. >> reporter: people like john michael duncan, deputy chief

. >> reporter: people like john michael duncan, deputy chief medical officer, he is one person that personallyd to chile when the government asked for help. >> they thought that because of our experience in long duration space flight and confinement of the astronauts that they would be -- some of our expertise might be able to help them. >> reporter: their expertise in claustrophobic conditions is key. >> this is a very confining cage. it's only like 21 or 22 inches in diameter. and the miners will be in there for some period of time. maybe 15, 20 minutes or more. >> reporter: a time frame that seems to play in slow motion for everyone watching the television coverage, including people passing by. >> a lot of people feel like it's someone's family. >> it's really interesting. the human drama that is going on. >> reporter: drama that has pulled the world together in unimaginable ways. >> whether we prayed for them or whether we helped them out, whether we worked with the government in chile to accomplish these objectives, it was a wonderful human story. >> reporter: well, out here back live out