Space Shuttles Survive Hurricane Frances

maggeth writes "In an update to a previous story, NASA damage assessment teams have begun work at the Kennedy Space Center, which was hit by Hurricane Frances. It appears that there was no damage to any of the space shuttles, according to the first word from NASA. Although more details still are to be released, we know that Frances died down in strength before making landfall, limiting the amount of wind damage." Reader knix writes, though, that "It looks like NASA did have quite a bit of damage from Hurricane Frances," pointing to an AP story which adds some detail, and noting that besides a knocked over Mercury-Redstone rocket, the massive VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) had 1000 panels missing after the storm hit. According to the AP, "The holes left by the missing panels created 40,000 square feet of 'open window' on two sides of the building."

Comments

Alan Shepard wasn't human??

[myc_lykaon]

Reading the AP article regarding the fallen rocket there is a photo with the caption: "A rocket similar to this was used to launch Alan Shepard on the first unmanned suborbital mission.

Re:Why did they choose Floridia?

[Dark Lord Seth]

You can see the effect the speed has on you when you're on a merry-go-round. When standing on the edges you are pushed off of it by the centrifugal forces, but when you're standing near the center you don't have to worry about it.

Clearly you had far, FAR cooler merry-go-rounds in your youth then I ever had... Best mine did was break down and make off-tune organ noise...

Duh

[jrivar59]

The damn things are designed to go 18,000 miles an hour. If 140mph wind caused problems, I'd want my money back.

don't worry.....

[Kirbyisagorrilla]

"It appears that there was no damage to any of the space shuttles, according to the first word from NASA. " said by the same people who said," don't worry it was just foam"......