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From: giles@ucf-cs.UUCP (Bruce Giles)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Shuttle Security (newspaper clipping)
Message-ID: <1105@ucf-cs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 2-Dec-83 14:08:27 EST
Article-I.D.: ucf-cs.1105
Posted: Fri Dec  2 14:08:27 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 4-Dec-83 04:09:09 EST
References: <1097@ucf-cs.UUCP>, <2043@allegra.UUCP>
Organization: University of Central Florida
Lines: 56

I quote the following from the 29 November 1983 issue of
*The Orlando Sentinel*. (launch edition)
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Coast Guard shuttle's defense line
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By Sara Roen of the Sentinel Staff

ABOARD THE C.G.C. POINT CHARLES 
-- After chasing away shuttle viewers who got too close Sunday and
Monday, the Coast Guard crew relaxed on the bridge to monitor the area 
from their anchorage, 150 yards out in the Atlantic.
   The 10-member crew's job was to protect the shuttle from sabotage.
They arrived in the 82-foot Point Charles on Sunday and stayed just off-
shore until minutes before the launch Monday when they moved to a spot
three miles out in the ocean.
   The crew and 65 other enlisted, reserve and auxiliary guard members
spent the 72 hours before the launch patrolling NASA's designated 
"vulnerable" areas, including the Atlantic Ocean, the Banana and Indian
rivers and Mosquito Lagoon.  The Coast Guard patrols 350 square miles
around Kennedy Space Center, while NASA and Air Force security teams
patrol the air.
   Monday's launch posed an unusual problem.  It came during hunting
season and guardsmen had to watch for hunters who may have strayed into
the restricted areas over the weekend.  Fishing also was not allowed in
restricted waters, Commander Bob Merrilees said.
   During a launch the Coast Guard is the only law enforcement agency
with police authority in the restricted areas.
   On Monday, guard members in 27 vessels chased away several boaters
who had anchored in restricted zones on the Banana River.
   While protecting the shuttle, guard members must stay highly visible,
keep a sharp lookout and monitor sophisticated radar and camera equip-
ment, Merrilees said.  Enlisted and reserve guard members are heavily 
armed on patrol, he added.
   Elwewhere, reservist Richard McCann spent Monday driving a 41-foot 
boat through secured areas.
   "We're making sure no boats get in," he said.  "But you ought to
look at that shuttle.  You get sick of it."
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C'mon -- hunters on the pad?  As I said, security can be pretty lax.
(I admit I have not been anywhere on KSC except the VIP site during
the three days before a launch, but Thanksgiving was only four days
before the launch).


Bruce Giles
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