NASA EDGE Show 2: Space Conference
03.19.07
NASA EDGE
Show 2: Space Conference
Transcript
Featuring: 2nd Space Exploration Conference, 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition, ESA with Franklin
NASA EDGE is:
Chris Giersch: Co-Host
Blair Allen: Co-Host
Franklin Fitzgerald: News Anchor
Chris: Welcome to NASA EDGE with Chris and Blair
Blair: An inside and outside look at all things NASA.
Chris: We're here at the 2nd Space Exploration Conference, right here in Houston, Texas.
Blair: And Franklin is here too, not at the conference but here in town on assignment.
Chris: This is a great time because we have some cool exhibits behind us.
Blair: It's great out there. We'll take the audience through the exhibit area. It's fascinating stuff. I can't wait to get my hands on all these cool devices and gadgets.
Chris: Whoa, whoa be careful. This is an exhibit. There's a lot of cool models. There's a lot of cool hardware. But keep your hands off.
Blair: I'm tellin' you, man. I'm Mr. Technology.
Chris: You never know what you could do.
Blair: I can handle it. I'll be good.
Chris: Okay, we'll see. We'll be interviewing some people.
Blair: Yes, all kinds of people.
Chris: I see astronaut suits. I see robots out there. I see…
Blair: Exhibits. It's great. Good stuff.
Chris: …models, cool videos out there. And so, when we get a chance let's get around and talk to some people.
Blair: I'm lining up people left and right. As we speak, people are waiting to be interviewed by me. I've done the groundwork. I'm a geek about space stuff. It's going to be exciting.
Chris: You're a good interviewer?
Blair: Absolutely.... Well, yeah, sure. Why not?
Chris: I think you're just about as good at interviewing as a scratch golfer. So…
Blair: Nice. Nice. Four.
Chris: …let's have a little friendly wager. We're gonna go out…
Blair: The NASA EDGE "skins" game.
Chris: Yes. We're gonna go out and interview engineers and managers about their exhibits… talk about their exhibits, what they do
Blair: ...and what they do. And the new NASA vision.
Chris: Especially when we look at the new lunar architecture. We're going back to the moon in 2018...
Blair: For a permanent outpost on the Moon.
Chris: Permanent outpost. Yeah, a lunar outpost. And so we'll have a little wager. We're gonna go out, and let's see how many quality interviews you can get. Because what I want you to do is, I want you to become more… instead of the "outside," I want you to be more "inside."
Blair: Well, thank you, Chris.
Chris: And see if you can learn about the Vision for Space Exploration.
Blair: Absolutely. I'll know the vision by the time were done, and I'll have more interviews than you will. That's the bet.
Chris: Okay, let's go ahead and do that.
Blair: Oh! Good news. We have to remember to tell everybody we are also announcing the winners for…
Chris: of the NASA's 21st Century Explorer Podcast competition.
Blair: Very cool podcasts.
Chris: We're gonna be announcing 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
Blair: Perfect.
Chris: Which… the people attending the conference are actually the final judges.
Blair: Yeah, with the little keypads. They can key their vote right…
Chris: Yeah, it's like a Nintendo keypad.
Blair: Don't say that. I'm distracted now.
Chris: And also, too, the People's Choice Award, for people around the country, this is… today is the last day to vote. We'll tabulate those scores at the end of the day.
Blair: Yeah. And get ready for interviews.
Chris: This is NASA EDGE
Blair: An inside and outside look at all things NASA.
BREAK
Blair: OK, OK. I'll say that. I'm Chris... ah, I'm Chris…
Interviewee: Who are you?
Blair: I'm Blair with NASA EDGE and we're here with Chris... Ahh. Sorry. Sorry about that. You look just like Chris.
Interviewee: Chris? I do.
Chris: We're here with Dan and Jimmy with the human research program. Guys, what do you have behind us?
Interviewee: We have here is a lightweight trauma module, and basically what that means is it's monitoring a lot of things that you would normally see in a hospital. Say, for instance, you go to the hospital and you have all these different pieces of equipment that would be monitoring a patient. Well, we've combined all those pieces of equipment into one box.
Chris: Is this possibly going to be used on the Moon… when we eventually go back in 2018?
Interviewee: Definitely, that's the whole idea behind it. It's to be able to use this not only on the moon but by ISS anywhere that medicine would be required for astronauts as we start moving away from Earth.
Carlos: This is the actual suits they're actually gonna wear, like I said, for launch and entry. It's actually really important during an egress situation. The suit's actually designed to pressurize, or inflate, to keep the crew members – or astronauts -- alive during high altitudes.
Chris: This is the suit that they wear on launch and reentry, OK.
Carlos: On launch and reentry. On top of the suit, they're actually gonna wear their parachute harness. And it attaches on these connectors here. So their parachute, when they get out, it's already attached.
Chris: How does this work in space?
Carlos: Actually, when they get out they're not going to be in space. They're just gonna be at high altitudes, so this is only for egress purposes or emergency escapes.
Chris: Absolutely. How did you get involved with USA?
Carlos: Actually, I was five years in the military. I was in the Air Force. And I worked pressure suits in the Air Force, and so that was just kind of a neat transition and an easy transition to go into NASA, or United Space Alliance.
Chris: Did you ever want to become an astronaut?
Carlos: I would like to, but a lot of education is involved, so we'll see.
Chris: Wonderful. Carlos, thank you for helping us out, and I want to thank you for serving our country.
Blair: Hi. Blair Allen from NASA EDGE. I'm checking out this suit. What can you tell be about... is this the latest spacesuit you have?
David: This is our latest Lunar prototype suit. It's a walking suit designed to be very lightweight, be modular in design, and has a rear-entry door and that's how you enter... you jump in from the back.
Blair: Now, how many people would it take to get someone fully outfitted and ready to go out on the town in one of your spacesuits?
David: Interestingly enough, the waist entry is a little more cumbersome. It normally takes two to three people. A rear entry door... we've actually demonstrated the ability to do it on your own. Jump in, close the door behind you, lock and go ahead and pressurize.
Blair: Now we're talking about going back to the moon. So, is this one of those suits that you could actually use to do all your work, everything, on the moon?
David: Absolutely, we've designed this system to be very lightweight, be very mobile. There's not a whole lot that you can't do with this suit that you can't do outside a spacesuit.
Blair: What's this garment here behind there?
David: This is the current liquid cooling garment that is used in the current spacesuit, that's used to build the space station, and fly in the space shuttle. It has about 300 feet of tubing and water is circulated through it to keep your body temperature regulated.
Blair: That is the most happening set of PJ's I've ever seen, I've gotta tell you.
David: It definitely is a necessity inside the suit to keep your temperature regulated.
Blair: Now be honest with me, when you guys are around the lab, do you ever just put those on for just fun and comfort?
David: Actually, it is quite comfortable.
Blair: Is there any way possible - and be completely honest with me - do I have a shot... could I ride on Orion?
Chris: Hey, are you done with the microphone? I'm getting ready for an interview?
Blair: Well, I'm still doing some interv... I'll tell you what, let's go to Franklin then we'll do "rock, paper, scissors" and whoever honestly wins that gets the next interview.
Chris: Alright, good. You're watching NASA EDGE.
Blair: Yes, and Franklin, who's not here with us at the convention, is here in Houston. So, Franklin, how are you doing?
Franklin: Thanks Blair. I'm here in front of the Space Exploration trailer, which is in front of Space Center Houston, which is beside the Johnson Space Center. And we're here to do another ESA. So, citizens of Houston, we have lift off.
Franklin: What is NASA's mission?
Interviewee: Go ahead. I'm gonna let him answer. He's the Discovery Channel watcher.
Interviewee: The Vision for Space Exploration is to go to return to the moon, and go to Mars, and also beyond, and to finish the International Space Station. And safe return to flight, which we've already done.
Franklin: Let me ask you one thing, did I ask you about the vision or mission?
Interviewee: NASA's mission is to learn about space.
Interviewee: Space exploration?
Interviewee: To explore space like the Star Trek theme song.
Interviewee: To go where no man has gone before.
Interviewee: I'm embarrassed.
Franklin: What is the name of the Earth's moon?
Interviewee: The name of the Earth's moon?
Interviewee: Just the moon.
Interviewee: Moon.
Interviewee: That would be the moon.
Interviewee: Is that a trick question or is it just moon?
Interviewee: The moon?
Interviewee: I have to agree with him on that. I could be wrong.
Franklin: Good job.
Interviewee: Luna... okay that's fine we'll stick with Luna.
Interviewee: I just call it Luna... I'm not sure exactly what the actual name is of it.
Interviewee: Luna?
Interviewee: I have no idea.
Franklin: Who was the first person to travel at the speed of light?
Interviewee: Ooh, that's a good one. I don't know.
Interviewee: Mr. Armstrong.
Interviewee: Can only think of Neil Armstrong…
Interviewee: Not the first person who landed on the moon, the first person who traveled the speed of light...
Interviewee: John Glenn? It starts with a "Y."
Interviewee: Maybe not, Chuck Yeager?
Interviewee: Oh, I see him on TV all the time. He drives race cars.
Interviewee: Mmm, I wouldn't know that one. I'm sorry. No.
Franklin: Erica does not know the first person to travel at the speed of light. Good! Because no one has ever traveled at the speed of light.
Interviewee: It's a trick question.
Interviewee: Daddy did good babies.
Interviewee: No one. Because to do it, according to Einstein, you'd go back in time, wouldn't you?
Interviewee: No person has yet done that.
Interviewee: Speed of light we haven't done yet.
Interviewee: Theory of relativity, wouldn't you go back if you traveled the speed of light? You would go back in time.
Franklin: I majored in Liberal Arts.
Interviewee: Are we talking about metaphysically, or are we talking about physically?
Interviewee: I think it is God, if you ask me.
Interviewee: If you travel at or beyond the speed of sss... light, did you say?
BREAK
Blair: Ready? 1, 2, 3. boom.
Chris: Ah. Again. 1, 2, 3
Both: Aah!!
Chris: Thank you. I will give it right back. Hey, let's see if Blair can get an interview with Heather Paul. Hey, Heather how are you doing?
Heather: Hi, what's up?
Chris: Long time no see.
Heather: Good to see you.
Chris: Could you talk with us for a couple minutes on NASA EDGE?
Heather: Sure, why not.
Chris: Wonderful. How's the conference going?
Heather: It's awesome.
Chris: What are you here for?
Heather: I was here to do a spacesuit demonstration.
Chris: You have your suit with you?
Heather: I do. But I had to pack it and put it in the car.
Chris: Ah, geez... What's going on with the latest spacesuit technology?
Heather: Well, we have a lot of things going on. We're looking at the spacesuit garment itself in terms of material layers. We're looking at all the different parts of the backpack that keep our astronauts alive when they're walking in space. We're looking at boots, gloves, helmets, pretty much everything you see on a spacesuit right now we are investigating new methods on how to make it better.
Chris: Have you come up with the next-generation "underoos?"
Heather: You know, that is my next task, and in fact that's what I need to get back for today.
Chris: Wonderful. Maybe we can interview you sometime back at the office and learn more about spacesuit technology.
Heather: Sounds good. You know, you may have to model the spacesuit underoos for the camera… for the audience.
Chris: We'll get Blair, my goofy sidekick, to do that. How about that?
Heather: Sounds good. I think that's fair.
Chris: Have a great day.
Heather: Thanks.
Chris: Right behind me is a possible Lunar habitat that's cylindrical in shape. Oh. We have our co-host coming over here… Hey Blair.
Blair: Have you seen NASA's new port-a-john?
Chris: We're with Steve Cook today. How are you doing?
Steve: Hey. You know, I'm doing great. But you know, there's this little short, red-headed guy running around with the same kind of shirt. Will you tell him to keep his hands off my model?
Chris: I'll make sure I do that. I apologize about that. So, what have we got here?
Steve: Hey. We have a model of the Ares I. This is our new crew launch vehicle that we're developing right now at NASA. This is a cut-away view. The Ares I is gonna be 320 feet tall. This is lying here on its side. Obviously it would be vertical for flight.
Chris: Right.
Steve: The first stage is based on the current shuttle solid rocket booster -- the two big, white boosters on the side -- except it has an extra, fifth segment in the middle. But it uses a solid propulsion-type vehicle. Ok? And you have a recovery system parachute in the forward end so we can recover this after the second flight. And then we have an upper stage which is powered by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. And the engine is a derivative of the old Saturn Apollo J-2 called the J-2X with about 280,000 pounds of thrust. And it powers and takes the Orion spacecraft to low Earth orbit. And so, that is the first piece of our overall Ares family -- Ares I and Ares V.
Chris: Now, are we gonna have another vehicle that will take some hardware to the moon, eventually, when we go there?
Steve: Yes, this along with its partner -- Ares V, which is the very large cargo launch vehicle, which can launch about six times what this vehicle can do -- will work together in tandem. It will take the cargo up, whereas this takes the crew up.
Chris: Oh, great! Well, I want to thank you very much, Steve, for your time. We appreciate it. And, you're watching NASA EDGE with Chris and Blair, an inside and outside look at all things NASA.
Steve: This announcement has been approved by Steve Cook.
Blair: You ready? Ok.
Both: One, two, three… ah! One, two, three…
Blair: Oh yeah! Alright.
Blair: Hey, I'm Blair Allen from NASA EDGE. This is a really cool looking booth here. Is this some sort of tanning booth situation here? What have we got here?
Lauren: Yes, Blair, it is. It's to tan… to make your complexion much brighter.
Blair: Does this look good?
Lauren: Yes, it is. You've got this blue...
Blair: Does this look good?
Lauren: …haze, on you, kind of. Test this one. Oh, that one's the best.
Blair: Oh. Then, hey, let's do the interview right here.
Blair: We're here with NASA EDGE. I need to ask you a few questions. Can you tell us what NASA's vision is?
Christina: NASA's vision is to go to the moon, Mars, and beyond... We're trying to… we've captured the flight…
Blair: I have to interrupt you. From now on my new pitch is that it's, "We're going to the MOON, Mars and beyond." See, that way we emphasize moon until we get there. Then, it's "the moon, MARS, and beyond." Ok? You don't have to do that, really. Let's start again.
Blair: I'm Blair with NASA EDGE. We're talking to Christina. Can you tell us what the vision for NASA is?
Chirstina: We're going back to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
Blair: Perfect. See? That's perfect.
Blair: We're taking a look at the old LEM model. This was the original model used to land on the Moon.
Chris: Wouldn't this be cool to give this to Franklin for his Ken and Barbie camper set?
Blair: Yeah, he'd love that, especially the extra module for all of Barbie's shoes, because he's got all those too.
Blair: So what you're saying is when I get back to the studio and I start to do some more work with Chris, I should light him in blue light because he's very...
Kathy: Does it make him go to sleep?
Blair: No, he's lazy. He doesn't work real hard. He's difficult. So if we use that, maybe it will bring his energy up.
Kathy: It will definitely jazz him up.
Blair: Then, can we order some of your blue light for our studio?
Kathy: Not yet.
Blair: But soon?
Kathy: I can put you in touch with Dr. Czeisler and Brainard and maybe they can....
Blair: I will have to get in touch with them. This is perfect. Thanks so much. Appreciate it. And again, you're with?
Kathy: I'm with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, and we have a cooperative agreement with NASA. So we are NASA partners.
Blair: We love cooperation.
Kathy: We're going to take a lot of cooperation to get everybody to the moon and Mars.
Blair: As NASA EDGE members, we definitely want to cooperate with you and everyone else.
Kathy: You're our favorite NASA show, and we like you even a little better than Chris.
Blair: That's great. That's cooperation.
Blair: I'd like to thank the Academy for your consideration and support over the last few years in getting out show up and running. We plan to give you many more episodes, humorous, entertaining, and insightful look at all things NASA. Look at my co-host. He's a valuable member of the team. Please consider him in the future. But again I would like to thank you and everyone else for your continued, unending support. Thank you.
Chris: Kathy, thanks a lot for making Blair feel special.
Kathy: Well, I know he needs it.
Chris: He's actually is the one who needs the blue light, not me.
Kathy: Anything we can do to boost his esteem.
Chris: Thank you. I'll call you later. Bye.
Chris: And we're here with Kris. Kris, who's your buddy here?
Kris: This is Robonaut. It's a space robot we've designed to do the kinds of things in orbit and on the planetary surface that an astronaut might do without the risk of putting a human in harm's way.
Chris: I noticed he has, sort of, a body plus the wheels.
Kris: Excuse me. Can we get security over here? What was the question?
Chris: Question was he's like sort of like a moon buggy with a robot?
Kris: Centaur is the name of the configuration we have here. The base we've got on here is a recent addition we added this summer and took it out to Arizona to do a field test.
Chris: Now, is this an autonomous robot? Is this being controlled by someone in another place?
Kris: Right now, it's being controlled by Mike Gozo, over here, in the headset and gloves.
Chris: What are his capabilities with his hands? I notice he's moving here, and he's pretty dexterous with his fingers.
Kris: The hand has 12 degrees of freedom, which means it can move 12 different, individual ways.
Chris: Now, we're going back to the Moon around 2018. Those four lucky astronauts are going to be going there. They're going to be developing lunar colonies and lunar outposts. Would Robonaut be a type of robot that could be used on the lunar surface?
Kris: Absolutely. We would love to have a robot up there with them, helping them out, doing the kinds of things that they don't want to do or that… to give an extra set of hands.
Chris: You know, Blair. He looks kind of like Ultraman, doesn't he? Remember Ultraman?
Kris: No.
Chris: Wrong time.
Blair: Very impressive, Chris. But, you know, I thought they would be a little bit bigger than this.
Chris: My goofy sidekick could fit in one of these.
Blair: Honey, they shrunk the astronauts!
Blair: Yes, were here with Julie looking at ATHLETE?? And she's going to tell us all about it. What can you tell us?
Julie: ATHLETE is an all-purpose utility robot for the moon. It carries. It drills. It scoops. It picks stuff up, sets it down and carries stuff around. It does whatever you need it to do.
Blair: Well, that sounds like it's perfect for me because I can't do any of those things well. ATHLETE, I see, is an acronym?
Julie: It is. It stands for All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer.
Blair: I thought it was just because it was athletic.
Julie: That's why we like the acronym.
Blair: Perfect!
Julie: It gives the idea that ATHTLETE can do a lot of different things well. And it really is very multi-functional, as well.
Blair: Okay folks, we have Julie carefully working with ATHLETE. She is going to use one of its dexterous arms, not as dexterous as Robonaut, not to be confused, but she is going to attempt to pick up the moon. Be careful not to grab the Shackleton crater that's where we hoping to establish a permanent outpost on Mars… I mean, on the Moon.
Julie: I'll try to.
Blair: Thank you. I appreciate that. Be careful! It is our one and only moon. Luna, just for the record.
Blair: That's right. We do have contact, mission control. We've touched the Moon. Okay folks, this is the big moment. Standby.
Blair: I feel like I'm at a golf tournament. Ah! We have lift off! Wow, that's great! Very impressive.
Blair: Check it out. Chris is doing a Q & A with the astronauts and some kids from local schools but that's not going to count towards our interview competition. Take a look.
Kid: Why is there no air in space?
Chris: Why is there no air in space?
Blair: Hey Chris.
Chris: Hey! So, Blair, have you learned what NASA's Vision for Space Exploration is?
Blair: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I've got it now. Do you want to hear it?
Chris: Yeah.
Blair: As we all know, the Vision for Space Exploration calls for humans to return to the moon, paving the way for eventual journeys to Mars and beyond. The fundamental goal, remember, of this vision to advance the US scientific, security, and economic support decisions about other destinations for human exploration. And finally, of course, we want to promote international and commercial participation and exploration to advance US scientific, security, and economic interests. It's really quite simple.
Chris: I got to tell you, Blair. That's pretty good. You talked as if you were on the inside of NASA.
Blair: Well, I want to be on the inside, like you.
BREAK
[SPACE FOOD COOK-OFF]
Franklin: Check it out. We're taking an exclusive inside look at the official unofficial space food cook-off here inside the food lab at the NASA Johnson Space Center. So, what do we have here?
Interviewee: We have something very special -- chicken and peanut sauce.
Interviewee: Think we need to add something green… like, maybe, spinach.
Franklin: Hmm. Great! Good luck.
Franklin: We're here with last year's runaway winners as they try to duplicate their world-renowned seafood gumbo. Cause everyone knows there's a science to cooking. So tell me, guys, what's your criteria for judging space food?
Interviewee: That's an excellent question. There's nutritional content, taste, of course, and creativity.
Interviewee: And presentation. Presentation is important.
Franklin: Great. Great. But do you really think you can compete with the Medianauts from NASA EDGE?
Blair: Oh, yeah.
Chris: This is gonna be good, isn't it? More root beer?
Blair: More root beer. Get that in there. More root beer.
Chris: Oh. Oh, yeah.
Blair: Frothy goodness.
Blair: Needs more jellybeans.
[END SPACE FOOD COOK-OFF]
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Chris: Hey were back on NASA EDGE
Blair: an inside and outside look at all things NASA.
Chris: Well, I'll tell you what. I'm exhausted.
Blair: My feet hurt.
Chris: What a wonderful two days.
Blair: It's been great though. It really has.
Chris: We had some great interviews. And I got to tell you, I was impressed.
Blair: I struggled. I gotta be honest. It was more challenging than I… I need media training. I need to go to interview school, or something.
Chris: I really liked your interview with ATHLETE and with…
Blair: That was fun.
Chris: …with the suit from ILC Dover.
Blair: So I did get some things done.
Chris: I don't know how you got rejected by Heather in the interview.
Blair: It was like getting a prom date. It was terrible. I had flashbacks.
Chris: But I have to concede, you know. You did a great job.
Blair: Oh. Thanks.
Chris: I'll let you win the bet this time. You did a great job. You actually learned a little bit about the Vision…
Blair: I did. I did learn something.
Chris: ...for Space Exploration, even though you kind of played a joke on me and read off the board.
Blair: I'm still working on it. I'm still working on it.
Chris: But… but that means you want to be on the inside.
Blair: Yes, I do want to be on the inside. It's very important to me.
Chris: And someone told me… I think I saw Steve Cook, some redhead was going around and touching the rocket. I'm assuming it's you?
Blair: Yeah, some guy grabbed me. I thought it was Thomas back at the center. And no, it was this guy, Dale, from Marshall, and he jacked me. I didn't touch another model after that, trust me. It was deadly.
Chris: That's good. I'm glad you listened to him.
Blair: Security is great here at the 2nd Space Exploration Conference.
Chris: Before we sign off, we're going upstairs and check out the results of the Podcast winners and we'll announce that a little bit later.
Blair: Perfect.
Chris: But, we're going to sign off here from our desk...
Blair: The 2nd Space Exploration Conference.
Chris: …and next year we'll hopefully be in Long Beach, California.
Blair: Yeah, Long Beach. Which would be great. I'll have to bring suntan lotion.
Chris: Hopefully by then you'll be completely on the inside.
Blair: I will have the vision down solid, no problem.
Chris: Well, thank you for joining us on this episode of NASA EDGE and we'll see you pretty soon.
Blair: An inside and outside look... well let me amend that – an almost inside and inside look at all things NASA, at least for today.
Chris: Have a great day.
Scott Horowitz: I'd like to thank Victoria, Debbie and Derek. You see Derek running around trying to keep everything running smoothly. I want to also thank the team on our NASA site. As a team they've done a tremendous job. Let's have a big round of applause for everybody who's brought off this tremendous conference.
PODCAST COMPETITION HIGHLIGHTS
Podcast: ...benefits your life in the future. If you know the drill, call back in the next 60 seconds to win a new computer.
Podcast: How will space exploration benefit your life in the future?
Podcast: In a word, discovery. We have so many questions we need answered.
Podcast: Then you better find a way....
Podcast: Hi, I'm Jordan Urbach. Some people question whether space travel is really necessary, yet I don't know anyone who wouldn't want high quality medical care for their families.
Podcast: Wilson Sporting Good Company wanted to make the best golf ball surface. The best golf ball surface would make the ball's flight more accurate and longer.
Podcast: …to go where no person has gone before.
Podcast: This is how NASA will benefit us, the future.
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Blair: And were back with NASA EDGE…
Chris: …an inside and outside look at all things NASA.
Blair: It's great to be back in the studio and watch all the Podcast winners over and over again. I never get tired of this stuff.
Chris: Awesome job.
Blair: Great stuff.
Chris: They did a phenomenal job.
Blair: In fact, as a special, we have on line Victor who won the people's choice award and also first place in the video category for 15 to 18 year olds.
Chris: Hey, congratulations Victor, on a job well done.
Blair: Yes, congratulations. Awesome job.
Victor Lopez: Thank you very much. I had a real good time making it.
Blair: Well, we were… it was great to be in Houston to actually see them present your podcast on the big screen, and just to see the votes and find out you won. You did an excellent job.
Chris: And as the first time for the competition, he's a double winner. People's Choice and first place in the 15 to 18 year old category.
Blair: In fact, setting the bar quite high. Can be very difficult for people to meet your standards.
Chris: Hey, Victor. Got a question for you. How did you hear about the 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition?
Victor Lopez: I actually heard about it from my mom. She sent me this email one day, and I really didn't know what it was. It had a bunch of things about NASA, and she knew I was interested in an engineering program and aeronautical science and everything. I scrolled down, and I saw a section about video. And she also knows that I'm in r… I'm in a radio/television class in my high school.
Chris: Wonderful.
Blair: And you showed it in your podcast because it was very well done.
Victor Lopez: Yeah. I mean, I just saw the link there. And I went ahead and clicked on it, and I saw it, and I made my video. It was a lot of fun.
Blair: Do you do your own podcast regularly, or was this a brand new thing for you? Or do you do this kind of thing all the time?
Victor Lopez: What I usually do is… at school, like I said, I'm in a radio/television thing, and we actually put together a monthly newscast out. And we're responsible for one story every month. And so I do one newscast story every single month, and every time I do that I try and post it up on my website. And through there, using iweb on my computer.
Chris: Hopefully, you'll enter next year's 2nd annual 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition, which will be better than ever.
Blair: Right. And there will be different questions. Can't submit your entry this year.
Chris: Absolutely.
Blair: So, get your gear ready, and you'll be hearing more about it in the future, obviously. Tell your friends. It will be a great competition. And again, we just want to say congratulations.
Chris: Job well done.
Blair: You did a fabulous job, and we look forward to seeing you sometime when we come down to Houston.
Victor Lopez: I do, too.
Chris: Have a great school year and we'll keep in touch.
Victor Lopez: Thank you very much. I enjoyed being on the show.
Blair: Thanks Victor.
Chris: Have a great day.
Blair: You know it's great to have a conversation with a kid so young and so enthusiastic about NASA and all this technology. And he really put it all together, brought it up for a nice product.
Chris: And I thought, God forbid, if you ever were sick, I just might call Victor to see if he can fill in for you as co-host of NASA EDGE.
Blair: That's crazy talk.
Chris: Well, we'll have to see. We'll go down there and do an interview with him.
Blair: I'm sure Victor would understand and not try to usurp me in anyway in my tentative position in the show.
Chris: Well, we've come to a close for another NASA EDGE show.
Blair: We want to thank not only Victor but all the people that joined in the competition, sent in their entries and participated. It was great. Look forward to the competition next year.
Chris: Absolutely. And I want to let our audience know if you ever see a redhead coming into your facility, don't let him touch your models, because they just might be destroyed.
Blair: You know, I'll never live that down.
Chris: Hey, you're watching NASA EDGE
Blair: an inside and outside look at all… bleh, golly. How do I blow the line?
Chris: That's sad.
Blair: That's terrible.
Chris: An inside and outside look at all things NASA. Have a great day.
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