“We must also demonstrate that there will be no significant lasting impact on the land, while ensuring the final proposed action from our client fits within the grand scheme." “If there is anything sensitive in a location, we must mitigate the activity so that way we do not create damage of any kind to the land,” said James Thomas, Environmental Engineer for the White Sands Test Center.
#Spaceship landing free#
The Environmental Assessment ensures that both the landing spots and vicinities are free of certain cultural and biological resources. However, it was narrowed down to two landing sites for this mission. Initially, seven spots were in the running to be the landing site.
They also have alternate landing plans that are executable within a few hours if the flight tests or missions need to return earlier than originally planned.Īdditional offices like the White Sands Test Center Environmental Office are also involved in designating the landing area. Since there are two potential landing sites on the installation, the entire WSMR team, Boeing, NASA, and all other personnel need to be prepared for the landing and recovery to happen at either location. “We also help Boeing move all their equipment from LC-32 to where they are landing, which could be White Sands Space Harbor or Range Road 26,” said James. If the weather or any other factor causes the module to shift from the agreed-upon landing sites between WSMR and Boeing, the crew module will need to land at an alternate site or delay the spacecraft’s return. The WSMR Meteorology Branch is heavily involved in providing weather data utilizing weather balloon releases. James noted that they determine the capsule's trajectory on the day of the anticipated landing and that weather is a significant factor. The Flight Safety Office obtains the trajectory profiles of where the capsule is coming in from and sends out an evacuation notice which is our standard protocol for safety purposes,” said James. “We work with several offices and people here at WSMR. Throughout the WSMR installation, several vital players provide their expertise and skills in making the Landing and Recovery Mission successful and safe for the surrounding communities. That specific SOP has different procedures to ensure we operate under safe measures.” For example, we provide them a Ground Safety Standard Operating Procedure to review and agree upon. “We deal with funding, scheduling, and all their required documentation. “We ensure that there is a private industry contract with Boeing in place to guarantee that they have the range elements that they need for their flight tests and missions,” said James. The Starliner landing mission is one project that James and her team work on throughout the year, working closely with the contractor, NASA, other external organizations involved, and all the WSMR personnel who support the mission. She coordinates with NASA, Spaceport, Virgin Galactic, and other space entities, especially when they need to utilize WSMR airspace. This is James' third year in the position, she works on the Starliner and other space-related projects at the installation. James works for the Materiel Test Directorate as the Air and Space Branch Test Officer at White Sands Missile Range. In November of 2019, the Boeing Pad Abort Test also landed successfully at White Sands Missile Range. This is the second landing of the Starliner spacecraft on the Army installation, the first landing was in December 2019. It is the next step in NASA and Boeing’s process as they prepare for a future crewed flight test followed by regular long-duration missions to the station. Starliner’s mission under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program will be an uncrewed test flight to the International Space Station, although it is a transportation system for astronauts. (Photo Credit: Anne Marie Chadima, White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs) VIEW ORIGINAL White Sands Missile Range personnel supporting NASA and Boeing's Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) landing and recovery of the Starliner spacecraft participated in a Mission Dress Rehearsal on at White Sands Space Harbor.