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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

5 MAY 1957 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

SUBJECT: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Monthly Status 

Report 

The attached Status Report on the Manned Orbiting 

Laboratory (MOL) Program covers activities through 

April 30, 1967 and is submitted in accordance with 

the April 13, 1967 memorandum from the Office of the 

Secretary. 

Ilk -mad 

11111 

/4(o, JAMES FERGUSON 

eneral, USAF 

Director, MOL Program 

1 Atch 

a/s 

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I. PROBLEM 

MOL Schedule Adjustment 

Since January 1967, the MOL Program has been engaged 

in an extensive effort to achieve a realistic balance 

between schedules and funds for the engineering development 

of the MOL System. During this exercise, which has involved the participation of all associate contractors, 

it has become apparent that a schedule adjustment of 

approximately 9 months is desirable to accommodate 

technical factors, principally involving engineering, 

integration and test of exchange hardware. When available and projected fiscal year funding ceilings are 

considered in addition to these technical requirements, 

it appears that an extension of approximately one year to 

the present baseline schedule will best balance the date 

of the first manned flight with an orderly progression 

of the development program. A concerted effort will be 

made to adhere to a schedule which will achieve the first 

manned flight in December 1970. 

This revised program can be achieved within the 

FY 1967 budget level of $228.4 million. A request has 

been forwarded to DDR&E for the release of the remaining 

$58.4 million of deferred FY 1967 funds. 

At this time, the FY 1968 funds requirement, based 

on the revised program schedule, is approximately $510.0 

million. While this figure exceeds the planning guideline 

of $480.0 million jointly recognized by the Secretary of 

the Air Force and the Director, Defense Research and 

Engineering, the apparent discrepancy is considered to be 

manageable. However, the funding situation may be 

aggravated by the recent failure of either House of Congress 

to raise the MOL FY 1968 budget above the $430.0 million 

level in the respective Authorization Bills. If the 

disparity of $80.0 million stands, then further program 

adjustments will be necessary. 

II. CHANGE PAST MONTH 

A. Congressional 

Updated MOL information was provided to support 

the Congressional testimony of Dr. Foster, Dr. Brown/ 

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General McConnell, and Dr. Flax/General Holzapple. 

Included in these inputs was information on the Apollo 

and Brooks AFB accidents, and the MOL funding and schedule 

situation. Answers to questions related to MOL were 

prepared for Mr. Mahon, Mr. Symington and Mr. Karth. On 

April 11, Dr. Brown gave a special MOL briefing to Chairman 

Rivers and selected members of his committee, stressing 

the need for $50 million additional FY 1968 funds. Inserts 

for the record were prepared, principally on funding, as 

part of Dr. Flax' testimony to both the House Appropriations 

(Mahon) Committee and the Price Subcommittee of the House 

Armed Services (Rivers) Committee. It is understood that 

the reports of neither House Committee included the MOL 

$50 million requirement. On April 24, General Stewart 

briefed Chairman Teague and members of his Committee on 

MOL and NASA relationships. 

B. Titan IIIM Funding 

At the MOL Management Meeting on April 14, 1967, 

the T-III SPO identified additional T-IIIM commitment 

funding requirements beyond the cumulative total of $80.0 

million provided through mid-April. These additional 

requirements were described in three options in which 

different fund levels had differing effects on the T-IIIB, 

C and D programs. 

The option selected requires an additional $10.2 

million through June 30. It preserves the T-IIIB, C and 

D schedules, and minimizes the overhead cost impact of 

the MOL schedule slip. 

C. Readout/Data Return Vehicle (DRV) 

Readout and the Data Return Vehicle have been 

deleted from the baseline MOL development program. However, the option to include these capabilities in followon vehicles will be protected; i.e., the baseline MOL 

configuration will reserve weight, space and power 

allocations for Readout and the DRV. 

D. Selection of MOL Astronauts 

A Board of officers will meet during May to select 

the third increment of astronauts to join the program. 

The eight candidates to be screened are all that remain 

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from the group of 25 nominated to the Director, MOL by 

the Chief of Staff early in 1966. Five of the 25 were 

selected to join the program in the second increment 

in October 1966. The selection process will be completed 

by the end of May, with public announcement of the results 

tentatively scheduled for June. Those selected will join 

the total of 12 astronauts presently assigned. 

E. DDR&E/BOB Visit to EK/GE 

Mr. Kirk, Mr. Barfield, Mr. McGough, all of DDR&E 

and Mr. Linder of BOB visited the Eastman Kodak Company 

on April 10, 1967. Mr. Kirk and Mr. McGough also visited 

General Electric on the same date. 

Of prime concern to Mr. Kirk and party were 

configuration management, contractor interface management 

and particularly difficult technological areas. Mr. 

Kirk expressed a desire for more technical detail in 

these specific areas, and indicated that he would request 

briefings on these items in the future. 

F. State Department Briefing 

On April 7, a one-hour briefing was presented 

to Mr. Foy Kohler, Mr. Jeffrey Kitchen and Mr. Scott George 

of the State Department. The briefing was given by 

representatives of AFRDS, SAFSS and SAFSL, and covered 

status of current space programs, special space projects, 

policy considerations regarding overhead reconnaissance, 

and the MOL Program. 

III. CURRENT STATUS 

A. Funds 

Funds in the amount of $31.05 million were 

released to MOL operating activities during April, leaving 

a balance of $7.0 million retained by the Director, MOL 

Program. A memorandum to the Director of Defense Research 

and Engineering, dated April 26, requested release of the 

remaining $58.4 million (FY 1967) retained by DOD. These 

funds will meet program requirements through June 30, 1967. 

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B. MOL Target Model 

The processing of the target model sample 

(585 items) has been completed. Based on agreements 

reached in a meeting at Hq SAC on April 13, 1967, the 

sample is now to be expanded into the full model 

(4,265 items). SAC will perform this task; estimated 

completion date is July 1, 1967. 

C. GE Plant Cognizance 

A meeting was convened on April 19 by the 

Directorate for Contract Administration Services, ASD(I&L), 

to discuss the MOL Program Office request for the transfer 

of plant cognizance at GE, Philadelphia, from DCAS to the 

Air Force. Final action by ASD(I&L) is expected during 

May. 

IV. FORECAST FOR FUTURE 

A. MOL Management Meeting 

The next MOL Management Meeting is scheduled 

for Thursday, May 11, 1967. The meeting will convene 

at 1:00 P. M. in Room 5D-227, Pentagon, MOL costs, 

schedules, and contracts will be covered. 

B. Executive Council Meeting 

The initial meeting of the MOL Executive Council, 

an executive-level advisory body made up of senior Air 

Force and Industry MOL managers, is scheduled for Thursday, 

June 1, 1967. The meeting will convene at 5 A. M. at 

Hq Air Force Systems Command, Andrews, AFB. 

V. DUE DATE FOR NEXT PROGRESS REPORT 

The next Monthly MOL Progress Report will be submitted 

June 7, 1967. 

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