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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE (OSAF) 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

17 JUN 1968 

SAFSL-4 

MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL STEWART 

SUBJECT: MOL Monthly Management Report, 25 April - 25 May 1968 

Attached is the monthly report of significant events, 25 April - 

25 May 1968. 

1 Atch J. S. EYMAIER, Maj Gen, USAF 

Report Deputy Director, MOL 

BYE-89707/68 i 

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DORIAN 

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MONTHLY REPORT 

OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 

25 APRIL - 25 MAY 1968 

DORI AN 

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A. Technical Progress 

1. EK's Engineering Model for development testing of the Mission 

Module Design was released to manufacturing on 26 April 1968. This 

is a key milestone in the development program. 

2. The checkout test of Chamber II Optics was successful. The 

test validated the installation and alignment of an spherical 

reference mirror which will be used to determine the quality of the 

piano surface of tracking mirrors in a soft vacuum environment. 

3. The ULE tracking mirror blank which was received by EKC from 

Corning during March has reached the finish polishing stage. To date 

there have been no in-process problems encountered which are uncommon 

to EKC experience in processing fused silica tracking mirror blanks. 

4. The Systems Office presently plans to delete the hardware 

requirement for the angular accelerometer. Preliminary analysis by 

both Aerospace and GE indicates that the angular accelerometer will 

not be required to meet tracking mirror drive performance specifications. 

5. Representatives of DuPont Company were hare to brief SPO/Aerospace 

on the flammability characteristics of shielded Kapton wire. They recommended that a coating of Teflon be put over the shield beneath the Kapton 

insulation. This would lessen the severity of burning; however, there 

are obvious weight penalties associated with this recommendation. 

6. The decisions to use the ITEK slide changer in the main optics 

for the Mission Development Simulator (M)S) and to incorporate complete 

reversibility were made on 26 April. 

7. The compliance specifications for the Mission Development Simulator 

(MOS) and the Mission Module Simulation Equipment (MMSE) have been reviewed. 

Although there are some technical areas still unresolved, the review of the 

MOS Specifications and MMSE Systems CEI is essentially complete. 

8. The requirement for waterproofing the Data Return Containers (CRC) 

is being investigated by the Systems Office. This requirement was eliminated 

previously. Analysis of DRC retrieval techniques is being evaluated to 

determine the probability of water immersion. This will enable us to 

establish a position in the near future as to the validity of the requirement. 

DORIAN 

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9. H53 helicopter/Gemini B retrieval tests are now scheduled for 

the period 16-26 August 1968. All preliminary design work for the 

boilerplate spacecraft and suspension slings is complete. SMAMA has 

agreed to refurbish and build most of the equipment required. Arrangements have been made to borrow all of the other necessary equipment 

from NASA MSC. The primary objective of this test series will be to 

demonstrate the capability of the HCI3OP to refuel the H53 helicopter with 

the Gemini B in tow. 

10. General Stewart's 4 April mission enhancement questions were 

answered via TWX on 8 Ma 

11. During on-orbit operations MCC personnel will project crew dose 

for any radiation events occuring during the mission utilizing the 

Laboratory Module Mission Control Computer Program (LMCP) subsystem. 

During the week of 29 April the SPO authorized DAC to perform tasks which 

will result in radiation models and methods for using them In conjunction 

with vehicle telemetered data, external data and vehicle shielding. These 

tasks will assure meaningful radiation data handling in the LMCP. 

12. Four members of the Flight Crew participated in simulation studies 

on the R-38 at GE/Valley Forge. All participants unanimously agreed that 

the simulation was appropriate, typical of the MOL mission, and was conducted 

on schedule in a professional manner. 

13. Martin Marietta Corporation (MMC) is proceeding with configuration 

definition and proposal development to cover the 1st flight Orbiting 

Vehicle. Essentially, the 0/V will be a monacoque alloy cylinder terminating 

in a series of conical shapes which approximate the Gemini B outline. Ballast 

will be added to simulate the weight and c.g. necessary to provide a proper 

ascent trajectory. MMC's proposal is due approximately 2 August 1968. 

14. The bids for construction of Package I of the MOL Support Facilities 

were opened on 24 May 1968. The government estimate for the package was 

$4,700,292. The MM Sundt Company was the low bidder with a bid of $3,885,525. 

The Corps of Engineers planned to have the contract awarded by 29 May 1968. 

15. The Zero G "Test of Principle" for the MOL Waste Management System 

waste collection device initiated during November 1967 was completed on 

I May 1968 by Fairchild Hiller. Preliminary test results of the waste 

collection device indicates that the collection methods are satisfactory 

In principle, however some design modifications are necessary. 

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Buck Island, Virgin Islands during 29 April through 3 May 1968 with 

Majors Lawyer and Overmyer participating as test subjects. This 

simulation was done in G4C pressure suits modified so that they are 

pressurized with water instead of air, except for the breathing gas 

supplied by a special mouthpiece. Intravehicular transfers were 

performed in an unpressurized mode and extravehicular transfers 

were performed in a completely water pressurized mode. Emergency 

procedures were well planned and rehearsed. All personnel in attendance 

felt that these simulations were very beneficial and that the experience 

gained will be extremely helpful to future efforts in this area. 

17. A current review of the requirement and the technique for 

routine and/or contingency measurement of the crewmembers blood 

pressure while on orbit has led to the decision to eliminate this 

requirement from the baseline. 

18. Col Karstens prepared a statement on the biomedical and 

physiological implications of the inert gas selection for the MOL 

two-gas atmosphere for inclusion in the MOL Systems Office response 

to Dr. Robert R. Gilrutills query regarding the MOL rationale for use 

of helium. It is to be emphasized that there is no technical disagreement 

between the MOL position and the NASA position with respect to the helium 

versus nitrogen position. 

DORIAN 

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B. Program Management 

I. The second review of the technical baseline was conducted at 

Huntington Beach the week of 20-25 May. The stated purpose of this 

session was to arrive at a firm integrated technical baseline. Attention 

was focused on Systems Performance/Design Requirements (SP/DR) and lower 

tiered supporting plans and SAFSL Exhibits. At the close of the SP/DR 

meeting only one deviation was requested -- EK would not accept the 

requirement for off-axis resolution. With very few exceptions, a 

mutually acceptable understanding of the requirements defined In the 

documents was achieved. 

2. During the week of 20 May 1968, the Gemini B spacecraft CEI 

Specification (CP58AOIOA) was completely reviewed by SPO and McDonnell 

personnel. Prior to the detailed paragraph by paragraph review, 

several ground rules were established as follows: 

(a) The contract statement of work is to be amended to clearly 

state precedence of documents and interrelationship of CEI Specifications, 

Statement of Work, SP/DR and SAFSL Exhibits. 

(b) Only CP58A010A would be updated. The contractor was requested 

to make the associated changes to CP58AOI1A (GBQ) specification in order to 

make it compatible. 

(c) The SPO would draft an introductory paragraph to Section 2 

which is required to eliminate the possibility of deviation to SAFSL 

exhibits with the body of the CEI Specifications. 

A complete review was then accomplished with the objective of updating 

the specification to the latest configuration. Wherever a question arose 

concerning the intent, clarity of requirement, an action item was levied 

either on the contract or SPO. This review served to clarify the program 

office's intent to update and amend the CEI Specifications to reflect the 

most current requirements and configuration. The results of this review 

will serve as a basis for the contractor's specification update and 

associated cost proposal. 

3. A total of 5 CCN's valued at approximately $10 million dollars 

were the subject of a negotiation with EK from 14 through 17 May. These 

changes were necessitated by directed changes in requirements and 

responsibility. These changes included the addition of a requirement 

for a modal survey of the Camera Optical Assembly, the addition of 

responsibility for power switching and requirement for matrix commands, 

and the requirement for reconfiguration of the COA to allow for sliding 

mask and tracking mirror clearances. The procurement documents required 

to definitize these changes have been mailed to the contractor for 

signature. 

DORIAN 

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4. Based upon the authority to proceed with the addition of 

20,000 square feet of floor space, EK has been notified of our 

intent to add storage space to Building 101. Negotiations with 

EK are scheduled for the first week of June 1968. 

5. A formal SPO review of GE's Electronic Development 

Compatibility Test Unit (EDCTU) test objectives has been requested 

by GE to determine if these objectives can be reduced or modified. 

The current DAC schedule allocates only 1 1/2 months for GE to test 

the Development Subsystem-I (DSS-1) after it is incorporated into 

the EDCTU. GEstates that they need at least 3 1/2 months for 

their testing. Because this testing cannot be done under the existing 

schedule, GE and DAC are going to revise GE's test objectives for this 

portion of the EDCTU test to comply with the 1 1/2 month allocation. 

This new set of objectives, along with its impact, is planned to be 

presented to the SPO at the next Interface Signoff meeting. 

6. A technical interchange meeting was held at General Electric 

on 30 April and 1 May 1968 with DAC, GE, and EK concerning the Flights 

6 and 7 effort. Existing misunderstandings as to the roles and responsibilities of the contractors were cleared up and the interface schedule 

was readjusted so that it was more meaningful. 

7. Another Flight 6 and 7 technical interchange meeting was held 

at Douglas on 15, 16, and 17 May 1968. Ground rules for the System 

Design Review were presented to the contractors for comments. This 

review will be the key review during phase 1. 

8. The MOL CCB processed 40 ECPs; 16 were approved; 3 were disapproved 

and 21 were deferred for further evaluation. Contractor-estimated costs 

of the major cost-bearing ECPs approved by CCB action totalled $413,000. 

Sixteen new MOL ECPs were received during this reporting period. 

9, The T-IIIM CCB processed 48 ECPs; 15 were approved; 2 were disapproved and 31 were deferred for further evaluation. The contractorestimated costs of the major cost-bearing ECPs approved by CCB action 

totalled $51,000. Twenty-one new T-IIIM ECPs were received during this 

reporting period. 

10. The coordination process has been completed on 24 Contractual 

Action Requests, all of which were approved. The major cost-bearing 

CARs will cost approximately $13,828,000. Four CARs account for the 

major portion of this cost; they are: 

MAC 026 - Non-metallic Materials Document, SAFSL Exhibit 

10010, 54,250,000 

GE 030 - Non-metallic Materials Document, SAFSL Exhibit 

10010, $3,500,000 

GE 019 - Assessment of Non-metallic Materials Used in OV, 

$1,400,000 

HS 011 - Non-metallic Materials Document, SAFSL Exhibit 

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10010, $2,000,000. 

II. No significant schedule problems have been identified In the 

program; however, because of the delay in establishing a definitive 

technical baseline with the Program Managers, a revision to Unpriced 

Supplemental Agreement Milestones is anticipated. 

12. The financial statement for this reporting 

follows: 

Of the 430.0 million FY 68 funds released to 

Office, 430.0 million has been initiated. 

13. MOL Manpower Status: 

the Systems 

AUTHORIZED ASSIGNED 

*OFFICERS 136 151 

AIRMEN 9 8- 

CIVILIANS 102 99 

HIGHGRADES (34) (32) 

CLERICAL (68) (67) 

*MOL Flight Crew included. Six attached officers (3 Navy/Marine 

Flight Crew, 1 SAC & 1 MAC are not included). 

DORIAN 

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