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Onepisode322,NASAandIntuitiveMachinesexpertsdiscussthescienceandoperationsbehindtheIM-1missionaheadofitsjourneytolandontheMoon’ssurface.ThisepisodewasrecordedonOctober23,2023.
Transcript
[Music]
SusanLederer:Thanksforhavingus.
[Laughs]
Host:Butitsoundscool.
TimCrain:Itdoessoundverycool.
Host:ChiefTechnologyOfficer,congratulations.
TimCrain:Thankyou.Verypleasedtohavethetitle.
Host:SowhatledyoutobecomeChiefTechnologyOfficerofIntuitiveMachines
SusanLederer:Myhusband.
SusanLederer:Inaverycircuitousway.
TimCrain:Therewasnospaceprogramorindustrialbasetopullfrom.Soalotofthatequipmentwaseitherre-taskedaviationequipmentoranovelinventionjustthen.Sointheearlydays,asSusansays,therewasnothingtodrawon.Soeverythingwasnewandfromscratch
Host:SoIguesspartofthereasonforlandingonthissolution,commercialsolution,wastheremayhavealreadybeenastrongerinfrastructureinplacethanmaybeperhaps,youknow,50yearsagowewereintheApolloera.Now,ifwewanttoputoutacallforcommercialcompanies,wecan,becausecompaniesareabletoanswerthecall.
Host:Wow.Thatisalot.
SusanLederer:Whichmeansthatwehavetheabilitytoevaluatealotofdifferentkindsofscienceandalotofdifferentkindsoftechnology.
TimCrain:Sure.YouneversawtheNile.
SusanLederer:OryouonlyeverlandedintheSaharaDesert.Andsoyouassumedthattherewasnowateranywhereonthesurface.
SusanLederer:Itreallyis.
Host:Oh,okay.
SusanLederer:Yeah.Stepone,stickthelanding.
TimCrain:Absolutely.That’sright.
Host:Veryimportant.
Host:ThemostimportantthingaboutlandingontheMoon:landingontheMoon.
Host:Fantastic.Verycool.Ithinkweallaretoo.
SusanLederer:Wedefinitelyare.We’rereadytogo.
TimCrain:That’sright.
SusanLederer:Howmanyacronymscanwecomeupwith
Host:Ithinkallofthemareacronyms.
Host:Oh,itcanbeindependentofanypowerconstraintoranythinglikethat.
TimCrain:That’sright.Onceourlandthereceasestooperatecompletely,thatassetwillstillbethereuntildustfromtheMooncoversitupathousandyearsfromnow.
Host:Wow.Alright.
Host:FirststepoflunarGPS,Iguess.
Host:Verycool.
Host:IstheresomethinginterestingaboutthisparticularlandingsiteforIM-1thatwouldkindofgiveusuniqueinsightsFromageologicalstandpointthatwouldgiveusuniqueinsightsintoliketheregolithmakeupofthatparticularsite
SusanLederer:Theyreallyare.
Host:Wonderful.BroadeningourunderstandingofAfrica,right
SusanLederer:Exactly.
Host:Couplesteps.Yeah.
Host:Very,verygood.NowyousaidSusan,dozensofexperimentsthatwecouldhavechosenfrom,wepickedthesefiveforIM-1.
Host:Yeah.Wetalkedabout,youknow,partofthehardpartaboutlandingontheMoon,islandingontheMoon,rightSoofcourse,thesciencethatcomesfromthis,ifwehavemoreconfidenceandmoreunderstandingaboutsuccessfullylandingontheMoonandwhatthattakes,thatjustmeansmorescience.Causewecanjusthavemoreconfidenceandmorelanders.Very,veryinteresting.Now,ofcourse,commerciallunarpayloads,rightWementionedthisintheverybeginning.Wearenottheonlycustomer.
Tim,youmentionedthisupfront,isyouhavethistaskorder.Hey,thesearethesciencepayloadsthatNASAwantsdeliveredtotheMoon.Andyousaidaspartofthedesign,thesolutionwhichendedupbeingNova-Cforthisparticularmissionwastogetthosepayloads.Youhadsomeextraroom.Andsoyouendedupgoingoutandsolicitingopportunitiesforothercompaniesthroughthatprogressofjustplantingaseedandeventuallymaturinginamatureinstrumentfromacommercialentitytofitontothislander.WhataresomeoftheonesthatwecanexpecttoseeonIM-1
Host:Myjawjustdroppedwhenyouwereexplainingthatsounds—
SusanLederer:Right.Itreallydid.
Host:Alotofthethingsyoumentioned,rightThemeasuring,thedistance,measuringthelandingplumes,thenlikethespeedofanddescentofalotofthesepayloadsthataremeasuringallthesethings.WhynotjustgetanotherperspectiveofthatVeryinteresting.
TimCrain:Thankyouverymuch.Itwasgreat.
SusanLederer:Gladtobehere.Thankyouverymuch.
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