News>Airmen at Zaragosa Air Base support NASA's final shuttle launch
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U.S. Air Force Airmen and members of the Spanish media at the Transoceanic Abort Landing Site at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, wait for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis July 8, 2011. This TAL is one of three primary landing sites within the U.S. Air Forces Europe area of responsibility that serve as a possible site for a space shuttle needing to make an emergency landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Bradley Tiefel (left), an 86th Medical Squadron critical care nurse, and Maj. Kevin Hettinger, a 435th Contingency Response Group physician, both from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, perform ops checks on their medical equipment July 8, 2011, at the Transoceanic Abort Landing Site at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, prior to the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis. This TAL is one of three primary landing sites within the U.S. Air Forces Europe area of responsibility that serve as a possible site for a space shuttle needing to make an emergency landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)
Spanish air force Master Sgt. Javier Rodriguez Celada, a 31st Wing C-130 Hercules mechanic, stands by while U.S. Airmen perform a start-up check on a C-130J Super Hercules July 8, 2011, at the Transoceanic Abort Landing Site at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain. At this TAL, along with two others within the U.S. Air Forces Europe area of responsibility, members of DOD, NASA and the Spanish air force work together to prepare for a possible emergency landing of a space shuttle. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)
Senior Airman Robert Trubee, a pararescueman with the 48th Rescue Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., checks his rescue kit equipment July 8, 2011, at the Transoceanic Abort Landing Site at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, prior to the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis. This TAL is one of three primary landing sites within the U.S. Air Forces Europe area of responsibility that serve as a possible site for a space shuttle needing to make an emergency landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)
U.S. Air Force Airmen and members of the Spanish media at the Transoceanic Abort Landing Site at Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, wait for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis July 8, 2011. This TAL is one of three primary landing sites within the U.S. Air Forces Europe area of responsibility that serve as a possible site for a space shuttle needing to make an emergency landing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory)
by Tech. Sgt. Chenzira Mallory
86 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
7/14/2011 - ZARAGOZA AIR BASE, Spain (AFNS) -- Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe provided support at the Transoceanic Abort Landing Site in Zaragoza, Spain, as NASA scientists concluded the shuttle program with the successful launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis July 8.
The TAL serves as a safe haven, in the event something goes wrong during the shuttle's assent and is equipped with a long runway, emergency crews on stand-by and specialized communication equipment.
The Zaragoza TAL is one of three primary abort landing sites within USAFE. Airmen deploy to TALs to augment teams comprising NASA, Spanish air force and other DOD members. Days before each shuttle launch, the Airmen provide support consisting of weather observers, firefighters, medics, communicators, para-jumpers and aircrews.
During this time they prepare by participating in simulated shuttle landing exercises while running tests on all their gear. On launch day, they stand by ready to support if needed.
Master Sgt. Armando Avila of the 886th Civil Engineer Squadron's fire department plays a vital role during these TAL missions.
"My job is to provide crash and fire rescue; to basically go in and rescue the astronauts if needed," Avila said.
Other members prepared the C-130J Super Hercules and C-21 aircraft in case search and recovery assets are needed away from the base. Staff Sgt. Ruben Rodriguez, an 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flying crew chief, ensures there aren't any delays in getting the para-jumpers where they need to be in the event of a landing.
"I ensure the aircraft is inspected, fueled and maintained, prior to each shuttle launch," he said.
This was the 135th shuttle mission Airmen deployed to support during the past 30 years. For some Airmen this was their first time supporting this mission.
"I feel privileged to be a part of this event," Rodriguez said. "It's not something you get to do every day. This is something you only see on TV."
The day of the launch, weather observers released meteorology balloons to ensure the conditions were safe for the shuttle to land. The para-jumpers and medical Airmen gathered and ops-checked all of their rescue equipment. Everyone worked within their own unique role preparing for the unthinkable to occur.
As the shuttle lifted off, the teams at the TAL gathered their gear and crowded around TVs to monitor the activities taking place. Being a part of this event held different meanings for everyone in attendance including Senior Airman Calvin-Klein Freeman, 86th Operational Support Squadron loadmaster.
"It's been a cool experience," he said. "Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to be an astronaut and today I feel like an honorary NASA member."
Comments
7/21/2011 2:36:20 PM ET The para-jumpers referred to in this article are actually Pararescuemen - 'PJs'. Their critical task was to parachute into the ocean with their RAMZ packages should the shuttle astronauts have to bail out of the orbiter. Pararescuemen are also involved in NASA's Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle performing similar functions as well as functions reminiscent of the Apollo missions.
James Thede, Nellis AFB
7/19/2011 2:54:19 PM ET The para-jumpers referred to in this article are actually Pararescuemen 'PJs'. Their job is to execute a RAMZ jump and recover the astronauts from the water if they had to do a Mode-8 bailout from the shuttle. There is no para-jumper AFSC in the Air Force but 1T2XX is the Pararescue AFSC.
