Wilma's Wrath: Pluto-Bound Rocket Damaged By Hurricane | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.20.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.28.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.22.24 Airborne-FlightTraining-05.23.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.24.24

Tue, Nov 01, 2005

Wilma's Wrath: Pluto-Bound Rocket Damaged By Hurricane

Hangar Door Failed In Spite Of Tougher Wind Rating

That big DING! sound you heard last week came from Florida.

It was the sound of Hurricane Wilma slamming into the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's hangar housing the New Horizon Pluto probe. Specifically, it was the probe itself, sustaining damage from winds clocked at just over hurricane speed. Those winds damaged the hangar and, yes, damaged the probe.

"We're pretty confident this isn't going to be a reason to hold up the launch," said Lockheed-Martin spokeswoman Julie Andrews.

Seems winds of 76 mph were able to breach a hangar door designed to withstand gusts of twice that speed. The 200-foot tall rocket, standing vertically inside, along with some of the ground support equipment, were damaged -- but only slightly, according to Andrews.

As Aero-News reported in September, the New Horizon spacecraft, powered by 24-pounds of plutonium pellets, is scheduled to launch January 11th on a voyage that will take a decade to complete. In the process, it will fly around Jupiter two years from now to get the gravitational boost it needs to make the rest of its trip.

If there is any substantial damage, it'll have to be fixed quickly. The launch window closes February 14th.

FMI: www.pluto.jhuapl.edu

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.25.24)

“Warbirds in Review features veterans, aviation legends, and aircraft that simply cannot be seen together in one place anywhere else in the world. Many of these veterans main>[...]

Airborne 05.22.24: NS-25 Chute Failure, #HonorTheWASP, SkyCourier 'Combi'

Also: VAI v Anti-Heli Actions, Electric Aircraft Symposium, 2024 FAA Drone/AAM Symposium, Gravitymaster Blue Origin's seventh passenger flight ended with a smidgeon of drama when o>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.26.24)

“The importance of this YF-16 paint scheme is celebrating 50 years of the F-16 Viper. Everyone at Edwards has a big sense of pride for not only supporting the Viper Demo Team>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.26.24)

Aero Linx: National Aeronca Association We are dedicated to supporting the design and preserving the history of Aeronca aircraft. Founded by Jim Thompson and fostered by his leader>[...]

Klyde Morris (05.24.24)

Klyde Sounds Like He's Defining An 'Influencer' FMI: www.klydemorris.com>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 05.28.24: Jump Plane Down, Starship's 4th, Vision Jet Problems

Airborne 05.24.24: NPS Kills Rushmore Flyover, VAI v NYC, New Reno Home-Roswell!

Airborne 05.20.24: Van's BK Exit, Bud Anderson, Air Race Classic

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC