1 00:00:00,410 --> 00:00:02,746 (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) 2 00:00:05,248 --> 00:00:06,650 (BIKE BELL RINGS) 3 00:00:07,117 --> 00:00:08,552 Oh, hey guys, check it out! 4 00:00:08,652 --> 00:00:11,254 Weird but true, this rocket building facility we're in 5 00:00:11,354 --> 00:00:15,058 is big enough to hold 31 professional football fields. 6 00:00:15,158 --> 00:00:18,495 It's gotta be big, they're working on some of the biggest rockets ever. 7 00:00:18,595 --> 00:00:19,829 CHARLIE: And that's our goal today, 8 00:00:19,930 --> 00:00:22,098 to figure out how to build a better rocket. 9 00:00:22,265 --> 00:00:23,833 So get ready, 'cause it's time... 10 00:00:23,900 --> 00:00:26,202 BOTH: For Weird But True! 11 00:00:27,571 --> 00:00:30,640 CHARLIE: Did you know there are more stars in the sky 12 00:00:30,774 --> 00:00:33,443 than grains of sand on the whole planet? 13 00:00:33,843 --> 00:00:34,945 Whoa! 14 00:00:35,145 --> 00:00:36,379 -This is incredible. -I know, right? 15 00:00:36,947 --> 00:00:38,348 -CHARLIE: Charlie here. -Yeah! 16 00:00:38,415 --> 00:00:39,983 -CARLY: Carly here. -Yes! 17 00:00:40,050 --> 00:00:41,451 -CHARLIE: We're best friends. -BOTH: Oh, let's go. 18 00:00:41,551 --> 00:00:45,188 -CARLY: We live here, in Chicago. -CHARLIE: With a little imagination... 19 00:00:45,355 --> 00:00:46,790 For the rest of time! 20 00:00:47,090 --> 00:00:48,892 CARLY: And a whole lot of exploring... 21 00:00:49,559 --> 00:00:50,627 CARLY: (ON RADIO) This is so epic! 22 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,430 CHARLIE: We're discovering just how weird the world can be. 23 00:00:53,496 --> 00:00:54,497 -Hey! -We made it. 24 00:00:54,631 --> 00:00:56,032 CARLY: This is unreal. 25 00:00:56,466 --> 00:00:59,970 (THEME MUSIC PLAYS) 26 00:01:00,904 --> 00:01:02,072 CHARLIE AND CARLY: Rockets! 27 00:01:05,842 --> 00:01:07,477 (LUCY DINGS) 28 00:01:07,744 --> 00:01:10,213 Hey, hey, breaking news! Breaking news! 29 00:01:11,214 --> 00:01:12,882 -Hey guys, Charlie here. -Carly here. 30 00:01:13,016 --> 00:01:14,684 -What's going on? -I have no idea. 31 00:01:14,818 --> 00:01:16,252 Hey, hey, Lucy, what's up? 32 00:01:18,455 --> 00:01:20,824 Welcome to Earth News Tonight, I'm Chris Rivers. 33 00:01:21,224 --> 00:01:24,527 Today's top story, Patrick... yes, that Patrick, 34 00:01:24,628 --> 00:01:28,264 has successfully constructed a Blast-Off Moon Boomer 9000. 35 00:01:28,498 --> 00:01:31,468 The most amazing model rocket the world has ever seen. 36 00:01:31,668 --> 00:01:32,535 (PATRICK YELPS) 37 00:01:32,636 --> 00:01:35,171 World record, baby! 38 00:01:35,271 --> 00:01:37,874 CHRIS RIVERS: We send you now to our field reporter, Katherine Ann, 39 00:01:37,974 --> 00:01:40,143 for an exclusive interview. Katherine? 40 00:01:41,578 --> 00:01:42,646 Here he is, folks. 41 00:01:42,812 --> 00:01:47,083 Patrick, not only did you build the Blast-Off Moon Boomer 9000, 42 00:01:47,283 --> 00:01:49,653 but you beat the town record, almost doubled it. 43 00:01:49,786 --> 00:01:50,920 Can I have your comments on that? 44 00:01:51,021 --> 00:01:53,089 -I mean, listen to the people. -CROWD: Patrick, Patrick, Patrick! 45 00:01:53,223 --> 00:01:54,524 They're chanting my name, 46 00:01:54,624 --> 00:01:57,861 calling me the best builder in the entire world. 47 00:01:58,028 --> 00:01:59,129 Their words, not mine. 48 00:01:59,696 --> 00:02:01,665 There you have it, Chris. Back to you. 49 00:02:02,132 --> 00:02:05,869 I'm Chris Rivers, we'll see you next time on Earth News Tonight. 50 00:02:06,970 --> 00:02:10,740 Wait, we've been the best builders in town since like... forever. 51 00:02:11,174 --> 00:02:14,044 We've got competition now. We must respond! 52 00:02:16,012 --> 00:02:17,013 What do you mean? 53 00:02:17,213 --> 00:02:20,417 We need to build a bigger and better rocket to beat Patrick's. 54 00:02:20,550 --> 00:02:22,652 -So we can be on top again. -All right, 55 00:02:22,819 --> 00:02:24,421 you know anything about rocket building? 56 00:02:24,554 --> 00:02:29,459 No! But I do know that, weird but true, a smartphone has more processing power 57 00:02:29,526 --> 00:02:32,128 than all the computers that NASA used to put a man on the moon. 58 00:02:32,495 --> 00:02:33,530 -Whoa! Really? -Yeah. 59 00:02:33,663 --> 00:02:35,665 So we should be able to figure something out with the stuff 60 00:02:35,799 --> 00:02:37,500 -we have lying around here. -Oh, definitely. 61 00:02:37,734 --> 00:02:41,204 All right guys, I guess that means today, we're unraveling the world of... 62 00:02:41,671 --> 00:02:43,940 (DRUM ROLL) 63 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:45,141 CHARLIE AND CARLY: Rockets! 64 00:02:46,976 --> 00:02:50,714 (SIGHS) Nothing spurs innovation like a little competition. 65 00:02:51,047 --> 00:02:53,717 -Hit me with rocket basics, Charlie. -Okay. 66 00:02:54,050 --> 00:02:55,051 Here we go! 67 00:02:55,618 --> 00:02:57,320 Behold! A rocket. 68 00:02:58,254 --> 00:03:02,358 Rockets are long cylindrical shapes that get launched into the sky. 69 00:03:02,926 --> 00:03:04,861 They use all sorts of things to propel themselves, 70 00:03:04,994 --> 00:03:08,832 from baking soda and vinegar to... air. 71 00:03:11,201 --> 00:03:12,802 But here's how a space rocket works. 72 00:03:13,937 --> 00:03:17,173 They have engines that convert fuel into gas, 73 00:03:17,807 --> 00:03:21,277 that shoots out of this end, right here, pushing the rocket 74 00:03:21,478 --> 00:03:22,545 in the opposite direction. 75 00:03:24,447 --> 00:03:26,750 There you go, that's a rocket. 76 00:03:27,283 --> 00:03:30,453 Now we have to figure out how to build one of these, so we can beat Patrick. 77 00:03:30,754 --> 00:03:32,689 Carly, you keep saying that, we gotta beat Patrick, 78 00:03:32,789 --> 00:03:34,057 but Patrick's our friend. 79 00:03:34,190 --> 00:03:35,825 Can't this just be something we do for fun? 80 00:03:35,925 --> 00:03:38,528 But Charlie, don't you want to be the best builders in town again? 81 00:03:38,895 --> 00:03:41,331 You know what, let me tell you a little story 82 00:03:41,397 --> 00:03:42,932 to get you in the competitive spirit. 83 00:03:43,633 --> 00:03:46,603 How about a tale about another rocket building competition. 84 00:03:48,204 --> 00:03:52,709 1955, the US and Soviet Union, which included Russia, 85 00:03:52,976 --> 00:03:55,445 were in a fierce competition to conquer space. 86 00:03:55,745 --> 00:03:58,148 The Soviet Union took the lead right off the bat, 87 00:03:58,414 --> 00:04:01,518 when they built a rocket that launched the first satellite into space, 88 00:04:02,018 --> 00:04:03,920 four months before the US. 89 00:04:05,522 --> 00:04:08,024 Then they launched a man into space... 90 00:04:09,292 --> 00:04:11,027 three weeks before the US. 91 00:04:12,028 --> 00:04:13,696 The countries were neck and neck, 92 00:04:13,763 --> 00:04:16,266 but the Soviet Union was always slightly ahead 93 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:18,935 and the US was tired of being in second place. 94 00:04:19,035 --> 00:04:21,171 So, the President stepped in. 95 00:04:21,437 --> 00:04:25,542 We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, 96 00:04:25,909 --> 00:04:29,245 not because they are easy, but because they are hard. 97 00:04:29,813 --> 00:04:32,749 CARLY: The US made a bold plan to build a new rocket 98 00:04:32,849 --> 00:04:35,151 that could take a man all the way to the Moon. 99 00:04:35,685 --> 00:04:38,054 July 16, 1969. 100 00:04:39,189 --> 00:04:42,559 The largest rocket ever built, the Saturn V, was launched. 101 00:04:43,493 --> 00:04:46,062 Four days later, the US became the first country 102 00:04:46,129 --> 00:04:47,597 to put a man on the Moon. 103 00:04:48,097 --> 00:04:51,835 The United States finally took the lead and no matter how hard they tried, 104 00:04:51,968 --> 00:04:53,937 the Soviet Union could not catch up. 105 00:04:54,370 --> 00:04:56,539 The US won the space race to the Moon. 106 00:04:58,074 --> 00:05:01,044 -The US was really behind the whole time? -Yeah, till the very end. 107 00:05:01,411 --> 00:05:04,881 Five decades later, we are in our own space race, Charlie. 108 00:05:05,181 --> 00:05:08,818 The whole world has seen what Patrick can do with his Moon Boomer 9000, 109 00:05:08,952 --> 00:05:11,654 and now they wait on the edge of their seats 110 00:05:11,888 --> 00:05:14,224 for Carly and Charlie to respond. 111 00:05:14,757 --> 00:05:17,360 (IN BOSTON ACCENT) We choose to launch model rockets, 112 00:05:17,493 --> 00:05:21,231 not because it is easy, but because it is hard. 113 00:05:21,631 --> 00:05:25,902 Because launching model rockets serves to measure the best of our skills, 114 00:05:26,169 --> 00:05:31,174 because that challenge is one we accept and one we intend to win. 115 00:05:31,441 --> 00:05:32,475 (CROWD CHEERS) 116 00:05:32,809 --> 00:05:34,577 Whoa, Carly, that was incredible. 117 00:05:34,711 --> 00:05:36,346 -Thank you. -I'm totally on board now. 118 00:05:36,479 --> 00:05:38,982 How are we gonna build a rocket to beat Patrick's record? 119 00:05:39,182 --> 00:05:40,617 Hm, uh... 120 00:05:41,284 --> 00:05:43,019 Let's look at some examples for inspiration. 121 00:05:43,219 --> 00:05:44,487 Oh, you got it. 122 00:05:45,855 --> 00:05:50,793 Introducing, the biggest, coolest, 123 00:05:50,994 --> 00:05:55,999 most amazing rockets of all time! 124 00:05:56,699 --> 00:06:03,206 First up, we have... the Vostok 1! 125 00:06:03,840 --> 00:06:08,711 CHARLIE: This Soviet rocket took the very first man to space in 1961. 126 00:06:08,912 --> 00:06:11,881 It stands at 125 feet tall. 127 00:06:12,015 --> 00:06:14,751 Weird but true, it's about the height of seven giraffes. 128 00:06:15,385 --> 00:06:19,122 Next up, the Space Shuttle! 129 00:06:20,156 --> 00:06:21,724 CHARLIE: NASA used space shuttles like this 130 00:06:21,791 --> 00:06:25,028 on over 130 successful space flights. 131 00:06:25,528 --> 00:06:28,364 Weird but true, at 184 feet, 132 00:06:28,498 --> 00:06:31,467 they stood about as tall as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 133 00:06:32,568 --> 00:06:36,139 And finally, the biggest, heaviest, 134 00:06:36,272 --> 00:06:40,476 most amazing rocket ever built, 135 00:06:40,877 --> 00:06:46,316 the Saturn V! 136 00:06:46,416 --> 00:06:49,986 CHARLIE: This rocket took humans to the Moon in 1969. 137 00:06:50,486 --> 00:06:53,156 Weird but true, it's about the height of Big Ben 138 00:06:53,389 --> 00:06:55,992 with a brachiosaurus standing on top. 139 00:06:56,826 --> 00:07:02,765 The tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever built by humans ever. 140 00:07:03,566 --> 00:07:06,169 All these rockets are, you know, different sizes but, 141 00:07:06,302 --> 00:07:09,405 I'm seeing a lot of similarities here. When you boil it down, 142 00:07:09,539 --> 00:07:13,009 all three rockets have the same core design, and here's the thing... 143 00:07:14,310 --> 00:07:16,379 model rockets have that same design, too. 144 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,148 Here, whip this up, I'll show you what I mean. 145 00:07:23,252 --> 00:07:25,955 All of these rockets have a cylindrical shape. 146 00:07:26,255 --> 00:07:27,857 It's very aerodynamic. 147 00:07:29,292 --> 00:07:31,094 CHARLIE: Hey, this model rocket does, too. 148 00:07:31,995 --> 00:07:36,065 They also all have fins that help them fly straight in the air. 149 00:07:36,699 --> 00:07:39,202 CHARLIE: This model rocket has some fins made out of wood. 150 00:07:41,838 --> 00:07:45,675 Finally, all these rockets have some sort of engine at the bottom 151 00:07:45,775 --> 00:07:47,610 to propel them into the sky. 152 00:07:48,044 --> 00:07:50,947 CHARLIE: The model rocket comes with a model rocket engine. 153 00:07:51,214 --> 00:07:54,884 When the engine is lit, it shoots the rocket high into the air. 154 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,456 See, model rockets are based off the same design as big rockets. 155 00:08:00,790 --> 00:08:02,258 But this won't do for us. 156 00:08:02,792 --> 00:08:05,161 We're trying to be the best builders in town, 157 00:08:05,561 --> 00:08:08,231 -we can't launch a rocket from a kit. -True. 158 00:08:08,498 --> 00:08:09,866 We need to build our own! 159 00:08:15,038 --> 00:08:15,938 (DING) 160 00:08:16,372 --> 00:08:17,874 -Ta-da! -Cool, right? 161 00:08:18,207 --> 00:08:21,344 So we've got a long, cylindrical, aerodynamic shape, 162 00:08:21,511 --> 00:08:23,746 fins for stability, and an engine. 163 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,015 -We got ourselves a rocket. -This looks amazing. 164 00:08:26,416 --> 00:08:28,051 You really think it could beat Patrick's record? 165 00:08:28,217 --> 00:08:32,221 (SIGHS) Only one way to find out. Everybody, it's time for a rocket launch. 166 00:08:35,792 --> 00:08:37,493 -Ready to go. -All right, perfect. 167 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:40,163 Okay, guys, if you ever launch a model rocket 168 00:08:40,263 --> 00:08:42,532 with a real model rocket engine like ours, 169 00:08:42,698 --> 00:08:45,101 get excited, 'cause it's gonna go super high. 170 00:08:45,268 --> 00:08:48,471 But remember, the engine's gonna burn up and get really hot, 171 00:08:48,571 --> 00:08:50,606 so we need to make sure we have a safe launch. 172 00:08:50,873 --> 00:08:55,678 First, we're gonna call in an extra adult to monitor all safety activities. 173 00:08:55,778 --> 00:08:56,679 Bob! 174 00:08:57,013 --> 00:08:58,014 -Launch ready? -CARLY: Yup! 175 00:08:58,614 --> 00:08:59,482 Awesome. 176 00:08:59,615 --> 00:09:01,317 -I like your fire extinguisher. -Thanks. 177 00:09:01,684 --> 00:09:04,821 Next, we're gonna trigger our rocket using an ignition system 178 00:09:04,921 --> 00:09:07,223 that we'll press from a safe distance away. 179 00:09:08,024 --> 00:09:08,925 Looks good. 180 00:09:09,125 --> 00:09:11,561 Finally, we're gonna get some protective eyewear 181 00:09:11,661 --> 00:09:14,363 and use a super, super loud countdown 182 00:09:14,430 --> 00:09:18,634 so that everybody in the area knows exactly what's going on. 183 00:09:18,868 --> 00:09:20,036 -Ready? -Let's do it! 184 00:09:20,470 --> 00:09:21,471 Three... 185 00:09:21,704 --> 00:09:23,406 ALL: Two, one. 186 00:09:23,639 --> 00:09:25,541 ALL: Blast off! 187 00:09:25,808 --> 00:09:27,009 CARLY: Oh, no, no, no! 188 00:09:27,376 --> 00:09:28,244 (CRASHES) 189 00:09:30,279 --> 00:09:32,215 Oh, no, no, no, no, no! 190 00:09:32,348 --> 00:09:33,583 No, no, no, no, no, no. 191 00:09:33,916 --> 00:09:36,185 -What happened? -I don't know! 192 00:09:36,519 --> 00:09:38,988 The launch was going so well and then it swerved to the left 193 00:09:39,122 --> 00:09:40,690 and took a nosedive into the ground. 194 00:09:41,224 --> 00:09:43,292 CHARLIE: (SIGHS) Well, there's goes our shot at the record, Carly. 195 00:09:43,426 --> 00:09:46,129 I mean, Patrick just might be the best builder in town. 196 00:09:46,195 --> 00:09:47,897 Wait, Charlie, not so fast. 197 00:09:48,331 --> 00:09:51,801 This is just like the space race between the US and the Soviet Union. 198 00:09:52,101 --> 00:09:54,971 The US was behind the whole time, but they never gave up, 199 00:09:55,037 --> 00:09:56,072 and neither will we. 200 00:09:56,372 --> 00:09:59,008 All right, so... back to the books? (EXHALES) 201 00:09:59,108 --> 00:10:00,143 I have a better idea. 202 00:10:00,343 --> 00:10:03,179 We need help, and I think I know where we can get some. 203 00:10:03,513 --> 00:10:05,014 The Stennis Space Center. 204 00:10:05,214 --> 00:10:07,750 Right now, they're working on rocket engines for NASA. 205 00:10:07,884 --> 00:10:09,418 -Whoa! Really? -Yeah! 206 00:10:09,552 --> 00:10:12,388 All right guys, looks like we're headed to Stennis Space Center 207 00:10:12,488 --> 00:10:14,690 to learn how to build a record-breaking rocket. 208 00:10:14,790 --> 00:10:17,493 We'll see you guys there? Perfect! We'll see you soon. 209 00:10:20,630 --> 00:10:23,799 CARLY: We're off to visit some rocket scientists from NASA 210 00:10:23,933 --> 00:10:27,737 stationed by the southern border of Mississippi near the Gulf of Mexico. 211 00:10:27,937 --> 00:10:30,406 Weird but true, the Saturn V rocket 212 00:10:30,773 --> 00:10:34,777 burned more than 25,000 pounds of fuel every second. 213 00:10:42,685 --> 00:10:44,820 -Hey guys, we made it! -We're in Mississippi 214 00:10:44,954 --> 00:10:46,756 at the John C. Stennis Space Center. 215 00:10:46,889 --> 00:10:48,591 CHARLIE: Weird but true, NASA has been testing 216 00:10:48,658 --> 00:10:50,893 rocket engines here since the 1960s. 217 00:10:51,928 --> 00:10:55,198 Right now, they're working on the SLS, the Space Launch System. 218 00:10:55,331 --> 00:10:58,201 It's the next rocket that's gonna take people to the Moon. 219 00:10:58,568 --> 00:11:00,102 This is a perfect place for us 220 00:11:00,169 --> 00:11:02,471 to figure out how to make our rocket better. Let's check it out. 221 00:11:06,142 --> 00:11:08,177 CHARLIE: Our tour starts with Mike McDaniel, 222 00:11:08,311 --> 00:11:12,148 for an up-close look at the design of the rocket engines that are built here. 223 00:11:12,481 --> 00:11:16,519 His favorite weird but true fact is, astronauts can grow a couple inches taller 224 00:11:16,586 --> 00:11:18,521 in space because there's no gravity. 225 00:11:20,022 --> 00:11:22,391 CARLY: So, this engine is going into space 226 00:11:22,458 --> 00:11:23,893 -in a couple years? -MIKE MCDANIEL: Yes, it is. 227 00:11:24,026 --> 00:11:26,896 It's going on Artemis III, which is the mission that's gonna 228 00:11:26,963 --> 00:11:28,364 carry the first woman... 229 00:11:28,531 --> 00:11:30,600 -(GASPS) -...and the next man back to the Moon. 230 00:11:30,866 --> 00:11:32,068 -Whoa! -What! 231 00:11:32,168 --> 00:11:34,670 MIKE: Every mission is gonna have four of these RS-25 engines 232 00:11:34,770 --> 00:11:37,340 on the bottom of it, it's gonna be over two million pounds 233 00:11:37,406 --> 00:11:39,508 -of liquid rocket propulsion. -CHARLIE: Man! 234 00:11:39,609 --> 00:11:41,711 -That's wild. -CARLY: That is so powerful! 235 00:11:43,079 --> 00:11:45,915 The engines we're looking at are part of the booster core, 236 00:11:45,982 --> 00:11:47,984 which is responsible for pushing the rocket 237 00:11:48,050 --> 00:11:51,787 off the launch pad, toward space and outside Earth's gravity. 238 00:11:52,622 --> 00:11:55,424 CARLY: This looks unbelievably complicated. 239 00:11:55,558 --> 00:11:58,361 Can you describe some of what we're looking at here? 240 00:11:58,494 --> 00:12:01,097 This box right here with all the cables coming into it, 241 00:12:01,230 --> 00:12:04,300 that's actually the brains of the engine, we call it a controller. 242 00:12:04,433 --> 00:12:06,802 -CARLY: Wow. -And then these large ducts up here, 243 00:12:06,902 --> 00:12:09,639 one of them is carrying liquid oxygen which is the cryogenic, 244 00:12:09,772 --> 00:12:12,475 the other one is liquid hydrogen, another cryogenic. 245 00:12:12,908 --> 00:12:17,113 Cool science word, "cryogenic". That's a material that's extremely cold. 246 00:12:17,513 --> 00:12:18,881 Normally when we think about 247 00:12:18,948 --> 00:12:21,217 liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen coming together, 248 00:12:21,317 --> 00:12:22,318 what do we think about? 249 00:12:22,385 --> 00:12:23,252 -Water. -Water. 250 00:12:23,386 --> 00:12:27,390 Water! Yes, and so the question is, how do we make rocket fuel out of water? 251 00:12:27,523 --> 00:12:30,259 CHARLIE: We're talking some serious rocket science now. 252 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:35,097 Mike explains how they combine these two basic elements to cause an explosion. 253 00:12:35,831 --> 00:12:37,700 But that's not the craziest part... 254 00:12:38,067 --> 00:12:41,437 MIKE: When that cools, the exhaust, it's just water. You can drink it. 255 00:12:41,504 --> 00:12:43,239 CHARLIE: Wait, during a launch, 256 00:12:43,406 --> 00:12:46,242 when you see what looks like smoke billowing everywhere, 257 00:12:46,509 --> 00:12:47,476 it's just water vapor? 258 00:12:47,610 --> 00:12:49,478 -It's just steam. Yes. -That's wild. 259 00:12:49,945 --> 00:12:53,416 Guys, weird but true, this engine is so powerful, 260 00:12:53,549 --> 00:12:58,287 it could light up 430 professional baseball stadiums. 261 00:12:58,988 --> 00:13:00,089 That's a lot of power. 262 00:13:01,390 --> 00:13:05,094 CARLY: Now it's time to bounce over to the enormous assembly facility 263 00:13:05,161 --> 00:13:07,296 that builds the actual rockets. 264 00:13:07,463 --> 00:13:09,732 -CHARLIE: Whoa! -CARLY: Whoa! 265 00:13:10,099 --> 00:13:12,335 -Hello! -Hello! 266 00:13:12,468 --> 00:13:14,203 -Hello! -(VOICE ECHOES) 267 00:13:14,603 --> 00:13:20,042 See this, right here, is the SLS, the entire rocket launch system. 268 00:13:20,343 --> 00:13:21,677 And hey, if you look over here, 269 00:13:21,777 --> 00:13:24,213 those are the engines that we saw over at Stennis. 270 00:13:26,849 --> 00:13:30,386 CARLY: Alex Cagnola is gonna show us how rockets get assembled. 271 00:13:31,020 --> 00:13:32,621 His favorite weird but true fact, 272 00:13:32,755 --> 00:13:35,858 is that fruit flies were the first living organisms 273 00:13:36,125 --> 00:13:38,060 intentionally launched into space. 274 00:13:39,195 --> 00:13:40,863 Welcome to Michoud Assembly Facility. 275 00:13:41,664 --> 00:13:43,966 This is a scale model of our entire facility. 276 00:13:44,066 --> 00:13:45,868 -CHARLIE: Wow. -CARLY: This is so big, 277 00:13:46,068 --> 00:13:47,503 it's like a little city. 278 00:13:47,670 --> 00:13:49,839 ALEX CAGNOLA: The actual size is roughly 44 acres, 279 00:13:49,939 --> 00:13:52,341 which is the size of 31 full size football fields. 280 00:13:52,508 --> 00:13:54,343 CARLY: And it's all under one roof. 281 00:13:54,510 --> 00:13:56,545 So it must take forever to get from there to there. 282 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,081 Yeah, some people like to walk but you'll see golf carts, 283 00:13:59,148 --> 00:14:00,683 most of 'em ride bikes around the facility. 284 00:14:00,850 --> 00:14:02,351 -There's one. -There's one right there. 285 00:14:02,485 --> 00:14:03,352 (ALEX CHUCKLES) 286 00:14:04,286 --> 00:14:06,389 CHARLIE: It's no wonder this place is so big, 287 00:14:06,489 --> 00:14:09,323 it's got to be massive to accommodate this guy, 288 00:14:09,448 --> 00:14:11,360 the Vertical Assembly Center. 289 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:13,295 ALEX: It stands about 170 feet. 290 00:14:13,696 --> 00:14:15,765 This is where we come, and we weld all of our barrels together 291 00:14:15,831 --> 00:14:17,166 to make our tanks for the rocket. 292 00:14:17,233 --> 00:14:19,869 CHARLIE: What, do you kinda stack all the barrels on top of each other? 293 00:14:19,935 --> 00:14:22,438 ALEX: Right, you'll stack these in here and you'll do a circular weld 294 00:14:22,538 --> 00:14:26,175 around each joint all the way up until it's completed in the actual tank. 295 00:14:26,308 --> 00:14:28,811 After the tanks have been assembled, they'll seal it 296 00:14:28,944 --> 00:14:30,312 and then they'll prepare it for testing. 297 00:14:30,946 --> 00:14:33,482 CHARLIE: Alex says that more than a thousand companies 298 00:14:33,616 --> 00:14:34,717 from all over the world 299 00:14:34,984 --> 00:14:37,787 participate in making these new rockets and testing them. 300 00:14:38,254 --> 00:14:40,122 And it's been that way for a long time. 301 00:14:40,856 --> 00:14:42,792 A big part of our success as a space program 302 00:14:42,925 --> 00:14:44,460 is our collaboration with other countries. 303 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,797 All 136 external tanks for the shuttle program 304 00:14:47,930 --> 00:14:49,165 were built and fabricated here. 305 00:14:49,698 --> 00:14:52,401 Having that different expertise from countries around the world 306 00:14:52,501 --> 00:14:54,136 really helped us be successful. 307 00:14:54,270 --> 00:14:57,106 The US is collaborating with a bunch of other countries? 308 00:14:57,239 --> 00:14:58,974 -ALEX: That's right. -CARLY: I had no idea. 309 00:14:59,642 --> 00:15:04,113 CARLY: In 1969, the space race ended when the US reached the Moon. 310 00:15:04,447 --> 00:15:06,949 NEIL ARMSTRONG: That’s one small step for man, 311 00:15:07,082 --> 00:15:09,084 one giant leap for mankind. 312 00:15:10,252 --> 00:15:13,189 CARLY: But in the 1970s, something crazy happened, 313 00:15:13,355 --> 00:15:18,427 the US and the Soviet Union decided to work on a rocket project together. 314 00:15:19,361 --> 00:15:21,864 Six years after the space race ended... 315 00:15:22,898 --> 00:15:27,503 the United States and Soviet Union each launched a rocket, 316 00:15:28,070 --> 00:15:30,072 that eventually met in space 317 00:15:30,306 --> 00:15:32,842 and connected together as a symbol to the world 318 00:15:32,975 --> 00:15:35,778 that the US and Soviet rivalry was over. 319 00:15:37,613 --> 00:15:42,451 Since then, space programs from Europe, Japan, Canada, and all over the world 320 00:15:42,718 --> 00:15:46,455 have worked together on projects like the International Space Station 321 00:15:46,722 --> 00:15:48,824 to explore the wonders of space. 322 00:15:50,292 --> 00:15:52,061 -It seems like just an exciting time... -Yeah. 323 00:15:52,127 --> 00:15:53,395 -...for space travel right now. -Yeah. 324 00:15:53,496 --> 00:15:55,931 It is probably one of the most exciting times we've had in a very long time. 325 00:15:57,099 --> 00:16:00,069 CARLY: We're learning that even if you build the perfect rocket, 326 00:16:00,135 --> 00:16:03,072 it won't make it to the launch pad without one critical step, 327 00:16:03,138 --> 00:16:06,075 that NASA engineer, Tommy Carroll, is gonna show us. 328 00:16:06,275 --> 00:16:07,877 -CHARLIE: All right, Tommy, where are we? -(CARLY LAUGHS) 329 00:16:07,943 --> 00:16:10,179 We're on top of the A-2 test stand. 330 00:16:10,946 --> 00:16:15,951 The A-2 test stand was built back in the '60s to test the Saturn V rocket. 331 00:16:16,018 --> 00:16:17,853 -CARLY: Whoa! -CHARLIE: Saturn V, that's the big one... 332 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:20,189 -TOMMY CARROLL: Right. -CHARLIE: ...that took people to the Moon. 333 00:16:20,256 --> 00:16:21,123 That was tested here? 334 00:16:21,257 --> 00:16:24,393 Tested right here on A-2 and A-1 next door. 335 00:16:25,027 --> 00:16:28,764 Why do you even need to go through the process of testing them? 336 00:16:28,898 --> 00:16:31,634 They do a great job of putting those engines together, 337 00:16:31,934 --> 00:16:34,436 everything is near as perfect as can be, 338 00:16:34,503 --> 00:16:36,805 but we still need to run it all at one time 339 00:16:37,306 --> 00:16:39,441 to see what it's gonna do in real life. 340 00:16:39,575 --> 00:16:44,146 So testing is an extremely important part of the rocket building process? 341 00:16:44,346 --> 00:16:47,416 Absolutely. You wanna know what it's gonna do before you try to fly it. 342 00:16:47,683 --> 00:16:51,086 We could've used some testing on our own model rocket launch. 343 00:16:51,253 --> 00:16:53,389 Yeah, we did zero testing and it was a poor launch. 344 00:16:53,489 --> 00:16:55,658 -Had zero positive results. -Yeah, it crashed very... 345 00:16:55,891 --> 00:16:56,792 -strong. -Immediately. 346 00:16:56,926 --> 00:16:58,961 How can we test our rocket? 347 00:16:59,094 --> 00:17:00,362 TOMMY: We can hook you up. 348 00:17:03,899 --> 00:17:05,401 I want to show you the string test. 349 00:17:06,101 --> 00:17:09,104 What you're trying to find out is is your rocket balanced? 350 00:17:09,371 --> 00:17:12,474 The easiest way to do that is you tie a string onto your rocket 351 00:17:12,541 --> 00:17:15,177 and then you can try spinning it around and see what it does 352 00:17:15,344 --> 00:17:17,646 and that'll tell you how you can adjust 353 00:17:17,746 --> 00:17:20,516 the center of gravity, the weight inside of your rocket. 354 00:17:20,649 --> 00:17:21,584 You wanna give it a shot? 355 00:17:21,650 --> 00:17:22,651 -Let's do it. -Yeah. 356 00:17:23,152 --> 00:17:27,990 Right now, as I'm spinning this around, it's not flying the correct way. 357 00:17:28,390 --> 00:17:31,794 So the nose, which should be in front, is actually in the back, 358 00:17:32,494 --> 00:17:34,997 and the fins, which should be in the back, are in the front. 359 00:17:35,531 --> 00:17:38,300 What that means is that this rocket is not balanced, 360 00:17:38,367 --> 00:17:39,535 -right, Tommy? -TOMMY: That's right. 361 00:17:39,902 --> 00:17:41,570 Can we try it out, see if it's true? 362 00:17:41,637 --> 00:17:43,639 -Sure. -We are gonna test our rocket 363 00:17:43,706 --> 00:17:44,907 by putting it right here 364 00:17:45,007 --> 00:17:48,611 and we're gonna move air through it by stomping on a plastic bottle 365 00:17:48,677 --> 00:17:51,180 that we're gonna put over here. So rocket, please. 366 00:17:53,515 --> 00:17:56,585 All right. Three, two, one. 367 00:17:56,785 --> 00:17:57,987 (CHARLIE GRUNTS) 368 00:17:58,153 --> 00:18:00,356 -ALL: Oh! -TOMMY: Oh, no. 369 00:18:00,456 --> 00:18:01,724 -CHARLIE: Okay. -(CARLY SCOFFS) 370 00:18:01,857 --> 00:18:04,493 So that was a bad flight. But it was expected, right? 371 00:18:04,627 --> 00:18:07,329 That's exactly what we said it was gonna do with that string test. 372 00:18:07,863 --> 00:18:11,400 There are two fixes to make this rocket more balanced, Tommy says. 373 00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:15,571 We can either make wider, broader fins or add weight to the top. 374 00:18:15,771 --> 00:18:18,941 When we do that, theoretically, it'll be balanced and it'll go straight up. 375 00:18:19,074 --> 00:18:21,010 I say we add some weight 'cause I've got some clay. 376 00:18:21,143 --> 00:18:22,645 -Wanna do that? -Yeah, let's grab it. 377 00:18:22,778 --> 00:18:24,079 -Little piece of clay. -CARLY: In there... 378 00:18:24,313 --> 00:18:26,982 -Okay, think it's in. -CHARLIE: All right, time to spin, ready? 379 00:18:27,583 --> 00:18:30,686 This time, if you look at it and it levels out, 380 00:18:30,919 --> 00:18:32,488 -you'll see that the nose... -CARLY: Oh, yeah. 381 00:18:32,554 --> 00:18:34,156 -...is pointing more forward. -TOMMY: There it is, yeah. 382 00:18:34,223 --> 00:18:36,992 And the tail is on the back as it should be, 383 00:18:37,159 --> 00:18:39,695 so Tommy this is passing the string test, correct? 384 00:18:39,762 --> 00:18:40,896 -It is, you got it. -Yeah. 385 00:18:41,030 --> 00:18:42,898 -All right, Carly, I'm gonna stop. -CARLY: Yup. 386 00:18:43,032 --> 00:18:44,500 And then let's launch this guy. 387 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:45,901 -(TOMMY LAUGHS) -Whoa! 388 00:18:46,068 --> 00:18:47,403 -I got you. -Okay. 389 00:18:49,104 --> 00:18:49,972 ALL: Oh! 390 00:18:50,039 --> 00:18:51,073 -CHARLIE: Yeah! Wow! -CARLY: Yes! 391 00:18:51,273 --> 00:18:52,875 -Great! Good job. Perfect. -Look at it, perfect. 392 00:18:52,975 --> 00:18:54,076 Straight up and down. 393 00:18:54,209 --> 00:18:56,879 -And that's what we thought would happen. -Yeah, so you tested it, 394 00:18:56,945 --> 00:18:59,648 you made some adjustments, and then you came back and you retested it 395 00:18:59,715 --> 00:19:01,316 and it went beautifully. 396 00:19:01,417 --> 00:19:03,285 -CARLY: That was awesome. -TOMMY: That was great. Yeah. 397 00:19:06,188 --> 00:19:08,023 -That was fascinating. -Mm-hmm. 398 00:19:08,123 --> 00:19:10,659 We learned so much. Testing is so important. 399 00:19:10,726 --> 00:19:13,362 CHARLIE: Definitely, I mean, just seeing how they assemble everything 400 00:19:13,462 --> 00:19:15,998 inside the factory, you can tell how important it is 401 00:19:16,098 --> 00:19:17,633 to put your stuff together 402 00:19:17,766 --> 00:19:20,335 and choose your materials in a very precise way. 403 00:19:20,469 --> 00:19:23,505 We need to go back to HQ and do a complete redesign. 404 00:19:23,772 --> 00:19:25,607 I think that's the best idea. We'll see you there? 405 00:19:25,808 --> 00:19:27,009 Perfect, see you soon. 406 00:19:30,179 --> 00:19:32,948 -All right, that should do it. -Okay. Check this out. 407 00:19:33,248 --> 00:19:37,653 We rebuilt our old design to figure out exactly why this rocket crashed. 408 00:19:37,986 --> 00:19:38,987 Here's what we found out. 409 00:19:39,888 --> 00:19:42,991 CHARLIE: We tested our old rocket using the string test and... 410 00:19:43,659 --> 00:19:44,727 it wasn't balanced. 411 00:19:44,793 --> 00:19:47,563 That's why it shot up into the air, shot off to the side 412 00:19:47,696 --> 00:19:48,931 and crashed into the ground. 413 00:19:49,631 --> 00:19:50,566 So we made some changes. 414 00:19:51,366 --> 00:19:53,635 We added some weight to the nose cone to balance it out, 415 00:19:53,936 --> 00:19:56,705 plus, we performed more pre-flight tests, 416 00:19:57,106 --> 00:19:59,074 just like they do at the Stennis Space Center. 417 00:20:00,342 --> 00:20:03,412 I guess that means it's time for another launch. 418 00:20:08,283 --> 00:20:11,820 CARLY: We based our design off the best rockets ever built. 419 00:20:12,121 --> 00:20:15,591 If this rocket can't beat Patrick's Blast-Off Moon Boomer 9000, 420 00:20:15,724 --> 00:20:16,759 nothing can. 421 00:20:17,593 --> 00:20:19,261 -Goggles on! -Check! 422 00:20:19,328 --> 00:20:21,497 -Ignition system primed. -CARLY: Check! 423 00:20:21,630 --> 00:20:23,632 -Extra adult on the premises. -Check! 424 00:20:23,766 --> 00:20:26,034 Never launch a model rocket without adult supervision. 425 00:20:26,135 --> 00:20:27,369 All right, we're ready. 426 00:20:27,870 --> 00:20:30,205 Okay, here we go. Three... 427 00:20:30,339 --> 00:20:33,575 ALL: Two, one. Blast off! 428 00:20:33,776 --> 00:20:35,477 CHARLIE AND CARLY: Whoa! 429 00:20:35,711 --> 00:20:37,780 More than two hundred, more than three hundred! 430 00:20:37,846 --> 00:20:38,714 CHARLIE: Oh! 431 00:20:39,081 --> 00:20:40,048 We did it! 432 00:20:40,182 --> 00:20:41,884 -We're back on top! -We're back on top! 433 00:20:42,084 --> 00:20:43,085 (ALL CHEER) 434 00:20:43,752 --> 00:20:44,753 Yes! 435 00:20:44,987 --> 00:20:46,188 -Woo! -Yeah! 436 00:20:48,157 --> 00:20:49,825 Chris Rivers, Earth News Tonight. 437 00:20:49,958 --> 00:20:53,095 Move aside, Patrick, the leaders in crafting and building 438 00:20:53,162 --> 00:20:54,563 have regained their throne. 439 00:20:54,863 --> 00:20:57,766 Charlie and Carly have obliterated Patrick's record 440 00:20:57,866 --> 00:21:00,302 and our very own Katherine Ann is standing by 441 00:21:00,402 --> 00:21:03,205 with the former record holder now. Katherine? 442 00:21:04,907 --> 00:21:05,908 Thanks, Chris. 443 00:21:06,208 --> 00:21:09,645 Patrick, just a few short days ago you were at the highest of highs. 444 00:21:09,812 --> 00:21:13,615 How do you feel now that some of your closest friends have stolen your crown? 445 00:21:14,349 --> 00:21:19,288 First off, I wanna congratulate Charlie and Carly, they're amazing builders, 446 00:21:19,388 --> 00:21:21,156 they're amazing at everything. 447 00:21:21,723 --> 00:21:24,026 I thought this was my chance to be good at something, 448 00:21:24,459 --> 00:21:27,930 to be special, but... I'm just Patrick... 449 00:21:28,764 --> 00:21:30,165 second best kinda guy. 450 00:21:31,867 --> 00:21:33,202 Sorry about that, Pat. 451 00:21:34,570 --> 00:21:36,071 Back to you at the studio, Chris. 452 00:21:36,371 --> 00:21:38,674 -(GROANS) What have we done? -CHARLIE: Yeah. 453 00:21:38,807 --> 00:21:40,843 Patrick just wanted to be good at something. 454 00:21:41,109 --> 00:21:44,513 Charlie, I was so focused on us winning our space race 455 00:21:44,646 --> 00:21:46,515 that I didn't even think about Patrick's feelings. 456 00:21:46,915 --> 00:21:47,983 What do we do now? 457 00:21:49,051 --> 00:21:51,653 We could do what the US did when they won. 458 00:21:52,054 --> 00:21:53,055 What's that? 459 00:21:53,222 --> 00:21:56,959 Remember, the US worked with the Soviet Union on a rocket project. 460 00:21:57,259 --> 00:22:00,863 I mean, competition is fun, but it's like we learned at Michoud, 461 00:22:01,129 --> 00:22:04,466 if we all work together, we could build something even better. 462 00:22:05,267 --> 00:22:06,268 That's a great idea. 463 00:22:06,535 --> 00:22:08,437 Hey, hey, Lucy. Call Patrick. 464 00:22:08,770 --> 00:22:11,573 All right, guys, looks like we got a new project on our hands, 465 00:22:11,773 --> 00:22:13,876 building a rocket with our friend, Patrick. 466 00:22:14,009 --> 00:22:17,779 But thanks so much for stopping by! Come by again when we discover more things 467 00:22:17,846 --> 00:22:19,381 -that are weird... -But true. 468 00:22:19,481 --> 00:22:21,183 -We'll see you guys later. -Oh, hey, guys. 469 00:22:21,683 --> 00:22:22,951 What's going on? 470 00:22:23,085 --> 00:22:25,153 Hey Patrick, you wanna come over and build a rocket? 471 00:22:25,487 --> 00:22:29,992 Me? That'd be amazing. I'll be there in 30 seconds! 472 00:22:31,860 --> 00:22:32,961 This is gonna be fun. 473 00:22:33,629 --> 00:22:34,730 We need some string. 474 00:22:35,631 --> 00:22:37,432 -We have more string. -Somewhere. 475 00:22:37,799 --> 00:22:40,168 (THEME MUSIC PLAYING) 476 00:22:43,171 --> 00:22:44,539 -Engine's ready? -Ready. 477 00:22:44,706 --> 00:22:46,541 -Altimeter primed? -Primed. 478 00:22:46,975 --> 00:22:50,012 PATRICK: All right, inaugural launch of the Saturn Boomer 6000 479 00:22:50,078 --> 00:22:52,414 in three, two, one! 480 00:22:53,015 --> 00:22:54,816 ALL: Oh! 481 00:22:55,117 --> 00:22:56,051 -(CHARLIE LAUGHS) -(CARLY LAUGHS) 482 00:22:56,251 --> 00:22:57,252 CARLY: Where did it go? 483 00:22:57,619 --> 00:22:59,888 -We did it! -We did it! 484 00:23:00,055 --> 00:23:02,291 -Yeah! -Yeah! 485 00:23:02,591 --> 00:23:04,393 (ALL CHEERING) 486 00:23:04,626 --> 00:23:06,495 -Yes! -We did it!