Alas, It Wasn't Meant To Be... This Time
There were several long faces in southern New Mexico Friday, as
the Space Shuttle Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center, FL.
Although the shuttle did not land at White Sands Missile Range, the
emergency response team from Holloman AFB in Alamogordo stood ready
to launch into action.
As Aero-News reported,
questionable weather at the primary landing site, as well as
California's Edwards AFB, made White Sands the possible
alternative.
"Whether the shuttle lands (here) or not, we've had a successful
day," said Col. Mark Engeman, 49th Mission Support Group commander
and the Department of Defense on-scene commander for the
contingency response force. "This is a great chance for us to do
something we've trained for a lot."
Though the shuttle has only landed at White Sands once, in 1982
(right), the members of the CRF are no strangers to the hard work
of preparing for a landing.
The CRF, made up of
people from various emergency response agencies on base, work with
White Sands emergency responders and NASA to provide immediate
support should the shuttle have to land there.
"It feels good to actually do what we're trained to do instead
of training in a classroom setting," said Master Sgt. Charles
Robertson, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department assistant
chief of operations, referring to the preparations necessary in
case the alternate site was used.
Sergeant Robertson, whose job it is to provide standby services
for emergency medical technicians, said they treat every potential
landing as if it were the real thing.
"I volunteered for the CRF because I wanted to be part of the
team," he said. "This is a great team. We're ready to go out there
and do what is asked of us."
Sergeant Robertson wasn't the only volunteer looking forward to
the "real thing."
Allen Dalton, crew chief for Fire Station 2 and a 23-year veteran
of the CRF, remembers being around for the excitement of the last
landing in 1982. He said he's trained at Edwards AFB; in Houston;
and in Florida, and said it's good to be able to put the training
to use.
The colonel's message for the day was to stay calm, stay focused
on the mission and get the job done.
The CRF medical team stood ready to do just that. Lt. Col. Todd
Baker, 49th Medical Group on-scene commander, coordinated with
civilian medical facilities should members of the crew need
advanced medical treatment.
The team is trained and ready to provide that extra level of
security should something happen and will stay on the scene to
provide care as long as needed, he said.
Though the CRF convenes and stands ready to spring into action
anytime the shuttle launches and lands, this time there was a bit
more excitement in the air due to weather forecasts at the primary
landing location and, according to Colonel Engeman, NASA officials
were pleased with the amount of support from the Holloman and White
Sands emergency response teams.
"We were prepared ... all the forces were ready to go," said
Phillip Goss, 49th CES. The support was great and everyone really
came together. Maybe next time we'll get to see more."
(Aero-News thanks Senior Airman Terri Barriere, 49th Fighter
Wing Public Affairs)
ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.15.24)
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