Aug 19, 2008

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

Michael Curie Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4715 Michael curie@nasa gov

RELEASE: 16-08

NASA'S KENNEDY SPACE CENTER CLOSES FOR TROPICAL STORM FAY

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center will be closed Tuesday, Aug 19, because of the potential threat from Tropical Storm Fay Current plans call for the center to be closed for 24 hours, starting with workers' first-shift Tuesday morning Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex also is closed Tuesday

Kennedy managers are scheduled to meet again at 5 p m EDT to reevaluate the storm's status and its impact on the center

Fay made landfall Tuesday morning along Florida's southwest coast It is forecast to affect Kennedy Tuesday afternoon with heavy rain and possible tropical storm force wind

While most of Kennedy's almost 15,000 employees will not be at work, the center will have a small group of emergency personnel, known as a "ride-out crew," who will stay at the center to provide real-time assessments of the storm situation There are about 200 people on the ride-out crew

All three space shuttles have been secured in their Orbiter Processing Facilities The shuttles have been powered down in their hangars and their payload bay doors have been closed to protect them from possible damage Critical Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station flight hardware has been protectively covered

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

Center storm updates also will be available online at the agency’s emergency operation center Web site at: http://www nasa gov/eoc

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

For information about Kennedy Space Center, visit:

http://www nasa gov/kennedy

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