By Lt. Col. K.E. Warren, 920th Rescue Group Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) — A rocket is about to launch, so two
HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters from the 301st Rescue Squadron here take off
to patrol the launch hazard area. Always on the alert, the aircrews ensure
that when people look up to enjoy the launch there is no potential for
injury if it falls from the sky.

The primary job of the 920th Rescue Group’s space launch support mission
is combat rescue, but the Air Force Reserve Command unit also helps keep
maritime traffic out of the LHA prior to launches from Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center. They ensure falling rocket
components or debris, in the event of a mission destruct, do not endanger
marine traffic in the predetermined impact zone or LHA.

For space shuttle launches, after the HH-60 crews complete their LHA
clearing mission, they fly to the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy
Space Center, where they join crews from two other HH-60s and sit alert
in case of a shuttle mishap.

At that point, the 920th RQG’s resources are assigned to the Department of
Defense manned space flight support office. In conjunction, crews from the
group’s 39th Rescue Squadron are on alert in HC-130P/N aircraft either here
or they are airborne about 175 miles downrange. They standby to support
search and rescue operations in the event of an accident.

When airborne, the HC-130 carries the “air boss” who coordinates the
on-scene search and rescue efforts. Each HC-130 is also loaded with three
RAMZ, or “rigging, alternate method Zodiac” packages and six pararescuemen.
The Zodiac is an inflatable 14-foot boat that can be airdroped and inflated
by the pararescuemen.

Reservists directly involved in the 920th RQG’s space support mission
include pilots, navigators, flight engineers, loadmasters, radio operators,
maintenance specialists and pararescuemen.

The only “action” the 920th RQG crews have seen recently involves “shooing”
boaters out of the LHA so launches will not be delayed.

“A tug boat pulling a huge barge did get into the box briefly,” said Maj.
Julio Lopez, an HH-60 pilot. “We made radio contact, and they left.”

On average, the “box” or LHA they patrol is about 60 miles long and 8 miles
wide, 920th RQG officials said.

A security force’s boat from Patrick’s active-duty 45th Space Wing patrols
the shoreline, while the Coast Guard ensures the ocean is clear up to 10
miles out. The HH-60 crews secure the rest. The helicopter crews also use
radar to monitor traffic up to 20 miles beyond the LHA.

“When we spot boats in the area, we call the eastern range’s surveillance
control officer to determine the risk factor,” said Capt. Robert Haston,
an HH-60 pilot. “We attempt to contact the boat by radio. If that doesn’t
work, we send out a message streamer — a sandbag on a line with a message
attached. We call in the Coast Guard if they still refuse to leave.”

Haston remembers a situation where a mariner did not want to cooperate, he
said.

“This one private boater refused to leave or come up on radio, then he
started making obscene gestures at us,” Haston said. “When the Coast Guard
ship arrived with federal agents in the bow, the guy quickly changed his
tune and became cooperative.”

That particular launch went off without any boat-related delays. Launch
delays, regardless of the cause, carry a large price tag. Not only in
dollars, but also in time and effort. The cost grows if the launch slips
to another day.

“Launch slips wreak havoc with our flying and training schedule,” said Maj.
Chris Hannon, director of operations for the 301st RQS.

In 2000, the 920th RQG supported 24 launch operations. But because of launch
delays and slips, those 24 operations resulted in crews arriving 37 times
and flying 125 missions. During the first four months of 2001, they have
flown 44 missions in support of 12 launches.

(Staff Sgt. David Byron contributed to this story. Courtesy of AFRC News
Service)

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1: http://www.af.mil/photos/images/0671a.jpg (291KB)]
Pararescue specialists from the 920th Rescue Group, Patrick Air Force Base,
Fla., train using the Zodiac boat. The primary job of the 920th RQG’s space
launch support mission is combat rescue, but the Air Force Reserve Command
unit also helps keep maritime traffic out of the launch hazard area prior
to space shuttle and other launches from both Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Courtesy Photo)

[Image 2: http://www.af.mil/photos/images/0671b.jpg (318KB)]
Rescuers from the 920th Rescue Group stationed at Patrick Air Force Base,
Fla., train for rescues at sea. The primary job of the 920th RQG’s space
launch support mission is combat rescue, but the Air Force Reserve Command
unit also helps keep maritime traffic out of the launch hazard area prior
to space shuttle and other launches from both Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Courtesy Photo)