1 00:00:21,939 --> 00:00:24,339 LIVE FROM THE JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY IN 2 00:00:24,339 --> 00:00:28,210 LAUREL, MARYLAND, WELCOME TO "LIVE COUNTDOWN TO PLUTO." 3 00:00:28,210 --> 00:00:33,640 I'M MIKE BUCKLEY JOINED BY MY COLLEAGUE, DWAYNE BROWN, FROM 4 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,320 NASA'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS. 5 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:36,820 WE'RE ON A RIDE. 6 00:00:36,820 --> 00:00:38,120 >> IT'S GETTING CLOSE. 7 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,410 THIS IS WHAT I CALL AN S.T. 8 00:00:40,410 --> 00:00:41,540 MISSION. 9 00:00:41,540 --> 00:00:43,370 WHAT'S S.T.? 10 00:00:43,370 --> 00:00:44,640 WORDS THAT ENDS IN S-T. 11 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:49,699 FASTEST, MOST, FARTHEST. 12 00:00:49,699 --> 00:00:53,059 THIS HISTORIC MISSION IS ONE OF MANY FIRSTS. 13 00:00:53,059 --> 00:00:55,559 LET'S LOOK AT SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE S.T. 14 00:00:55,559 --> 00:00:56,559 WORDS. 15 00:00:56,559 --> 00:00:58,700 THE FASTEST SPACECRAFT EVER LAUNCHED. 16 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:01,499 THE FARTHEST DESTINATION EVER EXPLORED. 17 00:01:01,499 --> 00:01:04,500 FIRST MISSION TO PLUTO IN A BINARY PLANET SYSTEM. 18 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:06,930 FIRST MISSION IN NASA'S NEW FRONTIERS PROGRAM. 19 00:01:06,930 --> 00:01:13,240 MIKE, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC LOVE S.T. 20 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,240 MISSIONS. 21 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:15,240 THIS IS A GOLD MINE. 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:16,409 THEY'RE LOVING IT. 23 00:01:16,409 --> 00:01:19,550 >> YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE ATTENTION AND COVERAGE ON LINE, 24 00:01:19,550 --> 00:01:21,080 EVERYPLACE YOU LOOK. 25 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:22,080 GREAT. 26 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,210 WE'RE COUNTING DOWN TO NEW HORIZONS' HISTORIC FLY-BY. 27 00:01:25,210 --> 00:01:29,380 WE'RE A DAY AWAY AND A MILLION MILES TO PLUTO. 28 00:01:29,380 --> 00:01:32,190 WHEN NEW HORIZONS GETS THERE, AS YOU'D EXPECT, OUR SPACECRAFT IS 29 00:01:32,190 --> 00:01:44,660 IN FOR A VERY BUSY DAY. 30 00:01:44,660 --> 00:01:47,390 >> SO JULY 14th'S GOING TO BE EXCITING. 31 00:01:47,390 --> 00:01:50,410 WE WILL A WHOLE SUITE OF INSTRUMENTS. 32 00:01:50,410 --> 00:01:54,300 THINGS HEAT UP THREE HOURS TO APPROACH. 33 00:01:54,300 --> 00:01:58,770 AS WE'RE FLYING BY, MY HAND IS PLUTO, THE SPACECRAFT WILL FLY 34 00:01:58,770 --> 00:02:04,000 BY AND SCAN THE INSTRUMENT CRASS THE SURFACE OF PLUTO TO BUILD A 35 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,410 SPECTRAL IMAGE OF WHAT THE SURFACE LOOKS LIKE. 36 00:02:06,410 --> 00:02:10,860 THEN AS WE GET AROUND TOWARD PLUTO'S TERMINATOR, WE TAKE OUR 37 00:02:10,860 --> 00:02:15,600 LONG, HIGH-RESOLUTION SCANS IN BLACK AND WHITE WHICH MEANS THAT 38 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,700 WE CAN USE THE VERY WIDE FIELD. 39 00:02:19,700 --> 00:02:24,200 AND AT THE SAME TIME USE THE NARROW FIELD LAURIE SO WE GET 40 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:29,700 5,000 PIXELS ACROSS PLUTO, HALF A KILOMETER RESOLUTION AT 41 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:30,880 CLOSEST APPROACH. 42 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:35,970 AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE THIS VERY SKINNY INSET OF THE LORI 43 00:02:35,970 --> 00:02:37,010 FIELD OF VIEW. 44 00:02:37,010 --> 00:02:41,200 AND ONLY ABOUT 100 METERS PER PIXEL. 45 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,860 SO WE TAKE OUR LORI IMAGES ONE AFTER ANOTHER, OVERLAPPING 46 00:02:44,860 --> 00:02:50,890 IMAGES SO IT LOOKS LIKE THIS BIG PLATE OF PLUTO AND THE SKINNY 47 00:02:50,890 --> 00:02:55,810 LITTLE NOODLE OF LORI RUNNING ACROSS. 48 00:02:55,810 --> 00:02:59,440 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY WE ARE BEHIND PLUTO, 49 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,620 TAKING PICTURE BACK ON THE FAR SIDE. 50 00:03:01,620 --> 00:03:06,710 THE ALICE INSTRUMENT WILL DO WATCHING THE SUN SET BEHIND 51 00:03:06,710 --> 00:03:07,710 PLUTO. 52 00:03:07,710 --> 00:03:10,490 THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK WILL BE TRANSMITTING A SIGNAL. 53 00:03:10,490 --> 00:03:16,020 AND THAT SIGNAL WILL BE PICKED UP BY THE ANTENNA AND CHANGE THE 54 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:18,460 ATMOSPHERE OF PLUTO IT GOES THROUGH. 55 00:03:18,460 --> 00:03:20,350 THAT'S HOW WE PROBE THE ATMOSPHERE. 56 00:03:20,350 --> 00:03:23,459 THE PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE RIGHT NEAR THE SURFACE. 57 00:03:23,459 --> 00:03:26,700 JULY 14th IS THE APEX OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR. 58 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:29,960 WE LAUNCHED MORE THAN NINE YEARS AGO. 59 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,810 EVER SINCE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO SHEPHERD IT ACROSS THE SOLAR 60 00:03:33,810 --> 00:03:35,620 SYSTEM. 61 00:03:35,620 --> 00:03:38,260 >> NEW HORIZONS IS A SMALL TEAM. 62 00:03:38,260 --> 00:03:42,370 STILL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR OVER A DECADE. 63 00:03:42,370 --> 00:03:48,400 YOU ADD IT UP AND IT'S 2.5 MILLION WORK HOURS TO GET TO 64 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:49,400 PLUTO. 65 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:53,099 >> WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO PLUTO AND JULY 14th TO SEE WHAT THE 66 00:03:53,099 --> 00:03:54,340 SURFACE LOOKS LIKE. 67 00:03:54,340 --> 00:04:05,410 WE'RE READY TO GO, AND IT'S SHOW TIME. 68 00:04:05,410 --> 00:04:08,130 \M\M >> COMING TO US FROM THE REMOTE 69 00:04:08,130 --> 00:04:11,190 SET OUTSIDE MISSION OPERATIONS AT THE APPLIED PHYSICS LAB IS 70 00:04:11,190 --> 00:04:14,160 NEW HORIZONS MISSION OPERATIONS MANAGER ALICE BOWMAN. 71 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,320 ALICE, CAN YOU AND THE TEAM START TO FEEL HOW CLOSE TO PLUTO 72 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:18,320 WE ARE? 73 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,150 >> MIKE, IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. 74 00:04:21,150 --> 00:04:24,620 WE ARE JUST SIMPLY AMAZED AT THE DATA THAT THE SPACECRAFT IS 75 00:04:24,620 --> 00:04:25,680 RETURNING. 76 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,860 >> BUT FIRST QUESTION, SO HOW NEW HORIZONS? 77 00:04:28,860 --> 00:04:32,030 >> WELL, WE'VE BEEN MONITORING ALL THE SUBSYSTEMS AND 78 00:04:32,030 --> 00:04:33,460 INSTRUMENTS. 79 00:04:33,460 --> 00:04:34,590 EVERYTHING IS HEALTHY. 80 00:04:34,590 --> 00:04:37,410 WE'RE READY FOR THE CLOSEST APPROACH SCIENCE. 81 00:04:37,410 --> 00:04:41,340 >> LET'S LOOK INSIDE THE MISSION OPERATIONS CENTER AT APL AND THE 82 00:04:41,340 --> 00:04:43,080 ACTIVITY HAPPENING THERE NOW. 83 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,870 ALICE, IF YOU COULD LOOK FORWARD FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND LET US 84 00:04:45,870 --> 00:04:49,680 KNOW ON THE MORNING OF THE 14th WHEN NEW HORIZONS IS FLYING PAST 85 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,220 PLUTO, WHAT WILL THIS ROOM LOOK LIKE? 86 00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:55,960 >> MIKE, AS YOU KNOW, THE SPACECRAFT CAN'T BE 87 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,910 COMMUNICATING WITH EARTH AT THE SAME TIME THAT IT'S TAKING 88 00:04:58,910 --> 00:04:59,910 SCIENCE. 89 00:04:59,910 --> 00:05:03,690 BUT AS YOU ALSO KNOW, WE HAVE AN INSTRUMENT ON BOARD THE 90 00:05:03,690 --> 00:05:09,210 SPACECRAFT THAT REQUIRES AN UPLINK SIGNAL FROM THE EARTH. 91 00:05:09,210 --> 00:05:12,790 IF YOU WERE TO LOOK IN THE MISSION OPERATIONS CENTER 92 00:05:12,790 --> 00:05:16,110 BETWEEN MAYBE 4:30 AND 6:30 A.M. 93 00:05:16,110 --> 00:05:19,430 EASTERN TIME, YOU WOULD SEE THAT WE WOULD HAVE OUR FLIGHT 94 00:05:19,430 --> 00:05:25,350 CONTROLLERS AND MEMBERS OF THE REX TEAM CONFIGURING THE 95 00:05:25,350 --> 00:05:26,350 ANTENNAS. 96 00:05:26,350 --> 00:05:29,470 WE WILL BE UP WITH SEVEN OF THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK ANTENNAS 97 00:05:29,470 --> 00:05:31,210 SIMULTANEOUSLY. 98 00:05:31,210 --> 00:05:35,650 AND YOU WILL SEE THEM CONFIGURING THOSE ANTENNAS AND 99 00:05:35,650 --> 00:05:38,680 SENDING THE UPLINK SIGNAL TO THE SPACECRAFT. 100 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,900 THEN 4.5 HOURS LATER WHETN THAT SIGNAL ARRIVES TO THE 101 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:48,650 SPACECRAFT, THAT'S WHEN THE OBSERVATION WILL OCCUR. 102 00:05:48,650 --> 00:05:49,730 >> THIS IS DWAYNE. 103 00:05:49,730 --> 00:05:51,240 THAT'S THE MORNING EVENT. 104 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,229 FOLKS HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS A TWO-PART AFFAIR. 105 00:05:54,229 --> 00:05:57,270 THERE'S THING HAPPENING ON THE EVENING OF JULY 14th. 106 00:05:57,270 --> 00:05:58,830 TELL US ABOUT THAT. 107 00:05:58,830 --> 00:05:59,830 >> YES. 108 00:05:59,830 --> 00:06:02,470 THE EVENING IS GOING TO BE PRETTY EXCITING. 109 00:06:02,470 --> 00:06:07,530 WE WILL HAVE A SLIGHT BREAK IN THE SCIENCE OBSERVATIONS ON 110 00:06:07,530 --> 00:06:08,530 BOARD THE SPACECRAFT. 111 00:06:08,530 --> 00:06:13,070 AND THE SPACECRAFT WILL TURN AND POINT TO EARTH AND SEND 15 112 00:06:13,070 --> 00:06:15,260 MINUTES OF TELEMETRY TOWARD EARTH. 113 00:06:15,260 --> 00:06:19,780 WE'LL RECEIVE THAT TELEMETRY ABOUT 4.5 HOURS LATER WHICH WILL 114 00:06:19,780 --> 00:06:22,300 BE AT ABOUT -- A LITTLE BEFORE 9:00 P.M. 115 00:06:22,300 --> 00:06:25,560 EASTERN TIME. 8:53 TO BE EXACT. 116 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:29,330 THE MOCK WILL HAVE SUBSYSTEM ENGINEERS ANXIOUSLY AWAITING 117 00:06:29,330 --> 00:06:30,330 THAT DATA. 118 00:06:30,330 --> 00:06:35,580 WE'LL BE UP WITH MADRID STATION AND WILL LOCK ON TO THAT SIGNAL. 119 00:06:35,580 --> 00:06:39,410 AND OUR SUBSYSTEM ENGINEERS WILL BE ABLE TO EVALUATE THE HEALTH 120 00:06:39,410 --> 00:06:43,410 OF THE SPACECRAFT AND HOPEFULLY TELL HOW MUCH DATA HAS BEEN 121 00:06:43,410 --> 00:06:45,550 RECORDED TO THE RECORDERS. 122 00:06:45,550 --> 00:06:51,130 >> ALICE, I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF INTENSITY AND EXCITEMENT. 123 00:06:51,130 --> 00:06:55,710 HOW DO YOU RELAX, SORT OF JUST TO SETTLE DOWN BEFORE YOU REALLY 124 00:06:55,710 --> 00:06:59,509 GET INTO ALL OF THE ENGINEERING AND ALL OF THE MISSION OPS? 125 00:06:59,509 --> 00:07:01,949 HOW DO YOU DO THAT? 126 00:07:01,949 --> 00:07:06,270 >> WELL, MANY OF US WILL BE TAKING MAYBE CATNAPS IN OUR 127 00:07:06,270 --> 00:07:07,270 OFFICES. 128 00:07:07,270 --> 00:07:12,330 WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO BE PART OF THIS MISSION TO SEE THAT DATA 129 00:07:12,330 --> 00:07:13,620 FOR THE FIRST TIME. 130 00:07:13,620 --> 00:07:19,140 IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR US TO RELAX UNTIL AFTER THAT CLOSEST 131 00:07:19,140 --> 00:07:20,810 APPROACH FLY-BY TELEMETRY. 132 00:07:20,810 --> 00:07:24,669 >> ALICE, I GUESS AT LEAST THEN YOU'VE GOT THINGS TO KEEP YOU 133 00:07:24,669 --> 00:07:25,669 BUSY. 134 00:07:25,669 --> 00:07:27,270 WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE OPERATIONS TEAM OVER THE NEXT 135 00:07:27,270 --> 00:07:28,810 DAY OR TWO? 136 00:07:28,810 --> 00:07:29,810 >> YES. 137 00:07:29,810 --> 00:07:34,270 IN FACT, THIS MORNING WE GOT SOME OPTICAL NAVIGATION DATA 138 00:07:34,270 --> 00:07:35,710 DOWN FROM THE SPACECRAFT. 139 00:07:35,710 --> 00:07:39,180 WE WERE UP WITH THE GOLDSTONE ANTENNAS. 140 00:07:39,180 --> 00:07:42,430 THAT DATA IS NOW BEING PROCESSED BY THE NAVIGATION GUIDANCE AND 141 00:07:42,430 --> 00:07:46,480 CONTROL AND SCIENCE OPERATIONS TEAM. 142 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:50,630 ABOUT 1:30 THIS AFTERNOON WE'LL GET ANOTHER AND FINAL SET OF 143 00:07:50,630 --> 00:07:52,300 OPTICAL NAVIGATION DATA. 144 00:07:52,300 --> 00:07:54,800 AND THIS IS DATA THAT'S GOING TO BE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR 145 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:58,680 NOT WE NEED TO DO A SLIGHT TIME ADJUSTMENT TO THE SCIENCE 146 00:07:58,680 --> 00:07:59,900 OBSERVATIONS. 147 00:07:59,900 --> 00:08:04,380 ADDITIONALLY, WE'RE GOING TO BE BRINGING DOWN MORE SCIENCE DATA 148 00:08:04,380 --> 00:08:08,810 AND ALSO IN THE EVENING, WE'LL BE DOING AN UPLINK TO THE REX 149 00:08:08,810 --> 00:08:09,810 INSTRUMENT. 150 00:08:09,810 --> 00:08:14,669 >> SOUNDS LIKE A BUSY ENOUGH DAY LEADING UP TO THIS. 151 00:08:14,669 --> 00:08:15,919 THANKS, ALICE. 152 00:08:15,919 --> 00:08:16,919 >> THANKS. 153 00:08:16,919 --> 00:08:19,570 >> NOW HOW MUCH TIME WOULD IT TAKE TO FIND YOUR PLUTO TIME? 154 00:08:19,570 --> 00:08:24,300 IF YOU HAVE A MINUTE, WE'VE GOT AN ANSWER. 155 00:08:24,300 --> 00:08:28,830 >> PLUTO IS WAY FAR AWAY, BUT IT'S WAY BRIGHTER UP THERE THAN 156 00:08:28,830 --> 00:08:29,830 YOU'D THINK. 157 00:08:29,830 --> 00:08:38,229 THIS IS "PLUTO IN A MINUTE." 158 00:08:38,229 --> 00:08:40,990 PLUTO ROTATES ON ITS AXIS JUST LIKE THE EARTH DOES WHICH MEANS 159 00:08:40,990 --> 00:08:43,430 PLUTO HAS DAYS JUST LIKE THE EARTH. 160 00:08:43,430 --> 00:08:45,329 HOWEVER, THEY ARE SLIGHTLY LONGER DAYS. 161 00:08:45,329 --> 00:08:50,380 EACH DAY ON PLUTO LASTS FOR 6.4 EARTH DAYS, 153 HOURS. 162 00:08:50,380 --> 00:08:52,839 AND JUST LIKE ON EARTH, THE LENGTH OF THE DAYS ON PLUTO VARY 163 00:08:52,839 --> 00:08:56,170 DEPENDING ON LATITUDE, THAT IS HOW CLOSE TO ONE OF THE POLES 164 00:08:56,170 --> 00:08:57,170 YOU ARE. 165 00:08:57,170 --> 00:08:58,860 PLUTO'S AXIS IS TILTED. 166 00:08:58,860 --> 00:09:01,680 FROM NEW HORIZONS'S PERSPECTIVE AND THE PICTURES YOU'RE SEEING, 167 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:04,860 THE NORTH POLE IS TILTED TOWARD THE SPACECRAFT. 168 00:09:04,860 --> 00:09:08,690 YOU SEE IT†1/3 OR A QUARTER WAY DOWN IN THE PICTURES. 169 00:09:08,690 --> 00:09:12,980 THAT MEANS THERE ARE LONGER CONTINUOUS DAYS, AND OTHER SPOTS 170 00:09:12,980 --> 00:09:15,500 HAVE SHORT DAYS OR NO DAY AT ALL. 171 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:18,100 THE CONSTANT LIGHT AND CONSTANT DARK AREAS CHANGE DEPENDING 172 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:19,910 WHERE PLUTO IS IN ITS ORBIT. 173 00:09:19,910 --> 00:09:23,150 ALTHOUGH IT'S THREE MILLION MILES FROM EARTH, IT'S BRIGHTER 174 00:09:23,150 --> 00:09:25,120 AT MID PLUTO DAY THAN YOU THINK. 175 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:26,250 GO TO SOLAR.NASA.GOV/PLUTOTIME. 176 00:09:26,250 --> 00:09:33,720 IT WILL TAKE YOU WHAT THE 177 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,270 EQUIVALENT BRIGHTNESS OF YOUR TIME IS ON PLUTO. 178 00:09:36,270 --> 00:09:41,370 CHECK ON WHAT PLUTO TIME WILL BE IN YOUR TIME ZONE. 179 00:09:41,370 --> 00:09:42,370 SET AN ALARM ON YOUR PHONE. 180 00:09:42,370 --> 00:09:46,540 WHEN IT GOES OFF, HOP OUTSIDE, TAKE A SELFIE AND TWEET IT. 181 00:09:46,540 --> 00:09:49,649 AND OF COURSE, TWEET YOUR QUESTIONS WITH THOSE HASH TAGS, 182 00:09:49,649 --> 00:09:50,649 AS WELL. 183 00:09:50,649 --> 00:09:53,430 FOR MORE NEWS ON PLUTO, CHECK OUT THE NEW HORIZONS WEBSITES 184 00:09:53,430 --> 00:10:03,970 AND BE SURE TO COME BACK TOMORROW FOR MORE "PLUTO IN A 185 00:10:03,970 --> 00:10:06,810 MINUTE." 186 00:10:06,810 --> 00:10:10,339 \M\M >>> JOINING US FROM THE REMOTE 187 00:10:10,339 --> 00:10:13,440 SET OUTSIDE THE SCIENCE TEAM WORKING AREA IS ALAN STERN, THE 188 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:15,510 NEW HORIZONS PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR FROM SOUTHWEST 189 00:10:15,510 --> 00:10:16,790 RESEARCH INSTITUTE. 190 00:10:16,790 --> 00:10:19,520 ALAN, I'D WELCOME YOU TO THE COUNTDOWN, BUT I THINK YOU'VE 191 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,720 BEEN IN THE COUNTDOWN FOR QUITE SOME TIME. 192 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:22,720 >> HI, MIKE. 193 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:23,720 GOOD MORNING. 194 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,760 YEAH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME. 195 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:28,300 IT'S FINALLY GOING TO PAY OFF. 196 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:32,999 >> AFTER MONTHS AS A DOT IN THE CAMERA'S LENS, PLUTO HAS STARTED 197 00:10:32,999 --> 00:10:34,620 TO EVOLVE INTO A REAL WORLD. 198 00:10:34,620 --> 00:10:37,250 ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, REALLY GETTING INTO 199 00:10:37,250 --> 00:10:39,850 THE REAL WORLD WITH LOTS OF DETAIL. 200 00:10:39,850 --> 00:10:42,730 WONDER FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW, WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE TO WATCH THE 201 00:10:42,730 --> 00:10:44,290 PLANET EVOLVE? 202 00:10:44,290 --> 00:10:45,290 >> IT'S BEEN FABULOUS. 203 00:10:45,290 --> 00:10:47,120 I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE SCIENCE TEAM. 204 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:51,519 AFTER WORKING ON THERE FOR SO LONG AND HAVING A FEW BEFORE WE 205 00:10:51,519 --> 00:10:55,730 GOT THERE, PIXELS FROM THE EARTH SURFACE. 206 00:10:55,730 --> 00:10:58,991 TO SEE THAT DOUBLE AND QUADRUPLE. 207 00:10:58,991 --> 00:11:00,290 THEN A FACTOR OF TEN. 208 00:11:00,290 --> 00:11:03,640 WE'VE HAD A FACTOR OF 30 IMPROVEMENTS. 209 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:06,630 NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT AN IMAGE OF PLUTO YOU SEE A REAL PLANET 210 00:11:06,630 --> 00:11:07,630 THERE. 211 00:11:07,630 --> 00:11:12,180 YOU SEE A COMPLEX WORLD THAT JUST BEGS FOR EXPLORATION. 212 00:11:12,180 --> 00:11:16,300 AND YET, WE'RE GOING TO DO 100 TIMES BETTER THAN THAT WITH THE 213 00:11:16,300 --> 00:11:17,370 IMAGES MADE TUESDAY. 214 00:11:17,370 --> 00:11:23,029 IN FACT, THE IMAGES MADE WILL HAVE 10,000 TIMES AS MANY PIXELS 215 00:11:23,029 --> 00:11:25,950 IN EACH AS WE SEE NOW. 216 00:11:25,950 --> 00:11:27,240 HOW'S THAT? 217 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,970 >> I'M BLOWN AWAY. 218 00:11:29,970 --> 00:11:32,400 >> WELL, THIS LEADS TO MY QUESTION. 219 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:37,220 YOU HAVE WORKED ON THIS FOR YEARS, THE PLANNING, THE WORK. 220 00:11:37,220 --> 00:11:39,709 HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THIS CLOSE? 221 00:11:39,709 --> 00:11:41,290 >> HEY, DWAYNE. 222 00:11:41,290 --> 00:11:42,300 IT FEELS FANTASTIC. 223 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:45,940 AGAIN, I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE TEAM. 224 00:11:45,940 --> 00:11:48,860 PEOPLE HAVE POURED THEIR LIVES, BIG PORTIONS OF THEIR CAREERS, 225 00:11:48,860 --> 00:11:54,910 NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS, VERY LONG NUMBER OF HOURS, GREAT DEVOTION. 226 00:11:54,910 --> 00:11:56,339 WE ONLY HAVE ONE SPACECRAFT. 227 00:11:56,339 --> 00:11:57,450 WE HAVE TO GET THIS RIGHT. 228 00:11:57,450 --> 00:11:59,710 NOW WE'RE ON PLUTO'S DOORSTEP. 229 00:11:59,710 --> 00:12:01,899 IT'S THRILLING TO ALL OF US. 230 00:12:01,899 --> 00:12:05,630 AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW 231 00:12:05,630 --> 00:12:08,920 WHEN WE GET THERE AND ACCOMPLISH THIS. 232 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,710 >> I DON'T NEED TO TELL YOU THE WORLD IS WATCHING, AND THEY'RE 233 00:12:12,710 --> 00:12:13,710 EXCITED. 234 00:12:13,710 --> 00:12:15,950 TAKE US INTO THE MINDS OF THE TEAM. 235 00:12:15,950 --> 00:12:19,370 OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE FOCUSED, BUT WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? 236 00:12:19,370 --> 00:12:20,370 WHAT'S ON THEIR MINDS? 237 00:12:20,370 --> 00:12:21,370 WHAT'S GOING THROUGH THEIR HEADS NOW? 238 00:12:21,370 --> 00:12:24,040 >> WELL, A LOT OF THING ARE GOING THROUGH PEOPLE'S HEADING 239 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:25,040 ACTUALLY. 240 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,560 THERE'S THIS ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE THAT I TALK ABOUT. 241 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:30,779 PEOPLE ARE THRILLED, THEY'RE WORKING LONG HOURS. 242 00:12:30,779 --> 00:12:32,150 THEY'RE RUNNING ON ADRENALINE. 243 00:12:32,150 --> 00:12:34,890 I SEE PEOPLE IN THE GYM IN THE MORNING, THEY SAY, "I GOT FOUR 244 00:12:34,890 --> 00:12:35,890 HOURS' SLEEP. 245 00:12:35,890 --> 00:12:37,110 I FEEL LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS." 246 00:12:37,110 --> 00:12:41,290 YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE HAPPY BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR 247 00:12:41,290 --> 00:12:42,680 SPACECRAFT IS WORKING WELL. 248 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:44,690 THEY KNOW THEIR INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING WELL. 249 00:12:44,690 --> 00:12:46,100 THEY SEE DATA COMING DOWN. 250 00:12:46,100 --> 00:12:48,900 AND PLUTO IS NOT DISAPPOINTING, AND NEITHER IS THE SATELLITE 251 00:12:48,900 --> 00:12:49,900 SYSTEM. 252 00:12:49,900 --> 00:12:53,089 SO THE FEELING AROUND HERE IS ONE OF REAL JOY AND ELATION. 253 00:12:53,089 --> 00:12:57,550 IT'S VERY HUMAN EXPERIENCE FOR OUR TEAM THAT WAITED SO LONG 254 00:12:57,550 --> 00:13:01,750 ANTICIPATING THIS APPROACH TO THIS FAR AWAY FRONTIER. 255 00:13:01,750 --> 00:13:02,750 AND NOW WE'RE THERE. 256 00:13:02,750 --> 00:13:03,750 >> ALL RIGHT. 257 00:13:03,750 --> 00:13:06,470 ARE YOU STARTING TO SEE THINGS THAT EITHER HAVE SURPRISES OR 258 00:13:06,470 --> 00:13:07,830 THINGS STARTING TO EXCITE YOU? 259 00:13:07,830 --> 00:13:10,279 WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PICTURES OF 260 00:13:10,279 --> 00:13:13,399 PLUTO AND SHARON, THINGS THAT HAVE GOT YOU EXCITED FOR THE 261 00:13:13,399 --> 00:13:14,399 NEXT COMING DAYS? 262 00:13:14,399 --> 00:13:15,399 >> YEAH. 263 00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:18,410 WE'RE SEEING REAL COMPLEXITY ON PLUTO'S SURFACE. 264 00:13:18,410 --> 00:13:21,660 WE'RE SEEING EVIDENCE OF A VERY COMPLICATED HISTORY THAT WE CAN 265 00:13:21,660 --> 00:13:25,200 READ THROUGH THE GEOLOGY AND THE OTHER TECHNIQUES LIKE 266 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,890 COMPOSITION AND THERMAL MAPPING TOPOGRAPHY THAT WE'LL BE ABLE 267 00:13:27,890 --> 00:13:28,890 TO. 268 00:13:28,890 --> 00:13:32,510 DO WE LOOK AT THE OTHER HALF OF THE DOUBLE PLANET, SHARON. 269 00:13:32,510 --> 00:13:33,880 IT'S A RISING STAR. 270 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,130 IT TURNS OUT TO BE SUPER INTERESTING. 271 00:13:38,130 --> 00:13:40,459 PERHAPS A LOT MORE INTERESTING THAN ANYBODY GUESSED. 272 00:13:40,459 --> 00:13:41,731 SO WE'RE GOING TO GET CLOSER. 273 00:13:41,731 --> 00:13:44,310 WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM IN MORE DETAIL. 274 00:13:44,310 --> 00:13:48,510 THROUGH NEW DATA SETS, THROW ATMOSPHERIC DATA ON TOP OF THIS, 275 00:13:48,510 --> 00:13:52,230 THERMAL DATA ON TOP OF THIS, THE RADIO SCIENCE DATA ON TOP OF 276 00:13:52,230 --> 00:13:53,230 THIS. 277 00:13:53,230 --> 00:13:54,580 IT'S JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER. 278 00:13:54,580 --> 00:13:57,980 >> AND CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA THEN WHAT ARE WE IN FOR OVER THE 279 00:13:57,980 --> 00:13:58,980 NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS? 280 00:13:58,980 --> 00:14:02,260 I MEAN, WHETHER IT'S JUST THE PICTURES OR THE ATMOSPHERE 281 00:14:02,260 --> 00:14:03,660 AROUND HERE, WHAT ARE WE IN FOR? 282 00:14:03,660 --> 00:14:04,660 >> YEAH. 283 00:14:04,660 --> 00:14:07,590 AS I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY BLANKET THE PLANET AND BLANKET 284 00:14:07,590 --> 00:14:09,880 THE SATELLITES WITH IMAGERY. 285 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,089 AND WITH IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY SO WITH EVERY PIXEL WE HAVE A 286 00:14:13,089 --> 00:14:14,880 COMPOSITION SYSTEM. 287 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:19,240 WE'LL START DETECTING THE ATMOSPHERE AND DETERMINE ITS 288 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,690 ATMOSPHERE AND PRESSURE TO MEASURE ITS COMPOSITION AS A 289 00:14:21,690 --> 00:14:23,220 FUNCTION OF ALTITUDE. 290 00:14:23,220 --> 00:14:25,430 AND DO MANY MORE THINGS INCLUDING LOOK FOR SATELLITES 291 00:14:25,430 --> 00:14:26,490 AND RINGS. 292 00:14:26,490 --> 00:14:29,350 NOW I IS A GRAPHIC HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO SHOW. 293 00:14:29,350 --> 00:14:32,080 IT SHOWS THAT WHAT OUR BEST RESOLUTION ON PLUTO WOULD BE 294 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:35,220 LIKE IF INSTEAD WE WERE FLYING OVER THE EARTH AT THE SAME 295 00:14:35,220 --> 00:14:37,200 ALTITUDE AND LOOKING DOWN ON NEW YORK CITY. 296 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,350 AND IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, YOU CAN SEE IN THAT GRAPHIC WHICH 297 00:14:40,350 --> 00:14:43,680 WE'VE TAKEN A SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE EARTH, PIXILATED IT TO ABOUT 298 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:45,480 OUR BEST RESOLUTION. 299 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:48,140 AND YOU CAN SEE MANHATTAN BETWEEN THE HUDSON RIVER ON THE 300 00:14:48,140 --> 00:14:50,510 LEFT AND THE EAST RIVER ON THE RIGHT. 301 00:14:50,510 --> 00:14:54,290 YOU CAN EASILY PICK OUT CENTRAL PARKS, CENTRAL PARK, EXCUSE ME. 302 00:14:54,290 --> 00:14:56,220 YOU CAN PICK OUT THE PONDS IN CENTRAL PARK. 303 00:14:56,220 --> 00:14:57,769 IT'S JUST FANTASTIC. 304 00:14:57,769 --> 00:15:03,089 YOU CAN COUNT THE WHARFS ON THE HUDSON, THE RUNWAYS AT THE MAJOR 305 00:15:03,089 --> 00:15:04,089 AIRPORTS. 306 00:15:04,089 --> 00:15:06,200 THAT'S THE RESOLUTION WE'LL HAVE. 307 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:11,050 TODAY OUR BEST PIXELS TODAY, ON SUNDAY, THE 12th, ARE ABOUT THE 308 00:15:11,050 --> 00:15:12,850 SIZE OF MANHATTAN. 309 00:15:12,850 --> 00:15:15,310 THEY'RE GOING TO GET ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE WHARFS IN CENTRAL 310 00:15:15,310 --> 00:15:19,500 PARK -- EXCUSE ME, THE WHARFS ON THE HUDSON AND PONDS IN CENTRAL 311 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:21,630 PARK. 312 00:15:21,630 --> 00:15:22,630 >> JUST THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND HERE. 313 00:15:22,630 --> 00:15:23,630 WE CAN FEEL IT. 314 00:15:23,630 --> 00:15:26,700 EVEN HERE AND OUTSIDE THE STUDIO, PEOPLE STARTING TO COME 315 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:28,180 IN AND GET EXCITED. 316 00:15:28,180 --> 00:15:30,380 THINK ABOUT ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING 317 00:15:30,380 --> 00:15:32,179 THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. 318 00:15:32,179 --> 00:15:33,179 >> IT'S AMAZING. 319 00:15:33,179 --> 00:15:40,000 WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MEDIA, BY MY COUNT, FROM AROUND THE WORLD. 320 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,720 THERE'S A LOVE OF EXPLORATION. 321 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,850 PEOPLE LOVE THE THINGS NASA DOES, THEY'RE INSPIRED BY IT. 322 00:15:45,850 --> 00:15:49,190 I BELIEVE EVERY CONTINENT IS REPRESENTED EXCEPT ANTARCTICA, 323 00:15:49,190 --> 00:15:51,760 AND I DON'T THINK ANTARCTICA HAS MEDIA. 324 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:54,210 IT'S AMAZING. 325 00:15:54,210 --> 00:15:55,680 >> ONE WORD, WOW. 326 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:56,680 WOW. 327 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:57,680 >> THANKS. 328 00:15:57,680 --> 00:15:58,680 >> YOU BET. 329 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:03,699 >> YOU KNOW, NASA MISSIONS AND THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND NOT 330 00:16:03,699 --> 00:16:07,070 ONLY RETURN UNPRESS DENNED SCIENCE, THEY -- UNPRECEDENTED 331 00:16:07,070 --> 00:16:09,500 SCIENCE, THEY EXPLORE THE NEXT GENERATION. 332 00:16:09,500 --> 00:16:14,260 ONE PRIME EXAMPLE, NEW HORIZONS IS ONE MISSION CARRYING A 333 00:16:14,260 --> 00:16:16,760 STUDENT-BUILT INSTRUMENT. 334 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,230 STUDENT CAMERA. 335 00:16:18,230 --> 00:16:22,060 LET'S HEAR FROM SOMEONE ON THE TEAM WHO CAN'T WAIT TO SEE PLUTO 336 00:16:22,060 --> 00:16:29,410 UP CLOSE. 337 00:16:29,410 --> 00:16:46,510 >> MY NAME IS JAMIE, AND I'M THE LEAD GRAD STUDENT WITH THE DUST 338 00:16:46,510 --> 00:16:48,699 COUNTER ABOARD NEW HORIZONS. 339 00:16:48,699 --> 00:16:54,269 THE DUST COUNTER IS THE ONLY PLANETARY INSTRUMENT MADE AND 340 00:16:54,269 --> 00:16:55,269 OPERATED BY STUDENTS. 341 00:16:55,269 --> 00:16:58,510 WHEN IT WAS BEING BUILT, WERE THERE A LOT OF STUDENTS. 342 00:16:58,510 --> 00:17:02,480 THE LARGEST UP TO ABOUT 25 THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH THIS 343 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:03,480 INSTRUMENT. 344 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:07,059 AND THEY HAD JOBS THAT RANGED FROM SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TO 345 00:17:07,059 --> 00:17:16,549 MECHANICAL TO THERMAL DESIGN. 346 00:17:16,549 --> 00:17:19,339 WHAT THE STUDENT DUST COUNTER DOES, IT'S A MICRO METEORITE 347 00:17:19,339 --> 00:17:20,380 DETECTOR. 348 00:17:20,380 --> 00:17:23,909 IT COUNT THROUGHOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 349 00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:28,409 THE DUST COUNTER ALONG THE WAY THAT NEW HORIZONS IS TAKING TO 350 00:17:28,409 --> 00:17:32,809 GET TO PLUTO IS DETECTING LITTLE IMPACTS OF THESE TINY GRAINS. 351 00:17:32,809 --> 00:17:35,090 AND WHAT THIS DOES IS HELP US TO UNDERSTAND THE DISTRIBUTION OF 352 00:17:35,090 --> 00:17:38,109 THIS DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 353 00:17:38,109 --> 00:17:42,149 ALL THE SENSORS EXCEPT TWO ARE FACING THE RAM DIRECTION OR 354 00:17:42,149 --> 00:17:44,619 ROUGHLY ON THE WINDSHIELD OF NEW HORIZONS. 355 00:17:44,619 --> 00:17:49,369 TINY PIECES OF DUST ARE ABOUT A FRACTION OF THE SIZE OF A HUMAN 356 00:17:49,369 --> 00:17:52,750 HAIR WHILE THE INSTRUMENT IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PIZZA BOX. 357 00:17:52,750 --> 00:17:57,059 SO THERE'S NO DANGER OF IT RUNNING OUT OF SPACE TO COLLECT 358 00:17:57,059 --> 00:17:58,059 IT. 359 00:17:58,059 --> 00:18:00,820 SO THE STUDENT DUST COUNTER WAS MADE BY STUDENTS BUT HAD TO 360 00:18:00,820 --> 00:18:04,210 FULFILL ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT NASA NEEDS TO BE ON A 361 00:18:04,210 --> 00:18:05,210 MISSION. 362 00:18:05,210 --> 00:18:07,090 THAT MEANS THAT IT IS A REAL INSTRUMENT AND DOING REAL 363 00:18:07,090 --> 00:18:11,580 SCIENCE ABOARD NEW HORIZONS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER INSTRUMENT. 364 00:18:11,580 --> 00:18:15,519 SO FAR, AS OF OCTOBER, 2010, IN FACT, IT BECAME THE FARTHEST 365 00:18:15,519 --> 00:18:19,989 REACHING DUST DETECTOR, STUDENT BUILT OR NOT, AND SO EVERY DAY 366 00:18:19,989 --> 00:18:23,030 IT'S CONTINUING TO BREAK THAT RECORD AND COLLECT NEW DATA. 367 00:18:23,030 --> 00:18:26,080 WE'VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE TO REFINE OUR MODEL OF THE SOLAR 368 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,850 SYSTEM DUST DISTRIBUTION BECAUSE OF THIS INSTRUMENT. 369 00:18:28,850 --> 00:18:31,169 THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. 370 00:18:31,169 --> 00:18:34,389 THERE'S NO OTHER INSTRUMENT LIKE IT. 371 00:18:34,389 --> 00:18:36,350 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN SO EXCITED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THIS. 372 00:18:36,350 --> 00:18:37,629 I KNOW PERSONALLY I WAS. 373 00:18:37,629 --> 00:18:41,370 THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR A GRAD STUDENT TO 374 00:18:41,370 --> 00:18:45,769 BE ABLE TO OPERATE AND PRETTY MUCH RUN THE SHOW FOR AN 375 00:18:45,769 --> 00:18:48,299 INSTRUMENT THAT'S ABOARD A NASA MISSION. 376 00:18:48,299 --> 00:18:51,340 A LOT OF THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE WORKED ON THIS HAVE GONE ON TO 377 00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:53,429 GREAT CAREERS IN SPACE SCIENCE. 378 00:18:53,429 --> 00:18:58,690 MY NAMY'S JAMIE, AND I'M A PLUTO-FILE BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT 379 00:18:58,690 --> 00:19:06,159 TO LEARN ABOUT A WHOLE NEW CLASS OF OBJECTS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 380 00:19:06,159 --> 00:19:10,251 >> NOW JUST AS JAMIE SHOWED PLUTO TIME ON PLUTO, LET'S LOOK 381 00:19:10,251 --> 00:19:23,779 AT YOUR VIEWS OF PLUTO TIME HERE ON EARTH. 382 00:19:23,779 --> 00:19:36,559 \M\M >> KEEP SENDING THOSE IMAGES IN 383 00:19:36,559 --> 00:19:39,240 AND DON'T FORGET, YOU CAN GET THE LATEST IMAGES, SCIENCE 384 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,520 FINDINGS, AND UPDATES HERE ON NASA TELEVISION OVER THE NEXT 385 00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:43,789 SEVERAL DAYS. 386 00:19:43,789 --> 00:19:47,570 AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION VIA TWITTER, FACEBOOK, AND OTHER 387 00:19:47,570 --> 00:19:51,399 SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORIC JULY 14th 388 00:19:51,399 --> 00:19:52,399 FLY-BY. 389 00:19:52,399 --> 00:19:56,999 YES, SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS AT #PLUTOFLYBY. 390 00:19:56,999 --> 00:20:06,340 AND THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.NASA.GOV/NEWHORIZONS. 391 00:20:06,340 --> 00:20:08,729 >> THAT'S THE LATEST FROM NASA'S NEW HORIZONS MISSION ON PLUTO'S 392 00:20:08,729 --> 00:20:09,729 DOORSTEP. 393 00:20:09,729 --> 00:20:13,249 TWO DAYS AND JUST OVER A MILLION MILES UNTIL NEW HORIZONS MAKE 394 00:20:13,249 --> 00:20:15,169 EXPLORATION HISTORY. 395 00:20:15,169 --> 00:20:18,470 OUR OWN COUNTDOWN TO PLUTO HAS WOUND DOWN. 396 00:20:18,470 --> 00:20:21,910 STAY TUNED TO NASA TV AND THE WEB FOR SPECIAL COVERAGE OF THE 397 00:20:21,910 --> 00:20:23,740 PLUTO FLY-BY ACTIVITY. 398 00:20:23,740 --> 00:20:25,799 YOU READY FOR THE RIDE? 399 00:20:25,799 --> 00:20:26,799 >> I'M READY. 400 00:20:26,799 --> 00:20:27,799 >> I'M MIKE BUCKLEY. 401 00:20:27,799 --> 00:20:28,799 >> I'M DWAYNE BROWN.