Johnson Space Center to reopen Monday

HOUSTON, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency said its Johnson Space Center in Houston will reopen Monday after being closed Sept. 11 because of Hurricane Ike.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said International Space Station flight control will resume from Johnson's Mission Control Friday morning. Space station control was transferred to a backup facility near Austin, Texas, and later to another facility at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

"The Mission Control Center and other key Johnson facilities are largely unscathed, partly because of extensive preparations and the work of a hurricane rideout team of more than 60 people," NASA said in a statement. "However, some center buildings suffered roof, window and facade damage. Several light poles were downed, as were a number of trees."

NASA said information for its employees and contractors impacted by Hurricane Ike is available at http://www.nasa.gov/eoc.