KSC Reopens Tuesday As Space Center Weathers Hurricane Jeanne

SHUTTLE NEWS

A total of approximately 850 panels need to be replaced on the building as a result of damage suffered from Hurricane's Charley, Frances and Jeanne.

KSC (SPX) Sep 28, 2004
Tuesday, Sept. 28 is a normal work day for all KSC employees. A liberal excused absence as well as liberal leave policy will be in effect for civil service and contractor employees with permission from their supervisor. The KSC Child Development Center will be open on Tuesday.

For Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, only mission essential personnel should report for work on Tuesday, or as directed by their supervisor. Please be advised, as of this time, the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville is closed until further notice.

Preliminary reports from damage assessment teams who visited the center on Monday indicate the facility weathered Hurricane Jeanne relatively well, sustaining less damage than was caused by Hurricane Frances three weeks ago.

NASA's three Space Shuttles, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, and International Space Station components, were not damaged by the storm. Also, the SWIFT spacecraft, set for a late October launch, was unharmed. There are no reports of injuries to any KSC employees.

Initial assessment shows KSC's landmark facility, the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), lost another 30 panels during the storm, bringing the total number of panels damaged by the hurricanes to 850. Other previously damaged buildings also sustained additional roof damage and water intrusion.

Hurricane Jeanne brought 3 inches of rain to KSC, compared to 8 inches from Frances. And while there were sustained winds of 50 miles an hour or more for 36 hours during Frances, winds of that strength only lasted for 21 hours during Jeanne.

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