1 00:00:06,389 --> 00:00:02,629 station this is houston are you ready 2 00:00:11,509 --> 00:00:09,669 houston station is ready for the event 3 00:00:12,470 --> 00:00:11,519 associated press this is mission control 4 00:00:14,789 --> 00:00:12,480 houston 5 00:00:17,269 --> 00:00:14,799 please call station for a voice check 6 00:00:21,349 --> 00:00:17,279 stay this is the associated press how do 7 00:00:25,910 --> 00:00:24,150 yes ap i hear you loud and clear 8 00:00:28,390 --> 00:00:25,920 well hello rick greetings from the 9 00:00:30,550 --> 00:00:28,400 kennedy space center uh seems you've had 10 00:00:32,310 --> 00:00:30,560 a bit of excitement up there this week 11 00:00:33,750 --> 00:00:32,320 with the cooling glue problem i was 12 00:00:35,190 --> 00:00:33,760 wondering if you could tell me what's 13 00:00:39,750 --> 00:00:35,200 the latest that you're hearing from the 14 00:00:43,510 --> 00:00:41,110 yeah well we're probably a little bit 15 00:00:45,190 --> 00:00:43,520 behind the loop because the folks are 16 00:00:47,029 --> 00:00:45,200 you know just gathering the uh down in 17 00:00:49,110 --> 00:00:47,039 houston but what we heard last night was 18 00:00:51,590 --> 00:00:49,120 that they were still troubleshooting 19 00:00:52,709 --> 00:00:51,600 the valve that is uh having problems and 20 00:00:54,709 --> 00:00:52,719 of course 21 00:00:56,709 --> 00:00:54,719 if that doesn't uh they've got a whole 22 00:00:58,709 --> 00:00:56,719 series of fall tree items that they have 23 00:01:00,150 --> 00:00:58,719 to work through and the worst case is 24 00:01:01,670 --> 00:01:00,160 that if they can't get that working 25 00:01:04,310 --> 00:01:01,680 we're going to have to go out eva and 26 00:01:07,190 --> 00:01:04,320 replace the pump module 27 00:01:09,429 --> 00:01:07,200 well tell me um if you have to go out on 28 00:01:11,429 --> 00:01:09,439 a spacewalker two or three would you 29 00:01:13,670 --> 00:01:11,439 consider that sort of an unexpected 30 00:01:17,429 --> 00:01:13,680 christmas present how excited would you 31 00:01:20,630 --> 00:01:18,950 yeah you know anytime you have something 32 00:01:22,230 --> 00:01:20,640 like this it's good news bad news of 33 00:01:23,749 --> 00:01:22,240 course the bad news is the station's 34 00:01:26,230 --> 00:01:23,759 having problems and we have to go out 35 00:01:28,149 --> 00:01:26,240 and do a repair the good news is you 36 00:01:30,469 --> 00:01:28,159 know as we have the spare parts we have 37 00:01:32,230 --> 00:01:30,479 the training we have the skills and of 38 00:01:33,990 --> 00:01:32,240 course going out and doing a space walk 39 00:01:36,069 --> 00:01:34,000 is always very exciting yet very 40 00:01:37,910 --> 00:01:36,079 challenging 41 00:01:41,030 --> 00:01:37,920 well well this job in particular how 42 00:01:42,630 --> 00:01:41,040 difficult would it be for you and and 43 00:01:44,310 --> 00:01:42,640 would you have any concerns regarding 44 00:01:49,670 --> 00:01:44,320 possible helmet sledding or is that 45 00:01:55,030 --> 00:01:52,310 well in overall this is one of the many 46 00:01:58,069 --> 00:01:55,040 evas that we practice contingency evas 47 00:01:59,830 --> 00:01:58,079 in terms of replacing a large module so 48 00:02:00,950 --> 00:01:59,840 obviously it's challenging but i would 49 00:02:02,870 --> 00:02:00,960 call it you know it's a middle of the 50 00:02:05,830 --> 00:02:02,880 road type of 51 00:02:07,830 --> 00:02:05,840 a swap of a large oru 52 00:02:09,510 --> 00:02:07,840 in terms of the helmet flooding that's 53 00:02:11,670 --> 00:02:09,520 that issue as far as i know is still 54 00:02:13,670 --> 00:02:11,680 being worked but we have several safety 55 00:02:15,670 --> 00:02:13,680 measures in effect that will protect us 56 00:02:17,830 --> 00:02:15,680 if we have any problems 57 00:02:19,990 --> 00:02:17,840 could you could you elicit a two or like 58 00:02:21,910 --> 00:02:20,000 one or two i mean what would you do 59 00:02:28,070 --> 00:02:21,920 would this be testing when you put the 60 00:02:31,910 --> 00:02:29,589 well of course before we go out the 61 00:02:33,430 --> 00:02:31,920 hatch there's a long eva prep where we 62 00:02:34,869 --> 00:02:33,440 are in the suits for a period of time 63 00:02:36,869 --> 00:02:34,879 and we're testing the suits at very 64 00:02:37,990 --> 00:02:36,879 oppression for pressure checks and 65 00:02:39,190 --> 00:02:38,000 making sure everything's working 66 00:02:40,949 --> 00:02:39,200 properly so 67 00:02:42,790 --> 00:02:40,959 uh that hopefully will give us any 68 00:02:44,309 --> 00:02:42,800 problem or hopefully if there's any 69 00:02:46,070 --> 00:02:44,319 problems there will be uh they will 70 00:02:47,509 --> 00:02:46,080 appear at that point but we don't expect 71 00:02:50,630 --> 00:02:47,519 any problems 72 00:02:52,309 --> 00:02:50,640 and uh if anything happens during the 73 00:02:53,830 --> 00:02:52,319 spacewalk of course so one of the 74 00:02:56,150 --> 00:02:53,840 options is to quickly return to the 75 00:02:58,550 --> 00:02:56,160 airlock just like what happened on the 76 00:03:01,030 --> 00:02:58,560 previous eva 77 00:03:02,949 --> 00:03:01,040 well now i'm wondering um how life 78 00:03:04,630 --> 00:03:02,959 aboard the space station has changed for 79 00:03:07,190 --> 00:03:04,640 you in the last day or two because of 80 00:03:09,910 --> 00:03:07,200 the power down of equipment um give me a 81 00:03:11,430 --> 00:03:09,920 sense of um what it's like up there now 82 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:11,440 whether it's 83 00:03:15,589 --> 00:03:13,360 a little slower life for you is it 84 00:03:16,630 --> 00:03:15,599 quieter since so much equipment is shut 85 00:03:18,949 --> 00:03:16,640 down 86 00:03:23,750 --> 00:03:18,959 just give me a sense of how the changes 87 00:03:27,509 --> 00:03:25,670 okay yeah it's really not that much 88 00:03:29,110 --> 00:03:27,519 different 89 00:03:31,270 --> 00:03:29,120 basically some of the science 90 00:03:33,190 --> 00:03:31,280 experiments have been shut down just to 91 00:03:34,070 --> 00:03:33,200 be due to the lack of cooling as you 92 00:03:36,309 --> 00:03:34,080 know 93 00:03:38,630 --> 00:03:36,319 and really it's not any quieter in here 94 00:03:40,309 --> 00:03:38,640 we still have lights we still have uh 95 00:03:42,470 --> 00:03:40,319 the toilet working we still have food to 96 00:03:44,149 --> 00:03:42,480 eat and and we're still very comfortable 97 00:03:45,990 --> 00:03:44,159 up here and so the biggest 98 00:03:47,030 --> 00:03:46,000 problem is that we're just not taking 99 00:03:48,470 --> 00:03:47,040 the time 100 00:03:50,070 --> 00:03:48,480 during our schedule to do as much 101 00:03:52,869 --> 00:03:50,080 science as we normally would we had to 102 00:03:54,869 --> 00:03:52,879 cancel some events due to the lack of 103 00:03:57,190 --> 00:03:54,879 the experiments being able to be turned 104 00:03:58,789 --> 00:03:57,200 on because due to lack of cooling so the 105 00:04:00,390 --> 00:03:58,799 biggest impact to us was really just 106 00:04:02,550 --> 00:04:00,400 some of the experiments and the 107 00:04:04,470 --> 00:04:02,560 procedures that we had planned to work 108 00:04:06,710 --> 00:04:04,480 were cancelled or postponed until we get 109 00:04:08,229 --> 00:04:06,720 this problem resolved 110 00:04:10,229 --> 00:04:08,239 so it sounds like you might have a bit 111 00:04:12,070 --> 00:04:10,239 of a little more breathing room up there 112 00:04:15,670 --> 00:04:12,080 to do other things how are you spending 113 00:04:17,270 --> 00:04:15,680 that extra time 114 00:04:21,189 --> 00:04:17,280 yeah i have a little extra free time 115 00:04:23,749 --> 00:04:21,199 yesterday a little uh today but uh 116 00:04:25,909 --> 00:04:23,759 really just getting caught up on various 117 00:04:28,150 --> 00:04:25,919 things reviewing procedures that we may 118 00:04:30,230 --> 00:04:28,160 have to execute tomorrow for various 119 00:04:32,629 --> 00:04:30,240 experiments we did do some medical 120 00:04:34,150 --> 00:04:32,639 research today and so just basically 121 00:04:35,590 --> 00:04:34,160 trying to stay ahead of the vehicle when 122 00:04:37,189 --> 00:04:35,600 i get this free time i just basically 123 00:04:39,430 --> 00:04:37,199 look ahead and see what's coming up in 124 00:04:41,670 --> 00:04:39,440 the in the next few days 125 00:04:43,110 --> 00:04:41,680 well you know christmas is coming and 126 00:04:45,510 --> 00:04:43,120 i'm wondering if you're expecting any 127 00:04:49,830 --> 00:04:45,520 presents aboard the cygnus when it uh 128 00:04:53,430 --> 00:04:51,830 well i was i'm not expecting any 129 00:04:55,189 --> 00:04:53,440 presents but 130 00:04:57,430 --> 00:04:55,199 you never know of course 131 00:04:59,189 --> 00:04:57,440 we do have some bonus food on the cygnus 132 00:05:00,390 --> 00:04:59,199 and we have a few other packages up 133 00:05:01,830 --> 00:05:00,400 there so it'll be great to get those 134 00:05:04,469 --> 00:05:01,840 things on board and have them for the 135 00:05:05,990 --> 00:05:04,479 rest of the duration of my expedition 136 00:05:07,990 --> 00:05:06,000 well what about your own christmas 137 00:05:10,070 --> 00:05:08,000 shopping did you finish that up before 138 00:05:12,870 --> 00:05:10,080 you blasted into orbit or are you going 139 00:05:17,510 --> 00:05:12,880 to be making some internet um orders and 140 00:05:21,110 --> 00:05:19,350 no i did i took care of a few things 141 00:05:23,830 --> 00:05:21,120 before i left i bought a series of 142 00:05:25,350 --> 00:05:23,840 presents for my wife but don't tell her 143 00:05:27,189 --> 00:05:25,360 and they're they're cleverly hidden in 144 00:05:29,990 --> 00:05:27,199 the house 145 00:05:31,350 --> 00:05:30,000 well i promise not to say anything um 146 00:05:32,950 --> 00:05:31,360 what are you going to do to jazz up the 147 00:05:35,189 --> 00:05:32,960 space station for christmas are you 148 00:05:37,749 --> 00:05:35,199 going to decorate is there a little tree 149 00:05:39,029 --> 00:05:37,759 you plan on caroling with your crewmates 150 00:05:40,870 --> 00:05:39,039 special meal 151 00:05:42,550 --> 00:05:40,880 give me a little details of what 152 00:05:45,590 --> 00:05:42,560 christmas is going to be like for you on 153 00:05:49,990 --> 00:05:47,510 well we'll see i'm pretty sure we have a 154 00:05:51,510 --> 00:05:50,000 bag of christmas decorations up here so 155 00:05:53,270 --> 00:05:51,520 we'll have to pull those out and 156 00:05:55,029 --> 00:05:53,280 decorate maybe one of the modules a 157 00:05:57,029 --> 00:05:55,039 little bit and i'm sure we'll have some 158 00:05:58,790 --> 00:05:57,039 special food you know we all have bonus 159 00:06:01,029 --> 00:05:58,800 containers with a few special items in 160 00:06:03,909 --> 00:06:01,039 them so we'll pull out some of the 161 00:06:05,510 --> 00:06:03,919 christmas uh related foods if we will 162 00:06:06,870 --> 00:06:05,520 and i'm sure we'll have a great old time 163 00:06:08,790 --> 00:06:06,880 the six of us will get together have 164 00:06:11,029 --> 00:06:08,800 some nice meals and it will be great of 165 00:06:12,870 --> 00:06:11,039 course phone calls and video conference 166 00:06:13,830 --> 00:06:12,880 with the family will will make it uh 167 00:06:15,749 --> 00:06:13,840 great 168 00:06:17,510 --> 00:06:15,759 well it seems to me that it might be a 169 00:06:20,230 --> 00:06:17,520 bit of a hardship to be away from your 170 00:06:22,390 --> 00:06:20,240 family over christmas and new year's 171 00:06:23,909 --> 00:06:22,400 but on the other hand 172 00:06:25,590 --> 00:06:23,919 some might think that there's no better 173 00:06:27,749 --> 00:06:25,600 place to spend christmas eve to 174 00:06:30,309 --> 00:06:27,759 experience the true spirit of the 175 00:06:33,590 --> 00:06:30,319 holiday than space what's your take on 176 00:06:36,710 --> 00:06:35,110 well well of course you know being away 177 00:06:39,189 --> 00:06:36,720 from your friends and family during the 178 00:06:41,590 --> 00:06:39,199 holidays is not optimal but if you have 179 00:06:43,590 --> 00:06:41,600 to be away from your family on christmas 180 00:06:45,670 --> 00:06:43,600 and this is sure not a bad place to be 181 00:06:47,270 --> 00:06:45,680 floating around in a low earth orbit it 182 00:06:50,230 --> 00:06:47,280 sure is 183 00:06:53,270 --> 00:06:50,240 a rare opportunity and i'm i 184 00:06:56,070 --> 00:06:53,280 and i enjoy it greatly um 185 00:06:57,430 --> 00:06:56,080 i guess it's a matter of uh how if we 186 00:06:59,270 --> 00:06:57,440 get some free time which i'm sure we 187 00:07:01,350 --> 00:06:59,280 will to think about the fact that it is 188 00:07:03,270 --> 00:07:01,360 christmas and we spent some time in the 189 00:07:05,029 --> 00:07:03,280 cupola maybe looking back at the earth i 190 00:07:07,430 --> 00:07:05,039 think we'll have some time to reflect on 191 00:07:09,430 --> 00:07:07,440 that and enjoy ourselves 192 00:07:11,270 --> 00:07:09,440 well in the time you've been up there so 193 00:07:14,150 --> 00:07:11,280 far what have been some of your more 194 00:07:16,150 --> 00:07:14,160 enjoyable moments or you know just just 195 00:07:18,390 --> 00:07:16,160 just chat a little bit about the whole 196 00:07:20,070 --> 00:07:18,400 experience of really living in space not 197 00:07:23,670 --> 00:07:20,080 just going up to visit but making it 198 00:07:27,270 --> 00:07:25,430 yeah it's great it's quite different 199 00:07:28,950 --> 00:07:27,280 than a shuttle mission all my previous 200 00:07:30,870 --> 00:07:28,960 experiences you know on shuttle mission 201 00:07:32,950 --> 00:07:30,880 and you're constantly working there's 202 00:07:35,110 --> 00:07:32,960 very little time to look out the window 203 00:07:37,909 --> 00:07:35,120 for any length of time so of course i've 204 00:07:39,510 --> 00:07:37,919 really enjoyed the earth observations 205 00:07:41,589 --> 00:07:39,520 targets that they send up and trying to 206 00:07:43,430 --> 00:07:41,599 find these various small things that to 207 00:07:45,270 --> 00:07:43,440 photograph and just looking out the 208 00:07:47,430 --> 00:07:45,280 window during your free time of course 209 00:07:49,749 --> 00:07:47,440 is is quite enjoyable 210 00:07:52,629 --> 00:07:49,759 uh but i i definitely can feel my body 211 00:07:53,990 --> 00:07:52,639 adapting in terms of after only two or 212 00:07:55,589 --> 00:07:54,000 three weeks on a space shuttle mission 213 00:07:58,070 --> 00:07:55,599 you don't fully adapt to weightlessness 214 00:07:59,990 --> 00:07:58,080 i believe it takes a few more weeks so 215 00:08:01,749 --> 00:08:00,000 that's been interesting also to feel how 216 00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:01,759 i i feel so much 217 00:08:04,950 --> 00:08:03,360 more adapted and comfortable in this 218 00:08:06,790 --> 00:08:04,960 environment 219 00:08:08,150 --> 00:08:06,800 what has been the hardest transition do 220 00:08:13,589 --> 00:08:08,160 you think of 221 00:08:16,550 --> 00:08:15,029 well i don't know there's really 222 00:08:18,150 --> 00:08:16,560 obviously the hardest transition is the 223 00:08:19,830 --> 00:08:18,160 first few days when your body's going 224 00:08:21,350 --> 00:08:19,840 through a lot of changes uh going from 225 00:08:22,469 --> 00:08:21,360 the 1g environment to the weightless 226 00:08:24,629 --> 00:08:22,479 environment 227 00:08:25,749 --> 00:08:24,639 uh you're you're losing a lot of fluid 228 00:08:27,510 --> 00:08:25,759 you're 229 00:08:29,189 --> 00:08:27,520 your vestibular system is still 230 00:08:32,310 --> 00:08:29,199 adjusting so that's the most difficult 231 00:08:33,670 --> 00:08:32,320 part but that doesn't last very long 232 00:08:35,670 --> 00:08:33,680 well well tell me are you going to be 233 00:08:40,230 --> 00:08:35,680 keeping a sharp lookout for santa and 234 00:08:43,990 --> 00:08:42,070 well we're always on the lookout for uh 235 00:08:46,070 --> 00:08:44,000 santa up here we got a great vantage 236 00:08:48,710 --> 00:08:46,080 point so yes we'll keep an eye out and 237 00:08:49,910 --> 00:08:48,720 we'll report any sightings well will you 238 00:08:51,829 --> 00:08:49,920 do that because there are a lot of 239 00:08:53,590 --> 00:08:51,839 children on this planet including my son 240 00:08:55,430 --> 00:08:53,600 who are going to be keeping keeping an 241 00:08:56,949 --> 00:08:55,440 eye on that so listen merry christmas 242 00:09:00,470 --> 00:08:56,959 happy new year and good luck through the 243 00:09:09,110 --> 00:09:01,829 thank you very much it was great talking 244 00:09:13,269 --> 00:09:11,269 station this is houston acr that 245 00:09:15,509 --> 00:09:13,279 concludes the associated press portion 246 00:09:18,790 --> 00:09:15,519 of the event please stand by for a voice 247 00:09:20,949 --> 00:09:18,800 check from space.com 248 00:09:24,150 --> 00:09:20,959 station this is uh space.com how do you 249 00:09:28,389 --> 00:09:26,150 space.com station i hear you loud and 250 00:09:30,790 --> 00:09:28,399 clear how are you today um doing great 251 00:09:31,910 --> 00:09:30,800 rick thank you so much uh uh for having 252 00:09:33,269 --> 00:09:31,920 the time to talk with us from the 253 00:09:35,509 --> 00:09:33,279 station today 254 00:09:37,110 --> 00:09:35,519 um this is uh tarek malik at space.com 255 00:09:38,630 --> 00:09:37,120 and to start out with uh you know we 256 00:09:40,550 --> 00:09:38,640 heard about the cooling problem that 257 00:09:42,070 --> 00:09:40,560 you're working on on the station there 258 00:09:44,150 --> 00:09:42,080 and was hoping to find out what you've 259 00:09:45,430 --> 00:09:44,160 heard in the latest for mission control 260 00:09:47,269 --> 00:09:45,440 and what kind of systems you've had to 261 00:09:52,150 --> 00:09:47,279 power down seems like you have a 262 00:09:55,430 --> 00:09:53,670 oh yeah the lights are still on on 263 00:09:57,110 --> 00:09:55,440 station you know it's still it's uh the 264 00:09:59,509 --> 00:09:57,120 biggest impact as you probably heard was 265 00:10:01,430 --> 00:09:59,519 to the payloads and to the experiments 266 00:10:03,350 --> 00:10:01,440 uh due to the external loop having a 267 00:10:05,269 --> 00:10:03,360 problem we the internal loop wasn't 268 00:10:07,110 --> 00:10:05,279 getting cooling so we had to power down 269 00:10:08,389 --> 00:10:07,120 a lot of the systems inside space 270 00:10:10,550 --> 00:10:08,399 station some of the modules some of the 271 00:10:12,870 --> 00:10:10,560 forward modules but most of those 272 00:10:15,269 --> 00:10:12,880 were uh science experiments and payload 273 00:10:17,829 --> 00:10:15,279 racks and of course a few items that for 274 00:10:19,590 --> 00:10:17,839 redundancy for various systems but 275 00:10:21,110 --> 00:10:19,600 overall life up here it really hasn't 276 00:10:22,710 --> 00:10:21,120 changed that much 277 00:10:24,389 --> 00:10:22,720 if anything it's actually gotten a 278 00:10:26,150 --> 00:10:24,399 little slower for us just through the 279 00:10:28,150 --> 00:10:26,160 the fact that some of the science 280 00:10:30,829 --> 00:10:28,160 experiments and payloads that we were 281 00:10:33,190 --> 00:10:30,839 scheduled to work on we had to postpone 282 00:10:34,630 --> 00:10:33,200 those one of our readers michael clark 283 00:10:36,389 --> 00:10:34,640 had a question that was the same one 284 00:10:38,470 --> 00:10:36,399 that i had for you and he just wanted to 285 00:10:40,150 --> 00:10:38,480 know you know how 286 00:10:41,829 --> 00:10:40,160 how concerned you worry about it is it 287 00:10:47,030 --> 00:10:41,839 worrying at all to have this kind of a 288 00:10:50,470 --> 00:10:48,870 well it's a serious problem obviously 289 00:10:51,910 --> 00:10:50,480 it's something we have to fix uh it's 290 00:10:53,590 --> 00:10:51,920 not something i'm worried about though 291 00:10:55,269 --> 00:10:53,600 we got some great folks on the ground 292 00:10:56,790 --> 00:10:55,279 and i and i wouldn't be surprised if 293 00:10:58,550 --> 00:10:56,800 they could figure out a way to get this 294 00:11:00,630 --> 00:10:58,560 external loop back up and working in the 295 00:11:02,870 --> 00:11:00,640 next couple of days and if they don't 296 00:11:05,030 --> 00:11:02,880 then the possibility exists that we'll 297 00:11:08,069 --> 00:11:05,040 have to go out and do a spacewalk to 298 00:11:09,430 --> 00:11:08,079 replace the uh the pump module and put 299 00:11:11,509 --> 00:11:09,440 in the new one and of course as you know 300 00:11:13,509 --> 00:11:11,519 we have many spare parts on board for 301 00:11:14,470 --> 00:11:13,519 inside and outside the space station and 302 00:11:16,389 --> 00:11:14,480 we train 303 00:11:19,030 --> 00:11:16,399 for these situations over and over again 304 00:11:21,430 --> 00:11:19,040 so all the procedures and everything are 305 00:11:22,870 --> 00:11:21,440 in place to take care of this 306 00:11:25,990 --> 00:11:22,880 yeah if you did have to go out on that 307 00:11:28,470 --> 00:11:26,000 spacewalk to uh to replace the the pump 308 00:11:30,630 --> 00:11:28,480 module uh how challenging of a task 309 00:11:31,829 --> 00:11:30,640 would that be and and uh i guess how 310 00:11:33,750 --> 00:11:31,839 comfortable would you have to be with 311 00:11:39,190 --> 00:11:33,760 the the spacesuits seeing that there was 312 00:11:43,670 --> 00:11:41,110 yeah any spacewalk is challenging 313 00:11:46,069 --> 00:11:43,680 obviously and there's risk involved in 314 00:11:48,230 --> 00:11:46,079 this particular uh 315 00:11:50,069 --> 00:11:48,240 pump module rnr we've practiced it many 316 00:11:52,069 --> 00:11:50,079 times in the pool 317 00:11:53,910 --> 00:11:52,079 i did an ammonia tank change out three 318 00:11:56,470 --> 00:11:53,920 years ago on orbit during one of my 319 00:11:58,230 --> 00:11:56,480 shuttle missions this is a very similar 320 00:11:59,910 --> 00:11:58,240 a large box a few bolts you know the 321 00:12:01,990 --> 00:11:59,920 most the biggest challenge on this 322 00:12:04,230 --> 00:12:02,000 spacewalk in my opinion is the large 323 00:12:06,069 --> 00:12:04,240 fluid connectors that are connected to 324 00:12:07,670 --> 00:12:06,079 the pump module but of course we have a 325 00:12:10,310 --> 00:12:07,680 lot of tools if we have problems with 326 00:12:11,829 --> 00:12:10,320 those to fix that as far as the suits go 327 00:12:13,030 --> 00:12:11,839 you know we have been working that issue 328 00:12:14,710 --> 00:12:13,040 for quite a while now we're going to 329 00:12:16,629 --> 00:12:14,720 take the two best suits that we have if 330 00:12:18,230 --> 00:12:16,639 we have to do the space walk we have 331 00:12:19,910 --> 00:12:18,240 procedures in place that if we do have 332 00:12:22,949 --> 00:12:19,920 problems we'll get back to the airlock 333 00:12:24,150 --> 00:12:22,959 asap and so i feel very comfortable 334 00:12:25,750 --> 00:12:24,160 doing it once the ground gets 335 00:12:29,030 --> 00:12:25,760 comfortable with it we have a lot of 336 00:12:29,910 --> 00:12:29,040 faith in their decisions 337 00:12:32,710 --> 00:12:29,920 thanks 338 00:12:34,470 --> 00:12:32,720 before the uh the cooling uh system uh 339 00:12:35,670 --> 00:12:34,480 problem happened i know that you were 340 00:12:38,150 --> 00:12:35,680 looking forward to the arrival of the 341 00:12:40,389 --> 00:12:38,160 cygnus cargo ship next week uh and i'm 342 00:12:41,990 --> 00:12:40,399 wondering if any special requests 343 00:12:43,670 --> 00:12:42,000 from you and the crew on to the ground 344 00:12:46,870 --> 00:12:43,680 maybe holiday treats or presents or 345 00:12:50,389 --> 00:12:48,710 well you know we do get a crew care 346 00:12:52,710 --> 00:12:50,399 package i have a crew care package on 347 00:12:54,550 --> 00:12:52,720 there from my family i do have some 348 00:12:55,990 --> 00:12:54,560 bonus food up there and some additional 349 00:12:57,350 --> 00:12:56,000 clothes to get me through the next five 350 00:12:59,670 --> 00:12:57,360 or six months 351 00:13:01,110 --> 00:12:59,680 uh and there was a some talk about some 352 00:13:03,110 --> 00:13:01,120 fresh fruit so we look forward to 353 00:13:05,190 --> 00:13:03,120 anytime we get fresh fruit up here or 354 00:13:07,750 --> 00:13:05,200 vegetables it's a it's a great treat so 355 00:13:09,829 --> 00:13:07,760 we look forward to that 356 00:13:11,030 --> 00:13:09,839 and you know speaking of of christmas uh 357 00:13:13,670 --> 00:13:11,040 one of our readers wanted to know how 358 00:13:16,790 --> 00:13:13,680 you do celebrate the holidays in space 359 00:13:18,790 --> 00:13:16,800 uh being away from friends and family uh 360 00:13:20,069 --> 00:13:18,800 like the six of you are 361 00:13:22,470 --> 00:13:20,079 you know can you give us an idea of what 362 00:13:26,470 --> 00:13:22,480 christmas in space is like any dinners 363 00:13:29,750 --> 00:13:27,990 yeah sure first of all we have great 364 00:13:31,990 --> 00:13:29,760 connectivity with our families back home 365 00:13:34,470 --> 00:13:32,000 you know we have the we have an iphone 366 00:13:36,550 --> 00:13:34,480 we have the ground sets up video 367 00:13:38,069 --> 00:13:36,560 conferencing with our families on the 368 00:13:39,829 --> 00:13:38,079 holidays so it's great you get to see 369 00:13:41,670 --> 00:13:39,839 them you get to participate in the 370 00:13:43,269 --> 00:13:41,680 events at home a little bit 371 00:13:44,949 --> 00:13:43,279 but up here you know we do have some 372 00:13:46,230 --> 00:13:44,959 christmas decorations i think buried 373 00:13:47,990 --> 00:13:46,240 somewhere we'll probably try to pull 374 00:13:49,990 --> 00:13:48,000 those out and live it up the place a 375 00:13:51,110 --> 00:13:50,000 little bit and of course all six of us 376 00:13:52,470 --> 00:13:51,120 will get together and we'll have a 377 00:13:54,870 --> 00:13:52,480 special meal everybody will pull out 378 00:13:56,710 --> 00:13:54,880 whatever special foods we have that are 379 00:13:58,710 --> 00:13:56,720 appropriate for the holidays and we'll 380 00:14:00,710 --> 00:13:58,720 just have you know spend time together 381 00:14:03,189 --> 00:14:00,720 as a crew as friends and enjoying good 382 00:14:04,550 --> 00:14:03,199 food and good company 383 00:14:07,590 --> 00:14:04,560 now of course folks down here are going 384 00:14:09,350 --> 00:14:07,600 to be tracking santa around the world on 385 00:14:11,269 --> 00:14:09,360 on christmas i'm wondering if uh if you 386 00:14:12,710 --> 00:14:11,279 think he'll pay a visit to the station 387 00:14:15,590 --> 00:14:12,720 if you've made arrangements for him to 388 00:14:16,550 --> 00:14:15,600 pay a visit to your loved ones at home 389 00:14:19,430 --> 00:14:16,560 you know if you're going to keep an eye 390 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:20,790 well of course we're always keeping an 391 00:14:23,670 --> 00:14:22,480 eye out for santa when we're out there 392 00:14:25,509 --> 00:14:23,680 hanging out in the cupola we're always 393 00:14:27,189 --> 00:14:25,519 looking for things like that 394 00:14:28,629 --> 00:14:27,199 i don't know if he can get up this high 395 00:14:30,230 --> 00:14:28,639 in order to visit us but we'll 396 00:14:31,189 --> 00:14:30,240 definitely keep an eye out and we'll 397 00:14:32,870 --> 00:14:31,199 report 398 00:14:35,590 --> 00:14:32,880 any sightings back to mission control 399 00:14:40,150 --> 00:14:37,910 well rick i know that uh you've flown 400 00:14:41,670 --> 00:14:40,160 several times before on shuttle missions 401 00:14:44,069 --> 00:14:41,680 but uh you know you've been up there for 402 00:14:46,550 --> 00:14:44,079 weeks at a time now uh after your launch 403 00:14:48,550 --> 00:14:46,560 in november and i'm wondering what the 404 00:14:49,430 --> 00:14:48,560 the biggest surprise has been for you so 405 00:14:51,509 --> 00:14:49,440 far 406 00:14:55,430 --> 00:14:51,519 uh as you kind of begin this this long 407 00:14:59,030 --> 00:14:57,189 uh you know since i've been here so many 408 00:15:01,509 --> 00:14:59,040 times before there weren't there wasn't 409 00:15:03,189 --> 00:15:01,519 hasn't been any real surprises yet 410 00:15:04,790 --> 00:15:03,199 um 411 00:15:05,990 --> 00:15:04,800 you know adapting to the zero-g 412 00:15:07,590 --> 00:15:06,000 environment 413 00:15:09,189 --> 00:15:07,600 living here on board space station i'm 414 00:15:11,030 --> 00:15:09,199 so familiar with the modules there's 415 00:15:12,629 --> 00:15:11,040 really no surprises it's great to have 416 00:15:14,470 --> 00:15:12,639 my own little place to sleep even if 417 00:15:15,590 --> 00:15:14,480 it's uh you know a very small closet if 418 00:15:17,269 --> 00:15:15,600 you will but it's great to have some 419 00:15:19,430 --> 00:15:17,279 personal space to hang your things 420 00:15:21,430 --> 00:15:19,440 that's definitely much more comfortable 421 00:15:23,350 --> 00:15:21,440 but no real surprises of course you know 422 00:15:25,670 --> 00:15:23,360 i'm only about five or six weeks into it 423 00:15:27,829 --> 00:15:25,680 and i've got uh quite a few more months 424 00:15:29,910 --> 00:15:27,839 ago so we'll see uh 425 00:15:31,749 --> 00:15:29,920 how it goes over the next 426 00:15:33,350 --> 00:15:31,759 five months 427 00:15:34,710 --> 00:15:33,360 is there any one thing aside from 428 00:15:36,470 --> 00:15:34,720 friends and family that you're missing 429 00:15:41,269 --> 00:15:36,480 the most usually when i go on a long 430 00:15:44,710 --> 00:15:43,670 yeah no matter how hard you think about 431 00:15:46,069 --> 00:15:44,720 what you're going to need up here 432 00:15:48,790 --> 00:15:46,079 there's always one thing you wish you 433 00:15:50,629 --> 00:15:48,800 had of course but uh we're pretty well 434 00:15:52,310 --> 00:15:50,639 stocked up here and i really don't want 435 00:15:54,069 --> 00:15:52,320 for much we have great food we have a 436 00:15:55,110 --> 00:15:54,079 great variety of food but of course 437 00:15:56,949 --> 00:15:55,120 probably the biggest thing i miss 438 00:15:58,870 --> 00:15:56,959 besides my family is some of my favorite 439 00:16:01,269 --> 00:15:58,880 foods 440 00:16:02,550 --> 00:16:01,279 well actually that that does tell us 441 00:16:04,069 --> 00:16:02,560 right into a question from one of our 442 00:16:05,590 --> 00:16:04,079 readers heather dick she wants to know 443 00:16:07,350 --> 00:16:05,600 what is your favorite space meal and 444 00:16:12,230 --> 00:16:07,360 what is that favorite food that you're 445 00:16:15,590 --> 00:16:13,910 let's see my favorite space meal yeah 446 00:16:16,870 --> 00:16:15,600 that's kind of interesting because you 447 00:16:18,710 --> 00:16:16,880 know on a shuttle mission you're only up 448 00:16:20,629 --> 00:16:18,720 here for two weeks and you almost never 449 00:16:22,389 --> 00:16:20,639 eat the same thing twice up here i'm 450 00:16:23,910 --> 00:16:22,399 starting the same thing a third and a 451 00:16:26,230 --> 00:16:23,920 fourth time now just you know because 452 00:16:27,990 --> 00:16:26,240 the way the rotation is i think my 453 00:16:30,069 --> 00:16:28,000 favorite things turning out to be the uh 454 00:16:32,310 --> 00:16:30,079 the steak it's actually a pretty tasty 455 00:16:34,150 --> 00:16:32,320 steak uh an irradiated comes out of an 456 00:16:36,310 --> 00:16:34,160 mre packet and it's actually pretty 457 00:16:38,069 --> 00:16:36,320 tasty and i guess the thing i'm missing 458 00:16:40,389 --> 00:16:38,079 the most back on earth 459 00:16:43,269 --> 00:16:40,399 oh probably like pastas and pizza and 460 00:16:47,590 --> 00:16:45,110 now you mentioned earlier that you you 461 00:16:49,990 --> 00:16:47,600 had a little bit of free time extra from 462 00:16:51,350 --> 00:16:50,000 the the cooling system issues i'm 463 00:16:53,269 --> 00:16:51,360 wondering how you're spending that free 464 00:16:55,749 --> 00:16:53,279 time we've seen some amazing photos 465 00:16:57,590 --> 00:16:55,759 you've been taking of earth from space 466 00:17:01,110 --> 00:16:57,600 are you getting any of that 467 00:17:05,029 --> 00:17:02,710 oh yeah we're always on the lookout for 468 00:17:07,270 --> 00:17:05,039 some interesting photos i spend i spend 469 00:17:08,870 --> 00:17:07,280 some time in the cupola when i usually 470 00:17:10,789 --> 00:17:08,880 at the end of the day i'll spend the you 471 00:17:12,390 --> 00:17:10,799 know 30 minutes to an hour in the cupola 472 00:17:14,630 --> 00:17:12,400 just watching the world go around and 473 00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:14,640 trying to take some good pictures 474 00:17:17,110 --> 00:17:15,600 um 475 00:17:18,789 --> 00:17:17,120 you know mostly what i do in the free 476 00:17:20,230 --> 00:17:18,799 time is i'm kind of looking ahead it's 477 00:17:21,669 --> 00:17:20,240 this is kind of i look at this as like 478 00:17:22,949 --> 00:17:21,679 being flying an airplane you got to try 479 00:17:24,549 --> 00:17:22,959 to stay ahead of the vehicle so i'm 480 00:17:26,309 --> 00:17:24,559 looking at tomorrow's activities or next 481 00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:26,319 week's activities and seeing where i can 482 00:17:30,230 --> 00:17:28,559 get ahead here and there but mostly just 483 00:17:31,990 --> 00:17:30,240 enjoying myself looking out the window 484 00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:32,000 in the cupola calling home and talking 485 00:17:35,990 --> 00:17:33,760 to the family and making a few phone 486 00:17:37,990 --> 00:17:36,000 calls to friends 487 00:17:39,990 --> 00:17:38,000 now i've seen photos of you literally 488 00:17:41,270 --> 00:17:40,000 standing on top of the world in in the 489 00:17:43,430 --> 00:17:41,280 cupola 490 00:17:46,070 --> 00:17:43,440 and amazing images of 491 00:17:46,789 --> 00:17:46,080 volcanoes and clouds and just just the 492 00:17:48,870 --> 00:17:46,799 the 493 00:17:51,110 --> 00:17:48,880 striking view of space i'm wondering if 494 00:17:53,669 --> 00:17:51,120 there's one so far if you can pick a 495 00:17:58,470 --> 00:17:53,679 favorite site or a moment that was just 496 00:18:02,230 --> 00:18:00,470 well i think i've had so many of those 497 00:18:04,070 --> 00:18:02,240 uh like i said on the shuttle missions 498 00:18:07,110 --> 00:18:04,080 you just don't get the time to spend in 499 00:18:08,470 --> 00:18:07,120 the windows like like i do now 500 00:18:10,870 --> 00:18:08,480 uh you know we've been going over 501 00:18:12,549 --> 00:18:10,880 patagonia south the southern tip of 502 00:18:14,390 --> 00:18:12,559 south america quite a bit just the way 503 00:18:16,150 --> 00:18:14,400 our orbits spin and that's a that's an 504 00:18:17,669 --> 00:18:16,160 incredible area and every time you look 505 00:18:18,549 --> 00:18:17,679 out the window at that place you find 506 00:18:20,870 --> 00:18:18,559 something 507 00:18:23,270 --> 00:18:20,880 even more beautiful than last time uh 508 00:18:24,630 --> 00:18:23,280 one of the more uh puzzling things i saw 509 00:18:27,750 --> 00:18:24,640 the other day is we're going over the 510 00:18:29,510 --> 00:18:27,760 andes was looked like some kind of a 511 00:18:31,270 --> 00:18:29,520 valley where an avalanche or something 512 00:18:32,870 --> 00:18:31,280 had taken place i would love to know 513 00:18:33,990 --> 00:18:32,880 what was going on down there at that 514 00:18:38,310 --> 00:18:34,000 time so 515 00:18:41,590 --> 00:18:39,110 great 516 00:18:43,430 --> 00:18:41,600 one of our readers actually his name is 517 00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:43,440 now quoto was wondering about the 518 00:18:47,990 --> 00:18:45,760 geminid meteor shower we saw some photos 519 00:18:49,750 --> 00:18:48,000 from the station of comet ison lately 520 00:18:53,029 --> 00:18:49,760 are you hoping to see a shooting star 521 00:18:56,070 --> 00:18:54,630 yeah in fact every once in a while when 522 00:18:57,590 --> 00:18:56,080 you're out in the cupola and you got the 523 00:18:59,190 --> 00:18:57,600 lights turned down and your eyes are 524 00:19:01,190 --> 00:18:59,200 adjusted you could see a shooting star 525 00:19:03,590 --> 00:19:01,200 they're pretty rare it takes uh takes a 526 00:19:04,470 --> 00:19:03,600 lot of patience obviously to find one of 527 00:19:06,470 --> 00:19:04,480 those 528 00:19:08,230 --> 00:19:06,480 i think i've seen one or two up here 529 00:19:09,990 --> 00:19:08,240 since i've gotten here but like i said 530 00:19:14,549 --> 00:19:10,000 it takes a lot of patience and a lot of 531 00:19:18,070 --> 00:19:16,710 great well rick i'm out of time but 532 00:19:19,750 --> 00:19:18,080 thank you so much for having the time to 533 00:19:21,430 --> 00:19:19,760 talk to us today from the the space 534 00:19:24,549 --> 00:19:21,440 station and all the best in expedition 535 00:19:25,830 --> 00:19:24,559 38 and 39 536 00:19:29,590 --> 00:19:25,840 thank you very much it was great to talk 537 00:19:36,070 --> 00:19:32,310 station this is houston acr thank you 538 00:19:42,390 --> 00:19:39,750 thank you very much and thank you ap and