Hurricane Matthew impact on Florida and SpaceX facilities

[S'toon]

SpaceX Navy
The support ship Go Quest has left Port Canaveral ahead of the approaching Hurricane Matthew. It's heading to Jacksonville to shelter deeper inland and further away from the course of the approaching weather. Go Searcher, the fairing chase boat SpaceX uses occasionally, is trailing Go Quest by a few hundred yards, both in Jacksonville Harbor.

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The ASDS Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) is staying in place as it's very heavy and low riding in the water. It can actually fill itself with ballast and ride out any weather. It is however likely to have been towed to a basin which isn't in the main channel so that it is better protected from the storm surge.

SpaceX will lower the boom for the yellow crane which lifts the returned boosters onto land. They will also clear the port of all items in readiness for 130mph+ winds. With their new building a few hundred yards away it'll provide a better location to store wharf side items like cherry pickers and generators.

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SpaceX Pads
We've seen pictures of the pads (SLC-40 and LC-39A) in the last few days with some things still to be done. The burnt out Strongback on SLC-40 is strong in one direction to lift the Falcon 9s, but laterally it'll be at risk of toppling. This may be a major task as to date SpaceX has worked at the pad with it still raised. Update: Reports are it's been slowly dismantled by SpaceX and at last viewing the Strongback was almost gone. This would have been expedited this week. The tent at LC-39A which is covering the launch stand will be dismantled and cached inside the SpaceX Horizontal Intergration Facility (HIF).

Eye of the hurricane will impact Cape Canaveral at 6am Fri Oct 7th.
Projected water levels over the pads Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet
With water levels of 3 to 6 feet deep, there is significant concern for the boosters in the SpaceX HIFs.
Also with winds expected to gust to 140mph, the large buildings such as the VAB, SMARF and the HIFs are all in critical danger.

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Full article at:
Hurricane Matthew impact on Florida and SpaceX facilities. • /r/spacex

 

[HVM]

"
Wind Conditions Drop, Preliminary Damage Assessments Underway at KSC
Posted on October 7, 2016 at 3:17 pm by Sarah Loff.


The wind conditions at Kennedy Space Center have dropped below 40 knots and preliminary damage assessments are under way. KSC is now in a “Weather Safe” condition as of 2 p.m. Friday. While there is damage to numerous facilities at KSC, it consists largely roof damage, window damage, water intrusion, damage to modular buildings and to building siding. There does not appear to be damage to flight hardware at this time. The Damage Assessment and Recovery team will undertake more detailed inspection on Saturday and will enter all facilities. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be closed on Saturday and will reopen on Sunday. Based on the damage assessment, the return to work status for KSC employees will be determined Saturday afternoon."

 

[HVM]

Buildings near launch sites seem to be fine. But Solid Motor Assembly Building (SMAB) is damaged.

I hope these are not blown out F9 fairings...

 

[Grendal]

I don't think those are SpaceX buildings. I think those are ULA buildings. ULA does vertical integration and they need tall high buildings.

 

[HVM]

SpaceX uses Satellite Processing and Integration Facility (SPIF), part of SMAB:

 

[GoTslaGo]

SpaceX uses Satellite Processing and Integration Facility (SPIF), part of SMAB:

WOW! That dude has some serious "kicking tires" qualifications!

 

[HVM]

A SpaceX official told Ars, “Hurricane Matthew caused some damage to the exterior of SpaceX's payload processing facility at Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The company has a ready and fully capable back-up for processing payloads at its SLC-40 hangar annex building. There was no damage the company’s facilities at Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center.”

NASA photos reveal only minor space center damage from Hurricane Matthew