KSC Pad 39B Getting Makeover

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:

In the last half-century or so, has a major hurricane, tornado, etc.
ever scored a direct hit on KSC? What are the odds, allowing for
climate trends, for the next half-century? AIUI, there's NO back-up
VAB.

I believe the one that hit a few years ago (4-5?) would qualify as a
direct hit. The VAB definitely took some damage.

Hurricane Francis in 2004:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/New...w.php?id=25355

Pat

On Mon, 8 Jun 2009 10:24:06 -0400, "Jeff Findley"
wrote:

If part of the output of the committee is a recommendation to keep flying
shuttle for several more years (unlikely, but possible), then having only
one shuttle pad is a nuisance.

Not really. NASA seriously considered the single-pad option for
125/400 after the delay from October to May. The main reason they
stuck with dual-pad was because Ares 1X was way behind schedule
anyway. It complicates things, but it is doable.

I did say having only one pad is a "nuisance".

I know, and I disagree. A nuisance is defined as "an obnoxious or
annoying person, thing, condition, or practice". Single pad is no more
a nuisance for Shuttle than it is for Atlas V, Delta IV, or Ariane V,
and is no more a nuisance now than it was for the first 24 Shuttle
flights, a longer period of time and more flights than any of the
propsed Shuttle extension options.

Brian