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LWESISISCRIMI

4SINIEISSECIAL The purpose of the DISCOVINIR is the design., development,

sod flight test of 41 too-stew satellite vehicles. In the early phase of

the program, the fligbt configuration employed consisted of the IVOR ION

with slight modifications and the Lockheed' AONSA "A" !eased stage. The

present and future flight configuration will employ the of 21 booster, an

improved 210e with reduced weight and imcressed thrust, mad the MINA NS"

orbital stag. The AONSA "S" satellite vehicle represents a' amber of

improvements over the earlier AAA "A". The most important of these

improvements include double propellant espebity„ double engine b yre time,

improved engine specific impulse (4511 eapaasion retie), and an ensime

restart capability. The first flight utilising both the final DU1.21

conaguratiOn and the final MINA '11" seefiguration occurred on 7 December

1960 with the launch of DISOWNS= XVIII.

ANNSMOSNIZAL- The NKOMO= Program is not designed to beAtveloped

into a :military weapons system; however, it is Clitilaefetsjewiepiond

flight test my of the components common to future satellite systems.

Specific program objectives include:

Plight test of the satellite vehicle'airframs, propulsion, guidance

and control systems, auxiliary power supply, and telemetry, tracking and

commend equipment.

Attaining satellite stabilisation in orbit.

Obtaining satellite internal thermal environment data.

Testing of techniques for recovery of a capsule ejected from the

orbiting satellite. DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS;

DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12. YEARS. .

DOD DIR 5200.1Q

SOLP1-4-160
Testing of ground support equipment and development c personas/

proficiency.

Conducting bio-medical experiments with mice and small primates,

including injection into orbit, re-entry and recovery.

OOMPIDIWTIAL This program•has provided much valuable data concerning the

program objectives. Of the eleven OISCOMIRS launched during CY 1960, seven

attained orbit; six of these had recovery as an objective; five of the

recoverable capsules were properly ejected from orbit; four of the capsules

were recovered after extended exposure to the space enviromment, three of

these wets air recovered, and one tea- recovered. One other was located in

the sea but lost due to severs weather conditions. This program has provided

three vary significant firsts in the conquest of spec.; the first recovery of

a capsule after extended exposure to the space environment, the first air

recovery of a capsule from outer space, and the first return and recovery

of living tissue exposed to solar flares.

4=014DIOMIA1, The dote acquired from past flights would classify this

among the most successful space programs, and future flights will be equipped

with new developments providing greeter altitude/payload capability, and

more precise orbital parameters, provided by the Bell Aircraft model 8096

engine for the AGM vehicle, coupled with the improved performance of the

D*21. In the near future the boosters will be equipped with the Sell

Telephone Laboratories Series 400 guidance system, which will increase the

accuracy of the orbital altitude and period.

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e , .

COOMMENTIA1 Significant contributions toward military space Systems

during the year included the development of the followingcapabilities:

Reorientation and stabilisation of satellites on orbit.

The flight test and refisemest of the AMA satellite vehicle and

subsystems.

Development of a capability for recovery in undamaged condition of

a capsule ejected from a satellite on orbit.

Delivery of an improved and more capable AMA vehicle.

e, berets: of the communications control, tracking and data

acquisition network.

f. Training and exercise of the Air and Sea Recovery Forces.

Establishment of a sound base of experienced personnel and manufacturing

facilities directly applicable to future satellite programs.

empanntAL The met significant problem area eecountered during the

past year was that of securing the proper ejection of the recovery capsule

from the orbiting satellite vehicle. This probleuwas solved by accomplithing

several design changes including lengthening the distance between the main

satellite vehicel and the recovery body during separation before initiating

the firing of. the spin rockets. Also the solid propellant spin rocket system

on the recovery body was replaced by a more reliable stored gas spin system.

These chews, coupled with intensive testing of recovery system compooents,

have made possible the successful recoveries to date.

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IMMAIDWIIAL This program 1111 provide further advances in the Air

Force progress into the aerospace environment during the next year. The

more powerful and precisely guided DISCOVIRU vehicles will fly equipment.

designed to collect background informatioa for MIDAS, continue testing of

AGORA components for other satellite programa, collect selected geophysical

and biomedical data, and will fueiher perfect the technique of reliable

recovery of capsules free space vehicle3.

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