Aug 21, 2008

John Yembrick Headquarters, Washington 202-358-0602 john yembrick@nasa gov

Allard Beutel Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 allard beutel@nasa gov

RELEASE: 08-211

FAY DELAYS NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER PARTIAL REOPENING

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- Managers at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla , are delaying reopening the center for mission essential personnel Thursday morning because of slow-moving Tropical Storm Fay Personnel should not report for work at 10 a m EDT as previously directed, but instead should check the center's status through the hurricane phone lines and emergency operations center Web site at noon

Plans still call for the center to open to all employees and return to full operation Friday

Fay stalled off the coast from Kennedy overnight It continues to bring heavy rain and tropical storm force wind to the area

Individual center supervisors have defined which workers are considered mission essential These will include employees who are needed to ensure center infrastructure is safe and working, and personnel who process space flight hardware, such as space shuttles and Hubble Space Telescope equipment

Based on initial assessments, there are no injuries or damage to flight hardware associated with Fay at the center

About 200 emergency personnel, known as a "ride-out crew," remain on-site Thursday to provide real-time storm assessments

All Kennedy workers should check with the center's hurricane information phone line for the latest status at 321-861-7900 or 1-866-572-4877 Storm updates also are available online at the agency's emergency operation center Web site:

http://www nasa gov/eoc

Reporters also can hear the latest status by using Kennedy's media update phone line at 321-867-2525

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