PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Wing reservists provided range-clearance and contingency support for the successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 ABS/Eutelsat-2 launch June 15 at 10:29 a.m. from Launch Complex 40 at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
The rocket ferried a Eutelsat 117 West B and an ABS 2A communications satellite. The Eutelsat will provide Latin America with video, data, government and mobile services, while the ABS 2A will distribute direct-to-home television, mobile and maritime communications services across Russia, India, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
As part of an integrated team, 920th Airmen launch in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter several hours prior to every Space Coast rocket launch to clear civilian and commercial marine traffic from the launch trajectory are, which extends roughly 80 miles east from the shores of Cape Canaveral.
The wing's primary mission is combat search and rescue (CSAR), which includes rescuing servicemembers trapped and/or wounded behind enemy lines. Additionally, the wing performs civil search and rescue and humanitarian relief.
Since being activated in 1956, the 920th Rescue Wing has saved roughly 4,000 lives, including more than 850 combat rescues. It is the only CSAR unit in the Air Force Reserve.
**Information from a 45th Space Wing news release was used for this story