Air Force Reservists ensure final Delta II-GPS launch success

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bryan Ripple
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Force Reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing here supported the successful launch of an a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket carrying a Navstar Global Positioning System spacecraft into orbit early today, marking the end of a near-perfect 20-year string of satellite-delivery missions.

The 125-foot tall rocket and its payload blasted off from Launch Complex 17A at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 6:35 a.m. (EDT). Sixty-eight minutes later, the spacecraft was deployed into an orbit 11,000 miles above the planet.

Wing helicopter crews were responsible for clearing the Eastern Range, the roughly 10-mile-wide by 70-mile-long strip of Atlantic Ocean that extends out from the launch pad in the anticipated direction of flight, or "launch azimuth."

In a worst-case scenario the rocket could shower debris or veer off course so the Reservists scan 1,000 square miles of ocean water for boats and ships.

The crews then divide the area and start making contact with mariners to warn any moving ships which may end up on the danger zone.

Several other units across the 920th Rescue Wing provided vital support, including aircraft maintenance and life support personnel.

"We are proud to be a part of these Global Positioning System missions," said Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Operations Group commander.

The 920th Rescue Wing is an Air Force Reserve combat search and rescue unit which performs more than 20 percent of the Air Force's CSAR mission. The Wing is comprised of 1,500 Airmen and flies both fixed and rotor wing aircraft: the HC-130P/N extended-range Hercules and the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter.

The flight was the 49th and final Delta II-GPS launch. Developed specifically to launch Navstar GPS satellites, the Delta II first sent up one of the spacecraft on Feb. 14, 1989. Forty-eight of the 49 Delta II-GPS missions were successful. New generation GPS spacecraft are wider and heavier and will be launched on Atlas V or Delta IV rockets.

To date, Rescue Reservists have supported approximately 400 launches alongside their active-duty counterparts.