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alright Atlantis we are ready for the

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event how about you ladies ready to do

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that okay ABC News this is Mission

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Control Houston please call Atlantis for

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Atlantis this is ABC News do you hear me

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Atlantis as you loud and clear

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that's terrific are you uh and - away we

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go

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Atlantis I want to ask really all four

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of you your feelings on this being the

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final flight of the thirty year shuttle

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history first let me say it's an

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absolute honor to be a part of this

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final true this is this is a tough

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decision for there are a number of the

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extraordinary qualified people to do it

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and we took on the task of portraitist a

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crew of four and I'd like to think that

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we went up there did a bang-up job with

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the limited number of resources that we

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had and of course as as we approach

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landing here we're going through a

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series of laughs yesterday for example

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the shuttles robotic arm that we used

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for 30 years to deploy and retrieve

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satellites and we had some fantastic

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statistics right up to us the last time

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we put it away it's hard to believe

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we'll ever use it again but I'm gonna

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pass the mic around a little bit I'm

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sure somebody else has something I'd

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like to share send it it's been the next

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age 20 flow because as a commander said

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it there are a lot of number of laughs

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and they got small the last exam on a

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certain system anything that bigger and

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bigger until we saw the last war out of

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the space shuttle to the pad and it

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started getting real every once in

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allowed tank it's just the second

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chapter in the mission we've gone

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through a number different milestones

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and as you get the bigger ones and big

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ones behind you then you kind of have a

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chance to pause a little bit master a

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little more as the as the pressure is

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off and you can think now you know this

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is a long time we're doing that and for

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me it kind of gets me one

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down the mid sex sometimes at the end of

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the day while we eat and you finally

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have a chance for a couple minutes - to

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get back to eat and think and second I

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think of the crews that have sat down

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here and shared a meal and and think

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about wow this is the last time and then

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I'll think about the future of Atlantis

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which we're not going to just retire I'm

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going to share with others in they can

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be spaced out or other people be able to

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can't get so we can see what a beautiful

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vehicle it is I'd like to ask you

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mission specialists sandy Magnus do you

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expect to go into space again just like

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all my last mission I treated this

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mission as if it was going to be my last

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mission and tried to savor every moment

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I was on the space station in every

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moment working on Atlantis and get those

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last glances out the window and our

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beautiful earth and try and print those

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on my memory as well the pilot Doug

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Hurley I realized she's a very delicate

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craft she is incredibly intricate to a

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degree that many of us can't comprehend

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it's just it's a dream come true

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actually it flies much better than our

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simulators show that you supply and it's

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just an absolute pleasure to get to fly

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there yesterday for me to get to do the

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fly around and then you know some of the

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rendezvous burns that we did and we're

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really looking forward to playing our

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home tomorrow but it's been just just a

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dream to get to do this Doug what's it

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going to be like to land the Space

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hey pass that off to me cuz you know the

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pilot is the pilot the web cedar lands

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and that dog would do an absolute

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fantastic job at answering that

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collection but I've had one opportunity

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to land before it was extraordinarily

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exciting you know but probably the one

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word I could say is it works just like

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this simulator we have we have an in

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flight simulator that that we use and

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practice with and I'm absolutely

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astounded at how closely the Space

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Shuttle replicates the game flight

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simulator so we're gonna have I believe

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a pre guard landing tomorrow if we land

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on time day or night we're ready to come

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home anytime Chris Ferguson commander of

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the final mission of the 30-year Space

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Shuttle history I want to ask you what

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do you see as the future of the American

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space program well we were we were

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discussing this just the other day you

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know it may seem like like sort of an

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ending and I suppose to a degree it is

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you know the space shuttles been with us

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it's been the hard involves this all the

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beginning space flight program for about

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30 years and you know the little sad to

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see it go away

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but you know we have to understand these

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systems to operate maintain your

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extraordinary copley and in order to go

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beyond because of course the shuttle can

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only stay in low-earth orbit in order to

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go beyond low-earth orbit again we're

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gonna have to pause and we're gonna have

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to stand down and we're gonna have to

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channel some of those resources that we

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use to fund and operate the Space

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Shuttle so we can build another vehicle

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and we're gonna go beyond again someday

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hopefully it's not too far distant

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future and we'll turn over this low

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Earth orbit businesses they stay see

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servicing business to uh to commercial

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companies but hopefully in the not too

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distant future you're gonna see a heavy

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lift vehicle manufactured and by our

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commercial partners designed by NASA in

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partnership and we're gonna go back to

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the moon back to Mars so the future is

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very bright but at the moment it's a

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little far because we are saying goodbye

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well Colonel rex walheim mission

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specialists sandy Magnus mission

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specialist Colonel Douglas her leave the

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Marines the pilot and to you Christopher

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Ferguson captain of the Navy and mission

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commander I know that we here at Good

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Morning America join with all of us

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watching at home in wishing you and

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Atlantis ISS this is Houston ACR that

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concludes the ABC News portion of the

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event please stand by for a voice check

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Atlanta this is CBS news how do you hear

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we have your line cleared CBS fantastic

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fantastic we should be ready to go in

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just one second what's that okay three

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two hands first the shuttle Atlantis

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left the International Space Station for

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the last time Tuesday and is now heading

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home as the 30 year long US shuttle

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program comes to a bittersweet end

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Atlantis is scheduled to land in Florida

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tomorrow morning just before 6:00

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Eastern Time and joining us from space

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this morning is the crew of Atlantis

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commander Chris Ferguson pilot Doug

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Hurley and mission specialists sandy

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Magnus and Rex Walheim good morning to

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all of you this is a real treat for all

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good morning view that CBS just always a

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treat for us to be able to care just a

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little piece of the the excitement of

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spaceflight with you commander Ferguson

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let me ask you this first question this

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is a historic final journey home how is

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this mission been how bittersweet is it

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to know that you're coming home on the

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shuttle for the very final time we have

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had just and you know what I kind of

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told everybody all along was that we

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were not going to fully appreciate the

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significance of the event in - laughs to

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the wheel that stopped and just

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yesterday in the mid-deck I was talking

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to Sandi about about the fact that yeah

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you know what I really do feel like it's

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coming near the end and I can almost

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sense that final wheel stop Paul and

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it's it's gonna be tough it's gonna be

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an emotional moment for a lot of people

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who have dedicated their lives to the

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shuttle program for 30 years so we're

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gonna try to keep it upbeat we're gonna

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try to keep it light we're gonna try to

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make it a celebration of what of the

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tremendous crowning achievements that

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have occurred over the last 30 years

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with the tremendous satellites have been

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deployed from the shuttle and all

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course to get construction of the

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International Space Station it was a

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well no mission is successful until

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you're finally on the ground I would

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have to say that up to this point it's

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been highly successful sandy Rex dug

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every one of them you know we all put

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forth 110 percent we got about twenty

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thousand pounds of cargo transferred

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into and back out of the space station

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again we have am all set there they're

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in a good posture to wait for about a

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year until our commercial partners come

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on board and begin begin the resupply

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mission that the shuttle is formerly at

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exactly the future of the space program

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right now I know everyone knows that the

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shuttle program is coming to an end

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after 30 years there is no vehicle that

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is ready to go right now where is the

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future of the space program for the

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United States at this point it's the

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kind of a two pronged efforts and while

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we get to this transition thought it'll

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be hard but we'll get there and we'll be

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going the farther and farther and then

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going new places real soon how's it been

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to just have four of you there I know

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normally the missions usually have more

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astronauts on board but it's just been

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four of you have you had a chance to

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really bond up there during this

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historic final journey I think

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definitely yeah you know we we've had to

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just work so closely together and be so

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well coordinated because you know your

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typical shuttle mission there's six or

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seven folks so they tend to be working

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more with another person and there's

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been a lot of times where we just have

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to depend on the other person to cover a

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separate task

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and you know I personally didn't I don't

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think I'd fully appreciated Oh much more

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work we would have to do with only four

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by six or seven so it's been a little

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bit of an eye-opener because we really

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have been just wrecking it

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working very hard every day sandy if I

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could just pose this last question to

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you what's your message to all those

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people the thousands of people over the

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years that have been such an

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instrumental part of the show say

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goodbye before we say goodbye sandy just

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one final question to you has anyone

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been giving you a hard time the crew may

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be through emails or any messages from

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Mission Control about your space here

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was gyro gravity is under your hair like

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this I like to leave it out because of

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those stretch that we are indeed in jail

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gravity I mean these guys have kind of

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boring hair so it's not so fun they do

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give me trouble occasionally about the

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medusa-like effect of it it's an

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interesting look that's for sure hey we

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wish you all the very very best and we

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thank you so much for taking the time in

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talking with us it has been a treat for

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all of us here and we're so proud of you

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and we wish you safe return to Planet

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Earth

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Atlantis this is Houston ACR that

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concludes the CBS News portion of the

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event please stand by for a voice check

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from CNN 30 years ago the first space

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shuttle launch into space this year the

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shuttle era ends let's take a look at

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the world's first reusable space vehicle

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the space shuttle system has got three

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main parts the orbiter that one there

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holds the crew and payload the huge

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orange external tank holds fuel and the

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two solid rocket boosters those things

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on the side provide most of the shuttles

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lift off lift during the first two

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minutes of flight now all the components

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are usable they're reusable except a big

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orange tank it burns up in the

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atmosphere

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after each launch now fully loaded the

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shuttle system weighs about four and a

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half million pounds for those of you who

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are counting that's about 300 elephants

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Columbia challenger discovery Atlantis

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and endeavour have taken one hundred and

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thirty flights in total into the final

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frontier they carried more than 350

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people in space the shuttle have

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traveled more than half a billion miles

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more than enough to get to the planet

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one zero and liftoff the final liftoff

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of Atlantis shoulders of the Space

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Shuttle America will continue the dream

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that was a stirring moment on July 8th

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at the Kennedy Space Center the final

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shuttle mission that took off that day

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is wrapping up now it began on July 8

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with that incredible launch of the space

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shuttle Atlantis there you see it

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heading toward the clouds just about to

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go through the cloudy day there were

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some questions as to whether it was

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going to take off but it did an historic

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takeoff that was watched by over a

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million people in personnel never mind

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those watching it on TV commander Chris

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Ferguson pilot Doug Hurley mission

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specialists Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus

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have begun or they've been in space ever

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since that day they're still there there

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they are right now the shuttle is flying

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above the Atlantic Ocean those

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astronauts join us live from space where

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they're prepping for tomorrow morning's

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landing 24 hours from now thanks to all

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of you so much for joining us this is

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the last time the shuttle astronauts

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will ever be interviewed live on CNN

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let's start with Chris Ferguson the

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commander Chris this is the last space

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shuttle mission when you think of all

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that's been done in space and all that

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is being planned from here on it almost

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feels like you are going to be a veteran

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of the Golden Age of space travel and

335
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well first off side LOL you'd say it's

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great to speak with you here and welcome

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aboard the flight deck of the space

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shuttle atlantis on her final day in

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space you know I don't I wouldn't say

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this is the end of the Golden Age it's

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certainly the end of perhaps a very

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specific age where just a select few key

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go into space I think that what we're

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going to see in the next few years is a

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very broadening horizon an opportunity

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for people who have never had an

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opportunity to go into space

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to at least get to low-earth orbit and

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what we'll do is we'll turn over the

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reins of that business to our commercial

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partners and that will enable NASA to

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take the resources we put into the

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shuttle and hopefully go beyond

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low-earth orbit again in the

355
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not-too-distant future sandy Magnus

356
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mission specialists you enjoy amongst

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other things that you do in space

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cooking you've been known to cook up

359
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some special treats I know you made

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00:17:36,250 --> 00:17:34,520
Christmas cookies once and you you made

361
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salsa for the Super Bowl

362
00:17:42,970 --> 00:17:38,029
you got anything planned for the final

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meal up in space I don't have anything

364
00:17:46,120 --> 00:17:44,870
planned but I may end up surprising the

365
00:17:47,950 --> 00:17:46,130
guys you know the problem with the

366
00:17:49,390 --> 00:17:47,960
shuttle missions are they're so busy and

367
00:17:52,149 --> 00:17:49,400
this one has been incredibly busy I

368
00:17:54,159 --> 00:17:52,159
haven't had time to do much face cooking

369
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but I did give some tips to the space

370
00:18:01,419 --> 00:17:56,210
station guys so bad sometime they could

371
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try a few of my recipes Chris Ferguson

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00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:02,960
we're gonna be watching you very closely

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one of the cities I spend my time in and

374
00:18:09,519 --> 00:18:06,980
living in Philadelphia you're a local

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00:18:11,500 --> 00:18:09,529
from that area what do you got to say to

376
00:18:12,610 --> 00:18:11,510
the folks down on earth who are going to

377
00:18:17,740 --> 00:18:12,620
be watching you bring that thing in

378
00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:17,750
beautifully tomorrow morning well you

379
00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:19,970
know I guess what I said to the folks

380
00:18:23,470 --> 00:18:21,890
when they left Mission Control one of

381
00:18:27,100 --> 00:18:23,480
our orbit ships we spoke to them for the

382
00:18:28,779 --> 00:18:27,110
last time from orbit yesterday and I

383
00:18:30,370 --> 00:18:28,789
said I said to them as they walked out

384
00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:30,380
of the room to look up and make a memory

385
00:18:34,120 --> 00:18:32,510
and I'll say that to everybody who has

386
00:18:36,010 --> 00:18:34,130
an opportunity to subtract see the

387
00:18:38,230 --> 00:18:36,020
landing real time or see the see the

388
00:18:39,549 --> 00:18:38,240
shuttle on the runway is take a good

389
00:18:40,659 --> 00:18:39,559
look at it and make a memory because

390
00:18:44,820 --> 00:18:40,669
you're never going to see anything like

391
00:18:48,519 --> 00:18:47,350
Rex how you feeling about this you guys

392
00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:48,529
are going to land I mean normally

393
00:18:51,820 --> 00:18:49,850
there's a sort of a camaraderie there's

394
00:18:53,860 --> 00:18:51,830
a club of people who who have taken

395
00:18:55,810 --> 00:18:53,870
who've flown on the Space Shuttle that

396
00:19:01,269 --> 00:18:55,820
sort of Club closes tomorrow what's your

397
00:19:03,519 --> 00:19:01,279
feeling about this final landing I think

398
00:19:05,500 --> 00:19:03,529
it is a sort in that nature but I think

399
00:19:07,570 --> 00:19:05,510
it's going to open up in a new era of

400
00:19:09,010 --> 00:19:07,580
spaceflight because right now there have

401
00:19:10,389 --> 00:19:09,020
been a tremendous amount of people who

402
00:19:12,190 --> 00:19:10,399
flow in the space myself the vast

403
00:19:14,769 --> 00:19:12,200
majority of it of ever flown in space

404
00:19:16,659 --> 00:19:14,779
the Lord take that next step get access

405
00:19:18,549 --> 00:19:16,669
to Earth orbit low Earth orbit cheaper

406
00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:18,559
and more frequent and we could do that

407
00:19:22,690 --> 00:19:19,850
by partnering with our commercial

408
00:19:24,610 --> 00:19:22,700
partners and then that can allow NASA to

409
00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:24,620
really focus on the exploration going

410
00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:26,090
beyond low-earth orbit going to the

411
00:19:30,450 --> 00:19:28,370
harder destinations asteroids amine or

412
00:19:31,890 --> 00:19:30,460
Mars and I think it's going to be a

413
00:19:34,110 --> 00:19:31,900
extremely enjoy

414
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:34,120
the exciting time from a success we have

415
00:19:37,230 --> 00:19:35,410
to get through this transition tread

416
00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:37,240
shoes are always hard but we'll get

417
00:19:41,780 --> 00:19:39,010
through them all what are you having a

418
00:19:44,340 --> 00:19:41,790
half better tomorrow

419
00:19:45,930 --> 00:19:44,350
the whole world's gonna be watching when

420
00:19:48,180 --> 00:19:45,940
you all land tomorrow as you approach

421
00:19:49,590 --> 00:19:48,190
for the final time the landing of the

422
00:19:52,290 --> 00:19:49,600
space shuttle Atlantis good luck to all

423
00:19:54,030 --> 00:19:52,300
of you Godspeed and have a safe next 24

424
00:19:56,370 --> 00:19:54,040
hours rex walheim mission specialists

425
00:19:59,250 --> 00:19:56,380
sandy Magnus mission specialist Chris

426
00:20:01,320 --> 00:19:59,260
Ferguson the the commander and Doug

427
00:20:02,820 --> 00:20:01,330
Hurley the pilot thanks to all of you

428
00:20:05,130 --> 00:20:02,830
and we look forward to watching the

429
00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:05,140
score CNN will cover it live tomorrow

430
00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:07,150
morning coming up on American morning at

431
00:20:19,410 --> 00:20:17,370
Atlantis this is Houston ACR that

432
00:20:21,870 --> 00:20:19,420
concludes the CNN portion of the event

433
00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:21,880
please stand by for a voice check from

434
00:20:38,220 --> 00:20:31,240
Fox News Atlantis this is Fox News how

435
00:20:42,450 --> 00:20:38,230
do you hear me hey welcome aboard any

436
00:20:45,150 --> 00:20:42,460
one clear terrific my name is Bill

437
00:20:46,770 --> 00:20:45,160
Hemmer and it is an honor to spend the

438
00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:46,780
next couple of minutes with you I was

439
00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:50,650
there for the liftoff of sts-134 it was

440
00:20:56,670 --> 00:20:54,010
the shortest mission visible on earth

441
00:20:59,010 --> 00:20:56,680
before the shuttle disappeared into the

442
00:21:02,520 --> 00:20:59,020
clouds after about a total of 12 seconds

443
00:21:04,290 --> 00:21:02,530
but 135 was a beautiful liftoff and

444
00:21:07,230 --> 00:21:04,300
congratulations to you as you wind down

445
00:21:09,870 --> 00:21:07,240
this mission okay here we go guys here

446
00:21:12,990 --> 00:21:09,880
are my questions to you I've got four

447
00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:13,000
specific questions I'm going to go and a

448
00:21:15,990 --> 00:21:14,200
bit of a different order I'm going to

449
00:21:18,810 --> 00:21:16,000
start with the pilot Doug Hurley on this

450
00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:18,820
here we go three two and one astronaut

451
00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:21,370
Mike Fossum tweeted from space only a

452
00:21:27,420 --> 00:21:25,450
few hours ago a beautiful picture and he

453
00:21:29,160 --> 00:21:27,430
said this on his tweet when will such a

454
00:21:31,980 --> 00:21:29,170
beautiful ship dock again to the

455
00:21:33,900 --> 00:21:31,990
International Space Station and I think

456
00:21:36,390 --> 00:21:33,910
that's what you and so many people down

457
00:21:38,670 --> 00:21:36,400
here in America are wondering and I to

458
00:21:41,910 --> 00:21:38,680
pilot Hurley you were driving at a time

459
00:21:43,899 --> 00:21:41,920
what was that separation like knowing it

460
00:21:50,979 --> 00:21:43,909
was the last time

461
00:21:53,259 --> 00:21:50,989
I was just unbelievably breathtaking as

462
00:21:56,229 --> 00:21:53,269
we backed away from that I had such

463
00:21:58,779 --> 00:21:56,239
esterday you know they plan it such that

464
00:22:02,289 --> 00:21:58,789
we get we get out to about 600 feet as

465
00:22:04,599 --> 00:22:02,299
the Sun rises behind us so it lights up

466
00:22:06,279 --> 00:22:04,609
the arrays first and then lights up the

467
00:22:09,969 --> 00:22:06,289
rest of the vacation it was just

468
00:22:11,949 --> 00:22:09,979
beautiful and we really enjoyed you know

469
00:22:13,329 --> 00:22:11,959
one last lap around the International

470
00:22:17,829 --> 00:22:13,339
Space Station before we started heading

471
00:22:20,319 --> 00:22:17,839
home well it is such a structure that

472
00:22:22,779 --> 00:22:20,329
has been built over the past decade and

473
00:22:25,329 --> 00:22:22,789
really remarkable accomplishment for

474
00:22:26,979 --> 00:22:25,339
NASA and really the Friends of NASA from

475
00:22:29,619 --> 00:22:26,989
all over the world the shuttle commander

476
00:22:31,569 --> 00:22:29,629
Chris Ferguson Gene Cernan is a man you

477
00:22:34,930 --> 00:22:31,579
know he was the last one to walk on the

478
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moon 39 years ago he wrote a piece

479
00:22:38,979 --> 00:22:36,589
that's out this morning he said if we

480
00:22:42,129 --> 00:22:38,989
don't watch where we are going we will

481
00:22:44,739 --> 00:22:42,139
end up where we are headed now what do

482
00:22:47,349 --> 00:22:44,749
you think about the United States

483
00:22:50,139 --> 00:22:47,359
relying on the Russians for at least

484
00:23:07,899 --> 00:22:50,149
five years to get back in space with man

485
00:23:11,729 --> 00:23:07,909
Space Flight the space station which is

486
00:23:16,930 --> 00:23:14,709
now should we be dependent upon them I

487
00:23:18,759 --> 00:23:16,940
don't think it's necessarily a case of

488
00:23:21,159 --> 00:23:18,769
utter them I really think that we need a

489
00:23:23,619 --> 00:23:21,169
redundant way we different ways to get

490
00:23:26,259 --> 00:23:23,629
people to low-earth orbit and you know

491
00:23:28,719 --> 00:23:26,269
it's it's there's a certainly a gap here

492
00:23:30,729 --> 00:23:28,729
and I have no particular issue with

493
00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:30,739
relying on partners because that's what

494
00:23:34,539 --> 00:23:32,569
partners are for to help you through

495
00:23:37,329 --> 00:23:34,549
perhaps the time where you need to go

496
00:23:39,279 --> 00:23:37,339
back and regroup so you know it's it's a

497
00:23:41,109 --> 00:23:39,289
short hiatus but I'm very confident our

498
00:23:42,969 --> 00:23:41,119
commercial partners we've seen that

499
00:23:45,159 --> 00:23:42,979
SpaceX already launched an orbital

500
00:23:46,989 --> 00:23:45,169
vehicle and recover it safely in the

501
00:23:48,430 --> 00:23:46,999
Pacific Ocean and there are other

502
00:23:54,579 --> 00:23:48,440
commercial partners that are not too far

503
00:23:55,989 --> 00:23:54,589
behind so with just a single string to

504
00:23:58,209 --> 00:23:55,999
orbit if you would in other words just

505
00:24:00,189 --> 00:23:58,219
one way to do it but we'll recover from

506
00:24:01,749 --> 00:24:00,199
this and would use the resources that

507
00:24:06,939 --> 00:24:01,759
were devoted to the shuttle program to

508
00:24:09,609 --> 00:24:06,949
do it you think about that gap 25 years

509
00:24:12,189 --> 00:24:09,619
ago Ronald Reagan invited the friends

510
00:24:15,399 --> 00:24:12,199
and allies of the United States to join

511
00:24:17,769 --> 00:24:15,409
the u.s. in its space program and the

512
00:24:19,419 --> 00:24:17,779
result was that beautiful structure you

513
00:24:23,829 --> 00:24:19,429
left behind the international space

514
00:24:25,899 --> 00:24:23,839
station to specialist agnya sandy Magnus

515
00:24:29,799 --> 00:24:25,909
then on this question what does

516
00:24:39,339 --> 00:24:29,809
President Obama need to do to help lead

517
00:24:41,289 --> 00:24:39,349
NASA to that next stage you know a

518
00:24:44,229 --> 00:24:41,299
flight is a very complicated business

519
00:24:45,639 --> 00:24:44,239
and it takes plans that last longer than

520
00:24:48,339 --> 00:24:45,649
two or three or four years we a

521
00:24:50,229 --> 00:24:48,349
decades-long plan and we need to stay

522
00:24:53,259 --> 00:24:50,239
focused on that plan and we need to

523
00:24:56,049 --> 00:24:53,269
execute that plan it's not it's not

524
00:24:57,430 --> 00:24:56,059
something they're doing operations in

525
00:24:59,709 --> 00:24:57,440
space and developing vehicles that

526
00:25:01,599 --> 00:24:59,719
operate in space requires that sort of

527
00:25:03,099 --> 00:25:01,609
long-term thinking long-term planning

528
00:25:06,419 --> 00:25:03,109
and long term commitment so that's

529
00:25:09,579 --> 00:25:06,429
certainly a good place to start

530
00:25:11,529 --> 00:25:09,589
yeah I hope you're right specialist Rex

531
00:25:14,169 --> 00:25:11,539
Walheim gets the toughest question today

532
00:25:15,999 --> 00:25:14,179
what was the best wake up song Elton

533
00:25:23,469 --> 00:25:16,009
John Paul McCartney or Michael Stipe

534
00:25:26,739 --> 00:25:23,479
from REM obviously just amazing it and

535
00:25:29,109 --> 00:25:26,749
it's a it was quite a treat to sit there

536
00:25:31,059 --> 00:25:29,119
and in the dark of the space of mid-deck

537
00:25:32,829 --> 00:25:31,069
took some listen to bits I found and

538
00:25:34,419 --> 00:25:32,839
then even more important in the song was

539
00:25:37,449 --> 00:25:34,429
the first hint readings that those

540
00:25:38,769 --> 00:25:37,459
fantastic artists took time out to say

541
00:25:39,769 --> 00:25:38,779
good morning to us it just meant the

542
00:25:44,419 --> 00:25:39,779
world to us

543
00:25:46,279 --> 00:25:44,429
they are wonderful I better do thank you

544
00:25:48,529 --> 00:25:46,289
for your time come on home safely okay

545
00:26:00,680 --> 00:25:48,539
god bless you all and God bless america

546
00:26:03,799 --> 00:26:00,690
thanks today Atlantis this is Houston

547
00:26:05,989 --> 00:26:03,809
ACR that concludes the Fox News portion

548
00:26:15,109 --> 00:26:05,999
of the event please stand by for a voice

549
00:26:20,349 --> 00:26:15,119
check from NBC News analysis NBC News

550
00:26:24,589 --> 00:26:23,239
hello NBC we have you loud and clear on

551
00:26:27,859 --> 00:26:24,599
the flight deck of the space shuttle

552
00:26:29,810 --> 00:26:27,869
Atlantis well it's nice to see all of

553
00:26:31,310 --> 00:26:29,820
you last time we talked we were in

554
00:26:34,609 --> 00:26:31,320
Houston and you guys were preparing for

555
00:26:36,859 --> 00:26:34,619
this mission this is Tom Costello Glenn

556
00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:36,869
first let me ask you for a seat on that

557
00:26:40,549 --> 00:26:39,210
day back in Houston you said to me that

558
00:26:42,859 --> 00:26:40,559
when you pull away from the space

559
00:26:44,450 --> 00:26:42,869
station that's when this is really going

560
00:26:48,229 --> 00:26:44,460
to hit you it's really going to resonate

561
00:26:49,639 --> 00:26:48,239
your thoughts on having totally now from

562
00:26:51,619 --> 00:26:49,649
the space station for the last time

563
00:26:54,799 --> 00:26:51,629
you're on the last day of the last

564
00:26:56,810 --> 00:26:54,809
mission for the shuttle we possum what

565
00:27:02,509 --> 00:26:56,820
all this means for for you and for

566
00:27:03,829 --> 00:27:02,519
America you know Tom it's funny we were

567
00:27:06,499 --> 00:27:03,839
discussing this just a little bit

568
00:27:08,299 --> 00:27:06,509
earlier with with Sandy down in the

569
00:27:10,369 --> 00:27:08,309
mid-deck and I looked at her and I said

570
00:27:13,129 --> 00:27:10,379
gosh you know sandy it feels like it's

571
00:27:14,719 --> 00:27:13,139
really about the end and for for

572
00:27:16,700 --> 00:27:14,729
certainly our nine-month training flow

573
00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:16,710
in the first hectic 12 days of our

574
00:27:20,719 --> 00:27:18,450
mission we didn't think we would ever

575
00:27:21,950 --> 00:27:20,729
see the end but now we're beginning to I

576
00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:21,960
guess see the light at the end of the

577
00:27:25,639 --> 00:27:24,570
tunnel if you can call it a light but

578
00:27:27,079 --> 00:27:25,649
I'll tell you when you pull away from

579
00:27:29,810 --> 00:27:27,089
the space station it just makes you

580
00:27:31,609 --> 00:27:29,820
enormous ly proud that that not just our

581
00:27:33,529 --> 00:27:31,619
country but the global community can

582
00:27:35,869 --> 00:27:33,539
pull together the resources enough to

583
00:27:37,849 --> 00:27:35,879
construct that incredible vehicle in

584
00:27:40,039 --> 00:27:37,859
orbit so as the Space Shuttle does

585
00:27:41,659 --> 00:27:40,049
retire and we hate to see it go we know

586
00:27:43,879 --> 00:27:41,669
that it is living it is leading an

587
00:27:45,919 --> 00:27:43,889
incredible lasting legacy and of that

588
00:27:47,089 --> 00:27:45,929
we're just extraordinarily proud and the

589
00:27:50,619 --> 00:27:47,099
space shuttle program should be

590
00:27:55,430 --> 00:27:53,060
sandi let me ask you to reflect on that

591
00:27:58,219 --> 00:27:55,440
as well you had some very poignant

592
00:28:00,950 --> 00:27:58,229
comments about America's role in space

593
00:28:02,570 --> 00:28:00,960
when we talked back in Houston so as now

594
00:28:03,950 --> 00:28:02,580
you pull away from the space station you

595
00:28:06,379 --> 00:28:03,960
prepare for landing

596
00:28:23,599 --> 00:28:06,389
your thoughts what have you reflected on

597
00:28:26,389 --> 00:28:23,609
over the last two weeks or so it's

598
00:28:28,460 --> 00:28:26,399
amazing when you look at some orbiting

599
00:28:29,869 --> 00:28:28,470
laboratory and think about other people

600
00:28:34,099 --> 00:28:29,879
involved in building around the world

601
00:28:35,930 --> 00:28:34,109
and and a role in America starting that

602
00:28:37,969 --> 00:28:35,940
program and getting everyone involved in

603
00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:37,979
that program and it just shows you where

604
00:28:42,169 --> 00:28:39,570
we can do we put our minds to it and

605
00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:42,179
focus our efforts and commit and I think

606
00:28:46,700 --> 00:28:45,090
with that same amount of commitment that

607
00:28:48,619 --> 00:28:46,710
same amount of passion that same amount

608
00:28:51,019 --> 00:28:48,629
of enthusiasm we pretty much can do

609
00:28:53,089 --> 00:28:51,029
anything and and going to the Moon or

610
00:28:55,009 --> 00:28:53,099
Mars or an asteroid is certainly our

611
00:28:56,539 --> 00:28:55,019
next step and I anticipate we will be

612
00:28:57,919 --> 00:28:56,549
able to do that because of the people

613
00:28:59,680 --> 00:28:57,929
involved in the determination and

614
00:29:02,269 --> 00:28:59,690
commitment

615
00:29:04,159 --> 00:29:02,279
well that's let me ask you you know

616
00:29:05,930 --> 00:29:04,169
through the miracle of technology I'm

617
00:29:08,330 --> 00:29:05,940
talking to you from a hotel room in

618
00:29:10,909 --> 00:29:08,340
Orlando while I'm preparing for your

619
00:29:13,190 --> 00:29:10,919
landing but twist and some of that it

620
00:29:15,469 --> 00:29:13,200
occurs to me DeMott the incredible

621
00:29:16,879 --> 00:29:15,479
technology as a result of what space has

622
00:29:18,349 --> 00:29:16,889
brought to america that the

623
00:29:20,299 --> 00:29:18,359
technological capability for

624
00:29:22,369 --> 00:29:20,309
communication whatever can you reflect

625
00:29:25,570 --> 00:29:22,379
back on what has what does the shuttle

626
00:29:27,919 --> 00:29:25,580
program done for America in terms of

627
00:29:32,979 --> 00:29:27,929
advancements in terms of technology and

628
00:29:38,029 --> 00:29:35,359
number one first thing it is is a

629
00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:38,039
reusable spacecraft you just haven't

630
00:29:40,549 --> 00:29:39,210
seen that before and there's really

631
00:29:41,899 --> 00:29:40,559
nothing like it and it's going to be a

632
00:29:44,659 --> 00:29:41,909
long time before you get something that

633
00:29:47,029 --> 00:29:44,669
is so complex so capable and yet

634
00:29:49,700 --> 00:29:47,039
reusable and then it gave us access to

635
00:29:50,839 --> 00:29:49,710
the low-earth orbit on a routine basis

636
00:29:52,700 --> 00:29:50,849
and it allowed us to build the

637
00:29:54,259 --> 00:29:52,710
International Space Station as far as

638
00:30:25,760 --> 00:29:54,269
medical breakthroughs that's where that

639
00:30:30,090 --> 00:30:28,529
and currently when we were on the ground

640
00:30:32,909 --> 00:30:30,100
Houston you talked specifically about

641
00:30:34,950 --> 00:30:32,919
how you wanted to pay tribute to all the

642
00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:34,960
hundreds of thousands of people who over

643
00:30:39,899 --> 00:30:36,250
the last thirty years have contributed

644
00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:39,909
to this to this program and given you

645
00:30:43,350 --> 00:30:41,289
the ability to be where you are right

646
00:30:45,510 --> 00:30:43,360
now so as you return as you prepare to

647
00:30:47,669 --> 00:30:45,520
return to the Kennedy Space Center your

648
00:30:48,899 --> 00:30:47,679
thoughts on all of those people and

649
00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:48,909
specifically the people on the ground

650
00:30:54,180 --> 00:30:52,090
now who are preparing for your landing

651
00:31:00,390 --> 00:30:54,190
and who many of whom may be out of a job

652
00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:00,400
within the next few weeks yeah we we

653
00:31:06,029 --> 00:31:02,890
really you know we really just want to

654
00:31:07,970 --> 00:31:06,039
honor them and we've done our best up to

655
00:31:10,980 --> 00:31:07,980
the time and the mission to do that and

656
00:31:13,409 --> 00:31:10,990
yeah we're very excited about seeing

657
00:31:16,260 --> 00:31:13,419
those folks especially the Kennedy folks

658
00:31:17,970 --> 00:31:16,270
hopefully tomorrow morning and you know

659
00:31:20,340 --> 00:31:17,980
just try to share the memories of the

660
00:31:24,390 --> 00:31:20,350
mission with them and and and once again

661
00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:24,400
just convey how proud we are of them and

662
00:31:31,380 --> 00:31:26,650
what they've done over the thirty year

663
00:31:33,090 --> 00:31:31,390
program it's just so inspiring to see

664
00:31:36,419 --> 00:31:33,100
the passion that all these folks have

665
00:31:38,669 --> 00:31:36,429
for space business and you know they put

666
00:31:42,060 --> 00:31:38,679
their careers into this business into

667
00:31:43,770 --> 00:31:42,070
the end of this vehicle and you know we

668
00:31:45,330 --> 00:31:43,780
owe it to them to just honor what

669
00:31:48,060 --> 00:31:45,340
they've done and honor their

670
00:31:49,409 --> 00:31:48,070
accomplishments and you know we were we

671
00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:49,419
were just lucky enough to be the ones

672
00:31:55,590 --> 00:31:51,250
that got the flight but you know they're

673
00:31:57,149 --> 00:31:55,600
the ones that really made it happen I'll

674
00:31:58,740 --> 00:31:57,159
tell you what we'll wrap it up there

675
00:32:01,110 --> 00:31:58,750
it's been an honor to talk to you we

676
00:32:02,549 --> 00:32:01,120
wish you a tremendous success on your

677
00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:02,559
return visit we'll be on the ground

678
00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:04,570
waiting for you Godspeed and safe return

679
00:32:17,930 --> 00:32:15,830
Atlantis this is Houston ACR on behalf

680
00:32:20,540 --> 00:32:17,940
of the audio control room the NASA

681
00:32:22,970 --> 00:32:20,550
television production team and the JSC

682
00:32:25,250 --> 00:32:22,980
Public Affairs Office it's been an honor

683
00:32:26,810 --> 00:32:25,260
to serve with you over the years and on

684
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:26,820
this last mission of the space shuttle

685
00:32:36,470 --> 00:32:29,850
program thank you that concludes the

686
00:32:38,150 --> 00:32:36,480
event I'll tell you whenever we hear

687
00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:38,160
your voice we know we're in space and it

688
00:32:42,230 --> 00:32:40,530
makes it tomorrow thanks so much for for

689
00:32:43,850 --> 00:32:42,240
helping us bring the word to everybody

690
00:32:45,590 --> 00:32:43,860
in America about what we're doing up

691
00:32:46,760 --> 00:32:45,600
here and we look forward to hearing your

692
00:32:49,130 --> 00:32:46,770
voice aboard the International Space

693
00:32:58,870 --> 00:32:49,140
Station and wherever we go beyond the

694
00:33:03,230 --> 00:33:01,760
thank you for that Atlantis and Mission

695
00:33:08,540 --> 00:33:03,240
Control Houston will also like to thank

696
00:33:11,090 --> 00:33:08,550
ABC News CBS News CNN Fox News and NBC

697
00:33:12,890 --> 00:33:11,100
News and Atlantis will go ahead and