1 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:07,880 good good morning my name is Duane Brown 2 00:00:12,620 --> 00:00:09,510 with the office of communications and 3 00:00:14,780 --> 00:00:12,630 welcome to NASA headquarters today you 4 00:00:17,300 --> 00:00:14,790 will hear about the upcoming launch of 5 00:00:20,170 --> 00:00:17,310 NASA's Gravity Recovery and interior 6 00:00:22,250 --> 00:00:20,180 laboratory otherwise known as Grail 7 00:00:24,170 --> 00:00:22,260 right now all systems are go for 8 00:00:25,790 --> 00:00:24,180 September launch and today you will hear 9 00:00:29,630 --> 00:00:25,800 the incredible details and science 10 00:00:33,110 --> 00:00:29,640 expected the visuals and information are 11 00:00:36,049 --> 00:00:33,120 available on the internet at wws a govt 12 00:00:37,819 --> 00:00:36,059 / grill will have brief presentations 13 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:37,829 from my speakers then open it up for 14 00:00:41,569 --> 00:00:39,090 questions starting here NASA 15 00:00:43,940 --> 00:00:41,579 headquarters on NASA centers in the 16 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:43,950 phone lines before we get started let me 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:45,410 introduce you to today's participants 18 00:00:52,510 --> 00:00:50,850 first up Jim Green director Planetary 19 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:52,520 Science Division NASA headquarters 20 00:01:00,740 --> 00:00:58,050 Washington Maria Zuber grail principal 21 00:01:06,859 --> 00:01:00,750 investigator Massachusetts Institute of 22 00:01:09,100 --> 00:01:06,869 Technology Cambridge David layman grail 23 00:01:12,340 --> 00:01:09,110 project manager NASA's Jet Propulsion 24 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:12,350 Laboratory in Pasadena California and 25 00:01:18,710 --> 00:01:16,170 Lisa Hubbard teacher and residents Sally 26 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:18,720 Ride science San Diego and with that 27 00:01:24,289 --> 00:01:21,810 I'll turn it over to Jim thank you very 28 00:01:26,660 --> 00:01:24,299 much doing with this press conference 29 00:01:28,940 --> 00:01:26,670 we're beginning the launch campaign of 30 00:01:32,990 --> 00:01:28,950 the Grail mission the Grail mission is a 31 00:01:37,609 --> 00:01:33,000 discovery mission for which we initiated 32 00:01:40,310 --> 00:01:37,619 the discovery program in 1992 and since 33 00:01:44,090 --> 00:01:40,320 that time we've had ten launches of 34 00:01:46,969 --> 00:01:44,100 discovery spacecraft of various reaches 35 00:01:50,270 --> 00:01:46,979 of the solar system the program has been 36 00:01:53,420 --> 00:01:50,280 designed to have frequent access to 37 00:01:56,030 --> 00:01:53,430 space for planetary scientists it's run 38 00:01:58,789 --> 00:01:56,040 in a principal investigator mode and a 39 00:02:03,679 --> 00:01:58,799 science team supporting the mission and 40 00:02:05,569 --> 00:02:03,689 data analysis now to date the program is 41 00:02:08,180 --> 00:02:05,579 done an enormous number of discoveries 42 00:02:11,059 --> 00:02:08,190 and it and that is continuing on even 43 00:02:13,550 --> 00:02:11,069 today the last year alone we've had two 44 00:02:17,510 --> 00:02:13,560 of our discover 45 00:02:19,850 --> 00:02:17,520 three missions fly by comets we've had 46 00:02:22,850 --> 00:02:19,860 the messenger spacecraft get in orbit 47 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:22,860 around our first planet Mercury we've 48 00:02:27,380 --> 00:02:25,050 had the Dawn spacecraft get in orbit 49 00:02:29,870 --> 00:02:27,390 around an enormous asteroid called Vesta 50 00:02:32,479 --> 00:02:29,880 and in fact most recently we have 51 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:32,489 selected three discovery missions for 52 00:02:39,380 --> 00:02:35,310 further study and about this time next 53 00:02:41,449 --> 00:02:39,390 year will select one for flight the 54 00:02:44,620 --> 00:02:41,459 program we're talking about today the 55 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:44,630 Grail mission is part of our discovery 56 00:02:51,110 --> 00:02:48,450 program will be launched on September 8 57 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:51,120 this when the window begins and I'm 58 00:02:57,620 --> 00:02:53,970 delighted that our first principal 59 00:03:01,100 --> 00:02:57,630 investigator woman Maria Zuber is at the 60 00:03:04,789 --> 00:03:01,110 helm on that mission one of the stories 61 00:03:09,050 --> 00:03:04,799 I want to tell it at this point is when 62 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:09,060 Grail was selected in December 2007 and 63 00:03:14,210 --> 00:03:10,370 we were preparing for the announcement 64 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:14,220 both Marie and I were at the scientific 65 00:03:19,670 --> 00:03:17,040 meeting in California and I had the 66 00:03:21,259 --> 00:03:19,680 opportunity and the pleasure to go up to 67 00:03:23,479 --> 00:03:21,269 Maria and let her know that her mission 68 00:03:26,569 --> 00:03:23,489 was selected and of course she was 69 00:03:28,940 --> 00:03:26,579 incredibly excited about it and we both 70 00:03:31,490 --> 00:03:28,950 enjoyed the moment but all of a sudden 71 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:31,500 she got very serious and she looked at 72 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:34,170 me and she said I'm going to promise you 73 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:36,930 right now that this mission will come on 74 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:40,410 budget and on schedule three and a half 75 00:03:45,170 --> 00:03:42,690 years later we're now ready for the 76 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:45,180 launch of Grail and I'm here to tell you 77 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:47,730 that is exactly what Maria has done and 78 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:51,090 so with that let me introduce Maria 79 00:03:57,710 --> 00:03:53,810 Zuber principal investigator on Grail 80 00:03:59,720 --> 00:03:57,720 great thank you very much Jim we could 81 00:04:02,030 --> 00:03:59,730 start with the first graphic please I am 82 00:04:05,150 --> 00:04:02,040 so delighted to be here today to tell 83 00:04:07,809 --> 00:04:05,160 you about the Grail mission the first 84 00:04:09,710 --> 00:04:07,819 image shows just an absolutely beautiful 85 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:09,720 image that was taken by the galileo 86 00:04:16,009 --> 00:04:13,410 spacecraft while it was on route to the 87 00:04:19,039 --> 00:04:16,019 planet Jupiter and if you think about 88 00:04:21,710 --> 00:04:19,049 looking at the moon nearly every human 89 00:04:24,770 --> 00:04:21,720 who's ever lived has looked up at the 90 00:04:27,110 --> 00:04:24,780 moon and admired it the moon has played 91 00:04:29,689 --> 00:04:27,120 a really central role 92 00:04:32,140 --> 00:04:29,699 in the human imagination and the human 93 00:04:36,020 --> 00:04:32,150 psyche could have the next slide please 94 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:36,030 so much so that when humans reached out 95 00:04:43,670 --> 00:04:38,970 and landed on the moon it really became 96 00:04:47,780 --> 00:04:43,680 a defining event for civilization since 97 00:04:50,750 --> 00:04:47,790 the dawn of the Space Age in 1959 there 98 00:04:55,010 --> 00:04:50,760 have been 109 missions that have 99 00:04:57,469 --> 00:04:55,020 targeted the moon 12 humans have walked 100 00:05:02,090 --> 00:04:57,479 on the surface of the Moon we've brought 101 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:02,100 back 842 pounds of rocks and soil that 102 00:05:06,350 --> 00:05:04,710 are still being analyzed today I won't 103 00:05:10,150 --> 00:05:06,360 even call it a national treasure it's a 104 00:05:13,340 --> 00:05:10,160 world treasure those samples as we speak 105 00:05:16,129 --> 00:05:13,350 there are three spacecraft that are 106 00:05:20,650 --> 00:05:16,139 orbiting the moon and collecting science 107 00:05:23,779 --> 00:05:20,660 observations given all of this activity 108 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:23,789 do we know everything that we'd like to 109 00:05:30,710 --> 00:05:27,810 know about the moon in short the answer 110 00:05:32,450 --> 00:05:30,720 is no so let's talk about some 111 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:32,460 fundamental things that we know and 112 00:05:37,550 --> 00:05:35,250 don't know about the moon if I could 113 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:37,560 have the next slide please so the moon 114 00:05:45,650 --> 00:05:42,710 is the nearest most accessible old 115 00:05:50,629 --> 00:05:45,660 planetary rocky terrestrial planetary 116 00:05:52,460 --> 00:05:50,639 body we believe that the moon formed by 117 00:05:54,170 --> 00:05:52,470 an impact of a mars-sized body into 118 00:05:56,689 --> 00:05:54,180 Earth and the moon accreted out of the 119 00:05:59,300 --> 00:05:56,699 material that was thrown off into a disk 120 00:06:01,150 --> 00:05:59,310 but that's a theory we continue to test 121 00:06:04,370 --> 00:06:01,160 that theory we don't know for sure 122 00:06:07,430 --> 00:06:04,380 surprises emerge even now about the 123 00:06:09,290 --> 00:06:07,440 accretion process of the moon trying to 124 00:06:13,159 --> 00:06:09,300 understand how the moon formed and how 125 00:06:14,510 --> 00:06:13,169 it evolved over its history is one of 126 00:06:16,460 --> 00:06:14,520 the things we're trying to address with 127 00:06:18,350 --> 00:06:16,470 the Grail mission but also to try to 128 00:06:20,570 --> 00:06:18,360 understand how the moon is an example of 129 00:06:22,850 --> 00:06:20,580 how to rest real planets in general have 130 00:06:25,070 --> 00:06:22,860 formed so if you look at this picture of 131 00:06:27,770 --> 00:06:25,080 the new moon another beautiful picture 132 00:06:30,740 --> 00:06:27,780 this is a wide-angle cam wide wide angle 133 00:06:32,629 --> 00:06:30,750 camera image of the lunar near side on 134 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:32,639 the left that's the side of the moon 135 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:35,280 that we see from Earth and the far side 136 00:06:40,410 --> 00:06:37,890 on the right these images were taken by 137 00:06:42,780 --> 00:06:40,420 the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 138 00:06:45,630 --> 00:06:42,790 it's currently taking observations right 139 00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:45,640 now of the moon you see that the near 140 00:06:49,260 --> 00:06:47,110 side and the far side of the Moon are 141 00:06:51,390 --> 00:06:49,270 very different and you would think 142 00:06:52,650 --> 00:06:51,400 having sent many missions to the moon we 143 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:52,660 would understand the difference between 144 00:06:58,800 --> 00:06:54,490 the near side and the far side but in 145 00:07:01,170 --> 00:06:58,810 fact we don't the near side shows a lot 146 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:01,180 of dark areas that consist of lava flows 147 00:07:07,050 --> 00:07:04,570 that flooded large impact basins which 148 00:07:08,550 --> 00:07:07,060 are on the near side of the moon but 149 00:07:10,500 --> 00:07:08,560 this didn't occur on the far side of the 150 00:07:13,110 --> 00:07:10,510 Moon for a long time we thought well 151 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:13,120 there was all this magma that was deep 152 00:07:16,830 --> 00:07:14,370 beneath the surface of the Moon and 153 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:16,840 because elevations on the near side of 154 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:18,850 the moon were lower it rose up and we 155 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:21,370 just see it or as that isn't the case on 156 00:07:28,170 --> 00:07:24,490 the far side but if we go to the next 157 00:07:30,750 --> 00:07:28,180 chart this is an elevation map taken 158 00:07:32,130 --> 00:07:30,760 from the laser altimeter on the Lunar 159 00:07:34,410 --> 00:07:32,140 Reconnaissance Orbiter that is still 160 00:07:37,890 --> 00:07:34,420 collecting images around the moon right 161 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:37,900 now this elevation map is color coded 162 00:07:44,940 --> 00:07:42,010 here whites and reds are high and blues 163 00:07:47,310 --> 00:07:44,950 and purples are low and and you see you 164 00:07:49,230 --> 00:07:47,320 get quite a different story that begs 165 00:07:51,870 --> 00:07:49,240 the question of well maybe this idea of 166 00:07:53,070 --> 00:07:51,880 the magma being many places on both the 167 00:07:55,980 --> 00:07:53,080 near side and the far side of the Moon 168 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:55,990 is incorrect because on the far side of 169 00:08:00,390 --> 00:07:57,970 the Moon on the right-hand side there 170 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:00,400 you see in the deep purple down towards 171 00:08:06,330 --> 00:08:03,370 the bottom the largest impact basin on 172 00:08:09,510 --> 00:08:06,340 the moon the impactor that formed this 173 00:08:12,020 --> 00:08:09,520 basin excavated deeper into the moon 174 00:08:17,550 --> 00:08:12,030 than any of the basins on the near side 175 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:17,560 but no magma flooded in it so clearly we 176 00:08:21,540 --> 00:08:18,730 don't understand what was happening 177 00:08:24,540 --> 00:08:21,550 inside the moon on just the basis of the 178 00:08:27,930 --> 00:08:24,550 near side and the far side let's focus 179 00:08:29,610 --> 00:08:27,940 now on the white area on the far side of 180 00:08:33,090 --> 00:08:29,620 the Moon on the right those Highland 181 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:33,100 regions okay just a few weeks ago in the 182 00:08:38,340 --> 00:08:35,530 journal Nature an article was published 183 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:38,350 that suggested that those far side 184 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:41,770 Highlands actually occurred due to a 185 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:44,770 second moon that might have formed after 186 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:46,930 the moon-forming collision that we think 187 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:49,570 happened this moon would have been in 188 00:08:54,860 --> 00:08:52,410 the same orbit as our moon 189 00:08:56,660 --> 00:08:54,870 and ever so slowly it would have come 190 00:08:58,490 --> 00:08:56,670 towards and coalesced with the moon and 191 00:09:01,699 --> 00:08:58,500 essentially bumped it and collided and 192 00:09:03,769 --> 00:09:01,709 it added more more material to the moon 193 00:09:05,809 --> 00:09:03,779 than it excavated and so it actually 194 00:09:10,309 --> 00:09:05,819 produced a mountainous region rather 195 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:10,319 than a whole the hypothesis that this 196 00:09:17,150 --> 00:09:13,170 occurred it's actually when I saw the 197 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:17,160 paper I thought it was outlandish but as 198 00:09:21,379 --> 00:09:19,920 I read the paper I realized that the 199 00:09:24,110 --> 00:09:21,389 simulations that were done were very 200 00:09:26,689 --> 00:09:24,120 very well thought out and and they made 201 00:09:29,569 --> 00:09:26,699 specific testable predictions that could 202 00:09:32,240 --> 00:09:29,579 be addressed by studying data that will 203 00:09:35,809 --> 00:09:32,250 be obtained with Grail the next hand 204 00:09:38,329 --> 00:09:35,819 slide the next slide please okay so 205 00:09:40,850 --> 00:09:38,339 Grail is a mission that will study the 206 00:09:43,100 --> 00:09:40,860 inside of the moon from crust decor and 207 00:09:45,639 --> 00:09:43,110 it will use the information that we gain 208 00:09:47,990 --> 00:09:45,649 on the inside of the moon along with 209 00:09:51,470 --> 00:09:48,000 information that is gained and being 210 00:09:52,970 --> 00:09:51,480 gained from other spacecraft that have 211 00:09:56,329 --> 00:09:52,980 looked at the surface of the Moon and 212 00:09:58,460 --> 00:09:56,339 from the continued analysis of the lunar 213 00:10:00,740 --> 00:09:58,470 samples and we're going to show a video 214 00:10:04,340 --> 00:10:00,750 next that's going to show you how we 215 00:10:07,370 --> 00:10:04,350 make these these measurements so here 216 00:10:10,340 --> 00:10:07,380 the two rail spacecraft are in orbit 217 00:10:12,530 --> 00:10:10,350 around the moon they're lined up with 218 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:12,540 each other the two spacecraft are about 219 00:10:19,220 --> 00:10:16,370 55 kilometers above the lunar surface 220 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:19,230 the distance between them varies on a 221 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:22,170 large scale between 60 and about 225 222 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:24,810 kilometers so we can sample at different 223 00:10:28,639 --> 00:10:26,610 depths in the moon and these two 224 00:10:31,009 --> 00:10:28,649 spacecraft will essentially chase each 225 00:10:33,439 --> 00:10:31,019 other around in a polar orbit as the 226 00:10:35,689 --> 00:10:33,449 moon rotates slowly underneath them and 227 00:10:38,569 --> 00:10:35,699 the basic measurement is that you can 228 00:10:40,759 --> 00:10:38,579 see here as there is a mass on the 229 00:10:43,210 --> 00:10:40,769 surface or in the subsurface the lead 230 00:10:46,220 --> 00:10:43,220 spacecraft will accelerate and speed up 231 00:10:47,929 --> 00:10:46,230 in response to that mass and cause the 232 00:10:51,230 --> 00:10:47,939 distance between the two to increase and 233 00:10:53,780 --> 00:10:51,240 then as the second spacecraft then comes 234 00:10:55,549 --> 00:10:53,790 over this greater mass it will speed up 235 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:55,559 and get closer to the first spacecraft 236 00:11:01,429 --> 00:10:57,930 so we're essentially taking the distance 237 00:11:03,590 --> 00:11:01,439 between two points and and watching how 238 00:11:05,759 --> 00:11:03,600 that distance changes and this is a 239 00:11:08,189 --> 00:11:05,769 fundamental measurement that you 240 00:11:10,259 --> 00:11:08,199 school children learn in middle school 241 00:11:12,689 --> 00:11:10,269 or even elementary school when they 242 00:11:13,859 --> 00:11:12,699 first take geometry but the fact of the 243 00:11:16,619 --> 00:11:13,869 matter is that we have to make this 244 00:11:18,239 --> 00:11:16,629 measurement extremely well we measure 245 00:11:20,729 --> 00:11:18,249 the velocity change between the two 246 00:11:24,210 --> 00:11:20,739 spacecraft to a couple of fractions 247 00:11:27,479 --> 00:11:24,220 about tenths of a micron per second okay 248 00:11:29,699 --> 00:11:27,489 it's an extremely extremely accurate 249 00:11:31,049 --> 00:11:29,709 measurement that has to be made so if 250 00:11:32,519 --> 00:11:31,059 you're out there and you're learning how 251 00:11:34,499 --> 00:11:32,529 to measure the change between the 252 00:11:36,660 --> 00:11:34,509 distance between two points learn how to 253 00:11:37,889 --> 00:11:36,670 do it well because when you grow up you 254 00:11:41,009 --> 00:11:37,899 might be able to do a mission to the 255 00:11:43,109 --> 00:11:41,019 moon and so I'll pass things over now to 256 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:43,119 our project manager gave layman who'll 257 00:11:47,489 --> 00:11:44,170 tell you how we're going to get there 258 00:11:49,019 --> 00:11:47,499 okay Maria described how we're going to 259 00:11:50,309 --> 00:11:49,029 do the science of the moon and now i'm 260 00:11:52,619 --> 00:11:50,319 going to talk about how we're going to 261 00:11:55,829 --> 00:11:52,629 get there and so back when the Grail was 262 00:11:57,479 --> 00:11:55,839 selected in December 2007 we formed a 263 00:12:00,150 --> 00:11:57,489 number of different teams to implement 264 00:12:01,949 --> 00:12:00,160 the mission at JPL this is where we do 265 00:12:04,109 --> 00:12:01,959 the project management and also the 266 00:12:06,629 --> 00:12:04,119 instrument was built for the grill 267 00:12:08,699 --> 00:12:06,639 mission then lockheed martin in denver 268 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:08,709 colorado is where the spacecraft was 269 00:12:13,109 --> 00:12:11,290 built and then United Launch Alliance is 270 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:13,119 where the the launch vehicle was built 271 00:12:17,999 --> 00:12:15,610 and so we've been working since then and 272 00:12:20,460 --> 00:12:18,009 in May tooth of this year that's when we 273 00:12:23,669 --> 00:12:20,470 ship the spacecraft to Florida and 274 00:12:25,980 --> 00:12:23,679 you'll see a next graphic place this is 275 00:12:27,929 --> 00:12:25,990 the an image of the spacecraft it's two 276 00:12:30,210 --> 00:12:27,939 days old and it shows the two spacecraft 277 00:12:32,340 --> 00:12:30,220 on top of the second stage of the launch 278 00:12:36,179 --> 00:12:32,350 vehicle and behind that you'll see this 279 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:36,189 is the the fairing enveloping the 280 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:39,850 spacecraft and we've since put on the 281 00:12:43,799 --> 00:12:41,889 the other half of the fairing and we did 282 00:12:46,259 --> 00:12:43,809 that in preparations because we were 283 00:12:48,869 --> 00:12:46,269 concerned about Hurricane Irene so the 284 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:48,879 spacecraft was all all buttoned up and 285 00:12:54,629 --> 00:12:51,970 secure if in case we had a problem with 286 00:12:56,669 --> 00:12:54,639 with Irene so over the next 13 days 287 00:12:58,679 --> 00:12:56,679 while we're preparing for the launch a 288 00:13:01,559 --> 00:12:58,689 lot of work is going on the final 289 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:01,569 preparations the main thing left to do 290 00:13:06,989 --> 00:13:04,689 is to fuel the second stage and and then 291 00:13:09,299 --> 00:13:06,999 we'll be ready to go and in the next 292 00:13:12,119 --> 00:13:09,309 graphic I want to show you what we will 293 00:13:15,929 --> 00:13:12,129 see ansan September 8th this is the 294 00:13:18,990 --> 00:13:15,939 launch of the the Grail spacecraft from 295 00:13:22,500 --> 00:13:19,000 the Delta two rocket from 296 00:13:24,180 --> 00:13:22,510 Cape Canaveral and after this first 297 00:13:25,590 --> 00:13:24,190 stage is spent then we go to the second 298 00:13:29,610 --> 00:13:25,600 stage of the launch vehicle and here we 299 00:13:32,580 --> 00:13:29,620 show the the second stage preparing to 300 00:13:35,580 --> 00:13:32,590 deploy the two spacecraft and then we 301 00:13:38,010 --> 00:13:35,590 first we deploy a Grail a and then eight 302 00:13:40,620 --> 00:13:38,020 minutes later we deploy Grail be and 303 00:13:44,220 --> 00:13:40,630 then the two spacecraft are on the way 304 00:13:46,140 --> 00:13:44,230 to the moon what will happen next is a 305 00:13:48,300 --> 00:13:46,150 series of maneuvers we do a total of 306 00:13:50,010 --> 00:13:48,310 thirty-three maneuvers on the weight of 307 00:13:52,590 --> 00:13:50,020 the moon to give them the proper orbit 308 00:13:55,290 --> 00:13:52,600 and in the next graphic I want to show 309 00:13:58,260 --> 00:13:55,300 you the trajectory as we go through on 310 00:14:00,510 --> 00:13:58,270 September eighth we have a that's the 311 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:00,520 opening the launch period and we can 312 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:02,170 launch any day after that for four to 313 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:04,120 two days and on your left you'll see the 314 00:14:08,580 --> 00:14:06,490 trajectory to the moon if we launched on 315 00:14:11,070 --> 00:14:08,590 the first day of the launch period and 316 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:11,080 then the in the center there's a graphic 317 00:14:15,540 --> 00:14:13,450 showing how the spacecraft will get to 318 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:15,550 the moon if we launch at the end of the 319 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:18,970 launch period and so this is a busy time 320 00:14:24,540 --> 00:14:22,450 for this for the team preparing to get 321 00:14:26,970 --> 00:14:24,550 ready to get ready for lunar orbit 322 00:14:29,250 --> 00:14:26,980 insertion and then the next graphic will 323 00:14:30,990 --> 00:14:29,260 show this lunar orbit insertion and this 324 00:14:33,300 --> 00:14:31,000 will happen on grail ale happens on New 325 00:14:36,630 --> 00:14:33,310 Year's Eve and on grill be new year's 326 00:14:39,600 --> 00:14:36,640 day and it's a 38 minute burn to get 327 00:14:42,390 --> 00:14:39,610 into these orbits and the orbit period 328 00:14:44,370 --> 00:14:42,400 is about 11 and a half hours and so over 329 00:14:47,370 --> 00:14:44,380 this period we do a series of maneuvers 330 00:14:49,650 --> 00:14:47,380 to circulate the orbit eventually we 331 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:49,660 want to get into an orbit about 55 332 00:14:54,510 --> 00:14:52,330 kilometers above the moon and it's 333 00:14:55,650 --> 00:14:54,520 highly circular orbit and this is a 334 00:14:58,050 --> 00:14:55,660 period where we go through the 335 00:15:00,150 --> 00:14:58,060 transition to science formation and this 336 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:00,160 is where we have to get the orbits very 337 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:04,570 precisely position so that we can carry 338 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:06,250 out the science phase of the mission and 339 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:08,890 then in the next graphic will give you a 340 00:15:14,820 --> 00:15:11,490 understanding of the the data that we 341 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:14,830 collect in order to return to science we 342 00:15:20,400 --> 00:15:18,010 have a k-band ranging system that 343 00:15:21,930 --> 00:15:20,410 exchanges ranging data between the two 344 00:15:24,780 --> 00:15:21,940 spacecraft and then we also have another 345 00:15:26,910 --> 00:15:24,790 signal at s band that that exchanges the 346 00:15:28,949 --> 00:15:26,920 clock information and that all this data 347 00:15:31,110 --> 00:15:28,959 is down like from each spacecraft a test 348 00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:31,120 ban is where we send the science data 349 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:31,900 and the hell 350 00:15:37,940 --> 00:15:34,090 than status data and then we also have a 351 00:15:40,890 --> 00:15:37,950 radio science beacon that returns 352 00:15:43,410 --> 00:15:40,900 navigation information for for the 353 00:15:45,180 --> 00:15:43,420 scientist so that summarizes how we're 354 00:15:47,370 --> 00:15:45,190 going to get to the moon and let me turn 355 00:15:49,890 --> 00:15:47,380 it over to Lisa Hubbard to talk about 356 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:49,900 the education house path of the mission 357 00:15:55,290 --> 00:15:52,930 great good morning I'm happy to be here 358 00:15:57,210 --> 00:15:55,300 to have the opportunity to tell you 359 00:16:00,030 --> 00:15:57,220 about the education and public outreach 360 00:16:03,090 --> 00:16:00,040 component of the Grail mission which is 361 00:16:05,580 --> 00:16:03,100 called moon Kim it's led by dr. Sally 362 00:16:09,060 --> 00:16:05,590 Ride America's first woman in space and 363 00:16:10,860 --> 00:16:09,070 her team at Sally Ride science a unique 364 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:10,870 think about this is it's the first 365 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:13,330 NASA's first planetary mission to 366 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:15,010 include instruments that are fully 367 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:17,170 dedicated to education and public 368 00:16:22,940 --> 00:16:20,050 outreach we intend to tap into the 369 00:16:26,750 --> 00:16:22,950 excitement of science and technology 370 00:16:29,220 --> 00:16:26,760 using the context of lunar exploration 371 00:16:32,070 --> 00:16:29,230 while Grail is performing its 372 00:16:34,470 --> 00:16:32,080 gravitational experiments moon cam will 373 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:34,480 serve as eyes on the moon for Earth 374 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:39,730 students give me a slide please and how 375 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:42,370 they will do that is through the use of 376 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:45,490 these cameras each spacecraft has four 377 00:16:50,970 --> 00:16:48,370 cameras on board there are two that are 378 00:16:53,130 --> 00:16:50,980 looking for and aft at a 60-degree angle 379 00:16:54,810 --> 00:16:53,140 and there are two that are pointed 380 00:16:58,080 --> 00:16:54,820 straight down to the surface of the moon 381 00:17:00,120 --> 00:16:58,090 using different powered lenses this 382 00:17:02,100 --> 00:17:00,130 program is available at no cost to 383 00:17:04,890 --> 00:17:02,110 schools and students are going to be 384 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:04,900 able to take their very own photos this 385 00:17:08,010 --> 00:17:05,890 is what's going to make the difference 386 00:17:09,810 --> 00:17:08,020 we know there are lots of images of the 387 00:17:13,020 --> 00:17:09,820 moon out there but this gives students 388 00:17:14,579 --> 00:17:13,030 their own ownership of that once the 389 00:17:17,130 --> 00:17:14,589 satellites are in orbit around the moon 390 00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:17,140 the cameras will be activated and this 391 00:17:21,510 --> 00:17:18,280 part of the mission will last 392 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:21,520 approximately 80 days the missions 393 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:23,650 operations center which would be similar 394 00:17:28,590 --> 00:17:26,530 to Mission Control in Houston is located 395 00:17:31,650 --> 00:17:28,600 at the University of California San 396 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:31,660 Diego there we have you we have 397 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:33,370 undergraduate students who have been 398 00:17:36,780 --> 00:17:35,170 involved in the planning they're 399 00:17:39,270 --> 00:17:36,790 involved in the operations of the 400 00:17:41,610 --> 00:17:39,280 mission and during the mission they will 401 00:17:46,370 --> 00:17:41,620 serve as the link to middle school 402 00:17:53,490 --> 00:17:48,419 students are going to be able to access 403 00:17:55,860 --> 00:17:53,500 our website slide please to help them 404 00:17:57,779 --> 00:17:55,870 plan and target the area of the moon 405 00:18:00,000 --> 00:17:57,789 that they want to explore further 406 00:18:03,299 --> 00:18:00,010 they'll be able to look at the latitude 407 00:18:06,659 --> 00:18:03,309 the longitude which orbit and camera 408 00:18:10,620 --> 00:18:06,669 will be available for those images next 409 00:18:13,169 --> 00:18:10,630 slide this website will also be very 410 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:13,179 interactive there will be images of the 411 00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:15,610 moon that they can rotate they can zoom 412 00:18:21,539 --> 00:18:18,130 in on them they will be able to view the 413 00:18:24,779 --> 00:18:21,549 exact orbital tract of the spacecraft 414 00:18:26,430 --> 00:18:24,789 and they can click on that and that will 415 00:18:29,430 --> 00:18:26,440 also give them information about the 416 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:29,440 latitude and longitude once they decide 417 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:31,330 which area they want to explore further 418 00:18:36,990 --> 00:18:34,690 they will send that request to the 419 00:18:40,049 --> 00:18:37,000 Mission Operations Center in San Diego 420 00:18:42,029 --> 00:18:40,059 and once the images are taken they'll be 421 00:18:45,149 --> 00:18:42,039 downloaded to a gallery which will be 422 00:18:47,279 --> 00:18:45,159 open to the general public there will be 423 00:18:49,950 --> 00:18:47,289 different ways that those images can be 424 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:49,960 categorized as they begin to build on 425 00:18:54,810 --> 00:18:52,690 themselves students will be able to go 426 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:54,820 there and access the image that they 427 00:18:59,639 --> 00:18:57,250 personally took they'll also be able to 428 00:19:02,970 --> 00:18:59,649 look at other images from other students 429 00:19:05,250 --> 00:19:02,980 and it will help them further their own 430 00:19:07,769 --> 00:19:05,260 research by looking at other images 431 00:19:11,100 --> 00:19:07,779 they'll be able to annotate those images 432 00:19:13,289 --> 00:19:11,110 and you never know what a student will 433 00:19:16,230 --> 00:19:13,299 be inspired to do with those pictures 434 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:16,240 that are their very own it might be an 435 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:19,570 artist or a poet or maybe something even 436 00:19:23,070 --> 00:19:21,490 in music which is something that we 437 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:23,080 generally don't think about when we're 438 00:19:32,789 --> 00:19:27,370 thinking about science and technology so 439 00:19:35,399 --> 00:19:32,799 um both before during and after the 440 00:19:39,029 --> 00:19:35,409 mission Sally Ride science is providing 441 00:19:42,419 --> 00:19:39,039 training and support for teachers we are 442 00:19:45,690 --> 00:19:42,429 linking them in workshops with lunar 443 00:19:47,430 --> 00:19:45,700 scientists and experts in the field we 444 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:47,440 are also providing them with hands-on 445 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:49,090 activities they can use in their 446 00:19:53,070 --> 00:19:51,010 classrooms that they're already bringing 447 00:19:55,529 --> 00:19:53,080 back to their classrooms in preparation 448 00:19:57,520 --> 00:19:55,539 we have over 500 teachers that are 449 00:19:59,800 --> 00:19:57,530 already registered 450 00:20:01,930 --> 00:19:59,810 on our moon cam website and we encourage 451 00:20:03,760 --> 00:20:01,940 teachers to go there and register 452 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:03,770 because we will be helping them get 453 00:20:08,590 --> 00:20:05,450 prepared for ways that they can use 454 00:20:10,540 --> 00:20:08,600 these images as they relate to standards 455 00:20:13,950 --> 00:20:10,550 that they have to use and meet in their 456 00:20:16,710 --> 00:20:13,960 classrooms it's really exciting that 457 00:20:19,870 --> 00:20:16,720 students are going to be able to do this 458 00:20:22,810 --> 00:20:19,880 where NASA is just a great vehicle for 459 00:20:25,630 --> 00:20:22,820 inspiring students in careers that 460 00:20:28,150 --> 00:20:25,640 involve science and technology kids have 461 00:20:30,010 --> 00:20:28,160 a natural interest in space even my 462 00:20:32,020 --> 00:20:30,020 four-year-old nephew calls me and ask me 463 00:20:35,110 --> 00:20:32,030 questions about the moon so he's 464 00:20:36,970 --> 00:20:35,120 starting early we also you know like we 465 00:20:39,000 --> 00:20:36,980 said we are going to be engaging middle 466 00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:39,010 school students and we'll be engaging 467 00:20:43,690 --> 00:20:41,510 undergraduate students many of those 468 00:20:46,180 --> 00:20:43,700 students have actually gone on to work 469 00:20:49,690 --> 00:20:46,190 for NASA by working in our mission 470 00:20:51,940 --> 00:20:49,700 operation center so we hope that this 471 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:51,950 will encourage students in those in 472 00:20:56,740 --> 00:20:54,110 those fields and they'll be very excited 473 00:20:58,570 --> 00:20:56,750 about being part of real world science 474 00:21:03,910 --> 00:20:58,580 and they will actually be scientists 475 00:21:08,470 --> 00:21:03,920 themselves if you go to our website wwm 476 00:21:10,690 --> 00:21:08,480 on cam UCSD edu that is where you'll 477 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:10,700 find all the information about the site 478 00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:13,370 we would ask you to tell other educators 479 00:21:17,770 --> 00:21:15,110 about it and encourage them to come and 480 00:21:19,570 --> 00:21:17,780 register and I think it pretty much 481 00:21:21,610 --> 00:21:19,580 everything that you need to know you can 482 00:21:24,310 --> 00:21:21,620 find there and we would encourage you to 483 00:21:26,860 --> 00:21:24,320 go check it out look at the website and 484 00:21:30,610 --> 00:21:26,870 see what's there and get more involved 485 00:21:31,690 --> 00:21:30,620 thanks okay thank you and now we're 486 00:21:34,120 --> 00:21:31,700 going to transition into the 487 00:21:36,610 --> 00:21:34,130 question-and-answer phase we're going to 488 00:21:38,710 --> 00:21:36,620 start here NASA headquarters air can 489 00:21:41,020 --> 00:21:38,720 then I have some questions that were 490 00:21:42,610 --> 00:21:41,030 sent in to me by some of the media that 491 00:21:44,500 --> 00:21:42,620 are watching this program across the 492 00:21:47,140 --> 00:21:44,510 country and then we'll go to the phone 493 00:21:49,330 --> 00:21:47,150 lines so Eric don't you start us off 494 00:21:51,970 --> 00:21:49,340 sure thanks doing Eric hang with nature 495 00:21:54,670 --> 00:21:51,980 magazine if my questions for Maria Maria 496 00:21:58,780 --> 00:21:54,680 can you explain a in more detail how 497 00:22:01,030 --> 00:21:58,790 Grail could possibly explain this this 498 00:22:04,810 --> 00:22:01,040 dichotomy between the the near side and 499 00:22:07,390 --> 00:22:04,820 the far side sure happy to learn okay so 500 00:22:10,510 --> 00:22:07,400 um so we believe that there was melting 501 00:22:13,660 --> 00:22:10,520 deep inside the moon and 502 00:22:16,780 --> 00:22:13,670 and it could be that there is a mega 503 00:22:19,870 --> 00:22:16,790 plume or was a mega plume in the moon in 504 00:22:22,270 --> 00:22:19,880 its far history and in fact the lunar 505 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:22,280 prospector mission showed that there 506 00:22:27,370 --> 00:22:25,370 were high concentrations of elements 507 00:22:31,030 --> 00:22:27,380 such as thori and potassium that were 508 00:22:34,410 --> 00:22:31,040 heat producing elements but the actually 509 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:34,420 the lunar prospector spectral data only 510 00:22:40,030 --> 00:22:37,850 penetrated about a meter deep beneath 511 00:22:44,050 --> 00:22:40,040 the surface of the moon so we actually 512 00:22:46,390 --> 00:22:44,060 don't have an idea of what the anything 513 00:22:50,260 --> 00:22:46,400 related to the composition of the moon 514 00:22:52,660 --> 00:22:50,270 beneath that and and Braille we'll be 515 00:22:54,610 --> 00:22:52,670 looking at this in you know many more 516 00:22:58,150 --> 00:22:54,620 orders of magnitude in terms of higher 517 00:23:02,350 --> 00:22:58,160 resolution so because of the fact that 518 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:02,360 we will we will do orders of magnitude 519 00:23:08,470 --> 00:23:06,050 better in terms of our sensitivity as 520 00:23:13,420 --> 00:23:08,480 well as our spatial resolution and what 521 00:23:14,890 --> 00:23:13,430 I like to say sometimes is that when you 522 00:23:17,830 --> 00:23:14,900 can make a measurement better than has 523 00:23:19,510 --> 00:23:17,840 been made before by a factor of two you 524 00:23:21,820 --> 00:23:19,520 make very interesting discoveries but 525 00:23:24,790 --> 00:23:21,830 when you can measure things orders of 526 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:24,800 magnitude better they can really be 527 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:27,050 paradigm changing and this is this is 528 00:23:32,380 --> 00:23:29,210 what we're expecting so will essentially 529 00:23:34,690 --> 00:23:32,390 be able to look taking into account our 530 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:34,700 understanding of the bulk composition of 531 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:36,770 the moon on the basis of the Apollo 532 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:38,770 samples and surface spectral data in 533 00:23:43,990 --> 00:23:42,530 comparison with our sensitivity looking 534 00:23:47,590 --> 00:23:44,000 at gravity and what that telling us 535 00:23:49,210 --> 00:23:47,600 about the mass distribution radially we 536 00:23:51,910 --> 00:23:49,220 will be able to look at how melting 537 00:23:55,990 --> 00:23:51,920 occurred within the moon and actually 538 00:23:57,340 --> 00:23:56,000 what the source materials were that 539 00:24:00,880 --> 00:23:57,350 produced melts that occurred to the 540 00:24:03,490 --> 00:24:00,890 surface okay before we go to the phone 541 00:24:06,070 --> 00:24:03,500 line I do have a couple questions from 542 00:24:10,300 --> 00:24:06,080 the west coast and the first question is 543 00:24:12,130 --> 00:24:10,310 for you Maria question goes it took the 544 00:24:14,290 --> 00:24:12,140 Apollo a few days to get to the moon why 545 00:24:16,660 --> 00:24:14,300 does Grail take approximately three and 546 00:24:18,790 --> 00:24:16,670 a half months to ride there well we 547 00:24:22,210 --> 00:24:18,800 that's a that's a good question the 548 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:22,220 we're using a low energy trajectory that 549 00:24:28,090 --> 00:24:23,810 uses the earth 550 00:24:31,210 --> 00:24:28,100 Lagrange point and we originally did 551 00:24:33,580 --> 00:24:31,220 that to save fuel ok so the Apollo 552 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:33,590 astronauts we wanted to send them to the 553 00:24:38,470 --> 00:24:36,170 moon get them on the moon and get them 554 00:24:41,650 --> 00:24:38,480 home safely ok and we wanted to do that 555 00:24:44,380 --> 00:24:41,660 as expeditiously as possible but if you 556 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:44,390 think about it if you go barreling 557 00:24:50,050 --> 00:24:46,850 towards the moon you've got to hit the 558 00:24:52,510 --> 00:24:50,060 brakes big time to slow down enough for 559 00:24:55,110 --> 00:24:52,520 lunar gravity to capture you into orbit 560 00:24:58,540 --> 00:24:55,120 ok that means you need a big fuel tank 561 00:25:03,430 --> 00:24:58,550 loss of fuel maybe two rockets for the 562 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:03,440 two spacecraft okay we had we teamed 563 00:25:07,570 --> 00:25:05,450 with Lockheed Martin who had a very 564 00:25:09,700 --> 00:25:07,580 flexible spacecraft that was actually a 565 00:25:13,540 --> 00:25:09,710 Department of Defense spacecraft that 566 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:13,550 they got permission to adapt and and it 567 00:25:18,790 --> 00:25:16,310 was a small spacecraft and we used 568 00:25:20,320 --> 00:25:18,800 wanted to use a small fuel tank in order 569 00:25:22,690 --> 00:25:20,330 to do that so by using the small 570 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:22,700 spacecraft and using the low energy 571 00:25:28,120 --> 00:25:25,370 trajectory it made sense to take this 572 00:25:30,100 --> 00:25:28,130 longer three and a half month trip to 573 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:30,110 the moon but it turned out that after we 574 00:25:35,110 --> 00:25:32,530 got into it and started studying it 575 00:25:37,450 --> 00:25:35,120 there were a lot of other advantages of 576 00:25:39,340 --> 00:25:37,460 taking a slow trip to the moon so first 577 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:39,350 of all we're able to put those two 578 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:41,890 spacecraft into lunar orbit a day apart 579 00:25:48,250 --> 00:25:44,450 so that we're not doing two critical 580 00:25:51,220 --> 00:25:48,260 orbit insertion maneuvers in one day we 581 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:51,230 were able to get to the moon on the same 582 00:25:58,030 --> 00:25:55,130 day no matter what day in this 42 day 583 00:26:00,340 --> 00:25:58,040 long window that we launched and that 584 00:26:02,050 --> 00:26:00,350 allowed us to completely d couple the 585 00:26:03,460 --> 00:26:02,060 operations during cruise from the 586 00:26:05,590 --> 00:26:03,470 operations around the moon which 587 00:26:07,180 --> 00:26:05,600 actually greatly simplified our mission 588 00:26:10,060 --> 00:26:07,190 operations and one of the things that 589 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:10,070 helped us control costs another thing 590 00:26:15,310 --> 00:26:12,890 that happens is it teaches Argives our 591 00:26:18,100 --> 00:26:15,320 operations team time to learn how to 592 00:26:20,380 --> 00:26:18,110 operate the spacecraft and it allows the 593 00:26:23,140 --> 00:26:20,390 spacecraft 2d gas so the spacecraft 594 00:26:25,870 --> 00:26:23,150 within its structure actually has gases 595 00:26:28,570 --> 00:26:25,880 that come out and because even though 596 00:26:30,550 --> 00:26:28,580 it's very very tiny amounts it's still 597 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:30,560 an acceleration acceleration has the 598 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:33,050 same units of gravity so spacecraft 599 00:26:36,610 --> 00:26:34,730 degassing is actually an error source 600 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:36,620 for us and we have to actually worry 601 00:26:40,370 --> 00:26:37,410 about error 602 00:26:43,190 --> 00:26:40,380 sources down at the level of spacecraft 603 00:26:46,310 --> 00:26:43,200 degassing because we need to make the 604 00:26:48,050 --> 00:26:46,320 measurement as precisely as we do thanks 605 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:48,060 Maria we're going to do one more 606 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:49,770 question i received from the west coast 607 00:26:52,610 --> 00:26:50,730 and then we're going to head down to 608 00:26:55,130 --> 00:26:52,620 kennedy and i think i'm going to ask you 609 00:27:00,490 --> 00:26:55,140 guys to get your crystal ball across the 610 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:00,500 ball out this is question is what legacy 611 00:27:05,630 --> 00:27:03,450 would you want Grail to have and/or its 612 00:27:07,250 --> 00:27:05,640 impact if future generations if you 613 00:27:08,870 --> 00:27:07,260 could see in the future so Jim let's 614 00:27:11,330 --> 00:27:08,880 just go down the line and individual 615 00:27:14,570 --> 00:27:11,340 comments on that starting with you well 616 00:27:16,550 --> 00:27:14,580 of course as a discovery mission it's 617 00:27:18,050 --> 00:27:16,560 really doing some pioneering science and 618 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:18,060 that's what that program is all about 619 00:27:23,270 --> 00:27:21,090 swell focused it has an important 620 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:23,280 objective that objective is to really 621 00:27:30,230 --> 00:27:26,850 understand the evolution and the origin 622 00:27:33,140 --> 00:27:30,240 of the of the earth-moon system we have 623 00:27:34,490 --> 00:27:33,150 a number of theories and and Grail will 624 00:27:36,020 --> 00:27:34,500 set us on the right track of 625 00:27:38,030 --> 00:27:36,030 understanding that now that may have 626 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:38,040 application in other parts of our solar 627 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:42,570 system so so its legacy then is indeed 628 00:27:49,310 --> 00:27:45,690 applicable to to looking at looking at 629 00:27:54,350 --> 00:27:49,320 this into the future okay can I say two 630 00:27:58,520 --> 00:27:54,360 things okay so one is the first is when 631 00:28:03,590 --> 00:27:58,530 I do an experiment I like to rewrite the 632 00:28:08,780 --> 00:28:03,600 textbooks okay and and so I think a lot 633 00:28:10,850 --> 00:28:08,790 of us for very good reason believe in 634 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:10,860 the impact origin of the moon and then 635 00:28:16,040 --> 00:28:12,090 the cooling off of the moon and the 636 00:28:17,810 --> 00:28:16,050 evolution I am predicting that we're 637 00:28:20,390 --> 00:28:17,820 going to find something and I don't know 638 00:28:22,430 --> 00:28:20,400 what it is that is really really going 639 00:28:24,740 --> 00:28:22,440 to surprise us and turn our 640 00:28:26,750 --> 00:28:24,750 understanding of how the moon and other 641 00:28:30,350 --> 00:28:26,760 terrestrial planets formed on its ear 642 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:30,360 okay so that's that's my scientific 643 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:32,970 thing the but there's also a 644 00:28:39,980 --> 00:28:37,170 technological legacy here so Grail is 645 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:39,990 the moon version of the extremely 646 00:28:45,530 --> 00:28:42,570 successful earth science grace mission 647 00:28:48,110 --> 00:28:45,540 that is mapping the earth right now and 648 00:28:50,540 --> 00:28:48,120 we were able to take the grace 649 00:28:54,020 --> 00:28:50,550 instrumentation and and 650 00:28:57,950 --> 00:28:54,030 adapted for orbit around the moon and as 651 00:29:00,650 --> 00:28:57,960 you heard from dave here it's very 652 00:29:03,230 --> 00:29:00,660 important to get precise timing of these 653 00:29:05,810 --> 00:29:03,240 two spacecraft and on for grace grace 654 00:29:08,030 --> 00:29:05,820 does its timing using GPS but we didn't 655 00:29:09,710 --> 00:29:08,040 have GPS at the moon and so we had to 656 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:09,720 figure out a way to do clock 657 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:11,910 calibrations and now that we've 658 00:29:17,570 --> 00:29:14,490 demonstrated the way that we can do 659 00:29:20,090 --> 00:29:17,580 precise timing this really opens up the 660 00:29:22,610 --> 00:29:20,100 possibility of taking a concept like 661 00:29:26,510 --> 00:29:22,620 this and doing it another around another 662 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:26,520 planet say imagine mapping currents in 663 00:29:31,460 --> 00:29:28,650 the ocean beneath Europa using a concept 664 00:29:33,770 --> 00:29:31,470 like this but beyond this particular 665 00:29:36,230 --> 00:29:33,780 concept going to any other planet where 666 00:29:39,590 --> 00:29:36,240 you would like to do closely coordinated 667 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:39,600 timed observations we've now figured out 668 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:42,690 a way to do this so i think in hope that 669 00:29:49,970 --> 00:29:45,330 the legacies will be both scientific and 670 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:49,980 technological i think for me the the big 671 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:52,890 challenge of Grail is actually get into 672 00:29:56,930 --> 00:29:55,530 getting into the science orbit and so we 673 00:29:59,000 --> 00:29:56,940 call that the transfer to science 674 00:30:01,010 --> 00:29:59,010 formation phase and it's a very complex 675 00:30:03,380 --> 00:30:01,020 phase for us in the mission where we 676 00:30:05,660 --> 00:30:03,390 have to get the two spacecraft very 677 00:30:08,360 --> 00:30:05,670 tightly coordinated one around the other 678 00:30:10,940 --> 00:30:08,370 our navigators are quarter million miles 679 00:30:12,500 --> 00:30:10,950 away from the moon trying to trying to 680 00:30:15,950 --> 00:30:12,510 orchestrate these two spacecraft into 681 00:30:19,690 --> 00:30:15,960 very very precise orbits and I'm retired 682 00:30:22,070 --> 00:30:19,700 Navy Reserve Officer and to me it's like 683 00:30:23,750 --> 00:30:22,080 the blue angels at the moon and so 684 00:30:26,840 --> 00:30:23,760 that's our big challenge and and we're 685 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:26,850 really looking forward to doing it well 686 00:30:30,860 --> 00:30:28,650 I can only speak the moon cam but I 687 00:30:34,610 --> 00:30:30,870 think that is going to impact students 688 00:30:36,410 --> 00:30:34,620 in an emotional way as well while the 689 00:30:38,270 --> 00:30:36,420 moon is our nearest neighbor there's 690 00:30:40,310 --> 00:30:38,280 still so many things that our students 691 00:30:42,680 --> 00:30:40,320 don't understand it may be the first 692 00:30:46,870 --> 00:30:42,690 time our students realize that the dark 693 00:30:50,660 --> 00:30:46,880 side isn't the same as the the far side 694 00:30:52,850 --> 00:30:50,670 and I think once they begin to look at 695 00:30:54,380 --> 00:30:52,860 detailed images when they go out in 696 00:30:56,060 --> 00:30:54,390 their backyard and look at the moon 697 00:30:58,900 --> 00:30:56,070 they're gonna look at it in a whole new 698 00:31:01,010 --> 00:30:58,910 way and I think that's priceless 699 00:31:02,690 --> 00:31:01,020 excellent thank you okay now we're going 700 00:31:04,340 --> 00:31:02,700 to head down south where the spacecraft 701 00:31:06,529 --> 00:31:04,350 is 702 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:06,539 getting made ready for launch and we're 703 00:31:11,180 --> 00:31:08,010 going to go to the Kennedy Space Center 704 00:31:17,810 --> 00:31:11,190 there for a question or two Kennedy how 705 00:31:19,250 --> 00:31:17,820 do you read here you find this is Marcia 706 00:31:22,010 --> 00:31:19,260 Dunn of the associated press with 707 00:31:25,549 --> 00:31:22,020 actually three questions if I might for 708 00:31:27,409 --> 00:31:25,559 dr. Zubrin you could you give me some 709 00:31:30,380 --> 00:31:27,419 sort of a reference point you were 710 00:31:32,060 --> 00:31:30,390 mentioning the precise measurements that 711 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:32,070 will be taken between the two orbiting 712 00:31:36,140 --> 00:31:34,110 craft think you mentioned tenth of a 713 00:31:38,419 --> 00:31:36,150 micron per second that's hard for me to 714 00:31:40,370 --> 00:31:38,429 imagine could you put that in some 715 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:40,380 simple terms that I could explain to my 716 00:31:50,120 --> 00:31:42,570 readers sure it's about half the size of 717 00:31:53,450 --> 00:31:50,130 a red blood cell I'm sorry could you 718 00:32:01,310 --> 00:31:53,460 repeat that a tenth of a micron is about 719 00:32:03,169 --> 00:32:01,320 half the size of a red blood cell I'm 720 00:32:06,799 --> 00:32:03,179 sorry you're breaking up a cop okay you 721 00:32:11,980 --> 00:32:06,809 try one more time ask the size of a red 722 00:32:16,310 --> 00:32:11,990 blood cell is a tenth of a micron okay 723 00:32:19,159 --> 00:32:16,320 got that thing second question probably 724 00:32:21,350 --> 00:32:19,169 for you or maybe dr. green as well are 725 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:21,360 there any implications from your your 726 00:32:26,810 --> 00:32:24,210 results that you anticipate that might 727 00:32:29,390 --> 00:32:26,820 be able to benefit future human 728 00:32:33,460 --> 00:32:29,400 explorers astronauts who may one day one 729 00:32:36,860 --> 00:32:33,470 to live on the moon yes I'll answer that 730 00:32:40,039 --> 00:32:36,870 Grail was selected in our discovery 731 00:32:44,510 --> 00:32:40,049 program from purely scientific reasons 732 00:32:46,520 --> 00:32:44,520 it and it has important implications for 733 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:46,530 the origin and evolution of our solar 734 00:32:51,440 --> 00:32:48,570 system as as we've discussed today and 735 00:32:54,289 --> 00:32:51,450 of course that data will always be 736 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:54,299 available we'll be developing models 737 00:32:58,789 --> 00:32:56,370 will be putting that in the archive and 738 00:33:01,430 --> 00:32:58,799 it will be available for future 739 00:33:03,169 --> 00:33:01,440 generations and future missions which 740 00:33:06,289 --> 00:33:03,179 would include potentially human 741 00:33:08,590 --> 00:33:06,299 exploration missions to the moon so how 742 00:33:11,570 --> 00:33:08,600 they use that will be dependent upon 743 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:11,580 their decisions and what they want to do 744 00:33:17,960 --> 00:33:13,770 relative to well landing and exploring 745 00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:17,970 the moon further yeah if I could just 746 00:33:23,630 --> 00:33:19,650 add to that so this this will be the 747 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:23,640 highest resolution gravity field for any 748 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:26,130 planet including earth okay on earth on 749 00:33:30,260 --> 00:33:28,650 earth you can't get down low enough to 750 00:33:32,450 --> 00:33:30,270 make the kind of measurements that we're 751 00:33:34,820 --> 00:33:32,460 making because of the atmospheric drag 752 00:33:36,590 --> 00:33:34,830 and actually atmospheric drag is another 753 00:33:38,360 --> 00:33:36,600 force that needs to be contend with 754 00:33:40,580 --> 00:33:38,370 because it has the same units of gravity 755 00:33:44,980 --> 00:33:40,590 you can't very difficult to separate 756 00:33:49,960 --> 00:33:44,990 that out so you can't map that low so so 757 00:33:53,150 --> 00:33:49,970 the ability to do precise targeting of 758 00:33:55,730 --> 00:33:53,160 observations by humans or by future 759 00:33:58,160 --> 00:33:55,740 robotic explorers is going to be really 760 00:34:06,110 --> 00:33:58,170 unprecedented after this gravitational 761 00:34:08,690 --> 00:34:06,120 field is produced Jeremy thank you and 762 00:34:11,150 --> 00:34:08,700 my final question probably for dr. green 763 00:34:14,050 --> 00:34:11,160 or maybe dr. grow as well there was 764 00:34:17,750 --> 00:34:14,060 immense attention on the Juno mission 765 00:34:18,860 --> 00:34:17,760 recently given the end of the shuttle 766 00:34:22,460 --> 00:34:18,870 program and I'm wondering do you 767 00:34:25,070 --> 00:34:22,470 anticipate a more interest than usual 768 00:34:28,340 --> 00:34:25,080 more attention more eyes on the lunch of 769 00:34:30,830 --> 00:34:28,350 grilled coming on the heels of Juno in 770 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:30,840 the end of the shuttle program well I 771 00:34:37,070 --> 00:34:33,090 certainly hope so in the sense that our 772 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:37,080 planetary program that nASA has that the 773 00:34:43,330 --> 00:34:40,170 this country pays for is really 774 00:34:49,030 --> 00:34:43,340 unbelievable in terms of its ability to 775 00:34:51,650 --> 00:34:49,040 to enthuse our students and and engage 776 00:34:55,190 --> 00:34:51,660 the scientific community of the world 777 00:34:57,850 --> 00:34:55,200 and I'm just delighted that the country 778 00:35:00,170 --> 00:34:57,860 is responding by now beginning to look 779 00:35:03,590 --> 00:35:00,180 going down to Kennedy and being able to 780 00:35:06,470 --> 00:35:03,600 observe the launches from Kennedy of our 781 00:35:08,660 --> 00:35:06,480 of our robotic spacecraft Juno you 782 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:08,670 mentioned was the first robotic 783 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:11,370 spacecraft launched after the shuttle at 784 00:35:18,110 --> 00:35:15,450 Grail is the second and we we certainly 785 00:35:21,650 --> 00:35:18,120 are anticipating a large crowd attending 786 00:35:23,930 --> 00:35:21,660 the Grail launch on when the window 787 00:35:25,850 --> 00:35:23,940 opens on September 8 so we're just 788 00:35:30,890 --> 00:35:25,860 delighted by the way the country is 789 00:35:38,430 --> 00:35:34,349 thank you Jim let's go to the phone line 790 00:35:40,380 --> 00:35:38,440 and we have on the phone and I catch 791 00:35:47,609 --> 00:35:40,390 them from the Harvard School of 792 00:35:49,469 --> 00:35:47,619 Journalism Anna hello hi thank you I 793 00:35:51,259 --> 00:35:49,479 wondered if both dr. Gruber and miss 794 00:35:54,569 --> 00:35:51,269 Hubbard could address this question I 795 00:35:57,089 --> 00:35:54,579 see that you can register for the moon's 796 00:35:58,769 --> 00:35:57,099 camp if you are abroad if you're a 797 00:36:01,380 --> 00:35:58,779 teacher abroad and for the young 798 00:36:03,749 --> 00:36:01,390 students worldwide and I wondered if you 799 00:36:06,180 --> 00:36:03,759 could speak to why it's important to 800 00:36:08,849 --> 00:36:06,190 reach out to teachers and their young 801 00:36:11,039 --> 00:36:08,859 students worldwide while at the same 802 00:36:18,749 --> 00:36:11,049 time reaching out to American students 803 00:36:21,029 --> 00:36:18,759 why are we reaching out abroad well we 804 00:36:23,130 --> 00:36:21,039 have a similar program called earthcam 805 00:36:27,479 --> 00:36:23,140 that we have always had students 806 00:36:29,910 --> 00:36:27,489 worldwide that have participated in I 807 00:36:32,130 --> 00:36:29,920 think the International Space Station is 808 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:32,140 a perfect example also of why it's 809 00:36:42,059 --> 00:36:34,450 important that we are all working 810 00:36:44,579 --> 00:36:42,069 together yeah I i think i think the moon 811 00:36:48,959 --> 00:36:44,589 should be for everybody everybody looks 812 00:36:52,650 --> 00:36:48,969 up and sees the moon and and I I think 813 00:36:55,160 --> 00:36:52,660 that I think that the more that brings 814 00:37:00,930 --> 00:36:55,170 us together as opposed to draws us apart 815 00:37:08,969 --> 00:37:00,940 is good for everybody okay we want to go 816 00:37:10,890 --> 00:37:08,979 now to Irene Irene are you there join 817 00:37:12,450 --> 00:37:10,900 yes I was wondering if someone might 818 00:37:13,799 --> 00:37:12,460 just discuss a little bit more detail 819 00:37:16,559 --> 00:37:13,809 about how you're able to make that 820 00:37:18,870 --> 00:37:16,569 precise of the measurement and also if 821 00:37:21,209 --> 00:37:18,880 there's any relation to that new 822 00:37:23,519 --> 00:37:21,219 technology demo mission that was just 823 00:37:27,059 --> 00:37:23,529 announced to fly an atomic clock a deep 824 00:37:30,660 --> 00:37:27,069 space at on a talk Thanks alright so 825 00:37:32,219 --> 00:37:30,670 i'll i'll talk about the things that we 826 00:37:36,059 --> 00:37:32,229 have to do to make the measurement at 827 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:36,069 that level so we we have a radio system 828 00:37:42,029 --> 00:37:39,130 that is at a very high frequency so that 829 00:37:43,200 --> 00:37:42,039 that's a good start to make a relative 830 00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:43,210 measurement 831 00:37:48,420 --> 00:37:46,570 but we have to make incredible 832 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:48,430 corrections to be able to figure out 833 00:37:52,380 --> 00:37:50,170 where the two spacecraft are and what 834 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:52,390 the relative timing of the of the two 835 00:37:59,339 --> 00:37:55,690 spacecraft are so are actually our 836 00:38:02,609 --> 00:37:59,349 biggest source of error in the 837 00:38:05,070 --> 00:38:02,619 measurement is the pressure of sunlight 838 00:38:09,030 --> 00:38:05,080 on the solar panels which we have to 839 00:38:12,630 --> 00:38:09,040 calculate and correct for we have to 840 00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:12,640 take into account the masses of all the 841 00:38:18,660 --> 00:38:15,250 planets in the solar system we have to 842 00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:18,670 take into account corrections due to 843 00:38:25,140 --> 00:38:21,490 general relativity which is a very very 844 00:38:28,620 --> 00:38:25,150 small force we have to make corrections 845 00:38:32,099 --> 00:38:28,630 for the weather at the sites where we 846 00:38:34,410 --> 00:38:32,109 have tracking stations on earth so 847 00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:34,420 making corrections for things like the 848 00:38:42,599 --> 00:38:39,490 ionosphere and and we even correct for 849 00:38:47,700 --> 00:38:42,609 the tectonic drift of the plates that 850 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:47,710 the radio tracking antennas are on so so 851 00:38:54,480 --> 00:38:49,330 to be able to make a measurement that 852 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:54,490 precise is is just an absolutely it's a 853 00:38:59,820 --> 00:38:56,890 it really takes an extraordinary amount 854 00:39:03,240 --> 00:38:59,830 of work so obviously Grail is a mission 855 00:39:05,790 --> 00:39:03,250 where you won't be able to log on to the 856 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:05,800 website every day and see a brand-new 857 00:39:11,339 --> 00:39:07,770 gravitational result because of the 858 00:39:14,970 --> 00:39:11,349 immense amount of processing that goes 859 00:39:19,070 --> 00:39:14,980 on with this mission so but when we 860 00:39:22,950 --> 00:39:19,080 produce the products it'll really be 861 00:39:25,620 --> 00:39:22,960 spectacular I think and not just to the 862 00:39:28,589 --> 00:39:25,630 clarification hours Irene Klotz who 863 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:28,599 writes varieties and discover and other 864 00:39:32,970 --> 00:39:30,970 publications so Thank You Irene the next 865 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:32,980 question is from mike wall from space 866 00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:41,650 com Mike oh yeah hi um this is this is a 867 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:44,050 question about the launch I guess and 868 00:39:47,430 --> 00:39:45,490 what what you guys have had to do to 869 00:39:49,980 --> 00:39:47,440 prepare could you just speak speak 870 00:39:52,470 --> 00:39:49,990 briefly about what the big storm has 871 00:39:53,970 --> 00:39:52,480 kind of done to your preparations if 872 00:39:55,930 --> 00:39:53,980 it's affected them at all and if you're 873 00:39:58,300 --> 00:39:55,940 anticipating any other kind of 874 00:40:00,460 --> 00:39:58,310 from from Hurricane Irene all right when 875 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:00,470 we we heard about I first heard about 876 00:40:06,220 --> 00:40:04,130 Irene about last Sunday and we quickly 877 00:40:08,500 --> 00:40:06,230 decided we have to get ready for this 878 00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:08,510 and so what we did is we moved up our 879 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:12,220 schedule a couple days and we actually 880 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:14,690 put the fairing on this on there on the 881 00:40:19,930 --> 00:40:16,610 launch vehicle a few days ahead of 882 00:40:22,900 --> 00:40:19,940 schedule on tuesday in order to prepare 883 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:22,910 for this and so and then we instituted 884 00:40:29,020 --> 00:40:26,090 our hurricane plan and made all kinds of 885 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:29,030 preparations and it's looked looking 886 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:30,650 like that we're going to be okay and it 887 00:40:38,260 --> 00:40:32,330 will have no impact on on the grill 888 00:40:40,270 --> 00:40:38,270 mission are our colleagues at ula who 889 00:40:43,990 --> 00:40:40,280 are taking care of the launch vehicle 890 00:40:47,320 --> 00:40:44,000 and down at KSC have just they added 891 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:47,330 extra shifts in the work to get all this 892 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:49,010 done to make sure that they could secure 893 00:40:55,210 --> 00:40:51,530 the spacecraft and so so we've had 894 00:40:58,990 --> 00:40:55,220 really amazing help from from KSC and 895 00:41:02,230 --> 00:40:59,000 ula on this to really to really get this 896 00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:02,240 i feel i feel very comfortable that the 897 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:04,850 the spacecraft are going to be safe 898 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:06,410 during the storm I worry more about 899 00:41:10,990 --> 00:41:08,330 whether I'm going to be able to get from 900 00:41:13,500 --> 00:41:11,000 Boston down to Cape Canaveral early next 901 00:41:16,930 --> 00:41:13,510 week when I'm supposed to be down there 902 00:41:19,870 --> 00:41:16,940 well thank you and that's going to do it 903 00:41:22,780 --> 00:41:19,880 for us today it all systems I currently 904 00:41:26,020 --> 00:41:22,790 go for launch in September again go to 905 00:41:27,790 --> 00:41:26,030 ww is a gov / grail for the latest 906 00:41:30,790 --> 00:41:27,800 developments and information on the 907 00:41:32,320 --> 00:41:30,800 science thank you for joining us and we