CNN - Chatpage - Sci-Tech / Space

June 16, 1999
Web posted at: 9:30 p.m. EDT

Miles O'Brien anchors CNN Saturday & Sunday Morning, CNN's weekend series of half-hour, hard news broadcasts. He also is a correspondent on computer industry stories for NewsStand: CNN & FORTUNE. The following is an edited transcript of a chat with O'Brien celebrating Space day, held on Thursday, May 6, 1999.

Miles O'Brien: Happy Space Day everybody. On this Space Day, we're almost to the 30th anniversary of the first moon landing, in some ways you think it's a happy or a sad anniversary?

Chat Participant <mich>: Miles is there water on Mars? There were once rivers and lakes on mars.

Miles O'Brien: I mean I don't think I'd be going swimming up there anytime soon...

Chat Participant <Philo>: hehe, for "Space Day" I looked at Venus and Mars last night

Miles O'Brien: This is a good time to see mars right now. It's very close. It's closer than normal.

Chat Participant <mich>: but once there was large bodies of water.

Chat Participant <AZ-Stealth>: are you looking forward to our potential return to the moon?

Miles O'Brien: I would look forward to another mission to the moon, although there is no current plan to do that. I think there are a lot of good reasons to go and to go to stay.

Chat Participant <mich>: did you know it was Ingo Swan who originally discovered the rings on Jupiter?

Miles O'Brien: And no I don't know Ingo Swan.

Chat Participant <Eric>: What do you think of the current run of satellite launch failures?

Miles O'Brien: It's hard to see any common denominator in all these launch failures. It's a remarkable string of events, and it puts the US in a very difficult position as it tries to continue to remain viable in the commercial launch business. As it is, a lot of these commercial entities are smarting over the whole flap with China, and it has made it very difficult for them to do business with other countries because of concerns over somehow they would get a hold of secrets.

Chat Participant <AZ-Stealth>: Getting to ride the vomit comet, you lucky guy<grin>

Miles O'Brien: It was actually my second ride on the Vomit Comet, and I am proud to say in both cases, I held onto my lunch. So I think that I'm well on my way to becoming the first journalist in space.

Chat Participant <LooseShoes>: a pause in memory of John Holliman...

Miles O'Brien: As long as you bring up John Holliman, had he lived, he very well

might have been the first journalist to take a ride on the shuttle. And we all miss him at CNN and I know everybody here misses him as well.

Chat Participant <Wachita>: HOW did you take that IPIX?

Miles O'Brien: Wachita, I had the NASA photo techs install and screw a post down onto the floor of the cabin, and on that post I put that IPIX camera. So it was still in space. Then, when the plane went through it's 30-second spurt of weightlessness, I grabbed the two fisheye pictures you need to make an IPIX image. It was kind of tricky because while I was trying to do this I was floating all around the camera.

Chat Participant <mich>: what about the terrible solar flares and the suns cycle does that not pose a problem for sending civilians in space?

Miles O'Brien: Mitch, the overall issue of shielding humans from radiation in Space is a great concern, especially as space-faring nations look towards a mission to Mars. There is no question that people who travel in space are exposed to more radiation than we are, protected by the atmosphere. But I'm not sure how the solar flares might affect that.

Chat Participant <mich>: yes but the sun is going through a nasty cycle now and if your in a flare bath your fried if they can effect us on earth.

Miles O'Brien: To Mitch, the eleven-year cycle of solar activity is just about at its peak. That could cause some difficulty with communications satellites, it just so happens that the peak of this solar activity is right around Dec. 31st. When we all will be concerned with the Y2K computer glitch. Sound like fun?

Chat Participant <AZ-Stealth>: What’s NASA up to with the shuttle program at present, I know ISS and NEAR and DS-1 are up front

Miles O'Brien: The shuttle program is just about to end one of its longest launching draughts since the Challenger disaster. On May 20th, they will send a mission to the International Space Station to deliver supplies, tools, and hardware. But frankly the program has been scrambling, reshuffling, and re-stacking the deck as the Russians continue to find and face problems with a key component in the International Space Station -- the service module. Generally, there is concern that they might be a little bit rusty. And while they've been practicing very long and hard to make sure they are as sharp as ever, given their druthers they'd rather be launching rockets.

Chat Participant <mich>: I think NASA should embark on experimenting with new technology

Miles O'Brien: NASA is looking at a single stage to orbit concept. Which might very well be the successor to the shuttle. It's called the X33, and ultimately it might lead to a craft called VentureStar. But that concept faces high technological hurdles. So in the meantime, NASA and its primary contractor on the shuttle, United Space Alliance, are looking at some major modifications and upgrades to keep the shuttles flying for perhaps as long as 30 years.

Chat Participant <Rory>: The U.S. Air Force has suffered its third launch failure in a row. What impact will this have on NASA and the awarding of contracts for future projects?

Miles O'Brien: To Rory, the string of airforce failures of commercial payload launches has nothing to do with NASA.

Chat Participant <HisGrace>: I'm 32 years old, and almost everyone I know who is anywhere close to my age remembers where they were and what they were doing when they heard the Challenger had exploded. From your national perspective, do you think this event is to my generation what the Kennedy assassination was to the previous generation?

Miles O'Brien: HisGrace, certainly to the extent that it is one of those terrible moments which in a sad way brings us together in a time and space, you could make a case the Challenger was equivalent to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. But, as far as affecting the course of events of history, I suspect historians might consider the Kennedy assassination of more consequence.

Chat Participant <mich>: I think our government has way more far advanced tech then NASA but they are hidden

Miles O'Brien: Mich, what makes you think NASA would hide advanced technology?

Chat Participant <Eric>: antimatter is extremely expensive to make and not really worth the effort, even for interstellar journeys.

Miles O'Brien: Eric, I think you're thinking of the wrong Miles O'Brien. I'm the space correspondent, not the Star Trek crewmember.

Chat Participant <Wachita>: I hate how MUCH money is wasted on "space" programs. What HARD EVIDENCE of new technology/whatever developed by space exploration do we have?

Miles O'Brien: Wachita, one word: Velcro.

Chat Participant <Wachita>: Miles: one word: human hunger.

Miles O'Brien: But seriously Wachita, there are too many things to list here. Wachita, that's two words. Wachita do you think honestly that the NASA budget could really solve the problems of world hunger? I don't think it's a question of lack of resources on the planet, I think it goes much deeper than that.

Chat Participant <Rory>: What is the NASA budget for the next fiscal year?

Miles O'Brien: Rory I don't have that number right in front of me, but it's a very small piece of the total federal budget. A small percentage.

Chat Participant <CarlSwanson>: Miles O'Brien! I used to see you on TV in Boston! You've worked hard and done well!

Miles O'Brien: Yes, I used to work in Boston. And thank you very much, I have worked hard, and I miss New England.

Chat Participant <AZ-Stealth>: Miles, were you always a fan of the Space programs even as a kid?

Miles O'Brien: AZ-Stealth, yes I've always loved space and aviation in general. My father was a private pilot and used to take me flying when I was young. And I always had interest in things that flew. I never expected that I would be covering this beat. It wasn't really my goal; I guess you could say I've had an accidental career.

Chat Participant <mich>: well what are our chances of finding life in our solar system?

Miles O'Brien: Mich, slim to none in our solar system. But now that astronomers have discovered other solar systems which have a similar grouping of stars and planets, it's possible, really when you think about the numbers, probable, that life exists elsewhere. It may just be too far away for us to make contact anytime soon.

Chat Participant <Rory>: Is NASA still developing most of its own projects, or are they becoming more of a launching service for commercial projects?

Miles O'Brien: Rory, NASA and the United Space Alliance are spending a lot of time looking at time to commercialize the space shuttle program. As you may know after the Challenger accident, NASA was directed by the White House not to launch commercial payloads. But now that a good chunk of the shuttle program has been privatized, NASA and USA are thinking of ways of developing new revenue streams. Don't you think the external fuel tank would look good with the Coca-Cola logo? How about the Nike swoosh on the solid rocket boosters?

Chat Participant <LooseShoes>: Miles, they'd have to re-shape the bottle.

Miles O'Brien: LooseShoes, good point. But I suspect Coca-Cola might win the day on that, and they'd reshape the external tank.

Chat Participant <compaq38>: AL Gore said a month or two ago that he wanted to put a camera in orbit so students and other folks like us could view are planet from space is that true?

Miles O'Brien: Compaq38, that is true, "Goresat" is a real live program and it would fit in the sweet spot for lack of a better term between the sun and the earth, thus providing a continuous shot of our little blue marble in the void. Sounds like a great cable channel concept to me, doesn't it?

Chat Participant <Philo>: that's what I'm saying HisGrace, what "many things?" And why would we possibly need to build rocket ships to invent WD-40 or Velcro? If someone felt like inventing it, don't you think it could be invented without building a rocket?

Miles O'Brien: Philo that's true, but we're human beings and the desire to make computers smaller for example might not have been hastened or spurred along as quickly had it not been for the need to make light simple technology to go into space.

Chat Participant <Rory>: How strong is the congressional support for the U.S. space program, especially for the international space station?

Miles O'Brien: Rory, the space station is safe for now. The geo-political aspects of the partnership with Russia coupled with the fact that a high percentage of the hardware... ...I believe it's in excess of 80% has been built, coupled with the fact that this is really the only mission left for the shuttle... ...which is a program which has budgetary certainty, all make the space station a fairly sure bet.

Chat Participant <Wachita>: I've been a fan of your reporting (sorry for the flame before); I was wondering how you arrived at such a high level of technical expertise without actually being an astronaut?

Miles O'Brien: Wachita, not bad for a history major, is it? All I can tell you, is it's just like any other subject or beat. If you approach it seriously and read a lot and talk to a lot of people and do a lot of stories, eventually you'll learn it, or you'll get fired.

Miles O'Brien: And Wachita, no offense taken.

Chat Participant <Rory>: Do foresee Russian cooperation with the international space station being affected by the situation in Kosovo?

Miles O'Brien: Rory, I just spoke with several high-level space station managers in Houston about whether the Balkan crisis is in any way hurting the partnership. If you get the sense that Kosovo is the least of their concerns right now, that on a one to one level, the space programs are working together fairly well, but the budgetary concerns over the Russian space program are still there.

Chat Participant <Voss>: Miles, Our space program seems rather adrift. We have no goals for long term Mars missions, our space station seems like its there but not much else.

Miles O'Brien: Voss, good point. I tend to agree. I think NASA's efforts to build the space station are good, but I don't think the space station excites the average person like a bold mission of exploration would. But NASA is not in a position to tell the world "We're gonna go to Mars." That has to come from people like you who make the decision that it's worth the risks and worth the money. I think if it were done, it would be. But that's a very debatable point.

Chat Participant <AZ-Stealth>: Miles, and we know that when the Russians do something built for space it can last a while, example MIR

Miles O'Brien: AZStealth, there is a producer who I work with in Moscow occasionally who describes Russian technology as analogous to a 64 Dodge Dart. It's not very pretty, but the engine will run until it melts. They tend to build hearty yet not technologically state-of-the-art hardware.

Chat Participant <Squidoil>: Who owns the moon?

Miles O'Brien: Squidoil, the moon is actually owned by no one. There is actually a moon treaty, which clearly states that, no one nation can claim the moon as its own. But there is a slight loophole. It mentions nothing about private entities or individuals. So Squidoil, if you can get up there and plant a flag, it's all yours.

Chat Participant <LooseShoes>: Miles - what progress, if any, on a replacement for the current shuttle?

Miles O'Brien: LooseShoes, the X33, which is an experimental craft, which might lead to a successor to the shuttle, is way behind schedule. The contractor that is leading the way on this project, Lockheed-Martin, has had some difficulties with the fuel tanks. Which have delayed the initial test flights by at least a year.

Chat Participant <mich>: How does the x33 run?

Miles O'Brien: Mich, the X33 runs with a revolutionary new engine called "Aerospike." Which in theory is much more efficient. Than current rocket technology. But it is untested. That's why they call them X programs.

Chat Participant <ANGELINA>: Miles how close are you to getting to space.

Miles O'Brien: Angelina, I invite everybody on this space chat to write a letter to Daniel Golden, NASA administrator, Washington D.C. Tell him we should do it soon, and my bags are packed.

Chat Participant <HisGrace>: Miles - give us your opinion on the dialog within Morton Thiokol concerning the solid rocket boosters immediately before the Challenger explosion

Miles O'Brien: HisGrace, I've read a lot about this, and the thing which comes through loud and clear is the people in the "trenches" saw this disaster coming. And the people who are in the management positions pressed forward in a disastrous case of launch-fever.

Chat Participant <compaq38>: Miles There have been local news reports here in Oklahoma that NASA was looking into a possible new launch pad here any truth to that?

Miles O'Brien: Compaq38, there are several places in the country vying for the rights to have the launch facility for the successor for the space shuttle. Because the so-called VentureStar will not require an external tank or solid rocket boosters and can fly to orbit on a single stage, the launch location does not need to be in Florida. As a result a lot of places right now are trying to encourage Lockheed-Martin to set up shop in their hometown. Hopefully they are not getting their advice on how to do that from the International Olympic Committee.

Chat Participant <AZ-Stealth>: Miles, what do you think about Buzz Aldrin’s prediction that our advancements into space will evolve along the private and commercial sectors / tourism?

Miles O'Brien: AZStealth, I think Buzz Aldrin is 100% correct. I think you could make a strong case that the time is right for the private exploitation and exploration of space. And NASA Administrator Golden has made it his almost single-minded mission to encourage this. And that is why when Buzz Aldren says that, he's not just whistlin' Dixie.

Chat Participant <Lisa>: Miles, how do you learn about this stuff, through interviews or journals? Does NASA have special space classes for reporters?

Miles O'Brien: Lisa, I learn all this stuff from interviews, from journals, from the Internet, and NASA does have an army of public relations staffers who in many cases have tremendous knowledge. At most every NASA location there are people there in Public Affairs who started there in the mid-60's and have encyclopedic knowledge about space. And fortunately, they're very patient when I try to pick their brains.

Chat Participant <Wachita>: Miles, any insight into how the Internet is used in space, or will be in the future?

Miles O'Brien: Wachita, the shuttles routinely fly now with an onboard local area network of laptops. The astronauts have e-mail access while on orbit, I don't believe they have Web access yet, but that's one of the things I intend to do when I'm up there, do the first Zero-G Internet chat.

Chat Participant <Rory>: What long-term goals has NASA set for itself, at least for the next decade?

Miles O'Brien: Rory, NASA's long-term goals in the unmanned category are to launch dozens, literally dozens, of spacecraft. Primarily toward Mars, but also deeper into space. To lay the groundwork for what many hope at NASA will be a manned mission to Mars. The number of scientific probes that NASA plans to launch is truly astounding. Dan Golden's motto is "faster, better, cheaper." And so far, he has been practicing what he preaches.

Chat Participant <Philo>: Miles_OBrien, do you ever get the feeling that you are getting "the NASA side of the story?" Like those figures in your last column...

Miles O'Brien: Philo, I thought that was the NASA side of the story. Philo, it's important as a reporter not to let one's enthusiasm for a subject cloud one's objectivity. As you clearly can see, I am a supporter of space exploration. So to the extent that I come to this beat with an opinion, it is an opinion that the beat should exist at all, I suppose. I'm not sure assigning someone who disagrees with the very premise would be very productive.

Chat Participant <mich>: Is it true that different astronauts have seen so called strange objects on missions?

Miles O'Brien: Mich, they've seen, of course when John Glenn orbited the earth the first time, he reported seeing what he called at the time fireflies. And those were unusual objects. Until it was later explained that it was simply ice crystals falling off the Mercury capsule. But as far as aliens or UFO's, I've never had an astronaut confess that he or she has seen one. However, almost always in the same breath, they suggest that it would be foolish to think that we are the only living creatures in the universe.

Chat Participant <Lisa>: Miles, will you take a laptop into space with you and join this chat room?

Miles O'Brien: Lisa, I will take my laptop into space if you write Dan Golden and get me a ride on the shuttle.

Chat Participant <Voss>: Miles, If you were an astronaut in line for another mission would you confess even if you did?

Miles O'Brien: Voss, there's no question that astronauts who live to fly are reluctant to say controversial things. But I have talked with many former astronauts who say the same thing. I just had a long conversation in Houston with Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon. And he admits he felt in a way closer to God, and he admits it seems unlikely there isn't life out there. But he says no one he's talked to has ever seen any little green men.

Chat Participant <Voss>: Miles, I think he wished he had not had the dubious honor of being the LAST man to walk on the moon.

Miles O'Brien: Voss, Gene Cernan agrees with you on that point. Poor little Pathfinder is all alone up there. Maybe the little green men are playing with him.

Chat Participant <ANGELINA>: Miles how much training for space flight have you had?

Miles O'Brien: Angelina, none. I'm just a reporter. Angelina, I wouldn't call anything that I've gotten "training" to go into space per say. But I'm a pilot and a reporter who understands the subject matter. I'm in reasonably good shape. I have flown shuttle simulators. And of course the Vomit Comet. So I suppose you could say I'm as prepared as any journalist to go.

Chat Participant <mich>: what about little green men’s craft?

Miles O'Brien: Mich, no one has told me they've seen a UFO either.

Chat Participant <Wachita>: Water on the moon. Never would have thunked it.

Miles O'Brien: Wachita, there are small amounts of water on the moon. There is a fair amount of evidence to suggest that is the case. The question is how useful would it be in its current form, that is tiny little pieces of life. But where there is water there is hydrogen and oxygen, and those are very useful things if you want to live in space.

Chat Participant <mich>: well I have heard stories that astronauts have witnessed strange anomalies following their crafts

Miles O'Brien: Mich I've heard all kinds of astronomical figures if you'll excuse the pun. But I've also heard it costs in today's dollars a trillion dollars to land on the moon. Was that worth it?

Chat Participant <Wachita>: Any thoughts on the multimillionaire (billionaire?) paying for a ride into space?

Miles O'Brien: More power to him. If he wants to do it, pay for the ride, more power to him. The story however doesn't ring true to me. I am skeptical of many of the Russian claims of finding benefactors for Mir in general. And from what I've read of this particular individual, I am skeptical that he will truly come through with the cold hard cash.

Chat Participant <Lisa>: Is NASA's budget increasing or decreasing these days?

Miles O'Brien: Generally it's flat, which means it's decreasing.

Chat Participant <Lisa>: Do you think John Glenn's ride was publicity stunt by NASA?

Miles O'Brien: Lisa, sure. And a pretty good one, wouldn't you say?

Chat Participant <compaq38>: Miles why can't they move Mir into a higher orbit rather than let it burn up

Miles O'Brien: Compaq38, one of the limiting factors on the altitude of Mir's orbit is getting to and from it. In order to properly supply Mir you have to get there on a rocket. And if you put it too high, you just can't get there from here. But I suppose if you wanted to park Mir up higher, you could drain the tanks of propellant and boost it as high as you can and leave it there. But eventually it would still fall down to the ground.

Chat Participant <Lisa>: NASA sent you to space school to be a space reporter?

Miles O'Brien: Lisa, no, NASA didn't send me to school. There is no space school that I know of. But I think of my job as a constant education.

Chat Participant <Voss>: Well if it was Geraldo Rivera, Id contribute to send him into space, of course you couldn't bring him back ;-)

Miles O'Brien: Voss, maybe that's where Al Capone's vault is.

Chat Participant <Lisa>: tell us about your next space mission (I mean report) for CNN.

Miles O'Brien: Thanks very much to everybody who dropped in. I'm looking forward to the next space shuttle mission and hope you are too. Look for my Downlinks column on Tuesday for a preview of what's ahead. And remember, to watch CNN on May 20th at about 9:30 am Eastern Time for live coverage of the launch of Discovery.