~~-'~:;-~-'~~~;R'K-'-N-~-~~';~;-A-~-~-~-'~-~-~-~-'~;-~~'Y~'-'-R~(-~-O-N-TR-'O~l-8-Y-:::~~_~-'~-~n £iPECJAL HANDLING 

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OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 

OPTO-MECHANICAL DESIGN ENGINEERING 

Memorandum ME 48 I 

TO: Distribution . DATE: August 4" 1971 

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FROM: L.B. Molaskey \ .. 

SUBJECT: Telecon Recave-r-y-o-f "R-V-·{3-.----' - .-- -- .-.. ---.----------

Configuration of Trieste 

, \ I called-to request information on the configuration of, the 

cable and wench on~Triesteto aid in the design of the RV recovery hook. 

He indicated that he would request the data and let 'me know sometime this 

afternoon as to its availability. 

Sea Currents 

He also had some new data on sea currents and the natur~ of t~e 

bottcm in the impact area. The data is as follows:-

Sea Currents in Impact Area 

Depth 

0-25 M 

*25-200 M 

200 to bottom 

Bottom 

!lli. 

0~2 to 0.5 knots 

0.2 to 0.5 kno~s 

0.2 to 0.5 knots 

0.5 knots 

Direction 

Easterly 

, Westerly 

Westerly 

Westerly 

*The 25 to 200 meter depth ZOne is a rrtransition" zone between the two. layers 

a~d the rate and direction stated are questionable and may not be constant. 

~ , Nature of the Bottom 

The sea bottOm in the impact area.is classified as "soft clay silt". 

He also provi~ed estimates of the ,p~netration of ~he payload into the bottom. 

Assuming an impact velocity of 20 ft/sec at the bott9m the data ,is: 

, 

Weight ofPavload 

2000 pounds _r 

1000 pounds 

500 pounds 

"n L :.1.,,, 

"":::.=,:,.,, ... 

Penetration '7. 

50 to 100'7. 

3S to 80'7. 

/4 ..) 

2S to 60'7. 

BlF 007 .. ' 1365 .. 7 f 
t \ 

Hx SECRET 

SPECIAL HANOLING 

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Memorandum ~m 48 (Continued) -2- AUlust 4, 1971 

Contrary to previous opinion the Navy indicated that the sonar search 

vehicle could not detect an object which is imme'rsed in, the silt of the bottom. 

This has reduced the prQbability of locating the payload from the original 90 

to 95~ to 30 to 50%. The exercise, however, is still ~ull speed ahead. 

'Shipping and Handl'ing .. .', 

. ' 

In a call from Don Schoessler earlier this week, 'Don i~dicated that 

because of the growth of bacteria on the film that the unit must' be maintained 

at a temperature below 40°F.for the entire recovery and shipping,cycle. 

, This, of course, presents quite a problem wit_o the shipping 

container and handling procedures for the return trip. has requested 

EK to investigate the use of fungicides" to prevent the acter a growth •• This 

would greatly simplify the, shipping and hatidling~ 

, , 

I reported that we had located a shipping,container which could be 

considered for the ,job. It is a 64 inch diameter aluminum cylinder ot all 

welded construction 61-1/2 inches high. It has a_flat cover attached at the 

top flange and provides an O-ring seal. Dale indi~ated that Col~ Hillock had 

located a couple of candidate cQntainersin Hawaii. These will be checked to 

make sure they can handle the job. In the meantime ~e have requested quota- . 

tions and delivery for the one we located. The manufacturer is COntainer , 

Research Corporation of Glen Riddle, Pa. A sketch and quotation8~re expected 

before the end of the week. 

, . 

Light Leyels 

. 

I reported that we had started a preliminary investigation of the 

light levels one could expect at the 120 foot transfer depth. I pOinted Qut 

tl)at determination of the light levels, spectra], content, and vulnerability 

of the payload package to light exposure, at best, can only be estimated. 

There is, at this point however, enough 'evidence to i.ndlcate the need to con':' 

sider protecting the payload from exposure at depths greater than 120 feet. ' 

I indicated that it is probably quite feas~ble to encorporate a light protecting cover on the lifting hook. . This concept will be investigated with the ' 

hook layout. 

LBM/cj 

cc: M.F. Maguire 

H. Robertson 

R.W. Jones 

C. ICaratzas 

••. om 0-'-

,P. Petty 

R. Roylance 

J. Braddon 

... 

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DECLASSIFIED ON: 25 "ULY 2012 

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