Naked Science Forum

General Science => Question of the Week => Topic started by: EvaH on 26/05/2020 13:34:39

Title: QotW - 20.05.26 - Have things changed on the ISS due to coronavirus?
Post by: EvaH on 26/05/2020 13:34:39
Fady wants to know:

'Has life changed for astronauts on the ISS due to coronavirus, and are astronauts still allowed to sent to and from the ISS?'

We're looking into this question for the show, but what do you think?
Title: Re: QotW - 20.05.26 - Have things changed on the ISS due to coronavirus?
Post by: evan_au on 26/05/2020 22:42:49
In 24 hours, it is planned to launch two astronauts to the ISS onboard a SpaceX human-rated capsule.
- COVID-19 has meant a stricter quarantine requirement on astronauts, as you don't want COVID-19 spreading among the astronauts!
See: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/space-station-science-payload-operations-continue-amid-pandemic.html
There may be more stories here: https://www.nasa.gov/coronavirus

Many NASA programs like James Webb Space Telescope have been put on hold during the pandemic.
...while others with a tight deadline have continued, eg the Perseverence Mars Rover (if it misses its July-August 2020 launch window, it is an 18 month wait for the next planetary alignment).
See: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/timeline/launch/
Title: Re: QotW - 20.05.26 - Have things changed on the ISS due to coronavirus?
Post by: nudephil on 01/06/2020 14:03:34
Cheers Evan. Answered on this week's show by a flight surgeon from ESA:

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/question-week/has-life-changed-iss-due-covid-19