Reservists ship satellites 'first class' - Round The Reserve

Handle with care. Fragile. This side up.

What kind of label do you put on a $60 million container being shipped into space? You could label it "no problem" if the 31st Aerial Port Squadron is handling the shipment.

In December, the latest Lockheed Martin satellite began its journey to space with a stop at Willow Grove Air Reserve Station. Pa.

For more than 20 years, the 31st APS has been helping the company transport satellites to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Station in Florida, where they are launched into orbit. During that time, the reservists have achieved a perfect performance and safety record.

Most recently the aerial porters loaded a Lockheed Martin global positioning system replenishment satellite onto a C-17 headed to Cape Canaveral. The satellite is one of several that will be deployed to enhance the performance of the system currently in orbit.

GPS satellites allow anyone with a receiver to determine their position anywhere in the world. The information is accurate to within a few meters.

Master Sgt. Larry Spedden, 31st APS first sergeant, was at Willow Grove back in 1982 when the first satellite arrived for loading on a C-141. He said he remembers how the loadmasters took one look at the satellite container and declared, "Not on our airplane."

"We were all nervous loading that first aircraft," Spedden said.

After a lot of hard work, the aerial porters established a process for loading the satellite and completed the mission. They've been refining the process ever since.

According to Earl Hanna of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., transporting satellites from Pennsylvania to the launch site in Florida is a crucial process. Although the satellites may have a launch weight of more than 4,000 pounds, they must be treated with extreme care.

"There are a lot of things that could go wrong," Hanna said. "The operation needs to be well coordinated, or a satellite won't move."

For example, the temperature of a satellite must be maintained at a certain level during transport. To accomplish this a temperature control system is attached to the satellite container and must remain running. Also, a hydroset is used to lift the hefty container centimeters at a time to prevent jarring the satellite.

"It is an important, unique piece of equipment, and the 31st APS is the best we've ever had at taking care of a satellite," Hanna said.

Spedden said the unit takes a lot of pride in carrying out a multi-million dollar mission that the military depends on. Adding to the unit's pride is the fact that all of the loadings have been accomplished by volunteers.

"They call me up all the time wanting to know when we are going to move another one," said Tom Menago, Lockheed Martin senior test engineer. "You can tell these guys really love what they do."

Since getting involved in this mission with Lockheed Martin, the 31st APS has been involved in shipping 26 satellites. Plans call for shipping 10 more in the coming years. (Tech. Sgt. Renee Lillis, 913th AW Office of Public Affairs)

COPYRIGHT 2003 Air Force Reserves
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group