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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 20330 

Art 

'iv, 

JAMES FERGUSON 1 

General, USAF 

Director, MOL Program 

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

AUG eV 

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 July 31, 

1967 and is submitted in accordance with the July 13, 1967 

memorandum from the Office of the Secretary. 

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I. PROBLEMS 

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None. 

II. CHANGE PAST MONTH 

A. Deputy Director, MOL 

Effective July 1, Major General Joseph S. Bleymaier assumed 

the duties of Deputy Director, MOL, vice Colonel Paul J. Heran. 

B. Visit by the Vice President to NPIC 

The Vice President visited the National Photographic 

Interpretation Center during the morning of July 25. He was welcomed 

by General Stewart, Mr. Helms, and Mr. Lundahl (Director, NPIC) and 

introduced to the seven MOL Astronauts participating at that time in 

the indoctrination program conducted by the Center for MOL crew members. 

Mr. Humphrey's visit lasted approximately 12 hours, during which time 

he was briefed by General Stewart, Mr. Lundahl, and MOL Astronaut 

Major Lachlan MacLeay. 

C. DDR&E Visit 

On July 18, 1967, briefings for Dr. Foster and his staff were 

provided at General Electric and Eastman Kodak. These briefings 

presented a general overview of program activities and served as a 

percursor to the visit by Secretary McNamara now scheduled for August 21, 

1967. 

D. GE Subcontractor Selection 

General Electric has awarded subcontracts to Lear-Siegler, 

Inc., Instrument Division, Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the visual 

display projector for target cues and to the Wayne-George Company, 

Newton, Massachusetts, (a division of ITEK) for the tracking mirror 

shaft position indicator. 

E. MOL Briefing for State Department Personnel 

On July 17, General Stewart presented a DORIAN-level MOL 

status briefing to State Department employees Messrs Trueheart, Leonard, 

Wolf and Perez. These individuals advise Mr. John Hughes, head of the 

Intelligence Division, on MOL status and progress. 

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F. MOL Program Review Council Meeting 

The Council met at the Pentagon on July 27. Principals in 

attendance were Dr. Flax, General Ferguson, General Stewart, General 

Bleymaier, General Martin, General Berg and Mr. Kirk (ODDR&E). The 

results of this meeting are summarized in attachment 1. 

G. Incorporation of Wide Band Data Link in MOL 

To fly the Wide Band Readout System in the baseline MOL 

Program would require initiation of contractual action in August 1967. 

This early action would be necessary so that the equipment could be 

incorporated in the system qualification test program at Douglas. At 

the MOL Program Review Council meeting of July 27, in view of the costs, 

lack of strong support by the user community, etc., an earlier decision 

was reaffirmed to fly without the readout system in the baseline program, 

but to continue to preserve space, weight and power provision for 

possible incorporation in the follow-on program. 

As a corollary decision, Dr. Flax directed that the baseline 

processor be retained in lieu of a "health check" processor which was 

discussed as a possible alternative to the baseline device. 

III. CURRENT STATUS 

A. Funds 

Of the $228,446,000. (FY 1967) available to the program 

approximately $228,404,000 had been obligated as of June 30, 1967. 

Less than $42,000 was carried into FY 1968 as unobligated balance. 

Of the $120,000,000. (FY 1968) released to the program on 

July 1, $100,400,000 has been further released to MOL operating activities; $19,600,000 is presently retained by the Director, MOL. It is 

anticipated that the total $120 million initial FY 1968 release will 

be obligated by mid-September. 

B. Congressional 

On July 14, General Stewart appeared before the Special Subcommittee on Accident Investigation of the House Committee on Armed 

Services (Chairman Stratton). The Subcommittee was assured that the 

MOL design is taking full advantage of all information collected in 

connection with the recent Apollo and Brooks AFB fires. 

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IV. FORECAST FOR FUTURE Control System 

A. Secretary of Defense Visit 

The visit of Secretary McNamara to General Electric and 

Eastman Kodak is scheduled for the afternoon and evening of August 21, 

1967. The itinerary will be basically the same as that followed by 

Dr. Foster on July 18. Arrangements concerning logistics and security 

are currently underway with Secretary McNamara's staff. 

B. August/September Program Briefings 

The Stand-H-And-Be-Counted briefings discussed by General 

Stewart at the June MOL Policy Committee meeting will be conducted in 

August and September. Dr. Land's PSAC Panel intends to review payload development status on 29/30 August; no other special briefings 

have been identified at this time. The basic purpose for these 

presentations is to prepare interested agencies and individuals for 

the heavy demands that MOL will make upon the FY 1969 RDT&E appropriation. 

V. DUE DATE FOR NEXT PROGRESS REPORT 

The next monthly MOL Progress Report will be submitted September 8, 

1967. 

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