Air Force Det exercises with NASA

Brent Maney, 45th Operations Group Detachment 3, Patrick AFB, Fla., explains astronaut egress training from the docking hatch of the NASA Orion Capsule with Master Sgt. Kristopher Burridge, 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nev., during a recent exercise at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, Texas. Air Force Pararescue teams participated in an astronaut rescue and recovery exercise coordinated by Detachment 3 and NASA. The two agencies work together to prepare for 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. Detachment 3 was 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 programs, putting people into space and returning them safely to Earth. (Courtesy photo/NASA)