Rescue Wing Airmen support milestone Atlas V rocket with classified satellite

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla --  Air Force Reserve Combat-search-and-rescue Airmen from the920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., supported the successful launch of an Atlas V rocket on the 50th Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle mission carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite payload at 8:28 a.m. EDT.

Rescue Wing Airmen who pilot the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter took flight several hours before the scheduled launch to secure the Eastern Range. They patrolled the stretch of Atlantic Ocean beneath the launch trajectory ensuring no mariners veered into harm's way of potential rocket debris hazards.

The Reserve Airmen work side-by-side their active duty counterparts at the 45th Space Wing to maintain safety on the range for each rocket that launches from the Space Coast.

The NRO is the U.S. Government agency in charge of designing, building, launching, and maintaining America's Intelligence satellites to provide eyes and ears in critical places where no human can reach.

As a combat-search-and-rescue unit, the Airmen are trained to provide search and rescue services in humanitarian and combat environments. "(During a rocket launch) We'll stay airborne until the rocket launches, as long as the launch window remains open, "said Lt. Col. Robert Haston, 920th Pave Hawk pilot, and the chief of safety for the 920th RQW. This rocket launched on time but it had a 90-minute window.

This was a historic launch of the Air Force's EELV program, which has launches from both CCAFS and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

"Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles have allowed us to successfully launch 50 nationally critical missions over the last 10 years. We are proud of this launch success record, an amazing record in the history of space flight," said Gen. William Shelton, Commander, Air Force Space Command.

The 45th Space Wing commander was also pleased with the performance of the team for this historic launch.

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Editor's note: Information for this article was compiled from a 45th Space Wing news release.