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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 

OFFICE or THE SECRETARY 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

SUBJECT: MOL Management 

This memorandum presents a summary description of the 

Air Force management and industrial contractor structure for 

the Contract Definition Phase of the MOL program. As a part 

of contract definition, these management arrangements will be 

reaffirmed or suitably modified for Phase II activities. The 

memorandum specifically requests your approval of a management structure and contractor selection. 

I have examined several different Air Force management 

structures, considering the discrete management levels within 

 the USAF of program review, approval and policy, program 

 direction, and program implementation. As a result, I propose 

 that you approve the following management plan (details are 

 provided in TAB A): 

Program policy, review and final Air Force approval will 

be exercised by SAF, supported by the DNRO and by the MOL 

Policy Committee as currently constituted. The NRO Staff will 

provide staff support to the DNRO in those areas of the MOL 

program which interface with the National Reconnaissance Program. (Specific functions of the NRO Staff are discussed in 

us TAB B). 

Strong, centralized, integrated program direction will be 

exercised from a Washington area office, headed by General 

B. A. Schriever, as Director, MOL, as an additional duty. He 

 will report directly to the Secretary of the Air Force and be 

supported by a full-time Vice Director and small program staff 

located in the Washington area. 

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An integrated program implementation office, designated 

the MOL Systems Office, will be established at the Air Force 

Space Systems Division, El Segundo, California. This office will 

be headed by a general officer, designated Deputy Director, MOL, 

who will report directly to the Director, MOL. The office will be 

staffed by highly qualified, experienced program management 

personnel and supported by the Aerospace Corporation in accomplishing general systems engineering and technical direction for 

the program. 

The Director, SAFSP, located at SSD, will be responsible 

to the DNRO for development, acquisition and test of the sensor 

payload in response to technical specifications and requirements 

provided by the Deputy Director, MOL. He will be responsible 

for all "black" contracting, and will establish a MOL sensor payload office, co-located with the MOL Systems Office, to carry 

out his responsibilities. He will review and approve implementation 

of BYEMAN security procedures. In addition, SAPS? will maintain 

surveillance over the utilization of the critical Air Force, Aerospace and industrial resources of the NRP including the MOL. 

The Air Force has recently completed an evaluation of the 

four contractors who were selected on a competitive basis to 

undertake preliminary design studies of the laboratory vehicle. 

The report and findings of the Source Selection Board provided 

the relative order of merit below: 

a. Douglas Aircraft Company 

b. General Electric Company 

c. Boeing Aircraft Company 

d. Lockheed Missile and Space Company 

with the first two companies showing a clear margin of superiority 

over the last two. 

DORIAN 

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As you know, the total MOL development program confronting us is a very complex and important one which will demand the 

very best talent and experience in the industry. The Air Force 

must assemble the most competent and experienced overall team 

to define and conduct this development, employing unique capabilities wherever they exist. With the orientation of the MOL 

program to the primary objective of high resolution manned 

reconnaissance, there arise two major orbiting vehicle tasks that 

demand differing specialized industrial talent. One is that of 

developing a complex space vehicle capable of assuring man's 

well being in space for extended periods of time. This demands 

a comprehensive knowledge and appreciation of systems integration 

and first-hand experience in fabricating large structures answerable to man's needs and safety in the spacecraft environment. 

The other task is that of accommodating the large and complex 

optical reconnaissance payload and providing the supporting functions 

necessary for very precise operation of such an instrument. 

The foregoing suggests that it may be particularly advantageous 

to draw on the capabilities of the two outstanding contractors to accomplish the task originally envisioned for a single laboratory vehicle 

contractor. I have carefully reviewed the report and findings of the 

selection board and have completed an additional examination of 

contractor past experience and performance, and of security factors 

pertinent to the MOL program. The Douglas Company offered the 

best overall technical program and management approach. Its past 

experience and performance as a system integrator on weapons such 

as Thor, Genie and Nike-Hercules/Zeus is good and considerably 

broader than that of the General Electric Company. General Electric, 

on the other hand, showed superiority in important aspects that bear 

on mission capability. They have current experience in space vehicle 

operation as well as expertise in handling the complex interface with 

large optical systems. They have over 1,000 people immediately 

clearable for DORIAN work. The Douglas Company has very few 

cleared personnel. In addition, these contractors possess in aggregate a most imposing array of existing test facilities available for 

support of the program. I conclude that it is in the Government 

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interest to include both of these contractors on the industrial team, 

with Douglas Aircraft in the role of laboratory vehicle contractor 

and General Electric as the mission module contractor. Overall 

systems integration and technical direction will be accomplished 

by the Air Force with the assistance of the Aerospace Corporation. 

Physical integration will be assigned to the laboratory vehicle 

contractor in accordance with our current practice and experience. 

However, the scope and magnitude of this task will be reviewed in 

detail during program definition to determine the need of an additional integrating contractor, such as was used in the Minuteman 

program. The roles of the contractors are defined more completely 

in TAB C. 

The selection of the contractor for the optics sensor is 

critical to the program and has been the subject of separate 

correspondence between you and the DNRO. It is my conclusion 

that the DORIAN task, though complex and demanding, can be 

accomplished by the optics industry. 

Clearly those portions of the MOL program which relate to 

overhead reconnaissance of denied areas must be subject to the 

same stringent security measures that are now accorded other 

portions of the NRP. To insure that effective security control is 

maintained, the DNRO will be responsible for overall security 

policy implementation. 

As an allied subject, we feel that a carefully planned public 

information plan for the MOL program must be followed. Such a 

plan is attached as TAB E and is designed to meet two essential 

requirements: 

a. To maximize protection of classified information 

related to the primary program objective, i. e. , demonstration of 

manned earth orbital high resolution optical reconnaissance, and 

such other mission objectives that may be added. 

b. To carefully plan the release of public information 

on all parts of the MOL program, in order to reduce public attention on manned military space activities. 

All public releases will be directly controlled by DNRO and 

are subject to OASD (PA) review. 

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It is recommended that only a brief public announcement be 

made of MOL program approval and laboratory vehicle contractor 

selection. Attached as TAB F is a suggested news release. 

In summary, I request your approval of: 

a. The Air Force management structure recommended 

above. 

b. The selection of Douglas Aircraft Company and 

General Electric Company as laboratory and mission module associate 

contractors respectively. 

c. A policy of carefully planned public information on 

the MOL program which described the mission of MOL as the investigation and development of manned orbiting capabilities essential to 

the national defense. 

POI 

DORIAN 

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ErTal 

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J • 

MANAGEMENT OF THE MOL 

PROGRAM 

Introduction 

The present MOL management structure was established as an 

interim organizational arrangement for the study phase conducted 

between January and June 1965. This phase has been completed, and 

the Air Force has recommended proceeding with the Contract 

Definition Phase. 

The purpose of this paper is to describe the Air Force management plan for future program activities. The principal objectives 

are to insure that program management is responsive to approved 

program policy and guidance, and is capable of conducting the program 

within cost ceilings while meeting schedules and performance goals. 

The procedures defined are streamlined, simplified, and direct. 

Program Summary 

The initial objective of the MOL program is the early demonstration of an operational manned high resolution optical reconnaissance 

system capable of achieving resolution on the 

ground. Parallel developments and experiments leading to improved 

resolutions will also be undertaken. In meeting this objective, provisions will be made to incorporate the advanced optical sensors, to 

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extend on-orbit life, and to accommodate other military payloads and 

DoD/NASA scientific and technological experiments. 

In addition, development will be conducted of those elements 

necessary to apply the MOL optics and optical technology to unmanned 

reconnaissance systems. 

Primary Considerations 

The basic management objective is to provide a single, clear line 

of direction to a fully coordinated MOL program. This requires the 

designation of a MOL Program Director who has authority to manage 

and control the program. 

The MOL program has been designed to meet guidance issued by 

the SecDef which provides for improved observational capability and 

continuing investigation of other manned military space missions. 

However, since the MOL program will meet some of the proposed 

long-range objectives of the NRP, it must not proceed independent 

of the NRP. Hence, direction of the MOL should be responsive to 

policy, guidance, and approval of the Secretary of the Air Force with 

assistance and advice from the DNRO. 

The critical task in the MOL program is the design, fabrication, 

assembly, alignment and test of particular optical components of the 

reconnaissance payload package. Factory workload and needs of other 

programs for similar components must be continually assessed by the 

DNRO to correct any imbalance which may arise at particular 

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contractor facilities without detriment to the MOL program or to other 

NRO programs. 

Clearly those portions of the MOL program which relate to overhead 

reconnaissance of denied areas must be subject to the same stringent 

security measures (BYEMAN System) applied to other NRO programs. 

The prime resource of qualified manpower to translate requirements from operational terms into technical planning and to provide 

systems engineering and technical direction of the MOL program is 

located at SSD/SAFSP/Aerospace. This dictates that program implementation be carried out from that location. 

The responsibility for the implementation of the MOL program 

should be vested in a single individual at the field operating level. 

Those functions which he does not directly supervise must be responsive 

to his stated and defined needs. 

Clear and direct funding arrangements must be established for all 

elements of the program, to permit the Program Director to conduct 

a balanced program between "black" and "white" efforts to maintain 

compatible overall program schedules, progress, control, direction, 

management and decision points, as well as overall system engineering, 

integration and test. 

Management Approach 

The foregoing considerations point to the need for: 

a. Responsive streamlined, integrated vertical management 

for all aspects,.54,t1r, program. 

Of 

DORIAN " gagrat SYSTEM 

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b. Highly qualified, experienced program management 

personnel. 

c. Security control compatible with established policies for 

overhead reconnaissance, and with program objectives. 

d. Three discrete management levels within the Air Force: 

(1) program policy, guidance, and approval; (2) program direction; 

(3) program implementation. Each of these management levels is 

discussed below. 

Figure 1 is a management organization chart for this plan, and 

Figure 2 summarizes the tasks and interfaces involved. 

SAF - Program Policy, Guidance and Approval 

The Secretary of the Air Force is responsible for executive 

management of the MOL program. SAF will be responsible for all 

Air Force decisions and directions pertaining to the MOL program and 

will be the final reviewing and committing authority for the Department 

of the Air Force on this program. He will be supported by the MOL 

Policy Committee which will provide such advice and assistance as 

is required, and by the NRO Staff in those areas which interface with 

the NRP. MOL activities will be conducted using both "black" and 

"white" channels and procurements. All activities which deal with 

the reconnaissance aspects of the program will be handled in the 

BYEMAN control system under the special code word DORIAN. The 

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DNRO will be responsible for overall security policy and control. The 

SAF will assign management responsibility and delegate commensurate 

authority to the Director, MOL in accordance with the provisions of 

this management plan. 

Director, MOL - Program Direction 

The Director, MOL will report directly to SAF. Director, MOL 

will be responsible to establish, manage and conduct, in accordance with 

DNRO guidelines, task assignments and requirements, all aspects of the 

approved MOL program as assigned by the SAF and by the overall provisions of this management plan. He will be the principal operating 

agent for the direction of the MOL program. Operating activities 

include overall system performance, integration, testing, coordinating 

and planning; advanced studies, research, development, test and 

improvement of performance and effectiveness of manned military 

satellite vehicles; utilization of Air Force personnel and resources, 

in addition to any other resources assigned. He and his Washington 

office will be located in the Pentagon near the office of SAF. His office 

will handle the Hq USAF and other Washington area Air Force staffing of 

the program, including liaison with other Government agencies. His 

office will provide complete and timely program status information available in comprehensive form for OSAF and OSD review. He will be responsible for keeping selected senior members of the Air Staff personally 

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informed concerning the MOL program. Major Air Staff offices (such 

as DCS/R&D, SAFOI, etc.) may provide a well-qualified officer for 

full-time duty as part of the office of the Director, MOL. Such officers 

will expedite functional support which the Director, MOL may determine 

necessary for the MOL program, and will assist in keeping their parent 

offices informed. 

The Director, MOL will establish a strong integrated systems and 

program implementation office located at SSD, El Segundo, California. 

That office will be supported by the Aerospace Corporation to perform 

general systems engineering and technical direction for the MOL program. 

Vice Director, MOL 

A full-time general officer, Vice Director, MOL, is the principal 

assistant and advisor of the Director, MOL, coordinating the activities 

of all offices under the supervision and command of the Director, MOL. 

He will act with full authority of the Director, MOL, except in those 

responsibilities specifically reserved to the Director, MOL by the 

directives of higher authority. All action taken by him shall have the 

same force and effect as though taken by Director, MOL. 

Commander, AFSC 

The Commander,. AFSC is directly responsible to SAF for providing on a continuing basis the facilities, resources, and personnel 

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necessary to support the MOL program. In the event that MOL requirements exceed the AFSC capabilities, then the matter shall be referred to 

SAF via the Director, MOL and the DNRO. 

Deputy Director, MOL - Program Implementation 

The Deputy Director, MOL will be a general officer, who will be 

responsible to the Director, MOL for specific responsibilities and functions 

assigned by Director, MOL in accordance with provisions of this plan. 

The Deputy Director, MOL is responsible for implementing all 

y 

program direction by the Director, MOL for system procurement, design, 

development, test and evaluation. He is also responsible for overall 

mission operations, including man's safety during all phases of manned 

flight, proper and safe functioning of the flight vehicle, planning for and 

exercise of on-orbit control of the vehicle and reconnaissance payload 

in response to intelligence collection tasks established by the DNRO or 

his designee. SSD offices will provide the required functional assistance 

to the Deputy Director, MOL to fulfill his overall responsibilities. 

From funds provided him by higher authority, the Deputy Director, 

MOL will have full procurement authority necessary to conduct "white" 

procurements. "Black" contracting services for the MOL program will 

normally be accomplished by SAFSP. 

The Deputy Director, MOL will implement established security 

procedures for activities under his control. 

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The Deputy Director, MOL will be responsible for overall toplevel systems integration and general system engineering and technical 

direction. The overall system consists of all hardware, software, and 

personnel elements required for launch through recovery, except for that 

software which is directly involved with selecting camera programs and 

orbit profiles in response to intelligence collection requirements. He 

will be responsible for the development, acquisition and integration of 

the Gemini B, the laboratory module, and the mission module. The 

Deputy Director, MOL is also responsible for all technical liaison at 

field level with other military services and NASA. 

The Deputy Director, MOL will have a MOL Systems Office 

under his direct control and supervision. This office will be manned 

and organized to perform functions peculiar to the MOL program, and 

will direct and control supporting agencies in accordance with policies 

and procedures established by the Director, MOL for the conduct of 

this program. Offices and agencies participating in major elements of 

the MOL program (e. g. , U.S. Navy) may furnish well-qualified 

personnel for full-time duty as part of the program office to provide 

the Deputy Director, MOL the resources necessary for the most 

efficient and effective conduct of the MOL program. 

From funds provided through the Director, MOL, he will obtain 

the following hardware and services from the normal SSD offices 

established to handle these areas: all launch and booster vehicles, 

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selected AGE, selected equipments and services, launch pads and 

facilities. For range and tracking station equipments and services 

funded by other program elements the Deputy Director, MOL will be 

responsible for insuring that his requirements are furnished on a 

timely basis to the proper offices and the Director, MOL; the Director, 

MOL will designate the monitoring responsibility. 

All MD effiee§ will ptoVide functional support as requested 

by the Deputy Commander (SSD) for MOL, but, except for such 

requested support, will not be involved in the MOL program management. 

The Deputy Director, MOL is responsible for keeping the 

Director, SAFSP fully informed of all MOL activities to insure that 

SAFSP can perform its functions effectively. 

Director, SAFSP 

The Director, SAFSP will be responsible to the DNRO for the 

development, acquisition and test of the high resolution photographic 

sensor payload in response to systems integration requirements and 

interface specifications provided by the Deputy Director, MOL. The 

Director, SAFSP will be responsible for detailed systems engineering 

and technical. direction for the development and test of the sensor 

payload, and for providing to the Deputy Director, MOL engineering 

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data about the sensor payload interface and requirements imposed 

by the sensor payload on the mission module and orbiting vehicle. 

He will be responsible, in coordination with the Deputy Director, MOL, 

for systems and technical studies of improved sensors, and for 

research on the improvements in sensor technology applicable to 140L. 

The Director, SAFSP will be responsible for all necessary contract management of the high resolution photographic sensor payload. 

The sensor payload elements involved are principally the primary 

optics with associated alignment and testing devices, and AGE; 

cameras and camera handling devices; film and film handling devices 

including on-board processing and viewing equipment; optical and TV 

relay equipment; sensor pointing and tracking equipment; telescope 

and optical element mounts (see Figure 2). These responsibilities 

include the recommendation to the DNRO of contractors to be selected, 

and the execution of detailed technical direction over the contracts 

involved. He may also provide contracting services to the Deputy 

Director, MOL for all "black" contracts required by the latter. 

The Director, SAFSP will also be responsible, in conformance 

with top-level ovetall GSE/TD provided by Deputy Director, MOL, 

for the secondary-level GSE/TD support furnished by Aerospace 

Corporation for the MOL sensors. He will be responsible to the DNRO' 

for the development of those elements necessary to use the MOL sensors 

DORIAN 

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in unmanned systems; for the development of technology applicable to 

improve sensors, manned and unmanned; and for the improvement of 

the efficiency, reliability, coverage and resolution of satellite photographic reconnaissance payloads. He is responsible to the DNRO for 

insuring that these objectives are accomplished without detriment to 

the MOL program or the other programs of the NRP for which he is 

responsible. He will advise the DNRO and the Director, MOL of 

conflicts which may arise between the MOL program and other elements 

of the NRP. 

The Director, SAFSP will also insure that the Director, MOL is 

fully and concurrently advised of all MOL related matters referred to 

the DNRO for which SAFSP is responsible. 

To discharge his responsibilities, the Director, SAFSP will 

establish a MOL Sensor Payload Office, which will be co-located with 

the MOL Systems Office. The Chief of the Sensor Payload Office will 

be responsible to the Director, SAFSP with respect to the execution of 

detailed technical direction and contract management involving the 

sensor payload. He will be responsive to the Deputy Director, MOL for 

overall program direction, schedule requirements, and systems 

integration and interface specifications. 

The Director, SAFSP, as the West Coast representative of DNRO, 

is responsible for the review and approval of plans implementing 

BYEMAN security policy and will administer and process security 

clearances for all West Coast personnel. 

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In order to insure proper balance and utilization of critical 

optical resources which must be applied to both the MOL and other 

elements of the NRP, the Director, SAFSP will maintain surveillance 

over the utilization of Air Force/Aerospace and industrial resources 

of the NRP including the MOL. 

Financial Management 

Financial management of the MOL program will involve the contracting and expenditure of both "black" and "white" funds. 

Budget estimates, apportionment requests, Program Change 

Proposals, reprogramming actions, and other funding media transmitted to OSD, BOB and Congress will include both the "black" and 

"white" funds. No details on the "black" portion are to be included 

in such media. A "black" dollar requirement will be reflected with 

a notation that "Details are subject to spe,cial access. " When fiscal 

year funds are released by OSD, the NRO Comptroller in accordance 

with guidance from the Director, NRO will cause to be issued 

appropriate internal budget authorizations in Air Force Budget, and 

obligation authorities directly to SAFSP for all "black" procurements, 

citing MOL funds. 

Budget authorizations for "white" funds approved by OSD will be 

issued by Air Force Budget \!...fir-ough. AFSC budget channels to Deputy 

Director, MOL. From funds provided him through these channels, 

DORIAN 

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the Deputy Director, MOL will have full procurement and contract 

management authority to acquire the identified segments of the MOL 

program. 

Program Change Proposals for MOL "white" and "black" funds 

which propose adjustments to the MOL program element as reflected 

in the Five Year Force Structure and Financial Plan and of a magnitude 

requiring Secretary of Defense approval will be prepared by the 

Director, MOL. Review and coordination of these requests within the 

Air Staff will be held to a minimum consistent with the nature of the 

particular request. Coordination will normally be limited to the 

following Air Staff agencies: 

Director of Aerospace Programs 

Director of Budget 

Interested DCS or Directorate 

(DCS/Research and Development or AFOCE) 

After obtaining these coordinations, the request will be submitted for SAF-FM review and signature at Secretarial level. When 

approved, AFOAP will distribute the change proposals to OSD and 

the Air Staff. 

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TAB B 

FUNCTIONS OF THE NRO STAFF WITH RESPECT 

TO THE MOL PROGRAM 

General 

The NRO Staff will be involved with the MOL Program as 

the staff agency to the DNRO in those areas which interface with 

the NRP. The objective of this arrangement is to provide a means 

by which coordination with related elements of the NRP and an 

overview of the total program can be assured. Responsibilities 

in specific areas are summarized in the following paragraphs. 

Security 

The Chief Security Officer of the NRO Staff will continue 

to exercise security review and control for all aspects of the MOL 

Program in accordance with his presently assigned responsibilities 

for security of the NRP. Because of the complex nature of the MOL 

Program, the present arrangement wherein a Security Officer from 

the NRO Staff is detailed to the MOL Program for day-to-day 

operation will be continued. 

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Policy 

The NRO Staff will provide a point of mandatory coordination 

for the MOL program office in matters and relationships of concern 

to the NRO involving the State Department, ACDA, the United 

Nations, NASA, Congress, the Executive Department, and release 

of public information. Conversely, the NRO Staff will coordinate 

similar matters in which it is involved and which are of concern to 

the MOL program with the Washington MOL program office. 

Reporting 

The NRO Staff will be responsible for including data on the 

MOL program as required in overall NRO reports such as those 

to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, total budget 

summaries, and documents and presentations of a similar nature. 

The MOL program office will supply the required data to the NRO 

Staff. - 

Support 

The NRO Staff will continue to provide, secure teletype communications support to the MOL program office in the Pentagon. 

Other administrative support within existing capabilities may be 

approved by the Director of the NRO Staff. 

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Technical 

The NRO Staff will maintain that current knowledge of the 

technical status and plans of the MOL program necessary to provide staff support to the DNRO in those areas of interface between 

the NRP and the MOL program. The NRO Staff will be the principal 

working interface with the intelligence community, and will maintain 

currency of planned and approved intelligence targets, priorities, 

and requirements. 

c 

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TAB C 

INDUSTRIAL TEAM AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH 

MILITARY STRUCTURE 

The major elements of the MOL System will be acquired through 

a team of associate contractors. These contractors will be supported 

by a structure of subsystem and component subcontractors. Certain 

supporting elements of the MOL System will be acquired through 

existing organizations of the Air Force Systems Command. 

The major system and supporting elements to be acquired are 

listed below: 

a. Laboratory Module 

b. Mission Module 

c. Gemini B 

d. Sensor Payload 

e. Titan IIIC 

f. Launch and Range Facilities 

g. Test and Recovery Support 

h. Flight Crew and Equipment 

i. Mission Control Equipment 

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The first three elements will be acquired through three associate contractors under the direction of the Deputy Director, MOL, 

as described in TAB A. The sensor payload will be acquired through 

a fourth associate contractor under the direction of the Director, 

SAFSP, in response to interface specifications and requirements 

provided by the Deputy Director, MOL. The design and adaptation 

of the Titan Mc for MOL, launch facilities and services, range and 

tracking equipment and services, as well as some test and recovery 

support, will be acquired by the Deputy Director, MOL, through 

established SSD offices now responsible for those functional activities. 

The Deputy Director, MOL, will direct the acquisition of other 

necessary items, such as space suits, crew support and training 

equipment, and mission control equipment. The responsibility for 

overall systems engineering rests with the Deputy Director, MOL, 

supported by the Aerospace Corporation. 

The Laboratory Module is defined as that element of the MOL 

orbiting vehicle which is designed to provide pressurized crew 

quarters and orbital sustenance for 30 days, navigation, stabilization 

and control, propulsion, computation facilities, communications and 

power. It must accommodate the man and provide for his safety in 

DORIAN 

7. 7 

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orbit. It will accommodate all controls, displays, and auxiliary 

subsystems necessary for manned operation of the mission payload. 

The Laboratory Module interfaces with the Gemini B system on 

one hand and the Mission Module on the other. 

The Mission Module is defined as that element of the MOL 

orbiting vehicle which is primarily designed to support the operatiOn 

of the Sensor Payload. It provides structural support, on-orbit 

deployment, and environmental control for the sensor payload and 

provides for manned access to the essential elements for servicing 

and alignment, as required. 

The Sensor Payload is defined as the assembly of the essential 

elements of the optical system and includes the primary optics, 

alignment system, cameras, film drives, film cassettes, and film 

processing and viewing equipment. 

In reviewing the total MOL System, it is essential to recognize 

that the majority of its elements and subsystems are already in 

existence or under active development and hence subject to sole 

source procurement. The major integrating associate, contractors, 

i.e., the laboratory module and mission module contractors, will 

work with established external interfaces, an essentially fixed set 

• 

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DORIAN 

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ii ;. . 

of internal subsystems, and a reasonably firm laboratory design 

concept. Therefore, the planned roles and responsibilities of each 

of the associate contractors are clear for the Contract Definition 

Phase. Any adjustments identified during Phase I can be made 

before Phase II is initiated. The principal task for the Contract 

Definition Phase is the establishment of firm specifications, costs 

and schedules. 

A tabular comparison of the tasks to be performed by the 

associate contractors for the Laboratory and Mission Modules, 

and for the Sensor Payload is attached. The major responsibilities 

planned for these contractors during Phase I and II are summarized 

below: 

a. The Laboratory Module contractor will define, 

design and fabricate the laboratory structure and will be responsible 

for laboratory subsystem integration. He will also have the additional responsibility for overall orbiting vehicle(Gemini, Laboratory 

Module, Mission Module) integration and for the man rating of the 

orbiting vehicle system. He will perform structural analysis of 

the entire laboratory system through the launch phase and assure 

successful operation through the 30-day mission of all elements 

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except those actually contained in the mission module. He will be 

responsible for all module interface documentation, laboratory 

subsystem documentation, integrated testing, and spacecraft 

preparation of the launch site. He will also provide the structure 

for the mission module up to the booster interface. 

b. The Mission Module contractor will define, design, 

engineer and integrate a discrete structural carrier for the sensor 

package as well as integrate all necessary subsystems and environmental control elements supporting the operation of the mission 

module. He will also provide associated crew operating equipment, 

consoles and displays, data processing equipments and data return 

capsules, which may be located and integrated within the laboratory 

module. This equipment will be acquired in accordance with mission 

derived requirements specified by the Deputy Director, MOL, and 

technical and functional requirements provided by the Sensor Payload 

contractor. The Mission Module contractor will furnish to the 

Laboratory Vehicle contractor both mission module, and appropriate 

sensor payload interface requirements. He will also assemble, 

integrate, and test mission module elements, and prepare them for 

launch. 

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c. The Sensor Payload contractor will be responsible 

for defining, designing, fabricating and testing of the essential 

optical elements and associated AGE and drives; alignment system; 

camera; film drives, cassettes, processing and viewing equipment; 

and pointing and tracking scopes. The Sensor Payload contractor 

will interface principally with the Mission Module contractor. 

Technical interface and integration problems will be resolved, 

as they arise, by the Aerospace Corporation. They also will perform technical integration during development phases of major 

supporting elements, such as booster, on-orbit control, range 

support, recovery operations, and launch services. 

A number of alternate management arrangements involving 

associate and subcontractor roles has been considered. The 

advantages to be gained in dealing with the Mission Module contractor 

as an associate, rather than subcontractor, far outweigh any disadvantages attributable to an additional associate in the contractor 

structure. The Mission Module contractor selected has a large 

number of specially cleared people and hence can provide a rapid 

start-up capability. This approach allows the Air Force to apply 

this contractor's existing special technical capability and experience 

DORIAN 

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directly and rapidly to primary mission objectives. The resultant 

well-defined interfaces will allow the Air Force significantly more 

flexibility as other MOL missions are defined and other payload 

contractors brought into the system. Finally, this arrangement 

will permit that compartmentalization necessary to minimize the 

number of sensitive clearances required and enhance security 

control. 

The major objectives of the Contract Definition Phase are: 

a. Generate firm overall vehicle specifications and 

firm total program costs and schedules. 

b. Prepare detailed system and end item design/ 

performance requirements and specifications for all major MOL 

elements. 

c. Prepare plans for systems integration, assembly, 

and checkout, as well as ground support requirements. 

d. Prepare simulation test and quality control plans, 

in addition to overall flight mission assignment and mission operations 

plans. 

e. Analyze sensor pointing versus tracking flat. Recommend a configuration for the flight test program and provide associated 

• MOL vehicle interface data. 

DORIAN 

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f. Study larger aperture optical systems and determine 

their possible phasing into the MOL Program. 

g. Determine requirements for specific flight experiments relating to the development of large aperture optical systems. 

h. Continue feasibility studies on SIGINT and Ocean 

Surveillance and recommend flight test programs if appropriate. 

In addition, during Contract Definition Phase, the lower levels 

of Program Breakdown Structure will be prepared to define the 

detailed functions, interfaces, and end-items of hardware at the 

lowest reasonable level for discrete management, planning and 

control. In addition to complete program identification this will 

provide the basis for assigning tasks and responsibilities for 

Phase II. For example, the tasks and interfaces among the Gemini B, 

Titan IIIC, Laboratory Module, Mission Module and Sensor Payload 

contractors will be reduced to prescribed performance requirements 

and design criteria. 

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TAB D 

SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS 

Clearly those portions of the MOL program which relate to 

overhead reconnaissance must be subjected to the same stringent 

security measures (BYEMAN System) applied to other NRO programs. The existing policy, which requires that BYEMAN 

security procedures be applied to the development of all terrestrial 

image forming and SIGINT sensing systems of practical intelligence 

application, regardless of their intended geographic area of usage, 

is appropriate. The broad application of DOD Directive 5200.13 

to all military mission/payload data relating to MOL provides overt 

direction with respect to control of public information and sets a 

framework for security compartmentation. To insure that effective 

security control is maintained, the DNRO will be responsible for 

overall security policy and control. The Director, MOL, will be 

responsible to DNRO for implementation of the BYEMAN Security 

System for reconnaissance aspects of the MOL program. To insure 

consistent implementation of BYEMAN Security, SAFSP, acting as 

the West Coast representative of DNRO, will review and approve 

plans for implementation of the BYEMAN System with industry and 

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administer and process security clearances for West Coast personnel. 

The DNRO and his Staff will provide for administration and processing 

of clearances in the Washington area. 

It is also clear that the MOL program is and will remain in the 

public view. It cannot be conducted on a totally covert basis. Although 

military missions served by the MOL must be kept secure, man in 

space, his well-being, and his safety, will be subjected to public 

scrutiny. It is necessary then that a carefully controlled public 

information plan for the MOL program be followed. Such a plan is 

attached as TAB E, and is designed to meet two essential requirements: 

a. To maximize protection of classified information 

related to the primary program objective, i.e., demonstration of 

manned earth orbital high resolution optical reconnaissance, and such 

other mission objectives that may be added. 

b. To provide a carefully-planned, modest release of 

public information on the MOL program. Those releases which are 

made will describe the mission of MOL solely as "the investigation 

and development of manned orbital capabilities essential to national 

defense." 

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All public information releases or statements on MOL made 

by representatives of any Executive Department or Agency will be 

processed for approval through the Office of the Assistant Secretary 

of Defense (Public Affairs). Such news stories as are required will 

deal exclusively with the non-sensitive technological aspects of 

MOL; operational goals will not be discussed. 

It is considered prudent to have available suitable unclassified 

information on segments of the MOL Program, such as the Titan IIIC 

launch vehicle, Gemini spacecraft, bioastronautics and scientific 

experiments, so that responses to press queries may be made. 

A highly trained, experienced information officer has been cleared 

for access to DORIAN information and assigned for these purposes, 

to the office of the Director, MOL. 

It is recommended further that a brief announcement of MOL 

Program approval and of laboratory vehicle contractor selection be 

made. Attached as TAB F is a proposed release. 

Because of the fundamental security problem, which renders 

it difficult to justify publicly a program of the size and scope of the 

MOL, the feasibility of conducting a limited number of MOL launches 

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from the ETR during the CY 1969 time period will be carefully 

re-examined during the Contract Definition Phase. These launches 

must, of course, contain meaningful and worthwhile experimental 

payloads. 

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TAB E 

INFORMATION PLAN 

CLASSIFICATION: CONFIDENTIAL 

TITLE: Information Responsibilities for Manned 

Orbiting Laboratory Program (MOL) 

REFERENCES: 1. Air Force Information Plan 63-6, TITAN III 

2. Department of the Air Force Letter: 

"Security Policy and Procedures, MOL 

Program," (Confidential), 25 February 1965, 

to Hq AFSC (MSF) 

3. AFSDC-S message #89459 (Confidential), 

26 February 1965 

1. TASK ORGANIZATIONS: 

U. S. Air Force (SAF-OI) 

Air Force Systems Command 

• 

U. S. Navy (CHINFO) 

Participating Contractors 

2. PURPOSE: 

To establish general information policies and responsibilities 

relative to the Manned Orbital Laboratory Program (MOL). 
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3. OBJECTIVE: 

To provide for a carefully planned program of public information on the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program which can 

be released as required. 

4. SITUATION: 

a. Background 

(1) Study of space station concepts by the Air Force goes 

back to about 1958. Since then, various concepts and design proposals were studied. These included the Military Test Space Station 

(MTSS); NASA's Manned Orbital Space Station (MOSS); the Military 

Orbital Development Systems (MODS) -- which provided specific 

hardware proposals and clearer concepts -- and, a National Orbital 

Space Station (NOSS). 

(2) On 10 December 1963, the Secretary of Defense 

announced the assignment of a space Citation developiiientprcitram 

to the Air Force and identified it as a "near-earth Manned Orbiting 

Laboratory." 

(3) On 23 January 1965, the Secretary of Defense announced 

the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP's) from industry for 

design studies to assist in developing cost and technical information 

required to proceed with full-scale development of the MOL. At that 

time, DOD outlined broadened guidance concerning the program. 

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(4) On 1 March 1965, the Department of Defense announced 

that the Air Force had selected four contractors to perform preliminary design studies for the MOL. The four were selected from seven 

contractors which responded to the RFP's. The four announced were: 

Boeing Company, General Electric Corporation, Douglas Aircraft 

Company, and Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Each contractor was 

to perform 60-day design studies at a cost of about $400, 000 each. 

b. Policy 

(1) The mission of MOL will be described solely as the 

investigation and development of manned orbiting capabilities essential 

to national defense. It should be described as an improved substitute 

for Dynasoar with no break from the earlier program of manned 

military activities. 

(2) The MOL program will not be justified publicly. MOL is 

a logical element of a continuing U. S. military space program; as 

such, it requires no more public justification than any other space 

program. 

(3) Public information on MOL will be carefully planned at 

a modest, low-key level. This will be especially important at the 

time permissible information on the operational phase will be released 

at or near launching times. All public information releases or statements on MOL made by representatives of any Executive Department 

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-06VBENIREor Agency will process for approval through the Office of the 

Assistant Secretary of Defense/Public Affairs.. Such news stories 

as are required will deal exclusively with non-sensitive technological aspects of MOL; operational goals will not be discussed. 

(4) All MOL launchings will be included on the U. S. 

portion of the United Nations' registry of satellite launchings. 

(5) Public Affairs policy and guidance not otherwise 

included in this Plan (or referenced) will emanate from SAF-OI 

subject to OASD (PA) approval. 

(6) Proposed public participation or appearance of designated MOL astronauts will be forwarded to SAF-OI for action. 

Participation of Navy astronauts will be coordinated with Navy 

Office of Information (CHINFO) by SAF-0I. 

5. ASSUMPTION: 

There may be occasions when it will be advantageous to generate. 

public information materials in support of program goals or for other 

special requirements. 

6. RESPONSIBILITIES: 

a. Within the policies approved by the Assistant Secretary of 

Defense (Public Affairs), the Director of Information, Office Secretor 

of the Air Force (SAF-0I), is responsible for the implementation of 

this plan and overall monitorship. 

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b. Air Force Systems Command will carry out Information 

actions for SAF-OI as outlined in this plan and future annexes 

and/or specific procedural plans to be developed. 

c. Agencies of the U. S. Navy, as well as the Air Force, 

participating in the MOL program will follow the policy and procedures in this plan. 

d. All Major Commands will follow closely the policies and 

procedures of the MOL Information Plan. 

7. INFORMATION ACTIONS: 

a. Tasks 

(1) SAF-OI will: 

(a) Assign a qualified Information Officer as a single 

point of contact to work with the Office of the Director, MOL. All 

SAF-OI Divisions will assist this officer as required. 

(b) Prepare answers to queries to be used as required 

in the accomplishment of this very limited information program. 

(c) Monitor implementation of this Plan. 

(2) AFSC will: 

— -CO-o-rdii-tatel the Information activities of all participating 

AFSC divisions and centers along with those of the contractors and 

insure their compliance with this plan. 

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(3) Major Air Commands will: 

Provide support to SAF-OI and AFSC as may be directed.. 

(4) U. S. Navy will coordinate any proposed information 

activity relating to MOL with SAF-OI prior to execution. 

8. ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS: 

Recommend changes to this plan will be submitted to SAF-OI 

for approval subject to policy decisions of OASD (PA). 

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t., 

TAB F 

PROPOSED RELEASE 

Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced today 

that he had directed the Air Force to proceed with the contract 

definition phase of a Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) research 

and development program. and 

were selected to form a team 

to accomplish Phase I work on the laboratory module. 

The MOL project was initiated in December 1963 when the 

DYNA SOAR, a project dating from the 1950's, was cancelled. At 

that time it was concluded that the principal Don effort in manned 

orbiting vehicles should go toward determining man's capabilities, 

and developing the appropriate technology for man to exercise those 

capabilities rather than to continue to place principal emphasis on 

maneuverable reentry. Subsequent study, concept evaluation, and 

preliminary development have confirmed that conclusion. $30 million 

was committed in FY 1965, and $150 million has been budgeted for 

FY 1966. 

During this next phase of the program, contract definition 

and engineering data for the module will be developed based on the 
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TITAN MC-GEMINI B configuration. Contract definition work 

also will begin on booster integration and on the adaptation of the 

GEMINI spacecraft for MOL. 

The contract definition phase should be completed in about 

six months. At that time, work could begin on fabrication of the 

hardware for the MOL program, 

The primary objectives of the program are to: 

1. Develop technology contributing to improved military 

capability for manned and unmanned space operation. 

2. Conduct experimentation with the apparatus so 

developed. 

3. Carry out experiments to determine man's utility 

in space for military purposes. 

There will be six launches in the basic MOL development 

program, five of which will be conducted with two-man crews. The 

first manned launch is planned for late 1968. 

Prior to this there will be unmanned launches. The first of 

these to qualify subsystems and to obtain early information on 

structures and environment is planned for late 1966 or early 1967. 

Astronaut candidates will be military test pilots and graduates 

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Cooperative studies by the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA) and DoD will determine which scientific or 

general technological experiments are carried out in the MOL.