110 

. A. SCHRIEVER 

General, USAF 

Director, MOL Program 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 TOP SECRET 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASH I NGTON 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

4 JAN 1966 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

SUBJECT: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Monthly Status 

Report q.,LA Ukt-e,w/bA4 

The attached Status Report on the Manned Orbiting 

Laboratory (MOL) Program covers activities through 

December 31, 1965, and is submitted in accordance with 

the December 18, 1965 instructions from the Office of 

the Secretary. 

1 Atch 

a/s 

Page 1 of 11 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 

HANDLE VIA STERN SYSTEM ONLY 

EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC REGRADING; 

DOD DIR 5200.10 DOES NOT APPLY 
›NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 -TOP-SECRETI. PROBLEMS 

A. Manned/Unmanned Considerations 

The results of the manned/unmanned studies directed by DNRO 

in September 1965 were presented to Air Force MOL/DORIAN management 

(SAF-SLA and SAF-SP) on December 14 and 15. The studies show that: 

1. The in-line optical system configuration is preferable to 

the "dump-truck" configuration. Although GE felt that the "dump-truck" 

version had advantages over the in-line version, technical discussions 

at the meeting with Eastman Kodak and Aerospace concluded the in-line 

configuration to be preferred. 

2. Automatic alignment, automatic tracking, automatic focus 

adjustment, V/h sensing, and across-the-format image motion compensation 

for the DORIAN sensor are feasible. Eastman Kodak considered that full 

automation of the system was not a major technical problem. 

3. The fully-automated DORIAN sensor can be expected to yield a 

slightly degraded mission resolution of about in the unmanned 

mode. 

4. A weight reduction program will be necessary to fit the 

fully-automated DORIAN system into the payload weight allocation for the 

manned orbiting vehicle. 

5. Eastman Kodak asserted that the first set of flight-qualified 

optics will not be available before late 1969, and a January 1970 flight 

date is the earliest that optics availability can support. 

In summary, sensor technology will support the manned/unmanned 

system design, and the unmanned mode resolution will approach that of the 

manned mode. Incorporation of automatic features into the manned 

DORIAN 

Page 2 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 TOP SECRET 

vehicle will engender some weight reduction problems. Availability of 

flight optics will pace the launch schedule for MOL Flight No. 4. 

B. Funding 

After receipt of information in late November that the FY 1967 

DoD budget for MOL was established at $150 million, a series of funding 

exercises and discussions were conducted with the Office of the 

Secretary of the Air Force and the office of the DDR&E, OSD. These 

resulted in several alternatives for MOL Program schedules and budgets 

being proposed to the Secretary of Defense for his consideration. The 

following is a recap of the alternatives that were proposed: 

1. Memo to Secretary of Defense from Secretary of the Air 

Force dated December 4, 1965, recommended a six-month slip of the first 

manned flight until April 1969 with a reduced FY 1967 budget requirement 

of $294 million. A second alternative of a 9 to 12 month slip was 

suggested with a FY 1967 minimum budget requirement of approximately 

$230 million, below which effectiveness of contractor effort would be 

impaired because a stop-start effort of some contractors would probably 

be required to stay within funding limitations. 

2. About December 9, Dr. Foster, DDR&E, discussed with the 

Secretary of Defense the possibility of increasing the $150 million MOL 

FY 1967 budget. Dr. Foster was provided with three proposed program 

alternatives representing a 3, 6, and 12-month slip in the current program 

with FY 1967 budget requirements of $374, 280 and 220 million respectively. 

It is understood that Secretary McNamara felt that, with a reported delay 

Page 3 of 11 pages 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 

NAM VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

in the development and availability of the flight optics, a continuation • 

of the MOL Program at the FY 1966 level of funding ($150 million) was 

appropriate. 

3. On December 16, the Secretary of the Air Force was provided with a talking paper which: (a) reviewed the requirement for the 

attainment of a resolution photographic capability which can be 

provided by the MOL system; and, (b) presented what were considered to 

be realistic lead time and fund requirements of a balanced program for a 

manned October 1969 flight date of flight-qualified optics. Also 

considered was the possibility of a January 1970 flight date. The 

October 1969 manned all-up flight represents a 9-month slip in the current 

program and was estimated to require $250 million of FY 1967 funds at a 

total 7-flight program cost of $1.658 billion. The January 1970 flight 

schedule was estimated to require $230 million of FY 1967 funds at 

essentially the same total program cost. 

L. On December 23, Dr. Foster, DDR&E, met with Mr. Vance, 

Deputy Secretary of Defense, to obtain favorable consideration for 

increasing the MOL FY 1967 budget. A cost exercise had been provided 

to Dr. Foster showing a FY 1967 fund requirement of $237 million to 

support an October 1969 flight-qualified optics manned flight date. It 

is our understanding that Mr. Vance's question about technical and 

schedule aspects of the program were satisfactorily answered and he was 

sympathetic to the request for additional money for the FY 1967 budget. 

However, he did not agree to increase the present FY 1967 budget, but 

stated orally that he would support a requirement for additional money 

DORIAN 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

Page 4 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

in a FY 1967 supplemental budget necessary to advance the MOL Program at 

a reasonable technological pace. 

As a result of the above efforts, it is felt that favorable 

recognition has been obtained in OSD for the need to support the MOL 

Program at a higher level of effort for FY 1967 than the $150 million 

budget would allow. 

The Air Force has received the following Five-Year Force Structure 

and Financial Plan from OSD: 

FYFS&FP (Millions) 

Prior Years FY67 FY68 FY69 FY70 FY71 TOTAL 

196.5 150 450 400 330 200 1726.5 

This funding structure takes into account the present 7-flight program, 

but increases the total program cost which DDR8 believed to be underestimated. 

II. CHANGE PAST MONTH 

A. The MOL Monthly Status Report for November 1965 indicated a 

potentially unsatisfactory situation at GE(MSD), and indicated that the 

Director, MOL intended to conduct an investigation of the matter. In a 

memorandum dated December 27, 1965, the Director, MOL advised the 

Secretary of the Air Force that in view of existing uncertainties in MOL 

funding, and in response to the recommendations of Generals Berg and 

Martin, the determination of the need for a survey of GE(MSD) will be 

deferred until after completion of MOL Phase I. 

B. An amended version of the MOL information plan submitted to 

Secretary McNamara on August 24 was approved on December 16 after State 

DORIAN 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

Page 5 of llpages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 -TOP-SECRETDepartment, NASA and USIA coordination. The plan makes SAF-OI responsible 

for implementation but retains policy approval authority in OASD/PA, which 

is also responsible for close coordination with State on all MOL public 

affairs matters. The plan incorporates the interim policy guidance of 

discouraging public speeches and requiring prior DoD approval for public 

statements and proposed news releases. It also requires preparation of 

annexes to cover such things as contract award announcements, selection of 

additional pilots, test launches and other program milestones. 

C. The MOL Program Office has received for review a proposed plan 

for acquisition of facilities and long-lead Aerospace Support Equipment 

(ASE) to support the DORIAN effort at Eastman Kodak. Total estimated 

package value is $32.5 million, of which $7.784 million is required in 

FY 1966. 

D. Action has been initiated requesting an increase in the Air Force 

FY 1967 Military Construction budget of $4.1 million to cover additional 

costs of the Initial Launch Capability (ILC) at WTR for the Titan III/MOL 

configuration. This increase was caused by several significant changes 

which have occurred since completion in April 1965 of the definition 

phase for the ILC. $18 million was authorized and funded in FY 1966 for 

construction of an ILC designed for a Titan III with standard payload 

fairing. MOL-related changes include: 

1. the decision to proceed with early MOL launches from WTR; 

2. a decision to use 7-segment solid rockets, increased Stage 

I tank length, and other booster changes. 

DORIAN 

Page 6 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 

NANDI! VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

E. Dr. Welsh and Dr. Konecci of the National Aeronautics and 

Space Council were briefed at DORIAN level on December 23 on the status 

of the MOL Program. 

F. A MOL Program Management Review was conducted at the MOL Systems 

Office, Los Angeles Air Force Station, on 20 December. Dr. Foster and 

Mr. Fink, DDR&E, and Dr. Flax and Mr. Ross, SAF-RD, were the key attendees 

in addition to the Director, MOL and Director, SAF-SP and selected 

representatives of their offices. Discussed at that time were the following items with the decisions and actions relative to each: 

Manned/Unmanned Capability 

Dr. Leonard and Mr. Tennant of Aerospace Corporation summarized 

the results of the Manned/Unmanned technical studies which had been 

reviewed with the concerned contractors on December 14 and 15. As a 

result, the manned/unmanned configuration is being established as baseline. 

The general performance and design requirements specification is being 

revised and all contractors are being directed accordingly. An in-house 

study is being initiated to determine how the excess weight available in 

the unmanned configuration can be effectively utilized to improve the 

overall unmanned performance. The baseline optical system will be the 

in-line Ross corrector configuration and the dump truck configuration 

dropped. However, some study effort will continue on the dump truck 

technology for purposes of defining requirements and for possible application as a second generation system. 

MOL Program Schedule 

A discussion of the Eastman Kodak preliminary estimate of the 

availability of the first qualified flight optics by October 1969 

HANDLE VIA BYEVAN SYSTEM ONLY 

DORIAN TOP SECRET Page 7 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAPS', BYE 21000-66 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 BP SECRET 

revealed that Eastman Kodak was probably conservative by three months. 

General Martin, SAF-SP, stated that his organization had not yet 

validated this sensor schedule slippage but would do so in early 

January. The MOL Program schedule will be extended to minimize the 

impact of MOL expenditures on the FY 1967 budget. Phase IB will be 

extended to May 1, 1966 with commencement of Phase II activities by 

September 1, 1966. Long lead development effort associated with this 

payload, booster, and Ile will be continued on a controlled basis as 

required. 

Program Funding 

In a discussion of the MOL funding requirements it was 

recognized that the funding requirements presented were only rough 

estimates without benefit of the contractors' Phase I cost proposals. 

It was agreed, however, that the above schedules and activities could 

be accomplished during the last part of FY 1966 and FY 1967 within a 

total FY 1967 budget of $237 million plus the residual of unprogrammed 

FY 1966 funds. Program planning will be accomplished in such a manner 

to allow a shift to an even longer program stretchout if only $150 

million FY 1967 funds are provided. 

MOL Flight Test Vehicle Requirements 

In order to provide for the required development of the 

manned/unmanned MOL system capability it was agreed that at least two 

additional flight test vehicles should be added to the present 7-flight 

test vehicle program. For planning purposes, a minimum of two additional 

flights will be added to current program and these additional vehicles 

DORIAN 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY TOP SECRET 

Page 8 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

TOP STU 

are not to be designated as manned or unmanned at this time. 

III. CURRENT STATUS 

A. Subcontracts 

On December 20, the Douglas Company informed the MOL Systems 

Office that the Pratt and Whitney Division of United Aircraft Corporation 

was the successful bidder for the MOL Power Supply Subsystem. GE was 

the only other competitor, Allis-Chalmers having declined. With this 

selection, all major subsystem suppliers have been identified, with the 

exception of the Data Management System source. Selection of a Data 

Management System contractor from among RCA, IBM, Raytheon, Honeywell, 

Univac, Autonetics, and GE is in process at this time. 

B. Insertion Ships 

The third meeting of the Joint Committee on NASA and MOL 

Instrumentation Ship Requirements was held on December 2, to continue 

studying the joint use of T-2-type instrumentation ships for both Apollo 

and MOL. It was concluded at this meeting that T-2 support for MOL is 

not available, based on the NASA position presented to the Committee that 

the Apollo program must have considerable launch flexibility and should 

not be subjected to constraints imposed by other programs for ship support. 

NRD has not yet made any recommendations on alternate means of meeting 

the MOL requirements for an insertion ship south of Vandenberg AFB during 

each MOL launch. 

C. Launch Pad Modifications, CKAFS 

On November 19, a contract was awarded in the amount of $567,000 

for alterations to Launch Complex 40, Cape Kennedy AFS, to support the 

DORIAN 

Page 9 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

MOL Heat Shield Qualification launch and construction is now in progress. 

Scheduled completion date is April 15, 1966. This date is compatible 

with MOL requirements. 

D. Funding Procedures 

A memorandum of agreement regarding MOL Black Financial Procedures was approved by Director, NRO and Director, MOL on November 4, 

1965. A companion paper for white financial procedures has been prepared, 

reviewed by interested individuals, and forwarded for approval. 

E. MOL Aerospace Research Pilots 

Eight officers have been selected and assigned to the MOL 

Systems Office to be trained and utilized as flight crews in the MOL 

Program. Action has been initiated to select the remaining twelve crew 

members for MOL to round out the total requirement of twenty MOL Aerospace 

Research Pilots. A central screening action was performed at Randolph 

AFB Personnel Center during November of over 500 applicants for astronaut 

duty with NASA and/or MOL. Early this month, the board forwarded to 

Headquarters, USAF a list of 100 nominees in general order of merit for 

astronaut duty. From this list the Chief of Staff, USAF nominated 

sixteen to NASA and twenty-five to Director, MOL for further processing 

and final selection. Selection of the remaining MOL Aerospace Research 

Pilots is expected to be completed by •April 1, 1966. 

IV. FORECAST FOR FUTURE 

A. By mid-January, the MOL Program Office will submit for approval 

a request for release of approximately $40 million of deferred FY 1966 

funds, to cover program activity during the third and fourth quarters of 

FY 1966. 

DORIAN 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

Page 10 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 
NRO APPROVED FOR ' 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

B. As the Congress reconvenes for the 1966 session, attention is 

expected to focus sharply on the military space programs, and upon DOD-NASA 

relationships. Six Congressional committees have indicated an interest 

in the MOL Program. 

C. Formal changes to MOL Phase I contracts to reflect a manned/ 

unmanned system baseline configuration and a revised program schedule will 

be issued as soon as circumstances permit. 

D. Eastman Kodak Company has indicated that the earliest possible 

flight date for the DORIAN payload is January 1970. During the next 

month, the rationale for the January 1970 date will be examined in detail 

by the MOL Systems Office and SAF-SP in order to determine definitively 

whether or not an earlier schedule date is feasible. The formal EEC 

proposal for development of the MOL payload is due in late February 1966. 

V. DUE DATE FOR NEXT STATUS REPORT 

Next monthly MOL Program Status Report to be submitted February 7, 

1966. 

DORIAN 

Page 11 of 11 pages 

Copy 1 of 9 copies 

SAFSL BYE 21000-66 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY