As Hurricane Ike careens towards Texas after smashing Cuba NASA braces for impact.
Unfortunately this bracing means more delays for a planned mission to re-supply the International Space Station using a Russian ‘Progress’ craft, launched on Wednesday. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston was supposed to control the docking with the ISS but has had to be closed due to Ike’s approach (NASA statement).
A temporary control centre near Austin has been fired up until Ike moves on and while this could control the docking it was decided to delay till Wednesday to allow NASA staff time to get out of Houston, says LiveScience.
“We will assess any damage, and decide when it’s safe to come back,” says spokesman Kelly Humphries (Houston Chronicle).
CBS notes:
Another team of flight controllers will be stationed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to take over if the Johnson Space Center loses power and the ability to relay communications to and from the backup center near Austin.
But some systems cannot be commanded from the backup control center, including precision control of solar array orientation. Such control is needed to “feather” the arrays before visiting spacecraft can dock to prevent contamination by rocket exhaust plumes.
Valery Lyndin, spokesman for Russian Mission Control told Reuters: “Apparently our American partners have some technical concerns, and of course spaceships are not this kind of area where you should rely on the off-chance. So, it’s better to ensure ourselves against any risks.”
Credit: Hal Pierce, SSAI/NASA