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At Cape Canaveral, Trump’s Search for a Heroic Narrative Is Thwarted At Cape Canaveral, Trump’s Search for a Heroic Narrative Is Thwarted
(about 3 hours later)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For President Trump, it promised to be the ultimate split-screen day. Even as the United States reached the grim milestone on Wednesday of 100,000 dead from the coronavirus pandemic, the nation was set to mark a trailblazing return to human spaceflight from American soil. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For President Trump, it was a chance to rewrite the story line from tragedy to triumph. Even as the United States reached the grim milestone on Wednesday of 100,000 dead from the coronavirus pandemic, he would help mark the nation’s trailblazing return to human spaceflight from American soil.
But the president, who flew to the Kennedy Space Center hoping to demonstrate that America is back with more verve than a rocket’s red glare, instead made a hasty retreat to Washington and the health crisis after the launch was scrubbed at the last minute. But Mr. Trump’s hopes of demonstrating that America was back with the verve of a rocket’s red glare were doused by lightning-filled storm clouds that forced flight controllers to scrub the long-awaited launch of the SpaceX rocket even as the president watched helplessly from the Kennedy Space Center.
There was no question which story line Mr. Trump preferred. Leaving behind coronavirus meetings, he had hoped to watch the first launch of NASA astronauts into orbit from the United States in nearly a decade. Only minutes after heralding what was to be the first launch of NASA astronauts into orbit from the United States in nearly a decade, a disappointed Mr. Trump scrapped planned remarks and made a hasty retreat to Air Force One to fly back to Washington and the misery of the health crisis. Still, just as the country’s reopening after months of lockdown proceeds with fits and starts, Mr. Trump vowed not to give up, promising to return this weekend when the launch will be tried again.
There had been nail biting in the White House about whether the launch would go off on schedule, but when the president landed, it was still set for 4:33 p.m. Eastern, and Mr. Trump toured the facilities while he waited. But 16 minutes before liftoff, the launch was canceled because of bad weather, undermining, for now, the narrative of recovery the president had been pitching after months of national lockdown. “Thank you to @NASA and @SpaceX for their hard work and leadership,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter from Air Force One. “Look forward to being back with you on Saturday!” The scheduled launch of the Crew Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket was to herald a new beginning in America’s odyssey in space nine years after NASA’s shuttle fleet was retired, which forced the United States to rely on Russia to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. In returning to space, the country is now turning to private sector transport, led by SpaceX, the company founded by the billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.
“Thank you to @NASA and @SpaceX for their hard work and leadership,” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter from Air Force One, promising to return for the next launch attempt this weekend. “Look forward to being back with you on Saturday!” For Mr. Trump, the excursion to Florida was a family affair. In addition to the first lady, Melania Trump, he brought his eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband, Jared Kushner; Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle; Eric and Lara Trump; and several grandchildren.
Mr. Trump had already met with Elon Musk, the Tesla magnate who founded SpaceX and turned it from a pipe dream into a real force in the space world, when loudspeakers at the space center blared the inconvenient news that weather conditions would keep the spacecraft earthbound for several more days. While Ivanka Trump and her children wore masks, her brothers and the president and first lady did not. Mr. Kushner wore one getting on and off the plane but not during a tour of the space center. Vice President Mike Pence, who flew in separately, wore a mask when seeing off the astronauts, but not later when in Mr. Trump’s presence.
“They had grass growing in the runways between the cracks,” Mr. Trump had told Mr. Musk, a reference to America’s absence from launching manned spacecraft since the end of the space shuttle program in 2011. “Now we have the best — the best of the best.” The president made no public mention of the virus death toll as it passed 100,000, in keeping with his habit of not focusing on those who have been lost to the pandemic. But before taking off for Cape Canaveral, he erupted on Twitter at criticism of his administration’s initial response.
Moments before the launch was scrubbed, the president asked Jim Bridenstine, the administrator of NASA, about its status.
“We are a go for launch right now,” Mr. Bridenstine told him — optimistically, as it turned out.
Mr. Trump had been scheduled to deliver triumphant remarks after the rocket blasted off, hoping to herald not only the country’s return to space but also its symbolic return to something resembling normal life after months of economic and social shutdown.
Instead, he canceled the remarks, avoided reporters traveling with him and left Florida for the two-hour trip home.
The president, accompanied by the first lady, Melania Trump, had made no mention of the death toll as he left Washington, just as he has largely avoided any discussion of those killed by the virus. But before taking off, he erupted on Twitter at those who have criticized his administration’s initial response to the pandemic.
“The Radical Left Lamestream Media, together with their partner, the Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to spread a new narrative that President Trump was slow in reacting to Covid 19,” he wrote, referring to himself in the third person. “Wrong, I was very fast, even doing the Ban on China long before anybody thought necessary!”“The Radical Left Lamestream Media, together with their partner, the Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to spread a new narrative that President Trump was slow in reacting to Covid 19,” he wrote, referring to himself in the third person. “Wrong, I was very fast, even doing the Ban on China long before anybody thought necessary!”
He made no mention of studies that have shown that tens of thousands of people would have been saved had the United States imposed quarantines and social distancing measures even a week or two earlier. He made no mention of studies concluding that tens of thousands of people would have been saved had the United States imposed quarantines and social distancing measures even a week or two earlier.
The juxtaposition of the two milestones — the toll of the pandemic and the promise of a new space future — was a matter of happenstance, but they intersected in other ways, as well. NASA was forced to put in place special measures to ensure that the astronauts did not come down with the virus or take it with them to the International Space Station. And the space agency told fans who would normally turn out in large numbers to watch such an event to stay home and instead tune in online. The juxtaposition of the two milestones — the toll of the pandemic and the promise of a new space future — was a matter of happenstance, but they intersected in other ways, as well. NASA was forced to enact measures to ensure that the two astronauts did not take the virus with them to the space station. And the agency told fans who would normally turn out in large numbers to stay home and instead tune in online.
As the scheduled launch time on Wednesday approached, the astronauts were ferried to the launchpad in a NASA-branded Tesla built by Mr. Musk’s company. They then boarded a Crew Dragon spacecraft built by Mr. Musk’s other company mounted atop one of his Falcon 9 rockets. Mr. Musk has been a prominent voice against the economic restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus, defying California authorities who told him to keep his Tesla plant closed to protect workers against spreading the virus. Mr. Trump two weeks ago publicly backed Mr. Musk in his fight with the state’s Democratic leaders.
Mr. Musk has also been a prominent voice against the economic restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus, defying California authorities who told him to keep his Tesla plant closed to protect workers against spreading the virus. Mr. Trump two weeks ago publicly backed Mr. Musk in his fight with the state’s Democratic leaders. At the space center on Wednesday, Mr. Trump hailed Mr. Musk, calling him “a friend of mine for a long time.” The two shared the excitement of the moment as the president asked Jim Bridenstine, the NASA administrator, about the flight status.
“California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW,” the president wrote at the time. “It can be done Fast & Safely!” “We are a go for launch right now,” Mr. Bridenstine told him — optimistically, as it turned out.
Since Apollo, presidents have embraced the space program as a manifestation of the American ideal, a rockets-roaring, television-friendly expression of national determination, ingenuity and the spirit of adventure. But only some occupants of the Oval Office backed that up with a real commitment of political will and resources, resulting in a stutter-step journey that has seen impressive progress at times even as humanity has remained restricted to low-earth orbit for nearly 50 years. Just 16 minutes and 54 seconds before the scheduled 4:33 p.m. liftoff came word over loudspeakers that the launch had been scrubbed because of weather.
Since Apollo, presidents have embraced the space program as a manifestation of the American ideal, a rockets-roaring, television-friendly expression of national determination, ingenuity and the spirit of adventure. But only some occupants of the Oval Office backed that with a real commitment of political will and resources, resulting in a stutter-step journey that has seen impressive progress at times even as humanity has remained restricted to low-earth orbit for nearly 50 years.
Mr. Trump is the latest to promise to end that, embracing an ambitious goal of returning to the moon as a way station for an eventual mission to Mars. While demonstrating no particular affinity for the science or engineering of the enterprise, he has eagerly associated himself with the image of space heroism, inviting Apollo 11 moon-walker Buzz Aldrin to his State of the Union address and creating a Space Force within the military. Only two weeks ago, he happily displayed the new Space Force flag during a photo opportunity in the Oval Office.Mr. Trump is the latest to promise to end that, embracing an ambitious goal of returning to the moon as a way station for an eventual mission to Mars. While demonstrating no particular affinity for the science or engineering of the enterprise, he has eagerly associated himself with the image of space heroism, inviting Apollo 11 moon-walker Buzz Aldrin to his State of the Union address and creating a Space Force within the military. Only two weeks ago, he happily displayed the new Space Force flag during a photo opportunity in the Oval Office.
Before the scrub on Wednesday, Mr. Trump boasted that he had revived NASA. “They had grass growing in the runways between the cracks,” the president said of the launchpads that have sat unused for NASA crewed flights for nine years. “Now we have the best — the best of the best.”
Mr. Bridenstine said the administration had backed up its commitment with large budget requests. “We’re bringing America back as it relates to human spaceflight,” he said, adding, “Today’s a big day for the nation.”
But independent analysts said Mr. Trump’s enthusiasm was not enough, recalling the old Mercury-era adage, “no bucks, no Buck Rogers.”
“Trump is a bit of a spaceflight fan, of course,” said Roger D. Launius, a former NASA historian. But, he added: “I’m not sure how much Trump desires to make his moon landing announcement a reality. There is not much of a reflection of this initiative in the budgets he has proposed.”“Trump is a bit of a spaceflight fan, of course,” said Roger D. Launius, a former NASA historian. But, he added: “I’m not sure how much Trump desires to make his moon landing announcement a reality. There is not much of a reflection of this initiative in the budgets he has proposed.”
Nor has Congress jumped on board. “That’s not a partisan issue,” Mr. Launius said. “Neither party seems to be lining up to support it.”Nor has Congress jumped on board. “That’s not a partisan issue,” Mr. Launius said. “Neither party seems to be lining up to support it.”
Attending a launch in person has always been a tough decision for presidents. They would happily immerse themselves in the glory of a landmark launch, but they recognize the risks of being on hand if something were to go wrong. As a result, only two sitting presidents have personally attended one. President Richard M. Nixon was there when Apollo 12 took off, and President Bill Clinton witnessed the astronaut and future senator John Glenn’s return to space aboard the shuttle. Attending a launch in person has always been fraught for presidents. They would happily share the glory of a landmark launch, but they recognize the risks of being on hand if something were to go wrong. As a result, only two sitting presidents have personally attended. President Richard M. Nixon was there when Apollo 12 took off in 1969, and President Bill Clinton witnessed the astronaut John Glenn’s return to space aboard the shuttle in 1998.
Lyndon B. Johnson, who did more for the space program than any president other than perhaps John F. Kennedy, attended the historic Apollo 11 launch as a private citizen, only months after leaving office. Otherwise, presidents tend to send their vice presidents. Spiro Agnew witnessed four Apollo launches. Lyndon B. Johnson, who did more for the space program than any president other than perhaps John F. Kennedy, attended the historic Apollo 11 launch in 1969 as a private citizen, only months after leaving office. Otherwise, presidents tend to send vice presidents. Spiro Agnew witnessed four Apollo launches.
In his tweet on Wednesday evening, Mr. Trump signaled that he intended to try once more to be part of that elite group. While Mr. Trump was happy to take credit for this week’s prospective launch, it has its origins under two previous presidents. After President George W. Bush ordered an end to the shuttle program, he initiated the development of new rockets with the goal of returning to the moon, while turning to the private sector for cargo launches. President Barack Obama canceled Mr. Bush’s rocket program, judging it too expensive, but signed contracts with SpaceX and other private firms to transport crews to the space station.
While Mr. Trump was happy to connect himself with Wednesday’s scheduled launch, it has its origins under two previous presidents. After the Columbia space shuttle accident, President George W. Bush ordered an end to the shuttle program and the development of new rockets, while turning to the private sector for cargo launches. President Barack Obama canceled Mr. Bush’s rocket program, judging it too expensive, but signed contracts with SpaceX and other private firms to transport crews to space themselves. Dava J. Newman, a former deputy NASA administrator under Mr. Obama who now teaches at M.I.T., said the achievement of this new phase in America’s space program was “really a result of all of the great work over the past decade across multiple administrations and Congresses.”
Dava J. Newman, a former deputy NASA administrator under Mr. Obama who now teaches at M.I.T., said the achievement of Wednesday’s launch was “really a result of all of the great work over the past decade across multiple administrations and Congresses.” Once it happens, that is.
Peter Baker reported from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Michael D. Shear from Washington.Peter Baker reported from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and Michael D. Shear from Washington.