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MEMORANDUM FOR DR. FLAX 

SUBJECT: SAF Comments on MOL Monthly Status Report for 

February 

Reference is made to Dr. Brown's margin notes on pages 

2 and 3 of the attached Monthly Status Report. 

Our work on the question of the value of DORIAN-quality 

resolution to the National Reconnaissance Program is a continuing effort which will continue to be pursued by this 

office. The report which summari2es the results of this work 

are periodically updated, -rith the assistance of General 

Thomas' people and the DIA staff. The most recent iteration 

of our high-resolution value study is dated January 15, 1968. 

I briefed General Carroll, Admiral Lawrence and key DIA 

people on March 8, and took that opportunity to discuss the 

substance of both Dr. Brown's "value" comments with them and 

also the March 5 memo from Mr. Helms (in the vein that DIA 

would undoubtedly become involved when CIA completes their 

analysis of "studies completed to date" and/or any new studies 

on the value of resolution). I have the impression, based on 

several questions posed with regard to flexibility of the MOL 

photo system (as an indications warning system, crisis management) and for possible other applications, that General Carroll 

also has some reservations on the value vs cost area. 

With respect to Dr. Brown's co=ent on GE's projected 

reassignment of the Mission Data Adaptor Unit (DAU) subcontract from Raytheon to Honeywell or IBM, the proposal submitted 

by Raytheon (on Feb 14) for $8,250,000 was on a CPIF basis. 

Since any fixed-price bid would have been higher than their 

CPIF proposal, no such bid was solicited by GE (As You probably 

know, GE would prefer to go CPIF, but recognize that we may 

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JAMES T. STEWART 

Major General,__USAF 

Vice Director, MOL Program 

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direct. theta to go FPIF).• At no time in the recent flurry of 

activity over the MDAU subcontract has Raytheon presented 

a really competitive cost quote, on any basis. 
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I. PROBLEMS 

None. 

II. CHANGE FAST MONTH 

A. February l4 Space Council Meeting 

One of two agenda items for the February 14 meeting of the 

Space Council was the question:of =how, in view of MOL security 

. constraints, MOL/AAP could be preSented to,the Congress and the public 

- without the appearance of duplication. Dr. Foster, Mr. Webb, and General 

Stewart addressed this qUestion, to the apparent satisfaction of the 

Vice President. However, in the .discussion following the briefings, 

Ambassador Bohien questioned the relative value of the MOL reconnaissance 

:product versus the projected total program cost, and suggested that .a 

committee consisting of the Secretary of State, the DCI, the Administrator, 

NASA, and-the Secretary of Defense reevaluate the need for MOL. Atbassador 

Bohlen also noted that the prograM had never:been "approved by USIB" and 

indicated his feeling that approval of MOL by the NSAM 156 Committee would 

be in order. 

Mr. Bohlen's remarks sUggested the possibility that he was 

not entirely clear as to the purpose and functions of the USIB or the 

NSAM 156 Committee. Further, he seemed not well-informed regarding current MOL status. Consequently, Dr. Foster suggested to AMbassador Bohlen, 

in an aside, that a comprehensivelMOL briefing might be wend. Mr. 

Bohlen agreed. 

On February 16, briefings on MOL and the NSAM 156 Committee were 

given to Ambassador Bohlen and a group of-State Department staff meMbers. 

DoD representatives included Mr. Nitze, Dr. Foster, Dr. Flax and ,General 

Stewart. 

Mr. Bohlen's questions centered largely on the need fOr 

DORIAN-quality resolution, and the cost/value relationship between 

mature KH-8 Photography at average resolution vs MOL photography 

at average resolution.1Mr. Nitze and Dr. Foster were emphatic 

in their defense of the need for the MOL product, and both expressed the 

view that the product is worth the cost. Mr. Bohlen was rather noncommittal in his reaction to the explanatIons he received. ,114.4„Tt_. 

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A4e0044 The discussions ended without any apparent follow-up actions 4)440 ....,•,tee 

required at this time on the part of-SAFSL or the FRO. k fix. 
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B. MOL Mission Data Adapter Unit 

The MOL stbcontract from General Electric to the Raytheon 

Company for the MOL Mission Data Adapter Unit (MDAU) was the subject 

of extensive review by both General Electric and the Air Force during 

February. This review has demonstrated conclusively that the Raytheon 

price for the unit is not competitive, by a substantial margin, and 

that the Raytheon design is inferior technically to alternative designs 

proposed - against current MDAU 'specifications - by Honeywell and IBM. 

The comparative price Positions of the three potential suppliers 

of the unit, as of late February, are tabulated below: 

Raytheon IBM Honeywell 

Feb 22 $8,250,000 (CPIF) $4,696,000 (CPIF) $4,565,000 (CPIF) 

Feb 26 ..4Tot Solicited..--' $4,86o,000 (Fps) $4,710,0001 (FPI) 

.- ' _... ..___....,... 

e fixed-price-incentive proposals from both IBM and Honeywell 

reflect pabstantial contractor Confidence in their estimates, and are 

the ba 's of the current General Electric judgment that significant dollar 

savi s can be realized by changing the MDAU subcontraCt from Raytheon to 

IBM r Honeywell. General Electric has decided to terminate the Raytheon 

co tract and award a new contract to one of the other bidders. In Order 

6 obtain government endorsement of their decision, General Electric 

solicited MOL Systems Office concurrence. Due to the criticality of the 

item to MOL and possible politiCal considerations, Dr, Flax has been 

54 u,„4, 44 *I advised and his concurrence requested. 

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i)41.1 if Tnis potential change ;was the subject of an inquiry ;rom Speaker 

McCormack's office, dated February 21,,1968. A responseto Speaker 

McCormack's letter is in preparation. 

C. MOL Program Review Council Meeting 

The MOL Program Review Council met at the Pentagon on February 20.- 

The following is a summary of signifidant decisions taken at the meeting: 

1. Flight Duration, Vehicles #6 and 41. Vehicles #6 and 

#7 (unmanned, automatic) will b designed and provisioned for a mission 

duration of 60 days. This extended duration will require additional 

propellant and cryogenic tankage. The, cost impact of this decision is 

estimated at $13 million (spread over three Fiscal Years). 

• 

2. Laboratory Module Acoustic Qualification Testing. 

Acoustic qualification testing pf the MOL Laboratory Module will require 

a new test facility, and will present scheduling problems. The MOL Systems 

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Office will reevaluate the need for such testing, and provide Dr. Flax 

with an assessment of the technical impact of not performing acoustic 

qualification testing on the Laboratory. This analysis will include 

development of costs and schedules associated with acquisition of a 

new acoustic test facility. 

3. Low-Coefficient Optical Materials. Three mirror 

materials have been under consideration for DORIAN: (1) Fused Silica; 

(2) a low-coefficient version of fused silica designated ULE; and (3) 

a ceramic-vitreous material designated Cer-Vit. The following decisions 

regarding employment of these materials were taken on February 20: 

a. Eastman will initiate procurement of ULE asphere 

blanks for primary mirrors. Fused silica will be retained as a backup. 

b. For tracking mirrors, the program will continue 

with both ULE and Cer-Vit. The decision on which material to fly will 

be made not later than August, 1968. 

c. All flight folding mirrors will be ULE. 

d. A minimum of three Cer-Vit solid master test 

mirrors will be procurred. 

An evaluation team will be formed by the Systems Office to 

conduct an in-depth review of the DORIAN optical system. Drs. Mynel 

.and O'Brien will be invited to participate. 

4. Procurement Plan. Definitive contracts, including all 

work known to be part of the baseline MOL program, will be executed with 

all major Associates by DeceMber 31, 1968. Target costs will not exceed 

an aggregate total of $2.84 billion for Phase II effort. 

5. Astronomy, and IR Imagery. The 

Council determined that no special provisions for IR film will be included 

• in the MOL system. •astronomy experiments will 

not be considered in the baseline program.. 

D. MOL/SIVB Experiments Contract 

A Fixed. Price Incentives contract for $694,000 has been let 

• with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, Huntington Beach, California, 

for MOL experiment packages for the NASA SIVE orbital workshop. 

The contract provides for fabrication of test structures for 

the suit donning, sleep station, and restraint experiments, and the 

integration of the MOL part of the SIVB experiments package. 

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III. CURRENT STATUS 

A. Congressional 

1. Briefings. In connection with the continuing effort to 

keep key Congressional Committee members and staff methbers abreast of 

MOL objectives.and status, the following MOL briefings were presented 

during February: 

Date Committee Individual Briefed 

February 5 House Science & Astronautics Reps Miller, Karth, 

Daddario; Mr. Gerardi, 

Staff 

February 7 House Armed Services Reps Rivers, Bates; 

Mr. Blandford, Staff 

Senate Armed Services Mr. Kendall, Staff 

House Appropriations 

(Mahon Subcommittee) 

February 28 House Armed Services 

(Price Stibcothmittee) 

2. MOL Fuel Cell Inquir . In a letter to the Secretary of 

the Air Force dated February 2, a968, Congressman Laird (Wisconsin) 

inquired on behalf of Allis-Chaimers as to the cost and safety aspects 

of conventional Bacon-type fuel:cells, and proposed that certain 'benefits 

might accrue to the government through a change to the Allis-Chalmers 

fuel cell design for MOL and AAP. Mr. Laird was advised on February 21 

that the present Pratt & Whitney cells are progressing satisfactorily at 

this time and that no change is contemplated, but that the government 

retains an active interest in the Allis-Chalmers design. 

B. Funds 

There were no funds released to MOL operating activities 

during February. Of the $430 million (FY 68) released by DoD to MOL, 

$80 million is presently retained by the Director, MOL. These funds 

will be issued to the MOL Systems Office during March to cover 4th 

quarter FY 1968 requirements. 

C. Easter Island 

In November 1967, the 'government of Chile agreed that the USAF 

may use Easter Island as a staging base foraircraft_ upPor011g Mpl! 

abort recovery operations. On:FebrUarY 14,:a letter was fOrWarded from 

171 tV°41 ;7'')TI 

it( 

February 8 

February 9 Messrs Michaels, 

Preston, Sanders, Staff 

Reps Price, Hall; Mr. 

Morgan, Staff 

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General McConnell to General Err'azuriz, Commander in Chief of the 

Chilean Air Force, through our Chilean &bassi. This letter designated 

Brigadier General Brooks, Commander, ARKS, as General McConnell's 

representative in working out detailed arrangements with the Chilean 

Air Force. On March 12, General Brooks and meMbers of his staff will 

attend a meeting in the MOL Program Office to receive briefing 

on Easter Island and an indoctrination which will assist them in their 

approaching negotiations. 

IV. FORECAST FOR FUTURE 

NASA Bioastronautics Briefing 

A review of ground based study programs to define the expected 

crew adaptation to the MOL 30-day mission will be presented to key NASA 

Manned Spaceflight Bioscience personnel and the meMbers of the Biosciences Subcommittee of the Manned Spaceflight Science and Technology 

Advisory Committee on March 15. Also in attendance will be Dr. Eugene 

Stead, M.D., Chairman of the Biosciences Subcommittee of the PSAC Science 

and Technology Panel. The review will be held at the AFSC Aerospace 

Medical Division (AMD), Brooks AFB, Texas. The program will present the 

joint AMD and MOL Program to develop the data needed to identify what 

adaptive changes can be expected, to establish the 30-day mission 

significance of these changes, and, where appropriate, to .develop the 

control devices or procedures needed to keep the changes within acceptable mission bounds. The discussion is being scheduled. because of the 

similarity of the NASA and MOL problem of extending man's exposure to 

longer periods of weightless flight and the advantages to be gained by 

bring the bioastronautics studies for the NASA Apollo, Apollo Applications, 

and MOL programs into closer cooperation. 

V. DUE DATE FOR NEXT PROGRESS REPORT 

The next Monthly MOL Program Progress Report will be submitted 

April 9, 1968. 

DORIAN 

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