1 00:00:04,701 --> 00:00:10,634 [dramatic percussion music] 2 00:00:18,734 --> 00:00:20,868 - HEY, WELCOME TO "NASA LAUNCHPAD." 3 00:00:20,868 --> 00:00:22,400 I'M YOUR HOST, VINCE WHITFIELD. 4 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:23,968 WHAT'S COOLER THAN BEING COOL? 5 00:00:23,968 --> 00:00:25,000 ICE COLD, RIGHT? 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:26,667 BUT WHAT'S COOLER THAN THAT? 7 00:00:26,667 --> 00:00:29,667 WELL, ONCE WE GET DOWN INTO THE REALLY COLD TEMPERATURES, 8 00:00:29,667 --> 00:00:32,133 BELOW NEGATIVE 150 DEGREES CELSIUS, 9 00:00:32,133 --> 00:00:35,000 WHICH IS NEGATIVE 238 FAHRENHEIT 10 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:36,701 OR 123 KELVIN, 11 00:00:36,701 --> 00:00:39,667 WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CRYOGENICS. 12 00:00:39,667 --> 00:00:42,033 NOW, MOST OF YOU, WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT CRYOGENICS, 13 00:00:42,033 --> 00:00:44,234 YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING ABOUT SCIENCE FICTION MOVIES 14 00:00:44,234 --> 00:00:45,501 WHERE THEY FREEZE PEOPLE 15 00:00:45,501 --> 00:00:47,400 AND THEY WAKE UP HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN THE FUTURE. 16 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:49,467 WHY DOESN'T NASA USE THAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY 17 00:00:49,467 --> 00:00:52,267 FOR SENDING ASTRONAUTS ON LONG-TERM SPACEFLIGHT TRAVEL 18 00:00:52,267 --> 00:00:53,534 TO DISTANT GALAXIES? 19 00:00:53,534 --> 00:00:55,267 WELL, HERE'S ROB BOYLE, 20 00:00:55,267 --> 00:00:58,067 AEROSPACE ENGINEER AT NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, 21 00:00:58,067 --> 00:00:59,634 WITH A REALITY CHECK. 22 00:00:59,634 --> 00:01:01,100 - PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST COMMON WAYS 23 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:04,200 THAT WE HEAR ABOUT CRYOGENICS IN POPULAR CULTURE 24 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,234 IS WITH FREEZING SOMEBODY, 25 00:01:07,234 --> 00:01:10,234 THE CRYONICS KIND OF TECHNIQUE OF POPPING TED WILLIAMS 26 00:01:10,234 --> 00:01:13,033 IN A VAT OF LIQUID NITROGEN AND HOPING THAT SOMEDAY, 27 00:01:13,033 --> 00:01:16,033 WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW TO REVIVE HIM AGAIN. 28 00:01:16,033 --> 00:01:21,033 THE TECHNIQUE IS SO CONCEPTUAL 29 00:01:21,033 --> 00:01:24,033 THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT NASA ISN'T REALLY PURSUING. 30 00:01:24,033 --> 00:01:26,634 WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AT ALL HOW TO WAKE SOMEBODY BACK UP 31 00:01:26,634 --> 00:01:28,767 FROM A STATE LIKE THAT. 32 00:01:28,767 --> 00:01:33,501 AND WHILE IT MAKES REALLY GOOD SCIENCE FICTION MOVIES, 33 00:01:33,501 --> 00:01:35,033 IT ISN'T LIKELY TO BE PART 34 00:01:35,033 --> 00:01:37,567 OF AN ACTUAL SPACEFLIGHT ANYTIME SOON. 35 00:01:37,567 --> 00:01:39,567 - BUT ROB DOES WORK WITH CRYOGENICS AT NASA. 36 00:01:39,567 --> 00:01:40,567 HOW? 37 00:01:40,567 --> 00:01:41,901 WELL, LET'S LET HIM EXPLAIN. 38 00:01:41,901 --> 00:01:44,567 - WELL, THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT-- 39 00:01:44,567 --> 00:01:47,200 TWO MAIN WAYS THAT NASA USES CRYOGENICS. 40 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,701 ONE WOULD BE FOR THE PROPULSION AND POWER STORAGE 41 00:01:50,701 --> 00:01:53,033 THAT YOU WOULD SEE IN THE SPACE SHUTTLE, 42 00:01:53,033 --> 00:01:54,434 FOR INSTANCE. 43 00:01:54,434 --> 00:01:58,133 A LOT OF THE FUELS THAT ARE USED FOR HIGH-ENERGY ROCKETS 44 00:01:58,133 --> 00:02:00,133 ARE CRYOGENIC FUELS, LIQUID OXYGEN, 45 00:02:00,133 --> 00:02:03,067 LIQUID HYDROGEN, SOMETIMES METHANE, 46 00:02:03,067 --> 00:02:06,067 AND SO THE BIG FLASHY STUFF IS ASSOCIATED WITH ROCKETRY. 47 00:02:06,067 --> 00:02:09,234 AND THEN A LOT OF WHAT WE DO HERE AT GODDARD 48 00:02:09,234 --> 00:02:15,501 AND AT JPL AND AT AMES IS USING CRYOGENICS FOR SCIENCE. 49 00:02:15,501 --> 00:02:17,634 WE FIND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PHYSICAL EFFECTS 50 00:02:17,634 --> 00:02:19,701 THAT TAKE PLACE AT LOW TEMPERATURES 51 00:02:19,701 --> 00:02:22,133 THAT ENABLE US TO DO TYPES OF SCIENCE THAT CAN'T BE DONE 52 00:02:22,133 --> 00:02:24,400 AT NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. 53 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:25,868 - WAIT A MINUTE. 54 00:02:25,868 --> 00:02:28,200 LET'S FOCUS ON THAT FIRST WAY THAT NASA USES CRYOGENICS, 55 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,067 PROPULSION AND POWER STORAGE. 56 00:02:30,067 --> 00:02:33,000 LOOKING AT NASA'S WORKHORSE MANNED SPACEFLIGHT PROGRAM 57 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,167 FOR THE LAST FEW DECADES, 58 00:02:34,167 --> 00:02:36,267 THE SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, 59 00:02:36,267 --> 00:02:38,367 MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE SPACE SHUTTLE, 60 00:02:38,367 --> 00:02:40,334 HOW DO CRYOGENICS COME INTO PLAY? 61 00:02:40,334 --> 00:02:43,534 - THE BIGGEST, MOST VISIBLE APPLICATION 62 00:02:43,534 --> 00:02:46,634 IS STORAGE OF LIQUID OXYGEN AND LIQUID HYDROGEN. 63 00:02:46,634 --> 00:02:49,067 MOST OF THE VOLUME THAT YOU SEE 64 00:02:49,067 --> 00:02:51,834 IN THE EXTERNAL TANK ON THE SHUTTLE 65 00:02:51,834 --> 00:02:53,667 IS LIQUID HYDROGEN 66 00:02:53,667 --> 00:02:56,901 MAYBE 25 DEGREES ABOVE ABSOLUTE ZERO, 25 KELVIN, 67 00:02:56,901 --> 00:02:59,634 AND, COMBINED WITH LIQUID OXYGEN, 68 00:02:59,634 --> 00:03:04,801 PRODUCES A VERY HIGH-ENERGY, VERY POWERFUL ROCKET ENGINE 69 00:03:04,801 --> 00:03:06,567 THAT, IN THAT CASE, 70 00:03:06,567 --> 00:03:08,601 ENABLES US TO GET A LOT OF HARDWARE 71 00:03:08,601 --> 00:03:09,934 UP INTO LOW EARTH ORBIT. 72 00:03:09,934 --> 00:03:12,334 - SO IS NASA'S CRYOGENICS DEPARTMENT 73 00:03:12,334 --> 00:03:14,434 ONLY HOUSED AT NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER? 74 00:03:14,434 --> 00:03:15,434 HARDLY. 75 00:03:15,434 --> 00:03:17,267 CRYOGENICS ARE AGENCY-WIDE AT NASA. 76 00:03:17,267 --> 00:03:22,701 - BOTH NASA GODDARD AND NASA JPL HAVE LARGE CRYOGENICS GROUPS 77 00:03:22,701 --> 00:03:24,667 THAT ARE DEVELOPING EARTH SCIENCE 78 00:03:24,667 --> 00:03:26,167 AND SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS. 79 00:03:26,167 --> 00:03:29,701 THE GUYS AT MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER AND AT GLENN 80 00:03:29,701 --> 00:03:34,300 HAVE A FOCUS THAT'S MOSTLY ON PROPULSION, 81 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:38,267 EITHER THE ENGINES OR THE STORAGE OF THE PROPELLANTS, 82 00:03:38,267 --> 00:03:40,334 SO THEY HAVE BIG TEST FACILITIES 83 00:03:40,334 --> 00:03:43,200 THAT ARE TIED INTO THE BIG ROCKET ENGINES, 84 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,701 THE BIG STORAGE TANKS THAT WE USE. 85 00:03:45,701 --> 00:03:49,801 AT STENNIS SPACE CENTER, THEY HAVE HUGE TEST STANDS 86 00:03:49,801 --> 00:03:52,734 WITH BIG TANKS OF LIQUID OXYGEN, LIQUID HYDROGEN. 87 00:03:52,734 --> 00:03:55,267 THEY ORIGINALLY TESTED THE APOLLO ENGINES. 88 00:03:55,267 --> 00:03:57,434 THEY'RE NOW GEARING UP TO TEST THE ENGINES 89 00:03:57,434 --> 00:04:00,868 THAT WILL BE USED ON THE NEW ARES LAUNCH VEHICLES. 90 00:04:00,868 --> 00:04:04,534 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER HAS HUGE FACILITIES 91 00:04:04,534 --> 00:04:06,734 FOR SUPPORTING THE LAUNCH OF THESE VEHICLES, 92 00:04:06,734 --> 00:04:08,601 BIG STORAGE TANKS OF LIQUID OXYGEN, 93 00:04:08,601 --> 00:04:10,200 LIQUID HYDROGEN, 94 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,334 AND THEY MANAGE A FLEET OF TRUCKS 95 00:04:12,334 --> 00:04:13,801 THAT JUST POURS ONTO THE CENTER 96 00:04:13,801 --> 00:04:16,033 IN PREPARATION FOR EACH OF THE LAUNCH EVENTS. 97 00:04:16,033 --> 00:04:17,367 IT'S A WORLDVIEW THAT GOES 98 00:04:17,367 --> 00:04:20,701 FROM THE VERY, VERY BIG TO VERY, VERY SMALL. 99 00:04:20,701 --> 00:04:22,334 THE LITTLE SYSTEMS THAT WE WORK ON HERE 100 00:04:22,334 --> 00:04:24,100 MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, 101 00:04:24,100 --> 00:04:25,501 SET ON TOP OF YOUR DESK, 102 00:04:25,501 --> 00:04:28,000 AND CONTRAST THAT WITH SOME OF THE GUYS THAT I WORK WITH 103 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:31,868 THAT HAVE THESE BIG THINGS THAT JUST DWARF THE ROOM. 104 00:04:31,868 --> 00:04:33,200 - I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING. 105 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,868 SO NASA USES LOTS OF CRYOGENIC WORK IN THEIR ROCKETS. 106 00:04:35,868 --> 00:04:37,367 BIG DEAL. 107 00:04:37,367 --> 00:04:40,334 HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU OR ME OR ANYBODY BACK HERE ON EARTH? 108 00:04:40,334 --> 00:04:42,601 THE ANSWER MIGHT BE CLOSER THAN YOU REALIZE. 109 00:04:42,601 --> 00:04:43,667 - WELL, ACTUALLY, 110 00:04:43,667 --> 00:04:45,234 ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS OF CRYOGENICS 111 00:04:45,234 --> 00:04:47,534 THAT MIGHT BECOME A BIT MORE COMMON IS TRANSPORTATION. 112 00:04:47,534 --> 00:04:50,367 WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME GUYS FROM BMW HERE 113 00:04:50,367 --> 00:04:51,901 OVER THE LAST WINTER. 114 00:04:51,901 --> 00:04:54,133 THEY'VE GOT, ACTUALLY, SOME OF THEIR 7-SERIES CARS 115 00:04:54,133 --> 00:04:55,868 MODIFIED TO RUN ON LIQUID HYDROGEN, 116 00:04:55,868 --> 00:04:58,000 AND IN THE TRUNK 117 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,701 WAS A STORAGE TANK OF LIQUID HYDROGEN. 118 00:05:00,701 --> 00:05:04,434 IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY FOR THEM TO STORE AND TRANSPORT 119 00:05:04,434 --> 00:05:09,467 A FUEL THAT GIVES VERY CLEAN TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY 120 00:05:09,467 --> 00:05:13,701 AND ENABLES THEM TO HANDLE IT IN A WAY 121 00:05:13,701 --> 00:05:16,400 THAT'S NOT EXACTLY LIKE 122 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,534 A STANDARD GASOLINE FILLING STATION 123 00:05:18,534 --> 00:05:19,868 BUT COMES CLOSER TO THAT 124 00:05:19,868 --> 00:05:22,100 THAN THE HIGH-PRESSURE HYDROGEN STORAGE 125 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:27,167 THAT WE TYPICALLY SEE WITH TRANSPORT VEHICLES RIGHT NOW. 126 00:05:27,167 --> 00:05:28,734 SO IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT WE'LL WIND UP 127 00:05:28,734 --> 00:05:29,934 WITH SOMETHING LIKE 128 00:05:29,934 --> 00:05:32,300 A LIQUID HYDROGEN FILLING STATION 129 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:33,901 NOT NECESSARILY ON EVERY STREET CORNER 130 00:05:33,901 --> 00:05:35,567 BUT AT LEAST IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. 131 00:05:35,567 --> 00:05:36,667 - THERE YOU GO. 132 00:05:36,667 --> 00:05:38,534 JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NASA KNOW-HOW 133 00:05:38,534 --> 00:05:40,767 HAVING AN IMPACT ON LIFE HERE ON EARTH. 134 00:05:40,767 --> 00:05:42,000 THAT'S IT FOR NOW. 135 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,801 THANKS FOR WATCHING "NASA LAUNCHPAD." 136 00:05:43,801 --> 00:05:46,200 I'M VINCE WHITFIELD, AND I'LL CATCH YOU NEXT TIME.