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Department of Defense assets support search effort for space shuttle Columbia

Air Force Space Command News Service Story ID 03-24

February 04, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Courtesy of 45th Space Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Department of Defense assets currently involved in search, security and transportation operations related to the loss of Space Shuttle Columbia include: U.S. Air Force -- C-141 aircraft from McGuire AFB, N.J., will be used to transport NASA's rapid response team from Kennedy Space Center to Barksdale AFB, La.

Air Force Reserve Command -- six F-16s from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Texas (near Ft. Worth); part of search operations and security (precautionary measure).

U.S. Coast Guard -- 110-foot cutter from Naval Air Station, New Orleans; buoy tender and station boat from District 7, based in St. Petersburg, Fla.; patrolling area in Gulf of Mexico checking out reports of fallen debris.

U.S. Army -- 4 UH-60 helicopters from Ft. Hood, Texas; search operations.

U.S. Navy -- Dauphine helicopter Naval Air Station, New Orleans; search operations.

Texas Air National Guard -- C-130 from Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, Texas; search operations.

An Air Force Reserve Command HC-130 aircraft is on alert at Patrick AFB, Fla., ready to respond if needed. The Coast Guard also has 2 UH-1 helicopters standing by in Corpus Christi, Texas and a C-130 aircraft standing by in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Department of Defense Manned Space Flight Support Office here is the single point of contact for coordinating initial DOD contingency support for America's manned space flight programs.