1 00:00:07,130 --> 00:00:05,150 okay hi everybody this is a Josh Byerly 2 00:00:09,169 --> 00:00:07,140 here inside Mission Control Houston I am 3 00:00:12,140 --> 00:00:09,179 sitting here with doug wheelock an 4 00:00:14,150 --> 00:00:12,150 astronaut he flew back on sts-1 20 which 5 00:00:16,220 --> 00:00:14,160 was space shuttle Discovery back in two 6 00:00:17,660 --> 00:00:16,230 thousand seven performed a series of 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:17,670 spacewalks and then he also became 8 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:19,050 commander of the International Space 9 00:00:24,859 --> 00:00:21,810 Station back in 2010 as part of 10 00:00:26,300 --> 00:00:24,869 expedition 25 so he's going to be happy 11 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:26,310 to take your questions he's the smarter 12 00:00:29,179 --> 00:00:27,570 of the two of us they'll probably be 13 00:00:30,410 --> 00:00:29,189 answering most of them so if you guys 14 00:00:32,319 --> 00:00:30,420 want to go ahead and get it kicked off 15 00:00:37,670 --> 00:00:32,329 we'll we'll be happy to talk with you 16 00:00:40,190 --> 00:00:37,680 right thank you hello Dave everybody 17 00:00:42,619 --> 00:00:40,200 there in acworth georgia I kind of 18 00:00:44,959 --> 00:00:42,629 missed that there that part of the 19 00:00:47,180 --> 00:00:44,969 country I went to school did my graduate 20 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:47,190 work at Georgia Tech so spent a little 21 00:00:51,340 --> 00:00:48,930 at the time there in atlanta area so 22 00:00:59,900 --> 00:00:51,350 it's good to be talking to you today 23 00:01:03,110 --> 00:00:59,910 thank you describe your spacewalk 24 00:01:06,350 --> 00:01:03,120 experience during the emergency shutdown 25 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:06,360 of the ISS just pulley system were you 26 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:09,090 afraid wow that's a great question what 27 00:01:17,420 --> 00:01:14,970 is your name my name is Caitlin Caitlin 28 00:01:19,359 --> 00:01:17,430 that's a great question Caitlin I get to 29 00:01:21,950 --> 00:01:19,369 actually get that question a lot from 30 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:21,960 from kids because we're all kind of I'm 31 00:01:28,010 --> 00:01:25,650 a kid at heart as well myself but you do 32 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:28,020 fear you do have some fears when you're 33 00:01:30,590 --> 00:01:29,130 when you're getting ready to do 34 00:01:32,510 --> 00:01:30,600 something like this because it wasn't 35 00:01:35,030 --> 00:01:32,520 something that we had trained for and so 36 00:01:37,850 --> 00:01:35,040 we had trained the skills that we needed 37 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:37,860 to take outside to change out this pump 38 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:40,710 module that you were referring to and we 39 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:42,570 had worked together as a team before but 40 00:01:46,219 --> 00:01:44,490 we were facing something that was a 41 00:01:48,380 --> 00:01:46,229 little bit unknown for us that we hadn't 42 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:48,390 had a chance to practice so so I 43 00:01:54,649 --> 00:01:50,850 wouldn't call it fear I I would say that 44 00:01:56,810 --> 00:01:54,659 you you manage that to where you you 45 00:01:58,399 --> 00:01:56,820 have to pull together as a team because 46 00:01:59,749 --> 00:01:58,409 everybody has their strengths and 47 00:02:03,380 --> 00:01:59,759 weaknesses much like you do in school 48 00:02:05,469 --> 00:02:03,390 when you're on a on a team in school or 49 00:02:09,290 --> 00:02:05,479 a sports team or something like that 50 00:02:12,470 --> 00:02:09,300 when you're facing an objective that's 51 00:02:14,110 --> 00:02:12,480 impossible to overcome by yourself you 52 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:14,120 have to pull together as a team 53 00:02:19,509 --> 00:02:17,090 so I think that we were I i call it 54 00:02:22,059 --> 00:02:19,519 heightened senses heightened sensitivity 55 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:22,069 to what was going on and I was certainly 56 00:02:27,309 --> 00:02:24,890 aware that what we were doing was had 57 00:02:30,330 --> 00:02:27,319 some dangers out there and so we we 58 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:30,340 managed those by talking about them and 59 00:02:35,710 --> 00:02:32,090 discussing how we're going to overcome 60 00:02:38,589 --> 00:02:35,720 those things so I was a little bit 61 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:38,599 afraid I have to tell you that but but 62 00:02:41,860 --> 00:02:40,370 when I looked at our team and the team 63 00:02:43,930 --> 00:02:41,870 we'd put together here in Mission 64 00:02:47,110 --> 00:02:43,940 Control I knew that we are in capable 65 00:02:48,819 --> 00:02:47,120 hands with very very smart people that 66 00:02:51,580 --> 00:02:48,829 knew this equipment and so I helped us 67 00:02:54,009 --> 00:02:51,590 overcome our fears as a team and pull 68 00:02:55,569 --> 00:02:54,019 together and and really turn it into 69 00:03:07,180 --> 00:02:55,579 something there was a wonderful 70 00:03:10,839 --> 00:03:07,190 experience are there emergency escape 71 00:03:13,210 --> 00:03:10,849 vehicles for the astronauts yes there 72 00:03:16,059 --> 00:03:13,220 are emergency escape vehicles so we have 73 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:16,069 we call them lifeboats sometimes on the 74 00:03:22,629 --> 00:03:17,810 space station but we do have enough 75 00:03:24,430 --> 00:03:22,639 seats return seats to be able to 76 00:03:27,069 --> 00:03:24,440 evacuate the space station if we needed 77 00:03:30,159 --> 00:03:27,079 to fortunately we haven't had to do that 78 00:03:31,599 --> 00:03:30,169 over the past 10 years we've been our 10 79 00:03:34,690 --> 00:03:31,609 to 12 years we've been on the space 80 00:03:36,789 --> 00:03:34,700 station we have Soyuz vehicles right now 81 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:36,799 that are used as our lifeboats and so 82 00:03:42,309 --> 00:03:39,410 there are six crew members onboard the 83 00:03:45,569 --> 00:03:42,319 space station and each Soyuz vehicle 84 00:03:48,879 --> 00:03:45,579 Soyuz capsule major Russian designed 85 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:48,889 spaceship each of those Soyuz capsules 86 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:52,370 has three seats and so I think you can 87 00:03:57,580 --> 00:03:55,730 maybe see that on your screen the so 88 00:03:59,289 --> 00:03:57,590 there is enough room for everybody to 89 00:04:05,979 --> 00:03:59,299 have a seat in a ride home if there's an 90 00:04:08,140 --> 00:04:05,989 emergency on the space station my name 91 00:04:10,900 --> 00:04:08,150 is winter one and how do you feel about 92 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:10,910 commercial airlines I mean space 93 00:04:18,339 --> 00:04:14,329 stations & the space s XD i think the 94 00:04:19,979 --> 00:04:18,349 SpaceX Dragon is awesome and and I think 95 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:19,989 it's really really exciting because 96 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:22,370 because we're being we're beginning to 97 00:04:27,430 --> 00:04:25,849 see like a an increased interest and 98 00:04:30,780 --> 00:04:27,440 resurgence in the 99 00:04:33,100 --> 00:04:30,790 commercial area of space and so and so 100 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:33,110 NASA is pretty good at pushing the 101 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:34,610 boundaries and going to the next 102 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:37,130 greatest thing and we're planning that 103 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:38,690 we're planning to go out beyond the 104 00:04:44,770 --> 00:04:41,810 space station now and so now with a with 105 00:04:47,170 --> 00:04:44,780 all with getting people and cargo back 106 00:04:49,420 --> 00:04:47,180 and forth from the space station we're 107 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:49,430 going to rely more and more on these 108 00:04:53,740 --> 00:04:51,110 commercial vehicles which i think is 109 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:53,750 wonderful and of course you may have 110 00:04:59,050 --> 00:04:56,570 been watching NASA TV or the news even 111 00:05:02,020 --> 00:04:59,060 with a with the SpaceX Dragon that's now 112 00:05:03,430 --> 00:05:02,030 attached the space station and I think 113 00:05:06,340 --> 00:05:03,440 you can see a picture of it there and 114 00:05:09,220 --> 00:05:06,350 it's I think it's very very exciting 115 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:09,230 because we're beginning to see increased 116 00:05:17,110 --> 00:05:13,010 interest in the commercial area of space 117 00:05:19,930 --> 00:05:17,120 and and space transports supplying the 118 00:05:22,300 --> 00:05:19,940 space station and eventually transport 119 00:05:24,550 --> 00:05:22,310 of humans back and forth to the space 120 00:05:27,100 --> 00:05:24,560 station I think it's very exciting and I 121 00:05:29,350 --> 00:05:27,110 think you're going to see it's a really 122 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:29,360 great very exciting time for you kids 123 00:05:32,740 --> 00:05:31,310 that are in school now because I think 124 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:32,750 you're going to be seeing an increased 125 00:05:38,710 --> 00:05:35,810 interest in in both your the curriculum 126 00:05:40,510 --> 00:05:38,720 that you see in school and also a better 127 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:40,520 and tighter connection between our 128 00:05:46,330 --> 00:05:43,450 commercial companies and our education 129 00:05:48,010 --> 00:05:46,340 department as well so you may see some 130 00:05:50,140 --> 00:05:48,020 additional things coming into the 131 00:05:55,330 --> 00:05:50,150 schools and from the commercial base as 132 00:05:57,510 --> 00:05:55,340 well so I think it's very exciting what 133 00:06:00,250 --> 00:05:57,520 is the American Astronomical Society 134 00:06:03,310 --> 00:06:00,260 flight achievement and what did you do 135 00:06:05,290 --> 00:06:03,320 to deserve you oh there's an award you 136 00:06:07,810 --> 00:06:05,300 probably saw it probably saw it on my 137 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:07,820 bio but it was a it was an award them 138 00:06:17,050 --> 00:06:13,610 that's a society that that focuses on 139 00:06:20,050 --> 00:06:17,060 space and space exploration and travel 140 00:06:22,420 --> 00:06:20,060 and and plans for going different places 141 00:06:25,870 --> 00:06:22,430 and what it would take to get there and 142 00:06:28,390 --> 00:06:25,880 back in two thousand seven we had I was 143 00:06:31,659 --> 00:06:28,400 onboard the station on I flew up on the 144 00:06:35,170 --> 00:06:31,669 space shuttle discovery and we had a 145 00:06:38,050 --> 00:06:35,180 torn solar array we tried to deploy the 146 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:38,060 solar array that we moved from one part 147 00:06:43,700 --> 00:06:39,930 of the station to another 148 00:06:46,189 --> 00:06:43,710 and when we went to deploy it tore much 149 00:06:48,170 --> 00:06:46,199 like a like a piece of paper almost and 150 00:06:51,670 --> 00:06:48,180 we are worried that it was going to tear 151 00:06:54,590 --> 00:06:51,680 completely in half and so rather than 152 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:54,600 continue to deploy process we stopped it 153 00:06:59,870 --> 00:06:57,930 and we built actually like stitches you 154 00:07:01,999 --> 00:06:59,880 may have somebody there in the room may 155 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:02,009 have had stitches before in your skin 156 00:07:08,090 --> 00:07:04,110 you just kind of so something up or 157 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:08,100 sewing up a piece of material we we made 158 00:07:12,980 --> 00:07:10,650 stitches inside of the we took whatever 159 00:07:15,350 --> 00:07:12,990 material we could find and our mission 160 00:07:17,990 --> 00:07:15,360 control team helped us find locate those 161 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:18,000 things on board the space station we 162 00:07:22,990 --> 00:07:19,650 made these stitches and we went outside 163 00:07:26,689 --> 00:07:23,000 and we sewed up the solar array and so 164 00:07:28,909 --> 00:07:26,699 so when we got back it was it was pretty 165 00:07:31,010 --> 00:07:28,919 daring feat and look for of course for 166 00:07:32,570 --> 00:07:31,020 us on board the space station we just 167 00:07:35,830 --> 00:07:32,580 did like we were told and we had the 168 00:07:38,830 --> 00:07:35,840 really really smart and very very 169 00:07:41,420 --> 00:07:38,840 creative people here on the ground that 170 00:07:43,159 --> 00:07:41,430 that came up with this solution and this 171 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:43,169 so they helped us build these things and 172 00:07:50,839 --> 00:07:45,210 we fix that and so when we got back to 173 00:07:54,620 --> 00:07:50,849 earth the Astronomical Society issued an 174 00:07:59,779 --> 00:07:54,630 award to our EV a team for the repair of 175 00:08:02,500 --> 00:07:59,789 this solar array so thank you are you 176 00:08:05,689 --> 00:08:02,510 going to be part of the Mars mission 177 00:08:08,839 --> 00:08:05,699 well I'll probably be too old but what's 178 00:08:12,620 --> 00:08:08,849 exciting is you know I think we're 179 00:08:15,110 --> 00:08:12,630 hoping to go to Mars what maybe 25 or 30 180 00:08:17,300 --> 00:08:15,120 years something like that I'm hoping 181 00:08:18,620 --> 00:08:17,310 that we'll see i'm hoping them i'll 182 00:08:20,839 --> 00:08:18,630 probably be in a rocking chair with a 183 00:08:22,850 --> 00:08:20,849 glass of sweet tea or something 184 00:08:25,129 --> 00:08:22,860 somewhere watching but what's very 185 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:25,139 exciting i think about usually 186 00:08:29,839 --> 00:08:27,090 astronauts when they're selected to fly 187 00:08:31,909 --> 00:08:29,849 in space they're usually in their 30s 188 00:08:33,709 --> 00:08:31,919 maybe like mid 30s or something like 189 00:08:37,339 --> 00:08:33,719 that so you know it's very exciting is 190 00:08:40,430 --> 00:08:37,349 that the first people that will see on 191 00:08:42,980 --> 00:08:40,440 Mars are probably somewhere in our 192 00:08:45,079 --> 00:08:42,990 classrooms right now maybe somebody 193 00:08:47,269 --> 00:08:45,089 there in the classroom you're sitting in 194 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:47,279 right now maybe somebody in that very 195 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:49,770 room will be the first person that will 196 00:08:53,810 --> 00:08:52,290 see on the surface of Mars and that 197 00:08:56,660 --> 00:08:53,820 that's very exciting to 198 00:08:58,850 --> 00:08:56,670 you know thinking that'll maybe 25 or 30 199 00:09:00,080 --> 00:08:58,860 years in the future that may be right 200 00:09:02,570 --> 00:09:00,090 there where you're sitting there's an 201 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:02,580 astronaut in that room and you'll be 202 00:09:06,590 --> 00:09:04,110 sitting here 30 years from now and I'll 203 00:09:07,940 --> 00:09:06,600 be in my rocking chair and listening to 204 00:09:12,730 --> 00:09:07,950 you tell the story about what it was 205 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:12,740 like to go to Mars hey that sounds good 206 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:16,290 how has 178 days and I was faced 207 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:18,930 effector buddy your house oh that's a 208 00:09:23,390 --> 00:09:21,450 really good question 178 days in space 209 00:09:26,620 --> 00:09:23,400 there are a lot of there are some things 210 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:26,630 that I was anticipating and I expected 211 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:28,890 you're you're a little bit your 212 00:09:34,010 --> 00:09:31,410 vestibular system that kind of helps you 213 00:09:36,890 --> 00:09:34,020 balance while you're standing up was was 214 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:36,900 affected and I was expecting that I was 215 00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:38,490 expecting a little bit of you know a 216 00:09:42,830 --> 00:09:40,590 little bit of queasiness and my stomach 217 00:09:45,020 --> 00:09:42,840 when when I got you back used to gravity 218 00:09:47,210 --> 00:09:45,030 and and I I had a little bit of that and 219 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:47,220 I expected that but there were some 220 00:09:51,980 --> 00:09:50,130 things that I didn't really expect 11 my 221 00:09:55,250 --> 00:09:51,990 vision changed a little bit you may have 222 00:09:58,120 --> 00:09:55,260 talked in your classrooms about the 223 00:10:01,190 --> 00:09:58,130 effect long long term effects on vision 224 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:01,200 for long-duration spaceflight and it's 225 00:10:05,150 --> 00:10:02,970 an interesting phenomena that we're 226 00:10:07,850 --> 00:10:05,160 still trying to understand in the 227 00:10:10,970 --> 00:10:07,860 medical field and essentially the 228 00:10:12,650 --> 00:10:10,980 mechanism there is your fluid shifts in 229 00:10:16,580 --> 00:10:12,660 your body and I had like increased 230 00:10:19,370 --> 00:10:16,590 pressure inside of my head and when you 231 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:19,380 have that increased pressure it pushes 232 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:20,970 on the back of your eyes and actually 233 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:22,770 affects your optic nerve as well and so 234 00:10:27,530 --> 00:10:25,290 so we didn't I didn't really expect that 235 00:10:29,060 --> 00:10:27,540 man and then and now so it's been it's 236 00:10:31,970 --> 00:10:29,070 sort of a new avenue that we're looking 237 00:10:34,070 --> 00:10:31,980 at medically to fly long duration in 238 00:10:35,270 --> 00:10:34,080 space another thing that was really 239 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:35,280 surprising there's actually kind of 240 00:10:39,950 --> 00:10:37,410 funny was when you're on the space 241 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:39,960 station everything is floating and so 242 00:10:45,170 --> 00:10:42,770 you have very little reference for like 243 00:10:47,060 --> 00:10:45,180 speeds like different kinds of speeds 244 00:10:49,070 --> 00:10:47,070 and things so like when you're driving 245 00:10:51,410 --> 00:10:49,080 or even when you're out walking or 246 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:51,420 riding a bike or something like that you 247 00:10:56,030 --> 00:10:54,330 have other people that are walking maybe 248 00:10:58,160 --> 00:10:56,040 the other direction or people that are 249 00:10:59,810 --> 00:10:58,170 crossing and of course when we're 250 00:11:01,670 --> 00:10:59,820 driving we have stop lights and stop 251 00:11:03,020 --> 00:11:01,680 signs and things and you have vehicles 252 00:11:05,060 --> 00:11:03,030 that are coming in the other way and 253 00:11:07,639 --> 00:11:05,070 going and there and everybody's at a 254 00:11:08,780 --> 00:11:07,649 different speed and so 255 00:11:11,509 --> 00:11:08,790 your brain gets used to everything 256 00:11:13,999 --> 00:11:11,519 floating so when you come back after six 257 00:11:18,199 --> 00:11:14,009 months it's really hard for your brain 258 00:11:20,449 --> 00:11:18,209 to kind of regain that that ability to 259 00:11:22,249 --> 00:11:20,459 understand like closure rates and 260 00:11:23,780 --> 00:11:22,259 opening rates when you say when you're 261 00:11:25,460 --> 00:11:23,790 driving they don't let us drive for 262 00:11:29,660 --> 00:11:25,470 about 45 days which is really really 263 00:11:31,819 --> 00:11:29,670 good so but but I remember even even 60 264 00:11:34,699 --> 00:11:31,829 days after I landed when I first started 265 00:11:37,489 --> 00:11:34,709 to drive a vehicle and I my daughter was 266 00:11:40,249 --> 00:11:37,499 sitting beside me and and I saw a red 267 00:11:42,199 --> 00:11:40,259 light about maybe a quarter or half a 268 00:11:44,059 --> 00:11:42,209 mile up in front of me and I I quickly 269 00:11:46,009 --> 00:11:44,069 tap the brakes and she said dad what are 270 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:46,019 you doing and I said well I got a red 271 00:11:49,549 --> 00:11:47,610 light she goes but it's like a mile away 272 00:11:51,949 --> 00:11:49,559 you know so but on the space station 273 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:51,959 you're traveling so fast and and things 274 00:11:56,749 --> 00:11:53,970 are floating inside that it's hard to 275 00:11:58,759 --> 00:11:56,759 get that relative speed sense of speed 276 00:12:00,439 --> 00:11:58,769 and so so that was an interesting 277 00:12:06,769 --> 00:12:00,449 phenomena that happens to your body when 278 00:12:09,079 --> 00:12:06,779 you're in space yes actually I wear 279 00:12:10,460 --> 00:12:09,089 these now there's probably some people 280 00:12:13,100 --> 00:12:10,470 in the room that wear glasses i wear 281 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:13,110 these now they help me read but when i 282 00:12:21,379 --> 00:12:18,569 got back from space the the change in my 283 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:21,389 vision everything for me everything was 284 00:12:26,629 --> 00:12:23,610 just a little slightly out of focus and 285 00:12:31,809 --> 00:12:26,639 so so now i wear these do I look good in 286 00:12:34,970 --> 00:12:31,819 them yeah thank you thank you and 287 00:12:38,179 --> 00:12:34,980 fortunately all the things that we do in 288 00:12:41,619 --> 00:12:38,189 space you can do with glasses on so it's 289 00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:41,629 not that not that difficult to adapt to 290 00:12:48,379 --> 00:12:45,480 but but it's hard for it was hard for me 291 00:12:50,749 --> 00:12:48,389 to kind of refocus visually and it took 292 00:12:52,699 --> 00:12:50,759 me about a year and a half from my 293 00:12:55,039 --> 00:12:52,709 vision to come back to where it was 294 00:12:57,169 --> 00:12:55,049 stable and it didn't come all the way 295 00:12:59,660 --> 00:12:57,179 back but it did did have some effects 296 00:13:03,499 --> 00:12:59,670 and I actually was very happy that I was 297 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:03,509 able to to a contribute to to our 298 00:13:11,119 --> 00:13:07,850 medical folks here at at NASA and also 299 00:13:12,919 --> 00:13:11,129 across our nation and occur and globally 300 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:12,929 you know to help us understand this 301 00:13:16,879 --> 00:13:15,569 phenomenon so when we send like somebody 302 00:13:19,249 --> 00:13:16,889 sitting in that room that's going to go 303 00:13:20,319 --> 00:13:19,259 to Mars first person to Mars that may be 304 00:13:24,729 --> 00:13:20,329 a three year 305 00:13:28,169 --> 00:13:24,739 rip out into space and back and to Mars 306 00:13:30,819 --> 00:13:28,179 and so if we if we're seeing vision 307 00:13:32,859 --> 00:13:30,829 changes with only six months in space 308 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:32,869 maybe we really need to take hard look 309 00:13:36,910 --> 00:13:34,910 at this and so so I feel like I've 310 00:13:40,869 --> 00:13:36,920 contribute contributed a little bit to 311 00:13:43,929 --> 00:13:40,879 science so thank you how does space 312 00:13:46,629 --> 00:13:43,939 travel safe the aging process was affect 313 00:13:50,069 --> 00:13:46,639 the aging process well there is a 314 00:13:53,829 --> 00:13:50,079 fountain of youth out there nautica the 315 00:13:56,889 --> 00:13:53,839 well interestingly enough it in some 316 00:13:59,259 --> 00:13:56,899 ways that makes you feel it makes you 317 00:14:02,079 --> 00:13:59,269 feel a little younger because you don't 318 00:14:04,539 --> 00:14:02,089 have you don't have gravity now so you 319 00:14:07,229 --> 00:14:04,549 you sleep better I think because you 320 00:14:10,030 --> 00:14:07,239 don't have pressure points now you don't 321 00:14:11,350 --> 00:14:10,040 very rarely got a sore back or a sore 322 00:14:13,269 --> 00:14:11,360 neck or something like that because 323 00:14:15,939 --> 00:14:13,279 you're you're kind of floating the 324 00:14:18,189 --> 00:14:15,949 sensation is like if you ever been in a 325 00:14:20,470 --> 00:14:18,199 swimming pool like a nice warm swimming 326 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:20,480 pool and you just kind of close your 327 00:14:25,809 --> 00:14:22,970 eyes and just float that feeling that's 328 00:14:28,989 --> 00:14:25,819 what it feels like all day every day in 329 00:14:31,269 --> 00:14:28,999 space and so so that process I think it 330 00:14:33,850 --> 00:14:31,279 helps your body relax a little bit so I 331 00:14:36,009 --> 00:14:33,860 don't I don't think it makes you getting 332 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:36,019 younger but it's certainly like reduces 333 00:14:39,729 --> 00:14:37,610 a little bit of the stresses normally 334 00:14:42,939 --> 00:14:39,739 that you'd face on your body now there 335 00:14:45,519 --> 00:14:42,949 are some ways that actually that sort of 336 00:14:46,929 --> 00:14:45,529 accelerate certain things in the aging 337 00:14:49,720 --> 00:14:46,939 process and one of those things that 338 00:14:52,179 --> 00:14:49,730 we're really looking hard at is bone 339 00:14:55,329 --> 00:14:52,189 loss you know bone demineralization and 340 00:14:58,359 --> 00:14:55,339 stuff like this where we it speeds up 341 00:14:59,919 --> 00:14:58,369 the process of breakdown of bone 342 00:15:02,919 --> 00:14:59,929 structure and of course we're trying to 343 00:15:05,650 --> 00:15:02,929 develop exercises and things like that 344 00:15:09,039 --> 00:15:05,660 that we can do that will help us kind of 345 00:15:11,559 --> 00:15:09,049 stave off the loss of bone density and 346 00:15:15,759 --> 00:15:11,569 things like that and so so in those kind 347 00:15:18,309 --> 00:15:15,769 of processes like bone loss the aging 348 00:15:21,159 --> 00:15:18,319 aging process is sort of sped up a 349 00:15:23,859 --> 00:15:21,169 little bit artificially but that helps 350 00:15:26,199 --> 00:15:23,869 us medically because we can actually use 351 00:15:29,109 --> 00:15:26,209 the astronaut that's experiencing bone 352 00:15:31,239 --> 00:15:29,119 loss sort of like someone that has like 353 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:31,249 maybe like osteoporosis or something 354 00:15:35,869 --> 00:15:32,970 like that that actually has bone 355 00:15:37,939 --> 00:15:35,879 here on earth we can actually use the 356 00:15:41,030 --> 00:15:37,949 astronauts and studies and science 357 00:15:43,579 --> 00:15:41,040 experiments to to try to help us 358 00:15:46,460 --> 00:15:43,589 understand how that process takes place 359 00:15:48,980 --> 00:15:46,470 and how to how to treat people here on 360 00:15:51,019 --> 00:15:48,990 earth as well so so it's all part of the 361 00:15:52,879 --> 00:15:51,029 the science that we're gaining on board 362 00:15:54,949 --> 00:15:52,889 the station you do get a little bit 363 00:15:56,660 --> 00:15:54,959 taller though yes you did you do 364 00:15:58,040 --> 00:15:56,670 actually because of that you know we 365 00:15:59,150 --> 00:15:58,050 have gravity pulling us down to the 366 00:16:01,369 --> 00:15:59,160 ground so when you're standing up right 367 00:16:02,869 --> 00:16:01,379 here on earth you have you you're stuck 368 00:16:04,069 --> 00:16:02,879 your feet feel like you're you're 369 00:16:05,869 --> 00:16:04,079 probably sitting in chairs right now 370 00:16:07,460 --> 00:16:05,879 suit so you think about it and you're 371 00:16:09,530 --> 00:16:07,470 you're just kind of stuck to the bottom 372 00:16:11,780 --> 00:16:09,540 of your chair and so you actually your 373 00:16:13,639 --> 00:16:11,790 spine is compressed a little bit so when 374 00:16:15,619 --> 00:16:13,649 you go to space and you remove gravity 375 00:16:17,269 --> 00:16:15,629 your body kind of stretches out a little 376 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:17,279 bit yeah I actually grew about an inch 377 00:16:21,470 --> 00:16:19,290 and a half one is in space and take that 378 00:16:23,030 --> 00:16:21,480 good yeah but I wasn't able to keep that 379 00:16:26,449 --> 00:16:23,040 when I got back when I got back I I 380 00:16:30,619 --> 00:16:26,459 after about 15 days I shrunk down to my 381 00:16:33,460 --> 00:16:30,629 normal size so amazing why did you 382 00:16:41,900 --> 00:16:33,470 choose Georgia Tech to study aerospace 383 00:16:43,850 --> 00:16:41,910 engineer because I love Atlanta do 384 00:16:50,329 --> 00:16:43,860 anybody tech any tech fans there in the 385 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:50,339 room some losses well I the reason I 386 00:16:55,069 --> 00:16:53,370 chose Georgia Tech for the period of 387 00:16:58,420 --> 00:16:55,079 time they were as Georgia Tech was a 388 00:17:01,309 --> 00:16:58,430 center of excellence for for rotary wing 389 00:17:03,819 --> 00:17:01,319 technology and aerospace field and and 390 00:17:08,419 --> 00:17:03,829 at the time I was an active duty army 391 00:17:12,020 --> 00:17:08,429 pilot and so the army sent me there to 392 00:17:16,309 --> 00:17:12,030 study rotorcraft our helicopters and 393 00:17:17,630 --> 00:17:16,319 vertical lift technology and so and so I 394 00:17:20,090 --> 00:17:17,640 don't know if you knew this but Georgia 395 00:17:22,460 --> 00:17:20,100 Tech is a center of excellence for 396 00:17:26,299 --> 00:17:22,470 rotary wing technology and vertical lift 397 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:26,309 technology so so a lot of my my thoughts 398 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:29,490 on how making lunar landers or making 399 00:17:35,090 --> 00:17:32,250 spacecraft they can that can maneuver 400 00:17:37,490 --> 00:17:35,100 like a helicopter or aircraft like a 401 00:17:38,750 --> 00:17:37,500 helicopter maneuvering are some sort of 402 00:17:40,730 --> 00:17:38,760 hovercraft 403 00:17:42,050 --> 00:17:40,740 the Georgia Tech is a center of 404 00:17:45,230 --> 00:17:42,060 excellence for that so that's why i 405 00:17:49,430 --> 00:17:45,240 chose Georgia Tech and besides they're 406 00:17:50,810 --> 00:17:49,440 the ramblin wreck there's probably some 407 00:17:58,340 --> 00:17:50,820 Georgia fans in the room they're not 408 00:18:00,230 --> 00:17:58,350 smiling right now oh good Tori and your 409 00:18:03,110 --> 00:18:00,240 bio it said that you got the Russian 410 00:18:05,390 --> 00:18:03,120 Medal of Merit what did you do to get 411 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:05,400 that well that was actually you know 412 00:18:09,290 --> 00:18:07,110 that was actually kind of a surprise and 413 00:18:12,050 --> 00:18:09,300 when that medal was awarded to me it was 414 00:18:15,580 --> 00:18:12,060 by given to me by the Russian ambassador 415 00:18:19,370 --> 00:18:15,590 to the US which is really cool and so 416 00:18:22,490 --> 00:18:19,380 but i participated in when i launched a 417 00:18:25,670 --> 00:18:22,500 space in 2010 i launched on a Russian 418 00:18:29,900 --> 00:18:25,680 Soyuz rocket and so I went to space and 419 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:29,910 operated on this Russian spaceship and 420 00:18:35,150 --> 00:18:32,010 then came home in that very same capsule 421 00:18:36,950 --> 00:18:35,160 and so and and of course in order to get 422 00:18:40,010 --> 00:18:36,960 a chance to do that you go through a lot 423 00:18:44,660 --> 00:18:40,020 of training and a lot of integrated 424 00:18:46,190 --> 00:18:44,670 training and and and study with the 425 00:18:49,340 --> 00:18:46,200 Russians and with the Russian space 426 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:49,350 agency and also with their wood they're 427 00:18:56,030 --> 00:18:51,210 great engineers over there and 428 00:18:57,830 --> 00:18:56,040 everything so so it was sort of a metal 429 00:19:01,280 --> 00:18:57,840 that was given to those astronauts that 430 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:01,290 had done work preparing to fly in the 431 00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:03,330 Soyuz vehicle and then completing a 432 00:19:09,770 --> 00:19:07,200 flight on the vehicle so so i I just I 433 00:19:11,930 --> 00:19:09,780 studied learned my Russian which was 434 00:19:14,090 --> 00:19:11,940 hard for me probably I mean there's 435 00:19:15,980 --> 00:19:14,100 probably the hardest thing that I had to 436 00:19:19,130 --> 00:19:15,990 do is learn Russian that was really 437 00:19:20,960 --> 00:19:19,140 difficult for me but but learning that 438 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:20,970 system and flying on that vehicle and 439 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:23,010 and that's the reason they gave me that 440 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:26,610 metal and I was very honored excellent 441 00:19:33,260 --> 00:19:29,250 okay go ahead okay how was it similar to 442 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:33,270 live underwater compared to face a very 443 00:19:37,310 --> 00:19:35,250 very similar underwater you know we do 444 00:19:40,580 --> 00:19:37,320 you probably have seen we do our 445 00:19:45,710 --> 00:19:40,590 spacewalk training under water we also 446 00:19:48,350 --> 00:19:45,720 have we also have this extreme 447 00:19:51,130 --> 00:19:48,360 environments training that we were we on 448 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:51,140 the Aquarius habitat underwater 449 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:54,050 because you can take in underwater you 450 00:19:59,620 --> 00:19:57,290 can sort of replicate what it feels like 451 00:20:02,650 --> 00:19:59,630 in space now it's actually much easier 452 00:20:05,230 --> 00:20:02,660 to live and work in space and out on a 453 00:20:08,110 --> 00:20:05,240 space walk in space than it is in the 454 00:20:11,140 --> 00:20:08,120 pool so if you could do it in the pool 455 00:20:16,030 --> 00:20:11,150 you can most assuredly do it in space 456 00:20:17,380 --> 00:20:16,040 and so we we in the pool we actually go 457 00:20:19,330 --> 00:20:17,390 down to the level where we're going to 458 00:20:22,180 --> 00:20:19,340 work in these in our big suits and they 459 00:20:24,610 --> 00:20:22,190 get us neutrally buoyant so it feels 460 00:20:27,820 --> 00:20:24,620 like you're floating so they they add 461 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:27,830 weights or foam to your to your suit and 462 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:29,810 so they they hold you out and so you 463 00:20:33,250 --> 00:20:31,610 don't rise to the surface and you don't 464 00:20:36,250 --> 00:20:33,260 drop to the bottom so they get you 465 00:20:38,380 --> 00:20:36,260 what's called neutrally buoyant and that 466 00:20:41,230 --> 00:20:38,390 pool is actually in a place we call the 467 00:20:42,970 --> 00:20:41,240 neutral buoyancy laboratory which is 468 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:42,980 right outside of Johnson Space Center 469 00:20:47,110 --> 00:20:44,810 here in Houston and we do all of our 470 00:20:50,050 --> 00:20:47,120 spacewalk training there and because 471 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:50,060 it's a great analogy to to floating 472 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:52,490 around in space and of course in the 473 00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:54,650 pool you still have gravity so if you 474 00:20:58,810 --> 00:20:56,510 turn on your in your suit if you turn on 475 00:21:01,300 --> 00:20:58,820 your head in the pool you you can feel 476 00:21:02,380 --> 00:21:01,310 that you can so it doesn't feel real 477 00:21:04,150 --> 00:21:02,390 comfortable it feels like you're 478 00:21:06,670 --> 00:21:04,160 standing on your head and so you still 479 00:21:08,590 --> 00:21:06,680 have that feeling in the pool and you 480 00:21:10,990 --> 00:21:08,600 also have dragged so when you move your 481 00:21:13,450 --> 00:21:11,000 arm through the water you have you could 482 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:13,460 feel the drag of the water on your arms 483 00:21:17,260 --> 00:21:14,930 and when you're trying to move your body 484 00:21:19,180 --> 00:21:17,270 and stuff so but when you get the space 485 00:21:21,460 --> 00:21:19,190 all of that is gone and so it's actually 486 00:21:24,490 --> 00:21:21,470 much easier to move around in space so 487 00:21:28,950 --> 00:21:24,500 it's a great analogy that we use to 488 00:21:36,070 --> 00:21:31,960 this curiosity's memory which affects 489 00:21:39,700 --> 00:21:36,080 your current data well I'm not privy to 490 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:39,710 all that data but I'm sure that the 491 00:21:45,310 --> 00:21:43,370 memory glitch probably did did have a 492 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:45,320 little bit of an impact on the data we 493 00:21:50,380 --> 00:21:47,090 were bringing down our gathering and 494 00:21:52,540 --> 00:21:50,390 then also telemetry back to earth but i 495 00:21:54,580 --> 00:21:52,550 believe that they've solved that that 496 00:21:57,730 --> 00:21:54,590 issue now i don't really have that all 497 00:21:59,470 --> 00:21:57,740 the details on that but what we usually 498 00:22:01,390 --> 00:21:59,480 do in our spaceships like this and i 499 00:22:04,340 --> 00:22:01,400 believe was the case with curiosity that 500 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:04,350 we we build in some redundancy 501 00:22:09,110 --> 00:22:07,530 so we can we can actually like swap to a 502 00:22:12,860 --> 00:22:09,120 different channel or different string 503 00:22:14,570 --> 00:22:12,870 and then and then kind of try to fix or 504 00:22:16,730 --> 00:22:14,580 repair the the string that we had a 505 00:22:22,010 --> 00:22:16,740 glitch on and so I really don't know the 506 00:22:24,020 --> 00:22:22,020 details on that but I the last I heard 507 00:22:26,060 --> 00:22:24,030 that we were we've gotten back full 508 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:26,070 functionality of our of our data so yeah 509 00:22:28,789 --> 00:22:27,210 one of the cool things about working at 510 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:28,799 NASA is that there's different centers 511 00:22:33,260 --> 00:22:30,570 across the United States so there's some 512 00:22:34,580 --> 00:22:33,270 in Alabama some in Mississippi and out 513 00:22:35,900 --> 00:22:34,590 in California there's a place called the 514 00:22:37,520 --> 00:22:35,910 Jet Propulsion Laboratory and that's 515 00:22:39,890 --> 00:22:37,530 sort of the home of all the Mars rovers 516 00:22:41,930 --> 00:22:39,900 including curiosity so there's a room 517 00:22:44,029 --> 00:22:41,940 sort of a mini Mission Control out there 518 00:22:45,710 --> 00:22:44,039 that's where they actually drive and get 519 00:22:47,930 --> 00:22:45,720 the data down from curiosity so those 520 00:22:52,820 --> 00:22:47,940 guys are out there watching that 24 521 00:22:58,370 --> 00:22:52,830 hours a day out there what foreign 522 00:23:00,710 --> 00:22:58,380 languages do you speak well um I did 523 00:23:02,510 --> 00:23:00,720 speak pretty good Russian but it's it's 524 00:23:04,310 --> 00:23:02,520 kind of um you know when you don't 525 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:04,320 practice it I don't know how many there 526 00:23:08,750 --> 00:23:06,690 in the room speak a foreign language but 527 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:08,760 you know if you don't keep practiced at 528 00:23:14,120 --> 00:23:11,490 it it's difficult to keep that to keep 529 00:23:17,870 --> 00:23:14,130 that cutting edge you know so I would 530 00:23:20,419 --> 00:23:17,880 say right now I speak English Emma and I 531 00:23:22,159 --> 00:23:20,429 speak a little bit of Russian enough to 532 00:23:24,529 --> 00:23:22,169 get by I think I think I could survive 533 00:23:26,659 --> 00:23:24,539 you know and on the street and if you 534 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:26,669 jump drop me off on the street in Moscow 535 00:23:31,010 --> 00:23:29,250 I could probably survive but people 536 00:23:33,100 --> 00:23:31,020 probably laughing at me but they would 537 00:23:36,770 --> 00:23:33,110 understand what I was trying to say so 538 00:23:40,100 --> 00:23:36,780 and barton creek stem academy we've got 539 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:40,110 about time for one more question okay do 540 00:23:46,610 --> 00:23:42,890 you believe in extraterrestrials 541 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:46,620 extending on a new on a different planet 542 00:23:53,419 --> 00:23:52,110 oh that's a loaded question I'm glad 543 00:23:58,640 --> 00:23:53,429 it's the last question I'm just kidding 544 00:23:59,930 --> 00:23:58,650 um you know i I've never first of all 545 00:24:01,310 --> 00:23:59,940 let me say that I've never seen an 546 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:01,320 extraterrestrial I've never seen an 547 00:24:07,070 --> 00:24:02,970 alien or anything like that I've never 548 00:24:11,990 --> 00:24:07,080 seen a UFO but I do believe I do believe 549 00:24:14,630 --> 00:24:12,000 that we it that there are 0 most likely 550 00:24:16,909 --> 00:24:14,640 other life forms out there might not be 551 00:24:22,669 --> 00:24:16,919 something that we like understand 552 00:24:24,190 --> 00:24:22,679 visually as a life form so I I don't 553 00:24:26,390 --> 00:24:24,200 think I believe in like 554 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:26,400 extraterrestrials like an ET the movie 555 00:24:33,230 --> 00:24:29,370 and stuff like that you know but I do i 556 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:33,240 do find very very fascinating these you 557 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:35,130 know earth-like planets that we're 558 00:24:40,039 --> 00:24:37,650 finding with with Hubble and the other 559 00:24:42,860 --> 00:24:40,049 telescopes that you know given the right 560 00:24:46,610 --> 00:24:42,870 circumstances that we could find like 561 00:24:49,250 --> 00:24:46,620 organics in in what we would refer to as 562 00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:49,260 soil or something like that that and 563 00:24:55,700 --> 00:24:51,510 maybe even a partial atmosphere where 564 00:24:58,430 --> 00:24:55,710 we're organic life or self you know 565 00:25:00,680 --> 00:24:58,440 single-celled kind of life or maybe even 566 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:00,690 something a little more advanced could 567 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:02,490 exist or plants or something like that 568 00:25:07,700 --> 00:25:05,730 so you know I'm not a I'm not a 569 00:25:11,180 --> 00:25:07,710 planetary scientist and I'm not a you 570 00:25:13,310 --> 00:25:11,190 know a chemist but but I have to believe 571 00:25:15,530 --> 00:25:13,320 that something like that probably is 572 00:25:19,310 --> 00:25:15,540 occurring somewhere somewhere in our in 573 00:25:20,360 --> 00:25:19,320 our in our universe so so but I don't 574 00:25:23,299 --> 00:25:20,370 think it looks like us i personally 575 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:23,309 don't think that this life these 576 00:25:31,730 --> 00:25:26,730 life-forms would look like us but ok ok 577 00:25:36,810 --> 00:25:34,620 thank you guys great great questions and 578 00:25:38,190 --> 00:25:36,820 thanks for spending time with us today