1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:02,960 Speaker 1: Brought to you by the reinvented two thousand twelve Camray. 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:08,920 Speaker 1: It's ready. Are you get in touch with technology with 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: tech Stuff from how stuff works dot com everything. Hello again, everyone, 4 00:00:17,880 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to tech stuff. My name is Chris Bollette and 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 1: I am an editor here at how stuff works dot Com. 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: Sitting across from me not in the mission Control center 7 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: is senior writer Jonathan Strickland Ground Control to Major Tom, 8 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: that was that was pretty easy. Yeah, we're gonna talk 9 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,560 Speaker 1: today about mission control center with NASA, and specifically the 10 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 1: mission control center associated with Shuttle missions. Seeing as how 11 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:48,280 Speaker 1: the final Space Shuttle mission launched, well, we're recording this 12 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: podcast before the launch, but it should publish after that launch. 13 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: We wanted to kind of talk about the the stuff 14 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: that goes on on the ground, not necessarily the stuff 15 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: that's going on inside the orbiter itself. I said, lunch, 16 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: not launch. See if you can if you can identify 17 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: that quote. Um, yeah, we uh. When Jonathan and I 18 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: were talking about doing the episode on the Space Shuttle, Um, 19 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: as we do with some of the complex topics, we decide, 20 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: you know, to at least have an idea where we're 21 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,119 Speaker 1: gonna go with the research and even before we started 22 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: doing the research, we figured that this was going to 23 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: be complex enough that we would have to break it down, 24 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:29,479 Speaker 1: and we decided to do an episode specifically on mission 25 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: control because, um, it's not just the astronauts inside the 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: Space Shuttle who are paying attention to everything that's going 27 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: on in the spacecraft during the mission. I mean, it's 28 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 1: of course there, they have to sleep. Um, they have 29 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: a lot of things to do. They've got science to do. Um, 30 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: they have they have to prove the cake is a lie, 31 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: extra vehit, extra vehicular activity to perform. Um. They have 32 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: things to deploy in space. Um, so in spots to 33 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 1: record for sesamester occasionally occasionally they have to sing shout 34 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: out to our parent company. But but yeah, I mean 35 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: there's there's a lot for them to do, and uh, 36 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: you know, somebody has to be keeping an eye on 37 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: the on the shop. Yeah. And we cutter some of 38 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 1: this material on how stuff works dot Com in an 39 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: article called how NASA Works, but that's really kind of 40 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: an overview of the agency. We wanted to talk specifically 41 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: about mission control, and before we get too far into this, 42 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: we should probably talk about where mission control is because 43 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: if you're watching a launch. You may be seeing shots 44 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: of this, uh group of people all wearing a nice 45 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,400 Speaker 1: suits and they're all sitting at different consoles and they 46 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: all look very busy. And um, the odds are that 47 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: you're actually looking at the Kennedy Space Center and they 48 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 1: do launch control. They have a launch control center there 49 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: at Kennedy, but that is not mission control. Mission control 50 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: is actually located in Houston, as you know, immortalized in 51 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: the phrase Houston, we have a problem. Uh. That's specifically 52 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,519 Speaker 1: talking about the mission control center at the Johnson's Space 53 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 1: Center in Houston, Texas. Yes, and no, that is not 54 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,679 Speaker 1: the quote used in the movie. Was not exactly what 55 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 1: was said. No, no, but right, But just like play 56 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: it against Sam was never actually said in Casablanca. Um, 57 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 1: it actually was said in CITs and King. So but no, yeah, 58 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: that that's that was the people who who in Apollo thirteen, 59 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: and we actually kind of saw what was going on 60 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: in mission control, even though it was a you know, 61 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: I guess it's safe to say it was fictionalized kind 62 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: of a real event, although not terribly fictionalized compared to 63 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: some others. I would guess right, it was more it 64 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: tried to stay true to the actual unfolding of the 65 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: the emergency, more so than a lot of other movies did. 66 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: But even so, there was some drama zation going on. 67 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: There were because you have to it's but but yeah, 68 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: I mean, if you've seen the movie, you probably have 69 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: a somewhat reasonable idea of what the people are doing 70 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: in that center. They are trying to main maintain communications. 71 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,800 Speaker 1: They're trying to figure out what's going on with the telemetry, uh, 72 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: you know, keeping an eye on where the ship is going, 73 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: monitoring the various systems, making sure everything's okay, and in 74 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 1: the song quoted before, they're just making sure everything's okay 75 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: with the people up in space. So let's Chris and 76 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: I both looked at an illustration of the mission control 77 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 1: center to kind of break it down and see exactly 78 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: what it looks like and what people are doing there, 79 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: and we thought we would be kind of interesting to 80 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: talk to you and guide you through the mission control room. Now, 81 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: if you were to look at the room, yeah, if 82 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: you're just like taking a tour walking around, you would 83 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: see there all these big desks with consoles at them, 84 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 1: and at one end of the room are a bunch 85 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: of monitors, big monitors, and those monitors are showing things 86 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 1: like video feeds from the shuttle as well as just 87 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: lots and lots of data and uh, and so we 88 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: wanted to kind of talk to you about what these uh, 89 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: these consoles were in their purpose and what the officers 90 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: who sit at these consoles do. And we're kind of 91 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: taking you, like, if you imagine this big room with 92 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: monitors at one end of the room, the room has uh, 93 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: five rows of stations. Okay, the first row has three 94 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 1: stations across, and the other four rows have four stations across. 95 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 1: So what we're going to do is we're going to 96 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: go from the end that has the monitors. That's the 97 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: end that has the three stations in front of it. 98 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: That's the first row, and we're going to go from 99 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: left to right, and then we're gonna go down a 100 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 1: row left or right, and down a row left or 101 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 1: right and just explain what each of those stations are 102 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: meant to do. And so Chris, I think you were 103 00:05:57,839 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: going to take the first one, We're just going to 104 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: kind of alternate all the way down. Yeah, that the 105 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: first person sitting on the front and you know that's 106 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: a terrible place to sit if you're watching a movie, 107 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: but this isn't a movie. Far left in the front row. Yeah, 108 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: the guy with a crick in his neck. Yeah, that's 109 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: how I saw Lord of the Rings, the felloship of 110 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 1: the Ring, and that was tough. Well, the person in 111 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,840 Speaker 1: in in that corner of the room is uh, the 112 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: flight dynamics officer. Now I should point out, Um, there's 113 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 1: there's a lot of information on NASA's website about this 114 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: and each person, uh, they have a lot of code. 115 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: You know, we're talking about extra vehicular activity or e 116 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: v A, and everybody else calls it spacewalk. Um. Yeah, 117 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: So every console has a function, and there are three 118 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: they're actually three shifts that work nine hours. Three teams 119 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: work nine hour shifts. So, um, basically, the console has 120 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,039 Speaker 1: a name, and there's a person, an officer, that works 121 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: that console for and we'll talk about the different missions 122 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: because some of them don't use all these officers. But 123 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: and you will see labels on these consoles, and the 124 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: labels are usually an abbreviation or some initials that stand 125 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: for whatever the console actually does up. And when we 126 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: talk talked about three shifts of people, they're typically around 127 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: twenty people working in the flight control center during a 128 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 1: typical Space Shuttle flight sat on a team of all 129 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: of every you know, everybody who's on there, right right, 130 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: so different shifts. Yeah, exactly. You've got around, on average 131 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: around twenty people working in that room during a spatial 132 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: flight at any particular time during that flight. We should 133 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: also stress that this is specifically space shuttles. There's a 134 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,239 Speaker 1: totally different mission control center for the International Space Station, 135 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 1: and it has a different group, similar similar stations, like 136 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: similar consoles to the one that's on the Space Shuttle, 137 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: but a different set up as far as the team goes. 138 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: And and uh, fewer people are in the flight control 139 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: room for the International Space Station at any given time 140 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: than on a spatial mission. Yeah. But um, each console 141 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 1: has a name and so and and a call sign. 142 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: Uh if you've seen I'm sorry, I'm to go to 143 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 1: the movies again. The most famous example I could think 144 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: of a call sign is top Gun, where everybody has 145 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: essentially a nickname. But this is not not necessarily a nickname, 146 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: but it's what everybody calls. So if Steve is on 147 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: the console, you know, in the morning shift, and Jennifer 148 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: is on the console in the afternoon shift, they still 149 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: have the same call sign because it's actually the station 150 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: that they refer to, not the person, but the station 151 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. Who's there. That person is so like Dynamics 152 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: officer yes and call signed FIDO who and that person 153 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: plans the ship's maneuvers and is watching its trajectory. Um, 154 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: there's another person that keeps track of that to the 155 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: Guidance officer. UM. But but the FIDO is up there 156 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 1: in the the bottom left hand corner if you're looking 157 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:06,120 Speaker 1: at the screens. Yeah, so, UM, so you've got that. 158 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: If you move over one station, you have a console 159 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: that actually could have one of two different officers working there, 160 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: depending upon what's going on in that Space Shuttle mission 161 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 1: at the time. Uh. There's the Rendezvous Guidance and Procedures 162 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: Officer also known just as Rendezvous UM, and that job 163 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: is to support the Shuttle mission whenever they are going 164 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: to have to dock with another vehicle or with the 165 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: space station, or perhaps they're coming up to do repairs 166 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,200 Speaker 1: for example on the Hubble telescope. Anytime the Shuttle is 167 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:40,319 Speaker 1: coming into close proximity with another vehicle or satellite or 168 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: anything like that. UM, this officer is there to help 169 00:09:43,960 --> 00:09:47,959 Speaker 1: support the shuttle's crew and UH and give information and 170 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 1: guidance when the shuttle is going through those sort of 171 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: maneuvers UH. Now, in other situations that you might find 172 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: the ascent slash intrigue Guidance and Procedures Officer they're known 173 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,640 Speaker 1: as guidance. Now. This is the person who is helping 174 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:08,240 Speaker 1: again with navigation issues, specifically during the the the ascent 175 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: and descent UH phases of a shuttle mission. So when 176 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: the shuttle is either entering orbit or is getting ready 177 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: to re enter the Earth's atmosphere yep and UM. Also, 178 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: that person keeps track of any possibility that they need 179 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 1: to abort, so they're they're UM, you know, keeping a 180 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: close eye on those kinds of situations. UM. The next 181 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:36,640 Speaker 1: person is the ground controller anything that would affect hardware, 182 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 1: software or support UM. With regard to the facilities UM. 183 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,520 Speaker 1: Also UH, this person coordinates the ground space Flight Tracking 184 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,199 Speaker 1: and Data Network and the tracking and data relay satellite 185 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:55,280 Speaker 1: system along with Goddard Space Flight Center, which is in Maryland. 186 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: By the way, I talked about Houston and Florida, but 187 00:10:58,280 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: we didn't talk about Maryland. Yeah, US has a number 188 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: of facilities all over the country. UM and and other 189 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 1: stations that they work with with countries around the world 190 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,720 Speaker 1: to keep track of what's going on with the Shuttle. So. UM, 191 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: even though there may be on a given mission up 192 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: to seven people in the Shuttle, there are a whole 193 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: lot more people on the ground watching out for that. Right. 194 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: So let's go back a row. So we moved back 195 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: toward the the far left. UM, we're gonna talk about 196 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:29,920 Speaker 1: the propulsion officer also prop p r O p UM. 197 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,640 Speaker 1: The propulsion officers job is to keep an eye on 198 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 1: the reaction control and orbital maneuvering system UH. That's on 199 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: the Space Shuttle. Now, this is all the little jets 200 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 1: and the propellants that are used by the Space Shuttle 201 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: to make maneuvers in orbit or to get into orbit 202 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 1: or out of orbit. UM. So that's that's that officer's 203 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 1: job is to keep an eye on all those systems 204 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: and to provide guidance to the Shuttle crew. YEP. And 205 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: speaking of guidance, UM, the next person is Guidance Navigation 206 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 1: and can Troll Systems also known as g n C. 207 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:07,439 Speaker 1: Watching the the guidance navigation and control systems. UH. He 208 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:10,000 Speaker 1: or she would be in contact with the flight director 209 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: and crew any time that something again would require aboarding 210 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: the mission UM. And this I assume could mean any 211 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,920 Speaker 1: time rather than UM. You know the guidance officers watching 212 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: specifically on launch and landing. This would be any time 213 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:31,319 Speaker 1: you need to uh cut out and go home UM, 214 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: or any time the the guidance hardware might be not 215 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: working correctly. Yeah, So that this would be the eyes 216 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: on the ground to help guide the shuttle. Let's say 217 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: that the guidance systems aboard the shuttle for some reason 218 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,560 Speaker 1: or malfunctioning, perhaps a gyroscope is not is not turning 219 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,680 Speaker 1: properly um. The this officer would be the person who 220 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: would help guide the shuttle crew into maneuvering the shuttle 221 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: so that it was going the right way for whatever 222 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,880 Speaker 1: operation they needed to perform at that point, most like 223 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,760 Speaker 1: the coming home. Next, we have the Maintenance Mechanical arm 224 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:08,199 Speaker 1: and Crew Systems Officer or max m M a c 225 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 1: s BET's pronounced max um. The This is a person 226 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 1: who looks at the shuttles structural mechanical systems to make 227 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:21,520 Speaker 1: sure that everything is is nominal. So the also monitors 228 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: all the equipment, maintenance and hardware use aboard the shuttle. 229 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,720 Speaker 1: So this is the guy who tells the astronauts to 230 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,679 Speaker 1: put up their toys when they're done playing. It's acually 231 00:13:29,679 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: a little more obviously much more serious than that. But 232 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: clearly this this is the person who is trying to 233 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 1: make sure that that all the procedures are followed aboard 234 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 1: the shuttle, to make sure everything is stowed away properly 235 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:41,360 Speaker 1: and is used the way it was meant to be 236 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: used and turned off and all that kind of stuff, 237 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,680 Speaker 1: because clearly anything that's out of the ordinary could potentially 238 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: cause a major problem with such a complex mission. UM. Yes, 239 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: and a lot of jokes. I'm sure no, my name's 240 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: not Max, it's Steve Um. Now they're known for a 241 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: lot of joking and that mission control. Maybe when it's 242 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:06,280 Speaker 1: all over where UM. Next is Eagle, the Electrical Generation 243 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: and Illumination Officer, And this person is keeping an eye 244 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 1: on the electrical systems, cryogenics, fuel cells, A C and 245 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: D C power circuits. Both Edison and Tesla are represented UM, 246 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: vehicle pyrotechnics and lighting. Actually, that always makes me think 247 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 1: of rock bands when I read that. Well, you already 248 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: talked about E C, d C two and uh any 249 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: caution and warning systems that might be going on. So yeah, alright, 250 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,960 Speaker 1: time to move move back another row. So moving back 251 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 1: another road to this is row three. If you're keeping track, 252 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:44,360 Speaker 1: we're back back over to the far left. We have 253 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: the Data Processing System Officer DPS, who looks monitors the 254 00:14:50,400 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: stats of the the onboard computer systems on the shuttle. Now, 255 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:56,000 Speaker 1: if you've listened to our shuttle episode, you know that 256 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: we mentioned briefly that there are five on board computer systems. 257 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: It's this officer's job to monitor those systems, make sure 258 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: that they are working properly, that there's not any sort 259 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: of malfunction in those systems. Um. They also look at 260 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: other computer systems that are related to the mission, including 261 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: the multifunction display system. So that's his job or her job. Yeah. 262 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:23,880 Speaker 1: The payload's officer is next, UM, which is just called payload. Yeah. 263 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: They drop an S that's that's how they abbreviate that 264 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: that console as they dropped the S two payload. I 265 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: see they don't. They don't get cool U Nicknami call signs, 266 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: at least not most of them, UM like they do 267 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: in the in the movies. UM. Anyway that that person 268 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: coordinates the both the ground system and the onboard shuttle 269 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:47,520 Speaker 1: UH system interfaces, so the flight control team and payload 270 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: user are in contact with another with one another, and 271 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: UM Payload also keeps an eye on the in cabin 272 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: and cargo based system, experiments and satellites. UM. So yeah, 273 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: I mean you've got those great big bay doors and 274 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: stuff comes out of them. Yeah, that's who knows what's 275 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: going on with that. It's the main purpose for the 276 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,760 Speaker 1: Space Shuttle is to be able to deliver payloads to space, 277 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: so like a giant cargo ship. Next, we have a 278 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 1: console where again two different officers could be operating this 279 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: console depending upon what is going on in the Space 280 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: Shuttle mission at that time. You have the Flight Activities 281 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 1: Officer or f AO. I like to call him Swartz. Uh, 282 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:33,120 Speaker 1: the Flight Activities officers so nice. I'm a big, big 283 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: fan of f AO. So the Flight Activities Officer is 284 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: their job is to to kind of be a support 285 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: for the Shuttle crew. UH. They maintain checklists and procedures 286 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 1: and schedules. So whenever you you see a launch or 287 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: you over hear like the the recordings from UM missions 288 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 1: and you hear the Shuttle crew going down a checklist. 289 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: This is the person who on the ground is also 290 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: going through that same checklist to make sure that everything 291 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: is checked off whenever they're doing any sort of procedure. UM. 292 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: They also manage the shuttle orientation, so how it is 293 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: oriented UH in relation to the Earth or to really 294 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 1: anything else, you know, it's some other point of reference. 295 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: And then the other officer who works at that console, 296 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 1: depending upon what's going on, is the Visiting Vehicles Officer 297 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,920 Speaker 1: or vv O and UH. Sometimes the shuttle has to 298 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,879 Speaker 1: interact with other vehicles like Russian vehicles or perhaps the 299 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,560 Speaker 1: Internet National Space Station slower moving ones or slower moving 300 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: ones UM, and so the the Visiting Vehicles Officer is 301 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: the person who monitors that connection whenever the shuttle is 302 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 1: is docked with another vehicle or the I S s 303 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:55,640 Speaker 1: UM that that's that's that officer's job. So a little 304 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,280 Speaker 1: bit different from the navigation officer. They're they're not necessarily 305 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: helping the shuttle maneuver next to those They're just monitoring 306 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,160 Speaker 1: whenever that connection is made because clearly, you know you're 307 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:10,160 Speaker 1: sharing an UM airlock connection. You want to make sure 308 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 1: that everything is UH is still stable during that whole process. Yes, 309 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:21,560 Speaker 1: So next we have the Emergency Environmental and Consumables Yes, 310 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: Operations Manager E calm, Yes, that would Yeah, UM is 311 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,639 Speaker 1: UH and that person UH is responsible for the active 312 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:34,120 Speaker 1: and passive thermal control of the vehicle according to NASA UM, 313 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:38,959 Speaker 1: and the cabin atmosphere control. So like, you know, can 314 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,200 Speaker 1: you turn down the thermostat? Could you get some of 315 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:46,080 Speaker 1: this carbon dioxide out of our atmosphere? Avionics, cooling supply 316 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: and waste water systems and fire detection and suppression systems. 317 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 1: So really you can think of this. This officer is 318 00:18:51,680 --> 00:18:57,240 Speaker 1: being in UH in charge of monitoring life support systems basic. Yeah, 319 00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: but see that would be too easy to say and 320 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: would sound too much like TV, so they had to 321 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: call it something. But yeah, whenever we talk about life 322 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: support systems, this is the officer in charge of making 323 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: sure everything is is running in the right parameters. So 324 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,480 Speaker 1: now it's time to move another row back and back 325 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:17,800 Speaker 1: over to the far left. We've got the Instrumentation and 326 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:23,480 Speaker 1: Communications Officer inco I n c OH. This person monitors 327 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: the communications systems and instrumentation systems systems configuration aboard the shuttle. 328 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,840 Speaker 1: They're also the one who controls the shuttle television systems 329 00:19:33,040 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: from the ground. So the shuttle crew wants to watch 330 00:19:36,800 --> 00:19:39,119 Speaker 1: Phineas and Ferb and this guy's like, no, no, no, 331 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: you're going to be watching. Actually, I don't think that's 332 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: exactly how that works, but I thought it was funny. 333 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: But no. Yeah, they controlled the television systems aboard the 334 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: Space Shuttle from the ground, so there they work very 335 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 1: closely with the public relations officer as well as other 336 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: members of the flight control old team. Yeah, I bet, 337 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: although I didn't read this, I bet that this person 338 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: is also the one who's responsible for playing the wake 339 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 1: up song, which is now sort of a semi famous 340 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: part of a Shuttle miss kind of a tradition, right, 341 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:14,640 Speaker 1: so where you've got this? Uh you know, each each 342 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 1: member of a shuttle crew gets to choose a song 343 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 1: that will be played at a particular time to to 344 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: signal it's time to wake up and do science. Yes, yeah, 345 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: so I guess I got lucky because I got the 346 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: head of all of this and then on this row. 347 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: So this person see again, it's sort of the middle 348 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: of the theater, you can see everything. It's a good seat. 349 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: It's the flight director and uh, that person leads the 350 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: flight control team. This person is responsible for basically all 351 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: of this, uh, the overall mission and payload operations, any 352 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: decisions that would impact the safe and successful conduct of 353 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: the mission. Um. So actually the flight director has another 354 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,360 Speaker 1: responsibility you know you might expect with all this sophisticated 355 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: computer equipment, that has to do with the seven people 356 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: in space living are dying and you know, on a 357 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 1: more sad but real note, the expensive space shuttle. UH, 358 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:16,199 Speaker 1: you know in space that you want to protect. Uh, 359 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:21,679 Speaker 1: they are allowed to bring food and drink inside mission control. Um. Well, 360 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: I mean they only get five to ten minute breaks 361 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: every ninety minutes, so with you know, shift between eight 362 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:29,119 Speaker 1: and twelve hours, yes, they would need to do this. 363 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:32,760 Speaker 1: So an Assa says that the flight controller um takes 364 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: a day and uh is responsible for choosing a cuisine 365 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 1: to buy for everybody in there. So, um, he actually 366 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 1: has to do that as well. So I guess if 367 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,120 Speaker 1: you're in charge, you get to pick what everyone else 368 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: will eat on their celebratory kind of makes you wonder 369 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,240 Speaker 1: if if he's like, okay, so who here likes pepperoni 370 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: in their piece? Fine? Fine, all right, no, no, Johnson, 371 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: I told you we're not putting ham and pineapple on 372 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: all the pizza exactly. It's like, well it is my 373 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 1: space center, um, so don't make me turn this mission around. Yeah, 374 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:11,920 Speaker 1: I mean serious as they are, they do get to 375 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 1: have a little fun, and the flight director does have 376 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: that does get to uh to buy when it's time 377 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,200 Speaker 1: for dinner once. Apparently it just happens once. That's good. Still, 378 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 1: that's pretty cool. Yeah. So so next next to the 379 00:22:23,880 --> 00:22:28,040 Speaker 1: flight director on the other side is the spacecraft Communicator 380 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: or CAPCOM. And you might think, why is it called 381 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: Capcom when it's the actual name of the consoles, the 382 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: spacecraft Communicator. Well, it's because they really love playing Resident Evil. 383 00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: And you know, Reside Evil was made by Capcom, so 384 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: those big screens. It's true that it's true that Capcom 385 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,840 Speaker 1: makes Resident Evil. That's the only true part of that 386 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 1: statement though, So why is it called Capcom. Well, it's 387 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: because back in the day when when the earliest space 388 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: flights were man on, spacelights were being tested, the first 389 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: capsule they were using was the Mercury Capsule, so it 390 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,040 Speaker 1: was capsule Communication. Well, the Shuttle is not a capsule, 391 00:23:12,080 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: it's a spacecraft. So they changed the name of the 392 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:18,159 Speaker 1: consule to spacecraft communicator, but they did not change the 393 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: call sign, which it still remains Capcom. By the way, 394 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,360 Speaker 1: you're wondering if there is any other connection with Capcom 395 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: the video game company, I am sad to inform you 396 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: there is not. The Capcom video game company takes its 397 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:37,520 Speaker 1: name from a predecessor of that company, the japan Capsule 398 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,280 Speaker 1: Computer Company Limited, which you know, you just take Capsule 399 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 1: Computer and you squish that to Capcom. It's not the 400 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 1: same thing as the one that's in um uh NASA's 401 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:52,680 Speaker 1: mission control. Now what are they doing? Well there there 402 00:23:52,720 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: may they serve as the primary communication point between flight 403 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: control and the shuttle itself. That's their job. Yeah yeah, 404 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 1: and uh, spot calm just doesn't sound as cool. Stay calm, no, 405 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 1: spake calm. No, that's what you do with your pets. 406 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 1: So next we have the PDRs, the Payload Deployment and 407 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: Retrieval Systems officer who is watching the operation of the 408 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: remote manipulator system. Yeah, the robotic arm NASA. You know, 409 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: they've got to have a fancy name for everything, and 410 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: I think that's kind of cool, But at the same time, 411 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:29,440 Speaker 1: it's just easier to say a robotic arm. Yeah, this 412 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,800 Speaker 1: is the guy who can take over control and make 413 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: the robotic arm give a big thumbs up to the earth. 414 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 1: Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself? 415 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: Why are you hitting yourself? This is all lies to 416 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:40,720 Speaker 1: but no, it is true that that is that is 417 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: the officer's job is to monitor the operation of the 418 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:46,280 Speaker 1: robotic arm. Now, clearly you might say, well, you know 419 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: you've got the Shuttle crew up there that's actively operating 420 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:52,880 Speaker 1: the robotic arm. Why do you need someone else keeping 421 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: their eyes on this? Well, remember that this robotic arm 422 00:24:56,359 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: is manipulating equipment that costs billions with a B dollars. 423 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: So you're using this arm to help position satellites, to 424 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: maybe retrieve a satellite that needs to be brought back 425 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 1: down because it's going to either require repairs or even 426 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: just needs to be taken down because otherwise it's going 427 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,959 Speaker 1: to crash into the Earth and and you might want 428 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:20,040 Speaker 1: to try and salvage some parts first. Um, it may 429 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:26,480 Speaker 1: be helping install new pieces of the International Space Station, 430 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:30,360 Speaker 1: So you know that's it's an important, important job, which 431 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:32,119 Speaker 1: is why you have to have an extra set of 432 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:35,159 Speaker 1: eyes on any kind of operation that's going to involve that. 433 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 1: So now we've finally got into the last row of 434 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:43,879 Speaker 1: the the mission control center. On the last row on 435 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:47,119 Speaker 1: the far left, you have the Public Affairs Officer p 436 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,520 Speaker 1: a OO to the moon, you go, that's where it 437 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: comes from. And uh, the public affairs officers job is 438 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:01,160 Speaker 1: to provide mission commentary and also to explain any sort 439 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:06,879 Speaker 1: of transmissions that are going between the shuttle and ground control. Um. Primarily, 440 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 1: this person interfaces with either the general public or more commonly, 441 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: the press. So this is someone who is able to 442 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 1: break these things down and explain in normal person speak 443 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,240 Speaker 1: what the transmissions mean. Because you know, we might overhear 444 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 1: some transmissions and you can kind of piece together what's 445 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:28,040 Speaker 1: going on, but this is the person who can really 446 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,439 Speaker 1: give it context and explain why it's important. Yeah, if 447 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: you watch a NASA launch there I'm I'm interpolating from 448 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: all of this. There's a public affairs officer or someone 449 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: who fills that role. Let's let's say that on on 450 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: the launch control team as well, because you'll hear, you know, 451 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,960 Speaker 1: you'll hear the person the people in the control center, 452 00:26:49,080 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 1: you know, with a very somber, very serious you know, 453 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 1: you know, so and so this and that and the 454 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,440 Speaker 1: other thing like team minus five minutes and waiting and 455 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: like we're holding the launch at I've minutes in order 456 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: to blah blah blah blah blah, so and and so 457 00:27:03,280 --> 00:27:06,200 Speaker 1: this this person will do this for the mission overall. 458 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: But yeah, that I'm pretty sure I would launch officer 459 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 1: as well. Yes, I I agree. That's again based upon 460 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:18,480 Speaker 1: what I've inferred from the information I've received as well. 461 00:27:19,320 --> 00:27:23,360 Speaker 1: The next person, um is a holdover from the sixties, 462 00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: the mod No, I'm kidding, the Mission Operations Directorate, groovy dude. 463 00:27:30,440 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: That's the person who uh serves as an intermediary between 464 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 1: the flight Control room and the top NASA and mission managers. 465 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: Um so Yeah, basically a public affairs officers specifically to 466 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 1: the top brass at NASA. Yeah, so you know you 467 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: it's this way you've maintained a line of communication that 468 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:54,439 Speaker 1: does not interfere with anyone else's specific duties. Because clearly, 469 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:56,800 Speaker 1: if you are in a big team and you have 470 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:02,440 Speaker 1: a boss who is overseeing the overall operations, but it's 471 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: not directly involved in the day to day operations, it 472 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 1: would be very distracting to have that person walk from 473 00:28:09,119 --> 00:28:10,680 Speaker 1: desk to desk and say Hey, what do you doing? 474 00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 1: So this is this is sort of their way of 475 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:15,879 Speaker 1: controlling that line of communication. What are you doing? What 476 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:18,200 Speaker 1: are you doing? What are you doing? And then next 477 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: we have another one of those consoles where we have 478 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,920 Speaker 1: a rotating cast of characters that use it, Hey, could 479 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,400 Speaker 1: you get your elbow out of my coffee? They don't 480 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:28,080 Speaker 1: all use it at the same time. It all depends 481 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 1: upon what the mission is. So one of the potential 482 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: officers at that position is the Russian interface operator. This 483 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: is clearly whenever NASA is going to have a mission 484 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: that will also involve Russian cosmonauts or the Russian space centers. Uh. 485 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:51,600 Speaker 1: This is a person who can say and da dah 486 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:58,680 Speaker 1: and and then direction is limited. Yeah, yeah, I have 487 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 1: no borsh pravda and does a dounia Alight? That's about 488 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:09,520 Speaker 1: all I've got, um, But yeah, presumably the Russian interface 489 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 1: officer speaks more than that. I would hope, yes, I 490 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: would as well. Next we have the booster saying yes, 491 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: the the yet I also known yet um. The booster 492 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: systems officer also just known as booster uh. This is 493 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,240 Speaker 1: a person who monitors the launch systems during pre launching 494 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:31,040 Speaker 1: all the way through the ascent of the Shuttle. So 495 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: this is again someone who has a counterpart at the 496 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:36,520 Speaker 1: Kennedy Space Center. I would imagine if I'd probably several counterparts, 497 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:40,160 Speaker 1: because that is their primary function is to oversee the launches. 498 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:42,880 Speaker 1: So this is the person of mission control who who 499 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: keeps an eye on that as well, that's back at Houston. 500 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: And then finally you have the extra Vehicular Systems Officer 501 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: or e v A, and this is the person who 502 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:57,920 Speaker 1: monitors the astronauts during any sort of extra vehicular activity spacewalks. Yes, 503 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: um would also have been whomever would monitor the astronauts 504 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: who are on the Moon during the Apollo missions. But 505 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: of course Shuttle missions could not go to the moon. 506 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: The Shuttle was not designed to go to the moon, 507 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,920 Speaker 1: so in this case, extra vehicular does really mean spacewalks. 508 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: It also wasn't designed to land on asteroids. That's right, Um, yeah, 509 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: that that person Also I find this kind of interesting. 510 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 1: This person also keeps an eye on the how the 511 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: space suits are functioning, um, which is kind of interesting 512 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 1: too because it's not just you know, hey, okay out there, 513 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:34,320 Speaker 1: you know, don't forget your hat, it's also you know, 514 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:39,120 Speaker 1: is your hat working are are the environmental controls within 515 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 1: your space suit functioning properly? Yeah? And yeah, this is serious, 516 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,520 Speaker 1: serious stuff here. It's no clearly you want to have 517 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: extra eyes on that as well. Yeah, and you also 518 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:52,640 Speaker 1: that person also keeps track of what you're what the 519 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: astronauts are doing on their space walk, because they've trained 520 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 1: extensively for this mission and they're saying, Okay, are you 521 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 1: doing everything that you need to do? Are having trouble 522 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:03,960 Speaker 1: with your space suit? On a side note, I cannot 523 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:09,440 Speaker 1: comprehend the level of courage and confidence that would require 524 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: to do a spacewalk. It is. It is so far 525 00:31:12,960 --> 00:31:17,800 Speaker 1: beyond my my ability to even imagine. It's just it's phenomenal. Well, 526 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,080 Speaker 1: they put their lives at risk for science, and I 527 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,720 Speaker 1: find that admirable. Yeah, certainly. Um. Lastly, we had the 528 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,640 Speaker 1: doc bones in the back of the room. The surgeon 529 00:31:29,040 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 1: is watching crew health and surgeons call sign surgeon. Yeah. Yeah, 530 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: I know, it's just more fun to say, um, this person. Uh. 531 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:44,800 Speaker 1: The surgeon is consulting with the crew, making sure the 532 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:47,520 Speaker 1: flight director knows if there's any health issue that might 533 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:52,920 Speaker 1: affect the mission. Um, and uh, the person. Basically they 534 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:56,880 Speaker 1: have to have a medical doctor in who is specializing 535 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:01,280 Speaker 1: in aerospace medicine. UM. Talk about a spec realization field 536 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 1: UM and any time that they're awake not likely to do. UM. 537 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:12,800 Speaker 1: There are other people biomedical engineers or bams who know 538 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,040 Speaker 1: what they you know, know the necessary bits and pieces 539 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:19,520 Speaker 1: from medical kits and systems on board the Shuttle that 540 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 1: keep an eye on the mission around the clock when 541 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: the astronauts are asleep. But a surgeon has to be 542 00:32:24,640 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: on duty while they are awake. UM. There's a team 543 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,680 Speaker 1: actually of a crew surgeon, deputy crew surgeon, and a 544 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: BAME mission manager according to NASA. UM, and they handle 545 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: the aspects of the flight UM. And there are extra 546 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 1: people who are there while the main team is away 547 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 1: from mission control during the launch and landing in the Shuttle. Now. UM, 548 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:49,400 Speaker 1: it is important to note that this really is accounts 549 00:32:49,440 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: for only ten percent of these people's jobs. Really. UM. 550 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: They spend about training UM and you know on the 551 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:02,080 Speaker 1: Shuttle simulators at Johnson Space or UM and the other 552 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:07,160 Speaker 1: of the time. UH, the mission control team works on 553 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,880 Speaker 1: planning and organizing the missions. UH. So they're they're really 554 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 1: It's not like mission control walks into the room when 555 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,280 Speaker 1: it's time to take over from the launch control team 556 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:19,960 Speaker 1: and runs the mission, and then they go home and 557 00:33:20,400 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 1: spend the rest of their time on vacation until six 558 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:24,760 Speaker 1: months later when they're needed for another mission. They they 559 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:31,160 Speaker 1: are very involved with all aspects of the Shuttle mission. Training, 560 00:33:31,600 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 1: they know with the the specific science projects they're working 561 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:38,320 Speaker 1: on or or deployments they need to make into space. 562 00:33:38,800 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 1: There on all of that part UM different parts, so 563 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:44,960 Speaker 1: they know everything they need to know because they're also 564 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 1: intimately involved with the particular mission on which they are working. UM. 565 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: If you were interested in joining a crew like this, 566 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 1: you would need some kind of technical degree or engineering degree. UM. 567 00:33:59,120 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 1: Generally you would based on your educational background and your 568 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:05,720 Speaker 1: interest and your training, they would assign you to a 569 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 1: specific UH specific role based on those factors. So if 570 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:14,240 Speaker 1: you're if this sounds like something you would like to do. UM. Obviously, 571 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 1: the Space Shuttle program is now ending with UM the 572 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 1: assumed at this point since the Shuttle hasn't launched UH 573 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:27,239 Speaker 1: safe Return of STS one in July, UM there will 574 00:34:27,320 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 1: probably be something in the future, although the media plans 575 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:33,719 Speaker 1: have been put on hold. So I think you know, 576 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:37,160 Speaker 1: it's it's worth investigating if that's something that but it's 577 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:40,240 Speaker 1: very specialized, and it may very well be that the future, 578 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:46,160 Speaker 1: the future of this center will be working in uh 579 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:51,760 Speaker 1: UH in partnership with private companies that are are creating 580 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:55,600 Speaker 1: space missions, because, of course, it's clear through this discussion 581 00:34:55,760 --> 00:34:58,759 Speaker 1: that that any source of space mission is an incredibly 582 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,719 Speaker 1: complex affair and it's not something that can be accomplished 583 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:05,640 Speaker 1: just by the crew aboard whatever the spacecraft is. Clearly, 584 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 1: I mean, they play a critical role obviously in a mission, 585 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:12,880 Speaker 1: but that you need those extra people on the ground 586 00:35:12,960 --> 00:35:17,520 Speaker 1: who are dedicated to very specific tasks to make certain 587 00:35:18,080 --> 00:35:20,640 Speaker 1: that if anything does happen out of the ordinary, that 588 00:35:20,719 --> 00:35:24,040 Speaker 1: they can handle it. You know, it's it's such a 589 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:27,759 Speaker 1: delicate and and frankly dangerous procedure to do any sort 590 00:35:27,800 --> 00:35:30,840 Speaker 1: of space mission, manned space mission, you have to have 591 00:35:31,080 --> 00:35:35,279 Speaker 1: that kind of intense scrutiny on the ground as well 592 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 1: as in the sky or in space as it were. 593 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,439 Speaker 1: So it may very well be that that NASA works 594 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:44,719 Speaker 1: in partnership with private companies in the future. It's a 595 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 1: little early for us to talk about that, because frankly, 596 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: we are just in the very very first stages of 597 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:55,480 Speaker 1: private space flight. We've got some people who are taking 598 00:35:55,840 --> 00:35:59,359 Speaker 1: uh space spacecraft way up into the atmosphere and even 599 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: all the way to low orbit. But it's early days yet, 600 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:07,719 Speaker 1: so we will see how that that progresses over time. 601 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,120 Speaker 1: But I would imagine that that would be something that 602 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:13,560 Speaker 1: NASA would be interested in, and because private flight could 603 00:36:13,719 --> 00:36:18,040 Speaker 1: very well be the next era of space exploration as 604 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 1: far as the United States is concerned. We may also 605 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:24,960 Speaker 1: see at some point a refunding of NASA where um, 606 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:29,240 Speaker 1: they are refocused on a new space program. And again 607 00:36:29,320 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 1: it won't necessarily be the Shuttle or anything that resembles 608 00:36:33,160 --> 00:36:35,600 Speaker 1: the Shuttle, but it would use a lot of the 609 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 1: same sort of offices and consoles that they're using now 610 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:43,280 Speaker 1: in mission control. Actually, that's a good point, you're probably 611 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:46,000 Speaker 1: wondering at this point, Well, it's pretty late in the podcast. 612 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:49,160 Speaker 1: You guys haven't really talked about the tech that they use. Um, 613 00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,600 Speaker 1: there's it's kind of difficult to find a lot out 614 00:36:52,840 --> 00:36:56,000 Speaker 1: about that technology. For one thing, you're talking about all 615 00:36:56,040 --> 00:36:59,000 Speaker 1: these different consoles. Not all of them are using exactly 616 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:01,280 Speaker 1: the same thing. Some of these are using some consoles 617 00:37:01,320 --> 00:37:04,919 Speaker 1: are using systems that were specifically designed for that particular task, 618 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:07,799 Speaker 1: which means they are so well, I can't say they're 619 00:37:07,840 --> 00:37:11,360 Speaker 1: so unique. That's ridiculous, right, their unique period and therefore 620 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,040 Speaker 1: there is nothing to compare them to other than saying 621 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:17,640 Speaker 1: this is a very specialized computer. Yeah, from what from 622 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:20,680 Speaker 1: what I've been able to find out, Um, when they 623 00:37:20,719 --> 00:37:23,400 Speaker 1: were putting these systems together in the nineteen seventies for 624 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:27,000 Speaker 1: use in the Shuttle missions of the early nineteen eighties, UM, 625 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:31,919 Speaker 1: there wasn't anything available for them to use that did 626 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:33,920 Speaker 1: what they wanted it to do. So it wasn't like 627 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,200 Speaker 1: there were IBM PCs or max or even Amiga's or 628 00:37:37,560 --> 00:37:43,160 Speaker 1: anything that they could buy off the shelf commodore, you know. 629 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:46,759 Speaker 1: But the thing is, they didn't have the same types 630 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:49,600 Speaker 1: of systems where they could just go buy a series 631 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:51,759 Speaker 1: of machines or or even you know, put together a 632 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:53,840 Speaker 1: Linux box that would do what they wanted it to do. 633 00:37:54,680 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: So they ended up basically creating these these UH consoles 634 00:38:00,120 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 1: on their own that would handle the specific tasks necessary 635 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:07,359 Speaker 1: to complete these missions. So UM, I imagine that part 636 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:09,400 Speaker 1: of the reason it's difficult to find information on it 637 00:38:09,520 --> 00:38:11,920 Speaker 1: is because they are unique. And I imagine that that 638 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:16,440 Speaker 1: for to some degree it's probably classified. UM because you know, 639 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:19,640 Speaker 1: the Space race was for the longest time a competition 640 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,920 Speaker 1: between the United States and the Soviet Union. Um, and 641 00:38:23,400 --> 00:38:25,440 Speaker 1: you know, we were sort of in competition with them, 642 00:38:25,520 --> 00:38:29,279 Speaker 1: so they didn't want people to know, uh, in other 643 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:34,279 Speaker 1: countries what kinds of technology was used in these machines. So, um, 644 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:36,960 Speaker 1: but it is fascinating stuff. I would assume that basically 645 00:38:37,040 --> 00:38:40,840 Speaker 1: it is computer hardware used specifically to track or to 646 00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,520 Speaker 1: communicate or whatever it is, that that person happens to 647 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:47,880 Speaker 1: need it may actually be somewhat unsophisticated, and that it 648 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:50,880 Speaker 1: has a specialized purpose and doesn't need to do a 649 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:54,040 Speaker 1: multitude of tasks. Yeah. Why would you need to be 650 00:38:54,120 --> 00:38:57,839 Speaker 1: able to calculate telemetry when you are looking specifically at 651 00:38:58,040 --> 00:39:01,919 Speaker 1: an unrelated system aboard the show. Yeah, totally makes sense 652 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:05,320 Speaker 1: from that perspective. And again it's that whole specialized focus. 653 00:39:05,440 --> 00:39:09,080 Speaker 1: You know, you have specialized equipment to monitor a very 654 00:39:09,320 --> 00:39:12,360 Speaker 1: particular system aboard the shuttle, and you have a specialized 655 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:17,279 Speaker 1: officer that is uh that is at that console. So yeah, 656 00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:20,359 Speaker 1: it's again it's one of those things where you want 657 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:23,759 Speaker 1: that kind of specialization because again the stakes are really 658 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:28,680 Speaker 1: high and uh, you know, and multiple arenas. So that 659 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:32,239 Speaker 1: was an interesting overview of mission control. I mean, if 660 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: if you ever get a chance, in you listeners out there, 661 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:37,160 Speaker 1: if you ever get a chance to take a tour 662 00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:40,160 Speaker 1: of any of the flight centers and NASA, if you 663 00:39:40,280 --> 00:39:43,520 Speaker 1: go to the Kennedy Space Center, for example, I highly 664 00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 1: recommend taking these tours and and getting a look. You 665 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: can actually see, uh, the equipment that was used in 666 00:39:49,360 --> 00:39:51,520 Speaker 1: the Apollo missions at the Kennedy Space Center. You can 667 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:55,719 Speaker 1: see the launch control facility, and uh, it's fascinating. You're 668 00:39:55,760 --> 00:40:00,080 Speaker 1: looking at these machines that that are almost imp in 669 00:40:00,120 --> 00:40:02,279 Speaker 1: trouble as far as you know. You just glance at 670 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:03,960 Speaker 1: them and you're like, I have no idea what that does, 671 00:40:04,040 --> 00:40:08,320 Speaker 1: but it looks amazing, right, And you think that beeps 672 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:10,360 Speaker 1: and it blinks right, and then you think there was 673 00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:13,319 Speaker 1: a person sitting at that console who not only had 674 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:17,560 Speaker 1: that console, but a slide rule yes to make calculations 675 00:40:17,719 --> 00:40:20,640 Speaker 1: on the fly, And it's just phenomenal. You think about 676 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:23,440 Speaker 1: the amount of human ingenuity it takes to get people 677 00:40:23,520 --> 00:40:27,080 Speaker 1: into space and back home safely, and again, it's one 678 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,799 Speaker 1: of those those accomplishments that a lot of us take 679 00:40:29,880 --> 00:40:33,759 Speaker 1: for granted. But I think truly speak to the most 680 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:36,680 Speaker 1: amazing things humans are capable of doing. There's something to 681 00:40:36,760 --> 00:40:38,759 Speaker 1: be said that they were up there doing that with 682 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:41,400 Speaker 1: a slide rule, when you can go to your local 683 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,120 Speaker 1: discount store and buy a five dollar solar powered calculator 684 00:40:45,160 --> 00:40:48,440 Speaker 1: that will do far more complex calculations and more precisely. 685 00:40:48,560 --> 00:40:50,759 Speaker 1: And the fact that we are able to to get 686 00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:54,120 Speaker 1: people into space and back again safely. I mean again 687 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:57,479 Speaker 1: that just human ingenuity is a phenomenal thing. It doesn't 688 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:00,200 Speaker 1: matter what kind of technology we talk about. Ultimately, keep 689 00:41:00,239 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: in mind it's people who are doing this and that 690 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:07,720 Speaker 1: is I think the best story to tell, right So anyway, 691 00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:10,520 Speaker 1: we're gonna wrap this up. There was a fun discussion 692 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:13,120 Speaker 1: about the Mission Control Center. You guys, if you have 693 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:16,360 Speaker 1: any questions or you have a suggestion for another topic 694 00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:18,680 Speaker 1: you would like us to tackle, let us know. You 695 00:41:18,800 --> 00:41:22,000 Speaker 1: can contact us on Facebook and Twitter are handled. There 696 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:25,520 Speaker 1: is text Stuff h s W or you can send 697 00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,960 Speaker 1: us an email on that address is text stuff at 698 00:41:29,200 --> 00:41:31,560 Speaker 1: how stuff Works dot com. Chris and I will talk 699 00:41:31,560 --> 00:41:36,879 Speaker 1: to you again really soon. Be sure to check out 700 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:40,080 Speaker 1: our new video podcast, Stuff from the Future. Join how 701 00:41:40,120 --> 00:41:42,600 Speaker 1: Stuff Work staff as we explore the most promising and 702 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:47,359 Speaker 1: perplexing possibilities of tomorrow. The How Stuff Works iPhone app 703 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:55,040 Speaker 1: has arrived. Download it today on iTunes, brought to you 704 00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:58,440 Speaker 1: by the reinvented two thousand twelve camera. It's ready, are 705 00:41:58,520 --> 00:41:58,560 Speaker 1: you