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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!duke!ucf-cs!giles
From: giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Shuttle Security
Message-ID: <1097@ucf-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 28-Nov-83 12:47:09 EST
Article-I.D.: ucf-cs.1097
Posted: Mon Nov 28 12:47:09 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 30-Nov-83 03:10:37 EST
Organization: University of Central Florida
Lines: 50

I was at Canaveral National Seashore on Thanksgiving, and thought many
of you would be interested in the security surrounding the shuttle 
before the launch.

In a word, there was none.

For those of you unfamiliar with the cape, the access road to the beach
passes within a few miles of the launch pads.  In fact, on Thursday I
could clearly make out the external tank and both SRBs.  (The orbiter
was under the canopy, or whatever they call it.)  It is probabily within
range of a high-power rifle, and certainly within range of a small 
ground-to-ground missile. 

When I have gone to the beach before previous launches, if the shuttle
was on the pad a security officer has always stopped each car and asked
questions.  Questions such as:

	(1) have you been here before?
	(2) are you carrying any firearms?
	(3) are you carrying any explosives?

Occasionally I have seen them turn back cars, or had them pull them to
the side.  But there was at least the appearance of active security.

Thursday, however, there was none of that.  You passed a sign stating
that you where entering a security zone, and the first 1/2 mile of the
beach was closed.  That was it.  And, the temperatures were warm enough
that I was not alone on the beach. 

Does anyone know if they have dropped all security on the beach?  I
also heard that the beach will reopen the day after the launch, instead
of the day after touchdown as before.

I admit I enjoy the freedom which CNS provides (esp. the north end of 
Playalinda; you'ld have to be here) but security for the shuttle comes
first.  After all, the shuttle does provide a very tempting terrorist
target.

Anyone else have information on shuttle security?
								      

Bruce Giles
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		Orlando Fl 32816
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