spacetoday.net: VAB, tile facility damaged at KSC

Updated: Mon, Sep 6, 2004, 3:54 PM ET (1954 GMT)
Originally Posted: Mon, Sep 6, 2004, 1:51 PM ET (1751 GMT)
Officials at NASA's Kennedy Space Center said Monday that over 1,000 panels had been ripped off portions of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) there by Hurricane Frances, exposing the interior to the elements. The panels are each about 1.2 by 3 meters in size and were primarily stripped from the south and east sides of the giant Apollo-era building. No shuttles are located inside the VAB, and external tanks and SRB segments stored there are protected. Officials also said a shuttle tile manufacturing facility at the space center suffered extensive damage, which could force NASA to reactivate a similar facility in California that was recently closed. Facilities at KSC that house the shuttles as well as space station hardware appeared to make it through the hurricane with little or no damage. Only essential personnel are required to report to the space center on Tuesday. Officials are now keeping an eye on Hurricane Ivan, a powerful storm in the eastern Caribbean that could reach Florida by the weekend. KSC director James Kennedy said he was concerned that damage to the VAB in particular may not be repaired by the time Ivan arrives.