1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:02,750 I am the launch director for the launch 2 00:00:11,540 --> 00:00:06,450 services program and so it sounds like a 3 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:11,550 pretty cool job it does it is EGS 4 00:00:20,620 --> 00:00:13,110 program chief engineer 5 00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:26,180 [Music] 6 00:00:32,530 --> 00:00:31,599 now passing through max Q maximum 7 00:00:35,979 --> 00:00:32,540 dynamic pressure 8 00:00:37,810 --> 00:00:35,989 welcome to space welcome to the rocket 9 00:00:40,210 --> 00:00:37,820 ranch I am Amanda Griffin 10 00:00:42,130 --> 00:00:40,220 earlier this month our host Joshua 11 00:00:44,170 --> 00:00:42,140 Santora sat down with two launch 12 00:00:46,899 --> 00:00:44,180 services program powerhouses Mick 13 00:00:48,579 --> 00:00:46,909 Waltman and Tim Dunn between the two of 14 00:00:50,110 --> 00:00:48,589 them I'm pretty sure they could power a 15 00:00:52,389 --> 00:00:50,120 rocket with their charisma alone and 16 00:00:54,479 --> 00:00:52,399 they have nearly four decades of launch 17 00:00:56,710 --> 00:00:54,489 services experience between them to boot 18 00:00:58,840 --> 00:00:56,720 since the recording of this interview 19 00:01:00,939 --> 00:00:58,850 the icesat-2 mission successfully 20 00:01:03,220 --> 00:01:00,949 launched on the last Delta - and the 21 00:01:05,710 --> 00:01:03,230 launch services program is now 5 for 5 22 00:01:07,029 --> 00:01:05,720 on successful missions this year with 23 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:07,039 the six still to come 24 00:01:11,050 --> 00:01:09,110 needless to say these guys are pretty 25 00:01:13,870 --> 00:01:11,060 busy so let's get on with the rocket 26 00:01:16,740 --> 00:01:13,880 roundup today I am in the booth and 27 00:01:20,889 --> 00:01:16,750 joined by Tim Dunn and Mick Waltman of 28 00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:20,899 NASA's launch services program good day 29 00:01:23,859 --> 00:01:22,190 gentlemen I want to let you guys 30 00:01:25,300 --> 00:01:23,869 introduce yourselves briefly tell us a 31 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:25,310 little bit about yourselves and kind of 32 00:01:28,510 --> 00:01:26,810 what your role is for NASA 33 00:01:32,590 --> 00:01:28,520 well Joshua thanks for having us today 34 00:01:34,060 --> 00:01:32,600 my name is Tim Dunn and I am the launch 35 00:01:38,260 --> 00:01:34,070 director for the launch services program 36 00:01:42,819 --> 00:01:38,270 and so sounds like a pretty cool job it 37 00:01:45,609 --> 00:01:42,829 does it is one of the coolest gosh make 38 00:01:46,870 --> 00:01:45,619 it's been almost 18 years almost 18 for 39 00:01:48,969 --> 00:01:46,880 both of us students thought we started 40 00:01:53,649 --> 00:01:48,979 it launchers from about the same time 41 00:01:55,300 --> 00:01:53,659 same year I think it was in 2099 2000 we 42 00:01:59,200 --> 00:01:55,310 both joined NASA's launch services 43 00:02:01,810 --> 00:01:59,210 program ironically we both joined in the 44 00:02:03,639 --> 00:02:01,820 electrical avionics branch and a couple 45 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:03,649 years in that branch we both moved over 46 00:02:09,009 --> 00:02:06,130 and became vehicle systems engineers and 47 00:02:11,620 --> 00:02:09,019 just recently probably in the last five 48 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:11,630 years we kind of split our ways Tim went 49 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:14,090 to the launch managers office and I went 50 00:02:18,610 --> 00:02:16,010 to the fleet systems management area 51 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:18,620 there for myself on Mik Waltman I'm the 52 00:02:23,110 --> 00:02:20,450 chief of fleet systems and integration 53 00:02:24,580 --> 00:02:23,120 in the program my branch is in charge of 54 00:02:26,890 --> 00:02:24,590 all the system engineering for the 55 00:02:28,599 --> 00:02:26,900 launch vehicles another cool job not 56 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:28,609 quite as cool as the launch manager but 57 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:29,810 it's pretty good it's pretty cool 58 00:02:33,220 --> 00:02:31,730 because we get to do all the engineering 59 00:02:35,110 --> 00:02:33,230 and assessments of all the launch 60 00:02:35,890 --> 00:02:35,120 vehicles that launch services program 61 00:02:37,599 --> 00:02:35,900 works with 62 00:02:41,349 --> 00:02:37,609 so you guys are both with the launch 63 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:41,359 services program or LSP and you guys I 64 00:02:45,460 --> 00:02:42,770 would describe you guys it's kind of the 65 00:02:47,620 --> 00:02:45,470 some heroes of NASA and spaceflight for 66 00:02:48,850 --> 00:02:47,630 two decades now I'm expecting that 67 00:02:50,650 --> 00:02:48,860 people are surprised to hear you've been 68 00:02:52,030 --> 00:02:50,660 around for 20 years because my 69 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:52,040 expectation is people would say well 70 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:53,690 I've heard of the shuttle program I've 71 00:02:58,060 --> 00:02:55,970 heard of maybe SLS I've heard of SpaceX 72 00:02:59,490 --> 00:02:58,070 and Virgin Galactic and Boeing and all 73 00:03:02,230 --> 00:02:59,500 these other companies that are out there 74 00:03:04,450 --> 00:03:02,240 LSP what who are you and what do you do 75 00:03:06,610 --> 00:03:04,460 so so give me an overview of like what 76 00:03:08,860 --> 00:03:06,620 do you guys do as a program so I would 77 00:03:11,140 --> 00:03:08,870 say as a program that's named launch 78 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:11,150 services program we have only been 79 00:03:17,140 --> 00:03:13,490 around since 1998 so this is our 20th 80 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:17,150 year however the heritage of LSP really 81 00:03:23,170 --> 00:03:20,690 dates back into the late 50s and 60s 82 00:03:25,660 --> 00:03:23,180 so our predecessor organization that was 83 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:25,670 located here at Kennedy Space Center was 84 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:28,730 called NASA expendable launch vehicles 85 00:03:33,820 --> 00:03:31,490 okay so you know not a real jazzy name 86 00:03:35,980 --> 00:03:33,830 we need we need to tighten that up sure 87 00:03:38,170 --> 00:03:35,990 then we had we had a lot of expertise in 88 00:03:39,790 --> 00:03:38,180 expendable launch vehicles that were 89 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:39,800 located at Goddard Space Flight Center 90 00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:42,890 and at the time Louis was right 91 00:03:49,900 --> 00:03:46,160 I just know Glenn Glenn okay right so in 92 00:03:51,730 --> 00:03:49,910 1998 NASA as an agency co-located all of 93 00:03:53,530 --> 00:03:51,740 that expertise in expendable launch 94 00:03:56,410 --> 00:03:53,540 vehicles here at Kennedy Space Center 95 00:03:58,780 --> 00:03:56,420 and gave us the the new branded name of 96 00:04:02,410 --> 00:03:58,790 launch services program so what we do 97 00:04:05,290 --> 00:04:02,420 right you know in just very short amount 98 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:05,300 of time if I could summarize it it would 99 00:04:12,010 --> 00:04:08,530 be we match up the needs of spacecraft 100 00:04:14,830 --> 00:04:12,020 with the right size of the rocket so 101 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:14,840 small spacecraft do in low Earth orbit 102 00:04:19,930 --> 00:04:16,970 activity small rocket and we don't just 103 00:04:22,330 --> 00:04:19,940 have one rocket we find what's best 104 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:22,340 needed for the spacecraft customer to 105 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:23,690 get them where they need and if that 106 00:04:27,990 --> 00:04:25,370 requires an ALICE five we do that that 107 00:04:31,030 --> 00:04:28,000 requires a delta 2 we do that Pegasus or 108 00:04:34,420 --> 00:04:31,040 Falcon 9 or a falcon 9 heavy delta 4 109 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:34,430 heavy we have those all available to us 110 00:04:38,170 --> 00:04:36,170 to choose from as launch services 111 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:38,180 program we have expertise in all those 112 00:04:42,790 --> 00:04:40,370 vehicles working with our contractors on 113 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:42,800 those we we assess all that and 114 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:44,570 determine what's needed so you could you 115 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:47,450 could kind of say we broker right where 116 00:04:52,150 --> 00:04:49,970 the core where NASA's bridge to space if 117 00:04:54,650 --> 00:04:52,160 you will yeah with our spacecraft 118 00:04:57,350 --> 00:04:54,660 customer providing them or 119 00:04:59,330 --> 00:04:57,360 now what's unique about that and we can 120 00:05:00,860 --> 00:04:59,340 talk a little bit about this is compared 121 00:05:03,980 --> 00:05:00,870 to all the other programs people have 122 00:05:06,500 --> 00:05:03,990 heard about shuttle SLS all these launch 123 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:06,510 services program we work with private 124 00:05:10,730 --> 00:05:09,090 contractors who build rockets so the 125 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:10,740 United Launch alliances the Northrop 126 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:12,930 Grumman innovation systems basic basic 127 00:05:18,650 --> 00:05:16,170 technology technology is you know and 128 00:05:20,660 --> 00:05:18,660 they they actually own and build and 129 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:20,670 have done a lot of the design of these 130 00:05:23,660 --> 00:05:22,650 Rockets although some of the technology 131 00:05:26,510 --> 00:05:23,670 and stuffs been around for many many 132 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:26,520 years they build these rockets we then 133 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:28,770 work with them to make sure we have the 134 00:05:33,530 --> 00:05:30,930 right rocket for the right mission to 135 00:05:35,210 --> 00:05:33,540 make mission success and a lot of us as 136 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:35,220 you heard from Tim and I Tim started 137 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:37,050 back with McDonnell Douglas on the Delta 138 00:05:40,820 --> 00:05:39,450 myself with Gd Lockheed on Atlas we have 139 00:05:41,210 --> 00:05:40,830 a lot of background in those type of 140 00:05:43,820 --> 00:05:41,220 things 141 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:43,830 and we came to NASA to help do that so 142 00:05:47,900 --> 00:05:45,690 that's one of the big differences that 143 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:47,910 you probably why people didn't know 144 00:05:52,280 --> 00:05:49,650 about launch services program early on 145 00:05:55,040 --> 00:05:52,290 when shuttle was flying and stuff was is 146 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:55,050 we are kind of brokering that with our 147 00:06:00,170 --> 00:05:58,170 private contractors yeah to get NASA's 148 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:00,180 missions on orbit and one good thing 149 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:03,210 that we like to tout for the taxpayers 150 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:06,420 out there is that because we have this 151 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:08,370 those that will be paying tax we have 152 00:06:14,390 --> 00:06:11,250 this stable of rockets in our catalog 153 00:06:16,700 --> 00:06:14,400 and so we're able to compete our needs 154 00:06:18,850 --> 00:06:16,710 against these multiple commercial 155 00:06:21,830 --> 00:06:18,860 providers awesome and thus get the best 156 00:06:23,890 --> 00:06:21,840 product and price awesome for the 157 00:06:26,540 --> 00:06:23,900 American taxpayer yeah and what's what's 158 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:26,550 unique about that is is being rocket 159 00:06:30,500 --> 00:06:28,710 engineers that we are I'm probably 160 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:30,510 dating myself here but all of us have a 161 00:06:35,510 --> 00:06:32,250 poster of all of our favorite Rockets 162 00:06:38,030 --> 00:06:35,520 you know that are in our offices and 163 00:06:40,150 --> 00:06:38,040 things like that but you know we kind of 164 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:40,160 have that that centerfold picture if you 165 00:06:45,530 --> 00:06:42,810 taped up in our office of what our 166 00:06:46,940 --> 00:06:45,540 favorites are it's true it's a some 167 00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:46,950 really nerdy and geeky like you know 168 00:06:52,010 --> 00:06:49,890 that right like we are like you are we 169 00:06:55,880 --> 00:06:52,020 have no qualms about telling you that we 170 00:06:58,430 --> 00:06:55,890 are that's good you know our our program 171 00:06:59,810 --> 00:06:58,440 manager Amanda Matz kovitch we just 172 00:07:01,970 --> 00:06:59,820 recently did some work and she was 173 00:07:03,230 --> 00:07:01,980 telling somebody that you know if you 174 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:03,240 really want to see my folks and how 175 00:07:07,010 --> 00:07:05,010 passionate about they are how they are 176 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:07,020 about their jobs just go ask them what 177 00:07:09,980 --> 00:07:08,370 their hobbies are when they leave 178 00:07:12,530 --> 00:07:09,990 work you know they work on Rockets all 179 00:07:14,629 --> 00:07:12,540 day long and they love it but then they 180 00:07:16,909 --> 00:07:14,639 leave work and go ask him what they do a 181 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:16,919 lot of us go play golf a lot of us do 182 00:07:21,170 --> 00:07:19,470 model rockets a lot of us do engineering 183 00:07:23,780 --> 00:07:21,180 things we work with outreach 184 00:07:25,879 --> 00:07:23,790 it's just what we like to do we yes we 185 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:25,889 know we're nerdy and we love rockets so 186 00:07:29,810 --> 00:07:28,290 you guys did you guys grow up as NASA or 187 00:07:31,610 --> 00:07:29,820 space kids or is that something that 188 00:07:33,830 --> 00:07:31,620 really like it didn't happen until you 189 00:07:35,780 --> 00:07:33,840 got close to that launch so I guess I 190 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:35,790 would say what Tim and I have learned 191 00:07:40,340 --> 00:07:37,770 working with each over each other over 192 00:07:44,029 --> 00:07:40,350 the years is and you can jump in here is 193 00:07:46,790 --> 00:07:44,039 we actually had very similar ideals and 194 00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:46,800 dreams growing up one of my favorite 195 00:07:53,779 --> 00:07:49,110 shows growing up was a Star Trek the 196 00:07:57,580 --> 00:07:53,789 original unfortunately you you will hear 197 00:08:00,350 --> 00:07:57,590 Tim wanted to be a certain character I 198 00:08:01,850 --> 00:08:00,360 believe his name was Captain Kirk 199 00:08:03,710 --> 00:08:01,860 Captain Kirk who didn't want to be 200 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:03,720 captain critical question well that was 201 00:08:09,770 --> 00:08:08,250 me I wanted to be Scotty so I think it 202 00:08:11,270 --> 00:08:09,780 worked out great because I wanted to do 203 00:08:14,690 --> 00:08:11,280 engineering Tim became the launch 204 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:14,700 manager you know he runs the launch but 205 00:08:19,670 --> 00:08:16,650 yeah we both loved Star Trek 206 00:08:21,290 --> 00:08:19,680 yeah mama model rock model rockets which 207 00:08:23,690 --> 00:08:21,300 by the way we still do today with 208 00:08:25,310 --> 00:08:23,700 students and outreach and stuff when we 209 00:08:26,930 --> 00:08:25,320 get asked you can't keep us away from 210 00:08:28,969 --> 00:08:26,940 doing either air rockets or model 211 00:08:31,070 --> 00:08:28,979 rockets Tim and I love to go out and do 212 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:31,080 those still even as we are still 213 00:08:37,190 --> 00:08:35,010 youngsters at heart so yeah so yeah we 214 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:37,200 had a lot of the same things growing up 215 00:08:44,300 --> 00:08:40,770 that that led us to this job really neat 216 00:08:47,300 --> 00:08:44,310 job so a little bit about myself I was 217 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:47,310 born and raised in Alabama small town I 218 00:08:51,199 --> 00:08:48,690 went to school at the University of 219 00:08:53,180 --> 00:08:51,209 Alabama got an engineering degree the 220 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:53,190 Air Force offered to pay for my 221 00:08:57,230 --> 00:08:54,930 schooling so I owed them a few years I 222 00:08:58,940 --> 00:08:57,240 went off and I flew satellites with the 223 00:09:01,130 --> 00:08:58,950 United States Air Force for a number of 224 00:09:03,890 --> 00:09:01,140 years Air Force was really good to me 225 00:09:06,650 --> 00:09:03,900 after that really cool first assignment 226 00:09:08,870 --> 00:09:06,660 flying satellites GPS satellites by the 227 00:09:11,329 --> 00:09:08,880 way I got to go back to graduate school 228 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:11,339 got a graduate degree in orbital 229 00:09:16,310 --> 00:09:13,650 mechanics and the physics of space 230 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:16,320 science and I parlayed that into an 231 00:09:21,079 --> 00:09:19,410 assignment here in Florida at Kennedy 232 00:09:21,390 --> 00:09:21,089 Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air 233 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:21,400 Force 234 00:09:27,780 --> 00:09:26,890 crew and then I once you get launching 235 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:27,790 your blood Mick 236 00:09:31,650 --> 00:09:29,530 what happened absolutely it stays in 237 00:09:33,210 --> 00:09:31,660 your blood so you couldn't leave Brevard 238 00:09:35,850 --> 00:09:33,220 County I couldn't leave Kennedy Space 239 00:09:37,940 --> 00:09:35,860 Center and Cape Canaveral and Here I am 240 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:37,950 I was very fortunate to get a follow-on 241 00:09:42,270 --> 00:09:40,930 job offer from McDonnell Douglas did a 242 00:09:46,020 --> 00:09:42,280 little bit of work with the Delta 2 243 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:46,030 rocket I grew up actually here in 244 00:09:49,010 --> 00:09:47,650 Florida and kind of bounced around a 245 00:09:51,810 --> 00:09:49,020 little bit but ended up in Tennessee 246 00:09:53,910 --> 00:09:51,820 with my dad travel in the southeast area 247 00:09:56,220 --> 00:09:53,920 so we did most of my stuff there in 248 00:09:57,900 --> 00:09:56,230 Tennessee I went to Tennessee 249 00:10:00,570 --> 00:09:57,910 Technological University for my 250 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:00,580 electrical engineering degree started my 251 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:02,530 masters in engineering management and 252 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:03,850 electrical at the University of 253 00:10:09,030 --> 00:10:06,010 Tennessee go Vols sorry about the 254 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:09,040 Alabama there and then came to Florida 255 00:10:14,610 --> 00:10:12,010 and finished that up here at UCF so a 256 00:10:17,250 --> 00:10:14,620 little bit of mixture in college life 257 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:17,260 but you know enjoyed my engineering time 258 00:10:21,300 --> 00:10:20,050 they're a lot like Tim he went in the 259 00:10:23,220 --> 00:10:21,310 Air Force I came right out of college 260 00:10:26,580 --> 00:10:23,230 and went to work for the Department of 261 00:10:29,850 --> 00:10:26,590 Energy in Tennessee designing guidance 262 00:10:32,820 --> 00:10:29,860 chips for submarine missiles and then I 263 00:10:34,260 --> 00:10:32,830 got picked up by General Dynamics Marc 264 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:34,270 Marietta Lockheed Martin that whole 265 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:37,450 merger after shuttle Challenger and 266 00:10:41,910 --> 00:10:40,450 started working at complex 36 here at 267 00:10:44,190 --> 00:10:41,920 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and 268 00:10:46,740 --> 00:10:44,200 like Tim said once you get that first 269 00:10:49,980 --> 00:10:46,750 launch in your blood you want to do that 270 00:10:51,540 --> 00:10:49,990 and so I did and fortunate enough we're 271 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:51,550 still launching rockets still loving it 272 00:10:55,860 --> 00:10:52,890 working with the people we love and 273 00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:55,870 doing what we dream of every day so very 274 00:11:03,150 --> 00:10:57,970 similar career paths as you can see yeah 275 00:11:04,980 --> 00:11:03,160 although mik does wear that it's just a 276 00:11:07,590 --> 00:11:04,990 little bit and I wear that much more 277 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:07,600 palatable trainers in red yeah yeah we 278 00:11:12,150 --> 00:11:10,170 we have a fun time with our SEC football 279 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:12,160 when Tim and I started working together 280 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:15,610 in LSP in 2000 we kind of found that 281 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:17,410 bond that you know we had even though 282 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:20,050 approach this from different tracks if 283 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:22,090 you will or different ways we came to 284 00:11:26,130 --> 00:11:24,010 the same job of what we love to do and 285 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:26,140 still love to do today yes absolutely 286 00:11:30,660 --> 00:11:27,730 that's awesome 287 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:30,670 so know humans for launch services 288 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:33,730 program as part of a spacecraft correct 289 00:11:39,070 --> 00:11:34,250 correct 290 00:11:41,560 --> 00:11:39,080 but pretty much every or I guess barring 291 00:11:43,780 --> 00:11:41,570 a few that flew on shuttle every NASA 292 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:43,790 science mission since the inception 293 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:47,090 another program in 99 98 is all LSP is 294 00:11:55,170 --> 00:11:51,770 that accurate I would say about 95 98 295 00:11:58,030 --> 00:11:55,180 percent there are some occasional 296 00:12:00,910 --> 00:11:58,040 missions that will fly as rideshare on 297 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:00,920 maybe an Air Force launch or National 298 00:12:06,850 --> 00:12:03,890 Reconnaissance launch some have flown as 299 00:12:07,960 --> 00:12:06,860 rideshare on Soyuz missions and are then 300 00:12:10,420 --> 00:12:07,970 attached to the international space 301 00:12:13,390 --> 00:12:10,430 station but certainly anything that's 302 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:13,400 large and is doing big science either 303 00:12:18,310 --> 00:12:15,710 here in Earth orbit or going 304 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:18,320 interplanetary you can bet there was an 305 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:19,610 LSP stamp on it 306 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:21,200 if it's launched in the last 20 years 307 00:12:26,050 --> 00:12:24,770 yes awesome so tell me about kind of so 308 00:12:29,110 --> 00:12:26,060 obviously have a finite number of 309 00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:29,120 rockets available as your ride there's 310 00:12:34,090 --> 00:12:31,760 not an exponential number out there so 311 00:12:35,490 --> 00:12:34,100 what's the landscape looked like as far 312 00:12:37,540 --> 00:12:35,500 as the options that you've had 313 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:37,550 historically and and are we seeing a 314 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:39,530 change now it feels like there's a 315 00:12:43,960 --> 00:12:42,050 growing market in the in the commercial 316 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:43,970 world absolutely growing market and 317 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:47,330 again LSP is I would say out front in 318 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:50,330 looking at the market and some of our 319 00:12:56,620 --> 00:12:53,210 venture class our next some of our new 320 00:12:59,200 --> 00:12:56,630 competitors or or emerging rockets that 321 00:13:01,360 --> 00:12:59,210 are coming up in out that you hear out 322 00:13:03,579 --> 00:13:01,370 there LSP is looking at those and 323 00:13:05,530 --> 00:13:03,589 working with them we we're always trying 324 00:13:07,510 --> 00:13:05,540 to strategically think ahead of what's 325 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:07,520 the next best thing for NASA 326 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:10,010 you know our science missions so people 327 00:13:14,470 --> 00:13:11,930 have probably seen Blue Origin you know 328 00:13:16,470 --> 00:13:14,480 or if they haven't they will soon you 329 00:13:20,380 --> 00:13:16,480 know are they will soon yeah and or 330 00:13:24,250 --> 00:13:20,390 rocket rocket labs right and launcher 331 00:13:26,980 --> 00:13:24,260 one started Firefly and we're working 332 00:13:28,510 --> 00:13:26,990 with these companies to understand their 333 00:13:31,420 --> 00:13:28,520 rockets to look at how they're doing 334 00:13:34,300 --> 00:13:31,430 business and and eventually maybe get 335 00:13:36,310 --> 00:13:34,310 them in as part of our catalog but you 336 00:13:38,500 --> 00:13:36,320 got to start somewhere and we have a lot 337 00:13:41,530 --> 00:13:38,510 of stuff coming down the pike a lot like 338 00:13:44,380 --> 00:13:41,540 people know SpaceX writes true when 339 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:44,390 SpaceX first came on the scene which I 340 00:13:49,689 --> 00:13:46,850 can't believe has now been almost in 341 00:13:52,269 --> 00:13:49,699 eleven years ten sixteen years it's been 342 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:52,279 a long time mm yeah but we think of them 343 00:13:55,540 --> 00:13:54,110 as just starting out right but they when 344 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:55,550 they first started out we got involved 345 00:13:59,319 --> 00:13:57,290 with them and following their early 346 00:14:01,389 --> 00:13:59,329 launches and and looking at them and 347 00:14:03,340 --> 00:14:01,399 then eventually SpaceX became one of the 348 00:14:05,650 --> 00:14:03,350 Rockets we had available for our our 349 00:14:07,059 --> 00:14:05,660 customers so I mean I think we're always 350 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:07,069 out there looking at the market and 351 00:14:11,949 --> 00:14:09,290 creating new opportunities yeah I think 352 00:14:14,610 --> 00:14:11,959 historically kind of as Mick and I were 353 00:14:17,410 --> 00:14:14,620 coming up through the 80s and early 90s 354 00:14:20,230 --> 00:14:17,420 there was generally like a smaller 355 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:20,240 rockets some medium Rockets and then the 356 00:14:24,730 --> 00:14:22,250 bigger Rockets so Mick and I kind of 357 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:24,740 grew up as we've talked about there was 358 00:14:31,389 --> 00:14:27,410 Pegasus has been around since I guess 359 00:14:33,009 --> 00:14:31,399 was that late 80s and early 90s and 360 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:33,019 that's a very small market and then 361 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:36,170 Delta 2 was in that kind of medium class 362 00:14:42,309 --> 00:14:39,050 Atlas and then the big rockets were 363 00:14:44,350 --> 00:14:42,319 Titan 4 and then Space Shuttle yeah so 364 00:14:46,629 --> 00:14:44,360 now and so we got to see the evolution 365 00:14:49,540 --> 00:14:46,639 of Atlas 5 and Delta for that that 366 00:14:51,879 --> 00:14:49,550 design was during our time right - to 367 00:14:53,710 --> 00:14:51,889 meet some bigger payloads when Titan 368 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:53,720 went away so those were kind of our 369 00:14:57,490 --> 00:14:55,490 stable while we were growing up yeah so 370 00:14:59,920 --> 00:14:57,500 we were able to kind of see Titan be 371 00:15:02,620 --> 00:14:59,930 retired but lockheed-martin grow the 372 00:15:04,870 --> 00:15:02,630 Atlas - at the time into the Atlas 3 and 373 00:15:08,019 --> 00:15:04,880 then now Atlas 5 which has become just 374 00:15:10,569 --> 00:15:08,029 an absolute gold standard and launching 375 00:15:12,579 --> 00:15:10,579 and for large spacecraft and we got to 376 00:15:14,650 --> 00:15:12,589 see you know I just thought about this 377 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:14,660 is we get we got to see companies who 378 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:16,850 you know he worked for McDonnell Douglas 379 00:15:20,920 --> 00:15:19,490 I worked for Lockheed Martin and and you 380 00:15:23,740 --> 00:15:20,930 got to see these companies get together 381 00:15:26,290 --> 00:15:23,750 also inform in this case United Launch 382 00:15:28,210 --> 00:15:26,300 Alliance so you had two rocky companies 383 00:15:30,879 --> 00:15:28,220 who got together and created one and 384 00:15:32,259 --> 00:15:30,889 kind of merged technologies and and 385 00:15:34,329 --> 00:15:32,269 Rockets together to create another 386 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:34,339 family right and they're even moving 387 00:15:38,530 --> 00:15:36,410 forward with the Vulcan rocket that's 388 00:15:42,460 --> 00:15:38,540 coming out their new design and Northrop 389 00:15:44,740 --> 00:15:42,470 Grumman started with their small Pegasus 390 00:15:47,050 --> 00:15:44,750 they've built an ant Ari's vehicle that 391 00:15:48,759 --> 00:15:47,060 we we have and look at and they're now 392 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:48,769 looking at another vehicle cars 393 00:15:54,340 --> 00:15:52,250 oh man mega yeah larger rockets so Ellis 394 00:15:56,829 --> 00:15:54,350 market is continuing to grow as mick 395 00:15:59,290 --> 00:15:56,839 said you know we keep building 396 00:16:00,580 --> 00:15:59,300 relationships with all of these emerging 397 00:16:03,250 --> 00:16:00,590 launch service 398 00:16:06,310 --> 00:16:03,260 and rocket providers and look forward to 399 00:16:07,870 --> 00:16:06,320 that first launch for Blue Origin here 400 00:16:09,519 --> 00:16:07,880 in a few years actually going back a 401 00:16:10,930 --> 00:16:09,529 little history wise I'm like I'm excited 402 00:16:13,510 --> 00:16:10,940 about that one because they're launching 403 00:16:15,730 --> 00:16:13,520 gonna be launching off a complex 36 ok 404 00:16:18,090 --> 00:16:15,740 Jude earlier which is where I started my 405 00:16:20,380 --> 00:16:18,100 career launching Atlas rockets which got 406 00:16:22,780 --> 00:16:20,390 decommissioned and Blue Origin moved in 407 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:22,790 and start rebuilding and to that point 408 00:16:33,130 --> 00:16:27,010 also back just recently July 12th of 409 00:16:35,290 --> 00:16:33,140 2018 complex Space Launch Complex 17 was 410 00:16:38,590 --> 00:16:35,300 taken down where Delta twos launched out 411 00:16:41,170 --> 00:16:38,600 of for many many years and now that's 412 00:16:44,050 --> 00:16:41,180 look that's being repurposed by another 413 00:16:46,269 --> 00:16:44,060 launch come right correct to do so it's 414 00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:46,279 exciting for Tim and I to see some of 415 00:16:51,370 --> 00:16:48,290 these changes and how the market evolves 416 00:16:53,350 --> 00:16:51,380 from there big big year anniversary year 417 00:16:55,210 --> 00:16:53,360 for you all congratulations to the 418 00:16:57,910 --> 00:16:55,220 program into you guys thank you any 419 00:16:59,560 --> 00:16:57,920 place a huge year I don't know that 420 00:17:01,660 --> 00:16:59,570 there's ever been a year with this many 421 00:17:02,980 --> 00:17:01,670 launches this close together talk a 422 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:02,990 little bit about kind of this year for 423 00:17:06,280 --> 00:17:04,970 you guys as a program well I'm gonna I'm 424 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:06,290 gonna jump in real quick cuz I'll let 425 00:17:09,309 --> 00:17:07,850 Tim talk about the year but I will say 426 00:17:11,860 --> 00:17:09,319 it's an exciting year for us it's our 427 00:17:14,050 --> 00:17:11,870 20th anniversary we're so happy to be 428 00:17:15,970 --> 00:17:14,060 here and for all the years we've been 429 00:17:18,189 --> 00:17:15,980 with the program this is one of the 430 00:17:20,559 --> 00:17:18,199 busiest years we have and let you talk 431 00:17:23,710 --> 00:17:20,569 about that so for just a moment let me 432 00:17:25,660 --> 00:17:23,720 kind of summarize 2018 and then I want 433 00:17:27,250 --> 00:17:25,670 to go on Joshua I'm not sure how much 434 00:17:32,460 --> 00:17:27,260 time you have because I can talk for a 435 00:17:37,390 --> 00:17:35,320 Rockside you know - what's exciting 436 00:17:40,150 --> 00:17:37,400 about 2018 is that we're launching on 437 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:40,160 six different rocket configurations yeah 438 00:17:44,919 --> 00:17:42,050 so we're launching on a couple of Atlas 439 00:17:47,020 --> 00:17:44,929 five configurations we mentioned Falcon 440 00:17:49,450 --> 00:17:47,030 9 launch tests we're launching on 441 00:17:53,110 --> 00:17:49,460 Pegasus we're launching on the delta 4 442 00:17:55,660 --> 00:17:53,120 heavy and finally next up for us is the 443 00:17:57,430 --> 00:17:55,670 Delta - yeah so Nick and I are both 444 00:17:58,930 --> 00:17:57,440 individually blessed to be in the 445 00:18:01,030 --> 00:17:58,940 positions that we are absolutely 446 00:18:03,130 --> 00:18:01,040 absolutely love our jobs but I would say 447 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:03,140 our program launch services program here 448 00:18:05,980 --> 00:18:04,130 at Kennedy Space Center 449 00:18:07,690 --> 00:18:05,990 I mean we're blessed to have the job 450 00:18:10,300 --> 00:18:07,700 that the government has entrusted to us 451 00:18:11,950 --> 00:18:10,310 yeah we're a family I refer to it 452 00:18:12,509 --> 00:18:11,960 sometimes as a dysfunctional family but 453 00:18:17,129 --> 00:18:12,519 we're still 454 00:18:19,139 --> 00:18:17,139 successful dysfunction absolutely we are 455 00:18:20,879 --> 00:18:19,149 we love working with everybody we have 456 00:18:22,619 --> 00:18:20,889 so we are Tim's right we're blessed to 457 00:18:25,739 --> 00:18:22,629 be around so through our 20 year history 458 00:18:27,779 --> 00:18:25,749 we've had very busy years and we may 459 00:18:29,999 --> 00:18:27,789 have had a year or two as busy as this 460 00:18:32,729 --> 00:18:30,009 year but 2018 is particularly busy for 461 00:18:36,389 --> 00:18:32,739 us six launches this year we're very 462 00:18:38,399 --> 00:18:36,399 fortunate here we are and we've had four 463 00:18:41,579 --> 00:18:38,409 of our six launches successfully 464 00:18:43,949 --> 00:18:41,589 occurred a lot of tremendous amount of 465 00:18:45,719 --> 00:18:43,959 work have gone into those launches in a 466 00:18:47,549 --> 00:18:45,729 couple historic ones too I mean there is 467 00:18:50,039 --> 00:18:47,559 story what have you got for a second 468 00:18:51,690 --> 00:18:50,049 that we've only attempted four so far so 469 00:18:55,349 --> 00:18:51,700 we have four successful out of four 470 00:18:57,479 --> 00:18:55,359 attempts well to go for with two more to 471 00:19:01,049 --> 00:18:57,489 go yeah so you're right I wouldn't say 472 00:19:05,159 --> 00:19:01,059 attempted we actually launched like we 473 00:19:06,239 --> 00:19:05,169 only launched four of the six and 474 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:06,249 hopefully we're going to talk about the 475 00:19:10,049 --> 00:19:07,570 other two but you know I was saying 476 00:19:12,449 --> 00:19:10,059 historic year for us too Tim Tim and I 477 00:19:15,449 --> 00:19:12,459 like to talk about as one in particular 478 00:19:17,249 --> 00:19:15,459 starting off the year was our goes our 479 00:19:18,659 --> 00:19:17,259 satellite which was the follow that I 480 00:19:20,519 --> 00:19:18,669 mean goes s you're right which was a 481 00:19:21,810 --> 00:19:20,529 follow on to goes our right that we've 482 00:19:24,180 --> 00:19:21,820 done here before which is the new 483 00:19:26,369 --> 00:19:24,190 weather satellite all first-of-its-kind 484 00:19:28,799 --> 00:19:26,379 bringing all kinds of data back for 485 00:19:31,619 --> 00:19:28,809 weather and scientists and then insight 486 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:31,629 which was a very historic launch for us 487 00:19:37,769 --> 00:19:36,129 it was our first Mars mission off of the 488 00:19:42,149 --> 00:19:37,779 west coast out of Vandenberg Air Force 489 00:19:44,759 --> 00:19:42,159 Base and then recently we had the Tesla 490 00:19:46,489 --> 00:19:44,769 that's true we launched for the second 491 00:19:49,319 --> 00:19:46,499 time as a program off of a Falcon 9 492 00:19:50,789 --> 00:19:49,329 tests which is a really cool satellite 493 00:19:53,969 --> 00:19:50,799 that's out there in space right now 494 00:19:57,089 --> 00:19:53,979 looking for other earth-like planets is 495 00:19:58,379 --> 00:19:57,099 equal to Kepler absolutely yes do some 496 00:19:59,609 --> 00:19:58,389 homework there's some cool science out 497 00:20:01,049 --> 00:19:59,619 there happening right now and then the 498 00:20:03,180 --> 00:20:01,059 one and then the one we just launched 499 00:20:05,279 --> 00:20:03,190 which was a lot of work for the team and 500 00:20:07,319 --> 00:20:05,289 as soon as so we're so proud of the 501 00:20:09,449 --> 00:20:07,329 program how much effort was put in by 502 00:20:12,180 --> 00:20:09,459 him every buy was that so hard 503 00:20:17,879 --> 00:20:12,190 what rocket was that that was a delta 4 504 00:20:19,289 --> 00:20:17,889 heavy heavy first one for LSP launch 505 00:20:21,930 --> 00:20:19,299 versus program 506 00:20:24,479 --> 00:20:21,940 heavy mission and we launched a 507 00:20:26,130 --> 00:20:24,489 satellite Parker Solar Probe now named 508 00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:26,140 after dr. Eugene Parker 509 00:20:29,670 --> 00:20:28,330 who first time NASA's ever done that is 510 00:20:31,590 --> 00:20:29,680 named a satellite after somebody who's 511 00:20:34,110 --> 00:20:31,600 still living he was here for the launch 512 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:34,120 and so excited to see that go but that 513 00:20:38,370 --> 00:20:35,890 was a historic mission to because on its 514 00:20:40,950 --> 00:20:38,380 way to the Sun yeah mission it's going 515 00:20:42,930 --> 00:20:40,960 to quote touch touch we're very excited 516 00:20:46,590 --> 00:20:42,940 about that but let's talk for a moment 517 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:46,600 about delta 4 heavy our first launch as 518 00:20:51,810 --> 00:20:48,490 a program on that rock yeah it was a 519 00:20:54,390 --> 00:20:51,820 huge rocket it's like it's hard to 520 00:20:56,610 --> 00:20:54,400 describe how big this rocket is and the 521 00:20:58,580 --> 00:20:56,620 the incredible team that United Launch 522 00:21:02,070 --> 00:20:58,590 Alliance has them that has put together 523 00:21:03,930 --> 00:21:02,080 designed and prepares that rocket for 524 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:03,940 launch yeah it is I mean you think about 525 00:21:07,890 --> 00:21:05,650 it compared to some of the other rockets 526 00:21:10,380 --> 00:21:07,900 and our stable right delta 4 heavy has 527 00:21:12,420 --> 00:21:10,390 three common booster cores yeah so 528 00:21:14,010 --> 00:21:12,430 there's there's the extra work that has 529 00:21:15,990 --> 00:21:14,020 to go in there and integrating three 530 00:21:18,450 --> 00:21:16,000 cores together to lift off from earth 531 00:21:21,300 --> 00:21:18,460 the exact same time three core so think 532 00:21:23,340 --> 00:21:21,310 of three rock sitting side by side tied 533 00:21:25,350 --> 00:21:23,350 together on the launch pad as the first 534 00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:25,360 stage each one with its own engine and 535 00:21:28,770 --> 00:21:26,170 rs-68 536 00:21:31,260 --> 00:21:28,780 a engine that provides a lot of power to 537 00:21:32,730 --> 00:21:31,270 get out of Earth's atmosphere but yeah 538 00:21:34,710 --> 00:21:32,740 like Tim said that trying to integrate 539 00:21:36,090 --> 00:21:34,720 all that together which is just the 540 00:21:38,070 --> 00:21:36,100 first stage right and what we when we 541 00:21:40,110 --> 00:21:38,080 call a first stage that's just the part 542 00:21:42,150 --> 00:21:40,120 of the rocket that we use to get out of 543 00:21:44,640 --> 00:21:42,160 Earth's atmosphere it's a it's just the 544 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:44,650 first basic part the in our case the 545 00:21:49,620 --> 00:21:47,410 power lots of power its provide us that 546 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:49,630 velocity and speed to leave Earth's 547 00:21:53,730 --> 00:21:51,850 orbit and then of course we have a 548 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:53,740 second stage which is sitting on top of 549 00:21:59,280 --> 00:21:56,710 that first stage which we refer to as a 550 00:22:02,280 --> 00:21:59,290 booster but the second stage is a small 551 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:02,290 motor and not really small for Delta for 552 00:22:06,270 --> 00:22:03,730 I shouldn't say that right it's actually 553 00:22:08,610 --> 00:22:06,280 a pretty large Delta cryogenic separate 554 00:22:11,940 --> 00:22:08,620 second stage which uses high-performance 555 00:22:13,890 --> 00:22:11,950 fuels and to get the spacecraft on its 556 00:22:15,930 --> 00:22:13,900 way once it's into its intermediate 557 00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:15,940 orbit and then a mission unique thing a 558 00:22:21,270 --> 00:22:18,310 thing we did specifically for delta 4 559 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:21,280 heavy was we added a third stage solid 560 00:22:25,710 --> 00:22:23,290 rocket motor we don't fly many third 561 00:22:28,230 --> 00:22:25,720 stages but this solid rocket motor that 562 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:28,240 we've had great heritage with northrop 563 00:22:32,790 --> 00:22:30,370 grumman designed and developed this 564 00:22:35,730 --> 00:22:32,800 third stage and that was the the final 565 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:35,740 push that parker Solar Probe needed to 566 00:22:39,630 --> 00:22:38,530 get it on that intersecting orbit with 567 00:22:41,370 --> 00:22:39,640 the Sun 568 00:22:43,590 --> 00:22:41,380 incredible mission you were saying do 569 00:22:45,150 --> 00:22:43,600 your homework on some of the others I'm 570 00:22:48,510 --> 00:22:45,160 sure a lot of people out there that are 571 00:22:50,370 --> 00:22:48,520 listening to us today have seen that in 572 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:50,380 the news and I would say go check that 573 00:22:55,110 --> 00:22:51,490 out because it's a real exciting 574 00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:55,120 missioning 60 years in the making to do 575 00:22:59,700 --> 00:22:56,710 something like this to get this close to 576 00:23:01,410 --> 00:22:59,710 the Sun yeah we covered a good bid that 577 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:01,420 content with Nicky Fox dr. Nikki Fox 578 00:23:10,770 --> 00:23:07,930 yeah I want to make sure we we touch on 579 00:23:13,830 --> 00:23:10,780 these last two so yes still to come we 580 00:23:15,270 --> 00:23:13,840 have we have the final Delta 2 mission 581 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:15,280 the little brother I'll call it up the 582 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:18,490 Delta 4 and then icon on board a Pegasus 583 00:23:22,470 --> 00:23:20,650 so give us a real quick kind of a 584 00:23:24,300 --> 00:23:22,480 snapshot those two launches look like 585 00:23:27,390 --> 00:23:24,310 I'm gonna let Tim I'm gonna do Pegasus 586 00:23:30,300 --> 00:23:27,400 first because as you said the Delta 2 is 587 00:23:31,830 --> 00:23:30,310 our final Delta to launch and both of us 588 00:23:34,020 --> 00:23:31,840 have a lot of history with the Delta 2 589 00:23:34,620 --> 00:23:34,030 but Tim has you heard from his 590 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:34,630 background 591 00:23:39,540 --> 00:23:37,450 James Air Force early on Tim has a 592 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:39,550 tremendous amount of that and this will 593 00:23:44,430 --> 00:23:42,370 be an emotional emotional rocket launch 594 00:23:46,650 --> 00:23:44,440 for him and so I'll let him talk the 595 00:23:48,770 --> 00:23:46,660 Delta 2 but to correct you just a moment 596 00:23:51,630 --> 00:23:48,780 when you said little brother of Delta 4 597 00:23:53,610 --> 00:23:51,640 and Tim made agree or disagree I don't 598 00:23:58,980 --> 00:23:53,620 know but I would say actually I think 599 00:24:00,630 --> 00:23:58,990 Delta 4 was the evolved brother he might 600 00:24:03,090 --> 00:24:00,640 be a little bigger a little more stout 601 00:24:05,250 --> 00:24:03,100 Delta 4 was the evolved little brother 602 00:24:06,900 --> 00:24:05,260 when he don't diffuse Wow the family 603 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:06,910 tree in a certain way you might call 604 00:24:14,550 --> 00:24:11,650 Delta 4 the grandchild but on that note 605 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:14,560 I'll pop this is really quick icon 606 00:24:19,050 --> 00:24:17,530 mission which is our honest fear mission 607 00:24:21,510 --> 00:24:19,060 that's coming up it will be our last 608 00:24:23,790 --> 00:24:21,520 mission of the year is launching on a 609 00:24:26,580 --> 00:24:23,800 Pegasus XL launch vehicle which is a 610 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:26,590 unique airdrop vehicle that we actually 611 00:24:32,130 --> 00:24:29,410 mount to the bottom of a modified l-1011 612 00:24:34,380 --> 00:24:32,140 aircraft an airplane which is a more or 613 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:34,390 less a commercial it was a plane it was 614 00:24:39,290 --> 00:24:37,090 a commercial plane you know for us Josh 615 00:24:42,740 --> 00:24:39,300 that's older guys we remember the l-1011 616 00:24:45,710 --> 00:24:42,750 for you is locking advice for you 617 00:24:51,260 --> 00:24:45,720 I would compare that to you know us the 618 00:24:53,630 --> 00:24:51,270 new Boeing you know 767 oh but but the 619 00:24:55,670 --> 00:24:53,640 l-1011 was a mighty plane wide-body 620 00:24:57,710 --> 00:24:55,680 plane that was used for transporting 621 00:24:59,930 --> 00:24:57,720 folks all over the world back in his day 622 00:25:03,140 --> 00:24:59,940 but Northrop Grumman innovation systems 623 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:03,150 took a an l-1011 and modified it to be 624 00:25:07,250 --> 00:25:05,370 able to put this Pegasus XL rocket under 625 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:07,260 the belly of the plane the plane 626 00:25:12,770 --> 00:25:09,690 actually is called stargazer and so 627 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:12,780 stargazer takes Pegasus and we lift off 628 00:25:19,370 --> 00:25:15,810 we go to 39,000 feet and once we're at 629 00:25:22,550 --> 00:25:19,380 39,000 feet and Tim as launch manager 630 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:22,560 and the launch team give the go for 631 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:25,410 launch we drop the L we dropped the 632 00:25:29,150 --> 00:25:27,330 Pegasus five seconds later it auto 633 00:25:31,550 --> 00:25:29,160 ignites itself and heads off into space 634 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:31,560 to deliver Ikon on its way for its 635 00:25:36,020 --> 00:25:33,690 science so we're really excited about 636 00:25:38,090 --> 00:25:36,030 that mission it's we always liked 637 00:25:42,610 --> 00:25:38,100 working with Pegasus it's a it's a as 638 00:25:47,660 --> 00:25:45,410 asked you two quick questions about that 639 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:47,670 mission and the Pegasus in general how 640 00:25:51,890 --> 00:25:49,650 big is the Pegasus compared to that 641 00:25:55,010 --> 00:25:51,900 commercial plane just to get people a 642 00:25:56,930 --> 00:25:55,020 feeling for how big it is and why launch 643 00:25:58,640 --> 00:25:56,940 from an airplane like that seems like a 644 00:25:59,900 --> 00:25:58,650 really weird thing why not just do it 645 00:26:03,350 --> 00:25:59,910 like every other rocket and go from the 646 00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:03,360 ground so so airdrop has some advantages 647 00:26:07,250 --> 00:26:05,190 for smaller payloads and that's what 648 00:26:10,370 --> 00:26:07,260 Pegasus is Right thousand kilograms or 649 00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:10,380 less type of payload and you can you can 650 00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:12,030 put a smaller payload on there science 651 00:26:18,530 --> 00:26:16,920 payload and use the l-1011 instead of 652 00:26:20,870 --> 00:26:18,540 having it launched from the ground you 653 00:26:23,630 --> 00:26:20,880 can get to 39,000 feet and give it a 654 00:26:25,310 --> 00:26:23,640 little bit of early start if you will 655 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:25,320 right to get out of Earth's atmosphere 656 00:26:30,620 --> 00:26:28,050 right so you're at 39,000 feet so you 657 00:26:33,350 --> 00:26:30,630 don't need quite as much energy in your 658 00:26:35,150 --> 00:26:33,360 fuels and your boost to get out of the 659 00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:35,160 Earth's atmosphere and go so that's one 660 00:26:39,410 --> 00:26:37,230 of the advantages to the smaller rocket 661 00:26:40,970 --> 00:26:39,420 on the l-1011 the airdrop vehicle right 662 00:26:42,890 --> 00:26:40,980 Tim we'll talk a little bit about Delta 663 00:26:44,450 --> 00:26:42,900 2 and some of the solids and stuff we 664 00:26:46,700 --> 00:26:44,460 need to put on here but that's one of 665 00:26:48,860 --> 00:26:46,710 the advantages other advantage is what 666 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:48,870 play exists the most in the summertime 667 00:26:52,100 --> 00:26:50,490 Florida weather 668 00:26:54,310 --> 00:26:52,110 yeah weather well guess what happens 669 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:54,320 when you fly to 39,000 feet 670 00:26:58,090 --> 00:26:56,450 not so much weather 671 00:27:00,700 --> 00:26:58,100 the biggest thing you have to deal with 672 00:27:02,830 --> 00:27:00,710 at 39,000 feet is the temperature and so 673 00:27:04,780 --> 00:27:02,840 we designed the rocket and and all the 674 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:04,790 components to meet that cold temperature 675 00:27:08,530 --> 00:27:07,130 while you're cruising at 39,000 feet so 676 00:27:10,690 --> 00:27:08,540 Tim's absolutely right you you pretty 677 00:27:13,750 --> 00:27:10,700 much take the weather out of the 678 00:27:15,970 --> 00:27:13,760 equation for launch day right right 679 00:27:18,210 --> 00:27:15,980 because the Pegasus okay so the Pegasus 680 00:27:19,510 --> 00:27:18,220 is actually only 50 inches in diameter 681 00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:19,520 okay 682 00:27:23,650 --> 00:27:21,710 just over four feet just over four feet 683 00:27:26,650 --> 00:27:23,660 50 inches in diameter 684 00:27:29,860 --> 00:27:26,660 underneath the l-1011 right and the 685 00:27:32,860 --> 00:27:29,870 length of the Pegasus is about mmm would 686 00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:32,870 that be about 42 feet 42 to 50 feet I 687 00:27:36,340 --> 00:27:34,370 always try to in my mind always remember 688 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:36,350 5050 but it's actually a little bit less 689 00:27:41,590 --> 00:27:39,290 than 50 feet long with a delta wing on 690 00:27:43,030 --> 00:27:41,600 it so it's a pretty small rocket I mean 691 00:27:45,100 --> 00:27:43,040 I don't want to take away from it it's a 692 00:27:48,190 --> 00:27:45,110 mighty rocket of what it's designed to 693 00:27:51,790 --> 00:27:48,200 do for but compared to a delta ii or an 694 00:27:54,310 --> 00:27:51,800 atlas v or a delta 4 heavy or a falcon 9 695 00:27:56,650 --> 00:27:54,320 it's it's it's small in diameter and 696 00:27:59,290 --> 00:27:56,660 small in length right so you think of 697 00:28:01,450 --> 00:27:59,300 that 50 less than 50 feet long and 50 698 00:28:04,270 --> 00:28:01,460 inches in diameter and the wingspan of 699 00:28:06,190 --> 00:28:04,280 an l-1011 is about two to two and a half 700 00:28:08,260 --> 00:28:06,200 times that okay right so you're looking 701 00:28:10,270 --> 00:28:08,270 a hundred and fifty feet roughly hundred 702 00:28:11,770 --> 00:28:10,280 two so it they give you an idea of the 703 00:28:14,140 --> 00:28:11,780 wingspan and how that sits underneath 704 00:28:15,640 --> 00:28:14,150 the belly of the of the l-1011 but very 705 00:28:17,490 --> 00:28:15,650 important Northrop Grumman has been 706 00:28:20,590 --> 00:28:17,500 doing this for years this will be our 707 00:28:23,050 --> 00:28:20,600 44th Pegasus Northrop Grumman is 708 00:28:25,630 --> 00:28:23,060 launched I believe that's correct and 709 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:25,640 we're really excited and getting that 710 00:28:30,910 --> 00:28:28,610 off the off the ground but but our next 711 00:28:33,130 --> 00:28:30,920 one out yeah our NASA two which is 712 00:28:34,330 --> 00:28:33,140 always the most father a most hip 713 00:28:36,670 --> 00:28:34,340 forward which is always the most 714 00:28:38,290 --> 00:28:36,680 important one is next which it's which 715 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:38,300 whatever is next is the most important 716 00:28:41,470 --> 00:28:39,890 one and that I'm gonna I'm gonna turn 717 00:28:42,970 --> 00:28:41,480 that over to Tim because it is a very 718 00:28:44,950 --> 00:28:42,980 special rocket and we have a lot of 719 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:44,960 heritage with it so next up for launch 720 00:28:49,990 --> 00:28:47,090 services program we're gonna launch the 721 00:28:52,870 --> 00:28:50,000 final delta ii and the payload there is 722 00:28:55,210 --> 00:28:52,880 i set two and it will be the final 723 00:28:57,070 --> 00:28:55,220 launch so we are in our 30th year of 724 00:28:59,770 --> 00:28:57,080 flight with the delta ii launch vehicle 725 00:29:05,230 --> 00:28:59,780 it's had its debut flight on Valentine's 726 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:05,240 Day February 14 1989 and so it's a it's 727 00:29:09,570 --> 00:29:08,210 a has become known as the industry 728 00:29:12,690 --> 00:29:09,580 workhorse 729 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:12,700 Delta 2 is not a huge rocket it's in 730 00:29:17,460 --> 00:29:15,910 itself it's not tiny but it's not tights 731 00:29:23,550 --> 00:29:17,470 it's yeah it's only eight feet in 732 00:29:25,170 --> 00:29:23,560 diameter yeah it's it's we call we refer 733 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:25,180 to it as a medium class rocket but now 734 00:29:29,430 --> 00:29:27,370 it's a it's a mighty workhorse and has 735 00:29:31,080 --> 00:29:29,440 been for NASA special about Delta 2 is 736 00:29:34,070 --> 00:29:31,090 this is gonna be the hundred and fifty 737 00:29:38,220 --> 00:29:34,080 fifth flight and the final one for for 738 00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:38,230 Delta two and it kind of created its own 739 00:29:43,530 --> 00:29:41,110 market in that medium class of launch 740 00:29:46,730 --> 00:29:43,540 vehicles because it became known as that 741 00:29:50,670 --> 00:29:46,740 workhorse that dependable reliable 742 00:29:53,210 --> 00:29:50,680 relatively low-cost launcher and so our 743 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:53,220 spacecraft a lot on the science side 744 00:29:59,970 --> 00:29:57,490 decided back in the early 90s let's just 745 00:30:03,540 --> 00:29:59,980 design our spacecraft to fit on Delta 2 746 00:30:06,450 --> 00:30:03,550 so it kind of grew its own class and 747 00:30:07,410 --> 00:30:06,460 size of spacecraft market which I want 748 00:30:09,570 --> 00:30:07,420 to get into that some more in a little 749 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:09,580 bit but that's very backwards of how 750 00:30:11,970 --> 00:30:10,930 most everything else works for you guys 751 00:30:13,110 --> 00:30:11,980 Kurt right correct 752 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:13,120 right so we'll come back to that that's 753 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:15,730 really interesting yeah what and and to 754 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:17,290 just kind of elaborate on that one of 755 00:30:22,290 --> 00:30:18,910 the things that was unique about Delta 2 756 00:30:24,780 --> 00:30:22,300 back in the 80s when it came around it 757 00:30:26,250 --> 00:30:24,790 was a it was a big block buy or what 758 00:30:28,860 --> 00:30:26,260 that means is they bought a lot of 759 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:28,870 rockets the Air Force did and Tim was 760 00:30:33,420 --> 00:30:31,090 part of that in the with their GPS 761 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:33,430 satellites way back then and that kind 762 00:30:36,810 --> 00:30:34,690 of got things going but like Tim said 763 00:30:39,060 --> 00:30:36,820 they started designing the satellites to 764 00:30:40,530 --> 00:30:39,070 fit on the rocket so little backwards 765 00:30:43,500 --> 00:30:40,540 and what we normally do but it worked 766 00:30:45,930 --> 00:30:43,510 yeah nASA has benefited greatly from the 767 00:30:49,350 --> 00:30:45,940 Delta heritage of launch vehicles dating 768 00:30:52,770 --> 00:30:49,360 back to 1960 in Delta 1 but focusing on 769 00:30:55,230 --> 00:30:52,780 Delta 2 the Air Force we have to we'll 770 00:30:57,630 --> 00:30:55,240 take a moment here and pay homage to our 771 00:31:00,780 --> 00:30:57,640 partners the United States Air Force if 772 00:31:04,290 --> 00:31:00,790 not for them sure Delta the fleet could 773 00:31:06,780 --> 00:31:04,300 have easily been retired in about 1986 774 00:31:10,470 --> 00:31:06,790 yeah actually production on Delta 775 00:31:12,180 --> 00:31:10,480 vehicles was halted it was 1981 because 776 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:12,190 if you recall what happened in that year 777 00:31:17,430 --> 00:31:14,710 or that time frame was shuttle started 778 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:17,440 from yeah and the government said we are 779 00:31:21,630 --> 00:31:19,090 going to deploy all commercial 780 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:21,640 satellites from shuttle and the Air 781 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:23,290 Force meanwhile had 782 00:31:29,130 --> 00:31:26,290 Atlas the Atlas one in the Atlas do this 783 00:31:31,970 --> 00:31:29,140 was coming online they also had Titan so 784 00:31:34,620 --> 00:31:31,980 they really didn't need the Delta 785 00:31:36,150 --> 00:31:34,630 anymore but the in missional was 786 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:36,160 supposed to be flying space shuttle was 787 00:31:39,660 --> 00:31:38,170 he almost exactly just delivering Palin 788 00:31:41,190 --> 00:31:39,670 after payload multiple times it was 789 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:41,200 supposed to it was referred to as the 790 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:43,090 semi truck of space right it was 791 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:44,530 supposed to deliver a lot of things on 792 00:31:50,490 --> 00:31:47,130 orbit and they all that and then in 1986 793 00:31:52,290 --> 00:31:50,500 Ronald Reagan declared that you know we 794 00:31:53,850 --> 00:31:52,300 would not we would launch we wouldn't 795 00:31:57,930 --> 00:31:53,860 launch commercial satellites on shuttle 796 00:31:59,700 --> 00:31:57,940 anymore sure so Delta so the Animas Air 797 00:32:01,470 --> 00:31:59,710 Force needed to get these newly 798 00:32:03,570 --> 00:32:01,480 developed Global Positioning satellites 799 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:03,580 on orbit previously they were going to 800 00:32:07,650 --> 00:32:05,490 fly on the shuttle now they're being 801 00:32:10,980 --> 00:32:07,660 manifested on expendable launch vehicles 802 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:10,990 the Air Force said hey let's go redesign 803 00:32:15,330 --> 00:32:13,570 the last version of the Delta one let's 804 00:32:17,820 --> 00:32:15,340 call it Delta two let's upgrade it make 805 00:32:19,950 --> 00:32:17,830 it a little beefier launch bigger 806 00:32:22,050 --> 00:32:19,960 payloads they provided that 807 00:32:25,170 --> 00:32:22,060 infrastructure here at Cape Canaveral 808 00:32:27,420 --> 00:32:25,180 Air Force Station in complex 17 and so 809 00:32:29,910 --> 00:32:27,430 it was kind of on that foundation that 810 00:32:32,850 --> 00:32:29,920 the nasa science community was able to 811 00:32:34,910 --> 00:32:32,860 leverage and say wow let's let's go back 812 00:32:37,230 --> 00:32:34,920 to delta with the slightly smaller 813 00:32:39,510 --> 00:32:37,240 spacecraft for science purpose so it is 814 00:32:41,190 --> 00:32:39,520 the final delta ii for us as LSP for the 815 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:41,200 production of delta ii out of space 816 00:32:45,390 --> 00:32:43,510 launch complex-2 out of Vandenberg but 817 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:45,400 you know and why I said earlier it's a 818 00:32:49,740 --> 00:32:46,930 little emotional for Tim it's not only 819 00:32:51,330 --> 00:32:49,750 the end of an era for delta ii but you 820 00:32:56,850 --> 00:32:51,340 know this is the third time Tim's had to 821 00:32:58,380 --> 00:32:56,860 say goodbye to Delta - yeah so I know I 822 00:33:00,900 --> 00:32:58,390 haven't had a lot of experience cuz I'm 823 00:33:03,390 --> 00:33:00,910 not as uh as invested in the history of 824 00:33:04,110 --> 00:33:03,400 NASA but I know that there were a few 825 00:33:06,420 --> 00:33:04,120 years ago.we 826 00:33:09,150 --> 00:33:06,430 Delta twos were gone and all of a sudden 827 00:33:11,850 --> 00:33:09,160 Delta twos were back so so NASA in 828 00:33:16,260 --> 00:33:11,860 September of 2011 we launched the Grail 829 00:33:18,540 --> 00:33:16,270 mission off of 17b which was the last 830 00:33:20,370 --> 00:33:18,550 supposed to be the last Delta - right 831 00:33:22,470 --> 00:33:20,380 and on the East Coast from the East 832 00:33:24,420 --> 00:33:22,480 Coast we had a month later we went out 833 00:33:26,940 --> 00:33:24,430 west to Vandenberg to launch the NPP 834 00:33:29,700 --> 00:33:26,950 mission which was the absolute final 835 00:33:32,430 --> 00:33:29,710 last one the last one ever right and so 836 00:33:34,230 --> 00:33:32,440 and and and no.9 was the nav star 837 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:34,240 mission which was an Air Force mission 838 00:33:38,410 --> 00:33:36,290 on 17a and that was 839 00:33:39,910 --> 00:33:38,420 the last mission off 17 a so 17 a and B 840 00:33:43,750 --> 00:33:39,920 were decommissioned on the East Coast 841 00:33:46,450 --> 00:33:43,760 okay and then NPP last launch off of 842 00:33:48,070 --> 00:33:46,460 space launch complex-2 so Jim you know 843 00:33:50,980 --> 00:33:48,080 Tim had to say goodbye during all that 844 00:33:53,380 --> 00:33:50,990 time and then a few years later it's 845 00:33:55,420 --> 00:33:53,390 right in ula United Launch Alliance who 846 00:34:00,120 --> 00:33:55,430 builds the Delta line and the Atlas line 847 00:34:04,750 --> 00:34:00,130 they said but wait we have a few more 848 00:34:06,340 --> 00:34:04,760 and NASA had four science missions that 849 00:34:10,780 --> 00:34:06,350 had just come out and been approved 850 00:34:13,780 --> 00:34:10,790 right the oco-2 mission the SMAP mission 851 00:34:16,210 --> 00:34:13,790 which is soil moisture mission the 852 00:34:18,400 --> 00:34:16,220 Jaypee ss1 mission whether says weather 853 00:34:22,450 --> 00:34:18,410 satellite that we just launched recently 854 00:34:24,250 --> 00:34:22,460 and and of course icesat-2 and they all 855 00:34:27,659 --> 00:34:24,260 approach lung services program and 856 00:34:31,270 --> 00:34:27,669 they're all within the delta ii range of 857 00:34:35,620 --> 00:34:31,280 way garment requirements and so NASA 858 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:35,630 turned ula on to manufacture the last 859 00:34:42,580 --> 00:34:38,810 four Delta Delta twos and that's where 860 00:34:46,750 --> 00:34:42,590 we are today so I can honestly say that 861 00:34:58,660 --> 00:34:46,760 there are no more parts left the there's 862 00:35:01,060 --> 00:34:58,670 always a few extra time they're there 863 00:35:03,130 --> 00:35:01,070 United Launch Alliance does have some 864 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:03,140 parts out there for our fifth fifth 865 00:35:10,780 --> 00:35:07,370 vehicle but it I believe it will find 866 00:35:15,390 --> 00:35:10,790 its way to some other areas so I I can 867 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:15,400 probably with 99.9% certainty say 868 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:19,970 icesat-2 is the final awesome hey guys 869 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:22,010 we need to wrap it up I wanted to ask 870 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:24,050 you to give me a little bit of feedback 871 00:35:28,030 --> 00:35:25,730 kind of your opinion if you if you could 872 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:28,040 leave people with one piece of knowledge 873 00:35:32,980 --> 00:35:30,650 or understanding about what LSP does 874 00:35:34,350 --> 00:35:32,990 about how important it is what would you 875 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:34,360 say 876 00:35:44,890 --> 00:35:41,330 services program is the government 877 00:35:48,420 --> 00:35:44,900 organization that provides the mission 878 00:35:50,109 --> 00:35:48,430 assurance capability the analytical 879 00:35:55,450 --> 00:35:50,119 capability 880 00:35:57,009 --> 00:35:55,460 that gives us the best chance that we're 881 00:36:00,249 --> 00:35:57,019 going to have a hundred percent mission 882 00:36:02,829 --> 00:36:00,259 success for whatever science or robotic 883 00:36:05,289 --> 00:36:02,839 spacecraft we're about to launch we have 884 00:36:08,980 --> 00:36:05,299 some of the finest engineers and 885 00:36:11,499 --> 00:36:08,990 analysts worldwide it's just amazing 886 00:36:14,529 --> 00:36:11,509 when Mick and I get to walk the halls of 887 00:36:15,940 --> 00:36:14,539 LSP on a daily basis the people that we 888 00:36:18,150 --> 00:36:15,950 interact with and that have been 889 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:18,160 assembled and everyone is just so 890 00:36:25,180 --> 00:36:20,930 enthusiastic about doing the job doing 891 00:36:28,509 --> 00:36:25,190 it right and just absolutely loves 892 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:28,519 Rockets loves the spacecraft loves the 893 00:36:33,039 --> 00:36:29,930 fact that they're part of something 894 00:36:34,809 --> 00:36:33,049 special for humankind yeah I totally 895 00:36:36,039 --> 00:36:34,819 agree Tim I think launchers problem we 896 00:36:39,069 --> 00:36:36,049 have some folks that are just 897 00:36:41,470 --> 00:36:39,079 world-renowned people that are called 898 00:36:43,749 --> 00:36:41,480 upon by other agencies called on by 899 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:43,759 other contractors sometimes to provide 900 00:36:48,759 --> 00:36:46,130 input we we have a great team and when I 901 00:36:50,980 --> 00:36:48,769 say team it's it's really I heard too it 902 00:36:53,380 --> 00:36:50,990 earlier it's a family I mean the whole 903 00:36:55,569 --> 00:36:53,390 LSP program from the top down is a 904 00:36:58,420 --> 00:36:55,579 family and the other thing I would say 905 00:37:01,329 --> 00:36:58,430 is everybody we work with that I I know 906 00:37:03,549 --> 00:37:01,339 is so passionate about their jobs and 907 00:37:05,049 --> 00:37:03,559 what we do and making history because 908 00:37:08,109 --> 00:37:05,059 that's what we feel like we do is every 909 00:37:10,269 --> 00:37:08,119 day working for NASA working on some of 910 00:37:13,630 --> 00:37:10,279 NASA's most important scientific and 911 00:37:15,670 --> 00:37:13,640 robotic missions we make history doing 912 00:37:18,430 --> 00:37:15,680 that right it's it's just exciting for 913 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:18,440 us to get to do that our number one job 914 00:37:22,630 --> 00:37:20,450 is to make sure our spacecraft customers 915 00:37:25,569 --> 00:37:22,640 meet their requirements and get on orbit 916 00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:25,579 successfully exactly where they need to 917 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:29,089 be on the specific orbit they need to 918 00:37:33,670 --> 00:37:31,970 get their science done and and we do not 919 00:37:35,890 --> 00:37:33,680 take that lightly in launch services 920 00:37:37,930 --> 00:37:35,900 program that is that is part of our 921 00:37:39,759 --> 00:37:37,940 mission is to open up the universe you 922 00:37:41,799 --> 00:37:39,769 know for our space for our people and 923 00:37:43,749 --> 00:37:41,809 spacecraft to get things done and and 924 00:37:45,759 --> 00:37:43,759 yeah we talk Rockets all day long but 925 00:37:47,979 --> 00:37:45,769 we're we're in it to make sure our 926 00:37:49,900 --> 00:37:47,989 spacecraft customer succeeds awesome 927 00:37:51,759 --> 00:37:49,910 well Tim mink thanks for being in booth 928 00:37:53,019 --> 00:37:51,769 with me today thanks thanks to his phone 929 00:37:55,660 --> 00:37:53,029 it was a blast 930 00:37:57,789 --> 00:37:55,670 and good luck with Delta 2 good luck 931 00:38:00,200 --> 00:37:57,799 with Ikon and good luck with the future 932 00:38:02,299 --> 00:38:00,210 of science and space 933 00:38:03,829 --> 00:38:02,309 after recording this podcast our host 934 00:38:05,270 --> 00:38:03,839 Joshua Santoro had the honor of being 935 00:38:07,579 --> 00:38:05,280 the launch commentator for the last 936 00:38:09,650 --> 00:38:07,589 Delta to fly out this historic launch on 937 00:38:11,089 --> 00:38:09,660 September 15th was a great success and 938 00:38:18,829 --> 00:38:11,099 will hold a special place in the hearts 939 00:38:24,829 --> 00:38:18,839 of Tim Dunn and Nick Waldman Green is 940 00:38:33,380 --> 00:38:24,839 great ten nine eight seven six five four 941 00:38:35,450 --> 00:38:33,390 three two one liftoff of the final delta 942 00:38:36,859 --> 00:38:35,460 to launching nearly three decades of 943 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:36,869 science research and exploration 944 00:38:41,720 --> 00:38:40,050 missions lifting icesat-2 on a quest to 945 00:38:44,170 --> 00:38:41,730 explore the polar ice sheets of our 946 00:38:47,390 --> 00:38:44,180 constantly changing home planet 947 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:47,400 Godspeed delta ii and thank you for your 948 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:49,050 almost 30 years of unparalleled 949 00:38:53,359 --> 00:38:51,690 excellence you all made this look easy 950 00:38:55,370 --> 00:38:53,369 this is rocket science it is not easy 951 00:38:57,410 --> 00:38:55,380 but the team looks like they just did a 952 00:38:58,819 --> 00:38:57,420 great job pulling together today but on 953 00:39:01,280 --> 00:38:58,829 a personal level Tim we know that you 954 00:39:02,720 --> 00:39:01,290 love the Delta 2 obviously you are 955 00:39:04,250 --> 00:39:02,730 committed to every mission and do a 956 00:39:05,079 --> 00:39:04,260 phenomenal job so what's this one for 957 00:39:07,460 --> 00:39:05,089 you personally 958 00:39:08,770 --> 00:39:07,470 besides being excited what does it mean 959 00:39:13,490 --> 00:39:08,780 to you personally 960 00:39:16,039 --> 00:39:13,500 well obviously I'm a little bit sad I'm 961 00:39:18,980 --> 00:39:16,049 thrilled with mission success and that 962 00:39:21,950 --> 00:39:18,990 we were able to close the chapter on 963 00:39:24,730 --> 00:39:21,960 Delta 2 with a huge success of an 964 00:39:27,700 --> 00:39:24,740 incredibly important science payload 965 00:39:31,130 --> 00:39:27,710 icesat-2 is going to do cutting-edge 966 00:39:32,329 --> 00:39:31,140 scientific data gathering the precision 967 00:39:33,260 --> 00:39:32,339 measurements it's going to make from 968 00:39:36,890 --> 00:39:33,270 space they're just going to be 969 00:39:39,049 --> 00:39:36,900 incredible so to be able to say that we 970 00:39:40,990 --> 00:39:39,059 launched this very important science 971 00:39:44,660 --> 00:39:41,000 mission on the final flight of the 972 00:39:46,549 --> 00:39:44,670 industry workhorse is just a huge 973 00:39:49,339 --> 00:39:46,559 accomplishment for the entire team and 974 00:39:52,099 --> 00:39:49,349 so I have a lot of personal feelings 975 00:39:55,450 --> 00:39:52,109 about Delta 2 but I'm really just a very 976 00:39:59,599 --> 00:39:55,460 small part of the entire team and I just 977 00:40:02,930 --> 00:39:59,609 proud honored humbled to be part of this 978 00:40:06,349 --> 00:40:02,940 team that gets to closed chapter on this 979 00:40:08,210 --> 00:40:06,359 incredible rocket I'm Joshua Santora and 980 00:40:10,099 --> 00:40:08,220 that's our show thanks for stopping by 981 00:40:12,460 --> 00:40:10,109 the rocket range and special thanks to 982 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:12,470 our guests our aspiring Trekkies 983 00:40:17,230 --> 00:40:14,690 Waltman and tim done to learn more about 984 00:40:20,050 --> 00:40:17,240 all things rockets go to nasa.gov slash 985 00:40:21,580 --> 00:40:20,060 launch services there are also several 986 00:40:23,170 --> 00:40:21,590 nasa podcasts you can check out - one 987 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:23,180 more about what's happening at all of 988 00:40:27,910 --> 00:40:26,050 our centers at nasa.gov slash podcasts a 989 00:40:30,310 --> 00:40:27,920 special shout out to our producer 990 00:40:32,740 --> 00:40:30,320 Jessica Wanda Happy Trails to you until 991 00:40:34,780 --> 00:40:32,750 we meet again our sound man Dan Casper 992 00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:34,790 and Frankie Martin editor Michelle stone 993 00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:36,650 and our production manager Amanda 994 00:40:40,660 --> 00:40:39,170 Griffin tune in next month as we wrangle 995 00:40:42,940 --> 00:40:40,670 some ranch hands you may not expect to 996 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:42,950 find around these parts and remember on 997 00:40:46,020 --> 00:40:45,170 the rocket range even the sky isn't the 998 00:40:52,300 --> 00:40:46,030 limit