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27 July 1965 

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD 

SUBJECT: Proposed MOL Press Release 

In response to a request from Dr. Hall, Mr. Friedman reviewed 

the attached press release last evening. He asked me to prepare his 

comments and deliver them to Dr. Hall for him. I did so this morning 

at 1030 hours. 

Atch PAU -WORTHMAN 

Colonel, USAF 

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27 July 1965 

Comments on Proposed MOL Press Release 

Mr. Friedman: 

1. $150 million is mentioned twice -

page 1, line 15 and page 2, 18. The 

second reference should be consolidated with the first. 

2. Is it wise to advertise $1. 5 billion as 

the total cost? What is the gain? 

3. Does this paper have ASD/ISA coordination? 

Colonel Worthman: 

Nothing to add to the above. 

RASPY_ CY_ 70P TV' 

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program. and 

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program. 

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PROPOSED RELEASE 

Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced today that 

he had directed the Air Force to proceed with the contract definition 

phase of a Manned Orbiting Laboratory avIOL) research and development 

were selected to form a team to accomplish Phase X.work on the laboratory 

module. 

The MOL project was initiated in December 1963 when the DYNA 

SOAR, a project dating from the 1950's, was cancelled. At that time it 

was concluded that the principal DOD effort in manned orbiting vehicles 

should go to determining man's capabilities and developing the appropriate 

technology for man to exercise those capabilities rather than to continue 

to place principal emphasis on maneuverable reentry. Subsequent study, 

concept evaluation, and preliminary development have confirmed that 

conclusion. $30 million was committed in FY 1965, and $150 million in the 

FY 1966 budget. 

During this next phase of the program, contract definition and 

engineering data for the module will be developed based on the TITAN rac. 

GEMR\II B configuration. Contract definition work also will begin on booster 

integration and on the adaptation of the GEMINI spacecraft for MOL. 

The project definition phase should be completed in about six months. 

At this time, work could begin on fabrication of the hardware for the MOL 

. OPIEV C

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The primary objectives of the program are to: 

1. Develop technology contributing to improved military capability 

for manned and unmanned space operation. 

Z. Conduct experimentation with the apparatus so developed. 

3. Carry out experiments to determine man's utility in space for 

military purposes. 

There will be six launches in the basiC MOL development program, 

five of which will be made by two-man crews. The first manned launch is 

planned for late 1968. 

Prior to this there will be unmanned launches. The first of these 

to qualify subsystems and to obtain early information on structures and 

environment is planned for late 1966 or early 1967. 

Astronaut candidates will be military test pilots and graduates of 

the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards AFB, California. 

Cooperative ste,:::.e.s by the National A.eronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) and DOD will determine which scientific or general 

technological experiments are carried out in the MOL. 

The FY 1966 budget contains $150 million for MOL. Total cost of 

the program is estimated at about $1.5 billion. 

The decision to proceed with the program using the TITAN I/IC 

• 

GEMINI B configuration was based on comprehensive studies of several 

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configurations. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration 

cooperated with the Department of Defense in providing possible NASA 

vehicle configurations suitable for the military requirements of the 

program. 

and 

were chosen from the four contractors who conducted preliminary design 

studies earlier this year. The other two were 

and 

The Martin Company is the integrating contractor for the TITANIIIC 

booster and United Technology. Center is the associate contractor responsible for the solid rocket motors. McDonnell Aircraft Corporation produces 

the GEMINI spacecraft. Aerospace Corporation provides system engineering and technical direction for the Air Force. 

- End