 
TEST FOR N.A.S.A. TV.
.
>>> HERE IS A HIGHLIGHT REEL OF 
ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE TEAM 
HAS DONE TO PREPARE FOR TODAY'S 
LAUNCH.
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[ ♪♪♪ ].
>>> WE ARE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY
FROM THE LAUNCH.
WE HAVE AN UPDATE NOW.
>>> T YOU.
STILL PROGRESS TO LIFT-OFF AT 
4.05 PACIFIC TIME.
TIME IN VANDENBURG AIR BASE.
WE'RE GETTING A MINUTE AWAY FROM
A COUNT, ABOUT 50 SECONDS AWAY 
FROM THE HOLD.
THE CLOCK STOPS OR LAUNCHES AS 
THE TEAMWORK DILIGENTLY TO THE 
LIFT OFF.
IT IS STARTING AT THE  T MINUS 
AND HOLDS AT 50 MINUTES.
THE TIMES WILL BE SYNCED.
WE HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT UNTIL WE
HIT THE PAUSE IN THE COUNT.
>>> FLIGHT CONTROL.
>>> I HAVE A SERIES OF YELLOW 
ALARMS FOR THE MISCOMPARES.
WE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CAUSE OF 
IT WAS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE WAS A 
SWITCH ON WHEN THEY SWITCHED IT 
TO SECONDARY.
>>> WE HAVE ENTERED THE HOLDN 
THE  T-MINUS COUNT.
WE'RE AT 18 MINUTES AND 50 SEBDZ
UNTIL LIFT-OFF.
THIS IS THE FIRST INTER 
PLANETARY LAUNCH FROM N.A.S.A. 
FROM THEEST COAST.
WE'RE NO STRANGER TO THE ATLAS 
ROCKET.
THE LAUNCH WILL BE THE 17TH TIME
N.A.S.A. HAS FLOWN A SPACE CRAFT
ON THIS ROCKET.
ALL PREVIOUS N.A.S.A. PLANTY 
MISSIONS HAVE BEEN FROM CAPE 
CANIVEAL OR JOHNSON SPACE 
CENTER.
FOR INSIGHT, THE ATLAS 401 
OFFERS ENOUGH PERFORMANCE TO 
ENABLE LAUNCHING A MISSION TO 
MARS FROM VANDENBURG.
THE PROPULSION CROPS FROM THE 
LAUNCH VEHICLE RATHER THAN FROM 
THE SPACE CRAFT ITSELF.
IT WILL BEGIN ITS SIX MONTH 
JOURNEY.
IN JUST OVER A MINUTE, IT IS 
TRAVELLING FASTER THAN THE SPEED
OF SOUND.
AT TWO AND A HALF MINUTES INTO 
FLIGHT IT WEIGHS LESS THAN HALF 
OF ITS WEIGHT AT LIFT-OFF.
THE FIRST STAGE, THE FUEL HAS 
GONE.
AFTER FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES, 
THE SECOND STAGE IGNITES FOR THE
FIRST OF TWO BURNS AND THE TOP 
OF THE ROCKET WILL HAVE BEEN 
GEEMENS JETTOOSHGS  -- 
JETTISONED.
>>> FIVE, FOUR, THREE, T
WE HAVE IGNITION OF THE RD180 
MAIN ENGINE.
LIFT-OFF OF THE ATLAS FIVE 
ROCKET.
>>> THE ATLAS 5 IGNITES AND 
GENERATES MORE THAN 860,000 
POUNDS OF THRUST TO LIFT THE 
ROCKET AWAY FROM THE PAD.
SHORTLY AFTER LIFT OFF, IT 
BEGINS TO THE CORRECT FLIGHT 
PATH.
IT REACHES THE SPEF SOUND AT
ONE MINUTE AND 17 SECONDS.
AT 4 MINUTES AND 4 SECONDS, THE 
MAIN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN.
SIX SECONDS LATER, THE ATLAS 
THEN HAS SEPARATION TO RELEASE 
THE BOOSTER STAGE.
THE VEHICLE NOW WEIGHS A LITTLE 
MORE THAN 7% OF WHAT ITID AT 
LIFT-OFF.
AT FOUR MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS, 
THE FIRST SEN TOWER MAIN ENGINE 
BURNS SENDING THE SEN TOWER INTO
SECULAR ORBIT.
THE CENTOUR IS BURNING RATES AT 
51 PER SECOND.
IT IS LOCATED 79 MILES IN 
ALTITUDE AND 25 IT MILES DOWN 
RANGE.
DURING ASSENT IT IS PROTECTED 
INSIDE A 4-METRE DIAMETER 
PAYLOAD BEARING.
THE PAYLOAD FAIRING IS 
JETTISONED.
CUT OFF THE CENTAUR MAIN ENGINE 
OCCURS.
IT ENTERS AN HOUR-LONG COAST 
PHASE.
AT NEARLY ONE HOUR AND 15 
MINUTES, THE MAIN ENGINE IS 
RESTARTED FOR THE SECOND AND 
FINAL BURN.
PLACING IT ON ITS PATH TO SPACE 
CRAFT SEPARATION.
APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES AND 
49 SECONDS LATER, FINAL CUT-OFF 
OF THE CENTAUR MAIN ENGINE 
OCCURS.
AT ONE HOUR, 28 MINUTES AND 40 
SECONDS, IT RELEA N.A.S.A.'S 
INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT ON ITS 
JOURNEY TO MARS.
DEPLOYING FROM DISPENSERS 
MOUNTED ON THE CARRIER, IT WILL 
PROVIDE REAL TIME COMMUNICATION 
RELAY COVERING THE ENTRY, 
DESCENT AND INSIGHT ON MARS.
MARCO A SEPARATES ONE HOUR AND 
29 MINUTES INTO FLIGHT, FOLLOWED
48 SECONDS LATER BY THE 
SEPARATION OF MARCO B.
>>> WE'RE ABOUT  T MINUS FOUR 
MINUTES AND HOLDING.
WE HAVE ABOUT 14 MINUTES 40 
SECONDS LEFT BEFORE LIFT OFF.
WE'RE GOING BACK TO STEPHANIE 
MARTIN.
>>> HI.
FOR THOSE  OF JUST JOINI US
ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE WOULD 
WELCOME YOU TO LAUNCH COVERAGE 
OF INSIGHT WHICH WILL GIVE MARS 
ITS FIRST THOROUGH CHECK-UP 
SINCE IT FORMED FOUR AND A HALF 
BILLION YEARS AGO.
INSIGHT WILL TAKE THE VITAL 
SIGNS OF MARS, INCLUDING ITS 
PULSE, TEMPERATURE AND REFLEXES.
IT IS FLYING ON AWE NIGHTED 
LAUNCH ALLIANCES CONFIGURATION.
IT HAS A TWO-HOUR LAUNCH WINDOW.
THIS MEANS THAT THE LAUNCH TEAM 
HAS TWO HOURS TO LIFT OFF FROM 
SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX 3 AT 
VANDENBURG AIR FORCE BASE.
IT IS SET TO LAND ON NOVEMBER 26
ON THE REGION OF MARS WHICH IS 
373 MARS FROM THE CRATOR WHERE 
THE ROBOT LANDEDN AT 2012.
AFTER INSIGHT LANDS, IT WILL 
SPEND 728 EARTH DAYS OR A LITTLE
OVER AN MARTIAN YEAR STUDYING 
THE AREA.
AFTER THE SPACE CRAFT'S SIX 
MONTH JOURNEY TO MARS IT WILL 
BEGIN ITS LEARNING PHASE.
INSIGHT WILL BE THE RED PLANET 
AREAS FIRST THOROUGH CHECK UP 
SINCE IT FORMED FOUR AND A HALF 
BILLION YEARS AGO.
IT WILL TAKE THE VITAL SIGNS OF 
MARS, ITS PULSE, TEMPERATURE AND
REFLECTION  FLEX -- REFL.
AFTER INSIGHT ENTERS THE 
ATMOSPHERE TRAVELLING 13,200 
MILES PER HOUR, IT DEPLOYS ITS 
PAR CHUTE AND SLOWS DOWN TO 5 
MILES PER HOUR FOR TOUCHDOWN.
ONE MINUTE LATER IT WILL BEGIN 
SURFACE OPERATIONS CHECKING OUT 
THE LANDERS HEALTH INDICATORS 
AND DEPLOYING ARRAYS.
WILL TAKE MANY WEEKS TO PLAY THE
INSTRUMENTS ON THE GROUND AND 
SEVEN WEEKS LATER THE HEAT PROBE
WILL REACH TEN TO 16 FEET INTO 
THE SOIL.
THERE ARE ABOUT TWO BRIEFCASE 
SIZED CUBE SETS MARS CUBE 1 OR 
MARCO HITCHING A RIDE ON TODAY'S
MISSION.
WITH THAT, LET'S GO BACK TO 
N.A.S.A.'S CENTER.
I TAKE THAT BACK.
N.A.S.A.'S NEW ADMINISTRATOR 
SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON 
N.A.S.A.'S INSIGHT MISSION.
THE FUTURE MISSIONS FOR HUMAN 
EXPLORATION PLANS AND WHAT THE 
IMPACT IS ON THE WORLD.
>> WITH MARS INSIGHT LANDER IS 
GOING TO ALLOW US TO REALLY MAP 
THE INSIDE OF MARS.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MISSION, 
NOT JUST FOR THE UNITED STATES, 
BUT AN IMPORTANT MISSION FOR THE
WORLD SO WE CAN BETTER 
UNDERSTAND WHY PLANETS CHANGE 
AND ULTIMATELY UNDERSTAND EVEN 
MORE ABOUT OUR OWN PLANET.
I THINK THE ONE THING THAT 
REALLY EXCITES EVERYBODY IS A 
QUESTION THAT WE ASK OURSELVES 
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHICH IS 
ARE WE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE.
IS THERE A POTENTIAL FOR LIFE ON
A PLANET THAT'S NOT OUR OWN.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT 
TO DO WITH MARS 2020, WHICH IS 
GOING TO LAUNCH DURING THE NEXT 
WINDOW WE HAVE TO GO TO MARS, IS
UNDERSTAND IF THERE WAS A 
POTENTIAL OR MAYBE EVEN MARS 
MIGHT HAVE AT ONE TIME HOSTED 
LIFE.
IF WE WANT TO GET AS MUCH 
SCIENCE AS WE CAN, AS FAST AS WE
CAN, WE NEED TO GET REALLY GOOD
AT USING ROBOTS.
WE WILL HAVE ROBOTIC MISSIONS TO
THE MOON BEFORE HUMANS SO WE CAN
GET MOST OUT OF THE MISSIONS.
THAT IS TRUE ON MARS AS WELL.
THIS PRESIDENT AND VICE 
PRESIDENT ARE COMMITTED TO 
GETTING AMERICA BACK TO THE 
SPACE OF THE MOON AS QUICKLY AS 
POSSIBLE.
EARTH, BECAUSE WE LIVE HERE, 
IT'S THE ONLY PLANET WE KNOW 
THAT CAN HOST LIVE, SO WE BETTER
TAKE CARE OF IT.
 -- HOST LIFE.
WHEN IT WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, THEY
MADE US DRAWT WE WANTED TO 
BE WHEN WE GREW UP.
I HAD A PICTURE OF MYSELF WITH 
AN AEROPLANE WITH A HAT THAT I 
THOUGHT PILOTS WORE.
A LOT OF THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT 
COME FROM HAS AS HAVE MULTIPLE 
USES AND HAVE TRANSFORMED THE 
WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES.
SO PEOPLE SAY WHY ARE YOU 
INTERESTED IN SPACE?
I THINK THE QUESTION IS WHY 
WOULDN'T YOU BE INTERESTED IN 
SPACE.
IT IS CRITICAL TO OUR EVERYDAY 
LIVES.
THIS IS A CRITICAL MISSION FOR 
OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS A CRITICAL MISSION FOR THE
WORLD.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST 
MINDS THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS.
WE HAVE GOT GREAT INTERNATIONAL 
PARTNERS AND OUR NATION IS 
GRATEFUL AND, IN FACT, THE WORLD
IS GRATEFUL FOREIR SERVICE.
>>> IT IS GREAT TO HEAR FROM OUR
NEW N.A.S.A. ADMINISTRATOR.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM ON 
TWITTER USING@GYM BRYDENSTEIN.
WE'RE NOW MORE THAN 9 MINUTES 
AWAY FROM TODAY'S LAUNCH.
GOING TO THE MISSION DIRECTOR 
CENTER FOR THE FINAL COUNT 
OF TODAY'S LAUNCH.
JOSH?
.
>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, 
STEPHANIE.
I'M BEING JOINED BY ELIZABETH 
MCBETH.
SHE WILL GIVE US MORE INSIGHT 
INTO TODAY'S MISSION.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
>> YEAH.
THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I W AT THE LAUNCH SITE.
I'M A SYSTEMS ENGINEER FOR 
LAUNCH OPERATIONS, MAINLY IN THE
AVIONICS DEPARTMENT, SO 
BATTERIES TO HARNESSING TO THE 
FLIGHT BOXES THAT TAKES THE 
ROCKET WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO IN 
OUTER SPACE.
MY PERSONAL ROLE, I'M ALSO 
INVOLVED WITH ORDINANCE, SO ALL 
THE PYROTECHNICS THAT SEPARATE 
THE SPACE CRAFT FROM THE VEHICLE
ON ORBIT, THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S MAINLY WHAT I'M INVOLVED 
WITH.
ON INSIGHT I WAS ABLE TO, MY 
FIRST WEST COAST LAUNCH AND I 
WAS ABLE TO COME HERE FOR THE 
PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND INSTALL
BATTERIES AND ORDINANCE AND 
FINAL CONNECTIONS.
>>> YOU'RE OFTEN ON CONSOLE FOR 
LAUNCHES.
CAN YOU WILL TELL US WHAT IT IS 
LIKE TO BE ON CONSOLE?
>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
ON CONSOLE IS A EXPERIENCE.
IT'S VERY EXCITING.
THE ADRENALINE IN THE ROOM, YOU 
CAN FEEL THE ENERGY.
THERE'S A LOT OF SYSTEM TESTING 
HAPPENING.
JUST TO PREPARE THE ROCKET FOR 
LAUNCH AND VERIFY THAT 
EVERYTHING IS IN CONFIGURATION 
AND NOMINAL.
WE FUEHE ROCKET AT THAT 
POINT,  T-MINUS TWO HOURS AND 
COUNTING, AND THEN IT'S REALLY 
JUST A FINAL CHECK TO VERIFY 
THAT EVERYTHING IS GOOD.
WE HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE SITTING
ON CONSOLE AS WELL AS OUR 
CERTIFIED RESPONSIBLE EEERS 
IN DENVER WHO ARE ALSO HAVING A 
SECOND SET OF EYES ON THE 
SYSTEMS AS WELL.
>>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT HAS 
HAPPENED UP TO THIS POINT IN THE
COUNTDOWN AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT
BEFORE LAUNCH?
.
>>> WE'RE GETTING UP TO THE 
TERMINAL COUNT NOW.
COUNTING.MINUS FOUR MTES AND 
UP TO THIS POINT THE ROCKET IS 
FULLY FUELLED.
WE'RE DOING SOME FINAL SYSTEM 
CHECKS.
ALL OF THE TESTING THAT -- ALL 
OF THE TESTING THAT I TALKED 
ABOUT EARLIER IS COMPLETED.
WE ARE DOING THE FINAL READY TO 
GO.
WE WILL GET INTO A STATUS HERE 
ALL THE SYSTEMS WE WILL GO 
THROUGH AND SAY YES, WE'RE GOOD 
TO GO.
WE WILL BE READY.
>>> WE'RE ABOUT TEN SECONDS AWAY
FROM THAT NOW.
SO LET'S LISTEN IN.
>> OKAY.
>>> MINUS SEVEN MINUTES.
>>> CONFIRMATION FROM OS THAT WE
ARE IN THE CORRECT EARTH PATCH 
CONFIGURATION.
>>> ROGER.
>>> STATUS TO CHECK.
HYDRAULICS.
>>> GO.
>>> PNUMATICS.
>>> GO.
>>> WATER SYSTEM.
>>> GO.
>>> LO 2.
>>> GO.
>>> H 2.
>>> GO.
>>> FRL SYSTEMS AIRBORNE.
>>> GO.
>>> GROUND.
>>> GO.
>>> FACILITY.
>>> GO.
>>> SF TS.
>>> GO.
>>> FLIGHT CONTROL.
>>> GO.
DC CUBED.
>>> GO.
>>> CALM.
>>> GO.
UM BILL CAP KALS.
>>> -- UMBILICALS.
>>> GO.
>>> QUALITY.
SAFETY MANAGER.
>>> GO.
SAFETY OFFICER.
>>> GO.
>>> VEHICLE SYSTEM ENGINEER.
>> GO.
>>> ANOMALY CHIEF.
>>> GO.
>>> RANGE COORDINATOR.
>>> CLEAR TO PROCEED.
>>> LAUNCH DIRECTOR.
>> YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO 
LAUNCH.
>>> PROCEEDING WITH THE COUNT.
SET NOR 11.07 ZULU.
>>> VERIFIED.
>>> OS, SET TO CAPTURE.
>>> AS YOU'VE HEARD, THAT POLL 
IS COMPLETE.
WE ARE IN THE  T MINUS FOUR 
MARK.
WITH THE CLOCK, WE'RE ABOUT FIVE
MINUTES, 40 SECONDS AWAY FROM 
LAUN
ONE LAST QUESTION.
YOU HAVE TEAMS WORKING AT THIS 
LAUNCH SITE AND YOU HAVE TEAMS 
IN YOUR COMPANY HEADQUARTERS IN 
COLORADO.
HOW ARE THEY WORKING TOGETHER?
>> YEAH.
IN DENVER, THOSE ARE OUR 
CERTIFIED RESPONSIBLE ENGINEERS.
THESE ARE THE EXPERTS IN THE 
SYSTEM.
THEY KNOW EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE
MINUTE DETAIL.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA 
AS AN OVERALL SYSTEM BUT DIGGING
INTO THE DETAILS.
AT THE LAUNCH SITE WE'RE IN THE 
COUNTDOWN.
WE'RE RUNNING THE TESTS.
WE'RE SENDING COMMANDS, WE'RE 
PRESSING BUTTONS AND DOINGSE
KINDS OF THINGS AND WORKING 
TOGETHER WITH THEM AS A FULL 
TEAM, U L.A. TEAM, TO GET IT 
READY.
>>> SOUNDS GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING 
WITH US TODAY FOR THE LAUNCH.
WE WILL CONTINUE THE COUNCIL 
DOWN.
>> THANKS -- COUNTDOWN.
>> THANKS.
>>> WE WILL CONTINUE KEEPING 
TRACK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE
HAPPENING AS WE LEAD TOWARD LIFT
OFF.
LET'S GET YOU UP TO SPEED.
WELCOME TO THOSE WHO ARE JUST 
JOINING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FOG IN 
THE AREA TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE THE ATLAS 5 IN ITS 
CONFIGURATION ON THE LAUNCH 
SITE.
IT IS THE WEST COAST LAUNCH SITE
FOR THE ATLAS 5.
IT HAS MANY CONFIGURATIONS.
THIS ONE MEANS THAT WE HAVE A 
FOUR METRE PAYLOAD FAIRING AT 
THE TOP.
THERE ARE NO SOLID ROCKET MOTORS
FOR THIS MISSION.
THE ONE INDICATESE HAVE A 
SINGLE ENGINE UPPER STAGE.
WE ARE ABOUT TEN SECONDS AWAY 
FROM COMING OUT OF THE HOLD IN 
OUR COUNT.
>> TWO, ONE.
>>> ONE.
>>> WE ARE AT  T MINUS FOUR 
MINUTES AND COUNTING.
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE HAS 
BEEN MONITORING WEATHER FOR US.
YOU CAN SEE SOME FOG.
THERE ARE VISIBILITY ISSUES.
IT IS NOT A CONSTRAINT FOR 
LAUNCH DAY.
TERMS OF WEATHER.N THE RANGE IN 
THE AIR FORCE RANGE IS 
RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY 
AND HAS BEEN COORDINATING WITH 
TEAMS TO ENSURE THAT THE FLIGHT 
PATH ARE CLEAR FOR THE LAUNCH.
WE HAVE NO COLLISION AVOIDANCE 
CUT OUTS TODAY.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE TRACKING TO A 
4.05 PACIFIC TIME LAUNCH.
WE ARE AT ADVERTISEMENT MINIMUM 
USE P MINUTES AND 29 SECONDS.
THE BOOSTERS AND TANKS ARE AT 
FLIGHT LEVEL.
THE MANAGER HAS POLLED HIS 
LAUNCH TEAM.
THE UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE 
CONDUCTOR BRIEFED THE TEAMS 
AHEAD OF THE TERMINAL COUNT.
THE LAUNCH HAS VERIFIED THAT THE
SOLAR RADIATION IS ACCEPTABLE 
FOR LAUNCH.
>>> TWO MINUTES AND 50 SECONDS.
>>> FDS.
>>> WE'RE AT TWO MINUTES 45 
SECONDS TO LAUNCH.
THE FLIGHT TERMINATION SYSTEM ON
THE ATLAS FIVE H JUST GONE TO 
INTERNAL.
.
>>> WE'RE JUST ABOUT  T MINIMUM 
US AND TWO MOUNTS COUNTING.
>>> 1 MINUTE AND 59.
1.55.
>>> SEQUENCE TO START.
>>> 1.50.
>>> LO2.RING CENTAUR 
>>> 1, 40.
>>> LAUNCH ENABLED.
>>> 1.37.
>>> F TS ARMED.
>>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT A LIVE 
SHOT.
SOUTH-EASTERN CONNECTION HUGGING
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO.
>>> WE'RE ABOUT ONE MINUTE AND 
FIVE SECONDS AWAY FROM LAUNCH.
>>>  T MINUS ONE MINUTE.
>>> RAIN STAT
>>>GE IS GREEN.
>>> CONFIRMATION THAT THE RANGE 
IS GREEN.
AFTER LAUNCH WE WILL BE HEARING 
THE VOICE OF AN OFFICER WHO WILL
PROVIDE A STATUS OF THE FLIGHT 
AND N.A.S.A.'S INSIGHT.
>>> WE ARE LISTENING IN TO THE 
COUNTDOWN.
>>> MINUS 28 SECONDS.
25.
>>> STATUS CHECK.
>>> GO ATLA.
>>> GO CENTAUR.
>>> GO INSIGHT.
>>> WE'RE AT  T MINUS 15 
SSECONDS.
>>> FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, ZERO.
LIFT-OFF.
>>> WATCHING THE FIRST MISSION 
FROM THE WEST COAST.
N.A.S.A.'S INSIGHT, THE FIRST 
OUT OF SPACE ROBOTIC TO EXPLORE 
THE INTERIOR OF MARS.
>>> IT CONTINUES TO LOOK GOOD.
CHECK PRESSURE PUMP SPEEDS.
EXPECTED REGIONS.
RATIO, EXPECTHEPARAMETERS.
>>> THE R D180 ENGINE PROVIDING 
860,000 POUNDS THRUST.
>>> THE RATES CONTINUE TO LOOK 
GOOD.
>>> ALL SYSTEMS LOOK NOMINAL AT 
THIS POINT.
>> THE ROCKET IS NOW TRAVELLING
FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND.
>>> THIS IS THE POINT WHERE IT 
HES IT PEAK BECAUSE OF THE 
ROCKET'S VELOCITY AND THE 
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
>>> RIGHT ON SCHEDULE.
IT LOOKS GOOD.
PUMP SPEEDS AND PRESSURES 
CONTINUE TO LOOK GOOD.
RATES GOING DOWN THE MIDDLE.
CURRENT ALTITUDE IS 13 MILES, 
DOWN RANGE DISTANCE SEVEN MILES,
CURRENT VELOCITY, 19,065 MILES 
PER HOUR.
>>> GUIDANCE HAS GUN.
>>> THE FIRST PART OF THE FLIGHT
WAS PREPROGRAMMED.
NOW THE ROCKET IS GIVING ITSELF 
FEEDBACK ON ITS FLIGHT PATH.
>>> IT HAS GUN.
RATES LOOK GOOD.
PUMP SPEEDS, INJECTOR PRESSURES 
ALL WITHIN BAND.
RCS VALVE HAS BEEN FIRED.
THE SYSTEM IS NOW PRESSURIZED IN
FLIGHT LEVELS.
SIGNATURES LOOK GOOD.
VELOCITY IS 4,042 MILES PER 
HOUR.
>>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LIVE 
VIEW FROM THE ATLAS 5 ROCKET.
IT CONTINUES TO BURN.
>>> RATES LOOK DID.
STILL PERFORMING WELL.
>>> IT IS NOW ONE QUARTER 
SWITCHED OFF.
CURRENTLY FLYING AT 4GS 
ACCELERATION.
THIS PHASE COOL DOWN HAS BEGUN.
THROTTLED TO 5 GS.
>>> THREE MINUTES 50 SECONDS 
INTO FLIGHT AND NEAR BOOSTER 
ENGINE CUT OFF.
>>> PREPARATION FOR THE COOL 
DOWN HAS COMPLETED.
SHUT DOWN LOOKS GOOD.
>>> R D180 ENGINE ON THE FIRST 
STAGE OF THE ATLAS 5 HAS SHUT 
DOWN.
>>> STAGE SEPARATION.
WE HAVE BOX AND FUEL RESTART.
THE RCS IS UNDERWAY.
WE HAVE IGNITION AND THRUSTS 
THERE.
>>> THE SECOND STAGE, STAGE 
ENGINE HAS IGNITED.
>>> WE HAVE INDICATION OF 
JETTISON.
IT LOOKS GOOD.
>>> THE PAYLOAD FAIRING WAS 
ENCAPSULATING THE INSIDE SPACE 
CRAFT HAS BEEN JETTISONED.
IT CONTINUES TO BURN.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT LIVE 
ANIMATION.
>>> RATES LOOK VERY GOOD.
>>> OF THE CENTAUR SECOND STAGE 
ON ITS FLIGHT PATH.
>>> ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT YOU CAN 
SEE THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE 
ROCKET.
>>> A QUICK LOOK AT THE BOOSTER
STAGE PERFORMANCE SHOWS A VERY 
NOMINAL BOOSTER.
>>> FOR THOSE JOINING US, WE HAD
AN ON-TIME LIFT-OFF OF THE ATLAS
5 ROCKET CARRYING THE INSIGHT 
SPACE CRAFT AS WELL AS TWO SMALL
CUBE SETS CALLED MARCO.
>>> THIS BURN IS SCHEDULED FOR 
EIGHT MINUTES AND 56 SECONDS.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LIVE SHOT 
OF THE CENTAUR SECOND STAGE 
PROVIDING THRUST.
>>> T RCS LINE TEMPERATURES 
ARE WARMING AS EXPECTED.
>>> CENTAUR SLIGHTLY FUEL RICH.
CHAMBER PRESSURE ON DISCHARGE.
ALL WITHIN BAND.
>>> WE ARE AT SEVEN MINUTES AND 
15 SECONDS INTO THE FLIGHT.
TRAJECTORY.NG TAKEN TO ITS 
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF TWO 
BURNS FOR THE SECOND STAGE.
>>> ALL SYSTEMS LOOK GOOD AT 
THIS PORTION OF THE BURN.
>>> IT CONTINUES TO PERFORM VERY
WELL AND REQUESTING A FUEL RICH 
CONDITION AT THIS POINT OF THE 
BURN.
THE LINE TEMPERATURES HAVE 
NE ACHIEVED TEMPERATURES.
WE NEED TO SEE THE THERMAL 
CONDITIONING FIRING ON THE RCS.
PRESSURES ARE STABLE AND THE 
RATES LOOK GOOD.
THE PURGE LEVELS ARE EXCELLENT.
>>WE ARE OVER NINE MINUTES 
INTO THE FLIGHT OF INSIGHT.
>>> YOU CONTINUE TO SEE THE 
FLIGHT PATH ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT 
OF YOUR SCREEN.
>>> THE TRAJECTORY OF THE FLIGHT
PATH WILL PUT THE SPACE CRAFT IN
ORBIT GOING AROUND THE SOUTHERN 
TIP OF SOUTHERN AMERICA AND 
ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, CROSS
OVER INDIA.
>>> IT IS AS EXPECTED FOR THE 
RANGE.
CENTAUR IS AN AT AN ALLOWED 
ATTITUDE 131 MILES.
VELOCITY 14,790 MILES PER HOUR.
>>> WE ARE 11 MINUTES INTO THE 
FLIGHT OF INSIGHT.
WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MORE MINUTES 
LEFT IN THE FIRST BURN OF THE 
SECOND STAGE RL-10 ENGINE.
>>> PRESSURES ARE ALL GOOD.
>>> COMING UP TO THE SECOND 
STAGE.
>>> ONE MINUTE REMAINS IN THIS 
FIRST BURN.
CENTAUR NEAR NOMINAL, RL-10 
CHAMBER PRESSURE ALL 
APPROPRIATE.
THE TEMPERATURES LOOK GOOD.
WE WILL SEE ADDITIONAL FIRINGS.
>>> WE ARE NOW 1 MINUTES INTO 
THE FLIGHT -- 15 MINUTES INTO 
THE FLIGHT, THE FIRST STAGE BURN
ABOUT TO CUT-OFF.
>>> SHUT DOWN LOOKS GOOD.
4 S-7 MOTORS ON.
>>> YOU HEARD CONFIRMATION THAT 
WE HAVE HAD MIKO, THE SECOND 
STAGE ENGINE HAS CUT OFF FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
THE FIRST BURN OF THE SECOND 
STAGE BEING COMPLETE.
WE BEGIN THE LONG COAST PHASE OF
THIS MISSION.
THIS WILL END WHEN THE ENGINE 
IGNITES FOR THE SECOND TIME FROM
THE START OF THE SECOND CEN 
BURN OER NORTH-EAS RUSSIA.
THE END OF THE SECOND CENTAUR 
BURN WILL BE COMPLETED OVER THE 
NORTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN.
AFTER THE END OF THE SECOND 
BURN, WE WILL COAST FOR ABOUT 
NINE MINUTES SO THAT THE GOLD 
STONE IS FOR THE SEPARATE EVENTS
OF T INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT AND 
THE MARCO SPACE CRAFT THAT ARE 
TRAVELLING ALONG.
THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER 
NORTH-EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN OFF 
THE COAST OF ORGAN.
WITH THE LONG -- OREGAN.
WE WILL GO BACK TO STEPHANIE 
MARTIN.
>> THANKS.
PERMISSIONS TO OTH PLANETS, 
THE FLIGHT PATH HAS TO BE 
PRECISE TO ENSURE THAT IT LANDS 
AND/OR BITS IN THE CORRECT 
ADDITION -- AND OR BITS IN THE 
CORRECT ADDITION.
THE TRAJECTORY ANAL CYST 
GIVES HER ROLE.
>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE FOR 
INSIGHT.
>> IT IS THE TRAJECTORY ANALYST.
MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT 
DROPS THE SPACE CRAFT OFF AT THE
RIGHT TIME AND PLACE IN SPACE.
IT IS NOT JUST DOING AN EQUATION
ONCE.
THE LAB DO IT THIS MANY TIMES.
THEY CONSIDER MANY MONTHS.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER CONDITIONS 
GOING TO BE LIKE.
WE WANT TO GET COMMUNICATION 
DURING LANDING.
 RIGHT SATELLITES IN 
PLACE, ARE WE LOOKING BACK AT 
EARTH.
THERE'S ALL THESE CONSIDERATIONS
AND SO WE HAVE 35 DAYS THAT 
WE'RE LAUNCHING BUT ONLY ONE DAY
THAT WE LAND.
WE HAVE A TWO-HOUR WINDOW THAT 
WE CAN DO ON EACH DAY.
THERE'S 875 POSSIBLE THINGS WE 
ANALYSE.
>>> TO LAUNCH FROM CALIFORNIA, 
WHAT IS DIFFERENT?
>> WE LAUNCH EAST SAFELY AND SO 
MUCH TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH.
FROM VANDENBUR IF THEY LAUNCH 
EAST THEY'RE FLYING OVER PEOPLE.
WE DON'T WANT THAT.
WE CAN LAUNCH SOUTH-EAST AS WE 
ARE FOR INSIGHT AND WE CAN 
CONTINUE GOING WEST AND LAUNCH 
SAFELY.
>>> WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT 
PLANETARY PROTECTION.
TEAM DOING?T AND WHAT IS YOUR 
>> WE HAVE SOMEBODY HERE AT 
N.A.S.A. WHO IS CALLED THE 
PLANETARY PROTECTION OFFICER 
WHICH AFTER A NINE-YEAR-OLD 
SAID, THE GUARDIAN OF THE 
GALAXY.
HE OKS TOROTECT EARTH FROM 
ANY MICROBES WE BRING FROM SPACE
AND WE ALSO CONSIDER WHERE WE 
MIGHT BE LIFE, WE WANT TO 
PROTECT THEM FROM ANY EARTH BUGS
AND CREATING LIFE SOMEWHERE AS 
OPPOSING TO FINDING IT.
THE SPACE CRAFT WHICH WE PLAN TO
HAVE LAND ON MARS HAS BEEN
SPECIALLY DESIGNED.
THERE IS A WHOLE TEAM.
WE ACTUALLY AIM THE TRAJECTORY 
AWAY FROM MARS.
WE DON'T AIM IT STRAIGHT AT 
MARS, SO THAT WE DON'T POLLUTE 
MARS.
>>> HERE IS WISHING YOU ALL 
NOMINAL CALLS FOR LAUNCHAY AND
A SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT.
>> THANKS, KELLY.
>>> WE ARE 17 MINUTES INTO THE 
FLIGHT OF N.A.S.A.'S INSIGHT 
SPACE CRAFT ON ITS WAY TO MARS.
OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT IS IN THE 
REMOTE LAUNCH CONTROL CENTER 
WITH THE UNITEDAUNCH ALLIANCE 
PROGRAM MANAGER FOR N.A.S.A. 
MISSIONS TO GET AN UPDATE ON 
TODAY'S LAUNCH.
>>> THANK YOU.
TELL US HOW IT'S GOING SO FAR.
>> SO FAR THINGS ARE REALLY 
GOOD.
IT A NOMINAL COUNT.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL LAUNCH.
FOGGY OUT THERE BUT EVERYTHING 
IS GOING WELL AND RIGHT ON 
TRACK.
>>> AS WE ALL KNOW, UNITED 
LAUNCH ALLIANCE IS NO STRANGER 
TO MARS MISSIONS.
YOU'VE LAUNCHED THE SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY AND CURIOSITY 
RECOVERY.
SO HOW -- ROVER.
HOW IS IT LIKE TO SEND INSIGHT?
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
WE'VE LAUNCHED EVERY MARS 
MISSION SINCE 1960.
WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF THEM.
THIS ONE IS SUPER XHITING 
BECAUSE WE -- EXCITING BECAUSE 
WE FIRST LAUNCHED FROM THE WEST 
COAST.
IT IS VERY EXCITING AND ANY TIME
WE GO TO MARS IT IS VERY 
EXCITING FOR US TO GIVE OUR 
CUSTOMER A GREAT RIDE AND CREATE
MISSION SUCCESS SO THAT INSIGHT 
MISSION CAN DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO 
DO WHEN IT GET TO MARS.
>>> SO THIS HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY
YEAR FOR YOU GUYS SO FAR.
THIS IS THE FIFTH LAUNCH FOR 
UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE.
SO FAR IN 2018 THE SECOND 
N.A.S.A. MISSION.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR THE TEAM?
>> WE HAVE TWO MORE MISSIONS 
LEFT TO GO.
WE HAVE THE PROBE MISSION GOING 
TO THE SUN WHICH LAUNCHES IN 
JULY AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR 
LAST STEALTH 2 MISSION WHICH 
LAUNCHES IN SEPTEMBER FROM OUT 
HERE IN VANDENBERG.
SO A BUSY YEAR FOR US WITH FOUR 
MISSIONS.
 VERY EXCITED.
>>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 
REST OF THE YEAR AROUND AND -- 
AND THE REST OF TODAY.
>>> THANKS.
WITH MANY SCIENTIFIC MISSIONS 
N.A.S.A. PARTNERS WITH 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE AGENCIES TO 
EXPLORE AND DISCOVER NEW 
SCIENCE.
IN FACT, INSIGHT HAS INSTRUMENTS
FROM FRANCE'S NATIONAL SPACE 
AGENCY CALLED KINESS AND THE 
GERMAN AIR OWE SPACE CENTER 
KNOWN AS DLR.
HAS'S BLAI ALLEN HAS MORE -- B 
-- N.A.S.A.'S BLAIR ALLEN HAS 
MORE.
>>> WE'RE HERE WITH TWO MORE 
MEMBERS OF THE SPACE COMMUNITY.
THANKS FOR BEING ON THE SHOW.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH.
>>> I WILL START WITH YOU.
JUST THINKING ABOUT THE 
SIGNIFICANCE OF INSIGHT AND THE 
PARTNERSHIP, TELL US ABOUT WHAT 
IT MEANS FOR THE FRENCH SPACE 
AGENCY TO LAUNCH AND SEE A 
LAUNCH OF THE INSIGHT MISSION?
>> IN FACT, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
A VERY GREAT TEAM IN FRANCE.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE ON A NUMBER 
OF MISSIONS.
FOR US INSIGHT REPRESENTS A VERY
MISSION BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO 
MARS.
>>> OBVIOUSLY, THAT INSTRUMENT 
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DATA 
THAT WE WILL GET BACK.
WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT 
YOU'RE PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
>> YES.
AS YOU KNOW, HAS IS VERY 
SELECTIVE AND WE ARE PROUD THAT 
WE HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND TO HAVE 
A GREAT PARTNERSHIP IN THE LAST 
10 YEARS.
I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE TREMENDOUS
TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
>>> ABSOLUTELY.
HOW ABOUT FOR YOU AND THE GERMAN
SPACE AGENCY.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT I MEANS TO 
SEE THE SIGNIFICANT MISSION 
START TODAY?
>> GERMANY IS ACTIVE IN MARS 
EXPLORATION SINCE MORE THAN TWO 
DECADES.
JUST YOU WILL REMEMBER MARS, THE
SURFACE OF MARS CONTRIBUTING TO 
MANY U.S. MISSIONS TO MARS.
WE ARE EXCITED TODAY THAT OUR 
INSTRUMENTS, THE HEAT FLOW AND 
PACKAGE H P3 IS MUCH EASIER TO 
MEMBER, IS BOARD.
IT'S ON THE WAY TO MARS AND WE 
WILL REVEAL NEW INSIGHTS ABOUT 
THE INTERIOR OF MARS.
>>> THIS IS EXCITING HERE 
TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HAVE A 
SCIENTIST BY PROFESSION AND AN 
ENGINEER
TELL ME ABO WHAT IT MEANS FOR 
YOU AS ASTROPHYSICIST TO SEE THE
LAUNCH?
>> I THINK WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
OUR NEIGHBOR PLANET MARS.
IT HAS A VERY SIMILAR HISTORY IN
4.5 BILLION YEARS AGO.
WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE 
PLANET EVOLVED AND DEVELOPED.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND 
HOW TERRISTRIAL PLANETS EVOLVE.
WE LEARN ABOUT THAT FROM 
EXPERIMENTS.
 OF THE IMPORTANT THING IS 
IT IS LINKED TO HOW LIFE 
ORIGINATED ON EARTH AND 
EVENTUALLY ON MARS.
THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT.
>>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANKS SO MUCH.
AN ENGINEERING PERSPECTIVE, HOW 
DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU AS A FORMER
ENGINEER?
>> LAUNCHING TO MARS IS PROBABLY
THE ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT.
IT IS MY THIRD LAUNCH TO MARS.
I WAS IN MARCH 2016 FOR THE 
FIRST ONE AND TONIGHT, BUT 
FINALLY HERE YOU HAVE TO LAUNCH,
TO LAND AND TO DISCOVER.
IT IS A GREAT MISSION AN 
ENGINEER.
>>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING ON 
THE SHOW.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
WE ARE AS EXCITED AS YOU ARE TO 
SEE MARS INSIGHT LAND AND START 
GETTING INSIDE THE MARTIAN 
SURFACE.
BACK TO YOU, STEPHANIE.
I HOPE THAT YOU CAN SENSE THE 
EXCITEMENT OF MYSELF AND THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HERE.
>>> THANK YOU, BLAIR.
WE'RE SO EXCITED HERE IN THE 
STUDIO AS WELL.
WE WANT TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE.
WE HAVE INSIGHT TRIVIA.
DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS?
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>>> UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEX 
FORMATION OF MARS IS AN 
ESSENTIAL PART OF HELPING US 
DISCOVER HOW OWN OWN PLANET'S 
FUTURE COULD EVOLVE.
THE INVESTIGATOOR INSIGHT IS 
ON SITE WITH BLAIR ALLEN TO TALK
ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING BENEATH 
THE MARTIAN SURFACE.
>>> THANKS.
SUE, I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU BEFORE
WE GET STARTED ABOUT THE 
INTERIOR OF MARS, TELL ME, WHAT 
LAUNCH?
>> IT WAS FANTASTIC.
IT WAS PHYSICAL.
I COULD FEEL THE GROUND 
VIBRATING.
THE CAR ALARMS ARE GOING OFF.
I SAW A LITTLE SPARK, BUT THAT'S
ABOUT IT.
IT WAS JUST AS EMOTIONAL AS IF 
THERE WAS NO FOG IN THE WAY.
IT WAS ON ITS WAY AND IT WAS 
THRILLING.
>>> I'M SO GLAD.
I FELT THE SAME WAY.
I DIDN'T SEE IT BUT DID FEEL IT.
IT REALLY IS EXCITING.
NOW WE'RE UNDERWAY AND LET'S 
TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN ONCE INSIGHT GETS THERE 
BECAUSE THE BIG OBJECTIVE IS TO 
GET UNDER THE SURFACE SO TELL US
ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF THAT.
>> OUR MAIN INSTRUMT IS AN 
SEISMOMETER.
WE USE TO THAT MEASURE THE 
PLANET.
EVERY TIME A QUAKE GOES OFF IT 
WILL TRAVEL THROUGH THE INTERIOR
OF MARS AND BOUNCE OFF DENSITY 
LAYERS.
IT IS LIKE AN SONODPRAM, IT WILL
BOUNCE OFF AND -- ZONOGRAM.
WE WILL MEASURE THE THICKNESS OF
THE CRUST.
WE'RE GOING TO DETERMINE THE 
ZEISMIC ACTIVITY.
>>> I'M WONDERING THE PARTICULAR
LOCATION OF INSIGHT WHERE IT 
LANDS, WAS THAT CHOSEN BASED ON 
GEOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OR TELL ME A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REGION 
YOU'RE LANDING IN.
>> WE ARE A MISSION TRYING TO DO
THINGS ON A BUDGET.
WITH THE LANDER IT IS A COPY OF 
THE PHOENIX LANDER.
IT HAS SOME ENGINEERING 
CONSTRAINTS.
WE CAN ONLY LAND AT A CERTAIN 
ALTITUDE ON MARS.
WE DON'T WANT TO CRASH AND WE 
ALSO ARE SOLAR POWERED.
WE NEED TO BE THE EQUATOR.
SO IT ACTUALLY NARROWS IT DOWN A
LOT.
THE LAST THING WANTED IS SOME
PLACE WHERE WE CAN BURROW OUR 
MOLE FOR THE HEAT FLOW UNDER THE
GROUND, AND HAPPILY MARS 
PROVIDES A WINDOW INTO ITS 
SUBSURFACE VIA IMPACT CRATERS.
OUR LANDING SIGHT AND MANY 
STUDENTS MAPPED THE CRATERS.
WE FOUND A PLACE TO GET IT DOWN 
WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT THE ROCK 
LAYER DEPTH.
>>> THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE 
SSION BECAUSE IT IS GOING DOWN
PRETTY DEEP I UNDERSTAND.
>> YEAH.
UP TO 16 FEET.
WE THINK THE FIRST 30 FEET OR SO
SHOULD BE OKAY IN OUR REGION.
>>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
>> YEAH.
>>> TELL ME ABOUT THE MOLE.
WHAT KIND OF DATA ARE YOU 
GETTING WITH THAT SENSITIVE 
INSTRUMENT?
>> IT HAMMERS ITSELF DOWN AND 
STOPS ABOUT A FOOT AND A HALF.
IT SENDS OUT A HEAT PULSE WHICH 
TELLS US ABOUT THE THERMO 
ACTIVITY OF THE SOIL AND KEEPS 
HAMMERING AND STEPS DOWN TO 
ABOUT 16 FEET.
AT THATEPTHE AWAY FROM 
TEMPERATURE CHANGES DUE TO 
DAY/NIGHT CHANGES, SEASONAL 
CHANGES AND WE'RE JUST GETTING 
THE HEAT COMING OUT OF THE 
PLANET.
WE MEASURE THE THERMAL GRADIENT 
WITH A STRING OF TEMPERATURE 
CENSORS THAT THE MOLE PULLS 
BEHIND IT.
WITH THAT THERMAL GRADIENT AND 
THERMAL KOEKTIVITY, WE GET -- 
CONNECTIVITY WE GET THE HEAT 
COMING OUT OF THE PLANET.
>>> THANKS FOR THAT.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND THE REST OF
THE TEAM.
TONNE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
KEEP GIVING US GOOD INFORMATION 
ON THE PROGRESS.
>>> WE'RE ABOUT 31 MINUTES INTO 
TODAY'S FLIGHT OF N.A.S.A.'S 
INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT ON ITS WAY 
TO MARS.
LET'SHECK BACK IN ON THE 
MISSION DIRECTOR CENTER FOR AN 
UPDATE ON THE FLIGHT.
>>> THANK YOU.
WE HAD AN ON-TIME LIFT-OFF TODAY
AT 4.05 PACIFIC.
THE ATLAS 5 ROCKET ROARED TO 
LIFE WITH THE INSIGHT SPACE 
CRAFT.
THE SPACE CRAFT IS NOW AS YOU 
SEE ON THE SCREENOUGH THIS 
ANIMATION IS TRAVELLING WITH THE
SECOND STAGE.
THE SECOND STAGE IS ON A COAST 
PHASE.
THE ENGINE IGNITED FOR THE FIRST
TIME AND DID ITS BURN AND IT IS 
SHUT OFF AND WE'RE IN A COAST 
PHASE.
WE'RE TRAVELLING JUST OVER THE 
SOUTHERN TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA.
THIS BURN IS THE FIRST OF TWO 
THAT WE WILL DO.
THE SECOND BURN WE WILL PUT THE 
SPACE CRAFT IN THE PROPER 
TRAJECTORY AND IT WILL COAST FOR
ABOUT NINE MINUTES AFTER THIS 
COMPLETION OF THE SECOND STAGE 
BURN AND THEN IT WILL RELEASE 
THE INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT AND THEN
RELEASE THE MARCO SPACE CRAFT AT
THE BOTTOM.
THE BEAUTIFUL LIFT-OFF IN THE 
PREDAWN SKY OF THE VANDENBURG 
AIR BASE, THERE WAS FOG IN THE 
AREA BUT NO CONSTRAINT T 
LAUNCH.
HERE ARE SOME REPLAYS RIGHT NOW.
>>> ON YOUR SCREEN YOU CAN SEE 
SOME FOOTAGE OF THE CENTAUR.
THERE ARE TWO MARCO SPACE CRAFT.
WE'RE IN THE LONG FACE OF THE 
MISSION.
WE HAVE MORE TRIVIA FOR YOU AND 
WE WILL BRING THAT YOU RIGHT 
NOW.
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>>> YOU CAN SEE THE INSIGHT 
SPACE CRAFT ATOP THE SECOND 
STAGE CENTAUR OF THE ATLAS 5 
ROCKET CONTINUING ON ITS FLIGHT 
PATH.
WE DID HAVE AN ON-TIME LIFT-OFF 
AT 4.05 PACIFIC TIME.
A NICE LAUNCH IN THE PREDAWN 
SKY.
WE'RE IN THE LONG COAST PHASE 
FOR THIS MISSION BEFORE THE
SECOND BURN OF THE SECOND STAGE 
ENGINE.
WHILE WE'RE WAITING WE WILL GO 
BACK TO STEPHANIE MARTIN FOR 
MORE.
>> THANKS JOSH.
THE SATS WILL BE THE FIRST TO 
LEAVE THE EARTH'S ORBIT.
IF IT IS SUCCESSFUL, THEY HOLD A
LOT OF PROMISE FOR THE 
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY.
HAS'S CHRIS GURST IS WITH THE 
MECHANICAL LEAD ENGINEER.
>>> THANKS.
HOW WAS IT?
>> FANTASTIC.
YOU COULD FEEL THE ROCKET 
LIFTING OFF THE PAD AND 
SUCCESSFULLY CLEARLY THE TOWER 
AND GETTING ON ITS VOYAGE.
>>> TAKE US THROUGH THE NEXT 
PHASE FOR MARCO A AND B.
>> AFTER 90 MINUTES, THE INSIGHT
SPACE CRAILLDEPLOY.
60 SECONDS AFTER THAT THE FIRST 
SPACE CRAFT WILL ALSO DEPLOY OFF
THE SECOND STAGE.
THE SECOND STAGE WILL ROLL 180 
DEGREES AND THE SECOND MARCO 
WILL DEPLOY.
>>> THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE 
YOU'RE GOING TO LET THE INSIGHT 
SPACE CRAFT GO FIRST.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>> THEN YOU WILL BE TRAILING.
>> CORRECT.
WE ALL DEPLOY OFF IN SLIGHTLY 
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
WE FLY AS A LOOSE CLUSTER 
TOGETHER OVER THE SIX-MONTH TRIP
TO MARS.
>>> HOW DO YOU THINK MARCO A AND
B ARE GOING TO FEEL FOLLOWING 
INSIGHT ALL THE TO MARS.
>> THAT IS EXACTLY OUR POINT.
WE ARE THERE TO TRAIL INSIGHT.
WE'RE EAGERLY AWAITING OUR 
CHANCE TO FLYOVER AND CATCH UP 
WITH THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH 
ENTRY DESCENT AND LANDING.
WE FLYOVER AND ARE ABLE TO RELAY
THE MESSAGE BACK THE EARS 
HERE ON EARTH.
>>> THIS IS PRETTY COOL BECAUSE 
IT IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE 
TAKING A CUBE SET AS TRAVELLING 
OUT OF LOWER EARTH ORBIT AND 
GOING TO ANOTHER PLANET.
TAKE US THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WHERE ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES
OF DESIGNIN CUBE SAT, 
CONSTRUCTING IT AND GETTING IT 
READY FOR FLIGHT.
>> SPACE IS HARD.
THAT'S ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES 
WITH ANY TYPE OF SATELLITE AND 
WITH THE MARCO CUBE SATS THERE'S
NOTHING DIFFERENT.
TRADITIONALLY CUBE SATS IN LOWER
EARTH ORBIT, YOU'RE CLO TO 
HOME AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO 
TALK TO YOUR SPACE CRAFT.
YOU'RE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT 
REPEATS ITSELF SINCE YOU'RE 
ORBITING THE SAME BODY OVER AND 
OVER.
AS YOU GET INTO DEEP SPACE, 
YOU'RE IN A MUCH DIFFERENT 
ENVIRONMENT.
YOU'RE PERPETUALLY MOVING 
FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FRO 
THE SUN.
YOU GET LESS AND LESS POWER 
EVERY DAY AND YOUR ENVIRONMENT 
IS CHANGING.
ADDITIONALLY YOU ARE VERY FAR 
FROM EVERYTHING THAT IS 
FAMILIAR.
THERE IS NO GPS OR WAYS TO HELP 
YOU NAVIGATE.
THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK IS YOUR 
ONLY WAY TO PHONE HOME.
ONE OF THE TECHNOLOGIES THAT 
MARCO IS DEMONSTRATING ON THIS 
MISSION IS A BRAND NEW RADIO 
VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT IS ON LARGE
FACE CRAFT.
THIS ALLOWS US TO COMMUNICATE 
WITH THE RADIO IN ORDER TO DO 
THINGS LIKE NAVE ON OUR WAY 
TO MARS AND IN ORDER TO 
COMMUNICATE WITH THE DEEP SPACE 
NETWORK AND UNDERSTAND HOW OUR 
SATELLITES ARE DOING.
>>> ONCE MARCO, ASSUMING IT DOES
ITS JOB, IT WILL HELP OUT THE 
INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT, WHERE DOES 
IT CUBE SATS GO.
>> THE PRIMARY MISSION IS A 
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION TO 
LEARN ABOUT THESE TECHNOLOGIES.
IF WE SURVIVE OUR SIX-MONTH 
VOYAGE AND LEARN ABOUT THESE 
TECHNOLOGIES THROUGHOUT THAT 
TRIP, WE WILL DO ENTRY 
DESCENDING AND LANDING RELAY.
AFTER THAT IT IS COMPLETE.
WE WILL FINISH RELAYING DOWN 
DATA AND ENGINEERING DATA TO SEE
HOW WE PERFORMED.
AFTER THAT WE WILL SALE OFF INTO
THE SUN SET AND BE INN HELIO 
CENTRIC ORBIT FOREVER.
>>> YOU'RE LAYING THE FOUNDATION
FOR FUTURE CUBE SATS TO BE 
LAUNCHED IN OTHER PLANETS.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE 
INVOLVED IN TIS INVESTMENT INTO
THE FUTURE OF SMALL SATELLITES 
AND SATELLITES IN GENERAL.
IT IS A REALLY SURREAL 
EXPERIENCE TO HAVE WORKED ON 
THIS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
AND TO BE HERE TO SEE THE LAUNCH
AND EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING THAT 
ALL OF THESE TEAMS HAVE PUT INTO
THEIR SATELLITES TOGETHER.
>>> A LITTLE BIT OF TRIVIA FOR 
THE AUDIENCE.
I BELIEVE THAT MARCO A AND B 
HAVE SPECIAL NAMES.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO MARCO A AND B WERE GIVEN THE 
NAMES BY WALL-E AND EVA FROM THE
MOVIE.
THAT IS WHAT MARCO ACTUALLY IS.
MARCOS ARE DEMONSTRATING A COLD 
GAS PROPULSION SYSTEM W
ALLOWS US TO CORRECT OUR 
TRAJECTORY ON OUR TRIP TO MARS.
IN THE MOVIE THERE IS A SCENE 
WHERE WALL-E JUMPS OUT AND IS 
FLYING AROUND WITH A FIRE 
EXTINGUISHER.
OUR PROP SYSTEMS A FILLED WITH
THE SAME CHEMICAL IN 
EXTINGUISHERS.
>>> HOW COOL IS THAT.
>> IT IS VERY COOL.
>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 
JOINING US TODAY.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MARCO IN 
ACTION AND PERFORMING AND 
HELPING OUT THE INSIGHT SPACE 
CRAFT.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH A 
SPECIAL NAME FOR US BECAUSE 
THAT'S PRETTY FACTUAL HAVING TWO
WITH SPECIAL NAMES.
BACK TO YOU.
>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IF YOU LOVE THAT THEY ARE NAMED 
AFTER WALL-E, WE HAVE MORE 
TRIVIA FOR YOU CO UP NOW.
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>>> N.A.S.A. EDGE SPOKE TO TEAM 
MEMBERS RECENTLY TO EXPAND UPON 
N.A.S.A.'S GOAL TO UNDERSTAND 
THE INTERIOR OF MARS.
>> HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> GREAT.
>>> YOU'RE EXCITED?
>> VERY EXCITED.
I CAN'T WAIT TO GO.
>>> WHAT ISINSIGHT.
>> IT IS A LANDER THAT IS GOING 
TO LAND ON MARS AND DEPLOY 
INSTRUMENTS AND IT'S GOING TO 
PROBE INTO THE INTERIOR OF MARS 
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE MAKE UP 
IS.
YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A 
CHECKOUT FOR MARS.
>>> IT IS A COOL MISSION BECAUSE
IT'S NOT LIKE ANY OTHER MARS 
MISSION THAT WE'VE HAD TO THE 
SURFACE BEFORE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IN THE PAST WE'VE ONLY GONE A 
FEW CENTIMETERS SO SCRAPED THE 
SURFACE.
WE WILL HAMMER INSIDE FIVE 
MINUTES, ABOUT 15FEET, SO THAT 
WE CAN PUT DOWN A PROBE.
WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS IT WILL
TAKE PROPERTIES OF THE AREA, THE
SOIL, AND AT DIFFERENT 
INTERVALS.
DOWN AT THE RESTING SPOT, IT IS 
GOING TO BE ABLE T MEASURE HOW 
MUCH HEAT IS COMING OUT FROM THE
CORE TO THE SURFACE.
THE REASON THAT MATTERS IS 
BECAUSE WITH THE HOT CORE, THAT 
KEEPS THE WHOLE PLANET ALIVE, 
THAT HOT CORE.
TO UNDERSTAND HOW HOT IT IS AND 
HOW MUCH IS COMING OUT OF THE 
CORE, WILL GIVE US A GOOD IDEA 
ABOUT HOW IT IS WORKING TODAY.
>>> IT IS FASCINATING TO THINK 
OF MARS AS A LIVING PLANET.
HOW DO YOU DO THAT 
SCIENTIFICALLY?
>> A PLANET IS LIKE A HEAT 
ENGINE.
YOU HAVE THE HEAT OF THE CORE 
TRYING TO GET OUT.
THAT IS DRIVING ALL THE GEOLO 
ON THE PLANET.
WE MEASURE THE HEAT, WHICH IS 
THE ENERGY BALANCE AND THE 
MOTION THAT'S GOING ON.
>>> HOW DOES THAT HELP YOU 
DETERMINE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT
THE COMPOSITION OF THE PLANET 
THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT?
>> THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE 
PLANET HAVE DIFFERENT MASSES.
THE IRON CORE IS VERY DENIES AND
HEAVY.
WE LIKE TO KNOW HOW BIG THE CORE
IS AND THE SIZE OF THAT IS GOING
TO DETERMINE ITS AFFECT ON THE 
PLANET SO WE CAN MEASURE THE 
WOBBLE AND WE CAN TRACE BACK TO 
THE SIZE AND THE DENSITY AND 
STATE OF THE CORE.
>>> DO WE HAVE ANY INDICATION SO
FAR THAT THERE'S EITHER LOT OF
ACTIVITY?
>> WE HAVE IMAGES FROM ORBIT 
THAT SHOWS THE SURFACE OF THE 
PLANET AND THERE ARE FAULTS THAT
ARE BILLIONS OF YEARS OLD.
SOME ARE YOUNGER.
COUNTING THEM UP IS A FUNCTION 
OF TIME, EXTRAPOLATING TO THE 
PRESENT, WE CAN COME UP WITH AN 
ESTIMATE.
WE KNOW THAT THE EARTH IS GOING 
TO BE MORE ACTIVE THAN MARS.
WE KNOW THAT THE MOON IS A 
BETTER PLANET.
WE MEASURE SEISMIC ACTIVITY ON 
THE MOON.
WE HAVE A GOOD EXPECTATION THAT 
WE WILL SEE QUAKES BUT WE WON'T 
KNOW UNTIL WE GET THERE.
>>> INSIGHT HAS LA.
EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO 
START COLLECTING SCIENCE, BUT 
BEFORE YOU CAN START COLLECTING 
SCIENCE YOU HAVE TO START 
DEPLOYING YOUR INSTRUMENTS.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
>> WE DOCUMENT OUR WORK BASE 
USING OUR CAMERA AND TAKE ABOUT 
ROUGHLY 56 IMAGES THAT TAKE A 
COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO DOWNLOAD.
THEY WILL BE PROCESSED ON THE 
GROUND TO BUILD A DETAILED MAP 
OF OUR WORK SPACE.
THE ENGINEERS WILL WORK TOGETHER
TO SELECT THE TWO PLACES TO 
PLACE THE INSTRUMENT.
ONCE THOSE HAVE BEEN SELECTED 
THEN WE GO ON OUR MERRY WAY TO 
TAKE THIS AND PUT THEM ON THE 
SURFACE OF MARS.
THE FIRST ONE IS AN INSTRUMENT 
WHICH IS PLACED ON THE GROUND 
AND IS SENSITIVE.
IF A BUTTERFLY SITS ON IT AND 
FLAPS ITS WINGS, IT CAN DETECT 
IT.
YOU WILL GET NOISE ON YOUR 
SIGNAL.
WE HAVE TO PUT OVER IT AHIELD 
THAT PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM 
THE ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HEAT PROBE 
DOWN, ONCE THAT STARTS DWILG 
INTO THE SURFACE OF MARS, THAT 
IS YOU'RE DONE WITH THAT RIGHT.
THAT CANNOT BE MOVED.
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
WE GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS.
WE SELECT THE SITE.
ONCE WE'RE DONE WITH THAT, WE 
TAKE OUR ROBOTIC ARM, WHICH IS 
BASICALLY A FISHING POLE WITH A 
HOOK ON IT, IT HAS A CABLE 
BECAUSE IT IS GETTING POWER FROM
THE LANDER.
WE PICK IT UP AND POSITIVE IT.
WE SLOWLY BRING IT TO THE 
GROUND.
IT IS VERY LIGHT.
WE HAVE TO PLACE IT AT A 
POSITION WHERE THERE WILL NOT BE
ANY OBSTACLES THAT WILL BLOCK 
THE MOLE FROM GETTING TO THE 
GROUND.
>>> IT IS ON THE SURFACE OF MARS
AND THE PROBE HAS DONE DOWN INTO
THE SURFACE.
WHAT IF YOU FIND OUT THAT THE 
CENTER OF MARS IS SOLID,HAT IT
ISN'T MOLTEN, HOT.
WHAT DOES THAT TELL US?
>> THAT WE'VE GOT GOOD SIGNS.
WHETHER IT IS MOELTEN, SOLID OR 
LIQUID, IS THE RIGHT ANSWER.
THAT MEANS WE HAVE THE RIGHT
ANSWER THE BETTER MODEL FOR 
MARS.
SO IT IS A WIN-WIN.
>>> AT THIS TIME WE'RE ABOUT 52 
MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT OF THE 
INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT N.A.S.A.'S 
CHRIS HAS FOUND JIM GREEN, CHIEF
SCIENTIST AGAIN, BECAUSE HE JUST
CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS.
>>> I CAN LISTEN TO HIM ALL DAY.
WE HEARD QUITE A BIT OUT THERE.
>> YEAH.
 HEDGE MY BETS AND I TURNED ON 
THE IPHONE APP FOR SOUND, JUST 
LIKE AN INSTRUMENT WAITING.
I WAS LOOKING FOR ATLAS QUAKES.
WE REALLY HEARD IT.
CAR ALARMS WENT OFF IN THE 
PARKING LOT.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT.
>>> I HEARD TWO OR THREE.
>> I WAS WORRIED THAT IT WAS 
MINE, BUT I DIDN'T CARE.
>>> IT'S ON ITS WAY NOW.
WE SAW THE TRACK HEADING SOUTH.
TELL ME HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO 
SEND A SPACE CRAFT TO MARS.
>> WE'VE GOT TO ESCAPE THE 
GRAVITY OF THE EARTH.
THAT REQUIRES A CERTAIN 
VELOCITY.
SO THE U L.A. DOES A FABULOUS 
JOB OF FIGURING OUT WHAT THE TRA
JEBBING TREES ARE -- TRA JEBBING
JEBBING TREES ARE --  
TRAJECTORIES ARE.
>>> WE HAVE SPACE CRAFT 
SEPARATION, INSIGHT WILL BE 
HEADING OUT AND WE HAVE THE TWO 
MARCOS, CUBE SATS BEING 
DEPLOYED.
WE HAVE TO WAIT.
>> NOVEMBER 26.
THAT'S ONLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS.
SOME OF THESE WINDOWS THAT WE 
HAVE ARE ACTUALLY LONGER, TEN 
MONTHS, 11 MONTHS.
THE REASON WHY IS YOU KNOW MARS 
IS ANNIE LIPT KAL ORBIT.
EVERY 26 MONTHS THERE'S AN 
ALIGNMENT WHERE WE CAN SEND SEND
A SPACE CRAFT TO MARS.
IT IS A MATTER OF WHERE THAT 
ALIGNMENT OCCURS IN MARS' ELIP 
TISHGS ICAL ORBIT.
>>> THAT'S WHY WE HAD A LAUNCH 
WINDOW BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 8 TO
MAKE THAT.
>> RIGHT, INDEED.
THIS IS JUST A TH SAY HITTING
A GOLF BALL IN NEW YORK AND 
PUTTING A HOLE IN ONE OUT HERE 
IN VANDENBERG.
WE STARTED HERE BUT THE HOLE IN 
ONE IS GOING TO BE AT MARS.
THIS IS ON A BALLISTIC 
TRAJECTORY.
IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE PLANET 
AND DOESNET INTO ORBIT.
IT GOES RIGHT DOWN TO THE 
SURFACE.
>>> THAT'S PRETTY QUICK.
>> YEAH.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO THESE DAYS.
>>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT 
THE FUN FACTS TONIGHT AND IS 
THERE ANY TRIVIA YOU WOULD LIKE 
TO SHARE WITH THE AUDIENCE?
>> SURE.
ALWAYS.
WE USE RELAYS TO COMMUNICATE.
AS THE SPACE CRAFT COMES DOWN, 
IT ACTUALLY IS GOING TO BE 
SENDING US INFORMATION.
IT HAS THREE PHAS.
THE ENTRY PART WHERE WE USE THE 
HEAT SHIELD, THEN WE POP THE 
CHUTE AFTER WE SLOW IT DOWN TO A
FEW HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR, LIKE
10,000 MILES PER HOUR SO IT HITS
THE TOP OF THE ATMOSPHERE.
AFTER THE CHUTE GETS IT DOWN TO 
WELL BELOW 100 MILES AN HOUR, 
THEN YOU HAVE THE RETRO ROCKETS 
FIRE AND THEN IT SAFELY PUTS 
DOWN.
WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE THAT 
INFORMATION.
IT GOES THROUGH THE ORBITERS AND
MARCO, THE TWO MARCOPACE
CRAFT, ARE THOSE HELPING ISSING 
US OUT.
THE TRIVIA QUESTION IS IN THE 
FUTURE HOW WILL WE BE DOING THIS
FOR OUR MISSIONS?
IF THE MARCO SPACE CRAFT WORK 
OUT FOR US, THAT GIVES US A 
COMPLETELY OPEN OPPORTUNITY FOR 
US TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT SAME 
BASIC CONCEPT FOR OTHER LANDER 
MISSIONS.
>>> NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WITH CUBE
SATS, WE HAVE TALKED TO MORE 
STUDENTS AROUND THIS COUNTRY WHO
ARE GETTING INVOLVED IN THE CUBE
SATS, AND THERE ARE STUDENTS 
VOLVED WITH MARCO.
IT IS INCREDIBLE HOW YOU'RE 
SEEING THESE YOUNG ENGINEERS, 
FUTURE ENGINEERS, THEY'RE GOING 
TO THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW SAYING 
THEY HAVE A SATELLITE IN SPACE.
>> PLANETARY CUB SATS ARE 
TOUGH.
THE FURTHER YOU ARE AWAY FROM 
THE EARTH, THE HARDER IT IS TO 
COMMUNICATE.
YOU NEED A BIGGER AND BIGGER 
DISTINGUISH.
IF YOU WANTED A CUBE SAT OUT AT 
SAT YOUR HONOUR -- SATURN, IT 
HAS TO BE FIVE FOOT.
AT MARS BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS 
COMMUNICATION CAPABILITY WITH 
THE SURFACE ASSET, WE'RE NOW 
THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN USE 
THAT TO COMMUNICATE WITH CUBE 
SATS.
SO THE CUBE SATS COULD BE IN 
ORBIT AROUND MARS AND SEND THE 
DATA BACK.
THE RELAY CONCEPT IS IMPORTANT.
>>> ONE DAY WHEN WE HAVE HUMANS 
ON THE SURFACE OF MARS, WE MIGHT
HAVE A FLEET OF CUBE SATS.
>> I'M SURE WE WILL.
IT PROVIDES A FWORK THAT
ALLOWS US TO MAKE A VARIETY OF 
VERY FOCUSED MEASUREMENTS AND 
POTENTIALLY TAKE A LOT OF DATA, 
PARTICULARLY IF WE CAN USE THE 
NETWORK ASPECT OF IT.
>>> THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK 
FOR A SECOND TIME.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
HE IS STILL FILLED WITH ENERGY 
EVEN THOUGH THE LAUNCH HAS 
OCCURRED.
HE CAN GO ALL DAY.
BACK TO YOU.
>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT 
THE MARCO MISSIONS, WHY DON'T WE
TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE 
SOME LOOK AT THE MARCO MISSION.
>>> EVERYTHING HAS TO BE IN THE 
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.
SOMETIMES HOURS CAN PASS BEFORE 
INFORMATION IS RELAYED FROM ONE 
PLANET TO THE OTHER.
THAT'S WHY WITH N.A.S.A. LAUNCH,
THE ROCKET WILL CARRY TWO TINY 
SATELLITES.
MEET MARS CUBE ONE, MARCO.
THE FIRST CUBE SAT MISSION TO 
DEEP SPACE.
THEY WILL TRAVEL SEPARATELY 
WHILE THEY TEST OUT NEW 
TECHNOLOGY.
IF THEY MAKE IT TO MARS, THEY 
COULD RELAY INFORMATION BACK TO 
EARTH ABOUT INSIGHT'S DESCENT 
AND TOUCH DOWNS AND DO IT IN 
MERE MINUTES.
ALTHOUGH THIS FAST COMMUNICATION
ISN'T CRUCIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF 
THE INSIGHT LANDER, THIS TEST 
COULD CHANGE THE WAY FUTURE 
SPACE CRAFT PHONE HOME.
>>> THE INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT HAS 
A PROTECTIVE SHELL THAT SHIELDS 
IT BETWEEN EARTH AND MARS.
IT INCLUDES MECHANICAL UNITS 
THAT SAFELY MANEUVER THE LANDER 
THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE TO A 
LANDING ON MARS.
N.A.S.A.'S CORRESPONDENT IS 
TELLING US ABOUT THE MAJOR 
PARTS.
>> THANK YOU.
STEPHANIE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE 
MAJOR PARTS THAT MAKE UP THE 
INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT 
ABOUT THEM?
>> YES.
THERE'S THREE MAJOR ELEMENTS.
THE MOST NOTORIOUS IS THE LANDER
WHICH TOUCHES DOWN, BUT THE 
SECOND PART IS THE AIR OWE 
SHELL, THE KA COON THAT PROTECTS
IT.
IN THE FIRST PART THAT IS GOING 
TO BE IN CHARGE OF GETTING TO 
THE PLANET IS THE CREW STAGE.
IT OPERATES FOR THE FIRST SIX 
AND A HALF MONTHS.
>>> I KNOW WE'RE ABOUT 30 
MINUTES OFF OF SEPARATING FROM 
THE SECOND STAGE TO GO INTO THE 
CRUISE STAGE.
TELL US ABOUT THAT JOURNEY.
>> IT IS GOING TO BE A NAIL 
BITING 30 MINUTES FOR US ON THE 
TEAM.
WE WILL SEPARATE AND THEN IT 
WILL BE ON OUR OWN TO GET OUR 
OWN  TELEMETRY.
ONCE WE GET THAT WE WILL DO A 
QUICK HEALTH ASSESSMENT, WE WILL
PULL IT UP TO AND HOPEFULLY 
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO MARS.
>>> WHAT DO YOU DO FOR SIX 
MONTHS?
WHAT KIND OF OPERATIONS WILL GO 
ON?
>> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS 
THE TRAJECTORY CORRECTION 
MANEUVE.
SO ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS AFTER 
LAUNCH WE DO OUR FIRST  TC M AND
THAT WILL ACTUALLY ASSESS US ON 
TARGET LANDING ON THE PLANET.
POINTING FOR THE REST OF THE 
WAY.
>>> WHEN IT COMES TO ENTRY 
DESCENT AND LANDING, WE HAVE 
SEEN AIR BAGS, SKY CRANES, 
DESCENT ENGINES.
WHAT FACTORS GO INTO WHAT TYPE 
OF ENTRY DESCEN LANDING CERTAIN
ROVER WILL HAVE.
>>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW BIG THE 
FLIGHT SYSTEM IS, THE LANDER.
IT IS BASED 35 YEARS BEFORE ON 
VIKING.
BOTH THE LANDSERS AND THE 
PHOENIX USED THE LANDING 
TECHNIQUES, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
USING ON INSIGHT AS WELL.
>>> ONCE IT TOUCHES DOWN ON 
MARS, WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT 
MOVE?
>> THE FIRST MOVE IS TO LET THE 
ST SETTLE.
THEN WE WILL DEPLOY THE TWO 
SOLAR RAYS.
THEN WE WILL START OVER THE NEXT
MONTH OR TWO DEPLOYING THE 
INSTRUMENTS.
>>> WE LOOK TO GET DATA FROM
INSIGHT WTHIN A MONTH.
>> IT WILL START COMING IN 
WITHIN A MONTH.
THE ENGINEERING DATA TO MAKE 
SURE WE'RE HEALTHY WILL COME FOR
MRO, A COUPLE OF HOURS AFTER 
TOUCHDOWN.
IT IS DIRECTLY FROM INSIGHT THAT
WILL GIVE US A ROUGH HEALTH AND 
STATUS AND THEN THE CUBE SATS 
THAT WILL PROVIDE REAL TIME 
INFORMATION FOR US.
>>> THANKS FOR COMING ON THE 
SHOW.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET BANG TO 
GET THAT DATA THAT YOU WERE 
WE APPRECIATE YOU YOUR TIME.
>>> NOT ONLY WILL MARCO BE THE 
FIRST TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER 
PLANET, IT WILL BE THE FIRST TO 
TRANSMIT KEY ATMOSPHERIC DATA.
BLAIR ALLEN SPOKE WITH THE 
PROJECT MANAGER ABOUT THE SPACE 
CRAFT ROLE.
>>> WE'RE HERE WITH THE PROJECT 
MANAGER FOR MARCO, AN EXCITING 
CUBE SAT MISSION, THE FIRST TO 
MARS.
I'M VERY CURIOUS.
TELL US HOW THIS CAME TO BE.
>>> A MISSION LANDING ON MARS.
AS WE ALWAYS DO, WE TRY TO HAVE 
COMMUNICATIONS RELAY WHILE THE 
LANDER ISLANDING.
SO THE COMMUNICATION RELAY CAN 
SEND DATA BACK TO EARTH.
THE MISSION THEN HAS THAT WITH 
ONE ORBITER.
WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEND 
CUBE SATS WITH IT TO SEE IF THEY
CAN DO THE SAME JOB.
IF OUR MISSION SUCCEEDS, WE GET 
DATA.
>>> THAT'S A FOR N.A.S.A.
REDUNDANCY FOR YOUR MISSION.
>> THE RISK OF TRYING IT OUT.
>>>RE YOU GOING TO RIDE ON THE
SPACE CRAFT OR HOW?
>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO RIDE ON 
THE SPACE CRAFT.
WE HAVE A SEPARATE ONE.
THE PAYLOAD IS UP IN THE NOSE OF
THE ROCKET.
WE DON'T GET TO BE THERE.
THAT'S THE FIRST CLASS CABIN.
WE'RE IN STORAGE WAY AT THE 
BOTTOM.
WE'RE MOUNTED OUTSIDE THE THIRD 
STAGE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE 
TANK.
>>> A NICE WAY OF SAYING IT.
>> YES IT IS.
IT IS A ROUGH RIDE.
A SHAKY RIDE.
>>> WHEN WILL YOU DEPLOY.
>> A MINUTE AFTER THE VEHICLE 
SEPARATES FROM THE THIRD STAGE.
THE THIRD STAGE DOES A SMALL 
4-DEGREE MANEUVER AND SPITS OUT 
ONE OF MARCOS AND THEN DOES 
ANOTHER ROLL AND SETS OUT THE 
SECOND ONE.
THEY CONTINUE WITH COORDINATED 
TRAJECTORY CORRECTION 
MANOEUVRES.
THEY ARE KEEPING IN LOCK STEP.
CLOSE ENOUGH WITHIN A FEW 
THOUSAND KILOMETERS OF MARS SO 
THE RELAY CAN DO ITS JOB.
>>> MORE TIME FOR MORE INSIGHT 
AND MARCO TRIVIA.
.
>>> IN ADDITION TO MARCO'S 
COMMUNICATION ROLE, IT IS FLYING
THREE INNOVATOR NEW 
TECHNOLOGIES.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THESE 
TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL BE 
DEMONSTRATED.
>>> THERE ARE THREE NEW 
TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL BE 
DEMONSTRATED ON MARCO.
TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE.
>> THEY ARE A PROPELLANT THAT 
USES A FIRE EX-TINGER WISHER 
UN
THERE IS A RADIO TO INFER FACE 
WITH THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK AND 
THERE IS AN ANTENNA THAT IS 
COMPLETELY FLAT AND IT CAN 
FOLLOWED UP, BUT WHEN IT 
OPERATES IT SIMULATES A DISH 
THAT GETS HIGHER GAIN AND MORE 
DATA G SENT BACK TO EARTH.
>>> TELL US ABOUT THE SYSTEM.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THE ENGINES 
ON A ROCKET WHEN IT TAKES OFF.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IS HAPPENING 
WITH MARCO.
>> IT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT YOU 
WOULD FIND IN A FIRE 
EXTINGUISHER.
IF YOU'VE SEEN WALL-E WHERE HE 
FLIES AROUND SPACE.
THAT IS WHAT MARCO IS DOING.
THE THRUSTERS ARE MUCH TINIER 
BUT WE NICKNAMED THEM WALL-E 
AROUND EVA.
WE A USING THE THRUSTERS TO DO
WHAT WE CALL TRAJECTORY 
CORRECTION MANOEUVRES WHICH ARE 
COURSE CORRECTIONS.
AS MARCO FLIES WE CAN CONTROL 
ITS TRAJECTORY FAIRLY PRECISELY.
THERE ARE THRUSTERS THAT ALLOWS 
US TO CHANGE THE ORIENTATION OF 
THE MARCO SATELLITE WHILE IN 
SPACE.
>>> IT IS KICKING OUTCOME 
PRESSED AIR.
TELL US ABOUT THIS RADIO.
IT'S SOMETHING NEW.
IT'S BUILT HERE AT JPO.
>> THE GROUP DESIGNED THIS
ANTENNA SPECIFICALLY TO OPERATE 
WITH THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK AND 
MARCO IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST 
MISSION TO FLY THIS TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE DONE COMPATIBLITY TESTING 
WITH THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK.
IT IS CONFIGURED WELL AND IT 
WORKS BUT WE NOWEED TO FLY IT.
>>> THE THIRD IS THE 
DISTINGUISH, THIS  TRI-FOLD 
ANTENNA.
>> YES.
AS PASSIVE PHASE ARRAY.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IT IS A 
COOL TECHNOLOGY IS WHEN YOU 
LAUNCH A CUBE SATANY 
SATELLITE IN GENERAL, VOLUME IS 
A HOT COMMODITY.
THE WHOLE SATELLITE HAS TO FIT 
INTO A BOX.
THE MORE BOX-LIKE ALL OF YOUR 
COMPONENTS ARE, THE BETTER.
THIS ANTENNA FOLDS INTO A VOLUME
ABOUT THISIGH WHEN FOLDS 
DOWN, BUT IT OPENS UP.
IT IS FAIRLY LARGE AND IT 
SIMULATES A MUCH LARGER DISH 
THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE TO BE 
CURVED AND WOULD BE MUCH HARDER 
TO ACTUALLY STOW IN THAT VOLUME.
IT ENABLES COOL COMMUNICATIONS 
TECHNO IN THE FUTURE.
>>> TELL ME ABOUT WHAT YOUR ROLE
WILL BE WITH THE MISSION AS THEY
FLY TO MARS?
>> I WILL BE OPERATING ONE OF 
THE SPACE CRAFT.
FOR THIS MISSION WHAT THAT MEANS
IS WE WILL BE SITTING ON A 
CONSOLE COMPUTERENDING 
COMMANDS AND RECEIVING DATA FROM
THE SPACE CRAFT.
WE WILL GET ABOUT ONE CHANCE PER
DAY.
IT WILL HAVE A LIST OF COMMANDS 
AND SCRIPTS THAT WE WANT THE 
SATELLITE TO EXECUTE AND SO WE
WILL UPLOAD THOSE.
AS IT'S HAPPENING WE WILL GET 
THAT DATA BACK AND SEE WHAT THE 
SPACE CRAFT IS ACTUALLY DOING 
AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE DOING 
EXACTLY WHAT WE TOLD IT TO DO.
>>> WE ARE AN HOUR AND TEN 
MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT OF HAS 
AS INSIGHT SPACE CRAFT.
LET'S DO SOME MORE INSIGHT AND 
MARCO TRIVIA.
.
>>> WE ARE ABOUT AN HOUR AND 12 
MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT OF HAS'S
INSIGHT SPACERAFT O ITS WAY 
TO MARS.
>>> THANK YOU.
IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, WE'RE
PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LAUNCH 
COUNTDOWN AS WE PROCEEDED TO A 
LIFT-OFF.
4.05 PACIFIC TIME AND WE HAD 
MARCO 1 AT 1 MINUTE 18 SECONDS.
IT ENTERED AT MAXIMUM DYNAMIC 
PRESSURE AT 1 MINUTE 27 SECONDS.
THE ATLAS BOOSTER H CUT OFF ON
TIME AT 4.04 FOLLOWED SHORTLY 
THEREAFTER BY CENTAUR 
SEPARATION.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT NOW.
WE HAD THE FIRST BURN OF THE 
SECOND STAGE WHICH STARTED AT 
FOUR MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS AND 
EIGHT SECONDS LATER THE PAYLOAD 
FAIRING WAS ABLE TO JETTISON.
WE ARE IN THE COAST PHASE.
THE FIRST BURN LASTED ABOUT NINE
MINUTES.
IT WENT INTO A PARKING ORBIT.
WE'RE ABOUT A MINUTE AND 25 
SECONDS AWAY FROM THE START OF 
THE SECOND STAGE.
THE CENTAUR STACK IS TO REACH 
THE PROPERTY POSITION FOR START 
OF THE SECOND BURN OF THE 
CENTAUR SECOND STAGE.
THE SECOND BURN WILL CONTINUE 
FOR FIVE MINUTES.
THE BURN WILL END WITH MAIN 
ENGINE CUT OFF.
NINE MINUTES AFTER THAT CUT OFF,
WE'LL WILL HAVE THE RELEASE OF 
THE INSIDE SPACE CRAFT FOLLOWED 
WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE CUBE 
SETS MARCO A AND B.
WE'RE ABOUT 45 SEC AWAY FROM
MAIN ENGINE START 2.
THE RL 10 C ENGINE.
POURING THE CENTAUR -- POWERING 
THE CENTAUR SECOND STAGE.
15 SECONDS AWAY FROM MAIN ENGINE
START 2.
.
>>> CENTAUR HAS BEGUN THE 
OPERATION FOR T
