From space traffic monitoring to human space flight rescue, Vandenberg units provide integral support to NASA missions

Jeff Efron (left) and Craig Diamantopoulos (middle), both space operations contractors from the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC) operations directorate, look over past NASA recovery mission briefing books with Maj. Kyle Wamser, CFSCC chief of human space flight support on Dec. 7, 2020, at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Wamser and his team most recently prepared these books for the CFSCC commander prior to the launch of the SpaceX Dragon Crew-1 ‘Resilience’ Capsule on Nov. 16, 2020, where a crew of three Americans and one Japanese astronaut launched to the International Space Station. The briefing outlines the plan for astronaut rescue operations if an emergency arises and the astronauts make an unexpected landing anywhere in the world. The CFSCC commander oversees joint and multinational military support from Vandenberg AFB and is the final authority for rescue mission execution. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Mae-Li Allison)