NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine moved all NASA centers and facilities into Stage 3 of its Response Framework because of the coronavirus outbreak. That means all but “mission essential” NASA employees now must work from home.

In a statement to agency employees, Bridenstine said the following.

“Agency leadership continues to monitor developments regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) around the nation. We are closely following the advice of health professionals and the White House Coronavirus Task Force to keep our workforce safe. Implementing best practices early and quickly will increase likelihoods for better outcomes.

“This evening, NASA leadership has decided to elevate all centers and facilities to Stage 3 of NASA’s Response Framework. Effective immediately, all employees and contractors will move to mandatory telework until further notice. Mission-essential personnel will continue to be granted access onsite. Please contact your supervisor as soon as possible if you have any questions.

“Although a limited amount of employees have tested positive for COVID-19, it is imperative that we take this pre-emptive step to thwart further spreading of the virus among the workforce and our communities. A list of collaboration tools and information supporting telework is available on NASA’s Remote Collaboration Services webpage.

“I strongly encourage you and your families to follow all local, state and federal guidelines to stay healthy and to help slow the spread of the virus. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website lists many resources available if you need help, specific state health websites can be found here. Additionally, I urge all NASA employees to follow President Trump’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, announced yesterday afternoon. You can find these 15 Day guidelines on whitehouse.gov, or by visiting https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp- content/uploads/2020/03/03.16. 20_coronavirus-guidance_8. 5x11_315PM.pdf.

“Agency leadership will continue to monitor the rapidly-evolving risks COVID-19 poses to our workforce. You should anticipate continued frequent communication from your center director, myself and others. Up-to-date agency announcements and guidelines are available on the NASA People website, please check it often.

“NASA’s early and thoughtful actions in coordination with our country’s unified response to this health emergency is an incredible display of national solidarity. Thank you for your vigilance and flexibility. I am confident your diligence and commitment will ensure our mission will continue. Please make certain you are giving the appropriate attention to your health and that of your family.”

Some NASA centers already had moved to Stage 3. Ames Research Center near San Francisco was the first and now actually has progressed to Stage 4 due to orders from Santa Clara County to shelter in place. That status will remain at least until April 7.

NASA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has nine civil service field centers around the country:

Ames Research Center (Mountain View, CA)

Armstrong Flight Research Center (Palmdale, CA, formerly Dryden Flight Research Center)

Glenn Research Center (Cleveland, OH, formerly Lewis Research Center)

Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD), which also operates Wallops Flight Facility (Wallops Island, VA), Goddard Institute of Space Studies (New York, NY) and Independent Verification and Validation facility in Fairmont, WV

Langley Research Center (Langley, VA)

Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX), which also operates White Sands Test Facility (White Sands, NM)

Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, FL)

Marshall Space Flight Center (Huntsville, AL), which also operates Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans, Louisiana, and

Stennis Space Center (near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi)

Many consider the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena, CA) as another NASA center, but it is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) operated for NASA by the California Institute of Technology. JPL also is on mandatory telework as of today except for mission-essential employees.