posted 10-07-2024 07:59 AM               

• As of Monday morning (Oct. 7), Kennedy Space Center remains open, but intermittent gate closures are possible.

• NASA and SpaceX are standing down from the Oct. 10 launch attempt of the Europa Clipper mission due to the anticipated hurricane conditions in the area. The next launch opportunity will be assessed after the storm passes.

posted 10-07-2024 06:06 PM               

• Kennedy Space Center remains open (as of Oct. 7) but is in a HURCON III status. Employees will report for on-site and remote work as directed by supervisors.

• Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (as of Oct. 7) have entered Hurricane Condition III (HURCON 3) in preparation for Hurricane Milton. HURCON 3 indicates surface winds in excess of 50 knots (58 mph) could arrive in the area within 48 hours.

• The American Space Museum in Titusville, Florida will be closed Wednesday (Oct. 9) and Thursday (Oct. 10).

posted 10-08-2024 01:43 PM               

Tropical Weather Impact Information

The information below reflects the current operations at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Please continue to check this page for future updates as the storm continues to track north through Florida.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is closely monitoring the latest forecast of Hurricane Milton, and the safety of our guests and crewmembers remains our top priority. Due to anticipated impacts of the storm, the visitor complex will close early on Wednesday, October 9th and be closed on Thursday, October 10th. Specific information for these two days:

• The visitor complex will open at 9:00 AM and close at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. All attractions will be open.

• The Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center will conclude at 12:00 PM.

• All Explore Tours for October 9 and any reservations for October 10 have been cancelled. Those with tour tickets will be refunded automatically within one billing cycle.

• Chat With An Astronaut will only be available at 10:00 AM. Those with a 2:00 PM have been rescheduled to the 10:00 AM Chat With An Astronaut.

• Dining location and hours are limited on October 9. Orbit Cafe, Moon Rock Cafe (Apollo/Saturn V Center), Starbucks, IMAX Snacks, and Space Dots are expected to be open.

• The visitor complex will be closed Thursday, October 10 due to the expected severe weather from Hurricane Milton.

• The visitor complex anticipates re-opening on Friday, October 11, however, a full assessment will be completed when it is safe to evaluate.

As of: Tuesday October 8, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

posted 10-08-2024 04:54 PM               

We flew over Hurricane Milton about 90 minutes ago. Here is the view out the Dragon Endeavour window. Expect lots of images from this window as this is where I'm sleeping while we wait to undock and return to Earth

NASA video

External cameras on the International Space Station captured new views of category 4 Hurricane Milton at 9:37 a.m. EDT October 8 as it churned across the Gulf of Mexico, headed for an expected landfall around Tampa, Florida in the early morning hours Oct. 10.

posted 10-09-2024 08:25 AM               

NASA's Kennedy Space Center Prepares for Hurricane Milton

With Hurricane Milton approaching the area, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida went into HURCON II on Thursday, Oct. 8. NASA Kennedy's Hurricane Conditions rank IV, III, II, and I, indicating what preparations should be made ahead of an approaching hurricane.

The center is now restricted to essential personnel only. Gate 2 on State Road 3 will remain closed through the storm. Gate 3 on State Road 405 and Gate 4 on State Road 402 will remain open until sustained winds reach above 34 knots (40 miles per hour).

The Ride Out Team, comprising emergency response representatives from across the center, will report Wednesday ahead of the heaviest impacts to the area and safely shelter in the spaceport's Launch Control Center for the remainder of the storm. The team along with NASA weather officials and center leadership will continue meeting regularly to discuss the storm's path and center's response, as well as ensuring the latest updates to the workforce are communicated throughout the storm.

Tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the spaceport by Wednesday evening, with tornadoes possible ahead of Milton's center of approach. Hurricane force winds are expected to arrive early Thursday morning. Rain totals of 8-12 inches are expected through Saturday. After the hurricane has passed and winds have dropped sufficiently, center facilities and infrastructure will be assessed before employees are cleared to return to work.

Previously, NASA and SpaceX secured the agency's Europa Clipper spacecraft until after the storm has passed and the center has time to assess any impact from the storm. Center-wide, programs have secured their facilities to protect equipment and commodities and to prevent loose objects from becoming projectiles during the storm.

posted 10-10-2024 12:51 PM               

ASM Rocket Garden and facility safe and sound for your next visit.

posted 10-10-2024 04:48 PM               

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to Remain Closed, Friday, October 11

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will remain closed on Friday, October 11 due to Hurricane Milton, and will re-open on Saturday, October 12 at 9 a.m.

All attractions, exhibits, programs and the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour are expected to be open for regular operating hours from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. beginning October 12.

As our neighbors and crewmembers throughout the state continue to assess damage caused by Hurricane Milton, we are keeping everyone in our thoughts. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be here to support the community and our crewmembers as they begin to repair and rebuild.

posted 10-10-2024 08:58 PM               

The majority of the impacts observed at this time are minor damage to doors, traffic lights, awnings, and small trailers.

The Damage Assessment and Recovery Team, or DART, will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the center prior to determining conditions are safe for employees to return on-site.

posted 10-11-2024 01:14 PM               

A big thank you to those who helped secure our sites with sandbags and so much more leading up to Hurricane Milton as we re-open our facilities and continue checking on staff.

Blue was fortunate to have limited damage (high winds did blow down one of our storage facilities under early construction.) However, I recognize that many of our colleagues, partners, and those throughout Florida and the Southeast weren't nearly as fortunate with Milton and Helene. All our thoughts are with those affected – as so many begin the emotional and physical recovery ahead.

posted 10-11-2024 04:56 PM               

The agency's Disasters Response Coordination System is working with our Airborne Science Program to conduct a series of flights beginning earlier today through the weekend to provide awareness of flooding, damage in Florida, and debris in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

NASA's Uninhabited Aerial Synthetic Aperture Radar Vehicle (UAVSAR) instrument will gather rapid wide area L-Band synthetic aperture radar data that will be shared directly with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state emergency management agencies to aid their response efforts. The flights are coordinated directly with FEMA to augment their existing satellite and aerial data collection. We're expecting imagery as soon as this evening, which we'll make available as quickly as possible.

posted 10-11-2024 06:59 PM               

The Damage Assessment and Recovery Team has completed their assessment of the center and its facilities, and determined that employees can safely return on-site to resume working.

The damage identified is manageable and in-line with the items the Ride Out Teams previously identified, including minor impacts such as ripped awning, and damage to doors and traffic lights.