1 00:00:01,450 --> 00:00:02,160 >> Josh Farley: Hi everybody, 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:03,860 Josh Farley here inside Mission Control. 3 00:00:03,860 --> 00:00:05,250 We're looking forward to taking your questions. 4 00:00:05,250 --> 00:00:07,260 I've got astronaut, Nichole Stott sitting here beside me. 5 00:00:07,260 --> 00:00:10,350 She has flown both on the space shuttle, I remember a couple 6 00:00:10,350 --> 00:00:13,080 of those missions, and she lived onboard the Space Station 7 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,960 as well so she is ready to answer your questions 8 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:17,690 so if we'll go ahead and get started with the first one, 9 00:00:17,690 --> 00:00:22,760 we'll see if we can answer it. 10 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:28,170 >> Introduce yourself, introduce yourself. 11 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:28,740 >> Hi. I'm [inaudible] 12 00:00:29,740 --> 00:00:31,180 >> Hi. I'm Latrell. 13 00:00:31,180 --> 00:00:32,520 >> Nicole Stott: Hi. 14 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:33,400 Latrell 15 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,250 >> Lattrell: What does water look like in space? 16 00:00:36,250 --> 00:00:37,900 >> Nicole Stott: What does water look like in space? 17 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:39,010 I think that's the question. 18 00:00:39,010 --> 00:00:41,560 And well, water kind of looks like water does 19 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,750 on the ground except for it takes a different shape. 20 00:00:44,750 --> 00:00:48,620 So if you were to say take your drink bag filled with water 21 00:00:48,620 --> 00:00:50,780 and squirt it out on the ground it's just going to kind 22 00:00:50,780 --> 00:00:53,670 of squirt out and then drop to the ground. 23 00:00:53,670 --> 00:00:55,360 But in space if you squirt it out it's going 24 00:00:55,360 --> 00:00:58,540 to make this big ball of water but then it will just float 25 00:00:58,540 --> 00:01:01,910 around unless you disrupt it and touch it and it'll go 26 00:01:01,910 --> 00:01:04,590 into a whole bunch of littlier balls of water. 27 00:01:04,590 --> 00:01:07,310 But one of the other neat things about water is that when it's 28 00:01:07,310 --> 00:01:09,830 in that big ball, you can kind of stick your arm 29 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:12,870 or something else through it and it'll just coat your arm 30 00:01:12,870 --> 00:01:17,180 like a glove with the water because that's the reason it is 31 00:01:17,180 --> 00:01:19,000 that surface tension and things 32 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,340 like that just behave differently 33 00:01:20,340 --> 00:01:24,000 in zero gravity instead of in gravity like they do down here. 34 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:26,400 So unless you shook it off your arm it's going to stay there. 35 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,860 But it still looks clear like water does here. 36 00:01:28,860 --> 00:01:30,630 >> Latrell: Thank you. 37 00:01:30,630 --> 00:01:33,830 >> You have your question? 38 00:01:33,830 --> 00:01:44,750 >> Josh Farley: Let's see do we have another question? 39 00:01:45,950 --> 00:01:48,690 >> Yes, we're ready. 40 00:01:48,690 --> 00:01:55,320 >> Would you like to go back in space 41 00:01:55,320 --> 00:02:02,120 on the International Space Station? 42 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:03,250 >> Nicole Stott: One word I guess. 43 00:02:03,250 --> 00:02:05,080 Yes, I would like to go back to space 44 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,070 on the International Space Station. 45 00:02:07,070 --> 00:02:10,280 It is a really incredible place and getting there 46 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:16,080 and coming back is really a fun and impressive ride and the time 47 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:18,620 on space station is just so amazing. 48 00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:22,090 Everything from the way you float and move around in space 49 00:02:22,090 --> 00:02:24,710 and looking out the window, back at earth 50 00:02:24,710 --> 00:02:28,150 or seeing other spacecraft and having that time with your crew 51 00:02:28,150 --> 00:02:31,300 up there and also the really neat kind of science 52 00:02:31,300 --> 00:02:33,530 and work that's going on up there, I would love to go back 53 00:02:33,530 --> 00:02:34,530 to space station again. 54 00:02:34,530 --> 00:02:36,000 >> Josh Farley: I don't think anybody has ever said no 55 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:36,580 to that question. 56 00:02:36,580 --> 00:02:37,170 >> Nicole Stott: No, I would have 57 00:02:37,170 --> 00:02:41,750 to question their judgment if they said no. 58 00:02:41,750 --> 00:02:46,550 >> Josh Farley: All right who's next? 59 00:02:46,550 --> 00:02:51,580 >> Why did you want to always be an astronaut? 60 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,740 >> Nicole Stott: So I think the question is did I always want 61 00:02:54,740 --> 00:02:55,810 to be an astronaut? 62 00:02:55,810 --> 00:03:00,400 And I think I always thought being an astronaut was a really 63 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:01,430 cool thing. 64 00:03:01,430 --> 00:03:05,820 But it really wasn't until I think I was in college already 65 00:03:05,820 --> 00:03:08,920 when I started thinking about wow, maybe there's a possibility 66 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:10,810 of actually being an astronaut. 67 00:03:10,810 --> 00:03:12,460 But I was lucky enough to grow up with a family 68 00:03:12,460 --> 00:03:15,400 where we spent a lot of time out at an airport. 69 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,480 My dad liked to fly and so I learned all about flying 70 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,470 and knew I wanted to do something with flying 71 00:03:20,470 --> 00:03:24,130 and in the end after I was studying engineering at school, 72 00:03:24,130 --> 00:03:27,110 I thought well what better place to fly than space. 73 00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:29,310 And that's what kind of got me really thinking 74 00:03:29,310 --> 00:03:31,300 about being an astronaut. 75 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:33,290 And then I was really fortunate to get a job 76 00:03:33,290 --> 00:03:36,700 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and working 77 00:03:36,700 --> 00:03:39,530 with the space shuttles and got to see even more and more 78 00:03:39,530 --> 00:03:41,610 about what being an astronaut would be like 79 00:03:41,610 --> 00:03:43,750 and it made me more and more interested in it 80 00:03:43,750 --> 00:03:45,940 and I had people that encouraged me to apply 81 00:03:45,940 --> 00:03:49,070 and I'm very thankful to them because quite honestly, 82 00:03:49,070 --> 00:03:52,010 I pinch myself or I have Josh pinch me everyday 83 00:03:52,010 --> 00:03:56,370 to remind me how lucky I am that I have this very, very cool job. 84 00:03:56,370 --> 00:03:59,510 >> Josh Farley: It's a good question. 85 00:03:59,510 --> 00:04:04,500 >> Hi. My name is Jeffrey. 86 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:05,530 >> Nicole Stott: Hi, Jeffrey. 87 00:04:05,530 --> 00:04:10,050 >> Jeffrey: Are you going to the Mars Mission? 88 00:04:10,050 --> 00:04:11,500 >> Nicole Stott: Am I going to the Mars Mission? 89 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:13,140 Well, I don't think so. 90 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:16,210 I think if I fly again it'll be back up to space station 91 00:04:16,210 --> 00:04:20,460 but I think that Jeffrey that you and probably some 92 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:21,740 of those folks in your room 93 00:04:21,740 --> 00:04:24,550 with you should start thinking really seriously 94 00:04:24,550 --> 00:04:27,090 about that whole kind of astronaut or science 95 00:04:27,090 --> 00:04:31,980 and technology kind of jobs and perhaps maybe one of you or more 96 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:35,270 of you in that room will be the ones going to Mars someday. 97 00:04:35,270 --> 00:04:39,790 I really, really hope that I can watch my son 98 00:04:39,790 --> 00:04:42,910 who is a fifth grader have those kinds of opportunities 99 00:04:42,910 --> 00:04:45,530 and the same for you guys as well. 100 00:04:45,530 --> 00:04:48,990 I think we do have that to look forward to but unfortunately, 101 00:04:48,990 --> 00:04:54,550 I don't think I'll be the one riding to Mars. 102 00:04:54,550 --> 00:05:00,040 >> Is it comfortable in space? 103 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,620 >> Nicole Stott: Is it comfortable in space? 104 00:05:01,620 --> 00:05:03,860 It is really, really comfortable in space. 105 00:05:03,860 --> 00:05:06,300 So imagine right now in your classroom that you are able 106 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:10,050 to just kind of float up out of your chair and you didn't feel 107 00:05:10,050 --> 00:05:13,550 like the pressure of your legs or your bottom in your chair 108 00:05:13,550 --> 00:05:15,950 on the wooden seat or the metal seat right now 109 00:05:15,950 --> 00:05:18,770 and that everything was just kind of offloaded 110 00:05:18,770 --> 00:05:20,190 and you were able to float. 111 00:05:20,190 --> 00:05:22,070 It makes it very, very comfortable 112 00:05:22,070 --> 00:05:24,640 and that's everything from just how you float and move 113 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,080 around to sleeping at night in a sleeping bag that you just kind 114 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,380 of float in and there's no pressure points 115 00:05:31,380 --> 00:05:34,880 and your body just can completely relax while you're 116 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,530 in space and so it is very comfortable. 117 00:05:38,530 --> 00:05:45,530 >> What was it like on NEEMO 9? 118 00:05:45,530 --> 00:05:50,470 >> Nicole Stott: What was it like on NEEMO 9? 119 00:05:50,470 --> 00:05:52,720 Well, when-- it was really awesome. 120 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:56,760 When I had the chance to do that NEEMO 9 Mission I hadn't flown 121 00:05:56,760 --> 00:06:00,620 in space yet so I talked to a lot of the people 122 00:06:00,620 --> 00:06:04,400 who had done the earlier NEEMO Missions before me and several 123 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,450 of them had flown in space before. 124 00:06:06,450 --> 00:06:10,960 And they said to me that I would find probably 125 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:15,790 that this will be the closest thing that compares to flying 126 00:06:15,790 --> 00:06:18,150 or living and working on a space station. 127 00:06:18,150 --> 00:06:20,190 And I remember doing that mission and we're 128 00:06:20,190 --> 00:06:23,580 in this habitat or this I know it's almost 129 00:06:23,580 --> 00:06:27,060 like a submarine kind of thing that sits on the bottom 130 00:06:27,060 --> 00:06:29,850 of the ocean and about the size of one 131 00:06:29,850 --> 00:06:31,410 of the modules on the space station. 132 00:06:31,410 --> 00:06:33,800 And I remember being in there thinking just how incredible it 133 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,530 was that we were in this place where you couldn't just walk 134 00:06:37,530 --> 00:06:40,500 out the door without having special equipment on and you had 135 00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:43,690 to think about what was going on with the systems and the stuff 136 00:06:43,690 --> 00:06:45,640 that make the place work all the time 137 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,840 and how you operate differently. 138 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:50,780 And then after flying in space it just was, 139 00:06:50,780 --> 00:06:52,900 it was exactly what these other people had said to me. 140 00:06:52,900 --> 00:06:58,250 It was the perfect place to learn about how to live and work 141 00:06:58,250 --> 00:07:01,030 in an environment that's not like we have in our houses 142 00:07:01,030 --> 00:07:02,360 where we can just walk outside 143 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:05,490 and breathe the air and move freely. 144 00:07:05,490 --> 00:07:09,640 We have to all the time think about working differently 145 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,650 and keeping ourselves safe and wearing the equipment 146 00:07:12,650 --> 00:07:15,230 that you need to live and work in that kind of environment. 147 00:07:15,230 --> 00:07:19,560 So it was really, really cool and to be on the bottom 148 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:24,020 of the ocean for three weeks, being able to go out and dive 149 00:07:24,020 --> 00:07:27,790 from that habitat and experience the environment around there, 150 00:07:27,790 --> 00:07:32,790 it's very comparable to me to that experience I had being able 151 00:07:32,790 --> 00:07:35,700 to do a space walk on the space station and being able 152 00:07:35,700 --> 00:07:39,440 to experience that in a very different way, to see our earth 153 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,940 in a different way and to just appreciate it like that 154 00:07:42,940 --> 00:07:45,910 from a perspective that's very different than kind 155 00:07:45,910 --> 00:07:51,340 of that we have kind of moving across the surface of earth. 156 00:07:51,340 --> 00:07:53,480 I highly recommend it. 157 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:58,630 >> Thank you. 158 00:08:04,370 --> 00:08:06,600 >> Hi. My name is Brian. 159 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:07,720 >> Nicole Stott: Hi. 160 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:13,540 >> In the future will you guys make special technology 161 00:08:13,540 --> 00:08:16,570 to pass Venus? 162 00:08:16,570 --> 00:08:18,420 >> Josh Farley: Will you go pass Venus? 163 00:08:18,420 --> 00:08:19,290 Is that what you-- 164 00:08:19,290 --> 00:08:19,470 >> Nicole Stott: Yeah. 165 00:08:19,470 --> 00:08:21,770 Well, you know, right now we have technology 166 00:08:21,770 --> 00:08:24,770 that we don't have people onboard the spacecraft that do 167 00:08:24,770 --> 00:08:27,770 that but we have all kinds of robotic missions 168 00:08:27,770 --> 00:08:29,760 that take us outside of lower earth orbit, 169 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,980 take us past the moon, past Mars and then 170 00:08:32,980 --> 00:08:36,580 in the other direction outside into the solar system as well, 171 00:08:36,580 --> 00:08:38,530 where we're learning all kinds of things 172 00:08:38,530 --> 00:08:40,400 about the other planets and our solar system 173 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:42,410 as well as outside of it. 174 00:08:42,410 --> 00:08:47,120 And so I think the natural path with the technology will be just 175 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,200 like we're looking at taking people to Mars someday, 176 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,570 we'll be looking at going further and further out away 177 00:08:53,570 --> 00:09:00,330 from our kind of earthly place and exploring the solar system 178 00:09:00,330 --> 00:09:04,270 and the universe even more with people onboard as well. 179 00:09:04,270 --> 00:09:05,810 So and that's one of the things 180 00:09:05,810 --> 00:09:07,660 that we're using the space station for right now. 181 00:09:07,660 --> 00:09:10,700 We're in lower earth orbit, we're what 200 hundred 182 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:12,840 and something miles above the earth 183 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,760 which doesn't really seem all that far but just by being 184 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,530 in that place we can learn more and more 185 00:09:17,530 --> 00:09:21,050 about how our bodies behave in space and what we need 186 00:09:21,050 --> 00:09:24,300 to pay attention to there and also about the technology 187 00:09:24,300 --> 00:09:28,130 like engines, rocket engines and fuel and food 188 00:09:28,130 --> 00:09:31,130 and all those kinds of things that we'll need to go further 189 00:09:31,130 --> 00:09:33,910 and further away from earth someday. 190 00:09:35,350 --> 00:09:36,980 Thank you. 191 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,090 >> Hi. My name is Jasmine. 192 00:09:41,090 --> 00:09:45,910 I was wondering how you use the restroom in space. 193 00:09:45,910 --> 00:09:47,580 >> Nicole Stott: How you use the restroom in space. 194 00:09:47,580 --> 00:09:50,630 Well, you know, that's a really good question and it's one 195 00:09:50,630 --> 00:09:54,320 of those things that it's just kind of the same 196 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:56,520 and then it's very different to what we do here on earth 197 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,360 and I consider those things to be part 198 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:03,250 of what I consider the whole adventure of flying in space is 199 00:10:03,250 --> 00:10:06,820 that the uniqueness of it and kind of a fun side of it, 200 00:10:06,820 --> 00:10:08,680 the adventure side of it was that it's not going 201 00:10:08,680 --> 00:10:11,600 to be exactly like what we do down here on earth. 202 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,140 But in space you have we'll go to number one, number two route 203 00:10:16,140 --> 00:10:19,480 and you have the capability to deal with both of those 204 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:24,880 and for number two it's kind of like a camp potty where you use 205 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,990 that to contain the solid waste and then that gets burnt 206 00:10:28,990 --> 00:10:31,480 up in the atmosphere some day in a space craft 207 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:34,250 that takes trash away from the space station. 208 00:10:34,250 --> 00:10:37,960 And for number one it's basically a hose, 209 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:40,970 we call a urine hose that has a vacuum on it 210 00:10:40,970 --> 00:10:44,030 and you just take advantage of that system. 211 00:10:44,030 --> 00:10:47,180 It contains the urine and then one of the really neat things 212 00:10:47,180 --> 00:10:51,180 about what happens there is like with the space station 213 00:10:51,180 --> 00:10:55,870 as a whole where we want to be as independent a spacecraft 214 00:10:55,870 --> 00:10:59,350 as possible not relying on earth resources all of the time 215 00:10:59,350 --> 00:11:05,050 to get us what we need, we recycle all of our liquids 216 00:11:05,050 --> 00:11:07,710 and moisture on board station and do that in a way 217 00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:10,860 that allows us to generate new clean water and also water 218 00:11:10,860 --> 00:11:12,680 to use in our technical systems too. 219 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:15,720 So really kind of a neat process that goes on onboard 220 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:20,340 and hopefully that answers a little bit about what it's 221 00:11:20,340 --> 00:11:22,210 like to go to the bathroom in space. 222 00:11:22,210 --> 00:11:23,830 >> Josh Farley: If you guys want to see it and you go 223 00:11:23,830 --> 00:11:25,530 to YouTube maybe your teacher can do this. 224 00:11:25,530 --> 00:11:29,600 It's a clean video but go to YouTube and type in space potty 225 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,560 and you'll see a video that we do with Mike Massimino 226 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:33,280 and other astronauts here a few years ago. 227 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:34,780 It's the shuttle potty that you're going 228 00:11:34,780 --> 00:11:38,020 to see it's not space agent potty but you'll get the idea. 229 00:11:38,020 --> 00:11:40,930 It's a very descriptive video so enjoy. 230 00:11:40,930 --> 00:11:42,480 >> Nicole Stott: It's all about the vacuum just like space. 231 00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:47,790 It's all about the vacuum. 232 00:11:47,790 --> 00:11:51,570 >> Josh Farley: Who's next? 233 00:11:51,570 --> 00:11:56,220 >> Hi. My name is Kathryn. 234 00:11:56,220 --> 00:11:58,770 >> A little bit louder. 235 00:11:58,770 --> 00:12:02,200 >> Hi. My name is Kathryn. 236 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,110 >> Nicole Stott: Hi Kathryn. 237 00:12:04,110 --> 00:12:05,370 >> Are the missions really hard? 238 00:12:05,370 --> 00:12:07,150 >> Nicole Stott: Are the missions really hard? 239 00:12:07,150 --> 00:12:10,130 Well you know that's kind of hard to answer actually 240 00:12:10,130 --> 00:12:13,030 because we do so much training before our missions 241 00:12:13,030 --> 00:12:15,710 to prepare us for what we know is going 242 00:12:15,710 --> 00:12:16,910 to happen when we're onboard. 243 00:12:16,910 --> 00:12:20,230 All the science we're going to do, the maintenance tasks 244 00:12:20,230 --> 00:12:22,470 that we have to work on each day, the way we're going 245 00:12:22,470 --> 00:12:25,800 to exercise and eat when we're up there and that kind of thing 246 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,650 so that doesn't really seem hard when you're up there 247 00:12:28,650 --> 00:12:30,530 because you're kind of expecting it. 248 00:12:30,530 --> 00:12:32,590 So I think that the thing that's kind 249 00:12:32,590 --> 00:12:34,620 of hard is there two things really. 250 00:12:34,620 --> 00:12:38,440 One is when something doesn't go like you expect it and you need 251 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:40,800 to work differently with the ground team 252 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,970 and your crew members to make sure that you get those kinds 253 00:12:43,970 --> 00:12:46,730 of things all worked out, that's a little bit difficult 254 00:12:46,730 --> 00:12:50,320 or challenging but again our training also prepares us 255 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,410 for dealing with those kinds of things 256 00:12:52,410 --> 00:12:54,390 but I'd say probably the hardest thing 257 00:12:54,390 --> 00:12:57,810 about a long duration space flight especially is being away 258 00:12:57,810 --> 00:12:59,040 from your family. 259 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:02,580 And I think it'll be a great day when we have families living 260 00:13:02,580 --> 00:13:05,010 and working in space together and it's just kind of one 261 00:13:05,010 --> 00:13:07,970 of those places you go to work everyday and-- 262 00:13:07,970 --> 00:13:11,680 but for me that was probably the hardest part was being away 263 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:13,650 from family. 264 00:13:13,650 --> 00:13:20,530 >> Hi. My name is Abigail. 265 00:13:20,530 --> 00:13:23,510 >> Nicole Stott: Hi Abigail. 266 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:29,950 >> I was wondering whenever you in elementary school like us 267 00:13:29,950 --> 00:13:35,900 like when you decided to be an astronaut and why? 268 00:13:35,900 --> 00:13:36,920 >> Nicole Stott: Okay. 269 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,910 Well, in elementary school and it was actually 270 00:13:39,910 --> 00:13:42,500 when was I seven years old I think 271 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:45,280 when we had the moon landing. 272 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:49,390 And I remember watching the moon landing when I was seven 273 00:13:49,390 --> 00:13:53,090 and thinking like I said before thinking wow, 274 00:13:53,090 --> 00:13:55,480 this is really cool. 275 00:13:55,480 --> 00:14:00,690 How cool is it that dot of light I look at in space at night 276 00:14:00,690 --> 00:14:02,560 that there's people up there. 277 00:14:02,560 --> 00:14:06,070 But I have to tell you at that point maybe I wasn't smart 278 00:14:06,070 --> 00:14:08,830 enough to think it or whatever 279 00:14:08,830 --> 00:14:12,220 but I really didn't think it was something I could do 280 00:14:12,220 --> 00:14:13,680 for whatever reason. 281 00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:18,260 And like I said before too my dad liked building airplanes 282 00:14:18,260 --> 00:14:20,550 and I spent a lot of time out at an airport 283 00:14:20,550 --> 00:14:25,300 where I saw what flying was all about and that kind of thing 284 00:14:25,300 --> 00:14:28,620 and that was really very interesting to me. 285 00:14:28,620 --> 00:14:30,390 And flying the first time and having 286 00:14:30,390 --> 00:14:31,480 that perspective just even 287 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:33,690 from a little airplane seeing how cars looked 288 00:14:33,690 --> 00:14:35,840 like matched box cars and all that 289 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:38,500 and you get this different view on earth. 290 00:14:38,500 --> 00:14:41,690 I think that's what kind of ultimately led me down the path 291 00:14:41,690 --> 00:14:44,290 of at least wanting to fly 292 00:14:44,290 --> 00:14:47,760 and ultimately thinking wow what better place to fly than space. 293 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:52,870 And really thankful that I had a job at NASA where I was working 294 00:14:52,870 --> 00:14:55,440 with some of the space craft before I ever even applied 295 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,220 to be an astronaut and could see what that was all about 296 00:14:58,220 --> 00:14:59,820 and worked with the people 297 00:14:59,820 --> 00:15:03,030 that put all those amazing vehicles together 298 00:15:03,030 --> 00:15:04,740 and then later have the opportunity 299 00:15:04,740 --> 00:15:06,160 to actually fly on them. 300 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:06,930 And I'm going to mention this 301 00:15:06,930 --> 00:15:08,520 because I have my shirt on for today. 302 00:15:08,520 --> 00:15:13,550 My STS128 Mission Patch is on this shirt and today was, 303 00:15:13,550 --> 00:15:18,100 what is it, the fourth anniversary of the mission, 304 00:15:18,100 --> 00:15:20,610 the STS128 Mission our first day in space. 305 00:15:20,610 --> 00:15:23,620 So this is my little memory of trying 306 00:15:23,620 --> 00:15:26,370 to help me remember four years ago 307 00:15:26,370 --> 00:15:28,820 that really cool first time flying in space. 308 00:15:28,820 --> 00:15:32,280 And I can tell you I'm thankful for the pictures and video 309 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:36,790 because it's nice to go back and see just how wonderful that was 310 00:15:36,790 --> 00:15:39,060 and I've got all the feelings and everything inside me 311 00:15:39,060 --> 00:15:41,010 about it and my particular memories but to be able 312 00:15:41,010 --> 00:15:44,930 to go back and look at that is pretty cool too and to still be 313 00:15:44,930 --> 00:15:47,330 in contact and friends with my crewmates is really neat 314 00:15:47,330 --> 00:15:48,260 as well. 315 00:15:48,260 --> 00:15:50,180 >> That's cool. 316 00:15:50,180 --> 00:15:51,840 Thank you. 317 00:15:55,900 --> 00:15:57,190 >> Hi. My name is [inaudible]. 318 00:15:57,190 --> 00:15:58,980 My question is what does it feel 319 00:15:58,980 --> 00:16:02,060 like when you're blasting off into space? 320 00:16:02,060 --> 00:16:04,190 >> Nicole Stott: Way awesome is what it feels like 321 00:16:04,190 --> 00:16:07,620 and you think you've got yourself all prepared 322 00:16:07,620 --> 00:16:10,610 for what it's going to feel like and I worked 323 00:16:10,610 --> 00:16:15,800 at Kennedy Space Center for a long time maybe longer than some 324 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:20,270 of you are alive yet and so I had the chance really the good 325 00:16:20,270 --> 00:16:24,500 fortunate to watch a number of shuttle launches 326 00:16:24,500 --> 00:16:28,000 and other launches from Cape Canaveral and things 327 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,130 so I always imagined what it would be like and I 328 00:16:30,130 --> 00:16:32,780 of course talked to other people who had done it 329 00:16:32,780 --> 00:16:33,880 to see what it feels like. 330 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,390 But let me just tell you that you have kind of this impression 331 00:16:36,390 --> 00:16:39,510 of what it's going to be and it's this much more impressive 332 00:16:39,510 --> 00:16:43,570 than you can ever imagine and it's just everything 333 00:16:43,570 --> 00:16:47,410 from the way it feels and sounds and what it's doing to your body 334 00:16:47,410 --> 00:16:50,960 and how you're shaking and woohooing as you're going 335 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,660 and then just after that eight or so minutes this just kind 336 00:16:54,660 --> 00:16:58,790 of beauty, beautiful just relaxing, comfortable, floating, 337 00:16:58,790 --> 00:17:02,200 quiet ride once you're in orbit. 338 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,210 And it is an incredible ride. 339 00:17:05,210 --> 00:17:06,570 >> Josh Farley: And those of us that saw it in person, 340 00:17:06,570 --> 00:17:08,650 obviously I have never been in there and Nicole has but being 341 00:17:08,650 --> 00:17:09,840 at the Kennedy Space Center 342 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:11,120 and watching these things lift off wasn't 343 00:17:11,120 --> 00:17:13,720 like anything you can even-- it's not like the movies. 344 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,320 It's not like you see on TV. 345 00:17:15,320 --> 00:17:18,350 Because you're about four miles away, three or four miles away 346 00:17:18,350 --> 00:17:20,920 and you see it before you hear it so you see it go off. 347 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:22,340 You see all the smoke and the vapor 348 00:17:22,340 --> 00:17:24,470 and it's just a very bright light and all 349 00:17:24,470 --> 00:17:26,590 of a sudden you start to kind of hear this rumble 350 00:17:26,590 --> 00:17:28,250 and it just hits you like a wall. 351 00:17:28,250 --> 00:17:30,510 It is-- imagine the loudest train; 352 00:17:30,510 --> 00:17:32,530 loudest airplane you've ever heard in your life 353 00:17:32,530 --> 00:17:34,130 and it just rattles you like crazy. 354 00:17:34,130 --> 00:17:35,980 It's amazing and then it's over with. 355 00:17:35,980 --> 00:17:37,790 >> Nicole Stott: I get goose bumps just thinking about it? 356 00:17:37,790 --> 00:17:37,950 >> Josh Farley: Yes. 357 00:17:37,950 --> 00:17:38,470 It's a good question. 358 00:17:38,470 --> 00:17:40,840 >> Nicole Stott: Watching or being on it. 359 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,630 >> Josh Farley: Yes. 360 00:17:44,630 --> 00:17:48,670 >> Thank you 361 00:17:48,670 --> 00:17:52,630 >> Hi. I'm Joe. 362 00:17:52,630 --> 00:17:54,300 >> Nicole Stott: Hi. 363 00:17:54,300 --> 00:17:58,580 >> What is the purpose of the International Space Station? 364 00:17:58,580 --> 00:17:59,790 >> Josh Farley: Good question. 365 00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:00,460 >> Nicole Stott: Awesome question. 366 00:18:00,460 --> 00:18:02,440 What is the purpose of the International Space Station? 367 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,790 Well, you know, I think the purpose over time has evolved 368 00:18:06,790 --> 00:18:09,070 but it's ultimately evolved to what the real purpose 369 00:18:09,070 --> 00:18:10,530 of the space station is. 370 00:18:10,530 --> 00:18:13,390 We had tasks along the way while we were building the space 371 00:18:13,390 --> 00:18:15,680 station where we were really kind of proving 372 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,090 out if we could even do this kind of thing, 373 00:18:18,090 --> 00:18:22,380 this very complex thing in space, not just as one country 374 00:18:22,380 --> 00:18:24,890 but as 15 countries putting all different kinds 375 00:18:24,890 --> 00:18:29,000 of hardware together and we very successfully met that challenge 376 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,700 and now we have just this magnificent facility that's 377 00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:34,380 orbiting our earth everyday. 378 00:18:34,380 --> 00:18:39,890 And the purpose of the space station is for us to live 379 00:18:39,890 --> 00:18:43,650 and work up there and to do the research that's necessary 380 00:18:43,650 --> 00:18:48,210 or that we can in this very unique zero gravity environment 381 00:18:48,210 --> 00:18:49,470 that will help us learn more 382 00:18:49,470 --> 00:18:52,520 about how we can live better here on earth 383 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,610 but also how we can further explore outside 384 00:18:55,610 --> 00:18:56,760 of lower earth orbit. 385 00:18:56,760 --> 00:19:00,410 And it is just a magnificent place for doing this. 386 00:19:00,410 --> 00:19:04,150 When I was up there, I think on a daily basis we had 387 00:19:04,150 --> 00:19:07,420 over 100 active investigations going on. 388 00:19:07,420 --> 00:19:08,560 >> Josh Farley: They've got 200 now. 389 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:08,820 >> Nicole Stott: Yeah. 390 00:19:08,820 --> 00:19:11,390 And that's whether-- a crewmember could be interfacing 391 00:19:11,390 --> 00:19:14,900 with it directly, actually working the science experiments 392 00:19:14,900 --> 00:19:17,410 like you guys do I'm sure in some of your science classes 393 00:19:17,410 --> 00:19:20,150 in school or helping the people 394 00:19:20,150 --> 00:19:23,850 on the ground work the experiment onboard 395 00:19:23,850 --> 00:19:26,900 and that's everything from learning more 396 00:19:26,900 --> 00:19:29,200 about our own bodies and learning 397 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:31,690 about how fuels burns more efficiently. 398 00:19:31,690 --> 00:19:33,870 How materials are developed. 399 00:19:33,870 --> 00:19:37,710 I mean, every science area you can imagine is being 400 00:19:37,710 --> 00:19:40,570 investigated in some way onboard the space station and it's 401 00:19:40,570 --> 00:19:44,120 because it provides a very unique environment for looking 402 00:19:44,120 --> 00:19:46,720 at things and how they work in a way 403 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,730 that we just can't do here on earth. 404 00:19:48,730 --> 00:19:50,340 And so it gives all kinds of new 405 00:19:50,340 --> 00:19:52,140 and interesting answers to things. 406 00:19:52,140 --> 00:19:54,660 That whole thing we talked about with the water. 407 00:19:54,660 --> 00:19:58,490 You look at water in space and what it does and how it sticks 408 00:19:58,490 --> 00:20:00,980 to your hands and then scientists start thinking 409 00:20:00,980 --> 00:20:04,180 about well, in space we could use water or some other liquid 410 00:20:04,180 --> 00:20:07,870 in a very different way than we do here on earth perhaps 411 00:20:07,870 --> 00:20:11,350 to simplify the way we build rocket engines 412 00:20:11,350 --> 00:20:13,040 and lubricate things. 413 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,890 Why have big balls, metal ball bearings lubricating a system 414 00:20:15,890 --> 00:20:17,390 if you could have a liquid that does 415 00:20:17,390 --> 00:20:19,860 that because it behaves differently in space 416 00:20:19,860 --> 00:20:21,070 or the way crystals grow. 417 00:20:21,070 --> 00:20:22,940 They grow perfectly in [inaudible] environment 418 00:20:22,940 --> 00:20:26,760 and we can learn more and more things about how our bodies work 419 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,130 and how medicines could be made 420 00:20:29,130 --> 00:20:31,890 or solving just really cool problems 421 00:20:31,890 --> 00:20:35,990 because we have this laboratory in space to do that 422 00:20:35,990 --> 00:20:39,040 and that ultimately is the purpose, this laboratory 423 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:42,680 in space to help us live better here on earth and figure out how 424 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,200 to explore outside of earth's atmosphere as well. 425 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:46,960 >> Josh Farley: Good question. 426 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:53,990 >> Hi. My name is Jake and how long does it take 427 00:21:00,760 --> 00:20:56,510 to be an astronaut? 428 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:04,030 Well, you start in school kind of right 429 00:21:04,030 --> 00:21:06,910 where you guys are right now and a lot of it has to do 430 00:21:06,910 --> 00:21:11,390 with paying attention to the stuff you enjoy doing and for me 431 00:21:11,390 --> 00:21:14,530 and I think for most people who are astronauts actually I think, 432 00:21:14,530 --> 00:21:16,890 we're in this Mission Control Center here now too 433 00:21:16,890 --> 00:21:19,660 with the folks that support the astronauts 434 00:21:19,660 --> 00:21:21,620 that are on the space station. 435 00:21:21,620 --> 00:21:24,270 It was all about taking those interests that you have 436 00:21:24,270 --> 00:21:27,220 in science and math and engineering 437 00:21:27,220 --> 00:21:30,000 and maybe not even knowing that it was an interesting science 438 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:33,160 in engineering and math at that time but paying attention 439 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:36,240 to those things and letting that be what helps guide you 440 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:37,430 through school and stuff. 441 00:21:37,430 --> 00:21:41,640 And for me, I think the flying thing was the big thing I was 442 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:42,650 interested in. 443 00:21:42,650 --> 00:21:47,290 And so wanting to know how things fly, wanting to figure 444 00:21:47,290 --> 00:21:49,040 out how to build things that fly 445 00:21:49,040 --> 00:21:51,880 and maybe then one day flying them myself was the thing 446 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:53,430 that motivated me. 447 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:56,650 So there's a lot of kind of basic things you have to do 448 00:21:56,650 --> 00:22:00,250 in school to qualify to even interview as an astronaut 449 00:22:00,250 --> 00:22:03,190 and that's I think very well documented on our website. 450 00:22:03,190 --> 00:22:05,680 You can go on-- yeah, it's math and science, math and science 451 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:11,430 and it is fun and but there's really good information 452 00:22:11,430 --> 00:22:14,620 on the website about what it takes to apply and a lot 453 00:22:14,620 --> 00:22:20,290 of that is just a degree in a math or science area of study 454 00:22:20,290 --> 00:22:23,640 and then working in that area for a while, a couple of years. 455 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:25,140 I've seen people that have come straight 456 00:22:25,140 --> 00:22:29,260 out of their university work and been selected as astronaut 457 00:22:29,260 --> 00:22:31,840 but it's really kind of a focused science 458 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,670 and math driven thing. 459 00:22:33,670 --> 00:22:36,370 But you got to enjoy what you're doing along the way 460 00:22:36,370 --> 00:22:41,000 and that'll take you down those paths of engineering, math, 461 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,650 science if that's what you're all about. 462 00:22:43,650 --> 00:22:43,980 >> Josh Farley: That's it. 463 00:22:43,980 --> 00:22:45,270 I think that's what everybody always says. 464 00:22:45,270 --> 00:22:47,010 You've got to go find something that you love to do 465 00:22:47,010 --> 00:22:49,140 and you guys have got plenty of time to do that 466 00:22:49,140 --> 00:22:52,450 but life is too short to have a boring job so go find something 467 00:22:52,450 --> 00:22:55,340 that you really like to do and it's interesting what happens 468 00:22:55,340 --> 00:22:57,780 to you whenever you do that. 469 00:22:57,780 --> 00:22:58,170 >> Nicole Stott: Yeah. 470 00:22:58,170 --> 00:23:06,060 >> My question is why does NASA tradeoff astronauts 471 00:23:06,060 --> 00:23:11,420 to go to the space station? 472 00:23:11,420 --> 00:23:11,720 >> Nicole Stott: Okay. 473 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:13,820 So why does NASA tradeoff astronauts 474 00:23:13,820 --> 00:23:14,970 to go the space station? 475 00:23:14,970 --> 00:23:19,110 . So right now we have 6 crew members on board and three 476 00:23:19,110 --> 00:23:20,360 of them are about to come home. 477 00:23:20,360 --> 00:23:21,070 >> Josh Farley: September 10th. 478 00:23:21,070 --> 00:23:22,300 >> Nicole Stott: In a couple of weeks here, 479 00:23:22,300 --> 00:23:28,980 so we do that because first of all, we have spacecraft 480 00:23:28,980 --> 00:23:31,400 that have kind of a limited lifetime onboard 481 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:34,870 and so they have about seven months' worth of time 482 00:23:34,870 --> 00:23:37,750 that they can stay up on the space station before the 483 00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:40,210 spaceship that you rode up on needs to come back. 484 00:23:40,210 --> 00:23:42,730 So that kind of drives the amount of time 485 00:23:42,730 --> 00:23:46,790 that the astronauts can stay up there too and so each 486 00:23:46,790 --> 00:23:49,060 of those spacecraft has a seat for three and three 487 00:23:49,060 --> 00:23:51,700 of the people come down and then three more people can go up. 488 00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:54,220 And so there's that piece of it. 489 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:58,570 But there's also the piece that says we want to rotate people 490 00:23:58,570 --> 00:24:01,710 through so we get a different experience base up there. 491 00:24:01,710 --> 00:24:04,560 We have different people living and working in space 492 00:24:04,560 --> 00:24:11,210 and that experience thing and then we also have you know, 493 00:24:11,210 --> 00:24:13,870 there's things about the environment in space 494 00:24:13,870 --> 00:24:16,760 that make us want to limit the amount 495 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:18,560 of time we have people up there. 496 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:22,570 So right now with what we know about how our bodies respond 497 00:24:22,570 --> 00:24:27,140 to space whether that's the way our muscles and our bones react 498 00:24:27,140 --> 00:24:31,210 to being in space or our cardiac, our heart 499 00:24:31,210 --> 00:24:34,070 and our other systems respond. 500 00:24:34,070 --> 00:24:37,690 We are managing that as well and six months really seems 501 00:24:37,690 --> 00:24:41,170 to be the kind of time that cycling astronauts 502 00:24:41,170 --> 00:24:42,970 to the space station is best. 503 00:24:42,970 --> 00:24:45,220 Now we do have some astronauts that are going to be going 504 00:24:45,220 --> 00:24:49,390 up for a year and that will gives us the opportunity 505 00:24:49,390 --> 00:24:53,230 to look a little bit differently at how crewmembers 506 00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:56,870 and human beings will respond to that space environment 507 00:24:56,870 --> 00:24:59,430 and because of what we've done with crewmembers prior 508 00:24:59,430 --> 00:25:02,210 to this we feel very comfortable sending somebody there 509 00:25:02,210 --> 00:25:04,540 for a year and allowing them to experience that way 510 00:25:04,540 --> 00:25:06,410 and then we'll just rotate our vehicles a little bit 511 00:25:06,410 --> 00:25:07,820 differently so that you're not going up 512 00:25:07,820 --> 00:25:09,470 and coming down on the same one. 513 00:25:09,470 --> 00:25:10,540 >> Josh Farley: Yeah. 514 00:25:10,540 --> 00:25:12,840 I think that was our last question I believe. 515 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:15,130 So we want to thank you our friends in there 516 00:25:15,130 --> 00:25:15,930 at McWhirter Elementary. 517 00:25:15,930 --> 00:25:17,800 You're not very far away from us here 518 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:20,110 at the Johnson Space Center, so we hope you guys come 519 00:25:20,110 --> 00:25:23,070 and say hi some time and take a look at this awesome room 520 00:25:23,070 --> 00:25:23,930 that we're sitting in right now, 521 00:25:23,930 --> 00:25:24,960 this is the Mission Control Center 522 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:26,810 where they control everything on board of the space station. 523 00:25:26,810 --> 00:25:29,340 So come by and take a look at it and maybe you'll have one 524 00:25:29,340 --> 00:25:31,950 of these jobs one time or maybe you'll be like Nicole over here 525 00:25:31,950 --> 00:25:34,450 and actually fly space a couple of times so thank you guys 526 00:25:34,450 --> 00:25:37,770 for joining us study hard and have a good semester.