BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Brevard County Public Schools said students will still have class and the district will make some bus route adjustments as thousands plan to travel to the Space Coast for Monday’s historic Artemis launch.
In a video posted Monday, the school district said it’s expecting heavy traffic delays the morning of NASA’s Artemis I launch from Kennedy Space Center.
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“Schools will remain open on launch day and families and staff are strongly encouraged to make plans right now to prepare for the launch,” the district wrote on Facebook.
Superintendent Mark Mullins said school bus routes will be adjusted for several schools and more information will be sent out later in the week.
Artemis 1 Launch: Preparing for history. The launch of the Artemis 1 is scheduled for Monday, August 29th with the two-hour launch window opening at 8:33am. BPS expects heavy traffic delays on the day of the launch. Schools will remain open on launch day and families and staff are strongly encouraged to make plans right now to prepare for the launch. More information will be shared this week.
Posted by Brevard Public Schools (official) on Monday, August 22, 2022
Wednesday, spokesperson Russ Bruhn told News 6 bus drivers will avoid the 528 causeway, one of the most popular launch viewing sites.
Bruhn said the bus stops for students will not change.
“Talking with law enforcement, they are confident traffic will be manageable, slower than normal but manageable,” he said.
Bruhn said in recent history, schools didn’t close for space shuttle launches either.
Brevard County officials anticipate upward of about 200,000 people to flock to the area for the launch. The county is planning for major congestion in and around Kennedy Space Center.
Cape View Elementary School parent Tom Yarborough lives near Jetty Park.
“Whenever there’s a launch, that one road coming out is always backed up for hours,” Yarborough said.
Port Canaveral said on the same day of the launch, five cruise ships will carry about 40,000 passengers.
“I’m hoping that if I get her here early enough, 7:15 or so, but I still think we’re going to have a problem,” Yarborough said about driving his daughter to school.
The first moon mission for the Artemis program has a targeted launch day of Monday, Aug. 29, with a two-hour window that opens at 8:33 a.m. The Artemis program is the long-awaited NASA program to take Americans back to the moon and beyond, possibly to Mars.
If the first mission is successful, it will be followed by a crewed test mission that will orbit the moon. If that mission is successful, Artemis III’s goal will be to land on the moon. NASA said Artemis I will take up to 14 days to get to the moon.
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