WEBVTT FILE

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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 ASTRONAUTS AT THE SPACE STATION

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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 IONOSPHERE

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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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00:08:15.660 --> 00:08:18.040
STOWERS, HE IS THE LAUNCH PLANEL

251
00:08:18.060 --> 00:08:19.810
OPERATOR WHO WILL BE IN THIS

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PLANE WHEN ICON LAUNCHES.

253
00:08:22.430 --> 00:08:24.680
HERE WE ARE, I SEE A LOT OF LAUNCH

254
00:08:24.700 --> 00:08:25.010
PANELS.

255
00:08:25.030 --> 00:08:28.320
>> THIS IS THE LAUNCH PANEL

256
00:08:28.340 --> 00:08:28.920
OPERATOR STATION. WHAT WE DO HERE IS

257
00:08:28.940 --> 00:08:32.850
WE MONITOR THE TELEMETRY, STATUS OF THE

258
00:08:32.870 --> 00:08:38.560
ROCKET, THE HEALTH OF SATELLITE. WE ALSO PROVIDE POWER

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00:08:38.580 --> 00:08:39.430
TO THE FUNCTIONS THAT THE LAUNCH CONDUCTOR HAS US DO ON LAUNCH DAY.

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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?

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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

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AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM TO MAKE

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SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE RIGHT

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TEMPERATURE INTO THE FARING

268
00:08:54.934 --> 00:08:55.740
FOR THE SATELLITE AND POWERING

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00:08:55.760 --> 00:08:57.250
UP THE ROCKET AND DOING OUR

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SYSTEMS CHECK AS WE GO THROUGH

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THE CHECKLIST AND WATCHING

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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

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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

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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
♪♪