>>> A MODEL THAT HAS BEEN CITED 
BY THE WHITE HOUSE NOW PROJECTS 
132,000 DEATHS IN THE U.S. BY 
AUGUST.
11,000 FEWER THAN RECENTLY 
PREDICTED.
TODAY THE FOCUS IN MOST STATES 
IS GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS.
>> NEW FREEDOMS IN CALIFORNIA. 
>> WE MADE MODIFICATIONS SO IT'S
NO LONGER CURB-SIDE PICK-UP. 
>> THE GOVERNOR EASING 
RESTRICTIONS ALLOWING HAIRCUTS 
WITH PRECAUTION.
OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY, LONG 
ISLAND BEGINS REOPENING TODAY, 
ONE DAY AFTER A SLOW REOPENING 
IN THE NEARBY TOWN OF NEW 
ROCHELLE WHERE THE FIRST 
CONTAINMENT ZONE WAS ESTABLISHED
FROM NEARLY TWO MONTHS AGO.
>> THEY GOT TO EAT.
WE STILL HAVE BILLS AND NOTHING 
CHANGED. 
>> NOW THE FIRST DEFINITIVE 
TIMELINE FOR RETURN OF A PRO 
SPORTS LEAGUE. 
>> WE WILL NOT DO ANYTHING UNTIL
WE ARE ASSURED THAT IT IS SAFE 
AND PRUDENT TO DO SO.
>> THE NHL ANNOUNCING PLANS TO 
START THE SEASON THIS SUMMER 
PLAYING ALL GAMES IN TWO 
SO-CALLED HUB CITIES THAT HAVE 
YET TO BE CHOSEN AND REDUCING 
THE NUMBER OF TEAMS THAT WILL 
PLAY.
THIS MORNING AT LEAST 14 
STATES ANNOUNCING A GROWING 
NUMBER OF COVID-19 CASES 
INCLUDING ALABAMA.
TWO COUNTIES OUTSIDE THE STATE 
CAPITAL, MONTGOMERY, AMONG THE 
FASTEST GROWING HOT SPOTS IN THE
COUNTRY.
>>> GROWING OUTRAGE IN 
MINNEAPOLIS OVER THE DEATH OF A 
BLACK MAN IN POLICE CUSTODY.
[ CHANTING ]
>> NOW DEMONSTRATORS TAKING TO 
THE STREET, BLOCKING 
INTERSECTIONS AS POLICE USE TEAR
GAS TO PUSH BACK THE CROWDS. 
SOME PEOPLE SEEN THROWING 
OBJECTS BACK AT OFFICERS, 
VANDALIZING A POLICE VEHICLE AND
SMASHING THE FRONT WINDOW OF A 
POLICE PRECINCT.
[ CHANTING ]
>> SO MANY OTHERS MARCHING 
PEACEFULLY CHANTING "I CAN'T 
BREATHE" WHILE DEMANDING JUSTICE
FOR GEORGE FLOYD. 
>> PLEASE, I CAN'T BREATHE.
PLEASE.
>> A VIDEO CAMERA CAPTURED FINAL
MOMENTS OF FLOYD'S LIFE MONDAY 
NIGHT.
THE 46-YEAR-OLD SEEN ON THE 
GROUND IN HANDCUFFS WITH A 
POLICE OFFICER'S KNEE ON HIS 
NECK.
>> HE PASSED OUT. 
>> FIVE MINUTES INTO THE VIDEO, 
HE APPEARED TO LOSE 
CONSCIOUSNESS.
EMTs ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND 
CHECK NOR A PULSE WHILE THE 
OFFICER REMAINED ON HIS NECK.
AN AMBULANCE TOOK HIM TO THE 
HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED
DEAD.
HE WAS UNARMED AND SUSPECTED OF 
TRYING TO PASS A FORGED CHECK AT
A STORE AND APPEARED TO BE UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR 
DRUGS ADDING HE RESISTED 
OFFICERS.
HANDCUFFED HIM AND NOTICED HE 
APPEARED TO SUFFERING MEDICAL 
DISTRESS.
FOUR POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN
THE INCIDENT HAVE BEEN FIRED. 
>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FORMER 
VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN BUTT 
HEADS OVER WEARING A MASK.
AFTER BIDEN WORE ONE IN PUBLIC 
MONDAY.
SOMETHING THE PRESIDENT HAS YET 
TO DO.
HE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE WITH HIS
WIFE PERFECT CONDITIONS, PERFECT
WEATHER.
THEY'RE INSIDE, THEY DON'T WEAR 
A MASK.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY UNUSUAL HE
HAD ONE ON. 
>> HE'S A FOOL. 
AN ABSOLUTE FOOL TO HAVE FELT 
THAT WAY.
I MEAN, EVERY LEADING DOC IN THE
WORLD IS SAYING YOU SHOULD WEAR 
A MASK.
THIS MACHO STUFF IS FOR -- A 
GUY -- AH.
I SHOULDN'T GET GOING, BUT IT'S 
JUST, IT'S COST PEOPLE'S LIVES. 
>> THE PRESIDENT STEPPING UP 
ATTACKS ON NORTH CAROLINA, 
SLAMMING THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH 
CAROLINA FOR POSSIBLE 
RESTRICTIONS ON THE REPUBLICAN 
NATIONAL CONVENTION. 
>> A GOVERNOR DOESN'T WANT TO 
OPEN UP THE STATE. 
>> I WILL SAY THAT IT'S OKAY FOR
POLITICAL CONVENTIONS TO BE 
POLITICAL, BUT PANDEMIC RESPONSE
CANNOT BE. 
>> THE PRESIDENT NOW GIVING 
NORTH CAROLINA ONE WEEK TO 
DECIDE WHETHER CONVENTION PLANS 
CAN MOVE FORWARD.
IN THE MEANTIME, FLORIDA AND 
GEORGIA ARE NOW OFFERING TO HOST
THE EVENT.
ALL THIS WHILE DEMOCRATS TAKE A 
VERY DIFFERENT PATH.
THEY'RE CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE 
VIRTUAL CONVENTION. 
>>> FORECASTERS SAY THERE WILL 
BE A HISTORIC LAUNCH AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN A 
DECADE ASTRONAUTS HEAD INTO 
SPACE FROM U.S. SOIL.
>> THIS MORNING, MISSION 
COUNTDOWN.
>> THREE -- TWO -- ONE -- 
LIFTOFF. 
>> SPACEX PLANNING TO MAKE 
HISTORY LAUNCHING ITS DRAGON 
SPACE CAPSULE WITH TWO 
NASA ASTRONAUTS INSIDE.
ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG 
HURLEY WILL BE ONBOARD. 
>> CONTINUING TO PUSH INTO SPACE
CHALLENGES US AS AMERICANS, AS 
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.
I THINK THAT CONTINUED PUSH IS 
IMPORTANT. 
>> IF THE MISSION SUCCEEDS, IT 
WILL BE THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY
A DECADE AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS 
FREE FROM PAYING ANOTHER COMPANY
FOR A TICKET TO SPACE.
THEY PAID RUSSIA AT A PRICE 
E
TAG OF NEARLY $90 MILLION TO GET
TO SPACE. 
>> THIS IS HUGE FOR NASA AND OUR
COUNTRY. 
>> CHIEF METEOROLOGIST GINGER 
ZEE BREAKING DOWN WHAT SIX 
INCHES OF RAIN IN 90 MINUTES 
LOOKS LIKE.
IT LOOKED LIKE THIS.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH
THE LEAD THERE AND WHAT WE HAVE 
TO DO, THE TROPICAL WAVE IS 
GOING TO TRY TO BECOME A 
TROPICAL STORM POTENTIALLY, AND 
A BUNCH OF THE MOISTURE, THE 
HEAVIEST MOISTURE INTO SOUTH 
CAROLINA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND 
VIRGINIA BUT THERE ARE STILL 
SCATTERED STORMS.
WE STOPPED THE CLOCK RIGHT AT 
LAUNCH TIME AND UNFORTUNATELY, 
BOTH OF THE SHORT-TERM MODELS 
THAT WE RUN ON HAVE THOSE 
SCATTERED STORMS.
NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, EVEN IF
IT HAS SOME GUSTY WINDS, IT 
LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE OTHER 
PARAMETERS WILL BE MET.
I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE 
ELECTRICAL CHARGE POTENTIAL IN 
THE AREA BECAUSE IT DOESN'T EVEN
HAVE TO BE CLOUD TO GROUND 
LIGHTNING.
WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE 
FORECASTERS IS BACK IN 1987, 
THEY FIGURED OUT PRETTY QUICKLY 
AFTER THE ATLAS CENTAUR HAD A 
MAJOR FAILURE AFTER 49 SECONDS 
AFTER LAUNCH, IT CREATED 
SOMETHING CALLED TRIGGER 
LIGHTNING WHERE THE ROCKET AND 
THE EXHAUST ITSELF GOING THROUGH
THE ATMOSPHERE MEETS WITH 
ANOTHER CHARGE THAT WAS LEFT 
OVER AND THEY MAKE LIGHTNING.
THERE WAS MAJOR FAILURE AND THAT
WAS A TEACHABLE MOMENT, THEY 
SAID, AND THAT'S SOMETHING 
THEY'RE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT.
SO GOING INTO THIS AFTERNOON, I 
THINK ANY CLOUD COVER, ANY 
THUNDERSTORM LEFT OVER WOULD 
EVEN BE A PROBLEM AND WE MAY END
UP SEEING THIS GET RESCHEDULED, 
AND IF SO, IT WOULD BE ON 
SATURDAY.
>> 2020 IS CERTAINLY A YEAR FOR 
THE HISTORY BOOKS, IN MANY 
CASES, ALL THE WRONG REASONS BUT
TOMORROW HAS A POTENTIAL TO BE A
MONUMENTAL MOMENT, A NEW ERA IN 
SPACE FLIGHT.
WEATHER PERMITTING, WE COULD SEE
TWO ASTRONAUTS LIFT OFF FROM 
AMERICAN SOIL FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN NEARLY A DECADE.
THIS TIME, ABOARD A PRIVATELY 
OWNED AND OPERATED SPACESHIP.
AND IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, SPACE 
LAUNCHES ARE DIFFICULT UNDER THE
BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
NOW IMAGINE THE RISKS DURING A 
PANDEMIC.
HISTORIC LAUNCH WITH RENEWED 
MEANING DURING THIS TUMULTUOUS 
TIME.
OUR CLAYTON SANDELL LEADS US 
OFF. 
>> IGNITION AND LIFTOFF OF THE 
FALCON 9 TO THE SPACE STATION ON
THE FIRST COMMERCIAL LAUNCH FROM
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER'S HISTORIC 
39A. 
>> IN 2020, THE RACE TO SPACE IS
MORE CROWDED THAN EVER.
ROCKET SHIPS AND SPACE STATIONS,
HUMANS AND ROBOTS, GOVERNMENTS 
AND BILLIONAIRES ALL REACHING 
FOR THE STARS.
ECHOING FIERCE COMPETITION FROM 
THE PAST.
>> WE CHOOSE TO GO TO THE MOON 
AND DO THE OTHER THINGS, NOT 
BECAUSE THEY ARE EASY BUT 
BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD.
>> BUT TODAY'S SPACE ISN'T JUST 
FOR GLOBAL SUPER POWERS BUT A 
PURSUIT OF THE SUPER RICH. 
>> TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE SPACE 
ACCEPTABLE IN A WAY THAT'S ONLY 
BEEN DREAMT OF BEFORE NOW.
>> ON LAUNCH PAD 39A AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN CAPE 
CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, THE NEWEST 
CHAPTER IN SPACE READY TO BLAST 
OFF.
HERE, SPACEX, THE COMPANY 
FOUNDED BY TESLA CEO ELON MUSK 
PLANS TO LAUNCH DRAGON SPACE 
CAPSULE WITH TWO ASTRONAUTS 
INSIDE.
>> THREE, TWO, ONE, IGNITION, 
LIFTOFF.
>> THE MISSION'S GOAL TO 
DEMONSTRATE A PRIVATE COMPANY 
LIKE SPACEX CAN DELIVER 
ASTRONAUTS AND GET THEM HOME 
SAFELY.
BOB AND DOUG WILL BE ON BOARD. 
>> I THINK CONTINUING TO PUSH 
INTO SPACE CHALLENGES US AS 
AMERICANS, CHALLENGES US AS 
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AND I 
THINK THAT CONTINUED PUSH IS 
IMPORTANT. 
>> IF THE MISSION SUCCEEDS, 
AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS NOT ONLY 
WILL BE FREE OF EARTH'S GRAVITY,
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY A 
DECADE, THEY'LL BE FREE FROM 
PAYING RUSSIA FOR A TICKET TO 
SPACE.
>> HURLEY NOW DEPLOYING THE DRAG
SHOOT.
PULLS INTO PORT FOR THE LAST 
TIME.
VOYAGE AT AN END.
>> WHEN HURLEY LANDED THE FINAL 
SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT IN 2011, 
AMERICA'S ABILITY TO LAUNCH ITS 
OWN ASTRONAUTS INTO SPACE WAS 
HISTORY.
>> IT CERTAINLY IS AN HONOR TO 
BE A PART OF IT.
BE PART OF THE PROGRAM AND START
OF THIS PROGRAM AND JUST WANT TO
DO OUR BEST TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON 
THIS MISSION BECAUSE OF SO MANY 
PEOPLE THAT WORKED SO HARD TO 
GET US TO THIS POINT. 
>> THE U.S. COULD ONLY GET A 
RIDE TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION FROM RUSSIA, WHICH KEEPS
RAISING THE PRICE OF A SINGLE 
TICKET.
NEARLY $90 MILLION BUT THIS 
TIME, HURLEY AND BANKEN ARE 
TRADING FOR HIGH-TECH SEATS AND 
TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLS. 
>> THE WAY THAT THE TECHNOLOGY 
HAS DEVELOPED SINCE APOLLO, THE 
50 YEARS THAT IT'S EVOLVED, ALL 
OF THESE ARE STATE-OF-THE-ART 
RELATIVE TO WHAT WE FLEW ON 
SHUTTLE. 
>> WHAT HASN'T CHANGED, SPACE 
FLIGHT IS RISKY. 
>> IT WAS OVER IN AN 
UNBELIEVABLE MICROSECOND.
THE FLAMES ENVELOPED APOLLO 1.
THE CREW MEN NEVER HAD A CHANCE.
>> GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS CAME WITH 
GREAT TRAGEDY. 
>> THE CHALLENGER, GO WITH 
THROTTLE.
AND THEN IT HAPPENED.
>> SPACEX HAD ITS OWN SETBACKS, 
THOUGH NONE OF THEM FATAL.
IN 2016, ROCKET BLEW UP ON THE 
PAD.
AND THEN JUST OVER A YEAR AGO, 
AN EXPLOSION DESTROYED AN EMPTY 
SPACEX DRAGON CAPSULE JUST LIKE 
THE ONE THAT WILL CARRY BANKEN 
AND HURLEY.
THE CHALLENGER DISASTER HALTED 
SHUTTLE LAUNCHES FOR NEARLY 
THREE YEARS, BUT EXPERTS SAY 
UNLIKE GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE 
COMPANIES LIKE SPACEX CAN WORK 
QUICKLY TO GET BACK ON TRACK 
THREE OF TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT RED
TAPE.
WITH ASTRONAUTS, THE COMMERCIAL 
USED TO BE A BAD WORD BECAUSE 
THEY WANTED THE GOVERNMENT TO 
HAVE SHOOK EVERYTHING UP 18 
TIMES TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS.
NOW THEY'RE REALIZING THAT THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR WITH CONTINUOUS 
IMPROVEMENTS AND STUFF HAS SOME 
NEWER IDEAS SPACEX, LOOK AT HOW 
FAST THEY FIXED IT BECAUSE IT 
WAS DESIGNED LIKE ANY COMMERCIAL
PRODUCT WHICH THESE THINGS ARE, 
TO BE FIXED BECAUSE YOU NEED TO 
SELL THESE THINGS AND YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO SELL SOMETHING THAT 
DOESN'T WORK.
>> SPACEX IS POISED TO BEAT ONE 
COMPETITOR WITH A CENTURY OF 
AEROSPACE EXPERIENCE, BOEING.
LAST DECEMBER, BOEING'S STAR 
LINER LAUNCHED ON A TEST FLIGHT.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DOCK AT THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION BUT 
A TECHNICAL GLITCH FORCED THE 
MISSION TO BE CALLED OFF.
BOEING SAYS BEFORE STAR LINER 
CARRIES ANY ASTRONAUTS, IT WILL 
GET ANOTHER TEST FLIGHT AND 
EXPERTS SAY SPACEX WILL GET 
BRAGGING RIGHTS.
>> NOW IT'S A COMPETITION.
BOEING MAY LOSE THIS CAPTURE THE
FLAG THING AND I DON'T THINK 
THEY LIKE THAT, AND I THINK 
THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET 
MORE CREATIVE, WHICH IS A GOOD 
THING.
>> ELON MUSK ISN'T THE ONLY 
BILLIONAIRE LOOKING SKYWARD.
JEFF BEZOS HAS BLUE ORIGIN, THE 
COMPANY DEVELOPING A MOON LANDER
BUT FIRST HOPES TO OFFER RIDES 
TO TOURISTS.
RICHARD BRANSON'S VIRGIN 
GALACTIC SELLING TICKETS TO 
SPACE AND SAYS DEMAND IS SKY 
HIGH.
THE COST, A QUARTER OF A MILLION
DOLLARS BUT ON MONDAY, HIS OTHER
COMPANY VIRGIN ORBIT LAUNCHED A 
747 DESIGNED TO SEND SMALL 
SATELLITES INTO EARTH'S ORBIT.
IT FAILED.
LOCKHEED MARTIN IS LOOKING 
BEYOND EARTH ORBIT, BUILDING AND
TESTING A NEW LONG RANGE VEHICLE
CALLED ORION.
>> ONE OF THE KEYS TO SUCCESS IN
SPACE FLIGHT IS TO TEST, TEST, 
AND TEST SOME MORE AND THAT'S 
WHAT THEY DO IN THIS GIANT 
BUILDING HERE AT LOCKHEED MARTIN
OUTSIDE OF DENVER.
ONE OF THE THINGS THEY CAN DO IS
BLAST THIS SPACECRAFT WITH SOUND
WAVES TO SIMULATE THE VIOLENT 
VIBRATIONS OF A LAUNCH.
THEY'LL ALSO TEST EVERY SINGLE 
SYSTEM.
THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE IF 
SOMETHING GOES WRONG, IT HAPPENS
IN HERE AND NOT OUT THERE.
>> ORION SEATS UP TO FOUR IN A 
CAPSULE DESIGN A THROWBACK TO 
THE 1960s. 
>> WAY UP AT THE TOP, YOU'LL SEE
WHAT LOOKS LIKE A CONE.
A LOT OF FOLKS WILL RECOGNIZE 
THAT, LOOKS LIKE APOLLO AND THE 
ANSWER IS YES, THAT'S CAPSULE 
AND THAT'S PHYSICS HAS BEEN 
CHANGED. 
>> CAPSULES ARE STILL THE BEST.
>> STILL THE BEST.
THE MORE WE RUN THE SIMULATIONS,
THOSE FOLKS WITH THE CHALK AND 
THE CHALKBOARD WERE RIGHT. 
>> ORION ON THE BIGGEST ROCKET 
EVER CALLED SLS.
THE MISSION?
TO FLY ASTRONAUTS INCLUDING THE 
FIRST WOMEN TO THE MOON BY 2024.
>> IT'S DIFFICULT TIMES LIKE 
TODAY, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO 
BE THINKING ABOUT WHERE WE'RE 
GOING TO PROCEED AS THE HUMAN 
RACE, THE THE COMPELLING ASPECT 
OF UNDERSTANDING WHO WE ARE, 
WHERE DID WE COME FROM AND WHERE
ARE WE GOING AND MOST 
IMPORTANTLY, ARE WE ALONE?
THOSE QUESTIONS EXIST IN OUTER 
SPACE. 
>> FOR TRAVEL BEYOND EARTH, NASA
PLANS TO USE AN ORBITING OUTPOST
CALLED GATEWAY. 
>> THIS IS THE CONCEPT THAT THE 
ASTRONAUTS LI AND WORK DURING 
THE TIME THEY'RE ORBITING AROUND
THE MOON. 
>> WHY NOT JUST FLY FROM EARTH, 
LAND ON THE MOON AND DO YOUR 
THING?
>> BECAUSE IT'S ALLOWED US TO GO
ANYWHERE ON THE MOON.
THE GATEWAY IS MOBILE, SO WE CAN
MOVE TO OTHER LOCATIONS AROUND 
THE MOON AND EXPLORE PIECES.
GOING TO A DIRECT LOCATION.
THE SOUTH POLE, EQUATOR, 
WHATEVER.
THIS ALLOWS YOU TO DO SOME 
SCIENCE WITH WHAT YOU'VE 
COLLECTED AND THEN MAYBE MOVE TO
A DIFFERENT LOCATION AND THEN DO
SOME MORE. 
>> THINK OF IT AS A PIT STOP IN 
DEEP SPACE. 
>> CAN YOU SHOW US AROUND?
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE AREAS HERE LIKE AN AREA 
WHERE PEOPLE WOULD REST OR 
SLEEP.
YOU CAN SEE, THIS IS A TREADMILL
FOR ASTRONAUTS TO DO THEIR 
EXERCISE ON.
>> TREADMILL, SORT OF ON THE 
CEILING HERE BUT IT CAN BE 
ANYWHERE. 
>> DO A LOT OF EXPERIMENTS WITH 
GROWING FOOD AS WE MOVE TO 
PLACES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE 
THE LOGISTICS TO BRING FOOD TO 
THE ASTRONAUTS THERE AND THEY'LL
HAVE TO BE SUSTAINABLE ON THEIR 
OWN. 
>> BEFORE HUMANS GO TO MARS, 
WHICH IS PLANNED FOR THE MID 
2030s, ROBOT EXPLORERS GO FIRST.
THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER SET TO 
LAUNCH THIS SUMMER, PART OF ITS 
MISSION TO COLLECT ROCK SAMPLES,
FOR THE FIRST TIME, WILL 
EVENTUALLY BE TAKEN BACK TO 
EARTH.
IN JANUARY, WE SUITED UP TO TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MISSION 
INSIDE THE CLEAN ROOM AT NASA'S 
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY IN 
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.
>> WE'VE HAD TO PUT ON ALL OF 
THIS PROTECTIVE GEAR SO THAT 
HAIR, OILS, MAKE-UP DOESN'T 
CONTAMINATE ANY OF THE 
SPACECRAFT THEY'RE ASSEMBLING 
HERE.
IN FACT, THE AIR IN THIS ROOM 
GETS CYCLED OUT 70 TIMES EVERY 
HOUR.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND CLEANER
AIR PROBABLY ANYWHERE IN 
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
>> WHY IS 2020 THE YEAR 
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO TO MARS?
EARTH AND MARS ARE IN DIFFERENT 
ORBITS SO ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS, 
THEY ALIGN SO WE CAN GET THERE 
IN AN EFFICIENT WAY AND SO THIS 
IN PARTICULAR WILL COLLECT 
SAMPLES WE WANT TO BRING BACK TO
EARTH SOME DAY AND LOOK FOR 
SIGNS OF PAST AND PRESENT LIFE.
SO IN ORDER TO DO THAT PROPERLY,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, WE, THE 
EARTHLINGS ARE INSIDE THE SAMPLE
SO WE HAVE TO DO THINGS LIKE BE 
IN A CLEAN ROOM AND WEAR ALL 
THIS PROTECTIVE GEAR TO MAKE 
SURE WE DON'T CONTAMINATE THE 
SPACECRAFT AND THE INSTRUMENTS. 
>> PERSEVERANCE WILL HAVE 
COMPANY.
FIRST OF ITS KIND MARS 
HELICOPTER.
>> SO WE HAVE TWO CAMERAS ON 
BOARD.
KIND OF TERRAIN, STEEP TERRAIN, 
CLIFFS.
TOUGH SAND DUNES.
THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PLACES WE 
CAN REACH.
THE NEW ROVER COULD NEVER GET 
TO.
>> SPACE EXPLOATION IS MORE 
GLOBAL THAN EVER.
THIS YEAR, CHINA IS PLANNING AN 
UNMANNED MISSION TO THE RED 
PLANET AND WANTS TO COLLECT 
ROCKS ON THE MOON AND FLY BACK 
TO EARTH.
INDIA ALSO MONITORING A MOON 
LANDER AND THE ATMOSPHERE.
>> A NUMBER OF SPACE AGENCIES 
OUT THERE.
>> EVEN THE UNITED STATES LAST 
YEAR CREATING ANOTHER SPACE 
AGENCY.
>> SPACE IS GOING TO BE THE 
FUTURE.
BOTH IN TERMS OF DEFENSE AND 
OFFENSE AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS
AND ALREADY, FROM WHAT I'M 
HEARING AND BASED ON REPORTS, 
WE'RE NOW THE LEADER IN SPACE. 
>> A NEW BRANCH OF THE MILITARY 
CALLED SPACE FORCE.
>> AND LIFTOFF OF THE ATLAS 
ROCKET, TO THE UNITED STATES 
SPACE FORCE ON A MISSION 
DEDICATED TO AMERICA STRONG.
>> SPACE FORCE LAUNCHED A 
SECRETIVE MILITARY PLANE EARLIER
THIS MONTH.
BILLIONAIRES ASIDE, SPACE 
EXPLORATION DEPENDS ON POLITICAL
WILL AND LOTS OF MONEY.
SUDDENLY, TIGHTER IN THE AGE OF 
A PANDEMIC.
ENGINEERS SAY THEY'RE READY TO 
BUILD ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND
FAILURES OF THE PAST, USING NEW 
IDEAS AND NEW TECHNOLOGY TO HELP
TAKE OUR BIGGEST LEAP YET. 
>> COMING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC, 
THIS COUNTRY, THIS WORLD, WE 
NEED SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD 
TO AND I THINK WE NEED THIS MORE
THAN EVER NOW.
>> THANKS TO CLAYTON STREAMING 
COVERAGE.
AND NATGEO, TOMORROW AT 3:00 
P.M.
STICK WITH US AS WE BRING YOU 
WEATHER-PERMITTING THAT HISTORIC
LAUNCH.
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THOSE ARE JUST SOME
>>> BACK NOW ON GMA.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HARD 
WORKING HEALTH CARE HEROES.
M
SO IMPOR SHINE A LIGHT ON
THE NG MMUNITIES WEEN
>> THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.
>> WE COPY ON THE GROUND.
>> NEW POSSIBILITIES ARE OPENING
UP FOR THE CORPORATION BETWEEN 
COUNTRIES.
>> AND THERE IT IS.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE AMERICAN 
MADE ROCKET AND SPACECRAFT THAT 
WILL RETURN AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS 
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION FROM AMERICAN SOIL FOR 
THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 
RETIREMENT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE 
LAST FLOWN NEARLY 9 YEARS AGO.
TODAY, WITH OUR PARTNERS AT 
SPACEX, WE MARK A NEW FIRST IN 
NASA'S STORIED HISTORY AND USHER
THE COMMERCIAL CREW ERA OF 
AMERICAN SPACE FLIGHT.
>> AT 4:33 EASTERN TIME THIS 
AFTERNOON, TWO OF NASA'S FINEST,
ASTRONAUTS DOUG HURLEY AND BOB 
BANKEN WILL LIFT OFF THE CREW 
DRAGON SPACECRAFT ATOP THE 
FALCON 9 ROCKET.
FIRST FLIGHT WITH CREW IN A 
BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER IN 
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
I'M MARIE LOUIS OF NASA. 
>> I'M LAUREN LIONS, ENGINEER AT
SPACEX.
WE HAVE SPECIAL GUEST, RETIRED 
ASTRONAUT MELVIN HERE TO PROVIDE
A TRULY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON 
TODAY'S EVENTS. 
>> MARIE AND LAUREN, THANK YOU 
FOR HAVING ME HERE.
I'M SO EXCITED.
ROCKET FUEL THROUGH MY VEINS AND
I WAS OUT THERE 11 YEARS AGO AND
THIS IS REALLY HALLOWED GROUND 
WE HAVE HERE.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE STORIED 
LEGACY OF MERCURY GEMINI AND 
THEN NOW SPACEX CREW DRAGON.
EXCITING TIME. 
>> IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME AND 
WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU 
HERE TO GO THROUGH IT WITH US.
WE WANT TO TALK FIRST THOUGH 
ABOUT THE WEATHER BECAUSE IT'S 
THE BIG STORY OF THE DAY, THE 
HEADLINE.
TEAM FROM NASA AND SPACEX 
KEEPING AN EYE HERE IN FLORIDA.
METEOROLOGISTS FROM THE U.S. AIR
FORCE 45 WEATHER SQUADRON, 
KEEPING THINGS EXCITING.
A RAIN SHOWER PASSED THROUGH THE
AREA A MOMENT BEFORE THE START 
OF OUR COVERAGE WHICH DELAYED US
BY JUST A FEW MINUTES, WHY WE 
ARE INDOORS NOW.
THAT WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO 
PASS, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO 
MONITOR FLIGHT RULES INCLUDING 
PRECIPITATION AS WELL AS ANVIL 
AND CUMULUS CLOUDS AROUND THE 
LAUNCH PAD.
MORE AROUND KENNEDY BUT WEATHER 
STATES IN THE FLIGHT PATH OF 
CREW DRAGON, THAT'S REALLY 
IMPORTANT, ALL OF THOSE NEED TO 
BE FAVORABLE BEFORE LAUNCH.
TROPICAL STORM BERTHA HAS BEEN 
CAUSING SOME WEATHER THAT TEAMS 
WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR TO MAKE
SURE IT'S OKAY FOR A RESCUE 
OPERATION JUST IN CASE THAT'S 
NEEDED, AND THE TEAM WILL 
CONVENE SHORTLY TO REVIEW THE 
LATEST WEATHER AND WIND TRENDS 
AROUND THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE 
ROCKET AND MAKE A DECISION ABOUT
PROCEEDINGS.
IF ALL IS GO, WE'LL BE TRACKING 
A 4:33 P.M. EASTERN LAUNCH FOR 
THE RETURN OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION FROM U.S. SOIL AND THE 
TEAM WILL TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT 
WEATHER PRIOR TO PROPELLANT 
LOADING SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN IN 
45 MINUTES PRIOR TO LAUNCH IF WE
DO IN FACT PROCEED AND WE HAVE 
TEAMS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FROM 
SPACEX HEADQUARTERS IN 
CALIFORNIA, MISSION CONTROL IN 
HOUSTON, OUR SOCIAL MEDIA DESK 
IN WASHINGTON, OF COURSE, RIGHT 
HERE IN FLORIDA.
>> TODAY'S MISSION MARKS THE 
DRAGON'S SECOND TEST FLIGHT AND 
FIRST TEST OF HUMANS ON BOARD.
WE'RE ABOUT, LET'S SEE, FOUR 
HOURS AND NINE MINUTES AWAY FROM
LIFTOFF AND BOB AND DOUG 
FINISHED THEIR LUNCH JUST 
RECENTLY, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING 
THROUGH THEIR FINAL MEDICAL 
CHECKS BEFORE NASA TURNS THEM 
OVER TO THE SPACEX TEAM.
ONCE THE CREW IS HANDED OVER, 
THERE'S A SERIES OF KEY 
MILESTONES THAT THE TEAMS WILL 
NEED TO COMPLETE AS WE COUNT 
DOWN TO T-0.
FIRST IS SUIT UP.
THAT'S AT THE ONC BUILDINGS, 
THAT WE'LL REFER TO IT TODAY.
THIS IS WHERE THE SPACEX TEAM 
WILL HEP THEM PUT ON THE SUITS 
IN PREPARATION FOR THE LAUNCH 
PAD AND THEN WE HAVE CREW 
WALKOUT.
ONCE THEIR SUIT-UP IS COMPLETE, 
ASTRONAUTS WILL LEAVE THE ONC 
FOR FINAL GOOD-BYE WITH FRIENDS 
AND FAMILY OUTSIDE OF THE 
FACILITY BEFORE THEY HEAD OUT TO
PAD 39A.
FOLLOWING FINAL GOOD-BYE, 
THEY'LL GET IN THE TESLA AND 
BEGIN THE ROUGHLY 20 MINUTE 
DRIVE TO PATH 39A.
IT WILL ASCEND THE SIXTH SERVICE
STRUCTURE IN ORDER TO BOARD THE 
SPACECRAFT IN A PROCESS WHERE 
THE SPACEX TEAM RUNS A SERIES OF
CHECKS TO ENSURE THE 
INTERACTIONS ARE FUNCTIONING 
PROPERLY.
DOCTOR, VEHICLE AND CREW CHECKS 
ARE COMPLETED.
THEY WILL CLOSE DRAGON'S HATCH 
WITH BOB AND DOUG SAFELY INSIDE.
ABOUT 40 MINUTES BEFORE LAUNCH, 
THE CREW ACCESS ARM, WHICH IS 
THE LONG WALKWAY, THE ASTRONAUTS
USE TO BOARD DRAGON.
IT WILL RETRACT AWAY AND THEN 
ARM THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
>> ONCE THE ARM IS RETRACTED, 
PROPELLANT LOADING ON FALCON 9 
WILL BEGIN.
FIVE MINUTES BEFORE LIFTOFF, KAG
-- DRAGON WILL BE TAKING CONTROL
OF THE VEHICLE. 
>> AT T-0, JUST UNDER 4 HOURS 
FROM NOW, WE EXPECT TO SEE CREW 
DRAGON ATOP FALCON 9 LIFT OFF 
FROM PAD 39A, CARRYING 
ASTRONAUTS BOB BANKEN AND DOUG 
HURLEY.
ROUGHLY 12 MINUTES AFTER 
LIFTOFF, DRAGON WILL SEPARATE 
FROM THE SECOND STAGE WITH 
DRAGON OFFICIALLY TAKING OVER 
FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 
REMAINDER OF THE JOURNEY TO THE 
SPACE STATION.
AND AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, 
BOB AND DOUG ARE JUST FINISHING 
UP THEIR LUNCH AND WE ARE 
CURRENTLY AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL
TO THE SUIT-UP ROOM. 
>> WHILE WE AWAIT THAT MOMENT, 
YOU WILL NOTICE OVER THE COURSE 
OF THIS BROADCAST, WE DO NOT 
HAVE CROWDS GATHERED HERE AT 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, OF COURSE,
ONE OF THE PROTOCOLS WE'VE TAKEN
TO PROTECT EACH OTHER AND THE 
TEAM.
NORMALLY HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS 
OF GUESTS HERE AT KENNEDY SPACE 
CENTER TO VIEW THE LAUNCH BUT 
EVEN THOUGH WE COULDN'T HOST A 
LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, YOU CAN 
STILL JOIN US FROM RIGHT WHERE 
YOU ARE AND WE HAVE A TEAM 
DEDICATED TO THOSE OF YOU 
FOLLOWING ALONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA 
IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW.
TAHIRA?
>> THANKS.
AND HEY, EVERYONE.
I'M TAHIRA ALLEN HERE TO BRING 
YOU ALL THE EXCITEMENT HAPPENING
ACROSS THE NATION TODAY.
THIS IS A BIG DAY FOR BOTH NASA 
AND SPACEX AND WE WANT TO SHARE 
IT WITH YOU.
YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION 
ONLINE BY USING 
HASHTAG #LAUNCHAMERICA ON 
TWITTER, FACEBOOK, LINKED IN AND
INSTAGRAM.
WE'LL MONITOR THE 
HASHTAG, #LAUNCHAMERICA, SHARE 
YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, AND 
PHOTOS LIVE ON AIR.
ALSO MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 
YOU TO ENGAGE IN A FEW SOCIAL 
MEDIA POLLS DURING TODAY'S LIVE 
BROADCAST.
HEAD OVER TO NASA'S TWITTER FOR 
YOUR VOTE.
WHILE COUNTING DOWN, BE SURE TO 
CHECK OUT OUR CUSTOM LAUNCH 
AMERICA FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM 
AUGMENTED REALITY FILTERS.
I PROMISE, YOU'LL NOT BE 
DISAPPOINTED.
THEY TRANSPORT YOU RIGHT TO OUR 
LAUNCH VIEWING SITE AT KENNEDY 
SPACE CENTER WHERE YOU CAN 
LITERALLY SEE THE FALCON 9 
ROCKET LIFT OFF IN A PAIR OF 
SUNGLASSES.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME 
BEHIND THE SCENES ACTION, I 
HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHECK OUT 
NASA'S FACEBOOK PAGE TO JOIN THE
FIRST EVER GLOBAL NASA SOCIAL.
SO IN THIS GROUP, YOU'LL FIND 
TOURS OF KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, 
THIS AWESOME LAUNCH AMERICA 
BADGE.
WE EVEN HAVE SOME SOCIAL TEAM 
MEMBERS IN THERE MAKING CUSTOM 
BADGES WHERE YOU CAN ADD YOUR 
FACE IN IT, A LITTLE 
PERSONALIZED TOUCH, AND YOU'LL 
ALSO JUST FIND A REALLY GREAT 
COMMUNITY OF OTHERS PUMPED TO 
WITNESS THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH.
LIKE I SAID, HEAD OVER TO NASA'S
FACEBOOK PAGE TO JOIN THIS 
GROUP.
SO TO GET EVERYONE STARTED 
TODAY, WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR 
YOU OUT ON TWITTER.
WE'D LIKE TO KNOW THE, WHICH OF 
YOU WATCHED THE FINAL SPACE 
SHUTTLE LAUNCH IN 2011?
HEAD OVER TO NASA'S TWITTER TO 
CAST YOUR VOTE BECAUSE WE'LL BE 
SHARING THE RESULTS LIVE ON AIR.
WAND THAT, LET'S HEAD BACK TO 
LAUREN AT NASA KENNEDY.
LAUREN?
>> THANKS, TAHIRA.
WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD, 
WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE YOU
JOIN US TODAY AND EXPERIENCING 
THESE HISTORIC MOMENTS.
THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S 
DEMONSTRATION MISSION TO PUT 
CREW DRAGON THROUGH THE 
OPERATIONAL PAGES NECESSARY TO 
OFFICIALLY CERTIFY THE VEHICLE 
FOR HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
BOTH OF SPACEX AND NASA TEAMS 
PUT YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT, 
TESTING AND TRAINING INTO THIS 
EFFORT AND WE ARE NOW JUST HOURS
AWAY FROM SEEING FALCON 9, CREW 
DRAGON AND BOB AND DOUG LIFT OFF
FROM THE FIRST TIME FROM THE 
SAME LAUNCH PAD THAT SENT HUMANS
TO THE MOON MORE THAN 50 YEARS 
AGO.
>> WE'RE ABOUT THREE MILES FROM 
LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A WHERE LIFTOFF
WILL HAPPEN IN A LITTLE OVER 
FOUR HOURS.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH THE TEAM AT 
SPACEX'S HAWTHORNE AND JESSE 
ANDERSON KEEPING AN EAR ON 
OPERATIONS.
HI GUYS.
>> THANKS, MARIE.
WELCOME TO SPACEX FROM 
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY FOR 
THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH. 
>> AND DAN, WE ARE SO EXCITED TO
HAVE YOU HERE WITH US.
MY NAME IS JESSIE ANDERSON.
LEAD MANUFACTURING ENGINEER HERE
AT SPACEX.
SO HONORED TO BE NASA'S PARTNER 
IN RETURNING HUMANS TO SPACE 
FROM THE SHORES OF KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
TEN YEARS AGO, WE SENT THE 
DRAGON THAT'S DISPLAYED RIGHT 
BEHIND US ON THE FIRST ORBITAL 
DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT AND I SPEAK
FOR ALL OF US AT SPACEX THAT WE 
COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED TO 
FINALLY SEND HUMANS TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. 
>> GREAT DAY.
TODAY'S MISSION KNOWN AS 
DEMONSTRATION MISSION 2 OR DEMO 
2.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE THE FIRST 
TIME A COMMERCIALLY BUILT 
SPACECRAFT WILL LAUNCH PEOPLE TO
THE SPACE STATION.
DEMO 2 AN END TO END FLIGHT TEST
FROM LAUNCH ALL THE WAY TO 
DOCKING AND FLASHDOWN, THE FINAL
TEST FOR NASA TO THE SPACE 
STATION AND HAVE TEAMS WORKING 
TOGETHER AROUND THE COUNTRY, ON 
THE SPACEX SIDE, LAUNCH 
CHECKOUTS AND MAKE SURE DRAGON 
IS HEALTHY AND GOOD TO GO.
>> IN FLORIDA TO MISSION CONTROL
HERE IN HAWTHORNE.
MISSION CONTROL WILL HAVE 
INSIGHT AND COMMAND OF DRAGON 
SYSTEMS FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE 
UPCOMING MISSION.
SINCE DRAGON IS HIGHLY 
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE, OUR TEAMS IN
MISSION CONTROL WILL BE 
CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING THE 
HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE OF THE 
SPACECRAFT THROUGH THE ENTIRE 
DURATION OF THE JOURNEY FROM 
LIFTOFF ALL THE WAY UNTIL DRAGON
IS BACK DOWN ON EARTH. 
>> WHILE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 
PEOPLE IN MISSION CONTROL RIGHT 
BEHIND US, THE MISSION DIRECTOR 
IS THE ONE IN CHARGE.
ALSO WHERE THE SPACEX CORPS, 
ESSENTIALLY, THE VOICE TALKING 
TO THE ASTRONAUTS GOING TO 
RESIDE. 
>> DRAGON AND FALCON 9 TOGETHER 
HAVE YEARS OF OPERATIONAL 
EXPERIENCE, FLIGHT HERITAGE.
22 FLIGHTS TO AND FROM ORBIT 
SINCE 2010 AND THAT INCLUDES 21 
TRIPS TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
TO GET US WHERE WE ARE TODAY, 
NOT ONLY HAVE WE CONDUCTED 
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TESTING 
BUT ADDED SAFETY FEATURES TO 
DRAGON. 
>> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 
SAFETY FEATURES ON CREW DRAGON 
IS THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
HUGE ADVANCEMENT IN THE SAFETY 
OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT, ABLE TO 
DEMONSTRATE THE SYSTEM IN TWO 
IMPORTANT TESTS.
FIRST BACK IN MAY 2015 WITH THE 
PADDLE BOARD TEST AND THEN AGAIN
MORE RECENTLY, JUST LAST 
Y
JANUARY. 
>> OUTFITTED INTEGRATED DIRECTLY
INTO THE SPACECRAFT BODY.
THIS ENABLES DRAGON TO SEPARATE 
FROM FALCON 9 AND CARRY TO 
SAFETY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ON 
THE LAUNCH PAD OR UP TO ORBIT.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE LAUNCH 
ESCAPE SYSTEM, SPACEX COMPLETED 
OVER 80 PARACHUTE TESTS WHICH 
INCLUDE NEARLY 30 TESTS OF JUST 
THE UPGRADED PARACHUTES ON 
TODAY'S VEHICLE TO ENSURE A SAFE
LANDING BACK ON EARTH EVEN IN 
THE UNLIKELY EVENT THAT ONE OF 
THOSE FOUR MAIN PARACHUTES 
FAILS. 
>> LET'S NOT FORGET THE 
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FIRST 
DEMONSTRATION, END TO END FLIGHT
TEST TO AND FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, 
JUST NO HUMANS ON BOARD THAT 
TIME.
THE PRINCIPAL INSTRUCTOR FOR THE
FIRST STATUS UPDATE.
JOHN?
>> HELLO FROM SPACEX 
HEADQUARTERS IN HAWTHORNE, 
CALIFORNIA.
AS DAN SAID, I'M JOHN.
T MINUS 4 HOURS AND COUNTING FOR
THE LAUNCH OF DRAGON TO THE 
SPACE STATION.
LISTENING NOW TO SEE IF WE GET A
STATUS BRIEF ON THE COUNTDOWN.
WHILE WE WAIT FOR THAT, POINT 
OUT THE MAJOR EVENT TO GET US TO
THIS POINT WITH THE FALCON 9 
FIVE DAYS AGO.
WE ROLLED THE FALCON 9 WITH THE 
DRAGON TO THE LAUNCH PAD AND 
PERFORMED ON THE -- 
>> A FEW MINUTES.
>> WE'RE GOING TO WAIT A MINUTE.
LISTEN TO THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR.
>> 20 HOURS, 35 SECONDS.
THAT IS 4, 33.
35 P.M. EASTERN.
STILL WAITING THE FINAL 
CONJUNCTION.
ARRIVED IN THE SUIT-UP ROOM AND 
CURRENTLY UNDER WAY.
TRACKING NO OPEN ISSUES AT THIS 
TIME.
LAUNCH WEATHER REMAINS A WATCH 
ITEM.
UPPER LEVEL WINDS CURRENTLY LOOK
SUCCESSFUL FOR FLIGHT.
NO CONSTRAINTS PERFORMING ANY 
SUCH PROCEDURE AND A REMINDER TO
USE PROCEDURE OF 52, 9-1-1 FOR 
ANY REQUIRED CREW CONTINGENCY 
ACTIONS.
ONE FINAL REMINDER, T MINUS AN 
HOUR, INTENDING TO BE IN THE 
ROOM AND NEED TO CLEAR OUT 
SUBSEQUENT 15 MINUTES AND LOOK 
FOR ALL PERSONNEL TO BE IN THEIR
SEETHES, SETTLED AND REMAINING 
IN THEIR POSITION THROUGH 
SEPARATION AT T PLUS 12 MINUTES 
AND 2 SECONDS.
NOW OVER TO FALCON 9.
>> FALCON 9 IN GOOD HEALTH.
OPEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> DRAGON IS HEALTHY.
NOT TRACKING ANY ISSUES HERE FOR
THE COUNTDOWN.
DRAGON COMPLETED THE PROMPT 
PRESSURIZATION.
NEXT ITEM WE'LL BE WAITING FOR 
AND NO ISSUES AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT UP, WALK-UP IN 45 MINUTES 
TO BEGIN THE TRANSPORT OUT TO 
PAD 39A.
THIS CONCLUDES THE COUNTDOWN 
BRIEFING.
THANK YOU.
>> JOHN INSPRUCKER.
EVERYTHING SOUNDED WELL.
YOU CAN SEE THE FALCON 9 ON THE 
PAD, AS I MENTIONED, LAST WEEK, 
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON THE PAD 
SINCE THEN.
WE DID THE REVIEW, EVERYTHING 
LOOKED GOOD.
MOST RECENTLY, ACTIVITY CARGO 
PUT ON A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND 
NOW READY FOR THE CREW TO COME 
OUT TO THE PAD DOWN THE ACCESS 
ARM AND LOAD INTO THE CAPSULE.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE ALSO 
WATCHING THE WEATHER.
YOU HEARD THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR 
TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER BRIEF WE 
GOT 15 MINUTES AGO.
THE TROPICAL STORM HAS BEGUN 
MOVING ONSHORE, ACTUALLY 
IMPROVING CONDITIONS.
BOTH DOWN RANGE AND EMERGENCY 
LOCATIONS IF NEEDED FOR DRAGON.
THE CONCERNS OF LIFTOFF AND THE 
POSSIBILITY OF THE LIGHTNING 
RULE BUT EVERYTHING STILL GO SO 
WITH EVERYTHING FROM HAWTHORNE, 
WE'LL SEND YOU DOWN TO HOUSTON 
WHERE GARY JORDAN IS WITH A 
FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM AT NASA'S 
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER IN THE 
MISSION CONTROL OF HOUSTON.
HOW'S IT LOOKING DOWN THERE, 
GARY?
>> THANKS, JOHN.
WELCOME EVERYONE TO MISSION 
CONTROL HOUSTON.
TODAY, I'M JOINED REMOTELY BY 
NASA ASTRONAUT JOHN MARSHBURN.
WITH HUMANS ABOARD THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR 
NEARLY 20 YEARS NON-STOP EVERY 
SINGLE DAY.
CREWS FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE 
HAVE VISITED THE ORBITING 
STATION BUT BEEN ALMOST NINE 
YEARS SINCE THEY STARTED THEIR 
JOURNEY FROM AMERICAN SHORES.
LIKE IT MAY APPEAR SUBDUED, 
RETURNING LAUNCH OPERATIONS TO 
AMERICA.
>> OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE THRILLED 
TO BE TAKING A NEW SPACECRAFT 
INTO ORBIT.
THIS WILL BE THE NEW FIRST FOR 
US.
FLYING INTO SPACE ON A VEHICLE, 
AND THINGS LEARNED AND PROVEN 
OUT, BUT WE BELIEVE THIS CREW 
AND SYSTEM IS READY.
MANY PEOPLE THINK OF MISSION 
CONTROL WHEN THEY THINK OF 
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER BUT THIS IS
ALSO HOME TO WORLD CLASS 
TRAINING FACILITIES AND THOUGHT 
LEADERS IN SPACECRAFT 
DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE DRAWN FROM BOTH OF THESE
DISCIPLINES AND SPENT THE LAST 
THREE YEARS ALONGSIDE THE SPACEX
TEAM TO MAKE SURE THE CREW 
DRAGON IS THE BEST SPACECRAFT 
POSSIBLE AND THAT THE ASTRONAUTS
PREPARED FOR EVERY SCENARIO.
>> AND THIS MISSION COMES AT A 
CRITICAL TIME FOR THE SPACE 
STATION WITH THREE CREW MEMBERS 
ABOARD.
AMONG THEM, NASA'S CHRIS CASSIDY
AS THE LONE AMERICAN.
NOW I'M TOLD, THE FORMAL HANDOFF
OF THE CREW FROM THE NASA TEAM 
THAT SUPPORTED HURLEY AND. 
>> NOW A NEW CHAPTER IS BEING 
WRITTEN.
>> TOM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING 
US.
BACK TO THE KENNEDY SPACE 
R
CENTER.
>> THIS IS AMAZING.
WE'RE IN THE SUIT-UP ROOM.
I REMEMBER THIS BACK IN 2009 
SITTING IN LA-Z-BOYS WITH THESE 
REALLY COOL NEW SUITS AND SEATS 
THEY'RE WORKING IN HERE.
>> AMAZING TO SEE THE FIRST 
ROOM.
BOB AND DOUG HELPED BY THE SUIT 
TECHNICIANS.
THIS ROOM WAS FIRST USED FOR THE
FIRST APOLLO MISSION, APOLLO 7 
THEY SUITED UP IN THERE, 1968 
AND THERE THEY ARE GIVING A 
THUMBS UP, THAT LOOKS LIKE DOUG 
GIVING A THUMBS UP, OF COURSE, 
BOB WAS MISSION SPECIALIST ON 
STF 123 AND STF 130.
NATIVE OF THE ST. ANNE, 
MISSOURI, A LOT OF HOMETOWN 
PRIDE GOING ON NOW AND SAME FOR 
DOUG, BORN IN ENDICOTT, NEW 
YORK, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY 
HOMETOWN TOO, BUT CONSIDERS 
APPALACHIAN HIS HOMETOWN SO I 
KNOW FOLKS ARE WATCHING THERE.
STF 135, THE FINAL SHUTTLE 
FLIGHT SO IT'S SO COOL TO SEE 
THEM IN THERE, LAUREN AND 
LELAND, LAST TIME THIS ROOM WAS 
USED FOR THIS PURPOSE THAT YOU 
SEE HERE WAS STF 135 IN 2011 AND
%
SURE THAT THE SPACE SUIT CAN 
HOLD PRESSURE IN THE EVENT OF A 
CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION 
EMERGENCY.
THIS IS THE LAST TIME THAT WE'RE
GOING TO DO THIS CHECK PRIOR TO 
THE CREW BOARDING DRAGON, WHERE 
WE'LL DO IT ALL AGAIN.
SO THE WAY THE CHECK WILL WORK, 
WE WILL PROVIDE OR ESSENTIALLY 
INFLATE THE SUIT WITH AIR AND 
HOLD THAT PRESSURE FOR A FEW 
MINUTES, WATCH THE 
DEPRESSURIZATION RATE AND MAKE 
SURE IT STAYS WITHIN BOUNDS.
>> AND AS WE STAY, LOOKING IN 
THE SUIT-UP ROOM, YOU CAN SEE 
DOUG HURLEY THERE IN THE SEAT.
THE SPACECRAFT COMMANDER FOR 
DEMO 2 AND WHILE HE CONTINUES 
WITH CHECKOUTS, WE WANT TO GIVE 
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VETERAN 
MARINE CORPS FIGHTER PILOT AND 
SPACE FLIGHT PIONEER.
>> EXCITING?
>> VERY EXCITING.
VERY EXCITED.
>> YOU READY?
>> OH, YEAH.
I THINK WE'RE READY, CERTAINLY 
READY.
>> MARINE CORPS COLONEL, 
SELECTED AS AN ASTRONAUT IN 
2000.
PILOTED SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR 
FOR FTS 135.
THE FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION.
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT DOUG 
HURLEY.
>> IT'S LIFE CHANGING FOR US IN 
SO MANY WAYS TO FLY INTO SPACE.
IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING IN SOME 
RESPECTS.
JUST THE SENSATION, THE 
RUMBLING, THE SHAKING, THE 
ACCELERATION.
WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND YOU
GO FROM IN THE CASE OF THE 
SHUTTLE, GO FROM 3Gs TO 0 G'S, 
FLOATING, AND I REMEMBER 
THINKING, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
TO SEE A ROCKET LAUNCH IN PERSON
IS A PRETTY EMOTIONAL EVENT.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW 
A SHUTTLE LAUNCH AND IT WAS 
AMAZING.
THEN WHEN I SAW A SHUTTLE LAUNCH
WITH MY WIFE ON IT, THAT IS 
QUITE THE EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE.
MY NAME IS DOUG HURLEY AND I'M A
SPACECRAFT COMMANDER FOR THE 
DEMO 2 MISSION TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> WE ARE DOING THE FIRST CRUDE 
FLIGHT FOR NASA AND FOR SPACEX.
SO THIS IS THE TEST FLIGHT TO 
PROVE END TO END FROM LAUNCH TO 
DOCKING TO ISF OPERATIONS AND 
ENTRY DESCENT AND LANDING.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE 
DRAGON CREW ON BOARD AND SO 
THERE'S A MYRIAD OF OBJECTIVES 
WE WANT TO ACHIEVE FOR THIS 
MISSION.
SPACEX HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR 
DESIGN AND ESSENTIALLY MAKING 
THIS VEHICLE WHAT IT IS.
WHAT THE ASTRONAUTS BRING TO THE
TABLE IS THE CREW/VEHICLE 
INTERFACE.
WHAT WOULD WORK ON ORBIT, WHAT 
MIGHT NOT WORK ON ORBIT, WHAT 
WOULD DEFINITELY WORK.
TO BE ABLE TO JUST HAVE THE 
ENTIRE INTEGRATED TEAM THAT'S 
GOING TO SUPPORT US GETTING TO 
AND FROM THE SPACE STATION, 
TALKING TOGETHER, WORKING 
THROUGH THE CHALLENGES THAT 
SIMULATORS TYPICALLY THROW AT 
YOU.
IT WAS REALLY NEAT BEING PART OF
IT.
IT'S JUST BEEN AN INCREDIBLE 
UNDERTAKING TO SEE WHERE WE'VE 
COME JUST IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
THAT BOB AND I HAVE BEEN A PART 
OF THIS AND TO BE SHORTLY FLYING
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION WITH THE CREW DRAGON.
IT OVERWHELMS TO THINK ABOUT HOW
MANY PEOPLE HAVE IN SOME WAY, 
SHAPE OR FORM TOUCHED THIS 
PROGRAM AND THIS VEHICLE TO GET 
US TO THIS POINT, AND WE ARE THE
LUCKY ONES THAT GET TO FLY IT, 
BUT WE CERTAINLY, NOT FOR ONE 
SECOND, TAKE FOR GRANTED THE 
AMOUNT OF EFFORT SO MANY OTHER 
PEOPLE HAD TO PUT INTO THIS TO 
MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
>> DOUG PERSONALLY, HE WORKS SO 
HARD.
HIS ENTIRE LIFE TO GET TO WHERE 
WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
AS A TEST PILOT, THIS WOULD BE A
DREAM TO FLY IN THIS VEHICLE.
IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT
HE GETS TO BE PART OF THIS 
MISSION, THE SPACECRAFT 
COMMANDER AND JUST GLAD TO SEE 
HIS HARD WORK AND HIS DREAM COME
TRUE FOR THAT.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD IN A 
LOT OF WAYS, FOR NOT ONLY US, 
BUT CERTAINLY FOR ALL THE FOLKS 
THAT WORK IN THE COMMERCIAL CREW
PROGRAM AS WELL AS SPACEX IN OUR
CASE, JUST WORKING TO GET TO 
THIS POINT.
IT'S BEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF 
SACRIFICE AND TIME AWAY FROM 
HOME, BUT THE FRUITS OF OUR 
LABOR ARE COMING TO FRUITION.
>> WE ARE NOW GETTING CLOSER TO 
WHEN WE EXPECT TO SEE THE CREW 
COMPLETE THEIR SUIT CHECKS AND 
WALK OUT OF THE NEIL ARMSTRONG 
OPERATIONS AND CHECK OUT 
BUILDING.
>> BEFORE THEY DO, HERE'S AN 
INTRODUCTION TO THE JOINT 
OPERATIONS COMMANDER FOR DEMO 2,
AND FORMER AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST
ENGINEER ASTRONAUT BOB BENKEN.
>> WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE 
LAUNCH PREPARATIONS, A LOT OF 
MOMENTS STAND OUT TO YOU.
ONE IS THE CELEBRATORY PIECE OF 
IT, THAT YOU'RE WALKING OUT OF 
THE SUIT-UP ROOM AND GET INTO 
THE VEHICLE TAKEING YOU TO THE 
LAUNCH PAD.
WHEN YOU CLOSE THE HATCH, THAT'S
REALLY WHEN DOUG AND I ARE IN 
THE VEHICLE AND IT'S OUR VEHICLE
AND WE'RE REALLY IN CONTROL OF 
THE MISSION AT THAT POINT.
>> THE TASK MOVE THAT MAN CAN 
FLY INTO ORBIT AROUND THE EARTH 
AND RETURN ALIVE AND WELL TO 
TALK ABOUT IT.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS A BALANCE OF 
MANAGING RISK AS YOU GO FORWARD 
TO EXECUTE A TEST POINT AND 
FIGURING OUT A WAY TO COLLECT 
THE DATA.
WE HEAR A SOUND, OKAY, IS THAT 
SOUND AN EXPECTED SOUND?
IS THAT LIGHT AN EXPECTED LIGHT?
WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF IT?
DOES IT SYNC UP WITH SOMETHING 
ELSE GOING ON OR NOT?
TRYING TO DISSECT ALL OF THAT IN
REALTIME IN YOUR HEAD IS A LOT 
OF THINGS HAPPEN LIKE THAT ON A 
LAUNCHING OF A VEHICLE.
>> FROM MISSOURI, AN AIR FORCE 
COLONEL, HE FLEW ABOARD SPACE 
SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR TWICE, 
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT BOB 
BEHNKEN.
>> MY CAREER HAS SPANNED A 
COUPLE OF DECADES.
I ARRIVED WITH THE CLASS OF 
2000.
WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING 
PROGRAM, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON 
THE SPACE SHUTTLE IN THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, 
LAUNCHED A COUPLE OF TIMES ON 
THOSE VEHICLES, THE SECOND TIME 
DEFINITELY DIFFERENT THAN THE 
FIRST TIME.
YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT GUILTY
OF, HEY, SHOULD I STUDY ONE MORE
THING OR ONE MORE PIECE OF 
INFORMATION I SHOULD GET?
AM I REALLY PREPARED OR NOT?
SO THAT'S DEFINITELY DIFFERENT 
BETWEEN WHERE I WAS ON MY FIRST 
FLIGHT AND WHERE I'M AT RIGHT 
NOW.
IT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING, I 
THINK, FOR BOTH MY WIFE AND I TO
HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF
SEEING EACH OTHER LAUNCH IN 
SPACE.
I'VE SEEN HER TAKE THAT RISK AND
HAVE IT BE IN FRONT OF HER AND 
DONE THAT TO HER.
THERE'S JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT
ABOUT WATCHING A ROCKET LAUNCH 
WHEN THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOARD.
YOU FEEL A LITTLE BIT 
DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE PIT OF 
YOUR STOMACH AND I CAN ONLY TELL
YOU, IT'S MULTIPLIED 
SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN IT'S SOMEBODY
THAT YOU KNOW AND THEN SOMEBODY,
OF COURSE, A FAMILY MEMBER 
THAT'S EVEN MULTIPLIED MORE.
>> FOR ME PERSONALLY, AS A 
SPOUSE, WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT
BOB HAS PUT INTO THIS OVER THE 
LAST FIVE YEARS, THE DEDICATION 
THAT HE'S SHOWN, THE 
PERSEVERANCE IS PRETTY SPECIAL 
FOR BOTH OF US THOUGH, THE WAY 
THAT OUR MINDS WORK, IT WON'T BE
UNTIL SORT OF THE MISSION IS 
COMPLETE THAT YOU HAVE REALLY A 
CHANCE TO SAVOR AND CELEBRATE 
IT.
THIS IS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT 
FOR AN AIR FORCE FLIGHT TEST 
ENGINEER TO BE PART OF THE 
DEMONSTRATION MISSION OF A 
BRAND-NEW VEHICLE.
IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.
>> WITHOUT A PARTNER THAT HAS 
THAT SAME APPRECIATION, I THINK 
IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME 
FOLKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND TIME 
THAT TAKES AWAY FROM FAMILY THAT
MY SPOUSE APPRECIATES AND I LOVE
HER FOR THAT.
REALLY, MY ROLE ON THE DEMO 2 
MISSION TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS
VEHICLE TESTED AND EVALUATED SO 
THAT WE CAN MOVE ON TO MORE 
OPERATIONAL MISSIONS AT THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF OBJECTIVES ON
BOARD THE VEHICLE THAT WE NEED 
TO ACCOMPLISH TO REALLY MAKE 
SURE THAT IT'S GOOD TO GO.
WE'LL MAKE SURE ALL THOSE 
SYSTEMS ARE WORKING DURING THE 
TEST FLIGHT SO THAT THE FUTURE 
MISSIONS WILL HAVE THEM 
AVAILABLE EVEN IF THEY DON'T 
PLAN TO UTILIZE THEM.
THROUGH YEARS OF THE NASA TEAM, 
HELPING TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE
AND TEACHING THEM THE LESSONS 
THAT WE'VE LEARNED BY GOING 
THROUGH THIS, NOW THERE'S 
ANOTHER CAPABILITY IN THE U.S. 
BESIDES NASA TO OPERATE 
SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME HUMANS 
LAUNCHED ON A NEW VEHICLE?
CERTAINLY THE AMERICAN SIDE, 
IT'S BEEN SEVERAL DECADES.
NOW WE'RE IN A TIME WHEN WE'VE 
GOT MULTIPLE VEHICLES UNDER 
DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A GREAT TIME FROM A SPACE 
EXPLORATION TIME FRAME TO SEE 
ALL THAT HAPPENING AND IT'S 
BECAUSE OF THIS NURTURING OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, BEING ABLE TO PULL 
IN A WIDER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO 
CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS HUMAN 
SPACE FLIGHT IS A SUPER COOL 
TIME.
ON A DEEPLY PERSONAL LEVEL, I'M 
REALLY EXCITED THAT MY SON IS 
GETTING A CHANCE TO SEE ME 
LAUNCH INTO SPACE.
BEING AN ASTRONAUT HAS BEEN A 
LITTLE BIT OF AN ABSTRACTION 
THING FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S SEEN 
ME DO IT IN OLD VIDEOS BUT NOT 
FOR REAL, SO I'M EXCITE FRD HIM 
TO SEE THIS LAUNCH.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE TEAM 
WHERE WE GET THE VEHICLES READY 
TO HEAD TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.
>> BACK LIVE IN THE ROOM NOW 
WITH BOB BEHNKEN ON THE LEFT OF 
YOUR SCREEN AND THEN DOUG HURLEY
TO THE RIGHT.
THIS MUST BRING BACK A LOT OF 
MEMORIES FOR YOU.
>> IT DOES.
LOOKING AT THESE NEW SUITS AND 
SEATS, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT 
THAN WHAT I EXPERIENCED 11 YEARS
AGO BUT ALL THE SAME.
THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU, THE SUIT 
TECHS, GETTING YOU READY FOR 
THIS MISSION.
IT'S JUST AN AMAZING MOMENT.
THEY DON'T SHOW THEIR EXCITEMENT
LIKE US CIVILIANS BUT IT'S A 
MOMENT OF HISTORY AND WE'RE 
GETTING READY FOR THIS MOMENTOUS
OCCASION.
>> YEAH, AND WE'RE -- IT WAS 
PRETTY COOL.
WE HEARD THIS MORNING, THEY 
STEPPED OUTSIDE WITH A CUP OF 
COFFEE IN HAND.
WE'VE GOT SOME VISITORS IN THE 
ROOM IT LOOKS LIKE.
SPACEX FOUNDER ELON MUSK TO THE 
RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN AND NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE, A
PARTITION TO KEEP THEM A SAFE 
DISTANCE FROM THE CREW BUT IN 
THERE TO SAY HELLO, WISH THEM 
WELL BEFORE THEY DEPART THE 
SUIT-UP ROOM.
THAT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THERE.
WE CAN'T WHAT THEY'RE SAYING BUT
I'D LOVE TO BE A FLY ON THE WALL
IN THERE. 
>> I WONDER WHAT ELON IS SAYING.
>> OH, JUST PROBABLY TELLING 
THEM HOW HONORED HE IS TO BE 
ABLE TO GIVE THEM A RIDE TODAY.
>> AND I KNOW THE NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR TALKED ABOUT THIS 
YESTERDAY.
HE'S MET WITH THE CREW BEFORE 
TODAY, EVEN, AND SAID I TOLD BOB
AND DOUG, IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO 
CALL THIS OFF, IF YOU HAVE ANY 
SECOND THOUGHTS AND OF COURSE, 
THEY HAD NONE.
THEY'RE SUPER PUMPED ABOUT THIS,
READY TO GO, AND RIGHT NOW, IT'S
JUST, WE JUST NEED THE WEATHER 
TO COOPERATE.
>> TRY TO THINK WHO COULD 
POTENTIALLY BE MORE EXCITED THAN
THE SPACEXERS, BOB AND DOUG.
>> IT'S AMAZING HOW WE HAVE 
COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT 
WORKING TOGETHER TO SEND THESE 
TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS TO SPACE 
SAFELY.
IT'S A GREAT COMBINATION OF WHAT
WE CAN DO WHEN WE PUT OUR MIND 
TO THINGS, BE CREATIVE, 
INNOVATIVE AND WORK TOGETHER AS 
ONE COMMUNITY. 
>> I TOTALLY AGREE, LELAND.
I SEE BOB AND DOUG WALKING 
AROUND OUR HEADQUARTERS IN 
HAWTHORNE ALL THE TIME, 
BASICALLY FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY'RE IN THE CAFETERIA, 
GETTING A DRINK FROM THE SODA 
MACHINE.
EVERY NOW AND THEN, THERE'S 
TIMES WHEN THE TEAMS CAN HAVE 
BREAKFAST WITH THEM, WHICH IS 
REALLY COOL, AND WE CALL THEM 
THE DADS.
>> THEY ARE DADS.
>> THEY ARE, AND INCREDIBLE 
HUMAN BEINGS.
THEY ARE.
THEY'RE BRILLIANT, THEY'RE 
SHARP, THEY ARE EXCELLENT TO 
WORK WITH, BUT THEY'RE JUST 
GREAT PEOPLE.
>> YEAH, I'M REALLY INSPIRED AND
HONORED TO HAVE KNOWN THESE TWO 
GUYS AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM 
LAUNCH IN SPACE.
I WAS WITH YOU, LAUREN, OUT IN 
SPACEX WHEN WE WERE DOING A 
LITTLE TOUR AND I THINK YOU KIND
OF SNUCK BACK IN TO WHERE THEY 
WERE TRAINING, GOT THE CHANCE TO
SEE THEM WORKING AND TRAINING 
BUT WHEN THEY CAME BACK OUT, I 
WAS HAVING LUNCH AND EVERYONE 
SAID, THESE ARE OUR TEAM ALSO.
>> YES, YES.
>> IT'S REALLY AMAZING AND 
LAUREN, YOU SAID, I TALKED WHAT 
THEY'RE-LIKE AND JUST TWO OF THE
MOST HUMBLE PEOPLE.
ANY TIME I SEE THEM DO AN 
INTERVIEW, AND THEY'RE GETTING 
ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT 
THEMSELVES, RIGHT, BECAUSE 
THEY'RE THE STARS OF THE SHOW.
THEY'RE THE ONES GETTING ON THE 
ROCKET BUT THEY ALWAYS BRING IT 
BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT 
POSSIBLE FOR THEM.
THEY'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE
NASA TEAM, THE SPACEX TEAM, 
WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT 
HAVE SACRIFICED SO MUCH TO KEEP 
THEM SAFE AND MADE SURE THAT 
THEY'RE ALWAYS VIGILANT AND I 
KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS 
BEFORE TOO, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT 
LOOKING FOR SOMETHING WRONG, 
YOU'RE NOT DOING IT RIGHT.
SO THE TEAMS, EVEN NOW, THEY'RE 
ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ANY LITTLE 
THING THAT COULD GO WRONG TO 
MAKE SURE THAT BOB AND DOUG ARE 
SAFE WHEN THEY STRAP IN AND GET 
GOING. 
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AROUND THE OFFICE, WE DON'T JUST
SAY, OH, WE'RE LAUNCHING A 
ROCKET, WE'RE LAUNCHING DRAGON.
WE SAY, WE'RE LAUNCHING BOB AND 
DOUG AND THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF 
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY LEVELING 
SPACEX UP IN A MAJOR WAY TODAY. 
>> ALL THE TECHNOLOGY, ALL THE 
HARDWARE MEANS NOTHING -- IT'S 
ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND WE SEE A HANDFUL OF FOLKS IN
THE ROOM AND WE'VE ACKNOWLEDGED 
THE DISTANCE THAT MR. MUSK AND 
MR. BRIDENSTINE ARE STANDING 
FROM THE ASTRONAUTS WITH MASKS 
ON.
THIS WOULDN'T LOOK THAT MUCH 
DIFFERENT THOUGH EVEN IF WE WERE
NOT IN THE MIDST OF THE 
PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHAT IT'S 
LIKE TO LIVE IN QUARANTINE, 
GETTING READY FOR A MISSION AND 
SO, THIS CORONAVIRUS SITUATION, 
IS THIS KIND OF UNDERSCORING THE
IMPORTANCE OF QUARANTINE AND 
KEEPING THE ASTRONAUTS PROTECT 
BUD CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT 
ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN 
QUARANTINE, GETTING READY FOR A 
MISSION?
>> YEAH, WE STARTED QUARANTINE 
ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE WE COME DOWN
TO THE CAPE TO GET READY FOR 
LAUNCH AND I THINK EVERYONE 
AROUND YOU THAT COMES TO THE 
CREW DINNERS, THEY HAVE THE GET 
CHECKED BY THE DOCTORS SO WE 
MAKE THIS A SERIOUS THING, EVEN 
WITHOUT A PANDEMIC GOING ON.
WE HAVE CREW PARTIES FOR 
FAMILIES AND WE CAN'T GO TO THE 
PARTIES, FACETIME TO THE 
PARTIES.
BUT THAT'S A SERIOUS THING.
ONLY SEE SPOUSES AT THE BEACH 
HOUSE AND HAVE A DINNER AND 
CELEBRATE THIS MOMENTOUS MOMENT,
BUT IT'S A VERY SERIOUS THING.
EVEN WITHOUT PANDEMICS GOING ON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND OBVIOUSLY, DOUG HURLEY AND 
BOB BEHNKEN ARE TWO OF THE BEST.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE MISSION IS 
ON WITH THE SUITS THERE. 
>> IT'S GETTING REAL, IT'S 
GETTING REAL.
>> SO I REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST 
TIME I SAW BOB AND DOUG IN THE 
SUITS AT A CREW TRAINING EVENT 
AT SPACEX.
NOT ONLY DID THEY LOOK REALLY 
AWESOME, ASTRONAUTS TEND TO LOOK
PRETTY COOL BUT THE SUITS LOOKED
LIKE THEY WERE FROM THE FUTURE.
OUR TEAM DESIGNED THE SPACE 
SUITS TO MAXIMIZE SAFETY AND 
FUNCTIONALITY WITH A LITTLE BIT 
OF STYLE ISSUE -- STYLE AND 
HERE'S CHRIS TALKING ABOUT THE 
SPACE SUIT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS 
IMPORTANT IS TO MAKE IT EASY TO 
USE, THE CREW HAS TO LITERALLY 
PLUG IN AND THEN THE SUIT TAKES 
CARE OF ITSELF FROM THERE.
THE SUIT IS REALLY KIND OF ONE 
PART OF THE BIGGER DRAGON SUIT.
IT'S THE SUIT SEAT SYSTEM, SO IT
MAKES SENSE, IT WAS THE SUIT.
>> I THINK STILL HERE IN 
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
IN THE SAME BUILDING AS THE 
CAPITAL.
THE SPACE CENTER CONSUMMATES FOR
EACH CREW MEMBER TO OPTIMIZE THE
SPACE FOR THE CREW MEMBER.
>> WE DEFINITELY WANTED TO 
INNOVATE AND LOOK INSPIRING BUT 
FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU WANT IT 
TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE.
THE PURPOSE IS PRIMARILY TO 
PROTECT THE CREW IN THE UNLIKELY
EVENT THE CABIN WERE TO 
DEPRESSURIZE BUT PROVIDES THEM 
COOLING, HEARING PROTECTION AND 
THE OUTER LAYER IS FLAME 
RESISTANT, SO FLAME PROTECTION 
AS WELL.
WHEN THE CREW GETS IN THE 
CAPSULE, THEY PLUG THE SUIT INTO
THE UMBILICAL THAT'S ATTACHED TO
THE SEAT.
THE UMBILICAL PROVIDING 
EVERYTHING THE SUIT NEEDS.
SO IT'S PROVIDING THE AIAVIONICS
OR ELECTRONICS FOR 
COMMUNICATIONS, IT'S PROVIDING 
THE AIR TO COOL THE SUIT AND 
ALSO PROVIDES GAS WHEN NEEDED TO
PRESSURIZE THE SUIT.
SO IT'S REALLY THE SINGLE POINT 
TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO 
DO.
WE DESIGNED THE HELMETS IN 
HOUSE.
THE HELMET SERVES A NUMBER OF 
DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
OBVIOUSLY, IT PROTECTS THEIR 
HEAD, BUT IT ALSO HOUSES THE 
MICROPHONES AS WELL AS THE 
VALVES THAT ARE REGULATING 
PRESSURE IN THE  SUIT.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAD TO COME 
TOGETHER.
IT WILL BE OBVIOUSLY REALLY 
AMAZING TO SEE THEM IN THEIR 
FLIGHT SUITS.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS 
THAT'S COOL ABOUT THE SUIT, IT 
IS NOT JUST THE HARDWARE, NOT 
JUST THE SUIT.
SIT PERSONAL.
IT IS BOB'S SUIT, DOUG'S SUIT.
SEEING THEM IN FLIGHT WILL BE A 
REALLY AMAZING THING.
>> HEY, NOW THAT YOU HAVE HAD A 
LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 
SPACE SUIT, WE THOUGHT IT WOULD 
BE COOL TO SHOW YOU WHERE OUR 
ASTRONAUTS TRAIN TO BE ON BOARD 
DRAGON.
>> YESTERDAY DAN AND I HAD A 
CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH THE 
TRAINING FACILITY HERE IN 
HAWTHORNE.
SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK.
>> WE ARE UP IN THE CREW 
TRAINING AREA RIGHT WHERE BOB 
AND DOUG HAVE BEEN TRAINING THE 
LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, EVEN YEARS,
TO GET READY FOR THIS FLIGHT.
WE WILL START OFF WITH THE 
COCKPIT SIMILARITY.
THERE ARE FOUR SEATS INSIDE 
DRAGON, THE WAY IT IS 
CONFIGURED.
THE TWO IN THE MIDDLE IS THE 
COMMANDER AND THE PILOT.
ONCE THEY'RE IN 24R SUITS, THEY 
CAN GO INTO BREATHING AIR, 
PRESSURIZED GAS, EVERYTHING IS 
INTEGRATED INTO DRAGON SYSTEMS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, RIGHT IN FRONT
OF THEM, WE HAVE THIS SET OF 
THREE DISPLAYS.
AND THESE ARE THE TOUCH SCREEN 
DISPLAYS THAT GIVE ACCESS TO 
DRAGON, THE WINDOW INTO THEIR 
SPACECRAFT.
THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE THE 
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS, SEE WHERE 
THEY ARE OVER THE EARTH IN 
RELATION TO THE SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE RECORDED NOISE THEY ARE 
ABLE TO SEE AND HEAR IN REALTIME
WHALE THEY'RE TRAINING.
AND BUTTONS FOR THE MORE 
IMPORTANT THINGS.
PYROTECHNICS AND THE ESCAPE 
SYSTEM.
YOU NEED TO PUT IT ALTOGETHER.
YOU WANT HIGHER FIDELITY.
YOU WANT EVERYTHING FROM THE 
SEATS, DISPLAY, CARGO, ALL OF IT
JUST TO REALLY MAKE SURE YOU'RE 
TRAINING.
SO BY THE TIME YOU GET UP TO 
SPACE, IT FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE 
ALMOST BEEN THERE BEFORE.
THAT IS WHERE WE WILL FIND 
JESSE.
>> HEY THERE.
I WAS JUST PLANNING FOR MY NEXT 
MISSION TO SPACE.
THIS IS A FLIGHT SAME LATER, A 
REPLICA OF A CREW DRAGON 
VEHICLE.
THEY WANT PRACTICE ENTERING AND 
EXITING THE VEHICLE, CLIMB INTO 
THE SEATS AND GET SET IN.
AND THEY CAN PRACTICE FLYING THE
VEHICLE, MANUALLY DOCKING WITH 
THE SPACE STATION, OPEN AND 
CLOSE THE HATCH.
AND BASICALLY BY THE TIME THEY 
GET TO A DAY LIKE TODAY, THEY 
FELT LIKE THEY'VE ALREADY DONE 
THE MISSION 100 TIMES BEFORE.
WELL, I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO 
TRAINING.
SO LET'S GET BACK TO LAUNCH.
>> WE'RE COMING UP T MINUS THREE
AND A HALF HOURS.
AT THE LAUNCH PAD, FALCON 9 IS 
POWERED ON.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD ON 
THOSE.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S NOTHING
SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT ON THE 
ROCKET.
ON TOP OF THE FALCON 9 IN THE 
PICTURE THERE, BEHIND THE ARM IS
THE TKROG ANN SPACECRAFT.
IT IS READY FOR THE CREW, WHO 
ARE SUITING UP.
WE WILL BRING THAT TO YOU.
MOST RECENTLY THE DRAGON 
PROPELLANT SYSTEM WAS 
PRESSURIZED JUST ABOUT AN HOUR 
AGO.
AND CURRENTLY ALL SYSTEMS ARE 
GO.
THE CREW ACCESS ARM, WHICH IS 
THE LONG WALKWAY, THE ASTRONAUTS
USE TO BOARD DRAGON.
THE AIR FORCE RANGE IS 
SUPPORTING US WITH AIR AND SEA 
SPACE CLEARANCE.
THEY HAVE NO ISSUES AT THIS 
TIME.
WE ARE RELEASING WEATHER 
BALLOONS.
WHILE WE ARE GOING TO WAIT ON 
THE RESULTS TO GIVE US A BETTER 
IDEA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO T MINUS
30 MINUTES, WE ARE ANTICIPATING 
ACCEPTABLE WEATHER FOR LAUNCH AT
THE UPPER ATTITUDES.
AS YOU HEARD EARLIER AT THE 
GROUND LEVEL THINGS LOOK LIKE 
THEY WILL IMPROVE THROUGH THE 
AFTERNOON AS WELL AS DOWN RANGE.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD WITH THE
FALCON AND TKROGON.
 DRAGON.
WE WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU'RE 
FOLLOWING TODAY'S LAUNCH FROM.
LET'S JUMP OVER TO OUR SOCIAL 
DESK.
>> THANKS,S JOHN.
THE EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING 
ONLINE.
700,000 PEOPLE ARE VIEWING THIS 
BROADCAST.
LAUNCH AMERICA IS THE NUMBER 
THREE TRENDING ON TWITTER IN THE
U.S.
SO LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT 
WHAT'S BEING SAID.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE ASHTON 
JONES WHO IS SO EXCITED TO BE ON
THE SPACE COAST AND WATCHING 
THIS LAUNCH FROM HER DRIVEWAY.
WITH THAT, SO JEALOUS TO ALL OF 
YOU IN FLORIDA RIGHT NOW THAT 
HAVE THE ABILITY TO JUST STEP 
OUTSIDE AND WITNESS BOB AND DOUG
MAKE THIS HISTORIC MOMENT.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER.
THIS IS GAVE PHARRELL FROM 
LINKIN PARK, WHICH IS SICK IN 
GENERAL.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I WILL STEAL THAT FOR TODAY'S 
SHOW.
LET'S LOOK AT THE BROADER 
CONVERSATION WITH THIS HEAT MAP 
OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO YOU WILL SEE THAT THE PURPLE 
STATES SHOW THE STATES WITH THE 
MOST MENTIONS OF LAUNCH AMERICA.
AND WITH THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE 
FLORIDA SPACE COAST IS REALLY 
COMING ALIVE FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH,
FOLLOWED BY CALIFORNIA, HOME OF 
SpaceX, AND TEXAS WHERE MISSION 
CONTROL IS.
SO GREAT TO SEE ALL OF THESE 
HOME TEAMS SHOWING UP FOR 
TODAY'S HISTORIC MISSION.
I WANT TO TOSS IT BACK TO 
FLORIDA, THOUGH.
I HAVE TO REITERATE, IF YOU HAVE
A CHANCE TO GO TO FLORIDA AND 
WATCH ONE OF THESE LAUNCHES IN 
PERSON, IT'S GREAT.
I WATCHED MY FIRST ONE LAST 
YEAR.
AND THAT WAS THE UNCREWED TEST 
FLIGHT OF TODAY'S MISSION.
I LITERALLY CRIED.
YOU CANNOT DESCRIBE THE EMOTION 
THAT COMES OVER TO SEE THIS IN 
PERSON.
SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND IF YOU GET A
CHANCE TO GO ON DOWN TO FLORIDA.
FOR THOSE OF YOU JUST TUNING IN,
WE ARE USING THE #LAUNCHAMERICA 
ON NASA SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS.
SO JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH US
AND MAYBE WE'LL SHOW IT DURING 
THE BROADCAST.
SO EARLIER IN THE SHOW WE POLLED
USERS ON TWITTER 20 SEE WHICH OF
YOU WATCHED THE FINAL SHUTTLE 
LAUNCH IN 2011.
AND THE RESULTS ARE IN.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT 40% OF 
YOU WERE ABLE TO WATCH THE LAST 
SHUTTLE LAUNCH.
60% OF YOU WEREN'T.
AND I HAVE TO SAY I'M NOT GOING 
TO LIE, I'M WITH THOSE 60%.
THIS WILL BE MY FAVORITE TIME 
WATCHING HUMANS LIFTOFF TO SPACE
FROM THE U.S.
AND I'M NOT KIDDING WHEN I TELL 
YOU I'M LITERALLY THRILLED TO DO
THIS AND SHARE IT WITH YOU ALL 
TODAY.
SO THE NEXT QUESTION WE HAVE FOR
YOU, AS BOB AND DOUG FINISH 
THEIR FINAL SUIT CHECKS, WE 
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU WERE 
IN THE ROOM WITH THEM RIGHT NOW,
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM ON 
SOCIAL MEDIA?
USE THE #LAUNCHAMERICA AND WE 
WILL SHOW IT LATER IN THE SHOW.
>> THANKS.
LIVE AT THE BACK DOORS OF THE 
ONC BUILDING, THE A ICONIC DOORS
THEY WILL WALK OUT OF.
KELLY CLARKSON TREATS US WITH 
HER VIRTUAL RENDITION FROM HER 
HOME TO YOURS.
♪ O SAY, CAN YOU SEE
BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT ♪
♪ WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED
AT THE TWILIGHT'S
LAST GLEAMING? ♪
♪ WHOSE BROAD STRIPES
AND BRIGHT STARS
THROUGH THE PERILOUS FIGHT ♪
♪ O'ER THE RAMPARTS
WE WATCHED
WERE SO GALLANTLY
STREAMING? ♪
♪ AND THE ROCKETS'
RED GLARE
THE BOMBS BURSTING
IN AIR ♪
♪ GAVE PROOF
THROUGH THE NIGHT
THAT OUR FLAG
WAS STILL THERE ♪
♪ OH, SAY, DOES THAT
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER
YET WAVE ♪
♪ O'ER THE LAND
OF THE FREE ♪
♪ AND THE HOME
OF THE BRAVE? ♪♪
>> AT ANY MOMENT WE WILL SEE BOB
AND DOUG WALKING OUT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PAD RIGHT 
NOW.
THAT GAVE ME CHILLS LISTENING TO
THAT.
WE SAW THEM GETTING INTO THE 
ELEVATOR.
THEY ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE
FIRST FLOOR WHERE THEY WILL WALK
OUT OF THE DOORS ANY MOMENT NOW.
>> JUST SO EXCITING TO THINK, 
YOU KNOW, BACK 11 YEARS AGO WHEN
I WAS GOING DOWN THAT ELEVATOR 
AND BACK TO WALK OUT THE DOORS, 
IT BRINGS BACK MEMORIES OF 
GETTING HUMAN BEINGS TO SPACE, 
WORKING TOGETHER AS A TEAM, AND 
HAVING THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY 
AROUND YOU HELPING YOU GET OFF 
THE PLANET.
>> YEAH.
LELAND, I KNOW YOU HAVE A REALLY
COOL MEMORY ABOUT SOMETHING 
SPECIAL YOU SAW WHEN YOU WALKED 
OUT OF THE DOORS.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS, MARIE, WHEN 
I WALKED OUT OF THOSE DOORS, MY 
CHEMISTRY TEACHER WAS RIGHT 
THERE FROM HIGH SCHOOL WHO 
INSPIRED ME TO BE A SCIENTIST.
SHE SAID, GO, LELAND!
THEIR FAMILY WILL BE THERE.
I WISH OTHER PEOPLE COULD BE 
THERE.
IT IS JUST AN AMAZING MOMENT.
>> YEAH.
AND THE SHOT YOU JUST SAW WAS 
PEOPLE CAREFULLY SPACED APART.
WE SAW THEM BACK OUT RIGHT 
BEFORE THE ANTHEM STARTED.
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE WITH 
ELON MUSK AND JIM BRYDENSTEIN.
THEY ARE STANDING JUST RIGHT OF 
THE DOORS ACROSS FROM THE 
TESLAS.
THERE IS A DESIGNATED SPOT FOR 
DOUG AND BOB'S IMMEDIATELY 
FAMILY.
THERE'S THE SHOT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BACK OF 
ELON MUSK, BRYDEN STEIN AND MIKE
PENCE.
WE BLOCKED THIS TO HAVE SOCIAL 
DISTANCING.
A TESLA IS WAITING FOR THEM.
THERE IS A WORM ON THE BACK OF 
THE TESLA.
YOU HAD MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE
WORM.
>> THE WORMS, THE MEATBALL.
WE CHANGED OVER TO THE MEATBALL 
FROM THE WORM.
LAUREN, I KNOW YOU LOVE THE 
WORM.
>> WORM, ALL DAY.
>> ALL DAY?
>> ALL DAY.
OH, YEAH.
SORRY.
I'M SORRY.
I LOVE THAT THE WORM IS SO 
RETRO.
IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT IT WILL 
BE MAKING ITS WAY BACK, BRINGING
THE HISTORIC OPULENCE FROM 
NASA'S PAST TO PRESENT.
>> I'LL GIVE YOU THAT.
BUT THE CHEVRON AND THE MEATBALL
GOES BACK TO LANGLEY'S TRADITION
IN AVIATION.
IT GETS BACK TO THE HERITAGE AND
HISTORY, TOO.
>> I GUESS.
TRUCE?
>> I FEEL THIS IS A MICROCOSM OF
WHAT'S HAPPENING ONLINE ABOUT 
THE WORM.
THE MEATBALL IS NOT GOING AWAY.
IT'S A WORM/MEATBALL 
PARTNERSHIP.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> THERE'S A VIEW OF THE 
CROSSWALK WHERE BOB AND DOUG 
WILL WALK OUT ANY MOMENT.
OF COURSE THEY'RE GOING TO GET 
THEIR PHOTO TAKEN BY ALL THE 
PAPARAZZI THERE.
WE ARE JUST STANDING BY FOR THEM
TO WALK OUT.
1:13.
IF THEY WALK OUT ANY MINUTE NOW,
THEY WILL BE RIGHT ON SCHEDULE 
TO START THEIR FINAL GOOD-BYES, 
WAVING TO FOLKS.
I'M SURE THEY WILL PAUSE FOR A 
PHOTO-OP.
REALLY AMAZING.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS SIGHT SINCE
2011 WITH STS-135.
DOUG WAS THE PILOT ON THAT 
MISSION.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT.
>> ONE OF HIS CREWMATES WAS REX.
WE WILL TALK TO HIM LATER.
HERE THEY GO.
ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG 
HURLEY ONBOARD. 
THEY HAVE NEVER DONE THIS IN A 
SpaceX SUIT OR TO A COMMERCIALLY
BUILT ROCKET AND SPACECRAFT TO 
HEAD TO SPACE.
>> WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE ASTRO 
VAN AND THE WHITE TESLAS.
THIS IS A NEW ERA IN SPACE 
TRAVEL.
.
>> OH, YEAH.
THEY ARE RIDING IN TESLA MODEL 
Xs.
THEY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH 
COOLING UNITS.
SO ONCE THEY SIT INSIDE, THAT UP
BILL QAA I WAS TALKING ABOUT 
EARLIER WILL CONNECT TO THE 
SPACE SUITS TO PROVIDE COOLING 
WHILE THEY'RE INSIDE THE 
VEHICLES.
YOU CAN SEE THEM TALKING AND 
WAIVING WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
WE JUST SAW THEM DO A VIRTUAL 
HUG WITH THEIR SONS.
>> MEGAN AND KAREN AND THEIR 
SONS, YEAH.
>> THERE ARE THE DADS.
THE DADS, YEAH.
SO AWESOME.
BOB BLOWING HIS FAMILY A KISS.
DOUG ACTUALLY GOT TO HIS HIS 
WIFE AND SON UP TO THE PAD ON 
THE TOWER.
YESTERDAY THEY TWEETED OUT A 
PHOTO.
THAT WAS SO COOL.
>> I SAW THAT PICTURE.
IT HAD A PROMINENT WORM IN THE 
PICTURE, RIGHT?
>> YES.
I'M TELLING YOU, WORM ALL DAY.
SO THEY ARE CLIMBING THROUGH THE
DELOREAN DOORS OF THE MODEL X.
THIS IS TOTALLY FROM THE FUTURE.
>> ARE THEY STOCK?
>> AND THEN YOU SEE IN THE FRONT
SEAT THERE THEIR FLIGHT SURGEON.
HE'S CLIMBING IN.
AND THE SUIT TECHNICIANS.
ONE RIGHT THERE, NUMBER 12, HE 
IS BUCKLING IN.
THEY ARE BUCKLING IN BOB AND 
DOUG AND CONNECTING THAT 
UMBILICAL.
>> FOR FOLKS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T 
WATCHING OR CAN'T REMEMBER, 
WE'RE IN FLORIDA.
IT'S SUPER HOT, SUPER MUGGY.
HOW ARE THEY STAYING COOL?
>> THEY HAVE PORT BIBLE COOLING 
UNITS.
TWO AT THE ONC BUILDING, TWO IN 
THE TESLAS, TWO IN THE ELEVATORS
AND TWO IN THE WHITE ROOM WHEN 
THEY ARRIVE ON THE CREW ARM.
JUST KEEPING THE COOL AIR 
FLOWING THROUGH THE SUITS.
THERE IS DEDUCTING INTO THE 
SUITS TO KEEP THEM COOL.
THEY ARE SAYING GOOD-BYE TO 
THEIR FAMILIES.
THIS IS AWESOME.
>> IT IS AWESOME THEIR FAMILIES 
GET TO COME UP TO THE WINDOW AND
OBVIOUSLY GET A LITTLE CLOSER 
THAN EVERYONE ELSE.
>> MEGAN.
YEAH.
>> OH, MY GOSH.
>> PRECIOUS MOMENTS.
>> IT'S EMOTIONAL WATCHING THAT.
>> THERE WE GO.
>> NOW, AS WE SEE THE CONVEY, 
THE JOURNEY TO THE PAD, 39 A.
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT EACH AND 
EVERY ONE OF YOU.
OUR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS AT 
SpaceX AND NASA HAVE HAD A HAND 
HAD SEEING THE CREW DRAGON 
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM COME TO 
LIFE.
.
>> AND WE WISH EVERY SINGLE ONE 
OF YOU COULD BE HERE UP CLOSE TO
SEE THIS.
WE WANT YOU TO BE PART OF THIS 
JOURNEY REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU 
ARE WATCHING TODAY.
FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WHILE 
THEY ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE
PAD, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE 
PEOPLE WHO BUILT ALL THAT WE SEE
HERE TODAY.
>> THIS IS LAUREN FROM THE 
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS 
HISTORICAL DAY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING A PART 
OF THE VERY FIRST MISSION FOR 
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT, EVER!
WE'RE BEHIND YOU, BOB AND DOUG!
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO SpaceX FOR
SPACE TRAVEL AND CONGRATULATIONS
TO BOB AND DOUG.
>> BOB AND DOUG, WE HAVE A LOT 
OF LAUNCH VEHICLES HERE TO WISH 
YOU A VERY SAFE FLIGHT.
WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOU.
LAUNCH AMERICA.
IT'S TIME LAUNCH.
LET'S GO!
>> HI.
THIS IS CARLA FROM HAWTHORNE 
HEADQUARTERS.
WE WANT TO WISH BOB AND DOUG A 
SAFE TRIP TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.
GO DRAGON!
>> IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS IN THE 
MAKING.
THIS IS SUCH A HISTORIC TIME.
OUR TEAM HAS WORKED SO HARD.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
>> GO, BOB AND DOUG!
>> HI.
THIS IS VAN FROM McGREGOR, 
TEXAS.
GO BOB AND DOUG, GO NASA, GO 
SpaceX!
>> BOB AND DOUG, WISHING YOU A 
GREAT FLIGHT.
JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU GOOD 
LUCK.
>> HI.
NASA KENNEDY COMMUNICATION AND 
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR.
WE ALL WANT TO WISH BOB AND DOUG
SAFE TRAVELS AND GODSPEED.
YOU ARE BOTH AN INSPIRATION TO 
US ALL.
GET OUT THERE AND LAUNCH 
AMERICA!
COME ON!
LET'S DO IT!
LAUNCH AMERICA!
>> WHOO!
>> WE ARE FOLLOWING THE CONVEY.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT
I'M SO GLAD WE HAVE A CHANCE TO 
HEAR FROM THE NASA AND SpaceX 
TEAMS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES.
LAUREN, I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS ALL
TOO WELL.
THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORKING 
NOT ONLY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE 
LAST -- SINCE 2014 WHEN THEY WON
THIS CONTRACT.
LONG REVIEWS.
CORONAVIRUS HAPPENS.
THEY ARE HOME SCHOOLING THEIR 
KIDS.
TRYING TO GET THE FINAL 
CLOSEOUTS TO GET TO TODAY.
AND WE MADE IT.
WE ARE JUST WAITING ON THE 
WEATHER.
BUT IT'S JUST GREAT THEY GOT A 
CHANCE TO WISH BOB AND DOUG GOOD
LUCK.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT IS I A BUMMER WE CAN'T ALL BE
HERE IN PERSON.
BUT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IS 
PRETTY COOL.
IT HAS BEEN YEARS OF EXTREMELY 
HARD WORK.
FORTUNATELY WE HAVE HAD LITTLE 
MILESTONES ALONG THE WAY.
IT WAS ALL LEADING UP TO THIS.
AND I SPEAK FOR ALL OF MY 
FRIENDS AND LEAGUES THAT ARE 
STILL WORKING ON THIS PROGRAM.
TODAY IS A CAREER-HIGH FOR ALL 
OF THOSE PEOPLE.
IF NOT THE PINNACLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
DOUG AND BOB APPRECIATE THEM SO 
MUCH.
AND AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE 
THEIR WAY TO THE PAD, THE NEXT 
ASTRONAUTS TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY 
ARE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY.
SHANNON WALKER, VICTOR GLOVER 
AND MIKE HOPKINS AND JAPAN 
EXPLORATION AGENCY ASTRONAUT 
THAT GUCCI WILL ALSO BE FLYING.
THEY WILL BE IN THE CREW ONE 
MISSION A LITTLE LATER THIS 
YEAR.
OF COURSE THAT'S AFTER BOB AND 
DOUG RETURN HOME.
CREW ONE WILL BE THE SECOND 
SPACE FLIGHT FOR WALKER AND 
HOPKINS WHO EACH FLEW ON THE 
RUSSIAN SOYUZ.
IT WILL BE THE THIRD FLIGHT FOR 
THAT GUCCI.
HE WAS ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND 
THE SOYUZ PREVIOUSLY.
ONCE NASA SACRIFICE FOR REGULAR 
CREW FLIGHTS.
VICTOR AND MIKE ARE FOLLOWING 
ALONG FROM THE JOHNSON SPACE 
CENTER IN HOUSTON.
THEY ARE STANDING BY TO TALK TO 
DARRYL NAIL.
DARRYL?
I'M SORRY.
WE DON'T HAVE DARRYL.
BUT AS WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE
CONVOY, WE HAVE A CHASE CAR 
FOLLOWING.
I THINK WE WILL ACTUALLY BE 
TALKING TO VICTOR AND MIKE FROM 
RIGHT HERE.
VICTOR AND MIKE, ARE YOU THERE?
>> WE ARE HERE.
WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU 
FIRST, YOU WILL BE TWO OF THE 
NEXT PEOPLE TO GET ON CREW 
DRAGON.
YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AS 
YOU WATCH BOB AND DOUG IN THE 
TESLA RIGHT NOW?
>> AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S A
LOT OF EMOTIONS.
OF COURSE WE'RE EXCITED.
EXCITED FOR BOB AND DOUG, 
EXCITED FOR NASA, SpaceX.
REALLY THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
A LOT IN WHAT IT HAS TAKEN TO 
THIS MOMENT.
ALL THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT
HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO GET TO THIS 
MOMENT.
AND A SENSE OF DUTY AS BUSINESS 
AS USUAL.
FOR US WE WILL BE WATCHING, 
LISTENING, LEARNING.
AND ALL OF THAT TO HELP GET US 
PREPARED FOR WHEN IT'S OUR TURN.
>> AND YOUR MISSION CALLED CREW 
ONE -- I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU 
OFF.
GO AHEAD.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT 
WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM WALK OUT 
JUST NOW AND SAY GOOD-BYE TO 
THEIR FAMILIES AND DO VIRTUAL 
HUGS.
THAT'S GREAT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONS.
THAT HE WANTS PROBABLY THE BEST 
ONE.
>> AND VICTOR AND MIKE, I KNOW 
RECENTLY YOU HAD SHANNON WALKER 
AND THAT GUCCI ASSIGNED TO THE 
MISSION WITH YOU.
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND 
TRAINING SO FAR WITH THEM?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT
CREW ONE.
WE HAVE A VERY EXPERIENCED CREW.
YOU HIT ON THAT A LITTLE BIT 
EARLIER.
SHANNON HAS BEEN WITH NASA FOR 
AROUND 30 YEARS.
SHE'S BEEN WITH THE ASTRONAUT 
OFFICE FOR 15 YEARS AND SOYUZ.
SHE'S SEEN A LOT.
1996 IS WHEN HE FIRST BECAME AN 
ACCIDENT.
SHUTTLE, SHORT DURATION, LONG 
DURATION, SPACEWALKS, YOU NAME 
IT.
WE LATE IN THE DAY HAD OUR FULL 
CREW COMPLEMENT.
IT HAS STREAMLINED THE PROCESS 
FOR BECOMING MORE COHESIVE AS A 
CREW.
>> THEY REALLY HIT THE GROUPED 
RUNNING.
WE HAVE A LOT TO GET DONE.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO FLY AND 
OPERATE THE CREW DRAGON 
SPACECRAFT, GOD WILLING.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THE
THINGS THE CREW ON THE SPACE 
STATION DOES, SPACEWALKS, 
RESEARCH, BASIC UPKEEP OF THE 
SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE ALL THAT TRAINING AS 
WELL.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING 
FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS 
TOGETHER.
>> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE 
TRADITION OF THE RIDEOUT THAT WE
ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW?
>> IT IS VERY SYMBOLIC.
IT IS SYMBOLIC FROM MONTHS AND 
YEARS TO THE ACTUAL EXECUTION 
ITSELF.
FOR BOB AND DOUG RIGHT NOW, IT 
GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY ON ALL
THE WORK IT TOOK TO GET TO THIS 
MOMENT.
BUT IT GIVES THEM TIME TO FOCUS 
ON THE JOB, TO REALLY MENTALLY 
PREPARE FOR GAME DAY.
IT IS SYMBOLIC OF THIS 
TRANSITION FROM NINE YEARS WHERE
WE HAVE NOT HAD HUMAN LAUNCH TO 
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE 
PARTNERSHIPS.
AND THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT HERE 
FROM THE UNITED STATES OF 
AMERICA.
>> AND A QUESTION FOR VICTOR, 
BECAUSE I KNOW IF ALL GOES WELL 
WHEN YOU FLY ON CREW ONE A 
LITTLE LATER THIS YEAR, IT WILL 
BE YOUR FIRST TRIP TO SPACE.
CAN YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THE SEAT
WITH BOB AND DOUG.
WALK ME THROUGH WHAT THAT WILL 
FEEL LIKE KNOWING YOU'RE HEADED 
TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
YOU WILL LAUNCH INTO SPACE FOR 
THE VERY FIRST TIME.
>> YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE TOUGH.
OR IT IS TOUGH NOW TO IMAGINE 
WHAT THE FEELINGS WILL BE LIKE.
WE WERE ABLE TO SIMULATE AND RUN
THROUGH A DAY OF LAUNCH EXERCISE
AND RIDE OUT IN THE TESLAS TO 
THE LAUNCH PAD, UP THE ELEVATOR,
UP THE SET OF STAIRS, OUT THE 
CREW ARM TO WHERE THE VEHICLE 
WOULD BE.
AND JUST THAT DAY WAS AMAZING TO
ME.
WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT WITH THE 
FULL CONVOY AND TO SEE WHAT THAT
WOULD BE LIKE.
THAT WAS OVERWHELMING, AFTER 
BEING A KID AND WATCHING 
SOMETHING SIMILAR ON TELEVISION.
SO I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL 
FEEL LIKE ON OUR ACTUAL DAY.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'M LOOKING 
FORWARD TO IT.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MY KIDS 
STANDING THERE.
SOMETHING I WILL LOOK FORWARD 
TO.
IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.
>> VICTOR, MIKE, THANK YOU VERY 
MUCH.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO CHEER YOU ALONG
ON THAT JOURNEY.
LAUREN?
>> SO -- THAT WAS SO COOL.
YOU CAN SEND A SHOUT OUT WITH A 
LIKE OR COMMENT WITH THE 
#LAUNCHAMERICA AND BE PART OF 
THIS MOMENT.
>> LELAND, IT LOOKS LIKE THE 
CONVOY IS THE 
ASSEMBLY BUILDING.
THEY HAVE PROBABLY THREE MORE 
MILES TO GO AT THIS POINT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING 
THROUGH THEIR MINDS RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU KNOW, I WAS WATCHING 
VIDEO OF BOB AND DOUG, THE 
LIGHTER SIDE.
THEY TRAIN SO HARD.
THEY ARE METICULOUS OF WHAT THEY
DO.
THEY MIGHT BE TELLING JOKES LIKE
WE DID HEADING TO PAD 39A.
YOU HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SO LONG.
YOU KNOW THE SYSTEMS, EXACTLY 
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
WE HAD A MOMENT OF LEVITY WHERE 
WE WOULD TELL CHOKES.
WE WOULD JUST SAY THE NUMBER.
WE WOULD SAY IT SO MANY TIMES.
WE WERE HIGH-FIVING, CHEST 
BUMPING, GETTING READY MENTALLY.
WE MADE ALL OF THIS PREPARATION 
AND NOW IT'S GAME DAY.
WE ARE READY TO GET UP IN THE 
VEHICLE AND GO TO SPACE.
>> NOW TO HAWTHORNE FOR THE LAST
TREK TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
DAN?
>> THANKS.
AT THIS POINT THE CONVOY IS 
GETTING CLOSE TO PAD 39A.
PRETTY SOON THEY WILL BE 
ENTERING THE BDA OR BLAST DANGER
AREA.
THE SpaceX AND NASA DO SOME 
INTERNAL GO, NO-GO POLLS TO MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS CLEAR.
>> THIS STORIED LAUNCH PAD HAS 
BEEN THE BEGINNING POINT IS THE 
PERFECT BACK DROP FOR TODAY'S 
HISTORIC LAUNCH.
IT MARKS A NEW FIRST AND NEW ERA
IN HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
WITH NEW VEHICLES BEING DESIGNED
AND LAUNCH, THIS REQUIRES SOME 
MAJOR UPGRADES.
>> AND DARRYL NAIL IS GOING TO 
SHOW US A COUPLE OF UPGRADES AT 
PAD 39A WHERE SpaceX COMPLETED A
21st CENTURY MAKEOVER TO LAUNCH 
IT INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT.
>> WE'RE GO.
♪♪
>> I CHOOSE THIS AS OUR GOAL.
WHY CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN?
♪♪
>> 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.
ALL THREE ENGINES UP AND 
BURNING.
TWO, ONE, ZERO.
AND LIFTOFF!
THE FINAL LIFTOFF.
AMERICA WILL CONTINUE THE DREAM.
♪♪
>> AND YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR 
SCREEN BOB AND DOUG ARE GETTING 
VERY, VERY CLOSE TO 39A.
SpaceX ALSO MAINTAINS BOTH 
FALCON 9 AND DRAGON TO ENABLE 
FLYING CREW.
A KEEP UPDATE TO THE LATEST 
VERSION IS A HIGHLY RELIABLE 
ESCAPE THAT CARRIES THEM TO ANY 
ASCENT.
>> I'M SORRY.
I'M WAITING FOR THE PULLBACK 
MOMENT WHERE WE WILL SEE THE 
CARS ROLL RIGHT UP TO THE PAD.
ANOTHER KOREA UPGRADE IS THE NEW
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
I'M SORRY.
THERE WE GO.
CREW ARRIVING AT THE PAD.
6 THERE FLYING HUMANS WE HAVE TO
PROVIDE BREATHING AIR, KEEPING 
IT AT A SAFE PRESSURE, REMOVING 
WAR DON BUY OXIDE, IMPLEMENTING 
A WASTE COLLECTION SYSTEM, AKA 
THE TOILET.
>> THE CHANGES TO FALCON 9 WERE 
SMALL BUT EXTREMELY MEANINGFUL 
TO MEET NASA'S REQUIREMENT FOR 
SAFETY.
SMALL FAILURES WOULD NOT LEAD TO
MISSION FAILURES.
NEW EVEN SIS WAS PUT ON A 
FAILURE THROUGHOUT ANY PHASE 
WOULD NOT MEAN MISSION FAILURE.
THAT IS A COOL VIEW ON YOUR 
SCREEN WITH BOB AND DOUG GETTING
OUT OF THEIR TESLAS.
THAT IS AMAZING.
IT REQUIRES SO MUCH TO KEEP THEM
SAFE.
>> WITH THE ASTRONAUTS NOW ON 
LOCATION AT PAD 39A, TAKE US 
THROUGH THE CREW MAKING THEIR 
FINAL STEPS TOWARDS THAT DRAGON 
SPACECRAFT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, DAN.
THAT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE.
WE CAN SEE THE TESLAS ON THE 
SCREEN THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO STOP FOR THEM TO 
TAKE A LITTLE NATURE BREAK 
BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO
THE PAD.
IT SHOULD BE T MINUS 2:55.
UNDER THREE MINUTES FROM NOW, WE
SHOULD HEAR A FORMAL 
ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE CREW IS ON
THE PAD.
LAUREN, YOU DIDN'T GET A CHANCE 
TO MENTION WHILE THEY WERE 
DRIVING OUT THERE, THEY HAVE 
VERY COOL PLAY LIST.
>> YEAH.
I REMEMBER BOB TWEETING WHAT 
SHOULD I LISTEN TO ON THE WAY 
OUT.
HERE'S WHAT THEY CHOSE.
THE FIRST IS ACDC BACK IN BLACK.
I THINK HE ACTUALLY TWEETED 
THAT.
OR SOMEONE RECOMMENDED IT.
IT WAS SUPER COOL.
AND THEY ALSO LISTENED TO 
ELEVATOR MUSIC FROM BLUES 
BROTHERS, "THE GIRL FROM 
IPANEMA".
>> ♪♪
SYMBOLIZING THE FACT THAT THEY 
ARE WAITING.
AND THE THIRD WAS THE STAR 
SPANGLED BANNER, ARMY FRENCH 
HORNS VERSION FOR VERY OBVIOUS 
REASONS THAT ONE.
>> YEAH.
GOT TO SET THE MOOD, THE TONE.
YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT.
>> A LITTLE BEAT BALL.
DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE, 
LAUREN.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CREW 
DRAGON ON TOP OF THE FALCON 9 
ROCKET.
THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
THAT'S THAT BLACK AND WHITE KIND
OF HALLWAY YOU SEE THERE.
THAT'S HOW THE CREW MAKE THEIR 
WAY OVER TO CREW DRAGON TO CLIMB
INSIDE.
AND THAT'S FALCON 9 ROCKET 
STANDS 230 FEET TALL.
THE CREW DRAGON TRUNK FROM THE 
BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK TO THE TOP 
OF THE NOSE, THAT IS ANOTHER 27 
FEET ON TOP OF THAT.
HERE IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES, BOB
AND DOUG WILL MAKE THEIR WAY UP 
IN AN ELEVATOR.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO CLIMB THE 
WHOLE WAY.
IT IS 10 FEET OF STAIRS AT THE 
LAST LEG OF THE TRIP.
AND LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE WEIGHING 
IN ON SOCIAL.
IT'S HAPPENING.
I CAN'T READ THE REST OF IT.
BUT LOTS OF PEOPLE USING THE 
#LAUNCHAMERICA.
SOMEBODY SAYS THEY'RE WATCHING 
LIVE AND WISHING US A FANTASTIC 
LAUNCH.
WE HEARD.
WE HEARD 50/50 CHANCE WITH THE 
WEATHER.
SO IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS BOB 
ORR DOUG IN THAT ONE HERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE ONE IS READY TO 
GET OUT OF THE TESLA IN JUST A 
MINUTE.
>> LAUREN, OUR PUMPKIN SUITS HAD
DIFFERENT COLORS FOR WHAT 
MISSION POSITION YOU HAD.
DO THEY HAVE TWO COLORS TO 
DESIGNATE?
>> NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
BUT THEIR NAMES ARE ON THE 
SUITS.
>> OURS HAD NAMES, TOO.
I GUESS THERE'S ONLY TWO OF 
THEM.
THERE CAN BE UP TO SEVEN, RIGHT?
>> DRAGON IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING
7.
FOR NASA MISSIONS, IT'S FOUR.
>> THERE GO THE DOORS.
I CALL THEM DELOREAN DOORS.
IS THAT OKAY?
>> ACKNOWLEDGE THE INSPIRATION.
>> YEAH.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BASE 
LEVEL THERE.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.
YOU WERE OUT HERE LAST WEEK 
TALKING ABOUT HOW THE BAD LOOKS 
SO DIFFERENT FROM SHUTTLE DAYS.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU 
REMEMBER AND HOW IT'S DIFFERENT 
NOW.
.
>> YEAH.
THE FORM AND THE FUNCTION.
THE WHITE TICKING.
YOU THINK ABOUT S.T.E.M. 
ENGINEERING.
THIS IS S.T.E.A.M. SCIENCE, 
TECHNOLOGY, AND ART.
THERE WERE THINGS HANGING OFF.
THIS IS A SLEEK, ELEGANT AND 
FUTURISTIC LOOKING AT THE NEXT 
MEARA OF SPACE TRAVEL.
I JUST LOVE THESE THESE TESLAS 
VERSUS THE ASTRO VAN.
ARE THEY DOING SELFIES?
>> THEY ARE STRAIN TO GO SEE THE
TOP OF THE CREW DRAGON.
TAKING IN THE SIGHTS.
IT'S PRETTY HIGH.
>> YOU COULD SEE THIS BRIEFLY ON
THE SHOT.
BUT THE LICENSE PLATE SAYS 
ISSBND.
ISS BOUND.
DO YOU FOLLOW?
>> YEAH.
>> AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE 
TODAY.
WE JUST NEED THE WEATHER TO -- I
MEAN, IT LOOKS PRETTY NICE RIGHT
NOW, RIGHT?
THEY HAVE TO THINK OF DOWN 
RANGE.
MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY IN RECOVERY 
IF WE GET A SITUATION LIKE THAT.
>> THIS ELEVATOR WILL TAKE THEM 
UP TO 255.
NOT FLOORS, BUT 255 FEET.
IT IS PRETTY ZIPPY.
THEY WILL GET OUT AND WALK TO 
LEVEL 265 AND GREET THE CREW 
LINE.
>> OBVIOUSLY LELAND HAS BEEN IN 
THE ELEVATOR.
LAUREN, I'M SURE YOU HAVE BEEN 
OUT THERE TOO.
THE FIRST TIME I RODE THE 
ELEVATOR I WAS LIKE, WHOA, WE 
ARE REALLY MOVING.
PULLING SOME Gs.
>> A JOLT.
>> YOU GET USED TO IT.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE EXTREME IN 
THE ROCKET.
>> THE DOORS ARE OPENING.
AND HERE THEY COME.
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW UP 
THERE OF ALL THE SURROUNDINGS IN
FLORIDA AND THIS NATIONAL 
WILDLIFE RETREAT WE HAVE HERE.
BUT GETTING READY FOR THE 
BUSINESS AT HAND OF GETTING IN 
THE ROCKET AND HEADING TO THE 
COSMOS.
>> IT'S THE 255 LEVEL.
NOW THEY ARE HEADING TO THE 265 
LEVEL, THE LEVEL THAT WILL TAKE 
THEM TO WHERE THE CREW ACCESS 
ARM IS AND THE WHITE ROOM.
>> WHAT ARE THOSE WHITE CHEF 
ROPBS ON THE FLOOR?
WHAT DO THEY LEAD TO?
>> THOSE ARE BASICALLY 
HIGHLIGHTING THE EXIT PATH.
IN THE EVENT THAT ANYONE NEEDED 
TO GET AWAY ASAP, THEY FOLLOW 
THE ARROWS TO WEAR ESCAPE 
BASKETS AWAIT THEM.
IT IS KIND OF LIKE A ZIP LINE.
THEY WILL SLIDE ALL THE WAY DOWN
FROM THE BIG SERVICE STRUCTURE 
DOWN TO THE GROUND, SAFE AND 
AWAY FROM THE ROCKET.
>> GREAT.
>> AND AT THE TOP RIGHT OF YOUR 
SCREEN WHERE YOU SEE THEM, 
THERE'S ACTUALLY A PHONE NEXT TO
THE WORM.
THERE'S THE WORM AGAIN, LELAND.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THAT NOW.
>> IT REALLY BELONGS THERE OR 
SOMETHING.
>> WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 
THE PHONE UP THERE?
.
>> YOU CAN CALL FAMILY MEMBERS 
THAT MAYBE WEREN'T ABLE TO COME 
TO THE LAUNCH.
IN THIS CASE THERE ARE QUITE A 
FEW OF THEM.
LAST MINUTE TO SAY GOOD-BYE AND 
YOU WILL TALK TO THEM WHEN YOU 
GET TO SPACE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AGAIN, THEY ARE TAKING IN THE 
SIGHTS BEFORE THEY GO INTO THE 
WHITE ROOM.
THE PAD TEAM IS THERE.
THEY ARE IN BLACK WITH WHITE 
NUMBERS ON THEIR BACK.
THEY WILL BE HELPING THEM IN 
INGRESS AT ACTUALLY ABOUT -- 
WE'RE AT T MINUS 2:50 RIGHT NOW.
AT T MINUS 2:35.
SO JUST UNDER 15 MINUTES FROM 
NOW IS WHEN THE ASTRONAUTS WILL 
INGRESS.
THAT'S THE TERM WE USE FOR 
CLIMBING INTO DRAGON.
AND OF COURSE THEY WILL HAVE THE
ASSISTANCE OF THE SUIT TECHS AND
GET BUCKLED IN.
WE WANT TO HEAD OVER TO 
HAWTHORNE FOR WHAT'S IN STORE 
FOR FUTURE SPACE TRAVELERS.
>> THEY WILL BEGIN FLYING 
PRIVATE PASSENGERS TO STATION 
AND BEYOND USING DRAGON.
>> EFFORT THAT.
NASA WILL BE ENABLING UP TO TWO 
MISSIONS TO VISIT THE SPACE 
STATION EACH YEAR AS PART OF OUR
SUPPORT OF A BROADER ECONOMY.
IT'S ONE OF THE MANY WAYS NASA 
IS OPENING FOR COMPANIES TO 
MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS IN MICRO 
GRAVITY, COMMERCIAL MODULES IN 
SPACE AND ENABLE MORE PEOPLE TO 
EXPLORE THE STARS FIRSTHAND.
>> AND THE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE
EXPLORING THE STARS, THE CLOSER 
WE GET TO BECOMING A 
MULTIPLANETARY SPECIES.
WE SHOWED YOU A FIRSTHAND LOOK 
WHERE YOU WERE TO TRAIN IF YOU 
WERE ON BOARD WITH US ON DRAGON.
BUT NOW LET'S LOOK AT THE 
SPACECRAFT ITSELF.
>> WE WANTED TO TAKE DRAGON AND 
MAKE IT HUMAN RATED, I THINK WE 
TOOK A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO 
SPACE SHIP DESIGN THAN 
PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN DONE.
WE WANTED IT TO FEEL LIKE A 21st
CENTURY SPACE SHIP.
WE WANTED IT TO INSPIRE ANOTHER 
GENERATION OF ASTRONAUTS.
THE LIGHT RAIL ON TOP DOUBLED AS
A HAND HOLD.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEATURES ARE 
THE TOUCH SCREENS ON THE INSIDE.
WE DESIGNED THEM NOT JUST TO BE 
VERY FUNCTIONAL BUT WITH A USER 
EXPERIENCE IN MIND IT'S VERY 
INTUITIVE TO KNOW WHAT WE NEED 
TO DO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT IN 
TIME.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT COMFORT FOR 
THE ASTRONAUTS, IT'S REALLY 
EVERY ASPECT OF HOW YOU CAN 
INTERACT WITH THE SPACE SHIP 
THAT COMES TO MIND.
WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SEAT 
SIZES.
WE EVEN GO AS FAR AS MOLDING THE
FOAM AROUND THE ASTRONAUT'S BODY
SO THERE'S NOT ANY PRESSURE 
POINTS.
IT IS A PLEASURABLE ADJOURNY TO 
SPACE.
DRAGON IS A SPACE SHIP ABOUT 
SAFETY AND RELIABILITY.
WE DESIGNED IT TO BE TWO THING 
TOLERANT.
I COULD USE A FLIGHT COMPUTER 
AND A THRUSTER AND I COULD STILL
BRING THE CREW BACK HOME SAFELY.
WE ALSO ADDED A LAUNCH CASE 
SYSTEM.
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG THAT THE 
CREW COULD GET AWAY FROM FALCON 
AND GET HOME SAFELY.
SINCE 2012, WHEN I SEE DRAGON 
LIFTOFF, I THINK I WILL FEEL A 
BUILDUP OF EMOTION OF EIGHT 
YEARS OF WORKING WITH SOME OF 
THE BEST ENGINEERS AND 
TECHNICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY 
THAT PUT THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS 
INTO MAKING INCREDIBLE MOMENTS 
HAPPEN FOR EVERYBODY.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE 
SIGNING SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
>> WE GIVE THEM A BLACK SHARPIE 
TO SIGN THE WHITE ROOM.
IT IS STARTING A NEW TRADITION.
>> YEAH.
WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
IT'S NICE.
GOOD TRADITION.
>> YEAH.
AND WHILE WE WERE IN THE VIDEO, 
BOB AND DOUG WALKED DOWN THE 
CREW ACCESS ARM.
THAT FUTURISTIC LOOK YOU TALKED 
ABOUT.
WHAT DID YOU THINK SEEING THAT 
AND HOW IT COMPARED AND 
CONTRASTED DURING SHUTTLE. 
>> IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL, I 
THINK.
BACK WHEN I WAS FLYING ON 
SHUTTLE, EVERYTHING LOOKED -- 
OH, THUMBS UP FROM BOB.
HE'S GETTING EXCITED.
A FEW LITTLE PHOTOS AT THE END 
THERE.
IT'S A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ERA.
THE SpaceX TEAM IS LOOKING TO 
MAKE SOMETHING FUTURISTIC.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE SOMETHING FROM
GEORGE JETTISON OR OTHER MOVIES 
THAT YOU HAVE SEEN ON 
TELEVISION.
AND THE MOVIES.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT 
INSPIRES OUR COUNTRY AND OUR 
CHILDREN ESPECIALLY TO SEE THEY 
WANT TO BE THESE ASTRONAUTS.
THEY WANT TO STUDY HARD AND BE 
THE NEXT GENERATION OF EXPLORERS
LAUNCHING FROM CAPE CANAVERAL IN
A SpaceX ROCKET OR WORKING FOR 
NASA, WORKING FOR SpaceX OR ANY 
OF THE OTHER COMPANIES THAT ARE 
TRYING TO GET OFF PLANET.
AND I THINK THIS CHANGE IN THE 
WAY THAT WE ARE DOING BUSINESS 
IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT 
WAY OF GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO 
THE TABLE TO FLY IN SPACE.
>> THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
DRAGON WE SEE AS A 21st CENTURY 
SPACE SHIP.
IT FLIES LIKE A 21st CENTURY 
SPACE SHIP.
SO OF COURSE THE GROUND SUPPORT 
EQUIPMENT SHOULD LOOK LIKE IT IS
FROM THE SAME ERA.
THE SUITS DO.
RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE THE DUCT 
AND NUMBER 5 THERE.
ONCE THIS -- OH, WHO JUST WENT 
IN?
WAS THAT DOUG OR BOB?
>> THAT IS DOUG.
>> THAT IS AWESOME.
>> I WAS GOING TO SWIM ACROSS 
THE MOAT AND GET IN THE VEHICLE 
WITH BOB AND DOUG.
>> IS THE SUIT TECHNICIANS ARE 
HELPING THE CREW GET INSIDE.
THEY ARE PROTECTING THE SEALS ON
THE HATCH BUT MAKING SURE THE 
CREW DOESN'T HIT THEIR HEAD OR 
ANYTHING ON THE WAY IN.
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE HELMETS, 
WE STILL DON'T WANT THAT TO 
HAPPEN.
>> YOU KNOW, THEY CLIMBED IN A 
COUPLE MINUTES EARLIER THAN WE 
EXPECTED THEM TO.
SpaceX REHEARSED THIS OVER AND 
OVER AGAIN WITH BOB AND DOUG.Sp 
OVER AGAIN WITH BOB AND DOUG.
>> THE SUTTER TECHNICIANS ARE 
STRAPPING THE CREW'S FEET INTO 
THESE RESTRAINTS THAT THE BOOTS 
FIT INSIDE OF.
THEY WILL CLOSE THE FIVE-POINT 
HARNESSES AROUND THEM.
LELAND, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE 
HARDEST THING YOU HAD IN THE 
PAST WITH THE SHUTTLE.
>> AND YEAH.
THIS IS SUCH A MORE SLEEK 
DESIGN.
ONE PLUG-IN, COOLING 
COMMUNICATIONS AND EVERYTHING.
WE HAD A FIVE-POINT HARNESS.
WE HAD THESE HOSES AND THINGS 
ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BUT I THINK THIS IS MUCH MORE 
STREAMLINED LOOK INTO THE FUTURE
OF SPACE TRAVEL.
>> AND SIMILAR TO WHAT WAS GOING
IN THE ONC BUILDING, THE SEAT 
UMBILICAL IS GOING TO CONNECT TO
THE RIGHT THIGH OF THE SPACE 
SUIT.
THERE IS A FLUID MODULE 
CONNECTED TO THE SPACE SUIT.
THAT PROVIDES FRESH COOLING AIR 
AND ALSO NITROX FOR THE CHECKS 
THAT WILL COME UP LATER.
BUT THE AUDIO SYSTEM IS ALSO 
GOING THROUGH THAT UMBILICAL.
WHILE THE CREW IS -- OR THE SUIT
TECHS ARE GETTING THE CREW ALL 
BUCKLED IN, THEY'RE GOING TO 
PERFORM A COM CHECK.
AND, AGAIN, SIMILAR TO WHAT WE 
DID AT THE ONC BUILDING.
THE INTEGRATED TWO-WAY 
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE 
ASTRONAUTS AND THE GROUND CREW.
>> AND WE'RE GOING TO HEAD PACK 
TO HAWTHORNE AS WE JUST SAW BOB 
AND DOUG AND "CREW DRAGON".
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE THEM 
INSIDE THE CAPSULE.
IF YOU'RE JUST TUNING IN, GREAT 
TIMING.
YOU'RE WATCHING OUR COVERAGE OF 
THE MISSION, KNOWN AS DEMO 2.
TODAY SpaceX AND NASA WILL BE 
SENDING PEOPLE ON A MISSION TO 
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
FROM THE FIRST TIME FROM U.S. 
SOIL SINCE 2011.
BOB AND DOUG IN THERE.
>> THEY ARE GETTING READY TO 
LIFTOFF FROM PAD 39A WHERE 
FALCON 9 WILL LIFTOFF AT 4:33 
P.M. EASTERN TIME.
THEY ALREADY ARE AT THE 
STRUCTURE NEXT TO THE ROCKET, 
THE FIXED SERVICE STRUCTURE AND 
WALKED DOWN THE CORRIDOR KNOWN 
AS THE CREW ARM.
NOW THEY ARE BOARDED INSIDE OF 
DRAGON.
>> RIGHT BEFORE THEY GOT IN, WE 
DID SEE THEM PAUSE FOR A MOMENT 
AND ACTUALLY SIGN THE WALL.
THEY WERE IN THE WHITE ROOM.
IT IS LITERALLY JUST THAT ROOM 
AT THE END OF THE CREW ARM THAT 
HAS AN OPENING IN THE DRAGON.
IT IS THE LAST PLACE ON PLANET 
EARTH WHERE BOB AND DOUG ARE 
STANDING BEFORE THEY GET INTO 
DRAGON FOR THEIR RIDE TO THE 
SPACE STATION.
>> THE TERM WHITE ROOM WAS FIRST
USED IN THE GEMINI MISSION WHERE
THE ROOM BEFORE ENTERING INTO 
THE SPACE SHIP WAS PAINTED 
WHITE.
WE CONTINUED THE TRADITION WITH 
PAINTING OURS WHITE AS WELL.
AND WE STARTED A NEW TRADITION, 
IF YOU SAW, THEY SIGNED THE 
WHITE ROOM WALL, WHICH IS REALLY
AWESOME.
IT IS A FAIRLY SMALL AREA THAT 
HAS ROOM FOR THE CREW AND A FEW 
GROUND SUPPORT MEMBERS AT T 
MINUS 24 HOURS AND CREW IN 
DEPRESS AT T MINUS 2 HOURS 35 
MINUTES.
THAT IS HOW WE REFER TO THE CREW
BOARDING DRAGON.
>> AND A MOVEABLE PLATFORM THAT 
GETS EXTENDED OUT JUST IN ORDER 
TO BRIDGE THE GAP.
JUST ALLOWING EASY ENTRY INTO 
DRAGON.
AND AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THE 
ENTIRE AREA IS ENVIRONMENTALLY 
CONTROLLED JUST SO THE DRAGON 
SIDE HAS TO BE KEPT OPEN.
WHILE WE KEEP ALL THE DUST, 
DIRT, FLORIDA HUMIDITY OUT OF 
THE CAPSULE MAKING SURE IT IS 
PRISTINE FOR THE CREW.
>> WHITE ROOM ALSO HAS LOTS OF 
TOOLS IN ORDER TO OPEN THE SIDE 
HATCH, COMPLETE CREW INGRESS AS 
THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND PREPARE FOR ANY CONTINGENCY 
OR EMERGENCIES THAT MAY BE 
ENCOUNTERING.
>> AND SO AS WE JUST HEARD FROM 
LAUREN AND MARIE AND THE TEAM, 
THEY'RE GETTING INTO THIS 
CAPSULE, GETTING THEIR SEATS 
CONNECTED TO THEIR SUITS.
IT WILL GIVE HARDLINE 
CONNECTIONS TO AUDIO FOR COM 
CHECKS COMING UP SHORTLY AND 
BREATHING GAS AND PRESSURIZED 
NITROX.
THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME 
SINCE SUITED UP THEY ARE DOING 
LEAK CHECKS.
WE ARE ALL ABOUT REDUNDANCY AND 
CHECKING OUR SYSTEMS AS WE 
CONTINUE TO COUNTDOWN.
THERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE WATCHING BOB AND DOUG 
GETTING INTO DRAGON, GETTING 
STRAPPED IN.
BEFORE THEY CONNECTED THEIR 
SUITS TO THE ACTUAL SEATS THEY 
DID SOMETHING CALLED A FOREIGN 
OBJECT DEBRIS CHECK.
THAT IS MAKING SURE THEY DON'T 
GET ANY DEBRIS ON THEIR SUITS 
THAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE 
SYSTEMS ON DRAGON.
>> THE CREW HAS COVERS ON THEIR 
BOOTS AND UMBILICAL ON THEIR 
SUITS THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED 
BEFORE THEY CAN INGRESS.
THEY HAVE ALREADY REMOVED THOSE.
THEY ARE HAD HE GETTING STRAPPED
IN.
ONCE THE CHECK IS COMPLETE, OUR 
COMMANDER DOUG HURLEY ENTERED 
FIRST.
AND THEN BOB FOLLOWED AFTER HIM.
AND THEY ARE GETTING BUCKLED IN 
RIGHT NOW.
.
IT ALLOWS THE CREW TO HAVE COMS 
THROUGH THEIR SUIT AND AIR TO 
KEEP THEM COOL, AND DELIVER 
NITROX FOR SUIT PRESSURIZATION.
THE PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO 
PROTECT THE CREW IN THE EVENT OF
A CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION.
.
>> AND JUST WALKING THROUGH THE 
INTERIOR A LITTLE BIT.
THERE ARE FOUR SEATS CONFIGURED 
INSIDE DRAGON RIGHT NOW.
THEY ARE NUMBERED 1 TO 4 FROM 
RIGHT TO LEFT WHEN YOU'RE 
LOOKING AT THE SEATS.
WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE CAMERA 
VIEWS JUST FROM THE HATCHWAY.
IN THE WHITE ROOM, FROM THAT 
ANGLE, 1 TO 4, RIGHT TO LEFT.
DOUG IS IN THE COMMANDER SEAT.
BOB IS IN SEAT 3 ON "CREW 
DRAGON" IT IS THE PILOT SEAT.
OBVIOUSLY NOBODY IS IN SEATS 1 
AND 4 TODAY.
"CREW DRAGON" IS DESIGNED TO 
CARRY FOUR ASTRONAUTS ON THE 
FUTURE NASA MISSIONS.
WE MET TWO OF THE CREW ONE 
MEMBERS.
DIRECTLY IN FRONT ARE THREE 
TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAYS THEY WILL 
USE THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT, 
GIVING THEM INSIGHT INTO DRAGON 
SYSTEMS, SEEING ANY ALERTS OR 
ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE.
AND IF REQUIRED, TAKING CONTROL 
AND MANUALLY FLYING DRAGON.
WE CAN SEE DOUG HURLEY 
MANIPULATING THOSE DISPLAYS 
RIGHT NOW.
>> AND COMING UP, THE CREW WILL 
DO A COM CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY
CAN HEAR MISSION CONTROL AND 
THEIR SEATS WILL BE ROTATED INTO
POSITION FOR LAUNCH SO THEY CAN 
SEE THE DISPLAY PANELS RIGHT IN 
FRONT OF THEM.
SO NOW LET'S CHECK IN WITH JOHN 
FOR THE LATEST ON THE HEALTH OF 
BOTH VEHICLES.
OVER TO YOU, JOHN.
>>> T MINUS 2 HOURS, 36 
MINUTES:30 AND THE COUNTDOWN TO 
THE LAUNCH OF FALCON 9 WITH 
DRAGON TO THE SPACE STATION.
DRAGON LAUNCH HAS COMPLETED 
THEIR MAJOR ACTIVITIES TO 
PREPARE THE SPACECRAFT FOR THE 
ASTRONAUTS.
CHECKOUTS ARE COMPLETE OF MAJOR 
SYSTEMS, INCLUDING THE ESCAPE 
SYSTEM.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, INGRESS OF 
THE ASTRONAUTS WELL UNDERWAY.
THEY ARE HOOKING THEIR SUITS UP 
TO THE VARIOUS CABIN SYSTEMS.
RIGHT NOW ON DRAGON, THERE ARE 
NO ISSUES.
COM CHECKS WILL BE COMING UP 
SHORTLY ON THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT
WITH THE CREW.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF 
THAT.
WE WILL BRING IT TO YOU AS IT 
HAPPENS.
CURRENTLY THE FALCON 9 TEAM IS 
PREPARING FOR THEIR FINAL CHECK 
OUT AND PROPEL HRAPBT LOAD.
THE MAJORITY OF THE LAUNCH CREW 
WILL GET ON COUNSEL AT KENNEDY 
SPACE CENTER.
CURRENTLY ON FALCON 9, ALL 
SYSTEMS ARE GO.
AIR FORCE RANGE CONTINUES TO 
REPORT NO PROBLEMS WITH AIR AND 
SEA SPACE CLEARANCE.
EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD.
ROAD BLOCKS ARE UP AROUND THE 
LAUNCH PAD.
THE WEATHER FORECASTS CONTINUES 
TO BE ACCEPTABLE BUT SOMETHING 
WE WILL WATCH ALL THE WAY 
THROUGH.
WE'RE NOT ONLY LOOKING AT 
WEATHER AT THE LAUNCH SITE, WE 
ARE LOOKING AROUND THE WORLD.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE CONDITIONS 
ARE ACCEPTABLE IF THEY HAVE TO 
SPLASH DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC IN 
CASE OF ESCAPE.
WE ARE MONITORING CONTINGENCIES 
IF THE CREW HAD TO COME BACK TO 
EARTH BEFORE DOCKING WITH THE 
SPACE STATION.
RIGHT NOW THOSE CONDITIONS ARE 
GETTING BETTER AS WE GO THROUGH 
THE DAY.
THINGS CONTINUE TO BE 60% 
PROBABILITY OF VIOLATING THE 
CONDITIONS OR 40% CHANCE IF 
YOU'RE AN OPTIMIST OF GOOD 
WEATHER.
THE CLOCK IS CONTINUING THE 
COUNTDOWN.
ALL SYSTEMS GO.
T MEAN US 2:35.
>> ALL RIGHT.
AS BOB AND DOUG FINISH INGRESS 
PROCEDURES AND GET COMFORTABLE 
INSIDE DRAGON, WE WILL CONTINUE 
TO LISTEN FOR THE COM CHECKS.
THEY SHOULD BE COMING UP IN A 
LITTLE BIT.
I'M JOINED BY JESSICA JENSON AND
LARS BLACKMORE ABOUT WHAT MAKES 
DRAGON AND FALCON 9 A 21st 
CENTURY LAUNCH VEHICLE.
FIRST OFF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
JOINING ME TODAY.
JESSICA, I WILL START WITH YOU.
>> YEAH. 
>> WALK ME THROUGH DRAGON LIFE 
HISTORY AND HOW WE GOT HERE 
TODAY.
.
>> SURE.
DRAGON WAS DESIGNED FROM SCRATCH
12 YEARS AGO BY SpaceX.
IT WAS DESIGNED TO CARRY CARGO 
TO AND FROM THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS 12 YEARS 
AGO WASN'T THAT LONG AGO.
WE GOT TO USE STATE-OF-THE-ART 
MATERIALS, STATE-OF-THE-ART 
COMPUTER PROCESSORS.
SO REALLY DRAGON, TO START OFF 
WITH, IS ALREADY A MODERN 
ADVANCED SPACECRAFT.
BUT THEN THERE'S TWO OTHER PARTS
ALSO THAT REALLY LED TO 
COMMERCIAL CREW.
ONE PART OF IT WAS THAT WE 
WERE ABLE TO BE IN THE VICINITY 
AND ATTACH TO THE SPACE STATION.
THAT WAS A HUGE LEARNING CURVE.
FOR A PORTION OF THE MISSION.
AND CAR GO DRAGON HAS BEEN 
AMAZING TEST FOR COMMERCIAL 
CREW.
WE WERE ABLE TO TEST OUT 
HEAT-CHILLED MATERIALS AND 
PARACHUTE MATERIALS ON CARGO 
DRAGON BEFORE THEY EVER FLEW ON 
CREW DRAGON.
>> WALK US THROUGH THE FLIGHT 
HISTORY.
>> IT FLEW ALMOST TEN YEARS AGO 
TODAY.
EVEN THOUGH THE FIRST VERSION OF
THAT ROCKET COULDN'T CARRY 
N
HUMANS, THE FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN 
WAS MADE WITH THAT GOAL IN MIND.
OVER THE COURSE OF 87 LAUNCHES, 
WE CERTAINLY IMPROVED THE 
ROCKET.
WE CAN LAND AND REUSE THE MOST 
IMPORTANTLY FOR TODAY, WE HAVE 
TO RELIABILITY WE NEED FOR 
HUMANS.
IT'S COME FROM A DECADE OF 
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMMERCIAL
AIRLINE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN 
GRAPPLING WITH FOR DECADES.
JUST LIKE THEM, WE RELY ON LOTS 
OF LOTS OF TESTING.
IF YOU TAKE THE MORE THAN ONE 
ENGINE, THAT HAS TO FLY FOR 
ABOUT SIX MINUTES TO GET TO 
ORBIT.
WE TOOK ONE OF THOSE AND RAN IT 
MORE THAN 250 MINUTES.
SO IF THAT TESTING AND ANALYSIS 
THATS GIVES US AND NASA THE 
CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE 
SUPPLIED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> A LOT OF TESTING HAD TO GO TO
MAKE SURE BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES
WERE HUMAN RATED.
WALK US THROUGH THE SPECIFIC 
UPGRADES TO DRAGON TO MEET THAT 
CRITERIA.
>> SO THE FIRST ONE IS PRETTY 
OBVIOUS.
WE HAD A CAR GO DRAGON WITH LOTS
OF CUB BYES.
WE TOOK ALL OF THOSE OUT AND 
REPLACED WITH ASTRONAUT SEATS, 
CREW DISPLAYS AND CONTROLS.
ONE THING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS
ON CARGO DRAGON, WE HAVE BEEN 
FLYING TO THE SPACE STATION FOR 
YEARS.
WHAT THAT MEANT WAS WE HAD TO 
DESIGN AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL 
AND LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR 
DRAGON YEARS AGO.
IT SCRUBS CARBON MONOXIDE AND 
CONTROLS TEMPERATURE AND 
RELATIVE HUMIDITY.
WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
>> WHAT KIND OF SPECIFIC 
UPGRADES HAD TO GO INTO IT FOR 
THIS ONE UPGRADE IS THE LAUNCH 
ABORT TRIGGER.
PEOPLE PROBABLY KNOW DRAGON HAS 
THE ABILITY IN MID-FLIGHT TO 
SEPARATE AND BOOST THE 
ASTRONAUTS AWAY FOR SAFETY IN 
THE CASE THAT SOME KIND OF 
EMERGENCY.
AND THAT COULD BE TRIGGERED BY 
THE ASTRONAUTS OR BY THE GROUND 
CREW.
WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS 
FALCON ITSELF HAD THE ABILITY TO
CAUSE THAT TRIGGER.
AND IT WILL DO THAT ENTIRELY 
ANONYMOUSLY USING ALGORITHMS, 
SOFTWARE AND SENSORS.
IT MEANS ABORTING SAFELY.
THEY CAN DO THIS QUIRK THAT BE 
THREE TEBTS OF A SECOND.
>> WE'LL PAUSE.
WE'RE GETTING COME KOMS FROM THE
CREW.
SEVERAL POSITIONS DOWN ON THE 
GROUND.
THEY ARE GOING TO BE USING 
COMMUNICATION SPEAKERS INSIDE OF
DRAGON AND INSIDE THEIR SUITS IN
A SERIES OF COMMUNICATION 
CHECKS.
THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING 
THESE OVER DIFFERENT SATELLITES.
>> COM CHECK.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> CORE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> COM CHECK COMPLETE.
>> YOU'LL HEAR THEM REFER TO THE
COMMANDER PILOT.
>> SO THE FIRST ONE WAS THROUGH 
THE UM BILL KA.
NOW THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT OVER
THE GROUND STATIONS.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR ONE OVER THE 
TRACKING AND DATA RELAY 
SATELLITE.
SAME SATELLITES WE USE TO TALK 
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION WE'LL BE USING TO TALK 
AND TRACK DRAGON THROUGHOUT THE 
ENTIRE FLIGHT.
JUST WAITING FOR A MOMENT FOR 
THE TEAMS TO CONTINUE 
CONFIGURING EVERYTHING.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING THEM 
TALK DIRECTLY TO THE CORE, THE 
CREW OPERATIONS RESPONSIBLE 
ENGINEER.
IT'S A POSITION HERE AS THE 
MISSION CONTROL, WHICH IS JUST A
FEW FEET AWAY FROM US WHERE THE 
TEAM WILL BE WATCHING OVER THE 
ENTIRE FLIGHT.
THAT'S WHERE THE MAIN PERSON 
WHOSE JOB IT IS TO TALK TO THEM 
IS GOING TO BE.
WE'LL ALSO HEAR THEM DO 
CHECKOUTS WITH THE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR DOWN THERE INSIDE 
FIRING ROOM FOUR.
YOU'LL BE HEARING THOSE VERY 
CHARACTERISTIC.
>> WE HAVE YOU.
>> JUST TO FURTHER EXPLAIN SOME 
OF THOSE VOICE PROTOCOLS YOU'LL 
HEAR, YOU MIGHT BE USED TO 
HEARING HOUSTON STATION OR 
HOUSTON SHUTTLE WHEN WE WERE 
FLYING THOSE SPECIFIC SHUTTLES.
YOU'LL HEAR SPACEX DRAGON, 
THAT'S THE TEAM CALLING ON 
ORBIT.
AND BOB AND DOUG WILL BE ABLE TO
RESPOND.
SO WE'LL GET GROUND STATION 
CHECKOUTS MOMENTARILY.
AND JUST A REMINDER, YOU'LL HEAR
THAT VERY UNIQUE BEEPING SOUND.
THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S 
BEEN USED TO ROUTE SPACE TO 
GROUND OR AIR TO GROUND 
COMMUNICATIONS THROUGHOUT 
HISTORY.
THAT'S JUST FOR TEAMS WHO ARE IN
MISSION CONTROL OR SUPPORTING A 
LAUNCH.
WHEN YOU HEAR THAT SOUND, IT'S 
TIME TO LISTEN.
>> COM CHECK GROUND STATION.
>> DRAGON, MUCH BETTER.
>> CORE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
GROUND STATION COM CHECK 
COMPLETE.
>>
 
CLEAR.
>> CORE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
STANDBY FOR CHECKS FOR THE 
LAUNCH CONFIGURATION.
>> DRAGON ON COUNT DOWN ONE, COM
CHECK.
>> WE HAVE YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
HOW YOU DOING?
>>.COM GREAT.
HOW YOU DOING IN THERE?
STANDBY FOR COM CHECKS.
>> STANDBY FOR COM CHECKS OVER 
DRAGON.
DRAGON, TO GROUND, COM CHECK.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> MD, LOUD AND CLEAR.
STANDBY.
>> WE HAVE YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN.
>> LET ME TRY DRAGON TO GROUND 
ONE.
>> DRAGON TO GROUND ONE COM 
CHECK.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> HAVE YOU THE SAME.
>> DRAGON SPACEX LAUNCH 
CONFIGURATION ARE COMPLETE.
REPORT FOR SEAT ROTATION.
>> SPACEX DRAGON, WE'RE READY 
FOR SEAT ROTATION.
>> COPY.
WE WILL REPORT WHEN INITIATING.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO THAT WRAPS UP 
THE COMMUNICATIONS CHECKS.
EVERYTHING GOING GOOD WITH BOB 
AND DOUG TALKING TO THE TEAM.
THEY WILL GET THEIR SEATS 
ROTATED.
WE'RE BACK INSIDE HAWTHORNE.
GIVING US THAT GREAT INSIGHT.
HOPE YOU GOT A GOOD SPOT STAKED 
OUT TO WATCH THE LAUNCH.
GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON.
>> GREAT TO HEAR GOOD CHECKS 
FROM BOB DO DOUG.
>> ALL SYSTEMS ARE ARE GOING FOR
LAUNCH.
THE STATION IS PREPARED FOR 
DRAGON TO ARRIVE 19 HOURS AFTER 
LAUNCH.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR 
THE COUNTDOWN, BUT IT'S UP TO 
THE TEAMS IN KENNEDY AND 
HAWTHORNE TO GIVE US LIFTOFF.
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS AS
WE CONTINUE TO COUNT DOWN TO 
LAUNCH.
IS. 
>> TAKING A QUICK LOOK AT THOSE 
NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.
THERE ARE NOW 1 MILLION PEOPLE 
WATCHING OUR COVERAGE.
SO LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT 
WHAT'S BEING SAID ONLINE.
WE HAVE A PERSONAL 
SELF-PORTRAIT, COSMIC FOR SURE 
IN HER NASA FLIGHT SUIT.
THIS IS WHAT I'M LOVING SEEING 
ONLINE.
IT'S HOW EVERYONE AROUND THE 
NATION IS MAKING THIS LAUNCH 
UNIQUELY THEIRS.
AND I WANT TO POINT OUT ONE LINE
IN HER POST THAT SAYS "I BELIEVE
THAT NO MATTER HOW FAR THE 
FUTURE IS, WE'RE ON OUR WAY 
TOWARDS THIS."
I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER 
MYSELF.
THAT'S WHAT TODAY REPRESENTS.
LET'S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE JESSICA WITH 
HER SPACE HUB GETTING DRID FOR 
LIFTOFF.
EVERYBODY IS THRILLED TO BE A 
PART OF THIS LAUNCH TODAY.
I'M IS SO PLEASED TO WELCOME THE
PHYSICS GIRL.
YOU HAVE A BURNING QUESTION FOR 
MISSION CONTROL.
GO FOR IT.
>> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 
INCLUDING ME ON THIS INCREDIBLY 
SPECIAL DAY.
I'M DIANNA FROM THE YOUTUBE 
CHANNEL PHYSICS GIRL.
I HAVE BEEN SO FASCINATED BY 
SPACE AND ESPECIALLY SPACE 
EXPLORATION.
WE BRING TOGETHER SO MANY PEOPLE
FOR SUCH A COMPLICATED TASK TO 
SEND A ROCKET INTO SPACE.
SO MY QUESTION IS ALONG THE 
LINES OF WHAT GOES INTO A 
MISSION LIKE THAT.
WE ALL KNOW WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH 
HOW MUCH PREPARATION AND 
TRAINING ASTRONAUTS HAVE TO DO, 
BUT PREPARING FOR A MISSION LIKE
THIS AND MAYBE PREPARING IN THE 
FUTURE TO A MISSION TO THE MOON 
OR MARS, WHAT KINDS OF THINGS 
DOES THE TEAM HAVE TO DO TO 
PREPIR TO LAUNCH A ROCKET.
>> THAT'S SUCH A GREAT QUESTION.
IT GETS OVERLOOKED.
SO WHAT HAS THE TEAM IN MISSION 
CONTROL BEEN DOING TO PREPARE 
FOR THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH.
>> THAT'S A FANTASTIC QUESTION.
REALLY THE OPERATIONS HERE ARE 
NOT JUST STARTING TODAY.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRAINING 
AND SIMULATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN 
GOING INTO PREPARING FOR THIS 
MOMENT.
REALLY GETTING EVERYONE 
FAMILIARIZED WITH EVIDENT STEP 
OF THE MISSION AND THROWING SET 
NAR OWES AT THEM IN CASE 
SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.
EVERY FLIGHT CONTROLLER YOU SEE 
WILL BE PREPARED TO RESPOND 
EFFECTIVELY.
I WANT TO MAKE A SHOUTOUT IT'S 
NOT JUST THE FLIGHT CONTROLLERS 
HERE THAT HAVE DEDICATED SO MUCH
TIME TO THE LAUNCH.
IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO 
THE FLIGHT DIRECTOR HERE AT 
MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON B WHO 
SAID EVEN BEFORE HE WAS A FLIGHT
DIRECTOR BACK IN 2014, THEY WERE
WORKING ON SOME OF THE 
OPERATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL CREW 
MISSIONS FPZ YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT
OF PEOPLE WORKING AND REALLY IT 
TAKES AN INTEGRATED AND 
DEDICATED TEAM TO MAKE A MISSION
LIKE THIS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE 
QUESTION.
>> REALLY THANKS TO EVERYONE 
SENDING IN QUESTIONS AND SHARING
IN THIS HISTORIC MISSION TODAY.
AS YOU'RE HOSTING TO USE 
#LAUNCHAMERICA.
I DO WANT TO MAKE A SHOUTOUT TO 
THE FLIGHT CONTROLLERS HERE IN 
MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON.
SOME TRADITIONAL FLOWERS HAVE 
BEEN SENT TO MISSION CONTROL 
HOUSTON.
THIS DATES EVEN BACK BEFORE THE 
SHUTTLE DAYS BEFORE EVERY 
MISSION TO DEDICATED TO THE 
OPERATIONS AND THE CONTROLLERS 
HERE WHO ARE WORKING SO CLOSELY 
AND ARE INTEGRATED IN EVERY PART
OF THE MISSION.
BEFORE NOW LET'S HEAD OVER TO 
HART TORN FOR THE LATEST STATUS 
ON THE CREW AND DRAGON.
>> YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT 
DIFFERENT POSITION.
SUITS HAVE BEEN ROTATED TO THE 
LAUNCH POSITION.
THIS PUTS THEIR BACKS A LITTLE 
MORE HORIZONTAL WITH THE GROUND 
ITSELF OR PARALLEL WITH THE 
GROUND ITSELF AND PLACES THOSE 
DISPLAYS IN FRONT OF THEM.
WE HAVE MOVED INTO SUIT LEAD 
CHECKS.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY 
HAVE HAD THEM DONE.
SO PRESSURE NEWS R RISED FLOWING
INTO THE LAUNCH SUITS THEY ARE 
GOING TO BE WEARING THROUGHOUT 
THE DYNAMIC PHASES OF THIS 
MISSION.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE UNDER TWO 
HOURS AND 20 MINUTES TO LAUNCH.
FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN
FLORIDA.
GOING TO BE CARRYING OUR CREW 
MEMBERS TODAY.
ABOARD DRAGON SPACECRAFT.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY EXCITING DAY 
SO FAR.
WE'RE FIGHTING AGAINST THE 
WEATHER, BUT WE'RE CONTINUING TO
PRESS ON FOR LAUNCH.
THE CREW HAS BEEN UP SINCE 6:00 
A.M. AS THEY PREPARE TO HEAD TO 
THE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION FOR PART OF THIS DEMO 
MISSION FOR NASA.
>> AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR 
SCREEN, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE 
JUST WAITING AND GETTING READY 
FOR THIS MISSION TODAY.
IT'S BEEN SUCH AN EXCITING DAY 
SO FAR.
AGAIN, THEIR SEATS ARE ROTATED 
INTO LAUNCH POSITION SO THEY CAN
SEE THE SCREENS THAT YOU SEE ON 
THE LEFT SIDE RIGHT IN FRONT OF 
THEM.
THEIR SUIT CHECKS HAVE BEEN 
COMPLETE.
THEIR COM CHECKS ARE COMPLETE.
SO I'LL THROW IT OVER TO LAUREN.
>> SO DRAGON HATCH CLOSE IS 
EXPECTED AT T-MINUS 1 HOUR AND 
55 MINUTES.
WE ARE JUST PRETTY CLOSE TO 
THAT.
IT'S GETTING REALLY CLOSE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE KEY VISUAL 
MILESTONES ON THE TIMELINE, THE 
CLOSURE OF THE HCH AND LOCKING 
BOB AND DOUG INSIDE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE SPECIAL GUESTS 
JOINING US WITH DARYL AT THE OSB
VIEWING LOCATION.
THAT'S NASA ADMINISTRATOR AND 
SPACEX CHIEF ENGINEER ELON MUSK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE HERE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OUTSIDE 
ON THE BALCONY OVERLOOKING A PAD
39A, BUT WE HAVE COME INDOORS 
DUE TO THE WEATHER.
BUT WE ARE HERE WITH TWO TITANS 
OF SPACE.
THOUGH IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE THIS 
IS A REUNION OF THE '90s BOY 
BAND, IT'S NOT.
WE'RE SOCIALLY DISTANCED FOR 
GOOD REASON B.
BUT WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT 
SPACE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH AND
IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO BE
WITH YOU TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH 
JIM AND ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS 
HERE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST THREE YEARS 
THAT YOU WERE SWORN IN AS NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR.
AND YOU KNEW FROM THE VERY FIRST
DAY THAT YOU WOULD BE RIGHT HERE
AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN 
THIS MOMENT WHEN A COMMERCIAL 
PARTNER WAS READY TO LAUNCH.
TELL ME WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE 
LEADING NASA AT THIS VERY 
MOMENT.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT WHEN I GOT 
SWORN IN.
A LOT OF FOLKS SAID IT COULDN'T 
BE DONE.
AS SOON AS I GOT THE JOB, ELON 
AND I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF 
CONVERSATIONS.
WE COMMITTED THAT THIS WAS 
SOMETHING THAT SPACE X COULD 
ACHIEVE.
WE HAVE SEEN CATASTROPHIC LOSSES
OF CHALLENGES BUT THAT'S WHAT'S 
UNIQUE.
THEY CAN DO THINGS THEY HAVE NOT
DONE.
THEY TEST, THEY FAILED, THEY 
FIXED, NAY THEY FLY, THEY TEST, 
THEY FAIL, THEY FIX, UNTIL TODAY
WHERE WE ARE COMFORTABLE.
WE ARE READY TO GO.
BUT IF YOU TOLD ME EVEN TWO 
YEARS AGO WE WOULD BE RIGHT 
HERE, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN 
QUESTIONING IT THEN.
BUT THIS IS A MONUMENTAL 
ACHIEVEMENT.
IT'S A TASK BY THE SPACEX TEAM, 
WHICH WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR AND 
ALSO BY THE NASA TEAM THAT HAS 
BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO GET TO
THIS POINT.
>> IT'S GOOD WE HAVE JIM AND 
ELON HERE TO CHECK EACH OTHER.
IN 2002 WHEN YOU STARTED SPACEX,
MANY IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY 
DIDN'T TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY.
YOU REMEMBER WHAT THAT FELT 
LIKE.
YET HERE YOU ARE.
YOU JUST SENT TWO ASTRONAUTS IN 
A CAR MADE BY YOUR CAR COMPANY 
TO LAUNCH PAD 39A WITH A 
SPACECRAFT MADE BY YOUR SPACE 
COMPANY.
NOW THEY ARE LAUNCHING THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
I'M WONDERING FOR YOU IN THIS 
MOMENT, DO YOU PINCH YOURSELF 
THINKING IS THIS REALLY 
HAPPENING?
>> THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE.
FOR ME AND EVERYONE AT SPACEX.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I EVER 
THOUGHT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
SO WHEN WE STARTED SPACE YN X IN
2002, I DID NOT THINK THIS DAY 
WOULD OCCUR.
I EXPECTED 90% CHANCE WOULD FAIL
TO GET A ROCKET.
SO IF SOMEBODY TOLD ME I WOULD 
BE STANDING HERE WITH THE NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR AND MEETING THE 
ASTRONAUTS, THE BEST PAD IN THE 
THE WORLD, I WAS HONORED TO BE 
THERE.
I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT, MAN, I 
DON'T KNOW.
NO WAY IS THAT TRUE.
I DIDN'T EVEN DREAM THIS WOULD 
COME TRUE.
BUT IT IS -- I'M INCREDIBLY 
EXCITED TO BE HERE ON BEHALF OF 
THE SPACEX TEAM.
AND AS SAID, THIS REALLY IS THE 
THE CULMINATION OF AN INCREDIBLE
AMOUNT OF WORK BY THE TEAM.
BY NASA AND BY A NUMBER OF OTHER
PARTNERS IN THE PROCESS OF 
MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
YOU LOCK AT THIS AS THE RESULTS 
OF 100,000 PEOPLE ROUGHLY WHEN 
YOU ADD UP OLD SUPPLIERS.
EVERYONE WORK INCREDIBLY HARD TO
GET WHAT THEY HAVE.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE 
THIS THIS IS REAL.
>> YOU'RE HERE AND IT'S AMAZING.
MANY OF US HAVE BEEN AMAZED AS 
WE WATCHED YOU ACCOMPLISH THESE 
THINGS OVER THE YEARS.
BACK TO YOU.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE 
COMMERCIALIZATION OF SPACE.
AND SO IN THE EARLY GO, IT 
WASN'T SOMETHING NASA WAS USED 
TO.
MERCURY, GEMINI, SHUTTLE, NASA 
GAVE THE DESIGNS AND THE 
CONTRACTORS WENT OUT THERE AND 
BUILT IT.
THIS IS DIFFERENT.
THEY ARE BUILDING IT NOW.
WHAT WERE SOME OF THE HURDLES 
THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME TO GET 
TO THIS POINT.
>> GETTING PEOPLE TO RECOGNIZE 
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES 
BOTH THE DEMAND AND THE SUPPLY, 
YOU'RE LIMITED IN WHAT YOU'RE 
ABLE TO DO.
AND BACK WHEN THIS PROGRAM WAS 
INITIATED UNDER CHARLIE BOLDEN, 
ASTRONAUT CHARLIE BOLDEN, 
CONGRESS WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE AND 
DID NOT PROVIDE THE PROPER 
FUNDING.
AND YET HE PUSHED FORWARD.
AND NOW I THINK EVERYBODY 
RECOGNIZES WE HAVE TO 
COMMERCIALIZE SPACE.
WE HAVE HAD SUCCESS NOW WITH 
COMMERCIAL RESUPPLY OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
NOW WE HAVE COMMERCIAL CREW.
WE NEED COMMERCIAL SPACE 
STATIONS.
SO WHEN WE'RE USING THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR 
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PROVING THAT WE
CAN COMPOUND PHARMACEUTICALS IN 
A WAY YOU CANNOT DO ON EARTH.
WE'RE ABLE TO CREATE 
IMMUNIZATIONS.
WE'RE PRINTING HUMAN ORGANS IN 
3-D.
RIGHT NOW IT'S TISSUE, BUT WE'RE
GOING TO PRINT HUMAN ORGANS 
USING ADULT STEM CELLS, YOUR OWN
DNA.
IT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM HOW WE 
DO MEDICINE HERE ON EARTH.
WE'RE CREATING ADVANCED 
MATERIALS YOU CAN ONLY CREATE IN
THE MICROGRAVITY OF SPACE.
THINGS LIKE AN ARTIFICIAL RETINA
FOR THE HUMAN EYE.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOSE YOUR 
EYESIGHT.
THESE MARKETS ARE THE FUTURE.
AND WHEN THEY MATERIALIZE AND 
THEY ARE MATERIALIZING BECAUSE 
OF THE WORK OF NASA, WE'LL SEE 
CAPITAL INVESTMENT NOT JUST INTO
LAUNCH, BUT ALSO INTO 
HABITATION.
THAT ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO BE 
TRANSFORMATIONAL FOR COMMERCIAL 
SPACE.
>> ELON, IN GETTING ALL OF THAT 
GOING, THE ACTIVITY THAT TAKES 
PLACE ON BOARD, IT'S KEY THAT 
THIS CREW DRAGON OPERATE ON A 
REGULAR BASIS.
AS THE CHIEF ENGINEER, WHAT WAS 
SOME OF THE BIGGEST HURDLES YOU 
HAD TO OVERCOME TO GET YOUR 
SPACECRAFT READY TO FLY THIS 
MISSION?
>> THE SPACECRAFT AND THE ROCKET
HAVE GONE THROUGH THOUSANDS AND 
THOUSANDS OF TESTS AND REVIEWS.
WE HAVE ALSO HAVE DONE A LOT OF 
FLIGHTS.
SO I THINK THAT'S VERY HELPFUL A
ABOUT THIS FLIGHT.
THAT THE ROCKET HAS FLOWN MANY 
TIMES.
IN FACT, EVEN B IN THIS 
CONFIG
CONFIGURATION, IT'S FLOWN ABOUT 
20 TIMES.
SO THIS MEANS WE REALLY HAVE A 
WELL-PROVEN ROCKET.
AND THE CREW SUCCESSFULLY AND 
BROUGHT IT BACK.
WE HAVE DONE TESTING ON THE 
GROUND.
AND WE DO THE TESTING ON THE 
GROUND YOU ALWAYS PUSH THE 
LIMITS.
YOU WANT TO PUSH IT WAY BEYOND 
WHAT YOU EXPECT IN FLIGHT.
SO SOMETIMES YOU ACTUALLY BREAK 
IT BECAUSE YOU KIND OF WANT TO 
BREAK IT ON THE GROUND DURING 
TESTING TO SEE WHAT THE LIMITS 
ARE.
SO THIS IS THE RESULT OF 
THOUSANDS OF TESTS, THOUSANDS OF
DESIGN HOURS AND OF TREMENDOUS 
NUMBER OF SMART SMA PEOPLE 
WORKING INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE 
THIS DAY HAPPEN.
>> YOU HAVE TWO ASTRONAUTS ON 
BOARD NOW.
DO YOU FEEL THAT RESPONSIBILITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I FELT IT STRONGLY WHEN I SAW 
THE FAMILY JUST BEFORE COMING 
HERE.
>> DID YOU SAY ANYTHING?
THAT YOU CAN SHARE?
>> I SAID WE HAVE DONE 
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE 
YOUR DAD IS COMING BACK OKAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT 
WITH US.
JIM, YOU HAD SOME WORDS WITH THE
ASTRONAUTS.
WHAT WAS YOUR TAKE ON HOW THEY 
WERE FEELING?
>> I WILL TELL YOU.
DOUG HURLEY, MARINE CORP. TEST 
PILOT THE VETERAN OF MULTIPLE 
MISSIONS, FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER 
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, AGAIN, 
VETERAN OF MULTIPLE MISSIONS.
THIS IS NOT NEW TO THESE GUYS.
ALL I CAN DO IS CONVEY TO THEM 
HOW MUCH A ALL OF AMERICA 
APPRECIATES WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
AND JUST HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE AS 
A NATION.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THEIR 
DEMEANOR IS LOOSE.
THEY ARE READY TO GO.
THEY WERE JOKING AROUND.
SO IT WAS NICE TO SEE THEY ARE 
IN THEIR ELEMENT.
WE ARE JUST SO GRATE SKPFL PROUD
OF THEM.
>> THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.
THAT GIVEHOUSE GREAT CONFIDENCE 
I'M SURE IN YOUR POSITIONS A AS 
YOU HEAR THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A SOCIAL 
MEDIA QUESTION.
AND WE'VE GOT THIS QUESTION 
COMING FROM BROOKLYN.
AND SHE WANTS TO KNOW, I KNOW 
THERE'S SOME CHANGES IN THE 
SPACE SUITS.
THEY LOOK THINNER AND LIGHTER.
WHAT CHANGES IN THE SPACE 
CAPSULE ALLOW TO HAVE THESE 
FUTURISTIC SUITS?
>> WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME 
DESIGNING THE SPACE SUIT.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE 
SPACE SUITS.
IT TOOK US ALMOST FOUR YEARS TO 
DESIGN SUIT THIS IS BOTH LOOK 
GOOD AND WORK WELL.
SO YOU CAN SEE A SPACE SUIT IN 
THE MOVIE LOOKS GOOD.
IT DOESN'T WORK.
AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE A SPACE 
SUIT THAT WORKS BUT DOESN'T LOOK
GOOD.
THEY HAVE TO SURVIVE IN A 
VACUUM.
IT'S GOT TO HANDLE PRESSURE.
SO IT TOOK US MANY IT RATIONS TO
GET THE SUIT TO REALLY WANT IT 
TO LOOK GREAT.
IT'S WE WANT TO INSPIRE KIDS AND
SAY ONE DAY THEY WANT TO WEAR 
THAT UNIFORM.
THEY WANT TO WEAR THAT SPACE 
SUIT.
AND GET THEM FIRED UP.
AND I THINK WHAT IT'S ABOUT IS 
REIGNITING THE DREAM OF SPACE.
AND GETTING PEOPLE FIRED UP 
ABOUT THE FUTURE.
AND EXCITED.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT 
EVERYONE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE,
ALL PARTS OF THE POLITICAL 
SPECTRUM IN THE UNITED STATES 
AND ELSEWHERE SHOULD BE EXCITED 
THIS IS A THING THAT'S MADE BY 
HUMANS, FOR HUMANS AND IT'S JUST
A GREAT, EXCITING, INSPIRING DAY
AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT 
MAKES YOU GLAD TO WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING.
>> FUNCTIONAL AND INSPIRING.
THERE'S ONE ON A MODEL OVER 
THERE.
YOU GOT MESO EXCITED I MIGHT RUN
OVER AND PUT THAT THING ON.
>> IT'S CUSTOM TAILORED, BY THE 
WAY.
>> WE CAN MAKE THAT ONE THAT 
YOU'D FIT IN.
>> AND THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT CAN
TAKE SOMEONE WHO IS 6'8".
>> I'M GETTING EXCITED.
I'M READY TO FLY.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER SOCIAL MEDIA 
WE'RE GOING TO ASK.
HOW DO YOU THINK LAUNCHING 
ASTRONAUTS ON AMERICAN SOIL FOR 
THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2011 WILL 
REVOLUTIONIZE FUTURE MISSIONS?
>> SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS 
UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE EVER 
DONE BEFORE.
WE ARE NOT PURCHASING, OWNING 
AND OPERATING THE HARDWARE.
WE ARE TURNING TO COMMERCIAL 
INDUSTRY.
AND GOING BACK TO THE SPACE 
SUITS, IT'S THE SAME FOR IF THE 
ROCKET.
WE DID NOT TELL INDUSTRY WHAT TO
BUILD.
WE GAVE THEM TOP LEVEL 
REQUIREMENTS.
WE SAID HERE'S THE REQUIREMENT 
FOR PAYLOAD.
HERE'S THE REQUIREMENT FOR 
SAFETY.
WE LET THE INNOVATORS, 
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY, AMERICAN 
COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY INNOVATE.
CAME UP WITH SOLUTIONS THAT HAD 
NEVER BEEN DREAMED OF BEFORE.
THAT'S THE SUCCESS OF THIS 
PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE REALLY REVOLUTIONIZING 
HOW WE DO SPACE FLIGHT.
AND I REALLY THINK WHEN WE LOOK 
INTO THE FUTURE, WE'RE GOING TO 
SEE THESE MODELS OF DOING 
BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC/PRIVATE 
PARTNERSHIPS.
WE'RE TAKING THIS MODEL TO THE 
MOON AND ON TO MARS.
>> I HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT TOM 
CRUZE SHOOTING THE MUTE SEE.
>> I TOLD YOU WHAT I TOLD ELON.
IF PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT TOM CRUZE
ALL THE TIME NOW.
WE WOULD LOVE TOM CRUISE TO FLY 
TO THE SPACE STATION TO MAKE A 
MOVIE.
WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE 
THAT HAPPEN.
BUT THERE WAS A DAY IN 
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I SAW THE 
MOVIE "TOP GUN."
FROM THAT DAY, I KNEW I WAS 
GOING TO BE A NAVY PILOT.
IT'S JUST THE THE WAY IT WAS.
THIS IS AWAY WE'RE DOING TODAY.
AND ELON IS ALL ABOUT THIS.
>> GET THE KIDS FIRED UP ABOUT 
IT.
WANTING TO WEAR IT.
THAT'S BASICALLY WANT TO FLY 
THAT AND GO TO ORBIT AND GO TO 
THE MOON AND GO TO MARS.
REIGNITING THE DREAM OF SPACE 
AND JUST GETTING ALL WALKS OF 
LIFE EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE, I
THINK ANYONE WHO HAS WITHIN THEM
THE SPIRIT OF EXPLORATION SHOULD
LOVE WHAT'S GOING ON DOED TODAY.
>> IF WE CAN GET TOM CRUISE TO 
INSPIRE A YOUNG KID, WHY CAN'T 
WE GET HIM TO INSPIRE THE NEXT 
ELON MUSK.
WE NEED A NEW GENERATION OF MANY
ELON MUSKS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS LAUNCH IS ABOUT
TODAY.
I WANT TO SAY SPEAKING OF THIS 
INSPIRATION PIECE, IT'S NOT BY 
CHANCE WE HAVE THE SECRETARY OF 
EDUCATION OF THE UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA HERE.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE NEXT 
GENERATION.
IF WE HAVE GREAT SUCCESS IN OUR 
GENERATION, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
IT HAS TO CONTINUE.
THE CHALLENGE WITH THE APOLLO 
PROGRAM IS THAT IT ENDED.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS 
SUSTAINABLE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE 
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AND 
COMMERCIAL CAPABILITIES THAT ARE
COMING ONLINE.
>> VERY GOOD.
GOOD NEWS FOR TOM CRUISE, HE 
DOES A LOT OF HIS OWN STUNTS.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE 
SUPER COOL.
>> YOU WANT TO CAPTURE 
IMAGINATION.
I WOULD WANT TO WATCH THAT 
MOVIE.
AND THIS IS LIKE REALLY JUST THE
BEGINNING.
WE WANT TO GO FROM BACK TO THE 
MOON.
AND THE MOON TO STAY.
HAVE A MOON BASE.
S THAT A SUPER EXCITING FUTURE 
THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT 
YOU'RE LIKE CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO
HAPPEN.
IF YOU CAN'T GET EXCITED AFTER 
LISTENING TO YOU, YOU NEED TO 
HAVE YOUR PULSE CHECKED.
ELON MUSK, SPACEXC OE, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
WE APPRECIATE YOU LEADING NASA 
DURING THIS TIME, JIM.
WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT BACK.
>> THANK YOU.
WE SAW IN THE MEANTIME WHILE 
THAT INTERVIEW WAS GOING ON, THE
HATCH CLOSED.
THAT HAPPENED A FEW MINUTES 
EARLIER TOO.
OUR TIMELINE HAS THAT HAPPENING 
AT T-MINUS AN HOUR AND 55 
MINUTES.
SO A FEW MINUTES AHEAD OF 
SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW WITH HATCH 
CLOSED.
YOU CAN SEE THE PAD TEAM THERE 
WORKING ON THINGS NOW.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT THEY ARE 
DOING IS -- WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
>> THEY PERFORM A LEAK CHECK.
THERE'S A MECHANISM THERE.
THAT'S WHAT ACTUALLY CLOSES THE 
HATCH.
AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS A PERFORM A
LEAK CHECK ON THAT TO MAKE SURE 
THAT'S NICE AND TIGHT.
THAT THE O-RINGS ARE SEALED 
WELL.
AND AFTER THAT, WE WILL INSTALL 
THE LEAK CHECK GROUND SUPPORT 
EQUIPMENT THERE IN THE 
TECHNICIAN'S HANDS THERE.
>> WHILE WE'RE WATCHING THIS, WE
JUST HEARD THEM TALK A LOT A 
ABOUT INSPIRING THE NEXT 
GENERATION.
YOU'RE A MAN OF MANY TALENTS, 
AFTER YOUR FLIGHTS, YOU USED TO 
HAVE THE HEAD OF NASA EDUCATION.
WHAT DOES THAT STIR UP IN YOU?
>> WHAT ELON SAID ABOUT 
REIGNITING THE DREAM OF SPACE IS
SO IMPORTANT.
WE GET OUR YOUNG KIDS THINKING 
ABOUT THEMSELVES BEING IN THESE 
SEATS.
WHEN I FIRST BECAME AN 
ASTRONAUT, I WAS RIDING ON THE 
BACK OF A FIRE TRUCK CELEBRAING
JOHN GLEN'S RETURN.
THESE KIDS HAD ORANGE PUMPKIN 
SUITS AND THEY TURNED THEM TO 
LOOK.
THEY STARTED LAUNCHING INTO 
SPACE BECAUSE THEY WERE 
INSPIRED.
IF WE CAN REIGNITE THE DREAM 
THROUGH SPACEX'S LAUNCH, THE 
PARTNERSHIP WITH NASA, WE CAN 
GET SO MANY MORE KIDS TO BELIEVE
IN THEMSELVES AND KNOW THEY CAN 
BE FLYING ON THE DRAGON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IT'S REALLY JUST BREATH TAKING 
TO SEE THEM THERE IN THEIR SUITS
NOW.
AND LOOKING AT THE SCREENS IN 
FRONT OF THEM, I KNOW WE TALKED 
A THE LOT ABOUT SPACECRAFT.
WE HEARD ABOUT THAT.
BUT FOR FOLKS THAT MAYBE ARE 
JUST TUNING IN, WHAT ARE THEY 
LOOKING AT AT IN FRONT OF THEM 
NOW?
>> THEY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT 
TOUCH SCREENS IN FRONT OF THEM.
OVERALL THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY IS 
CALLED THE CONTROL PANEL.
SO YOU'LL HAVE THE THREE LCD 
TOUCH SCREENS IN FRONT OF THEM.
THEY HAVE THE DISPLAYS ARE 
SHOWING THEM DETAILS ON THE 
VEHICLE'S PRESSURE, ITS 
TEMPERATURE, THERE'S AUDIO 
CONTROL.
THAT CENTER SCREEN HAS THE 
PROCEDURES THEY ARE GOING 
THROUGH TODAY ON DAY OF LAUNCH.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE VEHICLE'S 
ATTITUDE.
YOU CAN SEE ITS VELOCITY, 
INCLINATION, DETAILS ON THE 
STATUS OF THE HATCH, THERMAL 
CONTROL SYSTEM, BASICALLY ALL 
THE COOL STUFF THAT HELPS THEM 
HAVE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF 
THE VEHICLE.
THAT'S DISPLAYED ON THOSE 
DISPLAYS.
IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE 
UNDERNEATH THE CENTER SCREEN.
THAT'S THE CREW'S ABILITY TO 
INITIATE AN ABORT.
IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WHERE 
BOTH CREW MEMBERS COULD USE IT 
IF THEY NEEDED TO.
THE AUDIO CONTROLS ARE ALSO ON 
THOSE BUTTON PAELS.
WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN THEIR 
SUITS, THERE'S SPEAKERS THAT ARE
COMING OFF THE CONTROL PANEL 
THAT ALLOW THEM TO HEAR MISSION 
CONTROL, HEAR THE CORE, HEAR 
S
ISS.
>> WE SEE THEM USING THE TOUCH 
SCREENS NOW.
WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS.
>> THIS LOOKS TOTALLY DIFFERENT 
THAN WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT 
DURING SHUTTLE.
>> TOUCH SCREENS, WE HAD THESE 
DISPLAYS AND BUTTONS AND IT WAS 
ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHEN I'M 
LOOKING A AT THIS NOW THAT HAD 
PROCEDURES AND THINGS ON THERE.
IT'S ALL CONTROLLED WITH THE TWO
OF THEM.
SO IT'S A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM
WHAT WE DID WITH THE SHUTTLE, 
BUT IT'S USHERING IN THE NEW ERA
OF SPACE TRAVEL.
>> A CHECK ON HOW THAT SUIT 
L
FEELS ABOUT NOW.
>> WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN FOR AN 
ANNOUNCE THE ABOUT HATCH 
CLOSURE.
>> COPY.
TODAY WE ARE NOT TRACKING ANY 
ISSUES ON DRAGON.
FOR A WEATHER JUP DATE, THE 
WEATHER LINE OVERHEAD, WHICH IS 
WHAT YOU SAW IS NOW MOVING 
OFFSHORE.
THE NEXT RADAR RETURN IS A CELL 
OVER ORLANDO.
>> THAT'S GOOD NEWS.
THANK YOU.
>> COPY.
ONE ADDITIONAL ITEM.
THE SITE REMAINS AS BRIEFSED.
NO CHANGE THERE.
BUT I WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE 
THAT'S SLIGHTLY WEST FOR 
WEATHER.
SO JUST TARGET THE LAUNCH IF 
NEEDED.
>> DRAGON COPY.
SLIGHTLY WEST.
WE'LL TARGET THE LONGITUDE AND 
SUIT AIR HAS COOLED OFF.
WE APPRECIATE THAT AS WELL.
>> WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.
>> COPY.
>> WHAT WE HEARD WAS A LITTLE 
MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE 
WEATHER.
STILL LOOKING AT THINGS AND 
WE'RE ABOUT A MINUTE AWAY FROM 
AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT HATCH 
CLOSURE.
>> WE'RE EXPECTING AN 
ANNOUNCEMENT TO CONFIRM HATCH 
CLOSURE IN JUST A FEW SECONDS.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, CHECKS WITH 
FACON 9.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> WE ARE READY FOR THAT.
IF YOU'RE READY.
>> WE ARE READY.
>> ALL STATIONS UP ON COUNTDOWN 
FOR SECTION 54.49 RESPONSIBLE 
ENGINEER COMMUNICATIONS CHECK 
WITH THE CREW.
START WITH THE GUIDANCE 
NAVIGATION AND CONTROL.
>> DRAGON ON COUNTDOWN COM 
CHECK.
>> DRAGON, CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR, STANDBY FOR 
COM CHECK BY THE ENGINEER.
>> DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> PROP, LOUD AND CLEAR STANDBY 
FOR COM CHECK WITH ENGINEER.
>> DRAGON, COUNTDOWN ONE, COM 
CHECK.
>> DRAGON, WE HAVE LOUD AND 
CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR, STANDBY FOR 
COM CHECK WITH THE GROUND 
SEGMENT ENGINEER.
>> COUNT DOWN COM CHECK.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
STANDBY FOR COM CHECK BY LAUNCH 
CONTROL.
>> COM CHECK.
>> LAUNCH CONTROL, DRAGON, LOUD 
AND CLEAR.
>> LAUNCH CONTROL, LOUD AND 
CLEAR.
>> DRAGON, CHIEF ENGINEER ON 
COUNTDOWN ONE, COM CHECK.
>> DRAGON HAS YOU LOUD AND 
CLEAR.
>> CHIEF ENGINEER, LOUD AND 
CLEAR.
THIS COMPLETES THE F-9 COM 
CHECKS.
>> DRAGON, CHIEF ENGINEER ON 
DRAGON TO GROUND.
>> GO AHEAD, SIR.
>> JUST DOING A COM CHECK ON 
THIS LOOP.
GOOD LUCK, GUYS, BUCKLE IN.
>> THANKS TO YOU.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE JUST HEARD A SERIES OF COM
CHECKS THERE.
LAUREN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT
TO DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT MORE 
ABOUT WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT.
WE HEARD GNC.
THEY SAID GUIDANCE NAVIGATION 
AND CONTROL REALLY QUICKLY AND 
WENT BACK TO THE ACRONYM.
CAN CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO FOLK WHAT
IS THAT MEANS?
>> YEAH, THE LAUNCH CHIEF 
ENGINEER INITIATED A COM CHECK 
WITH THE THE DIFFERENT SYSTEMS 
THAT THOSE ENGINEERS THAT ARE ON
COM AND TALKING WITH THE CREW 
MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE ABLE 
TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEM AND 
HANDING THAT CHECK A OFF FROM 
ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STATIONS 
TODAY.
THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY COOL.
WE OBVIOUSLY DON'T DO THAT WHEN 
THERE'S A SATELLITE ON TOP OF 
THE ROCKET.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR A 
REAL FLIGHT THAT WE HAVE DONE 
THAT OPERATION, WHICH IS VERY 
AWESOME.
>> NOW THAT THE HATCH IS CLOSED,
A LOT OF THE WORK OF THIS TEAM 
IS DONE.
BUT THEY ARE NOT FINISHED.
YOU WERE TALKING TO FOLKS ABOUT 
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS ROOM 
NOW.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETING THE 
HATCH CHECK.
THE FEW O-RINGS THERE, WE WANT 
TO SEE IF IT HOLDS PRESSURE.
IT'S VERY SENSITIVE TEST, VERY 
HIGH CRITERIA FOR PASSING.
SO ONCE THAT LEAK CHECK IS SHOWN
TO BE OKAY, AND THE O-RINGS ARE 
ABLE TO HOLD PRESSURE, THE TEAM 
WILL GO BACK INTO THAT AREA AND 
ACCESS PANEL AND INSTALL WHAT WE
CALL THE SIDE PRESSURE 
EQUALIZATION PLUG.
ONCE THAT IS PLUGGED, YOU REALLY
CLOSED EVERYTHING UP.
AND WHEN THE CREW SPLASHES DOWN,
WHAT THEY WILL ACTUALLY DO IS 
PULL THAT PLUG TO EQUALIZE 
PRESSURE ACROSS THE HATCH SO YOU
DON'T CAUSE THE HATCH TO BUCKLE 
DUE TO A CAPSULE, ANY OF THE 
VEHICLE TO BUCKLE DUE TO A 
PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL.
SO THEY SHOULD BE ADDING THAT 
PLUG AND THEN COVER UP THE SIDE 
HATCH ACCESS PANEL WITH A 
THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM PANEL.
CLOSE IT UP AND THAT WILL MAKE 
SURE IT STAYS SAFE.
>> NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A VIEW 
FROM THE OUTSIDE.
THE TOP OF FALCON NINE.
>> A GOOD SIDE HATCH LEAK CHECK.
>> DOCTOR GONE, COPY.
>> WE JUST HEARD CONFIRMATION OF
A GOOD LEAK CHECK.
>> YOR LOOKING AT THE FALCON 9 
ROCKET WITH CREW DRAGON INSIDE 
THAT CAPSULE.
BOB AND DOUG ARE INSIDE.
WE ARE INSIDE OF TWO HOURS UNTIL
LIFTOFF IF THE WEATHER HOLDS UP.
THERE'S ANOTHER STUNNING AERIAL 
VIEW OF THE CREW ACCESS ARM 
EXTENDED TOWARDS CREW DRAGON.
THAT'S THE FINAL PASS THAT THE 
ASTRONAUTS TOOK TO CLIMB ABOARD 
DRAGON BEFORE THEY STRAPPED INTO
THEIR SEATS AND THE HATCH 
CLOSED.
NO DOUBT BOB AND DOUG ARE 
FOCUSED ON THE MISSION AHEAD, 
BUT WE ALSO HEARD ELON MUSK 
TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE BEEN
JOKING AROUND AND YOU MENTIONED 
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
>> WHEN WE WERE IN THE VEHICLE, 
WE GOT TO POINT WHEN THE HATCH 
WAS CLOSED, WE WERE ALL GOING 
BACK TO THOSE MOMENTS OF OUR 
TRAINING WHEN WE WERE GOING 
THROUGH ENTRY TRAINING ON THE 
SHUTTLE AND DIFFERENT PHASES OF 
FLIGHTS WE WOULD BE GOING 
THROUGH.
AND WE WOULD THINK ABOUT SOME OF
THE INSTRUCTORS WHO GOT US 
THERE.
WE WOULD HAVE NAMES OF PEOPLE 
THAT WERE VERY IMPACTFUL IN 
MAKING SURE WE WERE PERFECT IN 
OUR TRAINING.
>> THAT LOOKS LIKE A VIEW OF AIR
FORCE ONE.
FLYING NEAR LAUNCH PAD 39A FOR A
SPECIAL GUEST TO HAVE A SPECIAL 
VIEW OF THE ASTRONAUTS ON THE 
LAUNCH PAD.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ON BOARD MAKING 
HIS WAY TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER 
TO HOPEFULLY VIEW A LAUNCH AT 
4:33 THIS AFTERNOON.
THERE THEY ARE IN VIEW OF THE 
LAUNCH PAD.
NO DOUBT HE'S LOOKING AT THE 
WINDOW, LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW 
OF BOB AND DOUG ON THE PAD.
THAT'S GOT TO BE AN AMAZING 
SIGHT TO SEE ON BOARD AIR FORCE 
ONE.
WE ARE AT T-MINUS 1 HOUR AND 47 
MINUTES.
WE DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH 
WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WAS COMING.
THE LST PRESIDENT TO WITNESS A 
LAUNCH FROM HERE AT KENNEDY 
SPACE STATION WAS BILL CLINTON 
BACK IN OCTOBER 1998 FOR STS 95.
SO IT'S BEEN A MINUTE.
>> WE ARE ABOUT 56 SECONDS AWAY 
FROM -- NO, WE'RE NOT.
WE HAVE AN HOUR IS AND 56 
SECONDS AWAY.
NEVER MIND.
INSTEAD, WE ARE 1 HOUR AND 45 
MINUTES AWAY FROM LAUNCH.
AND YOU ARE THERE WITH THE 
SOCIAL TEAMS.
I BET YOU'RE SEEING EXCITEMENT 
ON EVERYTHING WE SAW ON THE 
SCREEN THERE.
>> I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, THINGS
ARE REALLY RAMPING UP ON SOCIAL 
MEDIA RIGHT NOW.
ESPECIALLY SEEING THAT HATCH 
CLOSE.
ALSO JUST WATCHING THIS FLYOVER 
HAPPEN.
WE'RE UP TO 1.7 MILLION VIEWERS 
ACROSS ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA 
CHANNELS AND LET'S CHECK OUT 
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ON 
TWITTER RIGHT NOW.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE MORE 
CREATIVITY STILL GOING ON.
SOME PEOPLE ARE CRYING WITH 
PRIDE IN HOUSTON.
WE EVEN HAVE ELIZABETH BANKS, WE
HAVE MORE JUST GOOD LUCK AND 
WELL WISHES FOR BOB AND DOUG 
ACROSS THE NATION.
THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT ONLINE 
TOID.
MORE FUTURE ASTRONAUTS AND KIDS 
GETTING EXCITED.
WE EVEN HAVE THE BAND BASTILLE 
TUNING IN.
MORE PEOPLE STANDING BY TO 
WITNESS THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH 
TODAY.
SO ON TOP OF WHEN'S BEING SAID 
ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE ALSO HAVE A 
LOT OF WELL WISHES FROM EVERYONE
ACROSS OUR COUNTRY SHOWING US US
WHAT TODAY MEANS IN THEIR 
CREATIVITY WAY.
SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT 
VIDEO.
>> I'M SO READY FOR LAUNCH 
AMERICA.
>> LOOK AT EVERYBODY EXCITED FOR
TODAY'S LAUNCH.
IF THAT DOESN'T GET YOU EXCITED,
LET'S GO.
WE GOT TO SEE ASTRONAUT SNOOPY, 
WHICH IS A PERSONAL FAVORITE OF 
MINE.
HE'S LITERALLY MY SPIRIT ANIMAL.
GUYS, GET EXCITED.
THE TIME IS ALMOST HERE.
WITH THAT, LET'S TOSS IT BACK TO
LAUREN AT KENNEDY.
>> THANK YOU.
SHE LIKES THE SNOOPY.
I LIKED THE GIRL DOING THE WORM.
>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT 
LOOKS LIKE.
>> I DON'T.
>> CLEARLY, THIS IS CAPTURING 
THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE ALL 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE 
WORLD.
SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO JOIN THE 
CONVERSATION BY USING 
#LAUNCHAMERICA ACROSS FACEBOOK, 
TWITTER, LINKEDIN AND INSTAGRAM.
>> WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY 
TO SHARE WITH YOU A LOT ABOUT 
THE SPACEX VEHICLE.
A LOT ABOUT THE CREW THEMSELVES 
AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF TODAY AS
THE OFFICIAL RETURN OF HUMAN 
LAUNCH CAPABILITY TO AMERICAN 
SHORES AND NOW WE WANT TO TURN 
OUR ATTENTION TO WHERE THE CREW 
IS GOING.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
AND FOR THAT, LET'S TAKE YOU TO 
MISSION CONTROL?
HOUSTON.
>> THANK YOU.
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
IS AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY WHOSE 
CONSTRUCTION OPERATION AND 
ONGOING SCIENCE ALL OF THESE 
EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE 
BY AN UNPRECEDENTED 
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION.
SO TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE 
SPACE STATION, WE HAVE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
CHIEF SCIENTIST WITH US.
KURT, WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S AN AMAZING DAY TO BE HERE 
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS 
HISTORIC LAUNCH TO THE THE ISS.
>> IT REALLY IS.
MANY VIEWERS MAY NOT REALIZE 
THAT THERE IS A LABORATORY.
THAT'S THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL 
FIELD.
250 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS 
CONDUCTING REV NUGS NAR SCIENCE.
SHARE WITH US A ABOUT WHAT THE 
SPACE STATION IS AND WHAT IT'S 
ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR.
>> SURE, OVER THE 20 YEARS, WE 
HAVE CONDUCTED OVER 3100 
EXPERIMENTS ON BOARD THIS SPACE 
STATION.
THOSE 3100 EXPERIMENTS HAVE BEEN
DONE BY OVER 4100 INVESTIGATORS 
AND REPRESENT THE WORK OF OVER 
108 REGIONS AND COUNTRIES.
THE WORK GOING ON ON THE SPACE 
STATION IS NOT ONLY THERE TO 
HELP WITH OUR EXPLORATION GOALS 
FOR HOW TO GO FURTHER INTO 
SPACE, BUT ALSO TO BRING BACK 
BENEFITS FOR EARTH.
AND TO PRODUCE A COMMERCIAL 
MARKETPLACE IN LOW EARTH ORBIT.
ALL THREE OF THESE OBJECTIVES, 
ALONG WITH THE INTERNATIONAL 
COOPERATION THAT IT TOOK TO 
BUILD SUCH AN AMAZING LABORATORY
IN SPACE, ARE GREAT EXAMPLES OF 
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ISS.
>> WE KNOW THAT TODAY'S MISSION 
IS CRITICAL TO PROVIDING A 
STEADY CADENCE OF OPERATIONAL 
FLIGHTS.
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE 
THIS CAPABILITY FROM A RESEARCH 
PER SPELKTIVE.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
TODAY'S TEST FLIGHT BRINGS US TO
THE BEGINNING OF A COMMERCIAL 
CREW PROGRAM.
A COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM, WHICH
WILL RAISE OUR OCCUPANCY ON THE 
U.S. SEGMENT OF THE SPACE 
STATION TO FOUR ASTRONAUTS.
AND THAT FOURTH ASTRONAUT COMES 
AS A PREMIUM TO DOING RESEARCH 
ON THE SPACE STATION.
THE TASKS DON'T GET PARTICULARLY
MORE INTENSIVE TO DO SYSTEMS IN 
MAINTENANCE, SO THAT FOURTH 
ASTRONAUT, THAT TIME BECOMES 
DEDICATED TO BECOMING MORE 
SCIENCE.
ENOUGH TIME TO ESSENTIALLY 
DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF CREW TIME 
WE HAVE TO PERFORM EXPERIMENTS 
ON BOARD STATION.
THE RETURN TO U.S. SOIL ALSO 
BRINGS US THE ABILITY TO RETURN 
SAMPLES MORE QUICKLY AND GET 
HUMAN SAMPLES BACK DOWN TO THE 
GROUND MORE QUICKLY AS WELL.
>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THIS
GREAT RESEARCH.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SCIENTIFIC 
EXPERIMENTS.
BUT WHAT YOULD YOU SAY TO 
SOMEONE WATCHING THIS AND 
THINKING THIS ISN'T RELEVANT TO 
ME.
I'M NEVER GOING TO SPACE.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE?
>> AGAIN, ONE OF THE FOCUSES IS 
ON THE ISS BENEFITS FOR 
HUMANITY.
AND FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN 
STUCK AT HOME DURING THE 
COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE HAVE BEEN 
WONDERING WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO
HAVE MORE BAND WIDth.
WHY DOES THE INTERNET SLOW DOWN?
SOME OF THE RESEARCH WE HAVE 
BEEN DOING IS USING THE FACT 
THAT WE DON'T HAVE SEDIMENTATION
IN A MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT TO
DEVELOP NEW MATERIALS TO BUILD 
MORE PERFECT CABLES, TO ALLOW US
FOR BETTER BANDWIDTH AND LOWER 
COSTS IN IMPLEMENTING NETWORKS 
ON EARTH.
IF YOU'RE NOT A TECH GEEK, MAYBE
YOUR INTERESTS LIE IN HUMAN 
HEALTH.
AND WE HAVE MULTIPLE EXPERIMENTS
GOING ON TO HELP US DEVELOP NEW 
DRUGS, NEW TREATMENTS ON BOARD 
THE ISS.
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE 
WORKING ON METHODS THAT ALLOW US
TO CRYSTALLIZE PROTEINS IN SPACE
IN A MORE PURIFIED AND 
STANDARDIZED METHOD.
THIS COULD LEAD TO ANTIBODY 
SUSPENSION TO TREAT THROUGH 
INJECTION INSTEAD OF A PAINFUL 
INFUSION.
WE ALSO ARE DEVELOPING STUDIES 
INTO OUR CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE 
TISSUES AND ORGANS IN SPACE.
AGAIN, BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE 
SEDIMENTATION, THERE'S A 
CAPABILITY THERE TO PRODUCE MORE
REALISTIC TISSUES THAT CAN SOME 
DAY POSSIBLY BE USED TO PREVENT 
HUMAN DISEASE.
>> I KNOW THERE'S SOME CARGO 
GOING UP WITH THEM, BUT I 
UNDERSTAND THEY OLYMPIAN TO 
BRING SOME SCIENCE BACK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
A LOT OF THEIR CARGO GOING UP 
WITH THEM ARE CREW SUPPLIES TO 
SUPPORT THEM IF THEY HAVE TO DO 
EVAs ON BOARD.
BUT THE CARGO THEY WILL BE 
BRINGING DOWN IS SCIENCE.
IT COMES FROM ACROSS THE 
SPECTRUM.
WE HAVE STUDENT EXPERIMENTS IN 
SEEDS THAT WILL BE RETURNING 
WITH THE CREW.
WE ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF 
EXPERIMENTS DEPENDENT ON THEIR 
SAMPLES RETURNING IN FROZEN 
LOCKERS ON BOARD THE SPACEX 
DRAGON TO BE ABLE TO DO THE 
SCIENCE THERE.
THOSE INCLUDE THE RESEARCH 17 
MISSION.
AND ALSO OUR VEGGIE 
EXPERMANENTS, WHICH ARE IN 
GROWING PLANTS IN SPACE THAT 
WILL BE NEEDED WHEN WE GO TO 
MORE DISTANT LOCATIONS LIKE THE 
MOON AND MARS.
>> INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
CHIEF SCIENTIST, THUNG FOR YOUR 
TIME.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE NEXT 
ASTRONAUT TO FLY THE STATION ON 
A CREW DRAGON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M SO HONORED TO BE A PART OF 
TODAY'S MOMENTOUS LAUNCH.
BY GUEST IS NO STRANGER TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND 
WILL RETURN THERE FOR THE FIRST 
TIME IN NEARLY A DECADE FOR HIS 
THIRD SPACE FLIGHT EXPECTED 
LATER THIS YEAR.
HAVING LOGGED 177 DAYS IN SPACE 
FROM FLIGHTS ON THE SPACE 
SHUTTLE DISCOVERY, HE WILL HAVE 
SPENT MORE TIME IN SPIS THAN ANY
OTHER CREW MATES.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WM HIM HERE 
WITH US TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
THIS IS WONDERFUL.
WE ARE CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH.
>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING 
HERE WITH US.
I'M SURE YOU HAVE FELT THE 
EXCITEMENT FIREFIGHTER TODAY'S 
LAUNCH.
YOU WILL BE ON THE NEXT CREW 
DRAGON FLIGHT AFTER THIS ONE.
ARE YOU EXCITED TO LAUNCH AND 
HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE 
NEW VEHICLE?
>> DEFINITELY WE ARE EXCITED TO 
GO BACK TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
MY FIRST SPACE FLIGHT WAS FROM 
THE SPACESHIP THAT WAS 15 YEARS 
AGO.
I STILL FEEL THE COLLABORATION 
OF THE LAUNCH THE SAME LAUNCH 
PATTERN.
AND OUR CREW IS GETTING READY 
FOR THE FINAL TRAINING PHASE, 
WHICH WILL COME IN THE COMING 
WEEKS.
SPACE EXPLORATION IS AN 
INTERNATIONAL EFFORT.
HOW DO YOU FEEL REPRESENTING 
THEM ONCE AGAIN ON THE ISS?
>> I THINK THE STRENGTH OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS 
DIVERSITY OF THE PARTICIPATING 
COUNTRIES AND DIVERITY IS GIVE 
TO THE PROGRAM.
AND THE SAME APPLIES TO OUR 
CREW.
OUR CREW WON FOUR OF US.
AND DEFINITELY DIVERSITY IS A 
KEYWORD OF OUR SUCCESS TO CREW.
>> THIS WILL BE MY THIRD VISIT.
I LIKE TO SEE THE THINGS MY 
COLLEAGUES KEEP SAYING, HEY, YOU
GOT TO VISIT THE SPACE STATION 
AGAIN.
IT'S GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE 
AND MORE ROOMY AND I CAN NOT 
WAIT TO GO BACK TO MY STATION 
AFTER TEN YEARS.
>> NOTHING BEATS THAT VIEW, DEF.
MY LAST FLIGHT WE ACTUALLY -- 
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, LIVE AT THE 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER IN FLORIDA 
WHERE SOON TWO U.S. ASTRONAUTS 
WILL MAKE HISTORY.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 
A DECADE AN AMERICAN SPACESHIP 
IS LAUNCHING 
>> THIS IS AN ABC NEWS/"NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC" SPECIAL.
>> TEN, NINE, EIGHT.
>> THE CREW IS READY.
THE HATCH IS CLOSED.
>> SEVEN, SIX.
>> THE COUNTDOWN IS ON.
>> IGNITION, LIFTOFF.
>> A NEW CHAPTER IN SPACE 
EXPLORATION IS ABOUT TO BE 
LAUNCHED.
>> LD, GOOD FOR LAUNCH.
>> DECADES IN THE MAKING.
>> IT'S ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, 
ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.
>> PROPELLED BY AMERICAN 
DETERMINATION AND SPIRIT.
>> WE HAVE A PROBLEM HERE.
>> TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH.
>> LIFTOFF, AMERICANS RETURN TO 
SPACE AS "DISCOVERY" CLEARS THE 
TOWER.
>> A NEW GENERATION OF 
SPACECRAFT.
>> "DRAGON" SEPARATION 
CONFIRMED.
>> A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP 
THAT WILL TAKE CREWS TO THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> WELCOME TO THE NEW ERA IN 
SPACE FLIGHT.
>> RETURN ASTRONAUTS TO THE 
MOON.
>> THAT VIEW IS TREMENDOUS.
>> EXPAND OUR REACH FOR THE 
SOLAR SYSTEM.
>> IT'S ABOUT HUMANITY'S QUEST 
FOR KNOWLEDGE.
>> AND CONTINUE THE MISSION WE 
STARTED.
♪ WE'RE GOING IN, UNITED FROM 
THE START ♪
♪ LIKE WE'VE NEVER BEEN ♪
>> WE'RE NOT ENDING THE JOURNEY 
TODAY.
WE'RE COMPLETING IT, A JOURNEY 
THAT WILL NEVER END.
>> COUNTDOWN TO LAUNCH STARTS 
NOW.
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
>> LIFTOFF.
>> LIVE FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE 
CENTER IN FLORIDA, AND ABC 
LAUNCH HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK 
CITY, HERE NOW, TOM LLAMAS AND 
LINDSAY DAVIS.
>> WELCOME TO "LAUNCH AMERICA."
LIVE FROM ABC HEADQUARTERS IN 
NEW YORK ON AN EXCITING DAY FOR 
THE U.S. SPACE PROGRAM THE 
RETURN TO SPACE LAUNCHING FROM 
U.S. SOIL, A NEW ERA BEGINS 
TODAY AND SO FAR, ALL SYSTEMS 
ARE A GO, SO EVERYONE IS 
WATCHING THE WEATHER CLOSELY.
THAT'S THE BIG UNKNOWN RIGHT 
NOW.
WE'LL TALK TO GINGER ZEE IN A 
MOMENT.
>> WE'RE THRILLED TO WORK WITH 
"NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" TO BRING 
YOU THIS HISTORIC LIVE EVENT 
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM 
THE LAUNCH PAD IN FLORIDA, TO 
MISSION CONTROLS IN HOUSTON AND 
CALIFORNIA, EVEN FROM SPACE.
OUR TEAM FROM ABC NEWS AND 
"NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC" SPREAD OUT
TO COVER EVERY POSSIBLE ANGLE OF
THE LAUNCH AND LUCKY TO BE 
JOINED BY THREE ASTRONAUTS, 
INCLUDING ONE WHO RETURNED TO 
EARTH JUST THREE MONTHS AGO.
>> WE SORE EXCITED TO HAVE THEM 
WITH US TODAY.
IT IS THE FIRST TIME NASA 
ASTRONAUTS LAUNCH ABOARD A 
PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED 
SPACECRAFT AND THE FIRST TIME 
ANY PRIVATE COMPANY HAS SENT 
ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT, WHY 
YOU'RE ABOUT TO WITNESS HISTORY.
THE SPACESHIP CAPSULE IS CALLED 
THE "DRAGON" ON TOP OF THE 
MASSIVE FALCON 9 ROCKET NAMED 
AFTER HAN SOLO'S MILLENNIUM 
FALCON BY "STAR WARS."
BUILT BY ELON MUSK AND SPACEX.
A U.S. LAUNCH HASN'T HAPPENED IN
NINE YEARS WHEN THE SPACE 
SHUTTLE PROGRAM WAS CLOSED DOWN 
AND YOU HEARD THOSE IMMORTAL 
WORDS FROM THE LAST SHUTTLE 
COMMANDER, CHRIS FERGUSON "WE'RE
NOT ENDING THE JOURNEY TODAY, 
WE'RE COMPLETING A CHAPTER OF A 
JOURNEY THAT WILL NEVER END.
>>" 
>> NASA IS PARTNERING WITH 
PRIVATE COMPANIES TO FOSTER 
INNOVATION AS WE BEGIN THE 
COMMERCIAL AGE OF SPACE TRAVEL.
THE MAN SITTING NEXT TO 
FERGUSON, ONE OF THE ASTRONAUTS 
ON TODAY'S MISSION, DOUG HURLEY.
IT IS CERTAINLY A BIG DAY FOR A 
LOT OF PEOPLE BUT ALL EYES ON 
THE TWO NASA ASTRONAUTS, HURLEY 
AND BOB BEHNKEN, CURRENTLY 
AWAITING LIFTOFF IN THE "DRAGON"
ATOP THE 23-STORY TALL ROCKET.
>> WE SAW THEM EARLIER LEAVING 
THE OPERATIONS BUILDING A FAMOUS
WALK TO HUGE AWALK FROM 
ASSEMBLED STAFF, ONE OF THE 
TRADITIONS FOR LAUNCHES HERE.
AS SOON AS YOU SAW THE TWO 
ASTRONAUTS COME OUT YOU NOTICE 
THIS WAS MUCH DIFFERENT, THE 
SPACE SUITS AND BIG SMILES ON 
BOB AND DOUG'S FACES, CALLED THE
DADS BY NASA, BOTH OF THEM ARE 
MARRIED TO ASTRONAUTS WHICH IS 
SO COOL AND THIS MOMENT RIGHT 
HERE THEY GOT TO SEE THEIR 
FAMILIES JUST BEFORE THEY TOOK 
OFF TO THE ROCKET.
AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, KATIE 
COLEMAN IS WITH US AN ASTRONAUT.
YOU WERE TELLING ME BEFORE THE 
BROADCAST THIS WAS UNLIKE 
ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN BECAUSE 
ASTRONAUTS COULD NOT GET THIS 
CLOSE TO THEIR FAMILIES JUST 
BEFORE LAUNCH.
>> IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT THIS 
IS A TRADITION THAT IS REALLY 
CHANGING AND IT USED TO BE BACK 
IN THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM YOU WOULD
SAY GOOD-BYE TO YOUR KIDS UNDER 
16 A WEEK AHEAD OF TIME AND LAST
TIME YOU SEE THEM IS THE DAY 
BEFORE WAVING ACROSS A GIANT 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
AND SO IT'S PRETTY NEAT TO 
REALIZE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO 
SPACE AND THEY GET TO SAY 
GOOD-BYE TO THEIR KIDS THEN AND 
THERE AND ALMOST TAKE THEM WITH 
THEM.
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW 
LAUNCHING IS THE MOST DANGEROUS 
THING YOU DO BUT ALSO THE MOST 
THRILLING.
TRY TO CONVEY THE MAGIC OF THIS 
MOMENT FOR US.
>> I THINK AS REGULAR HUMAN 
BEINGS IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
YOU COULD ACTUALLY WAKE UP IN 
THE MORNING, PUT ON YOUR LONG 
UNDERWEAR UNDER YOUR SPACE SUIT,
WALK OUT THROUGH THAT SAME 
DOORWAY WE SAW DOUG AND BOB STOP
IN, AND THEN BE ON YOUR WAY TO A
LAUNCH PAD, STRAPPED INTO A 
ROCKET AND BE ON YOUR WAY TO 
SPACE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SOMETHING 
THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO REAL PEOPLE
AND I THINK MOST OF US FEEL THAT
WAY, TOO, AND YET THIS DAY 
HOPEFULLY IS GOING TO END IN A 
DIFFERENT WAY AND THEY WILL BE 
ON THEIR WAY TO SPACE.
>> KATIE, SO MUCH OF THIS IS NEW
TO ALL OF US.
THERE BUCKLING INTO THE TESLA 
BEFORE THEY TAKE OFF TO THE 
ROCKET AND WE NOTICED AN 
INCREDIBLE MOMENT ONCE THEY SHUT
THE DOORS OF THAT TESLA.
BOTH ASTRONAUTS ARE MARRIED TO 
OTHER ASTRONAUTS AS WELL.
THEY HAVE TWO YOUNG SONS AND OLD
ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE 
MAGNITUDE OF THIS MOMENT.
WE SAW THOSE VIRTUAL HUGS AND 
NOW THEY SORT OF WALK AROUND 
THERE, YOU HAVE MEGAN McARTHUR 
AND KAREN NYBERG.
>> I THINK IT'S GENEROUS TO 
SHARE THIS MOMENT WITH US.
IT'S A PRIVATE MOMENT AND 
GENEROUS ENOUGH TO LET US SEE, 
TOO AND MAKES US REALIZE THESE 
ARE REAL PEOPLE GOING.
I HEARD THAT SENTIMENT PEOPLE 
FROM NASA AND SPACEX.
IT WASN'T ABOUT THIS DEMO 2 
LAUNCH.
IT WAS WE'RE SENDING BOB AND 
DOUG INTO SPACE AND BOB AND DOUG
HAVE FAMILIES.
>> NASA PARTNERING WITH SPACEX 
AND YOU SAW THE REQUESTS X" 
FACTOR WHEN THE ASTRONAUTS 
WALKED OUT.
THERE'S ELON MUSK.
WE CAN'T IGNORE THE MASK, THIS 
IS A DIFFERENT TIME.
WE'LL GET TO ALL OF THAT, BUT 
YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THESE SPACE 
SUITS DESIGNED BY A HOLLYWOOD 
COSTUME DESIGNER, TEAMS TESTING 
THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS.
THESE SUITS WERE FORMED TO THEIR
BODIES, AND FOUNDER ELON MUSK 
MEETING WITH THE ASTRONAUTS 
THERE AND MOMENTS AGO THE MEN 
ARRIVING AT THE LAUNCH PAD AND 
LOOKING UP AT THAT ROCKET, IT IS
A BIG ROCKET, BUT WHAT A COOL 
MOMENT, TAKING THE ELEVATOR TO 
THE TOP AND ENTERING THE 
"DRAGON" SPACE CAPSULE.
>> YESTERDAY WE SAW AN AWESOME 
SIGHT, SPED IT UP IN THE 
SPACECRAFT AND ROCKET RAISED TO 
A VERTICAL POSITION AT THE 
LAUNCH PAD.
GIO BENETES JOINS US NOT FAR 
FROM THE LAUNCH PAD.
IT CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED WHAT A 
SIGNIFICANT THIS DAY THIS IS FOR
NASA, SPACEX AND THE TWO APS 
 
ASTRONAUTS.
>> IT IS EXCITING NOT BECAUSE 
THEY COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO 
HAVING EVERYDAY PEOPLE SOMEDAY 
GO TO SPACE BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF 
THE INCREDIBLE RESEARCH THAT CAN
BE DONE IN SPACE.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT THEY ARE WORKING
ON IS THE POSSIBILITY OF 
CREATING ORGANS IN THE 
MICROGRAVITY OF SPACE FOR 
TRANSPLANTS, SOMETHING YOU 
CANNOT DO HERE ON EARTH.
LOOK BEHIND ME, LAUNCH PAD 39A, 
WHERE SO MUCH HISTORY HAS BEEN 
MADE AND THEY HOPE TO MAKE 
HISTORY AGAIN.
YOU SEE THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK 
RIGHT NOW, 1:25 AGO AND THAT 
COUNTDOWN CLOCK IS STILL RUNNING
BECAUSE DOUG AND BOB WANT TO GO.
YESTERDAY I SPOKE WITH NASA 
ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE.
HE SAID YOU KNOW WHAT?
I TOLD THEM, WE CAN STOP THIS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BUT DOUG AND
BOB SAID WE ARE GOING, WE WANT 
TO DO THIS.
THAT IS WHY THAT COUNTDOWN CLOCK
IS STILL GOING BUT IT'S REALLY 
NOT UP TO THEM BECAUSE YOU SEE 
THESE SKIES RIGHT HERE, THEY ARE
GRAY, SO IT IS UP TO THE WEATHER
AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> IT IS CHANGING MOMENT BY 
MOMENT.
THANKS FOR THAT, GIO.
>> THIS IS HAPPENING AT A 
DIFFICULT TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY, 
SO MANY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR 
HEALTH AND THEIR JOBS, AND THEIR
FUTURES BECAUSE OF THE 
CORONAVIRUS.
FOLKS HAVE REAL REASONS TO LOOK 
DOWN BUT TODAY A REASON TO LOOK 
UP, AMERICA'S AMBITION, TALENT 
AND HOPE PUT TO THE ULTIMATE 
TEST.
THAT ROCKET AND THIS MISSION 
BUILT WITH AMERICAN JOBS AND 
MANNED BY OUR APS NAUGHTS.
LIKE SO MANY AMERICANS, MUCH OF 
THE NASA WORKFORCE WORKING FROM 
HOME, WEARING PERSONAL 
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, ROTATING 
SHIFTS AND PRACTICING SOCIAL 
DISTANCING, LINDSAY, I KNOW YOU 
KNOW THAT SOUNDS MUCH TOO 
FAMILIAR TO US.
>> WE KNOW ALL ABOUT THAT.
WHILE MUCH OF THE COUNTRY SHUT 
DOWN NASA AND SPACEX MOVED AHEAD
WITH THE MISSION.
JIM BRIDENSTINE SAYING "NO VIRUS
IS STRONGER THAN THE HUMAN 
DESIRE TO EXPLORE."
PRESIDENT TRUMP ARRIVING HERE 
AIR FORCE ONE FLYING OVER THE 
LAUNCH PAD, WATCHING WITH THE 
LAUNCH WITH FIRST LADY MELANIA 
TRUMP, THE VICE PRESIDENT AND 
OTHERS FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE 
CENTER.
>> AND JUST ABOUT 250 MILES AWAY
IN COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA, PEOPLE 
ARE GATHERED TO SHOW THAT PRIDE,
AND WITNESS THIS FIRSTHAND.
ABC'S VICTOR OKENDO IS WITH 
THEM.
THIS IS USUALLY A HUGE EVENT FOR
THE SPACE COAST, FOR ANYWHERE ON
THE COAST OF FLORIDA.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE TELLING YOU OVER
THERE?
>> Reporter: I'VE SPOKEN TO 
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ONE FAMILY COMING IN FROM 
MASSACHUSETTS, JUST TO GIVE YOU 
A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE 
HERE, THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER 
IS JUST BEYOND THOSE CONDOS 
THERE.
THIS IS A PRIME TIME VIEWING 
LOCATION.
THE BEACH WAS MORE PACKED 
MINUTES AGO UNTIL THIS STORM 
CAME ROLLING THROUGH.
WE HAVE CHECKED IN WITH THE 
SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
THEY TELL US THEY WILL BE 
REMINDING PEOPLE TO PRACTICE 
SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THEY ALSO 
HAVE 20,000 MASKS READY TO HAND 
THOSE OUT.
WE'RE UP TOP THE COCOA BEACH 
PIER.
NORMALLY UNDER ANY LAUNCH THIS 
PLACE WOULD BE PACKED, TALKING 
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER.
THIS WILL BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THERE'S NOBODY UP HERE, THERE'S 
JUST ONE PERSON CLEANING.
THEY'RE GOING TO USE A FOGGING 
MACHINE TO DISINFECT ALL OF 
THESE SURFACES AND ONCE GUESTS 
ARE BACK ALLOWED UP HERE IN JUST
A MATTER OF MINUTES, THEY WILL 
HAVE TO SIT AT THEIR TABLE, 
WHICH AS YOU CAN SEE, ARE SPREAD
APART.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS WILL BE A 
DIFFERENT KIND OF VIEWING 
EXPERIENCE.
NASA ASKED PEOPLE NOT TO TRAVEL 
AND TO WATCH FROM THE SAFETY OF 
THEIR HOMES.
THANKFULLY THERE ARE MORE WAYS 
TO WATCH THAN EVER BEFORE AND 
THE WAY NASA HAD JIM BRIDENSTINE
PUT IT, SPACE TRAVEL CAN UNITE 
US EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT OF
TIMES.
TOM?
>> VICTOR, THANK YOU.
WE CAN'T ESCAPE THE OMINOUS 
CLOUDS BEHIND YOU.
WE'LL MONITOR THE WEATHER.
GINGER ZEE IS COMING UP.
IF ALL GOES WELL LIFTOFF AT 4:33
P.M.
FOR A FIRST FEW MINUTES THE 
FALCON 9 ROCKET WILL ACCELERATE 
THE SPACECRAFT TO 17,000 MILES 
AN HOUR.
YOU COULD GO FROM MIAMI TO LOS 
ANGELES IN TEN MINUTES, PRETTY 
FAST.
CADY COLEMAN IS HERE WITH US 
AGAIN.
YOU WERE PART OF THE EARLY 
INTEGRATION OF SPACEX AND NASA.
WHAT IS IT LIKE?
NASA IS SO POLISHED, BY-THE-BOOK
AGENCY.
YOU NEVER WANT TO MAKE MISTAKES 
AND THEN YOU HAVE SORT OF THE 
REBEL, THE MAVERICK IN ELON 
MUSK.
>> I THINK IT'S AWESOME FOR BOTH
SIDES, IN THAT YOU KNOW, WITH 
NASA, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, 
I RETIRED A COUPLE YEARS AGO BUT
YOU ALWAYS HAVE THAT 
RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TAXPAYERS 
TO REALLY BE THE RIGHT SHEPHERD 
OF THE TAX DOLLARS AND YOU ARE 
RESPONSIBLE AND YET SPACEX WOULD
HAVE THESE IDEAS THAT WE DIDN'T 
HAVE AND IN THOSE EARLY DAYS, IT
WAS JUST INTERESTING TO SEE 
PEOPLE THAT DID THINGS 
DIFFERENTLY AND AT THE SAME TIME
ONCE YOU GOT THEM TOGETHER, YOU 
REALIZED THEY HAVE THE SAME 
GOALS AND IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT 
MAKE THAT WORK.
>> I'M CURIOUS, AS YOU LOOK AT 
THIS VIDEO, IT FEELS TO ME IT 
MAY BE A LITTLE BIT OF THE 
FLINTSTONES VERSUS THE JETSONS, 
AND CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, THE 
DANGERS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH OR 
THE DANGERS ARE STILL SEEM TO 
HAVE CHANGED.
>> I LIKE THAT IT MAKES IT MORE 
APPROACHABLE, MAKES IT MORE FUN,
INTERESTING.
IT'S SOMETHING -- I'M ALWAYS 
THINKING WHAT CAN SOMEBODY WHO 
IS 19 -- I THIS A 19-YEAR-OLD, 
WHAT CAN THEY RELATE TO.
AMERICA IS REACTING TO THIS, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE DOING THINGS 
DIFFERENTLY AND MAKES THEM 
THINK, WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO 
GO NOW AND WE'RE ALL GOING.
>> CADY, YOU AND LINDSAY AND ME,
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING THE WEATHER.
CHIEF METEOROLOGIST GINGER ZEE 
IS LIVE RIGHT NOW.
YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE BEEN 
MONITORING ALL OF THIS RIGHT 
NOW.
GIVE US AN UPDATE AND WHERE YOUR
MIND'S AT RIGHT NOW AS YOU LOOK 
AT YOUR CHARTS AND GRAPHICS.
>> TOM, I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO THE
RADAR AND THE SPACE COAST TODAY 
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH
THAT.
THAT RADAR HAS BEEN WAY TOO BUSY
FOR MY LIKING WHEN IT COMES TO 
LAUNCHING A ROCKET.
LET ME TAKE YOU WIDER HERE.
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AT THAT 
MOMENT RIGHT HERE LIGHTNING DOWN
THROUGH SATELLITE BEACH.
THE SPACE COAST IS COVERED WITH 
LITTLE FEEDER BANDS, FEEDER 
THUNDERSTORMS, A BUNCH OF 
MOISTURE FEEDING INTO BERTHA, 
WHICH IS NOW A TROPICAL 
DEPRESSION AND YOU GOT TO KNOW 
THAT MOST PROBLEMS IN ROCKETRY 
AND FORECASTING HAPPEN IN THE 
TROPOSPHERE, THE LOWEST 11 
MILES, IT'S SECONDS IN THE 
ROCKET'S LIFE BUT WHERE IN 
HISTORY WE'VE SEEN PROBLEMS.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, THAT 
WOULD BE THIS IMAGE FROM 1987.
1987 WHERE WE SAW THE ATLAS 
TOWER-67 A TRIGGER LIGHTNING, 49
SECONDS AFTER IT TOOK OFF THERE 
WAS STRATA FORMED RAIN, INTO 
LIGHTNING IN THE VICINITY.
THE ROCKET AND THE EXHAUST 
ITSELF CAN MAKE LIGHTNING WITH 
OTHER CHARGES THAT ARE LEFT 
OVER, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT 
THEY ARE WATCHING FOR.
SUSTAINED WINDS CAN'T BE OVER 
30, I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE 
THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A 
PROBLEM.
WIND SHEARS, SENDING UP THE 
BALLOONS, SEEING IF THERE'S A 
DIRECTIONAL OR SPEED DIFFERENCE 
WITH HEIGHT AND THEN NO 
THUNDERSTORMS, THE CUMULUS, EVEN
A DEBRIS CLOUD, TOM AND LINDSAY,
WHERE YOU'VE GOT A CHARGE LEFT 
OVER FROM WHAT WAS ONCE A 
THUNDERSTORM, CAN HAVE A CHARGE 
ROLLING AROUND IN THE 
ATMOSPHERE, AND THAT CAN CREATE 
LIGHTNING WITH THE ROCKET.
WHY DO WE NOT WANT LIGHTNING?
BECAUSE IT CAN KNOCK OUT THE FTS
OR THE TERMINATION SYSTEM THAT 
THEY'VE GOT ON BOARD.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT THING 
AND WHY AT 4:30 P.M. OUR SHORT 
TERM WEATHER MODELS STILL HAVE 
THOSE SCATTERED STORMS AROUND.
I IMAGINE THIS IS TOO CLOSE TO 
CALL BUT I THINK THEY'RE HOLDING
OUT AND HOPING FOR THAT WINDOW.
>> GINGER, WE'LL BE CHECKING IN 
WITH YOU MOMENT BY MOMENT IF WE 
HAVE TO.
WE TALK ABOUT NICE DAYS, PERFECT
WEATHER.
COLONEL STEVE GANYARD, FORMER 
MARINE CORPS FIGHTER PILOT AND 
SQUAD RON MATE OF DOUG HURLEY.
IT'S TAKEN US ALMOST TEN YEARS 
TO GET TO THIS POINT RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE NASA PARTNERING WITH 
THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND OF 
COURSE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING 
WE ARE DEALING WITH HUMAN LIVES 
HERE, BUT HOW BIG ARE THE STAKES
TODAY?
HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS THE SPACE 
LAUNCH, HOW SUCCESSFUL DOES IT 
HAVE TO BE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE 
A FUTURE FOR SPACE EXPLORATION?
>> TOM, THE INTERESTING BIG 
PICTURE HERE WE'RE GOING TO 
WATCH THIS LAUNCH AND DOUG AND 
BOB WILL GET TO THE ISS AND THE 
NEXT STEP RUSHING THE U.S. 
PEOPLE TO THE SAYS STATION BUT 
REALLY THE BIG IDEA HERE, THIS 
IS WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN TO LAUNCH 
THINGS AND PEOPLE INTO SPACE 
INEXPENSIVELY AND SAFELY, 
BECAUSE THE NEXT BIG GOAL IS 
GOING TO BE THE MOON.
AFTER THE MOON, IT'S GOING TO BE
MARS.
THIS IS ONE STEPPINGSTONE WHAT 
ELON MUSK HAS DONE WITH SPACEX 
IN DRIVING THE COST OF LAUNCH 
DOWN TO JUST TEN YEARS AGO AND 
USED TO COST $50 MILLION TO PUT 
ANYTHING INTO ORBIT, NOW IT'S 
DOWN TO $1 MILLION AND MUSK 
WANTS TO DRIVE IT DOWN TO 
$10,000.
ANYTHING YOU'D WANT TO PUT UP IN
SPACE, SATELLITES, THINGS TO 
MONITOR THE EARTH, PUT PEOPLE 
UP, CREATE COLONIES ON THE MOON 
AND ON THE EARTH, THAT'S WHAT 
WE'RE SEEING HERE, DRIVING DOWN 
THE COST TO LAUNCH.
>> THERE IS SO MUCH AT STAKE, 
STEVE, WE'LL CHECK BACK WITH YOU
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT DOUG 
HURLEY.
YOU KNOW HIM WELL.
LINDSAY?
>> WE'RE JOINED BY "NATIONAL 
GEOGRAPHIC" CONTRIBUTING WRITER 
NADIA DRAKE WHO COVERS SPACE.
YOU GREW UP STARING AT SATURN 
THROUGH TELESCOPES IN YOUR 
BACKYARD.
TALK ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 
THIS MOMENT.
>> THIS MISSION IS SO IMPORTANT,
ESSENTIALLY A DEMONSTRATION 
FLIGHT, THE FINAL EXAM OF A 
BRAND NEW SPACECRAFT THAT CAN 
CARRY HUMANS INTO ORBIT AND THIS
IS SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN 
DECADES.
IF IT GOES WELL WE ARE LOOKING 
AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW 
CHAPTER IN SPACE EXPLORATION, 
ONE IN WHICH PRIVATE COMPANIES 
LIKE SPACEX CAN POTENTIALLY MAKE
SPACE EXPLORATION CHEAPER AND 
MORE ACCESSIBLE.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
WE, IF HUMANITY AS A SPECIES IS 
SERIOUS ABOUT PUSHING OUR 
BOUNDARIES AND REALLY 
ESTABLISHING A SUSTAINABLE 
PRESENCE IN SPACE, WHETHER 
THAT'S IN ORBIT OR ON THE MOON 
OR MARS OR BEYOND, THEN WE'RE 
GOING TO HAVE TO START DRIVING 
DOWN THOSE COSTS AND GETTING 
MORE PEOPLE UP THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT, NADIA, WE THANK 
YOU FOR THAT.
SO MANY AMAZING MOMENTS COMING 
UP, A QUICK BREAKDOWN, A CLOSE 
ARE LOOK AT THE TWO ASTRONAUTS 
YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, NASA CALLS 
THEM THE DADS, BOTH MARRIED TO 
APS NAUGHTS, AND READY TO MAKE 
HISTORY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR
COUNTRY AND A CHECK AGAIN ON THE
WEATHER.
WE'LL TALK TO THE ASTRONAUT WHO 
GOT THEIR GEAR READY AT THE 
SPACE STATION.
STAY WITH US.
>>> SO MANY ASTRONAUTS HAVE 
WALKED THE SAME PATH BEFORE 
LAUNCH, LEAVING THE NASA 
OPERATIONS BUILDING TO BE DRIVEN
TO THE LAUNCH PAD, THE APOLLO 11
CREW ON THE WAY TO THE MOON, ALL
THE SPACE SHUTTLE CREWS 
INCLUDING THIS "CHALLENGER" CREW
WITH SALLY RIDE, THE FIRST 
AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE, AND THE
SHUTTLE "DISCOVERY" CREW WITH 
SENATOR JOHN GLENN, AT 77, THE 
OLDEST PERSON TO FLY IN SPACE.
TODAY DOUG HURRY AND BOB BEHNKEN
MADE THE SAME WALK IN TO 
HISTORY.
WELCOME BACK TO OUR LIVE 
COVERAGE OF THE LAUNCH OF THE 
SPACEX DRAGON.
THERE IT IS ON THE LAUNCH PAD, 
AND THERE IS THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK
TICKING DOWN TO LIFTOFF.
ABC'S GIO BENITEZ IS THERE IN 
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
YOU GOT A CHANCE TO SPEND TIME 
WITH THE TWO ASTRONAUTS ABOUT TO
MAKE HISTORY.
I HAVE A FEELING THEY'RE AS COOL
AS CUCUMBERS.
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHAT IS 
INCREDIBLE, HOW CALM THE 
ASTRONAUTS ARE WHEN THEY'RE 
GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF AND 
LIFTOFF IN THAT SPACESHIP.
IT'S ALSO INTERESTING IS A LOT 
OF PEOPLE WE SAY OH, LEARN A 
LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVERYTHING.
THESE ASTRONAUTS HAVE TO LEARN A
LOT ABOUT EVERYTHING.
THEY HAVE TO BECOME EXPERTS IN 
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN 
THINK OF.
SO RIGHT HERE NOW, A CLOSER LOOK
AT BOB AND DOUG.
>> GO FALCON, GO DRAGON.
>> Reporter: WHEN THE ENGINES 
LIGHT, A NEW ERA OF SPACE 
EXPLORATION.
BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY WILL
CAPTAIN ELON MUSK'S SPACEX "CREW
DRAGON," AMERICA'S FIRST 
COMMERCIAL MANNED MISSION.
>> IT'S PROBABLY A DREAM OF 
EVERY TEST PILOT SCHOOL STUDENT 
TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY 
ON A NEW SPACESHIP.
I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THAT 
OPPORTUNITY WITH MY GOOD FRIEND 
DOUG HURLEY.
>> Reporter: DOUG HURLEY IS A 
FORMER MARINE FIGHTER PILOT, BOB
BEHNKEN AN AIR FORCE ENGINEER.
BETWEEN THEM, 40 YEARS IN THE 
SPACE PROGRAM.
>> LIFTOFF, THE FINAL LIFTOFF OF
"ATLANTIS."
>> Reporter: HURLEY WAS ON BOARD
THE FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION 
IN 2011, THE LAST FLIGHT BEFORE 
THE PROGRAM OFFICIALLY RETIRED.
>> I DIDN'T EXPECT TO FLY AGAIN.
I DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PLAN
TO FLY AGAIN.
FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN WE WERE THE
FOUR OF US WERE SELECTED, I WAS 
ASKED THAT QUESTION, IF I WANTED
TO FLY AGAIN AND IF SO, ON A 
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, AND I 
THOUGHT THAT WAS PROBABLY AN 
EXCITING THING TO DO AND THE 
RIGHT THING TO DO AT THAT POINT,
AND HERE WE ARE.
>> Reporter: BOB BEHNKEN HAS 
MORE THAN 700 HOURS IN SPACE AND
SIX SPACE WALKS UNDER HIS BELT.
>> THREE, TWO, ONE.
ZERO.
IGNITION.
LIFTOFF.
>> Reporter: THE RIGHT STUFF 
RUNS DEEP IN BOTH FAMILIES.
THEIR BETTER HALVES ARE ALSO 
DECORATED NASA ASTRONAUTS.
MEGAN MacARTHUR, MARRIED TO BOB 
AND KAREN NYBERG, MARRIED TO 
DOUG, ALL FOUR IN THE NASA CLASS
OF 2000, TWO FAMILIES TIED 
TOGETHER BY ONE INTERSTELLAR 
CONNECTION.
>> OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IN 
THIS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 
FIVE YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, LAUNCH 
DATES COME AND GO AND FOR ME, 
THIS IS STARTING TO FINALLY FEEL
REAL.
>> WHEN THE DAY COMES THAT WE 
WATCH THE GUYS WALKING OUT TO GO
TO THE LAUNCH PAD, EVEN MORE SO 
START TO HIT HOME IN THAT WAY.
>> Reporter: AT LIFTOFF, BOTH 
FAMILIES YOUNG SONS WILL BE 
WATCHING FROM THE LAUNCH PAD.
THIS DRAWING BY HURLEY'S SON, A 
REMINDER THAT SPACESHIPS ARE AS 
AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE.
SOMETHING DOUG HURLEY KNEW BACK 
THEN ON THE "ATLANTIS" FINAL 
FLIGHT.
>> FOR THE FINAL TIME.
>> A LOT OF EMOTION TODAY BUT 
ONE THING IS INDISPUINDISPUTABL.
AMERICA IS NOT GOING TO STOP 
EXPLORING.
>> Reporter: GOD SPEED.
ALL RIGHT, GIO BENITEZ RIGHT 
THERE, AN INCREDIBLE PIECE 
THERE.
I AM CURIOUS BECAUSE YOU ARE THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, HOW FAR 
ARE YOU FROM THE ACTUAL ROCKET 
AND WHAT IS THE WEATHER LOOKING 
LIKE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT'S 
THE BIG UNKNOWN.
>> YES, SO WE ARE ABOUT THREE 
AND A HALF MILES FROM THAT 
LAUNCH PAD RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF 
RAIN HERE AND THERE BUT IT HAS 
TO BE EXACTLY RIGHT AT 4:33 P.M.
NOW THE FIRST CRITICAL MOMENT IS
HAPPENING AT 3:48 P.M. SO THAT'S
JUST ABOUT 12 MINUTES FROM NOW, 
SORRY, 22 MINUTES FROM NOW, AND 
THAT IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THAT IS
WHEN THEY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT 
THEY'RE GOING TO LOAD THE FUEL.
SO WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT VERY
CLOSELY.
>> ALL RIGHT, GIO.
CHRISTINA COOK JUST GOT BACK 
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE 
STATION IN FEBRUARY WHERE SHE 
SET THE RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE 
DAYS IN SPACE BY A WOMAN, 328 
DAYS, NEARLY A YEAR.
SHE ALSO MADE HISTORY CONDUCTING
THE FIRST ALL FEMALE SPACEWALK, 
WITH FELLOW ASTRONAUT JESSICA 
MIHR.
YOU KNOW BOB AND DOUG AND HELPED
PREPARE THEIR GEAR ON THE SPACE 
STATION.
WHAT CAN YOU REVEAL WHAT THEY 
PACKED AND WHAT WAS THAT PROCESS
LIKE?
>> WELL, IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH 
BOTH OF YOU TODAY AND GREAT TO 
BE HERE ON SUCH AN HISTORIC DAY,
REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 
LAUNCH AND YES, I AM WATCHING 
THE WEATHER, TOO.
YOU KNOW, BEING ON BOARD PRIOR 
TO THOSE TWO ARRIVING WAS AN 
EXCITING TIME, BECAUSE I GOT TO 
UNLOAD ALL OF THIS STUFF AS IT 
ARRIVED, IN PIECES OVER TIME ON 
OUR VARIOUS CARGO VEHICLES AND 
YES, SOME OF IT ARRIVED ON 
EARLIER SPACEX CARGO VEHICLES.
I ORGANIZED SOME OF THEIR FOOD.
WE DO GET A CHANCE TO SELECT 
SOME CREW-SPECIFIC FOOD ITEMS 
ESPECIALLY COFFEE AND THE LIKE 
AND OF COURSE OUR PROVISIONS 
LIKE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WEAR 
DAY-TO-DAY, OUR HYGIENE 
PRODUCTS.
YOU DON'T GET TO PACK YOUR OWN 
BAGS WHEN YOU GO TO SPACE BUT 
LUCKILY NASA TAKES CARE OF ALL 
OF THAT FOR YOU AND MAKES SURE 
IT'S UP THERE WELL IN ADVANCE OF
YOUR ARRIVAL.
>> STAY WITH US.
COMING UP, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE 
MAN ROBERT DOWNEY JR. TURNED TO 
FOR INSPIRATION IN CREATING HIS 
TONY STARK CHARACTER FOR THE 
"IRONMAN" MOVIES, ELON MUSK AND 
HIS AMBITIONS, BOTH LARGER THAN 
LIFE.
THE MAN BEHIND SPACEX, WHEN WE 
COME BACK.
>>> AND WELCOME BACK TO "LAUNCH 
AMERICA."
YOU ARE LOOKING AT HALLOWED 
GROUND WHEN IT COMES TO SPACE 
EXPLORATION.
THE LAUNCH PAD 39A ORIGINALLY 
BUILT FOR THE SATURN 5 ROCKET 
THAT SENT THE FIRST ASTRONAUTS 
TO THE MOON FROM THE "APOLLO" 
MISSION TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE, 
THIS LAUNCH PAD HAS BEEN THE 
STARTING POINT FOR MANY OF THE 
NATION'S MOST DARING MISSIONS 
AND TODAY, IT'S RUN BY SPACEX, 
AND HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO LAUNCH 
THE FALCON 9 ROCKET.
>> LET'S BRING BACK IN NASA 
ASTRONAUT CHRISTINA COOK.
YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
FLY ON THE RUSSIAN SOYUZ.
I'M CURIOUS, AS EVERYBODY IS 
TALKING ABOUT WEATHER, WE'RE 
PREOCCUPIED IS EVERYTHING IS 
JUST RIGHT FOR LAUNCH.
DO RUSSIANS HAVE THE SAME 
CRITERIA, IS THE THRESHOLD JUST 
AS HIGH FOR LAUNCHING?
>> THE WEATHER CRITERIA FOR 
LAUNCHING OUT OF KAZHAKSTAN IS 
DIFFERENT AND THE WEATHER 
PATTERNS THERE DON'T USUALLY 
PRESENT AS MUCH UNCERTAINTY, IF 
YOU WILL.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT FLORIDA 
WEATHER ESPECIALLY BY THE COAST 
IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.
WHEN WE WATCHED BOB AND DOUG 
WALK OUT OF THE ONC BUILDING IT 
LOOKED SUNNY, AND THEY'D BE 
READY TO GO AND THE RECENT 
PICTURES OF THE ROCKET SHOW IT A
LITTLE BIT OMINOUSLY COVERED IN 
CLOUDS.
SO WE WILL CERTAINLY SEE BUT WE 
HAVE A JOKE THAT WITH THE SOYUZ 
YOU DON'T HAVE WEATHER DELAYS AS
OFTEN AND IF YOU'RE IN THAT 
ROCKET YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO 
SPACE THAT DAY.
>> CHRISTINA, I WANT TO ASK YOU 
A FUNNY QUESTION.
CAN YOU LOOK BEHIND YOU AT THE 
POSTER THEY PUT UP OF DOUG AND 
BOB?
IT SORT OF FEELS DIFFERENT.
DOESN'T THIS NEW ERA OF SPACE 
EXPLORATION FEEL DIFFERENT?
ALMOST LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING
AT A FILM POSTER RIGHT THERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE 
EXCITING THINGS ABOUT THIS ERA, 
WE'RE REALLY ENCOMPASSING THE 
IDEA OF GOING FOR ALL AND BY ALL
AND BRINGING IN COMMERCIAL 
COMPANIES INTO THAT LOOP.
WE'RE MAKING SHOO YOU ARE THAT 
WE FOSTER A SPACE ECONOMY AND 
WE'RE REALLY JUST GROWING THE 
AMERICAN PREIMMINENCE IN THAT 
WORLD AND IN THAT NEW INDUSTRY, 
AND SO AS WE SAY, WE'RE BRINGING
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE INTO THE 
FOLD AND THAT'S KIND OF 
ANSWERING NASA'S CALL TO EXPLORE
ALL FOR HUMANITY.
>> ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING 
TRUTHS ABOUT HOW WE GOT OUT IS 
NASA ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BY 
THE BOOK AGENCIES IS PARTNERED 
WITH A NOTORIOUS RULE BREAKER, 
ELON MUSK.
HE IS AN IMMIGRANT SUCCESS STORY
AND AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY, 
LARGELY ON HIS SHOULDERS THAT 
TODAY IS POSH.
ELON MUSK TURNS SCIENCE FICTION 
INTO REALITY, BUILDING ELECTRIC 
CAR AND LAUNCH IT INTO SPACE.
PLAYING BY HIS OWN RULES SMOKING
MARIJUANA ON A PODCAST TO 
TWEETING WHATEVER HE WANTS, 
REGARDLESS.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR. PORTRAYED 
"EYREMAN" THE WORLD GENIUS 
BREAKING SUPERHERO ON ELON MUSK.
THIS REAL LIFE IRONMAN HAS HAD A
HAND IN EVERYTHING FROM SOLAR 
POWER TO ARTIFICIAL 
INTELLIGENCE.
A FOUNDER OF PAYPAL AND 
MULTIMILLIONAIRE BY HIS 30s.
MUSK WOULD SPEND HIS FORTUNE 
DISRUPTING DEEPER IN INDUSTRY.
TESLA MOTORS GOES BOLD AND 
FUTURISTIC ELECTRIC CARS AND 
SPACEX, SPENDING NEARLY $100 
MILLION WITH A DREAM OF 
REWRITING THE RULES OF THE SPACE
INDUSTRY.
>> EVERYONE THOUGHT HE WAS 
CRAZY.
EVERYONE LAUGHED AT HIM.
>> Reporter: THEY HAD THREE 
FAILURES IN A ROW.
>> WELL, FAILURE SUCKS.
IT'S REALLY TERRIBLE.
>> Reporter: BUT THE FOURTH 
ATTEMPT -- 
>> WE HAVE LIFTOFF.
>> Reporter: A SUCCESSFUL 
LAUNCH.
AND THE RISK ADVERSE NASA 
DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE ON 
MUSK.
IN 2008, AWARDING SPACEX A $1.6 
BILLION CONTRACT.
MUSK'S VISION ON FULL DISPLAY IN
THIS MOMENT IN 2015, PERFECTING 
A ROCKET SYSTEM TO LAUNCH AND 
LAND ON A PINPOINT TO BE REUSED 
AGAIN.
>> HOLY SMOKES, MAN.
>> Reporter: BUT HE ISN'T THE 
ONLY BILLIONAIRE IN THE SPACE 
RACE.
JEFF BEZOS AND BLUE ORIGIN AND 
SIR RICHARD BRANSON WITH HIS 
VIRGIN GALACTIC SPACESHIPS HOPE 
TO ALSO FLY A HUMAN INTO ORBIT.
BUT IF MUSK CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT 
TODAY, HE WILL MAKE HISTORY, AND
EARN THAT COVETED PHRASE IN 
SPACE EXPLORATION, THE FIRST.
I WANT TO BRING BACK IN 
ASTRONAUTS CHRISTINA KOCH AND 
CADY COLEMAN TO TALK MORE ABOUT 
THE MUSK FACTOR.
WE'VE SEEN CERTAIN THINGS TODAY,
CERTAIN MOMENTS SO FAR THAT ARE 
UN-NASA-LIKE, NOT IN A BAD WAY.
BREAKING TRADITION, MAYBE IN A 
GOOD WAY AND ONE OF THOSE 
MOMENTS FOR BOTH OF US, CADY, 
WATCHING THE FAMILIES AROUND THE
TESLA, SORT OF DO THE VIRTUAL 
HUGS, AND FOR A VIEWER, FOR 
SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT AS INVESTED 
IN THE SPACE PROGRAM AS YOU, AS 
AN AMERICAN, I COULD WATCH THAT 
AND SAY THAT'S PRETTY COOL, 
PRETTY AMAZING, SOMETHING NEW 
THAT WILL KEEP US INTERESTED AND
SORT OF SHOW THE HUMAN 
CONNECTION WITH THE ASTRONAUTS 
AND AMERICANS.
>> I THINK THAT WITH BOTH THESE 
COMPANIES, SPACEX AND NASA AND 
OTHER COMMERCIAL PARTNERS.
I LIKEN IT TO HAVING A WEDDING, 
WHERE YOU HAVE THE FAMILY OF THE
GROOM AND THE FAMILY OF THE 
BRIDE AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME
GOAL, WHICH IS EXPLORATION, 
GETTING THEIR KIDS MARRIED BUT 
EACH OF THEM HAVE DIFFERENT 
TRADITIONS THE OTHER ONES WOULD 
NEVER THINK OF AND THE PROCESS 
OF GETTING THAT TOGETHER AND 
MAKING IT HAPPEN AND IT SEEMS 
LIKE IT'S WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL
FOR THIS SPACE FAMILY.
>> I'M CURIOUS, MICHAEL GRIFFIN,
AN AEROSPACE VETERAN, HE SAID AT
SOME POINT THE ROCKET INDUSTRY 
NEEDS A HENRY FORD AND MAYBE 
ELON WILL BE THAT GUY.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ELON AND KIND
OF THIS BILLIONAIRE'S CLUB, 
THERE'S A RACE FOR SPACE AT THIS
POINT.
WOULD YOU SAY THAT SPACE SHOULD 
BE FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST HAVE 
EXPERIENCE OR DO YOU LIKE THE 
IDEA OF THIS TOURISM, THE SPACE 
TOURISM?
>> I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE THE 
BETTER.
MORE PEOPLE, MORE IDEAS.
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF 
PUTTING THEIR SMALL RED CAR ON 
THE TOP OF A ROCKET ON THE 
PLANET MARS.
NASA WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO 
BECAUSE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
THE TAXPAYERS AND A LOT MORE 
PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS.
SO HAVING PEOPLE THAT THINK 
DIFFERENTLY, THAT'S REALLY THE 
WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET TO MARS.
>> CHRISTINA, YOU SAW THE SPACE 
SUITS.
THEY WERE SO COOL THE FIRST TIME
WE SAW THEM.
YOU'VE BEEN UP CLOSE WITH THEM.
WHAT ARE THEY LIKE?
WHAT DO THE ASTRONAUTS THINK OF 
THEM?
>> WELL YOU KNOW, I THINK THE 
ASTRONAUTS REALLY LIKE THEM, IN 
PARTICULAR BECAUSE THEY DON'T 
HAVE AS MANY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, 
BELLS AND WHISTLES HANGING OFF 
OF THEM.
THEY'RE A SLEEK DESIGN BUT GET 
THE JOB DONE AND THAT JOB IS TO 
PROVIDE A PRESSURIZED SUIT IN 
THE CASE OF A VERY UNLIKELY BUT 
POSSIBLE CAPSULE 
DEPRESSURIZATION, THEY FORM SORT
OF A BUBBLE OF BREATHABLE AIR 
AND OXYGEN AROUND THE ASTRONAUTS
THROUGH A SINGLE UMBILICAL ON 
THE LEG SO THAT SLEEKNESS IS 
ALWAYS APPRECIATED BY 
ASTRONAUTS.
THEY ARE CUSTOM FIT SO THEY'RE 
LESS BULKY, WHICH IS ANOTHER 
GREAT FEATURE SQUEEZING INTO A 
SPACECRAFT AND TO GET THE JOB 
DONE AND LOOK COOL DOING IT, NO 
ONE WOULD SAY NO TO THAT.
>> QUESTION FOR EITHER OF YOU, 
CADY OR CHRISTINA, THIS IS A 
$3.1 BILLION EFFORT AND A LOT OF
THE EARTHLINGS ARE WONDERING 
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT FOR US DOWN 
HERE ON EARTH?
WHAT IS THE PAYOFF?
>> I'LL LET CHRISTINA START 
THERE.
I HAVE MY THOUGHTS FROM WHEN I 
WAS UP ON THE STATION.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE'RE IN 
A TIME WHERE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO 
NOT FUND BOTH OF THIS RESEARCH 
AND THIS PRIVATE/PUBLIC 
PARTNERSHIP THAT'S GOING TO MAKE
IT INTO A NEW SPACE ECONOMY.
IF WE'RE NOT SORT OF UTILIZING 
THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE
ALREADY IN THE SPACE ECONOMY AND
GROWING THAT, THEN WE'RE NOT 
GOING TO ACHIEVE THE GLOBAL 
PREIMMINENCE AS LEADERS IN SPACE
FLIGHT.
SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME, AS 
WORKER ON BOARD THE SPACE 
STATION FOR 11 MONTHS I 
PARTICIPATED IN HUNDREDS OF 
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS AND EVERY 
SINGLE ONE OF THOSE WAS INTENDED
TO BRING BENEFITS BACK TO EARTH,
BENEFITS AND PHARMACEUTICALS, 
BENEFITS IN INDUSTRIAL EDGES AND
UNDERSTANDING DEEPER INTO 
PHYSICAL SCIENCES, AND THEN ALSO
HOW WE CAN EXPLORE FURTHER.
SO THERE'S JUST, IT'S A TIME 
WHEN WE'RE ACTUALLY MAKING AN 
INVESTMENT IN SOMETHING THAT'S 
KIND OF THE BEST INVESTMENT YOU 
CAN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY HOPE 
FOR.
CAN'T UNDERSTATE THE 
INSPIRATIONAL ASPECTS AS WELL.
ELON MUSK, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
HIM AND HE ACTUALLY CREDITED 
SEEING THE APOLLO 11 LAUNCH AND 
THE LANDING ON THE MOON AS HIS 
INSPIRATION FOR POSSIBLY EVEN 
STARTING SPACEX ALL TOGETHER.
SO WE'RE PLANTING THE SEEDS OF 
EXPLORATION AND WHAT WE CAN DO 
WITH S.T.E.M. CAREERS IN 
ADDITION TO GRABBING THE 
BENEFITS ECONOMICALLY AND 
SCIENCE.
>> WE'LL GET YOUR THOUGHTS IN A 
MOMENT, WHEN WE COME BACK, THE 
KEY MOMENT THAT WE TOLD YOU 
ABOUT EARLIER, WILL MISSION 
CONTROL GIVE THE GO-AHEAD TO 
FUEL THE ROCKET?
>>> AND WELCOME BACK TO OUR 
COVERAGE OF "LAUNCH AMERICA."
LAST OCTOBER CHRIS TIA KOCH AND 
JESSICA MEIR VENTURED OUT IN 
SPACE TO TAKE PART IN AN ALL-FEE
MIAMI SPACE WALK THAT LASTED 
MORE THAN SEVEN HOURS AND 
INCLUDED A BRIEF CALL WITH 
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
CHRISTINA KOCH, I HAVE TO ASK 
YOU, SPEAKING WITH PRESIDENT 
TRUMP ON EARTH CAN BE AN 
ADVENTURE.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE THERE DURING 
THE SPACE WALK SPEAKING WITH THE
PRESIDENT?
>> IT WAS CERTAINLY AN HONOR.
DURING A SPACE WALK, YOU'RE 
EXTREMELY FOCUSED ON THE JOB AT 
HAND.
YOU'RE IN A RISKY ENVIRONMENT.
EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE IS 
IMPORTANT, DEXTERITY IS AN 
ISSUE.
YOU'RE TIRED AND SO TO HAVE A 
LITTLE BREAK AND TO GET THAT 
UNEXPECTED CALL WAS DEFINITELY 
EXCITING, AND YOU KNOW, JUST 
HEARING HIS FAMILIAR VOICE WHILE
YOU'RE OUT IN THE VACUUM OF 
SPACE, IT GOES TO SHOW THAT 
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
>> AND PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE 
FIRST U.S. PRESIDENT TO VISIT 
SPACE COAST FOR A LAUNCH SINCE 
BILL CLINTON IN 1998.
CADY, GIVE US A SENSE OF WHAT'S 
ABOUT TO HAPPEN WITH THE LAUNCH 
DIRECTOR.
THERE WILL BE A PULL, A GO OR NO
GO?
HOW DOES THAT GET DECIDED?
>> THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE 
WEATHER.
IT'S A GO FOR LAUNCH BUT THE 
FIRST IS GO FOR FUELING.
.
IS AN UNUSUAL KIND OF LAUNCH IN 
THAT USUALLY THAT ROCKET IS 
FUELED BEFORE THE CREW GETS 
THERE, BECAUSE FUELING ITSELF IS
A VERY DANGEROUS OPERATION AND 
BETWEEN SPACEX AND NASA THEY 
FIGURED OUT WAYS TO MAKE THAT 
PROCESS SAFE ENOUGH THAT 
EVERYBODY IS UP FOR THE IDEA OF 
IT, AND WHEN IT COMES TO A DAY 
WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LAUNCH OR 
NOT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO 
SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF YOU 
ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
LAUNCH.
WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS 48, WE 
SHOULD KNOW WHETHER THEY'LL GO 
FOR FUELING OR NOT.
>> I'M CURIOUS, I WANT TO 
PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT.
YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS 
IT TO FUEL -- WE'LL LISTEN TO 
THE LAUNCH I BELIEVE IT'S THE 
LAUNCH DIRECTOR.
>> PROCEED.
SWING IN TO CREW.
>> CREW MOVEMENT FOR T MINUS 45 
MINUTES.
>> THIS IS LIKE -- 
>> THANK YOU, LAUNCH CONTROL.
>> MAJOR VISUAL MILESTONE.
>> CONTROL HOLD LAUNCH SCAPE 
PROTOCOL.
PROCEED THE LAUNCH ABORT, URGENT
ISSUES AFFECTING THE SAFETY OF 
THE OPERATION, OPERATORS CALL 
HOLD HOLD HOLD ON THE COUNTDOWN 
NET AND PROCEED TO THE LAUNCH 
ABORT SEQUENCE.
OPERATORS ADVISE WHETHER 
STRUCTURAL BREAKUP OR FIRE IS 
OCCURRING FOR SCAPE FLIGHT 
RULES.
REMAINDER FIRE ALARM 
INSTRUCTIONS, IN THE EVENT OF A 
FIRE ALARM, KEY MATERS 
PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED WILL REMAIN 
AT THEIR POST WHILE THE ALARM IS
EVALUATED.
IN THE EVENT THAT PERSONAL 
SAFETY IS THREATENED WE EVACUATE
TO THE SOUTH FACING EXIT WHICH 
LEADS DIRECTLY OUTSIDE.
FINAL REMINDER THEY WILL BE 
ARMING THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM 
MOMENTARILY, ALL PERSONNEL, 
PLEASE STAY IN YOUR SEATS FROM 
NOW THROUGH ORBIT INSERTION AND 
"DRAGON" SEPARATION FROM THE 
SECOND STAGE.
>> THEY'RE BASICALLY GETTING THE
WHOLE TEAM ON ONE PAGE.
EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYTHING THEY 
JUST SAID BUT THEY'RE SAYING IT 
AGAIN SO EVERYBODY'S LISTENING, 
EVERYBODY KNOWS WE'RE ABOUT TO 
ENTER A NEW PHASE AND WE ARE 
GOING TO MAKE SURE, THIS IS THE 
NEW PROCEDURES WE FOLLOW WHICH 
ARE PRESCRIBED AND DON'T BRING 
UP SMALL THINGS, ONLY BIG 
THINGS.
>> EVERYONE IS BEING POLLED, 
SPACEX, NASA, KENNEDY SPACE 
CENTER?
>> YES.
>> JOHNSON, TALKING ABOUT 
EVERYBODY?
>> EVERYBODY BUT ALSO THE RANGE.
THE RANGE IS LIKE BASICALLY THE 
PHYSICAL SEAS OUT IN THE RANGE, 
ARE THERE BOATS OUT THERE, 
PLANES IN THE AREA THAT 
SHOULDN'T BE, ALL SORTS OF 
DETAILS AND EACH MANAGED BY ONE 
AREA, THEY'RE POLLING THE 
WEATHER.
THEY'RE DOING IT ELECTRONICALLY 
ACTUALLY.
>> I WANTED TO GO BACK YOU 
TALKED ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS IT IS
TO FUEL THE ROCKET AFTER YOU 
HAVE THE CREW ON BOARD.
WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE TO DOING 
IT LIKE THAT?
>> IT'S DANGEROUS WHENEVER DO 
YOU IT, IT'S JUST WHEN YOU HAVE 
THE CREW ON BOARD, YOU TRY NOT 
TO DO THAT, BUT THE ADVANTAGE IS
THAT YOU CAN FUEL UNTIL THE LAST
MINUTE.
THAT FUEL IS REALLY COLD BUT 
IT'S ALWAYS BOILING OFF AND YOU 
COULD HAVE MORE FUEL IN THAT 
ROCKET WHEN IT LIFTS OFF.
YOU FUEL AHEAD, SOME OF THAT IS 
BURNED OFF.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE ROCKET TO 
TAKE CARE OF IT.
YOU HAVE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 
FUEL BEFORE YOU LIFT OFF.
>> CHRISTINA, YOU RECENTLY CAME 
BACK FROM SPACE.
TALK TO US ABOUT DOUG AND BOB 
ARE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW IN 
THEIR MINDS.
THEY'RE 43 MINUTES FROM POSSIBLY
MAKING HISTORY.
THE WEATHER DOES LOOK A LITTLE 
OFF.
IT'S NOT PERFECT BY ANY MEANS OF
THE IMAGINATION.
DO THEY WANT TO GET THERE?
DO THEY WANT TO BE SAFE?
WALK ME THROUGH IT, WHAT THEY'RE
THINKING RIGHT NOW.
>> YES, WELL, THEY DID JUST 
ABORT, ARM THEIR LAUNCH ABORT 
SYSTEM, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED ON 
MY FLIGHT ABOUT 40 MINUTES PRIOR
TO LIFTOFF AND I CAN TELL YOU, 
WHEN THAT HAPPENED, YOU 
DEFINITELY WANT TO DO YOUR 
FLIGHT, BUT OF COURSE YOU ONLY 
WANT TO DO IT, IF IT IS SAFE AND
SUCCESSFUL AND YOU KNOW THAT 
THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF TEAMS OF 
PROFESSIONALS MAKING THOSE 
DETERMINATIONS.
SO YOU TRUST IN THOSE TEAMS, 
THOSE TEAMS ARE ABSOLUTELY 
AMAZING AT WHAT THEY DO.
THEY KNOW EVERY LITTLE NUANCE OF
THIS VEHICLE AND EVERY NUANCE OF
THE WEATHER AND WHAT IT CAN 
BRING TO YOU.
SO I'M PRETTY SURE BOB AND DOUG 
ARE READY TO DO THEIR JOB AND 
READY TO COUNT ON, YOU KNOW, THE
EXPERTS THAT ARE BEHIND THAT.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO 
BACK TO THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR 
AGAIN.
>> -- FOR SECTION SEVEN.
>> OKAY.
SO THAT MEANS THOSE EIGHT 
THROTTLE VALVES ARE OPENED AND 
IF THOSE SUPER DRACOS NEEDED TO 
FIRE IN ORDER FOR "DRAGON" TO 
ESCAPE OFF OF THE PAD, THEY 
COULD.
>> THIS IS THE ABORT THEY'RE 
TALKING ABOUT.
>> A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF 
SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW.
>> SO CADY, WALK US THROUGH THE 
ABORT SYSTEM.
THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IF SOMETHING 
GOES WRONG OR IF THE LAUNCH 
DOESN'T HAPPEN AT ALL.
>> CORRECT.
AND SO IF THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE
IT'S ARMED FOR FUELING, WHICH IS
A DANGEROUS OPERATION, IT'S 
SOMETHING THAT BASICALLY THEY 
CAN PULL THAT CAPSULE OFF, IT 
ACTUALLY SHOOTS ITSELF OFF THE 
TOP OF THE ROCKET AND SAVE THE 
CREW ACROSS THE OCEAN.
>> YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IT 
UNFORTUNATELY I GUESS ON YOUR 
FIRST MISSION, WHAT WAS IT SEVEN
SCRUBBED ATTEMPTS IN THE FIRST 
30 DAYS, IS THAT RIGHT, AND KIND
OF GIVE US A SENSE OF YOU'RE ALL
PREPARED AND AMPED AND EXCITED 
FOR THIS MOMENT IN THE LETDOWN 
OF THE WEATHER ISN'T GOING TO 
COOPERATE 
>> HOW COULD A PERSON DO THIS, 
WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND AGAIN,
MAYBE REAL PEOPLE DON'T GET TO 
GO AND YOU WAKE UP AND PUT ON 
THAT SUIT AND WALK OUT YOU CAN'T
DO IT, MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY 
HAVEN'T FORGIVEN ME, ALL TEXTING
AS WE SPEAK, BECAUSE MY MOM IS 
LIKE WHEN IS IT GOING TO GO?
MOM, I DON'T KNOW.
SHE'S LIKE, I'M YOUR MOTHER.
YOU CAN TELL ME.
>> WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE 
WEATHER TRENDING IN THE RIGHT 
DIRECTION AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT 
WE'VE BEEN TOLD, WE'LL SEE 
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS BECAUSE IT 
IS CHANGING MOMENT BY MOMENT.
I WANT TO ASK YOU AND CHRISTINA 
BOTH SINCE WE HAVE ABOUT 40 
MINUTES SINCE WE'LL SEE THIS.
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MINDS.
ARE YOU ABLE TO TALK TO YOUR 
FELLOW ASTRONAUTS FOR THE SPACE 
SHUTTLE OR IN THIS CASE THE 
CAPSULE, ARE YOU PRAYING IF 
YOU'RE RELIGIOUS?
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS YOU HAVE
TO CHECK THROUGH BEFORE LIFTOFF 
BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?
>> ON MY LAST SHUTTLE LAUNCH WE 
WERE LAUNCHING IN THE 
OBSERVATORY AND IN BETWEEN THE 
COMM CHECKS AND REALLY LONG 
TIME, TWO HOURS ON YOUR BACK AND
NOT THAT MUCH TO DO BUT HAVE ALL
THE SYSTEMS BE CHECKED AND I 
TOOK A NAP.
>> YOU FELL ASLEEP BEFORE A 
LAUNCH?
>> ON PURPOSE.
I HAD A BIG DAY TO LAUNCH, $1.8 
BILLION TELESCOPE, SO I'M 
EFFICIENT.
>> CHRISTINA, TALK TO ME ABOUT 
THAT TRAINING.
THIS WAS CADY'S EXPERIENCE BUT 
YOU SORT OF ARE TRAINED NOT TO 
MAKE A MISTAKE AND BE ABSOLUTELY
IN THE RIGHT MINDSET IN CASE ANY
KIND OF MISTAKE HAPPENS.
SO MUCH SO, YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE 
A NAP BEFORE LAUNCHING INTO 
SPACE.
>> WE WEREN'T REALLY DOING 
ANYTHING AT THAT TIME.
IT'S NOT LIKE I SLEPT ON THE 
JOB.
>> MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE NERVOUS.
CHRISTINA, WHAT WAS YOUR RITUAL 
BEFORE YOU TOOK OFF?
>> CADY, I COMMEND YOU FOR 
TAKING A NAP.
THAT WAS GOOD USE OF TIME.
IT IS A LONG DAY ON LAUNCH DAY.
BOB AND DOUG HAVE KIND OF 
BANKERS HOURS TODAY.
THEY WOKE UP AT A NORMAL TIME, 
GOT TO HAVE THE FAMOUS BREAKFAST
AND TAKING OFF IN THE AFTERNOON.
FOR MY FLIGHT A BIG SLEEP SHIFT 
AND TOOK SOME HOURS OF SLEEP IN 
THE DAY AND TOOK OFF LATE AT 
NIGHT AROUND 10:00 P.M.
FOR ME THE RITUAL MAKING SURE MY
BODY WAS READY AND I WAS WELL 
FED AND WELL RESTED, BUT YOU 
KNOW, EVERYONE SAYS THAT THE 
ASTRONAUTS ARE USUALLY THE 
CALMEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM ON 
LAUNCH DAY AND I REALLY FOUND 
THAT TO BE TRUE.
WE'RE READY AND PREPARED TO DOT 
JOB WE CAME THERE FOR AND 
ULTIMATELY PREPARED FOR, READY 
TO CONDUCT THAT MISSION AND I 
THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT IF WE 
SPENT ANY TIME EVEN THINKING 
ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT 
COULD GO WRONG, THAT'S NOT TIME 
WELL SPENT.
WE TAKE ANY NERVOUSNESS OR FEAR 
AND IT URN IT INTO FOCUS AND 
VISUALIZE SUCCESS AND SIT BACK 
AND MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR-HEADED
TO TAKE ON ANYTHING THAT COULD 
COME OUR WAY.
>> CADY, YOU LIKENED THIS BEFORE
TO A VERY, VERY RISKY TAXI RIDE.
SO WHILE THE RISKS HAVE 
CERTAINLY DECREASED IN TIME, 
ESPECIALLY NOW THESE NEW SPACE 
SHUTTLES, I'M JUST CURIOUS, 
SPACE SHIPS, IF FEAR PLAYS AT 
ALL ESPECIALLY THAT IMAGE OF 
DOUG'S 10-YEAR-OLD SON, WE MAY 
HAVE A PICTURE HE DREW OF THE 
"CREW DRAGON."
HE SAID AS THEY WERE DRIVING 
AWAY "LOVE YOU."
YOU HAVE A SON AS WELL, AS BOB 
AND DOUG, THAT MOMENT AND THE 
FEAR AND JUST THE POTENTIAL FOR 
SOMETHING TO POTENTIALLY GO 
WRONG.
I THINK WE HAVE THE PICTURE 
THERE THAT HIS SON DREW.
>> AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU MAKE -- I 
CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MYSELF BUT I 
THINK IT'S TRUE FOR MANY PEOPLE.
YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION WHETHER 
YOU WANT TO BE ON THE TOP OF 
THAT ROCKET YEARS BEFORE YOU'RE 
EVER THERE AND SO YOU'RE WHERE 
YOU'VE TRAINED TO BE AND WE 
DECIDED THIS IS WHAT JAMIE'S MOM
DID, SO TO SPEAK AND I THINK 
YOU'RE THERE, YOU'RE DOING YOUR 
JOB, NOT THINK BEING MAKING 
HISTORY, ANY OF THOSE THINGS, 
YOU'RE JUST THERE REALLY MAKING 
SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING 
RIGHT.
I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S A RELIEF 
WHEN THESE CRITICAL PHASES OF 
LIGHT LAUNCH AND LANDING ARE 
FINISHED AND MY HUSBAND SENT ME 
A PHOTO OF, I FLEW ON A SOYUZ AS
WELL OUR LITTLE GUY IN A RUSSIAN
HAT IN DECEMBER, SALUTING ON THE
LITTLE SQUARE AND OF COURSE I 
CRIED UP ON THAT SPACE STATION.
>> STEVE, GET A SENSE HOW, WHAT 
DOES IT MEAN TO BE A TEST PILOT 
FIRST OF ALL AND HOW DID BOB AND
DOUG GET PICKED?
>> INTERESTING DIFFERENT 
BACKGROUNDS.
BOB IS A NO KIDDING, HE'S A 
ROCKET SCIENTIST.
HE'S A Ph.D. AND HE SPENT HIS 
AIR FORCE CAREER DOING THINGS 
THAT INVOLVED VERY HIGHLY 
TECHNICAL COMPLEX SPACE RELATED 
ACTIVITIES.
DOUG IS A TEST PILOT, SO HE AND 
I FLEW TOGETHER F-18s IN THE 
MARINE CORPS, HAD A GREAT 
CAREER, WENT TO THE TEST PILOT 
SCHOOL AND BECAME A TEST PILOT, 
LEARNING HOW TO FLY THINGS THAT 
FLY AND NEED AIR, AIR-BREATHING 
KINDS OF AIRPLANES BUT THIS HAS 
BEEN THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE BACK 
TO THE MERCURY AND THE GEMINI 
AND APOLLO ASTRONAUTS WHERE YOU 
PUT THEM THROUGH THE TEST PILOT 
SCHOOL AND THEY LEARN HOW TO 
OPERATE MACHINES, SOPHISTICATED 
MACHINES BUT THEN THEY GO INTO 
SPACE WHERE EVERYTHING IS NEW.
SO YOU HAVE SORT OF AN 
INTERESTING MIX HERE, WHERE YOU 
HAVE THE Ph.D. AND THE GUY WHO 
IS THE STICK AND RUDDER GUY, 
BOTH ARE BRILLIANT, BOTH ARE 
GREAT OFFICERS AND GREAT 
ASTRONAUTS.
SO IT'S A GOOD MIX, AND IN 
AUGUST, THEY'LL SEND UP FOUR OF 
THESE ASTRONAUTS, IF THE LAUNCH 
IS SUCCESSFUL TODAY.
THIS IS A STEPPINGSTONE.
THEY'LL PROVE THIS FIRST MISSION
IF THEY CAN GET PEOPLE UP SAFELY
TO ISS AND BACK AGAIN AND IN 
AUGUST THEY'LL GO UP WITH FOUR.
THE "DRAGON" CAPSULE CAN TAKE 
FOUR ASTRONAUTS AT A TIME AND 
THEY'LL TAKE CARGO AND THINGS 
LIKE THAT BACK UP TO THE ISS.
SO THAT'S SORT OF WHAT THE 
INTENT IS HERE.
BOB AND DOUG, I TEXTED WITH DOUG
A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND DOUG SAID 
EXPECTS TO BE UP THERE FOR TWO 
TO THREE MONTHS SO WE'LL SEE HOW
THAT PLAYS OUT.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT OPEN-ENDED BUT
THEY ARE BOTH READY TO GET GOING
AND START THE ADVENTURE.
>> A DYNAMIC TEAM NO DOUBT.
STEVE, ONE OF THE BIG REASONS 
WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY IS BECAUSE 
ELON MUSK AND SPACEX HAVE PROVED
THAT THEY CAN DELIVER RESULTS, 
AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST RESULTS 
WAS THE REUSABLE ROCKET, THE 
FALCON 9 THAT WE'RE TALKING 
ABOUT TODAY AND THE AMAZING 
THINGS THAT CAN DO.
THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY SAW 
WHAT THIS THING WAS CAPABLE OF 
ESSENTIALLY LANDING ON A 
PINPOINT, YOU TAKE A STEP BACK, 
IS THIS REAL?
IT WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.
STEVE, I WANT TO ASK YOU, HOW 
IMPORTANT IS THAT WHEN WE TALK 
ABOUT THE COST OF SPACE AND WHAT
ELON MUSK HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO?
>> WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY, 
TOM, IF WE COULDN'T DRIVE DOWN 
THE COST OF GETTING TO SPACE AND
THAT IS ON ELON MUSK, A LARGER 
THAN LIFE ENTREPRENEUR, THIS HAS
BEEN HIS LIFE'S GOAL AND LIFE'S 
LEGACY HE HOPES WILL BE TO 
EVENTUALLY CREATE A COLONY ON 
MARS.
SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY IS 
JUST ONE MORE STEP IN THE LEGACY
THAT ELON MUSK IS LOOKING TO 
BUILD IN THE YEARS TO COME.
>> WE SEND IT BACK TOUT TO GIO 
BENITEZ.
IT IS A GO, TO PUT THE GAS IN?
>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.
THE ONLY THING KEEPING THEM ON 
THE GROUND IN THE NEXT 34 
MINUTES IS THE FACT THAT THE 
WEATHER IS STILL IFFY.
WE ARE SEEING IT START TO CLEAR 
UP BUT THERE IS A DARK CLOUD 
COMING SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT.
BY THE WAY THEY HAVE QUITE THE 
SENSE OF HUMOR.
DOUG HURLEY WAS BEING ASKED WHAT
DID YOU HAVE FOR BREAKFAST AND 
HE SAID, QUESTION ANSWERED AND 
HE TWEETED THIS PHOTO OUT, STEAK
AND EGGS, HE SAID.
SO THAT WAS BREAKFAST HE HAD AT 
11:30, STEAK AND EGGS.
GOOD OLD STEAK AND EGGS. 
>> GIO, THANKS SO MUCH.
THEY ARE FUELING THE ROCKET.
>> GIO APPROVES OF THE HIGH 
PROTEIN/LOW CAR SHALL BREAKFAST.
>> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL BE 
ASTRONAUT.
WHAT DID SHE HEAR FROM BOB AND 
DOUG'S WIVES?
AND WHAT DID THE SPACE STATION 
CREW TELL HER LAST WEEK?
WE'LL FIND OUT.
STAY WITH US.
>>> GOOD EVENING FOR THE DPC.
>> GOOD EVENING, CHRIS, VANIA 
AND ANATOLE, PLAN ON BOARD FOR 
YOU TO REVIEW IF YOU LIKE.
COUPLE OF ITEMS WHEN YOU'RE 
READY.
>> VOICE OF ASTRONAUT JANET EPPS
TALKING TO THE CREW IN THE SPACE
STATION.
JANETTE YOU SPOKE WITH CHRIS 
CASSIDY LAST WEEK.
WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT BOB AND 
DOUG'S ARRIVAL?
>> WHEN I TALKED WITH CHRIS ON 
BOARD, HE WAS LOOKING FOR THINGS
TO DO TO GET READY FOR BOB TO 
VISIT SO THEY CAN DO A SPACE 
WALK TOGETHER.
HE WAS LOOKING FOR BOB'S 
EQUIPMENT.
WANTED TO SET IT OUT, SET UP THE
EMUs, THE SPACE SUITS.
I THINK CHRIS IS VERY EXCITED 
FOR THEM TO JOIN HIM ON BOARD. 
>> ALSO TALKED TO THEIR WIVES 
KAREN AND MEGAN, WHAT DID THEY 
SHARE WITH YOU?
>> HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM 
RECENTLY BUT I'M SURE THEY'RE 
EXCITED TO BE PART OF SOMETHING 
SO HISTORICAL RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU KNOW, FOR VIEWERS WHO 
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CAPCOM 
DOES, YOU'RE ESSENTIAL THREAD 
BETWEEN THE ASTRONAUTS ON THE 
SPACE SHIP AND ALL THE 
EARTHLINGS ON THE GROUND.
>> WELL TODAY I WON'T BE THAT 
PERSON BUT YES, CAPCOM TALKS TO 
THE CREW.
MANY EXPERTS ON THE GROUND, 
CAN'T ALL TALK TO THEM AT ONCE.
THEY TALK TO THE FLIGHT 
DIRECTOR, AND DIRECTOR TALKS TO 
THE CAPCOM SO REDUCE THE 
CONFUSION FOR THE CREW.
THEY CAN GO OUT AND EXECUTE. 
>> COMES FROM TRUSTED VOICE.
YOU'LL HAVE A TONE OF I'M 
HEARING THIS, I KNOW IT'S NOT 
WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, BUT A LOT
OF PEOPLE -- WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
SOOTHING IN A WAY.
WHAT IS IT LIKE INSIDE MISSION 
CONTROL?
>> SOMETIMES CAN BE VERY BUSY 
BUT ON A GOOD DAY, IT'S VERY 
BORING, NO BELLS AND WHISTLES 
GOING OFF ON ISS, VERY CALM DAY.
ONLY A FEW THINGS TO TELL THE 
CREW.
CAN TELL THEM DURING THE DAY OR 
WAIT UNTIL EVENING DAILY 
PLANNING CONFERENCES.
IT CAN BE VERY BUSY BECAUSE YOU 
HAVE MULTIPLE EXPERTS.
EXPERT IN THE ELECTRICAL POWER 
SYSTEM, COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, 
EVEN A PERSON DOING ALL THE 
PLANNING WHERE EVERY DAY THE 
SCHEDULE ON BOARD.
MANY EXPERTS IN THE ROOM, NOT 
ALL CAN TALK TO THE CREW AT 
ONCE. 
>> GENNETT ESPIRZ, THANKS FOR 
THAT.
BREAKING NEWS.
ADMINISTRATOR TELLING PRESIDENT 
TRUMP WE'RE GO FOR LAUNCH.
WHEN DO BOB AND DOUG FIND OUT?
FIRST TO FIND OUT?
>> THEY HEAR THE SAME THINGS 
WE'RE LISTENING TO.
THEY'RE HEARING AT THE SAME TIME
AS WE ARE.
BUT I WAS LISTENING TO 
CONVERSATION ABOUT ENERGY IN 
LIGHTNING, IN THE AIR, WITHIN 
LIMITS OR NOT, GOING TO 
RE-EVALUATE AT 4:13 AND THEY 
TOLD THAT TO THE CREW.
>> LET'S GO TO GINGER ZEE IF WE 
CAN.
DO WE HAVE GINGER AVAILABLE FOR 
ADVANCED WEATHER UPDATE?
>> YES, I'M AVAILABLE AND RADAR 
IN MY HAND AND BEHIND ME YOU 
NEED TO SEE.
THERE'S STILL LIGHTNING.
ONE ON MY PHONE IS REALLY CLOSE 
UP BUT THERE'S -- IT'S NOT JUST 
ABOUT THE LIGHTNING BUT 
ELECTRICAL CHARGE, HEIGHT OF THE
CLOUDS CHARGING AND ATMOSPHERE 
OF TEN MILES IN DIAMETER WHERE 
THE SPACESHIP IS GOING UP.
HERE'S THE FUTURE CAST, KEEPS 
THE MASSIVE STORMS SOUTHEAST OF 
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, THE COAST 
HAS BEEN LITTERED WITH LIGHTNING
TODAY.
A LOT OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES.
WORKING IN THE FORECAST TEAM I 
KNOW THEY HAVE FIELD 
MEASUREMENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL 
CHARGES EVERYWHERE, AND THEY'RE 
LOOKING FOR WIND SHEAR, SENDING 
BALLOONS UP.
CAN'T HAVE CUMULONIMBUS OR THE 
DEBRIS CLOUD OFF A THUNDERSTORM 
OR SEPARATED ANVIL FROM OLD 
THUNDERSTORM.
IT'S TOO MUCH CHARGE AND ROCKET 
ITSELF WITH THE EXHAUST CAN HELP
MAKE LIGHTNING.
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LIGHTNING 
STRIKE.
IT'S GOING TO BE DOWN TO THE 
MINUTE I ANTICIPATE.
RIGHT NOW I THINK IT'S TOO CLOSE
BUT STORMS COULD MOVE OUTSIDE 
THE VICINITY.
I ASSUME THAT'S WHY THEY'RE 
WAITING. 
>> IF THE NASA ADMINISTRATOR 
TOLD THE PRESIDENT WE'RE GO FOR 
LAUNCH AND LOOK AT YOUR GRAPHIC 
WITH STORMS AND ACTIONS THERE, 
WHAT ARE THEY SEEING THAT WE'RE 
NOT?
>> I THINK THEY'RE JUST HOPING 
THAT LAST -- MEL, GO BACK TO THE
RADAR, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE 
WATCHING.
BUT THEY'VE GOT THE TOOLS, EVEN 
THE PEOPLE DOING FORECASTS 
THEMSELVES HAVE A RADAR WE'RE 
NOT PRIVY TO, OTHER IMAGING 
THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.
I THINK THEY'RE WATCHING THIS 
BATCH OF LIGHTNING, THAT'S THE 
CLOSEST, AND ANY OF THE CLOUD 
COVER OUTSIDE OF THE SPACE 
COAST.
SEEING IF ELECTRICAL CHARGES ARE
THERE.
IF MEETS CRITERIA, LAUNCH.
AS PERSON WHO STUDIED 
METEOROLOGY AND MARRIED MYSELF 
TO THE TROPOSPHERE, WOW, SEEMS 
CLOSE.
BUT IF IT MOVES EAST, WE HAVE 
SUBSIDDENCE AFTER BERTHE THAT, 
SINKING AIR.
HOPING THEY'RE SEEING SOMETHING 
I'VE NOT.
>> WE'LL WORK ON GETTING YOU 
SPECIAL RADAR FROM NASA.
MOMENTS FROM LAUNCH, WILL THEY 
GO OR WILL THE WEATHER SLAY THE 
DRAGON?
STAY WITH US ON THE OTHER END OF
THIS BREAK.
.
>>> THIS IS AN ABC NEWS SPECIAL.
HERE NOW, TOM GIANNIS AND LINSEY
DAVIS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON FROM U.S. 
HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, 
EXCITING DAY FOR THE U.S. SPACE 
PROGRAM.
LOOKING AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
RETURN OF SPACE MISSIONS 
LAUNCHED FROM U.S. SOIL.
SO FAR ALL SYSTEMS GO.
SHOULD KNOW FOR SURE IN JUST 
UNDER TWO MINUTES.
THRILLED TO BE WORKING WITH 
PARTNERS AT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 
FOR THIS HISTORIC LIVE EVENT.
FIRST TIME NASA ASTRONAUTS WILL 
LAUNCH INTO SPACE ON PRIVATELY 
OWNED SPACECRAFT, ANY COMPANY 
SENDING ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
FALCON NAMED AFTER MILLENNIUM 
FALCON IN "STAR WARS."
>> IT IS CERTAINLY A BIG DAY FOR
TWO ASTRONAUTS, DOUG HURLEY AND 
BOB BEHNKEN, AWAITING LIFT-OFF 
IN THE ROCKET.
THERE THEY WERE EARLIER, TAKING 
THAT FAMOUS WALK TO HUGE 
APPLAUSE FROM THE ASSEMBLED 
STAFF AND GUESTS, INCLUDING 
WIVES AND SONS.
VIRTUAL HUGS ALL AROUND.
ALSO THERE, VICE PRESIDENT 
PENCE.
THEN GETTING IN TESLAS FOR THE 
RIDE TO THE LAUNCH PAD, FAMILIES
REACHING OUT ONE MORE TIME.
BEFORE THAT, THE NEW SPACESUITS 
DESIGNED BY HOLLYWOOD COSTUME 
DESIGNER.
CHECKING THEM FOR LEAKS.
ELON MUSK MEETING WITH THE 
ASTRONAUTS, THEN THE MEN 
ARRIVING AT LAUNCH PAD, LOOKING 
UP AT ROCKET, TAKING ELEVATOR TO
THE TOP AND ENTERING THE DRAGON 
SPACE CAPSULE.
GIO BENITEZ IS HERE. 
>> JUST HEARD FROM NASA LAUNCH 
ABORTED -- SPACEX IS NOT GOING 
TO LAUNCH.
THAT'S THE OFFICIAL WORD RIGHT 
NOW.
NEXT ATTEMPT WILL BE SATURDAY 
3:22 P.M. ON SATURDAY.
THAT'S THE NEXT TIME THEY CAN 
GET THIS SPACESHIP UP INTO SPACE
AND UNITE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING 
WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, IT HAD TO
HAPPEN AT EXACTLY 4:33.
WEATHER HAD TO BE RIGHT AT THIS 
TIME.
BUT IT CLEARLY IS NOT GOING TO 
BE.
AT LEAST ACCORDING TO SPACEX AND
NASA.
THEY SAID IF WE HAD TEN MORE 
MINUTES, MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO 
THIS BUT YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
THIS SPACESHIP NEEDS TO GET UP 
AND MEET WITH THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION AT A VERY SPECIFIC
TIME.
>> GIO BENITEZ WITH THAT NEWS.
SPACEX LAUNCH HAS JUST BEEN 
ABORTED.
CONTROL ROOM IS TELLING ME WE 
HAVE AUDIO WHEN THEY ABORTED THE
MISSION.
LISTEN IN.
>> WE CONTINUE TO VIOLATE A 
COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WEATHER 
RULES WE NOW DO NOT EXPECT TO 
CLEAR IN TIME TO ALLOW FOR 
LAUNCH TODAY.
WE'LL END TODAY'S LAUNCH 
ATTEMPT.
LAUNCH CONTROL, END THE AUTO 
SEQUENCE AND PROCEED INTO THE 
LAUNCH ABORT SEQUENCE PLEASE. 
>> LAUNCH ABORT STARTED.
>> THAT'S WHEN HE ABORTED THE 
LAUNCH.
BEEN TALKING FOR HOURS ON "ABC 
NEWS LIVE" AND "NATIONAL 
GEOGRAPHIC."
WEATHER HAS BEEN SO BAD.
AT ONE POINT THE ADMINISTRATOR 
SAID TO THE PRESIDENT IT'S GO 
RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEY LOOKED AT THE WEATHER.
WALK US THROUGH THE DECISION 
MAKING, A POLL BY ALL PARTIES 
INVOLVED. 
>> WHEN THEY MADE THE POLL THE 
WEATHER WAS COMPLYING, IT WAS 
GOOD JUF.
ALSO SAW IT GOING IN GOOD TREND,
GOING TO STAY GOOD.
BUT IT DID NOT.
I WAS LISTENING TO THE CHATTER.
SAID IF WE HAD ANOTHER TEN 
MINUTES, COULD HAVE GONE.
IT'S NOT PREORDAINED.
IT'S FLORIDA COASTLINE, IT'S 
AFTERNOON IN MAY, IT'S TOUGH TO 
LAUNCH.
SAID GOING UP TO THE SPACE 
STATION, WE HAVE TO MEET AT 
CERTAIN POINT, EXACTLY ENOUGH 
FUEL TO GET THERE.
HAVE TO GO AT EXACT RIGHT TIME, 
CAN'T START LATE AND CATCH IT.
>> GIVE US A SENSE OF THE 
DISAPPOINTMENT.
>> IT'S HARD ON THE FAMILIES.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
PEOPLE COULDN'T COME TO THE 
LAUNCH BUT I HAD HUNDREDS OF 
FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN FLORIDA, 
HOTEL ROOMS AND RENTAL CARS AND 
VACATION TIME AND ASTRONAUTS 
KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO GO, NOT 
RIGHT NOW BUT NEXT WINDOW ON 
SATURDAY.
IT'S NOT AS HARD ON THE CREW AS 
THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.
AND EVERYBODY HAS BEEN LOOKING 
FORWARD TO IT.
BUT SPACE FLIGHT HAPPENS WHEN 
IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
>> CHRISTINA KOCH IS AN 
ASTRONAUT JUST RETURNED FROM 
SPACE.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN WITH 
OTHER MISSIONS.
AS ASTRONAUT WHO JUST RETURNED 
FROM SPACE, WHAT CAN YOU DO 
BETWEEN THURSDAY AND SATURDAY 
GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT 
LAUNCH?
>> WELL, CHRIS CASSIDY ON BOARD 
WILL HAVE A SECOND CHANCE TO GET
THE ROOMS READY, I GUESS.
BUT KATIE IS RIGHT, CAN BE 
DISAPPOINTING.
BUT WE'RE TRAINED TO BE 
ADAPTABLE AND STAY IN MINDSET WE
NEED TO, RESTART NEXT TIME WE 
HAVE A LAUNCH.
I WAS ON BOARD THE SPACE STATION
WHEN WE HAD A SPACEX WEATHER 
SCRUB OF A CARGO VEHICLE AND WE 
WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 
ARRIVAL AND ENTIRE WEEK CHANGED 
WHEN IT DIDN'T LAUNCH, HAD TO BE
RESCHEDULED.
WE'RE USED TO THIS.
BOB AND DOUG, FIGHTER PILOTS 
HAVE WEATHER SCRUBS IN AIRCRAFT 
ALL THE TIME.
BE JUST AS EXCITED SATURDAY AS 
WELL.
>> KATIE, CHRISTINA, THANK YOU.
SPACEX LAUNCH HAS BEEN ABORTED 
BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.
WE'RE GOING TO RETURN TO LOCAL 
NEWS PROGRAMMING.
CONTINUE COVERAGE ON "ABC NEWS 
LIVE" AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 
AND WE'LL BRING YOU THE ACTION 
ON SATURDAY WHEN THE LAUNCH 
HAPPENS AGAIN.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A SPECIAL 
REPORT FROM ABC NEWS.
>>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON 
"ABC NEWS LIVE" AND NATIONAL 
GEOGRAPHIC.
THIS LAUNCH WE'VE BEEN WAITING 
FOR HAS BEEN ABORTED.
IT'S JUST WEATHER, NOTHING ELSE 
FOR PEOPLE TO GET NERVOUS.
KATIE YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS 
PROCESS. 
>> THINGS WERE LEARNED TODAY.
LITTLE THINGS WHERE YOU THOUGHT 
YOU COULD TALK TO SOMEONE, 
HAPPENED TO FAST, INFORMATION 
PASSED OR DIDN'T PASS TO 
DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
LESSONS ARE LEARNED THAT ADD UP 
TO BIG PICTURE AND WILL TRANSFER
TO OTHER LAUNCHES.
THIS IS NEW FOR NASA AND A 
COMPANY TO WORK TOGETHER.
I'M SURE THERE WERE LOTS OF 
SURPRISES ON THE PART OF BOTH 
PARTNERS.
IT'S ALL VALUABLE, ALL PART OF 
THE DEAL. 
>> THIS IS A DIFFICULT 
UNDERTAKING UNDER IDEAL 
CIRCUMSTANCES BUT IN MIDST OF A 
PANDEMIC, THE PREPARATION AND I 
IMAGINE NOW, AT LEAST HAD A DRY 
RUN THROUGH BUT HOW DIFFICULT 
THIS IS IN A TIME LIKE THIS.
>> THE PHYSICAL PART AND THEN 
THE EMOTIONAL PART.
IT'S JUST ALL OF US FINDING IN 
OUR OWN PERSONAL LIVES AND 
BUSINESS LIVES, THERE'S MORE 
LOGISTICS IN PLACE.
THINGS HAPPENING SLOWER, FEWER 
PEOPLE AND YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU 
ACCOMPLISH WITH ACTUAL PHYSICAL 
CLOSENESS.
AND EMOTIONALLY IT'S HARD AS 
WELL WITH SO MUCH GOING ON IN 
THE WORLD.
AND ACTUALLY JUST NOT BEING ABLE
TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE LAUNCHING 
TOGETHER, I THINK.
>> I WANT TO BRING IN GINGER ZEE
NOW.
GINGER WAS ALLUDING TO THIS.
I KNOW YOU DIDN'T WANT TO 
OVERSTEP YOUR BOUNDS BECAUSE OF 
THE NASA METEOROLOGISTS BUT YOU 
SAW WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEE 
AS WELL.
TAKE US INTO THE FINAL SECONDS 
OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE 
WEATHER.
>> YEAH.
I THINK JUST BEFORE YOU LEFT ME,
I WAS DEFINITELY NOT WANTING TO 
OVERSTEP MY BOUNDS WHATSOEVER, 
HOWEVER I'VE BEEN ENGRAINED IN 
WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING, 
PREPARING FOR THIS LAUNCH AND 
WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE AND 
THEY WERE NOT MEETING IT.
HARD FOR ME TO SAY THIS ISN'T 
HAPPENING BUT THAT'S WHAT I 
THINK THEY WERE SEEING AT THAT 
MOMENT.
SAW ARTIFACT OF LIGHTNING STRIKE
6.9 MILES FROM THE SPACE CENTER 
WHEN WERE ABOUT TO COME ON, 
THAT'S WHY I HAD MY CELL PHONE 
IN MY HANDS.
THAT ALONE WAS TOO CLOSE, AND I 
IMAGINE THEY HAD ELECTRICAL 
CHARGES FROM OTHER STORMS IN THE
SURROUNDING AREA.
I'M SURE WE'LL FIND OUT AFTER.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF FRIENDS IN 
THE AIR FORCE WORKING ON THE 
FORECAST, I'LL GET ANSWERS IN A 
BIT WHEN THEY'VE SETTLED DOWN A 
LITTLE.
IT IS LATE MAY IN FLORIDA, EVEN 
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TROPICAL WAVE 
OR DEPRESSION NORTH OF US, THIS 
IS A TOUGH TIME BECAUSE OF THE 
LAND-SEA BREEZE.
CONVERGENCE ON THE PENINSULA OF 
FLORIDA IN THE AFTERNOON, POP-UP
THUNDERSTORMS ARE A PROBLEM.
METEOROLOGIST WHO WORKS WITH ME 
IS RUNNING THE GRAPHICS, RUN A 
FUTURE CAST OUT TO SATURDAY SO 
WE CAN GET A PEEK INTO THE 
FUTURE.
IT'S PRETTY FAR BUT LET'S DO IT.
WHY NOT?
HAS THE SHORTER TERM ONE ON.
SHOWERS AND STORMS IN THE 
MORNING.
WE CAN ONLY RUN IT TO 1:00 P.M.,
DOING IT REALTIME, FORGIVE US.
FROM TITUS BEACH TO -- HAD 
SLIGHT MOISTURE.
SCATTERED IN NATURE DAY AND 
PROBABLY A CLOSE CALL BUT 
SHOULDN'T BE THIS CLOSE.
TODAY WAS ODD ONE.
HAD BERTHA, IN SOUTH FLORIDA, 
LAST TWO DAYS, DROPPED MORE THAN
A FOOT OF RAIN IN 24-HOUR 
PERIOD.
INUNDATED IN MIAMI AND WEST PALM
AND JUPITER.
KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE TOO 
MUCH MOISTURE AROUND THAT WOULD 
HAVE ELECTRIC CHARGE AND 
UNFORTUNATELY DID.
BUT WE'LL BE ALL OVER THE 
FORECAST GOING FORWARD.
SATURDAY WE'LL BE MAKING CALLS.
MORE THAN THAT.
DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE'LL HAVE 
SUSTAINED WINDS THEN EITHER BY 
THE WAY.
SHOULDN'T HAVE WIND SHEAR ISSUE.
BUT THEY'RE SENDING WEATHER 
BALLOONS UP CONSTANTLY.
MORE THAN ONE GROUP, NOT AIR 
FORCE ONLY BUT PRIVATE GROUPS 
ARE DOING IT.
CAN'T HAVE THUNDERSTORMS AND 
LIGHTNING, SMOKE PLUMES THAT 
CREATE THE CLOUDS OR DEBRIS 
CLOUDS THAT COME OFF, SEPARATED 
ANVILS FROM CUMULONIMBUS CLOUDS.
THERE ARE A THE OF RULES AND WE 
NEED TO FIND THE WINDOW.
IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, 
TROPOSPHERE THAT I SAID I LOVED 
SO MUCH, THAT'S WHERE ALL THE 
ISSUES HAPPEN AND WE'LL BE GLUED
TO IT NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. 
>> I WAS PICKING UP WHAT YOU 
WERE PUTTING DOWN, CHANNELLING 
IT BEFORE, THIS WAS NOT 
HAPPENING.
LAST CHECK WITH GIO BENITEZ 
BEFORE WE GO.
>> Reporter: LITTLE BIT OF A SAD
SIGHT, COUNTDOWN CLOCK STOPPING 
T-MINUS.
LOOKING AT SATURDAY LAUNCH, 
HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER COOPERATES
THEN, SATURDAY JUST AFTER 3:20 
P.M. AND WE'LL SEE IF THIS 
ROCKET CAN FINALLY GET UP THERE.
AS GINGER JUST SHOWED US, TOO 
DANGEROUS TO DO RIGHT NOW.
NOT A RISK ANYONE WANTS TO TAKE 
HERE.
>> THANK YOU GIO.
GO TO VICTOR OQUENDO BEFORE WE 
WRAP UP.
SO MANY PEOPLE WERE LOOKING 
FORWARD TO THIS, HEARING FROM 
FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
NOT A LOT GOING ON WITH 
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND THIS 
WAS SOMETHING TO UPLIFT OUR 
SPIRITS.
WHAT WAS THE SENSE ON THE BEACH 
IN COCO BEACH?
>> Reporter: PEOPLE ARE BUMMED 
OUT.
WE'RE ON THE PIER THAT JUST 
REOPENED.
WATCHED PEOPLE GO FROM EXCITED 
TO BUMMED OUT.
BUT THAT SAID, SPOKE WITH ONE 
FAMILY WHO DROVE IN FROM 
MICHIGAN.
ASKED IF YOU'LL STICK AROUND TO 
SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, SAID I GOT 
NOTHING ELSE TO DO, WILL BE HERE
A MONTH IF I HAVE TO WAIT THAT 
LONG.
SEEING ONE OF THESE LAUNCHES IN 
PERSON IS INCREDIBLY SPECIAL.
SHERIFFS OFFICE KNEW THAT, 
TELLING PEOPLE TO SOCIALLY 
DISTANCE.
HAD MASKS TO HAND OUT.
WE'LL DO IT AGAIN IN MATTER OF 
DAYS. 
>> WE SEE THE CROWDS ON THE 
BEACH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.
BUT WE'LL BE STICKING WITH 
COVERAGE SATURDAY AS WELL.
3:00 ON "ABC NEWS LIVE" AND 
"NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC."
WANT VIEWERS TO WATCH IT, TRULY 
SPECIAL.
>> IT'S NOT A NO, IT'S NOT YET. 
>> IT'S AMAZING WHEN PEOPLE 
LEAVE THE PLANET, JUST AS 
AMAZING AS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 
TODAY. 
>> STAKES STILL HIGH. 
>> AND CERTAINLY IN THIS TIME, 
BEEN SO MUCH SADNESS AND SO MUCH
TO BEMOAN IN 2020, PEOPLE ARE 
LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION AND 
HOPE.
WE'LL LOOK ON TO SATURDAY. 
>> AMAZING MOMENTS TODAY THAT 
WILL BE AMAZING SATURDAY AND 
WE'LL BE THERE EVERY STEP OF THE
WAY.
THANKS FOR JOINING.
FOR EVERYONE AT ABC NEWS, 
FRIENDS FROM NASA, ASTRONAUTS, 
CURRENT AND RETIRED, THANKS FOR 
WATCHING LAUNCH AMERICA.
WE'LL SEE 
