In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, SpaceX partnered with NASA to launch SpaceX’s first manned mission with a rocket called Falcon 9 and the crew of Dragon 2 on May 30th, 2020 12:22 Pacific Time. This monumental event garnered nationwide attention with more than 10 million people watching live and was viewed on-site by Donald Trump, who is now “the only sitting president to watch American astronauts launch on a brand new rocket that has never launched before,” according to James Bridenstine, NASA’s current Administrator.

 

The launch was also a big moment for SpaceX, as it marked SpaceX’s very first manned mission. In addition to being a groundbreaking scientific and aeronautic achievement, it was also inspiring because the engineers and astronauts working on the launch had to overcome barriers set by the COVID-19 pandemic while working around the clock to ensure the success and safety of the mission.

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We saw this as an incredible opportunity to witness the power of science and engineering in action, as well as a great chance to connect with other people in our community. This was particularly valuable during the quarantine period, as COVID-19 has forced us all to separate and distance ourselves from others; we know how much everyone wishes for more social interaction during these isolating times.

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We began the viewing meeting at around 11:45 AM and were very happy to see that many of our friends, teachers, and community members joined us. As we listened to the professional commentary by representatives from SpaceX and NASA, we also played a few rounds of SpaceX trivia and gave factoids about the company’s history.

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Overall, it was a very inspiring, exciting, and fun experience. We are very grateful for everyone who came to the viewing meeting. It was so refreshing to gather with others in our community to witness this exciting moment in history together. We will continue to look for more fun and enriching learning opportunities to share with others in the future.

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Please check out photos from the meeting below!