 
THEY WILL LEAVE THE BUILDING 
FOR FINAL GOODBYES WITH FRIENDS 
AND FAMILY GATHERED OUTSIDE OF 
THE FACILITY BEFORE THEY HEAD 
OUT TO THE LAUNCHPAD. 
AND FOLLOWING FINAL GOODBYES 
THEY GET IN A TESLA AND BEGIN 
THE 20 MINUTE DRIVE TO 39 A. 
ONCE THEY ARE THEY WILL 
PREPARED TO BOARD THE 
SPACECRAFT IN A PROCESS CALLED 
CREW INGRESS. 
THEY WILL MAKE SURE THE SUITS, 
THE SEEDS IN THE VEHICLE 
INTERACTIONS ARE ALL 
FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. 
THE SPACE X CLOSEOUT TEAM WILL 
CLOSE THE HATCH WITH BOB AND 
DOUG SAFELY INSIDE. 
THE CREW ACCESS ARM WHICH IS 
THAT LONG SYSTEM DID WALKWAY 
WILL RETRACT AWAY FOLLOWED BY 
THE ARMING OF THE LAUNCH ESCAPE 
SYSTEM. 
ONCE THE ARM IS RETRACTED AND 
THE ESCAPE SYSTEM IS ARMED THAT 
IS WHEN --. 
THEY WILL THEN BEGIN TERMINAL 
COUNT. 
THIS IS WHEN THE ON WORK 
COMPUTERS TAKE CONTROL. 
AND THAT T0, IF ALL GOES WELL, 
SPACEX CREW DRAGON WILL LIFT 
OFF  CARRYING BOB BEHNKEN AND 
DOUG HURLEY. 
ROUGHLY 12 MINUTES  AFTER LEFT 
OFF DRAGON WILL SEPARATE FROM 
AND BEGIN USING ITS OWN ONBOARD 
PROPULSION STATION AND CARRY 
BOB AND DOUG TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
THEY ARE JUST FINISHING UP 
LUNCH AND WE ARE CURRENTLY 
AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE 
SUIT UP ROOM. 
YOU WILL NOTICE OVER THE COURSE 
OF THIS BROADCAST WE DO NOT 
HAVE CROWDS GATHERED HERE AT 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. 
THAT IS ONE OF THE IMPACTS OF 
PROTOCOLS TO PROTECT EACH OTHER 
AND OUR TEAM. 
WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE TENS OF 
THOUSANDS OF GUESTS HERE AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO VIEW 
THE LAUNCH. 
EVEN THOUGH WE COULD NOT HOST A 
LOT OF IT GUESS YOU CAN STILL 
JOIN US THROUGH EVERY STEP OF 
THIS HISTORIC MISSION. 
WE HAVE A TEAM DEDICATED TO 
THOSE OF YOU FOLLOWING ALONG ON 
SOCIAL MEDIA. 
ALLEN IS IN WASHINGTON RIGHT 
NOW LEADING THAT EFFORT. 
>> HELLO EVERYONE OUT THERE. 
MY NAME IS SIERRA ALLEN. 
IF YOU ARE ONE OF 4.9 MILLION 
PEOPLE TUNING IN ON WEDNESDAY, 
WE ARE SO GLAD TO SEE YOU 
AGAIN. 
I AM HERE TO BRING YOU ALL OF 
THE EXCITEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
TODAY. 
THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR NASA AND 
SPACE X. THERE ARE A LOT OF 
PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THIS. 
AND WE WENT TO SEE IF WE CAN 
TOP THE ENERGY TODAY. 
WE WILL BE SHARING YOUR PHOTOS 
AND THOUGHTS LIVE ON AIR DURING 
THE BROADCAST SO DON'T HOLD 
BACK. 
SHOW US HOW YOU ARE GETTING 
READY FOR LIFTOFF. 
YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION 
BY USING #LAUNCHAMERICA ON  
TWITTER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM. 
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN 
SOCIAL MEDIA POLLS DURING THE 
BROADCAST SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE 
TUNED IN BEFORE THESE ARE BRAND-
NEW POLLS. 
SO HEAD ON OVER TO THE  NASA 
TWITTER ACCOUNT. 
MOST OF YOU ARE TUNING IN FROM 
HOME TODAY BUT THAT DOES NOT 
MEAN YOU CANNOT GET INVOLVED IN 
THE ACTION. 
CHECK OUT THE INSTAGRAM AND 
FACEBOOK TO FIND THE AUGMENTED 
REALITY FILTERS THAT PLAYS YOU 
WRITE OUT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER 
AND YOU CAN SEE THE FALCON NINE 
ROCKET LIFTOFF IN A PAIR OF 
SUNGLASSES. 
IF YOU HAVE NOT ALL READY BE 
SURE TO CHECK OVER OUR SOCIAL 
GROUP. 
WE HAVE AND Q AND DAY WITH SOME 
VERY SPECIAL GUESTS AND ALSO 
BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS OF 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. 
SO, IF YOU ARE JUST TUNING IN 
TO GET US STARTED, WE HAVE A 
POOL FOR YOU ON TWITTER. 
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT NASA LAGO 
LOGO YOU ARE SPORTING. 
HEAD ON OVER TO THE NASA 
TWITTER TO CAST YOUR VOTE. 
NOW LET'S GO BACK TO LAUREN AT 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. 
>> I DON'T WANT TO SWAY THE 
VOTE BUT I'M ALL ABOUT THE 
WORM. 
>> MEATBALL. 
>> THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE 
MISSION IS TO PUT CREW DRAGON 
TO THE FINAL TEST  AND CERTIFY 
IT FOR SPACE FLIGHT. 
THEY HAVE PUTS YEARS OF WORK IN 
GETTING US HERE TODAY AND NOW 
WE ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER 
FROM SEEING FALCON NINE, CREW 
DRAGON , BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG 
HURLEY  TAKEOFF. 
>> IT IS REALLY GOOD THAT WE 
ARE INSIDE TODAY BECAUSE I AM 
STILL READY TO RUN ACROSS THERE 
AND CATCH A RIDE TO SPACE. 
IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL VEHICLE. 
IT MAKES ME WANT TO JUST GRAB 
THE DOOR AND RUN OUT THERE. 
>> YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE 
TODAY. 
YOU HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY A 
LOT OF FOLLOWERS TO FLY WITH 
FUTURE MISSIONS OF CREW DRAGON. 
SO WE ARE JUST ABOUT THREE 
MILES FROM LAUNCH COMPLEX 39 A. 
THAT IS WHERE LIFTOFF WILL 
HAPPEN IN A LITTLE OVER FOUR 
HOURS AND WE WENT TO CHECK IN 
NOW WITH THE CREW AT SPACE X 
HAWTHORNE WHERE WE ARE KEEPING 
AN EYE ON OPERATIONS. 
>> GOOD MORNING MARIE AND THANK 
YOU, SO MUCH. 
FIRST OF ALL, #TEAMWORM. 
WE ARE SO GLAD TO BE HERE FOR 
THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH. 
>>  , IT LOOKS REALLY SUNNY AND 
NICE OUT THERE.  
FINGERS CROSSED. 
I NAME IS JESSE ANDERSON AND I 
AM THE LEAD MANUFACTURING 
ENGINEER AT SPACE X AND WE ARE 
SO HONORED TO BE A PARTNER WITH 
NASA IN RETURNING HUMANS TO 
SPACE. 
10 YEARS AGO WE SENT THE DRAGON 
THAT IS BEHIND US ON ITS FIRST 
ORBITAL DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT 
AND I SPEAK FOR ALL OF US HERE 
AT SPACE X WHEN I SAY THAT WE 
COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED TO 
FINALLY BE SENDING HUMANS INTO 
SPACE. 
>> TODAY, THIS IS DEMONSTRATION 
MISSION TO. 
THIS IS THE FIRST AND THAT A 
COMMERCIALLY BUILT SPACECRAFT 
WILL TAKE PEOPLE TO THE MOON. 
TO THE SPACE STATION. 
THIS IS THE FINAL TEST FOR NASA 
TO CERTIFY SPACE X FOR REGULAR 
CREW FLIGHTS TO THE SPACE 
STATION. 
RIGHT NOW SPACE X AND NASA HAVE 
TEAMS WORKING TOGETHER AROUND 
THE COUNTRY. 
ON THE SPACE X SIDE THEY ARE 
PERFORMING FINAL CHECKOUTS TO 
MAKE SURE THAT DRAGON IS 
HEALTHY AND GOOD TO GO. 
>> AT THE MOMENT OF LIFTOFF WE 
WILL TRANSFER AUTHORITY OVER 
DRAGON. 
MISSION CONTROL WILL HAVE 
INSIGHT AND COMMUNICATION FOR 
THE ENTIRETY OF THE SYSTEM AND 
SINCE DRAGON IS AN AUTONOMOUS 
VEHICLE THE TEAMS IN MISSION 
CONTROL WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY 
MONITORING THE HEALTH OF THE 
SPACECRAFT THROUGHOUT THE 
ENTIRE DURATION OF ITS JOURNEY 
FROM IT LIFT OFF ALL THE WAY 
UNTIL IT SPLASHES BACK DOWN ON 
EARTH. 
>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE 
ON HEADSETS HERE AT MISSION 
CONTROL. 
THIS IS WHERE THE SPACE X CORE, 
WHICH IS THE CORE OPERATIONS 
RESPONSE UNIT, THEY ARE HERE. 
>> SPACE X HAS COMPLETED 22 
FLIGHTS INCLUDING 21 TRIPS TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION. 
TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY WE 
NOT ONLY HAVE CONDUCTED 
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TESTING 
THAT WE HAVE ALSO ENHANCED AND 
EDITED ADDED A NUMBER OF SAFETY 
FEATURES. 
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 
FEATURES IS THE LAUNCH ESCAPE 
SYSTEM. 
THAT IS A HUGE ADVANCEMENT. 
SPACE X WAS ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE 
THE SYSTEM IN TWO IMPORTANT 
TEST. 
THE FIRST ONE IN 2015. 
AND THEN A LITTLE BIT MORE 
RECENTLY, LAST JANUARY OF THIS 
YEAR, THE IN-FLIGHT ABORT TEST. 
THE DRAGON LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM 
HAS EIGHT SUPER DRACO ENGINES 
EMBEDDED INTO THE SPACECRAFT 
BODY. 
THIS ALLOWS DRAGON TO SEPARATE 
FROM FALCON NINE AND CARRY 
ASTRONAUTS TO SAFETY IN CASE OF 
AN EMERGENCY ON A LAUNCHPAD OR 
ALL THE WAY UP TO ORBIT. 
>> IN ADDITION, SPACE X HAS 
COMPLETED OVER 80 PARACHUTE 
TESTS WHICH IS JUST 30 TESTS OF 
THE MERCURY PARACHUTES ON 
TODAY'S VEHICLE. 
THAT WILL ENSURE A SAFE LANDING 
BACK ON EARTH EVEN IN THE 
UNLIKELY EVENT THAT ONE OF 
THOSE PARACHUTES FAIL. 
AND WE CAN'T FORGET THE 
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIRST 
DEMONSTRATION MISSION LAST 
YEAR. 
NOW, LET'S GO TO THE ONE AND 
ONLY SPACE X ENGINEER. 
>> GOOD MORNING FROM SPACE X 
HEADQUARTERS IN HAWTHORNE, 
CALIFORNIA. 
I AM JOHN ENDS BERGER AND I 
WILL BE BRINGING YOU UPDATES 
THROUGHOUT THROUGHOUT THE 
COUNTDOWN. 
WE ARE T -4 HOURS AND 10 
MINUTES. 
WHEN THREE WEATHER ROLLS THEY 
STOPPED THE COUNT TIME 
COUNTDOWN JUST INSIDE 17 
MINUTES AND THE LAUNCH WAS 
SCRUBBED. 
AND THE CLUE CREW LEFT THE 
QUARTERS. 
THE CREW DRAGON HAS REMAINED 
POWERED UP  THE LUNCH CREW 
CURRENTLY REPORTS NO 
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES ON THE 
FALCON NINE. 
MINIMAL ACTIVITY HAS OCCURRED 
ON DRAGON OVER THE SAME PERIOD. 
RIGHT NOW THEY ARE TOPPING OFF 
THE NIGHT CHECKS AND OXYGEN. 
CONDITIONS AT KENNEDY SPACE 
CENTER ARE A 50% CHANCE OF GOOD 
CONDITIONS. 
WE ARE ALSO WATCHING DUST ON 
OFF THE COAST. 
SEVERAL HUNDRED KILOMETERS AWAY 
WE ARE WATCHING A SERIES OF 
WEATHER PATTERNS THAT LOOK LIKE 
THEY ARE GOING TO BE GOOD SO WE 
ARE CONTINUING TO THE COUNT 
RIGHT NOW COMING UP IN T -4 
HOURS THEY WILL CONFIRM THINGS 
ARE SAFE THERE. 
THAT SUPPORT TEAM WILL ENTER 
THE AREA AND BEGIN PREPARATIONS 
FOR ARRIVAL OF THE ASTRONAUTS 
AT THE WHITE TRIM IN T -3 
HOURS. 
FOLLOWING THAT, WE WILL HAVE 
THE COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING 
AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR 
THAT DEPENDING ON WHAT IS GOING 
ON. 
AS THE CLOCK CONTINUES COUNTING 
DOWN WE ARE GOING TO CHECK IN 
WITH GARY JORDAN WITH THE 
FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM AT THE NASA 
JOHNSON STATION IN HOUSTON. 
HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING THERE 
GARY? 
>> THANK YOU, JOHN. 
AND WELCOME EVERYONE TO MISSION 
CONTROL HOUSTON. 
THE ROOM YOU SEE BEHIND A IS 
ONE OF THREE FLIGHT CONTROL 
ROOMS AT THE JOHNSON CENTER. 
IT REMAINS TO HAVE 24 HOURS A 
DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR. 
THEY ARE MAKING FINAL 
PREPARATIONS FOR BOB AND DOCTOR 
DOCK WITH THE STATION TOMORROW 
MORNING. 
TODAY ENJOINED REMOTELY BY REX 
WALDHEIM THAT WAS ON THE LAST 
FLIGHT FROM AMERICAN SHORES ONE 
YEAR AGO. 
REX FLEW ON TWO SHUTTLE 
MISSIONS BEFORE THAT AND IT'D 
IS NOW NOW REX, WE ARE CLOSING 
IN ON THE PROCESS FOR BOB AND 
DOUG AT THE CAPE. 
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THOUGHTS 
GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD AS PART 
OF THE CREW WAS SUITING UP FOR 
THE FIRST TIME. 
>> IT WAS A REALLY EXCITING 
TIME. 
YOU NEVER KNOW FOR SURE WHETHER 
IT IS GOING TO BE FOR REAL SO 
FOR US, WE ONLY HAD A 30% 
CHANCE OF LAUNCH. 
WE KNEW IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN BUT 
WE GOT SUITED UP AND WALKED OUT 
THE CORRIDORS WHERE NEIL 
ARMSTRONG WALKED OUT. 
>> REX, AS I RECALL, THE 
WEATHER WAS NOT SO FAVORABLE IN 
THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY BUT 
STARTED LOOKING A LITTLE BIT 
BETTER TOWARDS LAUNCH TIME AND 
YOU WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE 
PAD. 
SO YOU HAD TO SCRUB FOR 
WEATHER. 
IT SEEMS TO BE A NORMAL THING 
FOR SPACEFLIGHT. 
>> YES. 
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOUR 
LAUNCHED A IS. 
YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED NO 
MATTER WHAT THEY ARE WORKING 
ON. 
THE WEATHER MAY NOT COOPERATE 
SO YOU GET READY AND DO THE 
COUNTDOWN AND ON 135 IT DID NOT 
LOOK VERY GOOD. 
WE ONLY HAD A 30% CHANCE OF GO. 
SO WE GOT OUT THERE AND GOT 
STRAPPED IN. 
WE DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE 
A GO OVER NOT. 
THE COMMANDER SAID GOOD NEWS 
AND BAD NEWS. 
THE BAD NEWS IS IT WAS RAINING 
BUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT IS 
CLEARING TO THE LEFT. 
SURE ENOUGH, THEY BROUGHT US 
BACK ON AND THEY DECIDED TO GO. 
WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING BUT 
THEN THEY BROUGHT IT ALL THE 
WAY DOWN TO 31 SECONDS WHEN THE 
CLOCK STOPPED. 
NO ALARMS OR ANYTHING SO WE 
LOOKED AROUND AND WONDERED WHAT 
WAS GOING ON. 
AND WE HEARD THAT THE LAUNCH 
WAS HALTED DUE TO A 
MALFUNCTION. 
WE WONDERED WHAT KIND OF 
MALFUNCTION AND SURE ENOUGH, WE 
KNOW WE ARE NOT GOING TO 
LAUNCH. 
31 SECONDS FROM LAUNCH. 
IT TURNED OUT THE TEAM AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER NEW WITH 
THE TEAM WAS. 
THEY SAID THE GHASSAN WAS OUT 
OF THE WAY. 
YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE 
LOT OF TIME TO COLLECT HER 
THOUGHTS BECAUSE ONCE THEY 
DETERMINED IT WAS OKAY, IT 
STARTED UP. 
YOU GET READY TO DO THE 
MISSION. 
INSPECTOR IS TO HOPING FOR THE 
BEST TODAY. 
REX WALDHEIM, THANK YOU, FOR 
JOINING US. 
LET'S GO BACK TO THE KENNEDY 
SPACE CENTER AS THE SUIT UP 
HELP FUNDS. 
>> REX, IT WAS SO GREAT TO FLY 
WITH YOU. 
I REMEMBER YOU TURNING TO ME 
AND SAYING THIS IS GOING TO BE 
GREAT AND YOU WILL DO GREAT AND 
YOU MADE ME FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT 
LAUNCHING INTO SPACE. 
I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR 
SUPPORT AND YOUR KINDNESS. 
THAT WAS A GREAT MISSION. 
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. 
>> IT WAS GREAT FUND SON 
LELAND. 
YOU ARE A PRETTY BIG GUY SO YOU 
DIDN'T LEAVE A LOT OF SPACE 
SITTING NEXT TO YOU ON LUNCH. 
I KIND OF HAD TO CRUNCH MYSELF 
TO THE SIDE. 
I REMEMBER THAT ONE TIME WE NOT 
INTO THE SIMULATOR AND GOT ALL 
STRAPPED IN AND YOU BEING A 
FORMER NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER, 
THERE WAS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF 
ROOM FOR ME SO I SQUEEZED MY 
WAY IN THERE THE BEST I COULD. 
AND I REMEMBER SAYING TO STEVE, 
THE NEXT TIME WE FLY WITH A 
PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE WHY DON'T 
WE PICK A JOCKEY SO IT WAS A 
BIT CROWDED BUT IT WAS A 
WONDERFUL FLIGHT AND IT WAS A 
PLEASURE TO FLY WITH YOU 
LELAND. 
>> WHEN YOU CAME HOME, IT WAS A 
NIGHT LANDING. 
I REMEMBER YOUR SON, HE SAID, 
HIGH DAD. 
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FAMILY. 
YOU DID SUCH A GREAT JOB ON 
THAT MISSION. 
THANK YOU, REX, FOR EVERYTHING 
THAT YOU HAVE DONE. 
WE ARE GOING TO GO LIVE TO THE 
CREW QUARTERS IN JUST A MOMENT. 
WE'VE GOT BOB BEHNKEN INTRINSIC 
TO TO SUITING UP.  
>> THANK YOU, REX. 
AND SO, WHEN I HEAR HIM SAYING 
IS "YOU ARE TELLING ME THERE IS 
A CHANCE." 
LET'S GO TO THE LOCATION WHERE 
BOB AND DOUG HAVE BEEN LIVING 
FOR THE PAST 10 DAYS. 
THE SUIT UP ROOM INSIDE OF THE 
CREW QUARTERS IS A NATIONAL 
LANDMARK. 
THIS WAS THE FIRST USES AS A 
SUIT UP ROOM FOR APOLLO 7 IN 
1968. 
AND FOR EVERY CREW MISSION 
SINCE THEN, SERVING 400 
DIFFERENT ASTRONAUTS ON A TOTAL 
OF 150 MISSIONS, THIS IS THE 
ROOM WHERE THEY SUITED UP OVER 
50 YEARS AGO. 
STS ONE BACK IN 1981 ASTRONAUTS 
SUITED UP HERE. 
FOR EVERY SHUTTLE FLIGHT OVER 
THE NEXT 30 YEARS, THINK OF 
THAT. 
EVERY FLIGHT TO THE MOON. 
EVERY FLIGHT OF SKYLAB. 
AND EVERY SINGLE SPACE SHUTTLE 
FLIGHT STARTED IN THAT ROOM. 
AND LELAND, I KNOW MANY OF US 
HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF 
QUARANTINE OVER THE LAST 
SEVERAL MONTHS BUT I IMAGINE 
TWO WEEKS IN QUARANTINE IN 
PREPARATION FOR SPACEFLIGHT IS 
UNLIKE ANY OTHER TIME IN YOUR 
LIFE. 
WHAT TOOK PLACE? 
>> WE WOULD GET TOGETHER UNTIL 
JOKES. 
IT TRIED TO MAKE THINGS 
LIGHTER. 
WE WOULD REVIEW NOTES. 
WE WOULD BRING FAMILIES IN AND 
HAVE A CREW MEAL. 
IT WAS REALLY TOUCHING. 
IT IS JUST HARD GETTING READY. 
>> EVERYTHING PRIOR TO THIS 
MOMENT WITH PREPARATION AND 
EVERYTHING AFTER THIS IS THE 
MISSION. 
PRIOR TO THE FIRST ATTEMPT ON 
WEDNESDAY THAT WE TOLD YOU 
ABOUT, THE SUIT OF ROOM WAS 
USED FOR THE FINAL SHUTTLE 
FLIGHT, STS 35. 
AND I WANT TO MENTION ONE MORE 
DETAIL ABOUT THAT MISSION. 
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE CREW 
FROM THE LAST AMERICAN 
SPACEFLIGHT LAUNCHING FROM U.S. 
SOIL. 
IN THE PICTURE, IF YOU CAN 
BRING IT UP, YOU SEE DOUG 
HURLEY. 
HE WAS THE PILOT FOR STS 135. 
TODAY HE IS THE COMMANDER. 
ALSO SUITING UP FOR THAT 
MISSION WAS CHRIS FERGUSON, 
SANDY MAGNUS AND REX WALDHEIM. 
WE ARE STANDING BY TO GO INTO 
THE SUIT UP ROOM. 
WE JUST PASS THE T -4 MARK. 
THERE IS THE FIRST LOOK IN THE 
ROOM. 
THERE IS AN ASTRONAUT DOUG 
HURLEY  GETTING INTO HIS SUIT. 
HE IS BEING ASSISTED BY ONE OF 
THE TECHS THERE. 
HE WAS A PILOT ON STS 127 AND 
135. 
AND THERE IS A WHITER SHOT. 
YOU CAN SEE ASTRONAUT BOB 
BEHNKEN IN VIEW NOW. 
HE IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE 
SCREEN. 
HE  ALSO FLEW ON TWO SHUTTLE 
MISSIONS. 
HE IS A NATIVE OF ST. AND 
MISSOURI. 
THERE IS BOB AND DOUG IS FROM 
APPLE, NEW YORK. 
THIS IS SO COOL TO SEE. 
THIS MUST REALLY BRING BACK 
MEMORIES FOR YOU. 
>> IT DOES. 
IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN 
WHEN YOU WERE SUITING UP. 
>> THEY REALLY ARE IN THESE 
REALLY INCREDIBLE SLEEK SUITS 
AND THOSE SEATS ARE THE SAME 
ONES THAT ARE USED IN THE 
VEHICLE. 
>> THESE ARE PRETTY MUCH THE 
SAME ONES AS THE VEHICLE AND 
THEY ARE STOPPING THE CREW INTO 
THE SEATS TO PREPARE FOR THE 
TWO BIG CHECKOUTS THAT THEY ARE 
DOING. 
THEY ARE GOING TO DO A COMMS 
CHECK. 
SO THEY ARE GOING TO CHECK THAT 
THE MICROPHONES INSIDE THE HOME 
IT'S THAT THE CREW IS WEARING 
THAT THEY CAN BE COMMUNICATED 
WITH DIRECTIONALLY AND THEY 
WILL DO A LEAK TEST WHICH IS A 
PRESSURE TEST. 
THEY WILL PRESSURIZE THE SPACE 
SUIT. 
THE SUITS ARE MUCH MORE THAN 
JUST FUTURISTIC -LOOKING 
OUTFITS. 
THEY LOOK LIKE THEY COME FROM A 
SCI-FI MOVIE. 
BUT, AS WE DESCRIBED, THEY ARE 
DESIGNED TO CONNECT DIRECTLY 
INTO THE DRAGON SEATS TO 
PROVIDE COMMUNICATION, COOLING 
AND THE ABILITY TO PRESSURIZE 
IF NECESSARY. 
A MOMENT AGO YOU MAY HAVE SEEN 
ONE OF THE SUIT TECHNICIANS 
ATTACHING AN UMBILICAL TO THE 
LEG OF THE SUIT. 
THAT IS HOW THE COMMUNICATIONS 
AND THE AIRFLOW HAPPENS. 
SO RIGHT NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, 
WE ARE GETTING, THE TEAM IS 
GETTING THE CREW ALL BUTTONED 
UP IN THEIR FIVE POINT 
HARNESSES AND GETTING READY FOR 
THOSE CHECKOUTS. 
AND THERE IS THAT WORM AGAIN. 
FRONT AND CENTER. 
HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? 
>> THAT MAKES ME FEEL JUST 
GREAT. 
I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE 
MEATBALL BUT I AM ABLE TO BE A 
BIT MORE FLEXIBLE NOW. 
>> THEY ARE GETTING READY. 
THEY ARE FOCUSED. 
THEY HAVE HAD BOXES AND TALKED 
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. 
IT IS GETTING REAL AGAIN. 
THERE IS A 50-50 CHANCE OF THEM 
GOING. 
SEEING THE FEW TAX AROUND THEM 
WITH THESE FUTURISTIC -LOOKING 
FLIGHT SUITS VERSUS THE WHITE 
SUITS WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST, 
THE TRANSITION FROM THAT OLD 
LEGACY TO THIS NEW ERA IN SPACE 
TRAVEL. 
AND I THINK WORKING WITH NASA 
IS GREAT. 
>> AND THIS GROUP REALLY GETS 
TO KNOW EACH OTHER WELL. 
THERE IS A WAVE FROM DOUG AND A 
THUMBS-UP. 
THAT IS SO COOL TO SEE. 
THE PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM GET TO 
KNOW BOB AND DOUG REALLY WELL 
BECAUSE THEY HAVE REHEARSED 
THIS SO MANY TIMES. 
ESPECIALLY THE SUIT TECHS. 
THESE ARE CUSTOM-MADE FOR EACH 
OF THE ASTRONAUTS. 
I FEEL LIKE I COULD NOT COUNT 
THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY HAVE 
HAD SUIT FIT CHECKS AND LEAK 
TRACKS MAKING SURE THAT EVERY 
SINGLE DETAIL HAS THEM READY TO 
LAUNCH. 
>> AND INCIDENTALLY, THESE SUIT 
TECHS ARE THE SAME ONES THAT 
DESIGNED THE SUITS. 
THEY HAVE BEEN A PART OF ALL OF 
THE TRAINING EVENTS IN 
HAWTHORNE WHERE THEY DID THE 
CAPSULE SIMULATOR. 
THIS IS THE TEAM THAT HAS BEEN 
WORKING WITH THEM FOR YEARS. 
THIS IS THE TEAM THAT DRESSED 
THE DUMMY THAT FLEW IN NUMBER 
ONE. 
>> THE MANIKIN. 
>> THE POINT IS, THEY HAVE BEEN 
WITH THESE SUITS FROM CRADLE TO 
GRAVE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING SO 
CLOSELY WITH BOB AND DOUG. 
>> THEY ARE MAKING SURE 
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD BUT THEY 
ARE CHECKING A CONSTRAINT AT 
THE MOMENT. 
SO HOPEFULLY IT IS READY TO GO. 
>> THANK YOU, FOR THE UPDATE. 
THIS CONCLUDES THE COUNTDOWN 
BRIEFING. 
>> WE JUST HEARD THEY ARE 
CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD 
TOWARDS LAUNCH. 
AND AS WE HAVE A VIEW OF DOUG 
HURLEY, HE IS THE SPACECRAFT 
COMMANDER FOR DEMO TWO AND AS 
HE CONTINUES THE SUIT UP 
PROCESS WE WENT TO GAVE YOU A 
LOOK AT THE SPACEFLIGHT PIONEER.
♪♪
>> ARE YOU EXCITED? 
>> VERY EXCITED. 
I THINK WE ARE READY. 
I THINK WE ARE CERTAINLY READY. 
>> HE IS A MARINE CORPS COLONEL 
AND HE WAS SELECTED AS AN 
ASTRONAUT IN 2000. 
HE FLEW WITH SPACE SHUTTLE 
ENDEAVOR AND WITH STS 135. 
THE FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE 
MISSION. 
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT DOUG 
HURLEY.  
>> IT IS A LIFE-CHANGING 
PROCESS IN SO MANY WAYS TO FLY 
INTO SPACE. 
IT IS JUST OVERWHELMING. 
JUST THE SENSATIONS, THE 
RUMBLING, THE SHAKING, THE 
ACCELERATION. 
AND WHEN THE ENGINES SHUT OFF 
AND YOU GO FROM 3G TO 0G 
INSTANTANEOUSLY. 
I REMEMBER JUST THINKING, WHAT 
JUST HAPPENED? 
TO SEE A ROCKET LAUNCH IN 
PERSON IS, IT IS A PRETTY 
EMOTIONAL EVENT. 
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW 
IT SHUTTLE LAUNCH AND IT WAS 
JUST AMAZING. 
THEN WHEN I SAW A SHUTTLE 
LAUNCH WITH MY WIFE ON IT, THAT 
WAS QUITE THE EMOTIONAL 
EXPERIENCE. 
MY NAME IS DOUG HURLEY  AND I 
AM THE CREW COMMANDER FOR THE 
DEMO TO MISSION TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
>> WE ARE DOING THE FIRST 
FLIGHT WITH A CREW FOR SPACE AT.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE 
DRAGON HAS HAD A CREW ON BOARD 
SO THERE IS A MYRIAD OF 
OBJECTIVES WE WANT TO ACHIEVE 
FOR THIS MISSION. 
SPACE X HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE 
FOR DESIGN AND IS SENSUALLY 
MAKING THIS VEHICLE WHAT IT IS. 
WHAT THE ASTRONAUTS BRING TO 
THE TABLE IS THE CREW VEHICLE 
INTERFACE. 
WHAT WOULD WORK ON ORBIT AND 
WHAT MIGHT NOT WORK. 
AND TO JUST HAVE THE ENTIRE 
INTEGRATED TEAM THAT IS GOING 
TO SUPPORT US IN GETTING TO AND 
FROM THE SPACE STATION. 
TALKING TOGETHER AND WORKING 
THROUGH THE SIMULATORS THAT ARE 
TYPICALLY THROWN AT YOU. 
IT WAS REALLY NEAT BEING A PART 
OF IT. 
IT HAS JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE 
UNDERTAKING TO SEE WHERE WE 
HAVE GONE IN THE LAST FIVE 
YEARS THAT BOB AND I HAVE BEEN 
A PART OF THIS. 
WE WILL SHORTLY BE FLYING THERE 
WITH THE SPACEX CREW DRAGON.  
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE 
PEOPLE THAT HAVE IN SOME WAY 
TOUCHED THIS PROGRAM AND 
VEHICLE TO GET US TO THIS 
POINT. 
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. 
>> HE HAS WORKED SO HARD. 
THROUGH HIS ENTIRE LIFE, TO GET 
TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. 
AS A TEST PILOT, YOU HAVE THESE 
DREAMS OF FLYING IN THIS 
VEHICLE SO IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY 
TO SEE THAT HE GETS TO BE A 
PART OF THIS MISSION AS THE 
SPACECRAFT COMMANDER. 
I AM GLAD TO SEE HIS HARD WORK 
AND HIS DREAM COME TRUE. 
>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD IN A 
LOT OF WAYS. 
NOT ONLY FOR US BUT FOR ALL OF 
THE FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE 
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM AS WELL 
AS SPACE X, IN OUR CASE, 
WORKING TO GET TO THIS POINT. 
IT HAS BEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF 
SACRIFICE AND TIME AWAY FROM 
HOME. 
BUT THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR ARE 
COMING TO FRUITION. 
>> WE ARE NOW GETTING CLOSER TO 
WHERE WE EXPECT TO SEE THE CREW 
COMPLETE THE SUIT CHECKS AND 
WALK OUT OF THE OPERATIONS AND 
CHECKOUT BUILDING. 
HERE IS AN AND TRADITION TO THE 
JOINT OPERATIONS COMMANDER. 
FORMER AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST 
ENGINEER BOB BEHNKEN.  
♪♪
>> WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE 
LAUNCH DAY PREPARATION THERE 
ARE A LOT OF MOMENTS THAT STAND 
OUT TO YOU. 
ONE IS THE CELEBRATORY PIECE OF 
IT AND THAT IS WALKING OUT OF 
THE SUIT UP ROOM AND GETTING IN 
THE VEHICLE THAT WILL TAKE YOU 
TO THE LAUNCHPAD. 
WHEN YOU CLOSE THE HATCH, THAT 
IS REALLY WHEN WE ARE IN THE 
VEHICLE AND IT IS OURS. 
AND WE ARE REALLY IN CONTROL OF 
THE MISSION AT THAT POINT. 
>> THESE PILOTS PROVED THAT MAN 
CAN FLY INTO ORBIT AROUND THE 
EARTH AND RETURN ALIVE AND WELL 
TO TALK ABOUT IT. 
>> THERE IS ALWAYS A BALANCE OF 
MANAGING RISK AS YOU GO FORWARD 
TO EXECUTE A TEST POINT AND 
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO COLLECT THE 
DATA. 
YOU HEAR A SOUND AND DOES THAT 
SOUND EXPECTED OR IS THAT LIGHT 
EXPECTED. 
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF IT? 
DOES IT SYNC UP WITH SOMETHING 
ELSE THAT IS GOING ON OR NOT? 
SO TRYING TO DIVE DISSECT ALL 
OF THAT IN YOUR HEAD, A LOT OF 
THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THAT ON THE 
LAUNCHING OF THE VEHICLE. 
>> HE IS A FLIGHT TEST 
ENGINEER. 
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT BOB 
BEHNKEN.  
>> MY CAREER AT NASA HAS 
SPANNED A COUPLE OF DECADES AT 
THIS POINT. 
I ARRIVED WITH THE CLASS OF 
2000 AND WENT TO THE TRAINING 
PROGRAM. 
WE WERE FOCUSED ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND 
LEARNING THOSE SYSTEMS. 
HAVING LAUNCHED A COUPLE OF 
TIMES ON VEHICLES, THE SECOND 
TIME WAS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT 
THAN THE FIRST TIME. 
YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT 
GUILTY OF, SHOULD I STUDY ONE 
MORE THING OR IS THERE ONE MORE 
PIECE OF INFORMATION I SHOULD 
GET. 
AM I REALLY PREPARED OR NOT? 
THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 
WHERE I WAS IN MY FIRST FLIGHT 
AND WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW. 
IT HAS BEEN REALLY INTERESTING 
FOR MY WIFE AND I TO HAVE GONE 
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SEEING 
EACH OTHER LAUNCH INTO SPACE. 
I HAVE SEEN HER TAKE THAT RISK 
AND THERE IS JUST SOMETHING 
DIFFERENT ABOUT WATCHING A 
ROCKET LAUNCH WHEN THERE ARE 
PEOPLE ON BOARD THAT YOU LOVE. 
YOU FEEL A BIT DIFFERENTLY 
ABOUT IT. 
AND IT IS MULTIPLIED 
SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN IT IS 
SOMEBODY THAT YOU KNOW AND THAT 
SOMEBODY THAT IS A FAMILY 
MEMBER, IT IS MULTIPLIED EVEN 
MORE. 
>> FOR ME PERSONALLY, I HAVE 
BEEN WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT 
BOB PUT INTO THIS OVER THE LAST 
FIVE YEARS. 
THE DEDICATION AND PERSEVERANCE 
THAT HE HAS SHOWN IS PRETTY 
SPECIAL FOR BOTH OF US. 
SO THE WAY OUR MINDS WORK IT 
WILL NOT BE UNTIL THE MISSION 
IS COMPLETE THAT YOU HAVE THE 
CHANCE TO CELEBRATE IT. 
THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT 
FOR EIGHT TEST ENGINEER. 
IT IS GOING TO BE AMAZING. 
>> WITHOUT A PARTNER THAT HAS 
THAT SAME APPRECIATION I THINK 
IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME 
FOLKS. 
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK AND TIME 
THAT TAKES AWAY FROM FAMILY 
THAT MY SPOUSE APPRECIATES AND 
I LOVE HER FOR THAT. 
MY ROLE ON THE DEMO TO MISSION 
IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS 
VEHICLE TESTED AND EVALUATED SO 
THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO MORE 
OPERATIONAL MISSIONS AT THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
WE HAVE A LOT OF OBJECTIVES ON 
BOARD THE VEHICLES THAT WE NEED 
TO ACCOMPLISH TO REALLY MAKE 
SURE IT IS GOOD TO GO. 
AND TO MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE 
SYSTEMS ARE WORKING DURING THE 
TEST FLIGHT SO THAT FUTURE 
MISSIONS WILL HAVE THEM 
AVAILABLE EVEN IF THEY DON'T 
PLAN TO UTILIZE THEM. 
THROUGH THE YEARS, THERE IS 
ANOTHER CAPABILITY IN THE 
UNITED STATES BESIDES NASA TO 
OPERATE SOMETHING OF THIS 
MAGNITUDE. 
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME HUMANS 
LAUNCHED ON A NEW VEHICLE? 
IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL DECADES. 
NOW WE ARE IN A TIME WHERE WE 
HAVE GOT MULTIPLE VEHICLES 
UNDER DEVELOPMENT. 
IT IS A GREAT TIME FROM A SPACE 
EXPLORATION TIMEFRAME. 
TO SEE ALL OF THAT HAPPENING 
AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE 
STRUCTURING OF THE ENVIRONMENT 
AND BEING ABLE TO PULL IN A 
WHITER GROUP OF PEOPLE. 
IT IS JUST A SUPERCOOL TIME. 
ON A DEEPLY PERSONAL LEVEL I AM 
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 ABSTRACT THING 
BECAUSE HE HAS SEEN ME DO IT IN 
OLD VIDEOS BUT HE HAS NOT SEEN 
ME DO IT FOR REAL. 
SO I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR HIM 
TO THIS LUNCH. 
I WANT TO SAY YOU COULD TO THE 
ENTIRE TEAM THAT HAS WORKED 
TOGETHER TO GET TO THIS POINT 
WHERE WE HAVE VEHICLES ON THE 
LAUNCHPAD AND READY TO HEAD TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION.  
>> HERE IS A LIVE LOOK AGAIN 
INSIDE THE SUIT UP ROOM AT THE 
NEAL ARMSTRONGS OPERATION  AND 
CHECKOUT BUILDING. 
WE SEE THE NASA ADMINISTRATOR 
TALKING WITH THE CREW. 
YOU WILL NOT HEAR ANY AUDIO IN 
HERE. 
WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. 
THAT IS BY DESIGN. 
THAT IS NOT A MISTAKE. 
WE ARE REALLY LUCKY TO BE ABLE 
TO SHOW YOU THIS VIDEO LIVE 
THAT YOU DO NOT HEAR THE AUDIO 
BECAUSE, WE TRY TO GIVE THEM 
JUST A LITTLE BIT OF PRIVACY. 
SO BEING ABLE TO TALK FREELY 
AND SHARE WHAT IS REALLY ON 
THEIR MINDS WITHOUT HAVING TO 
WORRY ABOUT WHO IS LISTENING AS 
PART OF THE REASON YOU DON'T 
HEAR AUDIO IN THERE. 
THAT IS JIM MOORE HARD ALSO 
STANDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE 
SCREEN. 
>> THESE ARE GREAT MOMENTS TO 
GET A LAST CHANCE TO TALK WITH 
THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF NASA 
AS THEY ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH 
INTO THE COSMOS. 
WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW BOB AND 
DOUG COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER AND 
HOW THESE SPACEX SUITS, THEY 
COMPLEMENT THE ASTRONAUTS AS 
WELL. 
THEY ARE CUSTOM-MADE AND MORE 
FORM FITTED. 
THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE THEY ARE 
GETTING READY TO  DO THE REAL 
DEAL. 
I THINK THE INTEGRATION OF THE 
SUIT, THE VEHICLE AND THE 
SEATS, IT IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE. 
>> THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE 
SPACE SUIT, IT IS A PRESSURE 
SUIT. 
THE DRAGON CAPSULE IS ALREADY 
PRESSURIZED SO EVEN IN THE 
VACUUM OF SPACE, EVEN IN THE 
EVENT THAT THE CAPSULE 
DEPRESSURIZE AS THEY CAN FLOW 
OXYGEN INTO THE FLIGHT SUIT AND 
THAT WILL KEEP IT PRESSURIZED. 
SO THAT IS ITS MAIN PURPOSE. 
IT HAS THAT FORM AND FUNCTION 
AS WELL AS A BIT OF STYLE. 
>> AND FOR THE KIDS OUT THERE 
THAT HAVE 3-D PRINTERS, THE 
ACTUAL HELMET WERE MADE BY 3-D 
PRINTING. 
YOU COULD BE A SPACESUIT 
DESIGNER YOURSELF. 
OR MAYBE FLY IN SPACE ONE DAY. 
>> I AM CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT KIND 
OF CONVERSATION MIGHT BE GOING 
ON. 
IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS 
LIGHTHEARTED AND YOU CAN SEE 
DOUG LAUGHING THERE. 
I KNOW THAT BOB AND DOUG WERE 
GIVEN PERMISSION TO BACK OUT. 
I KNOW THEY ARE READY TO GO AND 
EAGER AS CAN BE. 
AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY HAVE 
ANOTHER VISITOR COMING IN. 
OH IT LOOKS LIKE THE 
ADMINISTRATOR IS JUST BEING 
HANDED SOMETHING. 
>> IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT. 
WE HAVE TRAINED SO LONG AND 
GONE THROUGH THE MALFUNCTION 
PROCESSES. 
>> I DID NOT SEE THEM DO THIS 
ON WEDNESDAY. 
THEY ARE PROBABLY KICKING 
THEMSELVES AND WONDERING WHERE 
THEY DIDN'T DO A SELFIE IN 
THERE. 
>> ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TWEET 
AT THEM AND FIND OUT WHY. 
>> THIS IS A GREAT LIGHTHEARTED 
MOMENT. 
IT GETS THEM IN A GOOD MINDSET 
TO GO OFF IN SPACE IN A VERY 
CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED WAY. 
I THINK HE IS TAKING PICTURES 
NOW OF THE CREW TEXT. 
IT IS ALL ABOUT BRINGING THE 
FAMILY AND THE TEAM TOGETHER 
AND MAKING EVERYBODY FEEL 
COMFORTABLE ON FLIGHT DAY AND 
GETTING TO SPACE SAFELY. 
>> OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A VERY 
SERIOUS MISSION. 
WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE TOO MUCH 
LIGHT OF IT THAT YOU MENTIONED, 
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE 
TO JOKE AROUND AND KEEP THINGS 
LIGHT ON THE WAY TO THE 
LAUNCHPAD. 
>> WHAT WE JUST TALKED WITH REX 
AND WE WERE IN THE CARAVAN 
GOING OVER TO THE LAUNCHPAD AND 
EVEN AS WE WERE SUITING UP WE 
WOULD LOOK OVER AT EACH OTHER 
AND GIVE HIGH-FIVES. 
WE HAVE ALREADY TRAINED. 
WE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS. 
I THINK THAT LIGHTHEARTEDNESS 
IS GOOD. 
>> THE VISITORS ARE MAKING 
THEIR WAY OUT OF THE ROOM AND 
AS WE MENTIONED, DOUG HURLEY 
AND BOB BEHNKEN ARE  TWO OF THE 
FINEST AT WHAT THEY DO. 
IT IS REALLY STARTING TO SINK 
IN WHAT THEY ARE DOING. 
>> SEEING THESE IS ALWAYS SO 
INSPIRING TO ME. 
THIS IS KIND OF LIKE A SCI-FI 
FILM. 
BUT UNLIKE MOVIE PROPS, OUR 
TEAM DESIGNED THE SUITS TO 
MAXIMIZE SAFETY AND 
FUNCTIONALITY WHILE MAINTAINING 
STYLE. 
HERE ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THE 
SPACESUIT TEAM TELLING US ABOUT 
HOW THE SUIT CAME TO BE. 
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS 
THAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS 
TO MAKE IT EASY TO USE. 
SOMETHING THAT THE CREW JUST 
CAN PLUG IN WHEN THEY SIT DOWN 
AND IT TAKES CARE OF ITSELF 
FROM THERE. 
THE SUIT IS ONE OF ONE PART OF 
THE BIGGER DRAGON SYSTEMS. 
WE THINK OF IT AS KIND OF A 
SYSTEM AND A LOT OF WAYS THEY 
ARE WORKING TOGETHER. 
SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT AS WE 
DESIGNED IT DRAGON WE ALSO 
DESIGNED THE SUIT. 
>> IT COMES FROM CALIFORNIA IN 
THE SAME BUILDING THAT THE 
ROCKET WAS DESIGNED IN. 
IT IS CUSTOM-MADE FOR EACH 
CREWMEMBER. 
AND THAT IS TO OPTIMIZE THE FIT 
FOR THE CREWMEMBER. 
>> WE DEFINITELY WANTED TO 
INNOVATE AND HAVE IT LOOK 
INSPIRING. 
BUT MOSTLY WE WANTED IT TO BE 
SAFE AND RELIABLE. 
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO 
PROTECT THE CREW IN THE EVENT 
THAT THE CABIN WERE UNLIKELY TO 
DEPRESSURIZE. 
IT PROVIDES THEM HEARING 
PROTECTION AND THE OUTER LAYER 
OF THE SUIT IS FLAME RESISTANT 
SO IT PROVIDES FIRE PROTECTION 
AS WELL. 
WHEN THE CREW GETS IN THE 
CAPSULE, THEY PLUG IN THE 
UMBILICAL. 
THE AVIONICS AND ELECTRONICS 
FOR COMMUNICATION, IT IS 
PROVIDING THE AIR TO COOL THE 
SUIT AND IT PROVIDES GAS IF YOU 
NEED TO PRESSURIZE THE SUIT WE 
DESIGNED THE HELMET IN-HOUSE. 
IT SERVES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT 
FUNCTIONS. 
IT IS PROTECTED PROTECTING THE 
HEAD AND IT HOUSES THE 
MICROPHONES AS WELL AS THE 
VALVES THAT ARE REGULATING 
PRESSURE IN THE SUIT. 
WE DESIGNED THE GLOVES SO THAT 
THEY WORK WITH THE 
TOUCHSCREENS. 
ALL OF THESE THINGS HAD TO COME 
TOGETHER. 
IT WILL OBVIOUSLY BE REALLY 
AMAZING TO SEE THEM IN THEIR 
FLIGHT SUITS AND I THINK THAT 
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS COOL 
ABOUT THE SUIT IS THAT IT IS 
VERY PERSONAL. 
IT IS DOUG'S SUIT AND BOB'S 
SUIT. 
SO SEEING THOSE SEATS GO INTO 
FLIGHT WILL REALLY BE AMAZING. 
>> YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT 
LAUNCH COMPLEX 39 A. THAT IS 
CREW DRAGON  SITTING ATOP THE 
SPACE LOCKET THAT WILL PRODUCE 
1.7 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST AT 
LIFTOFF. 
WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS 
CROSSED THAT THE WEATHER 
COOPERATES. 
IT IS A 50-50 CHANCE. 
THERE MAY BE SOME THUNDERSTORMS 
ROLLING IN LATER SO WE ARE 
KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE 
WEATHER. 
IN THE MEANTIME LET'S GO TO 
HAWTHORNE FOR AN OPERATIONAL 
UPDATE. 
DAN. 
>> HELLO MARIE. 
WE ARE HERE IN HAWTHORNE. 
THERE IS A CREW TRAINING 
FACILITY EQUIPPED WITH A 
COCKPIT SIMULATOR AND A FULL 
SCALE DRAGON MOCKUP WHERE THEY 
REHEARSE. 
>> THEY SHARE THE EXACT SAME 
ISS SIMULATOR THAT THEY ALLOWED 
THE PUBLIC TO TRY OUT. 
IF YOU HEAD OVER TO 
ISS.SIM.SPACEX.COM,  YOU CAN 
TRY YOUR HAND AT IT. 
>> FLYING IN SPACE IS REALLY 
DECEIVING. 
YOU MIGHT THINK YOU'RE GOING 
REALLY SLOW AND EVERYTHING IS 
OKAY BUT THEN YOU ARE CAREENING 
INTO THE SPACE STATION. 
YOU HAVE TO MOVE WAY SLOWER 
THAN YOU THINK AND IT MIGHT 
TAKE A COUPLE OF TRIES BUT IT 
IS VERY DOABLE. 
>> SO CHECK IT OUT AND SEE IF 
YOU CAN DO IT. 
SO LET'S CHECK IN WITH JOHN FOR 
A QUICK UPDATE. 
>> WE ARE COMING UP ON T -3 
HOURS 35 MINUTES. 
ALL CONTINUES TO GO WELL FOR 
THE LUNCH. 
ON THE LAUNCHPAD, ENGINE AND 
OTHER CHECKOUTS WERE COMPLETED 
LAST NIGHT. 
THEY ARE PRESSURIZING GAS 
STORAGE CAPSULES. 
SO FAR NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO 
TALK ABOUT ON THE ROCKET RIGHT 
NOW. 
ON TOP OF FALCON NINE IS THE 
DRAGON SPACECRAFT. 
THAT IS BEING PREPARED FOR THE 
CREW. 
THE SYSTEM WAS PRESSURIZE TO 
FINAL FLIGHT PRESSURE ABOUT ONE 
HOUR AGO. 
WE HAD THE SUPPORT TEAM ARRIVED 
IN THE WHITE ROOM ABOUT AN HOUR 
AGO. 
WE ARE NOW WHAT WAITING FOR THE 
CREW AND THEY SHOULD ARRIVE 
HERE BY ABOUT 2-3 HOURS. 
THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT HAS ALL 
SYSTEMS READY TO GO. 
THERE ARE NO ISSUES AT THIS 
TIME AND THE RANGE WILL BE 
MAINTAINING BOTH AIR AND SEA 
SPACE CLEARANCE AROUND THE 
LAUNCHPAD. 
IT ALSO THEY ALSO ASSISTED IN 
PUTTING UP THE ROADBLOCKS TO 
KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING TO THE 
SITE. 
THE BIG QUESTION OF COURSE, IT 
IS THE WEATHER. 
WEATHER IS 50% PROBABILITY. 
WE ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING FOR 
THAT. 
RIGHT NOW, THINGS ARE LOOKING 
GOOD AS WE COUNTDOWN TO LIFT 
OFF. 
WE WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE 
FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH FROM. 
SO LET'S GO ON OVER TO THE 
SOCIAL DESK. 
>> THINGS ARE LOOKING REALLY 
GOOD THERE ARE 500,000 OF YOU 
TUNING IN FOR THE BROADCAST 
TODAY. 
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU. 
WE ALSO HAVE THE TOP CITIES AND 
THAT IS COLUMBIA, SOUTH 
CAROLINA. 
HOUSTON, TEXAS, LOS ANGELES, 
NEW YORK AND ORLANDO. 
SO THE EAST COAST IS REALLY 
PULLING THE VIEWERSHIP THAT 
LAST TIME, ON WEDNESDAY, 
CALIFORNIA CAME IN AND STOLE 
THE SHOW. 
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT IS 
BEING SHARED ONLINE RIGHT NOW. 
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THIS FUTURE 
ASTRONAUT. 
AND I DON'T KNOW WHO HE HAD TO 
CALL BUT IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS IN 
THE SPACE X SUIT GETTING READY 
FOR ROUND TWO. 
LET'S TAKE A SECOND LOOK. 
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FRENCH 
BULLDOG. 
IT LOOKS LIKE TAKING HIS PLACE. 
IF YOU ARE WATCHING, BE SURE TO 
USE IT #LAUNCHAMERICA AND SHOW 
US HOW YOU ARE  GETTING READY 
ON SOCIAL MEDIA. 
WE DO WANT TO SEE WHICH NASA 
LOGO YOU ARE SPORTING TODAY AND 
THE RESULTS ARE IN. 
IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT 62% OF YOU 
ARE WEARING THE MEATBALL TODAY 
AND THAT LEAVES THE WORM 
FALLING A LITTLE BIT BEHIND. 
NOW THAT THE WORM IS BACK MAYBE 
WE WILL BE SPORTING IT A BIT 
MORE OFTEN. 
SO WITH THAT, LET'S HEAD BACK 
TO MARIE AT NASA KENNEDY. 
>> WE HAVE SOME REALLY SPIRITED 
REACTIONS HERE. 
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE WALK 
OUTDOORS. 
MORE PEOPLE ARE SPORTING THE 
MEATBALL AND LAUREN, IT LOOKS 
LIKE -- 
>> OH WOW. 
YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT PREDICT. 
THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF 
DIVERSITY. 
>> THERE IS A CARD GAME THAT WE 
PLAY AND YOU HAVE TO PLAY THE 
HAND UNTIL THE COMMANDER LOSES 
A HAND. 
>> SO WE ARE GIVING THEM THAT 
MOMENT IN PRIVATE. 
LEELAND, I KNOW WE HAD A SCRUB 
LATE IN THE COUNT YESTERDAY. 
WE WERE JUST T UNDER SEVEN T 
-17 MINUTES WHEN IT WAS 
SCRUBBED. 
IT WAS LIKE A COLLECTIVE GROAN. 
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH A 
DELAY AND I WONDER, WHAT DOES 
IT TAKE TO KIND OF REFOCUS 
YOURSELF ON DAY TWO. 
YOU GO THROUGH ALL OF THE 
PREPARATIONS. 
IS THERE A BIT OF SUPERSTITION 
INVOLVED? 
>> NOT REALLY. 
WE TRY TO KEEP EVERYTHING THE 
SAME WAY. 
WE HAVE PRACTICE THIS WEATHER 
WAY AND NOW IT IS THE REAL 
THING. 
SO BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICE, 
NOTHING SHOULD HAPPEN OUT OF 
CHARACTER. 
>> THAT IS GOOD INSIGHT AND I 
KNOW THAT BOB AND DOUG, WE 
HEARD THEM ON THE COMMS AND 
THEY WERE WAITING TO GET OUT OF 
CREW DRAGON. 
THEY WORK  COOL, CALM, 
COLLECTED AND SAYING THANK YOU 
TO EVERYBODY FOR DOING A GOOD 
JOB. 
NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE 
WATCHING THEY WILL DO THE SAME 
THING. 
>> HE WAS ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER 
MISTAKE. 
HE HAD TO GET BACK TO GRACE 
UNDER PRESSURE SO HE COULD HE 
DID NOT MAKE HIS THIRD MISTAKE. 
WE TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING THE 
SAME WAY. 
WE TRY TO BE GRACEFUL AND NOT 
TRY TO OVERTHINK SOME THINGS. 
>> THAT IS SO KEY. 
THAT IS TOP OF MIND FOR ALL OF 
THE SPACE X AND NASA TEAMS. 
WE ARE JUST STANDING BY AND WE 
EXPECT THE CREW IS GOING TO BE 
LEAVING THE POLLS THROUGH MUM  
-- SUIT UP ROOM.  
WE WATCHED ALL OF THE VIDEOS 
ABOUT BOB AND DOUG. 
MANY PEOPLE LEARNED ABOUT THEIR 
MILITARY BACKGROUND. 
MY HUSBAND IS A MARINE SO HE IS 
SUPER PUMPED ABOUT DOUG. 
DOUG TWEETED SEMPER FI AND I 
KNOW THAT ALL OF THE MARINES 
OUT THERE ARE SUPER PUMPED 
ABOUT SEEING THIS. 
AND THE AIRMEN SEE HIM 
REPRESENTING THE AIR FORCE. 
IT IS JUST FOR COOL MOMENT FOR 
THE MILITARY COMMUNITY. 
>> I SAW CHARLIE BOLAN LAST 
NIGHT AND HE WAS VERY EXCITED 
ABOUT THIS AS A MARINE. 
HE SAID GODSPEED SEMPER FI GO 
CREW DRAGON.  
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
WE WANT TO TURN OUR ATTENTION 
TO THE NEIL ARMSTRONG 
OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT 
BUILDING. 
THAT IS A PICTURE OF THE DOORS. 
THOSE ARE THE DOORS AT THE BACK 
OF THE CREW QUARTERS. 
THAT IS WHERE FAMILY, FRIENDS 
AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA CAN 
SHARE ONE FINAL MOMENT WITH THE 
ASTRONAUTS. 
THEY HAVE SIGNALED THE 
BEGINNING OF THE MARCH. 
THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT IS 
IMMORTALIZED ON FILM AND VIDEOS 
FOR OVER 400 ASTRONAUTS FROM 
APOLLO ALL THE WAY THROUGH 
SPACE SHUTTLE SERVING 150 
MISSIONS AND SOON, IF THE 
WEATHER COOPERATES, MISSION 151 
WITH THE FIRST TWO COMMERCIAL 
CREW ASTRONAUTS. 
THE CARRY A LEGACY OF PURPOSE 
AND ACTION. 
AND TODAY THEY WILL ANNOUNCE 
THE START OF --. 
>> I REMEMBER HAVING MY FAMILY 
AND FRIENDS OUT THERE. 
THERE WAS MIKE CHEMISTRY 
TEACHER IN THE CROWD. 
SHE GOT ME TURNED ON TO SCIENCE 
AND ENCOURAGED ME TO BECOME AN 
ASTRONAUT. 
I REMEMBER HER BEING IN THE 
CROWD AND SAYING "GO LEELAND!" 
IT WAS A GREAT PART OF GETTING 
ME READY FOR MY MISSION. 
>> WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT A 
LIVE PICTURE OUTSIDE THE 
BUILDING WHERE WE CAN SEE SOME 
OF THE FOLKS AT GATHERING. 
WE CAN SEE DOUG, BOB AND THE 
FAMILIES. 
THERE IS A SMALL CONTINGENT OF 
MEDIA THERE. 
NORMALLY THAT PLACE WOULD BE 
JAMPACKED WITH AS MANY PEOPLE 
AS WE COULD FIT IN THERE TO 
CAPTURE THAT MOMENT. 
WE HAVE HAD TO SCALE THAT BACK 
A BIT TO MAINTAIN SOCIAL 
DISTANCING BUT THEY ARE VERY 
EXCITED FOR PEOPLE TO BE 
STANDING OUTSIDE. 
>> IT IS SO COOL TO SEE THEIR 
FAMILIES THERE AND THE MOMENT 
WHEN THEY GET TO GET IN THE 
TEST LAB. 
THE LAST TIME THAT WE SAW THAT 
ATTEMPT, IT WAS VERY EMOTIONAL. 
I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL BE 
EMOTIONAL AGAIN. 
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IS 
GOING THROUGH THEIR HEADS IN 
THAT MOMENT WHEN THEY ARE 
WAVING GOODBYE FOR THE LAST 
TIME BEFORE FLYING. 
LEELAND, WERE YOU NERVOUS? 
>> AT THAT MOMENT, WE WERE 
PRETTY JOVIAL AND I THINK AT 
THAT MOMENT WE WERE THINKING 
ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND AT THE 
SAME TIME WE ARE GOING TO DO 
THIS INCREDIBLE THING TO HELP 
ADVANCE CIVILIZATION. 
ALL OF THE TEAMS WITH SPACE X 
AND NASA, THEY ARE HELPING US 
GET TO SPACE SO WE CAN ADVANCE 
CIVILIZATION. 
THOSE MOMENTS ARE REALLY 
HEARTFELT FOR US. 
AND WE REMEMBER THE TEAM OF 
PEOPLE THAT HELPED US GET TO 
THIS PART. 
>> WE ARE SEEING VIDEO OF BOB 
BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY WALKING 
DOWN THE HALLWAY.  
THEY ARE TURNING THE CORNER AND 
GETTING INSIDE THE ELEVATOR. 
YOU CANNOT SEE IT FROM HERE BUT 
THERE IS A BANNER. 
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT IN THE 
BACK THERE, IT IS HANGING ON 
THE WALL OF THE ELEVATOR WITH A 
SIGNATURE OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE 
THAT WORKED ON THIS MISSION. 
>> WE SEE THAT AND WE SEE ALL 
OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HELPED 
US THROUGH FIT CHECKS AND 
GETTING READY FOR THE MISSION 
AND IT FEELS LIKE THEY ARE 
GOING ON THE RIDE WITH THIS. 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
AS WE WAIT FOR THAT CREW TO 
COME DOWN, WE PAUSE TO HONOR 
TODAY'S EFFORTS WITH THE 
NATIONAL ANTHEM. 
KELLY CLARKSON BLEW US AWAY 
WITH A FANTASTIC RENDITION.
OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THE 
DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT, WHAT SO 
PROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THE 
TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING? 
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT 
STARS, THRO' THE PERILOUS 
FIGHT, O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE 
WATCH'D, WERE SO GALLANTLY 
STREAMING? 
AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE, THE 
BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR, GAVE 
PROOF THRO' THE NIGHT THAT OUR 
FLAG WAS STILL THERE. 
O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED 
BANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LAND 
OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE 
BRAVE?  
IT DOESN'T GET ALL PICK WE 
HEARD IT WEDNESDAY BUT I COULD 
HEAR THAT EVERY DAY OF THE 
WEEK. 
AMAZING. 
THAT'S A LIVE LOOK AGAIN AT 
COMPLEX 39A. 
WE ARE WAITING ASTRONAUTS 
BANKEN AND DOUG HURLEY TO BREAK 
OUT OF THE NEIL ARMSTRONG 
OPERATION CHECK OUT BUILDING 
ANY MINUTE NOW. 
WE WILL BE READY TO TO THAT SHOT
AS SOON AS WE GET THE WORD THAT 
THEY ARE READY TO WALK OUT THE 
DOOR. 
THOSE DOORS, EXCUSE ME. 
LOOKING LIKE -- IT HAS BEEN A 
BEAUTIFUL START TO THE DAY  
HERE ON CAPE CANAVERAL. 
AGAIN LAUNCH TIME IS 3:22 THIS 
AFTERNOON. 
IT BLOWS ME AWAY EVERY TIME I 
VISIT FLORIDA. 
>> ONE HOUR IS BEAUTIFUL CLEAR 
AND GORGEOUS AND AN HOUR LATER 
IT'S A THUNDERSTORM. 
>> WELCOME TO OUR WORLD. 
>> SIMILARLY TO THE LAST 
ATTEMPT, RIGHT? 
JUST 15, 20 MINUTES LATER AND 
IT WAS GOOD TO GO. 
>> I KNOW. 
IT HURT MY SOUL BECAUSE WE HAVE 
THIS INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW
. IS NOT LIKE A SHUTTER WE CAN 
GIVE IT A COUPLE MORE MINUTES. 
WE HAVE A SINGLE SECOND TO GET 
THIS OFF THE GROUND. 
SO EVERYTHING HAS TO BE JUST 
RIGHT. 
THE CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE GREEN 
AT THAT MOMENT. 
>> AGAIN, MOTHER NATURE SHOWING 
SHE IS IN CHARGE. 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
>> WE JUST HEARD WE ARE ABOUT 
30 SECONDS, LESS THAN 30 
SECONDS NOW FROM SEEING THE 
CREW WALK OUT OF THOSE DOORS. 
SO WE ARE STANDING BY TO SHOW 
YOU THAT MOMENT LIKE. 
THERE IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE 
DOORS. 
>> I THINK MY PATCH IS STILL 
OVER TOP OF THE DOOR. 
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF PATCHES UP 
THERE. 
I THINK THEY REMOVED THEM UP 
WITH SPACE STATION PATCHES UP 
THERE BUT THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN 
MOMENT FOR WALKOUT FROM THE 
LEGACY OF APOLLO. 
NOW ARE GETTING BACK TO U.S. 
ASTRONAUTS LAUNCHING FROM 
AMERICAN SOIL, WALKING TO THE 
STORE'S AGAIN. 
INCREDIBLE MOMENT. 
IN THE ERA OF SPACE TRAVEL. 
>> WE SAW SOME BEAUTIFUL 
MOMENTS WHEN THEY WALKED OUT ON 
WEDNESDAY. 
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE 
AGAIN. 
I WAS PERUSING ALL OF THE 
DIFFERENT NEWSPAPERS AND 
STORIES ONLINE AND JUST TAKING 
IT ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND, 
THERE THE DOORS ARE OPENING. 
>> TO MAKE HIM. 
>> THERE THEY ARE! 
WALKING OUT TO BIG CHEERS. 
>> THAT'S ASTRONAUTS BOB 
BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY. 
WAVING TO THE CROWD TO CHEER 
THEM ON.  
THERE ARE THEIR FAMILIES RIGHT 
IN FRONT OF THEM. 
>> A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT. 
FIST PUMPS. 
>> THEY ARE GETTING INTO THE 
TESLA MODEL EXIT WILL TAKE THEM 
TO THE LAUNCHPAD. 
THEY ARE ATTACHING THEIR 
UMBILICAL'S, INTEGRATED INTO 
THE TESLA. 
THESE ARE NOT JUST ANY TEST WE 
CAN BUY OFF THE WEB OR AT A 
DEALERSHIP. 
THEY HAVE BEEN OUTFITTED WITH 
COOLING UNITS AND THAT WHITE 
UMBILICAL SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU 
SAW IN THE CHECKOUT IN THE 
SUPREME, THAT UMBILICAL IS 
BEING CONNECTED TO THE SUIT TO 
PROVIDE COOLING AIR TO THE 
ASTRONAUTS WHILE THEY ARE ON 
THE WAY. 
AND THOSE FALCON WHEN DOORS ARE 
CLOSING. 
>> A RAPID DEPARTURE FROM THE 
ASTRO VAN. 
>> I WOULD SAY SO. 
AND THEIR FLIGHT SURGEON IS IN 
THE FRONT SEAT, ON THE 
PASSENGER SIDE, TAKING THE 
JOURNEY ALONG WITH THEM. 
>> AS I MENTIONED LAST TIME, WE 
THINK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY IN 
THE ROCKETS BUT THIS IS WHAT IT 
IS ALL ABOUT. 
THE FAMILIES COMING TOGETHER, 
WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO 
ENSURE THEY GET UP THERE SAFELY 
AND BACK HOME SAFELY FOR THEIR 
FAMILIES. 
>> I COULDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING 
THEY WERE SAYING BUT I DID 
CATCH BOB TELLING HIS SON TO BE 
GOOD FOR MOM AND MAKE HER LIFE 
EASY. 
AS A PARENT I APPRECIATE THAT. 
>> AS WE WATCH THEM BEGIN THEIR 
JOURNEY TO THE PATTERN AND A, 
TO OUR SPACEX AND ASKED THE 
FAMILY TO MAKE THIS A REALITY 
AND WORK THIS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN 
TO THIS POINT, WE HAVE YOU HERE 
IN OUR THOUGHTS AND WE WISH 
EVERYONE OF YOU COULD BE HERE 
TO SEE THIS UP CLOSE BUT WE 
WANT YOU TO BE PART OF THIS 
JOURNEY REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU 
GO HOME AND REGARDLESS OF WHERE 
YOU'RE WATCHING FROM TODAY. 
SO FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES WE 
ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE CONVOY 
BUT HIGHLIGHT THOSE WORDS AND 
HANDS AND THOUGHTS AND ALL THAT 
WE SEE HER TODAY. 
WE HOPE ALL OF YOU WATCHING CAN 
FEEL THE PRIDE EACH OF THESE 
SPACEX TEAM MEMBERS AND ASSET 
MEMBERS HAVE FOR THE DRIVE OUT 
TO THE PAD. 
>> WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS 
HISTORICAL DAY. 
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A PART 
OF THE VERY FIRST MISSION FOR 
HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT, COMMERCIAL 
HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT EVER. 
WE'RE BEHIND YOU, BOB AND DOUG. 
>> I'M NICOLE AND 
CONGRATULATIONS TO SPACEX FOR 
HITTING ANOTHER MILESTONE. 
>> BOB AND DOUG, WE'VE GOT A 
LOT OF OUR LAUNCH VEHICLES IN 
HERE. 
TO WISH YOU A VERY SAFE RIDE ON 
THE FALCON. 
WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOU. 
AND LAUNCH AMERICA. 
IT'S TIME TO LAUNCH, LET'S GO. 
>> HI, THIS IS CARLA, WE WANT 
TO WISH BOB AND DOUG A SAFE 
TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION. 
GO, DRAGON! 
>> IT HAS BEEN NINE YEARS IN 
THE MAKING. 
THIS IS SUCH A HISTORIC TIME IN 
OUR TEAM HAS WORKED SO HARD. 
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. 
GO BOB AND DOUG! 
>> THIS IS SAM. 
GO BOB AND DOUG! 
AND GO SPACEX! 
>> BOB AND DOUG, WISHING YOU A 
GREAT FLIGHT. 
WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GOOD 
LUCK. 
>> HI. 
WE ALL WANT TO WISH BOB AND 
DOUG SAFE TRAVELS AND GODSPEED. 
YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US 
ALL. 
LET'S GET UP THERE AND MUCH 
AMERICA! 
LET'S DO THIS! 
>> I LOVE SEEING THAT GROUP OF 
PEOPLE. 
AMINE, WE SAW ALL THOSE 
DIFFERENT GROUPS OF FOLKS FROM 
NASA AND SPACEX FROM ALL 
DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE TO COME 
TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS HAPPEN. 
THAT WAS JUST A SMALL FRACTION 
OF THEM. 
LOOK AT THAT SHOP. 
THAT IS SO COOL. 
>> A LITTLE COMES UP FROM DOUG 
AND BOB. 
>> IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF 
CREATIVITY TO GET THE SHOT TO 
HAPPEN. 
WE HAVE A CHASE VEHICLE THAT IS 
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD 
WHICH IS OF COURSE SHUT DOWN SO 
WE COULD GET A CAMERA IN THERE 
AND FOLLOW THEM OUT. 
WE ARE REALLY THANKFUL THAT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER HELP US 
MAKE THAT HAPPEN. 
SO WE COULD SEE BOB AND DOUG 
ALL THE WAY OUT TO THE 
LAUNCHPAD. 
>> MY RIGHT OUT WAS A LITTLE 
BIT DIFFERENT WHAT THEY ARE 
EXPERIENCING AND THOSE TESLAS 
BECAUSE THE ASTRO VAN HAD BENCH 
SEATS ON EACH SIDE AND WE CAN 
LOOK ACROSS AT EACH OTHER AS WE 
WERE DRIVING OUT. 
IT WAS A MOMENT TO TELL JOKES 
BUT SOMETIMES JUST LOOKING AT 
EACH OTHER AND WE HAD SUCH 
GRATITUDE FOR HAVING THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO LAUNCH INTO 
SPACE AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE 
PEOPLE THAT HAD A HAND IN 
HELPING US GET IN THE VEHICLE 
TO DRIVE OUT TO THE LAUNCHPAD 
TO GET READY FOR THIS MOMENT. 
AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY 
COMING EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE 
SITTING SIDE-BY-SIDE, I THINK 
THEY ARE PROBABLY THINKING OF 
THE GRATITUDE AND THE PEOPLE AT 
THAT HELP GET THEM HERE SO THEY 
CAN BE ON THE POINTY END OF THE 
ROCKET AND GO UP TO SPACE. 
IS JUST A MOMENTOUS MOMENT. 
>> LISTENING TO SOME TUNES, 
TOO. 
I HEARD. 
RIGHT? 
>> YES, THERE ARE AT LEAST 
THREE SONGS ON THE PLAYLIST 
THAT ARE INTERESTING. 
THE FIRST IS A CDC'S BACK IN 
BLACK. 
YOU KNOW THAT ONE. 
>> SHE DOESN'T? 
>> AND ANOTHER ONE THERE 
LISTENING TO IS THE ELEVATOR 
MUSIC FROM THE BLUES BROTHER 
FILM. 
AND OF COURSE, THEY ARE ALSO 
LISTENING TO THE STAR-SPANGLED 
BANNER, THE ARMY FRENCH WINE 
VERSION. 
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE TUNES IN THE 
ASTRO VAN. 
AND I KNOW THE TESLA HAS A 
REALLY KICKING STEREO SYSTEM. 
IS THAT STILL THE CUSTOM STEREO 
SYSTEM THAT'S IN THE TESLA? 
>> I HAVEN'T BEEN IN THAT ONE I 
DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE 
ROCKING BUT I'M SURE IT'S 
PRETTY. 
>> AGAIN JUST FOR SOME 
PERSPECTIVE, THEY LEFT THE 
OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT 
BUILDING JUST A MINUTE AGO SO 
IT'S ABOUT A NINE MILE DRIVE 
FROM THERE TO THE LAUNCHPAD. 
IT TAKES THEM AROUND 20 MINUTES
. IT DEPENDS ON HOW QUICKLY 
THEY ARE TRUCKING. 
>> THE OTHER THING THAT YOU HEAR
IS IN THE CONVOY, IS THE 
HELICOPTER. 
HUEY HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD.
YOU'RE ALSO THINKING REALLY 
IMPORTANT THINGS AND IT'S A 
MOMENT THAT ALSO SOLIDIFIES IN 
YOU THAT SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT 
TO HAPPEN. 
THE SOUND OF THAT HUEY IS IN 
YOUR HEAD AND IT'S GOOD. 
AND ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE 
HELPING TO GET THERE. 
>> I THINK WE HEARD THAT 
ACTUALLY COMING BY THIS 
BUILDING EARLIER BECAUSE WE 
WERE TALKING ABOUT -- I HOPE 
THAT'S WHAT I THINK IT IS. 
>> IT WAS PRETTY LOW.  
>> TO FEEL IT TOO. 
>> I THINK THIS DRIVE YESTERDAY 
IN MY RENTAL CAR, AND I'M NOT 
AN ASTRONAUT BUT DRIVING TO 
39A, THE SAME ROUTE, IMAGINING 
MYSELF IN THAT HEADSPACE, IT 
WAS PRETTY AWESOME. 
>> WE ARE ALL ASTRONAUTS. 
>> THAT'S TRUE. 
>> YOU JUST HAVE TO GET ON THE 
ROCKET. 
>> BUT, LELAND, THERE'S A BIG 
GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO 
THEIR. 
>> I THINK WE SHOULD LISTEN TO 
THEM. 
>> I AM ALL FOR IT. 
WE SHOULD THINK THAT A QUESTION.
>> WE SHOULD MAYBE ALL GO TO 
SPACE. 
>> I AM ON BOARD. 
NOT LITERALLY, RIGHT NOW, BUT I 
WOULD LIKE TO BE ON BOARD. 
>> LAUREN, WOULD YOU GO WITH 
US? 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
>> WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE 
WATCHING ONLINE SENDING WELL 
WISHES TO DOUG AND BOB. 
IT STARTED EARLY THIS WEEKEND 
AS WE WERE WRAPPING UP FOR 
WEDNESDAY AND IT FEELS LIKE IT 
HAS BEEN THIS BUILDUP OF 
MOMENTUM BECAUSE WE WERE 
FOLLOWING ALONG WEDNESDAY AND 
NOW WE ARE ALL FOLLOWING LONG 
SATURDAY AND WE HAVE PEOPLE 
WATCHING FROM HOME BUT 
HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T HAVE TO 
WORK TODAY. 
AND CAN REALLY TUNE INTO WHAT'S 
GOING ON HERE. 
>> AND WE, YOU KNOW, ASTRONAUTS 
TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THE SMART 
AND SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS AND WE 
THINK ABOUT OUR FAMILIES AND WE 
SAW MEGHAN AND KAREN THERE WITH 
THEIR SONS WISHING DOUG AND BOB 
WELL WISHES AND GODSPEED AS 
THEY HEAD OFF IN THESE TEST WAS 
TO LAUNCHPAD 39A. THAT'S WHERE 
THEY LAUNCH THE APOLLO 
ASTRONAUTS AND I THINK IT'S ONE 
OF THOSE MOMENTS WHERE EVERYONE 
IN THE COUNTRY IS COMING 
TOGETHER TO WISH THEM WELL AND 
SAFELY. IT'S A GREAT DAY. 
>> THEY ARE JUST NOW ON SATURN 
CAUSEWAY. 
SO TO THE RIGHT OF THE SCREEN, 
THAT BUILDING IS THE OPERATIONS 
AND SUPPORT BUILDING 2, AND ON 
THE LEFT IS OUT OF YOU, THAT'S 
THE ICONIC BUILDING THAT 
PROCESSED THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND 
SATURN 5 ROCKET ALSO. 
>> THAT IS WHERE THAT MOBILE 
TRANSPORTER USED TO TAKE OUT 
THE SATURN 5 ROCKET'S AND THE 
SPATIAL. 
IT'S INCREDIBLE. 
>> WHERE THEY ARE PASSING RIGHT 
NOW, IF WE WERE TO RUN OUTSIDE 
WE CAN WAIVE BECAUSE WE ARE OFF 
TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN 
WHERE YOU CAN SEE A GROUP OF 
MEDIA. 
FROM THIS POINT, THEY STILL GOT 
ABOUT THREE MILES TO GO FROM 
HERE. 
>> I WILL SEE YOU GUYS LATER. 
>> ARE YOU GOING TO GO HOPPING? 
>> OBVIOUSLY, IS NOT JUST BOB 
AND DOUG, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 
CARS IN THAT CONVOY. 
THERE ARE A PROTECTIVE FORCES 
AND SECURITY AND THEY HAVE 
FLIGHT SURGEONS WITH THEM, AND 
WE HAVE SEEN JUST A SPRINKLE OF 
FOLKS ALONG THE WAY. 
NORMALLY WE WOULD HAVE A LOT 
MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE WATCHING 
THIS BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE 
YOU WATCHING ONLINE AND FROM 
HOME. AGAIN, WHEREVER YOU ARE, 
AT THE BEACH, WATCHING ON YOUR 
PHONE OR TABLET OR WHATEVER 
MOBILE DEVICE YOU HAVE, WE WILL 
BE HERE EVERY STEP OF THE 
JOURNEY TAKING YOU THROUGH IT 
MOMENT BY MOMENT. 
THIS IS A COOL SHOT WITH A WORM 
ON THE ROOF. 
>> THERE YOU GO. 
>> THE SECOND PLACE WORM. 
>> WHEELING, WHEN I WROTE ON 
THE WAY TO 39A ON THE LEFT, 
THAT AREA WHERE THE YOU SHOULD 
DRIVE, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE 
BIT ABOUT THE CRAWLER? 
>> RIGHT THERE YOU CAN SEE THE 
GRAVEL WHERE THE GRAVEL WAS 
CRUSHED ALMOST INTO SAM BECAUSE 
IT IS SO HEAVY. 
WHEN THE APOLLO SATURN 5 ROCKET 
WOULD GO OUT IT WILL MOVE AT A 
GLACIAL RATE TO GET THERE 
BECAUSE IT HAS THIS HUGE 
SHUTTLE ON IT. 
AND I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT 
WHEN MY SHUTTLE LEFT WHEN THEY 
DENT IN POINDEXTER. 
IT'S AN ENORMOUS TRACKS AND 
VEHICLE AND YOU GUYS SEE A 
DIFFERENT WAY, DON'T YOU? 
YOU DON'T GO OUT IN THE 
VEHICLE. 
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN. 
>> WE HAVE A HANGER RIGHT THERE 
ON THE PAD. 
>> THEY KIND OF DO LIKE A SORE 
USE WHERE YOU CAN --  
>> AGAIN, ALL THESE TO HELP TO 
GET PEOPLE TO SPACE FASTER AND 
SAFER. THIS WILL BE THE FUTURE 
OF SPACE TRAVEL. 
AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 
NASA AND SPACEX WORKING 
TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO GET 
PEOPLE UP. 
>> AT THIS POINT THE CONVOY IS 
APPROACHING PAT 39A AND THEY 
ARE ENTERING WHAT IS KNOWN AS 
THE BBA OR GLASS DANGER AREA. 
BEFORE ANY ENGINEERS OR 
ASTRONAUTS ENTER THAT AREA, 
AROUND THE LAUNCHPAD, THE 
SPACEX AND NASA TEAMS TO AN 
INTERNAL GO/NO GO POLE TO MAKE 
SURE EVERYTHING IS CLEAR. 
>> THIS IS BEEN THE BEGINNING 
POINT FOR SO MANY FIRST PICK IS 
THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR 
TODAY'S HISTORIC LAUNCH THAT 
MARKS A NEW FIRST AND A NEW ERA 
IN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT. 
>> AND HERE'S A VIEW FROM OUR 
AREA NEAR THE COMPLEX AND IN A. 
WE HAVE A FEW OF THE CONVOY 
GOING BY HERE. 
IF I HAD TO COUNT UP ALL THE 
CAMERAS WE HAVE ALL OVER THE 
PLACE, I WOULD BE HERE ALL DAY. 
>> THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SHOT 
RIGHT THERE. 
AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND 
ALL OF THE NATURE AROUND US. 
IT'S A BIG BUFFER FROM 39A SO 
WE CAN BE SAFE AND LAUNCH OUR 
ROCKET SAFELY. 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE 
THIS IS A NATIONAL WILDLIFE 
REFUGE. 
I PASSED TURTLES ON THE WAY TO 
MY CAR. 
>> WE WOULD RUN FROM THE 
OPERATIONAL CHECKOUT BUILDING 
TO WATCH FOR SNAKES AND 
ALLIGATORS. 
YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT 
THE WILDLIFE. 
>> WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT 
MAYBE WE WILL SEE ONE. 
TWEETING OUT IF YOU SEE ANY. 
>> DID YOU NAME THE WORM? 
>> I HAVEN'T HAD TIME. 
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW AN 
ALLIGATOR WOULD FEEL BEING 
CALLED A WORM. 
>> WE'VE GOT A TON OF YOU 
FOLLOWING ALONG ON SOCIAL 
MEDIA. 
LYNN SAYS AS A FELLOW 
MISSOURIAN WE ARE SO PROUD OF 
BOB. 
LAUNCH AMERICA. 
WE WILL BE WATCHING FROM THE 
COAST CHEERING LOUD. 
AND ANOTHER COMMENT, GODSPEED 
AND GOOD LUCK. 
ASTRO --  THERE YOU SEE THE 
INTEGRATION FACILITY. 
WE SAW THE FRONT OF IT FROM THE 
OTHER ANGLE. 
I'M SORRY, THERE IT IS. 
I WAS GETTING MY BUILDINGS 
MIXED UP. 
IT'S ON THE RIGHT NOW. 
>> THAT'S THE FALCON SUPPORT 
BUILDING AND THAT IS WHERE ALL 
OF OUR OFFICES ARE. 
THERE IS OUR HANGAR WHERE WE 
PROCESS IT AND THE ROCKET AND 
THE ONE ON THE PAD RIGHT NOW 
WAS PUT TOGETHER OR RATHER 
FINALLY INTEGRATED INSIDE OF 
THAT HANGER AND THEN INTEGRATED 
AND ROLLED UP TO THAT PAT. 
>> THERE IT IS. 
THAT SHOT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF 
THE SCALE OF THE FALCON 9 
ROCKET. 
IT LOOKS TEENY TINY MAKING 
THEIR WAY UP THERE. 
AS A MAKEOVER TO THE PAD WE 
WILL THROAT OVER TO HAWTHORNE 
WERE JESSIE AND DAN ARE 
WATCHING THE ACTION. 
HI, GUYS.  
>> HI. 
A REALLY COOL MOMENT WATCHING 
THEM PULL UP. 
JUST A FEW FEET AWAY FROM THE 
VEHICLE. 
GETTING REALLY EXCITED OVER 
HERE. 
WITH US LOOKING AT THE 
LAUNCHPAD RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HAD 
TO DO A NUMBER OF UPGRADES. NOT 
ONLY TO THE LAUNCHPAD BUT 
SPACEX HAS MADE CHANGES TO BOTH 
FALCON 9 AND DRAGON TO ENABLE 
FLYING TRIPS. 
AND A KEY UPDATE TO THE LATEST 
VERSION OF DRAGON IS IT IS 
HIGHLY RELIABLE SAGES OF THAT 
IS CAPABLE OF CARING THEM TO 
SAFETY AT ANY POINT DURING THE 
ASCENT TO THE ROCKET. 
>> ANOTHER PRETTY KEY OF GREAT 
IS THE NEW LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM. 
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IT REQUIRES 
KEEPING THE ENVIRONMENT AROUND 
THE ENTIRE FLIGHT AND THAT 
MEANS COVERING EVERYTHING LIKE 
FREEZING AIR AND KEEPING THE 
CAPSULE AND ESSAY PRESSURE. 
KEEPING IT FREE OF CONTAMINANTS 
AND REMOVING ANY CARBON DIOXIDE 
IN THE AIR AND REGULATING THE 
TEMPERATURE. 
THE HUMIDITY. 
ALL OF THESE THINGS AND ALSO 
IMPLEMENTING THAT WASTE 
COLLECTION SYSTEM A.K.A. 
THE TOILET. 
>> THAT SOUNDS PRETTY 
IMPORTANT. 
>> THE CHANGES TO FALCON 9 WERE 
SMALL BUT EXTREMELY MEANINGFUL. 
SPECIFICALLY, SPACEX HAD TO 
PROVE A HIGH DEGREE OF -- SMALL 
FAILURES WOULD NOT LEAD TO 
MISSION FAILURE.  
HOW CAN I WAS ALREADY ABLE TO 
HANDLE ENGINE FAILURE BUT NEW 
EMPHASIS WAS PUT ON MAKING SURE 
THAT A FAILURE THREAT 
THROUGHOUT ANY PHASE OF THE 
LAUNCH WOULD NOT MEAN MISSION 
FAILURE AND HIS GRACE ALL THE 
WAY DOWN TO LACHES, CONTROL 
VALVES, ELECTRONICS, WIRING AND 
SO MUCH MORE. 
>>) WITH THE ASTRONAUTS NOW ON 
LOCATION AT PAD 30 9A, WE WILL 
SWING IT RIGHT BACK. TAKE US 
THROUGH THE CREW MAKING THEIR 
FINAL STEPS TOWARDS THE DRAGON 
SPACECRAFT. 
>> SURE THING. 
WE ARE LOOKING AGAIN AT LAUNCH 
COMPLEX 39A. 
THE FEW SECONDS AGO WE SAW THE 
TESLA CARING BOB AND DOUG PULL 
UP TO THE LAUNCHPAD. 
THIS IS A SITE OF SO MUCH 
HISTORY., YOU GUYS. 
THIS IS WHERE APOLLO AND SATURN 
5 ROCKET'S LOSS TO THE MOON. 
IT TOOK ASTRONAUTS FROM. 
THIS IS THIS PAD HAS SO MUCH 
HISTORY. 
LABELING, YOU LAUNCHED FROM 
THEIR  WITH THE OTHER 
ASTRONAUTS. 
WITH ALL OF THIS AND THE 
CHANGES THAT HAVE MADE, WHAT 
KIND OF EMOTIONS ASSIST HER UP 
AND YOU? 
>> WE GOT OUT OF OUR ASTRO VAN 
AND STEPPED OUT AND WE LOOKED 
UP TO SEE THIS VEHICLE. 
IT WAS CREAKING AND GROANING 
AND MAKING NOISES AND GETTING 
READY FOR US TO ENTER IT AND 
TAKE US OFF PLANET. 
YOU GET A CHANCE TO TAKE A 
PICTURE SOMETIMES. 
YOU STAND THERE AND YOU LOOK 
THERE AND YOU THINK ABOUT ALL 
THE TRAINING YOU HAVE DONE AND 
ALL THE PREPARATIONS AND AGAIN, 
ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO GET 
THERE. 
AND IS JUST A SOLEMN AMAZING 
MOMENT FOR ALL OF US. 
>> THERE'S ANOTHER AMAZING 
SHOT. 
CAN YOU -- YOU EXPLAIN THIS A 
LITTLE EARLIER  HOW SPACEX 
BRINGS THE ROCKET AND CAPSULE 
VERTICAL. 
NOT ONLY CAN WE SEE IT BUT CAN 
YOU EXPLAIN IT FOR FOLKS WHO 
MISS THAT. 
>> OF COURSE. 
DRAGON IS ACTUALLY PROCESSED A 
FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AT AREA 
59 OR DRAGON LAND AS WE LIKE TO 
CALL IT. 
WE THEN PUT IT ON A TRUCK AND 
DRIVE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE 
HANGAR WHERE THE ROCKET IS. 
AND SO, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS WE 
CALL A BREAK OVER, WHERE THE 
VEHICLE IS VERTICAL AND WE WILL 
TURN IT SIDEWAYS BECAUSE THE 
RUCKUS IS BEING PROCESSED 
HORIZONTAL THAN WE LIFTED AND 
MADE IT TO FALCON 9 AND WE 
LOWER THE HANGER DOORS AND 
EVENTUALLY PULL THE VEHICLE AND 
THE TRANSPORTER DIRECTOR WHICH 
IS A BIG WHITE STRUCTURE YOU 
SEE THERE, ALL THE FLUID LINES 
AND ELECTRICAL LINES AND 
EVERYTHING ARE CONNECTED TO THE 
VEHICLES AND THEY BASICALLY 
ROLL IT UP THOSE RAILS. 
YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE THE. 
THOSE ARE RAILS AND THEY ROLL 
THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY UP TO THE 
TOP OF THE PAD AND HEADED INTO 
THE SYSTEMS AND ROLL IT UP 
VERTICAL. 
>> WE ARE ABOUT T MINUS 2 HOURS 
57 MINUTES, 40 44 SECONDS IN 
COUNTY. 
IN A COUPLE MINUTES WE ARE 
EXPECTING TO HEAR A FORMAL 
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE CREW WAS 
AT THE PAD. WE SAW THEM PULL UP 
IN THE TESLA'S AND THERE THEY 
ARE. 
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE GOTTEN 
OUT OF THE CAR AND THEY ARE 
WALKING UP TO THE ELEVATOR THAT 
WILL CARRY THEM ALL THE WAY UP 
TO THE 255 FOOT LEVEL AND THEN 
THEY WILL HAVE A COUPLE STEPS 
TO GET UP TO THE LEVEL WHERE 
THE CREW ACCESSES. 
>> I HAVE THE AC/DC SONG IN MY 
HEAD. 
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I WAS KIND OF 
JAMMING OUT ON THE WAY WAS JUST 
MAN. 
>> NICE. 
>> I WAS LIKE I DON'T KNOW THAT 
MIGHT BE ON MY PLAYLISTS. 
>> THERE THEY ARE, TAKING IN 
THE SITE. 
CAREENING TO SEE THE TOP OF THE 
FALCON 9 ROCKET. 
IT IS 230 FEET TALL. 
CREW DRAGON IS ANOTHER 27 FEET 
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUST TO 
THE TOP OF THE NOSECONE. 
WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE IN 
PERSON, IT IS REALLY HARD TO 
DESCRIBE HOW LARGE IT IS. 
>> LOOK AT THEM GETTING 
EXCITED. 
THEY ARE READY OUT OF THE 
VEHICLE AND GETTING TO THE 
ELEVATOR TO GO TO THE TOP. 
THEY ARE PICKING UP SOME 
FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS. 
>> THEY ARE ALSO WEARING COVERS 
ON THEIR SHOES. 
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY 
DO NOT TRACK THE OUTSIDE AND 
INSIDE OF DRAGON WHEN THEY GO 
IN SO RIGHT BEFORE THEY ENTERED 
THE VEHICLE THEY WILL REMOVE 
THOSE FROM THEIR BOOTS. 
>> YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED THE 
LITTLE DETAILS LIKE THAT. 
ALL OF THE THOUGHT AND 
PREPARATION THAT HAS TO GO INTO 
LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF 
THIS OPERATION. 
>> I LOVE THE MAKEOVER OF 
PANTHER WITH THE SLEEK BLACK 
WITH THE WHITE TICKING. 
IT'S A VERY FUTURISTIC LOOK FOR 
THIS ICONIC LAUNCHPAD AND TO 
THINK WHAT HAS BEEN THERE BEFORE
WITH MERCURY, APOLLO, SHUTTLE, 
AND NOW SPACEX CREW DRAGON. 
GETTING READY FOR A LAUNCH TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION. 
ROCKET FUEL SO GOING THROUGH MY 
VEINS. 
>> WE WERE SO HONORED TO LOTS 
FROM HERE. 
THERE THEY ARE. 
THAT'S A REALLY FAST ELEVATOR. 
>> YES. 
>> IT TOOK THEM 255 FEET IN 
JUST A MATTER OF SECONDS. 
>> THEY WERE REMOVING THEIR 
COVERS? 
>> I THINK THEY WERE JUST 
CHECKING SOMETHING ON HIS 
PUTTER LIKE. 
>> WE SHOULD HEAR A CALL ANY 
MOMENT THAT THE CREW HAS 
ARRIVED AS A MAKE THEIR WAY UP 
THE STAIRS AND HAVING ACCESS ON 
THE NOW. 
THERE'S THE WORM AGAIN. 
>> DON'T WORRY, THERE IS A 
MEATBALL ON CREW DRAGON. 
THOSE WHITE ERRORS YOU SEE 
THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY 
ELIMINATED AWAY FOR ANYONE WHO 
IS UP THERE TO FIND THE RIGHT 
TO THE ESCAPE BASKETS IN THE 
EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THAT 
WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO GET FAR 
AWAY FROM THE ROCKET AND PAD. 
>> IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM THIS 
ANGLE, BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY A 
PHONE RIGHT HERE. 
I CAN'T TELL IF IT IS OR DOUG 
USING THE PHONE RIGHT NOW BUT 
WE CAN EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE 
OF THAT. 
THAT WAS THE SAME ONE THAT WAS 
THERE DURING THE SHUTTLE DAYS. 
>> YOU CAN GET A CHANCE TO TALK 
TO MAYBE FRIENDS OR FAMILY. 
MAYBE THEY COULD NOT ATTEND THE 
LAUNCH. 
JUST TO HAVE THAT LAST MOMENT 
TO TALK TO SOMEONE BEFORE YOU 
GET INTO THE VEHICLE. 
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW. 
>> AND WE ARE WATCHING THE CREW
. WHEN THEY ARE DONE USING THE 
PHONE WE EXPECT THEM TO MAKE 
THEIR WAY INTO THE CREW ACCESS 
ON. 
AND, COMING UP AT ABOUT T MINUS 
2 HOURS:35 MINUTES, THE 
ASTRONAUTS WILL INGRESS, THAT'S 
THE WORD WE SAY -- WE SAW DOUG 
DO IT A COUPLE MINUTES EARLY ON 
WEDNESDAY.  
THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT OF 
SCHEDULE SO THAT TIME COULD BE 
FLEXIBLE BUT THAT WILL HAPPEN 
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TAX 
AND THEY WILL GET STRAPPED INTO 
THEIR SEATS. 
SO, WITH THAT COMING UP WE WILL 
HEAD OVER TO HAWTHORNE FOR A 
PREVIEW OF WHAT IS IN STORE FOR 
THE FUTURE IN SPACE TRAVEL. 
JESSIE . 
>> THANK YOU. 
SHORTLY AFTER WE BEGAN TO 
REGULARLY FLY NASA ASTRONAUT TO 
AND FROM THE SPACE STATION, 
SPACEX WILL ALSO BEGIN LYING 
PRIVATE PASSENGERS TO THE 
STATION USING DRAGON. 
>> NASA IS ENABLING UP TO TO 
PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MESSAGE TO 
VISIT THE STATION EACH YEAR 
WHICH IS PART OF THE SUPPORT. 
MANY WAYS THAT THEY ARE WORKING 
TO OPEN UP ACCESS TO OUTER 
SPACE FOR COMPANIES TO 
MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS IN 
MICROGRAVITY OR COMMERCIAL 
MODULES, AND TO ENABLE MORE 
PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE 
THE STARS FIRSTHAND. 
>> THE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE 
EXPLORING THE STARS, THE CLOSER 
WE BECOME TO BECOMING A MULTI-
PLANETARY SPECIES. 
EARLIER WE SHOWED YOU A FIRST-
HAND LOOK AT WHERE YOU WOULD 
TRAIN IF YOU WERE TO FLY WITH 
US ON BOARD DRAGON BUT NOW YOU 
TAKE A PEEK INSIDE OF THE 
SPACECRAFT ITSELF. 
>> INTUITIVE TO KNOW WHAT WE 
NEED TO DO AT ANY MOMENT IN 
TIME. 
WHEN I THINK ABOUT COMFORT FOR 
THE ASTRONAUTS IT'S REALLY 
EVERY ASPECT OF HOW YOU CAN 
INTERACT WITH THIS PATIENT THAT 
COMES TO MIND. 
WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SIZES. 
WE EVEN GO SO FAR AS MOLDING 
THE FOAM AROUND THEIR BODY SO 
THERE'S NOT ANY PRESSURE 
POINTS. 
IT'S JUST GENERALLY A 
PLEASURABLE JOURNEY TO TAKE. 
DRAGON IS A SPACESHIP THAT IS 
ALL ABOUT SAFETY AND 
RELIABILITY. 
WE DESIGNED IT TO BE TOLERANT 
WHICH MEANS ANY TWO THINGS 
COULD FAIL SO I CAN LOSE A FELT 
COMPUTER AND I TRUST HER AND I 
COULD STILL RING THE CREW BACK 
HOME SAFELY. 
WE ALSO ADDED A SYSTEM AND IF 
ANYTHING GOES WRONG ON ASSENT 
THE CREW CAN GET AWAY FROM 
FALCON AND GET OUT SAFELY. 
I HAVE WORKED ON DRAGON AND 
WHEN I SEE DRAGON LIFT OFF I 
THINK I'M GOING TO FEEL A 
BUILDUP OF THE MOTION OF EIGHT 
YEARS OF WORKING WITH SOME OF 
THE BEST ENGINEERS AND 
TECHNICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
THAT PUT THEIR HEART AND MIND 
INTO MAKING THIS INCREDIBLE 
MOMENT HAPPENED FOR EVERYBODY. 
>> ALL RIGHT, THAT WAS A 
DETAILED LOOK INSIDE DRAGON. 
HERE'S A LIVE LOOK AT THE 
ASTRONAUTS ABOUT TO CLIMB IN. 
IF YOU ARE JUST NOW TUNING IN, 
YOU ARE WATCHING OUR COVERAGE 
OF THE MISSION KNOWN AS 
DEMONSTRATION MISSION TO OR 
DEMO-2. TWO DAYS -- THEY WILL 
SEND  THIS --  BOB BEHNKEN AND 
DOUG HURLEY ARE THE ASTRONAUTS 
FLYING TODAY. 
AS YOU CAN SEE ON SCREEN THEY 
ARE JUST RIGHT NEXT TO THE RIDE 
TO SPACE.  
>> VERY EXCITING. 
AS YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE 
ALREADY ARRIVED. 
AT PAD 39A. 
WHERE FALCON 9 WILL LIFT OFF 
FROM AT 3:22 PM EASTERN TIME 
TODAY. 
THEY HAVE ASCENDED THE TALL 
STRUCTURE ALREADY WHICH IS NEXT 
TO THE ROCKET AND IS CALLED THE 
FIXED SERVICE STRUCTURE AT ALSO 
HAVE ALREADY WALKED DOWN THE 
CORRIDOR WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE 
CREW ARM WHICH IS WHAT THEY ARE 
STANDING IN RIGHT NOW. 
>> THAT'S RIGHT. 
AS THEY PREPARE TO BOARD DRAGON 
THEY HAVE ONE FINAL STOP AND 
THAT IS THE WHITE ROOM. 
THE WHITE ROOM IS LITERALLY A 
ROOM AT THE END OF THE CREW ARM 
THAT HAS AN OPENING INTO 
DRAGON. 
IT IS THE LAST PLACE ON PLANET 
EARTH THAT BOB AND DOUG WILL 
STANDING BEFORE THEY STEP INTO 
DRAGON FOR THE RIDE TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
>> THE TERM THE WHITE ROOM WAS 
FIRST USED DURING NASA'S GEMINI 
MISSION WHERE THE ROOM BEFORE 
ENTERING THE SPACESHIP WAS 
PAINTED WHITE. 
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE 
CONTINUED THIS TRADITION WITH 
PAINTING HOURS WHITE AS WELL. 
AND ON WEDNESDAY THEY ACTUALLY 
STARTED A NEW TRADITION BY 
SIGNING THE WALL IN THE WHITE 
ROOM. 
IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL AREA THAT 
HAS ROOM FOR THE CREW AND A FEW 
GROUND SUPPORT MEMBERS TO 
COMPLETE CARGO ROAD AND CREW 
INGRESS AT T MINUS 2:32. 
>> ALSO INSIDE THE WHITE ROOM 
IS THE MOVABLE PLATFORM THAT 
JUST GETS ASCENDED TO THE 
CAPSULE TO MAKE THE BOARDING 
PROCESS MUCH SMOOTHER FOR THE 
CREW TO CLIMB INTO DRAGON. 
AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT IT'S ALSO 
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROL. 
YOU CAN SEE THE SEAL RIGHT UP 
ALONG THE SIDE HATCH AND THAT 
IS DONE SO DRAGON CAN BE OPEN 
WILL KEEPING ALL THE DUST, DIRT 
AND FLORIDA HUMIDITY OUT OF THE 
CAPSULE MAKING SURE IT IS 
PRISTINE FOR THE CREW. 
THAT WILL STAY IN PLACE UNTIL 
THEY BEGIN TO RETRACT IT AND 
GET THE ARM READY TO MOVE OUT 
OF THE WAY. 
I THAT POINT THE HATCH WILL 
ALREADY GOING TO BE CLOSE. 
>> THE WHITE ROOM ALSO HAS MANY 
TOOLS TO OPEN THE SIZE SIDE 
HATCH AND COMPARE FOR PREPARE 
FOR ANY EMERGENCIES THAT MAY BE 
ENCOUNTERED. 
>> RIGHT NOW THEY ARE IN THE 
WHITE ROOM GETTING A FINAL 
BRIEFING. 
YOU CAN SEE THEM WITH SOME 
NUMBER OF DIFFERENT 
TECHNICIANS. 
EVERYONE ON THE TEAM HAS A 
SPECIFIC JOB. 
SOME WILL HELP THEM GET 
CONNECTED TO THEIR SEATS, SOME 
ARE SPECIALISTS FOR THE CAPSULE 
ITSELF AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE 
FOR CLOSING THE HATCH, AND WE 
ALSO HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER THERE 
TO HELP CAPTURE THESE MOMENTS 
AS THE CREW GETS READY. 
SO, RIGHT NOW WE ARE WATCHING 
AND WE CAN SEE THEM STARTING TO 
GO UP THERE. 
WE WILL SEE DOUG HURLEY GO IN 
FIRST. 
AND HE WILL BE THE FIRST ONE TO 
THE CAPSULE. 
AND HE WILL BE INTERESTING. 
THAT IS OUR TERM FOR ENTERING. 
YOU WILL HEAR A LOT OF THESE 
TERMS THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 
COUPLE DAYS. 
AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO 
ORCHID. 
INGRESS GOING IN INGRESS GOING 
OUT. 
THERE ALSO DOING THE FINAL CHECK
SO THE CREW DON'T HAVE ANY 
FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS, DUST, 
DIRT OR ANYTHING THAT COULD 
INTERFERE WITH THE SYSTEMS ON 
DRAGON JUST BEFORE THEY GET IN. 
>> AS LELAND AND LAUREN WERE 
MENTIONING EARLIER, THEY DO HAVE
STUFF ON THEIR SHOES TO PROTECT 
FROM THAT. 
AND THEY HAVE FOUND COVERS ON 
THEIR BOOTS AS I MENTIONED AS 
WELL AS ON THEIR UMBILICAL PORT 
ON THE STREETS. 
--  WE ARE HEARING THE UPDATES 
LIKE. 
ONCE IT IS COMPLETE, THEY CAN 
ENTER WHICH IS HAPPENING LIVE 
ON YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW. 
AS THEY CLIMB INTO DRAGON, THEY 
WILL BUCKLE THEMSELVES IN AND 
ATTACH THEIR UMBILICAL'S TO 
THEIR SUITS. 
AS YOU CAN SEE THE SUIT TECHS 
ARE THERE TO HELP THEM. 
THEY WILL GET BUCKLED AND 
SETTLE INTO THE SEATS. 
AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THE 
PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE SUIT IS 
TO PROTECT THE CREW IN CASE OF 
A CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION. 
IT KEEPS THEM COOL AND DELIVERS 
MATROX IN CASE THERE IS A 
STUDENT DEPRESSURIZATION. 
>> AS WE GO THROUGH THIS WE SAW 
DOUG HURLEY GO IN FIRST. 
HE IS THE COMMANDER FOR THIS 
MISSION. 
HE IS THE CLOSEST TO YOUR 
SCREEN AND BOB BEHNKEN IS JUST 
NEXT TO HIM. 
THEY WILL GET SOME ASSISTANCE 
FROM THE TEXAS NEGATIVE. 
THERE ARE FOUR SEATS INSIDE OF 
DRAGON. 
FOR THESE MISSIONS AND THEY ARE 
NUMBERED ONE THROUGH FOUR PICK 
UP LOOKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE 
OF THE SUIT TECHS INSIDE THE 
HATCH GOING FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, 
SO DOUG HURLEY IS IN TO SEE TO. 
THAT THE COMMANDERS HE AND BOB 
BEHNKEN IS IN C3 WHICH IS THE 
PILOT SEAT. 
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY 
IN SEATS ONE OR 4 TODAY. 
CREW DRAGON IS DESIGNED TO 
CARRY FOUR ASTRONAUTS ON FUTURE 
MISSIONS. 
WE WILL SEE THAT ON CREW ONE 
WHICH WILL HAVE ASTRONAUTS --  
THEN, DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CREW 
RIGHT NOW BUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF 
THEM WHAT ONE SUCCEEDS GET 
ROTATED ARE THE THREE DISPLAYS 
THAT THEY WILL USE THROUGHOUT 
THE FLIGHT. 
THAT GIVES THEM INSIGHT INTO 
ALL OF THE SYSTEMS AND IT 
ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE CONTROL OF 
THE VEHICLE AND MANUALLY FLIGHT 
WHICH WILL WILL SEE THEM DO 
HOPEFULLY ONLY TWICE DURING TWO 
MANUAL FLIGHT TEST. 
AGAIN DRAGON IS AUTONOMOUS BUT 
THEY CAN JUMP IN AND TAKE OVER 
IF THEY NEED TO. 
>> AS DAN MENTIONED, THE SEATS 
WILL ROTATE BACK FOR LAUNCH 
POSITION SO THEY CAN EASILY 
ACCESS THOSE DISPLAYS. 
SO COMING UP, THE CREW WILL DO A
CALM CHECK ONCE THEY ARE ALL 
SETTLED IN. 
THAT IS SO THEY CAN CHECK TO 
MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN HEAR 
MISSION CONTROL AND AFTER THAT 
THERE SEATS WILL BE ROTATED 
INTO POSITION. 
SO, LET'S CHECK IN FOR THE 
LATEST ON THE VEHICLES. 
WHAT IS THE STATUS UPDATE? 
>> WE ARE AT T MINUS 2:43:00 
AND COUNTING DOWN FOR THE 
LAUNCH OF FALCON 9 WITH DRAGON 
AT THE SPACE STATION. 
AS YOU SEE THE LAUNCHPAD TEAM 
HAS OBVIOUSLY ARRIVED AT THE 
PATRICK DAVE GOT THERE SHORTLY 
AFTER T MINUS 4 HOURS AND 
OPENED UP THE SIDE HATCH OF 
DRAGON AND GOT READY FOR THE 
ARRIVAL OF THE ASTRONAUTS. 
WE SAW THE CREW COME OUT THE 
ELEVATORS, WALK OVER AND ENTER 
DRAGON AND THEY ARE NOT GETTING 
SITUATED INSIDE THE CAPSULE. 
NOW, THE FLIGHT TEAM IS 
MONITORING DATA FROM DRAGON AND 
THEY MOST RECENTLY HAD 
COMPLETED A COMMAND AND 
TELEMETRY CHECK OF THE 
RADIOFREQUENCY SYSTEM ON DRAGON 
THROUGH THE TRACKING AND RELATE 
SATELLITE NETWORK. 
THAT LOOK LIKE IT WENT WELL AND 
THERE ARE NO ISSUES AND AS WE 
WATCH HE ASKED NOT GETTING 
SITUATED IN THEIR SEATS INSIDE 
THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT. 
THE FALCON 9 TEAM IS PREPARING 
FOR FINAL CHECK AND PROPELLANT 
LOAD. 
BOTH ARE DUE TO BEGIN AT T 
MINUS 2 HOURS, SOME 42 MINUTES 
FROM NOW WHEN THEY OFFICIALLY 
GET THERE. 
ALL SYSTEMS ON FALCON 9 ARE 
CURRENTLY AGO. 
THE SUPPORT SITE IS GREEN AND 
THE AREAS AROUND THE PAD WERE 
RECENTLY CLEARED EXCEPT FOR THE 
FOLKS DOING THE ENTRY INTO THE 
CAPSULE. 
AIR AND SEA SPACE, WE HEAR A 
HELICOPTER GO BY FROM TIME TO 
TIME. 
THE BIG CONCERN IS THE WEATHER 
FORECAST. 
WE ARE CONTINUING RIGHT NOW AT 
A 50% PROBABILITY OF VIOLATION. 
THE WEATHER CONSTRAINTS, THEY 
ARE A BIG CONCERN AND THEY WILL 
BE THE THICK CLOUDS, 
PRECIPITATION AND THE 
POSSIBILITY OF LIGHTNING. 
I MENTIONED EARLIER YOU GET A 
STRONG SEA BREEZE FROM THE 
OCEAN THAT PUSHES IN LAND AND 
KEEPS THE CLOUDS FROM CENTRAL 
FLORIDA TO BUILD UP BUT TODAY 
THE SEA BREEZE IS FAIRLY WEAK 
SO WE EXPECT THE THUNDERSTORMS 
WILL GET CLOSER TO LAUNCHPAD. 
WE ARE ALSO CHECKING DOWNRANGE 
CONDITIONS. 
IF THERE IS A CONTINGENCY 
SPLASHDOWN OF DRAGON, WE ARE 
LOOKING AT ESSENTIALLY THE WAVE 
HEIGHTS, LIGHTNING, RAIN, ALONG 
A TRAJECTORY. 
RIGHT NOW IT IS MARGINAL BUT IT 
IS STILL GO. 
WE DO EXPECT THAT TO IMPROVE 
SLIGHTLY DURING THE DAY. 
SO FINGERS CROSSED THAT THE 
DOWNRANGE WEATHER LOOKS GOOD. 
RIGHT NOW, AT T MINUS 2 HOURS 
AND 41 MINUTES, AT THE CLOCK 
CONTINUES TO COUNT DOWN, ALL 
SYSTEMS ARE GO FOR LAUNCH. 
>> THANK YOU. 
AS WE WATCHED BOB AND DOUG GET 
TO BUCKLED INTO THE SEATS I'M 
JOINED BY SPACE AXES JESSICA 
JENSEN. 
WALKED THROUGH EVERYBODY WHAT 
MADE DRAGON THE 21st CENTURY 
SPACECRAFT. 
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY. 
I KNOW YOU HAD TO COME IN FOR 
THE LAUNCH. 
>> OF COURSE. 
>> WALK US THROUGH THE HISTORY. 
WE HAVE ONE IN THE CLEAN ROOM 
PRETTY SOON BEHIND US, WALK US 
ON HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE 
TODAY TO HAVE BOB AND DOUG 
CLIMBING INTO THE . 
>> SPACEX WAS FOUNDED TO MAKE 
LIFE MULTIPLAN TODAY. 
THAT IS WHY ELON OR THE COMPANY 
IN 2002. 
BUT, ALSO WE WERE VERY SMALL 
FOR VERY YEARS SO WE HAD TO 
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO, YOU 
KNOW, HOW DO YOU GO FROM BEING 
A SMALL COMPANY TO PUTTING 
PEOPLE IN ORBIT. 
WHEN NASA CAME OUT WITH THE NEED
TO FLY CARGO TO AND FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WE 
JUMPED ON THAT BECAUSE WE SAY, 
HEY, FIRST NOT ONLY IS CARRYING 
CARGO TO AND FROM THE SPACIOUS 
AND COOL WE COULD ACTUALLY THEM 
FLY PEOPLE TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION. 
AND, HEY, FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW 
WE HAVE BEEN FLYING CARGO. 
AND THEN NOW WE ARE 
TRANSITIONING OVER TO FLYING 
CREW AND CARGO TOGETHER. 
SO THAT IS BASICALLY THE 
EVOLUTION OF DRAGON. 
IT HAS BEEN AWESOME. 
>> I KNOW WHEN WE SEE FALCON 9 
WE GET TO TALK ABOUT 
REUSABILITY. 
EVERYONE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH 
THE FIRST STAGE COMING BACK 
DOWN. 
DRAGON IS ALSO DESIGNED FOR 
REUSABILITY. 
>> YOU HAVE FLOWN DRAGON 
MULTIPLE TIMES. 
OR YOU HAVE FLOWN DRAGON 
MULTIPLE TIMES TO THE SPACE 
STATION. 
HOW DOES REUSABILITY FACTOR 
INTO DRAGON'S LIFECYCLE? 
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. 
EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT 
REUSABILITY AND IT SAVES MONEY 
AND THAT'S GREAT BUT 
REUSABILITY ACTUALLY IMPROVES 
THE RELIABILITY. 
SO, WHEN WE GET ELKINS BACK AND 
WE GET DRAGON'S BACK EVEN AFTER 
ONE MISSION OR MULTIPLE 
MISSIONS WE CAN DO ALL OF THESE 
DETAILED INSPECTIONS ON THEM. 
THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT BECAUSE 
WHEN YOU FLY A VEHICLE YOU CAN 
ONLY HAVE SO MANY SENSORS ON 
IT. 
YOU CANNOT PUT A SENSOR EVERY 
SINGLE INCH OF THE ROCKET OR . 
>> AND THERE IS ALREADY WAY 
MORE THAN I THINK ANYBODY 
REALIZES. 
>> EXACTLY. 
ESPECIALLY FOR ROCKETS THAT END 
UP IN THE OCEAN. 
SOME PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT 
THEY WENT THROUGH. 
SO THE FACT THAT WE GET ALL THE 
HARDWARE BACK WE ARE ABLE TO 
INSPECT LITERALLY EVERY SQUARE 
INCH OF IT AND MAKE SMALL 
DESIGN CHANGES THAT ACTUALLY 
IMPROVE THE RELIABILITY FOR THE 
WHOLE FLEET. 
EVEN THOUGH BOB AND DOUG ARE ON 
THE BRAND-NEW ROCKET, AND A 
BRAND-NEW SPACE PAST, THOSE ARE 
MORE RELIABLE BASED ON THE 
KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE LEARNED FROM 
USABILITY. 
>> WE WALKED TWO PEOPLE THROUGH 
A LOT OF THE NEW SYSTEMS ON 
DRAGON. 
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COOL 
THINGS THAT ARE MAYBE BENEATH 
THE SURFACE THAT PEOPLE DON'T 
KNOW ABOUT? 
>> I THINK ONE OF THE COOLEST 
THINGS IS THE AUTONOMOUS 
DOCKING SYSTEM. 
WHAT THAT IS IT BASICALLY WE 
HAVE GPS SENSORS ON DRAGON BUT 
WE ALSO HAVE CAMERAS AND 
IMAGING SENSORS SUCH AS A LIDAR 
ON THE FRONT PART OF DRAGON. 
AS IT APPROACHES THE SPACE 
STATION. 
ALL OF THE SENSORS ARE FEEDING 
DATA BACK TO OUR FLIGHT 
COMPUTER TO SAY, HOW FAR AWAY 
AM I FROM THE SPACE STATION, 
WHAT IS MY VELOCITY, AND THEN 
THAT FEEDS INTO THE FLIGHT 
COMPUTER WHICH HAS ALGORITHMS 
WRITTEN BY OUR ENGINEERS TO 
SAY, OKAY, BASED ON HOW FAR 
AWAY YOU ARE, HERE'S HOW YOU 
FIRE THE THRUSTERS TO GET TO 
THE DOCKING AREA. 
I THINK THAT IS SUPERCOOL. 
>> I MEAN, WE ARE WAITING FOR 
OUR CARS TO DRIVE OURSELVES TO 
WORK AND FOR BOB AND DOUG THAT 
IS WHAT IT IS DOING FOR THEM. 
>> EXACTLY. 
WHAT I THINK IS SO COOL THE 
COMPUTER DOES IS FLAWLESSLY. 
WHEN I TRIED TO DO IT, I FAILED 
MISERABLY. 
I TRY TO DOCK DRAGON TO THE ISS 
THREE TIMES AND I FAILED. 
THE FOURTH TIME I GOT IT. 
ON OUR WEBSITE, WE ACTUALLY 
HAVE A DRAGON I AT THE 
SIMULATOR SO YOU CAN TRY TO 
FIRE THE THRUSTERS AND SEE HOW 
WELL YOU DO. 
MAYBE I'M JUST A BAD DRIVER BUT 
I THINK THE COMPUTER DOES A 
REALLY GOOD JOB. 
>> WE ARE JUST STARTING TO HEAR 
THAT THEY ARE GOING TO START 
THE COMP CHECKS WITH BOB AND 
DOUG. 
BUT LISTEN IN. 
>> LOUD AND CLEAR. 
>> UMBILICAL COMP CHECK 
COMPLETE. 
STANDBY. 
>> AGAIN, WE ARE JUST LISTENING 
IN. 
THE ARE DOING THESE 
COMMUNICATION CHECK SO BOB AND 
DOUG WILL DO A SERIES OF THESE 
CHECKOUTS WITH THE TEAMS ON THE 
GROUND. 
AND THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR IN 
FLORIDA. 
THEY WILL BE DOING THIS OVER 
DRAGON TO GROUND AND THEY WILL 
DO IT OVER THE COUNTDOWN. THOSE 
ARE THE TWO MAIN LOOPS THAT YOU 
WILL HEAR GOING OUT. 
AND THEY WILL DO IT THROUGH 
THEIR DIFFERING COMMUNICATIONS 
PATHS. 
WE HEARD IT THROUGH THE THE 
TRACKING DATA AND RELAY 
SATELLITES. 
THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY 
SATELLITES THAT WILL BE USED. 
THEY TALK TO BOB AND DOUG 
THROUGHOUT THEIR FLIGHT. 
THEY WILL ALSO DO IT TO GROUND 
STATION, SPACEX HAS A WORLDWIDE 
NETWORK OF GROUND STATIONS THAT 
THEY ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE 
WITH THE VEHICLE. 
THAT IS WHAT WE WILL BE USING 
TO GET VIDEO INSIDE THE CABIN 
OF BOB AND DOUG ON THEIR FLIGHT 
UP. 
IF YOU TUNED IN THE OTHER DAY 
THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS 
THEY DO ONCE THEY GET INSIDE 
THE VEHICLE. 
THIS IS JUST TO MAKE SURE ALL 
THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ARE 
WORKING AND THEY ARE ABLE TO 
TALK TO AND HEAR EVERYBODY ON 
THE GROUND. 
>> DRAGON SPACEX GROUND CHECK. 
>> SPACEX DRAGON LOUD AND 
CLEAR. 
>> CORE WOUND AND CLEAR. 
--  
>> JUST A REMINDER, YOU ARE 
HEARING THE COURT, THAT'S THE 
CREW OPERATIONS RESPONSE AND 
YOUR PIC IF YOU FOLLOW NASA 
MISSIONS IN THE PATH THAT IS 
THE TOP POSITION AND PRETTY 
MUCH THE SINGULAR VOICE THAT IS 
TALKING TO THE ASTRONAUTS 
THROUGHOUT THEIR FLIGHT. 
AND THAT IS THE POSITION HERE 
IN HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA. 
AND YOU WILL ALSO HEAR 
>>'S SPACEX DRAGON LOUD AND 
CLEAR. 
>> C.O.R.E.  
LOUD AND CLEAR. 
>> DRAGON MD COUNTDOWN ONE. 
COM CHECK. 
>> SPACEX JASON LOUD AND CLEAR. 
>> COPY, LOUD AND CLEAR. 
HAD TO HAVE YOU GUYS ON BOARD. 
STANDBY FOR COM CHECK FROM 
DRAGON TO GROUND. 
DRAGON MD TO GROUND, COM CHECK. 
>> MD DRAGON LOUD AND CLEAR. 
>> MD LOUD AND CLEAR. 
STANDBY FOR GROUND CHECK. 
>> LAUNCH DIRECTOR COM CHECK. 
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. 
LOUD AND CLEAR. 
>> I HAVE YOU THE SAME. 
LOUD AND CLEAR. 
STANDBY FOR MY COM CHECK ON 
DRAGON TO GROUND. 
DRAGON SPACEX DRAGON TO GROUND 
COM CHECK. 
>> SPACEX DRAGON LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> I HAVE YOU THE SAME. 
BACK TO C.O.R.E..  
>> DRAGON SPACEX THIS CONCLUDES 
THE LAUNCH COMMUNICATION CHECK 
READY FOR SEAT ROTATION FOR 
SECTION 2 OF FOUR PART -- 
4.100. 
>>  
>> SO ALL THOSE COMMUNIQUIS 
WERE DONE SUCCESSFULLY AND YOU 
CAN EVEN SEE IT SO COOL WHEN 
YOU GET THESE VIEWS IN THE 
CABIN. 
>> THEY WERE SO PROFESSIONAL 
ATHLETIC IT WAS SO INCREDIBLE. 
THEY WERE REALLY GREAT. 
REALLY GREAT. 
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? 
ANYBODY ELSE GOING? 
THE SECRET SERVICE TO THE JOB 
LAST NIGHT. 
THAT WAS INCREDIBLE. 
MINNEAPOLIS, I LOVE THAT CITY. 
AS YOU KNOW I HAVE VERY GREAT 
SUCCESS THERE. 
WE ALMOST WON THE STATE IN HIS 
GREAT STATE. 
MINNESOTA. 
THEY GOT TO GET TOUGHER. 
THAT GOT TO GET TOUGHER. 
THAT GOT TO BE STRONG. 
HONOR THE MEMORY OF GEORGE BOYD.
THEY HAD TO GET TOUGHER. 
IT'S LIKE BEING TOUGHER THEY 
WILL HONOR HIS MEMORY BUT THEY 
CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN. 
WHEN I SAW POLICEMAN RUN BY AND 
THE MAYOR, I THINK IS A 
PROBABLY GOOD PERSON, BUT HE IS 
A RADICAL LEFT THE MAYOR. 
WHEN I SAW THE POLICEMAN 
RUNNING OUT OF THE POLICE 
STATION AND THAT POLICE STATION 
TO  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 SpaceX 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.
HE 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
HERE.
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 SUCCESSFUL 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.
THAT'S NOT THE HIGHLY SWREUZ VIE
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.
ISSUES WITH THOSE O-RINGS THERE 
THAT ARE HOLDING THAT PRESSURE. 
AND SO ONCE THEY COMPLETE THAT 
LEAK CHECK, THEY WILL THEN DO 
WHAT IS THE -- CALLED THE 
INSTALLATION OR THE FINAL 
INSTALLATION OF THE SIDE 
PRESSURE EQUALIZATION PLUG. 
THAT'S BASICALLY A PLUG THAT, 
ONCE THE CAPSULE SPLASHES DOWN, 
WHAT YOU'LL DO IS, UM, ACTUALLY 
REMOVE THAT AND WHAT IT DOES IS 
EQUALIZES PRESSURE ACROSS THE 
HATCH. 
ONCE THAT THING IS PLUGGED IN, 
NOW THAT EVERYTHING IS SUPER 
TIGHT AND THAT YOU SHOULDN'T 
HAVE ANY LEAKS ON ORBIT. 
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT 
I THINK IS COOL ABOUT DRAGON, 
ON THE EDGES OF SOME OF THE 
WINDOWS, I KNOW THAT DRAGON 
STARTED OUT AS -- IT WAS CARGO 
DRAGON, THE CARGO VERSION 
BEFORE YOU MOVED ON TO THE CREW 
DRAGON VERSION. 
>> THE VERY FIRST CARGO DRAGON 
THAT WE EVER LAUNCHED HAD A 
WINDOW OVER THE HATCH OVER THE 
SIDE HATCH. 
AND THE REASON WE DID THAT IS, 
WE ALWAYS ENVISIONED DRAGON TO 
ULTIMATELY BE A CREWED VEHICLE. 
SO EVEN IN THE BEGINNING FOR 
THE FIRST -- VERY FIRST VEHICLE 
WE EVER MADE, WHICH CARRIED -- 
DIDN'T CARRY MUCH CARGO, WE PUT 
THAT WINDOW THERE. 
AND IT SYMBOLIZES WHAT DRAGON'S 
PURPOSE HAS BEEN ALL ALONG, 
TAKING THOSE STEPS, STARTING 
OFFER WITH THE CRS PROGRAM AND 
RESUPPLYING THE SPACE STATION 
WITH EXPERIMENTS AND FOOD AND 
CREW PROVISIONS FOR THE 
ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD TO NOW 
PUTTING OUR ASTRONAUTS UP IN 
OUR OWN VEHICLE THAT NATURAL 
PROGRESSION WE WERE AIMING FOR 
THE WHOLE TIME. 
>> WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE 
TOUCHSCREEN TECHNOLOGY? 
WE SAW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT 
OBVIOUSLY. 
THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT KIND 
OF LOOK THAN WHAT WE SAW DURING 
SPACE SHUTTLE. 
>> IT'S THE FUTURE. 
WE HAD OUR LCD DISPLAYS, VALVES 
AND SWITCHES. 
I THINK THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY 
WILL ALLOW US TO GET PROCEDURES 
MUCH FASTER BECAUSE WE HAD 
PAPER FLIGHT DATA FILES WE WERE 
HAVING TO TURN TO DIFFERENT 
PAGES AND GET TO THINGS. 
THIS WILL MAKE IT MUCH MORE 
EFFICIENT TO GO THROUGH YOUR 
FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES WITH 
THE TOUCHSCREENS. 
I THINK HAVING THE GLOVES, 
BEING ABLE TO TOUCH THE SCREENS 
AND WORK WITHIN THE GLOVES, UM, 
EVERYTHING IS KIND OF SLEEK AND 
EFFICIENT,  YOU KNOW, THERE'S 
NOT A LOT OF WIRES AND THINGS 
HANGING OFFER. 
AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR KNEE 
BOARDS ON THEIR LEFT KNEES. 
THAT'S FOR SOME EXTRA LITTLE 
NOTES AND THINGS. 
>> THE HATCH IS CLOSED NOW. 
>> THERE'S SOME COMMENTARY. 
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE 
POST-INGRESS BRIEFING WHEN
YOU'RE READY. 
>> WE JUST HEARD CONFIRMATION 
ON THE LOOP THAT THE HATCH IS 
CLOSED. 
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF 
SCHEDULE. 
>> WE ARE MOTIVATED TO GO 
TODAY.
>> WE'RE READY. 
GO AHEAD. 
>> OKAY. 
ON THE WEATHER, WE STILL HAVE 
SOME RAIN SHOWERS MOVING 
THROUGH THE AREA. 
BUT WE DO HAVE A REASONABLE 
OPPORTUNITY TODAY. 
SO WE ARE PROCEEDING INTO THE 
COUNT. 
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT 
BOTH PAD AND ASCENT TRACK 
WEATHER AT T-MINUS ONE HOUR AND 
THIRTY MINUTES AND THE NEXT 
DECISION POINT WILL BE PRIOR TO 
PROP LOAD. 
>> OKAY. 
WE COPY. 
>> AND ON THE VEHICLE HEALTH 
FRONT, BOTH F NINE AND DRAGON 
HEALTH REMAINS NOMINAL WITH NO 
ITEMS OF NOTE. 
>> SO WE JUST HEARD THE WEATHER 
IS STILL IFFY. 
>> IT IS. 
>> THANK YOU. 
>> WEATHER IS STILL IFFY. 
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE  POST-
INGRESS BRIEF. 
REPORT WHEN READY FOR COM 
CHECKS WITH FALCON 9 OPERATORS. 
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE F9 
OPERATORS. 
>> COPY. 
EXPECT THAT SHORTLY.
>> WE JUST HEARD THEM 
DISCUSSING THE WEATHER BRIEFLY, 
STILL KEEPING AN EYE ON THAT. 
>> WE ARE GOING TO PRESS 
FORWARD FOR NOW AND REEVALUATE 
BEFORE THEY START FUELING THE 
ROCKET. 
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT SOUNDS 
LIKE FALCON 9 AND CREW DRAGON 
ARE HEALTHY SO THE VEHICLE IS 
IN GOOD SHAPE. 
IT'S THE SAME AS WEDNESDAY, 
JUST KEEPING AN EYE ON THE 
WEATHER. 
>> COM CHECKS, F9, CHECK IT IN 
ONE TO TWO MINUTES. 
>> DRAGON'S READY. 
>> ON THEIR LEFT LEGS, THEY HAVE
THE SATCHELS STRAPPED TO THEIR 
LEGS. 
INSIDE ARE SOME CREW PROVISIONS 
INCLUDING THESE TABLETS THAT 
YOU SEE THAT THEY HAVE 
DISPLAYED THERE. 
>> THOSE ARE TABLETS? 
>> THE TABLETS ARE INSIDE. 
>> OKAY. 
>>> WHEN WILL THEY PULL THEM 
OUT TO USE THEM? 
>> DURING THE MISSION WHILE IN 
ORBIT. 
>> OKAY. 
>> WE HEAR THE RAIN. 
WONDER IF BOB AND DOUG CAN HEAR 
IT. 
>> LOOKS PATCHY OUT THERE. 
>> BUT, AGAIN, WE WERE 
FOLLOWING SOME THUNDERSTORMS 
THAT LOOK LIKE THEY MAY BE 
MAKING THEIR WAY OVER HERE. 
IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE IT'S  
RAINING FROM THAT VIEW. 
IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE HARD TO 
TELL THROUGH THE HAZE. 
>> LAUNCH IS JUST OVER TWO 
HOURS AWAY. 
NOW THAT THE HATCH IS CLOSED 
AND THE RAIN IS PICKING UP AND 
ALL KINDS OF EXCITING THINGS 
ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AS WE 
COUNT DOWN THE LAST NIGHT TWO 
HOURS, I BET THINGS ARE GETTING 
PRETTY INTERESTING ON SOCIAL 
MEDIA. 
>> HEY, LAUREN. 
I MEAN, YES, THEY ARE. 
SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS ARE 
GOING ON RIGHT NOW! 
AND I THINK PEOPLE ONLINE ARE 
JUST WONDERING, WHAT'S GOING TO 
HAPPEN WITH TODAY'S MISSION? 
THE TweetDECK IS SCROLLING WITH 
CONVERSATION OF PEOPLE AROUND 
NATION TALKING ABOUT THE 
LAUNCH. 
WE ARE UP TO 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE 
WATCHING THIS LIVE BROADCAST. 
LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE 
THINGS BEING SAID ON TWITTER 
RIGHT NOW. 
SO IT LOOKS LIKE, OH, WE JUST 
HAVE SOME MORE FUTURE 
ASTRONAUTS. 
I REALLY LOVE SEEING THE YOUNG 
GENERATION JUST GETTING 
MOBILIZED, GETTING EXCITED 
ABOUT TODAY'S MISSION.
WISHING THEM LUCK, THROW BACK 
PHOTOS, AND ALSO JUST LET'S DO 
THIS. 
I LOVE THIS CAN DO ATTITUDE. 
I JUST LOVE SEEING THAT PEOPLE 
ARE STILL KEEPING THE ENERGY 
ALIVE FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH. 
THERE ARE SOME DISAPPOINTING 
REACTION TO WEDNESDAY'S SCRUB. 
BUT LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE ARE 
GETTING EXCITED FOR TODAY'S 
ATTEMPT. 
LET'S ROLL. 
♪[ MUSIC ]♪ 
>>> I'M STOKED! 
>> THAT VIDEO IS FUN. 
JUST REALLY GLAD TO SEE 
EVERYONE IN GOOD SPIRITS 
LEADING INTO TODAY'S SECOND 
LAUNCH ATTEMPT. 
AND I REALLY HOPE EVERYBODY 
WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SMILE 
ABOUT. 
WITH THAT, LET'S HEAD BACK TO 
LAUREN. 
>> THANK YOU. 
LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE PRETTY 
STOKED ABOUT TODAY'S ATTEMPT. 
PLEASE CONTINUE TO JOIN THE 
CONVERSATION BY USING THE 
HASHTAG #LAUNCHAMERICA ACROSS 
ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. 
>> I LOVE SEEING THE LITTLE 
KIDS GET EXCITED. 
I KNOW MY 3-YEAR-OLD IS SUPER 
EXCITED. 
SHE HAS AN ASTRONAUT SLEEPING 
BAG AND SHE LOVES TO CLIMB IN 
IT. 
LOOKS LIKE SHE HAS A SPACESUIT 
ON SO SHE LOST IT. 
>> THAT'S THE INSPIRATION FOR 
THE NEXT GENERATION. 
I THINK WE HAVE PEOPLE SO 
INTERESTED IN OUR CONVERSATION 
ABOUT THE WORM AND THE MEATBALL 
THAT THEY HAVE CREATED 
SOMETHING CALLED THE WORMBALL. 
>> RIGHT? 
>> I WAS CHECKING MY EMAIL. 
I EMAILED IT TO YOU. 
WHAT IS THIS? 
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING 
IT. 
BUT WHAT IS IS THE WORMBALL? 
>> IT'S A MEATBALL, WHAT IT 
SHOULD BE. 
THERE IT IS. 
>> THANK YOU. 
I NEED A VISUAL. 
>> SO THEY TOOK THE ANGULAR 
NASA LOGO AND PUT IN THE WORK 
INSIDE OF THE MEATBALL. 
CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT? 
>> YOU KNOW WHAT? 
THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL COMPROMISE. 
I'LL TAKE IT. 
>> I'LL TAKE IT. 
>> HA HA. 
>> NICE MARRIAGE OF THE TWO. 
>> LOVE IT. 
>>> THERE'S ANOTHER LIVE LOOK 
AT LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A. 
WE HAVE A CHANCE TO SHARE WITH 
YOU ABOUT THE CAPSULES, THE 
CREW AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 
THE RETURN OF HUMAN LAUNCH 
CAPABILITY FROM AMERICAN SHORES 
BUT WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE 
DIDN'T EXPLAIN WHY THIS PAD 39A 
IS HALLOWED GROUND. 
>> MANY OF NASA'S MISSIONS 
BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY FROM THE 
SAME SPOT ON EARTH. 
LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. 
THIS MASSIVE STRUCTURE OF STEEL 
AND CONCRETE HAS CRADLED 
ROCKETS AND GUIDED EACH ON 
THEIR FIERY ASCENT TO SPACE FOR 
OVER 50 YEARS. 
THERE CAN BE NO LAUNCH WITHOUT 
A LAUNCH PAD. 
AND THIS HALLOWED GROUND HAS A 
HISTORY GREATER THAN ANY OTHER. 
SHAPED FOR EACH NEW ERA OF 
SPACE FLIGHT. 
IT'S ALIVE WITH THE HEARTBEAT 
AS STRONG AS THE FIRST. 
LAUNCH PAD 39A CAME TO LIFE 
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROJECT 
ENGINEER HARRY AS NASA RAMPED 
UP ITS EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE AN 
UNPRECEDENTED CALLING. 
>> WHY SOME SAY THE MOON? 
WHY CHOOSE THIS AS OUR GOAL? 
AND THEY MAY WELL ASK, WHY 
CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN?
>> IN 1962, EARTH-MOVING 
MACHINES SCULPTED ITS MASSIVE 
PYRAMID BASE TO A HIGH OF 40 
FEET. 
THEN CONCRETE WAS POURED TO 
HOLD IT IN PLACE. 
TO LAUNCH THE WORLD'S FIRST 
MOON ROCKET, ENGINEERS CUT A 
FLAME TRENCH NEARLY THE LENGTH 
OF TWO FOOTBALL FIELDS DOWN THE 
MIDDLE OF THE MOUND. 
IT WAS THEN LINED WITH  HEAT-
RESISTANT BRICKS TO DEFLECT 7 
1/2 MILLION POUNDS OF EARTH-
RATTLING THRUST FROM APOLLO 8. 
LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, APOLLO 
11 LAUNCHED FROM PAT 39A. 
AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF 
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WATCHED 
AS IT LANDED ON THE MOON THREE 
DAYS LATER. 
NEARLY A DECADE AFTER THIS 
APOLLO ERA, 39A AGAIN TOOK 
CENTER STAGE WITH A NEW ONE OF 
A KIND SPACECRAFT, THE SPACE 
SHUTTLE. 
BILLIONS OF POUNDS OF 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. 
THE FINAL LIFTOFF OF ATLANTIS. 
>> WITH THE FLEET RETIRED, 
DEMOLITION CREWS REMOVED THE 
SHUTTLE ERA HARDWARE TO CLEAR 
THE WAY FOR THE DECISION TO 
LEASE THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH 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 MEN TO THE MOON, THIS 
HISTORIC SPACEPORT STANDS READY 
FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF HUMAN 
EXPLORATION. 
>> WE'RE LOOKING LIVE AGAIN AT 
PAD 39A. 
YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM BY THE 
NUMBERS THERE. 
WE HEARD CONFIRMATION OF THE 
HATCH BEING CLOSED JUST A FEW 
MINUTES AGO. 
SO, AGAIN, THINGS A LITTLE BIT 
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. 
WHEN I SAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, I 
DON'T MEAN THE LAUNCH TIME IS 
CHANGING. 
I JUST MEAN ON SOME OF THE 
SPECIFIC MILESTONES IN THE 
TIMELINE, THOSE TIMES ARE A 
LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE, BUT THAT 
LAUNCH WINDOW REMAINS 
INSTANTANEOUS AT 3:22 THIS 
AFTERNOON. 
AND LELAND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST 
SAW A PIECE ABOUT THE HISTORY 
OF PAD 39A. 
>> ALL STATIONS -- 
ALL STATIONS, COUNTDOWN ONE FOR 
COM CHECK WITH THE CREW. 
>> WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE FOR 
THAT COM CHECK. 
>> FALCON 9, GUIDANCE, 
NAVIGATION AND CONTROL. 
>> DRAGON ON COUNT YOU KNOW 
ONE, COM CHECK. 
>> LOUD AND CHECK. 
>> STAND BY FOR PROPOSED COM-
CHECK. 
>> DRAGON COM-CHECK. 
>> CRAFT DRAGON, LOUD AND 
CLEAR. 
>> STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK WITH 
THE AVIONICS ENGINEER. 
>> DRAGON A JOHNICS ON COUNT 
AVIONICS ON COUNTDOWN ONE, COM-
CHECK. 
>> AVIONICS DRAGON, LOUD AND 
CLEAR. 
>> AVIONICS LOUD AND CLEAR, 
STAND BY FOR GROUND CHECK BY 
GROUND SEGMENT ENGINEER. 
>> COM-CHECK. 
>> GROUND CHECK DRAGON LOUD AND 
CLEAR. 
>> STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK BY 
LAUNCH CONTROL. 
>> DRAGON LAUNCH CONTROL AND 
COUNTDOWN ONE, COM-CHECK. 
>> DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR. 
>> LAUNCH CONTROL LOUD AND 
CLEAR, STAND BY FOR COM-CHECK 
BY THE CHIEF ENGINEER. 
>> 
[ PAUSE ] 
>> DRAGON, COUNTDOWN ONE, COM-
CHECK.
>> CHIEF ENGINEER DRAGON, WE 
HAVE YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> THIS COMPLETES THE 
COM-CHECK. 
>> WE JUST SAW THUMBS UP FROM 
DOUG HURLEY. 
WE LISTENED TO A SERIES OF COM-
CHECKS THERE AND SO EVERYTHING 
-- 
>>  CHIEF ENGINEER ON DRAGON TO
GROUND. 
>> LOUD AND CLEAR ON DRAGON TO 
GROUND. 
>> LOUD AND CLEAR. 
GOOD LUCK AND LET'S SEE IF THE 
RAIN LETS UP. 
>> THAT SENTIMENT SHARED BY ALL 
HERE. 
>> WE CAN DO IT! 
>> COPY THAT. 
SO ALL AMERICA HOPING THE RAIN 
CLEARS UP HERE. 
BUT AS FAR AS COM-CHECKS GO, 
EVERYTHING SOUNDED NORMAL, 
PRETTY NOMINAL THERE. 
SO WE ARE WAITING ON THE 
WEATHER TO CLEAR UP.
. THE FIRST MISSION TO THE 
MOON, APOLLO 11 LIFTED OFF FROM 
39A. 
YOU WERE JUST 5 YEARS OLD WHEN 
THAT HAPPENED. 
TAKE US BACK THERE. 
>> I WAS 5. AND I WAS THE 
ANTENNA ENGINEER DURING THE 
BROADCAST. 
I WAS THE KID STANDING BEHIND 
THE BLACK AND WHITE SYLVANIA 
TELEVISION HOLDING THE RABBIT 
EARS, AND MY DAD SAID, MOVE TO 
THE LEFT, MOVE TO THE RIGHT! 
I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AROUND TO 
SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, NO, NO, 
DON'T MOVE. 
STAY THERE! 
SO I NEVER ACTUALLY SAW THE 
ACTUAL LANDING ON THE MOON. 
AND THE NEXT DAY ALL MY FRIENDS 
IN THE COMMUNITY, HEY, YOU WANT 
TO BE AN ASTRONAUT? 
WE HAD THIS MOMENTOUS THING. 
I JUST SAID NO, I DIDN'T SEE  
IT. 
I WANT TO BE ARTHUR ASHE 
BECAUSE HE TRAINED FIVE BLOCKS 
DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I 
GREW UP AND I MY DAD TALKED 
ABOUT HIS EXCELLENCE, 
PERSEVERANCE AND ATHLETICISM. 
IT WASN'T UNTIL I GOT TO NASA 
WORKING AS AN ENGINEER THAT MY 
FRIEND SAID YOU WOULD BE A 
GREAT ASTRONAUT. 
I LAUGHED AND DIDN'T FILL THE 
APPLICATION OUT. 
BUT A FRIEND GOT IN. 
IF HE COULD, I COULD. 
SO APPLIED THE NEXT YEAR AND 
GOT IN, IN THE 1999 CLASS. 
I WAS THERE IN 2008 AND 2009. 
SHUTTLE ATLANTIS, THE LAST ONE 
THAT CAME IN WITH DOUG AND THE 
REST OF THE CREW AND IT'S AN 
AMAZING TIME OF THIS NEW ERA, 
SPACEX CREW DRAGON ABOUT TO 
TAKE OFF. 
>> WOW. 
I NEVER HEARD THAT STORY. 
>> I HAVE A MILLION STORIES. 
A MILLION. 
>> HA HA. 
>> WOW. 
IT'S SO COOL THAT,  YOU KNOW, 
YOU HAVE A LOT OF THESE KIDS 
THAT ARE WATCHING TODAY WHO 
HAVE NEVER SEEN A FLIGHT, A 
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT FROM KENNEDY 
SPACE CENTER BEFORE. 
IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME. 
I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER BACK -- 
I GREW UP IN THE SHUTTLE ERA 
AND IN LOS ANGELES, AND I 
REMEMBER SOMETIMES WHEN THE 
SHUTTLE WOULD LAND AT EDWARDS 
AIR FORCE BASE. 
YOU COULD HEAR THE SONIC BOOMS. 
THE DOUBLE SONIC BOOMS IN 
SCHOOL, WE ALL KNEW, IT WAS THE 
SPACE SHUTTLE. 
WE JUST KNEW ABOUT IT. 
AND IT DID MAKE ME SAD THAT 
THERE'S AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF 
KIDS WHO DIDN'T GROW ONE THAT 
EXPERIENCE. 
I'M SO PROUD TODAY HOPEFULLY WE 
GET TO PROVIDE THAT FOR KIDS 
AND, HOPEFULLY, HAVE MORE AND 
MORE OF THESE LAUNCHES TO THE 
POINT WHERE IT BECOMES ROUTINE. 
HOPEFULLY, NEVER BORING BUT 
ROUTINE. 
>> MAKE SURE THAT EVERY KID IN 
EVERY ZIP CODE HAS THE 
OPPORTUNITY TO DO THESE TYPES 
OF THINGS, THAT THEY BELIEVE IN 
THEMSELVES AND GIVE THEM THE 
RIGHT TOOLS TO USE TO BE IN 
S.T.E.M. 
FIELDS AND WE HAVE A VERY 
DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE UP HERE 
WORKING TOGETHER TO GET BOB AND 
DOUG OFF SAFELY. 
AND I THINK MORE PEOPLE THAT 
SEE THIS TYPE OF DIVERSITY WILL 
HAVE A CHANCE TO SAY, I CAN DO 
THAT, TOO. 
>> ABSOLUTELY. 
AND NOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS 
WATCHING TODAY AND WE HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM 
ANOTHER REALLY AWESOME ROLE 
MODEL, ESPECIALLY FOR THE 
LITTLE GIRLS IN THE AUDIENCE, 
SO WE WANT TO THROW IT OVER TO 
GARY IN HOUSTON TO TALK TO A 
VERY SPECIAL ASTRONAUT STANDING 
BY THERE. 
HI, GARY. 
>> HI, MARIE. 
I HAVE THE DISTINCT PLEASURE OF 
BEING JOINED BY ONE OF NASA'S 
RECORD SETTING ASTRONAUTS AND A 
RECENT RESIDENT ABOARD THE 
SPACE STATION, CHRISTINA KOCH. 
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. 
>> IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU 
TODAY. 
>> WE ARE COMING UP ON 20 YEARS 
OF CONTINUOUS HUMANS ON THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SEE A NEW 
MILESTONE LIKE THIS LAUNCH 
UNFOLD AFTER SO MUCH HISTORY 
ALREADY? 
>> YOU'RE RIGHT. 
SO MUCH HISTORY INDEED. 
IT'S JUST BEEN GREAT TO WATCH 
IT ALL UNFOLD. 
I THINK,FOR ME, THE MOST 
EXCITING THING IS HOW NASA IS 
NOT ONLY INNOVATING IN WHAT WE 
DO, EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE, 
PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES, GETTING 
KNOWLEDGE ON THE SPACE STATION, 
BRINGS IT BACK TO EARTH FOR 
BENEFITS HERE, BUT IN HOW WE DO 
IT. 
WE'RE INNOVATING IN THE 
IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE GOALS. 
THAT MEANS BRINGING IN THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR, BRINGING IN THE 
COMMERCIAL SPACE ECONOMY FOR 
LOW EARTH ORBIT MEANS SPACE IS 
GOING TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE AND 
INNOVATIVE. 
IT'S AWESOME. 
>> YOU HOLD THE RECORD FOR THE 
LONGEST SINGLE STAY BY A FEMALE 
ASTRONAUT IN SPACE. 
WHAT'S IT LIKE LIVING ABOARD 
FOR SO LONG? 
>> WELL, IT IS TRULY A 
PRIVILEGE EVERY, SINGLE DAY. 
I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL 
THING TO LOOK DOWN ON THE EARTH 
AND TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF 
CONTRIBUTE TO A SPACE PROGRAM 
THAT YOU YOURSELF HAVE HELD IN 
SUCH HIGH REGARD YOUR ENTIRE 
LIFE. 
I WOULD SAY THAT THE BIGGEST 
CHALLENGE GOING INTO SORT OF 
THOSE LONGER TIMES IS REMAINING 
VIGILANT. 
THE ENGINEERS MAKE IT SO EASY 
TO LIVE ON BOARD THE SPACE 
STATION. 
SOMETIMES YOU FORGET YOU'RE 
ACTUALLY SURROUNDED BY SUCH A 
HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. 
SO REMAINING VIGILANT DAY TO 
DAY TO HAVE THAT APPRECIATION 
AND THAT YOU WAKE UP WITH EVERY 
DAY, AND ALSO KNOWING THINGS 
COULD TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE 
ANYTIME AND YOU HAVE TO BE 
READY TO REACT TO THAT. 
IT'S A GREAT PRIVILEGE BUT IT 
ALSO COMES WITH GREAT 
RESPONSIBILITY. 
>> YOU CAME TO NASA AFTER THE 
DAYS OF THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM AND 
YOU FLEW ON THE RUSSIAN SOYUZ. 
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS 
PRIVATE CAPABILITY TO FLY 
ASTRONAUTS TO THE STATION? 
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST A 
GREAT INNOVATION IN TERMS OF 
OUR PARTNERSHIPS. 
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE STARTED OUT, 
IT WAS INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES 
PURSUING SPACE EXPLORATION. 
WE BROUGHT IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
ASPECT OF IT AND NOW WE'RE  
REALLY FOLDING IN THAT 
COMMERCIAL ASPECT, BRINGING THE 
INNOVATION OF ALL OUR AMERICAN 
INDUSTRIAL POWER AND  
RECOGNIZING THAT THE MORE 
PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE, THE MORE 
ACCESSIBLE, THE MORE INNOVATIVE 
SPACE EXPLORATION CAN BE. 
IT'S AN AWESOME TIME AND BRINGS 
WITH IT SO MUCH CAPABILITY TO 
THE PROGRAM, AS WELL. 
IT'S NOT ONLY HOW WE'RE DOING, 
BUT IT'S WHAT IT BRINGS. 
>> WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO 
HAVING THIS TRANSPORTATION FROM 
PRIVATE COMPANIES. 
HOW DOES IT HELP YOU DO YOUR 
JOB IN SPACE? 
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE 
CONCEPT THAT WE HAVE IN NASA 
FOR SAFETY AND TO MITIGATE RISK 
IS CALLED DISSIMILAR  
REDUNDANCY. 
HERE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BRINGING 
UP A WHOLE SECOND WAY OF 
GETTING CREW TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND 
GETTING CARGO, LAST-MINUTE 
CARGO. 
WE'RE INCREASING HOW MUCH 
SCIENCE WE CAN DO ON THE SPACE 
STATION BY TWOFOLD. 
WE ARE INCREASING OUR OPTIONS 
FOR GETTING ITEMS UP. 
SUPPLIES, PROVISIONS, SCIENCE 
EXPERIMENTS. 
SO WE'RE REALLY JUST BANKING ON 
THE EXTRA REDUNDANCY TO MAKE 
THE PROGRAM THAT MUCH MORE 
ROBUST. 
>> WE ARE WATCHING THEM GO 
THROUGH THE FINAL PHASES. 
WHAT'S THROUGH YOUR MIND CLOSE 
TO LIFTOFF? 
>> IT'S SUCH A GREAT DAY 
INDEED. 
IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I 
THINK IT'S NOT SO MUCH WHAT IS 
GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND BUT 
WHAT'S NOT GOING THROUGH YOUR 
MIND. 
YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT ALL 
THE THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG. 
YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ENABLING 
SUCCESS BY DOING WHAT HAVE BEEN 
TRAINED TO DO. 
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE IS 
THAT ON LAUNCH DAY, ASTRONAUTS 
ARE SOMETIMES THE MOST CALM 
PEOPLE IN THE ROOM. 
I FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE ON MY 
LAUNCH DATE,  TOO. 
I THINK IT'S KIND OF THIS 
CAREER CULMINATION OF 
EVERYTHING YOU'VE LEARNED, 
EVERYTHING YOU'VE DREAMED OF 
AND NOW THAT IT'S COMING 
TOGETHER IN THAT DAY AND THAT 
YOU'RE GOING TO FINALLY DO WHAT 
YOU'RE PREPARED TO DO EXECUTE 
THE MISSION. 
IT BRINGS A SENSE OF CALM AND 
READINESS. 
>> ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HEAR FROM 
YOU. 
>> THANK YOU. 
GREAT TO BE WITH YOU. 
>> ONCE BOB AND DOUG ARRIVE AT 
THE STATION, NASA ASTRONAUT 
CHRIS CASSIDY WILL BE READY TO 
WELCOME THEM ON BOARD. 
SO IN ANTICIPATION OF THEIR 
LAUNCH, HE HAD THIS MESSAGE FOR 
THEM. 
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. 
I'M ASTRONAUT CHRIS CASSIDY, 
COMMANDER OF EXPEDITION 63 ON 
BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION FLYING 250 MILES ABOVE 
THE EARTH. 
LIKE YOU, I'M EXCITED ABOUT 
TODAY'S LAUNCH AND THE 
POSSIBILITIES IT WILL BRING TO 
AMERICA AND TO THE WORLD. 
BUT ALSO, I'M VERY EXCITED THAT 
TWO CLOSE FRIENDS WILL BE 
ARRIVING AND JOINING THE CREW. 
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF FLYING 
WITH DOUG HURLEY ON BOTH OF OUR 
FIRST SHUTTLE MISSIONS BACK IN 
2009. 
TOGETHER, WE CAME TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND 
HELPED CONSTRUCT THE AMAZING 
FACILITY THAT IT IS TODAY. 
ALTHOUGH THIS WILL BE MY FIRST 
MISSION WITH BOB, IT WAS MY 
HONOR TO FOLLOW HIM AS A CHIEF 
OF THE OFFICE WHEN HE LEFT BACK 
IN 2015 TO BEGIN TRAINING FOR 
THIS AMAZING MISSION. 
PERSONALLY, I HAVE BEEN VERY 
FORTUNATE FLYING TWO DIFFERENT 
SPACECRAFT. 
LAUNCH FROM AMERICA ON THE 
SHUTTLE AND MOST RECENTLY FROM 
KAZAKHSTAN IN THE SOYUZ. 
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW 
EXCITING IT IS TO KNOW THAT 
WE'RE ONCE AGAIN LAUNCHING 
AMERICANS FROM THE COAST OF 
FLORIDA. 
AND FINALLY, HERE'S A STORY I'D 
LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. 
BACK IN 1981, JOHN YOUNG AND 
BOB CRIPPEN LAUNCHED ON SPACE 
SHUTTLE COLUMBIA THE FIRST 
SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT MARKING 
THE LAST TIME WE FLEW AMERICANS 
ON A BRAND-NEW VEHICLE. 
>> ROGER. 
>> WITH THEM, THEY FLEW AN 
AMERICAN FLAG REPRESENTING 
AMERICA'S TECHNICAL PROWESS.
>> ROGER, ATLANTIS. 
>> 30 YEARS LATER, THAT SAME 
FLAG WAS FLOWN TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
THIS FLAG REMAINS THERE TODAY 
WAITING FOR BOB AND DOUG. 
OUR FLAG MEANS SO MANY THINGS 
TO OUR COUNTRY, AND THIS SMALL 
PIECE OF AMERICA REPRESENTS 
WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 
TOGETHER. 
WE'LL NEVER STOP EXPLORING. 
SO THEY CAN TAKE THIS SPECIAL 
FLAG HOME TO EARTH WHERE IT 
AWAITS THE NEXT JOURNEY. 
IN A FEW YEARS, THE FIRST ORIEN 
CREW WILL TAKE THIS FLAG WITH 
IT AROUND THE MOON. 
THIS ALL STARTS TODAY. 
I'LL BE WATCHING WITH EVERYONE 
ELSE AROUND THE WORLD. 
I CAN'T WAIT TO LOOK OUT THE 
WINDOW AND SEE MY FRIENDS ON 
CLOSE APPROACH. 
GO, FALCON 9! GO DRAGON! 
AND GO, BOB AND DOUG.
I'LL SEE YOU SOON. 
>> AND THERE AGAIN IS A LIVE 
LOOK AT LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A AT 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA 
WHERE WE ARE COUNTING FROM  
LIFTOFF OF THE FALCON 9 ROCKET 
CARRYING CREW DRAGON WITH 
ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG 
HURLEY STRAPPED INSIDE. 
WE CAN SEE SOME RAINDROPS ON 
THE SCREEN THERE. 
IT LOOKS LIKE RAIN COMING DOWN 
AT THE PAD. 
BUT WE'RE STILL MONITORING 
WEATHER AND IT SOUND LIKE 
THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER 
DECISION POINT BEFORE THEY 
START FUELING THE FALCON 9 
ROCKET WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO 
HAPPEN ABOUT T MINUS 35 
MINUTES. 
WE HEARD ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE 
HEAD -- IF THE WEATHER 
COOPERATES TODAY, JUST FROM 
WHAT YOU'VE TOLD US, IT'S THIS 
LEVIATHON IN SPACE. 
>> FLOATING IN THE COLUMBIA 
LABORATORY THAT A TEAM OF US 
INSTALLED ON STS122. 
I THINK ABOUT,  YOU KNOW, USING 
THIS ROBOTIC ARM THAT WAS MADE 
IN CANADA, THE EUROPEAN SPACE 
AGENCY BUILT IT, COLUMBUS 
LABORATORY AND MY JOB WAS TO 
USE THAT ARM AND ATTACH IT TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE  
STATION. 
AS IT WAS GETTING CLOSER AND 
CLOSER, THE MOTION JUST  
STOPPED. 
I'M LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON? 
AND I WAS MOVING SO SLOWLY WITH 
THE TRANSLATIONAL HAND  
CONTROLLER THAT THAT SPRING 
PORT STALLED OUT THE MOTION. 
AND PEGGY SAID, LELAND -- 
HERE'S SOME COMMENTARY. 
>> WEATHER UPDATE. 
>> GO AHEAD. 
>> HEY, DOUG. 
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR A 
WEATHER UPDATE EXPECTED AT 18 
ZULU. 
THEREFORE, THE NEXT ASSESSMENT 
WILL BE CLOSER TO THE 
PROPELLANT LOAD TIME. 
WE ARE CURRENTLY NO GO ON 
LAUNCH WEATHER. 
BUT WE ARE SHOWING AN EXPECTED 
CLEAR THE 18:30 ZULU. 
>> OKAY. 
COPY THAT. 
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
>> SO WE JUST HEARD IF THEY 
WERE TO LAUNCH RIGHT NOW, THE 
WEATHER WOULD BE NO GO. 
HOWEVER, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE 
MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY IF THE 
WEATHER CLEARS AS IT SOUNDS 
LIKE THEY EXPECT IT MAY, SO 
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP 
LISTENING AS WE CONTINUE 
TALKING. 
WE'LL QUIET DOWN WHEN WE HEAR 
THE WEATHER CHATTER. 
LELAND, YOU WERE JUST TALKING 
ABOUT THE WORK ON STATION AND 
PEGGY WHITSON WAS GETTING READY 
TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. 
>> SO THE COLUMBIA LABORATORY 
STALLED OUT, ABOUT TO BE 
ATTACHED AND THERE ARE 10,000 
PEOPLE WAITING, JOB SECURITY 
DEPENDED ON ME INSTALLING THIS 
THING PROPERLY. 
PEGGY SAID, PUSH A LITTLE 
HARDER ON THE HAND CONTROLLER 
AND ALL THE INDICATORS WENT TO 
GREEN. 
PEGGY INVITED US OVER TO DINNER 
IN THE RUSSIAN SEGMENT AND WE 
HAD THIS MEAL WITH PEOPLE FROM 
ALL OVER THE WORLD, RUSSIANS, 
GERMANS, FRENCH, AFRICAN-
AMERICAN, ASIAN-AMERICAN, THIS 
DIVERSITY WE TALKED ABOUT 
EARLIER, WERE UP THERE BREAKING 
BREAD AT  17,500 MILES PER HOUR 
WHILE LISTENING TO SADE'S 
SMOOTH OPERATOR. 
IT WAS -- SMOOTH OPERATOR ♪ 
>> WHAT AN APPROPRIATE SONG! 
>> I KNOW. 
>> WOW. 
DOES SHE KNOW? 
>> SHE DOES NOW. 
>> AND -- ACTUALLY CHANGED THE 
SONG FROM SMOOTH OPERATOR TO 
ARM OPERATOR. 
ARM OPERATOR ♪ 
>> LOVE IT. 
HA HA! 
>> LELAND, WE WERE IN ANOTHER 
TAPED SEGMENT WHEN YOU GOT A 
TEXT FROM DREW. 
CAN YOU SHARE THAT WITH US? 
>> YEAH. 
DREW IS A GOOD FRIEND, JUST 
SENT ME A TEXT SAYING THAT, THE 
FAMILIES SAY HELLO TO ALL WHO 
ARE WATCHING AND THANK THE 
NATION AND THE WORLD FOR THEIR 
SUPPORT AND INTEREST. 
AND CHRIS FERGUSON SENT ME A 
TEXT. 
HE WAS THE COMMANDER ON 135 AND 
ONE OF MY CLASSMATES FROM THE 
1998 CLASS. 
HE SAYS, WAY TO GO, GODSPEED ON 
CREW DRAGON. 
>> THAT'S AWESOME. 
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THOSE WORDS 
OF SUPPORT. 
THANK YOU, GUYS, FOR WATCHING. 
EVERYBODY FOLLOWING ALONG AT 
HOME. 
I MEAN, THE COVID-19 SITUATION 
HAS BEEN JUST A TOUGH TIME FOR 
PEOPLE STUCK INSIDE, 
HOMESCHOOLING THEIR KIDS, STILL 
TRYING TO DO THEIR JOBS AND SO 
IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO 
WATCH THIS HAPPENING. 
AND WE SEE THE PAD CLOSEOUT 
TEAM, LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE 
GETTING READY -- THEY HAVE LEFT 
THE WHITE ROOM AND COME DOWN 
THE CREW ACCESS ARM SO THEY ARE 
GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE PAD 
NOW. 
AND WE ARE GOING TO GO NOW TO 
THE OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT 
BUILDING TO WHERE WE ARE 
STANDING BY WITH NASA'S CHIEF 
OF STAFF TO TALK ABOUT NASA'S 
AMBITIONS BEYOND THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND 
IT WORK WITH THE COMMERCIAL 
CREW PROGRAM. 
>> THAT'S RIGHT. 
WE'RE HERE IN THE MISSION 
BRIEFING ROOM AT THE TOP OF 
OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT BUILDING 
HERE, WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF 
IMPORTANT PEOPLE THAT ARE 
GATHERING TO WATCH LAUNCH HERE. 
AND ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, NOT  
ME, BY THE WAY, ONE OF THOSE 
PEOPLE WHO IS IMPORTANT IS DAVE 
SHERMAN, NASA'S CHIEF OF STAFF. 
WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE. 
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. 
>> YOU HAVE THE INSIGHT OF 
WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPE 
HERE AT NASA. 
SO TODAY IS COMMERCIAL CREW AND 
WE'RE FOCUSED ON THAT, THE 
COMMERCIAL MARKET. 
WHAT'S OFF IN THE HORIZON FOR 
NASA? 
>> IT'S AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING 
TIME TO BE AT NASA. 
YOU KNOW THIS. 
YOU'RE HERE EVERY DAY. 
BUT WHENEVER YOU THINK ABOUT 
WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH 
COMMERCIAL CREW AND THE 
HORIZON, IN JULY WE'RE 
LAUNCHING MARS PERSEVERANCE 
WHICH IS GOING TO BE AN 
INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE THING 
FOR US, YOU LOOK AT THE END OF 
THIS YEAR, YOU KNOW, SLS, THE 
LARGEST ROCKET IN THE WORLD IS 
GOING THROUGH TESTING RIGHT NOW 
GOING THROUGH GREENLAND TESTING 
AND WE'RE HOPING, MAYBE BY THE 
END OF THE YEAR, WE COULD EVEN 
GET IT RIGHT OUT HERE TO THE 
CAPE WHICH WOULD BE AN 
INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUR 
TEAM OF. 
THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS 
TO BE EXCITED ABOUT AT NASA 
RIGHT NOW. 
>> EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO 
HAPPEN RECENTLY WITH EVERYTHING 
YOU JUST MENTIONED. 
IF WE GET THAT FIRST ARTEMIS 
LAUNCH THAT COULD BE RIGHT 
AROUND THE CORNER. 
>> LATE 2021. 
FROM GREEN LAND TO THE CAPE, 
ORIEN FINISHING UP TESTING FROM 
PLUMBROOK IN OHIO DOWN TO KSC. 
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT CHECKING IT 
OUT THROUGHOUT NEXT YEAR AND, 
HOPEFULLY, HAVE THE FIRST 
INTEGRATIVE FLIGHT OF SLS AND 
ORIEN AT THE END OF 2021 AND 
THAT WILL BE A MOMENT. 
>> EXCITING. 
AND A THUNDEROUS BOOM HERE AT 
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. 
SO WITH MARS AS THE END GOAL, 
HOW DOES ALL OF THIS GET TO 
THAT END POINT? 
>>  YOU BET. 
I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S SO 
IMPORTANT ABOUT THE ARTEMIS 
PROGRAM. 
OUR LONG TERM VISION IS TO GET 
TO MARS. 
BUT,  YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK 
ABOUT ARTEMIS, EVERYTHING THAT 
WE'RE DOING AT THE MOON IS 
HELPING US LEARN, PROVE OUT 
CAPABILITIES AND TECHNOLOGIES, 
WORK THROUGH THE RIGHT MISSION 
DURATION, UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE 
THE RESOURCES OF THE MOON 
POTENTIALLY TO GO FURTHER ON TO 
MARS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY, THE 
SCIENCE, THE EXPLORATION, 
ARCHITECTURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING 
TOGETHER, EVERY PIECE IS 
HELPING US LEARN MORE, PROTEA 
LITTLE MORE SO WE CAN TAKE THAT 
NEXT GIANT LEAP TO MARS. 
SO EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING AT 
THE MOON HELPS PREPARE US TO 
MOVE TO MARS. 
>> HOW ABOUT THE ACTIVITY LIKE 
COMMERCIAL CREW THAT'S 
HAPPENING TODAY, HOW DOES THAT 
HELP US FOR MISSIONS TO THE 
MOON? 
>> THINK ANYTIME YOU'RE 
LAUNCHING PEOPLE, YOU'RE 
LEARNING AND TAKING WHAT YOU'RE 
LEARNING AND MOVING IT FORWARD 
TO THE NEXT MISSION. 
I THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE 
BUSINESS CASE. 
IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT 
COMMERCIAL CREW IS, IT'S NASA 
MOVING FROM OWNING AND 
OPERATING HARDWARE TO BUYING A 
SERVICE. 
IF YOU REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS 
AGO, WE Ard WHAT AWARDED THREE 
CONTRACTS TO COMMERCIAL 
LANDING. 
WE WANT TO BUY A SERVICE TO GET 
OUR ASTRONAUTS BACK AND FORTH 
TO THE MOON. 
ACTUALLY ENABLING THE 
COMMERCIAL MARKET TO GO FROM 
LOW EARTH ORBIT OUT TO LUNAR 
ORBIT. 
■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
)ááUNEERS, 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 PARTIALLY■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'S 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, MARIA.
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 IN WITH
JOHN FOR A STATUS UPDATE ON THE
VEHICLES.
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 THEM 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 GO, 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 CLEAR45  
MINUTES. 
HISTORIC TAD 39 A GROUND 
STATIONS AND THE TRACKING AND 
DATA RELAY SATELLITES ARE 
SUPPORTING DRAGON AS IT HEAD 
INTO OR BIT. 
THE WEATHER, THAT'S THE ONE 
CONCERN. 
WE WILL GET A WEATHER BRIEF AT 
T MINUS 1 HOUR SO JUST UNDER 12 
MINUTE FROM NOW. 
CURRENTLY, THE GROUND AND UPPER 
ATTITUDE WINDS ARE GO SO THAT'S 
ONE THING WE CAN CHECK AS 
GREEN. 
IF 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 A EXPECTATION THAT A 
FORECAST THAT WILL BECOMING UP 
AT ABOUT T MINUS 1 HOUR ALSO 
MAY GIVE US 
CLEARANCE OF THOSE CONDITIONS. 
SO, EVERYTHING IS FOCUSING NOW 
ON THE WEATHER BRIEF AT T MINUS 
1 HOURS. 
ALSO WE SHOULD HOPE TO HEAR 
ABOUT THE FINAL CHECK ON THE 
ASSET CORRIDOR, THAT'S THE 
WEATHER ALONG THE ATLANTIC 
SEABOARD IN CASE DRAGON HAD TO 
A BOARD ON THE WAY TO SPACE. 
THE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN 
MARGINAL, THE EXPECTATION WOULD 
BE GOOD FOR LAUNCH. 
WE WILL GET ALL OF THAT COMING 
UP SHORTLY PRIOR TO ENTERING 
PROPELLANT LOAD. 
NOW TODAY WE ARE AIMING FOR 
LAUNCH AT 3:22:45 ON 19 HOURS 
22 MINUTES 45 SECONDS UNIVERSAL 
TIME. 
ONCE WE BEGIN LOADING 
PROPELLANT THERE IS NO 
OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE T 0. 
PROPELLANT LOADING WE ARE 
COMMITTED. 
CURRENTLY AT T MINUS 1 HOUR 10 
MINUTES 35 SECONDS EVERYTHING 
EXCEPT THE WEATHER IS GO FOR 
LAUNCH. 
>> THANKS, JOHN FOR THAT 
DETAILED.DATE. 
WE HAVE ANNEX TEN SUFFICIENT 
HISTORY OF FLYING FALCON 9 ON 
THE FLORIDA COAST, COMPLETED A 
TEST RUN LESS THAN 
AN HOUR FROM BEGINNING. 
>> THE PURPOSE OF THAT MISSION 
WAS TO DEMONSTRATE DRAGON'S 
CAPABILITY TO FLY TO AND FROM 
THE INTERNATIONAL STAYS 
STATION, IT WAS AN EXCITING 
MOMENT. 
SPACE STATION TO WHERE WE ARE 
TODAY. 
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE GETTING 
READY TO FLY U.S. ASTRONAUT 
FROM U.S. SOIL FOR THE FIRST 
TIME SINCE 2011. 
>> DRAGON AND FALCON 9 TOGETHER 
HAS YEARS OF OPERATIONAL 
EXPERIENCE OR WHAT WE REFER TO 
AS FLIGHT HERITAGE. 
AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SpaceX 
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED 21 
FLIGHTS OF DRAGON TO AND FROM 
ORBIT SINCE 2010 
INCLUDING 209 TRIPS TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, 
WE'VE ALSO ENHANCED AND ADDED A 
NUMBER OF SAFETY 
FEATURES TO DRAGON. 
>> MUCH OF WHAT WAS LEARNED 
WITH THE CARGO DRAGON WAS 
LEVERAGED IN THE DESIGN OF THIS 
NEW VEHICLE, FULL ' 
AUTONOMOUS, IT CAN FLY ITSELF 
BUT FEATURE THAT FULL MANUAL 
OVERRIDE CAPABILITY JUST IN 
CASE OF EMERGENCY. 
>> MANY OF THE OTHER 
ENHANCEMENTS HELPED TOWARD THE 
GOAL OF REUSABLE BETWEEN 
MISSIONS. 
SO LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT 
THESE ADVANCEMENTS. 
>> STANDING ALMOST 27 FEET 
STALL FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF 
THE TRUNK TO THE VERY TOP OF 
THE NOSE CONE, CREW 
DRAGON CAPSULE WHICH IS 
DESIGNED TO HOLD CREW AND 
PRESSURIZED CARGO AND THE TRUCK 
WHICH HOLDS CARGO AS WELL 
HAVING A SOLAR AND RADIATOR. 
THE NOSE CONE PROTECTS THE 
DOCKING SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE 
GUIDANCE NAVIGATION CONTROL 
SYSTEM, OR WHAT WE CALL GNC. 
OPEN 0ING FOR DOCKING AND 
REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE 
SPACECRAFT UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS 
VERSION OF DRAGON THAT HELPS 
TOWARD REUSE ABILITY EFFORTS. 
>> THE NOSE CONE IS THE TRUNK, 
ATTACHMENT POINTS, THE DRAGON 
CAPSULE AND IT CAN HOLD CARGO. 
ON THE OUTSIDE ONE HALF OF IT 
CONTAIN HAS RADIATOR THAT 
REJECTS HEAT FROM THE ACTIVE 
THERMAL CONTROL CYST INTO SPACE 
THAT IS THE WHITE PART. 
THE OTHER HALF CONTAINS THE 
SOLAR CELLS USED TO CHARGE THE 
SPACECRAFT'S BATTERIES. 
>> WE ONLY HAVE TWO ASTRONAUTS 
ON BOARD TODAY, THE SPACECRAFT 
IS ACTUALLY DESIGNED TO 
ACCOMMODATE UP TO 7 CREW 
MEMBERS WERE MODULAR SEAT THAT 
CAN BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY 
ADDITIONAL CARGO. 
MADE OF CARGO FIBER AND CUSTOM 
SIZE PORE ANY CREW MEMBER 
FLYING ON BOARD. 
>> THE CONTROL PANEL BETWEEN 
THE PILOT AND THE COMMANDER 
SEAT, IT HAS THREE TOUCHSCREEN 
DISPLAYS THAT GIVES 
THE CREW INSIGHT INTO DRAGON 
AND THE ABILITY TO OPERATE THE 
VEHICLE AND FLY IT MANUALLY. 
>> AND FINALLY, OUR SUPER DRACO 
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM A KEY 
SAFETY FEATURE GIVING THE CREW 
THE ABILITY TO 
SAFELY ESCAPE FROM THE TIME OF 
LAUNCH ALL THE WAY TO ORBIT. 
>> AND AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE 
BEYOND THIS TEST FLIGHT LATER 
THIS YEAR, THE FIRST 
OPERATIONAL CREWED MISSION 
WILL TAKE PLACE. 
AS THE ASTRONAUTS LIKE HOPKINS. 
>> LAUNCH COMMIT CRITERIA AND 
INDICATE READINESS AT THE 
PERFECT TIME, 54:49 FOR 
PROPELLANT LAUNCH. 
>> THAT WAS THE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR, PULLING THE TEAMS 
TOWARD THAT GO, NO GO FOR 
PROPELLANT LOADING WHICH 
HAPPENS 
45 MINUTES BEFORE LAUNCH. 
NASA ASTRONAUTS MIKE HOPKINS, 
VICTOR GLOVER AND SHANNON 
WALKER, FEATURING THE AGENCY OR 
JAXA CHOSE TONE 
SUPPORT THIS MISSION. 
>> TODAY DOUG HURLEY IS THE 
COMMANDER. 
HE PREVIOUSLY FLEW AS THE PILOT 
ON STS 127 AND 35 WHICH WAS THE 
FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT. 
HERE IS A CLOSER LOOK AT DOUG 
HURLEY. 
>> VERY EXCITING. 
YEAH, VERY EXCITED. 
>> READY? 
>> I THINK WE'RE READY. 
I THINK WE'RE CERTAINLY READY. 
>> JOINING YOU SpaceX DEMO 2 
TEST IS MARINE CORPS COLONEL 
AND TEST PILOT SELECTED AS AN 
ASTRONAUT IN 2000 
PILOTED SPACE SHUTTLE IN DEAF 
WHY ARE AND 1359 THE FINAL 
SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION. 
INTRODUCING DOUG HURLEY. 
>> IT'S A LIFE CHANGING PROCESS 
IN SO MANY WAYS TO FLY INTO 
SPACE. 
IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING IN SOME 
RESPECTS. 
JUST SENSATION OF RUMBLE, THE 
SHAKING, THE ACCELERATION. 
MY NAME IS DOUG HURLEY, I'M THE 
SPACECRAFT COMMANDER FOR THE 
DEMO 2 MISSION FOR THE SPACE 
STATION. 
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE 
DRAGON WITH CREW ON BOARD, SO 
THERE IS 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 HAVE THE ENTIRE 
INTEGRATED TEAM THAT'S GOING TO 
SUPPORT US GETTING TO AND FROM 
SPACE STATIONS, IT WAS REALLY 
NEAT BEING A PART OF IT. 
YOU KNOW, 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. 
>> FOR DOUG PERSONALLY HE HAS 
WORKED SO HARD. 
THROUGH HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO GET 
TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. 
AS A TEST PILOT, THIS WILL BE A 
DREAM TO FLY A VEHICLE. 
SO, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE 
THAT HE GET TO BE PART OF THIS 
MISSION, SPACECRAFT COMMANDER, 
I'M GLAD TO SEE 
HIS HARD WORK AND 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 FOLK THAT 
WORK IN THE 
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM AS WELL 
AS SpaceX IN OUR CASE WORKING 
TO GET TO THIS POINT. 
AND WE'RE LITTLE OVER 1 HOUR 
3.5 MINUTE AWAY FROM LAUNCH. 
LET'S GO INTO THE MAN SITTING 
NEXT TO BOB HURLEY, THAT IS BOB 
BEHNKEN. 
>> MY CAREER SPANNED A COUPLE 
DECADES, I ARRIVED WITH THE 
CLASS OF 2000. 
WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING 
PROGRAM PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON 
THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
LEARNING THOSE SYSTEMS. 
LAUNCHED A COUPLE TIMES ON 
VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, THE SECOND 
TIME WAS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT 
THAN THE FIRST TIME. 
YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE QUIT 
GUILTY, SHOULD I STUDY ONE MORE 
THING, ONE MERASPIS OF 
INFORMATION I SHOULD GET? 
AM I PREPARED OR NOT? 
SO THAT IS DEAF OF 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 HE HAS SHOWN, THE 
PERSEVERANCE IS SPECIAL FOR 
BOTH OF US, SO THE WAY OUR 
MINDS WORK, IT WON'T BE UNTIL 
SORT OF THE MISSION IS COMPLETE 
THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO 
SAVIOR AND CELEBRATE IT. 
THIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR 
AN AIR FORCE ENGINEER, 
DEMONSTRATION A BRAND NEW 
VEHICLE, IT IS GOING TO BE 
AMAZING. 
>> WITHOUT A PARTNER SHARAW HAS 
THAT SAME APPRECIATION I THINK 
IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME 
FOLKS. 
THERE IS 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 DOPILY PERSONAL LEVEL, I 
AM 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 HIM, HE 
HAS SEEN ME DO IN OLD 
VIDEOS BUT NOT FOR REAL. 
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 
ABOARD THE VEHICLE THAT WE NEED 
TO ACCOMPLISH TO REALLY MAKE 
SURE IT'S GOOD TO 
GO, WE'LL MAKE SURE ALL THOSE 
SYSTEMS ARE WORKING DURING THE 
TEST FLIGHT SO 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 LESSON THAT WE'VE 
LEARNED BY GOING THROUGH THIS, 
THERE IS 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 HAVE 
VEHICLES IN THE LAUNCH PAD 
READY TO HEAD TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
THIS WE LOOK EVEN FURTHER INTO 
THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE, 
FLYING A MISSION TO SPACE WILL 
BE AN OPTION FOR 
PEOPLE, ALSO FLYING PRIVATE 
ASTRONAUTS ABOARD THE DRAGON. 
SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE 
SAFE TOURISM COMPANY, SPACE 
ADVENTURES TO FLY UP TO FOUR 
PASSENGERS ON AN ORBITAL TRIP 
ABOARD DRAGON AS EARLY AS NEXT 
YEAR. 
IT'S NASA THAT IS MAKING 
PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSIONS TO 
THE SPACE STATION A 
POSSIBILITY. 
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THESE 
MISSIONS, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU 
GUYS ARE ALL, TOO. 
>> ALL RIGHT. 
WE ARE JUST 20 SECONDS AWAY 
FROM T MINUS 1 HOUR. 
THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY 
BIG MOMENT THAT EVERYONE IS 
GOING TO WANT TO LISTEN TO, 
EXPECTING THE WEATHER 
UPDATE, OBVIOUSLY HOPING THAT 
THE WEATHER IS IMPROVING. 
AND SO WE SHOULD FIND OUT IN 
THE NEXT 10 SECONDS OR SO. 
SO WE ARE GOING TO STAND BY FOR 
OUR MOMENT AND WAIT TO GIVE THE 
CORA CALL. 
>> SpaceX WE ARE T MINUS 1 
HOUR. 
YOU ARE GO FOR SECTION 6 WHEN 
READY REPORT GO FOR LAUNCH. 
>> AND THAT RIGHT THERE WAS THE 
CALL FOR REFER TO PROCEDURES. 
YOU CAN SEE THEM CHECKING 
HARNESSES, CHECKING HELMETS 
MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE 
STRAPPED AND READY TO GO. 
ONCE THEY ARE DONE WITH THAT 
THE CREW WILL ANNOUNCE THEIR 
READINESS FOR LAUNCH. 
>> SpaceX DRAGON. 
BOB AND I ARE GO FOR LAUNCH. 
>> COPY, GO FOR LAUNCH AND NEXT 
UP WILL BE GO AT T MINUS 45. 
>> ALL RIGHT. 
THE CREW IS GO FOR LAUNCH. 
WE ARE INSIDE OF ONE HOUR. 
STILL WAITING FOR THE WEATHER 
UPDATE. 
BUT, I MEAN, THIS DAY IS ONE 
FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS, WE'RE 
RETURNING CREWS LAUNCHES ON 
AMERICAN ROCKETS. 
IT'S BEEN ALMOST NINE LONG 
YEARS SINCE WE RETIRED THE 
SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM. 
I REMEMBER THAT DAY, I AM GOING 
TO REMEMBER THIS DAY. 
IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET 
HERE, COUNTLESS HOURS BY 
THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED 
PROFESSIONALS FROM NASA AND 
SpaceX. 
>> AN EXCITING WEEK. 
THIS LAST FINAL HOUR IS SO 
EXCITING RIGHT NOW. 
TODAY'S MISSION WILL BE CREW 
DRAGON'S SECOND TEST FLIGHT AND 
FIRST TEST WITH HUMANS ON 
BOARD. 
IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME COUNTDOWN 
SO FAR. 
WEATHER, WE'RE STILL WAITING 
FOR THE UPDATE. 
IT'S A STILL WATCH ITEM, THE 
CREW IS A GO FOR LAUNCH. 
T MINUS 45 MINUTES HOPEFULLY 
WE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THAT 
WEATHER. 
>> WE'VE HAD A REALLY CLEAN 
COUNTDOWN SO FAR. 
IT STARTED WITH SUITUP JUST 
OVER 3 HOURS AGO. 
THE SpaceX TEAM HELPING BOB AND 
DOUG PUT ON THEIR SUITS, 
CONDUCTING INITIAL CHECKOUTS 
INCLUDING INITIAL 
PRESSURE AND LEAK CHECK BEFORE 
THEY GOT TO THE ACTUAL WALKOUT. 
ALL OF THAT DONE THAN 
OPERATIONS AND CHECKOUT 
FACILITY. 
THE CREW WALKOUT IS WHERE BOB 
AND DUG GAVE THEIR FINAL 
GOODBYES TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY 
GATHERED OUTSIDE THE BUILDING. 
29 MINUTES TOUCHING MOMENT 
SAYING GOODBYE TO FAMILY, BOTH 
THEIR SONS RIGHT IN FRONT OF 
THEM. 
YEAH, VERY TOUCHING MOMENT. 
>> INCREDIBLE TO BE ABLE TO 
WATCH THESE MOMENTS. 
>> AND THOSE GOT INTO THEIR 
TESLAS, GOT TO WATCH THEM RIDE 
TO THE PAD. 
WE GOT GREAT FOOTAGE THERE. 
AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, 
THIS IS SOME PLAY BACK FROM 
EARLIER AS 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 THE SIGHTS AND THEY HEADED 
UP TO THE SIX SERVICE STRUCTURE 
PROCESS CALLED TRUE INGRESS 
WHERE BOB AND DOUG. 
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR 
SCREEN THEY ARE COMING THROUGH 
THE CREW ACCESS ARM, ENTERING 
THE WHITE ROOM RIGHT BEFORE 
THEY ARE ABLE TO INGRESS INTO 
THE VEHICLE THERE. 
AGAIN, THIS IS FROM EARLIER. 
>> YEAH, THIS ALL FROM EARLIER, 
THAT WHITE ROOM, THE LAST PLACE 
ON PLANET EARTH THEY ARE 
STANDING BEFORE THEY 
CLIMB INTO THE DRAGON BEFORE 
THEIR RIDE UP. 
CARRYING TRADITION NASA HAD 
THAT WAS TRADITIONALLY THE ROOM 
FROM GEMINI APOLLO AND THE 
SPACE SHUTTLE THAT LAST PLACE. 
ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO, WE'RE 
BACK WITH LIVE VIDEO HERE. 
THE TEAM WAS ABLE TO CLOSE 
DRAGON HATCH WITH BOB AND DOUG 
SAFE ENGINE SIDE. 
THINGS ARE GOING TO PICK UP AS 
WE GET CLOSE TO THAT GO, NO GO, 
ARMING THE LAUNCH ESCAPE 
SYSTEM. 
THE CREW PULLED FOR READINESS 
WAS AT T MINUS 60 MINUTES. 
PROP LOAD IS COMING UP IN 30 
SECONDS AT T MINUS A 55 
MINUTES. 
THEN FOLLOWING THAT WILL BE T 
MINUS 45 MINUTES WILL BE THE 
INTERNAL MISSION CONTROL POLL 
AND THE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR'S POLL FOR PROPELLANT 
LOADING. 
T MINUS 40 MINUTES THE CREW 
ACCESS ARM WILL RETRACT AND BOB 
AND DOUG WILL GET THE CALL TO 
CLOSE VISORS AND ARM. 
LAUNCH THE ESCAPE SYSTEMS. 
THIS IS THE SYSTEM IN PLACE 
THAT CAN LOAD THE SEPARATE THE 
CREW FROM THE ROCKET ON THE PAD 
OR DURING THE 
FLIGHT. 
>> THAT ONCE WE REACH T MINUS 
35 MINUTES PROPELLANT LOADING 
FOR FALCON 9 WILL BEGIN. 
WE GOT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 17 
MINUTES BEFORE LAUNCH BEFORE WE 
HAD TO CANCEL BECAUSE OF 
WEATHER. 
BUT, WE'RE STILL -- WE'RE 
OPTIMISTIC RIGHT NOW. 
CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING 
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO PRESS 
AHEAD INTO LOADING FUEL ON TO 
THAT FALCON 9 ROCKET. 
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTDOWN WE'VE 
BEEN GETTING INCREDIBLE VIEWS 
OF THE ASTRONAUTS INSIDE DRAGON 
JUST MAKING ALL 
OF THEIR FINAL PREPARATIONS, 
CLOSE-UP VIEWS OF SUITS AND 
DISPLAYS AS THEY ARE STRAPPED 
IN AND READY FOR LAUNCH. 
THE TEAMS OFTEN DESCRIBE THE 
SUITS AS AN EXTENSION AS THAT 
DRAGON SPACECRAFT. 
CAN YOU THINK OF IT AS A MINI 
SPACECRAFT INSIDE A SPACECRAFT. 
ALL OF THE LIGHT SUPPORT AND 
EVERYTHING THEY NEED. 
>> COUNTDOWN 1 TECH ANY POLL IS 
COMPLETE. 
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM ARMING AND 
PROPELLANT LOAD. 
>> AND THERE IS THAT CALLOUT 
THAT THE CREW IS READY. 
THEY ARE READY TO LOAD PROP ON 
TO DRAGON. 
SO WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD FOR T 
0. AND WHILE THOSE SUITS DO 
LOOK GREAT, THEY ARE ALSO 
ENGINEERED TO DIRECT -- CONNECT 
DIRECTLY INTO DRAGON SEATS 
TO PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS, 
COOLING AND THE ABILITY TO 
PRESSURIZE IF NECESSARY. 
>> ALL RIGHT. 
WELL WE DID GET THE CALLOUT 
THAT THE TECHNICAL TEAM ON THE 
GROUND ARE READY FOR LAUNCH, 
ARMING AND PROPEL 
LOADING, THINGS ARE STARTING TO 
PICK UP, THINGS REALLY STARTING 
TO FEEL REAL. 
LET'S JUMP DOWN QUICK TO THE 
TEAM AT KENNEDY. 
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? 
>> ROCKET FUEL GOING THROUGH MY 
VEINS STILL. 
>> AWESOME WHEN WE SEE THEM 
SITTING THERE IN THEIR SUITS, 
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, DIFFERENT THAN THE 
SpaceX, BUT IT WAS KIND OF 
SURREAL, YOU KNOW, AND TO THINK 
THAT ALL -- IT TOOK 10 YEARS OF 
TRAINING TO FLY IN SPACE. 
TO FLY IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. 
IT WAS A LONG ROAD TO GET THERE 
BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT AND SO 
SWEET. 
AND, YOU KNOW, LEARNING HOW TO 
USE THE GREEN APPLE, THE 
CONNECTIONS FOR OXYGEN FOR 
COOLING, MUCH DIFFERENT THAN 
THESE SUIT THAT WE HAVE FOR 
SpaceX, IT'S MORE COMPLICATED 
TO GO THROUGH THAT WHOLE SERIES 
OF THINGS 
THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE 
SURE YOU'RE SAFE IN THE SUIT. 
WE LAUNCHED, READY, THEY LOOK 
SO COOL AND CALM AND COLLECTED. 
THE SUITS AND THE VEHICLES THEY 
ARE FOCUSING AND GETTING READY 
TO FLY IN SPACE. 
>> SO MUCH EXCITEMENT AROUND 
CENTER. 
YOU GOT ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM 
ANOTHER ASTRONAUT. 
>> YES, SUNNY WILLIAMS, SUNNY. 
>> THE BEST. 
>> . SHE WAS ONE OF THE 
ORIGINAL FOUR WHO TRAIN WEEKEND 
BOB AND DOUG FROM THE BEGINNING 
OF THE COMMERCIAL CREW PRO 
GARAGE. 
>> AND SHE WAS ONE OF MY 
CLASSMATES. 
LOOK AT HER THERE. 
WHAT IS SHE WEARING? 
SHE WORE ONE ON WEDNESDAY. 
SHE WORE THE NEW ONE TODAY. 
NOW SHE CAN WEAR THE WORM BALL. 
>> YES, SHE CAN MAKE TUP. 
SUNNY'S AWESOME, TRAINING TO 
FLY ON BOEING STARLINER. 
SO REALLY GLAD SHE IS WATCHING 
AND SHOWING SOME LOVE. 
THANKEES LOT FOR SENDING THAT 
NOTE AND AGAIN WE'RE LOOKING AT 
A LIVE VIEW OF THE CREW DRAGON 
ON TOP OF THE 
FALCON 9 ROCKET. 
YOU CAN SEE THE ACCESS ARM, 
THAT IS THE HALLWAY THAT BOB 
AND DOUG WALKED DOWN TO GET 
INTO THE WHITE ROOM WHICH IS 
THE LAST PLACE WE SAW THEM 
STANDING UP. 
WIDER SHOT OF LAUNCH COMPLEX 39 
A WHERE WE ARE INSIDE OF AN 
HOUR FROM LIFTOFF AND I THINK 
WE ARE A COUPLE 
MINUTES AWAY FROM THE POLL WE 
ARE GOING TO HEAR BEFORE THEY 
START PROPELLANT LOAD. 
AGAIN TWO STAGE ROCKET. 
THE WEATHER LOOKS NOT THAT BAD. 
OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT AN 
OFFICIAL FORECAST. 
BUT, IT DOESN'T LOOK QUITE AS 
BAD AS IT DID WEDNESDAY. 
WE GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER 
ODDS. 
SO THERE IS THE COUNTDOWN 
CLOCK. 
WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE TO LESS 
TONE THAT COM. 
>> WE ARE LESS THAN 50 MINUTES 
FROM THE SCHEDULED LIFTOFFED 
FALCON 9 CREW DRAGON 0. UPDATE 
WHETHER WE ARE POLLING WE WILL 
PAUSE TO LISTEN TO THAT. 
WE SHOULD BE HEARING THE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR VERIFY GO FOR 
PROPELLANT LOAD AT T MINUS -- T 
MINUS 45 MINUTES. 
SO WE ARE GOING TO SEND IT OVER 
TO HAWTHORN. 
OR JESSIE, ARE YOU THERE? 
>> THIS WEATHER IS GO AT THIS 
TIME. 
>> COPY, FAIR WEATHER. 
>> AND THERE YOU HEARD THAT 
CALLOUT. 
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 BETTING FAST RIGHT 
NOW. 
>> WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THOSE 
WORDS SINCE WEDNESDAY. 
AND WE DID HEAR A CALL FOR THE 
CREW JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 
THEY WERE ONLY TRACKING ONE 
FINAL WEATHER CONSTRAINT. 
IT WAS A CUMULUS CLOUD, 
EXPECTING IT TO CLEAR UP WITHIN 
10 MINUTES AND IT IS CLEAR NOW. 
SO WE ARE CURRENTLY GO ON 
WEATHER. 
>> YES. 
IT'S BEEN PRETTY INCREDIBLE TO 
SO CLOSE TO LAUNCH AND THE ROAD 
LEADING UP TO THIS POINT HAS 
BEEN PRETTY 
INCREDIBLE AS WELL. 
>> YEAH, 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. 
>> WE WILL BE CLOSING DOORS 
HERE PROPELLANT LOAD, ANY LAST 
MINUTE BIO BREAKS, ACCOMPLISH 
THOSE IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES. 
>> AND THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR JUST 
GETTING THE TEAM READY. 
WE'LL BECOMING UP ON THE 
PROPELLANT LOAD IN 35 MINUTES 
PRIOR TO LIFTOFF. 
SO 12 MINUTE FROM NOW. 
A GO, NO GO COMING UP SOON. 
SO LET'S GO OVER TO OUR MAN 
JOHN FOR THE LATEST, JOHN. 
>> T MINUS 47 MINUTES, 24 
SECONDS WE ARE CONTINUING 
COUNTDOWN. 
YOU JUST HEARD THE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR LAUNCH TEAM ARE 
PREPARING FOR THE READINESS FOR 
LAUNCH POLL. 
LAUNCH DIRECTOR IS CHECKING 
WITH DRAGON MISSION DIRECTOR, 
NASA LAUNCH MANAGER FOR THEIR 
READINESS, IT SOUNDS 
LIKE EVERYBODY IS GOOD THERE. 
LAUNCH DIRECTOR WILL THEN ASK 
THE TEAM, YOU KNOW, TELL THEM 
THE POLL IS OPEN AND 13 MEMBERS 
OF THE SpaceX 
LAUNCH TIME WILL BE 
ELECTRICALLY TO CONTINUE TO 
LAUNCH. 
NOW WE WILL HEAR THAT POLL 
RESULTS AND A BRIEFING FROM THE 
LAUNCH DIRECTOR AT ABOUT T 
MINUS 45 MINUTES. 
THE GOOD NEWS RIGHT NOW IS THAT 
THE WEATHER IS GO. 
ALL THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE 
READ WERE CLEARED. 
AS THE WEATHER FORECASTER SAID 
CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC. 
>> WE ARE GO FOR PROPELLANT 
LOAD. 
>> WE GOT AN EARLY CALLOUT 
THERE. 
>> ACCESS ARM RETRACTED T MINUS 
45 MINUTES. 
>> GOT AN EARLY CALL FROM 
SpaceX LAUNCHER THAT THE POLL 
IS GO. 
HEARD THE DIRECTION T MINUS 45 
MINUTES TO PREPARE FOR THE 
RETRACT OF THE CREW ARM. 
AS WE HEAR MORE DISCUSSION 
WE'LL STOP AND LET YOU LISTEN 
IN. 
RIGHT NOW WEATHER FOR LIFTOFF, 
GROUND LEVEL WINDS ARE GOOD, 10 
TO 15 MILES AN HOUR, WELL 
WITHIN LIMITS. 
SHOWING CONDITIONS ARE 
ACCEPTABLE. 
THE RED WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE 
CLEARED UP, THE LAST ONE BEING 
CUMULUS CLOUDS AND THE 
PROBABILITY OF VIOLATION IS SET 
AT 30% RIGHT NOW. 
SO THAT.THAT'S 70% OF GOOD 
WEATHER. 
OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST IN CASE 
OF SEPARATION DRAGON HAD TO 
ABORT INTO THE OCEAN. 
THE CONDITIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE. 
THERE HAS 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. 
LAUNCH ESCAPE PROTOCOL. 
NO GO CONDITIONS. 
THEY'LL APPROACH BOARDING 
LAUNCH AND PROCEED TO LAUNCH 
ABOARD. 
OPERATORS SHALL CALL HOLD HOLD 
HOLD ON THE COUNTDOWN NET. 
AND PROCEED TO THE LAUNCH ABORT 
SEQUENCE. 
OPERATOR SHALL ADVICE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR WHETHER FIRE IS 
EMINENT OR OCCURRING FOR DRAGON 
MANUAL ESCAPE FLIGHT RULES. 
REMINDER ON FIRE ALARM 
INSTRUCTIONS IN THE EVENT OF A 
FIRE ALARM, KEY OPERATORS WILL 
REMAIN AT THEIR POST 
WHILE ALARM IS OPERATED. 
EVACUATE TO THE SOUTH FACING 
EMERGENCY EXIT WHICH LEADS 
DIRECTLY OUTSIDE. 
AT THIS TIME WEATHER GO FOR 
LAUNCH. 
>> YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, 
WE'RE INSIDE T MINUS -- T MINUS 
44 MINUTES 5 SECONDS. 
CREW -- 
>> ARM ACCESS RETRACTING IS 
BEGINNING. 
>> LAUNCH DIRECTOR GAVE A FINAL 
BRIEF TO THE CREW. 
AND WE WILL BE BEGINNING 
PROPELLANT LOADING AT T MINUS 
35 MINUTES. 
SO RIGHT NOW FALCON 9 THE READY 
TO GET INTO PROPELLANT LOADING, 
DRAGON, CREW, GETTING 
CONFIGURED, SET UP, THE 
ARM IS PULLING AWAY. 
THE RANGE IS GO FOR LAUNCH. 
THEY CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE 
AIR AND THE SEA SPACE, 
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. 
AND WE FINALLY HAVE GOTTEN 
GREEN TO ACROSS THE BOARD ON 
THE WEATHER CONDITIONS BUT WE 
CAN'T TAKE A DEEP BREATH QUITE 
YET. 
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH 
THE WEATHER DOWN TO T 0 HERE 
AND AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN 
THE ATLANTIC IN THE 
A WORTH ZONES. 
WE SAW MANY OF YOU FOLLOWING 
THE LAUNCH ON OUR HOT SPOT MAP. 
WE'RE SEEING LARGE NUMBERS OF 
FOLKS TUNING IN FROM COAST TO 
COAST AND AROUND THE WORLD. 
WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IS THIS 
YOUR FIRST TIME WATCHING A 
LAUNCH LIVE NOT COUNTING 
WEDNESDAY, HOW MANY HAVE 
YOU SEEN BEFORE? 
TELL US USING A #LAUNCHAMERICA 
FROM YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA 
PLATFORM. 
AND WITH THAT, AT T MINUS 42 
MINUTES 50 SECONDS CONDITIONS 
ARE GO AND WE ARE COUNTING DOWN 
FOR AN ON TIME LAUNCH. 
LET'S SEND IT BACK TO KENNEDY 
SPACE CENTER AS THE ACTION 
BEGINS TO PICK UP ON THE PAD. 
>> DRAG ON SpaceX YOU'RE GO FOR 
SECTION 7 CLOSE VISORS AND ARM 
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM. 
>> WE WILL SECTION 7, COME AND 
CLOSE. 
>> ALL RIGHT. 
THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK IS 
CONTINUING TO TAKE MY HEART IS 
CONTINUING TO BEAT BY MILLION 
BEAT HAS SECOND. 
AND WE ARE GETTING SO SO CLOSE. 
THE CREW IS ARMING THE LAUNCH 
ESCAPE SYSTEM, ONE OF THE 
ABSOLUTE LAST MILESTONES PRIOR 
TO LIFTOFF. 
OTHER THAN NOMINAL FALCON 
OPERATIONS. 
>> WE SAW THE CREW ACCESS ARM 
RETRACT, WE ARE HEARD ON THE 
COM BOB AND DOUG GETTING READY 
TO ARM THE LAUNCH 
ESCAPE SYSTEM, AND SO THAT IS 
SOMETHING THAT PROTECTS THEM 
ALL THE WAY TO ORBIT. 
WHEN FUELING STARTS AT ABOUT T 
MINUS 35 MINUTES, SO JUST OVER 
6 MINUTE FROM NOW, THEY WILL 
HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO ABORT TO 
SEPARATE FROM FALCON 9 EITHER 
ON THE PAD OR EVEN AFTER 
LIFTOFF, CRITICAL SAFETY 
CAPABILITY. 
>> AND WE ARE GOING OVER TO 
HAWTHORN TO TAKE US THROUGH 
THESE NEXT MINUTES, JESSIE. 
>> WE DID HEAR THAT CALLOUT 
THEY ARE ARMING THE LAUNCH 
ESCAPE SYSTEMS, SO CREATIVITY 
EXCITING. 
>> SPACE X TO TALK ABOUT THIS 
AGAIN. 
THANKS FOR COMING BACK AND 
JOINING US TODAY, NICK. 
>> HEY, JESSIE, HAPPY TO BE 
HERE, STILL MONITORING THE 
LAUNCH HERE WITH RECOVERY AND 
GROUND OPERATIONS. 
>> AWESOME. 
AND NICK WAS OUR MANAGER FOR 
OUR BOARD CHEST, NOW WORK ON 
STERLING TEAM, NICK, ON 
WEDNESDAY YOU TALKED ABOUT 
THE LAUNCH ESCAPE CYST IS 'EM, 
CAN YOU GIVE USA BRIEF SUMMARY 
TODAY FOR THOSE OF US JOINING 
TODAY? 
>> SURE, THE LAUNCH ESCAPE 
SYSTEM AGAIN IS OUR ULTIMATE 
SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP BOB AND 
DOUG SAFE IN THE EVENT 
OF A MAJOR FALCON ANOMALY ON 
THE PAD. 
AUTOMATICALLY FIRE IF EITHER 
VEHICLE DETECTS A DANGEROUS 
CONDITION SUPER. 
>> PUSH OFF IN A WAY TO A SAFE 
DISTANCE AWAY FROM THIS FALCON. 
THIS CAPABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY 
CRITICAL, IT'S KEEPS THE CREW 
SAFE, AND WE'RE NOW ACTIVE AND 
ARMED ON THE PAD,. 
>> ALLOWS THE DRAGON TO 
SEPARATE. 
>> IN THE OCEAN, WHAT HAPPENS 
AFTER IT LANDS SAFELY IN. 
>> CORRECT MOST OF OUR FAILURE 
MODE, THE DRAGON PARACHUTES, 
SPLASHING DOWN SAFELY IN THE 
OCEAN, THIS IS A 
LAUNCH ESCAPE THAT CAN HAPPEN 
ON THE PAD OR FLIGHT IN ORBIT, 
IT COULD BE SPLASHING DOWN 
RIGHT OFF THE COAST OF CAPE 
CANAVERAL, THOUSANDS OF MILES 
AWAY IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. 
MAKE SURE WE CAN GET BOB AND 
DOUG AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. 
THE SPACE FORCE'S TASK FORCE 45 
HAS PAIR A RESCUE TEAMS 
STATIONED AND READY AROUND THE 
WORLD, READY TO RESCUE 
BOB AND DOUG AS SOON AS 
POSSIBLE. 
>> AND YOU MENTIONED THAT 
ESCAPE CYST IS 'EM WILL KEEP 
THEM SAFE UP TO ORBIT. 
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE 
THEREAFTER DRAGON IS IN ORBIT? 
>> SURE. 
SO, FOR ANY REASON WE ARE 
UNABLE TO DOCK TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION WE 
HAVE PREPLAN TURN TRAJECTORIES 
BRINGING THE CAPSULE DOWN TO A 
SPLASH DOWN POINT CLOSE TO 
SHORE, RECOVERY FORCES WILL BE 
WAITING TO RECOVER THEM. 
IT WILL BE LOOK LIKE A TOTALLY 
NORMAL RECOVERY OPERATION 
EXCEPT FOR MISSION. 
THIS OPERATION IS SOMETHING 
WE'RE DOING WITH ONE OF TWO 
IDENTICAL CREW RECOVERY SHIPS, 
WE DO THAT BECAUSE THE 
LANDING SITES WE WANT TO 
MAINTAIN AS MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS 
POSSIBLE, IT COULD BE CHANGING 
WEATHER CONDITIONS, SO WE HAVE 
TWO IDENTICAL SHIPS, ONE THE 
ATLANTIC, ONE IN THE GULF OF 
MEXICO. 
CAN REDIRECT THE SPACECRAFT AND 
GO TO WHATEVER SITE WHICH IS 
THE SAFEST OPTION FOR THE CREW 
AT THE TIME. 
>> ALMOST ANY SCENARIO IT SOUND 
IS LIKE THE VEHICLE WILL LAND 
INTO THE OCEAN. 
AND THAT'S -- AND THEY LOOK 
LIKE A GENTLE LANDING INTO THE 
OCEAN, BUT IT'S A DYNAMIC EVENT 
HAPPENING. 
AND YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE 
TEAMS THAT ARE 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, SO WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE 
HAD A DECADE OF RECOVERY 
EXPERIENCE WITH CARGO DRAGON 1 
IN OUR PREVIOUS TRIPS 
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION, THAT ALONG WITH 
BOOSTER RECOVERY MISSION, 
OPERATORS WITH OFFSHORE 
EXPERIENCE WITH OUR SPACECRAFT. 
THE SYSTEM THAT WE TOOK THAT 
EXPERIENCE, WE BUILT UP A NEW 
CREW RECOVERY SHIP, TWO 
IDENTICAL CREW RECOVER ROW 
SHIP THAT HAD LESSONS LEARNED 
BASED ON THE DESIGN OF THAT 
SHIP AND THE OPERATIONS. 
THE NEW SHIPS HAVE COMPLETE 
MEDICAL FACILITIES, NATIONAL 
PAD, POWER, PROPULSION TO MAKE 
SURE THEY ARE ROBUST. 
TONS OF TRAINING EXERCISES WITH 
SPACE B TEAM, THE NASA TEAM AND 
THE RESCUE FORCE THAT I 
MENTIONED EARLIER, 
PRACTICING CAPSULE RECOVERY, 
EMERGENCY SCENARIOS WHERE WE 
HAVE TO GET THE CREW OUT OF THE 
CAPSULE WHILE STILL 
IN THE WATER, HELICOPTER 
EVACUATIONS TAKING OFF AND 
LANDING FROM THE PAD, MANY 
TIMES SO WE MAKE SURE THE TEAM 
IS READY TO DO THAT. 
THEY ARE ALL READY, THEY FEEL 
READY TO SUPPORT, AND WE'LL 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 VEHICLES. 
SO, THANK YOU NICK FOR JOINING 
US AGAIN FOR WALKING US THROUGH 
ALL OF THOSE DETAILS. 
I HOPE YOU'RE JUST AS EXCITED 
AS WE ARE FOR LAUNCH COMING UP 
HERE VERY VERY SHORTLY NOW, SO 
WE ARE GOING TO 
SEND IT OVER TO KFC TO 
LAWRENCE. 
>> THANK YOU. 
JESSIE. 
SO, 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 JUST GETTING REALLY 
REALLY CLOSE TO THE FIRST 
LAUNCH OF ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT 
FROM AMERICAN SOIL SINCE 2011. 
THE LAUNCH SCRAPE SYSTEM IS 
ARMED WHICH HAPPENS BEFORE 
FUELING. 
AND DRAGON PROPELLANT LOAD, 
THAT'S THE PROPELLANT CENTER 
INSIDE OF THE DRAGON CAPSULE, 
NOT THE ROCKET, PROP 
LOAD FOR DRAGON TOOK PLACE A 
FEW WEEKS AGO, AT DRAGON LAND. 
AND THOSE PROPELLANTS THEY ARE 
MONOMENTHOL HYDROGEN ZENE. 
NITROGEN. 
>> YOU DON'T NEED THAT PTEB OR 
A THIRD THING TO IGNITE BECAUSE 
PROPEL PLANTS DON'T REQUIRE IT. 
YOU JUST NEED THE FUEL AND 
OXIDIZE. 
YOU HEARD PROPELLANT LOAD HAS 
STARTED ON FALCON 9 AND THAT IS 
AWESOME. 
SO THAT -- SO DRAGON HAS 12 
SERVICE INSPECTION SYSTEM, 3 IN 
EACH QUAD 3, 3, 3 AND 3 USED 
FOR ON ORBIT 
MANEUVERING FOR DRAGON. 
FOUR ADDITIONAL DRACO'S THAT 
THE VEHICLES PERFORM. 
THE GENERAL JOIN THAT NICK WAS 
TALKING ABOUT EARLIER ARE SUPER 
DRACO ENGINES. 
SO 8 TOTAL AND THOSE BIGGER 
ENGINES WITH THE HIGH FLOW 
PROPELLANT SYSTEM LIFT THE 
DRAGON OFF FALCON 9 IN THE 
EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THAT 
REQUIRES US TO GET OFF THE 
DRAGON -- OFF THE FALCON. 
NOW, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, 
MERCURY APOLLO, THEY HAD THE 
BIG POINTY TOWER ON TOP. 
THAT'S THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM 
FOR THOSE VEHICLES. 
IT'S ANOTHER ROCKET ON TOP OF 
THE SPACESHIP THAT LIFTS THE 
VEHICLE OFF INTEGRATED INTO THE 
VEHICLE COMPLETELY. 
AND SO THAT'S ONE BETTER FOR 
ONE LESS THING YOU HAVE TO 
JETTISON EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT. 
IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE ESCAPE 
CAPABILITIES FROM PAD, THROUGH 
TO ORBIT. 
AND SO EVEN AT THE LAST MINUTE 
IF WE NEEDED TO GET OFF OF 
STAGE 2 WHILE IN SPACE WE CAN 
ESCAPE TO ORBIT. 
YEAH, THAT'S THE ESCAPE SYSTEM 
FOR LITTLE BABY DRAGON HERE. 
>> THANKS, LAUREN, THANKS FOR 
WALKING US THROUGH THAT. 
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 IN AN INSTANT THEY 
CAN SEPARATE FROM 
FALCON 9, SHOOT OFF IN THE AIR 
AND LAND IN THE AGENCIES ON 
DRAGON PARACHUTES, IT WAS 
DESIGNED TO DO THAT. 
NOW THAT FUELING IS UNDER WAY, 
IT'S GOING ON 2 MINUTES NOW. 
SO THEY HAVE THAT SAFETY 
CAPABILITY READY TO GO ON STAND 
BY IN AN INSTANT. 
WE WANT TO GO TO HAWTHORN. 
>> STAGE IT 2 FUEL 
>> WE'RE T MINUS 39 MINUTES 
COUNTING DOWN. 
FINAL MINUTES EVERYTHING STILL 
LOOKING GOOD FOR FALCON 9 AND 
DRAGON FOR AN ON TIME LAUNCH. 
FALCON 9 DID BEGIN AT T MINUS 
35 MINUTES AS PLANNED. 
WE USE FUEL OXIDE, PROPELLANTS 
THAT POWER. 
THE FUEL IS KNOWN AS RP 3, 
ROCKET PROPELLANT GRADE ONE 
KEROSENE. 
LIQUID OXYGEN. 
DENSIFIDE, TO BE LOADED INTO 
THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES. 
NOW WITH THE FUEL AND OXIDIZER 
ON HAND WE NEED IGNITION SOURCE 
TO COMPLETE THE FIRE TRIANGLE. 
FOR THIS FALCON 9 USES A FLUID, 
IT IGNITES IN THE PRESENCE OF 
OXYGEN AND GIVES OFF A GREEN 
COLORED FLAME. 
IT'S HARD TO SEE ON THE FIRST 
STAGE IGNITION DUE TO THE WATER 
SPRAYED ON THE PAD. 
YOU MIGHT SEE THE GREEN FLARE 
FOLLOWING SEPARATION OVER 2.5 
MINUTES INTO FLIGHT. 
CURRENTLY FIRST STAGE FUEL TANK 
IS 10% FULL. 
THE FIRST STAGE IS A REMINDER 
AS YOU LOOK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF 
YOUR SCREENS, THE FIRST STAGE 
IS THE LONG WHITE 
CYLINDER AT THE BOTTOM TOPPED 
OFF BY THE BLACK CYLINDER. 
TWO-THIRDS OF THE ROCKET IS AT 
FIRST STAGE. 
WE ARE LOADING THE LIQUID 
OXYGEN INTO THE FIRST STAGE 
ALSO. 
THE SECOND STAGE, WHICH IS THE 
TOP ONE-THIRD BETWEEN THE 
DRAGON AND THE BLACK CYLINDER, 
THAT'S THE WHITE 
SECOND STAGE, THAT IS BEING 
LOAD WEEKEND 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. 
LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING WILL 
CONTINUE LOADING ON BOTH STAGES 
DOWN TO THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF 
THE COUNT. 
WE ARE ALSO LOADING HELIUM INTO 
PRESSURE VESSELS ON THE STAGES. 
THAT IS USED TO PRESSURIZE 
TANKS INSIDE THE PROPELLANTS 
PULLED OUT BY THE STRONG MERLIN 
PUMPS. 
ASTRONAUTS ARE MONITOR SYSTEMS 
WHILE THE PROPELLANTS LOADED 
INTO FALCON 9. MILE WE DID, WE 
MENTIONED WE TRAINED THEM WITH 
WHAT WE RECORDED ON BOARD, 
THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH MOST OF 
PROPELLANT LOAD AND NOW THEY 
ARE EXPERIENCING THE SOUNDS AND 
VIBRATIONS. 
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. 
NOW AS A REMINDER TODAY WE ARE 
NOW INTO AN INSTANTANEOUS 
LAUNCH WINDOW NOW THAT WE'VE 
GUN PROPELLANT LOADING. 
IF WE HEAR A HOLD FOR ANY 
REASON WE'LL HAVE TO STAND DOWN 
AND TARGET OUR BACKUP LAUNCH 
OPPORTUNITY TOMORROW, MAY 31st 
. 
>> THANKS, JOHN. 
FOR DEMO IT 2 BOB AND DOUG'S 
FLIGHT TO STATION WILL TAKE 
ABOUT 19 HOURS AND JOURNEY IS 
FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE 
TRIP OUR CARGO DRAGON MAKES 
BACK AND FORTH WITH TWO NOTICE 
AND DIFFERENCES AND THAT IS 
DOCKING AND SPLASH 
DOWN. 
>> AS WE AWAIT T MINUS 0 IN 
JUST UNDER 29 MINUTE 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. 
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO GET 
LIVE VIEWS INSIDE THE CASTLE 
WITH BOB AND DOUG, AND YOU ARE 
LOOKING AT FIRING ROOM 4 DOWN 
AT THE CAPE. 
>> ONCE WE HIT T 0 AND A 
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OCCURS, WE 
WILL WATCH FALCON 9 AND DRAGON 
MAKE THEIR ASCENT INTO 
THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGE 
SEPARATES AND SENDS DRAGON ON 
ITS WAY TO THE SPACE STATION. 
>> AT THIS POINT, MISSION 
OPERATORS WILL PREPARE DRAGON 
FOR ON ORBIT OPERATIONS. 
WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL EXECUTE 
A SERIES OF BURN THAT GRADUALLY 
RAISES ORBIT TO ALIGN CLOSELY 
WITH THE SPACE STATION AS YOU 
CAN SEE IN THIS ANIMATION. 
JUST AFTER PUTTING DRAGON INTO 
THE SAME ORBITAL PLANE STATION, 
GETTING READY FOR THE APPROACH 
AND DOCKING 
MANEUVERS. 
>> THE NEXT DRAGON WILL MAKE 
ITS APPROACH AND DOCK WITH THE 
SPACE STATION, THIS IS A 
DIFFERENT PROCESS WITH 
DRAGON CARGO DELIVERIES IN THE 
PAST, USING A MANEUVER CALLED 
BIRTHING. 
DOCKING ON THIS VERSION OF 
DRAGON CAN BE DONE AUTONOMOUSLY 
WITH NO CREW ON BOARD. 
THIS TYPICALLY IS A FASTER 
PROCESS WHEN ARRIVING AND 
LEAVING, IT DOES STILL REQUIRE 
PINPOINT ACCURACY TO 
APPROACH. 
>> ONCE CAPTURED, SPACECRAFT 
GETS ATTACHED TO A COMMON 
BIRTHING MECHANISM, SAME TYPE 
OF PORT TO CONNECT THE 
MODULES ON THE STATION 
TOGETHER. 
IT'S A SLOWER PROCESS, BUT THE 
HATCHES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY 
LARGER THAN THE DOCKING PORTS 
WHICH MAKES IT PERFECT 
FOR BRINGING UP REALLY BIG 
CARGO ITEMS. 
>> DRAGON WILL SPEND UP TO 120 
DAYS DOCKED BEFORE PREPARING TO 
RETURN HOME. 
FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION 
OF DRAGON'S TEST OBJECTIVES AND 
CARGO LOADING OPERATIONS, THE 
CREW WILL CLOSE 
THE CABIN, PERFORM FINAL SYSTEM 
CHECKS AND CONFIGURE THE 
VEHICLE FOR UNDOCKING. 
ONCE THE UNDOCKING SEQUENCE IS 
COMPLETE, DRAGON WILL COMPLETE 
TWO DID HE PART YOUR BURNS 
PUSHING IT AWAY FROM 
THE SPACE STATION. 
>> THE NEXT UP ON THE TRIP, THE 
ORBIT ENTRY AND LANDING, SPLASH 
DOWN WHICH IS COVERING ALL THE 
OPERATIONS 
FOLLOWING THAT FINAL DEPARTURE 
MANEUVER INCLUDING EVENTS LIKE 
THE TRUNK SEPARATION, CLOSING 
UP THE NOSE CONE, 
DEORBIT BURN AND EVENTUALLY AS 
THEY GET INTO THE ATMOSPHERE 
THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE DROGUE 
AND MAIN PARACHUTE 
ENDS WITH SPLASH DOWN OFF THE 
FLORIDA COAST. 
TEAM FROM SpaceX WILL MOVE IN 
WITH THEIR RECOVERY SHIP, GRAB 
THE CAPSULE OUT OF THE WATER 
AND WORK TO GET 
BOB AND DOUG OUT 0 OF THE 
DRAGON AFTER A SUCCESSFUL 
MISSION IN SPACE. 
SO WE ARE 26 MINUTES AWAY FROM 
LAUNCH. 
FUELING FALCON 9 IS CONTINUING. 
LET'S CHECK IN ONE MORE TIME, 
DALLAS TEAM AT KENNEDY. 
MURRAY. 
>> THANKS, DAN. 
WE ARE SO PUMPED RIGHT NOW 
BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CLEARED UP 
AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY DO 
THIS TODAY. 
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, WE 
ARE 25 MINUTES, 46 SECONDS AND 
COUNTING. 
FROM U.S. SOIL IN 9 YEARS. 
THIS WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF 
A NEW ERA WHERE MORE PEOPLE 
WILL FLY TO SPACE THAN EVER 
BEFORE, WE WANT TO 
SHARE THE RESULTS OF A POLL WE 
ASKED EARLIER, IF YOU COULD GO 
TO THE MOON, NOT WHERE THE 
ASTRONAUTS ARE GOING 
TODAY, IF YOU GO GO TO THE MOON 
VISIT THE SOUTH POLE WHERE NO 
ONE HAS BEEN BEFORE OR APOLLO 
11 LANDING SITE? 
IT WAS AN EVEN SPLIT. 
WE HAD 46% SAY YOU WOULD GO TO 
THE MOON'S SOUTH POLE AND 54% 
OF YOU WOULD GO TO THE APOLLO 
111 LANDING SITE. 
I'M A HISTORY BUT AND I WANT TO 
SEE WHERE NEIL ARMSTRONG AND 
BUZZ ALDREN SET FOOT. 
LAUREN, WHICH PLACE WOULD YOU 
GO. 
>> I'M WITH YOU ON THAT ONE. 
WOULD LOVE TO GO SEE THAT FLAG 
THERE AND THOSE FOOTSTEPS, 
FOOTPRINTS THERE, STILL BE 
THERE, RIGHT? 
>> SHOULD STILL BE THERE? 
>> I'M WITH BOTH OF YOU, IT'S 
LIKE -- THE CLASSIC. 
GOING TO THE CLASSIC SPOT AND 
THAT'S WHERE ALL OF IT STARTED, 
THAT'S WHERE ALL THE 
INSPIRATION CAME. 
ANTENNA ENGINEER, BESIDES THAT, 
THAT'S HISTORY. 
>> HOPEFULLY MAYBE WOULDN'T 
HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER. 
>> THAT'S TRUE. 
>> WE ARE GOING TO LEARN MORE 
GOING WHERE WE HAVE NEVER BEEN 
BEFORE. 
WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE ALL OF 
YOU FOLLOWING ALONG ONLINE. 
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR 
POLL AND WE ARE GOING OVER TO 
MONITORING THE ACTION WITH LESS 
THAN  25 MINUTES TO 
GO, I'M SURE THINGS ARE HEATING 
UP ONLINE. 
>> HEY, MARIA, YOU ARE 
COMPLETELY RIGHT. 
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE GO FOR 
LAUNCH. 
PEOPLE ARE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR 
SEAT WAITING ON THIS HISTORIC 
MOMENT TO TAKE FLIGHT. 
PHOTOS ARE STILL COMING IN OF 
JUST EVERYONE AROUND THE 
COUNTRY SHOWING THEIR 
EXCITEMENT FOR THIS LAUNCH AND 
IT'S BEEN A TOUCHING THING TO 
SEE HOW EVERYONE'S KEPT THIS 
EXCITEMENT GOING FROM 
WEDNESDAY'S FIRST ATTEMPT. 
SO WE JUST TOOK A LOOK AT 
NUMBERS AND WE ARE NOW OVER 3 
MILLION PEOPLE TUNING IN FOR 
THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH. 
>> WAY DON'T WISH BOB AND DOUG 
LUCK, WATCHING HUMANS LIFTOFF 
TO SPACE FROM THE UNITED STATES 
AND JUST GOING TO BE A SUPER 
EMOTIONAL MOMENT. 
FOR THAT, MARIA, BACK TO YOU AT 
KEN THEY DEE SPACE STATION 
BEFORE LAUNCH. 
>> THANKS. 
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK BOB AND 
DOUG ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW. 
>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE 
VERY CALM, COOL AND COLLECTED 
AS TEST PILOTS. 
I THINK 
WHAT ARE THE STEPS TO TAKE IF
THERE IS A MALFUNCTION.
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THEY
HAVE TO INTERVENE WITH THE TOUCH
SCREENS, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE
THINKING.
>> SO ON WEDNESDAY, WE WERE 5
MINUTES FURTHER IN THE COUNTDOWN
AND THE WEATHER WAS STILL VERY
TOUCH AND GO AT THIS POINT.
IT LOOKS BETTER TODAY.
>> YEAH, AND IT FEELS LIKE I'M
FEELING IT A LOT MORE.
SPEAKING OF BOB AND DOUG AND
THEM BEING COOL AND COLLECTED,
HAVING HAD A CHANCE TO BE IN
MEETINGS WITH THEM AND WATCH
THEM TRAIN AND TO ALL OF MY
FRIENDS THAT WORK WITH THEM
EVERY DAY, JUST WHAT GREAT
PEOPLE THEY ARE.
AND NOT JUST HOW BRIGHT AND
SHARP THEY ARE BUT JUST GOOD
PEOPLE.
AND AROUND THE OFFICE, WE OFTEN
REFER TO THEM AS THE DADS.
THEY ARE DADS.
THEY ARE DADS.
WE HAVE MET THEIR FAMILIES AND
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE ON THAT
PERSONAL LEVEL, IT STARTS TO
MEAN SO MUCH.
THEY ARE A PART OF OUR TEAM.
THEY ARE NOT A CUSTOMER.
THEY ARE FAMILY.
WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE
THE DADS UP THERE TODAY.
>> GO DADS.
YEAH.
>> OKAY.
WE WILL SEND IT OVER TO GARY FOR
AN UPDATE FROM HOUSTON.
GARY?
>> HEY, MARIE.
THE SPACE STATION HERE IS
FOCUSED.
ALL EYES ARE ON THE SYSTEM
CHECKS HAPPENING ACROSS THE
BOARD.
WE ARE LISTENING IN AS WE CLOSE
IN ON LAUNCH AND THINGS ARE
LOOKING GOOD.
CHRIS CASSADY WILL BE WATCHING
FROM THE SPACE STATION.
IT IS HEADING TO CROSS OVER THE
LAUNCH PAD AND WE MAY GET GOOD
VIEWS FROM THE STATION, HOPE TO
BE CAPTURING THOSE.
WE WILL HAVE THE LAUNCH VIEW AND
THE BIG SCREEN UP FRONT.
EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO SEE OUR
TWO CREW MEMBERS ON THE WAY TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I WANT TO PASS ON GOOD LUCK FROM
THE ENTIRE FLIGHT OPERATIONS
COMMUNITY HERE IN HOUSTON.
IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING TO BE
DOING SOMETHING NEW AND HISTORY
MAKING.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE OUR TEAM
MEMBERS BOB AND DOUG IN LOWER
ORBIT AND HEADED TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THAT IS IT FOR US FROM MISSION
CONTROL HOUSTON.
>> T MINUS 20 MINUTES.
EVERYTHING IS STILL LOOKING GOOD
FOR LAUNCH OF FALCON NINE AND
DRAGON.
YOU CAN SEE A LARGE WHITE CLOUD
COMING OFF OF THE STRONG BACK.
THAT IS NORMAL.
IF WE GET READY TO LOAD THE
SECOND LOAD OF LIQUID OXYGEN, AS
WE RELIEVE PRESSURE, THE AIR
CONDENS AROUND IT AND THAT GIVES
YOU A CLOUD.
SO THAT SHOWS THINGS ARE ON
SCHEDULE.
WE DID BEGIN AT T MINUS 35
MINUTES, LOADING FUEL.
I THINK WE HEARD THE CALL UP
THAT IT IS COMPLETE.
FIRST STAGE FUEL LOAD IS
CONTINUING.
RIGHT NOW THAT IS A LITTLE MORE
THAN, ABOUT 60% OF THE WAY FULL.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.
SECOND STAGE IS GETTING READY TO
BEGIN TO LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING
AFTER THEY BEGIN CHILLING IN THE
LINES.
THEY WILL BEGIN THE LOAD AT T
MINUS 16 MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS.
THE RANGE RIGHT NOW IS GO, READY
TO SUPPORT.
WEATHER CONTINUES TO BE GO.
AS WE INCH OUR WAY CLOSER, WE
ARE WAITING FOR ANYONE WHO CALLS
OUT AN ISSUE.
BUT FOR THE MOMENT IS LOOKS
GOOD.
NOW ON THE DRAGON SIDE, THE
DRAGON MISSION DIRECTOR AND TEAM
THERE ARE REPORTING NO ISSUES.
THE CREW AS YOU CAN SEE HAS
RETRACTED FROM THE SPACE CRAFT.
THE CREW IS STRAPPED IN AND
READY TO GO.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE GOING
TO THE CREW AT T-10 MINUTES.
THAT SET UP WILL GIVE ASTRONAUTS
BOB BEHNKEN AND BUG HURLEY
INFORMATION ON HOW THE LAUNCH IS
PROCEEDING.
WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD THE CREW
GIVE THEIR GO AND GET READY FOR
LAUNCH.
DRAGON WILL ENTER AT T-20
MINUTES.
WE WILL HEAR CALLOUTS AS WE GET
CLOSER TO 0 AND LIFTOFF.
RIGHT NOW IT IS T-18!
15.
EVERYTHING IS A GO ARE FOR AN ON
TIME LAUNCH.
DAN AND JESSE, THINGS ARE
LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
HOW ARE THEY AT YOUR STAND?
>> THINGS ARE GREAT AT ABOUT 15
FEET FROM YOU.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT AT THE
PAD THERE.
WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE BLUE IN
THE SKY.
GREEN IS THE COLOR WE WANT WHEN
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER AND
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE SEEING RIGHT
NOW.
WE ARE UNDER 18 MINUTES AWAY
FROM LIFTOFF.
IT IS AN INSTANTANEOUS LIFTOFF
AT 12:22:45 ON THE WEST COAST
AND 3:22 ON THE EAST COAST IN
FLORIDA.
IT WILL BE ABOUT A 9 MINUTE RIDE
UP TO ORBIT TO THE FALCON NINE.
IT WILL BE A TWO STAGE FLIGHT.
WE WILL HEAR THE FIRST FLIGHT
UNTIL MAIN ENGINE CUT OFF AUBT 2
AND A HALF MINUTES AND THEN THE
SECOND PHASE WILL POWER THEM THE
REST OF THE WAY.
SECOND ENGINE COMES IN AT ABOUT
8:44 AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO
COAST FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES.
IT WILL DO A SLIGHT ATTITUDE
ADJUSTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT IS
NOT IN ANY KIND OF A SPIN BEFORE
THEY DO SEPARATION.
THAT'S WHEN THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT WILL PHYSICALLY
SEPARATE FROM THE DRAGON VEHICLE
AND WILL BE FLYING FREE.
IT IS ABOUT A 19 HOUR RIDE IF WE
LAUNCH TODAY ON TIME.
THAT MEANS BOB AND DOUG WILL GET
ON ORBIT, THEY WILL HAVE A
NUMBER OF BURNS OR FIRINGS OF
THE DRAKO THRUSTERS THAT THEY
WILL DO.
WE HEAR THE LIQUID OXYGEN HAS
STARTED ON PHASE 2.
THEY WILL DO A SERIES OF BURNS
ON THE WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION SPREAD OUT OVER
THE FLIGHT UNTIL THEY GET MUCH
CLOSER AND IT IS TIME FOR THE
APPROACH AND DOCKING.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT WITH AN ON
TIME LAUNCH TO HAPPEN TODAY.
THAT WILL BE COMING TOMORROW IN
THE AFTERNOON.
ALL RIGHT.
NOW THAT WE ARE UNDER 16 MINUTES
AWAY, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST
JOINING US.
I'M GOING TO TOSS IT OVER TO
JESSE.
>> WE ARE T-15:45 FROM LIFTOFF
OF THE SECOND DEMONSTRATION
MISSION TODAY.
WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING
SPACE X'S PRESIDENT AND CEO GLEN
SHOTUAL JOINING US.
THANK YOU
FOR COMING ON TO CHAT WITH US.
THANKS.
>> HOW HAS THE COUNTDOWN BEEN
GOING SO FAR TODAY?
>> COUNTDOWN IS CLEAN TODAY JUST
LIKE IT WAS WEDNESDAY.
WE CLEARED THE WEATHER HURDLES
SOONER THAN WE DID ON WEDNESDAY.
THE ONLY THING WE ARE WATCHING
NOW IS DOWN RANGE WEATHER AND
LIGHTNING AT THE STAGING
LOCATION.
>> OF COURSE.
>> BUT WE WILL CLEAR THAT HURDLE
AT T MINUS 7 MINUTES.
>> VERY EXCITING.
I WANT 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 AND TODAY I'M SUPER
NERVOUS, STOMACH AND THROAT.
UNDERSTANDABLE.
>> FANTASTIC DAY TODAY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED.
THE TEAM HAS PULLED TOGETHER
SUCH A PROFESSIONAL OPERATION,
SPACE X AND NASA.
THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING
INCREDIBLY HARD AND HAVE DONE A
FANTASTIC JOB.
>> AND WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET BACK
INSIDE OF MISSION CONTROL BUT IS
THERE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY
BEFORE LIFTOFF TO NASA AND SPACE
X?
>> I WANT TO THANK NASA OF
COURSE FOR THEIR GENEROSITY AND
THEIR HEALTH WITH GETTING TO
THIS PLACE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE SPACE
XORS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO
MAKE THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY.
I WANT TO THANK ELON FOR HIRING
ME.
>> WE THANK ELON FOR HIRING YOU
AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO
MISSION CONTROL AND GOOD LUCK
WITH LAUNCH TODAY.
>> THANKS AND GOD SPEED, BOB AND
DOUG.
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED.
WE ARE JUST A FEW MINUTES AWAY
FROM COUNT DOWN.
WE ARE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
DAN AND JOHN FOR THE FINAL
MINUTES IN TERMINAL COUNTS.
TAKE IT AWAY, JOHN.
>> 1 MINUS 13 MINUTES, 30
SECONDS.
CONTINUING THE COUNTDOWN, WE ARE
CONTINUING TO LOAD FUEL ONTO THE
FIRST STAGE.
THAT SHOULD FINISH UP IN ABOUT 6
MINUTES.
FUEL IS COMPLETELY LOADED ON THE
SECOND STAGE.
THAT IS CLOSED OUT.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOAD LIQUID
OXYGEN ON BOTH THE FIRST AND
SECOND STAGE.
THE LIQUID OXYGEN LOAD BEGINNING
ON THE SECOND STAGE ABOUT 3.5
MINUTES AGO.
WE ARE ALSO LOADING CRYOOGENIC
HELIUM ON THE FIRST AND SECOND
STAGE, GIVING THE LAST LITTLE
BITS OF HELIUM WHEN WE KEEP THE
COLD AND LIQUIDIFIED, THAT GETS
US JUST LIKE OXYGEN, 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 PUMP PUTTING THE
PROPELLANT INTO THE FIRST AND
SECOND STAGES.
NEXT SIGNIFICANT CALLOUTS WE
WILL HEAR FROM IS INSIDE THE
T-MINUS 10 MINUTES WHEN THEY
TALK TO THE CREW.
WE WILL LISTEN FOR THAT.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD T
MINUS 12 MINUTES.
>> GETTING REALLY CLOSE NOW, A
LITTLE OVER 12 MINUTES AWAY.
IT IS ABOUT A 9 MINUTE RIDE UP
HILL, WE WILL HAVE SOME DUELING
BOXES GOING ON AS THE FIRST
STAGE IS GOING TO BE COMING HOME
WHILE THE SECOND STAGE IS
CARRYING BOB AND DOUG IN ORBIT.
WE WILL KEEP AN EYE ON OUR
ASTRONAUTS THE WHOLE WAY UP.
SOME OF THE CALLS YOU WILL BE
HEARING AS THERE WILL BE
PERFORMANCE CALLS OVER THE
DRAGON TO GROUND, THE ENTIRE WAY
UP HILL, AND YOU WILL JUST HEAR
SOME OF THE SPACE X ENGINEERS
CALLING OUT TRAJECTORY AND
BOOSTER PERFORMANCE.
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THAT
WORD NOMINAL.
I KNOW THAT IS ONE OF JOHN'S
FAVORITE WORDS.
WE WANT TO HEAR THAT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
YOU MAY ALSO HEAR NUMBER AND
LETTER COMBINATIONS.
THOSE CORRESPOND TO DIFFERENT
ABORT ZONES THAT BOB AND DOUG
ARE IN.
THERE IS ONE A AND ONE B.
THOSE CARRY THEM FROM THE CAPE
TO THE TOP OF NORTH CAROLINA AND
THEN WE WILL HAVE 2A-2E AND THAT
WILL BE ON THE SECOND STAGE.
THAT GOES FROM NORTH CAROLINA
ALL THE WAY UP TO ABOUT THE TIP
OF NEWFOUNDLAND IN THE NORTHERN
ATLANTIC.
AND THEN THERE IS THE ZONE OF
THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC THAT WE
WILL AVOID.
SO YOU SHOULD HEAR THE CALLOUT
BE SOMETHING SIMILAR TO FORWARD
TO SHANNON.
AND THAT REFERS TO SHANNON
IRELAND WHICH THEY WILL BE GOING
OFF OF THE COAST OF IRELAND AS
THE LATER STAGES OF THE SECOND
PHASE IF THEY HAVE TO ABORT.
JUST PREPPING YOU NOW FOR SOME
OF THOSE CALLS.
HOPEFULLY YOU WILL HEAR NOMINAL
A LOT ON THE WAY UP.
THINGS ARE PRETTY QUIET.
IT WILL PICK UP AT ABOUT 10
MINUTES.
WE WILL WAIT FOR THE CREW TO
CONFIRM THEIR DISPLAYS ARE IN
ORDER, THE CREW IS STRAPPED IN
AND READY FOR LAUNCH.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE
FUEL GAUGES TICK UP ON THE
FALCON 9 VEHICLE UNTIL FUELLING
CUTS OFF AT ABOUT 2 MINUTES
PRIOR TO LAUNCH.
>> DISPLAYS ARE CONFIGURED FOR
LAUNCH.
>> BOB, DOUG, IT HAS BEEN A HUGE
HONOR TO GET YOU READY FOR
TODAY'S HISTORIC MISSION.
KNOW WE ARE WITH YOU, HAVE AN
AMAZING FLIGHT, AND ENJOY THOSE
VIEWS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL PLANET.
>> THANKS, JAY.
IT IS OUR HONOR TO BE A HEART OF
THIS HUGE EFFORT TO GET THE
UNITED STATES BACK IN THE LAUNCH
BUSINESS WE'LL TALK TO YOU FROM
ORBIT, THANK YOU.
>> TALK TO YOU ALL.
THE SPACE X CORPS, THEY WILL BE
TALKING TO BOB AND DOUG
THROUGHOUT THEIR MISSION FROM
HAWTHORNE, OFFERING A FEW QUICK
WORDS.
THEY ARE CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH.
WE ARE COMING UP ON 9 MINUTES
AND COUNTING.
>> WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH T
MINUS 10 MINUTES WITH THE
DISCUSSIONS.
NOW WE WILL SWITCH TO FALCON 9.
OUR NEXT MAJOR EVENT COMES AT T
MINUS 7 MINUTE.
WE BEGIN ENGINE CHILL.
PREVALVES WILL OPEN.
THEY SEPARATE PROPELLANTS ON THE
FIRST STAGE FROM GETTING TO THE
ENGINE.
WE WILL OPEN THE VALVES AND
ALLOW THE OXYGEN TO FLOW TO THE
PUMPS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WE OPEN
THE VALVES, THAT WILL ALLOW US
TO CHILL THE TURBO PUMPS ON THE
FIRST STAGE ENGINE.
IT WILL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO
GET THEM COLD ENOUGH TO WHERE
THEY ARE ABLE TO PASS THE LARGE
AMOUNTS OF LIQUID OXYGEN THROUGH
THE PUMPS AND INTO THE MAIN
THRUST CHAMBERS WHEN WE GET TO T
MINUS 2 SECONDS.
WE DON'T WANT TO RUN HIGHLY
CHILLED LIQUID OXYGEN THROUGH A
WARM PUT.
YOU WOULD SLASH THAT AND THAT IS
NOT A GOOD THING.
SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR
T MINUS 7 MINUTES.
THAT WILL START THE ENGINE
CHILL.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE WILL GET
THE FUEL SHUTDOWN.
>> LISTENING TO THE SPACE X
DIRECTOR IN THE BACKGROUND
THERE.
AS WE START THE CHILL, WE WILL
ALSO GET INTO THE FINAL TOPPING
OFF OF STAGE 1 FUEL AND THEN THE
FUEL LOAD WILL COMPLETE.
>> STAGE ONE AND STAGE TWO
ENGINE CHILL HAS STARTED.
>> WE HEARD THE CALLOUT, STAGE
ONE ENGINE CHILL HAS STARTED.
THE CREW HAS AWARENESS.
THEY MENTIONED THE PREVALVES ARE
OPEN.
NOW WE ARE TOPPING OFF FOR STAGE
FUEL, GETTING READY TO FINISH
THE FUEL LOAD.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOAD WILL CONTINUE
UNTIL THE LAST 2 TO 3 MINUTES OF
THE COUNTDOWN.
>> WE SHOULD HEAR THAT CALLOUT
RP1 COMPLETE.
THAT IS DENSEIFIED KEROSENE OR
THE ROCKET FUEL THAT ROCKET 9
WILL USE TO POWER BOB AND DOUG'S
ORBIT TODAY.
>> STAGE ONE FUEL HAS CLOSED.
RIGHT ON TIME.
THAT INDICATES THE FUEL LOADING
ON THE FIRST STAGE IS COMPLETE.
JOINING TO FIRST AND SECOND
STAGE COMPLETE.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING IS
CONTINUING ON BOTH STAGES.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF
THE MONITOR, THE CONDENSATION,
THE COLD GAS WRAPPED AROUND THE
STAGES AS THE TANK SKINS ARE
CHILLED BY THE DENSEIFIED LIQUID
OXYGEN PICKING UP THE HUMIDITY.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE AT THIS MOMENT,
WE ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN 90% ON
THE FIRST STAGE, TICKING UP
TOWARDS 80% ON THE SECOND STAGE.
WE WILL COUNT DOWN ALL THE WAY
TO 2 OR 3 MINUTES UNTIL
EVERYTHING IS LOADED.
AND THEN WE WILL GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> DRAGON HAS TRANSITIONED FOR
TERMINAL COUNT.
>> THE PRESSUREIZING THE FALCON
9
TANK.
THEY WILL BEGIN TO RETRACT THE
STRONG VAC.
WE WILL MOVE BACK ABOUT 2
DEGREES TO GET TO THE LIFT OFF
POSITION.
THEN THE STRONG VAC WILL DECLINE
45 DEGREES.
>> LAUNCH DIRECTOR CALLED BACK
THE STRONG VAC RECALL HAS
STARTED.
ON THE LEFT, YOU WILL SEE IT GO
BACK A COUPLE OF DEGREES.
>> WE ARE JUST 4 MINUTES AWAY
FROM LIFTOFF.
AGAIN AT THIS MOMENT, BOB AND
DOUG ARE JUST LASER FOCUSED ON
THOSE DISPLAYS.
THEY HAVE INSIGHT DIRECTLY INTO
DRAGON AND FALCON 9.
THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THE
FUEL LOADING IS AT, HOW
EVERYTHING IS PROGRESSING WITH
THE COUNT.
>> 3.5 MINUTES FROM LAUNCH.
>> THE STRONG VAK IS NOW
RECLINING AWAY FROM THE FALCON
9.
>> DRAGON HAS TRANSITIONED TO
TERMINAL COUNT.
STAGE ONE CLOSE OUT.
>> OKAY, WE ARE T MINUS 2:46.
STAGE TWO WILL CONTINUE TO LOAD
FOR ANOTHER HALF A MINUTE OR SO.
ONCE WE GET THE COMPLETION OF
STAGE TWO OFF LOADING, WE HAVE
TO WENT DOWN THE LINE.
YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER LARGE WHITE
CLOUD COMING OFF OF THE STRONG
VAC.
THAT WILL BE NORMAL.
THAT WILL HAPPEN AROUND 1:40.
WE ARE GOING ON INTERNAL POWER
NOW.
>> JUST A FEW SECONDS AWAY FROM
THE STAGE TWO LOCK BEING
COMPLETE.
>>> THIS IS AN NBC NEWS SPECIAL
REPORT.
LAUNCH AMERICA.
HERE'S JOSE DIAZ BALART.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
WE ARE HERE TO BRING YOU WHAT
COULD BE THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
IN SPACE TRAVEL, THE FIRST
LAUNCH OF U.S. ASTRONAUTS INTO
SPACE FROM AMERICAN SOIL IN
NEARLY A DECADE.
THE FIRST EVER BY A PRIVATE
CONTACTOR.
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ATTEMPT
AFTER A WEDNESDAY LAUNCH WAS
STRUBED DUE TO BAD WEATHER IN
FLORIDA.
THE SPACE X FALCON 9 ROCKET IS
SCHEDULED TO LIFT OFF MOMENTS
FROM NOW FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER CARRYING TWO ASTRONAUTS
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS RETURNED TO
FLORIDA TODAY TO WATCH IT
HAPPEN.
TOM COSTELLO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING
ALL OF THIS AND HAS MORE FROM
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ON THIS
HISTORIC DAY.
>> Reporter: IT IS TO AMERICAN
LIVES.
BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLY ARE
THE ASTRONAUTS STRAPPED IN.
9 MURLEN ROCKETS WILL IGNITE
LIFTING THE ROCKET UP TO THE
SPACE STATION AS IT ACCELERATES
ON 1.7 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST.
THIS IS A VERY BIG DEAL FOR ALL
OF THE REASONS YOU JUST
OUTLINED.
WE ARE ABOUT TO GO TO SPACE X
MISSION CONTROL, 45 SECONDS
UNTIL THE FINAL LIFT OFF.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THIS IS A
SPACE X MISSION, A PRIVATE
COMPANY'S MISSION WITH NASA
ASTRONAUTS ON BOARD.
MISSION CONTROL IS OUTSIDE OF
FLORIDA, IT IS IN CALIFORNIA.
IT HAS BEEN A SMOOTH COUNTDOWN
DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAD BAD
WEATHER ON WEDNESDAY.
WE ARE LISTENING IN TO THE FINAL
COUNTDOWN WITH SPACE X MISSION
CONTROL.
A KEY WORD TO LISTEN FOR AS WE
GO INTO THIS FINAL LAUNCH IS
MAXIMUM CUE, AND THAT IS WHEN
THEY HAVE THE MAXIMUM LOADS ON
THE SPACECRAFT.
HERE WE GO.
>> SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO,
ONE, ZERO.
IGNITION, LIFTOFF.
THE FALCON 9, GO NASA, GO SPACE
X, GOD SPEED, BOB AND DOUG.
>> AMERICA HAS LAUNCHED.
SO RISES A NEW ERA OF AMERICA
SPACE.
>> WE ARE 30 SECONDS INTO THIS
HISTORIC MISSION.
THE DREW ABOARD FALCON 9, LOOK
AT THEM GO.
THEY ARE THROTTLING DOWN TO GET
READY FOR THE PERIOD OF MAXIMUM
DYNAMIC PRESSURE.
WE ARE IN THE THROTTLE ROCKET.
REPORTS SAY ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO.
WE HAVE EXCEEDED MARK 1 ONE THE
FALCON 9.
WE ARE THROTTLING BACK UP TO
FULL POWER AS WE HAVE MAX Q.
>> WE HEARD THAT ONE BRAVY
CALLOUT, THAT IS A SECOND ABORT
ZONE THEY ARE IN.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE ON THAT
UNTIL THE FIRST STAGE HAS DONE
ITS JOB.
AT THIS POINT, BOB AND DOUG
PULLING ABOUT 2.3G'S, 2.3 TIMES
THE EARTH GRAVITY, 1500 MILES
PER HOUR.
>> WE HEARD THE CALLOUT.
>> 17,000 MILES PER HOUR.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A SPECTACULAR
LIFTOFF SO FAR.
IT HARKENS BACK TO THE APOLLO
DAY WITH THE THUNDER AND ROAR OF
THE BUILDINGS HERE.
WATCH THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK AT 2,
30, MAIN ENGINE CUTOFF WILL BE A
CRATICAL MOMENT.
>> ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
COMING UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.
>> M1D THROTTLE DOWN.
>> WE HEARD WE ARE THROTTLING
DOWN THE MURLEN ENGINES ON THE
FIRST STAGE.
>> AND WE HAVE MECO.
>> SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> CRITICAL, CRITICAL, MOMENT,
MAIN ENGINE CUTOFF FROM THE
FIRST STAGE OF THE ROCKET NOW
SEPARATING, ALLOWING THE SECOND
STAGE TO CONTINUE ALONG WITH THE
DRAGON AT 17,000 MILES PER HOUR,
HEADED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THIS COULD NOT HAVE GONE BETTER.
IT HAS BEEN PICTURE PERFECT SO
FAR.
THEY HAVE A 19 HOUR JOURNEY TO
THE SPACE STATION.
>> UNBELIEVABLE IS THE WORD THAT
COMES TO MIND, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
JOINING US FROM HOUSTON IS
MICHAEL FENG.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE SEEN SOME
OF THESE IMAGES BEFORE BUT IT IS
ALL SO DIFFERENT AND NEW.
>> IT IS NEW.
THIS IS A NEW ROCKET TO LAUNCH
PEOPLE ON.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SPACE
X FOR A LONG TIME.
NASA, THE AIR FORCE, WE COUNT ON
THE FALCON 9.
WE STILL HAVE SECOND STAGE TO
GET US INTO ORBIT.
WE WILL GET TO 17, 500 MILES PER
HOUR, IT IS 26,000 KILOMETERS
PER HOUR.
DOUG AND BOB ARE IN A SURREAL
THING.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS
HAPPENING, AND WOW, THE WEATHER.
IT IS A GREAT DAY, HISTORIC
LAUNCH AND WE ARE REALLY HAPPY
SO FAR.
THESE GUYS WILL GET TO ORBIT AND
TOMORROW THEY WILL DOCK TO THE
SPACE STATION.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SLEEP IN
BETWEEN TIME, TAKE OFF THEIR
SUITS.
IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING RIDE
FOR THEM.
WE ARE WISHING THEM THE BEST OF
LUCK.
>> IT IS INDEED.
250 MILES ABOVE EARTH, THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
SPEAKING OF WEATHER, ROVER HAS
BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT.
THIS HAD TO BE SCRUBBED ONE TIME
BEFORE.
IT WAS TOUCH AND GO EARLIER
TODAY BUT THE WEATHER HELD UP.
AND JUST BARELY.
THE IDEA OF OF COURSE THE
PROBLEMS THAT THEY COULD HAVE
HAD.
TAKE A LOOK.
THERE ARE LIGHTNING STORM
STRIKES ALL AROUND.
BUT AS WE ZOOM IN CLOSELY AND
THEN GO TO THE LIVE RADAR, YOU
CAN SEE JUST TO THE WEST OF
LAUNCH PAD 39A, WE GOT SOME
THUNDERSTORMS.
LOOK AT THIS.
BASICALLY THEY NEED A 12 MILE
RADIUS.
THEY DO NOT LAUNCH IF LIGHTNING
IS OBSERVED WITHIN 12 MILES.
THAT LIGHTNING WAS ABOUT 14
MILES AWAY.
THE CLOUDS DID NOT HAVE HEAVY
PRECIPITATION.
SO THE WEATHER COOPERATED.
NO WORRIES ABOUT TOMORROW
BECAUSE THEY ARE OFF AND AWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT GOING FORWARD
NOW?
>> TALKING WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
TOMORROW MORNING.
IT IS A 19 HOUR JOURNEY.
THEY DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS
MISSION WILL LAST.
IT COULD BE ONE TO FOUR MONTHS.
THAT DEPENDS ON HOW WELL THE
ROCKET SHAKES OUT.
HOW WELL THE ROCKET PERFORMS,
AND HOW WELL IT DOCKS WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THIS IS ALL PART OF THE PLAN TO
TURN THIS PART OF NASA'S
MISSION, GETTING TO LOW EARTH
ORBIT, TURN THAT OVER TO THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, LIKE SPACE X AND
BOEING WHILE NASA FOCUSES ON
GOING LONG AND DEEP, BACK TO THE
MOON AND MARS EVENTUALLY.
THAT COULD BE 4 # YEARS AWAY AT
THE EARLIEST, COULD BE LONGER
THAN THAT.
THAT IS THE ULTIMATE MISSION NOW
OF NASA.
TO HAVE THIS UNDER ITS BELT, THE
PICTURE PERFECT LAUNCH WITH
SPACE X PERFORMING RIGHT ON THE
DOT AND WITH TWO AMERICAN LIVES
ON THE LINE, THIS COULD NOT HAVE
GONE BETTER TODAY.
>> TOM CUST ELO, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS NOW ON THE
WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION ON THIS HISTORIC FLIGHT.
WE WILL HAVE FULL DETAILS
TONIGHT AS WELL AS COVERAGE OF
THE PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF GEORGE
FLOYD IN MINNEAPOLIS ON MONDAY
WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY.
WE WILL RETURN YOU NOW TO NBC
SPORTS COVERAGE OF THE FRENCH
OPEN.
AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE MUCH MORE
TONIGHT ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF
YOUR TIME.
>> DRAGON COPY.
>> CONTINUING TO CHECK IN WITH
BOB AND DOUG AS THEY ARE ON A
NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
JUST ABOUT 10 SECONDS AWAY FROM
THE FIRST STAGE, STARTING THAT
ENTRY BURN ON THE RIGHT SCREEN.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
VIEW LIVE.
>> STAGE ONE ISSUE BURN STARTED.
>> AND THERE IS THE ENTRY BURN
BEGINNING.
THIS BURN LASTS ABOUT 36
SECONDS.
>> THE ENTRY BURN CONTINUES
ABOUT A MINUTE AWAY FROM SECO.
THAT WILL BE THE SECOND ENGINE
CUTOFF.
WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR THAT
STAGE ONE LANDING BURN SHORTLY
AFTER.
>> ACTUALLY, JUST WITHIN A FEW
SECONDS OF EACH OTHER.
THAT'S A COOL VIEW ON YOUR LEFT
SCREEN, SEEING BOB AND DOUG ON
DRAGON.
RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE THE
DISPLAYS THAT THEY ARE SEEING
RIGHT NOW THEMSELVES.
>> WE ARE ABOUT 25 SECONDS AWAY
FROM SECOND ENGINE CUTOFF.
>> THIS IS WHEN THEY HAVE THE
HIGHEST G FORCE.
YOU HEARD SHANNON.
THAT MEANS THEY ARE IN THEIR
FINAL ABORT ZONES.
IF THEY WERE TO ABORT IT WOULD
BE TO ABORT OFF OF THE COAST OF
IRELAND.
>> CONFIRMATION OF SECOND ENGINE
CUTOFF.
>> NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
FIRST STAGE TO MAKE ITS WAY TO
THE DRONE SHIP.
>> WE GOT CONFIRMATION OF
NOMINAL ORBIT SPEED.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON THE
SCREEN IS A LIVE VIEW OF OUR
DRONE SHIP, WHERE OUR FIRST
STAGE WILL BE COMING DOWN.
LOOKS LIKE WE LOST THAT LIVE
VIEW.
WE WILL WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION OF
THAT LANDING SHORTLY HERE.
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR
SCREEN, FALCON 9 HAS LANDED.
THIS IS THE FIRST FALCON 9 TO
CARRY HUMANS TO ORBIT.
SO VERY EXCITING FOR US.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR RIGHT
SCREEN, BOB, AND DOUG ARE STILL
MAKING THEIR WAY TO THEIR
TARGETED ORBITS.
SO EXCITING TODAY.
>> IT DOESN'T STOP.
>> IT DOES NOT STOP.
>> WE DID HEAR THE CALLOUT, GOOD
ORBITING INSERTION.
SO THAT MEANS FALCON 9 AND
DRAGON RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY NEED
TO BE.
IT IS RIGHT AT ABOUT 12 MINUTES.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE SAW 0G
INDICATOR AROUND THERE.
I KNOW BOB AND DOUG TOLD US A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS
THEY BROUGHT UP WITH THEM.
>> BEFORE SEPARATION, BEFORE
DRAGON AND THE SEPARATION FROM
THE SECOND STAGE, THEY DO MAKE
SURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT
SPINNING AND IN GOOD CONDITION
BEFORE WE SEPARATE.
THAT'S RIGHT.
THE OTHER STAGE DOES A SMALL
MANEUVER TO USE BUILT INTO THE
ROCKET ITSELF.
>> WE EXPECT THE SEPARATION TO
OCCUR AT ABOUT A MINUTE FROM
NOW.
THEY DO WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE
FULL CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS
READY TO SEPARATE.
SUCH COOL VIEWS.
I CAN'T GET OVER THE VIEW THEY
ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
BOB AND DOUG ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OUT IN SPACE.
>> ALREADY 200 KILOMETERS OVER
PLANET EARTH, OR A LITTLE OVER
2400 MILES TRAVELLING IN EXCESS
OF 27,000 METERS PER SECOND.
OR ABOUT 16,000 MILES PER HOUR.
AGAIN, WE ARE JUST STANDING BY.
THE SEPARATION SHOULD BE COMING
UP SHORTLY.
THEY WILL BEGIN A SERIES OF
CHECKS ON THE DRAKO THRUSTERS
THAT WILL BE USED TO POWER
DRAGON ON THE FLIGHT TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
STANDING BY FOR SEPARATION.
SOUNDS LIKE WE HAD AN UNEXPECTED
LOSS OF SIGNAL FROM A GROUND
STATION.
WAITING FOR CONFIRMATION OF
THAT.
DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> THERE IS A GREAT VIEW RIGHT
IN FRONT OF YOU OF DRAGON
SEPARATING THERE IS THE CALLOUT,
DRAGON IS NOWFICIALLY MAKING ITS
WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION TODAY.
>> WE HAVE A FEW ALERTS FROM
FALCON 9 TEAM.
>> STAND BY.
>> DRAGON, CHIEF ENGINEER ON
DRAGON TO GROUND, BOB, DOUG, ON
BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE LAUNCH
TEAM, THANKS FOR FLYING WITH
FALCON 9 TODAY.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE RIDE AND
WE WISH YOU A GREAT MISSION.
THANKS, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU
AND THE TEAM FOR THESE FIRST
HUMAN RIDES FOR FALCON 9.
IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND
THANKS FOR THE GREAT RIDE TO
SPACE.
>> 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 OVER.
>> GOOD LUCK AND GOD SPEED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THEY ARE IN.
>> WE ARE MONITORING.
>> THE CORPS HERE IN HAWTHORNE
GIVING THE CREW A HEADS UP THAT
WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT THE
NOSE CONE IS DEPLOYING.
IT WILL OPEN UP A LITTLE MORE
THAN 90 DEGREES, I THINK IT GOES
TO 105 DEGREES.
THAT WILL EXPOSE THE ACTUAL
DOCKING RING AND THE HATCH THAT
THEY WILL GO THROUGH ONCE THEY
ATTACH TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND ALSO FOUR OF
THOSE DRAKO THRUSTERS THAT WILL
BE USED FOR THE MAJOR PHASE
BURNS OR FIRING OF THOSE
THRUSTERS THAT RAISE THEIR ORBIT
GRADUALLY OVER THE COMING HOURS.
ALSO, WE HEARD GOOD ACTIVATION
OF THE ECLIPSE, THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL AND LIFE
SUPPORT SYSTEM.
EVERYTHING CONTROLLING THE
ATMOSPHERE, KEEPING DRAGON A
NICE, SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE
THEY WILL BE LIVING FOR THE NEXT
19 HOURS UNTIL THEY ARRIVE AT
THE SPACE STATION.
EXACTLY.
FALCON 9'S JOB MAY BE DONE FOR
THE DAY BUT THE MISSION IS NOT
OVER.
CREW DRAGON IS NOT FINISHED.
BOB AND DOUG ARE INSIDE CREW
DRAGON, IT WILL BE A 19 HOUR
TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION BEFORE THEY DOG TOMORROW
MORNING.
SUCH COOL VIEWS.
I LOVE THAT WE CAN GET THESE
LIVE VIEWS AND SEE AND WATCH
WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW THAT
THEY ARE IN ORBIT.
>> IT IS INCREDIBLE TO BE
LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER, TO
BE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
WE WILL BE WITH THEM AND WE WILL
BE WITH ALL OF YOU THE ENTIRE
WAY FOR THEIR JOURNEY TO THE
SPACE STATION.
WE WILL BE COVERING LIVE
THROUGHOUT.
BOB AND DOUG WILL HAVE A SLEEP
PERIOD WHERE THEY WILL GET ABOUT
8 HOURS OF SLEEP LATER TODAY
BEFORE THEY WAKE UP FOR THE
FINAL APPROACH.
ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO WILL BE THEIR
FIRST TIME AT THE CONTROL.
THEY WILL USE THE TOUCH SCREEN
DISPLAYS TO MANUALLY PILOT
DRAGON.
WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT
THAT WILL LOOK LIKE.
ASSUMING WE HAVE GROUND STATION
COVERAGE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GET A GOOD VIEW IN DRAGON AS
THEY MANIPULATE THE DISPLAYS.
WE HAD A SMOOTH RIDE UPHILL BOTH
STAGES OF THE FALCON 9 # DOING
THEIR JOB, PLACING BOB AND DOUG
IN ORBIT.
THIS IS A HISTORICAL DAY.
THIS IS KICKING OFF A NEW ERA OF
SPACE FLIGHT THAT WE HAVE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT AND LONGING FOR
SINCE THE SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM
CAME TO AN END IN 2011.
THE WEATHER COOPERATED.
>> YES, SECOND TIME IS THE
CHARM.
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DAY FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE LOST
SOME LIVE SIGNAL THERE.
THE MISSION STILL CONTINUES.
WE WILL SEND OVER TO KSC TO
CONTINUE BROADCASTING.
>> WE ARE JUST IN WAU OVER HERE.
I WOKE UP AND LOOKED AT THE
WEATHER FORECAST AND THOUGHT WE
WOULD BE BACK HERE SUNDAY BUT WE
DID IT.
THE ROOM CLEARED OUT AND INSIDE
THE LIGHTS WERE SHAKING, CAMERA
SHAKING, LAUREN CAME BACK IN
WITH TEARS IN HER EYES.
THIS IS REALLY AMAZING.
>> I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I SAW IT
WITH MY OWN EYES.
I'M A LITTLE BIT SPEECHLESS.
JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT WE GOT
THEM UP THERE.
THERE IS A LOT MORE TO GO BUT
I'M SO HAPPY THEY ARE SAFE RIGHT
NOW.
>> YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, IT
IS AMAZING WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN
WE WORK TOGETHER.
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN
ROCKET, AMERICAN SOIL, SHOWING
WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN WE COME
TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND BLAST
BOB AND DOUG OFF TO THE COSMOS.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT.
THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERYONE
WORKING TOGETHER TO TAKE THEM TO
SPACE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
THAT ROCKET FUEL IS FUEL IN MY
VEINS.
I WANT TO GO GET ON THE ROCKET
SHIP.
>> TOO LATE NOW.
>> I KNOW.
WE WANT TO GO TO DARYL WHO IS
THERE WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR WHO
HOPEFULLY HAS MORE WORDS THAT WE
DO BECAUSE WE ARE STILL KIND OF
SPEECHLESS.
>> INCREDIBLE HERE.
A CHORUS OF APPLAUSE HAS BEEN
HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING.
PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS HERE TO
WATCH IT, VICE PRESIDENT MIKE
PENCE, AND NASA ADMINISTRATOR,
JIM BRIGHTENICIDE WHO IS WITH ME
NOW.
AMERICA IS BACK, LAUNCHING HUMAN
ASTRONAUTS AGAIN.
TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS
AND TELL ME ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
WATCHING THE LAUNCH.
>> HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
IT HAS BEEN 9 YEARS SINCE WE
LAUNCHED AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS
FROM AMERICAN SOIL AND NOW IT IS
DONE.
WE HAVE DONE IT.
IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG.
I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO CHARLIE
BOLEN, MY PREDECESSOR AT NASA.
HE FOUGHT HARD FOR THE PROGRAM
AT A TIME WHEN IT DIDN'T GET
SUPPORT IN CONGRESS.
WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION THAT
IS FULLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE SPACE
FLIGHT PROGRAM, GOING TO THE
MOON, MARS, AND FROM A SPACE
FORCE PERSPECTIVE, OUR BUDGETS
ARE GOING UP, THINGS ARE STRONG.
TODAY WAS JUST AN AMAZING DAY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE PRESIDENT
DID RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE IS HE
CREATED THE NATIONAL SPACE
COUNCIL.
AND HE PUT THE VICE PRESIDENT AS
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL.
AND YOU HAVE THE SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE AND THE SAERTH OF STATE,
AND THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE,
TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATION, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS,
ALL OF 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 GOVERNMENT
DEAL WITH SPACE.
AND THE VICE PRESIDENT INVITED
THOSE MEMBERS OF THE SPACE
COUNCIL HERE AS WELL.
WE AND THEN WE HAD 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 DOCK AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
TONIGHT I'M HEADING TO HOUSTON
TO BE AT THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
IT IS A PIT OF A RELIEF.
THE NOSE CONE IS NOW OPEN.
IT IS NOW DEPLOYED WHICH MEANS
THAT WE WILL GO INTO SOME BURNS.
WE WILL HAVE SOME PHASING BURNS.
WE WILL HAVE SOME BOOSTING BURNS
AND WE WILL GET AS MUCH AS WE
CAN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AS
EARLY AS POSSIBLE HERE AND ALSO,
I KNOW IT'S HARD BUT THE BIG
THING WE NEED TO DO NOW IS WE
GOT TO GET BOB AND DOUG WHO HAVE
NOW GONE THROUGH THIS EXERCISE
TWICE, THEY NEED TO GET SOME
REST.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THERE WILL
BE NO REST FOR A GOOD AMOUNT OF
TIME WHILE THEY ARE UP THERE IN
ORBIT.
>> THEY ARE CERTAINLY ON THEIR
WAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE JOINING US FOR
THIS ENTIRE CELEBRATION AND
WATCHING IT.
WE JUST HEARD 10 MILLION PEOPLE
WATCHING LIVE AS THIS LAUNCH
HAPPENED.
PRESIDENT TRUMP BECOMING THE
THIRD SITTING PRESIDENT TO WATCH
A LAUNCH LIVE FROM THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER.
>> TO BE CLEAR, I THINK HE IS
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 ARE GOING TO GO
TO THE MOON BY 2024.
THAT MEANS HE IS PUTTING HIMSELF
AT RISK TO SAY I'M GOING TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE INITIATIVE
THAT I PUT FORWARD.
AND I THINK WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT
KIND OF LEADERSHIP FOR SPACE IN
A VERY LONG TIME AND WE ARE SO
GRATEFUL FOR HIM.
>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE WATCHING THE
LAUNCH WITH THE PRESIDENT?
HOW DID HE REACT?
>> I WILL TELL YOU, IT IS
OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING NEAR AND
DEAR TO HIM.
HE SAID A YEAR AND A HALF AGO IN
THE STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH,
HE SAID WE WILL LAUNCH AMERICAN
ASTRONAUTS FROM AMERICAN SOIL
WITH AMERICAN ROCKETS AND I WAS
THINKING, WE BETTER GET AFTER
THIS.
BUT OF COURSE WE 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 ARE KNOCKING ON WOOD.
SO FAR, SO GOOD.
>> YOU PERSONALLY, AS THE ROCKET
WAS TAKING OFF, AND YOU FELT
THAT RUMBLE, WHAT WERE YOU
EXPERIENCING?
>> I WAS PRAYING.
NOT GOING TO LIE.
I WAS PRAYING FOR BOB AND DOUG,
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR
SAFE RETURN.
MAN , I HAVE HEARD THAT RUMBLE
BEFORE BUT IT IS A WHOLE
DIFFERENT FEELING WHEN YOU HAVE
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.
TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NO DOUBT WE HAVE THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.
WE HAVE OTHER CHALLENGES IN THE
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 STRIVE AND WHEN WE
ACHIEF.
IF THIS CAN INSPIRE A YOUNG
CHILD TO BE THE NEXT ELON MUSK
OR THE NEXT JEFF BEZOS, THEN
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP
FOR THE SPACE AGENCY AND
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN AMAZING
DAY AND A LAUNCH.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RIDE.
>> WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO YOU
IN THE STUDIO.
>> BOB AND DOUG ARE ON COURSE TO
ARRIVE TOMORROW MAY 31st AT
10:27 A.M.
EASTERN TIME.
WE WILL STAY ON AIR FOR THE
ENTIRE RIDE TO THE STATION.
SO OUR COVERAGE HERE IS
CONCLUDING BUT WE WILL TURN IT
OVER TO THE TEAMS IN HAWTHORNE
AND HOUSTON TO TAKE US THROUGH
THE NEXT PHASES OF THE DEMO TWO
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 HAPPENING AT
6:30 THIS EVENING EASTERN TIME
ON NASA TV.
WE WILL HAVE NASA AND SPACE X
LEADERS HERE TO TAKE QUESTIONS
LIVE ON THIS UNPRECEDENTED
ACHIEVEMENT IN HUMAN SPACE
FLIGHT.
AND IN ADDITION, YOU CAN FOLLOW
ALONG ON TWITTER@NASA AND
NATA.GOV FOR MISSION UPDATES AS
IT PROGESS.
HERE 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.
>>> WE ARE MAKING HISTORY AGAIN.
>> LET'S GO.
>> FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE,
ZERO, IGNITION, LIFT OFF.
GOD SPEED BOB AND DOUG.
>>> YOU'RE WATCHING NBC NEWS
NOW.
>> WE HAVE BREAKING NEWS.
>> IT'S NEWS MADE FOR YOUR
STREAMING WORLD, LIVE WEEKDAYS
STARTING AT 6:00 A.M.
EASTERN.
