The final landing STS-135

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Two Air Force Reserve HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, pilots and crew fly over the Space Shuttle Atlantis, July 21, 2011, at the Kennedy Space Center landing strip. Rescue reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., have been present since the start of the shuttle mission to clear the range and stand by in the event of a mishap. The 920th RQW uses HC-130P/N King refueling aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to transport their highly-trained and effective rescue teams, often called Guardian Angels. Their unique combat search-and-rescue skills and equipment make them the most qualified in the world to respond to any emergency scenario, the worst being one that would cause the astronauts to bail out over the Atlantic Ocean during liftoff. Even though the shuttle mission has come to an end, the Airmen from the 920th RQW are on hand for every rocket launch to clear the 1,000 square mile area, called the Eastern Range, over the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Major Matthew Simpson)

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Touch down!

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its return to Earth, July 21, 2011. This is the final flight for the Atlantis marking the end of NASA's manned space program. Rescue reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., have been present since the start of the shuttle mission to clear the range and stand by in the event of a mishap. The 920th RQW uses HC-130P/N King refueling aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to transport their highly-trained and effective rescue teams, often called Guardian Angels. Their unique combat search-and-rescue skills and equipment make them the most qualified in the world to respond to any emergency scenario, the worst being one that would cause the astronauts to bail out over the Atlantic Ocean during liftoff. Even though the shuttle mission has come to an end, the Airmen from the 920th RQW are on hand for every rocket launch to clear the 1,000 square mile area, called the Eastern Range, over the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Major Matthew Simpson)

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Touch down!

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its return to Earth, July 21, 2011. This is the final flight for the Atlantis marking the end of NASA's manned space program. Rescue reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., have been present since the start of the shuttle mission to clear the range and stand by in the event of a mishap. The 920th RQW uses HC-130P/N King refueling aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to transport their highly-trained and effective rescue teams, often called Guardian Angels. Their unique combat search-and-rescue skills and equipment make them the most qualified in the world to respond to any emergency scenario, the worst being one that would cause the astronauts to bail out over the Atlantic Ocean during liftoff. Even though the shuttle mission has come to an end, the Airmen from the 920th RQW are on hand for every rocket launch to clear the 1,000 square mile area, called the Eastern Range, over the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ryan Liss)

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Touch down!

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The Space Shuttle Atlantis makes its return to Earth, July 21, 2011. This is the final flight for the Atlantis marking the end of NASA's manned space program. Rescue reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., have been present since the start of the shuttle mission to clear the range and stand by in the event of a mishap. The 920th RQW uses HC-130P/N King refueling aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to transport their highly-trained and effective rescue teams, often called Guardian Angels. Their unique combat search-and-rescue skills and equipment make them the most qualified in the world to respond to any emergency scenario, the worst being one that would cause the astronauts to bail out over the Atlantic Ocean during liftoff. Even though the shuttle mission has come to an end, the Airmen from the 920th RQW are on hand for every rocket launch to clear the 1,000 square mile area, called the Eastern Range, over the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Ryan Liss)

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Team Rescue

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Team Rescue, comprising of Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing, stand tall during the final landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, July 21, 2011. This group of Reserve Airmen are comprised of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter pilots, crew, pararescueman and flight medics. These rescue responders have been the insurance policy ready to perform the world's largest search and rescue mission if called upon, during the astronauts' daring entries and exits into space. This is the final flight for the Atlantis marking the end of NASA?s manned space program. Rescue reservists from the 920th RQW, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., have been present since the start of the shuttle mission to clear the range and stand by in the event of a mishap. The 920th RQW uses HC-130P/N King refueling aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to transport their highly-trained and effective rescue teams, often called Guardian Angels. Their unique combat search-and-rescue skills and equipment make them the most qualified in the world to respond to any emergency scenario, the worst being one that would cause the astronauts to bail out over the Atlantic Ocean during liftoff. Even though the shuttle mission has come to an end, the Airmen from the 920th RQW are on hand for every rocket launch to clear the 1,000 square mile area, called the Eastern Range, over the Atlantic Ocean. (U.S Air Force photo/Major Simpson)

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Touch down!

Published July 21, 2011
By Capt. Cathleen Snow
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- As the sun rose over the Atlantic Ocean this morning, it shed light on a monumental occasion. The final landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis and the final time Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing from nearby Patrick Air Force Base will perform their duties as guardians of the astronauts.

Atlantis touched down on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at 5:57 a.m. EDT on July 21. After 200 orbits around Earth and a journey of 5,284,862 miles, the landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center here brought America's manned space program to a close after 30 years of space shuttle flights.

As a network of rescue responders, Rescue Wing Airmen have been the insurance policy ready to perform the world's largest search and rescue mission if called upon, during the astronauts' daring entries and exits into space.

It was nice knowing they were there as our security blanket all along said NASA astronaut Richard R. Arnold II.

For the Airmen, "its bittersweet," said Col. Robert Ament, 920th RWQ Vice Commander. "Our training that we've done, our equipment we provided for the space shuttle, the specific equipment that we built ourselves, that we developed within the 920th, that we used to rescue astronauts, is significant, and it was a huge contribution to the overall space effort."

Team Rescue spent the previous day removing auxiliary fuel tanks from the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters to make room for the NASA medicine and medical gear used to treat the astronauts in the event of a mishap.

Pave Hawk aviators and Guardian Angel Airmen showed up at 2 a.m. here to get ready for the final shuttle descent.

Overall 40 ground and aircrew personnel launched their aircraft shortly thereafter to clear the Eastern Range and preposition close to where the shuttle would touch down for the last time.

The Eastern Range is the 1,000 square mile of area beneath the shuttle launch path. Airmen spend several hours prior to the shuttle's return to ensure no one is in harm's way.

"The 920th Rescue Wing has stood by as search and rescue support for the manned space program since the early 60s, participating in one way or another," said Colonel Ament.
Mission success!

"This isn't the end of the space mission. We still have the atlas and delta rockets, and space payload mission. Man will go back in space, and we will need the continued support of the rescue units," said Col. John Madura, NASA Weather Official and former 45th Space Wing Weather Commander.

Rocket launches will continue and the reservists remain gainfully employed clearing the 1,000 square miles of Atlantic Ocean, not to mention the high-tempo of deployments overseas and the continuous maintenance of the aircraft; but something will now forever be missing.

Team Rescue will continue to focus more on its primary mission.

"Our number one priority has to be to maintain mission-ready status for all personnel recovery forces," Ament said.

With their highly trained rescue personnel, the 920th RQW stands ready to support the next era of manned spaceflight, willing to meet the needs of NASA's unique, evolving missions.

For more information on the920th RQW visit the website and facebook.

The final landing STS-135

Touch down!

Touch down!

Touch down!

Team Rescue