As search crews in Texas continue the task of
searching for Columbia wreckage, they are being aided by a high-tech SUV dubbed
the "First Responder."
Stocked with the latest in emergency gear – from satellite communications equipment to a color copier, the souped-up sport utility vehicle evolved from emergency crew needs during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America.
Raytheon, a leading aerospace and defense company, developed the First Responder, dispatching the SUV to assist in the hunt to find Columbia debris.
Instant communications
The First Responder idea came about because of communications issues during the 9/11 events. What became clear was the need for multiple emergency crews to communicate instantly with one another. Public safety agencies must stay connected and respond faster in emergencies, be it terrorist attack, an earthquake, or now, an out-of-control space plane disintegrating at high altitude.
In identifying these issues, Raytheon engineers created a $300,000 SUV, outfitted with a myriad of components, such as a satellite transmitter/receiver that has proven ideal for keeping the lines of communication open anywhere, anytime.
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| The First Responder features satellite uplinks, global telephone capability, civilian and military radio net access, support for major U.S. cellular phone carriers, and the ability to create local area networks using wireless technology. Using advanced software programs, an incident commander is able to take command of an incident and control, as well as track, the deployment of personnel at the scene.
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Bill Jenkins, a Raytheon spokesman, told SPACE.com that a fleet of five First Responders are deployed around the country. One SUV was stationed in Dallas. So when Columbia fragments fell into eastern Texas, the company offered to deploy the vehicle to the recovery site.
Federal and state officials gladly welcomed the help, Jenkins said. A two-person crew operates each First Responder, he said.
Streaming video
Of immediate help was the First Responder’s ability to provide Internet access and streaming video to NASA from rural recovery sites, Jenkins said. Even the vehicle’s color copier has been a key help, he added, providing color maps to help search teams scour large areas to find Columbia fragments.
Initial tests of the First Responder SUV took place in March of last year. Experience gained from the Columbia tragedy should help in identifying even more technology that can be applied to future First Responders.
Given that each emergency situation offers new sets of challenges, there is great adaptability in stocking a vehicle with the latest in state-of-the-art equipment, Jenkins said.
Future uses
The First Responder vehicle is designed to deal with all of the communications problems that arise out of such a situation as the fall of Columbia.
The vehicle is being used to link all responding personnel and external resources, ensuring that information can be quickly and accurately gathered and dispersed - without replacing or modifying existing radios or the infrastructure.
In a Homeland Security mode, First Responder is designed for quick and easy operation at any ground zero location. Capable of carrying a variety of sensors or other devices, the vehicle is available for future incidents, such as biological or chemical attack.
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