Detachment 3 (Det. 3) is a part of the First Air Force (Air Forces Space) and coordinates DoD contingency support for our nation’s human space flight programs. Det. 3 is the only unit within the Department of Defense tasked to support contingency operations during Commercial Crew Program launches alongside interagency partners.

For all crewed space flights, Det. 3 oversees postured rescue forces on alert at Patrick Space Force Base in Florida, Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Additionally, Det. 3 is responsible for coordinating astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support, payload security, medical support, coordination of airlift/sealift for contingency operations, as well as other support services required in the event of a spacecraft emergency. Det. 3 and its rescue forces live out the same motto – “These things we do, that others may live” – so that an astronaut’s worst day is not their last. Det. 3 has been involved in the rescue of astronauts since the Mercury program days and has supported all crewed programs to include Gemini, Apollo, Skylab/Soyuz, and now Commercial Crew and Artemis.

The detachment develops functional/operational documents with Air Forces Space and U.S. Space Command. Then, during mission execution, it coordinates with elements of the military departments, combatant commands, DoD agencies, and other U.S. governmental agencies while monitoring the status of tasked forces. During human space flight support launch and recovery events, Det. 3 activates the Support Operations Center (SOC) at Patrick SFB, which maintains contact with NASA and the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) at Vandenberg SFB. Additionally, Det. 3 has a liaison officer at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Det. 3 is charged with coordinating and controlling DoD forces during nominal and contingency rescue, recovery, and retrieval operations for human space flight programs. With personnel based at both Patrick Space Force Base, FL, and the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, they train and prepare DoD personnel worldwide to support our nation’s crewed space programs.

• Rescue and recovery of astronauts
• Landing site support
• Medical operations
• Payload security and support
• News media support
• Weather support
• Airlift/sealift and salvage
• Communications support
• Other services as requested

Det. 3 was chartered by the Secretary of Defense in 1959 as the DoD Mercury Support (DDMS) for Project Mercury. DDMS transitioned to the DoD Manned Space Flight Support Office to support Project Gemini in 1963. Its expressed purpose is to provide DoD support to our nation’s human space flight programs, putting people into space and returning them safely to Earth.

In 1968, DDMS expanded its support to include Project Apollo, Skylab, and Soyuz, followed by support to the Space Shuttle Program in 1977. By the early 2000s, Det. 3 was providing support to Soyuz landings and NASA’s Constellation/Orion Program. By 2010, DDMS, now known as Det. 3, 45th Operations Group, Human Space Flight Support (HSFS), began its initial planning to support NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) before the Space Shuttle Program officially retired in 2011.

The first major milestones in the new era of Human Space Flight came in March 2019 when one of the two CCP providers, SpaceX, accomplished their un-crewed Demo Mission 1 (DM-1) followed in May 2020 with their first crewed mission, DM-2 aboard the Crew Dragon capsule. After a successful year in support of NASA’s CCP, Det. 3 brought home numerous wing and group level awards to include the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award, the Alison Award for Character and Innovation, and the 2020 Mark A. Welsh III “One Air Force” Award. In order to prepare for contingency support, Det. 3 not only teams with NASA, but also SpaceX, Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration, combatant commands, military services, the Department of State, international rescue forces, and multiple foreign government agencies.

In the past three years, Det. 3 has executed DoD Human Space Flight Support missions based out of Patrick Space Force Base and the Johnson Space Center. It has conducted four just-in-time training/Rescue Qualification Force Courses, training 99 Guardian Angels. Under the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC), Det. 3 served as the core of “Task Force 45” and the lead global contingency rescue force for three crewed launches and two water landing missions, including SpaceX Demo Mission 2, and the Crew-1 landing in May of 2021.

Today, Det. 3 still actively supports Soyuz missions, including the recent Soyuz MS-16 landing in October of 2020, ensuring the safe return of U.S. astronaut, Christopher Cassidy.

On May 11, 2021, Det. 3 was formerly designated Det. 3, Space Launch Delta 45, U.S. Space Command, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. In March of 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., named First Air Force as the Air Component to U. S. Space Command. The move directly led to the decision to transfer Det. 3 from USSPACECOM to First Air Force, under Air Combat Command. On July 15, 2021, Det. 3 was re-designated as Det. 3, First Air Force.

In March of 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., named First Air Force as the Air Component to U. S. Space Command, leading to the decision to transfer Det. 3 from USSPACECOM to First Air Force under Air Combat Command. Therefore, on July 15, 2021, Det. 3 was re-designated as 1AF/Det. 3, HSFS.

In the past three years, Det. 3 has executed DoD Human Space Flight Support missions based out of Patrick Space Force Base and the Johnson Space Center. It has conducted four just-in-time training/Rescue Qualification Force Courses, training 99 Guardian Angels. Under the Combined Force Space Component Command (CFSCC), Det. 3 served as the core of “Task Force 45” and the lead global contingency rescue force for three crewed launches and two water landing missions, including SpaceX Demo Mission 2, and the Crew-1 landing in May of 2021.

Today, Det. 3 still actively supports Soyuz missions, including the recent Soyuz MS-16 landing in October of 2020, ensuring the safe return of U.S. astronaut, Christopher Cassidy.

On May 11, 2021, Det. 3 was formerly designated Det. 3, Space Launch Delta 45, U.S. Space Command, Patrick Space Force Base, Fla. In March of 2021, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., named First Air Force as the Air Component to U. S. Space Command. The move directly led to the decision to transfer Det. 3 from USSPACECOM to First Air Force, under Air Combat Command. On July 15, 2021, Det. 3 was re-designated as Det. 3, First Air Force.