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As NASA defended his factory during the hurricane "Katrina"
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Satellite photograph of the eastern part of New Orleans shows the flooded areas of the city with only one plot of land. Green Spot - a plant NASA Michoud Assembly Facility , which has become virtually an island in the midst of the sea. Photo done with the ISS.
Today marks ten years since the day when the hurricane "Katrina" came to New Orleans. August 29, 2005 the most destructive hurricane in US history, caused severe flooding that has covered 80% of the area of the city. Died 1836 inhabitants, the economic damage is estimated at $ 125 billion, while the population of New Orleans after ten years is only 80% of the original.
About storms and floods is much written and said, but Ars Technica published an edition story , which still was not known to the general public. This is a story about how NASA employees fought valiantly to protect from water production complex Michoud Assembly Facility.
Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) - one of the largest industrial enterprises in the world, it covers an area of 174,000 m 2 sup>. It produces some unique components for rockets NASA. In the early 2000s, are made the external fuel tanks to the launch vehicle, which displays the shuttles into the stratosphere. If the plant was flooded, it had to be frozen or even close the space shuttle.
The external fuel tank for the 114th expedition shuttle delivered from the factory MAF in New Orleans to Florida on a specially constructed for this mission barge Pegasus, Photos : January 6, 2005 i>
With the approach of hurricane "Katrina" the wind and the storm damaged the building of the plant. The wind speed of 200 km / h tore roofs co all buildings and one building completely carried away. The hurricane damaged and one external fuel tank for the shuttle (External Tank 122).
It soon became clear that the main threat is posed by flooding. 38 engineers led by Malcolm Wood (Malcolm Wood) refused to be evacuated. To protect the factory from the impending tide, they worked almost without sleep. First of all, they monitor the state of a five-meter dam and the work of the four powerful pumps that can pump out 235 tons of water per minute. Then they gradually put in order engineering facilities.
The building of 450 front-line of defense MAF i>
The pump motor in a building 450 i>
Once on the island, a group of NASA engineers protect the factory from the water, surrounded on all sides. Cell phones were not working, satellite communication was limited. Most of the remaining employees at the plant have lost their homes and belongings in the flood, almost no one could contact relatives. But they continued to do their job.
Alternating two or three weeks the army base is located rescuers who performed search and rescue operations in the city: about three thousand men of the National Guard, fur seals, marines, troops of the Canadian armed forces. Plant MAF was the only dry place in New Orleans, where they could stay.
Within a month, a group supported by NASA engineering infrastructure in order to solve problems, working often in the absence of electricity and clean water. NASA's least relevant experts should be sent by helicopter: the electricians and mechanics from nearby bases, they can stay for a day or two, do the job and fly back.
As a result, it managed to save the plant. During a hurricane NASA no employee was hurt, there was not a single injury or incident. By November 1, 2005, almost all 2,000 employees MAF can get back to normal operation.
Michoud Assembly Facility subsequently missed a single delivery of the fuel tanks on the schedule.
Malcolm Wood, now deputy director of the factory MAF, against the backdrop of pumps and levees in the southern part of the MAF, in July 2015 Mr.
After closing the space shuttle program seemed that the plant will not be easy to survive, but survived the "Katrina" is not afraid of any difficulties. MAF now working on contracts with private firms to develop space vehicles. Here, even the Hollywood studios make movies. But most importantly, NASA commissioned the construction of the plant superheavy carrier rocket Space Launch System (SLS), which will become the most powerful existing launch vehicle at the time of his first start. It will be able to place in orbit up to 130 tons of payload, and its plan to use at the first stage of the Martian program.
January 5, 2006 to all 38 members of the group of Michoud 38 awarded one of the highest awards of NASA - medals « For exceptional courage ». Before the hurricane "Katrina" in the history of this medal awarded slightly more than thirty people, and it was mainly the astronauts.
Source: geektimes.ru/post/261054/
Today marks ten years since the day when the hurricane "Katrina" came to New Orleans. August 29, 2005 the most destructive hurricane in US history, caused severe flooding that has covered 80% of the area of the city. Died 1836 inhabitants, the economic damage is estimated at $ 125 billion, while the population of New Orleans after ten years is only 80% of the original.
About storms and floods is much written and said, but Ars Technica published an edition story , which still was not known to the general public. This is a story about how NASA employees fought valiantly to protect from water production complex Michoud Assembly Facility.
Michoud Assembly Facility (MAF) - one of the largest industrial enterprises in the world, it covers an area of 174,000 m 2 sup>. It produces some unique components for rockets NASA. In the early 2000s, are made the external fuel tanks to the launch vehicle, which displays the shuttles into the stratosphere. If the plant was flooded, it had to be frozen or even close the space shuttle.
The external fuel tank for the 114th expedition shuttle delivered from the factory MAF in New Orleans to Florida on a specially constructed for this mission barge Pegasus, Photos : January 6, 2005 i>
With the approach of hurricane "Katrina" the wind and the storm damaged the building of the plant. The wind speed of 200 km / h tore roofs co all buildings and one building completely carried away. The hurricane damaged and one external fuel tank for the shuttle (External Tank 122).
It soon became clear that the main threat is posed by flooding. 38 engineers led by Malcolm Wood (Malcolm Wood) refused to be evacuated. To protect the factory from the impending tide, they worked almost without sleep. First of all, they monitor the state of a five-meter dam and the work of the four powerful pumps that can pump out 235 tons of water per minute. Then they gradually put in order engineering facilities.
The building of 450 front-line of defense MAF i>
The pump motor in a building 450 i>
Once on the island, a group of NASA engineers protect the factory from the water, surrounded on all sides. Cell phones were not working, satellite communication was limited. Most of the remaining employees at the plant have lost their homes and belongings in the flood, almost no one could contact relatives. But they continued to do their job.
Alternating two or three weeks the army base is located rescuers who performed search and rescue operations in the city: about three thousand men of the National Guard, fur seals, marines, troops of the Canadian armed forces. Plant MAF was the only dry place in New Orleans, where they could stay.
Within a month, a group supported by NASA engineering infrastructure in order to solve problems, working often in the absence of electricity and clean water. NASA's least relevant experts should be sent by helicopter: the electricians and mechanics from nearby bases, they can stay for a day or two, do the job and fly back.
As a result, it managed to save the plant. During a hurricane NASA no employee was hurt, there was not a single injury or incident. By November 1, 2005, almost all 2,000 employees MAF can get back to normal operation.
Michoud Assembly Facility subsequently missed a single delivery of the fuel tanks on the schedule.
Malcolm Wood, now deputy director of the factory MAF, against the backdrop of pumps and levees in the southern part of the MAF, in July 2015 Mr.
After closing the space shuttle program seemed that the plant will not be easy to survive, but survived the "Katrina" is not afraid of any difficulties. MAF now working on contracts with private firms to develop space vehicles. Here, even the Hollywood studios make movies. But most importantly, NASA commissioned the construction of the plant superheavy carrier rocket Space Launch System (SLS), which will become the most powerful existing launch vehicle at the time of his first start. It will be able to place in orbit up to 130 tons of payload, and its plan to use at the first stage of the Martian program.
January 5, 2006 to all 38 members of the group of Michoud 38 awarded one of the highest awards of NASA - medals « For exceptional courage ». Before the hurricane "Katrina" in the history of this medal awarded slightly more than thirty people, and it was mainly the astronauts.
Source: geektimes.ru/post/261054/
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