Launch Schedule Changes After Ian

While The Kennedy Space Center weathered Hurricane Ian without any major damage, there will be slight delay now in the upcoming launch schedule. NASA said last evening, that it will allow employees to return to work at Kennedy Space Center starting today. Other NASA facilities will be assessed today and civil service and contract employees can return to work today in accordance with their supervisor’s guidance. Damage was said to be minimal at both Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Patrick Space Force Base, and both facilities are expected to start re-opening today. The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will remain closed to guests through today. It plans to reopen Saturday… including bus tours. The Space Coast had at least two launches planned this week, but because of Ian, the next launch has now been pushed back to no earlier than Tuesday, October 4th, with liftoff of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket set for 5:36pm on Tuesday. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule that will take three astronauts and a cosmonauts to the International Space Station is now set to launch no earlier than noon on Wednesday, October 5.