Tour the Plane Giving NASA’s ICON a Ride to Space

Tour the Plane Giving NASA’s ICON a Ride to Space

Narration:

Transcript:

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HELLO AND WELCOME

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WE ARE HERE AT CAPE CANAVERAL

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AIR FORCE STATION IN FLORIDA.

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GETTING READY FOR THE LAUNCH OF NASA's

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IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER. THAT IS ICON FOR SHORT.

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I AM KAREN FOX AND WE'RE GOING TO

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BE TALKING ABOUT THIS PLANE

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RIGHT BEHIND ME. THAT'S AN L1011.

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THAT'S GOING TO HELP LAUNCH ICON UP INTO SPACE

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WE'RE GOING TO GO INSIDE AND

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WE'RE GOING TO WALK AROUND.

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BUT BEFORE THAT, WE ARE TALKING TO

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SCOTT ENGLAND. HE IS THE PROJECT

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SCIENTIST FOR ICON FROM VIRGINIA

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TECH IN BLACKSBERG, VIRGINIA.

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WELCOME.

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>> WELCOME.

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>> START OUT JUST TELLING US ABOUT THE

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IONOSPHERIC CONNECTION EXPLORER.

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WHAT IS THE IONOSPHERE?

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>> THE IONOSPHERE IS THE VERY TOP OF EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.

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IT'S THIS REGION WHERE OUR ATMOSPHERE REACHES SPACE.

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THE FIRST REGION THAT SUNLIGHT

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HITS WHEN IT REACHES OUR ATMOSPHERE.

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AND AT THESE ALTITUDES

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THE SUNLIGHT IS ABLE TO BREAK APART

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THE ATOMS AND MOLECULES AND

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ENERGIZE THEM AND IONIZE THEM

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FORMING CHARGED

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PARTICLES AND WE CALL THESE CHARGED PARTICLES THE IONOSPHERE.

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BECAUSE THEY'RE CHARGED

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THIS CAN INTERACT WITH

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SPACECRAFT AND RADIO SIGNALS SUCH AS

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AS GPS THAT TRY TO PASS THROUGH THIS REGION.

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WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND THESE

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CHARGE PARTICLES AND THEIR

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BEHAVIOR.

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ANOTHER PHENOMENA THAT WE GET IN

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THIS REGION AS THE SUNLIGHT

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ENERGIZES AND IONIZES THE

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PARTICLES THEY'RE ABLE TO EMIT

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LIGHT.

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WE CALL THIS AIRGLOW AND THIS

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IS A REALLY FASCINATING PHENOMENA OF THIS REGION.

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AN EXAMPLE OF AIRGLOW THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE

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SEEN CALLED AURORA WHICH WE

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GET NEAR THE NORTH AND SOUTH

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POLE AND THAT'S A VERY BRIGHT FORM OF AIRGLOW

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BUT THERE IS ACTUALLY AIRGLOW ALL OVER

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THE PLANET EVEN ABOVE US RIGHT

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NOW.

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>> IS IT SOMETHING WE CAN SEE UP THERE

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RIGHT NOW?

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>> IF WE WENT ABOVE THE

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ATMOSPHERE LIKE AATMOSPHERE LIKE ASTRONAUTS AT THE SPACE STATIONSTRONAUTS AND

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AND THEY LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE SPACE

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STATION AN AT NIGHT THEY SEE

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THIS BEAUTIFUL GREEN GLOW, RIGHT

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AROUND 60 MILES ABOVE THE

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SURFACE ON THE EDGE OF SPACE.

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>> SO YOU'VE EXPLAINED ABOUT THE

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IONOSPHERE AND HOW THERE

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IS A LOT GOING ON THERE AND WE

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HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT IT TO PROTECT

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OUR COMMUNICATIONS IN SPACE AND

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ASTRONAUTS ARE UP THERE TOO.

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WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.

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TELL US WHAT ICON IS BRINGING TO

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THE TABLE.

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WHAT KIND OF OBSERVATIONS WILL

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IT HELP WITH?

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>> THIS REGION AROUND 60 MILES

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OFF THE SURFACE IS REALLY

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INACCESSIBLE. IT'S MUCH TOO HIGH

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TO FLY AN AIRPLANE LIKE THIS AND GET

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MEASUREMENTS. IT'S ALSO TOO LOW TO FLY A

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SPACECRAFT THROUGH THIS REGION.

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IT'S ALSO THE REGION WHERE WE

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THINK THE REAL CONNECTION

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BETWEEN OUR ATMOSPHERE AND THE

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IONOSPHERE IS TAKING

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PLACE.

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ICON WILL MAKE USE OF THIS AIR

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GLOW SO ICON WILL BE FLYING IN

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LOW-EARTH ORBIT AROUND THE TOP OF THE IONOSPHERE, MAKING

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MEASUREMENTS FROM ITS ALTITUDE AND DOWN INTO THIS

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INACCESSIBLE REGION AND TAKING

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IMAGES AND SPECTRA OF THIS AIRGLOW AND

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SEEING HOW IS THE AIR MOVING,

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WHAT'S THE WIND SPEED, WHAT IS THE

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TEMPERATURE AND THEN WHERE ARE

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THESE CHARGE PARTICLES BEING

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FORMED AND HOW ARE THEY MOVING

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AND REALLY SHOW US THIS

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CONNECTION BETWEEN THE NEUTRAL

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PART OF THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE

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LIVE IN AND THESE IONS ON THE

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EDGE OF SPACE.

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>> SO YOU'RE DESCRIBING THIS AREA, IT'S CHANGING ALL THE TIME

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THERE'S A LOT GOING ON THERE.

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WHAT IS MAKING IT CHANGE?

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WHAT's DRIVING ALL THAT?

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>> SO, WE KNOW THAT THE IONOSPHERE IS FORMED

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WHEN SUNLIGHT HITS THE

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ATMOSPHERE AND BREAKS APART THE

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ATOMS AND MOLECULES.

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WE KNOW THAT THE SUN PLAYS A REALLY

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IMPORTANT ROLE IN TRANSFORMING

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THE IONOSPHERE.

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BUT OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS OR SO, WE'VE HAD THESE OBSERVATIONS OF THE IONOSPHERE FROM NASA MISSIONS AND OF THE SUN AND

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WE CAN REALLY SAY THAT IT's NOT

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JUST CHANGES IN THE SUN THAT ARE

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DRIVING WHAT WE SEE IN THE EYE

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IONOSPHERE.

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THROUGH PIECING TOGETHER THESE OBSERVATIONS OF THE IONOSPHERE

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AND BRINGING TOGETHER

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OBSERVATIONS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AT MUCH

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LOWER ALTITUDES, DOWN NEAR THE SURFACE HERE, WE CAN SEE

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REFLECTIONS OF PATTERNS WE SEE,

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ESPECIALLY IN LARGE SCALE

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WEATHER SYSTEMS LIKE TROPICAL

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THUNDERSTORMS AND HOW THEY

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CHANGE OVER TIME.

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WE THEN SEE AN IMPRINT OF THAT

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ON WHERE THE CHARGE PARTICLES

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ARE IN THE IONOSPHERE.

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WHAT WE THINK IS HAPPENING IS

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NOT THAT THE TROPICAL WEATHER

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PATTERNS ARE REACHING ALL THE

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WAY UP TO THE IONOSPHERE DIRECTLY BUT WE THINK

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THAT THEIR INFORMATION IS BEING

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COMMUNICATED THERE THROUGH

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ATMOSPHERIC WAVES.

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LIKE THIS AIRPLANE BEHIND US IF

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YOU SEE IT UP IN THE SKY YOU CAN

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HEAR ITS ENGINES.

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WHAT IS HAPPENING IS NOT THAT

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THE AIR FROM THE ENGINES IS

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COMING DOWN TO YOUR EARS, BUT

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SOUND WAVES ARE TRAVELING

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THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE FROM THE

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ENGINES BRINGING THAT ENERGY AND

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THAT INFORMATION TO YOU AND WE

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THINK THE SAME SORT OF THING IS

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HAPPENING VERY LARGE SCALES

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BETWEEN THESE LARGE-SCALE LOWER

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ATMOSPHERE WEATHER SYSTEMS

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COMMUNICATING ENERGY AND ENERGY

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UP TO THE IONSOSPHERE

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THROUGH ATMOSPHERIC WAVES. AND ICON'S GOING TO GET US

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OBSERVATIONS OF THESE BY MEASURING HOW THE

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ATMOSPHERE IS MOVING AND HOW THE

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IONOSPHERE IS REALLY RESPONDING AND

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HOW THE CONNECTION TAKES PLACE.

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>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

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LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW THE

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TERRESTRIAL WEATHER AND SPACE

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WEATHER ARE CONNECTED WITH ICON.

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THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

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>> THANK YOU.

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>> ALRIGHT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO GO OVER TO

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THE PLANE AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT

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MORE. WE'RE GOING TO GO TALK TO ED DUNLAP WITH

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN. COME ON ALONG!

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WE ARE TALKING TO ED DUNLAP WITH

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NORTHROP GRUMMAN.

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HE MANAGES THE PLANE OPERATIONS.

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YOU STILL HAVE BEHIND US THE AIRPLANE

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AND OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A

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STANDARD LAUNCH -- PEOPLE THINK

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OF A ROCKET GOING INTO SPACE.

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SO, TELL ME ABOUT THIS PLANE AND HOW

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IT'S GOING TO GET ICON INTO SPACE.

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>> SO, FIRST OF ALL THIS IS A LOCKHEED TRI-STAR

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MEANING IT HAS 3 ENGINES.

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IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO

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CARRY 3-400 PASSENGERS BUT MY

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COMPANY PURCHASED IT AND MODIFIED IT COMPLETELYCOMPANY PURCHASED IT AND MODIFIED IT COMPLETELY

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STRUCTURALLY, SO THAT IT CAN MOUNT THIS 52,000-POUND ROCKET TO

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THE BELLY OF THE AIRPLANE.

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WHAT WE WILL DO, ON DAY OF LAUNCH, IS WE'LL TAKE OFF, FLY UP TO

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39,000 FEET WHICH IS OUR DROP

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ALTITUDE AND THEN THE AIRPLANE

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IS ESSENTIALLY THE FIRST STAGE

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SO IT'S A REUSABLE FIRST STAGE. WE CAN BRING IT BACK

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AND USE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. THIS WILL BE OUR 38TH LAUNCH OFF

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OF THE L-1011. AND

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IN THAT TIME PERIOD BECAUSE NOT

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EVERY SATELLITE IS A

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SINGLE SATELLITE, THIS WILL BE

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THE 91ST SATELLITE THAT WE'LL LAUNCH OFF THIS AIRCRAFT.

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>> NOW, YOU SAID IT'S A PASSENGER

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PLANE. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS PLANE?

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>> IT WAS BUILT IN 1974 AND FOR

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15 YEARS IT SERVED AIR CANADA

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AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ALL

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ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, EVEN

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SPENT TIME IN INDIA, FLYING AROUND.

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WE PURCHASED IT AND HAD BEEN

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USING IT EVER SINCE.

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>> AND INSIDE, WHEN WE GO IN

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THERE WILL IT STILL HAVE SEATS? WHAT DOES IT LOOK

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LIKE IN THERE? >> ACTUALLY BECAUSE OF THE

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MODIFICATIONS, THIS AIRPLANE'S

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SOLE PURPOSE IS TO GET UP TO ALTITUDE AND

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DROP THE ROCKET.

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ALL THE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATIONS

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EXCEPT ONE LAVATORY, EVERYTHING

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ELSE WAS TAKEN OUT TO LIGHTEN

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THE LOAD TO GET TO ALTITUDE QUICKLY.

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THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN

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PASSENGER SEATS YOU'LL SEE IN

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THE CABIN AND THAT's BECAUSE WE

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DO -- LIKE WHEN WE CAME HERE

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FROM CALIFORNIA WE DID A CAPTIVE

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CARRY FLIGHT. SO WE HAVE EXTRA CREW MEMBERS, ROCKET

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TECHNICIANS AND ENGINEERS THAT ACCOMPANY US.

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THERE'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY WE MIGHT

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HAVE TO OFF LAND AND EVERYTHING

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ON BOARD OF THE AIRPLANE WE MAY

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NEED FOR ANY CONTINGENCY THAT

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MAY HAPPEN.

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>> ALRIGHT, YOU TOLD US ABOUT THE PLANE.

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TELL US ABOUT THAT ROCKET.

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>> THIS IS A GREAT ROCKET.

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IT'S A 3-STAGE SOLID BOOSTER ROCKET.

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YOU CAN SEE THE FIRST STAGE,

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SEPARATION POINT JUST IN FRONT

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OF THE WINGS.

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THAT GETS TO 180,000 FEET.

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THERE'S A SECOND STAGE, THE METAL RING, GETS IT OUT

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OF EARTH's ORBIT AND THEN THE

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THIRD STAGE GETS IT INTO ITS

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PROPER ORBIT.

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THE SATELLITE IS IN THE VERY

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FRONT OF IT, AND IN THIS PARTICULAR

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CASE, IT's GOING UP TO 360 MILES

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IN SPACE.

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>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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WE'LL GO INSIDE NOW TO CHECK OUT

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THAT PLANE.

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I ENJOYED TALKING TO YOU.

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THANKS A LOT.

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SO NOW HERE WE ARE ABOUT TO

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ENTER THE L-1011 AND TALK TO THE

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CREW WHO WILL BE WITH THE PLANE

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DURING THE LAUNCH.

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WE ARE TALKING NOW TO JIM

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STOWERS, HE IS THE LAUNCH PLANEL

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OPERATOR WHO WILL BE IN THIS

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PLANE WHEN ICON LAUNCHES.

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HERE WE ARE, I SEE A LOT OF LAUNCH

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PANELS.

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>> THIS IS THE LAUNCH PANEL

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OPERATOR STATION. WHAT WE DO HERE IS

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WE MONITOR THE TELEMETRY, STATUS OF THE

258

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ROCKET, THE HEALTH OF SATELLITE. WE ALSO PROVIDE POWER

259

00:08:38,580 --> 00:08:39,430

TO THE FUNCTIONS THAT THE LAUNCH CONDUCTOR HAS US DO ON LAUNCH DAY.

260

00:08:39,450 --> 00:08:42,230

>> SO HERE WE ARE. WE'RE ON LAUNCH DAY, WHAT ARE

261

00:08:42,250 --> 00:08:43,660

YOU ACTUALLY DOING DURING THE

262

00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:44,000

LAUNCH?

263

00:08:44,020 --> 00:08:45,930

>> IT GETS BUSY AT TIMES.

264

00:08:45,950 --> 00:08:47,440

WE'LL MONITOR THE

265

00:08:47,460 --> 00:08:48,274

AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO MAKE

266

00:08:48,294 --> 00:08:53,710

SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE RIGHT

267

00:08:53,730 --> 00:08:54,914

TEMPERATURE INTO THE FARING

268

00:08:54,934 --> 00:08:55,740

FOR THE SATELLITE AND POWERING

269

00:08:55,760 --> 00:08:57,250

UP THE ROCKET AND DOING OUR

270

00:08:57,270 --> 00:08:58,380

SYSTEMS CHECK AS WE GO THROUGH

271

00:08:58,400 --> 00:08:59,819

THE CHECKLIST AND WATCHING

272

00:08:59,839 --> 00:09:01,250

EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON.

273

00:09:01,270 --> 00:09:02,989

>> SO YOU'RE WATCHING TO SEE IF

274

00:09:03,009 --> 00:09:04,250

THE SPACECRAFT IS HEALTHY AND

275

00:09:04,270 --> 00:09:06,425

THE ROCKET IS HEALTHY.

276

00:09:06,445 --> 00:09:07,093

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SEE

277

00:09:07,113 --> 00:09:09,362

SOMETHING THAT's CONCERNING?

278

00:09:09,382 --> 00:09:11,190

>> IF WE SEE SOMETHING WE'LL GET

279

00:09:11,210 --> 00:09:14,330

ON THE RADIO AND TELL THE LAUNCH

280

00:09:14,350 --> 00:09:15,360

CONDUCTOR AND BRING HIS ATTENTION TO IT. HE'LL GE

281

00:09:15,380 --> 00:09:17,500

HIS ENGINEERING TEAM LOOKING AT IT AS WELL.

282

00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:18,400

>> ALL RIGHT.

283

00:09:18,420 --> 00:09:19,830

AND IF EVERYTHING GOES

284

00:09:19,850 --> 00:09:22,040

PERFECTLY, YOU GET TO PUSH THE

285

00:09:22,060 --> 00:09:23,940

BUTTON TO LET IT GO OUT?

286

00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,170

>> I GET TO ARM THE RELEASE

287

00:09:26,190 --> 00:09:27,410

MECHANISM BUT DON'T GET TO PUSH

288

00:09:27,430 --> 00:09:28,580

THE BIG BUTTON.

289

00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,750

>> WE'LL FIND OUT MORE ABOUT

290

00:09:30,770 --> 00:09:32,010

PUSHING THE BUTTON SOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

291

00:09:32,030 --> 00:09:41,060

NOW WE'LL GO TO THE COCKPIT.

292

00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:41,490

HELLO DON. >> HEY KAREN. THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

293

00:09:41,510 --> 00:09:46,590

WE ARE TALKING TO DON WALTER. HE IS A PILOT WHO

294

00:09:46,610 --> 00:09:48,430

WILL BE PILOTING THE PLANE DURING THE LAUNCH.

295

00:09:48,450 --> 00:09:49,635

HOW COOL IS THIS?

296

00:09:49,655 --> 00:09:51,200

>> THIS IS THE BEST JOB IN THE

297

00:09:51,220 --> 00:09:52,830

ENTIRE WORLD ABSOLUTELY.

298

00:09:52,850 --> 00:09:53,900

>> SO WALK US THROUGH WHAT

299

00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:55,940

YOU'RE DOING DURING THE LAUNCH.

300

00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:57,510

>> WELL, A GREAT PART OF THE

301

00:09:57,530 --> 00:09:59,740

LAUNCH TAKES PLACE ON THE GROUND

302

00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:01,010

BEFORE WE TAKE OFF.

303

00:10:01,030 --> 00:10:04,350

WE DO A LOT OF FREE FLIGHT

304

00:10:04,370 --> 00:10:04,717

PLANNING.

305

00:10:04,737 --> 00:10:07,486

I BROUGHT ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT

306

00:10:07,506 --> 00:10:10,189

HERE FOR YOU TO SEE.

307

00:10:10,209 --> 00:10:12,091

MOST OF OUR PLANNING INVOLVES

308

00:10:12,111 --> 00:10:13,492

GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE

309

00:10:13,512 --> 00:10:15,261

ACTUALLY GOING TO LAUNCH THE

310

00:10:15,281 --> 00:10:15,594

ROCKET.

311

00:10:15,614 --> 00:10:16,595

THE POINT WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH

312

00:10:16,615 --> 00:10:17,763

THE ROCKET IS OVER HERE. WE

313

00:10:17,783 --> 00:10:19,632

NEED A LITTLE BIT OF SPACE TO

314

00:10:19,652 --> 00:10:22,702

CLIMB UP TO OUR LAUNCH ALTITUDE.

315

00:10:22,722 --> 00:10:24,070

JUST TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE

316

00:10:24,090 --> 00:10:25,938

WE'RE SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THE

317

00:10:25,958 --> 00:10:26,806

SKID STRIP.

318

00:10:26,826 --> 00:10:28,841

YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BLUE

319

00:10:28,861 --> 00:10:30,609

FLASHING LIGHT HERE. THE

320

00:10:30,629 --> 00:10:32,545

DISTANCE OUT TO HERE IS ABOUT

321

00:10:32,565 --> 00:10:33,913

114 MILES.

322

00:10:33,933 --> 00:10:37,116

SO ON A CLEAR NIGHT OUR

323

00:10:37,136 --> 00:10:38,017

SPECTATORS WILL BE ABLE TO STAY

324

00:10:38,037 --> 00:10:39,919

ON THE BEACH AND ACTUALLY SEE

325

00:10:39,939 --> 00:10:41,153

THE LAUNCH.

326

00:10:41,173 --> 00:10:44,156

ALTHOUGH WE DO LAUNCH OFF AWAY

327

00:10:44,176 --> 00:10:45,891

FROM FLORIDA, BUT AGAIN THE

328

00:10:45,911 --> 00:10:47,460

MAJORITY WHAT WE DO IS PLANNING

329

00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:49,595

AND THEN ON LAUNCH DAY WE JUST

330

00:10:49,615 --> 00:10:50,997

EXECUTE THE PLAN.

331

00:10:51,017 --> 00:10:52,999

>> SO I'M SEEING THIS GIANT

332

00:10:53,019 --> 00:10:54,633

FIGURE 8 HERE. DOES THAT MEAN YOU CAN GO AROUND

333

00:10:54,653 --> 00:10:56,535

AND AROUND? HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

334

00:10:56,555 --> 00:11:00,673

>> IF YOU FOLOW MY FINGER ALONG,

335

00:11:00,693 --> 00:11:03,442

WHAT WE DO IS WE'VE GOING TO DEPART OUT OF HERE AND WE'VE GIVEN OURSELVES

336

00:11:03,462 --> 00:11:04,677

ABOUT 160 MILES BECAUSE WITH THE

337

00:11:04,697 --> 00:11:06,812

ROCKET ATTACHED TO THE OUTSIDE

338

00:11:06,832 --> 00:11:09,849

IT TAKES QUITE A WHILE TO CLIMB

339

00:11:09,869 --> 00:11:11,384

UP TO OUR LAUNCH ALTITUDE OF 39,000 FEET.

340

00:11:11,404 --> 00:11:12,752

SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE WE GET TO

341

00:11:12,772 --> 00:11:14,320

OUR LAUNCH ALTITUDE AND COME

342

00:11:14,340 --> 00:11:16,288

BACK THROUGH OUR LAUNCH POINT.

343

00:11:16,308 --> 00:11:17,990

CHECK THE WINDS, CHECK THE

344

00:11:18,010 --> 00:11:20,860

WEATHER AND CHECK THE TURBULENCE

345

00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:23,029

AND FROM THAT POINT I'D SAY IT'S

346

00:11:23,049 --> 00:11:25,398

ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO COME BACK

347

00:11:25,418 --> 00:11:26,832

AROUND THE PATTERN, BACK DOWN TO

348

00:11:26,852 --> 00:11:29,635

THE LAUNCH POINT AND ACTUALLY

349

00:11:29,655 --> 00:11:30,603

LAUNCH THE ROCKET.

350

00:11:30,623 --> 00:11:34,473

YOU SEE THERE'S SORT OF A HORSE

351

00:11:34,493 --> 00:11:36,876

RACE TRACK TYPE PATTERN HERE.

352

00:11:36,896 --> 00:11:39,512

DEPENDING ON WEATHER AND OTHER

353

00:11:39,532 --> 00:11:40,880

FACTORS, WE HAVE BASICALLY TWO

354

00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:42,815

ATTEMPTS TO LAUNCH THE ROCKET.

355

00:11:42,835 --> 00:11:44,316

GENERALLY WE TRY TO LAUNCH ON

356

00:11:44,336 --> 00:11:46,018

THE FIRST TIME BUT WE DO HAVE

357

00:11:46,038 --> 00:11:47,553

THE ABILITY WE CALL A RECYCLE TO

358

00:11:47,573 --> 00:11:50,056

COME BACK AROUND AND FLY THE

359

00:11:50,076 --> 00:11:51,624

PATTERN ONE MORE TIME AND LAUNCH

360

00:11:51,644 --> 00:11:53,459

AGAIN AND AFTERWARDS WE COME

361

00:11:53,479 --> 00:11:54,593

STRAIGHT BACK TO WHERE YOU'RE

362

00:11:54,613 --> 00:11:55,161

SITTING RIGHT NOW.

363

00:11:55,181 --> 00:11:55,761

>> ALL RIGHT.

364

00:11:55,781 --> 00:11:57,763

SO I HEARD THE BUTTON TO LAUNCH

365

00:11:57,783 --> 00:11:58,931

IS ACTUALLY UP HERE. IS THAT

366

00:11:58,951 --> 00:11:59,665

WHERE IT IS?

367

00:11:59,685 --> 00:12:03,002

>> IT'S UP HERE AND WE GET THE

368

00:12:03,022 --> 00:12:04,236

COMMAND FROM OUR LAUNCH

369

00:12:04,256 --> 00:12:05,638

COORDINATOR DOWN ON THE GROUND

370

00:12:05,658 --> 00:12:07,206

AND WHEN EVERYBODY AGREES WE'RE IN

371

00:12:07,226 --> 00:12:08,707

THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT

372

00:12:08,727 --> 00:12:10,342

TIME AT THE RIGHT ALTITUDE WE'RE

373

00:12:10,362 --> 00:12:12,144

GIVEN THE GO AHEAD AND LAUNCH

374

00:12:12,164 --> 00:12:15,114

THE ROCKET AND THE BUTTON TO

375

00:12:15,134 --> 00:12:16,982

LAUNCH SITS RIGHT HERE. WE HAVE

376

00:12:17,002 --> 00:12:18,417

TWO PILOTS UP HERE. I'M

377

00:12:18,437 --> 00:12:20,719

FLYING THE AIRPLANE AND MY

378

00:12:20,739 --> 00:12:23,322

COPILOT STEVE, WILL ACTUALLY BE THE ONE

379

00:12:23,342 --> 00:12:25,124

WHO PUSHES THE BUTTON.

380

00:12:25,144 --> 00:12:26,325

>> WALK ME THROUGH THAT.

381

00:12:26,345 --> 00:12:29,595

PAINT ME A PICTURE.

382

00:12:29,615 --> 00:12:30,196

WHAT HAPPENS?

383

00:12:30,216 --> 00:12:33,999

>> WELL, SO A LITTLE BIT OF HIS

384

00:12:34,019 --> 00:12:36,068

BASIC PHYSICS.

385

00:12:36,088 --> 00:12:36,802

AS SOON AS STEVE PUSHES THE

386

00:12:36,822 --> 00:12:38,737

BUTTON THERE IS A HYDRAULIC

387

00:12:38,757 --> 00:12:39,538

RELEASE THAT OPENS AND ALLOWS

388

00:12:39,558 --> 00:12:41,607

THE ROCKET TO LEAVE THE

389

00:12:41,627 --> 00:12:41,974

AIRPLANE.

390

00:12:41,994 --> 00:12:44,477

THE ROCKET WEIGHS 52,000 POUNDS.

391

00:12:44,497 --> 00:12:47,746

YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU LOST

392

00:12:47,766 --> 00:12:50,082

52,000 POUNDS ALL AT ONCE THE

393

00:12:50,102 --> 00:12:51,016

AIRCRAFT STILL HAS THE SAME

394

00:12:51,036 --> 00:12:52,785

AMOUNT OF LIFT SO THE AIRCRAFT

395

00:12:52,805 --> 00:12:53,953

RISES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE

396

00:12:53,973 --> 00:12:56,355

WEIGHT ANYMORE AND THE ROCKET

397

00:12:56,375 --> 00:12:57,523

FALLS FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS.

398

00:12:57,543 --> 00:12:58,891

AND IT'S THAT SEPARATION THAT

399

00:12:58,911 --> 00:13:01,494

GIVES US A PRETTY GOOD SAFETY

400

00:13:01,514 --> 00:13:03,596

MARGIN FROM THE TIME THE ROCKET

401

00:13:03,616 --> 00:13:06,165

LEAVES THE AIRPLANE UNTIL IT

402

00:13:06,185 --> 00:13:07,900

ACTUALLY LIGHTS UP AND MOTORS

403

00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,870

OUT A HEAD OF US.

404

00:13:10,890 --> 00:13:12,838

IT'S A FAIRLY ABRUPT DROP.

405

00:13:12,858 --> 00:13:16,208

WHEN IT RELEASES IT'S A FAIRLY

406

00:13:16,228 --> 00:13:17,676

GOOD SHAKE AND IT PUSHES US BACK

407

00:13:17,696 --> 00:13:19,478

IN OUR SEAT QUITE A BIT BECAUSE

408

00:13:19,498 --> 00:13:21,647

THE AIRPLANE IS RISING QUITE

409

00:13:21,667 --> 00:13:22,014

QUICKLY.

410

00:13:22,034 --> 00:13:24,016

THE REST OF IT IS JUST WE HAVE

411

00:13:24,036 --> 00:13:26,752

THE BEST VIEW OF ANYBODY AT NASA

412

00:13:26,772 --> 00:13:28,587

OR IN OUR COMPANY OF THE LAUNCH.

413

00:13:28,607 --> 00:13:31,557

IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING

414

00:13:31,577 --> 00:13:33,025

SPECTACULAR VIEW AND AT NIGHT

415

00:13:33,045 --> 00:13:36,128

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE FIRE THAT

416

00:13:36,148 --> 00:13:36,929

COMES OFF THE THRUST OF THE

417

00:13:36,949 --> 00:13:40,032

ROCKET MOVING AHEAD OF US AND

418

00:13:40,052 --> 00:13:42,034

CLIMBING BASICALLY OFF INTO

419

00:13:42,054 --> 00:13:42,334

SPACE.

420

00:13:42,354 --> 00:13:44,537

WE CAN WATCH BOTH STAGES FIRST

421

00:13:44,557 --> 00:13:47,873

AND SECOND STAGE ON A CLEAR

422

00:13:47,893 --> 00:13:52,278

NIGHT WHICH IS QUITE -- IT's AN

423

00:13:52,298 --> 00:13:54,113

AMAZING EXPERIENCE AND WE'RE

424

00:13:54,133 --> 00:13:56,048

REALLY LUCKY TO BE IN A SEAT

425

00:13:56,068 --> 00:13:57,917

LIKE THIS AND CALL THIS OUR

426

00:13:57,937 --> 00:13:58,250

OFFICE.

427

00:13:58,270 --> 00:13:59,818

>> AND THEN OF COURSE AFTER IT

428

00:13:59,838 --> 00:14:01,287

LAUNCHES WE ARE GOING TO BE

429

00:14:01,307 --> 00:14:03,022

WAITING ONE MONTH FOR THAT

430

00:14:03,042 --> 00:14:05,724

INCREDIBLE RESEARCH THAT SCOTT

431

00:14:05,744 --> 00:14:09,361

ENGLAND TOLD US ABOUT TO

432

00:14:09,381 --> 00:14:10,763

UNDERSTAND HOW TERRESTRIAL

433

00:14:10,783 --> 00:14:12,398

WEATHER AND SPACE WEATHER

434

00:14:12,418 --> 00:14:12,765

INTERACT.

435

00:14:12,785 --> 00:14:17,036

GO TO NASA.GOV/ICON AND STAY

436

00:14:17,056 --> 00:14:18,370

TUNED FOR GREAT THINGS FROM THIS

437

00:14:18,390 --> 00:14:19,638

GREAT MISSION AND GREAT LAUNCH.

438

00:14:19,658 --> 00:14:20,172

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

439

00:14:20,192 --> 00:14:32,685

BYE!

440

00:14:32,705 --> 00:14:35,087

♪♪

441

00:14:35,107 --> 00:14:30,283

♪♪