Damon Hill writes:

(Todd H.) wrote in news:848wihltgj847hy1ltgj__
:


I had the good fortune of seeing a recent launch for the first time.

The crowd applauded as a pair of military helicopters took off shortly
before launch--seen as a good omen that they'd get that bird off the
ground that day finally!

My question is ... what's their role? Is it to aid/spot SRB
splashdown?

Security most likely; I think the SRBs are tracked by radar and
radio beacons. Other possibility is crew recovery if a launch
abort that results in an ocean ditching forces the crew to jump.

Thanks for the resopnse Damon. In the interim since I posted, I did
some additional digging, and best I can tell from that digging, your
guesses are essentially it.

They also are responsible for clearing the eastern range over the
ocean before launch talking to ships in the path and gettin gthem out
of there, and also (since Challenger) to be in the area to rescue any
astronaut that ends up in the water. They're apparently part of the
308th rescue squadron out of Patrick AFB, part of the 920th Rescue
Wing, flying HH-60G Pave Hawks.

http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil/photos...galleryID=1889
http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil/photos...galleryID=1889
http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil/photos...galleryID=1889

Here's a CNN story on em where a CNN reporter plays astronaut that's
been part of a mode 8 emergency Space Shuttle open-water bailout
http://www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil/shared...071106-027.wmv

Apparently HC-130's are also involved in such operations, out of the
106th rescue wing:
http://www.106rqw.ang.af.mil/news/st...p?id=123148715

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://toddh.net/