From Space to Earth: NASA and SpaceX Honor Graduates of The Class of 2020 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

SpaceX astronauts share their experience riding on Falcon 9 and arriving at the International Space Station and discuss the unity between SpaceX and NASA.

Key Insights

• 🚀 Riding on the Falcon 9 rocket was a remarkable experience, with the astronauts feeling the G-forces, the sensitivity to the rocket's throttling, and the thrill of separation and engine ignition.
• 👶 The astronauts were filled with excitement and pride in representing SpaceX and NASA in achieving new launch capabilities and their role in the unity between the two organizations.
• 🖐️ Symbolism played a role in the astronauts' experience, from the docking mechanisms representing unity to the competition surrounding the flag left on the Space Station.
• 🚀 The astronauts appreciated the training team's efforts to create a familiar and smooth launch experience, making them feel prepared and knowledgeable about each stage of the launch.
• 😀 The recognition of the class of 2020 with a mosaic on board the Dragon spacecraft showcased the shared experience of facing challenges, such as the pandemic, and the importance of cooperation and unity.
• 💦 The astronauts encouraged future generations to chase their dreams, work hard, and not give up, highlighting the audacity and paranoia required to achieve great things in the field of human spaceflight.
• 👨‍🚀 The conversation between SpaceX Mission Control and the astronauts demonstrated the appreciation and gratitude between the teams, emphasizing the collaborative efforts involved in space exploration.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What was the experience of riding on the Falcon 9 rocket like for the astronauts?

The astronauts found the experience to be awe-inspiring, from feeling the G-forces building up to sensing the throttling of the Merlin engines. They highlight the moments of separation and zero gravity as significant highlights.

Q: What were the last thoughts going through the astronauts' minds before the launch?

The astronauts describe their anticipation starting from the tanking operations and walking through the loading countdown. They felt excitement and expressed appreciation for the training team's efforts to make the launch feel familiar and ensure a smooth countdown.

Q: How did it feel for the astronauts to see the docking mechanism and represent the unity between SpaceX and NASA?

The astronauts felt a sense of unity and symbolism as they witnessed the docking mechanisms preparing to connect the Dragon spacecraft with the International Space Station. They viewed it as a representation of the collaboration between SpaceX and NASA.

Q: Did the astronauts see the Earthy plush toy floating around on the Space Station?

The astronauts mention that they have been busy with the activities of outfitting Dragon and have not had the chance to locate Earthy yet. However, they express the intention to find Earthy and reunite it with a space suit for emergency response capabilities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The astronauts describe their experience riding on the Falcon 9 rocket and highlight the sensitivity to the rocket's throttling and the feeling of zero gravity during separation and engine ignition.

• They express their excitement and pride in representing SpaceX and NASA in achieving new launch capabilities.

• The astronauts discuss the symbolism behind the docking mechanisms representing the unity between SpaceX and NASA, along with the competition surrounding the flag left on the Space Station by the astronauts from STS-135.