Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida with Class 5 power in new ISS footage (video)

A Class 5 hurricane bearing down on Florida starkly stands out in new area station footage.

Earlier as we speak (Wednesday, Oct. 9), the Worldwide House Station flew over Hurricane Milton because the storm made its method towards the west coast of Florida. Milton is predicted to make landfall as quickly as tonight, and tens of millions of residents throughout the state have been ordered to evacuate, in response to a number of media reviews.

“Milton has the potential to be probably the most harmful hurricanes on report for west-central Florida,” the Nationwide Hurricane Heart mentioned in an replace. Moreover, NASA’s Kennedy House Heart and the close by United States House Drive base at Cape Canaveral — each on Florida’s east coast — are right down to important personnel solely.

Hurricane Milton seen from the Worldwide House Station on Oct. 9, 2024. (Picture credit score: NASA)

“Tropical storm power winds are anticipated to achieve the spaceport by Wednesday night, with tornadoes doable forward of Milton’s middle of strategy,” NASA officers wrote of KSC’s standing in a weblog submit.

Associated: Dragon’s-eye view: Astronaut captures wonderful pictures of Hurricane Milton from area (photographs, video)

“Hurricane power winds are anticipated to reach early Thursday morning [Oct. 10]. Rain totals of 8 to 12 inches [20 to 31 centimeters] are anticipated by way of Saturday [Oct. 12]. After the hurricane has handed and winds have dropped sufficiently, middle services and infrastructure shall be assessed earlier than workers are cleared to return to work.”

The KSC guests middle can be closed to guests a minimum of by way of Thursday, officers wrote on X, previously Twitter.

We flew over Hurricane Milton once more as we speak about an hour in the past. It was not as symmetric as yesterday however it appeared bigger as we speak. pic.twitter.com/373GWmNcA6October 9, 2024

The upcoming arrival of the hurricane has additionally delayed the timing of two key area mission milestones beforehand anticipated to go ahead this week.

Crew-8, the eighth operational ISS mission by SpaceX, is now anticipated to depart the orbiting advanced with 4 astronauts no sooner than Sunday (Oct. 13) to permit time for the poor climate to depart the Atlantic Ocean space. A brand new climate briefing on the matter will happen on Friday (Oct. 11), NASA officers wrote in a current weblog submit.

Europa Clipper, a launch focusing on the Jupiter moon of Europa, has additionally been delayed from an anticipated Oct. 10 departure. No new launch date is launched, however the mission’s window extends by way of Nov. 6.