1 00:00:04,130 --> 00:00:02,450 hi welcome to the International Space 2 00:00:05,869 --> 00:00:04,140 Station flight control room 3 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:05,879 I understand today we are talking with 4 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:08,610 students from the Clarke Creek STEM 5 00:00:11,749 --> 00:00:10,410 Academy welcome students I have a 6 00:00:13,370 --> 00:00:11,759 special treat because I understand you 7 00:00:14,419 --> 00:00:13,380 guys have a lot of questions about 8 00:00:15,589 --> 00:00:14,429 living and working aboard the 9 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:15,599 International Space Station 10 00:00:20,330 --> 00:00:17,730 and today's guest has certainly done 11 00:00:22,910 --> 00:00:20,340 that done that astronaut Mike Fossum he 12 00:00:24,529 --> 00:00:22,920 is a veteran of three space flights his 13 00:00:27,470 --> 00:00:24,539 most recent white he was a commander of 14 00:00:29,390 --> 00:00:27,480 expedition 29 welcome Mike and thank you 15 00:00:31,279 --> 00:00:29,400 for joining us today amiko it's great to 16 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:31,289 be back in Mission Control and great to 17 00:00:35,810 --> 00:00:32,850 be talking to the students from Carr 18 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:35,820 Creek and STEM Academy great so with 19 00:00:44,030 --> 00:00:38,489 that we're ready for your questions okay 20 00:00:46,970 --> 00:00:44,040 all right thank you your Boy Scout 21 00:00:51,110 --> 00:00:46,980 training helped you as an astronaut it's 22 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:51,120 yes how a great question my Boy Scout 23 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:53,070 training helped me learn how to work as 24 00:00:58,119 --> 00:00:55,770 a part of a team because in Scouting you 25 00:01:01,160 --> 00:00:58,129 know you work as a small groups of teams 26 00:01:03,139 --> 00:01:01,170 and and you do different things and it's 27 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:03,149 in ways it's kind of the same thing here 28 00:01:08,149 --> 00:01:06,090 in indeed as I lived on the space 29 00:01:10,190 --> 00:01:08,159 station I slept in a sleeping bag for 30 00:01:11,990 --> 00:01:10,200 six months and so in some ways it was 31 00:01:14,539 --> 00:01:12,000 kind of like camping out for six months 32 00:01:16,249 --> 00:01:14,549 at a time you also learned self-reliance 33 00:01:18,109 --> 00:01:16,259 how to take care of yourself in a lot of 34 00:01:20,179 --> 00:01:18,119 different ways from preparing food to 35 00:01:38,620 --> 00:01:20,189 simple first aid and we certainly used 36 00:01:43,340 --> 00:01:40,670 learned how a lot of different things 37 00:01:44,990 --> 00:01:43,350 work as I was in Scouting in my youth 38 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:45,000 and working towards being an Eagle Scout 39 00:01:50,389 --> 00:01:48,210 and and you know another part of it that 40 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:50,399 we learned was taking the big trips as 41 00:01:55,490 --> 00:01:53,040 you get to be an older scout or you know 42 00:01:57,740 --> 00:01:55,500 older youth and different programs to to 43 00:02:00,709 --> 00:01:57,750 do big trips where you go on long trips 44 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:00,719 a week or more into the mountains into 45 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:02,610 the wilderness area canoeing on rivers 46 00:02:06,230 --> 00:02:04,290 and things and that gives you a 47 00:02:08,719 --> 00:02:06,240 different mindset as you escape the 48 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:08,729 normal world that that you know which 49 00:02:11,990 --> 00:02:10,530 involves televisions and air 50 00:02:13,610 --> 00:02:12,000 conditioners and all those kind of 51 00:02:15,290 --> 00:02:13,620 things and living 52 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:15,300 on your own resources in a different 53 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:17,610 environment and whether that different 54 00:02:23,630 --> 00:02:20,730 environment is is a place in a deep 55 00:02:26,270 --> 00:02:23,640 forest or a place in outer space it's 56 00:02:28,100 --> 00:02:26,280 still an adaptation that you have to do 57 00:02:31,119 --> 00:02:28,110 is you learn to rely on each other and 58 00:02:35,119 --> 00:02:31,129 learn on your training to be successful 59 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:35,129 right so you would recommend Boy Scouts 60 00:02:40,420 --> 00:02:37,140 and becoming an Eagle Scout as good 61 00:02:43,220 --> 00:02:40,430 preparation to become a NASA astronaut 62 00:02:46,069 --> 00:02:43,230 scouting was certainly a great path for 63 00:02:47,330 --> 00:02:46,079 me and it is for many other people in in 64 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:47,340 a lot of different ways so sure I 65 00:02:50,930 --> 00:02:49,170 recommend the scouting program and the 66 00:02:53,390 --> 00:02:50,940 Girl Scouting program and the venture 67 00:02:54,830 --> 00:02:53,400 program for older students are good 68 00:02:56,770 --> 00:02:54,840 opportunities to learn different skills 69 00:03:07,089 --> 00:02:56,780 and learned that they're really critical 70 00:03:12,770 --> 00:03:11,030 yes I am thank you for asking I'm still 71 00:03:15,259 --> 00:03:12,780 an active astronaut and I'm still 72 00:03:16,910 --> 00:03:15,269 training I'm back in line and and I hope 73 00:03:19,460 --> 00:03:16,920 to go again someday I've worked very 74 00:03:36,370 --> 00:03:19,470 hard to get to this place and and I 75 00:03:44,089 --> 00:03:41,650 oh the the Space Telescope's 76 00:03:45,890 --> 00:03:44,099 well we don't have any more missions to 77 00:03:48,259 --> 00:03:45,900 go repair or work on any of those 78 00:03:50,559 --> 00:03:48,269 telescopes there are some big telescopes 79 00:03:53,599 --> 00:03:50,569 if I'm catching the question correct 80 00:03:55,759 --> 00:03:53,609 they the the human spaceflight program 81 00:03:58,670 --> 00:03:55,769 is kind of separate from our telescope 82 00:04:00,349 --> 00:03:58,680 programs these days the Hubble Space 83 00:04:03,110 --> 00:04:00,359 Telescope is the most famous one of 84 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:03,120 course and and we sent several Space 85 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:05,010 Shuttle crews to visit the Hubble Space 86 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:08,010 Telescope helped do some maintenance and 87 00:04:12,740 --> 00:04:09,810 some repairs to that to extend its 88 00:04:14,750 --> 00:04:12,750 lifetime for for a long time and but 89 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:14,760 those discoveries that it that are being 90 00:04:17,990 --> 00:04:16,650 made through the through the the Hubble 91 00:04:21,289 --> 00:04:18,000 Space Telescope being the most famous 92 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:21,299 and the other Observatory scopes is a 93 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:24,690 separate kind of program excellent 94 00:04:29,510 --> 00:04:25,770 question 95 00:04:32,090 --> 00:04:29,520 we have another one what is the status 96 00:04:37,460 --> 00:04:32,100 of your skeletal system since Logging's 97 00:04:39,529 --> 00:04:37,470 so many spaces well believe it or not I 98 00:04:41,270 --> 00:04:39,539 came at you know after my last flight 99 00:04:43,909 --> 00:04:41,280 was I lived in space about five and a 100 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:43,919 half months and thanks to some really 101 00:04:50,210 --> 00:04:46,849 good medicine and really good exercise 102 00:04:52,909 --> 00:04:50,220 machines and and programs that we did in 103 00:04:55,730 --> 00:04:52,919 space I came home with very very little 104 00:04:58,999 --> 00:04:55,740 change to my to my skeleton system as 105 00:05:01,400 --> 00:04:59,009 well as my musk my muscles so and my 106 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:01,410 cardiovascular system so my bones were 107 00:05:05,900 --> 00:05:03,930 healthy my muscles were healthy and my 108 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:05,910 heart and lungs working together for the 109 00:05:10,820 --> 00:05:08,610 cardiovascular system also was came back 110 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:10,830 in great shape and I worked very hard I 111 00:05:15,589 --> 00:05:12,810 worked out six days a week on orbit and 112 00:05:17,659 --> 00:05:15,599 I worked hard during those workouts and 113 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:17,669 and that that's really exciting news and 114 00:05:21,439 --> 00:05:19,289 it's kind of new because we have some 115 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:21,449 new exercise equipment up there that 116 00:05:25,399 --> 00:05:23,610 allows us to to get some really good 117 00:05:27,469 --> 00:05:25,409 exercise and put the stress on that 118 00:05:29,029 --> 00:05:27,479 skeleton so you maintain your bone 119 00:05:31,730 --> 00:05:29,039 strength and that's important someday 120 00:05:33,409 --> 00:05:31,740 when your head you when you're on the 121 00:05:35,689 --> 00:05:33,419 way to Mars and back again and you want 122 00:05:37,370 --> 00:05:35,699 to come home healthy and that's a great 123 00:05:40,460 --> 00:05:37,380 question and also you know in addition 124 00:05:42,830 --> 00:05:40,470 to just exercise you know as we know 125 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:42,840 even here on earth diet and exercise 126 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:44,849 combined are very important and so one 127 00:05:49,189 --> 00:05:47,610 of a couple of research things that 128 00:05:50,870 --> 00:05:49,199 they're doing now is looking at 129 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:50,880 nutrition as well to help mitigate those 130 00:05:55,370 --> 00:05:53,310 effects they've definitely found that 131 00:05:57,350 --> 00:05:55,380 the food we eat makes a big difference 132 00:05:59,450 --> 00:05:57,360 in our bone health also especially when 133 00:06:01,550 --> 00:05:59,460 we're up there and one big example that 134 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:01,560 the nutrition people told me beforehand 135 00:06:05,990 --> 00:06:04,050 was be sure you eat eat fish a few times 136 00:06:08,330 --> 00:06:06,000 a week because the fish and the fish 137 00:06:09,860 --> 00:06:08,340 oils end up being really important for 138 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:09,870 bone health and they don't completely 139 00:06:12,950 --> 00:06:11,250 understand why at least I don't 140 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:12,960 understand why so I can't explain it to 141 00:06:17,540 --> 00:06:15,570 you but eating that good good diet with 142 00:06:20,029 --> 00:06:17,550 with lots of good good meat and 143 00:06:22,580 --> 00:06:20,039 vegetables fresh vegetables and fruits 144 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:22,590 and stuff as well as the exercise all 145 00:06:26,450 --> 00:06:24,570 work together to make your body stronger 146 00:06:28,850 --> 00:06:26,460 here on earth - - and I did a lot of 147 00:06:31,159 --> 00:06:28,860 that before I flew - so I launched in 148 00:06:33,379 --> 00:06:31,169 pretty good shape and that came home in 149 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:33,389 good shape - which is important yep so 150 00:06:38,779 --> 00:06:35,490 you hear it at home here you hear now 151 00:06:40,090 --> 00:06:38,789 eat your veggies mom was right next 152 00:06:43,220 --> 00:06:40,100 question 153 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:43,230 if salmonella was found to be more 154 00:06:51,110 --> 00:06:47,610 aggressive or up regulated on ISS how 155 00:06:54,050 --> 00:06:51,120 might we be able to use is binding 156 00:06:55,970 --> 00:06:54,060 well what they've what they're doing is 157 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:55,980 working on a vaccine for salmonella and 158 00:07:00,650 --> 00:06:57,930 working on medicines associated with 159 00:07:03,140 --> 00:07:00,660 that that was a completely surprising 160 00:07:07,130 --> 00:07:03,150 finding that some of these bacteria and 161 00:07:10,220 --> 00:07:07,140 organisms become stronger in space and 162 00:07:12,380 --> 00:07:10,230 we don't know why we don't know for sure 163 00:07:14,450 --> 00:07:12,390 if it says they're biologic processes 164 00:07:17,330 --> 00:07:14,460 are more efficient in a microgravity 165 00:07:19,070 --> 00:07:17,340 environment if maybe the radiation is 166 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:19,080 somehow tweaking them up just like you 167 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:20,970 might see in the cartoons or bad movies 168 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:23,610 we're not really sure but that gives us 169 00:07:28,010 --> 00:07:25,410 the opportunity to research these things 170 00:07:31,010 --> 00:07:28,020 in a new way in a new light that we did 171 00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:31,020 not expect to find and so there's a lot 172 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:32,430 of exciting things that are just 173 00:07:41,740 --> 00:07:35,370 starting to to come out along those 174 00:07:45,910 --> 00:07:43,990 the space shuttle seemed like an 175 00:07:48,010 --> 00:07:45,920 ultimate space vehicle it could land 176 00:07:51,010 --> 00:07:48,020 like an airplane and glide yet it also 177 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:51,020 has a rocky type capacity - why is it no 178 00:07:55,570 --> 00:07:54,110 longer in operation oh boy we could go 179 00:07:58,030 --> 00:07:55,580 on a long time about that I was 180 00:07:58,480 --> 00:07:58,040 fortunate to fly two times on the space 181 00:08:00,940 --> 00:07:58,490 shuttle 182 00:08:02,620 --> 00:08:00,950 and I want an amazing flying machine it 183 00:08:04,150 --> 00:08:02,630 was because you're right it's the stuff 184 00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:04,160 that's right out of science fiction and 185 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:06,830 it really was a beautiful amazing flying 186 00:08:12,250 --> 00:08:10,010 machine I think the reason we're not 187 00:08:15,010 --> 00:08:12,260 flying it is because as beautiful and as 188 00:08:17,170 --> 00:08:15,020 amazing as it was it did have some 189 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:17,180 design flaws some things that were 190 00:08:21,250 --> 00:08:19,130 weaknesses in the just the basic way 191 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:21,260 that it was was built in the way it was 192 00:08:25,150 --> 00:08:22,970 launched and there were some weaknesses 193 00:08:27,910 --> 00:08:25,160 particularly with the heat heat shield 194 00:08:29,710 --> 00:08:27,920 system and that we recognize that that 195 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:29,720 loss here just this week as we 196 00:08:35,350 --> 00:08:32,090 remembered the ten-year anniversary of 197 00:08:37,750 --> 00:08:35,360 the loss of space shuttle Columbia that 198 00:08:40,270 --> 00:08:37,760 had a damage to the heat shield that 199 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:40,280 ended up destroying the shuttle and 200 00:08:44,590 --> 00:08:42,530 killing the seven astronauts and at that 201 00:08:47,110 --> 00:08:44,600 time as we recovered from that asset 202 00:08:50,290 --> 00:08:47,120 from that accident we realized that 203 00:08:53,380 --> 00:08:50,300 there these design weaknesses were just 204 00:08:55,420 --> 00:08:53,390 really there were really significant and 205 00:08:58,930 --> 00:08:55,430 we needed to move on to the next 206 00:09:00,850 --> 00:08:58,940 generation of spacecraft so they made 207 00:09:03,790 --> 00:09:00,860 the decision to stop flying the space 208 00:09:05,829 --> 00:09:03,800 shuttles at the point where we finished 209 00:09:07,990 --> 00:09:05,839 building the space station and we hit 210 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:08,000 that point a year and a half ago while I 211 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:09,890 was on the space station we saw a space 212 00:09:16,090 --> 00:09:13,250 shuttle Atlantis come up for sts-135 and 213 00:09:17,740 --> 00:09:16,100 that was the last shuttle flight it was 214 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:17,750 sad to see it go for all of us 215 00:09:21,430 --> 00:09:19,850 especially that flew honor and the tens 216 00:09:23,020 --> 00:09:21,440 of thousands of people across the 217 00:09:25,690 --> 00:09:23,030 country that worked on the space shuttle 218 00:09:27,370 --> 00:09:25,700 program through the years but if it was 219 00:09:29,170 --> 00:09:27,380 time to to go ahead and move forward 220 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:29,180 with a new vehicle that would be a 221 00:09:32,950 --> 00:09:30,050 little safer 222 00:09:34,630 --> 00:09:32,960 I know vehicle will have the kind of 223 00:09:38,410 --> 00:09:34,640 capability that the shuttle had though 224 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:38,420 with a huge cargo bay and landing like a 225 00:09:44,020 --> 00:09:41,930 like a like an aircraft on a runway what 226 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:44,030 a remarkable capability that was I'm 227 00:09:48,250 --> 00:09:45,890 excited and proud to have been part of 228 00:09:50,860 --> 00:09:48,260 it but I look forward to the to the next 229 00:09:52,870 --> 00:09:50,870 vehicles that are coming coming along in 230 00:09:55,210 --> 00:09:52,880 the years ahead too because we've got a 231 00:09:57,699 --> 00:09:55,220 lot of exciting times ahead we do 232 00:10:00,910 --> 00:09:57,709 and think also you know not only we're 233 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:00,920 wanting to expand so we're wanting to go 234 00:10:04,809 --> 00:10:03,050 further and beyond low-earth orbit and 235 00:10:07,150 --> 00:10:04,819 so it is going to take something else so 236 00:10:08,829 --> 00:10:07,160 lutely we're the Space Shuttle as cool 237 00:10:10,629 --> 00:10:08,839 as it was would never go to the moon 238 00:10:13,990 --> 00:10:10,639 because at the moon you don't need wings 239 00:10:15,790 --> 00:10:14,000 and you don't need tires and even Mars 240 00:10:17,769 --> 00:10:15,800 that has a tiny bit of atmosphere you 241 00:10:19,179 --> 00:10:17,779 would not have landing systems like the 242 00:10:22,090 --> 00:10:19,189 shuttle so you need to use more of a 243 00:10:24,910 --> 00:10:22,100 capsule type of vehicle and a lander 244 00:10:26,829 --> 00:10:24,920 type of vehicle so the shuttle was great 245 00:10:29,259 --> 00:10:26,839 for helping us build this magnificent 246 00:10:32,939 --> 00:10:29,269 Space Station and it's work is done and 247 00:10:41,079 --> 00:10:32,949 so now you have to visit them in museums 248 00:10:43,119 --> 00:10:41,089 next question we have to maintain lots 249 00:10:44,379 --> 00:10:43,129 of different things inside just like you 250 00:10:46,780 --> 00:10:44,389 do at home we have to do some little 251 00:10:48,730 --> 00:10:46,790 housecleaning about once a week we get 252 00:10:50,079 --> 00:10:48,740 out the vacuum cleaner and we clean well 253 00:10:52,300 --> 00:10:50,089 we don't really have carpets but we 254 00:10:54,220 --> 00:10:52,310 clean the walls and even vacuum the 255 00:10:56,650 --> 00:10:54,230 computers and the air like you have the 256 00:10:58,059 --> 00:10:56,660 air conditioners at home well in space 257 00:11:00,280 --> 00:10:58,069 those are even more important because 258 00:11:02,439 --> 00:11:00,290 they collect all of the dust gets caught 259 00:11:04,210 --> 00:11:02,449 in the air conditioner filters and so we 260 00:11:08,170 --> 00:11:04,220 have got we have to vacuum those up and 261 00:11:09,970 --> 00:11:08,180 keep the place clean as well as there's 262 00:11:12,790 --> 00:11:09,980 other things associated with just living 263 00:11:14,379 --> 00:11:12,800 and working up there just like you might 264 00:11:15,999 --> 00:11:14,389 have to do at the house where something 265 00:11:18,759 --> 00:11:16,009 breaks and it's time to change out the 266 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:18,769 garbage disposal or work on a leak in 267 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:20,930 the plumb the plumbing someplace and 268 00:11:25,079 --> 00:11:22,250 things like that so we're doing those 269 00:11:27,429 --> 00:11:25,089 kind of things as normal maintenance and 270 00:11:28,540 --> 00:11:27,439 preventative maintenance they call it - 271 00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:28,550 we'll go through and we'll make sure 272 00:11:32,590 --> 00:11:30,110 that all the bolts are tight on the 273 00:11:34,929 --> 00:11:32,600 treadmill so that as we're pounding away 274 00:11:37,179 --> 00:11:34,939 in a treadmill in space we're not 275 00:11:39,639 --> 00:11:37,189 shaking anything loose and then causing 276 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:39,649 some damage every once in a while we 277 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:40,970 have to go outside and do some 278 00:11:45,369 --> 00:11:42,980 maintenance on things we've changed out 279 00:11:48,429 --> 00:11:45,379 batteries that are part of our solar 280 00:11:51,490 --> 00:11:48,439 array electrical system outside we've 281 00:11:54,129 --> 00:11:51,500 gone out to fix an ammonia leak that was 282 00:11:57,369 --> 00:11:54,139 part of the cooling system outside sunny 283 00:11:59,470 --> 00:11:57,379 Williams and Aki hoshide I went outside 284 00:12:03,179 --> 00:11:59,480 and did some work on that system a few 285 00:12:07,090 --> 00:12:03,189 months back so it's a it's it's always 286 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:07,100 busy and active times it is and a lot of 287 00:12:11,430 --> 00:12:09,050 this maintenance work you know is is 288 00:12:14,380 --> 00:12:11,440 essential because it's what enables us 289 00:12:15,970 --> 00:12:14,390 essentially to conduct all the research 290 00:12:18,970 --> 00:12:15,980 that we're doing which is the main 291 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:18,980 reason for going up there using that 292 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:20,360 International Space Station it is a 293 00:12:23,470 --> 00:12:22,130 laboratory and it's you know it's 294 00:12:26,259 --> 00:12:23,480 something you have to do but it's all 295 00:12:28,389 --> 00:12:26,269 part of what enables us to can continue 296 00:12:31,660 --> 00:12:28,399 that research part of its also a testbed 297 00:12:33,490 --> 00:12:31,670 as we have systems that for instance 298 00:12:35,079 --> 00:12:33,500 that remove carbon dioxide from the air 299 00:12:37,030 --> 00:12:35,089 because we don't get fresh air from 300 00:12:38,620 --> 00:12:37,040 outside we have to remove that carbon 301 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:38,630 dioxide that we're breathing out all the 302 00:12:42,460 --> 00:12:40,490 time has to be removed from the air and 303 00:12:44,019 --> 00:12:42,470 that system has caused us some trouble 304 00:12:45,250 --> 00:12:44,029 through the years and so the engineers 305 00:12:47,980 --> 00:12:45,260 on the ground are trying to figure out 306 00:12:49,990 --> 00:12:47,990 what causes it to fail and they're 307 00:12:52,150 --> 00:12:50,000 working on the next generation carbon 308 00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:52,160 dioxide removal equipment that won't 309 00:12:56,259 --> 00:12:54,350 take as much maintenance and again on 310 00:12:58,480 --> 00:12:56,269 the way to Mars someday or another 311 00:13:00,100 --> 00:12:58,490 planet it's gonna be important for you 312 00:13:02,199 --> 00:13:00,110 guys to have a system that you don't 313 00:13:05,050 --> 00:13:02,209 have to call home for for spare parts 314 00:13:08,190 --> 00:13:05,060 because you can't call home that's right 315 00:13:17,470 --> 00:13:08,200 we can't deliver the spare parts to you 316 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:17,480 oh that's that's hard that's really hard 317 00:13:23,769 --> 00:13:20,810 I think probably my favorite one was was 318 00:13:26,380 --> 00:13:23,779 my last one I did a spacewalk in July of 319 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:26,390 2011 just over a year and a half ago and 320 00:13:30,639 --> 00:13:28,250 that was wild space shuttle Atlantis was 321 00:13:33,370 --> 00:13:30,649 docked to the space station it was so 322 00:13:35,530 --> 00:13:33,380 cool - we took a broken pump module from 323 00:13:38,370 --> 00:13:35,540 the space station and we put it in the 324 00:13:41,740 --> 00:13:38,380 cargo bay the shuttle and we moved the a 325 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:41,750 new science experiment that came up in 326 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:43,730 the shuttle cargo bay up to the station 327 00:13:47,650 --> 00:13:45,290 where they've been doing that that work 328 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:47,660 up there and it was so cool for me that 329 00:13:51,579 --> 00:13:49,370 was my seventh spacewalk I've been 330 00:13:54,069 --> 00:13:51,589 outside almost around 48 hours working 331 00:13:56,590 --> 00:13:54,079 outside and it was really so cool to me 332 00:13:59,710 --> 00:13:56,600 - I'd worked as an engineer on spacewalk 333 00:14:02,470 --> 00:13:59,720 procedures and tools and things when I 334 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:02,480 was an engineer working at NASA then as 335 00:14:06,819 --> 00:14:04,970 a astronaut I helped build the space 336 00:14:09,250 --> 00:14:06,829 station and it was really neat for me on 337 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:09,260 my last flight while the shuttle was 338 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:11,570 there for its very last flight to be 339 00:14:16,449 --> 00:14:13,610 outside and be in the cargo bay of space 340 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:16,459 shuttle Atlantis and kind of a way of 341 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:18,290 paying tribute to that you know amazing 342 00:14:22,490 --> 00:14:20,490 flying machine one more time and 343 00:14:24,350 --> 00:14:22,500 and just kind of it got a lot of work 344 00:14:27,020 --> 00:14:24,360 done but I also took a few minutes to 345 00:14:30,980 --> 00:14:27,030 enjoy the experience of the incredible 346 00:14:32,750 --> 00:14:30,990 view of the earth and the stars from not 347 00:14:35,090 --> 00:14:32,760 looking through big thick glass windows 348 00:14:37,460 --> 00:14:35,100 but through a little skinny fishbowl of 349 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:37,470 a helmet and if you ever watched Fossum 350 00:14:41,300 --> 00:14:39,810 when he was working aboard the 351 00:14:43,250 --> 00:14:41,310 International Space Station or anytime 352 00:14:44,390 --> 00:14:43,260 he in doing any of his space flights I 353 00:14:46,250 --> 00:14:44,400 think it would be very difficult to 354 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:46,260 determine which one he was was his 355 00:14:50,300 --> 00:14:48,930 favorite was it space walking or fixing 356 00:14:51,860 --> 00:14:50,310 the plumbing because he always looked 357 00:15:03,710 --> 00:14:51,870 like he was having a great time up there 358 00:15:05,570 --> 00:15:03,720 that's a great question next one you 359 00:15:08,300 --> 00:15:05,580 been communicating with my family is 360 00:15:10,520 --> 00:15:08,310 really important I was we through kind 361 00:15:12,650 --> 00:15:10,530 of a link up with through computer 362 00:15:15,470 --> 00:15:12,660 systems and data systems we can use it 363 00:15:17,750 --> 00:15:15,480 we can call people on a telephone and so 364 00:15:19,130 --> 00:15:17,760 I would talk to my wife almost every 365 00:15:21,890 --> 00:15:19,140 single day I'd have the chance to talk 366 00:15:23,780 --> 00:15:21,900 to my wife we have four four children 367 00:15:25,460 --> 00:15:23,790 and some of them are out of the house 368 00:15:27,770 --> 00:15:25,470 and so I didn't get to talk to each one 369 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:27,780 of my kids every single day but I tried 370 00:15:31,460 --> 00:15:29,490 to talk to him every week or so and then 371 00:15:34,370 --> 00:15:31,470 every weekend I had a little video 372 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:34,380 conference about at least 15 minutes and 373 00:15:39,170 --> 00:15:37,290 usually longer with my wife and and one 374 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:39,180 or more of my kids with her and so 375 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:41,250 that's how we kept in touch we also had 376 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:43,530 email and it's not quick email like 377 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:44,730 you're used to now and we certainly 378 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:46,290 couldn't text message or anything that 379 00:15:55,870 --> 00:15:49,890 quickly but but we did send emails and 380 00:16:04,879 --> 00:16:02,840 promising research oh cool that that one 381 00:16:07,699 --> 00:16:04,889 I have to think about for just a second 382 00:16:10,579 --> 00:16:07,709 I think the the health things that we 383 00:16:14,150 --> 00:16:10,589 were working on with bone health we lose 384 00:16:16,699 --> 00:16:14,160 bone in space ten times faster than an 385 00:16:19,759 --> 00:16:16,709 osteoporotic eighty year old woman which 386 00:16:21,259 --> 00:16:19,769 is pretty pretty fast and so if we don't 387 00:16:22,970 --> 00:16:21,269 take these countermeasures and so I 388 00:16:25,460 --> 00:16:22,980 think it's really exciting to know that 389 00:16:27,019 --> 00:16:25,470 with with you know really with good 390 00:16:29,300 --> 00:16:27,029 exercise and with some of the 391 00:16:32,689 --> 00:16:29,310 medications and I was a guinea pig for 392 00:16:34,670 --> 00:16:32,699 it a medicine that you can really stop 393 00:16:36,410 --> 00:16:34,680 this you can halt this and control it 394 00:16:38,210 --> 00:16:36,420 and that that kind of things exciting a 395 00:16:41,389 --> 00:16:38,220 lot of the other research that was going 396 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:41,399 on I had to do with material science 397 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:43,410 where we were loading samples in a 398 00:16:46,819 --> 00:16:44,730 furnace and then while we're sleeping 399 00:16:48,889 --> 00:16:46,829 overnight the ground is turning on that 400 00:16:51,319 --> 00:16:48,899 furnace and getting it so hot it melts 401 00:16:53,300 --> 00:16:51,329 the metal samples in there and then 402 00:16:55,670 --> 00:16:53,310 cools them down in a certain way as 403 00:16:58,340 --> 00:16:55,680 they're learning how to build different 404 00:16:59,990 --> 00:16:58,350 compounds but as they as they they don't 405 00:17:02,329 --> 00:17:00,000 get the same kind of mixing you get in 406 00:17:05,059 --> 00:17:02,339 gravity there was also a really cool 407 00:17:08,210 --> 00:17:05,069 fluid dynamics experiment it was like a 408 00:17:10,189 --> 00:17:08,220 fluid that had microscopic strands of 409 00:17:12,740 --> 00:17:10,199 plastic in it they call him a polymer 410 00:17:13,939 --> 00:17:12,750 and they were doing a dynamic test ran 411 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:13,949 that I could see and a lot of the 412 00:17:18,559 --> 00:17:15,510 science we don't really get to see it 413 00:17:20,179 --> 00:17:18,569 happening but this one I was helping set 414 00:17:21,980 --> 00:17:20,189 it all up and I get the sample in this 415 00:17:24,590 --> 00:17:21,990 test chamber and then it would start to 416 00:17:27,020 --> 00:17:24,600 spin this little blob about the size of 417 00:17:29,150 --> 00:17:27,030 a bean inside there and they would be 418 00:17:31,610 --> 00:17:29,160 twisting those microscopic plastic 419 00:17:33,620 --> 00:17:31,620 fibers and then they stretched it now 420 00:17:36,740 --> 00:17:33,630 this they would form a really thin 421 00:17:39,650 --> 00:17:36,750 strand and in gravity that strand just 422 00:17:42,110 --> 00:17:39,660 like silly putty but steadily thin and 423 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:42,120 in gravity it would just collapse but in 424 00:17:46,460 --> 00:17:44,250 in the microgravity environment up there 425 00:17:48,350 --> 00:17:46,470 they would pull this strand out two feet 426 00:17:51,620 --> 00:17:48,360 long and they'd be able to measure the 427 00:17:53,780 --> 00:17:51,630 tension the pull in there and by doing 428 00:17:56,690 --> 00:17:53,790 that they understand the basic physics 429 00:17:59,570 --> 00:17:56,700 of this kind of a special fluid that's 430 00:18:01,520 --> 00:17:59,580 important for them petrochemical and 431 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:01,530 plastic industries that use these kind 432 00:18:05,570 --> 00:18:03,450 of fluids and their production processes 433 00:18:07,490 --> 00:18:05,580 and so they wanted to know more about 434 00:18:08,060 --> 00:18:07,500 exactly how this stuff works and so 435 00:18:10,250 --> 00:18:08,070 that's fun 436 00:18:12,290 --> 00:18:10,260 mental science I'm not sure what it'll 437 00:18:14,930 --> 00:18:12,300 be used for but the research team on the 438 00:18:16,310 --> 00:18:14,940 ground was really excited about the the 439 00:18:18,710 --> 00:18:16,320 science that we were able to accomplish 440 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:18,720 so it was cool to be part of that if you 441 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:20,160 look up any of your materials and look 442 00:18:23,120 --> 00:18:21,090 at polymers 443 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:23,130 oh yeah there's lots of stuff on the 444 00:18:35,540 --> 00:18:26,850 website absolutely ok question do we 445 00:18:38,060 --> 00:18:35,550 have any more well that's a tricky 446 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:38,070 question the shuttle had so many 447 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:40,530 capabilities no one spacecraft is going 448 00:18:45,350 --> 00:18:42,930 to replace the Space Shuttle right now 449 00:18:47,570 --> 00:18:45,360 when I when I traveled to and from the 450 00:18:49,490 --> 00:18:47,580 space station I traveled on a Russian 451 00:18:51,620 --> 00:18:49,500 Soyuz rocket launching out of a country 452 00:18:54,380 --> 00:18:51,630 called Kazakhstan on a place called 453 00:18:56,660 --> 00:18:54,390 Baikonur cosmodrome we launched from the 454 00:18:58,880 --> 00:18:56,670 same launch pad that Yuri Gagarin the 455 00:19:01,730 --> 00:18:58,890 first human in space launched from over 456 00:19:05,120 --> 00:19:01,740 50 years ago so it was pretty cool to be 457 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:05,130 part of that historical program and be 458 00:19:09,590 --> 00:19:08,010 another person in there we've had 459 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:09,600 several different vehicles that are 460 00:19:15,530 --> 00:19:12,450 providing cargo to the space station 461 00:19:18,020 --> 00:19:15,540 Jeff Japan has a cargo vehicle to your 462 00:19:20,570 --> 00:19:18,030 European Space Agency has a cargo 463 00:19:23,030 --> 00:19:20,580 vehicle a private American company 464 00:19:24,610 --> 00:19:23,040 called space exploration has a cargo 465 00:19:28,370 --> 00:19:24,620 vehicle that's been there twice now 466 00:19:30,410 --> 00:19:28,380 other and other companies have have 467 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:30,420 cargo ships that are really close to 468 00:19:34,490 --> 00:19:33,090 flying a company called orbital has one 469 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:34,500 that's very close to flying and then 470 00:19:38,930 --> 00:19:36,510 hopefully in the next few months they'll 471 00:19:41,630 --> 00:19:38,940 get up there these guys are several of 472 00:19:43,910 --> 00:19:41,640 them are also working on human vehicles 473 00:19:46,540 --> 00:19:43,920 using kind of their cargo ship is the 474 00:19:49,220 --> 00:19:46,550 first step and then developing that into 475 00:19:51,650 --> 00:19:49,230 into a ship that could take people up 476 00:19:55,490 --> 00:19:51,660 there again it won't replace the shuttle 477 00:19:57,920 --> 00:19:55,500 with a great big majestic spaceship with 478 00:19:59,960 --> 00:19:57,930 seven people at a time but we're working 479 00:20:03,680 --> 00:19:59,970 on those things and inside NASA we're 480 00:20:07,130 --> 00:20:03,690 working on other spacecraft that can go 481 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:07,140 beyond the 200 miles that we'd go to to 482 00:20:12,050 --> 00:20:08,570 the space station so we're working 483 00:20:14,810 --> 00:20:12,060 private companies are working on options 484 00:20:17,270 --> 00:20:14,820 to provide ways for people to get to and 485 00:20:19,550 --> 00:20:17,280 from low-earth orbit as we call it the 486 00:20:21,260 --> 00:20:19,560 space station is that that 200 to 250 487 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:21,270 miles in altitude 488 00:20:24,770 --> 00:20:23,010 but the moon is a lot further away and 489 00:20:27,590 --> 00:20:24,780 Mars is much further than that so we're 490 00:20:29,660 --> 00:20:27,600 working on another vehicle within NASA 491 00:20:32,180 --> 00:20:29,670 more that that will be able to go 492 00:20:35,170 --> 00:20:32,190 further and support the the exploration 493 00:20:38,510 --> 00:20:35,180 goals that NASA has for the years ahead 494 00:20:39,740 --> 00:20:38,520 and amiko this is NASA the Digital 495 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:39,750 Learning Network just wanna let you know 496 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:41,370 we have about two minutes left so maybe 497 00:20:59,750 --> 00:20:56,270 oh that's a great question it's I'm 498 00:21:01,730 --> 00:20:59,760 proud to have been awarded that it's one 499 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:01,740 of the awards that that are available 500 00:21:05,810 --> 00:21:03,330 for people that are just working hard 501 00:21:07,610 --> 00:21:05,820 and doing their job and and and kind of 502 00:21:10,220 --> 00:21:07,620 standing out I was fortunate to be 503 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:10,230 recognized for my contributions and lots 504 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:12,210 of you know great people not just 505 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:14,130 astronauts but other they great people 506 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:16,410 that work at NASA you know get that 507 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:18,810 award so it's a it's a great great honor 508 00:21:23,870 --> 00:21:20,730 for me and and to share that honor with 509 00:21:35,980 --> 00:21:23,880 lots of other people okay I think we can 510 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:40,730 okay well I worked on the x-38 and and 511 00:21:44,930 --> 00:21:43,290 through the Space Station program as 512 00:21:46,820 --> 00:21:44,940 this partnership is evolved we've had 513 00:21:47,990 --> 00:21:46,830 lots of different countries and partner 514 00:21:50,570 --> 00:21:48,000 nations that are bringing different 515 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:50,580 capabilities and one of the things an 516 00:21:56,360 --> 00:21:52,890 idea that we worked on here and it at 517 00:21:59,570 --> 00:21:56,370 NASA was called the x-38 as a crew 518 00:22:01,250 --> 00:21:59,580 escape vehicle and it was something we 519 00:22:03,170 --> 00:22:01,260 tried out in one a ways with it and then 520 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:03,180 decided to move off in in different 521 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:05,970 directions and since then we were using 522 00:22:10,580 --> 00:22:08,130 the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to be our 523 00:22:13,340 --> 00:22:10,590 emergency escape vehicle it's our ride 524 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:13,350 up and I'll ride down and we could use 525 00:22:17,270 --> 00:22:15,090 it we could jump in there and leave at 526 00:22:18,890 --> 00:22:17,280 any moment if there's a big problem on 527 00:22:20,420 --> 00:22:18,900 the space station we could leave at any 528 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:20,430 moment that's important we have to have 529 00:22:24,620 --> 00:22:23,250 a way out at the same time we're working 530 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:24,630 on like I said some of these other 531 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:27,570 companies are working on another are 532 00:22:31,970 --> 00:22:30,090 other options that we could use on the 533 00:22:34,220 --> 00:22:31,980 space station besides just using the 534 00:22:35,810 --> 00:22:34,230 Russian Soyuz spacecraft so we're we're 535 00:22:37,820 --> 00:22:35,820 earning as we go we're trying out some 536 00:22:40,549 --> 00:22:37,830 ideas some of them are working out some 537 00:22:42,100 --> 00:22:40,559 of them we we decide to step away from 538 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:42,110 and try something else 539 00:22:46,370 --> 00:22:44,730 hey you guys have had a bunch of great 540 00:22:47,990 --> 00:22:46,380 questions today I think they're out of 541 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:48,000 time and they're gonna pull the plug on 542 00:22:51,980 --> 00:22:50,130 us but thank you very much your 543 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:51,990 questions are great I can tell you've 544 00:22:56,060 --> 00:22:53,730 been doing your homework which is half 545 00:22:58,669 --> 00:22:56,070 the battle you've been studying you've 546 00:23:00,890 --> 00:22:58,679 been studying and getting and asking 547 00:23:02,299 --> 00:23:00,900 some really solid questions that show 548 00:23:05,060 --> 00:23:02,309 that you're getting a lot of good 549 00:23:07,220 --> 00:23:05,070 understanding of our business here and I 550 00:23:09,500 --> 00:23:07,230 hope you can see where you might fit 551 00:23:11,659 --> 00:23:09,510 into this business in the years ahead 552 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:11,669 NASA is an exciting place to work the 553 00:23:16,580 --> 00:23:14,610 human spaceflight business is is just 554 00:23:18,380 --> 00:23:16,590 one of the greatest challenges and and 555 00:23:20,990 --> 00:23:18,390 most exciting things that I can imagine 556 00:23:22,610 --> 00:23:21,000 doing I'm excited to have been here and 557 00:23:24,500 --> 00:23:22,620 I know amico and all the other people 558 00:23:26,960 --> 00:23:24,510 that work at Johnson Space Center are 559 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:26,970 excited to be here continuing to operate 560 00:23:30,590 --> 00:23:29,010 the Space Station from this room that 561 00:23:33,740 --> 00:23:30,600 we're sitting in right now in Mission 562 00:23:35,539 --> 00:23:33,750 Control and and getting ready to to help