[NO AUDIO]
>> WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING ALONG
WITH BOB AND DOUG'S JOURNEY HOME
TODAY.
EVERYTHING CONTINUING SMOOTHLY
WITH THE DEPARTURE OF DRAGON
FROM THE SPACED STATION -- SPACE
STATION.
THEY ARE AWAKE.
EVERYTHING IS COMING UP IN ABOUT
THREE HOURS.
>> WE HAVE A NEVER THINGS THAT
WILL BE HAPPENING.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUR EVENT TO
BEGIN IN THREE HOURS AND 42
MINUTES.
FIRST, WE WILL HAVE A SEPARATING
OF THE TRUNK.
THAT IS CLAW SEPARATION.
THE CLOD DELIVERS POWER AND
FLUIDS BETWEEN THE TRUNK -- THE
CLAW DELIVERS POWER AND FLUIDS
BETWEEN THE TRUNK AND THE
CAPSULE.
WE WILL JETTISON THE TRUNK.
IT WILL REENTER THE ATMOSPHERE
AND DISINTEGRATE DURING THAT
PROCESS.
THE DRAGON CAPSULE WILL BE IN
ITS FINAL PHYSICAL FORM PRIOR TO
REENTRY.
WE WILL THEN INITIATE A DEORBIT
BURN.
IT WILL LAST ABOUT 11.5 MINUTES.
THAT IS DESIGNED TO PLACE DRAGON
ON ITS FINAL TRAJECTORY TO ITS
LANDING SITE, WHICH IS OFF THE
COAST OF FLORIDA, NEAR
PENSACOLA.
ONCE THAT HAPPENS, BOB AND DOUG
WILL THEN SIT BACK AND CONTINUE
TO MONITOR ALL THE TELEMETRY AND
DATA THEY HAVE ON THEIR SCREENS.
THEIR PRIMARY MISSION FOR TODAY
IS TO JUST KEEP A TAP ON THINGS.
YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN
THAT THEY ARE NOT IN THEIR SUITS
YET.
IT WILL BE LONGER YET BEFORE
THEY HAVE TO DON THEIR SUITS.
THEY ARE MOVING ABOUT IN CREW
DRAGON.
THEY WILL PERFORM THAT DEORBIT
BURN, LINING UP THE CAPSULE FOR
THAT FINAL REENTRY AND IT
SPLASHED DOWN OFF THE COAST OF
FLORIDA -- AND SPLASHDOWN OFF
THE COAST OF FLORIDA.
IT WILL UTILIZE THE FOUR FORWARD
THRUSTERS.
WE WILL NOT NEED TO USE THEM.
FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
MISSION, AND WE WANT TO PROTECT
THAT FORWARD HATCH, THE HATCH
USED FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS, OR
ENTERING AND EXITING THE SPACE
STATION.
WE DEFINITELY WANT TO PROTECT
THAT HATCH, SO WE CLOSE AND LOCK
THAT NOSECONE, AND THEN AFTER
THE NOSECONE IS IN PLACE AND WE
CONFIRM THAT IT IS LOCKED UP, WE
MANEUVER TO THAT DEORBIT BURN --
EXCUSE ME, THE NOSECONE WILL
CLOSE, AND THEN WE WILL THEN
BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REENTERING
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
>> WE JUST SAW BOBBITT
RE-STOWING HIS -- WE JUST SAW
BOB RE-STOWING HIS SPACESUIT.
AFTER THEY ARE ABLE TO
SUCCESSFULLY RINSE OR THE EARTH
SADNESS FEAR, WE WILL GET OUT OF
THAT CALM -- COMMS BLACKOUT.
TWO SHOOTS WILL COME OUT, DURING
THE INITIAL SLOWING AND
STABILIZATION, FOLLOWED BY THE
FOUR MAIN PARACHUTES, AROUND 11
A.M. PACIFIC.
THAT SETS US UP FOR A SPLASHDOWN
ACROSS THE COAST OF FLORIDA NEAR
PENSACOLA.
18:40 UNIVERSAL TIME.
TO MEET THEM WILL BE THE CREW OF
THE NAVIGATOR, WHICH HAS LEFT
PORT.
SOME LIVE VIEWS OF THE BOAT
ITSELF AS IT CONTINUES TO MAKE
ITS WAY TO THE RECOVERY ZONE.
IT WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE POOR
AROUND 9:20 A.M. EASTERN THIS
MORNING.
THEY WERE TRACKING AN ISSUE WITH
ONE OF THE BACKUP GENERATORS ON
BOARD THE GO NAVIGATOR.
THEY WERE TRYING TO GET A
REPLACEMENT FOR THAT, BUT WERE
UNABLE TO GET THAT ON BOARD IN
TIME.
GO NAVIGATOR STILL HAS A
FUNCTIONAL GENERATOR ON BOARD,
AND NOT HAVING THAT BACKUP IS
NOT ANY CONSTRAINT ON NORMAL
RECOVERY OPTIONS THIS MORNING.
GO NAVIGATOR STEAMING FULL SPEED
AHEAD HEADING TO THAT RECOVERY
ZONE.
THEY WILL BE THERE SEVERAL HOURS
BEFORE SPLASHDOWN.
THEY WILL MAINTAIN A DISTANCE OF
ABOUT THREE NAUTICAL MILES FROM
THE ANTICIPATED SPLASHDOWN POINT
AND WILL STANDBY FOR WIND BOB
AND DOUG -- FOUR W -- FOR WHEN
BOB AND DOUG ARE IN THE WATER.
>> TRYING TO DETERMINE WHERE
EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO
POINT DRAGON FOR ITS RETURN
HOME.
IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR MULTIPLE
-- EXCUSE ME, IN ORDER TO ALLOW
FOR MULTIPLE DEPARTURE TIMES
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, SO, AGAIN, TRYING TO
LINE UP THINGS LIKE SLEEP
SCHEDULES AND WEATHER, WE
IDENTIFIED SEVEN POTENTIAL
SPLASHDOWN LOCATIONS, FOUR ON
THE WEST COAST OF FLORIDA AND
THREE ON THE EAST COAST.
IT HAS BEEN PRIORITY NUMBER ONE
FOR THE RECOVERY TEAM TO
DETERMINE WHICH OF THOSE SEVEN
LOCATIONS BOB AND DOUG WOULD BE
SPLASHING DOWN AT.
THE WEATHER AROUND FLORIDA IS
EVER-CHANGING, ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE, AS WE
CURRENTLY DO, A TROPICAL STORM
ROLLING THROUGH THE AREA.
HAVING THAT STORM ROLL UP THE
EAST COAST OF FLORIDA PREVENTED
US, OBVIOUSLY, FROM BEING ABLE
TO LAND AT ANY OF THOSE.
THE SELECTION WAS NARROWED DOWN
TO THE FOUR ON THE WEST COAST OF
FLORIDA.
WE CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THE
WEATHER AT DESIGNATED -- WE
CONTINUED TO EVALUATE THE
WEATHER AT DESIGNATED INTERVALS
AND DETERMINED THE BEST PLACE
FOR RECOVERY WOULD BE OFF
PENSACOLA.
THE REQUIREMENTS ARE ESSENTIALLY
THAT THEY CANNOT BE IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE BODY OF WATER.
BLENDING ZONE HAS TO BE CLOSE TO
A MEDICAL FACILITY AND TO -- THE
LANDING ZONE HAS TO BE CLOSE TO
A MEDICAL FACILITY AND CLOSE TO
A PORT.
>> WE HAVE CONTINUED TO WATCH
THE WEATHER.
WE GOT PRETTY LUCKY WITH THE
WEATHER WE ARE LOOKING AT TODAY.
WE HAD SOME WEATHER CRITERIA
THAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
WE HAVE TO MEET THOSE CRITERIA
IN ORDER TO GET GO CONDITIONS
THE SPLASHDOWN -- TWO
SPLASHDOWN -- TO SPLASHDOWN.
WIND IS BARELY OVER ONE MILE AN
HOUR RIGHT NOW IN THE SPLASHDOWN
ZONE.
IT SHOULD BE A STABLE OPERATION
FOR THIS RECOVERY TODAY.
WE JUST LOCKED IN PANAMA CITY A
FEW HOURS AGO.
KIND OF OUR LAST CHANCE TOILET
LOCK IN AN ALTERNATE SITE WAS --
OUR LAST CHANCE TO LOCK IN AN
ALTERNATE SITE WAS A LITTLE OVER
HALF AN HOUR AGO.
IT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO CHANGE
SITES IN FREE FLIGHT, AND WE
HAVE SEVEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
JUST BASED OFF THE WEATHER AND
EVERY THING ELSE WE LOOKED AT.
PANAMA CITY WAS CHOSEN AS THE
ALTERNATE.
IT WAS ALREADY LOOKING LIKE OUR
BEST BASED ON THE WEATHER AND
THEY LOCKED THAT IN A FEW HOURS
AGO.
EVERYTHING CONTINUING ON TRACK
FOR THIS PENSACOLA SPLASHDOWN.
THE GO NAVIGATOR IS WELL ON ITS
WAY TO THE LOCATION, AND THEY
ARE JUST A COUPLE HOURS AWAY
FROM THAT DEORBIT BURN.
>> WE ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS
FROM TWITTER.
BE SURE TO USE THE #ASKNASA.
THIS QUESTION COMES FROM TIM.
"WHAT IS THE CURRENT DISTANCE TO
THE ISS?"
GOOD QUESTION.
SOMETHING I FIND PEOPLE OFTEN
ASSUME IS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION IS REALLY FAR
AWAY.
IT IS ACTUALLY NOT.
IT IS ABOUT 250 TO 300 MILES
ABOVE EARTH.
I THINK WHEN I SAW A REPORT
EARLIER, OR MAYBE IT WAS LEAH
WHO MENTIONED IT, IT WAS ABOUT
263 MILES ABOVE THE SURFACE OF
THE EARTH RIGHT NOW.
DEPENDING ON WHERE IT IS IN ITS
ORBIT, IT MIGHT BE HIGHER OR
LOWER.
SO, YEAH, IT IS ACTUALLY NOT
THAT FAR AWAY.
IT IS BASICALLY THE DISTANCE
FROM LOS ANGELES TO SAN
FRANCISCO AS THE CROW FLIES,
JUST ABOVE US.
IT IS NOT AS FAR AS MANY PEOPLE
THINK.
AGAIN, THIS IS USING THE
#ASKNASA.
THIS COMES FROM NICHOLAS.
"HOW FAR OFF THE COAST WILL THE
CAPSULE LAND?
FULLY BE POSSIBLE TO SEE ANY OF
THE ACTION FROM THE COAST --
WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO SEE ANY
OF THE ACTION FROM THE
COASTLINE?"
>> IT VARIES.
WE STAY FAR ENOUGH AWAY THAT YOU
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM
THE COAST.
YOU WANT TO BE COMING DOWN FAR
FROM AN AREA FROM LAND -- DOWN
IN AN AREA FAR FROM LAND, AS YOU
DO HAVE TO CLEAR AIR ZONES, MAKE
SURE YOU HAVE NOTICES GOING OUT
TO SHIPS NOT TO GO INTO A
CERTAIN AREA.
THERE ARE SEVERAL KILOMETERS OR
MILES OFFSHORE.
THE CAPE IS THE CLOSEST ONE,
ABOUT 20 MILES OFFSHORE.
OTHERS RANGE FROM ANYWHERE TO 50
MILES TO ABOUT 200.
WHERE WE LANDED LAST YEAR WAS
ABOUT 240 MILES UP THE CAPE.
IT IS DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON
WHERE YOU ARE GOING, BUT ONE OF
THE THINGS WE HAVE IN OUR
RECOVERY ARSENAL OUR
HELICOPTERS, WHERE BOB AND DOUG
WILL GET RECOVERED BY THE GO
NAVIGATOR, THE MAIN RECOVERY
VESSEL, AND THEN A HELICOPTER
WILL LAND ON THE DECK.
IT IS ONLY ABOUT A 10 MINUTE
HELICOPTER RIDE FROM THE GO
NAVIGATOR TO PENSACOLA, WHERE
THEY WILL MOVE ONTO A NASA PLANE
READY TO TAKE THEM TO HOUSTON.
>> ONE THING TO NOTE.
THE CAPSULE WILL BE ENTERING THE
ATMOSPHERE, AND WE WILL HAVE
PARACHUTES STARTING IN ABOUT
18,000 FEET ABOVE THE GULF OF
MEXICO.
>> DRAGON SPACEX TIMELINE AND
RECOVERY STATUS UPDATE.
>> UPDATE TO THE CURRENT NOW.
-- TO THE CREW NOW.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> OK, FOR A TIMELINE UPDATE, WE
ARE NOW WITHIN FOUR POINT FIVE
HOURS OF SPLASHDOWN FOR
CONTINGENCY PLANNING PURPOSES.
COPY.
>> 4.5 FOR SPLASHDOWN.
COPY.
>> FOR RECOVERY, I BELIEVE JAY
TOLD YOU WE WERE WORKING A
BACKUP GENERATOR ON THE VESSEL.
WE WERE UNABLE TO GET THAT
ABOARD BEFORE GO NAVIGATOR HAD
TO DEPART DUE TO TIMING
CONSTRAINTS.
IT IS EXPECTED TO BE ON SITE AT
APPROXIMATELY 1700 UTC.
>> OK.
GO NAVIGATOR WILL BE ON SITE FOR
SPLASHDOWN.
>> GOOD READ BACK.
AS JAY MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE
DOWN TO ONE GENERATOR DUE TO THE
LOSS OF THE OTHER ONE.
>> WE COPY.
>> THAT WAS A QUICK UPDATE,
GIVING THE CREW ON BOARD DRAGON
THE LATEST.
AS YOU HEARD, GO NAVIGATOR ON
ITS WAY.
IT IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE
SPLASHDOWN ZONE ON TIME.
THE SPLASHDOWN AT 1840 UNIVERSAL
TIME.
THEY TALKED THROUGH THE
GENERATOR ISSUE.
STILL FULLY EQUIPPED THIS
MORNING, BUT THEY ARE DOWN ONE
OF THE GENERATORS ON BOARD.
STILL ABLE TO USE THE HYDRAULIC
LIFT TO GET DRAGON OUT OF THE
WATER AND ON BOARD.
THE SHIP HAS A FULL DECK AREA,
WHERE HAS IT A FRAME ON THE BACK
OF THE SHIP.
WE WILL GET SOME FULL VIEWS.
THAT FRAME IS TYPICALLY USED TO
LIFT DRAGON OUT OF THE WATER
ONTO THE DECK.
THE CREW STAYS IN THEIR SUITS
THE ENTIRE TIME THEY ARE IN THE
WATER. THEY WILL GET PICKED OUT
OF THE WATER AND PUT ONTO THE
DRAGONS NEST -- THE DRAGON'S
NEST ONTO THE BOAT.
>> GOING BACK TO THE TWITTER
QUESTION WE HAD A MINUTE AGO, IF
IT WOULD ACTUALLY BE AVAILABLE
TO VIEW FROM ONSHORE, I DID A
LITTLE BIT OF SLOUGH THING -- A
BIT OF SLEUTHING, I THINK IF
YOU'RE IN THE PENSACOLA AREA,
YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SPOT THE
PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT.
THEY ARE DEPLOYED AROUND 6000
FEET ABOVE THE EARTH'S SURFACE.
THE PARACHUTES WILL DEPLOY.
IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE FOR THEM
TO FULLY DEPLOY OUT INTO THEIR
LARGER STATE.
IT IS POSSIBLE, I THINK, IF YOU
ARE IN PENSACOLA AND YOU HAVE
KEEN EYES, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO
SPOT PARACHUTES IN THE DISTANCE.
THE CAPSULE FROM THAT DISTANCE
WOULD BE PRETTY SMALL, SO NO
PROMISES, BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH
A LOOK.
IF YOU ARE IN PENSACOLA, TAKE A
LOOK SOUTH AROUND 11:48 A.M.
PACIFIC OR 18:48 UNIVERSAL.
>> IT IS WHAT WE CALL AN
ASCENDING APPROACH.
IT WILL BE HEADING TOWARDS YOU
FROM THE SOUTH.
IT WILL BE MOVING SOUTHEAST --
SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST ACROSS
THE GULF OF MEXICO AS IT MAKES
ITS APPROACH.
THERE ARE ALSO DESCENDING
ORBITS, ESSENTIALLY WHEN DRAGON
IS TRAVELING FROM THE NORTHWEST
TO THE SOUTHEAST, WHICH WOULD
BRING IT OVER THE U.S. BEFORE IT
SPLASHED DOWN.
WE ARE ASCENDING TODAY, SO IT
WILL LARGELY BE OVER THE GULF OF
MEXICO THE WHOLE WAY IN.
>> AGAIN, WE ARE TAKING YOUR
QUESTIONS THROUGH TWITTER THIS
MORNING.
USE THE #ASKNASA.
WE WILL TRY TO GET AS MANY AS WE
CAN.
THE NEXT COMES FROM ANDREW.
HE ASKS --
>> INTERIOR.
>> GO FOR SPACEX.
>> MIKE, COULD YOU TAKE THE
INTERIOR CAMERAS DOWN FOR A FEW
MINUTES?
>> IN WORK.
>> THE CREW JUST MAKING A QUICK
ASK, HAVING THOSE INTERIOR
CAMERAS BROUGHT DOWN.
THEY HAVE CAMERAS SO THEY ARE
ABLE TO GET RAPID RESPONSE TO
ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE COME
IN THE HELP THEY NEED -- THEY
MAY HAVE, HELP THEY NEED, BUT
GIVING THE ASTRONAUTS PRIVACY.
>> BACK TO THIS QUESTION FROM
ANDREW.
"WHY CANNOT DRAGON MAKE A
STRAIGHT DOWNWARD DISSENT
INSTEAD OF ORBITING AROUND THE
WORLD?"
>> YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT
WHEN DRAGON IS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, IT
IS THE SAME VELOCITY.
IT IS GOING 7500 MILES PER HOUR
AND IT IS ORBITING THE EARTH.
IN ORDER FOR HABIT -- IN ORDER
TO HAVE IT PERFORMA LANDING
STRAIGHT DOWN, YOU WOULD NEED
SOME SORT OF FORCE TO STOP IT
GOING THAT FAST.
THAT IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE DUE
TO CONSTRAINTS LIKE FUEL AND THE
SIZE OF THE CAPSULE AND ALL THAT
GOOD STUFF.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE SHOULD BE
EXTERNAL CAMERAS AT THIS TIME.
>> THANKS.
>> THERE WAS THAT CONFIRMATION
FROM SPACEX CORE THAT THE
INTERNAL CABIN CAMERAS HAVE BEEN
SHUT OFF.
SO DRAGON'S REENTRY CANNOT BE
STRAIGHT DOWN BECAUSE HE WOULD
NEED SOME SORT OF FORCE IN ORDER
TO STOP IT THANKS TO NEWTON'S
SECOND LAW.
THAT BEING SAID, IN ORBITAL
REENTRY LIKE WE DO USE -- AN
ORBITAL REENTRY LIKE WE DO USE
IS HIGHLY CALCULABLE.
WE CAN HAVE DETAILS ABOUT WHERE
IT IS GOING TO LAND AND AT WHAT
TIME.
SO THERE IS REALLY NO DOWNSIDE
TO DOING IT IN THE WAY THAT WE
DO DO IT OTHER THAN FROM THE
FACT THAT, FROM A PHYSICS
STANDPOINT, THE STRAIGHT DOWN
APPROACH IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION FROM
ELAINE.
"WHAT DIFFERENCE IS THERE ON THE
ROUTE MAP BETWEEN THE RED AND
YELLOW LINES?"
THAT IS WHERE YOU -- THAT IS
SHOWING YOU WHERE DRAGON IS IN
SUNLIGHT OR INDIANA CLIPS -- OR
IN AN ECLIPSE.
FEEL LINE IN THE ORBIT IS WHERE
IT IS IN SUNLIGHT -- THE YELLOW
LINE IN THE ORBIT IS WHERE IT IS
IN SUNLIGHT.
THE SUN I THINK IS UP HERE IN
CALIFORNIA.
THERE ARE NOT MANY WINDOWS.
THAT IS ALL THAT LINE IS
SIGNALING.
HUMAN NIGH --HE MIGHT WONDER
WHY THERE ARE TWO LINES.
IT IS ACTUALLY ONE CONTINUOUS
LINE.
DRAGON IS IN THE TOP RIGHT
PORTION OF YOUR SCREEN RIGHT
NOW.
THE ICON IS CURRENTLY TO THE
NORTH OF INDIA, OVER CHINA.
IT WILL PASS OVER SOUTHEAST
ASIA.
HEAD IS ABOUT TO HEAD INTO AND
ORBITAL NIGHTTIME -- IT IS ABOUT
TO HEAD INTO AN ORBITAL
NIGHTTIME.
IT IS ABOUT TO CROSS WHAT IS
KNOWN AS THE TERMINATOR LINE
, THE LINE BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY
ON THE EARTH'S SURFACE.
YOU CAN GET SOME PRETTY
SPECTACULAR VIEWS AS THE EARTH
GOES FROM NIGHT TO ALMOST PITCH
BLACK BENEATH YOU.
>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE VIEWS WE
GET FROM THE NATIONAL SPACE
STATION IS AS THEY ARE
TRANSITIONING FROM DAY TO NIGHT
AND NIGHT TODAY.
YOU GET TO SEE THE SUNRISE AND
SUNSET FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT WHEN WE GET
TO SEE THE LIGHTNING AS WELL.
IT IS SUCH A COOL PHENOMENON TO
VIEW FROM ABOVE.
>> WE WILL HANG OUT FOR A FEW
MINUTES HERE AND WATCH DRAGON'S
TRACK AS THEY CONTINUE TO CIRCLE
THE GLOBE.
WE ARE STILL ABOUT THREE HOURS
AWAY FROM THINGS REALLY STARTING
TO PICK UP ONCE WE GET INTO
TRUNK SEPARATION.
WE WILL STICK WITH IT AS WE
CONTINUE TO GET READY TO WELCOME
BOB AND DOUG HOME LATER THIS
MORNING.
[NO AUDIO]
>> IF YOU'RE JUST NOW TUNING IN,
WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING BOB AND
DOUG'S JOURNEY BACK HOME AT THE
CONCLUSION OF OUR DEMO TWO
MISSION.
EVERYTHING STARTED BACK ON
SATURDAY WHEN THEY MADE THEIR
WAY INTO THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
THEY HAD BEEN ON BOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR
ABOUT 62 DAYS.
WHEN THEY SPLASHED DOWN, IT WILL
BE JUST SHY OF 64 DAYS SPENT IN
SPACE
BOB AND DOUG MADE THEIR WAY INTO
THE SPACECRAFT, CLOSING THE
HATCH ON THEIR SIDE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE HATCH
CLOSED ON THE STATION SIDE, WITH
A DOCKING TARGET AFFIXED TO IT.
THAT CREATED AN AREA BETWEEN THE
TWO KNOWN AS THE VESTIBULE.
THAT GETS EXPOSED TO THE VACUUM
OF SPACE FOLLOWING UNDOCKING.
WE FIRST HAVE TO DEPRESSURIZED
IT, DRAW THE AIR OUT.
AFTER THAT AND SOME LEAK CHECKS
ARE COMPLETED, THE CREW GETS
READY FOR THEIR ACTUAL DEPARTURE
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
THE TEAMS ON THE GROUND IN
HAWTHORNE AND MISSION CONTROL,
HOUSTON, DID GO/NO GO, GETTING
THEM READY FOR DEPARTURE.
FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL GO FOR
UNDOCKING, IT IS TIME TO MOVE
DRAGON AWAY.
THE DOCKING COMMAND WAS SENT,
AND ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AGO, THE
DRAGON FIRED ITS THRUSTERS, TWO
SMALL BURSTS, TO SEPARATE ITSELF
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
YESTERDAY EVENING, IT DID FOUR
DEPARTURE BURNS TO BRING IT OVER
AND ABOVE THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
ALL OF THOSE BURNS DONE
SUCCESSFULLY.
BY THAT POINT, DRAGON'S OPENING
AWAY FROM THE STATION GOT LARGER
AND LARGER UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO
MOVE INTO ITS DEPARTURE PHASE
BURN.
THIS WAS A SIX MINUTE LONG BURN
TO FINE-TUNE DRAGON'S PATH TO
ITS EVENTUAL SPLASHDOWN SITE.
THAT WAS COMPLETED LAST NIGHT
AFTER BOB AND DOUG HAD GONE TO
SLEEP.
ONCE THAT WAS IN THE BOOK, WE
ONLY HAVE ONE MORE COMING DOWN
THE LINE.
WE WERE GOING TO GET READY FOR
THIS REENTRY.
BOB ENDO DID HAVE ABOUT AN
EIGHT HOURS SLEEP PERIOD.
IT IS A BOUT A SIX HOUR TRIP TO
THE OCEAN OFF THE COAST OF
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
THEY WOKE UP A COUPLE HOURS AGO.
MORE DYNAMIC ACTION IS ABOUT TO
PICK UP SOON.
>> COMING UP NEXT WILL BE THE
CLAW AND TRUNK SEPARATION.
WHEN WE SEPARATE THE TRUNK, IT
WILL BE THE FINALLY PHYSICAL
FORM OF DRAGON'S TWO REENTRY.
WE WILL EXPOSE THE CAPSULE
AFTER JETTISONING THAT TRUNK.
DRAGON IS ON ITS FINAL
TRAJECTORY TO THE LANDING SITE
OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
THAT DEORBIT BURN WILL LAST
ABOUT 11.5 MINUTES.
AFTER THAT DEORBIT BURN
COMPLETES, WE THEN CLOSE THE
NOSECONE.
THE DEORBIT BERM WILL UTILIZE
THE FOUR THRUSTERS AT THE TOP OF
DRAGON -- BURN WILL UTILIZE THE
FOUR THRUSTERS AT THE TOP OF
DRAGON.
WE WENT TO CLOSE THAT NOSECONE
AND LOCK IT UP.
AFTER THAT, DRAGON WILL BEGIN TO
REENTER THE EARTHS ATMOSPHERE
AND WE WILL EXPERIENCE A SIX
MINUTE COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SING
COMMANDS OR RECEIVE TELEMETRY,
BUT THAT IS OK.
DRAGON IS AUTONOMOUS, DESIGNED
TO STEER ITSELF ANYWAY.
THAT BLACKOUT COMMUNICATION
PERIOD WILL LAST FOR ABOUT SIX
MINUTES.
A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER THAT,
AFTER WE REGAIN COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE CREW, WE WILL DEPLOY
THE PARACHUTES.
THESE ARE DESIGNED TO BEGIN TO
SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN EVEN
FURTHER AND ALSO TO STABILIZE
THE DRAGON CAPSULE.
ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO AFTER THEY
DEPLOYED, WE WILL FIRE OFF THE
MAIN PARACHUTES, FOUR ORANGE
AND WHITE PARACHUTES THAT WILL
CREATE MORE AIR RESISTANCE,
SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN TO A
MERE 16 MILES PER HOUR AS THE
CAPSULE SPLASHES DOWN INTO THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
WE HAVE LOCATED A -- WE HAVE A
DESIGNATED LANDING LOCATION OFF
THE COAST OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
AFTER SPLASHDOWN IS CONFIRMED,
THE PARACHUTES WILL BE CUT FROM
THE CAPSULE AUTONOMOUSLY, AND
THE RECOVERY CREW WILL BEGIN TO
MOVE INTO POSITION TO RETRIEVE
BOB AND DOUG.
THE TEAM WILL BE WAITING THREE
NAUTICAL MILES AWAY FROM THE
SPLASHDOWN SITE.
WHENEVER THE SPLASHDOWN
APPROACHES, THEY WILL MOVE
CLOSER.
THEY WILL GET THE CAPSULE READY
TO BE LIFTED ONTO THE RECOVERY
VESSEL.
ONCE THAT IS SECURE IN THE NEST,
THEY WILL GET TO OPEN THE HATCH
AND HAVE BOB ENDO EGRESS OR --
BOB AND DOUG EGRESS OR EXIT.
IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST BREATH OF
FRESH AIR IN TWO MONTHS.
WE ARE EXCITED.
ALL OF THAT WILL BE COMING UP
SHORTLY.
THOSE EVENTS WE HAVE IN THE
FUTURE, THE DEORBIT BURN AND THE
JETTISONING OF THE TRUNK, WILL
ALL BE IN THREE HOURS EXACTLY.
MY COUNTDOWN SHOWS THAT THE
TRUNK SEPARATION WILL BE
HAPPENING THREE HOURS FROM NOW.
SO WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL
OF THOSE EVENTS COMING UP.
IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY
EXCITING MORNING.
LIKE I SAID, SEEING BOB AND DOUG
COME OUT FROM THE CAPSULE ON
THAT RECOVERY VESSEL, GO
NAVIGATOR, WILL BE THE FIRST
TIME -- THEY ARE BACK DOWN ON
EARTH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO
MONTHS.
SAFETY IS EVERYTHING.
AND OF COURSE, THE HUMAN BODY
EXPERIENCES MICROGRAVITY.
JUST TO BE SAFE, WE WILL PLACE
THEM INTO A WHEELCHAIR -- MY
MIND IS BLANK --
>> A STRETCHER.
ESSENTIALLY, WE WILL BE HELPING
BOB AND DOUG AFTER THEY GET OUT
OF THE CAPSULE.
YOU SEE THE CREWMEMBERS GET
TYPICALLY LIFTED OUT OF THE
CAPSULE PHYSICALLY, AND THEN PUT
INTO CHAIRS, WHERE THEY ARE ABLE
TO DO MEDICAL CHECKS, TAKE THEIR
PULSE, AND GIVE THEM A MOMENT TO
REST.
IT CAN BE PRETTY JARRING ON THE
BODY WHEN YOU REENTER A GRAVITY
ENVIRONMENT AFTER LIVING IN
SPACE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE
TO KEEP THEM SAFE, NOT ONLY
PHYSICALLY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A
 LOTTA PROTOCOLS PUT IN PLACE
WITH THE CORONAVIRUS.
>> ARE REALLY AWESOME MORNING
COMING UP -- A REALLY AWESOME
MORNING COMING UP.
THE RECOVERY SHIP.
ON YOUR SCREEN, AND WE HAVE LIVE
VIEWS COMING YOUR WAY FROM GO
NAVIGATOR AS IT MAKES ITS WAY
OFF THE COAST OF PENSACOLA,
FLORIDA.
ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF YOUR
SCREEN, YOU SEE THE HYDRAULIC
LIFT THAT WILL BE USED TO HOIST
DRAGON OUT OF THE WATER AND INTO
THE NEST, WHICH IS JUST BARELY
OUT OF VIEW THEIR.
-- OUT OF VIEW THERE.
IT WILL BE MOVED TOWARD THE
INTERIOR OF THE DECK AND THAT IS
WHERE WE WILL OPEN THE HATCH AND
HAVE BOB AND DOUG COME OUT.
IT IS A PICTURE-PERFECT DAY.
THE CDS LOOK REALLY,.
-- THE SEAS LOOK REALLY CALM.
WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT ONE
MILE PER HOUR FOR, WHICH IS
FANTASTIC.
A LIVE VIEW COMING TO US FROM GO
NAVIGATOR AS IT MAKES ITS WAY
TOWARD THE PENSACOLA RECOVERY
ZONE.
>> YOU COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR
BETTER WEATHER THAN WE GOT
TODAY.
THAT IS ONE THING WE WERE
KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON AS TODAY
APPROACHED.
OUR CONDITIONS WHERE WE HAD TO
HAVE NOT ONLY OUR PRIME SITE
WITH GO WHETHER CONDITIONS BUT
-- GO WEATHER CONDITIONS BUT OUR
ALTERNATE SITE AS WELL.
DRAGON HAS THE CAPABILITY TO GO
TO ALTERNATE SITES AS WELL.
ONCE IT IS IN FREE FLIGHT, THEY
LOCKED IN PANAMA CITY IS THE
ALTERNATE SITE -- AS THE
ALTERNATE SITE.
WE HAD THREE SITES AROUND
FLORIDA THAT WERE NOT IN
CONSIDERATION THIS WEEKEND.
BUT WE WERE ABLE TO GET GREAT
WEATHER IN PENSACOLA.
GO NAVIGATOR IS ON ITS WAY.
IT LEFT THE PORT ABOUT HALF AN
HOUR AGO.
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ITS
PROGRESS.
ONE OF ITS BACKUP GENERATORS
FAILED AND THEY WERE WORKING TO
REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER ONE.
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET IT
THERE IN TIME, BUT THAT WAS NOT
A CONSTRAINT.
DRAGON -- GO NAVIGATOR IS STILL
PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF RECOVERING
THE CAPSULE AND BOB AND DOUG
FROM THE OCEAN IN ITS CURRENT
STATE.
>> WE ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS
THROUGH TWITTER USING THE
#ASKNASA.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
JIM.
"WHAT OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT
ROOM DOING?"
THAT IS MISSION CONTROL IN
SPACEX'S HEADQUARTERS IN
HAWTHORNE CALIFORNIA.
THERE YOU SEE OUR DRAGON
OPERATORS AND MISSION DIRECTORS.
THEY ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR
DRAGON.
DRAGON IS DESIGNED TO FLY ITSELF
AUTONOMOUSLY.
THERE ARE VERY FEW THINGS THAT
THE PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM HAVE TO
COMMAND MANUALLY, BUT FOR THOSE
THINGS, IT IS A LOT OF DATA
REVIEW AND VERIFYING THAT THE
CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE IN
PLACE BEFORE SENDING COMMANDS
ARE ACHIEVED.
THOSE PEOPLE ARE ESSENTIALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE
HEALTH AND SAFETY AND TELEMETRY
OF AIRCREW AND CAPSULE -- OF OUR
CREW AND CAPSULE.
>> MISSION CONTROLS ARE JUST
PART OF HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.
WHEN DRAGON WAS DOCKED IN THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, IT
WAS POWERED TIME -- POWER DOWN
MOST OF THE TIME, BUT THEY STILL
CAME IN TO DO CHECKS.
THIS IS JUST ANOTHER CHANCE TO
SEE HOW IT INTEGRATED INTO THE
OVERALL STATION SYSTEM AS WE
WERE PASSING BOTH ENERGY AND
ELECTRICAL POWER TO AND FROM
DRAGON WHILE IT WAS DOCKED.
THEY WERE ALSO DOING A
HABITABILITY STUDY.
WE DID A BUNCH OF DEMONSTRATION
FLIGHTS ON THE WAY UP TO THE
STATION WITH BOB AND DOUG
MANUALLY CONTROLLING THE
SPACECRAFT.
THIS HABITABILITY STUDY WAS
SOMETHING THEY WERE DOING ON
BOARD.
IT WAS LARGELY KIND OF JUST
SPATIAL TESTS WHERE THEY WERE
INSIDE DRAGON, PRACTICING
GETTING INSIDE OF THEIR SUITS,
DOING LEAK CHECKS, AND THEY HAD
CREWMEMBERS COME AND JOIN THEM
SO THEY COULD TEST OUT SLEEPING
ARRANGEMENTS.
FOUR PEOPLE IN MICROGRAVITY IN A
DRAGON CAPSULE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT TO
GIVE TEAMS SOME REAL, TANGIBLE,
THIS IS HOW WE WILL DO THIS WHEN
WE ARE FLYING FULL OPERATIONAL
CREWS, THE FIRST ONE COMING UP
AS EARLY AS THE END OF
SEPTEMBER.
>> NEXT QUESTION COMES TO US
FROM ED.
"HOW DID THEY GET THE HATCH OPEN
ONCE DRAGON HAS SPLASHED DOWN
AND WHO WILL BE DOING IT?"
>> GOOD QUESTION.
WE WILL NOT OPEN THE HATCH UNTIL
DRAGON IS LIFTED OUT OF THE
WATER IN PLACED ONTO THE
RECOVERY VESSEL.
THE HATCH WILL BE MANUALLY
OPENED.
THE FLIGHT SURGEON WILL BE THE
FIRST PERSON TO HIS HEAD IN AND
SAY HELLO TO BOB AND DOUG WHILE
THEY ARE STRAPPED IN, MAKING
SURE THEY ARE FEELING OK AND
THAT EVERYTHING WENT WELL.
THEN WE WILL HAVE THEM
UNSTRAPPED AND HELP THEM EXIT
FROM THE VEHICLE AND GO IN TO
THE MEDICAL TENT FOR A FULL
MEDICAL EVALUATION.
A GOOD QUESTION.
>> OUR NEXT ONE COMES FROM FOR
THE LOVE OF TENNIS.
HE SAYS WHEN THE SHUTTLE RETURN
FROM SPACE, HE COULD HEAR A
SONIC BOOM.
WITH THAT HAPPEN WITH DRAGON?
AS FAR AS I KNOW, NO.
NOBODY WILL LIKELY HEAR IT IF IT
DOES HAPPEN AS DRAGON WILL BE
PASSING OVER THE GOLF FOR ITS
ENTIRE -- PASSING OVER THE GULF
OF MEXICO FOR ITS ENTIRE DISSENT
-- ENTIRE DESCENT.
IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN, IT WOULD
BE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO.
WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS LATER
AND GET YOU AN ANSWER.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
LAKIN.
"WILL BOB AND DOUG BE ABLE TO
FEEL THE CAPSULE ROCKING IN THE
WATER?"
OUR ANSWER IS AN UNEQUIVOCAL
YES.
THEY WILL FEEL A BIT OF A JOLT.
SOME OF THE SOYUZ LANDINGS MIGHT
BE ROUGHER, BUT THOSE USE SOFT
LANDING ENGINES, AND ASTRONAUTS
COMPARE THOSE TO A MINOR CAR
CRASH.
YOU ARE STILL STRAPPED INTO HIS
SEAT AND KIND OF HITTING INTO
SOMETHING.
THEY WILL DEFINITELY FEEL THAT.
THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR ROCKING
IN THE WATER.
THEY HAVE BEEN GRAPHIC AT TIMES
AND WHAT WEIGHT -- AT TIMES IN
WHAT THEY THINK THEY MIGHT
EXPERIENCE, SEASICKNESS, BUT
THEY ARE PREPARED NONETHELESS.
>> GIVEN THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE
BOTH FLOWN ON SHUTTLE MENTIONS
-- MISSIONS
EXTENSIVE PHYSICAL TRAINING, FOR
ALL THEIR MISSIONS INCLUDING
THIS ONE.
I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE THAT THE
G'S THAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO
ENCOUNTER DURING REENTRY IS
AROUND 4 G'S.
WE ALSO SAW THAT DURING THE
LARGE PORTION OF THE MISSION, SO
THEY SHOULD NOT BE ANYTHING TOO
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THAT
EXPERIENCE PREVIOUSLY.
FOR A POINT OF REFERENCE FOR
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TO
SPACE, THERE ARE MANY ROLLER
COASTERS ACROSS THE WORLD BUT
DELIVER FOUR G'S OR MORE THROW
THE RIDE AT ONE POINT OR
ANOTHER.
IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT IT MIGHT
SOUND LIKE A LOT FOR THOSE OF US
WHO HAVE NOT BEEN TO SPACE, BUT
IT IS KIND OF A MODERATELY
INTENSE ROLLER COASTER.
WE CAN EXPECT THAT, THEY WILL
FEEL THE SPLASHDOWN AND THEY
WILL FEEL THE ROCKING A LITTLE
BIT.
IF THERE ARE WAVES, THE MOST
RECENT WEATHER REPORT INDICATED
THAT THE WAVES WERE NOT GOING TO
BE TOO BAD.
ALL IN ALL, WE ARE EXPECTING IT
TO BE A PRETTY COMFORTABLE
TOUCHDOWN.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
TERRY AND DOUG.
AT WHAT SPEED WILL THE CASTLE
THAT THE WATER? -- WILLIE
CAPSULE HIT THE WATER?
WE ARE ANTICIPATING 15 OR 16
MILES PER HOUR.
WE ARE TARGETING JUST OFF THE
COAST OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA,
THAT IS WHERE OUR RECOVERY SHIP
IS EN ROUTE TO.
WHEN THE CAPSULE IS REENTERING
THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, THE
ATMOSPHERE ITSELF IS HELPING TO
SLOW IT DOWN, WE WILL DEPLOY
PARACHUTES TO HELP FURTHER
SLOWING DOWN.
BY THE TIME IT HITS THE TOP OF
THE OCEAN, IT'S ONLY GOING 15 OR
16 MILES PER HOUR.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
EZEKIEL WHO ASKS ONE THAT A LOT
OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
THINKING ABOUT.
HOW DO WE GET TO BUY TICKETS
SOON FOR TRAVELING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?
GOOD TIMING, AS THAT IS
SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING AT IN
THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.
NASA RECENTLY COMMITTED TO
SUPPORTING AT LEAST DOES GO
PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSIONS PER
YEAR TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPANIES,
SPACEX INCLUDED THAT HAVE BEEN
WORKING TO DEVELOP THE
CAPABILITIES TO FLY PRIVATE
CITIZENS, NONGOVERNMENT
ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE AND
POTENTIALLY TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
I WOULD SAY DEFINITELY FOLLOW
THE INDUSTRY, KEEP AN EYE OUT.
PRICES WILL LIKELY BE A LITTLE
BIT HIGH AT FIRST, BUT THAT
REALLY IS A MAJOR GOAL RIGHT NOW
TO TRY TO OPEN IT UP TO THOSE
WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY JUST
GOVERNMENT.
SPACE TRAVEL, FOR SO LONG, HAS
JUST BEEN THE REALM OF
GOVERNMENT WHO HAVE THE FUNDING
TO DO THESE KINDS OF THINGS AND
WE'VE SEEN BASICALLY AN
EXPLOSION OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE OF
ENABLING THE ENTIRE MARKET WITH
THE MARKETPLACE AND A CAPABILITY
FOR RESEARCH AND TRANSPORTATION.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION COMES TO US
FROM TWITTER USING THE #
ASKNASA FROM CHRIS.
HOW AIRTIGHT IS THE ISS?
I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IS COMPLETELY AIRTIGHT, GIVEN
THE FACT THAT IT IS ORBITING
EARTH IN THE VACUUM OF SPACE, IT
HAS TO BE AIRTIGHT IN ORDER TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE CREW IS SAFE
THROUGHOUT THEIR STAY.
>> IT IS ESSENTIALLY AIRTIGHT.
THERE IS ENOUGH THAT YOU WILL
GET A TINY BIT OF LEAKS THROUGH
SEALS SO IS NEVER ANYTHING WHERE
YOU WILL BE SUCKED UP AGAINST
THE SIDE OF THE HACKS OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST
BECAUSE MAKING SOMETHING
PERFECTLY VACUUM-PROOF IS
EXTREMELY HARD ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU HAVE SOME THE
INTERCONNECTING PARTS.
THAT'S WHY WE DO OCCASIONALLY
HAVE TO INJECT ADDITIONAL
BREATHING GASES INTO THE SPACE
STATION ATMOSPHERE IN THESE
SUPER CONDENSED SPHERES.
JUST TO TOP OFF THE ATMOSPHERE
INSIDE OF THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, BUT GREAT
QUESTION.
LET'S DO ONE MORE.
WHY ARE SPACECRAFTS USUALLY
PAINTED WHITE?
>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, A LAW OF
COMES DOWN TO PREFERENCE.
ALL VEHICLES ARE BLACK AND
WHITE.
OF COURSE, IT IS CURRENTLY
SILVER.
ALL OF OUR OPERATIONAL VEHICLES
ARE BLACK OR WHITE, AND IN THIS
CASE, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT IN
ORDER TO CONFORM TO THAT
AESTHETIC, THE PAINT THAT WE
USE, THE THERMAL PROTECTIVE
PAINT ON TOP OF THOSE PANELS ON
THE EXTERIOR, WE MAKE IT WHITE.
>> A LOT OF OTHER THINGS ARE
WHITE EXACTLY THE REASON SHE
JUST SAID.
WE WERE IN OUTER SPACE, THE ONLY
WAY YOU CAN REALLY HEAT UP IS
THROUGH RADIATION.
IF YOU ARE A BLACK SURFACE, IT
IS JUST LIKE DOWN HERE ON PLANET
EARTH.
IF YOU WEAR A BLACK SHIRT YOU
FEEL HOTTER BECAUSE YOUR SHIRT
IS BASICALLY ABSORBING MORE OF
THAT RADIATION.
TO KEEP THINGS COOLER, YOU CAN
PAINT THEM WHITE WITH THESE
REFLECTIVE COATINGS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS WE CALL
THERMAL BLANKETS WHICH ARE
ESSENTIALLY WHITE FABRICS THAT
WILL COVER UP METALLIC AREAS OF
THE SPACE STATION THAT WOULD
OTHERWISE GET REALLY HOT IN
DIRECT SUNLIGHT, THEY KEEP THEM
COOL JUST WITH THAT WHITE COLOR.
GREAT QUESTION.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE TAKING YOUR
QUESTIONS FOR THE #ASKNASA SO BE
SURE TO CONTINUE TO SUBMIT
THOSE.
WE WILL GET TO AS MANY AS WE
CAN.
>> FOR NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WATCH BOB AND DOUG.
WE ARE A LITTLE LESS THAN THREE
HOURS AWAY NOW FROM THINGS
REALLY STARTING TO PICK UP.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR
ALL OF THOSE EVENTS THAT WE
TALKED THROUGH STARTING WITH
THAT SEPARATION COMING UP SOON.
EVERYTHING IS STILL ON TRACK FOR
A SLASH DOWN AT 11:48 A.M.
PACIFIC, 18:48 UNIVERSAL TIME.
SO STAY TUNED.
>> KICKIN SPACE EXPLORER --
SPACEX FOR 4.7000.
>> GO AHEAD, SPACEX.
JUST A COUPLE MINUTES INTO THE
TIME, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS
A GO FOR ALL SECTIONS OF 4.00.
WE'RE STANDING BY TO SUPPORT.
>> COPY THAT.
WE ARE THROUGH SECTION THREE,
AND WE WILL REPORT THE STATUS OF
THE INVENTORY HERE IN A FEW
MINUTES.
COPY GO FOR SUIT DONNING, WE
ARE IN OUR COMFORT GARMENTS AND
WE ARE STARTING PROTOCOL.
>> OK, SPACEX COPIES.
YOU GOT YOUR COMFORT GARMENTS
AND HAVE STARTED LOADING, THANK
YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
>> SO WE JUST HEARD A CALL UP TO
THE CREW THAT THEY ARE GETTING
INTO SOME OF THEIR ACTIVITIES TO
GET READY FOR THIS.
THEY ARE ABOUT TO GET SUITED UP.
WE HEARD THERE IN THEIR COMFORT
GARMENTS, THE BLACK ATHLETIC
CLOTHES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO
WEAR AT THE BASE LAY UNDERNEATH
THEIR SUITS.
THEY ARE ALSO IN ORTHOSTATIC
PANTS OR SHORTS THAT THEY ARE
WEARING AND THAT HELPS TO KIND
OF SQUEEZE OR INCREASE THE BLOOD
FLOW AS THEY ARE GOING TO BE
GOING FROM ALL OF THE FLUID
BEING UP AROUND THEIR HEADS TO
BEING BACK IN A GRAVITY
SITUATION WHERE YOUR BLOOD AND
EVERYTHING GOES AROUND HER LEGS
DUE TO PULL HER GRAVITY.
IT'S NOT AS JARRING OF A
TRANSITION FROM THE FLUID SHIFT
HAPPENING.
THEY ARE DOING THAT TO PREPARE
FOR THE RE-ADAPTATION TO
GRAVITY, ALSO DOING FLUID
LOADING WHICH HAS BEEN SHOWN TO
HELP WITH ORTHOSTATIC
INTOLERANCE.
ESSENTIALLY, THEY WON'T FEEL AS
DIZZY OR DISORIENTED WHEN THEY
GET BACK DOWN.
IT HELPS BY ACTUALLY INCREASING
THE AMOUNT -- IN THE BLOOD FOR
WHEN THEY REENTER GRAVITY.
ALL THAT GOING ON BOARD RIGHT
NOW.
>> IT'S EXCITING TO HEAR THAT
THEY ARE BEGINNING TO WHAT DO
LAST PHASES THAT CREW MEMBERS
NEED TO COMPLETE PRIOR TO
REENTRY.
WE ARE ABOUT TWO HOURS 20
MINUTES AWAY FROM THE NEXT
PHYSICAL MILESTONE IN TERMS OF
THE VEHICLE IS SELF.
WE WILL HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN AS
CLAW SEPARATION, WHEN THE
MECHANISM THAT CONTAIN THE
UMBILICAL TOWER AND FLUIDS
BETWEEN THE TRUNK AND THE
CAPSULE, WE WILL SEPARATE THAT
IN ORDER TO ALLOW US TO JETTISON
THE TRUNK.
BY DOING SO, THE HEAT SHIELD OF
THE CASTLE WILL BE EXPOSED AND
ALLOWING DRAGON TO BE READY FOR
REENTRY.
A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER WE
JETTISON THE TRUNK AWAY FROM THE
CAPSULE, WE WILL THEN MANEUVER
THE CAPSULE INTO A POSITION TO
ALLOW IT TO PERFORM THE DE-ORBIT
BURN.
WE ARE AIMING FOR THE GULF OF
MEXICO TODAY, SPECIFICALLY OFF
THE COAST OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA
IS OUR DESIGNATED LANDING ZONE.
AFTER THE BURN COMPLETES, WHICH
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO BE
ABOUT 11.5 MINUTES, WE WILL
CLOSE THE NOSE CONE AND LOCK IT
AND A COUPLE MINUTES AFTER THAT,
WE WILL BEGIN TO REENTER THE
ATMOSPHERE AND THINGS WILL START
TO GET PRETTY HOT.
>> AND EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE
STANDING BY IN THE RECOVERY ZONE
ONCE THEY ARE DONE WITH THAT
DE-ORDER BURN.
THIS IS A LIVE VIEW MAKING ITS
WAY OUT TO THE RECOVERY ZONE.
IT LEFT JUST A FEW HOURS AGO,
JUST ABOUT TWO HOURS 10 MINUTES
AGO MAKING ITS WAY OUT FROM
PENSACOLA.
IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT THREE
NAGA MILES AWAY FROM THE
ANTICIPATED SPLASHDOWN SITE AT
WHICH POINT IT WILL TAKE JUST
AROUND 30 MINUTES TO CLOSE IN ON
THE CAPSULE.
THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY
ISSUE THAT I COME DOWN SO FAR
WAS WITH A BACKUP GENERATOR,
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET A
REPLACEMENT ONE ON BOARD IN
TIME, BUT THEY STILL ENABLE US
TO GO WITH THIS OPERATION, STILL
FULLY CAPABLE OF AFFECTING A
RECOVERY THIS MORNING.
>> THAT RECOVERY TIME WE ARE
LOOKING AT 11:4 YEARS -- 11:48
A.M. PACIFIC, 18:48 UNIVERSAL.
YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF HOURS
BEFORE THE ACTION REALLY KICKS
IN BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE
BRINGING YOU COVERAGE THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE MISSION, HOPEFULLY WE
WILL HAVE MORE GREAT VIEWS FROM
OUR RECOVERY SHIP MAKING ITS WAY
TO THE SPLASHDOWN LOCATION.
LIKE WE SAID BEFORE, THE
RECOVERY VESSEL IS CURRENTLY
CARRYING ABOUT 40 PEOPLE.
IT'S ACTUALLY A COMBINATION OF
SPACEX AND NASA PEOPLE.
THEY ALL HAVE SPECIFIC JOBS AND
WHENEVER WE ARE ACTUALLY
PERFORMING THE RECOVERY
OPERATIONS, YOU ALWAYS SEE A
SMALL HANDFUL OF INDIVIDUALS ON
BOARD BECAUSE SAFETY IS A TOP
PRIORITY, NOT ONLY FOR BOB AND
DOUG BUT ALSO FOR THE PERSONNEL
ON BOARD.
WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT
UNNECESSARY PERSONNEL WILL BE
AWAY AND IN ONE OF THE BACK
ROOMS WHEREAS THE OPERATIONAL
DECK DURING ACTIVE RECOVERY
OPERATIONS WILL HAVE THOSE KEY
PERSONNEL INVOLVED.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THE TO
SEND ALL THE WAY FOR SPLASHDOWN
AS WELL AS THE FAST APPROACH,
THOSE OF THE TWO SMALLER BOATS
THAT MAKE THEIR WAY TO DRAGON
ASTERISK SPLASHDOWN.
THEY ARE DOING THE INITIAL
PREPARATION OF THE CAPSULE,
PREPARING IT TO BE LIFTED OUT OF
THE WATER AND ONTO THE RECOVERY
VESSEL.
WE HAVE POINTED COMING UP, WE
ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING
ABLE TO SHOW YOU ALL OF THAT.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE
RECOVERY TEAM IS A NEWER ONE
HERE.
THE WHOLE CREW RECOVERY PROCESS
IS NEWER, AND IT IS REALLY COOL
THAT WE GET TO SHOWCASE THAN A
LITTLE BIT.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE ABLE TO DO
SO WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A YEAR
AND A HALF ALMOST.
BE SURE TO STAY TUNED TUNED
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RECOVERY
PROCESS.
ONCE THAT IS LIFTED UP AND OUT
OF THE WATER AND IS SECURED,
THAT WILL BE OUR FIRST
OPPORTUNITY TO HOPEFULLY GET A
THUMBS UP FROM BOB AND DOUG
INDICATING THAT THEY ARE FEELING
GOOD AFTER THE RETURN.
>> WE EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT ONE
HOUR FROM SPLASHDOWN TO GETTING
OUT OF THE CAPSULE DURING A LOT
OF IT WILL BECAUSE THOSE INITIAL
CHECKS HAPPENING IN THE OPENING
MINUTES FOLLOWING SPLASHDOWN AND
IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES
THE PRIMARY VESSEL TO GO DOWN TO
GET VERY CLOSE TO THE DRAGON
CAPSULE ITSELF.
ONCE IT IS THERE, IT WILL TAKE
ONLY A FEW MORE MINUTES TO
LIFTED ONTO THE BOAT AND MOVE IT
TOWARD THE CREW RECOVERY
 BACK TO 
HOUSTON AFTER THEY COMPLETE THE 
CHECKOUTS AT PENSACOLA AIR 
STATION.
THEN THE BES PART OF THE DAY, 
FAMILY REUNIONS.
I'M SURE BOB AND DOUG ARE 
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO
GIVE THEIR FAMILY HUGS AGAIN AND
IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, IF YOU 
WERE TUNED IN EARLIER, YOU MAY 
HAVE CAUGHT THE SPECIAL WAKE-UP 
MESSAGE SENT TO BOB AND DOUG TO 
BRING THEM OUT OF THEIR SLEEP 
EACH HAVE ONE SON AND IT WAS A
NICE LITTLE AUDIO RECORDING
SAYING DADDY, WAKE UP, WAKE UP.
I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK
IT OUT BECAUSE IT IS CERTAINLY
HEARTWARMING AND
SECONDARY.
THE SECONDARY WAS LOGGED IN AS 
PANAMA CITY.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GREAT WITH
THE WEATHER TODAY.
AS WE TALKED, WE HAD CONSTRAINTS
OF 10 MILES AN HOUR FOR THE WIND
AND OUR INITIAL WEATHER REPORT 
LAST NIGHT, WE WERE A MILE AN 
HOUR AND GOT UPGRADED TO TO 
MILES AN HOUR.
WINDS HAVE DOUBLED BUT WHEN YOU 
GO FROM ONE TO TWO MILES AN 
HOUR, WELL WITHIN THE LIMIT.
STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO IF AND 
SPLASH DOWN.
>>  THE MOST RECENT WEATHER 
REPORT IS THAT THE WAVES ARE 
LOOK REALLY CALM.
THE -- THE THRESHOLD FOR THE 
WAVES IS BASED ON HOW HIGH THE 
WAVE IS GOING TO GET AND HOW 
FREQUENTLY.
WAVES OCCUR IN THIS TYPE OF 
PATTERN.
WE CAN'T HAVE WAVES HIGH VERY 
FREQUENTLY.
THAT MAKES RECOVERY OPERATIONS 
DANGEROUS.
WE'RE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE
LAST INFORMATION WE GOT 
REGARDING THE WEATHER 
ANTICIPATED A SPLASH DOWN ARE 
VERY SMALL WAVES.
PULL IT UP HERE REAL QUICK.
IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE, HERE WE 
GO.
JUST A HALF A FOOT EVERY SECOND.
IT IS IF YOU'RE OCEAN BASELINE 
IS HERE, EVERY SIX SECONDS YOUR 
OCEAN -- IF YOUR OCEAN BASELINE 
IS HERE YOUR WAVE COMES UP HALF 
A FOOT EVERY SIX SECONDS.
IT IS CALM AND WE'RE REALLY 
HAPPY TO SEE THAT WHILE 
UNFORTUNATELY THE -- THE WEATHER
AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN LANDING 
ZONES WAS COOL OPERATING.
WE'RE HAPPY TO REPORT THE 
ANTICIPATED WEATHER FOR SPLASH 
DOWN TODAY IS GOING TO BE MILD 
AND BASED ON THE VIEWS THAT WE 
WERE SEEING FROM GO NAVIGATOR 
EARLIER QUITE A PICTURE PERFECT 
DAY.
>>  WE TRACK IT CLOSELY.
IF YOU FOLLOW SINCE MAY, WEATHER
WAS IN THE CONVERSATION AND WE 
HAD TO SCRUB THE FIRST ATTEMPT 
DUE TO BAD WEATHER IN THE AREA.
WE'RE ABLE TO PINPOINT BETWEEN 
CLOUDS FOR THE SECOND LAUNCH ON 
MAY 30th AND THEN, WE WERE 
WATCHING IT EXTREMELY CLOSELY 
TODAY TOO.
OR EVEN IN THE LEADUP TO WHERE 
WE ARE TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE 
WEATHER CHECKPOINTS RIGHT BEFORE
LANDING.
THAT'S THE FINAL OPPORTUNITY.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION FROM
TWITTER, JUST A REMINDER, ASK 
NASA ON TWITTER.
THIS ONE, IF THE SPLASHDOWN WAS 
SCRUBBED COULD DRAGON GO BACK O
 WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN TO
RENDEZVOUS WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, WE
WERE NOT GOING TO UNDOCK UNTIL
WE HAD GOOD WEATHER AT AN
ALTERNATE LOCATION, BOTH AT THE
TIME THAT WE LEFT.
IF, FOR SOME REASON, WE HAD TO
LEAVE WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR OR SO
FROM PENSACOLA, DRAGON WOULD
CONTINUE THE ORBIT, IT WOULD
MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE
NEXT 47 HOURS, AND THEN WE WOULD
TARGET A SPLASH DOWN AT PANAMA
CITY.
WE HAVE TO LOCK IN THAT
ALTERNATE SITE JUST A FEW HOURS
AGO.
DRAGON HAS THE ABILITY TO CHANGE
ALTERNATE SITES SO WE COULD HAVE
TARGETED ONE OF THE OTHER SITES,
POTENTIALLY EVEN BACK TO
PENSACOLA TWO DAYS LATER, BUT WE
WERE ABLE TO LOCK IN PANAMA
CITY.
NOT ANTICIPATING TO NEED THAT,
BUT DRAGON DOES HAVE THE ABILITY
TO REATTEMPT A SPLASHDOWN TWO
DAYS LATER.
>> AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER,
DRAGON WILL BE PERFORMING A
BURDEN THAT WILL LAST 11.5
MINUTES.
THAT IS THE MOMENT WHERE WE ARE
SENDING DRAGON ON ITS FINAL
TRAJECTORY TO THE LANDING ZONE.
THAT MANEUVERING IS PERFORMED A
LITTLE BIT LESS THAN ONE HOUR
PRIOR TO SPLASHDOWN ITSELF.
DEFINITELY CONTINUING TO MONITOR
THE WEATHER UNTIL THE VERY LAST
SUMMIT THAT WE CAN, BUT THERE IS
A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY IN
TERMS OF IF WE HAVE TO WAIVE OFF
FOR 24 TO 48 HOURS.
THEY WOULD REMAIN IN THE
CAPSULE.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
BRIAN, WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT
WERE BOB AND DOUG DOING IN
SPACE?
>> WELL, THEY SPENT 62 DAYS ON
BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION AS CREW MEMBERS AND
EXPEDITION 53 AND THEY WERE
FULLY FLEDGED CREW MEMBERS, SO
THEY DID THE FULL GAMUT OF SPACE
STATION OPERATION.
EVERYTHING FROM A SECURED IN
SCIENCE, CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN
100 HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO
EXECUTING SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
ONBOARD FROM PRETTY MUCH EVERY
DISCIPLINE WE HAVE ON BIOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS, TO
JUST LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE
HUMAN BODY AND HOW IT ADAPTS TO
SPACEFLIGHT.
BOB WAS PART OF FOUR SPACEWALKS
ALONG WITH CHRIS CASSIDY, THE
TWO OF THEM BOTH NOW HAVE 10
SPACEWALKS IN THEIR CAREERS,
TYING THEM FOR THE MOST FOR U.S.
ASTRONAUTS.
SO THEY WERE EXTREMELY BUSY
WHILE THEY WERE ON THE SPACE
STATION.
I KNOW CHRIS WAS HAPPY TO READ
SOME HELP ON BOARD, IT HAS JUST
BEEN HIM AND THE TWO RUSSIAN
COSMONAUTS THE LAST SEVERAL
MONTHS.
THEY ARE BACK IN THAT SITUATION
NOW, AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THEM
COMING UP THIS FALL.
>> BEING ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION IN ADDITION TO
SPACEWALKS AND PERFORMING
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, YOU ALSO
HAVE TO WEEK, YOU HAVE TO SLEEP,
AND YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE.
IT'S REALLY EASY TO SEE HOW,
WHENEVER THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE
OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, THINGS THAT ARE
EXERCISE, EATING AND SLEEPING
ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
EXERCISE HELPS TO KEEP THE BODY
STRONG AND PREVENT THE EFFECTS
OF MICROGRAVITY ON THE HUMAN
BODY.
WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT MIGHT GET
SHIFTED OUT A LITTLE BIT, IT'S
NOT EXERCISE, IS NOT EATING,
IT'S NOT SLEEPING.
HAVING TWO EXTRA HANDS TO ASSIST
WITH THINGS LIKE THE SPACEWALK
AND BEING ABLE TO PERFORM SOME
OF THE SIGNS ON BOARD WAS
DEFINITELY A HEALTH.
IN ADDITION, THEY WERE ALSO
COMPLETING MISSION OBJECTIVES,
MAKING SURE THAT THE BATTERY
LIFE WAS AS EXPECTED, MAKING
SURE THAT THE SOLAR PANELS WERE
STILL ABSORBING AND GENERATING
POWER AS EXPECTED.
I AM SURE THAT BY THE TIME THEY
GET HOME, THEY WILL BE PRETTY
TIRED, NOT JUST FROM THE DYNAMIC
EVENTS HAPPENING TODAY, BUT JUST
FROM THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
I'M GETTING TIRED JUST THINKING
ABOUT IT.
>> HOW MUCH TRAINING DOES IT
TAKE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE,
CONTROL ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY ON
DRAGON AND THE THINGS ON SPACE
STATION?
>> WE TYPICALLY TRAIN CREW
MEMBERS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
WE HAD A COUPLE WHO MADE IT
SHORTER THAN THAT, BUT TYPICALLY
HAVE A CREW MEMBERS GET ASSIGNED
ABOUT TWO YEARS OUT, AND IT'S
THEN ENTIRE TIME TRAINING JUST
TO DO DAY TO DAY TASKS.
EVERYTHING FROM JUST OPERATING
THE BASIC FACILITIES, LEARNING
HOW TO REPAIR ALL THE MAJOR
PIECES OF HARDWARE LIKE THE
THING THAT GENERATES YOUR OXYGEN
, HOW THE WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM
WORKS.
THE NEXT DAY YOU ARE A
PHYSICIST, THE NEXT DAY YOU ARE
SPACEWALKING.
THEY HAVE TO GET A WHOLE BUNCH
OF TRAINING IN AND IT IS DONE
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
>> JUST LET YOU CALL A HANDYMAN
WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG, YOU
ARE THE HANDYMAN.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES TO US
FROM ADDIE -- ABBY.
THIS MAY BE A SILLY QUESTION,
BUT IS THERE A TELESCOPE ON THE
ISS THAT THE CREW CAN USE?
>> THEY DON'T HAVE A TELESCOPE.
THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE VERY
MANY WINDOWS THAT LOOK UP AT THE
STARS.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SIDES
EXPERIENCE THAT ARE ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION THAT
USES POSITION OUTSIDE OF YOUR
ATMOSPHERE TO LOOK BEYOND OUR
SOLAR SYSTEM.
WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE NOT
NECESSARILY TELESCOPES, BUT THE
SPECTROMETER THAT IS LOOKING FOR
SIGNS OF DARK MATTER AND WE HAVE
ONE THAT WAS A JAPANESE ONE IN
THE NAME IS ESCAPING ME, BUT IT
WAS ESSENTIALLY LOOKING FOR
PULSARS THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE
AND IT WAS REALLY COOL.
IT WAS ESSENTIALLY DEVELOPING A
FUTURISTIC VERSION OF GPS, WHERE
IS LOOKING TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM
OR A MAP WHERE YOU COULD USE
SOME OF THE BRIGHTEST OBJECTS IN
THE UNIVERSE TO NAVIGATE.
AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT
SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT
RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
LEAVING OUR SOLAR SYSTEM ANYTIME
SOON, BUT WE ARE ALREADY
LEARNING HOW TO DO THAT AND WE
USING INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION TO DO IT.
THEY HAVE SOME BIG LENSES FOR
THEIR CAMERAS, BUT THOSE ARE
PRETTY MUCH WANTED BACK DOWN
TOWARD EARTH.
OUR NEXT QUESTION, HOW DOES THE
COMMUNICATION TO DRAGON WORK, IS
IT DONE FOR SATELLITE?
>> PARTIALLY COMING YES.
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
ORBITING EARTH, IT TECHNICALLY
IS CONSIDERED A SATELLITE AS
WELL AS A SPACESHIP.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE GROUND
STATIONS ACROSS THE WORLD THAT
ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE LINKS AND
DOWNLOADS FROM THE STATION AS
WELL AS FROM DRAGON CAPSULE
ITSELF.
WE TRIED TO MAKE ALL THOSE
CONNECTIONS AS DIRECT AS
POSSIBLE TO APPEAR IN MISSION
CONTROL, FOR TRYING TO REDUCE
LATENCY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE
GET HIGH-QUALITY FEEDS.
WE TRY TO AVOID PING-PONG AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS, BUT
GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE GO FROM
CAPSULE TO GROUND IN A SHORT
DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE.
OUR NEXT WHEN, DOES NASA HAD A
FULL-SIZE MOCKUP OF THE STATION
IN THE TRAINING FACILITY?
WE HAVE SEVERAL, ACTUALLY.
WE HAVE A BUILDING CALLED THE
SPACE VEHICLE MOCKUP FACILITY AT
THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN
HOUSTON WHERE WE HAVE A
FULL-SIZE MOCKUP OF EVERY SINGLE
MODULE.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY SAYING EVERY
SINGLE MODULE YOU CAN ACTUALLY
GO INSIDE.
THERE IS A HUGE PART OF THE
SPACE STATION ITSELF THAT IS
JUST EXTERNAL, THAT ISN'T
PRESSURIZED, AND THE ASTRONAUTS
ONLY RECEIVE WHEN THEY ARE ON
IT.
TO FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH THAT
PART, WE HAVE A FULL-SIZE MOCKUP
IN THE BOTTOM OF OUR SWIMMING
POOL, THE PRACTICE HAVE THE
SPACEWALK.
SO WE HAVE SEVERAL.
THEY ARE TYPICALLY DIFFERENT
FIDELITY.
YOU WILL HAVE SOME THAT HAVE
REAL SCIENCE HARDWARE, REAL
OXYGEN GENERATION SYSTEMS.
AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE SOME THAT
ARE JUST KIND OF REPRESENTATIVE
OF THEM, THEY MIGHT HAVE A
PRINTED POSTER OF WHAT ON THE
WALL HERE.
YOU CAN STILL USE THINGS LIKE
THAT FOR EMERGENCY TRAINING.
WE REALLY TRY TO DO AS MUCH
TRAINING ON THE GROUND, AND I
KNOW WE DO THE SAME IN DRAGON,
SOMETHING THAT IS LIFE LIKE FOR
WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO BE ON
WHAT THEY ARE IN SPACE.
AND YOUR ACTIONS JUST FEEL LIKE
REFLEX.
>> AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO
CHECK IN ON DRAGON.
LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO GO
OVER EASTERN EUROPE.
WE'RE GOING TO SHOW OUR FEET
HERE AND ALLOW YOU TO FOLLOW
ALONG.
WE STILL HAVE TWO HOURS AND ONE
MINUTE UNTIL OUR MAJOR MILESTONE
BEGINS, THAT WILL BE THE
SEPARATION IN PREPARATION TO
JETTISON THE TRUNK.
AGAIN, THAT IS COMING UP IN TWO
HOURS ONE MINUTE AT 10:51 A.M.
THE CIVIC OR 18:51 UNIVERSAL.
STAY WITH US, AND ENJOY WATCHING
DRAGON.
>> IF YOU ARE JOINING US NOW OR
IF YOU WERE NOT HERE FOR THE
START OF OUR BROADCAST, WE
JOINED THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION WHILE THE ASTRONAUTS
WERE STILL ON BOARD THE SPACE
STATION WITH THEIR OTHER THREE
COUNTERPARTS.
AND THEN WE SAW THE CREW BOARD
THE CREW DRAGON, SAY FAREWELL,
AND DON THEIR SUITS AND CLOSE
THAT HATCH OF CREW DRAGON.
FULL AND UP SHORTLY BY NASA
ASTRONAUT CHRIS CASSIDY CLOSING
THE HATCH ON THE SPACE STATION.
WE THEN STEPPED INTO THE
PRESSURIZATION, THE SPACE IN
BETWEEN THE HATCHES THAT WAS
EXPOSED TO VACUUM WHENEVER THE
CREW DRAGON DEPARTED, AND WE SAW
AN ON-TIME DEPARTURE, SEPARATION
OCCURRING AT 4:35 P.M. PACIFIC
TIME, THAT IS 11:30 P.M. GMT,
THE TIME USED ABOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAD THOSE TWO SHORT BURSTS
USING THE THRUSTERS ON DRAGON
AND THE UMBILICAL DETACHING,
THOSE HOAX RELEASING FROM ITS
HOME FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF
MONTHS.
AFTER THAT, WE SAW THE FIRST
THREE DEPARTURE BOARDS OF CREW
DRAGON, THE FIRST TWO BRINGING
IT UP AND OVER THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THE ASTRONAUTS WERE THEN ABLE TO
TAKE OFF THEIR SPACESUITS AND WE
JUST SAW DEPARTURE BURN TWO
WHICH HAS LOWERED DRAGON AND
BROUGHT IT DOWN BELOW THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AT
ALL TIMES.
NEXT UP FOR US WILL BE DEPARTURE
BURN THREE.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT AT 6:14
PM PACIFIC, 1:14 A.M. GMT
>> A PRETTY BUSY DAY FOR BOB AND
DOUG ABOARD DRAGON.
THERE'S ACTUALLY A VIEW OF
INSIDE THE CABIN, YOU CAN
ACTUALLY SEE ONE OF THOSE
SPACESUITS, THE WHITE AND GRAY
ITEM ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF
THE SCREEN.
LOOKS LIKE THAT MIGHT BE BOB ON
THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE
SCREEN.
LOOKS LIKE I GOT A SPACE IN THE
WAY OF THIS CAMERA.
BENEATH THE SEATS THEY GOT SOME
STORAGE ROOM WHERE WE'VE GOT
ABOUT 150 KILOGRAMS OF CARGO,
MORE THAN HALF OF THAT IS
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS AND
SAMPLES COMING FROM THE RESEARCH
PROGRAM ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION WHICH IS OF
COURSE, A NATIONAL LABORATORY.
YOU ACTUALLY HAD A NUMBER
EARLIER, I THINK BOB AND DOUG
COMBINED HAD DONE --
>> ONE UNDER 14 HOURS OF SCIENCE
IN THE LAB WHILE THEY WERE ON
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
-- 114 HOURS BESIDES.
THAT DOES NOT COUNT OUTSIDE OF
THOSE BATTERY CHANGES.
IT OF COURSE IS TRIPLED THE
AMOUNT OF TIME WE WERE ABLE TO
DO BECAUSE THAT IS THE U.S. LAB
AND CHRIS CASSIDY WAS PRIOR TO
THE ARRIVAL OF CREW DRAGON DOING
ALL THIS WORK ON HIS OWN.
SO HAVING BOB AND DOUG, ON FOR A
COUPLE OF MONTHS REALLY EXPANDED
THE AMOUNT OF SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH THAT WAS CONDUCTED.
>> SOME COOL VIEWS OF THE
INTERIOR, WE GOT A SWEET AROUND
OF THE CAMERAS.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT A
CAMERA WHICH SITS ORDINARILY
RIGHT BEHIND THE CREW MEMBERS,
LOOKING UP AT THEIR DISPLAYS.
THE VIEW THAT WE HAD PREVIOUS TO
THIS WAS A VIEW LOOKING TOWARD
DOUG'S SEAT, AND ON THE UPHILL
PORTION OF THE MISSION, WE GOT A
QUICK TOUR OF THE INTERIOR
DRAGON FROM BOB AND DOUG.
>> LOCATION 10, 2 ADDITIONAL
BOTTLES CONSUMED AND ONE FROM
BAG 206.
THAT LEAVES 208 EMPTY, 270, AND
206 HOST: REMAINING.
FROM LOCATION 9, 3 BOTTLES WERE
CONSUMED FROM 203.
THAT LEAVES 203 AND 204 AS
EMPTY.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS PART OF THE
PACKING PLAN.
>> OK, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
CONSUMED TO BOTTLES, 206
CONSUMED ONE BOTTLE.
TWO A AND 207 ARE EMPTY AND 206
HAS DOES THE REMAINING.
FOR LOCATION NINE, WE COPY TO
BOTTLES FROM 203, I BELIEVE, AND
THAT MEANS 203 AND 204 EMPTY.
THE REST FOR PACKING PLAN.
>> FROM LOCATION 9, 203 AND 204
ARE EMPTY AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS
PER THE PACKING PLAN.
>> COPY, LOCATION UNCORRECTED,
203 AND 204 EMPTY, THE REST PER
PACKING PLAN.
AND JUST ONE MORE SANITY CHECK,
CAN YOU TELL US THE TOTAL NUMBER
OF BOTTLES CONSUMED?
>> LET ME TRY TO DO THE MATH
FROM MY NOTES HERE.
I BELIEVE SINCE DEPARTING, WE
HAVE CONSUMED 13 BOTTLES.
>> COPY, 13 BOTTLES.
WE WILL RECONCILE OUR RECORDS
DOWN HERE AND LET YOU KNOW IF
YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> WE ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE OUT
LOCATIONS NINE AND 10, SO IT IS
NOT GOING TO BE PRACTICAL TO GO
BACK AND RE-INVENTORY ANYTHING.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS AFTER
ABOUT THREE MINUTES.
PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU CAN
EARLY.
>> COPY.
WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE A QUESTION
FOR LOCATION 10, BACK 206, CAN
YOU PLEASE REJECT THE QUANTITY
REMAINING?
>> -- READ BACK THE QUANTITY
REMAINING?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE MADE A
MISTAKE.
I THOUGHT THEY HAD THREE IN EACH
ONE AND ONE WAS REMOVED.
THE QUANTITY INSIDE OF 206 --
>> WE HAVE A GOOD READ OUT THAT
206 STARTED AT FIVE BOTTLES.
IF YOU TOOK TO OUT OF THERE, WE
CAN CALL THAT THREE.
CRACKS FROM 206, WE TOOK A
SINGLE BOTTLE OUT.
LET ME COUNT THEM FOR YOU.
>> OK.
THANKS FOR THAT DOUBLE CHECK.
NOW --
>> LOCATION 206, THERE ARE FOUR
BOTTLES REMAINING.
>> FOUR BOTTLES REMAINING, THAT
MATH MAKES BETTER SENSE.
APPRECIATE IT.
EXCUSE TO, THIS IS INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
WE ARE READY FOR THE EVENT.
>> COPY THAT.
WE ARE ALSO READY TO SEND OVER
TO YOU.
>> WELCOME ABOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
THE CREW OF EXPEDITION 63.
IT IS AN EXCITING DAY FOR US ALL
AS WE DID FAREWELL TO OUR TWO
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, BOB AND
DOUG, AS THEY COMPLETE THE
JOURNEY OF THIS AMAZING TEST
MISSION.
IT WAS ROUGHLY TWO MONTHS AGO
WHEN WE WERE RIGHT AT THIS VERY
HATCH AND GREETED THEM ABOARD
AND WE CHANGED FROM A CREW OF
THREE TO A CREW OF FIVE AND
EXECUTED TWO MONTHS OF FANTASTIC
SPACE STATION SCIENCE AND
TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES WITH
SPACEWALKS AND ROBOTICS THAT WE
ARE VERY PROUD OF AND WE ARE
VERY HAPPY TO HAVE DOUG AND BOB
BE PART OF THAT.
WE ARE A LITTLE SAD TO SEE THEM
GO, BUT VERY EXCITED FOR WHAT IT
MEANS FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION TO ADD THIS
CAPABILITY TO BRING PEOPLE BACK
AND FORTH TO THE SPACE STATION
IN LOW-EARTH ORBIT WITH ANOTHER
CAPABILITY SUCH AS THE CREW OF
DRAGON.
BEFORE I HAND THE MICROPHONE
OVER TO BOB AND DOUG, I WANT TO
MAKE MENTION OF THIS VERY
SPECIAL FLAG THAT HAS DEEP, DEEP
SPACE HISTORY, GETTING DEEPER.
THIS FLAG WILL RETURN TO EARTH
WITH THE CREW DRAGON GUYS.
IT SPENT A LITTLE TIME ON EARTH
AND VERY SOON WILL MAKE A TRIP
TO THE MOON IN SHORT ORDER.
DOUG, THE FLAG IS ALL YOURS.
IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.
IT'S ALL YOURS.
>> THANKS FOR THIS.
THIS FLAG HAS SPENT SOME TIME UP
HERE, ON THE ORDER OF NINE YEARS
SINCE WE DROPPED IT OFF ON SES
135, SO WE ARE PROUD TO RETURN
THIS FLAG HOME AND SEE WHAT IS
NEXT FOR IT ON ITS JOURNEY TO
THE MOON.
IT IS HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS
JUST WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE PART
OF THIS EXPEDITION, EXPEDITION
63.
IT WILL BE A MEMORY THAT WILL
LAST A LIFETIME FOR ME, ALL THE
INCREDIBLE TEAMWORK AND
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WITH THE
HIGHLIGHTS BEING BEFORE
SPACEWALKS THAT WE WORKED
TOGETHER, LITERALLY AS A CREW OF
FIVE, TO HAVE SUCCESS AND
COMPLETE THAT PART OF THE
UPGRADE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION WHICH LEAVES IT IN
A GREAT POSTURE FOR THE FUTURE.
THE OTHER THING TO THINK ABOUT
FOR US IS OUR MISSION IS NOT
OVER.
THE DM TO TEST FLIGHT IS IN SOME
WAYS JUST TWO THIRDS COMPLETE.
WE DID THE SCENT, THE
RENDEZVOUS, AND THE DOCKING.
WE COMPLETED OUR DOCKED
OBJECTIVES AND NOW AS THE ENTRY
DISSENT AND SPLASHDOWN PHASE,
AFTER WE UNDOCK, HOPEFULLY A
LITTLE LATER TODAY.
WE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY
FOCUSED ON COMPLETING THOSE
OBJECTIVES.
THE TEAMS ARE WORKING REALLY
HARD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE
DYNAMICS OF THE WEATHER OVER THE
NEXT FEW DAYS AROUND FLORIDA,
AND WE APPRECIATE THOSE EFFORTS
BECAUSE THOSE DECISIONS AND THAT
WORK IS NOT EASY.
AND FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM AND
SPACEX, ALL OF THE WORK THEY
HAVE DONE TO GET US TO THIS
POINT WHERE WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO
COMPLETING THIS TEST FLIGHT, IT
HAS BEEN A TRUE HONOR.
>> AS DOUG MENTIONED, WE ARE
PART OF A TEST MISSION THAT
BEGAN TWO MONTHS AGO WITH THE
INITIAL SUCCESS OF LAUNCHING
FROM AMERICAN SOIL, BRINGING
LUNCHES OF ASTRONAUTS BACK TO
THE FLORIDA COAST.
I'M EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN
A PART OF THAT.
WE ACCOMPLISHED THE NEXT THIRD
OF THE MISSION WHICH IS OUR TIME
ON ORBIT AND CHECKING OUT DRAGON
WHILE IT WAS DOCKED TO ENSURE IT
WOULD BE READY FOR THE NEXT
LAUNCH OF THE CREW ONE
ASTRONAUTS AS THEY HEAD TO THE
SPACE STATION FOR AN EVEN LONGER
STAY.
AS DOUG MENTIONED, WE ARE ABOUT
TO EMBARK ON THE FINAL PORTION
OF THE JOURNEY.
I HAVE REFERRED TO SOME OF OUR
SPACEX FRIENDS AS THE HARDEST
PART WAS GETTING US LAUNCHED,
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS
BRINGING US HOME.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE TEST
OBJECTIVES NOT ONLY SEPARATING
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION SMOOTHLY, BUT THEN
COMING DOWN TO A NICE SPLASHDOWN
OFF THE FLORIDA COAST, TOO, FULL
CIRCLE BRINGING THAT CAPABILITY
TO LAUNCH ASTRONAUTS TO THE
UNITED STATES.
AS I LOOK BACK ON THE MISSION WE
HAVE HAD HERE ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, I
AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF
MUCH OF THE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST TWO
MONTHS, AS DOUG AND CHRIS
MENTIONED, THE SPACEWALKS AND
ROBOTICS ACTIVITIES.
CHRIS AND I WERE ABLE TO JOIN
THE SPACEWALK CLUB, JUST A FEW
SHORT MONTHS AGO I DID NOT THINK
I WOULD DO ANOTHER SPACEWALK AND
NOW TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE
DONE FOR MORE WITH COMMANDER
CASSIDY WAS THE ICING ON THE
CAKE FOR A WONDERFUL MISSION.
AS I LOOK FORWARD TO HEADING
BACK HOME FOR THE SPLASHDOWN, I
DO THINK FROM A FAMILY
PERSPECTIVE, MY SON AND DOUG'S
SON ARE HAPPY NOT ONLY TO GET
THERE FATHER'S BACK, OUR ZERO G
INDICATOR THAT THEY NOMINATED TO
GO WITH US ON THIS HISTORIC
MISSION TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND BRINGING THAT
LAUNCH AND RETURN CAPABILITY.
SO, FOR JACK AND THEO, THE
PETTIS ORRIS IS HEADED HOME --
THE APATASAURUS IS HEADING BACK
WITH US.
EVERYTHING PICKED UP WHEN WE
DEPARTED YESTERDAY AND HAS BEEN
A SMOOTH RIDE SO FAR.
EVERYTHING KICKED OFF ON
SATURDAY ON THEIR 52ND DAY ON
BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, THEIR 63RD DAY IN
SPACE.
BOB AND DOUG BEGAN TO GET THE
CAPSULE READY FOR THEIR LIGHT --
FOR THEIR RIDE HOME.
EVERYTHING PICKED UP WHEN THEY
GOT THE FINAL CARGO INTO THE
DRAGON CAPSULE AND GOT
THEMSELVES IN AND CLOSED THE
HATCH.
CRAWLING IN THROUGH THE TOP
HATCH COMING GETTING SUITED UP
SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
MEANWHILE, ON THE STATION SIDE,
CHRIS CASSIDY CLOSED THE HATCH,
CREATING THE VESTIBULE, THE
SPACE BETWEEN TWO HATCHES THAT
WILL BE EXPOSED TO VACUUM AFTER
UNDOCKING.
THEN WE USED THE
DEPRESSURIZATION STEP, BRINGING
IT DOWN TO VACUUM AND GETTING IT
READY FOR THAT PHYSICAL
SEPARATION OR UNDOCKING.
AFTER THAT WAS COMPLETE, THE
TEAMS DOWN HERE ON THE GROUND,
BOTH IN MCC X IN HAWTHORNE AND
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
FLIGHT CONTROL DID A GO NO GO
FOR SYSTEMS UNDOCKING AND THE
HELP OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
FOLLOWING THAT, WE HAD A
SUCCESSFUL SEPARATION USING
DRACO THRUSTERS AROUND THE
SERVICE SECTION TO PHYSICALLY
SEPARATE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
AFTER HOOKS WERE DRIPPING BACK
-- DRIVEN BACK.
THEN IT WAS ON 24 THE PARCH OR
BURNS SPREAD OVER A NUMBER OF
HOURS, TAKING DRAGON UP AND OVER
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WHICH AUDIT BEHIND AND AFTER IT
LOWERED ITS ORBIT BENEATH THE
STATION, BRINGING IT OUT IN
FRONT.
FOLLOWING ALL OF THOSE
SUCCESSFUL DEPARTURE BURNS, IT
WAS JUST ABOUT TIME FOR THE CREW
TO GET SOME SLEEP AND DURING
THAT, WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE
DEPARTURE PHASING BURN.
IT IS A LITTLE OFF IN THIS
TIMELINE AS IT SWITCHED IN THE
FINAL HOURS LEADING UP TO THE
DEPARTURE.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE HAVE YOU
LOUD AND CLEAR FOR, CHECK.
>> I READ YOU THE SAME.
>> JUST PAUSING THE TIMELINE AS
THE CREW DOES THEIR COMMS CHECK
SO THEY HAVE COMMUNICATIONS
RUNNING THROUGH THE UMBILICAL IN
THEIR SEATS DIRECTLY INTO THEIR
SUITS WHERE THEY ARE ABLE TO
MAINTAIN A CONVERSATION WITH THE
GROUND.
WE HEARD A LITTLE CHATTER A FEW
MINUTES AGO AS THEY WERE
FINISHING UP THE FLUID LOADING.
THAT IS DONE TO HELP WITH
COMBATING STATIC INTOLERANCE.
THAT IS DIZZINESS IN MOST
PEOPLE.
FLUID LOADING CAN HELP YOUR BODY
REACT TO WHAT IS TYPICALLY A
RUSH OF BLOOD AWAY FROM THE HEAD
ONCE YOU GET BACK IN A GRAVITY
ENVIRONMENT WHICH CAN MAKE YOU
EXTREMELY DIZZY, SO FLUID
LOADING, YOU CAN UP THE AMOUNT
OF PLASMA IN YOUR BLOOD AND THAT
HELPS MINIMIZE THAT.
THEY ARE ALSO WEARING WHAT IS
KNOWN AS AN ORTHOSTATIC VARMINT.
THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY COMPRESSION
PANTS THAT SQUEEZES THEIR LEGS
AND FORCES THE FLUID FROM THEIR
LEGS TO THE UPPER PART OF THEIR
BODY.
EVERYTHING IS CONTINUING TO
PROCEED, THEY ARE SUITED UP
INSIDE DRAGON FOR THE SECOND
TIME IN THE LAST ONE HE FOUR
HOURS AS WE GET READY FOR THIS
DE-ORBIT.
>> YOU CAN SEE A SHOT OF MISSION
CONTROL HERE AT SPACEX
HEADQUARTERS IN HAWTHORNE,
CALIFORNIA.
THOSE FOLKS THERE ARE DRAGON
OPERATORS, THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS
THAT CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
DATA AND TELEMETRY COMING DOWN
FROM DRAGON.
NOT ONLY ABOUT THE VEHICLE BUT
THE CREW THEMSELVES, CONTINUING
TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS GOING
WELL AND THAT WE ARE GREEN OR GO
TO STEP INTO THE NEXT MAJOR
MILESTONES WE HAVE COMING UP.
AT THIS POINT, WE ARE ABOUT AN
HOUR AND A HALF AWAY FROM THAT.
THOSE MILESTONES WILL BEGIN WITH
THE CLAW SEPARATION, WHICH IS
WHEN WE INITIATE THE JETTISON OF
THE TRUNK.
IN ORDER TO EXPOSE THE HEAT
SHIELD UNDER THE CAPSULE, WE
NEED TO LET THE TRUNK GO AWAY,
SO WE SEPARATE THE TWO, THAT
TRUNK WILL REENTER THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE AND IT WILL
DISINTEGRATE UPON DOING SO.
WE HAVE A NICE LITTLE ANIMATION
HERE, SO I WILL TOSS IT TO DAN.
>> WE DID THE DEPARTURE PHASING
BURN.
THAT IS WHAT SET US UP ON THE
PATH TO OUR WE ARE TODAY.
THEN THE CREW DID HAVE A SLEEP
TIME, THIS IS ABOUT A 19 HOUR
TRIP FROM THE STATION TO THE
SPLASHDOWN.
WE ARE ALMOST UP TO CLAW AND
TRUNK SEPARATION.
>> AT 10:51 A.M. PACIFIC, WE
WILL HAVE THE CLAW AND TRUNK
SEPARATION, WHICH WILL BASICALLY
ALLOW IT TO EXPOSE THE HEAT
SHIELD AND PREPARE US TO EXECUTE
THE DE-ORBIT BURN.
THAT'S INTENDED TO LACE DRAGON
ON ITS FINAL TRAJECTORY TO ITS
LANDING ZONE, WHICH IS
DETERMINED TO BE OFF THE COAST
OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
THE BURN WILL LAST ABOUT 11 AND
A HALF MINUTES.
AFTER DOING SO, WE WILL CLOSE
AND LOCK THE NOSECONE.
WE DO THAT TO PROTECT THE
FORWARD HATCH LOCATED AT THE TOP
OF THE CAPSULE AND WE DO THAT
AFTER THE DE-ORBIT BURN BECAUSE
THAT IS WHAT WE USE TO PERFORM
THE BURN.
ONCE THE NOSE CONE IS CLOSED, WE
ENTER A SIX MINUTE LONG COMMUTE
OCCASION BLACKOUT.
THIS IS BECAUSE WE ARE
REENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE.
AS WE ENCOUNTER THE ATMOSPHERE
AND FRICTION BUILDS UP, PLASMA
BUILDS UP ON THE EXTERNAL SIDES
OF THE CAPSULE, CREATING A
BARRIER WHERE WE CANNOT COMMAND
THE CAPSULE OR RECEIVE
TELEMETRY.
HOWEVER, DRAGON IS COMPLETELY
AUTONOMOUS.
IT IS DRIVING IT SELF AT THAT
POINT.
THAT BLACKOUT LASTS FOR SIX
MINUTES.
A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER THAT,
WE WILL DEPLOY THE PARACHUTES.
THEY ARE USED FOR A OF REASONS.
ONE, TO HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE
DOWN BEFORE WE DEPLOY THE MAIN
PARACHUTES AS WELL AS THE
STABILIZER VEHICLE.
ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER DEPLOYMENT,
WE WILL DEPLOY THE FOUR MAIN
PARACHUTES.
IF YOU WATCHED OUR DEMO ONE
SPLASHDOWN, THEY ARE BIG,
BEAUTIFUL AND ORANGE.
THEY SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN TO 15
OR 16 MILES AN HOUR.
THAT IS THE SPEED THEY WILL BE
GOING WHEN THEY SPLASHDOWN IN
THE GULF OF MEXICO.
WE ARE TARGETING THE EAST COAST
OF FLORIDA JUST OFF THE COAST OF
PENSACOLA.
ONCE IT IS CONFIRMED AND WE CUT
THE MAIN PARACHUTE SO THEY DO
NOT PULL THE CAPSULE, RECOVERY
OPERATIONS BEGIN IMMEDIATELY.
THAT ENTAILS ESSENTIALLY GETTING
THE CAPSULE OUT OF THE WATER,
LIFTING IT ON TO THE RECOVERY
VESSEL, AND ONCE THAT IS SECURE,
WE OPEN THE HATCH AND GET OUR
FIRST GLIMPSE OF BOB AND DOUG
BACK HERE ON PLANET EARTH FOR
THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEY
LAUNCHED ON FALCON 9 BACK IN
LATE MAY.
THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT WILL BE
THE FIRST TIME THEY GET TO
BREATHE FRESH AIR AND WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING SOME
THUMBS UP FROM THEM WHEN WE SEE
THEM EXIT THE CAPSULE.
>> EVERYTHING IS LINING UP FOR
AN ON-TIME SPLASHDOWN AND
RECOVERY.
WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE
PROGRESS OF GO NAVIGATOR AS IT
MAKES ITS WAY TO THE RECOVERY
ZONE.
IT LEFT ITS PORT IN PENSACOLA A
FEW HOURS AGO AND WE ARE
TRACKING THAT IT SHOULD BE
ARRIVING ON STATION JUST ABOUT
AT THE TOP OF THIS CURRENT HOUR.
IT WILL BE THERE IN ADVANCE OF
THE UPCOMING HARDWARE MILESTONES
, SO IT WILL BE THERE AND READY
WITH THE OPERATIONAL TEAM, A
LITTLE OVER 40 PERSONNEL TEAM
READY TO ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY
OF THE CAPSULE AND GETTING BOB
AND DOUG HOME.
>> AS THE MISSION CONTROLLERS
THERE AND OUR MISSION CONTROL
CENTER HERE JUST TO MY LEFT
CONTINUE TO MONITOR DRAGON, WE
CONTINUE TO MONITOR TWITTER FOR
YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE ARE USING ME HAVE TAG ASK
NASA AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET
THROUGH AS MANY QUESTIONS AS
POSSIBLE.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
JACKIE.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE NAME
OF THE DRAGON RECOVERY VESSEL
SAILING TO THE SPLASHDOWN
LOCATION?
GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE WE HAVE
TWO OF THEM.
WHEN WE ARE UTILIZING TODAY IS
GO NAVIGATOR.
THIS RECOVERY SHIP IS FOR ALL OF
OUR -- ALL OF THE SPLASHDOWN
LOCATIONS ON THE WEST COAST OF
LORD.
SO ANY POTENTIAL SPLASHDOWN IN
THE GULF OF MEXICO IS SERVICED
BY GO NAVIGATOR.
FOR OUR EAST COAST LANDING
SITES, WHICH WE WILL NOT BE
ATTEMPTING TODAY, WE USE GO
SEARCH HER.
BOTH GO NAVIGATOR AND GO SEARCH
OR ARE IDENTICAL.
THEY HAVE FULLY RECOVERABLE
PLATFORMS AND MEDICAL BASES.
WE ARE ABLE TO ASSIST THE
DEPARTURE PROCESS, SO DEPARTING
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
IT'S GREAT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
ASSIST THAT BY ALLOWING MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEPARTURE BY
HAVING MORE LANDING SITES.
TODAY, WE ARE USING GO NAVIGATOR
AND IT PARTED FOR THE LANDING
ZONE ABOUT TWO AND HALF HOURS
AGO.
IT IS IN ROUTE TO THE DESIGNATED
LANDING ZONE OFF THE COURSE OF
-- COAST OF PENSACOLA.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION -- WHAT IS
THE IMPORTANCE OF INVENTORY
CHECK DURING SPLASHDOWN?
JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, YOU
HEARD BOB AND DOUG GOING THROUGH
A WIDE RANGE OF INVENTORY
CHECKS.
A LOT OF IT IS THEIR FOOD AND
WATER, PARTICULARLY THE WATER AS
THEY COMPLETED THE FLUID
LOADING.
WE HAVE TO METICULOUSLY TRACK
EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THE
SPACECRAFT FOR THE OBVIOUS
REASONS, LIKE IF THE ASTRONAUT
NEEDS TO FIND IT, IT HELPS TO
KNOW WHERE IT IS.
THEN FOR SOME OF THE LESS
OBVIOUS REASONS LIKE WE HAVE TO
TRACK WHERE EVERYTHING IS AND IF
SOMETHING IS MISSING, YOU HAVE
TO FIND IT WHEN YOU GET BACK ON
THE GROUND.
FOR THINGS LIKE FOOD AND WATER,
THAT IS SOMETHING WE CALL A
CONSUMABLE.
THOSE ARE RESOURCES THAT YOU
HAVE A FINITE AMOUNT OF.
FOOD AND WATER, HAVE ABOUT THREE
DAYS WORTH OF FOOD AND PLENTY OF
WATER ON BOARD.
IT WASN'T THE LIMITING
CONSUMABLE FOR THIS FLIGHT HOME
AS WAS DISCUSSED IN OUR
PRE-RETURN NEWS CONFERENCE.
CARBON DIOXIDE SCRUBBING WAS THE
LOW MAN ON THE TOTEM POLE FOR
THE TRIP HOME.
THEY HAVE ABOUT THREE DAYS
WORTH.
SO YOU HAVE TO THINK OF ALL
THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT ARE
LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT FALL
UNDER THAT CONSUMABLE, WHATEVER
YOU ARE MAPPING, THE ORBIT
LIFETIME THAT YOU HAVE.
WE KNEW WE WERE EITHER GOING TO
RETURN TODAY OR WITHIN 47 HOURS
AFTER THAT, SO WE MAKE SURE WE
HAVE PLENTY FOR THAT SITUATION
AND OURS BEYOND THAT IS JUST
EXTRA MARGIN.
WE ARE ALWAYS ABOUT REDUNDANCY
AND BACKUP PLANS AND EVERY THING
LIKE THAT.
>> SOMETHING ELSE TO CONSIDER
WITH RESPECT TO INVENTORY,
DURING REENTRY, WE DON'T WANT
ANYTHING LOOSE FLYING AROUND.
THAT IS HAZARDOUS TO THE CREW,
SO TAKING INVENTORY OF WHAT HAS
BEEN ON -- UN STOWED AND
RE-STOWED.
IT'S EASY TO LET GO OF SOMETHING
AND IT MIGHT DRIFT OFF BEHIND
THE CONTROL PANEL.
IT'S VERY EASY FOR THINGS TO
DRIFT OFF ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND GET LOST.
HAVING THE INVENTORY ALLOWS US
TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NOT ANY
FOREIGN OBJECTS THAT ARE NOT
SUPPOSED TO BE OUT DURING THE
TIMES IN WHICH THEY ARE MEANT TO
BE STOWED.
SO INVENTORY IS IMPORTANT FOR A
NUMBER OF REASONS.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
TIM.
HE SAYS MY 10-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
WANTS TO KNOW HOW HOT THE
EXTERIOR OF THE SPACECRAFT WILL
GET DURING REENTRY.
AWESOME.
DID MORNING, -- GOOD MORNING,
THANK YOU FOR TUNING INTO THE
WEBCAST.
WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE YOUNG
VIEWERS JOIN IN FOR THESE
HISTORIC MISSIONS.
A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
THE OUTSIDE OF DRAGON QUEST --
DRAGON CAPSULE WILL REACH 3500
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
THAT IS VERY HOT, BUT BOB AND
DOUG WILL BE SAFE AND
COMFORTABLE INSIDE THE DRAGON
CAPSULE.
WE HAVE MEASURES IN PLACE TO
MAKE SURE THE INSIDE OF THE
CAPSULE WILL BE FLUSH WITH COLD
AIR AS WELL AS THE INSIDE OF
THEIR SPACESUIT.
EVEN THOUGH THE OUTSIDE WILL BE
GETTING HOT, BOB AND DOUG WILL
RARELY BE BREAKING A SWEAT.
>> OUR NEXT QUESTION -- WILL THE
SUPER DRACO THRUSTERS BE A
BACKUP TO THE PARACHUTES?
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE
ONE OF THE EARLIEST DESIGNS OF
DRAGON HAD IT DOING A PROPULSIVE
LYING -- PROPULSIVE LANDING.
AN EARLY DESIGN HAD LANDING
PROPULSIVE LAY, SO USING THOSE
SUPER DRACO'S TO TOUCH DOWN ON A
RUNWAY.
THAT IS NO LONGER IN DRAGON'S
CONFIGURATION.
THOSE THRUSTERS ARE COMPLETELY
INHIBITED FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL
FLIGHT INTO ORBIT.
THEY ARE ONLY USED FOR AN
EMERGENCY ESCAPE SITUATION
EITHER ON THE PAD OR DURING THE
INITIAL CLIMB UP TO ORBIT.
THEY ENABLE DRAGON TO DO THAT
ESCAPE FROM THE PAD ALL THE WAY
UP SO YOU HAVE THAT EXTRA SAFETY
NET YOUR ENTIRE WAY UPHILL.
ONCE THEY ARE ON ORBIT AND
MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE SPACE
STATION OR COMING HOME, THOSE
THRUSTERS ARE DISABLED.
WE ARE ONLY USING THE SMALLER
THRUSTERS AROUND THE SERVICE
SECTION OF THE BOTTOM OF THE
CAPSULE ITSELF AND THE FOUR AT
THE VERY TOP, THE FORWARD
BULKHEAD DRESSERS.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM AMY --
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PARACHUTES
AFTER SPLASHDOWN?
ARE THEY RECOVERED?
>> AFTER SPLASHDOWN, THERE WILL
BE TWO SMALLER BOATS THAT WILL
BE APPROACHING THE DRAGON
CAPSULE.
THE FIRST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
DETERMINING THAT THERE ARE NOT
ANY TOXIC VAPORS SURROUNDING THE
CAPSULE.
THAT FAST BOAT WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PREPARING THE
CAPSULE FOR LIFT OUT OF THE
WATER.
THE SECOND BOAT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR RETRIEVING THE PARACHUTES
OUT OF THE WATER.
WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE ANY WASTE BEHIND WHERE
POSSIBLE.
THAT SECOND BOAT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR RETRIEVING THE PARACHUTES.
AFTER SPLASHDOWN, THOSE
PARACHUTES ARE AUTOMATICALLY CUT
SO THERE'S NO POTENTIAL THAT IF
THERE WAS A LITTLE WIND THAT THE
DRAGON CAPSULE WOULD NOT BE
MOVED DUE TO WIND CATCHING IN
THE PARACHUTES.
GREAT QUESTION.
THEY ARE CUT, AUTOMATICALLY
AFTER SPOUT -- AFTER SPLASHDOWN,
THEN ONE OF THE CRUISE IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING THEM UP.
THE NEXT QUESTION IS FROM NOVA
CON.
WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE CREW
FOR THE CREW ONE MISSION?
>> THE CREW ONE MISSION WILL BE
WHAT WE CALL THE FIRST
OPERATIONAL FLIGHT OF THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
MISSION WE ARE ON RIGHT NOW IS A
DEMONSTRATION, A TEST MISSION.
WE ARE PROVING OUT DRAGON'S
CAPABILITIES LAUNCH THROUGH
SPLASHDOWN.
AFTER THIS TEST, IF EVERYTHING
GOES WELL AND WE ARE LINED UP
GREAT FOR SPLASHDOWN TODAY, WE
WILL SIT DOWN AND GO THROUGH A
CERTIFICATION PROCESS TO FLY
OPERATIONAL MISSIONS.
THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE FLYING
REGULAR EXPEDITION LONG FLIGHTS.
IT WILL BE A FIRST FOUR-PERSON
CREW TO LAUNCH AND SPEND SIX
MONTHS ABOARD THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
WE WILL HAVE FOUR INDIVIDUALS,
LAUNCHING IN DRAGON AND SPENDING
SIX MONTHS ON BOARD THE SPACE
STATION DOING SCIENCE
EXPERIENCE, CONDUCTING SPACE
WALKS, REPAIRS, EVERYTHING A
NORMAL EXPEDITION CREW DOES.
THEY WILL JUST BE ARRIVING AND
LEAVING IN A DRAGON.
>> I THINK COMMANDER CHRIS
CASSIDY WILL STILL BE ON BOARD
GIVEN THE TARGETED CREW ONE
LAUNCH.
>> SPACEX -- [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> WE'VE GOT YOU FIVE BY FIVE,
BOB.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> PLEASE REPEAT LAST FIVE
SECONDS OF THAT CALL.
WE HAD A CALM DROPOUT.
-- A COM DROPOUT.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> WE COPY THAT YOU HEARD US
LOUD AND CLEAR, THE REST OF THE
MESSAGE WAS GARBLED.
PLEASE REPEAT ONE MORE TIME.
>> WE HAVE A GOOD CALM CHECK
BETWEEN BOTH OF US AND WE ARE
COMPLETE WITH SUIT DONNING.
COPY.
>> THAT WAS FIVE BY FIVE.
WE COPY YOU ARE COMPLETE WITH
SUIT DONNING PROCEDURE.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THE CREW IS NOW
SUITED UP.
THEY JUST CONDUCTED THAT
COMMUNICATION CHECKS WITH THE
CREW HERE IN HAWTHORNE.
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE PERSON
TALKING DIRECTLY TO BOB AND DOUG
THROUGHOUT THEIR FLIGHT.
IT IS -- THERE ARE A COUPLE OF
POSITIONS AND WE ARE ON THE
THIRD SHIFT OF THEIR FLIGHT
HOME.
THAT WILL BE PRETTY MUCH THE
PERSON GETTING ALL THE UPDATES
TO AND FROM BOB AND DOUG, BEING
THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE TEAMS ON
THE GROUND.
THEY DID THE CHECKS
SUCCESSFULLY.
THEY WILL STAY IN THEIR SUITS
ENDED IN THEIR SEATS FOR THE
REST OF THE DAY PRETTY MUCH.
>> -- D ORBIT PREPARATION WHEN
LABEL -- D-ORBIT PREPARATION
WHEN ABLE.
>> SPACEX DRAGON, WE ARE
COMPLETE WITH SECTIONS ONE
THROUGH FOUR, SECTION FIVE, THE
ONLY THING LEFT TO DO IS DECIMAL
TO.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS COMPLETE.
>> COPY SECTIONS ONE THROUGH
FOUR ARE COMPLETE AND SOUNDS
LIKE WE HAVE -- SOUNDS LIKE YOU
ARE COMPLETING FLUID LOADING AND
STANDING BY FOR A LEAK CHECK.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> THANKS, DOUG, APPRECIATE IT.
>> WHAT WE HEARD THERE WAS
COMMUTE OCCASION BETWEEN DRAGON
--
>> I JUST WANTED TO CHECK BACK
ON THE COM DROPOUT THAT YOU HAD.
HOW IS THIS COM NOW?
WAS THAT EXPLAINABLE AS RANDOM
DROPOUTS OR CONTINUING?
>> WE HAD YOU FINE JUST THEN, WE
ARE INVESTIGATING ROOT CAUSE,
BUT GIVING -- GIVEN THE CLARITY
OF YOUR CALL JUST NOW, I
SUSPECTING YOUR AUDIO SYSTEM IS
HEALTHY.
>> COPY.
THANK YOU.
>> THERE WE HEARD A LITTLE
COMMUNICATION CONFIRMING MISSION
CONTROL WAS ABLE TO READ OR
HEAR, AS IT IS REFERRED TO BOB
AND DOUG CLEARLY AS THEY HAVE
PUT ON THEIR SUITS.
WE HEARD THE GO FOR LEAK CHECKS.
NOW THAT THEIR SUITS ARE ON, WE
WILL BE PERFORMING A QUICK LEAK
CHECK.
WE DO THIS EVERY TIME THE SUITS
ARE PUT ON OR DON, AS YOU HEARD
IT CALLED.
THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WE
PRESSURIZE THE SUITS THROUGHOUT
THE MISSION AND IT IS
ESSENTIALLY TO MAKE SURE ALL OF
THE ZIPPERS ARE ZIPPED UP
PROPERLY.
ALL IT TAKES IS ONE SMALL
UNZIPPED PEACE TO NOT HOLD THE
PRESSURE, SO WE MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS FITTED UP
ACCORDINGLY AND READY TO GO IN
CASE OF A NEED TO PRESSURIZE THE
SUIT LATER IN THE MISSION.
UNLIKELY, BUT IT IS NICE TO KNOW
FOR TESTING PURPOSES TO KNOW
THAT CAPABILITY IS THERE.
IT IS WHAT THEY ARE DESIGNED
FOR.
THE LEAK CHECK WILL COMMENCE AND
AFTER WE GET THAT, WE WILL
PRESSURIZE THE SUITS THEY WILL
DEPRESSURIZED AND THEN BOB AND
DOUG WILL BE ABLE TO LIFT THE
VISOR ON THEIR HELMET AGAIN AND
THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL BE
WEARING DURING THIS LAST PHASE
OF THEIR MISSION AS THEY REENTER
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
A LOT OF GOOD STUFF THERE.
NO CALL.
WE ARE TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS
THROUGH TWITTER THIS MORNING,
USING THE HASH TAG ASK NASA.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
ROBERT.
IS THE U.S. NAVY SUPPORTING
RECOVERY WITH SHIPS AND
AIRCRAFT?
>> THEY ARE NOT.
I SUSPECT THAT COMES FROM THE
LAST TIME WE DID SPLASHDOWN'S
WITH U.S. SPACECRAFT AND
ASTRONAUTS WHERE WE HAD THE NAVY
ASSISTING THROUGHOUT THE APOLLO
PROGRAM FOR THE RECOVERIES.
THEY ARE NOT ASSISTING IN THIS.
ALL THE RECOVERY ASSETS FOR THE
NOMINAL MISSION IS SPACEX.
SPACEX OWNS BOTH RECOVERY SHIPS
 ASSISTING IN THIS.
ALL THE RECOVERY ASSETS FOR THE
AND CONTRACT WITH THE DIFFERENT
HELICOPTERS AND OTHER ASSETS
USED IN THE RECOVERY.
NASA DOES HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE BACKUP, ESSENTIALLY.
IF BOB AND DOUG WERE TO HAVE TO
SPLASHDOWN ANYWHERE OTHER THAN
THOSE SEVEN SPOTS WE TARGET
AROUND FLORIDA, WE HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO CALL THEM UP FOR
RESCUE AND RECOVERY USING PERA
JUMPERS OR WHATEVER ASSETS ARE
AVAILABLE TO US.
THEY ARE ALSO CALLED UP ON LUNCH
DAYS IN THE EVENT WE WERE TO
HAVE AN ABORT ON THE WAY TO
ORBIT WITH THEM COMING DOWN
SOMEWHERE IN THE ATLANTIC.
BUT, FOR NOW, TODAY, EVERYTHING
IS SPACEX AND NASA.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION COMING TO US
-- IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON HOW
LONG THE CAPSULE CAN BE LEFT TO
FLOAT IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
BEFORE IT NEEDS TO BE RECOVERED?
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO GET THE
CREW OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE,
LET THEM GET OUT AND STRETCH
THEIR LEGS AND BEGIN THEIR
MEDICAL EVALUATIONS.
HOWEVER, THE CAPSULE WOULD BE
ABLE TO FLOAT FOR A COUPLE OF
DAYS, LIKELY MENTIONED BEFORE.
THERE IS ENOUGH ONBOARD WATER
AND FOOD.
THEY WOULD BE COMFORTABLE,
ALTHOUGH IF THE WAVES PICK UP, I
WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE.
THAT BEING SAID, WE DO STRIVE TO
RECOVER THEM AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE.
THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WE
HAVE NUMEROUS POTENTIAL LANDING
ZONE SITES AND SPECIAL CRITERIA
FOR WHERE THEY ACTUALLY LAND TO
ENSURE WE ARE ABLE TO GET THE
CREW UP AND OUT OF THE WATER AND
INTO THE MEDICAL BASE,
ESSENTIALLY WITHIN AN HOUR AFTER
SPLASHDOWN.
>> OUR NEXT ONE COMES FROM MARK
WHO WANTS TO KNOW CAN THEY TAKE
OVER FROM THE COMPUTER AND DO A
MANUAL SPLASHDOWN IF REQUIRED?
THEY CAN.
INITIATING A DE-ORBIT OR
EMERGENCY DE-ORBIT IS ONE OF THE
CAPABILITIES AVAILABLE ON BOARD.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE IN A PRETTY
EXTREME SITUATION TO DO THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING NOT IN TODAY
BECAUSE EVERY THING HAS GONE
SMOOTHLY BUT THAT IS SOMETHING
AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THEY ALSO HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO
MANUALLY STEP IN FOR A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT STEPS DURING REENTRY.
MAINLY FOR ANY PARACHUTE
DEPLOYMENT OR CUTTING THE
PARACHUTE AFTER THEY HAVE
SPLASHDOWN.
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN
AUTOMATICALLY.
THEY HAVE A BUTTON IN FRONT OF
THEM ON THEIR DISPLAYS WHERE
THEY CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THEY HAVE QUITE A BIT OF
CAPABILITY IF REQUIRED.
>> THAT IS ONE OF THE FEW
HARDWIRED BUTTONS ON THEIR
DISPLAY PANEL, BUT NOT ONE THAT
CAN BE TRIGGERED ACCIDENTALLY.
IT IS A TWO-STEP VERIFICATION
LEVER ESSENTIALLY.
NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT
PERFORMING AN EMERGENCY DE-ORBIT
ACCIDENTALLY.
NEXT QUESTION COMES TO US FROM
NASA PLUS SPACE EQUALS HEART.
WILL THIS DRAGON BE REUSED?
YES, IT WILL.
IT'S INTENDED TO BE USED ON THE
CREW 2 MISSION.
WE ALREADY HAVE PLANS FOR REUSE
FOR IT.
THE TEAM AT THE CAPE IS ALREADY
PREPARING TO BEGIN THOSE
REFURBISHMENT PROCESSES.
AS SOON AS THE CAPSULE LANDS,
GETTING A START ON THAT.
THE CAPSULE IS WATERPROOF.
THAT'S A PROCESS WE LEARNED TO
DO THROUGH THE CREW CARGO
PROGRAM.
OUR REUSE EFFORTS WITH THAT
PROGRAM WITH OUR PREVIOUS
VERSION OF THE DRAGON CAPSULE,
ALSO KNOWN AS DRAGON ONE, THE
PROCESS OF MAKING THAT
WATERPROOF, THAT KNOWLEDGE WE
LEARNED FROM THAT HAS
TRANSFERRED OVER TO CREW DRAGON
CAPSULES AND IT IS SAFE TO SAY
IT'S WITH VERY LITTLE
REFURBISHMENT REQUIRED TO THE
INTERNAL HARDWARE.
THERE IS VERY LITTLE
REFURBISHMENT REQUIRED BECAUSE
WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP IT
WATERTIGHT AND ELIMINATE
EXPOSURE TO SALTWATER, WHICH FOR
METALLIC SURFACES DOES CAUSE
EROSION -- CAUSING CORROSION,
WHICH IS NO GOOD FOR
SPACEFLIGHT.
WE WILL BE USING THIS NEXT YEAR
ON THE NASA CREW2 MISSION.
>> WHAT ARE BOB AND DOUG
BRINGING BACK FROM ISS IF
ANYTHING?
THERE IS QUITE A BIT.
THEY HAVE ABOUT 150 KILOGRAMS OR
A LITTLE OVER 330 POUNDS OF
CARGO, ESSENTIALLY STRAPPED TO
THE GROUND RIGHT UNDER THEIR
SEATS.
THE LIONS SHARE OF THAT IS
UTILIZATION OR SCIENCE SAMPLES.
A LOT OF IT IS COLD STOWAGE
SAMPLES KEPT IN POWERED
FREEZERS.
THOSE ARE COMING FROM A RANGE OF
BIOLOGICAL, BIOMEDICAL STUDIES.
A LOT OF THEM WITH THE
ASTRONAUTS THEMSELVES AS THE
TEST SUBJECTS.
A CRITICAL CAPABILITY AS WE
EXECUTE A LOT OF SCIENCE ON THE
STATION BUT WE NEED TO RETURN IT
FOR ANALYSIS AT THE LABS HERE ON
EARTH.
THEY WILL BE BRINGING A LOT OF
THAT DOWN.
THEY ARE ALSO RETURNING VEHICLE
HARDWARE ITEMS THAT HAVE
MALFUNCTIONED OR HAVE PASSED
THEIR SERVICE LIFE AND NEED TO
COME HOME AND BE INSPECTED.
A COUPLE OF THEIR PERSONAL
ITEMS, THEIR SLEEPING BAGS ARE
COMING BACK.
THEY ALSO HAVE A COUPLE OF
SPECIAL ITEMS, INCLUDING THE
DINOSAUR THAT WAS THERE ZERO G
INDICATOR AND THE FLAG THAT WAS
LEFT THERE, THE FINAL SPACE
SHUTTLE MISSION, THAT IS COMING
HOME.
IT HAS BEEN UP THERE FOR NINE
YEARS AND IT WILL FLY IN WHEN WE
SEND HUMANS AROUND THE MOON IN
THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
I KNOW WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT I
HAVE HEARD LITTLE EARTH IS ALSO
COMING BACK.
I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THAT.
LITTLE EARTH WAS THE ZERO G
INDICATOR ON DEMO ONE AND
REMAINED ON STATION AFTER THAT
AND PRETTY SURE IT WAS PACKED
AWAY TO COME HOME ON DEMO TWO.
>> I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, DRAGON IS CURRENTLY
FLYING OVER THE FAR SOUTH
PACIFIC OCEAN.
WE HAVE A NICE LITTLE MAP HERE
TO SHOW YOU OF OUR GROUND
TRACKING.
SO THERE YOU CAN SEE IT ON YOUR
SCREEN.
THE YELLOW INDICATES WHERE THE
CAPSULE IS IN DAYLIGHT.
THE RED PART OF THE LINE
INDICATES WHERE IT GOES INTO
ECLIPSE OR BASICALLY WHEN IT'S
HIDING IN EARTH'S SHADOW.
RIGHT NOW, IT IS IN DAYLIGHT.
BOB AND DOUG MUST BE GETTING
SPECTACULAR VIEWS AS THEY ARE
COMPLETING THEIR SUIT UP
PROCESS.
AT THIS POINT, WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE A QUICK BREAK AND LEAVE YOU
WITH OUR LOVELY GROUND MAP HERE.
>> DRAGON SPACEX FOR VIDEO.
REQUEST TO COME BACK ABOARD WHEN
YOU ARE READY.
>> WE ARE READY FOR YOU TO COME
ABOARD.
>> OUTSTANDING.
>> DRAGON SPACEX -- [CROSSTALK]
>> DRAGON DEPARTING.
>> DRAGON SPACEX SEPARATION
CONFIRMED.
>> PHYSICAL SEPARATION 4:35
PACIFIC.
LOOKING GOOD, COUNTING DOWN TO A
NOMINAL DEPARTURE BURN COMING
SHORTLY.
>> DRAGON SPACEX DEPART BURN
ZERO COMPLETE.
>> COMPLETE.
>> YOU HEARD DEPART BURN ZERO
COMPLETE, MOVING SLIGHTLY FASTER
AWAY FROM THE SPACE STATION
USING THE SERVICE SECTION
DRACO'S.
WITH THAT, BOB AND DOUG HAVE
CONCLUDED THEIR STAY ABOARD THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY BACK TO
PLANET EARTH.
CONFIRM PHYSICAL SEPARATION AT
4:35 PACIFIC.
>> ANY OF THE DYNAMIC PHASE OF
THE MISSION.
THEY WILL ZIP UP THE SUITS AND
--
[CROSSTALK]
>> DRAGON SPACEX, YOU ARE GO TO
PRESSURIZE.
>> BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY
GETTING READY TO GO.
PRESSURIZED NIGHT ROCKS --
PRESSURIZED NITROX.
THESE SUITS ARE WORN AS A LINE
OF DEFENSE TO PROTECT
CREWMEMBERS AGAINST THE HARSH
ENVIRONMENT OF OUTER SPACE IF
THEY WERE TO EXPERIENCE CAP AND
DEPRESSURIZATION, ANY KIND OF
POISONOUS LEAK IN THEIR
ATMOSPHERE OR EVEN A FIRE ON
THESE SUITS ARE DESIGNED TO
PROTECT FROM ALL THOSE DIFFERENT
INSTANCES.
THE SUIT LEAK CHECK IS PRETTY
STANDARD ANYTIME WE GET INTO ONE
OF THESE DYNAMIC OPERATIONS.
WE WANT ONE MORE CHECK TO MAKE
SURE THAT THIS SUIT IS READY TO
GO IN CASE IT IS CALLED UPON.
THEY WILL PRESSURIZE NOW AND
PUMP SOME NITROGEN AND OXYGEN
THROUGH THEIR SUITS AND LOOK FOR
IT TO MAINTAIN A CONSTANT
PRESSURE AND THEN ONCE THAT IS
DONE, THEY WILL DEPRESSURIZED
THE SUITS AND LEAVE THE ZIPPER
OPEN, TYPICALLY LEAVE ONE
UNZIPPED A LITTLE BIT WHEN THEY
ARE NOT PRESSURIZED AND WILL
STILL HAVE COOL AIR FLOWING
THROUGH.
THEY WILL DO WHAT IS CALLED A
SUIT PURGE FOR WE DO THE
DE-ORBIT BURN.
AT THE SAME TIME THEY FLUSH THE
CABIN ATMOSPHERE ITSELF WITH
SOME COOLED DOWN AIR, THEY WILL
THROW SOME COLD AIR THROUGH THE
SUIT TO REGULATE THE
TEMPERATURE, THE COOLING EFFECT
INSIDE THAT TEMPERATURE TO MAKE
SURE THE ENVIRONMENT STAYS AT A
COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE FOR THEM
WHILE THE DRAGON CAPSULE HEATS
UP TO 3500 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
OUTSIDE.
WE HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE LEFT IN
THE SUIT LEAK CHECK AND WE WILL
WAIT FOR THE RESULTS ON THAT AND
THERE WILL BE ONE MORE BOX
CHECKED ON THE WAY TO THE
UPCOMING DE-ORBIT BURN, REENTRY
AND SPLASHDOWN.
ONE INTERESTING THING TO NOTE,
IF YOU ARE WATCHING THE GROUND
TRACK, YOU ARE GOING TO START TO
SEE THAT LINE COMING OUT OF THE
BOTTOM LEFT CORNER AND ENDING IN
THE GULF, THAT MEANS WE ARE ON
OUR FINAL ORBIT.
DRAGON IS A SICKLY ON ITS LAST
LAP AROUND PLANET EARTH.
THE LAST 90 MINUTES IT IS GOING
TO SPEND UNTIL WE GET TO THE
SPLASHDOWN.
YOU CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
THE LINE IS GOING TO STOP MOVING
WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT TERMINATE
IN THE GULF.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE SHOW
NOMINAL LEAK CHECK.
>> WE SHOW THE SAME.
>> THERE A MINUTE AGO, WE HAD
CONFIRMATION OF NOMINAL LEAK
CHECK.
JUST CHECKING ANOTHER BOX OFF
THE TO DO LIST AS BOB AND DOUG
CONTINUE THEIR RETURN HOME BACK
TO PLANET EARTH.
UP NEXT, WE WILL BE MAKING SURE
THE NITROX SYSTEM IS SAFE AND WE
ARE ABLE TO PROCEED INTO THE
NEXT PHASES OF OUR DISSENT TO
THE GULF OF MEXICO.
WE ARE AIMING FOR A SPLASHDOWN
JUST OFF THE COAST OF PENSACOLA,
FLORIDA.
RIGHT NOW, OUR RECOVERY SHIP IS
IN ROUTE AND -- TO THAT
DESIGNATED LOCATION ZONE AND IT
WILL BE THERE READY AND WAITING
FOR BOB AND DOUG TO SPLASHDOWN.
THERE ON YOUR SCREEN, WE HAVE A
LIVE SHOT FROM GO NAVIGATOR, OUR
RECOVERY SHIP LOCATED IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
YOU CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF A
FEEL FOR THE WAVE ACTION WE'VE
GOT THERE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, PRETTY CALM
LOOKING BASED ON THE WAVES WE
CAN SEE IN THE SHOT.
WE ARE EXCITED TO WELCOME BOB
AND DOUG BACK HOME.
JUST CHECKING MY TIMELINE
QUICKLY, THEY ARE LANDING IN
JUST UNDER TWO HOURS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ONE HOUR 50
SEVEN MINUTES.
THAT WILL BE HAPPENING AT 11:48
PACIFIC TIME, 18:48 UNIVERSAL
COORDINATED TIME.
BEFORE WE GET TO THEIR WATER
LANDING, WE HAVE TO PERFORM A
COUPLE OF STEPS PRIOR TO THAT.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG
THIS MORNING, YOU ARE PROBABLY
VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
PERHAPS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO
HAVE JOINED IN AND THE LAST FEW
MINUTES, AT THIS POINT, WE ARE
EXACTLY ONE HOUR AWAY FROM THE
NEXT PHYSICAL MILESTONE THAT
NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO
DRAGON ENDEAVOR'S RETURN TO
EARTH.
THOSE ACTIVITIES WILL BEGIN WITH
CLAW SEPARATION.
THE CLAW IS WHAT CONNECTS THE
UMBILICAL'S, THE POWER,
TELEMETRY, THE FLUIDS BETWEEN
THE DRAGON CAPSULE AND ITS
TRUNK.
IN ORDER TO EXPOSE THE SHIELD IN
PREPARATION FOR DRAGON'S REENTRY
INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, WE NEED TO
JETTISON THE TRUNK.
IT WILL DISINTEGRATE UPON
REENTERING THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE ITSELF.
ONCE WE SEPARATE THAT, WE ARE
ABLE TO STEP INTO WHAT IS CALLED
FLEW TO DE-ORBIT ATTITUDE.
THAT'S MANEUVERING THE CAPSULE
INTO POSITION TO PERFORM THE
DE-ORBIT BURN.
THE DE-ORBIT BURN IS WHERE WE
FIRE THE FOUR DRACO THRUSTERS
LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE
CAPSULE NEAR THE FORWARD HATCH.
WE CALL THOSE THE FORWARD
BULKHEAD DRACO THRUSTERS.
THOSE WILL BE UTILIZED TO
PERFORM THE DE-ORBIT BURN.
THAT WILL LAST ABOUT 11 AND A
HALF MINUTES.
THAT DE-ORBIT BURN WILL PLACE
DRAGON IN ITS FINAL TRAJECTORY
TO THE EXACT LANDING LOCATION.
THAT WILL BE 11 AND A HALF
MINUTES LONG.
AFTER THE BURN COMPLETE, WE WANT
TO CLOSE THE NOSECONE AND LOCK
IT UP.
THAT IS WHERE THE FORWARD HATCH
IS LOCATED AND SINCE THESE
CAPSULES ARE DESIGNED TO BE
REUSABLE, WE WANT TO PROTECT THE
THRUSTERS AND THAT HATCH BECAUSE
THAT IS THE HATCH WHERE THE
ASTRONAUTS EXIT AND ENTER THE
CAPSULE WHEN THEY ARE GOING IN
AND OUT OF THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
ONCE WE HAVE THE NOSECONE LOCKED
AND IN PLACE, WE BEGIN TO ENTER
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
>> SPACEX FOR DE-ORBIT BURN
BRIEF.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> FIRST OFF FOR TIMING, SHOWING
NO CHANGES.
YOUR TABLET AND ONBOARD TIMES
FOR YOUR TIMELINE ARE WITHIN ONE
MINUTE OR LESS OF GROUND
ESTIMATES.
COPY.
>> COPY.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
WITHIN A MINUTE.
>> THE ONBOARD COUNTDOWN ON YOUR
TIMELINE SHOULD BE WITHIN A FEW
SECONDS, SO LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
FOR THE VEHICLE, ENDEAVOR IS
LOOKING GREAT FOR REENTRY.
THE -- THE BUG IN THE COM DURING
COM SEEMS OK AND WE ARE NOT --
>> ENDEAVOR IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
>> AS FAR AS RECOVERY GOES, GO
NAVIGATOR IS JUST ABOUT IN
POSITION.
WITHIN A FEW KILOMETERS.
THE RECOVERY TEAM IS GO AT THIS
TIME.
>> GO FOR RECOVERY.
COPY.
>> ONE CLICK GO BACK, RECOVERY
HAS ARRIVED.
THEY ARE ON STATION.
I'M LOOKING AT THE WATER VIDEO
FROM GO NAVIGATOR AND IT LOOKS
LIKE LAST.
IT IS AWESOME.
LATEST SPLASHDOWN FORECAST IS
WINS AT 2.15 KNOTS.
THE WAVES AT LESS THAN ONE FOOT
IN SIX SECONDS.
COPY.
>> COPY.
WINS, WAVES, AND WEATHER.
-- WINDS, WAVES, AND WEATHER.
>> THERE WE HEARD THE DE-ORBIT
BRIEFING.
THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT --
>> THAT IS ALL WE'VE GOT FOR THE
BURN BRIEF.
WE WILL TALK TO YOU BEFORE THE
ORBIT SEQUENCE STARTS.
>> COPY.
>> CORRECTION THERE, WE WILL
HAVE THE GO NO GO SHORTLY.
THAT WILL BE NEXT UP.
>> OK.
>> AS I WAS SAYING, THE BURN
BRIEFING THERE, JUST MAKING SURE
EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.
SINCE BOB AND DOUG'S PRIMARY
ROLE DURING REENTRY IS TO
MONITOR TELEMETRY, TIMING AND
DATA, IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THERE ONBOARD TIMERS
ARE SYNCED WITH THE MOST RECENT
TRAJECTORY SIMULATIONS WE HAVE
GENERATED HERE AT MISSION
CONTROL.
THAT WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT
THEIR SEQUENCE OF EVENTS WAS
LINING UP WITH WHAT WE ARE
SEEING DOWN HERE IN MISSION
CONTROL.
ALL REALLY GOOD STUFF THERE.
WE ALSO HEARD THE RECOVERY
VESSEL, GO NAVIGATOR, IS IN
POSITION.
IT IS READY AND WAITING FOR
SPLASHDOWN.
WHICH, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WILL
BE OCCURRING AT 11:48 PACIFIC,
18:48 UNIVERSAL.
WE ARE JUST UNDER TWO HOURS FROM
THAT HAPPENING.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT AS
WE ARE STEPPING INTO THESE
CHECKS, WE DID THE LEAK CHECK
AND A COUPLE OF COM CHECKS, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT DE-ORBIT BURN,
MY HEART IS STARTING TO GO.
>> IT IS STARTING TO FEEL REAL.
WE ARE WAKING BACK UP AND IT IS
TIME TO BRING THESE GUYS HOME.
THE WATER LOOKS LIKE GLASS FROM
THE SHIP USE -- THAT'S EXACTLY
THE KIND OF THING WE WANT TO
HEAR.
THE WIND HAS PICKED UP A TINY
BIT TO 2.15 KNOTS, A LITTLE
UNDER 2.6 MILES AN HOUR, SO WELL
WITHIN OUR MARGINS OF WHAT WE
WERE LOOKING FOR FOR ACCEPTABLE
SPLASHDOWN WEATHER.
RIGHT NOW IN THE ROOM BEHIND US
AND IN MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON,
TEAMS ARE DOING A FINAL NO/NO GO
.
THAT SHOULD WRAP UP IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MINUTES AND WE WILL
HEAR THEM CALL THAT TO THE CREW
MEMBERS WHEN THEY GET THE GO TO
DO THE DE-ORBIT BURN.
THEY WILL BE DOING THE OTHER
ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO THAT,
INCLUDING THE CLAW AND TRUNK
SEPARATION AND ADDING OURSELVES
READY FOR THE BURN AND THINGS
WILL DEFINITELY START PICKING UP
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES,
REALLY THE NEXT HOUR IS WHERE
THINGS START TO HAPPEN.
WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF MOMENTS
NOW TO BE JOINED BY A SPECIAL
GUEST.
>> DRAGON, SPACEX'S GO FOR THE
DE-ORBIT BURN AND BURN HAS BEEN
ENABLED.
>> COPY AND GO FOR ORBIT EARN.
>> WE JUST HEARD IT.
THAT MEANS THE SPACEX AND NASA
TEAMS ARE GO FOR DE-ORBIT BURN.
STILL A BIT OF A WAYS OFF, JUST
UNDER ONE HOUR FROM NOW,
STARTING FOR THAT 11 AND A HALF
MINUTE BURN.
BUT FOR NOW, WE ARE GO FOR
DE-ORBIT BURN AND RETURN OF BOB
AND DOUG.
WE WILL SEND IT OVER TO THE
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER REAL QUICK
WHERE COURTNEY BEASLEY IS
STANDING BY WITH NASA
ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE IN
HOUSTON.
COURTNEY?
>> THANKS, DAN.
JOINING ME IS NASA ADMINISTRATOR
JIM BRIDENSTINE.
JIM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
ANOTHER HISTORIC DAY FOR OUR
AGENCY, RETURNING HUMANS TO
EARTH IN A COMMERCIALLY BILL AND
OPERATED SPACECRAFT -- BUILT AND
OPERATED SPACECRAFT.
HOW IS THIS PAVING THE WAY FOR
THE FUTURE?
MR. BRIDENSTINE: IT IS
ESTABLISHING A BUSINESS MODEL
FOR THE FUTURE.
I AM WEARING MY ARTEMIS SHIRT.
WHEN WE GO TO THE MOON, WE WILL
GO WITH COMMERCIAL PARTNERS.
NASA, WE DO NOT WANT TO
PURCHASE, OWNED, AND OPERATE THE
HARDWARE LIKE WE USED TO.
WE WANT TO BE A CUSTOMER
AMONG MANY CUSTOMERS IN THE
COMMERCIAL MARKETPLACE.
WE WANT THERE TO BE NUMEROUS
PROVIDERS COMPETING AGAINST EACH
OTHER, CREATING THIS CYCLE OF
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND
CAPABILITY.
THAT IS WHAT TODAY'S RETURN IS
GOING TO REPRESENT.
THIS IS THE NEXT ERA IN HUMAN
SPACEFLIGHT.
NASA GETS TO BE A CUSTOMER.
WE WANT TO BE A GREAT CUSTOMER,
A GREAT PARTNER, BUT WE DO NOT
WANT TO BE THE ONLY ONE
OPERATING WITH HUMANS IN SPACE.
>> HOW ARE NASA'S EFFORTS ON THE
STATION CONTRIBUTING TO LIFE
BACK ON EARTH?
MR. BRIDENSTINE: WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, IT IS FOCUSED ON HOW WE
DO TRANSFORMATIONAL ACTIVITIES
THAT BENEFIT HUMAN LIFE HERE ON
EARTH.
CERTAINLY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
ADVANCED MATERIALS,
INDUSTRIALIZED BIOMEDICINE,
THESE ARE THINGS WE ARE
DEVELOPING EVERY DAY.
SOME EXAMPLES WOULD INCLUDE, AS
FAR AS ADVANCED MATERIALS, VERY
THIN MATERIALS LIKE AN
ARTIFICIAL RETINA FOR THE HUMAN
EYEBALL, SO SOMEONE WITH MACULAR
DEGENERATION MIGHT NOT HAVE TO
LOSE THEIR EYESIGHT IN THE
FUTURE.
WE CAN ONLY DO THAT IN THE
MICROGRAVITY OF SPACE.
THAT IS ONE OF MANY EXAMPLES.
ONLY THINK ABOUT HOW WE COMPOUND
PHARMACEUTICALS, HOW WE CREATE
IMMUNIZATIONS FOR THINGS LIKE
SALMONELLA AND OTHER DISEASES,
THESE ARE CAPABILITIES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE TO US BECAUSE OF THE
RESOURCE THAT IS MICROGRAVITY.
ADVANCED MATERIALS, LIKE
FIBER-OPTIC CABLES, ARE THINGS
THAT WE THINK THERE IS A
MARKETPLACE FOR THE FUTURE.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE DOING
COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY OF THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AS OF TODAY, WHEN BOB AND DOUG
COME HOME SAFELY, WE WILL BE
DOING COMMERCIAL CREW TO THE
SPACE STATION.
THE NEXT THING WE NEED IS
COMMERCIAL SPACE STATIONS
THEMSELVES.
TO CREATE THE MARKET FOR
COMMERCIAL SPACE STATIONS, WE
NEED TO TRANSFORMATIONAL
CAPABILITIES THAT COME FROM THE
MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DEVELOPING
NOW.
>> AS YOU KNOW, A BIG DAY FOR
NASA TODAY, BUT HOW ABOUT A BIG
WEEK?
THIS WEEK ALONE, WE LAUNCHED
MARS 2020, THE ARTEMIS STAGE
ADAPTER WAS DELIVERED, AND WE
ARE COMPLETING THE FIRST
COMMERCIALLY CRUDE MISSION TO
THE INTERNATIONAL --
COMMERCIALLY CREWED MISSION TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
MR. BRIDENSTINE: NASA'S BUDGET
RIGHT NOW IS THE HIGHEST IT HAS
EVER BEEN AND NOMINAL DOLLARS.
THE BUDGET REQUEST THAT TRUMP
GAVE US IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE
RIGHT NOW IS $25.2 BILLION.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT SUSTAINING
CAPABILITIES LIKE COMMERCIAL
CREW, COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY OF
ISS, IT IS ALSO CAPABILITIES SO
THAT THE UNITED STATES CAN STAY
THE PREEMINENT SPACEFARING
NATION.
IT IS WHY WE CREATED THE ARTEMIS
PROGRAM TO GO TO THE MOON
SUSTAINABLY WITH PARTNERS, TO
USE THE RESOURCES OF THE MOON TO
LIVE AND WORK FOR LONG PERIODS
OF TIME, AND TAKE ALL OF THAT
KNOWLEDGE ONTO MARS.
AS YOU MENTIONED ON THURSDAY, WE
LAUNCHED ANOTHER MARS MISSION,
THE MOST SOPHISTICATED ROBOT
NASA HAS EVER DEVELOPED, RIGHT
NOW ON HIS WAY TO MARS.
WE CAN PROVE THAT WE CAN TURN
THE CARBON DIOXIDE ATMOSPHERE OF
MARS TO PURE OXYGEN.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR LIFE ON
ANOTHER WORLD.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF
ANCIENT LIFE ON MARS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MICROBIAL
LIFE, BUT LIFE NONETHELESS.
THIS IS REALLY A BRIGHT MOMENT
FOR NASA.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR, THOUGH.
WE NEED SUPPORT FROM OUR MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS IN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT
WHEN HE $5.2 BILLION BUDGET WE
REQUESTED -- TO GET THAT $25.2
BILLION BUDGET WE REQUESTED.
I AM TALKING TO MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS EVERY DAY.
WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE, BUT IN
ORDER TO STAY NUMBER ONE IN THE
WORLD, WE NEED THE RESOURCES THE
PRESIDENT REQUESTED.
>> JIM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
SUCH AN EXCITING DAY.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, BOTH NASA
AND SPACEX ARE A GOPHER DEORBIT
BURN.
WE WILL SEND IT BACK FOR
HAWTHORNE FOR THE LATEST.
>> THANK YOU.
GREAT TO HEAR FROM THE
ADMINISTRATOR.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL STRETCH.
IT FEELS GREAT TO BEER.
-- GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> IT CERTAINLY DOES.
DRAGON HAS A SERIES OF STEPS TO
COMPLETE BEFORE RETURNING BOB
AND DOUG HOME.
AS YOU HEARD US TALK SO FAR THIS
MORNING, DRAGON WILL MANEUVER TO
THE CORRECT ALTITUDE AND
JETTISON ITS TRUNK, WHICH IS THE
CYLINDRICAL, UNPRESSURIZED PART
OF THE ASSEMBLY.
WE NEED TO EXPOSE THE HEAT
SHIELD TO EXPOSE THE CAPSULE FOR
ATMOSPHERIC REENTRY.
WE HAVE A NICE VIEW OF BOB AND
DOUG IN THEIR SUITS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE
SEEN THEM IN THEIR SUITS AND
CHAIRS THIS MORNING.
THERE THEY ARE TAPPING AWAY,
PREPARING TO INITIATE THE
DEORBIT SEQUENCE.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY, JUST
LEADING UP INTO THE LAST COUPLE
OF MINUTES, WE HAD LEAK CHECKS.
ONCE THE LEAK CHECKS OR
COMPLETE, THEY DO NOT KEEP THE
SUIT PRESSURIZED.
THEIR VISORS ARE OPEN.
JUST GETTING READY FOR THE RIDE.
>> THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE WILL
REACH ABOUT 3500 DEGREES.
HIGH.
-- DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SYSTEMS IN
PLACE TO KEEP IT COOL AND
COMFORTABLE FOR BOB AND DOUG AS
THEY ARE RETURNING.
LIKE DAN SAID, THERE WILL BE
COOL AIR FLOWING THROUGH THEIR
SUITS.
THE CABIN ITSELF WILL BE PURGED
WITH COOLER AIR AS WELL.
THAT WILL ASSIST IN MAKING SURE
THE TEMPERATURE STAYS TEMPERATE
IN THE CAPSULE.
>> WE ARE JUST 42 MINUTES AND 50
SECONDS AWAY FROM THINGS REALLY
KICKING UP.
THIS IS GOING TO BE WHEN WE
REALLY START TO DO THAT FIRST
MANEUVER TO GET READY TO
JETTISON THE TRUNK.
THEN WE WILL DO THAT CLAW AND
TRUNK SEPARATING.
THEN IT IS TIME FOR THAT FINAL
FIRING OF THOSE ENGINES, THAT
DOWNHILL RIDE.
>> THOSE FORWARD BULKHEAD
THRUSTERS.
THERE ARE FOUR OF THEM, FOR
THOSE DRACO THRUSTERS -- FOUR OF
THOSE DRACO THRUSTERS.
THEY WILL BE USED TO DO THE DEAL
ORBITAL BURN.
IT WILL GIVE THE DRAGON ITS
FINAL TRAJECTORY.
THIS IS THE LAST BURN THE
CAPSULE WILL PERFORM.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER
COMPLETED.
THIS DEORBIT BURN WILL BE THE
FINAL ONE.
IT WILL LAST 11.5 MINUTES.
AFTER THAT IS COMPLETE, WE NO
LONGER NEED TO UTILIZE THOSE
DRACO THRUSTERS.
WE CLOSE THE NOSECONE AND LOCK
IT UP.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO HAPPEN
AT 11:11 A.M. PACIFIC, ABOUT 20
MINUTES, 25 MINUTES -- MATH ON
AIR IS HARD -- 25 MINUTES AFTER
THAT, THE CAPSULE WILL ENTER THE
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, APPROACHING
ABOUT 3500 DEGREES.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE --
>> WE ARE IN THAT HEAT OF
REENTRY.
THAT IS WHERE WE WILL HAVE THAT
COMMS BLACKOUT.
WE HAVE A TWITTER QUESTION THAT
IS GERMANE.
STEPHEN ASKS "WILL YOU BE ABLE
TO TRACK BOB AND DOUG?"
IT IS KIND OF A MIX.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TALK TO
THEM.
WE WILL NOT HAVE TRUE LIMIT TREE
DRIVEN TRACKING -- HAVE
TELEMETRY DRIVEN TRACKING, BUT
WE WILL KNOW WHERE THEIR ORBITS
WILL BE.
WE HAVE THIS CALCULATED.
IT HAS GOTTEN FINE TUNED AS WE
HAVE DONE THOSE BURNS.
WE WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EVEN THOUGH
WE CANNOT COMMUNICATE WITH THEM
DURING THAT TIME.
>> EVEN THOUGH WE WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO SEND OR RECEIVE SIGNALS
OR COMMAND OR TELEMETRY, DRAGON
IS DESIGNED TO BE AUTONOMOUS.
SO THERE IS REALLY NOTHING TO BE
WORRIED ABOUT.
BOB AND DOUG'S PRIMARY FUNCTION
AT THAT POINT IS TO MONITOR THE
TELEMETRY THEY SEE ON THEIR
SCREENS AND TO STAY COMFORTABLE.
>> ONCE THEY ARE THROUGH THE
INITIAL INJURY, WE WILL HAVE
THAT PART CALLED ENTRY
INTERFACE, WHICH WE KIND OF
EXPLAINED.
THAT IS WHEN THE CAPSULE IS
EXPERIENCING A AERODYNAMICS.
THEY HAVE BEEN TRAVELING IN
SPACE WITH NO LIFT, DRAG, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
THIS IS WHEN THEY HIT THE
ATMOSPHERE AND IT STARTS
AFFECTING THE CAPSULE.
>> EXACTLY.
HERE COME THE PARACHUTES.
AT 11:44 AM PACIFIC, WE WILL
BE DEPLOYING THE PARACHUTES.
THEY ARE UTILIZED FOR A COUPLE
OF REASONS.
ONE, TO CONTINUE TO FURTHER
DECELERATE THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO
TO STABILIZE IT.
LIKE DAN SAID, IT WILL BE
EXPERIENCING SOME OF THOSE
AERODYNAMIC PRESSURES, SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CAPSULE IS
STABLE BEFORE WE DEPLOY THE MAIN
PARACHUTES.
THOSE MAIN CHUTES WILL BE
DEPLOYING AND THERE WILL BE FOUR
OF THEM.
IT TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS FOR
THEM TO FULLY INFLATE.
IT MIGHT LOOK A LITTLE FUNNY AT
FIRST, BUT WE ASSURE YOU THEY
ARE WORKING PROPERLY, AND IT
JUST TAKES A COUPLE SECONDS FOR
THE AIR TO CATCH IN THEM AND FOR
THEM TO FULLY EXPLAIN AND TO
THEIR -- FULLY EXPAND TO THEIR
LARGE, ROUND OR SHAPE.
AFTER THAT, IT TAKES ONLY 3.5
MINUTES FOR DOUG AND BOB TO
SPLASH DOWN.
OUR SPLASHDOWN LOCATION IS OFF
THE WESTERN COAST OF FLORIDA.
WE ARE AIMING FOR A LOCATION
NEAR PENSACOLA.
OUR RECOVERY VESSEL, GO
NAVIGATOR, IS IN LOCATION, READY
AND WAITING FOR SPLASHDOWN.
THEY WILL BE WAITING ABOUT THREE
MONOCLE MILES -- THREE NAUTICAL
MILES AWAY FROM THAT POINT.
>> WE GOT A CALL THAT A NASA
AIRPLANE IS IN THE AIR.
WE HAVE SEEN A COUPLE BRIEF
SPURTS OF VIDEO.
THAT IS THE AIRBORNE ASSET WE
WILL HAVE.
IT IS A HIGH-ALTITUDE RESEARCH
PLANE THAT NASA FLIES.
IT IS OUTFITTED WITH A NUMBER OF
IMAGING CAMERAS.
THE MAIN ONE WE WILL BE SEEING
IS AN INFRARED ONE.
IF YOU WATCHED THE DEMO ONE
SPLASHDOWN, WHICH I AM SURE YOU
DID, THIS IS ACTUALLY A GLIMPSE
OF THAT CAMERA.
WE WILL BE GETTING THIS BACK.
IF WE ACQUIRE AT THE SAME TIME
WE DID FOR DEMO ONE, WE WERE
ABLE TO SEE THE CAPSULE WHILE IT
WAS STILL IN ATMOSPHERIC
REENTRY.
IT WAS THIS REALLY BRIGHT LIGHT
THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN LIT UP THE
SKY.
WE WILL USE THAT TO HOPEFULLY
SEE DURING THE ENTRY AND THE
INITIAL PARACHUTE DEPLOYING.
WE WILL HAVE THE BOAT THAT WILL
GET A COUPLE MORE VIEWS OF
DRAGON AS IT DELIVERS BOB AND
DOUG SAFELY TO THE OCEAN.
>> AS YOU CAN HEAR, ALL OF THIS
WILL BE HAPPENING IN RAPID
SUCCESSION.
ON YOUR SCREEN NOW, WE CAN SEE,
CLOSEST TO THE CAMERA, WE HAVE
DOUG HURLEY, NASA ASTRONAUT.
HE IS THE PILOT OR THE COMMANDER
FOR THIS MISSION.
ON THE CAMERA TO THE RIGHT, THAT
IS ASTRONAUT BOB BEHNKEN.
WE ARE VERY FINALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO BRINGING OUR SPACE
VETERANS HOME THIS MORNING.
LIKE WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT
WILL BE HAPPENING IN ABOUT AN
HOUR AND A HALF, TARGETING
SPLASHDOWN FOR 18:48 UNIVERSAL
TIME.
THE ACTION BEGINS AT THE CLAW
SEPARATION MILESTONE, WHICH IS
SET FOR 30 MINUTES FROM NOW.
-- 38 MINUTES FROM NOW.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO TAKE
QUESTIONS THROUGH TWITTER USING
THE #ASKNASA.
OUR QUESTION COMES FROM F1
FANATIC.
"DEAD ASTRONAUTS NEED TO HAVE
FACE MASKS DOWN DURING REENTRY
-- DO ASTRONAUTS NEED TO HAVE
FACE MASKS DOWN DURING REENTRY?
-- DURING REENTRY?"
> THOSE FACE MASKS OR VISORS
NEED TO BE LOWERED AND LOCKED
DURING THE REENTRY PERIOD.
WE NEED THE SPACESUIT TO BE
FULLY ENCLOSED DURING THE MORE
DYNAMIC ELEMENTS OF OPERATIONS,
AND CERTAINLY THE REENTRY PERIOD
IS ONE OF THEM.
ACTUALLY, AT ONE POINT DURING
THE DEORBIT BURN PREPARATION
PHASE, WE WILL ACTUALLY HEAR
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GROUND
STATION, GROUND HERE AT MISSION
CONTROL AT SPACEX, TO BOB AND
DOUG JUST TO CONFIRM THAT THOSE
VISORS ARE IN PLACE.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES TO US
FROM PHILIP.
"WHERE ARE THE PARACHUTES STORE
BEFORE DEPLOYMENT?"
>> THEY ARE STORED INTO SEPARATE
COMPARTMENTS ON THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT, ON A SIDE OF THE
VEHICLE THAT HAS A DEPLOYABLE
PANEL.
THE PARACHUTES ARE STORED UP BY
THE UPPER PART, CALLED THE UPPER
BULKHEAD.
THEY ARE DEPLOYED BY TWO MOTORS,
MORTARS.
JUST FURTHER DOWN THE PANEL,
KIND OF AT THE BASE OF THE
SPACECRAFT, IS WHERE THE MAIN
PARACHUTES ARE STORED.
THOSE GET DRAWN OUT.
THEY ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE
THAT THE FOREST -- THAT IF THE
FIRST SET DO NOT FIRE, YOU HAVE
A BACKUP TO GET THESE DEPLOYED.
ONE OUT OF TWO -- IN THE LAST
SEVERAL MONTHS IN THE LEAD UP TO
THE MISSION, THE PARACHUTES
OBVIOUSLY A CRITICAL PART OF
REENTRY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
METICULOUSLY PACKED AND
DOCUMENTED BEFORE THE START OF
ANY MISSION.
NASA ASSISTING SPACEX, WE HAVE
SOME -- THE PARACHUTES ARE
STORED UNDER DEPLOYABLE PLANNERS
AND WE WILL SEE THEM FIRE --
UNDER DEPLOYABLE PANELS AND WE
WILL SEE THEM FIRE OPEN.
>> THOSE PANELS ARE LOCATED
ABOVE AND BELOW THE SIDE HATCH
PANEL.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE DRAGON
CAPSULE, THE ANCHOR POINT FOR
THOSE PARACHUTES WILL ENSURE
THAT THE SIDE HATCH WILL
EFFECTIVELY BE AS FAR AWAY FROM
THE OCEAN SURFACE AS POSSIBLE,
ENSURING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO
EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF EGRESS
SEEING -- EGRESSING BOB AND DOUG
.
>> OUR NEXT COMES FROM SCOTT.
"WHAT ARE THE TABLETS ON THEIR
LEGS USED FOR?
WHAT KIND OF DEVICES ARE THEY?"
THEY ARE USING IPADS ON BOARD.
THEY ARE REALLY, ESSENTIALLY,
USER MANUALS.
THEY ARE ABLE TO DIAL UP
DIFFERENT PROCEDURES,
CHECKLISTS, THINGS THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR RATHER FLIGHT.
THEY VELCRO THEM TO THEIR SUITS.
JUST LIKE THE MAIN DISPLAYS IN
FRONT OF THEM, THEY ARE
TOUCHSCREEN ENABLED AND THEY
HAVE THE TOUCHSCREEN CAPABLE
GLOVES IN THEIR SUITS.
IT IS REALLY JUST ANOTHER
INFORMATION SOURCE.
DRAGON DOES NOT HAVE THE BIG
PAPER MANUALS THAT WE WERE USED
TO IN THE SHUTTLE ERA, THINGS
LIKE THAT.
JUST KIND OF STREAMLINING
EVERYTHING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
LIKE WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS
IS A DEMONSTRATION MISSION.
BOB AND DOUG'S JOB HERE IS TO
MAKE EVERYTHING WORK -- MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING AS IT
SHOULD BE.
SIMPLY PAYING ATTENTION,
ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A LOT
GOING ON DYNAMICALLY AROUND YOU,
CAN BE TOUGH.
THEY WILL ESSENTIALLY BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING ALL
THE DATA AND TELEMETRY BEING
RECEIVED ON-SCREEN.
PART OF THE DEBRIEFING THAT WILL
HAPPEN ONCE THEY GET BACK ON
LAND IS, QUITE SIMPLY, WAS THERE
ANYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN
REALITY THAT YOU ARE NOT
EXPECTING OR DIFFERED FROM WHAT
YOU WERE INSTRUCTED WOULD OCCUR?
SO MAKING SURE THAT, IN THE
FUTURE, FULLY OPERATIONAL
MISSIONS THAT WE HAVE STARTING
WITH CREW ONE, THAT THOSE ARE
FULLY PREPARED AND WE MAKE THOSE
CONSTRUCTION MANUALS THAT THEY
DO HAVE -- THOSE INSTRUCTION
MANUALS THAT THEY DO HAVE ACCESS
TO AS PERFECT AS POSSIBLE.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THEY HAVE
CORRECT INFORMATION AND THAT THE
CREW IS INFORMED AND AWARE OF
ALL THE OPERATIONS THAT ARE
GOING ON, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
OR NOT -- THEY ARE NOT NO ONE'S
NECESSARILY COMMANDING, BECAUSE
THE VEHICLES ARE AUTONOMOUS, BUT
THAT THEY DO KNOW WHAT IS GOING
ON.
>> FROM STAN.
"I WANTED TO KNOW IF BOB AND
DOUG CAN LISTEN TO THIS BASICS
WEBCAST -- THE SPACEX WEBCAST
IN THE CAPSULE."
ONE THING THAT MAKES US GEEK OUT
IS THAT THE CREW MEMBERS ON
BOARD THE SPACE STATION FOR
USUALLY GET NASA TV PUMPED IN
WHENEVER THEIR FRIENDS ARE DOING
A LAUNCH.
CHRIS, IF YOU ARE WATCHING,
HIGH.
-- HI.
>> GREAT QUESTION.
ANOTHER.
"DOES THE DRAGON CAPSULE HAVE
WINDOWS?"
ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT ARE MY FAVORITE STTE
PICTURES DOUG HURLEY HAS POSTED
-- FAVORITE PICTURES DOUG HURLEY
HAS POSTED ON INSTAGRAM TODAY IS
A PICTURE OF WHAT HE CAN SEE
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.
THERE IS A WINDOW OUTSIDE THE
SIDE HATCH.
IT WILL PROVIDE VISUAL C
ONFORMATION THAT REENTRY IS
HAPPENING.
-- CONFIRMATION THAT REENTRY IS
HAPPENING.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
FROM THE WINDOWS THEMSELVES.
IT WILL BE QUITE THE FIREWORKS
SHOW.
>> JOE WANTS TO KNOW "DOES THE
DRAGON CAPSULE HAVE NETFLIX?"
[LAUGHTER]
ANOTHER IMPORTANT QUESTION.
>> THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.
THERE IN THE CENTER SCREEN, WE
HAVE THE GROUND TRACKING MAP.
AS YOU CAN SEE, ACTUALLY IT IS
HARD TO MAKE OUT, BUT DRAGON IS
CRESTING THE ATLANTIC OCEAN,
APPROACHING WHAT LOOKS LIKE
ENGLAND AND IRELAND.
IT WILL BE CROSSING OVER INTO
EUROPE SOON.
ALSO TO THE LEFT INTO THE RIGHT
OF THAT GROUND TRACK SCREEN,
THERE ARE THE TELEMETRY SCREENS.
THAT WILL BE THE INTERFACE THEY
USE DURING THE DEORBIT BURN.
THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL
ESSENTIALLY USED TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS WORKING GOOD AND
PERFORMING OPTIMALLY.
>> THAT IS THE SAME MAP WE HAVE
BEEN LOOKING AT.
THEY ARE LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE
SAME DATA THAT WE ARE TRYING TO
GET YOU GUYS DOWN HERE ON THE
GROUND.
JUST WHERE THEY ARE OVER THE
EARTH.
IT CAN BE A LITTLE DISORIENTING
TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND
FIGURED OUT QUICKLY.
THEY CAN SEE HOW FAR ALONG ON
THEIR ORBIT THEY ARE, WHERE
THOSE MILESTONES ARE COMING UP.
THEY ARE IN A MONITOR MODE AND
THEY ARE LOCKED AND LOADED TO
JUMP IN IF REQUIRED.
OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM A
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD.
"WHY IS THE DRAGON
CAPSULE CONE SHAPED?"
FOR A VERY SPECIFIC REASON.
WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO
REENTER THE EARTHS APTNESS FEAR
-- THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, BOTH
FROM HANDLING THE TRAJECTORY
WITHOUT HAVING WINGS --
STARTING OVER.
WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT HOW TO BEST SHAPE A
SPACECRAFT TO EFFICIENTLY AND
EFFECTIVELY REENTER THE
ATMOSPHERE IN THE SAFEST
CONFIGURATION, THEY DECIDED ON A
CONE OR CAPSULE SHAPED.
THERE WERE INITIAL DRAWINGS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ALL MANNER OF
SPACE PUT INTO WIND TUNNELS, BUT
AT THE END OF THE DAY, BACK IN
THE EARLY DAYS OF SPACEFLIGHT,
THEY WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT
THE CAPSULE SHAPE IS THE MOST
EFFICIENT.
THAT SHAPE DISSIPATES THE HEAT
THE BEST, IS THE EASIEST TO
CONTROL, AND IS THE SAFEST
OPTION.
DYNAMICS HAVE NOT CHANGED SINCE
THE 60'S.
THAT IS WHY YOU STILL SEE A LOT
OF CAPSULE SHAPED SPACECRAFT.
IT IS REALLY JUST FOR REENTERING
AN ATMOSPHERE.
GOOD QUESTION.
>> THERE ON YOUR SCREEN, AGAIN,
WE HAVE LIVE SHOTS COMING FROM
DRAGON ENDEAVOR AS IT IS MAKING
ITS WAY BACK TOWARD EARTH.
WE ARE APPROACHING THE FINAL
STEPS OF THE DAY OF THE MISSION,
IN FACT.
AT 11:48 A PACIFIC, 18:18 A.M.
-- 4 P.M., EXCUSE ME -- 18:18
A.M. OR, EXCUSE ME, P.M., DE
ORBIT BURN INITIATION.
THAT WILL PUT DRAGON ON A FINAL
TRAJECTORY TO A SPECIFIC LANDING
LOCATION.
WE DETERMINED THE BEST ONE FOR
TODAY'S REENTRY TO BE OFF THE
COAST OF FLORIDA NEAR PENSACOLA.
THE RECOVERY VESSEL GO NAVIGATOR
IS IN POLICE, READY AND WAITING.
-- IS IN PLACE, READY AND
WAITING.
IT SEEMS LIKE BOB AND DOUG ARE
COMFORTABLE.
THEY ARE IN THEIR SPACESUITS.
THE LEAK CHECK HAS BEEN
PERFORMED.
WE GOT A CALL THAT IT WAS
NOMINAL, SO EVERYTHING GOOD
THERE.
THE VIRUS ER --THE VISORS ARE
IN THE OPEN POSITION.
THEY WILL BE CLOSED WHEN WE GET
TO THE DYNAMIC PORTION.
CHECK MY TIMELINE.
>> WE ARE ABOUT 24 MINUTES AWAY
FROM THINGS REALLY PICKING UP.
THAT IS WHEN THEY WILL SEPARATE
THE TRUNK.
EIGHT MINUTES AFTER THAT, WE
WILL START TO DEORBIT BURN.
THAT WILL BE THE LONGEST BURN OF
DRAGON'S RETURN JOURNEY.
THE LATEST TIMELINE WE GOT
HEADED LASTING FOR -- WE GOT HAD
IT LASTING FOR ABOUT 11 MINUTES.
IT WILL BE THE LAST FIRING OF
THOSE FORWARD BULKHEAD
THRUSTERS, THE FOUR DRACOS.
AS WE SAID BEFORE, THAT DEORBIT
BURN IS WHAT COMMITS THEM TO
RETURNING TO HOME.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT THAT
CAPSULE -- HAPPENS, THAT CAPSULE
ENTERS ESSENTIALLY A COLLISION
COURSE WITH EARTH.
WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES.
WE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS COMING
IN.
IF YOU HAVE ONE, JUMP OVER ON
TWITTER, USE THE #ASKNASA.
THIS COMES FROM SCARED SURVIVOR.
"DOES NASA LOSE SATELLITE OR
GROUND COMMUNICATIONS DURING
REENTRY?"
THE ANSWER IS EVERYTHING.
AS THE PLASMA BUILDS UP AROUND
THE SPACECRAFT, IT PREVENTS
SIGNALS BEING TRANSMITTED OR
RECEIVED BY DRAGON.
IT IS BOTH SATELLITES AND GROUND
STATIONS THAT IT WILL NOT BE
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH.
BUT DRAGON CONTINUES FLYING
ITSELF.
WE KNOW IT'S ORBIT IS PLOTTED
OUT -- WE KNOW WHERE IT'S ORBIT
-- WHERE ITS ORBIT IS PLOTTED
OUT TO BE.
WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR FROM
BOB AND DOUG UNTIL THEY ARE ON
THE OTHERS THAT.
THEN WE WILL REESTABLISH
COMMUNICATION WITH DRAGON.
WE HAVE ANOTHER.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY
SEATS ARE IN DRAGON.
>> THERE ARE ACTUALLY FOUR C
 CHAIRS.
-- FOUR CHAIRS.
CURRENTLY TARGETED FOR
SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE ANOTHER
MISSION.
BOB AND DOUG ARE OCCUPYING ONLY
TWO OF THEM.
WE WILL BE UTILIZING ALL FOUR OF
THOSE IN FUTURE MISSIONS, BUT AS
OF RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE IT WAS
ON THE LAUNCH PORTION OF THE
MISSION, ONE OF THOSE SEATS WAS
OCCUPIED BY TREMOR, WHO, IF YOU
HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG, IS
THE SEQUINED DINOSAUR VOTED ON
BY THE TWO SONS OF BOB AND DOUG
AS WHAT SHOULD BE THE ZERO G
INDICATOR.
TREMOR WAS STRAPPED INTO A SEAT
DURING A SCENT AND WHEN THEY GOT
THE OK TO RELEASE HIM, HE
STARTED FLOATING INTO THE
CAPSULE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
JUST ANOTHER TIME CHECK.
WE ARE A LITTLE OVER 20 MINUTES
FROM THE START OF OUR DEORBIT
BURN SEQUENCING STARTING.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT TO REALLY
PICK UP AT ABOUT 10:48.
WILL START GETTING INTO THE
ATTITUDE FOR TRUNK SEPARATION.
WE START EXECUTING A BUNCH OF
STEPS THAT WILL COME IN.
>> LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE.
IT WILL BE QUITE THE JOURNEY.
WITH RESPECT TO THE DEORBIT
BURN, BOB AND DOUG WILL REMAIN
IN THEIR SEATS AND STRAPPED IN
FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
THEY WILL NOT BE EXITING THOSE
SEATS UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO
EGRESS, OR EXIT, THE CAPSULE
AFTER IT HAS SPLASHED DOWN AND
BE COVERED -- DOWN AND BEEN
RECOVERED OUT OF THE OCEAN AND
RESTING SAFELY IN THE NEST OF
THE RECOVERY VESSEL.
OUR QUESTION IS FROM BRETT.
"WHAT IS THE ORIENTATION OF THE
ASTRONAUTS WHEN SEATED?
TODAY FACE THE FRONT OR THE TOP
OF THE CAPSULE, AND DO THEY FIND
A COMFORTABLE?"
IN THE VIEW WE JUST HAD, THEY
WERE IN THE RECLINED POSITION.
THEY WERE FACING TOWARDS THE TOP
OF THE CAPSULE.
DURING THE LAUNCH PORTION, WHEN
THEY WERE GETTING INTO THE
CAPSULE IN LATE MAY, THE SEATS
WERE ACTUATED IN THE DOWN
POSITION, WHERE THEY WERE FACING
TOWARD THE HATCH.
THE ANGLE OF DIFFERENCE IS ABOUT
40 DEGREES BETWEEN THE TWO
POSITIONS.
THEY ACTUATE IN ORDER TO MAKE
SURE THAT WHENEVER THERE ARE GS
BEING EXPERIENCED, IT IS IN THE
MOST COMFORTABLE AND SAFELY
ERGONOMIC WAY POSSIBLE.
THAT IS WHERE ACTUATION COMES IN
HANDY.
IT ALSO HELPS THEM TO COME --
THEM TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE
CAPSULE.
IT IS TRICKIER WHEN THEY'RE
RECLINED, FACING UPWARD TOWARD
THE CAPSULE.
AS FOR THE COMFORT LEVEL, I HAVE
HEARD THEY HAVE FOUND IT
COMFORTABLE.
THE SEATS ARE CUSTOM FITTED FOR
EACH ASTRONAUT DESTINED TO BE
FLYING IN IT.
WHENEVER A CREW MEMBER IS
ASSIGNED TO A MISSION, THEY WILL
ALSO BE ASSIGNED A SEAT
SPECIFICALLY.
THERE WILL BE NO MIDFLIGHT FIRE
DRILLS WHERE EVERYBODY IS
SWITCHING SEATS.
EVERYBODY HAS A DESIGNATED C.
THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY SMALL,
MEDIUM, AND LARGE, AND THE
ARMRESTS ARE ALSO CUSTOMIZABLE,
DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THE
CREWMEMBER'S FOREARM IS.
WE TAKE COMFORT IN MIND, AS WELL
AS STYLE.
WITH A COMBINATION OF THE CUSTOM
FIT OF THE SUIT AS WELL AS THE
CUSTOM FIT OF THE SEATS, WE HAVE
AIMED TO MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE
AS POSSIBLE IN THE EVENT OF SOME
SORT OF SITUATION WHERE WE NEED
TO WAVE OFF ACTIVITY FOR UP TO
48 HOURS.
THAT IS A LONG TIME TO BE IN A
CONFINED SPACE, EVEN IF YOU ARE
HIGHLY TRAINED LIKE THESE GUYS.
SO MAKING SURE THEY ARE AS
COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE IN THE
CABIN WAS A HIGH PRIORITY.
>> THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
RICHARD.
THIS DEALS WITH HYGIENE.
"HOW DID THE ASTRONAUTS STAY SO
CLEAN-CUT?
I KNOW THERE IS NOT A BARBER ON
BOARD.
TODAY SHOWER?
-- DO THEY SHOWER?"
THEY DO HAVE TO CUT THEIR OWN
HAIR.
COMMANDER CHRIS CASSIDY FAMOUSLY
SHAVED HIS OWN HERE ONCE WHEN
HIS PARTNER WAS ABOUT TO ARRIVE.
THEY DO HAVE TRIMMERS IN THE
SPACE STATION WITH VACUUMS
ATTACHED.
HAIR WOULD FLOAT AROUND AND GET
CAUGHT IN THE DRAFTS ON BOARD,
SO THEY BASICALLY USE VACUUM
CUTTERS TO GIVE THEMSELVES AIR
CUT.
THAT IS HOW THEY DO IT.
THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE DO.
>> A TIME CHECK HERE.
WE JUST PASSED 10:30 HERE IN
CALIFORNIA.
WE ARE LESS THAN 20 MINUTES AWAY
FROM OUR FIRST EVENT HERE ON OUR
LIST AS BOB AND DOUG BEGIN TO --
CONTINUE TO CHECK OFF THE BOXES
OF THEIR RETURN HOME.
THAT FIRST EVENT IS CLAW
SEPARATION, THE INITIATION OF
TRUNK JETTISONED.
ALL THAT MEANS IS THAT WE WILL
NEED TO UNLATCH THE CLAW FROM
THE TRUNK, THE MECHANISM THAT
HOLDS AND CONNECTS THE TRUNK TO
THE CAPSULE, DELIVERS FLUID,
TELEMETRY, POWER.
WE NEED TO EXPOSE THE TRUNK IN
ORDER FOR THE CAPSULE TO
DEORBIT.
WE WILL JETTISON THE TRUNK AND
BEGIN A DEORBIT BURN.
THAT IS SLATED TO BEGIN AT 10:56
A.M. PACIFIC, 18:56 UNIVERSAL
COORDINATED TIME.
SO IN JUST UNDER 20 MINUTES WE
ARE EXPECTING THAT'S A START.
-- THAT TO START.
ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE JUST
JOINING US, WE HAVE LIVE VIEWS
INSIDE THE DRAGON ENDEAVOR
CAPSULE.
BOB AND DOUG IN THE INSIDE THEIR
SEATS -- BOB AND DOUG IN THERE,
INSIDE THEIR SEATS, AS THEY
BEGIN THE DEORBIT SEQUENCE.
THERE ARE BOB HURLEY AND -- DOUG
HURLEY AND BOB BEHNKEN.
THESE ARE TWO INCREDIBLY
WONDERFUL HUMANS.
WE AFFECTIONATELY CALL THEM OUR
SPACE DAD'S HERE AT SPACEX.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO FLY
THEM.
DOUG HURLEY WAS THE PILOT OF THE
FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION, S
TS135, BACK IN 2011.
WHEN I HEARD HE WAS ASSIGNED TO
THIS MISSION, I CRIED BECAUSE
JUST HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO
RETURN THE PILOT OF THAT FINAL
MISSION TO THE SPACE STATION IN
THIS CAPACITY WAS, IS, SO COOL.
I GREW UP FOLLOWING THIS
MISSION.
SINCE THE MOMENT WE STARTED
TRAINING FOR HERE IN HAWTHORNE.
>> WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE READY.
THEY HAVE DONE ALL OF THEIR SUIT
CHECKOUTS, EVERYTHING TO GET
THEMSELVES TO THIS POINT, AND
ONCE WE BEGIN THESE EVENTS, THEY
ARE GOING TO KEEP A VERY CLOSE,
AGAIN, THE CREW IS ALWAYS IN THE
LOOP TO STEP IN, BUT DRAGON
GOING TO BE EXECUTING THESE
MANEUVERS AND SEPARATION EVENTS
AUTOMATICALLY VIA A
PREPROGRAMMED TIMELINE.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO COUNT DOWN.
WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST MANEUVER
IN A LITTLE UNDER 13 MINUTES OR
A LITTLE OVER 15 MINUTES FROM
THE CLAW SEPARATION.
THAT CLOCK CONNECTING THE
SERVICE MODULE TO THE -- THAT
CLAW CONNECTING THE SERVICE
MODULE TO THE TRUNK, CUTTING OFF
THE FLUID AND DATA PATHS BETWEEN
THE TWO.
A FEW SECONDS LATER, THEY WILL
SEPARATE.
WE WILL THEN BE LESS THAN FIVE
SECONDS AWAY FROM THAT DEORBIT
BURN.
DEORBIT BURN EXPECTED TO LAST 11
MINUTES AND 22 SECONDS.
>> NOW, OF COURSE, DURING
REENTRY, BOB AND DOUG WILL BE
EXPERIENCING A COUPLE GS,
ANTICIPATED ABOUT 4GS DURING
REENTRY.
[NO AUDIO]
-- HEADQUARTERS IN HAWTHORNE,
CALIFORNIA.
BECAUSE IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR
THEM TO MAYBE FLIP THROUGH TO
THE EXACT PART OF THE PROCEDURE
THEY WANT TO REVIEW DURING THE
REENTRY EVENT ITSELF, THEY ARE
REVIEWING THOSE NOW IN
PREPARATION FOR THAT SPLASHDOWN
-- THE REENTRY SEQUENCE.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER TWITTER
QUESTION.
"IS IT QUIET IN THE DRAGON OR
DOES IT SOUND LIKE AN AIRPLANE?"
IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE AN
AIRPLANE, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.
AS THEY FLY THROUGH THE VACUUM
OF SPACE, THERE IS NONE OF THAT
RUSHING AIR.
THEY WILL GET THAT FURTHER DOWN
DURING THEIR DESCENT.
THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO
HEAR WHEN THE DRACO THRUSTERS
FIRE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DO WHEN THEY TRAINED THE
CREW, THEY PUT A NUMBER OF
CAMERAS IN THE CABIN, AND THEY
WERE ABLE TO RECORD WHAT IT
SOUNDED LIKE DURING THE MAJOR
BURNS, THE LAUNCH, EVERYTHING.
THE TRAINERS HERE AT SPACEX
HEADQUARTERS HAVE SPEAKERS SET
UP.
AS THEY ARE DOING SIMULATIONS OR
PRACTICE RUNS OF DIFFERENT
PHASES OF THE MISSION, THEY ARE
ABLE TO HEAR WHAT IT SHOULD
SOUND LIKE INSIDE DRAGON AS THEY
ARE GOING THROUGH THAT.
THAT IS ONE THING BOB POINTED
OUT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ARE
LOOKING FOR IS DOES THIS SOUND
LIKE I EXPECTED IT TO?
IS THAT A LIGHT I AM SUPPOSED TO
SEE?
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS
THAT, FOR THEM, IT IS LIKE A
REFLEX BY THE TIME THEY HAVE
TRAINED THIS MUCH.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, AT THIS MOMENT,
WE ARE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES AWAY
FROM THE SEQUENCE STARTING.
WE'RE JUST ABOUT NINE MINUTES
AWAY, IN FACT.
FIRST, WE WILL SEE THAT MANEUVER
WHERE WE WILL GET INTO THE
PROPER ATTITUDE, OR POINT DRAGON
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, FOR A
CLAW AND TRUNK SEPARATION.
WE WILL DO A 90 DEGREE LLAMA
MANEUVER TO MAKE SURE THE TRUNK
GOES OUT AND AWAY -- 90 DEGREE
YAW MANEUVER TO MAKE SURE
THE TRUNK GOES OUT AND AWAY FROM
THE CAPSULE.
THEN DRAGON WILL POSITION ITSELF
FOR THE DEORBIT BURN.
IT WILL POINT THOSE BULKHEAD
ROSTERS IN THE DIRECTION IT IS
CURRENTLY TRAVELING.
THIS IS CALLED A RETROGRADE
MANEUVER, DONE SPECIFICALLY --
WE ARE GOING TO SLOW THE CAPSULE
DOWN, BUT, MORE THAN ANYTHING,
WE ARE CHANGING THE PERIGEE OR
THE LOWEST POINT OF THE
MOVEMENT.
POINTING IT TO THAT SPOT IN THE
GULF.
EIGHT MINUTES, KATE.
>> WE ARE GETTING CLOSE.
[NO AUDIO]
>> DRAGON SPACEX FOR DEORBIT
SEQUENCE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT, DOUG, WE ARE FIVE
MINUTES OUT FROM THE ORBIT
SEQUENCE START.
IN ADDITION, I WANT TO INFORM
YOU WE ARE EXPECTING SOME --
DURING DEORBIT DUE TO VEHICLE
ORIENTATION.
>> OK, COPY.
>> GOOD READ BACK.
WE ARE ALMOST FOUR MINUTES AWAY.
>> WE JUST HEARD THE CALL OUT
FROM SPACEX HERE AT MISSION
CONTROL.
WE ARE FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM
DEORBIT SEQUENCE START.
LIKE WE MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT
DEORBIT SEQUENCE WILL INVOLVE
SEPARATING FROM THE TRUNK AND
PERFORMING THE DEORBIT BURN.
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED ON THE
GROUND TRACKING MAP WE HAVE BEEN
SHOWING YOU BEFORE, BOB AND DOUG
WERE IN THEIR LAST ORBIT AROUND
EARTH.
I CANNOT REMEMBER WHAT THE
NUMBER WAS REPORTED EARLIER,
DAN, BUT THEY HAVE DONE
THOUSANDS OF ORBITS AROUND EARTH
DURING THEIR TWO MONTH DURATION
ON STATION.
IT IS REALLY EXCITING THAT THE
LINE WE SEE ON THAT TRAJECTORY
MAP IS NO LONGER FULLY AROUND
IT.
THEY ARE COMING HOME.
>> THEY ARE ON THEIR FINAL ORBIT
OF PLANET EARTH.
THIS IS THERE 1024TH ORBIT
SINCE THEY LAUNCHED IN MAY.
WE ARE THREE MINUTES AWAY FROM
THE FIRST MANEUVER.
THAT WILL BE A SALUTE, AS YOU
HEARD -- THAT WILL BE A SLEW, AS
YOU HEARD DOUG MENTION.
SO WE CAN JETTISON THAT
TRUNK -- SO WE CAN JETTISON THAT
TRUNK.
32 SECONDS AND COUNTING.
THIS IS WHERE THINGS PICK UP.
THIS IS WHERE WE REALLY COMMENCE
COMING HOME.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF
BOB AND DOUG'S TRIP IN OUTER
SPACE.
PRETTY SOON, WE WILL BE SEEING
THEM IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.
>> THEY CONTINUE TO MONITOR DATA
AND TELEMETRY IN THE VEHICLE.
DRAGON IS DOING A COUPLE THINGS
ITSELF TO PREPARE FOR THE
DEORBIT SEQUENCE.
IT IS DOING THESE THINGS
AUTONOMOUSLY.
IT IS ISOLATING THE THERMAL
CONTROL SYSTEM LOOP FROM THE
RADIATOR.
THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT WILL HELP
KEEP BOB AND DOUG COOL WHILE
THEY ARE REENTERING THE
ATMOSPHERE.
THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE WILL
REACH 3500 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN
THAT THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM
HELPS KEEP THEM COOL DURING THAT
TIME.
ALSO, DRAGON IS INITIATING THE
SEPARATION OF THE CLAW
MECHANISM, WHICH WILL TERMINATE
THE DATA, THE POWER, AND THE
FLUID CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE
CAPSULE AND THE TRUNK.
RIGHT NOW, THE VEHICLE IS
PREPARING TO EXECUTE THAT.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING EXECUTION OF
CLAW SEPARATION IN THREE MINUTES
AND 35 SECONDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN HERE
FOR 10 HOURS I THINK AT THIS
POINT.
THE WEBCAST AS A WHOLE HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR ALMOST 24 HOURS.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL MOMENTS
HERE.
DRAGON IS BEGINNING ITS JOURNEY
HOME, TO BRING BOB AND DOUG BACK
TO EARTH.
>> THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT
DRAGON IS IN A POSITION TO START
COMING HOME.
THE RECOVERY TEAM IS ALREADY ON
STATION, HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE,
OFF THE COAST OF PENSACOLA.
WE ARE LESS THAN A MINUTE FROM
STARTING THESE CAREFULLY CORI
AFT SEQUENCES -- CHOREOGRAPHED
SEQUENCES.
THEN WE BRING THEM HOME.
WE ARE JUST 30 SECONDS AWAY NOW
FROM MANEUVERING DRAGON TO GET
RID OF THAT CLAW, AND THEN THAT
TRUNK SEPARATION.
THERE WILL BE A 35 SECOND JUMP
FROM SEPARATING THE CLAW TO
SEPARATING THE TRUNK.
WE WILL KEEP OUR EYES ON THE
GROUND TREAD FOR YOU AND MAKE
SURE WE GET AN EXACT LOCATION OF
WHEN THESE SEPARATION EVENTS ARE
OCCURRING.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE CLAW AND
THE TRUNK TO SEPARATE CLEANLY
AND THEN IT WILL BE LESS THAN
FIVE MINUTES TO THE DEORBIT
BURN.
>> AFTER THAT --
>> DEORBIT SEQUENCE START.
>> GREAT NEWS.
>> COPY.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THE DRACO
THRUSTERS ON DRAGON STARTING TO
FIRE.
NOW MOVING ITS WAY OVER TO THE
TRUNK JETTISON ATTITUDE.
THAT SHOULD BE ABOUT TWO MINUTES
AWAY FROM THE CLAW SEPARATION.
>> FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE
JUST TUNING IN, YOU'RE JUST IN
TIME.
AT THIS POINT IN THE MISSION, WE
ARE BEGINNING TO EXECUTE THE
FINAL STEPS OF DRAGON ENDEAVOR'S
RETURN TO EARTH.
WE ARE PERFORMING THE CLAW
SEPARATION SLEW, WHICH MEANS
DRAGON IS MANEUVERING ITSELF
INTO POSITION, INTO THE PROPER
ATTITUDE, TO SEPARATE THE DRAGON
TRUNK.
THAT WILL BE INITIATED BY
SEPARATION OF THE CLAW.
THE CLAW IS A MECHANISM THAT
ATTACHES THE TRUNK AND -- EXCUSE
ME, IN THE CAPSULE TOGETHER.
-- AND THE CAPSULE TOGETHER.
IT DELIVERS POWER, TELEMETRY,
AND FLUIDS.
WE NEED TO EXPOSE THE HEAT
SHIELD.
RIGHT NOW, THE TRUNK IS BLOCKING
THAT, SO WE WILL JETTISON THE
TRUNK.
WE WILL THEN -- IT WILL ALLOW US
TO MANEUVER INTO THE PROPER
ATTITUDE TO PERFORM THE DEORBIT
BURN, WHICH DRAGON HAS PERFORMED
A NUMBER OF BURNS SO FAR,
OVERNIGHT AND EARLY THIS
MORNING.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BURN THE
VEHICLE HAS TO PERFORM F --
FOR THIS MISSION.
>> DRAGON IS IN THE TRUNK
SEPARATION ATTITUDE.
WE ARE STANDING BY FOR CLAW
SEPARATION.
>> WE JUST HEARD CONFIRMATION.
>> WITH THE CLAW SEPARATED, WE
ARE NOW STANDING BY FOR THE
TRUNK SEPARATION IN LESS THAN 30
SECONDS.
10 SECONDS TILL TRUNK
SEPARATION.
>> WE JUST HEARD CONFIRMATION OF
TRUNK SEPARATION.
>> THE TRUNK SEPARATION COMING
IN AT 10:52 A.M. PACIFIC WITH
DRAGON FLYING OVER THE INDIAN
OCEAN, JUST TO THE WEST OF
AUSTRALIA.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE SHOWED
NOMINAL TRUNK JETTISON.
>> WE COPY.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SO THE CREW JUST GOT THE CALL.
NOMINAL TRUNK SEPARATION.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE
LOOKING FOR.
NEXT WILL BE THAT DEORBIT BURN.
AGAIN, THE LONGEST BURN OF THEIR
TRIP HOME.
THE LONGEST FIRING OF THOSE
THRUSTERS INTO THE LAST TIME WE
ARE USING THOSE FORWARD ALL CAPS
THRUSTERS.
>> THOSE THRUSTERS ARE WHAT WE
ARE USING TO PERFORM THE DEORBIT
BURN.
ONCE WE DO THAT, THAT BURN WILL
LAST FOR 11.5 MINUTES.
ONCE THAT IS COMPLETED, WE DO
NOT NEED TO USE THOSE THRUSTERS
AND, SO WE WILL CLOSE AND LOCK
-- THOSE THRUSTERS ANYMORE, SO
WE WILL CLOSE AND LOCK THE
NOSECONE FOR REAR ENTRY.
-- REENTRY.
>> WE ARE UNDER THREE POINT FIVE
MINUTES FROM THE DEORBIT BURN.
WE WERE ABLE TO SEPARATE THAT
CLAW AT 10:51 A.M. PACIFIC.
IT IS 17: 51 GMT.
THE TRUNK SEPARATING WILL DRAGON
WAS FLYING TO THE WEST OF
AUSTRALIA -- WHILE DRAGON WAS
FLYING TO THE WEST OF AUSTRALIA.
>> RIGHT NOW, DRAGON IS RUNNING
EXCLUSIVELY ON BATTERY POWER.
ALSO, TELEMETRY IS LOOKING GOOD
FOR THE VEHICLE.
THE SYSTEM IS PRIMED FOR CABIN
AND SUE COOLING.
THE HEAT SHIELD IS EXPOSED.
THAT SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE AIR
THAT WE BREATHE EVERY DAY HERE
ON EARTH, NITROGEN, OXYGEN
MIXTURE, THE SAME STUFF THEY PUT
IN YOUR SCUBA TANK IF YOU ARE A
SCUBA DIVER.
THE SYSTEM IS USED TO COOL THE
CABIN AND THE SUIT TO KEEP THE
CREW COMFORTABLE DURING THEIR
ENTRY PHASE.
THEY WILL ACTUALLY HAVE COLD AIR
FLOWING THROUGH THEIR SUITS
THEMSELVES AS WELL AS THROUGH
THE CABIN ITSELF.
SO A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH TO
MAINTAINING A COMFORTABLE
TEMPERATURE THERE INSIDE THE
CAPSULE.
THE NEXT EVENTS WE HAVE COMING
UP WILL BE THE DEORBIT BURN,
WHICH WE ARE EXPECTING THAT TO
COMMENCE IN ONE MINUTE AND 40
SECONDS.
ACCORDING TO THE GROUND TRACKING
MAP THERE, DRAGON IS APPROACHING
THE SOUTHWESTERN APPROACH --
SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF AUSTRALIA.
LESS THAN A MINUTE.
>> WE ARE EXCITED.
WE ARE INSIDE A MINUTE TO
DEORBIT BURN.
ONE MORE TIME, THIS IS THE LONG
ONE.
THIS IS EXPECTED TO LAST 11
MINUTES, 22 SECONDS.
THIS IS THAT BURN THAT COMMITS
THE DRAGON TO REENTER INTO THE
EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.
YOU CAN GET A SENSE OF JUST HOW
FAR THEY ARE GOING TO GO.
BY THE TIME THEY FIRED THIS
BURN, THEY WILL BE JUST TO THE
SOUTHWEST OF AUSTRALIA.
THIS WILL REALIGN THEIR ORBIT TO
INTERSECT WITH THAT POINT OFF
THE COAST OF PENSACOLA WHERE
THEY WILL BE SPLASHING DOWN.
>> THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE
DRAGON IS FULLY COMMITTED TO THE
REENTRY POINT.
AGAIN, WE ARE AIMING JUST UP THE
COAST OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
OUR RECOVERY SHIP, GO NAVIGATOR,
IS READY AND WAITING TO BEGIN
THE RECOVERY PROCESS RIGHT
AFTER SPLASHDOWN OCCURS.
WE ARE IN THE FINAL STEPS OF THE
DEORBIT SEQUENCE.
THE DEORBIT BURN WILL BE
STARTING IN JUST A COUPLE OF
SECONDS.
>> WE HEARD CONFIRMATION THAT
DEORBIT BURN HAS BEGUN, COMING
AT 10:56 A.M. PACIFIC.
THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT JUST OFF
THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA, SO HERE
WE GO.
11 MORE MINUTES.
>> I AM READY AND I AM SURE IT
IS SAFE TO SAY BOB AND DOUG ARE
READY.
THEY HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF
INTERVIEWS IN THE LAST --
INTERVIEWS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
WHILE ON STATION AND THE
EXCITEMENT FOR THE MISSION IS
PALPABLE.
BEING ABLE TO FLY THESE TWO
INCREDIBLE HUMANS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
BACK IS SUCH AN HONOR AND WE ARE
EXCITED TO GET OUR SPACE DADS
HOME SAFELY AND BACK TO THEIR
FAMILIES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THIS DEORBIT BURN WE ARE
CURRENTLY IN WILL LAST 11
MINUTES AND 22 SECONDS.
>> A LITTLE MORE THAN 10 AND
COUNTING.
10 MINUTES TO GO.
THE PROPULSION SYSTEM PERFORMING
NOMINALLY.
THAT IS THE WORD WE ALWAYS WANT
TO HEAR, ALWAYS LIKE TO HEAR.
JUST UNDER 10 MINUTES TO GO IN
THIS BURN.
>> ALL WITHIN THE LAST 10
MINUTES.
IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAD A SLOW
PROGRESS OF EVENTS ALL MORNING,
AND THEN WITHIN THE LAST FEW
MINUTES WE HAD A COUPLE THINGS
HAPPENING.
DRAGON MANEUVERED ITSELF INTO
THE APPROPRIATE POSITION TO
JETTISON ITS TRUNK.
IT DID SO SUCCESSFULLY,
NOMINALLY, AND THEN INITIATED
THE DEORBIT BURN A COUPLE
MINUTES AGO.
THIS DEORBIT BURN IS THE LAST
TIME BEFORE FORWARD -- THE LAST
TIME TO FOUR FORWARD DRACO
THRUSTERS WILL FIRE.
THIS DEORBIT BURN IS WHAT WILL
LINE THE VEHICLE UP INPUT
IT'-- UP AND PUT IT ON ITS
FINAL TRAJECTORY.
THEY ARE KEEPING TABS ON THE
BURN DURATION, FIRINGS, AND
TRAJECTORY DETAILS UNTIL THAT
BURN TERMINATES.
ALL THEY REALLY HAVE TO DO IS
STAY STRAPPED IN IN THEIR SEATS
AND KEEP TABS ON THINGS.
WHILE THIS IS COMPLETING WE ARE
A FEW MINUTES IN.
IT WILL LAST 11 MINUTES AND 22
SECONDS.
WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE EVENTS
COMING UP AFTERWARD IN -- LET ME
CHECK MY TIMELINE.
JUST UNDER 44 MINUTES WE WILL
HAVE THE INITIAL PARACHUTE
DEPLOYMENT.
THAT IS WHEN WE WILL
DEPLOY THE PARACHUTES DESIGNED
TO FURTHER SLOW DOWN THE CAPSULE
AS IT IS REENTERING THE
ATMOSPHERE AND STABILIZING IT.
A MINUTE AFTER THAT WE WILL
 DEPLOY THE OTHER
PARACHUTES.
A COUPLE OF MINUTES AFTER THAT
WE WILL HAVE SPLASHDOWN.
THAT IS ALL IN 44 MINUTES.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE PERFORMING DE-O
RBIT BURN.
>> THE ONLY PERFORMANCE CALL IS
EVERYTHING IS STILL LOOKING GOOD
ON DRAGON.
ONCE THIS COMPLETES WE WILL HAVE
A COUPLE OF MINUTES, ABOUT THREE
MINUTES, TO CATCH OUR BREATH
BEFORE THINGS PICK BACK UP AND
WE GET THE NOSECONE.
THERE WILL BE A GAP AND THEY
WILL MANEUVER DRAGON TO
THE ENTRY ALTITUDE AND INTO THE
LINE OF VELOCITY.
THAT HEATSHIELD WILL PROTECT
THEM FROM THE HEAT OF REENTRY.
TEMPERATURES GET UP TO 3500
DEGREES ON THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT, BUT EVERYTHING
LOOKING GOOD.
WE ARE FIVE MINUTES INTO THE DE-
ORBIT BURN.
THE DRAGON WAS FLYING 260
STATUTE MILES OFF THE COAST OF
AUSTRALIA.
>> DURING THIS BURN -- WE HEARD
A CALL WE ARE HALFWAY THROUGH
AND EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GREAT.
DURING THIS BURN BOB AND DOUG
ARE CURRENTLY MONITORING THE DE-
ORBIT TOOL WHICH CAPTURES
THE REENTRY INTERFACE, HOW MUCH
DISTANCE REMAINS BEFORE THE BURN
ITSELF IS TERMINATED, THEY ARE
MONITORING BURN DURATION AND THE
FIRING OF THE DRACO THRUSTERS
LOCATED ON THE FORWARD BULKHEAD
OF THE CAPSULE.
ON YOUR SCREEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT
BOB AND DOUG ARE SEEING.
THAT TOOL ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT
OF THE CENTER SCREEN IS THE DE-
ORBIT MONITORING TOOL.
>> JUST PAST SEVEN MINUTES INTO
THE BURN AND A LITTLE OVER
FOUR MINUTES TO GO.
WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING TO BE ON
TRACK FOR OUR SPLASHDOWN.
OUR SPLASHDOWN TIME IS RIGHT AT
11:48 A.M. AND 24 SECONDS
 PACIFIC.
THAT TIME IS 18:48 UNIVERSAL.
WE ARE THROUGH THE MAJOR STEPS
TO INITIATE REENTRY, THE TRUNK
IS GONE, THE DE-ORBIT BURN HAS
BEGUN.
WE HAVE THREE AND A HALF MINUTES
REMAINING.
>> ON YOUR SCREEN IS A SHOT OF
MISSION CONTROL AT SPACEX
HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA WHERE
THE DRAGON OPERATORS AND MISSION
LEADERS ARE MONITORING DRAGON'S
PROGRESS.
THEY CONTINUE TO WATCH THE
PROPULSION DATA, MAKING SURE
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING HEALTHY
AND NOMINAL.
>> WE ARE JUST ABOUT TWO MINUTES
AND 30 SECONDS UNTIL THE END OF
BURN.
WE WILL LISTEN TO THE CALL UP TO
THE CREW ON THE PERFORMANCE OF
THE BURN AND THEY WILL MOVE INTO
THE NEXT STEP.
WE GET A THREE MINUTE BREATHER
BEFORE THE NEXT MILESTONE COMES
UP WHEN WE GET READY TO CLOSE
THE NOSECONE PROTECTING THE
DOCKING RING, NAVIGATION
SENSORS, AND THESE FOUR
THRUSTERS PERFORMING THE DE-
ORBIT BURN.
WE OUR AT JUST UNDER TWO
MINUTES FROM DE-ESCALATION OF
THE BURN.
>> DRAGON IS COMMITTED TO ITS
SPLASHDOWN POINT.
THERE IS NO GOING BACK.
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE THE RECOVERY TEAM READY
AND ON STANDBY.
THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR QUITE
SOME TIME NOW.
WE HAVE ABOUT 90 SECONDS LEFT IN
THE BURN.
THE WEATHER IS LOOKING GREAT OFF
OF PENSACOLA.
WINDS AROUND 2.5 MILES PER HOUR
AND THE SEA IS LIKE GLASS.
WE ENDED UP GETTING FANTASTIC
WEATHER FOR THIS SPLASHDOWN OF
DRAGON.
WE ARE ONE MINUTE AWAY FROM THE
END OF DE-ORBIT BURN.
>> THIS IS LANDING OFF THE COAST
OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO AND OUR RECOVERY
VESSEL AND THE RECOVERY TEAM ARE
READY AND WAITING TO SEE BOB AND
DOUG COME BACK THROUGH THE
ATMOSPHERE.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> DRAGON BURN COMPLETE.
PERFORMANCE NOMINAL.
NOSECONE CLOSURE INITIATED.
>> ALL RIGHT.
BURN COMPLETE.
WE HEARD NOMINAL BURN.
BOB AND DOUG ARE ON THEIR WAY
BACK HOME.
THIS COMMITS THEM TO REENTERING
THE ATMOSPHERE.
ALL WE HAVE LEFT IS TO WAIT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE LAST MAJOR
MOMENTS BEFORE THEY REENTER THE
ATMOSPHERE.
WE WILL HAVE THE CLOSURE COMING
UP NEXT.
THAT WILL COME IN A COUPLE OF
MINUTES AS WE HAVE A
THREE-MINUTE SPAN.
>> THE NOSECONE IS CURRENTLY IN
THE CLOSING PROCESS.
IT DOES NOT JUST SNAP SHUT.
IT SLOWLY CLOSES AND LOCKS.
THAT NOSECONE IS IN THE PROCESS
OF MOVING BACK INTO CLOSED
POSITION AND WE WILL HAVE THE
CALL OUT FOR WHENEVER IT HAS
FULLY CLOSED AND LATCHES HAVE
SECURED.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ABOUT
HALFWAY THERE.
IT OPENED A LITTLE MORE THAN 90
DEGREES.
I THINK THE EXACT COUNT WAS 110
DEGREES FOR RANGE OF MOTION.
WE ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN
HALFWAY OF GETTING THAT CLOSED.
>> I JUST HEARD WE HAVE VISUAL
ON NOSECONE CLOSURE.
IT WILL TAKE A MINUTE FOR THE
HOOK TO CLOSE.
THEY CLOSE IN A SERIES.
THE FIRST WILL CLOSE AND THE
SECOND WILL FOLLOW AND THAT WILL
TAKE ABOUT A MINUTE TO COMPLETE.
>> AS WE WAIT FOR THE FINISH TO
THAT NOSECONE CLOSURE, WE WILL
HAVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES, A LITTLE
OVER 21 FROM NOW, BEFORE WE
REENTER THE ATMOSPHERE.
RIGHT AROUND THAT TIME WE WILL
ALSO BE LOOKING FOR THAT
BLACKOUT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT.
WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
RATTY COMMS.
YOU MAY HEAR BREAKUP IN THE
AUDIO TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF
HOW DRAGON WAS ORIENTED FOR THE
BURN.
THAT BLACKOUT PERIOD WILL BE DUE
TO THE PLASMA INTERFERING WITH
THE ANTENNAS.
>> I HEARD THE CALL OUT THAT THE
FIRST SET OF HOOKS FOR NOSECONE
CLOSURE ARE IN MOTION.
THIS WILL COMPLETE IN TWO SETS.
REALLY GOOD NEWS TO HEAR THAT.
EVERYTHING LOOKING GOOD SO FAR.
LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, IN THE
BACKGROUND, DRAGON HAS INHIBITED
THE FORWARD BULKHEAD DRACO
THRUSTERS WE USED TO COMPLETE
THE DE-ORBIT BURN.
THE VEHICLE HAS INITIATED THE
NITROGEN AND OXYGEN BURN.
IT IS BEING PURGED INTO THE
SYSTEM AND COOLED ALLOWING THE
COOL AIR TO CIRCULATE THE CABIN,
BUT ALSO INSIDE THE SUITS.
IT WILL KEEP THEM COOL AND
COMFORTABLE DURING REENTRY WHICH
WILL BE COMING UP IN 20 MINUTES.
WE ARE CURRENTLY TRACKING 23
MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS UNTIL
ENTRY BEGINS.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, THE
NOSECONE HAS CLOSED.
THE FORWARD THRUSTERS HAVE BEEN
DISABLED AND WE ARE LATCHING THE
NOSECONE, CURRENTLY UNDERWAY
WITH THE FIRST SET OF HOOKS.
THE FIRST OF TWO SETS.
WE JUST HAD CONFIRMATION THE
FIRST SET OF HOOKS HAS CLOSED,
SO THE SECOND SET WILL BEGIN TO
CLOSE AS WELL.
>> AS WE MENTIONED AFTER THIS
NOSECONE IS CLOSED WE WILL HAVE
A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO CATCH OUR
BREATH, ABOUT 20 MINUTES, UNTIL
DRAGON WILL MANEUVER ITSELF INTO
THE ENTRY ALTITUDE, POINTING THE
HEATSHIELD IN THE DIRECTION OF
TRAVEL AS IT WILL BE LEADING THE
WAY THROUGH ENTRY INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE.
WE WILL LOOK TO RUN INTO THAT
COMMUNICATIONS BLACKOUT 36
MINUTES AFTER THE HOUR AND THAT
WILL LAST ABOUT SIX MINUTES.
WE WILL GET THAT BACK SHORTLY
BEFORE WE DEPLOY THE PARACHUTES
FOLLOWED LESS THAN A MINUTE
LATER BY THE MAIN PARACHUTE AND
THEN WE SHOULD HAVE VIEWS OF
DRAGON REENTERING THE
ATMOSPHERE, PARACHUTING TO A
SPLASHDOWN IN THE GULF.
>> IN THE FRONT ROW OF MISSION
CONTROL IN THE CENTER YOU CAN
SEE CEO ELON MUSK AND OUR
PRESIDENT, GWEN, SITTING
SIDE-BY-SIDE.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE TWO, IT IS
FILLED WITH MISSION LEADERS AND
OPERATORS WHO ARE MONITORING THE
HEALTH AND TELEMETRY OF THE CREW
AND CAPSULE.
THE FIRST OF TWO SETS OF HOOKS
LATCHING HAS COMPLETED AND WE
HEARD A CALL OUT --
>> NOSECONE IS SECURE FOR ENTRY.
>> COPY.
>> GREAT CONFIRMATION BACK AND
FORTH FROM MICHIGAN CONTROL TO
BOB AND DOUG IN DRAGON ENDEAVOR
THAT BOB AND DOUG CONFIRMED ON
THEIR DISPLAY THE NOSECONE HAS
CLOSED AND IS SECURE FOR ENTRY.
>> THAT NOSECONE CLOSE
COMPLETION.
A LOT OF TONGUE TWISTERS COMING
WITH DRAGON STILL FLYING OVER
THE SOUTH PACIFIC.
IT IS ON ITS WAY HOME.
WE ARE GOING TO GRADUALLY SEE
ITS ALTITUDE DIP.
ALREADY 207 MILES OVER THE
EARTH'S SURFACE.
IT WAS AT 260 WHEN IT WAS ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THE PACIFIC OFF OF
THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA WHEN IT
FIRED THE ENGINES FOR THE DE-
ORBIT BURN.
ONCE IT GETS TO ABOUT 100
KILOMETERS OR 62 MILES IT WILL
BEGIN ENTRY INTERFACE AND THAT
IS WHEN IT BEGINS TO FEEL THE
EFFECTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE.
WE WILL EXPERIENCE LIFT AND DRAG
THAT IS NO LONGER IN THE VACUUM
ENVIRONMENT.
>> WE ARE ESSENTIALLY STEPPING
INTO THE SECOND HALF OF ENTRY.
DRAGON IS BEGINNING TO FLUSH
NITROX INTO THE CABIN AND
THE SUITS.
THIS IS COOL AIR FLOWING THROUGH
THE CABIN AND SUITS AND WILL
ALLOW THEM IN THE CABIN TO
REMAIN COMFORTABLE DURING
REENTRY WHILE EXTERNAL
TEMPERATURES REACH 3500 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT.
DRAGON'S ORIENTATION IS SUCH
THAT THE HEATSHIELD IS POINTING
FORWARD.
IT IS LEADING THE CAPSULE TOWARD
THE LANDING SITE.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING
ALONG, WEATHER HAS BEEN A BIG
TICKET ITEM FOR US.
THE RECOVERY TEAM HAS BEEN BUSY
OVER THE LAST WEEK WORKING TO
DETERMINE THE SELECTION OF A
LANDING SITE.
IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE OPTIONS
FOR SPACE STATION DEPARTURES,
THEY IDENTIFIED SEVEN SPLASHDOWN
LOCATIONS.
IN ORDER TO MEET THE TIMELINE
REQUIREMENTS FOR CREW RECOVERY
THESE POTENTIAL LOCATIONS HAVE
TO BE CLOSE TO A PORT AND THEY
HAVE TO BE CLOSE TO MEDICAL
FACILITIES.
WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND YOU ADD
THE EVER EVOLVING WEATHER
CONDITIONS OF FLORIDA, BUT ALSO
THE TROPICAL STORM THAT WAS
MOVING THROUGH AND IT IS EASY TO
SEE HOW DETERMINING THAT LANDING
SITE IS QUITE A COMPLEX PROCESS.
SINCE DRAGON IS CAPABLE OF
SPLASHDOWN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE
FLORIDA PANHANDLE WE HAVE TWO
IDENTICAL RECOVERY VESSELS READY
TO SUPPORT.
ONE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, WHICH
IS WHAT WE ARE UTILIZING, AND
THE OTHER LOCATED OFF THE EAST
COAST OF FLORIDA ABLE TO SERVICE
LANDING SITES IN THE ATLANTIC
OCEAN.
TODAY WE WILL BE SPLASHING DOWN
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OFF THE
COAST OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
GO NAVIGATOR IS WAITING FOR BOB
AND DOUG.
THE WB-57 PLANE IF IT HAS NOT
TAKEN OFF ALREADY, IT WILL SOON.
>> IT HAS TAKEN OFF.
>> THAT WILL PROVIDE THE VIEWS
OF DRAGON DURING REENTRY.
IT WILL ALLOW US TO SEE THE
CAPSULE AS IT REENTERS.
IF YOU WERE TUNED IN FOR OUR
DEMO BROADCAST, IT WAS BASICALLY
A BIG BALL OF LIGHT COMING AT
US.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE CAMERAS ON
BOARD THE RECOVERY VESSEL, SO AS
DRAGON GETS CLOSER AND IS
DEPLOYING THOSE PARACHUTES, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE, HOPEFULLY,
REALLY CLEAR FOOTAGE OF THAT
OCCURRING.
>> DRAGON'S ALTITUDE CONTINUING
TO DIP.
174 MILES OVER PLANET
EARTH.
WE ARE 11.5 MINUTES WHEN WE
EXPECT TO HIT INTERFACE.
DRAGON WILL FEEL THE EFFECTS OF
BEING IN A DENSER ATMOSPHERE AND
WE ARE TRACKING THAT BLACKOUT TO
COME AROUND THAT SAME TIME.
WE ARE UNDER 27 MINUTES AWAY
FROM SPLASHDOWN.
WE ARE UNDER 27 MINUTES AWAY
FROM BOB AND DOUG BEING ON
PLANET EARTH SINCE THE MAY
30.
>> THE DRAGON CAPSULE DEPARTED
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION SEVERAL HOURS AGO, BUT
ACCORDING TO WHAT DAN SAID, IT
IS ESSENTIALLY HALFWAY HOME JUST
BASED ON ALTITUDE ALONE.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
IS 250 MILES ABOVE EARTH'S
SURFACE.
IT IS RIGHT NOW ABOUT 263 MILES
ABOVE THE SURFACE.
THE TELEMETRY IS FROM, AND
ALTITUDE STANDPOINT, DRAGON IS
HALFWAY HOME IN THE SECOND HALF
WILL BE COVERED IN THE NEXT
27ISH MINUTES VERSUS THE SEVERAL
HOURS WE HAVE BEEN COVERING
SINCE YESTERDAY.
>> YES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE ITS
SPEED DROP AS IT IS DROPPING OUT
OF ORBIT AND STARTING TO HIT THE
ATMOSPHERE.
IT WILL GENERATE HEAT ON THE
HEATSHIELD AND BUILDING THE
PLASMA UP.
IT IS ALREADY BELOW 17,000 MASS
PER HOUR AND IT WILL DROP TO
TERMINAL VELOCITY OF 350 MILES
PER HOUR AS THE PARACHUTES
DEPLOY.
THEY WILL POP OUT WHEN SENSORS
ON THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT, BOTH
GPS AND PRESSURE SENSORS, TELL
THE SPACECRAFT IT IS AT THE
RIGHT ALTITUDE AND THEY WILL
AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY.
THEY COME OUT OF THE TOP SECTION
OF THE SPACECRAFT USING TWO
MORTARS FOR THE INITIAL SLOWING
AND STABILIZING OF THE CAPSULE.
>> AFTER THAT THE MAIN
PARACHUTES WILL POP OUT
FURTHER DE-ACCELERATED TO 119
MILES PER HOUR.
BY THE TIME THE CAPSULE IS
SPLASHING DOWN IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO IT IS ONLY GOING 15 OR 16
MILES PER HOUR.
THAT IS A PRETTY COMFORTABLE
SPEED.
THE WAY THE ASTRONAUTS HAVE
DESCRIBED IT PREVIOUSLY WITH
OTHER TYPES OF MISSIONS ALSO
LANDING DOWN AT ABOUT THE SAME
RATE, THEY SAID IT FEELS LIKE
YOU ARE IN A MINOR FENDER
BENDER.
>> YOU ARE DEFINITELY RUNNING
INTO SOMETHING.
YOU WILL FEEL IT, BUT THEY DO A
LOT OF WORK WITH THE SEATS AND
RESTRAINTS TO MAKE SURE WHILE IT
MAY BE A FENDER BENDER, YOU HAVE
MORE THAN A SEATBELT HOLDING YOU
IN.
THEY ARE VERY SECURE IN THEIR
SUITS AND SEATS.
THEY WILL STAY IN THEIR EVEN
AFTER DRAGON TOUCHES DOWN.
WE WILL HAVE COMMUNICATION ONCE
THEY TOUCHED DOWN.
THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL
CONTINUE TO WORK WHILE THEY ARE
IN THE CAPSULE AND THE GULF OF
MEXICO AND MUCH WARMER
TEMPERATURES THAN THEY HAVE SEEN
FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
WE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO TALK TO
THEM FROM HERE IN HAWTHORNE AND
SO WILL THE RECOVERY TEAMS.
>> YEAH.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE MIGHT
SEE THEM DO, DEPENDING ON AFTER
THE TOUCHDOWN, THEY WILL STILL
HAVE DEMONSTRATION TASKS TO
CARRY OUT.
THEY HAVE A SATELLITE PHONE
INSIDE THE CAPSULE THAT HAS ITS
OWN SATELLITE ANTENNA AND THEY
ARE ABLE TO USE THAT INDEPENDENT
OF DRAGON'S COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS.
THE ONE THING WE MIGHT HEAR THEM
DO IS DO A TEST CALL TO THE
TEAMS IN HAWTHORNE.
YOU WOULD HEAR THE GO TO DO THAT
OVER THE GROUND AUDIO WE HAVE
BEEN LISTENING TO.
WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE OF
DEMONSTRATION STEPS AS THIS IS A
TEST FLIGHT.
THIS IS THE FLIGHT TO PROVE OUT
DRAGON'S SYSTEM TO BRING
CREWMEMBERS FROM KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER TO THE SPACE STATION AND
RETURN THEM TO EARTH.
WE HAVE HAD A FLAWLESS RIDE
DOWNHILL.
WE HAVE COMPLETED DE-ORBIT BURN
AND DRAGON IS AT ABOUT 132 MILES
OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
SOON WE WILL SEE THE GROUND
TRACK CROSS OVER CENTRAL
AMERICA, OVER THE GULF, COMING
IN JUST OFF THE COAST OF
PENSACOLA.
>> DRAGON SPACEX 4 ENTRY BRIEF.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> DOUG, WE HAVE NO UPDATE
BECAUSE THE BURN WENT GREAT AND
YOUR VEHICLE IS STILL LOOKING
GOOD FOR ENTRY.
NO HEALTH ISSUES AT THIS TIME.
>> OK.
DRAGON COPY.
THANK YOU.
>> THE RECOVERY TEAM IS GO AND
THE WEATHER IS STILL GREAT.
WENTS ABOUT 2 --WINDS ABOUT 2
KNOTS.
>> COPY.
GOOD WEATHER IN THE ATLANTA
AREA.
>> THE LAST PIECE IS WE EXPECT
ADDITIONAL RATTY COM.
IF YOU COULD GET IS YOUR ENTRY
CHECK REPORT A LITTLE PRIOR TO
ENTRY, WE WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.
>> COPY, WILCO.
>> THANK YOU, DOUG.
>> WE HAD A BIT OF A BRIEFING
BETWEEN MISSION CONTROL AND BOB
AND DOUG UP IN THE CREW
ENDEAVOR.
JUST CONFIRMING THE BURN WAS
GREAT AND THE TIMING ON THE PADS
DOES NOT NEED TO BE UPDATED.
WE WERE ABLE TO UPDATE TIMES
THAT REMAIN LIVE DEPENDING ON
HOW THE BURN GOES AND, AT THIS
POINT, THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE
UPDATED.
BOB AND DOUG, THE PRIMARY
MISSION RIGHT NOW, IS TO
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE VEHICLE
STATUS AND TELEMETRY AND DATA
BEING PRESENTED ON THEIR
TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAYS IN FRONT OF
THEM.
DURING THE MORE DYNAMIC EVENTS
THEY WANT TO BE AWARE WHEN
PARACHUTE DEPLOY WILL HAPPEN.
MAKING SURE THE TIMELINE IS
ACCURATE IS CERTAINLY IMPORTANT.
>> DRAGON IS OUT OVER THE
CENTRAL PACIFIC AND DOWN TO 108
MILES IN ALTITUDE.
DRAGON SHOULD BE IN AND OUT AT
AROUND 100 KILOMETERS AND THAT
IS WHEN IT STARTS TO EXPERIENCE
A LIFT AND DRAG.
CONTINUING TO DROP IN ALTITUDE
AND STILL LOOKING FOR A ON-TIME
SPLASHDOWN.
DO HAVE THAT BLACKOUT COMING.
THE ATMOSPHERE GETS THICKER AND
WILL GENERATE MORE HEAT AND HEAT
UP THE OUTSIDE OF DRAGON TO 3500
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
IT WILL ALSO BE
FORMING A PLASMA AROUND THE
 SPACECRAFT.
>> SPACEX DRAGON PREP IS
COMPLETE.
>> COPY.
ENTRY PREP COMPLETE.
THANK YOU.
>> A CALL FROM SPACECRAFT
COMMANDER DOUG HURLEY.
ENTRY PREP IS COMPLETE.
THEY ARE MONITORING AND READY TO
COME HOME.
>> ENTRY PREP SHOULD HAVE FINAL
CONFIGURATION OF THE FLIGHT
SUITS.
WE HAD CONFIRMATION IF THE
VISORS WILL BE UP OR DOWN.
THEY SHOULD BE DOWN AT THIS
POINT AS PART OF THE ENTRY PREP
CHECK.
IN THAT LAST BRIEFING WE HEARD
THE WEATHER IS LOOKING GOOD.
THE PHRASING WAS, "IT LOOKS LIKE
GLASS."
THAT IS CERTAINLY IDEAL FOR A
WATER SPLASHDOWN.
THE RECOVERY TIMELINE, YOU KNOW,
BOB AND DOUG SHOULD BE OUT OF
THE CAPSULE WITHIN ONE HOUR OF
SPLASHING DOWN.
GOOD TO HEAR THE WEATHER IS
GOOD.
WE SAW BLUE SKIES AND SOME
FLUFFY CLOUDS IN THE GULF OF
MEXICO AS WE GOT VIEWS FROM OUR
RECOVERY VESSEL.
GLAD TO HEAR CONDITIONS ARE
SUSTAINING AND THAT WINDS ALSO
LOOKING GOOD AROUND 2.5 MILES
PER HOUR.
REALLY COULD NOT ASK FOR BETTER
CONDITIONS FOR A SPLASHDOWN DAY.
>> WE THREADED THE NEEDLE ONCE
AGAIN LIKE WE DID ON LAUNCH.
YOUR UPPER LIMITS FOR WIND OR 10
MILES PER HOUR, SO WE ARE WELL
BELOW THAT THRESHOLD FOR A
SPLASHDOWN TODAY.
THE DRAGON COMING UP ON 82 MILES
IN ALTITUDE, CONTINUING TO DIP
DOWN.
WE EXPECT THAT INTERFACE TO
START SOON WITH THE VEHICLE IS
GOING TO START HEATING UP.
IT WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE
DRACO THRUSTERS AS IT CONTINUES
THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE AND WE
WILL HAVE THAT BLACKOUT COMING
UP IN A FEW MINUTES.
THE CABIN PURGE HAS STARTED.
THIS IS WHEN THEY FLUSH THE
CABIN OF DRAGON WITH COLD AIR
AND THEY WILL DO A SUIT PURGE
RUNNING NITROX THROUGH THE SUITS
TO KEEP THINGS AT A COMFORTABLE
TEMPERATURE AS THE CAPSULE GOES
THROUGH REENTRY AND STARTS TO
HEAT UP.
>> WE ARE ANTICIPATING A BRIEF
BLACKOUT PERIOD WHERE WE ARE
UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE
CAPSULE.
THAT SHOULD START IN ABOUT THREE
MINUTES.
THAT WILL LAST SIX MINUTES TOTAL
AND WE WILL BE UNABLE TO COMMAND
THE VEHICLE OVERSEE TELEMETRIC.
THAT BEING SAID, DRAGON IS
DESIGNED TO BE FULLY AUTONOMOUS.
IT IS DRIVING ITSELF ANYWAY.
BOB AND DOUG WILL STAY FASTENED
IN THEIR SEATS.
THAT ANTICIPATED LOSS OF SIGNAL
OR LOS WILL LAST JUST SIX
MINUTES.
DURING THAT BLACKOUT PERIOD THE
CAPSULE WILL ENCOUNTER ENTRY
INTERFACE.
THIS IS WHEN THE CAPSULE IS NOW
REALLY IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE
AND BEGINNING TO BE SUBJECT TO
AERODYNAMIC FORCES.
THIS IS ALSO WHEN THAT FRICTION
WILL BEGIN TO BUILD UP AND RAISE
THE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE SHOW TWO
MINUTES UNTIL BLACKOUT.
WE WILL SEE YOU ON THE OTHERS.
-- OTHER SIDE.
>> DRAGON, COPY.
>> THERE IS THAT HEADS-UP
COMMUNICATION FROM MISSION
CONTROL TO DRAGON ENDEAVOR
CONFIRMING THAT BLACKOUT.
DURING THE BLACKOUT THE CAPSULE
WILL BE GOING THROUGH ENTRY
INTERFACE WHERE IT IS
ENCOUNTERING AERODYNAMIC FORCES,
REALLY STARTING TO BUILD UP THE
EXTERNAL TEMPERATURE, AND THAT
TEMPERATURE WILL REACH ABOUT
3500 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
HOWEVER, THE INTERIOR OF THE
CABIN IS ENVIRONMENTALLY COOLED
SO BOB AND DOUG SHOULD REMAIN
COMFORTABLE DURING THE DESCENT.
THERE WILL BE COOL AIR FLOWING
NOT ONLY THROUGH THE CABIN, BUT
ALSO THROUGH THEIR SUITS.
THE SUITS HAVE SENSORS THAT ARE
ABLE TO DETECT THE TEMPERATURE
INSIDE THAT SUIT AND ONCE THAT
SENSOR READS THAT IT HAS REACHED
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD IT
WILL FLUSH THE SOUP WITH COOL
AIR AND REALLY CIRCULATE -- SUIT
WITH COOL AIR AND REALLY
CIRCULATE AND COOL IT DOWN.
>> WE ARE RIGHT AROUND THE
ESTIMATED BLACKOUT TIME.
EXPECTING TO REGAIN
COMMUNICATION AT 42 MINUTES
AFTER THE HOUR.
FOR THESE NEXT ASK MINUTES, THEY
ARE LESS THAN 60 MILES IN
ALTITUDE AND THIS IS WHEN THE
CAPSULE IS REALLY HEATING UP
DURING REENTRY, REACHING
TEMPERATURES AROUND 3500 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT.
YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY HITTING THE
ATMOSPHERE AT MORE THAN 17,000
MILES PER HOUR AND THE FRICTION
BUILDS UP THE PLASMA AROUND THE
SPACE CRAFT.
THAT WILL PREVENT US GETTING
DATA FOR SIX MINUTES.
IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
MAINTAIN ITS APPROPRIATE
TRAJECTORY AND ATTITUDE HAVING
ATTITUDE DETERMINATION DEVICES
ON BOARD NOT RELIANT ON
COMMUNICATION WITH SATELLITE.
IT WILL CONTINUE DRAGON DOWN THE
CORRECT PATH FOR THIS SPLASHDOWN
OFF THE COAST OF PENSACOLA.
WE ARE IN THAT BLACKOUT PERIOD.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
STAND BY UNTIL WE GET THEM ON
THE OTHER SIDE.
JUST ABOUT TWO MINUTES AFTER WE
GET ACQUISITION OF SIGNAL
WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR
THE PARACHUTES.
WE SHOULD BE GETTING VIEWS FROM
SOME ASSETS AT THE LANDING ZONE
INCLUDING THE HIGH ALTITUDE
RESEARCH PLANE WHICH IS GOING TO
BE RELY ON THE TELEMETRY TO LOCK
ONTO IT IN THE SKY AND GIVE US A
INFRARED VIEW DURING REENTRY.
WE WILL LOOK FOR THE DEPLOYS AT
44 MINUTES AFTER THE HOUR, AND
THEY WILL COME OUT WHEN THE
VEHICLE IS STILL MOVING AT 350
MILES PER HOUR AT AN ALTITUDE OF
80,000 FEET.
THEY WILL DO SOME INITIAL
SLOWING AND STABILIZATION AND
LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER THEY
WILL DETACH AND THE FOUR MAIN
PARACHUTES WILL DEPLOY.
THEY WILL LOOK CLOSED UP
INITIALLY AND THEN DO SOMETHING
CALLED REEFING.
THEY OPEN IN STAGES TO MINIMIZE
THE LOAD ON THE PARACHUTES.
THEY WILL COME OUT AT THE 500
FEET WITH DRAGON ALREADY SLOWED
-- 6500 FEET WITH DRAGON ALREADY
SLOWED DOWN.
THEY WILL SPLASHDOWN THEN IN THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
WE SHOULD BE 10 MINUTES AWAY
FROM SPLASHDOWN.
>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE GETTING OUR
CAMERAS ON THE WB-57 AIRPLANE,
GETTING THE CAMERAS READY TO
GIVE US OUR FIRST GLIMPSE.
>> WE SHOULD HAVE A LITTLE LESS
THEN THREE MINUTES UNTIL WE
REQUIRE SIGNAL IN CONNECTION
WITH BOB AND DOUG AND THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
>> WE ARE IN A BLACKOUT PERIOD
THAT WE WERE EXPECTING.
THIS WILL LAST A TOTAL OF SIX
MINUTES AND WE ARE HALFWAY
THROUGH.
AT THE MOMENT DRAGON IS
REENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE AND,
DUE TO THE PLASMA BUILDING UP,
WE ARE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE OR
SEND COMMANDS, BUT DRAGON IS
FULLY AUTONOMOUS.
IT IS STEERING ITSELF AND BOB
AND DOUG ARE FLYING HOME.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, COM CHECK.
>> WE ARE STILL INSIDE
THAT ANTICIPATED BLACKOUT.
WE ARE GETTING SPORADIC DATA
STARTING TO PEEK THROUGH WHICH
IS WHY YOU HEARD THAT
COMMUNICATIONS CHECK.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, COMM CHECK.
>> HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> COPY.
WE HAVE GOT YOU.
YOU CAN EXPECT AN AUTOMATED
SHOOT DEPLOYMENT -- CHUTE
DEPLOYMENT.
>> COPY.
>> REALLY GOOD NEWS.
WE HAVE COME OUT OF THE BLACKOUT
AND HAVE REESTABLISHED
CONNECTION WITH DRAGON ENDEAVOR
WITH NASA ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN
AND DOUG HURLEY ON BOARD.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO REACQUIRE
COMMUNICATION EARLIER THAN
EXPECTED AND NOW WE ARE JUST
WAITING.
WE SHOULD BE ABOUT 2.5 MINUTES
AWAY FROM THE CHUTE DEPLOY.
>> GPS HAS CONVERGED.
>> COPY THAT.
>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD EARLIER
BOB AND DOUG ARE EXPERIENCING
3.5 GS.
THAT IS WHAT THEY PULLED DURING
THE ASCENT PHASE.
JUST LIKE A MILD ROLLER COASTER.
THE VEHICLE IS NOW OVER THE GULF
OF MEXICO.
IT IS APPROACHING THE LANDING
ZONE OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA
NEAR PENSACOLA AND WE HAVE OUR
FIRST SHOT.
>> THERE IS.
T IS.
THE FIRST VIEW FROM THE WB 57
AIRPLANE.
IT SHOWS US DRAGON REENTERING.
WE HAVE THAT COMM BACK WITH BOB
AND DOUG.
DRAGON HAS THREE GPS UNITS IT
USES IN THE PARACHUTE DEPLOYMENT
PROCESS THAT HELPS, ALONG WITH
THE PRESSURE SENSORS, TO GIVE A
SOLID ALTITUDE TO THE FLIGHT
COMPUTERS ON WHEN THESE ARE
SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY.
WE ARE STANDING BY FOR THE
DEPLOYMENT.
WE SHOULD BE UNDER FIVE MINUTES
AWAY FROM SPLASHDOWN.
>> 15 KILOMETERS.
BRACE FOR DROG WINDOW.
>> COPY.
>> 14 KILOMETERS IN ALTITUDE AND
CONTINUING TO DESCEND.
>> WE HAVE A SHOT OF THE CAPSULE
AS IT IS PREPARING TO DEPLOY
THOSE INITIAL PARACHUTES.
AGAIN, THESE PARACHUTES HELP
SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN EVEN
FURTHER AND HELP STABILIZE IN
PREPARATION FOR MAIN CHUTE
DEPLOYMENT.
RIGHT ABOUT NOW THE CAPSULE IS
GOING 400 MILES PER HOUR.
>> STANDING BY FOR DROG DEPLOYS.
>> VISUAL.
TWO DROG OUT.
>> WE HAVE CONFIRMATION.
>> THEY ARE NOW OUT AND THEY ARE
GOING TO DO SLOWING AND
STABILIZING OF THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
THEY SHOULD BE DETACHING IN A
FEW MOMENTS AND THEN WE WILL SEE
FOUR MAIN PARACHUTES DEPLOY.
>> DROG DESCENT RATE NOMINAL.
>> THE EXPECTED RATE OF VELOCITY
WERE AROUND 150 MILES PER HOUR
AND ALREADY DROPPING.
YOU CAN SEE THEM DETACH.
>> WE HAVE CONFIRMATION OF
DEPLOYMENT OF THE MAIN
PARACHUTE.
>> WE ARE VISUAL ON FOUR CHUTES
OUT.
WE ARE VISUAL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AT THIS POINT THE MAIN
PARACHUTES HAVE DEPLOYED.
THEY ARE INFLATING AND
CONTINUING TO SLOW DRAGON DOWN
SIGNIFICANTLY.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING SPLASHDOWN
IN UNDER TWO MINUTES AND 30
SECONDS.
>> WE HAVE ALREADY SLOWED THE
VEHICLE DOWN TO 16 MILES PER
HOUR.
>> MAIN CHUTE DESCENT RATE
NOMINAL.
>> DRAGON HAS SAVED ALL
PROPULSION ON BOARD.
>> 600 METERS.
>> WE ARE 600 METERS ABOVE THE
GULF OF MEXICO.
>> SHOULD BE APPROXIMATELY ONE
MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS FROM
SPLASHDOWN.
>> MISSION CONTROL TEAM AND
HAWTHORNE REPORTED THE PRECISE
LANDING COORDINATES TO THE
RECOVERY TEAM.
THEY ARE STANDING BY, READY TO
GO GET OUR SPACE DADS.
>> WE JUST PASSED 300 METERS.
ONE MINUTE UNTIL SPLASHDOWN.
>> 200 METERS.
BRACE FOR SPLASHDOWN.
>> COPY.
BRACE FOR SPLASHDOWN.
>> WE HEARD BOB AND DOUG
REPORTING THEY ARE BRACING FOR
SPLASHDOWN.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE
GULF OF MEXICO HERE IN THE SHOP
MOMENTARILY -- SHOT MOMENTARILY
AS WE ARE 20 METERS OFF THE
OCEAN.
>> SPLASHDOWN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE VISUAL
CONFIRMATION FOR SPLASHDOWN.
>> COPY.
WE SEE SPLASHDOWN.
>> DRAGON ENDEAVOR HAS RETURNED
HOME AND THAT IS BOB AND DOUG.
>> ON BEHALF OF SPACEX AND NASA,
WELCOME BACK TO PLANET EARTH AND
THANK YOU FOR FLYING SPACEX.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE
THAT THE CREW DRAGON AND
ENDEAVOR --
[INDISCERNIBLE]
ALL GOOD AND WE ARE INTO 800.
>> THANK YOU AND WE COPY YOU ARE
INTO 4.800.
>> THE SPACE DADS ARE BACK ON
EARTH AFTER A 19 HOUR RETURN
JOURNEY.
DRAGON ENDEAVOR HAS PLACED
SPLASHDOWN IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
OFF THE COAST OF PENSACOLA,
FLORIDA.
YOU CAN SEE OUR FAST BOATS AND
THEY ARE FAST.
THE ARE RACING OUT
DEGREE ENDEAVOR.
WE CAN SEE THE VIEW INSIDE THE
CAPSULE.
THE COMMUNICATION WAS A LITTLE
CHOPPY.
>> WE SHOW OURSELVES STABLE.
>> SPACEX COPIES FOR VEHICLE
ASSESSMENT.
GOOD NEWS.
>> STABLE ONE MEANS THEY ARE
UPRIGHT IN THE WATER.
STABLE TWO COULD BE ON THE SIDE
OR UPSIDE DOWN, BUT DRAGON HAS A
SYSTEM TO KEEP IT UP RIGHT.
IT CAN PUMP SEAWATER INTO
BLADDERS IN THE SURFACE SECTION
OF THE CAPSULE.
WE ALREADY SEE THE FAST BOATS
APPROACHING.
THEY TOUCHED DOWN RIGHT ON TIME
AT 11:48 A.M. PACIFIC,
18:48 UNIVERSAL.
WE ALREADY SEE THE FAST BOATS
STARTING TO MOVE IN.
WE ARE MAINTAINING GOOD
COMMUNICATION WITH BOB AND DOUG
AND THE TEAM AND HAWTHORNE.
-- IN HAWTHORNE.
WE SHOULD BE GETTING THE
GO-AHEAD TO MOVE IN AND
WRANGLING THE PARACHUTES.
WE CAN SEE BOB AND DOUG INSIDE
THE CAPSULE BACK ON PLANET
EARTH.
>> THE FAST BOATS WILL MOVE IN
TO DO A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THEY WILL PERFORM A SNIFFER TEST
TO ENSURE THE AIR AROUND THE
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE TOXIC
FUMES ON BOARD.
ONCE WE GET THE ALL CLEAR FROM
THEIR THE WATER RECOVERY LEAD
WILL GIVE THE GO FOR APPROACH,
AND THAT IS WHEN THE FIRST FAST
BOAT WILL APPROACH THE CAPSULE,
HOPEFULLY GIVE A WAVE THROUGH
THE WINDOW, AND ONE OF THE TEAM
MEMBERS WILL CLIMB ON TOP OF
CREW DRAGON AND BEGIN TO PLACE
THE RIGGING EQUIPMENT NECESSARY
TO HOIST DRAGON OUT OF THE
WATER.
>> STILL GETTING A VIEW FROM THE
AIRPLANE FLYING OVERHEAD.
IT GAVE US THOSE GREAT VIEWS,
OUR FIRST VIEWS, OF BOB AND DOUG
ENTERING THE ATMOSPHERE.
YOU CAN SEE THE PARACHUTES IN
THE WATER.
THEY WERE CUT AUTOMATICALLY AS
EXPECTED BY DRAGON.
FOR NOW, THE CREW JUST STANDING
BY.
THEY WILL STAY IN THEIR SEATS AS
WE WAIT FOR THESE INITIAL
CHECKS.
>> DRAGON SPACEX COMM CHECK.
>> LANDING CLEAR.
>> LANDING CLEAR.
JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM
RECONFIGURATION.
>> WHAT JUST HAPPENED IS THEY
RECONFIGURE --
>> IF YOU CAN JUST RELAY THE
DATA, THE FAST BOATS AND
RECOVERY AS YOU GET THEM, WE
WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
>> YOU BET.
ABSOLUTELY, DOUG.
>> YOU HEARD COMMS
RECONFIGURATION WHICH IS LOOPING
BOB AND DOUG'S COMMUNICATION
INTO THE RECOVERY TEAM'S SO THEY
CAN HEAR FEEDBACK DIRECTLY.
WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT --
>> SPACEX ENDEAVOR, WE ARE DOING
GOOD SO FAR.
>> WE WILL LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE
FEELING GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
>> REALLY GOOD NEWS TO HEAR THEY
ARE FEELING GOOD AND THEY CAN
LET THE FLIGHT SURGEONS NO ALL
IS GOOD INSIDE DRAGON ENDEAVOR.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE WE DO HAVE ONE
OF OUR FOLKS ON LOCATION WITH
THE RECOVERY FORCES, BRANDY
DEAN, JOINING US BY SATELLITE
PHONE.
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, WHAT IS IT
LIKE ON THE WATER?
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WATCH THEM
SPLASHDOWN?
>> STANDBY.
>> SPACEX COPIES.
WE WILL BE READY IN A COUPLE OF
MINUTES.
PLEASE STAND BY.
>> I CAN HEAR YOU.
>> IN THE CENTER OF YOUR SCREEN
IS DRAGON CAPSULE AWAITING THE
FAST BOATS TO APPROACH AND BEGIN
THE RIGGING PROCESS.
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE WE CAN SEE
THAT SECOND FAST BOAT COME INTO
VIEW.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE ARE GO FOR
RECOVERY PERSONNEL TO APPROACH.
EXPECT PERSONNEL ALONGSIDE IN
UNDER A MINUTE.
>> THANK YOU.
COPY.
>> THEY ARE STARTING TO MOVE IN.
THE FIRST BOAT IS GOING TO GO IN
AND SNIFF AROUND FOR TRACES OF
TOXINS.
THE SECOND WILL ROUND UP THE
PARACHUTES.
THE WB-57 STILL FLYING OVERHEAD.
WE WILL TRY ONE MORE TIME.
WE HAVE BRANDY DEAN WITH THE
RECOVERY FORCES.
IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, WHAT WAS IT
LIKE TO WATCH THIS DRAGON COME
DOWN UNDER PARACHUTES?
>> IT WAS AMAZING.
I WISH EVERYBODY COULD HAVE HAD
MY VIEW.
IT IS A GORGEOUS DAY, THE WATER
IS CALM, THE BEST WEATHER WE
COULD'VE ASKED FOR.
WE HEARD THE SONIC BOOM AS IT
MADE ITS WAY BACK.
IT WAS VERY EXCITING FOR
EVERYBODY DOWN HERE.
>> THAT IS INCREDIBLE.
WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS FROM
PEOPLE IF YOU COULD HEAR THE
SONIC BOOM.
I AM GLAD TO ANSWER THAT FOR US.
WE TALK SO MUCH ABOUT THE
WEATHER, YOU SAID IT WAS GREAT.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE ON THE RIDE OUT
THERE?
HAS IT BEEN CLEAR SKIES AND
CLEAR SEAS THE HALLWAY --
WHOLE WAY.
>> THERE ARE A CIRCLE OF CLOUDS
ALONG THE HORIZON, BUT WE WERE
ABLE TO SEE THE PARACHUTES FAR
ABOVE THE CLOUDS AND FOLLOW IT
ALL THE WAY TO SPLASHDOWN.
>> WE ARE NOT GETTING ANY VIEWS
ON THE BOAT.
WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITY IS TAKING
PLACE?
WE CAN SEE THE FAST BOATS
APPROACHING THE CAPSULE.
WHAT IS EVERYBODY DOING TO GET
EVERYTHING READY?
>> THE BOAT IS MAKING ITS WAY
TOWARD THE CAPSULE.
I CANNOT SEE IT, BUT WE ARE
GETTING CLOSER.
WE HAVE BEEN HOLDING READY
POSITIONS FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW.
>> COPY THAT.
WE ARE GOING TO KEEP WATCHING
FROM HERE.
THANK YOU FOR CALLING IN AND
THANK YOU FOR BEING OUT THERE
AND GETTING US THESE GREAT
VIEWS.
IT IS REALLY INCREDIBLE.
WE HOPE TO GET YOU BACK IN PORT
SOON AND WILL TALK TO YOU IN
HOUSTON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ON YOUR SCREEN -- CAMERA VIEW
CHANGE.
THAT IS COMING FROM GO
NAVIGATOR, THE RECOVERY VESSEL.
THE FAST BOATS ARE GETTING READY
TO INSTALL THE RIGGING EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED TO HOIST DRAGON OUT OF
THE WATER.
THE OTHER FAST BOAT IS
COLLECTING THE PARACHUTES FROM
THE WATER.
WE WANT TO BRING THOSE BACK ON
BOARD WITH US, BUT SHORTLY WE
SHOULD ACTUALLY SEE ONE OF THE
TEAM MEMBERS CRAWL UP ONTO THE
SIDE OF THE CAPSULE IN ORDER TO
INSTALL THAT RIGGING LIKE I
MENTIONED.
THAT PARTICULAR TEAM MEMBER IS
HIGHLY EXPERIENCED AND HIGHLY
TRAINED AS YOU CAN IMAGINE.
CLIMBING ON TOP AND ODDLY SHAPED
THING IN THE OCEAN IS TRICKY.
THIS PERSON HAS DONE HOURS OF
TRAINING FOR THIS TASK WE SEE
THE SECOND FAST APPROACHING.
BOTH OF THESE NEEDED TO WAIT FOR
THE QUE IN ORDER TO PURCHASE
DRAGON.
THAT WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE
WERE NO TOXIC VAPORS IN THE AIR.
NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE ALL CLEAR
WE SEE THEM BEGINNING TO WORK ON
AND AROUND THE DRAGON CAPSULE.
EVEN THOUGH THE CAMERA IS A
LITTLE SHAKY THAT WATER LOOKS,
SUPER DUPER SMOOTH, ALMOST LIKE
GLASS, WHICH IS
>> THIS IS A VIEW FROM THE MAIN
RECOVERY VESSEL WHICH WAS STILL
A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE
SPLASHDOWN.
>> WE HAVE UNFIRED ORDINANCE
CHECKS NOMINAL, ABOUT 2.5
MINUTES UNTIL CAPSULE LIFT.
>> COPY THAT.
WE SAY THEM -- WE SEE THEM
OUTSIDE.
GOOD NEWS.
>> CONFIRMATION THERE THAT THOSE
ARE BOLICK -- THOSE VAPOR TESTS
CAME OUT NEGATIVE, WHICH IS A
POSITIVE THING, SO THE TEAM WAS
ABLE TO APPROACH AND THE
CREWMEMBER THAT IS INSTALLING
THE BAKING -- THE RIGGING IS ON
TOP OF THE CAPSULE.
THE PRIMARY RECOVERY SHIP IS A
LITTLE FURTHER AWAY BUT AS WE
HEARD, IT IS 2.5 MINUTES UNTIL
THEY WILL BE FOISTED OUT OF THE
WATER.
I'M SORRY, 25 MINUTES, NOT 2.5
MINUTES.
I MISHEARD THAT.
>> THEY ARE NOT THAT FAST.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT
THE SECONDARY BOAT, ITS PRIMARY
MISSION IS SECURING THOSE
PARACHUTES, THEY'VE GOT THE
WEASEL ATTACHED IN TWO --
THEY'VE GOT BOUYS ATTACHED TO
BOTH DROGUES.
THE DROGUES DETACHING FROM THE
SPACECRAFT, THE MAINS
AUTOMATICALLY THE TOUCHING --
AUTOMATICALLY DETACHING.
>> WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE
HARDWIRED BUTTONS THAT BOB AND
DOUG HAVE ON THEIR SEATS AND IN
THEIR CONTROL DISPLAYS AND
CUTTING THE MAIN CHUTE IS ONE OF
THOSE BUTTONS IN THE EVENT THAT
THEY WERE NOT AUTOMATICALLY CUT
AT THE SPLASHDOWN, BOB AND DOUG
WOULD HAVE HAD THE ABILITY TO DO
SO.
IF THE WINDS WERE STRONGER AND
THEY CAUGHT THE PARACHUTE, IT
COULD CREATE A CONDITION WHERE
THE CAPSULE COULD BE MOVED
UNINTENTIONALLY BY THOSE
PARACHUTES.
DEFINITE HE TO AVOID THAT.
THAT IS ONE OF THE FEW BUTTONS
THAT ARE HARDWIRED FOR THE CREW.
>> WE ARE EXPECTING ABOUT 20
MINUTES FOR THE MAIN RECOVERY
VESSEL TO REACH DRAGON.
BY THAT POINT, THE RIGGING WILL
BE FIXED AND THEY WILL BE ABLE
TO USE THE HYDRAULIC LIFT ON THE
BACK OF THE VESSEL TO PULL
DRAGON OUT OF THE WATER.
BOB AND DOUG DID REPORT, THEY
SEE GUYS CLIMBING AROUND THEIR
WINDOW, GETTING THAT RIGGING,
STILL DOING GOOD.
WE ARE JUST GOING TO SEE THE
VESSEL CONTINUE TO CLOSE IN.
IT IS A LITTLE OVER 1.3 NAUTICAL
MILES AWAY BUT YOU CAN SEE
THINGS STARTING TO SHARPEN UP IN
OUR VIEW AS IT DOES DRAWING
CLOSER.
>> ONE THING I DID NOT GET TO
MENTION AS A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
WAS HAPPENING, EVERYTHING WAS
GOING SO QUICKLY, JUST BEFORE
THE DROGUE DEPLOYMENT, THE SEATS
ROTATED 26 DEGREES.
IF YOU THINK BACK TO WHEN WE SAW
BOB AND DOUG WHILE THEY WERE ON
ORBIT AND DURING THEIR DEPARTURE
BURNS, THEY WERE LAYING CLOSER
TO ON THEIR BACKS AT THE 40
DEGREE POSITION WE ESSENTIALLY
THEY WERE LOOKING UP AT THE TOP
OF DRAGON CAPSULE, THEIR
STOMACHS WERE FACING THE TOP
CONE.
AT THIS POINT, THE SEAT WOULD
HAVE ROTATED SO THEY ARE IN MORE
OF AN UPRIGHT POSITION.
THAT IS DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE
LOADS EXPERIENCE FROM LANDING
DOES NOT HURT THEM.
AT THIS POINT, THEY ARE NOT
REALLY LAYING ON THEIR BACKS,
THEY ARE SEATED UPRIGHT A LITTLE
BIT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW THEM TO
HAVE A BETTER VIEW OF THE TEAM
WORKING TO INSTALL THE RIGGING
EQUIPMENT.
AT THIS POINT, WE ARE AT ABOUT
22 MINUTES UNTIL DRAGON WILL BE
LIFTED ONTO THE RECOVERY VESSEL.
BOB AND DOUG ARE STILL STRAPPED
INTO THEIR SEATS, KIND OF LIKE
AN AIRPLANE.
THEY SAY, DO NOT UNBUCKLE YOUR
SEATBELT UNTIL THE CAPTAIN
DETERMINES IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.
THEY WILL REMAIN IN THEIR SEATS
THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RECOVERY
PROCESS.
ESSENTIALLY UNTIL IT IS TIME TO
GET THEM OUT.
WE ARE EXPECTING TO LIFT DRAGON
ONTO THE NAVIGATOR RECOVERY SHIP
IN ABOUT 21 MINUTES.
THAT IN 28 MINUTES, WE WILL BE
OPENING THAT HATCH AND BEGINNING
CREW EXIT.
>> WE DID HEAR THE RIGGING IS
PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE, ALSO RIGHT
AS THEY ARRIVE, THEY ARE AT THE
CAPSULE, THE MADE RECOVERY
VESSEL WILL BE ABLE TO BEGIN
GETTING THEM OUT OF THE WATER.
>> AS THE RECOVERY VESSEL IS
GETTING CLOSER TO DRAGON,
DRAGONS POSITION OFF THE COAST
OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA, WE ARE
ABLE TO SEE THE CAPSULE IN MORE
DETAIL.
IT IS NO LONGER A BRIGHT SHADE
OF WHITES.
[LAUGHTER]
THOSE EXTERNAL TEMPERATURES WERE
REACHING UP TO 3500 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT, SO THE THERMAL
PROTECTIVE SYSTEM ENABLED DRAGON
TO RETURN WHILE KEEPING THE
INTERNAL TEMPERATURE RATHER
TEMPERANCE.
>> WE ARE SEEING A FEW MORE
BOATS THAN EXPECTED.
THE TEAMS CURRENTLY WORKING, A
FEW PRIVATE VESSELS IN THE AREA
MAKING SURE THEY GET OUT OF
THEIR -- GET OUT OF THERE.
NOW WE SEE ONE OF THE SPACEX
FAST BOATS MOVING AND -- MOVING
IN.
>> WE ARE BEING ADVISED THAT THE
RECOVERY TEAM IS RADO --
RADIOING OUT TO VACATE THE AREA
SO WE ARE ABLE TO EXTRACT BOB
AND DOUG SAFELY.
ALSO FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE
FOLKS IN THE AREA AS WELL, NOT
JUST BOB AND DOUG.
>> THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DYNAMIC
OPERATION, ONE OF THE FIRST
THINGS WE DO IS MAKE SURE THERE
ARE NOT POISONOUS FUMES AROUND
THE CAPSULE, SOMETHING LIKE THIS
REALLY CAN ENDANGER THE WHOLE
THING, AND DANGER THE
CREWMEMBERS AND THEMSELVES.
THE SPACEX TEAM IS MOVING TO TRY
TO GET THEM AWAY SO THEY CAN
SAFELY RECOVER THE DRAGON
CAPSULE AND GET BOB AND DOUG ON
DECK AND SAFELY INSIDE THEIR
MEDICAL QUARTERS.
THEY ARE GETTING A LOT CLOSER.
WE EXPECT ABOUT 10 MINUTES OR SO
UNTIL THEY SHOULD BE IN
POSITION.
THE RIGGING HAS BEEN FIXED ON
THE CAPSULE AND WAS THEY ARRIVE,
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO USE THAT
HYDRAULIC LIFT TO GET DRAGON UP
AND OUT OF THE WATER.
>> NOT RECOVERY VESSEL IS
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER -- THE
RECOVERY VESSEL IS GETTING
CLOSER AND CLOSER TO DRAGON
ENDEAVOR AS IT AWAITS TO BE
HOISTED OUT OF THE GULF OF
MEXICO.
WE LANDED JUST OFF THE COAST OF
FLORIDA NEAR PENSACOLA.
MAYBE NEXT TIME WE SHOULDN'T
ANNOUNCE OUR LANDING ZONE.
[LAUGHTER]
WE GET A SHOT FROM OUR PLANE,
LOOKS LIKE THE AREA HAS CLEAR
OUT SIGNIFICANTLY, SO THAT IT'S
GOOD TO SEE.
-- HAS CLEARED OUT
SIGNIFICANTLY, SO THAT IS GOOD
TO SEE.
WE ARE ALSO HEARING THAT ALL OF
THE PARACHUTES HAVE BUOUYS ON
THEM, ALSO GOOD NEWS.
>> RAGAN SPACEX,, RECONFIGURE --
DRAGON SPACEX COMM REGONFIG.
WE MAY LOSE THAT FOR ONE OR SO
MINUTES AND THAT SHOULD HAPPEN
SHORTLY.
>> COPY.
[INDISCERNIBLE]
>> WILL DO.
>> AS THE MAIN VESSEL GETS
CLOSER, IT'S GOING TO BACK UP
AND GET THE HYDRAULIC LEFT --
HYDRAULIC LIFT SET UP.
BOB AND DOUG STILL INSIDE,
WAITING FOR THAT RECOVERY.
WE SHOULD START THE HOISTING
OPERATIONS IN THE NEXT 10 TO 15
MINUTES AND IT WILL BE A QUICK
LIFT OUT OF THE WATER USING THAT
HYDRAULIC LIFT WITH THE DRAGON,
UP TO THE BOAT, THE SHIP, THEN
IT WILL MOVE IT UNDERNEATH THE
HELIPAD TO THE CREW RECOVERY
AREA WHERE THEY WILL HAVE A
PLATFORM TO OPEN UP THE HATCH,
SPACEX NICKEL DR. WILL BE THE
FIRST ONE THROUGH THE DOOR, ABLE
TO DO A QUICK CHECK IN WITH BOB
AND DOUG ON THEIR STATUS AND
THEN HE AND THE OTHER MEDICAL
DOCTORS, FLIGHT SURGEONS,
TECHNICIANS WILL BEGIN TO HELP
THEM OUT OF THE CAPSULE.
>> EARLIER, WE DID HEAR BOB AND
DOUG REPORTED THAT THEY WERE
FEELING GOOD AFTER REENTRY, SO
THAT WAS RELATED TO THE FLIGHT
SURGEON AND GOOD NEWS TO HEAR.
THIS IS A VIEW COMING FROM THE W
B 57 PLANE AS IS CIRCLING THE
AREA AND WE CAN SEE DRAGON ARE
WAITING TO BE PULLED OUT OF THE
WATER.
WE ARE ANTICIPATING THAT LIFT TO
BEGIN IN JUST UNDER 15 MINUTES.
WE ARE APPROACHING 14 MINUTES.
IN 21 MINUTES, WE WILL HAVE AN
OPEN HATCH.
>> YOU CAN SEE THE MADE RECOVERY
VESSEL ON THE TOP RIGHT, THAT IS
THE HELIPAD WITH THE SPACEX X ON
TOP, BACKING UP TOWARDS THE
CAPITAL -- THE CAPSULE.
>> NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH ONE
OF OUR LANDING DRONE SHIPS.
THERE IS A LIVE VIEW OF DRAGON
FLOATING IN THE WATER IN THE
BACKGROUND ALONG WITH MANY
ONLOOKERS, FROM A SAFER DISTANCE
AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS A LIVE SHOT COMING FROM
GO NAVIGATOR, ALBERT RECOVERY
VESSEL.
-- OUR RECOVERY VESSEL.
THE FAST BOATS ARE HELPING TO
BRING IT IN CLOSER AND YOU CAN
SEE A COUPLE OF THE RECOVERY
TEAM MEMBERS ON THE DECK AND
BEHIND THEM, WE GET OUR FIRST
GOOD VIEW OF THE NEST.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE NEST IN
THE BACKGROUND, DRAGON WILL BE
LIFTED USING THE HYDRAULIC LIFT
INTO THE NET.
THE NEXT WILL BE PULLED TOWARDS
THE CAMERA FROM THIS VIEW
TOWARDS THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON
THAT UPPER DECK.
>> DRAGON SPACEX COMM CHECK.
>> 11 CLEAR -- LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR AS WELL.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE BOAT IS ONE
LENGTH AWAY, FIVE TO 10 METERS,
BACKING UP TO YOU.
>> COPY THAT.
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
>> GOOD NEWS THERE, WE ARE
GETTING READY TO SEE DRAGON TO
BE LIFTED OUT OF THE WATER AND
INTO THE RECOVERY NET.
THAT DEBT WILL BE PULLED TOWARDS
THE CAMERA, TOWARDS THE UPPER
DECK.
THAT IS WHERE THE MEDICAL
STRUCTURES WILL BE WAITING TO
ASSIST THEM INTO THE MEDICAL
BASE FOR EVALUATION.
>> IT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT THE
FIVE MINUTES SINCE THEY SPLASHED
DOWN.
IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE IT.
>> THAT WAS THE FASTEST 25
MINUTES OF THE DAY.
>> THE TIME LIKE WE WERE
ANTICIPATING WAS FOR THE LIFTING
OPERATION TO START WITHIN 30
MINUTES SO WE ARE RIGHT ON THE
TIMELINE.
THAT HAS BEEN A COMMON THING SO
FAR TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE THEM WITH ONE OF THE
FAST BOATS GETTING INTO POSITION
TO START MOVING OUT WITH THE
ADDITIONAL RIGGING, THEY ARE
GOING TO USE THIS A-FRAME TO
PULL IT OUT OF THE WATER.
YOU CAN SEE THE DRAGON MET AT
THE BOTTOM, AT CIRCULAR OBJECT
WITH THE A1 RIGHT ON IT.
>> WHILE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WE ARE RECOVERING A CAPITAL WITH
CREWMEMBER'S ON BOARD, THE
RECOVERY TEAM --
>> WE HAVE A COUPLE LINES
CONNECTED.
RIGGING IS IN PROGRESS.
>> COPY THAT, THANK YOU.
>> JUST UPDATING THE CREW THAT
THEY MIGHT FEEL SOME MOMENTUM AS
THE RIGGING LINES ARE ATTACHED.
IRA FIRTH GOOD SHOT OF THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS PLACING THAT
RIGGING EQUIPMENT, THAT IS
SOMEONE WHO IS HIGHLY
SPECIALIZED AND VERY WELL
TRAINED FOR THESE OPERATIONS.
THE RECOVERY TEAM HAS REHEARSED
AND PRACTICED THIS WITH BOB AND
DOUG THEMSELVES IN A TEST
CAPSULE, PRACTICING THE EGRESS
AS WELL AS THEY HAVE PRACTICED
THE RECOVERY PROCESS MANY TIMES
AND THROUGH THOSE PRACTICE RUNS,
THEY HAVE EFFECTIVELY CUT THE
RECOVERY PERIOD IN HALF FROM THE
INITIAL DEMO ONE MISSION.
IT IS NICE TO SEE THAT THE
PROCESS ITSELF HAS BEEN
REHEARSED AND CAREFULLY
CHOREOGRAPHED, IT'S GOING SUPER
EFFICIENTLY.
SAFETY IS THE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY, SO MAKING SURE THAT
ONLY PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN
ACTIVE RECOVERY OPERATIONS ARE
PRESENT ON THE DECK.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD US MENTION,
THERE ARE ABOUT 40 PEOPLE ON
BOARD TODAY BUT WE DON'T WANT
ANYONE IN DANGER OR TO FALL
OVERBOARD.
THAT GUY INTENTIONALLY JUMPED,
SPEAKING OF FALLING OVERBOARD.
>> WE ARE READY, THANK YOU.
>> THE CREW WAS JUST TOLD, IN
ABOUT THE NEXT 30 SECONDS, THEY
HAVE THE LINES AFFIXED SO THEY
WILL START LIFTING THE CAPSULE
OUT OF THE WATER.
THE COMMUNICATION WE ARE GETTING
WITH DRAGON WITH THE BOAT ITSELF
AT THIS POINT.
WE CAN SEE THE LEFT.
-- LIFT.
DRAGON IS OUT OF THE WATER.
A-FRAME WILL START SWINGING IT
BACK.
IT IS DOWN FOR THE NET AT THE
BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.
>> GETTING A BETTER SHOT UP ON
THE POINT AT WHICH DRAGON IS
TETHERED TO THE HYDRAULIC LIFT,
ENSURING IT IS NOT SWINGING
FREELY.
WE CAN SEE DRAGON ENDEAVOR BEING
CAREFULLY SET DOWN INTO THE
RECOVERY NET ON TOP OF GO
NAVIGATOR.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, BILL, OR THE
RECOVERY VESSEL.
RECOVERY PERSONNEL ARE PREPARING
TO TRANSLATE YOU TO THE LIGHT
FORM.
-- TO THE PLATFORM.
>> COPY, THANK YOU.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO
MONTHS, ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN
AND DOUG HURLEY ARE ON SOME SORT
OF GROUND.
WE CAN'T COLLECT SOLID GROUND
BECAUSE IT IS A SHIFT.
HOWEVER, IT IS THE FIRST TIME
THEY ARE NOT IN SPACE, ON A
ROCKET, OR BOBBING IN THE OCEAN.
>> NOW THEY ARE GOING TO STORED
-- START TRANSITING IT FORWARD
AND DRAGON WILL MOVE INTO THE
HANGAR SECTION UNDERNEATH THAT
HELIPAD IT UP TO THAT RECOVERY
PLATFORM THAT WE SAW EARLIER.
AT THAT POINT, THE SPACECRAFT
TECHNICIANS WILL OPEN UP THE
HATCH, IT IS A MANUAL PROCESS
WITH A COUPLE DIFFERENT
ATTACHMENTS YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE
BEFORE THE HATCH CAN BE OPENED.
THEY WILL GET IT OPENED AND
SPACEX WILL BE THE FIRST READY
TO GET THEIR INITIAL HEALTH
ASSESSMENTS, SEE IF THEY ARE
READY TO MOVE AND WE WILL START
ASSISTING THEM OUT OF THE
CAPSULE AND INTO THAT MEDICAL
FACILITY ON THE BOAT.
>> THE RECOVERY TEAM IS DOING
FINAL SECURING OF THE CAPSULE IN
PREPARATION TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE
RECOVERY NEST TO THE INTERIOR OF
THE SHIP, IT WILL ACTUALLY BE IN
A COVERED DECK.
WE SAW THAT CAMERA VIEW EARLIER,
LOOKING STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE
CENTER OF THE BOAT.
ONCE DRAGON IS SECURED, THE NEST
WILL BE TRANSLATED FORWARD AND
CLOSER TO THE RECOVERY -- POSTED
-- CLOSER TO THE POSITION WE ARE
ABLE TO OPEN THE HATCH.
WHILE DRAGON IS ON BOARD SAFELY,
WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT JUST
YET.
>> THEY ARE WORKING TO DETACH
SOME OF THOSE LINES THAT WERE
USED IN THE A-FRAME.
THEY SHOULD BE DONE WITH THAT IN
A MOMENT AND THEN THEY WILL
START THAT TRANSLATION.
>> WE CAN SEE THE RECOVERY TEAM
RELIEVING THOSE SECURING LINES
THAT WERE USED DURING THE LEFT
OF THE CAPSULE FROM THE WATER
INTO THE NEST.
THEY ARE RELEASING THOSE
SECURING LINES FROM THE SIDES,
MAKING SURE IT IS SECURE FROM
THE BOTTOM.
>> THERE WE SEE DRAGON MOVING
FORWARD.
>> LOOK AT THAT.
THAT IS A TEST LUCK I WOULD SAY.
-- THAT IS A TESLA, I WOULD SAY.
INTERESTING TO SEE THOSE
SCORCHING MARCH NOW THAT WE GET
A DETAILED SHOT OF DRAGON --
SCORCHING MARKS NOW THAT WE GET
A DETAILED SHOT OF DRAGON.
>> STANDING BY FOR THE HATCH
OPEN.
>> THAT ROUNDED SQUARE IN THE
CENTER IS THAT SITE HATCH AND ON
EITHER SIDE ARE THOSE OVAL
WINDOWS.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, STANDBY FOR
SITE HATCH OPENING AND EGRESS.
>> COPY, WE ARE READY.
>> WE ARE GO FOR HATCH OPEN.
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, ABOVE THE
HATCH, YOU CAN SEE THE AREA,
THAT IS WHERE THOSE CHUTES
DEPLOYED FARM, THE TWO CIRCLES
ON EITHER SIDE, THE MAIN
PARACHUTE NOW HEADED BY THE
PLATFORM UNDERNEATH THE SITE
HATCH -- SIDE HATCH.
>> THE CREW IS IN THE PROCESS OF
REMOVING THE SITE HATCH -- SIDE
HATCH.
THE GO NAVIGATOR IS MAKING ITS
WAY BACK TO THE PENSACOLA NAVAL
AIR STATION.
BOB AND DOUG WILL GET A RIDE
FROM THE RECOVERY VESSEL VIA
HELICOPTER.
WE ARE PREPARING TO OPEN THE
SIDE HATCH AND ONCE THAT IS
DONE, THE SITE CERTAIN BILL
POPPED HIS HEAD AND, DO AN
INITIAL CHECK, SEE HOW BOB AND
DOUG ARE DOING.
>> WE HAVE A SLIGHT DELAY DUE TO
POTENTIAL AND IO HITS NEAR THE
SIDE HATCH.
>> COPY.
WE ARE STANDING BY.
>> THEY ARE CONTINUING TO DO
THOSE SNIFS, CHECKING FOR
PAPERS, NITROGEN DIOXIDE
PRIMARILY CAN GET DETECTED IN
THE AIR FROM THE BURNING OF
FUEL.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO INSPECT
AROUND THE CAPSULE, MAKE SURE IT
IS SAFE FOR THE CREW, SAVE FOR
RECOVERY EXPERT BEFORE THEY GET
THIS HATCH OPENED THE RED --
HATCH OPEN.
SINCE THE SPLASHDOWN AT 11:48
A.M. PACIFIC.
THEY ARE JUST PAUSING THE
OPERATIONS FOR A MOMENT, DOING
SOME ADDITIONAL AIR SAMPLING.
WE STILL HAVE -- FLIGHT
CONTROLLERS HERE IN HAWTHORNE
ABLE TO MONITOR PROPULSION TANK
PRESSURES AND NOT SEEING ANY
ISSUES WITH THOSE AT THE MOMENT.
JUST A SHORT PAUSE IN THE
OPERATION BECAUSE THEY ARE
SNIFFING AROUND THE CAPSULE,
MAKING SURE WE DON'T HAVE ANY
READINGS THAT MIGHT INDICATE A
FEW WILL LEAK OR ANYTHING AROUND
THE VEHICLE.
THEY DID DETECT SOME N2O, WHICH
ARISES FROM THE BURNING OF FUEL,
THEY ARE CONTINUING TO DO
DIFFERENT AIR MEETINGS, SAMPLES,
BEFORE THEY PROCEED WITH THE
HATCH OPENING.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE ARE STILL
INVESTIGATING, LOOKS LIKE WE
WILL SET UP A SERVICE SECTION,
WE ARE WORKING ON ETA FOR YOU.
>> COPY.
>> IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US,
THAT IS BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG
HURLEY, SAFELY RETURNED FROM THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
THEY MADE AN ON-TIME SPLASHDOWN
IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OFF THE
COAST OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
AT 11:48 A.M. PACIFIC, 80:40 8
A.M. UNIVERSAL TIME.
THEY HAVE BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE
WATER AND HOSTED ONTO THE
RECOVERY VESSEL GO NAVIGATOR AND
RIGHT NOW, THE TEAM IS
COMPLETING -- THEY DID AN
ADDITIONAL CHECK AND FOUND THERE
MIGHT BE SOME REMNANT VAPORS,
WHICH WE DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND
WHEN WE HAVE BOB AND DOUG COMING
OUT OF THE CAPSULE, SO THE TEAM
IS WORKING TO PURGE THE SERVICE
SECTION IN PREPARATION FOR CREW
EGRESS.
COMMENTARY ON THE HATCHES THAT
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ON --
TALKING ABOUT.
WHILE THE TOP HATCHES IS USED TO
CONNECT TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, THAT IS THE ONE
LOCATED UNDER THE NOSE CONE IS
HIDDEN THERE AT THE TOP OF THE
CAPSULE.
THE SIDE HATCH IS WHAT IS
UTILIZED FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS
ON THE LAUNCHPAD AS WELL AS
COMING UP ON THE RECOVERY
VESSEL.
WHEN THE CAPSULE IS DOCKED TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
THEY WILL USE THE FORWARD HATCH
TO EXIT AND ENTER THE CAPSULE.
SOMETHING TO NOTE, WAS THAT SIDE
HATCH IS OPENED, IT WILL BE THE
FIRST TIME BOB AND DOUG HAVE
GOTTEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR,
THE FIRST TIME THEY WILL BE ABLE
TO DO SO IN TWO MONTHS SINCE
THEY BOARDED THE FALCON 9 AT THE
START OF THE MISSION BACK ON MAY
30.
>> WITH AN ON-TIME SPLASHDOWN,
THEY RETURNED WITH ALMOST
EXACTLY 64 DAYS IN SPACE ON THIS
MISSION, A FEW MINUTES SHY OF
THAT.
I KNOW THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD
TO IT.
A STABLE CONDITION NOW THAT THEY
ARE ON THE BOAT, NOT IN THE
WATER, WHATEVER TEAM IS
CONSUMING JUST CONTINUING TO
STEP THROUGH, THEY ARE REPORTING
ALL THE PAPER LEVELS THAT THEY
DETECTED AT THE DROPPING.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE SHOWED
LEVELS ARE DECLINING BUT
CONTINUING WITH PURGE.
>> COPY.
>> IN ADDITION, WE ARE NOT
SEEING ANY LEAK INDICATIONS OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THESE ARE
SMALL LEVELS BUT WE STILL NEED
TO DO THE PURGE.
>> OK, COPY.
WE WERE WONDERING IF HE SAW ANY
LEAKS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS
PART OF THE DEAL.
>> YET, THAT IS A GOOD READ
BACK.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET A VIEW
DOWN RIGHT AT THE HATCH OF THE
CAPSULE, THEY ARE DETECTING
THOSE SMALL TRACES OF A COUPLE
NDO OR NO, NO2, NOT DIOXIDE.
THEY ARE AT LOW LEVELS, NOT ANY
HARMFUL LEVEL AS WE HAVE PEOPLE
ENCLOSE PASSIVITY TO THE
CAPSULE.
THEY ARE NOT SEEING ANY
INDICATIONS OF A LEAK, THAT IS
WHERE THOSE DIFFERENT FUEL TANKS
WITH THE HYPERGOLIC ARE LOCATED
INSIDE THE CAPSULE.
ABOUT 44 MINUTES POST SPLASHDOWN
.
STILL AHEAD OF THE TIMELINE, AS
WE ARE -- WE WERE NOT EXPECTING
TO GET THE HATCH OPEN BEFORE 60
MINUTES.
ANOTHER UPDATE, THE SERVICE
SECTION PURGE SHOULD BEGIN IN
UNDER FIVE MINUTES.
WE ARE SHOWING NDO EXPOSURE
LIMITS AND WE ARE HOPING ONCE WE
START THE PURGE, IT WILL DROP
DOWN.
>> OK, THANKS.
>> I WILL HAVE TO CORRECT
MYSELF.
IT IS NTO, THAT IS ONE OF THE
HYPERGOLIC FUELS USED INSIDE
DRAGON FOR POWERING THOSE DRACO
THRUSTERS.
THE SPACEX ENGINEERS DETECTING
LEVELS OF NTO FROM THE
HYPERGOLIC FUELS USED INSIDE THE
DRAGON SPACECRAFT, LEVELS HIGHER
THAN THEY WOULD LIKE, SO THEY
ARE DOING A PURGE TO HELP
DISSIPATE ANY VAPORS IN AND
AROUND THE SERVICE SECTION WHERE
THOSE FUEL TANKS RESIDE IN THE
CAPSULE.
WE ARE STILL EXPECTING THE CREW
OUT INSIDE OF AN HOUR, SO STILL
ON THE TIMELINE OR A FEW MINUTES
AHEAD AND WE SHOULD BE SEEING
BOB AND DOUG ONCE WE SEE THOSE
LEVELS CONTINUE TO DROP AROUND
THE CAPSULE, THEY WILL STEP
THROUGH THE HATCH OPENING
PROCESS ONCE AGAIN.
>> WE ARE GETTING READY TO PURGE
THE SERVICE SECTION.
THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THE
LINGERING NTO FUMES THAT THE
TEAM IS DETECTING GET FLUSHED
OUT, ESSENTIALLY.
THE SERVICE SECTION IS NOT THE
INTERIOR CABIN WHERE BOB AND
DOUG ARE, IT IS ACTUALLY THE
PART OF THE CAPSULE THAT IS
OUTSIDE OF THE PLACE WHERE BOB
AND DOUG ARE THAT IS EXTERNAL TO
THE CABIN BUT INSIDE THE CAPSULE
ITSELF.
YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS THE SPACE
BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR OF THE
DRAGON CAPSULE AND THE INTERIOR
SPACE WHERE BOB AND DOUG ARE.
>> INTERIOR VESSEL, ESSENTIALLY.
>> BOB AND DOUG ARE FINE THE AIR
THEY ARE BREATHING.
THAT MAKES THEY HAVE BEEN
GETTING THROUGHOUT THE DURATION
OF TODAY'S OPERATION.
IT WILL BE ESSENTIALLY THE AREA
BELOW THEIR CABIN, COMPLETELY
SEALED OFF FROM THE SERVICE
SECTION.
THAT SERVICE SECTION IS WHERE --
IT IS WHERE THERE ARE THE TANKS
AND WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT
THOSE GET AERATED SO LINGERING
FUMES ARE SWEPT AWAY.
>> THEY DETECTED HIGHER LEVELS
THAN THEY WANT TO SEE OF ONE OF
THE TWO FUELS USED IN DRAGON, --
IN DRAGON.
THOSE TWO FUELS, WENT TOGETHER,
WITHOUT AN EMISSION SOURCE, WILL
REACT, THAT IS WHAT MAKES THEM
HYPERBOLIC FUELS, A MORE ELEGANT
SOLUTION YOUTH AND A LOT OF --
USED IN A LOT OF ORBITS IN
SPACECRAFT.
WE ARE STANDING BY.
>> AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS ONE
CREWMEMBER THAT HAS WHAT LOOKS
LIKE --
>> DON'T HAVE A HUGE UPDATE,
JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THE PURGE
IS STILL IN THE WORKS.
WE WILL TRY TO GET YOU OUT OF
THERE SHORTLY.
>> COPY.
>> TWO INDIVIDUALS ON YOUR
SCREEN, ONE WITH A FACE MASK AND
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SCUBA TANK
WITH SOME CLEAN AIR.
THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER
CREWMEMBER WITH THE SAME
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
THAT WILL COME ON DECK HERE.
THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT -- THERE
WE GO.
THAT IS THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT
REQUIRED IN ORDER TO PERFORM
THIS PURGE.
THE NTO IS THE FUME, TOXIC, WE
WANT TO KEEP ALL CREWMEMBERS
SAFE AS WE PREPARE THE SIDE
HATCH FOR OPENING IN ORDER TO
LET --
>> LOOKS LIKE LIMITS ARE
DROPPING AND GETTING PRETTY
GOOD.
WE ARE CONTINUING WITH THE PURGE
JUST TO BE SURE.
>> OK.
SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU.
>> WE JUST HEARD THE LIMITS ARE
CONTINUING TO DROP ON THAT NTO.
THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
MONITOR THOSE, THEY ARE DOING A
PURGE, FLUSHING THE AIR AROUND
THE SERVICE SECTION WHERE THE
TANKS FOR THOSE FUELS ARE IN
DRAGON.
THEY ARE NOT INSIDE THE PRESSURE
VESSEL, THE INTERIOR, THEY ARE
ESSENTIALLY OUTSIDE THE PRESSURE
VESSEL BUT INSIDE THE OUTER CELL
OF THE DRAGON SPACEX -- DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
AND WE ARE JUST ABOUT 52 MINUTES
POST SPLASHDOWN.
WE ARE WAITING FOR THEM TO GET
GOOD RATINGS ON THE LEVELS OF
VAPORS STILL IN EXISTENCE AROUND
THE CAPSULE AND THEN THEY WILL
BE ABLE TO STEP BACK IN TO THE
HATCH OPENING.
WE DID HEAR THEY HAVE NOT SEEN
ANY INDICATION OF LEAKS.
>> WE ARE GOING TO PURGE FOR ONE
MORE MINUTE.
>> COPY.
>> SHOULD BE ONE MORE MINUTES.
LEVELS HAVE DROPPED
SUFFICIENTLY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO
STEP BACK IN TO THE HATCH
OPENING PROCESS.
>> BOB AND DOUG WILL BE GETTING
ASSISTANCE FROM RECOVERY TEAMS
WHILE EXITING DRAGON ENDEAVOR.
THIS IS THE SAME PROCESS FOR ANY
RETURNING LONG-DURATION
CREWMEMBERS, RETURNING TO A
GRAVITY-RICH ENVIRONMENT CAN BE
JARRING.
THE TUBULAR SYSTEM IS
MAINTAINING FOR -- HIS RESPONSE
BEFORE MAINTAINING BALANCE AND
MOTION.
SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY WITH THIS OPERATION SO
YOU WILL SEE BOB AND DOUG HELPED
OUT OF THE CAPSULE AND ASSISTED
A FEW FEET OVER TO THE MEDICAL
QUARTERS ABOARD THE BOAT.
>> IF YOU EVER WATCHED
LONG-DURATION CRUISE RETURN, IT
IS A SIMILAR PROCESS WHERE THEY
ARE CARRIED OUT OF THE CAPSULE
AND PLACED INTO A WAITING CHAIR
WHERE THEY GET MEDICAL CHECKS IN
THE FIELD BEFORE THEY ARE
CARRIED TO INFLATED MEDICAL
TENTS.
WE DON'T HAVE A TENT, WE HAVE
QUARTERS AND THEY ARE CLOSER, SO
THEY WILL HAVE A COUPLE FEET TO
GO FROM THE CAPSULE INTO THOSE
MEDICAL QUARTERS AND ONCE THEY
ARE IN THERE, THEY WILL GET
INITIAL CHECKOUTS FROM THEIR
FLIGHT SURGEONS WHO ARE ON
LOCATION ON THE BOAT, THESE ARE
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN
RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING THROUGHOUT THEIR
MISSION, BOTH BEFORE HAND, THEIR
PREFLIGHT DATA, OFFERING THEM
SUPPORT IN THE LEAD UP TO
LAUNCH, AND THE ENTIRE TIME
WHILE ON BOARD THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION, AND THEY ARE HERE
WITH THE RECOVERY TEAMS, READY
TO WELCOME THEM HOME.
IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A MINUTE SINCE
WE HEARD THAT LAST CALL TO THE
CREW.
WE SHOULD BE JUST ABOUT DONE
WITH THE PURGE.
WE WILL STAND BY AND HOPEFULLY
RESUME THESE HATCH OPENING
OPERATIONS IN A MOMENT.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, UPDATE.
EXTERIOR, WE ARE SEEING NTO INTO
SIX PARTS PER BILLION OF MMH.
THEY ARE ASKING YOU TAKE A
SAMPLE INSIDE THE CABIN.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> IT WILL BE DETECTORS 2 AND 3
IN LOCATION 14.
>> COPY.
>> THANKS.
>> WE JUST GOT THE CALL OUT OF
THE CURRENT READINGS OF THE NTO
AND MMH.
AS AN EXTRA SAFETY PRECAUTION,
THE MEDICAL AUTHORITY FROM
SPACEX ON THE BOAT ASKING THE
CREW TO TAKE OUT SOME AIR
DETECTORS THAT THEY HAVE INSIDE
WITH THEM TO DO SOME QUICK
SAMPLING INSIDE THE CABIN
ITSELF.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT
THROUGHOUT, SAFETY IS THE TOP
PRIORITY WITH THIS OPERATION, SO
THE TEAMS ARE GOING TO BE
METHODICAL AND MAKE SURE THAT
EVERYTHING IS IN A GOOD SET UP,
A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, NOT ONLY FOR
THE CREW, BUT FOR OUR RECOVERY
SOURCES.
FOR NOW, BOB AND DOUG STILL
INSIDE THE CREW DRAGON.
WE ARE 58 MINUTES POST LANDING.
>> SPACEX DRAGON, UPDATE.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> DETECTED 2 IS 0.0.
DETECTOR THREE ALSO LEADS 0.04
MMH -- 0.0 FOR MMH.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> DOUG HURLEY REPORTING ZEROS
ACROSS THE BOARD, NO TRACES OF
EITHER THE NTO OR MMH.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, STATUS UPDATE.
CURRENTLY, AFTER EXPOSURE LIMITS
ARE BELOW LIMITS BUT THE PURGE
IS DOING A GOOD JOB.
WE SAW NTO GO DOWN.
WITH A LOT OF CAUTION, WE CAN
LET THE PURGE RUN DRY LITTLE
LONGER BUT WE WANT TO SEE HOW
YOU ARE DOING, IF YOU ARE OK
WITH CONTINUING WITH THE PURGE.
>> WE ARE FINE HANGING OUT.
NO PROBLEM HERE.
>> THANKS FOR THAT, WE WILL KEEP
WORKING THE PURGE TO GET US
DOWN.
THANKS FOR THAT.
>> NO REASON TO RUSH.
>> WE CONCUR.
>> DOUG HURLEY REPORTING THE
CREW IS STILL DOING WELL IN
DRAGON, SO THEY ARE GOOD TO
CONTINUE TO HANG OUT.
THE MEDICAL AUTHORITY
RECOMMENDING AS LONG AS THE CREW
IS OK AND DOING WELL INSIDE,
THEY WILL CONTINUE WITH THE
PURGE, TRYING TO GET THOSE TRACE
READINGS OF ANY VAPORS ALL THE
WAY DOWN TO ZERO.
WE ARE FOCUSED ON NOT ONLY
KEEPING THE ASTRONAUTS SAFE BUT
ALL OF THE RECOVERY ENGINEERS,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS ON THE
SCENE AS WELL.
THEY WILL CONTINUE THIS PURGE,
DISTILLING THE AREA AROUND THE
SERVICE SECTION OF THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
THIS IS A SERIES OF FUEL TANKS
OUTSIDE OF THE PRESSURE VESSEL,
WHERE BOB AND DOUG ARE INSIDE
THE SPACECRAFT, THEY DID QUICK
READINGS INSIDE THE CABIN AND
HAD ZEROS ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT
THEY ARE CONTINUING TO LET THESE
LEVELS DISSIPATE, BRING IT DOWN
TO ZERO, THEN WE WILL RESUME
HATCH OPERATIONS.
WE ARE AN HOUR AND TWO MINUTES
POST SPLASHDOWN.
>> GOOD TO HEAR BOB AND DOUG
REPORT THAT THEY ARE GOOD
HANGING OUT.
THEY ARE FEELING ALL RIGHT AND
PRETTY COMFORTABLE STAYING
INSIDE FOR A COUPLE MORE
MINUTES.
>> THEY WERE DOING THEIR BEST
PRIOR TO LEAVING.
IT IS GOOD TO HEAR THEY ARE
DOING WELL INSIDE THE DRAGON
CAPSULE.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE ARE STILL
SEEING GOOD INDICATIONS FROM THE
PURGE, WE ARE LOOKING TO GO
ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES AND LOOKING
FOR ZERO INDICATIONS.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO SPEED
THINGS UP, LET US KNOW.
>> JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU ARE
DOING, WE CAN WAIT FOR FIVE.
>> THANKS, DOUG.
>> SO WE WILL SETTLE IN AT LEAST
ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES WHILE THEY
CONTINUE TO DISBURSE ANY TRACE
REMNANTS OF THOSE FUELS AROUND
THE SERVICE SECTION OF DRAGON
BEFORE WE STEP INTO THE HATCH
OPENINGS.
WE ARE GOING TO STAY WITH YOU,
STAY WITH US UNTIL BOB AND DOUG
OR OUT OF THE CAPSULE AND INTO
THEIR -- OUR OUT OF THE CAPSULE
AND INTO THEIR MEDICAL QUARTERS.
>> BOB AND DOUG ARE STILL
STRAPPED INTO THEIR SEATS, THE
SEEDS HAVE ACTUATED -- SEATS
HAVE ACTUATED AWAY FROM THE
ORIENTATION IN WHICH YOU SEE THE
CAPSULE NOW.
DURING THEIR DEPARTURE EARLIER
THIS MORNING AND YESTERDAY, THE
ORIENTATION OF THE SEATS WERE
SUCH THAT ESSENTIALLY BOB AND
DOUG WOULD HAVE BEEN LYING ON
THEIR BACKS IN THE ORIENTATION
WHERE WE SEE DRAGON NOW.
CURRENTLY, THE SEATS HAVE
ACTUATED UPWARD SLIGHTLY SO THEY
ARE NOT COMPLETELY UPRIGHT, THEY
ARE RECLINED A LITTLE BIT, NICE
AND COMFY, BUT THEY ARE ABLE TO
SEE IN AND OUT OF THOSE WINDOWS
THAT WE SEE ON EITHER SIDE OF
THE SIDE HATCH.
>> ONCE THEY ARE ABLE TO FINISH
THE EGRESS PROCESS, ONCE THEY
ARE IN THE MEDICAL AREA, THEY
WILL START BRINGING AND THE
HELICOPTER AS BOB AND DOUG WILL
BE FLOWN BACK TO PENSACOLA VIA
HELICOPTER, GETTING THEM TO THE
SHORE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES,
WHERE A NASA PLANE WILL BE
STANDING BY TO LOAD THEM UP AND
BRING THEM HOME TO THE JOHNSON
SPACE CENTER IN HOUSTON.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, THINGS ARE
STILL TRENDING WELL, WE ARE
EXPECTING A READING IN TWO
MINUTES.
LOOKING TO HOPEFULLY EGRESS YOU
GUYS SHORTLY AFTER THAT.
>> OK, SOUNDS GOOD, THANK YOU.
>> IN LIGHT OF ONE OF THE SOCIAL
MEDIA QUESTIONS THAT WE WERE
ASKED EARLIER, SOMEONE ASKED IF
THE BOB AND DOUG HAVE NETFLIX
AVAILABLE IN THE CAPSULE.
THEY HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY
BUSY THROUGHOUT THIS MISSION,
MONITORING DATA AND CHECKING FOR
TIMING.
I WOULD SAY NOW IS ABOUT THE
TIME THEY WOULD CERTAINLY WANT
SOMETHING TO WATCH BECAUSE AT
THIS POINT, THEIR ONLY JOB LEFT
TO DO IS GET OUT OF THE CAPSULE.
>> IT HAS TO BE A FEELING OF
JUST SUCCESS FOR THOSE TWO.
TAKING THE FIRST FLIGHT IN A NEW
SPACECRAFT, AZTEC PILOTS, THIS
WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS KIND OF
THEIR BREAD-AND-BUTTER -- AS
TEST PILOTS, THIS WAS SOMETHING
THAT WAS KIND OF THEIR
BREAD-AND-BUTTER.
REALLY A PRETTY FLAWLESS FLIGHT
FOR DRAGON.
WE WILL HAVE ALL OF THE
POSTFLIGHT REVIEW COMING UP IN
THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AS WE
CONTINUE TO ASSESS ALL THE DATA
THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE
MISSION AND ANY DATA STILL
RECORDED LOCALLY ON DRAGON
ITSELF, THAT WILL BE THE NEXT
SEVERAL WEEKS, ASSESSING THE
MISSION AND WORKING THROUGH THE
CERTIFICATION PROCESS.
WE ARE ALREADY TARGETING THE
FIRST OPERATIONAL FLIGHT PACKED
FOR NO EARLIER THAN LATE
SEPTEMBER -- PEGGED FOR NO
EARLIER THAN LATE SEPTEMBER.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE ARE
PLANNING TO STOP THE PURGE IN
ONE MINUTE AND 19:57.
>> COPY, THANK YOU.
>> WITH THEM STOPPING THE PURGE
IN ABOUT A MINUTE, THAT MEANS
THE LEVELS HAVE GONE DOWN TO
WHAT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR AND
WE WILL BEGIN TO STEP BACK INTO
THE HATCH OPENING PROCESS AND BE
ABLE TO GET BOB AND DOUG MOVING
OUT OF THE DRAGON CAPSULE.
THEY HAVE BEEN AND THERE FOR 19
HOURS AT THIS POINT SINCE THEY
DEPARTED THE SPACE STATION
SATURDAY.
THEY HAD A FREE PERIOD, EIGHT
HOURS OF REST ON THE WAY HOME,
THEY HAVE BEEN UP SINCE THIS
MORNING, ABOUT 4:40 A.M.
PACIFIC, A LITTLE MORE THAN
EIGHT HOURS AGO.
>> DRAGON, THE PURGE IS
COMPLETE.
ONE MORE CHECK AND THEN WE
SHOULD PROCEED WITH HATCH
OPENING.
>> OK, GOOD NEWS, THANKS.
>> THAT IS GOOD NEWS,
CONFIRMATION THAT THE PURGE IS
COMPLETE AND THEY ARE GOING TO
DO ONE MORE TEST TO MAKE SURE
THAT ALL OF THE FUMES OF CONCERN
ARE AWAY IN THAT IT IS SAFE TO
OPEN THAT SIDE HATCH AND
RETRIEVE BOB AND DOUG.
ONCE THAT SIDE HATCH IS OPEN,
OUR FLIGHT SURGEON WILL BE THE
FIRST TO SAY HELLO, GET A QUICK
MEDICAL CHECKUP, THOUGH BASED ON
THE REPORTS THAT THE CREW HAS
BEEN GIVING US, IT SOUNDS LIKE
THEY ARE DOING GREAT, THEY ARE
FEELING GOOD, AND THEY ARE
COMFORTABLE INSIDE OF CREW
DRAGON.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, WE SHOW 0.4
PARTS PER MILLION ON 18 OH, 80
PARTS PER BILLION OF MHS -- OF
MMH, WE ARE PROCEEDING WITH
HATCH OPENING.
>> THERE IS THE GREEN LIGHT WE
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
THE GREEN LIGHT WE HAVE BEEN
WAITING FOR FOR MONTHS AT THIS
POINT.
THIS IS OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO
SAY HELLO TO BOB AND DOUG, OUR
FAVORITE SPACE DADS, AS THEY ARE
ABOUT TO EXIT FROM DRAGON CREW
ENDEAVOR.
THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF WHAT
HAS BEEN ABOUT A 19 HOUR JOURNEY
HOME, STARTING YESTERDAY.
AS THEY DEPARTED INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THIS HATCH WILL BE MANUALLY
OPENED IT WAS DOING SO, THE
FLIGHT SURGEON WILL SAY HELLO
AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE DOING ALL
AND THEN, PROCEED TO ASSIST THEM
WITH EXITING THE CAPSULE.
>> AND WE SEE THE HATCH IS NOW
OPENED.
HATCH BEING OPENED AT 12:59 P.M.
PACIFIC.
HATCH IS OPEN.
>> SO RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE GOING
TO PUT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT
SMOOTHS OUT THE EDGES AND MAKE
SURE IT IS A COMFORTABLE EXIT
FROM THE DRAGON CAPSULE.
JUST A LITTLE PIECE OF STRUCTURE
TO ENSURE THE HATCH WILL REMAIN
OPEN AND ANY SHARP EDGES AROUND
THE SIDE HATCH ARE PROTECTED.
>> THE BLUE SUIT, THAT IS ONE OF
NASA'S FLIGHT SURGEONS, DR.
STEVEN HART.
THAT HATCH OPEN COMING AT 12:59
P.M. PACIFIC.
THAT IS 19:59 UNIVERSAL TIME,
GMT.
>> SO ONCE AGAIN, THE SPACEX
RECOVERY TEAM IS ASSISTING
ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG
HURLEY TO EXIT THE SPACECRAFT.
>> WE GOT THE HATCH OPEN TWO
MINUTES AGO.
WE PAUSED FOR A LITTLE WHILE AS
THEY WERE DETECTING SOME TRACE
AMOUNTS OF SOME OF THE FUELS.
WE EXECUTED A SERIES OF PURGES.
ONCE THOSE WERE DOWN IN
ACCEPTABLE LIMITS, WE WERE ABLE
TO THEN START WITH THE EGRESS.
>> WE SEE A STRETCHER ON DECK.
THIS IS NORMAL.
THIS IS PART OF THE STANDARD
RECOVERY PROCEDURE.
IT IS SIMPLY TO ENSURE BOB AND
DOUG REMAIN SAFE.
READJUSTING TO GRAVITY CAN BE A
LITTLE CHALLENGING.
DIZZINESS CAN OFTEN OCCUR.
THIS STRETCHER WILL JUST BE USED
AS STANDARD PROCEDURE TO MAKE
SURE THE ASTRONAUTS MAKE IT TO
THE MEDICAL TENT AS EASILY AND
AS COMFORTABLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> AS WE DISCUSSED, THE
REINTRODUCTION TO GRAVITY FROM
MICROGRAVITY CAN BE A BIT
JARRING, ESPECIALLY ON OUR
VESTIBULAR SYSTEM.
THEY ARE ON A SHIP.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
TAKING EVERY POSSIBLE PRECAUTION
TO ENSURE THEIR ARRIVAL IS SAFE
AND FREE FROM ANY INJURY NOW
THEY ARE HOME.
THEY ARE WORKING TO GET A FEW OF
THE ITEMS FROM THE SEATS OUT OF
THE WAY BEFORE THEY BEGIN
EXTRACTING OUR CREWMEMBERS.
THEY WILL BE COMING OUT ONE AT A
TIME.
>> AS WE SAW DURING THE ASCENT
PORTION OF THE MISSION, THERE IS
ENOUGH ROOM INSIDE THE CAPSULE
FOR THEM TO DO A BACK FLIP IN
MICROGRAVITY.
HOWEVER, CONSIDERING THERE ARE A
COUPLE FOLKS FROM THE RECOVERY
TEAM --
>> GOT YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> QUICK CHECK BETWEEN DRAGON
AND MISSION.
>> JUST WANTED TO THANK THE GUYS
FOR BRINGING US HOME SAFE BEFORE
I DISEMBARK.
I AM SURE DOUG WILL HAVE SOME
GOOD WORDS FOR YOU AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THE MOST
DIFFICULT PART IN THE MOST
IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE
SPACEFLIGHT.
GETTING US INTO ORBIT AND BRING
US HOME SAFELY.
THANK YOU AGAIN FROM THE GOOD
SHIP ENDEAVOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THOSE AWESOME
WORDS.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND
PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU.
IT HAS BEEN AWESOME.
>> WORDS FROM NASA ASTRONAUT BOB
BEHNKEN.
HE IS IN THE PILOT SEAT.
YOU HEARD HIM REFER TO HIMSELF
AS PLO T.
WE ARE STILL STANDING BY FOR
CREWMEMBERS TO BEGIN MAKING
THEIR WAY OUT OF THE CREW DRAGON
SPACECRAFT.
THEY ARE GOING TO GET SOME
ASSISTANCE TO THE MEDICAL
QUARTERS ON BOARD THE SHIP WHERE
THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET
OUT OF THEIR SUITS THEY HAVE
BEEN WEARING FOR THE FINAL
DYNAMIC PHASES OF THE SEPARATION
EVENTS, REENTRY, SPLASHING DOWN.
JUST A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR AGO
AT 11:48 P.M. -- OR A.M. PACIFIC
TIME.
>> AGAIN, THE RECOVERY TEAM --
>> SPACEX DRAGON FROM THE
COMMAND.
>> HERE, WE HAVE OUR FIRST VIEW
OF DOUG HURLEY.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE
WHAT BOB SAID.
MY THANKS TO EVERYBODY OVER THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS WHO HAS
WORKED IN HAWTHORNE, MCGREGOR OR
AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
ANYBODY WHO HAS TOUCHED
ENDEAVOR, YOU SHOULD TAKE A
MOMENT TO CHERISH THIS DAY,
GIVEN ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE
HAPPENED THIS YEAR.
WE CERTAINLY CANNOT THANK YOU
ENOUGH.
JUST PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS
WHOLE EFFORT TO GET A COMPANY OF
PEOPLE TO AND FROM THE SPACE
STATION.
WE WILL TALK TO YOU SOON
HOPEFULLY IN PERSON.
>> THANKS SO MUCH.
YOU ARE WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE KIND
WORDS.
WE ALL WISH YOU A SAFE JOURNEY
HOME AND HAPPY REUNION WITH YOUR
FAMILY SOON.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN
PERSON AS WELL.
>> REALLY NICE WORDS FROM BOB
BEHNKEN ON YOUR SCREEN.
WE SAW NASA ASTRONAUT DOUG
HURLEY EXITING FROM THE CAPSULE.
MY HAVE BEEN HARD TO SEE ON YOUR
SCREEN.
WE GOT A THUMBS UP, INDICATING
THINGS ARE GOING WELL.
EXCUSE ME.
I MIXED UP MY POSITIONS.
THOSE WORDS WERE FROM DOUG.
WE HAD BOB WHO JUST CAME OUT
FIRST.
>> BOB BEHNKEN OUT OF THE
CAPSULE NOW.
HE IS MAKING HIS WAY TO THE
MEDICAL AREA.
NOW, THEY ARE GOING TO WORK TO
GET DOUG HURLEY OUT NEXT.
>> I THINK I SAW A SMILE ON
BOB'S FACE.
>> THUMBS UP ALL THE WAY.
THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING US REGULAR
STATUS UPDATES FROM INSIDE THE
CAPSULE.
THEY HAVE BEEN FEELING REALLY
GOOD.
WE ARE STANDING BY FOR OUR
SPACECRAFT COMMANDER DOUG HURLEY
TO MAKE HIS WAY OUT INTO THE
FRESH AIR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
64 DAYS.
ALL RIGHT.
THEY ARE GETTING SET UP.
WE SHOULD SEE SPACECRAFT
COMMANDER DOUG HURLEY MAKING HIS
WAY OUT OF THE CAPSULE.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GOT HIM OUT.
WE HAVE GOT HIM SEATED.
THERE WE GO.
ANOTHER THUMBS UP.
[APPLAUSE]
WE HAVE GOT SOME APPLAUSE HERE.
>> AS YOU CAN SEE IN MISSION
CONTROL, A STANDING OVATION FOR
A JOB DONE ALL AROUND.
>> OUR CREWMEMBERS ARE SAFELY
BACK HOME ON EARTH.
THEY ARE GOING TO GET CHECKED
OUT BY THE NASA MEDICAL TEAM.
THEY ARE GOING STRAIGHT INTO THE
MEDICAL QUARTERS ON BOARD THE
SHIP.
THAT WILL BE THEIR FIRST STOP ON
PLANET EARTH.
THEN THEY WILL BE MAKING THEIR
WAY INTO A HELICOPTER AND
HEADING BACK TO DRY LAND.
THE TEAM IS GOING TO PREPARE
DRAGON ITSELF.
THEY ARE GOING TO BEGIN TAKING
IT BACK TO SHORE.
IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
MISSION.
THIS ALL KICKED OFF TWO MONTHS
AGO ON MAY 30 FROM LAUNCH PAD 39
A AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN
FLORIDA.
WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL LIFTOFF.
IT WAS SUSPENSEFUL.
CLEARING UP THE LAST POSSIBLE
MOMENT.
THEY HAD A FLAWLESS RIDE TO
ORBIT.
A 19 HOUR JOURNEY TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
WHERE THEY SPENT 62 DAYS ON
BOARD.
