People Are Going To The Launch Despite The Pandemic Thing
President Trump to travel to Central Florida for historic astronaut launch
“President Donald Trump will be in attendance on Wednesday when NASA and SpaceX launch astronauts from American soil for the first time in nearly a decade. A White House officials tells WESH 2 News that Trump will travel to Central Florida to view the launch at Kennedy Space Center. “Our destiny, beyond the Earth, is not only a matter of national identity, but a matter of national security,” Trump said.”
NASA Invites Public to Be Its Guests to Celebrate Historic ‘Launch America’
“For the first time ever, NASA is hosting a global “NASA Social,” an opportunity for social media users to get a behind the scenes view of the launch – virtually – and a unique way the public can celebrate the return of human spaceflight to American soil.”
Airspace, Road, Bridge and Water Closures for SpaceX Demo-2
I hope the weather is good on Wednesday. Mr. Trump doesn’t strike me as a patient man, and not one to forgive people for circumstances beyond their control. The backup launch date isn’t for several days (Saturday?) If Mr. Trump flies to Florida for the Wednesday launch and they have to delay it, I strongly suspect someone will get yelled at (or tweeted at) unfairly.
Really? Wow.
If only the public listened to actual experts, instead of listening to talking heads and politicians who pretend to be experts. The message from the science and medical community is pretty clear.
Surprised Trump wants to go. Probably to claim credit. Amazing given Obama’s role in this.
For decades space advocates have wanted a President who liked space. Now that there is one they complain about it. Guess there is no way to make some folks happy. ?
BTW only two other Presidents have watched a crew launch…
Although only one sitting president, Bill Clinton at STS-95 (the John Glenn flight). Former president Lyndon Johnson attended the Apollo 11 launch. President Barack Obama went to see the final flight of Endeavour however the launch was scrubbed and he did not make it back for the rescheduled launch two weeks later.
Nixon was at the launch of Apollo 12, wasn’t he?
Yes. And although it wasn’t a crew launch President Kennedy did see a test launch of the Polaris Missile from a helicopter offshore.
You are missing President Nixon seeing the launch of Apollo 12.
I don’t think I have heard that before. Interestingly he also viewed the Apollo 11 splashdown from the superstructure of the Hornet, having arrived on the ship less than an hour before splashdown, he then left shortly after his televised welcome to the crew in the trailer. So unless Clinton saw a Shuttle landing then Nixon is the only president (sitting or otherwise) to have viewed both a launch and a landing of a crewed vehicle.
Not the only president to see a landing however as President Reagan viewed the landing of STS-4 at Edwards. Not sure if there were any others.
Very proud of President Trump’s commitment to the Space Program If I was American he would get my vote .
It was actually George W Bush who started commercial space and it was NASA administrator Dr Michale Griffin who started commercial crew as a side to Constellation .
Yes, COT-D was supposed to develop a commercial alternative for crew to the ISS. When Project Constellation was killed it was upgraded to Commercial Crew as the program of record for replacing the Ares I/Orion.
I actually expected Mr Pence to go to the launch, as he seems to be a genuine ‘Space Geek’. But would Trump turning up be only the third time a President has attended a major space launch?
Actually they both appear to be “space geeks” from what I heard, which is why they are pushing NASA to be like the NASA of the Apollo era. Really, if you put partisan politics aside, it is a good time for space advocates as you have a President, Vice-President and NASA Administrator that all have a passion for space, hence Artemis, the Artemis Accords (the first big push in international space law since the ISS Conventions) and the U.S. Space Force. Now if only they are able to get Congress to go along.
The Sheriff tells his followers to ignore science and assemble in huge crowds. The governor (DeSantis) fires the director of the state’s coronavirus database for refusing to alter scientific data. Trump calls Faucci’s facts “unacceptable”, so the facts have to change. I never dreamed it would happen in America.
For decades one party has been attacking scientists and the “intellectual elite” in order to further the goals of their donors (big tobacco, big oil, big pharma, and etc.). You can see it in the fact that this Administration is rolling back as many environmental rules as possible. You can see it in the fact that this Administration is fighting the ACA in the courts.
Profits over people.
Yes, I remember all the experts telling those in Jacksonville that they were idiots for opening the beaches and that cases of the virus would spike there afterwards. Didn’t happen.
Stay tuned.
Finally launching from US soil and now this pandemic. I gotta wonder what people will say 20, 30, 50 years from now.
Through the night mare of Covid -19 Space offers hope for the future of humanity and one of the biggest benefits of the space program is medical science .
Its a shame that the importance of this launch will be stained with the slinging of mud and other similar coloured substances. The launch has become another focal point where political posturing can be displayed in a gratuitous and highly inappropriate manner and where sincerity of the people wanting to see the launch, for the unquestionable achievement that it is, is questionable.
Personally, I’m not that fussed is about this launch. Of course I’ll watch it (remotely from the South of England) but SpaceX has been launching to the space station for ages and this really should be fairly routine (finger crossed that is the case!).
If it was the first launch of the full SS:SSH – that – would be a different story. I would pay a small fortune to be present then. I wonder how much supporting infrastructure (to support the people coming out to see that launch) will be required. I can imagine there will be all sorts of people attending that, from cults to veteran space dreamers to, to (hopefully) young space dreamers to every ilk of political and possibly religious denizen.
Yes, now that will be a huge step forward. BTW is looks like SpaceX solved its issues with the SN4 and is moving forward with testing it later next week. SN5 and SN6 look almost ready to take its place if it strikes out. And there are Twitter reports that Raptors are firing on a regular basis at McGregor Range.
Other than NASA failed to prepare for the crowd, I dont see the public flocking to see the launch as a bad thing. There is no reason why people cannot maintain social distancing. The people of FL need the tourists. There is plenty of room. They are not all crowding into a closed stadium. Trump has been genuinely more supportive of space than any prior president. He is interested in it for the right reasons too; economy and security. Kennedy, not even a close second, was not interested in space. He was interested in politics and space got chosen as the playing field. I am afraid that if Trump loses, we will redirect NASA to the nearest asteroid instead of the Moon; that was the Obama plan.
It does not matter what anyone thinks about anything. This virus simply spreads when large animals like humans cluster together and it then uses their bodies to copy itself and infect humans. It does not care about your job, your politics, your religion. It is a molecular machine that uses your body as a factory.
Its not just viewing the launch, its the travel to get there, the interactions at restuarants, hotels, restrooms, gas stations,etc.
Exactly
The idea that people can only participate virtually is nonsense. The lockdown was necessary for a short time in order to demonstrate that the pandemic is serious and to lower that initial curve. But about a month was long enough. Now it is time for most people to escape their personal prisons.
The virus spread between humans because it spreads between humans. It does not care what the humans think or do. When more humans get close together again the infections will simply increase and then this will happen all over again. The “personal prisons” are what kept the humans alive. If people flock to KSC and ignore common sense then they will create a hot zone for the virus to spread. This is about biology not people’s wishes or desires.
It’s interesting that the actual experts–epidemiologists, virologists, et al–don’t share your opinion.
I would be interested to know which actual experts you are referring to.
Can you name the “actual experts” etc? This biologist (me) who used to review epidemiology and emerging disease research proposals for the government would like to know. Just sayin’
I’m replying to Brian, not you Keith. I’ve yet to hear from any epidemiologist or any medical expert that thinks that 1 month of lockdown was enough.
The biggest danger are the folks traveling a long way and spending the night in motels or jamming up at a few “ideal” viewing areas. They are the ones likely to import/export cases of the virus from the event.
So true. Many people just pull off the road, and then gather in small groups. It’s just natural.
And if they get too close and do not wear masks etc then the virus (if one of them has it) spreads. It’s just natural. That is what viruses do.
Keith, my apologies if you’ve addressed this in other posts. You’ve said “it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about anything.” But I’m curious what you think (even if it doesn’t matter). If a beach is open, and I’m standing on that beach, and I’m properly distanced, and a spaceship happens to take off while I’m doing that, that’s okay, right? Is your concern that people won’t socially distance? That they won’t be able to? That the crowds will be out of control? All fair. Just trying to appreciate your perspective to better understand the reporting. Thanks.
Just watch what the people in the crowds do – rather what they do not do. You can see it everywhere in the news when places open up. If everyone follows the rules OK but they do not.