1 00:00:00,799 --> 00:00:03,230 Sometimes history inspires us. 2 00:00:03,230 --> 00:00:09,370 I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade 3 00:00:09,370 --> 00:00:14,610 is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. 4 00:00:14,610 --> 00:00:17,830 Sometimes we find ourselves in the middle of history being made. 5 00:00:17,830 --> 00:00:25,780 The next American man and the first woman ever will be Americans on the surface of the 6 00:00:25,780 --> 00:00:29,100 moon within five years. 7 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:36,580 EGS Program chief engineer verifying no constraints to launch. Three, two, one, and lift off. 8 00:00:36,580 --> 00:00:41,640 Welcome to space. 9 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:45,910 Now we are in the middle of the most aggressive push for the moon since we landed there the 10 00:00:45,910 --> 00:00:52,320 first time 50 years ago. Leading the charge is the first female Launch Director, Charlie 11 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:57,170 Blackwell-Thompson. She and her right-hand woman, Jessica Parsons, took a few minutes 12 00:00:57,170 --> 00:01:00,890 out of their incredibly busy schedule to share some unique perspectives. 13 00:01:00,890 --> 00:01:05,900 All right, I'm here in the booth now with Charlie Blackwell-Thompson and Jessica Parsons. 14 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:07,540 Ladies, thanks for joining me today. 15 00:01:07,540 --> 00:01:09,550 Oh, we're happy to be here. 16 00:01:09,550 --> 00:01:10,550 Thanks for having us. 17 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:15,270 Absolutely, so I want to let you all introduce yourselves. So tell us a little bit about 18 00:01:15,270 --> 00:01:21,520 what your role is for NASA and Exploration Ground Systems and kind of how you got where 19 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:22,640 you are just real briefly. 20 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:26,110 Okay, well, Jess, you want me to go first or...? 21 00:01:26,110 --> 00:01:27,110 Sure. 22 00:01:27,110 --> 00:01:31,430 Okay, well, I'm Charlie Blackwell-Thompson. I am the Launch Director. So I think I have 23 00:01:31,430 --> 00:01:32,640 a pretty- 24 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:38,380 Hold on...Launch Director...that's a pretty awesome title. So I'm assuming that means 25 00:01:38,380 --> 00:01:43,300 really the buck stops with you when it comes to launch day. 26 00:01:43,300 --> 00:01:50,500 That's a pretty fair assessment, I would say. It's a fantastic job! I think a lot of folks 27 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:54,910 think about day of launch when you think about the launch director, right...the one that 28 00:01:54,910 --> 00:02:00,630 gives that final "Go" to the team to proceed into terminal count. But our days are really 29 00:02:00,630 --> 00:02:06,550 filled now with getting ready for that launch...in planning the launch countdown, the procedures, 30 00:02:06,550 --> 00:02:11,250 and getting our team ready to go. So there's a tremendous amount of work that goes into 31 00:02:11,250 --> 00:02:17,080 or precedes that actual day of launch. But no doubt about it, I have an absolutely fantastic 32 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,640 job. I get to work with an incredible group of people. 33 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:23,190 I obviously cut you off, so I want to let you continue. Kind of tell us, how did you 34 00:02:23,190 --> 00:02:24,760 get to be the Launch Director? 35 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:31,390 Well, let's see, I came to Kennedy Space Center 30 years ago right out of school, right out 36 00:02:31,390 --> 00:02:38,480 of Clemson University...so go Tigers! I had a tour of Firing Room 1. As part of that, 37 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:43,120 it was interview over in the payload side of the house. It was actually in their flight 38 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,960 software area. So I toured through Firing Room 1, and I heard the team that was actually 39 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:52,870 getting Space Shuttle Discovery ready for return to flight. They were in there working, 40 00:02:52,870 --> 00:02:57,220 and they were testing out the flight hardware. I was really struck when I walked through 41 00:02:57,220 --> 00:03:01,480 the room with wanting to be a part of that team. So I was lucky enough to get selected 42 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:07,090 for that job. So I started my career in payloads. Thought I had the most fantastic job in the 43 00:03:07,090 --> 00:03:12,340 entire world. I got to work on planetary spacecraft. I got to work on the International Space Station. 44 00:03:12,340 --> 00:03:16,660 I got to work on the Hubble Space Telescope. So here I am, a country girl from South Carolina, 45 00:03:16,660 --> 00:03:22,140 and I get this amazing opportunity. Then when the Shuttle Program ended, I had an opportunity 46 00:03:22,140 --> 00:03:28,099 to take some of that experience I had on the launch side of things and move over to Exploration 47 00:03:28,099 --> 00:03:32,640 Ground Systems and help them with their launch planning...which eventually led to the role 48 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:34,099 of the Launch Director. 49 00:03:34,099 --> 00:03:39,531 Amazing...and for those that don't know, the Firing Room that you toured is now where you 50 00:03:39,531 --> 00:03:45,440 will be conducting a team to launch SLS here hopefully next year. 51 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:52,470 Yes, it is not lost on me at all. When I walk in that room...and I'm in there multiple times 52 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:59,060 a week...when I walk in the room, I have that same feeling I had 30 years ago. It is that 53 00:03:59,060 --> 00:04:03,290 I want to be a part of this team. I want to be a part of this team that's getting our 54 00:04:03,290 --> 00:04:10,420 ground systems ready for the flight hardware, and a part of the team that is going to return 55 00:04:10,420 --> 00:04:13,410 to the moon in five years. I mean, how exciting is that? 56 00:04:13,410 --> 00:04:17,600 Yeah, it's pretty awesome. We will talk more about that in a minute. Jessica, I want to 57 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:23,110 make sure you get a chance to introduce yourself. Is it fair to say that you're kind of playing 58 00:04:23,110 --> 00:04:25,779 right hand to Charlie? Is that an accurate assessment? 59 00:04:25,779 --> 00:04:32,930 Yeah, I would say that. I am Charlie's Technical Assistant. This is a new role, I think, both 60 00:04:32,930 --> 00:04:40,169 for her and for me. Let's see, I'll give you a little of my background. I grew up...and 61 00:04:40,169 --> 00:04:44,009 I can remember probably when I was five years old, I was like, "I want to work for NASA.” 62 00:04:44,009 --> 00:04:50,139 That was my dream. I had my career set in mind since I was a little kid. So what I did 63 00:04:50,139 --> 00:04:54,689 in high school actually was I talked to my career counselor and I said, "Well, what career 64 00:04:54,689 --> 00:05:00,389 will get me to work for NASA?” They were like, well, maybe an engineer field. So I 65 00:05:00,389 --> 00:05:04,289 started looking at different...there was like aerospace engineer. I'm like, well, that one 66 00:05:04,289 --> 00:05:10,949 has the "space" word in it. I'm going for it. I will tell you something a lot of people 67 00:05:10,949 --> 00:05:16,569 probably don't know, but I didn't speak English till I was 15. So I found myself a different 68 00:05:16,569 --> 00:05:20,960 language, and I went to a college education just because I wanted to pursue my dream to 69 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:22,229 work for NASA. 70 00:05:22,229 --> 00:05:24,050 That's awesome. 71 00:05:24,050 --> 00:05:29,479 So that's the advice I would give not only the little girls or girls or anybody...just 72 00:05:29,479 --> 00:05:35,870 follow your dreams. Doing that is what has gotten me where I am today...just never giving 73 00:05:35,870 --> 00:05:43,780 up, following every obstacle, following through, giving my best every time. I think whatever 74 00:05:43,780 --> 00:05:48,779 they want to achieve, they will get there. I will say that I'm working for Charlie kind 75 00:05:48,779 --> 00:05:55,919 of by luck. She needed some help doing some technical integrations for aspects that were 76 00:05:55,919 --> 00:06:03,180 related to launch. I had worked for her doing an assignment, and she said, "Oh, it's some 77 00:06:03,180 --> 00:06:09,650 help I kind of need in this area.” Then that ended up turning into a more full-time 78 00:06:09,650 --> 00:06:16,779 job, and I've been doing this for probably the last year now. I will tell you, it's a 79 00:06:16,779 --> 00:06:22,630 job that I love. I never thought in my career that I was going to be support in the Firing 80 00:06:22,630 --> 00:06:30,509 Room. We had our first, like, cryo sim demo. When we had that I was like...I sat in the 81 00:06:30,509 --> 00:06:34,740 Firing Room, I listened to the team. I was just there kind of listening my first time 82 00:06:34,740 --> 00:06:40,080 going through a countdown of what it would be...a demo of our countdown. I was like, 83 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:43,919 wow, this is what I want to do. I want to be part o f this team. Since then, I think, 84 00:06:43,919 --> 00:06:47,110 I haven't looked back. 85 00:06:47,110 --> 00:06:52,139 She doesn't give herself, I would say, full credit, right? Jess is responsible for many 86 00:06:52,139 --> 00:06:57,970 of the technical aspects and the technical integration of our launch countdown. So she 87 00:06:57,970 --> 00:07:04,969 leads a lot of different studies, a lot of different trades that we do. When we look 88 00:07:04,969 --> 00:07:12,639 at our requirements for launch, she leads that effort for me in terms of the evaluation 89 00:07:12,639 --> 00:07:18,550 of those requirements and kind of how they fit into our planning. So she is very much 90 00:07:18,550 --> 00:07:23,009 key to everything that we're doing on the launch planning side of things. 91 00:07:23,009 --> 00:07:28,520 So kind of a pair of questions. Number one, is it nerve-wracking to try and design all 92 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:34,240 this without having the actual hardware here? Number two, is it normal? Is that what happens 93 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,249 for every space vehicle and rocket and mission? 94 00:07:38,249 --> 00:07:43,460 Well, I think it is normal. I'm going to take, I'll say, the easier part of that first. I 95 00:07:43,460 --> 00:07:49,279 think is normal. If you look across the suite of launch vehicles with NASA and Commercial, 96 00:07:49,279 --> 00:07:56,249 and I'll go back in my background to early ISS when we were designing the ground systems 97 00:07:56,249 --> 00:08:00,949 to support the flight elements that would come. So I think that is normal. But the exciting 98 00:08:00,949 --> 00:08:05,009 part is when you get the flight hardware here and you begin to integrate the flight hardware 99 00:08:05,009 --> 00:08:11,129 with the ground systems. You begin to power up those flight elements, and they come to 100 00:08:11,129 --> 00:08:15,069 life. You see what sort of challenges they may throw at you...things that you've got 101 00:08:15,069 --> 00:08:21,840 to go work to resolve. To me, that's the...I'll say the fun part (laughing). So we definitely 102 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:26,060 look forward to getting that flight hardware here at KSC. 103 00:08:26,060 --> 00:08:30,659 Once we get hardware here, once we check it out, we know we're in good shape, it's time 104 00:08:30,659 --> 00:08:36,719 to get ready for a launch. Launch countdown is where I believe your jobs really kind of...that's 105 00:08:36,719 --> 00:08:41,550 where it all culminates, is in that countdown. I've looked over some shoulders; I've seen 106 00:08:41,550 --> 00:08:46,050 some of these manuals. How big is the countdown script? Because there's actually a script 107 00:08:46,050 --> 00:08:48,740 that you guys use. How big is that? 108 00:08:48,740 --> 00:08:53,649 Well, that's a hard one to answer just yet because it's still being developed, right? 109 00:08:53,649 --> 00:08:58,260 So we're still working on it. What I can tell you is...and it won't be as big as what we 110 00:08:58,260 --> 00:09:05,720 had in Shuttle. In Shuttle, we had six volumes of launch countdown. When I say a volume, 111 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:12,550 it occupied a multi-inch binder because it was all paper. So we had six volumes that 112 00:09:12,550 --> 00:09:18,670 defined launch countdown. Now when I say that, it wasn't six volumes of every step we're 113 00:09:18,670 --> 00:09:23,459 going to go do. It was a couple of volumes of every step we're going to go do. It was 114 00:09:23,459 --> 00:09:27,980 a volume that said this is what we do when we scrub, and this is how we turn the vehicle 115 00:09:27,980 --> 00:09:34,170 around. We had another for any kind of issues that arose. So we had what we call "pre-planned 116 00:09:34,170 --> 00:09:39,220 contingency procedures," where if you had an LCC exceedance, you could go run these 117 00:09:39,220 --> 00:09:43,550 and hopefully get to a point where you could go launch. We will have something similar. 118 00:09:43,550 --> 00:09:48,449 It won't be nearly as big. In terms of page count, it's hard to say right now because 119 00:09:48,449 --> 00:09:54,519 it's still in work; and it's also electronic. So it's different than what we had. It's not 120 00:09:54,519 --> 00:10:00,230 quite as visible in terms of the volumes...you know, it takes up a bookshelf. It's not quite 121 00:10:00,230 --> 00:10:07,699 like that. It will be hundreds of equivalent pages when we're all done. 122 00:10:07,699 --> 00:10:13,140 Jess, do you think you'll ever get to a point where you feel like you know the countdown... 123 00:10:13,140 --> 00:10:15,290 like where you've been through the book… 124 00:10:15,290 --> 00:10:16,750 It is my expectation. 125 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:20,459 …You really feel like I know this countdown? Obviously, the book is there to make sure 126 00:10:20,459 --> 00:10:25,360 every step is right, but can you get there on like this massive process? 127 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:32,040 I think so. I mean, I think I have to; otherwise she'll fire me (laughing). No, but I think 128 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,920 it's partly linked to the process. We're reviewing the requirements a year, two years, in advance 129 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:43,850 prior to the launch. So I'll be able to become familiar with, okay, what is supposed to happen? 130 00:10:43,850 --> 00:10:49,410 What is needed in order to support this requirement? What is the timing of it? We also have the 131 00:10:49,410 --> 00:10:54,019 process where we do a lot of simulations to train our launch team. I think being part 132 00:10:54,019 --> 00:10:59,331 of those really helps us walk through that launch countdown and make sure that every 133 00:10:59,331 --> 00:11:02,279 day we become a lot more familiar with it. 134 00:11:02,279 --> 00:11:10,509 And I would say from my experience on Shuttle, I didn't know the entire book...because you 135 00:11:10,509 --> 00:11:14,090 really do depend on your team to know their particular steps. 136 00:11:14,090 --> 00:11:15,090 Yeah. 137 00:11:15,090 --> 00:11:19,360 But what you do know is how all of that work fits together and kind of what you have to 138 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,879 do...kind of what you have to do first, what you have to do second, what drives what...kind 139 00:11:23,879 --> 00:11:32,290 of the puts and takes of launch countdown. Those things that are critical, you absolutely 140 00:11:32,290 --> 00:11:41,111 know. I can remember in Shuttle...and we'll have similar steps for this vehicle. I can 141 00:11:41,111 --> 00:11:46,949 remember in Shuttle, we had...as you got down late into launch countdown, you had a series 142 00:11:46,949 --> 00:11:53,540 of steps that in the event that you had an engine that got shut down or you ended up 143 00:11:53,540 --> 00:12:00,699 having a cutoff on the pad, you always had your fingers sleeved into those contingency 144 00:12:00,699 --> 00:12:05,949 steps because you knew that you're going to run those steps. And you're going to run them 145 00:12:05,949 --> 00:12:14,139 quickly. I can tell you even now, it's been years since our last shuttle launch, and I 146 00:12:14,139 --> 00:12:20,110 can still run through those first few steps from memory because, like Jess said, you practiced 147 00:12:20,110 --> 00:12:24,759 them in a sim. It was something that was a part of every single sim. You knew that they 148 00:12:24,759 --> 00:12:31,240 were time-critical steps, and they needed to be executed as such. So I would imagine 149 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:37,470 that everybody on our team will have those areas that are most important and most critical 150 00:12:37,470 --> 00:12:41,899 for them, and they will absolutely know that countdown. There's not a doubt in my mind. 151 00:12:41,899 --> 00:12:46,300 So when you were asking Jess that question, I was shaking my head because I'm thinking 152 00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:48,540 I know everybody's going to know that. 153 00:12:48,540 --> 00:12:53,460 How much of that is the way that you operate...as far as like, are you drilling your team? Do 154 00:12:53,460 --> 00:12:57,879 you have drills? What are these sims like to get people ready to be prepared for that? 155 00:12:57,879 --> 00:13:00,980 Well, "drill" is kind of a tough word. 156 00:13:00,980 --> 00:13:04,180 I don't know your style...I'm just asking the question. 157 00:13:04,180 --> 00:13:12,939 I would say that...what is the style? I mean, we certainly have an expectation of excellence 158 00:13:12,939 --> 00:13:22,240 within our team. I would say that's for all of us, myself included. We definitely practice. 159 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:29,509 We're at the beginning of our sim planning and at the beginning of our sim regime. So 160 00:13:29,509 --> 00:13:33,850 my expectation is different today than it will be six months from now. 161 00:13:33,850 --> 00:13:34,850 Sure. 162 00:13:34,850 --> 00:13:40,220 But that's the reason we go through these...is so that by the time we get to launch, those 163 00:13:40,220 --> 00:13:46,160 challenges, those technical problems that can come up, those critical situations where 164 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:51,750 you need to execute very quickly and very decisively, our team has had an opportunity 165 00:13:51,750 --> 00:13:56,589 to practice those and practice them and practice them again. 166 00:13:56,589 --> 00:14:00,681 Thinking about the fact that this is a team that make all this happen, we know that it 167 00:14:00,681 --> 00:14:06,571 takes an army from design through construction through delivery through preparation. How 168 00:14:06,571 --> 00:14:09,480 big of a team are we talking about on launch day? 169 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:15,749 We will have folks in Mission Control as part of the team there. 170 00:14:15,749 --> 00:14:16,749 In Houston? 171 00:14:16,749 --> 00:14:17,749 In Houston. 172 00:14:17,749 --> 00:14:18,749 Okay. 173 00:14:18,749 --> 00:14:24,009 We also will have folks that are in the Orion...their engineering team that sits in the Orion Mer. 174 00:14:24,009 --> 00:14:30,120 We have a team of SLS, the SLS Engineering Support Team, that sits in the SESC, which 175 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:37,850 is a part of the HOSC at Marshall. Then we have our team here. So asking how big is our 176 00:14:37,850 --> 00:14:43,040 team...it's always a tough one for me because I know how many people sit in the Firing Room. 177 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:48,720 We have just under 100 folks that will sit in Firing Room 1. Then we have a Support Launch 178 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:55,300 Team of folks that's about 60. So really, between the two rooms, we're about 150 folks. 179 00:14:55,300 --> 00:15:01,769 So that's an easy question to go answer. But for me, I believe that everyone that develops 180 00:15:01,769 --> 00:15:09,170 this hardware, everyone that tests this hardware, everyone that gets us to launch, is part of 181 00:15:09,170 --> 00:15:13,759 our launch team. Whether they're sitting in a firing room or in an engineering support 182 00:15:13,759 --> 00:15:20,011 center on launch day, they are part of the effort that got us to that day. And they're 183 00:15:20,011 --> 00:15:25,240 part of the launch team, regardless of where they are. But to answer your question, about 184 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,360 150 folks between the two firing rooms. 185 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:36,540 Jessica, I'll start with you. Not knowing the exact situation, how long is this countdown? 186 00:15:36,540 --> 00:15:43,639 How far out from zero do we really feel like, hey, it's launch day? Like, how far away are 187 00:15:43,639 --> 00:15:44,639 we? 188 00:15:44,639 --> 00:15:51,790 Well, I would say our launch countdown starts two days prior to that T-Zero time frame. 189 00:15:51,790 --> 00:15:55,949 There's a lot of preparations that have to go down. Like Charlie said, we have to power 190 00:15:55,949 --> 00:16:02,730 up the vehicle. We have to do multiple checks...and, again, they're all driven by requirements. 191 00:16:02,730 --> 00:16:09,249 Then we have to start the vehicle cryo loading. That event happens...we have to check whether 192 00:16:09,249 --> 00:16:14,249 the weather is going to support. There's a lot of different factors that have to be taken 193 00:16:14,249 --> 00:16:20,779 into account. The decision if we're going to go ahead and yank the vehicle is done somewhere 194 00:16:20,779 --> 00:16:28,519 around like seven hours prior to the T-Zero time frame. And takes a while. We have a large 195 00:16:28,519 --> 00:16:32,379 vehicle...to put it simple terms. 196 00:16:32,379 --> 00:16:33,379 Sure. 197 00:16:33,379 --> 00:16:38,260 So we have to balance the commodities that go between the core stage and the ICPS, the 198 00:16:38,260 --> 00:16:45,980 upper stage of the vehicle. At that point, that takes probably the majority of that last 199 00:16:45,980 --> 00:16:50,860 seven hours of it. We have to monitor our ground systems, monitor the vehicle, to make 200 00:16:50,860 --> 00:16:56,640 sure that everything is going as planned. So I would say those last two days are definitely 201 00:16:56,640 --> 00:17:02,529 what we consider to be the launch countdown. I know I put it in simplistic terms for something 202 00:17:02,529 --> 00:17:03,529 that is- 203 00:17:03,529 --> 00:17:09,920 Our countdown is just under two days. Jess covered it well. I was sitting here thinking 204 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:16,540 when you were asking the question about when does it feel like launch. Countdown two days 205 00:17:16,540 --> 00:17:23,310 prior...that's our call to stations. I think it will feel like launch when we roll to the 206 00:17:23,310 --> 00:17:31,470 pad because we know that when we roll out of the VAB that we have some work to do at 207 00:17:31,470 --> 00:17:38,540 the pad prior, but that is our commitment toward that launch date and that season that 208 00:17:38,540 --> 00:17:43,090 we have, where we have several days in which we can go launch. So I think that final rollout 209 00:17:43,090 --> 00:17:46,470 is going to be an amazing event. 210 00:17:46,470 --> 00:17:50,150 Thinking about the countdown again, is this two days around-the-clock work; or is this 211 00:17:50,150 --> 00:17:52,670 two days like on-shift time? 212 00:17:52,670 --> 00:17:56,600 It is two days around the clock. It will be three shifts a day. 213 00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:57,600 Whoo! 214 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:59,260 Yep...oh, it's going to be great! 215 00:17:59,260 --> 00:18:03,780 Are you having 100 people like per shift in the firing room ready to go, or is this just 216 00:18:03,780 --> 00:18:05,910 like certain teams have to be there? 217 00:18:05,910 --> 00:18:10,600 Yeah, just certain teams. What happens is that it's really based on the work that has 218 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:15,070 to get done. So we have something we call a bar chart, which lays out sequentially the 219 00:18:15,070 --> 00:18:22,110 work that is accomplished in launch countdown. So the personnel in the room kind of come 220 00:18:22,110 --> 00:18:27,130 and go during, I'd say, that first day of launch countdown. By once we get ready for 221 00:18:27,130 --> 00:18:32,940 cryo load, the room's pretty full and it will remain that way through T-Zero. Certainly 222 00:18:32,940 --> 00:18:38,790 that first day, it depends on the work that we have. There are positions...like the test 223 00:18:38,790 --> 00:18:43,540 directors are always in the room, the integration console is always manned. But the other consoles 224 00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:47,130 are staffed based on the work that they have to do. 225 00:18:47,130 --> 00:18:49,800 As the Launch Director, I'm assuming that there's going to be part of you that will 226 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:54,710 want to be present for 48 hours straight. That's probably an unwise decision, all things 227 00:18:54,710 --> 00:18:59,240 considered. So have you thought through like how to break apart your time during those 228 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:00,240 two days? 229 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,510 Yes, I actually have started to think about that. I haven't gotten to the final answer 230 00:19:04,510 --> 00:19:13,670 yet. Luckily for me, I have great support. So I'll have to figure out those - from tanking 231 00:19:13,670 --> 00:19:19,080 on, I'll definitely be there continuously. In that first day, I'm really, really blessed 232 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:25,900 because I have a really strong - our program has a really strong test management group...the 233 00:19:25,900 --> 00:19:30,800 NASA Test Directors, as well as the TOSC test conductors. They execute that launch countdown 234 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,940 on behalf of the launch director. So they are staffed around the clock. They're there 235 00:19:35,940 --> 00:19:41,380 all the time, and they really serve during launch as the eyes and ears of the launch 236 00:19:41,380 --> 00:19:45,561 director. So if there's something that they believe that I need to know, they certainly 237 00:19:45,561 --> 00:19:53,410 reach out. I check in with them regularly on that first day of launch countdown. Then 238 00:19:53,410 --> 00:19:59,661 Jess will be involved as well, and she'll have some shifts where she'll be in the Firing 239 00:19:59,661 --> 00:20:05,540 Room kind of doing that same thing...their issues...and letting me know. But I have started 240 00:20:05,540 --> 00:20:11,261 to think about that. I haven't laid it out as to which shift or which time period, but 241 00:20:11,261 --> 00:20:17,250 definitely from taking down continuous. Then prior to that, there will be shifts that I'll 242 00:20:17,250 --> 00:20:22,540 be in the Firing Room and then some where I'll depend on the test directors or my assistant 243 00:20:22,540 --> 00:20:28,780 launch director or Jess, as the technical assistant, to help with that. 244 00:20:28,780 --> 00:20:34,050 I would be remiss if I didn't make a special point to say that you are NASA's first female 245 00:20:34,050 --> 00:20:37,670 Launch Director, which has got to feel like a huge honor. I was actually talking with 246 00:20:37,670 --> 00:20:42,970 somebody...are you the first female launch director period? Because I did a little bit 247 00:20:42,970 --> 00:20:47,090 of homework and couldn't find anybody else...so, first female Launch Director on earth. Is 248 00:20:47,090 --> 00:20:48,090 that accurate? 249 00:20:48,090 --> 00:20:53,840 I don't know about on earth. I would say the first one for NASA. 250 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,890 Okay, we know that's true...no question about it. 251 00:20:56,890 --> 00:21:00,110 I don't know if it's bigger than that. 252 00:21:00,110 --> 00:21:04,450 So when you got assigned - I guess the question is, first, like how does that happen? Is that 253 00:21:04,450 --> 00:21:10,310 like you get appointed to that? Did you apply for this job? Like how does this transpire? 254 00:21:10,310 --> 00:21:17,830 There was an announcement and I applied for it and interviewed for it and was selected. 255 00:21:17,830 --> 00:21:25,420 So that part of it is kind of, I would say, the normal process of like many of us got 256 00:21:25,420 --> 00:21:34,640 our jobs. So it wasn't like an appointed thing. It was an announcement came out, and I applied. 257 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:40,720 I'll never forget when I got the phone call though. That's when it really kind of became, 258 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:42,560 I would say, real. 259 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,920 Is that like a holy smokes moment? You're like...wait a second, I gotta go launch a 260 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:47,770 rocket now. 261 00:21:47,770 --> 00:21:54,980 I'll tell you...I was actually walking across to a meeting. At the time, my office was in 262 00:21:54,980 --> 00:22:00,500 the ONC. I was actually walking to a meeting over in headquarters and my phone rang and 263 00:22:00,500 --> 00:22:02,560 I looked down and it said Bob Cabana. 264 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,840 He's our Center Director. 265 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:09,760 Right, and so I said...I wonder why Mr. Cabana's calling me. 266 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:12,540 Either a good thing or a bad thing probably. 267 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:22,160 So he offered me the job. My interview had been several days before, and he offered me 268 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:28,750 the job. When he first said it, I remember saying, "Bob, can you repeat that? I just 269 00:22:28,750 --> 00:22:34,950 want to make sure I heard you correctly.” He repeated it, and then it was the moment 270 00:22:34,950 --> 00:22:42,690 of...wow, what a great opportunity and what an honor! 271 00:22:42,690 --> 00:22:47,450 Awesome...yeah, congrats again on that. I know that it's been a while since that happened, 272 00:22:47,450 --> 00:22:51,850 but I'm sure it's still kind of - and I'm sure it won't fully set in until you see the 273 00:22:51,850 --> 00:22:55,320 rocket leave the pad. Then it's like...man, that just happened. 274 00:22:55,320 --> 00:23:00,680 Yep, absolutely...definitely looking forward, definitely looking forward to that launch 275 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:10,830 day. But I will say, I am extremely blessed in this role and I do feel honored. I am also 276 00:23:10,830 --> 00:23:19,040 very blessed to have the team that I have because I think as a launch director, you're 277 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:26,460 as good or you're as effective as the folks on your team. I have an incredible, dedicated 278 00:23:26,460 --> 00:23:33,780 team that is working toward launch and making sure that we're taking all the right steps 279 00:23:33,780 --> 00:23:37,750 and that we're working our products and that we're getting launch countdown ready, and 280 00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:43,770 Sulphur is coming along, and all of our progress and our sims and just all of that. It's a 281 00:23:43,770 --> 00:23:49,400 lot of work, and I'm really blessed to have such a great team. 282 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:54,340 I know that you're probably so focused that this question might seem like a foreign concept, 283 00:23:54,340 --> 00:24:00,380 but is this the final career stop? Is there somewhere to go past this? Like, is there 284 00:24:00,380 --> 00:24:06,090 more career wise; or is this like, I'm good here...I can just hang out till I retire? 285 00:24:06,090 --> 00:24:15,050 That's a tough one. Let's see...let me think about that for a second. So I think about 286 00:24:15,050 --> 00:24:25,971 it like this. A couple of summers ago, I went to Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Every 287 00:24:25,971 --> 00:24:33,010 place we went, I thought...This is the most beautiful place in the world. And the next 288 00:24:33,010 --> 00:24:37,230 day, there was another most beautiful place in the world. And each of those, you stopped 289 00:24:37,230 --> 00:24:44,930 for a moment and kind of took that in. So I think all of our careers...it's a path, 290 00:24:44,930 --> 00:24:54,510 right? It's a path and it's a journey. Every job that I've had, I've taken that moment...kind 291 00:24:54,510 --> 00:24:59,700 of like those different destinations within a national park, where you say, "This is an 292 00:24:59,700 --> 00:25:06,950 incredible opportunity; this is a wonderful place, and I could stay here for a long time.” 293 00:25:06,950 --> 00:25:12,590 And then something else came along. When I was working in payloads, I felt that way. 294 00:25:12,590 --> 00:25:17,900 When I had an opportunity to go to the Test Director Office, I felt like it's time to 295 00:25:17,900 --> 00:25:28,440 continue that journey. I absolutely right now cannot imagine a job more appealing than 296 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:36,140 the one that I have. Like, I love what I do. I love the people I work with. I can't wait 297 00:25:36,140 --> 00:25:40,870 to see that vehicle out on the pad. So for me, it's hard to think beyond that. But I 298 00:25:40,870 --> 00:25:47,041 never want to say, "Nope, this is it," because you never know what life has in store. If 299 00:25:47,041 --> 00:25:52,490 I had stopped at some of those other locations and decided not to take that path to the next 300 00:25:52,490 --> 00:25:58,380 one, I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't get this opportunity. So I don't like to say, 301 00:25:58,380 --> 00:26:03,910 "Nope, there's nothing else after this.” But I will tell you, it is hard to imagine 302 00:26:03,910 --> 00:26:06,670 a job better than the one that I have. 303 00:26:06,670 --> 00:26:07,670 Sure. 304 00:26:07,670 --> 00:26:10,140 And there is no other job right now that I would want. 305 00:26:10,140 --> 00:26:13,570 Cool. Jess, any interest in becoming a launch director someday? 306 00:26:13,570 --> 00:26:19,690 No, I've told her that level of responsibility she has in that job...I don't know if I could 307 00:26:19,690 --> 00:26:27,040 deal with it. I am just glad to be part of her team and be supporting her. Like I said, 308 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:33,370 I don't know where my career would lead. Like Charlie, I've taken different roads that led 309 00:26:33,370 --> 00:26:38,730 me to a different place. I never really had a plain career path that I said, "Yes, I'm 310 00:26:38,730 --> 00:26:44,750 going to be supporting the EM-1 launch team.” And yet, here I am. So I'm just honored to 311 00:26:44,750 --> 00:26:52,380 be working side by side with Charlie and being part of that EM-1 launch team. 312 00:26:52,380 --> 00:26:57,970 Fantastic. We're going to the moon. We need to not forget our destination here. We're 313 00:26:57,970 --> 00:27:01,890 not just launching a rocket. We're going somewhere. We're going to the moon. The president has 314 00:27:01,890 --> 00:27:08,040 given us a charge to be boots on the moon 2024, five years from now. That road appears 315 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:15,400 to run through the Space Launch System, which means that it runs through your Firing Room. 316 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:20,220 Tell me about what that's like to hear that announcement come out about, hey, 2024...let's 317 00:27:20,220 --> 00:27:21,220 go. 318 00:27:21,220 --> 00:27:28,320 Exciting... I think about our first crewed flight. I mean, you're absolutely right...boots 319 00:27:28,320 --> 00:27:33,900 on the moon in five years does run through our launch vehicle. It does run through our 320 00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:40,330 exploration missions, and it absolutely runs through Firing Room 1 and our launch team. 321 00:27:40,330 --> 00:27:47,020 I think all of us on that launch team recognize that. We recognize the cadence that is to 322 00:27:47,020 --> 00:27:51,660 come. I know that there will be challenges and things we'll have to go work through. 323 00:27:51,660 --> 00:27:54,480 But for me, it is absolutely exciting. 324 00:27:54,480 --> 00:28:00,210 So, Jess, being a little bit kind of further down the line from that...as you guys are 325 00:28:00,210 --> 00:28:05,190 having meetings, I'm sure this is coming up in conversation. Obviously, it puts an urgency 326 00:28:05,190 --> 00:28:12,630 to the 2020 launch of SLS. Is there a change in mood and atmosphere from the teams in the 327 00:28:12,630 --> 00:28:16,200 Firing Room or just in the planning and preparation portion? 328 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:20,850 I would say everyone in our program is really excited. I think a lot of us have been working 329 00:28:20,850 --> 00:28:27,420 on this vehicle for a long time. Knowing that we have this sense of urgency to get there, 330 00:28:27,420 --> 00:28:35,540 to have a distinct goal, it is very exciting. I mean, I can imagine some similarities back 331 00:28:35,540 --> 00:28:40,550 in the '60s when they said, "We're going to get to the moon by the end of this decade.” 332 00:28:40,550 --> 00:28:45,680 It's kind of that urgency, that dedication of people...let's try to do what we can to 333 00:28:45,680 --> 00:28:53,130 get there, give the best of ourselves to make sure we accomplish the mission. So I think 334 00:28:53,130 --> 00:28:57,210 that is reflected in everybody that works for our program. 335 00:28:57,210 --> 00:29:03,920 I would add to that. I'm glad you said that, Jess, because it put a thought in my head. 336 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:12,220 I think that when you think about that and you lay out the work, there will be challenges. 337 00:29:12,220 --> 00:29:16,501 But one of the things that I think our team does...and I saw it so many times in the Firing 338 00:29:16,501 --> 00:29:21,540 Room in Shuttle...is that when we have a challenge, when we have a technical problem that needs 339 00:29:21,540 --> 00:29:27,940 to be solved, our teams come together. They rally, they resolve it, and we move on. So 340 00:29:27,940 --> 00:29:35,120 I look at this as a great opportunity for our teams to meet those challenges, and I 341 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:41,940 see the same thing. I think there's a sense of purpose and direction and urgency and just 342 00:29:41,940 --> 00:29:47,500 a sense of excitement for what's to come. We're a part of something incredibly special. 343 00:29:47,500 --> 00:29:51,800 So does it become some kind of like a war cry almost of like when there's long days, 344 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:56,600 there's stressful days, there's challenges, it's like...hey, 2024, let's go. 345 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:02,040 Well, I can only speak for myself, right? On my board I have the words, "What do I have 346 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:09,190 to do today to get to EM-1?” I really need to change that now that we have the boots 347 00:30:09,190 --> 00:30:14,840 on the moon 2024; and it really needs to say, "What do I have to do today to get boots on 348 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:22,180 the moon for 2024?” But for me, I look at that every single day; and I do think about 349 00:30:22,180 --> 00:30:26,800 that. That is a guiding principle for me. When I come in and figure out what am I going 350 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:32,140 to spend my time on, it really is through the lens of what do I have to do to get us 351 00:30:32,140 --> 00:30:39,490 to launch? And I know I'm not alone in that. I know that our program and our sister programs 352 00:30:39,490 --> 00:30:44,280 at SLS and Orion...while they may have something different written on their board, I know that 353 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:47,310 they're marching to that same cadence. 354 00:30:47,310 --> 00:30:53,580 Awesome. Thinking about your own paths to get to where you are and for those, Charlie, 355 00:30:53,580 --> 00:30:57,090 kind of in your experience that might walk into your Firing Room and just kind of marvel 356 00:30:57,090 --> 00:31:03,490 at the team, as you look and think about the next generation, what would you say to them? 357 00:31:03,490 --> 00:31:06,810 If you could kind of have a few minutes with them, what would be the advice...what would 358 00:31:06,810 --> 00:31:11,240 be the words of encouragement or inspiration or challenge to them? 359 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:19,630 Well, one of my favorite parts of this job, besides obviously planning launch countdown 360 00:31:19,630 --> 00:31:29,140 and launch ops, is the opportunity to speak to and work with young people. I like to encourage 361 00:31:29,140 --> 00:31:36,580 young folks to consider the STEM field. Because I look at it -- I had a high school teacher 362 00:31:36,580 --> 00:31:42,820 that actually...when I was in the 11th grade, I didn't know what I wanted to do. I was kind 363 00:31:42,820 --> 00:31:48,390 of thinking about different options. My physics teacher actually said, "Charlie, have you 364 00:31:48,390 --> 00:31:54,590 ever thought about being an engineer?” Man, I was like...hm, what would I do with that 365 00:31:54,590 --> 00:32:01,310 degree, right? That was the question I asked him. And he said, "What couldn't you do with 366 00:32:01,310 --> 00:32:08,960 that degree?” Now, how right he has been. I mean, I look at all of the things that I 367 00:32:08,960 --> 00:32:14,700 have been able to be a part of; and it was all opened by that engineering degree. So 368 00:32:14,700 --> 00:32:22,860 I would say to young folks and to young girls to consider that STEM field because you never 369 00:32:22,860 --> 00:32:29,660 know where that path will lead you. If you would have told me in the 11th grade when 370 00:32:29,660 --> 00:32:35,230 that physics teacher encouraged me to consider engineering in college that one day I would 371 00:32:35,230 --> 00:32:40,180 have an opportunity to work on flight hardware, that one day I would be a part of a shuttle 372 00:32:40,180 --> 00:32:47,400 launch team, that one day I would be the first woman Launch Director for NASA...that would 373 00:32:47,400 --> 00:32:56,500 have been hard to take in. But all of those things were possible because of the education 374 00:32:56,500 --> 00:33:03,230 and the background and the opportunity that that engineering degree brought to me. Now, 375 00:33:03,230 --> 00:33:09,410 it took a lot of hard work. It took a lot of other things as well, but absolutely that 376 00:33:09,410 --> 00:33:19,790 was that first step. So I would say engineering is a great career field, and it opens up a 377 00:33:19,790 --> 00:33:21,240 variety of doors. 378 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:31,070 I feel like we definitely face a lot of challenges in our careers. I'm trying to think of a specific 379 00:33:31,070 --> 00:33:40,300 example. But to me...I've done this a lot in my career, where I've moved into an unknown 380 00:33:40,300 --> 00:33:44,770 field, something that I've never done before. That's when I was kind of joking at the beginning. 381 00:33:44,770 --> 00:33:50,220 It's like, yeah, I've gone to different places in my career here at the Space Center...not 382 00:33:50,220 --> 00:33:56,650 even with a direct path...but I took a chance. I would say maybe coming to this job was an 383 00:33:56,650 --> 00:34:02,200 example of that. I said, "I don't have any experience on launch countdown, but I'll learn 384 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:06,880 to see what it takes to get there.” I mean, that's definitely a challenge. I cannot tell 385 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:12,990 you there's not something every day that I don't learn about for the first time. But 386 00:34:12,990 --> 00:34:18,530 it's kind of like keep pushing your boundaries to get you there. 387 00:34:18,530 --> 00:34:23,360 Awesome. A great pleasure being with both of you...Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, our Launch 388 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:29,740 Director, Jessica Parsons, her right hand. I am so excited and so glad it's you and not 389 00:34:29,740 --> 00:34:33,510 me. Good luck this coming year and, obviously, all the way through 2024. 390 00:34:35,510 --> 00:34:34,510 Thank you. 391 00:34:35,510 --> 00:34:39,540 It's going to be great. 392 00:34:39,540 --> 00:34:44,290 We are excited to watch the triumph of the entire Space Launch System Team in the coming 393 00:34:44,290 --> 00:34:50,909 years and wish them all speedy success. Special thanks to our guests, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson 394 00:34:50,909 --> 00:34:52,850 and Jessica Parsons. 395 00:34:52,850 --> 00:35:00,780 To learn more about Exploration Ground Systems, visit: nasa.gov/egs. To learn more about everything 396 00:35:00,780 --> 00:35:07,990 going on at the Kennedy Space Center, go to: nasa.gov/kennedy. Check out NASA's other podcasts 397 00:35:07,990 --> 00:35:13,941 to learn more about what's happening at all of our centers at nasa.gov/podcasts. A special 398 00:35:13,941 --> 00:35:18,900 shout-out to our producer, John Sackman, our soundman, Lorne Mathre, editor Michelle Stone,