1 00:00:01,820 --> 00:00:34,150 [Music] 2 00:00:34,160 --> 00:00:46,870 t-minus one minute 3 00:01:17,590 --> 00:01:04,070 [Music] 4 00:01:23,350 --> 00:01:19,370 we are go for launch 5 00:01:27,190 --> 00:01:23,360 [Music] 6 00:01:31,030 --> 00:01:27,200 t-minus 10 9 8 7 00:01:34,630 --> 00:01:31,040 7 6 5 4 8 00:01:36,710 --> 00:01:34,640 3 2 1. 9 00:01:38,069 --> 00:01:36,720 welcome to the nasa social for the mars 10 00:01:45,450 --> 00:01:38,079 2020 mission 11 00:02:21,510 --> 00:01:57,430 [Music] 12 00:02:25,190 --> 00:02:23,750 and welcome back ladies and gentlemen to 13 00:02:27,990 --> 00:02:25,200 our countdown to mars 14 00:02:29,589 --> 00:02:28,000 virtual nasa social i again am yves 15 00:02:31,430 --> 00:02:29,599 lamothe with the exploration ground 16 00:02:32,229 --> 00:02:31,440 system comp systems as the project 17 00:02:35,670 --> 00:02:32,239 manager 18 00:02:36,470 --> 00:02:35,680 and with me once again maddie maddie 19 00:02:38,309 --> 00:02:36,480 how's it going 20 00:02:39,750 --> 00:02:38,319 i'm doing great eve how are you i am 21 00:02:42,790 --> 00:02:39,760 doing as great 22 00:02:43,509 --> 00:02:42,800 as can be all right so since as as as i 23 00:02:45,190 --> 00:02:43,519 like to say 24 00:02:46,390 --> 00:02:45,200 you're great i'm great let's make them 25 00:02:48,309 --> 00:02:46,400 great all right so what do we have in 26 00:02:50,390 --> 00:02:48,319 store for now so we have a really 27 00:02:52,150 --> 00:02:50,400 awesome show coming up not only do we 28 00:02:53,750 --> 00:02:52,160 have a great guest we're also going to 29 00:02:55,509 --> 00:02:53,760 take you behind the scenes at space 30 00:02:57,509 --> 00:02:55,519 launch complex 41 31 00:02:58,790 --> 00:02:57,519 which is where the perseverance rover 32 00:03:00,869 --> 00:02:58,800 will be launching 33 00:03:03,030 --> 00:03:00,879 tomorrow morning so while you're joining 34 00:03:04,710 --> 00:03:03,040 us make sure to drop your questions 35 00:03:06,790 --> 00:03:04,720 in the youtube chat in the virtual 36 00:03:09,350 --> 00:03:06,800 social facebook group or on twitter 37 00:03:10,949 --> 00:03:09,360 using the countdown for mars awesome 38 00:03:13,670 --> 00:03:10,959 that is fantastic so 39 00:03:15,750 --> 00:03:13,680 as maddie said right um it's behind the 40 00:03:17,509 --> 00:03:15,760 scenes at the launch pad what really 41 00:03:23,110 --> 00:03:17,519 happens in order for us to be able to 42 00:03:30,630 --> 00:03:26,949 the journey of 30 million miles to mars 43 00:03:32,550 --> 00:03:30,640 begins right here at pad 41 here at the 44 00:03:34,070 --> 00:03:32,560 cape canaveral space force station 45 00:03:36,070 --> 00:03:34,080 hi everyone i'm daryl with nasa 46 00:03:37,030 --> 00:03:36,080 communications and i'm joined by isaac 47 00:03:39,110 --> 00:03:37,040 spence 48 00:03:41,190 --> 00:03:39,120 lead structures engineer for united 49 00:03:42,229 --> 00:03:41,200 launch alliance and we are standing 50 00:03:45,030 --> 00:03:42,239 right here 51 00:03:46,070 --> 00:03:45,040 isaac just a few feet from the pad where 52 00:03:48,229 --> 00:03:46,080 this atlas 5 53 00:03:49,270 --> 00:03:48,239 is going to take mars perseverance on 54 00:03:51,430 --> 00:03:49,280 this incredibly 55 00:03:52,470 --> 00:03:51,440 long journey there's so much cool stuff 56 00:03:55,190 --> 00:03:52,480 to talk about 57 00:03:55,910 --> 00:03:55,200 first tell me this rocket this atlas 5 58 00:03:57,589 --> 00:03:55,920 is going to roll 59 00:03:59,429 --> 00:03:57,599 into this section right here tell me a 60 00:04:01,270 --> 00:03:59,439 little bit about how that works how that 61 00:04:02,149 --> 00:04:01,280 rocket comes in here and launches from 62 00:04:05,509 --> 00:04:02,159 right here 63 00:04:08,390 --> 00:04:05,519 so our rocket on top of the 1.3 million 64 00:04:10,710 --> 00:04:08,400 pound mobile launch platform will come 65 00:04:13,429 --> 00:04:10,720 out two days prior to launch 66 00:04:14,869 --> 00:04:13,439 we'll set down it'll have the mobile 67 00:04:16,789 --> 00:04:14,879 environmentally controlled system 68 00:04:18,870 --> 00:04:16,799 trailers with it it'll have our payload 69 00:04:22,230 --> 00:04:18,880 van our ground support van 70 00:04:23,430 --> 00:04:22,240 all attached and then we do we start our 71 00:04:25,430 --> 00:04:23,440 final processing 72 00:04:27,270 --> 00:04:25,440 out at the pad to get ready for launch 73 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:27,280 and this this is the pad right here so 74 00:04:30,550 --> 00:04:28,800 what are we looking at 75 00:04:32,469 --> 00:04:30,560 so you can see right here is our flame 76 00:04:32,870 --> 00:04:32,479 bucket cover that's over the exhaust 77 00:04:34,629 --> 00:04:32,880 duct 78 00:04:36,230 --> 00:04:34,639 so for launch when you see the big plume 79 00:04:37,430 --> 00:04:36,240 coming out it'll be going right down 80 00:04:39,110 --> 00:04:37,440 through there 81 00:04:40,950 --> 00:04:39,120 so that cover is one of the last things 82 00:04:42,230 --> 00:04:40,960 we do before we clear the pad will be to 83 00:04:43,830 --> 00:04:42,240 pull that cover out 84 00:04:45,909 --> 00:04:43,840 and then to clear for launch so you'll 85 00:04:46,790 --> 00:04:45,919 see our exhaust duct right there so at 86 00:04:49,670 --> 00:04:46,800 launch 87 00:04:51,749 --> 00:04:49,680 our just over 2.4 million pounds of 88 00:04:53,670 --> 00:04:51,759 thrust that we have with the atlas v 89 00:04:56,310 --> 00:04:53,680 booster along with the four solid rocket 90 00:04:57,990 --> 00:04:56,320 boosters will propel us right into space 91 00:04:59,510 --> 00:04:58,000 and so what's that like for you uh what 92 00:04:59,990 --> 00:04:59,520 do you anticipate is going to be like 93 00:05:03,430 --> 00:05:00,000 when 94 00:05:05,029 --> 00:05:03,440 getting ready to go 95 00:05:06,629 --> 00:05:05,039 oh it's amazing i mean every every 96 00:05:08,230 --> 00:05:06,639 mission is special i mean you look at 97 00:05:09,670 --> 00:05:08,240 there's really two kinds of missions we 98 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:09,680 have our ones for 99 00:05:12,870 --> 00:05:11,440 the united launch alliance does that 100 00:05:14,629 --> 00:05:12,880 supports the military 101 00:05:15,990 --> 00:05:14,639 all the men and women overseas just 102 00:05:16,790 --> 00:05:16,000 incredible missions that we see and 103 00:05:18,390 --> 00:05:16,800 those 104 00:05:20,390 --> 00:05:18,400 you don't really see the end result but 105 00:05:21,670 --> 00:05:20,400 you know that it's amazing things that 106 00:05:22,950 --> 00:05:21,680 we've been doing 107 00:05:25,510 --> 00:05:22,960 and then you have the science missions 108 00:05:28,070 --> 00:05:25,520 which are another variety which the mars 109 00:05:29,590 --> 00:05:28,080 2020 mission perseverance will be and 110 00:05:31,189 --> 00:05:29,600 those are 111 00:05:33,590 --> 00:05:31,199 in a different variety just as i mean 112 00:05:35,110 --> 00:05:33,600 just as special because you get to see 113 00:05:36,710 --> 00:05:35,120 all the outcome over the next few years 114 00:05:38,310 --> 00:05:36,720 the science that comes back over the 115 00:05:39,749 --> 00:05:38,320 years to come it's just incredible to be 116 00:05:41,029 --> 00:05:39,759 able to follow along with the mission 117 00:05:42,870 --> 00:05:41,039 just with the general public 118 00:05:44,469 --> 00:05:42,880 and then you can see up above we have 119 00:05:47,670 --> 00:05:44,479 our crew access tower 120 00:05:49,350 --> 00:05:47,680 oh yeah so that'll be fully stowed and 121 00:05:50,790 --> 00:05:49,360 out of the way for the launch but it is 122 00:05:52,390 --> 00:05:50,800 one of our new features that we have out 123 00:05:52,950 --> 00:05:52,400 here in the last couple years at the 41 124 00:05:54,710 --> 00:05:52,960 pad 125 00:05:56,629 --> 00:05:54,720 and just just so everybody knows there's 126 00:05:57,110 --> 00:05:56,639 some construction equipment around right 127 00:06:00,710 --> 00:05:57,120 here 128 00:06:02,230 --> 00:06:00,720 getting ready to get this pad ready for 129 00:06:04,870 --> 00:06:02,240 the next generation of rocket 130 00:06:05,350 --> 00:06:04,880 that's correct so with our delta iv and 131 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:05,360 atlas 132 00:06:09,990 --> 00:06:08,240 v vehicles going away over the next 133 00:06:11,270 --> 00:06:10,000 several years we're making way for the 134 00:06:14,309 --> 00:06:11,280 vulcan centaur 135 00:06:15,830 --> 00:06:14,319 it's on track it'll be ready in 2021 so 136 00:06:16,790 --> 00:06:15,840 all the construction that you see behind 137 00:06:18,950 --> 00:06:16,800 are actually the pop 138 00:06:20,550 --> 00:06:18,960 pad modifications to get ready for 139 00:06:21,430 --> 00:06:20,560 vulcan centaur and we actually have the 140 00:06:23,189 --> 00:06:21,440 vulcan 141 00:06:24,950 --> 00:06:23,199 mobile launch platform just down the 142 00:06:26,950 --> 00:06:24,960 road also under construction 143 00:06:30,710 --> 00:06:26,960 very cool now let's take a look at some 144 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:34,550 look at this incredible view we are 200 145 00:06:37,350 --> 00:06:35,280 feet 146 00:06:39,670 --> 00:06:37,360 up in the air right next to the launch 147 00:06:41,990 --> 00:06:39,680 pad overlooking the coast 148 00:06:43,830 --> 00:06:42,000 isaac this view is amazing really hard 149 00:06:45,430 --> 00:06:43,840 to be we're standing on top of the crew 150 00:06:48,390 --> 00:06:45,440 access tower which will be used to 151 00:06:50,230 --> 00:06:48,400 support the cst-100 starliner missions 152 00:06:51,830 --> 00:06:50,240 and just down off to our right is where 153 00:06:53,909 --> 00:06:51,840 the vehicle would be standing 154 00:06:55,749 --> 00:06:53,919 just prior to launch the mission of mars 155 00:06:56,150 --> 00:06:55,759 starts right here and goes right by this 156 00:06:58,070 --> 00:06:56,160 tunnel 157 00:07:00,469 --> 00:06:58,080 that's true and right behind us you can 158 00:07:02,870 --> 00:07:00,479 see our vertical integration facility 159 00:07:04,870 --> 00:07:02,880 where our vehicle is sitting right now 160 00:07:06,309 --> 00:07:04,880 we have the atlas 5 booster with the 161 00:07:08,790 --> 00:07:06,319 centaur on top 162 00:07:09,909 --> 00:07:08,800 um in a few days from now we'll have the 163 00:07:13,029 --> 00:07:09,919 spacecraft mated 164 00:07:13,350 --> 00:07:13,039 encapsulated in its 68 foot fairings and 165 00:07:15,990 --> 00:07:13,360 then 166 00:07:17,589 --> 00:07:16,000 all together it'll be 197 feet tall 167 00:07:19,749 --> 00:07:17,599 before it comes moving over to the pad 168 00:07:21,350 --> 00:07:19,759 and ready to go to mars now i'm looking 169 00:07:23,029 --> 00:07:21,360 over to your vif and is 170 00:07:24,550 --> 00:07:23,039 am i seeing the top of the booster 171 00:07:26,150 --> 00:07:24,560 through that that opening there 172 00:07:27,990 --> 00:07:26,160 correct you're seeing the top of the 173 00:07:29,029 --> 00:07:28,000 centaur through those two steel doors 174 00:07:31,110 --> 00:07:29,039 that are open 175 00:07:32,550 --> 00:07:31,120 so kind of describe the stack we can't 176 00:07:35,430 --> 00:07:32,560 see through this but 177 00:07:36,150 --> 00:07:35,440 how is it lined up right now so on top 178 00:07:38,710 --> 00:07:36,160 of our 179 00:07:40,309 --> 00:07:38,720 1.3 million pound mobile launch platform 180 00:07:41,029 --> 00:07:40,319 that we talked about earlier we have the 181 00:07:43,350 --> 00:07:41,039 atlas v 182 00:07:45,189 --> 00:07:43,360 booster after the booster goes up we 183 00:07:46,710 --> 00:07:45,199 have four solid rocker 184 00:07:49,110 --> 00:07:46,720 four solid rocket boosters that will be 185 00:07:51,110 --> 00:07:49,120 hung individually and then the centaur 186 00:07:53,270 --> 00:07:51,120 gets stacked on top 187 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:53,280 that's so neat to see that oh thank 188 00:07:56,469 --> 00:07:54,800 goodness they have those doors open is 189 00:07:58,629 --> 00:07:56,479 there a reason for that 190 00:07:59,670 --> 00:07:58,639 the doors are open right now to support 191 00:08:01,510 --> 00:07:59,680 some of our 192 00:08:02,790 --> 00:08:01,520 prep operations that we're doing prior 193 00:08:04,309 --> 00:08:02,800 to spacecraft mate 194 00:08:06,309 --> 00:08:04,319 um the rest of the doors are closed 195 00:08:07,670 --> 00:08:06,319 because we like to keep the weather 196 00:08:09,350 --> 00:08:07,680 and for a lot of the summer storms that 197 00:08:11,510 --> 00:08:09,360 we get coming through here 198 00:08:13,670 --> 00:08:11,520 isaac now we're a lot closer to the 199 00:08:15,990 --> 00:08:13,680 vertical integration facility 200 00:08:17,830 --> 00:08:16,000 and this is really the track where the 201 00:08:20,150 --> 00:08:17,840 rocket rolls out to the pad 202 00:08:21,990 --> 00:08:20,160 tell me how that works so on roll day 203 00:08:23,670 --> 00:08:22,000 you'll have all of the doors you see 204 00:08:25,430 --> 00:08:23,680 behind you will be fully opened up 205 00:08:27,110 --> 00:08:25,440 all of the platforms cleared out of the 206 00:08:28,869 --> 00:08:27,120 way and then we have two 207 00:08:30,309 --> 00:08:28,879 undercarriages that come under the 208 00:08:32,149 --> 00:08:30,319 mobile launch platform 209 00:08:33,829 --> 00:08:32,159 they have electrically driven jacking 210 00:08:36,070 --> 00:08:33,839 system and rocking system 211 00:08:36,949 --> 00:08:36,080 and they'll elevate the entire structure 212 00:08:39,670 --> 00:08:36,959 three inches 213 00:08:39,990 --> 00:08:39,680 into the air and then move that mlp 214 00:08:41,829 --> 00:08:40,000 along 215 00:08:44,230 --> 00:08:41,839 with the vehicle all the way up to the 216 00:08:47,350 --> 00:08:44,240 pad such incredible care 217 00:08:49,990 --> 00:08:47,360 and such fine instruments 218 00:08:51,430 --> 00:08:50,000 balancing this very very expensive mars 219 00:08:53,750 --> 00:08:51,440 rover to the pad 220 00:08:55,990 --> 00:08:53,760 yes it's a very slow process it takes 221 00:08:58,230 --> 00:08:56,000 about 50 minutes to go from 222 00:08:59,990 --> 00:08:58,240 the vip all the way up to the pad unlike 223 00:09:00,870 --> 00:09:00,000 you said taking care to make sure that 224 00:09:02,470 --> 00:09:00,880 we don't have 225 00:09:03,910 --> 00:09:02,480 any effects on the umbilicals or the 226 00:09:04,870 --> 00:09:03,920 vehicle as we're making the way all the 227 00:09:07,030 --> 00:09:04,880 way up to the pad 228 00:09:08,070 --> 00:09:07,040 isaac what tremendous access we had 229 00:09:10,949 --> 00:09:08,080 today to see all these 230 00:09:13,110 --> 00:09:10,959 neat locations around your path yeah on 231 00:09:14,949 --> 00:09:13,120 top of the crew access tower and inside 232 00:09:16,550 --> 00:09:14,959 of our facilities it's very unique 233 00:09:17,750 --> 00:09:16,560 access but it's one that we're excited 234 00:09:19,269 --> 00:09:17,760 to share with you 235 00:09:20,949 --> 00:09:19,279 and with the world for this amazing 236 00:09:21,430 --> 00:09:20,959 mission and ula is just excited to be 237 00:09:23,670 --> 00:09:21,440 part of 238 00:09:25,350 --> 00:09:23,680 mars 2020 and perseverance rover well 239 00:09:26,949 --> 00:09:25,360 thank you very much for doing that isaac 240 00:09:35,269 --> 00:09:26,959 spence lead structures engineer for 241 00:09:40,230 --> 00:09:38,070 so all that payload the flight hardware 242 00:09:41,190 --> 00:09:40,240 the ground systems it takes one heck of 243 00:09:43,990 --> 00:09:41,200 a team to put 244 00:09:45,590 --> 00:09:44,000 all of that together and to help nasa do 245 00:09:47,829 --> 00:09:45,600 some amazing things like 246 00:09:48,710 --> 00:09:47,839 launching perseverance over to mars with 247 00:09:52,710 --> 00:09:48,720 us today 248 00:09:54,710 --> 00:09:52,720 is one one of the icons who are 249 00:09:56,230 --> 00:09:54,720 behind a lot of that work with us today 250 00:09:58,150 --> 00:09:56,240 is mr tory brown 251 00:09:59,910 --> 00:09:58,160 president of ula tori how's it going 252 00:10:01,990 --> 00:09:59,920 today he's going great 253 00:10:03,350 --> 00:10:02,000 it is such an honor to have you here 254 00:10:05,030 --> 00:10:03,360 with us and 255 00:10:06,550 --> 00:10:05,040 we would love to hear us and the 256 00:10:09,190 --> 00:10:06,560 audience would love to hear about 257 00:10:10,389 --> 00:10:09,200 what your role is with the perseverance 258 00:10:12,949 --> 00:10:10,399 mission yeah sure 259 00:10:14,230 --> 00:10:12,959 so basically i am perseverance's uber 260 00:10:16,790 --> 00:10:14,240 driver 261 00:10:18,470 --> 00:10:16,800 so i provide the atlas v rocket the 262 00:10:20,630 --> 00:10:18,480 mighty atlas that will carry 263 00:10:23,350 --> 00:10:20,640 perseverance out to mars 264 00:10:24,630 --> 00:10:23,360 how amazing is that now are you 265 00:10:26,630 --> 00:10:24,640 concerned with um 266 00:10:28,389 --> 00:10:26,640 i mean you've been launching for quite 267 00:10:29,990 --> 00:10:28,399 some time so 268 00:10:32,710 --> 00:10:30,000 are there any concerns with this 269 00:10:35,110 --> 00:10:32,720 particular payload sending it up to mars 270 00:10:37,190 --> 00:10:35,120 well every payload is special and 271 00:10:37,670 --> 00:10:37,200 everything on a rocket has to go right i 272 00:10:40,310 --> 00:10:37,680 mean it 273 00:10:41,829 --> 00:10:40,320 is an incredibly complex incredibly 274 00:10:43,829 --> 00:10:41,839 powerful machine 275 00:10:45,430 --> 00:10:43,839 so we're always tense and i'll share 276 00:10:46,069 --> 00:10:45,440 with you a little secret i've done about 277 00:10:48,790 --> 00:10:46,079 400 278 00:10:50,630 --> 00:10:48,800 personal launches over my career i get 279 00:10:53,350 --> 00:10:50,640 butterflies every single time 280 00:10:55,110 --> 00:10:53,360 wow but in terms of this mission no we 281 00:10:56,630 --> 00:10:55,120 are very confident that 282 00:10:58,630 --> 00:10:56,640 the rocket is in good shape the 283 00:11:01,030 --> 00:10:58,640 spacecraft is in good shape 284 00:11:02,069 --> 00:11:01,040 we've got our second largest atlas out 285 00:11:05,670 --> 00:11:02,079 on the pad 286 00:11:06,949 --> 00:11:05,680 the 541 configuration we call this one 287 00:11:10,310 --> 00:11:06,959 the dominator 288 00:11:10,630 --> 00:11:10,320 because it has four solid rocket motors 289 00:11:13,110 --> 00:11:10,640 that 290 00:11:14,389 --> 00:11:13,120 supplement the already impressive thrust 291 00:11:16,790 --> 00:11:14,399 out of the center core 292 00:11:17,590 --> 00:11:16,800 so we start with 860 000 pounds of 293 00:11:20,790 --> 00:11:17,600 thrust 294 00:11:24,949 --> 00:11:20,800 we're going to add to that 350 295 00:11:27,030 --> 00:11:24,959 000 more pounds of thrust per srm 296 00:11:28,949 --> 00:11:27,040 when you hear ignition tomorrow morning 297 00:11:31,030 --> 00:11:28,959 do not blink because you'll miss it 298 00:11:32,230 --> 00:11:31,040 with that tiny little spacecraft it will 299 00:11:34,949 --> 00:11:32,240 leap off the pad 300 00:11:36,150 --> 00:11:34,959 wow i can't wait to see that that is 301 00:11:39,030 --> 00:11:36,160 going to be 302 00:11:39,829 --> 00:11:39,040 amazing and so far everything is looking 303 00:11:42,470 --> 00:11:39,839 good for launch 304 00:11:43,030 --> 00:11:42,480 in terms of the weather all systems are 305 00:11:46,150 --> 00:11:43,040 go 306 00:11:48,069 --> 00:11:46,160 with everything 307 00:11:50,069 --> 00:11:48,079 yeah we're in great shape so we rolled 308 00:11:51,910 --> 00:11:50,079 out to the pad this morning on our giant 309 00:11:52,710 --> 00:11:51,920 mobile launch platform that was in the 310 00:11:55,190 --> 00:11:52,720 video 311 00:11:55,990 --> 00:11:55,200 and we're hard down on the pad now all 312 00:11:58,629 --> 00:11:56,000 the systems have 313 00:11:59,269 --> 00:11:58,639 checked out so everybody's healthy we'll 314 00:12:02,310 --> 00:11:59,279 continue 315 00:12:02,790 --> 00:12:02,320 keeping perseverance cool and dry and 316 00:12:05,590 --> 00:12:02,800 clean 317 00:12:07,509 --> 00:12:05,600 through the night and the the countdown 318 00:12:09,990 --> 00:12:07,519 is going to start in just a few hours 319 00:12:11,590 --> 00:12:10,000 wow i hope you guys are excited as i am 320 00:12:12,230 --> 00:12:11,600 it's going to be such an amazing thing 321 00:12:14,150 --> 00:12:12,240 to see 322 00:12:16,710 --> 00:12:14,160 so i don't want to take anything away 323 00:12:18,629 --> 00:12:16,720 from our viewers so maddie how about we 324 00:12:20,710 --> 00:12:18,639 kick it into some of the questions we 325 00:12:22,470 --> 00:12:20,720 have perfect so first question 326 00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:22,480 is can you tell us a little bit more 327 00:12:27,030 --> 00:12:24,000 about the atlas v rocket 328 00:12:28,389 --> 00:12:27,040 and how many times has it flown yes 329 00:12:32,230 --> 00:12:28,399 atlas has flown over 330 00:12:33,990 --> 00:12:32,240 80 times in various configurations and 331 00:12:35,829 --> 00:12:34,000 like we talked about a minute ago this 332 00:12:38,550 --> 00:12:35,839 is the 541 333 00:12:39,750 --> 00:12:38,560 it also has the five meter payload 334 00:12:41,430 --> 00:12:39,760 fairing 335 00:12:42,710 --> 00:12:41,440 and one of the questions i get asked all 336 00:12:44,949 --> 00:12:42,720 the time is you have this tiny little 337 00:12:45,910 --> 00:12:44,959 spacecraft relative to the size of that 338 00:12:47,910 --> 00:12:45,920 rocket 339 00:12:49,829 --> 00:12:47,920 why are you in your big payload fairing 340 00:12:52,550 --> 00:12:49,839 instead of your smaller one 341 00:12:53,269 --> 00:12:52,560 this is a special configuration partly 342 00:12:55,750 --> 00:12:53,279 because 343 00:12:56,629 --> 00:12:55,760 perseverance is relatively modest in 344 00:12:59,670 --> 00:12:56,639 size 345 00:13:02,470 --> 00:12:59,680 metric ton class spacecraft and so with 346 00:13:03,990 --> 00:13:02,480 all of that thrust coming off the pad 347 00:13:05,269 --> 00:13:04,000 there's a tremendous amount of 348 00:13:08,870 --> 00:13:05,279 acceleration 349 00:13:11,590 --> 00:13:08,880 and our upper stage the amazing centaur 350 00:13:13,990 --> 00:13:11,600 is one of the highest really the highest 351 00:13:15,430 --> 00:13:14,000 performance upper stages in the world 352 00:13:17,509 --> 00:13:15,440 and part of what gives it that 353 00:13:20,069 --> 00:13:17,519 distinction is as very 354 00:13:21,190 --> 00:13:20,079 thin balloon tanks to hold the 355 00:13:23,829 --> 00:13:21,200 propellants 356 00:13:25,190 --> 00:13:23,839 thinner than a dime unable to hold even 357 00:13:26,230 --> 00:13:25,200 their own shape unless they're 358 00:13:28,949 --> 00:13:26,240 pressurized 359 00:13:31,269 --> 00:13:28,959 and when we leap off the pad with all of 360 00:13:33,350 --> 00:13:31,279 that thrust the acceleration will be so 361 00:13:34,310 --> 00:13:33,360 intense it would literally collapse the 362 00:13:37,590 --> 00:13:34,320 centaur 363 00:13:39,990 --> 00:13:37,600 and so that larger payload fairing has a 364 00:13:41,030 --> 00:13:40,000 structure with inside that will take out 365 00:13:43,509 --> 00:13:41,040 that load 366 00:13:45,509 --> 00:13:43,519 because centaur can't handle the load 367 00:13:47,189 --> 00:13:45,519 the payload fairing does 368 00:13:49,509 --> 00:13:47,199 so that's the configuration of the 369 00:13:51,910 --> 00:13:49,519 rocket one other special thing about it 370 00:13:55,829 --> 00:13:51,920 is that payload fairing was fitted with 371 00:13:58,389 --> 00:13:55,839 special very large doors so the mm-rtg 372 00:14:00,310 --> 00:13:58,399 nuclear battery for perseverance 373 00:14:02,230 --> 00:14:00,320 could be installed actually in our 374 00:14:06,389 --> 00:14:02,240 vertical integration facility 375 00:14:08,710 --> 00:14:06,399 on top of the rocket wow and so 376 00:14:10,310 --> 00:14:08,720 is is the reason where you part of the 377 00:14:12,949 --> 00:14:10,320 reason we're using the larger rocket 378 00:14:13,509 --> 00:14:12,959 is because it has to travel so far do we 379 00:14:16,150 --> 00:14:13,519 need 380 00:14:16,629 --> 00:14:16,160 the extra boost to take it out into 381 00:14:19,350 --> 00:14:16,639 further 382 00:14:21,590 --> 00:14:19,360 out into space to get it to mars or yeah 383 00:14:23,269 --> 00:14:21,600 absolutely any planetary mission takes a 384 00:14:24,710 --> 00:14:23,279 great deal of energy and in this 385 00:14:26,790 --> 00:14:24,720 particular case 386 00:14:28,310 --> 00:14:26,800 we're going to accelerate perseverance 387 00:14:30,710 --> 00:14:28,320 to over 26 388 00:14:32,470 --> 00:14:30,720 000 miles per hour so that we're at a 389 00:14:34,230 --> 00:14:32,480 very high c3 what we call a 390 00:14:36,069 --> 00:14:34,240 characteristic energy 391 00:14:37,590 --> 00:14:36,079 which tells us whether or not we're 392 00:14:39,670 --> 00:14:37,600 going to go and escape 393 00:14:40,870 --> 00:14:39,680 the gravitational influence of a given 394 00:14:43,350 --> 00:14:40,880 body in this case 395 00:14:45,030 --> 00:14:43,360 earth so we will launch this on a 396 00:14:47,509 --> 00:14:45,040 hyperbolic 397 00:14:48,470 --> 00:14:47,519 escape trajectory it will take 398 00:14:51,030 --> 00:14:48,480 perseverance 399 00:14:53,189 --> 00:14:51,040 seven months to cross that distance and 400 00:14:53,509 --> 00:14:53,199 we can only do this as i think you guys 401 00:14:56,710 --> 00:14:53,519 know 402 00:14:58,629 --> 00:14:56,720 once every 26 months just when earth is 403 00:15:01,269 --> 00:14:58,639 overtaking and about to pass 404 00:15:02,069 --> 00:15:01,279 mars in its orbit and so we shoot it out 405 00:15:05,030 --> 00:15:02,079 there on this 406 00:15:06,150 --> 00:15:05,040 long sweeping elliptical home and 407 00:15:08,949 --> 00:15:06,160 transfer 408 00:15:10,069 --> 00:15:08,959 out literally aimed millions of miles in 409 00:15:12,470 --> 00:15:10,079 front of mars 410 00:15:14,710 --> 00:15:12,480 so that by the time mars gets there it 411 00:15:17,189 --> 00:15:14,720 actually captures the spacecraft 412 00:15:19,189 --> 00:15:17,199 and brings it in and so that takes a 413 00:15:21,030 --> 00:15:19,199 tremendous amount of energy 414 00:15:23,189 --> 00:15:21,040 but also a tremendous amount of 415 00:15:25,189 --> 00:15:23,199 precision because we're going to let go 416 00:15:27,509 --> 00:15:25,199 of that spacecraft right here next to 417 00:15:29,509 --> 00:15:27,519 earth just hundreds just you know around 418 00:15:30,150 --> 00:15:29,519 a thousand miles above the surface of 419 00:15:33,030 --> 00:15:30,160 earth 420 00:15:34,870 --> 00:15:33,040 and that sweeping arc is closer to 200 421 00:15:37,269 --> 00:15:34,880 million miles of distance to be 422 00:15:39,430 --> 00:15:37,279 traveled and it has very little 423 00:15:40,069 --> 00:15:39,440 perseverance has very little ability to 424 00:15:42,389 --> 00:15:40,079 adjust its 425 00:15:43,670 --> 00:15:42,399 trajectory so we have to aim it 426 00:15:46,069 --> 00:15:43,680 precisely 427 00:15:46,710 --> 00:15:46,079 after all of that acceleration and just 428 00:15:49,430 --> 00:15:46,720 gently 429 00:15:49,990 --> 00:15:49,440 let it go in the right direction amazing 430 00:15:51,749 --> 00:15:50,000 amazing 431 00:15:53,910 --> 00:15:51,759 what else we got from our viewers so a 432 00:15:56,150 --> 00:15:53,920 lot of the viewers had signed up to send 433 00:15:57,350 --> 00:15:56,160 their name to mars aboard the mars rover 434 00:16:00,230 --> 00:15:57,360 and they want to know is 435 00:16:01,509 --> 00:16:00,240 tori bruno's name also going to mars 436 00:16:03,350 --> 00:16:01,519 absolutely 437 00:16:04,790 --> 00:16:03,360 i was one of the early people to sign up 438 00:16:06,949 --> 00:16:04,800 how exciting 439 00:16:08,629 --> 00:16:06,959 i i mean not only would i say if my name 440 00:16:10,629 --> 00:16:08,639 was tory bruno i would send my name 441 00:16:11,990 --> 00:16:10,639 and a picture of my stash i'm just 442 00:16:13,910 --> 00:16:12,000 saying if it were me 443 00:16:15,670 --> 00:16:13,920 okay what else we got from our viewers 444 00:16:18,629 --> 00:16:15,680 um so we have a question 445 00:16:20,870 --> 00:16:18,639 um are there any uh major upgrades um 446 00:16:22,790 --> 00:16:20,880 going on at the launch pad right now 447 00:16:25,189 --> 00:16:22,800 yeah there's actually a ton of upgrades 448 00:16:26,949 --> 00:16:25,199 going on because we are developing new 449 00:16:29,350 --> 00:16:26,959 rocket called the vulcan 450 00:16:30,470 --> 00:16:29,360 which is much much larger than our atlas 451 00:16:32,870 --> 00:16:30,480 rocket oh wow 452 00:16:33,990 --> 00:16:32,880 and in fact more powerful than our three 453 00:16:36,870 --> 00:16:34,000 core delta four 454 00:16:39,670 --> 00:16:36,880 heavy and that rocket will share the pad 455 00:16:41,350 --> 00:16:39,680 with atlas until atlas flies out 456 00:16:43,670 --> 00:16:41,360 so if you went to the pad today you 457 00:16:44,150 --> 00:16:43,680 would see brand new liquid oxygen tanks 458 00:16:47,189 --> 00:16:44,160 because 459 00:16:49,269 --> 00:16:47,199 vulcan centaur 5 upper stage 460 00:16:50,790 --> 00:16:49,279 is so much larger we didn't have enough 461 00:16:53,030 --> 00:16:50,800 lox capacity 462 00:16:53,990 --> 00:16:53,040 and instead of burning kerosene like 463 00:16:56,550 --> 00:16:54,000 atlas 464 00:16:58,389 --> 00:16:56,560 vulcan burns methane so we added an 465 00:16:59,990 --> 00:16:58,399 entire methane farm 466 00:17:01,829 --> 00:17:00,000 and then maybe the last big thing you 467 00:17:05,029 --> 00:17:01,839 would see right at the pad 468 00:17:07,669 --> 00:17:05,039 is a upgraded almost twice as large 469 00:17:08,710 --> 00:17:07,679 acoustic water suppression system and 470 00:17:10,470 --> 00:17:08,720 when your viewers 471 00:17:12,390 --> 00:17:10,480 watch the launch tomorrow morning on the 472 00:17:14,230 --> 00:17:12,400 live stream and we say ignition 473 00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:14,240 they will see all this water spraying on 474 00:17:18,710 --> 00:17:15,600 the pad it's 475 00:17:20,710 --> 00:17:18,720 not for fire suppression at all it is 476 00:17:21,750 --> 00:17:20,720 literally there to absorb acoustic 477 00:17:25,110 --> 00:17:21,760 energy 478 00:17:27,590 --> 00:17:25,120 with the core in those large srm's if we 479 00:17:28,789 --> 00:17:27,600 let that sound reflect off the pad back 480 00:17:31,029 --> 00:17:28,799 onto the vehicle 481 00:17:32,630 --> 00:17:31,039 it would actually destroy perseverance 482 00:17:35,430 --> 00:17:32,640 even underneath the fairing 483 00:17:35,990 --> 00:17:35,440 and the water dampens that out vulcan 484 00:17:38,310 --> 00:17:36,000 needed 485 00:17:40,870 --> 00:17:38,320 so much more because it's a much larger 486 00:17:42,470 --> 00:17:40,880 rocket so we've just finished upgrading 487 00:17:44,310 --> 00:17:42,480 all of that as well 488 00:17:46,789 --> 00:17:44,320 so are there is there testing that goes 489 00:17:48,549 --> 00:17:46,799 along with ensuring the safety of the 490 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:48,559 payload and et cetera as you're talking 491 00:17:53,510 --> 00:17:49,679 about oh yes 492 00:17:55,830 --> 00:17:53,520 yeah yeah you know so much testing 493 00:17:57,750 --> 00:17:55,840 so most of what we have been doing for 494 00:17:59,350 --> 00:17:57,760 the last couple of weeks down here is 495 00:18:01,510 --> 00:17:59,360 actually testing 496 00:18:03,430 --> 00:18:01,520 so we bring the rocket down in pieces 497 00:18:05,029 --> 00:18:03,440 from our decatur factory 498 00:18:06,470 --> 00:18:05,039 it doesn't look at when you're out there 499 00:18:08,310 --> 00:18:06,480 on the pad because there's nothing 500 00:18:10,150 --> 00:18:08,320 around it but that atlas with 501 00:18:13,350 --> 00:18:10,160 perseverance on top 502 00:18:14,150 --> 00:18:13,360 stands 20 stories high and so you can't 503 00:18:16,549 --> 00:18:14,160 move that 504 00:18:18,549 --> 00:18:16,559 in one piece instead we break it down 505 00:18:20,549 --> 00:18:18,559 into the stages we bring it here on the 506 00:18:22,390 --> 00:18:20,559 rocket ship which is our special ship 507 00:18:24,630 --> 00:18:22,400 that sails through the rivers 508 00:18:25,750 --> 00:18:24,640 down from decatur alabama through the 509 00:18:27,990 --> 00:18:25,760 caribbean around 510 00:18:29,990 --> 00:18:28,000 beneath florida and up here to the cape 511 00:18:30,789 --> 00:18:30,000 and then we have to assemble it here on 512 00:18:32,549 --> 00:18:30,799 site 513 00:18:33,990 --> 00:18:32,559 and then finally integrate it with the 514 00:18:36,549 --> 00:18:34,000 spacecraft so 515 00:18:38,150 --> 00:18:36,559 all of those interfaces all of those 516 00:18:39,510 --> 00:18:38,160 electronic systems 517 00:18:42,230 --> 00:18:39,520 everything on the rocket and the 518 00:18:45,270 --> 00:18:42,240 spacecraft have to be tested again 519 00:18:46,710 --> 00:18:45,280 after it's been assembled and tested and 520 00:18:48,470 --> 00:18:46,720 tested some more 521 00:18:50,549 --> 00:18:48,480 and then maybe even a little bit more 522 00:18:52,390 --> 00:18:50,559 because you really get one shot at this 523 00:18:55,350 --> 00:18:52,400 you know only every two years can we go 524 00:18:57,190 --> 00:18:55,360 to mars and if anything goes wrong 525 00:18:58,470 --> 00:18:57,200 you know this multi-billion dollar 526 00:19:01,110 --> 00:18:58,480 spacecraft 527 00:19:03,190 --> 00:19:01,120 this one-of-a-kind unique opportunity 528 00:19:04,870 --> 00:19:03,200 for which a lot of researchers have put 529 00:19:07,830 --> 00:19:04,880 their entire life's work 530 00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:07,840 into would be lost and so we don't like 531 00:19:10,950 --> 00:19:09,120 to take any chances 532 00:19:12,710 --> 00:19:10,960 even after we rolled to the pad we 533 00:19:14,870 --> 00:19:12,720 tested again 534 00:19:16,549 --> 00:19:14,880 so technically you're a one-way uber 535 00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:16,559 then we are one way 536 00:19:19,990 --> 00:19:18,000 okay i just wanted to make sure i 537 00:19:23,350 --> 00:19:20,000 clarify that's like going to the airport 538 00:19:24,549 --> 00:19:23,360 ah i see okay it's a drop off and then 539 00:19:25,669 --> 00:19:24,559 you're done right yeah 540 00:19:27,430 --> 00:19:25,679 all right what else we have from our 541 00:19:28,310 --> 00:19:27,440 viewers matt so this will be our last 542 00:19:31,190 --> 00:19:28,320 question from 543 00:19:32,870 --> 00:19:31,200 social um is it even possible for you to 544 00:19:33,909 --> 00:19:32,880 sleep the night before launch or are you 545 00:19:37,350 --> 00:19:33,919 too excited 546 00:19:40,789 --> 00:19:37,360 i get pretty excited you know it uh 547 00:19:43,029 --> 00:19:40,799 you know no launch ever gets old there's 548 00:19:44,789 --> 00:19:43,039 there's so much that has to go right 549 00:19:46,390 --> 00:19:44,799 nothing can go wrong 550 00:19:48,549 --> 00:19:46,400 you know what you're doing is an 551 00:19:50,789 --> 00:19:48,559 absolutely amazing feat you know this 552 00:19:52,549 --> 00:19:50,799 rocket will weigh almost 2 million 553 00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:52,559 pounds sitting on the launch pad 554 00:19:56,310 --> 00:19:54,640 it's a 20-story building that we're 555 00:19:58,390 --> 00:19:56,320 throwing into space 556 00:20:00,310 --> 00:19:58,400 to carry this precious cargo all of 557 00:20:02,789 --> 00:20:00,320 these millions of miles 558 00:20:03,669 --> 00:20:02,799 it's astonishing that we can do this as 559 00:20:06,070 --> 00:20:03,679 human beings 560 00:20:07,830 --> 00:20:06,080 at all and all these years later i still 561 00:20:10,149 --> 00:20:07,840 get that same feeling so 562 00:20:11,190 --> 00:20:10,159 no i won't get a lot of rest tonight 563 00:20:13,590 --> 00:20:11,200 yeah you know and you 564 00:20:14,789 --> 00:20:13,600 you talk about um things being 565 00:20:16,950 --> 00:20:14,799 astonishing and 566 00:20:19,029 --> 00:20:16,960 the work that goes into all of this you 567 00:20:20,470 --> 00:20:19,039 know honestly tori um 568 00:20:22,070 --> 00:20:20,480 you know on behalf of us you know we 569 00:20:24,710 --> 00:20:22,080 really want to thank your team for all 570 00:20:28,149 --> 00:20:24,720 the work that you guys do because if you 571 00:20:30,149 --> 00:20:28,159 didn't put in the work um the expertise 572 00:20:31,750 --> 00:20:30,159 even the the long hours and the 573 00:20:33,590 --> 00:20:31,760 sleepless nights you know to make this 574 00:20:35,510 --> 00:20:33,600 happen we would not be doing 575 00:20:37,270 --> 00:20:35,520 what we're doing now and and that's 576 00:20:38,950 --> 00:20:37,280 partly a definition of perseverance 577 00:20:40,230 --> 00:20:38,960 right is if we want it to happen if we 578 00:20:41,990 --> 00:20:40,240 want to make it happen 579 00:20:43,510 --> 00:20:42,000 then you know we're we're going to 580 00:20:45,029 --> 00:20:43,520 persevere we're going to figure it out 581 00:20:46,870 --> 00:20:45,039 and we're going to find a way to 582 00:20:48,390 --> 00:20:46,880 bring all of this together so thank you 583 00:20:51,110 --> 00:20:48,400 for being part of this 584 00:20:52,310 --> 00:20:51,120 mission and uh and helping us so you you 585 00:20:53,909 --> 00:20:52,320 know we're gonna we're gonna have a 586 00:20:56,950 --> 00:20:53,919 great show tomorrow 587 00:20:58,149 --> 00:20:56,960 and i i know as myself you know as many 588 00:20:59,750 --> 00:20:58,159 of the viewers we're gonna be very 589 00:21:00,950 --> 00:20:59,760 excited to see this thing um you know 590 00:21:02,950 --> 00:21:00,960 actually take off 591 00:21:04,310 --> 00:21:02,960 and and your team has has a lot to do 592 00:21:05,669 --> 00:21:04,320 with that so again thank you for 593 00:21:08,149 --> 00:21:05,679 everything that you've done 594 00:21:09,909 --> 00:21:08,159 thank you so um with that folks um that 595 00:21:12,390 --> 00:21:09,919 is that is our show for today 596 00:21:14,310 --> 00:21:12,400 you know um tori thank you again uh 597 00:21:16,710 --> 00:21:14,320 maddie of course always a pleasure 598 00:21:17,750 --> 00:21:16,720 i hope you guys um enjoyed the show and 599 00:21:20,390 --> 00:21:17,760 learned a lot about 600 00:21:22,710 --> 00:21:20,400 what goes on behind the scenes really to 601 00:21:25,029 --> 00:21:22,720 um launch something as special 602 00:21:26,470 --> 00:21:25,039 and unique as uh is what we're doing 603 00:21:28,390 --> 00:21:26,480 here and hope you guys 604 00:21:29,909 --> 00:21:28,400 guys get to enjoy the launch tomorrow 605 00:21:32,149 --> 00:21:29,919 thanks for tuning in once again i'm eve 606 00:21:33,110 --> 00:21:32,159 lamothe with egs com systems project 607 00:21:35,110 --> 00:21:33,120 manager