COVID-19 impacts on the economy have taken a toll on the country. Flights have been canceled, major sports leagues have suspended or canceled their seasons, and many organizations are asking their employees to work from home.
NASA has now joined that group. In a statement released by the space agency on March 21, to protect their workforce as the nation responds to COVID-19 they are identifying tasks that can be done remotely by employees at home, mission-essential work that must be done on-site, and what on-site work will be put on hold.
The health and safety of their workforce is NASA's main priority. Good thing, technology has allowed them to do the work that they need to do remotely. Since it is impossible to comply with CDC's guidelines while processing space hardware, and they can't find someplace to do it NASA has decided to suspend some of their projects and focus more on the critical missions.
Suspension of Projects
NASA has announced temporarily suspending most of its production and testing of the Space Launch System (SLS) mega rocket and the Orion capsule, which together will get astronauts to the moon. A huge core stage of the SLS is built-in Michoud and then tested at Stennis.
They have also suspended work on the world's most powerful space science observatory, the James Webb Space Telescope. Although it is unclear how the suspension will affect it since it has already been delayed many times in the past.
In a statement by NASA on March 9, they have already rescheduled the field activity until later this year for the three NASA Earth Science airborne science campaigns namely the DeltaX, Dynamics and Chemistry of the Summer Stratosphere (DCOTTS), and Sub-Mesoscale Ocean Dynamics Experiment (S-MODE).
But NASA hopes to avoid suspension of the launching of the Mars Perseverance rover and Mars Helicopter because it is this year's Mars Mission highlight. Therefore, its launch and other mission preparations shall continue. Much of the work being done in this mission is by the employees who work remotely across NASA. The agency will ensure that the launch in July will push through.
Conferences and Other Events
Other than the projects that are suspended, conferences are also canceled. Due to the COVID-19 concerns, many high-profile meetings and other events are postponed or canceled already.
One of which is supposed to happen from March 30 to April 2 to be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado-the 36th Space Symposium. The symposium is one of the signature events of the space industry, bringing together people around the world, as well as some very heavy hitters. Bridenstine, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Space Force Commander Gen. John Raymond are some of the people who are supposed to deliver their speeches.
Another event that was canceled or shortened was the Satellite 2020 which hosted SpaceX founder Elon Musk for a "keynote conversation." It has canceled all events that are scheduled on March 12 ending the event one day earlier.
Some many more events and gatherings are canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus crisis. The American Physical Society has already canceled its event this month, and as well as the American Astronomical Society (AAS) event that was supposed to be held on May 31 to June 4 has now become simply impossible.
The impact of the virus is not only limited to the United States. Several projects and programs were canceled affecting its progress and schedules. But as for now, abiding with the CDC guidelines is the best for everybody.
