What will NASA’s historic launch look like in light of COVID-19



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On May 27, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will blast off inside a SpaceX rocket to blast off into space from the US ground. USA For the first time in almost ten years.

As exciting as it sounds and as tempting as it might be to head to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the historic event with your own eyes, both NASA and SpaceX ask you to avoid doing that.

“The challenge we face at the moment is that we want to keep everyone safe,” said Jim Bridenstine, NASA administrator, during a press conference. “And so we are asking people not to travel to [the] Kennedy space center. I’ll tell you I’m sorry to even say it. Boy, I wish we could turn this into something really spectacular. “

The agency’s concern shouldn’t come as a surprise, and not just about the coronavirus. The launch is defined by a series of “novelties”: It will be the first since Florida’s location in nine years and the first time that a commercially operated and built American rocket will take people to the International Space Station. Add to that the number of people (hundreds of thousands!) Who, in the past, have traveled to both the space center and nearby open areas to witness shipments and have many reasons to be scared.

Astronauts themselves are taking precautionary measures: both are currently quarantined with their families, but they will have to turn that into a complete isolation effort two weeks before the release date, on that day they will have to stay at least 6 feet apart from each other with face masks. Hand sanitizers will also be available on site.

Although we cannot physically be there, we are happy with the idea of ​​being able to transmit the show from the comfort of our own sofa. What happened will also be broadcast on television. Here is the calendar of events.

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