, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 20330 

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26 July 1967 

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD 

SUBJECT,: Visit by Vice President to NPIC on 25 July 

Several weeks ago, Mr. Frank Rand (Staff Member, National 

Aeronautics and Space Council) suggested that the Vice President in 

view' of the latter I s expressed desire to pe rsonally meet all NASA and' 

MDL astronauts -- be given the opportunity to meet the MOL astronauts 

who would be attending a two-week orientation course at NPIC beginning 

July 24. Both I and Mr. Lundahl (Director, NPIC) agreed and arrangements were made for an informal visit of approximately one hour duration 

to NPIC by the Vice President in the a.m, of July 25. 

Mr. Humphrey was accompanied by Dr. Welsh, Mr. Rand, and 

Colonel Paffel. He was welcomed by Mr. Helms, Mr. Lundahl, and myself, 

and introduced to the seven MOL astron,auts present (Major Macleay. 

Commander Truly, Major Bobke, Major Hartsfield, Major Oremyer, 

Captain Fullerton, and Lt Crippen). Mr. Helms apparently had a prior 

engagement since he left about 10-15 minutes after the Vice President 

arrived (who was about 45 minutes later in arriving than anticipated). 

Approximately 35 minutes of rather informal briefings had been 

planned as follows: 

1. Myself: a brief discussion of the objectives and hardware 

involved in the MOL Program, the scope of MOL astronaut training, and 

the task imposed on NPIC as a part of that training (10 minutes). 

2. Mr. Lundahl: a few remarks on the role of NPIC,the 

evolution and significance of high resolution photography from the 

initial U-2 flights,through past, current, and future satellite 

programs, and the kind of information being passed on to the MOL 

astronauts (15 minutes). 

3. Major Macleay (MOL astronaut): a summary of the on-orbit 

functions of the MOL astronauts during a MOL reconnaissance mission. 

During my portion of the briefing, Mr. Humphrey, upon learning that 

the Laboratory/Mission Module combination would be de-orbited after the 

3D-day mission was completed and the Gemini had returned to earth, 

expressed some surpri~e that the program plan did not include the reuse 

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of this hardware. He inquired as to the cost of the discarded 

Handle via BYH/MN 

Control System 

laboratory and Mission Module, and I estimated their share of the 

launched cost of a system at $35-40 million. I pointed out that although 

the present program of seven launches did not contemplate reuse through 

rendezvous and resupply, the hardware was adaptable to this technique 

and studies were underway toward the goals of longer life and/or reuse 

should there be a follow-on program. 

During Hr. Lundahl's briefing, in addition to routine questions 

aimed at clarifying various points, Mr. Humphrey again raised questions 

as to the costs of various systems. He prefaced his cost questions by 

explaining he was in an "economy mood to-day" since the Government was 

having a difficult tlme financing all activities (which would undoubtedly 

be further compounded by the present civil problems), that space was 

under close scrutiny by an economy-minded Congress and Administration, 

that harsh reductions were being made, that everyone was being requested 

to tighten belts, etc. 

1. We again discussed the general subject of longer Ufet imes 

and/or reuse of the MOL Laboratory and Mission Module. I pointed out 

that we had believed -- and still did -- that the initial lifetime goals 

of 30 days for the manned system and 40 or more for the unmanned system 

in a seven launch program (2-unmanned booster/structure/GEMINI B 

qualificatioq flights; 3 manned and 2 unmanned ~ll::P Jystem flights), 

coupled with the technical tasks associated wit better resolution 

satellite photography, were major steps forward w~ ou compounding the 

problem by adding rendezvous and resupply. I re-emphasized that we 

recognized the cost-effectiveness of longer lifetimes and/or reuse, were 

studying such possibilities now, and that these objectives would be 

carefully considered and probably included in any follow-on program. 

2. He inquired as to the costs of a KH-4, KH-7, KH-8, and 

KH-9 system (I gave him rough approximations as $8-9 million for the 

KH-4, $10-11 million for the KH-7, $16-17 million for the KH-8, and 

perhaps $25 million for the KH-9). I pointed out, in response to 

questions on lifetimes that a KH-8 block change was planned and work 

underway which would increase on-orbit lifetime and probably permit a 

future reduction in the number of annual launches, that the initial 

lifetime goal for the KH-9 was 30 days, etc. He also noted with interest 

my comment that the planned 4-5 KH-9 launches per year would cost about 

the same as the 10-12 Kll-4 launches per year in the past and present and, 

at the same time, produce more and better photography. Mr. Lundahl pointed 

out that the KH-7 had been retired, and I added that reduced KH-8 launch 

rates were anticipated in conjunction with successful MOL launches. 

-

.... 3. The Vice President inquired as to the feasibility of resupply 

and reuse of the KH-4, KH-8, Kll-9, etc. I responded in the vein that 

their designs and hardware were not amenable to on-orbit resupply and 

2 

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replenishlhent, that the eco.no.mics o.f sueh an appro.ach ~ fo.r these 

systems was suspect, that the main thrust was to.ward lo.nger lifetimes, 

etc. The Vice President "q,ppeared satisfied with this respo.nse. ' . , 

4. He inquired into. the need fo.r higher reso.lutio.ns than the, 

KH-7 o.r KH-8 in view o.f the Co.st, co.mplexity, etc. In respo.nding, 

Mr. Lundahl cited ABM's as a specific example, explaining the need to. 

identify and measure in fine detail in o.rder to. determine perfo.rmance 

characteristics. Mr. Lundahl also. po.inted o.ut that the USIB was 

charged with and co.ntinually analyzed the need fo.r pho.to.graphy (quantity, 

frequency, and reso.lutio.n quality). It was als~ Po.intrd o.ut quite 

pro.perly that no.t all info.rmatio.n needs require better reso.lutio.n. 

5. In o.bserving so.me co.lo.r film, the ,Vice President inquired' 

as to. the desirability of do.ing all reco.nnaissance in that mo.de. 

Mr. Lundahl po.inted out the co.nsiderable lo.ss I)f reso.lutio.n'but also. 

cited the advantages (analyzing stack gases, etc.) o.f co.lor film and 

stated that it was a valuable adjunct to. black and white film. 

Majo.r Macleay, in his briefing, cited the astro.naut o.n-o.rbit 

reco.nnaissance tasks in o.rder o.f impo.rtance as i1fine-tuning" the auto.matic 

systems, manually backing-up failed o.r malfunctio.ning auto.matic systems, 

increasing intelligence quant'ity o.r val-ue (via alternate targets), and 

verifying system perfo.rmance plus suitability fo.r urunanned use. 

Majo.r Macleay briefly described the IIto.o.lsll available in the labo.rato.ry 

to. do. these functio.ns-'and 'ho.w the astro.nauts wo.uld o.perate. Several 

questio.ns aimed at clarifying vario.us po.ints were asked by the 

Vice President and apparently answered to his satisfactio.n. 

Fo.llo.wing the info.rmal briefings/discussio.ns described abo.ve, the 

Vice President accepted Mr. Lundahl's invitatio.n to. lo.o.k at vario.us 

samples o.f aircraft, satellite and dro.ne photo.graphy: 

1. Mr. Lundahlpo.inted o.ut what eQuId and co.uld no.t be 

seen at the vario.us reso.lutio.ns in numero.us examples o.f current pho.to.graphy. 

The Vice President very much interested in the elabo.rate preparatio.ns 

made to. secure ver h-reso.lutio.n (and measurable) 

and ~~----~~--~--~~--------~~--~----~~~~------~----~~~~--~ the technical analysis po.ssible fro.m this pho.to.graphy. I believe this 

impressed the Vice President mo.re than anything else o.f the need fo.r 

and value o.f very high reso.lutio.n satellite pho.to.graphy. 

2. In lo.oking at dro.ne pho.to.graphy o.f No.rth Vietnam, the 

Vice President expressed o.bvio.us disappo.intment at the little apparent 

d~~age to. vario.us targets (o.ne example was the main steel mill), 

particularly, in view of what to. him were rather sizable and repeated 

raids against them. 

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The ~ice President's visit to ~PIC -lasted slightly more than 

l~ hours and he appeared to be quite interested in all that he saw and 

heard . . . . A brief telephone conver~ation later in the day with 

Mr. Rand indicated that the Vice President had been pleased with the 

visit and felt it was worthwhile. 

ajor Gene~al, 

Vice Director, MOL Program 

.'. 

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