According to The FAA National Airspace System status webpage, 11 airports remained closed to commercial traffic Thursday, with most requiring prior permission (PPR) for emergency and relief aircraft.

Airport maintenance crews throughout the Sunshine State inspected facilities for damage, as did the FAA.

• READ MORE: Here’s How the FAA Prepares Year-Round for Hurricanes 

Tampa International Airport (KTPA) remained closed midday Thursday, but said it would soon announce its plans to resume flights? “The TPA team is hard at work assessing and cleaning up the damage left in Hurricane Milton’s wake. We remain closed at this time and are working toward sharing reopening plans later today,” it said.

CLEANUP UNDERWAY: The TPA team is hard at work assessing and cleaning up the damage left in Hurricane Milton’s wake. We remain closed at this time and are working toward sharing reopening plans later today. Stay tuned to our social media for the latest updates. pic.twitter.com/A8KSk25NyS

— Tampa International Airport (@FlyTPA) October 10, 2024

Daytona Beach International Airport, which closed to commercial flights Wednesday morning, said its reopening on Friday would be determined after post-storm inspections. 

At least one Florida airport reported damage. Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB) lost a 30-by-40-foot section of roof and part of a skylight in its center terminal, USA Today reported. The airport was closed at the time and no injuries were reported.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

According to the National Hurricane Center, the remnants of Milton continued to pose a risk as the storm moved offshore. “A storm surge warning remains in effect for portions of the east coast of Florida and southern coast of Georgia,” as the risk of “considerable urban flooding” lingered across the east central portion of the state, it said at 11 a.m. EST. 

The post Florida Airports Assess Hurricane Milton Damage appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“While helicopters are invaluable for their range and payload capabilities, drones complement these assets by offering quicker, more cost-effective deployment,” Skydio, one of the largest U.S. drone manufacturers, told FLYING. “Their ability to operate in challenging conditions—including wind and rain—and their capacity for remote operation from anywhere via a web browser enhances the overall safety and efficiency of the response efforts, ensuring broader and more flexible coverage.”

Since shuttering its consumer drone business to focus on selling to enterprise and public safety customers last year, Skydio has assisted operators with plenty of disaster response and recovery efforts. Even before then, the company said it provided assistance following Hurricane Ian in 2022.

“Skydio team members—many of whom live in the communities their customers serve—closely monitor developing situations such as these, proactively deploying resources to impacted areas and supporting on the ground and in real time,” the company said.

In the wake of Helene, Skydio customers are deploying drones for search and rescue, overwatch, and damage assessment. Since the storm damaged many bridges in the most affected areas, for example, customers are using drone inspections to create digital twins, helping them assess safety and accelerate the repair process.

The company said it surged available personnel, remote connectivity systems, and its X10 and X10D drone models—equipped with spotlight attachments—to regions most in need, including the Florida Panhandle and western North Carolina.

Skydio has been working with local, state, and federal agencies to prepare for and respond to Helene, including the city of Tampa, Punta Gorda Police Department, and Southern Company.

Southern Company, an electric and gas utility provider, enlisted Skydio drones to perform damage assessments with “unprecedented speed and efficiency,” per Jonathan Tinch, an uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) pilot and safety coordinator for the company.

The aircraft collected high-resolution images and real-time video of the damage, transmitting them to a command center. There, they were analyzed by experts who directed ground crews to the areas most in need of repair.

“As a result, we were able to restore power to our customers more quickly than ever before,” said Tinch.

As another major hurricane approaches, Skydio said it will offer further support.

“After what we saw in Asheville and the impact of drones there, we have doubled our efforts to support agencies responding to Milton,” Skydio told FLYING. “We have a team of people holed up in an Airbnb in northern Florida poised to be on the ground in the Tampa area the minute the storm clears and it is safe to travel.”

Also assisting with post-Helene recovery efforts are pilots, engineers, and scientists from Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Raspet Flight Research Laboratory.

Raspet, backed by Project JUSTICE—a program within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate designed to learn about uncrewed systems by sending them on real-world missions—is supporting the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) with a massive UAS called Teros.

Built by Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation, Teros has a 44-foot wingspan and can remain aloft for 20 hours, allowing it to perform long-duration missions. Raspet deployed to Georgia on September 29 to assess post-hurricane flooding.

“Once a hurricane has passed over an inland area, the water it leaves behind is constantly moving, and that movement can be difficult to predict, especially in places where trees and other barriers might obscure water from satellite imagery,” said Jamie Dyer, a geosciences professor at Mississippi State and associate director of the university’s Northern Gulf Institute (NGI).

NGI experts tracked Helene through the Gulf of Mexico and Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. Using Teros’ sensors and cameras, they collected real-time data and visuals on the movement of floodwaters, beaming it to federal entities like FEMA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

“UAS allow us to see in better detail where water is going and which areas will be impacted by flooding, which is vital information to have during a crisis event,” said Dyer. “Additionally, the data we collect will improve the river forecasting models that local, state and federal officials rely on.”

State officials with the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation have also deployed drones to survey roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, flying more than 200 missions in the past week alone.

Over at NOAA, meanwhile, “hurricane hunters” are flying a pair of Lockheed WP-3Ds and a Gulfstream IV-SP—affectionately nicknamed “Kermit,” “Miss Piggy,” and “Gonzo”—directly into the eye of Hurricane Milton. Some of these missions will deploy Blackswift S0 UAS to measure temperature, pressure, wind, and humidity, which can help predict a storm’s path.

The FAA advises individual drone users or hobbyists to be mindful of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) in place around hurricane-affected regions. Pilots who neglect to coordinate with local emergency services could inadvertently hinder their efforts, so noncommercial operators should exercise caution.

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The post Responders Turn to Drones Amid Hurricane Recovery appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Wednesday afternoon, the Category 4 hurricane had wind speeds of about 145 mph and was predicted to create a storm surge of more than 10 feet along west-central coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The NAFI Summit was scheduled for October 15-17 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus. The event is touted as an opportunity for flight instructors of all levels to increase their skills through mentorship, presentations, and peer support. 

“Our top priority is to keep everyone safe,” NAFI said in a statement to FLYING. “The aftermath of this storm will likely cause transportation issues for attendees and exhibitors. Also, we want to free up resources like hotels and rental cars for Florida residents impacted by this hurricane. We have therefore decided to postpone NAFI Summit.”

NAFI officials said they are in touch with the staff at Embry-Riddle in regard to alternative dates.

The post Hurricane Milton Prompts NAFI to Postpone Summit appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Major airports throughout the state have halted operations completely, including Tampa International Airport (KTPA), which shut down on Tuesday morning. Orlando International Airport (KMCO) remains open but has paused all commercial operations.

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ) also closed on Tuesday afternoon.

‘Batten Down the Hatches’

Tampa is among the cities set to be hit the hardest by Milton. The city’s main airport—Florida’s fourth busiest—shut down early to prepare facilities for the storm. John Tiliacos, the airport’s executive vice president of airport operations, said this process takes up to 24 hours.

“Our team has been planning and executing all of the preparation that we need to take for Hurricane Milton’s arrival,” Tiliacos said during a press conference.

In a Facebook post, the airport said its team has been working around the clock to “batten down the hatches.” The airport has 58 jet bridges, each of which needs to be chained down, which can take around an hour each to complete.

Aircraft and other airfield equipment also need to be secured in advance of the storm.

“Tampa International Airport is extremely close to Tampa Bay and storm surge and flooding are a top concern for us.…If you consider that we may potentially face 10 to 15 feet of storm surge, we are talking about a lot of water that will find its way onto the airport,” Tiliacos said.

The airport said it will reopen after a damage assessment is conducted.

Roughly 85 miles away, Orlando International Airport says it is also preparing for the storm, securing jet bridges and sand-bagging doors.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

The post How Airports Are Preparing for Hurricane Milton appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

• READ MORE: Here’s How the FAA Prepares Year-Round for Hurricanes

Video from on board the four-engine turboprop has been trending on the internet.

Bumpy ride into Hurricane #Milton on @NOAA WP-3D Orion #NOAA43 "Miss Piggy" to collect data to help improve the forecast and support hurricane research.

Visit https://t.co/3phpgKNx0q for the latest forecasts and advisories
Visit https://t.co/UoRa967zK0 for information that you… pic.twitter.com/ezmXu2Zqta

— NOAA Aircraft Operations Center (@NOAA_HurrHunter) October 8, 2024

Members of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps struggled with severe turbulence aboard the Orion as scientists gathered data on wind speed, temperature, record-low pressure, and humidity.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

As of Tuesday afternoon, the hurricane was downgraded to Category 4 status from Category 5.

Still, the 155 mph winds represent a significant threat to the west-central coastal area of Florida with storm surges of 10 feet or more expected upon landfall, which is expected Wednesday.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Hurricane-Hunting P-3 Experiences Severe Turbulence appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to the agency, the Joint Crisis Action Team at the FAA Command Center oversees and coordinates planning before a storm hits as well during the aftermath and cleanup.

• READ MORE: Hurricane Milton Triggers Florida Airport Closures

The responsibility includes helping prioritize activities in the affected airspace and getting the needed resources to the areas hit hardest.

This was demonstrated recently following Hurricane Helene, when roads and bridges were damaged and left impassable by debris, leaving air travel as the only option to get needed emergency help to devastated areas in parts of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

When it becomes likely that a storm will strike FAA facilities, the agency covers equipment inside buildings to protect it in the event the roof or windows leak or are torn away. Airport surveillance radar antennas are also disabled to allow them to spin freely to minimize storm damage to the internal motors.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

The agency said that long-range traffic radars and FAA control towers built in prone areas are designed to sustain hurricane-force winds. When the winds reach this level, controllers are evacuated from the tower to a shelter in a lower level of the building. The agency said they stay on duty and return to the tower as soon as a storm passes and it is determined safe to do so.

The FAA has backup generators and fuel for them standing by in case they are needed in the event of commercial power outages. These generators are tested prior to a storm arrival. In addition, the agency has teams of technicians staged just outside the eye of the storm and ready to make necessary repairs to get services restored as soon as possible.

• READ MORE: Military Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Hurricane Milton Landfall

After a storm has passed, the FAA Command Center works with both federal and state authorities to facilitate relief efforts and coordinate temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs) to keep pilots apprised of the situation.

The post Here’s How the FAA Prepares Year-Round for Hurricanes appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Personnel at MacDill Air Force Base (KMCF) in Tampa, Florida, closed the base to all nonessential personnel on Tuesday and have begun evacuating aircraft for the second time in as many weeks following Hurricane Helene. The base avoided the worst of Helene but sits in the middle of Tampa Bay, directly in Milton’s projected path. It is also home to the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.

• READ MORE: NASA Postpones Europa Clipper Launch as Hurricane Milton Takes Aim at Cape Canaveral

According to an Air Force spokeswoman, MacDill’s 6th Refueling Wing this week relocated 12 KC-135 Stratotankers to McConnell Air Force Base (KIAB) in Kansas, just two days after the aircraft returned home. The spokeswoman also said that the 482nd Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Reserve Base (KHST) near Miami has begun relocating seven F-16 fighters to San Antonio.

The U.S. Navy and Space Force, meanwhile, are preparing to close bases across Florida and southeast Georgia. Navy officials told Military.com that aircraft will be evacuated from Naval Station Mayport off the coast of Jacksonville or hangared at the base.

Patrick Space Force Base near Cape Canaveral will close to nonessential personnel from Wednesday to Friday. Officials this week also postponed the launch of NASA and SpaceX’s Europa Clipper at nearby Kennedy Space Center. Milton is expected to hit the Space Coast after making landfall near Tampa.

• READ MORE: ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

The hurricane has also triggered airport closures across Florida and is expected to produce a potentially devastating storm surge.

As the military moves aircraft out of Milton’s path, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will continue to send its “hurricane hunters”—a pair of Lockheed WP-3Ds, or P-3s, affectionately dubbed “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy,” and a Gulfstream IV-SP nicknamed “Gonzo”—into the eye of the storm to help predict its trajectory.

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The post Military Evacuates Aircraft Ahead of Hurricane Milton Landfall appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) houses a small fleet of “hurricane hunters,” which researchers deploy to predict a hurricane’s structure, intensity, and path. And with Milton forecast to remain a major hurricane when it impacts the Tampa area on Wednesday, the data they gather will be as important as ever.

“This data will then be sent to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and into the weather models to help us pinpoint this track forecast,” said Sofia de Solo, a NOAA flight director, in a preflight brief, “which is extra important this time around, being that the hurricane is expected to hit in a highly populous and highly vulnerable region that just got hit by Hurricane Helene.”

For more than four decades, NOAA’s AOC has managed and maintained ten crewed aircraft at Lakeland Linder International Airport (KLAL) in Florida. Among them are the hurricane hunters: a pair of Lockheed WP-3Ds, or P-3s, affectionately dubbed “Kermit” and “Miss Piggy”, and a Gulfstream IV-SP nicknamed “Gonzo.”

“Kermit” and “Miss Piggy” are designed to fly directly into hurricanes. The four-engine turboprops handle both storm research and reconnaissance when called upon by the NHC, measuring storm structure and intensity, producing real-time forecasts, and scanning for indicators of deadly storm surges. These missions typically take the P-3s into the eye of the storm to measure its central pressure.

“Gonzo,” meanwhile, flies above and around hurricanes with its range of about 4,000 nm and cruise altitude of 45,000 feet. NOAA uses the G-IV to study weather systems in the upper atmosphere surrounding a storm, which can help predict its path. According to the agency, it has flown around nearly every Atlantic-based hurricane that has posed a threat to Americans since 1997.

Outside hurricane season, the aircraft are also used to study weather phenomena such as the El Niño system, atmospheric gases over the North Atlantic, and winter storms on the U.S. Pacific coast.

“Miss Piggy” so far has made two flights into Milton, passing through the eye of the storm multiple times in what NOAA calls a “butterfly pattern,” used to identify the center of a hurricane.

“Essentially, every time we pass through the center, we’re going to get a look at the structure of the storm,” said Jonathan Zawislak, a NOAA flight director.

During each pass, the P-3 released dropsondes, which NOAA describes as “weather balloons in reverse.” These expendable devices float on the ocean surface and collect temperature, dew point, wind speed, and pressure data, which can help researchers predict intensity and pathing. The aircraft also produced 3D imagery of Milton using its tail doppler radar.

“Gonzo” so far has flown three missions to collect readings on the air and water in front of Milton, which can “steer” the storm. The G-IV also released dropsondes and gathered tail doppler radar data, beaming it back to the NHC.

“On satellite imagery, the storm presents itself very small. It has a very small pinhole, and due to the intensification, the storm is evacuating air at a very rapid rate,” said de Solo during the preflight briefing. “Up at where we’re flying at 40,000 feet, we’ll feel that.”

NOAA hurricane hunters use tail doppler radar to create 3D imagery of storms, such as this map of Hurricane Sam from September 2021. [Courtesy: NOAA]

According to NOAA, similar missions will be flown before Milton makes landfall. On Tuesday, hurricane-force winds and a life-threatening storm surge are expected across the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The hurricane will remain “extremely dangerous,” NOAA and the NHC said Tuesday morning, and could produce an “extremely life-threatening situation” along Florida’s west coast, where a hurricane warning is in place.

“Preparations to protect life and property in the warning areas should be complete by tonight,” the agencies said in an update on X.

NOAA also intends to deploy uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) to assist its hurricane hunters. The agency owns two such systems, the Altius 600 and Blackswift S0, that measure temperature, pressure, wind, and humidity both for storms and the ocean surrounding them. Both aircraft are deployed from the P-3 and piloted remotely, capable of staying aloft for up to four hours.

Aircrews eject the drones from beneath the aircraft at about 220 knots, transporting them as close as possible to the eye of the storm. Data is beamed directly from the UAS back to the P-3, which then sends it to the NHC. The drones are capable of going places crewed aircraft cannot, particularly near the ocean’s surface.

As Hurricane Helene approached the U.S. Southeast, “Miss Piggy” and “Kermit” deployed several Blackswifts to study its composition and path. NOAA told FLYING the agency will fly similar UAS for similar missions as Milton grows closer.

NOAA and the NHC encouraged the public to pay attention to the latest Milton updates on the NHC’s website, noting that forecasts are constantly shifting.

Some NOAA hurricane hunter missions are supported by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters. Stationed at Keesler Air Force Base (KBIX) in Biloxi, Mississippi, the 53rd deploys a WC-130J Super Hercules to survey storms in the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico for the NHC.

A spokesperson for the Hurricane Hunters told FLYING the squadron flew three missions apiece on Sunday and Monday, with two more scheduled for Tuesday. It flew nine reconnaissance missions into Hurricane Helene last month.

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The post ‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Tuesday morning, the storm was categorized as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds around 150 mph and hurricane-force winds extending up to 30 miles from its center.

“A large area of destructive storm surge, with highest inundations of 10 feet or greater, is expected along a portion of the west-central coast of the Florida Peninsula,” the National Weather Service said Tuesday, calling it “an extremely life-threatening situation.”

Here are the Tuesday 10 am CDT #Hurricane #Milton Key Messages – The latest full advisory is at https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ pic.twitter.com/rNlYvXT3XV

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) October 8, 2024

Tampa International Airport (KTPA) suspended all commercial and cargo operations as of 9 a.m. EST Tuesday. 

“The airport will remain closed to the public until it can assess any damage after the storm,” the airport said in a statement.

The airport’s parking garages were also closed, and officials said it could not be used as a shelter because it is located in the “A” mandatory zone and “will not be staffed to assist others with supplies or assistance, nor will emergency services be able to respond to calls or transport individuals to or from the airport.”

• READ MORE: NASA Postpones Europa Clipper Launch as Hurricane Milton Takes Aim at Cape Canaveral

Airport staff have been scrambling to prepare the airfield to minimize the damage from the storm. The airport is managed by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which is also closing Peter O. Knight (KTPF), Tampa Executive (KVDF), and Plant City (KPCM).

St. Pete-Clearwater International (KPIE) in Pinellas County is also located in a mandatory evacuation zone. The airport said it would close after the last flight departed Tuesday and would remain shuttered Wednesday and Thursday because of the storm.

Hurricane Milton Update – The airport terminal will close after the last flight on Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday and Thursday. The airport is in a mandatory evacuation zone and is not a public shelter. Prepare and stay safe.

— St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (@iflypie) October 7, 2024

Orlando International Airport (KMCO) said it will stop operations Wednesday at 8 a.m. EST, although, according to a press release from the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), the airport will remain open to emergency/aid and relief flights. The airport is not a shelter, and officials said commercial flights will resume when it is deemed safe to do so pending damage assessment and weather.

Operational Update/4 – Hurricane Milton
On Wednesday, at 8 a.m., commercial operations will cease at our airport. We'll continue to monitor the hurricane's path and we'll post updates as they become available. Please continue to work with your airline in regards to your flight. pic.twitter.com/lM8qaL8s7v

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 7, 2024

At Miami International Airport (KMIA), the largest and busiest airport in the Sunshine State, officials said they were “closely monitoring” the storm and encouraged travelers to check with the airlines to confirm flight status before venturing to the airport.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (KSRQ) said it would close at 4 p.m. Tuesday EST, however, many flights had already been canceled.  

The FAA’s full list of  current airport closures may be found here.

SRQ is open until 4pm today and many flights have already been canceled.

We urge you to check with your airline directly to confirm if your flight is operating.

The airport will be closed tomorrow, October 9th and Thursday, October 10th.

#FlySRQ pic.twitter.com/B2x1NDFegK

— SRQ Airport (@SRQAirport) October 8, 2024

Milton is also impacting recreational flying. In Lakeland, Florida, the Flightoberfest festivities scheduled for Saturday on the Sun ’n Fun campus have been postponed, per a statement on the website.

“Our primary concern is the safety of our staff and guests,” event organizers said. The event has been rescheduled for November 16. 

The post Hurricane Milton Triggers Florida Airport Closures appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The spacecraft had been scheduled to launch Thursday from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The highly anticipated mission is seeking to find out whether Europa and its subsurface ocean could support life.

But on Sunday, NASA and SpaceX announced they would be standing down the launch attempt “due to anticipated hurricane conditions in the area.”

Workers have secured the Europa Clipper craft in SpaceX’s hangar at Launch Complex 39A at KSC, NASA said, and the center began preparing for Hurricane Milton that day.

“The safety of launch team personnel is our highest priority, and all precautions will be taken to protect the Europa Clipper spacecraft,” said Tim Dunn, senior launch director at NASA’s Launch Services Program, in a statement.

The announcement came as Milton was rapidly intensifying from a tropical storm into one of the strongest hurricanes on record. On Monday evening, the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center reported Milton was a “potentially catastrophic” Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 165 mph (270 km/h), threatening the northern coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

NASA’s Crew-8 mission has also been impacted by Hurricane Milton. The SpaceX Dragon capsule was scheduled to splash down Tuesday off the Florida coast carrying three NASA astronauts and one Russian cosmonaut, all of whom have completed a crew rotation at the International Space Station that began in March. The Crew-8 undocking has now been postponed to no earlier than Sunday.

KSC Will Face Weakened Milton

Milton’s winds are forecast to ease slightly before making landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a still-deadly Category 3 hurricane late Wednesday or early Thursday. Storm surge warnings are in effect for much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, with water rising potentially by as much as 15 feet (4.6 meters) in the Tampa Bay area.

However, by the time Milton crosses the peninsula and reaches the Space Coast, the storm is expected to have weakened significantly to a Category 1 hurricane, the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron reported on Monday. A Category 1 hurricane has sustained winds between 74 and 95 mph (119 and 153 km/h).

Although KSC lies in roughly the center of the cone of possible paths, it is not under a mandatory evacuation order. Still, “we do expect downed trees, power outages, possible cell service outages, and localized flooding,” said the 45th Weather Squadron, which is responsible for KSC’s launch forecasts.

All of KSC’s original major facilities—including the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and the launch pads—were designed to withstand winds of at least 104 mph (167 km/h). And every facility at KSC built after 1992’s Hurricane Andrew was built to a higher standard of 130 to 135 mph (209 to 217 km/h).

But that doesn’t mean the center is immune to wind damage. In 2004, Hurricane Frances ripped over 800 exterior panels off the south side of the Vehicle Assembly Building, leaving gaping holes requiring years of repairs—even though ground-level winds at KSC never reached hurricane strength.

How NASA Battens Down the Hatches

NASA has a well-defined hurricane preparation plan at KSC that it is currently carrying out.

On Monday night, KSC was at HURCON 3, or Hurricane Condition III, a status activated when surface winds of over 58 mph (93 km/h) could arrive within 48 hours. At HURCON 3, KSC’s protocol calls for securing facilities, property, and equipment.

HURCON 3 is also when NASA briefs and deploys the ride-out team (ROT)—a core team of around 100 to 120 essential personnel that will ride out the storm at KSC while all other workers are offsite. As the storm nears, KSC will go to HURCON 2 and eventually HURCON 1, with the ROT hunkered down and the facility closed.

During the storm, the ROT’s job is to keep essential infrastructure running. After the storm passes, the ROT will perform an initial damage assessment from a vehicle and do what it can before handing off to another team for a fuller assessment and to start recovery efforts.

When the facility is deemed safe, the rest of the center’s staff can return to work, including launch teams, who will assess launch pads and processing facilities for storm damage. Only then will NASA be able to set a new timeline for Europa Clipper’s launch.

“Once we have the ‘all-clear’ followed by facility assessment and any recovery actions, we will determine the next launch opportunity for this NASA flagship mission,” said Dunn.

The mission has daily launch opportunities during a window that runs through November 6.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on Astronomy.

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