AND THE ROVERS THAT ARE THERE 
ARE PART OF THE PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO 
BE ABLE TO BE HERE AT THE LAUNCH
EVENT TOMORROW AND I'D LIKE TO 
GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE OUR 
ADMINISTRATOR MR. BRIDENSTINE TO
SAY A FEW WORDS, JIM.
>>  THANK YOU, JANET AND IT IS 
FANTASTIC TO BE HERE AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER WHICH OF 
COURSE IS A HISTORIC AND STORIED
AGENCY OR CENTER HERE AND TO SEE
ALL THESE ACTIVITIES IS REALLY 
REMARKABLE.
I'M EXCEPTIONALLY EXCITED ABOUT 
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO DO BECAUSE 
WE'LL LAUNCH MARS 2020 WITH THE 
PERSEVERANCE ROBOT BUT THERE IS 
SO MUCH MORE GOING ON HERE.  SHE
TALKED ABOUT THE 11 PREVIOUS 
LAUNCHES TO MARS.
THIS WILL BE THE NINTH ROBOT WE 
LAND ON MARS.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE
ACCOMPLISHED, WE HAVE DISCOVERED
AT ONE POINT IN TIME LIQUID 
WATER WAS PREVALENT ON MARS.
IN FACT THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE 
OF MARS WAS 2/3 COVERED IN 
LIQUID WATER.
WE KNOW THAT BACK IN THOSE DAYS,
ABOUT 3 BILLION YEARS AGO, MARS 
HAD A THICK ATMOSPHERE AND WE 
KNOW THAT MARS HAD IT PROTECTED 
IT FROM DEEP SPACE.
WITH THE MISSION WE CURRENTLY 
HAVE ON MARS CURIOSITY WE KNOW 
THAT THE METHANE CIRCUMSTANCE  
CYCLES MATCH THE SEASONS.
LIFE MAY VERY WELL EXIST ON MARS
UNDER EATS SURFACE.
SEPARATED FROM THE RADIATION OF 
DEEP SPACE.
WE ALSO FOUND WHAT COULD BE 
LIQUID WATER BELOW THE SURFACE 
OF MARS.
ANOTHER AMAZING DISCOVERY ABOUT 
THE POTENTIAL OF LIFE ON ANOTHER
WORLD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MICROBAL 
LIFE HERE.  WE KNOW IT'S COVERED
IN COMPLEX ORGANIC COMPOUNDS 
THAT DON'T EXIST ON THE MOON AT 
ALL.
THEY'RE ALL OVER EARTH AND MARS 
AND THOSE ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL 
BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE AND 
THEY'RE ALL MARS.
SO THIS IS A FIRST TIME IN 
HISTORY WHERE WE'LL GO TO MARS 
WITH AN EXPLICIT MISSION TO FIND
LIFE ON ANOTHER WORLD, ANCIENT 
LIFE ON MARS.
ARE REGOING TO BE ABLE TO DO 
THAT? 
WE DON'T KNOW.
WE DON'T KNOW IF LIFE EXISTED 
THERE OR ON.
BUT WE KNOW THAT MARS AT ONE 
POINT WAS HABITABLE.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS 
INHABITED BUT KNOW IT'S INHAS 
BEENABLE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE BE DOING AN 
ASTRO BIOLOGY MISSION TO MARS.
ONE OTHER THING, THE PRESIDENT 
HAS GIVEN US A CHALLENGE TO 
PLANT AN AMERICAN FLAG ON MARS.
IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE'RE GOING
TO NEED TO SEND HUMANS.
WHEN WE SEND HUMANS TO MARS 
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BREATHE AND 
WE CAN'T TAKE ALL THAT OXYGEN 
WITH US.
WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY 
DEMONSTRATION CALLED MOXIE.
WE'LL TURN IT INTO OXYGEN SO 
THAT WHEN HUMANS GET THERE WE 
KNOW THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'LL 
KNOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO CREATE 
OXYGEN NECESSARY FOR LIFE 
SUPPORT.
ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION ON THIS 
MISSION IS FOR THE FIRST TIME 
EVER WE'RE GOING TO FLY A 
HELICOPTER ON MARS.
WE CALL IT INGENUITY.
AND IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM HOW 
WE THINK ABOUT EXPLORING WORLDS 
IN THE FUTURE.
IMAGINE A DAY WHEN WE LAND A 
ROBOT ON MARS AND THAT ROBOT 
COULD SEND MAYBE A DOZEN 
HELICOPTERS IN DIFFERENT 
DIRECTIONS TO MAKE DIFFERENT 
DISCOVERIES.
SO THERE IS SO MANY THINGS THAT 
ARE EXCITING ABOUT THIS MISSION,
BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK IS 
THE MOST EXCITING IS THE FACT 
THAT WE'LL CASH SAMPLES.
WHEN WE STUDY THE CHEMISTRY OF 
THESE SENTIMENTS IN THE AREAS 
WHERE WE BELIEVE THERE COULD 
HAVE BEEN AT ONE POINT IN TIME 
LIFE, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE
CHEMISTRY AND MAKE AN ASSESSMENT
AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT COULD 
HAVE BEEN THERE.
WE'LL CAST SAMPLES.
IN 2026 WE'LL LAUNCH A MISSION 
FROM EARTH TO MARS TO GO PICK 
AND THOSE SAMPLES AND BRING THEM
BACK TO EARTH FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HISTORY DOING A MARS SAMPLE 
RETURN MISSION.
SO THERE ARE SO MANY EXCITING 
THINGS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR 
MISSION.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE 
TEAM AT JPL.
OUR CENTER OUT IN CALIFORNIA 
THAT HAS DONE AMAZING WORK ON 
THIS.
I WANT TO THANK OUR PARTNERS AT 
LOCKHEED MARTIN FOR HELPING WITH
THE ENTRY, DESCENT AND LANDING 
CAPABILITY DZ AND LAUNCH 
ALLIANCE WHICH IS PROVIDING THE 
ATLAS 5 ROCKET AND FOLKS HERE AT
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER THAT 
HAVE DONE SUCH MAGNIFICENT WORK 
GETTING REA THIS LAUNCH.
SO I WANT TO SAY IT'S A GREAT 
DAY.
WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO A FEW 
QUESTIONS.
I HAVE SOME OTHER GUESTS ON THE 
STAGE.
QUESTIONS ARE OPEN FOR ALL OF 
US.
AS YOU CAN TELL, SHE'S ONE OF 
OUR ASTRONAUTS.
ONE OF OUR BEST.
AND UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER 
ASTRONAUTS, SHE'S ACTUALLY A 
BIOLOGIST THAT IS NOW LOOKING AT
MAYBE BECOMING AN ASTRO 
BIOLOGIST.
ONE DAY WE'LL SEND HUMANS TO 
MARS, SHE VERY WELL COULD BE ONE
OF THOSE HUMANS AND OF COURSE 
WE'RE GOING THERE TO STUDY 
WHETHER OR NOT LIFE COULD EXIST 
OR MAY HAVE AT ONE TIME EXISTED 
ON MARS.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE OUR 
ASTRO BIOLOGIST HERE AND OF 
COURSE JIM, DEPUTY NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS SPENT 
PREVIOUS CAREER IN THE 
UNITED STATES SENATE HELPING 
AMERICA ACHIEVE ITS GOALS NOT 
JUST IN SPACE EXPLORATION BUT 
NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENSE 
AND OTHER THINGS.
AS EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS WHEN IT
COMES TO DOING WHAT WE DO WE 
REQUIRE APPROPRIATIONS FROM AND 
JIM HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUSLY 
VALUABLE ASSET IN HELPING US 
ACHIEVE WHAT IS THE HIGHEST 
BUDGET THAT NASA HAS EVER HAD IN
NOMINAL DOLLARS.
WE'RE ALL OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AND
READY TO TAKE THEM WHENEVER YOU 
ARE.
THANK YOU.
>>  HELLO, MARSHA DUNN 
ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR YOU MR. 
BRIDENSTINE.
IT'S THE FIRST LEG OF THIS RELAY
RACE THAT WE GOT THE RUNDOWN ON 
YESTERDAY.
IT SOUNDS CRAZY HARD, 
COMPLICATED IED, 4 LAUNCHES AND 
MULTIPLE SPACECRAFTS.
WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS, HOW 
DOABLE IS IT?
HOW CHALLENGING? 
WHAT'S THE CHANCES THIS IS ALL 
GOING TO PULL OFF AND THESE 
ROCKS COME BACK IN 2031?
>> MARSHA, WONDERFUL QUESTION.
WITHOUT QUESTION IT'S A 
CHALLENGE.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO 
PUT IT AND IT'S NOT EASY.
AND THERE IS A LOT OF RISK 
INVOLVED FROM A SUCCESS 
PERSPECTIVE.
THAT BEING SAID WE KNOW HOW TO 
LAND ON MARS.
LIKE I SAID, WE'VE DONE IT 8 
TIMES ALREADY AND THIS WILL BE 
THE NINTH.
ENTRY, DECENT AND LANDING IS THE
 SCARIEST PART, JUST GETTING 
THERE.
YOU HEARD THE 7 MINUTES OF 
TERROR.
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN 
FEBRUARY, 2021 AND THEN 
OPERATING ON THE SURFACE OF THE 
MARS.
WE HAVE SEEN HOW HARSH THE MARS 
ENVIRONMENT IS.
WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH 
OPPORTUNITY, WITH THE SAND STORM
THAT COVERED UP ITS SOLAR ARRAYS
AND DISABLED IT AND WE HAD TO 
COME TO ITS USEFUL LIFE.
THAT WAS AFTER 15 YEARS OF 
PRODUCTIVE DISCOVERY SO THAT'S 
AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT IN 
ITSELF.
THIS PARTICULAR ROVER, OF 
COURSE, LIKE CURIOSITY IT'S GOT 
RADIO AOEUGS SEW TOEP THERMAL 
GENERATION.
IT'S NUCLEAR POWERED AS WELL.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO POWER THE 
ROBOT THAT WAY.
SO I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY 
PROVEN TECHNOLOGY.
I THINK IT WILL BE ABLE TO 
SUSTAIN EVEN IN THE HARSH 
ENVIRONMENTS OF THE MARTIAN 
ATMOSPHERE.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RISKS OF 
CASHING THOSE SAMPLES AND 
BRINGING THEM HOME.
TOP RISK AND WE TALK ABOUT THIS 
ALL THE TIME.
THE TOP RISK IS ET  GETTING THE 
BUDGET.
BUT WE'RE PLANNING FOR IT.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST
BUDGET IN NASA'S HISTORY NOMINAL
DOLLARS AND WE'RE AT 22 BILLION 
AND THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET 
REQUEST IS 25.2.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT TO 
MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES 
NECESSARY.
BUT LET'S PRETEND WE GET THOSE 
RESOURCES THEN WE HAVE 0 TO 
LAUNCH THE LAUNCH VEHICLE.
WHICH IS A RELAY RACE.
SOMETHING THAT'S NEVER BEEN DONE
BEFORE AND THAT HAS TO SUCCESS.
LY GET THOSE SAMPLES AND BRING 
THEM BACK TO EARTH.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW: WE KNOW 
THAT NASA HAS AN AMAZING 
WORKFORCE AND OF COURSE FOR THIS
PARTICULAR MISSION JPL IS THE 
LEAD.
THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY AT
CAL TECH IN CALIFORNIA.
I'M CONFIDENT GIVEN THE TALENT 
WE HAVE AT THIS AGENCY WE CAN IN
FACT BE SUCCESSFUL.
BUT IT'S NOT EASY AND THERE WILL
BE CHALLENGES AHEAD.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
>> .
>> HI, IRENE WITH AVIATION WEEK.
SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET SENATOR 
SHELBY ON MONDAY INTRODUCED A 
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE 
INCLUDES ABOUT 1.5 BILLION FOR 
NASA.
IS THAT WHAT YOU ESTIMATE THE 
FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE 
CORONAVIRUS HAS BEEN ON THE 
AGENCY AND WHAT ARE THE TOP 2 OR
3 BUDGET DRIVERS IN THAT 
1.5 BILLION? 
THANKS.
>>  GREAT QUESTION.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT 
LOOKING AT THAT.
THEY HAVE PUT IN THE FUNDS IN 
THE SENATE BILL.
AS YOU KNOW, WITH COVID AND OUR 
WORKFORCE HAS DONE AN AMAZING 
JOB.
HERE WE ARE LAUNCHING TO MARS IN
THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
WE ALREADY LAUNCHED TWO 
ASTRONAUTS AND BOB AND DOUG 
HOPEFULLY ARE COMING BACK ON 
SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A 
PANDEMIC.
THOSE NUMBERS AS FAR AS WHAT WE 
NEED CONTINUE TO CHANGE AND 
RIGHT NOW THAT IS A GOOD 
ESTIMATE TODAY.
BUT THAT COULD CHANGE -- IT IS 
CHANGING AS WE CONTINUE TO LOOK 
AT THE IMPACTS ON COST AND 
SCHEDULE OF ALL OUR PROGRAMS.
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
WORK THOSE NUMBERS AS WE GO 
FORWARD AND AS THAT BILL GETS TO
ENACTMENT.
>>  AT THIS POINT WHAT ARE THE 
TOP 2 OR 3 PROGRAMS OF THE 
1.5 BILLION?
>> YOU KNOW, IT GOES ACROSS ALL 
THE MISSION DIRECTORATES.
THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY IN HUMAN
EXPLORATION WHEN I LOOKED AT IT 
BUT IT COVERS ALL THE MISSION 
DIRECTORATES AND THE CENTERS.
>>  I WOULD ADD WE WOULD ASK 
THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS STEP UP
TO THE PLATE AND HELP BOTH 
SIDES.
THERE WILL BE MORE IMPACT AS 
TIME GOES ON.
WE WERE VERY CAREFUL TO PROTECT 
TWO MISSIONS THAT WERE ESSENTIAL
TO THE INTEREST OF THE NATION.
FIRST ONE WAS LAUNCHING AMERICAN
ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN ROCKETS 
FROM AMERICAN SOIL FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE 2011.
AND THIS ONE.
IF WE HAVE TO PUT THIS ROBOT 
INTO STORAGE IT WILL COST THE 
AMERICAN TAXPAYERS HALF A 
BILLION DOLLARS.
WE HAVE DONE GREAT WORK 
PROTECTING THE MEIGS BUT THE 
DEPUTY IS RIGHT.
THERE WILL BE MORE IMPACTS AND 
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS PANDEMIC
IS GOING TO END.
AND UNTIL IT DOES THESE NUMBERS 
WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE AND 
WE'LL BE UPDATING CONGRESS AS 
TIME GOES ON.
>>  I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT WE'LL
NOT COLLECTING THESE SAMPLES 
THAT POTENTIALLY HAVE ORGANIC 
MOLECULES AND LOOKING FOR PAST 
AND CURRENT LIFE.
I WONDER IF YOU MIGHT BE WORKING
ON THAT AND, JIM, GIVE US AN UP 
TO THE MINUTE ON ARTEMIS AND THE
CORE STAGE AND TESTING.
WHEN IS THAT GREEN RUN TEST 
GOING TO HAPPEN?
>> I WON'T BE THE ONE WORKING ON
THESE SAMPLES COMING BACK BUT 
I'LL BE FOLLOWING ALONG WITH 
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS -- THIS 
IS THE SUBJECT VERY NEAR AND 
DEAR TO MY HEART.
I WAS GEOMICROBIOLOGIST BEFORE 
THIS.
SO THIS IS EXACTLY THE 
INTERSECTION OF ALL THE THINGS 
I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT.
ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT 
BEING AN ASTRONAUT IS I AM NO 
LONGER DOING MY OWN RESEARCH.
I'M NOW PART OF A MUCH BIGGER 
PROJECT THAN ANYTHING I COULD DO
ON MY OWN.
SO WHEN I FLY IN SPACE I'LL BE 
E EYES AND EARS AND LAB 
NOTEBOOK OF SOMEONE ELSE'S 
RESEARCH AND MUCH LARGER 
RESEARCH PROJECT.
I'LL BE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE 
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS MISSION.
>>  IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, ONE 
OF THE NEAT PARTS LOOKING FOR 
THIS ANCIENT MICROBAL MATTER, WE
KNEW IN AUSTRALIA IN THE OUTBEAK
WE SENT OUR SCIENTISTS THERE.
THAT'S WHERE THE OLDEST FOSSILS 
THAT HE WITH KNOW OF ARE THERE.
WE SENT OUR SCIENTISTS THERE TO 
LOOK FOR SIGNATURES SO AS OUR 
ROVER IS LOOKING FOR THESE -- 
THIS MICROBE ALMATTER IT'S 
LOOKING FOR SIGN POST THAT'S 
LEAD US THERE.
>> WE HAVE TAKEN THAT DATA FROM 
AUSTRALIA INTO THE ROVER SO IT 
KNOWS HOW TO LOOK FOR IT ON ITS 
OWN -- OUGHT MONDAY MUSTSLY.
>>  AS FAR AS THE ARTEMIS 
PROGRAM GOES, FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE 1972 WE HAVE A HUMAN 
LANDING SYSTEM FUNDED TO THE 
TUNE OF $600 MILLION.
NOT ONLY IS IT FUNDED.
WE NOW HAVE HUMAN LANDING 
SYSTEMS UNDER CONTRACT.
THOSE ARE ALL SIGNIFICANT 
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF 
OUR AGENCY.
THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF 
TIMES WHEN WE TRIED TO GO BACK 
TO THE MOON AND THAT HAS NOT 
HAPPENED.
WE NOW HAVE THAT WELL UNDERWAY.
WE HAVE A BUDGET REQUEST BEFORE 
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE RIGHT 
NOW WHERE WE'RE ASKING FOR 
$3.6 BILLION FOR THE HUMAN 
LANDING SYSTEM FOR 2022.
OR I SHOULD SAY 2021 AND WE NEED
TO GET THAT FUNDED 100%.
THE BIGGEST RISK THAT WE FACE 
ARE NOT TECHNICAL.
WE CAN DO THIS.
THE BIGGEST RISK THAT WE FACE 
ARE BUDGETARY.
AND I CAN TELL YOU WITH THE TEAM
THAT WE HAVE AT NASA RIGHT NOW I
THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
WE HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND 
WORKING EVERY DA I TO ENSURE 
THAT THESE MISSIONS ARE 
GENERATIONAL IN NATURE SO THEY 
HAVE STAYING POWER FOR THE LONG 
TERM.
I WOULD ALSO THE SLS COMPLETE.
ROCKET BOOSTERS ARE PROCESSING 
RIGHT NOW.
WE LOOKED AT THEM TWO DAYS AGO 
AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT 
THAT.
AND AS FAR AS THE ORION CREW 
CAPSULE AND EUROPEAN SERVICE 
MODULE THEY ARE COMPLETE FOR 
ARTEMIS 1 WHICH IS UNCREWED 
LAUNCH AROUND THE MOON WHICH 
WE'LL DO IN 2021.
WE'RE EXPECTING THAT THE GREEN 
RUN IS GOING TO BE DONE BY THE 
END OF THIS YEAR.
IN FACT, WE'RE TARGETING 
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER.
SO I THINK WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
AGAIN, THE BIG CHALLENGE AS YOU 
KNOW IS NOT JUST BUDGETARY, 
THAT'S ALWAYS THE BIGGEST ONE, 
BUT THE OTHER BIG CHALLENGE OF 
COURSE IS THE UNCERTAINTY WITH 
THE CORONAVIRUS.
WE HAVE HAD SOME FOLKS GET 
CORONAVIRUS DOWN THERE AT THE 
GREEN RUN TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE 
WE HAD TO STOP WORK A NUMBER OF 
TIMES AND THOSE ARE IMPORTANT 
THINGS THAT WE CAN'T PREDICT THE
FUTURE OF, BUT WE'VE HAD A LOT 
OF SUCCESS IN KEEPING OUR PEOPLE
SAFE AND WE INTEND TO CONTINUE 
THAT.
>> MY QUESTION IS FOR JIM.
AS YOU KNOW SO MANY OF THE 
WORKERS INVOLVED WITH THIS 
MISSION WEREN'T ABLE TO COME OUT
TO THE LAUNCH BECAUSE OF THE 
PANDEMIC, SO I WAS WONDERING IF 
YOU HAD A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF HOW 
MANY NASA EMPLOYEES WERE ABLE TO
COME OUT AND HOW MANY HAD TO 
MISS OUT ON THE EVENT?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OFFHAND
BUT WE MINIMIZED THE AMOUNT OF 
PEOPLE COMING HERE AND OF COURSE
IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE ALL OF 
THESE FIELDS COVERED WITH NOT 
JUST NASA EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO THE
PUBLIC AND UNFORTUNATELY WE 
CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
BUT THERE WILL COME A DAY.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBERS 
OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WE DIDN'T 
BRING.
>>  I MIGHT ADD TO THAT.
YOU THINK ABOUT AGAIN IT GOES 
BACK TO THE PANDEMIC.
WE WERE DOING WOEUPBG OF THE 
SCIENTISTS FROM JPL SAID, WHEN 
IT WAS DETERMINED WE WERE GOING 
TO GO FORWARD DURING THIS 
MISSION, DURING THE 378D I 
WASN'T TOO EXCITED ABOUT IT.
BUT HE SAID, EVERYBODY CAME 
TOGETHER AT NASA.
ALL THE MISSION DIRECTORATES AND
WE WORKED TOGETHER AND 
COLLABORATED AND I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE IT.
EVERY ORGANIZATION, THERE'S 
CONFLICT IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT'S
NORMAL, BUT THERE WASN'T WITH 
THIS AND EVERYBODY WORKED 
EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE THIS 
HAPPEN DURING VERY DIFFICULT 
TIMES, AND THE REASON IS TO 
BRING HOPE AND INSPIRATION TO 
THE COUNTRY AND WORLD.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT 
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT NASA IS HERE
FOR.
>>  SO, I'M MIKE FROM FOX 35 
ORLANDO.
MY QUESTION IS WEATHER RELATED 
ACTUALLY.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT 
TOMORROW'S LAUNCH AND BOB AND 
DOUG'S RETURN THIS WEEKEND.
BUT WE HAVE THIS SYSTEM THAT 
COULD COME TO THE PENINSULA AND 
LOOKS LIKE IT WILL.
WONDER WHAT THE DISCUSSION IS 
LIKE ABOUT IF WE LOSE TOMORROW'S
OPPORTUNITY CAN WE GO NEXT WEEK 
AND ALSO SORT OF WHAT'S 
HAPPENING WITH THE CONVERSATION 
WITH THE ASTRONAUTS' HOMECOMING.
>>  WE HAVE A LAUNCH WINDOW FOR 
THIS MISSION TO MARS THAT GOES 
UNTIL AUGUST 15TH.
WE CAN ACTUALLY EXTEND A FEW 
DAYS PAST THAT IF NECESSARY.
BUT THE LAUNCH WINDOWS GO TO 
INSTANTANEOUSLY.
IT'S A CHALLENGE BUT WE COULD.
IF THE WEATHER DOESN'T WORK OUT 
TOMORROW, WE'RE STILL GOING TO 
BE IN GREAT SHAPE.
I WILL TELL YOU LOOKS LAKE THE 
WEATHER WILL BE GOOD TOMORROW 
MORNING FOR SURE.
I FULLY ANTICIPATE THAT TOMORROW
MORNING WE'RE LAUNCHING TO MARS.
AS FAR AS BOB AND DOUG COMING 
HOME FROM THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION, WHICH I KNOW 
WE'RE ALL VERY, VERY EXCITED 
ABOUT, WE DO HAVE SOME 
LIMITATIONS, THE LIMITATIONS OF 
COURSE ARE WEATHER AND SEA 
STATES.
THE VEHICLE IS GOOD.
THE ASTRONAUTS ARE READY TO COME
HOME.
THE CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS THE 
WEATHER IN THE SEA STATES.
SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED FOR WHERE 
THEY COULD COME HOME.
IF THEY CAN'T COME HOME TO THE 
ATLANTIC OCEAN RIGHT HERE OFF 
THE COAST OF THE KENNEDY SPACE 
CENTER WE HAVE OTHER LOCATIONS 
ALL THE WAY OVER TO PENSACOLA 
WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY TO LAND.
IT'S NOT JUST THE WEATHER BUT 
THE SEA STATES.
WE NEED VERY CALM SEAS 
ESPECIALLY ON THE FIRST EFFORT 
HERE.  WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS 
IS A TEST FLIGHT.
WE'RE LEARNING ALL KINDS OF 
THINGS WE NEVER KNEW BEFORE AND 
WE WANT ALL THE DATA BEFORE WE 
PUSH IT ANY FURTHER THAN WE HAVE
TO.
IF THE WEATHER ISN'T GOOD OR THE
SEA STATES AREN'T GOOD WE'LL 
TAKE OUR TIME BRINGING THEM 
HOME.
OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THEIR
SAFETY SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO 
BRINGING THEM HOME SAFELY.
AGAIN, THEY MIGHT COME HOME ON 
AUGUST 2ND.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A 48 HOUR LEAD 
TIME AS FAR AS GO OR NO-GO 
DECISION.
WE HAVE 6 HOURS BEFORE 
SPLASHDOWN BEFORE WE MAKE A 
DETERMINATION AS TO WHERE WE 
WANT THEM TO ENTER.
WE HAVE OPTIONS.
THAT'S THE GOOD THING HERE.  
SPACEX HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB 
MAKING SURE THERE ARE OPTIONS 
AVAILABLE BECAUSE WE DO.
WE WANT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL 
WITH THE LIMITATIONS THAT WE 
PUSH ON THIS FIRST FLIGHT.
>> .
>> I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING 
CHINA WITH THIS RACE TO MARS 
WITH CHINA.
HOW IS NASA LEADING THAT?
>> I GET QUESTIONS ABOUT CHINA.
THEY OBVIOUSLY LAUNCHED A ROVER 
TO MARS AS WELL AND CERTAINLY WE
WELCOME MORE SCIENCE.
WE WELCOME MORE DISCOVERY.
WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO SHARE WHAT 
THEY LEARN WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD
JUST AS NASA SHARES WHAT IT 
LEARNS WITH THE ENTIRE WORLD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEM DOING 
THAT.
I HEAR PEOPLE FRAME IT AS THOUGH
IT'S A RACE.
THIS IS THE NINTH TIME TO LAND A
ROBOT ON MARS.
WE'VE ALREADY DONE THIS 8 TIMES,
AND OF COURSE WE'VE GOT TWO 
MISSIONS AT THE SUN RIGHT NOW 
AND MISSION AT ASTEROID AND 
ROBOT CALLED OH CYRUS REX AND 
NOW IT'STILL TRAVELING AND
 GIVING US A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON 
THE GALAXY BECAUSE IT'S NOW 
SEEING PARALAX AMONG THE STARS 
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE NOW HAVE ONE COMMERCIAL CREW 
CAPABILITY UNDERWAY.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT IS 
NEAR COMPLETION.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR WE LANDED 
HUMANS ON THE MOON 50 YEARS AGO 
AND OUR BUDGET IS AS HIGH AS 
IT'S EVER BEEN.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORT AND 
THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, PEOPLE
CAN TRY TO FRAME IT AS A RACE.
I JUST LOOK AT IT AS HEY, HERE'S
ANOOUNTRY DOING DISCOVERY 
AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THEY SHARE IT
WITH THE WORLD.
>>  THIS ONE IS FOR JIM AGAIN.
YOU'VE BEEN ADMINISTRATOR NOW 
FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST 
EXCITING THING THAT YOU'VE 
ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.
>>  WELL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
TO NOTE THAT ANY ACCOMPLISHMENT 
THAT I HAVE GOES WELL BEYOND ME.
I'M GREATFUL TO CHARLEY BOLDEN 
AND HIS LEADERSHIP AND I'M 
GRATEFUL TO ROBIN LIGHTFOOT AND 
HIS LEADERSHIP AND NOW I GET TO 
BENEFIT FROM THE FRUITS OF THEIR
LABOR JUST AS FUTURE NASA 
ADMINISTRATORS WILL BEN TPREUT 
FROM THE LABOR OF THE TEAM RIGHT
NOW.
THE KEY IS NASA CONTINUES TO DO 
STUNNING AND IMPRESSIVE THINGS.
I WILL TELL YOU, I WAS JUST AN 
ARM CHAIR CIVILIAN RUNNING A 
NON-PROFIT MUSEUM IN TULSA, 
OKLAHOMA, WHEN THE SPACE 
SHUTTLES RETIRED.
AND IT WAS DEVASTATING TO ME.
THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA WAS GOING TO BE 
WITHOUT A HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
CAPABILITY AND AT THE TIME WE 
WERE ALL HOPEFUL IT WAS ONLY 
GOING TO BE A YEAR.
AND THEN WE WENT 9 YEARS WITHOUT
ANY HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT 
CAPABILITY.
AND I THINK THAT WAS DEVASTATING
FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOVE AND ARE
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT SPACE 
EXPLORATION.
SO I THINK THE WORK THAT IT TOOK
TO GET US TO THE POINT WHERE 
WE'RE ONCE AGAIN LAUNCHING NASA 
ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN ROCKETS 
AND CREW ONE WE'LL HAVE AN 
INTERNATIONAL PARTNER WITH US 
FROM JAPAN.
THESE ARE ALL GREAT THINGS.
SO I THINK PROBABLY THE BEST 
THING THAT'S HAPPENED DURING MY 
TIME DURING AN NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR IS LAUNCHING 
HUMANS TO SPACE AND WE'RE 
WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE 
SURE THEY EVENTUALLY LAND ON THE
MOON.
>>  HEY THERE RACHEL WITH 
FLORIDA TODAY.
ALL THE MARS MISSIONS HAVE 
LAUNCHED ON ATLAS AND DELTA.
WHY IS THAT AND DOES SPACEX EVER
GET A SHOT AT THAT? 
WHAT'S THE DEAL?
>> YEAH, SO THERE'S A PROCESS 
WHEN EVERY SPACECRAFT NEEDS A 
LAUNCH VEHICLE.
I MENTIONED EARLIER OUR LAUNCH 
SERVICES PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE A WHOLE -- IT'S A 
COMPETITIVE PROCESS WHERE THEY 
TAKE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE 
SPACECRAFT AND ORBIT THEY NEED 
TO GET INTO THE PERFORMANCE 
NEEDED BY THE VEHICLE AND THEY 
ISSUE A BID AND EVERYBODY 
COMPETES AGAINST IT, INCLUDING 
SPACEX WHO IS ON THAT CONTRACT.
AND THEN THEY DO AN EVALUATION 
TO SEE WHICH PARTICULAR ROCKET 
BEST MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE 
GOVERNMENT TO GET THAT 
SPACECRAFT INTO ORBIT.
SO, YEAH, SPACEX DOES HAVE AN 
OPPORTUNITY NOW AND THEY WILL 
CONTINUE TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE 
AS THEY'RE BUILDING UP THEIR 
RELIABILITY AND NUMBERS OF 
LAUNCHES THAT ATLAS 5.
THEY ALL COMPETE AND THEY ALL 
USE THE SAME FACTORS AND OUR 
TEAM DOES A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
>>  CAN YOU BE SPECIFIC WHAT IT 
IS ABOUT THEIR ROCKETS THAT MET 
THOSE REQUIREMENTS?
>> I DO NOT -- I CAN'T SPEAK TO 
THAT.
WASN'T REALLY IN THAT BID, BUT I
THINK ATLAS WON THE BID IN THAT 
CASE AND OF COURSE COST IS A 
FACTOR ALSO.
SO WITH SPACEX COMING IN WITH 
THAT.
BUT THE TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE 
AND OTHER EVALUATIONS ARE ALL 
PUT TOGETHER AND THEN THE 
OFFICIAL MAKES THE DECISION.
>>  THANK YOU.
.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD THAT IF 
THESE ROBOTS TAKE A LONG TIME TO
DEVELOP.
SO YOU HAVE TO DESIGN THE 
MACHINERY SPECIFIC FOR THE 
ACOUSTICS AND THE VIBRATIONS OF 
A LAUNCH VEHICLE.
SO THE SELECTION FOR THIS LAUNCH
WAS A WHILE AGO.
LONG BEFORE I THINK I WAS NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR.
I COULD BE WRONG ON THAT BUT I 
THINK IT WAS BEFORE I GOT HERE. 
BUT I THINK THE POINT IS, A LOT 
OF THOSE PREVIOUS MISSIONS THAT 
YOU TALKED ABOUT, THERE WASN'T A
COMPETITIVE LAUNCH MARKET AT THE
TIME.
WE JUST HAD A FEW OPTIONS AND 
THEY WERE ALL OWNED AND OPERATED
BY THE GOVERNMENT PURCHASED FROM
CONTRACTORS OF COURSE.
SO THIS IDEA WHERE WE DO WE HAVE
A CAPABILITY THAT IS 
SELECTING -- LOOKING AT 
COMPETITIVE BIDS AND MAKING 
DECISIONS FOR OUR INITIAL 
LAUNCHES THAT WASN'T THE CASE 
FOR SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MARS 
MISSIONS.
>>  GOT IT.
THANK YOU.
>>  IF I COULD ADD TO THAT, TOO,
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE 
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
AND LOOK, WE LOVE OUR 
CONTRACTORS, BUT RARELY SATISFY 
BECAUSE THEY GOT TO MEET THEIR 
QUARTERLY NUMBERS AND OUR JOB IS
TO PRESERVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS 
EXUSE THEM TO THE BEST BENEFIT 
FOR THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE FOCUSSED 
ON MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
I GUARANTEE YOU -- I GET THAT 
QUESTION FROM A LOT OF OTHER 
CONTRACTORS TOO.
>>  I'M SURE, THANK YOU.
>>  ANYMORE QUESTIONS? 
ALL RIGHT.
WELL I'LL JUST CLOSE IT OUT 
THEN.
LOOKS LIKE TOMORROW MORNING IS 
WHEN WE'LL LAUNCH.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT AND WE 
HOPE ALL YOU ATTEND.
FOLKS WHO WANT TO WATCH IT 
VIRTUALLY WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO
TO NASA.GOV AND THIS WILL BE AN 
INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT AND WE'RE 
AINGE SHOULDS ABOUT THE ENTRY, 
DECENT AND LANDING AND THE GREAT
SCIENCE THAT WE'LL GET STARTING 
IN FEBRUARY.
STAY TUNED AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL
TOMORROW MORNING FROM THE 
LAUNCH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
