Atlas V Damaged by Hurricane Wilma

The Atlas V standing in the SLC 41 VIF (I think this
is AV-010) was damaged - but apparently only slightly
- by Hurricane Wilma. The VIF door failed at much
lower wind loadings than it was designed to withstand.

Here's the story.

"http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-10-28T183101Z_01_SCH865244_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-PLUTO-WILMA.xml"

- Ed Kyle

Ed Kyle wrote:
The Atlas V standing in the SLC 41 VIF (I think this
is AV-010) was damaged - but apparently only slightly
- by Hurricane Wilma. The VIF door failed at much
lower wind loadings than it was designed to withstand.

Here's the story.

"http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2005-10-28T183101Z_01_SCH865244_RTRUKOC_0_US-SPACE-PLUTO-WILMA.xml"


Here is an update on the damaged Atlas. It says that
the first installed solid rocket motor will be replaced.

"http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/051102srbreplace.html"

It is unnerving enough that this Atlas configuration,
which will be carrying plutonium in an RTG on the
Pluto New Horizons payload - which must be launched
within a few-week window, has never flown before.
Now there is the uncertain question of damage from a
hurricane to add to the schedule pressure.

- Ed Kyle
- Ed Kyle