1 00:00:04,950 --> 00:00:03,189 well good morning i'm pat ryan with the 2 00:00:07,430 --> 00:00:04,960 nasa public affairs office here at the 3 00:00:09,350 --> 00:00:07,440 johnson space center in houston we're in 4 00:00:12,070 --> 00:00:09,360 the international space station flight 5 00:00:14,709 --> 00:00:12,080 control room joining me is a brian awe 6 00:00:17,430 --> 00:00:14,719 who is a pluto flight controller 7 00:00:19,830 --> 00:00:17,440 what is a pluto flight controller brian 8 00:00:22,470 --> 00:00:19,840 it's an acronym it stands for plug-in 9 00:00:23,429 --> 00:00:22,480 port utilization officer 10 00:00:24,950 --> 00:00:23,439 and 11 00:00:26,790 --> 00:00:24,960 we provide 12 00:00:28,310 --> 00:00:26,800 plug-in services to the crew to make 13 00:00:30,310 --> 00:00:28,320 sure the equipment that they use on a 14 00:00:32,950 --> 00:00:30,320 day-to-day basis is compatible with 15 00:00:35,670 --> 00:00:32,960 other equipment and we contrive a plan 16 00:00:38,150 --> 00:00:35,680 on where to plug that equipment in 17 00:00:41,110 --> 00:00:38,160 and in addition to that we provide 18 00:00:42,389 --> 00:00:41,120 it support for the crew the the network 19 00:00:45,029 --> 00:00:42,399 support 20 00:00:47,910 --> 00:00:45,039 for an operations local area network 21 00:00:49,029 --> 00:00:47,920 that the crew uses to get their 22 00:00:50,709 --> 00:00:49,039 morning 23 00:00:52,709 --> 00:00:50,719 messages 24 00:00:54,229 --> 00:00:52,719 procedures 25 00:00:56,709 --> 00:00:54,239 their daily plan and what they're 26 00:00:59,750 --> 00:00:56,719 supposed to do for the day 27 00:01:01,990 --> 00:00:59,760 and that's also how they um 28 00:01:03,510 --> 00:01:02,000 contact home that we've got an ip phone 29 00:01:05,509 --> 00:01:03,520 that they can use through the network 30 00:01:07,109 --> 00:01:05,519 that they can call anybody in the world 31 00:01:08,950 --> 00:01:07,119 you're supporting pretty much everything 32 00:01:10,550 --> 00:01:08,960 that goes on onboard the station 33 00:01:12,950 --> 00:01:10,560 operations 34 00:01:15,190 --> 00:01:12,960 we're not doing commanding of the ship 35 00:01:17,749 --> 00:01:15,200 just the operations support 36 00:01:23,270 --> 00:01:17,759 so that's who we are and uh we're ready 37 00:01:26,550 --> 00:01:25,030 so hi i'm cole nelson from stonewash 38 00:01:27,830 --> 00:01:26,560 high school and i was wondering what are 39 00:01:29,830 --> 00:01:27,840 some of your favorite and least favorite 40 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:29,840 parts about working for nasa 41 00:01:34,310 --> 00:01:32,560 the probably the most favorite part is 42 00:01:36,390 --> 00:01:34,320 really it's the awesome people that 43 00:01:38,630 --> 00:01:36,400 we've got working here we've got some 44 00:01:41,350 --> 00:01:38,640 incredibly smart folks 45 00:01:44,789 --> 00:01:41,360 and the teamwork that goes into making 46 00:01:46,950 --> 00:01:44,799 space flight happen is is just amazing 47 00:01:48,789 --> 00:01:46,960 uh the least favorite of all my 48 00:01:51,830 --> 00:01:48,799 activities here is catching up all the 49 00:01:54,149 --> 00:01:51,840 paperwork we have to document what we do 50 00:01:55,749 --> 00:01:54,159 that's how we carry forward 51 00:01:58,389 --> 00:01:55,759 the the 52 00:01:59,350 --> 00:01:58,399 solutions to problems we've solved and 53 00:02:01,510 --> 00:01:59,360 also 54 00:02:03,830 --> 00:02:01,520 uh carry forward the information for the 55 00:02:06,789 --> 00:02:03,840 future generations to use so yeah 56 00:02:08,469 --> 00:02:06,799 that paperwork's necessary 57 00:02:11,190 --> 00:02:08,479 go ahead next 58 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:12,790 hi 59 00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:20,560 is very stressful 60 00:02:26,869 --> 00:02:23,920 no not really uh not no more stressful 61 00:02:29,190 --> 00:02:26,879 than let's say taking your driving test 62 00:02:31,670 --> 00:02:29,200 you first of all you have to learn 63 00:02:33,990 --> 00:02:31,680 uh you know about your mission and and 64 00:02:35,030 --> 00:02:34,000 we study each mission each phase of that 65 00:02:37,509 --> 00:02:35,040 flight 66 00:02:40,390 --> 00:02:37,519 in great detail we practice it 67 00:02:41,670 --> 00:02:40,400 we go through simulation sims as we call 68 00:02:44,949 --> 00:02:41,680 them 69 00:02:47,030 --> 00:02:44,959 we review the results of those sims 70 00:02:50,229 --> 00:02:47,040 to get better 71 00:02:51,270 --> 00:02:50,239 it's a kind of a maricopa when when you 72 00:03:00,790 --> 00:02:51,280 you 73 00:03:03,830 --> 00:03:00,800 the mission 74 00:03:06,229 --> 00:03:03,840 uh or watching a rocket launch it's it's 75 00:03:07,270 --> 00:03:06,239 just a matter of fact so you know that's 76 00:03:09,670 --> 00:03:07,280 you know when you go to take your 77 00:03:11,990 --> 00:03:09,680 driver's test now you got to show the 78 00:03:13,589 --> 00:03:12,000 the the evaluator that you you did a 79 00:03:21,589 --> 00:03:13,599 good job in learning what you were 80 00:03:25,910 --> 00:03:23,750 omar high school and my question is how 81 00:03:28,550 --> 00:03:25,920 often do you face emergencies and what 82 00:03:30,710 --> 00:03:28,560 are the most common types of emergencies 83 00:03:32,949 --> 00:03:30,720 well thankfully we don't encounter that 84 00:03:35,670 --> 00:03:32,959 many emergencies um 85 00:03:38,390 --> 00:03:35,680 the the most frequent that we see on the 86 00:03:41,030 --> 00:03:38,400 space station itself are those involving 87 00:03:43,509 --> 00:03:41,040 smoke detection uh the smoke detectors 88 00:03:45,589 --> 00:03:43,519 are devices uh you have to pull air 89 00:03:47,430 --> 00:03:45,599 through them so they can detect the 90 00:03:50,630 --> 00:03:47,440 smoke particles 91 00:03:54,789 --> 00:03:50,640 and every once in a while we'll get a 92 00:03:57,190 --> 00:03:54,799 thankfully to now a false alarm 93 00:03:59,509 --> 00:03:57,200 but when when they do sound the alarm 94 00:04:01,990 --> 00:03:59,519 everybody stops what they're doing here 95 00:04:04,390 --> 00:04:02,000 in mission control and we help guide 96 00:04:07,030 --> 00:04:04,400 the crew through the 97 00:04:09,750 --> 00:04:07,040 isolating where the the 98 00:04:11,270 --> 00:04:09,760 signal is is being enunciated from which 99 00:04:13,509 --> 00:04:11,280 module 100 00:04:16,949 --> 00:04:13,519 the alarm is going off in and we also 101 00:04:19,990 --> 00:04:16,959 have information uh ready for the crew 102 00:04:23,110 --> 00:04:20,000 if to help them work through 103 00:04:25,270 --> 00:04:23,120 any extinguishing actions uh any actions 104 00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:25,280 they have to take to put out a fire if 105 00:04:29,110 --> 00:04:27,360 it were actual and we also have 106 00:04:31,510 --> 00:04:29,120 information ready for the crew so that 107 00:04:33,270 --> 00:04:31,520 if they have to evacuate the station 108 00:04:35,590 --> 00:04:33,280 they can do that safely 109 00:04:37,350 --> 00:04:35,600 but as you say it's it's not come to 110 00:04:38,550 --> 00:04:37,360 that although occasionally fire alarms 111 00:04:41,189 --> 00:04:38,560 do go off 112 00:04:43,670 --> 00:04:41,199 those alarms go off because some sort of 113 00:04:45,350 --> 00:04:43,680 particle has has come through them and 114 00:04:47,350 --> 00:04:45,360 other particles that are not part of 115 00:04:49,350 --> 00:04:47,360 smoke can sometimes set them off and 116 00:04:52,790 --> 00:04:49,360 that's usually what we see dust and and 117 00:04:55,030 --> 00:04:52,800 then uh human skin is the real tiny tiny 118 00:04:57,430 --> 00:04:55,040 flakes in micro g they tend to float 119 00:04:59,590 --> 00:04:57,440 there's they don't settle for the floor 120 00:05:03,430 --> 00:04:59,600 and as the air current pulls those 121 00:05:06,150 --> 00:05:03,440 through the the uh the smoke detector uh 122 00:05:07,670 --> 00:05:06,160 they they sound a false alarm yeah 123 00:05:11,430 --> 00:05:07,680 okay 124 00:05:15,110 --> 00:05:13,350 hi i'm riley nelson from snohomish high 125 00:05:17,590 --> 00:05:15,120 school and my question is in your 126 00:05:19,029 --> 00:05:17,600 opinion what is the biggest uh challenge 127 00:05:21,590 --> 00:05:19,039 facing the future of american man's 128 00:05:23,430 --> 00:05:21,600 space flight oh riley unfortunately i 129 00:05:26,710 --> 00:05:23,440 don't think that's with inside the space 130 00:05:28,390 --> 00:05:26,720 program it's we've got a political and 131 00:05:29,670 --> 00:05:28,400 socio-economic 132 00:05:32,150 --> 00:05:29,680 uh 133 00:05:35,110 --> 00:05:32,160 issue that face that the space 134 00:05:38,469 --> 00:05:35,120 administration is facing on on 135 00:05:42,070 --> 00:05:38,479 first of all identifying a a 136 00:05:44,150 --> 00:05:42,080 mission for nasa and then as we go about 137 00:05:46,150 --> 00:05:44,160 trying to satisfy that mission 138 00:05:49,189 --> 00:05:46,160 it's working 139 00:05:50,870 --> 00:05:49,199 to inform the the legislators that 140 00:05:52,310 --> 00:05:50,880 you know it's going to cost a little bit 141 00:05:54,230 --> 00:05:52,320 more than we thought because the 142 00:05:57,029 --> 00:05:54,240 problems are are 143 00:05:59,510 --> 00:05:57,039 greater than than we imagined 144 00:06:01,670 --> 00:05:59,520 so it it's the the funding now the 145 00:06:03,189 --> 00:06:01,680 technical stuff we've got really smart 146 00:06:07,110 --> 00:06:03,199 engineers some of the brightest people 147 00:06:09,670 --> 00:06:07,120 in in the world and and we also have a a 148 00:06:12,309 --> 00:06:09,680 knowledge bank of universities that we 149 00:06:14,469 --> 00:06:12,319 we pose problems to and let them work 150 00:06:17,590 --> 00:06:14,479 out issues so the technical stuff is 151 00:06:20,870 --> 00:06:17,600 actually easy it's the funding for 152 00:06:22,710 --> 00:06:20,880 nasa that is the the biggest problem the 153 00:06:28,870 --> 00:06:22,720 biggest hurdle 154 00:06:33,430 --> 00:06:30,870 hi i'm sarah aldrich from lynn ritzville 155 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:33,440 high school and my question is 156 00:06:37,510 --> 00:06:35,280 where do you see pluto going in the 157 00:06:39,029 --> 00:06:37,520 future are there any changes being made 158 00:06:41,510 --> 00:06:39,039 to it or 159 00:06:42,950 --> 00:06:41,520 oh sarah we're actually one of the the 160 00:06:44,950 --> 00:06:42,960 youngest 161 00:06:46,309 --> 00:06:44,960 flight controller disciplines here at 162 00:06:49,270 --> 00:06:46,319 nasa 163 00:06:51,909 --> 00:06:49,280 we started just a few years ago uh when 164 00:06:53,589 --> 00:06:51,919 the we migrated a network over that used 165 00:06:56,870 --> 00:06:53,599 to fly in the shuttle 166 00:06:57,990 --> 00:06:56,880 uh it was a little coax network and and 167 00:06:59,350 --> 00:06:58,000 it was 168 00:07:02,150 --> 00:06:59,360 strictly 169 00:07:04,150 --> 00:07:02,160 uh contained onboard the station we'd 170 00:07:06,150 --> 00:07:04,160 get the crew their procedures and a 171 00:07:08,629 --> 00:07:06,160 morning message and and that was about 172 00:07:11,990 --> 00:07:08,639 it now the crew can dial anywhere around 173 00:07:14,550 --> 00:07:12,000 the world uh we've got a huge movie 174 00:07:16,550 --> 00:07:14,560 library that that 175 00:07:19,430 --> 00:07:16,560 is part of the network now 176 00:07:22,950 --> 00:07:19,440 uh we're looking for more and more ways 177 00:07:25,350 --> 00:07:22,960 to utilize the the i.t resources to 178 00:07:27,430 --> 00:07:25,360 offload the cruise so we can actually do 179 00:07:28,390 --> 00:07:27,440 some of their work uh down here on the 180 00:07:32,070 --> 00:07:28,400 ground 181 00:07:34,469 --> 00:07:32,080 so we the plutos are are looking forward 182 00:07:37,029 --> 00:07:34,479 to actually migrating to the long 183 00:07:39,350 --> 00:07:37,039 duration missions through orion and and 184 00:07:41,110 --> 00:07:39,360 the other deep space missions 185 00:07:43,589 --> 00:07:41,120 uh probably one of the biggest problems 186 00:07:45,909 --> 00:07:43,599 that that uh we're faced with right now 187 00:07:48,309 --> 00:07:45,919 is increasing crew autonomy so we're 188 00:07:51,029 --> 00:07:48,319 looking at trying to enhance the 189 00:07:53,830 --> 00:07:51,039 programs that the crews use as a 190 00:07:56,309 --> 00:07:53,840 knowledge base so that they can 191 00:07:59,589 --> 00:07:56,319 become more autonomous to themselves 192 00:08:02,469 --> 00:07:59,599 they don't rely uh like the station guys 193 00:08:04,869 --> 00:08:02,479 do on mission control quite so much 194 00:08:07,110 --> 00:08:04,879 uh the more intelligence that they have 195 00:08:09,270 --> 00:08:07,120 tools that that that are uh 196 00:08:11,749 --> 00:08:09,280 computer-based to help them work through 197 00:08:14,469 --> 00:08:11,759 problems uh without 198 00:08:17,510 --> 00:08:14,479 earth's call coming that's 20 minutes 199 00:08:19,029 --> 00:08:17,520 away to solve their problems it is one 200 00:08:21,029 --> 00:08:19,039 of the big things we're studying right 201 00:08:22,629 --> 00:08:21,039 now yeah what you're referring to is 202 00:08:25,189 --> 00:08:22,639 that on future missions when we go to 203 00:08:27,270 --> 00:08:25,199 mars for example it takes about 20 204 00:08:30,309 --> 00:08:27,280 minutes for a voice message to get from 205 00:08:32,149 --> 00:08:30,319 earth to mars so if houston called them 206 00:08:33,430 --> 00:08:32,159 it would take 20 minutes to get there 207 00:08:35,269 --> 00:08:33,440 and then when they 208 00:08:36,870 --> 00:08:35,279 had an answer it would take 20 more 209 00:08:38,790 --> 00:08:36,880 minutes to get back 210 00:08:41,829 --> 00:08:38,800 so crews can't 211 00:08:43,430 --> 00:08:41,839 be have to rely on people on the ground 212 00:08:45,030 --> 00:08:43,440 to do things for them right away they 213 00:08:47,269 --> 00:08:45,040 have to become more self-sufficient in 214 00:08:49,670 --> 00:08:47,279 the future yes yes especially in 215 00:08:51,829 --> 00:08:49,680 emergencies they need answers now so 216 00:08:53,509 --> 00:08:51,839 we'll have tools developed to help 217 00:08:55,269 --> 00:08:53,519 through that problem 218 00:08:56,630 --> 00:08:55,279 we're also looking into different ways 219 00:08:59,430 --> 00:08:56,640 of helping them 220 00:09:01,350 --> 00:08:59,440 for their experiment problems 221 00:09:04,150 --> 00:09:01,360 if something's not going exactly right 222 00:09:05,190 --> 00:09:04,160 they can they can hit up a knowledge 223 00:09:07,269 --> 00:09:05,200 base 224 00:09:09,350 --> 00:09:07,279 that will help them resolve the issue 225 00:09:10,630 --> 00:09:09,360 and and then get the the experiment back 226 00:09:12,790 --> 00:09:10,640 on track 227 00:09:17,030 --> 00:09:12,800 okay next question 228 00:09:21,590 --> 00:09:19,030 hello my name is hudo from inglemoor 229 00:09:23,509 --> 00:09:21,600 high school and if my understanding of 230 00:09:26,230 --> 00:09:23,519 pluto is correct then i have two 231 00:09:28,710 --> 00:09:26,240 different questions the first one is how 232 00:09:31,269 --> 00:09:28,720 is wiring in space different from 233 00:09:33,350 --> 00:09:31,279 writing from 234 00:09:35,670 --> 00:09:33,360 a fire second question is what kind of 235 00:09:38,150 --> 00:09:35,680 training like electrical engineering do 236 00:09:39,350 --> 00:09:38,160 you need to do your job 237 00:09:42,230 --> 00:09:39,360 the 238 00:09:45,190 --> 00:09:42,240 we do have numerous electrical engineers 239 00:09:47,030 --> 00:09:45,200 that are pluto's we also have computer 240 00:09:48,389 --> 00:09:47,040 engineers and then computer science 241 00:09:50,070 --> 00:09:48,399 majors 242 00:09:52,870 --> 00:09:50,080 that are part of the pluto team and we 243 00:09:55,430 --> 00:09:52,880 kind of teach each other the side that 244 00:09:57,590 --> 00:09:55,440 we're we're not as strong in or or where 245 00:09:58,949 --> 00:09:57,600 our undergrad work uh 246 00:10:02,630 --> 00:09:58,959 was not 247 00:10:04,710 --> 00:10:02,640 uh the wiring on board the space station 248 00:10:07,990 --> 00:10:04,720 is it's direct current 249 00:10:10,630 --> 00:10:08,000 so it's very simple circuits 250 00:10:12,949 --> 00:10:10,640 it's no different it follows a very very 251 00:10:14,470 --> 00:10:12,959 strict code 252 00:10:16,710 --> 00:10:14,480 to use the term that they use in the 253 00:10:19,430 --> 00:10:16,720 construction industries 254 00:10:21,990 --> 00:10:19,440 so that the it's done correctly and it's 255 00:10:24,150 --> 00:10:22,000 verified and it's and it's very 256 00:10:27,590 --> 00:10:24,160 uh forgiving to 257 00:10:29,110 --> 00:10:27,600 uh faults that may may occur uh we try 258 00:10:32,150 --> 00:10:29,120 to keep it as safe as we can for the 259 00:10:35,509 --> 00:10:32,160 crew the big problem that we see with 260 00:10:36,310 --> 00:10:35,519 electrical current in microgravity 261 00:10:39,509 --> 00:10:36,320 is 262 00:10:40,389 --> 00:10:39,519 its ability to spark 263 00:10:43,990 --> 00:10:40,399 and 264 00:10:45,590 --> 00:10:44,000 voltage 265 00:10:48,630 --> 00:10:45,600 and the current that is 266 00:10:50,310 --> 00:10:48,640 passing through a wire 267 00:10:52,470 --> 00:10:50,320 at a certain level it will create a 268 00:10:54,870 --> 00:10:52,480 spark in space 269 00:10:56,310 --> 00:10:54,880 that's not good because those sparks 270 00:10:59,590 --> 00:10:56,320 usually contain 271 00:11:00,710 --> 00:10:59,600 very small particles of molten metal 272 00:11:01,990 --> 00:11:00,720 and 273 00:11:03,750 --> 00:11:02,000 with 274 00:11:06,230 --> 00:11:03,760 in micro g that that actually could 275 00:11:09,350 --> 00:11:06,240 float and get into the crew's eyes 276 00:11:10,310 --> 00:11:09,360 and because there's a lack of convection 277 00:11:12,710 --> 00:11:10,320 cooling 278 00:11:14,630 --> 00:11:12,720 the metal is going to stay hotter longer 279 00:11:16,230 --> 00:11:14,640 so it has the potential to burn the crew 280 00:11:17,750 --> 00:11:16,240 members so we have to understand that 281 00:11:19,509 --> 00:11:17,760 and and 282 00:11:21,670 --> 00:11:19,519 put in counter measures to help the crew 283 00:11:23,030 --> 00:11:21,680 stay safe for when they're connecting 284 00:11:24,710 --> 00:11:23,040 disconnecting 285 00:11:26,470 --> 00:11:24,720 make sure you de-energize circuits and 286 00:11:28,389 --> 00:11:26,480 there's some some common sense stuff 287 00:11:32,069 --> 00:11:28,399 like that that the crew practices before 288 00:11:33,910 --> 00:11:32,079 they go and we also include 289 00:11:35,750 --> 00:11:33,920 messages inside the procedures when 290 00:11:37,990 --> 00:11:35,760 they're connecting disconnecting stuff 291 00:11:41,190 --> 00:11:38,000 to make sure that they follow the right 292 00:11:47,509 --> 00:11:41,200 steps to do that safely 293 00:11:51,110 --> 00:11:49,910 hello my name is ben beck from newport 294 00:11:53,509 --> 00:11:51,120 high school 295 00:11:55,750 --> 00:11:53,519 and so i'm wondering if um 296 00:11:58,310 --> 00:11:55,760 will there be less astronauts in space 297 00:12:00,870 --> 00:11:58,320 in the future as wireless instrumental 298 00:12:02,389 --> 00:12:00,880 instrumentation system technology grows 299 00:12:05,430 --> 00:12:02,399 in the future 300 00:12:07,190 --> 00:12:05,440 no we've got several projects right now 301 00:12:09,350 --> 00:12:07,200 that utilize the wireless 302 00:12:11,670 --> 00:12:09,360 instrumentation system even to go 303 00:12:14,790 --> 00:12:11,680 outside the station now 304 00:12:17,350 --> 00:12:14,800 we've got a the current system is is two 305 00:12:19,269 --> 00:12:17,360 phase we have an internal section 306 00:12:21,509 --> 00:12:19,279 and an external section that measures 307 00:12:25,990 --> 00:12:21,519 vibrations through the station we're 308 00:12:31,030 --> 00:12:28,310 evas when the crew actually goes outside 309 00:12:32,949 --> 00:12:31,040 eva we can talk to them wireless 310 00:12:34,550 --> 00:12:32,959 we can see their video that comes back 311 00:12:36,949 --> 00:12:34,560 in wireless 312 00:12:39,829 --> 00:12:36,959 so actually what that's going to do is 313 00:12:42,230 --> 00:12:39,839 is make us able to assist the crew in 314 00:12:44,629 --> 00:12:42,240 more ways from the ground versus have 315 00:12:47,030 --> 00:12:44,639 cutting down the crew 316 00:12:49,590 --> 00:12:47,040 the to to get the crew 317 00:12:51,590 --> 00:12:49,600 more engaged in different projects we're 318 00:12:53,269 --> 00:12:51,600 using our technology 319 00:12:55,910 --> 00:12:53,279 to offload the crew so that they can 320 00:12:56,629 --> 00:12:55,920 spend more time doing the actual science 321 00:13:01,590 --> 00:12:56,639 and 322 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:06,310 okay thank you 323 00:13:11,670 --> 00:13:07,990 hi i'm jacob from view harbor high 324 00:13:14,710 --> 00:13:11,680 school and um my questions were uh what 325 00:13:16,790 --> 00:13:14,720 is being done to standardize like uh 326 00:13:19,590 --> 00:13:16,800 data and electrical connections with the 327 00:13:22,550 --> 00:13:19,600 international uh different devices 328 00:13:24,470 --> 00:13:22,560 and um my second question is uh what 329 00:13:27,110 --> 00:13:24,480 specific challenges do you face 330 00:13:30,550 --> 00:13:27,120 uh with uh earth to space communications 331 00:13:33,110 --> 00:13:30,560 versus long-range earth communications 332 00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:33,120 the the the connectors and everything uh 333 00:13:37,430 --> 00:13:35,760 that we use actually are standard 334 00:13:39,910 --> 00:13:37,440 nasa has a 335 00:13:42,150 --> 00:13:39,920 a document that controls 336 00:13:44,870 --> 00:13:42,160 each connector how it is used which one 337 00:13:46,870 --> 00:13:44,880 is used for what purpose and the voltage 338 00:13:49,670 --> 00:13:46,880 and because we were actually running two 339 00:13:51,750 --> 00:13:49,680 systems we've got a 28 volt system that 340 00:13:53,509 --> 00:13:51,760 operates and we have a 120 volt dc 341 00:13:55,189 --> 00:13:53,519 system that operates 342 00:13:57,509 --> 00:13:55,199 so those are well defined there's an 343 00:13:58,949 --> 00:13:57,519 interface control document that's that's 344 00:14:02,150 --> 00:13:58,959 its title 345 00:14:03,670 --> 00:14:02,160 that specify what type of connectors and 346 00:14:06,870 --> 00:14:03,680 and 347 00:14:07,910 --> 00:14:06,880 get these to make sure that things do 348 00:14:11,590 --> 00:14:07,920 connect 349 00:14:14,069 --> 00:14:11,600 now for the communications question 350 00:14:15,990 --> 00:14:14,079 even today we have a 351 00:14:17,110 --> 00:14:16,000 about a two to two and a half second 352 00:14:20,150 --> 00:14:17,120 delay 353 00:14:22,470 --> 00:14:20,160 in the time it takes communications to 354 00:14:24,069 --> 00:14:22,480 reach from here let's say at mission 355 00:14:26,230 --> 00:14:24,079 control in houston 356 00:14:28,710 --> 00:14:26,240 up to the tdrs satellites and then over 357 00:14:31,350 --> 00:14:28,720 to the space station 358 00:14:33,990 --> 00:14:31,360 so even with that delay it it does cause 359 00:14:36,710 --> 00:14:34,000 problems uh some of the problems we 360 00:14:39,910 --> 00:14:36,720 encounter is pluto's uh with the crew 361 00:14:42,710 --> 00:14:39,920 using software that may be communicating 362 00:14:44,710 --> 00:14:42,720 via this tdrs network to the ground 363 00:14:46,949 --> 00:14:44,720 through the ku system 364 00:14:48,790 --> 00:14:46,959 that the software doesn't tolerate those 365 00:14:51,829 --> 00:14:48,800 delays so we've 366 00:14:52,790 --> 00:14:51,839 we've got to work through 367 00:15:33,269 --> 00:14:52,800 a 368 00:15:36,470 --> 00:15:33,279 time 369 00:15:39,269 --> 00:15:36,480 delay and the software doesn't crash 370 00:15:40,790 --> 00:15:39,279 because of that delay so yeah we will we 371 00:15:41,829 --> 00:15:40,800 have both software and hardware 372 00:15:44,629 --> 00:15:41,839 solutions 373 00:15:50,870 --> 00:15:44,639 to those problems 374 00:15:53,670 --> 00:15:52,710 hi i'm nick mcgill from bellevue high 375 00:15:55,269 --> 00:15:53,680 school 376 00:15:56,870 --> 00:15:55,279 what means of propulsion are you 377 00:15:58,790 --> 00:15:56,880 currently considering using on the 378 00:16:00,949 --> 00:15:58,800 manned mission of mars 379 00:16:03,350 --> 00:16:00,959 well right now to get off the earth we 380 00:16:04,310 --> 00:16:03,360 have to use chemical rockets 381 00:16:05,749 --> 00:16:04,320 there's 382 00:16:08,389 --> 00:16:05,759 several different 383 00:16:10,949 --> 00:16:08,399 schools of thought on you know which 384 00:16:14,470 --> 00:16:10,959 rocket engine should run on kerosene or 385 00:16:17,350 --> 00:16:14,480 or liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and 386 00:16:19,749 --> 00:16:17,360 and others or even alcohol 387 00:16:21,350 --> 00:16:19,759 but we do have several different ion 388 00:16:24,150 --> 00:16:21,360 thrusters 389 00:16:27,350 --> 00:16:24,160 that folks have been working on 390 00:16:30,230 --> 00:16:27,360 and we just need to get funding so that 391 00:16:31,829 --> 00:16:30,240 we can push to get much larger ion 392 00:16:33,590 --> 00:16:31,839 thrusters 393 00:16:35,110 --> 00:16:33,600 and 394 00:16:38,389 --> 00:16:35,120 they're actually 395 00:16:41,110 --> 00:16:38,399 large enough to propel something from 396 00:16:43,990 --> 00:16:41,120 let's say a high earth orbit out to mars 397 00:16:46,550 --> 00:16:44,000 and then actually back 398 00:16:48,949 --> 00:16:46,560 so it's a combination chemical and then 399 00:16:53,829 --> 00:16:48,959 ion thrusters 400 00:16:57,670 --> 00:16:55,990 my name is eric peterson i am from 401 00:17:00,150 --> 00:16:57,680 charles right academy 402 00:17:03,350 --> 00:17:00,160 and i want us to know what is the most 403 00:17:05,829 --> 00:17:03,360 stressful mission you've participated in 404 00:17:07,590 --> 00:17:05,839 oh eric uh let's see 405 00:17:10,390 --> 00:17:07,600 well i mean pluto's really don't get 406 00:17:13,189 --> 00:17:10,400 involved and and you know the things 407 00:17:16,230 --> 00:17:13,909 so 408 00:17:17,510 --> 00:17:16,240 actually the the most stressful i'll 409 00:17:19,189 --> 00:17:17,520 kind of break that down into two 410 00:17:21,510 --> 00:17:19,199 different ways um 411 00:17:24,470 --> 00:17:21,520 the complexity of the the 12a and the 412 00:17:26,230 --> 00:17:24,480 128.1 mission back in and i think march 413 00:17:27,990 --> 00:17:26,240 of 2006 414 00:17:30,870 --> 00:17:28,000 uh were just 415 00:17:33,190 --> 00:17:30,880 a ton of work for the pluto's the the 416 00:17:34,230 --> 00:17:33,200 crew was the shuttle mission was taking 417 00:17:37,350 --> 00:17:34,240 up 418 00:17:39,750 --> 00:17:37,360 a uh parts of the the truss the solar 419 00:17:41,750 --> 00:17:39,760 arrays and as they reconfigured and 420 00:17:44,830 --> 00:17:41,760 attached the new arrays 421 00:17:47,350 --> 00:17:44,840 the uh the power buses were actually 422 00:17:49,350 --> 00:17:47,360 being reconfigured 423 00:17:50,630 --> 00:17:49,360 so in order to make sure that the crew 424 00:17:53,510 --> 00:17:50,640 had 425 00:17:55,590 --> 00:17:53,520 their on-board services literally 426 00:17:58,070 --> 00:17:55,600 the power that they needed to 427 00:18:00,950 --> 00:17:58,080 to conduct all these activities 428 00:18:04,230 --> 00:18:00,960 we had to come up with a plan to 429 00:18:06,390 --> 00:18:04,240 move things from one bus to another in a 430 00:18:09,350 --> 00:18:06,400 different power channel and and then we 431 00:18:11,830 --> 00:18:09,360 literally managed that on an eva by eva 432 00:18:14,549 --> 00:18:11,840 basis when the crew was out literally 433 00:18:16,150 --> 00:18:14,559 switching these connections right so we 434 00:18:18,870 --> 00:18:16,160 we had to keep flight the flight 435 00:18:20,870 --> 00:18:18,880 director and and appraised of what 436 00:18:23,270 --> 00:18:20,880 services he did have and what he didn't 437 00:18:27,029 --> 00:18:25,029 the uh the 438 00:18:30,070 --> 00:18:27,039 perhaps one of the most fatiguing 439 00:18:32,710 --> 00:18:30,080 missions a different word there 440 00:18:36,070 --> 00:18:32,720 was the 1j mission where the crew took 441 00:18:38,630 --> 00:18:36,080 up the the japanese kibo module 442 00:18:41,350 --> 00:18:38,640 that mission was 16 days long 443 00:18:43,750 --> 00:18:41,360 and we had sliding shifts from launch 444 00:18:46,470 --> 00:18:43,760 until they landed 445 00:18:48,549 --> 00:18:46,480 and we extended that mission uh by 446 00:18:51,990 --> 00:18:48,559 another couple of days because we had to 447 00:18:52,870 --> 00:18:52,000 put in a a a fourth eva 448 00:18:55,270 --> 00:18:52,880 and 449 00:18:57,830 --> 00:18:55,280 at the end of those 16 days 450 00:18:59,270 --> 00:18:57,840 with not being able to stay on the same 451 00:19:01,909 --> 00:18:59,280 sleep schedule 452 00:19:04,950 --> 00:19:01,919 i was both physically and mentally just 453 00:19:06,870 --> 00:19:04,960 fatigued that was a long time to spend 454 00:19:09,430 --> 00:19:06,880 nine hours a shift 455 00:19:11,830 --> 00:19:09,440 every day coming into mission control 456 00:19:13,190 --> 00:19:11,840 and then making sure nothing went wrong 457 00:19:16,630 --> 00:19:13,200 so yeah that 458 00:19:18,470 --> 00:19:16,640 two different kind of ways but yeah it's 459 00:19:29,990 --> 00:19:18,480 those are my most memorable missions 460 00:19:33,830 --> 00:19:32,230 stevens high school and my question was 461 00:19:35,830 --> 00:19:33,840 what are the greatest dangers that you 462 00:19:38,070 --> 00:19:35,840 have faced in missions and what are the 463 00:19:41,029 --> 00:19:38,080 greatest dangers nasa now faces in 464 00:19:43,270 --> 00:19:41,039 regard to space travel 465 00:19:44,789 --> 00:19:43,280 oh let's see for mission controllers my 466 00:19:47,029 --> 00:19:44,799 greatest danger is just getting in 467 00:19:49,830 --> 00:19:47,039 traffic and getting to work 468 00:19:52,470 --> 00:19:49,840 driving yes yeah the uh 469 00:19:54,870 --> 00:19:52,480 the crew unfortunately is faced with a 470 00:19:57,190 --> 00:19:54,880 very hostile and an unforgiving 471 00:19:58,630 --> 00:19:57,200 environment out in space that's why they 472 00:20:00,310 --> 00:19:58,640 have the controllers down here on the 473 00:20:01,830 --> 00:20:00,320 ground looking over their shoulder we 474 00:20:03,590 --> 00:20:01,840 actually do more 475 00:20:05,190 --> 00:20:03,600 to operate the space station than the 476 00:20:07,029 --> 00:20:05,200 crew actually does 477 00:20:09,350 --> 00:20:07,039 we keep track of all of the 478 00:20:11,350 --> 00:20:09,360 environmental controls the power 479 00:20:13,510 --> 00:20:11,360 generation the thermal 480 00:20:16,149 --> 00:20:13,520 rejection the heat that's generated by 481 00:20:17,669 --> 00:20:16,159 all the electric equipment that's used 482 00:20:19,990 --> 00:20:17,679 and then all the stuff that the crew 483 00:20:21,270 --> 00:20:20,000 uses to to accomplish their tasks and 484 00:20:23,510 --> 00:20:21,280 and even 485 00:20:25,669 --> 00:20:23,520 monitoring uh some of the experiments 486 00:20:28,710 --> 00:20:25,679 which could be potentially very 487 00:20:32,310 --> 00:20:28,720 dangerous if if they they ran unchecked 488 00:20:36,710 --> 00:20:34,549 and because of that again this go back 489 00:20:38,470 --> 00:20:36,720 to that crew autonomy stuff we're trying 490 00:20:39,510 --> 00:20:38,480 to work on programs that will help the 491 00:20:41,830 --> 00:20:39,520 crew 492 00:20:44,549 --> 00:20:41,840 uh to operate 493 00:20:46,310 --> 00:20:44,559 just among themselves uh instead of 494 00:20:48,149 --> 00:20:46,320 relying so much on mcc so we're 495 00:20:50,710 --> 00:20:48,159 developing a lot of those autonomy 496 00:20:52,950 --> 00:20:50,720 programs and we actually do experiments 497 00:20:54,549 --> 00:20:52,960 with the crew 498 00:20:57,190 --> 00:20:54,559 where we 499 00:21:00,149 --> 00:20:57,200 simulate not being able to talk to earth 500 00:21:01,750 --> 00:21:00,159 except maybe once five minutes for 501 00:21:04,149 --> 00:21:01,760 every hour 502 00:21:07,270 --> 00:21:04,159 on these experiment type days 503 00:21:09,430 --> 00:21:07,280 so it's it's pretty neat to see and get 504 00:21:10,710 --> 00:21:09,440 feedback from the crew on how things did 505 00:21:13,190 --> 00:21:10,720 or didn't work 506 00:21:14,870 --> 00:21:13,200 uh so that we can tailor you know our 507 00:21:17,510 --> 00:21:14,880 operations here on the ground to help 508 00:21:20,070 --> 00:21:17,520 them better clearly the environment for 509 00:21:22,710 --> 00:21:20,080 them there is dangerous but there are so 510 00:21:24,310 --> 00:21:22,720 many systems that are built into 511 00:21:27,029 --> 00:21:24,320 this vehicle 512 00:21:28,789 --> 00:21:27,039 along with the the backup for control 513 00:21:31,350 --> 00:21:28,799 that comes down here that on a 514 00:21:34,470 --> 00:21:31,360 day-to-day basis as they go about their 515 00:21:36,230 --> 00:21:34,480 jobs it's really not an issue but 516 00:21:37,990 --> 00:21:36,240 the crew members are also very well 517 00:21:40,470 --> 00:21:38,000 trained to respond to anything that does 518 00:21:42,549 --> 00:21:40,480 happen yes they they are well versed in 519 00:21:44,390 --> 00:21:42,559 the emergency response to all of the 520 00:21:45,909 --> 00:21:44,400 systems on board 521 00:21:48,070 --> 00:21:45,919 and as a matter of fact the controllers 522 00:21:50,070 --> 00:21:48,080 here on the ground most often will know 523 00:21:51,990 --> 00:21:50,080 when something is going wrong before the 524 00:21:53,350 --> 00:21:52,000 crew will and and 525 00:21:56,149 --> 00:21:53,360 that's that's 526 00:21:59,430 --> 00:21:56,159 why we're here and for every person that 527 00:22:01,909 --> 00:21:59,440 you see sitting in mission control 528 00:22:05,029 --> 00:22:01,919 on the tv screen there's usually 529 00:22:07,590 --> 00:22:05,039 sometimes two three or even four people 530 00:22:10,950 --> 00:22:07,600 sitting in a what we call the back room 531 00:22:13,029 --> 00:22:10,960 uh supporting the the lead controller in 532 00:22:15,029 --> 00:22:13,039 in the the flight control room here with 533 00:22:17,830 --> 00:22:15,039 the flight director so there's there's 534 00:22:19,669 --> 00:22:17,840 definitely multiple sets of eyes uh 535 00:22:21,990 --> 00:22:19,679 watching over the crew and making sure 536 00:22:23,909 --> 00:22:22,000 that the vehicle is safe for them 537 00:22:25,190 --> 00:22:23,919 okay i think do we have time for one 538 00:22:26,950 --> 00:22:25,200 more 539 00:22:29,110 --> 00:22:26,960 no i think we're we don't have time for 540 00:22:30,870 --> 00:22:29,120 one more okay i'm told uh brian thanks 541 00:22:32,470 --> 00:22:30,880 very much it's some really interesting 542 00:22:34,390 --> 00:22:32,480 information and 543 00:22:36,390 --> 00:22:34,400 and i hope that you guys in washington 544 00:22:38,310 --> 00:22:36,400 uh got the answers that you were looking 545 00:22:40,149 --> 00:22:38,320 for and we sure appreciate the questions