spacetoday.net: Cape Canaveral preparing for Hurricane Irma

Posted: Sat, Sep 9, 2017, 10:59 AM ET (1459 GMT)
Hurricane Irma approaching Florida (NOAA)

Florida's Space Coast is preparing for Hurricane Irma. The Kennedy Space Center will be closed Friday and Monday due to the storm, with only a small "rideout" crew staying at the center over the weekend to monitor facilities as the hurricane passes. Center director Bob Cabana said he was optimistic the Vehicle Assembly Building and other major facilities will be able to handle the storm without serious issues. The Air Force issued an evacuation order yesterday for Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, effective at 7 am EDT Friday. In addition, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics announced Thursday it was cancelling its AIAA Space 2017 conference, which had been scheduled for next week in Orlando, because of the hurricane. United Launch Alliance announced Friday it was postponing a launch scheduled for next week in California to allow Florida-based workers supporting that launch to return home and prepare for the storm.