Kennedy Space Center today is closed to non-essential personnel due to a water main break overnight that has cut off the center's water supply. Discovery's move from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building has been postponed to no earlier than Thursday morning.
At least one break appears to be just east of the assembly building, along the Saturn Causeway that runs parallel to the crawlerway. Bubbling water has formed what looks like a ditch next and a square cutout next o the road and a group of trucks and cars are staged there. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is not impacted, nor any other areas outside KSC.
The problem was known at least as early as 5 a.m., when managers met to review the status of Discovery's planned 6:30 a.m. rollover. Until the issue is fixed, shuttle operations are on hold because fire suppression systems are limited. Also, there is no drinking water or functioning bathrooms.
IMAGES: A utility worker examines the apparent site of a water main break at internal Kennedy Space Center. Below, an internal video feed of the same location. And a sign on a bathroom door at the Launch Complex 39 Press Site. Credit: Michael R. Brown, Florida Today.
28 comments:
If this was the company I work for, they would tell me to bring my own water, but they wouldn't let me waste a day of work.
right, you'd have to bring your own water...I guess you'd have to bring your own bathroom too, huh Gomer ?
"If this was the company I work for, they would tell me to bring my own water, but they wouldn't let me waste a day of work."
Bet your company doesnt have 12,000 people at its site, either
Are they being paid? If so when are they making up the work (or lack of) day?
No water main = no fire suppression for the thousands of ppl and flight hardware
Rumor is air conditioning is also impacted which means electronic systems will have to be powered down to illiminated over heating.
YOU ARE JUST SORRY YOU HAVE TO WORK AND WE DON'T YOU. YOU WISHED YOU WORKED AT KSC RIGHT NOW. ENJOY YOUR DAY
Read the OSHA regulations, US labor laws and workers rights laws
My mother told be to think before I spoke (that includes typing/blogging/commenting in today's world). If folks would do just that, then these comments might be worth reviewing.
The main reason is there is no fire suppression available so that will put the people in danger.
"If this was the company I work for, they would tell me to bring my own water, but they wouldn't let me waste a day of work."
Awwww! don't be bitter! I will have a beer for you at the beach today while you give your company all your hard work:)
I will be interested to know what caused the shortage of water! Then, how will it be fixed and when. Must report on all developments. There are many ways for troublemakers to do damage and usually one way to deal with them.
VOTE!
I blame Bush. I saw him lingering by the gate last night.
Use the down time to paint the dilapidated buildings, cut the grass, do things around the building, anything to earn their pay.
Oh I forgot. That would violate the rule of the International Amalgamated Federation of United of Brotherhoods for Exorbitant Wages in the Name of Obama Amen.
Ha ha...you people are just mad because you have to work today and they don't. It's fire supression, it's eyewashes, it's bathrooms, it's so much more. 12,000 people are affected. And I do believe if your employer had a water main break-they would have to shut down. Have no fear. This would fall under the same "disaster relief" that NASA has built in it's budget. And it won't make a dent in your pocketbook-ha ha..yep...they get a paid day off! For all of you that are so rattled by this notion. Have no fear. All of them (us) will be on a permanent vacation really soon.
I work in Titusville...bummer. Enjoy your day my friends!!
If they're NON-ESSENTIAL I see no reason to keep 'em---When they return greet them with a pink slip!!!
Hard to bring bottled water when you work in a restaraunt on base and was sent home. And no I am not being paid. I loose 8 hours of pay.. Im not mad. hey yall..where is the beach party?
When we receive our pink slips there will be many outside the gates also getting theirs.
... there sure are a lot of haters out there. The hygiene issues alone are too great, let alone fire suppression. Sending people home was the sensible thing to do.
Yes, haters abound in Brevard County. What a shame!
This includes the Visitor Complex, not including the Astronaut hall of Fame.
Not all employees are needed to safe systems and provide cooling to preserve flight hardware, chemicals, etc. Computer systems and equipment must be shut down, etc. It does not mean that these employees are non essential to normal shuttle proceesing operations. People should think before they speak and know what they are talking about! I don't understand why every blog I ever read has to turn nasty. Come on people!
ha some of "essential personnel" are kept here, paid an extra 10 bucks an hour putting away supplies, no toilets no drinking water no eyewashes no fire protection but we're here putting away materials for extra money.....
Yeh I think I will go shopping today and boost the economy here in Brevard. I need new tires and an oil change, and probably a trip to Publix too.
Essential Personnel in this case are those who are tasked working to assess the problem and safely work fixing it. The majority of Non-Essential personnel have critical jobs as well but unrelated to this problem which is affecting the working environment and necessary equipment. And, yes, this is on a government facility were OSHA laws and safety rules are taken very seriously, as they should be. No running water, no bathrooms, 12,000+ people, duh. The infrastructure is compromised.
Every blog you read turns nasty because there are a lot of very unhappy people in the world. They will find fault with anything and everything and blame it on the president or past administration to top it all of. These people have no lives.
Bad enough there are people out that that are elated with the thought of the KSC shutdown (and the loss of 14,000 jobs(I will never understand that mentality)Because guess what...those 14,000 jobs will result in 14,000 more in the private sector. Get a clue.
Brevard has been very blessed to have a facility that helps keep its economic base strong. People will miss the shuttle program when schools shut down, stores are already closing, empty houses, more crime. Any milliarty facities helps the local economy, keeps local business running. You'll miss it when your own jobs start disappearing.
I am violating my own rule here by commenting off topic, but I need to call the last poster out on something...with all due respect.
"those 14,000 jobs will result in 14,000 more in the private sector."
The spaceflight industry is very small. Chances are, there will not be 14,000 jobs. Private firms are much leaner then any government program. Those that do find positions will find much lower wages due to supply and demand in the workforce. Careers will be changed. Lives will be changed.
It IS a big deal for those affected. They built America's space program, something I am quite proud of. Like the Apollo teams before them, they deserve better.
As far as the water problem....go have a good time people. It's on me....a taxpayer.
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