O
IT.
>> THE FUTURE IS WHA * WHAT YOU
MAKE OUT OF IT AND YOU CAN MAKE
IT REAL.
>> HERE WE ARE WITH MARS
PERSEVERANCE.
51 YEARS LATER GETTING READY TO
DO THE FIRST EVER MARS RETURN
MISSION.
>> EVENTUALLY WE CAN BRING THE
SAMPLES BACK TO EARTH AND
DETERMINE FOR THE VERY FIRST
TIME DID LIFE EXIST ON MARS.
>> IN LESS THAN AN HOUR NASA'S
300 MILLION-MILE SKWROURPB
FREAMERICA'S SHORE TO THE CRATER
ON MARS WILL BEGIN WITH THE
LAUNCH OF THIS ATLAS 5 ROCKET
INTO SPACE.
AT THE TOP OF THAT ROCKET WITH
A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE IS THE ROVER
READY TO RIDE A COLUMN OF FIRE
AND SMOKE ON THE WAY TO THE RED
PLANET.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING HERE ON
THE SPACE COAST.
WELCOME, EVERYONE.
BEHIND US THE STAR OF THE SHOW.
THIS IS A LIFE SIZED MOCKUP OF
THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER LIKE THE
ONE WE ARE LAUNCHING TO SPACE.
>> IN THE 50 MINUTES LEADING UP
TO LAUNCH WE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW
IT WILL TEST NEW TECHNOLOGIES
CRITICAL TO FUTURE HUMAN
MISSIONS TO MARS.
>> A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
WE ARE 57 MINUTES AND COUNTING
UNTIL LAUNCH.
IT IS ON TRACK.
WE HAVE GREAT WEATHER.
THE ROCKET IS LOOKING GOOD.
IT PUTS US ON TRACK FOR A LAUNCH
AT SEVEN:50:00 A.M. EASTERN 
TIME.
THE BEGINNING OF A TWO HOUR
WINDOW.
>> WE WILL HEAR GREGORY PORTER
ALONG WITH THE AEROSPACE
ENGINEERS AND ASTRONAUT.
>> I LOVE IT.
WE HAVE TEAMS FROM COAST TO
COAST, FOLKS HELPING US
COUNTDOWN TO MARS AM WE'LL GO
LIVE TO THE ATLAS SPACE FLIGHT
SEPARATIONS CENTER.
>> WE'LL GO LIVE TO CALIFORNIA
TO THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
WHERE THEY ARE STANDING BY TO
COMMUNICATE AFTER IT GETS TO
SPACE.
>> WE ARE HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT
THE MISSION IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S AN EXCITING DAY FOR ALL OF
US HERE.
WE WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT
COUNTDOWN AND ROCKET LAUNCH.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I AM HERE ATAT LAS 5.
ARE YOU EXCITEED TO GO TO MARS.
>> I AM EXCITEED TO GO TO MARS.
THE SUNRISE LOOKS AWE SKP-PL AND
READY FOR A GREAT LAUNCH.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> PROVIDING GOOD CONTEXT.
WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A PREVIEW OF
WHAT IS AHEAD IN THE COUNTDOWN.
THINGS GOT GOING AFTER MIDNIGHT
AND ATLAS IS JUST ABOUT READY TO
FLY.
THE WEATHER REPORT SHOULD BE
COMING BACK IT HAS BEEN GREAT
ALL MORNING.
WE HAVE THE TERMINAL COUNTDOWN
AFTER THAT AND PROCEED THROUGH
THE LAST FEW MINUTES OF THE
COUNTDOWN AND THE AT ITS PEAK
WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES 0 AND THE
SPACECRAFT AND ROCKET TAKE
FLIGHT.
AFTER PASSING JUST TWO MINUTES
INTO FLIGHT THE SOLID ROCKET
BOOSTERS WILL BE JETTISONED.
TWO MORE MINUTES AND THE PAY
LOAD FERRING, WHAT YOU CALL THE
NOSE CONE THAT HAS BEEN
PROTECTING PERSEVERANCE WILL NOT
BE NEEDED AND SPLIT IN TWO HALFS
AND FALL AWAY FROM THE
ACCELERATING VEHICLE.
A MINUTE LATER THE BOOSTER WILL
SEPARATE AND EXPOSE THE CENTAUR
RL-10 UPPER STAGED ENGINE THAT
WILL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGIN
ITS FIRST BURN AND LAST
APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MINUTES.
THE SECOND BURN AROUND EIGHT
MINUTES WILL TAKE ATLAS INTO
SOLAR ORBIT ON THE WAY TO MARS.
THE FINAL MILESTONE WE HOPE TO
HEAR IS THE ACQUISITION OF
SIGNAL.
IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT
PERSEVERANCE WILL BE IN PERFECT
CONDITION BUT WE WON'T MAKES
CONTACT DURING THE BROADCAST.
LOTS MORE TO COME.
LOTS AHEAD.
OVER TO YOU NOW TO TELL US MORE
ABOUT THIS AMAZING MISSION.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY SMART
PEOPLE AND TALENTED PEOPLE WE
ARE GOING TO TALK TO TODAY.
LET'S BEGIN WITH -- THIS IS
COMING UP IN JUST A BIT.
>> THIS HAS BEEN SEVEN YEARS IN
THE MAKING AND I AM SO EXCITEED
TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU AND THOSE
VIEWING TODAY.
>> IT'S FANTASTIC.
WE ARE IN A LAUNCH PERIOD.
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHY ARE WE
LAUNCHING TODAY AND RIGHT NOW?
WE ARE IN A PERIOD THAT ONLY
COMES AROUND ONCE EVERY TWO
YEARS.
EXPLAIN THAT.
>> THE ORBITS OF EARTH AND MARS
ARE ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE SUN
TO REACH THAT DESTINATION WITH
LESS FUEL.
IT'S THE BEST TIME.
SHORT JOURNEY, LESS HOURS.
>> WE LIKE THAT.
WE ARE STUDYING THE CLIMATE,
GEOLOGY AND SEARCHING FOR
ANCIENT LIFE.
WHAT KIND OF LIFE ARE WE TALKING
ABOUT IN.
>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO FIND
DINOSAUR FOSSILS.
LIKELY WE'LL FIND IT IN THE FORM
OF MICRO SCOPIC LIFE.
>> WE HOPE TO.
>> HOPEING.
>> DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THERE,
RIGHT?
>> DON'T KNOW.
>> THAT'S WHY WE ARE GOING.
>> YEAH.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
BACK HERE ON EARTH OUR FRIENDS
AT TWITTERER CELEBRATING MARS
2020 IN A VERY SPECIAL WAY.
WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT.
CHECK THIS OUT.
IF YOU TAP THE LIKE ICON ON ANY
TWEET CONTAINING THE
#COUNTDOWNTOMARS YOU WILL SEE AN
ANIMATION ON YOUR SCREEN.
YOU SEE THAT?
>> YEAH.
>> IT GOS.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> IT WILL WORK IN ANY LANGUAGE
FROM OUR PARTNER COUNTRIES
INKHRAOUTDING SPANISH, FRENCH,
NORWEGIAN AND ITALIAN.
>> WOW, THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
>> PRETTY NEAT.
>> DESPITE THE DAUNTING
CHALLENGE, NASA HAS A LONG
HISTORY OF MISSIONS TO MARS WITH
THE MARINER 4 SPACECRAFT.
>> WE HAVE COVERED A LOT OF
GROUND ON MARS SINCE THEN.
LET'S HEAD OUT TO CALIFORNIA TO
JPL.
WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT OUR
HISTORY OF EXPLORING MARS?
 WE EXPLORED WITH OBBITTERS
AND LANDERS BUT IT WAS THE ROWER
THAT UNLOCKED ITS SECRETS.
I AM JOINED BY THE MANAGER WHO
HAS WORKED ON EVERY MARS ROVER
MISSION FOR THE PAST THREE
DECADES.
HOW DOES TODAY'S LAUNCH FIT INTO
THE HISTORY OF EXPLORING MARS?
>> WELL, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
INTERESTED IN MARS BECAUSE IT IS
THE THING THAT IS MOST LIKE
EARTH THAT WE KNOW OF.
IT'S DIFFERENT TODAY.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPENED TO
MARS WILL HELP US UNDERSTAND
MORE ABOUT OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND
ALSO MORE ABOUT EARTH.
AS WEED, MARS EXPLORATION
STARTED IN 1965 WITH THE MARINER
SPACECRAFT FLIES BY MARS.
IN 1975 WE ACTUALLY LANDED THE
SRAOEUBGSING ONE LANDER ON THE
SURFACE OF MARS.
AND AFTER THAT WE STARTED
SENDING ORBITERS WITH MORE
SOPHISTICATED INSTRUMENTS.
THE INSTRUMENTS WOULD DO GLOBAL
MAPPING.
THEY FIND MINERALS AND TOPOG
GRAVY OF MARS AND STUDY THE
WEATHER.
THEY NEEDED PARTNERS.
THEY NEEDED PARTNERS TO GO DOWN
TO THE SURFACE OF MARS AND
EXPLORE LIKE A GEOLOGIST ON
EARTH WOULD.
WHERE IT WALK AROUND AND TAKES
PICTURES AND MAYBE TAKES
MEASUREMENTS.
THAT'S WHAT THE ROVERS NEEDED TO
DO.
THAT'S WHAT STARTED THE MARS
ROVER PROGRAM FOR US.
OUR 50 ROVER WE SENT IN 1997.
IT WAS THE SOJOURNER.
IT WEIGHED ABOUT 25 POUNDS AND
DROVE ALL OF ABOUT 400 FEET.
SHE REALLY SHOWED US WHAT VALUE
A ROVER ON MARS COULD HAVE.
THEN THE MARS PROGRAM STARTED TO
FOLLOW THE WATER THEME TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND MARS BETTER.
THE FIRST TWO ROVERS SENT TO
MARS WERE SPIRIT AND
OPPORTUNITY.
IN A LANDED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF
MARS IN 2004 AND DROVE 30 MILES
COMIN BOOED.
THEY BOTH FOUND EVIDENCE THERE
HAD BEEN WATER ON MARS IN THE
PAST.
WE STILL WEREN'T SURE WHETHER
THAT WATER FOSTERED AN
ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS GOOD FOR
LIFE.
SO THEN WE SENT CURIOSITY IN
2012.
THE CURIOSITY ROVER WAS BIG, HAD
A BIG ROBOTIC ARM, HAD A DRILL
AND SCIENCE LAB IN THE FRONT AND
CURIOSITY WAS TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THE HABITABILITY OF
MASHES.
COULD IT HAVE EVER FOSTERED
LIFE?
COULD LIFE HAVE GROWN ON MARS?
AND WITHIN MONTHS OF CURIOSITY
LANDING ON THE SURFACE, SHE
ACTUALLY FOUND AN ANCIENT
HABITABLE ENVIRONMENT ON MARS.
WE STILL DON'T KNOW IF LIFE OF
DID FORM ON MARS AND THAT'S THE
GOAL OF THE PERSEVERANCE
MISSION.
>> WOW, THANK YOU, JENNIFER.
NOW THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW EACH
ROVER MISSION HELPED SHAPE THE
OTHER.
LET'S GET TO KNOW PERSEVERANCE.
>> MARS IS THE CLOSEST PLACE
THAT WE CAN REACH WITH ROBOTIC
EXPLORATION THAT WE THINK HAD
A REALLY GOOD CHANCE OF HAVING
ANCIENT LIFE.
>> IT WILL LAND AT JEZERO
CRATER.
IT IS A VERY INTERESTING PLACE.
IT IS A KRAEURT THAT ONCE HELD
A LAKE.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF CRATER ON
THE SURFACE OF MARS THAT COULD
HAVE ONCE HOSTED ANCIENT LAKES,
BUT NOT EVERY CRATER WE THINK
HAD A LAKE PRESERVED EVIDENCE
THE LAKE WAS THERE.
>> IT HAD AN IN-FLOW AND
OUT-FLOW CHANNEL.
THAT MEANS THE CRATER WAS FILLED
WITH WATER.
>> IN JEZERO WE HAVE ONE OF THE
MOST BEAUTIFULLY PRESEVENED
DELTA DEPOSITS ON MARS IN THAT
CRATER.
>> THE MAJOR GOAL OF THE MISSION
IS TO INVESTIGATE ASTRO-BIOLOGY
ON MARS AND ADDRESS THE QUESTION
IF LIFE EXISTED ON MARS.
THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER STARTS
WITH A DESIGN THAT IS SIMILAR TO
CURIOSITY BUT WE ADDED A NEW SET
OF SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS.
THEY WERE PURPOSEFULLY SELECTED
TO HELP US IN THE SEARCH FOR
BIOSIGNATURES.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE MICROPHONES
WITH US.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'LL HAVE
THAT HUMAN SENSE ON ANOTHER
PLANET.
PERSEVERANCE CARRIES WITH HER
A GRAND EXPERIMENT IN SPACE
FARING TECHNOLOGY, A HELICOPTER
THE NAME THAT IS NOW INGENUITY.
>> THE MAJOR UPGRADE IS IT IS
ABLE TO SELF-DRIVE FOR
A DISTANCE OF UP TO 200 METERS
PER DAY.
AS THE ROVER IS DRIVING, IT'S
LITERALLY BUILDING THE MAP OF
THE ROAD IT IS DRIVING ON ON
MARS.
>> SCIENTISTS FOR YEARS HAVE
TOLD US TO REALLY UNLOCK THE
SECRETS OF MARS WE HAVE TO BRING
SAMPLES FROM MARS BACK TO EARTH.
WHAT MARSES 2020 IS GOING TO DO
IS DRILL SATCHELS, PUT THEM IN
SMALL TUBES AND SEAL IT IN ITS
OWN INDIVIDUAL TUBE.
PROVIDE A TARGET FOR THE SECOND
TWO MISSIONS THAT WILL HOPEFULLY
BE IN DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEARS AND POTENTIALLY
GET THE SATCHELS BACK TO EARTH
BY -- SAMPLES BACK TO EARTH BY
2031.
IT IS A PROFOUND FIRST STEP IN
OUR UNDERSTANDING OF OUR PLACE
IN THE UNIVERSE AND
A STEPPINGSTONE TOWARDS HUMAN
EXPLORATION ON MARS.
>> A GREAT BREAK DOWN OF THE
ROVER THERE.
WELCOME BACK TO THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA WHERE
THE NEXT MARS ROVER WILL BE
PROPELLED INTO SPACE.
THE MAN WHO LEADS THE COMPANY
TANKED WITH GETTING PERSEVERANCE
OFF THIS PLANET IS TOREY BRU
THE CEO AND PROSECUTES OF UNITED
LAUNCH ALLIANCE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
THIS MORNING.
>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> HOW IS THE LAUNCH TEAM DOING
AND HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> THE LAUNCH TEAM IS DOING
GREAT.
THEY HAVE BEEN ON STATION FOR
HOURS.
THEY ARE CALM AND CONFIDENT AND
GOING THROUGH THE SCRIPT
AO *EUFPLT NERVOUS BUT I GET
NERVOUS BEFORE ALL 400 LAUNCHS.
>> WHY DO YOU GET NERVOUS?
>> A ROCKET IS SUCH AN
INCREDIBLY POWERFUL AND COMPLEX
MACHINE, EVERYTHING HAS TO GO
RIGHT.
NOTHING CAN GO WRONG.
AND IT'S JUST IT NEVER GETS OLD.
>> IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING.
>> YEAH.
>> THIS IS A PARTICULARLY
EXCITING MISSION.
THIS IS THE LARGEST AND HEAVIEST
ROVER WE HAVE EVER SENT TO THE
RED PLANET.
HOW DID YOU CONFIGURE THE ROCKET
TO DO THE LAUNCH ENTERRIVELY?
-- EFFECTIVELY.
>> THIS IS THE 541, WE CALL IT
THE DOMINATOR.
IT PUTS OUT THREE 50,000 POUNDS
OF THRUST AND IT HAS THE POWER
TO GET OUT THERE TO MARS AS WELL
AS THE PRECISION.
IT'S THE MOST ACCURATE ROCKET IN
THE WORLD.
WHENLY LET IT GO IT HAS
200 MILLION MILES TO TRAVEL ON
THE TRANSFER ORBIT.
>> PRECISION IS KEY.
>> YES.
THE POWER SOURCE IS EYE
CONTAINED RADIOACTIVE BATTERY.
I HAVE SEEN IT UP CLOSE AND WE
HAD TO ALTER THE WAY WE BEHAVED
AROUND IT.
>> THE OPERATION AROUND THAT ARE
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AM
WE HAVE FLOWN ALL OF AMERICA'S
RTGs AND THE ONLY PROVIDER
CERTIFIED TO HANDLE THEM.
IT IS STILL 11 POUNDS OF
PLUTONIUM.
THE ONE SPECIAL THING WAS TO
INSTALL IT WHERE WE WOULD NEVER
BREACH THE CONTAINMENT BUT WE
CREATED A PORTABLE CLEAN ROOM
AND BROUGHT THIS OUT AND
INSTALLED IT IN THE MACHINE
WHILE KEEPING EVERYTHING
PERFECT.
>> AWESOME.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE BIFF
IS?
>> THE VERTICLE INIGRATION
FACILITY.
WE BUILD THEM IN A FACTORY BUT
CAN'T ASSEMBLE THEM THERE.
THEY ARE 20 STORIES PROUD ON THE
PAD.
THEY COME TO CANAVERAL IN PIECES
AND WE ASSEMBLE THEM AND THE
LAST THING IS TO BRING IN AN
ENCAPSULATED UNDER THE FERRING
PERFECTLY CLEAN AND PREPARED
SWAYS CRAFT AND PUT IT ON TOP,
WHICH WE DID, BUT OPENED IT UP
TO INSTALL THE BATTERY.
>> THAT WAS LATE IN THE PROCESS
AND INTENTIONAL.
>> YES.
>> WHO CERTIFIES THE ROCKET.
>> NASA DOES.
AND NASA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY CERTIFY A PROVIDER
LIKEITOUS HANDLE A NUCLEAR PAY
LOAD BECAUSE OF ALL THE SPECIAL
REQUIREMENTS.
>> WHEN YOU WERE PREPARING FOR
THE MISSION YOU COULDN'T HAVE
IMAGINED A YEAR AGO THAT YOU
WOULD HAVE A CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC.
>> OH, YES.
>> REEKING HAVOC ON THIS DAY.
HOW DID YOU HANDLE THAT AND HOW
DID YOU OVERCOME IT?
>> YES, YOU KNOW, THE ONE BIG
LESSON LEARNED HERE IS YOU CAN'T
BUY BACK TIME.
WHEN THIS BROKE OUT OUR RESPONSE
WAS EARLY AND AGGRESSIVE.
FORTUNATELY IT WAS EFFECTIVE.
WE DID ALL THE THINGS YOU MIGHT
BE FAMILIAR WITH.
WE WIPED DOWN EVERY SURFACE
EVERY HOUR.
DEEP CLEAN AND WEARING PPE AND
HAVE OUR TEAMS SPREAD OUT.
WE CHANGED THE FLOW OF THE WORK
TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE BUT ALSO
KEEP THE VITALLY IMPORTANT
MISSIONS GOING.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR
TEAM.
THEY ARE SO DISCIPLINED AND
COURAGEOUS TO TERSE VEER THROUGH
ALL -- TO PERSEVERE THROUGH ALL
OF THIS.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE
SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH US.
GOOD LUCK WITH THE ROCKET LAUNCH
TODAY AND ENJOY IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GO ATLAS.
GO PERSEVERANCE.
>> THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS IS WELL
UNDER WAY.
LET'S GO TO OUR LAUNCH
COMMENTATOR TEAM ON THE
PRE-LAUNCH EFFORTS AND THE
WEATHER FORECAST.
>> THANK YOU.
ARE ASYSTEMING THE LAUNCH
VEHICLE AS WE GET READY TO
LIFTOFF THIS MORNING.
>> IT IS A PROGRAMMED HOLD.
THIS IS PART OF THE PLAN.
THIS IS NOTHING GOING WRONGS.
WE HAVE A TWO HOUR WINDOW BUT
EVERYTHING IS CHARGING TOWARD
THE 7 TIME TIME 50:00 A.M. LEFT
OFF TIME.
BEFORE WE GET THIS WEATHER
BRIEFING.
>> THE UNITED STATES SPACE
FORCES RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC
AND PERSONNEL SAFETY HERE WHERE
WE ARE LAUNCHING FROM.
VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE
MISSION TODAY.
THEY ARE 1 OF 5 TEAMS WORKING
WITH US TO LAUNCH MARS
PERSEVERANCE ON THE WAY THIS
MORNING.
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT NOT
ONLY PUBLIC SAFETY BUT THEY ALSO
DO WEATHER FOR US TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD AS WE SAW
THE SUNRISE COME UP RIGHT BEHIND
EVERYTHING WAS LOOKING GOOD.
SORRY, WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING
TO GET THAT FOR YOU LIVE, BUT
THE AUDIO IS ON ANOTHER CHANNEL.
FORGIVE US.
>> WE SHOULD LOOK AT A VISIBLE
SATELLITE IMAGE AND HAVE MOSTLY
CLEAR SKIES.
A PEW CLOUDS TO THE EAST OVER
THE WATER.
WE WERE MONITORING ONE CELL ON
THE RADAR 10 MILES TO THE
SOUTHEAST THAT HAS DISSIPATED
AND THINGS ARE LOOKING GREAT FOR
LAUNCH.
WE ARE GO ON ALL L CCs AND
EXPECT TO REMAIN GO THROUGH THE
COUNT.
OUR TEMPERATURE IS CURRENTLY 80.
COULD CLIMB TO 82 BY THE END OF
THE WINDOW.
WINDS FROM 220.
10% POV FOR THE CUMULUS CLOUD
RULE.
NORMAL BACKGROUND LEVELS AND
EXPECTED TO REMAIN SO THROUGH
THE COUNT.
THIS CONCLUDES THE WEATHER
BRIEFUNLESS THERE ARE ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> WE HEARD A GREAT REPORT
THERE.
HEARING THE GO ON ALL LCCs.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> LAUNCH COMMITMENT CRITERIA.
I CAN NEVER REMEMBER THE SECOND
C.
TELL US ABOUT THE T-CLOCK.
WE ARE AT T-MINUS FOUR MINUTES
AND HOLDER.
A DIFFERENCE IN THE 2:00S.
>> THE TEAMS ARE WORKING TO TWO
DIFFERENT CLOCKS THE L CLOCK OR
LUNCH TIME IS THE REAL TIME
CLOCK THAT CONTINUES TO
COUNTDOWN TOWARD LIFTOFF.
T-TIME IS THE CLOCK THE TEAM
USES FOR OPERATIONAL SEQUENCES
OF EVENTS.
IT HAS BUILT IN HOLDS, WE ARE IN
A 30 EMPTY HOLD TO ALLOW THE --
30 MINUTE HOLD TO ALLOW THE TEAM
TO ADJUST WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.
THE L CLOCK WILL CONTINUE
COUNTING DOWN.
WHAT IS UNIQUE AT L-MINUS FOUR
OR T-MINUS 4 THE 2:00S WILL SYNC
UP AND WE'LL COUNTDOWN TO
LIFTOFF THIS MORNING.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO
PIGGY OFF IS THE POWER SOURCE
FOR PERSEVERANCE.
IT HAS A NUCLEAR BATTERY.
THAT MIGHT BE ALARMING FOR
PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT.
IT'S NOT A NUCLEAR REACTOR, IT'S
A NUCLEAR BATRE AND SOMETHING
THAT HAS BEEN -- BATTERY AND
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY FOR.
IT IT'S A THERMOELECTRIC
GENERATOR BUT AN MMRTG.
THE SIZE OF A FIVE-GALLON BUCKET
AND DESIGNED -- HOW DOES THIS
PRODUCE POWER FOR THE ROBOT?
>> USING NUCLEAR MATERIAL INSIDE
TO GENERATE THE ELECTRICITY
THERE.
IT WILL BE ABOUT 110 WATTS OF
POWER.
IT WILL PROVIDE POWER FOR MARS
PERSEVERANCE THROUGHOUT THE
WHOLE MISSION LIFE.
THAT'S IS THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT
THIS POWER SOURCE.
IT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE WHOLE
TIME.
>> THE ATLAS 5 HAS A PERFECT
LAUNCH RECORD.
IT IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTING ANY
PROBLEMS.
IF THERE WAS A CONTEUPBGIENCY
STAY WITH US TO TALK THROUGH
DETAILS.
WE HAVE TEAMS FOCUSED ON THIS
SPECIFICALLY AND ARE WORKING
TOWARDS MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS
SAFE AND OUR EXMOREERS ARE SAFE
AS WELL.
A GREAT WEATHER BRIEFING.
BACK OVER TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WITH THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS WELL
UNDER WAY, WE WANT TO TAKES
A MOMENT TO HONOR OUR COUNTRY
WITH THE SINGLING OF AMERICA THE
BEAUTIFUL.
>> WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT TO
YOU NOW, TWO TIME GRAMMY AWARD
WINNING SINGER GREGORY PORTER.
♪
PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY ABOVE
THE FRUITED PLAINS.
WITH THE INSTRUMENTS WE HAVE ON
THE ROVER.
THEY ARE WONDERFUL.
IT'S A GREAT SUITE BUT NOTHING
COMPAREED TO THE
STATE-OF-THE-ART INSTRUMENTS IN
THE LABORATORIES AROUND THE
WORLD.
WE WANT TO GET THE PROFICIENCY
SAMPLES BACK HERE -- PROFICIENCS
SAMPLES BACK HERE.
NOT ONLY DO WE WANT TO STUDY
THEM NOW TODAY WITH THE STATE OF
THE ART INSTRUMENTS AND
FACILITIES, WE CAN PRESERVE MOST
OF THE SAMPLES FOR DECADES TO
ALLOWITOUS USE FUTURE
INSTRUMENTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN
INVENTED YET OR ANSWER QUESTIONS
WE HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF YET.
IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET
THE SAMPLES BACK HERE.
>> COULD WE CONFIRM LIFE IF IT
IS THERE WITH THE INSTRUMENTS WE
HAVE ON THE ROVER OR WOULD THAT
HAPPEN BACK ON EARTH?
>> I FULLY EXPECT WE WON'T MAKE
THAT DETERMINATION UNTIL THEY
ARE BACK HERE ON EARTH.
WE EXPECT WITH THE INSTRUMENTS
WE HAVE ON BOARD TO DETECT
BIOSIGNATURES AND THE THINGS
THAT SAY YES, THIS IS A SAMPLE
THAT MAY CONTAIN EVIDENCE OF
PAST LIFE IN THE SAMPLE.
IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO
CONFIRM THAT UNTIL WE GET THE
SAMPLES BACK HERE ON EARTH.
>> SPEAKING OF GETS THEM BACK TO
EARTH, HOW WILL YOU DO THAT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
WE ARE ALREADY STARTING WORK ON
THAT NEXT MISSION CALLED MARS
SAMPLE RETURN.
WE THINK IT WILL LAUNCH.
WE ARE PLANNING FOR A LAUNCH IN
2026.
THIS IS A REALLY COMPLEX
MISSION.
TELL REQUIRE TWO LAUNCHES FROM
EARTH AND ONE LAUNCH FROM MARS
IN ORDER TO GET THE SAMPLES
BACKS HERE.
>> WOW.
>> WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH
THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY THE
CORE PARTNERS ON THIS MISSION.
WE'LL HAVE A LAUNCH FROM THE
U.S. THAT WILL LAUNCH A SAMPLE
RETURN LANDER THAT WILL LAND ON
THE SURFACE CARRYING A ROVE
THEY'RE WILL PICK UP THE
SATCHELS AND BRING THEM BACK,
LOAD -- SAMPLES AND BRING THEM
BACK AND LAUNCH THEM INTO ORBIT
AROUND MARS.
WHEN WE LAUNCH FROM EARTH THE
EUROPEANS ARE LAUNCHING AN
ORBITER AROUND MARS THAT WILL
CAPTURE THOSE SAMPLES WITH THAT
ORBITER.
WE WILL CAPTURE THEM AND RETURN
BACK TO EARTH, RELEASE THEM AND
COME DOWN AND LAND IN THE UTAH
DESERT WHERE WE WILL SAFELY
CARRY THEM AND PUT THEM IN
A CURATION FACILITY.
>> WHAT A PROCESS.
>> AWESOME.
THAT IS AMAZING.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
>> PLEASURE.
>> ENJOY THE LAUNCH.
>> GO PERSEVERANCE, GO
INGENUITY.
>> THE WRIGHT BROTHERS PROVED
NIGHT WAS POSSIBLE AND NOW NASA
WILL FLY ON MARS WITH AN
INGENIOUS HELICOPTER.
THE MARTIAN ATMOSPHERE IS 99%
LESS DENSE THAN HERE ON EARTH.
THIS IS NO EASY TASK TO FLY ON
MARS.
>> HITCHING A RIDE ON THE
PERSEVERANCE RIDE AND THE
HELICOPTER.
IF SUCCESSFUL IT WOULD MARK THE
FIRST TIME HUMANS HAVE TAKEN
POWERED FLIGHT ON ANOTHER
PLANET.
INGENUITY'S PROJECT MANAGER
TELLS US TO TALK ABOUT THE SET
OF MILESTONES NEEDED TO TAKE
FLIGHT ON MARS.
>> WE JUST HAD AN EARTHQUAKE IN
THIS ROOM.
WITH THAT, MARS HELICOPTER DEMO
IS MOTIVATED BY THE POTENTIAL OF
ADDING ARIEL DIMENSION.
IN THE FUTURE A HELICOPTER CAN
SERVE AS A SCOUT FOR ROVERS AND
ASTRONAUTS.
A HELICOPTER CAN GET US TO PLACE
OF HIGH SCIENTIFIC INTEREST THAT
CANNOT BE REACHED TODAY.
IT IS NOT EASY TO BUILD A ROTOR
CRAFT.
THE ATMOSPHERE THERE IS VERY
THIN.
1% OF THAT COMPAREED TO EARTH.
A HELICOPTER FROM MARS HAS TO BE
VERY LIGHT AND HAVE A ROTOR
SYSTEM THAT CAN SPIN VERY FAST.
BEHIND ME IS A FULL-SCALE MODEL
OF THE INGENUITY.
IT IS VERY LATE.
1.8 KILL GRAM, ABOUT 4 POUNDS.
IT IS CAPABLE OF FLYING THROUGH
THE THIN ATMOSPHERE OF MARS AND
CAPABLE OF SURVIVING AND
OPERATING AUTONOMOUSLY.
A SET OF MILESTONES BETWEEN NOW
AND INGENUITY'S FIRST FLIGHT.
THE FIRST IS WHEN WE TURN ON THE
HELICOPTER TO CHECK THE HEALTH.
FIRST TIME OPERATING IN TRUE
SPACE ENVIRONMENT.
THE NEXT MILESTONE IS WHEN
PERSEVERANCE ROVER DEPLOYS
INGENUITY TO THE SURFACE.
TELL MARK THE FIRST MOMENT THE
HELICOPTER STARTS TO WORK ON ITS
OWN IN A STAND ALONE MANNER.
TELL NEVER RETURNO THE ROVER.
THE FIRST MAJOR MILESTONE THEN
WILL BE THE HELICOPTER SURVIVING
THE FIRST COLD MARTIAN NIGHT.
MINUS 90 DEGREES CELSIUS.
WE HAVE DESIGNED THE HELICOPTER
TO KEEP ITSELF WARM.
WE HAVE PLANNED UP TO FIVE
FLIGHTS IN THE 30 DAYS SET ASIDE
FOR THE FLIGHT EXPERIMENT.
THE DATA WE GET WILL INFORM OUR
TEAM THE HEALTH OF THE
HELICOPTER AND PERFORMANCE OF
EACH FLIGHT.
THE DATA COULD ALSO INCLUDE
A FEW COLOR PHOTOS.
FIRST EVER PHOTOS OF MARTIAN
TERRAIN FROM AREAIEL VANTAGE.
THAT WOULD KNOW TRUE ICING ON
OUR CAKE.
>> THANK YOU.
WE DID HAVE A LITTLE SHAKE-UP.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE OKAY
RIGHT HERE SO FAR.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO INGENUITY'S
FIRST FLIGHT.
LET'S GO BACK TO KFC AS WE
CONTINUE THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS.
>> THANK YOU.
WHEN THE NAME PERSEVERANCE WAS
CHOSEN OUR COUNTRY WAS IN THE
EARLY STAGES OF THE COVID-19
PANDENDIC.
NOW IT'S A FITTING DESCRIPTION
OF WHAT TEAMS NEEDED TO GET THIS
TO THE PAD ON TIME.
JOINING US IS NASA ADMINISTRATOR
JIM BRIDENSTINE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
PERSEVERANCE IS MEANING A LOT,
INCLUDING A 3.9 EARTHQUAKE WE
HAVE IN CALIFORNIA.
WE JUST SAW MIMI SAY THINGS ARE
CAN ONLY GO ONCE EVERY 26 MONTHS
WHEN THE PLANETS ARE ALIGNED.
IF WE MISS THIS LAUNCH WINDOW IT
WOULD COST HALF A BILLION TO
STORE THIS VEHICLE FOR THE NEXT
TWO YEARS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS TO GO
FORWARD.
SOME OF IT IS FINANCIAL.
THE NASA BUDGET AND THEN THE
OTHER BIG REASON IS AMERICANS
WANT TO SEE US CONTINUE TO DO
BIG THINGS.
I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR
THOUGH, WE HAVE MADE SURE ALL
ALONG THIS PROCESS IF SOMEBODY
DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WORKING
ON THIS PROJECT THEY HAD THE
OPTION TO NOT WORK ON THIS
PROJECT.
AND I WILL TELL YOU WE DIDN'T
FIND THAT VERY OFTEN, IF AT ALL.
I WILL ALSO SAY OUR HIGHEST
PRIORITY WAS THE SAFETY OF OUR
PEOPLE.
WE WANTED THEM TO KNOW IF THEY
COME TO WORK THEY WILL BE SAFER
AT WORKS THAN THEY WOULD BE IF
THEY STAYED AT HOME.
AND, OF COURSE, THE PERSONAL
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SOCIAL
DISTANCING AND CHANGING OF
SCHEDULES TO MINIMIZE PEOPLE
WORKING ON THE VEHICLE AT ONE
TIME WERE PUT INTO PLACE AS
PROTECTIVE MEASURES.
IT IS TRUE THE NAME PERSEVERANCE
WHICH WAS GIVEN TO THIS ROBOT BY
ALEX MATHER, A SEVENth
GRADER IN VIRGINIA.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT PERSEVERANCE.
GOING TO MARS AS YOU SAID, GOING
TO MARS IS ALL ABOUT PERSEVERING
IN GENERAL.
DOING IT NOW IS MORE PERSEVERING
THAN EVER BEFORE.
>> WE HAVE A LAUNCH COUNTING
DOWN.
HOW ARE YOU FEEL SOMETHING.
>> NERVOUS AS ALWAYS.
THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AT THE
TOP OF A ROCKET.
NOT JUST THE MONEY, BUT THE
ENTIRE LIFE'S WORK OF SO MANY
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
LOOK, AUTOGOING TO BE A GOOD
DAY.
WE ARE KNOXING ON WOOD.
-- KNOCKING ON WOOD.
IT WILL BE A GOOD DAY FOR NASA.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> ALWAYS.
>> APPRECIATE YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE ARE NOW AT L-MINUS 14 MINUTES
AND COUNTING.
LET'S CHECK WITH JOSHUA AND GET
A LOOK AT PREPARATIONS.
>> THE COUNTDOWN IS CONTINUING.
OBVIOUSLY STATUS REPORT WE HEARD
THEM TALKING ABOUT THE
EARTHQUAKE.
EVERYTHING IS STILL GOOD.
WE HEAR THINGS ARE PROCEEDING
WELL.
NO MAJOR ISSUES OR HICCUPS
BECAUSE OF THAT.
THE SAVVY VIEWERS WILL NOTICE
THE CLOCKSES IN MOTION TWO,
CLOCKS THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK AT
T-MINUS 4 MINUTES AND HOLDING
AND THE CLOCK ON YOUR SCREEN IS
ISTHE L CLOCK.
THE REAL TIME CLOCK.
AT ONE POINT THE 2:00S WILL SYNC
UP AS THE TEAMS CONTINUE TO WORK
SEQUENCE EVENTS AND PROCEDURES.
THE TEAMS ARE FOCUSED.
THE EARTHQUAKE THAT WAS BROUGHT
UP THE TEAM HAS A ASSESSED THAT
AND ARE DOING A GREAT JOB
GETTING US TO 0 THIS MORNING.
WE MENTIONED THE U.S. SPACE
FORCE AS ONE OF THE FIVE TEAMS
AND NEXT UP WE HAVE THE NASA
LAUNCH SERVICES TEAM RESPONSIBLE
FOR MANAGING THE LAUNCH.
WE'LL HEAR A POLL FOR READINESS
IN A FEW MINUTES.
HE IS PUNCTUAL.
THIS WILL COME RIGHT ON TIME IN
A FEW SECONDS.
LET'S LISTEN IN NOW.
>> CURRENTLY WORKING.
NO ISSUES ON THE LAUNCH VEHICLE.
WEATHER IS GREEN.
10% CHANCE OF VIOLATION.
AND WINDS ALOFT.
THE SPACECRAFT DID EXPERIENCE
SOME EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY AT
THEIR CONTROL CENTER IN PASADENA
BUT APPEARS TO BE READY TO
PROCEED.
WITH THAT I WILL LIKE TO POLL
THE TEAM FOR FINAL LAUNCH POLL
AND SPACECRAFT CONFIGURATION.
>> NASA CE IS GO.
>> SMA.
>> SMA IS GO.
>> SMD.
>> SMD IS GO.
>> NASA MISSION MGR.
>> NATIONA MISSION MANAGER IS
GO.
>> WELL, IS SP.
>> L SP IS GO.
>> COPY.
NASA TEAM IS READY TO PROCEED.
>> WE HEARD NASA TEAM IS READY
TO PROCEED.
THE WEATHER IN THERE ONLY A 10%
CHANCE OF VIOLATION.
A THANK YOU TO JESSICA WILLIAMS
OF THE U.S. SPACE FORCE 45th
SPACE WING.
I LIKE WE ARE WORKING NO ISSUES.
THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART
BROUGHT UP.
ONE THING YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND
IS IT'S A COMBINED NASA TEAM OF
SPACECRAFT AND ENGINEERING.
HEARING ALL THE GOES IS GOOD.
>> WE'LL KEEP MOVING.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DO STILL.
>> THANK YOU.
OF OUR NASA TEAMS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY OVER CAME CHALLENGES
CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 OUT BREAK
AS YOU HEARD SO FAR TO GET IN
MARS ROVER TO THE LAUNCH PAD ON
TIME.
>> WE ARE ABOUT TO HEAR FROM
WORKERS IN CALIFORNIA AND
FLORIDA WHO TOOK EVERY
IMAGINABLE PRECAUTION WHILE
MANAGING TO GET THIS VITAL WORK
DONE.
♪
>> WHEN I SAW THE COUNTRY
SHUTTING DOWN I THOUGHT FOR SURE
THERE IS NO WAY WE ARE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THIS.
>> IT'S SOMETHING NOBODY
EXPECTED.
IT'S SOMETHING NOBODY CAN PLAN
FOR.
RATHER THAN YOUR 50 PRIORITY
BEING MISSION SUCCESS AND GETING
TO THE LAUNCHPAD, YOUR 50
PRIORITY IS DISPLACED AND IT'S
NOW THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE.
>> SERIOUSLY THINKING MARS WAS
BE MARS 2022.
>> IT TOOK WORK TO KEEP MOMENTUM
GOING AND KEEP PEOPLE WORKING
SAFELY AND HEALTHY AND ON
SCHEDULE.
>> THERE IS NODOUBT WORKING IN
ISOLATION, NOT VIRTUAL
ISOLATION, BUT IN PHYSICAL
ISOLATION FROM EVERYONE ELSE IS
A CHALLENGE.
>> HARD FOR ME.
I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS.
SOMETIMES I'M NOT ABLE TO FOCUS
OR LISTEN PROBABLY AS WELL AS I
WOULD WANT TO.
>> A LOT OF WORK WAS OCCURRING
IN A CLEAN ROOM ANY WAY, BUT
EVEN BEFORE WE ENTERED THE CLEAN
ROOM WE HAD TO FIND A WAY OF
ENSURING THAT WE WERE NOT
PUTTING OURSELVES OR OTHERS AT
RISK.
>> MOST OF THE TIME BEFORE THE
MISSIONS OUR RELATIONS WITH THE
SPACECRAFT CUSTOMER IS
INCREDIBLY PERSONALITY BUT WE
ARE ABLE TO BE HERE WORKING
BESIDE THEM ON THEIR EQUIPMENT
AND MAKING SURE ALL THEIR NEEDS
ARE COVERED BEFORE THIGH ASK FOR
IT.
IT IS A CHARGE -- BEFORE THEY
ASK FOR IT.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR
FACILITY.
>> A DIFFERENT SET UP WE HAVE TO
OVERCOME.
IT'S NOT LIKE A BROKEN ROCKET
BUT IT HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES.
>> OUR JOB IS TO GO INTO THE
UNKNOWN.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF
THE UNKNOWN.
HOW TO MAKE THIS JOB HAPPEN.
WHEN YOU ARE DOING IT LARGELY
THROUGH A COMPUTER SCREEN.
>> I ASKED THE TEAM A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO
DO SOMETHING TO SYMBOLIZE AND
MARK THE CHALLENGES WE FACED.
AND DESIGNED A COVID-19
PERSEVERANCE PLATE.
IT IS NOW AFFIXED TO THE PORT
SIDE OF THE ROVER AND HAS
A GLOBE REPRESENTING ALL OF US
THAT FACE THIS CHALLENGE
TOGETHER.
THE SPACECRAFT LEAVING THE EARTH
ON ITS WAY TO MARS AND ALL OF
THE SUPPORTED BY THE NOW
FAMILIAR STAFF AND SERPENT OF
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.
WE HOPE THIS MISSION IN SOME
SMALL WAY CAN INSPIRE THEM.
>> PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY I
TALKED TO ASOERBGTSED WITH THE
MISSION -- ASSOCIATED WITH THE
MISSION SAID THE SAME THING YOU
COULDN'T HAVE COME UP WITH
A BETTER NAME THAN PERSEVERANCE.
>> WE HAVE PERSEVERED.
WE WILL GET THIS MISSION DONE.
WE WILL GET IT DONE THROUGH THE
PANDEMIC.
>> I THINK IT NOW IS A REALLY
IMPORTANT SYMBOL OF HUMANITY.
HOPEFULLY PERSEVERING THROUGH
THIS GREAT CHALLENGING TIME WE
HAVE RIGHT NOW.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT TEAM AS
WELL AS THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY
THAT STEPPED UP AND HELPED.
IT'S IRONIC THE NAME
PERSEVERANCE WAS CHOSEN BY
A SEVENth GRADER AT THE
TIME.
HE DIDN'T KNOW WE WOULD BE FACED
WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE HIM AND HIS
FAMILY HERE WITH THE STUDENT WHO
NAMED THE HELICOPTER.
>> THEIR NAMES ARE ALEXANDER
MATHER AND RAPIZZA RAMANNY AND
JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM
THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK.
THERE THEY ARE LOOKING COOL.
ALEXANDER MATHER SUBMITTED THE
WINNING ESSAY TO NAME OUR ROVER
PERSEVERANCE.
>> THEY HAVE A GREAT VIEW.
I HAVE SEEN IT FROM UP THERE.
IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SET UP
FOR THIS AWESOME LAUNCH.
YOU SEE HER WAVING.
HEY, GUYS.
APPRECIATE YOU.
SHE IS JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE CAME UP WITH INGENUITY FOR
THE HELICOPTER THAT WILL
ACCOMPANY OUR ROVER TO MARS.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT A NEAT VIEW THAT IS.
WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW AFTER
THE LAUNCH IT WILL BE ABOUT AN
HOUR BEFORE MARS PERSEVERANCE
SEPARATES FROM THE SECOND STAGE
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS ROVER WILL
BE ON ITS WAY TO MARS.
HANG IN THERE.
>> DON'T GO AWAY AS WE WILL WALK
YOU THROUGH THE FLIGHT AROUND
THE EARTH AND TALK LIVE WITH THE
ASTRONAUT ABOUT OUR HUMAN
EXPLORATION AMBITIONS.
>> IT WILL BE GREAT.
STICK AROUND.
IT'S L MINUS-6 MINUTES AND 62NDS
NOW.
TIME TO FOCUS ON THE LAUNCH
OPERATION THE REST OF THE WAY TO
LIFTOFF.
LET'S SEND IT BACK OUT.
>> THANK YOU.
I WANT TO LET YOU LISTEN IN TO
THE REMAINDER OF THE POLL IN
MOTION.
>> RANGE COORDINATOR.
LAUNCH DIRECTOR.
>> IS GO AND PERTPHOEUGZ LAUNCH.
>> PROCEEDING WITH IT NOW.
>> AL C FOR 11:50.
>> THAT IS SEVEN:50:00 A.M.
EASTERN TEAM.
THAT TIME IS CORRECT.
>> WATCHING JOSH.
[LAUGHING]
THERE IS A LOT TO COME AHEAD.
ONE OF THE THINGS COMING UP IN
JUST A FEW SECONDS.
>> ALL STEPS ARE COMPLETE PRIOR
TO TERMINAL COUNT.
>> THINGS ARE REALLY STARTING TO
PICK UP.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE AND MORE
CHATTER.
THAT CALL WAS TO SAY
PERSEVERANCE IS POWERED AND
READY TO GO, WHICH IS
A PHENOMENAL CALL.
>> LAUNCH CONDUCTOR PULLED
POLLED THE TEAM AND THEY WERE
GOOD TO GO.
THE THIRD OF FIVE TEAMS.
WE GOT TO HEAR THE END WHERE THE
RANGE WAS CLEARED TO PROCEED AND
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR GAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO GO FOR LAUNCH AT
7:50 A.M.
WE GOT TO HEAR FROM THE JPL
SPACECRAFT TEAM.
>> THE FOURTH TEAM.
>> THE FOURTH TEAM THEY ARE ON
INTERNAL POWER AND TIMERS ARE
SET.
THEY ARE TARGETING A LIFTOFF OF
7:50 A.M.
ALL THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.
WE TALK ABOUT BEING STKPHEFRBS
EXCITED.
THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NERVOUS AND
EXCITED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
HAPPENING AS WE GET READY TO
COUNTDOWN TO LIFTOFF THIS
MORNING.
WE HAVE 15 SECONDS LEFT IN THIS
HOLD BEFORE WE PICK UP THE
COUNT.
>> THE FIFTH TEAM IS THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RPG, THE
POWER SOURCE FOR PERSEVERANCE.
>> 2, 1, MARK.
>> THIS IS NOW THE TERMINAL
COUNTDOWN THE TIME WHEN THINGS
BECOME MORE AND MORE AUTO MATED
IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES AND THE
ENERGY BUILDING BUT THE FOCUS
INCREASING.
>> TOREYED DURING HIS INTERVIEW
THE TEAMS ARE DISCIPLINED AND
FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING
THE OPERATIONAL SEQUENCE OF
EKWEPBTS THEY ARE FOLLOWING AND
MAKING SURE EVERYTHING HAPPENS
IN THE T-MINUS 4 AND COUNTING.
THEY HAVE TO FINISH TOPPING THE
VEHICLE AND MAKE SURE ALL THE
TANKS FIRST STAGE AND SECOND
STAGE ARE AT FLIGHT PRESSURES
AND FULL OF FUEL READY TO GO
THIS MORNING AND THE FTS SYSTEM
IS ARMED AND READY FOR PERSONNEL
SAFETY, JUST IN CASE.
THEY HAVE TO CHECK THE
ELECTRICAL AND AVIONIC SYSTEMS
AND MAKE SURE THE COMPUTER HAS
THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS TO
PLACE IT INTOOR BIT.
A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
EXCITING TIME FOR THE TEAM RIGHT
NOW.
AGAIN, STAYING FOCUSED AND
FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE THEY
HAVE.
AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO POST
LIFTOFF.
THERE WILL BE A LOT GOING ON.
YOU WON'T HEAR FROM US YOU WILL
HEAR FROM THE UL A FLIGHT
COMMENTATOR.
HE WILL GIVE THE CALLS PAST
LIFTOFF THAT WILL WALK US
THROUGH MAXIMUM DYNAMIC PRESSURE
AND THROUGH SEPARATION AND
FERRING SEPARATION AND FIRST
MAIN ENGINE IGNITION OF THE
CENTAUR.
YOU WILL HEAR US JUMP BACK IN
AND PROVIDE CONTEXT.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY WITH US
FOR THE REST OF THE SHOW.
THERE IS A TON MORE CONTENT TO
BRING YOU.
THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS IS NOT
DONE AT 0 TODAY.
THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS ENDS IN
FEBRUARY WHEN MARS 2020 SAFELY
DELIVER THE PERSEVERANCE AND
INGENUITY TO THE RED PLANET AM
WE'LL LET YOU ENJOY THE LAST PEW
MINUTES OF PROCESS OF.
WAKING A ROCKET.
>> 1:59.
>> VEHICLE INTERNAL.
>> LAUNCH SEQUENCERS START.
>> 1:50.
>> 69 CENTAUR L O-2.
>> HEARD THE FUELING.
THE SEQUENCE IS READY TO GO AND
GETTING READY TO TURN IT OVER TO
AUTOMATIC AT TMINUS 31 SECONDS.
THEY WILL GIVE THE FINAL GOES
EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO AND
THE LAUNCH VEHICLE IS READY TO
LIFTOFF FOR THE MISSION.
>> 1:15.
>> CCS FOR LAUNCH.
>> ROGER.
>> 1:10.
1:HUNDRED.
>> RANGE GREEN.
>> THAT IS GOOD TO HEAR.
>> YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN
A BEAUTIFUL SHOT.
THE SKIES LOOK GREAT.
LITTLE WIND HAPPENING.
YOU CAN SEE MORE OF THE VENTING.
WE ARE READY TO GO.
THEY ARE STABLE AT STEP 3, THE
TANKS ARE READY TO GO.
HERE IN ABOUT FIVE SECONDS WE'LL
HEAR THE TEAM GIVE THE FINAL GO.
>> STATUS CHECK.
>> GO ATLAS.
>> GO CENTAUR.
>> GO MARS 2020.
>> THERE WE GO.
WE ARE READY TO GO LIFTOFF THIS
MORNING.
>> 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, ENGINE
IGNITION, 2, 1, 0.
AND LIFTOFF.
THE COUNT TOWN TO MARS
CONTINUES.
THE PERSEVERANCE OF HUMANITY
LAUNCHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF
ROBOTIC EXPLORERS TO THE REDPLA.
>> COMING UP ON 30 SECONDS THE
180.
ENGINE RESPONSE LOOKS GOOD.
MACH 1.
ATLAS IS NOW SUPER SONIC.
PASSING 452NDS INTO FLIGHT,
VEHICLE IS NOW PASSING THROUGH
MAX CUE, MAXIMUM DYNAMIC
PRESSURE.
AND PASSING ONE MINUTE INTO
FLIGHT THE RD 180 IS THROTTLING
BEING BAUP AND ENGINE RESPONSE
LOOKS GOOD.
AT THIS TIME PRESSURE CHAMBERS
REMAIN NOMINAL AND FUEL INJECTOR
PRESSURES ARE RESPONDING WELL TO
DEMANDS ON THE ENGINE.
STAND BY FOR BURN OUT SHORTLY.
AND WE HAVE BURN OUT ON ALL FOUR
SRBs, BURN OUT PRESSURE
SIGNATURES LOOK GOOD.
STAND BY FOR JETTISON SHORTLY.
AND WE HAVE GOOD INDICATION OF
SRB JETTISON OF ALL FOUR SRBs.
THE SR *BG HAS GONE TO CLOSE-LOP
GUIDANCE.
VEHICLE BODY RATE, RESPONDING
NOMINALLY AT THIS TIME.
AND COMING UP ON TWO AND A HALF
MINUTES INTO FLIGHT THE RD 180
HAS THROTTLED DOWN SLIGHTLY AS
EXPECTED AND ENGINE RESPONSE
LOOKS GOOD.
THE VEHICLE IS 50 TPHAOEULS
ALTITUDE, 85 MILES DOWN RANGE
TRAVELING AT 6,000 MILES PER
HOUR.
AND THE CENTAUR REACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM IS PRESSURIZING TO FLIGHT
LEVELS.
AND JUST PAST THREE MINUTES INTO
FLIGHT THE RD-180 IS THROTTLING
TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT LIMIT FOR
PAY LOAD FERRING JETTISON.
VEHICLE ACCELBATION LOOKS
GOOD -- ACCELERATION LOOKS GOOD.
AND WE HAVE GOOD INDICATION OF
PAY LOAD FERRING JETTISON AND
CENTAUR FORWARD REACTOR
JETTISON.
AND THE RD 180 IS THROTTLING
BACK UP TO ACCELERATION.
ENGINE RESPONSE CONTINUES TO
LOOK GOOD.
AND CENTAUR HAS BEGUN THE BOOST
PHASE TO CONDITION THE RL-10 FOR
OPERATION.
STANDING BY.
>> THAT IS THE CALL FOR BOOSTER
ENGINES.
>> WE HAVE BOOSTER ENGINE CUT
OFF STANDING BY FOR STAGE
SEPARATION.
AND WE HAVE GOOD INDICATION OF
ATLAS CENTAUR SEPARATION.
RL-10 OPERATING PARAMETERS LOOK
GOOD.
CHAMBER PRESSURES ARE STABLE.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF TWO
BURNS FOR TODAY'S MISSION.
THE FIRST BURN WILL BE
APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MINUTES IN
LENGTH.
>> IT IS EXCEPTIONAL FOOTAGE.
LIVE VIDEO AM WE'LL SEE THE
SWITCH OVER TO AN ANIMATION THAT
HELPS LET US KNOW WHAT IS
HAPPENING WITH THE ROCKET.
A BEAUTIFUL LIFTOFF.
FUN TO FEEL THE RUMBLE IN THE
BUILDING HERE AS WE PROCEED
TOWARDS ORBIT AND TOWARDS MARS
DESTINATION.
>> IT IS GREAT WATCHING KNOW ON
TIME LIFTOFF WITH A LITTLE OVER
2 MILLION POUNDS OF THRUST CLEAR
THE TOWER IN FIVE SECONDS.
YOU AND I WORKED THE INSIGHT
SKPHEUGZ IF YOU RECALL IT TOOK
17 SUBJECTEDS AND THIS REALLY --
IT TOOK 17 SECONDS.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING NOMINAL
AND ALL VEHICLE PARAMETERS ARE
WITHIN THE DESIGN LIMITS AND WE
ARE GETTING READY TO COME UP ON
THE MAIN ENGINE START FOR THE
FIRST BURN.
>> RECAPPING THE COUNTDOWN TO
MARS.
THE STATIONS FILLED UP JUST
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
FUELING, POWERING UP ALL THE WAY
THROUGH THAT LIFTOFF THAT
HAPPENED I THINK IT WASN'T
PRECISEY ON TIME, LIKE 10
MILLISECONDS EARLY, SO PRETTY
MUCH DEAD ON.
>> THIS TEAM DOES A GOOD JOB.
THEY ARE FOCUSED AND DISCIPLINED
AND AS TOREYED, COURAGEOUS.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO
GET US HERE TODAY.
THE PANDEMIC CHANGED HOW THEY
DID SOME OF THEIR SPWORBG MADE
ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
A L
>> THE SPACE TRACKING SYSTEM.
THERE YOU GO.
THIS IS NOT NATURAL VIDEO.
THIS IS AN ANIMATION DRIVEN BY
REAL DAT A. ALTHOUGH WE ARE NOT
ACTUALLY SEEING THE ENGINE ON
SCREEN, WE CAN SEE IT IS LIT AND
DRIVEN BY THE DATA THAT SAYS THE
ENGINE IS TRULY LIT AND WE ARE
IN THE BURN.
>> IT ALLOWS THEM TO CONTINUE TO
WATCH WHAT IS GOING ON AND MAKE
SURE ALL SEQUENCE OF EVENTS MEET
THE TIME LINE.
WE CONTINUE ON A NOMINAL FLIGHT
THIS MORNING.
THIS FIRST BURN AS WE HEARD
EARLIER WILL BE SIX MINUTES AND
GET US INTO THE PARK ORBIT
AROUND EARTH AND ALLOW US TO GET
ON OUR WAY AND THE 30 MINUTE
COAST PERIOD WE'LL HAVE EIGHT
MINUTES INTO FLIGHT.
SEEING STABLE BODY RATES FROM
THE CENTAUR.
>> WE MENTIONED FIVE TEAMS IN
PLAY.
IF YOU WERE WATCHING HOPEFULLY
YOU SAW IT IN PERSON, IF NOT ON
CAMERA.
IT IS EASY TO SAY IT'S OVER,
LIKES, JOB DONE.
ALL FIVE TEAMS VERY MUCH ENGAGED
AND FOCUSED.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK AHEAD
GOING THROUGH THE FIRST BURN AND
COAST AND SECOND BURN.
AND THE ACQUISITION OF SIGNAL
FROM MARS 2020.
I KNOW FOR LAUNCH SERVICES
PROGRAM YOU MANAGE THE LAUNCH.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THIS IS YOUR WORK IN ACTION.
>> THAT IS THE FIFTH TEAM.
WE TALKED JPL AND UNITED SPACE
FORCE, UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE
AND UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE.
LSP ARE LIKE THE BROKERS TO
SELECT THIS LAUNCH VEHICLE AND
MANAGE THE MISSION.
THE JPL FOLKS COME TO US AND
HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THEY
NEED FOR THE MISSION.
LAUNCH SERVICES PROGRAM MADE UP
OF ENGINEERS AND FLIGHT ANALYSIS
FOLKS AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND
DEFINE THE REQUIREMENTS.
WE GO OUT AND PROCURE A VEHICLE
FROM A COMMERCIAL PARTNER.
THIS WAS THE ATLAS 541 NEEDED
FOR PERFORMANCE.
WE TALKED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL
DAYS ONE OF THE THINGS IMPORTANT
TO LOOKS AT WAS THE PERFORMANCE
TO GET IT INTO TRANSFER OBBIT
INTO SOLAR ORBIT.
IT IS AMALGUS TO A QUARTERBACK
THROWING A FOOTBALL DOWN FIELD.
YOU NEED A QUARTERBACK WITH I
A LOT OF PERFORMANCE WHO CAN GET
THE FOOTBALL WHERE IT NEEDS TO
BE SO THE RECEIVER CAN INTERCEPT
THAT.
IN OUR CASE SEVEN MONTHS LATER.
>>  THE LONGEST FOOTBALL PASS
EVER.
THE EARTH IS THE QUARTERBACK,
THE ATLAS IS THE QUARTERBACK'S
ARM, PERVEERANCE IS THE FOOTBALL
AND MARS IS THE RECEIVER.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT TECHNICALLY
YOU COULD LAUNCH IF YOU HAD
A ROCKET POWERFUL ENOUGH.
BUT THIS IS THE LAUNCH PERIOD
EVERY 26 MONTHS OR SO THAT MAKES
THE MOST SENSE BECAUSE YOU
REQUIRE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF
ENERGY TO GET TO MARS.
IT TAKES A LOT TO GET THERE.
THE ATLAS 541 IS A WORK HORSE.
>> THEY ARE A DOMINATOR AS
TOREYED.
I LOVE THAT NAME FOR THE ATLAS
541.
WE HEARD JIM BRIDENSTINE TELL US
IF WE DIDN'T MAKES THIS LAUNCH
PERIOD WE WOULD BE DOWN FOR
ROUGHLY 26 MONTHS.
THE PERIOD STARTED JULY 17th
AND WENT UNTIL AUGUST 15th.
TODAY, JULY 30th IS ONE OF
THE LAUNCH OPPORTUNITIES WE HAD.
WE HAD A TWO HOUR WINDOW AND
WITHIN THAT WINDOW WE HAD
SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES.
25, ACTUALLY.
WE LAUNCHED ON OUR FIRST
OPPORTUNITY TO GET MARS 2,020
2020 GOING ON THE WAY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, AND IT IS.
THE FLIGHT ANALYSIS GROUP DID
A LOT OF WORK TO PICK OUT THOSE
TARGET SETS AND FIGURE OUT WHERE
WE NEED TO BE.
WE'LL SEE HOW THIS MISSION
CONTINUES.
TELL US ABOUT THE TWO BURNS
REQUIRED.
WE ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF
THE FIRST ONE.
WE ARE LIKE WHY WOULDN'T YOU
JUST KEEP FIRING THE ENGINES AND
FIRE ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND GET
TO MARS IN ONE SHOT?
>> THE FIRST BURN IS THE PARK
ORBIT WE TALKED ABOUT.
WE LIFTED OFF AND LEFT EARTH AND
GOT INTO A PARK ORBIT AROUND
EARTH.
WHILE IN THAT ORBIT WE WILL
PERFORM MANEUVERS TO ROLL IT AND
THE CENTAUR AND COAST DURING
THAT TIME BASICALLY SETTING
ITSELF UP LOOKING AT THE SUN AND
AWAY FROM THE SUN TO CONTROL THE
THERMAL ENVIRONMENTS.
THAT COAST PERIOD WILL ALLOW US
TO COAST AROUND INTO THE
POSITION WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN
HAVE THE SECOND FIRING TO GET
THE VELOCITY NEEDED TO HEAD OFF
INTO MARS.
>> WE'LL BE BACK FOR THAT SECOND
BURN IN JUST UNDER 30 MINUTES
NOW.
THERE IS MORE TO LEARN ABOUT
THIS MISSION AND ALL THE AMAZING
SCIENCE INVOLVED.
BACK TO YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GREAT LAUNCH AND GREAT JOB,
GUYS.
BACK OUTSIDE NOW TO RECAP.
AN ATLAS FIVE ROCKET LAUNCHED ON
TIME FROM THE CAPE CANAVERAL
STATION AT 8:50 EASTERN DAYLIGHT
TIME.
>> PERSEVERANCE IS ON
A TRAJECTORY TOWARD MARS AND
GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS.
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THAT
AS WELL.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE SECOND
BURN HANG IN WITH US, WE HAVE
EXCITING COVERAGE TO GO.
WE WILL WELCOME IN ONE OF OUR
LAUNCH GUESTS DR. DEREK MUELLER
THE CREATOR AND HOST OF THE
POPULAR SCIENCE EDUCATION
CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE.
HE HOLDS A DOCTORATE IN PHYSICS
EDUCATION.
HE IS REALLY SMART.
THAT'S WHY YOU SAW US HAVING
FUN.
HE WAS ON SET AND WE WERE HAVING
A GOOD TIME.
TALKING ABOUT THIS LAUNCH, YOUR
FIRST TIME SEEING A LAUNCH IN
PERSON.
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> WHAT CAN YOU SAY?
VINOTHING TO COMBEAR IT TO BUT
IT WAS AWESOME.
I WANT TO BE INVITED BACK.
IF YOU COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN,
JUST SO AMAZING.
>> GREAT JOB EXPLAINING PHYSICS.
WALK ME THROUGH AS YOU WERE
WATCHING AND EXPERIENCING.
>> IT IS LIKE ALL THE PHYSICS
GOES OUT THE WINDOW A BIT.
IT'S A VISCERAL MOMENT BETWEEN
YOU AND THIS POWERFUL CRAFT.
IT'S JUST AMAZING ALL THE, YOU
KNOW, ENGINEERING THAT GOES INTO
MAKING SOMETNG THAT POWERFUL
AND TO WITNESS THAT IS
PHENOMENAL.
TO FEEL THE RUMBLE OF THE SOUND
AS IT HITS YOU.
IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL
EXPERIENCE.
IT IS ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE
IT TAKING OFF.
IT'S VERY SURREAL FOR SURE.
>> WHAT EXCITES YOU THE MOST
ABOUT THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER?
>> IT IS GOING TO DO A LOT OF
GREAT SCIENCE.
TELL CACHE SAMPLES WE WILL BRING
BACK.
SUPER EXCITED WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE SAMPLES FROM MARS IN OUR
HANDS AND THAT MAY CLENCH IF WE
CAN SEE LIFE IS THERE.
I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT
INGENUITY AND THE HELICOPTER I
GOT TO VISIT BEFORE IT WAS
STRAPPED TO THE UNDER BELLY OF
THE ROVER.
TO THINK ABOUT FLYING A ROTOR
CRAFT IN, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER
WORLD ESSENTIALLY IN A PLACE
THAT ONLY HAS 1- 100th OF
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE IS
AMAZING.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF IT WORKS
AND I THINK THE TEAM IS
PHENOMENAL.
>> YOU DID A YOUTUBE STORY ON IT
AND A FANTASTIC STORY.
>> I WAS SO LUCKY IT WAS THERE
A METEOR TWO AWAY FROM ME ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF A DOOR IN A CLEAN
ROOM.
ONE OF THE GREAT MOMENTS OF MY
LIFE.
AND IT WEIGHS AS MUCH AS MY
LAPTOP.
YOU THINK ABOUT IT'S SUBSTANTIAL
IN SIZE AND TAKE OFF AND FLY BY
ITSELF BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTROL
IT GIVEN THE TIME DELAY AND
EVERYTHING, THAT IS -- I JUST
THINK ONE OF THE PINNACLES OF
HUMAGE ENGINEERING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS IS GOING TO DO BIG SCIENCE
AS WELL.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
SEARCH FOR ANCIENT MICROBIAL
LIFE ON ANOTHER PLANET, MARS?
>> I THINK CHANCES ARE GOOD THAT
MARS ONCE HABORED LIFE.
IT WAS SIMILAR TO EARTH IN THE
PAST.
ONE CAN ONLY EXPECT LIFE SPRUNG
UP THERE AS WELL.
I AM REALLY EXCITED FOR US TO
GET THAT CONFIRMATION.
IT TRANSFORMED OURED WHYS ABOUT
LIFE AND HOW FREQUENT IT IS.
WE HAVE THE SAMPLE SIZE OF ONE.
ONE EARTH WITH LIFE.
IF WE FIND ANOTHER ONE THAT IS
100% MORE INFORMATION AND DATA
AND LIKELY THAT LIFE WILL NOT BE
EXACTLY LIKE OURS.
IT WILL BE FASCINATING.
ANYTHING WE CAN LEARN ABOUT
OTHER POTENTIAL FORMS OF LIFE BY
FINDING LIFE ON ANOTHER PLANET.
>> YOU SEE THIS AND THINK THERE
IS LIFE.
>> I DO.
YOU HAVE LIQUID WATER FOR I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HALF BILLION
OR BILLION YEARS.
ON EARTH THAT WAS ENOUGH TO
CREATE LIFE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE GUESS IS
THAT'S NOT A UNIQUE THING,
RIGHT?
THE HIGHWAY POTTING SIS IS YOU
RUN THAT ENOUGH TIMES IT IS
GOING TO LEAD TO LIFE AGAIN IN
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
YOUTUBE CREATOR.
WE KNOW YOU HAVE A TWO AND
A HALF WEEK OLD CHILD AT HOME
NOW.
>> VERY FEW THINGS I CAN LEAVE
FOR.
THIS IS ONE.
[LAUGHING]
>> A SELFIE WITH OUR FULL-SIZED
ROVER HE.
>> I DEFINITELY WELL.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF AN
TISIPATION BY NASA TEAMS LEADING
UP TO THE LAUNCH.
SOME WON'T BE ABLE TO FULLY
CELEBRATE UNTIL THE ROVER HAS
LANDED ON MARS SEVEN MONTHS FROM
NOW.
HOW ARE THEY REACTING TO SEEING
MARS 2020 TAKES FLIGHT?
>> IT HAS BEEN QUITE AN EVENTFUL
MORNING WITH THE EARTHQUAKE.
YOU COULD FEEL THE ENERGY
BUILDING IN THE ROOM IN THE RUN
UP TO LAUNCH.
BOBBY, CAN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU
ARE FEELING?
>> IT'S JUST A GREAT DAY.
WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED TO GET
STARTED IN THIS WAY AND TO BE ON
OUR WAY AFTER ALL THIS WORK THE
TEAM HAS GONE THROUGH.
IT IS REALLY JUST FANTASTIC.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
>> WE ARE ALMOST ON THE PATH TO
MARS, IF YOU WILL.
THE LAUNCH VEHICLE HAS DONE
GREAT SO FAR.
OUR PARTNERS AT ULA ARE
FANTASTIC AND WE ARE HOPE TO
WORK WITH THEM AND THEM TO GIVE
US THIS BOOST SO FAR.
WE STILL HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER
BURN OF OUR UPPER STAGE.
WE HAVE TO PASS THROUGH THE
NIGHT SIDE OR SHADOW OF THE
EARTH AND COME OUT ON THE OTHER
SIDE AND FIND THE SUN AND POWER
UP AND THEN ESTABLISH CONTACT
WITH THE SPACECRAFT.
ONCE WE DO, WE'LL TRULY BE ON
OUR WAY TO MARS.
WE'LL HAVE A SPACECRAFT THAT IS
POWER SAFE WE CAN COMMUNICATE
WITH AND OUR JOURNEY WILL REALLY
BEGIN.
>> LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
THANK, BOBBY.
THERE IS AN EXCITEMENT HERE IN
THE ROOM AS THE TEAM LOOKS AHEAD
TO THE SECOND CENTAUR BURN.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, LET'S
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCIENCE ON
BOARD THIS ROVER.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS SCIENTIFIC
STUDIES AND TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRATIONS ON PERSEVERANCE.
SOME ARE DIRECTLY PREPARING US
TO ONE DAY SEND HUMANS TO MARS.
ONE IN PARTICULAR IS CALLED
MOXIE.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES --
>> IT'S A BRITNEY SPEARS-STYLE
MIC.
WE CAN HEAR YOU.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE
ADJUSTMENT.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PIECE OF
EQUIPMENT THIS MOXIE.
WHAT IS IT?
AND WHY IS IT TPH-RPBT?
>> IT IS MARSES OXYGEN,
INSTITUTE RESOURCEUTEILIZATION
EXPERIMENT.
WE JUST GRAB THE LETTERS AND
CALL IT MOXIE.
IT HAS A CERTAIN ATTITUDE THAT
IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS
AMBITIOUS MISSION -- MARS.
IT UTILIZES THE RESOURCES TO
PROVIDE USEFUL COMMODITIES.
WHAT MOXIE WILL DO IS SUCK IN
THE MARS ATMOSPHERE THAT IS
MOSTLY CARBON DIOXIDE AND
PRODUCE PURE OXYGEN.
O *BS GEN IS A COMMODITY WE CAN
USE.
MOXIE IS THE FIRST
RESOURCULEITIZATION EXPERIMENT
ON ANOTHER -- RESOURCE
UTIZATIONEXPERIMENT ON ANOTHER .
>> AN INCREDIBLE WEIGHT, FUEL,
RESOURCES TO USE THE ONES THERE
AND IN PLACE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IT TOOK A LOT OF MOXIE.
[LAUGHING]
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING THE
TECHNOLOGY IN DESIGNING AND
BUILDING IT.
>> THE TEAM THAT PRODUCED THE
HARDWARE WE SAW LAUNCHED ON THE
WAY TO MARS.
THEY HAD MOXIE.
THEY HAD TO OVERCOME A LOT OF
CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.
WHEN YOU START TO DEVELOP NEW
TECHNOLOGIES YOU ARE WORKING IN
A LAB TOREY AND HAVE ALL THE
ROOM YOU NEED USUALLY AND CAN
BUILD IT BIG AND HEAVY BECAUSE
YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO MAKE IT
LOOK PRETTY, BUT JUST MAKE IT
WORK.
CAN YOU CONTROL THE THERMAL
ENVIRONMENT AND HAVE PEOPLE COME
IN AND TINK WER IT WHEN IT
BREAKS.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH
THIS.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE
IT IS TIME TO FLY THAT HARDWARE
AND PROVE IT OUT IN THE SPACE
ENVIRONMENT OR ON THE PLANETARY
SURFACE, THE RUBBER REALLY HITS
THE ROAD IN TERMS OF
ENGINEERING.
THAT'S WHERE THE TEAMS.
ENGINEERS COME INTO PLAY.
THEY DEVELOP CLEVER SOLUTIONS TO
IMPLEMENT THE PROCESS THAT HAS
BEEN DEVELOPED IN THE LAB AND
FOOTAGE FOR SPACE FLIGHT.
MOXIE FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
ONCE YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON THE
ROVER, THE SIZE BECOMES
IMPORTANT.
IT HAS A CERTAIN FIT AND VOLUME
ON THE ROVER.
THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT OR MASS
BECOMES REALLY IMPORTANT.
EVERY OUNCE YOU LAUNCH INTO
SPACE TAKES PROPELLANT TO MOVE
IT.
WE WANT TO MAKES MOXIE AS LIGHT
AS POSSIBLE.
TO FIX WITHIN A CERTAIN BUDGET
OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN KICKED OFF
THE ROVER.
>> GLAD YOU MADE.
IT HOW DOES IT CONVERT CARBON
DIOXIDE TO OXYGEN.
>> IT USES A THERMAL AND ELECT
ROW CHEMICAL PROCESS.
A COMPRESSOR WAS BUILT BY AIR
SQUARED.
SOME OF THAT FUNDED UNDER THE
NASA SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATIVE
RESEARCH PROGRAM, ACTUALLY.
THEY BUILT THE COMPRESSOR.
IT ACQUIRES THE CARBON
DIOBVIOUSIDE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE
AND PUSH ITS INTO THEENTIOUS
LENGTH ROL SIS SYSTEM.
--ENTIOUS LENGTH TROL SIS --
ELECT TROL SIS SYSTEM.
IT TAKES CO 2 AND PULLS THE
OXYGEN OFF LEAVING CO.
>> OH, WOW.
>> THE ATOMS MI GRATE THROUGH
AND THE IONS ARE NEUTRALIZED AND
RECOMBINED AN 0 AND AN 0 BECOMEE
OXYGEN OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
>> TO GET PHOBGSO BOARD YOU HAD
TO CLEAR IT WITH THE LADY TO MY
LEFT.
SHE HAD TO CLEAN OFF PART OF IT.
>> THE SOFT PART WAS
SELF-STERILIZING.
IT WAS HOT ENOUGH TO CLEAN
ITSELF.
PART OF THE SENSORS WERE
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE.
IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE USE IT ON
HARDWARE.
>> SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING US DO
THAT.
>> SPEAKING ABOUT THE ROVER,
WHAT -- CURIOSITY TOLD US WE
HAVE OR HAD AT ONE TIME ON MARS
MOVING WATER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WHAT IS PERSEVERANCE GOING TO
DO IN TERMS OF CONFIRMING
WHETHER LIFE COULD BE THERE?
>> YEAH, EXACTLY.
THE PAST MISSION SET UP WHAT
COULD SUSTAIN LIFE AND WE ARE
LOOKING FOR SIGNATURES OF THAT
LIFE.
>> SO SOME OF THE ANSWERS YOU
ARE LOOKING FOR, WHICH ONE ARE
YOU PERSONALLY LOOKING MOST
FORWARD TO?
>> I'M PERSONALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO SEEING SIGNS OF LIFE
WHERE NO ONE WILL ARGUE WHERE IT
HAS A BIOTIC SOURCE.
IT'S EASY TO SAY THIS CHEMISTRY
COULD HAVE HAPPENED FROM NATURAL
REASONS, I WANT T A SMOKING
GUN.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
>> THAT'S NOT EASY, RIGHT?
>> NO.
NOT AT ALL.
>> EXPLAIN THAT TO US.
>> YEAH, SO IN ORDER TO GET THAT
DEFINITIVE SIGNAL YOU HAVE TO
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A CLEAN
INSTRUMENT YOU ARE SAMPLING
WITH.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME CLEANING,
BAKING OUT HARDWARE FOR SOME OF
THE PARTS TO MAKE SURE IT WAS
CLEAN ENOUGH.
>> THIGH HAVE TO BE SPECIALLY
MADE TO HANDLE THE HEAT.
>> YEAH.
>> TO GET PAST YOU.
>> ALL THE MATERIAL SELECTION,
EVERYTHING WAS DONE SPECIFICALLY
FOR THAT PURPOSE.
>> WHERE ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE DO
YOU THINK WE SHOULD EXPLORE FOR
LIFE?
>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT EUROPA.
IT HAS AN OCEAN UNDER A THICK
LAYER OF ICE.
IT HAS VENTS SO THERE IS A HATE
SOURCE AND -- HEAT SOURCE.
ICY MOON IS THE NEXT PLACE TO
GO.
>> A VERY, VERY COLD, COLD
PLACE.
>> YEAH.
>> YOU HAVE A ROVENER FRONT OF
YOU.
>> I DO.
>> WE HAVE ONE BEHIND US, RIGHT?
YOU ALSO HAD TO MAKE SURE THE
NUCLEAR BATTERY WAS INSTALLED.
>> YEAH.
BACK HERE.
>> TELL ME ABOUT HOW THAT WORKED
AND WHEN YOU DID IT AND HOW THAT
PROCESS WAS.
>> IT WAS ONLY A FEW DAYS BEFORE
THIS LAUNCH DAY.
WE JUST FINISHED COUNTING OUR
SAMPLES JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO.
>> HOW ABOUT THAT?
>> WE HAD TO ALTER THE WAY WE
SAMPLE AND TAKE WIPES AND SWABS.
FOR THIS WE HAD TO MAKE SURE OUR
HEAD WAS FAR BACK AND HAD AS
MINIMUM RADIATION IMPACT AS
POSSIBLE.
EVERYONE HAS DONE A FANTAST I
THINK SO JOB MAKING SURE IT IS
CLEAN AS POSSIBLE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE
FULL-SIZED ROVER.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE.
YOU SHOULD BE UP THERE.
>> APPARENTLY IT IS RIGHT TO
SCALE.
A SHOT OF IT THERE.
THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL ROVEER.
>> IT IS.
>> THANK YOU FOR DESCRIBING THAT
TO US.
>> YEAH.
>> I APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU
DESCRIBING THAT.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> BACK INTO THE SHOW MOVING FOR
ON.WE CONTINUE TO TRACK AND
TRACKING MARS 2020 ON THE WAY.
WHEN SEARCHING FOR THE
POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON MARS IT'S
ABOUT LOCATION, LOCATION,
LOCATION.
PERSEVERANCE'S DESTINATION IS
JEZERO CRATER.
YOU HAVE A SCIENTIST WHO
BELIEVES IT GIVES THEM THE BEST
CHANCE OF FINDING ANY EVIDENT OF
PAST MICRO SCOPIC LIFE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
KNOWING WHERE TO LOOK FOR SIGNS
OF ANCIENT LIFE ON MARS CAN BE
A DAUNTING TASK.
IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO SELECT THE
PERFECT LANDING SIGHT.
NOW WITH US IS ONE OF THE
PROJECT SCIENTISTS WHO HELPED
PICK THAT LOCATION.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY WE ARE
HEADING TO ZEZER O CRATER?
>> MANY REASONS WHY SCIENTISTS
ARE EXCITEED TO SENSE
PERSEVERANCE TO ZEZERO CRATER
AND WHY IT -- JEZERO.
WE THINK IT CAN GET A DIVERSE
SET OF SAMPLES TO RESOLVE SOME
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
ABOUT LIFE BEYOND EARTH AND THE
EVOLUTION OF PLANETS OVER TIME.
WE KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THERE
WAS AN ANCIENT LAKE AND RIVER
DELTA.
AND WE HAVE RIVER VALLEYS THAT
FLOW INTO AND OUT OF THE CRATER
AND KNOW IT FILLED UP WITH WATER
AND OVER FLOWED.
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT REQUIRES
WATER TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE AND
WE THINK JEZERO HAS ALL THE
KNOWLEDGE BLOCKS TO PRESERVE
LIFE.
IT IS ONE OF THE BEST PRESERVED
DELTAS AND THEY ARE IDEAL FOR
SUPPORTING LIFE.
THE ROCKS PERSEVERANCE WILL
EXPLORE CAN TELL US MORE ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY FOR PAST LIFE ON
MARS.
THE ROCKS AT THE CRATER ARE SOME
OF THE OLDEST ON MARS BETWEEN
THREE AND A HALF AND 4 BILLION
YEARS OLD AND THAT'S THE SAME
INTERVAL OF TIME LIFE DEVELOPED
ON EARTH.
BY EXPLORING THE ROCKS WITH
PERSEVERANCE WE HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE MORE
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE IN
THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND CAN ANSWER
SOME OF THE MAJOR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.
BACK TO YOU.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, KATY.
WITH THAT LET'S HEAD BACK
YOU SEE THE TWO STEREO CAMERAS.
THE EYEBALL THAT LOOKS LIKE AN
EYE IS A LASER.
IT SHOOTS AT THE ROCKS AND
DEPENDING ON THE SIGNATURE THAT
COMES BACK A SPECHTROMETER READS
IT AND TELLS YOU WHAT IS COMING
BACK.
>> THIS IS THE ARTICULATING ARM
THAT COMES OUT AND GOES DOWN ON
TO THE PLANET AND STARTS
DRILLING.
>> EXACTLY.
>> WHAT ALL IS HERE THAT WILL
HELP US UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT
THE GEOLOGY OF MARS AND THE
CLIMATE AND IF THERE WAS LIFE.
>> THERE IS PIXEL AND SHERLOC.
IN THE MIDDLE THERE IS THE
CORING DRILL.
THE REAL DRILL WILL HAVE A DRILL
BIT THAT IS HOLLOW IN THE MIDDLE
AND A TUBE INSIDE.
THIS IS A 3D PRINTED VERSION.
AS IT COLLECTS SAMPLES THEY WILL
GO INTO THE TUBE.
>> A TUBE THERE.
>> THE TUBE HERE.
IT WILL GO DOWN THE MIDDLE OF
THE TUBE AS IT IS ACQUIRING THE
SAMPLES.
WONTS IT'S DONE TELL -- ONCE IT
IS DONE IT WILL DOCK HERE AND
INJECT THE BIT WITH THE TUBED IN
IN THE SAMPLE AND ROTATE DOWN TO
THE BELLY AND A LITTLE ARM ON
THE INSIDE TO MANIPULATE IT AND
TAKE PICTURES AND SEAL IT.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
QUITE A BIT OF ROBOTICS.
>> A LOT.
>> HAPPENING BETWEEN THIS PART
AND GETTING IT UNDERNEATH.
IT IS UNDERNEATH.
HERE IS A SPECIAL GUEST.
WE WILL DUCK DOWN.
THIS IS THE MARS HELICOPTER.
>> INGENUITY.
>> IT WILL BE TUCKED UNDER THE
ROVER.
A LATE ADDITION TO THE PROJECT.
>> YES.
>> ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS ON
IT.
>> AMAZING, 2,400 RPM THE BLADES
WILL SPIN IN
A COUNTER-DIRECTION.
A LITTLE UNDER 4 POUNDS.
IT'S SUPER LIGHT.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST ROTOCRAFT
FLIGHT ON THE SURFACE OF MARS.
SPECTACULAR.
>> IT WILL TAKE PICTURES AS L,
RIGHT?
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND THEY TURN IN OPPOSITE
DIRECTIONS.
>> THEY DO.
>> IT WILL HAVE A CAMERA ON IT
AND SHOOT LIVE VIDEO WE WILL GET
BACKS AND SHOOT VIDEO OF THE
ROVER AS IT IS DOING ITS WORK.
>> IT IS SPECTACULAR.
LOOK AT THIS CLEARANCE.
IT NEEDS TO CLEAR THIS
HELICOPTER AFTER BEING DEPLOYED.
>> THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE
TOUR.
>> YEAH.
>> IT'S JUST LIKES THE REAL ONE
EXCEPT NOT GOING TO MARS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AND SO BY NOW YOU MAY HAVE HEARD
THIS ROVER WAS NAMED BY
A SEVENth GRADER.
IT WAS GIVEN THAT NAME WHICH WAS
VERY SPECIAL TO US.
WE ASKED HIDDEN FIGURES ACTRESS
OCTAFIA SPENCER WHY IT IS MORE
THAN JUST A NAME TO US HERE AT
NASA.
>> WE ARE A SPECIES OF
EXPLORERS.
>> WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON
NOT BECAUSE IT THEY ARE EASY,
BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD.
>> WE ARE WILLING TO DO THE HARD
THINGS TO OVERCOME THE MANY
CHALLENGES THIS.
IS WHAT BRINGSES OUT THE BEST IN
US.
>> WE ARE GO FOR A MISSION TO
THE MOON.
>> OUR PATH HAS LED TO SUCCESS.
>> WE COME TOGETHER TODAY TO
MOURN THE LOSS OF SEVEN BRAVE
AMERICANS.
>> YET, EVEN WHEN FACED WITH
TRAGEDY, SETBACKS, WE PERSEVERE.
WE KEEP STRIVING.
WE KEEP BELIEVING.
FROM SPACE WE SEE OUR PLANET AS
A WHOLE.
WE SEE THE CHALLENGES FACES US
AND WE FACE THOSE CHALLENGES
TOGETHER.
WE WILL NOT GIVE UP.
WE CHALLENGE CONVENTION.
WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT.
THE TIME AT HAND IS HARD, BUT WE
WILL PERSEVERE.
WE CAN STILL DRAW HOPE FROM THE
MOON AND THE STARS.
FROM SPACE.
FROM EXPLORATION.
THERE IS A MEW DAY BEYOND THE
CHALLENGES WE FACE NOW.
-- NEW DAY BEYOND THE CHALLENGES
WE FACE NOW.
>> THE NAMES OF PAST MARS
ROVERS.
>> 10, 9, WE HAVE IGINATION
SEQUENCE.
>> 3, 2,.
>> PERSEVERANCE.
>> LAUNCH COMMENCE.
LIFTOFF.
WE HAVE LIFTOFF.
>> WE ARE A SPECIES EVER
EXPLORERS.
WE WILL ALWAYS PERSEVERE.
>> OUR COLLECTIVE PERSEVERANCE
IS WHAT HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS
DAY AND MARCH 2020 IS ON THE
SEVEN MONTH JOURNEY TO MARS WITH
LANDING DATE IN FEBRUARY 2021.
WE ARE JOINED BY THE ASSOCIATE
ADMINISTRATOR STRAEUFRT FOR
ADMINISTRATOR FOR SCIENCE.
>> I'M SO GLAD I'M HERE AND SO
RELIEVED.
WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE
SPACECRAFT AND EVERYTHING IS
NOMINAL.
WAITING FOR THE SECOND BURN.
>> EXACTLY.
>> NOT QUITE THERE, BUT REALLY
CLOSE.
>> CAN YOU TELL US WHAT MAKES
GOING TO MARS INCREDIBLY HARD.
>> THE FIRST IS YOU NEED TO HEAD
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY AND THE
RIGHT DIRECTION.
WHAT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IS IN
FEBRUARY WHEN MARS COMES YOU
WANT TO BE RIGHT THERE TO GET
CAPTURE.
THE SECOND ONE THAT WILL MAKE US
NERVOUS IN FEBRUARY IS ENTRY,
DESCENT AND LAND.
THE MARS ATMOSPHERE IS THE WORST
OF ALL.
IF IT IS WAS EARTH YOU COULD
PARACHUTE.
IF NOT OF THEM BEING LIKE THE
MOON.
BUT IN MARS YOU HAVE TO DO BOTH
ON TOP OF EACH OTHER THAT MAKES
IT 10 TIMES HARDER THAN THE
OTHER TWO.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO HARD.
>> YOU HAVE DEVOTED MUCH OF YOUR
LIFE TO SCIENCE.
YOU WERE ASKED DURING A NEWS
CONFERENCE WHY ANOTHER ROVER.
YOU GAVE A PRETTY IMPASSIONED
RESPONSE.
WHY IS THIS ROVER IMPORTANT IN
YOUR MIND TO THE WORK THAT SO
MANY PEOPLE ARE DOING IN
SCIENCE?
>> IT IS REALLY KIND OF A KEY OF
A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW RESEARCH WE
ARE DOING THAT IS FOCUSED ON
A QUESTION THAT FOR THOUSANDS OF
YEARS PHILOSOPHERS AND
SCIENTISTS HAVE ASKED AND WE ARE
READY TO ANSWER WITH THE TOOLS
OF SCIENCE THAT GETS RELIABLE
ANSWERS, THAT IS:  IS THERE LIFE
OUT THERE?
WE KNOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT OF
MARS AND WE ARE READY TO ASK
THAT.
THE WAY WE ARE DOING THAT IS
WITH THIS ROVER.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES
THE FIRST ASTRO-BIOLOGY MISSION
WE ARE READY FOR IT.
THE NEXT STEP.
THERE ARE OTHERS COMING,
DRAGONFLY, WE ARE ALREADY
THINKING ABOUT.
AND OTHER MISSIONS.
WE WANT TO GO TO EUROPA AND
LEARN ABOUT LIFE THERE ALSO.
IT IS AN AMAZING FIRST.
>> WHETHER THERE IS LIFE OR NOT.
THAT IS THE ANSWER THAT WE ARE
LOOKING FOR IN THESE PLACES.
>> EXACTLEY.
>> WE WANT TO DO A SOCIAL MEDIA
QUESTION IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WU.
>> WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM
TWITTER:  WHAT IS THE KEY
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PREVIOUS NASA
ROVER MISSIONS TO MARS AND
PERSEVERANCE?
IN WHAT WAY IS PERSEVERANCE
UNIQUE FROM THE PREVIOUS ONES.
>> A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN
THE APPROACH.
IT IS THAT WE DECIDED TO PUT THE
INSTRUMENTS ON PERVEERANCE THE
BEST GEOLOGY AND SCIENCE ON THIS
TO FIND THE RIGHT SAMPLES AND WE
DECIDED NOT TO PUT A CHEMISTRY
LAB ON IT.
THAT'S WHY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE YET.
WE ARE COLLECTING THE SAMPLES
THAT WE WILL BRING TO THE BEST
LABS AVAILABLE TO HUMANITY ALL
OVER THE WORLD AND THAT'S THE
CHOICE HERE.
OF COURSE, TO DO THAT WE NEED TO
DO ANOTHER FIRST, HUMANITY'S 50
ROUND TRIP TO ANOTHER PLANET.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT.
>> WE HAVE MORE TO GO.
HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT
LAUNCH?
>> PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE SKY
AND GETTING OFF THE SHORE OF OUR
EARTH INTO WADING OUT THERE INTO
THE COSMIC OCEAN.
I JUST LOVE IT.
EVERY TIME IT GETS ME.
>> THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TO
EXPLAIN ALL THE SCIENCE AND
EXCITEMENT COMING UP.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> APPRECIATE IT.
WE TALKED TO SCIENTISTS AND
ENGINEERS AND WE HAVE SHARED
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MISSION AND
TECH DEMONSTRATIONS CENTRAL TO
THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER.
WE HAVE A LOT MORE TO SHARE.
>> MARS PERSEVERANCE HAS BEEN
FLYING IN SPICE FOR MORE THAN
A HALF- SPACE FOR MORE THAN
A HALF-HOUR NOW.
LET'S HEAR WHAT IS COMING UP
NEXT.
>> AS YOU ARE SEEING ON SKRAOEP
SCREEN, THE ANIMATION OF CENTAUR
IN MOTION AROUND EARTH.
YOU CAN SEE THE AN MISSION BEING
DRIVEN -- ANIMATION BEING DRIVEN
BY REAL DATA.
>> WE ARE HEARING EVERYTHING HAS
BEEN NOMINAL AND CENTAUR IS
PERFORMING WELL AND THE FUEL
STILL IN THE TANK WHERE WE IT
NEEDS TO BE WHERE WE GET READY
FOR THE SECOND BURN THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO GET THE VELOCITY
AND INTO THE TRANSPERORBIT TO
MARS.
>> THAT WILL BE UP IN A FEW
MINUTES.
I AM BEING HELD.
WE WILL HANG OUT HERE.
COMING UP, TALK ABOUT THE C-3.
HAVING TO DO WITH THE ENERGY TO
LEVER EARTH AND GO SOMEWHERE --
LEAVE EARTH AND GO SOMEWHERE
ELSE.
SPEEDS OVER 25,000 MILES PER
HOUR, EARTH'S ESCAPE VELOCITY.
>> THAT IS THE TEXICAL TERM WE
USE -- TECHNICAL TERM TO REFER
TO THE VELOCITY WE NEED TO GET
THE VEHICLE WHERE IT NEEDS TO
BE.
A LITTLE OR 2 MILLION POUNDS OF
THRUST WE LEFT EARTH WITH, WITH
THE MIGHTY FOUR SOLIDS ON THE
DOMINATOR.
I STILL LIKE THAT.
I WILL TAKE THAT FROM TOREY.
WE GOT OFF HERE INTO THE PARK
ORBIT WITH THE PROPER VELOCITY
WE MEDED.
THE SECOND BURN IS SO IMPORTANT
TO GET INTO TRANSFER ORBIT.
>> DOMINATOR PUNCHING A HOLE IN
THE SKY.
WE'LL GO TO THE MAIN DECK AND BE
BACK TO CATCH THE SECOND BURN.
>> JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT HOW
SPECIAL THE MISSIONS ARE IS
DR. MICHAEL WATKINS THE DIRECTOR
EVER THE JET PROPULSION
LABORATORY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE HAVE SOME MAYBE GREAT
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WHY ARE MISSIONS TO MARS UNIQUE?
>> FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IT IS JUST MARS HAS BEEN IN
OUR IMAGINATION FOR CENTURIES.
IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT COULD HAVE
BEEN HOME TO LIFE.
WE CAN GET THERE EVERY COUPLE
YEARS AND SEND MISSIONS AND
BUILD ON THE MISSIONS AND LEARN
FROM YOUR MISTAKES AND
SUCCESSES.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKES TO
JOKE ABOUT WE SAY PERSEVERANCE
LOOKS LIKE CURIOSITY.
THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THEM ARE
THE SAME.
[LAUGHING]
A LOT OF OUR FOLKS WORKED ON
MARS PATHFINDER, SPIRIT,
OPPORTUNITY, CURIOSITY AND NOW
PERSEVERANCE.
THAT HISTORY, THAT GROUP OF
FOLKS, THEY ARE JUST WORLD
LEADERS.
IT'S WHY WE ARE SUCCESSFUL.
>> YOU OVER SEE THE JET
PROPULSION LAB TORE
NECALIFORNIA.
DOING INCREDIBLY COMPLEX WORK.
WHY ARE THESE ROBOTIC MISSIONS
SO HARD?
>> THEY ARE HARD BECAUSE YOU
CAN'T REALLY SEE WHAT IS GOING
TO.
YOU CAN'T USE YOUR HUMAN
RESPONSES.
YOU ARE USED TO DRIVING YOUR CAR
AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND
YOU TURN THE WHEEL.
IN THIS CASE WE HAVE TO TELL THE
ROVER, WE HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THE
ROVE TORE DO A LOT OF THAT STUFF
ON ITS OWN.
WE UNDERSTAND MARS AND HOW THE
ROVER WORKS AND HAVE TO PUT ALL
THAT TOGETHER INTO A MACHINE
THAT CAN FUNCTION WIT US.
WE HAVE TO TELL IT TO DO
EXPERIMENTS AND IT HAS TO DO IT.
WE GIVE IT INTENTION AND IT DOES
IT YOURSELF.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
THE FOLKS AT JPL.
A EARTHQUAKE PLAYED OUT.
HOW IS YOUR TEAM?
>> THEY ARE DOING GREAT.
IT WAS THE EARTH BEING EXCITED
ABOUT GOING TO MARS.
A MINOR EARTHQUAKE.
LIKE HURRICANES OR TROPICAL
STORMS HERE.
A MINOR EVENT AND EVERYTHING IS
FINE.
WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO MARS.
>> A RUMBLE HERE IN FLORIDA,
SOME IN CALIFORNIA, IT WORKS OUT
GREAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.
>> MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
>> AWESOME.
WE WILL HAVE THAT CONVERSATION
COMING UP.
>> THE ASTRONAUT.
>> EXCITED ABOUT.
>> YEAH.
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
CENTAUR BURN.
WE'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT SIX MAJOR
TECHNOLOGIES NASA IS FOCUSING
INCLUDING THE CRITICAL ENERGY
NEEDS FOR SUCH MISSIONS.
LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE
NEXT OPERATIONAL SET.
>> WE ARE HERE AND EXCITED.
WE HAVE A FUEL PRESTART CALL
JUST COMING IN AND GETTING READY
TO HEAR THE CALL FOR THE SECOND
BURN OF THE CENTAUR RL-10 
ENGINE.
EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS FOR.
>> IT IS REALLY TO GET US THE
VELOCITY HEADING INTO THE
TRANSFER ORBIT.
IT WILL HEAD INTO THE SOLAR
ORBIT ON THE WAY WITH THE PROPER
VELOCITY.
WE WILL THEN GET READY TO
SEPARATE ON ITS WAY.
I AM HEARING SETTLING IS DONE
AND MAIN ENGINE START.
THERE WE GO.
THE ANIMATION THERE DRIVEN BY
ACTUAL DATA COMING FROM THE
ROCKET.
THAT'S A PHENOMENAL SIGN.
IT IS TOUGH WITH THE IMAGES
PERSPECTIVE AND SCALE AREO
IMPORTANT.
THIS VEHICLE IS IN EARTH ORBIT
AND NOT NEAR ANYTHING SO YOU
CAN'T SEE THE ACCELERATION OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING.
FOR EIGHT MINUTES IT WILL PICK
UP SPEED.
>> THIS IS THE BURN THAT GETS US
MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WE NEED
TO GO THE FAST VELOCITY TO GET
OUT OF OUR PARK ORBIT AND HEAD
TO MARS.
CENTAUR AND MARS 2020 ARE STILL
TOGETHER AND WE ARE HEARING
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING NOMINAL ON
THIS FIRE.
THE MAIN ENGINE START LOOKS GOOD
>> TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> WE ARE THE ENGINEERING TEAM
LEAD FOR A LOT OF THE ROCKETS WE
LAUNCH OUR SCIENCE MISSIONS ON
AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVER
SIGHT AND INSIGHT INTO THE
LAUNCH VEHICLES FOR NASA.
>> THAT'S AWESOME.
IN THE PAST YOU SUPPORTED
A VARIETY OF VEHICLES.
TELL US ABOUT THE VEHICLES YOU
HAVE SUPPORTED AND THE ONES YOU
ARE FOCUSED ON TODAY.
>> THE DELTA 2, WHICH WAS A LONG
TIME WORKING WITH OUR SCIENCE
MISSIONS AS WELL AS THE PEGASUS
AND TAURUS AND MIN TAUR AND
RIGHT NOW FOCUSED ON FALCON 9.
>> AWESOME.
NOT FOCUSED ON THE ATLAS 5 BUT
A EXPERIENCE AND PROCESS IS THE
SAME.
I WANT TO TAKES A MOMENT TO
PAUSE AND SAY AT THE HANGAR THEY
ARE PROUD OF THAT.
THE TELEEMETRY CENTER OF THE
UNIVERSITY.
IS THE PROCESS THE -- OF THE
UNIVERSE.
IS THE PROCESS THE SAME GETTING
FROM EARTH TO MARS.
DOES FALCON HAVE TRENDS LIKE
ATLAS.
>> MANY PROCESSES ARE THE SAME.
SHIP TO THE LAUNCH SITE AND
ASSEMBLED BUT THERE ARE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE LAUNCH
VEHICLES THAT MAY CHANGE THAT
PROCESS A BIT.
THE PROCESSIES ARE THE SAME.
>> HE TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT
VEHICLES HE'S WORKED ON BUT
DENTON IS ONE OF MY SENIOR
ENGINEERS.
EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT TOTALLY
SUPPORTING ATLAS 5 HE DOES HAVE
EXPERIENCE AND THING, SIMILAR.
USING HIS EXPERIENCE WE ARE ABLE
TO TRAIN AND BRING ON NEW
GENERATIONS OF ENGINEERS AND HE
HAS BEEN A HUGE PART OF THAT TO
ALLOW US TO GROW OUR BENCH, IF
YOU WILL, TO START WORKING
COMMERCIAL PARTNER SKWRAOGS WHAT
GOES BEHIND THE SCENES AND THE
ROCKET SCIENCE OF GOING FROM
EARTH TO MARS.
TO GO INTO SOLAR ORBIT?
>> A LOT BEHIND THE SCENES A LOT
OF ANALYSIS WORK DONE BY OUR
TEAMS.
IT IS MONTHS AND MONTHS THAT ARE
PERFORMED BASED ON THE ORBIT
INSERTION, THE PERFORMANCE OF
THE LAUNCH VEHICLE AND MODELING
AND SIMULATIONS DONE TO GET TO
THIS POINT WHERE WE CAN TRANSFER
FROM EARTH ORBIT INTO SOLAR
ORBIT.
>> AWESOME.
YOU ARE A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
THAT'S LIKE THE PINNACLE AND HEY
I WANT TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST.
WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HEIR IN
YOUR CAREER?
THERE ARE THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE
TO ACCOMPLISH.
>> FOR ME, ONE OF THE COOLEST
THINGS IS WORKING WITH LAUNCH,
RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> WHO DOESN'T LOVE A LAUNCH AND
WORKING LAUNCHES?
>> WE LOVE THEM.
THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
>> OF COURSE.
ONE OF THE IDEAL JOBS SUCCESS
A LAUNCH DIRECTOR BECAUSE YOU
GET TO WORK ALL THE LAUNCHES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
>> THAT'S TRUE.
AND IS IT RIGHT TO SAY YOU CALL
THE SHOTS OR THE BUCK STOPS WITH
YOU?
>> THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE
LAUNCH MANAGER.
TODAY WE TALK THE OUR LAUNCH
MANAGER FOR MARS 2020 HAD TO
POLL THE TEAM AND MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO AND
THE BUCK DOES STOP WITH HIM ON
TODAY'S LAUNCH.
AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WOULD LOVE THAT JOB AND HE
IS LOOKING AT THE NEXT STEP.
WE HAVE TO GIVE OMAR AND HIS
ASSISTANT LAUNCH MANAGER A HEADS
UP.
[LAUGHING]
>> IS THERE YOU GO.
>> DR. GIBSON IS ON THE WAY.
 BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WHAT
ARE YOU WORKING ON?
>> SUPPORTING THE CREW LAUNCH
COMING UP.
>> DR. GIBSON, APPRECIATE YOU.
WANT TO TAKE A SPECIAL MOMENT ON
THE COMMERCIAL CREW NOTE TO
COMMENT.
WE GOT A BIG DAY PENDING
WEATHER.
A TROPICAL SYSTEM THAT MIGHT GET
IN THE MIX.
WE HAVE A TROPICAL SYSTEM
OTHERWISE WE HAVE BOB AND DOUG
COMING HOME ON AUGUST 2nd.
>> THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US.
DENTON WAS MY LEAD WITH A FEW
OTHERS THAT ARE IN THE GROUP
THAT WORKED THAT MISSION WITH
THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OTHER
PROGRAMS WITHIN THE AGENCY TO
MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN AS WE
LAUNCH MARS 2020 TODAY, ANOTHER
STEP FOR US GETTING HUMANS TO
MARS IS GETTING HUMANS LAUNCHED
OFF EARTH SOIL, A HUGE STEP, OFF
AMERICAN SOIL, WAS A HUGE STEP
FOR US.
>> TALK ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY WITH
LSP.
APPRECIATE DENTON AND HIS
CONTRIBUTION AND YOU WORKING
TOWARDS COMMERCIAL CREW AND
SUPPORTING ARTEMIS PART OF GET
BEING HUMANS TO MARS.
>> THE GATEWAY PROGRAM, RIGHT.
DEEP SPACE  LOGISTICS.
THEY ARE PROVIDING THE ROCKETS
FOR THOSE MISSIONS.
ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT
WORKING WITH LAUNCH SERVICES
PROGRAM IS WE WORK WITH ALL OF
OUR COMMERCIAL PARTNER,
SpaceX, NORTHROP GRUMMAN.
IT'S A GROWING FIELD IN THE
AEROSPACE FIELD.
WE TAKE PRIDE IN WORKING WITH
THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO
FOR NASA AND THE COUNTRY.
>> IT IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR
SPACE FLIGHT.
IT IS BOOMING.
ALWAYS MEW THINGS HAPPENING.
IF YOU KEEP AN EYE ON THE NEWS
THERE ARE NEW THINGS.
THE ENGINE CUT OFF HAPPENS AND
FIVE MINUTES UNTIL WE SEE THE
SPACECRAFT SEPARATION OCCUR.
WE'LL STAY WITH YOU THROUGH THAT
AND WANT TO PREVIEW THAT.
YOU SHOULD BE SEEING THE ENGINE
CUT OFF AND THAT IS EXPECTED.
THAT'S A NOMINAL OPERATION.
WE'LL HEAR FROM JESSE GONZALEZ
LOOKING AT THE ANIMATION THERE.
LET'S LISTEN IN FOR JESSE HERE.
>> THERE IS THE CALL AND THE
ANIMATION.
>> RL-10 SHUT DOWN PARAMETERS.
>> IT IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC THING
TO JUST SHOOT INFORMATION AT
EARTH AND HAVE THAT BE USABLE.
HOW DO WE GO ABOUT COMMUNICATING
THOUGHT ONLY THROUGH LAUNCH BUT
ON THE WAY TO MARS AND AT MARS?
>> THE IMPORTANT THING THIS
MORNING WHEN WE LIFTED OFF FROM
COMPLEX 41.
WE HAD GROUND STATIONSES LOOKING
AT THE LAUNCH VEHICLE AND
TRACKED IT TO POVIDE DATA.
ONCE WE GOT ON TO ORBIT AFTER
STAGE SPRAEUGSZ YOU HEARD A CALL
OUT FOR THE NETWORK USED FOR THE
ISS AND WILL BE USED FOR THE
LANDING.
GETTING OFF THE GROUND TODAY WAS
GREAT.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO
BE ABLE TO GET THE TELEMETRY.
THE JPL TEAM WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE
EVER NASA'S DEEP SPACE NETWORK
THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG
TIME TO TRANSMIT COMMANDS AND
DATA TO MARS 2020.
IT TAKES A LOT OF FOLKS WO WORK
THOSE AND THE NETWORK AND DEEP
SPACE NETWORK ARE VERY
IMPORTANT.
>> THE COORDINATION OF THAT IS
SOMETHING PEOPLE DON'T GET
A CHANCE TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE
AS YOUD, WE ARE USING TEDRIS FOR
CREW RETURN AND SPACE STKPAEUGZ
IT IS NOT AN UNLIMITED RESOURCE.
WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF
SATELLITES BUT IT IS
A COORDINATED EFFORT AND WE HAVE
GROUND STATIONS IN AUSTRALIA.
>> YES.
EVERYWHERE.
NOT ONLY HERE IN AMERICA ON THE
WEST COAST AND EAST COAST, BUT
SOUTH AFRICA AREA, AUSTRALIA,
YOU SAID, WE HAVE SEVERAL GROUND
STATIONS THAT CATCH UP DIFFERENT
THINGS FOR MISSIONS.
IN ORBIT TEDRIS AND THE DEEP
SPACE NETWORK ARE IMPORTANT.
THERE IS NOT AN UNLIMITED AMOUNT
OF RESOURCES.
WE HAVE TO COORDINATE THOSE
WITHIN THE NASA AGENCY AND
COMMERCIAL PAARE THENERS WHEN
USED -- PARTNERS WHEN USED FOR
OUR LAUNCHES.
>> ON THAT NOTE AROUND THE WORLD
CURRENTLY IT IS ROUGHLY OVER THE
SOUTH INDIAN OEGSZ.
 INDIAN OCEAN.
THINKING ABOUT HOW FAST WE ARE
MOVING AND AMAZING WORLD OF
SPACE FLIGHT.
IT IS HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS.
WE ARE FLYING AROUND THE EARTH
AND HALFWAY AROUND IT.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY
ARE WORKING TO PROTECT MARS FROM
CONTAMINATION.
THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN
FLYING TO MARS.
>> IT IS A COMBINED EFFORT TO
LOOK AT THAT FOR WHEN WE GET
READY FOR SEPARATION IN
A MINUTE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED
ABOUT IS CENTAUR AND MARS
2020 ARE ON THE SAME PATH TOWARD
MARS RIGHT NOW.
ONCE WE SEPARATE THERE WILL BE
A CONTAMINATION AND CONTROL AND
BLOW DOWN WHAT IS LEFT OF
PROTELEANTS IN THE THINK --
PROPELLANTS IN ITS TANK SO IT
WILL BE ON A DIFFERENT TRACK SO
IT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH MARS
2020 FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
THAT TOOK A LOT OF WORKS BY THE
JPL TEAM AND LAUNCH TEAM TO M
SURE THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
ANOTHER PLANETARY PROTECTION
MANEUVER THAT HAD TO BE DONE.
>> I UNDERSTAND FROM EXPERTS
THIS ROCKET AFTER THE SECOND
BURN IS NOT ACTUALLY AIMED
DESPERATE AT MARS FOR --
AIMINGED DIRECTLY AT MARS.
TELL REDIRECT ITSELF SLIGHTLY.
WE HEAR JESSE TELLING US CENTAUR
IS SPINNING UP.
THIS CITIZEN MANEUVER PRIOR TO
SPACECRAFT SEPARATION WHERE WE
GET INTO THE SLIGHT ROLL TO GIVE
MARS 2020 SOME STABILITY.
THE REACTION CONTROL SYSTEM.
THE SERIES OF THE SMALL ENGINES
YOU SEE FIRING AROUND THE
SPACECRAFT ARE USED FOR THE
INFLATE OPERATIONS AND ROLLING
ACTIVITIES.
IT IS PROVIDING STABILITY TO THE
FLIGHT.
TELL US.
>> WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL SEPARATION
OF MARS 2020 WITH THE
PERSEVERANCE ROVER.
>> AWESOME.
>> NICE APPLAUSE THERE.
WE HOPE TO GET LIVE VOIDIO BACK
FROM THAT -- VIDEO BACK FROM
THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE IT AT THIS INSTANT
AND WE'LL BRING THAT TO YOU IF
WE DO.
TELL US ABOUT THE SEPARATION
MANEUVER.
THE APPARATUS.
>> SEPARATION CLAMP.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN
A MINUTE.
YOU SEE THE MISSION DIRECTOR
SYSTEM AND WE JOKESSED ABOUT
THIS EARLIER, BUT WHEN THE
PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING GOING
ON, THE TEAMS HAVE DONE A GREAT
JOB.
NORMALLY SPACECRAFT
SEPARATION --
>> CENTAUR WILL PERFORM THE
PROPELLANT BLOW DOWN SEQUENCE
T
INERT.
THIS WILL CONCLUDE TODAY'S
COMMENTARY.
THIS IS ATLAS FLIGHT COMMENTARY
SIGNING OFF.
>> THE END OF UL A'S JOB.
>> WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE
MISSION DIRECTOR CENTER, WE
WOULD SEE CLAPPING AND HIGH
FIVES.
>> HANDSHAKING.
>> WITH THE PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE
STAYING THEIR DISTANCE AND
TAKING THE GUIDELINES SERIOUSLY.
WE SAW A LOT OF AIR 5s.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT
THE TEAM, HOW EXCITED THEY ARE.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK TO
GET TO THIS POINT.
SEEING SPRAYS CRAFT SEPARATION
AWESOME.
>> ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT MARS
2020 WAS LIKE HERE, HAVE
A EARTHQUAKE.
WE DID IT.
MOST OF THE WAY THERE, NOT THERE
YET.
>> YOU HEARD OMAR EARLIER SAY
A LOT OF US WHEN WE STARTED THIS
THE PANDEMIC STARTED, WE THOUGHT
MARS 2020 MIGHT BE MARS 2022.
MR. BRIDENSTINE AND NASA DECIDED
TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE TEAMS FOUND WAYS TO ON DO
THIS.
THEY WERE DISCIPLINED AND
FOCUSED AND COURAGEOUS.
ALL THAT PLAYED OFF TODAY WITH
A SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH AND NOW
SPACECRAFT AND MARS 20S 20S ON
THE WAY.
>> STAY WITH US.
REALLY FAST, TELL US ABOUT THIS
MECHANISM.
WE TEASED IT.
HOW DID THEY SEPARATE.
>>  THE SEPARATION SYSTEM IS
CALLED A CLAMP BAND DESIGNED
EARLIER BY KARL MARX.
THE CLAMP BAND AND SPRINGS JUST
GIVE ENOUGH FORCE TO PUSH THE
SPACECRAFT OFF THE FRONT OF THE
VEHICLE.
>> HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE THAT
VIDEO.
WE'LL CHECK IN FOR ONE FINAL
TIME IN A LITTLE BIT WITH THE
FOLKS HERE.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
GREAT JOB BOTH OF YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE MICK EXPLAIN
SPRINGS ARE WHAT IS GETTING US
TO MARS.
WE HAVE OUR SECOND BURN UNDER
WAY.
WE HAVE BEEN FLYING FOR AN HOUR
AND AS YOU SAW SPACECRAFT
SEPARATION WENT WELL.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
WE CAN NOW SAY THAT PERSEVERANCE
IS OFFICIALLY ON ITS WAY TO
MARS.
>> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THOUGHT THAT
IS.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE
SPACECRAFT SINCE LAUNCH, I KNOW
THE MISSION CONTROL TEAMALITY
JPL IS TURNING TO THE NEXT
MILESTONE AND THAT IS ENSURING
THE ARRAY OF COMMUNICATION
ANTENNAS KNOWN AS THE DEEP SPACE
NETWORK RECEIVE A SIGNAL FROM
THE SPACECRAFT FLYING THE ROVE
TORE MARS.
WE EXPECT TO SEA THE TEAMS
ACQUIRE THE SIGNAL CLOSE TO 9:14
EASTERN TIME.
SEPARATION HAS OCCURRED IN THE
SHADOW OF THE EARTH.
THIS COULD TAKE LONGER THAN
ESTIMATED.
>> FINDING LIFE ON MARS WON'T BE
AS EASY AS YOU MIGHT THINK AND
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AND MORE
IS NASA ASTRONAUT ZENA CARDMON.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME.
YOUR REACTION TO THE LAUNCH.
>> WOW.
EVERY TIME IT TAKES MY BREATH
AWAY.
I HAD NEVER SEEN A LAUNCH BEFORE
UNTIL I GOT THIS JOB AND I HAVE
BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE THREE.
EVERY TIME IT MAKES ME FEEL SO
MUCH EMOTION.
>> TALK US THROUGH.
AS YOU WERE WATCHING IT YOU FEEL
THE RUPRUMBLE.
>> FIRST YOU SEE IT UP AND THEN
FEEL THE RUMBLE AS THE SOUND
TRAVELS TO YOU.
YOU FEEL IT IN YOUR CHEST.
IT'S AMAZING.
>> YOU HAVE AMAZING BACKGROUND.
YOU SEARCHED FOR SIGNS OF LIFE
IN SOME OF THE MOST EXTREME
ENVIRONMENTS ON EARTHANT AICT,
ARCTIC.
YOU ARE USED TO LOOKING FOR THE
BIO-SIGNATURES.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT
THIS ROVER SEARCHING FOR SIGNS
OF LIFE.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF LIFE IN
UNUSUAL ENVIRONMENTS HERE ON
EARTH.
MARS IS VERY COLD AND DRY AND WE
HAVE PLACES ON EARTH THAT ARE
LIKE THAT ANT ARCTICA.
IF YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT THE
SIGNS LEFT BEHIND MET ROCK
RECORD.
MICRO ORCHISMS ARE TINEY AND
SOFT AND DON'T LEAVE
A FOSSILLIKE A DINOSAUR WOULD
LEAVE A BONE OR FOOT PRINT.
WE USE CHEMICAL SIGNATURES.
>> SOMETHING WIGGLING AROUND.
NO.
>> WHY DO WE NEED TO GO TO THE
MOON BEFORE WE GO TO MARS?
>> THAT'S SUCH A GOOD QUESTION.
WE ANSWER BEEN TO THE MOON,
RIGHT?
BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO MOON
TO STAY.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE OFF
EARTH ON ANOTHER PLANETARY BODY.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE
RESOURCES, USE TOOLS IF WE WANT
TO DO GEOLOGY ON MARS.
THE TOOLS WE USE HERE ON EARTH
WILL LOOK SIMILAR BUT NOT WORK
QUITE THE SAME WAY.
BECAUSE THE ROUND TRIP TO MARS
IS SO MUCH LONGER THAN THE ROUND
TRIP TO THE MOON.
WHEN WE GO, WE WANT TO DO IT
RIGHT.
>> HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT ROVER
BEHIND YOU?
>> I LOVE IT.
>> IT'S GREAT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU SOCIAL
QUESTIONS NOW.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> FROM OUR AUDIENCE WHO HAS
BEEN WATCHING.
WE APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT OUR
FIRST QUESTION THROUGH FACEBOOK 
WILL PERSEVERANCE LAND TO
INVESTIGATE THE LANDING SITE FOR
A FUTURE MANNED MISSION IN THE
SAME LOCATION?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ANOTHER
SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION FROM
TWITTER.
>> DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEND
ASTRONAUTS TO MARS IN A SAFE WAY
TO SEND A ROVER LIKE
PERSEVERANCE TO MARS IN A SAFE
WAY.
>> WE WON'T GO UNTIL IT'S SAFE
AND ROUND TRIP.
PART OF THIS SPHEUGSZ A ROUND
TRIP.
WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING LIFTOFF
MARS AND COME BACK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND ARE
A GREAT GUEST.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF SYSTEMS TO
DEVELOP AND PROVE OUT AS WE
PREPARE FOR SENDING HUMANS TO
MARS AS YOU HAVE JUST HEARD.
HERE ARE SIX TECHNOLOGY
DISCIPLINES CRITICAL TO THE
SUCCESS OF FUTURE EXPLORATIONS.
♪
♪
♪
>> NASA'S FIRST MARS ROVER WERE
POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY.
THIS BLOCKS MUCH NEEDED SUN
LIGHT.
NASA UPGRADED TO NUCLEAR
BATTERIES PROVIDED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
JOINING US NOW IS THE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR THE OFFICE OF
NUCLEAR ENERGY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> HOW DID YOU ENJOY THE LAUNCH?
>> IT WAS AMAZING.
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
SO FORTUNATE TO BE HERE AND
EXCITEED TO WATCH IT.
I'M JUST GIDDY.
THIS IS MY FIRST ONE.
>> WHAT DID YOU FEEL?
>> YOU COULD LITERALLY FEEL THE
LAUNCH.
IT WAS VERY EXCITING.
>> VERY GOOD.
>> IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.
WHEN YOU SAW THE SEGMENT I WAS
FASCINATED BY THE NUCLEAR PART
OF IT.
HOW DID THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
GET INTO THE BUSINESS OF MAKING
NUCLEAR BATTERIES FOR SPACE
EXPLORATION?
>> SPACE EXPLOREERATION REQUIRES
POWER SOURCES FOR THE TYPE OF
ACTIVITY AND HEAT AND
ELECTRICITY TO BE PROVIDED TO
THE SPACECRAFT AND THE
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENT.
NUCLEAR ENERGY CAN PROVIDE THAT
POWER.
ONE SOURCE IS THE RADIO ISOTOPE
POWER SYSTEM, RPS.
WART OF THAT RPS IS THE RADIO
ISOTOPE THERMAL GENERATOR.
THAT'S A LOT.
HAVE A DECOREDDER RING.
BUT IT'S A SPACE NUCLEAR POWER
SYSTEM THAT CONVERTS HEAT INTO
ELECTRICITY WITHOUT ANY MOVING
PARTS.
IT TURNS THE MATERIALS INTO
ELECTRICITY.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE ON THE ROVER
THAT WE JUST GOT LAUNCHED THIS
MORNING.
IT CONNIVITYS OF TWO MAJOR
ELEMENTS, A HEAT SOURCE THAT
CONTAINS A RADIO ISOTOPE FILL,
PLUTONIUM 238 AND SOLID STATE
THERM OR COUPLERS.
WE DEVELOPED SEVERAL GENERATIONS
THAT BE USED FOR LICKITY AND THE
HEAT FOR -- ELECTRICITY AND THE
HEAT FOR A VARIETY OF
APPLICATIONS.
>> I WORK AS MISSION
COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEER FOR LSP.
>> JOSHUA, JESSICA IS ONE OF OUR
WIZARDS.
WE DEPEND ON OUR FOLKS TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE GET EVERYTHING WE
NEED TO DO OUR ASSESSMENTS AS
ENGINEERS.
THEY MAKE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE
THERE.
>> TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GET THE
DATA BACK AND HOW IT'S UTILIZED
OUT TO THE TEAM.
>> WE GO AHEAD AND GET A DATA
AND THAT GOES AHEAD AND GOES
BACK TO THE ENGINEERS.
THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE FLEET
INSIGHT BASED ON THE CONSOLES.
>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW LONG
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
MISSION.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH
TIME GOES IN TO MAKE THESE
MISSIONS HAPPEN.
>> I'VE BEEN WORKING FOR ABOUT
2.5 YEARS ON THIS MISSION.
WE START WORKING WITH JPL TO GET
THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
WE GET THE PROCESSING VIDEO AND
ALSO BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT TO
JPL, BEING ABLE TO TALK TO
HEADQUARTERS.
>> WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGE FOR THIS MISSION?
I KNOW THIS MISSION PRESENTED
LOT OF UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR ALL
OUR TEAM.
FOR YOU, WHERE HAS THAT
CHALLENGE LIE?
>> WE HAVE A TON OF EXPERIENCE
FROM DIFFERENT MISSION IN THE
PAST.
THE MOST UNIQUE THING ABOUT THIS
MISSION HAS BEEN OUR TREATMENT
OF COVID.
>> I THINK THAT MEANS YOU DID
YOUR JOB REALLY WELL TODAY.
>> THEY DID THEIR JOB GREAT,
JOSHUA.
>> THINGS ARE PRETTY QUIET NOW.
THAT'S EXPECTED.
THE TIME THERE IS THE ESTIMATE
BASED ON THE PRELAUNCH DATA.
WE'RE BEHIND THE EARTH.
WE'LL COME OUT OF THAT SHORTLY
AND HOPEFULLY ACQUIRE THAT
SIGNAL.
THERE'S SOLAR RAYS THAT HAVE TO
PLAY IN HERE.
STILL KIND OF SOME -- WE'RE
ANXIOUS.
>> I WOULD SAY WE'RE ANXIOUS AND
FOCUSED STILL.
FOCUSED AND DISCIPLINED.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S PRETTY QUIET
NOW.
WE HAVE HAD SPACECRAFT
SEPARATION WHICH WAS A HUGE
MILESTONE FOR THE TEAM AND
EXCITING TIME FOR US AT NASA.
THE TEAM IS STILL PERFORMING
EVERYTHING THAT NEED TO BE DONE
AS WE AWAIT THE ACQUISITION
SIGNAL.
SOME OF THE THINGS GOING ON HERE
IS GROUND SECURING AND
EVERYTHING HERE AT THE COMPLEX
TO MAKE SURE WE SAFELY DO THE
WORK.
LOT OF WORK GOING ON.
>> WE'LL SEND YOU BACK TO
DARRELL.
WE NEED TO TALK TO THE FOLKS
GETTING THAT DATA BAC
>> WELL, WE RECEIVE A SIGNAL
EVERYDAY ON OUR CELL PHONES.
YOU CAN IMAGINE DRIVING OUT IN
THE COUNTRY SIDE, FARTHEST FROM
THE NEAREST CELL PHONE TOWER.
YOU SEE ONE BAR A FAINT SIGNAL.
MARS IS VERY FAR AWAY.
THANKFULLY, WE HAVE ONE ON THE
GROUND FROM DEEP SPACE NETWORK.
VERY LARGE TRANSITION THAT CAN
DETECT THAT SAME SIGNAL.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A SIGNAL
THAT'S LIKE INCANDESCENT LIGHT
BULB.
WE HAVE 70-METER ANTENNAS AND 3.
70-METER IS ABOUT SIZE OF
20-STORY BUILDING.
VERY LARGE SYSTEM THAT CAN
DETECT THAT SAME SIGNAL.
>> GREAT.
THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK
COMMUNICATES WITH ALL OUR OTHER
MISSIONS BEYOND THE MOON.
HOW FAR HAVE WE GONE INTO SPACE?
>> WELL, OUR MISSIONS ARE THE
FARTHEST AND HUMAN MADE OBJECT
THAT EXIST.
VOYAGE ONE IS 14 BILLION MILES
AWAY FROM EARTH.
IT TAKES 20 HOURS ONE WAY TO
COMMUNICATE TO IT.
YOU CAN THINK ABOUT THAT LIGHT
BULB.
CAN YOU IMAGINE TURNING A LIGHT
SWITCH AND THAT LIGHT TAKING 20
HOURS.
TO COMMUNICATE TO VOYAGER, WE
SEND COMMAND HIGH.
VERY FAR AWAY, THANKFULLY, MARS
NOT AS FAR AWAY.
IT TAKES NOT 20 HOURS BUT SEVEN
MINUTES.
IT'S LITTLE BETTER SITUATION
THERE.
>> WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO ADD THE
PERSEVERANCE MISSION TO THE DEEP
SPACE NETWORK?
>> IT'S LOT OF PREWORK BEFORE
THE LAUNCH.
WE TEST WITH THE LAUNCH VEHICLE,
WE TEST WITH THE SPACECRAFT.
WE TEST WITH THE ROVER.
WE TEST OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO
ENSURE THAT WHEN IT LAUNCHES,
WHEN SPACECRAFT SEPARATES, WHEN
IT LANDS ON MARS, WE CAN HAVE
CONFIDENCE IT WILL BE ABLE TO
ESTABLISH THAT COMMUNICATION
WITH US BACK ON EARTH.
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
IT'S STILL THAT CONFIDENCE BY
TESTING AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE
LOT OF TESTING.
THE PAYOFF COMES WHEN WE SEE
GREAT IMAGES FROM MARS.
LOT OF TESTING HAPPENS UP FRONT
AND GREAT TEAM THAT WORKS ON
THAT.
>> GREAT, GETTING AN ACQUISITION
OF SIGNAL IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT
MOMENT.
TELL US HOW IT WORKS AND WHAT WE
SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE FOR THIS
MISSION?
>> THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
MOMENT.
SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE A SPECTRUM
GRAPH, WITH COUPLE OF LINES ON
THE BOTTOM.
YOU'LL SEE A PEAK IN THE MIDDLE
COME UP.
THAT'S A CARRIER SIGNAL.
IT'S DESCRIBED AS A CARRIER, IT
BRINGS IN THE SIGNAL.
IT CARRIES THE SIGNAL TO US,
THEREFORE, WE CAN SEE THAT
SIGNAL AND KNOW WE'RE RECEIVING
DATA AND CARRIER SIGNAL BUT
AFTER THAT, WE HAVE A DECODE
WHAT THE SIGNAL SAYING.
HOPEFULLY WE'RE SEEING THE
SPACECRAFT SAYING I'M DOING OKAY
I'M ON MY WAY TO MARS.
WE EXPECT TO SEE THAT SIGNAL AND
WE'LL DECODE IT AND GET THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE
SPACECRAFT.
WHAT WE'LL LOOK OUT FOR IS HOW
TO TRACK IT.
ONCE WE HAD HAT SIGNAL, WE'LL
MOVE OUR LARGE TRANSITION AS THE
EARTH SPINS, WE'LL TRACK THE
SPACECRAFT AROUND THE GLOBE.
THIS IS A GLOBAL EFFORT.
WE HAVE OUR STATION CAMERA IN
AUSTRALIA, MADRID SPAIN AND
CALIFORNIA WHO WILL BE PART OF
THIS TRACKING AS THE SPACECRAFT
GOES TO MARS.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING
FROM PERSEVERANCE.
>> THANK YOU PHILIP.
WE ARE JUST COUPLE OF MINUTES
AWAY FROM THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE PERSEVERANCE
SIGNAL ON THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK
NETWORK.
ONE STEP CLOSER TO MARS.
WE HAVE MANY OTHER MILESTONES TO
HIT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL
MONTHS.
I'M WITH PERSEVERANCE CHIEF
ENGINEER AND TELL US WHAT'S IN
STORE FOR THE ROVER.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT TO SEE
NEXT?
>> WELL, AFTER WE ACQUIRE
SIGNAL, WE HAVE LEFT THE
BUILDING.
WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO MARS.
WE'RE NO LONGER IN ORBIT AROUND
EARTH.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT IS WE WILL
START OUR CRUISE PHASE.
IT WILL BE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS
BEFORE WE MAKE IT TO THE RED
PLANET.
WE HAVE A SET OF PLANNED
TRAJECTORY CHANGE MANEUVERS THAT
WE DO DURING CREWS TO ADJUST OUR
TARGETING.
WE'RE TARGETING TO MISS MARS
NOW.
IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR CENTER
WHICH THREW US IN THE DIRECTION
OF MARS, WE'RE ON A MISSING
TRAJECTORY.
WE'LL DO TCM1 WHICH WILL TARGET
OUR IMPACT WITH THE MARTIAN
SURFACE IN A FEW DAYS.
WE START WITH THE SPACECRAFT AND
MAKE SURE IT'S HEALTHY AND HAPPY
AND TWEAK ITS TRAJECTORY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ADAM.
WE ARE JUST A MINUTE AWAY FROM
THE ACQUISITION SIGNAL.
LET'S PAUSE FOR A MOMENT AND
WATCH OUR TEAMS AT WORK.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE NOW HAVE AN ACQUISITION
SIGNAL.
IT'S AN AMAZING MOMENT AND YEARS
BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS FOR EVERY
PERSON WHO WORKED ON THIS
MISSION IS REALIZED AS
PERSEVERANCE MAKES ITS WAY TO
MARS.
IF WE STILL HAVE ADAM HERE, I
WANT TO KNOW YOUR REACTION TO
GETTING THE ACQUISITION SIGNAL?
>> IT'S VERY NICE TO HAVE THE
SPACECRAFT IN A SAFE, SEPARATED
ON ITS WAY TO MARS.
IT LOOKS GOOD.
WE'RE HEARING FROM THE
SPACECRAFT.
THAT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION.
IT'S NOT REALLY MUCH OF OF
QUESTION.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT
CONFIRMATION.
OUR LAUNCH PROCESS IS COMPLETE.
THE VEHICLES ARE ON ITS WAY TO
MARS.
THE NEXT CHAPTER IN
PERSEVERANCE'S MISSION CAN
BEGIN.
>> GREAT.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO
NEXT?
>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
IDEALLY VERY QUIET AND BORING
CRUISE TO MARS AND AS WE PREFER
FOR THE NEVER BORING LANDING ON
THE 18th OF FEBRUARY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ADAM.
WE HOPE YOU TUNE INTO OUR
COVERAG OF THE LANDING ON
FEBRUARY 18, 2021.
WE HERE AT JPL WOULD LIKE TO
THANK YOU AND THE ENTIRE LAUNCH
SERVICE PROGRAM AND UNITED
LAUNCH ALLIANCE TEAMS FOR ALL
YOUR AMAZING WORK TODAY AND ALL
THE WORK YOU DO EVERYDAY TO MAKE
A LAUNCH LIKE THIS POSSIBLE.
JOSHUA, BACK TO YOU AT THE CAPE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND
THE TEAM OVER THERE.
OBVIOUSLY JPL, I THINK ADAM
RESPONSE IS WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM
ADAM.
CHECK THAT BOX, WE GOT LOT OF
WORK TO GO.
>> , THE WORK HERE FOR THE
LAUNCH TEAM EXCITING DAY.
WE GOT THIS DONE, OUR PORTION OF
THIS IS DONE.
ADAM AND THE TEAM HAVE MARS 2020
ON THEIR WAY.
THEY GOT LOT OF WORK IN FRONT OF
THEM.
HOPEFULLY IT'S A QUIET SEVEN
OMONTHS.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO PERFORM
THIS THERE THEM AS JPL CUSTOMER.
I KNOW TORY AND THE TEAM ARE
EXCITED AS WELL.
I CAN'T BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT
HOW THIS WENT
>> WE WANT TO CHECK IN WITH THE
NASA LAUNCH MANAGER, OMAR TO GET
THOUGHTS.
KIND OF GIVE US YOUR RESPONSE
AFTER SEEING A SUCCESSFUL
PROCESS THIS MORNING.
>> OKAY.
ABOUT A MINUTE AGO, ACQUISITION
OF THE SPACECRAFT SIGNAL.
THAT SIGNIFIES THAT JPL'S DEEP
SPACE NETWORK HAS LOCKED ON THE
SPACECRAFT.
ITS ON ITS JOURNEY TO MARS.
EVERYTHING APPEARS TO BE GOING
FOR THEM.
THEY'LL GET TO CHECK OUT THE
SPACECRAFT NOW THROUGH THOSE
CHECKS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO
LEARN HOW TO FLY THAT VEHICLE
THE WAY IT WANTS TO FLY ON ITS
WAY TO MARS.
PRETTY INTERESTING.
WE SEPARATED THEM AT
APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES AN HOUR.
IT'S -- 25,000 MILES AN HOUR.
IT WILL TAKE COUPLE OF MONTHS TO
GET TO FEBRUARY 18th LANDING
DATE.
IT'S AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF
SPEED THAT E IM-- IMPARTED.
THAT SPEED IS WHAT OUR JOB IS
LAUNCH SERVICES PROGRAM AND
UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCES TO
PROVIDE THAT SPACECRAFT.
HEAVY LIFTING NOW IS ON OUR
PARTNERS AT THE JET PROPULSION
LABRATORY.
TO SLOW OIT DOWN WHEN IT GETS TO
MARS.
SKY CRANE AND LAND ON MARS.
THEIR GOT A HECK LOT OF WORK TO
DO FROM HERE ON OUT.
TODAY'S COUNT WENT BEAUTIFUL UP
UNTIL THE LAST 20 MINUTES.
STARTED TO GET EXCITING WITH
SOME OF THE ASSETS ON THE RANGE
HAVING DROPOUTS.
THEN SURPRISE CALL FROM
SPACECRAFT MISSION DIRECTOR THAT
WE HAD SMALL EARTHQUAKE IN
CALIFORNIA, PASADENA, THAT THE
FOLKS IN THE CONTROL ROOM FELT.
THEY NEVER LOST SIGNAL AND THEY
CAME BACK TO ME AND SAID THEY
WERE READY TO PROCEED.
WE WERE ABLE TO LOCK DOWN THE
TIME WE WERE AFTER.
LAUNCHED ON TIME, PERFECT LAUNCH
FROM WHAT I COULD SEE.
VISUALLY HERE IN THE CONTROL
ROOM.
THE PARAMETERS LOOKED DEAD ON.
OUR VELOCITY IS DEAD ON.
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO MARS.
THERE'S NO WAY BACK.
GOOD LUCK TO THE MARS 2020 TEAM.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO BE PART
OF THIS.
I'VE BEEN WITH THIS MARS
COMMUNITY SINCE SOJOURNER AND
THROUGH SPIRIT, OPPORTUNITY AND
CURIOSITY.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE ONCE AGAIN
PART THAT LITTLE BIT, THAT
BECOMES THAT CLUB, ON MARS.
I WANT TO SAY I'M VERY PROUD OF
THIS TEAM.
THIS TEAM HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY
TO GET HERE.
IT'S HARD ENOUGH TO GET TO MARS
DURING COVID.
TODAY WE'RE DEALING WITH A SMALL
EARTHQUAKE.
THE THREAT OF A TROPICAL STORM
HEADING IN OUR DIRECTION.
IT'S AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF
PRESSURE ON THE TEAM.
IT'S SO RELIEVING TO GOTTEN THAT
MISSION OFF TODAY ON THE FIRST
ATTEMPT.
WITH THAT, THAT CLOSES THE SHOW
FOR US.
>> AWESOME, THANKS TO OMAR.
APPRECIATE HIM AND HIS WORDS.
PHENOMENAL EFFORT FROM ALL OUR
TEAMS.
FROM LSP, CONGRATS TO THIS TEAM,
JPL, CONGRATS TO THE U.S. SPACE
FORCE, CONGRATS TO YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US TODAY
AND DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
SPECIAL THANKS TO COUPLE OF
GROUPS RAD CC AND THE JIK.
THEY WERE WORKING BEHIND THE
SCENES TO PREPARE FOR
CONTINGENCY.
DIDN'T HAVE TO EXERCISE ANY OF
THAT WORK.
WHICH IS WHAT THEY WANTED ABOUT.
EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT DAY.
THANK YOU AS WELL FOR JOINING ME
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
AGAIN.
I LOVE DOING THIS WITH YOU.
EXCITED ABOUT THE MARS MISSION
AS OMAR SAID, OUR PRAYERS AND
GOOD LUCK WITH THE JPL TEAM.
THEY'VE GOT LOT OF WORK IN FRONT
OF THEM.
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO GET THEM ON
THEIR WAY IN A PERFECT LAUNCH IN
ORBIT TODAY.
>> COUNTDOWN TO MARS CONTINUES.
THAT WILL DO IT FOR US.
DARRYL, BACK YOU.
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
GREAT JOB DONE BY YOU AND AGAIN
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LAUNCH
SERVICES PROGRAM TEAM HERE AT
NASA FOR THE GREAT LAUNCH AS
WELL AS UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE
GETTING THAT OFF.
I GOT TO CONGRATULATE YOU AS
WELL DR. REU.
YOU'RE WITH JPL AND WORKING ON
THIS FOR SEVEN YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> IT'S AMAZING TO HAVE THIS
MISSION CEMENTED IN TIME.
LIKE ADAM SAID, THERE'S SO MUCH
MORE TO GO
>> YOU KNOW YOUR BABY IN FRONT
OF YOU ON ITS WAY TO MARS.
>> IT IS.
>> ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS AT
NASA HAVE SPENT YEARS DESIGNING
AS TOLD AND TESTING AND BUILDING
THE MARS PERSEVERANCE ROVER.
WE HAD HELP FROM A NUMBER OF
COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
>> NORWAY, FRANCE AND SPAIN JUST
TO NAME A FEW.
EUROPEAN AND JAPANESE SPACE
AGENCY.
HERE NOW IS A COAST TO ALL THOSE
WHO HELPED US GET TO MARS AND
HELPED THAT PERSEVERANCE ROVER
GET READY TO FLY.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OF THIS
FANTASTIC NEW MISSION TO THE
PLANET MARS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE GREAT
LAUNCH.
DESPITE ALL THE COVID-19.
>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE
EVERYBODY WHO MADE THIS MISSION
HAPPEN THUS FAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE
TEAMS
>> I HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE CREW.
>> WELL DONE.
>> OUR INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO
REACH MARS IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW
THAN IT HAS BEEN BEFORE.
>> WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN
OVERCOME CHALLENGES.
>> A MISSION THAT DESERVES ITS
NAME, PERSEVERANCE.
>> PERSEVERE IS TO CONTINUE
TRYING TIRELESSLY.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> IT'S A JOURNEY TO MAKE
HISTORY IN MARS EXPLORATION.
>> MARS IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO
EXPLORE.
>> MARS IS ESSENTIAL TO
UNDERSTAND AND KNOW ABOUT OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM AND IMPROVING OUR
EARTH.
>> WE THINK WE CONTINUE
PROPORTION OF -- EXPLORATION OF
MARS.
>> WE NEED ROBOTIC PRECURSOR
MISSION TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
WHERE WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT WE
NEED TO DO WHEN WE GET TO MARS
BUT ULTIMATELY OUR OBJECTIVE AS
A GLOBE IS TO PUT HUMANS ON THE
SURFACE OF MARS.
>> TOGETHER WE'RE COUNTING DOWN
TO MARS.
GO PERSEVERANCE.
[SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> TOGETHER COUNTING DOWN TO
MARS.
GO PERSEVERANCE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS THAT YOU
JUST SAW THERE.
THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, WE WANT TO
TELL YOU ABOUT A LITTLE
TRADITION THAT JPL HAS WHERE
THEY DID THIS AFTER LAUNCH OR
BEFORE THE LAUNCH WITH SOME
PEANUTS.
>> PERSEVERANCE LITTLE BABY
PERCY BROUGHT US PEANUTS HERE.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME.
IT ACTUALLY STARTED WITH A
LANDING EVENT.
RANGER 1-6, DIDN'T GO AS
PLANNED.
THEN WITH RANGER 7, IT LANDED
SUCCESSFULLY ON THE MOON.
THEY WERE THINKING, WHAT WAS THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RANGER 1-6
AND 7.
IT WAS THESE LUCKY PEANUTS.
>> EVER SINCE THEN, I GUESS
THEY'RE BEEN HAVING PEANUTS.
>> EVERY LANDING AND NOW
LAUNCHES.
>> WE GOT OURS.
WE'LL HOLD OFF.
WE'RE READY TO GO WITH OUR
PEANUTS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
WATCHING NASA'S LAUNCH COVERAGE
OF MARS 2020.
STAY TUNED TO NASA TV FOR
UPDATES.
>> COMING UP OUGHT 11:30
EASTERN, WE'LL HAVE A
POST-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE
RIGHT HERE ON NASA TV.
STAY TUNED FOR THAT AND TO THE
NEXT BIG MOMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT.
THE LANDING OF THE PERSEVERANCE
ROVER ON THE SURFACE OF MARS
SEVEN MONTHS FROM NOW.
THAT DATE FEBRUARY 18, 2021.
FOR NOW, WE LEAVE YOU WITH
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE THRILLING
LIFTOFF EARLIER THIS MORNING.
TAKE CARE EVERYONE.
REMEMBER, KEEP LOOKING UP.
CHEERS.
>> CHEERS!
>>  7, 6, 5, 4, 2, 1, 0 --
LIFTOFF.
COUNTDOWN TO MARS CONTINUES TO
THE RED PLANET.
