Structural damage to the airport hangar housing the AMSAT Laboratory in Orlando–caused when Hurricane Charley made its way across Florida August 13–has led authorities to condemn the building.
The storm, with winds of 100 MPH or greater, passed directly over the Orlando Executive Airport, which is home to the Lab. AMSAT now must begin a search for a new facility to support development of the Eagle satellite project.
On the plus side, the Lab’s equipment and inventory are in good shape, and AMSAT members in the vicinity weathered the storm with relatively minor damage.
On the minus side, AMSAT has little time to move out and find temporary storage for its belongings so the building can be razed, and its insurance does not cover the costs of temporary storage or moving to another facility.
AMSAT–a 501(c)(3) organization–invites tax-deductible donations to its “Hurricane Fund” to get the AMSAT Lab back in operation as soon as possible. Do your part to be part of a non-governmental Space Program, make a donation today!
http://www.amsat.org
Photos by Lou McFadin, W5DID, are on the AMSAT Web site http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/lab/