SpaceX Launched 2nd Crew
Four astronauts by SpaceX were launched into the International Space Station on Sunday, November 15th. It was on the first full-fledged tax flight for NASA by a private company. This historic event took place at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
SpaceX Launched Despite Many Challenges Presented by COVID-19
SpaceX’s second crew launch featured three Americans and one Japanese. The Falcon rock thundered into the night from Kennedy Space Center. The Dragon capsule on top is Resilience. This unique name relates to the year’s many challenges. Most notably because of COVID-19. This was due to reach the space station late Monday, November 15th, and will remain there until spring.
Elon Musk has a Mild Case of COVID-19
SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk monitors the action from afar as he had the virus himself. Musk tweeted that he “most likely” had a moderate case of COVID-19. Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 has to quarantine and remain isolated. The NASA policy at Kennedy Space Center requires anyone testing positive for COVID-19 to quarantine and remain isolated.
This was SpaceX’s two-pilot test flight that preceded Sunday’s launch follows by just a few months. This kicks off what NASA wants which is what will be a long series of crew rotations between the U.S. and the space station. This is after years of delay. More people means that will be more science research at the orbiting lab, according to officials.
SpaceX has Another Historic Moment
“This is another historic moment,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said Friday. But he said: “Make no mistake: Vigilance is always required on every flight.”
The flight to the space station — 27 1/2 hours door to door — should be entirely automated, although the crew can take control if needed.
With COVID-19 still surging, NASA continued the safety precautions put in place for SpaceX’s crew launch in May. The astronauts went into quarantine with their families in October. All launch personnel wore masks, and the number of guests at Kennedy had limits. Even the two astronauts on the first SpaceX crew flight stayed behind at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
