News Tornado at NASA Michoud assembly facility

[Urwumpe]

The Michoud facility of NASA has been hit by a large tornado yesterday, February 7. All 3500 employees are safe, only five injuries, but there is some bad damage on buildings and parked cars. Building 103, the main manufacturing building has roof damage, building 350 and additional structures are reported damaged as well. Approximately 200 parked cars had been damaged.

The facility will remain closed for today. No damage has been reported on Barge Pegasus or SLS hardware. The employees had been evacuated from the facility, local law enforcement helped to ensure all arrive home safely.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/tornado-recovery-underway-at-nasa-s-michoud-assembly-facility

I hope all Orbiter supporters in the region are safe, looks like the bad weather continues for the next days. I remember a few Orbiter users live in the region around New Orleans.

 

[Urwumpe]

Now, there is one big loss by the Michoud tornado. The first Space Shuttle external tank to stand on a launchpad, ET-GVTA, was in outside storage and got destroyed by the tornado. Eye witnesses saw it fly in the air, which likely made it fly higher than ever during its career.

http://www.space.com/35639-tornado-destroys-first-space-shuttle-fuel-tank.html

 

[DaveS]

Now, there is one big loss by the Michoud tornado. The first Space Shuttle external tank to stand on a launchpad, ET-GVTA, was in outside storage and got destroyed by the tornado. Eye witnesses saw it fly in the air, which likely made it fly higher than ever during its career.

http://www.space.com/35639-tornado-destroys-first-space-shuttle-fuel-tank.html

Not sure about that. Given it was the GVTA ET it got see some heights during it's short career being lifted in/out of the vibration facility at MSFC and being used once again for the mechanical FVV tests of 39A with Enterprise.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, being lifted on a crane is not really free flight. But the good news: The first flight-ready ET and a Saturn stage got moved into a museum last year, they had been stored on the same lot for years.

 

[DaveS]

Well, being lifted on a crane is not really free flight. But the good news: The first flight-ready ET and a Saturn stage got moved into a museum last year, they had been stored on the same lot for years.

Are you sure that you're not confusing it with ET-94, the last remaining LWT? ET-94 will be used with Endeavour for the California Science Center to create the only vertical shuttle exhibit. And it's not indoor, it's still outdoor in a lot next to the shed that has Endeavour.

 

[Urwumpe]

Are you sure that you're not confusing it with ET-94, the last remaining LWT? ET-94 will be used with Endeavour for the California Science Center to create the only vertical shuttle exhibit. And it's not indoor, it's still outdoor in a lot next to the shed that has Endeavour.

ET-94 was the one. But still the destroyed article is ET-GTVA.

 

[DaveS]

ET-94 was the one. But still the destroyed article is ET-GTVA.

Yes, but it wasn't that special. Still got the MPTA mated to the first flight-set of FWC SRMs and Pathfinder.

 

[richfororbit]

Now, there is one big loss by the Michoud tornado. The first Space Shuttle external tank to stand on a launchpad, ET-GVTA, was in outside storage and got destroyed by the tornado. Eye witnesses saw it fly in the air, which likely made it fly higher than ever during its career.

http://www.space.com/35639-tornado-destroys-first-space-shuttle-fuel-tank.html

LOL

I read about this but I wasn't aware that there was much damaged.

A vehicle was literally totaled in the car park.

 

[Quick_Nick]

LOL

I read about this but I wasn't aware that there was much damaged.

A vehicle was literally totaled in the car park.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

"A" vehicle?

 

[richfororbit]

Well I saw the NASA image, and it showed the crushed top of that SUV.

But yeah, just the idea of the tank flying around, sort of dark humor.

Nobody was killed, it isn't like I was making fun of somebody dying.