NASA Declares Stage 3: Employees have to Work From Home Until Further Notice

The recent Coronavirus outbreak is affecting all the industries, including NASA. The American space agency asked the majority of its staffs to choose work from home option. After several NASA members tested coronavirus positive, the space agency makes work from home mandatory.

NASA closed down its Ames Research Centre after one of the scientists tested positive from Coronavirus. On Monday, another NASA scientist tested positive. At that moment NASA declared stage 2, which recommends the employees to work from home. But, the growing cases of coronavirus has forced the space agency to declare stage 3. This means that NASA is forcing its employees to work from home. Jim Bridenstine, the administrator of NASA, revealed that only mission-essential employees required to come to the office. Otherwise, employees have to choose to work from home option.

Currently, all the NASA facilities, across the country, elevated to stage 3. Jim Bridenstine further revealed that stage 3 is effective from an immediate basis. All the employees will continue to work from home until any further notice. NASA’s recent move is a precautionary measure to limit the effects of coronavirus. Though only a few of the NASA employees get affected by the outbreak, NASA’s recent move will ensure to limit further spreading of the virus, at least in the workplace.

Effect of Coronavirus on NASA Missions

Bridenstine recommends everyone to follow the government guideline in order to stay safe. The coronavirus outbreak will definitely affect the NASA mission in the long term. NASA is currently preparing for its highly anticipated launch to the Martian surface. If they could not implement the mission in 2020, NASA has to wait till 2022to launch the mission. Besides, there are several important missions that are going on could be delayed.