1 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:11,700 why did you want to be an astronaut well 2 00:00:16,440 --> 00:00:13,690 I always loved flying I loved flying in 3 00:00:17,609 --> 00:00:16,450 airplanes and so that was kind of 4 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:17,619 natural to me and I was always 5 00:00:21,240 --> 00:00:19,930 interested in the space program and so 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:21,250 it was one of those things where at 7 00:00:24,450 --> 00:00:22,330 first I want to get involved in the 8 00:00:25,650 --> 00:00:24,460 space program and I became a flight 9 00:00:28,290 --> 00:00:25,660 controller down here the Johnson Space 10 00:00:30,150 --> 00:00:28,300 Center and I became very interested in 11 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:30,160 space room I enjoyed working working on 12 00:00:33,540 --> 00:00:31,930 it and then as I transitioned the Air 13 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:33,550 Force to a flying career as a as a 14 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:35,170 backseater as a flight test engineer I 15 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:36,730 started getting some of the flight 16 00:00:39,450 --> 00:00:38,050 experience that I liked and now I had 17 00:00:42,330 --> 00:00:39,460 some space experience and some flying 18 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:42,340 experience and now I could possibly take 19 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:43,930 seriously the chance of becoming an 20 00:00:48,060 --> 00:00:45,730 astronaut and so I said well I'd really 21 00:00:49,139 --> 00:00:48,070 really better you know pursue this like 22 00:00:50,819 --> 00:00:49,149 I've always wanted to because I have a 23 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:50,829 chance now and I wouldn't feel 24 00:00:54,569 --> 00:00:52,210 comfortable with just kind of letting it 25 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:54,579 slip by and so as I get more experience 26 00:00:58,619 --> 00:00:56,170 in the Air Force and the flight test 27 00:01:00,779 --> 00:00:58,629 field and I decided to apply I applied 28 00:01:02,369 --> 00:01:00,789 once to the the program and didn't get 29 00:01:03,569 --> 00:01:02,379 accepted I figured well this goal is 30 00:01:05,130 --> 00:01:03,579 worth happiness we're trying hard 31 00:01:07,890 --> 00:01:05,140 forward so I applied again a couple 32 00:01:10,140 --> 00:01:07,900 years later in that time I got in before 33 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:10,150 that what made you interested in flying 34 00:01:14,999 --> 00:01:11,410 and in the space program 35 00:01:17,190 --> 00:01:15,009 my father was a b-17 pilot during the 36 00:01:19,230 --> 00:01:17,200 World War 2 era so he was a pilot and he 37 00:01:20,969 --> 00:01:19,240 loved flying and so he take us to air 38 00:01:22,710 --> 00:01:20,979 shows and I think there's something 39 00:01:23,819 --> 00:01:22,720 about the flying that sometimes runs in 40 00:01:26,789 --> 00:01:23,829 the blood and so that's something that's 41 00:01:28,230 --> 00:01:26,799 passed on from my dad to me and I'd like 42 00:01:29,690 --> 00:01:28,240 to say I really loved flying and so I 43 00:01:32,730 --> 00:01:29,700 was always interested in aviation 44 00:01:34,050 --> 00:01:32,740 let's tell me about the background we'll 45 00:01:35,490 --> 00:01:34,060 start with your hometown tell me about 46 00:01:37,590 --> 00:01:35,500 your hometown of what it was like 47 00:01:39,749 --> 00:01:37,600 growing up there sure I grew up in San 48 00:01:41,940 --> 00:01:39,759 Carlos California it's a town of about 49 00:01:44,219 --> 00:01:41,950 30,000 people south of San Francisco 50 00:01:47,190 --> 00:01:44,229 it's a great place to grow up pretty 51 00:01:49,709 --> 00:01:47,200 normal middle America you know playing 52 00:01:53,190 --> 00:01:49,719 sports Little League you know football 53 00:01:55,709 --> 00:01:53,200 and I had a great support structure a 54 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:55,719 wonderful mother and father that really 55 00:02:00,749 --> 00:01:57,610 really took good care of me and made 56 00:02:02,609 --> 00:02:00,759 sure I was I was going down the right 57 00:02:04,469 --> 00:02:02,619 path for school and everything and 58 00:02:07,260 --> 00:02:04,479 really stressing that and I had great 59 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:07,270 teachers from from grade school middle 60 00:02:11,430 --> 00:02:08,770 school high school and then on to 61 00:02:13,530 --> 00:02:11,440 college and the like I say that the 62 00:02:15,180 --> 00:02:13,540 people there were were very supportive 63 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:15,190 in a very good community and it was a 64 00:02:20,699 --> 00:02:17,890 great place to grow up you get to see it 65 00:02:21,730 --> 00:02:20,709 during your flights yeah my first flight 66 00:02:23,410 --> 00:02:21,740 that was one of my main goal 67 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:23,420 I want to see my hometown San Carlos 68 00:02:27,190 --> 00:02:25,310 from space and so how do little research 69 00:02:28,870 --> 00:02:27,200 because you know you're going 17,500 70 00:02:30,940 --> 00:02:28,880 miles an hour so it's not a piece of 71 00:02:32,710 --> 00:02:30,950 cake that spot your hometown from 200 72 00:02:34,900 --> 00:02:32,720 miles up so I looked at some pictures 73 00:02:37,420 --> 00:02:34,910 from space of the San Carlos area and 74 00:02:38,860 --> 00:02:37,430 you know the peninsula of san fracisco 75 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:38,870 peninsula looks kind of like a thumb and 76 00:02:41,500 --> 00:02:40,490 so I knew if I I could find that really 77 00:02:43,210 --> 00:02:41,510 easily so the first thing you see is the 78 00:02:44,860 --> 00:02:43,220 coast of California see the thumb where 79 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:44,870 San Francisco is and as you get closer 80 00:02:48,970 --> 00:02:47,510 you look for you need to binoculars just 81 00:02:51,550 --> 00:02:48,980 or a high telephoto lens 82 00:02:52,930 --> 00:02:51,560 but I looked for highway 280 which is 83 00:02:54,610 --> 00:02:52,940 right goes right up and down the 84 00:02:56,230 --> 00:02:54,620 peninsula and there's a reservoir a big 85 00:02:58,180 --> 00:02:56,240 reservoir on the on the west side of 86 00:02:59,500 --> 00:02:58,190 that I knew if I found the reservoir I 87 00:03:01,720 --> 00:02:59,510 went to the southern tip looked across 88 00:03:03,430 --> 00:03:01,730 the highway that's San Carlos and so I 89 00:03:04,750 --> 00:03:03,440 got my binoculars out and we're coming 90 00:03:06,910 --> 00:03:04,760 up in the coast of California one time 91 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:06,920 on sts-1 time my first flight and sure 92 00:03:11,230 --> 00:03:08,810 enough I could I could I could see the 93 00:03:12,460 --> 00:03:11,240 reservoir and I could see I could see 94 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:12,470 that the 280 area and I could basically 95 00:03:15,610 --> 00:03:14,510 navigate my way to San Carlos and I 96 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:15,620 could see places where I could recognize 97 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:17,570 at San Carlos Airport and I could even 98 00:03:21,460 --> 00:03:19,130 follow the streets up to the area where 99 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:21,470 I grew up and it was just a fantastic 100 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:23,570 thing to be able to see your hometown 101 00:03:26,530 --> 00:03:25,490 from space to think I'm a little kid I 102 00:03:28,870 --> 00:03:26,540 used to look up and watch the airplanes 103 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:28,880 fly over in my backyard and here I was 104 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:31,490 flying over at Mach 25 and looking down 105 00:03:37,930 --> 00:03:33,290 at my hometown way higher than those air 106 00:03:40,180 --> 00:03:37,940 yeah tell me about the the path in from 107 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:40,190 San Carlos through your education and 108 00:03:44,650 --> 00:03:42,170 your Air Force career that led you here 109 00:03:46,660 --> 00:03:44,660 yeah well I I went to school at the 110 00:03:49,740 --> 00:03:46,670 University California Berkeley and I 111 00:03:52,660 --> 00:03:49,750 wanted to be a pilot originally and so I 112 00:03:53,830 --> 00:03:52,670 went through ROTC at Berkeley and I also 113 00:03:55,180 --> 00:03:53,840 got an engineering degree because I 114 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:55,190 always knew that the flying thing 115 00:03:58,930 --> 00:03:56,510 doesn't always work out you know your 116 00:04:00,010 --> 00:03:58,940 eyes could go bad or anything and so I 117 00:04:02,290 --> 00:04:00,020 got a mechanical agent agree from 118 00:04:04,090 --> 00:04:02,300 Berkeley and then graduated from ROTC 119 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:04,100 and went down to pilot training and they 120 00:04:07,390 --> 00:04:05,450 said I had a heart murmur and they 121 00:04:09,580 --> 00:04:07,400 wouldn't let me fly and so from that 122 00:04:12,580 --> 00:04:09,590 point on I thought well hey I'll never 123 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:12,590 get to fly and I'll have to do something 124 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:14,510 else so I took an engineering the 125 00:04:18,010 --> 00:04:16,010 engineering route in the Air Force but I 126 00:04:19,810 --> 00:04:18,020 heard that well I couldn't be a pilot I 127 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:19,820 could be a backseater and be a flight 128 00:04:24,250 --> 00:04:22,130 test engineer so I took some various 129 00:04:26,740 --> 00:04:24,260 engineering jobs that in the Air Force 130 00:04:28,030 --> 00:04:26,750 and I tried to get my resume good so 131 00:04:29,620 --> 00:04:28,040 that I could apply to this flight 132 00:04:33,790 --> 00:04:29,630 engineer course at at test pilot school 133 00:04:35,860 --> 00:04:33,800 and in about seven years later I applied 134 00:04:38,830 --> 00:04:35,870 to to the flight engineer 135 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:38,840 course and I got accepted and I went to 136 00:04:42,879 --> 00:04:41,090 get my waiver for this I get for this 137 00:04:44,409 --> 00:04:42,889 heart murmur they said I had so I could 138 00:04:45,969 --> 00:04:44,419 find the back seat and when I went to 139 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:45,979 get the waiver the doctor said well you 140 00:04:49,659 --> 00:04:48,530 don't have a heart murmur and so in the 141 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:49,669 seven years since the pilot training 142 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:51,290 where they wouldn't let me fly they had 143 00:04:53,620 --> 00:04:52,490 gotten better equipment and they'd 144 00:04:55,510 --> 00:04:53,630 changed the criteria for what 145 00:04:57,340 --> 00:04:55,520 constitutes his heart murmur so that 146 00:04:59,230 --> 00:04:57,350 opened up obviously the flight engineer 147 00:05:00,310 --> 00:04:59,240 course but then since I know I got a 148 00:05:03,189 --> 00:05:00,320 heart murmur while there was a chance I 149 00:05:04,330 --> 00:05:03,199 could become an astronaut so I went 150 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:04,340 through my career as that flight 151 00:05:07,750 --> 00:05:06,110 engineer and went through the course and 152 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:07,760 worked on the f-16 project at Edwards 153 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:10,370 for for four years and and then had a 154 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:12,770 chance to apply to NASA and like I say 155 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:15,070 on the second time I applied I got in 156 00:05:20,110 --> 00:05:17,810 when you were thinking that you couldn't 157 00:05:22,719 --> 00:05:20,120 be a pilot where you still had the goal 158 00:05:24,070 --> 00:05:22,729 of astronaut well not when it looked 159 00:05:25,530 --> 00:05:24,080 like my dreams were over there when I 160 00:05:27,940 --> 00:05:25,540 first got out of college when I was at 161 00:05:29,140 --> 00:05:27,950 Williams Air Force Base they told me at 162 00:05:31,180 --> 00:05:29,150 a heart murmur I was never gonna fly 163 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:31,190 maybe as a backseater but I was 164 00:05:34,719 --> 00:05:33,289 certainly when I figured okay I'm never 165 00:05:36,070 --> 00:05:34,729 gonna become a pilot and how on earth 166 00:05:38,290 --> 00:05:36,080 might ever become an astronaut that was 167 00:05:39,370 --> 00:05:38,300 completely out of the question so if 168 00:05:40,570 --> 00:05:39,380 somebody had tapped me on the shoulder 169 00:05:42,310 --> 00:05:40,580 and say hey don't worry kid you're gonna 170 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:42,320 end up flying in space someday I would 171 00:05:46,029 --> 00:05:43,850 have said you got to be kidding me so 172 00:05:47,650 --> 00:05:46,039 that it all worked out 173 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:47,660 but it was quite a different path and I 174 00:05:51,850 --> 00:05:49,490 thought it was going to take and then 175 00:05:53,830 --> 00:05:51,860 you've gotten here to a job that where 176 00:05:55,589 --> 00:05:53,840 the flying in space part of this job is 177 00:05:57,909 --> 00:05:55,599 one that's certainly got as challenges 178 00:06:00,640 --> 00:05:57,919 will Rex what is it that you think we 179 00:06:03,670 --> 00:06:00,650 get or or learn as a result of flying 180 00:06:05,620 --> 00:06:03,680 people in space that makes you feel that 181 00:06:07,719 --> 00:06:05,630 that's worth doing well there's a number 182 00:06:09,580 --> 00:06:07,729 of reasons number one you get you were 183 00:06:11,379 --> 00:06:09,590 leaving the planet for the first time 184 00:06:13,089 --> 00:06:11,389 you know we we've been in space for 50 185 00:06:16,690 --> 00:06:13,099 years but we're still eking our way off 186 00:06:18,190 --> 00:06:16,700 earth and having a permanent a permanent 187 00:06:20,260 --> 00:06:18,200 presence in space and that's what the 188 00:06:21,850 --> 00:06:20,270 Space Station is doing it's important to 189 00:06:23,469 --> 00:06:21,860 keep pushing your boundaries just like 190 00:06:25,060 --> 00:06:23,479 the pioneers in the old days push the 191 00:06:26,770 --> 00:06:25,070 boundaries and went farther west and 192 00:06:28,150 --> 00:06:26,780 we're learning about our earth we're 193 00:06:30,219 --> 00:06:28,160 learning about how the human body adapts 194 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:30,229 to space and and we're learning all 195 00:06:34,510 --> 00:06:32,450 sorts of ways physical activities and 196 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:34,520 biological processes behave in space 197 00:06:38,589 --> 00:06:36,050 that are different it's a it's a 198 00:06:41,690 --> 00:06:38,599 incredible new area to research and to 199 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:41,700 understand and it's very exciting and 200 00:06:46,220 --> 00:06:43,710 and it's a it's it really is still 201 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:46,230 amazing to to both watch the space 202 00:06:50,570 --> 00:06:47,970 program and also to be a part of it and 203 00:06:52,580 --> 00:06:50,580 so it's a despite as challenges it's 204 00:06:53,990 --> 00:06:52,590 it's definitely rewarding and I've 205 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:54,000 considered myself very fortunate to be a 206 00:06:58,250 --> 00:06:55,770 part of it in whatever aspect and and 207 00:06:59,660 --> 00:06:58,260 once my flying career is done I still 208 00:07:05,890 --> 00:06:59,670 want to be a part of it because I just 209 00:07:09,650 --> 00:07:08,300 you're one of the four crew members on 210 00:07:12,170 --> 00:07:09,660 the final flight of space shuttle 211 00:07:14,630 --> 00:07:12,180 Atlantis Rex could you give me a summary 212 00:07:16,730 --> 00:07:14,640 of the work that's planned for sts-135 213 00:07:19,340 --> 00:07:16,740 and what your jobs are going to be yeah 214 00:07:21,230 --> 00:07:19,350 sts-135 is mainly a resupply mission to 215 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:21,240 the space station so we're bringing up 216 00:07:25,190 --> 00:07:23,310 just tons of supplies food clothing 217 00:07:27,380 --> 00:07:25,200 experiments then we're bringing back 218 00:07:29,510 --> 00:07:27,390 stuff that really only the spatial has a 219 00:07:32,810 --> 00:07:29,520 capability of doing large heavy objects 220 00:07:35,180 --> 00:07:32,820 and just a valium of equipment that no 221 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:35,190 other vehicle can bring back so my job's 222 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:37,530 first on the way up there is I'm sitting 223 00:07:42,260 --> 00:07:40,170 in between the pilot and Commander and 224 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:42,270 we're gonna help monitor the system to 225 00:07:46,010 --> 00:07:43,650 deal with any failures we have during 226 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:46,020 the launch sequence and then we're gonna 227 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:48,450 run it with the space station and I'll 228 00:07:52,310 --> 00:07:50,490 be helping them out with the computers 229 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:52,320 and making sure everything's operating 230 00:07:56,450 --> 00:07:54,690 properly as we're coming into the into 231 00:07:57,920 --> 00:07:56,460 the space station once we get to the 232 00:07:59,530 --> 00:07:57,930 space station the main job is going to 233 00:08:01,550 --> 00:07:59,540 be haul that stuff from the 234 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:01,560 multi-purpose Logistics Module which 235 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:02,970 we're carrying up which holds all the 236 00:08:07,190 --> 00:08:05,610 equipment over to the space station and 237 00:08:09,530 --> 00:08:07,200 then once we get most that stuff out 238 00:08:11,150 --> 00:08:09,540 bringing down the stuff that they don't 239 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:11,160 need to bring down and them in the 240 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:12,210 middle of all that we're also going to 241 00:08:16,430 --> 00:08:13,650 have a spacewalk where I'm going to be 242 00:08:18,140 --> 00:08:16,440 what's called IV or interview ler health 243 00:08:19,220 --> 00:08:18,150 for the spacewalkers so I'm going to be 244 00:08:20,630 --> 00:08:19,230 reading their checklist when you're out 245 00:08:22,550 --> 00:08:20,640 doing a spacewalk you can't carry your 246 00:08:23,810 --> 00:08:22,560 checklist with you so all the checklists 247 00:08:25,730 --> 00:08:23,820 there and I'll guide them through the 248 00:08:27,380 --> 00:08:25,740 activities let them know what they got 249 00:08:29,930 --> 00:08:27,390 to do next and kind of choreograph the 250 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:29,940 the the spacewalk with the help from the 251 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:32,370 Mission Control Center and then when 252 00:08:36,080 --> 00:08:35,370 we've rebirth the mplm back into the 253 00:08:38,810 --> 00:08:36,090 payload Bay 254 00:08:41,540 --> 00:08:38,820 I'll help again on the flight deck with 255 00:08:43,820 --> 00:08:41,550 the landing sequence they're only four 256 00:08:46,250 --> 00:08:43,830 of you going up on this mission by just 257 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:46,260 four since we are the last space shuttle 258 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:48,690 mission we don't have the luxury of 259 00:08:51,290 --> 00:08:49,890 having another shuttle they can come up 260 00:08:53,690 --> 00:08:51,300 and get us if we have a problem with the 261 00:08:54,830 --> 00:08:53,700 space shuttle so our rescue scenario if 262 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:54,840 we do have a problem with this patient 263 00:08:59,210 --> 00:08:56,370 we can't bring it back home is to come 264 00:09:00,680 --> 00:08:59,220 back via sawyou spacecraft and now I 265 00:09:02,540 --> 00:09:00,690 don't have a Soyuz up there all that 266 00:09:04,910 --> 00:09:02,550 often they rotate every six months and 267 00:09:06,890 --> 00:09:04,920 so in order to come back down we'd have 268 00:09:09,050 --> 00:09:06,900 to cycle down on soyuz's and that would 269 00:09:10,850 --> 00:09:09,060 take a long time so the the optimal crew 270 00:09:12,230 --> 00:09:10,860 size is about four otherwise people end 271 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:12,240 up staying on the space station for a 272 00:09:16,340 --> 00:09:14,130 very extended period of time before they 273 00:09:16,910 --> 00:09:16,350 can get it hitch a ride home even as it 274 00:09:25,009 --> 00:09:16,920 is 275 00:09:27,259 --> 00:09:25,019 on the state for for an extra right 276 00:09:29,540 --> 00:09:27,269 period of time right describe that 277 00:09:31,129 --> 00:09:29,550 scenario what's the plan then if I had 278 00:09:33,889 --> 00:09:31,139 to to bring you guys yeah the the plan 279 00:09:35,540 --> 00:09:33,899 would basically to to kind of change the 280 00:09:36,949 --> 00:09:35,550 the down sequence of when people would 281 00:09:38,090 --> 00:09:36,959 come down some of the folks on the space 282 00:09:41,810 --> 00:09:38,100 station would stay longer than they 283 00:09:43,129 --> 00:09:41,820 anticipated and then as spots free up 284 00:09:45,290 --> 00:09:43,139 for the people who were going to go down 285 00:09:47,180 --> 00:09:45,300 at a certain time we cycle our crew down 286 00:09:49,430 --> 00:09:47,190 one by one and then they'll also launch 287 00:09:51,139 --> 00:09:49,440 so I used spacecraft up with just two 288 00:09:52,699 --> 00:09:51,149 people instead of three which leaves a 289 00:09:55,310 --> 00:09:52,709 spot for them to come down with one of 290 00:09:56,689 --> 00:09:55,320 our crew members and so we will kind of 291 00:09:59,660 --> 00:09:56,699 methodically do that until everybody's 292 00:10:00,889 --> 00:09:59,670 rotated down how do you feel about that 293 00:10:02,750 --> 00:10:00,899 are you comfortable with the idea of 294 00:10:04,639 --> 00:10:02,760 coming home on a Soyuz maybe get a 295 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:04,649 couple extra months since right well 296 00:10:07,759 --> 00:10:05,970 coming home thus ladies doesn't bother 297 00:10:10,310 --> 00:10:07,769 me that's we know that's a very well 298 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:10,320 proven system that can that has been 299 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:11,850 operating for years and years and does a 300 00:10:14,930 --> 00:10:13,170 great job of bringing people to and from 301 00:10:16,670 --> 00:10:14,940 space so that's not a problem 302 00:10:18,829 --> 00:10:16,680 stay in space for a long time it'd be a 303 00:10:19,730 --> 00:10:18,839 it would really be a privilege and it 304 00:10:21,769 --> 00:10:19,740 would be tough because we have been 305 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:21,779 trained on how to everything works in 306 00:10:24,949 --> 00:10:23,010 the space station but we can kind of 307 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:24,959 stick together as a four-person team 308 00:10:28,460 --> 00:10:26,250 with the shuttle crew because sandy 309 00:10:29,780 --> 00:10:28,470 Magnus one of our crew members has has 310 00:10:31,579 --> 00:10:29,790 been there before she spent six months 311 00:10:33,500 --> 00:10:31,589 there so she can somewhat train us and 312 00:10:34,790 --> 00:10:33,510 and and bring us up to speed without 313 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:34,800 interfering with the regular day-to-day 314 00:10:37,970 --> 00:10:36,810 ops in the space station and we can 315 00:10:40,220 --> 00:10:37,980 learn the types of things we can do and 316 00:10:43,370 --> 00:10:40,230 we all have our own capabilities that we 317 00:10:44,990 --> 00:10:43,380 we come up with like Doug knows robotics 318 00:10:47,660 --> 00:10:45,000 and stuff sandy knows the life of the 319 00:10:49,730 --> 00:10:47,670 space station I'm a lot of time with in 320 00:10:51,079 --> 00:10:49,740 the e ba area so we can all kind of help 321 00:10:52,699 --> 00:10:51,089 concentrate on those areas and expand 322 00:10:54,290 --> 00:10:52,709 what we know so we can help out in the 323 00:10:56,180 --> 00:10:54,300 space station from a day-to-day basis 324 00:10:57,860 --> 00:10:56,190 now you've been to the space station 325 00:10:59,540 --> 00:10:57,870 before in fact all four of you have been 326 00:11:01,040 --> 00:10:59,550 there at least once before and as you 327 00:11:03,889 --> 00:11:01,050 say sandy has been there for an extended 328 00:11:05,269 --> 00:11:03,899 period of time as that experience helped 329 00:11:07,250 --> 00:11:05,279 you guys as you've been training for 330 00:11:08,540 --> 00:11:07,260 this play yeah it does help the things 331 00:11:10,430 --> 00:11:08,550 we're doing or not all that out of the 332 00:11:11,540 --> 00:11:10,440 ordinary it's it's a great mission 333 00:11:13,819 --> 00:11:11,550 that's going to be it's going to be 334 00:11:15,740 --> 00:11:13,829 exciting but the individual tasks most 335 00:11:17,300 --> 00:11:15,750 people have done before over the period 336 00:11:18,350 --> 00:11:17,310 of the space shuttle program so that's 337 00:11:19,730 --> 00:11:18,360 not the real challenge the real 338 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:19,740 challenge is doing with just four people 339 00:11:24,259 --> 00:11:23,010 so we'll have have a lot to do and we'll 340 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:24,269 each get a chance to do something we 341 00:11:27,829 --> 00:11:26,010 haven't done before so we'll take our 342 00:11:30,170 --> 00:11:27,839 base areas of expertise we'll work on 343 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:30,180 those that we've done before like for me 344 00:11:32,180 --> 00:11:30,690 being a mission 345 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:32,190 specialist - I've done that before which 346 00:11:36,110 --> 00:11:33,690 is helpful they're still always a lot to 347 00:11:38,270 --> 00:11:36,120 learn but I can do that and and working 348 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:38,280 with the Eevee a crew that'll be feel 349 00:11:42,020 --> 00:11:40,290 real like home for me which is great and 350 00:11:44,450 --> 00:11:42,030 then I'll expand to do stuff like work 351 00:11:45,860 --> 00:11:44,460 on the computers and and other stuff I 352 00:11:48,050 --> 00:11:45,870 haven't done before which will be more 353 00:11:49,250 --> 00:11:48,060 of a challenge but other people have 354 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:49,260 done it before so I'll learn from them 355 00:11:53,390 --> 00:11:51,510 and and we'll get everything done it's 356 00:11:55,340 --> 00:11:53,400 been a while since you've been at to the 357 00:11:57,950 --> 00:11:55,350 station yes what are you looking forward 358 00:11:59,270 --> 00:11:57,960 to seeing when you get back there well I 359 00:12:01,220 --> 00:11:59,280 think probably what everybody wants to 360 00:12:02,660 --> 00:12:01,230 see is the cupola the the big windowed 361 00:12:04,340 --> 00:12:02,670 module where you can stick your head out 362 00:12:05,510 --> 00:12:04,350 there and see you know 360 degrees 363 00:12:06,950 --> 00:12:05,520 around you it's about the closer you 364 00:12:08,990 --> 00:12:06,960 come to doing a spacewalk without 365 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:09,000 putting the spacesuit on so we're 366 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:10,410 looking forward to seeing that I also 367 00:12:14,390 --> 00:12:11,850 haven't seen the Japanese module before 368 00:12:16,790 --> 00:12:14,400 so I'll be interested in and going in 369 00:12:19,340 --> 00:12:16,800 there and seen how that looks and it'll 370 00:12:20,510 --> 00:12:19,350 be a purely experience to see that space 371 00:12:22,580 --> 00:12:20,520 station basically in its final 372 00:12:23,990 --> 00:12:22,590 configuration so it'll be quite a treat 373 00:12:25,820 --> 00:12:24,000 to see all that yeah there's a lot more 374 00:12:27,770 --> 00:12:25,830 of it than there was a list there is and 375 00:12:30,140 --> 00:12:27,780 it's amazing to me how big it gets each 376 00:12:34,670 --> 00:12:30,150 time I go there when I was there in in 377 00:12:36,980 --> 00:12:34,680 2002 on sts-1 10 it was it was it seemed 378 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:36,990 big at the time but it compared to 122 379 00:12:42,380 --> 00:12:40,410 and we've added node 2 and the Columbus 380 00:12:45,230 --> 00:12:42,390 module the European laboratory module it 381 00:12:48,380 --> 00:12:45,240 it was much bigger and now it's going to 382 00:12:49,940 --> 00:12:48,390 see me just enormous so it's every time 383 00:12:51,740 --> 00:12:49,950 you start the rendezvous to the space 384 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:51,750 station it just it just blows your mind 385 00:12:56,060 --> 00:12:53,730 just how big this thing is and what an 386 00:12:58,700 --> 00:12:56,070 incredible vehicle we put together up in 387 00:13:00,800 --> 00:12:58,710 space as you said that the biggest 388 00:13:03,170 --> 00:13:00,810 priority for this flight is delivering a 389 00:13:04,490 --> 00:13:03,180 well frankly a shuttle full of supplies 390 00:13:07,250 --> 00:13:04,500 they have the International Space 391 00:13:09,050 --> 00:13:07,260 Station tell me about the kind of cargo 392 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:09,060 that you and your crewmates are bringing 393 00:13:12,590 --> 00:13:10,770 to orbit well the main thing we're going 394 00:13:15,710 --> 00:13:12,600 to bring is like we say supplies so that 395 00:13:17,780 --> 00:13:15,720 is everything from from lots of food to 396 00:13:19,550 --> 00:13:17,790 clothing and then we're also going to 397 00:13:20,930 --> 00:13:19,560 help them resupply their science you 398 00:13:22,550 --> 00:13:20,940 know they've got a lot of scientific 399 00:13:24,050 --> 00:13:22,560 equipment they need up there and then 400 00:13:25,430 --> 00:13:24,060 just even the space station components 401 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:25,440 such as you know Global Positioning 402 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:27,810 System antennas and rate gyro assemblies 403 00:13:32,450 --> 00:13:30,570 just the various things we need to keep 404 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:32,460 the space station running and keep it 405 00:13:38,390 --> 00:13:35,970 livable - there is a spacewalk on this 406 00:13:40,790 --> 00:13:38,400 flight on flight day 5 yes but unlike 407 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:40,800 previous shuttle flights there are 408 00:13:44,189 --> 00:13:42,330 station crew members who are going to be 409 00:13:46,230 --> 00:13:44,199 the ones going outside 410 00:13:48,509 --> 00:13:46,240 what's the reason for that assignment 411 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:48,519 well you know we're one big team with 412 00:13:51,540 --> 00:13:50,170 the Space Shuttle in the space station 413 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:51,550 crew members and we have to figure out 414 00:13:55,290 --> 00:13:52,930 what's the best way to use your 415 00:13:56,790 --> 00:13:55,300 resources and since we are a little bit 416 00:13:58,680 --> 00:13:56,800 short-handed on this flight with just 417 00:14:00,509 --> 00:13:58,690 four people we figured it was best to 418 00:14:02,009 --> 00:14:00,519 but the station crew members do the 419 00:14:03,540 --> 00:14:02,019 spacewalk and we're going to be helping 420 00:14:05,430 --> 00:14:03,550 them out so we're all going to be busy 421 00:14:06,689 --> 00:14:05,440 that day and well you know sandy and 422 00:14:08,519 --> 00:14:06,699 Doug will be doing robotics I'll be 423 00:14:11,970 --> 00:14:08,529 doing the the check was from the inside 424 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:11,980 and Chris will be suiting them up in the 425 00:14:17,850 --> 00:14:14,410 airlock so we're busy but it works out 426 00:14:19,019 --> 00:14:17,860 real well this way Ron Garan and and 427 00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:19,029 Mike Fossum have already done the 428 00:14:22,769 --> 00:14:20,470 spacewalk together too so they're a 429 00:14:24,930 --> 00:14:22,779 great team to send out there and and do 430 00:14:26,460 --> 00:14:24,940 our EBA tasks all right well tell us 431 00:14:28,170 --> 00:14:26,470 about what they're going to do this time 432 00:14:29,370 --> 00:14:28,180 what's on that checklist that you're 433 00:14:30,809 --> 00:14:29,380 going to be paired with them with the 434 00:14:33,389 --> 00:14:30,819 main thing the first thing we're going 435 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:33,399 to do is bring back the the pump module 436 00:14:36,569 --> 00:14:34,930 that failed on the space station you 437 00:14:38,699 --> 00:14:36,579 last summer we had a pump module that 438 00:14:40,379 --> 00:14:38,709 failed and it was a big deal he had to 439 00:14:42,269 --> 00:14:40,389 get that thing replaced and quickly to 440 00:14:45,050 --> 00:14:42,279 restore the cooling to the electronics 441 00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:45,060 inside the space station and so that 442 00:14:48,990 --> 00:14:47,560 pump module was swapped out it put a new 443 00:14:50,579 --> 00:14:49,000 one in there but the old one that failed 444 00:14:52,290 --> 00:14:50,589 it's been sitting up in the space 445 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:52,300 station ever since and we'd like to 446 00:14:55,650 --> 00:14:54,490 bring that home to number one find out 447 00:14:57,600 --> 00:14:55,660 what happened because you learn a lot 448 00:14:59,160 --> 00:14:57,610 from from failures of equipment in space 449 00:15:00,840 --> 00:14:59,170 say hey what's our feeling well maybe we 450 00:15:02,939 --> 00:15:00,850 didn't expect this or is it something we 451 00:15:04,259 --> 00:15:02,949 expected and then potentially we could 452 00:15:06,509 --> 00:15:04,269 refurbish it and launch it again later 453 00:15:07,710 --> 00:15:06,519 on for another spare if we needed to the 454 00:15:10,259 --> 00:15:07,720 second things that we're going to take 455 00:15:11,370 --> 00:15:10,269 from the space from the space station 456 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:11,380 and put it in the payload Bay of the 457 00:15:15,210 --> 00:15:12,910 shuttle once we get in the payload Bay 458 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:15,220 the shuttle Ron and Mike are gonna take 459 00:15:19,769 --> 00:15:17,110 a what's called the robotics refueling 460 00:15:22,110 --> 00:15:19,779 module and take this payload and put it 461 00:15:24,499 --> 00:15:22,120 onto the space station and and the 462 00:15:27,059 --> 00:15:24,509 robotics refueling module or RRM is a 463 00:15:28,620 --> 00:15:27,069 kind of a testbed of sorts that usually 464 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:28,630 going to be used to see how we can 465 00:15:34,499 --> 00:15:31,810 remotely service satellites to space 466 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:34,509 well it's got it's got a bunch of places 467 00:15:38,929 --> 00:15:36,970 where the this space station is a 468 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:38,939 special purpose dextrous manipulator 469 00:15:44,189 --> 00:15:42,970 spdm can grab on to it take off caps try 470 00:15:46,530 --> 00:15:44,199 different things that normally we'd have 471 00:15:47,429 --> 00:15:46,540 a human space Walker do and see if it 472 00:15:49,259 --> 00:15:47,439 can be done remotely 473 00:15:52,319 --> 00:15:49,269 for instance pulling up flaps cutting 474 00:15:54,809 --> 00:15:52,329 MLI or either insulation and taking 475 00:15:56,960 --> 00:15:54,819 taking caps off or even potentially 476 00:15:58,759 --> 00:15:56,970 moving fuel from one 477 00:16:00,290 --> 00:15:58,769 vehicle to another so ways to test that 478 00:16:02,059 --> 00:16:00,300 with the RRM that we're really excited 479 00:16:04,340 --> 00:16:02,069 about it should tell us a lot about how 480 00:16:06,530 --> 00:16:04,350 hard it is to remotely service a 481 00:16:09,079 --> 00:16:06,540 satellite in space find out just how 482 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:09,089 Dexter's exactly and so it really is the 483 00:16:13,730 --> 00:16:11,850 chance to show how well the spdm can 484 00:16:16,850 --> 00:16:13,740 function space so it'll be a will be a 485 00:16:18,319 --> 00:16:16,860 challenge from the from the the payload 486 00:16:20,030 --> 00:16:18,329 standpoint but also from the robotic 487 00:16:21,679 --> 00:16:20,040 standpoint for how we how we go about 488 00:16:22,610 --> 00:16:21,689 doing these tasks and I'm sure we're 489 00:16:24,980 --> 00:16:22,620 going to learn a ton because there's a 490 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:24,990 lot of neat tools that this the 491 00:16:29,749 --> 00:16:26,970 spacecraft has that we can we can test 492 00:16:30,769 --> 00:16:29,759 out on the space station to figure out 493 00:16:32,030 --> 00:16:30,779 hey are there better ways of doing this 494 00:16:34,519 --> 00:16:32,040 or the better ways of making satellites 495 00:16:36,319 --> 00:16:34,529 so that we can refuel them or or service 496 00:16:37,730 --> 00:16:36,329 them easier in space and/or the better 497 00:16:40,369 --> 00:16:37,740 ways robotically to handle situations 498 00:16:42,499 --> 00:16:40,379 like this now to be clear the this 499 00:16:43,999 --> 00:16:42,509 you're you're delivering this but all 500 00:16:46,129 --> 00:16:44,009 this the work that we've talking about 501 00:16:48,050 --> 00:16:46,139 this test is not going to occur now your 502 00:16:50,900 --> 00:16:48,060 mission no the the are and we will put 503 00:16:53,119 --> 00:16:50,910 on the space station where the the spdm 504 00:16:54,530 --> 00:16:53,129 the robotic arm can get to it and take 505 00:16:56,329 --> 00:16:54,540 care all these tasks later on when we 506 00:16:58,009 --> 00:16:56,339 have more time we have a very very 507 00:17:00,110 --> 00:16:58,019 compressed timeline we're trying to do 508 00:17:02,869 --> 00:17:00,120 so much in this time with like I said 509 00:17:04,010 --> 00:17:02,879 with the short-handed crew that a lot of 510 00:17:05,569 --> 00:17:04,020 stuff we're going to get set up so 511 00:17:07,460 --> 00:17:05,579 people can take care of it later and 512 00:17:09,230 --> 00:17:07,470 we're going to have more time and you 513 00:17:12,169 --> 00:17:09,240 got arm operations that are going to 514 00:17:13,579 --> 00:17:12,179 assist in both of these yes yes what 515 00:17:15,919 --> 00:17:13,589 else is on the timeline because besides 516 00:17:17,449 --> 00:17:15,929 those two things and that's well those 517 00:17:19,730 --> 00:17:17,459 are the main task for the spacewalk 518 00:17:21,649 --> 00:17:19,740 now the after we that we have will have 519 00:17:23,360 --> 00:17:21,659 some extra time to do what we call get 520 00:17:24,770 --> 00:17:23,370 ahead tasks and those are still a little 521 00:17:26,270 --> 00:17:24,780 bit in flux for those kind of change 522 00:17:28,279 --> 00:17:26,280 depending on what the highest priority 523 00:17:29,810 --> 00:17:28,289 is at time so we have a number of tasks 524 00:17:32,299 --> 00:17:29,820 that we've trained for that and Ron and 525 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:32,309 Mike have trained for and when we just 526 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:33,510 when we get closer to flight we'll 527 00:17:35,810 --> 00:17:34,770 decide okay these are these are the 528 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:35,820 highest parties these the ones we're 529 00:17:40,039 --> 00:17:37,650 going to want you to do know why waste 530 00:17:42,529 --> 00:17:40,049 time planted who practicing for it now 531 00:17:44,690 --> 00:17:42,539 and we can use you for what's needed 532 00:17:45,950 --> 00:17:44,700 them that's right that's right now most 533 00:17:48,560 --> 00:17:45,960 of the time that you're going to be up 534 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:48,570 there outside of this spacewalk all the 535 00:17:52,789 --> 00:17:50,130 crew members are going to be involved in 536 00:17:54,350 --> 00:17:52,799 moving over yes the materials being 537 00:17:56,330 --> 00:17:54,360 delivered and bringing the stuff back 538 00:17:59,029 --> 00:17:56,340 it's sort of like packing up one house 539 00:18:01,360 --> 00:17:59,039 and right pack up two houses and moving 540 00:18:04,310 --> 00:18:01,370 them across the outlet the same door 541 00:18:06,710 --> 00:18:04,320 give us a sense of what's involved here 542 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:06,720 not just in terms of moving items but 543 00:18:10,370 --> 00:18:09,210 knowing where they are and where they're 544 00:18:13,520 --> 00:18:10,380 supposed to go and 545 00:18:15,620 --> 00:18:13,530 and knowing what goes when right it's 546 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:15,630 it's quite a puzzle game and the the 547 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:17,730 very first most important rule is do 548 00:18:21,289 --> 00:18:19,770 what sandy says because Sandy's lived up 549 00:18:24,289 --> 00:18:21,299 there and she's our loadmaster so she 550 00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:24,299 knows where where things go and also how 551 00:18:29,060 --> 00:18:26,910 is the best way to rearrange stuff and 552 00:18:31,820 --> 00:18:29,070 so you know I'll be her assistant and so 553 00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:31,830 we'll figure out ways to to make that 554 00:18:35,180 --> 00:18:33,809 shell game happen because before you 555 00:18:36,770 --> 00:18:35,190 bring stuff back ups you got to make a 556 00:18:38,900 --> 00:18:36,780 hole for it and is it and can you bring 557 00:18:41,900 --> 00:18:38,910 all the stuff out of the out of the 558 00:18:43,279 --> 00:18:41,910 multi-purpose Logistics Module before 559 00:18:44,779 --> 00:18:43,289 you start bringing stuff back in or just 560 00:18:45,919 --> 00:18:44,789 bring them back part at a time so it's 561 00:18:47,270 --> 00:18:45,929 kind of one of those puzzle games where 562 00:18:49,310 --> 00:18:47,280 we will start bringing stuff in before 563 00:18:51,950 --> 00:18:49,320 we offload at everything so it can get 564 00:18:53,539 --> 00:18:51,960 confusing so we have some really 565 00:18:55,130 --> 00:18:53,549 talented transfer people on the ground 566 00:18:57,919 --> 00:18:55,140 to help us keep it straight and then we 567 00:19:00,590 --> 00:18:57,929 have transfer books to make sure we know 568 00:19:03,169 --> 00:19:00,600 what goes where and then we just do the 569 00:19:04,700 --> 00:19:03,179 do the shell game and try to take care 570 00:19:06,049 --> 00:19:04,710 of it all and invariably there'll be a 571 00:19:07,669 --> 00:19:06,059 piece or two they go okay to somebody 572 00:19:09,350 --> 00:19:07,679 move this and if we didn't sign for it 573 00:19:10,730 --> 00:19:09,360 and say where we moved it to it can be a 574 00:19:13,310 --> 00:19:10,740 problem so we have to be very dedicated 575 00:19:15,020 --> 00:19:13,320 about about annotating where things went 576 00:19:16,940 --> 00:19:15,030 who put them where and all that kind of 577 00:19:18,950 --> 00:19:16,950 thing I wonder whether or not it's I 578 00:19:21,380 --> 00:19:18,960 think excuse me all plotted out down to 579 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:21,390 the finest detail or do you are you're 580 00:19:24,140 --> 00:19:22,770 gonna have to ad-lib we have to Ella 581 00:19:26,750 --> 00:19:24,150 somewhat because we'll go grab stuff 582 00:19:29,180 --> 00:19:26,760 that's that's on the space station that 583 00:19:30,590 --> 00:19:29,190 we need to put in our return canister 584 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:30,600 basically and we'll put it in what we 585 00:19:33,620 --> 00:19:32,250 call a bungee Jail it's a bunch of 586 00:19:35,060 --> 00:19:33,630 bungee that go across and we can push 587 00:19:36,230 --> 00:19:35,070 them in there and the end there and they 588 00:19:38,029 --> 00:19:36,240 won't they'll kind of float around in 589 00:19:39,169 --> 00:19:38,039 there but they won't go anywhere so so 590 00:19:40,549 --> 00:19:39,179 we'll be cramming a bunch of stuff in 591 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:40,559 the bungee Jail and taking a bunch of 592 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:42,110 stuff out and take it over the station 593 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:44,490 we'll we'll make sure we annotate when 594 00:19:47,810 --> 00:19:46,530 stuff goes across but some of the stuff 595 00:19:49,310 --> 00:19:47,820 in the bungee Jail you don't know 596 00:19:50,450 --> 00:19:49,320 exactly where it is and she's got to 597 00:19:52,190 --> 00:19:50,460 kind of fish it out of there and then 598 00:19:54,049 --> 00:19:52,200 put it in its final stove location so 599 00:19:55,340 --> 00:19:54,059 some of it will be inaudible we'll look 600 00:19:56,419 --> 00:19:55,350 and we'll know hey this is this is not 601 00:19:58,159 --> 00:19:56,429 working we've got to get to this before 602 00:19:59,810 --> 00:19:58,169 you get to that or this doesn't fit 603 00:20:01,100 --> 00:19:59,820 exactly like we thought it was gonna and 604 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:01,110 so there would be a lot of audible and 605 00:20:06,409 --> 00:20:04,890 going on delivering is is easy except 606 00:20:09,470 --> 00:20:06,419 that you got a clear space for the stuff 607 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:09,480 to write go into right it's a that 608 00:20:13,930 --> 00:20:11,370 that's well that's why you've got 609 00:20:16,909 --> 00:20:13,940 several days to do it all yes yes yep 610 00:20:19,399 --> 00:20:16,919 when the joint time line work at the 611 00:20:20,780 --> 00:20:19,409 station is all over the four of you the 612 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:20,790 shuttle crew members are going to mark a 613 00:20:23,529 --> 00:20:23,250 milestone with the last undocking of a 614 00:20:24,729 --> 00:20:23,539 space 615 00:20:27,549 --> 00:20:24,739 shuttle from the International Space 616 00:20:29,739 --> 00:20:27,559 Station is there anything special on the 617 00:20:32,710 --> 00:20:29,749 plan for the undocking operation itself 618 00:20:34,749 --> 00:20:32,720 as Lantis wraps up the shuttles mission 619 00:20:37,269 --> 00:20:34,759 at the station I think well what kind of 620 00:20:40,060 --> 00:20:37,279 in some way commemorate that activity 621 00:20:41,349 --> 00:20:40,070 and and just note that this is the last 622 00:20:43,719 --> 00:20:41,359 time we're leave on the space shuttle 623 00:20:45,519 --> 00:20:43,729 and it's again that's one of those busy 624 00:20:47,349 --> 00:20:45,529 days so we got a lot of work to do and 625 00:20:49,479 --> 00:20:47,359 we'll make sure we're being very careful 626 00:20:51,549 --> 00:20:49,489 but everything we have to do but I think 627 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:51,559 after we start backing away and get a 628 00:20:55,149 --> 00:20:52,970 little farther away where we can let 629 00:20:56,830 --> 00:20:55,159 down our guard just a little bit we'll 630 00:20:59,259 --> 00:20:56,840 we'll look back at the space station and 631 00:21:00,849 --> 00:20:59,269 just think back and what an amazing 632 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:00,859 thing it is the space shuttle has done 633 00:21:03,669 --> 00:21:02,210 because without the space shuttle the 634 00:21:05,139 --> 00:21:03,679 space station would not look anything 635 00:21:07,089 --> 00:21:05,149 like it does because the space state 636 00:21:09,159 --> 00:21:07,099 this facial is the heavy lifter that got 637 00:21:10,930 --> 00:21:09,169 those big pieces up there and so I think 638 00:21:13,029 --> 00:21:10,940 that's when we kind of look back on say 639 00:21:15,009 --> 00:21:13,039 wow you know it's pretty amazing what's 640 00:21:16,509 --> 00:21:15,019 been built up here by a bad group of 641 00:21:19,149 --> 00:21:16,519 seventeen different nations all working 642 00:21:20,859 --> 00:21:19,159 together and it's it's neat that we can 643 00:21:22,690 --> 00:21:20,869 be a part of it from the from the US 644 00:21:25,180 --> 00:21:22,700 standpoint to to fly and work on the 645 00:21:26,619 --> 00:21:25,190 shuttle to to make our part happen the 646 00:21:28,899 --> 00:21:26,629 fly around is going to be a little bit 647 00:21:31,469 --> 00:21:28,909 different than all the previous ones too 648 00:21:33,909 --> 00:21:31,479 right yes we're looking at flying around 649 00:21:35,379 --> 00:21:33,919 basically kind of round sideways instead 650 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:35,389 of instead of head-on we'll move the 651 00:21:40,210 --> 00:21:38,090 station 90 degrees is that what we're 652 00:21:41,169 --> 00:21:40,220 planning on doing and then flying all 653 00:21:42,519 --> 00:21:41,179 the way around it so we get a different 654 00:21:44,649 --> 00:21:42,529 view of the station as we go around 655 00:21:46,210 --> 00:21:44,659 that's a good way of seeing just what 656 00:21:48,099 --> 00:21:46,220 everything on the outside the space 657 00:21:49,839 --> 00:21:48,109 station looks like it's always important 658 00:21:51,789 --> 00:21:49,849 to document to shoot a bunch of pictures 659 00:21:53,379 --> 00:21:51,799 and to see what the outside of the space 660 00:21:55,269 --> 00:21:53,389 station looks like or any there are any 661 00:21:56,799 --> 00:21:55,279 insulation flaps coming up is anything 662 00:21:59,109 --> 00:21:56,809 unexpected not looking like it's 663 00:22:00,339 --> 00:21:59,119 supposed to look and so it's kind of 664 00:22:01,539 --> 00:22:00,349 hard to do that when you when you fly 665 00:22:03,219 --> 00:22:01,549 out the same way around the space 666 00:22:05,019 --> 00:22:03,229 station each time so this time if with a 667 00:22:07,210 --> 00:22:05,029 space station rotated 90 degrees and we 668 00:22:09,310 --> 00:22:07,220 fly around it we have a good view of all 669 00:22:10,810 --> 00:22:09,320 sides of the space station what do you 670 00:22:13,810 --> 00:22:10,820 think you're going to be keeping your 671 00:22:16,029 --> 00:22:13,820 eyes peeled for as you do that last fly 672 00:22:17,889 --> 00:22:16,039 around and final separation I think I 673 00:22:19,479 --> 00:22:17,899 think big picture just looking at the 674 00:22:21,609 --> 00:22:19,489 space station say you know just kind of 675 00:22:23,799 --> 00:22:21,619 just taking a step back what if I've got 676 00:22:25,330 --> 00:22:23,809 us a few seconds there because sometimes 677 00:22:26,529 --> 00:22:25,340 when you're so close to these programs 678 00:22:28,629 --> 00:22:26,539 you're so concentrated on your 679 00:22:29,950 --> 00:22:28,639 procedures that you just you don't see 680 00:22:33,070 --> 00:22:29,960 the enormity of what you're doing I 681 00:22:34,839 --> 00:22:33,080 heard some of the Apollo guys on a one 682 00:22:37,070 --> 00:22:34,849 of the specials that was run about that 683 00:22:38,510 --> 00:22:37,080 how they they they wish they had they 684 00:22:40,490 --> 00:22:38,520 they step back a little more and 685 00:22:43,070 --> 00:22:40,500 appreciated the big picture of a percent 686 00:22:44,810 --> 00:22:43,080 of people in the moon and so hopefully 687 00:22:46,070 --> 00:22:44,820 you have a chance for a few seconds to 688 00:22:47,450 --> 00:22:46,080 look back in the Space Station saying 689 00:22:48,890 --> 00:22:47,460 look look at what we're building 690 00:22:50,300 --> 00:22:48,900 together we're building the space 691 00:22:52,490 --> 00:22:50,310 station and just really appreciate just 692 00:22:58,200 --> 00:22:52,500 for a few seconds and then get back to 693 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:00,490 when you were assigned to this flight it 694 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:02,090 was going to be a rescue mission for the 695 00:23:05,980 --> 00:23:03,890 last space shuttle mission and it was 696 00:23:08,889 --> 00:23:05,990 going to have flown more than a year ago 697 00:23:10,690 --> 00:23:08,899 of course those plans have changed what 698 00:23:13,210 --> 00:23:10,700 was your reaction Rex when you realize 699 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:13,220 I'm gonna be on the last space shuttle 700 00:23:17,649 --> 00:23:15,730 mission it was pretty exciting because 701 00:23:19,389 --> 00:23:17,659 whether I flew on this flight or not I 702 00:23:20,620 --> 00:23:19,399 wanted somehow be a part of the last 703 00:23:22,419 --> 00:23:20,630 mission whether I was helping the 704 00:23:24,039 --> 00:23:22,429 Mission Control helping down to Cape or 705 00:23:25,750 --> 00:23:24,049 helping one of the abort sites I just 706 00:23:27,220 --> 00:23:25,760 love the space shuttle program in it I 707 00:23:29,289 --> 00:23:27,230 just want a chance to be a part of the 708 00:23:31,060 --> 00:23:29,299 last mission and to find I was assigned 709 00:23:33,399 --> 00:23:31,070 to it was really a tremendously exciting 710 00:23:34,870 --> 00:23:33,409 because I just like to say I enjoyed 711 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:34,880 this program so much I want to be there 712 00:23:38,950 --> 00:23:37,490 till the last wheel stop and to think 713 00:23:40,330 --> 00:23:38,960 that I'll be riding on the vehicle till 714 00:23:42,370 --> 00:23:40,340 the last wheel stop is really an 715 00:23:45,930 --> 00:23:42,380 incredible opportunity and I'm very 716 00:23:47,919 --> 00:23:45,940 thankful for is it the special honor or 717 00:23:49,330 --> 00:23:47,929 responsibility yeah it is a special 718 00:23:51,009 --> 00:23:49,340 responsibility because you want to 719 00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:51,019 finish strong you know the space shuttle 720 00:23:54,100 --> 00:23:52,370 program has been amazing what it's done 721 00:23:56,259 --> 00:23:54,110 all the great accomplishments and you 722 00:23:59,080 --> 00:23:56,269 just don't want to let that momentum 723 00:24:01,000 --> 00:23:59,090 down and so there is a lot of a lot of 724 00:24:03,669 --> 00:24:01,010 pressure to do your job right and like I 725 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:03,679 say to finish strong and at the end of 726 00:24:07,149 --> 00:24:05,570 the program also means a lot of changes 727 00:24:09,070 --> 00:24:07,159 they're coming at NASA and that includes 728 00:24:11,649 --> 00:24:09,080 some layoffs and shutting down some 729 00:24:13,299 --> 00:24:11,659 historic facilities yes what is your 730 00:24:15,940 --> 00:24:13,309 feeling about the decision that was made 731 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:15,950 to stop flying these vehicles yeah well 732 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:17,570 I understand that we need to move on 733 00:24:21,399 --> 00:24:19,610 beyond low-earth orbit from that point I 734 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:21,409 do understand that we need to develop a 735 00:24:24,970 --> 00:24:23,330 vehicle that can get out of low Earth 736 00:24:27,340 --> 00:24:24,980 orbit and go on to destinations we want 737 00:24:29,919 --> 00:24:27,350 to go on to you know past past earth out 738 00:24:31,810 --> 00:24:29,929 past to the moon asteroids or hopefully 739 00:24:33,129 --> 00:24:31,820 one day to Mars but it's been painful 740 00:24:34,990 --> 00:24:33,139 there's no question about it it's been 741 00:24:36,820 --> 00:24:35,000 very hard watching people we've worked 742 00:24:38,500 --> 00:24:36,830 with for years lose their jobs it's 743 00:24:40,779 --> 00:24:38,510 already started and it could continue 744 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:40,789 and we were just at the Kennedy Space 745 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:43,250 Center about a week ago and there were 746 00:24:45,669 --> 00:24:44,570 there were hundreds of people that were 747 00:24:48,549 --> 00:24:45,679 losing their jobs the days we were there 748 00:24:49,899 --> 00:24:48,559 and as hard as that was to see and many 749 00:24:52,180 --> 00:24:49,909 people came up and said hey this is my 750 00:24:54,430 --> 00:24:52,190 last day it was really inspiring to see 751 00:24:56,950 --> 00:24:54,440 how upbeat they were about their time on 752 00:24:58,509 --> 00:24:56,960 the space program they really treasured 753 00:25:00,549 --> 00:24:58,519 being part of the space program and they 754 00:25:03,340 --> 00:25:00,559 it was just it really was inspiring how 755 00:25:05,259 --> 00:25:03,350 they they understood hey they saw this 756 00:25:07,750 --> 00:25:05,269 coming and they still want to be a part 757 00:25:09,070 --> 00:25:07,760 of it for as long as they could and and 758 00:25:10,499 --> 00:25:09,080 they really treasured the time they work 759 00:25:13,379 --> 00:25:10,509 with the space shuttle program and 760 00:25:14,759 --> 00:25:13,389 I just I take comfort in that and I know 761 00:25:16,529 --> 00:25:14,769 that there have been some great people 762 00:25:18,209 --> 00:25:16,539 and I've enjoyed working with them as 763 00:25:21,689 --> 00:25:18,219 much as they've enjoyed working with the 764 00:25:23,939 --> 00:25:21,699 space shuttle program each mission comes 765 00:25:25,889 --> 00:25:23,949 with its own patch but a cut that comes 766 00:25:27,479 --> 00:25:25,899 from somewhere yes tell us about some of 767 00:25:29,099 --> 00:25:27,489 the elements that are in your patch 768 00:25:30,569 --> 00:25:29,109 there's elements of the NASA emblem at 769 00:25:32,459 --> 00:25:30,579 night and of course the last letter of 770 00:25:33,569 --> 00:25:32,469 the Greek alphabet is right right well 771 00:25:36,299 --> 00:25:33,579 one of the main things we wanted to show 772 00:25:37,709 --> 00:25:36,309 with our patch was that it was an 773 00:25:39,389 --> 00:25:37,719 incredible team that makes the space 774 00:25:41,369 --> 00:25:39,399 shuttle program possible 775 00:25:43,619 --> 00:25:41,379 that's why we incorporated part of the 776 00:25:45,869 --> 00:25:43,629 the NASA emblem we wanted to show it's 777 00:25:47,369 --> 00:25:45,879 the contractors and the NASA civil 778 00:25:48,419 --> 00:25:47,379 servants and the whole team that makes 779 00:25:50,849 --> 00:25:48,429 it possible so that's what that 780 00:25:52,439 --> 00:25:50,859 symbolizes and then of course the the 781 00:25:54,449 --> 00:25:52,449 shuttle the kind of reminiscence almost 782 00:25:56,189 --> 00:25:54,459 of the STS one patch a little bit and 783 00:25:57,389 --> 00:25:56,199 then of course we did want to 784 00:25:59,899 --> 00:25:57,399 commemorate the fact this is the last 785 00:26:03,359 --> 00:25:59,909 mission and to do that we we picked the 786 00:26:04,889 --> 00:26:03,369 Greek Omega letter so which is the last 787 00:26:06,059 --> 00:26:04,899 letter of their alphabet to kind of 788 00:26:08,459 --> 00:26:06,069 commemorate the fact that this is the 789 00:26:10,829 --> 00:26:08,469 last mission I understand that you guys 790 00:26:14,279 --> 00:26:10,839 got some special help in designing the 791 00:26:17,039 --> 00:26:14,289 past yes my wife is a graphics designer 792 00:26:18,629 --> 00:26:17,049 by trade and so she was helping us with 793 00:26:20,639 --> 00:26:18,639 the patch and she designed this patch 794 00:26:22,469 --> 00:26:20,649 she actually designed her 110 and 120 795 00:26:24,329 --> 00:26:22,479 two patches my her previous mission so I 796 00:26:27,059 --> 00:26:24,339 was happy to have her help it's a lot of 797 00:26:29,009 --> 00:26:27,069 work designing the patch and and she 798 00:26:31,129 --> 00:26:29,019 always does a wonderful job so it was a 799 00:26:34,769 --> 00:26:31,139 pleasure to have her on our team to 800 00:26:36,180 --> 00:26:34,779 design her patch and and also to to 801 00:26:37,379 --> 00:26:36,190 incorporate all the ideas that we were 802 00:26:39,719 --> 00:26:37,389 given her and other people were given 803 00:26:41,129 --> 00:26:39,729 her also to arrive at a patch that 804 00:26:42,689 --> 00:26:41,139 suitably commemorated the last flight of 805 00:26:44,609 --> 00:26:42,699 the space shuttle program and we all 806 00:26:46,559 --> 00:26:44,619 think it turned out nice it is nice it 807 00:26:49,859 --> 00:26:46,569 it's going to be a part of space shuttle 808 00:26:52,079 --> 00:26:49,869 history let's talk about history what 809 00:26:53,969 --> 00:26:52,089 what do you consider to be some of the 810 00:26:56,459 --> 00:26:53,979 most significant moments in Space 811 00:26:58,319 --> 00:26:56,469 Shuttle history well number one would 812 00:26:59,969 --> 00:26:58,329 have to be STS 1 I mean you just can't 813 00:27:02,579 --> 00:26:59,979 get around the fact that was an 814 00:27:04,109 --> 00:27:02,589 incredible accomplishment to put two 815 00:27:05,699 --> 00:27:04,119 people on a space shuttle that's never 816 00:27:08,519 --> 00:27:05,709 flown unmanned never been tested 817 00:27:09,899 --> 00:27:08,529 completely unmanned and to get them on 818 00:27:11,729 --> 00:27:09,909 there and get them home safely was 819 00:27:13,799 --> 00:27:11,739 absolutely amazing and it still boggles 820 00:27:14,789 --> 00:27:13,809 my mind that those guys could hear all 821 00:27:16,949 --> 00:27:14,799 the stories of how this is all supposed 822 00:27:18,059 --> 00:27:16,959 to work okay these white rockers are 823 00:27:20,249 --> 00:27:18,069 gonna burn fur to miss and they're going 824 00:27:21,329 --> 00:27:20,259 to come off and then that the engines 825 00:27:22,440 --> 00:27:21,339 are going to burn for another six and 826 00:27:24,270 --> 00:27:22,450 half minutes and then the tanks going to 827 00:27:27,000 --> 00:27:24,280 come off and WHAM you're in space and 828 00:27:29,250 --> 00:27:27,010 like oh okay suit us up let's go you 829 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:29,260 know so it's a it's amazing what what 830 00:27:32,670 --> 00:27:31,210 the first few crews went through to 831 00:27:34,110 --> 00:27:32,680 before this thing had been wrung out 832 00:27:35,100 --> 00:27:34,120 really well and before we learned the 833 00:27:37,380 --> 00:27:35,110 tremendous lessons that we've learned 834 00:27:39,390 --> 00:27:37,390 over the years they got on board and and 835 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:39,400 flew so that was the first part that 836 00:27:43,950 --> 00:27:41,050 just sticks out and mine is sts-1 and 837 00:27:46,170 --> 00:27:43,960 and the initial flights and then the 838 00:27:49,590 --> 00:27:46,180 ability to launch interplanetary probes 839 00:27:51,030 --> 00:27:49,600 you know to the planets launched the 840 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:51,040 Hubble Space Telescope the incredible 841 00:27:54,690 --> 00:27:53,650 accomplishments that have been come 842 00:27:56,460 --> 00:27:54,700 about from the Hubble Space Telescope 843 00:27:57,990 --> 00:27:56,470 learning more about our universe there 844 00:27:59,670 --> 00:27:58,000 are just amazing and that was possibly 845 00:28:01,800 --> 00:27:59,680 because of the shuttle getting up there 846 00:28:04,980 --> 00:28:01,810 and of course the servicing missions 847 00:28:06,660 --> 00:28:04,990 bring making sure it was fixed and an 848 00:28:08,010 --> 00:28:06,670 upgraded over the years so that was 849 00:28:09,420 --> 00:28:08,020 amazing and then I think the crown jewel 850 00:28:11,940 --> 00:28:09,430 of the space shuttle program is just the 851 00:28:13,590 --> 00:28:11,950 the heavy lift capability of getting the 852 00:28:15,990 --> 00:28:13,600 space station components up there and 853 00:28:17,970 --> 00:28:16,000 literally building our portion of the 854 00:28:20,130 --> 00:28:17,980 space station it's an amazing 855 00:28:21,750 --> 00:28:20,140 accomplishment that what it takes year 856 00:28:23,940 --> 00:28:21,760 after year to keep those missions going 857 00:28:25,410 --> 00:28:23,950 and to get all the pieces up there many 858 00:28:27,150 --> 00:28:25,420 of which have never fit together before 859 00:28:28,770 --> 00:28:27,160 and to fit them together in space for 860 00:28:31,020 --> 00:28:28,780 the first time and that for it to all 861 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:31,030 work and to see a completed Space 862 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:32,530 Station up there is really a testament 863 00:28:36,270 --> 00:28:34,690 to not only ingenuity of all the 864 00:28:37,290 --> 00:28:36,280 engineers and scientists and people on 865 00:28:38,790 --> 00:28:37,300 the ground who work in the space station 866 00:28:39,930 --> 00:28:38,800 but also the people who work on the 867 00:28:42,150 --> 00:28:39,940 space shuttle that could make such an 868 00:28:44,190 --> 00:28:42,160 incredible reusable space vehicle to 869 00:28:47,250 --> 00:28:44,200 make that happen you're going to use it 870 00:28:49,350 --> 00:28:47,260 lantus to to wrap up this program what 871 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:49,360 do you think Atlantis is place is going 872 00:28:54,450 --> 00:28:51,250 to be in the history well I think it's 873 00:28:55,950 --> 00:28:54,460 uh it's got a great story past and part 874 00:28:58,950 --> 00:28:55,960 of the the space shuttle program 875 00:29:00,870 --> 00:28:58,960 you know first launching some like say 876 00:29:03,630 --> 00:29:00,880 Internet interplanetary probes Magellan 877 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:03,640 and Galileo and then we're working doing 878 00:29:08,130 --> 00:29:05,890 Hubble Hubble redouble repair missions 879 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:08,140 and working on that and then launching 880 00:29:11,700 --> 00:29:09,730 some of the heavy parts of the space 881 00:29:14,370 --> 00:29:11,710 station to the to the missions I was on 882 00:29:16,500 --> 00:29:14,380 as 0 the the first portion of the truss 883 00:29:17,910 --> 00:29:16,510 the very heavy component of the space 884 00:29:19,020 --> 00:29:17,920 station was launched by lands because 885 00:29:22,500 --> 00:29:19,030 Atlantis has a capability of launching 886 00:29:24,990 --> 00:29:22,510 those heavy pieces and and on and on 887 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:25,000 about the rest of the portions of the of 888 00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:26,770 the space station that Atlantis launch 889 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:28,510 so it's been an incredible vehicle and 890 00:29:31,980 --> 00:29:30,490 it's done it's done a lot of the heavy 891 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:31,990 lifting for the for the space station 892 00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:35,050 program if you expand the view beyond 893 00:29:37,870 --> 00:29:36,710 just that vehicle 894 00:29:41,169 --> 00:29:37,880 how was the work of the shuttle program 895 00:29:43,269 --> 00:29:41,179 going to be remembered I think the the 896 00:29:44,919 --> 00:29:43,279 shuttle program be remembered for number 897 00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:44,929 one obviously the first reusable 898 00:29:49,750 --> 00:29:47,090 spacecraft the fact that these vehicles 899 00:29:51,850 --> 00:29:49,760 have been flown year after year mission 900 00:29:53,260 --> 00:29:51,860 after mission and you come back and look 901 00:29:56,169 --> 00:29:53,270 at them it's like it's amazing this 902 00:29:58,389 --> 00:29:56,179 thing it looks great and you we're just 903 00:30:01,149 --> 00:29:58,399 in this in Atlantis you know looking at 904 00:30:02,620 --> 00:30:01,159 some preflight items last week and you 905 00:30:04,899 --> 00:30:02,630 just look around go this is amazing this 906 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:04,909 vehicle is 30 years old and it it looks 907 00:30:09,549 --> 00:30:07,730 beautiful and they and that's a 908 00:30:11,350 --> 00:30:09,559 testament of the care that the people at 909 00:30:13,419 --> 00:30:11,360 the Kennedy Space Center prepare it 910 00:30:15,190 --> 00:30:13,429 service it make sure it's ready to fly 911 00:30:16,659 --> 00:30:15,200 and the care that the people here at the 912 00:30:18,940 --> 00:30:16,669 Johnson Space Center around the country 913 00:30:20,740 --> 00:30:18,950 that operate the Space Shuttle make sure 914 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:20,750 that it operates well me we keep with is 915 00:30:24,909 --> 00:30:23,450 within its operating limits and and take 916 00:30:26,409 --> 00:30:24,919 care of it and change out things we need 917 00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:26,419 to be changed out and upgrade it when it 918 00:30:29,799 --> 00:30:28,130 needs to be upgraded that that it can 919 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:29,809 continue to operate to have a vehicle 920 00:30:34,299 --> 00:30:31,970 that is subjected to the environment 921 00:30:36,730 --> 00:30:34,309 that it is in launch and landing for you 922 00:30:38,279 --> 00:30:36,740 know for up to toward up to 30 years is 923 00:30:40,570 --> 00:30:38,289 absolutely amazing 924 00:30:42,639 --> 00:30:40,580 any thoughts about what kind of space 925 00:30:44,110 --> 00:30:42,649 station we have right now we're it not 926 00:30:46,450 --> 00:30:44,120 for the shuttle it'd be a lot smaller 927 00:30:49,659 --> 00:30:46,460 you know the space the Space Shuttle is 928 00:30:50,860 --> 00:30:49,669 is the heavy lifter like we say so it 929 00:30:53,049 --> 00:30:50,870 brings up the big components of the 930 00:30:54,700 --> 00:30:53,059 space station and then not only that 931 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:54,710 when the space station would look 932 00:30:57,460 --> 00:30:56,090 different it wouldn't be as big but also 933 00:30:59,049 --> 00:30:57,470 we wouldn't have the science we have 934 00:31:01,180 --> 00:30:59,059 without the space shuttle program 935 00:31:04,470 --> 00:31:01,190 equation allows to bring those the big 936 00:31:07,899 --> 00:31:04,480 payloads the big large equipment and 937 00:31:09,610 --> 00:31:07,909 science results back down to earth which 938 00:31:11,529 --> 00:31:09,620 is really the only way we can we can get 939 00:31:14,350 --> 00:31:11,539 those kind of heavy payloads and 940 00:31:16,919 --> 00:31:14,360 scientific equipment back down to get 941 00:31:20,049 --> 00:31:16,929 the results that we that we so so need 942 00:31:22,090 --> 00:31:20,059 well after sts-135 it's going to be up 943 00:31:24,310 --> 00:31:22,100 to spaceships from other nations and 944 00:31:27,100 --> 00:31:24,320 perhaps from private industry to get 945 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:27,110 cargo and crews up to this station for 946 00:31:30,820 --> 00:31:29,210 the foreseeable future right as an 947 00:31:32,769 --> 00:31:30,830 American astronaut how do you feel about 948 00:31:35,289 --> 00:31:32,779 the future of the International Space 949 00:31:37,779 --> 00:31:35,299 Station well I think the the shuttle has 950 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:37,789 gotten it where it needs to get to be 951 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:39,890 able to move on to the next level of the 952 00:31:43,539 --> 00:31:41,450 program you know we've gotten the big 953 00:31:45,039 --> 00:31:43,549 components up there so assembly is 954 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:45,049 complete and now we need to do is we 955 00:31:49,710 --> 00:31:47,570 need to establish the kind of logistics 956 00:31:51,450 --> 00:31:49,720 resupply to handle the utilize a 957 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:51,460 process where we're really just doing 958 00:31:54,450 --> 00:31:53,410 science onboard the space station so I 959 00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:54,460 think we can get there with the 960 00:32:00,750 --> 00:31:56,410 commercial entities and the help of our 961 00:32:03,450 --> 00:32:00,760 of our foreign partners we can get the 962 00:32:04,710 --> 00:32:03,460 the items up there that we need up there 963 00:32:05,550 --> 00:32:04,720 getting them back is gonna be a little 964 00:32:08,790 --> 00:32:05,560 more of a challenge but I think we'll 965 00:32:10,470 --> 00:32:08,800 get there eventually to said that STS 966 00:32:11,930 --> 00:32:10,480 one was one of the most significant 967 00:32:14,670 --> 00:32:11,940 moments in the history of the program 968 00:32:16,470 --> 00:32:14,680 you remember where you were when st is 969 00:32:18,390 --> 00:32:16,480 one took off and how you felt about that 970 00:32:20,550 --> 00:32:18,400 yeah I was I was in college I was a 971 00:32:22,260 --> 00:32:20,560 freshman in college and I remember in 972 00:32:24,210 --> 00:32:22,270 the run-up to the to the mission 973 00:32:25,680 --> 00:32:24,220 thinking that was amazing cuz I'd 974 00:32:27,510 --> 00:32:25,690 watched the approach and landing tests 975 00:32:28,710 --> 00:32:27,520 on TV and when they did the landings for 976 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:28,720 the shuttle and think that was that was 977 00:32:33,690 --> 00:32:30,730 pretty impressive but to see that whole 978 00:32:35,790 --> 00:32:33,700 thing stacked on the pad was was was 979 00:32:37,980 --> 00:32:35,800 incredible and to to hear that it all 980 00:32:39,480 --> 00:32:37,990 worked out well and the launch sequence 981 00:32:41,910 --> 00:32:39,490 went well and they can't all came home 982 00:32:44,190 --> 00:32:41,920 safe they both came home safe was was 983 00:32:45,630 --> 00:32:44,200 was really amazing so it it really 984 00:32:48,750 --> 00:32:45,640 really got my attention I remember 985 00:32:50,070 --> 00:32:48,760 having a chance to brief some school 986 00:32:51,510 --> 00:32:50,080 kids on what the Space Shuttle was 987 00:32:53,130 --> 00:32:51,520 capable of and what it was gonna be used 988 00:32:54,870 --> 00:32:53,140 for and stuff and I did that just before 989 00:32:57,330 --> 00:32:54,880 the first launch that was that it was 990 00:32:59,040 --> 00:32:57,340 pretty neat to to kind of watch it as it 991 00:33:01,290 --> 00:32:59,050 came along and then to to see it was 992 00:33:03,420 --> 00:33:01,300 successful on their first flight what's 993 00:33:07,650 --> 00:33:03,430 your favorite memory out of the Space 994 00:33:09,330 --> 00:33:07,660 Shuttle era wow that's a that's probably 995 00:33:11,370 --> 00:33:09,340 a it's a tough one because it could be 996 00:33:13,140 --> 00:33:11,380 many many things and of course the the 997 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:13,150 launches and landings that I've been on 998 00:33:17,850 --> 00:33:15,010 are high up there 999 00:33:20,730 --> 00:33:17,860 but I think part of it is just the 1000 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:20,740 ability that has given us to to 1001 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:22,090 contribute to this International Space 1002 00:33:26,070 --> 00:33:24,250 Station program because you get on board 1003 00:33:27,870 --> 00:33:26,080 and on the space station when you fly up 1004 00:33:29,370 --> 00:33:27,880 there and you bring a new piece up there 1005 00:33:31,950 --> 00:33:29,380 and you see these crews working together 1006 00:33:34,260 --> 00:33:31,960 and they're multi multinational crews 1007 00:33:35,970 --> 00:33:34,270 and everybody works together and we all 1008 00:33:38,610 --> 00:33:35,980 work together we work together we eat 1009 00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:38,620 together we laugh about things together 1010 00:33:43,290 --> 00:33:40,810 and we're one big team up there and it's 1011 00:33:46,170 --> 00:33:43,300 really an amazing example so the 1012 00:33:48,780 --> 00:33:46,180 international cooperation that that we 1013 00:33:50,610 --> 00:33:48,790 contribute to the space station via the 1014 00:33:52,590 --> 00:33:50,620 space shuttle was was really pretty 1015 00:33:54,810 --> 00:33:52,600 impressive of course there's nothing 1016 00:33:57,210 --> 00:33:54,820 like the the rise to orbit so I think 1017 00:33:58,620 --> 00:33:57,220 those will also stick out stick out 1018 00:33:59,190 --> 00:33:58,630 highly in my mind I wouldn't be 1019 00:34:01,320 --> 00:33:59,200 surprised 1020 00:34:02,899 --> 00:34:01,330 well the destinations that we're 1021 00:34:04,399 --> 00:34:02,909 launching to today 1022 00:34:06,409 --> 00:34:04,409 although still in low-earth orbit are a 1023 00:34:08,240 --> 00:34:06,419 lot different than where sts-1 was 1024 00:34:10,940 --> 00:34:08,250 headed 30 years ago when it kicked off 1025 00:34:13,369 --> 00:34:10,950 this era where do you think we're gonna 1026 00:34:15,409 --> 00:34:13,379 go in the next era of human space 1027 00:34:18,470 --> 00:34:15,419 exploration well I hope we're going to 1028 00:34:20,359 --> 00:34:18,480 beyond Earth orbit it's it's difficult 1029 00:34:21,589 --> 00:34:20,369 to get to orbit it around the earth but 1030 00:34:23,419 --> 00:34:21,599 it's even harder to get outside of 1031 00:34:25,369 --> 00:34:23,429 Earth's orbit to go to places like the 1032 00:34:27,859 --> 00:34:25,379 moon to asteroids or to Mars and I hope 1033 00:34:29,059 --> 00:34:27,869 that's our next step and I think well I 1034 00:34:30,559 --> 00:34:29,069 think we'll get there it's just going to 1035 00:34:32,599 --> 00:34:30,569 take some time and some dedication and 1036 00:34:34,129 --> 00:34:32,609 everybody's part and it's going to take 1037 00:34:35,599 --> 00:34:34,139 the same ingenuity we see around here 1038 00:34:37,099 --> 00:34:35,609 that made the space shuttle possible for 1039 00:34:38,809 --> 00:34:37,109 30 years the people who worked in the 1040 00:34:40,279 --> 00:34:38,819 control center who processed the vehicle 1041 00:34:41,899 --> 00:34:40,289 who designed and conceived the space 1042 00:34:44,419 --> 00:34:41,909 shuttle that same kind of ingenuity 1043 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:44,429 still around here and we'll need to use 1044 00:34:48,740 --> 00:34:47,010 that to develop the next generation and 1045 00:34:50,930 --> 00:34:48,750 the same kind of can-do spirit you saw 1046 00:34:53,149 --> 00:34:50,940 in the early early Mercury Gemini and 1047 00:34:54,770 --> 00:34:53,159 Apollo days you know the kids coming out 1048 00:34:56,210 --> 00:34:54,780 of college today they they've got the 1049 00:34:57,799 --> 00:34:56,220 same smarts and they got the same Drive 1050 00:34:59,150 --> 00:34:57,809 we need to harness that combine it with 1051 00:35:01,670 --> 00:34:59,160 the experience we've learned over the