File:KSC-05-S-00299 (ksc 091605 relief).webm

English: Usually, space missions end upon touchdown at the Space Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. But a recent landing on that runway was instead the end of a relief mission to the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast. This round trip included vital supplies and personnel reinforcements to help those devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Returning Kennedy security and medical staff had spent long days working at NASA's hurricane-damaged Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and Michoud Assembly Facility near New Orleans. Two more security agents were deployed, along with vital electrical equipment to help restore power at Michoud. The remainder of the plane's cargo consisted of 17 boxes of medical supplies, clothing and everyday necessities that are in short supply in the region. This was only the latest help from Kennedy, which has sent personnel, emergency equipment, food, medical supplies, fuel and generators. The two damaged NASA facilities are key to the space shuttle program, and workers at Kennedy have been eager to help their fellow space workers who lost so much. Overseeing the effort is Wayne M. Kee, emergency preparedness officer at Kennedy, who accompanied the personnel and supplies on the trip to Stennis. 'Stennis Space Center and Michoud play a critical role in the space program. It's an absolute must that Stennis and Michoud come back up as soon as possible because of the major contributions to the space program. External tank at Michoud, testing engines at Stennis; we can't fly without that. So, it's a team effort. We're all in the same boat. We're one big family trying to get this rocking and rolling again.'