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

On May 27, NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will take off inside a SpaceX rocket to blast off into space from U.S. soil for the very first time in almost ten years.

As exciting as that sounds and as tempted as you might be to head to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to witness the historical event with your own eyes, both NASA and SpaceX are asking you to please avoid doing just that.

"The challenge that we're up against right now is we want to keep everybody safe," Jim Bridenstine, a NASA administrator, said during a press conference. "And so we're asking people not to travel to [the] Kennedy Space Center. I will tell you that makes me sad to even say it. Boy, I wish we could make this into something really spectacular."

The agency's worry shouldn't come as a surprise, and not just because of the coronavirus. The launch is defined by a slew of "firsts:" it'll be the first from Florida's venue in nine years and the first time that a commercially operated and built American rocket will take folks to the International Space Station. Add to that the amount of people (hundreds of thousands!) that have, in the past, traveled to both the space center and nearby open areas to witness sendoffs and you've got yourself a lot of reasons to be scared. 

Precautionary measures are being taken by the astronauts themselves: they are both currently in quarantine with their families but will have to turn that into a complete isolation effort two weeks before launch date, on which day they will have to stay at least 6 feet apart from each other wearing face masks. Hand sanitizers will be available on site as well. 

Although we can't physically be there, we're cheering up at the thought of being able to stream the spectacle from the comfort of our own couch. The happening will also be broadcast on television. Here is the schedule of events.  

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