JESSICA RYE: We are here today with Chuck Dovale, launch manager for THEMIS, and thank you for being willing
to join us following a successful launch of THEMIS today. CHUCK DOVALE: You're welcome.
RYE: Although we had to scrub yesterday for upper-level winds, today's count seemed
relatively smooth. Can you tell us a little bit about how the count went?
DOVALE: It was very smooth, and we don't want to be...want to keep our luck good. We
did come in early today, and the first balloon was green, unlike yesterday, which was a good
sign. So we took that to be a good sign and, and actually every balloon following that was
green, so... upper-air winds were, were not an issue. The count was very quiet, just a few minor things that came up.
But overall, a very smooth count and it was a good payoff after yesterday's tough one.
RYE: Obviously, it takes a lot of time, a lot of years to put together a mission. Can you tell
me about the launch team that worked so hard to, to launch THEMIS this evening?
DOVALE: It's a great team. Everyone has specific roles and responsibilities, and they all
seemed to focus when it gets close to launch time and they live with the good and the bad.
Yesterday was a, was a tough day and everyone was disappointed, but they knew we
had another opportunity today and it paid off, and we got to see the THEMIS five off and looks like they're
doing very well. RYE: Great. Well, thank you again for joining us, and congratulations on a
successful mission. DOVALE: Thanks Jessica.