As Tropical Storm Ian, which might soon intensify into a hurricane, presses down on Florida, NASA has been forced to postpone the launch of moon rocket Artemis 1 for a third time.
Residents of the state have been emptying food store shelves as a result of the Tropical Storm, and now the nation’s space program has felt the anxiety as well, cancelling the launch that was scheduled for Tuesday.
After a 50-year wait, the Artemis 1 space launch vehicle will transport humans and equipment to and from the moon.
Apollo 17 was the last human lunar mission, and it took place between December 7 and December 19 of 1972.
Artemis 1 will not be able to launch within the launch window that closes on October 4 if the space agency decides to return it to its assembly location.
Officials from NASA said that they will make a decision on Monday after reviewing the most recent data on the storm from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Space Force, and the National Hurricane Center.
Technical difficulties prevented the rocket’s maiden flight at the end of August, and a fuel leak halted its second try in September.
Caribbean Storm Before making landfall in Cuba on Tuesday, Ian is predicted to intensify into a hurricane on Monday and achieve “significant” hurricane status, which is defined as anything Category 3 or above.
With gusts of 130 mph, the hurricane is predicted to make landfall in Florida sometime this week, perhaps late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning.
According to Jamie Rhome, interim director of the National Storm Center, Ian will be a major and destructive hurricane in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and will have an extensive effect on the Florida peninsula.
According to Rhome, “the surge sensitivity along the west coast of Florida is particularly significant,” and “it just takes an onshore or direct strike from a storm to pile up the water,” the susceptibility to surges is very high.
On Saturday afternoon, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an emergency proclamation that included the whole state and all 67 counties.
The most current forecasts from The Weather Channel indicate that Tropical Storm Ian will pass by Orlando, Panama City, and Tampa. Georgia and Alabama’s portions are also probably impacted.
Residents in the projected route have been encouraged to be ready for a hurricane as National Hurricane Center experts warn of the storm’s predicted course and intensity’s higher-than-normal degree of “uncertainty.”
Don’t assume that just because you’re not in that eye that you don’t need to make preparations, DeSantis added, “you somehow don’t have to,” as he emphasized the uncertainty surrounding Ian’s route.
The Florida Keys are included in storm surge advisories from the National Hurricane Center for coastal areas of Florida because forecasts estimate several feet of sea level increase.
The Center also foresaw the possibility of flash floods and estimated that certain sections of the state might get up to 6 inches of rain by Tuesday evening.
Senior hurricane expert John Cangialosi said on Sunday that it is unclear precisely where Ian would impact Florida the hardest.
He advised locals to start preparing, including stocking up on supplies in case of power interruptions.
It’s difficult to say “remain tuned,” but it is the appropriate message at this time, he added. You still have time to purchase your supplies, I say.
Schools in the western portion of the island have been closed as officials in Cuba evacuate certain sections of the island in preparation for Tropical Storm Ian.
According to the center, Ian was 140 miles south of Grand Cayman at 11 p.m. EST on Sunday, heading northwest at 13 mph. Its top sustained winds were 65 mph.
Just an hour before canceling his trip to Florida to support Democratic midterm candidates, President Biden also declared an emergency there and triggered federal disaster relief assistance for the state.