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Hurricane Nicole Gaining Strength, Headed for Bermuda

by VOA News

   Nicole has re-formed as a Category 1 hurricane and is gaining strength
   as it takes aim at Bermuda.

   The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says the storm has maximum
   sustained winds of about 120 kph and is expected to strengthen before
   its center reaches Bermuda on Thursday morning.

   Nicole was located about 575 kilometers south-southwest of Bermuda late
   Tuesday and it was heading northwest at 7 kph.

   Nicole forced the U.S. space agency to postpone a cargo supply trip to
   the International Space Station. NASA said the launch, initially set
   for Thursday, will now launch no earlier than Sunday from Wallops
   Island, Virginia.

   NASA said the delay was necessary because the mission requires the use
   of a critical launch-tracking station that is based in Bermuda.

   "The ability to support a launch will depend on the impact the storm
   has on not only our systems, but also the overall Bermuda
   infrastructure," said Steven Kremer, chief of the Wallops Range and
   Mission Management Office.