1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:05,180 >>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE JOHN'S HOPKINS APPLIED 2 00:00:05,180 --> 00:00:11,370 PHYSICS LABORATORY. 3 00:00:11,370 --> 00:00:19,420 JOINING ME ON STAGE IS ASTRONAUT AND ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR ALAN 4 00:00:19,420 --> 00:00:26,970 STERN WHO IS THE PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR IN BOLDER COLORADO 5 00:00:26,970 --> 00:00:30,689 AND ALEX BOWMAN MISSION OPERATIONS OFFICER AT JOHN'S 6 00:00:30,689 --> 00:00:36,430 HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY. 7 00:00:36,430 --> 00:00:43,659 [ APPLAUSE ] >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLUTO 8 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:58,050 AS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. 3, 2, 1. 9 00:00:58,050 --> 00:01:06,440 [ APPLAUSE ] AND NOW WE HAVE REMARKS FROM DR. 10 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:10,170 JOHN. 11 00:01:10,170 --> 00:01:11,760 >> IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE VOYAGE. 12 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:17,490 I KNOW MANY OF YOU THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING BUT 13 00:01:17,490 --> 00:01:22,590 WHAT IT CALL COMES DOWN TO IS AN ENORMOUS TEAM OF PEOPLE. 14 00:01:22,590 --> 00:01:25,580 LEAD BY ALLEN STERN, THE PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR. 15 00:01:25,580 --> 00:01:32,210 A BIG TEAM HERE AT THE JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LAB, 16 00:01:32,210 --> 00:01:35,330 UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, THE HISSELF GOES ON AND ON. 17 00:01:35,330 --> 00:01:38,880 HUNDREDS OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS, PEOPLE 18 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:43,050 SEWING BLANKETS TO BE ABLE TO PREPARE THIS WONDERFUL TREPID 19 00:01:43,050 --> 00:01:44,050 EXPLORER. 20 00:01:44,050 --> 00:01:49,550 THE FIRST TO VISIT PLUTO AND TO FLY ON BEYOND. 21 00:01:49,550 --> 00:01:51,810 THIS IS TRUE EXPLORATION. 22 00:01:51,810 --> 00:01:56,930 I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE ALL HERE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT AND THIS†-- IT 23 00:01:56,930 --> 00:02:03,990 DISAPPEARED†-- THAT VIEW IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY, MANY REWARDS 24 00:02:03,990 --> 00:02:07,500 THAT THE TEAM WILL GET ESPECIALLY SINCE PLUTO DIDN'T 25 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:11,910 TURN OUT TO BE A RELEVENTLY FEATURELESS PLANET WITH NITROGEN 26 00:02:11,910 --> 00:02:15,459 FOGGY ATMOSPHERE AND WE'RE SCRATCHING OUR HEADS THINKING 27 00:02:15,459 --> 00:02:17,760 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THAT? 28 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,720 PLUTO HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A COMPLEX AND INTERESTING WORLD. 29 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,970 OF COURSE IT WOULD BE BUT THAT WAS NEVER A CERTAINTY. 30 00:02:25,970 --> 00:02:29,660 BUT NOW FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE KNOW THAT. 31 00:02:29,660 --> 00:02:34,300 AND WITH THAT, FOR HIS FIRST IMPRESSION, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT 32 00:02:34,300 --> 00:02:36,060 OVER TO ALAN STERN. 33 00:02:36,060 --> 00:02:38,299 >> THANK YOU. 34 00:02:38,299 --> 00:02:44,940 [ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, I WANT TO THANK JOHN 35 00:02:44,940 --> 00:02:48,210 FOR HIS REMARKS AND THANK NASA FOR MAKING THIS ALL POSSIBLE. 36 00:02:48,210 --> 00:02:51,240 HOW ABOUT THAT? 37 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:58,650 [ APPLAUSE ] >> 50 YEARS AGO TODAY THE UNITED 38 00:02:58,650 --> 00:03:02,920 STATES WAS EMBARKING AT THE BEGINNING OF AN ERA OF 39 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,290 EXPLORATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER IN 40 00:03:06,290 --> 00:03:09,010 HISTORY. 50 YEARS AGO TODAY THE FIRST 41 00:03:09,010 --> 00:03:12,530 SPACECRAFT FLEW BY MARS. 42 00:03:12,530 --> 00:03:15,510 AND I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT ON THAT 50th ANNIVERSARY WE 43 00:03:15,510 --> 00:03:21,380 COMPLETE IT WITH THE EXPLORATION OF PLUTO. 44 00:03:21,380 --> 00:03:25,560 A BIG TEAM OF PEOPLE WORKED 15 YEARS TO DO THIS. 45 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,520 THEY WORKED UNDER THE GUN FOR TIME. 46 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:36,110 THEY BROKE RECORDS FOR LOW COST OUTER PLANET EXPLORATION. 47 00:03:36,110 --> 00:03:38,920 THEY DID SOME AMAZING FEATS AND WE SAW ONE OF THEM JUST LAST 48 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:44,860 WEEKEND IN TERMS OF THAT MISSION OPERATION RESCUE OF THIS FLY BY 49 00:03:44,860 --> 00:03:49,090 THAT PRODUCES IMAGES JUST LIKE THE ONE YOU SAW AND MANY MORE 50 00:03:49,090 --> 00:03:54,160 RAINING TO THE GROUND BEGINNING TOMORROW BUT STAY TUNED. 51 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,239 STAY TUNED BECAUSE OUR SPACECRAFT IS NOT IN 52 00:03:56,239 --> 00:03:57,560 COMMUNICATION WITH THE EARTH. 53 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:02,180 WE PROGRAMMED IT TO BE SPENDING IT'S TIME TAKING IMPORTANT DATA 54 00:04:02,180 --> 00:04:06,099 SETS THAT IT CAN ONLY TAKE TODAY. 55 00:04:06,099 --> 00:04:09,140 AND OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF ABOUT 12 OR 13 HOURS THE 56 00:04:09,140 --> 00:04:12,819 SPACECRAFT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE THAT DATA AND THEN IT WILL 57 00:04:12,819 --> 00:04:16,250 TRANSMIT A MESSAGE BACK TO THE EARTH FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AT 58 00:04:16,250 --> 00:04:17,250 9:00†P.M. 59 00:04:17,250 --> 00:04:21,229 EASTERN TIME WHICH WE'LL FIND OUT HOW IT'S DOING. 60 00:04:21,229 --> 00:04:24,120 WHETHER IT SURVIVED THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE PLUTO SYSTEM AND 61 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,860 HOPEFULLY IT DID AND WE'RE COUNTING ON THAT BUT THERE'S A 62 00:04:27,860 --> 00:04:31,449 LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA BECAUSE THIS IS TRUE EXPLORATION. 63 00:04:31,449 --> 00:04:34,979 NEW HORIZONS IS FLYING INTO THE UNKNOWN. 64 00:04:34,979 --> 00:04:39,580 AND THEN TOMORROW MORNING, WE SHOULD SEE THE BEGINNING OF A 16 65 00:04:39,580 --> 00:04:42,160 MONTH DATA WATERFALL. 66 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,539 YOU'LL BE SEEING MORE AND MORE ABOUT PLUTO BEGINNING TOMORROW. 67 00:04:45,539 --> 00:04:51,479 BUT IF WE CAN PUT THAT IMAGE UP WHICH IS NOW THE BEST IMAGE. 68 00:04:51,479 --> 00:04:55,800 IT HAS A RESOLUTION OF ABOUT 4 KILOMETERS PER PIXEL WHICH IS 69 00:04:55,800 --> 00:05:00,240 1,000 TIMES BETTER THAN WE COULD DO EVEN WITH THE BIGGEST AND 70 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:05,240 BADDEST GUN TELESCOPE, THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE 3 BILLION 71 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,320 MILES AWAY. 72 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,770 NEW HORIZONS TOOK THAT IMAGE YESTERDAY. 73 00:05:09,770 --> 00:05:12,039 DOWN LINKED IT TO THE GROUND. 74 00:05:12,039 --> 00:05:16,410 THE BITS FLEW AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT FOR 4.5 HOURS. 75 00:05:16,410 --> 00:05:20,770 RECEIVED AT THE NETWORK AND TRANSMITTED HERE AND THE IMAGE 76 00:05:20,770 --> 00:05:23,099 WAS OPENED THIS MORNING. 77 00:05:23,099 --> 00:05:31,369 HOW ABOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL PLANET. 78 00:05:31,369 --> 00:05:38,909 [ APPLAUSE ] NOW I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR 79 00:05:38,909 --> 00:05:41,740 MISSION OPERATIONS MANAGER. 80 00:05:41,740 --> 00:05:44,039 >> DR. 81 00:05:44,039 --> 00:05:48,120 BOWMAN HAS BEEN LEADING THIS MISSION OPERATION FROM THE 82 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:53,099 TIME WE WROTE THE PROPOSAL TO WIN THIS PROJECT ALL THE WAY 83 00:05:53,099 --> 00:05:57,619 THROUGH DEVELOPMENT, THROUGH LAUNCH AND THROUGH AN EPIC 3 84 00:05:57,619 --> 00:06:10,769 BILLION MILE JOURNEY ACROSS THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 85 00:06:10,769 --> 00:06:13,819 >> WHAT AN ABSOLUTE HONOR IT IS TO BE HERE. 86 00:06:13,819 --> 00:06:20,620 TO BE STANDING HERE AND WAITING FOR THOSE. 87 00:06:20,620 --> 00:06:30,349 I'M THANKFUL THAT NASA ALLOWED US TO BUILD THIS HERE AT THE 88 00:06:30,349 --> 00:06:33,059 APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY. 89 00:06:33,059 --> 00:06:37,889 WE HAVE A LARGE TEAM AND I HAPPEN TO BE THE MISSION 90 00:06:37,889 --> 00:06:43,889 OPERATIONS MANAGER BUT IN NO WAY AM I TAKING THE CREDIT FOR THIS 91 00:06:43,889 --> 00:06:44,979 INCREDIBLE JOURNEY. 92 00:06:44,979 --> 00:06:48,050 I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY A TEAM EFFORT. 93 00:06:48,050 --> 00:06:57,330 WE HAD TO EACH DO OUR PART AND BE THE EXPERTS IN OUR FIELD AND 94 00:06:57,330 --> 00:07:03,240 WHEN I STAND BACK THIS MORNING AND I JUST THINK†-- I HAVE TO 95 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,229 PINCH MYSELF. 96 00:07:05,229 --> 00:07:07,879 LOOK WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED. 97 00:07:07,879 --> 00:07:09,639 IT'S TRULY AMAZING. 98 00:07:09,639 --> 00:07:16,719 BUT HUMAN KIND CAN GO OUT AND EXPLORE THESE WORLDS AND TO SEE 99 00:07:16,719 --> 00:07:23,659 MUY TOE BE REVEALED JUST BEFORE OUR EYES, IT'S JUST FANTASTIC. 100 00:07:23,659 --> 00:07:27,840 AND I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WE GET THESE IMAGES DOWN STARTING EARLY 101 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:35,240 TOMORROW MORNING AND THIS SPACECRAFT IS HEALTHY AND HAS 102 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,060 RECORDED ALL OF THAT FANTASTIC DATA. 103 00:07:38,060 --> 00:07:40,279 SO THANK YOU AGAIN. 104 00:07:40,279 --> 00:07:44,120 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 105 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:51,219 [ APPLAUSE ] >> OKAY. 106 00:07:51,219 --> 00:07:54,789 IT'S BEEN A GREAT MORNING AND OBVIOUSLY WE STILL†-- THE STORY 107 00:07:54,789 --> 00:07:55,789 IS NOT OVER YET. 108 00:07:55,789 --> 00:07:57,490 YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT THIS EVENING. 109 00:07:57,490 --> 00:08:01,080 BUT BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS I'M GOING TO TOSS THIS 110 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:02,479 TO ALAN. 111 00:08:02,479 --> 00:08:05,919 ALAN, IF YOU CAN SET UP, WE HAVE VIDEO OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 112 00:08:05,919 --> 00:08:10,179 THIS MORNING WITH THE SCIENCE TEAM I BELIEVE. 113 00:08:10,179 --> 00:08:11,179 >> SURE. 114 00:08:11,179 --> 00:08:15,240 JOHN AND I WERE OVER AT THE BUILDING HERE ON THE APL CAMPUS 115 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:16,780 WHERE THE SCIENCE TEAM IS WORKING. 116 00:08:16,780 --> 00:08:20,710 THE SCIENCE TEAM ASSEMBLED AT 5:45 THIS MORNING FOR A CHANCE 117 00:08:20,710 --> 00:08:24,580 TO SEE THAT IMAGE OF PLUTO AND TO REACT TO IT AND HAVE A LITTLE 118 00:08:24,580 --> 00:08:27,550 BIT OF A SCIENTIFIC DISCUSSION AND WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A 119 00:08:27,550 --> 00:08:34,409 PEAK INTO IT IF WE CAN QUEUE IT UP. 120 00:08:34,409 --> 00:08:45,650 [ APPLAUSE ] WOW! 121 00:08:45,650 --> 00:09:03,900 >> A LITTLE BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK BUT IT'S NOT BEHIND THE 122 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:04,900 SCENES ANYMORE. 123 00:09:04,900 --> 00:09:08,280 YOU'VE SEEN IT ON THIS SCREEN AND IT'S GOING VIRAL AROUND THE 124 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,250 WORLD ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND PROBABLY EVERY OTHER SOCIAL 125 00:09:11,250 --> 00:09:13,330 MEDIA AS WELL. 126 00:09:13,330 --> 00:09:15,950 AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR 127 00:09:15,950 --> 00:09:18,810 QUESTIONS AS THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS BIG TEAM AND 128 00:09:18,810 --> 00:09:20,090 REPRESENTATIVE OF NASA. 129 00:09:20,090 --> 00:09:21,090 >> EXCELLENT. 130 00:09:21,090 --> 00:09:22,090 CONGRATULATIONS. 131 00:09:22,090 --> 00:09:27,080 >> WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP FOR QUESTIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, OH 132 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,080 MY GOODNESS. 133 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:29,320 THE NUMBERS ARE ASTOUNDING. 134 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:33,580 THE WORLD LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS†-- THEY'RE JUST TOTALLY 135 00:09:33,580 --> 00:09:36,070 EXCITED AND THE STORY IS NOT OVER YET. 136 00:09:36,070 --> 00:09:41,150 SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO HERE IS RAISE YOUR HAND, THE MEDIA, 137 00:09:41,150 --> 00:09:42,150 WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU. 138 00:09:42,150 --> 00:09:44,320 WE'LL GO TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET AS 139 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,440 MANY QUESTIONS IN AS POSSIBLE. 140 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:49,680 SO RAISE THEM HIGH. 141 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:52,330 LAST TIME I STAYED OVER HERE A LOT OF TIME SO LET ME START OUT 142 00:09:52,330 --> 00:09:53,400 WITH JOE. 143 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:55,870 YOUR NAME AND AFFILIATION. 144 00:09:55,870 --> 00:09:58,270 >> WASHINGTON POST, TELL US ABOUT PLUTO. 145 00:09:58,270 --> 00:10:00,160 WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT THERE? 146 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,050 ARE THERE MOUNTAINS? 147 00:10:02,050 --> 00:10:03,050 CRATERS? 148 00:10:03,050 --> 00:10:04,050 TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE? 149 00:10:04,050 --> 00:10:05,050 >> SURE. 150 00:10:05,050 --> 00:10:08,690 CAN WE QUEUE THAT IMAGE BACK UP? 151 00:10:08,690 --> 00:10:11,980 OKAY. 152 00:10:11,980 --> 00:10:18,940 SO THIS IMAGE IS ORIENTED WITH PLUTO'S†-- NORTH TO THE TOP SO 153 00:10:18,940 --> 00:10:22,730 THE DARK REGIONS THAT YOU SEE ARE NEAR PLUTO'S EQUATOR. 154 00:10:22,730 --> 00:10:26,290 THE PLANET IS ABOUT 1500 MILE ACROSS TO GIVE YOU A SCALE. 155 00:10:26,290 --> 00:10:31,300 IT HAS A THIN NITROGEN ATMOSPHERE WHICH YOU CAN'T SEE 156 00:10:31,300 --> 00:10:36,030 IN THIS IMAGE BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR JUST LIKE LOOKING THROUGH OTHER 157 00:10:36,030 --> 00:10:39,900 ATMOSPHERES BUT WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS IMAGE AND IT'S POSSIBLE 158 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:42,660 FOR THE FOLKS BEHIND THE SCENES TO ACTUALLY JUST MAKE IT A 159 00:10:42,660 --> 00:10:46,160 LARGER FRACTION OF THE SCREEN AND YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT, YOU 160 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,970 CAN SEE REGIONS OF VARIOUS SIGNS OF BRIGHTNESS. 161 00:10:48,970 --> 00:10:54,840 DARK NEAR THE EQUATOR AND BRIGHT REGIONS TO THE NORTH OF THAT. 162 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,590 BROAD INTERMEDIATE ZONES OVER THE POLE. 163 00:10:58,590 --> 00:11:02,690 WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT ON THE SURFACE WE SEE THE HISTORY OF 164 00:11:02,690 --> 00:11:03,830 IMPACT. 165 00:11:03,830 --> 00:11:06,730 WE SEE A HISTORY OF SURFACE ACTIVITY IN TERMS OF SOME 166 00:11:06,730 --> 00:11:11,330 FEATURES THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY INDICATING INTERNAL 167 00:11:11,330 --> 00:11:15,070 ACTIVITY IN THE PLANET AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST OR MAYBE EVEN 168 00:11:15,070 --> 00:11:19,680 IN IT'S PRESENCE AND WHAT WE ALSO KNOW IS THAT THIS IS 169 00:11:19,680 --> 00:11:24,990 CLEARLY A WORLD WHERE GEOLOGY AND ATMOSPHERE CLIMATOLOGY PLAY 170 00:11:24,990 --> 00:11:26,190 A ROLE. 171 00:11:26,190 --> 00:11:28,650 IT HAS STRONG ATMOSPHERIC CYCLES. 172 00:11:28,650 --> 00:11:30,890 IT SNOWS ON THE SURFACE. 173 00:11:30,890 --> 00:11:36,050 THEY GO BACK INTO THE ATMOSPHERE EACH 248 YEAR ORBIT. 174 00:11:36,050 --> 00:11:40,130 THEY HAVE BEEN OBSERVED TO MOVE AROUND ON THE SURFACE SEEN FROM 175 00:11:40,130 --> 00:11:42,970 3 BILLION MILES AWAY. 176 00:11:42,970 --> 00:11:46,070 WE LOOK AT THAT IMAGE AND FRANKLY IF YOU'RE A SCIENTIST 177 00:11:46,070 --> 00:11:48,770 LIKE I AM, YOU WANT TO SEE ALL THE SUPPORTING DATA. 178 00:11:48,770 --> 00:11:53,510 YOU WANT TO SEE THE TYPOGRAPHY SO WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT'S HIGH 179 00:11:53,510 --> 00:11:55,330 AND WHAT'S LOW. 180 00:11:55,330 --> 00:12:00,660 YOU WANT TO SEE COLOR DATA. 181 00:12:00,660 --> 00:12:05,120 YOU WANT TO SEE THE COMPOSITION SO WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT THE 182 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,070 TIRGET AREAS ARE MADE FROM. 183 00:12:07,070 --> 00:12:11,150 YOU WANT TO SEE THE THERMAL MASS SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE 184 00:12:11,150 --> 00:12:15,290 BRIGHTEST AREAS AND COLDEST AREAS FOR EXAMPLE WHERE THE SNOW 185 00:12:15,290 --> 00:12:18,150 PLAYED IT OUT OR IS IT SOME OTHER STORY PLUTO IS TRYING TO 186 00:12:18,150 --> 00:12:19,150 TELL US. 187 00:12:19,150 --> 00:12:22,140 YOU ALSO WANT TO SEE HIGHER RESOLUTION IMAGES. 188 00:12:22,140 --> 00:12:26,410 TOMORROW WE'LL SHOW YOU IMAGERY WITH TEN TIMES THE RESOLUTION OF 189 00:12:26,410 --> 00:12:29,840 THAT IMAGE AND AS THE DATA CONTINUES TO COME TO THE GROUND 190 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,370 WE'LL HAVE IMAGES THAT ARE BETTER STILL. 191 00:12:32,370 --> 00:12:34,470 DRAMATICALLY BETTER STILL. 192 00:12:34,470 --> 00:12:39,120 A LOT MORE WITH THE DATA COMING DOWN AND WE COULDN'T BE HAPPIER 193 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,250 ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SPACECRAFT AND FRANKLY ABOUT THE 194 00:12:42,250 --> 00:12:44,709 PERFORMANCE OF THE PLUTO SYSTEM. 195 00:12:44,709 --> 00:12:46,540 >> OTHER QUESTIONS? 196 00:12:46,540 --> 00:12:48,860 >> I'M WITH THE PLANETARY SOCIETY. 197 00:12:48,860 --> 00:12:51,890 I NOTICE THERE'S ALSO COLOR INFORMATION IN THAT PICTURE. 198 00:12:51,890 --> 00:12:54,360 I'M WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COLOR 199 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:59,170 DATA THAT YOU GOT AND IF YOU SEE ANY EVIDENCE FOR CLOUDS OR 200 00:12:59,170 --> 00:13:01,760 ANYTHING IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE IMAGES. 201 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:02,760 >> SURE. 202 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:03,760 ABSOLUTELY. 203 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:04,760 CAN WE PUT UP THE COLOR IMAGE? 204 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,779 IS THAT POSSIBLE? 205 00:13:07,779 --> 00:13:13,250 >> THERE'S ANOTHER IMAGE I'M LOOKING FOR AND IF THEY DON'T 206 00:13:13,250 --> 00:13:17,410 HAVE IT BACKSTAGE I'M NOT ABLE TO SHOW IT TO YOU. 207 00:13:17,410 --> 00:13:19,220 OKAY. 208 00:13:19,220 --> 00:13:22,510 SO ON THE MONITOR IT'S A LITTLE HARD FOR ME TO SEE BUT WE KNOW 209 00:13:22,510 --> 00:13:26,300 THAT PLUTO HAS COLOR VARIATIONS ACROSS THE SURFACE. 210 00:13:26,300 --> 00:13:29,010 WHEN WE STRETCH THOSE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT OUR TEAM IS 211 00:13:29,010 --> 00:13:32,790 WORKING ON RIGHT NOW WE'LL HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON HOW STRONG 212 00:13:32,790 --> 00:13:35,560 THOSE VARIATIONS ARE AND WE EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU 213 00:13:35,560 --> 00:13:37,080 SOME OF THAT LATER IN THE DAY. 214 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:42,220 I HAVE LOOKED AT THAT IMAGE JUST VERY BRIEFLY WHEN WE WERE FIRST 215 00:13:42,220 --> 00:13:46,260 OVER IN THE SCIENCE WORK AREA AND I WAS LOOKING FOR EVIDENCE 216 00:13:46,260 --> 00:13:50,490 OF PLUMES AND ATMOSPHERIC HAZING AND I COULDN'T SEE THEM. 217 00:13:50,490 --> 00:13:52,030 THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE NOT THERE. 218 00:13:52,030 --> 00:13:57,100 A REAL PROPER ANALYSIS OF IT WILL REQUIRE SOME TIME AND MAYBE 219 00:13:57,100 --> 00:14:05,240 HIGHER RESOLUTION IMAGES. 220 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,080 >> FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS VERY EXCITING FOR EVERYBODY I'M SURE. 221 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:13,140 BUT I AM WONDERING, SPECIFICALLY FOR ALICE, HOW ARE YOU FEELING 222 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:20,170 RIGHT NOW KNOWING THAT YOUR CRAFT IS OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, 223 00:14:20,170 --> 00:14:22,660 FLYING BY THE PLUTO SYSTEM AND YOU WON'T HEAR FROM IT FOR 224 00:14:22,660 --> 00:14:23,880 AWHILE. 225 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:25,100 THANKS. 226 00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:28,850 >> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION. 227 00:14:28,850 --> 00:14:33,310 I HAVEN'T HAD VERY MUCH SLEEP. 228 00:14:33,310 --> 00:14:38,020 AND YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE SPACECRAFT AS BEING A 229 00:14:38,020 --> 00:14:40,900 CHILD, A BABY, A TEENAGER. 230 00:14:40,900 --> 00:14:45,940 AND WE LOST SIGNAL AS PLANNED LAST NIGHT AT 11:17 AND IT WAS 231 00:14:45,940 --> 00:14:49,900 ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ANYBODY ON THE OPERATIONS TEAM COULD DO. 232 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:54,530 IT WAS JUST TO TRUST THAT WE HAD PREPARED IT WELL TO SET OFF ON 233 00:14:54,530 --> 00:14:58,450 ITS JOURNEY ON ITS OWN AND DO WHAT IT NEEDED TO DO. 234 00:14:58,450 --> 00:15:00,810 BUT, YEAH. 235 00:15:00,810 --> 00:15:05,180 THERE WERE A LOT OF US IN THE OP CENTER EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW THAT 236 00:15:05,180 --> 00:15:08,640 SPACECRAFT WASN'T GOING TO BE TALKING TO US BUT WE WERE THERE. 237 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:14,900 WE WANTED TO BE WITH IT AS IT WENT THROUGH THIS JOURNEY AND I 238 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:17,930 AM FEELING A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS JUST LIKE YOU DO WHEN YOU SET 239 00:15:17,930 --> 00:15:22,070 YOUR CHILD OFF BUT I HAVE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE THAT IT'S 240 00:15:22,070 --> 00:15:25,060 GOING TO DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO TO COLLECT THAT SCIENCE AND IT'S 241 00:15:25,060 --> 00:15:29,140 GOING TO TURN AROUND AND SEND US THAT BURST OF DATA AND TELL US 242 00:15:29,140 --> 00:15:30,430 THAT IT'S OKAY. 243 00:15:30,430 --> 00:15:35,080 I GUESS IT'S A MIX OF FEELING NERVOUS AND PROUD AT THE SAME 244 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:36,430 TIME. 245 00:15:36,430 --> 00:15:43,660 >> OKAY IF YOU CAN PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND HIGH, A LOT OF FOLKS 246 00:15:43,660 --> 00:15:45,880 HERE. 247 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:50,339 GO AHEAD. 248 00:15:50,339 --> 00:15:52,830 >> I HAVE A QUESTION FROM ONE OF OUR LISTENERS. 249 00:15:52,830 --> 00:15:56,690 HOW LONG CAN NEW HORIZONS CONTINUE TO TRANSMIT BEFORE IT'S 250 00:15:56,690 --> 00:15:58,040 POWER EXPIRES? 251 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,150 >> I'LL TAKE A CRACK AT THAT? 252 00:16:01,150 --> 00:16:05,090 NEW HORIZONS IS POWERED BY RTG. 253 00:16:05,090 --> 00:16:17,830 THAT STANDS FOR RADIO ISOSCOPE†THERMO GENERATOR. 254 00:16:17,830 --> 00:16:19,100 THAT'S WHAT WE ALL USE. 255 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:21,280 THAT'S A TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED JOINTLY BY NASA AND THE 256 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:25,600 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE ACTUAL POWER SOURCE INSIDE THE 257 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:31,060 RTG IS THE ELEMENT PLUTONIUM WHICH WAS NAMED FOR THE PLANET 258 00:16:31,060 --> 00:16:33,460 PLUTO IN THE 1930s. 259 00:16:33,460 --> 00:16:37,480 SO WE SENT A LITTLE PLUTONIUM BACK TO PLUTO. 260 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:43,270 THAT PRODUCES HEAT AND FROM THE HEAT THERMO COUPLES TURN THAT 261 00:16:43,270 --> 00:16:46,530 INTO POWER FOR THE SPACECRAFT. 262 00:16:46,530 --> 00:16:54,980 IT WAS PRODUCING ABOUT 250 WATTS BUT THAT DECLINES EVERY YEAR AS 263 00:16:54,980 --> 00:17:00,360 THE PLUTONIUM DECAYS AND CURRENTLY PRODUCING ABOUT 202 264 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:02,580 WATTS TO POWER THE SPACECRAFT AND ALL THE INSTRUMENTS. 265 00:17:02,580 --> 00:17:07,789 BUT EVERY YEAR 3 LESS WATTS AND AS THAT DECLINES EVENTUALLY 266 00:17:07,789 --> 00:17:10,230 WE'LL GET TO A POINT WHERE WE CAN'T OPERATE THE PRIMARY 267 00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:13,470 SPACECRAFT COMPUTER AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. 268 00:17:13,470 --> 00:17:17,970 WE ESTIMATED THAT THAT POINT WILL BE REACHED SOMETIME IN THE 269 00:17:17,970 --> 00:17:19,779 MID 2030s. 270 00:17:19,779 --> 00:17:21,819 ROUGHLY 20 YEARS FROM NOW. 271 00:17:21,819 --> 00:17:25,269 AT THAT POINT THE SPACECRAFT WILL BE 100 ASTRONO MIRKS CAL 272 00:17:25,269 --> 00:17:29,220 †-- FROM THE SUN. 273 00:17:29,220 --> 00:17:39,809 IT COULD DO A FLY BALL OF THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF PLANETS LIKE 274 00:17:39,809 --> 00:17:44,029 MUY TOE AND THEN WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GO FURTHER TO OBSERVE 275 00:17:44,029 --> 00:17:49,710 THE DEEP REACHES LIKE VOYAGER DID AND DO THAT WITH MUCH MORE 276 00:17:49,710 --> 00:17:54,710 SENSITIVE INSTRUMENTS ABOARD THIS SPACECRAFT AND HOPEFULLY 277 00:17:54,710 --> 00:17:58,231 RETURN DATA THAT WILL REALLY ADD TO THE STOREHOUSE OF WHAT WE 278 00:17:58,231 --> 00:18:02,200 KNOW ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND POTENTIALLY 279 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:07,990 EVEN TO CROSS THAT INTERSTELLAR BOUNDARY WITH MUCH MORE MODERN 280 00:18:07,990 --> 00:18:12,420 INSTRUMENTATION. 281 00:18:12,420 --> 00:18:14,320 >> BEFORE YOU ASK THE QUESTION I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET TO AS 282 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,059 MANY MEDIA AS I CAN. 283 00:18:16,059 --> 00:18:19,440 IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT HERE AND JUST ASK ONE QUESTION. 284 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,970 DON'T TRY TO SNEAK A FOLLOW UP IN, OKAY? 285 00:18:21,970 --> 00:18:25,139 WE CAN GET TO AS MANY OF THESE FOLKS AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE 286 00:18:25,139 --> 00:18:26,139 DAY FOR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS. 287 00:18:26,139 --> 00:18:28,400 >> NAME AND AFFILIATION. 288 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:32,899 >> YEAH, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW WHEN THE DATA COMES IN IT WILL 289 00:18:32,899 --> 00:18:34,360 BE PRIORITIZED. 290 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:39,049 THERE'S A PRIORITIZATION BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SLOW, ALMOST 56K 291 00:18:39,049 --> 00:18:41,619 CONNECTION COMING BACK FROM PLUTO. 292 00:18:41,619 --> 00:18:44,950 HOW IS IT GOING PRIORITIZED AS IT COMES BACK IN OVER THE NEXT 293 00:18:44,950 --> 00:18:46,240 FEW MONTH? 294 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,760 S. >> WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY A 295 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,360 NUISANCE STORY. 296 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:56,330 LET ME START BY SAYING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS THE 297 00:18:56,330 --> 00:18:59,200 SPACECRAFT†-- WELL, FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS THE SPACECRAFT 298 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,710 IS GOING TO BE SENDING SOME OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY DATA BACK 299 00:19:01,710 --> 00:19:06,140 ON THE GROUND BUT THEN AROUND THE FIRST OF AUGUST WE'LL 300 00:19:06,140 --> 00:19:09,640 TRANSITION TO A MODE WHERE THE SPACECRAFT IS SENDING WHAT WE 301 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,850 CALL OUR LOW SPEED DATA SETS TO THE GROUND. 302 00:19:11,850 --> 00:19:14,529 NOT COMING TO THE GROUND AT A LOWER SPEED BUT TAKEN AND 303 00:19:14,529 --> 00:19:16,460 RECORDED AT A LOWER SPEED. 304 00:19:16,460 --> 00:19:21,139 THOSE ARE EASIER TO PLAN FOR. 305 00:19:21,139 --> 00:19:23,929 AND WE CHOSE THOSE TO COME TO THE GROUND FIRST TO GIVE ALICE 306 00:19:23,929 --> 00:19:28,490 AND HER TEAM A MUCH NEEDED BREAK FROM WHAT HAS BEEN A SIX MONTH 307 00:19:28,490 --> 00:19:32,230 HISTORIC ENCOUNTER OF SEVEN DAYS AROUND THE CLOCK OPERATIONS. 308 00:19:32,230 --> 00:19:34,499 SO WE WANTED TO GIVE THEM A BREAK AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING 309 00:19:34,499 --> 00:19:37,429 TO SEND THE LOW SPEED TO THE GROUND IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 310 00:19:37,429 --> 00:19:39,649 AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO CRANK IT BACK UP. 311 00:19:39,649 --> 00:19:42,590 WE'LL START THE PLANNING FOR THAT IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. 312 00:19:42,590 --> 00:19:47,241 WE HAVE AGREED WITH NASA A LONG TIME AGO WHICH DATA SETS FOR 313 00:19:47,241 --> 00:19:50,139 FIRST PRIORITY, SECOND PRIORITY AND THIRD PRIORITY AND WE'LL 314 00:19:50,139 --> 00:19:52,600 SEND THEM DOWN IN THAT ORDER. 315 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,369 INITIALLY WE'RE GOING TO SEND ALL THE DATA DOWN AS THE BROWSE 316 00:19:55,369 --> 00:20:00,830 DATA SET THAT'S COMPRESSED ON BOARD THE SPACECRAFT BY A FACTOR 317 00:20:00,830 --> 00:20:06,629 OF SEVERAL SO THAT WE CAN GET IT DOWN MUCH MORE QUICKLY AND THEN 318 00:20:06,629 --> 00:20:09,570 WE'LL GO BACK AND SEND EVERYTHING A SECOND TIME IN AN 319 00:20:09,570 --> 00:20:11,139 UNCOMPRESSED MANNER. 320 00:20:11,139 --> 00:20:16,570 THE ENTIRE PROCESS WILL TAKE A PERIOD OF 16 MONTHS SO WE EXPECT 321 00:20:16,570 --> 00:20:20,460 TO FINISH THE LAST OF THE DATA TRANSMIT IN OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER 322 00:20:20,460 --> 00:20:26,099 OF LAST YEAR. 323 00:20:26,099 --> 00:20:27,340 >> WHAT IS THE ACTUAL DATA RATE? 324 00:20:27,340 --> 00:20:30,320 I THINK 56K IS MUCH TOO HIGH. 325 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:36,690 >> YEAH WE WISH IT WAS 56K. 326 00:20:36,690 --> 00:20:37,809 >> WE CALL IT RATE STEPPING. 327 00:20:37,809 --> 00:20:43,649 SO AS THE SPACECRAFT IS VIEWED FROM THE GROUND AND GETS HIGHER 328 00:20:43,649 --> 00:20:50,429 IN THE SKY AND AS THAT INCREASES IN ELEVATION FOLLOWING THAT WE 329 00:20:50,429 --> 00:20:54,130 CAN INCREASE THE DATA RATE SO AT THE LOWEST RATE AT 10 DEGREE 330 00:20:54,130 --> 00:21:00,590 ELEVATION WE'RE AT ABOUT 1,000 BITS PER SECOND. 331 00:21:00,590 --> 00:21:04,740 NOW WHEN WE TRANSITION INTO A SPIN MODE WE CAN ACTUALLY GET 332 00:21:04,740 --> 00:21:05,860 HIGHER RATES. 333 00:21:05,860 --> 00:21:13,730 ON TOP OF THAT, THE MASS DATA RATE IS ABOUT 4,000 BITS PER 334 00:21:13,730 --> 00:21:16,679 SECOND DOWN LINK. 335 00:21:16,679 --> 00:21:19,549 >> WE'LL TAKE TWO QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL GO TO SOCIAL MEDIA 336 00:21:19,549 --> 00:21:23,249 WHICH NO SURPRISE IS EXPLODING WITH EXCITEMENT. 337 00:21:23,249 --> 00:21:28,720 SO THEN I'LL COME OVER HERE BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HIT THIS SIDE 338 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:29,770 YET. 339 00:21:29,770 --> 00:21:37,350 >> KEN CRAMER FOR NORTHEAST ASTRONOMY FORUM IN NEW YORK. 340 00:21:37,350 --> 00:21:39,340 I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE. 341 00:21:39,340 --> 00:21:46,149 THE QUESTION IS ABOUT THE CRATERING. 342 00:21:46,149 --> 00:21:49,799 LOOKS LIKE NIT IMAGES YOU RELEASED A DAY OR SO AGO WERE A 343 00:21:49,799 --> 00:21:57,009 LOT OF CRATERS AND THIS IMAGE THAT YOU JUST SHOWED HERE SHOWS 344 00:21:57,009 --> 00:21:58,289 MAYBE ONE CRATER. 345 00:21:58,289 --> 00:22:00,289 I WONDER IF THAT IS†-- IS THAT REAL? 346 00:22:00,289 --> 00:22:02,759 DO YOU SEE A LOT LESS CRATERS? 347 00:22:02,759 --> 00:22:03,820 AND WHY WOULD THAT BE? 348 00:22:03,820 --> 00:22:09,780 WHY IS THERE SUCH A DIFFERENCE? 349 00:22:09,780 --> 00:22:10,909 >> PLUTO AND SHARON LOOK DIFFERENT. 350 00:22:10,909 --> 00:22:13,840 WE'VE KNOWN THAT FROM THE EARTH BUT NOW WE CAN SEE HOW 351 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:23,489 DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT THEY ARE. 352 00:22:23,489 --> 00:22:26,960 MORE BATTERED SURFACE ON SHARON. 353 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,540 WE CAN PUT NUMBERS COUNTING THE CRATERS AS A FUNCTION OF THEIR 354 00:22:31,540 --> 00:22:32,679 SIZE. 355 00:22:32,679 --> 00:22:39,380 I HOPE THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE SURFACE UNITS ON 356 00:22:39,380 --> 00:22:41,270 PLUTO AND SHARON. 357 00:22:41,270 --> 00:22:46,190 AS TO WHY IT LOOKS YOUNGER EITHER IT'S INTERNAL ENGINE 358 00:22:46,190 --> 00:22:51,539 CONTINUES TO RUN AND THERE'S ACTIVE PROCESSES TAKING PLACE OR 359 00:22:51,539 --> 00:22:58,460 THOSE ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES ARE THEMSELVES COVERING UP THE 360 00:22:58,460 --> 00:23:01,100 GEOLOGY AND COVERING UP THE CRATER. 361 00:23:01,100 --> 00:23:06,490 WE'LL BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT IN THE COMPETITIONAL DATA AND OTHER 362 00:23:06,490 --> 00:23:10,940 DATA SETS THAT I MENTIONED BECAUSE WITH THOSE VARIOUS DATA 363 00:23:10,940 --> 00:23:14,669 SYSTEMS, YOU CAN REALLY READ THE WHOLE STORY AND IT'S AMBIGUOUS 364 00:23:14,669 --> 00:23:16,760 TODAY FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. 365 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:19,399 ONE WE JUST GOT THE DATA AND SECOND WE DON'T HAVE THE 366 00:23:19,399 --> 00:23:22,779 SUPPORTING DATA SETS TO REALLY UNRAVEL THE WHOLE STORY. 367 00:23:22,779 --> 00:23:25,309 SO STAY TUNED. 368 00:23:25,309 --> 00:23:28,460 >> LET'S TAKE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AND 369 00:23:28,460 --> 00:23:31,860 TWO QUESTIONS THAT ARE REOCCURRING WHAT'S GOING ON? 370 00:23:31,860 --> 00:23:33,870 I'M HEARING A LOT OF BUZZ ON THAT. 371 00:23:33,870 --> 00:23:34,940 >> THANK YOU. 372 00:23:34,940 --> 00:23:36,549 I APPRECIATE IT. 373 00:23:36,549 --> 00:23:38,840 NASA MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER AS WE MONITOR ALL THE 374 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:42,299 GREAT QUESTIONS FROM ALL THE FANS ON THE LINE WITH US. 375 00:23:42,299 --> 00:23:47,450 FIRST QUESTION IS DOES ANY OF THE SURFACE FEATURES ON PLUTO 376 00:23:47,450 --> 00:23:56,210 SUGGEST POSSIBLE TECTONICS? 377 00:23:56,210 --> 00:23:57,270 >> I'M NOT SURE. 378 00:23:57,270 --> 00:23:59,039 THAT'S AN HONEST ANSWER. 379 00:23:59,039 --> 00:24:01,190 I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO WORK WITH THE 380 00:24:01,190 --> 00:24:05,350 DATA AND LOOK AT IT CAREFULLY ON A COMPUTER VERSUS SEEING IT ON 381 00:24:05,350 --> 00:24:09,169 THE SCREEN FOR A FEW SECONDS OR ON THE SCREENS OVER IN THE 382 00:24:09,169 --> 00:24:12,179 SCIENCE ANALYSIS AREA FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS BUT WE'RE GOING TO 383 00:24:12,179 --> 00:24:16,360 HAVE A CHANCE TO DO THAT TODAY AND I THEY BY THE TIME THE 384 00:24:16,360 --> 00:24:20,000 EXPERTDS TAKE A LOOK WE CAN REPORT BACK TO YOU TOMORROW FOR 385 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:21,190 THE FIRST ANALYSIS. 386 00:24:21,190 --> 00:24:22,970 >> ONE MORE QUESTION, CHRIS. 387 00:24:22,970 --> 00:24:23,970 >> EXCELLENT. 388 00:24:23,970 --> 00:24:24,970 THANK YOU. 389 00:24:24,970 --> 00:24:26,590 HAS THE IS A IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING OUR YOUTH TO STUDY, 390 00:24:26,590 --> 00:24:31,039 THIS QUESTION COMES FROM ONE OF OUR YOUNGER FANS. 391 00:24:31,039 --> 00:24:34,039 MY 9-YEAR-OLD SON WANTS TO KNOW HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO BUILD 392 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:37,289 THE SPACECRAFT NEW HORIZONS? 393 00:24:37,289 --> 00:24:40,639 >> NEW HORIZONS WAS BUILT IN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AND TWO 394 00:24:40,639 --> 00:24:44,280 MONTHS BUT THAT INCLUDES THE DESIGN PHASE AS WELL AS THE 395 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:45,770 CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING. 396 00:24:45,770 --> 00:24:48,749 THE ENTIRE PROJECT FROM THE TIME THAT WE GOT AUTHORITY RECEIVED 397 00:24:48,749 --> 00:24:53,359 FROM NASA UNTIL WE LAUNCHED WAS 4 YEARS AND TWO MONTHS WHICH IS 398 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:57,249 PRETTY SHORT FOR OUTER PLANET MISSIONS AND EVEN PLANETARY 399 00:24:57,249 --> 00:25:00,070 MISSIONS IN GENERAL BUT WE WERE UNDER THE GUN TO MAKE THE 400 00:25:00,070 --> 00:25:05,750 JUPITER GRAVITY ASSIST LAUNCH WINDOW IN EARLY 2006 AND WE WERE 401 00:25:05,750 --> 00:25:06,750 ABLE TO DO THAT. 402 00:25:06,750 --> 00:25:10,120 AND AS A RESULT WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE ENCOUNTER TODAY. 403 00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:13,230 HAD WE NOT MADE THAT LAUNCH WINDOW WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO FLY 404 00:25:13,230 --> 00:25:18,200 ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AND NOT ENCOUNTERED PLUTO UNTIL 2019. 405 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:22,110 SO WE WERE VERY WELL AWARE DURING THIS PERIOD THAT WE WERE 406 00:25:22,110 --> 00:25:25,299 DESIGNING AND BUILDING NEW HORIZONS THAT THERE WAS A BIG 407 00:25:25,299 --> 00:25:29,809 INCENTIVE TO MAKE THAT LAUNCH WINDOW AND THE HOPKINS APPLIED 408 00:25:29,809 --> 00:25:34,149 PHYSICS LABORATORY TEAM AND CONTRACTOR TEAM, THOSE OF US ON 409 00:25:34,149 --> 00:25:37,820 SCIENCE AND SOUTHWEST RESEARCH RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYLOAD 410 00:25:37,820 --> 00:25:38,820 DEVELOPMENT. 411 00:25:38,820 --> 00:25:41,679 I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT. 412 00:25:41,679 --> 00:25:44,989 A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY SACRIFICED FAMILY TIME, NIGHTS 413 00:25:44,989 --> 00:25:46,070 AND WEEKENDS. 414 00:25:46,070 --> 00:25:50,070 A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK IT COULD BE DONE BUT THIS 415 00:25:50,070 --> 00:25:53,730 TEAM MANAGED TO DO IT AND THEY DESERVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF CREDIT. 416 00:25:53,730 --> 00:25:56,489 THEY NOT ONLY BUILT THAT SPACECRAFT AND GOT IT LAUNCHED 417 00:25:56,489 --> 00:26:01,639 IN THAT UNBELIEVABLY SHORT TIME BUT IT'S WORKED ESSENTIALLY 418 00:26:01,639 --> 00:26:07,960 FLAWLESSLY FOR THE WHOLE 9.5 YEARS. 419 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:10,590 >> I'LL GIVE YOU THE LAST QUESTION AND WE'LL TAKE A FEW 420 00:26:10,590 --> 00:26:16,209 MORE HERE AND WE'LL HAVE TO WRAP UP. 421 00:26:16,209 --> 00:26:18,919 >> WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM RESOLUTION YOU HOPE TO GET FROM 422 00:26:18,919 --> 00:26:23,090 THE PICTURES YOU'RE TAKING IN THE SHADOWED AREAS WHERE SHARON 423 00:26:23,090 --> 00:26:25,770 LIES? 424 00:26:25,770 --> 00:26:27,799 >> THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ANSWER 425 00:26:27,799 --> 00:26:31,899 BECAUSE IT DEPENDS ON SOME OF THE SUBTLETIES OF THE DATA 426 00:26:31,899 --> 00:26:34,149 ANALYSIS. 427 00:26:34,149 --> 00:26:37,029 FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION IS ABOUT, NOW THAT 428 00:26:37,029 --> 00:26:40,919 THE SPACECRAFT IS BEYOND PLUTO WHEN IT LOOKS BACK AT THE PLANET 429 00:26:40,919 --> 00:26:47,150 IT'S SEEING THE NIGHT SIDE AND JUST A THIN CRESCENT. 430 00:26:47,150 --> 00:26:50,120 BUT WE ARRANGED THE FLY BY TO OCCUR ON A DAY WHEN PLUTO'S 431 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:58,499 LARGEST MOON SHARON IS ON THE OTHER SIDE AND SUNLIGHT IS 432 00:26:58,499 --> 00:27:00,889 REFLECTING OFF SHARON AND ILLUMINATING THE NIGHT SIDE 433 00:27:00,889 --> 00:27:01,999 TERRAIN. 434 00:27:01,999 --> 00:27:05,779 SO WE LOOK BACK WITH OUR CAMERAS AT THOSE NIGHT SIDE TERRAINS 435 00:27:05,779 --> 00:27:10,590 ILLUMINATED BY SHARON LIGHT AND WE CAN SEE IN THOSE TERRAINS. 436 00:27:10,590 --> 00:27:15,230 HOWEVER WE'RE LOOKING BACK INTO THE GLARE OF THE SUN AND THE 437 00:27:15,230 --> 00:27:20,860 SUNLIGHT CREATES VARIOUS OPTICAL EFFECTS ON THE IMAGES THAT CAN 438 00:27:20,860 --> 00:27:24,869 MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE DETAILS THAT ARE IN THEM. 439 00:27:24,869 --> 00:27:28,700 THE NATIVE RESOLUTION OF THE IMAGES IS PRETTY GOOD BUT 440 00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:33,919 BECAUSE IT'S SO DARK, THE SIGNAL TO NOISE IS LOW AND WE'LL HAVE 441 00:27:33,919 --> 00:27:38,609 TO ACTUALLY ADD THE PIXELS TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT REDUCES 442 00:27:38,609 --> 00:27:43,419 RESOLUTION UNTIL WE BUILD UP THE SIGNAL WELL ENOUGH THAT WE CAN 443 00:27:43,419 --> 00:27:45,919 ACTUALLY PICK OUT INDIVIDUAL SURFACE UNITS. 444 00:27:45,919 --> 00:27:49,169 HOW FAR WE'LL HAVE TO DEGRADE THAT RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO GET 445 00:27:49,169 --> 00:27:53,690 THE GOOD SIGNAL TO NOISE IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT IN ADVANCE 446 00:27:53,690 --> 00:27:57,799 BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER TURNED THE CAMERAS BACK TO LOOK AT THE SUN. 447 00:27:57,799 --> 00:28:00,859 WE DIDN'T WANT TO RISK THAT DURING THE FLIGHT OUT TO PLUTO. 448 00:28:00,859 --> 00:28:04,580 SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE OPTICAL EFFECTS ARE AND THEN SEE 449 00:28:04,580 --> 00:28:08,379 HOWELL WE CAN PRODUCE HIGH RESOLUTION VERSUS MEDIUM 450 00:28:08,379 --> 00:28:10,769 RESOLUTION IMAGERY. 451 00:28:10,769 --> 00:28:14,509 >> ALL RIGHT. 452 00:28:14,509 --> 00:28:16,499 I KNOW THE SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN WORRIED THAT WHAT LITTLE 453 00:28:16,499 --> 00:28:20,169 ATMOSPHERE PLUTO HAS MIGHT HAVE FROZEN OUT AND YOU WERE EAGER TO 454 00:28:20,169 --> 00:28:21,169 GET THERE. 455 00:28:21,169 --> 00:28:26,080 YOU MENTIONED YESTERDAY THAT YOU'VE SEEN DATA FOR NITROGEN 456 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:27,549 AND METHANE. 457 00:28:27,549 --> 00:28:29,479 NOW THAT YOU'VE SEEN THE PICTURES IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT 458 00:28:29,479 --> 00:28:32,230 IT SNOWS ON PLUTO? 459 00:28:32,230 --> 00:28:33,679 >> IT SURE LOOKS THAT WAY. 460 00:28:33,679 --> 00:28:36,889 >> PASS IT DOWN THIS WAY. 461 00:28:36,889 --> 00:28:40,110 PASS IT DOWN THIS WAY. 462 00:28:40,110 --> 00:28:44,610 >> THEN WE'RE GOING TO WRAP UP HERE. 463 00:28:44,610 --> 00:28:48,509 >> ASTRONOMY NOW MAGAZINE, COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT 464 00:28:48,509 --> 00:28:50,979 THE OTHER DATA YOU GOT DOWN LAST NIGHT? 465 00:28:50,979 --> 00:28:55,459 ARE THE MEMORY CHIPS FILLING UP, FOR EXAMPLE? 466 00:28:55,459 --> 00:29:01,779 >> WELL, LAST NIGHT WE DOWN LINKED THAT IMAGE WHICH YOU SAW 467 00:29:01,779 --> 00:29:04,350 ON THE SCREEN HERE. 468 00:29:04,350 --> 00:29:09,350 AND WE DID MONITOR HOW THAT RECORDER WAS DOING AND IT 469 00:29:09,350 --> 00:29:14,850 ACTUALLY HAD FILLED UP A COUPLE OF SEGMENTS SO EACH SEGMENT IS 4 470 00:29:14,850 --> 00:29:18,929 GIGABITS SO SINCE THE LAST CONTACT WE HAD WITH IT IT WAS 471 00:29:18,929 --> 00:29:23,070 STARTING TO FILL UP THAT RECORDER SO ONE OF THE THINGS 472 00:29:23,070 --> 00:29:26,929 THAT WE'LL DO TONIGHT IS GET ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW MUCH DATA 473 00:29:26,929 --> 00:29:29,989 HAS BEEN RECORDED ON THAT RECORDER AND HAVE A GOOD MEASURE 474 00:29:29,989 --> 00:29:34,609 OF HOW THE OBSERVATIONS ARE GOING ON BOARD THE SPACECRAFT. 475 00:29:34,609 --> 00:29:42,979 >> I'M SORRY I WAS BROADCASTING SO I HOPE THIS ISN'T A QUESTION 476 00:29:42,979 --> 00:29:47,229 THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ASKED BUT THE LARGE SCALE PICTURE THAT 477 00:29:47,229 --> 00:29:53,789 WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, I'M SEEING MAYBE FIVE OR SIX 478 00:29:53,789 --> 00:29:58,230 DIFFERENT TERRAINS, REGIONS ON THE BROADER SCALE. 479 00:29:58,230 --> 00:30:00,049 IS THAT ROUGHLY RIGHT? 480 00:30:00,049 --> 00:30:06,570 AND THE HEART FEATURE, THAT APPEARS TO BE SLIGHTLY 481 00:30:06,570 --> 00:30:09,609 DIFFERENT, THE LEFT SIDE AND THE RIGHT SIDE BUT I'M WONDERING IS 482 00:30:09,609 --> 00:30:14,350 THAT AN EFFECT OF THE SUB SOLAR POINT OR IS THERE A DIFFERENCE 483 00:30:14,350 --> 00:30:15,929 WITHIN THE HEART FEATURE? 484 00:30:15,929 --> 00:30:20,440 >> I WOULD SAY WE'RE SEEING THE SAME THING THAT YOU'RE SEEING 485 00:30:20,440 --> 00:30:21,440 LEO. 486 00:30:21,440 --> 00:30:25,350 HAND FULL OF INDIVIDUAL BROAD SURFACE UNITS ACROSS THIS HEMS 487 00:30:25,350 --> 00:30:29,679 FEAR AND WE ARE SEEING A BIT OF A LEFT RIGHT DICOTOMY ON THE 488 00:30:29,679 --> 00:30:30,679 HEART. 489 00:30:30,679 --> 00:30:35,200 WHEN WE GET COLOR DATA AND OTHER DATA SETS WE'LL BE ABLE TO SAY 490 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:44,619 MORE THINGS ABOUT THAT BUT YOU'RE MAKING 491 00:30:44,619 --> 00:30:51,229 THE RIGHT CONCLUSION. 492 00:30:51,229 --> 00:30:54,809 >> CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT EXACTLY YOU'LL SEE ON THE MONITORS 493 00:30:54,809 --> 00:30:56,510 TONIGHT WHEN THE SIGNAL COMES IN? 494 00:30:56,510 --> 00:31:00,399 WHAT'S THE HELLO EARTH DATA THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE GETTING IN? 495 00:31:00,399 --> 00:31:03,139 WHAT WILL POP UP FIRST? 496 00:31:03,139 --> 00:31:04,139 >> WHAT WILL POP FIRST. 497 00:31:04,139 --> 00:31:08,029 >> WHAT WILL SHOW UP ON THE SCREEN FIRST. 498 00:31:08,029 --> 00:31:10,679 >> WHEN YOU ESTABLISH THE HANDSHAKE BETWEEN THE GROUND 499 00:31:10,679 --> 00:31:16,879 STATION OR THE ANTENNA AND THE SPACECRAFT THE FIRST THING THAT 500 00:31:16,879 --> 00:31:21,029 WE TRY TO LOCK IS CARRIER AND THAT WILL TELL US THAT THE 501 00:31:21,029 --> 00:31:23,129 SPACECRAFT IS THERE. 502 00:31:23,129 --> 00:31:34,179 THE FIRST IS TURBO WHICH IS TELEMITRY AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S 503 00:31:34,179 --> 00:31:36,090 TRANSMITTING AT THE EXPECTED DATA RATE. 504 00:31:36,090 --> 00:31:41,289 IT HASN'T SWITCHED TO ANOTHER DATA RATE SO THAT'S WHAT WE WILL 505 00:31:41,289 --> 00:31:42,289 SEE. 506 00:31:42,289 --> 00:31:46,169 IT'S JUST ONES AND ZEROS BUT IN OUR DATA BASE ON THE GROUND WE 507 00:31:46,169 --> 00:31:52,049 MAP THAT SEQUENCE OF 1S AND 0S TO STAY OUT OF LOCK OR LOCKED SO 508 00:31:52,049 --> 00:31:55,840 WE'LL ACTUALLY SEE THOSE WORDS APPEAR ON THE SCREEN AND THEN 509 00:31:55,840 --> 00:32:00,289 WE'LL START TO GET REAL TIME DATA FROM THE SPACECRAFT, NOT 510 00:32:00,289 --> 00:32:05,570 RECORDED BUT REAL TIME DATA AND THAT CONSISTS OF THE MOST 511 00:32:05,570 --> 00:32:10,340 CRITICAL POINT FROM ALL THE SUBSYSTEMS ON BOARD THE 512 00:32:10,340 --> 00:32:11,340 SPACECRAFT. 513 00:32:11,340 --> 00:32:16,349 SINCE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM. 514 00:32:16,349 --> 00:32:20,960 THERE'S THE CYCLE THAT THAT TABLE WILL GO THROUGH. 515 00:32:20,960 --> 00:32:25,330 FIRST YOU MIGHT SEE POINTS THAT ARE DEVOTED TO THE MAIN COMPUTER 516 00:32:25,330 --> 00:32:29,080 STATUS AND THEN YOU MIGHT SEE POINTS DEVOTED TO GUIDANCE AND 517 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:30,080 CONTROL. 518 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:35,619 SO WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IN THAT ROTATION WE WILL 519 00:32:35,619 --> 00:32:40,080 INTERCEPT SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND WATCH THAT CYCLE THROUGH. 520 00:32:40,080 --> 00:32:44,210 WE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO CYCLE THROUGH A FEW TIMES ON 521 00:32:44,210 --> 00:32:47,099 THAT TABLE. 522 00:32:47,099 --> 00:32:49,019 >> FOUR QUICK QUESTIONS, PLEASE. 523 00:32:49,019 --> 00:32:50,019 ONE. 524 00:32:50,019 --> 00:32:51,729 >> BOBBY RUSSELL WITH QUEST FOR STARS. 525 00:32:51,729 --> 00:32:54,539 MY SOCIAL MEDIA COUNTER GOING UP. 526 00:32:54,539 --> 00:32:58,349 WHEN WILL WE SEE COLOR DATA IN PICTURES? 527 00:32:58,349 --> 00:33:01,010 >> WE HAVE COLOR DATA ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW. 528 00:33:01,010 --> 00:33:04,210 AND SO THE SCIENCE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THAT AND I BELIEVE 529 00:33:04,210 --> 00:33:06,720 THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THAT LATER IN 530 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:12,399 THE DAY BUT WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU WHEN WE CAN. 531 00:33:12,399 --> 00:33:14,700 >> BOB McDONALD FROM THE CANADIAN BROADCASTING 532 00:33:14,700 --> 00:33:15,700 CORPORATION. 533 00:33:15,700 --> 00:33:18,489 CONGRATULATIONS ON CLOSEST APPROACH BUT THAT WAS ALSO THE 534 00:33:18,489 --> 00:33:20,700 MOST DANGEROUS TIME FOR THE SPACECRAFT. 535 00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:23,679 IF ANYTHING WAS GOING TO GO WRONG THAT WAS IT. 536 00:33:23,679 --> 00:33:27,340 IF YOU DON'T HEAR FROM IT TONIGHT HOW MUCH SCIENCE DO YOU 537 00:33:27,340 --> 00:33:30,499 HAVE AT THIS POINT? 538 00:33:30,499 --> 00:33:34,580 >> I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THE SPACECRAFT. 539 00:33:34,580 --> 00:33:40,570 WE HAVE ESTIMATED BASED UPON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT EXPERTS 540 00:33:40,570 --> 00:33:43,909 MAKING NUMERICAL MODELS OF HOW MUCH DUST AND DEBRIS MIGHT BE IN 541 00:33:43,909 --> 00:33:47,799 THE SYSTEM AND PROBABILITY OF LOSS OF MISSION. 542 00:33:47,799 --> 00:33:55,379 WE SET THAT AT AROUND 2 PARTS IN 10,000. 543 00:33:55,379 --> 00:34:00,149 SO YOU COULD FLY HUNDREDS OF NEW HORIZONS THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND 544 00:34:00,149 --> 00:34:02,099 EXPECT ALL OF THEM TO SURVIVE. 545 00:34:02,099 --> 00:34:05,129 SO IT'S A VERY LOW PROBABILITY BUT WE ALWAYS CAUTION THAT WE 546 00:34:05,129 --> 00:34:06,779 HAVE FLYING INTO THE UNKNOWN. 547 00:34:06,779 --> 00:34:10,050 AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN FURIOUSLY TRANSMITTING DATA TO 548 00:34:10,050 --> 00:34:11,530 THE GROUND THE LAST FEW DAYS. 549 00:34:11,530 --> 00:34:18,460 THOSE ARE FAIL SAFE DATA SETS AND THE CONCEPT IS IDENTICAL TO 550 00:34:18,460 --> 00:34:21,460 THE CONCEPT USED ON THE APOLLO MISSION. 551 00:34:21,460 --> 00:34:26,970 AS SOON AS THE MISSION COMMANDER WOULD STEP TO THE SURFACE OF THE 552 00:34:26,970 --> 00:34:31,880 MOON AND SAY A FEW WORDS FOR HISTORY, THEY WOULD IMMEDIATELY 553 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:33,090 COLLECT THE FIRST SAMPLE. 554 00:34:33,090 --> 00:34:36,340 IT WAS CALLED A CONTINGENCY SAMPLE IN CASE SOMETHING WENT 555 00:34:36,340 --> 00:34:40,390 WRONG AND THEY HAD TO TERMINATE THE REST OF THE SPACE WALK AND 556 00:34:40,390 --> 00:34:43,440 COME BACK INTO THE LANDER AND LEAVE. 557 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:45,620 SO THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING GUARENTEED. 558 00:34:45,620 --> 00:34:48,470 THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. 559 00:34:48,470 --> 00:34:52,320 WE DESIGNED THIS MORE THAN ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO. 560 00:34:52,320 --> 00:34:54,800 WE WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE DATA SETS THAT HAD BEEN 561 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:59,990 COLLECTED ON FINAL APPROACH AND SELECTED FOR EACH OF OUR PRIMARY 562 00:34:59,990 --> 00:35:04,380 MISSION OBJECTIVES SOME SAMPLES OF THAT DATA LIKE THE WONDERFUL 563 00:35:04,380 --> 00:35:09,590 IMAGE YOU JUST SAW BUT ALSO SOME COLOR DATA AND COMPOSITIONAL, 564 00:35:09,590 --> 00:35:14,930 ULTRA VIOLENT, LOOKING AT THE SURFACES AND ATMOSPHERES AND 565 00:35:14,930 --> 00:35:18,120 PARTICLES AND PLASMA DATA WAS ALL SENT TO THE GROUND. 566 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:22,440 THEY REVOLUTIONIZED OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PLUTO AND IT'S 567 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:23,810 SATELLITES ALREADY. 568 00:35:23,810 --> 00:35:28,510 HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE GUILDING THE LILY A LITTLE BIT IF I 569 00:35:28,510 --> 00:35:31,940 DIDN'T TELL YOU THAT 99% OF THE DATA IS STILL IN THE SPACECRAFT 570 00:35:31,940 --> 00:35:35,430 AND SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STUFF IS IN THAT SO IT WOULD BE 571 00:35:35,430 --> 00:35:38,930 A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT IN NEW HORIZONS HAD BEEN LOST TO A 572 00:35:38,930 --> 00:35:50,540 DEBRIS STRIKES BUT I THINK HE WILL BE FINE AT 9:00 TONIGHT. 573 00:35:50,540 --> 00:35:57,730 >> BASED ON THE INFORMATION LAST NIGHT AND THE READJUSTED 574 00:35:57,730 --> 00:36:03,490 DIAMETER OF PLUTO, HOW EXACTLY†-- HOW CLOSE DID NEW 575 00:36:03,490 --> 00:36:07,940 HORIZONS COME AT CLOSEST APPROACH THIS MORNING DO YOU 576 00:36:07,940 --> 00:36:08,940 THINK? 577 00:36:08,940 --> 00:36:13,290 >> WELL, THAT'S REALLY A NAVIGATION QUESTION. 578 00:36:13,290 --> 00:36:20,020 I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE WERE 72 SECONDS EARLY FOR THAT†-- 579 00:36:20,020 --> 00:36:22,060 HITTING THAT AIM POINT. 580 00:36:22,060 --> 00:36:25,850 AND ALLEN, DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY HOW†-- WHAT THE DISTANCE WAS? 581 00:36:25,850 --> 00:36:30,760 THE PLAN WAS 7750 MILES. 582 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:35,270 >> OUR VERY LATEST ORBIT DETERMINATION INDICATED THAT WE 583 00:36:35,270 --> 00:36:44,580 WERE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE VOIR DIRE TINTY OF 70 584 00:36:44,580 --> 00:36:45,830 KILOMETERS CLOSER. 585 00:36:45,830 --> 00:36:48,450 WE DID FLY THROUGH IT BUT A LITTLE BIT OFF CENTER. 586 00:36:48,450 --> 00:36:49,650 WELL WITHIN SPECS. 587 00:36:49,650 --> 00:36:50,990 >> HEY, EVERYBODY. 588 00:36:50,990 --> 00:36:53,650 DAN WITH SPACE NEWS. 589 00:36:53,650 --> 00:36:59,520 I SUPPOSE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR ALAN. 590 00:36:59,520 --> 00:37:07,990 WHEN CAN WE GO BACK TO PLUTO? 591 00:37:07,990 --> 00:37:10,060 >> I HAVE SECRETLY BEEN WORKING ON A LANDER. 592 00:37:10,060 --> 00:37:15,060 I HAD A PRETTY GOOD BET SOMEBODY WOULD ASK ME A QUESTION LIKE 593 00:37:15,060 --> 00:37:16,060 THAT. 594 00:37:16,060 --> 00:37:17,060 >> HAVE YOU REALLY? 595 00:37:17,060 --> 00:37:18,060 >> YEAH. 596 00:37:18,060 --> 00:37:21,800 I DO THINK THAT WE'LL RETURN TO THE PLUTO SYSTEM. 597 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:24,740 IT'S SO SCIENTIFICALLY INTERESTING AND COMPELLING THAT 598 00:37:24,740 --> 00:37:28,100 WE'LL WANT TO SEND AN ORBITER OR LANDER IN THE FUTURE. 599 00:37:28,100 --> 00:37:32,300 BUT DOING A MISSION LIKE THAT WILL BE TOUGHER THAN NEW 600 00:37:32,300 --> 00:37:34,730 HORIZONS BECAUSE WE'LL WANT TO COME TO A STOP. 601 00:37:34,730 --> 00:37:39,130 WE'LL WANT TO DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGY TO DO THAT. 602 00:37:39,130 --> 00:37:43,070 PARTICULARLY WHEN WE WANT IT TO CROSS IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF 603 00:37:43,070 --> 00:37:44,310 TIME. 604 00:37:44,310 --> 00:37:49,770 BE ABLE TO TRAVEL FAST AND THEN ALSO COME TO A STOP. 605 00:37:49,770 --> 00:37:53,090 THERE ARE VERY GOOD CONCEPTS THAT PEOPLE HAVE. 606 00:37:53,090 --> 00:37:57,660 PRELIMINARY CONCEPTS FOR HOW WE DO FOLLOW UP MISSIONS BUT FIRST 607 00:37:57,660 --> 00:38:02,551 WE NEED TO SEE THIS DATA COME TO THE GROUND AND ANALYZE IT FOR A 608 00:38:02,551 --> 00:38:04,810 PERIOD OF SOME YEARS. 609 00:38:04,810 --> 00:38:06,740 WE DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT QUESTIONS TO ASK AND THEREFORE 610 00:38:06,740 --> 00:38:11,240 THE RIGHT INSTRUMENTS TO PUT ON A LANDER OR ORBITER. 611 00:38:11,240 --> 00:38:14,160 SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PREMATUREFUL WE'RE ALL EXCITED 612 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:20,180 TOO AND WE'LL WANT TO SEE POWERFUL INSTRUMENTS THERE BUT 613 00:38:20,180 --> 00:38:24,680 THE RIGHT THING TO DO IS ANALYZE THE DATA WE HAVE ON THE GROUND 614 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:28,250 AND THEN COME TO THAT QUESTION A LITTLE BIT DOWN THE ROAD. 615 00:38:28,250 --> 00:38:29,250 >> OKAY. 616 00:38:29,250 --> 00:38:31,630 SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE OUT HERE. 617 00:38:31,630 --> 00:38:34,830 I WILL REMIND THE MEDIA, THESE FOLKS AND MANY OTHERS WILL BE 618 00:38:34,830 --> 00:38:36,610 AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR INTERVIEWS. 619 00:38:36,610 --> 00:38:38,170 JUST CHECK IN WITH THE NEWSROOM. 620 00:38:38,170 --> 00:38:41,800 I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER FOR CLOSING REMARKS AND THEN I'LL DO 621 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:44,780 SOME PROGRAMMING NOTES. 622 00:38:44,780 --> 00:38:47,150 >> I THINK YOU HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SENSE OF THIS 623 00:38:47,150 --> 00:38:50,400 GREAT ADVENTURE OF SCIENCE THAT WE'RE ON. 624 00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:54,070 WE HAVE A LONG DAY BEFORE WE GET TO THE PHONE HOME SIGNAL. 625 00:38:54,070 --> 00:38:58,360 I'LL JUST MENTION BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WATCHING IT, IF YOU GO TO 626 00:38:58,360 --> 00:39:04,100 EYES.NASA.GOV YOU CAN SEE THE DEEP SPACE NETWORK SIGNAL. 627 00:39:04,100 --> 00:39:08,790 SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN†-- ALMOST LIVE, WHEN THE DEEP SPACE 628 00:39:08,790 --> 00:39:13,220 NETWORK IS LOOKING AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW OUR STORY BECAUSE 629 00:39:13,220 --> 00:39:16,600 WE'LL CERTAINLY KEEP YOU INFORMED WHEN NEW HORIZONS 630 00:39:16,600 --> 00:39:18,390 PHONES HOME. 631 00:39:18,390 --> 00:39:21,510 THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THOUGH, WE HAVE A SERIES OF PANELS. 632 00:39:21,510 --> 00:39:24,560 SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HEAR THE SCIENTISTS ACTUALLY TALKING 633 00:39:24,560 --> 00:39:26,380 ABOUT THEIR FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 634 00:39:26,380 --> 00:39:30,450 YOU'VE HEARD ALAN'S FIRST IMPRESSIONS AND A FEW FROM THE 635 00:39:30,450 --> 00:39:35,330 PRESS HERE ON YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 636 00:39:35,330 --> 00:39:37,910 WE ALL HAVE THEM AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE THAT WE'RE GETTING 637 00:39:37,910 --> 00:39:41,760 OUR FIRST VIEWS OF PLUTO AND THE PLUTO SYSTEM IN THIS HIGH 638 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:42,970 RESOLUTION. 639 00:39:42,970 --> 00:39:47,410 BUT I CAN GUARANTEE WITH AS MUCH CERTAINLY AS ANY OF US CAN THAT 640 00:39:47,410 --> 00:39:49,090 THE BEST IS YET TO COME. 641 00:39:49,090 --> 00:39:53,240 BOTH FROM IMAGES THAT YOU'LL SEE LATER TODAY BEING WORKED ON AND 642 00:39:53,240 --> 00:39:55,620 WITH ALL OF OUR FINGERS AND TOES CROSSED. 643 00:39:55,620 --> 00:39:59,880 THE GREAT IMAGES THAT NEW HORIZONS IS TAKING RIGHT NOW 644 00:39:59,880 --> 00:40:04,390 THAT WILL BE OVER THE NEXT DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS AND FOR THE 645 00:40:04,390 --> 00:40:06,480 NEXT 15 MONTHS. 646 00:40:06,480 --> 00:40:08,270 AND THAT'S ONLY PART OF THE STORY. 647 00:40:08,270 --> 00:40:11,110 YOU KNOW WHAT WE HAVE SEEN ALREADY FROM PLUTO IS THAT IT'S 648 00:40:11,110 --> 00:40:19,990 A COMPLEX, INTERESTING WORLD. 649 00:40:19,990 --> 00:40:21,420 WE FOUND IT'S INTERESTING. 650 00:40:21,420 --> 00:40:24,170 YOU HAVE ALL BEEN FOLLOWING CURIOSITY. 651 00:40:24,170 --> 00:40:30,110 THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION, IS MARS RELATIVELY 652 00:40:30,110 --> 00:40:35,010 STRAIGHTFORWARD OR VERY COMPLEX. 653 00:40:35,010 --> 00:40:38,430 NOW CURIOSITY IS SHOWING US THAT MARS IS VERY COMPLEX. 654 00:40:38,430 --> 00:40:41,840 A WHOLE WORLD, MUCH LIKE THE EARTH. 655 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:45,180 WE HAVE SPACECRAFT ORBITING THE EARTH TRYING TO TELL OUR STORY 656 00:40:45,180 --> 00:40:46,900 WHICH IS EVEN MORE COMPLEX. 657 00:40:46,900 --> 00:40:50,110 OUR ATMOSPHERE IS REALLY TOUGH TO UNDERSTAND. 658 00:40:50,110 --> 00:40:54,580 AND OF COURSE EXISTENCE OF LIFE ON EARTH FOREVER CHANGED THE 659 00:40:54,580 --> 00:40:58,240 ATMOSPHERE AND THE GEOLOGY OF EARTH. 660 00:40:58,240 --> 00:41:01,670 SO WE'RE SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM AND MUCH, 661 00:41:01,670 --> 00:41:07,010 MUCH MORE, JUNO WILL ARRIVE NEXT YEAR AT JUPITER. 662 00:41:07,010 --> 00:41:12,600 WE'LL LAUNCH THE GEO MONITORING STATION ON MARS AN THE MISSION 663 00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:17,060 TO ACTUALLY DO A TOUCH AND GO AND BRING SAMPLES BACK. 664 00:41:17,060 --> 00:41:20,500 SO THIS IS JUST THE MOST INCREDIBLE TIME FOR PLANETARY 665 00:41:20,500 --> 00:41:25,720 SCIENCE AND I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT YOU'RE ALL HERE SHOWING 666 00:41:25,720 --> 00:41:29,490 THIS GREAT INTEREST FOR THIS INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. 667 00:41:29,490 --> 00:41:34,730 THE CAPSTONE EVENT. 668 00:41:34,730 --> 00:41:36,750 CONGRATULATIONS ELLEN AND ALAN. 669 00:41:36,750 --> 00:41:40,350 I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE DAY AND LEARN A LOT AND COMMUNICATE IT 670 00:41:40,350 --> 00:41:44,250 TO ALL OF YOUR SUBSCRIBERS AND READERS BECAUSE THIS IS AN 671 00:41:44,250 --> 00:41:46,960 INCREDIBLE JOURNEY AND TRUE EXPLORATION. 672 00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:49,110 I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE. 673 00:41:49,110 --> 00:41:50,110 >> OKAY. 674 00:41:50,110 --> 00:41:54,730 SO SOCIAL MEDIA, FOLLOW IT ON TWITTER. 675 00:41:54,730 --> 00:41:58,050 THIS MISSION, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND OTHERS. 676 00:41:58,050 --> 00:42:00,590 THE CONVERSATION IS ASTOUNDING. 677 00:42:00,590 --> 00:42:02,960 AND ALL THE INFORMATION YOU HEARD TODAY AND YOU WILL BE 678 00:42:02,960 --> 00:42:09,430 HEARING WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS PROBABLY. 679 00:42:09,430 --> 00:42:12,500 NASA.GOV/NEW HORIZONS. 680 00:42:12,500 --> 00:42:16,000 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AMERICA'S SPACE PROGRAM HAS WRITTEN A NEW 681 00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:19,530 CHAPTER IN SCIENCE AND EXPLORATION.