45th Space Wing supports successful shuttle mission

  • Published
  • By Eric Brian
  • 45th Space Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  The 45th Space Wing provided continued support of the Space Shuttle Discovery from its launch on July 4 to its landing at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on July 17.

The Department of Defense Manned Spaceflight Support staff operated an around-the-clock Support Operations Center for STS-121 at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., beginning June 30, the day before the original launch date.

DDMS receives and validates NASA requests for DOD support, and is responsible for astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support and medical support. The SOC maintains 24-hour contact with DOD forces around the world.

"We provide DOD support in terms of emergency landing sites worldwide," said Lt. Col. Jim Hamblin, DDMS operations chief. "Each day NASA selects one of the three primary landing sites -- (Kennedy Space Center), Edwards Air Force Base in California or White Sands, New Mexico. A convoy stands ready at whichever site has been selected, and if there is a need to land there, they can go into action.

"Never in the history of the shuttle has NASA needed a (primary landing site), but we designate that just in case," he said.

Teams of DDMS members train people at all landing sites to handle a wide variety of situations, including emergency extraction of astronauts, off-runway landings, and egress of astronauts from the shuttle if the orbiter doesn't make it to a suitable landing site.

DDMS also handles the training and coordination of 24 additional DOD and DOD-supported emergency landing sites around the world.

In addition, the 45th Weather Squadron team coordinates weather both back at Cape Canaveral and at ferry flight landing sites throughout the return of the shuttle to Kennedy Space Center.

Weather is key to any landing, especially for the shuttle, according to 45th WS officials. During shuttle flight and landing, the 45th WS supports space flight meteorology at Johnson Space Flight Center, Texas. The squadron staff is responsible for analyzing pre-launch, launch and post-landing weather, said Launch Weather Officer Katherine Winters.

Landing constraints include cloud ceilings of less than 8,000 feet, showers and storms within 30 miles and crosswinds of more than 15 knots, she said. There are also headwind and tailwind constraints.

"Once the burn's done they have to go to the site chosen, and they have to land on the first shot," Ms. Winters said. "Once it lands, it's back in our hands."

As part of STS-121, the Discovery crew tested new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of space shuttles during missions. They also performed maintenance on the space station and delivered supplies and cargo for future station expansion.