1 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,370 >>> WOW. 2 00:00:14,370 --> 00:00:19,820 I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING. 3 00:00:19,820 --> 00:00:22,480 I BETTER TALK TO MARK. 4 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:24,520 HEY, MARK. 5 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,560 >> HEY DAVID. 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,910 >> WE HAVE A NEW ASTEROID. 7 00:00:27,910 --> 00:00:29,369 >> A NEW ASTEROID >> YEP. 8 00:00:29,369 --> 00:00:31,980 >> I BETTER GET THE 730 TEAM TOGETHER. 9 00:00:31,980 --> 00:00:34,960 YOU KNOW THEY SCATTER AFTER THE SHOW SO LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET 10 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:40,120 THEM. 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:50,440 >>> HI, MARK. 12 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:56,480 THE WHOLE TEAM IS HERE. 13 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,059 >> DAVID SAID A NEW ASTEROID HAS JUST BEEN DISCOVERED. 14 00:00:59,059 --> 00:01:02,129 >> WHEN WILL IT HIT THE EARTH? 15 00:01:02,129 --> 00:01:03,700 >> IT DOESN'T HIT THE EARTH. 16 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:06,470 I THINK WE NEED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT ASTEROIDS AND 17 00:01:06,470 --> 00:01:08,299 NASA'S REDIRECT MISSION. 18 00:01:08,299 --> 00:01:09,700 >> HOW MUCH TIME DO WE HAVE? 19 00:01:09,700 --> 00:01:10,890 >> 30 MINUTES. 20 00:01:10,890 --> 00:01:12,100 >> WHEN DO WE START? 21 00:01:12,100 --> 00:01:23,070 >> RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THIS IS 730. 22 00:01:23,070 --> 00:02:00,229 \M\M >>> THIS IS 730. 23 00:02:00,229 --> 00:02:01,259 >> HI I'M MARTY. 24 00:02:01,259 --> 00:02:02,259 >> I'M BETH. 25 00:02:02,259 --> 00:02:05,660 >> WE'RE COMING LIVE TO YOU FROM THE AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM IN 26 00:02:05,660 --> 00:02:10,380 WASHINGTON, D.C. 27 00:02:10,380 --> 00:02:14,760 OOH THIS GALLERY IS PHENOMENAL. 28 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,010 ONE OF MY FAVORITE IN THE ENTIRE MUSEUM. 29 00:02:17,010 --> 00:02:20,620 SOME ARTIFACTS IN HERE BILL PLOW AWAY. 30 00:02:20,620 --> 00:02:25,659 >> YOU'VE CONVINCED ME. 31 00:02:25,659 --> 00:02:28,170 >> THIS GALLERY IS DEDICATED TO THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND SPACE 32 00:02:28,170 --> 00:02:32,099 SHUTTLE ERA. 33 00:02:32,099 --> 00:02:38,360 ON HERE ARE SPACE SUITS WORE BY SALLY RIDE AND THE FIRST 34 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:40,560 AFRICAN-AMERICAN ASTRONAUT. 35 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:45,209 >> YOU CAN VISIT THE MID-DECK TO EXPLORE A LOT OF ARTIFACTS. 36 00:02:45,209 --> 00:02:48,840 A CAN OF SODA, BUZZ LIGHT YEAR AND OTHER ITEMS. 37 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:53,459 >> WHEN YOU COME TO THIS GALLERY YOU CAN'T HELP NOTICE THE 38 00:02:53,459 --> 00:02:55,209 AMAZING MODELS. 39 00:02:55,209 --> 00:02:57,650 HANGING FROM THE CEILING IS A SCALE MODEL OF THE INTERNATIONAL 40 00:02:57,650 --> 00:03:01,000 SPACE STATION AND ACROSS THE ROOM IS A SPACE MODEL OF THE 41 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:04,760 SPACE STATION COLUMBIA. 42 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:08,629 >> LET'S WELCOME OUR INHOUSE AUDIENCE, WHITTAKER EDUCATION 43 00:03:08,629 --> 00:03:09,629 CAMPUS. 44 00:03:09,629 --> 00:03:12,960 THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. 45 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,209 >> WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR ONLINE VIEWERS AND THOSE 46 00:03:15,209 --> 00:03:17,030 WATCHING ON NASA TV. 47 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:20,751 IF YOU GO TO WEBSITE SUBMIT QUESTIONS THAT WE'LL HAVE A 48 00:03:20,751 --> 00:03:24,340 DOCENT READY TO ANSWER. 49 00:03:24,340 --> 00:03:28,950 >> SO, MARTY, WHY DO WE WANT TO STUDY ASTEROIDS? 50 00:03:28,950 --> 00:03:30,549 >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. 51 00:03:30,549 --> 00:03:34,000 TO HELP US ANSWER THAT QUESTION WE HAVE THE PROGRAM MANAGER FROM 52 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:36,580 NASA'S ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION. 53 00:03:36,580 --> 00:03:43,040 I WANT TO GET YOU GUYS INVOLVED REAL QUICK. 54 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,159 THESE GUYS IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE GO AND NO GO SIGNS. 55 00:03:46,159 --> 00:03:49,599 WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CONCEPTS 56 00:03:49,599 --> 00:03:52,769 THAT WE HAD FOR THE MISSION AT THE OUTSET. 57 00:03:52,769 --> 00:03:55,500 WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO GIVE US A GO OR NO GO FOR THAT 58 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:59,010 CONCEPT AND WE'LL SEE WHICH ONE THEY CHOOSE. 59 00:03:59,010 --> 00:04:03,959 ONE IDEA IS TO GO OUT IN SPACE, FIND A SMALL ASTEROID AND GRAB 60 00:04:03,959 --> 00:04:06,290 IT AND BRING IT BACK TOWARDS EARTH. 61 00:04:06,290 --> 00:04:11,019 THE OTHER IDEA IS TO GO OUT, LAND ON AN ASTEROID, PICK UP A 62 00:04:11,019 --> 00:04:14,000 BOWLED FRIRT, BRING THAT BOULDER BACK TOWARDS EARTH. 63 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:15,420 BOTH OF THESE ARE VERY COMPLEX. 64 00:04:15,420 --> 00:04:19,049 YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE COST AND SAFETY AND THE DESIGN 65 00:04:19,049 --> 00:04:20,049 CHALLENGES. 66 00:04:20,049 --> 00:04:22,630 SO LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GUYS THINK FOR GO OR NO GO. 67 00:04:22,630 --> 00:04:25,470 HOW ABOUT THE FIRST ONE, GOING OUT AND GRABBING A SMALLER 68 00:04:25,470 --> 00:04:27,850 ASTEROID, GRABBING IT AND BRINGING IT BACK TO EARTH. 69 00:04:27,850 --> 00:04:29,090 LET'S SEE. 70 00:04:29,090 --> 00:04:30,190 OKAY. 71 00:04:30,190 --> 00:04:35,430 ALL RIGHT HOW ABOUT THE IDEA MUCH GOING OUT, LANDING ON AN 72 00:04:35,430 --> 00:04:38,240 DESTROYED, PICKING UP A BOULDER AND BRINGING IT BACK TOWARDS 73 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:39,240 EARTH? 74 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:40,910 PRETTY GOOD. 75 00:04:40,910 --> 00:04:44,890 THEY PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH THAT HAPPENING. 76 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:48,450 SO TELL US WHICH OF THOSE IDEAS WAS CHOSEN. 77 00:04:48,450 --> 00:04:49,450 >> ABSOLUTELY. 78 00:04:49,450 --> 00:04:53,600 WE DID DECIDE TO GO WITH THE OPTION TO TRAVEL TO A LARGE 79 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:58,310 ASTEROID, AND EXTRACT A MULTI-TON BOULDER OR COHESIVE 80 00:04:58,310 --> 00:05:01,770 MASS FROM THE SURFACE OF THAT ASTEROID AND THEN ACTUALLY 81 00:05:01,770 --> 00:05:06,040 PERFORM A DEMONSTRATION OF A PRECISION DEFLECTION MANEUVER OF 82 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,740 A LARGER ASTEROID AND BRING THAT BOULDER BACK TO THE LUNAR 83 00:05:09,740 --> 00:05:10,740 VICINITY. 84 00:05:10,740 --> 00:05:12,900 >> A PRECISION DEMONSTRATION. 85 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:15,289 TELL ME WHAT THAT IS. 86 00:05:15,289 --> 00:05:18,819 >> WHAT WE'LL DO IS UTILIZE THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE CREATED BY 87 00:05:18,819 --> 00:05:22,990 BOTH THE SPACECRAFT AND THE MULTI-TON BOULDER TOGETHER TO 88 00:05:22,990 --> 00:05:28,169 SLOWLY AND PRECISELY HOPEFULLY WE'LL MERIT, ALTER THE 89 00:05:28,169 --> 00:05:31,660 TRAJECTORY OF THE LARGE ASTEROID WHILE IT'S HURTLING THROUGH 90 00:05:31,660 --> 00:05:34,760 SPACE. 91 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:37,110 >> SO IF THERE'S AN ASTEROID HEADING TOWARDS EARTH MAYBE WE 92 00:05:37,110 --> 00:05:41,180 CAN NUDGE IT A LITTLE BIT SO IT MISSES EARTH? 93 00:05:41,180 --> 00:05:45,699 >> IT WILL BE A DEMONSTRATION OF ONE TYPE OF DEFLECTION. 94 00:05:45,699 --> 00:05:48,430 >> WHAT ARE THE OTHER CHALLENGES? 95 00:05:48,430 --> 00:05:53,650 >> SO, THE ROBOTIC SPACECRAFT WHICH YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE 96 00:05:53,650 --> 00:05:58,910 FRONT END OF THIS MODEL IS POWERED BY ADVANCE SOD LAR 97 00:05:58,910 --> 00:06:01,780 ELECTRICAL PROPULSION WHICH IS A COMBINATION OF ADVANCED 98 00:06:01,780 --> 00:06:09,070 TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING HIGH POWER SOLAR RAY, LONG LIFE ION 99 00:06:09,070 --> 00:06:14,360 THRUSTERS AND POWER PROCESSING AND CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY. 100 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,410 INTEGRATION OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES THAT PROVIDES THE 101 00:06:16,410 --> 00:06:22,319 REAL ENABLING SYSTEM FOR THIS DEMONSTRATION AS WELL AS THE 102 00:06:22,319 --> 00:06:23,890 INTEGRATED MOVING MASS. 103 00:06:23,890 --> 00:06:30,940 >> A LOT OF THIS IS BRAND NEW 104 00:06:30,940 --> 00:06:32,260 TECHNOLOGY. 105 00:06:32,260 --> 00:06:33,580 >> YES. 106 00:06:33,580 --> 00:06:34,910 FIRST TIME IT'S FLOWN. 107 00:06:34,910 --> 00:06:36,180 CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATION. 108 00:06:36,180 --> 00:06:37,840 >> THAT'S AWESOME. 109 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:42,550 SO TELL ME SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT THIS MISSION. 110 00:06:42,550 --> 00:06:45,979 THE SOLAR PANELS ARE SUPER HIGH POWERED? 111 00:06:45,979 --> 00:06:49,550 >> MUCH HIGH POWERED THAN ANYTHING WE'VE FLOWN BEFORE. 112 00:06:49,550 --> 00:06:50,550 >> THAT'S AWESOME. 113 00:06:50,550 --> 00:06:53,160 I LOVE THE IDEA YOU GUYS ARE CREATING NEW TECHNOLOGY AND 114 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,830 PUTTING THEM TOGETHER IN A WAY WE'RE ABLE TO DO ALL KIND OF 115 00:06:56,830 --> 00:06:57,830 DIFFERENT THINGS. 116 00:06:57,830 --> 00:06:59,289 YOU READY TO TAKE SOME QUESTIONS? 117 00:06:59,289 --> 00:07:01,389 WE'LL START WITH A VIDEO QUESTION. 118 00:07:01,389 --> 00:07:02,479 >> HI. 119 00:07:02,479 --> 00:07:07,599 MY QUESTION IS WHEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO GET ASTEROIDS TO EARTH. 120 00:07:07,599 --> 00:07:13,479 >> IN ADDITION TO THE SOLAR ELECTRIC PROPULSION THERE'S A 121 00:07:13,479 --> 00:07:17,030 CAPTURE SYSTEM ON THE FRONT END OF THIS MODEL. 122 00:07:17,030 --> 00:07:18,630 AND WILL BE ON THE SPACECRAFT. 123 00:07:18,630 --> 00:07:25,350 A CAPTURE SYSTEM INCLUDES TWO SOPHISTICATED MATURE ROBOTIC ARM 124 00:07:25,350 --> 00:07:33,620 SYSTEM AND A RESTRAINT SYSTEM FROM SENSORS WITH OTHER 125 00:07:33,620 --> 00:07:34,930 APPLICATIONS. 126 00:07:34,930 --> 00:07:39,710 WE'RE TRYING TO INFUSE COMMONALITY AND EFFICIENCY AND 127 00:07:39,710 --> 00:07:43,120 OUR BUILD FAST AT NASA. 128 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:46,960 IT'S THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ALLOW US TO 129 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:58,669 GRAFT AND ACINQUIRE AND BRING IT BACK TO THE AIRCRAFT. 130 00:07:58,669 --> 00:08:02,100 >> HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET TO THE ASTEROID. 131 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:04,099 >> THANKS VERY MUCH. 132 00:08:04,099 --> 00:08:07,420 SO CURRENT TRAJECTORY PLAN IS APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS. 133 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:08,970 IT'S NOT A SHORT MISSION. 134 00:08:08,970 --> 00:08:12,330 THAT IS ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF UTILIZING SOLAR ELECTRICAL 135 00:08:12,330 --> 00:08:22,490 PROPULSION IS IT PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY BY ALLOWING A VERY 136 00:08:22,490 --> 00:08:28,599 LOW THRUST WHICH IS A RATHER SLOWER AND MORE FLEXIBLE 137 00:08:28,599 --> 00:08:32,569 THRUSTING TECHNIQUE THAN WE USE WITH OUR BIG ENGINES. 138 00:08:32,569 --> 00:08:35,130 >> WE HAVE AN ONLINE QUESTION NEXT. 139 00:08:35,130 --> 00:08:39,209 WHY DOES THE ENGINE ON THE SPACECRAFT GLOW BRIGHT BLUE. 140 00:08:39,209 --> 00:08:40,800 >> THAT'S INTERESTING. 141 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:45,330 SO THE EXHAUST CHEMICALS COMBINED WITH THE ATMOSPHERIC 142 00:08:45,330 --> 00:08:48,040 CONSTITUENTS CAUSE COLOR. 143 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,300 OUR EYES PERCEIVE COLOR. 144 00:08:51,300 --> 00:08:52,730 >> AWESOME. 145 00:08:52,730 --> 00:08:55,160 RECENTLY WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT 146 00:08:55,160 --> 00:08:59,860 CENTRE AND BETH TALKED TO ONE OF THE LEADING ENGINEERS. 147 00:08:59,860 --> 00:09:01,750 LET'S GO CHECK THAT OUT. 148 00:09:01,750 --> 00:09:09,900 >> I AM AT NASA'S GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTRE AND I'M WITH BEAU. 149 00:09:09,900 --> 00:09:15,770 WE'VE GOT THIS VERY COMPLEX THING HERE. 150 00:09:15,770 --> 00:09:17,860 DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT THIS IS? 151 00:09:17,860 --> 00:09:18,860 >> SURE. 152 00:09:18,860 --> 00:09:25,410 THIS IS A MICROSPINE TOOL, THE TOOL WE USE TO CAPTURE A BOULDER 153 00:09:25,410 --> 00:09:28,200 OFF THE SURFACE OF AN ASTEROID. 154 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:34,340 THIS VERSION IT HAS 24 PAWS AND EACH OF THESE PAWS HAVE SEVERAL 155 00:09:34,340 --> 00:09:38,100 FISH HOOKS AT THE END OF IT, SOMETHING LIKE 2,000 FISH HOOKS 156 00:09:38,100 --> 00:09:45,000 TOTAL AND THEY GRAB THE BOULDER TO LIFT IT OFF THE ASTEROID 157 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,000 SURFACE. 158 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:51,190 >> HOW DO THEY WORK >> THEY ARE INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTED 159 00:09:51,190 --> 00:09:55,910 ON THE SPRINGS SO THAT THEY CAN MOVE KIND OF LIKE CAT'S PAW, 160 00:09:55,910 --> 00:09:59,940 ALTHOUGH EXCEPT WE'RE NOT TRYING RETRACT THEM SO WE DON'T SCRATCH 161 00:09:59,940 --> 00:10:06,070 OURSELVES, WE MAKE THEM SO WE GET AS MANY OF THEM TO GRASP THE 162 00:10:06,070 --> 00:10:08,590 LITTLE FEATURES OF THE BOULDER AS POSSIBLE. 163 00:10:08,590 --> 00:10:13,390 SO THIS TOOL IS PLACED ON THE BOULDER BY THE ROBOT ARM. 164 00:10:13,390 --> 00:10:18,050 THESE PAWS ARE LOWERED DOWN ON TO THE SURFACE AND RETRACTED AND 165 00:10:18,050 --> 00:10:21,400 SO THAT WE GRASP THE ROCK FEATURES. 166 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,800 >> NOW, THIS LOOKS VERY COMPLEX. 167 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,300 SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE TO GO 168 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:31,630 THROUGH TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO JUST LIFT THE BOULDER 169 00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:33,000 OFF AN ASTEROID? 170 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,960 >> THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED MECHANICAL DEVICE. 171 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:41,330 A LOT OF WORK HAS TO GO INTO MAKING THE VERY PRECISE 172 00:10:41,330 --> 00:10:46,090 MEASUREMENTS AND METAL PIECES INSIDE. 173 00:10:46,090 --> 00:10:48,900 IT HAS SEVEN DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS IT PROVIDES. 174 00:10:48,900 --> 00:10:52,880 I TOLD YOU ABOUT 2005 THEM. 175 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:54,610 ONE IS THE PULL END. 176 00:10:54,610 --> 00:10:56,380 IN THE FLIGHT VERSE IT WILL HAVE A DRILL. 177 00:10:56,380 --> 00:11:01,280 IT DRILLS INTO THE ROCK FROM PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ANCHORING. 178 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:04,680 AFTER IT DRILLS IT ALSO HAMMERS TO GET DOWN INTO THE ROCK SO IF 179 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:07,200 YOU EVER TRY TO DRILL INTO CEMENT YOU KNOW THAT'S 180 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:08,760 DIFFICULT. 181 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:12,540 THIS TOOL HAS TO ACCOMMODATE A WIDE VARIETY OF ROCK SURFACE, 182 00:11:12,540 --> 00:11:15,200 ROCK TYPES. 183 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,940 WE KNOW A GOOD AMOUNT OF ASTEROIDS BUT ONE THING WE KNOW 184 00:11:18,940 --> 00:11:22,691 IS THERE'S VARIETY AND WE WON'T KNOW WHAT THIS ROCK WILL LOOK 185 00:11:22,691 --> 00:11:24,170 LIKE UNTIL WE GET THERE. 186 00:11:24,170 --> 00:11:28,430 THAT TOOL HAS TO ACCOMMODATE A WIDE RANGE. 187 00:11:28,430 --> 00:11:36,790 WE'RE 30 MINUTES AWAY ROUND TRIP BY LIGHT FROM EARTH, SO THE 188 00:11:36,790 --> 00:11:41,890 ENTIRE SEQUENCE TO DESCEND DOWN TO THE SURFACE IS AUTONOMOUS AND 189 00:11:41,890 --> 00:11:44,000 THE SPACECRAFT DOES IT ALL BY ITSELF. 190 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,920 >> THAT IS REALLY COOL. 191 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,490 >> YEAH. 192 00:11:49,490 --> 00:11:52,680 >> THAT INTERVIEW WAS GRIPPING, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PART OF 193 00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:53,680 THE MISSION. 194 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:56,130 THE NEXT PART OF THE MISSION IS ACTUALLY TO SEND ASTRONAUTS OUT 195 00:11:56,130 --> 00:11:58,590 TO THE PIECE OF THE ASTEROID THAT WE BRING BACK AND PUT IT 196 00:11:58,590 --> 00:11:59,810 AROUND THE ORBIT OF THE MOON. 197 00:11:59,810 --> 00:12:02,940 TELL US ABOUT THAT. 198 00:12:02,940 --> 00:12:11,690 >> THE ACTIVE END OF THIS IS THE ORION SPACE CAPSULE AND OUR PLAN 199 00:12:11,690 --> 00:12:20,350 IS TO -- WE PLAN IT -- IS TO TAKE THE ASTRONAUTS ON THE SPACE 200 00:12:20,350 --> 00:12:25,280 CAPSULE APPROXIMATELY 75,000 KILOMETERS FURTHER FROM THE MOON 201 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,490 WHICH IS ABOUT 45,000 MILES FURTHER THAN WE'VE EVER TAKEN 202 00:12:28,490 --> 00:12:29,930 ASTRONAUTS BEFORE. 203 00:12:29,930 --> 00:12:40,430 ROUNDEVOUS WITH THIS VEHICLE TO 204 00:12:40,430 --> 00:12:44,340 SELECT SAMPLES, ACINQUIRE SAMPLE, CONTAIN SAMPLES AND 205 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:47,870 RETURN THEM TO THE EARTH WITH THE CREW IN THE ORION CAPSULE. 206 00:12:47,870 --> 00:12:50,340 >> WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS MODEL WE'RE LOOKING AT TWO SEPARATE 207 00:12:50,340 --> 00:12:55,490 SPACECRAFTS ONE TO THE ASTEROID, THE OTHER TO THE CREW AND DOCK 208 00:12:55,490 --> 00:12:56,540 WITH IT. 209 00:12:56,540 --> 00:13:00,960 >> IT'S THE ABILITY TO SEPARATE THOSE FUNCTIONS INTO TWO 210 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:05,910 SEPARATE SPACECRAFTS THAT ALLOW US TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS. 211 00:13:05,910 --> 00:13:11,910 ONE IS TO LOWER THE RISK TO THE CREW WHILE LOWERING THE COST TO 212 00:13:11,910 --> 00:13:17,670 THE PORTION OF THE MISSION THAT ACTUALLY PERFORMS THE PORTION 213 00:13:17,670 --> 00:13:21,720 THAT IS LESS NECESSARY TO HAVE THE CREW FOR BUT PROVIDE AN 214 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,430 INTEGRATED CAPABILITY DEMONSTRATION FOR US TO CONTINUE 215 00:13:24,430 --> 00:13:27,880 TO TAKE OUR ASTRONAUTS FURTHER AND FURTHER THAN WE HAVE EVER 216 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,080 BEFORE. 217 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,590 >> RECENTLY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH ASTRONAUT RANDY 218 00:13:32,590 --> 00:13:35,460 ABOUT SOME OF THE TRAINING THAT HE'S DONE TO ACTUALLY GO OUT THE 219 00:13:35,460 --> 00:13:36,460 AN ASTEROID. 220 00:13:36,460 --> 00:13:38,190 SO LET'S CHECK THAT OUT. 221 00:13:38,190 --> 00:13:40,790 >> I'M JOINED TODAY BY RANDY. 222 00:13:40,790 --> 00:13:42,610 HE'S A SPACE SHUTTLE ASTRONAUT. 223 00:13:42,610 --> 00:13:46,550 HE DID TWO SPACE WALKS THAT TOTALLED OVER 11 HOURS IN SPACE. 224 00:13:46,550 --> 00:13:48,360 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. 225 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:49,770 >> MY PLEASURE. 226 00:13:49,770 --> 00:13:51,640 >> THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES WHEN YOU DO A SPACEWALK. 227 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:53,690 CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THOSE? 228 00:13:53,690 --> 00:13:58,000 >> FIRST, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPACESHIP TO GO OUTSIDE. 229 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,410 BREATHABLE ATMOSPHERE, MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE BECAUSE AS YOU 230 00:14:01,410 --> 00:14:06,140 KNOW, IT'S PLUS 250 DEGREES IN THE SUN AND MINUS 250 DEGREES IN 231 00:14:06,140 --> 00:14:07,140 THE SHADE. 232 00:14:07,140 --> 00:14:09,820 THAT 500 TEMPERATURE CHANGE IS TOUGH TO OVERCOME MECHANICALLY. 233 00:14:09,820 --> 00:14:14,920 >> WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR A SPACEWALK THAT'S WAY OUT FROM 234 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:15,950 EARTH. 235 00:14:15,950 --> 00:14:25,480 >> WE HAVE RADIATION BELTS TO PROTECT US FROM COSMIC 236 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:26,870 RADIATION. 237 00:14:26,870 --> 00:14:32,170 OUTSIDE OF RADIATION BELTS, LUNAR ORBIT WE DON'T HAVE THAT. 238 00:14:32,170 --> 00:14:35,710 EDUCATION EXPOSURE IN THOSE SUITS WILL BE A LOT MORE. 239 00:14:35,710 --> 00:14:40,250 WE NEED SUITS DESIGNED FOR HIGHER RADIATION ENVIRONMENT. 240 00:14:40,250 --> 00:14:45,410 I THINK PSYCHOLOGICALLY, THE HUMAN PART, THE HARDER PART IS 241 00:14:45,410 --> 00:14:50,580 THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE EARTH, THIS BIG HUGE BALL RIGHT 242 00:14:50,580 --> 00:14:51,580 THERE. 243 00:14:51,580 --> 00:14:56,860 SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE 225 MILES UP, YOU HAVE THE FEELING YOU'RE 244 00:14:56,860 --> 00:14:57,860 TIED TO EARTH. 245 00:14:57,860 --> 00:15:02,000 THE MOON GUYS, THEY CAN PUT THEIR THUMB UP AND COVER THE 246 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,450 EARTH AND YOU'RE NOT FAR AWAY YOU DON'T HAVE THE EARTH THERE. 247 00:15:05,450 --> 00:15:08,670 THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT SENSATION FROM THE FOLLOWING ONE 248 00:15:08,670 --> 00:15:10,270 US HAVE TO OVERCOME. 249 00:15:10,270 --> 00:15:14,740 >> YOU'VE DONE SOME TRAINING FOR WORKING ON AN ASTEROID, 250 00:15:14,740 --> 00:15:15,740 CORRECT? 251 00:15:15,740 --> 00:15:16,740 >> CORRECT. 252 00:15:16,740 --> 00:15:25,740 WE LIVE IN THE HABITAT OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA, UNDERSEA 253 00:15:25,740 --> 00:15:31,240 HABITAT IN THE WORLD AND WE LIVE THERE FOR A WEEK UNDER GROUND. 254 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:36,800 PART OF OUR TIME WAS DEDICATED TO EQUIPMENT EXPLORATION THAT 255 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,610 ALLOWS US TO DO WORK ON AN ASTEROID. 256 00:15:38,610 --> 00:15:39,960 ASTEROIDS ARE SMALL. 257 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:41,910 THEY DON'T HAVE GRAVITY. 258 00:15:41,910 --> 00:15:45,250 IF WE GO UP TO AN ASTEROID AND ONE SMALL ENOUGH WE CAN DO 259 00:15:45,250 --> 00:15:50,220 REDIRECT MISSION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE EARTH, IF WE GO UP 260 00:15:50,220 --> 00:15:52,171 TO IT WE'LL PUSH IT AND IT MAY PUSH AWAY. 261 00:15:52,171 --> 00:15:55,800 WE'LL BE OPPOSING EACH OTHER. 262 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:59,560 SO WHAT WE DID, WORKED OUT A SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN BOLT DOWN 263 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,880 THE SURFACE OF THE ASTEROID AND USING A TELESCOPING ARM, DRILL 264 00:16:03,880 --> 00:16:08,160 AND GET CORE SAMPLES. 265 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:09,850 >> THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGING MISSION. 266 00:16:09,850 --> 00:16:11,950 WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE ON THAT MISSION? 267 00:16:11,950 --> 00:16:12,950 >> ABSOLUTELY. 268 00:16:12,950 --> 00:16:15,270 ALL THE ASTRONAUTS WANT TO DO THE HARD STUFF YOU HAVEN'T DONE 269 00:16:15,270 --> 00:16:16,270 BEFORE. 270 00:16:16,270 --> 00:16:20,000 THAT'S THE FUN THING ABOUT LEARNING IS THE FACT SOMETHING 271 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,240 INTERESTING TO YOU, YOU GO STUDY, WORK HARD AND THEN 272 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,290 HOPEFULLY IN TEND EITHER FIND THE ANSWER OR IN THIS CASE WITH 273 00:16:26,290 --> 00:16:30,780 EXPLORATION DEVELOP AN FIGURE OUT HOW WE GO FURTHER BASED ON 274 00:16:30,780 --> 00:16:31,950 THE ANSWERS WE FIND. 275 00:16:31,950 --> 00:16:34,230 >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US TODAY. 276 00:16:34,230 --> 00:16:35,950 >> MY PLEASURE. 277 00:16:35,950 --> 00:16:39,440 >> SO I'M SITTING HERE WITH MY FRIENDS. 278 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:44,140 NOW WE JUST HEARD AN ASTRONAUT TALK ABOUT TRAVELING INTO SPACE. 279 00:16:44,140 --> 00:16:47,580 HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON ONE OF THESE MISSIONS? 280 00:16:47,580 --> 00:16:51,880 LET'S SEE GO, NO GO. 281 00:16:51,880 --> 00:16:53,660 I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF GOS. 282 00:16:53,660 --> 00:16:59,070 WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO WANT TO BE ASTRONAUTS. 283 00:16:59,070 --> 00:17:02,720 YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO MEET WITH MARTY, RIGHT? 284 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:04,810 HE CAME TO YOUR SCHOOL. 285 00:17:04,810 --> 00:17:07,740 CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HE DID? 286 00:17:07,740 --> 00:17:11,780 >> WELL WE STUDIED MORE WITH METEORITES AND WHERE THEY COME 287 00:17:11,780 --> 00:17:18,360 FROM AND WE STEW DID ROCKS AND THE TEXTURE OF IT WAS VERY 288 00:17:18,360 --> 00:17:19,360 SMOOTH. 289 00:17:19,360 --> 00:17:23,910 WE WERE ABLE TO USE MAGNETS TO ATTRACT THE P PIECES OF THE 290 00:17:23,910 --> 00:17:26,330 METEORITES. 291 00:17:26,330 --> 00:17:31,790 >> LET'S LOOK WHAT WE DID. 292 00:17:31,790 --> 00:17:34,530 >> TODAY YOUR GUYS READY TO BECOME GEOLOGISTS? 293 00:17:34,530 --> 00:17:35,530 >> YES. 294 00:17:35,530 --> 00:17:39,950 >> WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT SOME ROCKS BUT THESE AREN'T ORDINARY 295 00:17:39,950 --> 00:17:41,110 EVERY DAY ROCKS. 296 00:17:41,110 --> 00:17:45,170 THESE ROCKS ARE FROM OUTER SPACE. 297 00:17:45,170 --> 00:17:46,950 >> OH. 298 00:17:46,950 --> 00:17:51,060 >> THESE ARE ALL METEORITES, CHUNKS OF ASTEROIDS AT SOME 299 00:17:51,060 --> 00:17:54,720 POINT FELL TO THE EARTH'S SURFACE AND WE FOUND THEM AND 300 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,680 NOW WE CAN STUDY THEM TO LEARN ABOUT OUR EARLY SOLAR SYSTEM. 301 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,650 ARE YOU READY TO CHECK THIS OUT? 302 00:17:59,650 --> 00:18:00,650 >> YES. 303 00:18:00,650 --> 00:18:01,650 >> ALL RIGHT. 304 00:18:01,650 --> 00:18:12,740 LET'S DO IT. 305 00:18:12,740 --> 00:18:16,980 SO THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A METEORITE MADE UP OF A WHOLE 306 00:18:16,980 --> 00:18:20,650 BUNCH OF FIBERS LIKE THIS AND THEY SLICED IT SO THEY COULD 307 00:18:20,650 --> 00:18:25,520 STUDY THE INSIDE OF IT. 308 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:36,820 METEORITES ARE MADE OF ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS. 309 00:18:36,820 --> 00:18:40,780 THIS ONE IS MOSTLY MADE OF ROCK. 310 00:18:40,780 --> 00:18:44,250 SO WHAT WE KNOW FROM THIS ONE IS, THIS TYPE OF METEORITE WAS 311 00:18:44,250 --> 00:18:49,730 PROBABLY FROM THE OUTSIDE LAYER OF AN ASTEROID. 312 00:18:49,730 --> 00:18:54,750 WHERE THIS ONE THAT'S MOSTLY -- FEEL THAT -- MOSTLY METAL, IRON, 313 00:18:54,750 --> 00:19:00,280 VERY HEAVY, IT'S MOST LIKELY FROM THE INSIDE OF AN ASTEROID. 314 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:04,000 WHAT'S REALLY COOL HERE ON EARTH WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ROCKS FROM 315 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:06,310 THE VERY INSIDE OF THE EARTH, DO WE? 316 00:19:06,310 --> 00:19:10,250 BUT HERE WE HAVE A ROCK FROM THE INSIDE OF AN ASTEROID. 317 00:19:10,250 --> 00:19:13,820 AND WE CAN LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT ASTEROID WAS 318 00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:21,020 FORMED OR WHAT THAT'S MADE OUT OF. 319 00:19:21,020 --> 00:19:29,570 >> GUYS, DID YOU THINK IT WAS PRETTY COOL GETTING A CHANCE TO 320 00:19:29,570 --> 00:19:32,750 HOLD ROCKS FROM OUTER SPACE >> YES. 321 00:19:32,750 --> 00:19:35,750 >> THEY WERE A LOT HEAVIER THAN THEY LOOKED, WEREN'T THEY? 322 00:19:35,750 --> 00:19:36,750 >> YES. 323 00:19:36,750 --> 00:19:37,760 >> SO GOOD JOB TODAY. 324 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:43,809 I GOT TO SAY YOU GUYS AND YOUR OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS, YOU ROCK. 325 00:19:43,809 --> 00:19:46,000 >> THANK YOU. 326 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,410 >> AND I'M HERE WITH LINDSAY JOHNSON. 327 00:19:47,410 --> 00:19:49,230 HOW ARE YOU TODAY? 328 00:19:49,230 --> 00:19:50,280 >> GOOD. 329 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,590 >> YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ASTEROIDS. 330 00:19:53,590 --> 00:19:55,260 >> YES. 331 00:19:55,260 --> 00:19:58,110 MIGHT ASK WHY ARE WEINTERESTED IN EXPLORING ASTEROIDS. 332 00:19:58,110 --> 00:20:07,180 ASTEROIDS ARE LITERALLY THE 333 00:20:07,180 --> 00:20:09,520 CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 334 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,620 IF YOU GO BY A BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SITE YOU SEE THESE 335 00:20:13,620 --> 00:20:17,480 PILES OF SAND AND BRICKS AND ROCKS. 336 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:22,170 WELL, AN ASTEROID, I THINK WE HAVE AN IMAGE OF AN ASTEROID 337 00:20:22,170 --> 00:20:26,090 HERE THAT LOOKS A LOT LIKE CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL. 338 00:20:26,090 --> 00:20:27,090 >> CEMENT. 339 00:20:27,090 --> 00:20:30,480 >> FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE. 340 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:35,480 SO THIS IS MATERIAL THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, 341 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,390 BILLIONS OF YEARS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM COALESCED TOGETHER AND 342 00:20:38,390 --> 00:20:43,900 HAS GROWN BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BECOME PLANETS OF THE SOLAR 343 00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:44,900 SYSTEM. 344 00:20:44,900 --> 00:20:48,520 SO BY GOING TO AN ASTEROID AND SAMPLING MATERIAL AND BRINGING 345 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:53,930 IT BACK FOR LABORATORY ANALYSIS WE CAN LITERALLY DETERMINE WHAT 346 00:20:53,930 --> 00:20:58,800 ELEMENTS BUILT UP THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND BECAME THE PLANETS, 347 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:06,450 AND MATERIAL THAT POSSIBLY HAS THE ELEMENTS FOR THE CREATION OF 348 00:21:06,450 --> 00:21:07,450 LIFE. 349 00:21:07,450 --> 00:21:10,900 NOW, THE ASTEROID THAT'S ON THE IMAGE, THE ONE ASTEROID WE HAD A 350 00:21:10,900 --> 00:21:15,200 SPACECRAFT ACTUALLY GO TO IN ORBIT AND COLLECT SAMPLES. 351 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:22,680 IT'S CALLED IKAWA, BY THE JAPANESE MISSION. 352 00:21:22,680 --> 00:21:26,110 IN REAL LIFE IT'S ABOUT A QUARTER MILE LONG. 353 00:21:26,110 --> 00:21:30,600 AND SO IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL STADIUM. 354 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:32,970 AND SO THIS IS A 3-D BOTTLE OF IT. 355 00:21:32,970 --> 00:21:35,800 AS YOU CAN SEE IT HAS BOULDERS ON THE SURFACE THAT MAKES IT A 356 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:40,170 PERFECT KIND OF ASTEROID THAT WE WOULD WANT TO GO WITH THE 357 00:21:40,170 --> 00:21:43,150 ASTEROID REDIRECT MISSION TO COLLECT SAMPLES. 358 00:21:43,150 --> 00:21:51,510 WE HAVE ANOTHER ASTEROID MISSION CALLED CYBER REX. 359 00:21:51,510 --> 00:21:52,940 THIS IS A MODEL OF IT. 360 00:21:52,940 --> 00:21:57,590 IT ALSO IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE IN SIZE. 361 00:21:57,590 --> 00:22:03,720 BUT IT'S MUCH, LOOKS MUCH DARKER AND THAT'S A CARBONACIOUS, HAS 362 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:09,800 CARBON AND WATER AND THOSE KIND OF MATERIALS POSSIBLY EVEN BY 363 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:13,820 TAKING SAMPLES AND BRINGING THEM BACK TO EARTH WE'LL DISCOVER 364 00:22:13,820 --> 00:22:16,789 WHERE THE ELEMENTS, CREATION OF LIFE CAME FROM. 365 00:22:16,789 --> 00:22:20,429 >> BY STUDYING ASTEROIDS WE LEARN MORE ABOUT OURSELVES? 366 00:22:20,429 --> 00:22:21,640 >> EXACTLY. 367 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,930 WE ARE THE STUFF OF ASTEROIDS. 368 00:22:24,930 --> 00:22:26,720 >> I THINK WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. 369 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,320 DO WE HAVE A VIDEO QUESTION. 370 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:29,730 LET'S START THERE. 371 00:22:29,730 --> 00:22:30,730 >> HI. 372 00:22:30,730 --> 00:22:38,410 IS THERE SOME WAY TO FIND OUT WHERE SPACE ASTEROIDS ARE 373 00:22:38,410 --> 00:22:39,810 FORMED? 374 00:22:39,810 --> 00:22:42,740 >> IS THERE A WAY TO FIND OUT WHERE ASTEROIDS ARE FORMED IN 375 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:43,990 SPACE? 376 00:22:43,990 --> 00:22:45,250 >> SURE. 377 00:22:45,250 --> 00:22:48,900 THAT'S ONE OF THE PROGRAMS I LEAD AT NASA. 378 00:22:48,900 --> 00:22:52,680 THE OBSERVATION PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WHERE ALL 379 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:56,760 THE ASTEROIDS ARE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM. 380 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,030 SO WE TAKE THE OBSERVATIONS. 381 00:22:59,030 --> 00:23:02,940 WE DETERMINE WHAT THE ORBITS CURRENTLY ARE AROUND THE SUN AND 382 00:23:02,940 --> 00:23:08,910 THEN USING MATH, COMPUTERS, THANKFULLY THE COMPUTERS WE CAN 383 00:23:08,910 --> 00:23:13,560 BACK THOSE ORBITS UP FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS AND DETERMINE 384 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,720 WHERE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM THESE OBJECTS ORIGINATED. 385 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:19,270 >> WE GOT AN AUDIENCE QUESTION. 386 00:23:19,270 --> 00:23:24,970 DO YOU HAVE YOUR QUESTION READY? 387 00:23:24,970 --> 00:23:25,970 DO YOU? 388 00:23:25,970 --> 00:23:26,970 GOT A QUESTION? 389 00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:27,970 READY? 390 00:23:27,970 --> 00:23:29,760 >> MY QUESTION IS WHY DO ASTRONAUTS EXIST 391 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:30,760 >> LET'S TRY THE THIS ONE ON METEORS. 392 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,120 >> ARE METEORS VALUABLE. 393 00:23:34,120 --> 00:23:36,059 >> ARE METEORITES VALUE RABL? 394 00:23:36,059 --> 00:23:38,000 >> METEORITES ARE VERY VALUABLE. 395 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:43,700 IT'S LIKE A FREE SAMPLE RETURN. 396 00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:48,230 MATERIAL THAT METEORITES COMES FROM THE ASTEROIDS AND THE 397 00:23:48,230 --> 00:23:51,700 COMETS IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM WHEN THEY PASS BY THE EARTH THEY 398 00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:56,050 LEAVE THIS MATERIAL THAT COMES INTO THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE, SO 399 00:23:56,050 --> 00:24:01,180 OUT IN SPACE IT'S AN ASTEROID OR IF IT'S A SMALL ASTEROID WE CALL 400 00:24:01,180 --> 00:24:02,180 THEM METEORS. 401 00:24:02,180 --> 00:24:06,710 WHEN IT ENTERS THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE IT HAS A BRIGHT TRAIL 402 00:24:06,710 --> 00:24:09,140 AND CALLED A METEOR. 403 00:24:09,140 --> 00:24:13,890 WHEN IT HITS THE GROUND AND COLLECTED OFF THE SURFACE, 404 00:24:13,890 --> 00:24:15,310 THAT'S A METEORITE. 405 00:24:15,310 --> 00:24:18,100 SO THIS IS MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN DELIVERED TO THE SURFACE OF THE 406 00:24:18,100 --> 00:24:19,760 EARTH FROM SPACE. 407 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:20,760 >> OKAY. 408 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,380 LET'S TAKE AN ONLINE QUESTION. 409 00:24:23,380 --> 00:24:27,800 IS NASA WORRIED IF THESE ASTEROIDS ARE NOT REDIRECTED 410 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:30,930 SOME WILL COLLIDE WITH EARTH? 411 00:24:30,930 --> 00:24:36,600 >> YEAH, THAT'S THE REAL BASIS OF OUR PROGRAM IS TO FIND ANY 412 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,440 ASTEROID THAT COULD HIT THE EARTH BEFORE IT FINDS US. 413 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:45,750 SO OUR PROGRAM, IT'S BEEN OPERATING FOR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 414 00:24:45,750 --> 00:24:47,520 16 YEARS NOW. 415 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:54,941 AND WE HAVE FOUND OVER 13,000 ASTEROIDS THAT COME, WHAT WE 416 00:24:54,941 --> 00:25:02,550 CALL NEAR EARTH ORBITS AND ABOUT 1600 OF THOSE ARE IN ORBITS THAT 417 00:25:02,550 --> 00:25:06,030 COME CLOSE ENOUGH TO EARTH THAT WE CONSIDER THEM HAZARDOUS. 418 00:25:06,030 --> 00:25:09,390 WE CONTINUE TO OBSERVE THOSE AND MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THEIR 419 00:25:09,390 --> 00:25:12,980 ORBITS AND FIND ALL THE REST OF THEM OUT THERE. 420 00:25:12,980 --> 00:25:17,980 CURRENTLY WE HAVE FOUND ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE ASTEROIDS THAT 421 00:25:17,980 --> 00:25:21,790 COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE EARTH AND CAN DO SOME REAL DAMAGE IF 422 00:25:21,790 --> 00:25:23,510 IT HIT THE EARTH. 423 00:25:23,510 --> 00:25:27,570 THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WILL TAKE MANY YEARS AND LITERALLY DECADES 424 00:25:27,570 --> 00:25:30,030 TO CATALOG ALL THOSE OBJECTS. 425 00:25:30,030 --> 00:25:32,100 >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. 426 00:25:32,100 --> 00:25:35,070 WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO MARTY AND MICHELE. 427 00:25:35,070 --> 00:25:37,570 >> SO WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MISSION BUT ONE OF THE BIG PARTS 428 00:25:37,570 --> 00:25:40,300 OF THIS MISSION IS IT'S A STEPPING STONE TOWARDS 429 00:25:40,300 --> 00:25:42,120 EVENTUALLY GOING TOWARDS MARS. 430 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:43,500 HOW IS THAT? 431 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:48,071 >> SO, THE APPLICATION OF UTILIZING SOLAR ELECTRIC 432 00:25:48,071 --> 00:25:52,600 PROPULSION TO MOVING MULTI-TON MASSES AND INTERPLANETARY 433 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:57,190 SPACE-LIKE TRAJECTORIES AND ULTIMATELY INTO A LONG TERM 434 00:25:57,190 --> 00:26:01,110 STAGING ORBIT ALLOWS US TO DEMONSTRATE MOVING MARS CHARGE 435 00:26:01,110 --> 00:26:05,290 JOBS MOVING VEHICLES TO RETURN THE CREW BACK TO EARTH. 436 00:26:05,290 --> 00:26:09,700 THE INTEGRATION OF THE CREW, VEHICLE AND ROBOTIC VEHICLE AND 437 00:26:09,700 --> 00:26:14,500 OPERATION OF THAT COMBINED SYSTEM WHILE WE'RE STILL JUST A 438 00:26:14,500 --> 00:26:18,030 FEW DAYS RETURN NOT TOO FAR YET ALLOWS US TO DEMONSTRATE THAT 439 00:26:18,030 --> 00:26:21,590 WHOLE INTEGRATED MISSION OPERATIONS CAPABILITY, SAFETY OF 440 00:26:21,590 --> 00:26:25,250 THE CREW, MAINTAINING RETURN TIMES IF WE NEED TO GET THE CREW 441 00:26:25,250 --> 00:26:31,090 BACK AND FINALLY I WOULD SAY THE BEGINNING OF THE EVA OR EXTRA 442 00:26:31,090 --> 00:26:36,940 VEHICULAR ACTIVITY TO TAKE THE ASTRONAUTS OUTSIDE TO DO USEFUL, 443 00:26:36,940 --> 00:26:38,500 MEANINGFUL TASKS. 444 00:26:38,500 --> 00:26:41,230 PRETTY COMPLICATED TASKS YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE ASTRONAUTS 445 00:26:41,230 --> 00:26:47,000 HAVE ADEQUATE MOBILITY, ADEQUATE SYSTEMS IN WHICH TO ACCOMPLISH 446 00:26:47,000 --> 00:26:50,120 THEIR TASKS, CARRY ALONG THEIR LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS IN A 447 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:54,790 PORTABLE MANNER, TESTING THE ENCASING THAT PROTECTS THE 448 00:26:54,790 --> 00:26:57,830 HUMANS FROM THE HARSH VACUUM OF DEEP SPACE. 449 00:26:57,830 --> 00:27:01,200 SO THOSE WILL ALL COMBINE THROUGH DEMONSTRATION ON THIS 450 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:05,270 MISSION TO ENABLE US TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TO MARS. 451 00:27:05,270 --> 00:27:06,270 >> THAT'S AWESOME. 452 00:27:06,270 --> 00:27:08,140 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALK WITH US TODAY. 453 00:27:08,140 --> 00:27:11,790 OUR NEXT SHOW IS ALL ABOUT MARS ON OCTOBER 21st. 454 00:27:11,790 --> 00:27:16,620 CHECK THIS OUT OUR STEM 2nd. 455 00:27:16,620 --> 00:27:21,490 >> HI, I'M BETH WILSON ONE OF THE HOSTS OF STEM 30. 456 00:27:21,490 --> 00:27:24,960 YOU KNOW THERE'S NOTHING MORE I LIKE MORE THAN LOOKING AT A 457 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,730 PHOTOGRAPH OF A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET. 458 00:27:29,730 --> 00:27:32,880 >> HEY, THIS DOESN'T LOOK FAMILIAR. 459 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,250 >> WELL IT IS THE SUN AND YOU CAN SEE IT SINKING SLOWLY BEHIND 460 00:27:36,250 --> 00:27:39,940 THE HORIZON RIGHT ALONG THESE WONDERFUL MOUNTAINS. 461 00:27:39,940 --> 00:27:44,030 YOU CAN ALMOST SMELL THE FRESH AIR. 462 00:27:44,030 --> 00:27:47,170 HOWEVER, THERE ISN'T ANY AIR. 463 00:27:47,170 --> 00:27:50,250 THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN ON MARS BY ONE OF THE MARS ROVERS. 464 00:27:50,250 --> 00:27:57,610 IF YOU THINK THIS IS COOL CHECK OUT OUR NEXT STEM 30. 465 00:27:57,610 --> 00:27:59,870 >> OCTOBER 21st, ALL ABOUT MARS. 466 00:27:59,870 --> 00:28:03,000 NOVEMBER 18th WE TALK TO THE ASTRONAUTS LIVE ON THE 467 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:04,850 INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.