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MinMill 

MAR 13 1967 

MEA1ORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR, NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

SUBJECT: Recommendations on Readout in the MOL Program 

.1•••••■•■11111101, 

Cancellation of the GAMBIT 3 readout development has caused 

: a re-evaluation within the MOL baseline, which has included an 

adaptation of the GAMBIT 3 readout components and the use of the 

ground station. Resulting from the review, this memorandum 

recommends that the data recovery capsule now planned in the manned 

configuration be eliminated and that the program proceed with the 

integration of the CBS readout system as previously intended. The 

reasons, in summary, for this recommendation are:' 

1. The safety and engineering problems associated with 

handling the rocket-propelled capsule inside the laboratory module 

are serious enough to be worth avoiding if possible. 

2. In any event, the readout system is superior to the 

recovery capsule for use during the MOL orbital development period. 

3. MOL provides a unique opportunity for an orbital evaluation of the performance of the CBS readout system. 

4. MOL can perfolz an effective evaluation of the readout 

mission, including the ground environment, as it ap•Aies to intelligence collection objectives. 

5. The readout system will be a valuable tool for providing 

a wealth of feedback data during orbital tezting so tlla.t a thoroughgoing evaluation cantle made of just what abilities of 'Lhe man on 

orbit are most useful and how they may be applied most effectively. 

6. A. readout :,!„"-stent has specialized applications to the MOL 

mission. 

T. A:. ,...ricrital readout system has many projeo-zed intelligence 

applications. 

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In the process of arriving at the recommendation, four obvious 

alternativesIdiscussed in Tab Al were considered: 

1. Continue with the baSeline configuration which provides 

both a recovery capsule and readout. 

- 2. nizainate both. 

3. Provide only a recovery capsule. 

4. - PrOlote•;eadout only. (Recommended). 

IF 

The following discussion presents the reasoning to support the 

recommended deeisient, 

3.. Adoption will eliminate safety and engineering problems 

with the capsule. 

The baseline configuration contains the recovery capsule 

in the pressurized section of the laboratory. Its presenceunavoidably 

presents several difficulties, acme of Which were not previously 

considered quite so serious when there was less experience with oxygen 

rich atmospheres. The capsule is handled on the ground with prodedures 

which apply to low-order explosives. Pyrotechnics are used in several 

parts, the largest being the rocket igniter. One faces here the 

dilemma either of carrying the capsule "loaded" (with igniter installed. 

and Shorted out) or of having the astronaut perform the installation, 

an operation conducted behind sandbags on the ground. 

The capsule is a heavy mass which must be maneuvered to 

the launching tube (with no previous practice) or, alternatively, 

Originally installed in the tube and fed by a probably impractical 

devious film path. The former i$ the current solution. 

Certain emergency situations (,4911for an overboard escape 

hatch. The capsule launching Ube can serve this need with the exception 

that during the time it is occupied by the capsule it 1p net usable. 

If the capsule should fail to ejeet normally, a dangerous eonditien 

would exist which preb00„yVirculd forbid any astronaut attempts to 

dislodge it. In such a case, this escape route could not be used. The 

capsule has neverbeenepalikedfOr storage in an oxygen-rich 

atmosphere. • 

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2. For the MOL orbital development period the readout system 

is superior to the capaulei:' 

The capsule is a one-shot system having the sole advantage 

of returning the p a record from the primary platen. Any examination that needs to be made by ground-based technicians subsequent to 

the single recovery must await the end of the 30-day mission. Readout, 

On the other hand, provides a quick-reaction check continuously through 

the mission. The differences between the transmitted photography and 

the primary record will be orois11, as well as identifiable in advance. 

A weekly readout from. a primary record sample also can be. made. 

3. MOL provides a unique orbital test of the CBS system. 

Quite unlike the uroposed G/ IT 3 program, MOL can carry 

the readout as a secondary payload without detriment to any other 

objective. it would be regrettable to miss the opportunity to perform 

such a thorough orbital test of the system at so low a cost. The 

Mined attendance during the developmental period is a; unique advantage. 

Aside from the identification of possible future uses, the testing of 

such a system will provide valuable information for future planning. 

MOL can perform, an effective evaluation of the readout 

mission. 

The place to be occupied by readeut techniques in future 

intelligence collection efforts is far from being defined as yet* At 

least a significant part of the controversy can be resolved by an 

orbital 1-1/11-e-down Of the mission itself, Which can be accomplished 

comprehensively by MOL in the three 30.day tests on which the equipment 

would be scheduled. The experienoe to be gained in the actual operation, 

including the processing and distribution of the data from the ground 

station, is certain to shed. new light upon the whole problem. The 

economy, caning frail astronaut readout selectivity, in the quantity 

material, that must be handled vial be important during this -ee.:plo-ratory 

phase. 

5. The readout system is ideally_ tutted as a tool for 

evaluating the manned functions Of the mission. 

In spite of the best laid plans, the manned missions are 

sure' to be dominated by continual revisiona, trades and adjustments 

in functions, priorities and targeting objectivea as the operations 

actually are experienced.. It will be important to know whether the 

"active-indicator" search can be performed as planned, whether the 

"false-target" rate is high and Whether the resolving *power of the 

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telescopes is adequate to permit target inspections. Target verification needs to be checked in both manned and automatic modes and the 

liable is true for the weather selectivity function. Only a small part 

of this information can be detentined at all by the astronauts and 

reported verbally. With no recovery capsule or readout, these evaluations will be predominantly post-mission. With Only a total of three 

missions scheduled, there may not be enough time to make all the 

cut-and-try adjustments that could, if given enough feed-back, solve 

all the major prdblems. A single capsule returned early in the mission 

has some value, but it would, contain only- a snA31 percentage Of the. data. 

By contrast the readout system gives e, daily clearly verified check of 

all these furrations, operating as a continuous feed-back in the everi-, 

ment. The information transmitted can be carefully selected and 

specific to the function being tested. The readout system can more 

than pay for itself in this mode of Operation alone. 

6. • The readout system has specialized applications to the 

1v101, mission. 

It follows from 5., above, that, once the operational 

modes are developed, they can employ readout for checking and updating 

future missions. ZeaditiOrto the WOL mission has IrYherent quickresponse elements in those cases, for instance, where high-value 

intelligence of 4 perishable nature has just been. obtained or where 

the whole system is employed, at a higher altitude in a crisis situation* 

T. A readout system does indeed have important future k.1 

applications. 

Much of the current apathy in attitude toward. readoutcan \ 

be attributed to characteristic conservatism in the goverauerital 

intelligence machine, in spite of which there is reason to 'believeAin 

a fature„ not clearly defined, ivrportance for readout. 

The prospect +of return of intelligence information with 

short time lag has been viewed favorably in some degree or other by 

most 1.zsers. The reer.zirements usually are expressed in rather general 

terms. Several sources have recognized the crisis management applica:•\ 

lions, but have not considered this alone to sufficient justification 

for large expenditure. It is recognized, however, that readout also \` 

can provide timely validation of data received from `Other sources, can 

work es-oeciaviy well in combination with SIGINT and can have Importance 

in connection with impending or occurring events of special intereet. 

In a large percentage of cases, the first clues received about such 

events come from intercepted. message traffic or radiated emissions 

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from the site of the activity. Frequently it is not possible to 

determine whether the activity is in fact occurring: The ability 

to photograph the site upon demand would be a powerful addition t* 

the collection system. Quick response is essential, since information on these events is perishable. 

The military requirements for a satellite reconnaissance 

system with quick-response return of infOrmation are stated in 

JCSM 937-63, dated 29 November 1963. The system proposed for testing 

MOL would. not wet all of the pare igi teas listed, but it would be 

an Important step forward in providing such intelligence return at 

a future time. 

Proposed Actions 

The Might and cost factors associated with the recommended action 

are minor and. are within the present program scope and funding. Tab A. 

contains the current estimates. if you approve, the necessary instructions will be transmitted to cause the deletion of the capsule recovery 

from the manned configuration and to direct the SPO to proceed with 

contractual action for the CBS readout system. Uhe SPO will be instructed 

to study and propose a suitable approach to provide a data link and 

--- ground system. 

HARRY L. EVANS 

Major General, USAF 

Vice Director, MOS, Program 

1. Atch 

Colonel Battle/55674/13Mar67/ams 

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TAB A 

SUPPORMIG INFORMATION 

Factual and Status Tciformation 

1. Status 

CBS is continuins at a low level of activity in order to 

maintain continuity until a decision can be made. To adapt to MOL, 

they would, need to come up with a final design and to define the AGE, 

BTL appears unwilling to downy more on their part. Another contractor - 

dOuld take over, however, without Mai objection, and some arrangement * 

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to emplOy the ground station would need to be worked out. 

Provisions have been the in the baseline desiga to permit.- 

installation of both systems. These actions are proceeding slowly, 

however, pending a decision on which option is to be selected* 

2. Weights 

a. The capsule installation weight of 400 lbs. has been 

included in the baseline Weight statement. 

b* The readout system installation weight is 431 lbs., 

of which 163 lbs« is in the baseline weight statement. 

c. 375 Ibs, Of the capsule system can be. removed, If 

the readout system is substituted for it, the baseline weight will 

show a net decrease of 107 lbs. 

3. Cost 

a. The cost of the Capsule system has been included in 

the current budget* If deleted, the cost would be reduced by abOut 

$5.0 

b. The readout system cost is estimated to be $25.0 

million, $15.5 nil 7 len is now Programmed for readout. Approval of 

the readout system would require, therefore, an extra 0.5 ril114on. 

Ellmi.nPtion of the capsule system would save $5.0 million, so that 

the net cost increase of the reecesondecl optia:t would be 0.5 malion, 

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Discussion of Four Options 

1. Continue with baseline, providing both recovery and 

readout. 

Heaviest in weight end highest in cost, this option also 

provides the most in, advantages. The capsule installation and Opera.. 

Lion will not interfere with the readout system. Orbital checkout 

of the capsule recovery system would put it in a ready status for 

future use if needed. Considering the developmental -nature of the - -

NDL program, this option probably would be preferred were it net for 

the safety and engineeringproblems which at the present appear very 

troublesome. The worth of the capsule system, which has functions 

that largely are redundant to those of the readout system, does not 

appear great enough to justify incurring the associated complications. 

2. Delete both systems from the baseline. 

Simplicity, low weight and low cost would be the principal 

reasons for selecting this option. tlesion data feedback would be 

-. accomplished through the Voice link, something like performing_photo 

interpretation by suestionnri.-answerseasions on the telephone. 

Significant pieces of information out of the manned-mode operation can 

.be passed by voice, but only a rn-l1 fraction of the analytical information needed to conduct testing and Operations can be sent down by voice. 

With only three mid R&D tests programmed, elimination of any data 

return, particularly the readout system, would appear to be a false 

economy. 

3i Provide &Ilya recovery capsule. 

The utility of the data capsule stands alone only in 

one respect: it returns the primary reterd. It is possible that 

SOMA • defect lathe primary platen (.trouble with across»fermat IMC1 

for instance) could be detectedandeorreeted .foe■ the latter part 

of the mission. Other than in thiS particular failure-analysis 

application, the readout system is Superior in all respects. Since 

in the readout case, the primary'reeord:also will be returned, at the 

end of #30 days, the advantage:ofthe capsule in this particular 

respect is net a strong justification. The eOmPlicatione presented 

by the capsule already: have been discussed.: 

4, Provide readout only 

The case ;4:4- Option i1beabeen: stated. 

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