1 00:00:10,070 --> 00:00:08,310 well good morning i'm pat ryan with the 2 00:00:12,549 --> 00:00:10,080 nasa public affairs office here at the 3 00:00:14,470 --> 00:00:12,559 johnson space center in houston we're in 4 00:00:17,109 --> 00:00:14,480 the international space station flight 5 00:00:19,750 --> 00:00:17,119 control room joining me is a brian awe 6 00:00:22,230 --> 00:00:19,760 who is a pluto flight controller 7 00:00:24,950 --> 00:00:22,240 what is a pluto flight controller brian 8 00:00:27,589 --> 00:00:24,960 uh it's an acronym it stands for plug-in 9 00:00:30,070 --> 00:00:27,599 port utilization officer 10 00:00:31,910 --> 00:00:30,080 and we provide 11 00:00:33,430 --> 00:00:31,920 plug-in services to the crew to make 12 00:00:35,350 --> 00:00:33,440 sure the equipment that they use on a 13 00:00:38,069 --> 00:00:35,360 day-to-day basis is compatible with 14 00:00:40,790 --> 00:00:38,079 other equipment and we contrive a plan 15 00:00:43,270 --> 00:00:40,800 on where to plug that equipment in 16 00:00:46,229 --> 00:00:43,280 and in addition to that we provide 17 00:00:47,510 --> 00:00:46,239 it support for the crew the the network 18 00:00:50,150 --> 00:00:47,520 support 19 00:00:53,029 --> 00:00:50,160 for an operations local area network 20 00:00:54,150 --> 00:00:53,039 that the crew uses to get their 21 00:00:56,830 --> 00:00:54,160 warning 22 00:01:01,830 --> 00:00:59,189 procedures their daily plan and what 23 00:01:04,869 --> 00:01:01,840 they're supposed to do for the day 24 00:01:07,109 --> 00:01:04,879 and that's also how they 25 00:01:08,630 --> 00:01:07,119 contact home that we've got an ip phone 26 00:01:10,630 --> 00:01:08,640 that they can use through the network 27 00:01:12,230 --> 00:01:10,640 that they can call anybody in the world 28 00:01:14,070 --> 00:01:12,240 you're supporting pretty much everything 29 00:01:15,670 --> 00:01:14,080 that goes on on board the station 30 00:01:17,990 --> 00:01:15,680 operations 31 00:01:20,310 --> 00:01:18,000 we're not doing commanding of the ship 32 00:01:22,789 --> 00:01:20,320 just the operations support 33 00:01:28,390 --> 00:01:22,799 so that's who we are and uh we're ready 34 00:01:31,670 --> 00:01:30,149 so hi i'm cole nelson from stonewash 35 00:01:32,950 --> 00:01:31,680 high school and i was wondering what are 36 00:01:34,870 --> 00:01:32,960 some of your favorite and least favorite 37 00:01:37,670 --> 00:01:34,880 parts about working for nasa 38 00:01:39,350 --> 00:01:37,680 the probably the most favorite part is 39 00:01:41,510 --> 00:01:39,360 really it's the awesome people that 40 00:01:43,670 --> 00:01:41,520 we've got working here we've got some 41 00:01:46,469 --> 00:01:43,680 incredibly smart folks 42 00:01:50,469 --> 00:01:46,479 and the teamwork that goes into making 43 00:01:52,710 --> 00:01:50,479 space flight happen is is just amazing 44 00:01:55,030 --> 00:01:52,720 the least favorite of all my activities 45 00:01:57,350 --> 00:01:55,040 here is catching up all the paperwork we 46 00:01:59,270 --> 00:01:57,360 have to document what we do that's how 47 00:02:00,789 --> 00:01:59,280 we carry forward 48 00:02:03,510 --> 00:02:00,799 the the 49 00:02:04,870 --> 00:02:03,520 solutions to problems we've solved and 50 00:02:06,630 --> 00:02:04,880 also 51 00:02:08,949 --> 00:02:06,640 carry forward the information for the 52 00:02:11,910 --> 00:02:08,959 future generations to use so yeah 53 00:02:13,589 --> 00:02:11,920 that paperwork's necessary 54 00:02:16,309 --> 00:02:13,599 go ahead next 55 00:02:25,670 --> 00:02:17,910 hi 56 00:02:29,030 --> 00:02:25,680 is very stressful 57 00:02:31,589 --> 00:02:29,040 no not really uh not no more stressful 58 00:02:34,229 --> 00:02:31,599 than let's say taking your driving test 59 00:02:36,790 --> 00:02:34,239 uh you first of all you have to learn 60 00:02:39,110 --> 00:02:36,800 uh you know about your mission and and 61 00:02:42,390 --> 00:02:39,120 we study each mission each phase of that 62 00:02:45,110 --> 00:02:42,400 flight uh in great detail we practice it 63 00:02:46,309 --> 00:02:45,120 uh we go through uh simulation sims as 64 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:46,319 we call them 65 00:02:52,150 --> 00:02:50,080 uh we review the results of those sims 66 00:02:55,350 --> 00:02:52,160 to get better 67 00:02:56,309 --> 00:02:55,360 it's a kind of a maricopa when when you 68 00:03:05,910 --> 00:02:56,319 you 69 00:03:08,949 --> 00:03:05,920 the mission 70 00:03:11,350 --> 00:03:08,959 uh or watching a rocket launch it's it's 71 00:03:12,390 --> 00:03:11,360 just a matter of fact so you know that's 72 00:03:14,790 --> 00:03:12,400 you know when you go to take your 73 00:03:17,110 --> 00:03:14,800 driver's test now you got to show the 74 00:03:18,710 --> 00:03:17,120 the uh the evaluator that you you did a 75 00:03:26,630 --> 00:03:18,720 good job in learning what you were 76 00:03:31,030 --> 00:03:28,869 omar high school and my question is how 77 00:03:33,670 --> 00:03:31,040 often do you face emergencies and what 78 00:03:35,830 --> 00:03:33,680 are the most common types of emergencies 79 00:03:38,070 --> 00:03:35,840 well thankfully we don't encounter that 80 00:03:40,789 --> 00:03:38,080 many emergencies 81 00:03:43,509 --> 00:03:40,799 the the most frequent that we see on the 82 00:03:45,110 --> 00:03:43,519 space station itself are those involving 83 00:03:47,509 --> 00:03:45,120 smoke detection 84 00:03:49,190 --> 00:03:47,519 the smoke detectors are devices 85 00:03:50,710 --> 00:03:49,200 you have to pull air through them so 86 00:03:52,550 --> 00:03:50,720 they can detect the 87 00:03:55,750 --> 00:03:52,560 smoke particles 88 00:03:59,910 --> 00:03:55,760 and every once in a while we'll get a 89 00:04:02,309 --> 00:03:59,920 thankfully to now a false alarm 90 00:04:04,390 --> 00:04:02,319 but when when they do sound the alarm 91 00:04:06,149 --> 00:04:04,400 everybody stops what they're doing uh 92 00:04:07,110 --> 00:04:06,159 here in mission control and we help 93 00:04:09,509 --> 00:04:07,120 guide 94 00:04:12,149 --> 00:04:09,519 the crew through the uh 95 00:04:14,869 --> 00:04:12,159 isolating where the the 96 00:04:16,390 --> 00:04:14,879 signal is is being enunciated from which 97 00:04:18,629 --> 00:04:16,400 module 98 00:04:21,670 --> 00:04:18,639 the alarm is going off in and we also 99 00:04:25,030 --> 00:04:21,680 have information uh ready for the crew 100 00:04:28,230 --> 00:04:25,040 uh if to help them work through 101 00:04:30,390 --> 00:04:28,240 any extinguishing actions any actions 102 00:04:32,469 --> 00:04:30,400 they have to take to put out a fire if 103 00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:32,479 it were actual and we also have 104 00:04:36,550 --> 00:04:34,240 information ready for the crew so that 105 00:04:38,390 --> 00:04:36,560 if they have to evacuate the station 106 00:04:40,710 --> 00:04:38,400 they can do that safely 107 00:04:42,469 --> 00:04:40,720 but as you say it's it's not come to 108 00:04:43,670 --> 00:04:42,479 that although occasionally fire alarms 109 00:04:46,310 --> 00:04:43,680 do go off 110 00:04:48,710 --> 00:04:46,320 those alarms go off because some sort of 111 00:04:50,469 --> 00:04:48,720 particle has has come through them and 112 00:04:52,469 --> 00:04:50,479 other particles that are not part of 113 00:04:54,469 --> 00:04:52,479 smoke can sometimes set them off and 114 00:04:57,830 --> 00:04:54,479 that's usually what we see dust and and 115 00:05:00,150 --> 00:04:57,840 then uh human skin is the real tiny tiny 116 00:05:02,550 --> 00:05:00,160 flakes in micro g they tend to float 117 00:05:04,629 --> 00:05:02,560 there's they don't settle to the floor 118 00:05:06,230 --> 00:05:04,639 and as the air current pulls those 119 00:05:08,550 --> 00:05:06,240 through the the 120 00:05:11,270 --> 00:05:08,560 smoke detector 121 00:05:12,469 --> 00:05:11,280 they they sound a false alarm yeah 122 00:05:16,550 --> 00:05:12,479 okay 123 00:05:20,230 --> 00:05:18,469 hi i'm riley nelson from snohomish high 124 00:05:22,710 --> 00:05:20,240 school and my question is in your 125 00:05:24,150 --> 00:05:22,720 opinion what is the biggest uh challenge 126 00:05:26,710 --> 00:05:24,160 facing the future of american man's 127 00:05:28,550 --> 00:05:26,720 space flight oh riley unfortunately i 128 00:05:31,830 --> 00:05:28,560 don't think that's with inside the space 129 00:05:33,510 --> 00:05:31,840 program it's we've got a political and 130 00:05:34,790 --> 00:05:33,520 socio-economic 131 00:05:37,270 --> 00:05:34,800 uh 132 00:05:40,230 --> 00:05:37,280 issue that faced that the space 133 00:05:43,510 --> 00:05:40,240 administration is facing on on 134 00:05:47,189 --> 00:05:43,520 first of all identifying a a 135 00:05:49,270 --> 00:05:47,199 mission for nasa and then as we go about 136 00:05:51,270 --> 00:05:49,280 trying to satisfy that mission 137 00:05:54,310 --> 00:05:51,280 it's working uh 138 00:05:55,990 --> 00:05:54,320 to inform the the legislators that 139 00:05:57,430 --> 00:05:56,000 you know it's going to cost a little bit 140 00:05:59,350 --> 00:05:57,440 more than we thought because the 141 00:06:02,150 --> 00:05:59,360 problems are are 142 00:06:04,629 --> 00:06:02,160 greater than than we imagined 143 00:06:06,790 --> 00:06:04,639 so it it's the the funding now the 144 00:06:08,309 --> 00:06:06,800 technical stuff we've got really smart 145 00:06:12,230 --> 00:06:08,319 engineers some of the brightest people 146 00:06:14,790 --> 00:06:12,240 in in the world and and we also have a a 147 00:06:17,430 --> 00:06:14,800 knowledge bank of universities that we 148 00:06:19,590 --> 00:06:17,440 we pose problems to and let them work 149 00:06:22,710 --> 00:06:19,600 out issues so the technical stuff is 150 00:06:25,830 --> 00:06:22,720 actually easy it's the funding for 151 00:06:27,830 --> 00:06:25,840 nasa that is the the the biggest problem 152 00:06:33,990 --> 00:06:27,840 the biggest hurdle 153 00:06:38,550 --> 00:06:35,990 hi i'm sarah aldrich from lynn ritzville 154 00:06:40,309 --> 00:06:38,560 high school and my question is 155 00:06:42,629 --> 00:06:40,319 where do you see pluto going in the 156 00:06:44,150 --> 00:06:42,639 future are there any changes being made 157 00:06:46,830 --> 00:06:44,160 to it or 158 00:06:49,510 --> 00:06:46,840 oh sarah we're actually one of the the 159 00:06:51,430 --> 00:06:49,520 youngest flight controller disciplines 160 00:06:53,990 --> 00:06:51,440 here at nasa 161 00:06:56,870 --> 00:06:54,000 we started just a few years ago 162 00:06:59,029 --> 00:06:56,880 when the we migrated a network over that 163 00:07:01,909 --> 00:06:59,039 used to fly in the shuttle 164 00:07:03,110 --> 00:07:01,919 it was a little coax network and and 165 00:07:04,469 --> 00:07:03,120 it was 166 00:07:07,270 --> 00:07:04,479 strictly 167 00:07:09,270 --> 00:07:07,280 uh contained on board the station we'd 168 00:07:11,270 --> 00:07:09,280 get the crew their procedures and a 169 00:07:13,749 --> 00:07:11,280 morning message and and that was about 170 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:13,759 it now the crew can dial anywhere around 171 00:07:19,670 --> 00:07:17,120 the world uh we've got a huge movie 172 00:07:22,309 --> 00:07:19,680 library that that 173 00:07:24,710 --> 00:07:22,319 is part of the network now 174 00:07:28,550 --> 00:07:24,720 we're looking for more and more ways to 175 00:07:30,790 --> 00:07:28,560 utilize the the i.t resources to offload 176 00:07:33,510 --> 00:07:30,800 the cruise so we can actually do some of 177 00:07:37,110 --> 00:07:33,520 their work uh down here on the ground 178 00:07:39,510 --> 00:07:37,120 so we the plutos are are looking forward 179 00:07:42,309 --> 00:07:39,520 to actually migrating to the long 180 00:07:44,790 --> 00:07:42,319 duration missions through orion and the 181 00:07:46,230 --> 00:07:44,800 other deep space missions 182 00:07:47,430 --> 00:07:46,240 probably one of the biggest problems 183 00:07:49,430 --> 00:07:47,440 that that 184 00:07:51,909 --> 00:07:49,440 we're faced with right now is increasing 185 00:07:54,869 --> 00:07:51,919 crew autonomy so we're looking at trying 186 00:07:58,950 --> 00:07:54,879 to enhance the programs that the crews 187 00:08:01,430 --> 00:07:58,960 use as a knowledge base so that they can 188 00:08:03,029 --> 00:08:01,440 become more autonomous to themselves 189 00:08:03,749 --> 00:08:03,039 they don't rely 190 00:08:05,670 --> 00:08:03,759 uh 191 00:08:08,070 --> 00:08:05,680 like the station guys do on mission 192 00:08:09,990 --> 00:08:08,080 control quite so much 193 00:08:13,430 --> 00:08:10,000 the more intelligence that they have 194 00:08:15,670 --> 00:08:13,440 tools that that are computer-based to 195 00:08:16,869 --> 00:08:15,680 help them work through problems uh 196 00:08:19,589 --> 00:08:16,879 without 197 00:08:22,710 --> 00:08:19,599 earth's call coming that's 20 minutes 198 00:08:24,629 --> 00:08:22,720 away to solve their problems is one of 199 00:08:26,469 --> 00:08:24,639 the big things we're studying right now 200 00:08:28,390 --> 00:08:26,479 yeah what you're referring to is that on 201 00:08:31,110 --> 00:08:28,400 future missions when we go to mars for 202 00:08:33,670 --> 00:08:31,120 example it takes about 20 minutes for a 203 00:08:35,909 --> 00:08:33,680 voice message to get from earth to mars 204 00:08:37,750 --> 00:08:35,919 so if houston called them it would take 205 00:08:38,550 --> 00:08:37,760 20 minutes to get there and then when 206 00:08:40,310 --> 00:08:38,560 they 207 00:08:41,990 --> 00:08:40,320 had an answer it would take 20 more 208 00:08:43,829 --> 00:08:42,000 minutes to get back 209 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:43,839 so crews can't 210 00:08:47,110 --> 00:08:44,560 be 211 00:08:48,710 --> 00:08:47,120 have to rely on people on the ground to 212 00:08:50,230 --> 00:08:48,720 do things for them right away they have 213 00:08:53,030 --> 00:08:50,240 to become more self-sufficient in the 214 00:08:55,190 --> 00:08:53,040 future yes yes especially in emergencies 215 00:08:57,430 --> 00:08:55,200 they need answers now so we'll have 216 00:08:58,630 --> 00:08:57,440 tools developed to help through that 217 00:09:00,389 --> 00:08:58,640 problem 218 00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:00,399 we're also looking into different ways 219 00:09:04,470 --> 00:09:01,760 of helping them 220 00:09:06,470 --> 00:09:04,480 for their experiment problems 221 00:09:09,269 --> 00:09:06,480 if something's not going exactly right 222 00:09:10,310 --> 00:09:09,279 they can they can hit up a knowledge 223 00:09:12,389 --> 00:09:10,320 base 224 00:09:14,470 --> 00:09:12,399 that will help them resolve the issue 225 00:09:15,750 --> 00:09:14,480 and and then get the the experiment back 226 00:09:17,910 --> 00:09:15,760 on track 227 00:09:22,150 --> 00:09:17,920 okay next question 228 00:09:26,630 --> 00:09:24,150 hello my name is hudo from inglemoor 229 00:09:28,630 --> 00:09:26,640 high school and if my understanding of 230 00:09:31,350 --> 00:09:28,640 pluto is correct then i have two 231 00:09:33,829 --> 00:09:31,360 different questions the first one is how 232 00:09:37,350 --> 00:09:33,839 is wiring in space different from 233 00:09:39,350 --> 00:09:37,360 writing from 234 00:09:41,430 --> 00:09:39,360 question is what kind of training like 235 00:09:43,269 --> 00:09:41,440 electrical engineering do you need to do 236 00:09:44,470 --> 00:09:43,279 your job 237 00:09:46,790 --> 00:09:44,480 the 238 00:09:49,829 --> 00:09:46,800 we we do have numerous electrical 239 00:09:51,750 --> 00:09:49,839 engineers that are pluto's we also have 240 00:09:54,150 --> 00:09:51,760 computer engineers and then computer 241 00:09:56,550 --> 00:09:54,160 science majors uh that are part of the 242 00:09:59,269 --> 00:09:56,560 pluto team and we kind of teach each 243 00:10:02,710 --> 00:09:59,279 other the side that we're we're not as 244 00:10:04,790 --> 00:10:02,720 strong in or where our undergrad work 245 00:10:08,150 --> 00:10:04,800 was not 246 00:10:10,630 --> 00:10:08,160 the wiring on board the space station is 247 00:10:12,389 --> 00:10:10,640 it's direct current uh so it's very 248 00:10:15,430 --> 00:10:12,399 simple circuits 249 00:10:16,829 --> 00:10:15,440 um it's no different it follows a very 250 00:10:19,509 --> 00:10:16,839 very strict 251 00:10:21,829 --> 00:10:19,519 code to use the term that they use in 252 00:10:24,550 --> 00:10:21,839 the construction industries 253 00:10:27,110 --> 00:10:24,560 so that the it's done correctly and it's 254 00:10:29,990 --> 00:10:27,120 verified and it's and it's very 255 00:10:32,389 --> 00:10:30,000 uh forgiving to 256 00:10:34,150 --> 00:10:32,399 faults that may may occur 257 00:10:36,710 --> 00:10:34,160 we try to keep it as safe as we can for 258 00:10:40,630 --> 00:10:36,720 the crew the big problem that we see 259 00:10:41,430 --> 00:10:40,640 with electrical current in microgravity 260 00:10:44,630 --> 00:10:41,440 is 261 00:10:45,509 --> 00:10:44,640 its ability to spark 262 00:10:49,110 --> 00:10:45,519 and 263 00:10:50,710 --> 00:10:49,120 voltage 264 00:10:53,750 --> 00:10:50,720 and the current that is 265 00:10:55,430 --> 00:10:53,760 passing through a wire 266 00:10:57,590 --> 00:10:55,440 at a certain level it will create a 267 00:10:59,990 --> 00:10:57,600 spark in space 268 00:11:01,430 --> 00:11:00,000 that's not good because those sparks 269 00:11:04,710 --> 00:11:01,440 usually contain 270 00:11:05,829 --> 00:11:04,720 very small particles of molten metal 271 00:11:07,110 --> 00:11:05,839 and 272 00:11:08,870 --> 00:11:07,120 with 273 00:11:11,350 --> 00:11:08,880 in micro g that that actually could 274 00:11:14,389 --> 00:11:11,360 float and get into the crew's eyes 275 00:11:15,430 --> 00:11:14,399 and because there's a lack of convection 276 00:11:17,829 --> 00:11:15,440 cooling 277 00:11:19,750 --> 00:11:17,839 the metal is going to stay hotter longer 278 00:11:21,350 --> 00:11:19,760 so it has the potential to burn the crew 279 00:11:22,870 --> 00:11:21,360 members so we have to understand that 280 00:11:24,630 --> 00:11:22,880 and and 281 00:11:26,829 --> 00:11:24,640 put in countermeasures to help the crew 282 00:11:29,350 --> 00:11:26,839 stay safe for when they're connecting 283 00:11:31,030 --> 00:11:29,360 disconnecting make sure you de-energize 284 00:11:32,550 --> 00:11:31,040 circuits and there's some some common 285 00:11:35,269 --> 00:11:32,560 sense stuff like that that the crew 286 00:11:37,190 --> 00:11:35,279 practices before they go and we also 287 00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:37,200 include 288 00:11:40,870 --> 00:11:39,040 messages inside the procedures when 289 00:11:43,110 --> 00:11:40,880 they're connecting disconnecting stuff 290 00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:43,120 to make sure that they follow the right 291 00:11:47,269 --> 00:11:46,320 steps to do that safely 292 00:11:52,629 --> 00:11:47,279 okay 293 00:11:58,550 --> 00:11:55,030 hello my name is ben beck from newport 294 00:12:00,870 --> 00:11:58,560 high school and so i'm wondering if um 295 00:12:03,430 --> 00:12:00,880 will there be less astronauts in space 296 00:12:05,990 --> 00:12:03,440 in the future as wireless instrumental 297 00:12:07,509 --> 00:12:06,000 instrumentation system technology grows 298 00:12:10,550 --> 00:12:07,519 in the future 299 00:12:12,230 --> 00:12:10,560 no we've got several projects right now 300 00:12:14,470 --> 00:12:12,240 that utilize the wireless 301 00:12:16,790 --> 00:12:14,480 instrumentation system even to go 302 00:12:17,910 --> 00:12:16,800 outside the station now 303 00:12:20,389 --> 00:12:17,920 we've got a 304 00:12:22,470 --> 00:12:20,399 the current system is is two phase we 305 00:12:24,389 --> 00:12:22,480 have an internal section 306 00:12:26,629 --> 00:12:24,399 and an external section that measures 307 00:12:31,110 --> 00:12:26,639 vibrations through the station we're 308 00:12:33,430 --> 00:12:31,120 extending that network now to include uh 309 00:12:36,150 --> 00:12:33,440 evas when the crew actually goes outside 310 00:12:38,069 --> 00:12:36,160 eva we can talk to them wireless 311 00:12:39,670 --> 00:12:38,079 we can see their video that comes back 312 00:12:42,069 --> 00:12:39,680 in wireless 313 00:12:44,949 --> 00:12:42,079 so actually what that's going to do is 314 00:12:47,350 --> 00:12:44,959 is make us able to assist the crew in 315 00:12:49,750 --> 00:12:47,360 more ways from the ground versus have 316 00:12:53,030 --> 00:12:49,760 cutting down the crew 317 00:12:55,269 --> 00:12:53,040 the uh to to get the crew more engaged 318 00:12:57,990 --> 00:12:55,279 in in different projects we're using our 319 00:13:00,150 --> 00:12:58,000 technology uh to offload the crew so 320 00:13:01,750 --> 00:13:00,160 that they can spend more time doing the 321 00:13:03,190 --> 00:13:01,760 actual science and 322 00:13:06,710 --> 00:13:03,200 and other actions that they need to 323 00:13:11,430 --> 00:13:06,720 onboard the station 324 00:13:16,790 --> 00:13:13,110 hi i'm jacob from view harbor high 325 00:13:19,829 --> 00:13:16,800 school and um my questions were uh what 326 00:13:21,829 --> 00:13:19,839 is being done to standardize like uh 327 00:13:24,710 --> 00:13:21,839 data and electrical connections with the 328 00:13:27,670 --> 00:13:24,720 international uh different devices 329 00:13:29,590 --> 00:13:27,680 and um my second question is uh what 330 00:13:32,230 --> 00:13:29,600 specific challenges do you face 331 00:13:35,670 --> 00:13:32,240 uh with uh earth to space communications 332 00:13:36,389 --> 00:13:35,680 versus long-range earth communications 333 00:13:40,870 --> 00:13:36,399 the 334 00:13:42,550 --> 00:13:40,880 we use actually are standard 335 00:13:45,030 --> 00:13:42,560 nasa has a 336 00:13:47,269 --> 00:13:45,040 a document that controls 337 00:13:49,350 --> 00:13:47,279 each connector how it is used which one 338 00:13:51,509 --> 00:13:49,360 is used for which purpose and the 339 00:13:54,150 --> 00:13:51,519 voltage and because we we're actually 340 00:13:56,230 --> 00:13:54,160 running two systems we've got a 28 volt 341 00:13:58,629 --> 00:13:56,240 system that operates and we have a 120 342 00:14:00,310 --> 00:13:58,639 volt dc system that operates 343 00:14:02,550 --> 00:14:00,320 so those are well defined there's an 344 00:14:04,069 --> 00:14:02,560 interface control document that's that's 345 00:14:07,269 --> 00:14:04,079 its title 346 00:14:08,790 --> 00:14:07,279 that specify what type of connectors and 347 00:14:11,990 --> 00:14:08,800 and 348 00:14:13,030 --> 00:14:12,000 get these to make sure that things do 349 00:14:16,710 --> 00:14:13,040 connect 350 00:14:19,189 --> 00:14:16,720 now for the communications question 351 00:14:21,110 --> 00:14:19,199 even today we have a 352 00:14:22,230 --> 00:14:21,120 about a two to two and a half second 353 00:14:25,269 --> 00:14:22,240 delay 354 00:14:27,509 --> 00:14:25,279 in the time it takes communications to 355 00:14:29,189 --> 00:14:27,519 reach from here let's say at mission 356 00:14:31,350 --> 00:14:29,199 control in houston 357 00:14:33,829 --> 00:14:31,360 up to the tdrs satellites and then over 358 00:14:36,470 --> 00:14:33,839 to the space station 359 00:14:37,670 --> 00:14:36,480 so even with that delay it it does cause 360 00:14:41,189 --> 00:14:37,680 problems 361 00:14:44,150 --> 00:14:41,199 pluto's 362 00:14:47,189 --> 00:14:44,160 with the crew using software that may be 363 00:14:49,829 --> 00:14:47,199 communicating via this tdrs network to 364 00:14:52,069 --> 00:14:49,839 the ground through the ku system 365 00:14:55,030 --> 00:14:52,079 that the software doesn't tolerate those 366 00:14:56,870 --> 00:14:55,040 delays so we've we've got to 367 00:15:01,030 --> 00:14:56,880 work through 368 00:15:02,790 --> 00:15:01,040 a delay tolerant network issue 369 00:15:04,069 --> 00:15:02,800 the network is delay tolerant we know 370 00:15:05,430 --> 00:15:04,079 that and that's that's the way it was 371 00:15:07,990 --> 00:15:05,440 developed but some of the software that 372 00:15:10,230 --> 00:15:08,000 we're actually using 373 00:15:12,870 --> 00:15:10,240 does not tolerate that two two and a 374 00:15:15,509 --> 00:15:12,880 half second delay from when it sends 375 00:15:17,269 --> 00:15:15,519 a call for data out and it needs an 376 00:15:19,350 --> 00:15:17,279 answer back usually those are in 377 00:15:20,870 --> 00:15:19,360 milliseconds so do you have to rewrite 378 00:15:23,509 --> 00:15:20,880 the software 379 00:15:25,030 --> 00:15:23,519 um we've we've actually rewritten 380 00:15:26,949 --> 00:15:25,040 software 381 00:15:27,990 --> 00:15:26,959 we've got a team that does that we've 382 00:15:30,150 --> 00:15:28,000 also 383 00:15:32,310 --> 00:15:30,160 created hardware 384 00:15:34,069 --> 00:15:32,320 that will 385 00:15:37,350 --> 00:15:34,079 literally and i don't want to use the 386 00:15:38,389 --> 00:15:37,360 term fake out but it accounts for that 387 00:15:41,590 --> 00:15:38,399 time 388 00:15:44,389 --> 00:15:41,600 delay and the software doesn't crash 389 00:15:45,910 --> 00:15:44,399 because of that delay so yeah we will we 390 00:15:46,949 --> 00:15:45,920 have both software and hardware 391 00:15:49,749 --> 00:15:46,959 solutions 392 00:15:55,990 --> 00:15:49,759 to those problems 393 00:15:58,790 --> 00:15:57,829 hi i'm nick mcgill from bellevue high 394 00:16:00,389 --> 00:15:58,800 school 395 00:16:01,990 --> 00:16:00,399 what means of propulsion are you 396 00:16:03,829 --> 00:16:02,000 currently considering using on the 397 00:16:06,069 --> 00:16:03,839 manned mission of mars 398 00:16:09,430 --> 00:16:06,079 well right now to get off the earth we 399 00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:09,440 have to use chemical rockets uh there's 400 00:16:13,030 --> 00:16:10,800 several different 401 00:16:15,110 --> 00:16:13,040 schools of thought on you know 402 00:16:18,470 --> 00:16:15,120 which rocket engine should run on 403 00:16:22,470 --> 00:16:18,480 kerosene or liquid hydrogen and liquid 404 00:16:24,870 --> 00:16:22,480 oxygen and and others or even alcohol 405 00:16:26,470 --> 00:16:24,880 but we do have several different ion 406 00:16:29,189 --> 00:16:26,480 thrusters 407 00:16:32,470 --> 00:16:29,199 that folks have been working on 408 00:16:35,350 --> 00:16:32,480 and we just need to get funding so that 409 00:16:36,870 --> 00:16:35,360 we can push to get much larger ion 410 00:16:38,710 --> 00:16:36,880 thrusters 411 00:16:40,230 --> 00:16:38,720 and 412 00:16:43,509 --> 00:16:40,240 they're actually 413 00:16:46,230 --> 00:16:43,519 large enough to propel something from 414 00:16:49,110 --> 00:16:46,240 let's say a high earth orbit out to mars 415 00:16:51,670 --> 00:16:49,120 and then actually back 416 00:16:54,069 --> 00:16:51,680 so it's a combination chemical and then 417 00:16:58,949 --> 00:16:54,079 ion thrusters 418 00:17:02,790 --> 00:17:01,110 my name is eric peterson i am from 419 00:17:05,270 --> 00:17:02,800 charles right academy 420 00:17:08,470 --> 00:17:05,280 and i want us to know what is the most 421 00:17:10,949 --> 00:17:08,480 stressful mission you've participated in 422 00:17:12,710 --> 00:17:10,959 oh eric uh let's see 423 00:17:15,510 --> 00:17:12,720 well i mean pluto's really don't get 424 00:17:18,309 --> 00:17:15,520 involved and and you know the things 425 00:17:19,029 --> 00:17:18,319 that go boom 426 00:17:21,350 --> 00:17:19,039 so 427 00:17:22,630 --> 00:17:21,360 actually the the most stressful i'll 428 00:17:24,309 --> 00:17:22,640 kind of break that down into two 429 00:17:26,630 --> 00:17:24,319 different ways 430 00:17:29,590 --> 00:17:26,640 the complexity of the the 12a and the 431 00:17:31,669 --> 00:17:29,600 12a.1 mission back in and i think march 432 00:17:33,110 --> 00:17:31,679 of 2006 433 00:17:35,990 --> 00:17:33,120 were just 434 00:17:38,310 --> 00:17:36,000 a ton of work for the pluto's the the 435 00:17:39,350 --> 00:17:38,320 crew was the shuttle mission was taking 436 00:17:42,470 --> 00:17:39,360 up 437 00:17:44,870 --> 00:17:42,480 a uh parts of the the truss the solar 438 00:17:46,870 --> 00:17:44,880 arrays and as they reconfigured and 439 00:17:48,870 --> 00:17:46,880 attached the new arrays 440 00:17:50,950 --> 00:17:48,880 the uh the power buses were actually 441 00:17:52,470 --> 00:17:50,960 being 442 00:17:54,470 --> 00:17:52,480 reconfigured 443 00:17:55,750 --> 00:17:54,480 so in order to make sure that the crew 444 00:17:58,549 --> 00:17:55,760 had 445 00:18:00,630 --> 00:17:58,559 their onboard services literally 446 00:18:03,350 --> 00:18:00,640 the power that they needed to 447 00:18:05,270 --> 00:18:03,360 to conduct all these activities uh we 448 00:18:06,070 --> 00:18:05,280 had to come up with a plan 449 00:18:11,430 --> 00:18:06,080 to 450 00:18:14,470 --> 00:18:11,440 different power channel and and then we 451 00:18:16,470 --> 00:18:14,480 literally managed that on an eva by eva 452 00:18:18,630 --> 00:18:16,480 basis when the crew was out 453 00:18:20,950 --> 00:18:18,640 literally switching these connections 454 00:18:23,990 --> 00:18:20,960 right so we we had to keep flight the 455 00:18:25,990 --> 00:18:24,000 flight director and appraised of what 456 00:18:28,310 --> 00:18:26,000 services he did have and what he didn't 457 00:18:29,270 --> 00:18:28,320 have 458 00:18:43,750 --> 00:18:29,280 the 459 00:18:46,390 --> 00:18:43,760 that mission was 16 days long 460 00:18:48,870 --> 00:18:46,400 and we had sliding shifts from launch 461 00:18:51,430 --> 00:18:48,880 until they landed 462 00:18:53,590 --> 00:18:51,440 and we extended that mission 463 00:18:57,110 --> 00:18:53,600 by another couple of days because we had 464 00:18:57,990 --> 00:18:57,120 to put in a a fourth eva 465 00:19:00,390 --> 00:18:58,000 and 466 00:19:02,950 --> 00:19:00,400 at the end of those 16 days 467 00:19:04,390 --> 00:19:02,960 with not being able to stay on the same 468 00:19:06,950 --> 00:19:04,400 sleep schedule 469 00:19:10,070 --> 00:19:06,960 i was both physically and mentally just 470 00:19:11,909 --> 00:19:10,080 fatigued that was a long time to spend 471 00:19:14,549 --> 00:19:11,919 nine hours a shift 472 00:19:16,950 --> 00:19:14,559 every day coming into mission control 473 00:19:18,230 --> 00:19:16,960 and then making sure nothing went wrong 474 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:18,240 so yeah that 475 00:19:23,510 --> 00:19:21,760 two different kind of ways but yeah it's 476 00:19:34,789 --> 00:19:23,520 those are my most memorable missions 477 00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:36,950 lake stevens high school and my question 478 00:19:40,789 --> 00:19:38,720 was what are the greatest dangers that 479 00:19:43,190 --> 00:19:40,799 you have faced in missions and what are 480 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:43,200 the greatest dangers nasa now faces in 481 00:19:48,310 --> 00:19:46,160 regard to space travel 482 00:19:49,909 --> 00:19:48,320 oh let's see for mission controllers my 483 00:19:53,510 --> 00:19:49,919 greatest danger is just getting in 484 00:19:54,950 --> 00:19:53,520 traffic and getting to work driving yes 485 00:19:57,590 --> 00:19:54,960 yeah the uh 486 00:19:59,990 --> 00:19:57,600 the crew unfortunately is faced with a 487 00:20:02,310 --> 00:20:00,000 very hostile and an unforgiving 488 00:20:03,750 --> 00:20:02,320 environment out in space that's why they 489 00:20:05,430 --> 00:20:03,760 have the controllers down here on the 490 00:20:06,950 --> 00:20:05,440 ground looking over their shoulder we 491 00:20:08,710 --> 00:20:06,960 actually do more 492 00:20:10,310 --> 00:20:08,720 to operate the space station than the 493 00:20:12,149 --> 00:20:10,320 crew actually does 494 00:20:14,390 --> 00:20:12,159 we keep track of all of the 495 00:20:16,470 --> 00:20:14,400 environmental controls the power 496 00:20:18,630 --> 00:20:16,480 generation the thermal 497 00:20:21,190 --> 00:20:18,640 rejection the heat that's generated by 498 00:20:22,789 --> 00:20:21,200 all the electric equipment that's used 499 00:20:25,110 --> 00:20:22,799 and then all the stuff that the crew 500 00:20:26,390 --> 00:20:25,120 uses to to accomplish their tasks and 501 00:20:28,630 --> 00:20:26,400 and even 502 00:20:30,789 --> 00:20:28,640 monitoring uh some of the experiments 503 00:20:33,830 --> 00:20:30,799 which could be potentially very 504 00:20:34,630 --> 00:20:33,840 dangerous if if they they ran unchecked 505 00:20:37,430 --> 00:20:34,640 or 506 00:20:41,750 --> 00:20:39,669 and because of that again this go back 507 00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:41,760 to that crew autonomy stuff we're trying 508 00:20:44,950 --> 00:20:43,600 to work on programs that will help the 509 00:20:46,950 --> 00:20:44,960 crew 510 00:20:49,590 --> 00:20:46,960 to operate 511 00:20:51,430 --> 00:20:49,600 just among themselves uh instead of 512 00:20:53,190 --> 00:20:51,440 relying so much on mcc so we're 513 00:20:55,830 --> 00:20:53,200 developing a lot of those autonomy 514 00:20:58,070 --> 00:20:55,840 programs and we actually do experiments 515 00:20:59,669 --> 00:20:58,080 with the crew 516 00:21:02,310 --> 00:20:59,679 where we 517 00:21:05,270 --> 00:21:02,320 simulate not being able to talk to earth 518 00:21:06,870 --> 00:21:05,280 except maybe once five minutes for 519 00:21:09,270 --> 00:21:06,880 every hour 520 00:21:12,390 --> 00:21:09,280 on these experiment type days 521 00:21:14,549 --> 00:21:12,400 so it's it's pretty neat to see and get 522 00:21:17,830 --> 00:21:14,559 feedback from the crew on how things did 523 00:21:19,590 --> 00:21:17,840 or didn't work so that we can tailor you 524 00:21:21,350 --> 00:21:19,600 know our operations here on the ground 525 00:21:23,110 --> 00:21:21,360 to help them better 526 00:21:25,430 --> 00:21:23,120 clearly the environment for them there 527 00:21:27,830 --> 00:21:25,440 is dangerous but there are so many 528 00:21:29,430 --> 00:21:27,840 systems that are built into 529 00:21:32,149 --> 00:21:29,440 this vehicle 530 00:21:33,909 --> 00:21:32,159 along with the the backup for control 531 00:21:36,470 --> 00:21:33,919 that comes down here that on a 532 00:21:39,590 --> 00:21:36,480 day-to-day basis as they go about their 533 00:21:41,350 --> 00:21:39,600 jobs it's really not an issue but 534 00:21:43,110 --> 00:21:41,360 the crew members are also very well 535 00:21:45,590 --> 00:21:43,120 trained to respond to anything that does 536 00:21:47,669 --> 00:21:45,600 happen yes they they are well-versed in 537 00:21:49,510 --> 00:21:47,679 the emergency response to all of the 538 00:21:51,029 --> 00:21:49,520 systems on board 539 00:21:53,190 --> 00:21:51,039 and as a matter of fact the controllers 540 00:21:55,190 --> 00:21:53,200 here on the ground most often will know 541 00:21:57,110 --> 00:21:55,200 when something is going wrong before the 542 00:21:58,470 --> 00:21:57,120 crew will and and 543 00:22:01,270 --> 00:21:58,480 that's that's 544 00:22:04,230 --> 00:22:01,280 why we're here and for every person that 545 00:22:07,029 --> 00:22:04,240 you see sitting in mission control 546 00:22:10,149 --> 00:22:07,039 uh on the tv screen there's usually 547 00:22:12,630 --> 00:22:10,159 sometimes two three or even four people 548 00:22:16,070 --> 00:22:12,640 sitting in a what we call the back room 549 00:22:18,149 --> 00:22:16,080 uh supporting the the lead controller in 550 00:22:20,149 --> 00:22:18,159 in the the flight control room here with 551 00:22:22,950 --> 00:22:20,159 the flight director so there's there's 552 00:22:24,789 --> 00:22:22,960 definitely multiple sets of eyes uh 553 00:22:27,110 --> 00:22:24,799 watching over the crew and making sure 554 00:22:29,029 --> 00:22:27,120 that the vehicle is safe for them 555 00:22:30,310 --> 00:22:29,039 okay i think do we have time for one 556 00:22:32,070 --> 00:22:30,320 more 557 00:22:34,230 --> 00:22:32,080 no i think we're we don't have time for 558 00:22:35,990 --> 00:22:34,240 one more okay i'm told uh brian thanks 559 00:22:38,549 --> 00:22:36,000 very much it's really interesting 560 00:22:40,950 --> 00:22:38,559 information and uh and i hope that you 561 00:22:42,390 --> 00:22:40,960 guys in washington got the answers that 562 00:22:43,830 --> 00:22:42,400 you were looking for and we sure 563 00:22:45,830 --> 00:22:43,840 appreciate the questions thank you very