As Tropical Storm Nicole headed for Florida’s East Coast, a $4 billion NASA rocket remained on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, where it would weather the approaching storm.
As Tropical Storm Nicole headed for Florida’s East Coast, a $4 billion NASA rocket remained on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, where it would weather the approaching storm.
Nicole is strengthening and is expected to make landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, potentially putting the massive Space Launch System rocket at risk.
NASA estimates that the SLS can withstand gusts of up to 85 mph (74 knots), as well as sustained winds of 46 mph (40 knots). The agency still aims to launch the unlaunched Orion rocket and capsule to the moon on November 14, the first mission of the agency’s Artemis mission, though it’s unclear how the storm will affect that schedule.
“Teams at Kennedy will continue to watch weatherensure all personnel are safe and will assess the condition of the launch effort on Monday, November 14 for the Artemis I mission as we proceed and receive updated weather predictions,” NASA writes in a blog post.
NASA did not respond to a request for comment regarding specific preparations to defend the rocket.
The space center is in “HURCON III” status, a level of readiness for hurricane approach, in which staff work to secure the area’s facilities and hardware.
Joel Cline, tropical program coordinator with the National Weather Service, estimates there is an 80% to 90% chance of tropical storm winds sustaining along Florida’s space coast, with hurricane winds approaching the area. this area early Wednesday morning. That’s about the threshold that NASA says the rocket can handle.
“What they’re telling you is they’re looking for gusts and hurricane-force winds, which is the most likely probability,” Cline said.
In September, as Hurricane Ian headed towards NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, SLS also appeared on the launch pad ahead of its scheduled mission. However, NASA ultimately decided to return the rocket to its massive hangar, known as the Vehicle Assembly Building, to protect the SLS from the approaching storm.
NASA probably doesn’t have time to return to the rocket because it takes about three days to prepare and move the vehicle.
Cline said that Kennedy Space Center officials regularly call the National Hurricane Center, along with the Department of Defense and other agencies operating in the hurricane’s path.
Another concern for the Florida coast, Cline said, is that the storm could bring up to 6 inches of rain and high tides of up to 3 to 5 feet.
