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CNN Live At Daybreak

Return to Space; Extreme Heat; London Terror

Aired July 26, 2005 - 06:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about the shuttle now, shall we?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Be careful what you ask for.

COSTELLO: The shuttle crew is getting suited up at this hour for today's launch of Discovery. They've been waiting nearly two weeks for another chance to try and ride the shuttle into space.

For more on the delays and today's planned launch, we go live to our space correspondent, Miles O'Brien. He's patiently waiting at the Kennedy Space Center.

Hello, Miles.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

You know, there are some people here who could probably solve that equation pretty quickly. Not me.

COSTELLO: Sure.

O'BRIEN: I'm not among them. However, my guest here might, Cady Coleman, who is a two-time flyer on the shuttle, an astronaut who joins us this morning.

Cady, good to have you with us.

CADY COLEMAN, ASTRONAUT: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about what's going on right now inside the minds of the crew. They're suiting up, they've had their weather briefing, they've had that silly photo opportunity where no one ever eats the cake. And what -- by the way, does anybody ever eat the cake?

COLEMAN: You know, actually, only the very new astronauts who are not told that the cake is actually weeks old.

O'BRIEN: It's cardboard. It's been there for years.

And there you see some pictures which came down just a little while ago. Eileen Collins, the commander, Jim Kelly, her pilot, suiting up for those pressure suits. They call them the pumpkin suits. I guess you can understand why when we look at them. The idea on those is to give you kind of a self-contained sort of mini spaceship if something were to go wrong with the space shuttle as it rises to space.

So far, so good on the countdown.

COLEMAN: It's looking great.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

COLEMAN: We'll see. It's still an ongoing test today. You know, we're looking at the sensors. So far, they look good, but we've still got some more tests to do.

O'BRIEN: You were referring, of course, to the fuel sensor which caused the scrub -- that was Steve Robinson, by the way, just a moment ago -- which caused that scrub two weeks ago because no one really understood what that problem was all about. There are four particular sensors at the base of the shuttle's external fuel tank that check for hydrogen when it's full or not. That's an important thing to have working, but there's a lot of layers of redundancy, right?

COLEMAN: That's exactly right. And today what we're looking at is we think we understand -- we certainly understand a lot about the problem, although it's a difficult one to diagnose. These are very small resistances that we're looking at.

And what we've done is actually kind of swapped channels. And it's as if in your house there's a lamp that didn't work. And so you wonder, is this the lamp or is this the plug?

So you plug it in somewhere else and it doesn't work again. Well, you understand a lot more about that problem. That's one of the tests that we're doing today.

O'BRIEN: Interesting. Mike Griffin, NASA administrator, was here just a little while ago. He's a little disappointed it's working, because as an engineer he would learn more if there was a problem showing. That's -- that's how engineers think.

COLEMAN: Well, and that's the kind of guy I want to work for, actually.

O'BRIEN: Yes.

COLEMAN: You know, who's always thinking about what's the next answer and what does it really mean in the big picture.

O'BRIEN: And while he's thinking that way, astronauts are thinking perhaps with a little bit of superstition. Let's talk a little bit about this.

You're wearing a bracelet here. I want to get -- make sure we get a shot of this. This is from your 5-year-old son.

COLEMAN: It's true. And it's for Wendy. He wanted me to give it to her.

O'BRIEN: Wendy Lawrence, who is getting ready to go fly. COLEMAN: It's true. And I said, "Well, I can't give it to her, but I can wear it." And he said, "Well, mommy, it will brink her wuck," as he said, "for waunching."

O'BRIEN: Lots of wuck. For waunching. Well, but, let's talk about that.

COLEMAN: And I almost didn't wear it, thinking that people would see me on TV with this bracelet and wonder, new part of the astronaut uniform? And then I thought, when they don't launch, will this be the reason?

O'BRIEN: Hopefully he's watching this instead of "Teletubbies" right now and getting a sense that his bracelet is very famous. Let's -- let's talk about that for just a moment.

I know, for example, right now in that astronaut suit-up room, they won't be allowed to leave the room until Eileen Collins loses a card game. You talk about superstitions, there are some very odd things that go along with these launches, right?

COLEMAN: Well, every crew is different. They've all got their own superstitions. I think by the time I actually launched on my first flight we had a number of flips due to the hurricane season. And we were wearing, you know, our lucky hats.

We had our hats on backwards, actually much to the chagrin, I think, of our management. And there were a few pairs of lucky red, white and blue socks as well, since we were the United States Microgravity Laboratory.

O'BRIEN: There you go. So you can be an astronaut or a baseball player, same kind of superstitions going on there.

Cady Coleman, thank you very much for dropping by. Appreciate it.

She'll be holding her breath, along with the rest of us.

Right now, out of the launch pad, about three-and-a-half miles over my shoulder, as you look at those pictures as the sun rises here at the Kennedy Space Center, the ice team is busy right now, Carol. They're going up and down the full 200-foot gantry there.

That's a great shot. Look at that shot there. I want to show you -- can we go back to that shot with the bleed-off there? That's -- I just want to show you that very quickly.

You saw that flame there. I guess it can't telestrate over it, but that flame is the excess hydrogen that is coming off the fuel farm (ph) there. But it's perfectly safe, folks. Don't worry about it. Don't try it at home, but it's still safe.

And nevertheless, it's fueled off, it's ready. We haven't seen a glitch yet. And as you look at the helicopter behind me, that should be a precursor to the crew coming very shortly to make their way out to the launch pad.

COLEMAN: You know, pretty...

O'BRIEN: With any luck, if the weather holds, we might see them soon.

Yes, Cady?

COLEMAN: Pretty soon the crew is going to be out there basically by themselves. And that's a pretty neat moment, really.

I mean, that tank is full, it's cold. And so everything is kind of creaking and groaning. And you see the flares that we were just looking at on TV there. And it's just -- it's an amazing place. It feels alive.

O'BRIEN: It feels alive.

All right, Carol Costello.

COSTELLO: OK.

O'BRIEN: The shuttle is alive and we hope well. And we hope launching at 10:39. OK?

COSTELLO: And when we get a glimpse of those astronauts we'll check back with you live.

O'BRIEN: All right.

COSTELLO: Thanks to both of you.

Now for more on the extreme heat that's gripping much of our country. The excessive temperatures being blamed for 24 deaths in and around Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the victims homeless people.

And they're setting records for power usage across the Tennessee Valley. That includes people from eight states. Air conditioners being pressed into overtime as people try to beat the heat.

In Dayton, Ohio, two firefighters were taken to the hospital after they were overcome by the heat. The record temperature there was coupled with the barn fire they were fighting.

Now, this is another way to hide from the heat. This kid in Ashtabula, Ohio, has a pretty good plan for keeping cool, but he might want to have someone give him a hat. Doesn't most of the heat escape from your head? Oh, maybe that's the point there.

But, you know, as they say, it's not the heat, it is the humidity. Whatever. It's hot in much of the country, dangerously so. A heat advisory is in effect in the nation's capital, and that has led tourists in Washington to look for shade anywhere they can find it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our plans are mostly to stay in the museums. We were thinking of going to the beach later this week, but I don't know. It's pretty hot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN's Kimberly Osias joins us now from Washington with more on how people are trying to beat the heat.

Good morning.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning to you, Carol.

Well, there are excessive heat warnings and advisories out for the district, for Virginia and for Maryland as well, even exceeding -- extending, rather, to Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the north, and the south lands to the Carolinas. It is hot.

And, you know, I'm certainly no Chad Myers, but I can tell you the heat index is expected to get up to 105 today or even 110. Can't do the formula, but that is definitely hot.

Right now, it's in the mid 80s, but it's expected to shoot up pretty quickly in the next couple hours. And there are clearly some do's and don'ts, what you want to avoid.

I just saw a very brave gentleman running, but now is OK because it's not so bad. You want to avoid wearing dark clothing, of course, keep things loose and light.

The key, of course, in this is to stay cool, go inside when you can, get some relief. Go to the museums, go to some cooling stations. And hydrate frequently, because if you wait until you're thirsty, it is simply too late.

And watch for the signs. Red Cross say -- officials say it is really important to listen to your body.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE O'BRIEN, AMERICAN RED CROSS: If you can think clearly enough to stay on track, drinking the water, taking breaks, then you're probably OK. If you feel any bit of confusion, or if you see someone who's showing some confusion or some exhaustion, that's when attention needs to be paid right away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OSIAS: Of course the children and the elderly are especially vulnerable because they may not know or recognize the signs. An excessive heat warning in place here until tomorrow evening at 8:00, when we may get some much-needed moisture -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, we hope so. Stay with us for just one more second, Kimberly. I wanted to ask Chad a question. What's causing this extreme heat? Is it global warming, or is it just like the middle of July?

(WEATHER)

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad. And thank you, Kimberly Osias.

OSIAS: Well, we are waiting for that cold front, Chad. I'll tell you, I just moved here, you guys, from the West Coast. And it is the humidity, Chad, as you said.

MYERS: Absolutely.

OSIAS: I mean, it makes a huge difference. It's simply really oppressive.

COSTELLO: Kimberly -- Kimberly, one thing to know about Washington, it was built on a swamp.

OSIAS: Yes, that's exactly right. So it really adds those sort of three H factors: hazy, hot and humid.

COSTELLO: You've got that right. Thanks to both of you.

Let's talk about the London terror investigation right now.

Tupperware and whitewater rafting, two intriguing clues in the London terror investigation. Clues that may not only lead investigators to the bombers, but to new insight into the terrorist mind.

CNN investigative producer Henry Schuster is at Scotland Yard in London.

Henry, let's star with these Tupperware-like containers. How were these used by the bombers.

HENRY SCHUSTER, CNN INVESTIGATIVE PRODUCER: All the police would say yesterday is that they were used in the -- in making the bombs. Our assumption is that the explosive material was put inside of these Tupperwares -- or I should -- these containers, excuse me.

COSTELLO: So right now investigators are going from...

SCHUSTER: They said that they're...

COSTELLO: So right now, Henry, investigators are going from store to store, trying to figure out where these guys bought these Tupperware-like containers?

SCHUSTER: Exactly. They put out an appeal yesterday for -- they said somebody who might have bought at least five of these, because they have five -- five devices that they've recovered, four on the various trains and buses, plus one that they found in a local park on Saturday afternoon. Somebody spotted it, called the police. They recovered it. And they discovered, much to their astonishment, it's like the other four devices that they recovered off the trains and the buses.

So they've asked -- they've put out this public appeal for this. There are only a hundred stores in the entire United Kingdom that sell these.

It's called a Delta 6250. It's the white lid. And they're hoping this will lead them to it.

COSTELLO: Why was that bomb left in the park, do you think? Do they have any idea?

SCHUSTER: You know, Carol, that's one of the mysteries about this, because what we've been trying to figure out is, was it left by the person who was running near there, or was it left by somebody else? Because they did recover -- they did recover a bomb on the train. So how did it get there? Who left it there? That's one of the mysteries about this.

One of the other things we should say is we sent -- we went out yesterday evening to look for these same containers. One of our folks up here in the London bureau went to a shop just about a mile from the Stockwell tube station where three of the men went in. And he discovered that these containers had been on sale. In fact, he bought the last one.

He discovered that these containers have been on sale. And the shop owner said, "Look, people come in here and buy these." He's had them on sale for the last couple of weeks, and they've been moving like hotcakes. So he doesn't remember who bought them or not.

COSTELLO: Oh, that would be...

SCHUSTER: So if that's going to be what the police are going to have to go through, it's going to be a tough test.

COSTELLO: Yes, that's going to be a really tall order.

I wanted to ask you again about this whitewater rafting trip. We have moving pictures to show you now of two alleged bombers on this whitewater rafting trip.

Let's go to the moving pictures, shall we, if we have them, because it's just a strange way to see terrorists, Henry. Because we always think of them sitting in the dark, coming up with, you know, modes of different kinds of terror acts to carry out. We never think of them acting like normal people.

This may not have been a bonding experience. It might have just been two of them having fun, right?

SCHUSTER: Yes. You're right, Carol, that's the mystery of it. What are they doing a month before the London attacks going whitewater rafting? Now, we had talked to a few people about how this process of transformation happens, how you go from being a -- you know, an ordinary kid, to becoming a jihadi who's willing to die. And what we were told is that in a lot of cases these people sort of come upon -- come into themselves. They become a self-reinforcing group, if you will.

Yet, the mystery of it all is that so many people we talked to when we were in (INAUDIBLE) said they saw -- they didn't see these apparent signs. And we talked to some people who knew Shahzad Tanweer quite -- they thought quite well. They played football with him 10 days before the attack.

They thought he was going to -- they were going to play football with him on the Wednesday before the Thursday morning of the attack. They didn't reach him then, but up until then they had seen him and they had said that they had seen no apparent signs. And now you have the whitewater rafting.

So how did they hide it so well? What does that tell us about the nature of the bombing?

COSTELLO: Interesting. Interesting questions to work out. And, of course, you're investigating for us there in London, and we'll be hearing from you in the hours and days to come.

Henry Schuster, live in London at Scotland Yard.

CNN's Soledad O'Brien continues "AMERICAN MORNING'S" special coverage from London as well.

Good morning, Soledad.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol. Good morning to you.

We're coming to you live this morning from Paddington rail station. That, of course, is a major hub. They have the underground coming through here, buses as well. And a rail system, too. Tons of people pass through here.

This morning, though, we're updating you, as you heard from Henry, on the investigation. Also, we'll be telling you what Tony Blair's doing, his efforts to sort of change the anti-terror efforts here in Great Britain and how that's being received.

Also, a little more information about the shooting of that 27- year-old Brazilian national. We sit down and have sort of an informal roundtable with some of his friends and people who knew him, to talk about their fears and concerns in the wake of that shooting.

Those stories are all ahead as we come to you live on "AMERICAN MORNING." We're, I guess, a triple split show this morning, Carol, from New York and Florida, and live in London as well.

That's at the top of the hour.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Soledad. We'll get back to you.

Back here in the United States, it was a horrific beginning to a massive Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia. Four adult scout leaders were putting up a huge tent when they were electrocuted and killed. All of this happening as kids were milling about. Some witnessed it all.

Reporter Morgan Dean of our affiliate station, WRIC, joins us now live from Caroline County, Virginia.

Good morning.

MORGAN DEAN, REPORTER, WRIC: We have heard that the Boy Scouts have scheduled a news conference this morning to try and update us on yesterday's incident here at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Virginia. But here's what we do know this morning.

Four scout leaders from Anchorage, Alaska, were killed yesterday afternoon while trying to put a tent pole up at the Boy Scout Jamboree here at Fort A.P. Hill. Three others were also hurt in that incident. We're told one of them is a Boy Scout leader, the other two were contract workers with the tent company.

Now, officials say at this point it appears a tent pole came into contact with an overhead electrical wire. That's what caused the electrocution. That also caused a fire in the area there.

Now, no Boy Scouts were hurt in this incident. But we're told that several of them were nearby and did witness the tragedy.

Now, grief counselors have been on scene all night long, talking with those scouts who lost the leaders. They will also be on scene all day today to meet with any Boy Scouts that feel like they need to talk with someone.

Now, Boy Scout officials have said opening ceremonies will go on as scheduled here today at Fort A.P. Hill. And we have been told that the scouts from Anchorage, Alaska, are not planning to leave. That could, of course, change throughout the day today.

The incident remains under investigation. We're told that the CID with the Army is actually going to be investigating that because it happened on post at Fort A.P. Hill here.

This has been a real tragedy for them up here and a horrible way to start off the Boy Scout Jamboree.

Now, yesterday, the real worry out here was the heat. We had temperatures up near 100 and heat indices above 105, 110. That is going to be another issue for them to deal with today. So lots of things going on up here in Caroline County at Fort A.P. Hill for the Boy Scout Jamboree.

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: We were just all wondering how -- how this could have happened, because surely you could see the electrical lines overhead. And that tent pole, what was it made of?

Oh, I think he can't hear me. So he can't answer my question.

Of course many questions to be answered in the days to come. But our thanks to Morgan Dean from our affiliate there in Richmond, Virginia, WRIC.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a soldier's family grieving a huge loss and then what they call a slap in the face right in their front yard. Boy does this add to their heartache. We'll explain when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The space shuttle -- or Kennedy Space Center, rather. You can see the astronauts.

This is their photo op. These are the seven crew members who are going up into space on the Shuttle Discovery. You can see they're loading on to the NASA bus, and I believe this will take them to the shuttle, where they will start gearing up for their mission.

Miles O'Brien is live at the Kennedy Space Center, and we'll get to him as soon as we can because -- I'm sorry. Brian, my producer, is talking to me.

What do you say, Brian?

Miles O'Brien is ready.

So Miles, explain these pictures more for us.

O'BRIEN: Well, I'm always ready for you, Carol.

Yes, this -- this bus is a nonstop, one way, hopefully, trip to the launch pad this morning. No token or fare needed for the astronauts as they get onboard the so-called astro van.

It's about a four-and-a-half mile ride to the launch pad from that location. You see the armored vehicle that follows them, part of the security regiment post-9/11 here at the Kennedy Space Center.

The seven-member crew walked out, gave the typical waves. You see the banner there that is left behind, "We're behind you, Discovery." That's signed by all the people involved in the processing of the orbiter.

There you see those pictures as they walked out. Commander Eileen Collins, who was the -- a couple years ago was the first woman to command a space shuttle mission. And on this go-around it will be her fourth flight, second command. And they will make their way to the scene there.

It's a beautiful morning here. We're told only a 20 percent chance that weather will be the fly in the ointment. And thus far during this countdown, as they fueled up that big orange external fuel tank, nary a problem to report.

But, you know, this is -- this is rocket science, Carol. And so we always say that with kind of built-in disclaimer, that we are watching closely and listening to the countdown to make sure everything, including that bulky fuel sensor, is operating up to snuff this morning -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Will do. Miles O'Brien live at the Kennedy Space Center. You'll be there throughout the morning. And, of course, liftoff is at 10:39 a.m. Eastern, and we'll show it to you live.

It is now 6:52 Eastern. Here's what will be making news today.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he's been reassured the U.S. can keep using an airbase in Kyrzygstan indefinitely. American forces use the base to support military operations in Afghanistan. Rumsfeld is on a three-day tour of central Asia and the Mideast.

There will be a plea hearing later this morning for Dean Schwartzmiller. He's the 63-year-old man accused of molesting thousands of boys since the '70s and writing a detailed memoir about his activities. Schwartzmiller faces seven felony count in connection with the abuse of two 12-year-old boys in San Jose, California.

And the White House is hinting it may bypass the Senate and use a recess appointment to put John Bolton into the United Nations ambassador's role. Bolton's nomination has been stalled in a dispute over the release of documents.

Army Private Tim Hines died a hero's death. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq. This morning, his wife is dealing with his death and something more. Someone burned the American flags in her yard and then used them to set her sister's car on fire.

Live to Fairfield, Ohio, near Cincinnati and police chief Mike Dickey.

Good morning, Chief Dickey.

CHIEF MIKE DICKEY, FAIRFIELD, OHIO: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So Mrs. Hines returns from the funeral, she goes to sleep. What does she wake up to?

DICKEY: Well, about 5:30 Saturday morning, the -- they woke to the car on the street which was burning. Neighbors called it in. Of course the fire department arrived and extinguished the blaze. But they discovered that, among other things, the flags that had surrounded the property had been placed under the car, and obviously intentionally lit.

COSTELLO: And there were many flags. She had flags lining the yard. And these vandals, whoever they were, actually went into neighbors' yards and took their flag as well.

DICKEY: It was pretty clear from what occurred at the scene that this was an intentional and not an accidental act.

COSTELLO: Any reason why they would use flags? I mean, were the flags just handy? Or was it something more?

DICKEY: As we get into this, we -- we feel it was more of a crime of opportunity as opposed to a planned act. And that's what was available.

COSTELLO: So you think that these people probably didn't know that Army Private Time Hines' wife lived in that home?

DICKEY: I suspect that that's the case, although that -- we're not perfectly convinced that it was totally random. We want to leave the door open to other eventualities.

COSTELLO: Well, Chief, just the fact that flags were burned, making a lot of people angry in that neighborhood. I understand there's a reward out as well.

DICKEY: The state fire marshal's office has posted a $5,000 reward, as well as reward money is available through the crime stopper program here in the greater Cincinnati area.

COSTELLO: Were you able to talk to Mrs. Hines?

DICKEY: I talked to her stepfather, Jim Wessel (ph), who has declined to talk to the media. But the family's very supportive of the neighbors and the community coming together to assist them.

COSTELLO: And the way they did that is they bought them all new flags, and they went out and lined their yard once again.

DICKEY: That's true. I went by later that morning, Saturday morning, and there must have been 200 flags that had been brought in and re-posted.

COSTELLO: Well, I hope you catch these people, whoever they are. Chief Dickey, from Fairfield, Ohio, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

DICKEY: Thank you.

COSTELLO: And you're watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is that time we like best on DAYBREAK.

MYERS: It's time to get a coffee mug. Carol, I can't tell you the number of people that want to tune in and buy one of those. They're not purchasable. You can buy other mugs, but you can't buy that.

COSTELLO: It wouldn't be special, then.

MYERS: You have to win it. And here's who won it yesterday. In what year was the AFL-CIO formed? And the answer to that one was 1955. And name the two cities which reported having seen a decrease in crime since adding surveillance cameras. And that is Chicago and Baltimore.

And the winner, from Shillington, Pennsylvania, not that far from Reading, John Plummer. John Plummer, you are the winner of today's DAYBREAK unbuyable coffee mug. There you go, John.

Now your questions for today.

What city is number one for singles? You can give me two cities if you want, because they're kind of together.

And the White House will not share documents from Judge John Roberts' time in what office?

COSTELLO: Ooh.

MYERS: CNN.com/DAYBREAK.

Carol, that's a tough question.

COSTELLO: Good one. That's a good one. But, you know, you give -- you give people a prize every single morning at the end of this program, your lovely travel forecast.

MYERS: Thank you so much.

(WEATHER)

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Of course Soledad O'Brien is live in London, Miles O'Brien is live at the Kennedy Space Center. And I'll be over at the "AMERICAN MORNING" studio shortly here in New York.

I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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