[MilCom] Shuttle Support

[Steve Douglass]

According to an article in AW&ST the security surrounding this launch 
is unprecedented. Those close to the cape might be able to monitor 
the communications coming from many aircraft and stations, including:

Six  USAF F-16s tasked with patrolling the Kennedy area in tag-team 
flights of two, supplemented by FLA NAT GUARD F-15s

Airspace will be controlled and monitored by two E-3 AWACS and 
refueled by several KC-135 tankers.
Real time coordination of all units will be provided by the Southeast 
Air Defence Sector facility at Tyndall, AFB Panama City FLA.

Army Avenger surface-to--air missiles are positioned in batteries 
around the launch site with ground and sea surveillance provided by 
several USAF HH-60 helicopters and NASA UH-1 helicopters, all heavily 
armed.  Also in use will be a AN/TPS-75 radar with a 240-mile range 
capable of spotting aircraft with cross sections as small as 9 feet.

Other aircraft on patrol or on runway alert include:
4 USAFR HH-60 helicopters with the 301st Rescue Sqdn
1 USAFR/ANG HC-130m with the 39th Rescue Sqdn, Patrick AFB
1 USMC KC-130 with VMGR-252 at Cheery Point, N.C.
1 ANG HC-130 at 102nd Rescue Sqdn at F.S. Gabreski Airpoprt, West Hampton, NY
2 USN P-3 Orion from NAS Brunswick, Maine and NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
2 USN Navy E-2C from NAS Norfolk, Va (stationes at Patrick AFB) and 
providing C3 during any rescue operations.

Ships include:
The USS Gettysburg guided missile cruiser (plus it's SAR HH-60 helicopter)

-Steve Douglass






-- 
  You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me