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SpaceX Crew Flight Delayed; Musk Gets Mixed COVID-19 Results

Associated Press

   CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA - SpaceX delayed its second astronaut flight by
   a day because of high wind and weather conditions that could jeopardize
   the recovery and recycling of the rocket booster, pushing the launch to
   Sunday.

   Friday's postponement news came after SpaceX chief Elon Musk disclosed
   he had gotten mixed test results for COVID-19 and was awaiting the
   outcome of a more definitive test.

   NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said anyone testing positive for
   COVID-19 must quarantine under NASA policy and remain isolated.
   Officials said contact tracing by SpaceX found no link between Musk and
   any personnel in close touch with the four astronauts, who remain
   cleared for flight.

   "I can assure everyone that we're looking good for the (crew) launch
   and all of the critical personnel involved," said SpaceX's Benji Reed,
   senior director for human spaceflight.

   It wasn't immediately known if Musk would be allowed at the Kennedy
   Space Center launch site even if later tests came up negative.

   Norm Knight, a deputy manager at NASA, said the guidelines are rigid
   for restricting access to astronauts before flight in order to keep
   them safe and healthy.

   "No one's above this access. It doesn't matter if you're Elon Musk or
   Jim Bridenstine," Knight said at a news conference Friday night. "If
   you have not met those protocols, or if any of those protocols have
   been compromised, then we're not going to let you near the crew."

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