Support crews from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Kennedy Space Center and the base teamed up in a mock shuttle recovery exercise on the flightline April 16th. The day began around 9 a.m. as a vehicle convoy snaked its way down the flightline to the main runway.

"We always come out for these exercises," said Dean Schaaf, Kennedy Space Center NASA convoy commander. "We have about 60 folks just from Kennedy (Space Center) alone."

About 93 people from Florida and Edwards AFB safely recovered the mock shuttle.

Around 11:30 a.m., the shuttle "landed" on the runway here; however, it was not a normal landing. As part of the exercise, the shuttle crew reported smoke coming from the cockpit during the approach.

After the shuttle stopped, emergency crews rushed to the orbiter to rescue the crew from the billows of smoke pouring out of the side hatch.

"Once the firefighters get inside the cockpit, they lower the individuals with straps on a ramp," said C. R. Eckroth, 95th Air Base Wing’s fire protection division logistics officer. "After that, they usually do a quick evaluation to get their vital signs."

Since Edwards is the secondary landing site for the space shuttle, exercises are held periodically to familiarize new people with landing and crew rescue procedures.

The Space Shuttle Discovery is expected to return to flight between May 22 and June 3. [ANN Thanks Senior Airman Matthew Dillier, 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs]

FMI: www.nasa.gov