HSFS coordinates DoD contingency support for our nation's human space flight programs. Chartered in 1959 by the Secretary of Defense as the DoD Mercury Support Office [later renamed DoD Manned Space Flight Support Office (DDMS)], its express purpose is providing DoD support to our nation's human space flight programs . . . putting people into space and returning them safely to Earth. Since its inception, this unit has continued to be the principle facilitator for all DoD nominal and contingency support to Projects Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo; the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project; the Space Shuttle Program; the International Space Station (ISS)/Soyuz Program; the Orion Program; and the Commercial Crew Program (CCP).HSFS is responsible for coordinating astronaut rescue and recovery, contingency landing site support, payload security, medical support, coordination of airlift/sealift for contingency operations, as well as other support services required in the event of a spacecraft emergency. The office further develops functional/operational documents with USSTRATCOM and coordinates with elements of the military departments, combatant commands, DoD agencies, and other USG agencies, and then monitors the status of those forces during mission execution.