Above the Fold

Could a Rendezvous Be the Start of Meteoric Shift in Space Travel (and More)?

Over the weekend, the Crew Dragon not only became the first commercial spacecraft to launch humans into orbit, but achieved another milestone as it docked with the International Space Station roughly 19 hours after launch. The mission marked the first time the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched its astronauts into space using a rocket and spacecraft owned by a private company, SpaceX. 

The achievements of this mission go far beyond the technological (even though they are impressive alone). It showed the enormous potential of a well orchestrated and planned partnership between the public and private sectors. The program is a clear demonstration of how government entities can invest and align with commercial companies to build a mutually successful and beneficial outcome. Given the triumph over complex rocket science challenges, it’s not unreasonable to imagine other federal bodies (think Post Office) leveraging the prowess, manpower and technology of a commercial partner to improve outcomes for all. 

For now, let’s congratulate all involved and hope others take a cue from SpaceX, NASA and their other partners.   

Three Things 

1. These Materials Are All the Rage Today – Personal protection equipment (PPE) is in high demand as consumers and businesses gear up for more regular interactions. Aside from the fabrics that go into making protective masks, copper and plexiglass are seeing increased demand. The former, known for its antimicrobial properties, is making an industrial comeback in levers and handles, while the latter is being used across the world to create physical barriers between workers and customers. 
2. The One Thing We Want to Be Permanent After COVID-19 Subsides – Close to 40 million Americans are currently unemployed or underemployed. But for some lucky enough to take temporary positions in certain industries, like ecommerce, the path to a stable job may be getting easier. Amazon.com Inc. just announced that most of the 125,000 people hired temporarily during the pandemic will move into permanent roles. Of course, not every temp worker will be so lucky.  
3. Should AI (Artificial Intelligence) Select What News Stories We Read? – The ongoing battle between human editors and artificial intelligence just got a little more interesting. As advertising revenues slip and news becomes more competitive, Microsoft is betting on AI to select, process and filter more stories for its news business (MSN.com) and will lay off about 50 editors and journalists.

Did You Know?

The Latest (Fact-Checked) COVID-19 Positives

• A recent study by the Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology suggests that survivors of SARS, MERS and other coronaviruses, including the common cold, may already possess cross-reactive immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. 
• Researchers at University College London (UCL) found that the novel coronavirus has produced 273 mutations, 31 of which are prevalent. The good news is that none of the 31 “common variations” appear to be more infectious than the original strain.