(

kelifteffifiAL JUN 1 7 1960

During la 1960, the Discoverer program node major advances toward

realization of its stated objectives. The period saw design improvements

factored into the system which were confirmed by the flight test.progran.

Seven Discoverer vehicles were launched. Of these, five attained

orbit. In general, the test program exhibited progressive improvement

culminating in the very successful operation of Discoverer XI, which was

very close to nominal in all phases except recovery.

Fabrication and delivery schedules were maintained throughout the year

in support of the launch rate. During the year the program was increased

from twenty-five vehicles to a total of thirty-three.

The major problem remaining is successful recovery of the capsule

from orbit. To this end) at the close of the year, special recovery

capsules were being fabricated and thoroughly ground tested. The objective

of this capsule will be to diagnose the entire recovery sequence on

Discoverer XII and transmit the information to ground stations. Discoverer XII

will be launched near the turn of the fiscal year.

4;)

-6114 ci,44,11,0 A itc:Dc_

I 

ite,-rat.c L.

itbiDZYD 3 7 2

ve."61(.64,9

1:44, dc, 4:1:44_ (94/ e--thA._ ctLett-a.,i

ett-oLekt,1

,0, G AT 3 YEAR.. iNTf,RN

DECLA$S1 OD AFTER 12 ',EARS.

DOD PM ,5200.
JUN 17 Igo

Program basement

Full responsibility for the Discoverer program vas transfered

from ARPA to the Air Force on 17 November 1959 by DOD. Throughout

the year, program management was exercised by the Directorate, Discoverer

Satellite System of AFBMD over the prime contractor, Lockheed Missiles

and Space Division, and the supporting government agencies. Systems

Engineering and Teehnical Direction of the program is the responsibility

of Lockheed. The ability of the contractor . to accomplish this task

improved during the year.

Development

Progressive development of the Agena family of satellite vehicles

was accomplished during the past year. Fabrication test and delivery

of all Agena "A" vehicles and the initial Agena "B" configuration vehicles

were completed. Definite prbgress was made in each of the Discoverer

subsystem areas. PFBT of the XLR 81-Ba-7 was completed. PPM of the

XLit $l,Ba-9 engine is imminent. Successful design, fabrication and test

of the 5:l area ratio thrust chamber for the XLR-Ba-9 engine, a major

step in increased performance, was accomplished. Trouble was encountered

with the graphite material in the initial.design, but use of titanium

reinforced by molybdenium ribs made possible a successful nozzle extension.

In the booster area, action was taken . to increase the accuracy of the

DM-21. by installation of the BTL Guidance System in the first stage. This

will reduce the. orbit injection dispersion and thus increase velocity

pCN41\1"-:,1351T

1UPI:N1117151r‘

D6C .-)00D Dert

margins and orbital accuracy.

fAIr 7Y0 372
JUN 1 7 1960

The major technical milestone yet to be accomplished is to recover

a capsule from orbit. Results to date have necessitated an extensive

evaluation of the recovery system components. Exhaustive component

testing is being accomplished and preparations are being made to launch

a highly instrumented capsule on Discoverer XII.

Redeployment of the recovery forces has also been instituted to provide

the maximum capability for tracking the re-entering capsule and reception

of capsule telemetry.

Initial installation of recovery equipment in one C-130 was made

and tests are being run. Plans are to convert from the C-119 to the

C-130 during the coming year.

Launching and Tracking

Launchs were made from both pads 4 and 5 of Complex 75-3 at Vandenberg AFB

during this fiscal year. Conversion of pad 5 to handle the Agana "B"

configuration was completed. Conversion of pad 4 will be started when the

launch schedule permits.

The annette Island Tracking Station is Alaska was discontinued after

having served its purpose.

WDZYD 372