May 9, 2007

Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone 661/276-3449
FAX 661/276-3566

Leslie Williams 
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
661-276-3893
Leslie.A.Williams@nasa.gov 

RELEASE: 07-21

SPACE SHUTTLE CONTINGENCY TRAINING EXERCISE

Personnel from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Kennedy Space 
Center and Edwards Air Force Base conducted a training exercise this 
past weekend that would enable them to effectively handle the rescue 
of a space shuttle crew in the unlikely event of a landing mishap at 
the base. The exercises are held periodically to train Air Force 
fire/rescue and medical crews in aiding the shuttle crew in exiting 
the shuttle after a simulated landing mishap on or near the Edwards 
runway, escaping from the mishap area, and after triage assessment, 
safely evacuating injured crew members. Although NASA's Kennedy Space 
Center in Florida is the landing site of choice for space shuttle 
missions, Edwards AFB remains the primary alternate landing site in 
case weather or other situations preclude Florida as a landing 
option. 

PHOTO EDITORS: Publication-quality photos to support this release will 
be available for downloading from the Internet on and after May 10 
at: http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/STS-Misc/index.html series 
ED07-0094-XX 

TELEVISION EDITORS: Broadcast-quality B-roll video to support this 
release is available by contacting the NASA Dryden public affairs 
office at 661-276-3449, -3893 or -2665. 

For more on the space shuttles and upcoming mission STS-117, log on 
to: 
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

	
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