FOLLOWING THAT, THE LAUNCH
DIRECTOR WILL PROVIDE A
COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT
DEPENDING ON WHAT IS GOING ON.
RIGHT NOW, AS THE CLOCK
CONTINUES COMING DOWN WE WILL
CHECK IN WITH JERRY WITH THE
FLIGHT CONTROL CENTER IN
MICHIGAN CONTROL, HOUSTON --
MISSION CONTROL HOUSTON.
HOW ARE THINGS LOOKING THERE,
GARY?
>> HI, EVERYONE.
THIS ROOM BEHIND ME AS ONE OF
THREE FLIGHT CONTROL ROOMS AT
THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
THIS IS WHERE THEY MONITOR ALL
OF THE OPERATIONS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IT IS STAFFED FOR THE FORZA DAY
365 DAYS A YEAR.
THE TEAM IS FOCUSED ON
MONITORING LAUNCH OPERATIONS AND
MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS TO
DOCK WITH THE STATION TOMORROW
MORNING.
TODAY, I AM JOINED REMOTELY BY
THE NASA ASTRONAUTS WHO WAS ON
THAT -- ASTRONAUT WHO WAS ON
THAT FLIGHT NINE YEARS AGO.
HE IS THE DEPUTY OF SAFETY AND
MISSION ASSURANCE AT THE JOHNSON
SPACE IN HER.
>>, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.
REX: GARY, LED TO BE HERE.
GARY: WHAT WERE SOME OF THE
THOUGHTS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD
AS PART OF THE CREW SUITING UP
FOR A SHUTTLE FLIGHT FOR THE
LAST TIME?
REX: YOU NEVER KNOW FOR SURE IF
IT'S GOING TO BE FOR REAL.
WE ONLY HAD A 30% CHANCE OF
LAUNCHING ON OUR LAUNCH DAY.
WE THOUGHT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE'VE GOT
TO BE READY FOR GAME DAY.
YOU GO OUT THOSE HISTORIC
CORRIDOR'S WHERE NEIL ARMSTRONG
WALKED OUT GOING ONTO THE MOON
AND GET ON TO THE LAUNCH PAD.
GARY: AS I RECALL THE WEATHER
WAS NOT THAT FAVORABLE EARLY IN
THE DAY, BUT STARTED LOOKING
BETTER TOWARD LAUNCH TIME TO
REVIEW HAD TO GET OFF OF THE
PAD.
IT SEEMS TO BE A NORMAL THING
FOR SPACEFLIGHT.
REX: YES.
YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED ANYWAYS.
THE VEHICLE MAY BE HAVING
ISSUES.
THE WEATHER MAY NOT COOPERATE.
SO, YOU GET READY AND DO THE
COUNTDOWN.
IT DID NOT LOOK VERY GOOD.
WE ONLY HAD A 30% CHANCE OF GO.
WE WERE NOT SURE IF IT WOULD BE
GO OR NOT.
OUR COMMANDER LOOKED OUTSIDE AND
SAID, I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS AND I
GOT BAD NEWS.
THE BAD NEWS IS IT IS RAINING.
THE GOOD NEWS IS IT LOOKS LIKE
IT IS CLEARING TO THE WEST.
THEY PROBABLY COME BACK AT T
MINUS NINE WHERE THEY CHECKED
THE WEATHER AND DECIDED TO GO.
WE WERE GOING.
IT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT.
THEY BROUGHT THE COUNT ALL THE
WAY DOWN TO 30 SECONDS.
THE CLOCK STOPPED.
WE DID NOT GET THE ALARMS.
WE HEARD OF THE INTERCOM THE
LAUNCH WAS HALTED DUE TO A
MALFUNCTION.
WE WERE LIKE, WHAT KIND OF
MALFUNCTION?
SURE ENOUGH, WE WERE, WE ONLY
HAVE A MINUTE OF TIME.
WE FIGURED, DOES NOT LOOK LIKE
IT'S GOING TO BE IT, BUT TURNED
OUT THE TEAM AT KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER IN NEW WHAT THE PROBLEM
WAS.
THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE -- THE
GASEOUS OXYGEN COULD, THEY USED
TO BE ARM TO MOVE IT OUT OF THE
WAY.
THEY PICKED UP THE TOWN AT 30
SECONDS.
HOLY COW, WE REALLY ARE GOING.
IT DOES NOT GIVE YOU A LOT OF
TIME TO COLLECT YOUR THOUGHTS.
YOU GET READY FOR THAT BIG JOLT.
AND YOU GET READY TO DO THE
MISSION.
GARY: HERE IS HOPING FOR THE
BEST.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER TO WATCH THE SUIT
UP IN ACTION.
LELAND?
LELAND: YES.
REX, IT WAS SO GREAT FLYING WITH
YOU.
I REMEMBER YOU TURNING TO ME AND
SAYING, LELAND, YOU ARE GOING TO
DO GREAT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT
AND YOUR KINDNESS.
THAT WAS A GREAT MISSION.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, MAN.
REX: THAT WAS GREAT FUN.
YOU ARE A PRETTY BIG GUY.
YOU DID NOT LEAVE A LOT OF SPACE
FOR YOUR BUDDY HERE.
I HAD TO SCRUNCH MYSELF TO THE
SOUTH -- TO THE SIDE.
I REMEMBER, YOU BEING A FORMER
NFL PLAYER, HAVING PLAYED
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL, THERE WAS
NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR ME.
I SQUEEZED MY WAY THE BEST I
COULD.
I SAID, HEY, STEVE,
WE FLY WITH A PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETE, WHY DON'T WE PICK A
JOCKEY?
IT WAS A WONDERFUL FLIGHT.
AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO FLY WITH
YOU, LELAND.
LELAND: I REMEMBER, I SAID IT IS
BACK AND YOUR SON, YOU SAID, HI,
DAD.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT FAMILY.
THANK YOU, FOR WHAT YOU HAVE
DONE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO LIVE IN A
MINUTE.
>> THANKS.
MY TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT REX HAD
TO SAY IS, YOU ARE TELLING ME
THERE IS A CHANCE.
50% IN FACT.
THE ASTRONAUT CREW QUARTERS ARE
WHERE THE ASTRONAUTS LIVE IN
SECLUSION BEFORE THEY GO TO
SPACE.
IT IS WHERE BOB AND DOUG HAVE
BEEN LIVING FOR 10 DAYS.
THE CREW QUARTERS IS SOMETHING
OF A NATIONAL LANDMARK OF
ITSELF.
THIS WAS FIRST USED AS A SUIT UP
ROOM FOR APOLLO SEVEN IN 1958.
EVERY CREW MISSION LAUNCHING
FROM U.S. SOIL, SERVING 400
DIFFERENT ASTRONAUTS ON A TOTAL
OF 150 DIFFERENT MISSIONS, THIS
IS THE ROOM WHERE ARMSTRONG,
COLLINS SUITED UP 50 YEARS AGO,
WHERE THE FIRST SHUTTLE FLIGHT
SUITED UP BACK IN 1980 ONE.
AND FOR EVERY SHUTTLE FLIGHT FOR
THE NEXT 30 YEARS -- THINK OF
THAT.
EVERY FLIGHT TO THE MOON.
EVERY APOLLO FLIGHT, SO USE,
EVERY SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT
STARTED IN THAT ROOM.
AND, LELAND, I KNOW ALL OF US
HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF
QUARANTINE OVER THE LAST TWO
MONTHS, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE
QUARANTINE IN PREPARATION FOR
SPACEFLIGHT IS UNLIKE ANYTHING
ELSE IN YOUR LIFE.
LELAND: WE WOULD GET TOGETHER,
TRY TO MAKE JOKES.
WE WOULD BRING OUR FAMILIES IN,
AND HAVE A CREW MEAL WITH OUR
FAMILIES.
IT WAS REALLY TOUCHING.
CARD GAMES, DIFFERENT THINGS TO
GET READY FOR THAT ICONIC
MISSION IN SPACE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
EVERYTHING PRIOR TO THIS MOMENT
IS PREPARATION AND EVERYTHING
AFTER THIS IS MISSION.
THE SUIT UP ROOM WAS USED FOR
THE LAST SHUTTLE FLIGHT IN 2011.
I WANT TO MENTION ONE MORE
DETAIL.
WE WILL SHOW YOU A PICTURE OF
THE CREW FROM THE LAST AMERICAN
SPACEFLIGHT.
IN THE PICTURE -- IF WE CAN
BRING IT UP, YOU WILL SEE DOUG
HURLEY.
HE WAS THE PILOT FOR STS-135.
TODAY HE IS THE COMMANDER.
ALSO SUITING UP, SAID HE
FERGUSON -- SANDY FERGUSON AND
REX WALDHEIM, WHO WE JUST HEARD
FROM A FEW MINUTES AGO.
THE SUIT UP IS JUST BEGINNING.
THERE IS ASTRONAUT DOUG HURLEY
GETTING INTO HIS SPACE IT AND HE
IS BEING HELPED BY ONE OF THE
SUIT TECHNICIANS.
THIS IS OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE
ROOM.
DOUG HURLEY HAS FLOWN INTO SPACE
TWO TIMES BEFORE.
HE WAS A PILOT -- THERE IS A
WIDER SHOT.
YOU CAN SEE ASTRONAUT BOB
BEHNKEN NOW.
TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN.
HE ALSO FLEW ON TWO SHUTTLE
MISSIONS.
HE IS A NATIVE OF SAINT AND,
MISSOURI.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING FROM
MISSOURI, WAVE HI.
THERE IS BOB.
DOUG IS FROM APPALACHIAN, NEW
YORK.
IF YOU'RE WATCHING FROM UPSTATE
NEW YORK, SHOUT OUT TO YOU THERE
, TOO YOU WILL.
THIS IS SO COOL TO SEE.
LELAND, THIS MUST BRING BACK
MEMORIES FOR YOU.
LELAND: IT DOES.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM
WHEN I WAS SUITING UP.
THERE WERE APOLLO LAZY BOYS, AND
NOW THERE ARE THESE INCREDIBLE
SUITE SUITS.
THESE ARE THE SAME AS THEY ARE
IN THE CREW DRAGON VEHICLE.
>> YES, THEY ARE PRETTY MUCH THE
SAME AS THE ONES IN THE VEHICLE,
AS WE WIN SAID.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW IS
STRAPPING THE CREW INTO THE
SEATS TO PREPARE FOR THE TWO BIG
CHECKOUTS.
THEY'RE GOING TO DO A CALM'S
CHECK WHERE THEY CHECK THE
MICROPHONES INSIDE THE HELMETS
-- THEY'RE GOING TO DO A COMS
CHECK WHERE THEY CHECK THE
MICROPHONES INSIDE THE HELMET
AND THEY ALSO DO A LEAK TEST FOR
THE PRESSURIZED SPACE IT.
THEY ARE MORE THAN FUTURISTIC
LOOKING OUTFITS.
THEY DO LOOK LIKE THEY COME FROM
A SCI-FI MOVIE.
THEY ARE DESIGNED TO CONNECT
DIRECTLY INTO SEATS TO PROVIDE
COMMUNICATIONS, COOLING AND THE
ABILITY TO PRESSURIZED
NECESSARY.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN ONE OF THE
SUIT TECHNICIANS ATTACHING A BIG
WHITE AND BILLET GOAL TO THE LEG
OF THE SUIT.
THAT IS THE WAY IN WHICH THE
COMMUNICATIONS AND THE AIRFLOW,
ALL OF THAT IS HAPPENING THROUGH
THAT UMBILICAL, WHICH IS
CONNECTED TO THE SEAT.
THE TEAM IS GETTING THE CREW ALL
THAT AND UP IN THEIR FIVE-POINT
HARNESSES AND GETTING READY FOR
THOSE CHECKOUTS. 
AND THERE IS THAT WARM AGAIN.
FRONT AND CENTER.
HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL IN A
SPACE IT?
LELAND: IT MAKES YOU FEEL GREAT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HERITAGE
TRADITION WITH THE MEATBALL.
YOU PUT THIS WORM THING INTO ME.
THEY ARE GETTING READY.
THEY ARE FOCUSED.
THEY HAVE HAD BREAKFAST.
THEY HAVE HAD CHANCES TO TALK TO
FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
IT'S GETTING REAL AGAIN.
A 58-50 CHANCE.
-- A 50-50 CHANCE.
SEEING THE FUTURISTIC WHITE
SUITS, IT'S THE TRANSITION FROM
THE OLD LEGACY TO THIS NEW ERA
IN SPACE TRAVEL AND I THINK NASA
AND SPACEX WORKING TOGETHER AS
ONE TEAM -- IT'S LIKE WHAT WE DO
IN SPACE, WORK TOGETHER AS AN
INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO GET THINGS
DONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE IS A WAVE FROM DOG AND A
THUMBS UP.
THE PEOPLE IN THAT ROOM GETS YOU
KNOW BOB AND DOUG REALLY WELL
BECAUSE THEY HAVE REHEARSED THIS
SO MANY TIMES.
THE SUITS ARE CUSTOM-MADE FOR
EACH OF THE ASTRONAUTS.
I FEEL LIKE YOU COULD NOT EVEN
COUNT HOW MANY TIMES YOU HAVE
HAD THE SUIT CHECKS, THE LEAK
CHECKS, MAKING SURE EVERY PART
IS PERFECT.
>> THE SUIT CHECKS ARE THE
DESIGNERS OF THE SPACESUIT.
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE
CREW FOR YEARS.
ALL OF THE TRAINING EVENTS IN
HAWTHORNE, THIS IS THE TEAM THAT
HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR
YEARS, THE TEAM THAT DRESSED
RIPLEY, THE DUMMY THAT --
LELAND: THE MANNEQUIN, RIGHT?
>> THE MANNEQUIN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> HE'S A SMARTY.
>> BUT THE POINT IS BEING THAT
THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS
FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE.
>> THERE IS A TRACKING
CONSTRAINT AT THE MOMENT.
OVERALL THEY ARE READY FOR
APPROVAL.
LELAND: THANK YOU FOR THE
UPDATE.
--
>> THINK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
>> YOU JUST HEARD IN THAT
BRIEFING THEY ARE MOVING TOWARD
LAUNCH AND AS WE HAVE A VIEW OF
DOUG HURLEY THERE, ADJUSTING HIS
VISOR HE IS THE SPACECRAFT
COMMANDER.
WHILE HE CONTINUES THE SUIT UP
PROCESS, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A
CLOSER LOOK AT THE VETERAN
MARINE CORPS PILOT AND
SPACEFLIGHT PIONEER.
>> EXCITED?
>> VERY EXCITED.
VERY EXCITED.
>> READY?
>> OH, YEAH.
I THINK WERE CERTAINLY READY.
>> HE IS A MARINE CORPS COLONEL
AND TEST PILOT.
HE WAS SELECTED AS AN ASTRONAUT
IN 2000.
HE PILOTED SPACE SHUTTLE
ENDEAVOR.
THE FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE MESSAGE.
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT DOUG
HURLEY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S THAT LIFE-CHANGING
PROCESS IN SO MANY WAYS TO FLY
IN SPACE.
IT'S JUST OVERWHELMING IN SOME
RESPECTS.
JUST THE SENSATION, THE RUMBLING
, THE ACCELERATION.
WHEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND
YOU GO FROM THREE GEEZ 20 GEEZ
-- 3 G'S TO 0 G'S 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.
THAT IS QUITE THE EMOTIONAL
EXPERIENCE.
MY NAME IS DOUG HURLEY AND IMP
SPACECRAFT COMMANDER FOR THE
DEMO 2 MISSION.
WE ARE DOING THE FIRST CREWED
FLIGHT FOR NASA AND SPACEX.
THIS IS FOR HIGH-END OPERATIONS,
ENTRY, DESCENT, AND LAID THEY.
-- AND LENDING.
THERE ARE A.
OF OBJECTIVES WE WANT TO ACHIEVE
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
JUST HAVE THE ENTIRE INTEGRATED
TEAM THAT WOULD SUPPORT US
GETTING TO AND FROM SPACE
STATIONS, TALKING TOGETHER,
WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGES
THAT SIMULATORS TYPICALLY THROW
AT YOU.
IT WAS A REALLY MEET THE PART OF
IT.
IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE
UNDERTAKING TO SEE WHERE WE
HAVE, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
AND TO BE SHORTLY FLYING TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
IT OVERWHELMS YOU TO THINK ABOUT
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE, IN SOME
WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM TOUCHED THIS
PROGRAM TO GET AS TO THIS POINT.
WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES WHO GET TO
FLY AT, BUT WE CERTAINLY DO NOT
FOR ONE SECOND TAKE FOR GRANTED
THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT SO MANY
OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO PUT INTO
THIS.
>> DOUG, PERSONALLY -- HE HAS
WORKED SO HARD THROUGH HIS
ENTIRE LIFE TO GET TO WHERE WE
ARE NOW.
AS A TEST PILOT, IT WOULD BE A
DREAM TO FLY THE VEHICLE.
SO IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY THAT HE
GETS TO BE PART OF THIS MISSION
AS SPACECRAFT COMMANDER.
I AM JUST GLAD TO SEE HIS HARD
WORK AND HIS DREAM COME TRUE
THROUGH THAT.
>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD IN A
LOT OF WAYS, NOT ONLY FOR US BUT
A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WORK IN THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM AND
SPACEX, JUST WORKING TO GET TO
THIS POINT.
IT HAS BEEN A HUGE AMOUNT OF
SACRIFICE.
THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR ARE
COMING TO FRUITION.
>> WE ARE NOW GETTING CLOSER TO
WHEN WE EXPECT TO SEE THE CREW
COMPLETE THEIR CHECKS AND WALKED
OUT OF THE OPERATIONS AND
CHECKOUT BUILDING.
>> HERE'S THE INTRODUCTION TO
THE JOINT OPERATIONS COMMANDER,
YOU SEE TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR
SCREEN THERE, FORMER AIRCRAFT
ENGINEER BOB BEHNKEN.
♪
>> WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THESE
LAUNCH DAY PREPARATIONS, THERE'S
A LOT OF MOMENTS THAT STAND OUT
TO YOU.
ONE IS THE CELEBRATORY PIECE OF
ITS, WHICH IS YOUR WALKING OUT
OF THE SUIT UP ROOM AND YOU ARE
GETTING IN THE VEHICLE.
WHEN YOU CLOSE THE HATCH, THAT
IS REALLY WIN DOG AND I ARE IN
THE VEHICLE AND IT'S OUR VEHICLE
AND WE ARE IN CONTROL OF THE
MISSION AT THAT POINT.
>> TEST PILOTS -- THEIR TASK, TO
PROVE THAT MAN CAN FLY INTO
ORBIT AROUND THE EARTH AND 
RETURN LIVE AND WELL TO TALK
ABOUT IT.
BOB: THERE'S ALWAYS A RISK.
WE HEAR A SOUND -- OK, IS THAT
SOUND AND EXPECTED SOUND?
IS THAT LIKE AN EXPECTED LIKE?
WHAT'S THE SOURCE OF IT?
DOESN'T SYNC UP WITH SOMETHING
OR NOT?
TRYING TO INTERACT WITH ALL OF
THAT IN YOUR HEAD, A LOT OF
THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN ON THE
LAUNCHING OF A VEHICLE.
>> HE IS AN AIR FORCE COLONEL
AND FLIGHT TEST ENGINEER.
INTRODUCING NASA ASTRONAUT BOB
BEHNKEN.
BOB: MY CAREER AT NASA HAS
SPANNED A COUPLE DECADES.
I ARRIVED WITH THE CLASS OF
2000.
I ARRIVED WITH THE TRAINING
PROGRAM PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE
SPACE SHUTTLE AND THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
HAVING WATCHED ON A COUPLE
VEHICLES, THE SECOND TIME WAS
DEFINITELY DIFFERENT FROM THE
FIRST TIME.
YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE BIT
GUILTY, HEY, SHOULD I STUDY ONE
MORE THING, IS THERE ONE MORE
PIECE OF INFORMATION I SHOULD
GET?
AM I PREPARED OR NOT?
THAT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN WHERE I WAS IN MY
PREPARED FLIGHT AND WHERE I AM
AT NOW.
IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING, I
THINK, FOR BOTH MY WIFE AND I,
HAVING GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS
OF WATCHING EACH OTHER LAUNCH IN
SPACE.
I HAVE SEEN HER TAKE THAT RISK.
I HAVE DONE THAT TO HER.
THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT
ABOUT WATCHING A ROCKET LAUNCH.
YOU FIT DIFFERENTLY -- YOU FEEL
DIFFERENTLY.
IT'S MULTIPLIED WHEN IS SOMEONE
YOU KNOW, AND SOMEBODY, OF
COURSE, WHO IS A FAMILY MEMBER,
IT'S MULTIPLIED MORE.
MEGAN: FOR ME, AS A SPOUSE,
WATCHING EVERYTHING BOB HAS PUT
INTO THIS OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS, THE DEDICATION AND THE
PERSEVERANCE IS PRETTY SPECIAL
FOR BOTH OF US.
THE WAY OUR MINDS WORK, IT WILL
NOT BE UNTIL THE MISSION IS
COMPLETE THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE
TO SAVOR IT AND CELEBRATE IT.
IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR AN AIR
FORCE TEST PILOT INJURED NEAR TO
BE PART OF THE DEMONSTRATION OF
OUR BRAND-NEW VEHICLE.
BOB: WITHOUT A PARTNER THAT HAS
THAT SAME APPRECIATION, I THINK
IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR SOME
FOLKS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK IN A LOT
OF TIME THAT TAKES AWAY FROM
FAMILY THAT MY SPOUSE
APPRECIATES, AND I LOVE HER FOR
THAT.
REALLY, MY ROLE ON THE MISSION
IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS
VEHICLE TESTED AND EVALUATED SO
WE CAN MOVE ONTO MORE
OPERATIONAL MISSIONS AT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OBJECT LIVES ON
BOARD THE VEHICLE THAT WE NEED
TO ACCOMPLISH TO REALLY MAKE
SURE IT'S GOOD TO GO.
WE WILL MAKE SURE ALL OF THOSE
SYSTEMS ARE WORKING DURING THE
TEST FLIGHT.
THROUGH YEARS OF THE NASA TEAM
HELPING TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE
AND TEACH THE LESSONS WE HAVE
LEARNED DOING THROUGH THIS,
THERE'S ANOTHER CAPABILITY IN
THE U.S. BESIDES NASA ABLE TO
OPERATE SOMETHING OF THIS
MAGNITUDE.
WHEN IS THE LAST TIME HUMANS
LAUNCHED ON A NEW VEHICLE?
CERTAINLY ON THE AMERICAN SIDE,
IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL DECADES.
NOW WE ARE IN A TIME WHEN WE
HAVE MULTIPLE VEHICLES UNDER
DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A GREAT TIME FROM A SPACE
EXPIRATION TIME FRAME JUST TO
SEE ALL OF THAT HAPPENING AND IS
BECAUSE OF THIS NURTURING OF THE
ENVIRONMENT, BEING ABLE TO PULL
IN A WIDER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO
CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HUMAN
SPACEFLIGHT.
IT'S JUST A SUPER COOL TIME.
ON A DEEPLY PERSONAL LEVEL, I'M
EXCITED MY SON HAS GOT A CHANCE
TO SEE ME LAUNCH INTO SPACE.
BEING AN ASTRONAUT HAS BEEN A
LITTLE BIT OF AN OBSTRUCTION
THING FOR HIM BECAUSE HE HAS
SEEN ME DO IT IN OLD VIDEOS, BUT
HE HAS NOT SEEN ME DO IT FOR
REAL.
I'M EXCITED FOR HIM TO SEE THIS
LAUNCH.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE
COMMERCIAL CREW TEAM THAT HAS
GOT US TO THIS POINT WHERE WE
HAVE VEHICLES ON THE LAUNCHPAD,
READY TO HEAD TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
>> AND HERE IS A LIVE LOOK AGAIN
INSIDE THE SUIT UP ROOM IN THE
NEIL ARMSTRONG OPERATIONS AND
CHECKOUT BUILDING.
WE CAN SEE NOW NASA
ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE.
HE IS TALKING TO THE CREW.
YOU WILL NOT HEAR IN THE WE HAD
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS WEDNESDAY.
PEOPLE WERE LIKE -- WHY CAN'T I
HEAR WHAT THEY ARE SAYING?
THAT'S BY DESIGN.
WE ARE LUCKY TO SHOW YOU THIS
VIDEO.
YOU DO NOT HEAR THE AUDIO.
WE TRY TO GIVE THE CREW A LITTLE
BIT OF PRIVACY.
BEING ABLE TO TALK FREELY AND
SURE WHAT IS ON THEIR MIND,
WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT
WHO IS LISTENING, IS ART OF THE
REASON WE DON'T SEE -- WE DON'T
HAVE AUDIO IN THERE.
JIM BRIDENSTINE NINE, AND IT
LOOKS LIKE THE DEPUTY
ADMINISTRATOR JIM MOORE ARE --
ARE ALSO STANDING AT THE LEFT OF
THE SCREEN.
LELAND: I THINK WHEN YOU LOOK AT
HOW THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER
AND HOW THESE SPACEX SUITS
REALLY CONFIDENT THE ASTRONAUTS
-- THEY ARE MORE FORM FITTED,
THEY ARE CUSTOM-MADE, AND THIS
IS THE REAL DEAL.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE
INTEGRATION IS REALLY
IMPRESSIVE.
>> THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE
SPACE SUIT -- IS THE PRESSURE
SUIT.
THE DRAGON CAPSULE IS ALREADY
PRESSURIZED, SO EVEN IN THE
VACUUM OF SPACE, THE CREW IS
SAFE.
IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF AN
ANOMALY, WE CAN ACTUALLY FLOW
OXYGEN OR NIGHT TRUCKS INTO THE
SUIT AND THAT WILL KEEP THE
ASTRONAUTS PRESSURIZED IN
FLIGHT.
THAT IS THE FORM AND FUNCTION
AND STYLE THERE AS WELL.
LELAND: AND FOR KIDS OUT THERE
WHO HAVE 3-D PRINTERS, THE
HELMETS WERE MADE WITH 3-D
PRINTING.
YOU COULD BE A SPACEFLIGHT
DESIGNER YOURSELF.
>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT KIND
OF CONVERSATION MUST BE GOING
ON.
IT LOOKS LIGHTHEARTED.
YOU CAN SEE DOUG LAUGHING AREA I
KNOW THAT MR. BRYDON SIGN -- YOU
CONCEIVED OF LAUGHING.
I KNOW THAT ADMINISTRATOR -- MR.
BRIDENSTEIN HAS SAID TO THEM, IF
YOU WANT TO BACK OUT -- HE MAY
SAY THAT AGAIN.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GETTING
ANOTHER VISITOR.
NO, THE ADMINISTRATOR IS BEING
PASSED SOMETHING.
I DID NOT SEE THEM DO SOMETHING
-- DO THIS ON WEDNESDAY.
THEY WERE KICKING THEMSELVES.
WHY DIDN'T WE DO SLP?
LELAND: DO YOU THINK HE HAS THAT
ON?
>> YOU CAN TWEET AT HIM AND FIND
OUT.
LELAND: THIS GIVES THE GUYS IN A
GOOD MINDSET TO GO INTO SPACE IN
A VERY CALM AND COOL WAY.
HE IS TAKING PICTURES OF SOME OF
THE CREW TEXT, THE SUIT TEXT.
HE'S BRINGING THE -- THE CREW
TECHS, THE SUIT TECHS.
HE'S BRINGING THE FAMILY
TOGETHER.
>> OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY
SERIOUS MISSION.
WE DO NOT WANT A MAKE TOO MUCH
LIGHT OF IT.
LELAND, YOU MENTIONED THIS, WHY
IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO
JOKE AROUND AND KEEP THINGS
LIGHT AS YOU GET READY TO GO TO
THE LAUNCHPAD.
LELAND: WE JUST TALKED TO REX.
WE WERE IN THE CARAVAN GOING TO
THE LAUNCHPAD MAKING JOKES.
AS WE WERE SUITING UP, WE WOULD
HIGH-FIVE.
ARE YOU READY?
LET'S GO.
LET'S DO THIS.
YOU HAVE TRAINED.
YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.
THAT LIGHTHEARTEDNESS IS GOOD.
GETTING INTO THE 8:00, 3, 2, 1,
LIFT OFF.
-- GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE, 3,
2, 1, LIFT OFF.
LET'S GO.
>> DOUG HURLEY AND BOB BEHNKEN,
THEY ARE SOME OF THE FINEST AT
WHAT THEY DO.
IT'S REALLY STARTING TO SINK AND
THAT THE MISSION IS ON AS YOU
SEE THEM IN THEIR SPACESUITS.
>> THEY ARE SO INSPIRING TO ME
FROM THE FIRST, I SAW THEM AT
SPACEX HEADQUARTERS.
IT IS SORT OF LIKE A SCI-FI
FILM.
BUT UNLIKE A MOVIE PROP, THE
TEAM DESIGNS SUITS TO MAXIMIZE
SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY WHILE
MAINTAINING STYLE.
THERE ARE TWO MEMBERS OF THE
TEAM TELLING US ABOUT HOW THE
SUIT CAME TO BE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WAS IMPORTANT IN
DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUIT WAS TO
MAKE IT EASY TO USE, SOMETHING
THE CREW LITERALLY HAS TO PLUG
IN WHEN THEY SIT DOWN AND THE
SUIT TAKES CARE OF THEMSELVES AS
THEY SIT THERE.
THE SUIT IS PART OF THE DRAGON
SYSTEM.
IT'S REALLY PART OF THE DRAGON
VEHICLE.
WE SEE IT AS A SUIT-SEAT SYSTEM.
IN A LOT OF WAYS THEY ARE
WORKING TOGETHER.
IT MADE SENSE THAT WE WERE
DESIGNING DRAGON AND WE WOULD
ALSO DESIGNED THE SUIT.
>> THIS IS BUILT HERE IN
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA AND THE
SAME BUILDING AS THE ROCKET.
THE SUIT IS CUSTOM-MADE FOR EACH
CREW MEMBER TO OPTIMIZE THE FIT
FOR THE CREW MEMBER.
CHRIS: WE WANTED TO INNOVATE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST WE WANTED IT
TO BE SAFE AND RELIABLE.
THE SUIT DOESN'T NUMBER OF
TRADITIONAL THINGS.
IT PROVIDES COOLING AND
COMMUNICATIONS OR THE CREW
INSIDE THE SUIT.
IT PROVIDES THEM HEARING
PROTECTION.
THE OUTER LEVEL IS PLAIN
RESISTANT, SO IT PROVIDES SLATE
-- PROVIDES FLAME PROTECTION AS
WELL.
WHEN THEY PLUG THE SEAT INTO THE
UMBILICAL, THE ABILITY TO IS
PROVIDING EVERYTHING THE SUIT
NEEDS.
IT PROVIDES AVIONICS OR
ELECTRONICS FOR COMMUNICATIONS,
THE AIR TO COOL THE SUIT, AND IT
PROVIDES GAS, WHEN NEEDED, 2-D
PRESSURIZE THE SUIT.
IT'S REALLY BE SINGLE POINT OF
THINKING OF ALL THE THINGS IT
NEEDS TO DO.
WE DESIGNED THE HELMET IN-HOUSE.
THE HOME IT -- THE HOME IT --
THE HELMET HAS A NUMBER OF
FUNCTIONS.
OBVIOUSLY IT IS PROTECTING THE
HEAD.
WE HAVE GLOVES THAT WORK WITH A
TOUCHSCREEN.
THEY HAVE TO DO A NUMBER OF
OTHER THINGS.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAD TO COME
TOGETHER.
IT WILL BE, OBVIOUSLY, VERY
AMAZING TO SEE BOB AND DOUG IN
THEIR FLIGHT SUITS.
WHERE THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THE
SUIT IS IT'S NOT JUST A PIECE OF
HARDWARE.
IT'S A VERY PERSONAL THING.
IT IS  BOB'S SUIT AND DOUG'S
SUIT, AND SING THEM IN FLIGHT
WILL BE AN AMAZING THING.
>> YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT THE
LAUNCH OF SPRING, THAT IS CREW
DRAGON.
A TWO STAGE ROCKET THAT WILL
PROVIDE ONE MILLION POUNDS OF
THRUST AT LIFTOFF.
WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS
CROSSED.
IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL NOW.
THERE MAY BE THUNDERSTORMS
ROLLING IN LATER.
WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON
THE WEATHER.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL HEAD TO
WEST HAWTHORNE FOR AN
OPERATIONAL UPDATE.
DAN?
>> HEY, WE ARE HERE IN
HAWTHORNE.
THE CREW HAS A FULL SCALE DRAGON
MOCKUP TO CONDUCT SIMULATIONS.
>> RECENTLY THE SPACEX TEAM
SHARED THE VERY SAME -- THE
EXACT SAME ISS SIMULATOR.
IF YOU HEAD OVER TO ISS.SIM.
SPACEX.COM, YOU CAN TRY YOUR
HAND AT DOCKING WITH THE SPACE
STATION.
I TRIED IT ONCE BEFORE.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.
IT IS MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT
ACTUALLY IS, I THINK.
>> FLYING INTO SPACE IS REALLY
DECEIVING.
WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING
REALLY SLOW EVERYTHING IS OK,
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW YOU ARE
CAREENING INTO THE SPACE
STATION.
IT'S WAY HARDER.
IT MAY TAKE A COUPLE TRIES.
IT'S DOABLE.
>> YOU GUYS CHECK IT OUT.
SEE IF YOU CAN DO IT.
LET'S CHECK IN FOR A QUICK
UPDATE ON DRAGON AND FALCON 9.
>> WE ARE COMING UP ON THREE
HOURS -- T MINUS THREE HOURS AND
39 MINUTES.
THE ENGINE CHECK OUT LAST NIGHT.
WE ARE CURRENTLY PRESSURIZING
VESSELS ON THE FIRST AND SECOND
STAGE.
THERE'S NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO
TALK ABOUT ON THE ROCKET RIGHT
NOW.
ON TOP OF THE FALCON 9, THERE IS
THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT BEING
PREPARED FOR THE CREW.
WE HAVE THE SUPPORT TEAM ARRIVE
IN THE WHITE ROOM AND WE ARE
WAITING RIGHT NOW FOR THE CREW
TO WALK OUT AND THEY SHOULD
ARRIVE AT THE PAD BY T MINUS
THREE HOURS.
FOR THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT, ALL
SYSTEMS ARE GO.
NO ISSUES AT THIS TIME.
THEY WILL BE MAINTAINING AIR AND
SEA SPACE CLEARANCE TO SUPPORT
THINGS LIKE PUTTING THE ROBOTS
UP TO PREVENT ACCESS TO THE
HAZARD AREAS AT THE LAUNCH SITE
AT 39A AND THE CAKE.
THE BIG QUESTION IS THE WEATHER.
WE ALL TALK ABOUT IT.
IT'S ONE THING WE CAN'T DO
ANYTHING ABOUT.
THE WEATHER IS 50% PROBABILITY
OF GOOD CONDITIONS.
WE WILL BE WATCHING FOR THE
CLOUDS.
LIGHTNING, THUNDER STORMS.
THE SEA BREEZE IS NOT GOING TO
HELP PUSH THAT BACK OVER CENTRAL
FLORIDA.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THINGS ARE
LOOKING GOOD AS WE COUNT DOWN TO
LIFT OFF.
WE WANT TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE
FOLLOWING TODAY'S LAUNCH FROM.
WE ARE GOING TO JUMP OVER TO OUR
SOCIAL DESK.
>> THANKS, JOHN.
SO LAD TO HEAR THAT THINGS ARE
LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW FOR THIS
LAUNCH.
REALLY HOPE IT STAYS THAT WAY.
WE JUST LOOKED AT FEWER SHIPS
ACROSS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORMS.
THERE ARE 500,000 ON VIEW TUNING
IN.
WELCOME.
WE ALSO HAVE THE TOP 50 TUNING
-- COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA,
HOUSTON, TEXAS, LOS ANGELES,
ORLANDO.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE EAST COAST IS
FEELING TODAY'S VIEWERSHIP.
BUT ON WEDNESDAY CALIFORNIA CAME
IN AND STOLE THE SHOW.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING
SHARED ONLINE RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THIS FUTURE
ASTRONAUT -- I DO NOT KNOW WHO
HE HAD TO CALL, BUT IT LOOKS
LIKE HE IS IN THE SPACEX SUIT IN
HIS TESLA.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
LET'S TAKE A SECOND LOOK.
A RIGHT WE HAVE A FRENCH
BULLDOG.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS TAKING BOB'
IS PLACE FOR THE LAUNCH.
FOR THOSE OF YOU TUNING IN, BE
SURE TO USE #LAUNCHAMERICA ON
SOCIAL MEDIA.
EARLIER ON THE SHOW, WE POLLED
USERS TO SEE WHICH NASA LOGO YOU
ARE USING FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH.
THE RESULTS ARE IN.
IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT -- IT LOOKS
LIKE ABOUT 52 PERCENT ARE
WEARING THE MEATBALL TODAY AND
THAT LEAVES THE WORM A LITTLE
BIT BEHIND.
NOW THAT THE WORM IS BACK, MAYBE
WE WILL BE SEEING IT OFTEN.
LET'S GO BACK TO MARIE AT NASA
KENNEDY.
HEY, MARIE.
MARIE: I HAVE TO TELL YOU LELAND
THREW UP HIS ARMS IN VICTORY
WHEN HE SAW MORE PEOPLE SPORTING
THE MEATBALL AND LAUREN LOOKS
LIKE SOMEONE JUST KIDNAPPED HER
DOG.
LELAND: NO WORM, NO WORM, GO
AWAY, WORM.
>> YOU CAN'T PREDICT.
THAT IS THE BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY
OF OPINIONS, YOU KNOW?
LELAND: THERE IS A CARD GAME WE
PLAY CALLED POSSUMS FARGO.
YOU HAVE TO PLAY IN A PANTS WERE
THE COMMANDER LOSES THE HAND
BEFORE YOU WALK OUT.
-- YOU HAVE TO PLAY ENOUGH HANDS
WHERE THE COMMANDER LOSES THE
HAND BEFORE YOU WALK OUT.
THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT THEY ARE
DOING.
>> WE WILL GIVE THEM THAT MOMENT
IN PRIVATE.
WE HAD A SCRUB REALLY LATE IN
THE COUNT YESTERDAY.
IT WAS LIKE, A COLLECTIVE GROAN
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO REALLY
REFOCUS YOURSELF ON DAY TWO?
IS THERE A LITTLE SUPERSTITION
INVOLVED?
LELAND: WE TRY TO KEEP
EVERYTHING THE SAME WAY.
WE PRACTICE THIS WAY.
WE PLAY THIS WAY.
IF YOU STAY IN THE SAME FORM AND
FUNCTION YOU HAVE DONE BEFORE,
NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.
>> WE HEARD BOB AND DOUG D AS
THEY WEREETANKING AND GETTING
READY TO GET OUT OF CREW DRAGON.
THEY WERE COOL, CALM, COLLECTED.
NOBODY IS GETTING LAUNCH OF
FEVER.
THEY WILL DO THE SAME THING
TODAY.
NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING.
THEY WILL DO THE SAME THING.
LELAND: ON MY FIRST MISSION, HE
SAID HE PUT THE WRONG SWITCH ON
THE ACCENT -- AND HE SAID HE HAD
TO JUST FOCUS AND GET BACK TO
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE SO HE DID
NOT MAKE A THIRD MISTAKE WHICH
COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.
THAT IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO.
DO THINGS THE SAME WAY.
BE VERY GRACEFUL, NOT TRY TO
OVERTHINK THE THING.
STAY SAFE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE HAVE ALL OF THE SPACEX AND
MOUNTAIN TEAMS WORKING ON THIS
TODAY.
WITH -- WE EXPECT THESE SPACEX
CREW ARE LEAVING IN A MOMENT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE PAD HERE.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT
STRUCK ME.
WE WATCH THE VIDEOS ARE ABOUT
BOB AND DODD WILL HOME ON
WEDNESDAY -- PEOPLE SAW, A LOT
OF PEOPLE WATCHING, SAW THE
VIDEOS, LEARNED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THEIR MILITARY BACKGROUND.
MY HUSBAND IS A MARINE.
HE IS SUPER PUMPED ABOUT DOUG.
DOUG HAS TWEETED "SEMPER FI,"
THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THE AIRMEN WATCHING BOB.
IT SUCH A COOL MOMENT FOR
MILITARY COMMUNITY AND AS A
MILITARY SPOUSE I DEFINITELY
FEEL SOME OF THAT PRIDE.
LELAND: I SAW CHARLIE BOWMAN AT
A RESTAURANT LAST NIGHT.
HE IS A MARINE.
AND HE SAID "GODSPEED, SEMPER
FI, CREW DRAGON." OUR MILITARY
PEOPLE ARE HELPING US WITH THIS
LAUNCH, THIS RECOVERY, ALL THESE
OTHER THINGS, VERY IMPORTANT TO
THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE WANT TO TURN OUR ATTENTION
BACK TO THE NEIL ARMSTRONG
OPERATIONS.
WE WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE
PICTURE OF THE DOORS.
THOSE OF THE DOORS AT THE BACK
OF THE CREW QUARTERS BUILDING.
IT IS AN AREA WHERE FAMILY,
FRIENDS, MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA
CAN SHARE ONE MOMENT BEFORE THE
LAUNCH.
IT IS ON MARCH FOR EVERY
AMERICAN MISSION SINCE 1968.
THIS IS A MOMENT IMMORTALIZED ON
FILM AND VIDEO FOR 400 DIFFERENT
ASTRONAUTS, 150 TOTAL MISSIONS
AND SOON, MISSION 151 WITH THE
FIRST TWO COMMERCIAL CREW
ASTRONAUTS.
THESE DOORS CARRY A LEGACY OF
PURPOSE AND ACTION AND TODAY
THEY WILL ANNOUNCE TO ALL OF US
THE START OF THIS NASA-SPACEX
DEMO 2 MISSION.
LELAND: YOU SAW A LITTLE BIT OF
MY WALK OUT FOR MY LAST MISSION.
I REMEMBER HAVING MY FAMILY AND
FRIENDS THERE, MY CHEMISTRY
TEACHER WAS IN THE CROWD.
SHE GOT ME TURNED ON TO SCIENCE.
I REMEMBER HER BEING IN THE
CROWD SAYING, "GO, LELAND!"
IT WAS A MOMENT FOR ME, THAT
MORE ROCKET FUEL IN MY VEINS,
GETTING ME READY FOR MY MISSION.
>> WE WERE LOOKING AT A LIVE
PICTURE OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.
WE COULD SEE DOUG AND BOB'S
FAMILIES.
THERE'S A SMALL CONTINGENT OF
MEDIA.
NORMALLY THAT AREA WOULD BE
JAMPACKED.
WE HAD TO SCALE BACK TO MAINTAIN
SOCIAL DISTANCING BUT THERE
STILL ARE VERY EXCITED GROUP OF
PEOPLE WAITING FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN.
>> IT IS SO COOL TO SEE THEIR
FAMILIES THERE AND THEY HAVE
THAT MOMENT.
THE LAST TIME YOU MADE THAT
EVENT WAS AN INCREDIBLE
EMOTIONAL MOMENT.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT IS GOING
THROUGH THEIR HEADS.
IN THAT MOMENT WHEN THEY ARE
WAVING GOODBYE FOR THE LAST
TIME, LELAND, ARE YOU NERVOUS?
LELAND: WE ARE JOVIAL IN THE
SUIT UP, WALKED OUT, BUT IN THAT
MOMENT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT OUR
FAMILIES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME
WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS
INCREDIBLE THING FOR HELPING
ADVANCE OUR CIVILIZATION.
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER AS A
TEAM.
ALL OF THE OTHER TEAMS WITH
SPACEX AND NASA.
ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HELPING US
GET INTO SPACE.
I THINK THOSE MOMENTS ARE REALLY
HEARTFELT FOR US AND THE TEAM OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED US GET TO
THIS POINT.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A LIVE PICTURE
OF BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY
WALKING DOWN THAT HALLWAYD AT
THE CREW QUARTERS.
OUG JUST -- DOUG JUST WAVED AT
THE SCREEN.
YOU CAN'T SEE IT -- YOU CAN KIND
OF SEE IT.
THERE IS A BANNER WAVING WITH
THE SIGNATURES OF ALL OF THE
PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THIS
MISSION.
IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THEM
TO HANG THAT UP SO BOB AND DOUG
COULD SEE IT.
LELAND: WE SEE THAT.
THE SIGNATURES OF ALL THOSE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAINED WITH US
AND HAVE GONE ALONG WITH US ON
THE RIDE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AS WE WAIT FOR THE CREW TO COME
DOWN, WE WILL PAUSE AND HONOR
THE EFFORT WITH THE NATIONAL
ANTHEM.
KELLY CLARKSON JUST BLEW THIS
AWAY ON WEDNESDAY.
HERE SHE IS AGAIN.
KELLY: ♪ 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 NIGHT -- TO
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
O SAY DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED
BANNER YET WAVE
O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE
AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE? ♪
>> I GOT GOOSEBUMPS LISTENING TO
THAT.
IT DOES NOT GET OLD.
THAT'S A LIVE LOOK AGAIN A
COMPLEX 309A
WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
ASTRONAUTS TO WALK OUT OF THE
CHECKOUT BUILDING ANY MINUTE
NOW.
WE WILL BE READY TO CUT TO THAT
SHOT AS SOON AS THEY GET READY
TO CUT TO THAT.
IT HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL START TO
THE DAY ON CAPE CANAVERAL.
LUNCH TIME IS 322 TIME THIS
AFTERNOON.
LAUREN: WHAT BLOWS ME AWAY WHEN
I VISIT FLORIDA, IS THIS CLEAR
DAY AND THEN ONE HOUR LATER IT
IS A THUNDERSTORM.
MARIE: WELCOME TO OUR WORLD.
LAUREN: SIMILAR TO OUR LAST
ATTEMPT.
IN 15 MINUTES LATER, IT WAS
READY TO GO.
MARIE: IT HURT MY SOUL.
WE HAVE A SINGLE SECOND TO GET
THIS OFF THE GROUND, SO
EVERYTHING HAS GOT TO BE JUST
RIGHT.
LAUREN: MOTHER NATURE, SHOWING
SHE IS IN CHARGE.
MARIE: WE ARE LESS THAN 30
SECONDS FROM SEEING THE CREW
WALK ON THOSE DOORS AND WE ARE
STANDING BY TO SHOW YOU THAT
MOMENT LIVE.
THERE IS A LIVE LOOK AT THE ONC
WALK OUTDOORS.
LELAND: I THINK MY PATCH IS
STILL OVER THE TOP OF THE DOOR.
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF PATCHES,
UNLESS THEY REMOVED THEM.
BUT THIS IS A VERY SOLEMN MOMENT
FROM A STORIED LEGACY OF APOLLO.
NOW, WE ARE GETTING BACK TO U.S.
ASTRONAUTS LAUNCHING FROM
AMERICAN SOIL THROUGH THE STORES
AGAIN.
-- THESE DOORS AGAIN.
>> WE SAW BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS WHEN
THEY WALKED OUT ON WEDNESDAY I
WAS PERUSING ALL THE --
THE DOORS ARE OPENING.
AND THERE THEY ARE.
THE NASA ASTRONAUTS.
[APPLAUSE]
NASA ASTRONAUTS BOB BEHNKEN AND
DOUG HURLEY, WAVING TO THE CROWD
CHEER THEM ON.
THERE ARE THEIR FAMILIES RIGHT
IN FRONT OF THEM.
LELAND: A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT.
MARIE: YOU CAN HEAR THEM.
LELAND: LET'S LIGHT THIS CANDLE.
AMERICA!
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW THEY ARE GETTING INTO THE
TESLA MODEL X THAT WILL TAKE
THEM TO THEIR LAUNCHPAD.
THEIR SUPERTEX ARE ATTACHING THE
UMBILICAL'S.
THEY ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE
TESLA.
THESE ARE NOT JUST ANY TESLA.
THEY HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO
COOLING UNITS THAT UMBILICAL IS
BEING CONNECTED TO THE SUITS TO
PROVIDE COOLING AIR WHILE THEY
ARE ON THE WAY TO THE PAT.
THIS FALCON WING DOORS WERE
CLOSING.
SUPER SLEEK.
>> A RAPID DEPARTURE FROM THE
ASTRO VAN.
>> AND THEIR FLIGHT SURGEON IS
IN THE FRONT SEAT, TAKING THE
JOURNEY ALONG WITH THEM.
LELAND: WE ARE ALWAYS THINKING
ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE
ROCKETS, BUT THIS IS WHAT IT IS
ABOUT, SUPPORTING THE FAMILIES
TO MAKE SURE THEY GET BACK HOME
SAFELY.
>> I COULDN'T HEAR EVERYTHING I
WAS SAYING, THAT I DID CATCH BOB
TELLING HIS SON TO BE GOOD TO
MOM AND MAKE HER LIFE EASY.
AS A PARENT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
LELAND: YOU CAN SEE THE
PROMINENT NASA MEATBALL.
>> AS WE WATCH THE CONVOY BEGIN
THEIR JOURNEY, WE HONOR A NASA
FAMILY IN OUR THOUGHTS.
>> WE WISH YOU COULD SEE THIS UP
CLOSE, BUT WE WANT YOU TO BE
PART OF THIS JOURNEY REGARDLESS
OF WHERE YOU ARE WATCHING FROM
TODAY.
SO FOR THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE
ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE CONVOY
BUT HIGHLIGHT THOSE WHOSE WORDS
AND HANDS AND THOUGHTS BUILT WE
ARE SEEING TODAY.
WE HOPE ALL OF YOU CAN FEEL THE
PRIDE EACH NASA TEAM MEMBER HAS
FOR THE STRIDE OUT TO THE THAT.
-- TO THE PAD.
>> WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS
HISTORICAL DAY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING PART OF
THE VERY FIRST MISSION FOR A
COMMERCIAL SPACE FLIGHT EVER.
WE ARE BEHIND YOU, BOB AND DOUG!
[CHEERING]
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO SPACEX FOR
HITTING ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE.
SAFE TRAVELS TO BOB AND DOUG.
[CHEERING]
>> WE HAVE GOT A LOT ABOUT OUR
LAUNCH VEHICLE TEAM HERE.
COMING UP ON DEMO TWO, WE ARE SO
EXCITED FOR YOU.
LAUNCH AMERICA, IT IS TIME TO
LAUNCH.
LET'S GO!
[CHEERING]
>> HI, WE WANT TO WISH BOB AND
DOUG A SAFE TRIP THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
GO DRAGONS!
[CHEERING]
>> IT HAS BEEN NINE YEARS IN THE
MAKING.
THIS IS SUCH A HISTORIC TIME AND
OUR TEAM HAS WORKED SO HARD.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
GO, BOB AND DOUG.
>> GO, BOB AND DOUG, GO, NASA.
AND GO, SPACEX.
>> WISHING YOU A GREAT FLIGHT.
WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU GOOD
LUCK.
[CHERIN 
-- CHEERING
WE ALL WANT TO WISH BOB AND DOUG
SAFE TRAVELS AND GODSPEED.
THE LET'S GET OUT THERE AND
LAUNCH AMERICA.
[CHEERING]
>> I LOVE SEEING THAT GROUP OF
PEOPLE.
WE SAW ALL THOSE DIFFERENT
GROUPS OF FOLKS FROM NASA AND
SPACEX FROM ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE
COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT
HAPPEN.
LOOK AT THAT SHOT, THAT IS SO
COOL.
LELAND: A THUMBS UP FROM BOB.
>> AND IT TOOK A LITTLE
CREATIVITY TO GET THIS SHOT TO
HAPPEN.
WE HAVE A CHASE VEHICLE ON THE
OTHERS OF THE ROAD SO WE COULD
GET A CAMERA IN THERE AND FOLLOW
THEM OUT.
WE ARE REALLY ANKLE TO THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FOR HELPING
US MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO WE COULD
SEE BOB AND DOUG ALL THE WAY OUT
TO THE LAUNCHPAD.
LELAND: MY RIGHT OUT WAS A
LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE
ARE EXPERIENCING IN THIS TESLA.
WE HAD BENCH SEATS ON EITHER
SIDE AND COULD LOOK ACROSS AT
EACH OTHER AS WE WERE DRIVING
OUT.
THERE WERE MOMENTS WE WOULD TELL
JOKES, BUT SOMETIMES WE WOULD
JUST LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND WE
WOULD HAVE SUCH A GRATITUDE
ABOUT HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO
LAUNCH INTO SPACE AND ALL OF THE
PEOPLE WHO HAD A HAND IN HELPING
US GET READY FOR THIS MOMENT.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SITTING
SIDE-BY-SIDE, THEY ARE PROBABLY
THINKING OF THE GRATITUDE IN THE
PEOPLE WHO HELP THEM GET HERE SO
THEY CAN BE ON THE POINTY END OF
THE ROCKET.
>> AND THEY ARE LISTENING TO
SOME TUNES, I HEARD.
LAUREN: THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE
SONGS ON THEIR PLAYLIST THAT ARE
SUPER INTERESTING.
THE FIRST IS AC/DC'S "BACK IN
BLACK."
THE OTHER ONE IS THE ELEVATOR
MUSIC FROM THE BLUES MOTHER --
BLUES BROTHERS FILM.
LELAND: [SINGING "THE GIRL FROM
IPA NEMA."]
LAUREN: YOU HAVE ANOTHER CAREER.
LELAND: WE DID NOT HAVE TUNES IN
THE ASTRO VAN.
I KNOW TESLA HAS A REALLY
KICKING STEREO SYSTEM.
LAUREN: I HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS
ONE, BUT I AM SURE IT IS PRETTY
COOL.
MARIE: AND JUST FOR SOME
PERSPECTIVE, THEY LEFT THE
OPERATIONS BUILDING JUST A
MINUTE AGO.
IT IS ABOUT A NINE MILE DRIVE
FROM THERE TO THE LAUNCHPAD.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSELY THEY
ARE TRACKING -- TRUCKING.
LELAND: THE OTHER THING YOU HEAR
FROM THE CONVOY IS THE
HELICOPTER.
YOU ARE THINKING MILITARY AND
IMPORTANT THINGS AND IT'S A
MOMENT THAT SOLIDIFIES IN YOU
THAT SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO
HAPPEN.
THE SOUND IS JUST IN YOUR HEAD
AND IT FEELS GOOD THAT ALL OF
THOSE PEOPLE ARE HELPING YOU GET
THERE SAFELY.
MARIE: I THINK WE HEARD THAT
EARLIER AND I HOPED IT WAS WHAT
I THINK IT IS.
>> YOU CAN FEEL IT.
LAUREN: I TOOK THIS DRIVE
YESTERDAY IN MY RENTAL CAR.
GRANTED, I'M NOT AN ASTRONAUT,
BUT PUTTING MYSELF IN THAT ROUTE
AND IMAGINING MYSELF IN THAT
HEADSPACE IS PRETTY AWESOME.
I'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
GET ON FALCON 9.
LELAND: WE ARE ALL ASTRONAUTS.
WE ARE IN SPACE.
YOU JUST GOT TO GET ON THE
ROCKET.
MARIE: AND THERE'S A BIG GROUP
OF PEOPLE THAT WANT YOU THERE.
LELAND: I THINK WE SHOULD LISTEN
TO THEM.
LAUREN: I'M ALL FOR IT.
MARIE: WE SHOULD MAKE THAT A
POLL QUESTION.
LELAND: WE SHOULD ALL GET TO GO
TO SPACE.
MARIE: I AM ON BOARD.
NOT LITERALLY, BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO BE.
LAUREN: ABSOLUTELY.
MARIE: WE HAVE SOME A PEOPLE
WATCHING ONLINE AND SENDING WELL
WISHES TO BOB AND DOUG.
IT STARTED EARLY THIS WEEK AND I
FEEL LIKE IT HAS JUST BEEN THIS
BUILDUP OF MOMENTUM.
WE WERE FOLLOWING ALONG
WEDNESDAY AND NOW WE ARE
FOLLOWING ALONG SATURDAY.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WATCHING FROM
HOME WHO HOPEFULLY DON'T HAVE TO
WORK TODAY AND CAN REALLY TUNE
INTO WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
LELAND: ASTRONAUTS TRULY
APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT, ALL
THE SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS.
WE THINK ABOUT OUR FAMILIES.
WE SAW KAREN AND MEGAN WITH
THEIR SONS WISHING BOB AND DOUG
GODSPEED AS THEY LAUNCHED OFF.
39 A IS WHAT LAUNCHED THE APOLLO
ASTRONAUTS AND THERE ARE JUST
MOMENTS WHEN EVERYONE IN THIS
COUNTRY IS COMING TOGETHER TO
WISH THEM WELL.
IT IS A REALLY GREAT DAY.
MARIE: THEY JUST MADE THE RIGHT
TURN ONTO SATURN CAUSEWAY.
ON THAT RIGHT SCREEN IS THE
OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT BUILDING
IN AHEAD OF YOU IS THE ICONIC
ASSEMBLY BUILDING THAT PROCESSED
THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
LELAND: THAT'S WHERE THAT MOBILE
TRANSPORTER USED TO TAKE OUT THE
APOLLO SATURN FIVE ROCKETS AND
THE SPATIAL.
IT IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE
MACHINE.
MARIE: AND IF WE WERE TO RUN
OUTSIDE, WE COULD WAVE.
FROM THIS POINT, IF STILL GOT
ABOUT THREE MILES TO GO FROM
HERE.
-- THEY HAVE STILL GOT ABOUT
THREE MILES TO GO FROM HERE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT IS NOT JUST BOB
AND DOUG.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CARS IN
THAT CONVOY.
THEY ARE BEING PROTECTED BY
SECURITY, THEY HAVE A FLIGHT
SURGEON THERE WITH THEM.
WE HAVE SEEN JUST A SPRINKLE OF
FOLKS ALONG THE WAY.
NORMALLY, WE WOULD HAVE A WHOLE
LOT MORE PEOPLE OUT HERE
WATCHING THIS.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE ONLINE AND
FROM HOME, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
WASHING FROM YOUR PHONE, TABLET,
NEVER.
WE WILL BE HERE EVERY STEP OF
THE JOURNEY.
THERE IS A COOL SHOT OF THE WORM
ON THE ROOF.
LAUREN: WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE
ROAD, ON THE LEFT, THERE IS THAT
AREA WHERE THE CRAWLER USED TO
DRIVE.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE CRAWLER?
LELAND: YOU CAN SEE THE GRAVEL
WHERE THE CRAWLER CRUSHES THE
GRAVEL, THE SAND IS SO HEAVY.
THE ROCKET WILL GO OUT AND THIS
THING MOVES AT A GLACIAL RATE TO
GET OUT THERE BECAUSE IT HAS
THIS HUGE SHUTTLE ON IT.
I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THAT WHEN
MY SHUTTLE WENT OUT ONE DAY.
IT IS THIS IN NORMS VEHICLE, BUT
YOU GUYS DO IT IN A DIFFERENT
WAY.
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN BUILDING.
LAUREN: WE HAVE A HANGER AND
JUST ROLL IT RIGHT UP THE HILL.
LELAND: FROM HORIZONTAL TO
VERTICAL, IT'S DONE.
LAUREN: WE DON'T NEED AN
ENORMOUS BUILDING.
ONCE YOU PEN INTO THE PAD AT THE
VERY TOP OF THE HILL, YOU RAISE
IT UP VERTICALLY WITH A
TRANSPORTER ERECTOR.
LELAND: AND ALL OF THESE
FACILITIES TO GET PEOPLE TO
SPACE FASTER AND SAFER, THIS
WILL BE THE FUTURE OF SPACE
TRAVEL.
ALSO, THE FUTURE OF NASA AND
SPACEX ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER AS
A TEAM.
MARIE: AT THIS POINT, THE CONVOY
IS ENTERING WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE
DDA, THE BLAST THEY DREW AREA --
BDA, THE BLAST DANGER AREA.
BEFORE ANYONE CAN ENTER, THEY
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS CLEAR.
LAUREN: THIS LAUNCHPAD IS THE
PERFECT BACKDROP FOR THE
HISTORIC LAUNCH WHICH MARKS A
NEW ERA IN HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.
MARIE: AND HERE IS A VIEW FROM
OUR GANTRY.
WE HAVE ANOTHER VIEW OF THE
CONVOY GOING BY HERE.
IF I HAD TO COUNT UP ALL OF THE
CAMERAS WE HAD, I WOULD BE HERE
ALL DAY.
LELAND: THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL SHOT.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUFFER FROM 39
A SO THEY CAN LAUNCH SAFELY.
MARIE: A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE THIS IS A NATIONAL
WILDLIFE REFUGE.
LELAND: FROM THE OPERATION AND
CHECK OUT BUILDING, WE WOULD
HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR SNAKES AND
ALLIGATORS.
MARIE: MAYBE WE WILL SEE ONE.
TWEET ADDRESS IF YOU SEE ANY.
-- AT US IF YOU SEE ANY?
LELAND: DID YOU NAME ANY?
LAUREN: I DON'T KNOW HOW AN
ALLIGATOR WOULD FEEL ABOUT BEING
CALLED WORM.
MARIE: WE HAVE GOT A TON OF YOU
FOLLOWING ALONG ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
" AS A FELLOW MISSOURIAN, WE ARE
SO PROUD OF BOB.
LAUNCH AMERICA, WE WILL BE
CHEERING."
AND ANOTHER COMMENT.
"GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK.
LAUNCH AMERICA.
"
MARIE: THERE IS.
IT IS ON THE RIGHT NOW.
LAUREN: THE OTHER ONE IS THE
FALCON SUPPORT BUILDING WERE OUR
OFFICES ARE.
THERE IS THE HANGER, WE PROCESS
FALCON HEAVY IN THEIR THERE ARE
OTHERS IN THE HANGER AS WELL.
ROCKET AND THE DRAGON WAS
FINALLY INTEGRATED INSIDE OF
THAT HANGER AND THEN ROLLED UP
INTO THE PAD TO GO UP VERTICAL.
MARIE: THAT SHOT REALLY GIVES
YOU A SCALE OF THE SIZE OF THE
ROCKET.
AND AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY OVER
TO THE PAD, WE ARE GOING TO
THROW IT OVER TO HAWTHORNE WHERE
JESSE AND DAN ARE WATCHING THE
ACTION.
JESSIE: THANKS, MARIE.
IT'S REALLY COOL WATCHING THEM
DRIVE UP.
WE ARE GETTING REALLY EXCITED
OVER HERE.
AND WITH US LOOKING AT LAUNCHPAD
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE HAD TO DO A
NUMBER OF UPGRADES.
SPACEX HAS MADE CHANGES TO BOTH
FALCON 9 AND DRAGON TO ENABLE
FLYING CREW.
A KEY UPDATE IS IT'S HIGHLY
NAVIGABLE SYSTEM WHICH IS
CAPABLE OF CARRYING CREWS TO
SAFETY AT ANY POINT DURING THE
ASCENT OF THE ROCKET.
DAN: ANOTHER KEY UPGRADE IS THE
LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM.
AS YOU CAN IMAGINE FLYING MEANS
HAVING A HABITABLE ENVIRONMENT
THAT COVERS EVERYTHING FROM
BREATHING AIR, SAFE PRESSURE,
FREE OF CONTAMINANTS, REMOVING
CARBON DIOXIDE, REGULAR THE
TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, AND
IMPLEMENT INC. THAT WASTE
COLLECTION SYSTEM, A.K.A. THE
TOILET.
JESSIE: FALCON 9 HAD TO BE
INCREDIBLY SMALL TO MEET NASA'S
REQUIREMENTS FOR SPACEFLIGHT AND
SPACEX HAD TO PROVE A HIGH
DEGREE OF FAULT TOLERANCE,
MEANING THAT FAILURES IN THE
SYSTEM WOULD NOT LEAD TO MISSION
FAILURE.
NEW EMPHASIS WAS PUT ON MAKING
SURE A FAILURE THROUGHOUT ANY
PHASE OF LAUNCH WOULD NOT MEAN
MISSION FAILURE.
THIS GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
LATCHES, CONTROL VALVES,
ELECTRONICS, WIRING, AND SO MUCH
MORE.
DAN: WITH THE ASTRONAUTS NOW ON
LOCATION.
, WE ARE GOING TO SWING BACK TO
MARIE, LAUREN, LELAND.
TAKE THE FINAL STEPS.
-- TAKE US THROUGH THE FINAL
STEPS.
MARIE: JUST A FEW SECONDS AGO,
WE SAW THE TESLA CARRYING BOB
AND DOUG COLE UP TO THE
LAUNCHPAD.
THIS IS THE SITE OF SO MUCH
HISTORY.
THIS PAD HAS SO MUCH HISTORY.
YOU LAUNCHED FROM THEIR, WHAT IS
IT LIKE -- THERE, WHAT IS IT
LIKE, WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS DOES
IT STIR IN YOU?
LELAND: WE JUST LOOKED UP TO SEE
THIS VEHICLE.
IT WAS CREAKING AND GROANING AND
MAKING NOISE AS IT WAS GETTING
READY FOR US TO TAKE US OFF
PLANET.
YOU GET A CHANCE TO TAKE A
PICTURE SOMETIMES.
YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE TRAINING
YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL THE
PREPARATION, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HELPED YOU GET THERE.
IT IS JUST A SOLEMN, AMAZING
MOMENT FOR ALL OF US.
MARIE: THERE IS ANOTHER AMAZING
DRUM SHOT.
-- DRONE SHOT.
NOW THAT WE SEE THE CAPSULE, CAN
YOU EXPLAIN IT AGAIN?
LAUREN: OF COURSE.
DRAGON IS ACTUALLY PROCESSED A
FEW MILES DRONE THE ROAD OR
DRAGON LAND, AS WE CALL IT.
WE THEN PUT IT ON A TRUCK AND
DRIVE IT TO THE HANGER WHERE THE
ROCKET IS.
AND WE WILL THEN BREAK OVER
WHERE THE VEHICLE IS UP
VERTICAL.
WE TURN IT SIDEWAYS BECAUSE THE
ROCKET IS BEING PROCESSED
SIDEWAYS.
WE LEFT IT, MADE IT TO FALCON 9,
ROLL UP THE HANGER DOORS AND
ESSENTIALLY PULL THE VEHICLE IN
THE TRANSPORT DIRECTOR, THE BIG
WHITE TRUST STRUCTURE YOU SEE
THERE.
THEY BASICALLY ROLL IT UP THOSE
RAILS.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THEM IN THE
SCREEN.
THOSE RAILS ROLE THE ENTIRE
ROCKET ASSEMBLY UP TO THE VERY
TOP OF THE PAD, PIN IT INTO THE
SYSTEMS, AND THEN ROLL IT UP
VERTICAL.
MARIE: WE ARE AT ABOUT TEAM I IS
TWO HOURS -- T-MINUS TWO HOURS.
WE ARE EXPECTING A FORMAL
ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE ALREADY
GOTTEN OUT OF THE CAR AND ARE
WALKING UP TO THE ELEVATOR THAT
WILL CARRY THEM ALL THE WAY UP.
THEY WILL HAVE A COUPLE OF STEPS
TO GET TO THE CREW EXCESS ARM.
LAUREN: I HAVE THE AC/DC SONG IN
MY HEAD AS THEY WALK UP.
MARIE: I WAS JAMMING OUT TO ZZ
TOP'S "SHARP DRESSED MAN."
THERE THEY ARE, CRANING TO SEE
THE TOP OF THE ROCKET.
CREW DRAGON IS ANOTHER 27 FEET
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUCK TO
THE TOP OF THE NOSECONE.
WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE IN
PERSON, IT IS REALLY HARD TO
DESCRIBE JUST HOW LARGE IT IS.
LELAND: THEY'RE READY TO GET IN
THE VEHICLE, GET IN THE
ELEVATOR, AND GET IT TO THE TOP.
THERE ARE SOME FOD COVERS ON
THEIR SHOES, ACTUALLY.
RIGHT BEFORE THEY ENTER THE
VEHICLE, THEY WILL REMOVE THE
COVERS FROM THEIR BOOTS.
MARIE: YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED ALL
THE LITTLE DETAILS LIKE THAT.
ALL THE THOUGHTS AND PREPARATION
THAT HAD TO GO INTO LITERALLY
EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THIS
OPERATION.
LELAND: I LOVE THE MAKEOVER OF
PAD 39-A.
IT IS A VERY FUTURISTIC LOOK FOR
THIS ICONIC LUNCH THAT.
-- LAUNCHPAD.
TO THINK OF WHAT HAS BEEN THERE
BEFORE WITH THE SHUTTLE, AND NOW
THE SPACEX CREW DRAGON, ROCKET
FUEL STILL GOING THROUGH MY
VEINS.
LAUREN: AND WE FEEL SO HONORED
TO BE ABLE TO LUNCH FROM HERE.
HERE THEY ARE.
THAT IS A REALLY FAST ELEVATOR.
MARIE: 255 FEET IN A MATTER OF
SECONDS.
LELAND: THEY ARE REMOVING HIS
COVERS?
LAUREN: I THINK THEY ARE JUST
CHECKING SOMETHING ON HIS LEG.
MARIE: AND WE SHOULD HEAR WHEN
THE CREW HAS MADE IT.
THEY ARE UP THE STAIRS AND
HEADED TO THE CREW ACCESS ARM
NOW.
THERE IS THE WORM AGAIN.
POPPING.
LAUREN: YOU KNOW IT.
LELAND: MEATBALL.
MARIE: DON'T WORRY, THERE IS A
MEATBALL ON CREW DRAGON.
LAUREN: THAT MEATBALL -- THOSE
ARROWS ARE ESSENTIALLY LIGHTING
THE WAY TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO
GET TO THE ESCAPE BASKET IN THE
EVENT THEY NEED TO GET FAR AWAY.
MARIE: IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM
THE ANGLE BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY A
PHONE RIGHT HERE.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THAT?
THE SAME PHONE THAT WAS THERE
SINCE THE SHUTTLE DAYS.
LELAND: YOU GET A CHANCE TO TALK
TO FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHO COULD
NOT COME TO THE LAUNCH.
JUST TO HAVE THAT LAST MOMENT TO
TALK TO SOMEONE BEFORE YOU GET.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL VIEW.
MARIE: YOU ARE EXPECTING THEM TO
MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE CREW
ACCESS ARM.
AND COMING UP AT T MINUS TWO
HOURS AND 35 MINUTES.
THEY ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF
SCHEDULE, SO THAT TIME CAN BE A
LITTLE BIT FLEXIBLE, BUT THAT IS
GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE
ASSISTANCE OF THE SUIT TEXT.
-- TECH'S.
WITH THAT COMING UP, WE WILL
HEAD OVER TO HAWTHORNE FOR A
PREVIEW OF WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE
FOR SPACE TRAVEL.
JESSIE: THANKS.
SHORTLY AFTER WE BEGIN TO
REGULARLY FLY TO AND FROM THE
SPACE STATION, SPACEX WILL ALSO
BEGIN FLYING PRIVATE PASSENGERS.
DAN: NASA IS ENABLING UP TO TWO
PRIVATE MISSIONS EACH YEAR.
IT IS ONE OF THE MANY WAYS NASA
IS WORKING TO OPEN ACCESS TO
OUTER SPACE.
FOR COMPANIES, COMMERCIAL
MODULES, AND REALLY JUST TO
ENABLE MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO
EXPLORE THE STARS FIRSTHAND.
JESSIE: AND THE MORE PEOPLE OUT
THERE EXPLORING, THE CLOSER WE
BECOME TO BECOMING A
MULTI-PLANETARY SPECIES.
EARLIER, WE GIVE YOU A
FIRST-HAND LOOK ON WHERE YOU
WOULD TRAIN IF YOU WERE TO FLY
ON BOARD DRAGON, BANALITY GIVE
YOU A PEEK INSIDE THE SPACECRAFT
ITSELF.
>> INTUITIVE TO KNOW WHAT WE
NEED TO DO AT ANY MOMENT IN
TIME.
>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT COMFORT,
IT IS EVERY ASPECT OF HOW YOU
COULD INTERACT WITH THE
SPACESHIP.
WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SEAT
SIZES, WE EVEN GO SO FAR AS
MOLDING THE FORM -- THE PHONE --
THE FOAM SO THERE ARE NOT ANY
PRESSURE POINTS.
>> IT IS DESIGNED TO BE
TOLERANT, MEANING THAT I COULD
LOSE A THRUSTER AND WE COULD
STILL GET BACK SAFELY.
>> IF ANYTHING GROWS WRONG THE
CREW COULD GET AWAY FROM FALCON
AND GET PICKED UP SAFELY.
>> I HAVE WORKED ON DRAGON SINCE
2012.
WHEN I SEE DRAGON LIVED OFF, I
THINK I'M GOING TO SEE A BUILDUP
OF EMOTION OF WORKING WITH SOME
OF THE BEST ENGINEERS AND
TECHNICIANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
THAT PUT THEIR HEART AND MIND
INTO MAKING THIS INCREDIBLE
MOMENT HAPPENED FOR EVERYBODY.
-- HAPPEN FOR EVERYBODY.
DAN: SO THAT WAS A DETAILED LOOK
INSIDE DRAGON.
HERE IS A LIVE LOOK AT TWO
ASTRONAUTS ABOUT THE CLIMB
RIGHTED.
YOU ARE WATCHING OUR COVERAGE OF
DEMO TO.
FOR TODAY'S, SPACEX AND NASA ARE
GOING TO BE SENDING PEOPLE INTO
ORBIT FROM U.S. SOIL FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE 2011.
BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY ARE
THE NASA ASTRONAUTS FLYING
TODAY.
THEY ARE JUST NEXT UP TO THEIR
RIDE TO SPACE.
JESSIE: THEY HAVE ALREADY
ARRIVED AT PAD 39 A WHERE FALCON
9 WILL LIFT OFF FROM.
THEY HAVE ASCENDED THE STRUCTURE
ALREADY.
THEY HAVE ALREADY WALKED DOWN
THE CORRIDOR KNOWN AS THE CREW
ARM.
DAN: THAT'S RIGHT.
AND AS THEY PREPARE TO BOARD,
HAVE THIS ONE FINAL STOP AND
THAT IS THE WHITE ROOM.
IT IS LITERALLY A ROOM AT THE
END OF THE ARM THAT HAS AN
OPENING INTO DRAGON.
IT IS THE LAST PLACE ON PLANET
EARTH THAT BOB AND DOUG WILL BE
STANDING AS THEY PREPARE FOR
THEIR RIDE.
JESSIE: AND THE TERM WHITE ROOM
WAS FIRST USED DURING NASA
GEMINI MISSIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE
CONTINUED THIS TRADITION.
ON WEDNESDAY, THEY STARTED A NEW
TRADITION BY SIGNING THE WALL IN
THE WHITE ROOM.
IT IS A FAIRLY SMALL AREA.
CREW INGRESS IS COMING UP
SHORTLY.
THAT IS HOW WE REFER TO THE CREW
BOARDING DRAGON.
DAN: ALSO INSIDE IS A MOVABLE
PLATFORM THAT GETS EXTENDED OUT
TO MAKE THAT PLATFORM MUCH
SMOOTHER.
IT IS ALSO ENVIRONMENTALLY
CONTROLLED.
YOU CAN SEE A BIG SEAL UP
AGAINST THE SIDE HATCH THAT IS
DONE SO YOU CAN WATCH ALL OF THE
HUMIDITY OUT OF THE CAP AND MAKE
SURE IT IS PRISTINE FOR THE
CREW.
DAN: THE WHITE ROOM ALSO HAS
LOTS OF TOOLS TO OPEN THE HATCH
AND PREPARE FOR ANY CONTINGENCY.
JESSIE: -- DAN: EVERYBODY ON
THAT TEAM HAS A SPECIFIC JOB AND
WILL HELP BOB AND DOUG TO GET
CONNECTED WITH THEIR SEATS.
SOME WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
CLOSING THE HATCH.
WE TYPICALLY HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHER
THERE TO HELP CAPTURE THESE
MOMENTS AS THE CREW GETS READY.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WATCHING AND
WE CAN SEE THEM START TO LINE UP
THERE.
BOB HURLEY WILL GO IN FIRST AND
BE THE FIRST ONE THROUGH THE
CAPSULE.
HE IS GOING TO INGRESS.
THAT IS A SPACEFLIGHT TERM FOR
ENTERING.
INGRESS IS GETTING IN, EGRESS IS
COMING OUT.
THEY ARE DOING THAT FINAL CHECK
TO MAKE SURE THE CREW DOES NOT
HAVE ANY FOREIGN OBJECT DEBRIS,
DUST OR ANYTHING THAT COULD
INTERFERE WITH DRAGON JUST AS
THEY GET IN.
DAN: AND AS THEY WERE MENTIONING
EARLIER, THEY DO HAVE STUFF TO
PROTECT FROM FOD.
JESSIE: THEY HAVE COVERS ON
THEIR BOOTS AS WELL AS ON THE
UMBILICAL CORD ON THEIR SUIT.
THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED BEFORE
THEY CAN INGRESS.
LISTENING IN AND HEARING THOSE
UPDATES LIVE.
YES, ONCE THE CHECK IS COMPLETE,
THEY CAN ENTER, WHICH IS
HAPPENING LIVE ON YOUR SCREEN
RIGHT NOW.
AND AS THEY CLIMB INTO DRAGON,
THEY WILL BUCKLE THEMSELVES IN
AND ATTACH THE UMBILICAL'S TO
THEIR SUIT.
YOU CAN WATCH THEM GET BUCKLED
AND SETTLED INTO THEIR SEATS.
THE SUIT'S PRIMARY FUNCTION IS
TO PROTECT THE CREW IN THE EVENT
OF THE CABIN DEPRESSURIZATION.
IT KEEPS THEM COOL AS WELL AS
DELIVERS NIGHT TRUCKS -- NITROX
IN CASE THERE IS
DEPRESSURIZATION.
DAN: WE SAW DOUG HURLEY GO IN
FIRST.
HE IS THE COMMANDER FOR THIS
MISSION.
THEY'RE GOING TO GET SOME
ASSISTANCE FROM THESE SUIT
TECHNICIANS AS THEY GET IT.
THERE ARE FOUR SEATS AS YOU GET
IN AND THEY ARE LABELED ONE
THROUGH FOUR.
DOUG HURLEY IS AN SEAT TO -- TWO
AND BOB IS IN SEAT 3, THE
PILOT'S SEAT.
WE ALREADY SEE DON'T HAVE ANYONE
ELSE IN THE OTHER SUITS TODAY.
BUT IT WAS DESIGNED TO CARRY FOR
ASTRONAUTS AND WE WILL SEE THAT
LATER.
ONCE THOSE SEATS GET ROTATED ARE
THE THREE DISPLAYS THEY WILL USE
THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT AND THAT
JUST GIVES THEM INSIGHT INTO ALL
OF DRAGON'S SYSTEMS AND ALLOWS
THEM TO TAKE CONTROL.
DRAGON IS AUTONOMOUS, BUT THEY
CAN JUMP IN AND TAKE OVER IF
THEY NEED TO.
JESSIE: THE DISPLAYS ARE ABOVE
THE RIGHT NOW BUT THOSE SEATS
WILL ROTATE BACK FOR LUNCH
POSITION SO THEY CAN EASILY
ACCESS THOSE DISPLAYS.
COMING UP NEXT, THE CREW WILL DO
A CHECK ONCE THEY ARE ALL
SETTLED IN TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN
HEAR MISSION CONTROL, AND AFTER
THAT, THE SEATS WILL BE ROTATED
INTO POSITION.
LET'S CHECK IN WITH JOHN.
>> CHECKING IN FOR THE LAUNCH OF
THE FALCON 9 SPACEX MISSION.
THEY HAVE OBVIOUSLY ARRIVED AT
THE PAD.
THEY OPENED UP THE SIDE HATCH ON
DRAGON, GOT READY FOR THE
ARRIVAL OF THE ASTRONAUTS.
WE SAW THE CREW COME UP,
WALKOVER, AND THEY ARE NOW
GETTING SITUATED INSIDE THE
CAPSULE.
NOW THE FLIGHT TEAM IS
MONITORING DATA.
THEY MUST HAVE RECENTLY COMMUTED
A COMMAND CHECK DELETE TRACKING
AND DATA RELAY SATELLITE
NETWORK.
THERE ARE NO ISSUES AND WORK AT
THE ASTRONAUTS GETTING SITUATED
IN THEIR SEATS.
THE FALCON 19 IS PREPARING FOR
CHECKOUTS DUE TO BEGIN AT --
BEGIN 42 MINUTES FROM NOW THERE
-- NOW.
ALL SYSTEMS ON FALCON 9 ARE
CURRENTLY GO.
ON THE SUPPORT SIDE OF THE AREAS
AROUND THE PAD ARE OBVIOUSLY
CLEAR.
AIR AND SEA SPACE ARE CLEAR.
WE HEAR HELICOPTERS GO BY FROM
TIME TO TIME.
THE BIG CONCERN IS WHETHER
FORECASTS WE ARE CONTINUING AT A
50% PROBABILITY OF VIOLATION OF
WEATHER CONSTRAINTS.
THE BIG CONSTRAINTS ARE CLOUDS,
PRECIPITATION, THE POSSIBILITY
OF LIGHTNING.
NORMALLY, WE GET A STRONG SEA
BREEZE AND IT WILL KEEP THE
CLOUDS FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA FROM
BUILDING UP.
WE EXPECT THUNDERSTORMS WILL GET
TO LAUNCHPAD.
WE ARE ALSO CHECKING DOWNRANGE
CONDITIONS IF THERE IS A
CONTINGENCY SPLASHDOWN DRAGON.
THERE ARE ESSENTIALLY WAVE
HEIGHTS, LIGHTNING, RAIN ALONG
THE TRAJECTORY.
WE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY, SO CROSS
YOUR FINGERS THAT THE WEATHER
LOOKS GOOD.
ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO FOR LUNCH.
DAN: I'M JOINED AGAIN BY SPACEX
IS JESSE.
WALK US THROUGH WHAT MADE SPACE
DRAGON A 21ST CENTURY
SPACECRAFT.
WALK US THROUGH AGAIN DRAGON'S
LIFE HISTORY.
WE HAVE ONE RIGHT BEHIND US.
WALK US THROUGH WHERE WE ARE
TODAY.
JESSICA: SPACEX WAS FOUNDED TO
MAKE LIFE MULTI-PLANETARY.
THAT IS WHY ELON FOUNDED THE
COMPANY BACK IN 2002.
WE WERE A VERY SMALL COMPANY FOR
SEVERAL YEARS AND WE HAD TO LOOK
FOR OPPORTUNITIES.
HOW DO YOU GO FROM BEING A SMALL
COMPANY TO ACTUALLY PUTTING
PEOPLE INTO ORBIT?
SO NASA CAME OUT WITH THE NEED
TO FLY CARGO, WE JUMPED ON THAT
WORD WE SET FIRST, NOT ONLY IS
CARRYING CARGO COOL, I BET WE
COULD THEN FLY PEOPLE.
AND FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW, WE HAVE
BEEN FLYING CARGO AND NOW WE
HAVE TRANSITIONED OVER TO FLYING
CREW AND CARGO TOGETHER.
THAT HAS BASICALLY BEEN THE
EVOLUTION OF DRAGON AND IT WAS
AWESOME.
DAN: WE GET TO TALK A LOT ABOUT
REUSABILITY.
DRAGON WAS ALSO DESIGNED WITH
REUSABILITY.
YOU HAVE FLOWN DRAGON MULTIPLE
TIMES THROUGH THE SPACE STATION.
HOW DOES REUSABILITY FACTOR INTO
DRAGON'S LIFECYCLE.
JESSICA: EVERYONE ALWAYS THINKS
ABOUT REUSABILITY.
IT SAVES MONEY AND IT'S GREAT,
BUT IT ACTUALLY IMPROVES YOUR
RELIABILITY.
WHEN WE GET FALCON BACK OR
DRAGON BACK AFTER MULTIPLE
MISSIONS, WE CAN DO ALL OF THESE
DETAILED INSPECTIONS ON THEM.
THAT IS SUPER IMPORTANT, BECAUSE
WHEN YOU FLY A VEHICLE, YOU CAN
ONLY PUT SONY SENSORS ON IT.
-- SO MANY SENSORS ON IT.
DAN: AND THERE'S ALREADY WAY
MORE THAN ANYBODY REALIZES.
JESSICA: AND SUFFER ROCKETS THAT
WIND UP IN THE OCEAN, NOBODY HAS
ANY IDEA WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.
SO BY GETTING A BACK, WE ARE
ABLE TO MAKE DESIGN CHANGES THAT
IMPROVE RELIABILITY FOR THE
WHOLE FLEET.
SO EVEN THOUGH BOB DUGGER ON A
BRAND-NEW ROCKET AND SPACECRAFT,
THOUGH SPACECRAFT ARE MORE
RELIABLE BASED ON THE KNOWLEDGE
WE LEARNED FROM REUSABILITY.
DAN: WHAT ARE THE COOL THINGS
THAT ARE BENEATH THE SURFACE
THAT PEOPLE MAYBE DON'T KNOW
ABOUT?
JESSICA: I THINK ONE OF THE
COOLEST THINGS IS THE AUTONOMOUS
DOCKING SYSTEM.
BASICALLY, WE HAVE GPS SENSORS
ON DRAGON, CAMERAS, IMAGING
SENSORS BASED ON THE FRONT PART
OF DRAGON AS IT IS APPROACHING
SPACE STATION.
ALL OF THESE ARE FEEDING BACK TO
THE FLIGHT COMPUTER TO FIGURE
OUT HOW FAR IT IS, RELATIVE
PHILOSOPHY -- VELOCITY, AND THAT
FEEDS BACK INTO ALGORITHMS
WRITTEN BY OUR ENGINEERS.
BASED ON HOW FAR UA AWARE,
HERE'S HOW YOU FIRE THRUSTERS TO
MOST EFFECTIVELY GET BACK.
I THINK THAT IS JUST SUPER COOL.
DAN: --
JESSICA: WHAT IS COOL IS THE
COMPUTER DOES THIS FLAWLESSLY,
EASILY.
WHEN I TRY TO DO IT, I FAILED
MISERABLY.
I TRY TO DOCK DRAGON THREE TIMES
TO THE ISS AND I FAILED.
ON THE FOURTH TIME I, I GOT IT.
I WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC THAT
ON OUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE A
SIMULATOR SO YOU CAN FIRE THE
THRUSTERS AND SEE HOW WELL YOU
DO.
I THINK I'M A BAD DRIVER BUT I
THINK THEY DID -- I THINK THE
COMPUTER DID A BETTER JOB.
DAN: LET'S LISTEN IN.
>> BLP, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> CORE, LOUD AND CLEAR.
UMBILICAL CHECK COMPLETE.
STANDBY FOR GRAHAM STATION COME
CHECK -- GROUND STATION COM
CHECK.
DAN: BOB AND DOUG ARE GOING TO
DO A SERIES OF THESE CHECKS WITH
THE TEAM ON THE GROUND AND THE
LUNCH DECK OUT IN FLORIDA.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS
OVER THE MAIN LOOPS THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO HEAR GOING OUT.
YOU HAD THEM DO THROUGH THE
TRACKING DATA AND SETTLEMENT.
THEY HAVE TO TALK TO BOB AND
DOUG THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT AND
SENT COMMANDS TO DRAGON.
THEY WILL ALSO DO THROUGH GROUND
STATION.
THEY HAVE A WORLDWIDE NETWORK OF
GROUND STATIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE WITH THE VEHICLE.
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE USING TO
GET VIDEO INSIDE THE CABIN ON
THE FLIGHT UP.
SO IF YOU TWO DID THE OTHER DAY,
HERE'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
THEY CAN DO AND IT'S JUST TO
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS WORKING
AND THEY ARE ABLE TO TALK TO AND
HEAR EVERYTHING ON THE GROUND.
>> SPACEX, CHECK, SYSTEMS.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> GROUND STATION COME CHECK
COMPLETE.
STANDBY.
DAN: ENTER JUST A REMINDER, YOU
ARE HEARING THE CORE, AND IF YOU
FOLLOW NASA MISSIONS IN THE
PAST, THAT IS PRETTY MUCH THE
SINGULAR VOICE THAT IS TALKING
TO THE ASTRONAUTS THROUGHOUT
THEIR FLIGHT.
THAT IS A POSITION BASED HERE IN
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
>> DRAGON, SPACEX, CONTRACT.
>> STANDBY FOR COM CHECK WITH
THE LAUNCH CONFIGURATION.
>> COPY.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> COPY.
STANDBY.
>> MD.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> STANDBY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> DRAGON TO GROUND.
COM CHECK.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
I HAVE YOU THE SAME.
>> REPORT WHEN READY FOR
ROTATION OF SECTION TWO.
>> DRAGON, I WILL PUT THAT IN
WORK.
>> COPY.
DAN: ALL OF THOSE COMMUNICATION
CHECKS WERE DONE SUCCESSFULLY
AND YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT.
>> BACK TO DRAGON.
WE ARE READY FOR SEAT ROTATION.
>> COPY.
DAN: YOU CAN SEE DOUG HURLEY HAS
THE TALK BUTTON JUST BUILT INTO
THE SEAT ITSELF.
AGAIN SHOWING YOU ALL OF THE
DISTANT SYSTEMS, HOW THE SUIT IS
INTEGRATED AIRED IT JUST ONE OF
THESE BIG SYSTEMS.
IT'S VERY COOL TO SEE.
JESSICA, THANK YOU FOR WALKING
US THROUGH THIS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE?
JESSICA: ONE OF THE COOLEST
THINGS ABOUT THIS ROOM HERE IS
IT IS RIGHT ON THE MAIN FLOOR OF
OUR BUILDING.
THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES GET TO
WALK BY AND SEE DRAGON IN ITS
FINAL PROCESSING.
ON WEDNESDAY, THE CREW ONE
CAPSULE WAS IN HERE.
IT LOOKS EMPTY NOW THAT'S
BECAUSE THE CAPSULE WENT INTO
SEPARATE TEST FACILITIES FOR
FINAL CHECKS.
THEN, THE VEHICLE WILL COME BACK
HERE, GET ITS FINAL SYSTEM PUT
ON, THAT WILL SHIP UP TO CAPE
CANAVERAL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
DAN: WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE IT
GO THROUGH?
YOU JUST SEE LITTLE BITS GET
ADDED ON AND ON AND NEXT THING
NOW.
JESSICA: IT REALLY IS
STEP-BY-STEP.
EACH PIECE IS A CRITICAL
FUNCTION AND TO WATCH THAT BEING
BILLED.
-- AND YOU GET TO WATCH EACH
PIECE BEING BILLED -- BUILT.
DAN: WE JUST HEARD THE SEAT
ROTATION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
JESSICA, THANKS SO MUCH.
WE CAN SEE THE STATUS -- OF THE
SEATS START TO ROTATE NOW.
PRETTY SOON, THEY WILL BE READY
TO GO.
WE CAN SEE THE SEATS SLOWLY
START TO ROTATE.
AGAIN, THEY ARE IN THIS POSITION
TO SLOWLY ROTATE OUT AND PUT
THEIR BACKS A LITTLE MORE
PARALLEL TO THE GROUND.
IT MAKES TAKING THE GEFORCE A
LITTLE BIT EASIER, BUT MOST
IMPORTANTLY POSITIONS THOSE
TOUCHSCREENS EASIER IN FRONT OF
THEM.
>> SEATS ARE IN LAUNCH POSITION.
>> COPY.
DAN: CONFIRMATION THAT SEATS ARE
IN THE LAUNCH POSITION.
LET'S GO DOWN TO GARY IN MISSION
CONTROL HOUSTON WHERE I DOUBT
THE ENTIRE TEAM IS STANDING.
-- STANDING BY.
OVER TO YOU.
>> GREAT TO SEE GOOD COM CHECKS
FROM BOB AND DOUG.
HERE IN HOUSTON, ALL SYSTEMS ARE
GO FOR LAUNCH FROM THE SPACE
STATION SIDE OF THINGS.
ESSENTIALLY, THE SPACE STATION
IS REQUIRED.
WE HAVE COMPLETED PREPARATIONS
FOR BOB AND DRUG TO ARRIVE.
THEY WILL MONITOR THE COUNTDOWN,
BUT IT'S UP TO THE TEAMS IN
KENNEDY AND HAWTHORNE AT THIS
POINT.
WE WANT TO HEAR COMMENTS, SO
LET'S GO TO THE SOCIAL DESK NOW.
>> THANKS, GARY.
SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT POLLS ARE
GOOD UNDER AND, AND JUST HOPING
THIS WEATHER WORKS OUT GOOD FOR
TODAY'S LAUNCH.
PEOPLE ONLINE ARE ON THE EDGE OF
THEIR SEATS.
WE JUST CHECK NUMBERS AND ARE UP
TO 1.1 MILLION VIEWERS, ALMOST
DOUBLE WHEN WE CHECKED LAST
TIME.
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA IS
LEADING VIEWERSHIP SO IT'S
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT
CHANGES.
LET'S TAKE A BROADER LOOK ONLINE
WITH THIS HEAT MAP OF THE UNITED
STATES.
WE HAVE CALIFORNIA LEADING RIGHT
NOW WITH THE MOST MENTIONS, AND
I AM VERY SURPRISED.
I THOUGHT THE SPACE COAST COULD
TAKE IT HOME LET'S SEE HOW THIS
CHANGES OVER THE START OF THE
BROADCAST.
GUYS, CHECK OUT THESE OUTFITS,
ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.
I LOVE TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE
MAKING THINGS CREATIVE AND
MAKING IT THEIR OWN.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER.
WE ARE BACK, SO LET'S SEE HOW
THAT CHANGES OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS BROADCAST.
IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE THOSE
PHOTOS ONLINE.
WE HAVE ANOTHER SPACE PET.
THESE DO NOT GET OLD.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE CATS OR NOT
BORIS WHO IS READY FOR HIS
LAUNCH IN THE CAPSULE.
I LOVE SEEING THE PET OWNERS
UNITE FOR THIS MISSION, SO
DEFINITELY USE THAT #DURING THE
SHOW.
MARIE, WHAT IS THE LATEST AT
KENNEDY.
MARIE: WE ARE HOURS FROM LEFT
OFF OF FALCON 9 FROM THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER, CARRYING DOUG
HURLEY AND BOB BEHNKEN.
IT HAS BEEN A VERY EXCITING DAY
SO FAR.
THE CREW HAS BEEN UP SINCE ABOUT
8:00 THIS MORNING AS THEY
PREPARE TO HEAD TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AS
PART OF THIS MISSION FOR NASA.
AND AS WE SPEAK, THE ASTRONAUTS
ARE INSIDE DRAGON AND CAN
COMMUNICATE WITH THE TEAMS ON
THE GROUND.
THE SEATS HAVE ROTATED UPRIGHT
TO THEIR RECLINING LAUNCH
POSITION, ALLOWING THEM TO SEE
AND ACCESS THE DISPLAY PANEL.
NOW, THEY ARE ABOUT TO INITIATE
THEIR OWN CHECKS TO MAKE SURE
THE SEAT IS IN PROPER WORKING
CONDITION.
LAUREN: IT COULD HAPPEN A LITTLE
BIT SOONER.
WE ARE RUNNING A LITTLE HEAD --
AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
WE WILL SEE THE TEAM CLOSE THE
SIDE HATCH IN PREPARATION FOR
THE FLIGHT AND THAT WILL BE ONE
OF THE KEY MILESTONES ON THE
TIMELINE TO DOFF.
WE WANT TO TAKE YOU TO A COUPLE
SPECIAL GUESTS WE HAVE JOINING
US.
WE ARE JOINED BY THE NASA
ADMINISTRATOR AND SPACEX
DIRECTOR.
>> WE ARE IN FACE FOUR AND
OPERATIONS OF SUPPORT BUILDING
WITH THE KENNEDY SPACE STATION
AND A NICE VIEW.
THE TWO MEN ARE HERE TO JOIN ME
AND ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE JOINED BY
THE DIRECTOR OF SPACEX AND THE
ADMINISTRATOR FOR NASA.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO
BE HERE.
THE BIG STORY RIGHT NOW IS THE
WEATHER.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THE CLOUDS BUILDING
AND THAT WAS FORECAST.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE
WEATHER AND THE DECISION THAT
WAS MADE?
>> WHAT GOT US LAST TIME WAS THE
ELECTRICITY AND THE ATMOSPHERE.
IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THERE ARE
THUNDERSTORMS AT THIS TIME, BUT
THEY ARE EXPECTED.
THE QUESTION IS WHEN THE STORMS
GO AWAY AND MATERIALIZE WHERE
ARE THEY LOCATED?
THE ARE PREDICTING A 50-50 SHOT
OF WHERE THEY ARE GOING THIS
TIME.
BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE ARE
IN LATE MAY IN FLORIDA, WE HAVE
TO TAKE EVERY SHOT CAN GET.
IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT IT WILL BE
BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY SO WE
ARE AT GO FOR LUNCH RIGHT NOW.
WE ALMOST MADE IT ON WEDNESDAY
AT THE TREND IS BETTER TODAY
THAN IT WAS ON WEDNESDAY.
DAN: I SAW FORECAST OF THE
CLEARING IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
LODGES AT THE EARLIEST 330 TIME
--  -- LAUNCH IS AT THE EARLIEST
AT 3:00, LATEST AT 330.
WE HAVE THESE STAGING AREAS.
WHEN WE GO FROM THE FIRST STAGE
THE SECOND, THAT IS A HIGHER
RISK EVOLUTION.
WE HAVE TO SURE THE WEATHER IS
GOOD.
 COAST OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
THE BIG THING IS THERE IS A
LAUNCH ABORT CAPABILITY.
THAT INCLUDES PARACHUTES.
YOU HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THE
WEATHER TO COME DOWN.
IF THERE ARE THUNDERSTORMS OR
HIGH WINDS, THAT IS PROBLEMATIC.
>> AND SEA STATES AS WELL.
YOU ARE A NATIONAL.
YOU NOTE -- AN ASTRONAUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HIT
THE BUTTON, ONLY TO BE TOLD
SAYING WE ARE NOT GOING TODAY,
WE WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW.
TELL ME ABOUT THE MINDSET AS YOU
HAVE TO RESET.
DO YOU FEEL LESS ANXIOUS, MORE
COMFORTABLE THE SECOND TIME
AROUND? 
>> MY FIRST -- LAST FLIGHT WE
COUNTED DOWN TO 18 SECONDS AND
DIDN'T GO.
IT IS THE TRAINING WE GO
THROUGH, ALL THE REPETITION.
WE PRACTICE EVERYTHING INCLUDING
SCRUBS.
JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LAUNCH
DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE SOMETHING
TO DO.
YOU HAVE GOT TO GO THROUGH
BACKUP PROCEDURES.
THEN IT WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE
AND INTO THE VAN, BACK TO CREW
QUARTERS.
WE GOT A GOOD NIGHTS REST AND
WENT THROUGH IT AGAIN.
IT IS A MATTER OF DOING YOUR
JOB.
THESE GUYS ARE WELL PREPARED.
IT IS ALL A PART OF WHAT WE DO.
DARREL: THEY STOPPED AT 17
MINUTES BUT YOU HAD A FEW
SECONDS.
>> THE WEATHER WAS BAD THE FIRST
TIME.
WE SCRUBBED FOR AN ISSUE WITH
THE VEHICLE THEY SORTED OUT.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD -- THE
RUSSIAN FUNCTIONAL CARGO BLOCK.
THE LAST NIGHT IT WAS A
PERFECTLY SMOOTH LAUNCH COUNT.
EVERYTHING WENT LIKE CLOCKWORK
AND SET THE STAGE FOR AN AWESOME
MISSION.
DARREL: I THINK YOU SAID WE ARE
GOING TODAY.
I AM WONDERING WHERE IS THE
SOURCE OF THAT CONFIDENCE.
BOB: YOU GOT TO HAVE A POSITIVE
ATTITUDE.
I HAVE WATCHED A LOT OF WEATHER
DOWN HERE.
I AM HOPING THE CLOUDS OVER THE
I-95 CORRIDOR, THAT THE INDIAN
RIVER KEEPS THEM WEST OF US.
THAT STUFF IS FAR ENOUGH OFF
THAT WE CAN KEEP AN OPEN WINDOW
APPLICATION.
DARREL: JIM, WHEN YOU ARE DOWN
AT THE CREW QUARTERS AND THEY
WERE SUITING UP, YOU GOT A
SECOND CHANCE TO VISIT WITH THE
ASTRONAUTS.
WHAT WAS THEIR MOOD? 
JIM: THEY SEEMED LOOSE.
THEY WERE LOOSE LAST TIME.
THEY ARE DEFINITELY READY TO GO,
EXCITED, WANTING TO GO FOR A
LONG TIME.
ONE THING I THOUGHT WAS
INTERESTING WAS BOB BEHNKEN WAS
MAKING FUN OF DOUG HURLEY
BECAUSE ON DOUG'S LAST FLIGHT,
THEY SCRUBBED FIVE TIMES BEFORE
LAUNCHING ON THE SIXTHS.
SO HE SEEMS TO THINK HE IS THE
PROBLEM.
TO SEE THEM JOKING ABOUT THAT AS
THEY ARE GETTING SUITED UP,
READY TO GO, THEY ARE TRAINED,
READY BUT ALSO LOOSE.
THAT IS GOOD TO SEE.
BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO BE ON THEIR GAME WHEN WE
LAUNCH.
DARREL: THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE.
DOUG HURLEY, INCREDIBLE PILOT.
BOB BEHNKEN, HE HAS GOT A PHD IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
JIM: HE IS A FLIGHT TEST
ENGINEER.
THIS IS A TEST FLIGHT.
WE HAVE GOT GREAT ASTRONAUTS
THAT ARE CHEMISTS.
WE HAVE ASTRONAUTS THAT ARE
BOTANISTS.
WE HAVE TALENTED AND DIVERSE,
VERY DIVERSE ASH NOT CORE --
ASTRONAUT CORPS IN GENERAL.
YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING,
MADE A LIVING LINE NEW THINGS
THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN FLOWN
BEFORE.
BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY ARE
THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD WANT AND
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.
DARREL: YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON
DOUG HURLEY? 
BOB: HE IS A MARINE PILOT, TEST
PILOT.
I AM ALL IN.
HE IS A GREAT GUY.
DARREL: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER, YOU HAVE BEEN HERE
SINCE 2007.
BOB: 2008.
DARREL: IN 2011 THE ATLANTIS
CAME TO A REAL STOP.
I GREW UP HERE.
MY DAD WORKED FOR NASA, MY UNCLE
WAS A CONTRACTOR.
THE NEXT DAY MY UNCLE GOT THE
LAYOFF NOTICE.
IT WAS DEPRESSING.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LAID OFF.
BOB: ATLANTIS LANDED ON A
THURSDAY.
FRIDAY 2000 PEOPLE GOT PINK
SLIPS.
THAT WAS THE BEST VEHICLE, THE
BEST DEDICATION OF THE
WORKFORCE.
DARREL: YOU CALLED IT A
DEPRESSING TIME.
THE FACT THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM WAS
SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT
COMPLETELY HAD OWNERSHIP OF AND
PAID FOR, NOW WE ARE MOVING INTO
THIS COMMERCIAL CREW WOULD YOU
HAVE OVERSEEN.
TELL ME ABOUT THE NINE YEARS WE
HAVE MADE THAT MOVE.
BOB: EVERYBODY WAS ATTACHED TO
THE SHUTTLE.
IT WAS OUR HISTORY FOR 30 YEARS
THROUGH THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE,
BUILDING THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
BUT I TOLD EVERYBODY THE SHUTTLE
PROGRAM IS GOING TO END.
WE HAVE TWO PREPARE FOR OUR
FUTURE.
HOW MANY TIMES IN YOUR LIFE DO
YOU GET TO DEFINE WHAT YOU WANT
YOUR FUTURE TO BE? 
WE SET OUT ON THIS BOLD GOAL OF
TURNING THIS PLACE INTO A
MULTINATIONAL SPACEPORTS.
I HAVE A PERSISTENT TEAM.
WORKING THROUGH A NUMBER OF
AGREEMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE
IT HAPPEN.
COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT, THE
ADMINISTRATOR SAYS IT ALL THE
TIME, WE WANT TO ESTABLISH A
COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT SO WE CAN
EXPLORE BEYOND OUR HOME PLANET,
GOING BEYOND PLANET EARTH,
ESTABLISHED A PRESENCE ON THE
MOON AND ON MARS.
WE CAN'T DO THE -- THAT'S IN
LOWER ORBIT.
BOEING AND SPACEX, THAT IS THE
BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA.
DARREL: WE HAVE GOT A SPECIAL
GUEST COMING BACK TODAY, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIT STATES --
UNITED STATES PLANS ON BEING
HERE.
YOU TOOK HIM AROUND LAST TIME.
HE SIGNED SOME SPACE HARDWARE.
JIM: HE TOOK A LOOK AT THE
ORION.
IT IS READY TO GO.
HE SIGNED A PIECE OF HARDWARE
THAT WILL FLY ON THE CREW
CAPSULE FOR ARTEMIS 2.
NOT JUST HIM BUT THE FIRST LADY
AND VICE PRESIDENT AND SECOND
LADY, THEY'LL SIGNED IT.
THEIR NAMES WILL FLY AROUND THE
MOON ON ARTEMIS 2 WHICH IS
EXCITING.
I WANT TO GIVE THE KERNEL A
COMPLIMENT HERE BECAUSE HE DID
BRING THE SPACEPORT THROUGH A
DIFFICULT TIME.
NOW IT IS MULTIUSE AND WE HAVE
INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES HERE AND
WE WILL HAVE COMMERCIAL CREW
LAUNCHES.
BOB HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB
TRANSPORTING -- FORMING THIS.
WE WANT TO BE PART OF NUMEROUS
PROVIDERS COMPETING ON COST,
INNOVATION, SAFETY, INCREASING
ACCESS.
BETTER TODAY, WHEN I TOOK THIS
JOB A FEW SHORT YEARS AGO OUR
BUDGET WAS AROUND $19 BILLION.
THE BUDGET REQUEST PRESIDENT
TRUMP GAVE US FOR NEXT YEAR IS
$25 BILLION.
THE PRESIDENT IS COMMITTED TO
SPACE EXPLORATION AND THE SPACE
FORCE.
WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS MUCH
SUPPORT FOR SPACE SINCE JOHN F.
KENNEDY AND WE HAVE GOT
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
EVERYONE WANTS TO SEE THE
ARTEMIS PROGRAM BE SUCCESSFUL.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE BUILDING
HERE.
DARREL: THAT IS KEY TO IT ALL IS
THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
YOU CAN SEE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY
ALL AROUND THIS PLACE.
WE WILL GET TO QUESTIONS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA THAT OUR AUDIENCE
WANTS TO FIND OUT.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS FROM JAMES
ON TWITTER.
HE ASKS WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART
OF GOING TO SPACE? 
BOB: NOTHING IS HARD IF YOU
PREPARE FOR IT.
WHAT WE ARE FADE -- WE DON'T
HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AND THAT IS
WHAT WE LEARN TO DO WHEN WE BE
ASTRONAUT'S, WE TRAIN.
WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME LEARNING
AND PREPARING FOR A -- 
TRAINING AROUND THE WORLD ON THE
DIFFERENT MODULES AND
EVERYTHING, LIKE 2.5 YEARS OF
TRAINING BEFORE YOU GET ON ORBIT
FOR THE TIME TO DO YOUR WORK.
THE HARDEST PART IS THE
PREPARATION FOR IT.
YOUR SO PREPARED AND HAVE TOTAL
CONFIDENCE, YOU ARE WELL-TRAINED
FOR WHAT YOU WILL DO.
YOU HAVE AN OUTSTANDING TEAM.
YOU HAVE GROUND SUPPORT AS YOU
CLIMB INTO THE VEHICLE, YOU KNOW
THEY HAVE DONE THEIR BEST TO
ENSURE YOUR SAFETY AND A
SUCCESSFUL MISSION.
NO SIMULATOR ON EARTH CAN
PREPARE YOU FOR WHAT THOSE GUYS
ARE GOING TO FEEL.
IT IS BETTER -- 
JIM: WE WANT EVERYBODY TO FLY
INTO SPACE.
DARREL: GREAT POINT ABOUT
PREPARATION BECAUSE THAT IS NOT
A VISIBLE PART.
THE LAUNCH IS.
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW ALL OF THAT
PREPARATION LEADS TO THAT
CONFIDENCE.
UPDATE OPERATIONS, THEY ARE
GETTING READY TO CLOSE THE HATCH
DOOR.
YOU CAN SEE THE WORKERS THERE
ARE GETTING READY TO GET THAT
CLOSED AND WORKING ON THAT RIGHT
THERE WITH DOUG, DOUG HURLEY AND
BOB BEHNKEN ON THE INSIDE OF
CREW DRAGON.
THE NEXT QUESTION, WHAT KIND OF
OPERATIONS WILL THE ASTRONAUTS
DO BETWEEN LIFT OFF AND DOCKING
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION? 
I KNOW YOU PAY A LOT OF
ATTENTION TO THE OPERATIONS.
JIM: THE FIRST THING THEY HAVE
TO DO, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF BURNS
TO GET IN PHASE WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE BOOST BURNS AS WELL,
OPERATING THE ROCKET ENGINE TO
GET IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SPACE
STATION.
THE BIGGEST THING WE NEED THE
ASTRONAUTS TO DO BEFORE THEY
DOCK IS REST.
WE NEED THEM TO EAT, TO REST, TO
BE PREPARED FOR THE DOCKING.
ONCE THEY ARE IN THE RANGE OF
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
THEY WILL START MANEUVERING THE
SPACECRAFT THEMSELVES.
NOT AUTOMATIC BUT THEY WILL DO
IT THEMSELVES.
THEY WILL TEST FLY THIS VEHICLE
TO MAKE SURE IT OPERATES AS
ADVERTISED.
THEN THEY WILL DOCK WITH THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
UNIQUE CAPABILITY, AUTOMATIC
RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING.
WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT.
DARREL: THAT WILL BE EXCITING.
JIM BRIDENSTINE, ADMINISTRATOR
OF NASA, BOB CABANA,
ADMINISTRATOR OF KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER.
THANK YOU.
MARIE: THANK YOU.
YOU CAN SEE SOME CLOUDS STARTING
TO GATHER OVER LAUNCH COMPLEX
39A.
WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON
IT.
50-50 CHANCE OF LAUNCHING.
A LITTLE BIT AGO WE HEARD THE
CREW COMPLETE THEIR COMM CHECKS
ON THE AIR.
THE SEATS ROTATED TO A MORE
COMFORTABLE POSITION FOR LAUNCH
AND HELPS THEM INTERACT WITH THE
SCREENS IN FRONT OF THEM.
THEY COMPLETED SUIT LEAK CHECKS.
WE SAW DURING THE INTERVIEW THE
HATCH BEGIN TO CLOSE.
INSIDE THE WHITE ROOM, THE PAD
CLOSEOUT TEAM IS STILL DOING
SOME WORK.
THAT HATCH CLOSE IS NOT AS
SIMPLE AS CLOSING A CAR DOOR.
THERE IS A PROCESS TO SEAL IT
AND CHECK IT AND MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING IS SEALED PROPERLY.
>> IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY
STARTED, ONE THING THAT IS
COMING UP NEXT IS THE LEAK
CHECK.
THEY WILL ATTACH A PIECE OF
GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT.
THEY DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT NOW.
LOOKS LIKE IT HAS NOT STARTED.
THERE IT IS.
YOU CAN SEE IT THERE, THE NUMBER
FIVE, IT IS ALREADY ATTACHED TO
THE FLIGHT HATCH ORGANISM.
-- MECHANISM.
THEY ARE CHECKING FOR THE LEAK
RATE.
THEY WILL HOLD PRESSURE FOR A
FEW MINUTES AND TRACK THAT
CHANGE IN PRESSURE OVER TIME TO
MAKE SURE IT IS WITHIN BOUNDS,
MAKING SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
ISSUES WITH THOSE O RINGS
HOLDING PRESSURE.
ONCE THEY COMPLETE THE LEAK
CHECK, THEY WILL DO WHAT IS
CALLED THE INSTALLATION OF THE
SIDE PRESSURE EQUALIZATION PLUG.
ONCE THE CAPSULE SPLASHES DOWN,
WHAT YOU WILL DO IS REMOVE THAT.
IT GLAZES PRESSURE ACROSS THE --
EQUALIZES PRESSURE ACROSS THE
HATCH.
EVERYTHING IS SUPER TIGHT AND
YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY LEAKS ON
ORBIT.
MARIE: ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS
THAT IS COOL, YOU CAN KIND OF
SEE THEM ON THE EDGES, SOME OF
THE WINDOWS.
I KNOW THAT DRAGON STARTED OUT
AS CARGO DRAGON.
YOU HAVE THE CARGO VERSION AND
THEN THE CREW DRAGON, BUT YOU
EVEN HAD WINDOWS ON THE CARGO
VERSION.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN? 
LAUREN: THE FIRST ONE WE EVER
LAUNCHED HAD WINDOWS OVER THE
SIDE HATCH.
THE REASON WE DID THAT, WE HAVE
ALWAYS ENVISIONED DRAGON TO
ULTIMATELY BE A CRUDE VEHICLE --
CRWED VEHICLE.
EVEN FOR THE FIRST ONE WHICH DID
NOT CARRY MUCH CARGO, WE PUT THE
WINDOW THERE AND SYMBOLIZES WHAT
DRAGON'S PURPOSE HAS BEEN ALL
ALONG.
THE CRS PROGRAM, RESUPPLYING THE
SPACE STATION WITH FOOD AND CREW
PROVISIONS FOR THE ASTRONAUTS ON
BOARD AND PUTTING NASA'S
ASTRONAUTS IN OUR VEHICLE, IT IS
THAT NATURAL PROGRESSION TO WHAT
WE ARE AIMING FOR THE WHOLE
TIME.
MARIE: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON THE
TEST SCREEN TECHNOLOGY? 
THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOOK
THAN WHAT WE SAW DURING THE
SPACE SHUTTLE.
LELAND: WE HAD LCD DISPLAYS AND
BUTTONS TO PRESS AND VALVES AND
SWITCHES.
THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL ALLOW
US TO GET THROUGH PROCEDURES
MUCH MORE -- MUCH FASTER.
WE HAD PAPER FLIGHT DATA FILE,
WE WERE HAVING TO TURN TO
DIFFERENT PAGES.
THIS WILL MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT
TO GO THROUGH MALFUNCTIONS AND
PROCEDURES WITH THE
TOUCHSCREENS.
HAVING THE GLOVES BEING ABLE TO
TOUCH THE SCREENS AND WORK
WITHIN THE GLOVES, EVERYTHING IS
SLEEK AND EFFICIENT.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF WIRES AND
THINGS.
YOU CAN SEE THE KNEE BOARDS,
BUT AS FOR EXTRA -- 
THERE IS SOME COMMENTARY.
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE BRIEFING
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO COPY.
MARIE: WE JUST HEARD
CONFIRMATION ON THE LOOP THAT
THE HATCH IS CLOSED.
THAT IS A BIT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
LAUREN: WE ARE MOTIVATED TO GO
TODAY.
>> ON THE WEATHER WE STILL HAVE
RAIN SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH THE
AREA.
WE HAVE A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY
TODAY.
WE ARE PROCEEDING INTO THE
ACCOUNT.
WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT BOTH PAD
AND A SENT TRACK WHETHER --
ASCENT TRACK WHETHER AT THE NEXT
DECISION WILL BE PRIOR TO PROP
LOAD.
-- WEATHER AND THE NEXT DECISION
WILL BE PRIOR TO PROP LOAD.
>> WE COPY.
>> REMAINS NOMINAL WITH NO ITEMS
OF NOTE.
MARIE: SO WE JUST HEARD THE
WEATHER IS STILL IFFY.
>> GOOD NEWS, THANK YOU.
>> THIS CONCLUDES THE POSTING
REST BRIEF.
FALCON 9 OPERATORS.
>> WE ARE READY FOR THE F9
OPERATORS.
>> COPY.
EXPECT THAT SHORTLY.
MARIE: SO WHEN WE HEAR THAT
CHATTER PICKED BACK UP, WE WILL
QUIET DOWN SO YOU CAN LISTEN IN
TO, BUT WE HEARD THEM DISCUSSING
THE WEATHER, KEEPING AN EYE ON
THAT BUT THE NEXT DECISION IS
BEFORE PROP LOAD.
WE WILL PRESS FORWARD FOR NOW
AND THEN REEVALUATE BEFORE THEY
START FUELING THE ROCKET.
SOUNDS LIKE FALCON 9 AND CREW
DRAGON ARE HEALTHY.
THE VEHICLE IS IN GOOD SHAPE.
KIND OF A REPEAT FROM WEDNESDAY,
KEEPING AN EYE THE WEATHER AT
THIS POINT.
LAUREN: YOU CAN SEE ON THEIR
LEFT LEGS -- 
>> YOU CAN EXPECT IT IN ABOUT
ONE TO TWO MINUTES.
>> DRAGON IS READY.
LAUREN: ON THEIR LEFT LEGS THERE
THEY HAVE THE ACTUALS THAT ARE
STUCK TO THEIR LEGS INCLUDING
THE TABLETS THAT YOU SEE, THAT
MAY HAVE DISPLAYED THERE.
LELAND: YOU SAY THOSE ARE
TABLETS VERSUS JUST NEED BOARDS?
LAUREN: THEY ARE TABLETS INSIDE.
LELAND: OK.
WHEN WOULD THEY PULL THOSE
TABLETS OUT TO USE THEM? 
LAUREN: DURING THE MISSION WHILE
IN ORBIT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS COME IN,
THE BACK GROUND, BUT THE RAIN IS
PICKING UP OUTSIDE THE STUDIO.
KIND OF WONDERING IF BOB AND
DOUG ARE HEARING THE SOUND OF
RAINS OPENING UP OVER THE PAD.
IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS PATCHY OUT
THERE.
WE WERE FOLLOWING SOME
THUNDERSTORMS THAT LOOKED LIKE
THEY MIGHT BE MAKING THEIR WAY
OVER HERE.
KIND OF LOOKS LIKE IT IS
RAINING.
IT IS HARD TO TELL THROUGH THE
HAZE.
MARIE: LAUNCH IS NOW JUST OVER
TWO HOURS AWAY.
YOU ARE THERE WITH THE SOCIAL
TEAMS.
THE HATCH IS CLOSED AND THE RAIN
PICKING UP AND ALL KINDS OF
EXCITING THINGS GOING ON AS WE
COUNT DOWN AND GET INTO THE LAST
TWO HOURS OF THE COUNT.
I BET THINGS ARE GETTING
INTERESTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> YES.
SO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON.
PEOPLE IN LINE ARE WONDERING
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE
MISSION.
I HAVE THE CONVERSATION FROM
AROUND THE NATION TALKING ABOUT
TODAY'S LAUNCH ATTEMPT.
WE CHECKED VIEWERSHIP AND WE ARE
UP TO 1.4 MILLION ABLE WATCHING
THIS LIVE BROADCAST.
WE HOPE THINGS LOOK GOOD WITH
THE WEATHER.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE THINGS
BEING SAID ON TWITTER.
WE JUST HAVE SOME MORE FUTURE
ASTRONAUTS.
I LOVE SEEING THE YOUNG
GENERATION GETTING EXCITED ABOUT
TODAY'S MISSION.
WE HAVE ALSO GOT SOME GODSPEED
AND SAFE TRAVELS FOR BOTH
ASTRONAUTS TODAY.
WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK ON
THE SECOND ATTEMPT.
THROWBACK PHOTOS FROM PEOPLE
VISITING NASA CENTERS AND LET'S
DO THIS.
I LOVE THIS CAN-DO ATTITUDE AND
THAT PEOPLE ARE KEEPING THE
ENERGY ALIVE FOR TODAY'S LAUNCH.
THERE ARE SOME DISAPPOINTING
REACTIONS TO WEDNESDAY'S SCRUB,
BUT LET'S SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE
GETTING EXCITED FOR TODAY'S
ATTEMPT.
LET'S ROLL.
♪
>> READY FOR TAKEOFF.
>> I AM READY TO LAUNCH AMERICA.
>> THREE, 2, 1, GO.
♪
>> READY TO LIFT OFF.
♪
>> TO INFINITY AND BEYOND.
♪
>> I HOPE YOU GUYS MAKE IT TODAY
TO THE SPACE STATION.
♪ ♪
TAMIRA: HOW FUN IS THAT VIDEO? 
I WILL HAVE TO ATTEMPT THE WORM.
GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE IN GOOD
SPIRITS LEADING INTO TODAY'S
SECOND LAUNCH ATTEMPT AND I HOPE
EVERYBODY WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO
SMILE ABOUT.
BACK TO LAUREN.
LAUREN: THANKS TO HEAR.
IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE ARE
STOKED.
WE CONTINUE TO JOIN THE
CONVERSATION BY USING THE
#LAUNCHAMERICA ACROSS ALL SOCIAL
MEDIA ACCOUNTS.
MARIE: I LOVE SEEING THE LITTLE
KIDS GET EXCITED.
MY THREE-YEAR-OLD HAS GOT AN
ASTRONAUT SLEEPING BAG.
THE BODY OF THE BAG IS A
SPACESUIT AND THE HEAD IS EMPTY,
WHERE THE PILLOW IS.
WHEN SHE GETS INSIDE IT LOOKS
LIKE SHE HAS A SPACESUIT ON.
LELAND: THE INSPIRATION FOR THE
NEXT GENERATION OF EXPLORERS
GOING TO TAKE DOUG AND BOB'S
PLACE ONE DAY.
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE -- THEY
CREATED THE WORM BALL.
LAUREN: I WAS CHECKING MY A MAIL
BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, WHAT IS
THIS? 
WHAT IS THE WORM BALL? 
LELAND: IT IS A MASSIVE MEATBALL
-- LOOK AT IT.
LAUREN: THANK YOU.
I NEED A VISUAL.
LELAND: THE ANGULAR AND NASA
LOGO AND THE WORM INSIDE OF THE
LOGO AREA CAN YOU LIVE WITH
THAT? 
MARIE: IT IS A BEAUTIFUL
COMPROMISE.
LAUREN: A NICE MARRIAGE OF THE
TWO.
THERE IS ANOTHER LIVE LOOK AT
LAUNCH COMPLEX 39A.
WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE A LOT WITH THE CREW DRAGON
SITTING ON FALCON 9, THE CREW
THEMSELVES AND THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF TODAY AND THE RETURN WE HOPE
OF HUMAN LAUNCH TO AMERICAN
SHORES.
BUT WE NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS
IS HALLOWED GROUND.
♪
>> WE ARE GO.
WE ARE GO.
PHILOSOPHY LIGHTS.
>> MANY OF NASA'S STORIED
MISSIONS BEGAN THEIR DARING
JOURNEY FROM THE EXACT SAME SPOT
ON EARTH.
LAUNCH COMPLEX 39 A AT THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
THIS MASSIVE STRUCTURE OF STEEL
AND CONCRETE HAS CRADLED ROCKETS
AND GUIDED EACH ON THEIR FIERY
ASCENT FOR 50 YEARS.
THERE CAN BE NO LAUNCH WITHOUT A
LAUNCHPAD AND THIS GROUND HAS A
HISTORY GREATER THAN ANY OTHER.
HAVING EVOLVED AND BEEN SHAPED
FOR EACH NEW ERA OF SPACEFLIGHT,
IT IS ALIVE WITH A HEARTBEAT AS
STRONG AS THE FIRST.
♪
LAUNCHPAD 39A CAME TO LIFE UNDER
THE DIRECTION OF PROJECT
ENGINEER HARRY MAY AS NASA
RAMPED UP ITS EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE
AN UNPRECEDENTED CALLING.
>> WHY CHOOSE THIS AS OUR GOAL? 
THEY MAY WELL ASK WHY CLIMB THE
HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.
>> IN 1962, EARTHMOVING MACHINES
SCULPTED THIS TO THE HEIGHT OF
40 FEET.
THE CONCRETE WAS POURED TO HOLD
IT IN PLACE.
TO LAUNCH THE FIRST MOON ROCKET,
ENGINEERS CUT A FLAME TRENCH
NEARLY THE LENGTH OF TWO
FOOTBALL FIELDS.
IT WAS LINED WITH HEAT RESISTANT
BRICKS TO DEFLECT 7.5 MILLION
POUNDS OF EARTH RATTLING THRUST
FIRST FELT ON APOLLO EIGHT.
LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, APOLLO
11 LAUNCHED FROM 39A.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
WATCHED AS IT LANDED ON THE MOON
THREE DAYS LATER.
NEARLY A DECADE AFTER THE APOLLO
ERA, 39A TOOK CENTER STAGE WITH
A NEW ONE-OF-A-KIND SPACECRAFT,
THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
BILLIONS OF POUNDS OF ADDITIONAL
STEEL FOR SERVICE STRUCTURES
TRANSFORMED THE LOOK BUT NOT THE
PURPOSE, HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT.
IN ALL 82 SPECIALS BLASTED OFF
FROM 39A.
-- SPACE SHUTTLES BLASTED OFF
FROM 39A UNTIL THE VERY LAST.
>> 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, ALL THREE
ENGINES ARE BURNING.
2, 1, 0, LIFT OFF.
THE FINAL LIFT OFF OF ATLANTIS.
AMERICA WILL CONTINUE THE DREAM.
>> ROGER ROLL, ATLANTIS.
♪
>> WITH THE FLEET RETIRED,
DEMOLITION CREWS REMOVED TO
CLEAR THE WAY FOR NASA'S
DECISION TO LEASE THIS HISTORIC
LAUNCH SITE TO THE PRIVATE
COMPANY SPACEX.
TODAY ITS SLEEK AND MODERN
DESIGN SUPPORTS A FAMILY OF
ROCKETS THAT HAS ADVANCED THE
COMMERCIAL AGE OF AMERICAN
SPACEFLIGHT.
NOW 50 YEARS AFTER IT FIRST SENT
HUMANS TO THE MOON, THIS
HISTORIC SPACEPORT STANDS READY
FOR THE NEXT WAVE OF HUMAN
TRENDS -- EXPLORATION.
♪
MARIE: WE ARE LOOKING LIVE AT
PAD 39A, THE CLOSEOUT TEAM.
YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM BY THEIR
NUMBERS.
WE HEARD CONFIRMATION OF THE
HATCH BEING CLOSED.
THINGS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
I DON'T MEAN THE LAUNCH TIME IS
CHANGING.
THE SPECIFIC MILESTONES IN THE
TIMELINE, THOSE TIMES ARE
FLEXIBLE.
THE LAUNCH WINDOW REMAINS
INSTANTANEOUS AT 3:22 THIS
AFTERNOON.
WE JUST SAW A PIECE ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF PAD 39A.
>> ALL STATIONS CHIEF
ENGINEERING.
CHECK WITH THE CREW.
FALCON 9 GUIDANCE AND CONTROL.
>> DRAGON GNC ON COUNTDOWN ONE
COMM CHECK.
>> GNC DRAGON, WE HEAR YOU LOUD
AND CLEAR.
>> GNC LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> DRAGON ONE COMM CHECK.
>> PROP DRAGON, LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> PROP, LOUD AND CLEAR.
STANDBY WITH THE AVIONICS
ENGINEER.
>> DRAGON, AVIONICS ON COMM
ONE.
COUNTDOWN CHECK.
>> AVIONICS, DRAGON.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> AVIONICS, LOAN AND CLEAR.
STAND BY.
>> DRAGON [INDISCERNIBLE] 
>> GROUND CHECK, DRAGON.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> STAND BY FOR CALM CHECK WITH
LAUNCH CONTROL -- COMM CHECK
WITH LAUNCH CONTROL.
>> LAUNCH CONTROL, DRAGON.
LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> STAND BY FOR COMM CHECK WITH
THE CHIEF ENGINEER.
>> DRAGON, CHIEF ENGINEER ON
COUNTDOWN ONE.
COMM CHECK.
>> CHIEF ENGINEER, DRAGON, WE
HAVE GOT YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
>> CHIEF ENGINEER, LOUD AND
CLEAR.
THIS COMPLETES THE FALCON 9
RESPONSE CHECK.
MARIE: WE JUST SAW THUMBS UP
FROM DOUG HURLEY, A LISTEN OF
CALM'S CHECKS.
--COMMS CHECKS.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR ON DRAGON TO
GROUND.
>> LOUD AND CLEAR.
LET'S SEE IF THE RAIN CLEARS UP.
MARIE: THAT SENTIMENT IS SHARED
BY ALL VIEWERS.
>> COPY THAT.
MARIE: BOB AND DOUG ALONG WITH
THE LAUNCH TEAMS AND THE REST OF
AMERICA HOPING THE RAIN CLEARS
UP.
EVERYTHING SOUNDED PRETTY
NORMAL, NOMINAL.
WE ARE WAITING ON THE WEATHER TO
CLEAR UP.
THERE IS A LIVE LOOK AT COMPLEX
39A, THE SITE OF 82 SPACE
SHUTTLE MISSIONS, WHERE THEY
BEGAN AND OF COURSE APOLLO, THE
FIRST MISSION TO THE MOON,
APOLLO 11.
YOU WERE FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN
THAT HAPPENED.
TAKE US BACK THERE.
LELAND: I WAS FIVE.
I WAS THE ANTENNA ENGINEER
DURING THE BROADCAST.
I WAS THE KID STANDING BEHIND
THE BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION
HOLDING THE RABBIT EARS AND MY
DAD SAID MOVE TO THE LEFT, MOVED
TO THE RIGHT.
I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHAT WAS
GOING ON.
THEY SAID DON'T MOVE.
I NEVER ACTUALLY SAW THE ACTUAL
LANDING.
THE NEXT DAY ALL THE FRIENDS IN
MY COMMUNITY WERE LIKE YOU WANT
TO BE AND AFTER NOT? --
ASTRONAUT? 
I SAID NO.
I DIDN'T SEE IT.
I WANTED TO BE ARTHUR ASHE.
HE TRAINED FIVE BLOCKS DOWN THE
STREET.
MY DAD TALKED ABOUT HIS
ATHLETICISM.
IT WAS NOT UNTIL I GOT TO NASA
WORKING AS AN ASTRONAUT AT
LANGLEY ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAID
YOU WOULD BE A GREAT ASTRONAUT.
ANOTHER FRIEND OF MINE GOT IN
AND I SAID IF HE CAN GET IN, I
CAN BECOME ONE.
I APPLIED AND GOT IN TO THE 1998
CLASS.
I THINK ABOUT THIS STORIED
AGASSI, HAD 39 -- LEGACY, PAD
39A.
IT IS AN AMAZING TIME TO SEE
THIS NEW ERA WITH LAUREN, WITH
YOUR SPACEX CREW DRAGON ABOUT TO
TAKE OFF.
LAUREN: I NEVER HEARD THAT
STORY.
[LAUGHTER]
LAUREN: IT IS SO COOL THAT YOU
HAVE A LOT OF THESE KIDS WHO ARE
WATCHING TODAY WHO HAVE NEVER
SEEN A FLIGHT, HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
RUM KSC -- FROM KSC BEFORE.
I GREW UP IN THE SHUTTLE ERA AND
IN LOS ANGELES.
I REMEMBER SOMETIMES WHEN THE
SHUTTLE WOULD LAND AT EDWARDS
AIR FORCE BASE, YOU WOULD HEAR
THE DOUBLE SONIC BOOM.
WE ALL KNEW THAT WAS THE SPACE
SHUTTLE.
IT WAS A THING.
IT DID MAKE ME SAD THERE IS LIKE
AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF KIDS WHO
DID NOT GROW UP WITH THAT
EXPERIENCE.
I AM PROUD TODAY HOPEFULLY WE
GET TO PROVIDE THAT FOR KIDS AND
HAVE MORE AND MORE OF THESE
LAUNCHES TO THE POINT IT BECOMES
ROUTINE.
HOPEFULLY NEVER BORING BUT
ROUTINE.
LELAND: HAVE TO MAKE SURE EVERY
KID HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
THESE TYPES OF THINGS, THEY
BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, WE GIVE
THEM THE RIGHT TOOLS TO BE IN
STEM FIELDS.
WE HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE
WORKING UP HERE TO GET BOB AND
DOUG OFF SAFELY.
THE MORE PEOPLE THAT SEE THIS
TYPE OF DIVERSITY WILL SAY, I
CAN DO THAT TOO.
MARIE: WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS
WATCHING TODAY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR
FROM ANOTHER ROLE MODEL
ESPECIALLY FOR THE LITTLE GIRLS
IN THE AUDIENCE WE WANT TO TURN
IT OVER TO GARY IN HOUSTON TO
TALK TO A SPECIAL ASTRONAUTS.
GARY: HI, MARIE.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BEING
JOINED BY ONE OF NASA'S
RECORD-SETTING ASTRONAUTS AND
RECENT RESIDENT ON BOARD THE
SPACE STATION, KRISTINA COOKE.
>> IT IS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY.
JIM: WE ARE COMING UP ON 20
YEARS OF CONTINUOUS HUMAN
PRESENCE ON THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE THIS
UNFOLD? 
KRISTINA: SO MUCH HISTORY, GREAT
TO WATCH IT ALL UNFOLD.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HOW
NASA IS NOT ONLY INNOVATING IN
WHAT WE DO, EXPLORING THE
UNIVERSE, PUSHING THE
BOUNDARIES, GETTING KNOWLEDGE
AND BRINGING IT BACK TO EARTH,
BUT IN HOW WE DO IT.
WE ARE INNOVATING THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE GOALS
AND MISSIONS.
BRINGING IN THE COMMERCIAL SPACE
ECONOMY FOR LOW-EARTH ORBIT
MEANS SPACE WILL BE MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND INNOVATIVE.
IT IS AN AWESOME ERA OF HISTORY.
GARY: YOU HELD THE RECORD FOR A
LONGEST SINGLE STAY BY A FEMALE
ASTRONAUT IN SPACE.
WHAT IS IT LIKE? 
KRISTINA: IT IS A PRIVILEGE.
YOU -- BEAUTIFUL TO CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SPACE PROGRAM YOU
YOURSELF HAVE HELD IN SUCH HIGH
REGARD YOUR ENTIRE LIFE AREA THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGE GOING INTO
THOSE LONGER TIMES AS REMAINING
VIGILANT.
THE ENGINEERS LIKE IT EASY TO
LIVE -- MAKE IT EASY TO LIVE,
SOMETIMES YOU FORGET YOU ARE
SURROUNDED BY A HOSTILE
ENVIRONMENT.
REMAINING VIGILANT AND THAT --
ALSO BEING VIGILANT AND KNOWING
THINGS COULD TAKE A TURN FOR THE
WORSE AND YOU HAVE TO BE READY
TO REACT.
IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE BUT
COMES WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
GARY: YOU CAME TO NASA AFTER THE
FIRST -- THE SPACE SHUTTLE
PROGRAM AND FLEW ON THE SOYUZ.
KRISTINA: I THINK IT IS A GREAT
INNOVATION IN TERMS OF OUR
PARTNERSHIPS.
WHEN WE STARTED OUT, IT WAS
INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES PURSUING
SPACE EXPLORATION.
WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE
INTERNATIONAL ASPECT AND NOW WE
HAVE THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT.
RECOGNIZING THE MORE
PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE, THE MORE
ACCESSIBLE AND INNOVATIVE SPACE
CAN BE.
IT BRINGS MORE CAPABILITY INTO
THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
IT IS NOT ONLY HOW WE ARE DOING
IT BUT WHAT IT BRINGS.
GARY: WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING TRANSPORTATION BY PRIVATE
COMPANIES.
HOW DOES IT HELP YOU DO YOUR
JOB? 
KRISTINA: ONE CONCEPT WE HAVE IN
SAFETY IS DISSIMILAR REDUNDANCY.
WE ARE BRINGING UP A SECOND WAY
OF GETTING CREW TO THE STATION
AND INCREASING CARGO.
WE ARE INCREASING SCIENCE BY
TWOFOLD, INCREASING OPTIONS FOR
GETTING ITEMS UP, STOWAGE ITEMS,
SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS.
WE ARE BANKING ON THE EXTRA
REDUNDANCY TO MAKE THE PROGRAM
THAT MUCH MORE ROBUST.
GARY: WE ARE WATCHING THEM GO
THROUGH THE FINAL PHASES OF
PREPARING FOR THE LAUNCH.
WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?
KRISTINA: IT IS A GREAT DAY
INDEED.
IT IS NOT SO MUCH WHAT IS GOING
THROUGH YOUR MIND BUT WHAT IS
NOT.
YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT ENABLING
SUCCESS BY DOING WHAT YOU HAVE
BEEN TRAINED TO DO.
ON LAUNCH DAY ASTRONAUTS ARE
SOMETIMES THE MOST CALM PEOPLE
IN THE ROOM.
I FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE.
IT IS A CULMINATION OF
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE LEARNED AND
DREAMED OF.
FINALLY YOU WILL DO WHAT YOU ARE
PREPARED TO DO, EXECUTE THE
MISSION AND BRINGS A SENSE OF
CALM AND READINESS.
GARY: ALWAYS AN HONOR TO HEAR
FROM YOU.
KRISTINA: THANK YOU.
GARY: ONCE THEY ARRIVE, NASA
ASTRONAUT CHRIS CASSIDY WILL BE
READY TO WELCOME THEM ON BOARD.
HE HAD THIS MESSAGE FOR THEM.
♪
>> HELLO EVERYONE.
I AM ASTRONAUT CHRIS CASSIDY,
COMMANDER OF EXPEDITION 63 ON
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
250 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S LAUNCH
AND THE POSSIBILITIES IT WILL
RING TO AMERICA -- BRING TO
AMERICA AND THE WORLD BUT ALSO
THAT TWO CLOSE FRIENDS ARE
JOINING THE GROUP.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF FLYING
WITH DOUG HURLEY ON OUR FIRST
SHUTTLE MISSIONS IN 2009.
WE HELPED CONSTRUCT THE AMAZING
FACILITY THAT IT IS TODAY.
ALTHOUGH THIS WILL BE MY FIRST
MISSION WITH BOB, IT WAS MY
HONOR TO FOLLOW HIM AS CHIEF OF
THE OFFICE WHEN HE LEFT IN 2015
TO BEGIN TRAINING FOR THIS
MISSION.
I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO
FLY IN TWO DIFFERENT
SPACECRAFTS, LAUNCHING FROM
AMERICA ON THE SHUTTLE AND
RECENTLY FROM KAZAKHSTAN.
WHAT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW
EXCITING IT IS TO KNOW THAT WE
ARE ONCE AGAIN LAUNCHING
AMERICANS FROM THE COAST OF
FLORIDA.
FINALLY HERE'S A STORY I WOULD
LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
IN 1981 JOHN YOUNG AND BOB
GRIFFIN WENT ON SPECIAL OF
COLUMBIA, MARKING THE LAST TIME
WE FLEW AMERICAN SIDE BRAND-NEW
VEHICLE.
-- SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA,
MARKING THE LAST TIME WE FLEW
AMERICANS ON A BRAND-NEW
VEHICLE.
THEY BROUGHT A NEW TECHNICAL
PROWESS.
♪
>> ROGER ROLL, ATLANTIS.
>> 30 YEARS LATER THAT FLAG WAS
FLOWN AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
THE FLAG IS WAITING FOR BOB AND
DOUG.
♪
>> OUR FLAG MEANS SO MANY THINGS
TO OUR COUNTRY AND THIS SMALL
PIECE OF AMERICA REPRESENTS WHAT
WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE
TOGETHER.
WE WILL NEVER STOP EXPLORING.
SO BOB AND DOUG CAN TAKE THIS
SPECIAL FLAG HOME TO EARTH WHERE
IT AWAITS ITS NEXT JOURNEY TO
THE COSMOS.
IN A FEW YEARS THE ORION CREW
WILL TAKE THIS LIKE WITH IT
AROUND THE ROOM -- THE MOON.
ALL OF THIS STARTS TODAY.
I WILL BE WATCHING OUTSIDE THE
WINDOW ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE
IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD.
I CAN'T WAIT TO LOOK OUT AND SEE
MY FRIENDS ON CLOSE APPROACH.
GO FALCON 9, GO DRAGON AND GO
BOB AND DOUG.
I WILL SEE YOU SOON.
MARIE: THERE IS A LOOK AT LIFE
-- COMPLEX 39A IN KENNEDY SPACE
CENTER, FLORIDA.
WE ARE ABOUT TWO HOURS FROM
LIFTOFF OF THE CREW DRAGON
CARRYING BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG
HURLEY, STRAPPED INSIDE.
WE CAN SEE RAINDROPS ON THE
SCREEN.
RAIN COMING DOWN AT THE PAD, BUT
WE ARE MONITORING THE WEATHER.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE WILL BE
ANOTHER DECISION POINT BEFORE
THEY START FUELING THE ROCKET
WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN AT
T -35 MINUTES.
IF THE WEATHER COOPERATES TODAY,
WE -- LELAND, YOU HAVE BEEN
THERE TWICE.
YOU TOLD US IT IS A LEVIATHAN IN
SPACE AND THE SIGHT OF SO MUCH
IMPORTANT WORK AND PARTNERSHIPS
HAPPENING.
LELAND: CHRIS CASSIDY IS
FLOATING IN THE COLUMBUS
LABORATORY THAT I INSTALLED OR A
TEAM OF US INSTALLED ON STS122.
I THINK ABOUT THE ROBOTIC ARM
MADE IN CANADA, THE EUROPEAN
SPACE AGENCY BUILT IT, COLUMBUS
LABORATORY, AND MY JOB WAS TO
ATTACH IT.
AS IT WAS GETTING CLOSER AND
CLOSER, THE MOTION STOPPED.
I AM LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON? 
THERE IS A SLIGHT SPRING FORCE.
I WAS MOVING SO SLOWLY WITH THE
HAND CONTROL THAT THE SPRING
FORCE STALLED OUT THE MOTION.
PEGGY SAID, LELAND, -- THERE IS
COMMENTARY.
>> GO AHEAD.
>> DOUG, WE ARE STILL WAITING
FOR A WEATHER UPDATE EXPECTED AT
18 ZULU.
IT WILL BE CLOSER TO THE
PROPELLANT LOAD TIME.
WE ARE CURRENTLY NO GO ON LAUNCH
WEATHER BUT SHOWING EXPECTED
CLEAR OF 1830 ZULU.
>> OK, COPY ALL.
THANKS FOR THE UPDATE.
MARIE: WE HEARD IF THEY WERE TO
LAUNCH RIGHT NOW, THE WEATHER
WOULD BE NO GO.
SOUNDS LIKE THERE MAY BE AN
OPPORTUNITY IF THE WEATHER
CLEARS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY
EXPECT IT MAY.
WE WILL KEEP LISTENING.
IF WE HEAR ANY CHATTER
ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE WEATHER WE
WILL QUIET DOWN SO WE DON'T STEP
ON THAT AND EVERYONE CAN HEAR IT
WITH US.
YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WORK
ON STATION.
PEGGY WAS GETTING READY TO TELL
YOU SOMETHING.
LELAND: IT WAS ABOUT TO BE
ATTACHED AND THERE WERE 10,000
PEOPLE WAITING.
JOB SECURITY DEPENDED ON ME
INSTALLING THIS.
SHE SAID PUSH A LITTLE HARDER ON
THE HAND CONTROLLER AND ALL THE
RED INDICATORS WINTERGREEN.
THAT WAS A PRIMARY MISSION
OBJECTIVE.
BUT PEGGY INVITED US OVER TO
DINNER IN THE RUSSIAN SEGMENT
AND WE HAD THIS MEAL WITH PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, RUSSIAN
, GERMAN, FRENCH,
AFRICAN-AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN
BREAKING BREAD AT 17 HOUSE AND
500 MILES PER HOUR -- 17,500
MILES PER HOUR WHILE LISTENING
TO "SMOOTH OPERATOR." 
MARIE: WHAT AN APPROPRIATE SONG.
[LAUGHTER]
LELAND: AND THEN TAWNY CHANGED
THE SONG FROM SMOOTH OPERATOR TO
ARM OPERATOR.
SO YOU SING ♪ ARM OPERATOR ♪.
MARIE: WE WERE IN ANOTHER TAPED
SEGMENT WHEN YOU GOT A TEXT FROM
DREW.
CAN YOU SHARE THAT? 
LELAND: A GOOD FRIEND SENT ME A
TEXT SAYING THE FRIENDLY'S --
THE FAMILIES SAY HELLO TO ALL
WHO ARE WATCHING AND THANK THE
WORLD FOR WATCHING.
THE COMMANDER ON SS135 FROM THE
1998 F -- CLASS, WAY TO GO,
DRAGON.
LAUREN: EVERYBODY FOLLOWING
ALONG AT HOME, THE COVID-19
SITUATION HAS BEEN JUST A TOUGH
TIME FOR PEOPLE STUCK INSIDE,
HOMESCHOOLING KIDS AND DOING
JOBS.
IT IS REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO
WATCH THIS HAPPENING.
WE SEE THE PAD CLOSEOUT TEAM.
LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE LEFT THE
WHITE ROOM AND HAVE COME DOWN
THE CREW ACCESS ARM.
THEY ARE GETTING READY TO LEAVE
THE PAD NOW.
AND WE ARE GOING TO GO NOW TO
THE OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT
BUILDING 2 WHERE DARRELL IS
STANDING BY WITH NASA'S CHIEF OF
STAFF TO TALK ABOUT NASA'S
AMBITIONS BEYOND THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
ITS WORK WITH THE COMMERCIAL
CREW PROGRAM.
DARREL: THIS IS THE TOP OF THE
OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT BUILDING
WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF
IMPORTANT PEOPLE GATHERING --
NOT ME.
ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IS DAVE
SHERMAN, NASA CHIEF OF STAFF.
GABE: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
DARREL: TODAY IS COMMERCIAL CREW
AND WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT, BUT
WHAT IS OFF IN THE HORIZON FOR
NASA? 
GABE: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT
WE ARE DOING WITH COMMERCIAL
CREW, MARS PERSEVERANCE, IT WILL
BE INCREDIBLE FOR US OR YOU LOOK
AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE
LARGEST ROCKET IN THE WORLD IS
GOING THROUGH TESTING, GREENLAND
TESTING.
WE ARE HOPING BY THE END OF THE
YEAR WE COULD GET IT RIGHT OUT
HERE TO THE CAPE WHICH WOULD BE
AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT FOR
OUR TEAM.
THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF THINGS
TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.
DERROL: EVERYTHING IS STARTING
TO HAPPEN RECENTLY WITH
EVERYTHING YOU MENTIONED.
IF WE GET THE FIRST ARTEMIS
LAUNCH, IT COULD BE AROUND THE
CORNER AS WELL.
GABE: LOOKING AT LATE 2021.
YOU THINK ABOUT SLS MOVING FROM
THE GREEN RUN TO THE CAPE, ORION
FINISHING UP ITS LAST BIT OF
TESTING, IT MOVED FROM OHIO DOWN
TO KFC.
-- KSC.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST
INTEGRATED FLIGHT AT THE END OF
2021.
THAT WILL BE A MOMENT.
DERROL: THERE WILL BE A
THUNDEROUS BOOM HERE.
WITH MARS AS THE END GOAL, HOW
DOES ALL OF THAT GET TO THAT
POINT? 
GABE: THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT
ABOUT THE ARTEMIS PROGRAM.
THE LONG-TERM VISION IS TO GET
TO MARS, BUT EVERYTHING WE ARE
DOING AT THE MOON IS HELPING US
LEARN, PROVE CAPABILITIES, WORK
THROUGH THE RIGHT MISSION
DIRECTIONS, USING THE RESOURCES
OF THE MOON TO GO FURTHER ON TO
MARS, SO THE SCIENCE AND
ARCHITECTURE WE ARE PUTTING
TOGETHER, EACH AND EVERY PIECE
IS HELPING US LEARN MORE, PROVE
MORE TO TAKE THE 
-- GIANT LEAP TO MARS.
DERROL: HOW ABOUT THE ACTIVITY
IN LOWER ORBIT LIKE COMMERCIAL
CREW THAT IS HAPPENING TODAY --
LOW EARTH ORBIT LIKE MARSHALL
CREW THAT IS HAPPENING TODAY? 
GABE: YOU ALWAYS LEARN.
YOU TAKE IT TO THE NEXT MISSION.
IT IS ABOUT THE BUSINESS CASE.
THINK ABOUT WHAT COMMERCIAL CREW
IS, IT IS NASA OWNING AND
OPERATING HARDWARE TO BUYING A
SERVICE.
A FEW WEEKS AGO WE WERE REWARDED
THREE CONTRACTS ON THE HUMAN
LANDING SYSTEM TO COMMERCIAL
COMPANIES.
WE ARE HOPING WE MOVE TO A DAY
WHERE WE ARE BUYING SERVICE TO
GET ASTRONAUTS BACK AND FORTH TO
THE MOON.
ENABLING THE COMMERCIAL MARKET
TO GO FROM LOWER ORBIT ALL THE
WAY OUT TO LUNAR ORBIT.
COMMERCIAL CREW IS A GREAT
PROVING GROUND OR THAT.
HELPS US BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND
WE GET A FEED FORWARD TO THE
MOON.
IT MEANS A LOT AS WE MOVE OUT.
DERROL: IT IS EXCITING WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT
OF GOING TO THE MOON AND THE
PARTNERS.
THEY WILL BE STUDYING THOSE
SLANDERS TO SEE IF -- THOSE
LANDERS TO SEE IF THEY ARE
VIABLE.
GABE: TREMENDOUS WITH THE
COMMERCIAL PROVIDERS AND NASA
GOING THROUGH DESIGNS, LOOKING
AT THE CAPABILITIES THEY HAVE
PROPOSED AND TRYING TO MAKE
DECISIONS ON WHICH LANDING
SYSTEM GOES EARLY IN 2024, WHICH
ONCE ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR
SUSTAINABILITY IN THE LATER 20
20'S.
IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE WHAT
COMES OUT AND THIS IS THE LANDER
THAT WILL TAKE THE FIRST WOMAN
AND NEXT MAN TO THE MOON.
DERROL: DIFFERENT FROM APOLLO
WHERE WE WENT TO THE MOON AND
THE PROGRAM CAME TO AN END.
THE IDEA HERE IS TO CREATE SOME
SUSTAINABILITY.
GABE: YOU CAN GET TO
SUSTAINABILITY IF YOU HAVE
REUSE-ABILITY.
WHEN YOU THINK OF OUR HUMAN
LANDING SYSTEM, YOU ARE LOOKING
AT A SYSTEM WE PUT OUT ON THE
MOON, GOING BACK AND FORTH
TAKING WILL DOUBLE TRIPS TO THE
LUNAR SURFACE UP TO GATEWAY
WHICH IS OUR SMALLER STATES --
SPACE STATION WE WILL PUT IN
ORBIT AROUND THE MOON.
WE ARE BUILDING AN ARCHITECTURE
WHICH WILL ENABLE THAT AT THE
MOON.
APOLLO NEVER HAD THAT.
DRIVING DOWN COSTS AND
INCREASING ACCESS, IT IS
CRITICAL.
DERROL: YOU GET TO SEE
EVERYTHING FROM A HIGH-LEVEL AT
NASA.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE HERE AT
THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER TO
WATCH A LAUNCH AND SEE THIS
AMAZING FACILITY? 
GABE: I AM NOT ALWAYS AROUND
THIS STUFF.
I DON'T GET TO COME DOWN HERE AS
MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE.
IT IS JUST AS EXCITING FOR ME AS
ANYONE IN THIS ROOM.
IF YOU THINK OF ALL THE WORK OUR
TEAM HAS PUT IN TO GET THIS DONE
AND BE A PART OF IT, IT IS
OVERWHELMING AND INCREDIBLE.
WE ARE A LITTLE BIT EXCITED.
DERROL: NASA'S CHIEF OF STAFF,
WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US
TODAY.
APPRECIATE THE LAUNCH.
I KNOW YOU WILL IF WE GET THAT
OFF.
BACK TO HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA.
MARIE: JOINING US NOW IS
SPACEX'S -- TO DISCUSS FUTURE
AMBITIONS TO THE MOON AND MARS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A
SECOND ROUND.
COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR
BACKGROUND AND WHAT YOU DO HERE?
>> I'M IN CHARGE OF ENTRY AND
LANDING FOR STARSHIP, SPACEX'S
NEXT ROCKET AFTER FALCON 9.
I WORKED ON THE SAME THING FOR
FALCON.
HOPEFULLY YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER
ONE OF THOSE LANDINGS.
>> AND WHAT ROLE DOES
REUSABILITY PLAY IN GETTING
PEOPLE TO THE MOON AND MARS IN
THE FUTURE? 
LARS: IT IS ABOUT MAKING HUMAN
SPACEFLIGHT AFFORDABLE.
YOU WANT A REUSABLE ROCKETS.
THE FALCON IS ONLY PARTIALLY
REUSABLE.
STARSHIP WILL BE 100% REUSABLE.
WE HAVE STARTED WORKING WITH
NASA ON USING STARSHIP TO SEND
ASTRONAUTS TO THE SURFACE OF THE
MOON SINCE 1972.
IT WILL BE REFUTABLE -- REFU
ELABLE.
ANYWHERE IN THE SPACE CENTER,
MORE PAYLOAD FOR LESS MONEY.
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATING.
FOR THE FIRST TIME WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THINGS LIKE LUNAR BASES OR
WHAT SPACEX CARES ABOUT, A
SELF-SUSTAINING CIVILIZATION ON
MARS.
>> YOU ARE SAYING I WILL HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON BOARD ONE
OF THOSE SPACE SHUTTLES.
SPEAKING OF REUSABILITY AND
LANDING, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED
STARSHIP WILL BE REFUTABLE --
REFUELABLE IN ORBIT.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WITH
LANDING ON THE MOON AND LANDING
ON A PLANET LIKE MARS? 
LARS: YOU CAN'T LAND LIKE A
PLANE BECAUSE THE MOON AND MARS
EITHER HAVE NO ATMOSPHERE OR
HAVE A THIN ATMOSPHERE.
THERE IS NO RUNWAY.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE DO
THIS LANDING ON FALCON ACHE AS
WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO
PROPULSIVE LANDING, THAT THE
ARCHITECTURE WORKS ON ANY PLANET
IF YOU HAVE NO ATMOSPHERE LIKE
THE MOON, PROPULSIVE LANDING
BURN ALL THE WAY.
IN EARTH, YOU LET IT SLOW YOU
DOWN.
MARS HAS ATMOSPHERE BUT THIN,
YOU DO SOMETHING IN BETWEEN THE
TWO.
>> THAT SOUNDS REALLY DIFFICULT.
I AM SURE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
EFFORT PUT IN TO THAT.
CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT
WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON NOW TO
GET US TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN
DO ATLANTIC LIKE THAT IN A HARSH
ENVIRONMENT? 
LARS: FIGURING OUT PROPULSIVE
LANDING IS THE KEY PART.
WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT REALIZE IS
EVERY TIME WE BRING FALCON BACK,
WE DO AN ENTRY BURN VERY WE LIKE
THE ENGINES TO SLOW THE -- BURN.
WE LIKED THE ENGINES TO -- THAT
HAPPENS BECAUSE CONDITIONS ARE
VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT A MARS
LANDING BURN WOULD LOOK LIKE.
EVEN THOUGH IT TAKES MONTHS TO
GET TO MARS AND YOU CAN ONLY DO
IT EVERY TWO YEARS WHEN THE
PLANETS LINE UP, WE CAN PRACTICE
PROPULSIVE LANDING EVERY TIME WE
BRING FALCON BACK INCLUDING
HOPEFULLY THERE.
>> AND EVERY TIME YOU BRING IT
BACK, WE LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
WHAT DID WE LEARN AFTER THE
VEHICLE HAS RETURNED AND WE ARE
ABLE TO CHECK OUT THE VEHICLE? 
LARS: JESSICA MENTIONED EARLIER,
I TALKED ABOUT HOW COST IS ONE
BENEFIT OF REUSABILITY BUT
RELIABILITY IS THE OTHER
BENEFITS.
IMAGINE YOU DO ALL THIS PLANNING
TO SEND A ROCKET UP THROUGH THE
RIGORS OF LAUNCH AND REENTRY BUT
YOU DON'T SEE THE ROCKET
AFTERWARDS.
WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO AND
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH FALCON
9 IS SEE THE ROCKET, INSPECT IT
VERY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
CORRELATE MODELS PREFLIGHT SO
THAT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
LAUNCH AND REENTER.
>> INSTEAD OF GUESSING WHAT
HAPPENS TO THE VEHICLE AFTER IT
HAS LEFT AREA OF -- LEFT.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A
SECOND ROUND.
HOPEFULLY THE WEATHER WORKS WITH
US.
LET'S THROW IT BACK TO KSC.
MARIE: ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE LAUREN HERE.
TODAY'S MISSION OPENS UP ONE DAY
THE PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO VISIT
THE MOON AND MARS.
AS YOU HAVE HEARD SEVERAL
INTERVIEWS TODAY, REUSABILITY IS
AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.
IMAGINE IF EVERY TIME YOU FLEW A
PLANE FROM L.A. TO NEW YORK, YOU
THROUGH IT AWAY -- THREW IT AWAY
AT THE END OF THE FLIGHT.
THAT MEANS IT WOULD BE SO
EXPENSIVE ALMOST NO ONE WOULD BE
ABLE TO FLY.
THAT IS WHAT SPACEX IS TRYING TO
DO, ALLOWING NOT JUST A HANDFUL
OF PEOPLE PRETEND OF THOUSANDS
AND ON -- PEOPLE BUT TENDS OF
THOUSANDS AND HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS.
MYSELF, WHEN PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE
A CHANCE TO GO, MY DREAM IS TO
LAND ON JUPITER'S MOON EUROPA.
SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THERE IS A
LIQUID WATER OCEAN UNDERNEATH
THE ICE AND IT HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO BE HABITABLE.
I AM EXCITED TO GET UP CLOSE AND
PERSONAL TO SPACE FISH.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? 
LELAND: THAT IS INTERESTING.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO MARS.
WE HAVE STUDIED MARS SO MUCH
AREA HAVING A MARTIAN BASE THAT
HIS DOG FRIENDLY, BRING THE PUPS
ALONG.
WE WANT TO TAKE OUR FAMILIES,
OUR CULTURES, OUR TRADITIONS
WITH US.
FLYING WITH DOUG AND BOB IS COOL
BUT YEAH.
THE PUPS, TAKING THE PUPPERS TO
SPACE.
THEY ARE READY TO GO.
SPACEX TYPE SUITS FOR THEM.
THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT,
EXPLORATION, SETTLERS GOING
WEST.
THEY TOOK EVERYTHING WITH THEM
AND STARTED NEW COMMUNITIES AND
TRADITIONS.
THAT IS WHAT WE DO WITH SPACE
TRAVEL.
WE START NEW TRADITIONS AND
COMMUNITIES AND BRING EVERYONE
TOGETHER AS ONE FAMILY.
MARIE: WE ARE HERE FOR IT.
KNOWING THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY
TO SPACE AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN IS
AROUND THE CORNER, WE HAVE A NEW
POLL QUESTION ON TWITTER.
IF GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY
TO THE MOON, WOULD YOU FLY TO
THE SOUTH POLE, OR WOULD YOU GO
TO THE APOLLO 11 LANDING SITE? 
THOSE WILL BE INTERESTING
ANSWERS.
LAUREN: WHILE THERE IS NOT A TON
OF CARGO ON TODAY'S MISSION,
DRAGON IS CARRYING TWO VERY
SPECIAL PAYLOADS.
THE FIRST OF THOSE IS A SERIES
OF CUSTOM ART PIECES INCLUDED --
ENTITLED "HUMANKIND" BY A LOS
ANGELES ARTIST.
THE DOUBLE-SIDED PAINTINGS MADE
FROM GOLD, PRESS AND ALUMINUM
SHOW HOW FAR HUMANITY HAS COME
AS WELL AS HOW FAR WE HAVE TO
GO.
IT INCLUDES A BEAUTIFUL MIND TO
THE SATURN FIVE ROCKET AS WELL
AS A NOD TO BOB AND DOUG'S
CURRENT RIDE TO SPACE.
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON
SPACEX'S SOCIAL CHANNELS.
NEXT IN THE SPIRIT OF INSPIRING
THE NEXT GENERATION OF VINCE --
OF EXPLORERS, WE WANT TO
CELEBRATE THE CLASS OF 2020.
SPACEX AND NASA INVITED PEOPLE
TO SUBMIT THEIR PHOTOS TO FLY ON
AMERICA'S FIRST HUMAN
SPACEFLIGHT IN NEARLY A DECADE.
EACH PHOTO WAS USED TO CREATE A
MOSAIC IMAGE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL
PLANET EARTH WHICH WE PRINTED
AND IS BEING FLOWN ON BOB AND
DOUG'S FLIGHT.
WE RECEIVED NEARLY 100,000
PHOTOS.
THAT IS A TON.
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO 
SUBMITTED THEIR PHOTOS AND THAT 
IS COOL.
>> THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER WITH 
THEIR EXPERIENCES AND BRINGING 
THEM FORWARD TO SPACE.
REGULAR PEOPLE FLYING TO SPACE.
SPACEX WILL BE FLYING 
NONGOVERNMENT PEOPLE, 
NONMILITARY PEOPLE.
PEOPLE THAT HAVE A DESIRE TO 
EXPLORE AND VIEW NEW THINGS AND 
TRADITIONS.
>> ALL OF THIS TIME SINCE WE HAD
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
IT IS GOVERNMENT ASTRONAUTS 
PERFORMING THE RESEARCH.
>> WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE THAT PAID 
THEIR WAY ON SOYUZ ROCKET BUT IT
IS THE BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB.
IT IS BECAUSE IT COSTS SO MUCH 
AND THAT PRICE POINT HAD COME 
DOWN AS WE MAKE THIS MORE 
AMENABLE FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE.
>> AND BEING ABLE TO NIGH ARTIST
-- FLY ARTISTS, PHYSICIANS, 
AND 
FOLLOWING TODAY'S MISSION WE 
WILL BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE 
FUTURE WHERE WE CAN ALL HAVE 
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN THE 
ORBITAL PERSPECTIVE AND EXPLORE 
NEW WORLDS,IN JUST OVER AN HOUR 
FROM NOW BOB AND DOUG WILL BE 
THE FIRST TO LAUNCH ON AN 
AMERICAN VEHICLE IN ALMOST A 
DECADE.
FOR THE SPACEX TEAM IF I CAN TRY
TO SPEAK FOR ALL OF US WHICH IS 
IMPOSSIBLE IT HAS BEEN AN 
ABSOLUTE HONOR TO HAVE THE 
OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO HAVE THIS 
STAGE TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT WE 
HAVE POURED OR HEARTS INTO WITH 
OUR PARTNERS AT NASA AND IT IS 
DEEPLY HUMBLING TO KNOW THE 
AGENCY AND BOB AND DOUG HAVE 
ENTRUSTED US WITH THIS MISSION.
THE RESPONSIBILITY IS HUGE AND 
WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE 
TODAY.
>>  I KNOW OUR NASA TEAMS SURE 
IN THAT.
WE HEARD FROM THEM WHEN BOB AND 
DOUG WERE RIDING OUT TO THE 
LAUNCH PAD BUT SO MANY WE WILL 
PROBABLY THEY ARE SEE TO HEAR 
FROM ON THE PUBLIC STAGE BUT 
HAVE POURED THEIR HEARTS AND 
SOULS INTO THIS MISSION.
ALL THE ENGINEERS UP LATE HOURS,
CHECKING, DOUBLE-CHECKING, 
TRIPLE CHECKING TO TROUBLESHOOT 
APPEAR SOLVE PROBLEMS TO GETS TO
THIS POINT.
IT IS AWESOME THAT WE HAVE MADE 
IT TO THIS.
>> WHEN YOU THINK OF LEGACY 
CATHERINE JOHNSON WHO HELPED GET
JOHN GLENN TO SPACE HER 
DAUGHTERS ARE WATCHING AND THAT 
GOING TO FUTURE OF SPACE TRAVEL.
>> WE HEARD FROM TWO ICONS OF 
SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION 
WEDNESDAY AND COULDN'T RESIST 
HEARING THE SHOUT OUT WITH YOU 
ONE MORE TIME.
>> WE ARE MAKING HISTORY AGAIN.
THE NASA PROGRAM.
I'M THERE WITH YOU IN SPIRIT, 
BOB, DOUG.
I WILL BE WATCHING AND 
EVERYTHING CROSSED.
CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO GET BACK 
SAFELY.
>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A U.S.
BUILT ROCKET HAS TAKEN PEOPLE 
INTO SPACE IN NINE YEARS.
IT IS QUITE AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
FOR US AT THE PLANETARY SOTA 
MEANS MORE EXPLORATION AND MORE 
COUNTRIES INVOLVED IN SPACE 
MEANS MORE EXPLORATION.
THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THE COSMOS 
AND OUR PLACE WITHIN IT.
SO CONGRATULATIONS SPACEX.
HERE IS WISHING YOUR TEAM AND 
THE CREW A SAFE JOURNEY AND JOY 
OF DISCOVERY FEEL LET'S GO!
GREAT TO HERE FROM THOSE TWO 
VERY RECOGNIZABLE FACES 
FOLLOWING ALONG ON THE MISSION.
WE WANT TO GO TO DAN AND JESSE 
IN HAWTHORNE WHERE WE'RE ONE 
HOUR AND 18 MINUTES FROM LAUNCH.
DAN AND JESSE?
>> THANKS.
I THINK WE ARE TYING OURSELVES 
IN KNOT LIKE CAPTAIN KIRK THE WE
ARE HOPING THE WEATHER 
CHAMPIONSHIPS. 
IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES WE MY CLEAR 
SO WE ARE GETTING OUR HOPES UP.
>>  WE ARE T MINUS 1 HOUR AND 18
MINUTES AND ANTICIPATION IS REAL
OVER HERE.
BOB AND DOUG WERE HELD TO GET IN
SEATS AND ATTACH THEIR SUITS TO 
THAT CONDUCTED A LEAK CHECK THAT
WERE SUCCESSFUL AND 
COMMUNICATION CHECKS WITH THE 
CORPS IN HAWTHORNE WHICH IS 
PERSON THAT WILL SPEAK WITH THEM
AND LAUNCH DIRECTOR IN FLORIDA.
THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE CHECKING 
THEIR CONTACTS THROUGH THE 
SATELLITES THAT WILL TALK TO 
THEM THE ENTIRE WAY TO THE 
STATIONMENT 
>>  AFTER THE SUIT CHECKS WERE 
SUCCESSFUL THEY WERE ABLE TO GET
OUT THE DRAGON CASTLE AND GET 
OUT OF THE HATCH AND IT WAS 
CHECK.
THE CLOSEOUT TEAM IS NOW AWAY 
FROM THE BLASTING AREA AND 
OPERATORS ARE READY TO KICK OFF 
FINAL CHECKS OF WIND SPEED WHICH
IS THE FINAL GO-NO GO FOR 
LAUNCH.
ABOUT OF WE GET TO THE FINAL 
GO-NO GO ALL THE TEAMS WILL DO 
INTERNAL GO POLLS TO MAKE SURE 
CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT WE FALCON 
9, DRAGON CREW AND RANGE IS 
GIVEN THE FINAL GO.
LET'S CHECK BACK WITH HOUSTON 
APPEAR GARY FOR -- AND GARY FOR 
THEIR READINESS.
>> TEAM HERE IN MISSION CONTROL 
HOUSTON REMAINS GO FOR LAUNCH 
AND WE ARE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE 
WEATHER.
ALL SYSTEMS ON BOARD THAT ARE 
REQUIRED TO BE HEALTHY ARE 
CONTINUING TO LOOK GOOD.
CHRIS CASSIDY IS WRAPPING UP HIS
WORKDAY AND WE WILL BE WATCHING 
BOB AND DOUG LAUNCH IN JUST 
UNDER AN HOUR.
STATION POWER AND COMMUNICATION 
SYSTEMS ARE NORMAL AND COMPUTERS
APPEAR NETWORKS USED FOR 
MONITORING DRAGON'S APPROACH ARE
CHECKED OUT AND CABIN AND 
PRESSURE ARE READY TO WEEK TWO 
NEW CREW MEMBERS ABOARD.
MISSION CONTROL WILL CLOSELY 
MONITOR THEIR CHECK AND CHECK 
OFF MILESTONE MOST THE FLIGHT 
AND THEY WILL COME BACK TOMORROW
WE DRAGON GETS IN RANGE OF 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AN 
PREPARE FOR DOCKING.
TEAM HERE IS READY FOR LAUNCH 
AND GO FALCON 9, GO DRAGON AND 
GOD SPEED TO BOB AND DOUG.
>> THANKS, GARY.
IF YOU ARE JUST NOW JOINING US, 
WE ARE JUST A LITTLE OVER AN 
HOUR FROM LAUNCH AND THIS IS 
DEMO 2.
LIFTOFF TIME HOLDING FOR 3:22 
P.M. EASTERN TRACKING NO ISSUES 
WITH FALCON 9 OR DRAGON.
EVERYTHING GOOD WITH RANGE SO 
FAR. 
WE ARE JUST WATCHING CLOSELY THE
WEATHER.
LAST THREE HOURS OUR CREW 
MEMBERS DONNED THEIR SUITS IN 
THE SUIT-UP ROOM AND WALKED OUT 
OF CREW QUARTERS AS I HAVE 
ASTRONAUT TO FLY TO SPACE FROM 
THIS PORT HAS CON SINCE APOLLO 
7.
THERE WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE 
PAD AND ENTER SPACECRAFT WE ARE 
LOOKING IN LIFE.
>> TODAY IS AN HECK LAUNCH.
--  HISTORIC LAUNCH THE FIRST 
TIME FROM AMERICAN SOIL SINCE 
2000 -- 2011.
THE NEXT HOUR WE WILL CONDUCT A 
SERIES OF POLLS TO GET READY FOR
LAUNCH AND HAVE BOB AND DOUG ARM
THE ESCAPE SYSTEM AND BEGIN 
FUELING FALCON 9.
LAUNCH IS SET FOR 3:22 P.M. 
EASTERN INCLUDING 12 MINUTES 
FLIGHT TO ORBIT AND 19-HOUR 
FLIGHT TO DOCK WITH THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION 
TOMORROW MORNING.
>> TODAY'S MISSION IS THE CALL 
MINUTE STATION OF YEARS OF WORK 
BETWEEN -- CULMINATION BETWEEN 
SPACEX AND NASA WITH A FLIGHT 
TEST GOING ON TO DOCK AT THE 
SPACE STATION TOMORROW AND 
SPLASHING DOWN AT THE END OF 
THEIR MISSION.
THIS WILL BE THE FINAL TEST FOR 
NASA TO CERTIFY SPACE X FOR 
REGULAR CREW FLIGHTS TO THE 
SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE BEEN HEARING FROM THE 
CREW ON BOARD DRAGON WHICH YOU 
CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SCREEN 
SCRAPPED IN AND THROUGH 
COMMUNICATION AND LEAK CHECKS.
THEY ARE ABLE TO FOLLOW ALL THE 
MILESTONE ON THE DISPLAY PANELS 
JUST ABOVE THEM GETTING INSIGHT 
INTO ALL DRAGON AND FALCON 9 
SYSTEMS AS WE PROCEED TOWARD 
LAUNCH.
AT T MINUS 1 HOUR AND 13 WINS WE
CHECK IN WITH JOHN FOR A STATUS 
ON THE VEHICLES.
>> NOT MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT DAN 
AND JESSE JUST BROUGHT UP.
WE HAVE HAD A SMOOTH COUNTDOWN 
THIS AFTERNOON AND SPACE X. IS 
WORKING NO ISSUES AS THE PACE 
BEGINS TO PICK UP THE LAST 70 
MINUTES.
ON FALCON 9 WE GOT THE TEAM ON 
CONSUL AND YOU HEARD THE COM 
CHECKS BETWEEN THE SOME 
ENGINEERS AND CREW. 
THE ENGINEERS WILL MAKE CALLS ON
SAINT FOR THE CREW BENEFIT.
THE PROPULSION CHECK OUTS ARE 
BEGINS RIGHT NOW AND WE ARE 
WATCHING THEM BEGIN TO GO 
THROUGH THE PROCESS OPENING 
INVOLVES.
THAT CHECK WILL GO FOR ABOUT 
ANOTHER 10 MANIPULATES AND THAT 
WILL -- MINUTES APPEAR THAT WILL
BE LAST ONE UNTIL PROPELLANT 
LOADING.
THE TEAM WILL ASSESS READINESS 
FOR LAUNCH WITH A FINAL GO-NO GO
AT T MINUS 45 MINUTES FOLLOWED 
BY PROPELLANT LOADING.
EARLIER TODAY DRAGON OPERATORS 
HAD CHECK OUTS OF FLIGHT SYSTEMS
SPACECRAFT IS ALSO CURRENTLY GO 
FOR LAUNCH.
OUR ASTRONAUTS ARE AND THEY HAVE
LEFT THE TOWER.
NEXT IS YOU CAN SEE ALONGSIDE 
CAPSULE PEP T MINUS 45 AND 42.
RANGE IS CURRENTLY CLEAR FROM 
39A WORE WIDE NETWORK OF GROUND 
STATIONS AN SATELLITES ARE READY
TO SUPPORT DRAGON.
THE WEATHER IS THE ONE CONCERN 
WE WILL GET A WEATHER BRIEF AT 
T
MINUS ONE AND THE GROUND AND 
UPPER ALTITUDE WINDS ARE GO SO 
WE CAN CHECK THAT AS GREEN. 
AT THE CURRENT TIME WE HAD RAIN 
EARLIER THAT APPEARS TO HAVE LET
UP BUT WE ARE RED ON CONDITIONS 
FOR BOTH THE ELECTRIC FIELD AND 
SURVEYOR LEVELS, LIGHTNING AND 
 
CUMULUS CONCLUDES,THERE IS AN 
EXPECTATION THAT A FORECAST THAT
WILL BE COMING UP ABOUT T MINUS 
ONE HOUR MAY GIVE US CLEARANCE 
OF THOEPBS CONDITIONS.
SO EVERYTHING IS FOCUSSING000 ON
THE WEATHER BRIEF FOR T MINUS 
ONE HOUR AND WE SHOULD HOPE TO 
HEAR ABOUT THE FINAL CHECK ON 
THE ASSET CORRIDOR, THAT IS THE 
WEATHER ALONG THE ATLANTIC 
SEABOARD IN CASE DRAGON HAD TO 
ABORT ON THE WAY TO SPACE.
THE EXPECTATION IS THAT IT WOULD
BE GOOD FOR LAUNCH BUT WE'LL GET
ALL OF THAT COMING UP SHORTLY 
PRIOR TO ENTERING PROPELLANT 
LOAD.
TODAY WE ARE AIMING FOR A LAUNCH
AT 3:22.45 P.M. OR 19 HOURS 22 
MANIPULATES  MINUTES UNIVERSAL. 
ONCE WE LOAD PROPELLANT WE ARE 
COMMITTED AND WE WILL GET ONE 
CHANCE AT IT TODAY.
CURRENTLY AT T MINUS ONE HOUR 10
MINUTES AND 30 SECONDS 
EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE WEATHER IS
GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> THANKS, JOHN FOR THAT 
DETAILED UPDATE THE WE HAVE DONE
AN SENSITIVE HISTORY OF FLYING 
FALCON 9 FROM THE FLORIDA COAST 
AN LAST YEAR COMPLETED A TEST 
RUN.
>> PURPOSE OF THAT MISSION WAS 
TO DEMONSTRATE DRAGON'S 
CAPABILITY IT SAFELY AND 
RELIABLY FLY TO AND FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL SPAES STATION. 
THE SUCCESS WAS AN EXCITING 
MOMENT TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE GETTING READY 
TO FLY U.S. ASTRONAUTS FROM U.S.
SOILOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 
2011.
>> DRAGON AND FALCON 9 TOGETHER 
HAVE YEARS OF OPERATIONAL 
EXPERIENCE OR FLIGHT HERITAGE.
AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER SPACEX 
COMPLETED 21 FLIGHTS TWO AND 
FROM ORBIT SINCE 2010 INCLUDING 
20 TRIPS TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE CONDUCTED 
THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF TESTING WE
HAVE ALSO ENHANCED AND ADDED A 
NUMBER OF SAFETY FEATURES TO 
DRAGON.
>> LESSONS LEARNED WITH CARGO 
WAS LEVERAGED IN DESIGN OF IT 
NEW VEHICLE. 
IT IS FULLY AUTONOMOUS SO ITCAN
FLY ITSELF AND HAS THE FULL 
MANUAL VERIFY RIDE IN CASE OF 
EMERGENCY.
OTHER ENHANCE WANTS HELPED IT OF
REUSABILITY AND LESS 
REFURBISHMENT.
WE WILL LOOK AT THESE ADVANCES.
>> ALMOST 27 FEET TALL FROM THE 
BOTTOM OF THE TRURPBG TO THE TOP
OF THE NOSE IT IS TWO MAIN 
ELEMENTS.
YOU HAVE THE CAPSULE WHICH IS 
DESIGNED TO HOLD CREW AND CARGO 
AND TRUNK WHICH HOLDS UP 
PRESSURIZE CARGO AND SOLAR 
RADIATOR.
>> THE FROZE CONE AT THE TOP 
PROTECTS THE DOCKING SYSTEM AND 
GUIDANCE NAVIGATION OR G.N.C.
THE NOSE CONE OPENSOR DOCKING 
AND REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE 
SPACECRAFT UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS 
VERSION AND THAT HELPS TOWARD 
THE REUSABILITY EFFORTS.
>> OPPOSITE THE NOSE CONE IS THE
TRUNK WITH ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR
FALCON NINE DRAGON CAPSULE AND 
CAN HOLD CARGO.
ON THE OUTSIDE ONE HALF OF THE 
CONTAINS A RAID CRATER THAT RE--
RADIATOR THAT PROJECTS HEAT INTO
SPACE AND THAT USES THE NEW 
TILING TECHNOLOGY.
THE OTHER HALF IS SOLAR SELLS TO
CHARGE THE SPACECRAFT BATTERY.
WE ONLY HAVE TWO ASTRONAUTS ON 
BOARD THE SPACECRAFT IS DESIGNED
TO ACCOMMODATE UP TO SEVEN 
MEMBERS WITH MODULAR SEATS THAT 
CAN BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BY 
ADDITIONAL CARGO AND THEY ARE 
CARBON FIBER AND CUSTOM SIZEDOR 
THINK MEMBER.
THE CONTROL PANEL BETWEEN THE 
PILOT AND COMMANDER SEAT HAS THE
THREE IT UP SCREEN DISPLAYS THAT
GIVES THE CREW INSIGHT INTO 
DRAGON AND OUR SUPERVISOR LAWFUL
ESCAPE SYSTEM IS A KEY SAFETY 
FEATURE OF CREW DRAGON GIVING 
THE CREW THE ABILITY TO SAFELY 
ESCAPE FROM TIME OF LAUNCH IT 
ORBIT.
AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE BEYOND 
THIS TEST FLIGHT LATER THIS YEAR
THE FIRST OPERATIONAL CREW 
MISSIONER NASA WILL TAKE PLACE.
ASTRONAUTS -- I HAD TO REVIEW 
YOUR CRITERIA AND INDICATE 
READINESS A THE APPROPRIATE TIME
54.69 FOR PROPELLANT LOAD AND 
LAUNCH.
JURISDICTION THAT WAS THE LAWFUL
DIRECTOR GETTING READY TO PULL 
THE TEAMS FOR THE GO-NO GO FOR 
PROPELLANT LOADING.
THAT IS BACK TO THE CREW, NASA 
ASTRONAUTS WERE CHOSEN TO 
SUPPORT THIS MISSION.
>> WITH YOU TODAY DOUG HURLEY IS
THE SPACECRAFT COMMANDER HE 
PREVIOUSLY FLEW AS A PILOT ON 
127 AND 135 WHICH WAS THE FINAL 
SPACE SHUTTLE FLIGHT.
HERE IS A CLOSER LOOKING AT 
DOUG.
>>  VERY EXITED.
>> ARE YOU READY TO GO UP?
>> YES, I THINK WE ARE READY.
I THINK WE ARE CERTAINLY READY.
>>  JOINING THE SPACE X TEST 
AMERICAN CORPS COLONEL AND TEST 
PILOT AND SELECTED AS AN 
ASTRONAUT IN 2000ED A PILOTED 
ENDESERVE AND ATLANTA IT'S FOR 
135 THE FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE 
MISSION. 
INTRODUCING DOUG HURLEY.
>> IT IS A LIFE CHANGING PROCESS
TO FLY INTO SPACE.
IT IS JUST OVERWHELMING IN SOME 
RESPECTS.
JUST A SENSATION, RUMBLING, 
SHAKING, ACCELERATION. 
I'M DOUG HURLEY AND I'M THE 
VIRGINIA COMMANDER FOR DEMO 2 TO
THE SPACE STATION.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THAT
THE DRAGON HAD A CREW ON BOARD 
SO THERE'S A MYRIAD OF 
OBJECTIVES WE WANT TO ACHIEVE 
FOR THIS MISSION.
WHAT WOULD WORK ON ORBIT, WHAT 
MIGHT NOT WORK AND WHAT WOULD 
DEFINITELY WORK TO BE ABLE TO 
HAVE THE ENTIRE INTEGRATED TEAM 
THAT IS GOING TO SORE US GETTING
-- SUPPORT HE IS GETTING TO AND 
FROM THE SPAS STATION.
IT WAS NEED BEING PART OF IT.
WE ARE THE LUCKY ONES WHO GET TO
FLY IT BUT WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT 
FOR ONE SECOND TAKER GRANTED THE
AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT SO MANY 
OTHERS PUT INTO THIS TO MAKE IT 
SUCCESSFUL.
>> FOR DOUG PERSONALLY HE'S 
WORKED SO HARD THROUGH HIS 
ENTIRE LIFE TO GET TO WHERE WE 
ARE RIGHT NOW.
AS A TEST PILOT THIS WOULD BE A 
DREAM TO FLY IN VEHICLE.
SO, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE 
THAT HE GETS TO BE PART OF THIS 
MISSION, THE SPACECRAFT 
COMMANDER AND I'M JUST GLAD TO 
SEE HIS HARD WORK AND DREAM COME
TRUE FOR THAT.
>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD IN A 
LOT OF WAYS NOT ONLY FOR US BUT 
ALL FOLKS THAT WORK IN THE 
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM AND SAYS
X IN OUR CASE JUST WORKING TO 
GET TO THIS POINT.
WE ARE A LITTLE OVER ONE HOUR 
AND 3 1/2 MINUTES FROM LAUNCH. 
LET'S LEARN MORE ABOUT THEMAN 
NEXT TO DOUG.
>> MY CAREER AT NASA HAS SPANNED
A COUPLE OF DECADES AT THIS 
POINT.
I ARRIVED WITH THE CLASS OF 2000
AND WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING 
PROGRAM PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON THE
SPACE SHUTTLE AND SPACE STATION 
AND HAVING LAUNCHED A COUPLE OF 
TIMES ON VEHICLES, THE SECOND 
TIME WAS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT 
THAN THE FIRST TIME.
YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE GUILTY OF 
SHOULD I STUDY ONE MORE THING OR
IS THIS ONE MORE PIECE OF 
INFORMATION.
AM YOU REALLY PREPARED.
THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHERE I 
WAS FIRST FLIGHT AND WHERE I AM 
NOW.
>> FOR ME PERSONALLY AS A SPOUSE
WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT BOB HAS
PUT INTO THIS OVER THE LAST FIVE
YEARS THE DEDICATION THAT HE HAS
SHOWN AND PERSEVERANCE IS PRETTY
SPECIAL FOR BOTH OF US THOUGH 
THE WAY OUR MINDS WORK IT WON'T 
BE UNTIL THE MISSION IS COMPLETE
THAT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO SAVOR 
IN AND CELEBRATE.
THIS A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR 
AN AIR FORCE TEST FLIGHT 
ENGINEER TO BE PART OF 
DEMONSTRATION MISSION OF A NEW 
VEHICLE THE IT WILL BE AMAZING.
>> WITHOUT A PARTICIPATE THAT 
HAS THAT SAME APPRECIATION I 
THINK IT CAN BE CHALLENGING FOR 
SOME.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK AND TIME 
THAT TAKES FROM FAMILY THAT MY 
SPOUSE APPRECIATES AND I LOVE 
MERCHANT FOR THAT.
ON A DEEPLY PERFORM LEVEL I'M 
EXCITED MY SON WILL GET A CHANCE
TO SEE ME LAUNCH INTO SPACE.
BEING A ASTRONAUT HAS BEEN A 
LITTLE BIT OF ABSTRACTION FOR 
HIM BECAUSE HE SAW ME IN OLD 
VIDEOS BUT NOT FOR REAL SO I'M 
EXCITED FOR HIM TO SEE THIS 
LAUNCH.
MY ROLE IS TO MAKE SURE WE GET 
THIS VEHICLE TESTED AND 
EVALUATED SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON
TO MORE OPERATIONAL MISSIONS AT 
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OBJECTIVES ON 
BOARD VEHICLE THAT WE NEED TO 
ACCOMPLISH THAT TO MAKE SURE IT 
IS GOOD TO GO.
WE WILL MAKE SURE ALL THE 
SYSTEMS ARE WORKING DURING TEST 
FLIGHT SO THE FUTURE MISSIONS 
WILL HAVE THEY WILL EVEN IF THEY
DON'T PLAN TO USE THEM.
THROUGH CAREERS OF THE NASA -- 
THROUGH CAREERS OF NASA TEAM 
TEACHING THEM LESSONS WE HAVE 
LEARN ABOUT GOING THROUGH THIS 
NOW THERE'S ANOTHER CAPABILITY 
IN THE U.S. BESIDES NASA TO 
OPERATE SOMETHING OF THIS 
MAGNITUDE.
I WANT TO THANK THE ENTIRE 
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM TEAM 
THAT HAS WORKED TOGETHER TO GET 
TO THIS POINT WHERE WE HAVE 
VEHICLES ON THE LAUNCH PAD READY
TO HEAD TO THE INTERNATIONAL 
SPACE STATION.
>> IF WE LOOK EVEN FURTHER INTO 
THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE FLYING
ON A MISSION TO SPACE WILL BE AN
OPTIONOR MORE AS SPACE X PLANS 
TO FLY PRIVATE ASTRONAUTS.
EARLIER THEY SIGNED AN AGREEMENT
WITH THE SPACE TOURISM COMPANY 
TO FLY UP TO TO YOUR PASSENGERS 
ON AN ORBITAL TRIP ON DRAGON AT 
EARLY AS NEXT YEAR.
IT IS NASA THAT IS MAKING 
PRIVATE ASTRONAUT MISSIONS TO 
SPAES STATION A POSSIBILITY -- 
SPACE STATION A POSSIBILITY. 
WE HOPE YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING 
FORWARD TO THEM.
>> WE ARE JUST 20 SECONDS AWAY 
FROM T MINUS ONE HOUR.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG MOMENT
THAT WERE WILL WANT TO LISTEN 
TO.
WE EXPECT A WEATHER UPDATE 
HOPING THAT THE WEATHER IS 
IMPROVING AND SO WE SHOULD FIND 
OUT IN THE NEXT 10 SECONDS OR 
SO.
WE WILL STAND BIER A MOMENT AND 
-- BY FOR A MOMENT AND WAIT FOR 
THE CREW TO GIVE THEM A CALL.
>>  TFRPBLT MINUS ONE HOUR YOU 
ARE GO FOR SECTION SIX.
WHEN READY RECORD GO FOR LAUNCH.
THAT WAS THE CALL FOR THE CREW 
TO REFER TO SOME OF PREMIERES.
THEY DO -- PROCEDURES.
THEY CHECK HARNESSES, HELMETS 
MAKING SURE THEY ARE READY TO GO
AND THEY WILL REPORT THEIR 
READINESS FOR LAUNCH.
WE ARE SET FOR LAWFUL.
COPY GO FOR LAUNCH.
NEXT UP IS GO OR NO GO AT T 
MINUS 45.
>> COPY.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE CREW IS GO FOR
LAUNCH.
SO WE ARE INSIDE OF ONE HOUR, 
WAITING FOR THE WEATHER UPDATE 
BUT THIS DAY IS ONE FOR THE 
HISTORY BOOKS.
WE ARE RETURNING CREW LAUNCHES 
TO STATION FROM AMERICAN SOIL ON
AMERICAN ROCKETS.
IT HAS BEEN ALMOST NINE LONG 
YEARS SINCE WE RETIRED SPACE 
SHUTTLE PROGRAM.
I REMEMBER THAT DAY AND I WILL 
REMEMBER THIS DAY.
IT HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD TO GET 
HERE WITH COUNTLESS HOURS BY 
THOUSANDS OF DEDICATED 
PROFESSIONALS FROM NASA AND 
SPEEDWAY X.
>> IT HAS BEEN AN EXCITING WEEK 
BUT THE FINAL HOUR IS SO 
EXCITING.
TODAY AS MISSION WILL BE CREW 
DRAGON'S SECOND TEST FLIGHT AND 
FIRST TEST WITH HUMANS ON BOARD.
IT HAS BEEN AN AWESOME COUNTDOWN
SO FAR.
WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE 
WEATHER JUMP DATE BUT THE CREW 
IS GO FOR LAUNCH SO AT T MINUS 
45 MINUTES HOPEFULLY WE WILL 
HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE WEATHER.
>> WE HAVE HAD A CLEAN COUNTDOWN
SO FAR STARTING WITH SUIT-UP 
JUST OVER THREE HOURS AGO.
THE TEAM HELPED THEM GET ON 
THEIR SUITS AND CONDUCTING 
INITIAL CHECK OUTS INCLUDING 
INCLUDING INITIAL PRESSURE AND 
LEAK CHECK BEFORE THE WALKOUT 
APPEAR ALL OF THAT IN THAT 
OPERATIONS AN CHECKOUT FACILITY.
THE CREW WALKOUT IS WHERE BOB 
AND DOUG GAVE THEIR FINAL 
GOOD-BYES TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY 
GATHERED OUTSIDE THE OPERATIONS 
AND CHECKOUT BUILDING BEFORE 
THEY BEGAN THAT RIDE TO THE PAD 
SAYING GOODBYE TO THE FAMILIES 
BOTH WIVES AND SONS IN FRONT OF 
THEM.
>> A VERY TOUCHING MOMENT.
INCREDIBLE TO WATCH THESE 
MOMENTS.
>> AS THEY GET INTO THEIR 
TESLAS, WE SAW THEM RIDE ALL THE
WAY TO THE PAD AND GOT SOME 
GREAT FOOTAGE THERE.
THIS IS SOME PLAY BACK FROM 
EARLIER AS THEY WERE GETTING 
INTO THE TESLAS ABOUT TO MAKE 
THAT RIDE DOWN TO THE PAD.
ONCE THEY GOT TO THE PAD THEY 
TOOK A MINUTE TO TAKE IN THE 
SIGHTS AND THEY HEADED UP THE 
STRUCTURE TO WHERE THEY ENTERED 
AND THERE YOU CAN SEE AS THEY 
COME THROUGH THE CREW ACCESS ARM
ENTERING THE WHITE ROOM RIGHT 
BEFORE THEY ARE ABLE TO INGRESS 
TWO THE VEHICLE THERE.
-- INTO THE VEHICLE THERE.
THIS IS EARLIER.
>> AS WE SAID, THAT WHITE ROOM 
IS THE LAST PLACE ON PLANET 
EARTH THEY ARE STANDING BEFORE 
THEY CLIMB INTO DRAGON CARRYING 
A TRADITION WHERE NASA HAD AND 
THAT WAS FROM GEMINI APOLLO AND 
SPACE SHUTTLE THAT LAST PLACE.
ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO WE ARE BACK
WITH LIVID -- LIVE
VIDEO AND 
THEY HAD THEM SAFE STY  -- SAFE 
INSIDE AND WE WILL GET TO THE 
PROPELLANT LOADING AND ARMING 
THE LAUNCH.
>>  THE PULL FOR READINESS WAS 
TFRPBLT MINUS 60 MINUTES AND 
PROP LOAD IS COMING UP IN ABOUT 
30 SECONDS AT T MINUS 55 MINUTES
THEN T MINUS 45 MINUTES WILL BE 
THE INTERNAL MISSION CONTROL 
PULL AND LAUNCH DIRECTOR PULL 
FOR PROPELLANT LOADING.
WHEN WE GET TO ABOUT T MINUS 40 
THE CREW ACCESS ARM WILL RETRACT
AND BOB AND DOUG WILL GET THE 
CALL TO CLOSE THEIR VISORS AN 
ARM THE ESCAPE SYSTEM THAT CAN 
FIRE THE THRUSTERS ON DRAGON TO 
SEPARATE THE CREW FROM THE 
ROCKET EITHER ON THE PAD OR 
DURING THE FLIGHT.
>> ONCE WE REACH T MUST 35 
S
MINUTES PROPELLANT LOADING WILL 
BEGIN.
WE GOT THERE WEDNESDAY TO 17 
MINUTES BEFORE WE HAD TO CANCEL 
BECAUSE OF WEATHER.
BUT CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN 
IMPROVING AND WE ARE LOOKING TO 
PRESS AHEAD ONCE AGAIN INTO 
LOADING FUEL ON THAT FALCON 9 
ROCKET.
WE HAVE WITHIN GETTING 
INCREDIBLE VIEWS OF THE 
ASTRONAUTS INSIDE MAKING THEIR 
FINAL PREPARATIONS AND CLOSE-UP 
VIEWS OF SUITS AND ON DISPLAYS 
AS THEY ARE STRAPPED IT.
AT THE DESCRIBE THE SUITS AS AN 
EXTENSION OF THE SPACECRAFT 
APPEAR LIKE A MINI SPACECRAFT 
INSIDE OF A SPACECRAFT WITH ALL 
THE LIFE SUPPORT ANDING.
COUNT DOWN ONE TECHNICAL POST 
COMPLETE PROCEED TO LAUNCH 
ESCAPE AND ARMING AND PROPELLANT
LOAD.
>> THERE IS THE CALLOUT THAT THE
CREW IS READY TO LOAD PROP ON TO
DRAGON SO WE ARE PUSHING FORWARD
FOR T ZERO.
WHILE THE SUITS LIKE GREAT THEY 
ARE ENGINEERED TO CONNECT 
DIRECTLY INTO DRAGON SEATS TO 
PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS, COOLING 
AND ABILITY TO PRESSURIZE IF 
NECESSARY.
>> WE DID GET THE CALLOUT THE 
TECHNICAL TEAMS ON THE GROUND 
ARE READY FOR LAUNCH ESCAPE 
ARMING AND PROPELLANT LOADING.
AGAIN, THINGS STARTING TO PICK 
UP AND FEEL REAL. 
LET'S JUMP DOWN REAL QUICK TO 
THE TEAM AT KENNEDY AND SEE IF 
YOU GUYS ARE JUST AS EXCITED.
I CAN'T SIT STILL RIGHT NOW T. 
IS STARTING TO FEEL REAL.
>> IT IS HARD TO SIT STILL IN 
HERE.
>> I HAVE ROCKET FUEL GOING THRY
VEINS.
>> I KNOW.
WE ARE LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY
NOW.
SO FAR, THINGS LOOK LIKE WE
MIGHT MAKE IT.
SO I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT IT WAS
LIKE THE FIRST TIME YOU PUT ON A
SPACE, WHEN YOU KNEW YOU WERE
GOING TO SPACE.
>> THAT WAS FEBRUARY 2008, IN
THE ONC BUILDING, GETTING THE
SUITS ON, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
THAN THE SPACEX, BUT IT WAS A
LITTLE SURREAL.
AND FOR 10 YEARS IN
TRAINING TO FLY IN SPACE, IT
TOOK ME 10 YEARS, FROM 1998 WHEN
I GOT IN THE COURT TO 2008, IT
WAS A LONG ROAD TO GET THERE,
BUT IT WAS SO WORTH IT AND SO
SWEET.
LEARNING HOW TO USE THE GREEN
APPLE, THE OXYGEN FOR COOLING,
MUCH DIFFERENT, GOING THROUGH
THE WHOLE SERIES OF THINGS YOU
HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE
SAFE IN THE SUIT.
WE ARE INVOLVED, READY, AND THEY
LOOK SO COOL, CALM, AND
COLLECTED.
THEY ARE FOCUSING AND GETTING
READY TO FLY IN SPACE.
>> THERE IS SO MUCH EXCITEMENT
AROUND THE CENTER.
YOU GOT ANOTHER MESSAGE FROM THE
ASTRONAUT.
>> SHE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL
WHO TRAINED WITH BOB AND DOUG
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM.
>> AND SHE IS ONE OF MY
CLASSMATES.
WHAT IS SHE WEARING?
THE MEATBALL!
[LAUGHTER]
SHE HAD THE WARM ONE ON
WEDNESDAY, SO SHE HAD THE
MEATBALL TODAY.
NOW SHE CAN WEAR THE, THE WORM
BALL?
>> YEAH, SHE CAN MIX IT UP.
SHE HAS TRAINING IN THE NOT SO
DISTANT FUTURE.
REALLY GLAD SHE IS WATCHING.
THANKS A LOT, SONNY, FOR SENDING
THAT NOTE.
WE ARE WATCHING THE CREW ON THE
FALCON 9 ROCKET PEER YOU CAN SEE
THE CREW ACCESS ARM, THE HALLWAY
THAT BOB AND DOUG WALKED DOWN TO
GET INTO THE WHITE ROOM, WHICH
IS THE LAST PLACE WE SAW THEM
STANDING UP BEFORE THEY CLIMBED
THE DRAGON.
THE WIDER SHOT, 39A, WE ARE
INSIDE OF AN HOUR FROM LEFT OFF,
AND I THINK FROM THE PULL WE
WILL HEAR BEFORE THEY START
PROPELLANT LOAD.
AGAIN, IT IS TUESDAY'S ROCKET.
GOSH, THE WEATHER IS NOT THAT
BAD, OBVIOUSLY THAT IS NOT AN
OFFICIAL FORECAST, BUT IT DOES
NOT LOOK AS BAD AS IT DID
WEDNESDAY.
WE HAVE GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER
ODDS.
THERE'S THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK.
WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE TO LISTEN
TO THAT CALM.
IF YOU ARE JUST JOINING US, WE
ARE LESS THAN 50 MINUTES FROM
THE SCHEDULED LIFTOFF OF THE
FALCON 9 ROCKET, CARRYING CREW
DRAGON.
IF WE HEAR ANY WEATHER OR
PULLING, WE WILL PAUSE TO LISTEN
TO THAT, BUT IF THINGS GO, WE
WILL HEAR LAUNCH GO FOR
PROPELLANT LOAD AT T MINUS -- T
-45 MINUTES, SO WE WILL SEND IT
OVER TO HAWTHORNE TO CARRY THE
BALL.
ARE YOU THERE?
>> DRAGON COPY, GO WEATHER.
>> AND THERE YOU HEARD THAT CALL
OUT.
SO FAR, WE HAVE GOOD WEATHER.
WE ARE GO FOR LAUNCH TODAY.
THIS IS GETTING REALLY EXCITING.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, DAN, BUT
MY HEART IS BEATING REALLY FAST.
>> YES, WE HAVE BEEN WAITING
SINCE WEDNESDAY, AND WE HEARD A
CALL TO THE CREW, IN CASE YOU
MISSED IT, THEY WERE TRACKING
ONE FINAL WEATHER CONSTRAINT.
IT WAS A CUMULUS CLOUD.
THEY WERE EXPECTING IT TO CLEAR
UP WITHIN 10 MINUTES, AND IT IS
CLEAR NOW, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY
GO ON WHETHER -- WEATHER.
IT IS CRITICAL LOAD FOR LAUNCH,
AND ROAD LEADING UP TO THIS
POINT HAS BEEN PRETTY INCREDIBLE
AS WELL.
>> IT HAS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN NASA AND SPACEX.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER
SINCE SPACEX STARTED FLYING
CARGO TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, NOW GETTING READY TO
LAUNCH CREW.
WE HAVE BEEN REALLY FORTUNATE TO
WORK WITH NOT ONLY A LOT OF
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION --
>> THIS IS A REMINDER, THE
CONTROL ROOM, WE WILL START
CLOSING THE DOORS.
ANY LAST-MINUTE BIO BREAKS,
PLEASE GO AHEAD IN THE NEXT FEW
MINUTES.
>> AND THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR JUST
GETTING THE TEAMS READY.
WE WILL BE COMING UP ON THAT
PROPELLANT LOADING, AGAIN, THAT
STARTS ABOUT 35 MINUTES PRIOR TO
LIFTOFF, ABOUT 12 MINUTES FROM
NOW.
THERE WILL BE A GO, NO-GO COMING
UP REALLY SOON, SO LET'S GO TO
OUR MAN, JOHN I, FOR THE LATEST.
>> T MINUS 44 MINUTES, 24
SECONDS.
WE ARE COUNTING DOWN GOOD AS YOU
JUST HEARD, THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR
AND LAUNCH TEAM ARE PREPARING
FOR READINESS FOR LAUNCH PULL.
LAUNCH DIRECTOR IS CHECKING WITH
THE DRAGON MISSION DIRECTOR, AND
IT SOUNDS LIKE EVERYBODY IS GOOD
THERE.
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR WILL ASK THE
TEAM IF THE POLICE OPTION, AND
THEY WILL BE ELECTED --
ELECTRICALLY LAUNCHED.
WE WILL HEAR THAT RESULT AND A
BRIEFING FROM THE DIRECTOR IN
ABOUT T -45 MINUTES.
THE GATE -- THE GOOD NEWS RIGHT
NOW IS THAT THE WEATHER IS GO.
ALL OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WERE
READ SHORTLY A WHILE AGO, T
MINUS ONE HOUR, HAVE CLEARED.
WE ARE, AS THE WEATHER
FORECASTERS SAID, CAUTIOUSLY
OPTIMISTIC.
>> THE POLL IS COMPLETE.
WE ARE READY FOR PROPELLANT
LOAD.
>> WE GOT AN EARLY CALL.
>> T -45 MINUTES.
>> GOT AN EARLY CALL FROM SPACEX
LAUNCH DIRECTOR MIKE THAT THEY
ARE READY TO GO.
THEY ARE PREPARING FOR A
RELAUNCH.
AS WE HEAR MORE DIRECT --
DISCUSSION, WE WILL STOP AND LET
YOU LISTEN IN, BUT FOR NOW, THE
WINDS ARE GOOD COME TEND TO 15
MILES PER HOUR, WELL WITHIN
LIMITS.
THE CONDITIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
THE LAST ONE BEING CUMULUS
CLOUDS, AND THE PROBABILITY IS
SET AT 30% RIGHT NOW, SO THAT IS
70% CHANCE OF GOOD WEATHER.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO WATCH.
THERE IS A LESS THAN 10% CHANCE
OF LIGHTNING.
WE ARE ALSO WATCHING THE ABORT
CORRIDOR OFF OF THE ATLANTIC
COAST IN CASE, FOR EXAMPLE,
DRAGON HAS TO EMBARK INTO THE
CONDITIONS THERE ARE ACCEPTABLE.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN LIGHTNING
LATELY.
THE WINDS ARE GOOD.
LIGHT RAIN.
IT IS GO, BUT NASA IS GOING TO
CONTINUE TO WATCH THOSE
CONDITIONS.
>> T -45 MINUTES AND COUNTING.
FOR NONURGENT NO-GO CONDITIONS,
THEY WILL LAUNCH ABORT.
FOR URGENT CONDITIONS, OPERATORS
SHALL CALL "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" ON
THE COUNTDOWN.
YOU WILL PROCEED TO THE LAUNCH
BOARD SEQUENCE.
THE DRAGON MANUAL ESCAPE FLIGHT
RULES.
A REMINDER, IN THE EVENT OF A
FIRE ALARM, KEY OPERATORS
PREVIOUSLY BRIEF WILL REMAIN AT
THEIR POST WHILE THE ALARM IS
EVALUATED.
IN THE EVENT PERSONAL SAFETY IS
THREATENED, EVACUATE TO THE
EMERGENCY EXIT, WHICH LEADS
DIRECTLY OUTSIDE.
AT THIS TIME, WEATHER IS GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, WE
ARE T -44 MINUTES, FIVE SECONDS.
THE SPACEX LAUNCH DIRECTOR HAS
GIVEN THE FINAL BRIEF TO THE
CREW.
AND WE WILL BEGIN PROPELLANT
LOADING AT T -35 MINUTES.
RIGHT NOW, FALCON 9 GETTING
READY TO GET INTO PROPELLANT
LOADING, DRAGON CREW GETTING
READY, CONFIGURED, SET UP.
THE RANGE IS GO FOR LAUNCH.
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD, AND WE
FINALLY HAVE GOTTEN GREEN ACROSS
THE BOARD ON WEATHER CONDITIONS,
BUT WE CAN'T TAKE A DEEP BREATH
QUITE YET.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH
THE WEATHER ALL THE WAY TO 2:00,
BOTH HERE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER
AND IN THE OF WAR ZONE.
EARLIER, WE SAW MANY OF YOU
FOLLOWING THE LAUNCH FROM THE
UNITED STATES ON OUR MAP.
NOW THAT WE ARE INSIDE AN HOUR,
WE ARE SEEING LARGE NUMBER OF
FOLKS LOGGING ON, TUNING IN FROM
COAST-TO-COAST AND AROUND THE
WORLD.
WE WANT TO KNOW, IS THIS YOUR
FIRST TIME WATCHING A LAUNCH
LIVE, NOT COUNTING WEDNESDAY,
AND IF NOT, HOW MANY HAVE YOU
SEEN BEFORE?
TELUS USING THE #LAUNCHAMERICA.
WITH THAT, T -42 MINUTES:, 50
SECONDS, LET'S SEND IT BACK TO
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AS THE
ACTION PICKS UP ON THE PAD.
>> DRAGON SPACEX, YOU ARE GO FOR
ON LAUNCH SYSTEM.
>> THE IS COMING CLOSED.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE COUNTDOWN
CLOCK IS CONTINUING TO TAKE.
MY HEART IS CONTINUING TO TAKE
500 MILLION BEATS PER SECOND,
AND WE ARE GETTING SO, SO
CLOSE.
>> VISORS ARE CLOSE.
WE ARE ARMING FOR SAFE DISTANCE.
>> COPY.
>> AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE CREW
IS ARMING THE LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM.
THAT IS ONE OF THE LAST BIG
MILESTONES PRIOR TO LIFTOFF,
OTHER THAN NOMINAL FALCON
OPERATIONS.
SO JUST A MINUTE AGO, WE SAW THE
CREW ACCESS ARMOR TRACT, AND
OBVIOUSLY WE JUST HEARD ON THE
COLUMNS, -- THE COMMS, BOB AND
DOUG, SOMETHING THAT PROTECTS
THEM ALL THE WAY TO ORBIT, SO
WHEN FUELING STARTS AT T -35
MINUTES, JUST OVER SIX MINUTES
FROM NOW, THEY WILL HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO ABORT, TO SEPARATE
FROM FALCON 9 EITHER ON THE PAD
OR AFTER LIFT OFF.
THAT IS A CRITICAL SAFETY
CAPABILITY.
WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER TO
HAWTHORNE NOW TO TAKE US OVER
THESE NEXT MINUTES.
JESSE?
>> WE DID HEAR THAT CALL OUT
THAT THEY ARE ARMING THE LAUNCH.
SPACEX DID DESIGN THE FALCON 9
TO BE THE SAFEST LAUNCH EVER
FLOWN, SO WE BROUGHT BACK
SPACEX'S NICK FACONE TO TALK TO
US.
THANKS FOR COMING BACK TO TALK
TO US, NICK.
NICK: HEY, JESSE.
>> NICK WAS OUR MISSION EARLIER.
NICK, ON WEDNESDAY YOU TALKED
ABOUT THE LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM.
CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY
FOR THOSE WHO ARE JOINING TODAY?
NICK: SURE.
THE SAFETY FEATURE TO KEEP BOB
AND DOUG SAFE IN CASE OF AN
ANOMALY.
IT IS DESIGNED TO AUTOMATICALLY
FIRE IF EITHER VEHICLE DETECTS A
DANGEROUS CONDITION BUILDING.
IF THAT HAPPENS, DRAGON WILL USE
THE SUPERDRACO SYSTEMS TO
PUSH THAT AWAY FROM THE FALCON.
THIS CAPABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY
CRITICAL.
IT IS WHAT KEEPS THE CREW SAFE
AND IS NOW ACTIVE ON THE PAD
WITH IT PROTECTING THE CREW.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THE LAUNCH
ESCAPE SYSTEM ALLOWS THE DRAGON
TO SEPARATE AND GET AWAY FROM
THE VEHICLE.
I BELIEVE IT GOES INTO THE
OCEAN.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER HE LANDS
SAFELY IN THE OCEAN?
NICK: CORRECT, SO FOR MOST OF
OUR FAILURE MODES, THE
SUCCESSFUL IN STAGE IS FALCON
DRAGGING PARACHUTES.
SINCE THE LAUNCH CAN HAPPEN ON
THE PAD WERE ANYWHERE NEAR
ORBIT, HE COULD BE SPLASHING
DOWN OFF THE COAST OF CAPE
CANAVERAL, IT COULD BE SPLASHING
DOWN THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY IN
THE NORTH ATLANTIC C.
IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN GET TO BOB AND DOUG
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
SPACE FORCE TASK FORCE 45 HAS
PARA-RESCUE TEAMS READY ALL
AROUND THE WORLD, READY TO DROP
IN AND RESCUE BOB AND DOUG AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.
>> AND YOU MENTIONED THAT THE
LAUNCH ESCAPE SYSTEM WILL KEEP
THEM SAFE ALL THE WAY UP TO
ORBIT.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE
AFTER DRAGON IS IN ORBIT?
NICK: SURE, SO, IF FOR ANY
REASON WE ARE UNABLE TO DOCK AT
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION,
WE HAVE SEVERAL PRE-RETURN
TRAJECTORIES, WHICH WILL BRING
THE CAPSULE DOWN TO A SPLASHDOWN
POINT CLOSE TO SHORE.
THAT IS WHERE SPACEX RECOVERY
FORCES WILL BE WAITING TO
RECOVER THEM.
IT WILL LOOK LIKE AN OTHERWISE
NORMAL RECOVERY MISSION.
THIS OPERATION IS SOMETHING WE
ARE DOING WITH ONE OF TWO
 IDENTICAL CREW RECOVERY
SHIPS.
WE DO THAT BECAUSE THE LANDING
SITES, WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AS
MUCH FLEXIBILITY AS POSSIBLE.
WE HAVE THOSE TWO IDENTICAL
SHIPS, ONE IN THE ATLANTIC, ONE
OF THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND WE
CAN GO TO WHICHEVER SITE IS THE
SAFEST OPTION FOR THE CREW AT
THAT TIME.
>> WITH THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST
ANY SCENARIO, IT SOUNDS LIKE,
THE VEHICLE WILL LAND INTO THE
OCEAN.
IT MAY LOOK LIKE A GENTLE
LANDING INTO THE OCEAN, BUT IT
IS A PRETTY DYNAMIC EVENT
HAPPENING.
YOU MENTIONED THERE ARE TEAMS
READY TO GO, GO AND RESCUE THE
VEHICLE AND THE ASTRONAUTS ON
BOARD.
HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY WITH SO
MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT
COULD HAPPEN?
NICK: SURE, SO WE ARE LUCKY TO
HAVE ABOUT A DECADE OF RECOVERY
EXPERIENCE WITH CARGO DRAGON 1
IN OUR PREVIOUS TRIPS TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OFFSHORE
EXPERIENCE WITH OUR SPACECRAFT.
THE SYSTEM, WE TOOK THAT
EXPERIENCE, WE BUILT UP A NEW
CREW RECOVERY SHIP, TWO
IDENTICAL CREW RECOVERY SHIPS, I
SHOULD SAY, WHICH HAS A LOT OF
LESSONS LEARNED BUILT INTO THE
LINE -- THE DESIGN OF THAT SHIP,
A HELIPAD, REDUNDANT TO
MITIGATION, POWER, TO MAKE SURE
THEY ARE ROBUST AND READY FOR
ANYTHING THEY ENCOUNTER
OFFSHORE.
WE HAVE ALSO DONE TONS OF
TRAINING EXERCISES WITH THE
SPACEX TEAM, THE NASA TEAM, AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE, EMERGENCY
SCENARIOS, SO WE CAN GET THE
CREW OUT OF THE CAPSULE WHILE
THEY ARE STILL IN THE WATER, AS
WELL AS HELICOPTER EVACUATIONS
TAKING OFF AND LANDING ON THE
PAD MANY TIMES, SO WE CAN MAKE
SURE THE TEAM IS READY TO DO
THAT.
THEY ARE STAGED AND READY.
THEY FEEL READY TO SUPPORT, AND
THEY WILL BE READY TO CALL ON US
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG TODAY.
>> AWESOME.
IS SOUNDS LIKE BOB AND DOUG ARE
IN SOME REALLY GOOD HANDS AND
WILL BE SAFE NO MATTER WHAT
OCCURS ON THE VEHICLE.
THANK YOU, NICK, FOR JOINING US
AGAIN, FOR WALKING US THROUGH
ALL OF THOSE DETAILS.
I HOPE YOU ARE JUST AS EXCITED
AS WE ARE FOR A LAUNCH COMING UP
HERE VERY, VERY SHORTLY NOW.
WE ARE GOING TO SEND IT NOW OVER
TO LAUREN.
>> THANK YOU, JESSE.
AS YOU JUST HEARD, FUELING IS
ABOUT TO BEGIN AT T -35 MINUTES.
WE ARE ABOUT 50 SECONDS AWAY
FROM THAT.
WE ARE GETTING REALLY, REALLY
CLOSE TO LAUNCHING AMERICANS
FROM AMERICAN SOIL.
DRAGON PROPELLANT LOAD, THE
PROPELLANTS THAT ARE INSIDE OF
THE DRAGON CAPSULE, POP LOAD FOR
DRAGON TOOK PLACE THREE WEEKS
AGO IN WHAT WE CALL DRAGON LAND,
AND THOSE ARE MMH, FOR MODEL
METRO HYDRAZINE, AND THE
OXIDIZER, THEY COME TOGETHER,
AND THEY IGNITE IN SPACE TO
PROPEL THE VEHICLE.
YOU DO NOT NEED THAT THIRD THING
TO IGNITE, BECAUSE THE OWNER IS
NOT REQUIRED.
AS YOU JUST HEARD, THE
PROPELLANT LOAD HAS STARTED ON
FALCON 9, AND THAT IS AWESOME.
ALL OF THE ENGINES ON DRAGON,
DRAGON HAS 12 SERVICE SECTIONS,
THREE IN EACH QUAD, 3, 3, AND
THREE.
THOSE ARE USED FOR ON ORBIT
MANEUVERING FOR DRAGON.
THERE ARE ALSO FOUR ADDITIONAL
DRACOS UNDER THE NOSE CONE FOR
LORD DELTA V MANEUVERS THAT THE
VEHICLE PERFORMS, BUT THE ENGINE
THAT MR. COHEN WAS TALKING ABOUT
EARLIER ARE SUPERDRACO ENGINES
PEERED WE HAVE TWO IN EACH QUAD
OF THE VEHICLE, SO EACH WITH
EIGHT TOTAL, AND THEY LIFT
DRAGON OFF OF FALCON 9, IN THE
EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY THAT
REQUIRES US TO GET OFF OF
FALCON.
NOW, YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER
MERCURY, APOLLO, THEY HAVE THE
BIG POINTY TOWER ON TOP.
FOR THOSE VEHICLES, IT IS
ACTUALLY JUST ANOTHER ROCKET ON
TOP OF THE SPACESHIP THAT LIFT
THE VEHICLE OFF.
IN THE CASE OF DRAGON, OUR
ESCAPE SYSTEM IS INTEGRATED INTO
THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY, SO THAT
IS, ONE, JUST BETTER BECAUSE IT
IS ONE LESS THING YOU HAVE TO
JETTISON EVERY SINGLE FLIGHT,
BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO HAVE
ESCAPE CAPABILITIES FROM THE PAD
BEFORE T-0 ALL THE WAY INTO
ORBIT.
SO IF WE HAVE TO GET OFF OF
STAGE II WHILE WE ARE IN SPACE,
WE COULD ACTUALLY ESCAPE THE
ORBIT.
SO THAT IS THE ESCAPE SYSTEM FOR
LITTLE BABY DRAGON HERE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THANKS, LAUREN, AND THANK YOU
FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT,
BECAUSE I THINK IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
THAT CRITICAL SAFETY CAPABILITY.
THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT, WHEN WE
HEAR OF THE LAUNCH ESCAPE
SYSTEM'S ARM, WHAT THAT MEANS IS
IN AN INSTANT, THEY CAN SEPARATE
FROM FALCON 9, SHOOT OFF INTO
THE AIR, AND SPLASHDOWN SAFELY
IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN UNDER
DRAGON'S PARACHUTES, AND IT WAS
DESIGNED TO DO THAT.
NOW THAT FUELING IS UNDERWAY, IT
HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT TWO
MINUTES NOW, SO THEY HAVE THAT
SAFETY CAPABILITY READY TO GO ON
STANDBY IN AN INSTANT IF THEY
NEEDED.
SO WE WANT TO GO OVER TO
HAWTHORNE NOW FOR AN UPDATE FROM
JOHN.
>> STAGE II FUEL.
NOW UNDERWAY.
>>>> WE ARE T-MINUS 32 MINUTES,
COUNTING DOWN, THE FINAL
MINUTES, EVERYTHING LOOKING GOOD
FOR FALCON 9 AND DRAGON FOR AN
ON-TIME LAUNCH.
FALCON 9 DID BEGIN PROPELLANT
LOAD AT T-MINUS 35 MINUTES, AS
PLANNED.
ON THE FALCON 9, WE USE A FUEL
AND OXIDIZER TO POWER THE POWER.
IT IS KNOWN AS RP-1, ROCKET
PROPELLANT 1 GRADE KEROSENE.
DENSIFY BLOCKS, MEANING IT IS
KEPT MUCH COLDER THAN TYPICAL
FOR LAUNCH VEHICLES.
THIS ALLOWS FOR MORE OXIDIZERS
TO BE LOADED INTO THE FIRST AND
SECOND STAGES.
NOW WITH THE FUEL AND OXIDIZER
ON HAND, WE NEED AN
IGNITION SOURCE TO COMPLETE THE
FIRE TRIBAL, AS WE CALL IT.
FOR THIS, FALCON 9 USES T TO IT
IGNITES IN THE PRESENCE OF
OXYGEN AND GIVES OFF A GREEN
COLORED FLAME.
IT IS HARD TO SEE DUE TO THE
WATER THAT WILL BE SPRAYING ON
THE PAD, BUT YOU MIGHT NEED THAT
GREEN FLARE IF THE SECOND
ENGINE IGNITES OVER 2 1/2 MEN IS
INTO FLIGHT.
CURRENTLY, FIRST STAGE FUEL TANK
IS ABOUT 2% FUEL.
THE FIRST STAGE IS THE LONG
WHITE CYLINDER AT THE BOTTOM, SO
OVER TWO THIRDS OF THE ROCKET IS
THE FUEL STAGE.
WE ARE ALSO LOCATED IN --
LOADING THE LIQUID OXYGEN IN THE
FIRST STAGE.
THE SECOND STAGE, WHICH IS THE
TOP ONE-THIRD BETWEEN THE DRAGON
AND THE BLACK CYLINDER, THAT IS
THE WHITE SECOND STAGE, THAT IS
BEING LOADED WITH FUEL RIGHT
NOW.
THAT IS ABOUT 8% LOADED AT THIS
MOMENT.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING IS GOING
TO BEGIN ON SECOND STAGE AT T
-16:30, AND WILL CONTINUE ALL
THE WAY DOWN TO THE LAST FEW
MINUTES OF THE COUNT.
WE ARE ALSO LOADING HUGHLEY HIM
-- HELIUM.
THAT IS USED IN FLIGHT AS THE
PROPELLANT IS PULLED OUT BY THE
STRONG MARLON TURBOPUMPS.
ON BOARD THE DRAGON SPACECRAFT,
WHILE THE PROPELLANT IS LOADED
INTO FALCON 9.
WHILE WE HAD MENTIONED WE HAD
RECORDED ON BOARD, THEY HAVE
BEEN THROUGH MOST OF THE
PROPELLANT LOAD, AND THEY ARE
NOW EXPERIENCING THOSE SOUNDS
AND VIBRATIONS.
WEATHER REPORT, NO PROBLEMS,
THEY ARE READY TO GO LAUNCH.
WEATHER, THE LAST OF THE
CONDITIONS, CLEARED UP ABOUT 15
MINUTES OR SO.
EVERYTHING IS MARGINAL BUT
ACCEPTABLE ON THE WEATHER.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH ALL
THE WAY THROUGH THE COUNTDOWN.
AS A REMINDER, WE ARE NOW INTO
AN IS IN TATIAN ON --
INSTANTANEOUS LAUNCH WINDOW, SO
AT THIS POINT, IF WE HEAR A HOLD
FOR ANY REASON, WE WILL HAVE TO
STANDDOWN AND TARGET OUR BACKUP
LAUNCH OPPORTUNITY FOR TOMORROW,
MAY 31.
>> THANKS, JOHN.
FOR DEMO TWO, BOB AND DOUG'S
FLIGHT TO STATION WILL TAKE
ABOUT 19 HOURS, AND THEIR
JOURNEY IS SIMILAR TO THE TRIP
ARE A CARGO DRAGON MAKES
BACK-AND-FORTH TO THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, BUT
WITH TWO
NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES, AND THAT
IS DOCKING AND SPLASHDOWN.
>> AS WE WAIT, JUST UNDER 20
NINE MINUTES FROM NOW, THEY ARE
DOING A -- 29 MINUTES FROM NOW,
THEY ARE DOING A SYSTEMS CHECK.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO GET LIVE
VIEWS INSIDE THE CAPSULE WITH
BOB AND DOUG, AND YOU ARE
LOOKING AT FIRING ROOM 4 DOWN
THERE AT THE CAPE.
>> ONCE WE HIT T-0 AND A
SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH OCCURS, WE
WILL WATCH FALCON 9 AND DRAGON
MAKE THEIR ASCENT INTO THE
FALCON 9 FIRST AND SECOND STAGE
SEPARATES AND SENDS DRAGON ON
ITS WAY TO THE SPACE STATION.
>> AT THIS POINT, MISSION
OPERATORS WILL PREPARE DRAGON
FOR ON-ORBIT OPERATIONS, WHERE
THE VEHICLE WILL EXECUTE A
SERIES OF BURNS TO ALIGN MORE
CLOSELY WITH THE SPACE STATION,
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS
ANIMATION.
JUST AFTER PUTTING DRAGON IN THE
SAME ORBITAL PLANE AT THE
STATION, THE DRAGON WILL BE
READY FOR APPROACH AND DOCKING
MANEUVERS.
>> NEXT, DRAGON WILL MAKE ITS
APPROACH AND ACTUALLY DOCK WITH
THE SPACE STATION.
THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE
HAVE SEEN WITH DRAGON CARGO
DELIVERIES IN THE PAST.
IT REQUIRES IT TO STOP SO AND
CREWMEMBER CAN MANEUVER THE
ROBOTIC ARM.
DOCKING ON THIS VERSION OF
DRAGON CAN BE DONE ANONYMOUSLY
WITH NO CREW ON BOARD THE
STATION.
IT IS TYPICALLY A FASTER
PROCESS, BOTH WHEN ARRIVING AND
LEAVING, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE
PINPOINT ACCURACY.
>> THE SPACECRAFT THEN GETS
ATTRACTED TO A COMMON BIRTHING
MECHANISM, THE SAME TYPE OF PORT
WE USED TO CONNECT THE MODULES
ON THE SPACE STATION TOGETHER.
IT IS SLOWER, BUT THAT HATCHES
ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER THAN
THE DOCKING PORTS WHICH MAKES IT
IMPORTANT FOR THE CARGO DOCKING.
>> THEN DRAGON WILL CONTINUE TO
RETURN HOME, FOLLOWING THE TEST
EXEMPT -- OBJECTIVES, THE CREW
WILL CLOSE THE CABIN, PERFORM
FINAL CHECKS, AND CONFIGURE FOR
UNDOCKING DEAD ONCE THE
AUTOMATED UNDOCKING SEQUENCE IS
COMPLETE, DRAGON WILL COMPLETE
DEPARTURE BURNS.
>> NEXT UP ON THE TRIP, TEAL
WORK -- T ORBIT, REENTRY, AND
LANDING.
THE FINAL DEPARTURE MANEUVER
WILL INCLUDE EVENTS LIKE THE
TRUNK SEPARATION, CLOSING OF THE
NOSECONE, A DE-ORBIT BURN, AND
AS THEY GET INTO THE ATMOSPHERE,
A DEPLOYMENT OF THE DROGUE AND
MAIN PARACHUTES COMMAND ALL OF
THAT ENDS WITH SPLASHDOWN ON THE
FLORIDA COAST.
TEAMS WITH SPACEX WILL MOVE IN
WITH THE RECOVERY SHIPS, GRABBED
THE CAPSULE OUT OF THE WATER,
AND WORK TO GET BOB AND DOUG OUT
OF THE WATER.
WE ARE 26 MINUTES AWAY FROM
LAUNCH.
FUELING A FALCON 9 IS
CONTINUING.
LET'S CONTINUE TO CHECK IN ONE
MORE TIME DOWN WITH THE TEAM AT
KENNEDY.
MURRAY?
>> THANKS, DAN.
WE ARE SO PUMPED RIGHT NOW.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL DO THIS
TODAY.
WE ARE NOW 25:46 AND COUNTING
FROM THE FIRST LAUNCH OF
ASTRONAUTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION FROM U.S. SOIL IN
NINE YEARS.
THIS WILL MARK THE BEGINNING OF
A NEW ERA WERE MORE PEOPLE WILL
BE ABLE TO FLY TO SPACE THAN
EVER BEFORE.
WE WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE
RESULTS OF A POLL WE ASKED
EARLIER.
IF YOU COULD GO TO THE MOON --
THAT IS NOT WORTHY ASTRONAUTS
ARE GOING TODAY, THEY ARE GOING
TO THE SPACE STATION -- BUT IF
YOU COULD GO TO THE MOON, WOULD
YOU RATHER GO TO THE SOUTH POLE,
WHERE NO ONE HAD BEEN BEFORE, OR
THE APOLLO LANDING SITE?
46% OF YOU SAY YOU WOULD GO TO
THE MOON'S SOUTH POLE, AND 54%
IF YOU WOULD GO TO THE APOLLO 11
LANDING SITE.
I KIND OF SIDE WITH THE APOLLO
11 LANDING SITE BECAUSE I AM A
HISTORY BUFF, I WANT TO SEE
WHERE NEIL ARMSTRONG AND BUZZ
ALGER AND SET FOOT -- BUZZ
ALDRIN SET FOOT.
LAUREN, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
>> I'M WITH YOU.
I WOULD WANT TO SEE THE
FOOTPRINTS.
THEY WOULD STILL BE THERE,
RIGHT?
>> THEY WOULD STILL BE THERE.
>> I AM WITH YOU.
IT IS LIKE THE MEATBALL, YOU
KNOW, GOING WITH THE CLASSIC,
THE CLASSIC SPOT, THAT IS WHERE
ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, EVEN
THOUGH I AM AN ANTENNA ENGINEER
AND NOT SEEING IT, BUT THE FACT
THAT THAT IS HISTORY.
>> AND HOPEFULLY MAYBE HE WOULD
NOT HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> EXACTLY.
WE ARE GOING TO LEARN MORE FROM
GOING WHERE WE HAVE NEVER BEEN
BEFORE, SO WE NEED TO GO TO THE
SOUTH POLL, TOO.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR
POLL.
WE WILL BE GOING TO TAJERA, WHO
HAS BEEN MONITORING ALL OF THE
ACTION.
I AM SURE THINGS HAVE BEEN
HEATING UP ONLINE.
>> HEY, MARIA.
YOU ARE COMPLETELY RIGHT.
NOW THAT WE HAVE THE GO FOR
LAUNCH, PEOPLE ARE ON THE EDGE
OF THEIR SEAT, WAITING FOR THIS
HISTORIC MOMENT TO TAKE FLIGHT.
PHOTOS ARE COMING IN, ALL AROUND
THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE ARE EXCITED
FOR THIS LAUNCH.
EVERYONE HAS KEPT THIS
EXCITEMENT GOING FROM
WEDNESDAY'S FIRST ATTEMPT.
WE JUST TOOK A LOOK AT NUMBERS,
AND WE ARE OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE
TUNING IN FOR THIS HISTORIC
LAUNCH.
FOR ME PERSONALLY, I JUST WANT
TO WISH BOB AND DOUG THE BEST OF
LUCK.
THIS WILL BE MY OWN FIRST TIME
WATCHING HUMANS LEFT OFF TO
SPACE FROM THE UNITED STATES.
WITH THAT, MARIE, BACK TO YOU AT
KENNEDY FOR THESE LAST FEW
MINUTES OF LAUNCH.
MARIE: ALL RIGHT, THANKS TAHIRA.
WHAT DO YOU THINK BOB AND DOUG
ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK THEY ARE CALM, COOL,
AND COLLECTED IN THE TEST
LAUNCH.
PHENOMENAL STUFF IS ALL
AUTOMATED, BUT IF SOMETHING
HAPPENS AND THEY HAVE TO
INTERVENE WITH THOSE
TOUCHSCREENS, THAT IS THE GOOD
THINKING.
MARIE: WE ARE JUST INSIDE OF 23
MINUTES RIGHT NOW COULD
WEDNESDAY, WE WERE FIVE MINUTES
FURTHER IN THE COUNTDOWN WHEN WE
HEARD THE CALL TO SCRUB.
THE WEATHER WAS TOUCH AND GO,
BUT TODAY -- I DON'T WANT TO
JINX IT.
IT LOOKS BETTER TODAY.
LAUREN: YES, AND IT FEELS LIKE
-- I AM FEELING A LOT MORE THAN
I DID ON WEDNESDAY.
SPEAKING OF BOB AND DOUG IN THEM
BEING CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTED,
I HAD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE
IN MEETINGS WITH THEM AND WATCH
THEM TRAIN.
I HAVE TO SAY, AND ALL OF MY
FRIENDS WHO WORK WITH THEM
EVERYTHING TODAY, JUST WHAT
GREAT PEOPLE THEY ARE, AND HOW
JUST NOT HOW BRIGHT AND SHARP
THEY ARE BUT JUST GOOD PEOPLE.
AND AROUND THE OFFICE, WE OFTEN
REFER TO THEM AS "THE DADS."
THEY ARE DADS.
THEY ARE DADS.
WE HAVE MET THEIR FAMILIES.
WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE ON THAT
PERSONAL LEVEL, IT STARTS TO ME
IN SO MUCH.
THEY ARE A PART OF OUR TEAM.
THEY ARE NOT A CUSTOMER.
THEY ARE NOT A PAYLOAD.
THEY ARE A TEAM, A FAMILY, SO WE
ARE JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE THE
DADS OUT THERE TODAY.
MARIE: GO, DADS!
[LAUGHTER]
WE ARE GOING TO SEND IT OVER TO
GARY FOR AN UPDATE FROM HOUSTON.
GARY?
GARY: HEY, MARIE.
THE SPACE STATION TEAM HERE IS
FOCUSED.
ALL EYES ARE ON THE SYSTEM
CHECKS THAT ARE HAPPENING ACROSS
THE BOARD, AND WE ARE LISTENING
IN AS WE CLOSE IN ON LAUNCH, AND
I CAN TELL YOU THINGS ARE
LOOKING VERY GOOD.
CHRIS CASSIDY WILL BE WATCHING
FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, RIGHT NOW FLYING OVER
THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
WE MIGHT EVEN GET SOME
GOOD VIEWS FROM THE STATION FOR
HOPE TO BE CAPTURING THOSE.
WE WILL HAVE THE LAUNCH VIEW AND
THE BIG SCREEN UPFRONT.
EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO SEE THE
CREWMEMBERS ON THE WAY TO THE
INTERNATIONAL STATION.
I WANT TO PASS ON GOOD LUCK FROM
THE ENTIRE OPERATIONS COMMUNITY
HERE IN HOUSTON.
IT IS ALWAYS EXCITING TO BE
DOING SOMETHING WHOLLY NEW AND
HISTORY MAKING WITH STATION
OPERATIONS, AND WE CANNOT WAIT
TO SEE OUR TEAM MEMBERS, BOB AND
DOUG, IN LOW EARTH ORBIT AND
HEADING TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
THAT IS IT IN HOUSTON, AND I
WANT TO SEND IT TO HEART TORN --
HAWTHORNE FOR THE LATEST THEY
ARE, JOHN.
JOHN: EVERYTHING IS STILL
LOOKING GOOD FOR THE LAUNCH OF
FALCON 9 AND DRAGON.
2:45 AFTER THE HOUR.
YOU CAN SEE A LARGE WHITE CLOUD.
THAT IS NORMAL AS WE GET READY
TO LOAD THE SECOND STAGE WITH
LIQUID OXYGEN.
WE HAVE TO TILL IN THE FORMING
LINES, SO AS WE RELIEVE
PRESSURE, THE MOIST, HUMID,
FLORIDA AIR CONTINUES AROUND IT,
AND THEY GIVES US THE CLOUD.
THAT TELLS US THINGS ARE ON
SCHEDULE.
WE DID BEGIN PROPELLANT LOAD AT
T-MINUS 35 MINUTES.
FUEL LOADING ON THE SECOND
STAGE, I BELIEVE.
WE JUST HEARD THE CALL OUT THAT
IT IS COMPLETE.
FIRST-AID FUEL LOAD IS
CONTINUING, AND RIGHT NOW, THAT
IS ABOUT 60% OF THE WAY FULL, SO
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD.
SECOND STAGE IS GETTING READY TO
BEGIN THE LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING,
AFTER THEY FINISH CHILLING IN
THE LINES, YOU CAN SEE ON THE
 MONITOR, THEY WILL CONTINUE
AT T-MINUS 16:30.
THE RANGE IS READY TO GO,
WEATHER CONTINUES TO BE A GO AS
WE INCH OUR WAY CLOSER, WE ARE
KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED,
WAITING TO HEAR IF ANYBODY CALLS
OUT AN ISSUE, BUT FOR THE
MOMENT, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE
SCREEN, IT LOOKS GOOD.
NOW, ON THE DRAGON TIDE, THE
DRAGON MISSION DIRECTOR AND THE
TEAM ARE REPORTING NO ISSUE.
THEY HAVE DONE THE
COMMUNICATIONS CHECK OUT.
THE CREW ACCESS ARM, AS YOU CAN
SEE, HAS RETRACTED AWAY FROM THE
SPACECRAFT.
THE CREW IS STRAPPED IN AND
READY TO GO.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE GOING
TO THE CREW AT 10 MINUTES -- AT
T-MINUS 10 MINUTES.
THAT SET UP WILL GIVE ASTRONAUTS
BOB BEHNKEN AND DOUG HURLEY
INSIGHT INTO HOW IT IS
PROCEEDING.
IT WILL PROVIDE CONSTANT
UPDATES.
WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD THE CREW
SAGO, CLOSE THEIR VISORS COME
AND GET READY FOR LAUNCH.
FOR DRAGON, IT WILL ENTER AT
T-MINUS FIVE MINUTES.
WE WILL HEAR CONTINUAL CALLOUTS
ON THE COUNTDOWN AS WE GET CLOSE
TO 0 AND LIFT OFF, BUT RIGHT
NOW, AT T-MINUS 18:15,
EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO BE GO
FOR AN ON-TIME LAUNCH.
THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
HOW ARE THINGS GOING AT YOUR
STAND?
>> THINGS ARE GREAT, ABOUT 15
FEET AWAY FROM YOU, JOHN.
WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE BLUE IN
THE SKY.
GREEN IS THE COLOR WE WANT WHEN
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WEATHER,
AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT
RIGHT NOW COULD WE ARE
CONTINUING TO COUNTDOWN.
WE ARE UNDER 18 MINUTES AWAY
FROM LIFT OFF, AGAIN,
INSTANTANEOUS LIFT OFF, AT
12:22:45 ON THE WEST COAST,
THREE: 22:45 ON THE EAST COAST
IN FLORIDA.
JUST A REMINDER, IT IS ABOUT TO
BE A 9-MINUTE RIDE UP TO ORBIT
FOR THE FALCON 9 AND BOB AND
DOUG ONBOARD THE DRAGON.
IT WILL BE A TWO STAGE LIGHT, SO
WE WILL SEE THE FURRED STAGE
FLIGHT UNTIL WE HEAR MECO, OR
MAIN ENGINE CUT OFF, AND THE
ENGINES COME OVER AND POWER THE
REST OF THE WAY.
SECOND ENGINE CUT OFF COMES IN
AT ABOUT 8:44, FOLLOWING THAT
SECOND STAGE, COMPLETING ITS
JOB, CONTINUE TO COAST FOR ABOUT
THREE MINUTES.
IT WILL DO A SLIGHT ATTITUDE
ADJUSTMENT, MAKE SURE IT IS NOT
IN ANY KIND OF SPIN BEFORE THEY
DO A SEPARATION.
THAT IS WHY THE DRAGON
SPACECRAFT PHYSICALLY --
WILL PHYSICALLY SEPARATE, AND
BOB AND DOUG WILL BE FLYING
FREE.
IT IS ABOUT A 19-HOUR RIDE IF WE
LAUNCH TODAY ON TIME.
BOB AND DOUG WILL GET ON ORBIT.
THEY WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF BURNS
OR FIRINGS OF THE DRACO
CLUSTERS.
>> STAGE TWO LOADING.
>> WE HEAR THE LIQUID OXYGEN
LOAD HAS NOW STARTED ON STAGE
TO.
AGAIN, THEY WOULD DOING A SERIES
OF BURNS UP TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION FIVE SPREAD OUT
OVER THE FIRST 16 HOURS OR SO OF
THEIR FLIGHT, UNTIL THEY GET
MUCH CLOSER, AND IT IS TIME FOR
THAT APPROACH AND DOCKING.
WE ARE EXPECTING THAT WITH AN
ON-TIME LAUNCH TO HAPPEN TODAY.
THAT WILL BE COMING TOMORROW IN
THE AFTERNOON.
ALL RIGHT, NOW THAT WE ARE UNDER
16 MINUTES AWAY, WE HAVE A
SPECIAL GUEST JOINING A SPIRIT I
AM GOING TO TOSS IT OVER TO
JESSE.
JESSIE: WE ARE T-MINUS 15:45 OF
OUR SECOND DEMONSTRATION MISSION
TODAY, AND WE HAVE THE HONOR OF
HAVING SPACEX'S PRESIDENT AND
COO JOINING US.
GWYNNE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING
US.
HOW IS IT GOING TODAY?
GWYNNE: THE COUNTDOWN IS CLEAN.
THE ONLY THING WE ARE WATCHING
RIGHT NOW IS DOWNRANGE WEATHER,
AND WE WILL CLEAR THAT HURDLE AT
T-MINUS SEVEN MINUTES.
JESSIE: AWESOME.
GREAT.
VERY EXCITING.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO 2012,
BECAUSE YOU ARE ON COLD --
CONSULT FOR DRAGON.
HOW DOES THAT EXPERIENCE
COMPARED TO TODAY?
GARY: I WAS NERVOUS THEN --
GWYNNE: I WAS SUPER NERVOUS
THEN.
I STOPPED GETTING NERVOUS, AND
NOW I AM NERVOUS AGAIN.
THE TEAM IS SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL
OPERATION.
WHEN I SAY "TEAM," BY THE WAY, I
MEAN SPACEX AND NASA.
THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING
INCREDIBLY HARD AND HAVE DONE A
FANTASTIC JOB.
JESSIE: WE KNOW YOU ARE SO
EXCITED.
I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET BACK INTO
MISSION CONTROL, BUT IS THERE
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY BEFORE
LIFT OFF TO NASA AND SPACEX?
GWYNNE: WELL, I WANT TO THANK
NASA, OF COURSE, FOR THEIR
GENEROSITY AND HELP WITH GETTING
TO THIS PLACE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
SPACEXERS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER
TO MAKE THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY,
AND I WANT TO THANK ELON FOR
HIRING ME.
[LAUGHTER]
JESSIE: WE THANK ELON FOR
HIRING YOU AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
WE WILL LET YOU GET BACK TO
MISSION CONTROL, AND GOOD LUCK
WITH THE LAUNCH TODAY.
GWYNNE: THANKS, JESSE, AND
GODSPEED, BOB AND DOUG.
JESSIE: WE ARE SO EXCITED HERE
WE ARE ONLY A FEW MINUTES AWAY
FROM COUNTDOWN CARE WE WILL TURN
IT OVER TO DAN AND JOHN FOR THE
FINAL MINUTES AND TERMINAL
COUNT.
TAKE IT AWAY, JOHN.
JOHN: T-MINUS 13:30, CONTINUING
TO LOAD FUEL ONTO THE FIRST
STAGE.
THAT SHOULD FINISH UP IN ABOUT
SIX MINUTES.
FUEL IS COMPLETELY LOADED ON THE
SECOND STAGE.
THAT IS CLOSED UP, AND WE ARE
CONTINUING TO LOAD LIQUID OXYGEN
ON BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND
STAGE.
THE LIQUID OXYGEN LOAD BEGINNING
ON THE SECOND STAGE ABOUT THREE
TO HALF MINUTES AGO.
WE ARE ALSO LOADING CRYOGENIC
HELIUM INTO THE FIRST AND SECOND
STAGE, GETTING IN THE LAST
LITTLE BITS OF HELIUM WHEN WE
KEEP IT CRYOGENIC COLD AND
LIQUEFIED.
THAT GETS US JUST LIKE WE DO OF
LIQUID OXYGEN, THE MAXIMUM
AMOUNT INTO THE STORAGE VOLUME.
SO WE CAN GET THE MOST
PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE VEHICLE.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE IN A FAIRLY
QUIET STATE OF THE VEHICLE.
GROUND PUMPS INTO THE FIRST AND
SECOND STAGES.
THE NEXT SIGNIFICANT ISSUE,
CALLOUTS ARE 10 MINUTES WHEN
THEY TALK TO THE CREW, BUT AT
THE MOMENT, EVERYTHING
CONTINUING TO LOOK GOOD.
AT T-MINUS 12 SECONDS.
DAN: WE ARE GETTING REALLY CLOSE
NOW, JOHN.
IT IS A LITTLE OVER 12 MINUTES
AWAY.
JUST A REMINDER, EVERYBODY, IT
IS ABOUT A 9-MINUTE RIDE UPHILL.
THE FIRST STAGE IS GOING TO BE
COMING HOME WHILE THE SECOND
STAGES CARRYING BOB AND DOUG
INTO ORBIT.
OBVIOUSLY WE WILL BE KEEPING AN
EYE ON OUR ASTRONAUTS THE WHOLE
WAY UPHILL.
SOME OF THE CALLS YOU WILL BE
HEARING, AS THERE WILL BE WHAT
WE CALL PERFORMANCE CALLS OVER
THE DRAGON TO GROUND, THE ENTIRE
WAY UPHILL, AND YOU WILL JUST
HEAR SOME OF THE SPACEX
ENGINEERS CALLING OUT
TRAJECTORIES AND BOOSTER
PERFORMANCE, SO WE ARE ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR THAT WORD "NOMINAL."
I KNOW THAT IS ONE OF JOHN'S
FAVORITE WORDS.
IT IS ONE OF MINE, TOO.
WE WANT TO HEAR NOMINAL COULD
YOU MIGHT ALSO YOUR NUMBER AND
LETTER COMBINATIONS, AND THOSE
CORRESPOND TO THE DIFFERENT OF
WAR ZONES BOB AND DOUG ARE IN
DURING THEIR FLIGHT UPHILL.
THERE IS 1A AND 1B, WHICH
SIGNIFY THEIR IN THE FIRST
STAGE, CARRY THEM TO THE CAVE
ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF NORTH
CAROLINA, AND WE WILL HAVE 2A
THROUGH 2E OR 2-ECH AND THATO
GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TIP
OF, NEWFOUNDLAND, THE NORTHERN
ATLANTIC, AND THERE IS THE ZONE
OF THE NORTHERN ATLANTIC WE ARE
GOING TO AVOID, SO YOU SHOULD
HEAR THE CALL BE SOMETHING
SIMILAR TO FORWARD TO SHANNON,
AND THAT REFERS TO SHANNON,
IRELAND, WHICH THEY WILL BE
GOING OFF THE COURSE OF IRELAND
AS THE LATER STAGES OF THE
SECOND STAGE, IF THEY HAVE TO
ABORT, SO JUST PREPPING YOU NOW
FORGO CALLS.
YOU WILL LIKELY HEAR THE WORD
NOMINAL A LOT.
10 AND A HALF MINUTES.
THINGS ARE PRETTY QUIET.
AS JOHN SAID, THINGS WILL PICK
UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.
WE WILL WAIT FOR THE CREW TO
CONFIRM THAT THEIR DISPLAYS ARE
IN ORDER.
THE CRUISER STRIPPED AND THAT
THEY ARE GO FOR LAUNCH COMMAND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE
FUEL GAUGES KICK UP ON THE
FALCON 9 VEHICLE UNTIL FIELDING
KICKS OFF AT JUST ABOUT TWO
MINUTES PRIOR TO LAUNCH.
>> DRAGON SPACEX CONFIRM,
DISPLAYS ARE CONFIGURED FOR
LAUNCH.
>> SPACEX DRAGON, DISPLAYS ARE
CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH.
>> COPY.
>> BOB, DOUG, ON BEHALF OF THE
ENTIRE SPACEX TEAM, IT HAS BEEN
A HUGE HONOR TO HELP YOU GUYS
GET READY FOR THIS HISTORIC
MISSION.
KNOW THAT WE ARE WITH YOU, HAVE
AN AMAZING FLIGHT COME AND ENJOY
THOSE VIEWS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL
PLANET.
>> THANKS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY OUR HONOR TO BE
A PART OF THIS HUGE EFFORT TO
GET THE UNITED STATES BACK IN
THE LAUNCH BUSINESS.
WE WILL TALK TO YOU FROM ORBIT.
THANK YOU.
>> COPY ALL.
THANKS FOR THOSE WORDS.
>>>> THE SPACEX CORE, FOR SOME
OF THAT VOICE WILL BE TALKING TO
BOB AND DOUG THROUGHOUT THE
MISSION.
RIGHT HERE IN HAWTHORNE,
CONFIRMING THE CREW DISPLAYS ARE
CONFIGURED FOR LAUNCH.
WE ARE COMING UP ON NINE MINUTES
AND COUNTING.
T-MINUS 10 MINUTES WITH THE CREW
DISCUSSIONS, ACTIVITY IS NOW
GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO FALCON
9.
OUR NEXT MAJOR EVENT COMES AT
T-MINUS SEVEN MINUTES.
WE BEGIN WHAT WE CALL ENGINE
SHALL.
VALVES WILL OPEN, THOSE
CURRENTLY SEPARATE PROPELLANTS
ON THE FIRST STAGE FROM GETTING
DOWN TO THE MERLIN ENGINE.
WE WILL OPEN THE PRE-VALVES.
THAT WILL ALLOW LIQUID OXYGEN TO
FLOW TO THE PUMP COME AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WHEN WE OPEN THE
VALVES, THAT WILL ALLOW US TO
BEGIN CHILLING THE NINE MARYLAND
TURBO PALMS ON THE FIRST --
MERLIN TURBO PUMPS ON THE FIRST
STAGE ENGINE.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PASS A
LARGE AMOUNT OF LIQUID OXYGEN
THROUGH THE PUMPS AND INTO THE
MAIN ENGINES AT T-MINUS TWO
SECONDS WE DO NOT WANT TO RUN
HIGHLY CHILLED LIQUID OXYGEN
THROUGH A WARM PUMP.
THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING.
SO RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WAITING FOR
T-MINUS SEVEN MINUTES.
THAT WILL START THE ENGINE
CHILL.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT, WE WILL ALSO
GET THE FUEL SHUT DOWN.
>> LISTENING TO THE SPACEX
LAUNCH DIRECTOR IN THE
BACKGROUND.
AS I MENTIONED, T-MINUS SEVEN
MINUTES, AS WE START TO CHILL,
WE WILL GET INTO THE FINAL
TOPPING OFF OF STAGE ONE FUEL,
AND THEN THE FUEL LOAD WILL
COMPLETE.
>> STAGE ONE AND STAGE TWO,
ENGINE CHILL HAS STARTED.
>> WE HAVE HEARD THE CALLOUT.
STAGE ONE ENGINE CHILL HAS
STARTED.
THEY HAVE GOT UP TO THE CREW, SO
THEY HAVE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
WE MENTIONED THE PRE-VALVES ARE
OPEN, NOW WE ARE TOPPING OFF,
GETTING READY TO FINISH THE FUEL
LOAD.
LIQUID LOAD WILL CONTINUE UNTIL
THE LAST THREE MINUTES TO TWO
MINUTES OF THE COUNTDOWN.
>> WE SHOULD HEAR ABOUT CALLOUT,
RP1 LOAD COMPLETE COMING UP IN
ABOUT SIX MINUTES.
RP1 IS THAT DENSIFY KEROSENE OR
ROCKET FUEL AT FALCON 9 THAT
WILL BE USED TO POWER BOB AND
DOUG TODAY.
>> STAGE I FUEL IS CLOSED UP.
>> RIGHT ON TIME.
THAT CALLOUT INDICATES THAT THE
FUEL LOADING ON THE FIRST STAGE
IS COMPLETE.
DRAINING BACK THE LINES NOW FOR
FIRST AID AND SECOND STAGE FUEL
ARE COMPLETE.
LIQUID OXYGEN LOADING IS
CONTINUING ON BOTH STAGES.
YOU CAN SEE ON THE VIEW ON THE
LEFT SIDE OF THE MONITOR, THE
CONDENSATION, THE COAL GAS
WRAPPED AROUND THE STAGES, AS
THE TANK SCANS ARE CHILLED BY
THE LIQUID OXYGEN PICKING UP THE
HUMIDITY.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE AT THIS MOMENT,
WE ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN 90%
FULL ON THE OXIDIZER ON THE
FIRST STAGE, PICKING UP TOWARD
THE 80% MARK ON THE SECOND
STAGE.
WE WILL BE COUNTING DOWN TO
AROUND TWO OR THREE MINUTES, AS
JOHN AND I SAID, AND THEN WE
WILL BE GO FOR LAUNCH.
>> CONFIGURE FOR TERMINAL COUNT.
>> VEHICLE TANKS PRESSING.
DAN: THEY ARE PRESSURIZING THE
FALCON 9 TANK.
WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THE CLAMP
ARM AROUND THE SECOND STAGE AND
WE WILL MOVE BACK ABOUT TWO
DEGREES.
THAT WILL GET US INTO LIFT OFF
POSITION.
AT LIFT OFF, THE STRONG BACK
WILL THEN DECLINE.
THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR CALLED OUT
THE RETRACTOR HAS STARTED ON THE
LEFT.
YOU WILL C8 GO BACK A COUPLE
OF DEGREES -- SEE IT GO BACK A
COUPLE OF DEGREES.
>> STAGE I HAS LIFT.
>> WE ARE FOUR MINUTES AWAY FROM
LIFT OFF.
AT THIS MOMENT, BOB AND DOUG ARE
JUST LASER FOCUSED ON THOSE
DISPLAYS.
THEY HAVE INSIDE DIRECTLY INTO
DRAGON AND THE FALCON 9.
THEY ARE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THEIR
FUEL LOADING IS THAT, HOW THINGS
ARE RESTING WITH THE COUNT.
>> FINAL SET UP STARTED.
>> THREE AND A HALF MINUTES FROM
LAUNCH.
>> AND THE STRONG BACK IS NOW
RECLINING FROM THE FALCON 9.
>> DRAGON HAS TRANSMISSION TO
TERMINAL COUNT.
STAGE ONE, BLOCK, LOAD, CALL
BACK.
DAN: OK, WE ARE T-MINUS 2:42.
STAGE ONE IS CLOSED OUT.
STAGE TWO WILL CONTINUE TO LOAD
FOR ABOUT ANOTHER HALF A MINUTE
OR SO.
ONCE WE GET TO THE COMPLETION OF
STAGE TWO OFFLOADING, WE HAVE TO
VENT DOWN THE LINE, SO YOU WILL
SEE ANOTHER LARGE, WHITE CLOUD
COMING OFF OF THE STRONGVAC.
THAT WILL BE NORMAL.
THAT WILL HAPPEN ABOUT T-MINUS
1:40.
WE ARE GOING ON INTERNAL POWER
NOW.
DAN: JUST A FEW SECONDS AWAY
FROM THE STAGE TO LOCK LOAD
BEING COMPLETE.
A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE BY
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TO GET TO
THIS POINT.
ALL OF OUR EYES ARE FOCUSED ON
TWO NOW.
>> STAGE TWO IS CLOSED UP.
THEY ARE COMPLETE.
DRAGON IS IN AUTO IDLE.
>> STAGE TWO LOCK, LOAD,
COMPLETE.
ALL FUEL, ALL OXIDIZER ON FALCON
9, 1:44 TO LAUNCH.
>> THE CLOCK IS STARTING.
>> FALCON 9 IS IN STARTUP.
IT IS CON FOR LAUNCH.
>> UNDER A MINUTE NOW.
THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ARMED.
>> DRAGON TO SPACEX, GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> SPACEX, DRAGON, WE ARE GO FOR
LAUNCH.
>> T-MINUS 30 SECONDS.
>> STAGE I TANKS PREPPING FOR
FLIGHT.
>> T-MINUS 15 SECONDS.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
ZERO.
IGNITION, LIFT OFF, FALCON 9 AND
CREW DRAGON, GO NASA, GOVE
SPACEX, GODSPEED, BOB AND DOUG.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AMERICA HAS LAUNCHED.
>> THE NEW GENERATION CONTINUING
THE DREAM.
20 SECONDS INTO THE FLIGHT IS
NOMINAL.
>> WE ARE 30 SECONDS INTO THIS
HISTORIC COMMISSION, FLY AND
CREW ON BOARD DRAGON FALCON 9,
AND LOOK AT THEM GO.
>> NOMINAL.
>> WE ARE THROTTLING DOWN TO GET
READY FOR THE PERIOD OF MAXIMUM
DYNAMIC PRESSURE.
WE ARE IN THE THROTTLE.
ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO.
>> VEHICLE IS SUPERSONIC.
>> WE HAVE EXCEEDED MACH ONE ON
THE FALCON 9.
>> M-1 D THROTTLE UP.
>> WE ARE THROTTLING UP, BACK UP
TO FULL POWER AS WE HIT MACH
2.
>> COPY ONE BRAVO.
>> WE HEARD THE BRAVO CALLOUT.
THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT
UNTIL THE FIRST STAGE HAS DONE
ITS JOB, AND IT WILL SWITCH OVER
TO THE SECOND.
AT THIS POINT, BOB AND DOUG
PULLING ABOUT 2.3 G'S, 2.3 TIMES
THE EARTH'S GRAVITY, 1500 MILES
AN HOUR.
>> YOU HEARD THE CALLOUT FOR THE
M-BACK ENGINE CHILL.
RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING CONTINUING
TO LOOK GOOD.
THE NEXT MAJOR EVENT COMING UP
IS GOING TO BE THE TRIPLE.
WE WILL HAVE MADE ENGINE CUT OFF
OF THE ENGINE, STAGE SEPARATION,
AND THEN IGNITION OF THE SECOND
STAGE ENGINE TO CONTINUE TO
CARRY ASTRONAUTS INTO ORBIT.
COMING UP IN ABOUT 20 SECONDS.
>> M1 D THROTTLE DOWN.
>> YOU HEARD WE ARE THROTTLING
DOWN TO MERLIN ENGINE ON THE
FIRST STAGE.
MECO.
>> MECO.
>> FALCON.
HER A.
>> COPY TWO ALPHA.
[APPLAUSE]
>> CONTACT IGNITION.
>> ALRIGHT, WE HAVE SPACE
SEPARATION CONFIRMED, THE FIRST
STAGE BEGINNING ITS FLIGHT BACK,
THE SECOND STAGE BEING POWERED
BY THAT SINGLE MERLIN 1A, NOW
CARRYING BOB AND DOUG INTO
ORBIT.
THEY WILL CONTINUE INTO THE
POWER OF THE SECOND STAGE.
>> NOMINAL.
>> WHICH WILL CUT OFF AT SECO,
OR SECOND ENGINE CUT OFF.
A LITTLE OVER FIVE MINUTES TO GO
STILL ON THIS THE SECOND STAGE.
YOU HEARD THE CALLOUT, TWO
ALPHAS, SO THIS IS THE LONGEST
UP TO NORTH CAROLINA, UP THE
EASTERN SEABOARD, UP TO CANADA.
THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD, NOMINAL
PROPULSION ON THAT SECOND STAGE.
BOB AND DOUG CONTINUING TO MAKE
THEIR WAY INTO ORBIT.
>> DRAGON SPACEX NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> SPACEX DRAGON, NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> ALL RIGHT, HEARING NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY, SO DRAGON POINTED IN
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, CONTINUING
TO MAKE THEIR FLIGHT UPHILL.
ONE OF THE OTHER GROUND STATIONS
THEY ARE USING TO GET DATA BACK.
>> STAGE TWO PROPULSION IS STILL
NOMINAL.
A LITTLE OVER FOUR MINUTES, 40
SECONDS INTO THE FLIGHT, BOB AND
DOUG FLYING AT MORE THAN 5600
MILES PER HOUR.
>> NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
>> ALREADY MORE THAN 200 MILES
FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER,
NOMINAL TRAJECTORY CONTINUING.
AND WHILE THEY CONTINUE UPHILL,
IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GETTING A
VIEW OF THE FIRST STAGE AS WELL.
>> YEP, ON YOUR RIGHT SCREEN,
YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST STAGE WITH
THE GRID DEPLOYED, MAKING ITS
WAY BACK, ATTEMPTING TO LAND, OF
COURSE, I STILL LOVE YOU TODAY.
WE ARE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AWAY
FROM THE ENTRY BURN.
THAT IS WHERE THREE OF THE NINE
MERLIN ENGINE'S DO IGNITE TO
HELP SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AS A
REENTERS BACK INTO THE EARTH'S
ATMOSPHERE.
AND AFTER THE ENTRY BURN WILL BE
THE LANDING BURN, WHICH IS JUST
A SINGLE BURN.
>> DRAGON THE SPACEX, NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> AND YOU HEARD THAT CALLOUT,
THEY ARE STILL ON A NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY ON DRAGON.
STILL ON SECOND STAGE, AND THAT
IS THE ENGINE ON THE SECOND
STAGE, YOUR LEFT SCREEN.
AGAIN, YOUR RIGHT SCREEN, THAT
FIRST STAGE BOOSTER COMING BACK.
OF COURSE I STILL LOVE YOU.
WE ARE ABOUT A MINUTE AWAY FROM
ENTRY BURN.
>> MEANWHILE, THAT SECOND STAGE
CONTINUING TO GO INTO ORBIT.
A LITTLE OVER TWO MINUTES FROM
NOW, WE WILL HEAR THE CALLOUT,
SECO.
>> STAGE TWO PROPULSION IS STILL
GOOD.
>> IT WILL BE A LITTLE OVER
THREE MINUTES UNTIL DRAGON
PHYSICALLY SEPARATE FROM THE
SECOND STAGE OF THE DRAGON NINE.
>> DRAGON TO SPACEX, NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> DRAGON COPIES, NOMINAL
TRAJECTORY.
>> CONTINUING TO CHECK IN WITH
BOB AND DOUG, AS THEY ARE ON A
NOMINAL TRAJECTORY.
ABOUT 10 SECONDS AWAY FROM THAT
FIRST STAGE, STARTING THAT ENTRY
BURN ON YOUR RIGHT SCREEN.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT
YOU LIVE.
>> STAGE ONE ENTRY BURN
STARTED.
>> AND THERE IS THAT ENTRY BURN
BEGINNING.
THIS BURN LASTS ABOUT 36 SECONDS
LONG.
>> WHILE THAT ENTRY BURN
CONTINUES, WE ARE ABOUT A MINUTE
AWAY FROM SECO.
WE WILL HAVE A NUMBER OF EVENTS
ALL HAPPEN IN RAPID
SUCCESSION, SECOND ENGINE CUT
OFF, READY FOR THE STAGE ONE
LANDING BURNED SHORTLY
THEREAFTER.
>> ACTUALLY JUST WITHIN A FEW
SECONDS OF EACH OTHER.
SUCH A COOL VIEW ON YOUR LEFT
SCREEN, SEEING BOB AND DOUG ON
DRAGON, AND NOW YOU CAN SEE THE
DISPLAYS THAT THEY ARE SEEING
RIGHT NOW THEMSELVES.
WE ARE COMING UP 25 SECONDS OR
SO AWAY FROM SECO, OR SECOND
ENGINE CUT OFF.
>> THIS IS ALSO THE POINT WHERE
BOB AND DOUG ARE EXPERIENCING
THE HIGHEST GEFORCE.
YOU SEE THE COUNTER PICKUP.
>> COPY, SHANNON.
>> YOU HEARD "SHANNON," WHICH
MEANS THEY ARE IN THEIR FINAL
ABOARD ZONE, TO ABORT ORBIT AND
LAND OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND.
MBACK SHUT DOWN.
>> CONFIRMATION OF SECO, SECOND
ENGINE CUT OFF.
>> NOW WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
FIRST STAGE TO MAKE ITS WAY, OF
COURSE I STILL LOVE YOU.
>> CONFIRMATION.
>> WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON THE
SCREEN IS A LIVE VIEW OF OUR
DRONE SHIP, WHERE THE FIRST
STAGE WILL BE COMING DOWN.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST THAT LIVE
VIEW, BUT WE WILL WAIT FOR
CONFIRMATION OF THAT LANDING
SHORTLY HERE.
>> FALCON 9, FOR STAGE,
SUCCESSFULLY LANDED.
>> AND THERE YOU SEE ON YOUR
SCREEN, FALCON 9 HAS LANDED.
THIS IS THE FIRST FALCON 9 TO
CARRY HUMANS TO ORBIT, SO VERY
EXCITING FOR US.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR RIGHT
SCREEN, BOB AND DOUG ARE STILL
MAKING THEIR WAY TO THEIR
TARGETED ORBITS.
>> RECOVERY ONE.
>> SO EXCITING TODAY.
[LAUGHS]
>> IT DOESN'T STOP.
>> IT DOES NOT STOP.
>> WE DID HEAR OUT THAT NEXT
CALLOUT, GOOD ORBITAL INSERTION,
SO THAT MEANS FALCON 9 AND
DRAGON RIGHT NOW ARE EXACTLY
WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
>> WE NEED AN FRC ON RECOVERY
LAUNCH.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE WE SAW 0 G
INDICATOR FLOATING AROUND YOUR
DINO BOB AND DOUG -- AROUND.
I KNOW BOB AND DOUG ARE
WONDERING EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS
THEY BROUGHT UP WITH THEM.
>> AND BEFORE SEPARATION, BEFORE
DRAGON INITIATED SEPARATION FROM
THE SECOND STAGE, THEY DO MAKE
SURE -- THEY DO ENSURE THAT THE
VEHICLE IS NOT SPENDING, AND IT
IS IN GOOD CONDITION BEFORE
RE-SEPARATING.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
THE SECOND STAGE DOES A SMALL
ATTITUDE MANEUVER USING COLD GAS
THRUSTERS BUILT INTO THE ROCKET
BODY ITSELF.
>> EXACTLY, SO WE DO EXPECT THAT
SEPARATION TO OCCUR IN ABOUT A
MINUTE FROM NOW, BUT THEY DO
WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE FULL
CONFIRMATION THAT IT IS READY TO
SEPARATE.
SUCH COOL VIEWS.
I CANNOT GET OVER THIS VIEW WE
ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
BOB AND DOUG ON THE RIGHT
SCREEN, INSIDE OF CREW DRAGON,
OUT IN SPACE.
>> YEAH, ALREADY 200 KILOMETERS
OVER PLANET EARTH, LITTLE OVER
120 FOUR MILES, TRAVELING IN
EXCESS OF 2700 -- 27,000 METERS
PER SECOND, ABOUT 16,000 MILES
PER HOUR.
WE ARE JUST STAGNATING BY --
STANDING BY.
THAT SEPARATION EVENT SHOULD
HAPPEN SHORTLY, AND IT WILL BE A
PERIOD OF CHECK ON DRACO
THRUSTERS, POWER ON ITS WAY TO
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
STANDING BY FOR SEPARATION.
IT SOUNDED LIKE WE HAD AN
EXPECTED LOS, LOSS OF SIGNAL
COME UP WITH ONE OF THE GROUND
STATIONS.
WAITING --
>> DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> THERE IS A GREAT VIEW RIGHT
IN FRONT OF YOU HAVE DRAGON
SEPARATING.
>> DRAGON SEPARATION CONFIRMED.
>> AND THERE IS THAT CALLOUT.
DRAGON IS NOW OFFICIALLY MAKING
ITS WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION TODAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE].
>> DRAGON SPACEX, SEPARATION
CALL, WE HAVE A FEW WORDS FOR
YOU.
>> STANDING BY.
>> DRAGON, CHIEF ENGINEER,
DRAGGING THE GROUND, BOB AND
DOUG, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE
LAUNCH TEAM, THANKS FOR FLYING
FALCON 9 TODAY.
WE'LL BE YOU ENJOYED THE RIDE,
AND WE WISH YOU A GREAT MISSION.
>> THANKS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND THE
TEAM FOR THE FIRST HUMAN RIDE
FOR FALCON 9, AND IT WAS
INCREDIBLE.
APPRECIATE ALL OF THE HARD WORK,
AND THANKS FOR THE GREAT RIDE TO
SPACE.
>> COPY ALL.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT
YOU HAVE DONE FOR US TODAY,
PUTTING AMERICA BACK INTO LOWER
OR THOROUGH BUT -- LOWER
EARTH ORBIT FROM THE FLORIDA
COAST.
>> COPY ALL.
GODSPEED.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO BOB AND DOUG --
>> WE CONFIRM NOMINAL,
SUPERDRACO SECTION CHECKOFF,
DEPLOY IN PROGRESS.
>> COPY ALL.
WE ARE MONITORING.
>> THE CORE HERE IN HAWTHORNE
GIVING THE CREW A HEADS UP THAT
WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THE
NOSECONE IS DEPLOYING.
THE NOSECONE WILL OPEN UP A
LITTLE MORE THAN 90 DEGREES,
COMES TO I THINK 195 DEGREES,
AND THAT WILL EXPOSE THE ACTUAL
DOCKING RING AND THE HATS THEY
WILL BE GOING TO ONCE THEY
ATTACH TO THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION.
AND ALSO, FOUR OF THOSE DRACO
THRUSTERS, THE BULKHEAD
THRUSTERS, THAT WILL BE USED FOR
THESE MAJOR PHASED BURNS OR
FIRING OF THOSE THRUSTERS TO
ACTUALLY RAISE THEIR ORBIT
GRADUALLY OVER THE COMING HOURS.
ALSO, WE HEARD GOOD ACTIVATION
OF THE ECLSS, THE ENVIRONMENT OF
CONTROLLED LIFE-SUPPORT SYSTEM,
KEEPING THE DRAGON A HABITABLE
ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THEY WILL BE
LIVING FOR THE NEXT 19 HOURS
UNTIL HE ARRIVED AT THE SPACE
STATION.
>> EXACTLY.
FALCON 9'S JOB MAY BE DONE FOR
TODAY, BUT THE MISSION IS NOT
OVER.
CREW DRAGON'S JOB IS NOT OVER.
AS YOU CAN SEE, BOB AND DOUG ARE
IN CREW DRAGON, MAKING THEIR
WAY, IT WILL BE A 19-HOUR TRIP
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION BEFORE THEY DOCK
TOMORROW MORNING.
AND SUCH COOL VIEWS.
I LOVE THAT WE CAN GET THESE
LIFE VIEWS HERE -- LIVE VIEWS
HERE AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE DOING
NOW THAT THEY ARE IN ORBIT.
>> IT IS INCREDIBLE TO JUST BE
LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER, TO
BE ALONG FOR THE RIDE.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE WITH
THEM, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE IT
WITH ALL OF YOU, THE ENTIRE WAY
FOR THEIR JOURNEY TO THE SPACE
STATION.
WE ARE GOING TO BE COVERING LIVE
THROUGHOUT.
BOB AND DOUG WILL ALWAYS LAY
HAVE A SLEEP PERIOD, WHERE THEY
WILL GET ABOUT EIGHT HOURS OF
SLEEP LATER TODAY BEFORE THEY
WAKE UP FOR THEIR FINAL
APPROACH.
ONE OF THE MAJOR THINGS WE ARE
WILL CAN FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF HOURS WILL BE THEIR
FIRST TURN AT THE CONTROLS, SO
THEY ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE
USING THOSE TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAYS
TO TAKE CONTROL AND MANUALLY
PILOT DRAGON.
WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT
THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE, AND,
ASSUMING WE HAVE SOME GOOD
GROUND STATION COVERAGE, WE WILL
BE ABLE TO GET YOU RIGHT INSIDE
DRAGON, LOOKING OVER THEIR
SHOULDER AS THEY MANIPULATE THE
CONTROLS AT THE DISPLAY.
BUT, I MEAN, WE HAD A SMOOTH
RIDE UPHILL BOTH SAGES OF THE
FALCON 9 DOING THEIR JOB,
PLACING BOB AND DOUG INTO ORBIT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A DAY, THIS IS A
HISTORICAL DAY, THIS IS US
KICKING OFF THE NEW ERA OF
SPACEFLIGHT WE HAVE ALL BEEN
TALKING ABOUT AND LONGING FOR
SINCE THE SPACE PROGRAM CAME TO
AN END IN 2011.
AND THE WEATHER COOPERATED.
>> YES!
SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO A DAY FOR THE HISTORY
BOOKS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE LOST
SOME LIVE SIGNAL THERE, BUT THE
MISSION STILL CONTINUES, AND WE
WILL TURN IT OVER TO KSC TO
CONTINUE BROADCASTING LIVE.
>> YEAH, JESSIE AND DAN, WE ARE
JUST IN AWE OVER HERE.
WHEN I WOKE UP AND LOOKED AT THE
WEATHER FORECAST, I THOUGHT,
"MAN, WE WILL BE HERE ON
SUNDAY," BUT WE DID IT.
EVERYBODY WAS OUTSIDE WATCHING,
INSIDE, THE LIGHTS WERE SHAKING,
CAMERAS WERE SHAKING, LAUREN
CAME BACK AND WITH TEARS IN HER
EYES.
LAUREN: [LAUGHS]
MARIE: THIS IS REALLY AMAZING.
LAUREN: I CAN'T BELIEVE I SAW IT
WITH MY OWN EYES.
I AM A LITTLE BIT SPEECHLESS,
JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT WE GOT
THEM UP THERE, AND THERE'S A LOT
MORE TO GO.
A LOT MORE TO GO, BUT I AM JUST
SO HAPPY THEY ARE SAFE RIGHT
NOW.
I AM JUST SO HAPPY.
MARIE: YEAH, IT IS AMAZING WHAT
WE CAN DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER.
>> YES, AMERICAN ASTRONAUT ON AN
AMERICAN ROCKET ON AMERICAN
SOIL, SHOWING YOU WHAT AMERICANS
CAN DO WHEN WE COME TOGETHER AS
A TEAM.
BLAST BOB AND DOUG OFF TO THE
COSMOS.
THIS IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT,
AND THEIR FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY
IS WORKING TOGETHER TO TAKE THEM
UP TO SPACE SAFELY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
THAT ROCKET FUEL IS FILLING MY
VEINS, AND I WANT TO GO GET ON
THE ROCKET.
[LAUGHTER]
MARIE: IT IS TOO LATE NOW.
MAYBE ON THE NEXT ONE.
>> I NOW.
-- I KNOW.
MARIE: WE WANT TO GET OVER TO
DARRELL AND THE ADMINISTRATOR,
WHO HOPEFULLY HAVE MORE WORDS
THAN WE DO, BECAUSE WE ARE
SPEECHLESS.
DARRELL?
DARRELL: MARIE, THERE HAVE BEEN
APPLAUSE FROM THE BEGINNING TO
THE END.
SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS ARE
HERE TO WATCH IT, INCLUDING
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, VICE
PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE AND NASA
ADMINISTRATOR JIM BRIDENSTINE.
AMERICA IS BACK, LAUNCHING HUMAN
ASTRONAUTS AGAIN.
TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT,
AND TELL ME ABOUT THE PRESIDENT
WATCHING THE LAUNCH AND WHAT
HAPPENED THERE.
MR. BRIDENSTINE: SO THIS HAS
BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
IT HAS BEEN NINE YEARS SINCE WE
LAUNCHED AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON
AMERICAN ROCKETS FROM AMERICAN
SOIL, AND NOW IT IS DONE.
WE HAVE DONE IT.
I WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT
TO CHARLIE BOLDEN.
HE WAS MY PREDECESSOR AS A NASA
ADMINISTRATOR.
HE FOUGHT HARD FOR THIS WHEN IT
DID NOT GET ANY SUPPORT IN
CONGRESS.
WE NOW HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR
THAT IS FULLY OF OUR SPACEFLIGHT
ADMINISTRATIVE, NOT ONLY ON
DISCOVERY, GOING TO THE MOON
ONTO MARS, BUT ALSO FROM A SPACE
FORCE PERSPECTIVE.
OUR BUDGETS ARE GOING UP, AND IT
IS JUST AN AMAZING THINK YOU'RE
ONE OF THE THINGS THE PRESIDENT
DID RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WHEN
HE BECAME PRESIDENT IZZY CREATED
THE NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL, AND
HE PUT THE VICE PRESIDENT IS
CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL SPACE
CANCEL.
-- COUNSEL.
YOU HAVE GOT THE SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE, SECRETARY OF COMMERCE,
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION,
SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS,
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT, AMAZING
INDIVIDUALS THAT DEAL WITH SPACE
DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE
HOW MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH
SPACE.
THE VICE PRESIDENT INVITED THOSE
MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL SPACE
COUNCIL HERE AS WELL.
THEN WE HAVE MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, BIPARTISAN MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS, WHO HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN SUPPORTING THIS
PROGRAM FOR A LONG TIME NOW.
SO I WILL JUST TELL YOU, I AM
BREATHING A SIGH OF RELIEF, BUT
I WILL ALSO TELL YOU I AM NOT
GOING TO CELEBRATE UNTIL BOB AND
DOUG ARE HOME SAFELY.
TOMORROW, THEY ARE GOING TO TALK
TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
TONIGHT, I AM HEADING TO HOUSTON
TO BE AT THE JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER WHEN THAT HAPPENS.
IT IS A BIT OF A RELIEF.
THE NOSECONE IS NOW OPEN.
IT IS NOW DEPLOYED, WHICH MEANS
THAT, YOU KNOW, NOW WE ARE GOING
TO GO INTO SOME BURNS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME
PHASING BURNS.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME, YOU
KNOW, BOOSTING BURNS, AND WE
WILL GET AS MUCH AS WE CAN IN
ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AS EARLY AS
POSSIBLE HERE, BUT ALSO, I KNOW
IT IS HARD, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE
BIG THING TO DO NOW IS WE HAVE
GOT TO GET BOB AND DOUG, WHO HAS
NOW GONE THROUGH THIS EXERCISE
TWICE, THEY NEED TO GET SOME
REST, BUT I CAN GUARANTEE YOU,
THERE WILL BE NO REST FOR A GOOD
AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE THEY ARE OF
IN ORBIT.
DARRELL: THEY ARE CERTAINLY ON
THEIR WAY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
JOINING US FOR THIS ROCKET
CELEBRATION, AS WE JUST HEARD,
10 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHING LIVE
AS THIS LAUNCH HAPPENED, AND
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BECOMING
THE THIRD SITTING PRESIDENT TO
WATCH A LAUNCH LIVE FROM THE
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.
MR. BRIDENSTINE: TO BE CLEAR, I
THINK HE IS THE ONLY SITTING
PRESIDENT TO WATCH AMERICAN
ASTRONAUTS TO LAUNCH ON A
BRAND-NEW ROCKET THAT HAS NEVER
LAUNCHED BEFORE, AND THAT IS A
BIG RISK.
YOU KNOW, HE ALSO SAID WE ARE
GOING TO GO TO THE MOON BY 2024.
HE IS PUTTING HIMSELF AT RISK TO
SAY LOOK I AM GOING TO BE
ACCOUNTABLE, POTENTIALLY, I AM
GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE
INITIATIVES THAT I PUT FORWARD,
AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT KIND OF
LEADERSHIP FOR SPACE IN A VERY,
VERY LONG TIME, AND WE ARE SO
GRATEFUL FOR IT.
DARRELL: WHAT IS IT LIKE
WATCHING THE LAUNCH WITH THE
PRESIDENT?
HOW DID HE REACT?
MR. BRIDENSTINE: IT IS SOMETHING
THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO HIM.
HE PUT A IN THE STATE OF THE
UNION SPEECH, WE ARE GOING TO
LAUNCH AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS ON
AMERICAN ROCKETS FROM AMERICAN
SOIL, AND I WAS THINKING, WE HAD
BETTER GET AFTER THIS.
OF COURSE WE WORKED OVERTIME TO
MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND
SCHEDULE, BUT WE GOT IT DONE,
AND WE GOT IT DONE SAFELY.
WE ARE KNOCKING ON WOOD, BUT SO
FAR, SO GOOD, IT IS LOOKING
GOOD.
DARRELL: YOU PERSONALLY, JEN,
WHEN YOU FELT THAT RUMBLE,
WHAT WERE YOU FEELING?
MR. BRIDENSTINE: I WAS EXCITED,
PRAYING FOR BOB AND DOUG,
PRAYING FOR THEIR FAMILIES,
PRAYING FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN
THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE JUST
GOING.
I HAVE HEARD THAT RUMBLE BEFORE,
BUT IT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT
FEELING WHEN YOU HAVE GOT YOUR
OWN TEAM ON THAT ROCKET, AND
THEY ARE OUR OWN TEAM, THEY ARE
AMERICA'S TEAM, THIS IS LAUNCH
AMERICA, EVERYTHING AMERICA HAS
TO OFFER IN ITS PUREST FORM,
AND TIMES ARE TOUGH RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS NO DOUBT.
WE HAVE GOT THE CORONAVIRUS
PANDEMIC, WE HAVE OTHER
CHALLENGES OF THE COUNTRY, BUT I
HOPE THIS MOMENT OF TIME IS AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO
REFLECT HUMANITY AND WHAT WE CAN
DO WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER WHEN WE
STRIVE AND WHEN WE ACHIEVE, AND
IF THIS CAN INSPIRE A YOUNG
CHILD TO BECOME THE NEXT ELON
MUSK OR THE NEXT JEFF BEZOS OR
THE NEXT SERVER TO BRANSON, THAT
THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
DARRELL: FOR THE NEXT JIM
BRIDENSTINE.
MR. BRIDENSTINE: [LAUGHS]
I WOULD NOT PUT ME IN THAT
CATEGORY.
DARRELL: WE APPRECIATE YOUR
LEADERSHIP FOR THE SPACE AGENCY
AT THIS TIME, AND
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN AMAZING
DAY AND A LAUNCH.
MR. BRIDENSTINE: THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT RIDE.
DARRELL: WE WILL SEND IT BACK TO
YOU IN THE STUDIO.
LAUREN: DOUG AND BOB ARE ON
COURSE TO LAND TOMORROW, MAY 31,
.
>> WE BREAK AWAY FROM OUR NASA
TV COVERAGE AFTER HEARING FROM A
NASA DIRECTOR JIM BRIDENSTINE TO
HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR REACTION
TO AMERICAS RETURN TO
SPACE, THE FIRST MANNED BLASTOFF
CREW FROM AMERICAN SOIL SINCE
2011.
WE HAVE OPENED UP OUR PHONE
LINES, AS YOU HAVE SEEN ON OUR
SCREEN, 202-748-8000 FOR THOSE
OF YOU ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE,
REPUBLICANS, USE 202-748-8001,
AND FOR ALL OTHERS, 202-748-8002
.
THE ASTRONAUTS IN ORBIT ON THEIR
WAY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION.
THE DOCKING HAPPENING THERE ON
SUNDAY.
WE WILL HAVE LIVE COVERAGE OF
THAT.
IT IS SCHEDULED NOW FOR ABOUT
10:20 EASTERN TOMORROW.
WE WILL HAVE THAT LIVE ON C-SPAN
AS WE LOOK AT VIDEO FROM EARLIER
OF THE LIFT OFF THIS AFTERNOON
ABOUT 25 MINUTES AGO, AT 3:22
EASTERN.
LET'S 
