Team Edwards gears up, waits for Shuttle return

  • Published
  • By Stacy Garcia
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  With the approved "safe to come home" signal for the Space Shuttle Discovery, Team Edwards is still taking every precaution in preparing shuttle support.

Discovery, which launched into space July 4, is scheduled to land July 17, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida with Edwards as the primary backup landing site.

Even on standby status, Edwards is taking every step in preparation for the landing of Discovery here in case it cannot land in Florida. Nearly every organization at Edwards provides resources for the landing of the space shuttle. Operational support and installation support will play roles in bringing the orbiter safely to Edwards if necessary.

On the installation support side, the Edwards Fire Department is in charge of ensuring personnel safety within the orbiter as well as protecting the shuttle itself from fires.

The fire department uses about 25 to 27 fire fighters in various grades and various protocols with a total of 11 vehicles that await the shuttle before and after its landing to insure maximum protection of the shuttle and the space crew, said Joe Ybarra, 95th Civil Engineer and Transportation Directorate fire department chief.

Other on-call emergency services include the 95th Aerospace Medical Squadron. They play a crucial role in the landing and recovery operations, both airborne and on-ground support.

"We assess and stabilize shuttle crew members in the event of any type of mishap," said Capt. Vic Ledford, health promotions manager and Health and Wellness Center flight commander.

The 95th AMDS provides advanced emergency capabilities for the astronauts and any injured response forces.

"If ground or air transportation is necessary, our secondary role would be providing transportation to the closest medical treatment facility or hospital," Captain Ledford said.

The 95th Security Forces Squadron will provide security and protection of the orbiter and crew during shuttle operations as well as traffic and crowd control.

"We will secure the area to make sure there are no unauthorized access or any disturbances in the normal operation in the shuttle landing," said Staff Sgt. David Mirenna, 95th SFS staff NCO. Each patrol is given were they will be positioned and is given their special security instruction prior to the landing."

After the landing of the shuttle, the 95th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Bioenvironmental Engineering division assists NASA in patient retrieval, decontamination and monitoring hazardous chemicals on the shuttle. If contamination is detected, bioenvironmental engineering will control the contamination and assess the proper recourses to ensure adequate decontamination.

"We work closely with the fire department and the (95th AMDS)," said Lt. Col. Anne Barrett, Bioenvironmental Engineering flight commander. "Our main goal is to handle an emergency when NASA feels they need extra assistance."

Supporting NASA on the operating side, the 412th Operational Support Squadron provides radar coverage and weather updates for the space shuttle recovery, said Bill Gries, 412th OSS shuttle contingency coordinator. Seven days prior to scheduled landing, they supply briefings to the space shuttle recovery team. They also orient NASA on the shuttle's mission and objectives, expected time and date of landing, weather forecast, codes and what to expect.

"We get the notice the shuttle will arrive 24 hours prior to its landing to Edwards to give enough time to notify every organization to get in their proper positions," he said.

The space shuttle recovery team is a Team Edwards effort, Captain Ledford said. Each individual is fully aware of their role and responsibilities in the landing of the shuttle and are fully aware that, at any moments notice, they could be called to perform their duties they have been trained for.

"The planning and preparation of the space shuttle landing at Edwards is a job that must be taken very seriously," Captain Ledford said. "Certainly there's the thrill and excitement in knowing with each shuttle launch you may have the opportunity to watch an awesome aircraft land here."

The team camaraderie with the planning of the space shuttle landing is excellent and that's across the board with NASA and the Department of Defense, Captain Ledford said.