1 00:00:01,250 --> 00:00:02,980 >> I am here with a special guest. 2 00:00:02,980 --> 00:00:05,740 We are here for Digital Learning Network 3 00:00:05,740 --> 00:00:08,530 with the Galena Park School District. 4 00:00:08,530 --> 00:00:12,440 And I know we are talking with 6 to 8th grade students who are -- 5 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,830 the theme of their studies are space camps, 6 00:00:14,830 --> 00:00:17,570 so I'm here with a guest who goes to space camp. 7 00:00:17,570 --> 00:00:20,070 Astronaut Scott Kelly has been to space three times. 8 00:00:20,070 --> 00:00:23,570 He flew once aboard the Space Shuttle on STS-103, 9 00:00:23,570 --> 00:00:25,990 then he flew a second time as a Commander 10 00:00:25,990 --> 00:00:28,030 of the Space Shuttle during STS-118, 11 00:00:28,030 --> 00:00:31,160 and most recently he flew aboard the International Space Station 12 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,940 as the Commander of expedition 26. 13 00:00:33,940 --> 00:00:38,410 And he was there for 159 days. 14 00:00:38,410 --> 00:00:40,260 Welcome, Scott, thank you for coming. 15 00:00:40,260 --> 00:00:42,650 >> Scott Kelly: Oh it's great to be here. 16 00:00:42,650 --> 00:00:44,400 >> Alright, and we're ready to go ahead and go 17 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,290 with your questions, so kids? 18 00:00:46,290 --> 00:00:47,500 >> Well here we have Jacob. 19 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:48,820 Jacob, go ahead. 20 00:00:48,820 --> 00:00:50,250 >> What would happen if [inaudible] 21 00:00:50,250 --> 00:00:54,910 or the Space Shuttle had interior failure or a problem, 22 00:00:54,910 --> 00:00:59,390 and if you all weren't docked at the Space Station? 23 00:00:59,390 --> 00:01:01,480 >> Scott Kelly: For the -- the Space Shuttle, 24 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,030 the Space Shuttle has various ways of -- 25 00:01:04,030 --> 00:01:06,190 of compensating if an engine fails. 26 00:01:06,190 --> 00:01:10,320 If it was to fail on the launch pad after liftoff -- 27 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:11,870 certainly before liftoff the -- 28 00:01:11,870 --> 00:01:14,560 the shuttle wouldn't actually lift off the pad. 29 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,630 But if it was after liftoff, in the first part of the ascent, 30 00:01:18,630 --> 00:01:22,160 you would come back to the Kennedy Space Center and land. 31 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:30,010 As you get faster and higher, your options to abort improve, 32 00:01:30,010 --> 00:01:33,310 to where the next -- the next option would be potentially 33 00:01:33,310 --> 00:01:36,910 landing in a -- at a landing site in Africa. 34 00:01:36,910 --> 00:01:40,140 And later on in the 8 and a half minute ascent, 35 00:01:40,140 --> 00:01:43,090 you could actually do what's called an abort to orbit, 36 00:01:43,090 --> 00:01:46,160 where you might get in a -- into a lower orbit -- 37 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:48,380 not the one that you intended to go into, 38 00:01:48,380 --> 00:01:49,880 but something that is safe. 39 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:55,570 For the Soyuz, again it depends on where 40 00:01:55,570 --> 00:01:58,280 that engine failure happens, where in the -- 41 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:01,830 in the launch trajectory it happens. 42 00:02:01,830 --> 00:02:03,550 In the most severe case, 43 00:02:03,550 --> 00:02:07,200 the Soyuz has an escape system that'll basically rocket the 44 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,930 capsule away from the -- the larger rocket, 45 00:02:10,930 --> 00:02:14,600 and allow the crew to land under the parachute. 46 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,100 Of course, you know, as you get -- just like the Space Shuttle, 47 00:02:17,100 --> 00:02:20,970 as you get faster and higher, you have better options. 48 00:02:20,970 --> 00:02:25,300 And in some cases if the engine fails very late in the -- 49 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:28,670 in the ascent, you don't have to really do anything at all, 50 00:02:28,670 --> 00:02:32,170 you have enough capability in the remaining engines to get 51 00:02:32,170 --> 00:02:33,510 to where you need to go. 52 00:02:33,510 --> 00:02:41,040 [ Silence ] 53 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:42,970 >> Alrighty then, that's a wonderful answer. 54 00:02:42,970 --> 00:02:43,780 Thank you, Scott Kelly. 55 00:02:43,780 --> 00:02:48,330 We're going to go ahead and to the next question. 56 00:02:48,330 --> 00:02:50,770 Galena Park IC, if you can just make sure you can speak 57 00:02:50,770 --> 00:02:52,460 as loudly and clearly into the microphone 58 00:02:52,460 --> 00:02:54,650 as you can, we'd appreciate it. 59 00:02:54,650 --> 00:02:58,630 >> Okay. My name is Daniel, and how is it -- 60 00:02:58,630 --> 00:03:02,080 how is it like during the launches? 61 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:04,340 Like how'd you feel? 62 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:05,980 >> Scott Kelly: You know, it's interesting. 63 00:03:05,980 --> 00:03:10,210 On my -- on my first flight on the Space Shuttle, 64 00:03:10,210 --> 00:03:13,490 the Space Shuttle on the Launchpad weighs 65 00:03:13,490 --> 00:03:16,500 about 5 million pounds, and has about 7 66 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:18,680 and a half million pounds of thrust 67 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,110 that launches it into space. 68 00:03:21,110 --> 00:03:24,820 And on the first -- your first flight into space, 69 00:03:24,820 --> 00:03:27,910 it really gets your attention. 70 00:03:27,910 --> 00:03:31,100 It feels like you feel every pound of that 7 71 00:03:31,100 --> 00:03:32,710 and a half million pounds of thrust. 72 00:03:32,710 --> 00:03:36,720 You -- you get the sense that you're going somewhere, 73 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:37,890 you're not sure where. 74 00:03:37,890 --> 00:03:39,810 You know you're going there in a hurry, and you know, 75 00:03:39,810 --> 00:03:41,340 you're not coming back to Florida. 76 00:03:41,340 --> 00:03:44,430 I mean it just -- it just leaps off the Launchpad. 77 00:03:44,430 --> 00:03:49,210 The Soyuz is a little bit different for -- 78 00:03:49,210 --> 00:03:50,520 for a number of reasons. 79 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,640 It doesn't have the same amount of thrust, 80 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,680 although it does have a higher acceleration, 81 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:01,450 so you feel higher G-forces later in the -- in the ascent. 82 00:04:01,450 --> 00:04:04,580 And then the other difference with the Soyuz is 83 00:04:04,580 --> 00:04:10,390 that when the second and third stages of the -- 84 00:04:10,390 --> 00:04:15,100 the Soyuz light -- when the engines light, they do it, 85 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:17,480 you know, after the previous stage has -- has -- 86 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,530 has shut down, so -- at least in the case 87 00:04:21,530 --> 00:04:22,820 of the second and the third stage. 88 00:04:22,820 --> 00:04:25,890 So you feel like you're accelerating, 89 00:04:25,890 --> 00:04:29,880 and then you stop accelerating, and you kind of go 90 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,670 to like a 0 G kind of feeling, and then the engines kick on, 91 00:04:33,670 --> 00:04:37,440 and it's really like a real kick in the pants so to speak, 92 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,860 that it starts accelerating you out again. 93 00:04:39,860 --> 00:04:42,820 So there is some differences. 94 00:04:42,820 --> 00:04:47,130 You know, it's very exciting time, certainly, and -- 95 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:50,330 and certainly a lot of fun too. 96 00:04:50,330 --> 00:04:51,510 >> Very good question. 97 00:04:51,510 --> 00:04:53,810 And also there's some significant differences 98 00:04:53,810 --> 00:04:55,980 in the landing of those two vehicles as well. 99 00:04:55,980 --> 00:04:57,390 You want to quickly -- 100 00:04:57,390 --> 00:04:59,860 >> Scott Kelly: Yeah, the -- the landing of the Soyuz and the -- 101 00:04:59,860 --> 00:05:02,520 and the -- and the shuttle are -- are much different. 102 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,800 The shuttle lands kind of like an airplane. 103 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:11,160 It is much more gentle, and it's because it was designed 104 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,710 to be a reusable vehicle that, you know, 105 00:05:13,710 --> 00:05:17,910 brought potentially sensitive scientific experiments, 106 00:05:17,910 --> 00:05:20,910 and other -- and other sensitive equipment home, 107 00:05:20,910 --> 00:05:23,250 not to mention the vehicle is somewhat sensitive 'cause we 108 00:05:23,250 --> 00:05:25,030 needed to reuse it. 109 00:05:25,030 --> 00:05:28,180 So the -- the Soyuz is much different. 110 00:05:28,180 --> 00:05:33,860 The Soyuz enters as a capsule, it lands under a parachute, 111 00:05:33,860 --> 00:05:38,670 and lands -- and -- and lands in the -- in the desert. 112 00:05:38,670 --> 00:05:42,640 The shuttle landing is -- is much more gentle. 113 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,310 It's actually flown by the Commander. 114 00:05:45,310 --> 00:05:49,390 The Soyuz is generally speaking all automatic, 115 00:05:49,390 --> 00:05:52,710 and is more like a -- whereas the shuttle's like an airplane, 116 00:05:52,710 --> 00:05:56,300 the Soyuz is more like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. 117 00:05:56,300 --> 00:05:59,240 It's a -- it's a very, very dynamic -- 118 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,930 we call it dynamic ride, and very exciting. 119 00:06:02,930 --> 00:06:05,510 >> Next question. 120 00:06:05,510 --> 00:06:12,040 [ Silence ] 121 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,570 >> I wanted to know how long does it take to get into -- 122 00:06:15,570 --> 00:06:19,340 to get out of the atmosphere and get into space. 123 00:06:19,340 --> 00:06:20,870 >> Scott Kelly: Well, you know, space is -- 124 00:06:20,870 --> 00:06:24,900 is defined as this like 50-mile barrier. 125 00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:29,270 And it takes several minutes to get -- get to that altitude, 126 00:06:29,270 --> 00:06:32,720 both in the -- in the Space Shuttle and in the Soyuz. 127 00:06:32,720 --> 00:06:34,610 Doesn't actually feel like you're in space 128 00:06:34,610 --> 00:06:38,980 until the engines of -- of those vehicles cut off, 129 00:06:38,980 --> 00:06:43,660 and that's when you go from this acceleration getting you 130 00:06:43,660 --> 00:06:48,090 to a very fast speed to where you actually feel zero gravity. 131 00:06:48,090 --> 00:06:52,010 And that takes on the shuttle 8 and a half minutes, 132 00:06:52,010 --> 00:06:55,820 on the Soyuz a little over 9 minutes before it's -- 133 00:06:55,820 --> 00:06:58,720 before you're, you know, not only are you in space, 134 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,200 but you feel like you're in space 135 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,250 because you're then floating. 136 00:07:05,270 --> 00:07:06,470 >> Okay, we're looking at now -- 137 00:07:06,470 --> 00:07:08,970 that was just a video clip of a Soyuz launch. 138 00:07:08,970 --> 00:07:10,510 Next question. 139 00:07:10,510 --> 00:07:18,060 [ Silence ] 140 00:07:18,060 --> 00:07:21,320 >> Do you ever get used to the feeling of going into space 141 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:25,200 and landing from coming back? 142 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,200 >> Scott Kelly: You know, having flown three times, 143 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:32,630 I would say I haven't gotten used to it. 144 00:07:32,630 --> 00:07:34,540 You know, there are aspects of it that -- 145 00:07:34,540 --> 00:07:37,220 that get more comfortable. 146 00:07:37,220 --> 00:07:39,780 You know, I flew twice on the Soyuz and one -- 147 00:07:39,780 --> 00:07:42,750 or twice on the -- the shuttle and once on the Soyuz, so, 148 00:07:42,750 --> 00:07:44,950 you know, it's only -- only one 149 00:07:44,950 --> 00:07:46,990 of those vehicles did I fly on twice. 150 00:07:46,990 --> 00:07:50,790 But I think it would take me many, 151 00:07:50,790 --> 00:07:53,790 many flights before I got completely comfortable 152 00:07:53,790 --> 00:07:56,410 with either the launch or the landing of either the -- 153 00:07:56,410 --> 00:07:58,410 the shuttle or the -- the Soyuz. 154 00:07:58,410 --> 00:08:00,030 >> So I don't think he's done. 155 00:08:00,030 --> 00:08:02,580 >> Scott Kelly: I'd like to have the opportunity 156 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:03,930 to get very comfortable. 157 00:08:03,930 --> 00:08:05,510 >> Next question. 158 00:08:05,510 --> 00:08:11,530 [ Silence ] 159 00:08:11,530 --> 00:08:14,930 >> What do you like about being [inaudible]? 160 00:08:14,930 --> 00:08:17,340 >> Scott Kelly: Can you repeat the question one more time? 161 00:08:17,340 --> 00:08:19,690 >> What do you like being -- 162 00:08:19,690 --> 00:08:23,160 what do you like about being an astronaut? 163 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,500 >> Scott Kelly: What do I like about being an astronaut? 164 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:28,180 Well certainly, you know, flying in space is a -- 165 00:08:28,180 --> 00:08:31,630 is a great part of the job. 166 00:08:31,630 --> 00:08:37,660 But to me, the best part about being an astronaut is 167 00:08:37,660 --> 00:08:41,450 that flying in space is very, very challenging. 168 00:08:41,450 --> 00:08:47,950 It's -- it's very difficult, and there's a lot of satisfaction 169 00:08:47,950 --> 00:08:51,540 to be had by being a part of something that is very, 170 00:08:51,540 --> 00:08:54,390 very challenging, very hard, working hard at it, 171 00:08:54,390 --> 00:08:59,190 working with a -- a team, and then being successful and -- 172 00:08:59,190 --> 00:09:00,430 and proud of your success. 173 00:09:00,430 --> 00:09:03,320 So, you know, it's not the individual, you know, 174 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:05,550 launching in space or landing, 175 00:09:05,550 --> 00:09:07,350 or looking at the earth, or floating. 176 00:09:07,350 --> 00:09:09,930 It's -- it's being a part of something that's much larger 177 00:09:09,930 --> 00:09:13,200 than yourself, something that you consider important, 178 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:18,030 something that you work with a team, and then, you know, 179 00:09:18,030 --> 00:09:19,280 you're proud of your success. 180 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,990 And when I go around the country and talk about the space program 181 00:09:21,990 --> 00:09:25,380 and -- and talk to kids, what I say is that same type 182 00:09:25,380 --> 00:09:28,780 of satisfaction and challenge that, you know, we experience 183 00:09:28,780 --> 00:09:32,130 in the space program, you can also experience 184 00:09:32,130 --> 00:09:35,980 in your own lives, whether it's with your schoolwork, you know, 185 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:39,400 if -- if it's, you know, if you find something that's difficult 186 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,900 and you work hard at it, then you can be proud 187 00:09:41,900 --> 00:09:44,320 of your success, and you can do that, you know, 188 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,010 with your schoolwork, in sports, and other careers 189 00:09:47,010 --> 00:09:48,840 that you may decide to pursue. 190 00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:50,780 You know, I encourage you 191 00:09:50,780 --> 00:09:53,160 to pursue something that's challenging, something that's, 192 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,220 you know, not necessarily easy for you, you know, 193 00:09:56,220 --> 00:10:00,550 challenge yourself with your schoolwork, with what you decide 194 00:10:00,550 --> 00:10:02,520 to do in your life, and then be proud of yourselves 195 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:03,510 when you're successful. 196 00:10:03,510 --> 00:10:13,300 [ Silence ] 197 00:10:13,300 --> 00:10:15,050 >> Hi, my name is Marigold [phonetic]. 198 00:10:15,050 --> 00:10:18,210 I'd like to know what type of training do you have to go 199 00:10:18,210 --> 00:10:21,870 through to be an astronaut? 200 00:10:21,870 --> 00:10:24,710 >> Scott Kelly: It's, you know, to become an astronaut, 201 00:10:24,710 --> 00:10:26,120 NASA looks for people 202 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:30,110 that certainly have the appropriate technical background 203 00:10:30,110 --> 00:10:32,330 in science or math or engineering, 204 00:10:32,330 --> 00:10:35,020 some technical field, but also, you know, 205 00:10:35,020 --> 00:10:36,710 people that have proven themselves 206 00:10:36,710 --> 00:10:39,490 in whatever job they're currently in. 207 00:10:39,490 --> 00:10:44,510 In my case I was a -- a military test pilot prior 208 00:10:44,510 --> 00:10:47,310 to becoming an astronaut. 209 00:10:47,310 --> 00:10:51,650 The -- the selection process is -- is pretty -- 210 00:10:51,650 --> 00:10:55,220 it's pretty selective because there's only 211 00:10:55,220 --> 00:10:57,050 so many people here, and a lot of people 212 00:10:57,050 --> 00:10:58,330 that -- that want the job. 213 00:10:58,330 --> 00:11:00,960 But I wouldn't discourage anyone from -- 214 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,800 from pursuing this as a -- as a career just because, you know, 215 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,140 there aren't a whole lot of opportunities right now. 216 00:11:08,140 --> 00:11:10,430 Because obviously, you know, somebody has to -- 217 00:11:10,430 --> 00:11:14,580 has to do it, and, you know, people that, you know, 218 00:11:14,580 --> 00:11:17,980 are very motivated and work hard a lot of times have this kind 219 00:11:17,980 --> 00:11:22,680 of opportunity, so I wouldn't be discouraging to anyone that -- 220 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:25,050 that wanted to do this just because there's -- 221 00:11:25,050 --> 00:11:26,660 there's only a, you know, 222 00:11:26,660 --> 00:11:28,280 limited opportunities at this point. 223 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,140 You never know what -- what might be in the future. 224 00:11:31,140 --> 00:11:33,450 Once you become an astronaut, the -- the -- 225 00:11:33,450 --> 00:11:35,970 the training is pretty extensive. 226 00:11:35,970 --> 00:11:39,400 And, you know, I've been here for 16 years, 227 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,810 and I still sometimes say to my -- 228 00:11:41,810 --> 00:11:44,960 my daughters that I have a class. 229 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:47,990 And my 8-year old looks at me and she's like, you know, 230 00:11:47,990 --> 00:11:49,150 why do you have a class, dad? 231 00:11:49,150 --> 00:11:52,210 You're old, you shouldn't be having a class. 232 00:11:52,210 --> 00:11:56,490 But, you know, as an astronaut you train, you know, 233 00:11:56,490 --> 00:11:58,130 not every day, but all the time, 234 00:11:58,130 --> 00:12:00,990 and some of that training is academic training, 235 00:12:00,990 --> 00:12:04,470 some of it's studying on your own, some of it's doing, 236 00:12:04,470 --> 00:12:07,900 you know, robotic operations or training for launch and landing 237 00:12:07,900 --> 00:12:10,660 in a simulator, or training in a pool 238 00:12:10,660 --> 00:12:13,060 in a big bulky space suit for a spacewalk. 239 00:12:13,060 --> 00:12:17,300 So, you know, I -- I feel like I've been going 240 00:12:17,300 --> 00:12:21,380 to school continuously since kindergarten, and, 241 00:12:21,380 --> 00:12:23,650 you know, that's over 40 years. 242 00:12:23,650 --> 00:12:27,840 So I guess the message there is that, you know, 243 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,990 if you want to be successful in life, and you want to, you know, 244 00:12:30,990 --> 00:12:33,550 have a career that challenges you, you never -- 245 00:12:33,550 --> 00:12:35,460 you never stop learning, you always need 246 00:12:35,460 --> 00:12:38,140 to consider yourself a student of something, 247 00:12:38,140 --> 00:12:41,670 and that's the way you, you know, continue to improve, 248 00:12:41,670 --> 00:12:46,620 and increases your chances of being successful in life. 249 00:12:46,620 --> 00:12:48,660 >> That's also a very -- a very good message that you talk 250 00:12:48,660 --> 00:12:51,250 about not to be discouraged because of the opportunity, 251 00:12:51,250 --> 00:12:54,000 but also be, you know, look at your background. 252 00:12:54,000 --> 00:13:00,550 I mean you were a son of two police officers, and, you know, 253 00:13:00,550 --> 00:13:03,660 becoming an astronaut wasn't necessarily, you know, 254 00:13:03,660 --> 00:13:06,660 something that was right there laid out in the stars. 255 00:13:06,660 --> 00:13:09,350 I mean you actually had to work for that. 256 00:13:09,350 --> 00:13:12,060 >> Scott Kelly: Yeah, I came from a -- a blue collar family. 257 00:13:12,060 --> 00:13:16,940 You know, essentially my brother and I were the first generations 258 00:13:16,940 --> 00:13:20,450 in our -- in our -- in our family to go to college. 259 00:13:20,450 --> 00:13:24,240 And, you know, being a, you know, an officer in the military 260 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:27,950 and a pilot was not something that people really did from, 261 00:13:27,950 --> 00:13:30,140 you know, where I was from at that time. 262 00:13:30,140 --> 00:13:36,640 So it, you know, it was -- it was basically, you know, 263 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,200 my brother and I becoming astronauts, you know, 264 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:43,120 we basically had the same opportunity as many kids 265 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:47,150 out there, which -- basically I think what I'm trying 266 00:13:47,150 --> 00:13:51,110 to say is we didn't have any extra special help to do this 267 00:13:51,110 --> 00:13:54,230 because of, you know, the background that we came from. 268 00:13:54,230 --> 00:13:54,750 >> Exactly. 269 00:13:54,750 --> 00:13:56,240 So bottom line is it's up to you. 270 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:59,210 Good question, and next one. 271 00:13:59,210 --> 00:14:00,510 >> Thank you. 272 00:14:00,510 --> 00:14:06,480 [ Silence ] 273 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,340 >> Hi, my name is Kennedy. 274 00:14:08,340 --> 00:14:12,370 I'd like to know when you're in space, are you ever afraid 275 00:14:12,370 --> 00:14:17,910 of what you might discover there? 276 00:14:17,910 --> 00:14:18,480 >> Scott Kelly: You know, I -- 277 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,550 I think people that are astronauts are -- 278 00:14:20,550 --> 00:14:25,660 are explorers in -- at heart, and they're looking 279 00:14:25,660 --> 00:14:29,810 for discoveries, and, you know, not really afraid 280 00:14:29,810 --> 00:14:31,320 of what they might find. 281 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:36,400 You know, as far as like big surprises, if you're referring 282 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,690 to things that might, you know, you might have seen 283 00:14:38,690 --> 00:14:41,460 on a science fiction movie, or something or that -- 284 00:14:41,460 --> 00:14:44,830 that kind of stuff that might scare you, no, 285 00:14:44,830 --> 00:14:47,240 we actually don't really think about that in space. 286 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:50,280 Certainly -- certainly there are some things that worry you 287 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:51,990 and might be a little bit scary. 288 00:14:51,990 --> 00:14:57,410 Most -- most astronauts are more scared about making mistakes 289 00:14:57,410 --> 00:15:00,070 than they are about their, you know, physical well-being 290 00:15:00,070 --> 00:15:01,150 on the -- on the rocket. 291 00:15:01,150 --> 00:15:03,240 You know, most of the -- 292 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:09,500 the times in space that are the riskiest -- riskiest are the -- 293 00:15:09,500 --> 00:15:12,790 are the times where you're most focused on what you're doing. 294 00:15:12,790 --> 00:15:14,400 So you really don't have time to be scared. 295 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:17,270 You're -- you're, you know, focused on your job, 296 00:15:17,270 --> 00:15:20,330 and completing that, and not really worrying 297 00:15:20,330 --> 00:15:22,740 about what could happen if things go bad. 298 00:15:22,740 --> 00:15:25,510 >> Thank you. 299 00:15:25,510 --> 00:15:32,050 [ Silence ] 300 00:15:32,050 --> 00:15:33,950 >> Who inspired you to become an astronaut [inaudible] 301 00:15:33,950 --> 00:15:37,540 or were you following in your brother's path? 302 00:15:37,540 --> 00:15:40,130 >> Scott Kelly: You know, my brother and I were both 303 00:15:40,130 --> 00:15:44,760 in the same astronaut class, and although he was 304 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,450 in the navy a year before me, it was really my idea 305 00:15:47,450 --> 00:15:49,850 to join the navy and be a pilot, 306 00:15:49,850 --> 00:15:52,030 and he kind of stole that from me. 307 00:15:52,030 --> 00:15:57,310 As far as -- as far as inspiration, I just thought 308 00:15:57,310 --> 00:16:01,350 that -- I do remember reading the book The Right Stuff, 309 00:16:01,350 --> 00:16:02,300 it's called. 310 00:16:02,300 --> 00:16:05,910 It's about the early test pilots in the -- 311 00:16:05,910 --> 00:16:10,350 in the jet age when we first broke the speed of sound, 312 00:16:10,350 --> 00:16:11,890 and about the early astronauts. 313 00:16:11,890 --> 00:16:13,860 And I remember reading that book, 314 00:16:13,860 --> 00:16:16,380 and while I was reading it I'm thinking, you know, 315 00:16:16,380 --> 00:16:17,720 I think I can do this. 316 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:19,750 You know, this seems really exciting, but, you know, 317 00:16:19,750 --> 00:16:23,680 I didn't see anything in that book that made those pilots 318 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,230 or those astronauts really, you know, 319 00:16:26,230 --> 00:16:32,320 stand out above what I thought I had the capability to achieve. 320 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,740 Maybe I was being naive at the time, but -- 321 00:16:34,740 --> 00:16:38,370 but, you know, I was certainly a dreamer like a lot of kids, 322 00:16:38,370 --> 00:16:40,450 and I thought hey, I could probably do this. 323 00:16:40,450 --> 00:16:44,170 And I thought it would be really fun to be a -- a -- 324 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:46,590 a pilot of a high performance jet airplane. 325 00:16:46,590 --> 00:16:48,770 And I thought to myself, you know, 326 00:16:48,770 --> 00:16:51,030 what would be the most challenging type of flying? 327 00:16:51,030 --> 00:16:53,120 And I, you know, figured it would be landing 328 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,240 on an aircraft carrier, especially at night. 329 00:16:57,240 --> 00:17:03,530 So I decided to be a navy -- navy pilot. 330 00:17:03,530 --> 00:17:05,510 >> Thanks. 331 00:17:05,510 --> 00:17:10,040 [ Silence ] 332 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,480 >> Scott Kelly: Next question? 333 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,280 >> Hi, my name is Arianna. 334 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:18,990 I would like to know how you felt when you were landing. 335 00:17:20,090 --> 00:17:24,350 >> Scott Kelly: How I felt when I was where? 336 00:17:24,350 --> 00:17:25,820 >> Landing [inaudible]? 337 00:17:27,470 --> 00:17:29,730 >> Scott Kelly: On my last landing in the -- 338 00:17:29,730 --> 00:17:34,240 in the Space Shuttle I was actually flying it. 339 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:36,140 So like I said before, I was really focused 340 00:17:36,140 --> 00:17:38,090 on -- on doing my job. 341 00:17:38,090 --> 00:17:41,350 You feel a little bit dizzy. 342 00:17:41,350 --> 00:17:44,420 You -- you haven't been exposed to gravity for in that -- 343 00:17:44,420 --> 00:17:49,960 in that case 13 days, so your what's called the vestibular 344 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:55,590 system -- your balance system is not normal, it's not how it -- 345 00:17:55,590 --> 00:18:01,230 how it is on earth, because it uses gravity to -- 346 00:18:01,230 --> 00:18:05,500 to, you know, know which way is up and down, and to -- 347 00:18:05,500 --> 00:18:06,630 to stabilize yourself. 348 00:18:06,630 --> 00:18:09,770 So when you're coming back into gravity, you're dizzy, 349 00:18:09,770 --> 00:18:12,140 and in this case I'm trying to fly the -- 350 00:18:12,140 --> 00:18:15,530 the Space Shuttle so it's somewhat challenging, 351 00:18:15,530 --> 00:18:18,810 certainly very exciting 'cause you're at the end of this very, 352 00:18:18,810 --> 00:18:21,570 you know, challenging and exciting 353 00:18:21,570 --> 00:18:23,260 and -- time in your life. 354 00:18:23,260 --> 00:18:26,400 And the Soyuz though is different. 355 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,570 It's much more dynamic. 356 00:18:28,570 --> 00:18:31,770 When the drogue chute opens, it has several parachutes, 357 00:18:31,770 --> 00:18:35,580 one of 'em's called a drogue chute that stabilizes the -- 358 00:18:35,580 --> 00:18:38,060 the vehicle, and -- and pulls out the main chute. 359 00:18:38,060 --> 00:18:40,800 And when that opens, it's kind of like a -- 360 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,400 the wildest roller coaster you could ever imagine. 361 00:18:43,400 --> 00:18:47,820 It really, you know, the -- the Soyuz really moves around 362 00:18:47,820 --> 00:18:51,000 and feels -- probably feels a lot worse than it really is 363 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,200 because of your -- like I said, 364 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,970 your balance system is somewhat messed up, so it really tumbles. 365 00:18:55,970 --> 00:19:00,170 And for -- it feels like it's, you know, more than a minute. 366 00:19:00,170 --> 00:19:02,800 As you can see on the TV here, they show the drogue chute, 367 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:06,720 and this the main chute -- the main parachute opening. 368 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,050 Once the main parachute opens it gets pretty stable, 369 00:19:09,050 --> 00:19:11,720 but then when it hits the ground, it's like -- 370 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,620 again, like kind of like a car crash. 371 00:19:14,620 --> 00:19:17,380 If you could imagine like a race car driver 372 00:19:17,380 --> 00:19:20,040 when they actually flip the car and it's kind of tumbling 373 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,830 through the air down the track, actually feels a lot 374 00:19:22,830 --> 00:19:26,040 like what I would imagine that to feel like. 375 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:26,630 >> Exhilarating. 376 00:19:26,630 --> 00:19:27,810 Do we have any more questions? 377 00:19:27,810 --> 00:19:29,310 >> Thank you. 378 00:19:30,510 --> 00:19:38,210 [ Silence ] 379 00:19:38,210 --> 00:19:39,350 >> My name is Dean. 380 00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:44,250 And what I want to know is are astronauts affected 381 00:19:44,250 --> 00:19:48,330 by deep vein thrombosis, otherwise known as blood clots, 382 00:19:48,330 --> 00:19:53,730 since they aren't using their muscles too often? 383 00:19:53,730 --> 00:19:55,510 >> Scott Kelly: Yeah, that -- so the -- 384 00:19:55,510 --> 00:19:59,030 the deep vein thrombosis that I think you -- 385 00:19:59,030 --> 00:20:05,650 you hear about people -- excuse me -- experiencing, you know, 386 00:20:05,650 --> 00:20:07,580 sometimes people on airplanes, 387 00:20:07,580 --> 00:20:10,010 I guess there's anecdotal information that's sitting 388 00:20:10,010 --> 00:20:15,070 for long periods of time could cause those type of blood clots. 389 00:20:15,070 --> 00:20:19,130 You know, I don't think there's any history of us having -- 390 00:20:19,130 --> 00:20:20,560 there's certainly not any history 391 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,910 of us having anything like that in space. 392 00:20:22,910 --> 00:20:28,790 But in some ways, I -- and I'm just kind of guessing here, 393 00:20:28,790 --> 00:20:33,310 you might be less susceptible to that kind of thing in space 394 00:20:33,310 --> 00:20:37,290 because in space the, you know, 395 00:20:37,290 --> 00:20:40,140 you don't have gravity pushing all the blood 396 00:20:40,140 --> 00:20:43,080 down from your upper body into your lower body. 397 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:46,540 And I think that kind of phenomenon is potentially due 398 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:49,200 to like if you're sitting a long time, you have, you know, 399 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:51,980 and you're not moving around, potentially the blood in your -- 400 00:20:51,980 --> 00:20:56,620 in your lower extremities are kind of, you know, 401 00:20:56,620 --> 00:21:00,200 little bit more stagnant than they might otherwise would be. 402 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:03,440 So in space where everything floats, your -- 403 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,210 the blood in your body is distributed, you know, 404 00:21:07,210 --> 00:21:12,020 perfectly evenly, and is not, you know, affected by gravity. 405 00:21:12,020 --> 00:21:14,450 So I think there's probably less of a chance to have something 406 00:21:14,450 --> 00:21:19,020 like that in -- in -- in orbit or in space. 407 00:21:19,020 --> 00:21:21,960 >> Thank you. 408 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:22,850 >> Alright. 409 00:21:22,850 --> 00:21:24,190 Thank you for that answer, Scott Kelly. 410 00:21:24,190 --> 00:21:26,980 We are going to do one more question from Galena Park ISD, 411 00:21:26,980 --> 00:21:28,210 and then wrap up from there. 412 00:21:28,210 --> 00:21:31,310 So one more question, speak loud and clearly in the microphone, 413 00:21:31,310 --> 00:21:33,100 and we'll go from there. 414 00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:35,630 >> Good morning, my name is Jocelyn. 415 00:21:35,630 --> 00:21:38,130 And I wanted to know when you finally reached outer space, 416 00:21:38,130 --> 00:21:40,560 and you were able to gaze at the -- 417 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:43,930 the magnificent earth in person, that must be so surreal, 418 00:21:43,930 --> 00:21:46,300 and how does that make you feel? 419 00:21:46,300 --> 00:21:47,850 >> Scott Kelly: You know, I can, you know, 420 00:21:47,850 --> 00:21:51,250 on my last flight I had six months of looking at the earth, 421 00:21:51,250 --> 00:21:53,320 and it's very beautiful. 422 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,470 Have certain memories of -- of -- 423 00:21:55,470 --> 00:22:01,020 of certain parts of the earth. 424 00:22:01,020 --> 00:22:04,750 My -- on my first flight on STS-103, 425 00:22:04,750 --> 00:22:06,280 I can remember we launched at night, 426 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:10,280 and I can remember turning to the Commander 427 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:16,570 of the Space Shuttle and asking him what -- I said something, 428 00:22:16,570 --> 00:22:19,770 I forget exactly how I put it, but I was like what is that? 429 00:22:19,770 --> 00:22:22,660 You know, it was just so amazing looking, 430 00:22:22,660 --> 00:22:26,710 and basically it was the sunrise and then the earth, 431 00:22:26,710 --> 00:22:29,100 and it was just this brilliant blue color, 432 00:22:29,100 --> 00:22:30,780 like the bluest thing I've ever seen 433 00:22:30,780 --> 00:22:33,100 in my life, perfectly clear. 434 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:36,390 The, you know, just the clarity of it was -- 435 00:22:36,390 --> 00:22:41,330 was impressive, you know, just absolutely breathtaking. 436 00:22:41,330 --> 00:22:44,450 And then, you know, it's interesting the places on earth 437 00:22:44,450 --> 00:22:47,970 that are most beautiful are the places that are kind 438 00:22:47,970 --> 00:22:52,040 of the least habitable, you know, the water. 439 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:54,820 You know, most of the planet is water, I'm -- 440 00:22:54,820 --> 00:22:56,550 it's kind of surprising that we've decided 441 00:22:56,550 --> 00:22:59,490 to call it planet earth and we didn't call it planet water. 442 00:22:59,490 --> 00:23:02,520 But anyway, so the, you know, water is very beautiful 443 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:04,380 in certain areas, and -- as well 444 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:06,890 as the deserts are incredibly beautiful. 445 00:23:06,890 --> 00:23:09,150 >> That's a wrap. 446 00:23:09,150 --> 00:23:10,400 Good questions, guys. 447 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,350 And you heard it here, dream big,