NASA's Kennedy Space Center Still Closed in Wake of Hurricane Irma

Almost a full week after the passing of Hurricane Irma, this mecca for scientist and engineers, the astronaut clad rocket-launcher Space Center has no clean water.
By Cherella Cox ,

I guess it does take a rocket scientist to fix NASA's Kennedy Space Center's water woes. But they probably won't be allowed to enter the building until Monday. All launches are on hold and only essential personnel have access to the Space Center, according to a NASA spokesperson.

Almost a full week after the passing of Hurricane Irma, this mecca for scientist, engineers and launchpad of astronaut-clad rockets, has no clean water. The nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is also without water. Both facilities have been closed since Hurricane Irma hit Florida last weekend.

"Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will reopen Friday, Sept. 15," says a spokesperson for the complex' operator, Delaware North. The visitor complex is entirely visitor-funded and receives no tax dollars, says Rebecca Shirman of Delaware North, a privately owned company. 

Kennedy Space Center, though, is fully funded by the U.S. government. With only about 90% of its property surveyed, the costs to taxpayers to repair the faculty are unknown, says Tabatha Thompson, spokesperson for the Center.

Both facilities are not safe for staff or visitors, as there is no water to drink, or use to cook or clean. The Kennedy Space Center will likely remained closed until Monday.

When it comes to recovery efforts, it is all about location. Ironically, just 30 miles away from the space center, Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, Fl, is open for business.

"We opened Wednesday. Our water supply has been available but we were on a boil water notice until Thursday," says Andrea Hill, spokesperson for the zoo.

The Cocoa Utility Water System, which supplies potable water to those NASA facilities, the zoo, and about 82,000 other customers lifted a precautionary boil-water notice in several parts of Florida Thursday.

The supplier is searching for and repairing a series of "major" water main breaks -- a painstaking process being carefully broached as roadways become safe for travel.

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