1
00:00:07,990 --> 00:00:02,550
discovery in iss this is houston are you

2
00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:11,190
houston we are ready

3
00:00:17,109 --> 00:00:13,509
msnbc this is houston please call

4
00:00:21,349 --> 00:00:17,119
discovery and iss for a voice check

5
00:00:27,589 --> 00:00:24,630
i cannot describe that the the i think

6
00:00:31,349 --> 00:00:27,599
my most disappointing

7
00:00:33,910 --> 00:00:31,359
feeling is that the university is

8
00:00:39,190 --> 00:00:33,920
discovery iss this is msnbc how do you

9
00:00:44,229 --> 00:00:41,030
we've got you loud and clear welcome

10
00:00:46,869 --> 00:00:44,239
aboard the international space station

11
00:00:48,549 --> 00:00:46,879
the university has responded to

12
00:00:50,229 --> 00:00:48,559
thanks so much for having us we are

13
00:00:52,630 --> 00:00:50,239
going to be coming to you in about two

14
00:00:58,470 --> 00:00:52,640
minutes if i could get a quick 10 count

15
00:01:06,469 --> 00:01:03,910
one two three four five six seven eight

16
00:01:08,070 --> 00:01:06,479
nine ten

17
00:01:12,230 --> 00:01:08,080
response based on what your wife has

18
00:01:16,950 --> 00:01:14,149
good to go here in about a minute and a

19
00:01:18,390 --> 00:01:16,960
half you'll be speaking with richard

20
00:01:20,469 --> 00:01:18,400
until there was

21
00:02:43,990 --> 00:01:20,479
uh

22
00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:58,070
30 seconds away here

23
00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:15,670
how do you guys

24
00:03:19,270 --> 00:03:17,750
johnson space center play u2 city of

25
00:03:20,869 --> 00:03:19,280
blinding light for the shuttle crew

26
00:03:22,309 --> 00:03:20,879
after taking another successful

27
00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:22,319
spacewalk and doing some maintenance

28
00:03:26,149 --> 00:03:24,080
this morning the astronauts are getting

29
00:03:28,390 --> 00:03:26,159
the afternoon off as they head into the

30
00:03:29,270 --> 00:03:28,400
final days of discovery's final mission

31
00:03:32,070 --> 00:03:29,280
ever

32
00:03:34,229 --> 00:03:32,080
live from space let's bring in discovery

33
00:03:36,149 --> 00:03:34,239
pilot colonel eric bowe and mission

34
00:03:38,390 --> 00:03:36,159
specialist dr mike barrett and nicole

35
00:03:39,910 --> 00:03:38,400
stott very good day to all of you first

36
00:03:42,309 --> 00:03:39,920
of all you know as when we look at these

37
00:03:44,470 --> 00:03:42,319
pictures it's the hair and you know when

38
00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:44,480
we look at nicole how do you guys handle

39
00:03:47,190 --> 00:03:45,920
that what are the jokes between you guys

40
00:03:52,070 --> 00:03:47,200
between astronauts when you have to deal

41
00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,509
you really want to know

42
00:03:58,630 --> 00:03:57,429
i try to keep mine confined a little bit

43
00:04:04,309 --> 00:03:58,640
it's

44
00:04:06,229 --> 00:04:04,319
it flop around a little bit but

45
00:04:07,670 --> 00:04:06,239
it'll it'll get you into trouble too

46
00:04:09,429 --> 00:04:07,680
there's a lot of velcro up here that you

47
00:04:11,589 --> 00:04:09,439
can get caught on and get stopped real

48
00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:11,599
quick and that kind of thing

49
00:04:15,429 --> 00:04:13,760
but it overall it's it's

50
00:04:17,349 --> 00:04:15,439
it's part of the fun of being here and i

51
00:04:18,710 --> 00:04:17,359
i i like to at least have a ponytail

52
00:04:22,550 --> 00:04:18,720
because then you can see you know we're

53
00:04:25,590 --> 00:04:24,390
it's always the simple things for our

54
00:04:27,670 --> 00:04:25,600
viewers there's about a three to five

55
00:04:30,310 --> 00:04:27,680
second delay here because we are talking

56
00:04:31,350 --> 00:04:30,320
to space or up in space you know mike i

57
00:04:33,670 --> 00:04:31,360
want to ask you this one you know

58
00:04:36,070 --> 00:04:33,680
discovery uh it's been up there very

59
00:04:37,510 --> 00:04:36,080
many times and and

60
00:04:40,310 --> 00:04:37,520
we take a look at the miles that

61
00:04:42,150 --> 00:04:40,320
discovery has been on after the 5600

62
00:04:43,270 --> 00:04:42,160
trips that's been around the earth are

63
00:04:45,189 --> 00:04:43,280
there more

64
00:04:46,870 --> 00:04:45,199
leaks shall we say the sunroof are there

65
00:04:51,110 --> 00:04:46,880
tears in the upholstery is it creaking a

66
00:04:54,710 --> 00:04:52,870
you know it's a great question but

67
00:04:56,150 --> 00:04:54,720
inherent in flying in space is that the

68
00:04:58,550 --> 00:04:56,160
hardware has to work pretty well

69
00:05:00,469 --> 00:04:58,560
perfectly i think

70
00:05:02,390 --> 00:05:00,479
i think i can safely say that uh

71
00:05:04,230 --> 00:05:02,400
discovery's at the top of her game i

72
00:05:06,469 --> 00:05:04,240
mean she's a very clean vehicle and

73
00:05:08,310 --> 00:05:06,479
she's very well cared for and viciously

74
00:05:11,270 --> 00:05:08,320
defended by the ground crew that that

75
00:05:13,029 --> 00:05:11,280
services her and she is just in pristine

76
00:05:16,550 --> 00:05:13,039
shape so no it's it's a wonderful

77
00:05:23,270 --> 00:05:19,230
all right eric let's go to you um of the

78
00:05:25,430 --> 00:05:23,280
180 people that have flown on discovery

79
00:05:32,710 --> 00:05:25,440
how does it feel for you to pilot the

80
00:05:35,510 --> 00:05:33,990
well obviously

81
00:05:37,430 --> 00:05:35,520
i'm very honored to have the opportunity

82
00:05:39,350 --> 00:05:37,440
to fly on board the discovery she's a

83
00:05:42,150 --> 00:05:39,360
great machine as mike just said

84
00:05:44,790 --> 00:05:42,160
incredible vehicle and to me she looks

85
00:05:46,870 --> 00:05:44,800
brand new i mean as mike was saying the

86
00:05:48,790 --> 00:05:46,880
the team that maintains her at kennedy

87
00:05:51,270 --> 00:05:48,800
space center and all the other people

88
00:05:53,590 --> 00:05:51,280
around the united states to help

89
00:05:55,590 --> 00:05:53,600
maintain our perfect vehicle really

90
00:05:57,270 --> 00:05:55,600
looking forward to the landing

91
00:05:58,950 --> 00:05:57,280
at the after we finish our days up here

92
00:06:00,790 --> 00:05:58,960
on orbit and it'll be a bittersweet

93
00:06:04,230 --> 00:06:00,800
moment when we put her on deck at

94
00:06:07,909 --> 00:06:06,070
all right thank you all for stopping by

95
00:06:09,830 --> 00:06:07,919
here on msnbc there from the

96
00:06:11,830 --> 00:06:09,840
international space station and from the

97
00:06:13,590 --> 00:06:11,840
shuttle discovery colonel eric bowen

98
00:06:15,670 --> 00:06:13,600
mission specialist dr mike barrett and

99
00:06:27,430 --> 00:06:15,680
nicole stott thank you all three very

100
00:06:32,950 --> 00:06:29,830
discovery iss this is houston acr that

101
00:06:35,029 --> 00:06:32,960
concludes the msnbc portion of the event

102
00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:35,039
please stand by for a voice check from

103
00:06:57,270 --> 00:06:36,639
wxia

104
00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:05,670
now

105
00:07:13,670 --> 00:07:09,189
discovery iss this is wxia tv how do you

106
00:07:24,150 --> 00:07:15,189
we have you loud and clear welcome

107
00:07:29,909 --> 00:07:27,110
awesome we are so excited thank you so

108
00:07:31,830 --> 00:07:29,919
much glad to have you here eric ball can

109
00:07:36,469 --> 00:07:31,840
you say hello to all your friends family

110
00:07:41,029 --> 00:07:39,270
hello to everyone out in atlanta i

111
00:07:41,830 --> 00:07:41,039
have a strong fondness for the atlanta

112
00:07:42,710 --> 00:07:41,840
area

113
00:07:45,589 --> 00:07:42,720
and

114
00:07:47,749 --> 00:07:45,599
after the flight to talk to everyone

115
00:07:49,510 --> 00:07:47,759
there

116
00:07:51,510 --> 00:07:49,520
well colonel bo tell us now debbie

117
00:07:54,150 --> 00:07:51,520
huffman from the firm bank science

118
00:07:56,150 --> 00:07:54,160
center tells us you always wanted to be

119
00:08:01,589 --> 00:07:56,160
an astronaut talk a little bit about

120
00:08:05,270 --> 00:08:03,830
well atlanta really prepared me to

121
00:08:06,950 --> 00:08:05,280
do what i'm doing now

122
00:08:08,230 --> 00:08:06,960
there was a program at the fernbank

123
00:08:09,749 --> 00:08:08,240
science center and that's where i met

124
00:08:12,469 --> 00:08:09,759
debbie huffman i was doing it in a

125
00:08:14,070 --> 00:08:12,479
summer program and she

126
00:08:15,749 --> 00:08:14,080
got me interested

127
00:08:18,230 --> 00:08:15,759
they had some great educational science

128
00:08:21,189 --> 00:08:18,240
programs there and i've maintained

129
00:08:22,790 --> 00:08:21,199
contact with her over these years and so

130
00:08:26,469 --> 00:08:22,800
it's a

131
00:08:28,150 --> 00:08:26,479
great place to grow up and be ready and

132
00:08:29,749 --> 00:08:28,160
like you said i was ready i've been

133
00:08:30,950 --> 00:08:29,759
thinking about being an astronaut all my

134
00:08:33,589 --> 00:08:30,960
life and i was lucky enough to get the

135
00:08:35,509 --> 00:08:33,599
chance to do it

136
00:08:38,550 --> 00:08:35,519
awesome henderson

137
00:08:40,949 --> 00:08:38,560
henderson high school georgia tech you

138
00:08:46,389 --> 00:08:40,959
went on to be a fighter pilot first talk

139
00:08:51,910 --> 00:08:49,110
well i'm an aviation nut i really enjoy

140
00:08:54,550 --> 00:08:51,920
uh being a fighter pilot and

141
00:08:56,389 --> 00:08:54,560
as in the air force i was i flew the f4

142
00:08:59,030 --> 00:08:56,399
and the f-15c

143
00:09:00,470 --> 00:08:59,040
and great experience

144
00:09:02,389 --> 00:09:00,480
being on the shuttle is a lot like being

145
00:09:06,070 --> 00:09:02,399
in a fighter just a little higher up in

146
00:09:09,590 --> 00:09:07,750
and talk a little bit about what's going

147
00:09:12,310 --> 00:09:09,600
on there now for you got to be pretty

148
00:09:14,310 --> 00:09:12,320
exciting uh really

149
00:09:16,949 --> 00:09:14,320
also kind of melancholy too because this

150
00:09:23,030 --> 00:09:16,959
is the last flight for you guys uh there

151
00:09:26,070 --> 00:09:24,550
well we're all honored and privileged to

152
00:09:27,269 --> 00:09:26,080
get the opportunity to fly on board's

153
00:09:29,750 --> 00:09:27,279
discovery and come back up to the

154
00:09:32,389 --> 00:09:29,760
station we just put on the last u.s

155
00:09:34,550 --> 00:09:32,399
module pressurized module with the

156
00:09:35,750 --> 00:09:34,560
permanent

157
00:09:37,190 --> 00:09:35,760
pmm

158
00:09:39,269 --> 00:09:37,200
we ended up

159
00:09:40,550 --> 00:09:39,279
it's a great opportunity to see the

160
00:09:42,710 --> 00:09:40,560
planet we are obviously it's a

161
00:09:45,030 --> 00:09:42,720
bittersweet moment when we return

162
00:09:47,670 --> 00:09:45,040
discovery home but she's a great flying

163
00:09:49,190 --> 00:09:47,680
machine and we leave a great legacy with

164
00:09:52,550 --> 00:09:49,200
the space shuttle with discovery being

165
00:09:56,790 --> 00:09:55,269
amazing folks are talking already about

166
00:09:59,269 --> 00:09:56,800
just what's going to go on a lot of

167
00:10:01,910 --> 00:09:59,279
pilots probably won't be used

168
00:10:03,590 --> 00:10:01,920
in the space program anymore so talk a

169
00:10:05,829 --> 00:10:03,600
little bit about how you feel since

170
00:10:07,670 --> 00:10:05,839
you're so prepared for this and you

171
00:10:12,550 --> 00:10:07,680
might not get that opportunity to pilot

172
00:10:15,430 --> 00:10:13,750
well hopefully if i'm lucky enough i'll

173
00:10:17,350 --> 00:10:15,440
get the chance to pilot some other

174
00:10:18,630 --> 00:10:17,360
vehicle in the future

175
00:10:20,710 --> 00:10:18,640
the uh

176
00:10:22,630 --> 00:10:20,720
it feels uh they are still going to be

177
00:10:24,710 --> 00:10:22,640
taking uh pilots into the astronaut

178
00:10:26,550 --> 00:10:24,720
program uh especially with the test

179
00:10:27,269 --> 00:10:26,560
pilot experience most of the pilots in

180
00:10:30,710 --> 00:10:27,279
the

181
00:10:32,710 --> 00:10:30,720
pilot experience and and that helps with

182
00:10:33,910 --> 00:10:32,720
a lot of the uh specialty work of

183
00:10:36,069 --> 00:10:33,920
checking out new vehicles and these

184
00:10:39,110 --> 00:10:36,079
vehicles don't fly very often so that's

185
00:10:40,790 --> 00:10:39,120
a good reason to bring in you know test

186
00:10:42,470 --> 00:10:40,800
flights the same kind of way every space

187
00:10:43,829 --> 00:10:42,480
shuttle flight we fly as a test flight

188
00:10:45,670 --> 00:10:43,839
and whatever new vehicle that we have

189
00:10:47,670 --> 00:10:45,680
come online after this is is going to

190
00:10:51,110 --> 00:10:47,680
need test flying as well so if i'm lucky

191
00:10:53,190 --> 00:10:51,120
i'll get the opportunity to do that

192
00:10:54,790 --> 00:10:53,200
uh awesome now talk a little bit about

193
00:10:56,389 --> 00:10:54,800
you know so much of what you all do

194
00:10:58,550 --> 00:10:56,399
people think of it as just being up in

195
00:11:00,470 --> 00:10:58,560
space and really not a big effect to

196
00:11:02,389 --> 00:11:00,480
what we have back here but you all have

197
00:11:04,230 --> 00:11:02,399
created and helped to create so many

198
00:11:06,150 --> 00:11:04,240
products that we use every day and the

199
00:11:08,710 --> 00:11:06,160
folks are using here

200
00:11:10,069 --> 00:11:08,720
right now the gps systems some other

201
00:11:14,069 --> 00:11:10,079
things can you talk a little bit about

202
00:11:17,590 --> 00:11:15,509
and there's all kinds of technologies

203
00:11:19,269 --> 00:11:17,600
that come out of the the space program

204
00:11:20,550 --> 00:11:19,279
and and right now that's the one the big

205
00:11:21,910 --> 00:11:20,560
purpose of the international space

206
00:11:24,470 --> 00:11:21,920
station is to continue that kind of

207
00:11:27,350 --> 00:11:24,480
research it's a national

208
00:11:29,509 --> 00:11:27,360
test facility and we're put

209
00:11:31,990 --> 00:11:29,519
we have over 150 experiments going on

210
00:11:33,509 --> 00:11:32,000
board the space station right now and

211
00:11:35,269 --> 00:11:33,519
just about anything that you can name of

212
00:11:37,350 --> 00:11:35,279
the small computers that everyone has

213
00:11:39,110 --> 00:11:37,360
now the miniaturization all came through

214
00:11:40,870 --> 00:11:39,120
the a lot of that work came through the

215
00:11:43,030 --> 00:11:40,880
space program

216
00:11:44,949 --> 00:11:43,040
there are many other things that uh as

217
00:11:48,230 --> 00:11:44,959
well technologies that come along the

218
00:11:51,829 --> 00:11:49,910
nicole stop mike barry we're not going

219
00:11:53,990 --> 00:11:51,839
to leave you all hanging by there too we

220
00:11:54,790 --> 00:11:54,000
just you know don't get a chance to talk

221
00:11:59,030 --> 00:11:54,800
to

222
00:12:05,829 --> 00:11:59,040
experiences there with him what's he

223
00:12:11,269 --> 00:12:08,550
well you know we were talking earlier on

224
00:12:13,030 --> 00:12:11,279
another event that we have a crew of six

225
00:12:14,550 --> 00:12:13,040
amateur comedians but there's two of

226
00:12:16,230 --> 00:12:14,560
them that kind of stand out and keeping

227
00:12:17,590 --> 00:12:16,240
the rest of us in stitches and eric is

228
00:12:19,030 --> 00:12:17,600
one of those but

229
00:12:21,269 --> 00:12:19,040
you know he he mentioned that he's an

230
00:12:23,190 --> 00:12:21,279
aviation nut and he was a fighter pilot

231
00:12:24,389 --> 00:12:23,200
but a lot of us know him as an aviation

232
00:12:26,230 --> 00:12:24,399
instructor

233
00:12:28,310 --> 00:12:26,240
and we fly with him a lot and he's he's

234
00:12:30,069 --> 00:12:28,320
definitely got a teacher's hand and uh

235
00:12:33,269 --> 00:12:30,079
believe me if you can take a a doctor

236
00:12:34,949 --> 00:12:33,279
like me and make me fly supergiant jets

237
00:12:37,430 --> 00:12:34,959
effectively as a flight engineer then

238
00:12:39,590 --> 00:12:37,440
that really says something and overall

239
00:12:41,350 --> 00:12:39,600
he's just always on top of his game and

240
00:12:42,629 --> 00:12:41,360
just always all over the flight plan

241
00:12:45,430 --> 00:12:42,639
that we're trying to execute and just a

242
00:12:46,790 --> 00:12:45,440
pleasure to fly with

243
00:12:53,750 --> 00:12:46,800
manny's gonna have to pay you later for

244
00:12:57,350 --> 00:12:55,110
well one of the things that comes to

245
00:12:59,269 --> 00:12:57,360
mind especially with this flight is that

246
00:13:01,430 --> 00:12:59,279
the three of us here as well as two

247
00:13:04,150 --> 00:13:01,440
other of our crew members uh were part

248
00:13:06,069 --> 00:13:04,160
of the same astronaut class we

249
00:13:07,990 --> 00:13:06,079
are called the bugs and we were selected

250
00:13:10,069 --> 00:13:08,000
in the year 2000 so

251
00:13:11,829 --> 00:13:10,079
um when you mention comrade it's like

252
00:13:14,069 --> 00:13:11,839
there's a camaraderie here i think that

253
00:13:15,590 --> 00:13:14,079
is really deep we've spent a long time

254
00:13:18,550 --> 00:13:15,600
training together

255
00:13:21,910 --> 00:13:18,560
and um it's a real joy to get to fly

256
00:13:23,910 --> 00:13:21,920
with people like eric that

257
00:13:27,110 --> 00:13:23,920
that we work so hard with on the ground

258
00:13:29,829 --> 00:13:27,120
and like men like mike mentioned

259
00:13:31,750 --> 00:13:29,839
flying with eric both in airplanes uh

260
00:13:33,910 --> 00:13:31,760
close to our earth and on a space

261
00:13:37,190 --> 00:13:33,920
shuttle up here a little bit further

262
00:13:40,230 --> 00:13:37,200
away has just been a real joy he um out

263
00:13:42,150 --> 00:13:40,240
of nowhere will make you just crack up

264
00:13:44,790 --> 00:13:42,160
and at the same time and i think it's

265
00:13:46,389 --> 00:13:44,800
it's one of these things that um i found

266
00:13:48,230 --> 00:13:46,399
really pleasant about some of the

267
00:13:50,629 --> 00:13:48,240
training that we have is that we have

268
00:13:54,230 --> 00:13:50,639
these true professionals people that

269
00:13:55,990 --> 00:13:54,240
are seriously and just in them know the

270
00:13:57,670 --> 00:13:56,000
technical stuff they need to know but on

271
00:13:59,750 --> 00:13:57,680
the other hand you have this personality

272
00:14:01,269 --> 00:13:59,760
that just makes it you know makes them

273
00:14:04,150 --> 00:14:01,279
the kind of people you want to be with

274
00:14:07,269 --> 00:14:04,160
especially when you're off the planet

275
00:14:10,790 --> 00:14:09,269
oh wonderful we've got two more quick

276
00:14:12,550 --> 00:14:10,800
things um

277
00:14:14,150 --> 00:14:12,560
back here at home eric we are doing

278
00:14:15,590 --> 00:14:14,160
something it's called rachel's challenge

279
00:14:18,550 --> 00:14:15,600
but it's adding a link getting people to

280
00:14:21,509 --> 00:14:18,560
do acts of kindness all over you guys

281
00:14:23,189 --> 00:14:21,519
are doing something huge for everyone on

282
00:14:25,990 --> 00:14:23,199
the planet would love for you to just

283
00:14:27,590 --> 00:14:26,000
say i'm eric bowe and i'm adding a link

284
00:14:29,910 --> 00:14:27,600
for us we'd love to use that line and

285
00:14:31,910 --> 00:14:29,920
we're going to get you to oh can i do

286
00:14:33,670 --> 00:14:31,920
that okay they told me cannot do it so

287
00:14:35,350 --> 00:14:33,680
uh the other thing i wanted to say is

288
00:14:36,710 --> 00:14:35,360
you guys have a big interview coming up

289
00:14:42,310 --> 00:14:36,720
later today you're going to be speaking

290
00:14:45,269 --> 00:14:43,750
that's right we'll be talking to the

291
00:14:48,870 --> 00:14:45,279
president later today and we're really

292
00:14:57,269 --> 00:14:50,389
all right some of the things that you

293
00:15:00,310 --> 00:14:59,110
i imagine he'll be talking some of the

294
00:15:02,310 --> 00:15:00,320
things that we've already talked about

295
00:15:03,590 --> 00:15:02,320
today the science that's going on board

296
00:15:05,829 --> 00:15:03,600
and you know the path forward to the

297
00:15:07,910 --> 00:15:05,839
future we obviously have the space

298
00:15:10,389 --> 00:15:07,920
shuttles retiring so i imagine he'll

299
00:15:11,430 --> 00:15:10,399
talk about the path forward that we plan

300
00:15:12,790 --> 00:15:11,440
on

301
00:15:16,230 --> 00:15:12,800
occurring and probably some other

302
00:15:19,910 --> 00:15:17,829
all right well we are so excited that

303
00:15:21,910 --> 00:15:19,920
you guys are having an opportunity to

304
00:15:24,949 --> 00:15:21,920
talk to us here really appreciate your

305
00:15:26,790 --> 00:15:24,959
time we will be using this very

306
00:15:29,269 --> 00:15:26,800
well in our newscast so thank you so

307
00:15:34,550 --> 00:15:29,279
much for your time and

308
00:15:37,670 --> 00:15:36,550
we thank you very much and we literally

309
00:15:41,590 --> 00:15:37,680
look forward to coming back to the

310
00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:41,600
atlanta area thank you very much

311
00:15:46,629 --> 00:15:43,920
discovery iss this is houston acr that

312
00:15:47,509 --> 00:15:46,639
concludes the wxia tv portion of the

313
00:15:49,350 --> 00:15:47,519
event

314
00:15:58,790 --> 00:15:49,360
please stand by for a voice check from

315
00:16:06,230 --> 00:16:01,430
discovery iss this is fox news radio how

316
00:16:12,069 --> 00:16:07,749
we have you loud and clear welcome

317
00:16:16,150 --> 00:16:13,910
thank you for joining us this is evan

318
00:16:17,829 --> 00:16:16,160
brown from fox news radio in miami it's

319
00:16:19,990 --> 00:16:17,839
a pleasure to speak with you all again

320
00:16:22,150 --> 00:16:20,000
and because we're on the radio i'd ask

321
00:16:24,550 --> 00:16:22,160
that before each of you speak each time

322
00:16:26,470 --> 00:16:24,560
that you please identify yourselves

323
00:16:32,629 --> 00:16:26,480
but for a question for all three of you

324
00:16:36,710 --> 00:16:34,629
i am mission specialist michael barrett

325
00:16:38,389 --> 00:16:36,720
the mission is going great

326
00:16:40,389 --> 00:16:38,399
we've been up here i think we're on

327
00:16:42,389 --> 00:16:40,399
flight day eight right now and uh the

328
00:16:44,790 --> 00:16:42,399
good news is a lot of the hard stuff is

329
00:16:47,430 --> 00:16:44,800
behind us we've done a lot of robotics

330
00:16:49,350 --> 00:16:47,440
we've added new things a new storage

331
00:16:51,509 --> 00:16:49,360
module and a new cargo carrier to the

332
00:16:54,389 --> 00:16:51,519
international space station we've done

333
00:16:55,990 --> 00:16:54,399
two great space walks and now we can

334
00:16:57,670 --> 00:16:56,000
kind of relax a little bit those all

335
00:16:59,910 --> 00:16:57,680
went extremely well thanks a lot to the

336
00:17:01,430 --> 00:16:59,920
ground team and we can work on

337
00:17:03,509 --> 00:17:01,440
transferring some of the things from the

338
00:17:05,350 --> 00:17:03,519
shuttle to the station and uh back the

339
00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:05,360
other way and helping to unpack this

340
00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:06,640
great big new module that we just

341
00:17:27,750 --> 00:17:26,390
i am okay well uh thank you uh bo uh we

342
00:17:30,390 --> 00:17:27,760
know that we have a few people speaking

343
00:17:32,230 --> 00:17:30,400
with us uh um now i think pilot uh eric

344
00:17:33,990 --> 00:17:32,240
beau is with us and sir you're one of

345
00:17:36,549 --> 00:17:34,000
the people who gets to drive during

346
00:17:42,950 --> 00:17:36,559
discovery's final trek uh how's the ship

347
00:17:46,230 --> 00:17:44,310
she's

348
00:17:48,070 --> 00:17:46,240
definitely she has a lot of miles left

349
00:17:50,470 --> 00:17:48,080
in her but you know this is a the time

350
00:17:52,789 --> 00:17:50,480
that we talked about this uh about five

351
00:17:54,870 --> 00:17:52,799
or six years ago the plan was made to

352
00:17:56,710 --> 00:17:54,880
look at retiring to the shuttle it's

353
00:17:59,750 --> 00:17:56,720
been around for 30 years it has a great

354
00:18:02,470 --> 00:17:59,760
legacy and it's about time to move on to

355
00:18:05,510 --> 00:18:02,480
the future of the vehicles coming up in

356
00:18:09,350 --> 00:18:07,110
but how is she doing how is she

357
00:18:10,750 --> 00:18:09,360
performing on this mission is she uh is

358
00:18:12,830 --> 00:18:10,760
she holding up

359
00:18:14,870 --> 00:18:12,840
is she holding

360
00:18:16,549 --> 00:18:14,880
up you

361
00:18:18,870 --> 00:18:16,559
yeah i commented earlier today that

362
00:18:20,310 --> 00:18:18,880
she's looks brand new it looks like she

363
00:18:21,990 --> 00:18:20,320
this is our first flight so it's

364
00:18:23,750 --> 00:18:22,000
amazingly clean really a testament to

365
00:18:26,390 --> 00:18:23,760
the the teams that we have on the ground

366
00:18:28,070 --> 00:18:26,400
that maintain her and and train us

367
00:18:29,350 --> 00:18:28,080
everything's going great there's always

368
00:18:31,029 --> 00:18:29,360
some

369
00:18:32,870 --> 00:18:31,039
very minor things but that happens on

370
00:18:37,590 --> 00:18:32,880
every flight and that's part of what

371
00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:39,510
and we're also joined by mission

372
00:18:43,669 --> 00:18:41,760
specialist nicole stott you've had a

373
00:18:45,669 --> 00:18:43,679
previous stay on the international space

374
00:18:48,310 --> 00:18:45,679
station you're visiting now i believe

375
00:18:50,150 --> 00:18:48,320
you were last there in november of 2009.

376
00:18:52,070 --> 00:18:50,160
uh you can correct me on that if i'm

377
00:18:54,310 --> 00:18:52,080
wrong how does it look now is is it any

378
00:18:58,789 --> 00:18:54,320
different is it uh bigger do you still

379
00:19:03,190 --> 00:19:00,789
you know what was nice coming across the

380
00:19:05,190 --> 00:19:03,200
hatch is that i just how familiar and

381
00:19:07,590 --> 00:19:05,200
comfortable it felt

382
00:19:09,430 --> 00:19:07,600
but it is definitely bigger we have

383
00:19:11,270 --> 00:19:09,440
another couple module modules that have

384
00:19:13,110 --> 00:19:11,280
been added

385
00:19:15,909 --> 00:19:13,120
two down on the russian segment and then

386
00:19:18,310 --> 00:19:15,919
our node three and cupola the big

387
00:19:19,750 --> 00:19:18,320
panoramic window that we have and i have

388
00:19:21,270 --> 00:19:19,760
to say that was just you know one of

389
00:19:23,909 --> 00:19:21,280
those things that i think all of us were

390
00:19:25,990 --> 00:19:23,919
really looking forward to seeing and it

391
00:19:27,990 --> 00:19:26,000
is certainly a positive addition a

392
00:19:29,430 --> 00:19:28,000
really beautiful addition to the space

393
00:19:31,750 --> 00:19:29,440
station and

394
00:19:33,750 --> 00:19:31,760
provides us with opportunities to do

395
00:19:36,070 --> 00:19:33,760
robotics by looking out the window at

396
00:19:38,150 --> 00:19:36,080
the hardware that we're handling as well

397
00:19:43,270 --> 00:19:38,160
as to appreciate even more of the

398
00:19:47,669 --> 00:19:45,430
and michael barrett you were last aboard

399
00:19:49,510 --> 00:19:47,679
the space station uh before nicole i

400
00:19:51,270 --> 00:19:49,520
believe and and and you're getting the

401
00:19:53,190 --> 00:19:51,280
chance to look out the cupola as well

402
00:19:55,350 --> 00:19:53,200
what is it like for those of us who will

403
00:19:57,350 --> 00:19:55,360
likely never get the chance to to view

404
00:19:58,710 --> 00:19:57,360
space and the planet from from such a

405
00:20:00,070 --> 00:19:58,720
vantage point

406
00:20:04,230 --> 00:20:00,080
what are the impressions how could you

407
00:20:07,750 --> 00:20:06,230
well that's a great question um you know

408
00:20:09,669 --> 00:20:07,760
i think we're all kind of wired to

409
00:20:11,590 --> 00:20:09,679
appreciate natural beauty no matter who

410
00:20:13,830 --> 00:20:11,600
you are where you came from or what time

411
00:20:15,990 --> 00:20:13,840
in history everybody looks at a a

412
00:20:17,830 --> 00:20:16,000
mountain or a lake or the ocean and just

413
00:20:21,110 --> 00:20:17,840
realizes how beautiful it is we have

414
00:20:22,710 --> 00:20:21,120
those senses in inherent in us and i can

415
00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:22,720
tell you that up here those senses can

416
00:20:25,990 --> 00:20:24,400
almost be overwhelmed when you're

417
00:20:28,710 --> 00:20:26,000
looking out and you see the curvature of

418
00:20:29,909 --> 00:20:28,720
the earth and this magnificent blue

419
00:20:31,430 --> 00:20:29,919
planet just hanging there in the

420
00:20:33,830 --> 00:20:31,440
blackness of space it really does kind

421
00:20:35,750 --> 00:20:33,840
of take your breath away and that huge

422
00:20:37,990 --> 00:20:35,760
window that cupola gives us a view like

423
00:20:40,950 --> 00:20:38,000
we've just never had before it's it's

424
00:20:42,710 --> 00:20:40,960
absolutely magnificent there it also uh

425
00:20:44,390 --> 00:20:42,720
really helps us as nicole said when

426
00:20:46,310 --> 00:20:44,400
we're doing things like

427
00:20:48,549 --> 00:20:46,320
the robotics we're moving a great big

428
00:20:49,590 --> 00:20:48,559
robotic arm and a great big payload on

429
00:20:51,669 --> 00:20:49,600
the end of it

430
00:20:53,110 --> 00:20:51,679
it makes it a lot safer a lot more

431
00:20:55,110 --> 00:20:53,120
effective to be able to see that

432
00:20:58,789 --> 00:20:55,120
directly so it's a direction that we

433
00:21:01,669 --> 00:21:00,390
and this question is for all three of

434
00:21:03,430 --> 00:21:01,679
you and if you could all pass the mic

435
00:21:05,430 --> 00:21:03,440
around just so uh we could we could hear

436
00:21:07,110 --> 00:21:05,440
all of your answers um you know you're

437
00:21:08,950 --> 00:21:07,120
getting to ride on discovery for her

438
00:21:11,190 --> 00:21:08,960
last mission and i know you're very much

439
00:21:12,950 --> 00:21:11,200
concentrating on completing the mission

440
00:21:14,710 --> 00:21:12,960
at hand but surely you've had a chance

441
00:21:16,310 --> 00:21:14,720
for reflection and what do you think you

442
00:21:18,870 --> 00:21:16,320
will tell people about flying and

443
00:21:20,070 --> 00:21:18,880
discovery and the other shuttles you

444
00:21:21,909 --> 00:21:20,080
know when you talk about this in the

445
00:21:27,430 --> 00:21:21,919
future how are you going to look back at

446
00:21:31,909 --> 00:21:29,510
well i think this is nicole and i think

447
00:21:34,070 --> 00:21:31,919
eric said it um

448
00:21:35,669 --> 00:21:34,080
very correctly that you know it really

449
00:21:36,549 --> 00:21:35,679
is an honor and a privilege to be able

450
00:21:39,350 --> 00:21:36,559
to

451
00:21:41,350 --> 00:21:39,360
at any point in time and the and the

452
00:21:42,710 --> 00:21:41,360
fact that we're on this final flight i

453
00:21:45,669 --> 00:21:42,720
think

454
00:21:47,510 --> 00:21:45,679
you know really stands out to us it's um

455
00:21:49,830 --> 00:21:47,520
it's a real opportunity i think to

456
00:21:51,590 --> 00:21:49,840
celebrate the just really great things

457
00:21:54,310 --> 00:21:51,600
that have gone on with

458
00:21:56,549 --> 00:21:54,320
um with discovery and her fine history

459
00:21:59,430 --> 00:21:56,559
and uh the part of the space shuttle

460
00:22:01,270 --> 00:21:59,440
program that uh discovery participated

461
00:22:03,350 --> 00:22:01,280
in which was a big one um it's done

462
00:22:05,990 --> 00:22:03,360
everything from you know deploying

463
00:22:08,070 --> 00:22:06,000
satellites on a you know on a standalone

464
00:22:10,549 --> 00:22:08,080
flight working as an orbiting laboratory

465
00:22:13,190 --> 00:22:10,559
on its own and um significantly

466
00:22:14,789 --> 00:22:13,200
contributing to the flights that

467
00:22:17,590 --> 00:22:14,799
went into building the international

468
00:22:19,110 --> 00:22:17,600
space station and i know i have to admit

469
00:22:20,549 --> 00:22:19,120
you know i think when we walk away from

470
00:22:22,390 --> 00:22:20,559
her on the runway

471
00:22:24,070 --> 00:22:22,400
after we land it's there's going to be

472
00:22:26,470 --> 00:22:24,080
tears in my eyes i know i worked with

473
00:22:29,270 --> 00:22:26,480
her at kennedy space center and the

474
00:22:32,870 --> 00:22:29,280
chance to fly has just been um

475
00:22:36,310 --> 00:22:34,390
as mike barrett

476
00:22:37,830 --> 00:22:36,320
you know over probably a four century

477
00:22:40,630 --> 00:22:37,840
span there's been a lot of ships of

478
00:22:43,110 --> 00:22:40,640
discovery named discovery all these were

479
00:22:45,190 --> 00:22:43,120
dedicated to exploration and science

480
00:22:48,390 --> 00:22:45,200
and uh these were captained by everybody

481
00:22:50,149 --> 00:22:48,400
from henry hudson to george vancouver

482
00:22:51,750 --> 00:22:50,159
there was a discovery on captain cook's

483
00:22:53,190 --> 00:22:51,760
second voyage

484
00:22:54,870 --> 00:22:53,200
there was one that went to the antarctic

485
00:22:58,149 --> 00:22:54,880
with shackleton

486
00:23:00,630 --> 00:22:58,159
there's a rich legacy of uh of history

487
00:23:02,549 --> 00:23:00,640
inherent in the name discovery and uh to

488
00:23:04,390 --> 00:23:02,559
be able to uh take the final flight of

489
00:23:06,789 --> 00:23:04,400
this discovery is just an incredible

490
00:23:08,310 --> 00:23:06,799
honor and privilege and uh boy i think

491
00:23:10,070 --> 00:23:08,320
we've really set the bar high for the

492
00:23:11,990 --> 00:23:10,080
next vessel to bear that name and and i

493
00:23:15,990 --> 00:23:12,000
just hope it goes a lot further and does

494
00:23:19,909 --> 00:23:17,669
eric bowe here

495
00:23:21,510 --> 00:23:19,919
i think the thing that

496
00:23:23,669 --> 00:23:21,520
it will really strike home to me when we

497
00:23:25,750 --> 00:23:23,679
actually do the walk around when we land

498
00:23:27,029 --> 00:23:25,760
because obviously we're concentrating at

499
00:23:28,950 --> 00:23:27,039
the mission at hand occasionally we

500
00:23:31,029 --> 00:23:28,960
think about the the legacy that

501
00:23:32,950 --> 00:23:31,039
discovery has but i think for me after

502
00:23:34,710 --> 00:23:32,960
we do the walk around and as nicole said

503
00:23:36,950 --> 00:23:34,720
a tear is going to come to the eye

504
00:23:39,190 --> 00:23:36,960
and the big word that i could describe

505
00:23:40,870 --> 00:23:39,200
is with the pride i mean it's people

506
00:23:43,269 --> 00:23:40,880
that make the ship all the ships we've

507
00:23:45,510 --> 00:23:43,279
had as mike was saying with discovery

508
00:23:47,430 --> 00:23:45,520
we've had a lot a line of ships named

509
00:23:49,029 --> 00:23:47,440
discovery but it's the people behind

510
00:23:51,190 --> 00:23:49,039
those ships that made the difference and

511
00:23:53,909 --> 00:23:51,200
just like that it's the people that make

512
00:23:57,350 --> 00:23:53,919
discovery the space shuttle such a great

513
00:24:00,549 --> 00:23:59,110
well thank you all three of you really

514
00:24:02,230 --> 00:24:00,559
for taking some time this morning to

515
00:24:04,230 --> 00:24:02,240
speak with me

516
00:24:05,590 --> 00:24:04,240
we wish you all the best enjoy that

517
00:24:07,350 --> 00:24:05,600
extra day that they gave you at the

518
00:24:08,870 --> 00:24:07,360
space station and in space and and we'll

519
00:24:12,710 --> 00:24:08,880
see you back at the kennedy space center

520
00:24:17,269 --> 00:24:14,390
we are all looking forward to see you

521
00:24:21,110 --> 00:24:18,710
discovery

522
00:24:25,110 --> 00:24:21,120
iss this is houston acr that concludes

523
00:24:32,149 --> 00:24:29,510
and thank you to msnbc wxia tv and fox