The launch of the Europa Clipper mission has been postponed by NASA and SpaceX due to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit Florida this week. Originally scheduled for Oct. 10, the mission was set to investigate potential signs of life on Jupiter’s moon Europa.
NASA announced the delay on Oct. 6, citing anticipated hurricane conditions in the area. The storm is forecasted to bring high winds and heavy rainfall to Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island on Florida’s east coast, prompting safety measures to protect the launch team personnel and the spacecraft.
A new launch date has not been confirmed yet, but NASA stated that launch opportunities will remain open until Nov. 6. The space agency’s recovery teams will assess the safety of the spaceport and inspect the launch processing facilities for any storm-related damage once the hurricane has passed.
Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). FEMA has warned of “life-threatening” storm surges and wind impacts as the storm nears the west coast of Florida, with mandatory evacuation orders issued for several parts of the state.
Round-the-clock operations to clear debris from Hurricane Helene are ongoing, with thousands of Florida’s National Guardsmen assisting in the efforts. Governor Ron DeSantis reported that over 12,000 cubic yards of debris have already been removed, and more than 30,000 linemen are prepared for power outages.
The article was contributed to by T.J. Muscaro. Please revise
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