This Week In South Florida: Bill Nelson

. >> Starliner. >> Godspeed. Butch and sunny. >> Cool factor. Hi. And history made as Boeing's Starliner blasted into space Wednesday with a first ever manned mission. And womaned mission. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, now at the International Space Station. This test flight of a new spacecraft marks a milestone specifically for NASA's collab with the private space industry players. And what a treat to have NASA administrator and former Florida Senator Bill Nelson, right here to talk about it. Hello, sir. Great to see you. Hey Glenna. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. So great fun to have you aboard with us. Frame for us the significance we talk about Butch and Suni as they sound like co-conspirators, which I kind of love but frame fe real meaning of the success of this launch. There >> They're test pilots and they are testing this brand new spacecraft, the Boeing Starliner , uh, from tip to top to the bottom. Uh, this is in the history of NASA. Only the six new spacecraft to have its first human shape down flight. >> You think back to the beginning, it was Mercury space craft was John Glenn, then Gemini, then Apollo. >> That took us to the moon, then the space shuttle three years ago. So it was the space X Dragon that now takes our crews and cargo to and from the international Space Station. >> And now Starliner on its shakedown. >> Uh, flight into docking with the International Space Station and then coming home in about a week and, you know, there were some issues. >> I know that were reported issues when it comes to spacecraft is huge news. Um, frame for us, those issues was that a helium leak of some sort? And yet those two got on and blasted off and are at the isthe is so is there concern and worry still or is that fixed. So space flight is hard especially as we venture out. >> And next year we're going back to the moon with astronauts. Uh that is a new spacecraft as well. So in any new spacecraft, there are always ways things that you've got to fix. Uh, remember we had the big tragedy in Apollo, Apollo one, sitting on the pad in a test. Uh, and three astronauts were killed when, uh, the rich oxygen environment exploded into a fire. So every new spacecraft has got to be tested out. That's what this flight is of the Boeing Starliner. >> You know, we think of a space race when we talk about a space race, we think about countries trying to get to space. But now the space race is really private companies. It sounds like to work with NASA to create that competitive environment and, and get those kinds of resources. Is that is that a valid kind of thing to think actually, the commercial companies are our partners. >> Glenn. Uh, you think about it, we are saving almost half the cost of this spacecraft. And the one that went out, uh, the Dragon space X, uh, almost half the cost, because the company are pitching in when we go next year to the moon. Same thing we go with commercial partners and we go with international partners. We'll have three Americans in a Canadian on that flight next year to the moon. Uh, the space race that you're talking about is actually with the Chinese government. China has announced their intentions of going to the moon. And what we want to make sure is, is that even though we were on the moon a half a century ago, we're going to a different part of the moon where we think at the South Pole is water. And if there's water, there's hydrogen and oxygen, there's rocket fuel, and we just want to make sure in the space race that we get there first for international all, uh, all of our international colleagues to participate instead of China getting there and saying, we're here, you stay out. Nobody else can use the South Pole. >> And what's the timeline for that September of next year? >> We're going to circle the moon with Artemis two. Uh one year later, Artemis. 3rd September of 26. We are going to go into lunar orbit. We're going to transfer the crew into a SpaceX lander, which, by the way , three days ago had a huge, uh, and very successful test of the biggest rocket ever for. And, uh, they will land and two astronauts, the first woman and the next man will walk on the moon. >> And so more immediately, when our boots and Suni coming home, how is you know, this this has no wheels like the space shuttle, right. So how does that work? How do they land? That's right. >> It's going to land on land. It's not a splashdown in the ocean like the others. So they've got these big inflatable bags. And when the parachutes, uh, deploy, they're coming at about 20, 30ft per second. Uh that, uh, big inflatable cushion that they're going to bounce on will substantially, uh, soften the blow. So as they hit the desert floor, uh, first, first, uh, site is New Mexico and alternate is Utah. >> And when is that? I know eight days. Is that still ono be target? >> And that is on target. You know, you mentioned these valves that have leaks and so forth, but that's that's standard in a shakedown, uh, spacecraft. Uh, it you you fix the nits and the gnats and then you come on in. And of course, we don't do it, and we don't fly until it's safe. And the same thing happens when we land that that sounds like it's going to be a great visual. >> So in the half minute we have left. Are you having fun? I mean , last we w you, you were in the Florida Senate and now you're the top rocket scientist. Is this this is kind of where you belong, huh? >> Hey, I like that rocket scientist thing. I'm just. I'm just a country lawyer from Melbourne, Florida. Yeah. Happened, uh, to get a chance to fly in space almost four decades ago in the early part of the space shuttle program. Um, and I'm glad that I can now use what I've learned over the years, including the chairmanship of the committee in the Senate. Um, uh, and now try to offer some leadership. And this is a bunch of wizards at NASA. Well we so appreciate you being with us. >> This is so fascinating and so much fun. And to have you explain it all as