CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A NASA astronaut who's about to leave the planet for six months will blast off without any family or fanfare because of the coronavirus. Chris Cassidy said Thursday that he won't have any guests at his April 9 launch from Kazakhstan. He expects to say goodbye in Russia to his wife on Friday, three weeks earlier than planned. There will be a smaller team than usual at the launch pad, too. “It really is going to be strange," Cassidy told The Associated Press from cosmonaut headquarters in Star City, Russia.

Source: International New York Times March 19, 2020 16:18 UTC