Y
INCH OF A ROCKET OR SPACECRAFT.
>> AND ALREADY WAY MORE THAN
ANYBODY REALIZES.
>> EXACTLY.
FOR ROCKETS THAT WIND UP IN THE
OCEAN, SOME DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA
WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH.
THE FACT WE GET ALL THE HARDWARE
BACK AND WERE ABLE TO INSPECT
LITERALLY EVERY SQUARE INCH OF
IT AND MAKE SMALL DESIGN CHANGES
THAT IMPROVE RELIABILITY FOR THE
WHOLE FLEET.
EVEN THOUGH BOB AND DOUG ARE ON
A BRAND NEW ROCKET AND A BRAND
NEW SPACECRAFT, THOSE SPACECRAFT
ARE MORE RELIABILITY BASED ON
THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE LEARNED
FROM REUSABILITY.
>> WE HAVE WALKED PEOPLE THROUGH
A LOT OF THE NEW SYSTEMS ON
DRAGON.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COOL THINGS
THAT ARE BENEATH THE SURFACE
PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WITH
DRAGON.
>> ONE OF THE COOL THING IS THE
AUTONOMOUS DOCKING SYSTEM.
WHAT THAT IS, WE HAVE YOU KNOW,
GPS SENSORS ON DRAGON AND HAVE
CAMERAS AND IMAGING SENSORS LIKE
ON THE NOSE CONE OR FRONT PART
AS IT IS APPROACHING THE SPACE
STATION.
ALL THE SENSORS ARE FEEDING
TKATSA BACK TO THE FLIGHTS
COMPUTER TO SAY HOW FAR AM I
AWAY IN WHAT IS MY RELATIVE
VELOCITY TO THE SPACE STATION
AND FEEDS INTO THE FLIGHT
COMPUTER TO SAY BASED HOW FAR
YOU ARE AND RATE, HERE IS HOW
YOU FIRE THE THRUSTERS TO GET TO
THE DOCKING TARGETMENT I THINK
THAT IS SUPER -- TARGET.
I THINK THAT'S COOL.
>> WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR CARS
TO DRIVE THEMSELVES TO WORK AND
FOR BOB AND DOUG THAT'S WHAT IT
IS DOING.
>> EXACTLY.
THE COMPUTER DOES IT FLAWLESSLY.
WHEN I TRIED I FAILED MISERABLE.
I TRIED TO DOCK DRAGON THREE
TIMES AND I FAILED.
THREE TIMES I GOT IT.
ON OUR WEBSITE WE HAVE A DRAGON
ISS SIMULATOR SO YOU CAN TRY
YOURSELF AND MAYBE I'M A BAD
DRIVER BUT IT DID DOES A GREAT
JOB.
>> THEY ARE GOING TO START UP
THE COM CHECKS WITH BOB AND
DOUG.
>> CAN HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR
>> UMBELICAL COM-CHECK COMPLETE.
AGAIN WE ARE JUST LISTENING IN.
THEY ARE DOING COM-CHECK,
COMMUNICATION CHECKS.
BOB AND DOUG WILL DO A SERIES OF
CHECK OUTS WITH THE TEAMS ON THE
GROUND.
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR OUT IN
FLORIDA.
THEY DOLL THIS OVER -- THEY WILL
DO IT OVER DRAGON TO GROUND AND
COUNTDOWN THAT YOU WILL HEAR
GOING OUT.
THEY WILL DO IT THROUGH THEIR
DIFFERENT KHAOUPB INDICATIONS
PATHS.
-- COMMUNICATIONS PATHS.
WE HEARD THE TRACKING DATA AND
RELAY SATELLITES THAT WILL BE
USED TO TALK TO BOB AND DOUG
THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT AND SEND
COMMANDS TO DRAGON AND THROUGH
GROUND STATION.
SpaceX HAS A WORLD-WIDE
NETWORK OF GROUND STATIONS THEY
ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WTH THE
VEHICLE AND WE'LL BE USING TO
GET VOIDIO IN THE CABIN -- VIDEO
IN THEIR CABIN ON THE FLIGHT UP
THIS.
IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY
DO IN THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE
ALL THE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OF
THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT AND SUITS
AND EVERYING ARE WORKING AND
THEY CAN TALK TO AND HEAR
EVERYBODY ON THE GROUND.
>> COM-CHECK.
>> SpaceX DRAGON LOUD AND
CLEAR.
THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SINGULAR
VOICE TALKING TO THE ASTRONAUTS
THROUGHOUT THEIR FLIGHT.
A POSITION BASE THE HERE IN THAT
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
YOU WILL ALSO HEAR DRAGON
SpaceX COMCHECK.
>> SpaceX DRAGON LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> COM-CHECK COMPLETE.
STAND BY WITH COMCHECKS IN THE
LAUNCH CONFIGURATION.
>> DRAGON MD ON COUNTDOWN.
COP-CHECK.
COM-CHECK.
>> SpaceX LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> COPY LOUD AND CLEAR.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU GUYS ON BOARD.
STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK ON DRAGON
TO GROUND.
DRAGON MD, DRAGON TO GROUND
COM-CHECK.
>> MD DRAGON LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> MD LOUD AND CLEAR.
STAND BY FOR COP-CHECKS WITH LD.
>> LAUNCH DIRECTOR COM-CHECK.
>> GOOD AFTER.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> I HAVE YOU THE SAME, MAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
STAND BY FOR MY COM-CHECK ON
DRAGON TO GROUND.
DRAGON SpaceX ON DRAGON TO
GROUND, COM-CHECK.
>> SpaceX DRAGON LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> I HAVE YOU THE SAME.
>> DRAGON SpaceX THIS
CONCLUDES OUR LAUNCH
CONFIGURATION COM-CHECKS WANT
REPORT WHEN READY FOR SEATRO SET
ROTATION.
>> DRAGON I'LL PUT THAT IN.
>> COPY.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO ALL THE
COMMUNICATIONS CHECKS WERE DONE
SUCCESS WILLY AND YOU COULD EVEN
SEE, IT'S SO COOL WHEN YOU GET
THE VIEWS IN THE CABIN.
>> SpaceX DRAGON, WE ARE READY
FOR SEAT ROTATION.
>> COPY.
WE WILL REPORT WHEN INITIATING.
>> YOU CAN SEE DOUG HURLEY USING
HIS RIGHT HAND.
HE HAS THE TALK BUTTON BUILT
INTO THE SEAT ITSELF.
JUST, AGAIN, SHOWING YOU ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, HOW THE
SUIT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE SEAT
AND IT'S ALL JUST ONE BIG CIRCLE
FOR THIS WHOLE SPACECRAFT.
REALLY COOL TO SEE THE
COM-CHECKSES LIVE.
JESSICA THANK YOU FOR WALKING US
UP THROUGH THE COOL UPDATES.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE,
WE HAVE THE DRAGON CLEAN ROOM
HERE.
ONE OF THE COOL THINGS IT IS ON
THE MAIN FLOOR OF OUR MAIN
BUILDING.
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES WALKS BY
AND GET TO SEE DRAGON IN THE
FINAL PROCESSING BEFORE IT GOES
TO THE CAPE.
ON WEDNESDAY IT WAS IN HERE AND
LOOKED ALMOST DONE.
IT IS EMPTY NOW BECAUSE IT WENT
INTO THE SEPARATE TEST
FACILITIES FOR THE FINAL
PROPULSION CHECK.
WE DO THAT IN A SEPARATE
FACILITY BECAUSE IT IS HIGH
PRESSURE TESTING.
THE VEHICLE WILL COME BACK HERE,
GETS IT FINAL THERMAL PROTECTION
SYSTEM PUT ON AND THEN IT WILL
SHIP OFF TO CAPE CANAVERAL.
>> WHEN YOU SEE THE FIRST
INITIAL PRESSURE VESSEL IT'S NOT
LIKE THE FINE THING.
YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT ADD ON AND
ADD ON AND THEN GET TO THE FINAL
SPACECRAFT.
>> YOU LOOK, AT A MACHINE AND
SAY HOW DOES THIS GET BUILT IN
IT IS STEP-BY-STEP, ONE PIECE AT
A TIME AND EACH PIECE HAS
A CRITICAL FUNCTION AND YOU GET
TO SEE THAT BEING BUILT EVERY
DAY YOU COME TO WORK.
>> WE JUST HEARD THE SEAT
ROTATION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
JESSICA.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH.
>> COOL FACTS TO LISTEN IN ON.
WE SEE THE SEATS START TO
ROTATE.
SOON THEY WILL BE IN THE LAUNCH
CONFIGURATION AND BE READY TO
GO.
WE CAN SEE THE SEATS SLOWLY
START TO ROTATE.
THEY ARE IN A DOWN POSITION TO
MAKE IT EASIER TO CLIMB INTO
DRAGON.
THEY WILL BE MORE PARALLEL TO
THE GROUND AND MAKES TAKING THE
G-FORCE EASIER FOR THE CREW AND
THE TOUCH SCREENS DIRECTLY IN
FRONT OF THEM.
>> DRAGON SpaX SEAT TURN TO
LAUNCH POSITION.
>> WE COPY.
>> CONFIRMATION THE SEATS ARE IN
THE LAUNCH POSITION.
LET'S GO TO GARY IN MISSION
CONTROL HOUSTON WHERE I KNOW THE
ENTIRE TEAM IS STANDING BY AND
READY TO SEE DRAGON TAKE FLIGHT
TODAY.
OVER TO YOU, GARY.
>> THANK, DAN.
GOOD TO SEE GOOD COM-CHECKS AND
THEIR SEATS ARE IN LAUNCH
POSITION.
THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR SAYS ALL
SYSTEMS ARE GO FOR LAUNCH AND IS
PREPARED TO ARRIVE 19 HOURS
AFTER LUNCH.
CHRIS CASSIDY HAS COMPLETED
PREPARATIONS FOR BOB AND DOUG TO
ARRIVE AND HAS SAID THEY WERE
QUOTE, LOOKING SHARP.
FLIGHT CONTROLLERS WILL MONITOR
THE COUNT DOWN BUT IT'S UP TO
THE TEAMS IN KENNEDY AND
HAWTHORNE TO GET US TO LIFTOFF
AT THIS POINT.
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS AS
WE CONTINUE TO COUNTDOWN TO
LAUNCH.
LET'S GO TO THE SOCIAL DESK NOW.
TAHIRA?
>> THANK YOU, GARY.
SO GLAD TO HEAR IT IS GO ON YOUR
END AND HOPING THE WEATHER JUST
WORKS OUT GOOD FOR TODAY'S
LAUNCH.
PEOPLE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR
SEATS.
WE JUST CHECKED NUMBERS AND WE
ARE UP TO 1.1 MILLION VIEWERS
RIGHT NOW, ALMOST DOUBLE WHEN WE
CHECKED LAST TIME.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE COLUMBIA,
SUCCESSES SUCCESS, IS LEADING
THE -- COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
IS LEADING VIEWERSHIP.
LET'S TAKE A BROADER LOOK WITH
THIS HEAT MAP OF THE UNITED
STATES.
THIS SHOWS LAUNCH AMERICA OVER
THE PAST WEEK AND CALIFORNIA
LEADING WITH THE MOST MENTIONS
AND I AM VERY SURPRISED.
I THOUGHT THE SPACE COASTED TAKE
IT HOME OF COURSE BUT LET'S SEE
HOW THIS CHANGES OVER THE COURSE
OF THE BROADCAST AND SEE WHAT
YOU ARE POSTING ON LINE RIGHT
NOW.
>> CHECK OUT THESE OUT FITS.
I LOVE. LOVE IT.
AND PEOPLE MAKING IT THEIR OWN
AND PUTTING THEIR TOUCH ON IT.
LET'S LOOK AT ANOTHER.
LET'S SEE HOW IT CHANGES OVER
THE COURSE OF THIS BROADCAST.
REALLY FUN TO SEE THE PHOTOS ON
LINE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SPACE PET.
THESE DO NOT GET OLD.
USE # LAUNCH.
AMERICA ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE HAVE CAST-RO NAUT BORIS READY
TO LAUNCH.
USE THE #, WE'LL LOOK FOR IT
DURING THE SHOW.
WHAT IS THE LATEST AT KENNEDY?
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE AT T-MINUS 2:26:47 AND
COUNTING FROM LIFTOFF OF THE
FALCON 9 CARRYING DOUG HURLEY
AND BOB BEHNKEN.
YOU SEE THEM ABARD THE SpaceX
CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING DAY.
THE CREW HAS BEEN UP SINCE 8:00
THIS MORNING AS THEY PREPARE TO
HEAD TO THE STATIONS STATION AS
PART OF THIS DEMO-2 MISSION FOR
NASA.
>> THE ASTRONAUTS AS YOU SAW ARE
INSIDE DRAGON AND HAVE COMPLETED
COM-CHECKS AND CAN COMMUNICATE
WITH CREW ON THE GROUND AND ARE
AT LAUNCH POSITION TO SEE AND
ACCESS THE DISPLAY PANEL.
THEY ARE ABOUT TO INITIATE THEIR
OWN SUIT LEAK CHECKS TO MAKE
SURE IT IS IN PROPER WORKING
CONDITION BEFORE LIFTOFF.
>> AT ABOUT T-MINUS 1:55, COULD
HAPPEN SOONER, WE ARE AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE, WE WILL SEE THE CLOSE
OUT TEAM BEGIN TO CLOSE THE SIDE
HATCH IN PREPARATION FOR FLIGHT.
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE KEY
VISUAL MILESTONE ON THE TIME
LINE TO LIFTOFF.
NOW, WE WANT TO TAKE YOU TO
A COUPLE OF SPECIAL GUESTS
JOINING US.
THEY ARE AT THE OSB 2 VIEWING
LOCATION NASA ADMINISTRATOR JIM
BRIDENSTINE AND KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER DIRECTOR BOB CADANA IS
THERE WITH -- CABANA IS THERE.
>> WE ARE IN THE PRAEUGSZS AND D
SUPPORT BUILDING WITH A NICE
VIEW OF LAUNCH COMPLEX 39.
WE ARE EXCITEED TO THEM BOTH
HERE.
BOB CABANA THE DIRECTOR OF THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND JIM
BRIDENSTINE ADMINISTRATOR FOR
NASAMENT THANK YOU FOR MAKING
THE TIME TO BE HERE.
THE BIG STORY IS THE WEATHER.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.
WE CAN SEE CLOUDS ARE KNOWLEDGE.
 BUILDING.
THAT WAS FORECAST.
YOU TAOBGS PART IN A WEATHER
BRIEFING THIS MORNING.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
WEATHER AND THE DECISION TO SAY
LET'S GIVE THIS ANOTHER SHOT
TODAY.
>> WHAT GOT US LAST TIME WAS THE
ELECTRICITY IN THE ATMOSPHERE.
TODAY THERE ARE, IN FACT, BUILD
UPS.
IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE ARE
THUNDERSTORMS AT THIS TIME, BUT
THEY ARE EXPECTED.
THE QUESTION IS WHEN DO THE
THUNDERSTORMS GO AWAY AND WHEN
THEY MATERIALIZE WHERE ARE THEY
LOCATED?
WE ARE PREDICTING ABOUT A 50-50
SHOT OF GOING THIS TIME.
BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE
IN LATE MAY IN FLORIDA, WE HAVE
TO TAKE EVERY SHOT WE CAN GET.
IT'S NOT LIKELY IN A COUPLE DAYS
IT WILL BE ANY BETTER THAN
TODAY.
WE ARE A GO FOR LAUNCH RIGHT
NOW.
AND WE ARE HOPING THAT THE
WEATHER WILL HOLD UP.
WE ALMOST FADED ON WEDNESDAY --
MADE IT ON WEDNESDAY.
THE TREND IS BETTER TODAY THAN
ON WEDNESDAY.
WE'LL SEE.
>> I SAW A FORECAST THAT SAID
THE CLEARING HAPPENS AROUND 3:00
IN THE AFTERNOON.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
LAUNCH AT 3:22.
CLEARING AT THE EARLIEST 3:00,
LATEST 3:30.
DEPENDING WHEN THAT HAPPENS WE
WILL BE GO OR NO-GO.
AGAIN, WE'LL TAKE EVERY SHOT WE
HAVE GOT.
>> AND WATCHING THE DOWN RANGE
WEATHER FOR POTENTIAL RESCUE IN
CASE THERE IS AN ABORT.
>> WE HAVE THE STAGING AREAS.
WHEN WE GO FROM THE FIRST STAGE
TO THE SECOND STAGE, A HIGHER
RISK EVOLUTION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IN THE CASE
WE HAVE TO EXERCISE THE LAUNCH
ABORT AT THAT POINT THE WEATHER
IS GOOD.
THAT IS OFF THE COAST OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
THE BIG THING THERE IS IT'S
GREAT WE HAVE A LAUNCH ABORT
CAPABILITY.
THE CHALLENGE IS THAT INVOLVES
PARACHUTES AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE THE WEATHER TO
COME DOWN IF THERE ARE
THUNDERSTORMS OR DOWN BURSTS OR
HIGH WINDS, THAT IS PROBLEMATIC
FOR THE PARACHUTE SYSTEM.
>> AND BOB, YOU ARE AN ASTRONAUT
AND KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HIT
THE RESET BUTTON AND DO IT ALL
OVER AGAIN.
INTO THE SPACECRAFT, GET READY
TO GO ONLY TO BE TOLD NO, WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GO TODAY, WE'LL TRY
IT AGAIN.
WHAT IS THAT LIKE?
TELL ME ABOUT THE MIND SET AS
YOU HAVE TO RESET.
DO YOU FEEL LESS ANXIOUS, MORE
COMFORTABLE THE SECOND TIME
AROUND?
>> FIRST OFF, MY LAST FLIGHT WE
COUNTED DOWN TO 182NDS AND
DIDN'T GO.
WHEN YOU HIT 18 SECONDS YOU ARE
READY.
IT'S THE TRAINING WE GO THROUGH.
THE REPETITION WE GO THROUGH.
WE PRACTICE EVERYTHING,
INCLUDING SCRUBS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LAUNCH
DOESN'T MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE
SOMETHING TO DO.
YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE BACK
UP PROCEDURES AND IT'S DONE
PROFESSIONALLY.
THEN IT WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE
AND INTO THE ASTRO VAN TO CREW
QUARTERS.
WE HAD A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND
A GOOD NIGHT'S REST AND WENT
THROUGH IT AGAIN.
IT'S A MATTER OF DOING YOUR JOB.
THEY ARE WELL PREPARED.
IT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO.
>> THEY STOPPED THE COUNT AT 17
MINUTES AND YOU HAD IT TO JUST
A FEW SUBS.
>> THE NEXT -- SECONDS.
>> THE NEXT NIGHT EVERYTHING
WENT BETTER.
WHETHER WAS BAD THE FIRST TIME
AND I WAS GLAD WE SCRUBBED AND
THEY SCRUBBED FOR AN ISSUE WITH
A VEHICLE.
AND THE NEXT NIGHT IT WAS JUST
A PERFECTLY SMOOTH LAUNCH COUNT.
EVERYTHING WENT LIKE CLOCKWORK
AND IT SET THE STAGE FOR AN YOU
AWESOME MISSION.
>> YOU TOLD THE PRESS BEFORE YOU
WALKED OUT WE ARE GOING TODAY.
I WONDER WHERE IS THE SOURCE OF
THAT CONFIDENCE COMING FROM?
>> I HAVE A FEELING.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POSITIVE
ATTITUDE.
VIWATCHED A LOT OF WEATHER WITH
SUPPORTING SHUTTLE MISSIONS.
HOPEFULLY IT KEEPS WEST OF US
AND THE STUFF BUILDING OFFSHORE
IS FAR ENOUGH OFF TO STAY IN AN
OPEN WINDOW AT THE CAPE.
>> WE HAVE YOUR POSITIVE VIBE
GOING AND THAT'S GREAT.
JIM, WHEN YOU WERE IN THE
ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS WHEN
THEY WERE SUITING UP GOT
A SECOND CHANCE TO VISIT WITH
THE ASTRONAUTS.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
WHAT WAS THEIR DEMEANOR AND MOOD
TODAY.
>> I THEY SEEMED LOOSE.
THEY WERE LOOSE LAST TIME AND
LOOSE THIS TIME AND ARE READY TO
GO.
THEY ARE EXCITED.
THEY HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GO FOR
A LONG TIME.
ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS
INTERESTING, BOB BEHNKEN WAS
MAKING FUN OF DOUG HURLEY
BECAUSE ON DOUG'S LAST NIGHT THY
THEY SCRUBBED FIVE TIMES BEFORE
LAUNCHING ON THE SIXTH TYPE.
BOB THINKS DOUG IS THE PROBLEM
IN THIS CASE.
TO SEE THEM JOKING ABOUT THAT AS
THEY ARE GETTING SUITED UP READY
TO GO, YES, THEY ARE TRAINED,
THEY ARE READY, BUT ALSO LOOSE.
AND THAT'S GOOD TO SEE BECAUSE
THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ON
THEIR GAME WHEN WE LAUNCH.
>> THESIS GUY, PRETTY -- THESIS
GUYS ARE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
DOUG HURLEY AN INCREDIBLE PILOT
AND BOB BEHNKEN A PH D IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEER.
>> AND A FLIGHT-TEST ENGINEER
HIMSELF.
>> IN YOUR ASSESSMENT WHY ARE
THEY THE RIGHT STUFF?
>> THIS IS A TEST TPWHRAOEUT.
FLIGHT.WE HAVE GREAT ASTRONAUTST
ARE CHEMISTS AND BOTANISTS.
THIS IS A TEST FLIGHT.
FOR A TEST FLIGHT YOU WANT TEST
PILOTS, PEOPLE FOR A LIVING,
HAVE MADE A LIVING THAT HAVE
FLOWN NEW THINGS THAT HAVE NEVER
BEEN FLOWN BEFORE.
THEY ARE THE TWO YOU WOULD WANT
IN A TEST FLIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.
>> BOB, YOU'RE A PILOT TOO.
YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON DOUG
HURLEY.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE THE RIGHT
MENTALITY.
>> HE SAY MARINE PILOT, TEST
PILOT.
I'M ALL IN.
 IS A GREAT GUY.
>> AND TELL ME ABOUT IN TERMS OF
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, RIGHT,
YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2007.
>> 2008.
>> I'M SORRY.
I GREW UP HERE.
MY DAD WORKED FOR NASA, MY UNCLE
WAS A CONTRACTOR WHEN THE WHEEL
STOPPED THE NEXT DAY MY UNCLE
GOT THE LAY OFF AND IT WAS
DEPRESSING.
WE HAD THOUSANDS LAID-OFF.
>> SUPER DEPRESSING.
ATLANTIS LANDED AND TWO-DAYS
LATER UNDERSTAND THISES GOT PINK
SLIPS.
IT WAS THE CLEANEST VEHICLES WE
EVERY FLEW.
>> TAKE ME BACK TO THAT TIME,
A DEPRESSING TIME.
THE FACT THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM WAS
SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT
COMPLETELY HAD OWNERSHIP OF AND
PAID FOR, NOW WE ARE MOVING INTO
THIS COMMERCIAL CREW YOU HAVE
OVER SEEN MAKING THE TRANSITION.
TELL ME ABOUT THE 9 YEARS WE
MADE THE MOVE.
>> EVERYBODY WAS ATTACHED TO THE
SHUTTLE.
IT DID AN AWESOME JOB.
THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE AND
SATELLITES DEPLIED AND STATIONS
STATION.
I TOLD EVERYBODY THE SHUTTLE
PROGRAM WILL END WE HAVE TO
PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
NOBODY WANTED TO HEAR THAT.
HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU GET TO
DEFINE WHAT YOU WANT YOUR FUTURE
TO BE?
WE SET OUT ON A BOLD GOAL TO
SUPPORT BOTH GOVERNMENT AND
COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS.
I HAVE A VERY PERSISTENT TEAM.
THEY WORKED EXTREMELY HARD AND
THROUGH A NUMBER OF AGREEMENT,
YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE FUTURE.
COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT, THE
ADMINISTRATOR SAYS IT ALL THE
TIME WE WANT A COMMERCIAL
ENVIRONMENT IN LOW EARTH ORBIT
TO EXPLORE BEYOND OUR SOLAR
SYSTEM BEYOND PLANET EARTH AND
HAVE A SUSTAINED PRESENCE ON THE
MOON AND GET TO MARS AND HAVE
A SUSTAINED PRESENCE THERE.
WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE ARE
LOCKED IN LOW EARTH ORBIT AND
WITH SpaceX AND BOEING IS THE
BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW ERA OF
SPACE FLIGHT.
>> VERY GOOD.
A QUICK QUESTION.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST COMING
BACK TODAY THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES PLANS ON BEING
RE.
JIM, YOU TOOK HIM AROUND THE
FIRST TIME AROUND.
HOW DID THAT GO?
I THINK I SAW A PICTURE ON
TWITTER HE SIGNED SOME SPACE
HARDWARE.
>> HE LOOKED AT THE ORION CREW
CANCULE FOR ART MISONE IS READY
TO GO.
HE SIGNED A PIECE OF HARDWARE
THAT WILL FLY ON THE CREW
CAPSULE FOR ARTEMIS 2.
AND NOT JUST HIM BUT THE FIRST
LADY AND VICE PRESIDENT AND
SECOND LADY AND IT WILL FLY
AROUND THE MOON ON ARTEMIS TWO,
THAT IS EXCITING.
I WANT TO GIVE COLONEL CABANA
A COMPLIMENT, HE BROUGHT THIS
THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME AND NOW
IT IS A MULTI-USE SPACE PORT.
WE HAVE COMMERCIAL AND IN FACT,
EVEN INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES HERE
AND WILL HAVE COMMERCIAL CREW
LAUNCHES.
BOB HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB
TRANSFORMING THIS SPACE PORT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING
COMMERCIAL CREW.
NASA WANTS TO BE ONE CUSTOMER OF
MANY CUSTOMERS AND WE WANT
NUMEROUS PROVIDERS COMPETING ON
COST, INNOVATION AND SAFETY.
DRIVING DOWN COST AND INCREASING
ACCESS.
BETTER TODAY, WHEN I TOOK THIS
JOB JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO,
OUR BUDGET AT NASA WAS AROUND
$19 BILLION.
THE BUDGET REQUEST THE PRESIDENT
GAVE US FOR NEXT YEARS
$25 BILLION.
WE ARE IN A GREAT, GREAT
POSITION BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT
IS COMMITED TO SpaceX
EXPLORATION AND COMMITED TO THE
SPACE FORCE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS MUCH SUPPORT
FOR SPACE SINCE JOHN F. KEN EDYY
AND HAVE HAVE BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO ZOO THE
ARTEMIS PROGRAM BEING SUCCESS
CIVIL AND NOT JUST THE NEXT MAN
BUT FIRST WOMAN ON THE MOON.
>> THE KEY TO IT ALL IS
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WITH THE
WORK BOB IS DOING, YOU CAN SEE
THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AROUND
THIS PHRA *EUS.
PLACE.WE WANT TO GET TO QUESTION
SOCIAL MEDIA.
THE FIRST IS FROM JAMES ON
TWITTER.
HE ASKS:  WHAT IS THE HARDEST
PART OF GOING TO SPACE?
WE'LL HAVE TO GIVE THAT QUESTION
TO BOB.
>> th NOING IS HARD IF YOU
PRE-- NOTHING IT IS HARD IF YOU
PREPARE FOR.
IT IT IS STUFF WE DON'T HAVE
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO WHEN WE LEARN
HOW TO BE ASTRONAUTS, WE TRAIN.
YOU SPENT A LONG TIME AS
A CANDIDATE LEARNING AND
PREPARING FOR A COMMISSION.
FOR A INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION MISSION TRAINING AROUND
THE WORLD ON THE MODULES AND TWO
AND A HALF YEARS OF TRAINING
BEFORE YOU GET ON ORBIT FOR THAT
TIME TO ACTUALLY DO YOUR WORK.
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THE HARDEST
PART IS THE PREPARATION.
YOU ARE SO PREPARED YOU HAVE
TOTAL CONFIDENCE AND KNOW YOU
ARE TRAINED FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO
AND HAVE AN OUT STANDING TEAM ON
THE GROUND SUPPORTING YOU.
THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE
THAT GROUND SUPPORT AS YOU CLIMB
INTO THAT VEHICLE.
YOU KNOW THEY HAVE DONE THEIR
VERY BEST TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY
AND A SCESSFUL MISSION.
AFTER THAT IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE,
EXCEPT NO SIMULATOR ON EARTH CAN
PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT THOSE GUY,
GOING TO FEEL.
>> MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL GET TO
TRY.
COMMERCIALIZATION EFFORT MEANS
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO
FLY INTO SPACE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> A GREAT POINT ABOUT
PREPARATION.
AT'S NOT THE HIGHLY SWREUZ VISIE
PART, THE LAUNCH IS.
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THE
PREPARATION LEADS TO THE
CONFIDENCE.
THEY ARE GETTING READY TO CLOSE
THE HATCH DOOR.
YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN THERE
THE WORKERS THERE ARE GETTING
READY TO GET THAT CLOSED AND
WORKING ON THAT RIGHT THERE WITH
DOUG HURLY AND BOB BEHNKEN ON
THE INSIDE OF CREW DRAGON.
OUR NEXT QUESTION:  WHAT
OPERATIONS WILL THE ASTRONAUTS
DO BETWEEN LIFTOFF AND DOCKING
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION?
I KNOW YOU PAY A LOT OF
ATTENTION, JIM, TO THE
OPERATIONS OF THIS MISSION.
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS.
THE 50 THING IS WE HAVE EYE --
FIRST THING IS A NUMBER OF BURNS
TO GET IN PHASE WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE SOME BOOST BURNS AS
WELL.
TALKING ABOUT OPERATING THE
ROCKET ENGINE TO GET IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE SPACE STATION
WANT THE BIGGEST THING WE NEED
THAST MOTTES TO DO WHEN THEY --
THE ASTRONAUTS TO DO WHEN THEY
GET ON ORBIT AND BEFORE THEY
DOCK IS REST.
WE NEED THEM TO BE PREPARED FOR
DOCKING.
ONCE THEY ARE IN THE RANGE OF
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
THEY WILL START MANEUVERING IT
THEMSELVES.
THEY WILL TEST FLY THIS VEHICLE
TO MAKE SURE IT OPERATING AS
ADVERTISED.
THEN THEY WILL DOCK WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
UNIQUE CAPABILITY HERE IT IS
AUTOMATIC RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING
AS WELL.
>> THAT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH
US.
JIM BRIDENSTINE ADMINISTRATOR OF
TPHASZA AND BOB CABANA ADMIN
STRAIGHTER OF KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU CAN SEE SOME CLOUDS START
BEING TO GATHER OVER LAUNCH
COMPLEX 39A.
50-50% CHANCE OF LAUNCHING.
WE HEARD THE CREW COMPLETE THEIR
COM-CHECKSES LIVE ON THE AIR.
WE SAW THEIR SEATS ROTATE TO GET
THEM IN A BETTER POSITION TO
INTERACT WITH THE SCREENS IN
FRONT OF THEM.
THEY COMPLETED SUIT LEAK CHECKS.
WE SAW DURES THE INTERVIEW THE
HATCH BEGIN TO CLOSE AND SO
INSIDE THE WHITE ROOM THE PAD
CLOSE OUT TEAM IS IN THERE DOING
WORK.
THE HATCH CLOSE IS NOT AS SIMPLE
AS JUST CLOSING A CAR DOOR.
THERE IS A PROCESS TO SEAL IT
AND CHECK IT AND MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS SEALED PROPERLY,
RIGHT LAUREN?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THE NEXT THING WILL BE THE LEAK
CHECK.
THEY WILL ATTACH A PIECE OF
GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT.
THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN THEIR
HANDS RIGHT NOW.
IT HASN'T -- THERE IT IS.
YOU CAN SEE IT THERE.
THE CLOSE OUT NUMBER NUMBER 5 IS
ATACHED TO THE SIDE HATCH MECH
NICHE.
WHAT THEY WILL DO IS, THEY ARE
ESSENTIALLY CHECKING FOR THE
LEAK RATE.
AND THEY WILL HOLD PRESSURE
THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN
TRACK THAT CHANGE IN PRESSURE
OVER TIME TO MAKE SURE IT IS
WITHIN BOUNDS.
MAKING SURE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY ISSUES WITH THE O-RINGS THAT
ARE HOLDING THE PRESSURE.
AND SO ONCE THEY COMPLETE THAT
LEAK CHECK, THEY WILL THEN DO
WHAT IS THE, CALLED THE FINAL
INSTALLATION OF THE SIDE
PRESSURE EQUALIZATION PLUG.
THAT IS A PLUG THAT ONCE THE
CAPSULE SPLASHES DOWN, WHAT YOU
WILL DO IS ACTUALLY REMOVE THAT
AND WHAT IT DOES IS EQUALIZES
PRESSURE ACROSS THE HATCH.
ONCE IT IS PLUGGED IN YOU KNOW
EVERYTHING IS SUPER TIGHT AND
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY LEAKSES
ON ORBIT.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I
THINK IS COOL ABOUT DRAGON YOU
CAN KIND OF SEE THEM ON THE
EDGES THERE ARE WINDOWS AND I
OW DRAGON STARTED OUT AS CARGO
DRAG KNOW ON.
THE CARGO VERSION BEFORE YOU
MOVED ON TO THE CREW DRAGON
VERSION.
THEY HAD WINDOWS ON THE CARGO
VERSION.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT WAS?
>> THE VERY FIRST CARGO DRAGON
WE EVER LAUNCHED HAD A WINDOW
OVER THE SIDE HATCH.
THE REASON IS WE ENVISIONED
DRAGON TO ULTIMATELY BE A CREWED
VEHICLE.
EVEN IN THE BEGINNING FOR THE
VERY FIRST VEHICLE WE MADE THAT
DIDN'T CARRY MUCH CARGO AND IT
SYMBOLIZES WHAT DRAGON'S PURPOSE
IS ALL ALONG.
TAKING THE STEPS AND STARTING
OFF WITH THE CRS PROGRAM AND
RESUPPLYING THE SPACE STATION
WITH EXPERIMENTS AND FOOD AND
CREW PROVISIONS TO PUTTING
NASA'S ASTRONAUTS IN OUR OWN
VEHICLE.
IT'S THAT NATURAL PROGRESSION ON
WHAT WE WERE AIMING FOR THE
WHOLE TIME.
>> AND LEYLAND, WHAT IS YOUR
TAKE ON THE TOUCH SCREEN
TECHNOLOGY.
WE SAW SOME ABOUT THAT.
IT IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF
LOOK THAN WHAT WE SAW DURING
SPACE SHUT SKWRAOEL IT'S THE SH.
>> WE HAD OUR L CD DISPLAYS
ANDVOLVES AND SWITCHES.
THIS NEW NECKNOLOGY WILL
ALLOW -- TECHNOLOGY AND ALLOW US
TO GET THROUGH PROCEDURES MUCH
FASTER.
WE HAD TO TURN TO DIFFERENT
PAGES AND GET TO THINGS.
THIS WILL MAKE IT MUCH MORE
EFFICIENT TO GO THROUGH
FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES WITH
THE TOUCH SCREENS.
HAVING THE GLOVES BE ABLE TO
TOUCH THE SCREENS AND WORK
WITHIN THE GLOVES, EVERYTHING IS
SLEEK AND EFFICIENT.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF WIRES AND
THINGS HANGING OFF.
YOU CAN SEE THE KNEE BOARDS ON
THE LEFT KNEE.
THAT IS FOR EXTRA GOING OVER
THINGS.
THERE IS COMMENTARY.
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE POST
INGRESS BRIEFING WHEN YOU ARE
READY TO, COPY.
>> WE JUST HEARD CONFIRMATION ON
THE LOOP THAT THE HATCH IS
CLOSED.
THAT IS A LITTLE AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE.
WE ARE MOTIVATEED TO GO TODAY.
>> WE ARE READY.
GO AHEAD.
>> OKAY.
ON THE WEATHER, WE STILL HAVE
RAIN SHOWERS MOVING TO THE AREA.
WE ARE PROCEEDING INTO THE
COUNTS.
WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH PAD
AND THE SEN TREK WEATHER AT
T-MINUS 1:30.
AND THE NEXT DECISION POINT WILL
BE PRIOR TO PROP LOAD.
THERE ARE NO ITEMS EVER NOTE.
-- OF NOTE.
>> WE JUST HEARD THE WEATHER IS
STILL IFFY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WEATHER IS STILL IFFY.
>> CONCLUDES THE POST INGRESS
BRIEF.
READY FOR COM-CHECKS WITH FAULT
CON9 OPERATORS.
-- FALCON 9 OPERATORS.
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE
F-9 OPERATORS.
>> EXPECT THAT SHORTLY.
>> WHEN WE HEAR THE CHATTER PICK
BACK UP WE'LL QUIET DOWN SO YOU
CAN HR-FRB WITH US.
WE HEARD THEM DISCUSS THE
WEATHER BRIEFLY AND KEEPING AN
EYE ON THAT THE NEXT DECISION
POINT IS BEFORE PROP LOAD.
WE WILL EVALUATE BEFORE THEY
START FUELING THE ROCKET.
IN THE MEANTIME FALCON 9 AND
CREW DRAGON ARE HEALTHY AND THE
VEHICLE IS IN GOOD SHAPE AND
A REPEAT FROM WEDNESDAY THAT WE
ARE JUST KEEPING AN EYE ON THE
WEATHER AT THIS POINT.
>> YOU CAN SEE ON THEIR LEFT
LEGS IN THE PREVIOUS IMAGE.
>> YOU CAN EXPECT IT IN ABOUT
1-2 MINUTES.
>> DRAGON'S READY.
>> ON THEIR LEFT LEGS THERE,
THEY HAVE THE SATCHELS STRAPPED
TO THEIR LEGS WITH CREW
PROVISIONS INCLUDING TABLETS YOU
SEE THEY HAVE DISPLAYED THERE.
>> THOSE ARE TABLETS VERSUS JUST
KNEE BOARDS YOU CAN WRITE ON?
>> THE TABLETS ARE INSIDE.
>> INSIDE, OKAY.
WHEN WOULD THEY PULL THEM OUT TO
USE THEM?
>> DURING THE MISSION, WHILE IN
ORBIT.
>> OKAY.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS COMING,
THE BACKGROUND NOISE IS COMING
THROUGH OVER AIR, WE HEAR THE
RAIN 56ING UP OUTSIDE THE STUDIO
HERE AND WONDER IF THEY HEAR THE
SOUNDS OVER THE PAD.
IT LOOKS PATCHY.
WE WERE FOLLOWING SOME
THUNDERSTORMS THAT LOOK LIKE
THEY MIGHT MAKE THEIR WAY OVER
HERE.
IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKES IT IS
RAINING FROM THAT VIEW.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO TELL
THROUGH THE HAZE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
LAUNCH IS NOW JUST OVER TWO
HOURS AWAY.
TAHIRA YOU ARE THERE WITH THE
SOCIAL TEAMS AND NOW THAT THE
HATCH IS CLOSED AND THE RAIN IS
PICKING UP AND WE COUNTDOWN I
THINK THINGS ARE GETTING
INTERESTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> HEY, LAUREN, THEY ARE.
SO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON.
PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT WILL
HAPPEN WITH TODAY'S MISSION.
IT IS JUST SCROLLING WITH THE
CONVERSATION EVER PEOPLE AROUND
THE NATION TALKING ABOUT TODAY'S
LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
WE JUST CHECKED VIEWERSHIP AND
ARE UP TO 1.4 MILLION WATCHING
THIS BROADCAST AND REALLY HOPE
THINGS LOOK GOOD WITH WEATHER.
LET'S TAKES A LOOK AT THINGS
BEING SAID ON TWITTER RIGHT NOW:
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GOD SPEED
AND SAFE TRAVELS FOR BOTH
ASTRONAUTS TODAY.
REALLY DO WISH THEM THE BEST OF
LUX ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT AND
HOPE IT HAPPENS.
SOME THROW BACKS PHOTOS FROM
PEOPLE VISITING NASA CENTERS AND
LET'S DO THIS.
I LOVE THIS CAN DO ATTITUDE AND
PEEP ARE KEEPING THE ENERGY --
PEOPLE ARE KEEPING THE ENERGY
ALIVE FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH.
THERE WERE DISAPPOINTING
REACTIONS TO WEDNESDAY'S SCRUB,
BUT LET'S LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE ARE
GETTING EXCITED FOR TODAY'S
ATTEMPT.
LET'S ROLL.
>> READY FOR TAKES OFF.
>> I'M READY TO LAUNCH AMERICA.
>> 3, 2, 1 ... GO!
[CHEERING]
>> LIFTOFF.
♪
>> TO INFINITY AND BEYOND.
♪
>> I HOPE YOU GUYS MAKES IT SAFE
TO THE SPACE STATION.
♪
>> I MEAN, HOW FUN IS THAT
VIDEO?
I WILL HAVE TO ATTEMPT THE WORM
AFTER THIS.
BUT JUST REALLY GLAD TO SEE
EVERYONE IN GOOD SPIRITS LEADING
INTO TODAY'S SECOND LAUNCH
ATTEMPT.
I REALLY HOPE EVERYBODY WILL
HAVE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT.
LET'S HEAD BACK TO LAUREN.
>> THANK YOU.
IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE PRETTY
STOKESSED.
WE CONTINUE TO JOIN THE
CONVERSATION USING THE
#LAUNCHAMERICA ACROSS ALL SOCIAL
MEDIA CHANNELS.
>> I LOVE SEEING, I REALLY LOVE
SEEING THE LITTLE KIDS GET
EXCITED.
I KNOW MY 3-YEAR-OLD IS SUPER
EXCITED AND HAS AN ASTRONAUT
SLEEPING BAG.
>> REALLY?
>> YEAH.
THE BODY OF THE BAG IS A SPACE
SUIT AND WHEN HE GETS IN LOOKS
LIKE SHE HAS A SPACE SUIT.
>> THAT'S THE INSPIRATION FOR
THE NEXT GENERATION OF
EXPLORERS.
PEOPLE HAVE EXCITED ABOUT THE
WORM AND MEATBALL AND THEY HAVE
THE WORM-BALL.
>> I AM HAVING A HARD TIME
SEEING IT.
WHAT IS THE WORM-BALL?
>> A NASA MEATBALL, WHAT IT
SHOULD BE.
THERE IT IS.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> I NEED A VISUAL.
>> THEY HAVE THE ANGULAR NASA
LOGO AND PUT THE WORM INSIDE THE
MEATBALL.
CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT?
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL COMPROMISE.
I'LL TAKE IT.
>> A NICE MARRIAGE OF THE 2.
>> I LOVE YOU, MAN.
[LAUGHING]
>> THERE IS ANOTHER LIVE LOOKS
AT LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A.
WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE WITH YOU A LOT ABOUT THE
SpaceX CREW DRAGON ON TOP OF
FALCON 9.
A LOT ABOUT THE CREW THEMSELES
AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TODAY AS
THE OFFICIAL RETURN WE HOPE OF
HUMAN LAUNCH CAPABILITY TO
AMERICAN SHORES.
WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T
EXPLAIN WHY PAD 39 A IS HALLOWED
GROUND.
>> WE ARE GO.
WE ARE GO.
♪
>> MANY OF NASA'S STORIED
MISSIONS BEGAN THEIR VERY
SKWROURPB FRET EXACT SAME
SPOT -- JOURNEY FROM THE EXACT
SAME SPOT ON EARTH, LAUNCH
COMPLEX 39A AT THE KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
THAT MASSIVE STRUCTURE OF STEEL
AND CONCRETE HAS GUIDED FOR OVER
50 YEARS.
THERE CAN BE NO LAUNCH WITHOUT
A LAUNCHPAD AND THE HALLOWED
GROUND HAS A HISTORY GREATER
THAN ANY OTHER.
HAVING EVOLVED IT IS ALIVE WITH
A HEART BEAT AS STRONG AS THE
FIRST.
LAUNCHPAD 39A CAME TO LIFE TO
RAMP UP TO ACHIEVE UNPRECEDENTED
EFFORTS.
>> WHY THE MOON IN WHY CHOOSE
THIS AS OUR GOAL AND THEY MAY
ASK WHY CLIMB THE HIGHEST
MOUNTAIN?
>> IT SCULPTED THE BASE TO
40 FEET AND -- CONCRETE POURED
TO HOLD IT IN PLACE.
IT WAS THEN LINED WITH HEAT
RESISTANT BRICKS TO DEFLECT
SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION POUNDS
OF EARTH RATTLING THRUST FIRST
FELT ON APOLLO 8.
LESS THAN A YEAR LATER APOLLO
HREFRB LAUNCHED FROM PAD 39
AUTHORITY A AND HUNDREDS OF
MILLION AROUND THE WORLD WATCHED
AS IT LANDED ON THE MOON THREE
DECADES LATER.
IT TOOK CENTER STAGE WITH A NEW
ONE OF A KIND SPACECRAFT, THE
SPACE SHUTTLE.
BILLIONS OF BOUNDS FOR
ADDITIONAL STEEL TRANSFORMED THE
LOOK BUT NOT THE PURPOSE, HUMAN
SPACE FLIGHT.
IN ALL, 82 SPACE SHUTTLES
BLASTED OFF FROM 39A.
UNTIL THE VERY LAST.
>> 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, ENGINES UP AND
BURNING, 2, 1, 0 AND LIFTOFF.
THE FINAL LIFTOFF ON THE
SHOULDERS OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
AMERICA WILL CONTINUE TO DREAM.
>> WITH THE FLEET RETIRED
DEMOLITION CREWS REMOVED THE
SHUTTLE-ERA HARDWARE TO CLEAR
THE WAY FOR NASA'S MONUMENTAL
DECISION TO LEASE THIS SITE TO
THE PRIVATE COMPANY SpaceX.
TODAY ITS SLEEK AND MODERN
DESIGN SUPPORTS A FAMILY OF
ROCKETS THAT HAS ADVANCED THE
COMMERCIAL AGE OF AMERICAN SPACE
FLIGHT.
NOW 50 YEARS AFTER IT FIRST SENT
HUMANS TO THE MOON, THIS
HISTORIC SPACE PORT STANDS READY
FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF HUMAN
EXPLORATION.
>> AND WE'RE LOOKING LIVE AGAIN
AT PAD 39A, THE PAD CLOSE OUT
TEAM.
YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR
NUMBERS AND WE HEARD
CONFIRMATION OF THE HATCH BEING
CLOSED A FEW MINUTES AGO.
THING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
WHEN I SAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE I
DON'T MEAN LAUNCH TIME IS
CHANGING, BUT ON SPECIAL
MILESTONES AND THE TIMES ARE
FLEXIBLE BUT THE LAUNCH WINDOW
IS INSTANTANEOUS AT 3:22 THIS
AFTERNOON.
LEYLAND, WE JUST SAW A PIECE
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PAD 39A.
>> ALL STATIONS COUNTDOWN 1 FOR
COM-CHECK WITH THE CREW.
>> WE WILL PAUSE FOR THAT
COM-CHECK.
>> FALCON 9 GUIDANCE NAVIGATION
AND CONTROL.
>> COM-CHECK.
>> WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
STAND BY FOR COMCHECK BY
PROPULSION ENGINEER.
>> COM-CHECK.
>> DRAGON LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK WITH
AVIONICS ENGINEER.
>> DRAGON AVIONICS ON COUNTDOWN
1 COM-CHECK.
>> AVIONICS DRAGON, LOUD AND
CLEAR.
>> AVIONICS LOUD AND CLEAR.
STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK BY GROUND
SEGMENT ENGINEER.
>> COM-CHECK.
>> COM-CHECK LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> STAND BY FOR COMCHECK BY
LAUNCH CONTROL.
>> DRAGON LAUNCH CONTROL AND
COUNTDOWN 1 COM-CHECK.
>> LAUNCH CONTROL DRAGON LOUD
AND CLEAR.
>> LAUNCH CONTROL LOUD AND
CLEAR.
STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK BY CHIEF
ENGINEER.
>> DRAGON CHIEF ENGINEER ON
COUNTDOWN 1 COM-CHECK.
>> CHIEF ENGINEER DRAGON WE HAVE
YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> CHIEF ENGINEER LOUD AND
CLEAR.
THIS CONCLUDES THE COM-CHECK.
>> WE SAW THUMBS UP.
>> THE MORE PARTNER SHIPS WE
HAVE, THE MORE I'OVATIVE SPACE
EXPLORATION CANmKç60 BE.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING
THIS TRANSPORTATION FROM PRIVATE
COMPANIES.
>> ONE CONCEPT THAT WE HAVE IN
NASA FOR SAFETY AND TO MITIGATE
RISK IS CALLED DISSIMILAR
REDUNDANCY.
WE'RE BRINGING UP A WHOLE SECOND
WAY OF GETTING CREW TO■ç THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
GETTING CARGO, LAST MINUTE
CARGO.
>> WE'RE WATCHING BOB AND DOUG
GO THROUGH THE FINAL PHASES OF
PREPARING FOR THIS LAUNCH.
WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND
SO CLOSE TO LIFTOFF?
>> IT■ç IS SUCH A GREAT DAY
INDEED.
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT'S GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND, BUT WHAT'S
NOT GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND.
YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S
GOING WRONG, YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT ENLING SUCCESS.
ON LAUNCH DAY, THE ASTRONAUTS
ARE THE CALMEST PEOPLE IN THE
ROOM.
IT'S EVERYTHING YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING YOU DREAMED OF COMING
TOGETHER AND YOU'RE■ç FINALLY
GOING TO DO WHAT YOU'RE PREPARED
TO DO, EXECUTE THE MISSION AND
IT BRINGS THIS SENSE OF CALM AND
READINESS.
>> ASTRONAUT CHRISTINA COOK,
ALWAYS GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
>>> THANK YOU.
>> CHRIS CASSIDY WILL BE READY
TO WELCOME THEM ONBOARD, SO IN
ANTICIPATION OF THEIR LAUNCH, HE
HAD THIS MESSAGE FOR THEM.
>> I'M CHRIS■ç CASSIDY, COMMANDR
ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION FLYING 250 MILES ABOVE
THE EARTH.
LIKE YOU, I'M EXCITED ABOUT
TODAY'S LAUNCHING AND THE
POSSIBILIES IT WILL BRING TO
AMERICA AND TO THE WORLD, BUT
ALSO, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT TWO
CLOSE FRIENDS WILL BE ARRIVING
AMOUNTED JOINING THE CREW.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF FLYING
WITH DOUG HURLEY.
TOGETHER WE CAME TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
HELPS CONSTRUCT THE AMAZING
FACILITY THAT LITTLE TODAY.■ç
ALTHOUGH THIS WILL BE MY FIRST
MISSION WITH BOB IT WAS MY HONOR
TO FOLLOW HIM AS THE CHIEF OF
THE OFFICE TO BEGIN TRAINING FOR
THIS AMAZING MISSION IN 2015.
PERSONALLY, IE BEEN VERY
FORTL>xItkÑO FLY TWO:/,c=yRENT'?
WITH THEM, THEY FLEW AN AMERICAç
FLAG, REPRESENTING AMERICA'S
TECHNICAL PROWESS.
THIRTY YEARS■ç LATER, THAT■ç SAE
FLAG WAS FLOWN TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THIS FLAG REMAINS HERE TODAY,
WAITING FOR BOB AND■ç DOUG.
OUR FLAG MEANS SO MANY THINGS TO
OUR COUNTRY, AND THIS SMALL
PIECE OF AMERICA REPRESENTS WHAT
WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE■ç
TOGETHER.
WE'LL NEVER STOP EXPLORING.
AND SO BOB AND DOUG CAN TAKE
THIS VERY SPECIAL FLAG HOME TO
EARTH WHERE IT
JOURNEY TO THE■ç COSMOS.
IN A FEW YEARS, THE FIRST ORION
CREW WILL TAKE THIS FLAG.
I'LL BE■ç WATCHING OUTSIDE THE
WINDOW ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE
IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD.
I CAN'T WAIT TO LOOK OUT THE
WINDOW AND SEE MY FRIENDS ON
CLOSE■ç APPROACH.
GO FALCON 9, GO DRAGON AND GO
BOB AND DOUG.
I'LL■ç SEE YOU SOON.
>> AND THERE AGAIN IS A LIVE■ç
LOOK AT LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A AND
KENNEDY SPAC;q]'FfJ'oóp:VJFokK■=
35 MINUTES.
IF THE WEATHER OH COOPERATES
TODAY, TO THE INTERNIONAL
SPACE STATION, LELAND, YOU'VE
BEEN THERE TWICE AND I KNOW JUST
FROM WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US, IT'S
THIS LEVIATHON IN SPACE AND THE
SITE OF SO MUCH IMPORTANT WORK.
>> CHRIS CASSIDY IS UP■ç THERE
FLOATING IN THE COLUMBUS
LABORATORY THAT I INSTALLED, A
TEAM OF US INSTALLED ON STS122.
THINK ABOUT USING THIS ROBOTIC
ARM MADE IN CANADA, THE EUROPEAN
SPACE AGENCY LABORATORY AND MY
JOB WAS TO USE THAT ARM AND
ATTACHED IT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
AS I GOT CLOSER AND CLOSER, THE
MOTION JUST STOPPED.
I AM LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE ARE INDICATORS WITH■ç A VY
SLIGHT SPRING FORCE THAT I WAS
MOVING SO SLOWLY WITH THE HAND
CONTROLLER THAT THAT SPRING
FORCE STALLED OUT THE MOTION.
PEGGY LIPTON WAS BEHIND ME AND
SAID --
>> WEATHER UPDATE, I THINK.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HEY, DOUG, WE'RE STILL
WAITING FORCE A WEATHER UPDATE
EXPECTED AT 18 ZULU.
THEREFORE THE NEXT ASSESSMENT
WILL BE CLOSER TO■2THE PROPELLAT
LOAD TIME.
WE ARE CURRENTLY NO GO ON LAUNCH
WEATHER BUT SHOWING AN EXPECTED
CLEAR OF 18:30 ZULU.
>> OK, COPY ALL, THANKS FOR THE
UPDATE.
>> SO WE JUST HEARD IF THEY WERE
TO LAUNCH RIGHT NOW, THE WEATHER
WOULD BE NO GO, HOWEVER SOUNDS
LIKE THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY
IF THE WEATHER CLEARS AS IT
SOUNDS LIKE THEY EXPECT IT MAY,ç
SO AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
LISTENING AS WE CONTINUE
TALKING.
IF WE START TO HEAR ANY KIND OFz
CHATTEREz ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE
WEATHER, WE'RE GOING TO DO HOUR
BEST TO QUIET DOWN SO WE DON'T
STEP ON THAT AND EVERYONE CAN
HEAR IT WITH US.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WORK
ON STATION AND PEGGY WAS GETTING
READY TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
>> THE COLUMBUS LABORATORY
STALLED OUT.■ç
>> WE HAD THIS MEAL WITH PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD,
RUSSIAN, GERMAN, FRENCH,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, ASIANJúAMERIC.
>> HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THE
FIRST INTEGRATED FLIGHT AT THE
END OF 2021.
I'M TELLING■ç YOU, THAT■ç IS GOG
TO BE A MOMENT.
>> THAT WILL BE EXCITING.
THERE WILL BE A THUNDER,H5Ñ BOOM
RIGHT HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACEç
CENTER.
HOW DID THAT GET TO THE END
POINT?
>> THAT'S WHAT'SSO IMPORTANT
ABOUT THE ARTEMUS PROGRAM, OUR
LONG TERM VISION IS TO GET TO■ç
MARS.■ç
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ARTEMUS,
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AT THE
MOON IS HELPING US LEARN, WORK
THROUGH THE RIGHT MISSION■ç
DURATIONS, UNDERSTAND HOW TO
UTILIZE THE MISSION OF THE MOON
SO THE SCIENCE,■çO:■■ç ARCTECTUE
WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, EACH AND
EVERY PIECE OF IT IS HELPING US
PROOF OUT MORE TO TAKE THAT NEXT
GIANT LEAP TO■ç MARS.
EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING HELPS
PREPARE TO US MOVE ON TO MARS.
>>■ç HOW DOES THAT■ç HELP US FOR
MISSIONS TO THE MOON?
>> I THINK ANYTIME YOU'RE
LAUNCHING HUMANS, YOU'RE÷÷
LEARNING, TAKING WHAT YOU
LEARNED AND MOVING IT■ç FORWARDO
THE NEXT MISSION.
IT'S ABOUT THE BUSINESS CASE.
IT'S■ç NASA MOVING FROM OWNING■ç
HARDWARE TO PROVIDING SERVICE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, MAN, WE AWARDED
THREE CONTRACTS ON THE HUMAN
LANDING SYSTEM TO COMMERCIAL
COMPANIES, AND SO WE'RE HOPING
THP WE MOVE TO A DAY WHERE
WE'RE ACTUALLY BUYING A SERVICE
TO GET OWr■ ASTRONAUTS BACK AND
FORTH TO THE MOON,■ç ENABLING TE
COMMERCIAL MARKET TO GO ALL THE
WAY OUT TO LUNAR ORBIT.
COMMERCIAL CREW HELPS US PROOF
OUT(TIAT BUSINESS CASE, BUILD
THE PARTNER SHIPS AND FEED
FORWARD TO THE MOON.■ç
THIS MEANS A LOT AS WE MOVE OUT.
>> IT'S EXCITING WHELç YOU TALK
ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT
GOING TO THE MOON AND THOSE
PARTNERS.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE STUDYING
THOSE LANDERS TO SEE IF THEY ARç
VIABLE FOR NASA.
>> YEAH, WORKING THROUEh■ A
TREMENDOUS PROCESS WITH THE
COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS AND NASA
ENGINEERS, GOING
OFFICIAL DESIGNS RIGHT NOW,
LOOKING AT THE CAPABILITIES THEY
PROPOSE AND TRYING TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON WHICH LANDING
SYSTEM GOES EARLY IN 2024, WHICH
LANDING■ç SYSTEMS ARE BETTER
PREPARED FOR SUSTAINABILITY■)OUT
IN THE LATER 20'S, SO THAT IS
GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS
THIS YEAR MOVING ON THROUGH THEç
NEXT.
IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING TO SEE
WHAT COMES OUT, THIS IS THE
LANDER THAT IS GOING TO TAKE THE
FIRST WOMAN AND NEXT MAN TO THE
MOON■ç IN 2024.
>> SINCE THE TIME OF PALO,■ç AND
THAT PROGRAM ULTIMATELY CAME TO
AN END.
THE IDEA HERE, THOUGH, IS TO TRY
TO CREATE■ç SUSTAINABILITY.
>> SUSTAINABILITY, YOU CAN GET
TO SUSTAINABILITY IF YOU HAVE
REUSABILITY.
THAT'S WHAT■ç WE'RE SEEING WITHç
COMMERCIAL CREW WAR SURE.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE LANDING
SYSTEM, A SYSTEM WE PUT■ç OUT.
IT'S GOING BACK AND FORTH, BACK
UP TO GATE WAY, YOU'RE FAMILIAR
WITH THIS, OUR SMALLER STATION.
WE ARE BUILDING■ç AN■ç ARCHITECE
THAT IS GOING TO ENABLE
REUSABILITY AT THE MOON.
APOLLO NEVER HAD TO.■ç
DRIVING DOWN COST, REUSABILITY
AND SUSTAINABILITY OF POLITICAL.
>> YOU GET TO SEE EVERYTHING
FROM A VERY HIGH LEVEL■ç■ç AT N.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE HERE TO
WATCH A LAUNCH AND SEE THIS
AMAZING FACILITY WITH ALL OF
THIS HAPPENS?
>> SOMETIMES PEoP$E THINK SINCE
I WORK AT NASA I'M AROUND THIS
STUFF ALL THE TIME.
I'M NOT.
I DON'T GET TO COME DOWN HERE
NEARLY AS■ç OFTEN AS I'D■ç LIKE.
IT'S EXCITING, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THE HARD WORK OUR TEAM HAS
PUT IN TO THIS DAY TO COME DOWN
AND BE A PART OF IT WITH THEM IS
JUST OVERWHELMINEç AND
INCREDIBLE.
SO, WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT
EXCITED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
NASA'S CHIEF OF STAFF, WE■ç
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TODAY
AND■ç ENJOY THE LAUNCH.
I CERTAINLY KNOW YOU WILL IF YOU
ARE ABLE TO GET THAT ONE OFF.
WE ARE GOING TO TOSS THIS NOW TO
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
>
SPACEX'S FUTURE AMBITION TO
VISIT■ç THE MOON AND MARS, THANS
FOR JOINING US FOR A SECOND
ROUND.■ç
:ñ■ I WORKED FOR MANY YEARS ON
THE■ç SAME THING FOR FALCON, SO
HOPEFULLY TODAY, YOU'LL SEE
ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE LANDINGS.
>> AWESOME.
SPEAKING OF THAT, WHAT ROLE■ç DS
REUSABILITY PLAY IN GETTING
PEOPLE TO THE MOON AND■ç MARS IN
THE FUTURE?
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY ALL ABOUT
MAKING HUMAN SPACE■ç FLIGHT
AFFORDABLE AND WHAT YOU WANT FOR
THAT IS A 100% REUSABLE ROCKET.
FALCON IS ONLY PARTIAL■ç
REUSABLE.
THE STARSHIP IS GOING TO BE 100ç
REUSABLE.
WE'VE STARTED WORKING WITH NASA
TO SEND■ç ASTRONAUTS TO THE
SURFACE OF THE MOON FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE 1972.
IT WILL BE REFUELABLE IN ORBIT.
THAT WILL■ç LET US SEND PEOPLE
BASICALLY ANYWHERE IN THE■ç SOLR
SYSTEM WITH MORE PAYLOAD FOR
LESS MONEY THAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEç
CONTEMPLATING.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE CAN
SERIOUSLY TALK ABOUT LUNAR BASES
OR WHAT SPACEX CARES ABOUT MOST,
A SELF■ç SUSTAINING CIVILIZATION
ON MARS.■ç
>> YOU ARE SAYING I'LL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY SOON TO GET ABOARD
ONE OF THOSE SPACE SHIPS.
>> I CERTAINLY HOPE SO.
>>■ç SPEAKING OF USABILITY AND
LANDING, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED
STARSHIP WILL BE REFUELABLE IN
ORBIT, BUT FALCON DOES COME BACK
AND■ç LAND BACK ON EARTH.■ç
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH
LANDING, ACTUALLY LANDING ON THE
MOON AND LANDING ON A PLANET
LIKE MARS?
>> YEAH, WELL, YOU CAN'T■ç LAND
LIKE A PLANE, BECAUSE THE MOON
AND MARS EITHER HAVE NO
ATMOSPHERE OR HAVE A VERY THIN
ATMOSPHERE AND EVEN IF YOU■ç
COULD,■ç THERE'S NO RUNWAY THAT
SOMEONE'S BUILT FOR YOU.
THAT'ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO
LANDING ON■ç FALCON.
WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT PROPULSION
LANDING.
IF YOU HAVE■ç A■ç THICK ALSO MEE
LIKE EARTH, YOU LET THE
ATMOSPHERE SLOW YOU DOWN AS YOU
FLOAT DOWN AND DO A SHORT
LANDING BUT IN MARS, WHICH HAS■A
VERY THIN ATMOSPHERE, YOU DO
SOMETHING IN BETWEEN TWO.
>> THAT SOUNDS REALLY DIFFICULT
AND I'M SURE THERE'S BEEN A LOTç
OF EFFORT PUT INTO THAT.■ç
CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING■ç.
>> FIGURING OUT PROPULSION
LANDING IS A KEY PART OF■ç IT.
WHAT PEOPLE?XSPV NOT REALIZE IS
EVERY TIME WE BRING SOMEONE
BACK.
 
DOOR TO ONE DAY ALLOWING THE
GENERAL PUBLIC TO VISIT PLACES
LIKE THE MOON AND MARS.
AS YOU'VE HEARD THROUGH SEVERAL
INTERVIEWS TODAY, REUSABILITY IS
A REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT PARTç
OF THAT.
IMAGINE IF EVERY TIME YOU FLEW A
PLANE FROM L.A. TO NEW YORK, YOU
THREW IT AWAY AT THE END OF THE
&IGHT.
THAT WOULD MEAN ESSENTIALLY
AIRLINE TRAVEL WOULD■ç BE TOO
EXPENSIVE, COSTING HUNDREDS OF
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A FLIGHT AND
ALMOST NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO
THAT'S WHAT SPACEX IS TRYING TO
DO■ç WITH REUSE, ALLOWING NOT JT
A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE TO BE■ç ABLE
TO GO BUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND
OF REGULAR FOR EXAMPLE LIKE YOU
AND ME TO BE ABLE TO GO TO■ç
SPACE.
MYSELF, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE
LIKE ME HAVE A CHANCE TO■ç GO, I
KNOW MY DREAM IS TO LAND ON
JUPITER'S MOON,■ç EUROPA.
SCIENTISTS■ç BELIEVE THERE IS A
LIQUID.
I'M ENTER EXCITED TO GET CLOSE
AND PERSONAL TO MAYBE■ç SHSPACE
FISH.
LELAND, WHAT ABOUT YOU, WHERE
WOULD YOU GO?
>> WOW, THAT'S A PRETTY
INTERESTING DESTINATION.
I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO
MARS.
WE■ç STUDIED MARS SO MUCH AND
LOOKED AT■ç IT AND I THINK MAYBu
HAVING A MARTIAN BASE TO IS DOG
FRIENDLY, BRING THE■ç PUPS ALON,
BECAUSE AS WE EXPLORE, WE WANT
TO■ç TAKE OUR FAMILIES, CULTURE,
TRADITIONS WITH US AND FLYING
WITH DOUG AND BOB IS COOL, BUT
HAVING■ç MORE PEOPLE.
>> THERE'S THE DOG!
>> THE.■ç PUPPERS, TAKING THEM O
SPACE.
>> YOU LOOK■ç READY TO GO.
>> THEY ARE READY TO GO.
WE NEED SPACEX TYPE SUITS■ç FORç
THEM.
THEY TOOK EVERYTHING WITH THEM
AND STARTED THESE NEW
COMMUNITIES AND TRADITIONS.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH■ç
SPACE TRAVEL,
>> IT'S MORE AMENABLE FOR
EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND EVENTUALLY BEING ABLE TO
>> WE'RE MAKING HISTORY AGAIN.
THAT'S A PROGRAM.
I'M THERE YOU WITH GUYS IN
SPIRIT.
BOB, DOUG, GOOD LUCK.
I KNOW YOU WILL BE FINE.
I'LL BE WATCHING AND THE GOT
EVERYTHING CROSSED, ARMS, LEGS,
I'M TIED TO A KNOT.
>> IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE
PEOPLE TO SPACE IN NINE YEARS.
IT'S QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
MORE ROCKETS MEANS MORE
EXPLORATION, MORE PEOPLE IN
SPACE MEANS MORE EXPLORATION,
MORE COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN THE
ENDEAVOR OF SPACE FLIGHT MEANS
MORE EXPLORATION.
THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THE COSMOS
AND OUR PLACE WITHIN IT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, SPACEX.
HERE'S WISHING YOUR TEAM AND THE
CREW ESPECIALLY A SAFE JOURNEY
AND THE JOY OF DISCOVERY.
LET'S GO!
>> SO GREAT TO HEAR FROM WILLIAM
SHATNER AND BILL NYE, TWO
RECOGNIZABLE FACES FOLLOWING
ALONG ON THE MISSION.
WE WANT TO GO OVER TO DAN AND
JESSE WHERE WE ARE ONE HOUR AND
18 MINUTES FROM LAUNCH.
DAN, JESSE.
>> THANKS, MIA.
ONE HOUR AND 18 MINUTES.
WE'RE TYING OURSELVES IN KNOTS
JUST LIKE CAPTAIN KIRK.
WE'RE REALLY HOPING THE WEATHER
COOPERATES.
IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES WE MIGHT
CLEAR SO WE'RE GETTING HOPEFUL.
WE'RE GETTING OUR HOPES UP.
>> YES, VERY, VERY EXCITED.
WE'RE T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND 18
MINUTES FROM LAUNCH AND THE
ANTICIPATION IS REAL OVER HERE.
SINCE ARRIVING AT THE
SPACECRAFT, BOB AND DOUG WERE
HELPED BY ENGINEERS TO GET INTO
THEIR SEATS AND ATTACH THEIR
SEATS TO SPECIAL UMBILICALS THAT
PROVIDE BREATHING AIR,
PRESSURIZED, AND THEY CONDUCTED
LEAK CHECKS WHICH WERE
SUCCESSFUL AND COMMUNICATIONS
CHECKS WITH THE CORE HERE IN
HAWTHORNE, THE PERSON WHO WILL
SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY
THROUGHOUT THE MISSION AS WELL
AS THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR IN
FLORIDA.
THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE CHECKING
THE GROUND STATIONS AND THE
TRACKING AND DATA RELAY
SATELLITES THAT WE'LL USE TO
TALK TO THE CREW THE ENTIRE WAY
TO THE STATION.
>> AFTER ALL OF THOSE SUIT LEAK
CHECKS WERE SUCCESSFUL, THE
CLOSEOUT TEAM WAS ABLE TO GET
OUT OF THE DRAGON CAPSULE AND
SEAL OFF THAT HATCH WHICH ALSO
GOT ITS OWN LEAK CHECK AND WAS
CONFIRMED SUCCESSFUL.
AT THIS POINT THE CLOSEOUT TEAM
IS OUT OF THE PATH.
THEY'RE AWAY FROM THE BDA, THE
BLAST DANGER AREA, AND WEATHER
OPERATORS ARE ABOUT TO KICK OFF
THEIR FINAL CHECKS ON WIND
SPEEDS AT THE PAD WHICH WILL BE
USED FINAL THE FINAL GO, NO GO
FOR LAUNCH SO WE'RE ALL KEEPING
EYES ON THE WEATHER.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT FINAL GO,
NO GO, ALL THE VARIOUS TEAMS
WILL DO INTERNAL POLLS MAKING
SURE CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT WITH
FALCON 9, THE DRAGON, THE CREW,
THE RANGE AND THE SPACE STATION
BEFORE THE FINAL GO IS GIVEN.
LET'S CHECK BACK IN WITH THE MAN
OVER IN HOUSTON, GARY, FOR A
STATUS ON THE TEAM SUPPORTING
THE SPACE STATION FOR THEIR
READINESS FOR LAUNCH.
>> THANKS, DAN.
THE TEAM HERE IN MISSION CONTROL
HOUSTON REMAINS GO FOR LAUNCH,
WE'RE ALSO VERY HOPEFUL ABOUT
THAT WEATHER.
ALL SYSTEMS ON BOARD THE STATION
THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE HEALTHY
FOR THIS MISSION ARE CONTINUING
TO LOOK GOOD, CHRIS CASSIDY IS
WRAPPING UP HIS WORK DAY AND
WILL BE WATCHING BOB AND DOUG
LAUNCH HERE IN JUST UNDER AN
HOUR.
STATION POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMS ARE NORMAL.
COMPUTERS AND NETWORKS USED FOR
MONITORING DRAGON'S APPROACH
HAVE BEEN CHECKED OUT AND THE
CABINS AND THE STATION CABINS
ATMOSPHERE AND PRESSURE ARE AS
EXPECTED AND READY TO WELCOME
TWO NEW CREW MEMBERS ABOARD.
MISSION CONTROL WILL BE CLOSELY
MONITORING BOB AND DOUG'S FLIGHT
AND CHECKING OFF MILESTONES FOR
MOST OF THE FLIGHT AND THIS VERY
SAME TEAM WILL BE COMING BACK
TOMORROW TO BE READY WHEN DRAGON
GETS IN RANGE OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
WE BEGIN INTEGRATED OPERATIONS
AND PREPARE FOR DRAGON'S
DOCKING.
I'LL SEND IT BACK TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION TEAM
HERE IS READY FOR LAUNCH.
GO FALCON 9, GO DRAGON AND GOD
SPEED TO BOB AND DOUG.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, GARY.
IF YOU ARE JUST NOW JOINING US,
YOU PICKED A REALLY GOOD TIME,
WE'RE JUST A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR
TO LAUNCH.
WELCOME TO OUR COVERAGE FOR THE
MISSION KNOWN AS DEMONSTRATION
MISSION TWO OR DEMO TWO.
LIFTOFF TIME IS STILL HOLDING
FOR 3:22 P.M. EASTERN.
TRACKING NO ISSUES WITH FALCON 9
OR DRAGON.
EVERYTHING IS GOOD WITH THE RAIN
SO FAR.
WE'RE JUST REALLY KEEPING AN EYE
ON THAT WEATHER.
OVER THE LAST THREE HOURS, OUR
CREW MEMBERS DONNED THEIR SPACEX
SUITS IN THE HISTORIC CREW
QUARTERS SUIT-UP ROOM.
AFTER THAT THEY WALKED OUT OF
CREW QUARTERS JUST AS EVERY NSA
NAUT TO FLY HAS DONE.
THE CREW DRAGON SPACECRAFT WE'RE
LOOKING IN LIVE.
>> TODAY IS A HISTORIC LAUNCH,
THE FIRST TIME A COMMERCIALLY
BUILT SPACECRAFT WILL LAUNCH
PEOPLE INTO ORBITE AND THE FIRST
TIME THE U.S. HAS SENT PEOPLE
TO THE SPACE STATION FROM
AMERICAN SOIL SINCE 2011 WITH
THE RETIREMENT OF THE SPACE
SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
OVER THE NEXT HOUR, WE WILL
CONDUCT A SERIES OF POLLS TO GET
READY FOR LAUNCH, HAVE BOB AND
DOUG ON THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM
AND BEGIN CEILING FALCON 9.
LAUNCH IS SET FOR 3:22 P.M.
EASTERN.
THIS WILL INCLUDE A 12-MINUTE
FLIGHT TO ORBIT AND THEN A
19-HOUR FLIGHT TO DOCK WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
TOMORROW MORNING.
>> TODAY'S MISSION IS THE
CULMINATION OF YEARS OF WORK
BETWEEN TEAMS AT SPACEX AND
NASA.
DEMO 2 WILL BE AN END-TO-END
FLIGHT TEST STARTING WITH THIS
LAUNCH TODAY GOING ON TO DOCK
WITH THE SPACE STATION TOMORROW
AND THEN SPLASHING DOWN AT THE
THE END OF THEIR MISSION.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FINAL
TEST FOR NASA TO CERTIFY SPACEX
FOR REGULAR CREW FLIGHTS TO THE
SPACE STATION.
>> WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LITTLE
BIT FROM THE CREW ON BOARD
DRAGON WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR
RIGHT SCREEN THERE, THEY ARE
CURRENTLY STRAPPED INTO THEIR
SEATS AND ALREADY THROUGH
COMMUNICATIONS AND LEAK CHECKS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALL THE
MILESTONES STILL AHEAD ON THE
DISPLAY PANELS JUST ABOVE THEM.
GETTING INSIGHT INTO ALL DRAGON
AND FALCON 9 SYSTEMS AS WE
PROCEED TOWARDS LAUNCH.
SO AT T MINUS ONE HOUR AND 13
MINUTES, LET'S CHECK INITH
JOHN FOR A STATUS UPDATE ON THE
VECLES.
WHAT'S THE UPDATE, JOHN?
>> THANKS, JESSE.
WELL, NOT MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT
THE DAMAGE JESSE JUST BROUGHT
UP.
WE'VE HAD A SMOOTH COUNTDOWN
THIS AFTERNOON.
THE SPACEX TEAM HAS NO ISSUES AS
THE PACE BEGINS TO PICK UP IN
THE LAST 70 MINUTES.
ON FALCON 9 WE DID GET THE TEAM
ON.
EARLIER YOU HEARD THE CHEX
BETWEEN THE ENGINEERS AND THE
CREW.
THE ENGINEERS WILL BE MAKING
CALLS FOR THE CREW'S BENEFIT.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY
COULD HEAR THEM BEFORE WE GO.
THE PROPULSION CHECKOUTS OF THE
FIRST AND SECOND STAGES ARE
BEGINNING RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE WATCHING TM BEGIN TO GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS, OPENING
VALVES.
THAT CHECK WILL GO FOR ABOUT
ANOTHER TEN MINUTES.
AND THAT WILL BE OUR LAST ONE
UNTIL PROPELLANT LOADING.
NOW, THE TEAM WILL ASSESS
READINESS FOR LAUNCH WITH A
FINAL G NO GO POLL AT T MINUS
45 MINUTES AND THAT WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY PROPELLANT LOADING
STARTING AT T MINUS 35 MINUTES.
EARLIER TODAY DRAGON OPERATORS
ALSO PERFORMED A SERIES OF
CHECKOUTS OF DRAGON'S FLIGHT
SYSTEMS.
THE SPACECRAFT IS ALSO CURRENTLY
GO FOR LAUNCH.
OUR NASA CREW, ASTRONAUTS DOUG
HURLEY AND BOB BEHNKEN ARE
CURRENTLY INSIDE DRAGON, THE
HATCH IS CLOSED, THE SPACEX
GROUND CREW HAS LEFT THE TOWER.
THE NEXT MAJOR EVENT FOR DRAGON
IS RETRACK TO THE CREW ACCESS
ARM YOU CAN SEE CURRENTLY
ALONGSIDE THE CAPSULE, THAT WILL
HAPPEN SOMEWHERE BETWEEN T MINUS
45 AND T MINUS 42 MINUTES.
THE RANGE IS CURRENTLY CLEAR
FROM -- FOR LAUNCH FROM HISTORIC
PAD 39A.
THE TRACKING DATA AND RELAY
SATELLITES ARE READY AS IT HEADS
INTO ORBIT.
THE WEATHER IS THE ONE CONCERN.
WE'LL GET A WEATHER BRIEFER AT T
MINUS ONE HOUR, 12 MINUTES FROM
NOW.
THE GROUND AND UPPER ALTITUDE
WINDS ARE GO, THAT'S ONE THING
WE CAN CHECK AS GREEN.
AT THE CURRENT TIME, WE DID HAVE
SOME RAIN EARLIER THAT APPEARS
TO HAVE LET UP BUT WE ARE RED ON
CONDITIONS FOR BOTH THE ELECTRIC
FIELD AT SURFACE LEVELS,
LIGHTNING AND CUMULUS CLOUDS.
THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT A
FORECAST THAT WILL BE COMING UP
AT ABOUT T MINUS ONE HOUR ALSO,
MAY GIVE US CLEARANCE OF THOSE
CONDITIONS.
SO EVERYTHING IS FOCUSING NOW ON
THE WEATHER BRIEF AT T MINUS ONE
HOUR.
ALSO WE SHOULD HOPE TO HEAR
ABOUT THE FINAL CHECK ON THE COR
CORRIDOR, THE WEATHER ALONG THE
ATLANTIC SEABOARD IN CASE DRAGON
HAD TO ABORT ON THE WAY TO
SPACE.
THE CONDITIONS THERE HAD BEEN
MARGINAL BUT THE EXPECTATION IS
THAT IT WILL BE GOOD FOR LAUNCH
BUT WE'LL GET ALL OF THAT COMING
UP VERY SHORTLY PRIOR TO
ENTERING PROPELLANT LOAD.
TODAY WE ARE AIMING FOR A LAUNCH
AT 3:22:45 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT
SAVING TIME, 19 HOURS 22 MINUTES
45 SECONDS UNIVERSAL TIME.
ONCE WE BEGIN A LOTTING
PROPELLANT, THERE'S NO
OPPORTUNITY O CNGE T ZERO.
ONCE PROPELLANT IS LOADING,
WE'RE COMMITTED.
CURRENTLY AT T MINUS ONE HOUR
TEN MINUTES 30 SECONDS,
EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE WEATHER IS
GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> THANKS, JOHN, FOR THAT
DETAILED UPDATE.
WE'VE GOT AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY
NOW OF FLYING FALCON 9 FROM THE
FLORIDA COAST AND JUST LAST YEAR
COMPLETED A TEST RUN OF THE
MISSION WE'RE LESS THAN AN HOUR
FROM BEGINNING HERE TODAY.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THAT MISSION
WAS TO DEMONSTRATE DRAGON'S
CAPABILITY TO SAFELY AND
RELIABLY FLY TO AND FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THE SUCCESS OF DEMO ONE WAS A
REALLY EXCITING MOMENT.
LEADING US TO THE MISSION TO
WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE GETTING
READY TO FLY U.S. ASTRONAUTS
FROM U.S. SOIL FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE 2011.
>> DRAGON AND FALCON 9 TOGETHER
HAVE YEARS OF OPERATIONAL
EXPERIENCE OR WHAT WE REFER TO
AS FLIGHT HERITAGE.
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SPACEX
HAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 21
FLIGHTS OF DRAGON TO AND FROM
ORBIT SINCE 2010 INCLUDING 20
TRIPS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE CONDUCTED
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TESTING,
WE'VE ALSO ENHANCED AND ADDED A
NUMBER OF SAFETY FEATURES TO
DRAGON.
>> WHAT WAS LEARNED WITH THE
CARGO DRAGON WAS LEVERAGED IN
THE DESIGN OF THIS NEW VEHICLE,
IT'S FULLY -- AUTONOMOUS WHICH
MEANS IT CAN BASICALLY FLY
ITSELF AND ALSO FEATURES THE
MANUAL OVERRIDE CAPABILITY JUST
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
>> MANY OTHER ENHANCEMENTS HELP
TOWARDS LESS REFURBISHMENT TIME
BETWEEN MISSIONS.
LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
ADVANCEMENTS.
>> 27 FEET TALL FROM THE BOTTOM
OF THE TRUNK TO THE TOP OF THE
NOSE CONE, CREW DRAGON IS
COMPRISED OF TWO MAIN ELEMENTS.
YOU HAVE THE CAPSULE, DESIGNED
TO HOLD CREW AND PRESSURIZED
CARGO AND THE TRUNK WHICH HOLDS
UNPRESSURIZED CARGO AND THE
SOLAR RAY.
>> AND THE GUIDANCE NAVIGATION
CONTROL SYSTEM, GNC.
THE NOSE CONE REMAINS OPEN FOR
DOCKING AND THAT'S UNLIKE THE
PREVIOUS VERSION OF DRAGON AND
THAT HELPS TOWARDS OUR
REUSABILITY EFFORTS.
>> THE NOSE CONE, THE TRUNK HAS
ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR FALCON 9,
THE DRAGON CAPSULE AND IT CAN
HOLD CARGO.
ON THE VERY OUTSIDE OF THE
TRUNK, ONE-HALF CONTAINS A
RADIATOR THAT PROJECTS HEAT FROM
THE ACTIVE THERMAL CONTROL
SYSTEM INTO SPACE, THAT'S THE
WHITE PART AND THAT USES
SPACEX'S NEW TILING TECHNOLOGY.
THE OTHER HALF CONTAINS SOLAR
CELLS USED TO CHARGE THE
BATTERY.
>> THOUGH WE ONLY HAVE TWO
ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD TODAY, THE
SPACECRAFT IS DESIGNED TO
ACCOMMODATE UP TO SEVEN CREW
MEMBERS WITH MODULAR SEATS THAT
CAN BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY
ADDITIONAL CARGO.
THE SEATS ARE MADE OF CARBON
FIBER AND ARE CUSTOM SIZED FOR
ANY CREW MEMBER FLYING ON BOARD.
>> THE CONTROL PANEL CENTERED
RIGHT BETWEEN THE PILOT AND THE
COMMANDER SEATS HAS THE THREE
TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAYS THAT GIVES
THE CREW INSIGHT INTO DRAGON AND
EVEN THE ABILITY TO OPERATE THE
VEHICLE AND FLY IT MANUALLY.
>> AND FINALLY, OUR SUPER DRACO
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM GIVES THE
CREW THE ABILITY TO SAFELY
ESCAPE FROM THE TIME OF THE
LAUNCH ALL THE WAY TO ORBIT.
>> AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE
BEYOND THE TEST FLIGHT LATER
THIS YEAR, THE FIRST OPERATIONAL
CREW MISSION FOR NASA WILL TAKE
PLACE.
>> CAPTAIN, REVIEW YOUR LAUNCH
COMMIT CRITERIA AND INDICATE
READINESS AT THE APPROPRIATE
TIME.
54 PROPELLANT LOAD AND LAUNCH.
>> THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
THAT'S THE DIRECTOR GETTING
READY FOR 45 MINUTES BEFORE
LAUNCH.
BACK TO CREW ONE MISSION, THE
NASA ASTRONAUTS AND THE JAPAN
AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY
WERE CHOSEN TO SUPPORT THIS
MISSION.
>> TODAY DOUG HURLEY IS THE
SPACECRAFT COMMENDER FOR THIS
MISSION.
HE PREVIOUSLY FLEW ON TWO SPACE
SHUTTLE MISSIONS AS A PILOT ON
STF127 AND 135 WHICH WAS THE
FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT.
HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT DOUG
HURLEY.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
>> EXCITED?
>> VERY EXCITED, YEAH.
VERY EXCITED.
>> FEEL READY, FEEL PUMPED?
>> OH, YEAH.
I THINK WE'RE READY.
I THINK WE'RE CERTAINLY READY.
>> JOINING THE SPACEX DEMO TWO
TEST, HE IS A MARINE CORPS
COLONEL AND TEST PILOT.
HE WAS SELECTED AS AN ASTRONAUT
IN 2000.
HE PILOTED SPACE SHUTTLE
ENDEAVOR AND ATLANTA FOR STF135,
THE FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION.
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT DOUG
HURLEY.
[ Cheering and Applause ]
>> IT'S A LIFE CHANGING PROCESS
IN SO MANY WAYS TO FLY IN TO
SPACE.
IT'S JUST OVERWHELMG IN SOME
RESPECTS.
JUST A SENSATION, THE RUMBLING,
THE SHAKING, THE ACCELERATION.
MY NAME IS DOUG HURLEY AND I'M
THE SPACECRAFT COMMANDER FOR THE
DEMO 2 MISSION TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IN WILL BE IF FIRST TIME THE
DRAGON HAS A CREW ON BOARD SO
THERE'S A MYRIAD OF OBJECTIVES
WE WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR THIS
MISSION.
WHAT WOULD WORK ON ORBIT, WHAT
MIGHT NOT WORK ON ORBIT, WHAT
WOULD DEFINITELY WORK TO BE ABLE
TO JUST HAVE THE ENTIRE
INTEGRATED TEAM THAT'S GOING TO
SUPPORT US GETTING TO AND FROM
SPACE STATION, IT WAS REALLY
NEAT BEING PART OF IT.
WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES THAT GET
TO FLY IT BUT WE CERTAINLY NOT
FOR ONE SECOND TAKE FOR GRANTED
THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT SO
MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO PUT
INTO THIS TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
>> DOUG PERSONALLY, HE'S WORKED
SO HARD.
I MEAN, THROUGH HIS ENTIRE LIFE,
TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT
NOW.
AS A TEST PILOT, THIS WOULD BE
THE DREAM TO FLY A NEW VEHICLE.
SO IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE
THAT HE GETS TO BE PARTED OF
THIS MISSION, CRAFT COMMANDER
AND GET TO SEE HIS DREAM COME
TRUE FOR THAT.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD IN A
LOT OF WAYS FOR NOT ONLY US BUT
CERTAINLY FOR ALL THE FOLKS THAT
WORK IN THE COMMERCIAL CREW
PROGRAM AS WELL AS SPACEX IN OUR
CASE, JUST WORKING TO GET TO
THIS POINT.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
>> WE'RE A LITTLE OVER ONE HOUR,
3 1/2 MINUTES AWAY FROM LAUNCH.
NOW LET'S LEARN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT THE MAN SITTING NEXT
TO DOUG HURLEY INSIDE DRAGON,
NASA ASTRONAUT BOB BEHNKEN.
>> MY CAREER HAS NASA HAS
SPANNED A COUPLE OF DECADES AT
THIS POINT.
I ARRIVED WITH THE CLASS OF
2000, WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING
PROGRAM PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE
SPACE SHUTTLE AND THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
LEARNING THOSE SYSTEMS.
HAVING LAUNCHED A COUPLE TIMES
ON VEHICLES, THE SECOND TIME WAS
DEFINITELY DIFFERENT THAN THE
FIRST TIME.
YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT GUILTY
OF HEY, SHOULD I STUDY ONE MORE
THING, IS THERE ONE MORE PIECE
OF INFORMATION I SHOULD GET, AM
I REALLY PREPARED OR NOT SO
THAT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT
BETWEEN WHERE I WAS ON MY FIRST
FLIGHT AND WHERE I'M AT RIGHT
NOW.
>> FOR ME PERSONALLY AS A
SPOUSE, WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT
BOB HAS PUT INTO THIS OVER THE
LAST FIVE YEARS, THE DEDICATION
THAT HE'S SHOWN, THE
PERSEVERANCE IS PRETTY SPECIAL
FOR BOTH OF US, THOUGH, THE WAY
OUR MINDS WORK, IT WON'T BE
UNTIL THE MISSION IS COMPLETE
THAT YOU HAVE REALLY A CHANCE TO
SAVOR IT AND CELEBRATE IT.
THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT
FOR AN AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST
ENGINEER TO BE PART OF THE
DEMONSTRATION MISSION OF A BRAND
NEW VEHICLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.
>> WITHOUT A PARTNER THAT HAS
THAT SAME APPRECIATION, I THINK
IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME
FOLKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT
OF TIME THAT TAKES AWAY FROM
FAMILY THAT MY SPOUSE
APPRECIATES AND I LOVE HER FOR
THAT.
ON A DEEPLY PERSONAL LEVEL, I'M
REALLY EXCITED THAT MY SON IS
GOING TO GET A CHANCE TO SEE ME
LAUNCH INTO SPACE.
BEING AN ASTRONAUT HAS BEEN A
LITTLE BIT OF AN ABSTRACTION
THING FOR ME BECAUSE HE'S SEEN
ME DO IT IN OLD VIDEOS BUT HE
HASN'T SEEN ME DO IT FOR REAL
AND I'M EXCITED FOR HIM TO SEE
THIS LAUNCH.
>> REALLY MY ROLE ON THE DEMO 2
MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
GET THIS VEHICLE TESTED AND
EVALUATED SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON
TO MORE OPERATIONAL MISSIONS AT
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OBJECTIVES ON
BOARD THE VEHICLES THAT WE NEED
TO ACCOMPLISH TO REALLY MAKE
SURE THAT IT'S GOOD TO GO.
WE'LL MAKE SURE ALL THOSE
SYSTEMS ARE WORKING DURING THE
TEST FLIGHT SO THAT THE FUTURE
MISSIONS WILL HAVE THEM
AVAILABLE EVEN IF THEY DON'T
PLAN TO UTILIZE THEM.
THROUGH YEARS OF THE NASA TEAM
HELPING TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE
AND TEACHING THEM THE LESSONS
THAT WE'VE LEARNED BY GOING
THROUGH THIS, NOW THERE'S
ANOTHER CAPABILITY IN THE U.S.
BESIDES NASA TO OPERATE
SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE
COMMERCIAL PROGRAM TEAM THAT'S
WORKED TOGETHER TO GET TO THIS
POINT WHERE WE'VE GOT VEHICLES
IN THE LAUNCHPAD READY TO HEAD
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
>> IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE
FLYING INTO SPACE, SPACE TOURISM
COMPANY SPACE ADVENTURES CAN FLY
FOUR PASSENGERS ON BOARD DRAGON
AS EARLY AS NEXT YEAR AND IT'S
NASA THAT IS MAKING PRIVATE
ASTRONAUT MISSIONS TO THE SPACE
STATION A POSSIBILITY.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE
MISSNS AND WE HOPE THAT YOU
GUYS ARE ALL TOO.
>> WE ARE JUST 20 SECONDS AWAY
FROM T MINUS ONE HOUR.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY BIG
MOMENT THAT EVERYONE IS GOING TO
WANT TO LISTEN TO.
WE'RE EXPECTING A WEATHER
UPDATE, OBVIOUSLY HOPING THAT
THE WEATHER IS IMPROVING AND SO
WE SHOULD FIND OUT IN THE
EFFECTS TEN SECONDS OR SO.
WE'RE GOING TO STAND BY FOR A
MOMENT AND WAIT FOR THE CORPS TO
GIVE BOB AND DOUGH A CALL.
>> SPACEX, WE'RE AT T MINUS ONE
HOUR.
YOU ARE GO FOR SECTION SIX.
READY TO REPORT GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> THAT RIGHT THERE WAS A CALL
FOR THE CREW TO REFER TO SOME OF
THE PROCEDURES, THEY DO SOME
FINAL CHECKS, CHECKING
HARNESSES, HELMETS, JUST MAKING
SURE THAT THEY'RE STRAPPED IN
AND READY TO GO.
ONCE THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT, THE
CREW WILL REPORT THEIR READINESS
FOR LAUNCH.
>> SPACEX DRAGON IN SIX DECIMAL
FOUR, BOB AND I ARE GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> COPY.
T MINUS 45.
>> COPY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THE CREW IS GO FOR LAUNCH.
SO WE ARE INSIDE OF ONE HOUR.
STILL WAITING FOR THE WEATHER
UPDATE BUT THIS DAY IS ONE FOR
THE HISTORY BOOKS.
WE'RE RETURNING CREW LAUNCHES TO
STATION FROM AMERICAN SOIL ON
AMERICAN ROCKETS.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST NINE LONG YEARS
SINCE WE RETIRED THE SPACE
SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
I REMEMBER THAT DAY, I'M BEEN A
LONG ROAD TO GET HERE, COUNTLESS
HOURS BY THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED
PROFESSIONALS FROM NASA AND
SPACEX.
>> IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING WEEK
BUT THIS LAST FINAL HOUR IS JUST
SO EXCITING RIGHT NOW.
TODAY'S MISSION WILL BE CREW
DRAGON'S SECOND TEST FLIGHT AND
ITS FIRST TEST WITH HUMANS ON
BOARD.
IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME COUNTDOWN
SO FAR.
WEATHER, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR
THE UPDATE.
IT'S STILL A WATCH ITEM BUT THE
CREW IS GO FOR LAUNCH.
AT T MINUS 45 MINUTES HOPEFULLY
WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THAT
WEATHER.
>> WE'VE HAD A REALLY CLEAN
COUNTDOWN SO FAR.
SUIT-UP THREE HOURS AGO, HELPING
BOB AND DOUG PUT ON THEIR SUITS,
INCLUDING AN INITIAL PRESSURE
AND LEAK CHECK BEFORE THEY GOT
TO THE ACTUAL WALKOUT.
ALL OF THAT DONE IN THE
OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT
FACILITY.
THE CREW WALKOUT WAS WHERE BOB
AND DOUG GAVE THEIR FINAL
GOODBYES TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY
THE OPERATION AND CHECKOUT
BUILDING BEFORE THEY BEGIN THE
RIDE TO PAD 39A, A TOUCHING
MOMENT.
SAYING GOODBYE TO THEIR FAMILY.
THEIR WIVES AND SONS RIGHT IN
FRONT OF THEM.
>> VERY TOUCHING MOMENT.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO BE ABLE TO
WATCH THESE MOMENTS.
>> AS THEY GOT INTO THEIR
TESLAS, WE GOT TO WATCH THEM
RIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE PAD AND
WE GOT SOME GREAT FOOTAGE THERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN,
THIS IS SOME PLAYBACK FROM
EARLIER OF THEM GETTING INTO
THOSE TESLAS ABOUT TO MAKE THAT
DRIVE DOWN TO THE PAD.
ONCE THEY GOT TO THE PAD, THEY
DID TAKE A MINUTE TO TAKE IN IF
SIGHTS AND THEY HEADED UP TO THE
SIXTH SERVICE STRUCTURE TO BEGIN
THE PROCESS CALLED TRUE INGRESS
WHERE BOB AN DOUG ENTERED AND
THROUGH CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN
AS THEY'RE COMING THROUGH THE
CREW ACCESS ARM, ENTERING THE
ROOM RIGHT BEFORE THEY WERE ABLE
TO INGRESS INTO THE VEHICLE
THERE.
AGAIN, THIS IS FROM EARLIER.
>> THIS IS ALL FROM EARLIER.
AS WE SAID THAT, WHITE ROOM, THE
LAST PLACE ON PLANET EARTH
THEY'RE STANDING BEFORE THEY
CLIMB INTO DRAGON FOR THE RIDE
UP HILL.
SPACEX CARRYING OVER A TRADITION
NASA HAD.
THAT WAS TRADITIONALLY THE ROOM
FROM GEMINI, APOLLO AND THE
SPACE SHUTTLE, THE LAST PLACE.
ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO.
WE'RE BACK WITH SOME LIVE VIDEO
HERE.
THE TEAM WAS ABL TO CLOSE
DRAGON'S HATCH WITH BOB AND DOUG
SAFE INSIDE.
WE ARE UNDER AN HOUR TO GO.
THINGS ARE GOING TO PICK UP AS
WE GET CLOSE TO THAT GO, NO GO
TO BEGIN PROPELLANT LOADING AND
ARMING THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
>> THE DRAGON PULL FOR PROP LOAD
IS COMING UP HERE IN JUST ABOUT
30 SECONDS AT T MINUS 55
MINUTES.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE
T MINUS 45 MINUTES, WILL BE THE
ENERGY MISSION CONTROL HAWTHORNE
POLL AND THEN THE LAUNCH
DIRECTOR'S POLL FOR PROPELLANT
LOADING.
T MINUS 40 MINUTES, THE CREW
AXIS ARM WILL RETRACT AND THEY
WILL GET THE CALL TO CLOSE THEIR
VISORS AND ARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM.
THIS IS THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM IN
PLACE THAT CAN FIRE THE EIGHT
THRUSTERS ON DRAGON TO SEPARATE
ON THE FLIGHT DURING THE RIDE UP
HILL.
>> ONCE WE REACH T MINUS 35
MINUTES PROPELLANT LOADING FOR
THE FALCON 9 WILL BEGIN.
WE GOT THERE ON WEDNESDAY.
WE GOT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 17
MINUTES BEFORE LAUNCH BEFORE WE
HAD TO CANCEL BECAUSE OF
WEATHER.
BUT WE'RE OPTIMISTIC RIGHT NOW.
CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO PRESS
AHEAD ONCE AGAIN INTO LOADING
FUEL ON THE FALCON  ROCKET.
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTDOWN WE'VE
BEEN GETTING SOME INCREDIBLE
VIEWS OF THE ASTRONAUTS INSIDE
DRAGON JUST MAKING ALL OF THEIR
FINAL PREPARATIONS, CLOSE-UP
VIEWS OF THEIR SUITS AND ON THE
DISPLAYS AS THEY ARE STRAPPED IN
AND READY FOR LAUNCH.
THE TEAMS OFTEN DESCRIBE THE
SUITS AS AN EXTENSION OF THAT
DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
YOU CAN ALWAYS THINK OF IT AS A
MINI SPACECRAFT INSIDE OF A
SPACECRAFT.
YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THE LIFE
SUPPORT, EVERYTHING THAT THEY
NEED.
>> COUNTDOWN, TECHNICAL POLL IS
COMPLETE.
NO CONSTRAINTS TO PROCEED.
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM ARMING AND
PROPELLING -- PROPELLANT LOAD.
>> THEY ARE READY TO LOAD ON TO
DRAGON AND WE ARE PUSHING
FORWARD.
WHILE THE SUITS DO LOOK GREAT,
THEY ARE ALSO ENGINEERED TO
CONNECT DIRECTLY INTO DRAGON'S
SEATS TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS,
COOLING AND THE ABILITY TO
PRESSURIZE IF NECESSARY.
>> WE DID GET THE CALL-OUT THAT
THE TECHNICAL TEAMS ON THE
GROUND ARE READY FORAUNCH
ESCAPE ARMING AND PROPELLANT
LOADING.
AGAIN, THINGS STARTING TO PICK
UP.
THINGS REALLY STARTING TO FEEL
REAL.
LET'S JUMP DOWN REAL QUICK TO
THE TEAM AT KENNEDY AND SEE IF
YOU GUYS ARE JUST AS EXCITED.
I CAN'T SIT STILL RIGHT NOW.
IT'S STARTING TO FEEL REAL.
>> YEAH, IT'S HARD TO SIT STILL
IN HERE, RIGHT, LEO?
[ Laughter ]
>> ROCKET FUEL GOING THROUGH MY
VEINS STILL.
>> IT'S AWESOME WHEN WE SEE THEM
SITTING THERE IN THEIR SUITS.
WE'RE LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY
NOW.
SO FAR THINGS LOOK LIKE WE MIGHT
MAKE IT.
WE MIGHT MAKE IT.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT IT WAS
LIKE THE FIRST TIME YOU PUT ON A
SPACE SUIT WHEN YOU KNEW YOU
WERE GOING TO SPACE.
>> OH, THAT WAS FEBRUARY OF
2008, WE WERE IN THE ONC
BUILDING GETTING THE PUMPKIN
SUITS ON.
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE
SPACEX SUITS, BUT IT WAS KIND OF
SURREAL.
AND TO THINK OF THIS, IT TOOK ME
TEN YEARS OF TRAINING TO FLY IN
SPACE.
WHEN I GOT IN THE CORPS 1998 TO
FEBRUARY OF 2008, IT WAS A LONG
ROAD TO GET THERE BUT IT WAS SO
WORTH AND IT SO SWEET.
LEARNING HOW TO USE THE GREEN
APPLE, THE CONNECTIONS FOR
OXYGEN FOR COOLING, MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN THESE SUITS WE
HAVE WITH SPACEX.
IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED TO
GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE SERIES OF
THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO
MAKE SURE YOU'RE SAFE IN THE
SUIT BUT WE'RE EVOLVED, WE'RE
READY AND THEY LOOK SO COOL AND
CALM AND COLLECTED IN THERE,
THEIR SUITS AND THE VEHICLE,
THEY'RE FOCUSING AND GETTING
READY TO SUPPLY IN SPACE.
>> THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITEMENT.
YOU GOT A MESSAGE FROM ANOTHER
ASTRONAUTS.
>> SONNY WILLIAMS.
>> SONNY IS AWESOME.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUR
WHO TRAINED WITH BOB AND DOUG
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
>> AND SHE WAS ONE OF MY
CLASSMATES.
LOOK AT HER THERE.
WHAT IS HE WEARING?
MEATBALL!
>> HEY, SONNY.
SHE HAD TO WEAR ONE ON WEDNESDAY
SO SHE WORE THE MEATBALL TODAY.
BUT NOW SHE CAN WEAR THE WORM
BALL.
>> SHE CAN MIX IT UP.
SHE'S TRAINING TO FLY ON THE
BOEING STARLINE FROM HER THE NOT
TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
REALLY GLAD SHE'S WATCHING AND
SHOWING SOME LOVE.
THANKS FOR, SONNY, FOR SENDING
THAT NOTE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A LIVE VIEW OF
THE CREW DRAGON ON TOP OF THE
FALCON 9 ROCKET.
THE CREW ACCESS ARM TO THE RIGHT
OF YOUR SCREEN.
THAT'S IS THE HALLWAY BOB AND
DOUG WALKED DOWN TO GET INTO
BEFORE THEY CLIMBED INSIDE
DRAGONMENT LAUNCH COMPLEX OF 39A
WHERE INSIDE AN HOUR FROM
LIFTOFF AND I THINK WE'RE JUST A
COUPLE MINUTES AWAY FROM THE
POLL WE'RE GOING TO HEAR BEFORE
THEY START PROPELLANT LOAD.
AGAIN, A TWO-STAGE ROCKET THERE.
GOSH, YOU GUYS, THE WEATHER
LOOKS NOT THAT BAD.
I MEAN, EVERYTHING OBVIOUSLY
THAT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL FORECAST
BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK QUITE AS BAD
AS IT DID WEDNESDAY.
WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER
ODDS.
THERE'S THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK.
WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE TO LISTEN
TO THAT COM.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, WE
ARE LESS THAN 50 MINUTES FROM
THE SCHEDULED LIFTOFF OF THE
FALCON 9 ROCKET CARRYING CREW
DRAGON.
IF WE START TO HEAR ANY KIND OF
UPDATE ON WEATHER OR POLLING, WE
WILL PAUSE TO LISTEN TO THAT.
WE SHOULD BE HEARING THE LAUNCH
DIRECTOR VERIFY GO FOR
PROPELLANT LOAD ABOUT T MINUS 45
MINUTES.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT OVER
TO HAWTHORNE TO CARRY THE BALL.
JOHN OR JESSE, ARE YOU THERE?
>> THE WEATHER IS A GO AT THIS
TIME.
>> DRAGON COPY, GO WEATHER.
>> THERE YOU HEARD THAT CALL
OUT.
SO FAR WE HAVE GOOD WEATHER.
WE ARE GO FOR LAUNCH TODAY.
THIS IS GETTING REALLY EXCITING.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, DAN, MY
HEART IS BEATING PRETTY FAST
RIGHT NOW.
>> WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THOSE
WORDS SINCE WEDNESDAY AND WE DID
HEAR A CALL TO THE CRE JUST IN
CASE YOU MISSED IT THAT THEY
WERE ONLY TRACKING ONE FINAL
WEATHER CONSTRAINT.
IT WAS A CUMULUS CLOUD.
THEY WERE EXPECTING IT TO CLEAR
UP WITHIN TEN MINUTES AND IT'S
CLEARED UP NOW SO WE ARE
CURRENTLY GO ON WEATHER.
>> YES, IT'S BEEN PRETTY
INCREDIBLE TO BE SO CLOSE TO
LAUNCH AND THE ROAD LEADING UP
TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN CREDIT
INCREDIBLE AS WELL.
>> IT HAS BEEN.
IT'S BEEN A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
NASA AND SPACEX.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER
SINCE SPACEX STARTED FLYING
CARGO TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
NOW GETTING READY TO LAUNCH
CREW.
AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE
TO WORK WITH NOT ONLY A LOT OF
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BUT
A LOT OF...
>> CONTROL ROOM, WE'LL BE
CLOSING DOORS HERE ONCE WE START
WITH PROPELLANT LOAD AND ANY
LAST-MINUTE OUTBREAKS, PLEASE GO
AHEAD AND ACCOMPLISH THOSE IN
THE NEXT FEW MINUTES.
>> THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR JUST
GETTING THE TEAMS READY, WE'LL
BE COMING UP ON THAT PROPELLANT
LOAD AND THAT STARTS IN ABOUT 35
MINUTES PRIOR TO LIFTOFF.
SO IN ABOUT 12 MINUTES FROM NOW.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A GO, NO GO
COMING UP REALLY SOON SO LET'S
GO OVER TO OUR MAN, JOHN, FOR
THE LATEST.
>> IT'S T MINUS 47 MINUTES 24
SECONDS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO COUNT DOWN.
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR AND THE
LAUNCH TEAM ARE PREPARING FOR
THE READINESS FOR LAUNCH PULL.
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR IS CHECKING
WITH DRAGON MISSION DIRECTOR AND
NASA LAUNCH MANAGER FOR THEIR
READINESS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY IS GOOD
THERE.
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR WILL TELL
HIM THE PULL IS OPEN AND THE
MEMBERS WILL BE ELECTRICITY
PULLED ALL THE WAY TO LAUNCH.
WE'LL HEAR THAT RESULT AND THE
BRIEFING FROM THE LAUNCH
DIRECTOR IN ABOUT T MINUS 45
MINUTES.
THE GOOD NEWS RIGHT NOW IS THAT
THE WEATHER IS GO.
ALL THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE
READ SHORTLY A WHILE AGO, AT T
MINUS ONE HOUR HAVE, CLEARED.
THE WEATHER FORECASTER SAID
WE'RE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
>> PULL IS COMPLETE.
WE'RE GO FOR PROPELLANT LOAD.
>> WE GOT AN EARLY CALL-OUT
THERE.
>> RETRACT THE ACCESS ARM.
>> ACCESS ARM RETRACTED, T MINUS
45 MINUTES.
>> GOT AN EARLY CALL FROM SPACEX
LAUNCH DIRECTOR MIKE TAYLOR THAT
THE PULL IS GO.
YOU ALSO HEARD THE DIRECTION
THAT T MINUS 45 MINUTES TO
PREPARE FOR RETRACT OF THE CREW
ARM.
AS WE HEAR MORE DISCUSSION,
WE'LL STOP AND LET YOU LISTEN IN
BUT RIGHT NOW WEATHER FOR
LIFTOFF, GROUND LEVEL WINDS ARE
GOOD.
10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR.
WELL WITHIN LIMIT.
UPPER ALTITUDE CONDITIONS ARE
ACCEPTABLE.
THE WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE
CLEARED UP, THE LAST ONE BEING
CUMULUS CLOUDS AND THE
PROBABILITY OF VIOLATION IS SET
AT 30% RIGHT NOW SO THAT'S 70%
CHANCE OF GOOD WEATHER.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WATCH.
THERE IS ABOUT A LESS THAN 10%
CHANCE OF LIGHTNING.
WE'RE ALSO WATCHING THE ABORT
CORRIDOR OFF THE ATLANTIC
COASTING IN CASE, FOR EXAMPLE,
OF STAGE SEPARATION DRAGGINGEN
HAD TO ABORT INTO THE OCEAN,
THE CONDITIONS THERE ARE
ACCEPTABLE.
THERE'S NOT BEEN LIGHTNING
LATELY.
THE WEATHER WINDS ARE GOOD.
LIGHT RAIN.
IT IS GO BUT NASA IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WATCH THOSE
CONDITIONS.
>> T MINUS 45 MINUTES AND
COUNTING.
REMINDER ON HOLD AND LAUNCH
ESCAPE PROTOCOL FOR NONURGENT NO
GO CONDITIONS, THEY WILL APPROVE
BOARDING LAUNCH OUT OF SEQUENCE
AND PROCEED TO LAUNCH ABORT.
FOR URGENT ISSUES AFFECTING THE
THE SAFETY OF THE OPERATION,
OPERATOR SHOULD CALLED HOLD,
HOLD, HOLD.
OPERATORS SHALL ALSO ADVISE
LAUNCH DIRECTOR WHETHER
STRUCTURAL BREAKUP FIRE IS
IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
ON FIRE ALARM INSTRUCTIONS IN
EVENT OF A FIRE ALARM, KEY
OPERATORS PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED
WILL RAIN AT THEIR POST WHILE
THEIR ALARM IS EVALUATED.
IN THE EVENT THAT PERSONAL
SAFETY IS THREATENED, EVACUATE
TO THE SOUTH EMERGENCY EXIT
WHICH LEADS DIRECTLY OUTSIDE.
AT THIS TIME WEATHER IS GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN,
WE'RE INSIDE T MINUS 44 MINUTES
FIVE SECONDS.
>> ACCESS ARM RETRACTING HAS
BEGUN.
>> SPACEX LAUNCH DIRECTOR HAS
GIVEN THE FINAL BRIEF TO THE
CREW.
AND WE WILL BEGIN A PROPELLANT
LOADING AT T MINUS 35 MINUTES.
RIGHT NOW AT FALCON 9, WE'RE
READY TO GET INTO PROPELLANT
LOADING.
DRAGON, CREW, GETTING
CONFIGURED, SET UP.
THE AMPLE IS PULLING AWAY.
THE RANGE IS GO FOR LAUNCH.
THEY CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
AREA AND THE SEASPACE.
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
WE FINALLY HAVE GOTTEN GREEN
ACROSS THE BOARD ON THE WEATHER
CONDITIONS BUT WE CAN'T TAKE A
DEEP BREATH QUITE YET.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH THE
WEATHER ALL THE WAY DOWN TO T
ZERO FOR US HERE AT KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER AND OUT IN THE
ATLANTIC IN THE ABORT ZONES.
EARLIER WE SAW MANY OF YOU
FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH FROM THE
UNITED STATES ON OUR HOTPOT
MAP.
NOW THAT WE'RE INSIDE AN HOUR,
WE'RE SEEING LARGE NUMBERS OF
FOLKS LOGGING ON AND TUNING IN
FROM COAST TO COAST AND AROUND
THE WORLD.
IS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME WATCHING
A LAUNCH LIVE, NOT COUNTING
WEDNESDAY AND IF NOT, HOW MANY
OF YOU HAVE SEEN BEFORE?
TELL US USING THE HASHTAG LAUNCH
AMERICA FROM YOUR FAVORITE
SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.
WITH THAT, T MINUS 42 MINUTES,
50 SECONDS, CONDITIONS ARE GO
AND WE ARE COUNTING DOWN FOR AN
ON-TIME LAUNCH.
LET'S SEND IT BACK OVER TO
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AS THE
ACTION BEGINS TO PICK UP ON THE
PAD.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, YOU ARE GO FOR
SECTION 7, CLOSE VISORS AND ARM
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
>> WE WILL -- SECTION 7, VISORS
COMING CLOSED.
>> THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK IS
CONTINUING TO TICK.
MY HEART IS CONTINUING TO BEAT
5 MILLION BEATS A SECOND, AND WE
ARE GETTING SO, SO CLOSE.
>> DRAGON 7.2, VISORS ARE
CLOSED.
WE'RE ARMING LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM.
>> COPY.
>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE CREW
IS ARMING IF LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM, THAT IS ONE OF THE
ABSOLUTE LAST BIG MILESTONES
PRIOR TO LIFTOFF, OTHER THAN
NOMINAL FALCON OPERATION.
>> JUST A MINUTE AGO WE SAW THE
CREW ACCESS ARM RETRACT AND
OBVIOUSLY WE JUSTEARD ON THE
COMS BOB AND DOUG ARE GETTING
READY TO ARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM.
THAT PROTECTS THEM ALL THE WAY
TO ORBIT.
WHEN FUELING STARTS JUST OVER
SIX MINUTES FROM NOW, THEY WILL
HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ABORT TO
SEPARATE FROM FALCON 9 NEITHER
ON THE PAD OR EVEN AFTER
LIFTOFF.
THAT'S A CRITICAL SAFETY
CAPABILITY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER TO
HAWTHORNE NOW TO TAKE US THROUGH
THESE NEXT MINUTES.
JESSE.
>> WE DID HEAR THAT CALL OUT
THAT THEY ARE ARMING THE LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM.
THEY DESIGNED IT TO BE THE
SAFEST LAUNCH SYSTEM EVER FLOWN
AND WE BROUGHT BACK SPACEX'S
NICK PICONE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE, MONITORING
THE LAUNCH WITH OUR RECOVERY AND
GROUNDPERATIONS.
>> AWESOME.
NICK WAS OUR MISSION MANAGER
FOR OUR TEST EARLIER THIS YEAR
AND NOW WORKS ON STARLING TEAM.
ON WEDNESDAY YOU TALKED ABOUT
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
COULD YOU GIVE US A BRIEF
SUMMARY.
>> SURE.
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS OUR
ULTIMATE SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP
BOB AND DOUG SAFE IN THE EVENT
OF A MAJOR FALCON ANOMALY ON THE
PAD.
THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO
AUTOMATICALLY FIRE THE EITHER
VEHICLE DETECTS A DANGEROUS
CONDITION DEVELOPING.
IF THAT HAPPENS, THE DRAGON WILL
USE ITS SUPER DRAKEO ENGINES TO
PUT THE CAPSULE OFF AND AWAY IN
A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE
FALCON.
THE CAPABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL.
IT'S WHAT KEEPS THE CREW SAFE
AND WE'RE NOW ACTIVE AND ARMED
ON THE PAD WITH IT PROTECTING
THE CREW.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THE LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM ALLOWS THE DRAGON
TO SEPARATE AND GET AWAY FROM
THE VEHICLE.
I BELIEVE IT GOES INTO THE
OCEAN.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER IT LANDS
SAFELY IN THE OCEAN?
>> CORRECT.
SO FOR MOST OF OUR FAILURE
MODES, THE SUCCESSFUL END STATE
IS DRAGON DEPLOYING PARACHUTES,
SPLASHING DOWN SAFELY IN THE
OCEAN.
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE CAN HAPPEN
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON THE PAD
OR ANYWHERE IN SIGHT OF THE
ORBIT, IT COULD BE SPLASHING
DOWN RIGHT OFF THE COAST OF CAPE
CANAVERAL, IT COULD BE SPLASHING
DOWN THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY IN
THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
IF THAT HAPPENS, MAKE SURE WE
CAN GET TO BOB AND DOUG AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE SPACE FORCE'S 45th SPACE
WING TASK FORCE 45 HAS
PARARESCUE TEAMS STAGED AND
READY ALL AROUND THE WORLD READY
TO DROP IN AND RESCUE BOB AND
DOUG AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> YOU MENTIONED THAT THE LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM WILL KEEP THEM
SAFE ALL THE WAY UP TO ORBIT.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE
AFTER DRAGON IS IN ORBIT?
>> SURE.
FOR ANY REASON IF WE'RE UNABLE
TO DOCK TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, WE HAD SEVERAL
PREPLANNED RETURN TRAJECTORIES
WHICH WILL BRING THE CAPSULE
DOWN TO A SPLASH DOWN POINT
CLOSE TO SHORE WHY NASA AND
SPACEX RECOVERY FORCES WILL BE
WAITING TO RECOVER THEM.
IT WILL OTHERWISE LOOK LIKE FOR
A TOTALLY NORMAL RECOVERY
OPERATION.
THIS IS ONE OF TWO IDENTICAL
CREW RECOVERY SHIPS SHIPS.
THE LANDING SITE, WE WANT TO
MAINTAIN AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS
POSSIBLE.
THERE COULD BE CHANGING WEATHER
CONDITIONS THAT BRING DOWN ONE
SITE AND LEAVE THE OTHER UP.
WEAVE TWO IDENTICAL SHIPS, ONE
IN THE ATLANTIC AND ONE IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
WE CAN REDIRECT TO WHICHEVER
SITE IS THE SAFEST OPTION FOR
THE CREW AT THAT TIME.
>> WITH THE VEHICLE IN ANY
ALMOST ANY SCENARIO, IT SOUND
LIKE THE VEHICLE WILL LAND INTO
THE OCEAN.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A GENTLE
LANDING INTO THE OCEAN BUT IT'S
A PRETTY DYNAMIC EVENT
HAPPENING.
YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE TEAMS
READY TO GO AND GO AND RESCUE
THE VEHICLE AND THE ASTRONAUTS
ON BOARD.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH SO
MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT
COULD HAPPEN?
>> SURE.
WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE HAD ABOUT A
DECADE OF RECOVERY EXPERIENCE
WITH CARGO DRAGON ONE AND OUR
PREVIOUS TRIPS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THAT ALONG WITH OUR BOOSTER
RECOVERY MISSION, WE'VE GOT A
GREAT TEAM OF RECOVERY OPERATORS
HERE WHO HAVE A LOT OF OFFSHORE
EXPERIENCE WITH OUR SPACECRAFT.
WE TOOK THAT EXPERIENCE, WE
BUILT UP A NEW CREW RECOVERY
SHIP, TWO IDENTICAL CREW
RECOVERY SHIPS, WHICH HAVE A LOT
OF THOSE LESSONS LEARNED BAKED
INTO THE DESIGN OF THAT SHIP AND
THE OPERATION.
THE NEW SHIPS HAVE COMPLETE
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND
OPERATIONAL HELIPAD AND
REDUNDANT COMMUNICATIONS, POWER
AND PROPULSION TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE ROBUST AND READY FOR
ANYTHING WE ENCOUNTER OFFSHORE.
WE'VE ALSO DONE TONS OF TRAINING
EXERCISES WITH SPACEX TEAM, THE
NASA TEAM AND THE RESCUE FORCES
PRACTICING CAPSULE RECOVERY,
EMERGENCY SCENARIOS WHERE WE
HAVE TO GET THE CREW OUT OF THE
CAPSULE WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN
THE WATER AND THE TAKING OFF AND
LANDING FROM THE PAD MANY TIMES,
SO WE MAKE SURE THE TEAM IS
READY TO DO THAT.
THEY'RE ALL STAGED AND READY
THEY FEEL READY TO SUPPORT AND
WILL BE READY TO CALL ON US IF
ANYTHING GOES WRONG TODAY.
>> AWESOME.
SOUNDS LIKE BOB AND DOUG ARE IN
REALLY GOOD HANDS AND WILL BE
SAFE NO MATTER WHAT OCCURS ON
THE VEHICLE.
THANK YOU, NICK, FOR JOINING US
AGAIN FOR WALKING US THROUGH ALL
OF THE DETAILS.
I HOPE YOU ARE JUST AS EXCITED
AS WE ARE FOR OUR LAUNCH COMING
UP HERE VERY, VERY SHORTLY NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT OVER TO
KSC TO LORNE.
>> THANK YOU, JESSE.
AS YOU JUST HEARD, FUELING IS
ABOUT TO BEGIN AT T MINUS 35
MINUTES.
WE ARE ABOUT 50 SECONDS AWAY
FROM THAT.
SO WE'RE GETTING REALLY, REALLY
CLOSE TO THE FIRST LAUNCH OF
ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT FROM
AMERICAN SOIL SINCE 2011.
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM IS
ARMED, WHICH AS YOU KNOW HAPPENS
BEFORE FUELING AND DRAGON
PROPELLANT LOAD, THAT'S THE
PROPELLENTS THAT ARE INSIDE THE
DRAGON CAPSULE, NOT THE ROCKET.
PROP LOAD FOR DRAGON TOOK PLACE
WEEKS AGO A FEW MILES DOWN THE
ROAD IN DRAGONLAND, IN THOSE
PROPELLANT, THE FUEL THAT WE
USE, IT'S HYPERGOLIC AND NTO,
NITROGEN TETRAOXIDE, THOSE TWO
COME TOGETHER AND THEY IGNITE IN
SPACE TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE.
YOU DON'T NEED A THIRD THING TO
IGNITE BECAUSE HYPOGOLLIC
PROPELLENTS DON'T REQUIRE IT.
YOU JUST KEEP THE FUEL AND
OXIDIZE IT.
PROPELLANT LOA HAS STARTED ON
FALCON 9.
TH SYSTEM FEEDS ALL OF THE
ENGINES ON DRAGON SO DRAGON HAS
12 SERVICE SECTION ENGINES.
THREE IN EACH QUAD.
THREE, THREE, THREE, THREE.
THOSE ARE USED FOR ON-ORBIT
MANEUVERING FOR DRAGON AND
THERE'S FOUR ADDITIONAL
UNDERNEATH THE NOSE CONE FOR
LARGE MANEUVERS THAT THE VEHICLE
PERFORMS.
BUT THE ENGINES ARE SUPER DCACO
ENGINES.
WE HAVE TWO IN EACH QUAD OF THE
VEHIE SO EIGHT TOTAL AND THOSE
ARE BIGGER ENGINES WITH A HIGH
FLOW PROPELLANT SYSTEM AND THOSE
WHAT ARE LIFT DRAGON OFF A
FALCON 9 IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT
OF AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES US
TO GET OFF OF FALCON.
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER MERCURY,
APOLLO, SOYUZ, THEY HAVE THE BIG
POINTY TOWER ON TOP.
THAT'S THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM
FOR THOSE VEHICLES.
IT'S ACTUALLY JUST ANOTHER
ROCKET ON TOP OF THE SPACESHIP
THAT LIFTS THE VEHICLE OFF.
IN THE CASE OF DRAGON, OUR
ESCAPE SYSTEM IS INTEGRATED INTO
THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY.
THAT'S ONE LESS THING YOU HAVE
TO JETTISON EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT
BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE
ESCAPE CAPABILITY FROM THE PAD
BEFORE T ZERO ALL THE WAY
THROUGH TO ORBIT.
EVEN IF AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE
IF WE NEEDED TO GET OFF STAGE
TWO WHILE WE'RE IN SPACE, WE
COULD ACTUALLY ESCAPE TO ORBIT.
THAT'S ESCAPE SYSTEM FOR LITTLE
BABY DRAGON HERE.
>> THANKS FOR WATCHING US
THROUGH THAT BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT
PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT CRITICAL
SAFETY CAPABILITY AND THAT'S THE
WHOLE POINT.
WHEN WE HEAR THAT LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM IS ARMED, WHAT THAT MEANS
IS THAT IN AN INSTANT, THEY CAN
SEPARATE FROM FALCON 9, SHOOT UP
INTO THE AIR AND SPLASH DOWN
SAFELY IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
UNDER DRAGON'S PARACHUTES.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO THAT.
NOW THAT FUELING IS UNDERWAY,
IT'S BEEN GOING ON IF FOR TWO
MINUTES.
THEY HAVE THAT SAFETY CAPABILITY
READY TO GO ON STANDBY IN AN
INSTANT IF THEY NEED IT.
WE WANT TO GO OVER TO HAWTHORNE
NOW FOR AN OPERATIONAL UPDATE.
>> HAD FUEL TRACKING NORMALLY.
>> WE'RE AT T MINUS 32 MINUTES,
COUNTING DOWN THE FINAL MINUTES.
EVERYTHING STILL LOOKING GOOD
FOR FALCON 9 AND DRAGON FOR AN
AN-TIME LAUNCH.
PROPELLANT LOAD AT T MINUS 39
MINUTES AS PLANNED.
WE USE FUEL AND OXIDIZERS ON THE
PROPELLANTS THAT POWER IT.
RP1 IS ROCKET PROPELLANT GRADE
ONE KEROSENE.
THE OXIDIZER IS DENSIFIED LIQUID
OXYGEN, IT IS KEPT MUCH COLDER
THAN TYPICAL FOR LAUNCH
VEHICLES.
THIS ALLOWS FOR MACHINE
OXIDIZERS TO BE LOADED INTO THE
FIRST AND SECOND STAGES.
WITH THE FUEL AND OXIDIZER ON
HAND WE NEED AN IGNITION SOURCE
TO COMPLETE THAT FIRE TRIANGLE.
FALCON 9 USES A FUEL THAT
IGNITES IN THE PRESENCE OF
OXYGEN AND GIVES OFF A GREEN
COLORED FLAME.
IT'S HARD TO SEE ON THE FIRST
STAGE IGNITION DUE THE WATER
SPRAYING ON THE PAD BUT YOU
MIGHT JUST SEE THE GREEN FLARE
AS THE SECOND STAGE ENGINE
IGNITES FOLLOWING STAGE
SEPARATION OVER 2 1/2 MINUTES
INTO FLIGHT.
CURRENTLY FIRST STAGE FUEL TANK
IS ABOUT 10% FULL.
THE FIRST STAGE AS A REMINDER AS
YOU LOOK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF
YOUR SCREEN, THE FIRST STAGE IS
THE LONG WHITE CYLINDER AT THE
BOTTOM TOPPED OFF BY THE BLACK.
WE'RE ALSO LOADING THE LIQUID
OXYGEN INTO THE FIRST STAGE
ALSO.
THE SECOND STAGE WHICH IS THE
TOP ONE-THIRD BETEN THE DRAGON
AND THE BLACK CYLINDER, THAT'S
THE WHITE SECOND STAGE, THAT IS
BEING LOADED WITH FUEL RIGHT
NOW.
THAT'S ABOUT 8% LOADED AT THIS
MOMENT.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING IS GOING
TO BEGIN ON SECOND STAGE AT T
MINUS 16 MINUTES 30 SECONDS.
LIQUIDXYGEN LOADING WILL
CONTINUE ON BOTH STAGES ALL THE
WAY DOWN TO THE LAST FEW MINUTES
OF THE COUNT.
WE'RE ALSO LOADING HELIUM INTO
PRESSURE VESSELS ON THE STAGES,
THAT'S USE TO PRESSURIZE TANKS
IN FLIGHT AS THE PROPELLANT IS
PULLED OUT BY THE STRONG TURBO
PUMPS.
ON BOARD THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT,
ASTRONAUTS ARE MONITORING
SYSTEMS WHILE THE PROPELLANT IS
LOADED INTO FALCON 9.
WHILE WE MENTIONED WE TRAINED
THEM WITH SOUNDS WE RECORDED ON
BOARD, THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH MOST
OF THE PROPELLANT LOAD AND THEY
ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THOSE
SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS.
THEY REPORT NO PROBLEMS.
THEY ARE GO TO SUPPORT LAUNCH.
WEATHER, THE LAST OF THE RED
CONDITIONS, CLEARED UP ABOUT 15
MINUTES AGO.
EVERYTHING IS MARGINAL BUT
ACCEPTABLE ON THE WEATHER.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH ALL THE
WAY THROUGH THE COUNTDOWN.
AS A REMINDER, TODAY WE ARE NOW
INTO AN INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH
WINDOW NOW THAT WE'VE BEGUN
PROPELLANT LEAGUED.
AT THIS POINT IF WE HERE A HOLD
FOR ANY REASON, WE HAVE TO STAND
DOWN AND TARGET A BACKUP LAUNCH
OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW, MAY 31.
>> THANKS, JOHN.
FOR DEMO 2, BOB AND DOUG'S
FLIGHT TO STATION WILL TAKE
ABOUT 19 HOURS AND THEIR JOURNEY
IS FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE TRIP
OUR CARGO DRAGON MAKES TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BUT
WITH TWO NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES
AND THAT'S DOCKING AND
SPLASHDOWN.
>> AS WE AWAIT T MINUS ZERO IN
JUST UNDER 29 MINUTES FROM NOW
THE GROUND OPERATIONS TEAMS ARE
DOING A SERIES OF SYSTEM CHECKS
TO MAKE SURE DRAGON AND FALCON 9
ARE BOTH READY FOR LIFTOFF.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET LIVE
VIEWS INSIDE THE CAPSULE WITH
BOB AND DOUG AND THEY'RE NOW
ALSO LOOKING INTO FIRE ROOM FOUR
DOWN THERE AT THE CAPE.
>> ONCE WE HIT T ZERO AND A
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OCCUR WITHS
WE'LL WATCH FALCON 9 AND DRAGON
MAKE THEIR ASCENT UNTIL THE
FIRST AND SECOND STAGE SEPARATES
AND SENDS DRAGON ON ITS WAY TO
THE DRAGON STATION.
>> ON-BOARD OPERATIONS, THE
VEHICLE WILL EXECUTE A SERIES OF
BURNS THAT GRADUALLY RAISES
ORBIT TO ALIGN MORE CLOSELY WITH
THE SPACE STATION AS YOU CAN SEE
IN THIS ANIMATION.
AND JUST AFTER PUTTING DRAGON
INTO THE SAME ORBITAL PLANE AS
THE STATION, THE TEAMS WILL GET
READY FOR DRAGON'S APPROACH AND
DOCKING MANEUVERING.
>> THE NEXT DRAGON WILL MAKE ITS
APPROACH AND ACTUALLY DOCK WHO
THE SPACE STATION.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS
FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST
WHICH USES A PROCESS CALLED
BERTHING, REQUIRING THE
SPACECRAFT TO APPROACH THE
STATION AND STOP SO THE CREW
MEMBER CAN MANEUVER THE ROBOTIC
ARM TO CAPTURE THE SPACECRAFT.
DOCKING ON THIS VERSION OF
DRAGONNING CAN BE ON THE
AUTONOMOUS WITH NO CREW ON BOARD
THE STATION.
IT'S TYPICALLY A FASTER PROCESS
BUT IT REQUIRES PINPOINT
ACCURACY TO APPROACH.
>> ONCE CAPTURED, THE SPACECRAFT
GETS ATTACHED TO A COMMON
BERTHING MECHANISM.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT SLOWER OF A
PROCESS BUT THE HATCHES ARE
SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN THE
DOCKING PORTS WHICH MAKES IT
PERFECT FOR BRINGING UP BIGGER
CARGO ITEMS.
>> DRAGON WILL SPENT UP TO 120
DAYS DOCKED BEFORE PREPARING TO
RETURN HOME.
FOLLOWING THE CARGO LOADING
OPERATIONS, THE CREW WILL CLOSE
THE CABIN, PERFORM FINAL SYSTEM
CHECKS AND CONFIGURE THE VEHICLE
FOR UNDOCKING.
DRAGON WILL COMPLETE TWO
DEPARTURE BURNS, USING IT AWAY
FROM THE SPACE STATION.
>> NEXT UP ON THE TRIP.
THE ORBIT ENTRY AND LANDING
ORSPLASHDOWN WHICH IS GOING TO
COVER ALL THE OPERATIONS,
INCLUDING TRUNK SEPARATION,
CLOSING OF THE NOSE CONE.
DEORBIT BURN AND EVENTUALLY AS
THEY GET INTO THE ATMOSPHERE,
DEPLOYMENT OF THE PARACHUTES AND
ALL OF THAT ENDS WITH SPLASHDOWN
RIGHT OFF THE FLORIDA COAST.
AT THAT POINT TEAMS FROM SPACEX
WILL MOVE IN WITH THEIR RECOVERY
SHIP, GRAB THE CAPSULE OUT OF
THE WATER AND WORK TO GET BOB
AND DOUG OUT OF THE DRAGON AFTER
A SUCCESSFUL MISSION IN SPACE.
WE ARE 26 MINUTES AWAY FROM
LAUNCH, FUELING OF FALCON 9 IS
CONTINUING.
LET'S CHECK IN ONE MORE TIME
DOWN WITH THE TEAM AT KENNEDY.
>> WE'RE SO PUMPED RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CLEARED UP
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT
ACTUALLY DO THIS TODAY.
WE'RE NOW 25:46 AND COUNTING
FROM THE FIRST LAUNCH OF
ASTRONAUTS FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FROM
U.S. SOIL IN NINE YEARS.
THIS WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF
A NEW ERA WHERE MORE PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO FLY TO SPACE THAN
EVER BEFORE.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE MOON,
WOULD YOU RATHER VISIT THE SOUTH
POLE WHERE NO ONE HAS BEEN
BEFORE OR THE APOLLO 11 LANDING
SITE, AND IT WAS A PRETTY EVEN
SPLIT.
WE HAD 46% OF YOU SAY YOU WOULD
GO TO THE MOON'S SOUTH POLE AND
54% OF YOU WOULD GO TO APOLLO 11
LANDING SITE.
I KIND OF SIDE WITH THE LANDING
SITE BECAUSE I'M A HISTORY BUFF
AND I WANT TO SEE WHERE NEIL
ARMSTRONG AND BUZZ ALDRIN SET
FOOT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, LAUREN, WHICH
PLACE WOULD YOU GO?
>> I'M WITH YOU ON THAT.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FLAG
THERE AND THE FOOTSTEPS, THEY
WOULD STILL THERE BE THERE.
THERE'S NO WIND THERE UP.
>> I THINK I'M WITH BOTH OF YOU.
IT'S JUST LIKE THE MEATBALL.
THE CLASSIC.
GOING TO THE CLASSIC SPOT.
THAT'S WHERE ALL OF IT STARTED.
THAT'S WHERE ALL THAT
INSPIRATION CAME, EVEN THOUGH I
WAS AN ANTENNA ENGINEER ANDOT
SEEING IT.
BESIDES THAT, THAT'S HISTORY.
>> HOPEFULLY, MAYBE YOU WOULDN'T
HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER.
>> EXACTLY.
WE'RE GOING TO LEARN MORE FROM
GOING WHERE WE'VE NEVER BEEN
BEFORE.
WE NEED TO GO TO THE SOUTH POLE
TOO.
WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE ALL OF
YOU FOLLOWING ONLINE.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THE
POLL.
TAHIRA IS MONITORING ALL THE
ACTION WITH LESS THAN 25 MINUTES
TO GO.
I'M SURE THINGS ARE HEATING UP
ONLINE.
>> YOU'RE COMPLETELY RIGHT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT GO FOR
LAUNCH, PEOPLE ARE ON THE EDGE
OF THEIR SEAT WAITING ON THIS
HISTORIC MOMENT TO TAKE FLIGHT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, PHOTOS ARE STILL
COMING IN OF JUST EVERYONE
AROUND THE COUNTRY SHOWING THEIR
EXCITEMENT FOR THIS LAUNCH AND
IT'S REALLY BEEN A TOUCHING
THING TO SEE HOW EVERYONE HAS
KEPT THE EXCITEMENT GOING FROM
WEDNESDAY'S FIRST ATTEMPT.
WE JUST TOOK A LOOK AT NUMBERS
AND WE ARE NOW AT OVER 3 MILLION
PELE TUNING IN FOR THIS
HISTORIC LAUNCH.
I JUST WANT TO WISH BOB AND DOUG
THE BEST OF LUCK.
THIS WILL BE MY OWN FIRST TIME
WATCHING HUMANS LIFT OFF TO
SPACE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A SUPER
EMOTIONAL MOMENT.
FOR THAT, MARIE, BACK TO YOU AT
KENNEDY FOR THE LAST MINUTES
BEFORE LAUNCH.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.
WE HAVE 23 MINUTES AND SOME
CHANGE TO GO.
WHAT YOU DO YOU THINK BOB AND
DOUG ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK THEY'RE VERY CALM,
COOL AND COLLECTED AS TEST
PILOTS BUT I THINK THEY'RE
THINKING ACT WHAT ARE THE STEPS
THEY'LL TAKE IF THERE'S A
MALFUNCTION.
THE NOMINAL STUFF IS ALLATE --
AUTOMATED BUT THEY HAVE TO
INTEGRATE WITH THE TOUCHSCREENS,
THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE THINKING.
>> WEDNESDAY WE WERE FIVE
MINUTES FURTHER IN THE COUNTDOWN
WHEN WE HEARD THE CALL TO SCRUB
AND THE WEATHER WAS STILL VERY
TOUCH AND GO AT THIS POINT ON
WEDNESDAY.
BUT TODAY, AT LEAST FOR RIGHT
NOW, I DON'T WANT TO JINX IT,
I'M AFRAID TO SAY IT OUT LOUD
BUT IT LOOKS BETTER TODAY.
>> YEAH, AND IT FEELS LIKE,
WHOO, I'M FEELING IT A LOT MORE
THAN I DID ON WEDNESDAY.
SPEAKING OF BOB AND DOUG AND
THEM BEING REALLY CALM AND COOL
AND COLLECTED, HAVING HAD THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TO WATCH THEM
TRAIN AND TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS
TO WORK WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE
DAY, THE FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS WHAT
GREAT PEOPLE THEY ARE.
NOT JUST HOW BRIGHT AND SHARP
THEY ARE BUT JUST GOOD PEOPLE.
AROUND THE OFFICE WE OFTEN REFER
TO THEM AS THE DADS.
THEY'RE DADS.
THEY ARE DADS.
AND WE'VE MET THEIR FAMILIES AND
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE ON THAT VERY
PERSONAL LEVEL, IT STARTS TO
MEAN SO MUCH.
THEY ARE A PART OF OUR TEAM.
THEY'RE NOT A CUSTOMER.
THEY'RE OUR TEAM.
THEY'RE NOT A PAYLOAD.
THEY'RE OUR TEAM.
THEY'RE A FAMILY AND SO WE'RE
JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE THE DADS
UP THERE TODAY.
>> GO DADS!
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO SEND IT OVER
TO GARY FOR AN UPDATE FROM
HOUSTON.
GARY?
>> HEY, MARIE.
THE SPACE STATION TEAM HERE IS
FOCUSED.
ALL EYES ARE ON THE SYSTEM
CHECKS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS
THE BOARD AND WE'RE LISTENING IN
AS WE CLOSE IN ON LAUNCH.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THINGS ARE
LOOKING VERY GOOD, CHRIS CASSIDY
WILL BE WATCHING FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
RIGHT NOW FLYING OVER THE
PACIFIC OCEAN, IT'S HEADING TO
CROSS RIGHT OVER THE LAUNCHPAD.
WEIGHT EVEN GET SOME GOOD
VIEWS FROM THE SPACING, HOPE TO
BE CAPTURING THOSE.
WE'LL HAVE THE LAUNCH VIEW IN
THE BIG SCREEN UP FRONT AND
EVERYONE IS EXCITEDO SEE OUR
TWO CREW MEMBERS ON THE SWAY TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
BEFORE WE GET TO IT, I WANT TO
PASS ON GOOD LUCK FROM THE
ENTIRE FLIGHT OPERATIONS
COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON.
IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO BE DOING
SOMETHING WHOLLY NEW AND
HISTORY-MAKING WITH STATION
OPERATIONS AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO
SEE OUR TEAM MEMBERS BOB AND
DOUG IN LOW-EARTH ORBIT AND
HEADING TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
BACK OVER TO TEAM AT HAWTHORNE
FOR THE LATEST HAPPENING THERE.
JOHN.
>> T MINUS 20 MINUTES 30
SECONDS.
WE'RE CONTINUING THE COUNTDOWN.
EVERYTHING IS STILL LOOKING GOOD
FOR LAUNCH OF FALCON 9 AND
DRAGON.
22:45 AFTER THE HOUR.
RIGHT NOW ON THE RIGHT-HAND
SIDE, YOU CAN SEE A LARGE WHITE
CLOUD COMING OFF THE STRONG
BACK.
THAT IS NORMAL AS WE GET READY
TO LOAD THE SECOND STAGE WITH
LIQUID OXYGEN.
WE HAVE TO CHILL IN THE PLUMBING
LINES GOING UP THAT STRONG VAC.
AS WE RELIEVE PRESSURE, THE
MOIST, HUMID, FLORIDA A
CONDENSES AROUND IT AND THAT
GIVES YOU THE CLOUD.
THAT TELLS US THAT THINGS ARE
ACTUALLY ON SCHEDULE.
WE DID BEGIN PROPELLANT LOAD.
FUEL LOADING ON THE SECOND
STAGE.
WE JUST HEARD THE CALL-OUT THAT
IT IS COMPLETE.
FIRST STAGE FUEL LOAD IS
CONTINUING AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S
A LITTLE MORE THAN ABOUT 60% OF
THE WAY FULL.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.
SECOND STAGE IS GETTING READY TO
BEGIN THE LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING
AFTER THEY FINISHED THE LINES,
THEY'LL BEGIN THE LOAD AT T
MINUS 16:30.
THE RANGE RIGHT NOW IS GO.
READY TO SUPPORT.
WEATHER CONTINUES TO BE GO.
AS WE INCH OUR WAY CLOSER, WE'RE
KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR IF ANYBODY
CALLS OUT AN ISSUE BUT FOR THE
MOMENT AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE
SCREEN, IT LOOKS GOOD.
ON THE DRAGON SIDE, THE DRAGON
MISSION DIRECTOR AND THE TEAM
THERE ARE REPORTING NO ISSUES,
THEY'VE DONE THEIR
COMMUNICATIONS CHECKOUTS.
THE CREW ACCESS ARM HAS
RETRACTED AWAY FROM THE
SPACECRAFT.
THE CREW IS STRAPPED IN AND THEY
ARE READY TO GO.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE GOING
TO THE CREW AT T MINUS TEN
MINUTES.
THE CREW DISPLAYS WILL BE
CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH AND THAT
SETUP WILL GIVE ASTRONAUTS BOB
BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY INSIGHT
INTO HOW THE LAUNCH IS
PROCEEDING AND PROVIDE CONSTANT
UPDATES ON VEHICLE HEALTH.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD THE CREW
GIVE THEIR GO, CLOSE THE VISORS
AND GET READY FOR LAUNCH.
DRAGON WILL ENTER TERMINAL COUNT
AT T MINUS FIVE MINUTES.
WHEN IT TRANSITIONS THE INTERNAL
POWER, WE'LL HEAR CONTINUED
CALL-OUTS ON THE COUNTDOWN NET
AS WE GET CLOSE TO ZERO AND
LIFTOFF BUT RIGHT NOW AT T MINUS
18:15, EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO
BE GO FOR AN ON-TIME LAUNCH.
DAN, JESSE, THANK YOU ARE
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
HOW ARE THEY DOING OVER AT YOUR
STAND?
>> THINGS ARE GREAT FROM ABOUT
15 FEET AWAY FROM YOU, AND
HONESTLY, THINGS ARE LOOKING
PRETTY GREAT DOWN AT THE PAD
THERE.
WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE BLUE IN
THE SKY.
GREEN IS THE COLOR WE WANT WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ACT WEATHER AND
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE UNDER 18 MINUTES AWAY
FROM LIFTOFF.
INSTANTANEOUS LIFTOFF AT
12:22:45 HERE ON THE WEST COAST.
3:22:45 OVER ON THE EAST COAST
THERE IN FLORIDA.
JUST A REMINDER, IT'S GOING TO
BE ABOUT A NINE-MINUTE RIDE UP
TO ORBIT FOR THE FALCON 9 AND
BOB AND DOUG ON BOARD DRAGON.
IT WILL BE A TWO-STAGE FLIGHT.
SO WE'LL SEE THE FIRST STAGE FLY
UNTIL WE HEAR MIEKO, OUR MAIN
ENGINE CUT OFF ABOUT 2 1/2
MINUTES INTO FLIGHT.
AFTER THAT THE SECOND STAGE WILL
TAKE OVER AND CONTINUE TO POWER
THEM THE REST OF THE WAY.
SECOND ENGINE CUT-OFF COMES IN
JUST UNDER NINE MINUTES ABOUT
8:44.
FOLLOWING THAT SECOND STAGE
COMPLETING ITS JOB, IT WILL
CONTINUE TO COAST FOR ABOUT
THREE MINUTES, IT WILL DO A
SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND MAKE SURE
IT'S NOT IN ANY KIND OF A SPIN
BEFORE THEY DO SEPARATION.
THAT'S WHEN THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT WILL PHYSICALLY
SEPARATE FROM THE FALCON 9
VEHICLE AND BOB AND DOUG WILL BE
FLYING FREE.
IT'S ABOUT A 19-HOUR RIDE IF WE
LAUNCH TODAY ON TIME.
BOB AND DOUG WILL GET ON ORBIT.
THEY'LL HAVE A NUMBER OF BURNS,
THE FIRINGS OF THE THRUSTERS
THAT THEY'LL DO.
>> STAGE TWO STARTED.
>> THE LIQUID OXYGEN LOAD HAS
NOW STARTED ON STAGE TWO.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A
SERIES OF BURNS ON THE WAY
UPHILL TOWARDS THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, FIVE SPREAD OUT
OVER THE FIRST 16 HOURS OR SO OF
THEIR FLIGHT.
UNTIL THEY GET MUCH CLOSER AND
IT'S TIME FOR THAT APPROACH AND
DOCKING.
AND WE ARE EXPECTING THAT WITH
AN ON-TIME LAUNCH TO HAPPEN
TODAY THAT WILL BE COMING
TOMORROW I THE AFTERNOON.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW THAT WE'RE UNDER 16 MINUTES
AWAY, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST
JOINING US.
I'M GOING TO TOSS IT OVER TO
JESSE.
>> WE ARE T MINUS 15:45 FROM
LIFTOFF OF OUR SECOND
DEMONSTRATION MISSION TODAY AND
WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING
SPACEX'S PRESIDENTND CEO, GWEN
SHOTWELL JOINING US.
THANKS FOR COMING ON AND TAKING
A FEW MINUTES TO CHAT WITH US.
>> THANKS, JESSE.
>> WE KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN ON
CONSOLE.
HOW HAS THE COUNTDOWN BEEN GOING
SO FAR?
>> COUNTDOWN IS CLEAN TODAY JUST
LIKE IT WAS WEDNESDAY.
WE DID CLEAR THE WEATHER HURDLES
SOONER THAN WE DID ON WEDNESDAY
AND THE ONLY THING WE'RE
WATCHING RIGHT NOW IS DOWN-RANGE
WEATHER AND LIGHTNING AT THE
STAGING LOCATIONS BUT WE'LL
CLEAR THAT HURDLE AT T MINUS
SEVEN MINUTES.
>> GREAT.
VERY EXCITING.
NOW I'M GOING TO THROW IT BACK
TO 2012 BECAUSE YOU WERE ON
CONSOLE FOR DRAGON WHEN IT WAS
FIRST MAKING ITS WAY TO THE
SPACE STATION.
HOW DOES THAT EXPERIENCE COMPARE
TO TODAY?
>> I STOPPED GETTING NERVOUS FOR
LAUNCHES.
TODAY I'M NERVOUS AGAIN, SUPER
NERVOUS.
STOMACH IN THROAT.
>> UNDERSTANDABLE.
>> IT'S A FANTASTIC, FANTASTIC
DAY TODAY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED.
THE TEAM HAS PULLED TOGETHER.
IT'S SUCH A PROFESSIONAL
OPERATION.
WHEN I SAY TEAM, I MEAN SPACEX
AND NASA.
THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING
INCREDIBLY HARD AND HAVE DONE A
FANTASTIC JOB.
>> YES, AND WE ARE ALL SO
EXCITED AND WE KNOW YOU HAVE TO
GET BACK INSIDE OF MISSION
CONTROL BUT IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU WANTED TO SAY BEFORE LIFTOFF
TO NASA AND SPACEX?
>> I WANT TO THANK NASA, OF
COURSE, FOR THEIR GENEROSITY AND
THEIR HELP WITH GETTING TO THIS
PLACE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
SPACEXers WHO HAVE COME
TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS MOMENT IN
HISTORY, AND I WANT TO THANK
ELON FOR HIRING ME.
[ Laughter ]
>> WE THANK ELON FOR HIRING YOU
AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
WE'LL LET YOU GET BACK TO
MISSION CONTROL.
AND GOOD LUCK WITH LAUNCH TODAY.
>> THANKS, JESSE.
AND GOD SPEED, BOB AND DOUG.
>> WE'RE SO EXCITED.
WE'RE JUST A FEW MINUT AWAY
FROM COUNTDOWN SO WE ARE GOING
TO TURN IT OVER TO DAN AND JOHN
FOR THE FINAL MINUTES AND
TERMINAL COUNT, TAKE IT AWAY,
JOHN.
>> T MINUS 13:30, COUNTING TO
COUNT DOWN.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOAD FUEL ON
TO THE FIRST STAGE.
THAT SHOULD FINISH UP IN JUST
ABOUT SIX MINUTES.
FUEL IS COMPLETELY LOADED ON THE
SECOND STAGE.
THAT'S CLOSED OUT.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOAD
LIQUID OXYGEN ON BOTH THE FIRST
AND SECOND STAGE, THE LIQUID
OXYGEN LOAD BEGINNING ON THE
SECOND STAGE JUST ABOUT 3 1/2
MINUTES AGO.
WE ARE ALSO LOADING CRYOGENIC
HELIUM INTO THE STORAGE VESSELS
ON THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGE
GETTING IN THE LAST LITTLE BITS
OF HELIUM WHEN WE KEEP IT
CRYOGENIC, COLD AND LIQUIFIED.
JUST LIKE WITH LIQUID OXYGEN,
THAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT INTO
THE STORAGE VOLUME SO WE CAN GET
THE MOST PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE
VEHICLE.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A FAIRLY
QUIET STATE ON THE VEHICLE.
GROUND PUMPS CONTINUING TO PUT
THE PROPELLANT INTO FIRST AND
SECOND STAGES.
NEXT SIGNIFICANT ISSUE CALL-OUTS
WE'RE GOING TO HEAR WILL
PROBABLY BE INSIDE THE T MINCE
TEN MINUTES WHEN THEY TALK TO
THE CREW.
WE'LL LISTEN FOR THAT BUT AT THE
MOMENT, EVERYTHING CONTINUING TO
LOOK GOOD AT T MINUS 12:20.
>> WE'RE GETTING REALLY CLOSE
NOW, JOHN.
IT'S ONLY A LITTLE OVER 12
MINUTES AWAY.
JUST A REMINDER FOR EVERYBODY,
IT'S ABOUT A NINE-MINUTE RIDE
UPHILL.
WE'LL HAVE SOME DUELING BOXES
GOING ON AS THE FIRST STAGE WILL
BE COMING HOME WHILE THE SECOND
STAGE IS CARRYING BOB AND DOUG
INTO ORBIT.
OBVIOUSLY WE'LL BE KEEPING AN
EYE ON OUR NSA NAUTS THE --
ASTRONAUTS THE WHOLE WAY UP
HILL.
PERFORMANCE CALLS OVER THE
DRAGON GROUND THE ENTIRE WAY
UPHILL, YOU WILL HEAR SOME OF
THE SPACEX ENGINEERS CALLING OUT
TRAJECTORIES AND BOOSTER
PERFORMANCE SO WE'RE ALWAYS
LOOKING IF THAT WORD NOMINAL.
I KNOW THAT'S ONE OF JOHN'S
FAVORITE WORDS.
THAT'S ONE OF MINE TOO.
WE WANT TO HEAR NOMINAL AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE ON THE WAY UPHILL.
YOU MIGHT ALSO HEAR NUMBER AND
LETTER COMBINATIONS AND THOSE
CORRESPOND TO DIFFERENT ABORT
ZONES THAT BOB AND DOUG ARE IN
DURING THEIR FLIGHT UPHILL.
THERE'S 1A AND 1B WHICH
SIGNIFIES THEY'RE ON THE FIRST
STAGE.
THOSE CARRY THEM FROM THERE IN
THE CAPE ALL THE WAY UP TO ABOUT
THE VERY TOP OF NORTH CAROLINA
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE 2A THROUGH
TWO 2E OR 2 ECHO AND THAN WILL
BE ON THE SECOND STAGE, NORTH
CAROLINA UP TO THE TIP OF
NEWFOUNDLAND, THE NORTHERN
ATLANTIC AND THERE'S A ZONE OF
THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC WE'RE
GOING TO AVOID UNTIL YOU SHOULD
HEAR THE CALL-OUT BE SOMETHING
SIMILAR FORWARD TO SHANNON AND
THAT JUST REFERS TO SHANNON
IRELAND AND THEY'LL BE GOING OFF
THE COAST OF IRELAND AS THE
LATER STAGES OF THE SECOND STAGE
IF THEY HAVE TO ABORT.
JUST PREPPING YOU NOW FOR SOME
OF THE CALLS.
YOU'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO HEAR
THE WORD NOMINAL ON THE WAY
UPHILL.
IT WILL PICK UP RIGHT ABOUT TEN
MINUTES.
WE'LL WAIT FOR THE CREW JUST TO
CONFIRM THAT THEIR DISPLAYS ARE
IN ORDER.
THE CREW IS ALREADY STRAPPED IN
IN AND REPORTED THEY ARE GO FOR
LAUNCH AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO
WATCH THE FUEL GAUGES PICK UP ON
THE FALCON 9 VEHICLE UNTIL
FUELING CUTS OFF AT JUST ABOUT
TWO MINUTES PRIOR TO LAUNCH.
>> DRAGON, SPACEX, CONFIRM
DISPLAYS ARE CONFIGURED FOR
LAUNCHED.
>> SPACEX, DRAGON, DISPLAYS ARE
CONFIGURING FOR LAUNCH.
>> COPY.
BOB, DOUG, ON THE BEHALF OF THE
TEAM, IT'S BEEN A HUGE HONOR.
KNOW THAT WE'RE WITH YOU, HAVE
AN AMAZING FLIGHT AND ENJOY
THOSE VIEWS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL
PLANET.
>> THANKS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUR HONOR TO BE
PART OF THIS HUGE EFFORT TO GIVE
THE UNITED STATES BACK IN THE
LAUNCH BUSINESS.
WE'LL TALK TO YOU FROM ORBIT.
THANK YOU.
>> COPY ALL.
THANKS FOR THOSE WORDS.
>> SPACEX CORPS, THE VOICE THAT
WILL BE TALKING TO BOB AND DOUG
THROUGHOUT THEIR MISSION.
CONFIRMING THE CREW DISPLAYS ARE
CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH.
WE'RE COMING UP ON NINE MINUTES
AND COUNTING.
>> WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH T MINUS
TEN MINUTES WITH THE CREW
DISCUSSIONS.
ACTIVITY IS NOW GNG TO SWITCH
OVER TO FALCON 9.
OUR NEXT MAJOR EVENT COMES AT T
MINUS SEVEN MINUTES, WE BEGIN
WHAT WE CALL ENGINE CHILL.
PREVALVES WILL OPEN.
THOSE CURRENTLY SEPARATE PROPEL
LANTS ON THE FIRST STAGE FROM
GETTING DOWN TO THE MERLIN
ENGINES, WILL OPEN THE PREVALVES
THAT WILL ALLOW FUEL AND LIQUID
OXYGEN TO FLOW TO THE TOP OF THE
PUMPS.
WHEN WE OPEN THE VALVES, THAT
WILL ALLOW US TO BEGIN CHILLING
THE NINE MERLIN PUMPS ON THE
FIRST STAGE ENGINE.
IT WILL TAKE THEM A FEW MINUTES
TO GET THEM COLD ENOUGH WHERE
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS THE
LARGE AMOUNTS OF LIQUID OXYGEN
THROUGH THE PUMPS AND INTO THE
MAIN THRUST CHAMBERS WHEN WE GET
TO ENGINE IGNITION AT T MINUS
TWO SECONDS.
WE DON'T WANT TO TRY TO RUN
HIGHLY CHILLED LIQUID OXYGEN
THROUGH A WARMED PUMP.
YOU WOULD FLASH THAT INTO GAS.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD THING.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR
T MINUS SEVEN MINUTES, THEY'LL
START THE ENGINE CHILL.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE WILL ALSO
GET THE FUEL SHUTDOWN.
>> LISTENING TO THE SPACEX
LAUNCH DIRECTOR IN THE
BACKGROUND.
THERE AS I MENTIONED, T MINUS
SEVEN MINUTES AS WE START THE
CHILL, WE WILL ALSO GET INTO THE
FINAL TOPPING OFF OF STAGE ONE
FUEL AND THEN THE FUEL LOAD WILL
COMPLETE.
STAGE ONE AND STAGE TWO ENGINE
CHILL HAS STARTED.
>> WE'VE HEARD THE CALL-OUT,
STAGE ONE ENGINE CHILL HAS
STARTED.
THAT'S GONE UP TO THE CREW SO
THEY'VE GOT SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS.
THE PREVALVES ARE OPEN.
AND NOW WE ARE TOPPING OFF FOR
STAGE FUEL GETTING READY TO
FINISH THE FUEL LOAD.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOAD ON FIRST AND
SECOND STAGE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL
THE LAST THREE THE TWO MINUTES
OF THE COUNTDOWN.
>> WE SHOULD HEAR THAT CALL-OUT
RP1 LOAD COMPLETE COMING UP IN
SIX MINUTES, THAT DENSIFIED
KEROSENE OR THAT ROCKET FUEL
THAT FALCON 9 IS GOING TO USE TO
POWER BOB AND DOUG TO ORBIT
TODAY.
>> STAGE ONE FUEL.
>> RIGHT ON TIME.
THAT CALL-OUT INDICATES THAT THE
FUEL LOADING ON THE FIRST STAGE
IS COMPLETE, DRAINING BACK THE
LINES NOW.
FIRST STAGE AND SECOND STAGE
FUEL ARE COMPLETE.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING IS
CONTINUING ON BOTH STAGES.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE VIEW ON THE
LEFT SIDE OF THE MONITOR THE
CONDENSATION, THE COLD GAS
WRAPPED AROUND THE STAGES AS THE
TANK SKINS ARE CHILLED BY THE
DENSIFIED LIQUID OXYGEN PICKING
UP THE HUMIDITY FROM THE FLORIDA
AIR.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE AT THIS MOMENT
WE'RE A LITTLE MORE THAN 90%
FUEL ON THE OXIDIZER ON THE
FIRST STAGE, TICKING UP TOWARDS
THAT 80% MARK ON THE SECOND
STAGE.
WE'LL BE COUNTING DOWN ALL THE
WAY UNTIL ABOUT TWO OR THREE
MINUTES AS JOHN AND I JUST SAID
UNTIL EVERYTHING IS LOADED.
THEN WE WILL BE GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> DRAGON HAS TRANSITIONED TO
CONFIGURE FOR TERMINAL COUNT.
>> VEHICLE TANKS PRESSING FOR
STRONG VAC RETRACT.
>> PRESSURIZING THE FALCON 9
TANKS.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE CLAMP
ARM AROUND THE SECOND STAGE AND
BEGIN TO RETRACT THE STRONG VAC.
WE'LL MOVE BACK ABOUT 2º.
THAT WILL GET US TO LIFTOFF
POSITION AT LIFTOFF.
THE STRONG VAC WILL THEN RECLINE
ABOUT 45º.
>> STAGE TWO RP1.
>> LAUNCH DIRECTOR CALLED OUT
THE STRONG VAC RETRACT HAS
STARTED ON THE LEFT.
YOU WILL SEE IT GO BACK JUST A
COUPLE OF DEGREES.
>> STAGE ONE RP1 LEAD.
>> WE ARE JUST FOUR MINUTES AWAY
FROM LIFTOFF.
AGAIN, AT THIS MOMENT, BOB AND
DOUG ARE REALLY JUST LASER
FOCUSED ON THOSE DISPLAYS.
THEY HAVE INSIGHT DIRECTLY INTO
DRAGON AND THE FALCON 9.
THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THEIR
FUEL LOADING IS AT, HOW THINGS
ARE PROGRESSING DOWN WITH THE
COUNT.
>> FINAL SETUP STARTED.
>> 3 1/2 MINUTES FM LAUNCHING.
>> THE STRONG VAC IS NOW
RECLINING AWAY FROM THE
FALCON 9.
FALCON 9.
>> DRAGON HAS TRANSITIONED TO
TERMINAL COUNT AND IS ON
INTERNAL.
>> STAGE ONE, LOCKS LOAD.
>> OKAY.
WE'RE T MINUS 2:42.
STAGE ONE LOCK LOAD IS CLOSED
OUT.
STAGE TWO WILL CONTINUE TO LOAD
FOR ABOUT ANOTHER HALF A MINUTE
OR SO.
ONCE WE GET THE COMPLETION OF
STAGE TWO LOCKS LOADING, WE HAVE
TO VENT DOWN THE LINE.
SO YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER LARGE
WHITE CLOUD COMING OFF OF THE
STRONG VAC, THAT WILL BE NORMAL.
THAT WILL HAPPEN AROUND T1:40.
WE'RE GOING ON INTERNAL POWER
NOW.
>> JUST A FEW SECONDS AWAY FROM
THE STAGE TWO LOCKS LOAD BEING
COMPLETE.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST NINE YEARS
SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN THIS
POSITION.
A LOT OF WORK DONE BY THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE TO GET TO THIS POINT.
ALL OUR EYES FUSED ON TWO NOW.
>> STAGE TWO LOCKS LOAD IS
CLOSED OUT.
PROPELLANT COMPLETE.
>> DRAGON IS IN AUTO IDLE.
>> STAGE TWO LOCKS LOAD
COMPLETE.
ALL FUEL, ALL OXIDIZER ON
FALCON 9, 1:34 TO GO UNTIL
LAUNCH.
>> CLOSEOUTS STARTING.
>> FALCON 9 IS IN STARTUP.
DRAGON IS IN COUNTDOWN.
FTS IS ARM FOR LAUNCH.
[ Cheering ]
>> UNDER A MINUTE NOW, THE FTS,
THE FLIGHT TERMINATION SYSTEM
HAS BEEN ARMED.
>> DRAGON, SPACEX, GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> SPACEX, DRAGON, WE'RE GO FOR
LAUNCH.
LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE.
>> T MINUS 30 SECONDS.
>> STAGE ONE TANKS PRESSING FOR
FLIGHT.
>> T MINUS 15 SECONDS.
TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX,
FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE...
ZERO.
IGNITION.
LIFT OF THE FALCON 9 AND CREW
DRAGON!
GO NASA, GO SPACEX, GODSPEED BOB
AND DOUG!
[ Cheering ]
>> AMERICA HAS LAUNCHED.
SO RISE AS NEW ERA OF AMERICAN
SPACE FLIGHT AND AMBITIONS OF
THE NEW GENERATION CONTINUING
THE DREAM.
[ Cheering and Applause ]
20 SECONDS INTO FLIGHT STAGE ONE
PROPULSION IS NOMINAL.
[ Engine Roaring ]
>> 30 SECONDS INTO THIS HISTORIC
MISSION.
FLYING CREW ON BOARD DRAGON AND
FALCON 9 AND LOOK AT 'EM GO!
>> FALCON POWER NOMINAL.
>> M1D THROTTLE DOWN.
>> WE'RE THROTTLING DOWN TO GET
READY FOR THE PERIOD OF MAXIMUM
DYNAMIC PRESSURE.
WE'RE IN THE THROTTLE ROCKET.
>> REPORTS SAY ALL SYSTEMS ARE
GO.
>> VEHICLE SUPERSONIC.
>> WE'RE EXCEEDED MACH 1 ON THE
FALCON 9.
>> M1D THROTTLE UP.
>> WE'RE THROTTLING BACK UP TO
FULL POWER AS WE ARE THROUGH MAX
QUEUE.
>> COPY ONE.
>> WE HEARD THAT ONE BRAVO
CALL-OUT.
THAT'S JUST THE SECOND ABORT
ZONE THAT THEY'RE IN.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO BE ON THIS
UNTIL THE FIRST STAGE HAS DONE
ITS JOB AND THEY SWITCH OVER TO
THE SECOND.
AT THIS POINT, THEY'RE PULLING
2.3 TIMES THE EARTH'S GRAVITY.
1500 MILES PER HOUR.
>> WE'VE HEARD THE CALL-OUT FOR
M VAC ENGINE NIL.
THAT'S GETTING THE M VAC ENGINE
READY TO LIGHT.
THAT WILL COME ABOUT 2:44 INTO
FLIGHT.
RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING CONTINUING
TO LOOK GOOD.
NEXT MAJOR EVENT COMING UP IS
GOING TO BE THE TRIPLE, WE'LL
HAVE MAIN ENGINE CUT-OFF OF THE
NINE FIRST STAGE, AND SECOND
STAGE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO
CARRY ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
>> COMING UP IN ABOUT 20
SECONDS.
>> M1D THROTTLE DOWN.
>> WE HEARD WE'RE THROTTLING
DOWN THE MERLIN ENGINES ON THE
FIRST STAGE.
WE HAVE MIKO.
>> TWO ALPHA.
>> FALCON SGE SEPARATION
CONFIRMED.
[ Cheering and Applause ]
>> COPY 2 ALPHA.
>> M VAC IGNITION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE STAGE SEPARATION
CONFIRMED.
THE FIRST STAGE BEGINNINGTS
FLIGHT BACK.
THE SECOND STAGE BEING POWERED
BY THAT SINGLE MERLIN 1D VACUUM
ENGINE HAS IGNITED AND IS NOW
CARRYING BOB AND DOUG INTO
ORBIT.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE ON
TO THE POWER OF THE SECOND
STAGE.
>> STAGE TWO PROPULSION IS
NOMINAL.
>> WHICH WILL CUT OFF AT SECOND
ENGINE CUT-OFF IN ABOUT 8:44
INTO TODAY'S FLIGHT.
SO A LITTLE OVER '05 MINUTES TO
GO STILL ON THIS SECOND STAGE.
YOU HEARD THE CALL-OUT 2 ALPHA,
THEY'RE NOW IN THE LONGEST ABORT
ZONE THAT CARRIES THEM ALL THE
WAY FROM NORTH CAROLINA UP THE
EASTERN SEABOARD ALMOST TO
CANADA.
THINGS LOOKING GOOD.
GETTING GOOD CALL-OUTS.
NOMINAL PROPULSION ON THE SECOND
STAGE.
BOB AND DOUG CONTINUING TO MAKE
THEIR WAY INTO ORBIT.
>> DRAGON, SPACEX, NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> SPACEX DRAGON, NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> HEARING NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
SO DRAGON POINTED IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, CONTINUING TO MAKE
THEIR FLIGHT UPHILL.
WE HEARD ACQUISITION OF SIGNAL
OVER BERMUDA, THAT'S ONE OF THE
OTHER GROUND STATIONS THEY'RE
USING TO GET TELEMETRY AND DATA
BACK.
>> STAGE TWO PROPULSION IS STILL
NOMINAL.
>> A LITTLE OVER 4:40 INTO THE
FLIGHT.
BOB AND DOUG FLYING AT MORE THAN
5600 MILES PER HOUR.
>> NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
>> 200 MILES DOWN RANGE FROM THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
NOMINAL TRAJECTORY CONTINUING.
WHILE THEY CONTINUE UPHILL, IT
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING A VIEW
OF THE FIRST STA AS WELL.
>> ON YOUR RIGHT SCREEN, YOU CAN
SEE THAT FIRST STAGE WITH THE
GRID FINS DEPLOYED.
ITS MAKING ITS WAY BACK TO
ATTEMPT TO LAND ON OUR DRONE
SHIP, OF COURSE, I STILL LOVE
YOU TODAY.
AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE, A
COUPLE MINUTES AWAY FROM THE
ENTRY BURN AND THAT'S WHERE
THREE OF THE NINE MERLIN ENGINES
DO IGNITE TO HELP SLOW THE
VEHICLE DOWN AS IT REENTERS BACK
INTO THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
AND THEN AFTER THE ENTRY BURN
WILL BE THE LANDING BURN WHICH
IS JUST A SINGLE ENGINE BURN.
>> SPACEX NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
>> YOU HEARD THE CALL-OUT.
THEY ARE STILL ON A NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY ON DRAGON.
STILL ON SECOND STAGE AND THAT'S
THAT M VAC ENGINE ON SECOND
STAGE ON YOUR LEFT SCREEN.
AGAIN ON YOUR RIGHT SCREEN IS
THAT FIRST STAGE BOOSTER COMING
BACK TOWARDS OUR DRONE SHIP, OF
COURSE I STILL LOVE YOU.
WE'RE ABOUT A MINUTE AWAY FROM
ENTRY BURN.
>> MEANWHILE, THAT SECOND STAGE
CONTINUING TO POWER DRAGON INTO
ORBIT.
IF YOU ARE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE
TIMER, THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE
TO BURN UNTIL 8:44 INTO FLIGHT
SO A LITTLE OVER TWO MINUTES
FROM NOW, WE'LL HEAR THE
CALL-OUT SECO.
IT WILL BE A LITTLE OVER THREE
MINUTES UNTIL DRAGON PHYSICALLY
SEPARATES FROM THE SECOND STAGE
OF THE FALCON 9.
>> NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
>> DRAGON NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
>> CONTINUING TO CHECK IN WITH
BOB AND DOUG AS THEY ARE ON A
NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
JUST ABOUT TEN SECONDS AWAY FROM
THE FIRST STAGE, STARTING THAT
ENTRY BURN ON YOUR RIGHT SCREEN.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
VIEW LIVE.
>> STAGE ONE ENTRY BURN STARTUP.
AND THERE IS THAT ENTRY BURN
BEGINNING.
THIS BURN LASTS ABOUT 36 SECONDS
LONG.
>> STAGE TWO FTS IS SAVED.
>> THAT ENTRY BURN CONTINUES,
WE'RE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE AWAY
FROM SECO.
WE'LL HAVE A NUMBER OF EVENTS
ALL HAPPEN IN RAPID SUCCESSION.
IT WILL BE THE SECOND ENGINE
CUT-OFF, AND BEFORE THAT STAGE
ONE LANDING BURN SHORTLY AFTER.
>> ACTUALLY JUST WITHIN A FEW
SECONDS OF EACH OTHER.
SUCH A COOL VIEW ON YOUR LEFT
SCREEN, SEEING BOB AND DOUG ON
DRAGON AND NOW YOU CAN SEE THE
DISPLAYS THAT THEY ARE SEEING
RIGHT NOW THEMSELVES.
>> M VAC.
>> WE ARE COMING UP 25 SECONDS
OR SO AWAY FROM SECO, OR SECOND
ENGINE CUT-OFF.
>> THIS IS ALSO THE POINT WHERE
BOB AND DOUG ARE EXPERIENCING
THEIR HIGHEST G-FORCE.
WE'RE SEEING THE COUNTER TICK UP
TO -- YOU HEARD SHANNON SO THAT
JUST MEANS THEY'RE IN THEIR
FINAL ABORT ZONES.
IF THEY WERE TO ABORT TO THIS
POINT, IT WOULD BE ABORT TO
ORBIT OR LAND OFF THE COAST OF
IRELAND.
STANDING BY FOR SECOND CUT-OFF
CONFIRMATION.
>> M VAC THROTTLE STEP.
M VAC SHUTDOWN.
>> CONFIRMATION OF SECO, SECOND
ENGINE CUT-OFF.
>> NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR OUR
FIRST STAGE TO MAKE ITS WAY TO
OUR DRONE SHIP OF COURSE I STILL
LOVE YOU.
>> NOMINAL ORBITAL INSERTION.
>> CONFIRMATION NOMINAL ORBITAL
INSERTION.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON YOUR
SCREEN IS A LIVE VIEW OF OUR
DRONE SHIP.
WHERE OUR FIRST STAGE WILL BE
COMING DOWN.
LOOKS LIKE WE LOST THAT LIVE
VIEW BUT WE'LL WAIT FOR
CONFIRMATION OF THAT LANDING
SHORTLY HERE.
THERE YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN
FALCON 9 HAS LANDED.
[ Cheering and Applause ]
THIS IS THE FIRST FALCON 9 TO
CARRY HUMANS TO ORBIT, SO VERY
EXCITING FOR US.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR RIGHT
SCREEN, BOB AND DOUG ARE STILL
MAKING THEIR WAY TO THEIR
TARGETED ORBIT.
>> RECOVERY ONE.
>> SO EXCITING TODAY!
>> IT DOESN'T STOP.
>> IT DOES NOT STOP.
>> WE DID HEAR AGAIN THAT
CALL-OUT GOOD ORBITAL INSERTION
SO THAT MEANS FALCON 9 AND
DRAGON RIGHT NOW EXACTLY WHERE
THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.
>> FRC ON RECOVERY ONE.
>> IT'S RIGHT ABOUT 12 MINUTES
WHEN DRAGON WILL SEPARATE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE SAW ZERO G
INDICATOR FLOATING AROUND THERE.
I KNOW BOB AND DOUG OWE US ABOUT
WHAT EXACTLY THAT IS THEY
BROUGHT UP WITH THEM.
>> BEFORE SEPARATION, BEFORE
DRAGON INITIATES SEPARATION FROM
THE SECOND STAGE, THEY DO MAKE
SURE TO MAKE -- THEY DOAN SURE
SURE -- THEY DO ENSURE THAT THE
VEHICLE IS NOT SPINNING AND IS
IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE WE
SEPARATE.
>> THE STAGE DOES A SMALL
ATTITUDE MANEUVER USING COLD GAS
THRUSTERS BUILT INTO THE ROCKET
BODY ITSELF.
>> EXACTLY.
SO WE DO EXPECT THAT TO
SEPARATION TO OCCUR IN ABOUT A
MINUTE FROM NOW.
BUT THEY DO WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE
FULL CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS
READY TO SEPARATE.
SUCH COOL VIEWS.
I CANNOT GET OVER THIS VIEW WE
ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
BOB AND DOUG ON THE RIGHT SCREEN
INSIDE OF CREW DRAGON.
OUT IN SPACE.
>> ALREADY 200 KILOMETERS OVER
PLANET EARTH, A LITTLE OVER 124
MILES TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF
27,000 METERS PER SECOND, ABOUT
16,000 MILES PER HOUR.
WE'RE JUST STANDING BY THAT
SEPARATION EVENT SHOULD BE
COMING UP SHORTLY AND WILL BEGIN
A SERIES OF CHECKS ON THE
THRUSTERS THAT WILL BE USED TO
MANEUVER AND THEN POWER DRAGON
ON ITS FLIGHT TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
STANDING BY FOR SEPARATION.
>> EXPECT A LOSS OF SIGNAL.
>> SOUNDS LIKE WE HAD AN
EXPECTED LOS, LOSS OF SIGNAL,
WITH ONE OF THE GROUND STATIONS.
>> DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> THERE'S A GREAT VIEW RIGHT IN
FRONT OF YOU OF DRAGON
SEPARATING.
AND THERE'S THAT CALL-OUT.
[ Cheering and Applause ]
DRAGON IS NOW OFFICIALLY MAKING
ITS WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION TODAY.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, SEPARATION
CALL, WE HAVE A FEW WORDS FOR
YOU FROM OUR FALCON 19.
>> STANDING BY.
[ Buzzing ]
>> COPY ALL.
PROUD OF YOU GUYS AND THE REST
OF THE TEAM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU
HAVE DONE FOR US TODAY, PUTTING
AMERICA BACK INTO LOW-EARTH
ORBIT FROM THE FLORIDA COAST.
>> COPY.
GOOD LUCK.
GODSPEED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO BOB AND DOUG ARE IN SPACE.
>> SPACEX, WE CONFIRM NOMINAL
AND CHECKOUTS ON NOSE CONE
DEPLOY IN PROGRESS.
>> COPY ALL.
MONITORING.
>> THE CORPS HERE IN HAWTHORNE
GIVING THE CREW A HEADS-UP THAT
WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE
NOSE CONE IS DEPLOYING SO AGAIN
THAT NOSE CONE IS GOING TO OPEN
UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN 90º.
ALSO UP ABOUT 105º AND THAT'S
GOING TO EXPOSE THE ACTUAL
DOCKING RING AND THE HATCH THAT
THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING
THROUGH ONCE THEY ATTACH TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
ALSO FOUR OF THOSE DRACO
THRUSTERS, WE CALL THEM THE
FORWARD BULKHEAD THRUSTers
USED FOR THE FIRING OF THE
THRUSTERS TO RAISE THEIR ORBIT
GRADUALLY OVER THE COMING HOURS.
WE HEARD GOOD ACT VACATION OF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
THAT'S EVERYTHING CONTROLLING
THEIR ATMOSPHERE, JUST KEEPING
DRAGON AT A NICE, SAFE,
HABITABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY
WILL BE LIVING FOR THE NEXT 19
HOURS UNTIL THEY ARRIVE AT THE
SPACE STATION.
>> EXACTLY.
AND FALCON 9'S JOB MAY BE DONE
FOR TODAY BUT THE MISSION IS NOT
OVER.
CREW DRAGON'S JOB IS NOT DONE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, BOB AND DOUG ARE
STILL INSIDE CREW DRAGON, MAKING
THEIR WAY, IT WILL BE A 19-HOUR
TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION BEFORE THEY DOCK
TOMORROW MORNING.
SUCH COOL VIEWS.
I LOVE THAT WE CAN GET THESE
LIVE VIEWS HERE AND SEE AND
WATCH WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW
THAT THEY ARE IN ORBIT.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO JUST BE
LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER, TO
BE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH THEM AND
WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH ALL OF
YOU THE ENTIRE WAY FOR THEIR
JOURNEY TO THE SPACE STATION.
WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING LIVE
THROUGHOUT, BOB AND DOUG WILL
OBVIOUSLY HAVE A SLEEP PERIOD,
WHERE THEY'LL GET ABOUT EIGHT
HOURS OF SLEEP A LITTLE BIT
LATER TODAY BEFORE THEY WAKE UP
FOR ALL OF THEIR FINAL APPROACH,
ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF HOURS IS GOING TO BE
THEIR FIRST TURN AT THE CONTROLS
SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE
USING THOSE TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAYS
TO TAKE CONTROL AND MANUAL
IPILOT DRAGON.
WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT THAT
IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND
ASSUMING WE HAVE SOME GOOD
GROUND STATION COVERAGE, WE'LL
BE ABLE TO GET VIEWS FROM RIGHT
INSIDE DRAGON.
LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER AS
THEY MANIPULATE THE CONTROLS AT
THE DISPLAY.
WE HAD A SMOOTH RIDE UPHILL,
BOTH STAGES OF THE FALCON 9
DOING THEIR JOB, PLACING BOB AND
DOUG INTO ORBIT.
THIS IS A DAY, THIS IS AN
HISTORICAL DAY.
THIS IS US KICKING OFF THAT NEW
ERA OF SPACE FLIGHT WE'VE ALL
BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND LONGING
FOR SINCE THE SPACE SHUTTLE
PROGRAM CAME TO AN END IN 2011.
AND THE WEATHER COOPERATED.
>> YES, SECOND TIME'S A CHARM.
ALL RIGHT.
SO DATE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE LOST
SOME LIVE SIGNAL THERE.
BUT THE MISSION STILL CONTINUES
AND WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT OVER
TO KSC TO CONTINUE BROADCASTING
LIVE.
>> JESSE AND DAN, WE ARE JUST IN
AWE OVER HERE AND I WOKE UP THIS
MORNING AND I LOOKED AT THE
WEATHER FORECAST, I WAS LIKE
MAN, WE'RE GOING TO BEACK HERE
ON SUNDAY, BUT WE DID IT.
AND THE ROOM CLEARED OUT,
EVERYBODY WAS OUTSIDE WATCHING
AND INSIDE THE LIGHTS WERE
SHAKING, THE CAMERAS WERE
SHAKING, LAUREN CAME BACK IN
WITH TEARS IN HER EYES.
THIS IS REALLY AMAZING.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAW IT WITH
MY OWN EYES.
I'M A LITTLE BIT SPEECHLESS.
JUST SO GRATEFUL WE GOT THEM UP
THERE'S A LOT MORE TO GO BUT I'M
SO HAPPY THEY'RE SAFE RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST SO HAPPY.
>> LELAND, YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT IT'S AMAZING WHAT WE CAN
DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
>> YES, AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS,
AMERICAN ROCKET FROM AMERICAN
SOIL SHOWING YOU WHAT AMERICANS
CAN DO WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS
A TEAM AND BLAST DOUG AND BOB
OFF TO THE COSMOS.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT AND
THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERYONE
WORKING TOGETHER TO TAKE THEM UP
TO SPACE SAFELY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
THAT ROCKET FUEL IS IN MY VEINS
AND I WANT TO GET ON THE ROCKET.
>> IT'S TOO LATE NOW.
MAYBE THE NEXT ONE.
>> I KNOW, I KNOW.
>> WE WANT TO GO OVER TO DARRELL
AT OSB 2, HE'S THERE WITH THE
ADMINISTRATOR WHO HOPEFULLY HAS
MORE WORDS THAN WE DO BECAUSE
WE'RE STILL SPEECHLESS.
>> WE'RE HERE AT THE OPERATION
SUPPORT BUILDING WHERE A CHORUS
OF APPLAUSE HAS BEEN HAPPENING
FROM THE BEGINNING OF LAUNCH AND
THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS STAGES,
SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WERE
HERE TO WATCH IT, THAT INCLUDES
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP,
VICE-PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE AND
NASA ADMINISTRATOR JIM
BRIDENSTINE WHO JOINS ME NOW.
YOU WERE WITH THE PRESIDENT AND
THE VICE-PRESIDENT.
AMERICA'S BACK LAUNCHING HUMAN
ASTRONAUTS AGAIN.
TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT
AND TELL ME ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
WATCHING THE LAUNCH AND WHAT
HAPPENED THERE.
>> SO THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME
COMING.
IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE WE'VE
LAUNCHED AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON
AMERICAN ROCKETS FROM AMERICAN
SOIL AND NOW IT'S DONE.
WE HAVE DONE IT.
IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG.
I WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT
TO CHARLIE BOLDEN, HE WAS MY
PREDECESSOR AS THE NASA
ADMINISTRATOR.
HE FOUGHT HARD FOR THIS PROGRAM
AT A TIME WHEN IT DIDN'T GET ANY
SUPPORT IN CONGRESS.
WE NOW HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION
THAT IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR
SPACE FLIGHT INITIATIVES, NOT
JUST ON THE EXPLORATION
DISCOVERY, GOING TO THE MOON, ON
TO MARS BUT ALSO FROM A SPACE
FORCE PERSPECTIVE.
OUR BUDGETS ARE GOING UP.
THINGS ARE STRONG.
AND TODAY WAS JUST AN AMAZING
DAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE PRESIDENT
DID RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WHEN
WE BECAME PRESIDENT, HE CREATED
THE NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL AND
PUT THE VICE-PRESIDENT AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL SPACE
COUNCIL.
YOU'VE ON THE COUNCIL YOU'VE GOT
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE,
SECRETARY OF STATE, COMMERCE,
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION,
EDUCATION.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIEFS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT
AMAZING INDIVIDUALS THAT DEAL
WITH SPACE DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
HOW MANY PARTS OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH SPACE AND
THE VICE-PRESIDENT INVITED THOSE
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL SPACE
COUNCIL HERE AS WELL.
AND THEN WE HAD MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, BI-PARTISAN MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM FOR A
LONG TIME NOW.
SO I'LL JUST TELL YOU, I'M
BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF BUT I
WILL ALSO TELL YOU, I'M NOT
GOING TO CELEBRATE UNTIL BOB AND
DOUG ARE HOME SAFELY.
TOMORROW THEY'RE GOING TO DOCK
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
TONIGHT I'M HEADING TO HOUSTON
TO BE AT THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
IT'S A BIT OF A RELIEF.
THE NOSE CONE IS NOW OPEN.
IT'S NOW DEPLOYED, WHICH MEANS
THAT NOW WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO
SOME OF BURNS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME PHASING
BURNS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME
BOOSTING BURNS AND WE'RE GOING
TO GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE HERE BUT ALSO I KNOW
IT'S HARD, BUT THE BIG THING
THAT WE NEED TO DO NOW IS WE'VE
GOT TO GET BOB AND DOUG WHO HAVE
NOW GONE THROUGH THIS EXERCISE
TWICE, THEY NEED TO GET SOME
REST BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU
THERE WILL BE NO REST FOR A GOOD
AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE THEY'RE UP
THERE IN ORBIT.
>> THEY'RE CERTAINLY ON THEIR
WAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JOINING
US FOR THIS ENTIRE CELEBRATION
AND WATCHING.
WE JUST HEARD 10 MILLION PEOPLE
WATCHING LIVE AS THIS LAUNCH
HAPPENED.
AND PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
BECOMING THE THIRD SITTING
PRESIDENT TO WATCH A LAUNCH LIVE
FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
>> TO BE CLEAR, I THINK HE'S THE
ONLY SITTING PRESIDENT TO WATCH
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS LAUNCH ON A
BRAND NEW ROCKET THAT HAS NEVER
LAUNCHED BEFORE, AND THAT'S A
BIG RISK.
HE ALSO SAID WE'RE GOING TO THE
MOON BY 2024.
HE'S PUTTING HIMSELF AT RISK
SAYING POTENTIALLY I'M GOING TO
BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
INITIATIVES I PUT FORWARD AND I
THINK WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT KIND
OF LEADERSHIP FOR SPACE IN A
VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
WE'RE SO GRATEFUL FOR IT.
>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE WATCHING THE
LAUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT?
HOW DID HE REACT?
>> I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S OBVIOUSLY
SOMETHING THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR
TO HIM.
HE SAID IT A YEAR AND A HALF
AGO, HE PUT IT IN THE STATE OF
THE UNION SPEECH.
HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN
ROCKETS FROM AMERICAN SOIL AND
OF COURSE I WAS LIKE IN MY HEAD,
I'M THINKING WE BETTER GET AFTER
THIS.
AND OF COURSE WE'VE WORKED
OVERTIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BEHIND
SCHEDULE, BUT WE GOT IT DONE AND
WE GOT IT DONE SAFELY.
WE'RE KNOCKING ON WOOD, BUT SO
FAR SO GOOD.
IT'S LOOKING GOOD.
>> YOU PERSONALLY, JIM, AS THAT
ROCKET WAS LIFTING OFF AND YOU
FELT THAT RUMBLE, WHAT DID YOU
EXPERIENCE?
>> WELL, I WAS PRAYING.
I WAS PRAYING FOR BOB AND DOUG
AND I WAS PRAYING FOR THEIR
FAMILIES AND THEIR SAFE RETURN,
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE JUST GOING
BUT MAN, I'LL TELL YOU, I'VE
HEARD THAT RUMBLE BEFORE BUT
IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT FEELING
WHEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR OWN TEAM ON
THAT ROCKET.
AND THEY ARE OUR TEAM, THEY ARE
AMERICA'S TEAM.
THIS IS LAUNCH AMERICA.
THIS IS EVERYTHING THAT AMERICA
HAS TO OFFER IN ITS PUREST FORM
AND TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NO DOUBT.
WE'VE GOT THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE OTHER
CHALLENGES AS A COUNTRY BUT I
HOPE THIS MOMENT IN TIME IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO
REFLECT ON HUMANITY AND WHAT WE
CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER
WHEN WE DRIVE AND WHEN WE
ACHIEVE.
IF THIS CAN INSPIRE A YOUNG
CHILD TO BECOME THE NEXT ELON
MUSK OR THE NEXT JEFF BEZOS OR
THE NEXT SIR RICHARD BRANSON,
THAT'S WHEN THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
>> OR THE NEXT JIM BRIDENSTINE.
>> I WOULDN'T PUT ME IN THAT
CATEGORY.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP
FOR THE SPACE AGENCY AT THIS
TIME AND CONGRATULATIONS ON AN
AMAZING DAY AND LAUNCH.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT RIDE.
>> VERY GOOD.
WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN THE
STUDIO.
>> DOUG AND TO BE ARE ON COURSE
TO ARRIVE AT THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION TOMORROW, MAY
31st AT 10:27 A.M. EASTERN
TIME AND WE'LL BE STAYING ON THE
AIR FOR CONTINUOUS LIVE COVERAGE
ALONG THE ENTIRE RIDE TO THE
STATION.
SO THOUGH OUR COVERAGE HERE IS
CONCLUDING, WE WILL TURN IT OVER
TO THE TEAMS IN HAWTHORNE AND
HOUSTON TO TAKE US THROUGH THE
NEXT PHASES OF THE DEMO 2
MISSION, ALL THE WAY THROUGH
HATCH OPENING AND A WELCOME
CEREMONY ON THE SPACE STATION
FOR BOB AND DOUG TOMORROW.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
AS YOU FOLLOW ALONG, WE INVITE
YOU TO TUNE INTO A POST-LAUNCH
NEWS CONFERENCE THAT'S HAPPENING
HERE AT 6:30 THIS EVENING,
EASTERN TIME ON NASA TV.
WE'LL HAVE NASA AND SPACEX
LEADERS HERE TO TAKE QUESTIONS
LIVE ON THIS UNPRECEDENTED
ACHIEVEMENT IN HUMAN SPACE
FLIGHT.
AND IN ADDITION TO NASA TV, YOU
CAN FOLLOW ALONG ALWAYS ON
TWITTER AT NASA AND NASA.GOV FOR
MISSION UPDATES AS IT
PROGRESSES.
HERE NOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE
MISSION SO FAR, MAY 30th,
2020, REMEMBER THIS DAY.
YOU WILL HAVE THIS MEMORY
FOREVER.
THE DAY AMERICA RETURNED
ASTRONAUTS TO ORBIT FROM U.S.
SOIL.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
>> WOW.
WE'RE MAKING HISTORY AGAIN.
>> LET'S GO!
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Countdown ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
>> IGNITION, LIFTOFF OF THE
FALCON 9 AND CREW DRAGON, GO
NASA, GO SPACEX, GODSPEED, BOB
AND DOUG!
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Cheering ]
>> AMERICA HAS LAUNCHED.
>> A NEW GENERATION CONTINUING
TO DREAM.
>> WE WANT TO THANK MARIE AND
THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THAT GREAT
LAUNCH.
IT WAS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU THE
WHOLE TIME.
BUT AS WE JUST SAID.
THE MISSION HAS ONLY NOW JUST
GUN.
RIGHT NOW BOB AND DOUG ARE
FLYING FREE INSIDE OF DRAGON
AFTER THAT SUCCESSFUL SEPARATION
FROM FALCON 9.
WE HAVE JUST UNDER 19 HOURS
UNTIL THEY ARRIVE AT THE SPACE
STATION.
WE'LL BE HERE WITH YOU THE
ENTIRE TRIP.
>> IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRAGON
SEPARATED, IT BEGAN WHAT WE CALL
ACTIVATION AND RHONDA VIEW PHASE
OF THE MISSION.
DURING THIS PHASE, DRAGON IS
CONFIGURED FOR ON BOARD
OPERATION.
IT BEGINS AFTER SEPARATION FROM
FALCONINE AND INTENDS WITH THE
COMPLETION OF THE FINAL
CO-ELIPTIC BURN.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE FIVE MAJOR
BURNS THAT WILL BRING IT CLOSE
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR FINAL
APPROACH MANEUVERS.
THE FIRST ONE IS COMING UP IN A
LITTLE BIT.
AND IT IS THE PHASE BURN.
THE TEAMS ARE GETTING READY FOR
GO, NO-GO TO GET READY FOR THAT.
THAT'S DONE AT THE FIRST APOGEE
OR HIGHEST POINT TO THE PERIGEE.
THE HIGHEST ALTITUDE.
>> BASED ON WHAT OUR ORBITAL
STATUS SHOWS US, THE BOOST WILL
RAISE IT UNTIL IT'S TEN
KILOMETERS LOWER THAN THE SPACE
STATION.
THIS MEANS THAT BOB AND DOUG
WILL BE JUST LOWER THAN THE
SPACE STATION.
THE FOURTH MANEUVER IS THE
TRANSFER BURN WHERE WE RAISE
DRAGON'S APOGEE OR HIGHEST POINT
OF ITS ORBIT TO JUST TWO AND A
HALF KILOMETERS BELOW THE
STATION.
WE ROUND EVERYTHING OUT WITH A
FINAL CO-HISTORIC BURN TO
MAINTAIN A CONSTANT ORBIT
BENEATH THE STATION JUST TWO AND
A HALF KILOMETERS BELOW.
>> AND WE GET INTO THE APPROACH
INITIATION AND FINAL STAGES OF
DRAGON'S RENDEZVOUS.
THIS IS WHERE WE START THE JOINT
OPERATION BETWEEN THE DRAGON
CONTROL TEAM.
AND THE FLIGHT CONTROLLERS IN
MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON.
THE TEAMS WHICH IS ANOTHER BURN
THAT MEANS THAT DRAG SOMEONE
GETTING CLOSE.
DURING THE APPROACH, THE FLIGHT
CONTROLLERS WORK IN TANDEM WITH
THE NASA TEAM TO ACTIVATE AND
TESTUT A NUMBER OF SYSTEMS ON
DRAGON INCLUDING ESTABLISHING BY
DIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION WITH
THE STATION USING A SYSTEM KNOWN
AS C 2 V 2 WHICH STANDS FOR
COMMON EDUCATION FOR VISITING
VEHICLES.
THEY SET UP A DATA STREAM FROM
DRAGON TO THE STATION, GIVING
ANOTHER PATH OF DATA ABOUT ITS
PERFORMANCE TO ASTRONAUTS ON
BOARD THE STATION.
IT WILL MANEUVER DRAGON FOR THAT
VERY SLOW AND METHODICAL.
>> APPROXIMATELY 4:00 A.M.
SPECIFIC TIME.
IT WILL FIRE FOR AT APPROACH
ABOUT TWO AND A HALF KILOMETERS
BEFORE STATION AND JUST ABOUT
SEVEN KILOMETERS BEHIND IT.
IT'S MEASURING ABOUT
4 KILOMETERS TO 2 KILOMETERS.
IT IS CONFIGURED TO BE WHAT IS A
4 HOUR SAFE TRAJECTORY.
THIS MEANS IF DRAGON LOST ALL
CONTROL.
IT WOULD BE 4 HOURS IT'S
TRAJECTORY WOULD MOVE.
>> OKAY, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR
CABIN TO BE BELOW 25 C AND
TRENDING DOWN.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON THE WAY
THERE BUT NOT QUITE.
AND THE SECOND ITEM IS DURING
THE BURN WE MAY HAVE
INTERMITTENT DUE TO POINTING,
THIS IS EXPECTED.
>> THEY'RE STILL WEARING THOSE
SUITS THAT THEY'VE BEEN IN SINCE
THEY SUITED UP SEVERAL HOURS
AGO.
WHEN THE TEMPERATURES COME DOWN
IN THE CABIN THEY'LL GET THE GO
TO TAKE THE SUITS OFF. AWAY FROT
PHASE BUR
400 METERS BELOW THETATION, IT
WILL BE KNOWN AS WAY POINTERO.
THATS THE FIRST CHECKOINT.
THE VEHICL WILLOLD AT
400 METERS O CONTINUE IF ALL
ONE.N T APPROCH TO WAY POINTIL
ANDT WILLEGIN THE GO, NO GO,
IT' ANOTHER ONEF THOSE ZONES.
IT AN IMAGINARY SPRE WITH A
RAISOUS OF 200 METERS.
IT'S A CHANCE TO CFIRM THE
GUIDANCE CONROL SSTEMS ARE
WORKING ON DRAGON BEFOR W MOVE
IN CLOSEOTATION.
AND IT CARRES A SILAR
REQUIREMENT TH JESSE TALKED
ABUT WHERE THE DRAGN LOST
CONTROL OF IT THRUSTERS.
 WOU NOT GO INSDE OF THAT
SPHEREORRBITS OR SI HRS
INSTEAD OFHE 2 HOURS.
>> WE'LL SWING IT UP A OU
