Jim Graf
Jim Graf
board carry programs react spacecraft team time
There is no time for the team as a whole to react ... so we have on board all the programs we need to carry out, and the spacecraft has to do it all on its own.
adjust brief feels finally main months orbit science six size spacecraft start work
Our spacecraft has finally become an orbiter. The celebration feels great, but it will be very brief because before we start our main science phase, we still have six months of challenging work to adjust the orbit to the right size and shape.
adjust brief feels main months orbit science six size start work
The celebration feels great, but it will be very brief because before we start our main science phase, we still have six months of challenging work to adjust the orbit to the right size and shape.
burn complete last six wondering
For the last six minutes, we are essentially in white-knuckle time, wondering if we're going to actually complete the burn and go into orbit.
critical obviously
This is obviously the critical maneuver. We will not see the end of the burn.
oh picture
Oh I am very relieved. It was picture perfect.
atmosphere attentive dip far fully lose people time
Each time you dip into the atmosphere, you have to be very attentive because if you dip in too far ... it can be detrimental to the spacecraft, ... We have an atmosphere we don't fully understand. ... There are a lot of people who lose a lot of sleep.
difficult great job planning team
The team did a great job of planning and implementing the acquisition of these very difficult images.
advanced satellite sent
It's the most technologically advanced satellite we've ever sent to another planet.
rewrite science textbooks
It will rewrite the science textbooks on Mars.
born case grew wanting
They say you're born with it, the gift, ... I think that's the case with Nick. He just grew up wanting to be a player.
changes coverage daily enter fortunate global helping increase mars odyssey risk time watch
There is risk every time we enter the atmosphere, and we are fortunate to have Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Odyssey with their daily global coverage helping us watch for changes that could increase the risk.
critical events execute preparing spacecraft
We have been preparing for years for the critical events the spacecraft must execute on Friday.
dangerous fly money portion
We're on the money right now. But we are getting into the dangerous portion of the mission. A lot can go wrong, and if we don't succeed, we will fly right by the planet.