Despite COVID-19, NASA still on track to launch astronauts in May

Kennedy Space Center, Fla. — NASA confirmed that despite the work-from-home order and even a confirmed case of COVID-19 or coronavirus at Kennedy Space Center, they are still on target to launch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) in May.

If all goes as planned, a Crew Dragon capsule will carry NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the ISS, it will be the first flight from American soil in nearly a decade.

The test mission, dubbed Demo-2, will pave the way for future launches from U.S. soil, but the launch, approach, dock and re-entry must be successful.

In a press release, NASA defined mission-essential work as " that which must be performed to maintain critical mission operations to ensure the schedule of time-sensitive mission-critical launches, or work to protect life and critical infrastructure."

The Commercial Crew Program is considered a critical element to maintain safe operations at the ISS.

In the meantime, NASA Astronaut Chris Cassidy is also continuing to prepare for an April 9th launch to the ISS, he is safe from contamination in pre-flight quarantine in Star City near Moscow.

He will launch aboard a Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Most of the agency remains under a Stage 3 status, with mandatory telework for all employees with limited exceptions for on-site work,  but NASA maintained they would continue to assess the rapidly changing situation.