NASA partly reopens Kennedy Space Center...

NASA confirms and then delays reopening of Kennedy Space Center in Florida as Fay continues to batter coastline. Image: NASA.

U.S space administration NASA has confirmed the partial reopening of its east coast Kennedy Space Center after it was abruptly closed earlier this week due to concerns related to Tropical Storm Fay.

While the heavy rain and winds associated with Fay remain under the watchful eye of NASA, its individual Center supervisors have been given the green light to approve the return of “mission essential” personnel to the Florida-based installation.

According to NASA, employees allowed back will include those required to ensure the center’s infrastructure is safe and working, and also those who are considered integral for the processing of spaceflight hardware connected to the Space Shuttle and Hubble Space Telescope programs.

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is due to reopen later on Friday.

In terms of the effects left by Tropical Storm Fay as it passes through the region, NASA is keen to point out that it experienced “only minor damage” on a few of its facilities, including the Vehicle Assembly Building, which reportedly lost a section of its east-facing external panelling.

Update: NASA has since announced a delay to the proposed return of essential Kennedy Space Center personnel, citing a slow-moving Fay as its reasoning as the storm continues to subject the area surrounding Kennedy to heavy rains and extreme wind speeds.

In order to maintain close monitoring of Fay, NASA has said that around 200 emergency personnel, or “ride-out crew,” will be kept on-site to provide real-time storm assessments.