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all right atlantis uh we are ready for

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atlantis is ready for the event

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okay abc news this is mission control

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houston please call atlantis for a voice

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atlantis this is abc news do you hear me

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atlantis has you loud and clear

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that's terrific

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are you uh

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and so away we go atlantis

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i want to ask really all four of you

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your feelings on this being

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the final

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well i'll start off uh first let me say

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it's been an absolute honor to be a part

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of this final crew um this was uh this

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was a tough decision uh for uh there are

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a number of extraordinarily qualified

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people to do it um we took on the test

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of course we were just a crew of four

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and uh i'd like to think that we went up

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there did a bang-up job with the limited

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number of resources that we had and uh

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of course as uh as we

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just approached landing here uh we're

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going through a series of laughs

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yesterday for example the shuttle's

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robotic arm that we had used for 30

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years to deploy and retrieve satellites

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and we had some fantastic statistics

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read up to us

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the last time we put it away it's hard

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to believe we'll ever use it again

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but

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i'm going to pass the mic around a

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little bit i'm sure somebody else has

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sir

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it's been a

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an interesting training flow because as

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our commander said it there are a lot of

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a number of lasts and they started out

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small the last uh uh

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specific sim on a certain system and

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then they got bigger and bigger until we

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saw the

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the last row out of the uh space shuttle

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for the pad then it started getting real

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and every once in a while would kind of

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hit you and the same thing's happened

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during the mission uh we've gone through

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a number of different milestones and as

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you get the bigger ones and big ones uh

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behind you then you kind of have a

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chance to pause a little bit less a

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little bit more as the as the pressure

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is off and you can think wow you know

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this is the last time we're doing that

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and for me it kind of hits me when i'm

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sitting down the mid-deck sometimes at

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the end of the day

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while we eat and you finally have a

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chance just for a couple of minutes to

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grab bite to eat and fake and they can i

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think of the past crews that have sat

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down here and shared a meal and

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and think about wow this is the last

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time and then i'll think about the

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future of atlanta we're just we're not

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going to just retire we're going to

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share with others in the in the kennedy

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space center other people get chance get

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up close and see what a beautiful

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i'd like to ask you mission specialist

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sandy magnus do you expect to go into

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gosh that's really a hard question i

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have a feeling probably not but i have

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yet to talk with our chief about that

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um just like on my last mission i

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treated this mission as if it was going

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to be my last mission and tried to save

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her every moment

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i was on the space station and every

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moment we're here on atlantis and get

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those last glances out uh the window at

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our beautiful earth and try and print

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pilot doug hurley i realized she's a

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very delicate craft she is incredibly

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intricate to a degree that many of us

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can't comprehend but ultimately what's

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well um

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it's just uh it's a dream come true

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actually it it flies

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much better than our simulators uh show

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that you supply and uh it's just been an

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absolute pleasure to get to fly the

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yesterday for me to get to do the fly

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around and then uh

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you know some of the rendezvous burns

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that we did and uh we're really looking

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forward to bringing her home tomorrow

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but it's been just uh just a dream to

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get to do this

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doug what's it going to be like to land

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yeah doug passed it off to me because uh

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you know the the pilot is the pilot uh

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that left cedar lands and that doug

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would do an absolute fantastic job in

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answering that question but uh i've had

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one opportunity to land before it was

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extraordinarily exciting

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you know but probably the one word i

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could say is it works just like the

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simulator we have we have an in-flight

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simulator that that we use and practice

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with and

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i'm absolutely astounded at how closely

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uh the space shuttle replicates the

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in-flight simulator so uh we're gonna

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have a i believe a pre-dawn landing

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tomorrow if we land on time uh day or

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chris ferguson commander of the final

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mission of the 30-year space shuttle

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history i i want to ask you what do you

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see as the future of the american space

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well we were we were discussing this

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just the other day you know uh it may

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seem like uh um

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like a sort of an ending and i suppose

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to a degree it is you know the space

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shuttle's been with us it's been the

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heart and the soul of the human space

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flight program for about 30 years and

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you know it's a little sad to see it go

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away

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but you know we have to understand these

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systems to operate and maintain or

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extraordinarily costly and in order to

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go beyond because of course the shuttle

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can only stay in low earth orbit in

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order to go beyond low earth orbit again

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we're going to have to pause and we're

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going to have to stand down and we're

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going to have to channel some of those

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resources that we used uh to fund and

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operate the space shuttle so we can

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build another vehicle and we're going to

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go beyond again someday

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hopefully it's in the not too far

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distant future and we'll turn over this

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low earth orbit business this uh space

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station servicing business to uh to

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commercial companies but uh hopefully in

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the not too distant future you're gonna

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see a heavy lift vehicle manufactured

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and uh by our commercial partners

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designed by nasa in partnership and

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we're going to go back to the moon back

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to mars so the future is very bright but

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at the moment it's a little somber

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because we are saying goodbye to an old

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well colonel rex walheim mission

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specialist sandy magnus mission

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specialist colonel douglas hurley of the

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marines the pilot and to you christopher

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ferguson captain of the navy and mission

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commander i know that we here at good

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morning america joined with all of us

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watching at home in wishing you and

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atlantis iss

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this is houston acr that concludes the

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abc news portion of the event

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please stand by

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okay atlantis this is cbs news how do

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we have your latin players cbs

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uh fantastic fantastic

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we should be ready to go in just one

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second okay

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first the shuttle atlantis left the

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international space station for the last

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time tuesday and is now heading home as

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the 30-year long u.s shuttle program

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comes to a bittersweet end atlantis is

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scheduled to land in florida tomorrow

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morning just before 6 eastern time and

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joining us from space this morning is

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the crew of atlantis commander chris

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ferguson pilot doug hurley and mission

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specialist sandy magnus and rex walheim

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good morning to all of you this is a

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real treat for all of us here at cbs

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hey good morning to you cbs it's always

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a treat for us to be able to share just

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a little piece of the of the excitement

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commander ferguson let me ask you this

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first question this is a historic final

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journey home how has this mission been

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how bittersweet is it to know that

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you're coming home on the shuttle for

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well i'll tell you we have had just a an

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event filled and packed mission and

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you know what i kind of told everybody

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all along was that we were not going to

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fully appreciate the significance of the

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event until after the wheels had stopped

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and just yesterday in the mid deck i was

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talking to sandy about uh about the fact

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that yeah you know what i really do feel

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like it's coming near the end and i can

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almost sense uh that final wheel stop

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call and it's uh it's going to be tough

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it's going to be emotional moment for a

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lot of people who have dedicated their

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lives to the shuttle program for 30

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years but we're going to try to keep it

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upbeat we're going to try to keep it

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light we're going to try to make it a

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celebration of what of the tremendous

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crowning achievements that occurred over

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the last 30 years with the tremendous

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satellites have been deployed

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from the shuttle and of course the

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construction of the international space

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station

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well no mission is successful until

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you're finally on the ground i would

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have to say that up to this point it's

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been highly successful

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sandy rex doug every one of them uh you

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know we all put forth 110 we got about

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20 000 pounds of cargo transferred into

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and back out of the space station again

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uh we uh we have them all set they're

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they're in a good posture to wait for

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about a year until our commercial

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partners come on board and begin uh

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begin the resupply uh mission that the

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exactly the future of the space program

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right now i know everyone knows that the

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shuttle program is coming to an end

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after 30 years there is no vehicle that

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is ready to go right now where where is

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the future of the space program for the

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well the future is bright we're in a

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kind of a transition period which is a

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little bit uncomfortable as usual but

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what we're going to be doing is handing

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over the access to low earth orbit

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getting to the space station to and from

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to commercial providers who are going to

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build rockets and will get us to and

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from the space station that will free up

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nasa to do the heavy lifting of the

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beyond low earth orbit flights to go to

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places we haven't been for a long time

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or ever like the moon asteroid or maybe

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mars so it's a kind of a two-pronged

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effort and

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while we get to this transition part

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it'll be hard uh but we'll get there and

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we'll be going farther and farther and

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how's it been to just have four of you

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there i know normally the missions

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usually have more astronauts on board

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but it's just been four of you have you

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had a chance to really bond up there

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oh i i think definitely uh

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you know we we've had to just

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work so closely together and be so well

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coordinated because you know your

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typical shuttle mission there's six or

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seven folks so you tend to be working

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more with another person and there's

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been a lot of times where we've just had

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to depend on the other person to cover

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a separate task uh and

275
00:11:43,670 --> 00:11:40,399
you know i personally didn't i don't

276
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think i fully appreciated how much more

277
00:11:48,230 --> 00:11:46,240
work we would have to do with only four

278
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by six or seven so

279
00:11:50,629 --> 00:11:49,200
uh

280
00:11:53,910 --> 00:11:50,639
it's been a little bit of an eye opener

281
00:11:55,750 --> 00:11:53,920
because we we really have been uh just

282
00:11:58,230 --> 00:11:55,760
stretching it working very hard every

283
00:12:01,509 --> 00:11:59,750
sandy if i could just pose this last

284
00:12:03,269 --> 00:12:01,519
question to you what's your message to

285
00:12:05,110 --> 00:12:03,279
all those people the thousands of people

286
00:12:07,430 --> 00:12:05,120
over the years that have been such an

287
00:12:09,190 --> 00:12:07,440
instrumental part of the shuttle program

288
00:12:13,269 --> 00:12:09,200
as you now say goodbye to this program

289
00:12:16,550 --> 00:12:14,790
well you know really the heart and soul

290
00:12:18,230 --> 00:12:16,560
of the space program is the people that

291
00:12:19,509 --> 00:12:18,240
work in the space program it's a group

292
00:12:21,590 --> 00:12:19,519
of people

293
00:12:24,230 --> 00:12:21,600
unlike any other

294
00:12:26,230 --> 00:12:24,240
field i guess because everyone's so

295
00:12:28,310 --> 00:12:26,240
passionate and so dedicated they work so

296
00:12:29,509 --> 00:12:28,320
hard they take it to heart and it's true

297
00:12:31,350 --> 00:12:29,519
of all the people that i've met in the

298
00:12:32,870 --> 00:12:31,360
united states who work

299
00:12:34,949 --> 00:12:32,880
in very aspects of the space program

300
00:12:36,790 --> 00:12:34,959
it's also true the people who i've met

301
00:12:38,069 --> 00:12:36,800
uh in other countries through my work

302
00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:38,079
with the international space station i

303
00:12:41,590 --> 00:12:40,000
mean there is a huge number of people

304
00:12:43,590 --> 00:12:41,600
worldwide who passionately believe in

305
00:12:45,829 --> 00:12:43,600
space flight who dedicate their lives to

306
00:12:47,590 --> 00:12:45,839
it and it's because of these people that

307
00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:47,600
the shuttle program was so successful

308
00:12:50,870 --> 00:12:49,360
for the last 30 years we were able to do

309
00:12:52,790 --> 00:12:50,880
the amazing things that we were able to

310
00:12:54,870 --> 00:12:52,800
do and it's because of these people that

311
00:12:56,629 --> 00:12:54,880
the international space station has been

312
00:12:59,829 --> 00:12:56,639
so successful and will continue to be

313
00:13:01,750 --> 00:12:59,839
successful and this same group of people

314
00:13:03,590 --> 00:13:01,760
will have will carry forward their

315
00:13:04,870 --> 00:13:03,600
momentum and eventually get us out of

316
00:13:06,710 --> 00:13:04,880
low earth orbit to these other

317
00:13:08,870 --> 00:13:06,720
destinations that rex was talking about

318
00:13:10,710 --> 00:13:08,880
earlier

319
00:13:12,389 --> 00:13:10,720
and before we say goodbye sandy just one

320
00:13:14,389 --> 00:13:12,399
final question to you has anyone been

321
00:13:16,389 --> 00:13:14,399
giving you a hard time the crew maybe

322
00:13:18,069 --> 00:13:16,399
through emails or any messages from

323
00:13:22,870 --> 00:13:18,079
mission control about your space here

324
00:13:26,310 --> 00:13:24,710
well you know usually for events like

325
00:13:28,310 --> 00:13:26,320
this i like to leave it out because of

326
00:13:29,910 --> 00:13:28,320
those stripes that we are indeed in zero

327
00:13:32,470 --> 00:13:29,920
gravity i mean these guys have kind of

328
00:13:34,230 --> 00:13:32,480
boring hair so it's not so fun but they

329
00:13:35,990 --> 00:13:34,240
do uh they do get give me trouble

330
00:13:39,269 --> 00:13:36,000
occasionally about the medusa-like

331
00:13:42,389 --> 00:13:40,710
well it's an interesting look that's for

332
00:13:44,230 --> 00:13:42,399
sure hey we wish you all the very very

333
00:13:45,590 --> 00:13:44,240
best and we thank you so much for taking

334
00:13:46,710 --> 00:13:45,600
the time and talking with us this has

335
00:13:48,230 --> 00:13:46,720
been a treat for all of us here and

336
00:13:50,790 --> 00:13:48,240
we're so proud of you and we wish you

337
00:13:53,829 --> 00:13:50,800
safe return to planet earth

338
00:13:53,839 --> 00:13:59,269
thank you so much

339
00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:01,750
atlantis this is houston acr that

340
00:14:06,389 --> 00:14:03,920
concludes the cbs news portion of the

341
00:14:08,710 --> 00:14:06,399
event please stand by for a voice check

342
00:14:10,710 --> 00:14:08,720
from cnn

343
00:14:13,030 --> 00:14:10,720
pop up there all right ally pay

344
00:14:15,430 --> 00:14:13,040
attention to this next story

345
00:14:16,710 --> 00:14:15,440
atlantis this is cnn how do you hear me

346
00:14:20,230 --> 00:14:16,720
we've got a story to tell you about

347
00:14:25,269 --> 00:14:22,629
yes the toilet

348
00:14:26,230 --> 00:14:25,279
fantastic your anchor will be ali velshi

349
00:14:28,389 --> 00:14:26,240
ali

350
00:14:30,550 --> 00:14:28,399
this is a live to air

351
00:14:32,949 --> 00:14:30,560
interview um so stand by i'll give you

352
00:14:34,310 --> 00:14:32,959
an update as to how far we are away 200

353
00:14:36,790 --> 00:14:34,320
years and they say it's important

354
00:14:38,550 --> 00:14:36,800
because people in other uh parts of the

355
00:14:39,829 --> 00:14:38,560
world can't really afford uh the

356
00:14:41,509 --> 00:14:39,839
porcelain

357
00:14:42,949 --> 00:14:41,519
uh and the thinking here is that it is

358
00:14:45,590 --> 00:14:42,959
it has actually done more for health and

359
00:14:47,430 --> 00:14:45,600
hygiene to the toilet than anything else

360
00:14:49,110 --> 00:14:47,440
so let's find a new one that even goes

361
00:14:50,470 --> 00:14:49,120
further and becomes more affordable good

362
00:14:51,829 --> 00:14:50,480
story you're usually not a potty mouth

363
00:14:53,269 --> 00:14:51,839
but that was a good occasion to be one

364
00:14:54,550 --> 00:14:53,279
jackie jarrus in the weather center

365
00:14:56,470 --> 00:14:54,560
we'll check in with you a little later

366
00:14:58,550 --> 00:14:56,480
on hey the astronauts aboard the space

367
00:15:00,470 --> 00:14:58,560
shuttle atlantis are orbiting hundreds

368
00:15:01,829 --> 00:15:00,480
of miles above earth right now and

369
00:15:04,230 --> 00:15:01,839
coming up in three minutes we're going

370
00:15:06,389 --> 00:15:04,240
to talk to them live right here on cnn

371
00:15:07,990 --> 00:15:06,399
there they are standing by but first the

372
00:15:10,069 --> 00:15:08,000
quote of the day is from one of our

373
00:15:12,470 --> 00:15:10,079
congressmen can you guess which one said

374
00:15:14,870 --> 00:15:12,480
this quote you are the most vile

375
00:15:16,629 --> 00:15:14,880
unprofessional and despicable member of

376
00:15:18,389 --> 00:15:16,639
the u.s house of representatives you

377
00:15:20,870 --> 00:15:18,399
have something to say to me stop being a

378
00:15:22,629 --> 00:15:20,880
coward and say it to my face otherwise

379
00:15:24,470 --> 00:15:22,639
shut the heck up see who was talking

380
00:15:33,110 --> 00:15:24,480
about that right after this break it's

381
00:15:35,829 --> 00:15:34,629
okay atlantis we're in our commercial

382
00:15:41,110 --> 00:15:35,839
break

383
00:15:41,120 --> 00:16:56,870
okay we copy

384
00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:03,189
atlantis is cnn two minutes away

385
00:17:03,199 --> 00:17:51,270
copy

386
00:17:51,280 --> 00:18:16,150
atlanta's about one minute back

387
00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:42,070
about 15 seconds to your lead in

388
00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:43,990
30 years ago the first space shuttle

389
00:18:47,830 --> 00:18:45,760
launched into space this year the

390
00:18:49,909 --> 00:18:47,840
shuttle era ends let's take a look at

391
00:18:51,909 --> 00:18:49,919
the world's first reusable space vehicle

392
00:18:53,990 --> 00:18:51,919
the space shuttle system has got three

393
00:18:56,549 --> 00:18:54,000
main parts the orbiter that one there

394
00:18:59,990 --> 00:18:56,559
holds the crew and payload the huge

395
00:19:02,310 --> 00:19:00,000
orange external tank holds fuel and the

396
00:19:03,750 --> 00:19:02,320
two solid rocket boosters those things

397
00:19:05,350 --> 00:19:03,760
on the side provide most of the

398
00:19:06,630 --> 00:19:05,360
shuttle's liftoff

399
00:19:08,549 --> 00:19:06,640
lift during the first two minutes of

400
00:19:10,789 --> 00:19:08,559
flight now all the components are usable

401
00:19:13,430 --> 00:19:10,799
they're reusable except the big orange

402
00:19:16,070 --> 00:19:13,440
tank it burns up in the atmosphere after

403
00:19:17,990 --> 00:19:16,080
each launch now fully loaded the shuttle

404
00:19:19,430 --> 00:19:18,000
system weighs about four and a half

405
00:19:20,789 --> 00:19:19,440
million pounds

406
00:19:23,270 --> 00:19:20,799
for those of you who are counting that's

407
00:19:25,190 --> 00:19:23,280
about 300 elephants columbia challenger

408
00:19:27,510 --> 00:19:25,200
discovery atlantis and endeavor have

409
00:19:29,430 --> 00:19:27,520
taken 130 flights in total into the

410
00:19:32,150 --> 00:19:29,440
final frontier they carried more than

411
00:19:34,950 --> 00:19:32,160
350 people into space the shuttles have

412
00:19:36,470 --> 00:19:34,960
traveled more than half a billion miles

413
00:19:38,950 --> 00:19:36,480
more than enough to get to the planet

414
00:19:39,830 --> 00:19:38,960
jupiter

415
00:19:40,710 --> 00:19:39,840
2

416
00:19:43,830 --> 00:19:40,720
1

417
00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:43,840
0 and lift off the final liftoff of

418
00:19:50,390 --> 00:19:46,160
atlantis on the shoulders of the space

419
00:19:52,230 --> 00:19:50,400
shuttle america will continue the dream

420
00:19:54,310 --> 00:19:52,240
that was that stirring moment on july

421
00:19:56,310 --> 00:19:54,320
8th uh at the kennedy space center the

422
00:19:58,710 --> 00:19:56,320
final shuttle mission uh that took off

423
00:20:00,870 --> 00:19:58,720
that day is wrapping up now it began on

424
00:20:02,549 --> 00:20:00,880
july 8th with that incredible launch of

425
00:20:04,710 --> 00:20:02,559
the space shuttle atlantis there you see

426
00:20:06,149 --> 00:20:04,720
it heading toward the clouds just about

427
00:20:07,350 --> 00:20:06,159
to go through a cloudy day there were

428
00:20:09,510 --> 00:20:07,360
some questions as to whether it was

429
00:20:11,909 --> 00:20:09,520
going to take off but it did

430
00:20:14,390 --> 00:20:11,919
an historic uh takeoff that was watched

431
00:20:16,149 --> 00:20:14,400
by over a million people in person never

432
00:20:18,310 --> 00:20:16,159
mind those watching it on tv commander

433
00:20:20,710 --> 00:20:18,320
chris ferguson pilot doug hurley mission

434
00:20:22,870 --> 00:20:20,720
specialist rex walheim and sandy magnus

435
00:20:24,870 --> 00:20:22,880
have begun well they've been in space

436
00:20:27,270 --> 00:20:24,880
ever since that day they're still there

437
00:20:29,830 --> 00:20:27,280
there they are right now the shuttle is

438
00:20:32,070 --> 00:20:29,840
flying above the atlantic ocean those

439
00:20:33,830 --> 00:20:32,080
astronauts join us live from space where

440
00:20:36,549 --> 00:20:33,840
they're prepping for tomorrow morning's

441
00:20:38,470 --> 00:20:36,559
landing 24 hours from now

442
00:20:40,789 --> 00:20:38,480
thanks to all of you so much for joining

443
00:20:42,870 --> 00:20:40,799
us this is the last time the shuttle

444
00:20:45,190 --> 00:20:42,880
astronauts will ever be interviewed live

445
00:20:46,310 --> 00:20:45,200
on cnn let's start with chris ferguson

446
00:20:48,789 --> 00:20:46,320
the commander

447
00:20:50,470 --> 00:20:48,799
chris this is the last uh space shuttle

448
00:20:52,950 --> 00:20:50,480
mission when you think of all that's

449
00:20:55,350 --> 00:20:52,960
been done in space um and all that is

450
00:20:57,590 --> 00:20:55,360
being planned from here on it almost

451
00:21:04,230 --> 00:20:57,600
feels like you are going to be a veteran

452
00:21:08,310 --> 00:21:06,230
well first off uh hello allie it's uh

453
00:21:09,750 --> 00:21:08,320
it's great to speak with you here and

454
00:21:12,310 --> 00:21:09,760
welcome aboard the flight deck of the

455
00:21:13,590 --> 00:21:12,320
space shuttle atlantis on her final day

456
00:21:15,350 --> 00:21:13,600
in space

457
00:21:16,710 --> 00:21:15,360
you know i i don't i wouldn't say this

458
00:21:19,510 --> 00:21:16,720
is the end of the golden age it's

459
00:21:21,750 --> 00:21:19,520
certainly the end of perhaps a very uh

460
00:21:23,190 --> 00:21:21,760
specific age where just a select few can

461
00:21:25,270 --> 00:21:23,200
go into space i think that what we're

462
00:21:27,110 --> 00:21:25,280
going to see in the next few years is a

463
00:21:28,390 --> 00:21:27,120
very broadening horizon an opportunity

464
00:21:30,630 --> 00:21:28,400
for people who have never had an

465
00:21:32,950 --> 00:21:30,640
opportunity to go into space to at least

466
00:21:34,390 --> 00:21:32,960
get to low earth orbit and uh what we'll

467
00:21:36,549 --> 00:21:34,400
do is we'll turn over the reins of that

468
00:21:38,549 --> 00:21:36,559
business to our commercial partners and

469
00:21:40,149 --> 00:21:38,559
uh that'll enable nasa to take the

470
00:21:41,590 --> 00:21:40,159
resources we put into the shuttle and

471
00:21:45,830 --> 00:21:41,600
hopefully go beyond low earth orbit

472
00:21:51,029 --> 00:21:48,230
uh sandy magnus mission specialist uh

473
00:21:52,549 --> 00:21:51,039
you uh enjoy uh amongst other things

474
00:21:54,070 --> 00:21:52,559
that you do in space you enjoy cooking

475
00:21:55,510 --> 00:21:54,080
you've been known to uh cook up some

476
00:21:57,990 --> 00:21:55,520
special treats i know you made christmas

477
00:21:59,909 --> 00:21:58,000
cookies once and you made salsa for the

478
00:22:04,310 --> 00:21:59,919
super bowl you got anything planned for

479
00:22:07,669 --> 00:22:06,070
um i don't have anything planned but i

480
00:22:09,270 --> 00:22:07,679
may end up surprising the guys you know

481
00:22:10,870 --> 00:22:09,280
the problem with the tunnel missions are

482
00:22:13,190 --> 00:22:10,880
they're so busy and this one has been

483
00:22:15,510 --> 00:22:13,200
incredibly busy i haven't had time

484
00:22:17,270 --> 00:22:15,520
to do much space cooking but i did give

485
00:22:18,950 --> 00:22:17,280
some tips to the space station guys so

486
00:22:22,950 --> 00:22:18,960
if they had some time they could try a

487
00:22:25,990 --> 00:22:24,549
uh chris ferguson uh we're gonna be

488
00:22:27,909 --> 00:22:26,000
watching you very closely one of the

489
00:22:29,990 --> 00:22:27,919
cities i i spend my time in and live in

490
00:22:31,909 --> 00:22:30,000
is philadelphia you're a local uh from

491
00:22:33,750 --> 00:22:31,919
that uh area what do you got to say to

492
00:22:35,029 --> 00:22:33,760
the folks down on earth who are going to

493
00:22:39,190 --> 00:22:35,039
be watching you bring that thing in

494
00:22:43,110 --> 00:22:41,750
oh well you know i i guess uh what i

495
00:22:45,029 --> 00:22:43,120
said to the folks when they left mission

496
00:22:47,510 --> 00:22:45,039
control uh one of our orbit ships we

497
00:22:50,230 --> 00:22:47,520
spoke to them for the last time uh

498
00:22:51,510 --> 00:22:50,240
from orbit yesterday and i said i said

499
00:22:53,270 --> 00:22:51,520
to them as they walked out of the room

500
00:22:55,029 --> 00:22:53,280
to look up and make a memory and and

501
00:22:56,789 --> 00:22:55,039
i'll say that to everybody who has an

502
00:22:59,270 --> 00:22:56,799
opportunity to perhaps see the landing

503
00:23:00,950 --> 00:22:59,280
real time or see the uh see the shuttle

504
00:23:02,230 --> 00:23:00,960
on the runway is take a good look at it

505
00:23:03,510 --> 00:23:02,240
and make a memory because you're never

506
00:23:07,590 --> 00:23:03,520
going to see anything like this again

507
00:23:10,789 --> 00:23:09,510
uh rex how you feeling about this uh you

508
00:23:12,149 --> 00:23:10,799
guys are gonna land i mean normally

509
00:23:14,230 --> 00:23:12,159
there's a sort of a camaraderie there's

510
00:23:16,390 --> 00:23:14,240
a club of people who uh who have taken

511
00:23:18,070 --> 00:23:16,400
who've flown on the space shuttle that

512
00:23:23,110 --> 00:23:18,080
sort of club closes tomorrow what's your

513
00:23:26,149 --> 00:23:24,870
well i think it's uh it is historic in

514
00:23:28,470 --> 00:23:26,159
that nature but i think it's going to

515
00:23:30,070 --> 00:23:28,480
open up in a new era of space flight

516
00:23:31,750 --> 00:23:30,080
because right now there have been a

517
00:23:33,270 --> 00:23:31,760
tremendous amount of people who've flown

518
00:23:35,350 --> 00:23:33,280
space in the shuttle the vast majority

519
00:23:37,590 --> 00:23:35,360
that have ever flown in space we want to

520
00:23:39,430 --> 00:23:37,600
take that next step get access to earth

521
00:23:41,029 --> 00:23:39,440
orbit low earth orbit cheaper and more

522
00:23:43,029 --> 00:23:41,039
frequent and we can do that by

523
00:23:45,510 --> 00:23:43,039
partnering with our commercial partners

524
00:23:47,430 --> 00:23:45,520
and then that can allow nasa to really

525
00:23:48,710 --> 00:23:47,440
focus on the exploration going beyond

526
00:23:51,430 --> 00:23:48,720
low earthquake going to the harder

527
00:23:53,190 --> 00:23:51,440
destinations asteroids the moon or mars

528
00:23:55,190 --> 00:23:53,200
and i think it's going to be a an

529
00:23:56,630 --> 00:23:55,200
extremely enjoyable extremely exciting

530
00:23:58,149 --> 00:23:56,640
time for nasa it's just we have to get

531
00:23:59,990 --> 00:23:58,159
through this transition transitions are

532
00:24:01,830 --> 00:24:00,000
always hard but we'll get through it and

533
00:24:04,789 --> 00:24:01,840
we'll uh we'll be having a better

534
00:24:05,750 --> 00:24:04,799
tomorrow

535
00:24:07,669 --> 00:24:05,760
well the whole world's going to be

536
00:24:09,669 --> 00:24:07,679
watching uh when you all land tomorrow

537
00:24:11,029 --> 00:24:09,679
as you approach uh for the final time

538
00:24:12,310 --> 00:24:11,039
the landing of the space shuttle

539
00:24:14,950 --> 00:24:12,320
atlantis good luck to all of you

540
00:24:16,710 --> 00:24:14,960
godspeed uh have a safe next 24 hours

541
00:24:19,510 --> 00:24:16,720
rex walheim mission specialist sandy

542
00:24:22,310 --> 00:24:19,520
magnus mission specialist chris ferguson

543
00:24:23,909 --> 00:24:22,320
uh the the commander and doug hurley uh

544
00:24:25,750 --> 00:24:23,919
the pilot thanks to all of you and we

545
00:24:28,070 --> 00:24:25,760
look forward to watching this before cnn

546
00:24:30,230 --> 00:24:28,080
we'll cover it live uh tomorrow morning

547
00:24:37,669 --> 00:24:30,240
coming up on american morning at 8 10

548
00:24:42,149 --> 00:24:39,750
atlantis this is houston acr that

549
00:24:44,310 --> 00:24:42,159
concludes the cnn portion of the event

550
00:24:51,110 --> 00:24:44,320
please stand by for a voice check from

551
00:24:57,750 --> 00:24:53,750
atlantis this is fox news how do you

552
00:25:03,430 --> 00:25:00,070
hey uh welcome aboard and this is flight

553
00:25:07,990 --> 00:25:05,590
terrific my name is bill hemmer and it

554
00:25:09,750 --> 00:25:08,000
is an honor to spend the next couple of

555
00:25:11,549 --> 00:25:09,760
minutes with you i was

556
00:25:14,870 --> 00:25:11,559
there for the liftoff of

557
00:25:16,470 --> 00:25:14,880
sts-134 it was the shortest mission

558
00:25:18,710 --> 00:25:16,480
visible

559
00:25:20,470 --> 00:25:18,720
on earth before the shuttle disappeared

560
00:25:22,310 --> 00:25:20,480
into the clouds after about a total of

561
00:25:24,789 --> 00:25:22,320
12 seconds

562
00:25:27,269 --> 00:25:24,799
but 135 was a beautiful liftoff and

563
00:25:29,590 --> 00:25:27,279
congratulations to you as you wind down

564
00:25:32,230 --> 00:25:29,600
this mission okay here we go guys here

565
00:25:34,789 --> 00:25:32,240
are my questions to you i i've got four

566
00:25:36,310 --> 00:25:34,799
specific questions i'm gonna go

567
00:25:37,990 --> 00:25:36,320
uh in a bit of a different order i'm

568
00:25:40,549 --> 00:25:38,000
gonna start with the pilot doug hurley

569
00:25:43,430 --> 00:25:40,559
on this here we go three two and one

570
00:25:46,789 --> 00:25:43,440
astronaut mike fossum tweeted from space

571
00:25:49,350 --> 00:25:46,799
only a few hours ago a beautiful picture

572
00:25:51,510 --> 00:25:49,360
and he said this on his tweet when will

573
00:25:53,590 --> 00:25:51,520
such a beautiful ship dock again to the

574
00:25:55,750 --> 00:25:53,600
international space station

575
00:25:57,269 --> 00:25:55,760
and i think that's what you and so many

576
00:25:59,669 --> 00:25:57,279
people down here in america are

577
00:26:01,669 --> 00:25:59,679
wondering and i uh to pilot hurley you

578
00:26:04,230 --> 00:26:01,679
were driving at the time

579
00:26:10,070 --> 00:26:04,240
what was that separation like knowing it

580
00:26:13,750 --> 00:26:11,190
was uh

581
00:26:17,190 --> 00:26:13,760
just unbelievably breathtaking as we

582
00:26:19,190 --> 00:26:17,200
backed away from the iss yesterday um

583
00:26:21,909 --> 00:26:19,200
you know they planted such that we get

584
00:26:24,870 --> 00:26:21,919
we get out to about 600 feet as the sun

585
00:26:27,190 --> 00:26:24,880
rises uh behind us so it lights up the

586
00:26:28,710 --> 00:26:27,200
arrays first and then lights up the rest

587
00:26:29,750 --> 00:26:28,720
of the space station it was just

588
00:26:32,070 --> 00:26:29,760
beautiful

589
00:26:33,669 --> 00:26:32,080
and we really enjoyed uh

590
00:26:35,190 --> 00:26:33,679
you know one last lap around the

591
00:26:38,390 --> 00:26:35,200
international space station before we

592
00:26:40,470 --> 00:26:38,400
started heading home

593
00:26:43,269 --> 00:26:40,480
well it it is such a structure that has

594
00:26:45,110 --> 00:26:43,279
been built over their past decade and um

595
00:26:47,750 --> 00:26:45,120
really remarkable accomplishment for

596
00:26:49,430 --> 00:26:47,760
nasa and really the friends of nasa from

597
00:26:52,149 --> 00:26:49,440
all over the world the shuttle commander

598
00:26:53,830 --> 00:26:52,159
chris ferguson gene cernan is a man you

599
00:26:56,470 --> 00:26:53,840
know he was the last one to walk on the

600
00:26:58,310 --> 00:26:56,480
moon 39 years ago

601
00:27:00,149 --> 00:26:58,320
he wrote a piece that's out this morning

602
00:27:03,830 --> 00:27:00,159
he said if we don't watch where we are

603
00:27:06,789 --> 00:27:03,840
going we will end up where we are headed

604
00:27:09,110 --> 00:27:06,799
now what do you think about the united

605
00:27:11,590 --> 00:27:09,120
states relying on the russians

606
00:27:17,350 --> 00:27:11,600
for at least five years to get back in

607
00:27:20,950 --> 00:27:19,029
well you know first off let me say that

608
00:27:23,110 --> 00:27:20,960
the russians have been just incredible

609
00:27:25,269 --> 00:27:23,120
partners with us in space um you know

610
00:27:27,669 --> 00:27:25,279
you recall the columbia tragedy back in

611
00:27:29,350 --> 00:27:27,679
2003 if it weren't for our partners

612
00:27:30,549 --> 00:27:29,360
there we would have had to demand the

613
00:27:32,230 --> 00:27:30,559
space station which is certainly

614
00:27:34,389 --> 00:27:32,240
something we didn't want to do

615
00:27:36,630 --> 00:27:34,399
so uh they're they're great reliable

616
00:27:38,870 --> 00:27:36,640
partners now should we be dependent upon

617
00:27:40,710 --> 00:27:38,880
them no i don't think it's necessarily a

618
00:27:42,549 --> 00:27:40,720
case of us or them i really think that

619
00:27:44,070 --> 00:27:42,559
we need a redundant way we need two

620
00:27:47,190 --> 00:27:44,080
different ways to get people to low

621
00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:47,200
earth orbit and uh you know it's uh it's

622
00:27:51,750 --> 00:27:49,440
uh there's certainly a gap here and i

623
00:27:53,430 --> 00:27:51,760
have no particular issue with relying on

624
00:27:55,510 --> 00:27:53,440
partners because that's what partners

625
00:27:57,350 --> 00:27:55,520
are for to help you through perhaps a

626
00:27:59,909 --> 00:27:57,360
time where you need to pull back and

627
00:28:01,590 --> 00:27:59,919
regroup so uh you know it's it's a short

628
00:28:04,149 --> 00:28:01,600
hiatus but i'm very confident our

629
00:28:05,830 --> 00:28:04,159
commercial partners we've seen spacex

630
00:28:08,549 --> 00:28:05,840
already launch an orbital vehicle and

631
00:28:10,149 --> 00:28:08,559
recover it safely in the pacific ocean

632
00:28:12,149 --> 00:28:10,159
and there are other commercial partners

633
00:28:13,750 --> 00:28:12,159
that are not too far behind so uh it'll

634
00:28:16,070 --> 00:28:13,760
be a few years

635
00:28:17,750 --> 00:28:16,080
you know i'm a little uneasy with just a

636
00:28:19,830 --> 00:28:17,760
single string to orbit if you would in

637
00:28:21,590 --> 00:28:19,840
other words just one way to do it but

638
00:28:23,269 --> 00:28:21,600
we'll recover from this and we'll use

639
00:28:26,630 --> 00:28:23,279
the resources that were devoted to the

640
00:28:31,909 --> 00:28:29,350
yeah you think about that gap 25 years

641
00:28:33,990 --> 00:28:31,919
ago ronald reagan invited the friends

642
00:28:37,430 --> 00:28:34,000
and allies of the united states

643
00:28:39,510 --> 00:28:37,440
to join the u.s in in its space program

644
00:28:40,950 --> 00:28:39,520
and the result was that beautiful

645
00:28:43,590 --> 00:28:40,960
structure you left behind the

646
00:28:46,549 --> 00:28:43,600
international space station

647
00:28:47,830 --> 00:28:46,559
to specialist uh sandy magnus then on

648
00:28:51,350 --> 00:28:47,840
this question

649
00:28:57,430 --> 00:28:51,360
what does president obama need to do

650
00:29:02,549 --> 00:29:00,389
well stage i think we need a long-term

651
00:29:04,950 --> 00:29:02,559
space plan you know space flight is a

652
00:29:07,269 --> 00:29:04,960
very complicated business and it takes

653
00:29:09,190 --> 00:29:07,279
plans that last longer than two or three

654
00:29:11,590 --> 00:29:09,200
or four years we need a decades-long

655
00:29:14,310 --> 00:29:11,600
plan and we need to stay focused on that

656
00:29:17,350 --> 00:29:14,320
plan and we need to execute that plan um

657
00:29:19,269 --> 00:29:17,360
it's not it's not something you know

658
00:29:21,510 --> 00:29:19,279
doing operations in space and developing

659
00:29:23,029 --> 00:29:21,520
vehicles that operate in space requires

660
00:29:24,630 --> 00:29:23,039
that sort of long-term thinking

661
00:29:26,070 --> 00:29:24,640
long-term planning and long-term

662
00:29:29,590 --> 00:29:26,080
commitment so that's certainly a good

663
00:29:34,549 --> 00:29:31,990
um i hope you're right specialist rex

664
00:29:36,549 --> 00:29:34,559
walheim gets the toughest question today

665
00:29:38,389 --> 00:29:36,559
what was the best wake-up song elton

666
00:29:43,029 --> 00:29:38,399
john paul mccartney or michael stite

667
00:29:48,710 --> 00:29:45,669
uh they were all obviously just amazing

668
00:29:50,549 --> 00:29:48,720
and uh it uh it was uh quite a treat to

669
00:29:52,950 --> 00:29:50,559
sit there and uh in the dark of the

670
00:29:54,789 --> 00:29:52,960
space of mid deck to listen to bits of

671
00:29:56,549 --> 00:29:54,799
fog and then even more important in the

672
00:29:59,510 --> 00:29:56,559
song was the personal greetings that

673
00:30:01,110 --> 00:29:59,520
those fantastic artists took time out to

674
00:30:02,870 --> 00:30:01,120
say good morning to us it just meant the

675
00:30:05,590 --> 00:30:02,880
world to us so uh they were all

676
00:30:09,750 --> 00:30:07,750
i betta do thank you for your time come

677
00:30:13,830 --> 00:30:09,760
on home safely okay god bless you all

678
00:30:22,470 --> 00:30:13,840
and god bless america thanks today

679
00:30:27,190 --> 00:30:25,029
this is houston acr that concludes the

680
00:30:35,990 --> 00:30:27,200
fox news portion of the event please

681
00:30:43,350 --> 00:30:38,070
atlantis this is nbc news washington do

682
00:30:46,950 --> 00:30:45,510
hello nbc we have you loud and clear on

683
00:30:48,870 --> 00:30:46,960
the flight deck of the space shuttle

684
00:30:51,029 --> 00:30:48,880
atlantis

685
00:30:52,630 --> 00:30:51,039
well it's nice to see all of you last

686
00:30:54,230 --> 00:30:52,640
time we talked we were in houston and

687
00:30:57,430 --> 00:30:54,240
you guys were preparing for this mission

688
00:30:59,830 --> 00:30:57,440
this is tom costello um grant ferguson

689
00:31:01,830 --> 00:30:59,840
let me ask you first on that day back in

690
00:31:03,830 --> 00:31:01,840
houston you said to me that when you

691
00:31:05,669 --> 00:31:03,840
pull away from the space station that's

692
00:31:07,830 --> 00:31:05,679
when this is really going to hit you

693
00:31:10,389 --> 00:31:07,840
it's really going to resonate your

694
00:31:12,470 --> 00:31:10,399
thoughts uh on having pulled away now

695
00:31:14,149 --> 00:31:12,480
from the space station for the last time

696
00:31:16,870 --> 00:31:14,159
you're on the last day of the last

697
00:31:18,870 --> 00:31:16,880
mission for the shuttle um your thoughts

698
00:31:23,029 --> 00:31:18,880
on what all this means for for you and

699
00:31:26,149 --> 00:31:25,029
you know uh tom it's uh funny we were

700
00:31:28,710 --> 00:31:26,159
discussing this just a little bit

701
00:31:30,389 --> 00:31:28,720
earlier uh with uh with sandy down in

702
00:31:32,549 --> 00:31:30,399
the mid deck and i looked at her and i

703
00:31:35,190 --> 00:31:32,559
said gosh you know sandy it feels like

704
00:31:36,789 --> 00:31:35,200
it's really about to end and uh for uh

705
00:31:38,950 --> 00:31:36,799
for certainly our nine-month training

706
00:31:40,710 --> 00:31:38,960
flow and the first hectic twelve days of

707
00:31:42,630 --> 00:31:40,720
our mission we didn't think we would

708
00:31:44,149 --> 00:31:42,640
ever see the end but now we're beginning

709
00:31:46,630 --> 00:31:44,159
to i guess see the light at the end of

710
00:31:47,909 --> 00:31:46,640
the tunnel if you can call it a light

711
00:31:49,350 --> 00:31:47,919
but i'll tell you when you pull away

712
00:31:51,190 --> 00:31:49,360
from the space station it just makes you

713
00:31:53,430 --> 00:31:51,200
enormously proud that

714
00:31:54,870 --> 00:31:53,440
that not just our country but the global

715
00:31:56,710 --> 00:31:54,880
community can pull together the

716
00:31:59,509 --> 00:31:56,720
resources enough to construct that

717
00:32:01,269 --> 00:31:59,519
incredible vehicle in orbit so as the

718
00:32:03,590 --> 00:32:01,279
space shuttle does retire and we hate to

719
00:32:05,750 --> 00:32:03,600
see it go we know that it is living it's

720
00:32:07,990 --> 00:32:05,760
leaving an incredible lasting legacy and

721
00:32:09,509 --> 00:32:08,000
of that we're just extraordinarily proud

722
00:32:11,110 --> 00:32:09,519
and the space shuttle program should be

723
00:32:13,590 --> 00:32:11,120
extraordinarily proud of what is left

724
00:32:18,070 --> 00:32:15,430
sandy let me ask you to reflect on that

725
00:32:20,710 --> 00:32:18,080
as well uh you had some very poignant

726
00:32:22,870 --> 00:32:20,720
comments about america's role in space

727
00:32:24,470 --> 00:32:22,880
when we talked back in houston so

728
00:32:26,470 --> 00:32:24,480
as now you pull away from the space

729
00:32:28,549 --> 00:32:26,480
station you prepare for a landing uh

730
00:32:33,509 --> 00:32:28,559
your thoughts uh what have you reflected

731
00:32:38,070 --> 00:32:35,909
well as fergie said we've been really

732
00:32:40,470 --> 00:32:38,080
busy but when i was aboard the space

733
00:32:42,870 --> 00:32:40,480
station i stayed up a little late and

734
00:32:44,710 --> 00:32:42,880
spent some time in the cupola and just

735
00:32:47,110 --> 00:32:44,720
as as when i was living on the space

736
00:32:48,710 --> 00:32:47,120
station it's just it's amazing

737
00:32:50,470 --> 00:32:48,720
when you look at that orbiting

738
00:32:51,990 --> 00:32:50,480
laboratory and and think about all the

739
00:32:54,549 --> 00:32:52,000
people involved in buildings around the

740
00:32:57,190 --> 00:32:54,559
world and and our role

741
00:32:58,389 --> 00:32:57,200
in america is starting that program and

742
00:33:00,389 --> 00:32:58,399
getting everyone involved in that

743
00:33:02,149 --> 00:33:00,399
program and it just shows you what we

744
00:33:04,549 --> 00:33:02,159
can do we put our minds to it and focus

745
00:33:05,830 --> 00:33:04,559
our efforts and and commit and i think

746
00:33:07,990 --> 00:33:05,840
with that same

747
00:33:09,990 --> 00:33:08,000
amount of commitment that same amount of

748
00:33:11,909 --> 00:33:10,000
passion that same amount of enthusiasm

749
00:33:14,870 --> 00:33:11,919
we pretty much can do anything and and

750
00:33:16,230 --> 00:33:14,880
going to the moon or mars or an asteroid

751
00:33:17,990 --> 00:33:16,240
is certainly our next step and i

752
00:33:19,430 --> 00:33:18,000
anticipate we will be able to do that

753
00:33:22,870 --> 00:33:19,440
because of the people involved in the

754
00:33:27,110 --> 00:33:25,110
lex let me ask you you know through the

755
00:33:29,269 --> 00:33:27,120
miracle of technology i'm talking to you

756
00:33:32,630 --> 00:33:29,279
from a hotel room in orlando where i'm

757
00:33:34,950 --> 00:33:32,640
preparing for your landing but three and

758
00:33:36,950 --> 00:33:34,960
some of that it occurs to me the

759
00:33:39,029 --> 00:33:36,960
incredible technology as a result of

760
00:33:40,710 --> 00:33:39,039
what space has brought to america the

761
00:33:42,789 --> 00:33:40,720
the technological capability for

762
00:33:44,389 --> 00:33:42,799
communication whatever can you reflect

763
00:33:47,190 --> 00:33:44,399
back on what has shut what is the

764
00:33:49,350 --> 00:33:47,200
shuttle program done for america in

765
00:33:51,350 --> 00:33:49,360
terms of advancements in terms of

766
00:33:55,509 --> 00:33:51,360
technology and medicine and science and

767
00:33:59,750 --> 00:33:56,950
well it's the number one the first thing

768
00:34:01,350 --> 00:33:59,760
it is is a as a reusable spacecraft you

769
00:34:02,710 --> 00:34:01,360
just hadn't seen that before and there's

770
00:34:04,070 --> 00:34:02,720
really nothing like it and it's going to

771
00:34:07,029 --> 00:34:04,080
be a long time before you get something

772
00:34:09,589 --> 00:34:07,039
that is so complex so capable and yet

773
00:34:11,190 --> 00:34:09,599
reusable and then it gave us access to

774
00:34:13,030 --> 00:34:11,200
the low earth orbit on a somewhat

775
00:34:14,869 --> 00:34:13,040
routine basis and it allowed us to build

776
00:34:16,389 --> 00:34:14,879
the international space station as far

777
00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:16,399
as medical breakthroughs that's where

778
00:34:19,990 --> 00:34:18,720
the the real uh the real money is going

779
00:34:21,589 --> 00:34:20,000
to be here and so to speak is on the

780
00:34:23,030 --> 00:34:21,599
international space station we've now

781
00:34:24,550 --> 00:34:23,040
completed the international space

782
00:34:26,710 --> 00:34:24,560
station so now we can enter an area of

783
00:34:28,470 --> 00:34:26,720
utilization where we do that breaking

784
00:34:30,710 --> 00:34:28,480
that groundbreaking research where we

785
00:34:32,790 --> 00:34:30,720
can help uh find out how to make

786
00:34:34,550 --> 00:34:32,800
medicines target cancer better how to

787
00:34:37,190 --> 00:34:34,560
understand how the human body reacts to

788
00:34:38,950 --> 00:34:37,200
long times in space and also how to make

789
00:34:40,389 --> 00:34:38,960
an environmental system last for more

790
00:34:42,230 --> 00:34:40,399
than six months so we can take those

791
00:34:44,629 --> 00:34:42,240
long journeys to go up to the moon or to

792
00:34:46,230 --> 00:34:44,639
mars and so it's uh the space shuttle's

793
00:34:48,950 --> 00:34:46,240
enabled all that and it's done an

794
00:34:50,470 --> 00:34:48,960
absolutely magnificent job

795
00:34:52,389 --> 00:34:50,480
and doug currently when we were on the

796
00:34:54,869 --> 00:34:52,399
ground houston you talked specifically

797
00:34:56,950 --> 00:34:54,879
about how you wanted to pay tribute to

798
00:34:58,390 --> 00:34:56,960
all the hundreds of thousands of people

799
00:35:01,510 --> 00:34:58,400
who over the last 30 years have

800
00:35:03,109 --> 00:35:01,520
contributed to this to this program

801
00:35:05,190 --> 00:35:03,119
and given you the ability to be where

802
00:35:06,630 --> 00:35:05,200
you are right now so as you return as

803
00:35:09,190 --> 00:35:06,640
you prepare to return to the kennedy

804
00:35:10,950 --> 00:35:09,200
space center your thoughts on on all of

805
00:35:13,190 --> 00:35:10,960
those people and specifically the people

806
00:35:15,349 --> 00:35:13,200
on the ground now who are

807
00:35:17,349 --> 00:35:15,359
preparing for your landing and who many

808
00:35:21,910 --> 00:35:17,359
of whom may be out of a job within the

809
00:35:25,510 --> 00:35:24,069
yeah we we really uh

810
00:35:28,069 --> 00:35:25,520
you know we really just want to honor

811
00:35:29,670 --> 00:35:28,079
them and and we've done our best

812
00:35:32,390 --> 00:35:29,680
up to this time on the mission to do

813
00:35:33,910 --> 00:35:32,400
that and uh yeah we're we're very

814
00:35:35,990 --> 00:35:33,920
excited about seeing those folks

815
00:35:38,390 --> 00:35:36,000
especially the uh kennedy folks uh

816
00:35:40,150 --> 00:35:38,400
hopefully tomorrow morning and uh you

817
00:35:42,310 --> 00:35:40,160
know just try to share the memories of

818
00:35:43,670 --> 00:35:42,320
the mission with them and uh and and

819
00:35:47,030 --> 00:35:43,680
once again just

820
00:35:49,589 --> 00:35:47,040
convey how proud we are of them and what

821
00:35:51,910 --> 00:35:49,599
they've done over this 30-year program

822
00:35:53,349 --> 00:35:51,920
it it's just

823
00:35:55,270 --> 00:35:53,359
so inspiring

824
00:35:57,510 --> 00:35:55,280
to see the passion that all these folks

825
00:36:00,069 --> 00:35:57,520
have for space business

826
00:36:02,710 --> 00:36:00,079
and you know they put their careers into

827
00:36:04,150 --> 00:36:02,720
this business into the into this vehicle

828
00:36:06,069 --> 00:36:04,160
and uh you know

829
00:36:07,670 --> 00:36:06,079
we owe it to them to just honor what

830
00:36:09,430 --> 00:36:07,680
they've done and honor their

831
00:36:11,030 --> 00:36:09,440
accomplishments and

832
00:36:12,630 --> 00:36:11,040
you know we were we were just lucky

833
00:36:14,150 --> 00:36:12,640
enough to be the ones that got to fly it

834
00:36:17,750 --> 00:36:14,160
but you know they're the ones that

835
00:36:20,870 --> 00:36:19,270
i'll tell you what we'll wrap it up

836
00:36:23,430 --> 00:36:20,880
there it's been an honor to talk to you

837
00:36:24,870 --> 00:36:23,440
we wish you a tremendous success on your

838
00:36:26,550 --> 00:36:24,880
return visit we'll be on the ground

839
00:36:31,109 --> 00:36:26,560
waiting for you god speed and safe

840
00:36:31,119 --> 00:36:35,190
thanks tom

841
00:36:40,390 --> 00:36:38,230
atlantis this is houston acr on behalf

842
00:36:43,030 --> 00:36:40,400
of the audio control room the nasa

843
00:36:45,430 --> 00:36:43,040
television production team and the jsc

844
00:36:47,589 --> 00:36:45,440
public affairs office it's been an honor

845
00:36:49,430 --> 00:36:47,599
to serve with you over the years and on

846
00:36:50,550 --> 00:36:49,440
this last mission of the space shuttle

847
00:36:58,069 --> 00:36:50,560
program

848
00:37:01,270 --> 00:36:59,589
whenever we hear your voice we know

849
00:37:03,270 --> 00:37:01,280
we're in space and it makes us smile

850
00:37:05,190 --> 00:37:03,280
thanks so much for uh for helping us

851
00:37:07,109 --> 00:37:05,200
bring the word to everybody in america

852
00:37:08,150 --> 00:37:07,119
about what we're doing up here and we

853
00:37:09,750 --> 00:37:08,160
look forward to hearing your voice

854
00:37:11,750 --> 00:37:09,760
aboard the international space station

855
00:37:20,829 --> 00:37:11,760
and wherever we go beyond the space

856
00:37:25,270 --> 00:37:23,750
there thank you for that atlantis and

857
00:37:28,550 --> 00:37:25,280
mission control houston would also like

858
00:37:32,230 --> 00:37:28,560
to thank abc news cbs news

859
00:37:33,990 --> 00:37:32,240
cnn fox news and nbc news