NASA's Johnson Space Center to Reopen Monday After Ike

NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is scheduled to reopen Monday, Sept. 22, ending its closure related to Hurricane Ike. Johnson shut down Sept. 11 as Ike approached the Texas coast.

International Space Station flight control is scheduled to resume from Mission Control in Houston during the morning of Friday, Sept. 19. Station flight control was transferred to a backup facility near Austin, Texas, and later, to another facility at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

The Mission Control Center and other key Johnson facilities are largely unscathed, partly because of extensive preparations and the work of a hurricane rideout team of more than 60 people. However, some center buildings suffered roof, window and facade damage. Several light poles were downed, as were a number of trees. The damage assessment and cleanup continues.

Johnson employees should check the center's Employee Information Line for status updates at 281-483-3351, and are encouraged to contact their supervisors if they have not already done so. NASA has a public Web site to distribute important information for NASA employees and contractors impacted by Hurricane Ike at:

http://www.nasa.gov/eoc

Source: U.S. Department of State

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