1 00:00:05,430 --> 00:00:03,350 well hello we'd like to welcome you to 2 00:00:06,630 --> 00:00:05,440 mission control houston for the digital 3 00:00:08,790 --> 00:00:06,640 learning network event where we're 4 00:00:12,070 --> 00:00:08,800 speaking with sixth grade students in 5 00:00:13,509 --> 00:00:12,080 texas with me is amy brzezinski she is a 6 00:00:15,190 --> 00:00:13,519 flight controller here in mission 7 00:00:17,189 --> 00:00:15,200 control and we're going to talk a little 8 00:00:19,029 --> 00:00:17,199 bit about amy's background before we 9 00:00:20,790 --> 00:00:19,039 take questions from the students 10 00:00:22,870 --> 00:00:20,800 so amy uh what do you do as a flight 11 00:00:25,029 --> 00:00:22,880 controller here at mission control 12 00:00:27,349 --> 00:00:25,039 so as a flight controller in iss mission 13 00:00:30,710 --> 00:00:27,359 control i'm responsible for monitoring 14 00:00:32,549 --> 00:00:30,720 my system uh and performing actions with 15 00:00:33,830 --> 00:00:32,559 it my system is the computer system we 16 00:00:34,709 --> 00:00:33,840 call the command and data handling 17 00:00:36,389 --> 00:00:34,719 system 18 00:00:38,790 --> 00:00:36,399 and my call sign is odin every 19 00:00:40,950 --> 00:00:38,800 discipline has a call sign so my job in 20 00:00:42,709 --> 00:00:40,960 particular is to 21 00:00:44,549 --> 00:00:42,719 watch over the over 22 00:00:45,990 --> 00:00:44,559 48 computers on the space station that 23 00:00:47,350 --> 00:00:46,000 are running right now 24 00:00:49,910 --> 00:00:47,360 and make sure that they're operating 25 00:00:51,590 --> 00:00:49,920 normally and then uploading software for 26 00:00:54,069 --> 00:00:51,600 all the other systems 27 00:00:56,549 --> 00:00:54,079 activities and also get certain pieces 28 00:00:58,069 --> 00:00:56,559 of data down after those activities so 29 00:00:59,670 --> 00:00:58,079 the computer system is responsible for 30 00:01:01,510 --> 00:00:59,680 interfacing with all the other systems 31 00:01:03,189 --> 00:01:01,520 to make sure that the crew can get data 32 00:01:05,030 --> 00:01:03,199 on those systems and that the ground can 33 00:01:07,030 --> 00:01:05,040 get data on those systems 34 00:01:08,950 --> 00:01:07,040 a lot of people may be uh familiar with 35 00:01:11,429 --> 00:01:08,960 how the space shuttle was operated where 36 00:01:12,390 --> 00:01:11,439 the crew flips switches and that's how 37 00:01:13,910 --> 00:01:12,400 things are 38 00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:13,920 commanded but really with the space 39 00:01:19,350 --> 00:01:16,240 station the computers operate everything 40 00:01:21,429 --> 00:01:19,360 and they interface with the laptops 41 00:01:22,550 --> 00:01:21,439 that's right so 42 00:01:25,109 --> 00:01:22,560 there are a lot more computers than 43 00:01:26,630 --> 00:01:25,119 there were on on shuttle and we do a lot 44 00:01:28,789 --> 00:01:26,640 of commanding actually from the ground 45 00:01:30,550 --> 00:01:28,799 so um all out of the fight controllers 46 00:01:31,670 --> 00:01:30,560 send commands but i'm also responsible 47 00:01:34,550 --> 00:01:31,680 for making sure that those those 48 00:01:36,310 --> 00:01:34,560 commands go through and uh the computers 49 00:01:37,590 --> 00:01:36,320 process them correctly 50 00:01:41,429 --> 00:01:37,600 and then the crew can interface with the 51 00:01:43,749 --> 00:01:41,439 system through laptops on board as well 52 00:01:45,350 --> 00:01:43,759 and what kind of background led you to 53 00:01:47,990 --> 00:01:45,360 here to johnson space center mission 54 00:01:51,429 --> 00:01:48,000 control it all started when i turned 55 00:01:53,670 --> 00:01:51,439 about 12 i saw the movie apollo 13 and i 56 00:01:56,389 --> 00:01:53,680 kind of fell in love with human space 57 00:01:58,709 --> 00:01:56,399 flight and what nasa did and i prompted 58 00:02:00,550 --> 00:01:58,719 me to continue studying 59 00:02:02,469 --> 00:02:00,560 space in general and then also later on 60 00:02:04,550 --> 00:02:02,479 in high school and college 61 00:02:06,789 --> 00:02:04,560 math and science and engineering so i 62 00:02:08,389 --> 00:02:06,799 ended up going to mit and studying 63 00:02:09,910 --> 00:02:08,399 aeronautical and astronautical 64 00:02:12,229 --> 00:02:09,920 engineering 65 00:02:13,910 --> 00:02:12,239 and i got my my bachelor's degree and 66 00:02:16,309 --> 00:02:13,920 then i decided that i really wanted to 67 00:02:18,869 --> 00:02:16,319 get a master's degree and also co-op 68 00:02:22,150 --> 00:02:18,879 here at jsc at the same time 69 00:02:24,550 --> 00:02:22,160 so i i studied human factors engineering 70 00:02:25,949 --> 00:02:24,560 looking at how people interface with 71 00:02:28,869 --> 00:02:25,959 autonomy with 72 00:02:31,350 --> 00:02:28,879 semi-automatic systems and then i co-opt 73 00:02:33,430 --> 00:02:31,360 here in the life support training group 74 00:02:36,710 --> 00:02:33,440 and the operations support officer group 75 00:02:38,229 --> 00:02:36,720 that do a lot of maintenance on station 76 00:02:40,390 --> 00:02:38,239 and then once i finished my master's 77 00:02:42,229 --> 00:02:40,400 degree i got hired on into the into the 78 00:02:43,910 --> 00:02:42,239 odin group to uh to 79 00:02:46,070 --> 00:02:43,920 work with the computers 80 00:02:47,830 --> 00:02:46,080 and the the co-op program is a great 81 00:02:50,150 --> 00:02:47,840 opportunity for students we'd like to 82 00:02:52,710 --> 00:02:50,160 point out because that's a great way 83 00:02:55,030 --> 00:02:52,720 that a lot of people get hired at nasa 84 00:02:57,110 --> 00:02:55,040 is starting sort of as an intern while 85 00:02:58,869 --> 00:02:57,120 you're still in school at college you 86 00:03:01,350 --> 00:02:58,879 can come here and spend a semester and 87 00:03:02,790 --> 00:03:01,360 work at different areas and learn about 88 00:03:05,190 --> 00:03:02,800 what it's like to work here before you 89 00:03:07,270 --> 00:03:05,200 actually come and hopefully get hired 90 00:03:08,309 --> 00:03:07,280 how was that experience for you i really 91 00:03:09,910 --> 00:03:08,319 liked it 92 00:03:11,190 --> 00:03:09,920 especially because you get to work in 93 00:03:13,589 --> 00:03:11,200 lots of different groups when you're a 94 00:03:15,589 --> 00:03:13,599 co-op you can kind of try on the job and 95 00:03:17,750 --> 00:03:15,599 find where you would like to work most 96 00:03:20,790 --> 00:03:17,760 in nasa and i had a feeling that i 97 00:03:22,630 --> 00:03:20,800 wanted to either train astronauts or be 98 00:03:24,789 --> 00:03:22,640 a flight controller and so i got to do 99 00:03:26,630 --> 00:03:24,799 both of those things actually as a co-op 100 00:03:29,110 --> 00:03:26,640 and then i decided when i got hired on 101 00:03:30,390 --> 00:03:29,120 full on that i wanted to be a flight 102 00:03:33,030 --> 00:03:30,400 controller but maybe i'll get to train 103 00:03:35,270 --> 00:03:33,040 astronauts someday again 104 00:03:37,830 --> 00:03:35,280 and what uh kind of schooling did you do 105 00:03:39,670 --> 00:03:37,840 at mit that brought you here 106 00:03:40,710 --> 00:03:39,680 well um studying aeronautical and 107 00:03:42,390 --> 00:03:40,720 astronomical engineering which is kind 108 00:03:43,910 --> 00:03:42,400 of a mouthful so we call it aeroastro 109 00:03:45,270 --> 00:03:43,920 engineering for short 110 00:03:46,789 --> 00:03:45,280 i got a lot of 111 00:03:48,949 --> 00:03:46,799 a lot of a basic education and 112 00:03:51,750 --> 00:03:48,959 engineering principles such as 113 00:03:54,470 --> 00:03:51,760 fluid mechanics structures 114 00:03:56,630 --> 00:03:54,480 thermodynamics 115 00:03:58,630 --> 00:03:56,640 signals and systems how computers work 116 00:03:59,670 --> 00:03:58,640 and then i got to work on projects with 117 00:04:02,309 --> 00:03:59,680 teams 118 00:04:03,030 --> 00:04:02,319 we actually while i was at mit designed 119 00:04:15,030 --> 00:04:03,040 a 120 00:04:16,789 --> 00:04:15,040 you're never working on your own you're 121 00:04:18,629 --> 00:04:16,799 always working with lots of other people 122 00:04:20,789 --> 00:04:18,639 who have knowledge in areas different 123 00:04:22,870 --> 00:04:20,799 than you and if you take all of them and 124 00:04:25,110 --> 00:04:22,880 combine them together you fly the space 125 00:04:27,510 --> 00:04:25,120 station together so that experience of 126 00:04:29,189 --> 00:04:27,520 building a building a spacecraft in 127 00:04:31,110 --> 00:04:29,199 college really prepared me for the team 128 00:04:32,710 --> 00:04:31,120 environment here 129 00:04:33,830 --> 00:04:32,720 that sounds great and i think we're 130 00:04:38,950 --> 00:04:33,840 ready to take questions from the 131 00:04:45,990 --> 00:04:42,150 what is human supervisory control of 132 00:04:47,590 --> 00:04:46,000 multiple autonomous vehicles all about 133 00:04:49,990 --> 00:04:47,600 that's a good question so that actually 134 00:04:51,110 --> 00:04:50,000 goes back to uh to my days at mit i 135 00:04:52,790 --> 00:04:51,120 think somebody's been doing their 136 00:04:54,790 --> 00:04:52,800 homework 137 00:04:57,430 --> 00:04:54,800 so what that means is 138 00:04:59,510 --> 00:04:57,440 when you have multiple vehicles 139 00:05:03,029 --> 00:04:59,520 you can make them partially autonomous 140 00:05:04,469 --> 00:05:03,039 so they can fly themselves because 141 00:05:06,710 --> 00:05:04,479 we understand how to do that with 142 00:05:08,390 --> 00:05:06,720 software and so you can have them fly 143 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:08,400 themselves and you can have a person 144 00:05:14,150 --> 00:05:10,720 giving them high level instructions such 145 00:05:16,790 --> 00:05:14,160 as you know go here or um or go do that 146 00:05:18,550 --> 00:05:16,800 there and so if you can give them high 147 00:05:20,710 --> 00:05:18,560 level instructions that means you can 148 00:05:22,310 --> 00:05:20,720 probably have one person supervising 149 00:05:24,629 --> 00:05:22,320 more than one vehicle 150 00:05:26,469 --> 00:05:24,639 however if you get a lot of vehicles and 151 00:05:29,029 --> 00:05:26,479 one person's supervising that can pose 152 00:05:30,950 --> 00:05:29,039 some pretty interesting challenges to 153 00:05:32,469 --> 00:05:30,960 make sure that the person is keeping 154 00:05:34,710 --> 00:05:32,479 track of all the vehicles what they're 155 00:05:36,070 --> 00:05:34,720 doing and if you're in a situation where 156 00:05:37,990 --> 00:05:36,080 there are time critical things that need 157 00:05:39,830 --> 00:05:38,000 to happen you need to make sure that the 158 00:05:41,670 --> 00:05:39,840 person can make good decisions about 159 00:05:43,909 --> 00:05:41,680 what the vehicles are doing 160 00:05:46,390 --> 00:05:43,919 my research looked at was 161 00:05:50,310 --> 00:05:46,400 tools that i could provide to a person 162 00:05:52,390 --> 00:05:50,320 supervising high level multiple vehicles 163 00:05:53,990 --> 00:05:52,400 in a time critical environment 164 00:05:55,990 --> 00:05:54,000 and giving them tools to help them make 165 00:05:57,749 --> 00:05:56,000 decisions for things that were going to 166 00:05:59,830 --> 00:05:57,759 happen into the future so if something 167 00:06:01,830 --> 00:05:59,840 unexpected came up to be able to give 168 00:06:15,510 --> 00:06:01,840 them a decision-making tool to to change 169 00:06:21,670 --> 00:06:18,469 um why did you choose to become an odin 170 00:06:25,510 --> 00:06:21,680 and who was your inspiration 171 00:06:27,510 --> 00:06:25,520 so i like to say that odin chose me um i 172 00:06:29,670 --> 00:06:27,520 wanted to be a flight controller and at 173 00:06:31,830 --> 00:06:29,680 the time they really needed people to to 174 00:06:34,629 --> 00:06:31,840 to be an odin to to monitor the 175 00:06:36,390 --> 00:06:34,639 computers so i actually ended up odin 176 00:06:38,870 --> 00:06:36,400 actually chose me but i really liked it 177 00:06:41,110 --> 00:06:38,880 i work with a fantastic group of people 178 00:06:43,110 --> 00:06:41,120 we do really complex things like 179 00:06:46,070 --> 00:06:43,120 changing out the software on the 180 00:06:47,830 --> 00:06:46,080 computers on space station 181 00:06:49,990 --> 00:06:47,840 actually recently we changed out the 182 00:06:51,189 --> 00:06:50,000 hardware on the computers on space 183 00:06:52,950 --> 00:06:51,199 station the 184 00:06:55,110 --> 00:06:52,960 expedition 30 crew helped us out with 185 00:06:57,110 --> 00:06:55,120 that and it was kind of like performing 186 00:06:59,350 --> 00:06:57,120 brain surgery on the space station we 187 00:07:01,749 --> 00:06:59,360 changed out seven computers 188 00:07:04,469 --> 00:07:01,759 hardware and almost half of the computer 189 00:07:05,990 --> 00:07:04,479 software and that's very exciting it's a 190 00:07:08,550 --> 00:07:06,000 very complex 191 00:07:09,670 --> 00:07:08,560 um and it's very satisfying it went very 192 00:07:11,830 --> 00:07:09,680 smoothly 193 00:07:13,350 --> 00:07:11,840 in terms of my inspiration i think i've 194 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:13,360 i've been inspired by all the flight 195 00:07:17,430 --> 00:07:15,360 controllers and flight directors and 196 00:07:19,510 --> 00:07:17,440 astronauts that have come before me and 197 00:07:21,430 --> 00:07:19,520 in particular i had a very good mentor 198 00:07:23,029 --> 00:07:21,440 when i started here at nasa 199 00:07:24,309 --> 00:07:23,039 his name was colin peterson and he 200 00:07:26,790 --> 00:07:24,319 taught me a lot about being a good 201 00:07:28,230 --> 00:07:26,800 flight controller and uh and gave me a 202 00:07:38,309 --> 00:07:28,240 lot of lessons that i still use to this 203 00:07:42,070 --> 00:07:39,430 um 204 00:07:44,070 --> 00:07:42,080 how many computers are needed to run all 205 00:07:47,749 --> 00:07:44,080 the networks 206 00:07:49,589 --> 00:07:47,759 that's a very good question so right now 207 00:07:50,469 --> 00:07:49,599 there are 48 computers that are powered 208 00:07:52,790 --> 00:07:50,479 on 209 00:07:55,350 --> 00:07:52,800 41 computers that are running the space 210 00:07:57,350 --> 00:07:55,360 station systems and getting data and 211 00:07:59,990 --> 00:07:57,360 sending commands and then we have seven 212 00:08:02,869 --> 00:08:00,000 computers laptop computers that the crew 213 00:08:04,469 --> 00:08:02,879 can interface with the other computers 214 00:08:06,309 --> 00:08:04,479 and they can send commands and get data 215 00:08:08,629 --> 00:08:06,319 from those laptops 216 00:08:10,869 --> 00:08:08,639 so um that's on an average day sometimes 217 00:08:24,629 --> 00:08:10,879 we can have more uh computers running 218 00:08:28,790 --> 00:08:26,550 what do the multiple 219 00:08:31,749 --> 00:08:28,800 autonomous vehicles do if you lose 220 00:08:33,750 --> 00:08:31,759 communication with them 221 00:08:35,829 --> 00:08:33,760 so that's actually an interesting 222 00:08:37,829 --> 00:08:35,839 question and one that i didn't look at 223 00:08:39,430 --> 00:08:37,839 when i was uh studying multiple 224 00:08:40,790 --> 00:08:39,440 autonomous vehicles but i think that 225 00:08:43,110 --> 00:08:40,800 it's one that people will need to 226 00:08:45,110 --> 00:08:43,120 research later i can tell you what what 227 00:08:47,110 --> 00:08:45,120 we do when the iss has a loss of 228 00:08:48,630 --> 00:08:47,120 communications 229 00:08:50,470 --> 00:08:48,640 those are usually understood ahead of 230 00:08:52,550 --> 00:08:50,480 time and planned we aren't in contact 231 00:08:53,750 --> 00:08:52,560 with the iss all the time 232 00:08:55,350 --> 00:08:53,760 but we usually know ahead of time when 233 00:08:57,990 --> 00:08:55,360 we're not going to have contact with the 234 00:09:00,150 --> 00:08:58,000 iss and when that happens we we can't 235 00:09:02,710 --> 00:09:00,160 actually talk to the crew and we don't 236 00:09:04,310 --> 00:09:02,720 get data down and we can't send commands 237 00:09:06,150 --> 00:09:04,320 but the space station with all its 238 00:09:08,870 --> 00:09:06,160 computers is pretty smart and it can 239 00:09:10,790 --> 00:09:08,880 continue flying and monitoring its 240 00:09:12,470 --> 00:09:10,800 systems and if anything would happen 241 00:09:14,150 --> 00:09:12,480 while the ground can't talk to the space 242 00:09:15,829 --> 00:09:14,160 station the crew would receive 243 00:09:18,070 --> 00:09:15,839 notification and they're trained to take 244 00:09:20,070 --> 00:09:18,080 action based on those notifications so 245 00:09:24,630 --> 00:09:20,080 it's a pretty robust spacecraft it can 246 00:09:28,070 --> 00:09:25,670 and 247 00:09:30,550 --> 00:09:28,080 if odin develops a problem how do you 248 00:09:32,070 --> 00:09:30,560 fix it 249 00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:32,080 that's a very good question that's 250 00:09:35,269 --> 00:09:34,000 definitely a big part of my job is if 251 00:09:37,509 --> 00:09:35,279 there's anything that happens in the 252 00:09:39,750 --> 00:09:37,519 computer system i'm the person who's 253 00:09:41,430 --> 00:09:39,760 supposed to make sure i can fix it 254 00:09:43,350 --> 00:09:41,440 you can have two types of problems in 255 00:09:45,030 --> 00:09:43,360 the computer system you can have a 256 00:09:47,269 --> 00:09:45,040 software problem or you can have a 257 00:09:48,310 --> 00:09:47,279 hardware problem and we can actually 258 00:09:50,070 --> 00:09:48,320 address 259 00:09:52,710 --> 00:09:50,080 most of the software problems from the 260 00:09:54,630 --> 00:09:52,720 ground we can send commands to uh to fix 261 00:09:56,550 --> 00:09:54,640 the software or we can cycle the 262 00:09:58,230 --> 00:09:56,560 software if needed and for hardware 263 00:10:00,550 --> 00:09:58,240 problems we have some ability to deal 264 00:10:02,310 --> 00:10:00,560 with that too to address particular 265 00:10:03,910 --> 00:10:02,320 hardware problems but sometimes if 266 00:10:05,590 --> 00:10:03,920 something would really really fail in 267 00:10:07,269 --> 00:10:05,600 one of the computers and we might need 268 00:10:09,350 --> 00:10:07,279 to change it out with a spare we have on 269 00:10:11,430 --> 00:10:09,360 board and so in that case we would ask 270 00:10:13,350 --> 00:10:11,440 the crew to help us out since we can't 271 00:10:14,949 --> 00:10:13,360 go do it ourselves here from the ground 272 00:10:16,550 --> 00:10:14,959 and they're trained to do that and they 273 00:10:18,069 --> 00:10:16,560 would go and they would take out that 274 00:10:22,949 --> 00:10:18,079 piece of hardware and put in one of the 275 00:10:22,959 --> 00:10:28,310 what is it 276 00:10:34,550 --> 00:10:30,630 what is a beautiful day of work life on 277 00:10:40,550 --> 00:10:36,790 i think that was i think you just asked 278 00:10:43,350 --> 00:10:40,560 what is a typical day like on iss 279 00:10:44,310 --> 00:10:43,360 so uh i'll try to try to tell you what 280 00:10:46,389 --> 00:10:44,320 the crew 281 00:10:48,389 --> 00:10:46,399 a typical crew day is like 282 00:10:50,870 --> 00:10:48,399 they're doing a lot of science right now 283 00:10:52,790 --> 00:10:50,880 they do a lot of experiments multiple 284 00:10:54,870 --> 00:10:52,800 experiments every day 285 00:10:55,829 --> 00:10:54,880 they work monday through friday 286 00:10:57,509 --> 00:10:55,839 and then 287 00:10:59,670 --> 00:10:57,519 when they're not doing experiments 288 00:11:01,269 --> 00:10:59,680 they're exercising they exercise two 289 00:11:02,150 --> 00:11:01,279 hours every day 290 00:11:03,590 --> 00:11:02,160 and 291 00:11:05,590 --> 00:11:03,600 sometimes they also do some maintenance 292 00:11:07,190 --> 00:11:05,600 tests for us um you know just like your 293 00:11:10,069 --> 00:11:07,200 house at home you've got to clean the 294 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:10,079 space stations they do some cleaning and 295 00:11:14,069 --> 00:11:11,200 there's some regular maintenance they 296 00:11:15,190 --> 00:11:14,079 need to do to keep the systems running 297 00:11:16,630 --> 00:11:15,200 and then 298 00:11:17,910 --> 00:11:16,640 sometimes if something breaks or 299 00:11:19,509 --> 00:11:17,920 something's not working quite right 300 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:19,519 we'll have them go take care of that as 301 00:11:32,949 --> 00:11:29,750 um 302 00:11:34,550 --> 00:11:32,959 what do you do for fun on the iss 303 00:11:36,310 --> 00:11:34,560 so i think that thing that the 304 00:11:38,230 --> 00:11:36,320 astronauts do the most for fun when they 305 00:11:40,790 --> 00:11:38,240 have free time is look out the window 306 00:11:42,630 --> 00:11:40,800 and watch the world go by 307 00:11:44,550 --> 00:11:42,640 if if you haven't had a chance to 308 00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:44,560 receive pictures from the space station 309 00:11:50,870 --> 00:11:46,640 there's definitely a lot on uh on 310 00:11:53,269 --> 00:11:50,880 nasa.gov and uh pictures of earth from 311 00:11:54,949 --> 00:11:53,279 in daytime and night time are just 312 00:11:56,790 --> 00:11:54,959 beautiful they take a lot of pictures 313 00:11:59,190 --> 00:11:56,800 and you can see 314 00:12:00,470 --> 00:11:59,200 cities lit up at night 315 00:12:02,949 --> 00:12:00,480 you can see 316 00:12:04,550 --> 00:12:02,959 major uh major 317 00:12:05,910 --> 00:12:04,560 structures that humans have built i 318 00:12:07,990 --> 00:12:05,920 think they can actually see the great 319 00:12:09,590 --> 00:12:08,000 wall of china so they like to spend a 320 00:12:11,350 --> 00:12:09,600 lot of time looking at the earth because 321 00:12:12,629 --> 00:12:11,360 they only get to look at the earth while 322 00:12:14,470 --> 00:12:12,639 they're up there 323 00:12:16,310 --> 00:12:14,480 but i do know that they do things for 324 00:12:19,350 --> 00:12:16,320 fun that you would do at home on your 325 00:12:21,350 --> 00:12:19,360 weekends like they like to watch movies 326 00:12:22,949 --> 00:12:21,360 they talk a lot to their their family 327 00:12:25,350 --> 00:12:22,959 and friends they can call them they can 328 00:12:28,230 --> 00:12:25,360 also do video conferences 329 00:12:30,470 --> 00:12:28,240 they read they blog 330 00:12:32,710 --> 00:12:30,480 they tweet they tweet 331 00:12:34,069 --> 00:12:32,720 they write emails so 332 00:12:35,990 --> 00:12:34,079 kind of similar things that you would do 333 00:12:38,470 --> 00:12:36,000 at home for fun 334 00:12:44,150 --> 00:12:38,480 a normal day 335 00:12:47,350 --> 00:12:45,670 i'm sorry can you repeat that question 336 00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:47,360 again 337 00:12:51,750 --> 00:12:49,360 oh like so it's pretty much like a 338 00:12:53,590 --> 00:12:51,760 normal day uh like on the weekend except 339 00:12:57,829 --> 00:12:53,600 you're in space 340 00:13:01,110 --> 00:12:59,590 what are some things that you can say 341 00:13:02,470 --> 00:13:01,120 that you miss on earth that are not in 342 00:13:04,230 --> 00:13:02,480 space 343 00:13:06,310 --> 00:13:04,240 i think the first thing that astronauts 344 00:13:09,509 --> 00:13:06,320 say that they miss most is they miss 345 00:13:11,110 --> 00:13:09,519 their families and their friends 346 00:13:12,470 --> 00:13:11,120 so when it starts go up to the space 347 00:13:14,790 --> 00:13:12,480 station they're up there for about 348 00:13:16,310 --> 00:13:14,800 anywhere from four to six months so it's 349 00:13:17,670 --> 00:13:16,320 a pretty long time away from your family 350 00:13:18,870 --> 00:13:17,680 and friends even though you get to call 351 00:13:21,110 --> 00:13:18,880 them and you get to see them on the 352 00:13:23,829 --> 00:13:21,120 video conferences 353 00:13:26,629 --> 00:13:23,839 so i think that they miss that the most 354 00:13:28,470 --> 00:13:26,639 i think that they also probably miss 355 00:13:30,550 --> 00:13:28,480 you know being outside you can't open a 356 00:13:32,470 --> 00:13:30,560 window on the space station so they 357 00:13:34,389 --> 00:13:32,480 probably missed fresh air 358 00:13:36,069 --> 00:13:34,399 and wind and rain 359 00:13:38,470 --> 00:13:36,079 the weather is always the same every day 360 00:13:39,910 --> 00:13:38,480 on space station same temperature 361 00:13:42,230 --> 00:13:39,920 there's no rain on the space station so 362 00:13:43,350 --> 00:13:42,240 they probably miss that too 363 00:13:44,629 --> 00:13:43,360 and then they probably miss you know 364 00:13:46,069 --> 00:13:44,639 things like 365 00:13:48,870 --> 00:13:46,079 certain foods that they like they do 366 00:13:51,590 --> 00:13:48,880 have a very wide variety of food 367 00:13:53,269 --> 00:13:51,600 but if you're you know craving a 368 00:13:54,710 --> 00:13:53,279 certain type of food that you didn't 369 00:13:56,150 --> 00:13:54,720 pack for your trip then you're going to 370 00:13:57,350 --> 00:13:56,160 have to wait till you go home to eat it 371 00:13:58,629 --> 00:13:57,360 but they do get they do get a lot of 372 00:14:00,389 --> 00:13:58,639 different kinds of food but i know 373 00:14:21,750 --> 00:14:00,399 sometimes they miss certain certain 374 00:14:25,590 --> 00:14:22,949 i'm sorry can you repeat your question 375 00:14:28,790 --> 00:14:25,600 one more time i didn't quite get that 376 00:14:30,389 --> 00:14:28,800 more accidents prevented on the iss okay 377 00:14:33,269 --> 00:14:30,399 it's a very good question how are how 378 00:14:35,829 --> 00:14:33,279 are accidents prevented on the iss 379 00:14:37,829 --> 00:14:35,839 so one thing we do is we we do a lot of 380 00:14:40,230 --> 00:14:37,839 planning and we do a lot of training and 381 00:14:41,750 --> 00:14:40,240 we do a lot of assessing things that 382 00:14:43,509 --> 00:14:41,760 we're going to do on space station to 383 00:14:46,069 --> 00:14:43,519 make sure they're safe because safety is 384 00:14:47,590 --> 00:14:46,079 our number one priority so anything that 385 00:14:49,269 --> 00:14:47,600 the crew is going to do anything that 386 00:14:51,189 --> 00:14:49,279 the ground is going to do 387 00:14:53,110 --> 00:14:51,199 remotely we'll take a look at make sure 388 00:14:55,430 --> 00:14:53,120 that it's going to be safe and then we 389 00:14:57,670 --> 00:14:55,440 also do a lot of training 390 00:14:59,030 --> 00:14:57,680 on certain activities to make sure that 391 00:15:00,629 --> 00:14:59,040 they are safe 392 00:15:02,710 --> 00:15:00,639 and then if anything comes up that 393 00:15:04,310 --> 00:15:02,720 surprises us like an emergency we have 394 00:15:06,230 --> 00:15:04,320 procedures 395 00:15:07,910 --> 00:15:06,240 that we train a lot on the ground and 396 00:15:09,750 --> 00:15:07,920 the crew also trains 397 00:15:12,389 --> 00:15:09,760 to know what to do exactly what to do in 398 00:15:14,389 --> 00:15:12,399 an emergency kind of like um like you do 399 00:15:16,710 --> 00:15:14,399 for at school with a fire drill you know 400 00:15:17,990 --> 00:15:16,720 you have fire drills and you know which 401 00:15:20,310 --> 00:15:18,000 way you're supposed to leave and where 402 00:15:22,389 --> 00:15:20,320 you're supposed to meet and so forth so 403 00:15:23,189 --> 00:15:22,399 crew does that as well they they have a 404 00:15:24,870 --> 00:15:23,199 set 405 00:15:34,389 --> 00:15:24,880 pattern of what they do if there is a 406 00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:36,069 was there ever a time in mission 407 00:15:41,110 --> 00:15:38,480 operations when there was a critical 408 00:15:43,110 --> 00:15:41,120 life and death moment 409 00:15:45,110 --> 00:15:43,120 there have been times where there's been 410 00:15:47,350 --> 00:15:45,120 critical in life life and death 411 00:15:49,590 --> 00:15:47,360 situations and 412 00:15:50,389 --> 00:15:49,600 if you study space history you'll learn 413 00:15:52,829 --> 00:15:50,399 that 414 00:15:56,389 --> 00:15:52,839 there have been times where we have lost 415 00:15:59,030 --> 00:15:56,399 astronauts now apollo 1 for example 416 00:16:01,749 --> 00:15:59,040 and challenger in the 1980s and 417 00:16:03,670 --> 00:16:01,759 colombia not too many years ago and we 418 00:16:05,670 --> 00:16:03,680 remember these times and we learn from 419 00:16:06,389 --> 00:16:05,680 them and we miss these people very much 420 00:16:07,509 --> 00:16:06,399 and 421 00:16:09,670 --> 00:16:07,519 we're never going to forget them we 422 00:16:12,710 --> 00:16:09,680 think about them every day 423 00:16:15,189 --> 00:16:12,720 but again you know we we try our best to 424 00:16:16,710 --> 00:16:15,199 to make sure everything's safe 425 00:16:18,470 --> 00:16:16,720 and we have these procedures and our 426 00:16:20,710 --> 00:16:18,480 plans in place so we make sure that if 427 00:16:22,389 --> 00:16:20,720 there is a critical situation we can 428 00:16:24,069 --> 00:16:22,399 react to it on the ground to help out 429 00:16:25,829 --> 00:16:24,079 the crew and the crew can react to it 430 00:16:28,069 --> 00:16:25,839 appropriately so it's something you 431 00:16:29,430 --> 00:16:28,079 never really want to run into 432 00:16:44,230 --> 00:16:29,440 and we do our best to prevent those 433 00:16:48,550 --> 00:16:46,310 what breakthrough research foundation 434 00:16:51,110 --> 00:16:48,560 have you found through the 435 00:16:52,949 --> 00:16:51,120 international space station 436 00:16:55,110 --> 00:16:52,959 oh there's this is a really exciting 437 00:16:57,189 --> 00:16:55,120 time because um we are doing so much 438 00:17:00,389 --> 00:16:57,199 research on the space station and this 439 00:17:03,590 --> 00:17:00,399 this particular expedition expedition 30 440 00:17:06,630 --> 00:17:03,600 they've been doing 35 hours a week of 441 00:17:08,390 --> 00:17:06,640 research on space station and uh that's 442 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:08,400 a record that that's a target that we 443 00:17:12,309 --> 00:17:10,640 set for ourselves and uh and we made 444 00:17:13,669 --> 00:17:12,319 that target 445 00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:13,679 we could probably talk about all the 446 00:17:17,350 --> 00:17:15,600 different kinds of research for hours 447 00:17:19,429 --> 00:17:17,360 but i'll focus on 448 00:17:21,990 --> 00:17:19,439 some of the human research some of the 449 00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:22,000 human health research that we're doing 450 00:17:25,189 --> 00:17:23,919 so one thing that we're working on is 451 00:17:27,029 --> 00:17:25,199 looking at 452 00:17:28,470 --> 00:17:27,039 doing experiments to try to come up with 453 00:17:30,710 --> 00:17:28,480 a vaccine 454 00:17:32,870 --> 00:17:30,720 for salmonella so salmonella is a type 455 00:17:33,990 --> 00:17:32,880 of bacteria that you can get that can 456 00:17:36,390 --> 00:17:34,000 make you sick 457 00:17:37,909 --> 00:17:36,400 a food poisoning type bacteria and so 458 00:17:40,630 --> 00:17:37,919 it's possible that we could prevent that 459 00:17:41,830 --> 00:17:40,640 with a vaccine so there's work on iss 460 00:17:43,110 --> 00:17:41,840 being used to try to develop that 461 00:17:45,029 --> 00:17:43,120 vaccine 462 00:17:46,630 --> 00:17:45,039 isis is kind of a unique place because 463 00:17:48,870 --> 00:17:46,640 you can grow 464 00:17:49,750 --> 00:17:48,880 protein crystals differently than on 465 00:17:50,789 --> 00:17:49,760 earth 466 00:17:52,870 --> 00:17:50,799 they actually grow in a completely 467 00:17:55,270 --> 00:17:52,880 different structure so we can use those 468 00:17:56,950 --> 00:17:55,280 protein crystals to try to come up with 469 00:17:58,390 --> 00:17:56,960 treatments for certain diseases such as 470 00:18:00,150 --> 00:17:58,400 cancer 471 00:18:02,549 --> 00:18:00,160 and then finally we have a lot of really 472 00:18:05,270 --> 00:18:02,559 cool robots on space station we've got a 473 00:18:06,789 --> 00:18:05,280 robotic arm and we've got a robotic hand 474 00:18:09,190 --> 00:18:06,799 called dexter 475 00:18:11,590 --> 00:18:09,200 we also have a robonaut and so we 476 00:18:15,190 --> 00:18:11,600 remotely operate those robotic 477 00:18:16,710 --> 00:18:15,200 robotic arms and equipment and that 478 00:18:18,470 --> 00:18:16,720 knowledge and how to remotely operate 479 00:18:19,430 --> 00:18:18,480 robotics can actually help people on 480 00:18:21,190 --> 00:18:19,440 earth 481 00:18:23,110 --> 00:18:21,200 doctors in particular 482 00:18:25,270 --> 00:18:23,120 learn how to conduct surgeries remotely 483 00:18:28,549 --> 00:18:25,280 with robotic arms so you could have a 484 00:18:31,270 --> 00:18:28,559 doctor in one city and a patient in a 485 00:18:32,870 --> 00:18:31,280 very remote area in a different city or 486 00:18:35,029 --> 00:18:32,880 you know out out somewhere where there 487 00:18:37,590 --> 00:18:35,039 isn't a city and you could have the 488 00:18:38,710 --> 00:18:37,600 doctor conduct surgery on that patient 489 00:18:41,430 --> 00:18:38,720 with the use of 490 00:18:42,950 --> 00:18:41,440 a remotely operated robotic arm 491 00:18:45,110 --> 00:18:42,960 so those are just some of the cool 492 00:18:47,350 --> 00:18:45,120 examples of the really neat research and 493 00:18:59,510 --> 00:18:47,360 technology development going on on the 494 00:19:05,510 --> 00:19:03,350 um since we have like space junk face is 495 00:19:09,270 --> 00:19:05,520 with more creations heading has nasa 496 00:19:11,590 --> 00:19:09,280 come the way to clear the space junk 497 00:19:13,510 --> 00:19:11,600 so yeah there is there is some stuff up 498 00:19:14,870 --> 00:19:13,520 in space uh some people call it space 499 00:19:16,070 --> 00:19:14,880 junk some people call it we call it 500 00:19:18,549 --> 00:19:16,080 debris 501 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:18,559 um it is a concern for the space station 502 00:19:24,390 --> 00:19:21,760 uh so we we haven't developed any ways 503 00:19:26,630 --> 00:19:24,400 to um to try to eliminate that space the 504 00:19:28,549 --> 00:19:26,640 space debris yet but people do work on 505 00:19:30,789 --> 00:19:28,559 that but what we try to do on the space 506 00:19:32,950 --> 00:19:30,799 station is we we avoid it 507 00:19:34,789 --> 00:19:32,960 so if we we see that piece of space 508 00:19:37,029 --> 00:19:34,799 debris might be coming close to the 509 00:19:38,390 --> 00:19:37,039 station and we have certain parameters 510 00:19:40,070 --> 00:19:38,400 that tell us 511 00:19:42,870 --> 00:19:40,080 what's what means close to the space 512 00:19:44,470 --> 00:19:42,880 station we'll do what's called a reboost 513 00:19:47,029 --> 00:19:44,480 we'll take the space station and we'll 514 00:19:50,070 --> 00:19:47,039 fire some thrusters and the space 515 00:19:52,710 --> 00:19:50,080 station will move its orbit higher and 516 00:19:54,630 --> 00:19:52,720 that will avoid the space debris 517 00:19:56,070 --> 00:19:54,640 so we do a lot of tracking we track a 518 00:19:57,590 --> 00:19:56,080 lot of space debris to make sure that 519 00:20:09,669 --> 00:19:57,600 it's not coming too close to station and 520 00:20:14,390 --> 00:20:12,149 what is your vision for human space 521 00:20:17,990 --> 00:20:14,400 flight 522 00:20:19,350 --> 00:20:18,000 oh my vision is that in my lifetime i 523 00:20:22,070 --> 00:20:19,360 will see 524 00:20:24,230 --> 00:20:22,080 humanity go back to the moon go back to 525 00:20:26,390 --> 00:20:24,240 mars and maybe even have a space station 526 00:20:29,750 --> 00:20:26,400 someday around another planet i think 527 00:20:32,870 --> 00:20:31,029 excuse me 528 00:20:34,789 --> 00:20:32,880 i really hope that i get to go into 529 00:20:37,110 --> 00:20:34,799 space someday and i hope that all of you 530 00:20:38,549 --> 00:20:37,120 have the ability to go visit space 531 00:20:41,430 --> 00:20:38,559 someday because i think it's a really 532 00:20:43,430 --> 00:20:41,440 cool place to go visit and i think we're 533 00:20:45,750 --> 00:20:43,440 going to start seeing further and 534 00:20:46,630 --> 00:20:45,760 further exploration out from low earth 535 00:20:49,350 --> 00:20:46,640 orbit 536 00:20:50,710 --> 00:20:49,360 go to asteroids and we'll learn more 537 00:21:03,110 --> 00:20:50,720 about our universe and that's very 538 00:21:06,870 --> 00:21:04,789 when the international space station 539 00:21:10,789 --> 00:21:06,880 starts to decommission slowly lower down 540 00:21:14,710 --> 00:21:13,029 so the space station 541 00:21:17,110 --> 00:21:14,720 partners all the international partners 542 00:21:19,750 --> 00:21:17,120 and nasa have agreed to to operate the 543 00:21:21,029 --> 00:21:19,760 space station until 2020 and maybe even 544 00:21:22,950 --> 00:21:21,039 longer 545 00:21:24,870 --> 00:21:22,960 but someday we will have to we'll have 546 00:21:26,149 --> 00:21:24,880 to say goodbye to our space station and 547 00:21:27,990 --> 00:21:26,159 what we'll do then is we'll use 548 00:21:29,990 --> 00:21:28,000 thrusters to kind of go in the opposite 549 00:21:32,390 --> 00:21:30,000 direction of a reboost we'll use the 550 00:21:34,789 --> 00:21:32,400 thrusters to lower the orbit of the 551 00:21:37,430 --> 00:21:34,799 space station and we'll bring it down in 552 00:21:57,510 --> 00:21:37,440 a very controlled planned manner 553 00:22:03,909 --> 00:22:00,870 have you ever wanted to go into the iss 554 00:22:05,190 --> 00:22:03,919 yes i would love to go to the iss i 555 00:22:07,830 --> 00:22:05,200 think it is 556 00:22:09,590 --> 00:22:07,840 one of the most amazing places 557 00:22:11,430 --> 00:22:09,600 off this planet because i can't say it's 558 00:22:12,950 --> 00:22:11,440 on the planet in fact when people ask me 559 00:22:14,310 --> 00:22:12,960 you know where if you could go anywhere 560 00:22:16,470 --> 00:22:14,320 in the world where would you go and i 561 00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:16,480 would i'd always say well can i go can i 562 00:22:21,590 --> 00:22:18,640 go off the world is that is that an 563 00:22:25,190 --> 00:22:21,600 option it's really an amazing place it's 564 00:22:26,950 --> 00:22:25,200 um it's very big it's bigger than uh 565 00:22:29,669 --> 00:22:26,960 then i think a three or four bedroom 566 00:22:31,750 --> 00:22:29,679 house um and and it's amazing that we 567 00:22:33,430 --> 00:22:31,760 built it i mean it you know i remember 568 00:22:36,470 --> 00:22:33,440 when it was the first pieces were 569 00:22:38,470 --> 00:22:36,480 launched back when i was in high school 570 00:22:40,149 --> 00:22:38,480 and uh it's been neat to see it continue 571 00:22:46,390 --> 00:22:40,159 to build up so i would love to visit 572 00:22:54,870 --> 00:22:48,549 since you're a coordinator 573 00:23:00,549 --> 00:22:57,669 could you repeat the question 574 00:23:03,270 --> 00:23:00,559 um since you're a collaborative 575 00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:03,280 coordinator how hard is it to handle the 576 00:23:06,710 --> 00:23:04,960 issues in space 577 00:23:09,110 --> 00:23:06,720 that's a very good question it's a very 578 00:23:10,789 --> 00:23:09,120 it's a very good way to describe being a 579 00:23:12,710 --> 00:23:10,799 flight controller a collaborative 580 00:23:13,750 --> 00:23:12,720 coordinator um 581 00:23:16,230 --> 00:23:13,760 so 582 00:23:17,909 --> 00:23:16,240 it's it's not difficult to work issues 583 00:23:19,350 --> 00:23:17,919 we all learn how to um how to 584 00:23:21,590 --> 00:23:19,360 communicate with people that do the 585 00:23:23,430 --> 00:23:21,600 different systems and we learn about how 586 00:23:24,630 --> 00:23:23,440 our system in particular my system the 587 00:23:26,310 --> 00:23:24,640 computer system 588 00:23:28,950 --> 00:23:26,320 interfaces with things like the life 589 00:23:30,710 --> 00:23:28,960 support system the um 590 00:23:32,950 --> 00:23:30,720 the thermal system that keeps things 591 00:23:36,070 --> 00:23:32,960 cool and the power system so when an 592 00:23:37,430 --> 00:23:36,080 issue arises we're all trained to to 593 00:23:39,669 --> 00:23:37,440 work together to figure out what the 594 00:23:41,669 --> 00:23:39,679 problem is and then what the impact is 595 00:23:43,590 --> 00:23:41,679 to the entire team in the space station 596 00:23:44,870 --> 00:23:43,600 as a whole and the mission objectives 597 00:23:46,630 --> 00:23:44,880 and the crew 598 00:23:48,310 --> 00:23:46,640 very importantly and then what the 599 00:23:51,029 --> 00:23:48,320 workaround is what do we need to do to 600 00:23:52,230 --> 00:23:51,039 try to fix the issue and we practice 601 00:23:54,149 --> 00:23:52,240 this 602 00:23:55,909 --> 00:23:54,159 we always say in our heads we always 603 00:23:58,710 --> 00:23:55,919 think when we see an issue failure 604 00:24:00,149 --> 00:23:58,720 impact work around and so based on that 605 00:24:02,630 --> 00:24:00,159 we actually can work very easily 606 00:24:04,789 --> 00:24:02,640 together to come up with a solution to 607 00:24:14,390 --> 00:24:04,799 issues that affect multiple systems in a 608 00:24:19,029 --> 00:24:15,830 when will we be able to launch a 609 00:24:20,870 --> 00:24:19,039 spaceship from the iss 610 00:24:23,110 --> 00:24:20,880 that's a good question 611 00:24:25,990 --> 00:24:23,120 right now we don't have any plans yet to 612 00:24:27,990 --> 00:24:26,000 launch spacecraft from the iss 613 00:24:29,909 --> 00:24:28,000 but we do have some spacecraft that are 614 00:24:31,590 --> 00:24:29,919 launching to the iss that are very new 615 00:24:33,510 --> 00:24:31,600 that are coming this year 616 00:24:35,909 --> 00:24:33,520 you may have heard about one of them 617 00:24:38,310 --> 00:24:35,919 it's called dragon it's a resupply 618 00:24:40,390 --> 00:24:38,320 spacecraft that's been uh 619 00:24:42,950 --> 00:24:40,400 being launched by spacex which is a us 620 00:24:44,149 --> 00:24:42,960 company and we hope to see that 621 00:24:46,710 --> 00:24:44,159 resupply 622 00:24:48,950 --> 00:24:46,720 spacecraft visit us this month 623 00:24:51,510 --> 00:24:48,960 and then later on later this year next 624 00:24:53,510 --> 00:24:51,520 year we'll see the cygnus resupply of 625 00:24:56,630 --> 00:24:53,520 unmanned spacecraft visit and that's 626 00:24:58,789 --> 00:24:56,640 another spacecraft that's produced by 627 00:25:00,470 --> 00:24:58,799 orbital which is another u.s company so 628 00:25:03,750 --> 00:25:00,480 it's kind of exciting because we're 629 00:25:06,390 --> 00:25:03,760 having new vehicles come to the iss and 630 00:25:08,789 --> 00:25:06,400 getting more more groups and companies 631 00:25:12,390 --> 00:25:08,799 involved with uh with 632 00:25:14,070 --> 00:25:12,400 space exploration and iss in particular 633 00:25:15,750 --> 00:25:14,080 i understand that was our last question 634 00:25:17,430 --> 00:25:15,760 from the students so we'd like to thank 635 00:25:18,789 --> 00:25:17,440 the students for joining us today we 636 00:25:21,350 --> 00:25:18,799 hope you learned a lot and you had some 637 00:25:23,190 --> 00:25:21,360 really great great questions amy did you 638 00:25:24,789 --> 00:25:23,200 have any closing remarks 639 00:25:26,710 --> 00:25:24,799 thanks so much for your wonderful 640 00:25:28,789 --> 00:25:26,720 questions and uh it was very good to