NewsT. Rick Jones

Star Trek fans cheer as Miles O’Brien (but not that one) covers SpaceX launch for CNN

NewsT. Rick Jones
Star Trek fans cheer as Miles O’Brien (but not that one) covers SpaceX launch for CNN
CNN’s coverage of the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch

CNN’s coverage of the SpaceX Crew Dragon launch

NOVEMBER 17, 2020 - Isn’t it great to see Miles O’Brien still getting work in the space industry?

In case you missed it, on Sunday, SpaceX and NASA sent another crewed mission into space aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. The mission, SpaceX’s first sending a crew to the International Space Station, launched successfully on Sunday, and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer covered the launch, along with aviation analyst Miles O’Brien. Star Trek fans were quick to point out on Twitter that the analyst shares a name with one of Starfleet’s finest.

Miles O’Brien, of course, is not THAT Miles O’Brien. The real-life O’Brien is an experienced, Emmy-winning broadcast news journalist who specializes in science, technology, and yes - aerospace. According to Wikipedia, he was educated at Georgetown and has served as a correspondent on PBS and CNN.

The SpaceX launch that O’Brien was covering on Sunday was a historic one for a number of reasons. A piece from CBS News explains that for one, the mission is the first commercial crewed orbital launch certified by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration. It also carries astronaut Victor Glover, who will be the first Black astronaut to fly a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station.

You can watch CNN’s coverage of Sunday’s launch, with O’Brien’s commentary, on YouTube. And please join me in sending best wishes to the crew of the mission and of the International Space Station, for a safe and successful journey.