1 00:00:06,110 --> 00:00:03,800 good afternoon thank you for joining us 2 00:00:07,789 --> 00:00:06,120 earlier today NASA announced that Mark 3 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:07,799 Kelly would be resuming his training as 4 00:00:12,020 --> 00:00:10,410 commander of the sts-134 mission joining 5 00:00:13,910 --> 00:00:12,030 us today to discuss that decision is 6 00:00:16,430 --> 00:00:13,920 Brent Jett the director of flight crew 7 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:16,440 operations to his left Peggy Whitson the 8 00:00:20,510 --> 00:00:18,570 chief of the astronaut office and to her 9 00:00:22,939 --> 00:00:20,520 left Mark Kelly commander for the 10 00:00:24,529 --> 00:00:22,949 sts-134 mission with that we'll start 11 00:00:27,380 --> 00:00:24,539 with some opening remarks and then take 12 00:00:31,279 --> 00:00:27,390 questions was begin with Brent thanks 13 00:00:34,190 --> 00:00:31,289 Nicole I can see our strategy of having 14 00:00:36,770 --> 00:00:34,200 this conference on a day that the center 15 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:36,780 was closed and he's and has a rare ice 16 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:40,770 storm was less than successful but we're 17 00:00:46,490 --> 00:00:42,690 glad you're all here to discuss this 18 00:00:50,209 --> 00:00:46,500 topic with us this afternoon I can tell 19 00:00:52,790 --> 00:00:50,219 you that from from the NASA family we're 20 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:52,800 all very very thankful about the 21 00:00:58,189 --> 00:00:54,570 progress that Gabrielle has made over 22 00:01:00,500 --> 00:00:58,199 the past few weeks we all continue to to 23 00:01:02,959 --> 00:01:00,510 be hopeful and pray for her continued 24 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:02,969 success as she as she battles back from 25 00:01:08,510 --> 00:01:06,510 from this tragedy in fact it was a large 26 00:01:11,149 --> 00:01:08,520 part of the reason we're here today is 27 00:01:14,510 --> 00:01:11,159 the fact that that she has been has made 28 00:01:17,030 --> 00:01:14,520 such tremendous progress and has reached 29 00:01:19,999 --> 00:01:17,040 a point where we're able to discuss the 30 00:01:23,660 --> 00:01:20,009 decision for mark to resume training and 31 00:01:26,330 --> 00:01:23,670 fly as the commander of sts-134 that 32 00:01:30,710 --> 00:01:26,340 decision was a process and it started 33 00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:30,720 about a week ago and since it started 34 00:01:37,030 --> 00:01:33,240 with mark I will turn it over to him and 35 00:01:41,030 --> 00:01:37,040 let him start the story all right so on 36 00:01:45,469 --> 00:01:41,040 January eighth about four weeks ago 37 00:01:50,530 --> 00:01:45,479 tomorrow as a matter of fact it's in the 38 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:50,540 ICU in Tucson at my wife's bedside and 39 00:01:59,679 --> 00:01:54,210 talking to her neurosurgeon and her 40 00:02:03,350 --> 00:01:59,689 trauma surgeon about her prognosis and 41 00:02:07,119 --> 00:02:03,360 at that time my thought was that I'd 42 00:02:11,210 --> 00:02:07,129 very likely be sitting in that same seat 43 00:02:13,940 --> 00:02:11,220 maybe two four six months later in that 44 00:02:16,470 --> 00:02:13,950 I see you buy her pets 45 00:02:20,390 --> 00:02:16,480 the doctors thought that that was a 46 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:20,400 certainly a possibility probably likely 47 00:02:28,590 --> 00:02:26,250 as she progressed day to day it became 48 00:02:31,110 --> 00:02:28,600 started to become evident that she was 49 00:02:35,130 --> 00:02:31,120 not going to be in ICU and you know 50 00:02:37,740 --> 00:02:35,140 maybe not even two weeks I was told by 51 00:02:39,540 --> 00:02:37,750 all of her physicians that she was going 52 00:02:41,340 --> 00:02:39,550 to have a setback that at one point in 53 00:02:43,290 --> 00:02:41,350 the first 72 hours she was going to get 54 00:02:46,260 --> 00:02:43,300 worse and then again in the first week 55 00:02:48,930 --> 00:02:46,270 she was going to get worse and she would 56 00:02:50,570 --> 00:02:48,940 continue to have days where she just had 57 00:02:54,020 --> 00:02:50,580 setbacks and this was going to be a 58 00:02:57,030 --> 00:02:54,030 process much longer than I expected um 59 00:02:59,660 --> 00:02:57,040 since then four weeks ago nearly four 60 00:03:03,660 --> 00:02:59,670 weeks ago she's never gotten worse as we 61 00:03:06,390 --> 00:03:03,670 got to about the one week stay in the 62 00:03:07,890 --> 00:03:06,400 ICU we started to evaluate where are we 63 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:07,900 going to move her to for a rehab 64 00:03:13,710 --> 00:03:11,410 facility we've got we got received a lot 65 00:03:17,220 --> 00:03:13,720 of inputs from a lot of great places in 66 00:03:20,250 --> 00:03:17,230 the country it became quickly evident 67 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:20,260 that one of the best places in the 68 00:03:26,130 --> 00:03:22,450 country for this type of injury was here 69 00:03:27,300 --> 00:03:26,140 in Houston at tier Memorial Hermann so 70 00:03:29,660 --> 00:03:27,310 we made the decision to move her 71 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:29,670 probably a day later than we wanted to 72 00:03:35,009 --> 00:03:32,290 our neurosurgeon and trauma surgeons 73 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:35,019 thought she could move on Thursday and 74 00:03:39,060 --> 00:03:36,850 we actually moved around friday because 75 00:03:42,410 --> 00:03:39,070 that's what it took to get the logistics 76 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:42,420 set up so we got her checked in here and 77 00:03:51,870 --> 00:03:46,650 since then she's made progress every day 78 00:03:54,780 --> 00:03:51,880 so about two weeks ago I started going 79 00:03:59,069 --> 00:03:54,790 through the process myself of what would 80 00:04:05,850 --> 00:03:59,079 I need in order to get back with my crew 81 00:04:08,220 --> 00:04:05,860 to continue training for sts-134 and you 82 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:08,230 know this has been a learning process in 83 00:04:14,910 --> 00:04:10,450 brain injury for me and what rehab is 84 00:04:18,180 --> 00:04:14,920 like and after speaking to her rehab 85 00:04:19,620 --> 00:04:18,190 doctors and the neurosurgeons here also 86 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:19,630 became evident that she was going to be 87 00:04:26,950 --> 00:04:24,970 very busy her days are filled from the 88 00:04:30,969 --> 00:04:26,960 time she gets up at eight o'clock and 89 00:04:33,700 --> 00:04:30,979 till after 6pm with six hours of speech 90 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:33,710 occupational physical therapy so she's 91 00:04:42,339 --> 00:04:36,410 got very busy days and meals in between 92 00:04:45,189 --> 00:04:42,349 and I started to think about sts-134 93 00:04:47,409 --> 00:04:45,199 about the mission my crew the fact that 94 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:47,419 I've been training for it for nearly a 95 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:51,770 year and a half and considering a bunch 96 00:04:56,770 --> 00:04:53,930 of other factors including how what 97 00:04:59,020 --> 00:04:56,780 Gabrielle would want me to do and what 98 00:05:01,510 --> 00:04:59,030 her parents and her family and my family 99 00:05:04,300 --> 00:05:01,520 would like you know I ultimately made 100 00:05:10,180 --> 00:05:04,310 the decision that I would like to return 101 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:10,190 and in command sts-134 so at that point 102 00:05:15,550 --> 00:05:14,210 I went to my boss Peggy Whitson Peggy 103 00:05:17,860 --> 00:05:15,560 Whitson the chief of the astronaut 104 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:17,870 office and you know we had a discussion 105 00:05:26,559 --> 00:05:23,330 about you know the next step so I'll 106 00:05:27,969 --> 00:05:26,569 turn it over to pay well mark obviously 107 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:27,979 had to make the first part of this 108 00:05:32,439 --> 00:05:29,690 decision because we weren't going to ask 109 00:05:34,629 --> 00:05:32,449 him to command 134 unless he felt 110 00:05:36,969 --> 00:05:34,639 comfortable and ready to do that in 111 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:36,979 addition to feeling comfortable he has 112 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:39,409 an incredible support group which made 113 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:41,090 us more comfortable with the fact that 114 00:05:47,409 --> 00:05:43,849 he had folks to help him through this 115 00:05:49,629 --> 00:05:47,419 process and that it would make it a 116 00:05:51,879 --> 00:05:49,639 doable thing for him to perform the 117 00:05:55,180 --> 00:05:51,889 mission from from my perspective 118 00:05:56,890 --> 00:05:55,190 obviously I have to choose a crew a crew 119 00:05:58,540 --> 00:05:56,900 that will be able to support the mission 120 00:06:00,580 --> 00:05:58,550 and I want to be able to do that with 121 00:06:03,550 --> 00:06:00,590 the least amount of risk overall for the 122 00:06:06,820 --> 00:06:03,560 mission and to optimize for success and 123 00:06:09,610 --> 00:06:06,830 obviously although CJ has been training 124 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:09,620 as a backup the last few weeks it's 125 00:06:13,659 --> 00:06:12,110 still better to choose the the fellow 126 00:06:15,459 --> 00:06:13,669 that's been training for a year and a 127 00:06:19,270 --> 00:06:15,469 half in order to reduce the overall 128 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:19,280 mission risk so when we went forward 129 00:06:27,879 --> 00:06:24,289 with the plan back to my boss Brett okay 130 00:06:30,999 --> 00:06:27,889 so back to me about let's see it was a 131 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:31,009 week ago on Friday I Peggy had been 132 00:06:35,500 --> 00:06:33,050 talking to me a little bit last week and 133 00:06:40,180 --> 00:06:35,510 I knew mark intended to fly or want it 134 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:40,190 to fly so both Peggy mark sat down with 135 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:40,700 my cell 136 00:06:46,870 --> 00:06:43,610 my deputy janica von d and my assistant 137 00:06:49,750 --> 00:06:46,880 Brian Kelly and we wanted to talk about 138 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:49,760 the situation and make sure we had 139 00:06:54,190 --> 00:06:52,010 thought about all the the potential 140 00:06:55,900 --> 00:06:54,200 risks to the mission and address those 141 00:06:59,740 --> 00:06:55,910 appropriately before we made a final 142 00:07:04,890 --> 00:06:59,750 decision so they came to me Mark had a 143 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:04,900 very good plan he had he had a routine 144 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:08,090 that he explained to me how his days 145 00:07:13,630 --> 00:07:11,330 would proceed and how he would be able 146 00:07:16,420 --> 00:07:13,640 to commit the time necessary to train 147 00:07:20,770 --> 00:07:16,430 for the mission that made me feel feel 148 00:07:23,230 --> 00:07:20,780 comfortable we also discussed with our 149 00:07:25,390 --> 00:07:23,240 doctors and who were in communication 150 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:25,400 with Gabrielle's doctors about the 151 00:07:31,710 --> 00:07:28,730 potential risk of her condition changing 152 00:07:33,820 --> 00:07:31,720 over the next eight weeks or so and that 153 00:07:37,150 --> 00:07:33,830 potentially resulting in a change in 154 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:37,160 mark's ability to to commit his time to 155 00:07:43,750 --> 00:07:40,970 the mission and we we had very good 156 00:07:46,060 --> 00:07:43,760 answers from the doctors mark had a very 157 00:07:49,810 --> 00:07:46,070 good plan but there was a piece that I 158 00:07:52,930 --> 00:07:49,820 felt that was missing and and so we 159 00:07:55,030 --> 00:07:52,940 looked at the we said well we don't have 160 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:55,040 to make the decision this was a week ago 161 00:08:00,490 --> 00:07:56,530 we don't have to make the decision today 162 00:08:03,820 --> 00:08:00,500 we need to make it in about a week so we 163 00:08:07,510 --> 00:08:03,830 wanted to put marks plan into effect so 164 00:08:09,730 --> 00:08:07,520 we asked him to train this week with a 165 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:09,740 schedule that would approximate a 166 00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:11,810 schedule he would have while he was 167 00:08:17,290 --> 00:08:15,110 training for the mission and put you 168 00:08:19,450 --> 00:08:17,300 know put his plan into effect and see 169 00:08:23,530 --> 00:08:19,460 how it worked out it also gave us an 170 00:08:26,590 --> 00:08:23,540 opportunity to observe mark obviously as 171 00:08:29,050 --> 00:08:26,600 his management it was important for us 172 00:08:31,330 --> 00:08:29,060 to know that he would be able to focus 173 00:08:35,370 --> 00:08:31,340 while he was in training and not be 174 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:35,380 distracted by Gabrielle situation up at 175 00:08:42,940 --> 00:08:40,370 at the hospital during her rehab so 176 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:42,950 during the week mark flew a couple times 177 00:08:48,130 --> 00:08:45,890 in the t-38 with instructors he we asked 178 00:08:51,070 --> 00:08:48,140 him to do essentially a complete check 179 00:08:54,510 --> 00:08:51,080 out back into the airplane he hadn't 180 00:08:57,330 --> 00:08:54,520 flown since December so he did that 181 00:09:00,360 --> 00:08:57,340 he was in a he was in a shuttle ascent 182 00:09:03,060 --> 00:09:00,370 and entry simulation for four hours that 183 00:09:05,220 --> 00:09:03,070 gave us an opportunity to observe him as 184 00:09:07,650 --> 00:09:05,230 well as a couple other training events 185 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:07,660 during the week he was also a way for an 186 00:09:11,970 --> 00:09:10,450 evening which he will have to do during 187 00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:11,980 training there will be times when he'll 188 00:09:17,910 --> 00:09:14,710 be away from houston for a night or more 189 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:17,920 and so he was a he was up in DC for a 190 00:09:23,100 --> 00:09:20,050 prayer breakfast and we felt that that 191 00:09:24,540 --> 00:09:23,110 was a good chance for for for him to see 192 00:09:27,180 --> 00:09:24,550 what it was going to be like to be away 193 00:09:28,500 --> 00:09:27,190 from Gabrielle and I think that was the 194 00:09:30,930 --> 00:09:28,510 first time you've probably been away 195 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:30,940 from her right since since since the 196 00:09:38,970 --> 00:09:35,410 shooting so we we thought we we had a 197 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:38,980 good process for bringing back mark into 198 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:40,410 training before we made the decision 199 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:42,730 getting the chance to observe him and 200 00:09:49,350 --> 00:09:46,510 then we met again yesterday we talked to 201 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:49,360 the to all the individuals or as many as 202 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:51,490 we could that that were that had a 203 00:09:56,810 --> 00:09:53,050 chance to observe mark during the week 204 00:10:00,690 --> 00:09:56,820 and then we were able to you nana 205 00:10:02,670 --> 00:10:00,700 unanimously decide that mark was indeed 206 00:10:05,970 --> 00:10:02,680 ready to resume training on Monday and 207 00:10:10,380 --> 00:10:05,980 fly as the commander of course I don't 208 00:10:13,650 --> 00:10:10,390 make that final decision and Peggy 209 00:10:16,170 --> 00:10:13,660 myself and Janet and Brian we made that 210 00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:16,180 recommendation to my boss mike coates it 211 00:10:21,150 --> 00:10:18,690 then went through obviously the program 212 00:10:23,270 --> 00:10:21,160 the AAA headquarters bill Gerstenmaier 213 00:10:26,010 --> 00:10:23,280 and all the way to Charlie Bolden so 214 00:10:29,490 --> 00:10:26,020 that's how we got from a week ago when 215 00:10:32,490 --> 00:10:29,500 Mark felt he was ready to today when we 216 00:10:34,410 --> 00:10:32,500 were you know but I think I personally 217 00:10:37,740 --> 00:10:34,420 I'm very glad to be able to have mark 218 00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:37,750 back as the commander of 134 all right 219 00:10:40,950 --> 00:10:39,430 thank you all very much with that we're 220 00:10:42,810 --> 00:10:40,960 going to open it up to questions and we 221 00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:42,820 do have a limit of one hour for this 222 00:10:45,420 --> 00:10:43,840 press conference so we're going to have 223 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:45,430 to keep it to one question H will go 224 00:10:48,660 --> 00:10:47,050 start here from the Johnson Space Center 225 00:10:50,070 --> 00:10:48,670 and then go to Kennedy Space Center in 226 00:10:51,630 --> 00:10:50,080 headquarters if there's any time left 227 00:10:53,460 --> 00:10:51,640 will return here for some follow-ups but 228 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:53,470 again just one question if you can state 229 00:10:55,980 --> 00:10:54,730 your name and affiliation and who your 230 00:10:58,950 --> 00:10:55,990 question is for and we'll start on the 231 00:10:59,940 --> 00:10:58,960 side that Eric hi and this is eric 232 00:11:02,670 --> 00:10:59,950 berger with the Houston Chronicle 233 00:11:04,530 --> 00:11:02,680 question from mark could you talk a 234 00:11:06,810 --> 00:11:04,540 little bit about the training that you 235 00:11:07,620 --> 00:11:06,820 missed during the last four weeks was it 236 00:11:09,540 --> 00:11:07,630 primarily 237 00:11:11,130 --> 00:11:09,550 your skills sharp training over there 238 00:11:12,660 --> 00:11:11,140 specific specific things 239 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:12,670 programmatically that you missed in 240 00:11:19,170 --> 00:11:16,930 succession so coincidentally we had a 241 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:19,180 little bit of a launch slip about the 242 00:11:24,210 --> 00:11:20,890 same time that this happened so our 243 00:11:27,540 --> 00:11:24,220 launch date moved from earlier in April 244 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:27,550 to April nineteenth and before that we 245 00:11:33,150 --> 00:11:30,850 had another slip that moved us from 246 00:11:34,620 --> 00:11:33,160 februari to April and when that happens 247 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:34,630 it frees up a lot of time in your launch 248 00:11:39,390 --> 00:11:36,250 schedule so we didn't we didn't have a 249 00:11:41,970 --> 00:11:39,400 busy training flow even before January 250 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:41,980 eighth and actually which is what we 251 00:11:46,740 --> 00:11:43,570 like you know something pretty 252 00:11:49,380 --> 00:11:46,750 reasonable rather than a training flow 253 00:11:51,390 --> 00:11:49,390 that is jam-packed and that's because of 254 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:51,400 our launch date moving so those extra 255 00:11:58,400 --> 00:11:56,130 days we got turned out that it helped so 256 00:12:05,460 --> 00:11:58,410 actually I didn't really miss anything 257 00:12:08,070 --> 00:12:05,470 maybe one orbit sim for a what's called 258 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:08,080 doc late inspection but my crew did a 259 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:10,930 great job at it and so they don't they 260 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:12,490 don't actually need me sitting here 261 00:12:24,060 --> 00:12:17,290 today so just that one event and I'll 262 00:12:25,890 --> 00:12:24,070 start up again here on Monday Thank You 263 00:12:27,630 --> 00:12:25,900 marker over Aviation Week and space 264 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:27,640 technology I think it's for Brent or 265 00:12:34,170 --> 00:12:31,210 Peggy what what areas of training do you 266 00:12:36,990 --> 00:12:34,180 think commander Kelly needs to come up 267 00:12:41,910 --> 00:12:37,000 to speed on if any or we be looking at 268 00:12:45,690 --> 00:12:41,920 most closely from from my perspective I 269 00:12:47,490 --> 00:12:45,700 think just getting mark reintegrated 270 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:47,500 with his crew and the crew coordination 271 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:49,330 activities that are required on the 272 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:51,310 flight deck during a sent an entry are 273 00:12:58,050 --> 00:12:54,970 key obviously they've had 18 months to 274 00:12:59,550 --> 00:12:58,060 work on on various different details and 275 00:13:04,680 --> 00:12:59,560 aspects of the mission so I think that 276 00:13:06,810 --> 00:13:04,690 will be not an issue at all Robert 277 00:13:09,900 --> 00:13:06,820 Pearlman with collectspace.com and space 278 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:09,910 com for mark in making the decision to 279 00:13:16,150 --> 00:13:12,970 fly did you have a discussion with them 280 00:13:19,210 --> 00:13:16,160 with Peggy or others at NASA about 281 00:13:23,410 --> 00:13:19,220 support for in-flight family conferences 282 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:23,420 during the mission or what resources 283 00:13:28,569 --> 00:13:25,610 will be available to you to stay up to 284 00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:28,579 date with Gabrielle's progress i have 285 00:13:34,410 --> 00:13:31,910 not had that discussion we do have email 286 00:13:38,230 --> 00:13:34,420 on orbit so i can stay up to date with 287 00:13:41,139 --> 00:13:38,240 with email we do have what's called an 288 00:13:43,420 --> 00:13:41,149 IP phone on board my experience as a 289 00:13:45,490 --> 00:13:43,430 space space shuttle crew member is i 290 00:13:48,069 --> 00:13:45,500 don't use it all that often it will 291 00:13:50,410 --> 00:13:48,079 probably be similar to that so my plan 292 00:13:52,929 --> 00:13:50,420 is really not to ask for anything extra 293 00:13:57,929 --> 00:13:52,939 and any updates i need i can get via 294 00:14:04,350 --> 00:13:57,939 email pop bob woodruff from ABC News 295 00:14:07,629 --> 00:14:04,360 mark has gabby been able to speak yet 296 00:14:10,329 --> 00:14:07,639 well Bob I don't want to get into 297 00:14:15,939 --> 00:14:10,339 details on her condition or her 298 00:14:20,199 --> 00:14:15,949 prognosis but let me say that she 299 00:14:22,749 --> 00:14:20,209 improves every day the neurosurgeon and 300 00:14:26,590 --> 00:14:22,759 the trauma docs certainly out of the 301 00:14:29,370 --> 00:14:26,600 picture now the the ICU doctor but her 302 00:14:32,050 --> 00:14:29,380 rehab doctors are just incredibly 303 00:14:33,790 --> 00:14:32,060 impressed with her progress and the fact 304 00:14:35,350 --> 00:14:33,800 that the slope of that curve is very 305 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:35,360 steep they think she's going to make a 306 00:14:47,079 --> 00:14:40,850 really good recovery did I personally 307 00:14:49,929 --> 00:14:47,089 get the okay well I know her I know her 308 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:49,939 very well and she would be very 309 00:14:57,100 --> 00:14:51,410 comfortable with the decision that I 310 00:14:57,110 --> 00:15:05,199 mark Kevin Quinn with channel 13 ktrk-tv 311 00:15:14,629 --> 00:15:12,439 Houston how difficult was that well it 312 00:15:18,079 --> 00:15:14,639 got easier over time you know in the 313 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:18,089 beat my expectation was I was still that 314 00:15:22,759 --> 00:15:20,850 and I think I even said this to to Peggy 315 00:15:25,639 --> 00:15:22,769 at one point is I'm pretty sure I'm done 316 00:15:27,740 --> 00:15:25,649 you know because my expectation was that 317 00:15:31,910 --> 00:15:27,750 she was going to be in an ICU for months 318 00:15:36,259 --> 00:15:31,920 in Tucson and then as that changed and 319 00:15:38,180 --> 00:15:36,269 things just happened more or less by you 320 00:15:41,090 --> 00:15:38,190 know I think her previous previously 321 00:15:44,660 --> 00:15:41,100 that was she was in good health by great 322 00:15:49,370 --> 00:15:44,670 care and maybe maybe a little bit of 323 00:15:51,949 --> 00:15:49,380 luck things improved very quickly or 324 00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:51,959 maybe people really thinking about her 325 00:15:59,689 --> 00:15:54,630 and praying for her but things fell into 326 00:16:03,340 --> 00:15:59,699 place and she improved very fast so the 327 00:16:06,559 --> 00:16:03,350 decision became easier over time I 328 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:06,569 obviously way time that I can spend with 329 00:16:14,660 --> 00:16:11,010 her with what I think is in the best 330 00:16:17,090 --> 00:16:14,670 interest of NASA and my crew so that's a 331 00:16:20,210 --> 00:16:17,100 debate i had with myself but what's key 332 00:16:24,819 --> 00:16:20,220 in this is the fact that she has very 333 00:16:27,230 --> 00:16:24,829 busy days during well seven days a week 334 00:16:30,259 --> 00:16:27,240 from the time she gets up and to almost 335 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:30,269 the time she goes to sleep and the 336 00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:32,250 support structure as Brent alluded to 337 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:34,050 that I have in place and what the things 338 00:16:37,699 --> 00:16:35,850 I put into place and the help i get from 339 00:16:41,350 --> 00:16:37,709 NASA help i get from friends and family 340 00:16:44,809 --> 00:16:41,360 to be able to do this successfully and 341 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:44,819 realizing i know my wife very well and I 342 00:16:50,540 --> 00:16:47,250 know what she would want and so that 343 00:16:53,420 --> 00:16:50,550 makes the decision easier all right next 344 00:16:55,610 --> 00:16:53,430 question over here on the left yes I yes 345 00:16:57,639 --> 00:16:55,620 captain fort atkinson with fox 26 here 346 00:16:59,569 --> 00:16:57,649 in Houston you mentioned her family was 347 00:17:01,429 --> 00:16:59,579 supportive could you expand a little bit 348 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:01,439 on that on what they have had to say to 349 00:17:06,770 --> 00:17:02,970 you and what you said to them about this 350 00:17:09,180 --> 00:17:06,780 whole decision-making process well when 351 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:09,190 I told her mom in the ICU and 352 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:11,830 Tucson that I most likely would not be 353 00:17:19,170 --> 00:17:15,250 flying sts-134 she said something like 354 00:17:20,850 --> 00:17:19,180 what are you kidding me you know you you 355 00:17:23,010 --> 00:17:20,860 have to go do that and I explained to 356 00:17:25,020 --> 00:17:23,020 her well I'm not going to leave and I 357 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:25,030 see you you know the ICU and Gabrielle's 358 00:17:29,130 --> 00:17:26,650 in the ICU that's us i'm not going to 359 00:17:31,290 --> 00:17:29,140 happen you know and it's in it's in 360 00:17:36,330 --> 00:17:31,300 another state so you know i thought that 361 00:17:38,490 --> 00:17:36,340 that that was you know that was that was 362 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:38,500 it and then i had a similar conversation 363 00:17:44,070 --> 00:17:40,690 with her father so they've been very 364 00:17:46,470 --> 00:17:44,080 supportive right from the beginning all 365 00:17:49,140 --> 00:17:46,480 right next question leaf release ephraim 366 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:49,150 cage show you along those lines was the 367 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:51,850 one thing that she did that really said 368 00:17:55,470 --> 00:17:53,890 okay i can go now is there something 369 00:17:56,940 --> 00:17:55,480 without going into your prognosis in the 370 00:17:58,740 --> 00:17:56,950 future was there something about the 371 00:18:04,830 --> 00:17:58,750 fact that she's improving every day and 372 00:18:09,870 --> 00:18:04,840 and is you know the risk of her getting 373 00:18:12,450 --> 00:18:09,880 worse is I I think there's you know 374 00:18:14,190 --> 00:18:12,460 everybody has risks that they they deal 375 00:18:17,130 --> 00:18:14,200 with every day and when I drove down I 376 00:18:19,770 --> 00:18:17,140 45 today with the ice on the road as 377 00:18:22,410 --> 00:18:19,780 many as you did there's a lot of risk 378 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:22,420 involved there she doesn't have those 379 00:18:28,500 --> 00:18:25,810 risks and she's in a very controlled and 380 00:18:29,820 --> 00:18:28,510 has great doctors great great 381 00:18:34,530 --> 00:18:29,830 environment and she's doing she's doing 382 00:18:35,490 --> 00:18:34,540 very very well okay with that we're 383 00:18:36,750 --> 00:18:35,500 going to switch over to Kennedy Space 384 00:18:42,270 --> 00:18:36,760 Center where there's a media with 385 00:18:44,970 --> 00:18:42,280 questions yes Marcia Dunn Associated 386 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:44,980 Press with a question from work I'm 387 00:18:50,670 --> 00:18:48,330 wondering how much input if any 388 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:50,680 congresswoman Giffords was able to offer 389 00:18:55,470 --> 00:18:53,770 you and and if you could give provide 390 00:18:57,810 --> 00:18:55,480 any details along that line that would 391 00:19:00,450 --> 00:18:57,820 be great well Marcia I just don't want 392 00:19:02,250 --> 00:19:00,460 to go into details about her condition 393 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:02,260 because then people speculate on 394 00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:05,650 prognosis so you know it's just 395 00:19:11,850 --> 00:19:09,120 something I don't want to address she is 396 00:19:16,590 --> 00:19:11,860 you know I do you know we have a 397 00:19:18,120 --> 00:19:16,600 discussion but beyond that you know it's 398 00:19:21,510 --> 00:19:18,130 not something I feel comfortable talking 399 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:24,730 Irene Klotz with Reuters I'm Peggy CJ 400 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:26,930 going to stay on his back up in training 401 00:19:31,900 --> 00:19:30,650 and from mark being an astronaut is a 402 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:31,910 little more risky than a lot of the 403 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:34,970 occupations we have do you how much 404 00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:37,130 thought did you give to the risk that 405 00:19:40,360 --> 00:19:38,720 you're taking and flying and as far as 406 00:19:45,070 --> 00:19:40,370 your wife's and your family's long-term 407 00:19:47,410 --> 00:19:45,080 care thanks CJ what as a part of his 408 00:19:51,430 --> 00:19:47,420 responsibilities as weather pilot will 409 00:19:53,740 --> 00:19:51,440 continue doing sta flights and as part 410 00:19:57,430 --> 00:19:53,750 of his responsibilities in the office as 411 00:20:00,430 --> 00:19:57,440 my deputy will continue doing a cent 412 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:00,440 entry skills training but there will be 413 00:20:07,030 --> 00:20:02,930 no other specific efforts to maintain 414 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:07,040 additional proficiency so spaceflight is 415 00:20:14,950 --> 00:20:11,210 a risky business apparently so is being 416 00:20:18,070 --> 00:20:14,960 a member of Congress reach you know take 417 00:20:21,370 --> 00:20:18,080 risks every day in our lives and from my 418 00:20:23,020 --> 00:20:21,380 perspective I've always evaluated you 419 00:20:26,290 --> 00:20:23,030 know the risk with what the benefit is 420 00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:26,300 and I really value what NASA does and 421 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:27,710 the space shuttle program I think it's 422 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:30,890 very important for me the risk on this 423 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:32,810 mission is probably no different than it 424 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:35,570 was in the last flight and but I do 425 00:20:39,100 --> 00:20:37,490 understand your question is if something 426 00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:39,110 happened to me how that would affect her 427 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:41,510 and that did that was part of what i 428 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:44,950 considered and ultimately I decided that 429 00:20:54,790 --> 00:20:47,450 the right thing to do would be for me to 430 00:20:57,070 --> 00:20:54,800 return and fly the sts-134 bill hardwood 431 00:20:58,750 --> 00:20:57,080 CBS News with another question for 432 00:21:00,640 --> 00:20:58,760 marking out and I apologize mark i'm 433 00:21:01,870 --> 00:21:00,650 certainly not trying to intrude on 434 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:01,880 medical privacy i just want to make sure 435 00:21:05,710 --> 00:21:03,890 that i'm not getting tripped up by the 436 00:21:08,020 --> 00:21:05,720 semantics of the way questions are being 437 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:08,030 asked I just following marshes question 438 00:21:12,070 --> 00:21:09,410 I mean every don't a question i ever get 439 00:21:14,860 --> 00:21:12,080 asked by anybody about this beyond the 440 00:21:16,180 --> 00:21:14,870 tragedy itself was was everybody i think 441 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:16,190 would agree that gabby would obviously 442 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:18,410 tell you to go fly the question is that 443 00:21:21,910 --> 00:21:20,810 did she tell you that in any way is 444 00:21:24,070 --> 00:21:21,920 there any way you could tell us anything 445 00:21:25,780 --> 00:21:24,080 without violating you know privacy 446 00:21:27,460 --> 00:21:25,790 constraints and all of that and i asked 447 00:21:29,110 --> 00:21:27,470 that with all respect it's just that's 448 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:29,120 the question i get asked by virtually 449 00:21:33,940 --> 00:21:30,890 everyone thanks so you know I've 450 00:21:37,330 --> 00:21:33,950 intentionally through this whole process 451 00:21:38,950 --> 00:21:37,340 try not to go down the path of what can 452 00:21:41,230 --> 00:21:38,960 she do today and what she can do 453 00:21:43,419 --> 00:21:41,240 tomorrow and what could what can she say 454 00:21:45,639 --> 00:21:43,429 and how does she do this and that 455 00:21:47,830 --> 00:21:45,649 because then I wind up in the situation 456 00:21:49,450 --> 00:21:47,840 where I feel like I continuously have to 457 00:21:53,350 --> 00:21:49,460 give updates that people will speculate 458 00:21:55,480 --> 00:21:53,360 on and I'll continue to get asked those 459 00:21:56,710 --> 00:21:55,490 questions again and again so I made a 460 00:21:58,779 --> 00:21:56,720 decision that I'm not going to do that 461 00:22:01,389 --> 00:21:58,789 I'm not going to say what she can and 462 00:22:03,759 --> 00:22:01,399 can't do I'm going to say if she's 463 00:22:06,279 --> 00:22:03,769 improving or if she's getting worse and 464 00:22:08,470 --> 00:22:06,289 in this case she's improving rather 465 00:22:10,899 --> 00:22:08,480 quickly much quicker than the doctors 466 00:22:14,169 --> 00:22:10,909 expected one of her doctors the other 467 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:14,179 day said this is a one percentile kind 468 00:22:20,980 --> 00:22:17,690 of improvement meaning that with her 469 00:22:25,029 --> 00:22:20,990 type of injury and considering where she 470 00:22:28,570 --> 00:22:25,039 was just three or four weeks ago in an 471 00:22:30,399 --> 00:22:28,580 ICU and where she is today is you know 472 00:22:31,539 --> 00:22:30,409 better than ninety-nine percent of the 473 00:22:38,110 --> 00:22:31,549 other people that they see with this 474 00:22:43,139 --> 00:22:38,120 kind of injury todd halvorson floored it 475 00:22:46,269 --> 00:22:43,149 today mark you talked about Gaby's 476 00:22:49,419 --> 00:22:46,279 parents and how they have weighed in 477 00:22:52,509 --> 00:22:49,429 here I'm I'm wondering if you can tell 478 00:22:55,930 --> 00:22:52,519 us how your family and your daughters 479 00:22:58,539 --> 00:22:55,940 feel about you really resuming training 480 00:23:02,399 --> 00:22:58,549 for the mission and and whether or not 481 00:23:05,830 --> 00:23:02,409 you could say that there was a unanimous 482 00:23:09,580 --> 00:23:05,840 unanimous consent or verdict on you gone 483 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:09,590 and fly so my parents her parents 484 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:14,510 Claudia and Claire her sister Melissa my 485 00:23:18,850 --> 00:23:16,250 brother who's on the International Space 486 00:23:20,590 --> 00:23:18,860 Station you know completely unanimous we 487 00:23:24,039 --> 00:23:20,600 didn't have any dissenters and when I 488 00:23:27,759 --> 00:23:24,049 even extend that to other friends and 489 00:23:30,759 --> 00:23:27,769 family and they're pretty well educated 490 00:23:33,039 --> 00:23:30,769 on what her condition is and what my 491 00:23:34,930 --> 00:23:33,049 situation is with regards to training 492 00:23:38,680 --> 00:23:34,940 and the support system that i have in 493 00:23:39,789 --> 00:23:38,690 place was a unanimous everybody felt 494 00:23:44,590 --> 00:23:39,799 that this was the right thing for me to 495 00:23:51,380 --> 00:23:48,730 hi dan billow w/e sh t v commander kelly 496 00:23:53,690 --> 00:23:51,390 the decisions made its kind of behind 497 00:23:56,060 --> 00:23:53,700 you in some sense I'd like to know how 498 00:23:58,310 --> 00:23:56,070 how you feel about it is there you know 499 00:24:00,740 --> 00:23:58,320 is there some relief is their anxiety 500 00:24:02,780 --> 00:24:00,750 that you know I've got to meet the 501 00:24:04,130 --> 00:24:02,790 schedule spend a certain amount of time 502 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:04,140 with her a day or a week or whatever 503 00:24:08,810 --> 00:24:06,690 that is how do you how do you feel now 504 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:08,820 that the decision is made so my flight 505 00:24:14,990 --> 00:24:12,810 surgeon joder Bay told me when we were 506 00:24:16,100 --> 00:24:15,000 even back in Tucson he says when when 507 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:16,110 you get to the point of making a 508 00:24:19,550 --> 00:24:18,210 decision make the decision live with it 509 00:24:20,810 --> 00:24:19,560 for a couple days and then make the 510 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:20,820 other decision and live with that one 511 00:24:24,230 --> 00:24:22,050 for a couple days so I actually went 512 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:24,240 through that process over over a week 513 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:28,650 ago and so I got a sense of what it 514 00:24:35,630 --> 00:24:32,190 would be like and as expected today a 515 00:24:38,810 --> 00:24:35,640 week after I think I first spoke to 516 00:24:41,030 --> 00:24:38,820 Peggy about this you know I feel very 517 00:24:43,310 --> 00:24:41,040 confident that I made the made the right 518 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:43,320 decision not only for me but for my crew 519 00:24:49,130 --> 00:24:46,910 members for my family and for my wife 520 00:24:50,330 --> 00:24:49,140 okay that concludes the questions from 521 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:50,340 Kennedy Space Center will now switch 522 00:24:59,330 --> 00:24:57,050 over to headquarters commander Kelly 523 00:25:01,370 --> 00:24:59,340 Kelly it's John Schwarz New York Times 524 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:01,380 there's a hard question asked but this 525 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:02,610 is sort of become part of a national 526 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:04,890 conversation some people are questioning 527 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:07,710 these choices by you and by NASA saying 528 00:25:12,860 --> 00:25:10,770 that family should simply come first and 529 00:25:14,540 --> 00:25:12,870 then saying it pretty stridently so 530 00:25:15,950 --> 00:25:14,550 could you respond to that is it 531 00:25:17,930 --> 00:25:15,960 something they don't understand how do 532 00:25:21,050 --> 00:25:17,940 you respond well they certainly don't 533 00:25:23,390 --> 00:25:21,060 understand her well they didn't 534 00:25:25,730 --> 00:25:23,400 understand a few things they don't know 535 00:25:28,490 --> 00:25:25,740 her very well so they don't know what 536 00:25:32,300 --> 00:25:28,500 she would want she is a big supporter of 537 00:25:35,390 --> 00:25:32,310 my career a big supporter of NASA she 538 00:25:38,870 --> 00:25:35,400 really values the mission of NASA you 539 00:25:42,350 --> 00:25:38,880 know what we do and what we our nation 540 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:42,360 gets from that is very very high on her 541 00:25:49,460 --> 00:25:45,090 list of things she really treasures 542 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:49,470 about this country so i think they don't 543 00:25:52,820 --> 00:25:50,730 understand that and they also don't 544 00:25:55,850 --> 00:25:52,830 understand her condition or the support 545 00:25:57,260 --> 00:25:55,860 system that i have in place and i think 546 00:25:57,590 --> 00:25:57,270 if they had more details about those 547 00:26:00,710 --> 00:25:57,600 things 548 00:26:02,630 --> 00:26:00,720 you'd probably have less people being 549 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:02,640 critical but I think in a decision any 550 00:26:06,500 --> 00:26:04,890 decision that there's a lot of interest 551 00:26:14,570 --> 00:26:06,510 in you're going to have people on both 552 00:26:16,970 --> 00:26:14,580 sides yeah this is brian bath tag from 553 00:26:19,789 --> 00:26:16,980 the Washington Post Commander Kelly I'm 554 00:26:21,169 --> 00:26:19,799 wondering if in fact that this is in all 555 00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:21,179 likelihood your last chance to fly on 556 00:26:25,010 --> 00:26:22,950 the space shuttle and perhaps the last 557 00:26:26,510 --> 00:26:25,020 flight of endeavor maybe even the last 558 00:26:29,899 --> 00:26:26,520 light of the shuttle period does that 559 00:26:33,310 --> 00:26:29,909 play a role in Euros decision no didn't 560 00:26:37,370 --> 00:26:33,320 have anything to do with it if I was on 561 00:26:39,799 --> 00:26:37,380 sts-1 24 or it was 108 or 121 my 562 00:26:41,899 --> 00:26:39,809 previous flights I probably would have 563 00:26:45,620 --> 00:26:41,909 taken the same steps and got to the same 564 00:26:46,669 --> 00:26:45,630 point okay that concludes the questions 565 00:26:48,740 --> 00:26:46,679 from headquarters we're going to turn 566 00:26:54,620 --> 00:26:48,750 back to the Johnson Space Center and 567 00:27:01,659 --> 00:26:54,630 we'll start over on this side okay with 568 00:27:05,090 --> 00:27:01,669 Eric with the chronicle again from mark 569 00:27:08,169 --> 00:27:05,100 talk a little bit about what you're 570 00:27:12,110 --> 00:27:08,179 feeling now about going back into space 571 00:27:14,029 --> 00:27:12,120 are you I mean I imagine you're excited 572 00:27:18,710 --> 00:27:14,039 about the opportunity is that tempered 573 00:27:20,270 --> 00:27:18,720 at all why what's happened by sort of 574 00:27:21,980 --> 00:27:20,280 the distance that will between be 575 00:27:25,100 --> 00:27:21,990 between you and your wife to talk a 576 00:27:27,890 --> 00:27:25,110 little bit about that I think a little 577 00:27:32,419 --> 00:27:27,900 bit you know I I've always been more 578 00:27:33,919 --> 00:27:32,429 excited from one flight to the next like 579 00:27:36,230 --> 00:27:33,929 my second flight I was more excited than 580 00:27:39,020 --> 00:27:36,240 my first one in my third one and same 581 00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:39,030 thing here I do have different 582 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:42,510 challenges this time with the situation 583 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:44,850 with Gaby I'm going to be I will be 584 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:48,090 living in downtown Houston and commuting 585 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:50,250 so instead of a 15-minute commute I have 586 00:27:53,899 --> 00:27:51,690 a 30-minute commute I'll be staying at a 587 00:27:57,860 --> 00:27:53,909 friend's house so things are a little 588 00:27:59,840 --> 00:27:57,870 bit different fortunately I have a lot 589 00:28:03,590 --> 00:27:59,850 of support the astronaut office has been 590 00:28:05,570 --> 00:28:03,600 great not only the astronauts but family 591 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:05,580 members and other folks that work there 592 00:28:10,790 --> 00:28:08,730 flight crew operations other friends 593 00:28:15,170 --> 00:28:10,800 people I know downtown 594 00:28:18,260 --> 00:28:15,180 so I have a lot of a lot of help I don't 595 00:28:19,940 --> 00:28:18,270 anticipate that this will be that much 596 00:28:21,470 --> 00:28:19,950 the training flow is not going to be 597 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:21,480 that much more challenging than what i 598 00:28:25,910 --> 00:28:23,490 had last time especially with our 599 00:28:29,300 --> 00:28:25,920 schedule being our launch date slipping 600 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:29,310 a little at what what is a pretty good 601 00:28:37,070 --> 00:28:34,890 time for that to happen but it it might 602 00:28:38,990 --> 00:28:37,080 be a little bit different you know 603 00:28:41,390 --> 00:28:39,000 there's there's other things to consider 604 00:28:43,010 --> 00:28:41,400 it is my fourth flight but I absolutely 605 00:28:49,010 --> 00:28:43,020 thought that this was the right thing 606 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:49,020 for for me to do okay marker thanks 607 00:28:54,110 --> 00:28:51,090 again mark kuro for aviation week I 608 00:28:57,500 --> 00:28:54,120 think I'm being a little bit here but as 609 00:29:00,260 --> 00:28:57,510 I recall it was a pretty interesting dto 610 00:29:02,870 --> 00:29:00,270 in this light called storm is it still 611 00:29:04,820 --> 00:29:02,880 on the mission and does it stay because 612 00:29:06,890 --> 00:29:04,830 you're staying would it have fallen off 613 00:29:08,570 --> 00:29:06,900 if if you couldn't have made the flight 614 00:29:10,670 --> 00:29:08,580 or is that would that have been a 615 00:29:14,110 --> 00:29:10,680 question to be answered later that's a 616 00:29:17,570 --> 00:29:14,120 very good very good technical question 617 00:29:20,870 --> 00:29:17,580 it is still on the flight it is a dto 618 00:29:24,670 --> 00:29:20,880 for a new rendezvous sensor that's going 619 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:24,680 to be used for future spacecraft and 620 00:29:29,900 --> 00:29:28,170 this sensor and a procedure allows us to 621 00:29:31,910 --> 00:29:29,910 do we do a different kind of re 622 00:29:34,430 --> 00:29:31,920 rendezvous so we undock and separate 623 00:29:36,290 --> 00:29:34,440 from the space station and then later we 624 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:36,300 come back and we do a separate approach 625 00:29:40,580 --> 00:29:38,610 we get to within about six hundred feet 626 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:40,590 and then we then we go away and we ten 627 00:29:45,950 --> 00:29:44,610 we test this new sensor it probably 628 00:29:47,570 --> 00:29:45,960 would have still been on the flight it 629 00:29:49,820 --> 00:29:47,580 would have been some additional training 630 00:29:51,830 --> 00:29:49,830 that CJ sturckow would have had to do 631 00:29:55,490 --> 00:29:51,840 between now and long the launch day to 632 00:29:58,100 --> 00:29:55,500 get him up to speed but I have some very 633 00:29:59,870 --> 00:29:58,110 good crew members that are trained very 634 00:30:03,350 --> 00:29:59,880 well and it wouldn't it would not have 635 00:30:09,070 --> 00:30:03,360 taken taking him that long to get up to 636 00:30:10,880 --> 00:30:09,080 speed on storm so it would have stayed I 637 00:30:14,060 --> 00:30:10,890 Robert Pearlman with collectspace.com 638 00:30:16,010 --> 00:30:14,070 and space com again from our Brett 639 00:30:18,170 --> 00:30:16,020 mentioned that there was a that you've 640 00:30:20,660 --> 00:30:18,180 developed this trainings modified 641 00:30:22,180 --> 00:30:20,670 training schedule can you describe it a 642 00:30:24,169 --> 00:30:22,190 little bit how it compares to a normal 643 00:30:26,450 --> 00:30:24,179 training kit on how that 644 00:30:29,239 --> 00:30:26,460 how your own training schedule will if 645 00:30:31,759 --> 00:30:29,249 it does it all affect your fellow crew 646 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:31,769 mates well Monday Tuesday and Wednesday 647 00:30:38,169 --> 00:30:34,610 of this week I did a for our essence sim 648 00:30:41,840 --> 00:30:38,179 did two flights in the t-38 did a couple 649 00:30:43,279 --> 00:30:41,850 whatever we call SSTs or dsds then I 650 00:30:45,769 --> 00:30:43,289 went out of town on Thursday night which 651 00:30:48,409 --> 00:30:45,779 might be similar to you know flying out 652 00:30:50,450 --> 00:30:48,419 of town to go fly the STA and getting 653 00:30:56,509 --> 00:30:50,460 stuck on the road for no bad weather or 654 00:30:59,480 --> 00:30:56,519 going to TC DT so it was similar into 655 00:31:04,909 --> 00:30:59,490 similar to what those days may have been 656 00:31:08,570 --> 00:31:04,919 during a training flow from now forward 657 00:31:10,159 --> 00:31:08,580 Monday forward next week the training 658 00:31:11,840 --> 00:31:10,169 schedule for me is what it would have 659 00:31:16,149 --> 00:31:11,850 been anyway it's not going to be any 660 00:31:18,879 --> 00:31:16,159 different all right up here in front no 661 00:31:21,289 --> 00:31:18,889 it's bob woodruff from ABC News again 662 00:31:22,909 --> 00:31:21,299 mark are you going to have the chance to 663 00:31:25,489 --> 00:31:22,919 be able to talk to her when she's in the 664 00:31:29,450 --> 00:31:25,499 in the hospital by the video conference 665 00:31:32,299 --> 00:31:29,460 all from from space space we will you be 666 00:31:34,159 --> 00:31:32,309 able to see her in the in the video 667 00:31:39,320 --> 00:31:34,169 conference will she be able to see you 668 00:31:41,239 --> 00:31:39,330 so we typically do one family video 669 00:31:42,830 --> 00:31:41,249 teleconference on a shuttle flight and 670 00:31:44,330 --> 00:31:42,840 it's normally towards the end of the end 671 00:31:47,659 --> 00:31:44,340 of the mission and ours is during the 672 00:31:50,690 --> 00:31:47,669 end of the flight and I think that 673 00:31:53,060 --> 00:31:50,700 probably will be accommodated is one 674 00:31:56,509 --> 00:31:53,070 time for these 14 names yes just one 675 00:31:59,330 --> 00:31:56,519 time and we Peggy and I haven't talked 676 00:32:01,100 --> 00:31:59,340 about it and it's not something I'm too 677 00:32:02,239 --> 00:32:01,110 concerned with because it is at the end 678 00:32:05,180 --> 00:32:02,249 of the flight and if it couldn't be 679 00:32:06,950 --> 00:32:05,190 accommodated you know we have the the IP 680 00:32:12,889 --> 00:32:06,960 phone so you're allowed to make a phone 681 00:32:18,379 --> 00:32:12,899 call we do a v-mail I think so see you 682 00:32:20,690 --> 00:32:18,389 yeah I think it will right Gina Gina 683 00:32:22,249 --> 00:32:20,700 sincerity bc news one thing that's I 684 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:22,259 think getting lost in this is just what 685 00:32:29,330 --> 00:32:24,690 a spectacular mission 134 will be I mean 686 00:32:30,499 --> 00:32:29,340 24 for people who don't get the AMS 687 00:32:32,060 --> 00:32:30,509 would you mind giving us a brief 688 00:32:34,549 --> 00:32:32,070 description of what what it will 689 00:32:38,230 --> 00:32:34,559 accomplish it's a very good question the 690 00:32:41,779 --> 00:32:38,240 Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is a 691 00:32:43,759 --> 00:32:41,789 a very sensitive cosmic particle 692 00:32:46,519 --> 00:32:43,769 detector it's been in development for a 693 00:32:47,810 --> 00:32:46,529 number of years it's had a little rocky 694 00:32:50,750 --> 00:32:47,820 road and actually trying to get it 695 00:32:52,250 --> 00:32:50,760 launched and before sts-134 was added as 696 00:32:54,769 --> 00:32:52,260 a mission it had no way to get into 697 00:32:57,379 --> 00:32:54,779 space it's looking for a Dark Matter 698 00:33:00,350 --> 00:32:57,389 dark energy in any matter these are some 699 00:33:04,850 --> 00:33:00,360 of the things that existed in the early 700 00:33:09,409 --> 00:33:04,860 part of the universe and it's it's over 701 00:33:11,769 --> 00:33:09,419 there over the next 10 to 15 years this 702 00:33:15,169 --> 00:33:11,779 cosmic particle detector will sit 703 00:33:17,750 --> 00:33:15,179 outside on the starboard side of the 704 00:33:19,460 --> 00:33:17,760 space station on the truss and cosmic 705 00:33:21,769 --> 00:33:19,470 particles will fly through it and it can 706 00:33:25,009 --> 00:33:21,779 detect what those particles are so the 707 00:33:28,970 --> 00:33:25,019 hope is with regards to as an example 708 00:33:31,490 --> 00:33:28,980 any matter to detect maybe a antiproton 709 00:33:34,220 --> 00:33:31,500 or an anti helium particle or better yet 710 00:33:37,039 --> 00:33:34,230 would be something like anti oxygen or 711 00:33:39,740 --> 00:33:37,049 nitrogen and those are things those 712 00:33:42,620 --> 00:33:39,750 particles could only be created inside 713 00:33:45,409 --> 00:33:42,630 of stars so if it could detect something 714 00:33:46,909 --> 00:33:45,419 like that then we know there are stars 715 00:33:50,060 --> 00:33:46,919 that are made up of antimatter and 716 00:33:52,430 --> 00:33:50,070 physicists believe a lot of particle 717 00:33:56,060 --> 00:33:52,440 physicists astrophysics physicists 718 00:33:58,159 --> 00:33:56,070 believe that there are possibly galaxies 719 00:34:00,529 --> 00:33:58,169 that are made up entirely of any matter 720 00:34:02,570 --> 00:34:00,539 so that's one of as an example one of 721 00:34:06,649 --> 00:34:02,580 the things that's looking for so it's 722 00:34:13,200 --> 00:34:06,659 pretty exciting exciting experiment okay 723 00:34:18,430 --> 00:34:16,210 kevin kline again from a katy RK i just 724 00:34:20,139 --> 00:34:18,440 noticed a blue wristband on your hand 725 00:34:22,389 --> 00:34:20,149 can you does that have anything to do 726 00:34:26,109 --> 00:34:22,399 with your wife and can you describe if 727 00:34:27,970 --> 00:34:26,119 so what yeah her office just sent me 728 00:34:30,490 --> 00:34:27,980 some of these today it says has the 729 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:30,500 peace sign the heart sign and Gabi I 730 00:34:36,250 --> 00:34:33,310 guess peace love Gabi so I've just got 731 00:34:41,730 --> 00:34:36,260 just at home and got a bunch of Allah in 732 00:34:46,149 --> 00:34:41,740 the mail haven't thought about it 733 00:34:59,299 --> 00:34:46,159 possibly see if my ofk PPK list is still 734 00:35:03,990 --> 00:35:02,579 my McGough ki age 39 news I'm just 735 00:35:05,250 --> 00:35:04,000 wondering when you're in space and you 736 00:35:07,230 --> 00:35:05,260 will be able to communicate with email 737 00:35:09,510 --> 00:35:07,240 are you prepare to make decisions about 738 00:35:10,890 --> 00:35:09,520 her care if something did happen to 739 00:35:12,510 --> 00:35:10,900 change I mean is that something you're 740 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:12,520 thinking about you have to do up there 741 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:14,290 in addition to commanding the shuttle 742 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:15,970 yeah that's a good question so 743 00:35:21,440 --> 00:35:18,970 throughout this whole process a lot of 744 00:35:23,849 --> 00:35:21,450 those decisions with regards to her care 745 00:35:26,130 --> 00:35:23,859 Gabrielle's mother and I have consulted 746 00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:26,140 and we've come to agreements and she's a 747 00:35:30,150 --> 00:35:28,720 very smart woman and very capable so for 748 00:35:32,010 --> 00:35:30,160 that period of time that I'm in space 749 00:35:34,710 --> 00:35:32,020 and even probably while I'm in Florida 750 00:35:37,109 --> 00:35:34,720 for T CDT terminal countdown test I'll 751 00:35:41,700 --> 00:35:37,119 just turn those responsibilities over to 752 00:35:44,010 --> 00:35:41,710 our mother good well no sign of the 753 00:35:45,839 --> 00:35:44,020 Associated Press I want to ask use for 754 00:35:47,789 --> 00:35:45,849 uh being able as you resume your 755 00:35:48,839 --> 00:35:47,799 training and get deeper to that I guess 756 00:35:51,180 --> 00:35:48,849 if you could talk a little bit about 757 00:35:52,849 --> 00:35:51,190 sort of being able to set aside any kind 758 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:52,859 of worries or distractions you have and 759 00:35:57,569 --> 00:35:55,690 being able to sort of compartmentalize 760 00:35:59,940 --> 00:35:57,579 things as far as we were focused on your 761 00:36:01,230 --> 00:35:59,950 mission as opposed to what's going on 762 00:36:04,650 --> 00:36:01,240 with your wife and how she's going on 763 00:36:06,329 --> 00:36:04,660 her carers going forward yeah the key 764 00:36:09,089 --> 00:36:06,339 word there is being able to 765 00:36:11,039 --> 00:36:09,099 compartmentalize things and that's 766 00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:11,049 something you learn very early when you 767 00:36:16,140 --> 00:36:12,880 start flying airplanes or doing anything 768 00:36:17,819 --> 00:36:16,150 that's high risk to be able to ignore 769 00:36:20,430 --> 00:36:17,829 stuff that's going on in your personal 770 00:36:22,530 --> 00:36:20,440 life and focus just on the mission 771 00:36:25,410 --> 00:36:22,540 whether it's flying an airplane weather 772 00:36:29,750 --> 00:36:25,420 around an aircraft carrier or in combat 773 00:36:31,980 --> 00:36:29,760 you learn to separate the mission from 774 00:36:34,589 --> 00:36:31,990 things that might be going on in your 775 00:36:35,940 --> 00:36:34,599 personal life so we get a lot of 776 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:35,950 practice doing that I've been doing that 777 00:36:41,970 --> 00:36:40,210 for 24 years this time it might be a 778 00:36:46,710 --> 00:36:41,980 little bit more challenging at times to 779 00:36:50,069 --> 00:36:46,720 do that but this week I demonstrated to 780 00:36:52,620 --> 00:36:50,079 myself even that I was able to do that 781 00:36:54,930 --> 00:36:52,630 successfully to sit in a four-hour a 782 00:36:57,809 --> 00:36:54,940 sense sim and do multiple runs with 783 00:36:59,940 --> 00:36:57,819 multiple malfunctions and be able to 784 00:37:02,819 --> 00:36:59,950 work very well together with your crew 785 00:37:06,299 --> 00:37:02,829 and not make any mistakes you know told 786 00:37:09,410 --> 00:37:06,309 me that in this situation I you know I 787 00:37:11,900 --> 00:37:09,420 am able to do that compartmentalization 788 00:37:16,010 --> 00:37:11,910 which I've been you know practicing for 789 00:37:17,900 --> 00:37:16,020 24 years okay with that we are going to 790 00:37:22,730 --> 00:37:17,910 return to Kennedy Space Center for Media 791 00:37:24,589 --> 00:37:22,740 questions there thank you it's irene 792 00:37:27,319 --> 00:37:24,599 klotz with Reuters again I have two 793 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:27,329 questions ones for Peggy about the 133 794 00:37:30,980 --> 00:37:28,890 crew if you could just give us an update 795 00:37:33,460 --> 00:37:30,990 if things are still progressing with 796 00:37:36,559 --> 00:37:33,470 Steve Bowens training and with no 797 00:37:40,789 --> 00:37:36,569 expectations of any impacts for that 798 00:37:43,670 --> 00:37:40,799 flight and for mark you know it's a it's 799 00:37:45,319 --> 00:37:43,680 kind of interesting how you know all the 800 00:37:48,339 --> 00:37:45,329 good feelings and the peace and 801 00:37:51,289 --> 00:37:48,349 everything else but what happened was I 802 00:37:53,089 --> 00:37:51,299 mean if you were ever angry it's it's 803 00:37:55,370 --> 00:37:53,099 it's not apparent and if you're still 804 00:37:58,640 --> 00:37:55,380 angry it's not apparent and I guess I'm 805 00:38:02,630 --> 00:37:58,650 just wondering how much of a desire on 806 00:38:04,880 --> 00:38:02,640 your part to maybe be a little defiant 807 00:38:06,859 --> 00:38:04,890 and return to what you think is normal 808 00:38:11,630 --> 00:38:06,869 playing a part in your decision to go 809 00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:11,640 ahead and fly for the 133 question we 810 00:38:17,750 --> 00:38:15,210 have the crew has been training since 811 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:17,760 the reassignment of steve bowen we had 812 00:38:21,140 --> 00:38:19,010 to shift some of the crew 813 00:38:23,120 --> 00:38:21,150 responsibilities in order to even out 814 00:38:25,339 --> 00:38:23,130 that crew loading some of what mark was 815 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:25,349 talking about for not wanting the crew 816 00:38:30,170 --> 00:38:27,450 to be too overly worked during that last 817 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:30,180 training phase obviously we shifted that 818 00:38:36,049 --> 00:38:34,290 loading for this crew we did lose what 819 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:36,059 we can NBL run the neutral buoyancy 820 00:38:39,650 --> 00:38:37,650 laboratory one of their spacewalk 821 00:38:42,589 --> 00:38:39,660 practice runs was supposed to be today 822 00:38:44,650 --> 00:38:42,599 and had to be canceled we still 823 00:38:47,000 --> 00:38:44,660 anticipate that we have enough 824 00:38:49,609 --> 00:38:47,010 capability in the schedule to be able to 825 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:49,619 support all the planned events that we 826 00:38:55,579 --> 00:38:53,250 had previously on on on their plan and 827 00:39:01,490 --> 00:38:55,589 feel confident that we'll still make a 828 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:01,500 februari 24th you mentioned being being 829 00:39:08,299 --> 00:39:06,210 angry and when a traumatic event happens 830 00:39:10,849 --> 00:39:08,309 there's those different steps that you 831 00:39:13,250 --> 00:39:10,859 go through I think I very quickly got to 832 00:39:14,900 --> 00:39:13,260 angry on the first day that this 833 00:39:16,069 --> 00:39:14,910 happened I can't remember what step two 834 00:39:19,970 --> 00:39:16,079 was but i think i skipped right over 835 00:39:21,410 --> 00:39:19,980 that one and it you know at times I'm 836 00:39:22,850 --> 00:39:21,420 look I'm angry about what happened to 837 00:39:24,830 --> 00:39:22,860 her and what 838 00:39:28,700 --> 00:39:24,840 you know if we could ever figure out why 839 00:39:33,380 --> 00:39:28,710 this happened it's it's really an 840 00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:33,390 unfortunate tragic situation you also 841 00:39:39,380 --> 00:39:36,810 mention the word defiant as if I think 842 00:39:42,830 --> 00:39:39,390 what you were asking was is that any way 843 00:39:45,920 --> 00:39:42,840 that anger any way connected to me 844 00:39:48,020 --> 00:39:45,930 wanting to return and complete this 845 00:39:51,550 --> 00:39:48,030 flight and i can tell you absolutely not 846 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:51,560 i mean what i use to evaluate whether i 847 00:39:57,530 --> 00:39:55,170 first want to come back to be the 848 00:40:00,320 --> 00:39:57,540 commander of this mission is has little 849 00:40:04,670 --> 00:40:00,330 to do or nothing to do with being angry 850 00:40:08,540 --> 00:40:04,680 and you know everything to do with what 851 00:40:14,450 --> 00:40:08,550 is right for NASA first and then for for 852 00:40:17,900 --> 00:40:14,460 me and my family todd halvorson of 853 00:40:20,660 --> 00:40:17,910 florida today mark i'm wondering what 854 00:40:24,650 --> 00:40:20,670 your thoughts are on the remarkable 855 00:40:28,310 --> 00:40:24,660 national outpouring that that's come and 856 00:40:31,450 --> 00:40:28,320 and and how this tragedy spawned a 857 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:31,460 national discussion on civility and 858 00:40:41,020 --> 00:40:38,010 politics and even everyday life the the 859 00:40:45,380 --> 00:40:41,030 outpouring of support is a bit humbling 860 00:40:48,350 --> 00:40:45,390 I'm very thankful for it the emails I 861 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:48,360 get from around the world from you know 862 00:40:53,960 --> 00:40:51,090 a convent in whether it's in Germany or 863 00:40:56,180 --> 00:40:53,970 in Chile saying that the nuns are going 864 00:40:58,570 --> 00:40:56,190 to do so many Ave Marias this weekend 865 00:41:00,830 --> 00:40:58,580 you know it's it's it's been humbling 866 00:41:02,180 --> 00:41:00,840 you know I know there are millions of 867 00:41:08,390 --> 00:41:02,190 people praying for and I really think 868 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:08,400 that does help so it's it's it's nice to 869 00:41:12,110 --> 00:41:10,170 you know it's really nice to see that 870 00:41:14,990 --> 00:41:12,120 it's nice to see that people people 871 00:41:17,780 --> 00:41:15,000 really care care care about who she is 872 00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:17,790 and what what she represented the 873 00:41:23,810 --> 00:41:20,730 political civil discourse stuff to be 874 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:23,820 honest I haven't not been watching an 875 00:41:27,020 --> 00:41:25,530 incredible amount of TV I've seen a 876 00:41:29,270 --> 00:41:27,030 little bit of that scene a little bit 877 00:41:31,580 --> 00:41:29,280 about it in the paper but I haven't 878 00:41:34,040 --> 00:41:31,590 spent a lot of time following that but I 879 00:41:36,380 --> 00:41:34,050 think you know with something that was 880 00:41:38,779 --> 00:41:36,390 so horrible and so negative 881 00:41:41,839 --> 00:41:38,789 even the fact that six people lost their 882 00:41:45,609 --> 00:41:41,849 lives including a nine-year-old girl a 883 00:41:49,849 --> 00:41:45,619 federal judge Gaby's staff member Gabe 884 00:41:52,160 --> 00:41:49,859 it was like a younger brother to her you 885 00:41:54,859 --> 00:41:52,170 know it is really really a sad situation 886 00:41:56,299 --> 00:41:54,869 so I'm hopeful that something positive 887 00:41:57,529 --> 00:41:56,309 can come out of it and I think that'll 888 00:42:03,769 --> 00:41:57,539 happen so I think those are those are 889 00:42:06,589 --> 00:42:03,779 good things Marcia Dunn Associated Press 890 00:42:08,450 --> 00:42:06,599 again for another question from work by 891 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:08,460 the time you fly Scott will have been 892 00:42:12,740 --> 00:42:10,410 back quite some time on earth and I'm 893 00:42:16,519 --> 00:42:12,750 wondering if how much you're going to 894 00:42:20,329 --> 00:42:16,529 lean on him to provide support for your 895 00:42:22,009 --> 00:42:20,339 daughter's for the congresswoman and how 896 00:42:24,650 --> 00:42:22,019 helpful it is to have an identical twin 897 00:42:26,839 --> 00:42:24,660 brother in a case like this yeah I think 898 00:42:30,079 --> 00:42:26,849 it's helpful to have family members that 899 00:42:31,730 --> 00:42:30,089 are close he lands on mark March 19th 900 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:31,740 our current launch date is april 901 00:42:36,470 --> 00:42:33,210 nineteen so he'll be back for a month 902 00:42:38,180 --> 00:42:36,480 and i plan to i mean he wants to be 903 00:42:40,490 --> 00:42:38,190 helpful it sees he's in a difficult 904 00:42:42,980 --> 00:42:40,500 situation when something like this 905 00:42:45,829 --> 00:42:42,990 happens it's a traumatic event in your 906 00:42:47,420 --> 00:42:45,839 on the space station and you really feel 907 00:42:49,220 --> 00:42:47,430 a little bit out of touch i know that's 908 00:42:50,749 --> 00:42:49,230 I think that's the case with him so 909 00:42:51,890 --> 00:42:50,759 it'll be good to have him back and he's 910 00:42:57,410 --> 00:42:51,900 already told me he wants to be as 911 00:42:59,349 --> 00:42:57,420 helpful as possible bill horn with CBS 912 00:43:02,359 --> 00:42:59,359 News at the last question from here and 913 00:43:03,829 --> 00:43:02,369 Mark given the positive nature of how 914 00:43:04,940 --> 00:43:03,839 things have been going with 915 00:43:06,349 --> 00:43:04,950 rehabilitation do you have any hopes 916 00:43:07,579 --> 00:43:06,359 that she can come here for the launch is 917 00:43:10,130 --> 00:43:07,589 that something that you think might be a 918 00:43:11,960 --> 00:43:10,140 possibility absolutely I mean I have 919 00:43:13,549 --> 00:43:11,970 every intention that that she'll be 920 00:43:15,620 --> 00:43:13,559 there for the launch I've already talked 921 00:43:18,349 --> 00:43:15,630 to her doctors about it so there should 922 00:43:21,049 --> 00:43:18,359 be there really shouldn't be any reason 923 00:43:23,329 --> 00:43:21,059 why she can't go to the launch so that's 924 00:43:25,130 --> 00:43:23,339 that's that's I haven't spoken to Peggy 925 00:43:29,359 --> 00:43:25,140 and Brent about that yet but this that's 926 00:43:30,589 --> 00:43:29,369 in my plan okay that's our last question 927 00:43:36,650 --> 00:43:30,599 from Kennedy Space Center will now 928 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:36,660 switch back to NASA headquarters there's 929 00:43:40,370 --> 00:43:37,890 John Schwarz again from the New York 930 00:43:42,259 --> 00:43:40,380 Times you mentioned compartmentalization 931 00:43:43,789 --> 00:43:42,269 before your background is military could 932 00:43:45,620 --> 00:43:43,799 you compare the separation and family 933 00:43:47,089 --> 00:43:45,630 crisis that you're dealing with during 934 00:43:48,380 --> 00:43:47,099 this mission to what happened what would 935 00:43:49,560 --> 00:43:48,390 be happening if you were still applying 936 00:43:51,690 --> 00:43:49,570 fighter jets in combat 937 00:43:53,670 --> 00:43:51,700 you're on a military rotation just sort 938 00:43:55,890 --> 00:43:53,680 of fill us in a little bit how you see 939 00:43:59,420 --> 00:43:55,900 the comparison well it's you know it 940 00:44:02,220 --> 00:43:59,430 depends on the situation sometimes with 941 00:44:04,610 --> 00:44:02,230 when you have a very difficult family 942 00:44:08,550 --> 00:44:04,620 situation the military allows you to 943 00:44:11,070 --> 00:44:08,560 return it certainly depends on what the 944 00:44:14,760 --> 00:44:11,080 mission of that unit is at the time and 945 00:44:18,180 --> 00:44:14,770 what this specific situation is so 946 00:44:20,280 --> 00:44:18,190 they're all different and unique but in 947 00:44:22,620 --> 00:44:20,290 some ways I mean I've learned this 948 00:44:23,940 --> 00:44:22,630 compartmentalization thing over 24 years 949 00:44:26,310 --> 00:44:23,950 of being in the Navy and flying 950 00:44:28,110 --> 00:44:26,320 airplanes you know it's something I do 951 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:28,120 every day when I get into t-38 even 952 00:44:31,650 --> 00:44:29,410 before this happened I mean you have 953 00:44:35,850 --> 00:44:31,660 stuff that's going on whether it's with 954 00:44:38,420 --> 00:44:35,860 teenage daughters or you know just just 955 00:44:41,850 --> 00:44:38,430 issues that you deal with every day that 956 00:44:43,530 --> 00:44:41,860 under these high-risk circumstances you 957 00:44:46,020 --> 00:44:43,540 have to be able to put that aside to 958 00:44:53,340 --> 00:44:46,030 conduct the mission so I've had a lot of 959 00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:53,350 practice with that yeah this is a bribe 960 00:44:58,470 --> 00:44:54,810 aspect from Washington Post again 961 00:44:59,910 --> 00:44:58,480 questioned for Peggy I'm certainly 962 00:45:01,380 --> 00:44:59,920 getting the message is a very strong 963 00:45:04,230 --> 00:45:01,390 decision and I certainly understand that 964 00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:04,240 I'm just wondering um if between now and 965 00:45:08,040 --> 00:45:06,730 april commander kelly you know changed 966 00:45:10,410 --> 00:45:08,050 his mind ur had second thoughts what 967 00:45:11,850 --> 00:45:10,420 would the process be in this area is 968 00:45:15,600 --> 00:45:11,860 there a certain date set by which that 969 00:45:17,370 --> 00:45:15,610 becomes a problematic mark says he's not 970 00:45:19,380 --> 00:45:17,380 going to change his mind and i mean that 971 00:45:21,960 --> 00:45:19,390 that actually was part of the process 972 00:45:24,720 --> 00:45:21,970 that we had to satisfy ourselves that he 973 00:45:26,370 --> 00:45:24,730 was ready to make this commitment i know 974 00:45:30,000 --> 00:45:26,380 that he didn't take it lightly and 975 00:45:32,780 --> 00:45:30,010 neither did we we really did some 976 00:45:36,540 --> 00:45:32,790 soul-searching you know we researched 977 00:45:38,940 --> 00:45:36,550 gabby's condition and you know Mark 978 00:45:41,340 --> 00:45:38,950 support system and really looked into 979 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:41,350 this we think this is a very doable 980 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:44,410 thing and it is the best thing for our 981 00:45:51,480 --> 00:45:48,810 mission to have mark be the commander 982 00:45:53,130 --> 00:45:51,490 okay that concludes the questions from 983 00:45:54,279 --> 00:45:53,140 headquarters I'm going to turn it over 984 00:45:56,529 --> 00:45:54,289 to brent who has some closing 985 00:45:58,620 --> 00:45:56,539 remarks well Peggy just sort of stole my 986 00:46:00,880 --> 00:45:58,630 closing remarks so they'll be short 987 00:46:02,999 --> 00:46:00,890 there was a question earlier to mark and 988 00:46:06,309 --> 00:46:03,009 I felt like I should have jumped in and 989 00:46:09,249 --> 00:46:06,319 and whether NASA will be criticized for 990 00:46:11,949 --> 00:46:09,259 this decision to allow mark to fly on 991 00:46:15,429 --> 00:46:11,959 134 and I think Peggy just said it very 992 00:46:18,039 --> 00:46:15,439 well when Mark situation got to a point 993 00:46:21,370 --> 00:46:18,049 where he was ready to commit the time 994 00:46:24,909 --> 00:46:21,380 and was ready to fly our job as his 995 00:46:26,769 --> 00:46:24,919 management and leaders within NASA was 996 00:46:29,019 --> 00:46:26,779 to evaluate what was best for the 997 00:46:31,989 --> 00:46:29,029 mission and it's really as simple as 998 00:46:34,359 --> 00:46:31,999 that and you know if Mark was ready and 999 00:46:36,339 --> 00:46:34,369 with all the training his put in and the 1000 00:46:39,159 --> 00:46:36,349 time to this mission if he was ready 1001 00:46:41,199 --> 00:46:39,169 then obviously that produced the lowest 1002 00:46:43,839 --> 00:46:41,209 you know the lowest risk the highest 1003 00:46:45,429 --> 00:46:43,849 chance of mission success but we had to 1004 00:46:48,579 --> 00:46:45,439 take certain steps to assure ourselves 1005 00:46:50,999 --> 00:46:48,589 that he was really ready and we felt we 1006 00:46:55,029 --> 00:46:51,009 covered all those areas in our plan to 1007 00:46:56,409 --> 00:46:55,039 assess that and and as I said at the 1008 00:46:58,299 --> 00:46:56,419 beginning we're really happy that he's 1009 00:47:01,149 --> 00:46:58,309 back as the command ready to start 1010 00:47:02,859 --> 00:47:01,159 training thank you very that will 1011 00:47:05,349 --> 00:47:02,869 conclude our briefing as we mentioned 1012 00:47:06,819 --> 00:47:05,359 mark will be resuming training on Monday 1013 00:47:08,380 --> 00:47:06,829 with his crew there won't be many 1014 00:47:10,209 --> 00:47:08,390 availabilities associated with that but 1015 00:47:12,339 --> 00:47:10,219 we will be recording that and making 1016 00:47:14,229 --> 00:47:12,349 that available on NASA TV that training 1017 00:47:16,899 --> 00:47:14,239 b-roll will air on NASA television of 1018 00:47:19,029 --> 00:47:16,909 1130 a.m. central time and 3 30 p.m. 1019 00:47:20,799 --> 00:47:19,039 central time for more information on the 1020 00:47:25,269 --> 00:47:20,809 sts-134 mission you can visit our