Holloman, WSMR and NASA conduct shuttle emergency landing exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman Sondra M. Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --   More than 60 members from Holloman, White Sands Missile Range and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) came together for a shuttle emergency landing exercise at the White Sands Space Harbor, Oct. 30.

White Sands Missile Range, N.M., is one of many designated emergency shuttle landing areas across the world and Holloman maintains a contingency response force to respond for the first 24 hours before more help can arrive. This training helps the force stay prepared.

"This is the beginning of the season for the space shuttles to start flying," said Col. Stephen DiFonzo, 49th Mission Support Group commander. "It's important for all of us to be refreshed out here and for any new individuals to get spun up on the unique mission if it were in any case to land here."

As part of the exercise, a convoy of more than 15 vehicles traveled from Holloman to WSSH Thursday morning after being notified about the emergency shuttle landing.

Upon arrival, two different scenarios were played out.

"The initial exercise was an emergency return from orbit based on a cabin depressurization and in that scenario the Holloman AFB fire department passed with best effort response to the space harbor here," said Master Sgt. James Lindsey, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, fire department assistant chief of operations.

The second scenario was a nominal landing until a fire broke out once the shuttle was on the ground. Firefighter crews approached the simulated orbiter, got the crew out and loaded them into a vehicle. They were transported to decontamination and then released to the on-scene medical crew.

To make matters even more realistic, a WSMR helicopter landed several feet away from the medical crew to transport one astronaut in need of extensive medical care to William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.

According to the on-scene commander, Colonel DiFonzo, the exercise was a success.

"It was very impressive to see the Holloman, White Sands and NASA individuals to come together here to pull off this exercise today in a very precise manner," said the colonel. "I think it went very well."

This training, consisting of classroom briefings and the actual exercise, is conducted on Holloman once a year.

"Training like this is very important for our 49th Fighter Wing folks because it is not a typical Air Force mission that we do on a daily basis," said Colonel DiFonzo. "It's a great opportunity to have this mission here, and we look forward to the opportunity if it does present itself to bring our team out here and execute in the best manner that we possibly can.