SpaceX’s historic all-civilian Polaris Dawn crew returns to Earth

Published: Sep 14, 2024 Duration: 00:04:42 Category: News & Politics

Tags : sports Breaking News money entertainment international news Health politics Today Today Show Savannah Guthrie Al Roker Natalie Morales domestic news weather interviews media food home parents style concerts pets shopping Hoda Kotb

Trending searches: earth

♪♪ >>> THIS MORNING FOUR CIVILIAN ASTRONAUTS SPLASHED DOWN SAFELY IN THE GULF OF MEXICO OFF OF THE FLORIDA COAST AFTER A FIVE-DAY MISSION TO OUTER SPACE. THE SPACEX POLARIS DAWN MISSION INCLUDED THE FIRST-EVER CIVILIAN SPACE WALK CONDUCTED BY A BILLIONAIRE WHO STEPPED OUT FOR A TEN-MINUTE STROLL AND A SPECTACULAR VIEW OF THEIR HOME PLANET. THE SUCCESSFUL TRIP WAS ANOTHER STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF CIVILIANS, LIKE YOU AND ME, TRAVELING INTO SPACE. NBC'S PRISCILLA THOMPSON HAS OUR "SUNDAY FOCUS." >>> FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE, IGNITION. >> Reporter: POLARIS DAWN BLASTING OFF FROM EARTH THIS WEEK ON A HISTORIC MISSION. THE ALL-CIVILIAN CREW LED BY TECH BILLIONAIRE JERROD ISAACMAN. >> GO. INITIATION AND GO. >> Reporter: ISAACMAN AND SARA GILLIS STEPPING OUT INTO HISTORY. >> YOU ARE GO TO OPEN HATCH. >> Reporter: THIS TRIP WAS NO JOY RIDE. THERE WAS REAL SCIENCE TO BE DONE INCLUDING TESTING A NEW SPACE SUIT TO PROTECT ASTRONAUTS FROM RADIATION AND EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND TRYING OUT A NEW HIGH-SPEED INTERNET SYSTEM. >> THIS MISSION IS A LOT MORE THAN TOURISM. THESE ARE VERY AMBITION, VERY USEFUL TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES. >> Reporter: THE CREW ABOARD THE "POLARIS DAWN" FLYING FURTHER INTO SPACE THAN ANYONE SINCE THE "APOLLO 17" MOON MISSION MORE THAN A HALF CENTURY AGO. AND TWO OF THE CREW MEMBERS, SARAH GILLIS TRAVELED DEEPER IN ORBIT THAN ANY WOMAN IN HISTORY. NASA IS HAPPY TO HAVE THE COMPETITION AND IT SET ITS SIGHTS ON THE MOON. THEY ALREADY PULLED OFF THE "ARTIMIS" MISSION AND WOULD LIKE A CRUDE FLY-BY OF THE MOON NEXT YEAR. AND EVENTUALLY SEND ASTRONAUTS TO THE MOON ON "ARTIMIS 3." THE CHARISMATIC BUSINESS LEADERS HAVE A PASSION FOR SPACE TRAVEL AS WELL. >> YEARS AGO IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN COUNTRIES COMPETING TO GO TO SPACE, AND NOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING, I THINK, ARE COMPANIES COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER. >> Reporter: YOU LIKELY KNOW THE MAIN PLAYERS. ELON MUSK, SPACEX, WHICH BUILT THE "POLARIS DAWN" AND ITS CAPSULE, RICHARD BRANSON. >> AND WE ARE HEADED TO SPACE, FOLKS. >> Reporter: AND AMAZON FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS' BLUE ORIGIN, WHO FLEW "STAR TREK" ACTOR WILLIAM SHATNER INTO SPACE IN 2021. >> NO DESCRIPTION CAN EQUAL THIS. >> Reporter: THE RISE HAS HELPED KICK START A NEW ERA OF SPACE EXPLORATION. >> NASA HAS BEEN TRYING TO STIMULATE A PRIVATE SPACE INDUSTRY. SHOWING HOW TO OPERATE AND DO THINGS SAFELY AND NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THAT. >> Reporter: FOR COMPANIES LIKE SPACEX, THEIR GOALS ARE MOON BASES AND EVENTUALLY HUMAN SETTLEMENT ON MARS. >> THANKS FOR FLYING SPACEX. >> Reporter: AS HUMANITY PUSHES OUT INTO NEW FRONTIERS FAR BEYOND OUR PLANET. >> AND PRISCILLA JOINS ME NOW LIVE. GOOD MORNING. A SUCCESSFUL "POLARIS DAWN" MISS, IT'S A BIG STEP IN CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVEL. WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE? >> Reporter: YEAH, WILLIE, GOOD MORNING. "POLARIS DAWN" IS THE FIRST OF THREE HUMAN SPACE FLIGHTS AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM. MISSION TWO WILL FOCUS ON IN-SPACE COMMUNICATION AND RESEARCH AND MISSION THREE HOPES TO SEND HUMANS UP ONBOARD SPACEX'S STARSHIP, THE SPACECRAFT THAT THEY'RE HOPING WILL ONE DAY CARRY HUMANS TO MARS. AND ISAACMAN, THE BILLIONAIRE BUSINESSMAN BEHIND -- WHO FUNDED THIS "POLARIS" MISSION, HAS PROPOSED A MISSION TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE ON THE AGING HUBBELL TELESCOPE. LOTS OF EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING AS THE SPACE RACE HEATS UP WITH HOPES TO SEND CIVILIANS TO THE MOON AND TO MA

Share your thoughts

Related Transcripts

Ryan Seacrest shares his plans as new host of ‘Wheel of Fortune’

Category: News & Politics

>>> the winner of "american idol" 2002 is -- kelly clarkson. >> remember that? ryan seacrest announcing kelly clarkson as the very first winner of "american idol," 21 years ago this month. some 23 million people watched that finale of the cultural phenomenon made stars of both clarkson and seacrest.... Read more

Presidential campaign tensions rise ahead of Labor Day

Category: News & Politics

Administration. >> gabe gutierrez at the white house for us. gabe, thank you, as always. kristen welker is the moderator of "meet the press." kristen, good morning. good to see you as always. we often say voters don't really pay attention to the presidential campaign until after labor day. well,... Read more

Ryan Reynolds talks ‘Deadpool,’ parenthood, his late dad’s Parkinson’s

Category: News & Politics

>>> so what made you finally wear an honest to god costume? mine's red so they can't see me bleed. i can see how yellow would be useful, too. >> have you been checked for adhd? is. >> ryan reynolds with hugh jackman in "deadpool & wolverine," the movie that has shattered box office records... Read more

Health roundup: New COVID boosters, mpox, more

Category: News & Politics

Saturday morning with your health. this morning, we've got a roundup of some of the week's biggest medical stories. >> from new covid boosters to a nasal spray for people with serious allergies to pox, what you need to know to keep your family safe. >> we want to bring in medical contributor... Read more

Carson Daly gives moving speech about his mental health journey

Category: News & Politics

I do want to give a little context to my relationship to project healthy minds and this this this whole movement here i had sort of the privilege of being around when phm as we call it was born it was actually six years ago this month uh my friend logic had performed his song at the vmas in 2017 1800... Read more

Flash Floods Strand 1,000 People In California’s Death Valley National Park

Category: News & Politics

What an incredible run. he will be missed. >>> we begin this half hour with the check of the begin with recn the hottest and driest spot in north america. death valley national park was hit with 1.5 inches of rain on friday. it triggered flash floods and stranding about 1,000 visitors and workers.... Read more

Putin threatens war with NATO if Ukraine attacks inside Russia

Category: News & Politics

Potential for rough surf. >> thank you, angie. >>> we turn to the war in ukraine and fears of a wider conflict. president biden and uk's prime minister met on friday allowing ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep inside russia, but vladimir putin is warning of severe consequences... Read more

Kamala Harris picks up surprise endorsement from Dick Cheney

Category: News & Politics

State and a meet-and-greet style working to earn every single vote, laura. >> aaron, the vp picked up a huge republican endorsement on friday. a former vp himself, dick cheney, days after his daughter, liz cheney, endorsed harris. >> reporter: the endorsement wasn't a total surprise here. the former... Read more

FDA authorizes newest version of COVID vaccine

Category: News & Politics

Rights tour. >>> the fad authorizing the newest version of the covid vaccine from novavax. the updated vaccine will target the dominant strain of the virus the one called jm 1 authorized for use in people 12 and older and w Read more

Biden responds to death of Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Category: News & Politics

Getting this unthinkable news. matt, thank you. >>> nbc's gabe gutierrez is at the white house with reaction now from president biden. gabe, good morning. >> reporter: willie, good morning. president biden overnight saying he is devastated and outraged. this comes, of course, after months of frustrating... Read more

Watch: Simone Biles throws out first pitch at Astros game

Category: News & Politics

>>> now headed out to the mound please give a huge welcome to the greatest of all time in u.s. women's gymnastics, seven-time olympic gold medalist, simone biles. and another strike, simone biles. >> oh, how great is that. i'd be so happy just to get it to the mound. >> look at those boots!... Read more

Election workers in Georgia seek Rudy Giuliani’s assets

Category: News & Politics

Everyone, everywhere. >> doing all the fun things. >> all well deserved. >>> let's check the headlines. two georgia election workers defamed by rudy giuliani are seeking his most valued assets right now. a filing on friday says they say they're entitled to giuliani's $2 million claim for legal... Read more