NASA plea: Stay home for 1st home astronaut launch in years

NASA and X on Friday urged everyone to stay home for first home launch of astronauts in nearly a decade because of coronavirus pandemic.

Top officials warned public against traveling to Florida for May 27 launch of two NASA astronauts aboard a X rocket to International Station.

It will be first launch of astronauts from NASA’s Kennedy Center in nine years — ever since last shuttle flight in 2011. It also will be first attempt by a private company to fly astronauts to orbit.

For shuttle launches, hundreds of thousands of people would descend on Kennedy Center and nearby beaches, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine.

“ challenge that we’re up against right w is we want to keep everybody safe,” he said. “And so we’re asking people t to travel to Kennedy Center, and I will tell you that makes me sad to even say it. Boy, I wish we could make this into something really spectacular.”

Bridenstine urged public to watch launch online or on TV from home.

“We don’t want an outbreak,” of COVID-19, he told reporters.

X President Gwynne Shotwell agreed it’s a shame more people won’t be able to enjoy launch from Florida. But she encourd people to “be re for ride with us.”

“We’ll be toger in spirit more so than in physical ,” she said.

After shuttle program ended, NASA turned to private companies to deliver cargo and ferry astronauts to station. In meantime, Russian Soyuz capsules have been sole means of crew transportation to orbiting lab. Boeing also is working to launch astronauts under NASA’s commercial crew program.