BYES ONLY imingpmmi

HEADQUARTERS

AIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOrMENT COMMAND

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

Andrews Air Forge Soso

Wellington 25, D.C.

n•

MY TO

ATTH Oft RDRB 3 November 1960

sumo: The Discoverer Program

TO, Memorandum for Record

The Under Secretary of the Air Force convened a meeting on 3 November

1960 for the purpose of reviewing the present Discoverer launch schedules and

to discuss stronger methods of program control in the interests of meeting the

requirements of various agencies, on matters of security, costs, and launch

operations. Attached is a list of the participants at this meeting:

Dr. Char)* opened the meeting by announcing that his office must be directly

involved in all substantive matters related to adjustments in Discoverer payloads,

costs, schedules, and prioritien. He stated that it is not his intention to get

involved in details but that his office must be directly consulted on any changes

which are desired in the Discoverer program. Specifically, he pointed out that

the Commander, AFBMD, will not entertain any adjustments in the Discoverer

program except as they emanate from Dr. aiaryk's office. At this point Mr.

Parangosky of QA noted that originally BMD was the exclusive executive agency

and that contacts directly between the Agency and BMD (with ARPA concurrence)

were authorized. When Mr. Parangosky asked for a clarification of this method

of operation, Dr. Charyk stated that his proposal is not intended to deteriorate

• this relationship but that specific adjustments on the items noted above will be

processed through the SAFMS office.

3. At this point the matter of security of the program was discussed and Dr.

Charyk proposed that it might be timely to consider the A program as a splendid

cover for all of the Discoverer launches. There was general agreement amongst

some ARPA and DOD representatives that this may be a logical suggestion. A

national geodetic effort could receive general public acclaim in view of such

programs as ANNA, BETTY, and SECOR. Dr. Char* suggested an additional

meeting to cover this matter more thoroughly. Considerable discussion then

ensued regarding the forthcoming single bio-medical launch and Dr. Charylt

emphasized the point that he does not believe that one bio-medical experiment

makes sense. A more complete program involving additional launches should

be considered. He was favorable to the radiometric Midas launches as presently

proposed.

--SECREF CO-47768

BYES ONLY
The following launch schedules for Vandenberg launch pad Nos. 4 and 5 were

displayed:

Date Date

Pad 4 #1103 - 11/29 Pad 5 #1062 - 11/8

100 pin umbilical 1104 (A) - 1/10 200 pin umbilical 1101(R/M) - 12/20

1105 - 2/9 1102(R/M) - 1/20

1107 - 4/4 1025(Bio) - 2/21

1106 - 3/21

It was predicted that the first launch from pad 75-1 will occur in May of 1961.

Following the 1104 launch of 10 January 1961, the remaining *launches are

scheduled for June, July and August of 1961. Dr. ataryk considered that the

scheduling of only one engineering and test launch (1104) of the A payload was

abnormally risky and that if any difficulties ensued, rescheduling of other

Discoverers would have to be accomplished prior to the operational launches

in mid-1961. He again reiterated his concern that the single bio-medical launch

also seemed totally inadequate.

After a technical briefing by Lockheed and the project personnel from BMD,

Dr. Charyk concluded the meeting with the following. A thorough review of the

A program and the bio-medical series must be conducted with the purpose of

considering additional launches for both of these programs to improve their

potential to accomplish planned objectives.• The question of additional Thor

boosters must also be considered. Interaction of these proposed additional

launches on the C program must be studied. A review of this total problem

should be accomplished within one week. In the meantime, the schedule outlined

in paragraph 4 above will be adhered to pending any new decisions. The widersigned informed Dr. Charyk that ARDC would be prepared to review a new

bio-medical development plan with him in approximately one week.

NORMAN C APPOLD

Colonel, USAF

Director, Ballistic Missiles

& Space Systems

DCS/Research & Engineering

2

EYES ONLY ONLY

CO-47768
Dr. Charyk

General Curtin

Colonel Martin

MA.1 int-Golowl Howard

Major James

DDR&R

Mr. Dailey

Mr. Cesaro

Mr. Hancock

Colonel Smith

Colonel Ruzek

Mr. Waggoner

BMD

CEA

Mr. Kieffer

Mr. Parangosky

Colonel Murphy

Lockheed

Colonel Worthman

Colonel Battle

Lt Colonel Ford

Mr. Plummer

Mr. Fred O'Green

Autonetics

Army 

Mr. Dressler

Colonel Simmon Dr. Heidelauf

Colonel Haseman

Mr. Spooner

Air Staff 

Major Floyd

ARDC

Colonel Appold