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JUN 9 1969 

'..."-4M19-7S7ECYPFFL"..-- 

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301 

••■ 5 3 — 

0)-)?), 

DORIAN 

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loetrel System 

Honorable George H. Mahon 

Chairman, House Appropriations Committee 

anaCO House of Representatives 

I Dear Mr. Mahon: 

CO 

- We have decided to terminate the Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

(MOL) Program. 

,t) 

The primary purpose of MOL, as you know, has always been the 

collection of technical intelligence through very high resolution 

photography of Soviet and Chinese weapons and equipment. You 

will recall that when MOL was approved by President Johnson in 

1965, only manual operation of the camera by the MOL flight crew 

appeared feasible. Later, as fully automatic operation of the camera 

began to appear more practical, there still were advantages to 

continuing development of the manned space vehicle. Additionally, 

it was also apparent that the MOL manned reconnaissance system 

would always possess certain unique capabilities, operational 

flexibility, and somewhat better performance. 

Unfortunately, the MOL Program development phase has stretched 

out and the total cost increased for various reasons. At the same 

time, the technology required to operate the camera in an unmanned 

satellite has continued to mature. It will be considerably less costly 

to terminate MOL, and to develop an unmanned system using the MOL 

camera. We should save about $275M in FY 70 and $300M in FY 71. 

Since the camera payload in the MOL spacecraft has always been a 

very closely held matter (and is being developed under a covert 

contract), the public announcement will indicate that the entire 

program has been cancelled and that several million dollars will be 

saved. The continuation of camera development and its incorporation 

into an unmanned spacecraft will be handled covertly, as are the 

unmanned reconnaissance satellites in the National Reconnaissance 

Program. 

1•11111•1M1.11011•6 
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Attached is an unclassified notice to you of MOL termination for use 

as you deem appropriate. 

Attachment 

DORIAN 

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JUN 9 1969 

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301 

Honorable L. Mendel Rivers 

Chairman, House Armed Services Committee 

House of Representatives 

Dear Mr. Rivers: 

We have decided to terminate the Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

(MOL) Program. 

The primary purpose of MOL, as you know, has always been the 

collection of technical intelligence through very high resolution 

photography of Soviet and Chinese weapons and equipment. You 

will recall that when MOL was approved by President Johnson in 

1965, only manual operation of the camera by the MOL flight crew 

appeared feasible. Later, as fully automatic operation of the camera 

began to appear more practical, there still were advantages to 

continuing development of the manned space vehicle. Additionally, 

it was also apparent that the MOL manned reconnaissance system 

would always possess certain unique capabilities, operational 

flexibility, and somewhat better performance. 

Unfortunately, the MOL Program development phase has stretched 

out and the total cost increased for various reasons. At the same 

time, the technology required to operate the camera in an unmanned 

satellite has continued to mature. It will be considerably less costly 

to terminate MOL, and to develop an unmanned system using the 

MOL camera. We should save about $275M in FY 70 and $300M in 

FY 71. 

Since the camera payload in the MOL spacecraft has always been a 

very closely held matter (and is being developed under a covert 

contract), the public announcement will indicate that the entire 

program has been cancelled and that several million dollars will be 

saved. The continuation of camera development and its incorporation 

into an unmanned spacecraft will be handled covertly, as are the 

unmanned reconnaissance satellites in the National Reconnaissance 

Program. 

DORIAN 

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Control System 

21Q— 03%-49 
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Attached is an unclassified notice to you of MOL termination for use 

as you deem appropriate. 

Sinc rel 

Attachment 

DORIAN 

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Control System PrI T 

t • - . gAA' 3 74— 
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RELEASE 1.,JULY 2015 

• 

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301 

Honorable John Stennis. 

Chairman, Senate Armed. Services Committee 

United States Senate 

Dear Senator Stennis: 

We have decided to terminate the Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

(MOL) Program. 

The primary purpose of MOL, as you know, has always been the 

collection of technical intelligence through very high resolution 

pnotography of Soviet and Chinese weapons and equipment. You 

will recall that when MOL was approved by President Johnson in 

1965, only manual operation of the camera by the MOL flight crew 

appeared feasible. Later, as fully automatic operation of the camera 

began to appear more practical, there still were advantages to 

continuing development of the manned space vehicle. Additionally, 

it was also apparent that the MOL manned reconnaissance system 

would always possess certain unique capabilities, operational 

flexibility, and somewhat better performance. 

Unfortunately, the MOL Program development phase has stretched 

out and the total cost increased for various reasons. At the same 

time, the technology required to operate the camera in an unmanned 

satellite has continued to mature. It will be considerably less costly 

to terminate MOL, and to develop an unmanned system using the. 

MOL camera. We should save about $275M in FY 70 and $30OM in 

FY 71. 

Since the camera payload in the lvi.OL spacecraft has always been a 

very closely held matter (and is being developed under :a covert 

contract), the public announcement will indicate that the entire 

program has been cancelled and that several million dollars will be 

saved. The continuation of camera development and its in.corporation 

into an unmanned spacecraft will be handled covertly, as are the 

unmanned reconnaissance satellites in the Nation.al Reconnaissance 

Program. 

C2gi -10`1 -

fl 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE tJULY 2015 

2 

Attached is an unclassified notice to you of MOL termination for use 

as you deem appropriate. 

Since rely, 

Attachment 

08316 -69 
D NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASEi JULY 2015 

OF. 

0. C. 20301 

I-Ionorable Richard B. Russell 

Chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee 

United States Senate 

Dear Senator Russell: 

We have decided to terminate the Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

(VIOL) Program. 

The primary purpose of MOL, as you know, has always been the 

collection of technical intelligence through very high resolution 

photography of Soviet and Chinese weapons and equipment. You 

will recall that when MOL was approved by President Johnson in 

1965, only manual operation of the camera by the MOL flight crew 

appeared. feasible. Later, as fully automatic operation of the camera 

began to appear more practical, there still were advantages to 

continuing development of the manned space vehicle. Additionally, 

it was also apparent that the VIOL manned reconnaissance system 

would always possesscertain 'unique Capabilities, operational -

f..exibility, and somewhat better performance. 

Unfortunately, the MOL Program development phase has stretched 

out and the total cost increased for various reasons. At the same 

time, the technology required to operate the camera in an unmanned 

satellite has continued to mature. It will be considerably less costly 

to terminate :VIOL, and to develop an unmanned system using the 

MOL camera. We should save about SZ75M in FY 70 and $300M in 

-71 

"T.; a payload in the MOL spacecraft has always been a 

id matter (and is being developed under a covert 

announcement will indicate that the entire 

cancelled and that several million dollars will be 

of camera development and its incorporation 

spacecraft will be handled covertly, as are the 

eonna.issance satellites in the National Reconnaissance -

Since the ca,_ 

very clo 

contrac-,.) . 

brogran.- 

saved. 

into an 

0 

T • • I:. • 1 • • I •I. 

EU 

433"*-41 • 
NRO APPROVOD FOR 

"RELEASL 1 JULY 2015 

is an unclassified notice to you of INALL termination for use 

a you. clecrn appropriate. 

Sincerely, 

2 

..41.ttaclanlent 

3A-e-k6 3 1(v-(eci