WANOLE VIA BYEKAN 

NRO APPROVED FOR cgliTROL SYSTEM ONLY 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE (OSAF) 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL STEWART 

5 ROT 1967 

SUBJECT: MOL Monthly Management Report, 

25 Aug-25 Sep 1967 

Attached for your information is a copy of my 

Monthly Management Summary to General Ferguson. 

Also attached is a more Detailed Monthly Report 

of Significant Events, 25 Aug-25 Sep 1967. 

2 Atch . S. B EYMAIER, Maj Gen, USAF 

1. Memo Deputy Director, MOL 

2. Detailed Report 

S 

DORIAN 

AWNItiarVIABYEMAN 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY 

EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC 

REGRADING; DOD DIR 5200.10 

DOES NOl APPLY 

--grefililr-- '47ye0 

&6 54/ 7 

c-7 
mom! voxBysviAlq 

1,4 ONLY NRO APPROVED FOR CONTROL S 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE (OSAF) 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL 

=1; 

SUBJECT: MOL Monthly Management Report, 

25 Aug-25 Sep 1967 

A synopsis of major events for the month of 

September is covered below to apprise you of their 

status: 

1. Two briefings were provided to 

General Stewart on 7 September. The first was a 

status report on the critical technology for the 

Optical System. The optical technology appears 

to be difficult but is being adequately addressed at 

this time. However, the technology 

is not being adequately addressed, and one of our 

recommendations was a proposal to fund some work in 

this area using non-MOL study monies. The second 

briefing was a final report from Douglas on the Long 

Duration Operations Study. Copies of this report 

have been sent to your office. 

2. A rather extensive briefing was 

provided here on 20 September to Eastman Kodak 

personnel who are conducting the Optical 

System configuration study to assist them in understanding the overall system approach and problems 

from the MOL advanced planning point of view. The 

information provided was concerned with follow-on 

efforts in space power, control problems, navigation 

and flight dynamics. 

3. I have signed out identical letters 

to Douglas, McDonnell Douglas, General Electric and 

Eastman Kodak asking for their initial comments on 

a proposed model Radiation Specification for the MOL 

Orbiting Vehicle. Representatives of the staff are 

visiting each contractor to discuss the technical 

impact. No funded effort is involved at this time. 

I expect that a preliminary assessment of the 

impact will be available within 30 days, at which 

time I will consider what further effort might be 

appropriate. 

DORIAN 

EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC 

REGRADING: DOD DIR. 5200.10 

DOES NOT APPLY 

Fmmurcmc8YEMAN 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY 

itc/k 

gy&-676,i3—*— & 
mnuemNmtnYMWAN 

OONTROL SYSTEM ONLY 

4. Limited Static Load Structure (SLS) 

testing has been initiated by Douglas, Huntington Beach, 

for Eastman Kodak. Structural changes to correct 

Douglas' design deficiencies must be incorporated before 

complete tests may be accomplished. Repeat tests will 

be conducted when the structure has been modified for 

the Sliding Mask and the fourth load cycle data is 

available. 

5. The Primary Mirror Blank for Flight 

Vehicle 6 was received from Corning on 22 September. 

In addition, the 20th and 21st trial pressings of 71" 

Cer-Vit R&D lightweight blanks were poured apparently 

successfully on 21 and 23 September, respectively, and 

are undergoing annealing through 2 October 67. 

6. Assembly of Eastman Kodak's Structural 

Development Model (SUM) No. 1 is progressing on 

schedule at Rochester, New York, and should be ready 

for testing at the camera optical assembly level in 

mid-November. 

A summary assessment of the Program is that there 

are no schedule problems to be brought to your attention

at this time. All of the segment contractors are 

proceeding in accordance with the Master Schedule. I 

think that the funding status was adequately covered 

at our meeting of 29 September. 

(' p)67 rtpie ll) 

J. S. BLEYMAIER, Maj Gen, USAF 

Deputy Director, MOL 

DORIAN 

2 

PANrxr 

L f,YsTrM CNLY Cfb f,5-Z/ 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 -SECRET- 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

friNtct VT 13YEVAll 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY 

DETAILED WRISLY REPORT 

OF SIGNIFICANT .N.; VrAtiTb 

25 August 1967 - 25 September 1967 

DORIAN EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC 

REGRADING; DOD DM 5200.10 

DOES NOT APPLY. 

777'7.11. vrx 

C:.'.7•ITR.7:1. SYSTEM Ctia —SECRET- ai 

sve_,&r3-0-t_ 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

1. A Zero G Test Coordination meeting was held on 28 Aug at Wright-Patterson 

AFB, Ohio. Current MOL Zero G test planning was discussed. A preliminary 

one year schedule of testing was provided to Mr. D. Griggs, Zero G project 

manager. He agreed that the schedule was acceptable and that no problem wa 

anticipated in supporting 1()L requirements. The Crew Transfer/DRC wArriljnis 

Working Group Charter was also discussed and it was determined that a Zero G 

testing presentation might be made an agenda item in some future working 

group meeting. A copy of a Crew Transfer Technical report TOR-1001(2107-15}-

was made available to Mr. Griggs so that ASD personnel would have a concept 

of the overall crew transfer task. ASD presented films of the Apollo crew r\ 

transfer Zero G tests conducted during Jun. These films showed NASA solvtiond 

to the problems of external hatch activation and crew restraint techniques Sr S4 

which could be applicable to M)L extra vehicular transfer. A copy of this -r Gn 

film has been provided for MOL SPO/Aerospace and McDonnell review. 

2. A Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the Gemini B Procedures-Siilator 

(GBPS) computer program was conducted at Conductron-Missouri, St. Charles 

Mo., on 19 Sep 67. The completion of this PDR was held open until McDonnell/ 

Conductron reviewed the requirement to incorporate additional Titan MX 

malibnction simulations into the GBPS software. 

3. A meeting of the Development Simulator Operations Group (DSOG) was 

conducted at SAMS0 on 6-7 Sep with GE in attendance. A tentative agreement 

was reached on the first 6 months experiment operations for the Elemental 

Development Simulator (EDS). The primary limitations to the early experiments 

are simulator configuration and stimulus material availability. A simulation 

briefing was presented to the new Flight Crew members on 7 Sep. 

4. Emphasis was placed on expediting agreement on safety requirements that 

affect GE. Two proposed Technical Directives were submitted to the contractor 

for review and comment on 13 Sep. The areas covered were: 

a. Fire Detection and Fire Suppression Susort Study - The contractor 

was requested to establish an estimated cost and was authorized to contact 

Aerospace personnel if questions or clarification was required. It is 

anticipated that a meeting will be held at a future date fOr orientation 

purposes to acquaint GE with the current status of effort of other agencies 

and to answer any questionable areas in the GE area of responsibility. 

b. Non-Metallic Materials Combustion and Atmospheric Contaminant 

Control Standard (SAYSLEhibit 10010) - The contractor was requested to 

review the revised Exhibit and prepare fbr a SPO/Aerospace meeting to be 

held during the week of 25 Sep. The contractor was also requested to prepare 

a revised cost estimate based on the changes reflected in the Exhibit (i.e., 

performance of screening tests at White Sands.) The contractor was authorized 

to contact Aerospace if immediate technical clarification was required. 

DORIAN 2 

rtA Dre VT 13YEMA1' 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLV 

-SECRET-- 

oTte- (c,r13-41- - 7 

INIAtascr VX BYEMAT4 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY 
priummmtrx VEMAN 

NRO APPROVED FOR CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY. 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 IEGREL 

5. Of the 225 total MDL interface documents, 125 have been scheduled for 

signoff, 91 have been signed off, 48 have been approved by Specification 

Control Groups, and 37 have been approved by the MOL Configuration Control 

Board (CCB). 

6. The CCB reviewed 75 Ea's; 42 were approved; 7 were disapproved; 26 were 

deferred for further evaluation. The cost bearing ECP's approved by CCB 

actions totalled approximately $300,000 based upon contractor estimates. 

7. An initial in-house cut has been made on a proposed target card format 

to specify operational photographic requirements for the DORIAN system. 

This format was reviewed with the Fbreign Technology Division at WrightPatterson AFB on 18-19 Sep 67. A suggested priorities scheme will be 

attempted tor the SAC-developed MOL 608 target model. These actions support 

the baseline definition effort for establishing the MOL targeting requirements. 

8. Retrieval of MOL astronauts from the ocean environment adjacent to the 

western and southern portion of the Sudden Ranch coastline at Vandenberg AFB 

was tested for feasibility during the period 28 Aug through 1 Sep 67. The 

tests were a continuation of those undertaken at Patrick AFB. The Aerospace 

Rescue and Recovery Service (ARRS) H-3C helicopter performed the actual 

retrieval efforts. Overhead backup, aerial photography, and amphibious 

support were also provided, with the Western Test Range conducting the test. 

Astronaut retrieval from the VAFB surf area via helicopter appears to be an 

acceptable method. Other means of retrieval will continue to be examined and 

evaluated. 

9. SMAMA has received the bulk of the NASA listed GFE recovery AGE to be 

utilized in support of MOL recovery operations. With exception of some 

corrosion and minor damage, the equipment was received in good condition. 

10. Contract with TRW, Mission Planning and Evaluation 

Software fOr 1()L DORIAN Program, was forwarded to Gen Higgins for manual 

approval on 20 Sep 67. 

11. Contract for the MOL Feeding System Assembly was 

awarded to Whirlpool Corporation, St. Joseph, Mich., on 12 Sep 67. 

12. Preliminary fact finding for EKC's addendum 4, the deferred field test 

effort, was conducted to Sep. Current procurement plans call fOr this effort 

to be negotiated in Jan 68. Final fact finding was begun on the Compact 

Delta 12 schedule and several CCM's. 

13. A meeting was held with GE at Radnor on 12-13 Sep to review the details 

of the content of the technical and cost proposal for the deferred effort. 

DORIAN 3 

WAI /rSEV. Vtk 13YEMAN 

CONTROL SYS-EM CNLY 

'SECRET, 
"name yrs INDIAN 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 -SEMThe SPO outlined to GE our requirements for technical and cost data to be 

included in the cost proposal. The local Government ACO and Auditor 

participated in this review. The proposal is scheduled to be submitted on 

29 Sep 67. 

14. The Douglas cost price proposal on the Compact 12 month extension has 

been received and is being reviewed. 

15. The 12 month package proposal for McDonnell is in house and negotiations 

were started the afternoon of 25 Sep. 

16. GE's 12 month proposal effort has not been received as yet. Receipt in 

the SPO is anticipated the week of 2 Oct. 

17. MDL Manpower Status 

TITLE AUTHORIZED ASSIGNED DIFFERENCE 

*OFFICERS 322 113 -9 

AIRMEN 

CIVILIANS 

6 

72 

5 

68 

-1 

-4 

RIGRGRADES (22) 1.9) (-3) 

CLERICAL (50) 49) (-1) 

200 186 -14 

*MOL Flight 

Crew, 1 SAC 

18. Of the 

19. Of the 

Crew included. Six attached officers (4 Navy/Marine Flight 

and 1 MAC are not included.) 

228.4M FY 67 funds received, 228.2M has been initiated. 

116.4M FY 68 funds received, 115.6M has been initiated. 

DORIAN 

VIWIWOCM WIC INMAN' 

CONTROL SYSTEM ONLY dije-6413---&