[Launch Alert] Wake Up Call

Sat Aug 13 11:00:46 EDT 2005

                             LAUNCH ALERT

			            Brian Webb
		        Ventura County, California
		        E-mail: kd6nrp at earthlink.net
	         Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info

				           2005 August 13 (Saturday) 07:54 PDT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

                            WAKE UP CALL

Last Tuesday the space shuttle discovery made an early morning
approach and landing at Edwards AFB. The event provided numerous
southern California residents with an unexpected wake up call in the
form of a powerful, double sonic boom.

I found the event interesting because I not only heard the boom, I saw
its effects.

At about 05:00 PDT I woke up at my home home in Ventura County and
heard on the radio that the Shuttle was going into Edwards. It was
still dark outside and rather foggy. As I walked into my home office
at approximately 05:07 PDT, I heard a loud BOOM-BOOM that shook the
house. The window was open about 6-inches and I saw the curtain
suddenly move about 1/2 of an inch. Dogs in the neighborhood started
barking and one of my neighbors walked outside, apparently wondering
what the explosion was.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                          DID YOU HEAR IT?

If you heard Discovery's sonic boom on Tuesday, I'd like to hear from
you. Please provide the following information:

   - Your name

   - Location at the time (city)

   - What you heard

   - Any other relevant details

It might be interesting to collect and analyze your reports to
determine the footprint of the sonic boom and perhaps provide advice
on how to hear and observe the space shuttle when it lands at Edwards
AFB.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

                VANDENBERG AIDS IN DISCOVERY LANDING
       By A1C Stephen Cadette, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
         Reprinted from Air Force Space Command News Service

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. – The 30th Space Wing supported the re-entry
and landing of the NASA Discovery space shuttle at Edwards AFB, Calif.
Tuesday through Western Range operations, 76th Helicopter Flight
support and emergency landing availability.

Normally on standby and ready to support a shuttle landing on a
moment’s notice, the 2nd Range Operations Squadron supported the
landing after weather conditions brought the Western Range up to full
operations, said Maj. Pell Thompson, operations officer for the 2nd
ROPS.

“This was an important return-to-flight mission,” he said. “It was
important things proceeded smoothly. We wanted to ensure we provided
the support that NASA requested.”

The Western Range’s radar and optical tracking instrumentation were
the first assets available to track the shuttle as it re-entered the
atmosphere, Major Thompson said.

“Manned space flight is a priority for the nation,” he said, “and it
is a privilege to be a part of it. Lots of people provided support.”

More than 50 people from Vandenberg were involved in the Western Range
operations, from tracking the shuttle at the different instrumentation
sites along the Central Coast, to processing the data coming in from
those sites at the Western Range Control Center, and transmitting the
data to NASA.

1st Lt. David Rodriguez, a range control officer with 2nd ROPS, pulled
his second all-nighter at the WRCC in support of the Discovery’s
return.

“We watched over our instrumentation to ensure public safety,” he
said. “The outcome was flawless; all instrumentation was green.”

Also weary after his second night spent in the WRCC, Wesley Fleming, a
mission control supervisor with Indyne Inc., was very pleased with the
outcome.

“Everybody was enthralled that the space shuttle landed at Edwards,”
he said. “I’m honored and proud of the part we played in making sure
the shuttle returned.”

Major Thompson said he was pleased with the cooperation involved in
the return of the shuttle.

“This operation demonstrates a big part of the way we operate at
Vandenberg,” he said. “Range operations is a mix of blue suiters,
civilians and contractors who work together to ensure the success of
the mission.”

Support was also provided by the 76th HF.

“A crew from the 76th Helicopter Flight went to Edwards to provide
security and be on standby to lend support in case a contingency
arose,” Major Thompson said.

Three Team V crewmembers and an aircraft were the primary security for
the shuttle, said Maj. Ronald Frantz, 76th HF commander.

“Our crew flew out the day before,” Major Frantz said. “Before dawn
they flew a support mission to secure the landing range and area
within the restricted zone, which encompassed a huge space. They used
forward looking infrared to sweep the area.”

Maj. Dona Harris, Capt. Steve Katsaris, and Tech. Sgt. Wes Simpson of
the 76th HF deemed the area as secure.

“Once we gave the thumbs up, then we went into a standby and acted as
backup medical evacuation for any emergency that happened with the
shuttle,” the major said.

The flightline at Vandenberg was also on standby, Major Thompson said.
In the event that the shuttle could not land at Edwards, the
flightline here was ready to receive it.

----------------------------------------------------------------------