News>Jolly green protects, serves for milestone Dragon launch
Story at a Glance
• A Dragon breathed fire at 3:44 a.m. EDT for the first ever commercial rocket mission to the International Space Station May 22. • The dragon capsule is carrying 1,200 pounds of food, water, clothing and supplies for the ISS - a first for a civilian company. • During his range clearing duties over the years, Haston has witnessed three rockets explode - a Delta, Atlas and a Titan, so he knows first-hand the importance of the 920th's role in securing the Eastern Range.
Photos
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sits on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., prior to launching to the International Space Station May 22. Rescue Wing Airman from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., piloted two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters nearby as they went to working clearing and securing the Eastern Range to ensure safety beneath the launch hazard area prior to this historic milestone launch as the first commercial mission to the ISS. (Courtesy photo/Mike Killian)
Maintenance, life support and Aircrew Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. came together hours before sunrise to support the successful launch of the first commercial space transportation launch of a Falcon 9 rocket by the civilian company SpaceX Technologies. After a failed first attempt on May 19, Armed Force Day, the launch successfully lifted off May 22 at 3:44 EDT. Rescue Wing Aircrew Airmen took off in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters several hours before the launch and cleared the Eastern Range to ensure safety beneath the launch hazard area. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Maintenance Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. worked through the night to prepare two HH-60G Pave Hawk for their range-clearing support mission prior to the successful launch of the first commercial space transportation launch of a Falcon 9 rocket by SpaceX Technologies. After a failed first attempt on May 19, Armed Force Day, the launch successfully lifted off May 22 at 3:44 EDT. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Senior Master Sgt. Omar Rivera, helicopter aerial gunner, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. readies an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter for flight May 22. He and his aircrew team flew through the night to clear the range prior to the SpaceX Technologies Falcon 9 rocket launch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. ready an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter for flight May 22. Aircrew Airmen flew through the night to clear the range prior to the SpaceX Technologies Falcon 9 rocket launch, which will be the first commercial launch to the International Space Station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Master Sgt. Ben Codallo, aircrew life support technician, 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., fastens a military life preserver onto a Mr. Daniel Todd, owner of Octo-Interactive and Brevard Night Life, to prepare him for a flight on a Rescue Wing range clearing mission aboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter May 22 to cover the 920th's support for a milestone rocket launch, a Falcon 9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. ready an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter for flight May 22. Aircrew Airmen flew through the night to clear the range prior to the SpaceX Technologies Falcon 9 rocket launch, which will be the first commercial launch to the International Space Station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Pilots, Capt. Paul Carpenter and Col. Jeffrey Macrander, also the 920th Rescue Wing Commander, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., ready an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter for flight May 22. Aircrew Airmen flew through the night to clear the range prior to the milestone SpaceX Technologies Falcon 9 rocket launch, which will be the first commercial launch to the International Space Station. Rescue Wing Airman have supported rocket launches, manned and unmanned, for the past 50 years. They are on hand to secure the Eastern Range prior to every Space Coast launch. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Mike Killian, ARES Institute and AmericaSpace reporter/photographer covers a 920th Rescue Wing rocket launch mission May 22 at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. He photographs Airmen as they prep through the night for a range clearing mission aboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to support a milestone rocket launch. Killian flew with the Airmen several hours prior to a Falcon 9 rocket launch securing the Eastern Range for the first ever commercial mission to the International Space Station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Aircrew life support technicians from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., issued a pair of night vision goggles to Mike Killian, Ares Institute and AmericaSpace.com reporter/photogrpher to prepare him for a flight on a Rescue Wing's night time range-clearing mission aboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter May 22. Killian was there to cover the 920th's support for a milestone rocket launch. The Airmen and Killian flew several hours prior to a Falcon 9 rocket launch securing the Eastern Range for the first commercial mission to the International Space Station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
Mike Killian, ARES Institute and AmericaSpace reporter/photographer covers a 920th Rescue Wing rocket launch mission May 22 at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. Aircrew Life Support Airmen issued him night vision goggles to allow him to see during the mission. He flew along with the Airmen on their range clearing mission aboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to support a milestone rocket launch. Several hours prior to a Falcon 9 rocket launch, Airmen secured the Eastern Range for the first ever commercial mission to the International Space Station. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)
by Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
5/24/2012 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla -- A Dragon breathed fire at 3:44 a.m. EDT May 22 with the launch of the first-ever commercial rocket mission to the International Space Station.
"For a little rocket it had a lot of flame coming from it," said Lt. Col. Rob Haston, pilot of one of the helicopters, call sign Jolly 1.
"There was no launch window with this one," said Haston's co-pilot, Capt. Jason Tomas.
That was a good thing for the rescue wing Airmen because if the launch doesn't go on its first attempt there is no additional hovering around. They are released.
Three days before the launch they spent the early morning hours of Armed Forces Day serving as guardian of the seas, but that launch aborted due to a sensor issue.
The Dragon capsule is carrying 1,200 pounds of food, water, clothing and supplies to the International Space Station. This is the first mission of its kind for a civilian company.
"Supporting any landmark launch like this one is always a great thing to be a part of," said Haston, who is coming up on 20 years supporting rocket launches.
On average, the helicopter crews clear an area anywhere from 16 to 20 miles wide by 50 to 70 miles long in support of the 45th Space Wing's range control.
"They (range control) want us to clear 8 to 10 miles away from the azimuth. With a small rocket like this, it's a small box, but because it's brand new, we kept it pretty clear," said Haston.
During his range clearing duties over the years, Haston has seen three rockets explode - a Delta, Atlas and Titan - so he knows first-hand the importance of the 920th's role in securing the Eastern Range.
Due to their capabilities, Airmen from the rescue wing have supported every type of government agency rocket launch, manned and unmanned, from Florida's Space Coast for the past 50 years.
Working in partnership with NASA and Patrick's 45th Space Wing, aircraft maintainers, life support Airmen and aircrews come together to prepare and fly two CSAR Pave Hawk helicopters for a night over the Atlantic Ocean keeping an eye on the launch corridor.
"There are a lot of nuances to range clearing," Haston said. "You get to know the type of boats and generally where they are going. Tug boats try and get in close to the shore if they are traveling south," he said. "You may be dealing with 1,000-foot freighter with a non-English speaking captain or a brand new boat owner in a sailboat."
This experience is "not the sort of thing you pick up in Air Force regulations," Haston explained, "but they are tricks of the trade you learn."
On the night of the Dragon launch, the Airmen added no light to the mix. They wore night-vision goggles while the Milky Way Galaxy could be seen flickering overhead against the black sky untouched by light pollution.
Among the handful of mariners the Airmen encountered before the launch, they were met with full cooperation to change course and avoid the launch hazard area below. Even a Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix race held that day didn't factor into additional mariner traffic.
SpaceX's website lists the following mission highlights:
· May 22/Launch Day: SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launches a Dragon spacecraft into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
· May 23: Dragon orbits Earth as it travels toward the International Space Station.
· May 24: Dragon's sensors and flight systems are subjected to a series of complicated tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the space station; these tests include maneuvers and systems checks in which the vehicle comes within 1.5 miles of the station.
· May 25: NASA decides if Dragon is allowed to attempt berthing with the station. If so, Dragon approaches. It is captured by station's robotic arm and attached to the station, a feat that requires extreme precision.
· May 25 - 31: Astronauts open Dragon's hatch, unload supplies and fill Dragon with return cargo.
