LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Team Lackland will once again support the NASA Space Program by allowing the space shuttle to stop over at Lackland while on its trek home to Cape Canaveral at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Before Kelly Air Force Base closed in 2001, the airfield was the most frequent stop in a transport route as the shuttle made its way atop a Boeing 747 from Edwards AFB, Calif., to its Florida home. Support of the program at what was then Kelly AFB was dropped in October 2000.
"Of all the ferry stops in the U.S., this is the one that has been used the most," said Al Zipprich, director of operations for the 37th Operations Support Squadron. "During base realignment, Kelly stopped supporting the missions because of the uncertainty about its closing."
According to Mr. Zipprich, Lackland could be upgraded to an alternate landing site as early as October. Team Lackland has already received the necessary training for the upgrade.
Lt. Col. Tony Lombardi, chief, Human Space Flight Support, Houston, led the Lackland training last week and also conducted a survey of the airfield, another requirement for the landing upgrade.
"There are a few things we have to make sure we have available, so we're working on that now," Mr. Zipprich said. "We also had previous runway construction planned, but we should be ready by late October."
On its most recent ferrying trek in June, severe thunderstorms altered the shuttle's original route to Amarillo, forcing NASA to redirect the flight and land the piggybacked 747 at Kelly for refueling.
Team Lackland was able to accommodate the stopover with only a few hours notice. Word spread quickly through the city of the landing and impending takeoff. Hundreds of curious sightseers jammed medians and shoulders along Highway 90 and Military Drive around Kelly Field to catch a glimpse of the aircraft not seen in this area for nearly a decade.
But the shuttle ferrying system is an expensive option for NASA. Costs can run close to $2 million per trip.
"Team Lackland's ability to recover the ferry flight in June saved the shuttle from being on the road for almost an additional week," said Mr. Zipprich. "It would be NASA's preference if they didn't have to ferry because of the expense."
There are seven more shuttle missions funded through fiscal year 2010. Past experience indicates one of every four missions involves piggybacking the shuttle cross-country to its Florida home.
With that being the case, Team Lackland will be standing by. "We'll be ready if needed," said Mr. Zipprich.