FreeRepublic , LLC
PO BOX 9771
FRESNO, CA 93794
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD
Posted on 09/30/2002 4:33:16 PM PDT by HAL9000
The Lili hurricane threatens the mission of the Atlantis shuttle
Monday September 30, 2002 - 21h43 GMT
Cape Canaveral (the United States), 30 seven (AFP) - the Lili hurricane, which moves right towards the Gulf of Mexico and threat the center of control of NASA in Houston (Texas), could force with the carryforward of the launching of the Atlantis shuttle envisaged Wednesday of Florida, indicated to Monday a person in charge for NASA.
If the hurricane, with its winds of 120 km/h, continues on its trajectory, "it is probable that one returns people on their premises to Houston so that they can deal with the immediate needs on the spot and make sure that their families are in safety", declared Ron Dittemore, director of the program shuttle, at the time of a press conference in the space Center Kennedy, close to Cape Canaveral (Florida).
Approximately about thirty people based in Houston, without counting the astronauts themselves, come to take part in the operations of launching in Florida.
NASA will make a possible decision of carryforward of the shooting a few hours before launching, according to the trajectory of the hurricane. "One will not know it before Wednesday morning", indicated Ron Dittemore.
The persons in charge for the mission do not wish to have a mission of shuttle in progress if it would be necessary to evacuate in urgency the center of control of Houston, in the space center Johnson (Texas).
"Without the center of Houston, our mission would be constrained significantly. With this hurricane threatening the Gulf of Mexico, we will play prudence. We will not think of launching as long as we will not be certain that this hurricane does not threaten the center of Houston ", insisted Ron Dittemore.
The center of launching of Cape Canaveral indeed does not have the technical capabilities for surperviser the operations in flight as can do it the center of control of Houston.
"They cannot carry out appointment or of stowing starting from this center here" in Florida, explained Ron Dittemore.
The Atlantis shuttle must take off Wednesday afternoon of Florida, with six astronauts on board, for a 11 days mission devoted to the assembly of a new element of the international space Station (ISS).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.