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NASA Preparing Bermuda Tracking Station for Hurricane Gonzalo Arrival

antares rocket on pad
Orbital Science Corp’s Antares Rocket on pad 0A at Wallops Island Virginia.
NASA/Patrick Black

A team from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia has secured the NASA temporary tracking facilities on Cooper’s Island in Bermuda in preparation for the expected arrival of Hurricane Gonzalo.

The storm is forecasted to impact Bermuda, possibly as a hurricane category four, Friday, Oct. 17.

The Bermuda tracking facility supports the launch of rockets carrying supplies to the International Space Station (ISS), including Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket, which launches from Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at the Wallops Flight Facility.

Because of the hurricane preparations, uncertainty of the storm and the time required to re-establish the temporary site once the storm passes, the NASA tracking facility will not be able to support the launch of an Antares rocket Oct. 24. The facility is a required asset for supporting ISS cargo resupply mission from Wallops.

“The Wallops range relies on the Bermuda downrange assets to track and maintain data communications with the Antares rocket during flight and ultimately to ensure public safety during launch operations,” said Steven Kremer, Chief of the Wallops Range and Mission Management Office.

An assessment of the tracking station and supporting infrastructure will be conducted after the hurricane passes. Wallops will work with Orbital and agency partners to establish a new launch date for the Antares. Currently, launch is scheduled for no earlier than Oct. 27.