>> GOOD AFTERNOON. AS MY HUSBAND THE MARINE SAYS.
I'M FROM NASA'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATION, AND WE'RE HERE AT
THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER HERE TO PROVIDE AN EXCITING UPDATE ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT, AND THE SELECTION OF THE
NEW HUMAN ASTRONAUTS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ED. >> FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION
AND REMARKS, THE NEW ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES WILL ANSWER SOME
QUESTIONS. LET'S GO TO OUR COAST, AN
ASTRONAUT AND VETERAN OF FOUR SPACE SHOULD FLIGHTS.
[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO JOHNSON SPACE CENTER TODAY,
AND ESPECIALLY TO THIS BUILD WHERE ASTRONAUTS HAVE TRAINED
FOR DECADES. WE'RE PROUD OF OUR ROLE IN
LEADING SPACE EXPLORATION FOR NASA.
WE MANAGE COMPLEX SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAMS, DEVELOP AND EVALUATE
HUMAN-RATED SPACECRAFT AND SPACE CHUTES.
RESEARCH AND MAINTAIN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN SPACE, AND WE
SELECT AND PROTECT ASTRONAUTS AND PLAN, TRAIN FOR AND FLY
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT MISSIONS. EVERY FEW YEARS WE TRAIN A NEW
GROUP OF ASTRONAUTS. AND TODAY IS AN EXCITING DAY TO
ANNOUNCE THOSE CANDIDATES. HELP ME TO WELCOME THE FOLLOWING
OFFICIALS. REPRESENTING THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA, VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] REPRESENTING THE STATE OF TEXAS,
GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
STARTS SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS, SENATOR TED CRUZ.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE
FROM THE TEXAS 21ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
CHAIRMAN LAMAR SMITH. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE TEXAS
35TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CHAIRMAN BABB BIT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] NASA'S ACTING ADMINISTRATOR,
ROBERT LIGHTFOOT. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HELP ME WELCOME
TEXAS STATE SENATOR LARRY TAYLOR.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE
DENNIS PAUL. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DAVE MARTIN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AND ALSO HERE REPRESENTING THE
OFFICER--THE OFFICE OF SENATOR TED CRUZ SOUTHEAST DIRECTOR
JESSICA HART. MARY SNYDER, TY PETTY,.AND
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] AS YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED OVER
18,300 APPLICATIONS. MORE THAN DOUBLING THE GREATEST
NUMBER WE HAVE EVER RECEIVED FROM PREVIOUS ASTRONAUT CLASSES.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANKS ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED US TO
REVIEW AND EVALUATE THOSE APPLICATIONS.
WE HAVE PERSONNEL HUMAN RESOURCES GOING THROUGH THE
REVIEWS. AND OF COURSE WE HAD GREAT
SUPPORT FROM OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL EXPERTS
AND CURRENT ASTRONAUT CORE. THE APPLICATION PERIOD OPENED A
YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND WE SPENT 15 MONTHS IN THE SELECTION
PROCESS, REVIEWING CAREER HISTORY, RECOMMENDATION,
PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND THOROUGH MEDICAL EVALUATION AND
CONDUCTING ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO EVALUATE LEADERSHIP,
FOLLOWSHIP, AWARENESS AND DECISION MAKING AMONG OTHER
THINGS. YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE INTRODUCED TO
THE 12 OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS SELECTED FROM THOSE THOUSANDS OF
APPLICANTS. WHILE WE WANT EVERYONE TO GET TO
KNOW THEM AS INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE ASTRONAUTS ARE A VISIBLE PART OF
WHAT WE DO, BUT WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT SUCCESSFUL HUMAN
SPACE FLIGHT IS A TEAM SPORT AND REQUIRES THE PASSION AND
DEDICATION NOT ONLY AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER COMMUNITY
BUT CROSS MANY NASA CENTERS. NOW WE WELCOME THEM TO TEAM
NASA. NOW I'LL INTRODUCE BRIAN B.K.
KELLY, CHAIR OF THE ASTRONAUT SELECTION BOARD.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> ALL RIGHT, IT'S A GREAT DAY,
PEOPLE. GOOD AFTERNOON, AMERICA.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALL EXCITED TO FIND OUT WHO WE SELECTED FOR THE
CLASS. BUT BEFORE I INTRODUCE THEM,
WE'VE GOT SOME TIPS PROVIDED BY SOME OF THEIR BREAD ASSESSORS TO
LET THEM KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS COMING AHEAD FOR THEM.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PLAY A LITTLE SHORT VIDEO FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.
>> WELCOME TO THE 2017 CLASS. WE REALLY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
HAVING YOU JOIN OUR TEAM. THIS IS THE MOST I CAN
GUARANTEE--THE MOST UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT YOU CAN GO TO WORK
IN. WE LOVE IT.
>> WOW, THROUGH ALL THOSE INTERVIEWS YOU FINALLY FOUND
OUT, AND IT'S SO EXCITING TO HAVE YOU GUYS AS PART OF NASA.
>> I'M HERE AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER WHERE YOU'LL SOON BE
WORKING. WE CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO
TRAINING. YOU'RE IN FOR A RIDE, LITERALLY.
>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MANY TRAININGS YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD
TO, WELCOME ON BOARD. >> I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I
ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW EVERYBODY AND LEARN FROM THEM,
TO TAKE THE SHORT COURSES WE TOOK IN, GEOGRAPHY GEOLOGY,
OCEANOGRAPHY. >> WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE
ASTRONAUT OFFICE, I BEGAN TO MEET THE INSTRUCTORS, THE
SCIENTISTS, THE ENGINEERS, ALL KNOWS WHO MADE SPACE FLIGHT
HAPPEN, AND I FELT TOTALLY OUT-CLASSED, AND YOU SHOULD,
TOO. YOU HAVE A LOT OF AHEAD OF YOU.
>> MY ADVISE IS TO HAVE FUN WITH THE TRAININGS YOU'RE GOING TO
EMBARK ON OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
IT WILL BE TOUGH, SO HAVE A LITTLE FUN.
>> NOW YOU GET TO TAKE OVER THE DUTY OF THE MOST RECENT CLASS.
OH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT PICKING UP CLASS NAMES BECAUSE YOUR
COLLEAGUES HERE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP WITH YOU THAT.
>> CLASS OF 2017 MY ADVANCE FOR YOU IS TO NOT TALK FOR YOUR
FIRST THREE YEARS. WELCOME.
>> WHEN YOU WALK IN THIS DOOR YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE TO
LEARN, TRAIN, AND BE CREW MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHAT IS THE IMPORTANT PART.
>> YOU'RE GOING TO BE AWESOME. AND YOU'RE GOING TO FLY IN
SPACE. AND WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
>> ENJOY THE TIME YOU'LL HAVE WITH THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF
PEOPLE THAT YOU'LL BE TRAINING, PLAYING WITH.
SEE YOU SOON. >> WE ON THE SPACE STATION
WANTED TO SEND YOU A SPECIAL MESSAGE, AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU
YOUR NEW OFFICE. IT'S CRAMPED, THE DESK IS KIND
OF SMALL. BUT THE VIEW--OH, THE VIEW.
LET ME SHOW YOU. FIRST WE'LL OPEN THE BIG WINDOW
SO YOU CAN SEE OUTSIDE. YOUR JOB IS TO TAKE THE WONDER
AND AMAZEMENT THAT WE GET TO SEE EVERY DAY, AND SHARE IT WITH THE
WORLD. AND IGNITE THEIR PASSION TO
EXPLORE. IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
THAN THAT. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, CLASS
OF 2017. WELCOME TO THE CLUB.
[APPLAUSE] >> YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SEE, BUT
MAYBE NOT HEAR WHAT THESE FOLKS HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
IT'S GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS. WHAT DO YOU SAY?
HOW ABOUT I INTRODUCE THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF OUR FLIGHT OPERATIONS
TEAM, THE 2017 ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES!
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] I'M GOING TO START IN
ALPHABETICAL ORDER. KALEY BARREN.
HERE WE GO. KALEY IS 29, A LIEUTENANT IN THE
UNITED STATES NAVY, HAILS FROM RICH LAND, WASHINGTON.
SHE HAS A A BACHELORS FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY AND A MASTERS FROM
CAMBRIDGE. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE FIRST
CLASS OF WOMEN COMMISSIONED IN THE SUBMARINE WARFARE COMMUNITY.
SHE'S THE AID TO SUPERINTENDENT OF THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY.
KAYLA BARRENS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
LET'S GIVE IT UP FOR ZENA CARDMAN.
ZENA IS 29 AND HAILS FROM WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA.
SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN BIOLOGIST FROM UNIVERSITY OF
NORTH CAROLINA. CHAPEL HILL.
SHE HAS EXTENDSIVE FIELD EXPERIENCE, AND SHE HAS BEEN
INVOLVED WITH NASA ANALOG MISSIONS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA,
IDAHO AND HAWAI'I. SHE'S CURRENTLY WORKING AT THE
SCIENCE FOUNDATION AS A GRADUATE RESEARCH FELL LOW WORKING ON HER
Ph.D AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT, RAJA CHARI, A 39-YEAR-OLD LIEUTENANT COLONEL
FROM CEDAR FALLS, IOWA. HE HAS A BACHELORS FROM THE U.S.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY. HE HAS A MASTERS FROM M.I.T. AND
A GRADUATE FROM THE NAVY TEST PILOT SCHOOL.
HE'S CURRENTLY THE COMMANDER OF THE 461ST FLIGHT TEST SQUADRON
AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
MATT DOMINICK. MATT IS 35, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY. FROM COLORADO, HE HAS A
BACHELORS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF SCALING, AND MASTER FROM SYSTEMS ENGINEERS FROM THE NOVEL
GRADUATE SCHOOL. HE IS A GRADUATE FROM THE NAVAL
TEST PILOT SCHOOL AND LET'S HERE IT FOR MATT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP IS BOB, 42, HARRISBURG,
PENNSYLVANIA. BOB HAS HIS BACHELORS IN
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND MASTERS IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. HE HAD A GRADUATE FROM THE
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TESTIFY A LOT SCHOOL.
HE SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE AND AIR FORCE RESERVES FOR 18 YEARS.
HE IS CURRENTLY A NASA RESEARCH PILOT AND BEST OUTFIT ON AND OFF
THE PILOT AND RESEARCH DIRECTOR AT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
ALREADY, NEXT UP IS WOODY HO HOLBERG.
WOODY IS 31 FROM PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM M.I.T. AND DOCTORATE IN
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMMUTER SCIENCE FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY.
HE IS A PRIVATE PILOT WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN
WILDERNESS SEARCH AND RESCUE. HE IS CURRENTLY A RESEARCH
ASSISTANT AT M.I.T. NEXT UP IS DR. JOHNNY KIM.
JOHNNY. JOHNNY IS 33-YEAR-OLD LIEUTENANT
IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY WHO HAILS FROM LOS ANGELES,
CALIFORNIA. HE HAS A DEGREE IN MATHEMATICS
FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO AND DOCTORATE OF MEDICINE FROM
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL. JOHNNY STARTED OUT AS AN
ENLISTED NAVY SEAL OPERATOR COMPLETELY OVER 100 COMBAT
OPERATIONS. HE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE SILVER
STAR AND BRONZE STAR AND CURRENTLY WITH THE NAVY MEDICAL
CORE PURSUING RESIDENCY IN MASSACHUSETTS NEW JERSEY
HOSPITAL. JOHNNY KIM.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] NEXT UP IS ROB GOLINE.
ROB. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> ROB IS 33-YEAR-OLD GUY FROM ANCHORAGE, ALASKA.
HE HAS A BACHELORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER AND MASTER
IN MATERIAL SCIENCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN
DIEGO. HE HAS A DOCTORATE IN
ENGINEERING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO.
HE HAS EXPERIENCE AS A COMMERCIAL FISHERMAN IN ALASKA,
AN ICE DRILL CENTER IN ANTARCTICA.
ROB. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
JASMINE. JASMINE IS A 33-YEAR-OLD MAJOR
IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
HER HOMETOWN OF BALDWIN, NEW YORK.
SHE HAS A BACHELORS IN AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY FROM
M.I.T. SHE HAS A MASTERS FROM THE
NAVALLY POST GRADUATE SCHOOL AND AN U.S. TEST PILOT SCHOOL
GRADUATE. SHE HAS TESTED HELICOPTERS FOR
MARINE OPERATIONAL TESTING EVALUATIONS SQUAD DROWN 1 IN YOU
YUMA, ARIZONA, JASMINE. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
NEXT UP WE HAVE LAUREL, IN, FROM SUGARLAND, TEXAS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] LAUREL HAS HER BACHELOR'S DEGREE
IN AIR NOTTICS AND ASTRONAUTICS IN UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
SHE HAS WORKED IN AND PARTICIPATED IN REDUCE GRAVITY
STUDENT FLIGHT OPERATION PROGRAM.
SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE NASA ACADEMY THE GODDARD SPACE
FLIGHT CENTER AND INVOLVED IN THE INTERN PROGRAM.
SHE'S CURRENTLY A RESEARCH ENGINEER AT OCEAN GRAPHIC
INSTITUTION IN MASSACHUSETTS. LAUREL, WELCOME HOME.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> NEXT UP IS DR. FRANK RUBIO.
FRANK IS A 41-YEAR-OLD MAJOR IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY WHO HAILS
FROM MIAMI, FLORIDA. HE HAS A BACHELORS DEGREE FROM
THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.
HE HAS A DOCTORATE OF MEDICINE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF THE
HEALTH SCIENCES. FRANK HAS MORE THAN 1100 HOURS
OF FLIGHT TIME AS A PILOT IN THE U.S. ARMY INCLUDING OVER 600
HOURS OF COMBAT TIME. FRANK IS CURRENTLY SERVING AS A
SURGEON AT FORT CARSON, COLORADO.
LET'S HEAR IT FOR FRANK RUBIO. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
ALL RIGHT, NUMBER 12, JESSICA WATKINS.
>> JESSICA HAS HER DOCTORATE IN
GEOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES.
SHE WORKED AT NASA'S RESEARCH CENTER.
JESSICA IS CURRENTLY A POST DOC FELLOW AT THE CALIFORNIA
INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATING ON THE LABORATORY.
WE INTEND TO SEND HER TO MARS ONE DAY, FOLKS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] OUR FLIGHT OPERATION IS TO
SELECT AND PROTECT OUR ASTRONAUTS, PLAN, TRAIN AND FLY
OUR AVIATION MISSION. THAT WE JUST GOT THROUGH
SELECTING THEM. NOW I WANT TO PRESENTED TO YOU
THE 2017 ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS FOR THE GREAT OUTFIT OF
NASA. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WOW, YOU ARE ALL INCREDIBLE. WE KNOW SITTING HERE IS THE
BEGINNING OF A DREAM CROP TRUE. WE WANT TO ASSURE OUR CANDIDATES
THAT WE'RE JUST AS EXCITED TO HAVE YOU BECOME PART OF OUR NASA
FAMILY. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO NASA'S
ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR. ROBERT LIGHTFOOT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> OKAY, WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON,
IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE HERE TODAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE ICONIC THINGS
WE GET TO DO AS AN AGENCY. WE GET TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW
CREW. I WANT TO WELCOME ALL 12 OF YOU
INTO THE NASA FAMILY. AS ELLEN SAID, YOU'RE A TEAM
HERE. I WANT TO THANK THE FAMILIES AS
WELL THE FAMILIES ARE OUT HERE. YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THESE GUYS--
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THESE FOLKS
AND YOU HAVE SEEN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND YOU'LL
SUPPORT THEM EVEN MORE. THESE NEW CANDIDATES, AS YOU CAN
SEE HAVE A VAST VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES.
WE HAVE MILITARY, PHYSICISTS, PILOTS, AN AWESOME GROUP, AND
YOU PRESENT A GREAT PART OF THIS COUNTRY.
I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO READ THESE FIRST BIOs ONLINE.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT EXPERIENCE HERE AT NASA.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DO AT THIS AGENCY, KIDS STILL LOOK
UP TO THE HEAVENS AND THINK, I COULD BE AN ASTRONAUTS.
I COULD BE UP THERE. YOU GUYS EPITOMIZE THAT.
NOT JUST FLYING, BUT BEING THAT AMBASSADOR FOR US.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE WE GO, THIS IS A SELECTIVE GROUP.
FROM 18,000 TO 12, THAT'S A VERY SELECTIVE GROUP, AND WE ARE
EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU
WILL DO MOVING FORWARD. YOU'LL INSPIRE THE NEXT GROUP
GENERATION TO COME IN AND CARRY
ON. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME HERE IN
NASA. ONE OF THE FOLKS BEHIND US COULD
BEHE NEXT ONE TO TAKE THAT LEAP THAT BRINGS THE ENTIRE NASA
FAMILY AND THIS ENTIRE WORLD WITH THEM.
THAT'S WHAT THE FUTURE IS FOR THESE FOLKS.
THAT'S VERY EXCITING AS WE THINK ABOUT IT.
WE AS AN AGENCY WE WORK TOWARDS THAT GOAL.
WE WORK TOWARDS THE GOAL SO WE CAN USE THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THE RESEARCH DONE, GET
THE TECHNOLOGIES BUILT SO THESE GUYS CAN MOVE FORWARD.
IT'S JUST REALLY EXCITING. WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THE
BACKBONE OF WHAT WE DO TODAY AS WE STRETCH THIS INFRASTRUCTURE
OUT FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO SPACE.
VERY EXCITING. AS A GROUP, YOU GUYS REPRESENT
THE PINNACLE OF AMERICAN EXCELLENCE.
YOU'RE INSPIRING TO ALL OF US, AND AGAIN, MY GREAT HONOR TO
WELCOME YOU TO THE NASA FAMILY. THIS ENTIRE NASA TEAM IS READY
TO SUPPORT YOU AND GET YOU READY FOR THE MISSIONS THAT WE HAVE
PLANNED FOR YOU. SO BEST OF LUCK TRAINING, AS WE
GO FORWARD MY SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS, AND GOD SPEED.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> SO IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH A KEEN INTEREST IN SPACE.
HE HAS TAKEN TIME OUT OF HIS BUSY SCHEDULE ON HIS BIRTHDAY,
NO DOUBT, TO CONGRATULATE AND WELCOME YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
GIVE A WARM NASA WELCOME TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, THE HONORABLE MIKE PENCE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU, ROBERT.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT, SENATOR CRUZ, CONGRESSMAN AND CHAIRMAN LAMAR
SMITH. AND CONGRESSMAN AND CHAIRMAN
BABB BIT. TO ADMINISTRATOR ROBERT
LIGHTFOOT, AND ELLEN OCHOA AND THE TEAM HERE AT JOHNSON SPACE
CENTER, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PRIVILEGED AND HONORED I FEEL
TODAY TO BE ABLE TO CONGRATULATE THE NEWEST CLASS OF AMERICAN
HEROES, THE 2017 CLASS OF AMERICA ASTRONAUT.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THESE ARE 12 MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE
PERSONAL EXCELLENCE, WHOSE PERSONAL COURAGE WILL TAKE OUR
NATION TO GREATER HEIGHTS OF DISCOVERY.
AND WILL INSPIRE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN EVERY BIT AS
MUCH AS THEIR FOREBEARS HAVE DONE IN THE PROGRAM.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BRING THE SINCERE CONGRATULATION OF THE
45TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
YOUR PRESIDENT IS PROUD OF YOU, AND SO AM I.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO NASA'S NOBLE
MISSION LEADING AMERICA IN SPACE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER THE
SIGNING OF THE FIRST NASA AUTHORIZATION ACT IN SEVEN
YEARS, THE PRESIDENT RENEWED, AND IN HIS WORDS OUR NATIONAL
MILITARY NASA'S EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY.
THE PRESIDENT SAID WE MUST HAVE, IN HIS WORDS, THE COURAGE TO
LOOK, LOOK FOR ANSWERS IN PLACES WE HAVE NEVER LOOKED BEFORE.
TO THINK IN NEW WAYS. HE SAID THESE NEW DISCOVERIES
REMIND US THAT HERE IN AMERICA ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF WE HAVE
THE COURAGE AND THE WISDOM TO LEAD.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] NOW, FOR MY PART IS REALLY IS A
JOY FOR THIS LIFELONG NASA FAN TO BE STANDING HERE AT THE
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER--ON MY BIRTHDAY, NO LESS.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] THIS REALLY IS A SPECIAL PLACE.
THINK ABOUT IT. FOR MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY,
THEY HAVE GUIDED ASTRONAUTS TO THE HEAVEN.
YOU HAVE MANAGED 211S A TREE NAUGHTS INTO SPACE.
FROM 1965 AT THIS VERY MOMENT, HERE YOU'VE NAVIGATED THE FIRST
MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY TO THE MOON.
BROUGHT THE CREW OF APOLO 13 HOME SAFE AND SOUND AND YOU
WATCH ASTRONAUTS DO THEIR WORK AS THEY WALK ABOVE US.
YOU KNOW, I CAUGHT SPICE FEVER AS A LITTLE BOY IN THIS SMALL
TOWN IN SOUTHERN INDIANA. SOME OF MY MOST CHERISHED
MEMORIES OF MY YOUTH IS WATCHING THAT BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION
WATCHING AMERICAN LEADERSHIP,
AMERICAN COURAGE. I ASKED TO SERVE ON THE SCIENCE
COMMITTEE, NASA SUB COMMITTEE. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE WITH MY WIFE
KAREN AND OUR THREE CHILDREN TO WATCH SEVERAL SHUTTLE LAUNCHES
AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MY SON, WHO
IS NOW A MARINE CORPS AVIATOR HIMSELF, WAS ACTUALLY INSPIRED
TO PUT ON THE UNIFORM AND GET IN THE COCKPIT FROM THAT ONE DAY WE
SAT IN THE GRANDSTANDS WHEN HE WAS TEN YEARS OLD AT THE KENNEDY
SPACE CENTER AND WATCHED WITH AWE AS AMERICA'S HEROIC
ASTRONAUTS HURLED INTO THE HEAVENS.
TO SEE A LAUNCH, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT, CAPE CANAVERAL.
IT'S LIKE SEEING THE EARTH GIVING A BIRTH TO THE SUN AND
SENDING IT HOME. THE COURAGE OF ALL THE
ASTRONAUTS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE INSPIRED ME TO THIS VERY DAY.
AMERICA'S MARVEL IS OUR ASTRONAUT.
ONLY 338 AMERICANS HAVE HEALTH THE TITLE OF AMERICAN
ASTRONAUTS. WHILE THEIR NUMBERS MAY BE FEW,
THE INDOM MITTIBLE SPIRIT OF THE UNITED STATES.
NASA HAS EXPANDED OUR VERIZON AND OUR HOPES AND INSPIRED NOT
JUST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BUT ALL THE WORLD WITH THEIR
EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS. THEIR
NAMES ARE ON THE HEARTS OF EVERY AMERICA.
JOHN GLEN, ALAN SHEPHERD, THE REST OF THE MERCURY SET.
NEIL ARMSTRONG, ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO IT TOOK TO DO THAT.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST THE ASTRONAUT. AS YOU KNOW ALREADY, AND YOU'LL
LEARN MORE IN THE DAYS AHEAD, WE CAN'T GO WAYNE WHERE WITHOUT THE
DEDICATION OF NAT MEN AND WOMEN OF NASA.
WITH--LET ME SAY, WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION, THIS WILL BE
TRUE. NASA WILL HAVE THE RESOURCES AND
SUPPORTS YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE HISTORY.
TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE, AND ADVANCE AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP TO THE BOUNDLESS FRONTIER OF SPACE.
CHEER HAS UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AMERICA WILL LEAD IN
SPACE ONCE AGAIN, AND THE WORLD WILL MARVEL.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] PRESIDENT TRUMP RECOGNIZES THAT
AMERICA NEEDS A COHESIVE APPROACH TO THE LAST AND
GREATEST FRONTIER. THAT'S WHY I'M ESPECIALLY
EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES WHEN IT WAS
DISBANDED, SOON PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL RELAUNCH THE NATIONAL SPACE
CALM, AND IT WILL BE MY GREAT HONOR TO CHAIR THE NEW SPACE
COUNCIL IN WASHINGTON DC. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
METROPOLITAN OUR NATION HAS HAD A FEDERAL LOBBY CHARGED WITH
ADVISING THE PRESIDENT
OF SPACE. OUR NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL WILL
REENERGIZE THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF SPACE AND WILL MAKE SURE THAT
AMERICA NEVER AGAIN LOSES THEIR LEAD IN SPACE EXPLORATION AND
TECHNOLOGY. WE'LL CONTINUE TO UNLOCK THE
MYSTERIES OF SPACE. BUT TO DO SO WE MUST REORIENT
OUR SYLVIA PROGRAM TOWARDS DEEP SPACE EXPLORATION AND PROVIDE
THE CAPABILITIES FOR AMERICA TO MAINTAIN A STAND PRESENCE IN THE
LOWER ORBIT AND ON. THE AMERICAN SPIRIT IS AS LIMIT
LIST AS WELL. BE WE CAN SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES
THAT WILL BENEFIT OUR PEOPLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE IN THESE HALLS.
AND TODAY WE'RE MAKING HISTORY ONCE AGAIN.
BEHIND ME STANDS 12 MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE ALREADY SOARED TO
TREMENDOUS HEIGHTS IN THEIR CAREERS.
THE NEWEST CLASS OF AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS.
YOU 12 HAVE DISHED THEMSELVES. AS ADMINISTRATOR LIGHTFOOT
MENTIONED MORE THAN 18,300 PEOPLE APPLIED TO BE PART OF
THIS IN CLASS. IF YOU ARE THE 12 WHO MADE IT
THROUGH. YOU HAVE JOINED THE ELITE.
YOU ARE THE BEST AT LIFE AM. YOU CARRY YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS.
AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT YOUR FAMILIES FEEL AN INEXPRESSIBLE
PRIDE, FOR YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BECOME ASTRONAUTS.
LET'S GIVE THESE FAMILIES ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
YOU KNOW, THERE IS AN OLD SAYING WHEN YOU SEE A BOX TURTLE ON A
FENCE POST. ONE THING YOU KNOW FOR SURE, HE
DIDN'T GET THERE ON HIS OWN. I KNOW FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU,
THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED HERE AND THOSE LOOKING ON, YOU'VE BEEN
THERE TO HELP YOU UP, AND LIFT YOUR ARMS AND BRING YOU TO THIS
EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE.
TO THINK ALL THAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IS WHAT SO MANY
AMERICANS HAVE DREAMED ABOUT. THEY'LL KEEP DREAMING ABOUT IT
FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. WITH A FLIGHT OF FANTASY FOR A
LITTLE BOY IN COLUMBUS, INDIANA, BUT FOR YOU THAT BECAME YOUR
FUTURE. THAT DREAM BECAME YOUR DESTIN
NAY. IN YEARS TO COME YOU'LL DEPART
FROM THIS BLUE MARVEL AND TAKE YOUR PLACE AMONG THE ROLE OF THE
LEGACY. NOW THEIR LEGACY WILL FALL TO
YOU AND YOU MAY RETURN OUR NATION TO THE MOON.
YOU MAY BE THE FIRST TO TRAVEL TO MARS.
YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCES THAT WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE, THOSE OF US
WHO WALK ON TERAFIRMA. BUT AS YOU GO FORWARD
BE ASSRE . T#OGAP
Af
>> LET ME SAY THAT THESE ASTRONAUTS AND ALL THAT ARE
GATHERED HERE, WE WILL WIN. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, THE UNITED STATES WILL USHER IN A
NEW ERA OF SPACE EXPLORATION IT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR NATIONAL
SECURITY AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
IT WILL STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMY AS WE UNLOCK NEW SOURCES OF
PROSPERITY. IT WILL STRENGTHEN EDUCATION IN
INSPIRING A RISING GENERATION OF AMERICANS TO STUDY SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING AND MATH.
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, THE PRESIDENT BELIEVES THAT IT WILL
STRENGTHEN THE AMERICAN SPIRIT AS WE REACH OUT AGAIN TO TOUCH
THE HEAVENS, RAISE OUR HEADS TO GAZE IN WONDER AT THE STARS AND
THE HEROES THAT HAVE THE COURAGE TO EXPLORE THEM.
YOU 12 WILL BE PART OF OUR VANGUARD.
YOU'RE THE HEROES. YOU'RE THE PATRIOTS.
THE TRAIL BLAZERS, THE BEST AMERICAN TRADITION.
AND I KNOW YOU'RE HUMBLE. TO THE 12 MEMBERS OF THIS CLASS
OF AMERICAN ASTRONAUTS, CONGRATULATIONS.
WHEN YOU LIFT OFF THE LAUNCH PAD TO BOLDLY GO, YOU'LL CAPTURE THE
IMAGINATION OF YOUR NATION AND THE WORLD.
AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL OF MY HEART WHEN YOU GO YOU WILL NOT
GO ALONE FOR AS THE PSALMIST TEACH US, YOU RISE ON THE WINGS
OF THE DAWN AND YOU GO UP TO THE HEAVENS.
EVEN THERE HIS HAND WILL GUIDE YOU.
AS YOU BEGIN THIS JOURNEY KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE CARRIED BY
GRACE, AND BY THE PRAYERS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
GOD SPEED TO THE CLASS OF 2017. MAY GOD GUIDE YOU AND BLESS YOU.
MAY GOD BLESS NASA, AND MAY GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET TO KNOW OUR 12 ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES
A LITTLE BIT BETTER WITH A QUESTION AND ANSWER.
EVERYONE HAS BEEN INTERESTED IN HEARING WHAT YOU WERE DOING WHEN
YOU GOT THE CALL LETTING YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
SELECTED. >> MY STORY IS UNIQUE.
I DIDN'T GET THE CALL. I WORK HERE AS AN INSTRUCTOR
PILOT. WE HAD BEEN TOLD TO STAY BY OUR
PHONE AND EXPECT A PHONE CALL. MAY 25TH, IT TURNED OUT THAT I
WAS SCHEDULED TO FLY. I WAS WITH ONE OF THE INSTRUCTOR
PILOTS THAT DAY. THAT DAY ROLLS AROUND, AND THE
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WE GET DRESSED AND READY TO GO OUT
TO THE AIRPLANES. WE'RE READY TO LEAVE THE POINT.
THE GUY I WAS WITH SAID I GOT TO TAKE THIS CALL.
I'LL MEET YOU OUT THERE. ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S A LITTLE INTERESTING. I SEE CHRIS CASSIDY STRAPPED IN,
AND HE'S HIJACKING MY JET. I THINK SOMETHING IS UP, BUT I'M
NOT GOING TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THERE.
WE FLY AND DON'T TALK ABOUT A THING.
IT WAS ME AND CHRIS AND THIS GIANT ELEPHANT IN THE COCKPIT
THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT. HE DROPPED A COUPLE OF HINTS
HERE AND THERE. BUT I WAS NOT BITING.
WE DON'T TALK ABOUT MUCH REALLY. WE GET BACK TO THE PATTERN AND
SHOW HIM WHERE I LIVE. AND IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT HE
DROPPED, HEY, THAT'S A PRETTY SWEET COMMUTE YOU GOT RIGHT NOW.
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO DOUBLE IT.
ALL RIGHT, SOMETHING IS UP. I'M STILL NOT BITING.
WE GET BACK IN, AND WE SHUT THE AIRPLANE DOWN AND GET BACK OUT.
DK IS THERE ALONG WITH RAY JAY, IT WAS A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE.
HAD IT BEEN AT 8:00 IN THE MORNINGS I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
FIRST GUY NOTIFIED THAT DAY. IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.
[APPLAUSE] >> MY STORY IS ALSO A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT. I DIDN'T GET TO GET A PHONE CALL
BECAUSE OF WHERE I WAS. I'M A NAVAL AVIATOR FIGHTING
WITH SQUADRON 115 OUT OF JAPAN. WE SPENT HALF OF THE YEAR THERE,
AND THE OTHER HALF WE FLY OFF THE USS RONALD REAGAN, WHICH IS
ALSO IN JAPAN. AT THAT TIME I WAS ON TO TROLL.
MY TIME, 5,000 OF MY FRIENDS, ONLY A THOUSAND FEET AWAY FROM
ME. TRIED TO CALL AND TRIED TO CALL.
IT WOULDN'T GO THROUGH. JUST SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW
FRUSTRATING THAT WOULD BE TO TRY TO GET TO KNOW YOUR FUTURE.
IS IT A YES OR IS IT A NO? AND FOR TENOR 10 OR 15 MINUTES
NOT MATCHING THE KEYS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, A COUPLE OF KEY
STROKES. FINALLY I E-MAILED AND SAID I
WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THROUGH. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET
THROUGH AND THEN TO GET THAT HEY, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU
A JOB. THAT'S INCREDIBLE WHEN YOU'RE ON
THAT SHIP HAVING BEEN AT SEA FOR A WHILE.
IT WAS AWESOME. I COULDN'T EVEN GET YES OUT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT, AND THEN NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL PEOPLE
UNTIL TODAY, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE PRESIDENT SAID, I FEEL LIKE A
BOXED TURTLE RIGHT NOW. I'M DEFINITELY IN A BOX TURTLE
ON THAT FENCE POST, WITH MY TEACHERS THROUGHOUT MY LIVE.
I'M DEFINITELY THAT TURTLE ON THE FENCE POST.
>> WHAT STUDIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HELPED YOU TO GET HERE?
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CURIOUS, LOVE TRYING NEW THINGS, LEARNING
NEW SKILLS, AND I'VE JUST BEEN FORTUNATE MY CONSPIRACY
APPEARANCE IS MY FIRST INVOLVEMENT IN NASA.
I GREW UP WITH JOHNSON SPACE CENTER RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.
AND STARTED WITH THE PROGRAM OF GROWING TOMATOES ON THE SPACE
STATION, A PROGRAM THAT IS STILL GOING ON TODAY.
I THINK A LOT OF OUR CLASS SHARES THE CURIOSITY AND
EXCITEMENT FOR EXPLORING THE WORLD AND GOING FARTHER THAN
ANYONE HAS COME BEFORE. THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> EVERYONE ASSEMBLED HERE HAS A
BACKGROUND IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATH OR ENGINEERING.
WOODY, YOU'VE BEEN TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AEROSPACE
ENGINEERS AT M.I.T. WHAT MAKES EDUCATION SO
IMPORTANT TODAY? >> I THINK WE'RE SURROUNDED BY
TECHNOLOGY. TECHNOLOGY ENABLES US TO DO
AMAZING THINGS. WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE LIFE AND
OTHER AMAZING THINGS. IF YOU DIG INTO THE NUTS AND
BOLTS AND SEE WHAT MAKES THESE TECHNOLOGIES WORK, ONE WAY TO DO
THAT IS TO STUDY THE STEM FIELD. IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE
ECONOMY, NATIONAL SECURITY, CONTRIBUTE INNOVATION, GIVING
YOUNG PEOPLE THAT SKILL IS AN INVALUABLE THING TO DO.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> JASMINE, YOU'RE OUR LONE
UNITED STATES MARINE IN THIS CLASS.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GOOD REPRESENTATION IN THIS GLASS
SELECTION FROM OUR ARMED FORCES, WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE TRAINING
AND EXPERIENCE YOU RECEIVED IN THE MILITARY THAT HAS PREPARED
YOU FOR CHALLENGING JOBSES, LIKE BEING AN ASTRONAUT?
>> WELL, I COULD LITERALLY GO ON FOR HOURS IN THE MANY WAYS THE
MARINE CORPS HAS PREPARED ME FOR THIS.
BUT I WILL SPARE YOU. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES
THE MARINE CORPS HAS TAKEN ME OUT OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE
OR PUSHED ME TO THE POINT OF OF THE NURTURE, AND THE
FLEXIBILITY, AND THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AM IF AS WELL AS THE
ORGANIZATIONEL THESE ARE CORE CONCEPTS THAT ARE SHARED BY MY
CLASSMATES HERE. THE MAIN POINT IS THAT I WOULD
NOT BE HERE TODAY SITTING UP ON THIS STAGE IF IT WERE NOT FOR
THE MANY OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED ME BY THE MARINE CORPS.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE MENTORS THAT I HAVE HAD THREW IN THE
LIFE WHO HAVE HELPED ME GET HERE.
TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME AND CHALLENGED
ME TO BE A BETTER PERSON. AND TO THE MARINES I'VE HAD THE
HONOR AND PLEASURE LEADING WITH AND SERVING AND LEADING, THEY'VE
HELPED ME ALONG THE WAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING, THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THIS CLASS BRINGS A DIVERSE
SPECTRUM OF CAREER EXPERIENCE. JOHNNY, KAYLA AND ROB, WHAT IS
YOUR CAREER PREPARED YOU TO BE AN ASTRONAUT?
>> SO IT'S HARD TO CONDENSE WHAT ALL THE VARIOUS EXPERIENCE THAT
I'VE HAD THAT HELP PREPARE ME FOR THIS.
BUT TWO THINGS STAND OUT. ONE, I'VE ALWAYS HAD INCREDIBLE
SET OF MENTORS, LEADERS, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, FAMILY, WHO
WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR ME, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY WHEN I WAS DOWN.
AND I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR THEM.
THEIR CARE AND COMPASSION WAS ABSOLUTELY INSTRUMENTAL FOR MY
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE SECOND THING IS THAT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT
EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH SMALL TEAMS WITH LIMITED DATA
AND MAKING DECISIONS OFF OF THAT.
I HAD TO DO THIS AS A WARFARE IN THE NAVY WHERE WE WORKED IN
SMALL TEAMS AND WE WOULD USE EACH OTHER'S STRENGTHS TO
COMPLETE THE MISSION. AND IT TRANSLATED WELL IN THE
MEDICAL CORE WHERE I WORK WITH PHYSICIANS, NURSES, WHERE WE
WORK WITH PATIENTS WHO ARE VERY SICK WITH LIMITED DATA AT A AND
HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT HELP OUR PATIENTS.
SO THANK YOU. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> I THINK WE SHARE THE COMMON BOND HAVING COME FROM AMAZING
THEMES THAT CHALLENGE US. I'M AN OFFICER, SO I WAS LUCKY
ENOUGH TO BE PART OF THE NAVY TEAM THAT WAS IN SPINED SPACES
AND IN THE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT OF THE
SPACE STATION. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU'RE GIVEN.
FIRST I HAD WILD EXPERIENCES WORKING AS A FISHERMAN BACK IN
ALASKA GROWING UP. I THANK MY FAMILY FOR THAT.
IT IS GOING TO EXPAND YOUR HORIZON AND EXPAND YOUR ABILITY
TO WORK WITH OTHERS. IT LEADS TO GREAT OPPORTUNITIES.
MOST RECENTLY I'VE BEEN WORKING AT SPACE TECH, AN INCREDIBLE
OPPORTUNITY. HOPEFULLY I CAN FLY A VEHICLE, I
I--NK IN THIS GOES >> SPEAKING OF ANTARCTICA, ZENA,
WHAT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE DO YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR
ROLE AS AN ASTRONAUT? >> WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF
SIMILARITIES. AND ART CAN IS A REMOTE PLACE.
YOU LEARN TO FIX THINGS WHEN YOU CAN'T JUST GO TO THE STORE FOR A
NEW PARK. THERE IS A LACK OF FRESH FRUIT
AND VEGETABLES, BUT ROB MENTIONED THIS, YOU'RE NOT ONLY
RESEARCH BUT YOUR LIFE RELIES ON TEAM WORK AND REALLY CLOSE TEAM
WORK AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP. YOU WIND UP WITH EVERYTHING FROM
ENGINEERS TO BIOLOGISTS LIKE ME ALL WORKING FOR THIS GOAL EVER
EXPLORATION AND SCIENCE. AND THEN LASTLY, IT REQUIRES
FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO ARE WILLING TO SUPPORT YOU FROM
AFAR, AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY HUMBLING AND A GIFT TO ME.
MY MOM IS SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW THERE.
THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO ANTARCTICA SHE SAID OKAY, AT
LEAST YOU'RE ON THIS PLANET FOR NOW.
THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
SUPPORTING US. [APPLAUSE]
>> AS ZENA MENTIONED THERE ARE SEVERAL PROUD FAMILY MEMBERS IN
THE AUDIENCE. FRANK, CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOUR
FAMILY FEELS, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE
THEM HERE WITH YOU TODAY?
[INAUDIBLE] >> AS ALREADY HAS BEEN SAID BUT
IT'S WORTH REPEATING, NONE OF US WOULD BE HERE WITHOUT THEIR
SUPPORT AND LOVE AND SACRIFICE. IT TAKES A LOT OF SUPPORT TO DO
THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO DO.
WE'RE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, AND WE THANK ALL OF YOU
GUYS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. [APPLAUSE]
>> YOU'VE BEEN PLAYING THE F35 AMERICA'S NEXT GENERATION
FIGHTER JET. HOW DO YOU FEEL HAVING FLOWN THE
NEXT FIGHTER JET. >> I THINK WHAT IS AMAZING THE
INCREDIBLE GOVERNMENT WHO THAT IS TAKEN THAT THEME FROM A POWER
POINT IDEA TO THE REALITY. THE F-35 HAS HAD ITS CHALLENGES,
BUT THAT'S WHY I LOVE THAT AIRCRAFT.
WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS AND WE FIND TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE NEVER
TESTED BEFORE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE.
WHETHER IT'S THE SCORE LINE OR THE DRAGON OR THE ORION, I DON'T
CARE. I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE PART OF
THE IN COUNTRY THAT SUPPORTS US, I'M JUST THRILLED TO BE A PART
OF IT. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> WELL, YOU'RE ALL NOW JOINING OUR NASA FAMILY.
BUT SOME OF YOU HAVE SPENT TIME WITH US BEFORE.
JESSICA, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO, AND WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO
NASA? >> I'M SUPER GRATEFUL TO HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SEVERAL EXPERIENCES AT NASA THROUGHOUT
MY MY CAREER. I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON
SEVERAL MISSIONS. I ENJOYED THAT.
BUT MOST RECENTLY I'VE BEEN WORKING AS A MEMBER OF THE
SCIENCE TEAM ON THE CURIOSITY MARS ROVER.
THAT HAS BEEN QUITE THE EXPERIENCE, AND A BIG PART OF
THAT IS WORKING ON DAILY OPERATIONS OF THE ROVER, WHICH
INVOLVES WORKING WITH A DIVERSE TEAM OF SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS
AND FIGHTING WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH THE RECOVER EVERY DAY.
I REALLY ENJOYED THAT EXPERIENCE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO AND I'M SO
EXCITED AND HONORED TO BE PART OF THIS AMAZING GROUP AS WE
START TO MOVE TOWARDS EXPLORING TH SOLAR SYSTEM AND HOPEFULLY
MARS. THANK YOU.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> WE'LL NOW TAKE TWO QUESTIONS
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA. MEGAN?
>> ALL RIGHT, AT WHAT AGE DID YOU KNOW YOU WANTED TO BECOME AN
ASTRONAUT. MY 11-YEAR-OLD DO YOU IS
ABSOLUTELY SURE SHE WANTS TO BE THE FIRST FEMALE ON MARS.
>> SO I KNEW WHEN I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE I DID A BOOK REPORT ON
VALENIFNA. AND WE HAD TO DRESS UP LIKE THE
PERSON. I THOUGHT IT WAS A COSTUME, AND
I RECENTLY FOUND A PICK, AND IT WAS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS I
REMEMBERED. BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED
IN MATH AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND I KNEW I WANTED
TO BE AN ASTRONAUT.
I'M THINKING THAT IT'S IMPORTANT IMPORTANT--WHEN I REALIZED
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO, I STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT I NEEDED
TO DO. START LOOKING INTO THE THINGS
THAT YOU NEED TO BE DONE. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATH IS GOING TO BE A BENEFIT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED,
BUT MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU LOVE DOING.
THAT'S WHAT I DID AND THAT'S WHAT INEVITABLY GOT ME HERE AT
THE END OF THE DAY. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> RANDY ON FACEBOOK WANTS TO KNOW AS A NEW ASTRONAUT WHO
AND WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION ALONG
THE WAY. >> I HAD EVERY PHASE OF LIFE
THERE WAS SOMEONE PUSHING YOU. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WOULD BE
HERE IF THAT WEREN'T THE CASE. AS A YOUNG CHILD IT WAS MY
PARENTS. MY FATHER CAME FROM INDIA AND
BROUGHT THE REST OF HIS FAMILY HERE AND TRULY ENFORCED EARLY IN
MY LIFE THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL, AND EDUCATION BEING A
GIFT, NOT A PRIVILEGE. IN GRADE SCHOOL UP THROUGH HIGH
SCHOOL I HAD A NUMB OF TEACHERS, AND EVERY POINT ALONG THE WAY
THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT EXPECTATION THAT HEY, I THINK
YOU CAN DO MORE. JUST LIKE THEY SAID, SOMETIME
AROUND THE EIGHTH AND NINTH GRADE, I REALIZED I WANTED TO DO
THE NIGHT TEST OF THE ASTRONAUTS, THE WHOLE IDEA, I
HAD GREAT MENTORS THAT PUSHED THAT ALONG THE WAY.
AS I PROGRESSED IN THE MILITARY, IT BECOMES COMMANDER AND PEERS
AND FOLKS WHO TAKE THE TIME TO HELP YOU OUT.
AND I DON'T THINK THEN WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE REMEMBER.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE CHANCES TO TALK WITH OUR ASTRONAUT
CANDIDATES THIS AFTERNOON. AT 3:30 P.M. CENTRAL AND 4:30
P.M. EASTERN. WE'LL BE BACK ON NASA TV HERE AT
JOHNSON SPACE CENTER. STAY TUNE FOR VIDEO FROM VICE
PRESIDENT PENCE'S VISIT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE EXCITEMENT THAT EVERYONE HAS FOR THE NEW
ASTRONAUT CANDIDATE CLASS. YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE 2017 ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES AND THEIR UP COMING TRAINING AND
FOLLOW ON TWITTER. ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR
NASA'S NEW EXPLORERS. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
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