>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M NASA ASSOCIATE ADMINISTER
FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WELCOME
TO OUR BRIEFING AFTER A
SUCCESSFUL AND PICTURE PERFECT
LANDING OF THE BOEING STARLINER
SPACECRAFT.
WE HAD A FOLLOWING LAUNCH
CAPSULE FROM FLORIDA A FEW DAYS
AGO.
TODAY WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF
PEOPLE TO GIVE US MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT EVERYTHING
ABOUT STARLINER WITH US NASA
ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE
AND JIM CHILTON, BOEING SPACE
AND LAUNCH DIVISION, AND CHIEF
STICH, NASA'S COMMERCIAL CREW
PROGRAM.
WE'LL START WITH INDUSTRY
REMARKS AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP
THE QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS.
WITH THAT. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
NASA ADMINISTRATOR JIM
BRIDENSTINE.
>> THANK YOU, BETTINA.
ON FRIDAY AFTER THE SEPARATION
OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE LAUNCH
VEHICLE, WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES
AND I WAS VERY CLEAR A LOT
THINGS WENT RIGHT.
A LOT OF THINGS DID IN FACT GO
RIGHT.
BUT WE HAD A LOT MORE TO DO.
WE HAD TO TEST THE VEHICLE
ITSELF AND TEST ENTRY, DESCENT
AND LANDING.
I CAN TELL YOU THIS MORNING,
WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED A WHOLE
LOT MORE THINGS DID GO RIGHT,
VERY, VERY, DEVELOP WELL.
SOME OF THE HARDEST PARTS OF THE
MISSION HAVE PROVEN TO BE VERY
CAPABLE, SO THAT'S ALL POSITIVE.
YOU LOOK AT THE LANDING, IT WAS
AN ABSOLUTE BULLSEYE.
BETTER THAN ANYBODY ANTICIPATED.
SO THAT'S GOOD FOR AGENCY AND
BOEING AND UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
SO, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE
END-TO-END TEST, WHICH WE JUST
WENT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE
THE LAUNCH.
THE LAUNCH IS A VERY, VERY
DIFFICULT PART OF THE MISSION.
AND WE PROVED THAT WE COULD
LAUNCH A STARLINER ON AN ATLAS 5
ROCKET AND CENTAUR UPPER STAGE
WITH TWO RL10'S AT A LOWER
TRAJECTORY THAN IT NORMALLY HAS
THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE.
TWO RL10 ENGINES HAS NEVER BEEN
DONE SINCE 2004 AND NEVER THIS
LOW OF PRO TRAJECTORY FOR HUGH
HAS AN SPACEFLIGHT.
WE HAD THE CHALLENGE WITH THE
MISSION LAST TIME WITH WHICH
RESULTED THE SPACECRAFT
BELIEVING IT WAS IN A PLACE
WHERE IT WAS AND TRYING TO MAKE
CORRECTIONS TO GET WHERE IT
THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE.
WE GOT CONTROL OF IT AND FLEW IT
VERY SUCCESSFULLY.
WE DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
NOT DOCK BUT THE SPACECRAFT FLEW
EXCEPTIONALLY WELL AND OF COURSE
THEN WE BROUGHT IT HOME.
FOR THE FIRST TIME LANDING A
CAPSULE ON LAND IN THE
UNITED STATES.
WE HAVE DONE IT IN THIS NATION
BUT WE PINPOINT LANDED IT.
AMAZING HOW THAT WAS
ACCOMPLISHED.
A LOT OF THINGS WENT RIGHT ON
FRIDAY AND A LOT MORE THINGS
WENT RIGHT TODAY.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE.
THIS IS PART OF THE COMMERCIAL
CREW PROGRAM.
WE NEED TO HAVE THIS SIMILAR
REDUNDANCY FOR HOW WE FLY
ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE.
WE HAVE TWO COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS
AND THIS IS YET THE NEXT STEP IN
THIS EVOLUTION TO GET A
COMMERCIAL CREW CAPABILITY FOR
OUR NATION AND END RESULT IS
COMMERCIAL HABITATION AND
COMMERCIAL CREW AND RESUPPLY
WHERE NASA CAN BE ONE CUSTOMER
OF MANY CUSTOMERS.
WE WANT TO BE A CUSTOMER.
WE VERY WELL BE A TENANT
CUSTOMER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME
BUT WE WANT TO GET TO THE POINT
WHERE WE ARE A CUSTOMER AND
NUMEROUS PROVIDERS THAT ARE
COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER ON
CONSTANT INNOVATION AND DRIVING
DOWN COST AND INCREASING ACCESS
AND TODAY WAS A GREAT MILESTONE
IN THAT EVENT.
WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
JIM CHILTON.
>> I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE
MISSION SUMMARY.
WE ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST
PLEASED HOW THIS CAME TOGETHER.
THE SHOULDER TO SHOULDER BOEING
NASA TEAM AND THE COLLABORATION
IT WAS FANTASTIC.
OF COURSE THE BIG PIECES OF THE
MISSION GOT A BRAND NEW HUMAN
RATED ATLAS 5 WHICH IS NOT THE
SAME THING AND FLYING A
DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY AND SHAPE
YOU CAN ONLY DO THAT AT SCALE
AND THAT WENT DIFFERENT.
WE GOT A SURPRISING START WE
TOOK CARE OF THAT AND WERE ABLE
TO SHOW THAT IT SHOWS ATTITUDE
AND KEEPS OUR PEOPLE SAFE AND
CABIN TEMP AND PRESSURES WERE
TERRIFIC.
OF COURSE RETURN -- YESTERDAY I
MENTIONED RETURN IS SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY TEST.
YOU GOT TO PUT YOUR SHIELD ON
AND GO THROUGH THE HEAT SCHEME.
TODAY WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN
ANY BETTER.
WE GOT GUIDANCE LOCKED AND UNDER
AND TOUCHED DOWN ON THE CENTER
OF THE BULLSEYE AS JIM
MENTIONED.
CREWS ARE ON SIGHT.
WE HAD AN HOUR OF TARGET TO GET
THE HATCH OPEN AND IT WAS AN
HOUR AND TWO MINUTES.
VERY PROUD OF THAT TEAM.
THEY WERE OUT THERE IN THE COLD
READY.
WE LANDED WITHOUT A LOT OF
LIGHT.
ANOTHER GREAT DEMONSTRATION.
AND SO, FROM AN OVERALL
PERSPECTIVE WE ARE JUST AS
PLEASED AS WE CAN BE WITH THE
DESIGN.
ROSIE THE ROCKETEER, I HAD A
FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
ROSIE THE ROCKETEER HAD ABOUT
58-65 DEGREES CABIN TEMPERATURE
AND 51% HUMIDITY AND THAT WAS AS
LANDED SO RE-ENTRY DID NOT
DISRUPT THAT AND OF COURSE
CUSTOM WILL BE IMPORTANT.
AND THE DESIGN HELD UP REALLY
WELL, ALMOST AS WELL AS THE
TEAM.
>> I'LL LEVEL DOWN ON WHAT YOU
WERE TALKING ABOUT THE TEAM.
I HAD A MEETING WITH THE FLIGHT
DIRECTORS.
RICHARD JONES WAS THE FLIGHT
DIRECTOR FOR LAUNCH AND RE-ENTRY
AND HE SAID THE TEAM COLLAPSED.
THE TEAM LITERALLY BECAME ONE
AND NOBODY WORE A BADGE.
THE BOEING PEOPLE DID NOT WEAR A
BADGE AND THE NASA PEOPLE DID
NOT WEAR A BADGE.
IT WAS JUST ABOUT MISSION
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND BECAUSE OF
THAT THIS ENDED UP BEING A VERY
POSITIVE TEST FLIGHT.
>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR,
RICHARD.
BEING SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH
US AND US BEING COMPLETELY CLEAR
ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IS A BIG
PART OF THIS MISSION.
IT WAS A FLIGHT TEST, SO THERE'S
TECHNICAL DETAILS THAT CAN BE
GONE THROUGH.
AS YOU ENTER A FLIGHT TEST YOU
HAVE A LIST OF OBJECTIVES.
WE CAN'T CONFIRM THEM ALL.
IF YOU WENT STRAIGHT DOWN THE
CHECKLIST WE WOULD BE LOW 60%
RIGHT NOW.
INSIDE THE CAPSULE WE HAVE DATA
RECORDERS AND THE DATA IS NOT
SENT BACK HOME THROUGH
TELEMETRY.
THINGS LIKE TEMPERATURE SENSORS
ON THE HULL AND GAUGES TO SEE
BENDING AND WHAT KIND OF
SHOCKAGES THERE ARE SENSORS IN
THE SEAT FOR ROSIE THE
ROCKETEER.
SOME OF THOSE WE CAN GET A WIDE
SENSE.
IT'S ABOUT A 10 DAY TRANSIT AND
COUPLE OF DAYS ON EITHER END.
IF I WAS GOING TO INSURE SHALL
HOW THAT WILL COME OUT FROM
CABIN TEMPS AND HOW PRISTINE THE
VEHICLE LOOKS I WOULD SAY WE'RE
PROBABLY IN THE 85-90% RANGE OF
OUR TEST OBJECTIVES AND ANOTHER
SUBJECTIVE OBSERVATION WE FIND
VERY ENCOURAGING IS THE VESSEL
LOOKS GREAT AND THE GROUND
CRUISE, CHRIS, NICOLE THEY'RE
TELLING US THERE IS HARDLY ANY
CHARRING AND PERFECT ON THE AIR
BAGS AND THAT BOTH WELL.
>> THAT'S, JIM.
FROM A COMMERCIAL CREW
PERSPECTIVE COMING OVER FROM THE
CONTROL CENTER INCREDIBLY HAPPY
AND LOTS OF SMILES CELEBRATING A
GREAT MISSION AND GREAT TEST
FLIGHT.
I WOULD SAY THE TEAM DID JUST A
TREMENDOUS JOB NOT ONLY DURING
THIS FLIGHT BUT IF YOU LOOK BACK
AT ALL THE YEARS OF PREPARATION
TO GET THIS MISSION READY TO GO,
THIS TEST FLIGHT, I WOULD SAY
THE TEAM CAME TOGETHER IN TERMS
OF PRE PLANNING THE FLIGHT, WHAT
YOU FIND SOMETIMES IS WHEN YOU
EXECUTE A FLIGHT DIFFERENTLY
THAN PLANNED THAT TEAM COMES
TOGETHER IN A UNIQUE WAY AND I
ECHO WHAT JIM SAID, WHAT YOU SEE
IS THAT THE NASA TEAM AND NASA
ENGINEERS AND FLIGHT CONTROL
TEAM, THE BOEING TEAM WORKING
SIDE BY SIDE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
IN REALTIME AND COME UP WITH
INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO KEEP
DECISIONS AHEAD OF THEM AND END
UP LIKE TODAY WHERE WE HAD A
SUCCESSFUL DEORBIT BURN AND
LANDING.
THE NUMBER ONE OBJECTIVE WAS
SUCCESSFUL DEORBIT RE-ENTRY AND
LANDING.
WE DID THAT TODAY.
THE VEHICLE FLEW PHENOMENALLY
AND ALL THEY WENT EXACTLY AS
PLANNED.
THE BURN WAS PLANNED AND
SEPARATION OF THE SERVICE MODULE
WENT AS PLANNED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE AND 30 ITSELF
REALLY COMPLICATED.
MAYBE THE MOST COMPLICATED FOR
THIS WHOLE TEST FLIGHT AND
SEQUENCE OF 80 DIFFERENT PYROS
THAT HAVE TO PUT THE SEPARATE
THE BASE HEAT SHIELD AND CREW
MODULE AND DEPLOY THE PARACHUTE
ALL THAT WENT WELL.
THE VEHICLE CONTROLLED ITSELF
PERFECTLY.
IF I LOOK BACK ON THIS YEAR, WE
HAD A TREMENDOUS YEAR, FLOWN TWO
ORBIT TEST FLIGHTS IN
PREPARATION FOR THE CREW
MISSIONS NEXT YEAR AND FLEW A
TEST IN NOVEMBER WITH BOEING AND
WE HAVE ALL THE DATA FROM THESE
TWO ORBIT TEST FLIGHTS TO SET US
UP.
AND EARLY NEXT YEAR WE'LL TURN
TO AN INFLIGHT ABORT TEST FOR
SPACEX.
WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR
NEXT YEAR AND I COULDN'T BE MORE
PROUD OF THE TEAM FROM ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
BOEING, NASA, ALL THE
CONTRACTORS WITH THE HOLIDAYS IN
FRONT OF THEM THEY DID A
TREMENDOUS JOB.
SO MY HAT'S OFF TO THEM.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE'LL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A
QUESTION DURING THE Q & A PRESS
STAR 1 TO BE ADDED TO THE CUE.
WITH THAT WE'LL START WITH
QUESTIONS HERE.
>> DID MORNING.
ERIC BERGER.
EITHER FOR EITHER ONE OF THE
JIMS.
FIRST OF ALL, WAS ENTRY AND
DESCENT AND LANDING THE MOST
DIFFICULT?
AND SECOND OF ALL WAS THERE
ANYTHING YOU SAW OVER THE LAST
COUPLE DAYS BESIDES THE MISSION
LAPSE TIMING PROBLEM THAT GAVE
YOU ANY CONCERN THAT YOU'LL HAVE
TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE DATA
AND STUDY AND UNDERSTAND?
>> YES, I'D SAY FROM A NASA
PERSPECTIVE WHEN WE HAVE A
CHALLENGE WITH MISSION ELAPSE
TIME THAT'S TIED TO THE SOFTWARE
THAT WE WHETHER USING, THAT
GIVES US REASON TO THINK WE NEED
TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT A LOT OF
DIFFERENT THINGS.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, WE HAVE
OBJECTIVES THAT WE NEED TO MEET.
TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, ENTRY,
DESCENT AND LANDING OF COURSE
PROBABLY -- THE NUMBER ONE
OBJECTIVE AND ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT PHASES OF THE FLIGHT.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WE WILL --
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO BACK.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DATA TO REVIEW
AND A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT WE
NEED TO COLLECT, AND WHEN YOU'RE
SO FOCUSSED ON THE MISSION
ITSELF OR THE FLIGHT TEST
ITSELF, WE'RE NOT GOING THROUGH
AND EVALUATING EVERYTHING IN
REAL TIME.
NOW WE NEED TO GO BACK AND DO A
REVIEW OF EVERYTHING FROM START
TO FINISH.
WE MIGHT FIND SOMETHING.
BUT THAT'S WHY WE TEST.
>> THE TRICKIEST THING ABOUT
ENTRY THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN
TEST IS WHEN YOU GO EXECUTE
THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.
THERE IS NO GOOD WAY TO DO THAT
AND TEST END TO END ALL THE
SYSTEMS WITHOUT FLYING IT
THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.
JUST LIKE AN AIRPLANE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW BRAND NEW
AIRCRAFT, YOU HAVE TO GO TAKE IT
OUT AND PUT IT THROUGH ITS
VARIOUS PACES WHERE IT'S GOING
TO FLY.
SAME THING WITH THE SPACECRAFT
AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID TODAY.
IT WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE DATA.
I THINK THE ENTRY LOOKS SUPERB.
>> I WOULD ADD THAT THERE'S SOME
THINGS YOU MIGHT EXPECT THAT
WE'LL GO DO.
ALL THE CABIN DATA, THIS WAS A
FLIGHT TEST, SO WE SAID HERE'S
WHAT WE THINK IT WILL EXPERIENCE
AND WE'LL LOOK AT ALL THE
TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES AND
FAN SPEEDS AND WE'LL PROBABLY
ADJUST THOSE.
THE CONTROL LIMITS, HOW MUCH
PRESSURE DO WE ALLOW IN THIS
MANIFOLD VERSUS THAT MANIFOLD,
IT WAS IN OUR PLAN TO TWEAK
THOSE.
FOR COMPLETENESS WE GOT TO GO DO
THAT.
ONE THAT WILL BE OF INTEREST TO
US IS -- AS THE CREW MODULE
FLIES SEPARATE FROM THE SERVICE
MODULE, DEPENDING ON WHAT ORBIT
YOU'RE COMING IN FROM, IT TELLS
HE, HERE'S THE BURN YOU NEED DO
AND BASED ON WHERE YOU TAKE ME
HERE'S THE BURN YOU NEED TO DO
TO DISPOSE OF YOURSELF.
BECAUSE WE WERE CHANGING THE RED
LINES ON THE THRUSTERS DURING
FLIGHT VERSUS AFTER WE GOT SOME
GOOD PRACTICE ON THAT AND WE
WOULD OPTIMIZE THAT DIFFERENTLY.
ALTHOUGH FLIGHT CONTROL TEAMS
DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND WE GOT
EARLIER PLANS HOW QUICKLY WE
COULD DO THAT.
BUT IN THE MAIN, THIS IS -- I
JUST LEARNED THIS ON A FIRST
FLIGHT AND I'M GOING TO CHANGE
THINGS BECAUSE I FLEW TO LEARN.
>> REMINDER, PLEASE IDENTIFY
YOUR NAME AND ORGANIZATION.
ONE QUESTION PER REPORTER.
THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE WOLVERINES.
OUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM
CHRIS DAVENPORT FROM THE
"WASHINGTON POST".
CHRIS?
>> YEAH, HEY, GUYS.
THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.
CONGRATS ON THE LANDING TODAY.
EVERYONE.
I HAD A QUESTION SOUND LIKE
EVERYONE IS PRETTY POSITIVE.
I WONDER IF BOEING WILL BE PAID
A MILESTONE PAYMENT FOR THIS
MISSION UNDER THE CONTRACT.
CURIOUS HOW MUCH THAT PAYMENT IS
AND, MR. STICH, SOUNDS LIKE
YOU'RE BULLISH ON GOING AHEAD
RIGHT TO THE CREWED FLIGHT
WITHOUT DOING ANOTHER UNCREWED
FLIGHT.
>> I'LL TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT.
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC MILESTONE
FOR THE ORBIT FLIGHT TEST ITSELF
AND THEN THE REST OF THAT
CONTRACT DATA IS PROPRIETARY.
WE CAN'T SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
IN TERMS OF LOOKING AHEAD TO THE
CREWED FLIGHT TEST I THINK WE
HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH ALL THE
DATA AND SEE HOW THEY PERFORMED
IN ALL PHASES: ORBIT, ENTRY AND
ASCENT.
AND WE'LL LOOK THAT THE AND LOOK
AT THE OBJECTIVES WE DID NOT GET
WHICH WAS RENDEZVOUS AT DOCKING
AND SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT
WE DO.
THERE IS GOOD DATA THAT THAT
SUGGESTS THAT ONCE WE GO THROUGH
IT MAYBE IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO GO
NEXT STEP.
BUT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE
DATA FIRST.
WHAT WE TYPICALLY DO IS LET THE
DATA DRIVE US TO THE NEXT
DECISION.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
STEVEN CLARK.
>> HI.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND THANKS FOR
TAKING MY CALL.
JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THE
LAST COMMENT.
LOOKING THROUGH SORT OF A WORK
FROM THE CCT CONTRACT BACK IN
2014 JUST WONDERING HOW YOU CAN
SQUARE THE STATEMENT WITH BEING
UNABLE TO DOCK ON THIS MISSION
AND POTENTIALLY STILL GO FORWARD
WITH THE CREWED FLIGHT TEST?
>> AGAIN, I THINK IT'S REALLY
EARLY TO TELL YOU WHAT WE WILL
DO FOR THE CREW FLIGHT TEST.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF
TIME TO DIGEST THAT DATA AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.
WE JUST LANDED TODAY AND WE
REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO
LOCK AT ALL THE ENTRY DATA.
SO IT WILL TAKE US A LITTLE TIME
TO GO SORT THROUGH THE DATA AND
GET THROUGH THE RIGHT TEAMS TO
FIGURE OUT THE NEXT STEPS.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS A
NASA REQUIREMENT AND WHAT IS A
CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENT FOR THIS
PARTICULAR FLIGHT TEST.
AND THE NASA REQUIREMENT MIGHT
NOT BE THE SAME AS THE
CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS FOR
THIS PARTICULAR FLIGHT TEST.
SO, EXTRAPOLATING ONE TO THE
OTHER MAY OR MAY NOT BE
APPROPRIATE BUT WE'LL HAVE TO
MAKE THAT EVALUATION AS WE LOOK
AT ALL THE DATA.
>> GREAT.
AGAIN, FOR REPORTERS, IF YOU
WANT TO ASK A QUESTION PLEASE
PRESS STAR 1.
PLEASE IDENTIFY YOUR NAME AND
ORGANIZATION.
OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL COME FROM
BILL HARWOOD.
>> THANKS.
THIS IS FOR BILL HARWOOD FOR CBS
NEWS THIS IS FOR JIM CHILL TON.
YOU SAID YOU HAD TO EXERCISE THE
THRUSTERS BETWEEN THAT THEN AND
LANDING.
ARE YOU MORE SURE NOW IT WAS
SENSOR ISSUES ON FRIDAY AND NOT
A REAL ISSUE IN THE PROPULSION
SYSTEM.
RELATED, WERE THERE ANY OBVIOUS
ANOMALIES THAT YOU KNOW OF THIS
MORNING OTHER THAN THE TIMING
ISSUE AND THE POSSIBLE SENSOR
ANOMALIES THAT YOU MENTIONED
EARLIER?
THANKS.
>> THANKS, BILL.
TO REHASH OR RESTATE WHAT WE
TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, AS WE
ENTERED SPACE, THE SERVICE
MODULE GOT A GOOD WORKOUT, WORK
AND ATTITUDE CONTROL, BECAUSE WE
DIDN'T HAVE AN ORBITAL INSERTION
BURN AND WE USED A LOT OF THE
SMALL THRUSTERS INSTEAD OF ONE
BIG ORBITAL INSERTION BURN.
GIVEN THAT WE HAD A LOT OF DUTY
CYCLES.
WE STARTED SEEING SOME
INTERMITTENT ON AND OFF IN THE
INDICATION.
WE SET A COURSE OF ACTION TO
DECIDE IF THAT WAS A SENSOR
ISSUE OR THRUSTER ISSUE AND IN
FACT WHAT THE PROTOCOL IS, WE
TAKE THEM TO A SAFE MODE.
DON'T USE THEM BECAUSE THERE IS
A LOT OF REDUNDANCY.
THERE ARE 28 THURSDAY ERRS AND
WE SHUT DOWN ONE MANIFOLD AS
WITH HE SAW PRESSURE GO LOW
BECAUSE IT WAS USED A LOT.
THE TECHNICAL TEAMS GOT TOGETHER
AND WE BEGAN A PROTOCOL FOR EACH
THRUSTER.
WITH HE RECOVERED ALL THE
THRUSTERS.
WE CHOSE TO LEAVE ONE OFF AND
RECOVERED THE MANIFOLD AND BEGAN
ARE ENTRY WITH 27 OUT OF 28 AND
THE CREW MODULE FLIGHT COMPUTER
INFORMED THEM BEFORE THEY
SEPARATED AND THAT APPEARS TO
HAVE GONE REALLY WELL.
THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
THAT COURSE OF ACTION WE
DESCRIBED YESTERDAY WORKED LIKE
A CHARM.
THERE WAS A TIMING -- WE REALLY
LIKED THIS LANDING OPPORTUNITY
THIS MORNING AND WE HAD THE
FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM READY TO DO
IT AND WE WORKED THROUGH THAT
PROTOCOL EFFECTIVELY THAT AND
THE SOFTWARE VARIATIONS FOR IT
WERE RUNNING INTO 9:00,
10:00 P.M. LAST NIGHT.
SO WE SAID WE HAVE PLENTY OF
REDUNDANCY TO COME ON HOME AND
THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
>> I THINK THERE IS AN ADDED
BENEFIT.
WHEN YOU HAVE THESE OFF NOMINAL
SITUATIONS YOU GET TO TEST YOUR
SYSTEMS AT A LEVEL YOU NORMALLY
WOULD NOT TEST THEM BUT ALSO THE
TEAM.
HOW DID THE TEAM DEAL WITH THE
CHALLENGE THAT'S FRONT OF THEM
AND MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE
WAY.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO GET, I
THINK, A LOT OF -- A LOT MORE
DATA THAN WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
HAD THE TEST GONE ACCORDING TO
PLAN.
>> IT WAS AWESOME TO WATCH THE
TEAM WORK TO RECOVER THE
THRUSTERS OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS
OR SO AND REPRESSING THE
MANIFOLD TOOK ABOUT 50 COMMANDS
AND SLOWLY BRING THAT PRESSURE
UP AND HOT FIRE THEM AND TODAY
ALL THE THRUSTERS WORKED GREAT
AND DIDN'T SEE ANY THRUSTERS
BURN AT ALL DURING THE BURNS AND
MANEUVERS.
IT WAS REALLY JUST AS A MANAGER
JUST WATCHING THE TEAM WORK, IT
WAS SOMETHING TO SEE.
>> THE WHOLE DISCIPLINE WAS
TREMENDOUS.
THE OTHER PART OF YOUR QUESTION,
WAS DID WE SEE ANYTHING ELSE?
VERY MINOR, I THINK.
BUT AS WE ENTERED, YOU HEAT UP
AND GET DOWN INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE.
AS YOU ENTER THE ATMOSPHERE YOUR
GUIDANCE SYSTEM WHICH HAS THREE
REDUNDANT UNITS THAT COMBINE THE
MAP WITH THE GPS TYPE MAP AND
THAT'S BLENDED AND 2 OUT OF THE
3 REQUIRED A SIGNAL AND THIRD
ONE LAGGED AND SYSTEM WANTS TO
SO IT TAKES THE FIRST TWO AND
SECOND ONE LAGGED AND DID
ACQUIRE VERY SHORTLY THEREAFTER
BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE
SELECTED.
I THINK THAT'S NOMINAL DESIGN
PERFORMANCE.
I THINK IT'S EXPECTED.
WE KNOW THAT ONE THERE'S A NON
PROPULSION SYSTEM ON THE CREW
MODULE AND MAIN TANK HAS
NITROGEN THAT PUSHES DOWN ON THE
BLADDER THAT KEEPS PRESSURE ON
THE PROPELLANT.
AFTER YOU BEGIN POWERING DOWN WE
SEND A COMMAND TO CLOSE THE
ISOLATION VALVE AND THE
INDICATION WAS THAT IT DIDN'T
CLOSE OF THE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE VALVE ACTUALLY DID.
IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TEMP RELATED
BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE
TEAM WILL LOOK AT.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
DAVID CURLY.
>> MR. CHILTON YOU ANSWERED THE
ONE QUESTION THOSE WERE THE ONLY
OTHER ANOMALIES WERE THE VALVE
AND THE SENSORS ON THE WAY DOWN.
WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE
IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD AS IT WAS
COMING DOWN.
AND THEN YOU MENTIONED 60% OF
ACHIEVEMENT.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IT IS FROM?
IS THAT ALL JUST PROBLEMS ON
FRIDAY OR WHAT WERE YOU
REFERRING TO?
>> WELL, THE 40% IS, I CAN'T
TELL YOU UNTIL WE GET THE DATA
OUT OF THE CAPSULE.
JUST TO BE REALLY TRANSPARENT
THE 85-90 FIGURE IS MY
PREDICTION WHERE WE'LL END UP
ONCE WE GET THAT DATABASE ON
WHAT WE SEE IN CABIN TEMPS AND
THE CONDITION OF THE CAPSULE.
LOOKS LIKE SHE'S IN GREAT SHAPE
AND NO INDICATION OF ANY HEATING
OR PRESSURE ISSUES ON THE WAY
DOWN IN THE DATA WE CAN SEE.
LOOKS LIKE THE BIG REMARKS, I'LL
CALL THEM, THE BIG ITEMS YOU
WANT TO KNOW, THE AERO SHAPE AND
GETTING TO SPACE WORKED GREAT.
THE SHIP FLIES VERY ABLE IN
SPACE.
A LOT OF ATTITUDE CONTROL AND
VERY DURABLE PROPULSION SYSTEM
AS IT TURNS OUT.
WE KNOW THAT NOW.
DON'T WANT TO REVISIT BUT THAT'S
EXCELLENT DATA AND THE BULLSEYE
LANDING IS TERRIFIC.
SO WE'RE NOT TRACKING A LOT.
AS I WALKED IN THE ROOM THOSE
TWO THINGS THAT I KNOW ARE WHAT
I KNOW.
OUR ENGINEERS ARE LOOKING AT
DATA RIGHT NOW AND CREWS LOOKING
AT THE CAPSULE AND IF THERE IS
MORE TO FIND WE'LL DEFINITELY --
>> ONCE WE GET THE DATA OUT OF
THE CAPSULE THAT IS NOW SAFE ON
DECK WE'RE LOOKING AT 85-90% OF
THE DATE THAT'S AVAILABLE THAT
WE THOUGHT ACHIEVE.
IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT DOES NOT
WEIGH WHAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE
DATA AGAINST WHAT IS LESS
VALUABLE.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT LAUNCH AND
REENTRY, THEY CAN'T BE COMPARED
TO A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT WE WANTED TO TEST.
SO, I THINK OVERALL, THIS IS A
GOOD TEST.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM THIS
TEST THAT WE'RE GOING TO USE TO
GO FORWARD IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.
>> ALSO WE'LL GET THE VEHICLE --
WE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK AND ONE
OF THE THINGS WE ALWAYS DO -- I
KNOW THE BOEING TEAM WILL DO IT
WHEN WE GET IT BACK TO FLORIDA,
THAT ILL LOOK AT THINGS AND THIS
IS A REUSABLE SPACECRAFT
DESIGNED TO BE FLOWN FOR 10
MISSIONS AND WE HAVE OTHER
MISSIONS OBVIOUSLY.
NASA IS PLANNING FOR COMMERCIAL
CREW.
AND WE'LL GET THE SPACECRAFT
BACK AND WE GOT AN EARLY LOOK
NOW WITH THIS FLIGHT HERE IN
DECEMBER AND WE CAN START
UNDERSTANDING THE WAY THE
VEHICLE PERFORMS AND HOW WE TURN
THAT VEHICLE AROUND FOR THE NEXT
FLIGHT.
THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS
WE'LL LEARN AS WELL.
>> GREAT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MARSHA
SMITH.
>> HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> GOOD.
I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY
STAR 1 SO I'M GLAD I GOT IN.
MY QUESTION REALLY HAD TO DO IS
WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S A
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OBJECTIVES
AND REQUIREMENTS?
PAUSE I HEARD BOTH TERMS AND I'M
NOT SURE IF THERE'S A
DISTINCTION OR NOT AND WHO SETS
THE OBJECTIVES AND/OR THE
REQUIREMENTS?
IS THERE A LIST OF THEM
SOMEWHERE?
>> YEAH.
I'LL TAKE THAT ONE.
SO THE REQUIREMENTS ARE IN THE
CONTRACT AND THE PROGRAM
DOCUMENTATION AND SOME OF THAT
OBVIOUSLY THE 11:30 DOCUMENT
REQUIREMENT IS PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND
PERFORMANCE.
MISSION OBJECTIVES, WHAT WE DO
WITH THE BOEING TEAM WE SAT DOWN
AND LOOKED AT THIS PARTICULAR
FLIGHT TEST AND SAID WHAT ARE
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE
NEED TO DO, AND THEN THAT GETS
CODIFIED FOR THE FLIGHT.
YOU USE THAT IN MANAGING THE
MISSION AND THERE ARE CERTAIN
THINGS THAT PERHAPS YOU CAN'T
ACHIEVE EITHER VIA TIME LIMITS
ORBIT SO YOU WORK THROUGH THOSE.
FOR THIS FLIGHT NASA AND BOEING
AGREED THE LANDING IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE.
THAT WAS MISSION OBJECTIVE
NUMBER ONE AND THERE ARE OTHERS
ON THE WAY.
WHAT THE BOEING AND THE NASA
TEAM DID THROUGH THE FLIGHT,
ONCE WE FIGURED OUT WE DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH PROPELLANT TO GO TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AND DO THE RENDEZVOUS AND
DOCKING WE LOOKED AT THE
OBJECTIVES AND THOUGHT, WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE THINGS WE CAN'T DO;
FOR EXAMPLE, WE EMPLOYED THE
DOCKING SYSTEM RING AND PUT IT
THROUGH ITS PACES TO VERIFY THAT
WORKED THE WAY IT SHOULD.
WE ALSO CHECKED OUT SOME OF THE
RENDEZVOUS NAVIGATION CENTERS
FOR WHAT WE COULD AND WE ALSO
ESTABLISHED THE SPACE STATION
AND CHECKED THAT OUT.
WE USED THE OBJECTIVES TO GO
WORK THROUGH THE KIND OF THINGS
WE CAN DO AND THOSE ARE THOUGHT
THROUGH IN ADVANCE.
SO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM IN THE
MISSION, YOU CAN GO LOOK AT THAT
DOCUMENT AND THEN CHOOSE THE
THINGS YOU CAN ACHIEVE AND I
THINK THE BOEING AND THE NASA
TEAM DID A GOOD JOB OF
OPTIMIZING FOR THE TIME THAT WE
HAD ALL THOSE MISSION
OBJECTIVES.
>> WAS IT A REQUIREMENT OR AN
OBJECTIVE?
>> IS OFT A REQUIREMENT OR
OBJECTIVE?
>> I THINK A WAY TO THINK ABOUT
IT IS OFT IS A FLIGHT TEST AND
IN THAT FLIGHT TEST WE SET
OBJECTIVES TO INFORM US HOW OUR
DESIGN IS GOING TO WORK.
WE DESIGNED IT AND DONE ALL THE
GROUND TESTS WE CAN DO, LET'S GO
MAKE A FLIGHT TEST LIKE YOU
WOULD WITH OTHER SYSTEMS AND
LET'S TAKE DATA AND SAY, IS OUR
DESIGN WORKING AS INTENDED.
SO THAT'S THE TEST OBJECTIVES
AGAINST THE DESIGN.
I THINK THE REQUIREMENTS ARE
MORE DURABLE.
THEY'RE THINGS NATION IS A SAY
THE STARLINER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE
ABLE TO DO DURABLY OVER TIME.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE
DIFFERENCE.
>> WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT
QUESTION.
JOEY RULETTI.
JOEY?
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES.
>> THANKS FOR DOING SO MANY
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES.
I APPRECIATE THIS.
MY FIRST QUESTION IS FOR STEVE
STICH.
HOW OFTEN DO THE LIST OF
REQUIREMENTS CHANGE AS OPPOSED
TO OBJECTIVES?
WHAT A HE GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE
CARGO AND PRESENTS THAT WERE
SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE ISS CREW?
>> I'LL TAKE THE REQUIREMENTS
QUESTION.
WE HAVE NOT CHANGED THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMMERCIAL
CREW PROGRAM VERY MUCH AT ALL.
I THINK WE HAD LESS THAN 1% OR
SO CHANGE IN THE REQUIREMENTS SO
THOSE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE FOR
QUITE SOME TIME AND THE BOEING
TEAM HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO
MEET ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS IN
OUR REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT.
AS FAR AS THE CARGO, I'LL LET
JIM ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.
>> I THINK THE CARGO THAT WAS ON
ITS WAY GOES BACK TO NASA AND
GOES BACK INTO THE SYSTEM OF
WHEN IS THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO
GO.
THAT CARGO WAS LEFT ON STATION
AND THE NASA CARGO GOES BACK TO
US AND BOEING CARGO I SUSPECT
GOES BACK TO BOEING.
>> THE REAL TRAGEDY IS THE
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
BUT I PRESUME THOSE WILL BE
AVAILABLE WHEN THE ASTRONAUTS
GET HOME.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
MARSHA DUNN.
MARSHA?
>> YES, HI.
QUESTION FOR MR. CHILTON.
IF IT'S DECIDED YOU NEED TO DO
AN UNCREWED EXTRA ORBITAL TEST
FLIGHT, HOW MUCH OF A HIT TO THE
TIMELINE WILL IT BE?
>> I'M UNABLE TO SAY.
IT WOULD BE SOME MONTHS.
IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 3 MONTHS.
THE FASTEST YOU COULD GO RECYCLE
IF THE DATA CAME BACK PERFECTLY
CLEAN AND YOU SAID, OKAY LET'S
GO REBUILD IT AND GO REFLY, IT'S
NOT DAYS, WEEKS.
IT'S MONTHS.
GIVEN THIS IS THE FIRST FLIGHT I
WOULD ANTICIPATE DATA REVIEW
TAKES LONGER, SO THAT'S THE BEST
I CAN GIVE YOU TODAY.
>> NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM MIKE
WALL.
MIKE?
>> THANKS, GUYS.
YEAH, JUST A QUICK QUESTION
ABOUT THE REFURBISHMENT PROCESS.
WOULD THIS BE THE FIRST TIME YOU
PREPPED ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR A
REFLIGHT?
CAN YOU GO THROUGH WHAT THE
STEPS ARE IN TERMS IT OF GETTING
IT BACK TO FLORIDA AND WHAT KIND
OF GOES INTO GETTING THIS THING
READY TO FLY AGAIN AND HOW LONG
DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE AND
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE
YOU NEED TO ENCOUNTER DURING
THAT PROCESS?
>> BASELINE WE HAVE A REUSABLE
CREW MODEL AND SERVICE MODULE.
THEY'RE IN PRODUCTION.
WE'LL WE HAVE THEM READY WHEN WE
ARE CALLED UP.
SERVICE MODULES ARE NEW AND
READY.
ANY LEARNING WE CHOOSE TO
INCORPORATE WILL BE THE ONLY
DISRUPTION TO THE SERVICE
MODULE.
TODAY I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT ANY HARDWARE CHANGES.
MAYBE HOW WE FLY IT WILL BE IT.
ON THE CREW MODULES WILL BE WE
KNOW WHAT THINGS HAVE A FULL 10
MISSION LIFE WITH THE CAPSULE
AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE
WILL EITHER REPLACE OR PULL OUT
AND LOOK AT IT DUE TO
CRITICALITY.
IN THAT PROTOCOL THERE IS A LOT
MORE OF THOSE ON THIS FLIGHT
THAN WE PLAN TO HAVE IN ONGOING
SERVICE SO THIS ONE WILL TAKE A
LITTLE LONGER TO TURN AROUND AND
PROBABLY SHOULD.
WE'LL TAKE SOME OUT OF THE
DEVELOPMENT FLIGHT
INSTRUMENTATION AND MAKE A
DECISION IF WE WANT TO LEAVE
SOME AND PUT A FLIGHT RECORDER
SYSTEM.
BUT IN THE MAIN, WE DON'T TAKE
THE CAPSULE SIGNIFICANTLY APART,
IF WE NEED TO WE CAN TAKE THEM
APART SO THE CREWS CAN GET IN
THERE AND DO VERY LARGE SCALE --
IF YOU HAD TO DO MAJOR MODS, YOU
WOULD OPEN THE CLAM SHELLS AND
CHANGE A BUNCH OF PARTS.
RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T OPEN IT UP.
IT GOES IN AND CHANGES
COMPONENTS AND ALL OF THAT IS
THE CAVEAT PF WHAT WE LEARN FROM
THIS DATA REVIEW.
>> OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE STANDARD
REFURBISH.
THAT IS DONE EVERY NIGHT.
THE THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM,
WE'LL INSPECT THAT.
THE BACK SHIELD PANELS AROUND
SOME OF THE TILES AND BLANKETS
WOULD GET REFURBISHED AND NEW
HEAT SHIELD AND NEW AIR BAG
SYSTEM THAT GET INSTALLED AND
NEW SET OF PARACHUTES.
AND OF COURSE WE'LL LOOK AT
OTHER THINGS AS JIM SAID AND
WE'LL GO WORK THROUGH IT
TOGETHER WITH THE BOEING AND THE
NASA TEAM.
>> SOME OF THE CRITICAL SYSTEMS
WE'LL INCREMENTALLY MAKE THEM
REUSABLE.
WE'LL START WITH NEW AND GET A
COUPLE OF FLIGHTS UNDER OUR BELT
AND LOOK AT HARDWARE.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
EMERY KELLY.
>> I'M WITH FLORIDA TODAY.
I GUESS I'M HAVING JUST A LITTLE
BIT OF TROUBLE WRAPPING MY MIND
AROUND THE 80-90% OF DATA
GATHERED FIGURE.
I MEAN, I SEE WHERE YOU'RE
GOING.
BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION -- FROM
MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL AND TO
BE CLEAR, IF STARLINER HAD FLOWN
TO THE ISS AND SPENT 8 DAYS
THERE AND CAME BACK, WOULDN'T
THERE BE EXPONENTIALLY MORE DATA
FROM MANY MORE OPERATIONS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
THE THING ABOUT THE FIRST USE OF
A VEHICLE THAT'S TO GO TO SPACE
AND COME BACK, MOST OF THE
OBJECTIVES ON THE FIRST NIGHT
ARE PROVING YOU CAN DO THAT.
CAN YOU GET THERE AND CAN YOU
CONTROL IT WHEN YOU'RE THERE AND
KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND GET HOME
AND ACCURATELY DO THIS LANDING.
HAS WE RENDEZVOUSED AND DOCK, WE
WERE GOING TO DOCK AND OPEN THE
HATCH AND DELIVER THE PRESENTS
AND WE WERE GOING TO POWER DOWN.
>> WHAT JEFF IS SAYING, WE
TESTED JUST ABOUT ALL THE
SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLE, THE
THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY DIDN'T
TEST WOULD BE SOME OF THE DEPTH
SENSORS.
WE TESTED THE VEHICLE'S ABILITY
TO DO MANEUVERS AND WE DID
SEVERAL OF THOSE ON THE FLIGHT.
WE TESTED ALL THE THRUSTERS AND
THE DOCKING SYSTEM.
WE TESTED THE LINK TO STATION.
SO WE TESTED A LOT OF THINGS.
WE TESTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL
CONTROL SYSTEM, THE GUIDE
NAVIGATION CONTROL AND THERMAL
SYSTEMS.
SO AS JIM SAYS, ACTUAL DOCKING
ITSELF DID NOT OCCUR, BUT AFTER
WE DOCKED PLAN WAS TO POWER DOWN
MUCH OF STARLINER AND TAKE THE
CARGO OUT.
HATCH OPERATION AND THAT
PHYSICAL DOCKING OF RETRACTING
THE TWO SYSTEMS IS ANOTHER THING
WE DIDN'T TEST.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CORE SYSTEMS
OF THE VEHICLE, WE TESTED JUST A
MAJORITY OF THOSE SYSTEMS.
>> YOU MENTIONED WE DIDN'T TEST
ALL THE SENSORS BUT WE DID TEST
SOME AND THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL.
>> WE TESTED THE NEAR FIELD, ONE
OF THE CAMERAS IS CALLED THE
NEAR FIELD CAMERA AND USED TO
LOOK AT STARS AND WE TESTED
THOSE AND WE GOT GOOD STAR DATA.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT
WILL HELP YOU CONTROL ATTITUDE
AS ARE AS YOU'RE APPROACHING THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I DON'T MEAN TO MINIMIZE, IF
THERE WAS A PERCEPTION WE HAD A
BUSY TEST SCHEDULE INSIDE THE
CAPSULE AFTER DOCKING THERE WAS
GOING TO BE HATCH OPENING AND
VERIFICATION AND PRESENT
DELIVERY AND THE JOY ON THE FACE
OF ROSIE AND POWER DOWN AND WAIT
UNTIL THE RIGHT TIME TO COME
HOME.
>> GREAT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JACKIE
WADDLE.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR DOING
THAT.
MY QUESTION IS FOR JIM CHILTON
AT THE RISK OF BEATING A DEAD
HORSE HERE, BUT I WANTED TO ASK
YOU FROM A GUT CHECK PERSPECTIVE
WOULD BOEING BE COMFORTABLE
MOVING FORWARD WITH A CREW
FLIGHT TEST WITHOUT MAYBE
ANOTHER LFT AND WHAT EXACTLY IS
YOUR TIME FRAME FOR COMPLETING
THE NECESSARY DATA REVIEWS TO
FIGURING OUT WHAT THE SITUATION
WAS WITH THE MISSION ELAPSE
TIME?
>> WELL, THANKS FOR THE
QUESTION.
FIRST OFF, I'LL SAY OUR APPROACH
FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR THIS SYSTEM
IS INCREMENTAL.
YOU MIGHT RECALL, WE DIDN'T
DECLARE FOR ORBITAL FLIGHT TEST
UNTIL WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL BOARD
TEST.
WE DIDN'T THERE IS IN HE SENSE
GOING TO SPACE SO WE GO ONE STEP
AT A TIME.
SO I JUST -- BOEING UNTIL WE
LOOK AT ALL THAT DATA IT'S NOT
IN A POSITION TO PROPOSE.
IF EVERYTHING HAD GONE
SWIMMINGLY I DON'T THINK I WOULD
BE PROPOSING IT UNTIL WE SAW THE
DATA.
NOW THAT WE KNOW WE HAD
CHALLENGES MAYBE DATA REVIEW IS
A LONGER.
>> YOU JUST HIT AN IMPORTANT
POINT WHICH IS HAD EVERYTHING
GONE ACCORDING TO PLANNED WE
STILL WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SAYING
WE'RE READY TO PUT HUMANS ON IT
AT THIS POINT.
THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE TEST THE
DATA AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A
LOT OF REVIEWS GOING ON FOR
WEEKS, MONTHS IN FRONT OF US
BEFORE CAREER WE'RE COMFORTABLE
THAT.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT.
I DIDN'T MEAN TO STEP ON YOU.
>> NO.
JUST FROM FULL CANDOR WE'LL
REVIEW THE DATA AND I THINK
WE'RE IN JANUARY PRETTY DEEP
INTO JANUARY BEFORE EVERYBODY
HAS A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING.
I WILL SAY THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE
LOOKING AT TODAY LOOKS LIKE THIS
DESIGN WORKS GREAT AND THE
TEAM -- WE KNEW THE TEAM WAS
GREAT BUT THEY'RE BEYOND GREAT
OBVIOUSLY.
TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WE'RE NOT
IN POSITION TO PROPOSE THAT AND
WE DON'T IN UNTIL WE KNOW THE
MACHINE IS WORKING.
>> FROM THAT COMMERCIAL CREW
PERSPECTIVE WE'RE DOING THE SAME
STEPS.
HE WANTED TO HAVE AN INCREMENTAL
APPROACH TO LOOK AT THESE
VEHICLES AND TESTING THE ABORT
SYSTEM BACK IN NOVEMBER WAS VERY
IMPORTANT MOVING FORWARD.
THIS ORBIT MISSION TESTING THE
ASCENT PHASE OF THE FLIGHT AND
DEORBIT AND RE-ENTRY WAS ANOTHER
IMPORTANT STEP AND WE NEED TO
SIT DOWN AND REVIEW THE DATA AND
DO IT WITH OUR BOEING COLLEAGUES
AND COME TO A CONCLUSION ON
WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
IRENE.
>> HI.
GOOD MORNING.
MY QUESTION IS FOR JIM
BRIDENSTINE.
YOU TOLD US THAT YOUR REASONS
FOR REPLACING BILL GERSTENMAIER
IS TO BRING SOME NEW REALITY AND
SCHEDULED REALITY TO THE HUMAN
SPACEFLIGHT SYSTEM.
NOW THAT YOU HE KNOWS
EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS AFTER DEMO
ONE AND THE ABORT SITE TEST AND
THIS ISSUE WITH THE TIMER, DO
YOU STILL THINK IT'S REALISTIC
THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO
DEVELOP A HUMAN MORE THAN HUMAN
LANDER SYSTEM, LUNAR LANDING
SYSTEMS IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS?
>> OH, YEAH.
APPLE STORAGE IS HERE. I THINK
I THINK ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE A REMEMBER A LOT OF OUR
THE COMPANIES THAT ARE
INTERESTED IN TAKING OUR
ASTRONAUTS TO THE MOON A LOT OF
THEM HAVE IN FACT ALREADY BEEN
MAKING BIG INVESTMENTS INTO THIS
CAPABILITY.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW WE MAKE
IT ALL HAPPEN WE'LL NEED THE SLS
ROCKET AND ORION CREW CAPSULE
AND EUROPEAN SERVICE MODULE.
THOSE ARE AN ALL ABOUT TO BE
FULLY TESTED AND THEN AFTER
THAT, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A
GATEWAY AND A LANDING SYSTEM.
SO, MOST OF THE ARCHITECTURE IS
WELL UNDER DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE SOME ELEMENTS WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE GET DEVELOPED.
FOR THE FIRST TIME -- I REASON,
I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS, FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE THE APOLLO
PROGRAM WE NOW HAVE THE HUMAN
LANDING SYSTEM THAT JUST
RECEIVED $600 MILLION FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND MAYBE IT'S
A LITTLE LATE IN THE FISCAL YEAR
FOR 2020 BUT WE GOT IT.
IT'S NOW THERE.
BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT SINCE
THE APOLLO PROGRAM.
AND AGAIN, A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS
ARE INVESTING THEIR OWN MONEY AS
WELL.
AND THEY'VE BEEN -- THEY HAVE
BEEN ALL ALONG AS A MATTER OF
FACT, EVEN AHEAD OF THEM
INVESTING THEIR OWN MONEY TO
ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS OUTCOME.
I'M NOT AT ALL WILLING AT THIS
POINT TO SAY THAT IT CAN'T BE
DONE WITHIN 5 YEARS.
I ABSOLUTELY THINK IT CAN AND
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PUSHING FOR.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
KEITH CALLING.
>> I TWEETED SOMETHING THAT I
ORIGINALLY POSTED 17 YEARS AGO
AND IT WAS THE CONTINGENCY PLAN
IN CASE THE SOYUZ LANDED IN
NORTH AMERICA AND IT CALLS FOR A
TEAM THAT GETS IN THE CONVOY AND
YOU DRIVE TO WHERE IT CAME DOWN.
WHEN I WORKED AT ROCKWELL BACK
IN THE DAY WE HAD SOMETHING
SIMILAR IN MY OFFICE WITH THE
PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE SHORT
LIST IN CASE IT CAME DOWN WHERE
IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO AND
IMPLEMENTED AT WHITE SANDS.
YOU FOLKS AT BOEING AND NASA
DESCRIBE, DO YOU HAVE A GO-TEAM
IN PLACE IN CASE YOU HAVE SOME
TERMS IN THE LANDING SITE.
ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE PRE
POSITIONED IN PLACE AND
AIRPLANES AND CONVOYS WILLING TO
TAKE THEM THERE AND HOW WOULD
YOU DEAL GETTING SUPPORT TO A
LANDING NOT EXPECTED TO BE IN
PLACE?
>> GOOD QUESTION, KEITH.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR
THE CREWED MISSIONS, WE COULD
HAVE A SITUATION DURING THE
LAUNCH WHERE WE ENDED UP, IF
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE
ROCKET ABORTING OUT OF THAT AND
LANDING SOMEWHERE IN THE
ATLANTIC OCEAN OR ANYWHERE
AROUND THE WORLD.
WE WORKED WITH THE DOD FORCES TO
BE PART OF THE RESCUE.
WE HAVE A BIT OF A READY TEAM
HERE AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
THAT WOULD GO MEET THE CREW AND
MEET THE CAPSULE SHOULD IT LAND
SOMEWHERE OFF NOMINAL.
REALLY WORLDWIDE, THIS IF
THERE'S AN EMERGENCY IT'S READY
TO LAND ON LAND ON WATER.
>> AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK A
QUESTION, PRESS STAR 1 TO BE
ADDED TO THE CUE.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
ALLEN BOYLE.
>> HEY.
THANK YOU.
I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT CALYPSO.
WILLIAMS HAD GIVEN THAT NAME TO
THIS CAPSULE, SO IS THAT THE
OFFICIAL NAME NOW?
WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR NAMING
IT?
IS IT UP TO THE ASTRONAUTS?
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, REMEMBER, THIS IS
COMMERCIAL CREW.
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE UP TO
OUR COMMERCIAL PARTNERS SINCE
THEY OWN IT AND OPERATE IT.
WE WANT TO BE CUSTOMER.
I WOULD IMAGINE IF THEY SAID WE
WANT TO NAME SOMETHING BOEING
WOULD FOLLOW SUIT.
BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN THIS
CASE.
>> COOL NAME BY THE WAY.
>> HISTORICALLY IN THE PAST THE
CREW MEMBERS DID NAME CAPSULES.
SO IT DOES HAVE HERITAGE TO
OTHER NASA PROGRAMS.
>> OUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM
ROBERT PEARLMAN.
>> MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN
BUT ONE THAT I DON'T THINK HAS
BEEN MENTIONED OVER THE LAST TWO
DAY.
HOW FAR OFF YOU WHAT THE MISSION
ELAPSE TIMER FROM WHAT WAS THE
ACTUAL MISSION ELAPSE TIME?
>> IT WAS 11 HOURS OFF.
>> I HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS FROM
THE CUE.
WE WENT THROUGH ALL THE
QUESTIONS.
UNLESS SOMEONE CALLS IN RIGHT
NOW WE'RE GONNA GO TO CLOSING
REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU TO
EVERY ONE WHO IS COVERING THIS
VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR NASA.
I WANT TO REITERATE THAT IT IS
TRUE.
THIS WAS AN OFF NOMINAL
SITUATION AND ALSO TRUE THAT THE
NASA TEAM AND THE BOEING TEAM
CAME TOGETHER AND DID AMAZING
WORK TO MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL.
AND, YES, THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF
THIS THAT ARE MISSING BUT THERE
ARE A WHOLE LOT OF ELEMENTS THAT
WERE COMPLETED IN A VERY
POSITIVE AND MEANINGFUL WAY AND
GIVES US A LOT OF GREAT DATA TO
CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS FOR OUR NATION
TO HAVE TWO DISSIMILAR
PROVIDERS.
WE HAVE HAD -- WE HAD TIMES IN
OUR COUNTRY WHEN WE HAD THE
SPACE SHUTTLES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF
WE HAD A PROBLEM LIKE
CHALLENGER, WE HAD NO ACCESS TO
SPACE.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE MULTIPLE
PROVIDERS THAT ARE ABLE TO GET
US -- NOT JUST TO LOWER EARTH
ORBIT BUT EVENTUALLY ALL THE WAY
TO THE MOON.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE PROVIDERS AND I
THINK THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.
WE WANT TO KEEP THIS PROGRAM
MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS SIMILAR
REDUNDANCY SO WE ALWAYS HAVE
ACCESS TO LOWER EARTH ORBIT.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW GIVEN WHAT
WE DID TODAY.
WE KNOW THAT WE WILL MOVE
FORWARD AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE
A LOT OF LEARNING IN FRONT OF
US.
BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION
AND DATA TO WHERE WE CAN KEEP
MOVING FORWARD IN A VERY
POSITIVE WAY.
IN THE LAST 48 HOURS I HAD 3
CONVERSATIONS WITH THE VICE
PRESIDENTS WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF
THE NATIONALITY SPACE COUNSEL IS
SILL AND HE'S FOLLOWING THIS
VERY CLOSELY AND I WILL TELL YOU
HE'S CONFIDENT WE WILL LAUNCH
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN
ROCKETS ON AMERICAN SOIL IN THE
VERY NEAR FUTURE.
THAT'S AN OBJECTIVE WE TEND TO
MEET AND IT'S GOING TO BE MET
PAUSE OUR GREAT TEAM AT NASA AND
GREAT PARTNERS AT BOEING.
MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS DID NOT GO
ACCORDING TO PLAN.
BUY ALSO TRUE WE GOT A LOT OF
REALLY GOOD INFORMATION SO THAT
WE CAN KEEP MAKE MEANINGFUL
PROGRESS.
>> I LIKE TO THANK NASA FOR
GIVING US A SHOT AND EARNING A
SPOT SO ON YOUR TEAM AND YOUR
OTHER GOVERNMENT PARTNERS AND I
LIKE TO EXPRESS BOEING REGRETS
TO THE ISS CREW TO WHOM WE DID
NOT BRING THE CHRISTMAS
PRESENTS.
NOT COOL.
WE OWN IT.
WE'RE NOT GREAT ABOUT THAT.
I LIKE TO COMMEND THE TECHNICAL
TEAMS.
THE TECHNICAL TEAMS WERE
SPECTACULAR AND FINALLY, I JUST
LIKE IT SAY, WE HAVE A GOING
DESIGN HERE. SHE FLEW TO SPACE
AND WE CAN CONTROL HER IN SPACE.
THE DOCKERS EXERCISED AND WE
DIDN'T WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE
WANT TO DO BUT WE DON'T SEE
ANYTHING WRONG WITH THIS
SPACESHIP RIGHT NOW.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW-UP
WITH WHAT JEFF SAID.
FROM A NASA PERSPECTIVE WHEN WE
LOOK AT HOW THE LAUNCH VEHICLE
AND ATLAS AND STARLINER
PERFORMED IT'S AN INCREDIBLE
GOOD DESIGN AND WE DIDN'T SEE
ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS.
WE HAD A LITTLE ISSUE WITH THE
TIMER IN THE BEGINNING WHICH
CAUSED US TO GO INTO A DIFFERENT
PATH IN THE MISSION.
WHAT I HAVE SEEN OVER MY CAREER,
SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HEAD DOWN
THESE DIFFERENT PATHS WE
ACTUALLY LEARN MORE.
IF WE GET MORE DATA WE LEARN
MORE ABOUT THINGS THAT MAYBE WE
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND FULLY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY IT HELPS
YOU MOVE FORWARD MORE QUICKLY
WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE
THIS AND YOU UNDERSTAND THE
SYSTEMS BETTER AND UNDERSTAND
HOW YOU'LL SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS
AND MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE.
WE HAD A GREAT DESIGN AND GREAT
YEAR WITH COMMERCIAL CREW AND
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE TWO ORBIT
LAUNCHES AND TEST FLIGHTS AND
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR
EARLY IN JANUARY WITH THE SPACEX
INFLIGHT ABORT TEST AND WE'RE ON
A GOOD TRAJECTORY TO RESUME
THOSE LAUNCHES
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
THINK YOU MENTIONED AND JIM
MENTIONED AS WELL.
WE HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING OF
THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE AND
WHY IT OCCURRED.
AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS
GOING TO PREVENT US FROM MOVING
FORWARD QUICKLY.
WE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD
QUICKLY AND GET IT FIXED.
THAT ONE ITEM RESULTED IN OTHER
CHALLENGES.
THE TECHNICAL TEAM DID
MAGNIFICENT WORK TO SALVAGE AS
MANY OF THESE OBJECTIVES GETTING
ACCOMPLISHED AS POSSIBLE.
ONE TECHNICAL ISSUE HAD IT NOT
OCCURRED AND BY THE WAY HAD WE
HAD AN ASTRONAUT ON BOARD WE
VERY WELL MAY BE ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
RIGHT NOW.
OVERALL WE LEARNED A LOT.
BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE LEARNING
LEFT TO DO AS WE GET ALL THE
INFORMATION AND DATA.
WE ARE VERY SITED
>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR BRIEFING
ON THE BOEING STARLINER.
THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING
AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.