1 00:00:08,790 --> 00:00:06,869 good afternoon everyone this is the 2 00:00:10,950 --> 00:00:08,800 pre-launch news conference for the 3 00:00:12,390 --> 00:00:10,960 radiation belt storm probes to be 4 00:00:14,709 --> 00:00:12,400 launched for 5 00:00:16,790 --> 00:00:14,719 nasa and the applied physics laboratory 6 00:00:19,189 --> 00:00:16,800 later this week on a united launch 7 00:00:22,870 --> 00:00:19,199 alliance atlas v rocket 8 00:00:25,029 --> 00:00:22,880 here to talk about the upcoming launch 9 00:00:26,630 --> 00:00:25,039 is mike luther the deputy associate 10 00:00:28,230 --> 00:00:26,640 administrator for the science mission 11 00:00:31,830 --> 00:00:28,240 directed directorate at nasa 12 00:00:34,870 --> 00:00:31,840 headquarters in washington 13 00:00:38,630 --> 00:00:34,880 tim dunn the nasa launch director from 14 00:00:46,389 --> 00:00:41,670 fern thorpe the program manager for nasa 15 00:00:51,350 --> 00:00:49,430 rick fitzgerald the rbsp project manager 16 00:00:53,910 --> 00:00:51,360 from the johns hopkins applied physics 17 00:00:55,750 --> 00:00:53,920 laboratory 18 00:00:58,549 --> 00:00:55,760 and kathy winters the launch weather 19 00:01:00,950 --> 00:00:58,559 officer from the 45th weather squadron 20 00:01:02,630 --> 00:01:00,960 at cape canaveral air force station 21 00:01:05,830 --> 00:01:02,640 and we'll begin first with our opening 22 00:01:07,109 --> 00:01:05,840 remarks from mike luther mike 23 00:01:08,469 --> 00:01:07,119 thanks george 24 00:01:11,109 --> 00:01:08,479 good afternoon 25 00:01:12,950 --> 00:01:11,119 on behalf of nasa's science mission 26 00:01:15,910 --> 00:01:12,960 directorate i'm 27 00:01:17,749 --> 00:01:15,920 pleased to welcome everybody to the 28 00:01:19,590 --> 00:01:17,759 pre-launch and launch activities 29 00:01:21,350 --> 00:01:19,600 associated with the 30 00:01:25,030 --> 00:01:21,360 rbsp 31 00:01:29,429 --> 00:01:25,040 our radiation storm belt probes 32 00:01:32,789 --> 00:01:30,630 the 33 00:01:35,910 --> 00:01:32,799 we're all excited to be here today and 34 00:01:36,950 --> 00:01:35,920 looking forward to a successful 35 00:01:39,270 --> 00:01:36,960 mission 36 00:01:41,030 --> 00:01:39,280 our bsp is a 37 00:01:42,550 --> 00:01:41,040 element of 38 00:01:46,149 --> 00:01:42,560 the science mission directorate's 39 00:01:47,590 --> 00:01:46,159 program under the heliophysics division 40 00:01:49,910 --> 00:01:47,600 it is 41 00:01:52,069 --> 00:01:49,920 under that division an element of the 42 00:01:54,550 --> 00:01:52,079 living with the star program 43 00:01:57,830 --> 00:01:54,560 which is specifically designed to better 44 00:02:00,149 --> 00:01:57,840 understand the relationship between 45 00:02:01,590 --> 00:02:00,159 the earth and its environment and and 46 00:02:04,310 --> 00:02:01,600 the sun 47 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:04,320 the twin spacecraft 48 00:02:06,709 --> 00:02:05,360 for 49 00:02:08,869 --> 00:02:06,719 rbsp 50 00:02:12,390 --> 00:02:08,879 will add a significant element and 51 00:02:14,229 --> 00:02:12,400 capability to the overall cadre of 52 00:02:16,150 --> 00:02:14,239 missions that the science mission 53 00:02:19,430 --> 00:02:16,160 directorate flies 54 00:02:22,710 --> 00:02:19,440 across four scientific disciplines 55 00:02:24,710 --> 00:02:22,720 our bsp in itself will focus 56 00:02:27,350 --> 00:02:24,720 its investigation 57 00:02:29,510 --> 00:02:27,360 on under better understanding and 58 00:02:30,790 --> 00:02:29,520 ultimately predicting 59 00:02:36,309 --> 00:02:30,800 the 60 00:02:40,150 --> 00:02:36,319 earth's radiation belt or van allen 61 00:02:45,910 --> 00:02:43,509 the the twin spacecraft will fly in 62 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:45,920 highly elliptical but slightly different 63 00:02:50,470 --> 00:02:47,120 orbits 64 00:02:53,270 --> 00:02:50,480 thus enabling for the first time the 65 00:02:56,470 --> 00:02:53,280 kind of spatial and temporal sampling 66 00:02:57,830 --> 00:02:56,480 that will allow us to in fact 67 00:03:00,070 --> 00:02:57,840 do better 68 00:03:02,869 --> 00:03:00,080 scientific investigations and improve 69 00:03:06,229 --> 00:03:02,879 our modeling capability of the belts and 70 00:03:09,030 --> 00:03:06,239 their response to solar input 71 00:03:11,350 --> 00:03:09,040 that spatial and temporal data 72 00:03:14,070 --> 00:03:11,360 can be combined with the data from 73 00:03:15,509 --> 00:03:14,080 another spacecraft also an element of 74 00:03:17,589 --> 00:03:15,519 living with a star 75 00:03:20,149 --> 00:03:17,599 called the the solar dynamics 76 00:03:21,990 --> 00:03:20,159 observatory which was launched in early 77 00:03:25,030 --> 00:03:22,000 2010 78 00:03:26,550 --> 00:03:25,040 so that we can at one time see 79 00:03:28,949 --> 00:03:26,560 the solar 80 00:03:30,949 --> 00:03:28,959 impulse into the 81 00:03:33,830 --> 00:03:30,959 the earth's environment and 82 00:03:36,470 --> 00:03:33,840 the radiation belts and then watch over 83 00:03:40,229 --> 00:03:36,480 time and space how those belts 84 00:03:42,390 --> 00:03:40,239 morph or change and respond 85 00:03:43,110 --> 00:03:42,400 at the same time 86 00:03:51,910 --> 00:03:43,120 the 87 00:03:54,470 --> 00:03:51,920 delivered in near real time 88 00:03:55,750 --> 00:03:54,480 to users all over the world 89 00:03:57,750 --> 00:03:55,760 so that 90 00:03:59,589 --> 00:03:57,760 those users can 91 00:04:02,470 --> 00:03:59,599 can use the space weather data to 92 00:04:05,270 --> 00:04:02,480 protect protect sensitive 93 00:04:08,630 --> 00:04:05,280 ground-based as well as space-based 94 00:04:11,910 --> 00:04:08,640 assets that may reside out there 95 00:04:13,589 --> 00:04:11,920 all in all rbsp represents a giant step 96 00:04:15,429 --> 00:04:13,599 forward for 97 00:04:17,749 --> 00:04:15,439 the science mission directorate and 98 00:04:19,430 --> 00:04:17,759 certainly for the heliophysics community 99 00:04:21,030 --> 00:04:19,440 and we look forward to a successful 100 00:04:23,990 --> 00:04:21,040 launch thank you 101 00:04:25,749 --> 00:04:24,000 thank you mike and now to tim dunn the 102 00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:25,759 nasa launch director from the kennedy 103 00:04:28,950 --> 00:04:27,360 space center tim 104 00:04:30,710 --> 00:04:28,960 thank you george 105 00:04:32,870 --> 00:04:30,720 i'm proud to be here today representing 106 00:04:35,350 --> 00:04:32,880 the men and women of the launch services 107 00:04:38,230 --> 00:04:35,360 program here at kennedy space center 108 00:04:40,950 --> 00:04:38,240 the radiation belt storm probes or rbsp 109 00:04:43,189 --> 00:04:40,960 mission will be my third as nasa launch 110 00:04:44,870 --> 00:04:43,199 manager and i'm thrilled to continue my 111 00:04:47,670 --> 00:04:44,880 launch director duties with the twin 112 00:04:49,510 --> 00:04:47,680 spacecraft launched on an atlas v that 113 00:04:51,350 --> 00:04:49,520 will serve as the baseline for all 114 00:04:52,950 --> 00:04:51,360 radiation belt science for the next 115 00:04:54,469 --> 00:04:52,960 generation 116 00:04:56,629 --> 00:04:54,479 this truly is a mission that would have 117 00:04:58,710 --> 00:04:56,639 thrilled my high school physics teacher 118 00:05:01,430 --> 00:04:58,720 mr skelton 119 00:05:04,790 --> 00:05:01,440 yesterday we decided to delay the rbsp 120 00:05:07,350 --> 00:05:04,800 launch one day from thursday to friday 121 00:05:10,390 --> 00:05:07,360 a test anomaly occurred saturday night 122 00:05:11,830 --> 00:05:10,400 on another first stage atlas engine the 123 00:05:14,150 --> 00:05:11,840 rd180 124 00:05:16,950 --> 00:05:14,160 at the united launch alliance rocket 125 00:05:19,270 --> 00:05:16,960 factory in decatur alabama 126 00:05:21,350 --> 00:05:19,280 the rd180 under test at decatur 127 00:05:22,950 --> 00:05:21,360 experienced an anomaly in the actuator 128 00:05:25,029 --> 00:05:22,960 system that moves the engine for 129 00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:25,039 steering in flight 130 00:05:30,469 --> 00:05:28,240 the combined nasa and ula technical team 131 00:05:32,870 --> 00:05:30,479 jointly agreed yesterday that additional 132 00:05:35,270 --> 00:05:32,880 testing and assessment is required to 133 00:05:38,070 --> 00:05:35,280 verify the same anomalous condition is 134 00:05:40,230 --> 00:05:38,080 not present on rbsp's launch vehicle 135 00:05:42,150 --> 00:05:40,240 engine hardware 136 00:05:45,029 --> 00:05:42,160 due to this one-day delay 137 00:05:47,350 --> 00:05:45,039 the launch readiness review or lrr 138 00:05:48,870 --> 00:05:47,360 was moved from this morning to tomorrow 139 00:05:50,469 --> 00:05:48,880 afternoon 140 00:05:52,870 --> 00:05:50,479 this allows our engineering and 141 00:05:56,790 --> 00:05:52,880 analytical teams adequate time to clear 142 00:06:00,150 --> 00:05:58,710 nasa has a great record flying on the 143 00:06:02,309 --> 00:06:00,160 atlas v 144 00:06:03,830 --> 00:06:02,319 we've successfully launched six missions 145 00:06:05,590 --> 00:06:03,840 on this rocket 146 00:06:06,790 --> 00:06:05,600 missions to pluto 147 00:06:08,710 --> 00:06:06,800 jupiter 148 00:06:11,189 --> 00:06:08,720 the moon the sun 149 00:06:14,150 --> 00:06:11,199 and two spacecraft to mars most recently 150 00:06:17,189 --> 00:06:14,160 the mars curiosity rover 151 00:06:18,629 --> 00:06:17,199 rbsp will be our seventh nasa mission on 152 00:06:21,670 --> 00:06:18,639 an atlas v 153 00:06:23,830 --> 00:06:21,680 the 28th atlas 5 to be launched from 154 00:06:27,510 --> 00:06:23,840 cape canaveral air force station 155 00:06:30,629 --> 00:06:27,520 and the 32nd atlas 5 overall 156 00:06:34,230 --> 00:06:30,639 rbsp will launch on an atlas 5 401 157 00:06:37,350 --> 00:06:34,240 vehicle from space launch complex 41 158 00:06:39,510 --> 00:06:37,360 also known as slick 41. 159 00:06:41,430 --> 00:06:39,520 the 401 configuration has a 4 meter 160 00:06:43,189 --> 00:06:41,440 diameter payload fairing and no solid 161 00:06:46,550 --> 00:06:43,199 rocket boosters 162 00:06:49,189 --> 00:06:46,560 slick 41 is proud to have hosted 27 163 00:06:51,189 --> 00:06:49,199 atlas 5 launches to date 164 00:06:53,430 --> 00:06:51,199 now i'd like to show you a video of the 165 00:06:55,430 --> 00:06:53,440 ula crew building up the atlas 5 launch 166 00:06:57,430 --> 00:06:55,440 vehicle at the pad 167 00:06:59,830 --> 00:06:57,440 please roll the tape 168 00:07:02,469 --> 00:06:59,840 here we see the rbsp first stage after 169 00:07:04,870 --> 00:07:02,479 it was offloaded at port canaveral on 170 00:07:07,670 --> 00:07:04,880 its way to the atlas space flight 171 00:07:10,230 --> 00:07:07,680 operations center or asoc 172 00:07:12,870 --> 00:07:10,240 made in decatur alabama the first stage 173 00:07:15,830 --> 00:07:12,880 is transported to cape canaveral via the 174 00:07:17,830 --> 00:07:15,840 ship the mariner 175 00:07:20,950 --> 00:07:17,840 offload and transport happened in the 176 00:07:22,629 --> 00:07:20,960 middle of june on june 16th 177 00:07:25,350 --> 00:07:22,639 here we see the second stage of the 178 00:07:28,070 --> 00:07:25,360 atlas v the centaur 179 00:07:30,550 --> 00:07:28,080 this offload occurred at the end of may 180 00:07:32,150 --> 00:07:30,560 this year on may 24th 181 00:07:34,070 --> 00:07:32,160 it's being transported to the same 182 00:07:36,950 --> 00:07:34,080 facility the asoc 183 00:07:39,830 --> 00:07:36,960 on cape canaveral air force station 184 00:07:41,430 --> 00:07:39,840 where it will be electrically connected 185 00:07:44,309 --> 00:07:41,440 to the first stage 186 00:07:46,390 --> 00:07:44,319 for horizontal checkout that checkout 187 00:07:48,790 --> 00:07:46,400 occurred during the last two weeks in 188 00:07:50,469 --> 00:07:48,800 june and the first week in july 189 00:07:52,790 --> 00:07:50,479 after that checkout you see the first 190 00:07:55,029 --> 00:07:52,800 stage booster being transported from the 191 00:07:56,629 --> 00:07:55,039 asoc out to the vif 192 00:07:59,749 --> 00:07:56,639 which is the vertical integration 193 00:08:02,869 --> 00:07:59,759 facility shown here 194 00:08:05,830 --> 00:08:02,879 the vif is located near complex 41 and 195 00:08:08,469 --> 00:08:05,840 is where we build up and process all of 196 00:08:10,710 --> 00:08:08,479 the atlas v vehicles 197 00:08:12,790 --> 00:08:10,720 you'll see here the erection sequence 198 00:08:15,510 --> 00:08:12,800 using the vif crane 199 00:08:16,629 --> 00:08:15,520 the overhead crane lifts the first stage 200 00:08:17,589 --> 00:08:16,639 booster 201 00:08:23,670 --> 00:08:17,599 and 202 00:08:25,350 --> 00:08:23,680 on the mlp or mobile launch platform 203 00:08:28,309 --> 00:08:25,360 this is a nice view 204 00:08:32,310 --> 00:08:28,319 from the the tail side looking up seeing 205 00:08:33,909 --> 00:08:32,320 the power plant rd-180 engine there 206 00:08:35,990 --> 00:08:33,919 three days later in the middle of july 207 00:08:37,269 --> 00:08:36,000 we transported the centaur second stage 208 00:08:40,310 --> 00:08:37,279 out to the vif 209 00:08:42,070 --> 00:08:40,320 for its sequence of erection and mate to 210 00:08:43,509 --> 00:08:42,080 the top of the first stage of the atlas 211 00:08:46,070 --> 00:08:43,519 v 212 00:08:49,350 --> 00:08:46,080 the power plant for the second stage is 213 00:08:51,509 --> 00:08:49,360 the pratt whitney rocketdyne rl10 214 00:08:54,550 --> 00:08:51,519 so you'll see the erection sequence here 215 00:08:57,990 --> 00:08:54,560 using the same vif overhead crane 216 00:09:01,190 --> 00:08:58,000 under the watchful eye of ula employees 217 00:09:04,230 --> 00:09:01,200 we erect the second stage centaur 218 00:09:07,990 --> 00:09:04,240 and bring it in and set it down 219 00:09:11,509 --> 00:09:08,000 on top of the first stage 220 00:09:16,949 --> 00:09:11,519 nice view there of the rl 10 on the aft 221 00:09:21,750 --> 00:09:18,949 the next shot you'll see is of the 222 00:09:25,990 --> 00:09:21,760 completed first and second stage in the 223 00:09:27,990 --> 00:09:26,000 vif just days before spacecraft arrival 224 00:09:28,870 --> 00:09:28,000 in the early morning hours of august 225 00:09:31,110 --> 00:09:28,880 10th 226 00:09:31,910 --> 00:09:31,120 we transported the spacecraft out to the 227 00:09:34,949 --> 00:09:31,920 vif 228 00:09:37,990 --> 00:09:34,959 here you see the twin rbsp spacecraft 229 00:09:40,070 --> 00:09:38,000 encapsulated by the four meter fairing 230 00:09:43,110 --> 00:09:40,080 after roll out from the spacecraft 231 00:09:45,030 --> 00:09:43,120 processing facility we erected 232 00:09:47,190 --> 00:09:45,040 the encapsulated assembly and mated it 233 00:09:49,509 --> 00:09:47,200 to the top of centaur and there you see 234 00:09:51,670 --> 00:09:49,519 the completed atlas v vehicle as it sits 235 00:09:53,910 --> 00:09:51,680 today 236 00:09:54,949 --> 00:09:53,920 the rbsp launch campaign has gone very 237 00:09:58,470 --> 00:09:54,959 well 238 00:10:00,230 --> 00:09:58,480 over the past 10 days since rbsp mate 239 00:10:02,230 --> 00:10:00,240 the atlas v team has been busy with 240 00:10:04,310 --> 00:10:02,240 launch preparations 241 00:10:06,069 --> 00:10:04,320 last tuesday we performed the final 242 00:10:08,150 --> 00:10:06,079 integrated systems test with the 243 00:10:11,350 --> 00:10:08,160 spacecraft and rocket 244 00:10:13,509 --> 00:10:11,360 last thursday the combined nasa and ula 245 00:10:15,110 --> 00:10:13,519 launch team held the flight readiness 246 00:10:17,269 --> 00:10:15,120 review where we assessed the 247 00:10:19,750 --> 00:10:17,279 preparations of the launch vehicle 248 00:10:23,590 --> 00:10:19,760 range and facility assets and the 249 00:10:26,470 --> 00:10:23,600 readiness of the twin rbsp spacecraft 250 00:10:29,030 --> 00:10:26,480 then on friday we performed a successful 251 00:10:32,630 --> 00:10:29,040 mission dress rehearsal to exercise and 252 00:10:35,509 --> 00:10:32,640 prepare the entire ula nasa and air 253 00:10:37,350 --> 00:10:35,519 force atlas 5 launch team 254 00:10:39,590 --> 00:10:37,360 tomorrow we will conduct the launch 255 00:10:42,310 --> 00:10:39,600 readiness review for the mission where 256 00:10:44,470 --> 00:10:42,320 senior nasa ula and air force management 257 00:10:46,949 --> 00:10:44,480 will assess readiness of the rocket 258 00:10:49,590 --> 00:10:46,959 spacecraft and range to proceed with 259 00:10:52,230 --> 00:10:49,600 launch on friday morning 260 00:10:54,389 --> 00:10:52,240 on wednesday we will begin final launch 261 00:10:57,350 --> 00:10:54,399 preparations at approximately 10 a.m 262 00:10:59,750 --> 00:10:57,360 eastern time by rolling the atlas v on 263 00:11:02,389 --> 00:10:59,760 its mobile launch platform approximately 264 00:11:05,190 --> 00:11:02,399 one quarter mile from the fifth to slick 265 00:11:07,670 --> 00:11:05,200 41 and then loading the highly refined 266 00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:07,680 kerosene rp-1 fuel in the first stage 267 00:11:11,590 --> 00:11:09,680 fuel tank 268 00:11:13,190 --> 00:11:11,600 thursday will serve as a crew 269 00:11:16,230 --> 00:11:13,200 synchronization day to prepare the 270 00:11:19,269 --> 00:11:16,240 launch team for arrival on console just 271 00:11:21,269 --> 00:11:19,279 after 10 30 pm thursday night 272 00:11:23,350 --> 00:11:21,279 the crew will perform final preparations 273 00:11:24,230 --> 00:11:23,360 of vehicle power on and electrical 274 00:11:26,550 --> 00:11:24,240 checks 275 00:11:29,509 --> 00:11:26,560 followed by cryogenic tanking of the 276 00:11:32,150 --> 00:11:29,519 first stage liquid oxygen and second 277 00:11:35,190 --> 00:11:32,160 stage centaur liquid oxygen and liquid 278 00:11:36,710 --> 00:11:35,200 hydrogen beginning at 1 40 am friday 279 00:11:38,389 --> 00:11:36,720 morning 280 00:11:40,710 --> 00:11:38,399 final engine sloughs will then be 281 00:11:43,350 --> 00:11:40,720 performed after tanking and we will be 282 00:11:47,269 --> 00:11:43,360 ready for launch early friday morning at 283 00:11:49,350 --> 00:11:47,279 4 07 a.m eastern time with a 20-minute 284 00:11:52,310 --> 00:11:49,360 window 285 00:11:54,550 --> 00:11:52,320 in summary after lrr tomorrow the atlas 286 00:11:56,790 --> 00:11:54,560 v rocket will be ready and the launch 287 00:11:59,990 --> 00:11:56,800 team is prepared and excited to launch 288 00:12:02,470 --> 00:12:00,000 these radiation belt storm probes 289 00:12:04,470 --> 00:12:02,480 back to you george thank you tim 290 00:12:06,870 --> 00:12:04,480 and now to fern thorpe the program 291 00:12:08,550 --> 00:12:06,880 manager for nasa missions from united 292 00:12:11,430 --> 00:12:08,560 launch alliance to 293 00:12:13,670 --> 00:12:11,440 talk about the ula role and the flight 294 00:12:16,069 --> 00:12:13,680 of the atlas v fern 295 00:12:18,629 --> 00:12:16,079 hey thank you george good afternoon 296 00:12:21,190 --> 00:12:18,639 on behalf of michael gass our president 297 00:12:23,509 --> 00:12:21,200 and chief executive officer and the 3 298 00:12:25,030 --> 00:12:23,519 600 men and women of united launch 299 00:12:27,990 --> 00:12:25,040 alliance i'm honored to be part of the 300 00:12:30,150 --> 00:12:28,000 team that will launch rbsp 301 00:12:33,110 --> 00:12:30,160 this will be ula's seventh launch of the 302 00:12:35,670 --> 00:12:33,120 year uh tim mentioned it's also the 32nd 303 00:12:38,550 --> 00:12:35,680 atlas v launch and it'll be the 63rd 304 00:12:42,629 --> 00:12:38,560 launch for ula overall since the 305 00:12:44,629 --> 00:12:42,639 inaugural eelb flights in 2002 atlas 5 306 00:12:47,190 --> 00:12:44,639 and delta 4 vehicles have launched more 307 00:12:49,190 --> 00:12:47,200 than 50 times delivering vital national 308 00:12:51,269 --> 00:12:49,200 security missions for the u.s air force 309 00:12:53,269 --> 00:12:51,279 and the national reconnaissance office 310 00:12:54,310 --> 00:12:53,279 science and exploration payloads for 311 00:12:55,910 --> 00:12:54,320 nasa 312 00:12:58,710 --> 00:12:55,920 and imaging and communications 313 00:13:01,110 --> 00:12:58,720 satellites for commercial companies 314 00:13:02,790 --> 00:13:01,120 we've worked together with our nas nasa 315 00:13:05,110 --> 00:13:02,800 launch services program customer on 316 00:13:07,350 --> 00:13:05,120 numerous missions including the recent 317 00:13:09,110 --> 00:13:07,360 mars science lab which was launched 318 00:13:11,350 --> 00:13:09,120 launched on an atlas v 319 00:13:13,509 --> 00:13:11,360 here from the cape just last november 320 00:13:15,910 --> 00:13:13,519 and of course had a spectacular landing 321 00:13:17,910 --> 00:13:15,920 recently on the surface of mars 322 00:13:19,509 --> 00:13:17,920 as for all of our missions the team has 323 00:13:21,910 --> 00:13:19,519 worked tremendously hard to get us to 324 00:13:23,990 --> 00:13:21,920 this point and we are almost ready to 325 00:13:25,990 --> 00:13:24,000 launch our bsp on its mission to help us 326 00:13:29,430 --> 00:13:26,000 better understand the effect of solar 327 00:13:31,030 --> 00:13:29,440 activity on our near-earth environment 328 00:13:33,190 --> 00:13:31,040 this mentioned this mission will be 329 00:13:36,310 --> 00:13:33,200 launched on an atlas v 401 with the 4 330 00:13:38,629 --> 00:13:36,320 meter fairing and no srbs 331 00:13:42,230 --> 00:13:38,639 and the booster stage will be powered by 332 00:13:43,350 --> 00:13:42,240 the rd-180 engine provided by rd amros 333 00:13:45,990 --> 00:13:43,360 and we'll have a pratt whitney 334 00:13:48,629 --> 00:13:46,000 rocketdyne rl10a-4 335 00:13:50,550 --> 00:13:48,639 engine on the centaur upper stage 336 00:13:52,069 --> 00:13:50,560 and now i'd like to show some animation 337 00:13:53,670 --> 00:13:52,079 of the launch sequence to give you a 338 00:13:57,110 --> 00:13:53,680 preview of what to expect on friday 339 00:14:00,710 --> 00:13:59,829 okay the vehicle stands about 190 feet 340 00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:00,720 tall 341 00:14:05,350 --> 00:14:03,920 on the pad and when we light the rd-180 342 00:14:06,870 --> 00:14:05,360 engine it'll be putting out about eight 343 00:14:10,150 --> 00:14:06,880 hundred and sixty thousand pounds of 344 00:14:12,629 --> 00:14:10,160 thrust at liftoff at sea level 345 00:14:14,310 --> 00:14:12,639 the first major event that you'll see 346 00:14:16,550 --> 00:14:14,320 during this flight since we don't have 347 00:14:18,550 --> 00:14:16,560 any srbs to jettison will be the 348 00:14:19,430 --> 00:14:18,560 depletion of fuels in the main booster 349 00:14:21,269 --> 00:14:19,440 tank 350 00:14:22,949 --> 00:14:21,279 the shutdown of the the main engine and 351 00:14:25,590 --> 00:14:22,959 the separation of that atlas booster 352 00:14:30,310 --> 00:14:25,600 stage that will occur roughly four 353 00:14:34,310 --> 00:14:32,629 we separate that booster stage 354 00:14:35,430 --> 00:14:34,320 we'll prepare the centaur engines for 355 00:14:37,990 --> 00:14:35,440 ignition 356 00:14:40,629 --> 00:14:38,000 and we'll light them for the 357 00:14:42,629 --> 00:14:40,639 first of two engine burns there you see 358 00:14:45,110 --> 00:14:42,639 the retro rockets firing to separate the 359 00:14:47,670 --> 00:14:45,120 booster stage that's the chill down 360 00:14:50,710 --> 00:14:47,680 sequence for the rl10 engines and then 361 00:14:53,990 --> 00:14:52,310 about eight seconds into that first 362 00:14:56,230 --> 00:14:54,000 engine burn we will also jettison the 363 00:14:58,629 --> 00:14:56,240 payload fairing 364 00:15:00,629 --> 00:14:58,639 the total duration for this first engine 365 00:15:01,910 --> 00:15:00,639 burn will be about 9 minutes and 15 366 00:15:03,910 --> 00:15:01,920 seconds 367 00:15:05,910 --> 00:15:03,920 and that will place us into a parking 368 00:15:08,150 --> 00:15:05,920 orbit coast which is a pretty typical 369 00:15:09,829 --> 00:15:08,160 mission profile for an atlas vehicle 370 00:15:12,069 --> 00:15:09,839 that coast is almost an hour it's about 371 00:15:13,350 --> 00:15:12,079 55 minutes at the end of that coast 372 00:15:15,590 --> 00:15:13,360 we'll be in position for the second 373 00:15:17,110 --> 00:15:15,600 engine burn so we'll light the 374 00:15:18,550 --> 00:15:17,120 centaur engine again 375 00:15:20,629 --> 00:15:18,560 that'll be a shorter burn about four 376 00:15:22,629 --> 00:15:20,639 minutes and 40 seconds 377 00:15:23,670 --> 00:15:22,639 and after that we will orient the 378 00:15:25,350 --> 00:15:23,680 vehicle 379 00:15:27,509 --> 00:15:25,360 do a spin up and separate the first of 380 00:15:29,990 --> 00:15:27,519 the two spacecraft 381 00:15:32,150 --> 00:15:30,000 we will then 382 00:15:33,590 --> 00:15:32,160 reorient again use the settling 383 00:15:35,269 --> 00:15:33,600 thrusters to change the orbit just 384 00:15:37,590 --> 00:15:35,279 slightly for that second spacecraft and 385 00:15:39,509 --> 00:15:37,600 we'll separate it about 12 minutes later 386 00:15:41,269 --> 00:15:39,519 and then following separation of the 387 00:15:43,910 --> 00:15:41,279 second spacecraft 388 00:15:46,389 --> 00:15:43,920 will do the usual contamination and 389 00:15:48,389 --> 00:15:46,399 collision avoidance maneuver to 390 00:15:50,230 --> 00:15:48,399 prevent any potent any possibility of 391 00:15:52,389 --> 00:15:50,240 re-contact of the centaur upper stage 392 00:15:54,470 --> 00:15:52,399 with the spacecraft 393 00:15:56,230 --> 00:15:54,480 we are proud to serve a critical role in 394 00:15:57,829 --> 00:15:56,240 delivering one-of-a-kind nasa payloads 395 00:15:59,189 --> 00:15:57,839 to orbit in support of the global 396 00:16:00,949 --> 00:15:59,199 science community 397 00:16:03,189 --> 00:16:00,959 ula is focused on perfect product 398 00:16:05,110 --> 00:16:03,199 delivery for rbsp and for every mission 399 00:16:06,470 --> 00:16:05,120 we launch for nasa and for all of our 400 00:16:08,150 --> 00:16:06,480 other customers 401 00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:08,160 perfect product delivery includes a 402 00:16:12,870 --> 00:16:10,480 relentless focus on mission success a 403 00:16:15,030 --> 00:16:12,880 focus on one launch at a time and 404 00:16:17,030 --> 00:16:15,040 continuous improvement in meeting all of 405 00:16:19,110 --> 00:16:17,040 the needs of our customers 406 00:16:21,430 --> 00:16:19,120 this mission is the culmination of years 407 00:16:23,430 --> 00:16:21,440 of hard work by nasa's launch services 408 00:16:25,670 --> 00:16:23,440 program nasa's goddard space flight 409 00:16:28,069 --> 00:16:25,680 center the johns hopkins university 410 00:16:28,870 --> 00:16:28,079 applied physics lab and the ula launch 411 00:16:30,550 --> 00:16:28,880 team 412 00:16:32,230 --> 00:16:30,560 once again i want to thank all of our 413 00:16:34,790 --> 00:16:32,240 mission partners who've worked with us 414 00:16:37,350 --> 00:16:34,800 tirelessly to make this launch a success 415 00:16:40,069 --> 00:16:37,360 back to you george thank you vern 416 00:16:42,470 --> 00:16:40,079 and now to rick fitzgerald the rbsp 417 00:16:44,389 --> 00:16:42,480 project manager from the johns hopkins 418 00:16:45,590 --> 00:16:44,399 applied physics laboratory 419 00:16:47,910 --> 00:16:45,600 rick 420 00:16:49,670 --> 00:16:47,920 thank you george well i'm pleased and 421 00:16:52,470 --> 00:16:49,680 honored to be here today to represent 422 00:16:53,829 --> 00:16:52,480 the rbsp project 423 00:16:55,509 --> 00:16:53,839 which is 424 00:16:58,310 --> 00:16:55,519 considered to be 425 00:17:01,189 --> 00:16:58,320 part of the program that mike described 426 00:17:03,350 --> 00:17:01,199 the living with the star program 427 00:17:05,429 --> 00:17:03,360 our team members 428 00:17:06,710 --> 00:17:05,439 are include the applied physics 429 00:17:08,470 --> 00:17:06,720 laboratory 430 00:17:10,949 --> 00:17:08,480 which is my home institution but all of 431 00:17:12,549 --> 00:17:10,959 our instrument providers so we have 432 00:17:14,069 --> 00:17:12,559 principal investigators from the 433 00:17:15,909 --> 00:17:14,079 university of iowa 434 00:17:18,630 --> 00:17:15,919 the university of new hampshire the new 435 00:17:20,230 --> 00:17:18,640 jersey institute of technology and the 436 00:17:21,669 --> 00:17:20,240 university of minnesota 437 00:17:23,429 --> 00:17:21,679 and we are 438 00:17:25,750 --> 00:17:23,439 also partnered with the goddard space 439 00:17:27,590 --> 00:17:25,760 flight center which is where the lws 440 00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:27,600 program office resides 441 00:17:30,470 --> 00:17:28,559 and 442 00:17:32,710 --> 00:17:30,480 also a contributed instrument from the 443 00:17:34,789 --> 00:17:32,720 national reconnaissance office so 444 00:17:37,270 --> 00:17:34,799 without all these instrument partners 445 00:17:38,789 --> 00:17:37,280 and teaming arrangements today wouldn't 446 00:17:40,789 --> 00:17:38,799 be possible so 447 00:17:43,270 --> 00:17:40,799 i'm really happy to be here to represent 448 00:17:44,789 --> 00:17:43,280 that entire group 449 00:17:47,190 --> 00:17:44,799 what i'd like to do is talk a little bit 450 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:47,200 about picking up with the um the 451 00:17:51,430 --> 00:17:49,679 sequence uh after launch that that vern 452 00:17:52,789 --> 00:17:51,440 just described and then come back and 453 00:17:54,070 --> 00:17:52,799 talk a little bit more about the science 454 00:17:55,510 --> 00:17:54,080 of the mission 455 00:17:57,830 --> 00:17:55,520 and i have some video about our 456 00:18:01,669 --> 00:17:57,840 processing that we've undergone uh while 457 00:18:03,350 --> 00:18:01,679 we're down here after shipping from apl 458 00:18:05,669 --> 00:18:03,360 so the first thing is the launch 459 00:18:07,110 --> 00:18:05,679 sequence so you saw that we have two 460 00:18:09,750 --> 00:18:07,120 spacecraft 461 00:18:11,510 --> 00:18:09,760 we get dropped off after a spin-up of 462 00:18:13,350 --> 00:18:11,520 the centaur stage 463 00:18:14,470 --> 00:18:13,360 the a-spacecraft 464 00:18:17,029 --> 00:18:14,480 will separate 465 00:18:19,830 --> 00:18:17,039 at approximately 80 minutes after launch 466 00:18:21,669 --> 00:18:19,840 over hawaii and the second spacecraft b 467 00:18:23,430 --> 00:18:21,679 will separate just a few minutes after 468 00:18:24,870 --> 00:18:23,440 that 469 00:18:26,789 --> 00:18:24,880 and as 470 00:18:28,950 --> 00:18:26,799 mike pointed out 471 00:18:30,630 --> 00:18:28,960 we will be in slightly different orbits 472 00:18:32,549 --> 00:18:30,640 and that's by design 473 00:18:36,470 --> 00:18:32,559 so that we can achieve the science that 474 00:18:41,669 --> 00:18:39,430 after we separate spacecraft 475 00:18:44,150 --> 00:18:41,679 maintain a spin rate 476 00:18:47,190 --> 00:18:44,160 the first actuation that really occurs 477 00:18:49,029 --> 00:18:47,200 is we open up our solar panels 478 00:18:50,710 --> 00:18:49,039 and go power positive by getting 479 00:18:53,190 --> 00:18:50,720 sunlight on our solar panels and start 480 00:18:55,590 --> 00:18:53,200 charging our batteries again 481 00:18:57,350 --> 00:18:55,600 following that we deploy 482 00:18:59,590 --> 00:18:57,360 some booms on the end of two of those 483 00:19:01,110 --> 00:18:59,600 panels which are the 484 00:19:03,270 --> 00:19:01,120 the emphasis instrument their 485 00:19:05,430 --> 00:19:03,280 magnetometer which is also 486 00:19:07,430 --> 00:19:05,440 critical to not only the science but 487 00:19:10,310 --> 00:19:07,440 also our spacecraft operations so those 488 00:19:12,070 --> 00:19:10,320 things happen early on in the sequence 489 00:19:14,310 --> 00:19:12,080 we launch with 490 00:19:15,110 --> 00:19:14,320 our sub spacecraft subsystems partially 491 00:19:17,029 --> 00:19:15,120 on 492 00:19:19,270 --> 00:19:17,039 and the first thing we do is we check 493 00:19:20,710 --> 00:19:19,280 out the rf subsystem 494 00:19:23,430 --> 00:19:20,720 and make sure that we're seeing all the 495 00:19:25,350 --> 00:19:23,440 link margins that we expect to see 496 00:19:27,430 --> 00:19:25,360 as we pass over 497 00:19:29,510 --> 00:19:27,440 the various ground stations 498 00:19:31,590 --> 00:19:29,520 we also have our spacecraft processor 499 00:19:33,510 --> 00:19:31,600 partially on and of course our power 500 00:19:35,669 --> 00:19:33,520 subsystems 501 00:19:38,310 --> 00:19:35,679 we will then check out our guidance 502 00:19:40,390 --> 00:19:38,320 navigation and control and then there's 503 00:19:42,789 --> 00:19:40,400 a carefully sequenced 60-day 504 00:19:44,630 --> 00:19:42,799 commissioning period where 505 00:19:46,789 --> 00:19:44,640 in this choreographed 506 00:19:48,710 --> 00:19:46,799 activity we carefully turn on each 507 00:19:50,710 --> 00:19:48,720 instrument one by one 508 00:19:52,710 --> 00:19:50,720 and all this has been 509 00:19:55,350 --> 00:19:52,720 very carefully coordinated with all the 510 00:19:57,430 --> 00:19:55,360 the pis on the mission 511 00:19:59,430 --> 00:19:57,440 at the end of 60 days all the 512 00:20:01,430 --> 00:19:59,440 deployments will have happened all the 513 00:20:03,510 --> 00:20:01,440 instruments will be turned on 514 00:20:05,510 --> 00:20:03,520 and we will be ready to start the 515 00:20:07,590 --> 00:20:05,520 science of the mission 516 00:20:10,310 --> 00:20:07,600 one thing to point out is uh 517 00:20:12,470 --> 00:20:10,320 2012 is an important year for us because 518 00:20:14,710 --> 00:20:12,480 we're we're launching in a 519 00:20:16,870 --> 00:20:14,720 a period of high solar activity so we're 520 00:20:18,630 --> 00:20:16,880 we're nearing solar max 521 00:20:20,630 --> 00:20:18,640 which means we stand the best chance of 522 00:20:22,230 --> 00:20:20,640 seeing a lot of solar activity excite 523 00:20:24,630 --> 00:20:22,240 the radiation belts and that's exactly 524 00:20:26,710 --> 00:20:24,640 what we want to see happen 525 00:20:28,470 --> 00:20:26,720 so a little bit about the science and 526 00:20:29,990 --> 00:20:28,480 you will get a full science briefing 527 00:20:31,669 --> 00:20:30,000 later on um 528 00:20:33,110 --> 00:20:31,679 but you will hear that 529 00:20:35,110 --> 00:20:33,120 that we've been waiting for this mission 530 00:20:39,270 --> 00:20:35,120 for decades the van allen belts were 531 00:20:41,270 --> 00:20:39,280 discovered in 1958 and since that time 532 00:20:42,390 --> 00:20:41,280 we know something about the radiation 533 00:20:45,350 --> 00:20:42,400 belts but 534 00:20:48,149 --> 00:20:45,360 not enough this mission is is designed 535 00:20:49,909 --> 00:20:48,159 to really understand the whole solar 536 00:20:52,310 --> 00:20:49,919 interaction with radiation belts and 537 00:20:54,149 --> 00:20:52,320 understand why they are excited and 538 00:20:57,110 --> 00:20:54,159 sometimes why they're not 539 00:20:59,510 --> 00:20:57,120 and the mission design itself is 540 00:21:01,190 --> 00:20:59,520 is part of that equation so we we're at 541 00:21:03,270 --> 00:21:01,200 10 degrees inclination and a highly 542 00:21:05,350 --> 00:21:03,280 elliptical orbit so that we 543 00:21:07,270 --> 00:21:05,360 cruise in and out of both radiation 544 00:21:08,870 --> 00:21:07,280 belts throughout the mission 545 00:21:10,950 --> 00:21:08,880 the satellites lap each other and you'll 546 00:21:12,390 --> 00:21:10,960 hear more about that about why that's 547 00:21:13,909 --> 00:21:12,400 important for the measurement that we're 548 00:21:16,390 --> 00:21:13,919 making 549 00:21:18,390 --> 00:21:16,400 and the two-year mission life allows us 550 00:21:20,310 --> 00:21:18,400 a full cycle of um 551 00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:20,320 of these lapping rates and allowing us 552 00:21:23,750 --> 00:21:22,000 to precess around back to the place 553 00:21:26,710 --> 00:21:23,760 where we injected into orbit so that we 554 00:21:29,669 --> 00:21:26,720 see kind of a full season of 555 00:21:31,510 --> 00:21:29,679 of activity in a sense 556 00:21:33,350 --> 00:21:31,520 what i'd like to do next is talk about 557 00:21:36,149 --> 00:21:33,360 the processing that we've we've 558 00:21:38,789 --> 00:21:36,159 undertaken since we've come down 559 00:21:41,750 --> 00:21:38,799 here to the cape and if you'll start the 560 00:21:43,590 --> 00:21:41,760 video i'll walk you through that 561 00:21:45,669 --> 00:21:43,600 this is the 562 00:21:47,830 --> 00:21:45,679 air force plane that 563 00:21:49,590 --> 00:21:47,840 brought us safely down to the cape so we 564 00:21:51,510 --> 00:21:49,600 trucked from 565 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:51,520 the applied physics laboratory over in 566 00:21:54,710 --> 00:21:53,440 laurel maryland over to andrews air 567 00:21:57,110 --> 00:21:54,720 force base 568 00:21:59,270 --> 00:21:57,120 loaded onto the c-17 in the wee hours of 569 00:22:01,110 --> 00:21:59,280 the morning and arrived here at the cape 570 00:22:02,630 --> 00:22:01,120 you can see there the two satellite 571 00:22:04,470 --> 00:22:02,640 canisters 572 00:22:06,870 --> 00:22:04,480 under purge to keep them protected from 573 00:22:09,350 --> 00:22:06,880 the environment we arrived at astrotech 574 00:22:11,029 --> 00:22:09,360 just outside the ksc gates here this 575 00:22:13,350 --> 00:22:11,039 happened on may 1st 576 00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:13,360 you can see our technicians carefully 577 00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:15,840 unwrapping both spacecraft 578 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:16,720 and 579 00:22:23,430 --> 00:22:21,840 so we need to make sure after we arrive 580 00:22:25,430 --> 00:22:23,440 that we didn't have any disruption to 581 00:22:27,750 --> 00:22:25,440 the spacecraft due to the ride 582 00:22:29,510 --> 00:22:27,760 here's some black light cleaning 583 00:22:31,510 --> 00:22:29,520 black light allows us to see all dust 584 00:22:33,510 --> 00:22:31,520 particles all over the spacecraft and 585 00:22:35,110 --> 00:22:33,520 and clean those appropriately 586 00:22:37,029 --> 00:22:35,120 this is one of our tests we perform the 587 00:22:39,110 --> 00:22:37,039 magnetic swing test where we actually 588 00:22:40,070 --> 00:22:39,120 swing the spacecraft through a magnetic 589 00:22:42,070 --> 00:22:40,080 field to make sure that it's 590 00:22:43,669 --> 00:22:42,080 magnetically silent 591 00:22:45,350 --> 00:22:43,679 we also went through a spin test i 592 00:22:47,350 --> 00:22:45,360 mentioned that we spin on orbit at about 593 00:22:49,110 --> 00:22:47,360 5 rpm so we have to make sure we're 594 00:22:50,789 --> 00:22:49,120 still well balanced 595 00:22:52,230 --> 00:22:50,799 here's some more cleaning in the black 596 00:22:53,830 --> 00:22:52,240 light 597 00:22:55,190 --> 00:22:53,840 here we are with some of the panels 598 00:22:57,270 --> 00:22:55,200 raised and getting ready for a 599 00:22:59,029 --> 00:22:57,280 deployment test with the uh the solar 600 00:23:00,390 --> 00:22:59,039 panels and you can see the emphasis 601 00:23:02,310 --> 00:23:00,400 instruments there 602 00:23:04,630 --> 00:23:02,320 and there's a gene negated test of the 603 00:23:05,510 --> 00:23:04,640 solar array deployment uh with the booms 604 00:23:08,710 --> 00:23:05,520 for the 605 00:23:10,310 --> 00:23:08,720 the emphasis instrument 606 00:23:12,710 --> 00:23:10,320 the high bay that we're in is tremendous 607 00:23:14,549 --> 00:23:12,720 it's a great facility there at astrotech 608 00:23:16,390 --> 00:23:14,559 you can see all of our techs in clean 609 00:23:18,789 --> 00:23:16,400 room guard plenty of space to work on 610 00:23:21,110 --> 00:23:18,799 two spacecraft here's the emphasis 611 00:23:22,470 --> 00:23:21,120 deployment g negated 612 00:23:24,549 --> 00:23:22,480 so it gives you an idea of what that 613 00:23:28,470 --> 00:23:24,559 looks like when we deploy that boom 614 00:23:33,190 --> 00:23:30,870 and uh here here we are with 615 00:23:34,310 --> 00:23:33,200 some of our final closeout activities 616 00:23:36,390 --> 00:23:34,320 and our 617 00:23:38,070 --> 00:23:36,400 mission assurance folks taking a careful 618 00:23:39,430 --> 00:23:38,080 look at the spacecraft as we move from 619 00:23:41,750 --> 00:23:39,440 step to step 620 00:23:43,110 --> 00:23:41,760 all the the scripts that they have on 621 00:23:47,830 --> 00:23:43,120 their 622 00:23:50,549 --> 00:23:47,840 and also all of the the motion tests 623 00:23:52,310 --> 00:23:50,559 that have to be measured and compared 624 00:23:54,230 --> 00:23:52,320 against what we expected 625 00:23:55,909 --> 00:23:54,240 this is a spacecraft stack being moved 626 00:23:57,909 --> 00:23:55,919 on the dolly to get ready for 627 00:23:59,350 --> 00:23:57,919 encapsulation into the fairing and there 628 00:24:00,630 --> 00:23:59,360 you can see the second half of the 629 00:24:03,269 --> 00:24:00,640 fairing 630 00:24:04,870 --> 00:24:03,279 closing us up for the last time 631 00:24:06,630 --> 00:24:04,880 right there 632 00:24:08,230 --> 00:24:06,640 that was a big day for us that happened 633 00:24:10,230 --> 00:24:08,240 last week 634 00:24:12,390 --> 00:24:10,240 the team is assessing to make sure that 635 00:24:13,510 --> 00:24:12,400 we're all in good condition and we're 636 00:24:15,190 --> 00:24:13,520 backing up 637 00:24:16,950 --> 00:24:15,200 getting ready to be transported from 638 00:24:18,630 --> 00:24:16,960 astrotech over 639 00:24:19,510 --> 00:24:18,640 to the vif 640 00:24:21,110 --> 00:24:19,520 there's 641 00:24:22,630 --> 00:24:21,120 our team carefully loading onto the 642 00:24:24,230 --> 00:24:22,640 truck and again in the middle of the 643 00:24:26,549 --> 00:24:24,240 night 644 00:24:28,390 --> 00:24:26,559 moving uh over toward the vif so that we 645 00:24:29,510 --> 00:24:28,400 don't have any vehicular traffic to 646 00:24:31,350 --> 00:24:29,520 worry about 647 00:24:33,590 --> 00:24:31,360 and the caravan that's carefully 648 00:24:36,390 --> 00:24:33,600 motoring us at a safe seven miles per 649 00:24:39,029 --> 00:24:36,400 hour over to the vif 650 00:24:40,789 --> 00:24:39,039 so uh again i'd like to say um how 651 00:24:42,630 --> 00:24:40,799 excited we are about this mission this 652 00:24:45,190 --> 00:24:42,640 uh culminates more than five years of 653 00:24:47,350 --> 00:24:45,200 effort and in fact 654 00:24:50,070 --> 00:24:47,360 the first planning stages from from the 655 00:24:52,149 --> 00:24:50,080 science uh happened in 2001 there was a 656 00:24:54,310 --> 00:24:52,159 meeting to uh to talk about what the 657 00:24:55,909 --> 00:24:54,320 science would be and uh what we wanted 658 00:24:56,950 --> 00:24:55,919 to to measure and how we wanted to do 659 00:24:59,350 --> 00:24:56,960 that so 660 00:25:01,269 --> 00:24:59,360 many many years of activity uh preparing 661 00:25:02,470 --> 00:25:01,279 for this this day 662 00:25:04,789 --> 00:25:02,480 and um 663 00:25:06,310 --> 00:25:04,799 and in fact since the 50s to try to 664 00:25:07,830 --> 00:25:06,320 unlock some of the mysteries of the van 665 00:25:08,630 --> 00:25:07,840 allen belts 666 00:25:11,110 --> 00:25:08,640 so 667 00:25:13,190 --> 00:25:11,120 again on behalf of the team 668 00:25:15,110 --> 00:25:13,200 thanks for everyone's support to get us 669 00:25:17,110 --> 00:25:15,120 to here and we're looking forward to 670 00:25:19,350 --> 00:25:17,120 launch day on friday when we're going to 671 00:25:21,029 --> 00:25:19,360 see all this work finally come to 672 00:25:23,269 --> 00:25:21,039 fruition on orbit 673 00:25:25,350 --> 00:25:23,279 george thank you rick 674 00:25:27,830 --> 00:25:25,360 now to kathy winters our launch weather 675 00:25:30,630 --> 00:25:27,840 officer for the 45th weather squadron at 676 00:25:33,190 --> 00:25:30,640 cape canaveral air force station kathy 677 00:25:34,710 --> 00:25:33,200 thank you george well we are looking for 678 00:25:36,470 --> 00:25:34,720 afternoon thunderstorms like we've been 679 00:25:38,310 --> 00:25:36,480 seeing each day here in florida it's 680 00:25:39,669 --> 00:25:38,320 pretty typical for this time of year we 681 00:25:41,110 --> 00:25:39,679 do have a strong upper level trough 682 00:25:42,789 --> 00:25:41,120 that's been digging down in the eastern 683 00:25:45,909 --> 00:25:42,799 u.s and it's actually going to dig a 684 00:25:47,110 --> 00:25:45,919 deep a bit further in the next few days 685 00:25:48,549 --> 00:25:47,120 and so we expect for all the 686 00:25:50,710 --> 00:25:48,559 thunderstorm activity that does occur in 687 00:25:52,950 --> 00:25:50,720 florida to migrate towards the east 688 00:25:55,110 --> 00:25:52,960 coast here towards us so we continue to 689 00:25:58,390 --> 00:25:55,120 expect to see afternoon storms in the 690 00:25:59,190 --> 00:25:58,400 area and on um as we get into uh launch 691 00:26:02,310 --> 00:25:59,200 day 692 00:26:04,630 --> 00:26:02,320 we'll be seeing those storms and then 693 00:26:06,549 --> 00:26:04,640 we'll have some residual cloud 694 00:26:08,630 --> 00:26:06,559 cover that will linger in the area in 695 00:26:10,070 --> 00:26:08,640 the overnight hours and that just causes 696 00:26:11,590 --> 00:26:10,080 us some concern that we could violate 697 00:26:13,430 --> 00:26:11,600 the thick cloud rule 698 00:26:14,870 --> 00:26:13,440 for launch the other area that we're 699 00:26:16,230 --> 00:26:14,880 watching there's an air in the tropics 700 00:26:17,430 --> 00:26:16,240 that we're keeping an eye on as well 701 00:26:19,029 --> 00:26:17,440 it's a couple hundred miles east of the 702 00:26:20,310 --> 00:26:19,039 lesser antilles let me go ahead and show 703 00:26:22,549 --> 00:26:20,320 you a satellite picture to kind of 704 00:26:24,630 --> 00:26:22,559 explain where that is you can see on the 705 00:26:26,310 --> 00:26:24,640 satellite picture a few hundred miles 706 00:26:27,830 --> 00:26:26,320 east of the western antilles there is a 707 00:26:30,230 --> 00:26:27,840 wave that's developing 708 00:26:32,070 --> 00:26:30,240 this is right now has a 80 percent 709 00:26:33,669 --> 00:26:32,080 chance of tropical cyclone development 710 00:26:35,909 --> 00:26:33,679 within the next 48 hours according to 711 00:26:38,630 --> 00:26:35,919 the hurricane center so it does pose a 712 00:26:40,310 --> 00:26:38,640 risk for the lesser antilles and antigua 713 00:26:41,430 --> 00:26:40,320 but it should move through that area on 714 00:26:42,789 --> 00:26:41,440 wednesday 715 00:26:44,950 --> 00:26:42,799 be off to the west and still have 716 00:26:46,549 --> 00:26:44,960 another day to recover there and and 717 00:26:48,549 --> 00:26:46,559 they may stow the antennas if they need 718 00:26:50,390 --> 00:26:48,559 to but then they can redeploy them and 719 00:26:52,630 --> 00:26:50,400 be ready for launch 720 00:26:53,909 --> 00:26:52,640 for the eastern u.s there is that trough 721 00:26:55,830 --> 00:26:53,919 there so we'll be watching for that 722 00:26:56,950 --> 00:26:55,840 residual cloud cover you can see it on 723 00:26:58,630 --> 00:26:56,960 the satellite picture and there's a 724 00:27:00,390 --> 00:26:58,640 boundary associated with that as well in 725 00:27:03,269 --> 00:27:00,400 northern georgia that is going to sag 726 00:27:04,390 --> 00:27:03,279 down on thursday into the area and so 727 00:27:06,390 --> 00:27:04,400 with that we have a little bit more 728 00:27:08,470 --> 00:27:06,400 concern for cloud cover for friday 729 00:27:10,390 --> 00:27:08,480 morning than we typically do this time 730 00:27:11,830 --> 00:27:10,400 of year just because that additional 731 00:27:14,310 --> 00:27:11,840 boundary that's going to be lingering in 732 00:27:15,830 --> 00:27:14,320 the area so right now our main concern 733 00:27:18,389 --> 00:27:15,840 for launch is a violation of the thick 734 00:27:20,389 --> 00:27:18,399 cloud rule we have a 40 chance of that 735 00:27:21,590 --> 00:27:20,399 launch commit criteria violation and the 736 00:27:23,750 --> 00:27:21,600 thick cloud will 737 00:27:25,750 --> 00:27:23,760 we have that rule to prevent triggered 738 00:27:27,029 --> 00:27:25,760 lightning it's not natural lightning 739 00:27:29,110 --> 00:27:27,039 created by a thunderstorm but lightning 740 00:27:30,789 --> 00:27:29,120 that can be triggered due to a rocket 741 00:27:31,830 --> 00:27:30,799 launching through elevated electrical 742 00:27:34,549 --> 00:27:31,840 fields 743 00:27:36,230 --> 00:27:34,559 now if we happen to delay 24 hours the 744 00:27:38,230 --> 00:27:36,240 big question mark will be what is that 745 00:27:40,230 --> 00:27:38,240 tropical wave going to do right now 746 00:27:42,470 --> 00:27:40,240 some of the models bring it most models 747 00:27:43,909 --> 00:27:42,480 bring it actually straight west but then 748 00:27:45,909 --> 00:27:43,919 some of the models actually bring it a 749 00:27:48,389 --> 00:27:45,919 little bit more towards the north and 750 00:27:51,750 --> 00:27:48,399 headed into hispaniola and then just 751 00:27:52,549 --> 00:27:51,760 southeast of south eastern cuba 752 00:27:54,149 --> 00:27:52,559 by 753 00:27:56,389 --> 00:27:54,159 as we get into saturday morning what 754 00:27:58,070 --> 00:27:56,399 that means for us is that the ridge 755 00:27:59,830 --> 00:27:58,080 actually migrates back up to the north 756 00:28:01,990 --> 00:27:59,840 and we get into more of an easterly flow 757 00:28:04,549 --> 00:28:02,000 pattern and that can cause some isolated 758 00:28:06,070 --> 00:28:04,559 showers to occur on saturday morning so 759 00:28:08,470 --> 00:28:06,080 our main concern if we happen to delay 760 00:28:10,870 --> 00:28:08,480 24 hours would be a cumulus cloud rule 761 00:28:12,710 --> 00:28:10,880 violation that's associated with these 762 00:28:14,389 --> 00:28:12,720 isolated showers and we'd be mainly 763 00:28:16,470 --> 00:28:14,399 watching for any cumulus clouds within 764 00:28:18,230 --> 00:28:16,480 10 nautical miles of the launch pad and 765 00:28:20,070 --> 00:28:18,240 looking at how tall those clouds are to 766 00:28:21,669 --> 00:28:20,080 see if they violate the rule and and we 767 00:28:23,269 --> 00:28:21,679 don't expect any lightning with those 768 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:23,279 but again it's a more of a triggered 769 00:28:26,710 --> 00:28:25,120 lightning concern and that's what a lot 770 00:28:28,870 --> 00:28:26,720 of our lightning launch make criteria 771 00:28:30,789 --> 00:28:28,880 rules are about is triggered lightning 772 00:28:32,950 --> 00:28:30,799 so overall still a better chance than 773 00:28:35,669 --> 00:28:32,960 not when it comes to weather still 60 774 00:28:37,110 --> 00:28:35,679 chance of having go weather for launch 775 00:28:39,830 --> 00:28:37,120 but there is some concern for thick 776 00:28:41,909 --> 00:28:39,840 clouds on the morning of launch 777 00:28:44,389 --> 00:28:41,919 all right thank you kathy and we're 778 00:28:45,990 --> 00:28:44,399 ready now to take questions please give 779 00:28:48,470 --> 00:28:46,000 your name an affiliation when the 780 00:28:51,750 --> 00:28:48,480 microphone comes to you and we'll start 781 00:28:53,750 --> 00:28:51,760 here in the front with marcia 782 00:28:55,830 --> 00:28:53,760 marcia done associated press probably 783 00:28:58,470 --> 00:28:55,840 for mr fitzgerald 784 00:29:00,950 --> 00:28:58,480 why has it taken so long to 785 00:29:02,389 --> 00:29:00,960 launch a spacecraft to the radiation 786 00:29:05,350 --> 00:29:02,399 belts to get a good handle on what's 787 00:29:06,549 --> 00:29:05,360 going over going on there and 788 00:29:08,149 --> 00:29:06,559 if you could give a little history of 789 00:29:09,909 --> 00:29:08,159 perhaps other craft that have done 790 00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:09,919 research in this area and how are you 791 00:29:15,269 --> 00:29:12,080 going to be protecting these two craft 792 00:29:18,070 --> 00:29:15,279 from a pretty hazardous environment 793 00:29:20,070 --> 00:29:18,080 thank you some of the details about the 794 00:29:22,149 --> 00:29:20,080 the history i think some of our science 795 00:29:23,669 --> 00:29:22,159 folks could could give you better 796 00:29:25,750 --> 00:29:23,679 but i will say that there was a mission 797 00:29:27,750 --> 00:29:25,760 called cress that did 798 00:29:30,470 --> 00:29:27,760 go to the radiation belts it was a 799 00:29:32,149 --> 00:29:30,480 single spacecraft and 800 00:29:34,070 --> 00:29:32,159 and it unlocked some of the mysteries of 801 00:29:36,070 --> 00:29:34,080 the radiation belts but left additional 802 00:29:38,070 --> 00:29:36,080 questions for instance this this issue 803 00:29:39,909 --> 00:29:38,080 about seeing a lot of solar activity 804 00:29:42,549 --> 00:29:39,919 that you would expect may excite the 805 00:29:44,149 --> 00:29:42,559 radiation belts but in fact did not 806 00:29:45,909 --> 00:29:44,159 why did that happen uh we don't 807 00:29:47,510 --> 00:29:45,919 understand that 808 00:29:49,430 --> 00:29:47,520 so 809 00:29:52,230 --> 00:29:49,440 the the radiation belt storm probes 810 00:29:54,230 --> 00:29:52,240 mission this twin satellite mission is 811 00:29:55,430 --> 00:29:54,240 supremely equipped to make the 812 00:29:56,710 --> 00:29:55,440 measurements that would help us 813 00:29:58,310 --> 00:29:56,720 understand 814 00:30:00,549 --> 00:29:58,320 what those um 815 00:30:02,630 --> 00:30:00,559 what the processes are that are going on 816 00:30:04,389 --> 00:30:02,640 within the belts and um and due to 817 00:30:06,870 --> 00:30:04,399 coronal mass ejection 818 00:30:08,070 --> 00:30:06,880 um with respect to how do we protect the 819 00:30:10,389 --> 00:30:08,080 the mission 820 00:30:11,269 --> 00:30:10,399 so that's a great question too 821 00:30:13,830 --> 00:30:11,279 so 822 00:30:16,310 --> 00:30:13,840 i started off with an analogy i'm a 823 00:30:18,630 --> 00:30:16,320 runner and as a runner there's this 824 00:30:21,510 --> 00:30:18,640 slogan you see at track events that says 825 00:30:23,990 --> 00:30:21,520 my sport is your sports punishment 826 00:30:25,590 --> 00:30:24,000 and on this mission our mission is other 827 00:30:26,950 --> 00:30:25,600 missions punishment 828 00:30:28,789 --> 00:30:26,960 we're going to a place that other 829 00:30:30,630 --> 00:30:28,799 missions try to avoid and we need to 830 00:30:32,630 --> 00:30:30,640 live there for two years that's one of 831 00:30:34,389 --> 00:30:32,640 our biggest technical challenges 832 00:30:37,830 --> 00:30:34,399 and so we did that 833 00:30:39,430 --> 00:30:37,840 on many different uh levels um the first 834 00:30:43,190 --> 00:30:39,440 is we have a lot of shielding of all 835 00:30:45,430 --> 00:30:43,200 electronic boxes so um we have uh three 836 00:30:47,029 --> 00:30:45,440 uh 350 mils of aluminum shielding around 837 00:30:48,950 --> 00:30:47,039 our electronics that's about a third of 838 00:30:50,470 --> 00:30:48,960 an inch to give you a better feel for 839 00:30:54,470 --> 00:30:50,480 that 840 00:30:56,950 --> 00:30:54,480 these highly charged particles from 841 00:31:00,230 --> 00:30:56,960 penetrating our sensitive electronics in 842 00:31:02,230 --> 00:31:00,240 addition the electronics themselves we 843 00:31:03,110 --> 00:31:02,240 selected a lot of radiation hardened 844 00:31:05,990 --> 00:31:03,120 parts 845 00:31:07,830 --> 00:31:06,000 so you can purchase those they are more 846 00:31:09,269 --> 00:31:07,840 expensive than standard parts and they 847 00:31:11,029 --> 00:31:09,279 they also give you some level of 848 00:31:13,430 --> 00:31:11,039 protection against 849 00:31:16,710 --> 00:31:13,440 both single event upset and cumulative 850 00:31:18,950 --> 00:31:16,720 radiation over time 851 00:31:21,430 --> 00:31:18,960 and and so those things are the primary 852 00:31:23,190 --> 00:31:21,440 mechanism mechanisms for us to protect 853 00:31:24,789 --> 00:31:23,200 against the environment that we're going 854 00:31:27,350 --> 00:31:24,799 to fly in 855 00:31:28,870 --> 00:31:27,360 we also have uh some other specialized 856 00:31:30,389 --> 00:31:28,880 things that we've done to help with the 857 00:31:32,389 --> 00:31:30,399 science measurements so we need to be 858 00:31:34,470 --> 00:31:32,399 magnetically quiet as you saw in that 859 00:31:36,389 --> 00:31:34,480 magnetic swing test so basically that 860 00:31:38,710 --> 00:31:36,399 was kind of like walking through a 861 00:31:40,710 --> 00:31:38,720 magnetometer at the airport if you had 862 00:31:43,509 --> 00:31:40,720 no metal in your pockets the it doesn't 863 00:31:45,350 --> 00:31:43,519 go off in that test we're also trying to 864 00:31:47,509 --> 00:31:45,360 make sure that the spacecraft itself is 865 00:31:50,470 --> 00:31:47,519 not inducing a magnetic field that would 866 00:31:52,870 --> 00:31:50,480 be picked up by our emphasis instrument 867 00:31:53,990 --> 00:31:52,880 um and and therefore cause noise on that 868 00:31:56,389 --> 00:31:54,000 measurement 869 00:31:57,909 --> 00:31:56,399 uh so there are a lot of uh unique 870 00:32:00,549 --> 00:31:57,919 things about the mission that we had to 871 00:32:02,149 --> 00:32:00,559 think about and design into in order to 872 00:32:06,310 --> 00:32:02,159 make the the sensitive measurements that 873 00:32:13,590 --> 00:32:08,549 any other questions for our pre-launch 874 00:32:19,350 --> 00:32:15,990 hi justin wright with spaceflightnow.com 875 00:32:21,350 --> 00:32:19,360 twofer for tim uh um are you visit 876 00:32:23,909 --> 00:32:21,360 physically doing anything on the rd180 877 00:32:26,710 --> 00:32:23,919 here on the vehicle here or is it more 878 00:32:28,470 --> 00:32:26,720 of a paperwork analysis type of effort 879 00:32:31,269 --> 00:32:28,480 and uh would you expect this issue is 880 00:32:33,430 --> 00:32:31,279 going to be resolved by tomorrow's lrr 881 00:32:35,509 --> 00:32:33,440 yeah let me uh answer that and i'll let 882 00:32:36,710 --> 00:32:35,519 vern add a little more we're doing both 883 00:32:39,430 --> 00:32:36,720 justin 884 00:32:41,110 --> 00:32:39,440 we are doing testing on the rbsp 885 00:32:43,110 --> 00:32:41,120 hardware today 886 00:32:44,470 --> 00:32:43,120 we are doing engine 887 00:32:47,190 --> 00:32:44,480 cycling tests 888 00:32:49,909 --> 00:32:47,200 and as well as data review we're doing a 889 00:32:52,470 --> 00:32:49,919 combination data review from the decatur 890 00:32:53,669 --> 00:32:52,480 anomaly that occurred over the weekend 891 00:32:56,549 --> 00:32:53,679 through the joint 892 00:32:58,149 --> 00:32:56,559 team the ula team nasa as well as pratt 893 00:32:59,430 --> 00:32:58,159 whitney rocketdyne 894 00:33:01,509 --> 00:32:59,440 and uh 895 00:33:03,029 --> 00:33:01,519 when the technical team met yesterday 896 00:33:05,830 --> 00:33:03,039 afternoon 897 00:33:07,509 --> 00:33:05,840 i would categorize it as we did have a 898 00:33:08,950 --> 00:33:07,519 high confidence that we would be able to 899 00:33:10,549 --> 00:33:08,960 get through this 900 00:33:12,710 --> 00:33:10,559 but we did want to perform today's 901 00:33:13,909 --> 00:33:12,720 confidence testing as well as completed 902 00:33:16,310 --> 00:33:13,919 data review 903 00:33:18,470 --> 00:33:16,320 fern anything to add no i think tim 904 00:33:20,630 --> 00:33:18,480 provided a good summary we think we 905 00:33:21,990 --> 00:33:20,640 understand what the issue is the testing 906 00:33:23,590 --> 00:33:22,000 that we're doing today will build up 907 00:33:25,190 --> 00:33:23,600 some separation between this engine and 908 00:33:27,110 --> 00:33:25,200 the engine in the factory where we saw 909 00:33:28,470 --> 00:33:27,120 the issue 910 00:33:30,470 --> 00:33:28,480 even though we think we know what the 911 00:33:32,870 --> 00:33:30,480 issue is we're going to move very slowly 912 00:33:34,549 --> 00:33:32,880 very carefully today the testing itself 913 00:33:36,230 --> 00:33:34,559 that we're going to be performing on the 914 00:33:37,909 --> 00:33:36,240 engine lasts about four hours but some 915 00:33:40,149 --> 00:33:37,919 of our folks have about a 14-hour day 916 00:33:42,070 --> 00:33:40,159 ahead of them because of all the uh all 917 00:33:44,149 --> 00:33:42,080 of the review and and thought and 918 00:33:46,389 --> 00:33:44,159 preparation that goes into that to make 919 00:33:48,230 --> 00:33:46,399 sure uh that we that we're really on the 920 00:33:49,990 --> 00:33:48,240 right track but i would say overall 921 00:33:54,149 --> 00:33:50,000 we're pretty optimistic that we know 922 00:33:58,230 --> 00:33:55,990 quick spacecraft question are you 923 00:33:59,669 --> 00:33:58,240 actually going into your final orbit 924 00:34:01,190 --> 00:33:59,679 when you come off of the centaur or do 925 00:34:03,750 --> 00:34:01,200 you have to do any sort of raising burns 926 00:34:05,269 --> 00:34:03,760 in your initial 60-day period 927 00:34:07,909 --> 00:34:05,279 essentially we're injecting into the 928 00:34:09,589 --> 00:34:07,919 orbit that we want to be into of course 929 00:34:11,909 --> 00:34:09,599 you know we'll assess that after we get 930 00:34:15,190 --> 00:34:11,919 dropped off and uh and find out where 931 00:34:16,550 --> 00:34:15,200 exactly uh we are but um we the intent 932 00:34:18,629 --> 00:34:16,560 is that we'll we'll begin our 933 00:34:20,869 --> 00:34:18,639 deployments that we're in where we want 934 00:34:23,589 --> 00:34:20,879 to be and as i said over the next 60 935 00:34:25,589 --> 00:34:23,599 days we will be turning on the science 936 00:34:27,430 --> 00:34:25,599 instruments and assessing what we have 937 00:34:29,030 --> 00:34:27,440 and and where we are but the direct 938 00:34:30,470 --> 00:34:29,040 answer question is yes we're essentially 939 00:34:32,829 --> 00:34:30,480 where we want to be when we get dropped 940 00:34:38,310 --> 00:34:36,069 james james dean of florida today for 941 00:34:40,470 --> 00:34:38,320 kathy and and tim i think isn't space 942 00:34:41,750 --> 00:34:40,480 weather part of the the launch forecast 943 00:34:42,790 --> 00:34:41,760 that you provide 944 00:34:45,589 --> 00:34:42,800 um 945 00:34:47,510 --> 00:34:45,599 you know what can you provide 946 00:34:49,349 --> 00:34:47,520 why do you need it and and you know 947 00:34:50,710 --> 00:34:49,359 assuming the goal here is eventually to 948 00:34:53,190 --> 00:34:50,720 do that better you know how helpful 949 00:34:55,510 --> 00:34:53,200 would that be for you 950 00:34:57,430 --> 00:34:55,520 it is uh we do look at proton flux units 951 00:34:59,190 --> 00:34:57,440 and right now it seems that this week so 952 00:35:00,790 --> 00:34:59,200 far is looking relatively quiet there's 953 00:35:02,069 --> 00:35:00,800 a couple of sunspots that are rotating 954 00:35:04,150 --> 00:35:02,079 around the side of the sun that we're 955 00:35:06,630 --> 00:35:04,160 going to be watching for solar flare 956 00:35:08,150 --> 00:35:06,640 activity but so far it's a little bit 957 00:35:10,230 --> 00:35:08,160 far out to tell if those are going to be 958 00:35:11,510 --> 00:35:10,240 active enough to generate a flare and 959 00:35:13,990 --> 00:35:11,520 we'll get a better feel for that as we 960 00:35:16,150 --> 00:35:14,000 get a couple days before launch but we 961 00:35:18,950 --> 00:35:16,160 will be watching pro for proton flux 962 00:35:21,829 --> 00:35:18,960 activity associated with solar flares 963 00:35:24,630 --> 00:35:21,839 and you can give the y i guess 964 00:35:27,190 --> 00:35:24,640 yeah we do monitor uh the proton flux it 965 00:35:29,670 --> 00:35:27,200 is a critical launch constraint for us 966 00:35:31,589 --> 00:35:29,680 highly energized particles 967 00:35:34,790 --> 00:35:31,599 would tend to cause 968 00:35:37,030 --> 00:35:34,800 single event upsets or bit hits in 969 00:35:39,030 --> 00:35:37,040 flight computers on launch vehicles 970 00:35:43,190 --> 00:35:39,040 so we do have a constraint for that and 971 00:35:47,990 --> 00:35:45,910 just just following up can you speak um 972 00:35:48,950 --> 00:35:48,000 just in general about the the frequency 973 00:35:51,349 --> 00:35:48,960 of 974 00:35:52,710 --> 00:35:51,359 um you know space weather events 975 00:35:55,270 --> 00:35:52,720 affecting 976 00:35:57,510 --> 00:35:55,280 spacecraft base based assets i guess 977 00:35:59,349 --> 00:35:57,520 obviously again that's a goal of 978 00:36:02,150 --> 00:35:59,359 better prediction is to protect those 979 00:36:03,589 --> 00:36:02,160 types of of uh assets and and um but 980 00:36:05,990 --> 00:36:03,599 it's not doesn't seem very often that 981 00:36:08,470 --> 00:36:06,000 i've that that i've heard of um you know 982 00:36:10,390 --> 00:36:08,480 a spacecraft being damaged or disabled 983 00:36:11,990 --> 00:36:10,400 from that sort of thing just just trying 984 00:36:13,510 --> 00:36:12,000 to get a feel for how common this is and 985 00:36:15,829 --> 00:36:13,520 you know 986 00:36:17,910 --> 00:36:15,839 yeah i could speak from the launch 987 00:36:21,190 --> 00:36:17,920 vehicle side of it uh because we do 988 00:36:23,589 --> 00:36:21,200 monitor for that type of uh activity in 989 00:36:25,349 --> 00:36:23,599 the atmosphere we're generally protected 990 00:36:27,109 --> 00:36:25,359 on the launch vehicle so we don't tend 991 00:36:29,750 --> 00:36:27,119 to experience very much during the 992 00:36:32,310 --> 00:36:29,760 launch phase of operations 993 00:36:35,030 --> 00:36:32,320 for the spacecraft side rick you may 994 00:36:38,790 --> 00:36:36,710 knowledge of past 995 00:36:40,870 --> 00:36:38,800 upsets of spacecraft on orbit and how 996 00:36:42,150 --> 00:36:40,880 that affects them 997 00:36:43,510 --> 00:36:42,160 it's a bit of a conundrum so we're 998 00:36:45,510 --> 00:36:43,520 worried about space weather when we're 999 00:36:47,109 --> 00:36:45,520 launching a mission to give a space 1000 00:36:48,550 --> 00:36:47,119 weather it's kind of like 1001 00:36:50,870 --> 00:36:48,560 being worried about driving through snow 1002 00:36:52,710 --> 00:36:50,880 to go skiing right so 1003 00:36:55,589 --> 00:36:52,720 we are going to 1004 00:36:57,510 --> 00:36:55,599 to uh watch the forecast um we're a 1005 00:36:59,829 --> 00:36:57,520 little bit more resilient 1006 00:37:01,750 --> 00:36:59,839 than the the launch vehicle is uh for 1007 00:37:02,790 --> 00:37:01,760 the space weather uh because of the way 1008 00:37:05,030 --> 00:37:02,800 we're built 1009 00:37:06,710 --> 00:37:05,040 um with respect to uh space weather 1010 00:37:09,750 --> 00:37:06,720 events sometimes you don't hear about 1011 00:37:11,190 --> 00:37:09,760 them because on orbit assets try as best 1012 00:37:13,589 --> 00:37:11,200 they can with the space weather 1013 00:37:16,390 --> 00:37:13,599 predictions that we have they can turn 1014 00:37:17,750 --> 00:37:16,400 off some sensitive electronics 1015 00:37:19,829 --> 00:37:17,760 in order to 1016 00:37:20,950 --> 00:37:19,839 avoid single event upsets and actual 1017 00:37:22,710 --> 00:37:20,960 failure 1018 00:37:24,710 --> 00:37:22,720 and that's another part of our mission 1019 00:37:26,790 --> 00:37:24,720 is to be able to 1020 00:37:28,630 --> 00:37:26,800 give better space weather 1021 00:37:30,710 --> 00:37:28,640 information that other 1022 00:37:32,630 --> 00:37:30,720 agencies and and other spacecraft 1023 00:37:34,870 --> 00:37:32,640 providers can use for their own orbit 1024 00:37:36,630 --> 00:37:34,880 assets as far as 1025 00:37:39,190 --> 00:37:36,640 making the news um 1026 00:37:42,150 --> 00:37:39,200 it makes the news when it affects the 1027 00:37:45,430 --> 00:37:42,160 general population the most uh so 1028 00:37:47,510 --> 00:37:45,440 when gps is affected um that that it can 1029 00:37:50,069 --> 00:37:47,520 affect so many people in so many ways it 1030 00:37:51,670 --> 00:37:50,079 can affect airliners it can affect uh 1031 00:37:53,670 --> 00:37:51,680 communication it can affect a lot of 1032 00:37:55,510 --> 00:37:53,680 things and so when those kinds of things 1033 00:37:58,230 --> 00:37:55,520 happen you hear more about it or a 1034 00:38:00,069 --> 00:37:58,240 communication satellite when when a com 1035 00:38:02,390 --> 00:38:00,079 link is interrupted 1036 00:38:04,710 --> 00:38:02,400 in in the middle of an important event 1037 00:38:05,990 --> 00:38:04,720 that kind of stuff makes the news um a 1038 00:38:07,030 --> 00:38:06,000 lot of things a lot of science 1039 00:38:09,190 --> 00:38:07,040 measurement 1040 00:38:11,430 --> 00:38:09,200 um spacecraft don't necessarily make the 1041 00:38:13,430 --> 00:38:11,440 news if they have an event that they are 1042 00:38:14,790 --> 00:38:13,440 dealing with 1043 00:38:16,310 --> 00:38:14,800 so that's that's something i can't 1044 00:38:17,670 --> 00:38:16,320 really answer about when you hear about 1045 00:38:20,150 --> 00:38:17,680 it when you don't that's more or less 1046 00:38:21,670 --> 00:38:20,160 controlled by the media but it is a real 1047 00:38:23,190 --> 00:38:21,680 thing that you have to worry about and 1048 00:38:24,870 --> 00:38:23,200 this mission is all about helping 1049 00:38:27,270 --> 00:38:24,880 everybody understand what's really out 1050 00:38:29,670 --> 00:38:27,280 there that they need to deal with 1051 00:38:32,230 --> 00:38:29,680 maybe i could um 1052 00:38:34,710 --> 00:38:32,240 contribute a little something there 1053 00:38:37,750 --> 00:38:34,720 just so you you understand we 1054 00:38:40,710 --> 00:38:37,760 the science mission directorate operates 1055 00:38:42,390 --> 00:38:40,720 some 50-odd missions 1056 00:38:44,390 --> 00:38:42,400 across our four 1057 00:38:47,430 --> 00:38:44,400 disciplines 1058 00:38:49,589 --> 00:38:47,440 i get a report anytime one of those 1059 00:38:52,630 --> 00:38:49,599 missions 1060 00:38:55,990 --> 00:38:52,640 operations is disrupted 1061 00:38:59,589 --> 00:38:56,000 anecdotally i will tell you that 1062 00:39:02,069 --> 00:39:01,190 about once a month 1063 00:39:05,510 --> 00:39:02,079 um 1064 00:39:07,829 --> 00:39:05,520 a mission will uh so one not not not the 1065 00:39:09,670 --> 00:39:07,839 same mission every month obviously but 1066 00:39:11,430 --> 00:39:09,680 of those that collective group of 1067 00:39:14,790 --> 00:39:11,440 missions 1068 00:39:18,230 --> 00:39:14,800 uh probably 10 12 times a year 1069 00:39:21,030 --> 00:39:18,240 we'll have a satellite either have a 1070 00:39:26,870 --> 00:39:23,910 we refer to them as single event upsets 1071 00:39:28,790 --> 00:39:26,880 or we do have some missions who as rick 1072 00:39:31,510 --> 00:39:28,800 said take 1073 00:39:34,630 --> 00:39:31,520 proactive action if we understand that 1074 00:39:35,910 --> 00:39:34,640 there's a a solar event that's taking 1075 00:39:39,349 --> 00:39:35,920 place 1076 00:39:41,990 --> 00:39:39,359 in order to avoid a problem 1077 00:39:43,910 --> 00:39:42,000 the the impact of that may not make the 1078 00:39:47,030 --> 00:39:43,920 press because it doesn't impact people 1079 00:39:49,030 --> 00:39:47,040 day to day but we're talking about space 1080 00:39:50,710 --> 00:39:49,040 assets that cost 1081 00:39:52,390 --> 00:39:50,720 hundreds of millions of dollars to 1082 00:39:57,109 --> 00:39:52,400 collect science 1083 00:39:59,430 --> 00:39:57,119 data we don't like losing one bit 1084 00:40:02,310 --> 00:39:59,440 i mean that literally bit 1085 00:40:04,550 --> 00:40:02,320 of science data and so 1086 00:40:06,309 --> 00:40:04,560 it's it's a very disturbing event when 1087 00:40:08,230 --> 00:40:06,319 we have to uh 1088 00:40:10,870 --> 00:40:08,240 shut up an instrument down or a 1089 00:40:13,109 --> 00:40:10,880 spacecraft down bring it back up again 1090 00:40:16,150 --> 00:40:13,119 we can recover from those we we we 1091 00:40:17,030 --> 00:40:16,160 always do and or almost always do 1092 00:40:19,349 --> 00:40:17,040 but 1093 00:40:20,870 --> 00:40:19,359 the recovery means that you've lost some 1094 00:40:23,750 --> 00:40:20,880 time period 1095 00:40:25,030 --> 00:40:23,760 of data so it's not an insignificant 1096 00:40:26,150 --> 00:40:25,040 impact to 1097 00:40:29,430 --> 00:40:26,160 um 1098 00:40:31,349 --> 00:40:29,440 to the on-orbit assets 1099 00:40:35,030 --> 00:40:31,359 marsha follow-up yes two quick 1100 00:40:36,710 --> 00:40:35,040 follow-ups um the 386 million dollar 1101 00:40:38,390 --> 00:40:36,720 cost of the mission does that that 1102 00:40:40,870 --> 00:40:38,400 includes the launch costs 1103 00:40:42,470 --> 00:40:40,880 the total nas emission cost is 686 1104 00:40:44,870 --> 00:40:42,480 million dollars and that does include 1105 00:40:47,349 --> 00:40:44,880 the launch vehicle and all phases of the 1106 00:40:50,150 --> 00:40:47,359 mission and and do you have any plans 1107 00:40:52,230 --> 00:40:50,160 after launch to name a and b 1108 00:40:53,829 --> 00:40:52,240 or will they always be a and b there are 1109 00:40:55,270 --> 00:40:53,839 some plans under discussion from nasa 1110 00:40:56,710 --> 00:40:55,280 headquarters i don't know mike if you 1111 00:40:58,790 --> 00:40:56,720 want to address that 1112 00:41:01,190 --> 00:40:58,800 uh well uh 1113 00:41:03,589 --> 00:41:01,200 we there we have a process that we have 1114 00:41:06,630 --> 00:41:03,599 to go through there is there's been a 1115 00:41:08,790 --> 00:41:06,640 proposal it has to be vetted before we 1116 00:41:11,109 --> 00:41:08,800 can make an announcement 1117 00:41:12,630 --> 00:41:11,119 so i am not prepared to to make that 1118 00:41:14,630 --> 00:41:12,640 announcement here 1119 00:41:16,309 --> 00:41:14,640 but there are some some proposals that 1120 00:41:19,430 --> 00:41:16,319 are being considered for names that have 1121 00:41:21,430 --> 00:41:19,440 to go go through a process 1122 00:41:23,829 --> 00:41:21,440 definitely after launch 1123 00:41:26,870 --> 00:41:23,839 yeah right after the successful launch 1124 00:41:30,470 --> 00:41:28,950 all right i think we have someone 1125 00:41:32,309 --> 00:41:30,480 following on the 1126 00:41:34,230 --> 00:41:32,319 phone as well michael wall did you have 1127 00:41:39,670 --> 00:41:34,240 a question and if you do if you can give 1128 00:41:45,030 --> 00:41:41,670 oh yeah hi this is mike wahl from from 1129 00:41:48,630 --> 00:41:46,470 we can hear you 1130 00:41:49,910 --> 00:41:48,640 okay thanks sorry um 1131 00:41:51,670 --> 00:41:49,920 yeah yeah i just like a little more 1132 00:41:53,510 --> 00:41:51,680 information about the anomaly i mean is 1133 00:41:56,069 --> 00:41:53,520 this something that that you guys have 1134 00:41:57,430 --> 00:41:56,079 seen before i mean the rocket and um 1135 00:41:59,109 --> 00:41:57,440 yeah i mean what are some of the steps 1136 00:42:00,309 --> 00:41:59,119 that that you're taking i know you sort 1137 00:42:01,510 --> 00:42:00,319 of outlined them 1138 00:42:03,190 --> 00:42:01,520 could you go into a little bit more 1139 00:42:05,910 --> 00:42:03,200 detail about sort of how you're like 1140 00:42:07,030 --> 00:42:05,920 going about fixing this 1141 00:42:08,950 --> 00:42:07,040 you want me to take that yeah i'll let 1142 00:42:10,950 --> 00:42:08,960 you take that okay this is vern thorpe 1143 00:42:13,510 --> 00:42:10,960 with united launch alliance 1144 00:42:16,150 --> 00:42:13,520 uh we can tell you that the uh 1145 00:42:18,630 --> 00:42:16,160 anomaly that we saw was on a hydraulic 1146 00:42:21,670 --> 00:42:18,640 system actuator essentially 1147 00:42:24,470 --> 00:42:21,680 and uh we've seen uh similar similar 1148 00:42:25,910 --> 00:42:24,480 data signatures before on on similar 1149 00:42:27,750 --> 00:42:25,920 actuators 1150 00:42:30,069 --> 00:42:27,760 and that's the primary reason why we 1151 00:42:32,150 --> 00:42:30,079 think we understand what's going on that 1152 00:42:34,309 --> 00:42:32,160 that data signature combined with a 1153 00:42:36,950 --> 00:42:34,319 detailed understanding of 1154 00:42:38,390 --> 00:42:36,960 the internal workings of this hydraulic 1155 00:42:40,069 --> 00:42:38,400 system 1156 00:42:42,550 --> 00:42:40,079 i'm really not a liberty to go into too 1157 00:42:44,790 --> 00:42:42,560 much more detail than that 1158 00:42:46,390 --> 00:42:44,800 other than to say that uh you know even 1159 00:42:48,630 --> 00:42:46,400 though we we think we understand it we 1160 00:42:51,270 --> 00:42:48,640 think we've got a good hydraulic system 1161 00:42:53,430 --> 00:42:51,280 on the engine for the rbsp mission 1162 00:42:54,950 --> 00:42:53,440 uh we're not gonna take anything for 1163 00:42:56,710 --> 00:42:54,960 granted or make any assumptions we don't 1164 00:42:58,230 --> 00:42:56,720 have to we're gonna go in and do this 1165 00:43:01,510 --> 00:42:58,240 screening test today that will give us 1166 00:43:03,990 --> 00:43:01,520 confidence that the engine for our bsp 1167 00:43:06,309 --> 00:43:04,000 is not susceptible to the same type of 1168 00:43:10,550 --> 00:43:06,319 anomalous data signature that we saw 1169 00:43:10,560 --> 00:43:14,309 thank you 1170 00:43:19,750 --> 00:43:16,790 all right back here for any last 1171 00:43:24,309 --> 00:43:21,589 all right in that event we're going to 1172 00:43:26,230 --> 00:43:24,319 pause long enough just to change our 1173 00:43:30,630 --> 00:43:26,240 players here on the dice and we'll go