1 00:00:06,230 --> 00:00:04,309 good morning thank you for joining us 2 00:00:08,230 --> 00:00:06,240 here at nasa's kennedy space center in 3 00:00:10,030 --> 00:00:08,240 florida for space shuttle discovery's 4 00:00:12,709 --> 00:00:10,040 sts-133 5 00:00:15,350 --> 00:00:12,719 pre-launch news conference joining me 6 00:00:17,029 --> 00:00:15,360 today is mike moses space shuttle launch 7 00:00:19,590 --> 00:00:17,039 integration manager and chair of the 8 00:00:21,910 --> 00:00:19,600 mission management team good morning 9 00:00:24,790 --> 00:00:21,920 mike leinbach shuttle launch director 10 00:00:30,550 --> 00:00:27,750 scott higginbotham sts-133 payload 11 00:00:32,150 --> 00:00:30,560 manager good morning 12 00:00:34,310 --> 00:00:32,160 and kathy winters shuttle weather 13 00:00:35,590 --> 00:00:34,320 officer good morning 14 00:00:37,510 --> 00:00:35,600 we'll hear from our panelists and then 15 00:00:39,110 --> 00:00:37,520 take questions mr moses 16 00:00:40,229 --> 00:00:39,120 thanks kendra well good morning 17 00:00:42,549 --> 00:00:40,239 everybody 18 00:00:44,630 --> 00:00:42,559 today we held our launch minus one day 19 00:00:46,470 --> 00:00:44,640 mission management team meeting where we 20 00:00:47,990 --> 00:00:46,480 got together just to discuss uh our 21 00:00:50,069 --> 00:00:48,000 current status and our readiness 22 00:00:52,069 --> 00:00:50,079 everything was is on track going 23 00:00:53,270 --> 00:00:52,079 beautifully with the countdown and we 24 00:00:54,150 --> 00:00:53,280 are more than ready for tomorrow's 25 00:00:55,910 --> 00:00:54,160 launch 26 00:00:57,350 --> 00:00:55,920 uh it was a pretty short meeting uh 27 00:00:59,110 --> 00:00:57,360 kathy talk to us a little bit about the 28 00:01:01,189 --> 00:00:59,120 weather you'll hear that today and 29 00:01:03,110 --> 00:01:01,199 actually scott had the uh had the 30 00:01:06,230 --> 00:01:03,120 biggest topic of the day to wrap up on 31 00:01:07,750 --> 00:01:06,240 an issue with iraq uh in the pmm just to 32 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:07,760 make sure that it was uh configured 33 00:01:11,830 --> 00:01:09,840 properly some lessons we had learned 34 00:01:13,350 --> 00:01:11,840 from from one of the other mplms that 35 00:01:14,469 --> 00:01:13,360 came down made us question what we had 36 00:01:15,990 --> 00:01:14,479 configured 37 00:01:18,070 --> 00:01:16,000 in the bay and so they showed really 38 00:01:19,670 --> 00:01:18,080 good uh results today that said we were 39 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:19,680 more than ready to fly with that 40 00:01:26,310 --> 00:01:21,840 configuration concern 41 00:01:28,550 --> 00:01:26,320 um we talked a little bit uh about uh a 42 00:01:30,149 --> 00:01:28,560 uh assist or an rcs which is the 43 00:01:32,149 --> 00:01:30,159 reaction control system the little 44 00:01:34,149 --> 00:01:32,159 steering thrusters on the shuttle 45 00:01:35,830 --> 00:01:34,159 one of the regulators in that system is 46 00:01:37,030 --> 00:01:35,840 is creeping which means it's it's 47 00:01:38,870 --> 00:01:37,040 letting a little bit of pressure through 48 00:01:40,149 --> 00:01:38,880 instead of holding it tight 49 00:01:42,389 --> 00:01:40,159 and it's it's creeping at a little 50 00:01:44,149 --> 00:01:42,399 higher rate than we allow it to uh but 51 00:01:46,389 --> 00:01:44,159 there's no real issue with that uh the 52 00:01:47,749 --> 00:01:46,399 other regs in line are holding just fine 53 00:01:49,830 --> 00:01:47,759 and there's an isolation valve that can 54 00:01:51,429 --> 00:01:49,840 be closed if it needs to be we're gonna 55 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:51,439 have another meeting later today to go 56 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:53,040 through the the details of that 57 00:01:56,149 --> 00:01:54,960 paperwork and sign the official 58 00:01:58,230 --> 00:01:56,159 waiver that says it doesn't meet the 59 00:01:59,590 --> 00:01:58,240 spec but it's okay to fly um and that 60 00:02:02,389 --> 00:01:59,600 was really the only shuttle technical 61 00:02:03,590 --> 00:02:02,399 issue we talked today uh at all um and 62 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:03,600 again like i said about a 40 minute 63 00:02:07,270 --> 00:02:05,360 meeting went pretty fast 64 00:02:09,350 --> 00:02:07,280 um in other news 65 00:02:11,910 --> 00:02:09,360 we finished up yesterday a little bit 66 00:02:14,150 --> 00:02:11,920 this morning the uh the et modifications 67 00:02:16,390 --> 00:02:14,160 for the next tank et-122 68 00:02:17,990 --> 00:02:16,400 for sts-134 so the lockheed martin team 69 00:02:19,830 --> 00:02:18,000 that was here on site doing that 70 00:02:21,430 --> 00:02:19,840 mechanical modification and then 71 00:02:22,869 --> 00:02:21,440 re-spraying the foam 72 00:02:24,150 --> 00:02:22,879 on that tank has finished up and now 73 00:02:25,830 --> 00:02:24,160 there's just basically the shakedown 74 00:02:27,830 --> 00:02:25,840 inspections and we'll be ready for 75 00:02:29,270 --> 00:02:27,840 endeavor to come over and get mated at 76 00:02:31,190 --> 00:02:29,280 the end of the month 77 00:02:32,390 --> 00:02:31,200 and uh and that's it really so so we 78 00:02:33,670 --> 00:02:32,400 focused on the mission today and that's 79 00:02:35,190 --> 00:02:33,680 kind of what i wanted to focus on today 80 00:02:38,309 --> 00:02:35,200 at the press conference is 81 00:02:39,430 --> 00:02:38,319 uh we're ready to fly sts-133 we've been 82 00:02:41,350 --> 00:02:39,440 we've been ready from a mission 83 00:02:43,270 --> 00:02:41,360 standpoint for quite a while uh now our 84 00:02:45,030 --> 00:02:43,280 hardware is in line and ready to go 85 00:02:47,030 --> 00:02:45,040 uh you know we're delivering the pmm the 86 00:02:48,869 --> 00:02:47,040 permanent multi-purpose module which 87 00:02:50,949 --> 00:02:48,879 will be basically a really good addition 88 00:02:52,790 --> 00:02:50,959 to space station in terms of storage 89 00:02:55,030 --> 00:02:52,800 capability on orbit 90 00:02:56,869 --> 00:02:55,040 we're taking up the elc-4 external 91 00:02:59,110 --> 00:02:56,879 logistics cargo pallet 92 00:03:01,509 --> 00:02:59,120 which has a spare radiator and room for 93 00:03:03,270 --> 00:03:01,519 other spare hardware once it gets on on 94 00:03:05,430 --> 00:03:03,280 orbit and stowed on the station we have 95 00:03:06,550 --> 00:03:05,440 two very busy evas to clean up a lot of 96 00:03:08,390 --> 00:03:06,560 activities 97 00:03:11,430 --> 00:03:08,400 and prepare the station 98 00:03:12,710 --> 00:03:11,440 for the future and uh and finally uh 99 00:03:14,390 --> 00:03:12,720 he hasn't got a lot of press time lately 100 00:03:15,830 --> 00:03:14,400 but robonaut two still all nicely safe 101 00:03:18,390 --> 00:03:15,840 tucked away in the pmm and ready to get 102 00:03:19,910 --> 00:03:18,400 on orbit and start his mission we talked 103 00:03:21,270 --> 00:03:19,920 a lot in the past about all the science 104 00:03:23,350 --> 00:03:21,280 we're doing on this flight there's a lot 105 00:03:24,470 --> 00:03:23,360 of science going up in the pmm and 106 00:03:26,070 --> 00:03:24,480 there's a fair bit going up in the 107 00:03:27,110 --> 00:03:26,080 shuttle mid deck that the crews will 108 00:03:28,710 --> 00:03:27,120 execute 109 00:03:30,070 --> 00:03:28,720 while we're on orbit on space station 110 00:03:32,470 --> 00:03:30,080 and then we'll return on this mission 111 00:03:33,270 --> 00:03:32,480 and bring it back down um and and scott 112 00:03:34,710 --> 00:03:33,280 will probably tell you they're getting 113 00:03:35,990 --> 00:03:34,720 ready to stow a lot of that cargo here 114 00:03:37,589 --> 00:03:36,000 today the late stove stuff for those 115 00:03:39,190 --> 00:03:37,599 science activities so we're really 116 00:03:41,589 --> 00:03:39,200 looking forward to a very action-packed 117 00:03:43,030 --> 00:03:41,599 successful mission um and uh and 118 00:03:45,190 --> 00:03:43,040 everything's on track so with that i'll 119 00:03:46,630 --> 00:03:45,200 turn over mike okay thanks mike well 120 00:03:48,550 --> 00:03:46,640 everything's going extremely well on the 121 00:03:49,990 --> 00:03:48,560 launch countdown for discovery's last 122 00:03:52,149 --> 00:03:50,000 mission i'd like to commend the 123 00:03:53,589 --> 00:03:52,159 processing teams who worked on discovery 124 00:03:54,869 --> 00:03:53,599 and all the other flight elements and 125 00:03:56,390 --> 00:03:54,879 ground systems 126 00:03:58,470 --> 00:03:56,400 because what we're seeing is as we power 127 00:04:00,229 --> 00:03:58,480 them up and launch countdown no problems 128 00:04:02,070 --> 00:04:00,239 at all mike mentioned the rcs reg but 129 00:04:03,990 --> 00:04:02,080 that's really no big deal to us that's 130 00:04:05,990 --> 00:04:04,000 the only issue we're tracking 131 00:04:07,429 --> 00:04:06,000 we got a good load on our prsd system 132 00:04:09,750 --> 00:04:07,439 yesterday that's liquid oxygen and 133 00:04:11,190 --> 00:04:09,760 liquid hydrogen for the fuel cells we 134 00:04:13,429 --> 00:04:11,200 got right on the money we expected to 135 00:04:15,429 --> 00:04:13,439 get so good full eight nine days hold 136 00:04:17,270 --> 00:04:15,439 time on those two commodities 137 00:04:19,030 --> 00:04:17,280 the next major activity tonight at eight 138 00:04:20,550 --> 00:04:19,040 o'clock would be the retraction of the 139 00:04:21,990 --> 00:04:20,560 rotating service structure give 140 00:04:23,909 --> 00:04:22,000 everybody a good view of discovery on 141 00:04:25,350 --> 00:04:23,919 the pad for the last time 142 00:04:27,510 --> 00:04:25,360 tomorrow morning we'll get together at 143 00:04:28,469 --> 00:04:27,520 about seven o'clock and talk weather for 144 00:04:30,629 --> 00:04:28,479 tanking 145 00:04:32,469 --> 00:04:30,639 the forecast that kathy will show you in 146 00:04:34,070 --> 00:04:32,479 a couple of minutes looks pretty good 147 00:04:35,510 --> 00:04:34,080 and so we expect to be tanking in about 148 00:04:36,710 --> 00:04:35,520 7 25. 149 00:04:38,230 --> 00:04:36,720 the crew 150 00:04:39,430 --> 00:04:38,240 steve lindsey and the rest of his crew 151 00:04:41,270 --> 00:04:39,440 will be boarding the orbiter a little 152 00:04:43,990 --> 00:04:41,280 after 1 30 tomorrow afternoon shooting 153 00:04:45,990 --> 00:04:44,000 for the opening launch window at 16 45 154 00:04:48,310 --> 00:04:46,000 eastern time again we're not tracking 155 00:04:51,110 --> 00:04:48,320 any issues and discovery looks like 156 00:04:52,710 --> 00:04:51,120 she'll fly this time that's it scott 157 00:04:54,390 --> 00:04:52,720 all right thanks mike 158 00:04:56,550 --> 00:04:54,400 good morning everybody 159 00:04:58,070 --> 00:04:56,560 i'd like to brag a little bit about the 160 00:04:59,830 --> 00:04:58,080 amazing collection of hardware that 161 00:05:01,590 --> 00:04:59,840 we're getting ready to go fly aboard 162 00:05:03,110 --> 00:05:01,600 discovery i'll start in the back end 163 00:05:04,870 --> 00:05:03,120 work my way forward and talk a little 164 00:05:07,749 --> 00:05:04,880 bit about what's happened in the last 165 00:05:10,230 --> 00:05:07,759 four months since we spoke to you last 166 00:05:14,469 --> 00:05:10,240 first the permanent multipurpose module 167 00:05:15,430 --> 00:05:14,479 pmm the repurposed mplm fm1 leonardo 168 00:05:18,150 --> 00:05:15,440 we're 169 00:05:20,710 --> 00:05:18,160 about ready to add that module to the 170 00:05:22,469 --> 00:05:20,720 piazza di italia as my italian friends 171 00:05:24,469 --> 00:05:22,479 call it that's the collection growing 172 00:05:26,550 --> 00:05:24,479 collection of italian-built hardware 173 00:05:29,590 --> 00:05:26,560 on the international space station the 174 00:05:31,830 --> 00:05:29,600 modifications to turn the pmm or mplm 175 00:05:34,070 --> 00:05:31,840 into the pmm were predominantly 176 00:05:36,629 --> 00:05:34,080 performed by our partner talicillinius 177 00:05:38,870 --> 00:05:36,639 base led by roberto barreto that team 178 00:05:40,790 --> 00:05:38,880 did their work last year with our help 179 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:40,800 and then we proceeded to get the module 180 00:05:46,070 --> 00:05:43,440 stuffed and loaded for flight 181 00:05:49,350 --> 00:05:46,080 the module's carrying up about 8 500 182 00:05:51,670 --> 00:05:49,360 pounds of cargo including the express 183 00:05:52,629 --> 00:05:51,680 rack 8 research facility 184 00:05:54,790 --> 00:05:52,639 and then 185 00:05:57,590 --> 00:05:54,800 i think mike mentioned our little friend 186 00:06:01,270 --> 00:05:57,600 robonaut too my daughter made this model 187 00:06:03,909 --> 00:06:01,280 of r2 for me he's my mascot 188 00:06:06,309 --> 00:06:03,919 as far as as far as we know we've not 189 00:06:08,230 --> 00:06:06,319 heard any any sound knocking sounds or 190 00:06:10,710 --> 00:06:08,240 any muffled cries of are we there yet 191 00:06:12,469 --> 00:06:10,720 coming from the module 192 00:06:14,950 --> 00:06:12,479 ends up robonaut's powered down and he 193 00:06:16,710 --> 00:06:14,960 can't speak he's ready to go clean his 194 00:06:18,309 --> 00:06:16,720 enclosure and ready to go to work in 195 00:06:20,790 --> 00:06:18,319 space 196 00:06:22,469 --> 00:06:20,800 we've not accessed the payload bay 197 00:06:24,469 --> 00:06:22,479 during the uh several months that we've 198 00:06:25,430 --> 00:06:24,479 been waiting to go fly we had no reason 199 00:06:27,430 --> 00:06:25,440 to 200 00:06:28,950 --> 00:06:27,440 so all the cargo complement remains as 201 00:06:30,150 --> 00:06:28,960 it was for the launch attempt back in 202 00:06:32,309 --> 00:06:30,160 the fall 203 00:06:33,749 --> 00:06:32,319 uh the hardware stayed on board and 204 00:06:35,510 --> 00:06:33,759 traveled with discovery when we went 205 00:06:37,189 --> 00:06:35,520 back to the vab and then ultimately back 206 00:06:39,029 --> 00:06:37,199 to the pad again 207 00:06:42,150 --> 00:06:39,039 forward of the pmm we have the express 208 00:06:44,629 --> 00:06:42,160 logistics carrier 4 or elc 4 which was 209 00:06:46,950 --> 00:06:44,639 lovingly put together by our friends up 210 00:06:49,589 --> 00:06:46,960 at goddard led by kevin carmack and our 211 00:06:52,309 --> 00:06:49,599 team here our boeing team here at ksc 212 00:06:54,150 --> 00:06:52,319 and on top of that express logistics 213 00:06:56,390 --> 00:06:54,160 carrier we have what we affectionately 214 00:06:58,790 --> 00:06:56,400 call the big hunk and radiator largest 215 00:07:00,309 --> 00:06:58,800 oru we've ever flown in the shuttle and 216 00:07:02,309 --> 00:07:00,319 hopefully we'll never have to use it but 217 00:07:04,550 --> 00:07:02,319 we'll have it up there if we do need it 218 00:07:06,550 --> 00:07:04,560 and also elc 4 will serve as a as a 219 00:07:08,469 --> 00:07:06,560 resting point for some other orus and 220 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:08,479 payloads that we will bring up in the 221 00:07:11,589 --> 00:07:09,680 future 222 00:07:13,270 --> 00:07:11,599 so the payload elements are ready to go 223 00:07:15,270 --> 00:07:13,280 they've been ready to go since we closed 224 00:07:17,189 --> 00:07:15,280 them out for flight back in mid-october 225 00:07:19,189 --> 00:07:17,199 when we close the doors for flight and 226 00:07:20,710 --> 00:07:19,199 uh and they're quite content to set for 227 00:07:22,550 --> 00:07:20,720 quite a while longer too 228 00:07:24,150 --> 00:07:22,560 so at this point regardless of what the 229 00:07:25,589 --> 00:07:24,160 weather or the vehicle throws at us it 230 00:07:27,430 --> 00:07:25,599 would be our intent to keep the doors 231 00:07:28,629 --> 00:07:27,440 closed and just wait for that next 232 00:07:30,390 --> 00:07:28,639 launch attempt 233 00:07:32,390 --> 00:07:30,400 now moving forward into the mid deck we 234 00:07:34,070 --> 00:07:32,400 have about 1500 pounds of cargo that's 235 00:07:35,029 --> 00:07:34,080 headed to the iss in the mid deck of the 236 00:07:37,350 --> 00:07:35,039 orbiter 237 00:07:39,430 --> 00:07:37,360 that cargo complement has changed 238 00:07:41,670 --> 00:07:39,440 as we did have access to that hardware 239 00:07:43,430 --> 00:07:41,680 and you know spaces dynamics space ops 240 00:07:45,589 --> 00:07:43,440 are dynamic and the needs of the station 241 00:07:46,710 --> 00:07:45,599 have changed since we last attempted to 242 00:07:48,150 --> 00:07:46,720 go fly 243 00:07:49,909 --> 00:07:48,160 so we've taken advantage of the 244 00:07:52,150 --> 00:07:49,919 opportunity to shuffle some things 245 00:07:54,070 --> 00:07:52,160 around between this mission the atv that 246 00:07:56,230 --> 00:07:54,080 just launched htv that just launched in 247 00:07:58,070 --> 00:07:56,240 progress missions fortunately with lots 248 00:07:59,510 --> 00:07:58,080 of different vehicles carrying cargo to 249 00:08:00,629 --> 00:07:59,520 the station we can make those kinds of 250 00:08:02,309 --> 00:08:00,639 choices 251 00:08:04,550 --> 00:08:02,319 so we have a complement on board now 252 00:08:06,230 --> 00:08:04,560 that best represents our current needs 253 00:08:07,990 --> 00:08:06,240 and between all those flights we are 254 00:08:09,350 --> 00:08:08,000 keeping the station well stocked with 255 00:08:10,869 --> 00:08:09,360 everything the crew needs to live and 256 00:08:12,790 --> 00:08:10,879 work in space 257 00:08:15,589 --> 00:08:12,800 also in the in the mid deck as part of 258 00:08:17,110 --> 00:08:15,599 that 1500 pounds we have a variety of 259 00:08:19,029 --> 00:08:17,120 different experiments some of which are 260 00:08:20,629 --> 00:08:19,039 going to go across the boundary and be 261 00:08:21,909 --> 00:08:20,639 operated in the station but many of 262 00:08:24,710 --> 00:08:21,919 which are going to just stay on the 263 00:08:26,790 --> 00:08:24,720 orbiter and go up and come down 264 00:08:29,270 --> 00:08:26,800 the process for installing reinstalling 265 00:08:31,749 --> 00:08:29,280 those items into the orbiter began on 266 00:08:33,990 --> 00:08:31,759 monday and will finish tonight as mike 267 00:08:35,829 --> 00:08:34,000 indicated we'll start here at about noon 268 00:08:38,389 --> 00:08:35,839 today and should finish up around 8 pm 269 00:08:40,469 --> 00:08:38,399 tonight getting all those late load time 270 00:08:42,149 --> 00:08:40,479 critical experiments on board 271 00:08:44,310 --> 00:08:42,159 at that point the entire ulf-5 272 00:08:45,430 --> 00:08:44,320 complement will be on board and ready to 273 00:08:47,110 --> 00:08:45,440 go fly 274 00:08:49,750 --> 00:08:47,120 so in conclusion this has been an 275 00:08:52,310 --> 00:08:49,760 exercise in patience for us 276 00:08:54,389 --> 00:08:52,320 but we're anxious to finally see our 277 00:08:55,829 --> 00:08:54,399 hardware close to flying in space 278 00:08:57,829 --> 00:08:55,839 and being put to use on the 279 00:08:59,190 --> 00:08:57,839 international space station 280 00:09:01,670 --> 00:08:59,200 and with that 281 00:09:03,190 --> 00:09:01,680 kathy well great payload great weather 282 00:09:05,350 --> 00:09:03,200 right now we've had some great weather 283 00:09:07,190 --> 00:09:05,360 coming all the way up to launch we've 284 00:09:08,710 --> 00:09:07,200 had really nice mild conditions so we 285 00:09:11,350 --> 00:09:08,720 haven't had any cold temperatures to 286 00:09:12,949 --> 00:09:11,360 deal with even this time of year we just 287 00:09:14,310 --> 00:09:12,959 had some morning fog and that's really 288 00:09:16,230 --> 00:09:14,320 about it tomorrow morning though we're 289 00:09:17,430 --> 00:09:16,240 not expecting to see as much fog because 290 00:09:19,269 --> 00:09:17,440 the winds are going to shift around to 291 00:09:22,150 --> 00:09:19,279 the northeast and usually when we get an 292 00:09:23,829 --> 00:09:22,160 easterly flow over the coast here we 293 00:09:25,910 --> 00:09:23,839 tend to have maybe some inland fog but 294 00:09:27,910 --> 00:09:25,920 not fog here along the coast so weather 295 00:09:29,829 --> 00:09:27,920 conditions tomorrow are even better 296 00:09:31,190 --> 00:09:29,839 and as we get into the afternoon the 297 00:09:32,550 --> 00:09:31,200 only thing we'll be watching for is if 298 00:09:34,870 --> 00:09:32,560 we're going to have any isolated coastal 299 00:09:36,870 --> 00:09:34,880 showers that may linger offshore 300 00:09:38,790 --> 00:09:36,880 and and maybe be 301 00:09:40,070 --> 00:09:38,800 in the area in the morning expecting 302 00:09:41,350 --> 00:09:40,080 we're expecting them to die out in the 303 00:09:43,990 --> 00:09:41,360 afternoon 304 00:09:45,350 --> 00:09:44,000 and not be an issue so we just have a 20 305 00:09:47,430 --> 00:09:45,360 chance of having an isolated shower 306 00:09:49,670 --> 00:09:47,440 within 20 nautical miles of the shuttle 307 00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:49,680 landing facility or a low cloud ceiling 308 00:09:53,350 --> 00:09:51,200 but overall it looks like really good 309 00:09:55,030 --> 00:09:53,360 weather for launch also for the towel 310 00:09:57,030 --> 00:09:55,040 sites the space flight meteorology group 311 00:09:59,269 --> 00:09:57,040 is forecasting good weather there as 312 00:10:01,030 --> 00:09:59,279 well both the zaragoza amarone there's a 313 00:10:02,710 --> 00:10:01,040 little bit of a concern at istres for 314 00:10:05,350 --> 00:10:02,720 some windy conditions with winds gusting 315 00:10:06,870 --> 00:10:05,360 up to 28 knots so that may be a little 316 00:10:08,310 --> 00:10:06,880 bit problematic but we do have two good 317 00:10:10,790 --> 00:10:08,320 towel sites so 318 00:10:12,470 --> 00:10:10,800 that certainly meets our needs if we do 319 00:10:14,230 --> 00:10:12,480 happen to delay 24 hours there is a 320 00:10:16,069 --> 00:10:14,240 frontal system a cold front that should 321 00:10:17,269 --> 00:10:16,079 push into the florida area it's not 322 00:10:19,590 --> 00:10:17,279 going to bring us a lot of weather but 323 00:10:21,590 --> 00:10:19,600 it could bring us some clouds and maybe 324 00:10:23,350 --> 00:10:21,600 some isolated showers still a little bit 325 00:10:25,190 --> 00:10:23,360 to the north on friday so if we happen 326 00:10:26,710 --> 00:10:25,200 to delay it friday and we have a 30 327 00:10:28,949 --> 00:10:26,720 percent chance ksc weather bringing 328 00:10:30,870 --> 00:10:28,959 launch and if we happen to delay to 329 00:10:32,310 --> 00:10:30,880 saturday a lingering that lingering 330 00:10:33,910 --> 00:10:32,320 boundary will still be in the area and 331 00:10:36,150 --> 00:10:33,920 we're concerned about low cloud ceiling 332 00:10:38,630 --> 00:10:36,160 or an isolated shower so we increase our 333 00:10:40,790 --> 00:10:38,640 number again to a 40 chance but for 334 00:10:43,910 --> 00:10:40,800 launch day we only have a 20 chance of 335 00:10:45,750 --> 00:10:43,920 ksc weather prohibiting launch 336 00:10:47,430 --> 00:10:45,760 that's all i have thank you we'll now 337 00:10:48,710 --> 00:10:47,440 take questions when the microphone comes 338 00:10:50,069 --> 00:10:48,720 your way please state your name 339 00:10:52,150 --> 00:10:50,079 affiliation and to whom you're 340 00:10:55,829 --> 00:10:52,160 addressing your question 341 00:10:58,949 --> 00:10:57,670 um marcia dennis associated press for 342 00:11:00,710 --> 00:10:58,959 mike leimbach 343 00:11:01,670 --> 00:11:00,720 discovery always seems to have been the 344 00:11:03,030 --> 00:11:01,680 um 345 00:11:05,990 --> 00:11:03,040 favorite child if you will of the 346 00:11:07,190 --> 00:11:06,000 shuttle fleet the favorite child the the 347 00:11:10,949 --> 00:11:07,200 sweetheart however you want to 348 00:11:13,750 --> 00:11:10,959 characterize her fleet leader at least 349 00:11:16,630 --> 00:11:13,760 why is discovery special for you um 350 00:11:18,230 --> 00:11:16,640 if it is i'm sure it must be and any 351 00:11:19,910 --> 00:11:18,240 sentiments or 352 00:11:22,230 --> 00:11:19,920 extra feelings for you and your team 353 00:11:23,750 --> 00:11:22,240 going into the last flight of discovery 354 00:11:25,269 --> 00:11:23,760 the last flight of all all three 355 00:11:26,829 --> 00:11:25,279 vehicles is going to be 356 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:26,839 emotional for all of 357 00:11:31,030 --> 00:11:28,880 us but we're going to complete these 358 00:11:32,550 --> 00:11:31,040 missions as we always do and i think the 359 00:11:35,030 --> 00:11:32,560 emotion will really hit on the runway 360 00:11:36,949 --> 00:11:35,040 after the mission is complete 361 00:11:38,949 --> 00:11:36,959 i tell each of the teams that each 362 00:11:40,389 --> 00:11:38,959 orbiter is my favorite so i really don't 363 00:11:41,910 --> 00:11:40,399 have a favorite 364 00:11:43,350 --> 00:11:41,920 and they give me grief over that all the 365 00:11:45,350 --> 00:11:43,360 time but uh 366 00:11:47,590 --> 00:11:45,360 um discovery's a great ship this is 367 00:11:49,670 --> 00:11:47,600 their 39th mission um 368 00:11:51,430 --> 00:11:49,680 would have quite a few left enter uh had 369 00:11:53,670 --> 00:11:51,440 the had the program been extended but it 370 00:11:55,829 --> 00:11:53,680 wasn't and so you know it's kind of 371 00:11:57,030 --> 00:11:55,839 bittersweet that uh we get the last 372 00:11:59,269 --> 00:11:57,040 flight out of her but she's going to 373 00:12:00,790 --> 00:11:59,279 perform perfectly fine on orbit and and 374 00:12:03,030 --> 00:12:00,800 bring the crew home safely and and i 375 00:12:05,110 --> 00:12:03,040 think on landing as a set landing day is 376 00:12:07,269 --> 00:12:05,120 going to be tough i i think 377 00:12:09,350 --> 00:12:07,279 landing day of discovery and then 378 00:12:12,150 --> 00:12:09,360 endeavoring especially atlantis the last 379 00:12:14,150 --> 00:12:12,160 mission um you'll see a lot of people on 380 00:12:15,829 --> 00:12:14,160 the runway that uh we'll probably choke 381 00:12:17,590 --> 00:12:15,839 up some because it it's it's the end of 382 00:12:19,750 --> 00:12:17,600 30-year program that 383 00:12:21,350 --> 00:12:19,760 that not only have we have we worked in 384 00:12:23,430 --> 00:12:21,360 and made our livelihoods in but we've 385 00:12:25,110 --> 00:12:23,440 we've grown to love and and appreciate 386 00:12:27,509 --> 00:12:25,120 and feel like we're doing something 387 00:12:29,430 --> 00:12:27,519 special for the country and and uh 388 00:12:32,230 --> 00:12:29,440 really the world and and so and it's 389 00:12:33,350 --> 00:12:32,240 coming to an end and that's tough um but 390 00:12:35,590 --> 00:12:33,360 we're going to do it right we're going 391 00:12:36,870 --> 00:12:35,600 to approach each of these three flights 392 00:12:38,629 --> 00:12:36,880 the way we've approached all the other 393 00:12:39,910 --> 00:12:38,639 ones and we'll pull them off and we'll 394 00:12:42,150 --> 00:12:39,920 be able to look back and be very very 395 00:12:44,949 --> 00:12:42,160 proud of what we've accomplished in the 396 00:12:52,230 --> 00:12:46,870 okay next question 397 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:53,670 james dean with florida just just 398 00:12:56,629 --> 00:12:55,120 following up on that could you talk a 399 00:12:58,150 --> 00:12:56,639 little bit about the relationship that 400 00:13:00,389 --> 00:12:58,160 um 401 00:13:02,710 --> 00:13:00,399 teams uh processing teams have with each 402 00:13:03,990 --> 00:13:02,720 individual vehicle um 403 00:13:06,389 --> 00:13:04,000 you know you can joke that each one is 404 00:13:08,710 --> 00:13:06,399 your favorite but for the folks 405 00:13:11,590 --> 00:13:08,720 who for whom discovery is their vehicle 406 00:13:14,310 --> 00:13:11,600 um what it means to them to to 407 00:13:15,670 --> 00:13:14,320 for this to be the last flight yeah 408 00:13:17,750 --> 00:13:15,680 you should really probably ask those 409 00:13:19,829 --> 00:13:17,760 folks themselves uh they'd give they'd 410 00:13:21,030 --> 00:13:19,839 give you a much more personal answer but 411 00:13:23,030 --> 00:13:21,040 there have been people that worked 412 00:13:26,150 --> 00:13:23,040 exclusively on discovery for for many 413 00:13:28,310 --> 00:13:26,160 many years 12 12 15 20 years but only 414 00:13:29,750 --> 00:13:28,320 been on discovery they know they know 415 00:13:31,670 --> 00:13:29,760 that ship like the back of their hand 416 00:13:34,470 --> 00:13:31,680 literally and and so it's going to be 417 00:13:36,870 --> 00:13:34,480 even tougher for them to let go 418 00:13:38,949 --> 00:13:36,880 but here again you know it's a machine 419 00:13:41,030 --> 00:13:38,959 we grow to love them they perform 420 00:13:43,350 --> 00:13:41,040 extremely well for the for the program 421 00:13:45,189 --> 00:13:43,360 and the nation and um it's going to be a 422 00:13:46,710 --> 00:13:45,199 little tough yeah but i would encourage 423 00:13:48,470 --> 00:13:46,720 you ask you know stephanie stillson the 424 00:13:51,030 --> 00:13:48,480 flow director wayne bingham the flow 425 00:13:52,790 --> 00:13:51,040 manager and especially the folks down 426 00:13:54,069 --> 00:13:52,800 the floor of the opf and the va being 427 00:13:55,509 --> 00:13:54,079 out the pad who get to crawl around 428 00:13:58,069 --> 00:13:55,519 inside the vehicles and get to know the 429 00:13:59,670 --> 00:13:58,079 nuances of them because they are uh they 430 00:14:01,910 --> 00:13:59,680 look very very similar on the outside of 431 00:14:03,509 --> 00:14:01,920 course each one is unique just to a 432 00:14:05,189 --> 00:14:03,519 certain extent and those would be the 433 00:14:07,430 --> 00:14:05,199 people to be able to tell you all the 434 00:14:10,790 --> 00:14:07,440 all the stories about discovery and and 435 00:14:12,550 --> 00:14:10,800 uh little nuances about the ship 436 00:14:16,870 --> 00:14:12,560 irene 437 00:14:17,910 --> 00:14:16,880 mike moses or mike lineback i have two 438 00:14:19,670 --> 00:14:17,920 questions 439 00:14:21,030 --> 00:14:19,680 the first is 440 00:14:27,350 --> 00:14:21,040 the 441 00:14:30,069 --> 00:14:27,360 follow-on contracts was to 442 00:14:31,990 --> 00:14:30,079 keep the shuttles flying and operational 443 00:14:34,150 --> 00:14:32,000 in a in a commercial 444 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:34,160 realm and i think the proposal was just 445 00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:35,680 to do a study so 446 00:14:39,829 --> 00:14:37,839 um is there anything that's going to be 447 00:14:41,750 --> 00:14:39,839 different from what had been planned 448 00:14:43,430 --> 00:14:41,760 previously in case nasa does end up 449 00:14:45,509 --> 00:14:43,440 selecting that for 450 00:14:47,670 --> 00:14:45,519 funding and then the second question is 451 00:14:49,030 --> 00:14:47,680 um once discovery is 452 00:14:51,750 --> 00:14:49,040 lands and 453 00:14:52,949 --> 00:14:51,760 goes through its standard post 454 00:14:56,069 --> 00:14:52,959 flight 455 00:14:59,110 --> 00:14:56,079 processing how many people will be 456 00:15:01,509 --> 00:14:59,120 will be given their notices to uh not 457 00:15:03,030 --> 00:15:01,519 come to work anymore thanks 458 00:15:04,870 --> 00:15:03,040 let's see on the uh 459 00:15:07,030 --> 00:15:04,880 on on the 460 00:15:08,470 --> 00:15:07,040 the proposal out there to look at a 461 00:15:10,310 --> 00:15:08,480 commercial company wanting to continue 462 00:15:12,870 --> 00:15:10,320 to fly shuttle is a commercial 463 00:15:15,030 --> 00:15:12,880 uh endeavor is is actually a proposal 464 00:15:16,550 --> 00:15:15,040 being submitted under our ccdev2 465 00:15:18,310 --> 00:15:16,560 contract and so therefore it's in a 466 00:15:20,389 --> 00:15:18,320 blackout and i'm not allowed to talk 467 00:15:22,230 --> 00:15:20,399 about it but uh some misconceptions are 468 00:15:23,590 --> 00:15:22,240 out there is it's not a nasa study 469 00:15:25,430 --> 00:15:23,600 that's undergoing that's a that's a 470 00:15:27,910 --> 00:15:25,440 private proposal to go 471 00:15:29,590 --> 00:15:27,920 use our hardware so we provided details 472 00:15:31,509 --> 00:15:29,600 and informations on costs but the 473 00:15:33,189 --> 00:15:31,519 proposal is not ours and and we are not 474 00:15:34,470 --> 00:15:33,199 allowed to comment on it since it is a 475 00:15:36,150 --> 00:15:34,480 contract that's currently under 476 00:15:37,749 --> 00:15:36,160 evaluation 477 00:15:39,430 --> 00:15:37,759 as far as the layoffs there's no planned 478 00:15:42,310 --> 00:15:39,440 layoff specifically targeted to 479 00:15:44,310 --> 00:15:42,320 discovery's last mission it's a it's a 480 00:15:46,870 --> 00:15:44,320 burn down profile that we've had for for 481 00:15:50,150 --> 00:15:46,880 many many years there's a layoff coming 482 00:15:52,230 --> 00:15:50,160 in for the usa team in april which was a 483 00:15:53,990 --> 00:15:52,240 planned uh 484 00:15:55,749 --> 00:15:54,000 step down in function just as we went 485 00:15:57,509 --> 00:15:55,759 through the profile so just because 486 00:15:59,910 --> 00:15:57,519 discovery lands and is done that doesn't 487 00:16:01,590 --> 00:15:59,920 change our our workforce profiles uh we 488 00:16:02,949 --> 00:16:01,600 kind of we've gotten down to about the 489 00:16:04,550 --> 00:16:02,959 minimum now and we're going to stay on 490 00:16:05,749 --> 00:16:04,560 that that profile pretty much through 491 00:16:08,230 --> 00:16:05,759 the end of the program when we get the 492 00:16:09,350 --> 00:16:08,240 wheel stop for atlantis 493 00:16:10,310 --> 00:16:09,360 and i would just i would just add a 494 00:16:11,269 --> 00:16:10,320 little bit 495 00:16:13,189 --> 00:16:11,279 we have 496 00:16:14,790 --> 00:16:13,199 this thing called the shuttle workforce 497 00:16:16,310 --> 00:16:14,800 council where we get together as a 498 00:16:18,470 --> 00:16:16,320 management team once a month and look at 499 00:16:20,069 --> 00:16:18,480 the critical skills in the program 500 00:16:22,389 --> 00:16:20,079 uh across the program from the 501 00:16:23,430 --> 00:16:22,399 processing folks to the to the launch 502 00:16:25,670 --> 00:16:23,440 team 503 00:16:27,910 --> 00:16:25,680 you know to the support services 504 00:16:29,829 --> 00:16:27,920 and so we're confident that that even 505 00:16:30,870 --> 00:16:29,839 with the layoff coming in in early april 506 00:16:33,430 --> 00:16:30,880 that we're going to be able to fly the 507 00:16:35,430 --> 00:16:33,440 last two missions perfectly safely and 508 00:16:37,990 --> 00:16:35,440 there is no other plan layoff until 509 00:16:39,749 --> 00:16:38,000 until the wheel stop of the of the final 510 00:16:42,629 --> 00:16:39,759 mission plus a plus a few weeks i 511 00:16:44,949 --> 00:16:43,749 yeah and i knew you were gonna ask that 512 00:16:46,069 --> 00:16:44,959 i didn't bring that part of my packet 513 00:16:48,790 --> 00:16:46,079 with me i don't know if you guys have 514 00:16:51,990 --> 00:16:48,800 that hand you have the layoff coming i i 515 00:16:53,350 --> 00:16:52,000 wouldn't want to guess at the number so 516 00:16:56,870 --> 00:16:53,360 bill 517 00:16:58,470 --> 00:16:56,880 and it's for one of the mics maybe both 518 00:17:00,389 --> 00:16:58,480 i'm not sure but 519 00:17:01,749 --> 00:17:00,399 for mike leinbach looking back on this 520 00:17:03,749 --> 00:17:01,759 processing flow i know it's the second 521 00:17:05,189 --> 00:17:03,759 longest vertical flow but would you make 522 00:17:06,789 --> 00:17:05,199 this would this be the most challenging 523 00:17:09,189 --> 00:17:06,799 thing you guys have ever done in flow i 524 00:17:11,429 --> 00:17:09,199 know the hydrogen leaks back on 35 are a 525 00:17:13,750 --> 00:17:11,439 big deal and a related question i'm just 526 00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:13,760 trying to see how this stands in the 527 00:17:17,590 --> 00:17:15,600 constellation of shuttle challenges you 528 00:17:19,669 --> 00:17:17,600 guys have had um and the related 529 00:17:20,949 --> 00:17:19,679 question is you know if this was a 530 00:17:22,630 --> 00:17:20,959 couple of years ago this happened you 531 00:17:23,429 --> 00:17:22,640 had tanks and flow would you have done 532 00:17:24,789 --> 00:17:23,439 this 533 00:17:26,470 --> 00:17:24,799 would you have would you have tried to 534 00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:26,480 modify a tank i know it's hindsight but 535 00:17:29,990 --> 00:17:28,559 i'm just curious what how this stands in 536 00:17:32,070 --> 00:17:30,000 that regard and i got one quick 537 00:17:34,070 --> 00:17:32,080 follow-up i'll let mike take the uh what 538 00:17:35,350 --> 00:17:34,080 would we have done years ago with other 539 00:17:37,909 --> 00:17:35,360 tanks question 540 00:17:39,110 --> 00:17:37,919 um but the processing flow for discovery 541 00:17:40,630 --> 00:17:39,120 you know other than the people working 542 00:17:42,549 --> 00:17:40,640 on the tank itself 543 00:17:44,390 --> 00:17:42,559 uh the work on discovery has been very 544 00:17:46,870 --> 00:17:44,400 really pretty minor during during this 545 00:17:48,870 --> 00:17:46,880 downtime we've made sure that all items 546 00:17:50,789 --> 00:17:48,880 that have a time limit on them have been 547 00:17:52,310 --> 00:17:50,799 changed out and ready to go 548 00:17:54,070 --> 00:17:52,320 we've looked at all of our requirements 549 00:17:55,510 --> 00:17:54,080 on the books and and make sure that 550 00:17:57,669 --> 00:17:55,520 we're ready to go plus a few months in 551 00:17:59,669 --> 00:17:57,679 case we do end up scrubbing again so 552 00:18:01,750 --> 00:17:59,679 most of the team really has not been 553 00:18:03,190 --> 00:18:01,760 taxed that that uh heavily during this 554 00:18:04,870 --> 00:18:03,200 during his downtime 555 00:18:07,510 --> 00:18:04,880 that's not true of the external tank 556 00:18:09,270 --> 00:18:07,520 processing people they they worked 24 557 00:18:10,390 --> 00:18:09,280 hours a day seven days a week through 558 00:18:11,430 --> 00:18:10,400 christmas 559 00:18:15,350 --> 00:18:11,440 and 560 00:18:17,669 --> 00:18:15,360 folks are 561 00:18:19,110 --> 00:18:17,679 to be commended to the to the maximum 562 00:18:21,270 --> 00:18:19,120 they put in an effort that's 563 00:18:22,789 --> 00:18:21,280 unbelievable 564 00:18:24,310 --> 00:18:22,799 you look back on this particular problem 565 00:18:25,909 --> 00:18:24,320 this was a very very difficult problem 566 00:18:27,430 --> 00:18:25,919 to to resolve 567 00:18:29,430 --> 00:18:27,440 the hydrogen leaks was it was a very 568 00:18:30,950 --> 00:18:29,440 difficult problem to resolve as well 569 00:18:32,470 --> 00:18:30,960 where would they stack up they're 570 00:18:36,950 --> 00:18:32,480 probably the two most 571 00:18:38,470 --> 00:18:36,960 issues the shuttle program has faced 572 00:18:40,310 --> 00:18:38,480 that that i've been associated with 573 00:18:42,230 --> 00:18:40,320 since the early 80s 574 00:18:43,990 --> 00:18:42,240 and in both times you know we've we've 575 00:18:45,350 --> 00:18:44,000 come through we've we've taken our time 576 00:18:46,390 --> 00:18:45,360 we've fixed the problem we've flown 577 00:18:47,909 --> 00:18:46,400 again 578 00:18:50,710 --> 00:18:47,919 which is the mantra in the shuttle 579 00:18:52,070 --> 00:18:50,720 program find it fix it and fly it and uh 580 00:18:53,350 --> 00:18:52,080 so we've we've fixed the tank we're 581 00:18:55,590 --> 00:18:53,360 gonna fly it tomorrow and it's gonna 582 00:18:57,909 --> 00:18:55,600 perform perfectly fine 583 00:18:59,830 --> 00:18:57,919 and for the other tanks yes so let's see 584 00:19:01,510 --> 00:18:59,840 bill for for other tanks you know 585 00:19:02,710 --> 00:19:01,520 if we were back 10 years ago and still 586 00:19:06,470 --> 00:19:02,720 in production 587 00:19:09,430 --> 00:19:06,480 um we'd have probably a little more 588 00:19:11,270 --> 00:19:09,440 resources at hand to look at at 589 00:19:13,110 --> 00:19:11,280 material properties for for other tanks 590 00:19:14,310 --> 00:19:13,120 you know a lot of folks ask why didn't 591 00:19:16,310 --> 00:19:14,320 we just swap to one of the other tanks 592 00:19:18,230 --> 00:19:16,320 sitting in the vab and fly it instead 593 00:19:19,909 --> 00:19:18,240 and with this type of problem there was 594 00:19:21,909 --> 00:19:19,919 no no guarantee that another tank 595 00:19:23,270 --> 00:19:21,919 doesn't have a similar problem until we 596 00:19:25,190 --> 00:19:23,280 find out what that ultimate root cause 597 00:19:26,310 --> 00:19:25,200 was which really took us until after 598 00:19:27,909 --> 00:19:26,320 christmas 599 00:19:30,870 --> 00:19:27,919 we just didn't know what the actual 600 00:19:32,710 --> 00:19:30,880 driving uh concern was once you find it 601 00:19:34,390 --> 00:19:32,720 then you can look at modifying had we 602 00:19:36,390 --> 00:19:34,400 had a couple other tanks sitting around 603 00:19:38,310 --> 00:19:36,400 that that we could we could show weren't 604 00:19:40,710 --> 00:19:38,320 a problem or that we could have started 605 00:19:42,470 --> 00:19:40,720 modifying while still doing a root cause 606 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:42,480 investigation we might have been able to 607 00:19:45,750 --> 00:19:44,320 fly a couple of weeks earlier than we 608 00:19:46,870 --> 00:19:45,760 are right now but i think we probably 609 00:19:47,750 --> 00:19:46,880 would have played it out just about the 610 00:19:49,110 --> 00:19:47,760 same 611 00:19:53,110 --> 00:19:49,120 the true 612 00:19:55,029 --> 00:19:53,120 was never fixing the tank it was 613 00:19:56,950 --> 00:19:55,039 understanding the problem and being sure 614 00:19:58,390 --> 00:19:56,960 that our fix was the right one to do so 615 00:20:00,710 --> 00:19:58,400 that that that was going to take as long 616 00:20:02,149 --> 00:20:00,720 as it took uh i'm sure the the analysis 617 00:20:03,990 --> 00:20:02,159 guys at math would have liked to have 618 00:20:05,990 --> 00:20:04,000 the workforce they had back then though 619 00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:06,000 to help them do the math um we were 620 00:20:09,350 --> 00:20:07,520 pretty skeleton force down there at the 621 00:20:12,789 --> 00:20:09,360 uh at the michoud planning at marshall 622 00:20:18,230 --> 00:20:12,799 but those guys really stepped up for us 623 00:20:23,190 --> 00:20:21,350 dan billow from wesh tv for mike moses 624 00:20:25,270 --> 00:20:23,200 what what sort of a moment will it be 625 00:20:28,470 --> 00:20:25,280 tomorrow morning when when cryogenics 626 00:20:30,230 --> 00:20:28,480 hit metal are are you uh you know so 627 00:20:32,870 --> 00:20:30,240 convinced by the testing that you've 628 00:20:34,230 --> 00:20:32,880 done that that you're fine or or is it 629 00:20:35,990 --> 00:20:34,240 that when you're going to find out that 630 00:20:37,190 --> 00:20:36,000 the fix worked 631 00:20:38,870 --> 00:20:37,200 you know we we know through all our 632 00:20:40,390 --> 00:20:38,880 testing and analysis that the the fix is 633 00:20:42,070 --> 00:20:40,400 going to hold no problem we've uh we've 634 00:20:43,830 --> 00:20:42,080 upped the the margins on that on that 635 00:20:45,830 --> 00:20:43,840 manifold and that flange 636 00:20:47,830 --> 00:20:45,840 uh enough that uh 637 00:20:48,950 --> 00:20:47,840 it's not going to crack so that's not to 638 00:20:50,789 --> 00:20:48,960 say we're not going to watch to make 639 00:20:52,470 --> 00:20:50,799 sure something unexpected doesn't happen 640 00:20:54,549 --> 00:20:52,480 we have all the right cameras all the 641 00:20:55,990 --> 00:20:54,559 right inspections in place but but just 642 00:20:58,070 --> 00:20:56,000 like the gup i'm not going to have any 643 00:20:59,830 --> 00:20:58,080 extra concerns when we uh when we get to 644 00:21:01,029 --> 00:20:59,840 the lux level in the in the lox tank 645 00:21:02,870 --> 00:21:01,039 that hits the flanger when we get all 646 00:21:04,070 --> 00:21:02,880 the way to the top of the the hydrogen 647 00:21:06,230 --> 00:21:04,080 tank and start vending off through the 648 00:21:07,909 --> 00:21:06,240 gup i'm i'm highly confident that both 649 00:21:09,669 --> 00:21:07,919 those problems are are behind us and not 650 00:21:12,950 --> 00:21:09,679 going to be an issue for us not to say 651 00:21:19,110 --> 00:21:14,870 kevin 652 00:21:20,230 --> 00:21:19,120 on that is there extra steps put in is 653 00:21:21,750 --> 00:21:20,240 there going to be an extra person out 654 00:21:23,350 --> 00:21:21,760 for the final inspection do you have 655 00:21:24,310 --> 00:21:23,360 more cameras out there looking at the 656 00:21:26,470 --> 00:21:24,320 crack 657 00:21:29,190 --> 00:21:26,480 areas of the tank yeah we've got we've 658 00:21:30,710 --> 00:21:29,200 got a couple extra cameras um i'll just 659 00:21:32,950 --> 00:21:30,720 walk you through the the inspection 660 00:21:34,230 --> 00:21:32,960 criteria or the inspection process 661 00:21:36,470 --> 00:21:34,240 really you know begins at the beginning 662 00:21:37,990 --> 00:21:36,480 of external tank loading the guys are in 663 00:21:39,909 --> 00:21:38,000 the firing room watching all the cameras 664 00:21:42,470 --> 00:21:39,919 we have at the launch pad 665 00:21:44,070 --> 00:21:42,480 uh very high definition we have infrared 666 00:21:45,350 --> 00:21:44,080 cameras looking for thermal leaks that 667 00:21:46,789 --> 00:21:45,360 type of thing 668 00:21:49,830 --> 00:21:46,799 so we'll be inspecting that tank for the 669 00:21:51,270 --> 00:21:49,840 full three hours of of load and then we 670 00:21:53,190 --> 00:21:51,280 send the final inspection team out to 671 00:21:55,110 --> 00:21:53,200 the pad and they will do their standard 672 00:21:56,870 --> 00:21:55,120 walk down from they'll stop at the at 673 00:21:58,710 --> 00:21:56,880 the mobile launcher zero level look up 674 00:22:00,230 --> 00:21:58,720 at the at the orbiter in the tank then 675 00:22:01,029 --> 00:22:00,240 they'll go to the top and work our way 676 00:22:02,710 --> 00:22:01,039 down 677 00:22:03,909 --> 00:22:02,720 same number of people as always same 678 00:22:05,510 --> 00:22:03,919 stops 679 00:22:07,190 --> 00:22:05,520 they do have a 680 00:22:08,870 --> 00:22:07,200 a special infrared camera they're taking 681 00:22:10,549 --> 00:22:08,880 out with them this time 682 00:22:13,350 --> 00:22:10,559 but we've trained on that no big issue 683 00:22:14,470 --> 00:22:13,360 there so it the the tank will get a 100 684 00:22:15,590 --> 00:22:14,480 inspection 685 00:22:17,110 --> 00:22:15,600 and um 686 00:22:19,270 --> 00:22:17,120 when the when the guys come back to the 687 00:22:21,510 --> 00:22:19,280 firing room and report out to us 688 00:22:22,549 --> 00:22:21,520 the tank will be will be what it is it's 689 00:22:24,149 --> 00:22:22,559 either going to be ready to go or 690 00:22:25,669 --> 00:22:24,159 they're going to be some issues we don't 691 00:22:27,350 --> 00:22:25,679 expect any issues at all but if there 692 00:22:29,669 --> 00:22:27,360 are we're going to find them and we'll 693 00:22:31,909 --> 00:22:29,679 talk about them and as we always do we 694 00:22:33,510 --> 00:22:31,919 have criteria for certain issues on the 695 00:22:35,270 --> 00:22:33,520 external tank if it's a frost ball 696 00:22:36,390 --> 00:22:35,280 typically they're go depending where 697 00:22:38,070 --> 00:22:36,400 they are 698 00:22:39,350 --> 00:22:38,080 if it's ice you know that could be a 699 00:22:40,789 --> 00:22:39,360 different problem 700 00:22:42,470 --> 00:22:40,799 obviously if there's if there's some 701 00:22:45,029 --> 00:22:42,480 foam issues that would cause us to talk 702 00:22:47,350 --> 00:22:45,039 quite a bit but but i assure you that 703 00:22:48,950 --> 00:22:47,360 this tank will will get a complete 704 00:22:50,710 --> 00:22:48,960 inspection both from the firing room and 705 00:22:54,310 --> 00:22:50,720 by the final inspection team out the pad 706 00:22:56,549 --> 00:22:54,320 before we committed a flight 707 00:23:01,110 --> 00:22:56,559 greg 708 00:23:03,510 --> 00:23:01,120 is probably from mike leinbach but maybe 709 00:23:05,669 --> 00:23:03,520 mike moses as well you referred earlier 710 00:23:07,510 --> 00:23:05,679 to nuances with discovery and you 711 00:23:09,669 --> 00:23:07,520 advised us to talk with people who deal 712 00:23:11,830 --> 00:23:09,679 with the flow on the floor but are there 713 00:23:13,990 --> 00:23:11,840 any nuances with which you're familiar 714 00:23:15,909 --> 00:23:14,000 that you can describe to us either of 715 00:23:17,750 --> 00:23:15,919 you 716 00:23:22,070 --> 00:23:17,760 i know one in discovery that i cannot 717 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:27,430 and i don't have any for you 718 00:23:31,830 --> 00:23:29,990 in the back seated 719 00:23:33,669 --> 00:23:31,840 eric spivey with first coast news for 720 00:23:35,110 --> 00:23:33,679 either mike as people start seeing the 721 00:23:37,430 --> 00:23:35,120 headlines of the final flight for 722 00:23:38,870 --> 00:23:37,440 discovery they think of it perhaps as 723 00:23:40,710 --> 00:23:38,880 the beginning of the end could either of 724 00:23:42,549 --> 00:23:40,720 you just talk about do you agree with 725 00:23:44,149 --> 00:23:42,559 that assessment and what would be your 726 00:23:47,110 --> 00:23:44,159 thoughts today 727 00:23:49,190 --> 00:23:47,120 on or your message to them on the future 728 00:23:51,750 --> 00:23:49,200 of space exploration as they start 729 00:23:53,669 --> 00:23:51,760 seeing these headlines about this being 730 00:23:55,590 --> 00:23:53,679 the last flight for discovery and the 731 00:23:57,750 --> 00:23:55,600 last two flights coming up 732 00:23:58,710 --> 00:23:57,760 you want to go yeah well let's see um 733 00:23:59,590 --> 00:23:58,720 you know 734 00:24:01,750 --> 00:23:59,600 for us 735 00:24:03,590 --> 00:24:01,760 inside the shuttle program the the end 736 00:24:06,390 --> 00:24:03,600 so to speak has been planned and coming 737 00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:06,400 for for many many years um we've known 738 00:24:09,430 --> 00:24:07,760 this was happening we've we've planned 739 00:24:10,710 --> 00:24:09,440 it we've built the uh 740 00:24:11,750 --> 00:24:10,720 built the right way to go about doing it 741 00:24:13,510 --> 00:24:11,760 to make sure we maintain the right 742 00:24:14,710 --> 00:24:13,520 workforce and the right skill set mike 743 00:24:16,630 --> 00:24:14,720 kind of talked a little bit about how 744 00:24:18,630 --> 00:24:16,640 we're keeping tabs on things 745 00:24:20,390 --> 00:24:18,640 so this is kind of this has always been 746 00:24:21,909 --> 00:24:20,400 the plan so now that we're at the last 747 00:24:23,990 --> 00:24:21,919 flight of each vehicle 748 00:24:25,990 --> 00:24:24,000 me personally it's not really changed 749 00:24:28,070 --> 00:24:26,000 anything other than we're just now 750 00:24:29,190 --> 00:24:28,080 executing the plans we've had in place 751 00:24:31,269 --> 00:24:29,200 for so long 752 00:24:32,470 --> 00:24:31,279 from a public standpoint i am getting a 753 00:24:33,990 --> 00:24:32,480 little bit of that feedback from folks 754 00:24:35,990 --> 00:24:34,000 around the country that that know i work 755 00:24:37,269 --> 00:24:36,000 here and and have said that you know hey 756 00:24:39,830 --> 00:24:37,279 i saw that this was the last flight i 757 00:24:41,590 --> 00:24:39,840 didn't know we were done and uh and 758 00:24:44,630 --> 00:24:41,600 that's that goes you know cuts twofold 759 00:24:45,990 --> 00:24:44,640 right it it it surprises me that 760 00:24:47,269 --> 00:24:46,000 the news doesn't get out but we live in 761 00:24:49,430 --> 00:24:47,279 a very sheltered world down here in 762 00:24:51,750 --> 00:24:49,440 florida or back in houston where we're 763 00:24:53,430 --> 00:24:51,760 at marshall where where the community is 764 00:24:55,669 --> 00:24:53,440 all space related and everybody knows 765 00:24:57,110 --> 00:24:55,679 everything about the space program um 766 00:24:58,950 --> 00:24:57,120 and so when i go out to visit my sister 767 00:25:00,789 --> 00:24:58,960 or my family and i get to see what the 768 00:25:02,549 --> 00:25:00,799 rest of the real world looks like i i 769 00:25:03,750 --> 00:25:02,559 get out an awakening sometimes 770 00:25:05,029 --> 00:25:03,760 everybody's very supportive and it's 771 00:25:07,029 --> 00:25:05,039 always that same i can't believe we're 772 00:25:08,630 --> 00:25:07,039 going to stop flying shuttle what's next 773 00:25:09,909 --> 00:25:08,640 and uh and we're still working on the 774 00:25:12,630 --> 00:25:09,919 what's next part you know we have this 775 00:25:15,190 --> 00:25:12,640 path towards exploration uh with uh with 776 00:25:17,350 --> 00:25:15,200 developing the sls the uh the space 777 00:25:19,029 --> 00:25:17,360 launch system putting a multi-purpose 778 00:25:20,950 --> 00:25:19,039 crew vehicle on top of it funding 779 00:25:23,029 --> 00:25:20,960 commercial entities to help us get into 780 00:25:25,430 --> 00:25:23,039 leo low earth orbit in a little faster 781 00:25:28,390 --> 00:25:25,440 better cheaper way uh all that's a 782 00:25:29,750 --> 00:25:28,400 really good future for nasa it's just 783 00:25:31,350 --> 00:25:29,760 it's not the same as what we're doing 784 00:25:33,269 --> 00:25:31,360 right now which is launching shuttles 785 00:25:34,470 --> 00:25:33,279 every day so it's a different way of 786 00:25:36,149 --> 00:25:34,480 going about it 787 00:25:37,830 --> 00:25:36,159 there's no good or bad about it it's 788 00:25:39,669 --> 00:25:37,840 just it's we can't keep doing what we're 789 00:25:42,149 --> 00:25:39,679 doing with the budgets we have so this 790 00:25:43,269 --> 00:25:42,159 is this is the new future so again now 791 00:25:44,789 --> 00:25:43,279 that we're at last flight i don't 792 00:25:46,070 --> 00:25:44,799 personally really look at it too much 793 00:25:48,070 --> 00:25:46,080 differently i guess by the time we get 794 00:25:50,710 --> 00:25:48,080 to the last flight of atlantis i'll have 795 00:25:52,230 --> 00:25:50,720 to actually decide what office i move to 796 00:25:53,590 --> 00:25:52,240 after this so 797 00:25:55,350 --> 00:25:53,600 so at some point it'll become a personal 798 00:25:57,990 --> 00:25:55,360 thing for me but for right now like mike 799 00:25:59,510 --> 00:25:58,000 said we all buckle down and fly and and 800 00:26:00,870 --> 00:25:59,520 i think we'll stop at atlantis is about 801 00:26:02,630 --> 00:26:00,880 the first time any of us are actually 802 00:26:03,350 --> 00:26:02,640 going to look up and say okay now we're 803 00:26:05,669 --> 00:26:03,360 done 804 00:26:07,430 --> 00:26:05,679 what's next 805 00:26:10,789 --> 00:26:07,440 jay 806 00:26:13,750 --> 00:26:10,799 question 807 00:26:15,269 --> 00:26:13,760 if you need to rescue discovery's crew 808 00:26:17,110 --> 00:26:15,279 how many days do you need to get 809 00:26:20,149 --> 00:26:17,120 endeavour ready to go and get them in 810 00:26:22,549 --> 00:26:20,159 orbit and also the other day mike 811 00:26:24,789 --> 00:26:22,559 servantini was talking about if he had 812 00:26:27,110 --> 00:26:24,799 his druthers he would like to fly 813 00:26:28,590 --> 00:26:27,120 sts-134 814 00:26:32,070 --> 00:26:28,600 in june and 815 00:26:34,549 --> 00:26:32,080 sts-135 in late august early september 816 00:26:36,710 --> 00:26:34,559 to get the latest that you need up there 817 00:26:38,470 --> 00:26:36,720 is any reason why you couldn't handle 818 00:26:40,070 --> 00:26:38,480 that laying off the people you're going 819 00:26:42,230 --> 00:26:40,080 to lay off in april 820 00:26:44,950 --> 00:26:42,240 uh the crew that you have on is good to 821 00:26:47,110 --> 00:26:44,960 the end of this fiscal year 822 00:26:49,909 --> 00:26:47,120 let's see so the first question about 823 00:26:52,789 --> 00:26:49,919 rescue atlantis is i believe from launch 824 00:26:55,350 --> 00:26:52,799 will be 59 days i'm sorry endeavor will 825 00:26:56,950 --> 00:26:55,360 be 59 days uh from this launch so from 826 00:27:00,789 --> 00:26:56,960 tomorrow we'll have 59 days till the 827 00:27:02,630 --> 00:27:00,799 planned launch of sts-134 um 828 00:27:04,710 --> 00:27:02,640 that's uh we stepped up a couple years 829 00:27:07,269 --> 00:27:04,720 ago to to our launch on need flight 830 00:27:09,350 --> 00:27:07,279 being just the next flow so so that 831 00:27:10,549 --> 00:27:09,360 means that in that flow there's time off 832 00:27:12,310 --> 00:27:10,559 there's contingency days there's 833 00:27:13,830 --> 00:27:12,320 holidays and if we're in a launch on 834 00:27:15,430 --> 00:27:13,840 need scenario we obviously wouldn't we 835 00:27:16,870 --> 00:27:15,440 wouldn't use those days 836 00:27:18,149 --> 00:27:16,880 but there's two pieces to launch i need 837 00:27:19,430 --> 00:27:18,159 there's to get the vehicle ready and out 838 00:27:21,350 --> 00:27:19,440 to the pad and then there's all the 839 00:27:23,029 --> 00:27:21,360 flight software and other prep products 840 00:27:24,630 --> 00:27:23,039 that go along with flying the shuttle 841 00:27:27,510 --> 00:27:24,640 some of those can be accelerated some 842 00:27:28,789 --> 00:27:27,520 can't so it's at least 59 days we could 843 00:27:30,070 --> 00:27:28,799 probably pull that back in and make it 844 00:27:31,350 --> 00:27:30,080 faster than that 845 00:27:33,830 --> 00:27:31,360 but right now the next launch is 846 00:27:35,750 --> 00:27:33,840 scheduled 59 days away i believe the 847 00:27:38,470 --> 00:27:35,760 consumable situation up on station gives 848 00:27:40,230 --> 00:27:38,480 them i think it's at 152 days of support 849 00:27:41,110 --> 00:27:40,240 and that's without rationing and any 850 00:27:42,789 --> 00:27:41,120 other 851 00:27:44,470 --> 00:27:42,799 or resupply that we would count on for 852 00:27:47,830 --> 00:27:44,480 that kind of thing so plenty of overlap 853 00:27:50,389 --> 00:27:47,840 on a on a crew rescue scenario 854 00:27:53,269 --> 00:27:50,399 and then the uh 855 00:27:54,870 --> 00:27:53,279 if we don't get to station 856 00:27:56,470 --> 00:27:54,880 how many days you need to get in there 857 00:27:57,750 --> 00:27:56,480 and go get them 858 00:28:01,350 --> 00:27:57,760 yes what i'm saying the next mission 859 00:28:02,789 --> 00:28:01,360 endeavor could be ready in 59 days to go 860 00:28:03,990 --> 00:28:02,799 but as we've done all the work to look 861 00:28:07,590 --> 00:28:04,000 at what we're going to do for a crew 862 00:28:09,110 --> 00:28:07,600 rescue on the last flight we really 863 00:28:11,750 --> 00:28:09,120 crew rescue launch on need is now 864 00:28:13,269 --> 00:28:11,760 basically in name only um we know of the 865 00:28:14,870 --> 00:28:13,279 plan we have the plan we know how we 866 00:28:16,950 --> 00:28:14,880 would execute it if we would do a soyuz 867 00:28:18,789 --> 00:28:16,960 based rescue where we basically let that 868 00:28:20,710 --> 00:28:18,799 crew on board and let soyuz rotations be 869 00:28:22,149 --> 00:28:20,720 able to bring them home it would be a 870 00:28:23,190 --> 00:28:22,159 longer timeframe until they're all back 871 00:28:25,269 --> 00:28:23,200 on the ground but it would be an 872 00:28:27,269 --> 00:28:25,279 acceptable acceptable plan for a rescue 873 00:28:28,789 --> 00:28:27,279 we haven't specifically looked at soil 874 00:28:30,389 --> 00:28:28,799 rescue for these missions we're saving 875 00:28:32,230 --> 00:28:30,399 it for the last one but the concept 876 00:28:33,029 --> 00:28:32,240 would work at any time 877 00:28:34,710 --> 00:28:33,039 um 878 00:28:35,909 --> 00:28:34,720 and then jay your last question i i had 879 00:28:38,149 --> 00:28:35,919 it there for a second i lost it so what 880 00:28:39,909 --> 00:28:38,159 was your second partner mike cerfandini 881 00:28:43,430 --> 00:28:39,919 said if he had his druthers he'd like to 882 00:28:45,029 --> 00:28:43,440 launch 34 in june and launch 35 in late 883 00:28:46,950 --> 00:28:45,039 august right so 884 00:28:48,310 --> 00:28:46,960 um one of the things 885 00:28:50,630 --> 00:28:48,320 i learned is we're doing manifest 886 00:28:51,990 --> 00:28:50,640 planning is everybody has a has 887 00:28:53,990 --> 00:28:52,000 some skin in the game and wants a little 888 00:28:55,669 --> 00:28:54,000 different thing uh suff would really 889 00:28:58,310 --> 00:28:55,679 obviously like his resupply as late as 890 00:29:00,710 --> 00:28:58,320 possible before the the big honking 891 00:29:01,830 --> 00:29:00,720 payload bay of the shuttle goes away 892 00:29:03,350 --> 00:29:01,840 and so 893 00:29:05,590 --> 00:29:03,360 he has this drive to do it as late as 894 00:29:06,870 --> 00:29:05,600 possible uh the the manifest and the 895 00:29:08,470 --> 00:29:06,880 flows down here have a thing the 896 00:29:09,990 --> 00:29:08,480 workforce doesn't play into it we'd be 897 00:29:12,470 --> 00:29:10,000 able to go longer i think what's really 898 00:29:14,230 --> 00:29:12,480 going to drive us is the budget um and 899 00:29:15,510 --> 00:29:14,240 and uh and not so much a workforce 900 00:29:18,070 --> 00:29:15,520 question but just a 901 00:29:19,669 --> 00:29:18,080 at some point the end's coming and does 902 00:29:21,269 --> 00:29:19,679 moving one month later change anything 903 00:29:23,110 --> 00:29:21,279 for the workforce or not 904 00:29:24,789 --> 00:29:23,120 no if it truly helps us out on station 905 00:29:26,870 --> 00:29:24,799 resupply and we have the money to do it 906 00:29:28,310 --> 00:29:26,880 then then sure we should do that uh if 907 00:29:29,750 --> 00:29:28,320 the money's not going to be there then 908 00:29:31,269 --> 00:29:29,760 we probably ought to just go when we're 909 00:29:33,350 --> 00:29:31,279 ready so that's going to be more of a 910 00:29:38,789 --> 00:29:33,360 headquarters budget action to see to see 911 00:29:44,870 --> 00:29:41,350 yes uh stefano golidan for italian 912 00:29:46,870 --> 00:29:44,880 television i have one question which 913 00:29:49,110 --> 00:29:46,880 probably will sound some simple too 914 00:29:51,029 --> 00:29:49,120 simplistic i don't know but i find it 915 00:29:53,190 --> 00:29:51,039 hard to understand why 916 00:29:55,590 --> 00:29:53,200 and a follow-on 917 00:29:56,950 --> 00:29:55,600 vehicle launch vehicle cannot be based 918 00:29:59,990 --> 00:29:56,960 on an e.t 919 00:30:02,950 --> 00:30:00,000 uh you know couple with two boosters and 920 00:30:05,830 --> 00:30:02,960 you know engines and cargo on top i mean 921 00:30:06,710 --> 00:30:05,840 obviously it sounds very you know i'm 922 00:30:13,430 --> 00:30:06,720 like 923 00:30:14,630 --> 00:30:13,440 understand a little bit more why it is 924 00:30:16,950 --> 00:30:14,640 so difficult 925 00:30:18,870 --> 00:30:16,960 well that actually is the uh the the 926 00:30:21,269 --> 00:30:18,880 design that we've kind of decided upon 927 00:30:22,950 --> 00:30:21,279 is a shuttle derived follow-on 928 00:30:24,310 --> 00:30:22,960 that uses the same size core as an 929 00:30:25,029 --> 00:30:24,320 external tank 930 00:30:28,310 --> 00:30:25,039 with 931 00:30:29,990 --> 00:30:28,320 to be replaced eventually 932 00:30:31,669 --> 00:30:30,000 by by a different set of engines but 933 00:30:33,029 --> 00:30:31,679 basically fly out the fleet of shuttle 934 00:30:35,669 --> 00:30:33,039 engines that we have 935 00:30:37,190 --> 00:30:35,679 using solid rocket motors on the sides 936 00:30:38,549 --> 00:30:37,200 they could be four segment to start with 937 00:30:40,310 --> 00:30:38,559 and expanded to five segment like we 938 00:30:42,230 --> 00:30:40,320 were planning on doing and have test 939 00:30:44,470 --> 00:30:42,240 experience with uh and then you put an 940 00:30:46,710 --> 00:30:44,480 upper stage and a and a crew module on 941 00:30:48,310 --> 00:30:46,720 top so that's effectively what we have 942 00:30:49,750 --> 00:30:48,320 baselined as our new 943 00:30:51,590 --> 00:30:49,760 space launch system 944 00:30:53,669 --> 00:30:51,600 the exact trade details 945 00:30:55,110 --> 00:30:53,679 is a different part of my job so i'm not 946 00:30:56,630 --> 00:30:55,120 i'm not in on all that as to how we 947 00:30:58,230 --> 00:30:56,640 trade it off and and why we pick one 948 00:30:59,909 --> 00:30:58,240 architecture over another 949 00:31:01,909 --> 00:30:59,919 and to say anything is a final decision 950 00:31:04,230 --> 00:31:01,919 is really not not fair because there are 951 00:31:06,070 --> 00:31:04,240 so many variables in play 952 00:31:07,269 --> 00:31:06,080 you got to look at total cost to get up 953 00:31:08,950 --> 00:31:07,279 and operating initially you got to look 954 00:31:10,470 --> 00:31:08,960 at life cycle cost you look at 955 00:31:11,669 --> 00:31:10,480 development costs and what's the right 956 00:31:12,549 --> 00:31:11,679 figure of merit that you want to trade 957 00:31:14,149 --> 00:31:12,559 on 958 00:31:15,990 --> 00:31:14,159 so those studies have happened they're 959 00:31:17,430 --> 00:31:16,000 still ongoing they'll probably keep 960 00:31:19,909 --> 00:31:17,440 going until we actually have a new 961 00:31:21,990 --> 00:31:19,919 vehicle sitting on the pad um there's 962 00:31:23,110 --> 00:31:22,000 actually a group of people at 963 00:31:25,509 --> 00:31:23,120 marshall and headquarters whose 964 00:31:27,350 --> 00:31:25,519 full-time job is to constantly design 965 00:31:28,950 --> 00:31:27,360 new launch vehicles and trade off their 966 00:31:30,789 --> 00:31:28,960 their pros and cons and so i think that 967 00:31:32,149 --> 00:31:30,799 that team will always have a job because 968 00:31:34,230 --> 00:31:32,159 we're always looking to expand and 969 00:31:36,310 --> 00:31:34,240 change and see what we can do better so 970 00:31:37,750 --> 00:31:36,320 so but yeah it's a follow-on vehicle's 971 00:31:39,269 --> 00:31:37,760 coming it's just you can't just throw 972 00:31:41,269 --> 00:31:39,279 the pieces together and hook them up and 973 00:31:43,350 --> 00:31:41,279 launch you got to go do all the analysis 974 00:31:45,029 --> 00:31:43,360 all the math and and and obviously work 975 00:31:46,789 --> 00:31:45,039 all the budget that goes with it 976 00:31:48,310 --> 00:31:46,799 i wish i could tell you that it doesn't 977 00:31:50,070 --> 00:31:48,320 take nearly as much time or money but 978 00:31:51,669 --> 00:31:50,080 that's apparently what it does yeah that 979 00:31:54,630 --> 00:31:51,679 was my question i mean 980 00:31:56,950 --> 00:31:54,640 why so much money when all of these 981 00:31:59,110 --> 00:31:56,960 systems or all these parts are proven 982 00:32:01,750 --> 00:31:59,120 and i understand that coupling them in 983 00:32:03,669 --> 00:32:01,760 in a different configuration may be a 984 00:32:05,509 --> 00:32:03,679 challenge but i 985 00:32:08,070 --> 00:32:05,519 what i wanted to know was i mean why 986 00:32:09,509 --> 00:32:08,080 would it take so long and so much money 987 00:32:10,549 --> 00:32:09,519 yeah i can't answer the specifics 988 00:32:12,389 --> 00:32:10,559 because i don't know the details of that 989 00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:12,399 new design and what drives it but just 990 00:32:15,190 --> 00:32:13,760 as an example 991 00:32:17,590 --> 00:32:15,200 in the main engine systems that you know 992 00:32:19,350 --> 00:32:17,600 the shuttle main engine is uh is is an 993 00:32:21,430 --> 00:32:19,360 amazing marvel of technology and it's 994 00:32:23,269 --> 00:32:21,440 running it at basically probably the 995 00:32:26,070 --> 00:32:23,279 peak performance of a liquid hydrogen 996 00:32:30,149 --> 00:32:28,630 turbo pump type based engine and there's 997 00:32:32,149 --> 00:32:30,159 not many more tweaks we could do to it 998 00:32:33,029 --> 00:32:32,159 and it's it's not sensitive but it's 999 00:32:34,630 --> 00:32:33,039 very 1000 00:32:36,549 --> 00:32:34,640 it likes to have a certain set of inlet 1001 00:32:38,230 --> 00:32:36,559 pressures and temperatures and it needs 1002 00:32:39,750 --> 00:32:38,240 its flow conditions to be right and 1003 00:32:41,590 --> 00:32:39,760 we've designed the whole main propulsion 1004 00:32:43,029 --> 00:32:41,600 system that feeds that propellant into a 1005 00:32:44,470 --> 00:32:43,039 set of three of them that are manifolded 1006 00:32:45,990 --> 00:32:44,480 together we know how we get the flow to 1007 00:32:48,630 --> 00:32:46,000 line up just right not have any 1008 00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:48,640 recirculation not have any cavitation 1009 00:32:52,470 --> 00:32:50,480 and bubbles in the line now you go make 1010 00:32:54,230 --> 00:32:52,480 it a five engine system that you got to 1011 00:32:56,310 --> 00:32:54,240 go redesign all that and 1012 00:32:58,230 --> 00:32:56,320 and because of the lessons we've learned 1013 00:33:00,070 --> 00:32:58,240 the hard way here at nasa is we want to 1014 00:33:01,750 --> 00:33:00,080 make sure we test and not just fly so 1015 00:33:02,950 --> 00:33:01,760 you want to go build that up in a test 1016 00:33:04,549 --> 00:33:02,960 article you want to put it in the stand 1017 00:33:06,789 --> 00:33:04,559 you want to run it and bang it against 1018 00:33:08,389 --> 00:33:06,799 now the engine itself we know is robust 1019 00:33:10,070 --> 00:33:08,399 but the engine's only as good as the as 1020 00:33:11,909 --> 00:33:10,080 the inlet conditions feeding it and so 1021 00:33:13,750 --> 00:33:11,919 that's just an example 1022 00:33:15,430 --> 00:33:13,760 space flight's complicated uh some of 1023 00:33:17,269 --> 00:33:15,440 the answers are easy some of them are 1024 00:33:18,710 --> 00:33:17,279 really hard just the uh you know we 1025 00:33:20,789 --> 00:33:18,720 could talk about the the thing scott 1026 00:33:23,110 --> 00:33:20,799 talked about today with the iss rack 1027 00:33:24,870 --> 00:33:23,120 it's a it's a brace with two turnbuckles 1028 00:33:26,470 --> 00:33:24,880 on it and a lock nut you'd think that's 1029 00:33:28,470 --> 00:33:26,480 a pretty simple load analysis to show 1030 00:33:30,070 --> 00:33:28,480 why that's okay but if you look at all 1031 00:33:32,149 --> 00:33:30,080 the different environments that it will 1032 00:33:34,470 --> 00:33:32,159 fly through the different configurations 1033 00:33:36,070 --> 00:33:34,480 how much stowage is is hard mounted to 1034 00:33:37,509 --> 00:33:36,080 it how much is soft mounted to it the 1035 00:33:39,509 --> 00:33:37,519 fact that the crew reconfigures it on 1036 00:33:40,789 --> 00:33:39,519 orbit all those pieces have to be looked 1037 00:33:41,669 --> 00:33:40,799 at to make sure we didn't do anything 1038 00:33:42,870 --> 00:33:41,679 wrong 1039 00:33:44,789 --> 00:33:42,880 and caused a problem that we didn't 1040 00:33:45,750 --> 00:33:44,799 expect and so you're going to go throw a 1041 00:33:50,630 --> 00:33:45,760 new vehicle together you want to make 1042 00:33:55,669 --> 00:33:52,389 jim siegel celebration independent 1043 00:33:58,870 --> 00:33:55,679 newspaper um i'm interested in if you 1044 00:34:01,750 --> 00:33:58,880 could maybe mike or mike uh describe a 1045 00:34:03,350 --> 00:34:01,760 few of the specific modifications that 1046 00:34:06,870 --> 00:34:03,360 are being made to 1047 00:34:08,790 --> 00:34:06,880 34 and 35 as a consequence of the issues 1048 00:34:11,430 --> 00:34:08,800 that came up on this flight 1049 00:34:13,669 --> 00:34:11,440 what specific processes or hardware were 1050 00:34:14,950 --> 00:34:13,679 revised are going to be changed 1051 00:34:17,589 --> 00:34:14,960 it's we're going to basically do the 1052 00:34:19,589 --> 00:34:17,599 same mechanical structural modification 1053 00:34:23,190 --> 00:34:19,599 to the external tank so on this external 1054 00:34:25,109 --> 00:34:23,200 tank we we pulled the foam off of the uh 1055 00:34:27,109 --> 00:34:25,119 the inner tank region where it bolts to 1056 00:34:28,790 --> 00:34:27,119 the uh oxygen tank that's the tank at 1057 00:34:30,310 --> 00:34:28,800 the top of the external tank so the 1058 00:34:31,750 --> 00:34:30,320 flange that goes around there at the top 1059 00:34:33,990 --> 00:34:31,760 of the inner tank 1060 00:34:35,430 --> 00:34:34,000 we remove that foam we go into the 1061 00:34:37,589 --> 00:34:35,440 stringer tops that are bolted right 1062 00:34:39,430 --> 00:34:37,599 there we take off 1063 00:34:41,589 --> 00:34:39,440 and drill out about five fasteners four 1064 00:34:43,669 --> 00:34:41,599 or five fasteners and add what we call a 1065 00:34:45,510 --> 00:34:43,679 radius block which is basically a 1066 00:34:47,430 --> 00:34:45,520 thin aluminum band 1067 00:34:49,510 --> 00:34:47,440 of metal that reinforces that area so 1068 00:34:52,710 --> 00:34:49,520 any load that gets added into that 1069 00:34:54,950 --> 00:34:52,720 system due to assembly or uh or 1070 00:34:57,190 --> 00:34:54,960 or at loading during cryoloading or 1071 00:34:59,190 --> 00:34:57,200 ascent loads gets absorbed and carried 1072 00:35:01,670 --> 00:34:59,200 by this extra reinforced band as opposed 1073 00:35:02,550 --> 00:35:01,680 to the potentially weak metal underneath 1074 00:35:03,829 --> 00:35:02,560 it 1075 00:35:05,190 --> 00:35:03,839 so that same modification will be 1076 00:35:07,030 --> 00:35:05,200 applied to the next two tanks we just 1077 00:35:12,310 --> 00:35:07,040 finished that modification for 1078 00:35:13,910 --> 00:35:12,320 uh et-131 et-122 which flies on sts-134 1079 00:35:16,790 --> 00:35:13,920 in a couple weeks we'll start that 1080 00:35:20,310 --> 00:35:16,800 modification on et-138 which is the tank 1081 00:35:21,910 --> 00:35:20,320 for sts-135 so from uh actual physical 1082 00:35:25,109 --> 00:35:21,920 modifications to the vehicles that's the 1083 00:35:26,870 --> 00:35:25,119 same mod gonna be on all three vehicles 1084 00:35:28,710 --> 00:35:26,880 okay come over here 1085 00:35:30,950 --> 00:35:28,720 james bond with uh niko nicodoga 1086 00:35:33,190 --> 00:35:30,960 question for uh 1087 00:35:36,230 --> 00:35:33,200 mike moses and uh for scott the first 1088 00:35:39,109 --> 00:35:36,240 one is has the russian soyuz fly round 1089 00:35:40,710 --> 00:35:39,119 been approved and if and when it is when 1090 00:35:41,750 --> 00:35:40,720 will that happen and will we see that 1091 00:35:43,270 --> 00:35:41,760 live 1092 00:35:45,510 --> 00:35:43,280 and the question for scott when is the 1093 00:35:48,390 --> 00:35:45,520 first opportunity that we'll see r2 on 1094 00:35:50,870 --> 00:35:48,400 the outside of the iss 1095 00:35:52,470 --> 00:35:50,880 so on the on the fly a fly around fly 1096 00:35:53,910 --> 00:35:52,480 out of the soyuz 1097 00:35:56,069 --> 00:35:53,920 we still have a lot of work to do the 1098 00:35:57,670 --> 00:35:56,079 russians are off building trajectories 1099 00:35:59,349 --> 00:35:57,680 we think we've narrowed in on on a 1100 00:36:02,150 --> 00:35:59,359 flight path that they would they would 1101 00:36:03,829 --> 00:36:02,160 then fly now it basically falls to the 1102 00:36:05,510 --> 00:36:03,839 the the resources team on the station 1103 00:36:07,109 --> 00:36:05,520 side to go look at at finding 1104 00:36:10,230 --> 00:36:07,119 appropriate for the attitude we need to 1105 00:36:12,310 --> 00:36:10,240 be in uh power loads and thermal uh 1106 00:36:14,069 --> 00:36:12,320 issues to say that we can we can we can 1107 00:36:15,750 --> 00:36:14,079 stay in that attitude for about the hour 1108 00:36:17,670 --> 00:36:15,760 that it would take to do this fly around 1109 00:36:19,510 --> 00:36:17,680 uh everybody expects that should work 1110 00:36:21,109 --> 00:36:19,520 but we got to go do all that math um and 1111 00:36:23,270 --> 00:36:21,119 that's going to take longer than before 1112 00:36:25,270 --> 00:36:23,280 launch so we kind of put the line in the 1113 00:36:27,430 --> 00:36:25,280 sand that by flight day six we need to 1114 00:36:29,030 --> 00:36:27,440 have made the decision uh and then we 1115 00:36:30,630 --> 00:36:29,040 would probably execute by adding an 1116 00:36:32,470 --> 00:36:30,640 extra day into the mission 1117 00:36:34,069 --> 00:36:32,480 either after flight day nine or after 1118 00:36:35,910 --> 00:36:34,079 flight day ten so in the flight day nine 1119 00:36:39,349 --> 00:36:35,920 or ten time frame is when we'd add a day 1120 00:36:40,710 --> 00:36:39,359 to go do this fly around um and so we'll 1121 00:36:42,550 --> 00:36:40,720 start talking about it pretty much as 1122 00:36:44,870 --> 00:36:42,560 soon as we get on orbit and get a status 1123 00:36:46,150 --> 00:36:44,880 every day uh and when if we know we're 1124 00:36:47,750 --> 00:36:46,160 ready to make the call we'll make it but 1125 00:36:50,470 --> 00:36:47,760 if we need to we'll go probably as late 1126 00:36:52,470 --> 00:36:50,480 as flight day six or so 1127 00:36:54,069 --> 00:36:52,480 just to do that fly around yeah the way 1128 00:36:55,990 --> 00:36:54,079 we laid it out is the the amount of 1129 00:36:57,430 --> 00:36:56,000 activities needed for the crew on orbit 1130 00:36:58,390 --> 00:36:57,440 uh we would need to add that extra day 1131 00:37:00,310 --> 00:36:58,400 in there to give them the time to 1132 00:37:03,109 --> 00:37:00,320 execute this maneuver 1133 00:37:05,190 --> 00:37:03,119 and as far as r2 is concerned i haven't 1134 00:37:07,270 --> 00:37:05,200 seen the latest plan forward for getting 1135 00:37:09,349 --> 00:37:07,280 him unpacked and set up in the lab but 1136 00:37:10,630 --> 00:37:09,359 it may take a couple of months to get to 1137 00:37:11,910 --> 00:37:10,640 that because there's an awful lot for 1138 00:37:13,829 --> 00:37:11,920 the crew to do with all the hardware 1139 00:37:15,430 --> 00:37:13,839 that we're flying up and it's a fairly 1140 00:37:17,190 --> 00:37:15,440 involved process to get him out of his 1141 00:37:18,470 --> 00:37:17,200 launch enclosure which you know is 1142 00:37:20,470 --> 00:37:18,480 pretty beefy and has got a lot of 1143 00:37:21,510 --> 00:37:20,480 fasteners that the crew has to undo and 1144 00:37:23,190 --> 00:37:21,520 then when they set him up they're going 1145 00:37:25,430 --> 00:37:23,200 to set him up in the u.s laboratory 1146 00:37:27,589 --> 00:37:25,440 along with a task board for him to to 1147 00:37:29,670 --> 00:37:27,599 manipulate uh there are no one there's 1148 00:37:32,470 --> 00:37:29,680 no intention of taking this version of 1149 00:37:33,510 --> 00:37:32,480 r2 outside that's maybe a follow-on 1150 00:37:35,190 --> 00:37:33,520 version 1151 00:37:37,030 --> 00:37:35,200 later on you know if we prove the 1152 00:37:38,870 --> 00:37:37,040 concept and prove that it works well 1153 00:37:40,790 --> 00:37:38,880 inside and we can control it make it do 1154 00:37:42,069 --> 00:37:40,800 what we wanted to do then ultimately 1155 00:37:43,910 --> 00:37:42,079 perhaps we can give it some more 1156 00:37:47,430 --> 00:37:43,920 challenging and dangerous tasks go do 1157 00:37:53,030 --> 00:37:49,829 space flight magazine one quick question 1158 00:37:54,870 --> 00:37:53,040 what exactly is the status of 135 1159 00:37:56,710 --> 00:37:54,880 whether it's been approved another 1160 00:37:58,470 --> 00:37:56,720 question is for um 1161 00:37:59,829 --> 00:37:58,480 the mikes and scott 1162 00:38:01,670 --> 00:37:59,839 can you talk a little bit about a 1163 00:38:03,910 --> 00:38:01,680 history of rolling the shuttle back with 1164 00:38:06,310 --> 00:38:03,920 the payload in there and not taking it 1165 00:38:07,750 --> 00:38:06,320 out and and why you don't have to check 1166 00:38:09,430 --> 00:38:07,760 the payload you said you didn't have to 1167 00:38:10,870 --> 00:38:09,440 check the payload in the in the cargo 1168 00:38:13,430 --> 00:38:10,880 bay at all 1169 00:38:14,470 --> 00:38:13,440 see so the 135 question um 1170 00:38:16,310 --> 00:38:14,480 we've done 1171 00:38:17,270 --> 00:38:16,320 in headquarters and with the shuttle 1172 00:38:18,790 --> 00:38:17,280 program 1173 00:38:20,630 --> 00:38:18,800 and our space operations mission 1174 00:38:22,710 --> 00:38:20,640 director the budget folks have have 1175 00:38:25,109 --> 00:38:22,720 cranked the numbers out and shown that 1176 00:38:26,150 --> 00:38:25,119 uh for uh for a cr that we would get 1177 00:38:27,829 --> 00:38:26,160 that would run through the end of the 1178 00:38:29,109 --> 00:38:27,839 year as a government funding bill if 1179 00:38:31,670 --> 00:38:29,119 that's the funding levels we get for 1180 00:38:33,270 --> 00:38:31,680 nasa uh we have a plan in place to be 1181 00:38:35,990 --> 00:38:33,280 able to shuffle the money around and 1182 00:38:37,270 --> 00:38:36,000 fund the flight of sts-135 so 1183 00:38:39,510 --> 00:38:37,280 uh 1184 00:38:41,190 --> 00:38:39,520 i'll i'll say it generically how i how i 1185 00:38:43,349 --> 00:38:41,200 portray it to the troops the the actual 1186 00:38:44,790 --> 00:38:43,359 math i don't understand but effectively 1187 00:38:46,950 --> 00:38:44,800 we've gotten the letter from 1188 00:38:49,190 --> 00:38:46,960 headquarters saying uh we will be able 1189 00:38:50,710 --> 00:38:49,200 to fly sts-135 regardless of what 1190 00:38:52,310 --> 00:38:50,720 happens with the nasa budget now there's 1191 00:38:53,910 --> 00:38:52,320 some caveats right they could slash our 1192 00:38:55,510 --> 00:38:53,920 budget and we'd have to go redo the math 1193 00:38:57,430 --> 00:38:55,520 but for the given scenarios we see 1194 00:38:58,950 --> 00:38:57,440 coming uh we we think we have a way to 1195 00:39:00,870 --> 00:38:58,960 fund this uh this mission to be able to 1196 00:39:02,710 --> 00:39:00,880 fly it so for all intents and purposes 1197 00:39:04,390 --> 00:39:02,720 we've switched to the that's now that's 1198 00:39:07,430 --> 00:39:04,400 an in that's a manifested mission it's 1199 00:39:09,270 --> 00:39:07,440 planned and we are launching sts-135 1200 00:39:11,270 --> 00:39:09,280 and as far as the rollback is concerned 1201 00:39:13,270 --> 00:39:11,280 this isn't the first time that we have 1202 00:39:14,630 --> 00:39:13,280 gone back to the vab with a payload on 1203 00:39:16,470 --> 00:39:14,640 board in the in the history of the 1204 00:39:18,150 --> 00:39:16,480 program it's been done a couple of times 1205 00:39:20,470 --> 00:39:18,160 i don't know exactly how many but it has 1206 00:39:22,069 --> 00:39:20,480 been done before and once we're secured 1207 00:39:24,230 --> 00:39:22,079 in the payload bay and in the fittings 1208 00:39:26,150 --> 00:39:24,240 uh it's a it's a relatively benign 1209 00:39:27,990 --> 00:39:26,160 environment for the payload elements 1210 00:39:30,069 --> 00:39:28,000 there's a condition purge running into 1211 00:39:32,950 --> 00:39:30,079 the payload bay keeps the hardware dry 1212 00:39:35,510 --> 00:39:32,960 and cool and uh and certainly the 1213 00:39:37,270 --> 00:39:35,520 vibration and loads environment is is 1214 00:39:39,589 --> 00:39:37,280 much less severe than what we see at 1215 00:39:40,870 --> 00:39:39,599 liftoff anyway and through ascent so 1216 00:39:43,109 --> 00:39:40,880 we're quite content to sit in the 1217 00:39:45,030 --> 00:39:43,119 orbiter for as long as is necessary and 1218 00:39:47,190 --> 00:39:45,040 ride around with it as as required in 1219 00:39:48,950 --> 00:39:47,200 fact for hurricane scenarios it would be 1220 00:39:50,950 --> 00:39:48,960 very common for us to stay on board and 1221 00:39:55,589 --> 00:39:50,960 go back with the vehicle if we had to 1222 00:40:01,030 --> 00:39:56,870 denise 1223 00:40:02,950 --> 00:40:01,040 marcia mentioned earlier discovery is 1224 00:40:05,270 --> 00:40:02,960 the fleet leader and i was wondering if 1225 00:40:07,270 --> 00:40:05,280 mike leinbach if um having flown the 1226 00:40:08,230 --> 00:40:07,280 most missions um and also the return to 1227 00:40:09,910 --> 00:40:08,240 flight missions how would you 1228 00:40:11,270 --> 00:40:09,920 characterize discovery space flying 1229 00:40:13,510 --> 00:40:11,280 career 1230 00:40:15,190 --> 00:40:13,520 well she's been an amazing machine 1231 00:40:16,150 --> 00:40:15,200 she's she's done everything we've asked 1232 00:40:18,069 --> 00:40:16,160 over 1233 00:40:20,069 --> 00:40:18,079 you mentioned the two return to flight 1234 00:40:21,589 --> 00:40:20,079 missions and those are special for the 1235 00:40:23,270 --> 00:40:21,599 processing team 1236 00:40:25,589 --> 00:40:23,280 in fact part of the tribute in the 1237 00:40:27,109 --> 00:40:25,599 firing room is is based on the fact that 1238 00:40:28,950 --> 00:40:27,119 that discovery flew both of the return 1239 00:40:30,790 --> 00:40:28,960 to flight missions and as you can 1240 00:40:32,550 --> 00:40:30,800 imagine getting uh the shuttle program 1241 00:40:35,109 --> 00:40:32,560 back to flying after an accident is no 1242 00:40:36,470 --> 00:40:35,119 small feat and uh so discovery came 1243 00:40:38,390 --> 00:40:36,480 through in flying colors on both of 1244 00:40:41,030 --> 00:40:38,400 those 1245 00:40:43,750 --> 00:40:41,040 she flies really really well i mean very 1246 00:40:45,589 --> 00:40:43,760 very few problems on orbit and i expect 1247 00:40:46,390 --> 00:40:45,599 that to be the same this time 1248 00:40:47,750 --> 00:40:46,400 and 1249 00:40:49,829 --> 00:40:47,760 again we'll turn it over to steve 1250 00:40:51,510 --> 00:40:49,839 lindsey and the crew at liftoff and and 1251 00:40:53,670 --> 00:40:51,520 the flight directors out of houston and 1252 00:40:55,829 --> 00:40:53,680 they'll perform the mission she'll 1253 00:40:58,150 --> 00:40:55,839 complete number 39 and then she'll be 1254 00:41:00,150 --> 00:40:58,160 retired 1255 00:41:01,670 --> 00:41:00,160 second rule please emily baldwin 1256 00:41:02,710 --> 00:41:01,680 astronomy now and my question's for 1257 00:41:04,150 --> 00:41:02,720 scott i was wondering if you could 1258 00:41:06,470 --> 00:41:04,160 elaborate on the different science 1259 00:41:07,670 --> 00:41:06,480 missions that you're uh you're flying on 1260 00:41:10,150 --> 00:41:07,680 this mission 1261 00:41:11,670 --> 00:41:10,160 okay well again uh robonaut 2 is one of 1262 00:41:13,910 --> 00:41:11,680 the investigations that we're flying 1263 00:41:15,990 --> 00:41:13,920 he's a big one and then express rack 8 1264 00:41:17,990 --> 00:41:16,000 which is back in the module is is a rack 1265 00:41:19,430 --> 00:41:18,000 that on orbit we can plug smaller 1266 00:41:21,510 --> 00:41:19,440 experiments into 1267 00:41:23,190 --> 00:41:21,520 it has a fridge freezer in it now that's 1268 00:41:25,190 --> 00:41:23,200 going uphill with us 1269 00:41:27,349 --> 00:41:25,200 up on the in the mid deck we have a 1270 00:41:29,589 --> 00:41:27,359 variety of different experiments first 1271 00:41:31,750 --> 00:41:29,599 of all we have some freezers fridge 1272 00:41:32,870 --> 00:41:31,760 freezers to bring back some samples from 1273 00:41:34,390 --> 00:41:32,880 on orbit 1274 00:41:36,390 --> 00:41:34,400 the crew has been collecting urine and 1275 00:41:37,910 --> 00:41:36,400 saliva samples blood samples over the 1276 00:41:39,910 --> 00:41:37,920 course of time and and we need to get 1277 00:41:41,190 --> 00:41:39,920 those back home in a conditioned state 1278 00:41:43,190 --> 00:41:41,200 so they'll be preserved for the 1279 00:41:44,630 --> 00:41:43,200 investigators on the ground 1280 00:41:46,790 --> 00:41:44,640 we're also launching two animal 1281 00:41:49,190 --> 00:41:46,800 enclosure modules each of those contain 1282 00:41:51,349 --> 00:41:49,200 eight mice and they will be studying 1283 00:41:53,829 --> 00:41:51,359 those mice and how they react to 1284 00:41:55,190 --> 00:41:53,839 basically a respiratory illness 1285 00:41:57,510 --> 00:41:55,200 rsv 1286 00:41:59,510 --> 00:41:57,520 we have a couple of national lab 1287 00:42:01,030 --> 00:41:59,520 pathfinder payloads these are payloads 1288 00:42:03,270 --> 00:42:01,040 that are in a series that are supposed 1289 00:42:05,030 --> 00:42:03,280 to be you know expanding our sphere from 1290 00:42:06,710 --> 00:42:05,040 outside of nasa you know getting other 1291 00:42:08,309 --> 00:42:06,720 folks involved and doing research on the 1292 00:42:09,910 --> 00:42:08,319 station 1293 00:42:12,790 --> 00:42:09,920 both of them are biological in their 1294 00:42:15,190 --> 00:42:12,800 nature we have a couple of 1295 00:42:16,870 --> 00:42:15,200 experiments associated with 1296 00:42:18,790 --> 00:42:16,880 materials processing 1297 00:42:21,030 --> 00:42:18,800 and seeing how materials react in the 1298 00:42:23,030 --> 00:42:21,040 unique microgravity environment and then 1299 00:42:26,470 --> 00:42:23,040 we have a very unique one that's looking 1300 00:42:28,790 --> 00:42:26,480 at the growth of fungi in space as you 1301 00:42:30,630 --> 00:42:28,800 may have heard we actually get fungi 1302 00:42:32,630 --> 00:42:30,640 growing on some of the surfaces in the 1303 00:42:34,390 --> 00:42:32,640 in the space station and so it's pretty 1304 00:42:36,150 --> 00:42:34,400 important that we learn how to combat 1305 00:42:37,750 --> 00:42:36,160 that and so this experiment will help 1306 00:42:40,710 --> 00:42:37,760 give us some more insight as to how to 1307 00:42:45,910 --> 00:42:42,550 robert 1308 00:42:47,670 --> 00:42:45,920 with a question i think from mike 1309 00:42:50,309 --> 00:42:47,680 leinbach um 1310 00:42:54,630 --> 00:42:50,319 with tomorrow's atv docking 1311 00:42:56,309 --> 00:42:54,640 just from a procedures standpoint um 1312 00:42:57,990 --> 00:42:56,319 is there a certain milestone in the in 1313 00:42:59,750 --> 00:42:58,000 the docking procedure soft dock hard 1314 00:43:00,790 --> 00:42:59,760 dock where you then can say well we 1315 00:43:02,790 --> 00:43:00,800 don't have to worry about this any 1316 00:43:04,550 --> 00:43:02,800 longer and is there someone within the 1317 00:43:06,069 --> 00:43:04,560 iss program the iss flight director that 1318 00:43:08,790 --> 00:43:06,079 needs to give you a 1319 00:43:10,309 --> 00:43:08,800 uh a go to say that this is um this is 1320 00:43:11,829 --> 00:43:10,319 now no longer a concern and you can 1321 00:43:12,790 --> 00:43:11,839 continue on with discovery's launch 1322 00:43:14,390 --> 00:43:12,800 thanks 1323 00:43:16,230 --> 00:43:14,400 yeah in fact we got a good uh good 1324 00:43:18,390 --> 00:43:16,240 update this morning from the iss program 1325 00:43:20,309 --> 00:43:18,400 that the atv has performed a couple of 1326 00:43:21,829 --> 00:43:20,319 of the major burns and they went fine 1327 00:43:23,430 --> 00:43:21,839 and so right now everything's on track 1328 00:43:25,270 --> 00:43:23,440 for a docking tomorrow 1329 00:43:27,190 --> 00:43:25,280 we will be fully fueled with the 1330 00:43:29,030 --> 00:43:27,200 external tank assuming we start on time 1331 00:43:31,109 --> 00:43:29,040 by the time they dock 1332 00:43:33,430 --> 00:43:31,119 they dock at 10 46 tomorrow we should be 1333 00:43:34,309 --> 00:43:33,440 done fueling at 10 25. 1334 00:43:35,670 --> 00:43:34,319 obviously we have a direct 1335 00:43:37,349 --> 00:43:35,680 communications path to the flight 1336 00:43:38,790 --> 00:43:37,359 directors in houston both on the shuttle 1337 00:43:41,190 --> 00:43:38,800 side and the station side they'll tell 1338 00:43:42,630 --> 00:43:41,200 us if there any issues being worked with 1339 00:43:44,550 --> 00:43:42,640 the docking itself 1340 00:43:45,430 --> 00:43:44,560 if they're minor in nature we'll press 1341 00:43:47,109 --> 00:43:45,440 on 1342 00:43:48,710 --> 00:43:47,119 if they turn out to be more significant 1343 00:43:50,150 --> 00:43:48,720 than the mission management team mike 1344 00:43:51,589 --> 00:43:50,160 will tell us 1345 00:43:53,109 --> 00:43:51,599 what the issue is and whether we need to 1346 00:43:55,670 --> 00:43:53,119 stand down for the day or whatever the 1347 00:43:57,430 --> 00:43:55,680 case may be so we've talked our our way 1348 00:43:58,870 --> 00:43:57,440 through that whole scenario we believe 1349 00:44:01,270 --> 00:43:58,880 we have a good plan in place to deal 1350 00:44:05,190 --> 00:44:01,280 with any any issues that may that may 1351 00:44:06,950 --> 00:44:05,200 develop not expecting any but again we 1352 00:44:08,309 --> 00:44:06,960 have good communications to those guys 1353 00:44:09,589 --> 00:44:08,319 in houston and they'll let us know 1354 00:44:12,630 --> 00:44:09,599 what's going on 1355 00:44:13,750 --> 00:44:12,640 throughout the whole countdown 1356 00:44:18,710 --> 00:44:13,760 todd 1357 00:44:21,270 --> 00:44:18,720 for mike and one for mike 1358 00:44:24,309 --> 00:44:21,280 for mike lineback i was wondering what 1359 00:44:26,870 --> 00:44:24,319 your thoughts are about um having one of 1360 00:44:29,670 --> 00:44:26,880 your own a former ksc person on board 1361 00:44:32,790 --> 00:44:29,680 it's only happened i think a handful of 1362 00:44:34,950 --> 00:44:32,800 times and for mike moses i was wondering 1363 00:44:38,069 --> 00:44:34,960 what impact there would be 1364 00:44:42,950 --> 00:44:38,079 on either launch or if you were on orbit 1365 00:44:46,550 --> 00:44:45,270 yeah you can have that one yeah 1366 00:44:49,270 --> 00:44:46,560 let's see 1367 00:44:50,630 --> 00:44:49,280 as far as as nikki goes a good friend 1368 00:44:53,430 --> 00:44:50,640 we've been friends for a long long time 1369 00:44:55,270 --> 00:44:53,440 but i remember as a test director and 1370 00:44:57,190 --> 00:44:55,280 she was an orbiter project engineer 1371 00:44:58,710 --> 00:44:57,200 essentially the chief engineer for a 1372 00:45:00,150 --> 00:44:58,720 particular vehicle 1373 00:45:03,510 --> 00:45:00,160 we work together in the firing room and 1374 00:45:05,430 --> 00:45:03,520 so we go a long long way back 1375 00:45:07,670 --> 00:45:05,440 she may be the luckiest person at kc to 1376 00:45:09,750 --> 00:45:07,680 become an astronaut and fly a couple of 1377 00:45:11,270 --> 00:45:09,760 times uh i may be the second luckiest 1378 00:45:13,829 --> 00:45:11,280 person at ksc to become a launch 1379 00:45:15,589 --> 00:45:13,839 director we go a long way back it'll be 1380 00:45:17,510 --> 00:45:15,599 very very cool to send her off again 1381 00:45:18,950 --> 00:45:17,520 tomorrow 1382 00:45:20,870 --> 00:45:18,960 and then on the uh on the government 1383 00:45:23,270 --> 00:45:20,880 shutdown question you know 1384 00:45:24,150 --> 00:45:23,280 way above my focus right now i'm looking 1385 00:45:25,910 --> 00:45:24,160 at that 1386 00:45:27,589 --> 00:45:25,920 technical readiness to fly so i don't i 1387 00:45:29,349 --> 00:45:27,599 don't know the answer to that one 1388 00:45:32,309 --> 00:45:29,359 um i'm sure someone's thought about it 1389 00:45:34,550 --> 00:45:32,319 though 1390 00:45:36,069 --> 00:45:34,560 marcia marcia done associated press for 1391 00:45:38,470 --> 00:45:36,079 mike leinbach again 1392 00:45:40,710 --> 00:45:38,480 how many months of once discovery is 1393 00:45:41,829 --> 00:45:40,720 back how many months do you expect the 1394 00:45:44,390 --> 00:45:41,839 routine 1395 00:45:46,470 --> 00:45:44,400 post flight stuff to take and how long 1396 00:45:48,950 --> 00:45:46,480 do you think it would be before you had 1397 00:45:50,470 --> 00:45:48,960 the shuttle ready to hand over to 1398 00:45:52,230 --> 00:45:50,480 the museum 1399 00:45:53,510 --> 00:45:52,240 well let's see we go through the the 1400 00:45:55,190 --> 00:45:53,520 standard 1401 00:45:56,630 --> 00:45:55,200 turnaround process and the safing of the 1402 00:45:58,550 --> 00:45:56,640 vehicle 1403 00:46:00,390 --> 00:45:58,560 if if for some chance we happen to land 1404 00:46:01,829 --> 00:46:00,400 in at the dryden flight research center 1405 00:46:03,990 --> 00:46:01,839 this time there are a couple of tasks we 1406 00:46:05,430 --> 00:46:04,000 will not perform out there just because 1407 00:46:07,670 --> 00:46:05,440 we don't need to to get ready for the 1408 00:46:08,870 --> 00:46:07,680 next flight for for another flight so 1409 00:46:10,870 --> 00:46:08,880 we'll get her back here it'll probably 1410 00:46:11,829 --> 00:46:10,880 be about three weeks or so of standard 1411 00:46:13,270 --> 00:46:11,839 uh 1412 00:46:15,430 --> 00:46:13,280 mission safing 1413 00:46:16,950 --> 00:46:15,440 um certain payload mid decks we're gonna 1414 00:46:17,910 --> 00:46:16,960 have to take out for scott those types 1415 00:46:19,349 --> 00:46:17,920 of things 1416 00:46:21,030 --> 00:46:19,359 um but 1417 00:46:23,109 --> 00:46:21,040 we're gonna take our time we're not 1418 00:46:24,950 --> 00:46:23,119 gonna rush we've we've got a plan laid 1419 00:46:26,630 --> 00:46:24,960 out we have a whole team called the 1420 00:46:28,790 --> 00:46:26,640 transition and retirement team in fact 1421 00:46:31,109 --> 00:46:28,800 stephanie stillson's leading discoveries 1422 00:46:32,550 --> 00:46:31,119 uh tnr team and she has a very very 1423 00:46:34,309 --> 00:46:32,560 detailed plan that goes out several 1424 00:46:36,630 --> 00:46:34,319 months to to get the vehicle ready and 1425 00:46:38,150 --> 00:46:36,640 safe and and get in a position where we 1426 00:46:39,510 --> 00:46:38,160 where we could turn it over to somebody 1427 00:46:40,950 --> 00:46:39,520 else we're not gonna we're not gonna 1428 00:46:42,790 --> 00:46:40,960 we're not gonna rush through it we'll 1429 00:46:44,470 --> 00:46:42,800 take our time but 1430 00:46:46,630 --> 00:46:44,480 i think it's mid-summer something like 1431 00:46:49,990 --> 00:46:46,640 that we show on on paper that it could 1432 00:46:52,630 --> 00:46:50,000 be ready to go something like that 1433 00:46:54,870 --> 00:46:52,640 irene irene klotz with reuters i have 1434 00:46:56,630 --> 00:46:54,880 two questions for mike moses 1435 00:46:58,470 --> 00:46:56,640 since this is uh discovery's last trip 1436 00:47:00,630 --> 00:46:58,480 to the space station is there anything 1437 00:47:02,309 --> 00:47:00,640 on the shuttle that it won't be needing 1438 00:47:05,349 --> 00:47:02,319 for flight anymore that's going to be 1439 00:47:06,230 --> 00:47:05,359 left on the out on the station 1440 00:47:07,430 --> 00:47:06,240 um 1441 00:47:09,829 --> 00:47:07,440 no yeah we don't we don't have any 1442 00:47:11,670 --> 00:47:09,839 planned scavenge type activities i know 1443 00:47:12,309 --> 00:47:11,680 we're doing standard resupply changeouts 1444 00:47:15,510 --> 00:47:12,319 of 1445 00:47:17,190 --> 00:47:15,520 stuff like that but 1446 00:47:19,589 --> 00:47:17,200 but no nothing nothing that's a 1447 00:47:20,870 --> 00:47:19,599 dedicated you can strip the vehicle 1448 00:47:23,030 --> 00:47:20,880 because we're not flying it again kind 1449 00:47:24,710 --> 00:47:23,040 of plan 1450 00:47:27,589 --> 00:47:24,720 for scott um what's the status of the 1451 00:47:28,390 --> 00:47:27,599 payloads for sts-135 1452 00:47:33,030 --> 00:47:28,400 okay 1453 00:47:35,270 --> 00:47:33,040 135 we have a fm2 rafaello 1454 00:47:37,510 --> 00:47:35,280 mplm it's going to fly up and back and 1455 00:47:39,270 --> 00:47:37,520 this will be our last chance to bring 1456 00:47:41,990 --> 00:47:39,280 big things home 1457 00:47:44,390 --> 00:47:42,000 internal things home and that module is 1458 00:47:46,150 --> 00:47:44,400 in its processing campaign right now and 1459 00:47:47,349 --> 00:47:46,160 they're in the process of getting racks 1460 00:47:49,829 --> 00:47:47,359 installed they've already been through 1461 00:47:52,390 --> 00:47:49,839 their subsystem testing it's proceeding 1462 00:47:54,870 --> 00:47:52,400 very well and joe delay and his team are 1463 00:47:56,150 --> 00:47:54,880 on track to go fly in in june also 1464 00:47:57,910 --> 00:47:56,160 flying on that mission we have a 1465 00:48:00,150 --> 00:47:57,920 lightweight impess carrier 1466 00:48:03,750 --> 00:48:00,160 in the back that's going to have 1467 00:48:05,190 --> 00:48:03,760 a payload on it it's a refueling payload 1468 00:48:07,510 --> 00:48:05,200 that we're going to fly that goddard has 1469 00:48:09,910 --> 00:48:07,520 developed that we can go practice some 1470 00:48:11,990 --> 00:48:09,920 of the techniques to robotically refuel 1471 00:48:13,510 --> 00:48:12,000 spacecraft in the future and also 1472 00:48:14,470 --> 00:48:13,520 there's an ammonia tank assembly the 1473 00:48:15,750 --> 00:48:14,480 assembly that we're going to be 1474 00:48:17,270 --> 00:48:15,760 launching with 1475 00:48:19,109 --> 00:48:17,280 several hundred pounds of anhydrous 1476 00:48:21,270 --> 00:48:19,119 ammonia that we'll be leaving behind and 1477 00:48:23,109 --> 00:48:21,280 all of that hardware is is proceeding 1478 00:48:27,750 --> 00:48:23,119 well towards that launch wherever that 1479 00:48:33,430 --> 00:48:28,950 james 1480 00:48:34,549 --> 00:48:33,440 scott and one for mike limbach scott as 1481 00:48:36,069 --> 00:48:34,559 well as 1482 00:48:37,270 --> 00:48:36,079 this being discovery's last flight it'll 1483 00:48:40,230 --> 00:48:37,280 be the last for 1484 00:48:41,670 --> 00:48:40,240 leonardo um last in a shuttle anyway so 1485 00:48:43,109 --> 00:48:41,680 um i just wondered if you could talk a 1486 00:48:45,349 --> 00:48:43,119 little bit about the mods that you made 1487 00:48:46,870 --> 00:48:45,359 to uh get it ready for long duration 1488 00:48:49,589 --> 00:48:46,880 flight and and what it's like from the 1489 00:48:52,390 --> 00:48:49,599 payload side of things to uh have one of 1490 00:48:54,390 --> 00:48:52,400 your long-term uh pieces of hardware uh 1491 00:48:56,870 --> 00:48:54,400 to have to say goodbye to that leave the 1492 00:48:58,549 --> 00:48:56,880 nest and not come home yeah um 1493 00:49:01,030 --> 00:48:58,559 let's see uh leonardo has been part of 1494 00:49:03,109 --> 00:49:01,040 our family for over a decade and so in 1495 00:49:05,510 --> 00:49:03,119 some respects it's going to be you know 1496 00:49:07,990 --> 00:49:05,520 sad to see him go but then 1497 00:49:09,430 --> 00:49:08,000 on the other hand it's he's going to a 1498 00:49:11,190 --> 00:49:09,440 better place he's going to be left 1499 00:49:12,710 --> 00:49:11,200 behind on the station 1500 00:49:14,309 --> 00:49:12,720 i can't believe this i can't believe i 1501 00:49:15,750 --> 00:49:14,319 said that either but you know we're 1502 00:49:18,069 --> 00:49:15,760 going to we're going to actually put put 1503 00:49:20,230 --> 00:49:18,079 it to use long term and uh i did the 1504 00:49:23,030 --> 00:49:20,240 math a while back and and figured out 1505 00:49:25,430 --> 00:49:23,040 that so far leonardo only has 40 million 1506 00:49:27,190 --> 00:49:25,440 miles on it you know that's a cream puff 1507 00:49:29,030 --> 00:49:27,200 as far as spacecraft go 1508 00:49:31,990 --> 00:49:29,040 91 days in orbit but we're going to 1509 00:49:34,390 --> 00:49:32,000 leave it up there for 10 years or more 1510 00:49:36,470 --> 00:49:34,400 and if i did the math right that equates 1511 00:49:37,670 --> 00:49:36,480 to about one and a half billion miles 1512 00:49:39,990 --> 00:49:37,680 that we're going to put on it over the 1513 00:49:41,510 --> 00:49:40,000 course of time and so maybe even you 1514 00:49:42,870 --> 00:49:41,520 know by the time i'm ready to retire 1515 00:49:45,030 --> 00:49:42,880 it'll still be up there flying around 1516 00:49:46,790 --> 00:49:45,040 the earth so it's not gone it's not 1517 00:49:49,190 --> 00:49:46,800 sitting in a museum somewhere it's in 1518 00:49:50,549 --> 00:49:49,200 space where all spacecraft belong so 1519 00:49:52,470 --> 00:49:50,559 that's that's something that makes takes 1520 00:49:54,549 --> 00:49:52,480 the edge off a little bit there um as 1521 00:49:56,150 --> 00:49:54,559 far as the mods that were performed to 1522 00:49:58,470 --> 00:49:56,160 it we um 1523 00:50:00,309 --> 00:49:58,480 the primary modification was to armor it 1524 00:50:02,950 --> 00:50:00,319 up a little bit so that it can withstand 1525 00:50:04,470 --> 00:50:02,960 the micrometeoroid and space debris flux 1526 00:50:05,910 --> 00:50:04,480 that you'll see over that 10-year 1527 00:50:09,030 --> 00:50:05,920 lifetime in space 1528 00:50:11,990 --> 00:50:09,040 so there was a very clever design 1529 00:50:14,630 --> 00:50:12,000 that the italians and we came up with to 1530 00:50:16,230 --> 00:50:14,640 to place some nextil kevlar fabric 1531 00:50:18,470 --> 00:50:16,240 panels underneath some of the debris 1532 00:50:20,549 --> 00:50:18,480 shields to give us that extra armor that 1533 00:50:22,069 --> 00:50:20,559 we need to protect the module we also 1534 00:50:23,510 --> 00:50:22,079 did some other things we removed some 1535 00:50:25,990 --> 00:50:23,520 hardware to reduce weight so we could 1536 00:50:27,510 --> 00:50:26,000 carry more useful payloads up to space 1537 00:50:30,470 --> 00:50:27,520 we also made it a little easier for the 1538 00:50:32,710 --> 00:50:30,480 crew to work inside the module and then 1539 00:50:33,910 --> 00:50:32,720 we also left another special thing or 1540 00:50:35,109 --> 00:50:33,920 two that i can't tell you about inside 1541 00:50:36,230 --> 00:50:35,119 the module 1542 00:50:37,510 --> 00:50:36,240 one thing i can tell you about we have a 1543 00:50:39,030 --> 00:50:37,520 banner that's flying in the module that 1544 00:50:40,390 --> 00:50:39,040 we've all signed and the idea is we're 1545 00:50:42,549 --> 00:50:40,400 going to get it out and bring it home 1546 00:50:44,150 --> 00:50:42,559 and put it on display in torino at the 1547 00:50:45,670 --> 00:50:44,160 plant where the where the module was 1548 00:50:47,030 --> 00:50:45,680 built so that's a little piece of us 1549 00:50:47,829 --> 00:50:47,040 that's going on the flight that's coming 1550 00:50:48,950 --> 00:50:47,839 home 1551 00:50:50,309 --> 00:50:48,960 and 1552 00:50:51,750 --> 00:50:50,319 i think was there a third part to that 1553 00:50:53,829 --> 00:50:51,760 question okay that was it all right 1554 00:50:55,510 --> 00:50:53,839 thanks 1555 00:50:58,309 --> 00:50:55,520 mike as currently scheduled should 1556 00:51:00,150 --> 00:50:58,319 endeavor be on the pad when uh discovery 1557 00:51:00,950 --> 00:51:00,160 touches down and 1558 00:51:05,829 --> 00:51:00,960 no 1559 00:51:07,990 --> 00:51:05,839 to the vab next monday the 28th and then 1560 00:51:09,829 --> 00:51:08,000 out to the launch pad on the ninth so it 1561 00:51:13,109 --> 00:51:09,839 all goes according to plan discovery be 1562 00:51:17,270 --> 00:51:14,870 are there any further questions yeah 1563 00:51:19,750 --> 00:51:17,280 just a quick one i just thought about 1564 00:51:22,870 --> 00:51:19,760 um do you plan to 1565 00:51:25,670 --> 00:51:22,880 take the inner liner or the cargo bay 1566 00:51:27,670 --> 00:51:25,680 of the shuttle i mean of discovery and 1567 00:51:29,750 --> 00:51:27,680 hand out a little piece to each other 1568 00:51:31,910 --> 00:51:29,760 workers or other parts of the shuttle to 1569 00:51:34,870 --> 00:51:31,920 the ksc workers 1570 00:51:37,270 --> 00:51:34,880 there is a there's a dedicated team uh 1571 00:51:39,910 --> 00:51:37,280 looking at uh ways to commemorate the 1572 00:51:41,430 --> 00:51:39,920 program and the orbiters themselves 1573 00:51:43,190 --> 00:51:41,440 and uh i'll be honest with you i'm not 1574 00:51:45,750 --> 00:51:43,200 sure the payload bay liner is part of it 1575 00:51:47,270 --> 00:51:45,760 but but i suspect it probably is 1576 00:51:49,109 --> 00:51:47,280 uh we've done that in the past we've 1577 00:51:50,470 --> 00:51:49,119 made bookmarks out of them that type of 1578 00:51:52,710 --> 00:51:50,480 thing cut out a one inch square and 1579 00:51:54,630 --> 00:51:52,720 laminated on a bookmark 1580 00:51:56,630 --> 00:51:54,640 something like that i'm sure is being 1581 00:51:58,069 --> 00:51:56,640 planned especially for this the 1582 00:52:00,230 --> 00:51:58,079 discovery team 1583 00:52:01,829 --> 00:52:00,240 again a whole dedicated team looking at 1584 00:52:04,950 --> 00:52:01,839 at the morale of the workforce and what 1585 00:52:07,829 --> 00:52:04,960 can we do to to uh to um 1586 00:52:10,150 --> 00:52:07,839 you know commemorate the program and and 1587 00:52:11,270 --> 00:52:10,160 have something physical that we can hand 1588 00:52:13,270 --> 00:52:11,280 out 1589 00:52:15,829 --> 00:52:13,280 that we can show our families 1590 00:52:18,309 --> 00:52:15,839 uh and be able to describe how proud we 1591 00:52:20,069 --> 00:52:18,319 are of having worked in this program so 1592 00:52:21,589 --> 00:52:20,079 there yeah there's something going on 1593 00:52:23,990 --> 00:52:21,599 there i'm not quite sure about the liner 1594 00:52:28,150 --> 00:52:25,349 okay that's all the time we have for 1595 00:52:30,230 --> 00:52:28,160 today's sts-133 pre-launch news 1596 00:52:32,950 --> 00:52:30,240 conference a couple of notes today there 1597 00:52:34,790 --> 00:52:32,960 will be a demonstration of modification 1598 00:52:37,589 --> 00:52:34,800 work done to discovery's external fuel 1599 00:52:40,069 --> 00:52:37,599 tank in the nasa news center at 1 30 pm 1600 00:52:45,990 --> 00:52:40,079 eastern time that will be shown on 1601 00:52:49,670 --> 00:52:47,030 channel 1602 00:52:51,109 --> 00:52:49,680 slash nasa kennedy again the rotating 1603 00:52:53,589 --> 00:52:51,119 service structure will be moved away 1604 00:52:55,829 --> 00:52:53,599 from discovery tonight at 8 pm eastern 1605 00:52:58,390 --> 00:52:55,839 time and nasa tv coverage for launch 1606 00:53:02,390 --> 00:52:58,400 activities will begin live tomorrow 1607 00:53:04,549 --> 00:53:02,400 morning at 7 15 a.m eastern