Summary Hurricane Matthew lashed NASA's rocket launch facility at Cape Canaveral on Friday
MIAMI (AFP) - Hurricane Matthew lashed NASA s rocket launch facility at Cape Canaveral on Friday, causing power outages and damaging roofs as heavy winds battered the Florida coast, the US space agency said.
Rockets, spaceships and crucial equipment for the US space program and private companies like SpaceX are all stored in the area, which is home to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC).
"At this time there is observed to be limited roof damage to KSC facilities, water and electrical utilities services have been disrupted and there is scattered debris," wrote NASA s Sara Loff on the US space agency s website.
By 9:45 am (1345 GMT), the worst of the storm had passed offshore from Cape Canaveral, NASA said.
About an hour earlier, around 8:30 am, Category 3 Matthew shaved past the NASA launchpad just 26 miles (42 kilometers) off the tip of Cape Canaveral.
Winds gusting up to 107 miles (172 kilometers) per hour followed by weaker tropical storm force winds are expected to continue until late Friday.
Officials warned that Cape Canaveral could see eight to 12 inches (20 to 30 centimeters) of rain, with storm surges of one to five feet.
Most employees were evacuated, but a skeleton crew of 116 people rode out the hurricane at Kennedy Space Center.
Their mission is to report on significant events to the Emergency Operations Center, located in the Launch Control Center at Complex 39, and take any actions needed to keep the facility secure.
"All facilities at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station have been secured," said NASA s Brian Dunbar.
Loff said workers should be able to complete a "more thorough" preliminary assessment of damage this afternoon.
"After the hurricane has passed and winds have dropped below 50 knots (about 58 mph), damage around the space center will be assessed," she wrote.
A more detailed, formal assessment is expected Saturday.
SpaceX said it was "closely monitoring the weather conditions and working with our partners at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to safeguard facilities and personnel."
