T-3 Hours

Communications checks completed between the JSC Flight Director and the NASA Convoy Commander (NCC). (NCC located at the KSC Shuttle Landing Facility in the event of a Return to Launch Site Abort-RTLS.)

T-2 Hours

Completed communications checks with:

1. JSC Landing Support Officer (LSO)

2. Ground Operations Manager (GOM), Edwards Air Force Base

3. White Sands Airfield Support Coordinator

4. Dakar Ground Manager (DGM), Transatlantic Abort Site (TAL)

5. CCAFS SOC Director (DOD), the Emergency Response Team

6. Booster Recovery Director (BRD)

T-2:00

Booster Recovery Director reported heavy seas. (Note: BRD had earlier received permission to leave recovery area because of extremely heavy seas.)

T-1:55

Verified with Cape Leader (DOD) the readiness of the rescue helicopter.

T-1:20

NASA Convoy Commander reported readiness to support if required.

T-30 Min.

Verified RTLS, TAL and AOA sites ready to support if required.

T-20 Min.

Verified the RTLS runway number and passed this information on to the NCC. The LRD reported to the LSO that landing sites were ready for launch.

T-12 Min.

Verified the Cape Leader (DOD) had the contingency support operations ready for launch and emergency aircraft and personnel were on station.

T-9 Min. Hold

During the 10-minute built in hold at T-9 minutes, the LRD verified to the NASA Test Director that he was ready to resume the count and was "go for launch."

1140 EST

Personnel on board the SRB recovery ships did not observe the structural breakup due to cloud cover in their area. The Liberty Star and Freedom Star were notified by the LRD via the Booster Recovery Director (BRD) of the accident and were given the approximate latitude and longitude of the impact area. The two ships pro-ceeded immediately at best speed (15 knots) toward the impact point. The recovery ships pick-ed up several pieces of debris while en route to the impact area.

The first H-3 helicopter (call sign Jolly 1) was notified to take off and hold short of the safety zone established for falling debris.

1141 EST

Aircraft and ship search and rescue support was requested by the SOC using the search and rescue telephone network (SARTEL).

1142 EST

The National Military Command Center (NMCC) was notified by the SOC of the mishap and a continuous dialog was established.

1146 EST

The SOC requested Range Safety Office (RSO) provide an estimated time of when the debris impact area would be clear to allow rescue forces to enter. Estimate was 55 minutes. Periodic updates were requested.

1150 EST

Jolly I reported sighting debris falling and impacting the ocean surface.

1210 EST

An HC-130 aircraft and two HH-3 helicopters departed the Clearwater Coast Guard Station for the mishap area.

1214 EST

The Joints Chiefs of Staff (JCS) formed a Shuttle Response Cell. A briefing was provided by SOC personnel.

1230 EST

The second H-3 (Jolly 2) reported being airborne and proceeding to the area.

1231 EST

The JCS Shuttle Response Cell was provided an update by SOC personnel.

1237 EST

The RSO cleared SAR aircraft (three fixed wing, three helicopters) into the safety zone. Aircraft reported sighting debris even before entering the area.

1250 EST

All Department of Defense (DOD) forces not supporting the SAR activities were released.

1259 EST

The SOC provided an update of the current situation for the Chief of Staff, Air Force.

1311 EST

Miami Rescue Coordination Center was assigned responsibility of SAR mission coordinator for the SAR operations by Coast Guard COMLANTAREA.They requested the Eastern Space and Missile Center Aircraft Control Officer (ESMC/ACO) control SAR aircraft in the area for them.

1315 EST

The SRB Marine Operations Manager (MOM) had laid out the search pattern and directed the vessels in conducting the search. Hard contacts were identified via sonar on the bottom and their positions plotted. Both Liberty Star and Freedom Star launched their Avons to recover floating debris while the sonar search continued.

1356 EST

Three Coast Guard cutters (CGC) reported en route to the area.

1400 EST

Initial debris handling procedures were established. Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) personnel were placed on standby.

1624 EST

The NASA Landing Recovery Director (LRD) requested DDMS to initiate a major SAR effort when it became apparent that local resources would not be adequate.

1650 EST

DDMS alerted the Navy Supervisor of salvage and requested a representative deploy to Cape Canaveral AFS.

1715 EST

SAR aircrews were debriefed. Copies of logs, charts, and written statements were provided to NASA/EX-NAMO.

1730 EST

BRD contacted Perry Offshore regarding availability of the Remotely Operating Vehicle (ROV), SPRINT. The BRD also contacted SONAT in Houston, Texas to obtain the services of the ROV, SCORPIO. MOM directed Freedom Star to continue the search and Liberty Star to proceed to port.

1800 EST

Twelve aircraft from Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard were participating in the search. In addition, ten Navy, NASA and Coast Guard ships were in the search area.

2030 EST

Liberty Star and Freedom Star arrived in port to off- load retrieved debris.

2100 EST

ROM directed by KSC Deputy Center Director to call up whatever support necessary for mobilization.

29 January 1986

• The search and recovery efforts continued.
• The USS Dauntless was the On-Scene Commander (OSC) until the arrival of the USS Dallas, who assumed command.
• The LRD requested the Supervisor of Salvage personnel provide a preliminary briefing for NASA on their proposed plan of action.
• Members of the interim investigation team were appointed.
• Debris found on the beach was transported to Hangar F at Cape Canaveral and checked by EOD.
• ESMC requested augmentation for their EOD teams. DDMS tasked Eglin AFB to provide an eight-man EOD team. The team deployed via aircrafi to assist in the salvage effort. The Eglin EOD team arrived at Patrick at 1800 EST .
• DDMS requested assistance from the Foreign Technology Division (FTD), Wright Patterson AFB, OH, in determining their video tape analysis and enhancement capability.

30 January 1986

• Rear Admiral Cueroni (CC 7CG District) met with DDMS and NASA to coordinate Coast Guard support for the continuing search and recovery. Later in the day, NASA requested Supervisor of Salvage to conduct a subsurface salvage operation.
• OSC CGC Dallas recovered a large piece of fuselage which was brought into the dock.

31 January 1986

• The Navy started planning for subsurface salvage operations.
• The Coast Guard continued recovering floating debris.
• DDMS coordinated a request from NASA for Harvest Bare aircraft hangars to store debris.
• The recovery liaison group was formed.

1 February 1986

• DDMS coordinated with CINCLANT OPCONCEN for use of USS Guam to pick up an SRB frustum discovered floating off the Georgia coast. ESMC EOD and two Navy EOD personnel from NS Mayport were deployed to the ship via helicopter.
• At 0900 EST the Harvest Bare hangars arrived via two C-141's.
• NASA requested two metallurgist/safety specialists from Ft. Rucker, AL.
• The USS Guam recovered an SRB frustum.
• The Liberty Star deployed with side scan sonar provided by the Supervisor of Salvage
• Metallurgist/safety specialist arrived at KSC from Fort Rucker.

2 February 1986

• A Marine CH-46 helicopter airlifted the SRB frustum from the USS Guam to CCAFS. The EOD personnel were recovered and redeployed.
• The first underwater photography of debris identified a portion of the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).

3 February 1986

• CGC Cape Upright recovered Orbital Maneuvering Subsystem (OMS) helium tank off Charleston, SC coast. DDMS advised Cape Upright of hazards and sent handling instructions.
• OMS propellant tank was found by NASA SRB recovery ship.
• NASA determined the priority of items to be located/recovered as follows:

  1. Right-hand SRB

  2. Left-hand SRB

  3. Orbiter Crew Compartment

  4. Payload

4 February 1986

• Liberty Star made sonar contact with what was believed to be the right SRB. The Independence moved to the contact made by the Liberty Star and attempted to photograph same. Freedom Star [O153] worked close in targets and used the ROV Recon IV to photograph contacts.
• Tug Venture out of Mayport reported an orange cylinder with white stripes 67 miles east/northeast of Ponce Inlet.
• The USS Preserver retrieved a conical-shaped object 5.5 feet at base, 2.5 feet high, with stainless steel cone tip at 31°10'N 80°25"W.
• The SOC requested that the Coast Guard search a 30 NM circle centered at 29°00'N 80°10.5'W. The USCGC Dallas searched the 30 NM circle and did not find anything.
• Numerous scallop boats reported finding STS debris in nets. An EOD representative was sent to monitor catches.
• Set up of the Harvest Bare hangars was completed.

5 February 1986

• Ship and aircraft activities resulted in the following findings: The USCGC Bear found three pieces of light metal at 31°48'N 079°25'W; USCGC Tampa found a piece of burned styrofoam and a piece of cloth at 33°27'N 076°26'W; Freedom Star and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) made strong sonar contacts at 28°39'N 080°16'W; and Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) propellant and four small parts were brought in by two scallop boats.
• The Coast Guard sent a Notice to Mariners declaring the search area a safety area which suspended all fishing operations in the area.
• The Freedom Star returned to port for 24 hours and had side scan sonar installed. Liberty Star worked area 28°49'N 079°03'W moving toward the west. Independence stood by to identify contacts located by Liberty Star.
• Due to the dwindling amount of floating debris, the Coast Guard requested termination of the major surface search effort after 7 February. DDMS recommended termination of the major surface search to Mr. Crippen and received his concurrence.

6 February 1986

• No significant findings were reported. The Freedom Star and Liberty Star searched an area 1/2-mile wide (east and west) by 10 miles long (north and south) centered on longitude 80°16'44"W between latitude 28°33'N and 28°43'N. The Independence in port waiting for installation of the ROV Deep Drone.
• The USS Preserver divers and EOD divers received Shuttle orientation briefing. NASA and SPC engineers were put on board to identify items to be recovered.

7 February 1986

• DDMS relayed NASA's request that all military ships and aircraft operating off the coast between Jacksonville, FL, and Cape Hatteras, NC, be on the lookout and report Shuttle debris.
• The USCGC Tampa directed five fishing boats out of the safety/security area. Several small Shuttle items were recovered from the fishing boats.

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Date

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28 Jan

29 Jan

30 Jan

31 Jan

1 Feb

2 Feb

3 Feb

4 Feb

5 Feb

6 Feb

7 Feb