1 00:00:04,470 --> 00:00:03,030 all right good morning uh i'm captain 2 00:00:07,430 --> 00:00:04,480 bruce i'm the commanding officer of the 3 00:00:10,070 --> 00:00:07,440 pacific missile range facility uh we're 4 00:00:11,830 --> 00:00:10,080 uh the navy's premier training and test 5 00:00:13,669 --> 00:00:11,840 and evaluation range and we're hosting 6 00:00:16,630 --> 00:00:13,679 nasa for a program called the low 7 00:00:18,390 --> 00:00:16,640 density supersonic decelerator 8 00:00:19,670 --> 00:00:18,400 if you're watching this you probably 9 00:00:21,510 --> 00:00:19,680 already know what that is so i'm not 10 00:00:22,950 --> 00:00:21,520 going to waste any time explaining it 11 00:00:26,470 --> 00:00:22,960 because it's pretty awesome and pretty 12 00:00:28,150 --> 00:00:26,480 complex the reason we're here at kauai 13 00:00:30,790 --> 00:00:28,160 and at the pacific missile range 14 00:00:32,549 --> 00:00:30,800 facility is because we have a lot of 15 00:00:34,709 --> 00:00:32,559 space and if you're not familiar with 16 00:00:37,110 --> 00:00:34,719 our range we have 2.1 million square 17 00:00:38,470 --> 00:00:37,120 miles of extended range complex 18 00:00:40,310 --> 00:00:38,480 and although the balloon's not going 19 00:00:43,430 --> 00:00:40,320 very fast it is going to use up a lot of 20 00:00:44,470 --> 00:00:43,440 real estate and especially in altitude 21 00:00:46,869 --> 00:00:44,480 so 22 00:00:49,750 --> 00:00:46,879 in order for us to launch it safely and 23 00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:49,760 then recover it safely and track it and 24 00:00:53,510 --> 00:00:51,440 seem like the logical place 25 00:00:54,790 --> 00:00:53,520 we've also supported nasa's stuff here 26 00:00:55,750 --> 00:00:54,800 in the past 27 00:00:57,830 --> 00:00:55,760 and 28 00:00:59,349 --> 00:00:57,840 i know i'm personally very excited about 29 00:01:00,950 --> 00:00:59,359 watching this thing 30 00:01:03,349 --> 00:01:00,960 take off 31 00:01:05,509 --> 00:01:03,359 go active and then do all of its things 32 00:01:07,510 --> 00:01:05,519 it has to do before it goes in the water 33 00:01:09,910 --> 00:01:07,520 and i'm even more excited about the 34 00:01:12,310 --> 00:01:09,920 possibility of getting to test the 35 00:01:13,990 --> 00:01:12,320 follow-on concepts here at the pacific 36 00:01:15,830 --> 00:01:14,000 missile range facility 37 00:01:18,390 --> 00:01:15,840 we're really happy to be uh partnering 38 00:01:20,070 --> 00:01:18,400 here with nasa and jpl and all the other 39 00:01:21,590 --> 00:01:20,080 folks that are out here for 40 00:01:25,749 --> 00:01:21,600 well you've been here for months now it 41 00:01:27,510 --> 00:01:25,759 seems like so you're almost comma i know 42 00:01:30,390 --> 00:01:27,520 i don't have a lot more to say except 43 00:01:32,469 --> 00:01:30,400 i'm again super happy to uh 44 00:01:35,030 --> 00:01:32,479 be sharing our range with our friends 45 00:01:37,429 --> 00:01:35,040 from nasa and uh showcasing the 46 00:01:40,550 --> 00:01:37,439 fantastic people we have here at uh the 47 00:01:42,710 --> 00:01:40,560 pacific missile range facility thank you 48 00:01:44,870 --> 00:01:42,720 thanks for that welcome captain hay 49 00:01:46,870 --> 00:01:44,880 i'm dave steves from nasa headquarters 50 00:01:49,830 --> 00:01:46,880 office of communications 51 00:01:51,190 --> 00:01:49,840 and i want to welcome everybody as well 52 00:01:52,149 --> 00:01:51,200 our friends in the media who are here 53 00:01:53,749 --> 00:01:52,159 today 54 00:01:56,069 --> 00:01:53,759 i'd also like to introduce the rest of 55 00:01:58,789 --> 00:01:56,079 our panel in addition to captain haye we 56 00:02:00,870 --> 00:01:58,799 have dr michael gazerick 57 00:02:03,670 --> 00:02:00,880 mike's the associate administrator for 58 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:03,680 space technology at nasa headquarters in 59 00:02:08,389 --> 00:02:05,360 washington 60 00:02:10,710 --> 00:02:08,399 uh to mike's left we have ian clark ian 61 00:02:13,589 --> 00:02:10,720 is the principal investigator for the 62 00:02:15,910 --> 00:02:13,599 low density supersonic decelerator fro 63 00:02:18,630 --> 00:02:15,920 and ian's based at nasa's jet propulsion 64 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:18,640 lab in pasadena california 65 00:02:24,390 --> 00:02:22,000 and next to ian is dr mark adler mark's 66 00:02:26,550 --> 00:02:24,400 the program manager for the 67 00:02:29,670 --> 00:02:26,560 low density supersonic decelerator or 68 00:02:32,070 --> 00:02:29,680 ldsd marks also with nasa's jet 69 00:02:34,229 --> 00:02:32,080 propulsion lab in pasadena 70 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:34,239 we'll hear some opening remarks from 71 00:02:37,270 --> 00:02:35,920 mike ian and mark and then we'll take 72 00:02:39,030 --> 00:02:37,280 questions from folks here in the 73 00:02:41,270 --> 00:02:39,040 audience and then we'll also take 74 00:02:42,790 --> 00:02:41,280 questions from reporters joining us on 75 00:02:45,350 --> 00:02:42,800 the telephone 76 00:02:48,309 --> 00:02:45,360 you can also ask questions via our 77 00:02:50,390 --> 00:02:48,319 hashtag asknasa if you're following us 78 00:02:53,830 --> 00:02:50,400 on twitter we'll be entertaining 79 00:02:55,750 --> 00:02:53,840 questions from the public on hashtag ask 80 00:02:58,470 --> 00:02:55,760 nasa during the briefing 81 00:03:01,110 --> 00:02:58,480 and with that i'll turn it over to 82 00:03:02,229 --> 00:03:01,120 dr gazarick mike 83 00:03:04,229 --> 00:03:02,239 thanks dave 84 00:03:06,390 --> 00:03:04,239 and thanks captain hay uh i really 85 00:03:07,990 --> 00:03:06,400 appreciate your hospitality for allowing 86 00:03:09,589 --> 00:03:08,000 us to be here for months i don't know 87 00:03:11,990 --> 00:03:09,599 what we promised you 88 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:12,000 we will leave though eventually um but i 89 00:03:15,589 --> 00:03:13,360 want to really uh you know thank your 90 00:03:18,229 --> 00:03:15,599 team uh for hosting us here for this 91 00:03:20,470 --> 00:03:18,239 important and exciting test 92 00:03:22,710 --> 00:03:20,480 this test kicks off really three months 93 00:03:25,190 --> 00:03:22,720 of increased focus by nasa on the 94 00:03:27,750 --> 00:03:25,200 importance of technology technology to 95 00:03:29,589 --> 00:03:27,760 to achieve our ambitious future science 96 00:03:31,990 --> 00:03:29,599 and robotic missions and eventually 97 00:03:33,750 --> 00:03:32,000 human missions to mars 98 00:03:35,430 --> 00:03:33,760 so before mark and ian kind of take you 99 00:03:36,949 --> 00:03:35,440 through the details let me just step 100 00:03:39,030 --> 00:03:36,959 back a little bit and talk to you about 101 00:03:40,789 --> 00:03:39,040 why it's so important to invest in 102 00:03:42,789 --> 00:03:40,799 technologies 103 00:03:44,630 --> 00:03:42,799 in order to go to an asteroid or go to 104 00:03:46,470 --> 00:03:44,640 the moon or go to mars 105 00:03:49,270 --> 00:03:46,480 we need sustained and substantial 106 00:03:51,430 --> 00:03:49,280 investments in space technology without 107 00:03:53,110 --> 00:03:51,440 these investments we really can't go 108 00:03:55,509 --> 00:03:53,120 beyond the international space station 109 00:03:57,910 --> 00:03:55,519 you know where we have crew there today 110 00:04:01,270 --> 00:03:57,920 technology drives expiration and in fact 111 00:04:03,509 --> 00:04:01,280 technology is the surest path to mars 112 00:04:05,830 --> 00:04:03,519 the space technology mission directorate 113 00:04:07,910 --> 00:04:05,840 a little over a year old now and running 114 00:04:09,830 --> 00:04:07,920 is responsible for a lion's share of the 115 00:04:12,070 --> 00:04:09,840 technology development which is critical 116 00:04:14,229 --> 00:04:12,080 again for exploration above the low 117 00:04:15,990 --> 00:04:14,239 earth orbit we continue in the 118 00:04:18,229 --> 00:04:16,000 directorate to look at a variety of 119 00:04:20,310 --> 00:04:18,239 technologies and and also to engage the 120 00:04:22,469 --> 00:04:20,320 best and the brightest in the nation we 121 00:04:25,670 --> 00:04:22,479 have connections and programs that 122 00:04:27,749 --> 00:04:25,680 involve academia we have now over 450 123 00:04:29,990 --> 00:04:27,759 activities with over 120 u.s 124 00:04:32,390 --> 00:04:30,000 institutions and all working on the 125 00:04:34,390 --> 00:04:32,400 tough difficult problems we have at nasa 126 00:04:36,469 --> 00:04:34,400 for space exploration and for the 127 00:04:37,830 --> 00:04:36,479 broader aerospace community all the 128 00:04:40,550 --> 00:04:37,840 while all the while doing these 129 00:04:43,510 --> 00:04:40,560 investments we're making improvements 130 00:04:45,749 --> 00:04:43,520 and gains in the american economy in the 131 00:04:46,950 --> 00:04:45,759 innovation economy 132 00:04:48,790 --> 00:04:46,960 we're looking at high priority 133 00:04:50,790 --> 00:04:48,800 challenges as we move forward 134 00:04:52,230 --> 00:04:50,800 in expiration in fact we have seven 135 00:04:54,390 --> 00:04:52,240 launches in the space tech mission 136 00:04:55,909 --> 00:04:54,400 directorate in the next 24 months that's 137 00:04:57,830 --> 00:04:55,919 seven launches plus what we're going to 138 00:05:00,310 --> 00:04:57,840 do here tomorrow 139 00:05:03,110 --> 00:05:00,320 in the next two years 140 00:05:04,790 --> 00:05:03,120 the investments uh span a broad variety 141 00:05:07,110 --> 00:05:04,800 of areas and i'll talk about that in 142 00:05:09,110 --> 00:05:07,120 just a minute but they are important for 143 00:05:10,950 --> 00:05:09,120 us and they are important for the nation 144 00:05:13,110 --> 00:05:10,960 to explore 145 00:05:15,510 --> 00:05:13,120 just last week the agency introduced 146 00:05:17,749 --> 00:05:15,520 what we call the evolvable mars campaign 147 00:05:20,150 --> 00:05:17,759 it's a series of steps to really to lead 148 00:05:22,469 --> 00:05:20,160 to pioneer to mars not just explore but 149 00:05:25,189 --> 00:05:22,479 pioneer the technology is certainly one 150 00:05:27,029 --> 00:05:25,199 of those steps and in fact as charlie 151 00:05:28,950 --> 00:05:27,039 bolden the nasa administrator had said 152 00:05:31,189 --> 00:05:28,960 and the president's science advisor dr 153 00:05:33,749 --> 00:05:31,199 john holdren technology development is 154 00:05:35,189 --> 00:05:33,759 the surest path to mars 155 00:05:36,550 --> 00:05:35,199 when we look at mars you know we've been 156 00:05:38,390 --> 00:05:36,560 there before 157 00:05:40,550 --> 00:05:38,400 eight successful landings on the surface 158 00:05:42,310 --> 00:05:40,560 of mars the united states leads this 159 00:05:44,150 --> 00:05:42,320 area and landing on mars it's one of the 160 00:05:45,670 --> 00:05:44,160 more difficult challenges and clearly 161 00:05:48,230 --> 00:05:45,680 the jet propulsion laboratory and these 162 00:05:49,270 --> 00:05:48,240 two gentlemen here to my left know a lot 163 00:05:51,029 --> 00:05:49,280 about that 164 00:05:53,670 --> 00:05:51,039 when we look at the curiosity rover 165 00:05:55,189 --> 00:05:53,680 which landed a year ago or two years ago 166 00:05:57,350 --> 00:05:55,199 it's about a metric ton on the surface 167 00:05:59,110 --> 00:05:57,360 of mars we know that for expiration for 168 00:06:01,189 --> 00:05:59,120 future robotic exploration for future 169 00:06:02,629 --> 00:06:01,199 human exploration we need more than that 170 00:06:04,309 --> 00:06:02,639 and how do we do that and that's what 171 00:06:06,390 --> 00:06:04,319 we're about here today we have been 172 00:06:08,070 --> 00:06:06,400 living really on the on the shoulders of 173 00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:08,080 the giants who developed the entry 174 00:06:11,830 --> 00:06:10,080 descent landing technology decades ago 175 00:06:13,990 --> 00:06:11,840 in fact there's a picture of it now from 176 00:06:15,189 --> 00:06:14,000 the viking area back in the 1960s and 177 00:06:17,510 --> 00:06:15,199 70s 178 00:06:19,990 --> 00:06:17,520 and so for us it's it's the challenges 179 00:06:22,309 --> 00:06:20,000 of mars how do we get there how do we 180 00:06:23,590 --> 00:06:22,319 land there how do we live there how do 181 00:06:25,270 --> 00:06:23,600 we leave there 182 00:06:27,110 --> 00:06:25,280 and today in the event we're talking 183 00:06:29,189 --> 00:06:27,120 about focuses on that very difficult 184 00:06:30,950 --> 00:06:29,199 challenge of landing there 185 00:06:32,469 --> 00:06:30,960 we know this we need to test and we need 186 00:06:34,469 --> 00:06:32,479 to learn and we need to do it quickly 187 00:06:36,550 --> 00:06:34,479 and efficiently and that's again why 188 00:06:39,590 --> 00:06:36,560 we're here 189 00:06:41,110 --> 00:06:39,600 the specifics of the deceleration 190 00:06:43,510 --> 00:06:41,120 technologies we're going to talk about 191 00:06:45,189 --> 00:06:43,520 again we'll leave to the experts here 192 00:06:47,189 --> 00:06:45,199 but it will enable more mass to the 193 00:06:49,110 --> 00:06:47,199 surface it's about more mass going to 194 00:06:52,469 --> 00:06:49,120 more elevations on the surface of mars 195 00:06:54,309 --> 00:06:52,479 and landing more accurately 196 00:06:56,629 --> 00:06:54,319 edl is actually one of one of many 197 00:06:58,550 --> 00:06:56,639 technical challenges to get to mars and 198 00:06:59,909 --> 00:06:58,560 in the next 18 months the space tech 199 00:07:01,909 --> 00:06:59,919 mission directorate has a number of 200 00:07:03,749 --> 00:07:01,919 substantial investments in a broad 201 00:07:05,830 --> 00:07:03,759 number of areas let me just highlight a 202 00:07:07,430 --> 00:07:05,840 few in addition to the entry descent 203 00:07:09,350 --> 00:07:07,440 landing technology we're talking about 204 00:07:10,710 --> 00:07:09,360 here also the idea of getting there 205 00:07:14,629 --> 00:07:10,720 propulsion 206 00:07:16,950 --> 00:07:14,639 have a substantial investment in this 207 00:07:19,189 --> 00:07:16,960 area that has broad applicability for 208 00:07:20,629 --> 00:07:19,199 nasa the first step for us is moving 209 00:07:22,390 --> 00:07:20,639 beyond the low earth orbit of the 210 00:07:24,070 --> 00:07:22,400 international space station and going 211 00:07:25,909 --> 00:07:24,080 and retrieving an asteroid and bringing 212 00:07:27,909 --> 00:07:25,919 it to the earth moon space we call this 213 00:07:29,670 --> 00:07:27,919 the asteroid retrieval mission in that 214 00:07:31,350 --> 00:07:29,680 mission with a robotic spacecraft we 215 00:07:32,469 --> 00:07:31,360 will use high power solar electric 216 00:07:34,309 --> 00:07:32,479 propulsion 217 00:07:36,390 --> 00:07:34,319 this technology not only can help move 218 00:07:38,390 --> 00:07:36,400 asteroids but also can serve as cargo 219 00:07:40,230 --> 00:07:38,400 vehicles to get to mars and has broad 220 00:07:42,230 --> 00:07:40,240 applicability for our nation's 221 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:42,240 commercial spacecraft 222 00:07:45,589 --> 00:07:43,840 it has number of applications it's a 223 00:07:46,629 --> 00:07:45,599 multiple win not only for nasa but for 224 00:07:48,390 --> 00:07:46,639 the nation 225 00:07:50,469 --> 00:07:48,400 likewise we have investments in robotics 226 00:07:52,629 --> 00:07:50,479 and avionics spirit and opportunity the 227 00:07:54,550 --> 00:07:52,639 rovers on mars covered 10 kilometers in 228 00:07:55,670 --> 00:07:54,560 about 10 years we're trying to work on 229 00:07:57,510 --> 00:07:55,680 technologies that can throw 10 230 00:07:58,869 --> 00:07:57,520 kilometers in a week and how do we do 231 00:08:01,350 --> 00:07:58,879 that we know we need advances in 232 00:08:03,029 --> 00:08:01,360 avionics and robotics and sensing we're 233 00:08:04,550 --> 00:08:03,039 also looking at optical communications 234 00:08:06,469 --> 00:08:04,560 and the ability to send pictures and 235 00:08:07,909 --> 00:08:06,479 high definition data back 236 00:08:09,670 --> 00:08:07,919 materials and structures of course 237 00:08:11,670 --> 00:08:09,680 remain a key component for any type of 238 00:08:13,510 --> 00:08:11,680 exploration 239 00:08:15,990 --> 00:08:13,520 so these are the areas we invest in we 240 00:08:18,629 --> 00:08:16,000 know from uh from previous history it is 241 00:08:20,150 --> 00:08:18,639 about risk we need we need to address 242 00:08:22,710 --> 00:08:20,160 risk and certainly the testing we're 243 00:08:24,550 --> 00:08:22,720 doing here has some risk in it 244 00:08:26,390 --> 00:08:24,560 but we need to take and address the risk 245 00:08:29,029 --> 00:08:26,400 today and these kinds of tests to reduce 246 00:08:30,869 --> 00:08:29,039 the risk for missions for mars tomorrow 247 00:08:32,870 --> 00:08:30,879 and that's why we're here testing and 248 00:08:34,469 --> 00:08:32,880 learning as fast as we can 249 00:08:35,990 --> 00:08:34,479 so regardless of the outcome we know we 250 00:08:37,430 --> 00:08:36,000 will learn many important things we'll 251 00:08:38,870 --> 00:08:37,440 learn many important things about this 252 00:08:40,949 --> 00:08:38,880 technology and again this is the first 253 00:08:42,709 --> 00:08:40,959 step we'll be back next year 254 00:08:45,190 --> 00:08:42,719 i hope you knew that we'll be back next 255 00:08:47,030 --> 00:08:45,200 year right for future testing 256 00:08:48,949 --> 00:08:47,040 so with that let me turn it over to dr 257 00:08:51,110 --> 00:08:48,959 ian clark the incredible pi of this 258 00:08:53,509 --> 00:08:51,120 effort he is the edl he's the architect 259 00:08:55,350 --> 00:08:53,519 behind what you're about to see ian 260 00:08:57,430 --> 00:08:55,360 thank you mike and thank you everybody 261 00:08:59,590 --> 00:08:57,440 for attending uh personally this is 262 00:09:01,990 --> 00:08:59,600 extremely exciting time for me and i 263 00:09:03,430 --> 00:09:02,000 really enjoy the juxtaposition of uh 264 00:09:06,150 --> 00:09:03,440 here we are in one of the greenest and 265 00:09:08,870 --> 00:09:06,160 luscious places that i've ever been 266 00:09:11,030 --> 00:09:08,880 testing technologies to eventually 267 00:09:12,949 --> 00:09:11,040 enable much broader more capable 268 00:09:14,870 --> 00:09:12,959 missions to land on the surface of mars 269 00:09:17,509 --> 00:09:14,880 a planet that 270 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:17,519 has beauty in a number of other ways 271 00:09:22,949 --> 00:09:19,920 and so we're here because 272 00:09:24,949 --> 00:09:22,959 four decades ago the viking rovers 273 00:09:26,870 --> 00:09:24,959 landers excuse me were some of the first 274 00:09:28,230 --> 00:09:26,880 missions to land on another planet the 275 00:09:29,910 --> 00:09:28,240 united states and the world for that 276 00:09:32,310 --> 00:09:29,920 matter was learning what it means to 277 00:09:34,230 --> 00:09:32,320 land a spacecraft on another planet and 278 00:09:36,710 --> 00:09:34,240 the technologies that were developed 279 00:09:38,790 --> 00:09:36,720 over four decades ago are some of the 280 00:09:41,910 --> 00:09:38,800 same technologies that we still rely on 281 00:09:43,990 --> 00:09:41,920 today to land our spacecraft on mars and 282 00:09:45,670 --> 00:09:44,000 one of the the remnants of that 283 00:09:48,230 --> 00:09:45,680 technology development program if you go 284 00:09:50,389 --> 00:09:48,240 to the uh the next image 285 00:09:52,310 --> 00:09:50,399 here uh this was some of the testing 286 00:09:54,630 --> 00:09:52,320 that was done as a precursor to the 287 00:09:56,550 --> 00:09:54,640 viking program uh at the time they were 288 00:09:58,710 --> 00:09:56,560 trying to develop supersonic parachutes 289 00:10:00,389 --> 00:09:58,720 that would enable them to decelerate the 290 00:10:03,269 --> 00:10:00,399 viking spacecraft to land on the surface 291 00:10:06,230 --> 00:10:03,279 of mars and we've been using that same 292 00:10:07,829 --> 00:10:06,240 parachute for several decades now and as 293 00:10:09,829 --> 00:10:07,839 we start looking towards the horizon 294 00:10:11,829 --> 00:10:09,839 want to land more capable missions on 295 00:10:13,990 --> 00:10:11,839 the surface of mars heavier to higher 296 00:10:15,430 --> 00:10:14,000 altitudes with more relevant science 297 00:10:17,430 --> 00:10:15,440 associated with them and land them more 298 00:10:19,829 --> 00:10:17,440 accurately and as we want to land 299 00:10:21,430 --> 00:10:19,839 eventually humans on the surface of mars 300 00:10:22,949 --> 00:10:21,440 we realize that we need to develop new 301 00:10:24,630 --> 00:10:22,959 technologies that will enable us to do 302 00:10:27,670 --> 00:10:24,640 that and the technologies that we're 303 00:10:30,310 --> 00:10:27,680 testing here uh two new technologies uh 304 00:10:31,990 --> 00:10:30,320 associated with the the mars program are 305 00:10:34,069 --> 00:10:32,000 a supersonic inflatable aerodynamic 306 00:10:34,870 --> 00:10:34,079 accelerator you can go to the next image 307 00:10:39,990 --> 00:10:34,880 uh 308 00:10:41,750 --> 00:10:40,000 left is a cyad supersonic inflatable 309 00:10:44,949 --> 00:10:41,760 aerodynamic decelerator this is an 310 00:10:46,870 --> 00:10:44,959 inflatable uh taurus or drag ring uh 311 00:10:49,509 --> 00:10:46,880 that we inflate at several times the 312 00:10:51,350 --> 00:10:49,519 speed of sound to provide more drag to 313 00:10:52,870 --> 00:10:51,360 slow the vehicle down as it enters the 314 00:10:54,630 --> 00:10:52,880 martian atmosphere and then the 315 00:10:56,150 --> 00:10:54,640 technology on the right is a new 316 00:10:57,910 --> 00:10:56,160 supersonic parachute something 317 00:10:59,750 --> 00:10:57,920 significantly larger than any parachute 318 00:11:01,509 --> 00:10:59,760 that's ever been tested or flown 319 00:11:02,949 --> 00:11:01,519 supersonically in the past and will 320 00:11:05,110 --> 00:11:02,959 enable us to grow the landed mass 321 00:11:06,710 --> 00:11:05,120 capability on the surface of mars 322 00:11:07,990 --> 00:11:06,720 by at least twice 323 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:08,000 and we think it's extensible to 324 00:11:15,350 --> 00:11:11,200 something even more beyond that 325 00:11:18,150 --> 00:11:16,870 thank you so some of the testing that 326 00:11:20,069 --> 00:11:18,160 we've had to do to develop these 327 00:11:21,670 --> 00:11:20,079 technologies there's a lot of questions 328 00:11:23,590 --> 00:11:21,680 that we have associated with these how 329 00:11:24,710 --> 00:11:23,600 do they deploy how do they inflate are 330 00:11:26,870 --> 00:11:24,720 they going to be strong enough to 331 00:11:29,110 --> 00:11:26,880 survive the the extreme environments of 332 00:11:30,550 --> 00:11:29,120 mars how are they going to behave 333 00:11:32,310 --> 00:11:30,560 aerodynamically what is the performance 334 00:11:34,069 --> 00:11:32,320 of these devices and some of the testing 335 00:11:35,910 --> 00:11:34,079 that we've already done on these is to 336 00:11:38,150 --> 00:11:35,920 answer the question is are they strong 337 00:11:39,829 --> 00:11:38,160 enough to survive and so to answer that 338 00:11:41,750 --> 00:11:39,839 we started developing 339 00:11:43,670 --> 00:11:41,760 new test capabilities we would have 340 00:11:44,949 --> 00:11:43,680 loved to have test these in wind tunnels 341 00:11:46,630 --> 00:11:44,959 but unfortunately there are no wind 342 00:11:48,630 --> 00:11:46,640 tunnels in the world that are big enough 343 00:11:49,670 --> 00:11:48,640 to test the size of devices that we we 344 00:11:53,110 --> 00:11:49,680 need to test 345 00:11:54,069 --> 00:11:53,120 so we've started developing new ways to 346 00:11:56,389 --> 00:11:54,079 do that 347 00:11:58,790 --> 00:11:56,399 something that uh nasa hasn't had to do 348 00:12:00,069 --> 00:11:58,800 for several decades but again uh this is 349 00:12:01,829 --> 00:12:00,079 an exciting time and as we start 350 00:12:04,389 --> 00:12:01,839 thinking about trying to do 351 00:12:06,629 --> 00:12:04,399 even more capable missions on mars uh 352 00:12:08,310 --> 00:12:06,639 issues that we have to wrestle with uh 353 00:12:11,110 --> 00:12:08,320 is how do you do those tests and so one 354 00:12:13,430 --> 00:12:11,120 of those was uh working with our navy 355 00:12:15,430 --> 00:12:13,440 colleagues at the china lake uh naval 356 00:12:17,750 --> 00:12:15,440 air weapon station we started coming up 357 00:12:18,949 --> 00:12:17,760 with an idea of using a rocket sled uh 358 00:12:21,509 --> 00:12:18,959 it's a 359 00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:21,519 20 foot tall siege tower if you will uh 360 00:12:25,110 --> 00:12:22,880 that we accelerate to several hundred 361 00:12:26,389 --> 00:12:25,120 miles an hour in a fraction a few 362 00:12:28,949 --> 00:12:26,399 seconds 363 00:12:31,110 --> 00:12:28,959 and uh what we do is we inflate actually 364 00:12:32,230 --> 00:12:31,120 if you could go back to the previous uh 365 00:12:34,150 --> 00:12:32,240 video please 366 00:12:35,269 --> 00:12:34,160 uh 367 00:12:36,790 --> 00:12:35,279 thank you 368 00:12:38,870 --> 00:12:36,800 we accelerate this sled at several 369 00:12:41,590 --> 00:12:38,880 hundred miles an hour in a few seconds 370 00:12:43,670 --> 00:12:41,600 and we use that to replicate the 371 00:12:45,350 --> 00:12:43,680 aerodynamic loading that some of our 372 00:12:46,790 --> 00:12:45,360 technologies will see in particular the 373 00:12:48,629 --> 00:12:46,800 supersonic inflatable aerodynamic 374 00:12:51,110 --> 00:12:48,639 decelerator so the images that you're 375 00:12:52,389 --> 00:12:51,120 seeing are this first one is a shakeout 376 00:12:54,310 --> 00:12:52,399 test of that and now you're going to see 377 00:12:56,310 --> 00:12:54,320 it inflate this is actually a slow 378 00:12:58,389 --> 00:12:56,320 motion video the inflation of the side 379 00:12:59,990 --> 00:12:58,399 occurred over about 0.2 seconds a 380 00:13:01,509 --> 00:13:00,000 fraction of a second 381 00:13:03,509 --> 00:13:01,519 and all the testing that we've done to 382 00:13:05,269 --> 00:13:03,519 date shows that these devices work 383 00:13:07,190 --> 00:13:05,279 extremely well 384 00:13:09,110 --> 00:13:07,200 very exciting for sure 385 00:13:09,990 --> 00:13:09,120 but what we have to do is test them to 386 00:13:11,910 --> 00:13:10,000 make sure they're going to be strong 387 00:13:13,430 --> 00:13:11,920 enough and 388 00:13:14,870 --> 00:13:13,440 associated with the side we have the new 389 00:13:15,670 --> 00:13:14,880 parachute you can go to the next video 390 00:13:17,430 --> 00:13:15,680 on that 391 00:13:18,949 --> 00:13:17,440 we had to develop new ways of doing the 392 00:13:20,150 --> 00:13:18,959 parachute testing to make sure that it 393 00:13:21,509 --> 00:13:20,160 was going to be structurally strong 394 00:13:24,389 --> 00:13:21,519 enough and so the video that you're 395 00:13:26,069 --> 00:13:24,399 seeing is similarly using a rocket sled 396 00:13:27,829 --> 00:13:26,079 and there's a little bit of an ingenious 397 00:13:29,829 --> 00:13:27,839 idea here again working with our 398 00:13:31,829 --> 00:13:29,839 colleagues at the the naval air weapons 399 00:13:34,310 --> 00:13:31,839 station at china lake where we used a 400 00:13:36,389 --> 00:13:34,320 helicopter to to take the parachute up 401 00:13:38,870 --> 00:13:36,399 to several thousand feet altitude where 402 00:13:40,470 --> 00:13:38,880 it was released uh dropped and inflated 403 00:13:42,389 --> 00:13:40,480 and you see it inflating now and there 404 00:13:44,230 --> 00:13:42,399 is a long rope that goes several 405 00:13:46,470 --> 00:13:44,240 thousand feet down to the ground 406 00:13:48,069 --> 00:13:46,480 wraps around the pulley you see the the 407 00:13:50,150 --> 00:13:48,079 rope passing around that pulley and then 408 00:13:52,629 --> 00:13:50,160 we light a rocket sled that would 409 00:13:54,069 --> 00:13:52,639 accelerate horizontally down a track 410 00:13:56,150 --> 00:13:54,079 and pull the parachute towards the 411 00:13:58,230 --> 00:13:56,160 ground and we could generate over a 412 00:13:59,430 --> 00:13:58,240 hundred thousand pounds of force to make 413 00:14:01,269 --> 00:13:59,440 sure that the parachute was going to be 414 00:14:03,430 --> 00:14:01,279 structurally strong enough to survive 415 00:14:04,949 --> 00:14:03,440 the environments that it would see if we 416 00:14:07,430 --> 00:14:04,959 were to use it at mars and that's just 417 00:14:09,590 --> 00:14:07,440 some of the testing that we would uh do 418 00:14:11,269 --> 00:14:09,600 in in preparation for a mars mission and 419 00:14:12,230 --> 00:14:11,279 then mark is going to talk a little bit 420 00:14:15,110 --> 00:14:12,240 about some of the testing that we're 421 00:14:16,230 --> 00:14:15,120 doing here uh in addition to that 422 00:14:17,829 --> 00:14:16,240 all right good morning i'm going to talk 423 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:17,839 about what we're actually doing here out 424 00:14:22,790 --> 00:14:20,320 in kauai tomorrow is our first launch 425 00:14:23,990 --> 00:14:22,800 opportunity for getting this balloon and 426 00:14:26,150 --> 00:14:24,000 test vehicle launched i'll talk to you 427 00:14:27,590 --> 00:14:26,160 about exactly how that all works we have 428 00:14:29,269 --> 00:14:27,600 opportunities over the next two weeks 429 00:14:31,269 --> 00:14:29,279 depending on the winds and the weather 430 00:14:33,269 --> 00:14:31,279 this is our first experimental test 431 00:14:35,430 --> 00:14:33,279 flight of this vehicle that is designed 432 00:14:36,629 --> 00:14:35,440 to carry the side and the parachute that 433 00:14:37,910 --> 00:14:36,639 ian talked about to the proper 434 00:14:40,230 --> 00:14:37,920 conditions very high in earth's 435 00:14:42,150 --> 00:14:40,240 atmosphere and very fast so it looks 436 00:14:43,990 --> 00:14:42,160 like to the to these articles to these 437 00:14:45,269 --> 00:14:44,000 technologies that they're flying at mars 438 00:14:47,350 --> 00:14:45,279 that they have the same conditions they 439 00:14:48,629 --> 00:14:47,360 have there so we test them at full scale 440 00:14:49,670 --> 00:14:48,639 in those conditions to make sure that 441 00:14:51,110 --> 00:14:49,680 they're going to work on mars we want to 442 00:14:52,710 --> 00:14:51,120 test them here where it's cheaper before 443 00:14:54,230 --> 00:14:52,720 we send it to mars to make sure that 444 00:14:56,470 --> 00:14:54,240 it's going to work there 445 00:14:58,870 --> 00:14:56,480 now this um this shakeout flight is if 446 00:15:00,629 --> 00:14:58,880 you can get the first first graphic here 447 00:15:03,110 --> 00:15:00,639 has two stages to it we first launched 448 00:15:05,670 --> 00:15:03,120 in a very large 34 million cubic foot 449 00:15:07,750 --> 00:15:05,680 helium balloon that balloon carries our 450 00:15:09,670 --> 00:15:07,760 7 000 pound test vehicle which is this 451 00:15:12,550 --> 00:15:09,680 this vehicle right here 452 00:15:14,790 --> 00:15:12,560 up to 120 000 feet 453 00:15:16,150 --> 00:15:14,800 from 120 000 feet we then drop the test 454 00:15:17,990 --> 00:15:16,160 vehicle just for a few tenths of a 455 00:15:19,509 --> 00:15:18,000 second and then it fires up a series of 456 00:15:20,949 --> 00:15:19,519 spin motors which get the vehicle spun 457 00:15:23,590 --> 00:15:20,959 up to lock in its attitude and then we 458 00:15:25,910 --> 00:15:23,600 fire a large star 48 motor to accelerate 459 00:15:27,990 --> 00:15:25,920 it from 120 000 feet altitude up to the 460 00:15:30,310 --> 00:15:28,000 top of the stratosphere at 180 000 feet 461 00:15:32,230 --> 00:15:30,320 and going about four times the speed of 462 00:15:33,670 --> 00:15:32,240 sound at about mach 4. 463 00:15:36,150 --> 00:15:33,680 at that point in the middle there during 464 00:15:37,749 --> 00:15:36,160 the test period we deploy the syad the 465 00:15:39,110 --> 00:15:37,759 six meter side that around the vehicle 466 00:15:41,110 --> 00:15:39,120 the inner two the dean talked about and 467 00:15:42,710 --> 00:15:41,120 see how that behaves in the environment 468 00:15:45,430 --> 00:15:42,720 and then once it slows down from mach 469 00:15:46,790 --> 00:15:45,440 3.8 where we deploy the syad down to two 470 00:15:49,189 --> 00:15:46,800 and a half times the speed of sound at 471 00:15:50,790 --> 00:15:49,199 mach 2.5 we deploy the large parachute 472 00:15:52,870 --> 00:15:50,800 and see that large parachute and how it 473 00:15:54,710 --> 00:15:52,880 behaves that large parachute also serves 474 00:15:56,389 --> 00:15:54,720 as the chute that descends the vehicle 475 00:15:57,829 --> 00:15:56,399 down to the surface of the ocean where 476 00:15:59,509 --> 00:15:57,839 it splashes down and we recover the 477 00:16:01,910 --> 00:15:59,519 vehicle from the ocean 478 00:16:03,829 --> 00:16:01,920 all right so if we can uh take a look at 479 00:16:05,189 --> 00:16:03,839 the at this vehicle right here this is 480 00:16:07,590 --> 00:16:05,199 our test vehicle 481 00:16:09,670 --> 00:16:07,600 it is actually 15 feet in diameter it 482 00:16:10,949 --> 00:16:09,680 flies in this direction with this heat 483 00:16:13,509 --> 00:16:10,959 shield forward 484 00:16:15,590 --> 00:16:13,519 it has a large star 48 rocket motor as i 485 00:16:17,110 --> 00:16:15,600 said to propel it in the vehicle around 486 00:16:19,509 --> 00:16:17,120 the side here in this gold area is where 487 00:16:21,509 --> 00:16:19,519 the cyad is stowed it is kept very 488 00:16:23,189 --> 00:16:21,519 tightly against the vehicle during its 489 00:16:25,030 --> 00:16:23,199 entry into mars and its flight here on 490 00:16:26,870 --> 00:16:25,040 earth and then when it deploys a cover 491 00:16:28,389 --> 00:16:26,880 comes off and it deploys out and this 492 00:16:30,310 --> 00:16:28,399 inner tube which increases the size of 493 00:16:31,269 --> 00:16:30,320 the vehicle to six meters from 4.7 494 00:16:32,949 --> 00:16:31,279 meters 495 00:16:34,230 --> 00:16:32,959 in here we also have this parachute can 496 00:16:36,069 --> 00:16:34,240 this is where the parachute shoots out 497 00:16:37,509 --> 00:16:36,079 of after the site has done its job and 498 00:16:39,350 --> 00:16:37,519 the vehicle has a tremendous amount of 499 00:16:40,629 --> 00:16:39,360 instrumentation to observe the flight to 500 00:16:42,550 --> 00:16:40,639 measure the characteristics we have a 501 00:16:44,710 --> 00:16:42,560 camera mast here to look at the side 502 00:16:46,310 --> 00:16:44,720 deploy to watch the parachute deploy we 503 00:16:47,509 --> 00:16:46,320 have many sensors to reconstruct the 504 00:16:49,030 --> 00:16:47,519 trajectory and to measure the 505 00:16:51,829 --> 00:16:49,040 characteristics of the inflation of the 506 00:16:53,749 --> 00:16:51,839 devices 507 00:16:57,670 --> 00:16:53,759 this vehicle has been named here in 508 00:16:59,749 --> 00:16:57,680 hawaii as keiki okahunua which is a boy 509 00:17:01,350 --> 00:16:59,759 from earth and so that's the vehicle 510 00:17:03,590 --> 00:17:01,360 we're going to be launching sometime in 511 00:17:08,710 --> 00:17:03,600 the next two weeks 512 00:17:11,990 --> 00:17:10,549 so here we see the balloon launching 513 00:17:13,750 --> 00:17:12,000 this was a test flight that we had out 514 00:17:15,270 --> 00:17:13,760 of fort summer new mexico of our launch 515 00:17:16,549 --> 00:17:15,280 tower we have a special launch tower 516 00:17:19,669 --> 00:17:16,559 that we developed for this which also 517 00:17:22,390 --> 00:17:19,679 was named it's uh onika honua which is 518 00:17:23,990 --> 00:17:22,400 the mover of the earth and this is a 519 00:17:25,189 --> 00:17:24,000 large balloon most of the helium is kept 520 00:17:26,870 --> 00:17:25,199 up in the top of the boom when it's 521 00:17:28,950 --> 00:17:26,880 fully inflated at altitude the balloon 522 00:17:30,789 --> 00:17:28,960 would fill a large football stadium like 523 00:17:32,310 --> 00:17:30,799 the rose bowl it's an extremely large 524 00:17:34,710 --> 00:17:32,320 balloon and that's what carries the 525 00:17:36,549 --> 00:17:34,720 vehicle up to 120 thousand feet here you 526 00:17:38,950 --> 00:17:36,559 can see it departing and flying over the 527 00:17:40,710 --> 00:17:38,960 surface of new mexico it will deploy out 528 00:17:41,990 --> 00:17:40,720 from here from kauai and goes straight 529 00:17:43,830 --> 00:17:42,000 out over the ocean out into the middle 530 00:17:46,630 --> 00:17:43,840 of the ocean in the protected range that 531 00:17:48,390 --> 00:17:46,640 pmrf has provided us out there 532 00:17:50,310 --> 00:17:48,400 and next slide 533 00:17:51,590 --> 00:17:50,320 so once we get up to 120 000 feet we do 534 00:17:53,590 --> 00:17:51,600 what we call the drop there you see the 535 00:17:55,830 --> 00:17:53,600 vehicle dropping from the balloon firing 536 00:17:58,070 --> 00:17:55,840 its star 48 motor and it's pointed 537 00:18:00,230 --> 00:17:58,080 roughly up it goes up and then it turns 538 00:18:01,350 --> 00:18:00,240 over as the as the motor fires and it 539 00:18:03,270 --> 00:18:01,360 goes up higher and thinner in the 540 00:18:04,710 --> 00:18:03,280 atmosphere is now going roughly sideways 541 00:18:06,789 --> 00:18:04,720 it spins down 542 00:18:07,830 --> 00:18:06,799 and now in the video you'll see the syad 543 00:18:09,830 --> 00:18:07,840 deploy 544 00:18:11,190 --> 00:18:09,840 uh very rapidly around the vehicle and 545 00:18:12,470 --> 00:18:11,200 that provides the additional drag that 546 00:18:14,070 --> 00:18:12,480 we're going to need at mars to slow 547 00:18:15,909 --> 00:18:14,080 these vehicles down at high speeds so we 548 00:18:19,029 --> 00:18:15,919 can land larger payloads we go to the 549 00:18:21,750 --> 00:18:20,470 the next thing that happens at mach two 550 00:18:23,430 --> 00:18:21,760 and a half is we put out what's called a 551 00:18:25,029 --> 00:18:23,440 balut this is actually a 4.4 meter 552 00:18:26,870 --> 00:18:25,039 device that's used to pull the parachute 553 00:18:28,630 --> 00:18:26,880 out here we see the parachute being 554 00:18:30,230 --> 00:18:28,640 pulled out of its can out of the vehicle 555 00:18:32,230 --> 00:18:30,240 the bridles on the vehicle stand up 556 00:18:33,830 --> 00:18:32,240 which is what holds that parachute and 557 00:18:34,870 --> 00:18:33,840 then the parachute deploys and slows it 558 00:18:35,990 --> 00:18:34,880 down so that's what a view from the 559 00:18:37,990 --> 00:18:36,000 camera will look like that we're going 560 00:18:39,909 --> 00:18:38,000 to see of the parachute deploying into 561 00:18:44,390 --> 00:18:39,919 the high thin earth's atmosphere 562 00:18:49,029 --> 00:18:46,950 and so that's our flight we this is an 563 00:18:50,549 --> 00:18:49,039 experimental flight we're testing now to 564 00:18:52,310 --> 00:18:50,559 see if we're able to do this we're able 565 00:18:53,669 --> 00:18:52,320 to get this vehicle up to mach 4 and the 566 00:18:55,510 --> 00:18:53,679 proper conditions to deploy these 567 00:18:56,789 --> 00:18:55,520 devices we're in the process of building 568 00:18:58,230 --> 00:18:56,799 two more vehicles that we're going to 569 00:18:59,990 --> 00:18:58,240 want to fly next year those will be our 570 00:19:01,270 --> 00:19:00,000 flights of record to actually measure 571 00:19:02,870 --> 00:19:01,280 the performance of the sides and the 572 00:19:05,029 --> 00:19:02,880 parachute and those two flights in the 573 00:19:07,190 --> 00:19:05,039 summer of 2015. 574 00:19:09,430 --> 00:19:07,200 and also i'd like to also again thank uh 575 00:19:10,870 --> 00:19:09,440 captain haye for hosting us here at pmrf 576 00:19:13,510 --> 00:19:10,880 this is a unique facility for our 577 00:19:14,950 --> 00:19:13,520 mission providing fantastic support for 578 00:19:16,870 --> 00:19:14,960 for being able to conduct this this 579 00:19:18,870 --> 00:19:16,880 flight 580 00:19:21,110 --> 00:19:18,880 so thank you i think we then dave open 581 00:19:23,029 --> 00:19:21,120 it up to questions okay thanks mark 582 00:19:26,390 --> 00:19:23,039 we will open it up for questions first 583 00:19:27,909 --> 00:19:26,400 here at pmrf and then over uh to 584 00:19:30,150 --> 00:19:27,919 reporters on the phone if you're on the 585 00:19:32,789 --> 00:19:30,160 phone and would like to ask a question 586 00:19:36,549 --> 00:19:32,799 please hit star one and you'll be added 587 00:19:38,470 --> 00:19:36,559 to the q a q for uh this briefing 588 00:19:39,990 --> 00:19:38,480 for folks here in the audience if you 589 00:19:41,510 --> 00:19:40,000 have a question 590 00:19:42,710 --> 00:19:41,520 please wait for the mic to get to you 591 00:19:51,669 --> 00:19:42,720 and if you want to raise your hands 592 00:19:56,310 --> 00:19:54,870 howdy andrew pereira with kitv um 593 00:19:57,750 --> 00:19:56,320 you're kind of opening yourselves up to 594 00:19:59,510 --> 00:19:57,760 all kinds of conspiracy theories with 595 00:20:02,470 --> 00:19:59,520 the saucer shape could you tell us a 596 00:20:04,470 --> 00:20:02,480 little bit about the saucer shape design 597 00:20:05,830 --> 00:20:04,480 well this is this was the the shape of 598 00:20:07,909 --> 00:20:05,840 actually our entry vehicles that we send 599 00:20:09,190 --> 00:20:07,919 to mars and so when we land something on 600 00:20:10,630 --> 00:20:09,200 mars it looks very much like this in 601 00:20:12,390 --> 00:20:10,640 fact it's the same size we had to make 602 00:20:14,149 --> 00:20:12,400 it to the same scale and i suppose it 603 00:20:15,990 --> 00:20:14,159 does have a little resemblance to a to a 604 00:20:18,149 --> 00:20:16,000 flying saucer though it doesn't fly like 605 00:20:20,950 --> 00:20:18,159 you see in the movies it flies this way 606 00:20:23,590 --> 00:20:20,960 um now when that uh that picture you saw 607 00:20:26,470 --> 00:20:23,600 of the flight that was in 42 years ago 608 00:20:28,470 --> 00:20:26,480 um in the summer of 1972 to practice for 609 00:20:30,470 --> 00:20:28,480 viking um that flight was actually out 610 00:20:31,430 --> 00:20:30,480 of roswell new mexico so you know you 611 00:20:34,149 --> 00:20:31,440 decide 612 00:20:35,590 --> 00:20:34,159 but to be clear right that aerodynamics 613 00:20:37,909 --> 00:20:35,600 aerothorough dynamics determine the 614 00:20:40,710 --> 00:20:37,919 shape more and more than anything yeah 615 00:20:43,110 --> 00:20:40,720 it's physics 616 00:20:47,669 --> 00:20:43,120 okay do we have another question from 617 00:20:53,510 --> 00:20:50,230 if not we'll go ahead and take a 618 00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:53,520 question from our reporter on the phone 619 00:20:59,830 --> 00:20:56,640 uh the first one is from alan boyle of 620 00:21:02,070 --> 00:20:59,840 nbc news alan alan 621 00:21:04,870 --> 00:21:02,080 hi thank you for taking the question uh 622 00:21:06,789 --> 00:21:04,880 i wanted to ask what could go wrong and 623 00:21:08,630 --> 00:21:06,799 if it goes wrong what is it going to 624 00:21:09,430 --> 00:21:08,640 look like will you be able to recover 625 00:21:10,390 --> 00:21:09,440 the 626 00:21:11,669 --> 00:21:10,400 vehicle 627 00:21:15,510 --> 00:21:11,679 uh 628 00:21:18,710 --> 00:21:15,520 go through the worst case scenario 629 00:21:19,830 --> 00:21:18,720 okay so i i think i think 630 00:21:21,590 --> 00:21:19,840 could you repeat the question dave i 631 00:21:25,110 --> 00:21:21,600 think i heard it i think i heard it 632 00:21:27,430 --> 00:21:26,630 a little feedback there 633 00:21:31,270 --> 00:21:27,440 uh 634 00:21:32,950 --> 00:21:31,280 what would you do when would you be able 635 00:21:34,950 --> 00:21:32,960 to recover the vehicle 636 00:21:37,190 --> 00:21:34,960 okay so our objectives for this first 637 00:21:38,310 --> 00:21:37,200 flight are to launch it from here get 638 00:21:40,149 --> 00:21:38,320 the balloon 639 00:21:41,430 --> 00:21:40,159 off and out over the water to get it up 640 00:21:42,950 --> 00:21:41,440 to altitude where we can drop the 641 00:21:45,029 --> 00:21:42,960 vehicle and to drop the vehicle and 642 00:21:46,549 --> 00:21:45,039 conduct this powered flight and get the 643 00:21:47,909 --> 00:21:46,559 data back from it to see how it works as 644 00:21:49,270 --> 00:21:47,919 i said this is an experimental test 645 00:21:51,270 --> 00:21:49,280 flight and so we want to get that data 646 00:21:52,470 --> 00:21:51,280 back and see how the vehicle flies make 647 00:21:54,230 --> 00:21:52,480 sure that it can get to the conditions 648 00:21:55,590 --> 00:21:54,240 that we want it to get to we also want 649 00:21:57,190 --> 00:21:55,600 to be able to recover the balloon 650 00:21:58,870 --> 00:21:57,200 envelope after that balloon has done its 651 00:22:00,789 --> 00:21:58,880 job the helium is let out of the balloon 652 00:22:02,390 --> 00:22:00,799 and it descends into the water 653 00:22:03,750 --> 00:22:02,400 naturally we always want to clean up our 654 00:22:05,350 --> 00:22:03,760 messes and so we go out there with a 655 00:22:06,470 --> 00:22:05,360 recovery boat and get that plastic out 656 00:22:08,390 --> 00:22:06,480 of the water and bring it back for 657 00:22:10,149 --> 00:22:08,400 disposal so those are the objectives now 658 00:22:12,070 --> 00:22:10,159 what can go wrong with that we could 659 00:22:13,590 --> 00:22:12,080 have a problem with the balloon on a 660 00:22:14,710 --> 00:22:13,600 scent the balloon the balloon could fail 661 00:22:16,710 --> 00:22:14,720 on ascent we could have a problem with 662 00:22:17,909 --> 00:22:16,720 getting the vehicle to operate um there 663 00:22:19,430 --> 00:22:17,919 are several several different things 664 00:22:20,789 --> 00:22:19,440 that could happen there are what we want 665 00:22:22,230 --> 00:22:20,799 to really get though is the data we want 666 00:22:23,750 --> 00:22:22,240 to get that balloon to altitude drop it 667 00:22:25,430 --> 00:22:23,760 and fire that motor and if we fire that 668 00:22:27,110 --> 00:22:25,440 motor and we get data back from it that 669 00:22:28,710 --> 00:22:27,120 is a great day and that would that way 670 00:22:30,070 --> 00:22:28,720 we can learn exactly what happened and 671 00:22:32,870 --> 00:22:30,080 understand what to do for our next 672 00:22:37,590 --> 00:22:35,510 okay uh again if you have questions on 673 00:22:39,430 --> 00:22:37,600 the phone please hit star one and we'll 674 00:22:41,909 --> 00:22:39,440 add you to the queue 675 00:22:45,750 --> 00:22:41,919 uh we'll now take a question from tracy 676 00:22:48,549 --> 00:22:45,760 watson of usa today tracy 677 00:22:51,029 --> 00:22:48,559 yes thanks can you tell me from how far 678 00:22:52,789 --> 00:22:51,039 will this balloon be visible it's a 679 00:22:54,789 --> 00:22:52,799 pretty big thing 680 00:22:56,789 --> 00:22:54,799 and can you also talk a little bit about 681 00:22:59,270 --> 00:22:56,799 why the current technologies for getting 682 00:23:03,590 --> 00:22:59,280 things to mars are inadequate why not 683 00:23:08,870 --> 00:23:06,230 could you repeat the question or 684 00:23:09,990 --> 00:23:08,880 uh 685 00:23:19,750 --> 00:23:10,000 the 686 00:23:21,669 --> 00:23:19,760 inadequate for what you're trying to do 687 00:23:24,549 --> 00:23:21,679 you undo the first one and and how long 688 00:23:27,669 --> 00:23:24,559 will it be visible for from here at pmrf 689 00:23:30,789 --> 00:23:27,679 or to anyone in hawaii looking up 690 00:23:32,149 --> 00:23:30,799 how visible is the balloon the balloon 691 00:23:34,390 --> 00:23:32,159 and will you be able to see the test 692 00:23:37,110 --> 00:23:34,400 flight the uh the balloon itself will 693 00:23:38,470 --> 00:23:37,120 ascend the test vehicle to about 120 000 694 00:23:41,590 --> 00:23:38,480 feet altitude 695 00:23:43,990 --> 00:23:41,600 at that altitude the balloon expands 696 00:23:47,350 --> 00:23:44,000 and it's over 300 feet in diameter it's 697 00:23:48,630 --> 00:23:47,360 quite large in terms of visibility 698 00:23:49,430 --> 00:23:48,640 that's a good question i'm not really 699 00:23:51,830 --> 00:23:49,440 sure 700 00:23:53,990 --> 00:23:51,840 uh it's going to be you know sailing or 701 00:23:55,590 --> 00:23:54,000 floating west uh out over the pacific 702 00:23:57,110 --> 00:23:55,600 ocean i'm not sure from how far you'll 703 00:23:58,950 --> 00:23:57,120 be able to see it yeah it'll be it'll be 704 00:24:00,630 --> 00:23:58,960 out there about i'll actually a little 705 00:24:02,230 --> 00:24:00,640 bit be out there probably 50 or more 706 00:24:03,830 --> 00:24:02,240 nautical miles if we have i'm looking 707 00:24:05,029 --> 00:24:03,840 out there right now you can't see it but 708 00:24:06,310 --> 00:24:05,039 there are clouds out there if there are 709 00:24:07,830 --> 00:24:06,320 clouds out there like i see now you 710 00:24:09,029 --> 00:24:07,840 wouldn't be able to see it at all from 711 00:24:10,710 --> 00:24:09,039 distance we'll be able to see it launch 712 00:24:12,950 --> 00:24:10,720 from the base here and start to ascend 713 00:24:14,230 --> 00:24:12,960 and leave and go out and turn into a dot 714 00:24:15,430 --> 00:24:14,240 and from there it's likely won't be able 715 00:24:17,269 --> 00:24:15,440 to see it directly but we do have 716 00:24:18,549 --> 00:24:17,279 cameras on the vehicle and so we're 717 00:24:19,830 --> 00:24:18,559 hoping to get telemetry back from the 718 00:24:21,510 --> 00:24:19,840 vehicle in real time and see the 719 00:24:22,789 --> 00:24:21,520 operation of the vehicle in flight 720 00:24:24,549 --> 00:24:22,799 through the radio even though the 721 00:24:26,630 --> 00:24:24,559 balloon is very even though the the 722 00:24:28,230 --> 00:24:26,640 balloon is very large uh it's at an 723 00:24:29,909 --> 00:24:28,240 altitude about four times higher than a 724 00:24:31,430 --> 00:24:29,919 typical airplane would fly 725 00:24:32,470 --> 00:24:31,440 so i'm not really sure how visible it 726 00:24:34,630 --> 00:24:32,480 would be 727 00:24:36,070 --> 00:24:34,640 the second question related to you know 728 00:24:38,070 --> 00:24:36,080 the technologies that we currently have 729 00:24:39,830 --> 00:24:38,080 for landing on mars 730 00:24:41,269 --> 00:24:39,840 landing on mars is an extremely 731 00:24:43,669 --> 00:24:41,279 challenging 732 00:24:45,350 --> 00:24:43,679 thing to do the atmosphere is extremely 733 00:24:47,029 --> 00:24:45,360 thin it's about one percent the density 734 00:24:48,789 --> 00:24:47,039 of the earth atmosphere 735 00:24:50,789 --> 00:24:48,799 that means that you need very large 736 00:24:52,549 --> 00:24:50,799 devices to react against the atmosphere 737 00:24:54,149 --> 00:24:52,559 to create the drag that we use to slow 738 00:24:56,070 --> 00:24:54,159 the vehicles down 739 00:24:58,310 --> 00:24:56,080 as they enter the atmosphere 740 00:25:00,070 --> 00:24:58,320 the current technologies are the the 741 00:25:01,750 --> 00:25:00,080 ones that we've used to land things like 742 00:25:04,710 --> 00:25:01,760 the curiosity rover the mars science 743 00:25:06,470 --> 00:25:04,720 laboratory and the the limitations are 744 00:25:07,830 --> 00:25:06,480 largely associated with the the 745 00:25:09,190 --> 00:25:07,840 conditions that we can deploy those 746 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:09,200 technologies like the supersonic 747 00:25:12,470 --> 00:25:10,720 parachute and the size of those 748 00:25:13,909 --> 00:25:12,480 technologies if you want to land things 749 00:25:16,149 --> 00:25:13,919 that are even heavier than the mars 750 00:25:17,750 --> 00:25:16,159 science laboratory if you want to land 751 00:25:19,590 --> 00:25:17,760 several tons 752 00:25:20,870 --> 00:25:19,600 and as you again cast your eyes to the 753 00:25:23,269 --> 00:25:20,880 horizon and you think about landing 754 00:25:24,310 --> 00:25:23,279 humans on the surface of mars emissions 755 00:25:27,430 --> 00:25:24,320 that will be 756 00:25:28,950 --> 00:25:27,440 10 to 15 tons 20 tons or more 757 00:25:31,909 --> 00:25:28,960 you're going to need extremely large 758 00:25:34,149 --> 00:25:31,919 drag devices to slow those vehicles down 759 00:25:35,830 --> 00:25:34,159 as they enter the martian atmosphere 760 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:35,840 we don't have those currently and that's 761 00:25:40,149 --> 00:25:38,400 what ldsd is developing are the the 762 00:25:41,909 --> 00:25:40,159 technologies and the drag devices that 763 00:25:44,070 --> 00:25:41,919 will allow us to slow those vehicles 764 00:25:45,909 --> 00:25:44,080 down safely to enable them to land on 765 00:25:47,990 --> 00:25:45,919 the surface of mars 766 00:25:49,669 --> 00:25:48,000 also i'll add one more thing there's a 767 00:25:52,070 --> 00:25:49,679 question about the sky crane 768 00:25:54,149 --> 00:25:52,080 the this technology is for what we call 769 00:25:55,909 --> 00:25:54,159 the descent phase of landing on mars we 770 00:25:57,909 --> 00:25:55,919 have entry we have descent and we have 771 00:25:59,990 --> 00:25:57,919 landing and so in fact this these 772 00:26:01,990 --> 00:26:00,000 technologies the side and the parachute 773 00:26:03,909 --> 00:26:02,000 would be decelerator stages two stages 774 00:26:05,350 --> 00:26:03,919 that would come before the last stage 775 00:26:07,110 --> 00:26:05,360 which is where we use rockets to slow 776 00:26:09,110 --> 00:26:07,120 the thing down to the ground and so very 777 00:26:11,909 --> 00:26:09,120 likely this technology would be followed 778 00:26:13,430 --> 00:26:11,919 by the sky crane that we used on msl but 779 00:26:14,950 --> 00:26:13,440 if we want to put down more mass the sky 780 00:26:16,950 --> 00:26:14,960 crane by itself can't do that we need 781 00:26:18,470 --> 00:26:16,960 these decelerators stages before the sky 782 00:26:19,830 --> 00:26:18,480 crane to slow it down enough so the sky 783 00:26:22,390 --> 00:26:19,840 crank can take over and then do its job 784 00:26:24,230 --> 00:26:22,400 at the very end 785 00:26:26,230 --> 00:26:24,240 okay thank you again if you have 786 00:26:28,789 --> 00:26:26,240 questions on the phone please hit star 787 00:26:30,630 --> 00:26:28,799 one and uh we'll take one more from the 788 00:26:38,149 --> 00:26:30,640 phone then we'll come back here 789 00:26:41,350 --> 00:26:39,510 oh 790 00:26:43,350 --> 00:26:41,360 yeah thanks guys for actually doing this 791 00:26:45,269 --> 00:26:43,360 i just had a quick question um there 792 00:26:45,990 --> 00:26:45,279 they're gonna be cameras on board right 793 00:26:50,630 --> 00:26:46,000 so 794 00:26:51,669 --> 00:26:50,640 that you're live and are we going to be 795 00:26:53,669 --> 00:26:51,679 able 796 00:26:55,909 --> 00:26:53,679 to see this happening could you give us 797 00:26:57,830 --> 00:26:55,919 give us a sense of 798 00:27:00,470 --> 00:26:57,840 what like what those of us watching here 799 00:27:01,909 --> 00:27:00,480 at at home will be able to see and also 800 00:27:04,310 --> 00:27:01,919 when is this going to happen when does 801 00:27:07,430 --> 00:27:04,320 the window kind of open up for or launch 802 00:27:12,230 --> 00:27:09,430 okay so we have several cameras on board 803 00:27:13,590 --> 00:27:12,240 the we have uh gopro cameras four gopro 804 00:27:15,430 --> 00:27:13,600 cameras which are used to give us 805 00:27:18,310 --> 00:27:15,440 real-time imagery for situational 806 00:27:19,909 --> 00:27:18,320 awareness those send data back in real 807 00:27:21,750 --> 00:27:19,919 time on the radio and so we'll hopefully 808 00:27:23,190 --> 00:27:21,760 be able to see those during the flight 809 00:27:24,870 --> 00:27:23,200 and see the flight conduct and the 810 00:27:26,389 --> 00:27:24,880 parachute deploy side deploy those sorts 811 00:27:27,909 --> 00:27:26,399 of things we also have several other 812 00:27:29,430 --> 00:27:27,919 cameras on board that are higher 813 00:27:30,950 --> 00:27:29,440 resolution higher speed that will give 814 00:27:32,870 --> 00:27:30,960 us much more detailed data on the 815 00:27:34,470 --> 00:27:32,880 operation of the devices their data is 816 00:27:36,310 --> 00:27:34,480 recorded on board and so we will need to 817 00:27:37,669 --> 00:27:36,320 recover the flight image recorder which 818 00:27:40,230 --> 00:27:37,679 is part of the test vehicle in order to 819 00:27:42,470 --> 00:27:40,240 get that data back 820 00:27:43,750 --> 00:27:42,480 in terms of when we can go there there 821 00:27:47,190 --> 00:27:43,760 as i said there are opportunities over 822 00:27:49,430 --> 00:27:47,200 the next two weeks so on june 3rd 5th 823 00:27:51,590 --> 00:27:49,440 seventh ninth eleventh and fourteenth 824 00:27:52,950 --> 00:27:51,600 are six possible launch days and the 825 00:27:54,470 --> 00:27:52,960 next two weeks we are dependent on 826 00:27:56,230 --> 00:27:54,480 whether we need to have the proper winds 827 00:27:57,990 --> 00:27:56,240 to take the vehicle away from kauai and 828 00:27:59,350 --> 00:27:58,000 out over the ocean and so we're watching 829 00:28:01,190 --> 00:27:59,360 the weather every day very carefully and 830 00:28:02,789 --> 00:28:01,200 we'll pick a day that's the best day to 831 00:28:05,590 --> 00:28:02,799 try and launch this and get it out and 832 00:28:07,350 --> 00:28:05,600 conduct the mission 833 00:28:08,549 --> 00:28:07,360 in the webcast 834 00:28:09,669 --> 00:28:08,559 actually i know maybe dave you can 835 00:28:12,549 --> 00:28:09,679 answer on the way and i was going to say 836 00:28:15,190 --> 00:28:12,559 we will be webcasting live the tests uh 837 00:28:16,789 --> 00:28:15,200 whatever day and time it takes place 838 00:28:18,710 --> 00:28:16,799 we'll be streaming it live over the 839 00:28:21,909 --> 00:28:18,720 internet and carrying it as well on nasa 840 00:28:25,190 --> 00:28:24,149 we have a question from social media i 841 00:28:26,230 --> 00:28:25,200 think 842 00:28:29,669 --> 00:28:26,240 one 843 00:28:36,149 --> 00:28:29,679 please 844 00:28:39,269 --> 00:28:38,149 hi one of our followers has asked will 845 00:28:41,510 --> 00:28:39,279 you use a 846 00:28:44,630 --> 00:28:41,520 modified balloon for the actual mars 847 00:28:48,230 --> 00:28:47,430 use a modified balloon 848 00:28:50,389 --> 00:28:48,240 uh 849 00:28:52,870 --> 00:28:50,399 no the the balloon that we're using here 850 00:28:54,950 --> 00:28:52,880 is to to put our test vehicle at an 851 00:28:56,389 --> 00:28:54,960 altitude uh that will enable it to drop 852 00:28:57,990 --> 00:28:56,399 from the balloon and accelerate to 853 00:29:00,070 --> 00:28:58,000 several times the speed of sound what 854 00:29:01,590 --> 00:29:00,080 we're trying to do is replicate the 855 00:29:02,789 --> 00:29:01,600 environment in which these technologies 856 00:29:05,029 --> 00:29:02,799 would be used 857 00:29:07,510 --> 00:29:05,039 that means replicating the atmosphere in 858 00:29:10,070 --> 00:29:07,520 particular the density of the atmosphere 859 00:29:12,149 --> 00:29:10,080 which is again mars it's extremely thin 860 00:29:13,669 --> 00:29:12,159 and so to find that thinness of an 861 00:29:15,990 --> 00:29:13,679 atmosphere we have to go halfway to the 862 00:29:18,870 --> 00:29:16,000 edge of space or 50 kilometers 863 00:29:20,549 --> 00:29:18,880 about 180 000 feet here on earth 864 00:29:22,549 --> 00:29:20,559 to test these devices and we have to go 865 00:29:25,590 --> 00:29:22,559 several times the speed of sound 866 00:29:27,350 --> 00:29:25,600 we will not be using the balloon to land 867 00:29:30,950 --> 00:29:27,360 missions on mars 868 00:29:32,310 --> 00:29:30,960 the balloon is is more of a 869 00:29:36,230 --> 00:29:32,320 testism if you will it's something that 870 00:29:40,789 --> 00:29:38,710 okay thank you we'll take a question 871 00:29:42,630 --> 00:29:40,799 here in the back hi good morning 872 00:29:45,029 --> 00:29:42,640 gentlemen ramsey wharton i'm with hawaii 873 00:29:46,630 --> 00:29:45,039 news now uh my understanding if you're 874 00:29:48,870 --> 00:29:46,640 looking at the largest payload as you 875 00:29:49,830 --> 00:29:48,880 mentioned about 20 to 40 tons that's the 876 00:29:52,710 --> 00:29:49,840 big one 877 00:29:54,070 --> 00:29:52,720 but right now this inflatable device 878 00:29:56,070 --> 00:29:54,080 which i understand is more for the 879 00:29:58,549 --> 00:29:56,080 robotic missions what is the highest 880 00:30:01,510 --> 00:29:58,559 load that you're looking at to be able 881 00:30:03,269 --> 00:30:01,520 to bring down safely with the size of 882 00:30:05,669 --> 00:30:03,279 the technologies that we're testing here 883 00:30:07,110 --> 00:30:05,679 uh we think we could uh double the mass 884 00:30:08,230 --> 00:30:07,120 that we land on mars so we could go 885 00:30:10,149 --> 00:30:08,240 something from like the one ton 886 00:30:11,990 --> 00:30:10,159 curiosity rover to something twice that 887 00:30:13,669 --> 00:30:12,000 we could also land it more accurately 888 00:30:15,190 --> 00:30:13,679 and to higher elevations than we've been 889 00:30:17,350 --> 00:30:15,200 able to reach on mars 890 00:30:19,430 --> 00:30:17,360 but the technologies we also think are 891 00:30:22,149 --> 00:30:19,440 very extensible to those mass ranges 892 00:30:23,830 --> 00:30:22,159 that you discuss the 20 to 30 tons that 893 00:30:25,269 --> 00:30:23,840 is for example the parachute you know 894 00:30:27,029 --> 00:30:25,279 the way that we use parachutes here on 895 00:30:29,510 --> 00:30:27,039 earth when we return say the apollo 896 00:30:31,669 --> 00:30:29,520 command module the orion 897 00:30:33,269 --> 00:30:31,679 crew capsule is we use them in clusters 898 00:30:35,190 --> 00:30:33,279 we use several parachutes to drain even 899 00:30:37,669 --> 00:30:35,200 more drag even though we're only testing 900 00:30:38,950 --> 00:30:37,679 one parachute uh in the next few weeks 901 00:30:41,110 --> 00:30:38,960 uh we think that the parachute we're 902 00:30:43,269 --> 00:30:41,120 developing and testing is amenable to 903 00:30:44,950 --> 00:30:43,279 being used in clusters uh several 904 00:30:47,269 --> 00:30:44,960 parachutes at once to produce even more 905 00:30:48,950 --> 00:30:47,279 drag uh and those kinds of things are 906 00:30:51,669 --> 00:30:48,960 the the technologies that would enable 907 00:30:55,430 --> 00:30:51,679 the the 20 to 30 tons that we're talking 908 00:30:59,350 --> 00:30:57,509 before so that's why we want to be good 909 00:31:00,630 --> 00:30:59,360 guests with our hosts because we think 910 00:31:02,470 --> 00:31:00,640 we'll be back 911 00:31:04,230 --> 00:31:02,480 yeah and also just a quick uh if you 912 00:31:05,750 --> 00:31:04,240 have the mic here oh yeah a quick add-on 913 00:31:06,789 --> 00:31:05,760 to that uh we 914 00:31:09,509 --> 00:31:06,799 um 915 00:31:10,950 --> 00:31:09,519 are we need to get to 20 to 40 tons with 916 00:31:12,710 --> 00:31:10,960 people on mars we can't do that in one 917 00:31:14,950 --> 00:31:12,720 step uh we have to take a kind of a step 918 00:31:16,389 --> 00:31:14,960 at a time and so we did one ton and 919 00:31:17,990 --> 00:31:16,399 we're going forward with the technology 920 00:31:19,190 --> 00:31:18,000 development to go up to twice that and 921 00:31:20,950 --> 00:31:19,200 we'll take a few more steps over the 922 00:31:22,230 --> 00:31:20,960 next decades to lead up to the ability 923 00:31:24,230 --> 00:31:22,240 to land people on mars and that's that's 924 00:31:25,669 --> 00:31:24,240 the great thing about having the space 925 00:31:27,110 --> 00:31:25,679 technology mission directorate is it can 926 00:31:28,470 --> 00:31:27,120 fund these things well in advance of the 927 00:31:29,509 --> 00:31:28,480 mission so we can reduce the risk of 928 00:31:30,789 --> 00:31:29,519 actually trying to do those missions 929 00:31:32,230 --> 00:31:30,799 when we have to go do them get 930 00:31:33,430 --> 00:31:32,240 confidence in the technologies know how 931 00:31:34,870 --> 00:31:33,440 we're going to do it what it's going to 932 00:31:38,789 --> 00:31:34,880 take to do it and then we can step in 933 00:31:43,430 --> 00:31:41,590 can you hear me there we go summertime 934 00:31:46,389 --> 00:31:43,440 if all goes well now you're looking at 935 00:31:48,710 --> 00:31:46,399 expanding that inflatable to the 26 936 00:31:49,830 --> 00:31:48,720 foot size diameter is that right this is 937 00:31:51,990 --> 00:31:49,840 the one 938 00:31:53,909 --> 00:31:52,000 for the larger load the uh the first one 939 00:31:55,909 --> 00:31:53,919 we're testing is six meters in diameter 940 00:31:57,750 --> 00:31:55,919 uh it expands off the periphery of the 941 00:31:59,269 --> 00:31:57,760 vehicle that one's about 20 feet in 942 00:32:02,389 --> 00:31:59,279 diameter 943 00:32:03,830 --> 00:32:02,399 the we hope to come back next year uh in 944 00:32:06,710 --> 00:32:03,840 test one that's eight meters which is 945 00:32:08,470 --> 00:32:06,720 even larger uh and that would uh again 946 00:32:10,389 --> 00:32:08,480 enable even more mass to be landed on 947 00:32:13,110 --> 00:32:10,399 the surface of mars uh you can grow 948 00:32:14,710 --> 00:32:13,120 those even further uh we're not really 949 00:32:15,830 --> 00:32:14,720 sure what the limits are you know it's 950 00:32:18,630 --> 00:32:15,840 one of the reasons why we're doing some 951 00:32:20,710 --> 00:32:18,640 of this testing uh but the parachute uh 952 00:32:23,029 --> 00:32:20,720 you know the 30.5 meter or a hundred 953 00:32:24,070 --> 00:32:23,039 foot diameter parachute uh is also 954 00:32:27,830 --> 00:32:24,080 something that would be used in those 955 00:32:32,470 --> 00:32:29,669 okay and again if you have questions on 956 00:32:34,710 --> 00:32:32,480 the phone please hit star one we do have 957 00:32:42,950 --> 00:32:34,720 another question on the phone from sarah 958 00:32:48,950 --> 00:32:46,149 hi thanks um the eight meter model um 959 00:32:50,870 --> 00:32:48,960 will that be a different design or just 960 00:32:54,310 --> 00:32:50,880 a scaled up version of the six meter 961 00:32:57,590 --> 00:32:55,830 the eight meter side that we'd be 962 00:33:00,149 --> 00:32:57,600 testing is a very different design 963 00:33:02,389 --> 00:33:00,159 actually um when we started thinking 964 00:33:04,389 --> 00:33:02,399 about what it meant to deploy inflatable 965 00:33:06,230 --> 00:33:04,399 decelerators uh 966 00:33:09,029 --> 00:33:06,240 the first steps that we started taking 967 00:33:10,710 --> 00:33:09,039 were were how do we 968 00:33:12,549 --> 00:33:10,720 how do we develop this technology and 969 00:33:14,230 --> 00:33:12,559 how do we develop in a way that we're 970 00:33:16,470 --> 00:33:14,240 familiar with how do we test it how do 971 00:33:18,389 --> 00:33:16,480 we know how it performs and one of the 972 00:33:20,149 --> 00:33:18,399 the key elements of that is is making 973 00:33:21,269 --> 00:33:20,159 device that acts as if it were a rigid 974 00:33:23,029 --> 00:33:21,279 device 975 00:33:24,789 --> 00:33:23,039 we fly rigid structures to mars 976 00:33:26,789 --> 00:33:24,799 routinely and we know how they perform 977 00:33:28,230 --> 00:33:26,799 we can scale them to very small sizes 978 00:33:30,070 --> 00:33:28,240 you know things that are that are even 979 00:33:31,350 --> 00:33:30,080 smaller than this and put them in a wind 980 00:33:32,710 --> 00:33:31,360 tunnel for example and test the 981 00:33:34,470 --> 00:33:32,720 aerodynamics and feel comfortable that 982 00:33:36,789 --> 00:33:34,480 the aerodynamics that we're seeing are 983 00:33:37,509 --> 00:33:36,799 going to be extensible or extractable uh 984 00:33:41,110 --> 00:33:37,519 to 985 00:33:42,789 --> 00:33:41,120 several times the size that we're 986 00:33:44,630 --> 00:33:42,799 testing uh 987 00:33:46,549 --> 00:33:44,640 we wanted to do a similar approach with 988 00:33:49,430 --> 00:33:46,559 the inflatable decelerators so the six 989 00:33:50,870 --> 00:33:49,440 meter is really designed to be uh 990 00:33:53,110 --> 00:33:50,880 something that acts as if it were a 991 00:33:55,269 --> 00:33:53,120 rigid structure 992 00:33:57,190 --> 00:33:55,279 the eight meter device is something very 993 00:33:58,950 --> 00:33:57,200 different uh as you start developing 994 00:34:00,710 --> 00:33:58,960 these inflatable decelerators you're 995 00:34:02,789 --> 00:34:00,720 gonna have to wrestle with what it means 996 00:34:04,710 --> 00:34:02,799 to have these very flexible structures 997 00:34:06,470 --> 00:34:04,720 uh that are attached you know directly 998 00:34:08,389 --> 00:34:06,480 to the the front of the vehicle 999 00:34:10,629 --> 00:34:08,399 uh and the eight meter starts moving us 1000 00:34:13,270 --> 00:34:10,639 in the direction instead of it being a 1001 00:34:15,190 --> 00:34:13,280 high higher pressure device uh it's 1002 00:34:17,750 --> 00:34:15,200 something that is much lower pressure 1003 00:34:20,470 --> 00:34:17,760 it's actually uh ram air inflated using 1004 00:34:22,950 --> 00:34:20,480 the oncoming supersonic flow to inflate 1005 00:34:24,869 --> 00:34:22,960 the device but it also has much more 1006 00:34:27,109 --> 00:34:24,879 flexibility associated with it the 1007 00:34:29,109 --> 00:34:27,119 aerodynamics of the device determine the 1008 00:34:31,510 --> 00:34:29,119 shape that it takes and vice versa and 1009 00:34:33,030 --> 00:34:31,520 the shape determines the aerodynamics 1010 00:34:35,109 --> 00:34:33,040 and so in that regard the eight meter 1011 00:34:37,109 --> 00:34:35,119 device is really our first foray into 1012 00:34:38,950 --> 00:34:37,119 understanding what it means to have very 1013 00:34:41,030 --> 00:34:38,960 large devices that are flexible that 1014 00:34:42,869 --> 00:34:41,040 will interact with the oncoming flow and 1015 00:34:44,470 --> 00:34:42,879 whose shape may not be determined a 1016 00:34:46,710 --> 00:34:44,480 priori 1017 00:34:48,550 --> 00:34:46,720 and it's that excitement that you know 1018 00:34:50,069 --> 00:34:48,560 means what is it how do we develop these 1019 00:34:51,829 --> 00:34:50,079 technologies and what are the behaviors 1020 00:34:52,950 --> 00:34:51,839 of them as we move to larger and larger 1021 00:34:56,869 --> 00:34:52,960 devices these are the questions that 1022 00:35:02,630 --> 00:34:59,430 okay thank you uh we'll take another 1023 00:35:08,710 --> 00:35:02,640 caller from on the phone uh tracy watson 1024 00:35:13,670 --> 00:35:11,670 can you talk about what the inflatable 1025 00:35:16,870 --> 00:35:13,680 portion is made out of 1026 00:35:19,030 --> 00:35:16,880 and how big it gets when it displays 1027 00:35:20,550 --> 00:35:19,040 compared to how big it is when it stowed 1028 00:35:23,990 --> 00:35:20,560 thank you 1029 00:35:25,990 --> 00:35:24,000 the uh the test vehicle is 4.7 meters in 1030 00:35:28,150 --> 00:35:26,000 diameter about 15 feet and it's 1031 00:35:29,990 --> 00:35:28,160 essentially a full scale 1032 00:35:32,230 --> 00:35:30,000 replica of what a mars entry vehicle 1033 00:35:33,670 --> 00:35:32,240 would look like when we inflate the the 1034 00:35:35,670 --> 00:35:33,680 side the first side that we're testing 1035 00:35:38,230 --> 00:35:35,680 is a six meter device uh so we go from 1036 00:35:40,630 --> 00:35:38,240 about a 4.7 meter to a six meter device 1037 00:35:42,550 --> 00:35:40,640 uh and that again would would enable us 1038 00:35:43,829 --> 00:35:42,560 to in conjunction with a parachute to 1039 00:35:45,910 --> 00:35:43,839 almost double the mass that we can land 1040 00:35:47,750 --> 00:35:45,920 on the surface of mars the materials 1041 00:35:50,069 --> 00:35:47,760 that the side are made out of 1042 00:35:52,150 --> 00:35:50,079 we actually use kevlar very similar to 1043 00:35:54,630 --> 00:35:52,160 the kevlar that's used to 1044 00:35:56,950 --> 00:35:54,640 build bulletproof vests 1045 00:35:58,310 --> 00:35:56,960 but we also apply some coatings to it to 1046 00:35:59,990 --> 00:35:58,320 allow it to withstand some of the 1047 00:36:01,990 --> 00:36:00,000 temperatures that you would see as this 1048 00:36:04,069 --> 00:36:02,000 thing is is inflated and deployed at 1049 00:36:05,990 --> 00:36:04,079 several times the speed of sound 1050 00:36:07,990 --> 00:36:06,000 so we're talking temperatures upwards of 1051 00:36:10,390 --> 00:36:08,000 600 degrees fahrenheit 1052 00:36:12,390 --> 00:36:10,400 to survive those not only do you have 1053 00:36:13,829 --> 00:36:12,400 the kevlar you also have some some 1054 00:36:15,750 --> 00:36:13,839 coating associated with it that will 1055 00:36:17,030 --> 00:36:15,760 allow it to absorb some of the heat and 1056 00:36:21,670 --> 00:36:17,040 the energy 1057 00:36:25,589 --> 00:36:23,270 okay again if you have any questions on 1058 00:36:27,829 --> 00:36:25,599 the phone please hit star one we'll come 1059 00:36:34,870 --> 00:36:27,839 back here and see if there are any more 1060 00:36:39,270 --> 00:36:36,950 having no takers here 1061 00:36:41,430 --> 00:36:39,280 oh wait we do have one sir andrew 1062 00:36:43,430 --> 00:36:41,440 pereira again with kitv4 news is there 1063 00:36:46,230 --> 00:36:43,440 any uh earthbound uses for the 1064 00:36:48,310 --> 00:36:46,240 technology that you're testing today 1065 00:36:49,829 --> 00:36:48,320 uh absolutely uh aerodynamic 1066 00:36:50,870 --> 00:36:49,839 decelerators are devices that can be 1067 00:36:52,630 --> 00:36:50,880 used anywhere where there's an 1068 00:36:54,310 --> 00:36:52,640 atmosphere that can be earth that can be 1069 00:36:55,670 --> 00:36:54,320 mars it could be titan that can be you 1070 00:36:57,030 --> 00:36:55,680 know a number of bodies in the solar 1071 00:36:59,270 --> 00:36:57,040 system 1072 00:37:01,670 --> 00:36:59,280 the the earth atmosphere is is nice and 1073 00:37:03,270 --> 00:37:01,680 that it's very thick and so needing to 1074 00:37:04,710 --> 00:37:03,280 deploy these devices at supersonic 1075 00:37:07,109 --> 00:37:04,720 conditions 1076 00:37:08,470 --> 00:37:07,119 is not a problem that we routinely face 1077 00:37:10,069 --> 00:37:08,480 but certainly there's there's 1078 00:37:18,150 --> 00:37:10,079 applications where these devices would 1079 00:37:26,230 --> 00:37:20,390 okay any other questions from here in 1080 00:37:29,190 --> 00:37:27,670 all right 1081 00:37:31,270 --> 00:37:29,200 with no further questions we'll go ahead 1082 00:37:33,349 --> 00:37:31,280 and wrap up today's briefing thank you 1083 00:37:35,030 --> 00:37:33,359 all for joining us on nasa television 1084 00:37:38,870 --> 00:37:35,040 and here in person at the pacific 1085 00:37:40,870 --> 00:37:38,880 missile range facility on kauai hawaii 1086 00:37:43,109 --> 00:37:40,880 stay tuned we'll be updating the 1087 00:37:46,230 --> 00:37:43,119 potential for a launch tomorrow through 1088 00:37:49,589 --> 00:37:46,240 our social media websites our mission 1089 00:37:51,910 --> 00:37:49,599 website as well as media advisories 1090 00:37:54,390 --> 00:37:51,920 you can follow along with us and find 1091 00:37:56,470 --> 00:37:54,400 out the latest on the launch date and 1092 00:37:59,349 --> 00:37:56,480 time by following 1093 00:38:01,829 --> 00:37:59,359 at nasa underscore technology 1094 00:38:04,390 --> 00:38:01,839 or at nasa 1095 00:38:06,790 --> 00:38:04,400 we'll also be posting updates to the 1096 00:38:09,589 --> 00:38:06,800 ldst mission page on the web which is