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WRITTEN HISTORY FOR NEWS FROM CBS AND USED WITH AUTHORIZATION
NASA officials and agency contractors are preparing for the strong winds and rain from Hurricane Dorian, securing rocket scenes, spacecraft mounting areas and even transporting a 6.7 million-pound mobile launch tower designed for the huge rocket built for Artemis. lunar program, back to the cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building for added security.
The 355-foot-tall gantry, transported to the top of an Apollo-type tracked transporter, is expected to begin the 4.2-mile journey from Launch Pad 39B to VAB protection at dawn on Friday, a trip that should take more time. than eight hours to complete.
The VAB has been designed to withstand 125 km / h winds without major damage. The strongest wind ever recorded on NASA's seaside launch pads during a previous hurricane was around 115 mph.
"That's right, we're watching a Category 4 hurricane, where there's no sneeze," Bob Cabana, director of the Kennedy Space Center and former shuttle commander, told CBS News. "It is planned to come a little south of us, which actually places us on the wet side of the storm, the storm surge, which is a concern."
As a result of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the beach dunes protecting 39A and 39B launch pads were severely damaged and eroded. A beach restoration project was implemented and more sand was pumped from shore after two more recent hurricanes, Irma and Matthew.
"Unfortunately, all the growth needed to stabilize the dunes has not had a chance to take root," Cabana said. "So we will see how it will behave in the light of the coming storm surge. I hope that growth will be enough to keep it in place. Again, it's to protect the electrodes. "
Regarding the mobile launcher atop the 39B platform, "it's obviously a huge investment," Cabana said of the imposing structure. As Dorian approached Florida's Space Coast, NASA officials met on Wednesday and decided to move the crawler transporter to the platform. The mobile launcher was designed to withstand a Category 1 hurricane, but given Dorian's continued strengthening, it was decided Thursday to bring it back to the VAB.
The space center will pass in the state of Hurricane 3 or Hurcon 3 on Friday. Normally, this occurs when winds of 50 knots are expected within 48 hours, but Cabana said that he had set it up earlier than usual "because that's what it's all about." is a holiday weekend, we wanted to get ready early so that people get the chance to off Saturday and Sunday and take care of their preparations. "
Based on the trajectory of the storm and when strong winds are forecast, NASA plans to close the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday. A team of 100 to 120 people working in space centers will remain at the emergency operations center located next to the VAB, inside the launch control center. The building is designed to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.
"Once the storm is over, we will call on the damage assessment and repair team to make sure the center is sure to get people back on board," Cabana said. "Depending on the state of things, we could bring them in as early as Tuesday. It depends on when the storm passes and what winds and security are. "
The Space Launch System rockets, built by Boeing in a sprawling factory located just outside New Orleans, will launch the Orion Crew Capsules on the Moon. An unmanned test flight is scheduled for 2021, followed by a crew test flight around the moon at the 2022-203 horizon and a mission to 39, landing on the moon in 2024.
The Lockheed Martin-built Orion capsule, which will be launched at the top of the first SLS amplifier in 2021, is being assembled in a hangar-like treatment building at the heart of the Kennedy Space Center, where the Moon Apollo ships have already been tested. Sandbags are placed around the door frames and loose materials on the outside of the building are transported to the interior.
A spokesperson for the United Launch Alliance, a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin for the construction of the Delta 4 and Atlas 5 rockets, said the company was ensuring that its vehicles were protected at the Air Force Base's treatment facilities. Cape Canaveral. The Atlas stages required for the launch of CST-100's first two commercial CST-100 Starliner CST-100 commercial crews are in Cape Town, as are the Delta 4 "Heavy" components scheduled for launch next year.
"All ULA facilities are designed to withstand hurricane winds," the spokeswoman told Spaceflight Now. "These design loads vary depending on the installation and schedule in which it was designed. Most of our launch facilities have been designed for winds of 130mph and over. … Our design processes include additional factors in addition to these wind loads, so we expect our systems to be able to withstand stronger winds without major damage. "
SpaceX is launching Falcon 9 rockets from platform 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base, as well as Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy thrusters from platform 39A at the nearby Kennedy Space Center. A spokesman said the company was working with Air Force and NASA personnel "to take all necessary precautions to protect our employees and to protect facilities in potentially affected areas."
Cabana said he hoped Dorian would not cause "a major impact on the community and our people".
"That's the biggest concern," he said. "The material is replaceable. But what concerns me is the KSC team, I want to make sure everyone gets home, takes care of their family and we send them back safely to keep Artemis moving forward. on the Moon by 2024. "
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