East central Florida’s natural environment and climate have shaped, and delayed, Kennedy Space Center launch operations since the 1950s.
launch operations since the 1960s. Torrential pop-up thunderstorms, Atlantic hurricanes, roasting heat, and other climatic phenomena, including lightning and fire, repeatedly hampered mission timelines and created dangerous conditions for astronauts and workers.
In May 1998, lightning sparked a fire in a wooded area of eastern central Florida. This lightning strike and fire were not extraordinary events. Quite the contrary. Over the course of central Florida’s long history, lightning regularly ignited wildfires in pine forests. These blazes were often short lived, but they served an important function. Namely, they burned off flammable undergrowth and rejuvenated Florida’s wilderness environments.
At one point the smoke from the fires was so thick, officials closed a 140-mile stretch of Interstate 95 and NASCAR officials postponed the annual 400-mile race at Daytona International Speedway, traditionally held on July 4The scene inside a NASA Huey UH-1 helicopter while it flies over fires burning in Volusia County, Florida.In response to the flames, Brevard County fire official Jeffrey Mahoney publicly requested that Florida Governor Lawton Chiles provide more firefighters and resources.
During the Shuttle Era, NASA’s readiness reviews accompanied the final readiness meeting the agency held two weeks before each launch. At this meeting, those involved in the mission ensured that earlier technical issues, and other concerns, had been satisfactorily resolved. Most importantly, a “go” or “no-go” launch decision was made at the end of this meeting.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Original Kennedy Space Center honored with plaque to commemorate early days of space travelCurrent and former employees attended the event to reflect on the advancements made since the beginning.
Read more »
NASA’s Newest Spaceplane: Dream Chaser Tenacity Arrives at Kennedy Space CenterScience, Space and Technology News 2024
Read more »
NOAA to launch final GOES satellite into space Tuesday 🛰️The launch is scheduled to take place Tuesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Read more »
NASA Preserves Its Past at Kennedy While Building Future of SpaceCurrent and former employees of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida gathered recently to celebrate the installation of a Florida Historical Marker cast in
Read more »
NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER: Robert Glasper's Black RadioFriday, June 7, 2024 at 9 p.m. on KPBS 2 / Stream now with KPBS Passport! Robert Glasper, five-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and producer, invites his tightly knit community of collaborators to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his iconic, award-winning, and cross-genre revolutionary album “Black Radio.
Read more »
North County LGBTQ Resource Center fundraising to move into larger spaceNia Watson joined the ABC 10News team in July 2021. Nia is from Stone Mountain, Georgia. She graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia, with a B.A. in Digital and Broadcast Journalism.
Read more »