>> TOUCHDOWN ON VANDE HIE BACK
HOME AFTER ONE YEAR FROM LEAVING
THE PLANET.
>> MARK VANDE HIE WITH YOUR
RECORD IN SPACE.
HE ARRIVED ON APRIL 9TH.
HIS TIME IN ORBIT HELD BY FORMER
ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY BY 5 DAYS.
HE RETURNED TO EARTH MARCH 30TH.
AS WE PREPARE FOR DEEP SPACE
EXPLORATION.
>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IN EFFECT IS
PRACTICING KEEPING PEOPLE
HEALTHY ON A LONG TRIP THROUGH
SPACE.
WHEN WE GET OUR FIRST FOLKS TO
MARS WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A
STAFF OF NURSES AND DOCTORS
THERE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE HEALTHY
AND TAKING CARE OF US.
BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT
IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL ALWAYS BE
VERY PROUD OF.
>> DURING HIS TIME ON THE
ORBITING LABORATORY, HE
CONDUCTED MANY SCIENCE
INVESTIGATIONS.
>> ANY TIME YOU CAN TAKE SCIENCE
EXPERIMENTS AND CHANGE THE
VARIABLES, YOU LEARN SOMETHING
NEW.
AND THE SPACE STATION PROVIDES A
UNIQUE ABILITY.
THE WAY COMBUSTION WORKS, SPACE
IS EXCITING.
THE FURTHER WE GO, THE MORE WE
LEARN.
>> WHAT WILL HE MISS ABOUT IT?
>> I WILL MISS SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGICAL DEMONSTRATIONS
THAT ARE HELPING OUT ALL OF
HUMANITY AND PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES OF HUMAN EXISTENCE.
FOR MORE ABOUT THIS INCREDIBLE
ACHIEVEMENT, WE INVITE YOU TO
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.
THAT'S THIS WEEK.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
>> AS YOU JUST HEARD THERE IS A
NEW AMERICAN RECORD HOLDER.
NASA ASTRONAUT MARK VANDE HEI.
HE EXPECTED SOMEONE WILL BREAK
HIS RECORD SOON AS THEY TACKLE
NEW FRONTIERS IN SPACE
EXPLORATION.
HERE IS A LOOK AT HIS TIME IN
SPACE ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
>> AND WE SEE BOOSTER IGNITION.
AND LIFT OFF.
>> I'M A BIG FAN OF BELIEVING IN
POSSIBILITIES.
IN WE HAVE EXPERIMENTS GOING ON
ON BOARD.
EVERY DAY TECHNOLOGICAL
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE HELPING
OUT ALL OF HUMANITY.
♪
>> ON CHRISTMAS DAY WE HAD A
COOKIE DECORATING CONTEST.
AND I BELIEVE MARK WON BEST IN
SHOW.
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A RECORD
THAT I WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ME.
IT'S A RECORD FOR OUR SPACE
PROGRAM.
I THINK IT'S ANOTHER STEP
FORWARD FOR HUMANITY, BUT I
DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE A RECORD
THAT WILL LAST VERY LONG BECAUSE
WE'RE DOING BIGGER AND BETTER
THINGS ALL THE TIME.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT BEING AN
ASTRONAUT WOULD BE AN AMAZING
THING.
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A
POSSIBILITY.
BUT THE THING THAT ALWAYS
INSPIRED ME ABOUT IT IS THIS
IDEA THAT WE GET TO EXPLORE AND
DO IT IN A WAY THAT BENEFITS ALL
OF HUMANITY.
>> SHORTLY BEFORE HE LEFT THE
STATION FOR HOME, VANDE HIE
ANSWERED SOME QUESTIONS POSTED
ON SOCIAL MARKS AND HE REFLECTED
ON HIS RECORD-BREAKING MISSION.
DESIGNED AS ALL EXPEDITIONS ARE
TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY AND FOR
FUTURE AND ROBOTIC SPACE
EXPLORATIONS.
♪
>> WHAT DID I BRING ON THIS
MISSION?
I BROUGHT MY WEDDING RING.
IT'S NOT ON MY FINGER BUT IT'S
ALWAYS ON MY WATCHBAND.
AND WAS I TIED DOWN A LOT?
EVERY TIME I NEEDED TO BE UPSIDE
DOWN, I DID IT, AND I GOT REALLY
COMFORTABLE FLIPPING DIRECTIONS.
THAT'S ONE OF JOYS ABOUT SPACE
FLIGHT.
NOW THAT YOU SET THE RECORD OF
CONSECUTIVE NUMBER OF DAYS IN
SPACE, HAVE YOU DECIDED TO MAKE
ANY CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE?
TO GET OUTSIDE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
I'VE HAD AN INDOOR JOB 24/7 FOR
ALMOST A YEAR.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING OUTSIDE
NO MATTER THE WEATHER.
HAS TIME IN SPACE CHANGED MY
VIEW OF OUR WHOLE PLANET?
THE CHANGE IN HOW I VIEW THE
PLANET IS THIS CONCEPT AS
EARTHLINGS BEING SEPARATE FROM
SPACE.
SEEING THAT ATMOSPHERE RIGHT NOW
LOOKS SO THIN THAT BACK ON EARTH
IT SEEMS MUCH CLEARER TO ME THAT
WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING UP AT THE
STARS, YOU'RE REALLY IN SPACE.
THE ONLY THING SEPARATING YOU
FROM THE VACUUM OF SPACE IS THAT
PRECIOUS THIN LAYER OF
ATMOSPHERE THAT WE CALL HOME.
HOW IMPORTANT WAS YOUR MISSION
TO THE SPACE STATION TO OUR
PLANET AND TO YOURSELF AS A
HUMAN BEING?
EVERY DAY THE 60 TO 100
EXPERIMENTS GOING ON.
WE DON'T OPERATE THOSE
EXPERIMENTS ALL THE TIME BUT
THEY'RE ON THE SPACE STATION IN
PROGRESS.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT ALL THE
DAYS WE SPENT ON THE SPACE
STATION IS MONEY INVESTED, THE
TALENT WE'VE INVESTED, IT WILL
CONTINUE TO RESULT IN FANTASTIC
DISCOVERIES AND WE'LL HELP
PEOPLE TO PROGRESS.
WHAT SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS DID
I ENJOY WORKING ON THE MOST AND
WHY?
THE EXPERIENCE WE HAD IN GROWING
HATCH CHILI PEPPERS.
THE REASON WHY I LIKED IT SO
MUCH, WHEN I OPEN UP THAT
CUPBOARD AND I CAN SMELL THOSE
PEPPERS, IT WAS SUCH A SHOCKING
DIFFERENCE TO SMELL A PLANT,
VEGETATION.
IT WAS AMAZING.
THEN WE GOT TO EAT THE PEPPERS.
SO THAT WAS A HUGE BONUS.
WHAT WAS MY MOST MEMORABLE
EXPERIENCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION?
I WOULD SAY IT HAS BEEN SOME OF
THE AURORAS WE'VE SEEN, WHETHER
DOWN SOUTH OR UP NORTH.
I HAD AN INCREDIBLE SENSE OF
WITNESSING SOMETHING THAT WAS
TIMELESS.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK HOME TO
EARTH.
>> MARK VANDE HIE'S EXTENDED
MISSION ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION PROVIDES
RESEARCHERS WITH ANOTHER
OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THE
EFFECTS OF LONG DURATION SPACE
FLIGHT ON THE HUMAN BODY.
AS NASA PREPARES TO RETURN TO
THE MOON UNDER THE ARTEMIS
PROGRAM AND PREPARE TO LAND ON
MARS.
LAND WORKED ON OTHER
EXPERIMENTS, TOO RANGING
EVERYTHING FROM PLANT RESEARCH
TO PHYSICAL SCIENCE STUDIES.
>> GOOD MORNING, EXPEDITION 64,
GOOD MORNING EXPEDITION 65.
GOOD MORNING, EXPEDITION 66.
>> WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TODAY.
>> THIS PROVIDES A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY.
BOUYANT FORCES DON'T WORK THE
SAME WAY, I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT
SPACE IS EXCITING BECAUSE WE AS
HUMAN BEINGS ARE EXPLORERS AT
OUR CORE.
AND WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND BETTER
HOW WE FIT IN THE VAST SCHEME OF
THINGS.
THE FURTHER WE GO, THE MORE WE
LEARN.
>> WHAT WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE
EXPERIMENT?
>> TOBY, GREAT QUESTION.
MY FAVORITE EXPERIMENT WAS THE
ONE I GOT TO EAT.
THAT WAS THE ONE WHERE WE GREW
HATCH CHILI PEPPERS.
SOME WENT DOWN TO THE GROUND,
BUT SOME OF THEM STAYED WITH US
AND WE ATE THEM.
>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH CHILI
PEPPERS?
>> WE'RE PRACTICING KEEPING
PEOPLE HEALTHY ON A LONG TRIP
THROUGH SPACE.
THE DIFFERENCE IS WHEN WE GET
OUR FIRST FOLKS TO MARS, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO HAVE A STAFF OF
NURSES AND DOCTORS THERE TO MAKE
SURE WE'RE HEALTHY AND TO TAKE
CARE OF US.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I'LL
ALWAYS BE VERY PROUD OF.
>> ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE
CONTROL TEAM, WE WANT TO SAY
CONGRATULATIONS ON 300 DAYS IN
SPACE.
WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU AND ALL
THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
>> THAT WAS VERY KIND OF YOU TO
STAY.
>> THIS IS DEFINITELY A TEAM
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.
>> IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO TURN OFF
ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE SPACE
STATION, AND LOOK OUT THE
WINDOW, AND IT IS GLORIOUS.
THIS ATMOSPHERE THAT IS
ESSENTIAL TO OUR EXISTENCE,
THAT'S A VERY FINITE RESOURCE WE
NEED TO PROTECT.
I'LL MISS THE CERTAINTY THAT
EVERY DAY I AM SPENDING WITH
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGICAL
DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE HELPING
OUT OF ALL OF HUMANITY AND
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF HUMAN
EXISTENCE.
THERE IS A STRONG SENSE OF
PURPOSE FOR ALL OF US UP HERE AS
WE DO THIS WORK.
♪
>> UP THERE IN ORBIT DURING LONG
DURATION SPACE FLIGHT, THE
RESTAURANTS AND COSMONAUTS CAN
EXPERIENCE STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO
THEIR HEARTS.
BUT EXACTLY WHAT CHANGES AND HOW
THEY OCCUR IS NOT YET CLEARLY
UNDERSTOOD.
THAT'S WHY RESEARCHERS ARE
INVESTIGATING CARDIOVASCULAR
STEM CELLS SO THEY CAN BETTER
UNDERSTAND THE ROLE THOSE CELLS
PLAY IN THE MAKE UP OF OUR
HEARTS AS WELL AS IN TISSUE
REGENERATION.
♪
>> ONE OF THE FIRST TEST IS THE
EARLY POPULATION OF CELLS.
WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF CARDIAC TISSUE WHETHER
IT BE THE HEART MUSCLE CEILINGS
OR THE LINING OF BLOOD CRESSELS.
THESE CELLS WE'RE WORKING WITH
HAVE THE ABILITY TO BECOME ANY
CARDIAC DERIVATIVE.
THERE IS A LOT WE CAN LEARN FROM
THESE EXPERIMENTS.
THE LAB HAS BEEN STUDYING
CARDIOVASCULAR REGIONTIVE CELLS.
( L" )WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMPARE
THE MICRO GRAVITY CELLS RELATED
TO THE OTHER CELLS AND COMPARE
THESE RESULTS TO SEE IF MICRO
GRAVITY INSPIRED TREATMENT CAN
HELP IN REPAIR.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE SPACE
FLIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN LEARNING QUITE A BIT
EVEN FROM THE SIMULATION.
WE THINK WITH THE SPACE FLIGHT
WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXTEND THE
OBSERVATION AND PROMOTE CARDIO
REPAIR TISSUE.
>> ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT
BEING AN ASTRONAUT ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, OR
SO I'M TOLD, YOU GET TO LOOK OUT
THE WINDOW AT A LIVING COLOR OF
EARTH.
DISCUSSING THE STATION'S WORD AS
AN EARTH MONITORING AND DIAGNOSE
STATION WHILE SHOWING OFF SOME
OF THE AMAZING IMAGES THAT HE
AND HIS COLLEAGUES CAPTURED FROM
250-MILES STRAIGHT UP.
( L" )
♪
>> HELLO, YOU WANT TO KNOW ONE
OF THE BEST PARTS OF BEING AN
ASTRONAUT UP IN SPACE?
OUR VIEW OF THE EARTH FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS
ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.
AND VIEWING THE EARTH FROM SPACE
IS A BIG PART OF OUR JOB.
IN ADDITION TO MANY OTHER
IMPORTANT FUNCTION FUNCTIONS THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
SERVES AS A GLOBAL MONITORING
AND DIAGNOSING STATION.
WE CAN SEE OBSERVATIONS ACROSS
THE GLOBE AIMED AT UNDERSTANDING
AND RESOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL
ISSUES WE FACE ON OUR HOME
PLANET.
HAVE A LOOK.
THE SPACE STATION OFFERS THE
UNIQUE VANTAGE POINT FOR
OBSERVING ECOSYSTEMS WITH HANDS
ON AND AUTOMATED CAMERAS AND
IMAGE CAPTURING EQUIPMENT.
THIS OBSERVES AND EXPLAINS WHAT
WE'RE WITNESSING IN REALTIME.
THE IMAGE CAPTURE EQUIPMENT ON
THE SPACE STATION PROVIDES INPUT
TO PERSONNEL BACK ON EARTH
WORKING TO PROGRAM THE EARTH
ECOSYSTEMS, PROVIDING ADVANTAGE
OF UNMANNED SPACECRAFT.
THIS IS USEFUL DURING VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS, EARTHQUAKES, FIRES,
AND WHEN OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS
LIKE FLOODS OCCUR.
THE INTERAGENCY PARTNERSHIPS
FUNDS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION DATA SHARING IS
FACILITATING PROVIDING
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ON A
RANGE OF EARTH OBSERVATION
ACTIVITIES.
A WIDE VARIETY OF EARTH
OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT CAN BE
ATTACHED TO THE SPACE STATION
EXTERIOR.
RESEARCHERS FROM AROUND THE
GLOBE ARE PROPOSING ADDITIONAL
PAYLOADS TO INSTALL.
IN CONTINUING TO USE A
COMBINATION OF CREW-OPERATED AND
AUTOMATED EARTH OBSERVATION
PAYLOADS THE SPACE STATION
COLLECTS SPECIAL DATA ON
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND HAZARDS
TO HUMANITY AND OUR HOME PLANET.
THE WINDOW OF OBSERVATION
FACILITY OR WHAT WE CALL THE
WORF, THE HIGH QUALITY OPTICS OF
THE BOTTOM VIEWING WINDOW OF THE
SPACE STATION WILL LOOK STRAIGHT
DOWN ON TO EARTH.
DO YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN
SOME OF OUR EARTH OBSERVATIONS?
JOIN US.
GO TO EARTH CAM.ORG AND FOLLOW
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO SIGN UP AND
HAVE A LOOK AT SPECTACULAR EARTH
VIEWS FROM SPACE.
YOU CAN ALSO TRY THE LINK WE
PROVIDED IN THE DESCRIPTION OF
THIS VIDEO.
THANKS FOR JOINING ME.
SEE YOU ALL NEXT TIME.
♪ WE MENTIONED A TIME OR TWO
THAT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION IS NOT THE ONLY NASA
MISSION THAT'S CREATING BENEFITS
FOR THOSE OF US HERE ON EARTH.
WHICH IS ONE OF THE MANY PLANETS
NASA OBSERVES AND STUDIES FROM
ORBIT.
IN THE CASE OF THIS BLUE MARBLE,
TRACKING AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS
HELPS INHABITABLES STAY ON TOP
OF FOOD ISSUES.
WE HAVE A LOOK AT HOW NASA CAN
MONITOR AGRICULTURE CONDITIONS
AROUND THE WORLD TO SUPPORT THE
CREATION, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THE SNACKS WE ALL ENJOY.
>> WE USE SATELLITE DATA TO
TRACK--HELLO, THIS IS SNACK TIME
WITH NASA.
TODAY WE'RE MAKING A BIG
FAVORITE IN MY HOUSE, CHIP AND
DIP.
THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE YOUR RUN
OF THE MILL DIP.
THIS IS A SEVEN LAYER DIP.
STICK WITH ME.
DO YOU KNOW THIONASE A PLAYS A
BIG PART IN THE FOOD YOU EAT?
WE USE DATA FROM SPACE TO
MONITOR AGRICULTURE AND TRACK
FOOD SECURITY.
INCIDENTALLY WE HAVE SOME OF THE
CROPS THAT WE KEEP AN EYE ON.
GET IT NOW?
SEVEN LAYER CROP?
NOW THE QUESTION IS CAN WE MAKE
A TASTY DISH?
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANT TO
INTRODUCE THE DOCTOR WHO CAN TEM
US ABOUT NASA'S CONNECTION TO
THE FOOD WE EAT.
HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?
>> GREAT, HOW ARE YOU?
>> GREAT ITS GREAT TO HAVE YOU.
FIRST OF ARE YOU A FAN OF CHIPS
AND DIP?
>> I LOVE CHIP AND DIP, YES.
>> GOOD.
>> AS A DIRECTOR OF NASA'S
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
PROGRAM, CAN YOU TELL US WHY
NASA STUDIES AGRICULTURE IN THE
FIRST PLACE WHEN WE'RE KNOWN
MORE FOR SPACE EXPLORATION THAN
COOKING.
>> AS YOU KNOW, OUR PLANET EARTH
IS ALSO A PLANET, SO NASA HAS
SATELLITES POINTING OUT TO
SPACE, BUT IT ALSO HAS A LOT OF
SATELLITES POINTING AT EARTH.
THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE WE LIVE
HERE.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US TO TRACK
AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE'RE
CHANGING OUR PLANET, HOW OUR
PLANET IS RESPONDING, AND IN
PARTICULAR, TRACKING
AGRICULTURE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE
CONCERNED WITH HERE.
FOOD SECURITY AND AGRICULTURE
ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES WE FACE IN THIS
CENTURY.
THE NASA SATELLITE DATA GOING
BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF
SATELLITE MONITORING THERE HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A LARGE FOCUS ON
AGRICULTURE.
AGRICULTURE COVERS A HUGE PART
OF OUR LAND SYSTEM.
WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT HELPS US
TO GET AN ACCURATE AND TIMELY
UNDERSTANDING OF SHORTFALLS AND
CROP PRODUCTION AROUND THE
WORLD.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYTHING IS
CONNECTED MUCH LIKE DIFFERING
INGREDIENTS OF A LARGER DISH.
I'M LAYING DOWN THE FIRST LAYER
OF OUR DIP, WHICH IS REFRIED
BLACK BEANS.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE EARTH
OPERATES IN A SIMILAR WAY IN HOW
THINGS CONNECT TOGETHER.
HOW DO THESE OBSERVATIONS HELP
US TO UNDERSTAND FOOD SECURITY
AND FOOD PRODUCTION ESPECIALLY
IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> FOOD SECURITY IS ONE OF THE
MOST CRITICAL AND IMPORTANT
CHALLENGES WE FACE.
THEREFORE, HAVING INFORMATION
ABOUT WHERE FOOD IS BEING GROWN,
HOW MUCH IS BEING GROWN.
HOW IT IS CHANGING OVER TIME AND
HOW IT RESPONDS TO EXTREME
WEATHER EVENTS AS YOU SAID UNDER
CLIMATE CHANGE IN A WARMING
CLIMATE, WE'RE IMPACTING OUR
FOOD PRODUCTION.
AND SO WE HAVE VARIOUS
SATELLITES GOING UP ABOVE AND
TURNING AROUND US ALL THE TIME.
THAT ARE HELPING TO MONITOR
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE
AGRICULTURE SYSTEM.
WHETHER IT IS TO HELP US
DISTINGUISH WHERE CORN IS BEING
GROWN AROUND THE WORLD, HOW IT
IS DEVELOPING, HOW IT COMPARES
THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR IN
THE CORN BELT IN THE UNITED
STATES.
HELPING US TO PROVIDE THAT
INFORMATION ON A TIMELY MANNER
ON A GLOBAL SCALE, IT IS
CRITICAL FOR MAKING DECISIONS
RELEVANT FOR FOOD SECURITY AND
SUSTAINABILITY.
>> WE HAVE CORN HERE AS ONE OF
OUR LAYERS.
WE HAVE RICE.
WE HAVE AVOCADO IN THE
GUACAMOLE.
CAN WE SEE ANY OF THESE STAPLE
FOODS BEING GROWN IN THE U.S.?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S A LARGE FOCUS, NASA HAS
PARTNERED VERY CLOSELY FOR MANY
YEARS NOW.
THEY'RE FOCUSED ON USING
SATELLITE DATA FOR BEING ABLE TO
MONITOR THE EXTENT OF CROPS OF
WHERE CORN IS BEING GROWN VERSUS
SOYBEANS VERSUS WHEAT.
AND YOU WOULD GET A LARGE FOCUS
ON THAT.
GIVEN THAT OUR FOOD SYSTEM IS SO
INTERCONNECTED BEING ABLE TO
MONITOR BOTH INSIDE THE U.S. AND
GLOBALLY, AND SATELLITE ENABLE
US TO DO THAT.
>> SO YOU MONITOR CROPS ALL OVER
THE WORLDS.
BUT WHO IS USING THIS DATA?
AND HOW EXACTLY DOES IT HELP?
IS IT WHOLE GOVERNMENTS THAT
RELY ON IT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND IT'S EVERYBODY.
IT'S MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE,
AND DEPARTMENTS ARE TRYING TO
ESTIMATE PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENT
CROPS.
IT'S HUMANITARIAN COMMUNITIES
WHO GUESS WHERE THERE WILL BE
FOOD SHORTAGES, AND THEN
FARMERS.
ONE EXAMPLE IS THE CROP MONITOR
PROGRAM.
THIS PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT
THE GLOBAL SCALE ON A MONTHLY
BASIS OPERATIONALLY, TARGETED
MORE TOWARDS POLICYMAKERS WHO
NEED TO HAVE A QUICK WAY OF
UNDERSTANDING WHAT GLOBAL CROPS
CONDITIONS.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THAT
POLICY COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME
TO DEVELOP PRODUCTS THAT PROVIDE
A GOOD GLOBAL PICTURE WITH FOOD
SUPPLIES ACROSS THE WORLD.
>> SO JUST MOVING ALONG HERE.
WE HAVE CORN HERE.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE
INFORMATION YOU TALKED ABOUT
WOULD HELP US WITH FOOD
SHORTAGES, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS USE THE
SATELLITE DATA TO GIVE US AN
EARLY WARNING AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE AND WE MONITOR CROPS AS
SOON AS THEY'RE IN THE GROUND
AND GROWING, AND TRYING TO PUT
IN AN ALERT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE
IF WE START TO SEE A DROUGHT
DEVELOPING, AND TRACK THAT
THROUGH THE SEASON.
THIS INFORMATION AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE IS REALLY CRITICAL FOR
POLICYMAKERS AND GOVERNMENT TO
BE ABLE TO TAKE MITIGATION
ACTION TO PREVENT FOOD SHORTAGE
AND IMPLEMENT MITIGATION
STRATEGIES AHEAD OF TIME.
>> I KNOW NASA WORKS WITH THE
USDA.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT
AGENCIES LIKE THAT WORK
TOGETHER?
>> THE USDA IS THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
PROVIDING GLOBAL INFORMATION ON
A MONTHLY BASIS ON CROP
PRODUCTION.
THEY SET THE GOLD STANDARD TO
WHICH COMMODITY MARKETS REACT
TO.
WHEN THOSE REPORTS COME OUT HE
HAVE MONTH, YOU CAN SEE THE
RESPONSE IN INTERNATIONAL
MARKET.
IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE FOR US,
FOR NASA TO BE WORKING CLOSELY
WITH USDA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
ARE ABLE TO TAKE UP THE BEST
TECHNOLOGY AND ANALYTICS TO
INFORM THEIR FORECASTING AND
POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND DECISION
MAKING ULTIMATELY.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS SUCH AN
EXCITING AND IMPORTANT TIME TO
FOR AGRICULTURE MONITORING.
>> IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR
AGRICULTURE MONITORING AND IT'S
POTENTIAL TO INFORM OUR FOOD
SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
DECISIONS AND HELP GET US
TOWARDS THE GOAL OF ZERO HUNGER,
INCREASING FOOD SUPPLIES AT THE
SAME TIME DOING THAT IN A
SUSTAINABLE MANNER.
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S AMAZING.
AND WHAT'S ALSO AMAZING IS OUR
DISH HERE WHICH IS ALMOST
COMPLETE, BUT I THINK WE CAN ALL
AGREE WHAT WOULD MAKE IT PERFECT
IS A HEALTHY LAYER OF CHEESE.
YUM.
DELICIOUS.
THERE WE GO.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR
WATCHING.
HAPPY SNACKING.
♪
>> IF YOU WANT ANOTHER LOOK AT
ANY OF THE STORIES WE SHOWED YOU
TODAY, GO OVER TO YouTube AND
FACEBOOK AT THOSE ADDRESSES
RIGHT THERE, AND YOU'LL FIND
THEM ALL ALONG WITH LOTS OF
OTHER GREAT FEATURES AND TOPICS
FOR NASA.
CHECK OUT "HOUSTON, WE'VE GOT A
PODCAST."
TODAY, GARY JORDAN LEARNS ABOUT
THE REMARKABLE RANGE OF COOL
THINGS WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES
TODAY THANKS TO NASA'S
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM THE
SPACE PROGRAM TO OUR REAL LIVES.
GO TO NASA.GOV /PODCAST FOR
THIS WEEK'S EPISODE AND PREVIOUS
EPISODES.
YOU'LL FIND THE FULL LIBRARY OF
ALL OF NASA'S PODCASTS.
YOU CAN GET THE LATEST FROM ALL
OVER NASA DELIVERED TO YOU EVERY
WEEK.
JUST GO TO NASA.GOV /SUBSCRIBE
TO SIGN UP FOR THE NASA
NEWSLETTER.