Coronavirus isn’t going to stop NASA from putting its astronauts into space — and Elon Musk is going to help

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to launch two American astronauts into space on May 27.
  
• It will be using the Crew Dragon, a spacecraft built by Elon Musk’s venture SpaceX.
  
• NASA Administration Jim Bridenstine told CNBC that this is going to ‘uplift America’.
  

As you and I are stuck here on Earth — inside our homes — the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is planning to launch its astronauts into space.

Even though the Coronavirus pandemic only seems to be getting more severe in the US, NASA will be using SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to launch two people towards the International Space Station (ISS) on May 27.

The floating laboratory has been largely isolated from the Coronavirus pandemic that’s been spreading across the planet. On April 9, the Russian Soyuz rocket carried astronauts and two cosmonauts along with supplies towards the ISS.

While launch may be risky for the US, this will be the first time in 11 years that an American rocket will carry passengers away from Earth.

Going by the book
In addition to the two astronauts who will be next to each other as they make their way into Earth’s orbit, a team of nearly 350 engineers will be required to make the launch happen — along with several hundred SpaceX employees, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

He told CNBC that the space agency is doing everything to ensure that all social distancing measures are followed, including the use of the personal protective equipment, working from home wherever possible and only calling in essential employees — who are working in rotations.

“It’s going to uplift America. We need that moment right now in American history,” he said, explaining the importance of the launch.

A big win for NASA — and for Elon Musk
The American space agency is currently running years behind schedule on its commercial crew programme — and the Crew Dragon is a part of it. It’s only one of several delays that NASA’s facing. Others include the Orion spacecraft and Starliner too.

NASA awarded SpaceX $3.1 billion to fund the development of the capsule. If all goes well, this will be a big win for Musk as well.

Last year, the first Crew Dragon spacecraft docked with the ISS in March when it went up to deliver supplies — but no humans were onboard. The second launch wasn’t nearly as successful with the Crew Dragon’s burst into flames during an engine test in April.

Originally, this was meant to be a short-duration stay lasting between one to two weeks. Now, it seems that NASA is open to the possibility that the flight test may be converted into a longer mission.

The Crew Dragon spacecraft has the capability to stay in orbit for around 110 days. Once the mission ends, the same vehicle will bring the American astronauts back to Earth.

NASA will be using its launch pan at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida to send its astronauts to the ISS.

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