>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO GPB'S ROCKET LAUNCH LIVE EXPLORATION.

I'M YOUR HOST, ASHLEY MING LAUSSER.

WHAT IS THE LIVE EXPLORATION?

WE'RE COMING TO YOU LIVE FROM THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION IN WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA.

AND TODAY, WE'LL BE EXPLORING SEVERAL COOL ELEMENTS OF SPACE EXPLORATION HOUSED RIGHT HERE IN THIS MUSEUM.

THAT'S LIVE EXPLORATION.

DURING THE SHOW, WE'LL TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NATION'S SECOND LARGEST AVIATION MUSEUM AS WE LEARN ABOUT SPACE EXPLORATION.

LATER ON, WE'LL SEE KIDS FROM GEORGIA PARTICIPATE IN A WORLDWIDE XHEMT RAFB ROCKET LAUNCH.

THEY WILL STEP OFF STOMP ROCKETS AT THE EXACT MOMENT APOLLO 11 LAUNCHED 50 YEARS AGO TODAY.

MAYBE IT'S ONE OF YOU AT HOME, TIME WILL TELL.

IF YOU BUILT YOUR OWN HOME MADE ROCKET FOR THIS COMMERATIVE LAUNCH, SHARE IT WITH US BY USING #GPB TO THE MOON ON TWITTER.

BUT BEFORE WE START STOMPING ROCKETS, I GOT THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE THIS GIANT FIVE BUILDING CAMPUS AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT ALL THE MUSEUM OFFERS, I TOOK SOME TIME TO TALK TO THE EXPERTS.

I'M HERE WITH CLAIRE THE DIRECTOR OF NASA'S EDUCATIONAL DIRECTOR RESOURCE CENTER.

WHERE AM I RIGHT NOW?

>> YOU ARE AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION AT WARNER ROBINS, GEORGIA, LOCATED AT ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE.

ITS PURPOSE IS TO TELL THE STORY OF THE AIR FORCE.

ALSO THE STORY OF ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE WHICH IS ADJACENT TO US.

IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST AIR FORCE MUSEUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE AVERAGE AT LEAST A HALF A MILLION VISITORS EVERY YEAR.

>> THAT'SES HAVE XWREFIVE.

WHAT ARE THEY COMING TO SEE?

I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A LOT OF COOL AIRCRAFT HERE.

>> YES.

WE HAVE AN AMAZING AIRCRAFT COLLECTION HERE.

WE HAVE OVER 90, SOME OUTSIDE, SOME INSIDE ALL OF THE HANGARS.

TWO OF THE SPECIAL ONES INCLUDES AN AIR FORCE 71 BLACKBIRD AND THE YOU2 DRAGON LADY THAT HAS FACE TIME.

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, MAYBE WE SHOULD DEFINE SPACE FOR OUR AUDIENCE.

HOW DOES NASA FORMALLY DEFINE SPACE?

>> HOPEFULLY THE SAME WAY WE ALL DO, BUT SPACE IS BEYOND EITHER'S ATMOSPHERE.

>> WELL, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN SPACE EXPLORATION TODAY.

I KNOW YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN SPACE EXPLORATION EVERY DAY.

SO I'M CURIOUS, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THEM LEARN ABOUT I SPACE EXPLORATION HERE AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION?

>> SEVERAL WAYS.

WE HAVE REALLY COOL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OUR NEW VIRTUAL REALITY RIDE WHICH FEATURES TWO SPACE RIDES.

ONE IS THE ROLLER COASTER FOR SPACE AND THE OTHER ONE IS ACTUALLY DOING REPAIRS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.

WE HAVE EXHIBITS AROUND HERE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR AVIATION HALL OF FAME.

AND THROUGH SOME OF THE AIRCRAFT, AS WELL, MAKING THE CONNECTIONS THAT -- WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH SPACE EXPLORATION.

WE HAVE A MISSION QUEST, FLIGHT SIMULATION PROGRAM WHICH IS A COOL OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN.

AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES WE'VE HAD IS GOING ON THIS WEEK WITH SPACE EXPLORATION CAMP FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 10th AND THEY HAVE BEEN LEARN BACKGROUND SPACE, HOW IT AFFECTS THE BODY, THEY HAVE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT THE CONSTELLATIONS, THE SOLAR SYSTEM.

WE WANT THEM TO LEARN THROUGH THE S.T.E.M.

ACTIVITIES AND THINGS AND HOW IT RELATES TO SPACE AND HOW IT RELATES TO US.

>> SOUNDS OUT OF THIS WORLD.

YOU HAD ME AT SPACE CAMP, CLAIRE.

CAN I CHECK OUT WHAT THE KIDS ARE DOING?

>> SURE.

>> WELCOME TO SPACE CAMP.

I HEARD YOU DID A STOMP ROCKET EXPERIMENT OUTSIDE.

HOW HIGH DID YOUR STOMP ROCKET GO IN YOUR EXPERIMENT?

I WASN'T NECESSARILY WORRIED ABOUT HOW HIGH IT WENT.

WE WERE MORE WORRIED ABOUT IF IT DID HIT THE MOON BECAUSE APOLLO 11 WAS ACTUALLY LAUNCHED SORT OF DIAGONAL INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT UP BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO GET THE EXACT ANGLE.

THAT'S SORT OF THE POINT ABOUT WATCHING THE STOMP LAUNCHING ROCKETS.

>> HOW HIGH IS YOUR STOMP ROCKET GO?

>> IT WAS DIFFERENT EACH TIME.

SO THE FIRST TIME, IT HAD WENT PRETTY HIGH.

AND THEN IT WENT PRETTY FAR, PAST THE MOON TO MARS.

>> PATTI, AS AN EDUCATOR AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION, WHAT ARE YOUR LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE SETTING SPACE EXPLORATION?

>> WELL, I WANT THEM TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE IT IS SUMMER AND THEY DESERVE IT.

WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS LIKE CONSTELLATIONS AND THE PLANETS AND THE SUN AND, OF COURSE, VR.

SO EVERY DAY IT'S A NEW TOPIC AND EVERY SINGLE DAY WE HAVE TO RELEASE SOME KIND OF ROCKET.

THE STOMP ROCKET WAS A WAY FOR THEM TO PRETEND AND DO DRAMATIC PLAY ABOUT BEING AN ASTRONAUT AND GOING TO THE MOON.

WE HAD TO GET OUR ROCKET TO THE MOON SO THAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE PHOTOGRAPH OUT THERE.

I THINK THEY ENJOYED IT.

BUT, AGAIN, IT WAS ALL ABOUT JUST TALKING ABOUT EXPLORERS AND HOW COOL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO BE THAT FIRST PERSON ON THE MOON.

>> THESE ARE MY NEW FRIENDS AND SPACE EXPLORERS, NOAH AND McKENNA.

WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST IN SPACE EXPLORATION?

>> I LIKE OHIO THEY CAN LEARN HOW HUMANS CAN LIVE ON OTHER PLANETS .

>> THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

NOAH, WHAT ABOUT YOU, WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SPACE EXPLORATION AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE?

>> IT'S BECAUSE, WELL, I JUST LIKE SCIENCE AND MATH.

SO I ONE DAY WANT TO BE AN AS TROU NAUGHT BECAUSE I THINK I'D SEE A LOT OF COOL THINGS IN SPACE.

I THINK I COULD HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT IT.

>> HAVE YOU ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN SPACE EXPLORATION?

>> WHEN I WAS LITTLE, I USUALLY WASN'T.

I WAS JUST EXCITED ABOUT BEING LAZY.

BUT NOW I HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED.

I AM A HUGE FAN OF NAS AND AND I AM A HUGE FAN OF SPACE.

>> ROCK ON, NASA.

WHAT CHANGED THAT FOR YOU?

>> ONCE I HEARD ABOUT IT.

I LEARNED ABOUT IT AND I FOUND IT REALLY EXCITING.

SO NOW I AM COMPLETELY INTO IT.

>> I'VE ALWAYS LOVED, LIKE, WATCHING ALL THE LIFTOFFS.

I WENT TO THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND I WANTED TO STAY THERE FOREVER BECAUSE IT WAS SO FUN AND IT WAS SO FUN TO WATCH HOW ALL IT WORKED.

>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO STUDY SPACE EXPLORATION OR ENCOURAGE IT IN GENERAL?

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO THAT.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO GO TO MARS AND WE'RE DOING MORE AND MORE IN SPACE ALL THE TIME.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY ARE A PART OF IT.

THIS IS LIVING HISTORY.

THERE'S NO TELLING WHERE THE STUDENTS TODAY WILL BE TOMORROW.

BUT WE NEED TO PREPARE THEM ANY WAY THEY CAN AND MAKE THEM HAVE A LOVE FOR EXPLORING SPACE AND OTHER PLACES.

SO WE CAN LEARN MORE AND JUST BECOME, YOU KNOW, BETTER IN OUR WORLD.

>> AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM BOMB IT COMET?

>> SO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DIRECTION IN SPACE.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO REMEMBER WHAT'S UP AND DOWN.

SO WE DID THAT WITH A PENCIL AND THE PENCIL MOVED WHEN WE WERE SPINNING AND CLOSED OUT EYES.

THE DIRECTION WITH BLOCKS BECAUSE OUR EYES WERE CLOSED.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE LESSON FROM THIS?

WHAT CAN WE TRUST THE MOST IN OUTER SPACE?

>> TRUST YOUR SENSE OF DIRECTION.

THE PEOPLE IN SPACE ARE ON THE INTSHLG SPACE STATION.

THEY JUST HAVE TO TRUST WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

SO -- BECAUSE IT'S SO DARK OVER THERE.

>> YOUR EYES MIGHT DECEIVE YOU.

>> YEAH.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.

SO YOU HAVE TO TRUST YOURSELF AND YOUR SENSE OF DIRECTION.

>> LET'S SAY YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE MOON.

WOULD YOU DO IT?

AND TELL ME WHY OR WHY NOT.

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY DO IT.

>> AND WHY?

>> I LIKE SPACE.

I WANT TO BE AN ASTRONAUT WHEN I GROW UP.

IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY TO GO UP THERE.

AS THOUGH NAUGHTS, YOU CAN SEE THE EARTH FROM THE MOON AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A COOL THING TO EXPERIENCE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE FOR THE WEEK?

WHAT KNOWLEDGE ARE YOU INSTILLING?

>> I'M HOPING THAT I CAN INSTILL AT LEAST IN ONE CHILD MAYBE A LOVE OF SPACE.

MAYBE THAT CHILD ONE DAY WILL BE A FUTURE ASTRONAUT AND I CAN SAY I TAUGHT THEM WHEN.

SO TO INSTILL THAT LOVE FOR SPACE, IF I CAN ENCOURAGE ONE, I THINK I'VE DONE MY JOB THIS WEEK.

>> WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE KIDS GOING TO BE BUSY WITH THIS WEEK?

>> WE WILL BE DOING THINGS AS FAR AS LIVING IN SPACE.

THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY FOODS THAT ARE DEHYDRATED.

WE DID A FOOD ACTIVITY WHERE WE GAVE THE KIDS POWDERED FOOD AND WE REHYDRATED IT FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN'T TAKE HYDRATED FOOD BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE FOR THE ASTRONAUTS.

>> ONE SPECIAL TREATED FOR ASTRONAUTS IS ASTRONAUT ICE CREAM.

THANK YOU, MATT.

I'M GETTING TO EXPERIENCE SOME RIGHT NOW WITH MY FRIEND, ALDEN.

TELL ME HOW THIS WORKS.

IT LOOKS LIKE A DRY ICE CREAM SANDWICH.

BASICALLY, THEY TAKE A NORMAL ICE CREAM SANDWICH, PUT IT IN A MACHINE.

THEY TAKE ALL THE WATER OUT.

PUT IT IN A PACKAGE.

WHEN YOU GET TO SPACE, YOU OPEN THE PACKAGE, PUT THE WATER IN, WAIT A FEW MINUTES AND EAT IT.

>> HAVE YOU EVER EATEN THIS BEFORE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK SO.

>> DO YOU WANT TO TRY IT NOW AND TELL US WHAT IT TAKES LIKE DRY.

TRY IT RIGHT NOW, JUST FOR FUN.

WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?

>> CRUNCHY ICE CREAM.

>> THUS WE WANT TO REHYDRATE IT.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS ACTIVITY?

>> IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLEX TO TAKE FOOD INTO SPACE THAN IT SEEMS.

>> 50 YEARS LATER, WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF THE APOLLO 11 MISSION?

>> WELL, THESE STUDENTS WEREN'T ALIVE AT THE TIME, SO THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THRILLING IT WAS AND WHAT A BIG ACHIEVEMENT IT WAS FOR THE WORLD.

SO WE HAVE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT.

WE HAVE TO LET THEM EXPERIENCE WHAT IT WAS LIKE WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

SO WE HAVE TO BRING IT ALIVE.

THAT WILL ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.

THERE COULD BE SOME ASTRONAUTS IN TRAINING RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK WE HAVE AT LEAST THREE THAT COULD SIGN UP TODAY.

AND THAT WOULD DO GREAT.

>> THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES FOR KIDS AND ADULTS ALIKE TO LEARN ABOUT AERONAUTICS.

THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION SHOWCATIONS SOME OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE AND INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY WHEN IT COMES TO EXPLORING THE WORLD ABOVE US.

AS THE ASSISTANT CURATOR AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION, I'M INTERESTED IN THE SR-71 BLACKBIRD.

>> IT IS A LONG RANGE STRATEGIC RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT.

THE ACTUAL AIRCRAFT WE HAVE HERE HOLDS THE ABSOLUTE WORLD SPEED RECORD OF 2,913 MILES AN HOUR.

>> THAT IS ONE SPEEDY BIRD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE WERE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE BLACKBIRD AND ROCKETS.

>> NASA FLEW THE PLAQUEBIRD FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN THE 90s FOR A HIGH ALTITUDE AIRCRAFT.

SO THERE ARE SOME CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES LIKE THE PRESSURE SUITS THAT THE PILOTS WAR AND THE ITEMS THAT THEY USED TO THE AIRCRAFT.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PRESSURE SUIT?

>> THE PRESSURE SUIT KEEPS YOUR BLOOD FROM BOILING.

>> AND THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE BLACKBIRD ATE MODIFIED FOOD.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> THEY DID.

THEY HAD FOOD THAT WAS PUREED AND THEY WOULD EAT IT THROUGH STRAWS IN THEIR SUIT SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE THEIR HELMET OFF.

>> I COULDN'T RESIST TO PILOT ONE OF THESE MYSELF.

SO I MET WITH A FLIGHT SIMULATOR WHO SHOWED ME WHAT IT WOULD SHE LIKE TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT.

>> WHAT KIND OF AIRCRAFT ARE YOU GOING PUT ME INTO TODAY?

>> WE WILL FLY A 747-FR.

IT'S A HEAVILY MODIFIED VERSION OF THE JUMBO JET.

IT'S MODIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SPACE SHUTTLE ON ITS BACK AND THAT GIVES IT THIS ICONIC APPEARANCE.

>> OKAY.

SO IT'S LIKE A TAXI FOR THE SHUTTLE.

BUT WHY WOULD A SPACE SHUTTLE THAT TRAVELS THIGH THE AIR NEED THAT?

>> IT CAN'T FLY.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ENGINES.

IT'S A GLIDER.

>> YOU'RE PUTTING THE SPACE SHUTTLE ON THE TOP LIKE A PIGGYBACK AND IT WILL RELAUNCH WHERE IT WANTS TO GO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY LEAVE AN ALTERNATIVE LANDING FACILITY.

THEY BRING IT HOME TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AND THAT'S WHERE IT LAUNCHES FROM, CAPE CANAVERAL.

>> IN FLORIDA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I THINK I'M READY TO DO THIS, RUFUS.

WHAT IS FLYING ALL ABOUT?

>> STEP ONE, STEP INTO YOUR FLIGHT SUIT.

>> WEIR SUITED UP.

WHAT IS STEP TWO?

>> STEP TWO IS NAVIGATION.

HERE WE HAVE MAPS OF GEORGIA AND FLORIDA.

WHERE WE HAVE THE SHUTTLE CARRIER RIGHT NOW IS AT ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE.

AND WE WOULD TAKE OFF FROM ROBINS -- >> THAT'S WHERE WE ARE?

>> YES.

>> COOL.

>> HERE IS WHERE WE ARE.

WE WOULD FLY FROM ROBINS AND NAVIGATE TO THE SHUTTLE LANDING FACILITY.

>> THAT'S REALLY COOL.

SO I PRESUME STEP THROUGH IS TAKEOFF.

ACTUALLY FLYING.

>> STEP THREE IS TAKE OFF AND FLYING.

ALL RIGHT.

TAKE OFF.

I'M FOLLOWING YOU, RUFUS.

>> AWESOME.

>> NOW THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED WHAT I DID TO FLY IN A SPACE SHUTTLE, I WANTED TO EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY DID.

>> THERE WERE FIVE THAT FLEW.

IT WAS MAINLY DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION THAT IS IN LOW EARTH ORBIT ABOVE US.

ALL OF THE SPACE SHUTTLES CONTRIBUTE TO THE BUILDING BECAUSE WE HAD TO TRANSPORT THE MATERIALS UP THERE TO PUT IT TOGETHER.

>> TO DO CONSTRUCTION IN SPACE.

>> YES, THEY WERE DOING CONSTRUCTION IN SPACE.

AND ONCE IT WAS BUILT, THEY CONTINUE TO SERVICE THE SPACE STATION BY TAKING THE ASTRONAUTS THERE WHICH IS SUPPLIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE NEEDED UP THERE.

SO THEY'RE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT SPACE STATION.

>> NOW, WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?

I THINK IT BEGS THE QUESTION.

>> WELL, IT'S A HUGE LABORATORY THAT'S ORBITING THE EARTH EVERY 90 MINUTES.

SO THAT MEANS IT GOES AROUND THE EARTH ABOUT 15 1/2 TIMES A DAY.

>> A DAY.

>> YES.

>> AND IT'S USED FOR RESEARCH IN SPACE TO SEE HOW SPACE ELEMENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT AFFECT US, HOW WE COULD LEARN TO SURVIVE IN IT.

THEY DO A LOT OF MEDICAL RESEARCH UP THERE AND THINGS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH.

AND IT'S TRULY INTERNATIONAL COUNTRIES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT AND KEEP IT MANNED AND DO THE EXPERIMENTS IN SPACE.

IT'S WHERE WE ALL GET ALONG IS IN SPACE.

>> SPEAKING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A PRETTY COOL VIRTUAL REALITY OPPORTUNITY FOR GUESTS AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION.

>> YES, WE DO.

>> TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S LOCATED IN OUR KIDS ZONE IN THE CENTURY OF FLIGHT.

AND IT'S A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND IT'S INTERACTIVE SO YOU CAN EXPLORE THE EXTERIOR OF THE SPACE STATION SIMPLY BY MOVING IT AROUND ON THE SCREEN.

THE COOL THING ABOUT IT IS YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO INSIDE THE SPACE STATION.

YOU CAN GO THROUGH ALL THE LABORATORIES.

YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE THINGS THEY ARE WORKING ON.

IT HAS SECTIONS WHERE YOU CAN TAP ON AND PLACE VIDEOS TO EXPLAIN HOW THEY EXERCISE IN SPACE.

>> HOW THEY LIVE AND WORK UP THERE.

>> AND HOW THEY LIVE AND WORK, EXACTLY.

>> IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY PROMINENT GEORGIANS WHO HAVE GONE TO SPACE.

>> YES.

THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW.

IN FACT, IN OUR HALL OF FAME, WE HAVE A SPECIAL AREA DEDICATED TO THEM.

ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT WAS SUNNY CARTER.

HE IS AN INTERESTING HOMETOWN HERO FOR US.

EFSD BORN IN MACON, BUT HE LIVED IN WARNER ROBINS.

>> IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

HE GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN MACON AND ATTENDED THE EMORY UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL.

>> WOW.

>> AND HE GRADUATED FROM THERE IN '73.

AND THE NEXT YEAR, HE JOINED THE NAVY AND WENT THROUGH FLIGHT SURGICAL SCHOOL.

AFTER THAT, HE WENT THROUGH THE U.S.

NAVY FLIGHT WEAPONS SCHOOL, WHICH IS ALSO TOP GUN.

THAT'S THE SAME YEAR THAT HE JOINED NASA.

SO HE BECAME AN ASTRONAUT.

AND ONE OF HIS FIRST MISSIONS WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MISSION THAT HE FLEW.

AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS, AS YOU KNOW, ASTRONAUTS, WHEN THEY GO UP TO THE SPACE STATION, THEY ALWAYS TAKE SOMETHING PERSONAL OR SOMETHING FROM THEIR HOMETOWN TO THE SPACE STATION.

SO HE CHOSE VENTURES BARBECUE AND THAT'S WHAT HE TOOK TO THE SPACE STATION.

HE WAS ENSHRINED IN OUR HALL OF FAME IN 1992.

AND THEN HE RECEIVED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND MEDALS NOT JUST FROM THE NAVY, BUT THROUGH NASA, AS WELL.

>> AND WE HONOR HIM BY VISITING THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION HERE TODAY.

>> A PART OF NASA'S MISSION CONTROL TEAM THAT SENT THE FIRST MAN TO THE MOON.

WHY DO YOU THINK SPACE EXPLORATION IS SO IMPORTANT?

>> THERE'S A SELECT POINT, FRONTIER.

>> THE ROCKET HAD VARIOUS PARTS THAT THEY ALL WORKED ON AND IN THE SIMULATOR DIVISION.

HE WOULD COME UP WITH SIMULATIONS OF THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A BOOK THAT THEY HAD TO FOLLOW THE STEPS OF, OKAY, THIS IS ERROR CODE WHATEVER SO WE NEED TO FOLLOW THESE STEPS.

AND THAT WAS WHAT HE DID IN PREPARING THE OUGHT TROUGH NAUGHT FOR TRAVELING TO THE MOON.

AND THE THING THAT I ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM TALKING ABOUT WAS THE CHALLENGE WAS NOT TO GET TO THE MOON.

THE CHALLENGE WAS ALWAYS TO GET TO THE MOON AND RETURN SAFELY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT DAY ON APOLLO 11.

IN 1969, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT DAY?

>> WELL, THE DAY APOLLO LAUNCHED, IT TOOK FOUR DAYS TO GET TO THE MOON.

WHEN THEY LAUNCHED FROM CAPE KENNEDY, THE SATURN V, WE COULDN'T GET TO THE PAY LOAD.

THEY CAME OUT AND HAD LOST COMMUNICATIONS BASICALLY WITH HOUSTON.

AND WE HAD TO COMMUNICATION WITH MIKE COLLINS.

SO I GAVE THE GO FOR DEORBIT FROM MIKE COLLINS FROM HOUSTON RELAYED.

THEY WENT DOWN CLOSE ENOUGH TO LAND.

JUST ABOUT THE TIME I GOT THE GO FOR LANDING, THROUGH THE COMMAND MODULE AGAIN BECAUSE COMMUNICATIONS WERE STILL A PROBLEM, THEY HAD A COMPUTER FAILURE, A 120 2 ALARM.

1202 COMPUTER ALARM WAS AN ALARM THAT SAID ABORT IS WHAT IT WAS MEANT TO SEND.

BUT SINCE WE HAD ASSIMILATED IT, THEY KNEW IT WAS A COMPUTER OVERRIDE AND THEY COULD IGNORE IT.

>> SO YOU WERE PART OF THAT TRAINING THAT HELPED THEM PREPARE FOR THAT MOMENT.

>> TRUE.

GOT DOWN CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE MOON TO START THINKING ABOUT WHETHER TO LAND OR NOT.

THERE WERE ONLY THREE THINGS TO DO.

YOU LAND, YOU ABORT OR PRESS.

AFTER THE 1202 ALARM, DALE TOOK OVER THE CONTROLS AND WAS FLYING MANUALLY.

THE COMPUTER WAS NOW OUT OF THE PICTURE AS FAR AS LANDING WAS CONCERNED.

THEY LANDED WITH 17 SECONDS OF FUEL LEFT.

>> WHAT WE ALL THINK ABOUT, THAT FINAL FOOT STEP, BUT THOSE TEN MINUTES -- >> PRECEDING THAT FOOT STEP.

>> UNTIL THEY LANDED WERE PRETTY CHALLENGING.

THEY WERE VERY STRESSED IF THERE WAS ANY SORT OF FAILURE OF ANYTHING, THERE WAS AN ADDED RELY TIME THAN THAT.

>> SO WHAT HAPPENED ONCE THEY LAND ON THE MOON?

>> HE WENT DOWN THE STEPS, STEPPED ON THE MOON AND SAID ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MAN KIND.

THEY PUT THE FLAG UP.

BUZZ GOT OUT AFTER THAT AND THEY GOT A FEW ROCK SAMPLES TO TAKE BACK AND GOT BACK IN THE LUNAR MODULE AND PROCEEDED TO -- THEY DIDN'T STAY AND SLEEP OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY, YOU KNOW, TOOK OFF AGAIN WITH THE ENGINE THAT HAD NOT BEEN USED AND THE ENGINE THAT LANDED ON THE ATLANTIS ITSELF IS STILL ON THE MOON.

>> WOW.

>> SO THEY WENT UP AND PASSED THAT STAGE WITH THAT ENGINE.

DOCKED WITH THE COMMAND MODULE AND RETURNED TO EARTH.

>> HOW ABOUT THAT MOMENT OF RECEIVING THEM BACK ON EARTH ONCE THEY HAD MADE IT BACK INTO OUR ATMOSPHERE?

>> WELL, THEY HAD TO STAY IN A TRAILER.

THEY WERE QUARANTINED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BUGS THEY HAD PICKED UP.

>> WHAT KIND OF MOON BUGS THEY HAD CONTRACTED.

>> SO THEY STAYED IN A TRAILER FOR SOME LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIERS.

THE DOCTORS SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM.

AND IT WAS QUITE A -- A BUNCH OF THINGS THAT WERE DONE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

>> I'D SAY IT WAS A PRETTY BIG DAY, AND YOU WERE PART OF IT.

AND THANKS TO PEOPLE LIKE LIEUTENANTS COLONEL LOWE, WE WERE ABLE TO SEND THE FIRST PEOPLE TO THE MOON, AN ACHIEVEMENT WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATION 15 YEARS LATER.

>> CHET AND LESLIE ARE JOINING US TODAY BEHIND ME.

YOU MIGHT SEE THEM BACK THERE.

WE ARE BACK LIVE WITH JUST A FEW SHORT MINUTES REMAINING UNTIL WE PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL ROCKET LAUNCH SUL CELEBRATING APOLE LOW 11'S LIFTOFF 50 YEARS AGO.

HI, SHAMIKA AND SARA.

COME ON OVER.

HOW ARE YOU?

XWL I'M GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M EXCELLENT.

I'M READY TO WATCH YOU GUYS DO YOUR STOMP ROCKETS.

HOW ARE YOU, SARA?

>> AWESOME.

>> HOW DOES THIS STOMP ROCKET LAUNCH WORK?

>> IT TAKES NEWTON'S THIRD LAW.

WITH EVERY FORCE THAT WE USE TO EX EITHER THIS STOMP, WE'LL SHOOT THE ROCKET OFF INTO THE AIR.

>> THAT'S A BETTER EXPLANATION THAN I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR.

HOW HIGH DO YOU CARE YOUR ROCKET IS GOING TO GO OUT THERE.

>> I THINK IT WILL GO VERY HIGH, ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF THE FLAGS.

>> OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE HERE TO CELEBRATE NASA SENDING THE FIRST PEOPLE TO THE MOON.

SHAMIKA, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE TO BE THE FIRST PERSON TO WALK ON THE MOON?

>> I'M START TO GO THINK IT WOULD BE COOL TO SEE THE EARTH BE SO SMALL, SPACE IS STILL A VAST EMPTINESS AND LOVE AND JUST -- IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

IT'S OVERWHELMING.

>> AND IT PUTS THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

>> IT REALLY DOES.

>> 50 YEARS AGO IN 1969, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME PEOPLE HAD EVER SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN, SENDING A HUMAN BEING TO THE MOON.

HERE IS A WILD REALITY CHECK.

TODAY, THERE IS MORE TECHNOLOGY IN YOUR SMARTPHONE THAN THERE WAS ON THE APOLLO 11 IN '69.

THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE KIND OF AWE PEOPLE FELT WHEN THEY SAW SOMEONE ACTUALLY WALK ON THE MOON.

SARA, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE MOST INCREDIBLE THING TO SEE IN YOUR LOOIMT AS RELATES TO SPACE EXPLORATION?

>> I THINK LIFE IN SPACE BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S MORE THAN HUMANS IN LIFE.

SO I HOPE THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY MORE LIFE THAN JUST HUMANS OUT THERE.

>> EXCELLENT POINT.

THAT'S VERY HUMBLING.

GOOD LUCK OUT THERE.

WE'LL BE WATCHING.

FLY SAFE.

JOINING ME NOW IS MELISSA SPALDING.

COME ON OVER, MELISSA.

SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AT THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> GREAT, ASHLEY.

I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THIS MUST BE A VERY EXCITING DAY FOR THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION.

>> IT IS.

>> WHY DID YOU MUSEUM DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL ROCKET LAUNCH?

>> THE MUSEUM IS HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN S.T.E.M.

ACTIVITIES AND REACH OUT AND OFFER AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS WE CAN ESPECIALLY THROUGH OUR NEW NATIONAL EDUCATOR RESOURCE CENTER.

>> WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT DOES THIS COMMERATIVE LAUNCH MEAN FOR KIDS TODAY WHO WEREN'T HERE FOR APOLLO 11?

>> NASA IS PREPARE TO GO TAKE A MISSION OF PEOPLE TO MARS.

WE'RE GOING TO USE THE MOON AS A STOPOVER PLACE.

WE'RE PREPARING STUDENTS FOR JOBS IN THE FUTURE.

THIS IS AN EXCITING PLACE TO BE.

>> HERE GOES OUR COUNTDOWN.

IT IS TIME FOR ROCKET LAUNCH.

HERE WE GO.

IS EVERYBODY READY?

IN TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX, FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE 37.

LAUNCH YOUR ROCKETS!

WOW.

THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

THAT WAS AMAZING!

SO IT WAS RIGHT AT THIS VERY MOMENT 50 YEARS AGO THAT APOLLO 11 AND ITS THREE DARING ASTRONAUTS, NEIL ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN AND MICHAEL COLLINS WERE ON THEIR WAY TO THE MOON.

HOW INCREDIBLE.

I JUST GOT GOOSE BUMPS.

DO THEY HAVE THOSE ON THE MOON?

I WANT TO WELCOME OUR STUDENTS BACK TO HEAR HOW THEIR TAKEOFF EXPERIENCE WENT.

COME ON OVER, SARA.

HEY, SHAMIKA.

CAN I POINT OUT HOW FANTASTIC YOU TWO LOOK.

>> I HAVE ON A NASA SHIRT WHICH HAS A FLAG ON THE BACK TO SHOW THAT WE LANDED ON THE MOON AND IT TELLS YOU WHAT NASA STANDS FOR ON THE SIDE OF MY SHIRT.

>> AND WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT'S THE NATIONAL AEROSPACE AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.

>> I'VE GOT IT.

THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR PANTS?

>> WELL, THEY HAVE STARS ON THEM BECAUSE WE WENT INTO SPACE AND IT HAS STARS.

>> FANTASTIC.

WHAT DOES YOUR SHIRT SAY?

>> IT SAYS CREATES YOUR MOMENT.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE BEING PART OF THIS HISTORIC MOMENT?

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS COOL HOW WE JUST ALL SHOT OUR ROCKETS JUST HOW THE APOLLO 11 WENT UP TO BE THE FIRST ON THE MOON.

>> WERE YOU CHANNELING APOLLO 11 WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING, IMAGINING YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES?

>> YES.

>> WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE?

>> IT WAS AMAZING.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE PART OF THIS GLOBAL ROCKET LAUNCH?

>> IN ALL HONESTY, I'M PROUD THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING TODAY.

ALL IT DOES IS IT SHOWS YOU ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THAT HELP CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS LIKE US TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING SO AMAZING, TO SAY THAT S.T.E.M.

ENABLES US TO BE CAPABLE OF ANYTHING WE PUT OUR MINDS TO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO LEAVE IT.

NO BURNOUT HERE.

HIGH FIVE, LADIES.

YOU WERE EXCELLENT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING, YOU, TOO, CAN BUILD YOUR OWN ROCKETS.

JUST VISIT GPB.ORG AND THERE YOU'LL FIND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ASSEMBLE A ROCKET USING COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS KNOWN AS ENGINEERS NECESSARY.

-- NO ENGINEERS NECESSARY.

>> NONE AT ALL.

>> THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY'S LIVE EXPLORATION OF SPACE EXPLORATION.

THANK YOU TO OUR FLIGHT CREW WITH ME, THE MUSEUM OF AVIATION AND TO ALL OF THE FUTURE SCIENTISTS AND ASTRONAUTS WITH ME AND BEHIND ME.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.