Comment originally posted at NASAWATCH
Anonymous “Me”
Having worked at KSC & CCAFS for different jobs, and having been denied access to the Atlas V launch area by Military, not SGS personnel, having had my photo taken at the launch-pad with the letters USAF at the top of the DELTA pad, being friends with Air Force folks who worked in the base commander’s office, etc…I kinda have more than a clue of what I’m talking about.
It’s almost comical that you so provocatively, yet anonymously question my understanding of reality. The 45th out of Patrick AFB has–WITHOUT QUESTION–operational control of all activities at CCAFS. The 1st Space Wing also plays a role for Delta, while the 5th plays a role for Atlas. It’s no secret that ULA has been contracted by the Air Force to run launch operations–I made no claim otherwise! The Reality is very clear: Access & Operations are permitted solely on the discretion of the United States Air Force.
As for my claim of Gemini…of course NASA personnel were involved, so making the claim of complete control of the mission may have been an overstatement, but they were most certainly launched off military controlled pads.
Lastly, if you can anonymously, or better yet honestly point out the last time a NASA astronaut controlled spaceship was on top of an EELV (which was my point), I’ll publicly eat my hat.
I digress to my original point: bad reporting aside: whoever owns the rockets doesn’t matter. NASA is NOT going to be able to just walk on over, plop their can and astronauts on top of the rocket, and press all the buttons in launch control.