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NORAD NEWS
News | July 8, 2011

NORAD and USNORTHCOM support Space Shuttle launch

By NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, through the Continental NORAD Region and Air Forces Northern, will provide support to the NASA space shuttle mission scheduled to launch July 8.

CONR will ensure airspace safety and security for the Space Transportation System-135 launch and landing, provide air patrols to enforce the Federal Aviation Administration’s Temporary Flight Restriction zones as well as respond to any shuttle emergency by securing the airspace over necessary launch abort sites should an emergency landing be required.

Additionally, in the event of an emergency, AFNORTH will provide support through astronaut search and rescue and orbiter salvage and recovery. USNORTHCOM will provide command and control of Department of Defense forces through Joint Task Force – Space Transportation System.

The Federal Aviation Administration flight restriction and the associated Notice to Airmen can be viewed in its entirety at the FAA website at http://www.faa.gov.

NORAD is the bi-national command which conducts aerospace warning, aerospace control, and maritime warning in defense of North American. Since Sept. 11, 2001, Continental U.S. NORAD Region fighters have responded to more than 3,400 possible air threats in the U.S. and have flown more than 59,000 sorties in support of Operation Noble Eagle.

The mission of USNORTHCOM is to conduct homeland defense, civil support, and security cooperation to defend the United States and its interests.