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CNN 10
A Preview Of An Upcoming Spaceflight; A Virtual Beach Vacation On A Caribbean Island; Drive-Through "Yearbook" In Kentucky
Aired May 07, 2020 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CARL AZUZ, CNN 10 ANCHOR: We`re launching into a new edition of CNN 10 and we`re happy to have you aboard. I`m your captain Carl Azuz. And the reason
we`re making this sound like a flight is because we`re about to take flight with a report about a space launch that`s scheduled for later this month.
It will carry two astronauts to the International Space Station. That`s been done many times before, what`s different this time around is how
they`ll get there. They`ll be launching from American soil for the first time since 2011.
They`ll be launching in a newly designed spacecraft for the first time since 1981 and they`ll be launching aboard a SpaceX capsule for the first
time ever. SpaceX is a private company that has received billions of dollars from NASA. It`s been able to carry out space missions much less
expensively than the U.S. government`s agency.
The SpaceX capsule is named the "Crew Dragon" and if everything goes according to schedule, May 27th will be the first time it carries people
into orbit. Until 2011, the space shuttle was the vehicle NASA used to get people from A to beyond. It was a large winged ship attached to giant
rocket boosters.
The "Crew Dragon" looks more like the Russian Soyuz capsule that`s been used to launch NASA`s astronauts since the space shuttle program shutdown.
According to space.com, NASA pays $86 million for every astronaut who launches aboard the Russian Soyuz. It will cost around $55 million for each
astronaut aboard the SpaceX "Crew Dragon".
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ignition. Lift off. (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The dawn of a new era of spaceflight is upon us. For the first time since the shuttle program ended nine years ago, NASA will
launch astronauts into space from American soil. But this time NASA isn`t running the entire show. It partnered with SpaceX, the private company that
designs, builds and operates the "Crew Dragon" spacecraft. If the upcoming flight is successful, "Crew Dragon" will become the first commercially
built ship to ever carry humans to the International Space Station.
Veteran NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will be those humans. Their mission is called "Demo Two". The "Demo Two" mission is hardly the
first time you`re putting your life on the line. You`ve been to space twice. You were a test pilot before that, but humans have never flown in
this spacecraft before so is this mission inherently riskier than others?
BOB BEHNKEN, ASTRONAUT: From a first flight standpoint certainly there -- there might be some greater, quantifiable risk to some degree but probably
no different than any other spaceflight that -- that we have flown humans on before.
DOUG HURLEY, ASTRONAUT: Certainly after, you know, having a child and being a father there is a different level of preparation both to share the
mission with my son which is something I`m super excited to have the opportunity to do. But certainly there is risk associated with a mission
like this as we go forward but I do want him to know that it`s a mission that I feel strongly about. And I want him to be proud of his father.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For years, the U.S. has been paying Russia upwards of $80 million per seat to get U.S. astronauts to the International Space
Station. So what is the significance of bringing these missions back to American soil?
BEHNKEN: I think there`s a lot of significance Rachel to -- to bring these missions back to American soil. First as you eluded to, kind of alternative
to the Soyuz solution that`s out there which gives us both an alternative for some political reasons. But also some robustness if we should find a
problem with the Soyuz vehicle and need an alternative. But as an American, I`m -- I`m just proud of what we`ll be able to accomplish and fly again on
an American rocket from American soil.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now you and Doug have known each other for ages. You were even at each other`s weddings. So does that relationship -- how does
that help you in the cockpit? That history?
BEHNKEN: You know, we`re kind of at the point in our-- in our experience whether it`s flying in the T-38 or executing in a SpaceX simulation or --
or approaching and docking to the International Space Station where we, in addition to finishing each other`s sentences. You know, we can predict
almost by body language what the -- the person`s opinion is or what they`re -- what their next action is going to be for us as -- as test pilots.
HURLEY: Bob and I -- if you told us when we were students at the -- at test pilot school that we would get an opportunity to fly the first flight of a
spaceship. I -- I think we would have told you, you were crazy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now Doug, the space shuttle had over 2,000 switches and circuit breakers and "Crew Dragon" has touch screens and far fewer
switches. And if all goes to plan, the flight will be mostly automated. So does that make your job of flying this thing a little bit easier? This new
generation of -- of spacecraft?
HURLEY: Well I think in some ways it does. Because you can kind of, you`re more of a monitor of all the systems and you`re not using all your
brainpower to actually fly the vehicle. Now that being said, the vehicle has manual capability and several phases and we will certainly test that
out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lift off. The final lift off of Atlantis.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now Doug, you piloted the last shuttle mission back in 2011. You`re not slated to be the first commander of its replacement, the
"Crew Dragon". There`s something quite poetic about that. So has the significance of that sunk in for you?
HURLEY: It`s -- it`s hard to believe in some ways, you know, when -- when somebody says it you`re like, well that can`t possibly be me. But -- but it
looks like it`s going to be so it certainly a -- a huge honor to even be, you know, to get the fly to space one time but to be, you know, on the last
shuttle flight and the first flight since then is -- it is a -- you know. Only in America, I guess I would say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 10 Second Trivia. Which of these islands would you find in the Caribbean? Nevis, Mallorca, New Caledonia or Isabella Island. The West
Indies is where you`ll find the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis.
And if you`re looking for a virtual beach vacation and who wouldn`t settle for one of those right now if we can`t have the real thing. Sit back and
soak up these images of Nevis. It was a British Colony until it gained independence in 1983. It`s less than 50 square miles in area but what it
lacks in land it makes up for in history, beauty, sun and sunny disposition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Relaxed and romantic. Luxurious and lush. The Caribbean Island of Nevis is an idyllic vacation spot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Welcome to Nevis, the beautiful island here. Beautiful people, love the food here and enjoy yourself in the sun and enjoy the
breeze.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Arriving by ferry from St. Kitts, the trip is 45 minutes with spectacular views of Mt. Nevis and the Charles Town shoreline.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charles Town is a small capital. There`s really only one main thoroughfare, Main Street that runs through it and it can be explored
in an afternoon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eighteenth century stone buildings with gingerbread trim surround Independence Square and are some of the best remaining
examples of colonial Caribbean architecture. For a small island, Nevis is rich in history. The first U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton was
born here and his birthplace serves as a museum of Nevis history. A few blocks away is a Jewish cemetery preserved as a historical site with graves
dating from the 1760s.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The island is so small that you can get around the island in 30 minutes if you want to but of course as a visitor you`d be
taking a bit more time. Visiting all the spots around the island that we have to -- to see.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On Nevis, all beaches are public and while some visitors like the soft sand and subtle waves of Pinney`s Beach others
prefer Oualie Beach for the adventure of kayaking, snorkeling or bike touring with Nevis champion tri-athlete Reggie Douglas. For a few hours of
serenity, stroll through the seven acre Nevis Botanical Garden, a tropical paradise of gardens, sculptures and water features.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What`s really great about Nevis is there`s a real fierce commitment to preservation of the environment and retaining a sense of
history that the island is endeared with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: 10 out of 10. At Kentucky`s Pikeville High School, there`s a sort of unofficial senior superlative most likely to appear on a poster in downtown
Pikeville and all 80 seniors want it. Like so many other schools during the coronavirus pandemic, Pikeville canceled prom, graduation, sports and
senior events so city firefighters hung posters of the graduates to honor them and their parents with a drive-thru yearbook.
So maybe COVID had the "year booked" up but Pikeville`s moved to put the yearbook up on downtown streets made for celebrations. A way to tell
seniors "congraduations" because even without the sports, trips, and dances. It still shows "pomp" in tough "circumstances".
All right. Let`s turn the page on that and say hello to Hillcrest High School watching today from Simpsonville, South Carolina. It`s great to have
the Rams online. I`m Carl Azuz for CNN.
END
