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DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING 

WASHINGTON 25, D.C. 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNDER SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

1 am enclosing a memorandum on the purpose of the MOL program which 

believe you have already seen. As you know from discussions between 

my staff, you, Dr. Flax and General Schriever, a list of possible MOL 

experiments, together with a brief statement of their military and/or 

scientific significance, must be submitted by the Air Force to the 

Secretary of Defense. 

Since the Secretary of Defense wishes to approve- these experiments 

before he releases the study funds for the MOL program, it is desirable 

that this approval precede the consideration of .a .Technical Development 

Plan. May I request that the Air Force, with your guidance, submit 

such a list by March 16. 

Enclosure 

a/ s 

:Signed 

Eugene G. Fubini 

cli

IA.:Harold Brown 

13.2N R771WAL cr THIS 

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DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301 

I 

MEMORANDUM FOR DR, BROWN 

DR. FUBINI 

Iviarcli 5, 1964 

SUBJECT; Experiments for the MOL, and the Purpose of the MOL 

Program 

I. Introduction 

A vigorous and productive discussion has taken place in the last 

month or so which has analyzed the purposes of the MOL, and, in the 

process, has sharpened and better defined the rationale and guidance 

which is necessary to permit proceeding with the next phase of the MQL. 

While there are still some remnants of apparent differences in view, we 

have progressed to the point where substantive differences are ones of 

degree, at the most, and not any longer ones of basic concept or purpose. 

re believe that these common current views are adequate to provide 

authoritative guidance to the USAF to pursue the next phase of effort. 

During this phase of effort, observation experiments should receive 

careful and predominant attention. Several alternatives of experimental 

equipments and procedures should be pursued, possibly in combination. 

Prior ground simulation experiments should be thought through in detail; 

critical factors to be measured and observed in orbit should be identified, 

and the equipments and measurements examined for their definition and 

constraining of the MOL configuration. As a result of• this phase of effort, 

we should be able to proceed with an authoritative plan to define the basic 

spacecraft configuration and overall program, and initiate an intensive 

program of ground or aircraft simulation and detailed formulation of the 

critical orbital experiments. The following sections II, III, and IV 

develop these considerations 

Downgraded at 12 Year 

Intervals; Not Automatically Declassified. 

DOD DIR.. 5200.10 

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IX. General 

A. We believe that, if we want to determine the capability of men in 

the performance of military missions in apace promptly and efficiently, 

we must minimize the cost of the experimental program, and yet make it 

orderly, well defined, and comprehensive even if this leads to decisions 

which may postpone the initiation of work aimed at operational capabilities 

until the time when experimental success has been achieved. This is a 

fundamental, necessary principle on which this memorandum is based. 

The principle has two main aspects: the cost of arriving at key technical 

decisions is minimised, but the experimental program must be complete, 

and self-contained, so that a decision to undertake an operational program 

can be made with confidence. 

We are not unmindful of the necessity of having data and pictures 

to present to a non-technical public to explain the result of the expenditures, or to obtain continuing support if such support appears warranted. 

The experimental program will demonstrate publicly, in an acceptable way, 

the achievement of key results and program milestones, demonstrate the 

accomplishment of important technical objectives, and provide authorita. 

+dye answers to man's military space mission capability. 

It is essential, in order to arrive at this minimum experimental 

program, that a number of general test planning precepts be followed; 

a. A space experiment will not be planned unless it has been 

tried beforehand in a preliminary way, whenever technically practicable, 

on the ground or in an aircraft; 

b. An experiment in space will not be conducted when the ground 

or aircraft tests have given the final answer regarding feasibility, and 

have determined, beyond any reasonable doubt, the necessary and sufficient 

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c. Experiments in space will be undertaken to determine sufficient 

conditions for success only after the necessary conditions have been determined on the ground; 

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d. Space experiments will be undertaken, even if such experiments by themselves do not justify the expenditure of a launch, when a 

vehicle is available and it has been determined that the launch expenditure 

is warranted by the primary experiment. 

B. An example of the application of these precepts, which we consider 

essential, is the question of fully testing man's observational capabilities in 

the space environment. This question takes several phases: 

a. In the case of optical isystems, the ability of a man to train a 

camera in a desired direction with minimum extraneous movement, and the 

possible improvements over automatic control can and must be simulated 

first in a laboratory and/or aircraft, to properly define the boundaries of 

the space experiment, and to actively contribute to the design of the space 

experiment. 

b. The simulation experiments will not fully duplicate the interaction of the man, the space environment, the target conditions, and the 

space vehicle environment. In the following section 1.11. A. b. we propose 

that the man be supplied with optical devices which test, in the space environment, his ability to determine direction, track and perform smoothing and 

adjustment functions. The optical devices will be capable of achieving high 

resolution, but need have relatively small fields of view and simple 

recording cameras to demonstrate the contributions of the man (typically 

we need a tracking and high resolution telescope, with at least one degree 

of freedom, exposure control mechanisms, film reading, and ability to 

optionally perform instrumental adjustments). 

c. If a. and b. are successful experiments, then one could - 

provide a man with a high resolution camera, capable of a relatively wide ".. 

field of view, and with complete pointing freedom. This would properly be 

considered in an operational program, and not in the MOL experimental 

program, which would determine whether operations should be undertaken. 

In any event, such a complete camera system need not, and should not, 

dominate the cost and timing of the MOL program. 

C. Additional precepts can be applied to the space experiments to 

make them sufficient and:complete. These are as follows: 

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a. Assuming that the result of an experiment regarding military 

capability is successful, all necessary information must have been obtained 

to permit design of a future operational system. 

b. The design of the space vehicle must include the possibility of 

carrying on experiments which are not of necessarily unique military 

nature., but which appear to be of possible future national importance. For 

example, the design requirements for a centrifugal couch will be developed 

and it may be feasible to include such a device in one of the later MOL 

flights. 

c. The design of rendezvous capabilities must be considered in 

light of possible military missions; and we must not exclude possible 

expansion to future space exploratory needs, even if the NASA would be 

tasked with the responsibility of this series of experiments. 

d. Finally, the psychological impact of actually operating in 

space, and the ability of the human being to use his sensors, both bio,. 

logical and instrumental, in a new environment, must be considered in the 

design of the vehicle, so as to permit human action nonrelated to predesigned experiments. 

M. Proposed Experiments 

A. Experiments Regarding Observation from Space 

a. The effects of man's motion on a space system and of the 

possibilities of maintaining a complete stable attitude, when this is 

necessary, despite man's motion, can be partially tested on the ground 

by means of suitable test stands. However, the presence of gravity will 

have an effect on structures, even if they are CG supported, and on the 

man's actions, which cannot be fully predicted. The experiment should 

consist of a programmed series of human motions, with the vehicle's 

net motion monitored by some external reference (ground or stellar 

reference) and vehicle inertial references. The programmed motions 

would include ones related to optical system slewing. 

b. As discussed above in I. B. b. , the ability of a human being 

to detect and track a ground target, in both angular rate and in rate of 

change of angular rate, to he used in pointing a narrow field of view high 

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resolution camera (such as a telescope mounted camera), will be measured 

in ground simulators and simulated by aircraft flights whenever these can 

be accomplished in a meaningful fashion. We expect that, as it was stated, 

even if the equipment is designed or modified to make aircraft tests 

successful, space flights are still required because of the possible interactions between the environment and the human operations. The purpose 

is to obtain broad coverage with high resolution by exploring the human 

capability to select areas of interest and to point an optical system 

accurately at them. A low resolution zooming telescope for target selection, etc. would be used to preposition a high resolution telescope. A 

typical major experiment-will consist of human pointing toward, acquisition, 

and tracking of a predesignated or roughly known ground or astronomical 

target, with the objective of determining the human ability to compensate 

for vehicle motion around its c. g. as well as the orbital motion (a prerequisite for high resolution photography). Saturation photography could 

be tried. 

c. There are many questions which relate the general seeing 

ability of the astronaut and his capability to interpret ground and atmos-. 

pheric phenomena from visual, orbital observations. The GEMINI prograt11, 

with the military experiments to be included, should provide many answers. 

Further experinients can be done simply in the MOL program. These 

experiments could serve to define a number of possibilities such as the 

ability of the human,observing the earth in the presence of clouds and ether 

background, to detect missile plumes, interpret weather phenomena and 

detect low and medium yield nuclear explosives. Experiments can determine the ability of the human eye to detect changes, to detect abnormal 

conditions existing in the atmosphere above a particular point on earth 

(such as in the case of a bombing raid, a forest fire, a typhoon, etc.) and 

the human ability to interpret the extent and severity of such conditions 

for the purpose of estimating the consequences of the event on earth. An 

experiment will typically test the human ability to recognize patterns or 

changes in patterns, correlate such information, and establish thresholds 

for quick judgment on alerting criteria, etc. 

d. The ability of the human being to reach conclusions from 

events just described and to report these conclusions to earth. The 

experiment tests the usefulness of the human ability to compile, abstract 

and select key information from a wealth of irrelevant data, to act as an 

information compression device: this will be a by-product of a, b, c, d, 

and e. 

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e. Ability of human beings to satisfactorily process film 

(e. g. , from optical, IR, or radar devices) already exposed, detect 

significant information on it, and report back to earth or select for TV 

transmission to earth. This experiment will test the concept of an 

orbit processing lab and photo interpretation, to establish delay times 

for recognition and accuracy of recognition, among other things. The 

experiment should utilize pre-exposed film to maximize the experiment 

worth even in the presence of optical system deficiencies, and to provide 

critical sensor outputs perhaps not realizable on the first flights. 

f. The ability of the human to detect, observe and classify 

ships on the sea. The experiment will test the ability of the man to 

visually, search a designated area, perhaps the sea about an island or 

harbor. Consideration will be given to low magnification optical devices 

to assist him and perhaps some type of IR scanning device as an attention 

getter. After detection, he will observe the ships with available optical 

devices and photograph it for later more careful analysis. The sequence 

of operations in the orbital environment is the critical factor to evaluate. 

g. The ability of the human being to use suitable tools for the 

repair of.devices, and construction of small items from existing parts. 

'his experiment Will test the ability of man to improve the longevity of 

complex equipment by repair or replacement (as a trade-off for the very 

numerous and costly additional requirements caused by his presence). 

i. While IR or radar sensors need not be specifically developed 

for the MOL experiments, or used for some time, it may be prudent to 

examine MOL constraints in design if such a capability were to come along 

usefully. Power supplies, cooling equipment, and antenna, mounting would 

be factors to consider, for example. 
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B. Experiments regarding Subsystems and Bio-Astronautics . 

a. To enhance man's ability to perform effectively in tasks of a 

military nature or implication, such as those outlined in A. , it will be 

necessary to observe the limitations placed on man by the subsystems on 

board the space vehicle (e.g., stabilization), reconfigure such sybsystems 

to enhance man's performance, and test the improvement in his performance 

in the presence of these improved subsystems. Similarly, it is expected 

that, in order to maintain a human in a highly alert state, capable of pre-, 

cision monitoring and manipulation of instruments and tools, and able to 

routinely and at random times to make complex observations and reports, 

promptly communicated to the ground, a very considerable improvement 

in knowledge of the relations between human performance and the biophysical environment in which the human finds himself will be needed. For 

example, fundamental questions of the effect of the vehicle internal environs 

=lent on continued alertness, the duty cycle and "replacement rates" of the . 

human operators, etc., to maintain observation effectiveness, need precise 

definitions. 

b. In both of these instances, the feedback of human performance 

as monitored in the space vehicle'and on the ground, into changes in subsystem or bio-astronautic parameters, and further testing of human 

performance, forms a cycle which must be continuous, uninterrupted, and 

specifically tailored to the performance enhancement of the human. To do 

this will require that numerous subsystem and bio-astronautic experiments 

be performed hand-in-hand with the mission performance experiments, 

and as dictated by these experiments. Those additional experiments must 

be done as part of the MOL effort, even though NASA will or may have some 

programs which would overlap these in part, because the precise mission 

performance subsystem parameter change relations cannot be expected to be 

duplicated in the NASA programs in the areas of major DOD concern. These 

additional experiments in the MOL may then assume an independent importance 

aside from the specific human performance enhancement in the observational 

experiments; but the fact that the experiments may be of more than MOLrelated importance must not inhibit their inclusion in the MOL experiments 

because of possible relation to "national" needs which might be considered 

to be a NASA mission. In fact, we expect that the effort to enhance man's 

observational capabilities will have many basic application results to other 

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• CONMENTRAL 

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C. Basic Measurements. 

There are several examples of a class of measurements which 

evaluate man's performance of a complex task and at the same time obtain 

data of basic value. In such experiments biomedical monitoring and human 

performance data are key results of general applicability. 

a. Spectral measurements to define missile plumes and determine cloud and other background characteristics have proved difficult to 

,_,obtain for many reasons, some of which stem from the rarity of significant 

events, either background or target. The most damaging sources of background, such as high altitude thunderheads, occur relatively rarely making ' 

it difficult to accumulate statistics. If it proves feasible to provide a 

versatile set of spectrophotometric equipment, the man will be able to 

search for sources of strong returns and, having found them, will be able 

to make detailed measurements of their spatial, spectral and temporal 

characteristics. Measurements in both the U-V and III.,rogion of the 

spectrum should be possible. 

b. Scientific experiments should be considered carefully. 

Depending upon the nature of the optical equipment aboard for other 

purposes, it may be feasible to perform basic experiments of astronomical interest. Spectrometric experithents are possible. There may 

exist cases where the function of the man can be evaluated for military 

application while the man performs a scientific experiment. 

IV. Proposed Ground Rules and Course of Action. 

In view of the preceding considerations, which we believe form a 

sufficient basis to proceed with the MOL program, the USAF should draft 

a work statement for the MOL recognizing, and explicitly incorporating, 

that: 

A. The MOL is an experimental facility,. not an operational 

vehicle. It may ultimately evolve, however, into a vehicle capable of 

performing an operational mission; therefore, key factors to measure 

in the MOL experiments should be derived from a careful and thorough 

synthesis of missions of potential operational significance. 

CONFMENTIIAL 
Albert C. Hall 

Deputy Director for Space 

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B. The experimental effort is to develop the capabilities and 

limitations of man's direct involvement in military missions. The first 

candidate for military missions is that of observation, A prime set of 

experiments is to test man's potential contribution to observation from 

space vehicles (m. A. Experiments). 

C. To support a thorough testing of, and best performance in, 

man's utility for observational missions, another most important class 

of experiments will involve subsystem and bio-astronautic work tailored 

specifically to enhance man's observation role, but undoubtedly contributing to other national efforts in the process B. Experiments). 

D. The effort in B is to make quantitative the possibilities inherent 

in man's participation in the use of observation systems, to estimate the 

performance of systems which make best use of man's assistance, and to 

determine the form that such systems might best take. It appears possible 

to perform the primary experiments, and to obtain the primary data, 

without undertaking a major development of equipment and without imposing 

on the MOL design or schedule constraints which interfere with other 

experimental objectives. It is only after the primary data are available 

that the question can be answered, whether it is desirable to attempt to 

develop a system, optimized for manned observation. The experimental 

program will be a means for reaching such a decision, not a result of 

such decision. 

tetp,4= 

Bruno W. Augenstein 

Special Assistant 

(Intelligence & Reconnaissance) 

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