Jolly green protects, serves for milestone Dragon launch

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  • By By Capt. Cathleen Snow
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --  A dragon breathed fire at 3:44 a.m. EDT for the first-ever commercial rocket mission to the International Space Station May 22.

Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., made history along with Space Exploration Technology's Falcon 9 rocket launch by securing the Eastern Range prior to lift off.

In partnership with NASA and the 45th Space Wing, Rescue Wing Airmen representing maintenance, life support and aircraft operators, reported to Patrick the night before the early morning lift off to prepare and fly two combat-search-and-rescue Pave Hawk helicopters for a mission over the Atlantic Ocean to keep an eye on the launch corridor.

"Supporting any landmark launch like this one is always a great thing to be a part of," said Lt. Col. Rob Haston, HH-60G Pave Hawk pilot (Jolly 1), 920th RQW, who has 17 years of supporting rocket launches to his credit. 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.

The dragon capsule is carrying 1,200 pounds of food, water, clothing and supplies for the ISS - a first for a civilian company. "its success is like the advent of the internet in the 1990s when commercial companies entered what was originally a government endeavor," according to the private company's founder, Mr. Elon Musk, in a SpaceX news release.

"For a little rocket it had a lot flame coming from it," said Haston. It was due to its power source he said, "kerosene."

Several days prior, they spent the early morning hours of Armed Forces day May 19 doing the same thing, serving as guardian of the seas, but that launch aborted due to a sensor issue.

"There was no launch window with this one," said Haston's co-pilot, Capt. Jason Tomas - A good thing for the Rescue Wing Airmen because when the launch didn't happen on its first attempt there is no additional hovering around. They are released.

They clear anywhere from a 16-20-mile wide by 50-70 mile long area on average supporting 45 SW's Range Control.

"They (range control) want us to clear 8-10 miles away from the azimuth. With a small rocket like this, it's small box, but because it's brand new, we kept it pretty clear," said Haston.

Due to their capabilities, Rescue Wing Airmen have supported every type of government agency rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast for the past 50 years, manned and unmanned.

"There are a lot of nuances to range clearing," Haston explained. "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," said Haston, "but they are tricks of the trade you learn."

Add no light to the mix. Airmen wore night vision goggles while the Milky Way Galaxy could be seen flickering overhead against the black sky, untouched by light pollution.

Aside from the glow of a handful of mariners passing through the night below, lighting flashed providing pulsing illumination periodically, approximately 40 miles away from shore on SpaceX's first launch attempt.

The mariners the Airmen made contact with each night they were out, 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 being held during the day, didn't factor into additional mariner traffic.

When all was secure for lift off, the launch left Earth on time May 22.

Explaining the significance of the launch in a SpaceX news release, Musk stated, "This mission heralds the dawn of a new era of space exploration, one in which there is a significant commercial space element...I hope and I believe that this mission will be historic in marking that turning point towards a rapid advancement in space transportation technology."

For more information and updates, follow the 920th RQW on Facebook or Twitter.

On SpaceX's web site it 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.