September 7, 2004 LATEST ON HURRICANE FRANCES Damage Assessment Teams Begin Work at Kennedy Space Center NASA teams are surveying the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for damage caused by Hurricane Frances. Initial assessments show KSC weathered the storm fairly well. There are no reports of any injured KSC workers, and there does not appear to be damage to the Space Shuttles Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. “Our initial feeling is we dodged a real bullet,” said Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy. “Even though this was the worst storm ever to hit KSC, I feel very fortunate.” KSC will remain closed Tuesday for most employees. Workers who need to report to work will be notified. A more detailed damage assessment is expected Tuesday. Although anxious to resume KSC operations, NASA is concerned that all employees and family members are safe and secure after the storm. KSC will begin operations as soon as weather conditions permit. NASA will post updates as available. For recorded update call: 202/358-1600. Read Full Press Release
Read Press Release on KSC Closure and Preparations
Photos of KSC Preparations Towers of Warm Air Signal Storm’s Growth
Seen from space, Hurricane Frances was a well-organized giant. Using a fleet of advanced instruments, NASA tracked the storm as it made its way toward the East coast of the United States. NASA’s TRMM satellite (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) can see hurricanes in three dimensions. TRMM’s “CAT scan” showed “hot towers,” which suggested an efficient and powerful heat engine inside the storm, emphasizing to experts just how powerful this particular tropical beast was.
Read Feature With Satellite Images, Animations NASA Contributions to Hurricane Science
Weather experts will explain how NASA satellite data contributes to our understanding of hurricanes during a telephone media opportunity Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Read Note to Editors | |
Rocket Down
A Mercury-Redstone rocket that once stood upright at the credentialing center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center lies on the grass after being blown down by Hurricane Frances Saturday, Sept. 5, 2004. A rocket similar to this was used to launch Alan Shepard on the first unmanned suborbital mission. (AP Photo/Peter Cosgrove). |
