT'S
PACKED, KNOWING HOW THE CREW
WORKS WITH THE CREW ON THE
STATION WILL MAKE ME JUST A
BETTER CREW MEMBER OVERALL.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO TO DAVE MOSHER WITH
BUSINESS INSIDER.
>> HI, ALL.
THIS SPRINGS OFF AN EARLIER
QUESTION FOR WHOEVER IS MOST
INTERESTED IN ANSWERING IT.
WHAT DID BOB AND DOUG TELL YOU
THAT HAS REALLY STUCK WITH YOU
AND YOU CAN SHARE WITH US WHAT
IT IS.
>> YEAH, I CAN SHARE ONE.
I REMEMBER TALKING TO DOUG ABOUT
ENTRY, AND HIS COMMENT ABOUT
ENTRY WAS THAT IT HAPPENS FAST.
FROM THE TIME THE DEORBIT
SEQUENCE STARTS, THE ENTRY
SEQUENCE STARTS TO WHEN YOU
TOUCHDOWN IS VERY FAST.
HIS COMMENT WAS EVEN THOUGH IT'S
HAPPENING FAST, HE FELT LIKE HE
WAS AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE.
SO FOR PEOPLE IN THE AVIATION
WORLD OR FLYING WORLD LIKE THIS,
THAT HAS A CERTAIN MEANING TO
IT, AND THAT -- FOR ME, THAT
MEANS I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE AS A CREW ARE READY FOR THAT
MOMENT BECAUSE, AGAIN, WHEN
THINGS HAPPEN FAST, YOU NEED
TO -- TO BE ANTICIPATING AND BE
READY TO GO, AND SO THAT REALLY
STOOD OUT TO ME.
>> YEAH.
AND ANOTHER THING THAT THEY
MENTIONED WAS THAT AFTER THEIR
MANUAL PILOTING DEMO, THAT THE
VEHICLE FLEW LIKE THE SIM.
THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO SPACEX
AND THE PRODUCT THAT THEY'VE
CREATED.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO TO MEREDITH GAROFALO
WITH WEATHER NATION.
>> THANK YOU GUYS ALL SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT DECADES OF
SPACE EXPLORATION.
WHY IS THIS ONE SO IMPORTANT TO
YOU AND FOR OUR FUTURE
GENERATIONS.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE THEY ALWAYS
REMEMBER FROM THIS LAUNCH AND
FROM THIS MISSION?
>> SO I WOULD HOPE THAT, COMING
OUT OF THIS IS -- I MENTIONED IT
EARLIER, AS WELL, THAT IT'S KIND
OF THE START OF A NEW ERA IN
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
I THINK USING THE COMMERCIAL
COMPANIES TO GIVE US ACCESS TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE
THAT'S HAPPENING, AND THAT IS
OPENING UP LOW-EARTH ORBIT TO
POTENTIALLY MORE PEOPLE,
POTENTIALLY NOT JUST TO NASA
ASTRONAUTS AND RUSSIAN
COSMONAUTS AND J.A.S.
ASTRONAUTS.
THIS IS A GREAT THING, AND I
HOPE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO
THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO STEVEN CARVER FROM
SPACE FLIGHT NOW.
>> HI.
THANK YOU.
I WAS WONDERING WHICH ONE OF YOU
WOULD BE TRAINING OR WHICH OF
YOU WOULD BE EXPECTED TO GO
OUTSIDE TO E.V.A. OR WHICH ONE
OF YOU RECEIVED E.V.A. TRAINING.
I UNDERSTAND YOUR E.V.A.
TRAINING IS COMPLETE, YOUR
DRAGON TRAINING AT SPACEX IS
OVER.
WHAT YARE YOU GOING TO DO OVER
THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO PREPARE
FOR THE UPCOMING MISSION?
THANK YOU.
>> I'LL START IN TERMS OF THE
E.V.A.
IN TERMS OF TRAINING FOR E.V.A.,
ALL FOUR OF US ARE TRAINED IN
E.V.A.
IN TERMS OF GOING OUT THE DOOR,
VICTOR AND I AND SOICHI WILL GO
OUT THE DOOR.
>> AND KATE.
>> AND KATE, BUT SHANNON HAS THE
MORE DIFFICULT TASK OF GETTING
US OUT THE DOOR.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND IT'S
CRITICAL THAT IT HAS TO BE
TRACKED.
ALL FOUR OF US, INCLUDING KATE,
ARE PREPARED TO GO OUT THE DOOR,
AND SHANNON IS JUST AS IMPORTANT
PART OF THAT ROLE IN TERMS OF
MAKING THOSE E.V.A.s HAPPEN.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE
WANTS TO COMMENT ON THAT
HAPPENING.
>> WE DO THE REFRESHER AND BULK
OF OUR TRAINING, AND THAT'S
COMPLETE.
BUT WE DO ALSO GET THE
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME TIME
OFF, SO WE'LL HAVE ABOUT A WEEK
WHERE WE CAN SPEND TIME WITH OUR
FAMILIES AND WRAP THINGS UP AT
HOME BEFORE WE GO AWAY THAT'S
GOING -- OUR TIME ON ORBIT IS
ACROSS A MAJOR HOLIDAY SEASON,
WE'LL BE AWAY DURING TAX SEASON,
SO THEY'LL BE THINGS THAT WE
NEED TO TAKE CARE OF, AND THEN,
WE'LL BE RIGHT INTO QUARANTINE,
GETTING READY TO GO.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO FREDO JUAREZ WITH
L.A. UNIVERSAL.
>> HI, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY
QUESTION.
I WAS WONDERING, THIS ONE IS FOR
EVERYBODY.
HOW DOES THIS [INAUDIBLE] YOUR
PERSPEC
PERSPECTIVE FROM SPACE AND YOUR
PERSPECTIVE FROM BEING AN
ASTRONAUT.
>> WELL, I WAS JOKING WITH MY
FAMILY, THEY GET TO EXPERIENCE A
LITTLE BIT OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO
EXPERIENCE LIVING ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
LIVING IN ISOLATION AND GOING TO
SCHOOL ON-LINE.
BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THE
PERSPECTIVE PIECE FOR ME, IT HAS
GIVEN ME A GREATER SENSE OF
RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
HAD TO GO OUT AND CONTINUE TO
KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES CLEAN, THE
FOLKS PICKING UP THE TRASH AND
MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES
ARE CLEAN, AND THE FOLKS THAT
HAVE TO CONTINUE TO COME IN TO
HELP US TRAIN AND GET READY FOR
THIS MISSION, AND THE FOLKS THAT
BUILT THIS VEHICLE OR ARE STILL
BUILDING THIS VEHICLE.
I THOUGHT I WAS GRATEFUL, BUT I
AM INCREASINGLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL
OF THEIR WORK.
>> ALL RIGHT.
IRENE CLAUSS WITH AVIATION WEEK.
>> HI.
THIS IS FOR MIKE OR SHANNON.
NASA HAS GONE THROUGH THIS
PERIOD OF TRYING TO OPEN UP AND
FLYING A POLITICIAN AND
SCHOOLTEACHER AND SO ON, AND WE
KNOW HOW THAT WORKED OUT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK -- CAN YOU
GIVE ME A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF
SPECIFICALLY HOW THE RISK
ASSESSMENT HAS CHANGED FROM
SHUTTLE ERA TO WHAT YOU ALL ARE
WORKING NOW WITH SPACEX AND
BOEING IN THE COMMERCIAL CREW
PROGRAM?
>> WELL, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL,
IT STARTS JUST WITH THE DESIGN
OF THE VEHICLE AND WHAT THEY
EACH WERE MADE FOR.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SPACE
SHUTTLE, IT WAS MADE FOR KIND OF
A DIFFERENT PURPOSE IN TERMS OF
IT WAS MADE TO HELP BUILD THE
SPACE STATION, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO BASED ON THAT, HOW IT WAS
BUILT, AND ALL OF THAT PUT
DIFFERENT RISKS, I WOULD SAY,
WITH FLYING ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE
VERSUS WITH THESE VEHICLES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU SEE WITH
SPACEX, WHAT YOU SEE BEING
DEVELOPED FOR BOEING, THEY HAVE
A MUCH SMALLER MISSION SET, IF
YOU WILL.
THEY WILL -- THEY'RE BEING MADE
TO TAKE PEOPLE TO LOW-EARTH
ORBIT AND BACK.
THEY'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO DO
THE SAME TYPES OF THINGS THAT
THE SPACE SHUTTLE WAS ASKED TO
DO.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU'LL SEE
THAT THE RISKS ARE A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENCE, AND WE'VE GOT THE
ADVANTAGE OF WHAT, 40 YEARS, 50
YEARS SINCE THE DESIGNS OF THE
SPACE SHUTTLE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE LEARNED A LOT
FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE
EXPERIENCE, AND WE'VE APPLIED
THOSE TO THESE VEHICLES.
YOU CAN SEE IT.
EARLIER, WE GOT ADVANTAGE FROM
THE T.P.S. ISSUE.
ALL OF THAT IS BEING APPLIED TO
THIS VEHICLE, AND WE'RE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THAT'S NOT ONLY MAKING THIS
SAFER FOR US, BUT AS WE LOOK AT
THE POTENTIAL OF OTHER FOLKS
BEING ABLE TO FLY ON THIS, AS
WELL.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S ALSO GROWN
OUR ABILITIES TO WORK AND LIVE
IN SPACE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO MARY LOU BENDER WITH
COSMIC PERSPECTIVE.
>> HI, THANK YOU.
THIS IS MARY LOU.
SO I'VE BEEN TALKING TO
ASTRONAUT NICOLE STOTT ABOUT AN
ITEM NEAR AND DEAR TO HER.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE
ALWAYS TAKE HER HUMANITY WITH
HER IN SPACE, AND FOR HER, THAT
MEANT BRINGING HER PAINTING IN
SPACE.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR
PERSONAL EFFECTS OR HOW YOU'LL
SPEND YOUR PERSONAL TIME?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
FOR ME, YES, WE KNOW AND LOVE
NICOLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T HAVE THE
SAME TALENTS THAT SHE HAS WHEN
IT COMES TO ART, SO THAT IS NOT
SOMETHING THAT I WILL PROBABLY
BE DOING VERY MUCH OF IN SPACE.
I THINK A LOT OF MY TIME WILL BE
SIMILAR TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE,
WHEN I HAD FREE TIME: LOOKING
OUT THE WINDOW AND ENJOYING THE
PERSPECTIVES OF SPACE AND
LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN
COMMUNICATE TO THAT TO THE REST
OF THE WORLD BECAUSE COMMUNICATE
OF WHAT WE'RE DOING UP THERE TO
THE REST OF THE WORLD IS HUGELY
IMPORTANT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO TO FRIDA JUAREZ FROM
L.A. UNIVERSAL AGAIN.
>> YEAH.
I ALSO WANT TO -- SORRY
[INAUDIBLE] COULD YOU EXPLAIN ME
HOW DIFFERENT THESE LAST
WORKING -- [INAUDIBLE] OR HAVE
EXPERIENCE WORKING AT NASA, BUT
HOW IS THE COLLABORATION WITH
SPACEX MADE IT DIFFERENT?
>> SO WORKING -- I THINK YOU'RE
ASKING HOW THE EXPERIENCE HAS
BEEN WORKING WITH SPACEX
DIFFERENT FROM MAYBE WORKING AT
NASA?
>> YES.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, THAT TEAM IS
REALLY AMAZING, AND I CAN'T GIVE
THEM ENOUGH KUDOS.
IT HAS MADE ME APPRECIATE HOW
HARD THEY WORK, AND HOW TALENTED
THEIR WORKFORCE REALLY IS.
EVERY TIME I GO THERE, I LEARN A
TON, BUT I ALSO HAVE FUN.
I'LL GET BACK TO OUR HOUSE IN
THE EVENING, AND JUST BE
PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED OR MENTALLY
EXHAUSTED, AND WE'LL SIT AROUND,
TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
BUT ALL HAVE SMILES ON OUR
FACES.
I THINK NASA'S CULTURE HAS BEEN
IMPROVED BY WORKING WITH SPACEX,
AND SPACEX'S CULTURE HAS BEEN
IMPROVED BY WORKING WITH NASA.
THEY HAVE ALL OF THAT EXPERIENCE
THAT MIKE AND SHANNON TALKED
ABOUT EARLIER.
AND THEY HAVE EXPERIENCE TEMPO.
THEY DO THINGS TO US THAT SEEM
TO BE PRETTY AMAZING, BUT THEY
DO IT WITH TALENT AND
PROFESSIONALISM.
>> I WOULD ADD TO THAT, IN SOME
WAYS, IT'S SIMILAR TO OUR
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP WHEN
WE FIRST STARTED.
OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS CAME
WITH EXPERIENCES AND WAYS OF
DOING BUSINESS, AND WE'VE ALL
COME TOGETHER SORT OF IN THE
CENTER OF ONE FUNCTIONAL GROUP
WORKING TOGETHER.
AND SO NOW, WE'RE BRINGING
SPACEX IN THE TEAM, AND SPACEX
IS LEARNING FROM THE PARTNERS
AND THE PARTNERSHIP IS LEARNING
FROM SPACEX.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO BACK TO SHANNON BARBER
FROM GANNETT PUBLICATIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAVEN'T HEARD AT MUCH ABOUT
THE SPINECIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS
YOU MAY BE CONDUCTING OR
MAINTAINING ABOARD THE I.S.S.
WOULD ANY OF YOU LIKE TO COMMENT
ON THAT?
>> WELL, THE EXPERIMENTS THAT
ARE GOING TO BE UP THERE WHILE
WE'RE THERE COULD VARY, AND SO
WE'VE HAD TO TRAIN ON A VARIETY
OF THEM.
ONE THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
IS FOOD PHYSIOLOGY BECAUSE I
LOVE TO EAT, AND IT'S GOING TO
ALLOW ME TO EAT MORE FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES AS THEY TRY TO
INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ACIDS AND
GLYCOLENE IN YOUR SYSTEM AS YOU
EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
FOOD EXPERIMENT.
>> ANYBODY ELSE ON FOOD
EXPERIMENTS?
>> THEY HAVE EXPERIMENTS THAT
DIDN'T EXIST THE LAST TIME THAT
SHANNON AND I FLEW.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIMENTS ON
MICROBIOLOGY AND GENE BIOLOGY,
AND ALSO A LOT OF EXPERIMENTS ON
THINGS LIKE THE AIRLOCK, SO
WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO EXPLORE
THESE THINGS.
>> JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU HAVE
A QUESTION ON THE PHONE, YOU CAN
PRESS STAR, ONE TO WITHDRAW YOUR
QUESTION AND STAR -- STAR, ONE
TO ASK YOUR QUESTION AND STAR,
TWO TO WITHDRAW YOUR QUESTION.
MARGARET HAS A QUESTION: WHAT DO
THE SYMBOLS ON YOUR PATCH
REPRESENT?
>> THE SHADOWS REPRESENT THE
PREVIOUS LAUNCH VEHICLES: THE
MERCURY, THE GEMINI, THE APOLLO,
AND THE DRAGON, AND IF YOU LOOK
ABOVE THE DURAN, YOU'LL SEE THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
RIGHT THERE.
>> AND ANOTHER QUESTION FROM
TWITTER.
CAN ASTRONAUTS CUSTOMIZE THEIR
SUITS AND HELMET COLORS.
SOICHI HAD A COOL BLACK HELMET
DURING SIMULATION.
>> THAT'S NOT THE OFFICIAL
FLIGHT HELMET.
THE SPACE HAS A NICE DESIGN
SCHEME.
IT'S A NICE WHITE HELMET.
AND I DON'T THINK WE'VE CHANGED
ANY OF THE UNIFORMS SINCE THE
SAME SHUTTLES, AND I THINK THE
UNIFORM LOOKED REALLY FANTASTIC.
>> OKAY.
LET'S GO TO SHANNON.
ARE THERE ANY FUN EASTER EGGS
ONAT
THE SPACE STATION THAT WE CAN
KNOW ABOUT?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY.
>> I MIGHT BE AWARE OF A FEW
THAT I'M GOING TO HOLD OUT ON.
>> AND FOR OUR FINAL QUESTION
FOR TODAY, LET'S GO TO MARY ON
TWITTER.
WHAT DO YOU AS ASTRONAUTS
CONSIDER A PERSONAL GOAL DURING
THE CREW ONE MISSION?
MAYBE EACH OF YOU CAN GIVE A
BRIEF ANSWER HERE.
>> SO, YOU KNOW, AS A PERSONAL
GOAL, I THINK THIS ONE IS
PROBABLY FAIRLY OBVIOUS, BUT FOR
ALL OF US, IT'S TO LAND SAFELY
AND TO RETURN TO OUR FAMILIES,
AND THAT'S KIND OF FIRST AND
FOREMOST.
I THINK ONE OF MY OTHER GOALS IS
TO -- I'M VERY EXCITED TO FLY
WITH VICTOR ON HIS -- ON HIS
FIRST FLIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW,
PART OF THAT GOAL, THEN, IS
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT
HE DOES ON HIS NEXT FLIGHT.
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE LISTENED TO
THE ADVICE OF MY COLLEAGUES AND
GOOD FRIENDS, AND I'M GOING TO
TRY TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT.
TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES OF THE
THINGS THAT WE DO INSIDE, NOT
JUST OF OUR PLANET, BUT OF MY
CREW MATES TO CAPTURE THE
EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO TO REMEMBER
THE EXPERIENCE ITSELF.
>> VICTOR'S GOAL IS VERY SIMILAR
TO MY GOAL.
WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET TO
THIS POSITION.
WE KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HARD
WORK AHEAD OF US ON THE SPACE
STATION, SO WE WANT TO
ACCOMPLISH OUR WORK BUT STILL
HAVE A LOT OF FUN DOING IT.
SO IF WE CAN COME BACK AS A
HAPPY CREW, WE'RE GOING INTO
SPACES, THAT'S GOING TO BE A
GOOD THING.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> I WOULD SAY -- I WOULD SAY
EVERY DAY'S A NEW DAY IN SPACE.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, RETURN HOME
WITH SMILE.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
JOINING US TODAY AND FOR TAKING
QUESTIONS.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU
LAUNCH ON OCTOBER 31.
YOU CAN WATCH THESE GUYS LAUNCH
ON NASA TV, ON-LINE AT
NASA.GOV/LIVE OR ON THE NASA
FACEBOOK PAGE.
YOU CAN JOIN MICHAEL, VICTOR,
AND SHANNON TOMORROW MORNING AT
10:00 A.M. LIVE ON THE NASA
FACEBOOK PAGE.
GOOD LUCK, GUYS, AND THANK YOU,
EVERYONE, FOR JOINING US.