Climate-related extreme events such as hurricanes,
sea level rise, and wildfires are expected to increase in the future and pose
hazards to NASA infrastructure.
Image Credit:
NASA
A new study in the latest issue of the Bulletin of the American
Meteorological Society provides an in-depth look at how NASA facilities have
been affected by climate extremes and climate change in recent years and how the
agency is preparing for the future.
Using a blend of weather data, global and regional climate model outputs, and
advances in the understanding of the climate system, the study finds that many
types of extreme events are expected to increase in frequency and magnitude in
the future and pose hazards to NASA’s mission, infrastructure and workforce.
The study found that by the 2050s, sea level rise alone could lead to an
increase of 50 percent or more in coastal flooding frequency with varying
impacts to NASA facilities, a high percentage of which are located near
coastlines. In total, the agency has approximately $32 billion in constructed
assets and about 64,000 employees, contractors and partners.
“Risk management is central to continuity of NASA operations, and the agency
is including potential climate extremes in its risk management framework,” said
Calvin Williams, assistant administrator for NASA's Office of Strategic
Infrastructure at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington.
A partnership between Earth scientists and institutional stewards is helping
NASA prepare for a changing climate and increasing vulnerabilities to such
change. The agency established the Climate Adaptation Science Investigator
(CASI) working group as an important part of this effort. The CASI initiative
brings Earth scientists together with facility managers, emergency management
staff, natural resource managers and human capital specialists at each NASA
center to discuss management of climate risks and resilience.
Workshops were held at five NASA centers that brought together climate
scientists, mission operations personnel, human resource managers, and ecosystem
specialists. Using the climate projections prepared by CASI scientists in
conjunction with each center, risks were explored and adaptation strategies
developed.
“NASA has cutting-edge climate science and world-class stewardship at its
facilities,” said Cynthia Rosenzweig, a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Institute
for Space Studies in New York, who led the study and the ongoing CASI
initiative. “Now climate scientists and institutional stewards are working
together to enhance resilience to climate extremes and change.”
The initiative strengthens the science community’s commitment to
understanding climate impacts, targets research to the needs of the agency’s
institutional stewards, and equips those stewards through workshops and ongoing
knowledge sharing as a basis for proactive risk management.
“NASA science provides an important knowledge base that the centers and their
surrounding communities can use in preparing for changing climate conditions,”
said Jack Kaye, associate director of NASA’s Earth Science Division in
Washington. “This integrated, science-based approach to climate risk management
can provide a model for other agencies.”
Adaptation strategies underway and under consideration include: beach
re-nourishment to minimize sea level rise and storm surge impacts; building
designs that reduce reliance on the remote power sources that may become less
reliable during extreme events; and, landscaping changes that reduce water use
in dry regions and capture rain water to reduce flooding in wet regions.
NASA satellite products and climate models are being used to inform
decision-making about energy and water use and other onsite assets.
Representatives from nearby agencies, such as local water departments, are
participating in the workshops to develop regional approaches.
The agency’s scientist-steward partnership reflects its commitment to deliver
value locally, nationally and globally through the sharing of common resources
such as water and infrastructure, as well as the exchange of risk information
and coordinated planning in the communities where NASA facilities are
located.
For details on specific impacts at many NASA facilities, go to:
NASA Statement Regarding Oct. 28 Orbital Sciences Corp.
Launch Mishap
The following statement is from William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator
of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Directorate, regarding the mishap
that occurred at Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops
Flight Facility in Virginia during the attempted launch of Orbital Sciences
Corp’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday, Oct.
28.
“While NASA is disappointed that Orbital Sciences' third contracted resupply
mission to the International Space Station was not successful today, we will
continue to move forward toward the next attempt once we fully understand
today's mishap. The crew of the International Space Station is in no danger of
running out of food or other critical supplies.
“Orbital has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in its first two
missions to the station earlier this year, and we know they can replicate that
success. Launching rockets is an incredibly difficult undertaking, and we learn
from each success and each setback. Today's launch attempt will not deter us
from our work to expand our already successful capability to launch cargo from
American shores to the International Space Station.”
Updates will be posted as available on NASA’s Orbital page, at:
An aerial view of the Wallops Island launch
facilities taken by the Wallops Incident Response Team Oct. 29 following the
failed launch attempt of Orbital Science Corp.'s Antares rocket Oct. 28.
Image Credit:
NASA/Terry Zaperach
The Wallops Incident Response Team completed today an initial assessment of
Wallops Island, Virginia, following the catastrophic failure of Orbital Science
Corp.’s Antares rocket shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 28,
from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight
Facility in Virginia.
“I want to praise the launch team, range safety, all of our emergency
responders and those who provided mutual aid and support on a
highly-professional response that ensured the safety of our most important
resource -- our people,” said Bill Wrobel, Wallops director. “In the coming days
and weeks ahead, we'll continue to assess the damage on the island and begin the
process of moving forward to restore our space launch capabilities. There's no
doubt in my mind that we will rebound stronger than ever.”
The initial assessment is a cursory look; it will take many more weeks to
further understand and analyze the full extent of the effects of the event. A
number of support buildings in the immediate area have broken windows and
imploded doors. A sounding rocket launcher adjacent to the pad, and buildings
nearest the pad, suffered the most severe damage.
At Pad 0A the initial assessment showed damage to the transporter erector
launcher and lightning suppression rods, as well as debris around the pad.
The Wallops team also met with a group of state and local officials,
including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia
Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Marine Police, and the U.S.
Coast Guard.
The Wallops environmental team also is conducting assessments at the site.
Preliminary observations are that the environmental effects of the launch
failure were largely contained within the southern third of Wallops Island, in
the area immediately adjacent to the pad. Immediately after the incident, the
Wallops’ industrial hygienist collected air samples at the Wallops mainland
area, the Highway 175 causeway, and on Chincoteague Island. No hazardous
substances were detected at the sampled locations.
Additional air, soil and water samples will be collected from the incident
area as well as at control sites for comparative analysis.
The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission reported today they
have not observed any obvious signs of water pollution, such as oil sheens.
Furthermore, initial assessments have not revealed any obvious impacts to fish
or wildlife resources. The Incident Response Team continues to monitor and
assess.
Following the initial assessment, the response team will open the area of
Wallops Island, north of the island flagpole opposite of the launch pad
location, to allow the U.S. Navy to return back to work.
Anyone who finds debris or damage to their property in the vicinity of the
launch mishap is cautioned to stay away from it and call the Incident Response
Team at 757-824-1295.
Further updates on the situation and the progress of the ongoing
investigation will be available at:
and
