Should NASA and SpaceX Launch A Crew? Yes - Safely.

The Mission NASA Doesn't Want to Postpone, The Atlantic

"In this moment, an astronaut launch might seem to be the opposite of everything Americans have been instructed to do to protect themselves and one another: Flinging people outward doesn't quite line up with a growing nationwide impulse to turn inward. The mission would unfold against a truly unprecedented backdrop; even wars and national strife, one space historian told me, haven't posed a challenge to the U.S. space program like this pandemic has." ... "The space community often considers themselves a different level of somewhat unique and special in not having to adhere to the same rules as others--because what they're doing is so important, it should still be done," Garver said. "I will not be surprised if the public finds it not what they would view as 'essential.'" I just think most people will say, 'Well, people are dying here.'"

Keith's note: A substantial number of states have decided that liquor stores, vaping shops, and marijuana businesses are "essential" and must be allowed to stay open. No one seems to be questioning the risk taken by the people who work there or frequent these businesses to say nothing of the adverse risks that using these substances have on people who catch the virus. Major league team sports have found a way to do play their games in closed stadiums (which still require lots of people to operate) and every one seems to be happy about that. And everyone is ordering groceries from home to be safe - even if an army of people is required to risk their health to deliver that food.

If NASA and SpaceX have all personnel and resources required to safely - let me repeat safely - and the people involved volunteer to take the risks - and meet all aspects of mission operations they should go ahead with the launch. The people who manage and work at NASA and SpaceX are smart and understand the value of a safe workplace under COVID-19 constraints. In the end Jim and Elon will assess whether their people want to do this.

I think the public as a whole understands the importance of things such as missions to explore space. We all need something to aspire to right now - and hope that there will be a future out there when this nightmare is over.

Hope is essential - certainly much more so than beer, pot, and the playoffs.

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