NASA is working to determine how four hurricanes that
affected several centers this year will impact efforts to
return the Space Shuttle to flight. The agency has been working
toward a launch-planning window that opens in March 2005.
Top officials in NASA’s human space flight program met today.
They determined the March-April window is no longer achievable.
The Space Flight Leadership Council met in an executive session
at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston. The council directed
the Space Shuttle Program to assess how it would meet Return to
Flight milestones for the next available launch window, which
opens May 14, 2005. The Shuttle program will present its
analysis at a late October leadership council meeting.
“More than a year ago, we set out a specific plan for Return to
Flight with specific milestones. Right now, those milestones
are pointing us toward a new launch window,” said William
Readdy, NASA’s associate administrator for Space Operations. “I
am proud of our Shuttle team for taking good care of our
orbiters during this terrible storm season. I am pleased they
are taking the time to make a careful assessment of the
hurricanes’ impact. Their thoroughness will help us make the
right decision,” he said.
During this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, four storms
affected four NASA facilities in the southeastern United
States. Thankfully, no workers were injured and no spacecraft
or hardware damaged. However, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, and
Jeanne closed down NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., for
approximately nine days and damaged several facilities.
Hurricane Ivan caused shorter closures at NASA’s Stennis Space
Center, Miss.; Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.;
and the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Many NASA
workers and contractors are still coping with damage to their
homes and other impacts on their families.
NASA’s Space Flight Leadership Council is co-chaired by Readdy
and Walter Cantrell, deputy chief engineer for the Independent
Technical Authority. The council also includes the directors
for NASA’s four space operations centers; Chief Officer for
Safety and Mission Assurance Bryan O’Connor; and Deputy
Associate Administrator for International Space Station and
Space Shuttle Programs, Michael Kostelnik.
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