Human Space Flight Support (Det 3, 45 OG)

Detachment 3, 45th Operations Group, Patrick AFB, FL coordinates DOD contingency support for our nation's human space flight programs. Chartered in 1959 by the Secretary of Defense as the DOD Mercury Support Office (later renamed DOD Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS)), its express purpose is providing DOD support to our nation's human space flight effort . . . putting people into space and returning them safely to Earth. Since its inception the office has continued to be the principle facilitator for all DOD contingency support to Projects Mercury, Gemini, & Apollo; the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project; the Space Shuttle Program, the International Space Station (ISS)/Soyuz Program; the Orion Program, the Orion Program; and the Presidential commercial space initiative.

The Commander of U.S. Strategic Command (CDRUSSTRATCOM) is designated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) as the DOD Manager for Human Space Flight Support (HSFS) Operations. CDRUSSTRATCOM's HSFS responsibilities and authorities are for validating operational support resources requested by NASA, with the intent of supporting NASA with unique capabilities without adversely impacting principle DOD missions. As the DOD Manager's primary support staff, Det 3 45OG (re-designated in 2008 from DDMS) remains the principle DOD liaison for coordinating support for NASA's human space flight operations.

Det 3 is responsible for coordinating astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support, payload security, medical support, coordination of airlift/sealift for contingency operations, as well as other support services required in the event of a spacecraft emergency. The office further develops plans with USSTRATCOM and coordinates with elements of the military departments, combatant commands, DOD agencies, and other appropriate USG agencies support, and then assists JFCC Space in monitoring the status of those forces during mission execution. During significant launch and recovery HSFS events, Det 3 activates the Support Operations Center (SOC) at Patrick AFB which maintains 24-hour contact with NASA and the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) at Vandenberg AFB. Additionally, Det 3 has liaison officers (LNO) at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and USSTRATCOM at Offutt AFB.

With the retirement of NASA's Shuttle Transportation System, current Det 3 operations are focused towards supporting the International Space Station which utilizes the 3-man Russian Soyuz spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the ISS. When astronauts return to Earth via the Soyuz capsule, NASA requires a standby C-17 with aeromedical evacuation capability which is postured at Ramstein AB, Germany. Det 3 personnel deploy to Ramstein for each Soyuz landing to function as liaison officers with NASA, EUCOM, CENTCOM, and the Kazakhstan Defense Attaché Office. Should an astronaut aeromedical evacuation be required following a Soyuz landing, the Det 3 personnel become the C2 element for deployed forces.

Det 3 is engaged in supporting NASA's future human spaceflight programs as the primary DOD interface to rescue and recovery capabilities, such as the Orion Program that will take astronauts beyond low Earth orbit. Detachment 3 is further involved in NASA's efforts to partner with corporate entities developing commercial vehicles competing to transport NASA astronauts to the ISS. Det 3 also conducts training of personnel and units worldwide to ensure DOD is "ready to support" NASA's human space endeavors.

Current as of December 2011