>> SMA IS GO. >> NASA TEAM IS READY TO PROCEED. >> IGNITION, 2-1-0. RELEASE AND LIFTOFF. AS THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS CONTINUES. THE PERSEVERANCE OF HUMANITY WATCHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROBOTIC EXPLORERS'2hk5óKYK <u>!<O&</u> Ot■QSAATLAS FIVE ROCKET WE'÷çRs? THE MARS PERSEVERANCE ROVER TO THE RED PLANET. WE HAVE SPECIAL GUESTS HEREhÑ NW TO TALK ABOUT THE LAUNCH AND I WANT TO GET TO■ç THOSE RIGHT NO. TO MY LEFT, WE BEGIN WITH JIM BRIDEN STEIN, THE NASA ADMINISTRATOR. WE ALSO8 AND TORRE BRUNO, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNITED LAUNCH ALIGNS. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH OUR ADMINISTRATOR AND A FEW COMMENTS. OF COURSE IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE LAUNCH HERE AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND■ç A SUCCESSFUL ONE AT THAT, SENDING THE ROVER ON ITS WAY. WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS A SMALL COMMUNICATION ISSUE WITH THE SPAC$T÷H.O<u>IM STAKYçáj</a> AND T0</u> IN THAT PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE THE CARRIER WAVE IS ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A STRONG CARRIER WAVE, A STRONG SIGNAL, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOCK ON TO THE MODULATION OF■ç THAT SIGNAL TO RECEIVE THE66 DATA. EVERYTHING IS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN. WE DO NEED TO■ç FINE TUNE OUR RECEIVING STATIONS ON THE GROUND AND DO SOME THINGS TO CAPTURE THAT SIGNAL AND LOCK ON, BUT I THINK WE'RE IN GREAT SHAPE. IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR NASA. I JUST WANTS TO THANK YOU TO■ç R PARTNERS AT UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE. TORY BRUNO, YOUR TEAM DID AN ABSOLUTE MAGNIFICENT JOB. IT■ç COULDN'T HAVE GONE ANY BETR FROM A LAUNCH PERSPECTIVE AND OUR TEAM THAT PUT THIS TOGETHER. THE WHOLE NASA TEAM IS GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MADE THIS COME TOGETHER, SO THANK■ç YOU, DARRELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE OTHERS AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS■ç. WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS AFTER EXPERIENCING HE THIS AND SEEING THE SCIENCE MISSION ON ITS WAY? >> I'M RELIEVED. IT'S A SPACE MISSION NOW. IT USED TO BE■ç AN ENGINEERING PROJECT ON THE GROUND, IT'S A SPACE MISS NOW AND IT'S ON THE WAY TO MARS. THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE WE HOPED IT WOULD BE AT RIGHT NOW. YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING THAT I WARRANT TO DO ALSO IS■ç JUST ADD MY GRATITUDE, LONG SERVICES, UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE AND OF COURSE JPL AND MANY PARTNERS BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND■ç DOMESTC COMMERCIAL PARTNERS THAT GOT US THERE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE I'M PROUD OF AND THAT IS THAT THIS ENTIRE LAUNCH FROM THE BEGINNING WITH ALL■ç TE UNCERTAINTY THE LAUNCH BRINGS THROUGH NOW, WE DO SO WITH CAMERAS ON AND WE COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND DIRECTLY AND OPENLY. WE BELIEVE AND I KNOW WE FEEL EXACTLY THE■ç SAME WAY, JIM, IS THAT INSPIRATION COMES FROM TAKING THAT RISK AND MAKING IT REALLY CLEAR AND OPEN, WHAT■ç AL THE SUCCESSES ARE AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE NEED TWO ATTEMPTS TO GET THIS DOWN AND I OWN THE GREEN AND DOWN. THE POINT IS THIS IS JUST SPACEç MISSION. I LOOK AT HUNDRED SPACE MISSIONS OR SO EACH DAY IN MY EMAIL AND ISSUES OF THAT TYPE AND OTHERS OCCUR, AND WE COMMUNICATE THAT■ç OPENLY AND I JUST THINK THAT'S WHERE THE INSPIRATION COMES FROM. I WAS SO EXCITED FOR EXAMPLE TO MEET THESE 27th GRADERS THAT DID NAME PERSEVERANCE■ç AND INGENUITY. I'M SO GRATEFUL AND SO EXCITED F. THEIR TIME HERE WATCHING FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR AND GETTING ALL THE EXCITEMENT THAT GOES INTO WATCHING SOMETHING THEY HELPED NAME GO UP INTO SPACE. LAURI, LET'S GET■ç TO YOU NOW. YOU HAVE SOMETHING FUN PLANNED FOR US. >> I DO, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT ALSO TO THANK YOU OF COURSE ULA AND LSP AND JPL AND■ç ALL THE SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS THAT WORKED ON THE MARS 2020 PROJECT, ALL OF THEM THAT GOT US HERE TODAY. WE WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT THE ENTIRE TEAM, SO THANKS GO TO ALç OF THEM. I DO HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR FOLKS TODAY. WE ARE TAKING THE WHOLE WORLD WITH US ON OUR WAY TO MARS AND AS PART OF■ç THAT, WE RAN A CAMPAIGN WITH JPL OH INVITE THE WORLD TO HELP US WITH THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SHARE■ç THAT, A LITTLE SHORT VIDEO THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER WITH THE HELP OF FOLKS ALL AROUND THE WORLD.■ç■ç >>■ç 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. >> AND LIFTOFF. AS THE COUNTDOWN TO MARS■ç CONTINUES. >> LIFTOFF! >> LIFTOFF! >> LIFTOFF! JEWEL PERSEVERANCE OF HUMANITY WATCHING THE NEXT■ç GENERATION F EXPLORERS TO THE RED PLANET. >> LIFTOFF!■ç >> BONN VOYAGE![■■ >> THAT WAS GREAT, LORI. >> GREAT. >> REALLY ENJOYED SEEIOW ALL THOSE KIDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HELPING OUT AND CONTRIBUTE SOME OF THEIR CREATIVE GENIUS TO OUR MISSION HERE. WE WANT TO TURN NOW OUR ATTENTION TO MAT <u> WALLACE, TE</u> DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER WHO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE DOING SOME COMMUNICATING YOURSELF OVER THERE. TELL US WHAT THE LATEST IS WITH THE ROVER. >> I WAS JUST GETTING AN UPDATEç LET ME START BY SAYING, I EXPRESSION MY GRATITUDE AND GRATITUDE TO THE PEOPLE TO MY RIGHT SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT OR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS, FOR A LONG, LONG■ç TIME ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE VERY STRENUOUS PERIOD DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC. IT REALLY TOOK THE ENTIRE AGENCY TO STEP UP AND HELP US■ç AND THY DIDN'T HESITATE AND THEY DID IT AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO WANT TO JUST SAY YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE ULA, AND <font color="#FFFF00">Aj"KT$U$EY GAVE US A PERFECTE,</font> LAUNCH THIS MORNING, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. COULDN'T HAVE AIMED US ANY BETTER. <font color="#00FF00">Mjy OFF■ç THEAT COMING</font> CENTAUR. THEY REALLY PUSHED TO KEEP US ON THIS LAUNCH WINDOW. IF YOU MISS■ç THIS WINDOW, YOU'E GOT TO WAIT A COUPLE OF YEARS SO IT WAS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR TO US HIT THIS. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM AND SUPPORT THEY GAVE US OVER THE LAST COUPLE OFç MONTHS IN PARTICULAR. ALSO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU THE TEAM, THE TEAM OUT THERE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP AND MADE THIS A SPECIAL MISSION,■ç AND AS PEOE HAVE ALLUDED TO, PERSEVERANCE HAS BECOME A PRETTY GOOD NAME FOR THIS MISSION, SO LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE■ç BEEN DEALING WITH JUST TODAY. AS I SAID, THE SPACECRAFT LOOKED GREAT PRELAUNCH. WE WENT INTO LAUNCH MODE. WE GET TELEMETRY VIA■ç THE LAUNH VEHICLE, TELEMETRY COMMUNICATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH SEPARATION OF THE UPPER STAGE AND THEN WE GO INTO A PERIOD WHERE WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE COME OUT OF THç ECLIPSE OF THE EARTH, ESSENTIALLY THE EARTH IS SHADOWING THE SUN AND THEREFORE THE SPACECRAFT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF POWER, AND SO WE DON'T TURN ON OUR HIGH POWERED■ç TRANSMITTER AND WE WAIT UNTIL WE'RE IN A BETTER POWER SITUATION TO DO THAT. SO AT ABOUT 9:15 OR SO THIS MORNING, AS EXPECTED, THE TRANSMITTER TURNEEç ON, THE SIGNAL STRENGTH LOOKED VERY GOOD AT THE RECEIVED STATION. THERE WERE REALLY NO INDICATIONS OF ANY ISSUES. THE■ç NAVIGATION SIGNAL, THE DOPPLER THAT WE ANALYZED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRAJECTORY LOOKED VERY GOOD. THE ONE PROBLEM WE HAD IS WE COULDN'T -- THE TERMINOLOGY WE USE■ç IS WE COULDN'T LOCK UP OUR TELEMETRY SO BASICALLY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT WE HAVE TO MODULATE OUR TELEMETRY ON THE SUB CARRIER■ç AND THEN DEMODULAE THAT SUB CARRIER, WHICH SOUNDS PRETTY TECHNICAL BUT BASICALLY IT ALLOWS US TO READ THE INFORMATION AND THE DATA COMING FROM THE SPACECRAFT. NOW, IT TURNS OUT■ç THAT THE DEP SPACE NETWORK IS REALLY DESIGNED TO TALK TO SPACE CRAFT THAT ARE A LONG, LONG WAY AWAY, YOU KNOW, SPACECRAFT■ç LIKE VOYAGER, TENSF BILLIONS OF MILES AWAY. THEY HAVE VERY SENSITIVE RECEIVERS, VERY BIG ANTENNAS AND TO CONFIGURE THEM IN FACT TO TALK TO A SPACECRAFT THAT IS THIS CLOSE TO THE■ç EARTH IS A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND SO WE KNOW AND WE HAVE HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST BEFORE, IN FACT, THE LAST MISSION I WORD -91ñ THE CURIOSITY MISSION, WHIH LAUNCHED IN 2011 HAD THIS ISSUE WHERE WE WERE BASICALLY SATURATING THE RECEIVER AT THE GROUND STATION, AND SOT TAKES■ç US A LITTLE WHILE TO ESSENTIALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONFIGURE THE GROUND STATIONS SUCH THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DEMODULATE THAT TELEMETRY SIGNAL AND GET THE INFORMATION FROM THEç SPACECRAF, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH OVER THE LAST HOUR, OUR, OUR AND A HALF OR SO SINCE THE TRANSMITTER TURNED ON. I DID■ç JUST AS THE ADMINISTRATR WAS SPEAKING, I DID JUST GET A TEXT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO LOCUM ON THAT TELEMETRY AND TO WE'LL BE ST TO GET SOME INFORMATION ON■ç SPACECRAFT AND SPACECRAFT HEALTH VERY SOON. THE GOOD NEWS THOUGH IS THAT ALL THE INDICATIONS THAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE QUITE A FEW ARE THAT THE SPACECRAFT IS JUST FINE. IT'S■ç A VERY STABLE SPACECRAFT. IT'S A SPINNING SPACECRAFT. OUR■ç CENTAUR STAGE SPINS US AT TWO EVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE. IT'S LIKE A SPINNING TOP, YOU CAN'T KNOCK IT OVER, SO IT'S VERY STABLE. WE KNOW IT'S GETTING GOOD■ç POW. WE KNOW THE TRANSMITTER'S ON. IT'S REALLY TAKING A LOOK THE AT THE TELEMETRY THAT WE'VE LOCKED UP ON AND■ç GETTING A HEALTH STATUS FROM THE TEAM. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT UPDATE, THAT IS GREAT NEWS TO HERE. LETS TURN NOW TO OMAR BAEZ, THE LAUNCH DIRECTOR FROM NASA LAUNCH OF ACCOLADES, OMAR. HOW DID YOU FEEL THE TEAM PERFORMED TODAY? >> OH, FANTASTIC, HONORED, PROUD. THOSE ARE THE KIND■ç OF WORDS TT I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW, ECSTATIC, YOU KNOW. IT WAS A VERY QUIET COUNT FOR■ç US. ABOUT THE ONLY EXCITEMENT WAS A COUPLE OF INSTRUMENTS DROPPING OUT WITH THE RANGE AND THEN AT ABOUT 20 MINUTES, MAT CAME OVER TO US AND SAID HEY,■ç WE JUST HD AN EARTHQUAKE IN PASADENA AND WE'LL SEE IF WE'RE STILL OK AS FAR AS THE CRIMINAL ROOM THERE AND THE INFORMATION THEY WERE GETTING AND THEY■ç RESPONDED BAK REALLY QUICK. AND I'M PLEASED TO SAY WE HIT IT RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE■ç PERFORMED PERFECT. WE RELEASED THEM AT JUST OVER 25,000 MILES AN HOUR SO WE'LL MAKE THAT SEPARATION DISTANCE ID FOR LOCKING ON. IT WILL BECOME EASIER. SO DARYL,■ç JUST PROUD, PROUD TO BE A PART OF THIS. I'VE BEEN WITH THIS -- WITH MATT AND COMPANY AND SO HAS THE PREDECESSOR THE LAUNCH SERVICES PROGRAM FROM■ç WHEN WE DID SOJOURNER. WE HAD LESS GRAY HAIR THEN, BUT IT'S JUST A PROUD MOMENT, AND I'M GLAD TO BE A PART OF■ç IT AD I'M GLAD THAT OUR PROGRAM COULD PROVIDE WHAT THEY NEEDED TO GET THIS ON ITS WAY. >> CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN TO YOUR TEAM. YOU CERTAINLY HAD A GOOD■ç PARTR IN THIS EFFORT, UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE AND SO NOW WE'LL TURN TO TORY BRUNO, THE CEO AND PRESIDENT. YOU SAID THIS ROCKET GO.1 <u> LEP</u> OFF THE PAD AND INDEED IT DID. THAT THING GOT OUT OF HERE IN A HURRY. >> YES, IT DID. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO AND THE WINDS WERE NEARLY DEAD■ç CALM OCCUPANT AT THE PAD, AND SO AS YOU HEARD, WE IGNITED THE ATLAS PERFORMED REALLY NOMINALLY THROUGHOUT THE MISSION AND■2WE ENDED UP A AN EXTRAORDINARY ORBITAL INSERTION AND REALLY THE ONLY EXCITEMENT THAT WE HAD TODAY AT ALL IS WHAT OMAR REFERRED TO WHERE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA THOUGHT THEY■ç FELT N EARTHQUAKE BUT REALLY THEY WERE JUST FEELING MIGHTY ATLAS CROUCHING DOWN TO LEAP OFF THE EARTH. [ LAUGHTER ] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, WE APPRECIATE THAT. A LITTLE RUMBLE IN■ç CALIFORNIA AND SOME RUMBLE HERE IN FLORIDA. ALL RIGHT, WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO TO THE PHONES AND GET SOME QUESTIONS FROM OUR MEDIA MEMBERS OUT THERE, AND■ç WE'LL ALSO TAKE QUESTIONS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA AT THE HASH TAG COUNTDOWN TO MARS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH PAUL BRINKMAN WHO'S ON THE PHONE WHO WAS WITH UPI.■ç PAUL, GO AHEAD. >> HI, YEAH, THANKS VERY MUCH. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LAUNCH HERE, BUT ALL THIS IS AIMED AT UPPER MARS ARRIVAL IN SEVEN MONTHS. CAN I ASK ONo OF YOU, I GUESS MATT WALLACE TO TALK ABOUT THAT NEXT BIG STEP IN THE PROCESS, HOW DO YOU VERIFY THAT THE CRAFT HAS PROPERLY ARRIVED AT MARS AND THEN FOR THE ENTRY AND LANDING, IS THIS■ç BASICALLY A TOTAL COPY OF THE EDL OR CURIOSITY OR HOW IS IT DIFFERENT? <u>[LCá1AA?sç%■WK%iVn</u>CAN TALK ABOU6 THOSE. WELL, WE'LLiÑ SPENDi THE NEXT SX AND A HALF MONTHS OR SO IN CRUISE AND DO A LOT OF ENGINEERING CHECKOUTION AND HEALTH CHECKS AND MAKE SURE THED AND AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE OUTER ATMOSPHERE, THERE'S MORE AND MORE AUTONOMY ESPECIALLY THIS SPACECRAFT ESSENTIALLY STARTS TO DO WHAT IT NEEDS TO DO ON ITS OWN WITHOUT OUR..2&ñ INTERACTION. AND THEN WE DO LAND IN A WAY THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO CUITY. WE'RE ABLE TO LEVERAGE A LOT OF THE INVESTMENT WE MADE IN THAT MISSION, GETTING CURIOSITY DOWN TO■ç GAIL CREATOR. SO WE COME IN ON THE ORDER OF 12,000 MILES AN HOUR. OUR ENTRY CAPSULE WILL SLOW US DOWN. WE WILL STEER THAT ENTRY CAPSULE HIGHER SONICALLY SO THAT WE AIM RIGHT AT OUR LANDING SITE, AND THEN WHEN WE'RE STILL MOVING AT ABOUT MACH, TO, WE INFLATE OUR PARACHUTE. THAT'S AN EXCITING MOMENT IN THE MISSION AND THAT WILL SLOW US DOWN TO MAYBE 150 MILES AN■ç HOR OR SO. AND THEN THE HEAT SHIELD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENTRY CAPSULE DROPS OFF AND WE START TO ACQUIRE THE GROUND. AT THIS POINT, WE DO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN CURIOSITY. DID THAT WITH THAT WE HAVE HAZARD AVOIDANCE CAPABILITY, A VERY POWERFUL NEW SYSTEM. WE CALL IT TERRAIN NAVIGATION AND IT ENABLES US TO TARGET ZESIRO CREATOR AND NOT SOMETHING WE COULD■ç HAVE GOTTEN INTO WITH THE CURIOSITY MISSION. THERE ARE TOO MANY LANDING HAZARDS. THE WAY IT WORKS, WE TAKE A PICTURE AS WE'RE COMING DOWN AND THEN WE FIND OURSELVES IN A MAP THAT WE HAVE STORED ONBOARD FROM ORBITAL IMAGERY, AND ONCE WE KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THAT MAP, WE ESSENTIALLY DIVERT THE SPACECRAFT AWAY FROM THE HAZARDS THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS TO IT DURING LANDING. WE■ç DO THAT DURING POWER DESCE. WE HAVE ASCENT STAGE THAT CARRIES THE ROVER WITH EIGHT MAIN BIG ENGINES DOWN TO THE SURFACE. AS THE ROVER GETS CLOSE TO THE SURFACE, IT DEPLOYS DOWN ON A THEY GOER, THAT'S CALLED A SKY CRANE MANEUVER. THE ROVER WILL TOUCHDOWN ON ITS WHEELS, WE'LL CULT THE TETHER AND BE READY TO GO ON THE SURFACE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF SIMILARITIES, BUT WE HAVE SOME NEW CAPABILITIES AS WELL TO HELP US GET INTO THESE MORE SCIENTIFICALLY■ç INTERESTING SITES. >> THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO WAIT SIX AND A HALF MONTHS FOR ALL OF THIS. THANKS FOR DESCRIBING THOSE EXCITING MOMENTS THAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN THAT TIME, FEBRUAR. OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MARSHA DUNN WITH ASSOCIATED PRESS. GO AHEAD. >> YES, HI. PROBABLY FOR MATT. I'M WONDERING PROVIDED THIS WALK ON THE DAY TO STAY SOLID, HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO GET A FULL READ ON THE SPACECRAFT HEALTH AND I'M GOT THAT TEXT A FEW MINUTES AGO IF THIS LED TO SOME EXTRA SWEATY PALMS, A LITTLE BIT OF HEART FLUTTERING UNTIL, YOU KNOW, AFTER A LONG DAY. THANKS. >> I'M NOT SURE I HEARD THE ENTIRE QUESTION, BUT I THINK TH■ FIRST PART WAS ASSOCIATED WITH HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE BEFORE WE HAD SOME SPACECRAFT TELEMETRY. THE TEAM WILL BE POURING THROUGH THAT TELEMETRY AS WE SPEAK, ANOTHER 30 TO 60 MINUTES■ç WE'LL HAVE A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT SPACECRAFT SYSTEMS. THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT THE POWER PRODUCTION OUT OF THE SOLAR ARRAYS, LEGAL BE LOOKING AT THE TEMPERATURE AROUND THE SPACECRAFT, THERMAL CONDITIONS, WE'LL OBVIOUSLY BE TAKING A LOOK AT THE TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, BE LOOKING FOR ANY OTHER FAULTS OR ANOMALIES OBVIOUSLY ON THE SPACECRAFT, BUT I WOULD SAY ON THE ORDER OF 30 TO 60 MINUTES OR SO FROM NOW WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE, PROBABLY. >> AND THE SECOND PART■ç OF HER QUESTION WAS HOW ARE YOU FEELING AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH AND THIS FIRST PART OF THE MISSION? >> YOU KNOW, IT'S, THERE'S ALWAYS A BIT OF RELIEF WHEN YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET THROUGH THE LAUNCH CYCLE, AND THE SPACECRAFT SEPARATES. YOU KNOW, SPACECRAFT IS REALLY DESIGNED TO OPERATE AS I THINK THOMAS WAS SAYING IN SPACE. THAT'S WHERE IT'S HAPPIEST, YOU KNOW. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WE RUN INTO ARE BECAUSE WE'RE IN A TEST CONFIGURATION THAT'S NOT REALLY FLIGHT■ç LIKE, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH. SO I THINK THE TEAM IS OBVIOUSLY VERY RELIEVED TO BE ON OUR WAY AND THE SPACECRAFT IS GENERALLY IS, AS WELL. >> VERY GOOD. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES TO US FROM LAUREN GRUSH WITH THE VERGE. LAUREN. >> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING MY QUESTION AND CONGRATS ON THE LAUNCH TODAY. I'M CURIOUS, IS THERE ANY EXTRA RISK INTRODUCED BY NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SPACECRAFT RIGHT AT THE TIME OF SIGNAL ACQUISITION OR REALLY <u>HEAD OF YOUR</u>F MInD FIRST BIG MANEUVER. ALSO HAD YOU PREPPED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS COMMUNICATION PROBLEM SINCE IT HAPPENED WITH CURIOSITY. THANK YOU. >> WHAT WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE QUESTION? >> SHE WAS ASKING ABOUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPACECRAFT IN TERMS OF GETTING THAT ACQUISITION TO SIGNAL, IS IT A PROBLEM THAT YOU DON'T LOCK IN INITIALLY. >> NO, WELL AS I SAID, THE SPACECRAFT IS AS I JUST FINISHED SAYING IS REALLY DESIGNED TO BE IN SPACE. IT'S A VERY INHERENTLY STABLE■ç SPACECRAFT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO WORK THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION ISSUES. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO URGENTLY. IN FACT, WE GOT SUCH A GOOD, YOX KNOW, INSERTION FROM THE LAUNCH VEHICLE, YOU KNOW,mSMó WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR FIRST TRAJECTORY CORRECTION MANEUVER. IN MY NATIONALLY IT'S ABOUT 15 DAYS AFTER LAUNCH BUT WE PROBABLY HAVE TIME WELL BEYOND THAT BASED ON HOW WELL WE DID, SO WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THE SIGNAL AND START■ç INTERACTING WITH THE SPACECRAFT AND DOING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. >> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TURN NOW TO IRENE KLOTZ WITH AVIATION WEEK. GO AHEAD. >> THANKS. I MAY HAVE -- I'M NOT SURE IF I HEARD THIS CORRECTLY BUT ONCE THE SPACECRAFT REACHES, IS IT 25,000 MILES THAT THIS ISSUE BECOMES MOOT WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THE COMES BY MODULATING THE SIGNAL OR NOT?■ç THAT'S FOR MATT, IN OTHER WORDS, HOW FAR AWAY DOES PERSEVERANCE NEED TO BE BEFORE IT ENTERS THE TRUE DEEP SPACE MODE OF COMMUNICATIONS? >> YEAH, I THINK IT WAS TORRE OR MAYBE OMAR THAT SAID THE SPACECRAFT'S MOVING PRETTY FAST, 25,000 MILES AN HOUR WHEN IT COMES OFF THAT UPPER STAGE, SO THE POINT THAT THEY WERE MAKING IS THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING DISTANCE BETWEEN THE SPACECRAFT AND THE EARTH PRETTY QUICKLY, AND SO THAT HELPS A LOT WITH RESPECT TO THE SATURATION OF THE■ç GROUND STATION, YOU KN, RADIUS, AND SO REALLY WITHIN HOURS, YOU KNOW, THE POWER WILL DROP AND THAT CAN HELP CERTAINLY, YEAH. >> AND REAL QUICK, OMAR WHAT WERE THE NUMBERS ON THE RELEASE OF THE SPACECRAFT? >> IT'S JUST OVER 25,000 MILES PER HOUR. >> LET'S TURN TO RUSSELL PINS WITH PACIFIC RIM MEDIA. GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING. YEAH, THAT'S RUSSELL POUND CALLING FR■ ALASKA TODAY, AND THIS IS FOR ADMINISTRATORvhzj┛ñg PERSEVERANCE THAT IS EVIDENCE THAT IT■ç HAPPENS. WE JUST HAD A FEW FOR EXAMPLE HERE ON THE PANEL TALK ABOUT SOJOURNER AND IT'S SUCCESS AND OF COURSE SPIRIT AND OPPORTUNITY AND WANT SUCCESS OF THOSE ROBOTS AND CURIOSITY AND NOW PERSEVERANCE. LOOK, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE MISSIONS GETS MORE COMPLEX AND MORE SOPHISTICATED AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE SINGLE MOST SOPHISTICATED COMPLEX ROBOT EVER SENT TO ANOTHER WORLD, AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT I THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEE THE BENEFIT■ç OF THESE ACTIVITI, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF SCIENCE BUT ALSO IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ALL BENEFIT FROM, SO I THINK AS FAR AS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC GOES, THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THESE MISSIONS, AND OF COURSE, AS FAR AS CHILDREN GO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THE KIND OF MOMENTS WHERE PEOPLE DECIDE, YOU KNOW, YOUNG FOR EXAMPLE CAN DECIDE WOW, THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO DO WHEN I GROW UP AND THEY GO INTO THE STEM FIELDS AND THEY■ç GET INTERESTED IN STEM ACTIVITY. SO I THINK ALL OF AMERICA IS VERY PROUD AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS MISSION AND THE ONES IN FACT THAT CAME BEFORE IT AND THE ONES OPERATING ON MARS RIGHT NOW TODAY. >> WE CERTAINLY GOT A SAMPLEa" PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF CLEANLINESS AND BIOLOGICAlt]■ CONTAMINATION WERE UPDATED FOR <font color="#00FFFF"><u>■r[?óypN:RiççoTió■ç'nkyó[ñK CLEu</u></font> SPACECRAFT THAT HAS[q#V?g EVER ñ SPACE. THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE, AND THEN WE COMBINED THAT WITH ANOTHER NEW THING, WHICH WAS TO BRING IN THE NUCLEAR BATTERY, THE MULTI-MISSION RADIO ISOTOPE GENERATOR LAID INTO THE FLOW AND ACTUALLY BREACH THAT>cñ ENCAPSUD VOLUME WHERE WE KEEP THE ULTRA CLEAN SPACECRAFTa PREPARED IN ITS OWNwt? <font color="#FF00FF">VTtYJ@úOXTR÷i■iÑ)4CYK■Cz%b%_itrZ</font> SUCCESSFUL, SO THAT WAS A PRETTY BIG CHALLENGE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND OF COURSE THEY HAD TO DO IT IN THE MIDST OF COVID JUSTXT2 YOUR TEAMS DID, AND I COULD NOTç BE MORE PROUD AND MORE HUMBLED BY THE COURAGE AND DEDICATION OF MY LAUNCH TEAM THAT JUST PULLED ALL THAT OFF. >> AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT GREAT WORK.■ç GOING TO GO BACK TO THE PHONE BRIDGE NOW AND WE'LL GET A QUESTION FROM LEO ENWRIGHT WHO IS WITH IRISH TELEVISIONn >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE LAUNCH TODAY. COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, ONE FOR THE ROCKET PEOPLE AS IT WERE ABOUT SPACECRAFT SEPARATION. WE SAW A BLINK AND YOU MISS IT!<font color="#FF00FF">.</font> I JUST WONDERED IF WE'RE GOING TO SEE ANY FURTHER VIDEO OR IS THAT IT, AND THE<u>K</u> FOR MATTjh SPECIFIC INFORMATION, MAKE SURE I DON'T GIVE YOU THE WRONG TIME AND I'LL HEALTH OMAR AND TORRE ANSWER THE OTHER QUESTIO >> I CAN GO. WE HAD A LITTLE MORE VIDEO THAN THAT.tXYK THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN THE <font color="#00FFFF"><u>Ñ<kC#Wk4[?qK?s</u></font><font color="#FF00FF"> U)AJECTORY.</font> IT'S GOING GOING TO BE PRETTY Cf WILL TWEET THAT ONCE WE GET IT ALL PROCESSED. >> LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT REPORT CARD. >> THE VIDEO OF IT SEPARATING IS ONE THING, WE'RE GOING TO GET NEW IMAGERY■ç THATíYKYKY . >> SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A FANTASTIC EXPERIMENT. I THINK WE'RE REALLY, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. I'M NOT SURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY CON SOMETIMES GRASP JUST HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO FLY. THIS IS GOING TO BE OF COURSE OUR FIRST EVER DEMONSTRATION OF POWERED FLIGHT ON ANOTHER PLANET HELICOPTER INn LOW DENSITY TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE, ANDj SO WE ARE REALY EXCITED TO DO THIS AND DEMONSTRATE THAT CAPABILITY. I THINK GOING FORWARD FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES AND ALSO IN PREPARATION FOR HUMAN <font color="#00FF00">i I THINK THESE TYPES</font> OF AERIAL ROBOTIC CAPABILITIES ARE REALLY GOING TO AILED TO THE TYPE OF SCIENCE WE CAN DO. <i>;9y-m"u</i>ECEBkVs THEM IN ANY WAY SO WE'RE GOING <font color="#FFFF00"> DO A SPECIAL■çD</font> EXPERIMENT. I THINKyA6; THESE ARE REALLY GOG TO EXPAND AND CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT DOING EXPLORATION ON OTHER PLANETARY SURFACES, SO REALLY, REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS. >> OK, LET'S GO BACK TO THE MEDIA PHONE BRIDGE NOW AND TAKE A QUESTION FROM JOEY ROULETTE WITH REUTERS. JOEY. >> HEY, THANKS FOR DOING THIS. I WAS WONDERING THIS WHAT IS THE TOTAL DISTANCE PERSEVERANCE WILL STAFF IN THE NEXT SEVEN MONTHS. I ALSO WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON■ç MARSHA'S QUESTION EARLY TORE MATT, WHAT WERE THE FEELINGS IN THE ROOM WHEN THE TEAMS WERE WORKING THROUGH THATMS ISSUE AFTER A LONG LAUNCH DAY WHETHER SWEATY PALMS, NERVES, ANYTHING. >> THE TRIP TO MARS, HOW LONG IS IT? DISTANCE. >> SIX AND A HALF MONTHS. >> WHAT'S THAT? >> HE WANTED IT IN MILES? >> LENGTH OF TIME, THE MILES. >> A MILLION MILES, YOU KNOW TO TRAVEL FROM3#'sFw0óUés aYñS3[[ÑD THE TEAM WILL -- THEY'VE STILL GOT PLENTY OF PREPARATION TO DO FOR ENTRY DESCENT AND LANDING, SO THEY'LL BE BUSY DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME FOR SURE. >> I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SECOND QUESTION. HOW WAS IT WHEN THE TEAM÷sA WE LISTENED TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, WE COMMUNICATED IT LIKE WE ALWAYS DO. IT'S LIKE WE ALWAYS DO IT. I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF NERVES IF YOU'RE IN THAT BUSINESS, BUT POINT IS THAT'S WHY WE LOVE IT SO MUCH BECAUSE WE SOLVE PROBLEMS TOGETHER AT TEAMS. RIGHT NOW, I KNOW, I DO NOT SEE THEM RIGHT NOW BUT I FEEL THEM. RIGHT NOW AMAZING PEOPLE IN PASADENA, RIGHT HERE, SOLVING THIS PROBLEM RIGHT NOW. BEFORE I GO TO® <u>KYKYJR</u> VØ&y KNW WHAT IT IS. I'LL TAKE ANY BET WITH ANYBODY WHO WANTS RIGHTq NOW. WHY DO I DO THAT? BECAUSE I OBSERVE IT EVERY TIME, AND THAT'S WITH GOOD GODDARD, LOCKHEED MARTIN, THIS IS THE COMMITMENT IT TAKES. IT'S LIKE IT ALWAYS IS. IT'S AN ISSUE, IT'S ROCKET SCIENCE. >> NO TAKERS ON THAT BET HERE. MARRY LIZ BENDER FROM INVERSE, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> YES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WOW THAT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL LAUNCHv TODAY, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE NEW FUNCTIONALITY OF THIS ROVER. I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE JPL ENGINEERS ABOUT HOW WE KEEP%&&SJ GOING TOmuYK THAT PERSEVERANCE IS GOING TO STORE FOR US. THAT IS GOING TO DEMONSTRATE EVEN MORE CAPABILITY THAT IS WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN ORDEReK÷O EXPLORE WITH HUMANS AT MARS. FIRST OFF, THAT MISSION'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE■ç >> WE'RE HOPING TOP GET IT DONE SOMEWHERE IN THAT TIME FRAME, MAYBE 50-90 SOLS. <font color="#FF0000"><u>ÑJ7■&a=s+#b[zc80b7w!3uswññu$Ch7Ñ</u></font> THE HELICOPTER. >> HOW SIGNIFICANT WILL IT BE TO US HUMANS IF WE FIND SIGNATURES OF ANCIENT LIFE OR MAYBE PRESENT Ni <u> ON?</u> DR. Z? >> THOSE ARE THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THAT FRANKLY KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT IN EXCITEMENT, NOT IN WORRIES LIKE SOME OTHER NIGHTS LIKE THE LAST ONE. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT HISTORY, RECOGNITIONS LIKE THAT, NEW INSIGHT LIKE THIS HAVE TRANSFORMED NOT ONLY HOW WE THINK ABOUT OURSELVES BUT FRANKLY HOW WE THINK AND ACT AS HUMANS, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA THAT THE■ç SUN IS THE CENTER OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, NOT THE EARTH HAD TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON EARTH. I'M INTERESTED WHAT THE ADMINISTRATOR SAYS TO THIS. FOR ME, THE SCIENTISTS, IT'S THE HOLY GRAIL. WHEN YOUKk GO FROM N EQUALS ONEN EQUALS LIFE ON EARTH TO N EQUALS MANY. YOU CAN DO■ç RESEARCH, YOU CAN K QUESTIONS, YOU HAVE NO CLUE TO EVEN START, IT'S LIKE OPENING UP A WHOLE NEW BUILDING OF EXPLORATION IN A WAY YOU NEVER COULD. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT? >> I THINK THERE WOULD BE NO BIGGER DISCOVERY IN THE HISTORY OF HUMANITY THAN TO FIND LIFE ON ANOTHER WORLD. WE'VE BEEN ON THIS PATH OF FOLLOWING THE WATER TO DETERMINE IF SOMEPLACE IS HABITABLE OR NOT. WE KNOW THERE WAS AT ONE POINT IN TIME HABITABILITY ON MARS. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN HANDLED BUT IF WE WERE■ç TOAly A DISCOVERY THAT IT IN FACT WAS, I WOULD IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM THAT POINT FORWARD IS GOING TO BE WHAT OTHER LIFE IS OUT THERE, HOW DO WE GET TO IT, STUDY IT, UNDERSTAND IT. IT WILL BE THE ABSOLUTELY BIGGEST DISCOVERY I THINK IN HISTORY. BUT I ALSO THINK IT WILL ENABLE US TO DO MORE THAN WE'VE EVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE SUCH A PROFOUND INTESTINE GOING FURTHER AND DOING MORE. I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR THEMSELVES, BUT CERTAI THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN FINDING LIFE THAT'S NOT ON THIS WORLD AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. ONE MORE QUESTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ARE THE CAMERAS ONBOARD PERSEVERANCE MUCH BETTERKYpçc-R■ UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE. >> THEY ARE,By YEAH. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF9v& CAMERAS ONBOARD. I TALKED WHAT WE CALL THE ENTRY DESCENT AND LANDING CAMERAS,■ç HIGH-DEFINITION, 1080P HIGH-DEFINITION CAMERAS. WE HAVE A SET OF SCIENCE CAMERAS AT THE MASK AND THEY'RE ENHANCED FROM THE CURIOSITY&Pñ CAMERAS IN THAT THEY HAVE A ZOOM CAPABILITY, SO THOSE ARE ALSO BETTER. WE ALSO HAVE A SET(uAt ENGINEERING CAMERAS DISPERSED AROUND THE ROVER. THOSE CAMERAS WE USE TO LOOK AT THE SURROUNDINGS, TO LOOK FOR8 DOING OUR WORK SPACE OPERATIONSç WITH OUR ROBOT? ARM, AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND THOSE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RESOLUTION THAN THE ONES ON I THINK THEY'RE ON THE ORDER OF ABOUT 20 MEGAPIXELS COLOR CAMERAS AND CURIOSITY CARRIED ONE MEGAPIXEL BLACK AND WHITE CAMERAS, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE. SO WE'VE KIND OF UPGRADED OUR CAMERAS ACROSS THE BOARD ON THE VEHICLE, YEAH. >> IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE BEING THERE, 20 MEGAPIXEL. >> IT WILL BE AND JUST ADD IN, WE■ç HAVE A MICROPHONE, AS WELL. NOT ONLY WILL WEB ABLE TO SEE THINGS, BUT HEAR<u>KY</u> OF COURSE LOCKHEED MARTIN AND OUR PARTNERS THERE MOVED FORWARD TO GET THAT FIXED. YES, ADVERSITY ALL ALONG THE WAY. THIS IS TRUE FOR ANY PROJECT OF THIS NATURE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT WE DIDN'T EXPECT WAS SOMETHING THAT IS AS YOU IDENTIFIED, THE PANDEMIC. AND SO, YOU ADD ALL OF THE ADVERSITY IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS TOGETHER AND THEN YOU PUT ON TOP OF THAT THE CORONAVIRUS AND PEOPLE LIKE A LARGE FRACTION OF NATION IS A'S WORKFORCE AND JPL WORKFORCE ACTUALLY STAYING AT HOME, AND THE OTHER PART, YOU KNOW, SMALLER PARTS OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS GOING TO WORK WITH PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, SOCIALLY DISTANCED, BREAKING UP THE SHIFT SO THAT WE CAN MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF CONTACT, I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, IT'S A CHALLENGE. IT'S VERY STRESSFUL. BUT LOOK, THE TEAMS MADE IT HAPPEN, AND I WILL TELL YOU, I KNOW TORRE BRUNO SAID IT EARLIER, WE COULD NOT BE MORE PROUD OF WHAT THESE, THIS INTEGRATED TEAM WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF HERE, SO YES, IT'S VERY, VERY EXCITING. LORI. >> I'LL JUST ECHO SOME OF WHAT JIM JUST SAID THERE. YOU KNOW, OUR TEAMS ACROSS THE BOARD, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WITHIN NASA AT NASA HEADQUARTERS AT MULTIPLE CENTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT JPL ALL CAME TOGETHER TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT MARS;wçn5çTO THE LAUNCH PAD-6 <font color="#0000FF"><u>íç?óYtxq/xR</u></font><font color="#FF0000"><u>;hH!</u>>><úhgcMQ,D;0</font> BEEN WORKING FROM-e TRYING TO BALANCE THE WORK THAT HAD TO GET DONE WITH SHARING THç WI-FI BAND WIDTH WITH SPOUSES TRYING TO GET THEIR WORK DONE AND KIDS DUAL SCHOOL WORK AND TRYING TO4'ú GET THEIR WORK DON. IT'S BEEN A $1■ CHALLENGE. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I THINK ALL OF US WITHIN THE PLANETARY SCIENCE DIVISION ARE SO EXCITED AND SO HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE <font color="#FFFF00">Aj"kTLL <u> IT DONE.</u> TO ACTUALLY</font> IT WAS A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE'RE -- I'M PROUD OF MY TEAM, I'M PROUD OF THE JPL TEAM, I'M PROUD OF EVERY ONE OF THEM. SOMEHOW■RUt MADE IT THROUGH THI. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET A QUESTION IN WITH NASA WATCH. KEITH. >> THANKS FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY TODAY. RIGHT NOW THE■ç NATION'S IN THE MID LITTLE OF A PAP NIGHTMARE AND IT'S NOT GOING TO END ANYTIME SOON. IT'S GOING TO BE A DARK SCARY WINTER WITH■ç 328 MILLION AMERICANS STARING INTO THEIR COMPUTERS AND TV'S AS WELL AS AROUND THE WORLD. NASA IS SENDING A ROVER TO MARS TO FIND OUT■ç IF THERE'S LIFE. IT'S BEEN HALF A CENTURY, THE WORLD COULD USE SOME GOOD NEWS RIGHT NOW. HOW IS NASA GOING TO INVOLVE THE WORLD THAT SPEAKS TO A■ç WAY WEE ISOLATED BUT STILL CONNECTED? HOW WILL NASA MAKE THE PERSEVERANCE MISSION A BRYANT LIGHT AMIDST A VERY GLOOMY WINTER? >> I■ç THINK THE KEY WORD THAT U USED THERE IS THE WORD ASTRO BIOLOGY. YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF <u>GO WEALAAlía4KYK</u> THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT NASA CAN DO IN VERY DIFFICULT TIMES AND WE'RE EXCITDT ABOUT IT. >> WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP TO THAT. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUESTION, KEITH, AND TALK ABOUT A BRIGHT LIGHT, I BELIEVE THAT■ç SO MUCH AND I THINK THAT FROM THE BEGINNING THAT ADMINISTRATOR AND I TALKED ABOUT IT JUST IN THOSE WORDS PRETTY MUCH. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR IT FROM YOU, ALSO. YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, AND I THINK THE ONE THING WE SHARE HERE AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR MY FRIENDS ON THIS PANEL, IS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO ASPIRE TO■ç OPEN UP THE COMMUNICATION IN A MORE BROAD FASHION TO MORE PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT THE EXCITEMENT OF STEM RESEARCH, THE EXCITEMENT OF SPACE■ç RESEARCH, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME FROM THAT. IT'S EXCITING AND IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR THE WORLD, AND SO FOR US, THE WAY WE'RE DOING THAT, OF COURSE, IS WITH AS WE INNOVATE NEW■ç MISSIONS, WE TRY TO INNOVE NEW COMMUNICATIONS AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE ME VERY PROUD TODAY IS THE COMMUNICATION EFFORTS THAT WERE SET UP,■ç BUT DURING THE ENTIRE WEEK, YOU KNOW, THIS TEAM AT HEADQUARTERS LED BY JIM AND HIS CORE GROUP, ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE THERE, I THINK DID JUST AN■ç AMAZING JOB REALLY TELLING THE STORY MORE BROADLY. REALLY, YES, IT'S A LAUNCH, BUT IT'S THE BRIGHT LIGHT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YES, IT'S A MISSION, BUT WE'RE TALKINGsABOUT TRANSFORMATIVE SCIENCE AND TRANSFORMATIVE EXPLORATION THAT GOES BEYOND ROBOTIC EXPLORATION. WE THINK OF THIS AS A CONSTANT CHALLENGE, JUST LIKE THUç MISSIN NEED TO BE REINVENTED AS WE GO, BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO NEW THINGS. WE ALSO NEED TO REINVENT COMMUNICATION. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE SOCIAL MEDIA EFFORTçóñrÑiáhM■çó ARE<u>Ñ</u>ó7ñ AS BIG, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THE QUESTION, KEITH. YES, IT'S EXCITING WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE BUT THE COMMUNICATION AND HOW WE TALK ABOUT IT IS ALSO REALLY RELEVANT AND I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT, AND WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE NEED TO AS WE GO FORWARD LEARN AND EVOLVE. >> THAT WAS WELL COMMUNICATED, AS WELL. THANK YOU, J. Z.bBC%[DÑÑS/eB=íWm<font color="#FFFF00"><u> K</u></font> <font color="#0000FF"><u>KYKer(]tJLLENGE■KññçDCtAN■</u></font> HAS <font color="#00FFFF"><u>4</u>EENnd,f■</font> ?■A. TO DO THESE KINDS OF MISSIONS REQUIRES BUDGET. I■ç WILL TELL YOU THIS, THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST RIGHT NOW THAT IS BEING CONSIDERED BY THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE IS THE HIGHEST BUDGET THAT NASA HAS EVER HAD IN NOMINAL DOLLARS. THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE HAVE IS THE HIGHEST BUDGET THAT WE'VE EVER HAD IN NOMINAL DOLLARS AND NEXT YEAR GOING UP EVEN HIGHER. THAT'S WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. WE HAVE GOTTEN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE AND NEXT YEAR WE WANT TO GET EVEN MORE. WE NEED MORE BECAUSE WE NEED TO GO TO THE MOON SUSTAINABLY TO PROVE THAT WE CAN LIVE■ç AND WOK ON FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. IT'S A THREE DAY JOURNEY HOME. WE CAN PROVE WHAT WE NEED TO PROVE THERE SO EVENTUALLY SEND HUMANS TO MARS. WE ALSO HAVE HUM<u>cWu THE MOON.</u>YKè <font color="#00FFFF">0xnhf4/m%v$G1çzOL</font> CONSIDERING THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW, AND I WOULD JUST EXPEND A■ç REQUEST. WHEN THEY THINKOUT THESE THINGS FOR THE BUDGET REQUEST, THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TODAY, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN FEBRUARY WHEN WE LAND ON MARS AGAIN, THISuPYK■IU)SQMAgxWm WITO BIOLOGY MISSIONx ñ AND:OIsóoóÑi PROVEN THAT THEY CAN <font color="#FF0000">x@VÑíláúñv[Y?UvTbáU,1P R2P &C%t></font> >> WE WILL CLOSE ON @@ç THAT NO. WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU<u>2>2k]óÓ.</u> OUR SPECIAL GUEST TODAY, WE KNOW YOU WOKE UP EARLY, THANKS FOR STICKING AROUNáA■ AND PARTICIPATING IN THIS POST LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO NASA.GOV/PERSEVERANCE AND MARS.NASA.GOV/PERSEVERANCE. REMEMBER, KEEP LOOKING UP. design engiGrum for Northrups man the lead contractor for the
solid rocket boosters of NASA's
Space Launch System. This is Rocket Science in 60
Seconds. These boosters produce 7.2
million pounds of thrust during
lift off and flight I work on the insulation that
protects the solid rket
burster during flight. Here in the insulation and
component work center the insulation, a rubber based
material is applied to the inside of the
rocket motor case