Elon Musk Tests positive for Coronavirus . SpaceX Latest News
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration held a press conference at the Kennedy Space Launch Center, saying it had completed the certification of the US Space Exploration Technology Foundation, the SpaceX manned spacecraft, and the static ignition test had also been completed.
On the evening of the 15th, which is Beijing Time, it will be launched next Monday. This is the first time that NASA has certified a manned spacecraft of a private enterprise.
It is understood that there are a total of four astronauts on this mission, three astronauts from the United States and one Japanese astronaut. They plan to take off from Kennedy Space Center on the evening of 15th Eastern Time.
After arriving at the International Space Station within 8 hours, the four astronauts will stay on the space station for 6 months.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine: This is our first commercial launch, a manned spacecraft licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. After entering space, on this first flight, four astronauts there will be many discoveries that will surprise us in the next six months.
Elon Musk, CEO of the US Space Exploration Technology Corporation, said on social media on the 13th local time that he had undergone 4 new tests for coronavirus a day, twice and the test results were negative and positive twice.
In this regard, the director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said that to enter the launch center it must be tested. He is not sure whether Musk has been in contact with astronauts, but the astronauts do undergo routine tests, so the possibility of infection is unlikely. .
Earlier, due to official safety certificates, this meant that the “Dragon” spacecraft and the “Falcon 9” launch vehicle could begin the regular transportation of personnel and materials to the International Space Station.
In the next 14 months, the Space Exploration Technology Corporation plans to launch 4 “Dragon” spacecraft to transport astronauts to the International Space Station, and 3 more shipments.
About ten years ago, in 2011, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA’s last manned spacecraft, officially retired. In order to get rid of dependence on foreign rockets, NASA signed a contract with Space Exploration Technologies and Boeing in 2014. Manned spacecraft development.
The data indicate that the cost of renting a Russian spacecraft to transport an astronaut is about $ 80 million, while the cost of transporting it through a space exploration technology company can be reduced to $ 55 million.
Along with related projects being progressed by Boeing, it is estimated that the two companies could save US $ 20-30 billion in research and development costs for manned spacecraft.
