No known storm damage thus far at KSC

NASA expects the center of Tropical Storm Ernesto to pass just west of Kennedy Space Center tonight, but shuttle Atlantis is secure at launch pad 39B with the Rotating Service Structure wrapped around it and weather protection systems in place.

Barring unexpected damage, NASA aims to resume preparations Thursday for a launch of Atlantis as early as Sept. 6. A launch window that day would open at 12:29 p.m.

KSC spokesman George Diller, one of 200 people serving on a NASA-contractor Ride-Out Crew, says the storm is expected to pass within five miles of the center between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight.

As of 2 p.m. or so, squalls of heavy rain were moving over the Space Coast but no damage has been reported at KSC.

Sustained winds at the pad are expected to be 46 to 52 mph with gusts up to about 63 mph -- well below the 79-mph threshhold for moving the shuttle back to the KSC Vehicle Assembly Building.

Rainfall is expected to be about three to five inches, although isolated areas might see six to eight inches of precipitation. NASA thinks the storm will be clear of the area by around 2 a.m. Thursday.

Preliminary damage assessments will begin as soon as possible. If damage is minimal and there is no hazard to personnel, NASA might be able to reopen the center for first shift Thursday. A decision in that case likely would be made between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Thursday.