Every time the space shuttle readies for launch, hundreds of U.S. military men and women prepare for the un-thinkable — a situation that calls for the astronauts to quickly exit the shuttle or make an emergency landing. They assemble here and at remote landing strips in Spain and Africa. They are on ships off the coast of Florida, aboard aircraft circling nearby and at military installations around the world.
Being prepared for space shuttle contingencies is the primary mission for the Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office. DDMS coordinates all the military support to the space shuttle from all branches of the U.S. military and the U.S. Coast Guard.
"It is great to see how all the members of the U.S. military come together to focus on the mission," said Col. Tom Friers, commander of DDMS. "Everyone is excited to be part of a shuttle mission."
Before each launch, teams of DoD and NASA specialists deploy to transoceanic abort landing sites at Zaragoza and Moron Air Bases, Spain, Ben Guerir, Morocco, and Banjul, The Gambia. These specialists are ready to help the astronauts exit the shuttle and secure the spacecraft.
Other key people at military bases along the East Coast of the United States and around the world are on standby for a space shuttle emergency landing.
"We provide special training to the men and women who would have to quickly react to an emergency," Friers said. "Our instructors conduct special sessions for medical, fire and rescue, and other on-scene people."
Should the shuttle have to make an emergency landing, DDMS would arrange to fly a support team of NASA specialists to the location within 24 hours. Then they would begin planning for the transportation of people an equipment necessary to recover and return the shuttle.
If the astronauts had to quickly leave or bail out of the shuttle on the pad or shortly after launch, DDMS would direct a search-and-rescue operation using helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and ships.
DDMS tailors a support package for each shuttle launch taking into account the launch profile, appropriate alternate and emergency landing sites, and DoD resources available.
"We¿re serious about our preparations," Friers added. "We¿re ready for anything, but happiest when we don¿t have to do our job!"
