David S. Fraine
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Oral Histories
The interviews in this collection were selected from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Oral History Program, which contains interviews with aerospace legends, analyses of key events, aerospace chronologies, and more. The interviews included here are those that relate specifically to NOAA's mission.
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David Fraine is a seasoned maritime professional with a career spanning over 25 years on the MV Liberty and MV Freedom Star. His role as the first officer on these unique vessels was instrumental in the operation of the Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) recovery ships. Fraine's experience extends beyond the helm, as he was also responsible for maintaining the ships in the challenging tropical climate of the Florida coast. His duties included the cross-training of crew members, ensuring a versatile and adaptable team. Fraine's expertise was not limited to the maintenance and operation of the ships; he was also involved in the meticulous routine of preparing the ships for a Shuttle mission. This process included heading out to sea for booster recovery, a task that required precision and a deep understanding of the vessels and their capabilities.
Scope and Content Note
The interview with David Fraine provides a comprehensive overview of the SRB recovery ships' operations and the unique challenges they faced. Fraine discusses the process of recovering solid rocket boosters after a space shuttle launch, which involved the ships standing by at a designated position, monitoring the launch, and deploying small boats with retrieval divers to assess the boosters' condition. The ships would then recover the parachutes, frustum, and finally, the booster itself, towing it back to port for disassembly. Fraine also talks about the modifications made to the ships Freedom and Liberty to tow the external tank barge for NASA. These ships have been used for various missions, including weather buoy deployment and recovery, support for NEEMO missions, and tracking of rockets for SpaceX and Orbital Sciences. The interview also covers the evolution of retrieval operations, the equipment used for recovery at sea, and the camaraderie among the crew. Fraine believes the ships still have life left in them and could be used for research purposes in the future. He also suggests talking to other former colleagues for more insights.
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