End of an Era: Detachment 3 Provides Human Space Flight Support

By Carla Voorhees

Detachment 3, 45 Operations Group is the office that coordinates DOD contingency support to our nation’s human space flight programs. Chartered in 1959 by the Secretary of Defense, the DOD Mercury Support Office and renamed later that year, the DOD Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS) was formed with the express purpose of providing DOD support to this nation’s manned space flight effort . . . putting people into space and returning them safely to Earth. Since those early days, the office has continued to be the focal point for all DOD contingency support to Projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project; the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station (ISS)/Soyuz Program; NASA’s new Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program and commercial spacecraft that will transport NASA astronauts to the ISS. This support includes astronaut and space vehicle recovery, worldwide communications, logistics and medical support.

The Commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) is the DOD Manager for Human Space Flight Support Operations. In 2007, the DDMS staff became part of the 45th Operations Group (45 OG) and was redesignated as Human Space Flight Support (HSFS). In 2008, HSFS was redesignated as Detachment 3, 45 OG. It remains the DOD Manager’s primary staff for support coordination to NASA’s human space flight programs. Additionally, Det 3 maintains a liaison officer at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and HQ USSTRATCOM. Detachment 3 (Det 3) has the responsibility for coordinating astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support, payload security, medical support, coordination of airlift/sealift for contingency operations, as well as other support services required in the event of a spacecraft emergency. To carry out these responsibilities, Det 3 receives and validates NASA requests for DOD support. The office then works with STRATCOM/JFCC Space to task combatant commands for supporting forces, and assists JFCC Space in monitoring the status of those forces during missions. Det 3 also provides liaison officers to both NORTHCOM and EUCOM during launch operations.

In the Kennedy Space Center area, USAF air-refuelable H-60 helicopters, HC-130 tanker aircraft, Pararescue and medical personnel are deployed to support launch contingencies and astronaut recovery. Additionally, the Marine Corps provides a KC-130 tanker for helicopter air refueling. To support the potential for a Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL), NASA has selected three TAL sites in Spain and France. These sites are Moron and Zaragoza Air Bases in Spain; and Istres AB (FAF) in France. All three of these TAL sites are activated for each shuttle launch. EUCOM supports these TAL sites with Operational Support Airlift aircraft for on-scene weather reconnaissance and in-flight checks of Space Shuttle unique landing aids, C-130 aircraft with pararescue and medical support personnel, and DOD fire/crash/rescue equipment / personnel.

Detachment 3 activates the Support Operations Center (SOC) at Patrick starting the day prior to a Space Shuttle launch and continues to operate through orbiter landing. The SOC maintains 24-hour contact with NASA and the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) at Vandenberg AFB. The SOC is the only DOD facility that maintains a 24/7 watch from Space Shuttle launch to landing. The center, for example, played a key role in providing support to NASA in response to the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986 and the Columbia disaster in 2003. While a shuttle is on orbit, designated DOD sites worldwide are ready to support a shuttle contingency landing. As the forward operating element of and in coordination with the JSpOC, the SOC receives status from these locations during mission support periods. On landing day, the SOC monitors the DOD fire/crash/rescue support and medevac helicopters at Kennedy Space Center, Edwards Air Force Base CA, and Holloman Air Force Base NM.

After landing at locations other than Kennedy Space Center, the shuttle is ferried back to Florida on a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Det 3 coordinates a USAF KC-135 / C-17 “Pathfinder” aircraft to transport NASA personnel and equipment supporting ferry flight operations. Office personnel fly with the NASA team on these ferry flights, providing specialized support en route at DOD installation stops. Due to the unique weather sensitivities of ferry flights, a dedicated weather support team is also assembled to monitor en route weather. This includes a DOD meteorologist to monitor weather conditions from the Cape Canaveral Forecast Facility in Florida, as well as a team of DOD meteorologists that travel with the ferry flight team, providing direct en route weather support.

The ISS uses Russian Soyuz spacecraft as the lifeboat on the ISS and as a vehicle to transport astronauts to and from the station. When US astronauts return to Earth via a Soyuz capsule, NASA has requested a standby aeromedical evacuation capability to be postured at Ramstein AB, GE. Det 3 personnel deploy to Ramstein for each landing to function as liaison officers with NASA, EUCOM, CENTCOM, the Kazakhstan Defense Attaché Office and as the command and control element for deployed forces should an aeromedical evacuation be required.

Det 3 is also fully engaged in supporting NASA’s Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program and Commercial spacecraft that will deliver NASA crew to the ISS with the DOD interface to rescue / recovery operations. The MPCV Program is designed to provide the United States access to deep space exploration.