NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

EECRCT DORIAN 

BIF-107-50125-69 

Total Pages: 13 • 

Copy / of 2 

19 March 1969 

MOL MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT 

FOR 

1 FEBRUARY THRU 28 FEBRUARY 

1969 

3. F. Chalmers 

Systems Engineering Director 

Management Systems Office 

/I A 

A 1(t117)1A-} 

W. C. Williams 

Vice President 

General Manager 

MOL Division 

HANDLE VIA BYEMAN 

'CONTROL. SYSTEM ONLY DORIAN 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 2 

1.0 GENERAL 

Over a period of several months the MOL Program has 

conducted a series of technical sign-off meetings. These meetings 

are basically intended to clean up the numerous "To be determined" 

(TBD) and "To be resolved" ,(TBR) in the various interface specifications. 

A very productive TSOM was held at MDAC the week of 24 February 

1969. Two hundred and twenty seven items were submitted 

to Systems Office/Aerospace for signoff with 213 actually being 

approved. Of the 47 items identified prior to the meeting as 

critical, 44 were signed off. 

Considerable progress was made in the Laboratory Module 

mechanical and thermal areas, the Mission Module mechanical and 

thermal areas and the AVE software area between GE and EK. 

Ascent venting, IVS thermal and the light trap problem were all 

resolved. Action plans were established for all critical problems 

not completely resolved. 

A Critical Design Review (CDR) is a recognized milestone 

in the "375 series" management system. Evidence of the increasing 

definition of the program is the forthcoming CDR on the Gemini B 

AVE which will be held at MDAC-ED starting 17 March 1969. During 

February review teams were formed and preparations made for this 

review. Preparation consisted of reviewing the Contractor's 

stated design solutions for itemized requirements against the source 

documents of CEI and Interface specifications. Details of agendas 

and review team coordination procedures were also worked out in 

association with the counterpart team chiefs of the Air Force Systems 

Office. 

SECRET ROMAN 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 3 

t\ 

■...orry NI 

2. 0 LOADS 

All required loads, except thrust termination, have been 

received by the associate contractors from the Martin-Marietta 

Corporation. Thrust Termination Loads have been received here 

at SO/Aerospace and are currently being reviewed prior to being 

transmitted to the contractors. 

The latest Subsystem "B" mathematical model has been received 

at SO/Aerospace. Modes for this model were determined and 

subsequent loads for launch stage 1 shutdown and Thrust Termination 

at 114 seconds were determined. These calculations were performed 

for the purpose of determining the adequacy of the previously 

applied 10%factor to the Loads Cycle 4 loads to account for model 

discrepancies. These loads will be briefed to the contractor at 

the Technical Review on 21-22 March. The contractor will provide 

the hardware impact status for the current Loads Cycle 4 loads 

appearing in SAFSL Exhibit 30012 and will also review hardware 

impact for the most updated model loads as noted above. 

At this writing, in-house cursory review of the loads and 

hardware design indicates negligible impact on the current hardware 

design from the Cycle 4 loads + 10% factor. 

.rt- TT. tr7 
BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 4 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

,( 3. 0 CONTAMINATION 

3. 1 Plume Contamination 

Full scale attitude control thrustor plume contamination 

tests at Marquardt were completed during this report period. No 

visible contamination was noted on the thrustor nozzle when tested 

at expected operational conditions of temperature, pressure and 

duty cycle. Contamination was noted, however, when the thrustor 

was conditioned to 20°F (60°F is expected minimum) indicating 

sensitivity to hardware and propellant temperature. 

3. 2 Outgassing Contamination 

Program activities and review of MDAC-WD standard 

material specifications have highlighted a problem of non-metallic 

materials used by MDAC-WD in test and flight hardware construction which potentially have unsatisfactory outgassing characteristics in a vacuum environment. As a result, a TWX has been 

transmitted and discussions held with MDAC-WD personnel identifying 

that at least one material (RTV 1016 - silicone sealant) will be 

disapproved for critical use on. the MOL Program. MDAC has been 

requested to: (1) investigate other sealants, (2) identify all materials 

utilized in LVSS and their outgassing characteristics, (3) define 

impact and prepare a get-well plan associated with changing sealant 

and, (4) establish with associate contractors suitable quantitative 

outgassing requirements. 

4.0 ALIGNMENT 

GE has selected a baseline AVE alignment system that 

includes mounting the startrackers to the upper leg of the beryllium 

tripod and the addition of two low range sensors to this mounting 

structure; one sensor to monitor tracking mirror misalignment and 

one to monitor the misalignment between the high range sensor and 

the startrackers. 

SECRET DORIAN 
BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 5 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

SECRET DO MAN 

4.0 ALIGNMENT - Continued 

Aerospace has three areas of concern with this design that 

require further work with GE. These are: (1) the possible increase 

in smear rate due to the hard mounted startrackers, (2) the design 

of the low range sensor and (3) the weight of the selected system. 

These must all be answered by GE at or prior to PDR, currently 

scheduled for late April or early May. 

5.0 IMAGE VELOCITY SENSOR (IVS) 

Evaluation tests of the Hycon and Goodyear devices have 

continued. Neither device is, as yet, meeting the system requirements; additional fixes have been identified and are being incorporated. 

GE and Aerospace are analyzing the test results to date. 

A summary meeting is scheduled in conjunction with the 

March Technical Direction meeting to permit SO, Aerospace and 

GE management to plan the actions required to complete the vendor 

evaluation and selection. 

6.0 ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM 

6.1 NASA/Air Force-Aerospace Fuel Cell Coordination Meeting 

The Aerospace minutes of the NASA/Air Force-Aerospace 

Fuel Cell Coordination Meeting held 31 January 1969 have been 

transmitted to NASA-MSC via the MOL SO. As agreed at that meeting, 

NASA has exchanged their minutes which have been reviewed. 

Coordination on areas of common benefit for both the MOL and AAP 

fuel cell programs will continue. 

6.2 LMSE Specification Review for EPC 

A review for technical adequacy of the MDAC-WD LMSE 

specification for the new EPS technical baseline was accomplished 
BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 6 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

+t .F DORIAN 

6.2 LMSE Specification Review for EPC - Continued 

and documented. All changes due to incorporation of the AllisChalmers matrix fuel cell have not been incorporated in the 

MDAC-WD specification. It was recommended that the design 

freeze date for the EPS portion of the LMSE be deferred until 

after the incorporation of Engineering Change Proposal 0374 

and the McDonnell-Douglas Electrical Power System Preliminary 

Design Review. 

6.3 Fuel Cell Gas Supply 

A recommendation was prepared for transmittal to the 

Air Force to approve a baseline change in storage of fuel cell 

gases. The original concept of K-bottle storage on level 14 of the 

Mobil Service Tower could be improved by maintaining supplies 

in tube-type trailers in the gas storage area and the LH2holding 

area. There is an advantage in cost, safety, logistics, operations, 

facility compatibility and maintenance of purity standards. 

7.0 OPTICS 

The latest optical Performance Prediction Report has 

been reviewed. The data shows that the predicted optical performance 

is generally within the requirements of the System Objectives or 

the Contract. However, some parts of the report required clarification. 

All comments received were reviewed with the contractor and 

appropriate actions have been taken to obtain necessary clarification 

in the next issue. Of significance, EK was asked to expand in 

detail on the means of accomplishing Optical Quality Factor, 

and on resolution vs. vibration effects. 

R DORI!!;14 
NRO APPROVED FOR BIF -107-50125-69 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 Page 7 

RET DOEJAN 

7.2 Resolution Computation 

A meeting was held at GE to discuss the problem of 

statistically estimating resolution in the presence of 

vibration induced by the various sources such as an ACTS 

firing or Tracking Mirror slew. Two analytical approaches were 

discussed at the meeting. Both the contractors and Aerospace 

accepted actions to obtain data necessary for either approach and 

to evaluate the relative merits of each approach. A meeting will 

be scheduled near the end of April to establish the approach to be 

used and to exchange input data. It is expected a first cut analysis 

will be completed by June. 

7.3 Optical System Improvement Studies 

During the month of February, a review of study final 

documentation provided by EKC was initiated. The documentation 

pertains to the optical system improvement study conducted at 

EKC from July-November 1968. Representatives of the Advanced 

Plans and Requirements Office and MPSS Offices of the MOL SO 

and the optical support group will participate in the study review. 

The review is scheduled for completion in mid-March. 

8.0 TRACKING MIRROR DRIVE AND ATS DRIVE STABILITY 

Considerable progress has been made towards identifying 

the interface parameters required by GE to finalize the tracking 

mirror drive stability analysis. An action plan was agreed to at 

TSOM #9 between GE, EK and DAC to define the required data and 

prepare the necessary interface paper. 

8.1 ATS Drive Stability and Jitter 

As reported last month, the ATS drive stability problem 

has been resolved. However, GE has included only the servo noise 

effects and has ignored the effects of vibration originating from 

GE and other associates' equipment. 

CECRET- DCTIAN 
BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 8 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

CHET DORIAN 

9.0 TEST HOLD DURING INTEGRATED TESTING 

(CLOCK-STOP) 

The on-board computer software has been implemented 

in such a way that it is not possible to command the DAC AGE 

(ASTEG) and GE AGE (CITE) to "Hold" during the execution of 

a given test sequence. This could lead to problems in integrated 

testing of the LM and MM. Solutions to this problem are 

complicated due to the timing, synchronization and interrelationship of all the AVE electronic subsystems. An Aerospace study 

of alternatives indicates possible simple solutions. Contractor 

recommendations are expected next month. 

10.0 WIDE BAND VOCODER ELIMINATION STUDY 

A study has been completed which shows the feasibility 

of eliminating the vocoder in the Secure Voice Communications 

System. The approach recommended eliminates the need for 

complex GVCS equipment at each remote tracking station. This 

equipment is replaced by a simplified voice converter at the 

STC. The 2,400 bps lines between the RTS's and the STC are 

replaced by 48 KBps lines. 

The combined changes provide a significant improvement 

in voice link quality, performance, and intelligibility. A briefing 

was prepared which explains the technical details of this approach, 

cost savings possible, management considerations and necessary 

implementation actions. 

Cl:,CRET DQRJAN 
NRO APPROVED FOR BIF-107-50125-69 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 r-..EORET DORIAN Page 9 

11.0 ELECTRO EXPLOSIVE DEVICE SURVIVABILITY 

A review was made of contractor requirements for 

providing Electro Explosive Device (EED) survivability in the 

RF environment at the VAFB launch pad. Recommendations were 

made that survivability must be demonstrated by actual launch 

pad tests rather than by analysis. 

12.0 INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SCREENING 

At Aerospace request MDAC has developed a high 

reliability program for screening and testing to identify faulty 

integrated circuits. The contractor proposed plan is satisfactory 

from the viewpoint of screening defective units; however, no 

contingency plan for procurement has been developed in the event 

of large scale failures. Aerospace is continuing to explore the 

problem with MDAC-WD. 

13.0 ADVANCED DATA SYSTEM 

The first draft of the MOL Flight Support Plan was 

published 28 February as the result of the efforts of Aerospace, 

Contractor, and Air Force study groups totaling over 120 engineers. 

Review, revision and approval is planned for March, with the 

first Contractor briefing scheduled for 18 March. 

14.0 SOFTWARE STATUS 

14.1 AVE Software 

GE and MDAC/IBM reported the results of their one-month 

analysis of the AVE software timing problem (i.e., 137% of 

capacity). A briefing to Air Force/Aerospace management was 

prepared and given which summarized these results and recommended 

a course of action to resolve the problem. The above resulted in 

direction to GE to implement software solutions which will result in 

an 81 m. s. worst case timing cycle. 

_4-ss-p-E-T- nom AN 
BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 10 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

SECRET DORIAN 

14.1 AVE Software - Continued 

A letter requesting contractor action to manage and report 

core and timing as a critical system resource was prepared and 

coordinated through all offices. 

Major efforts have been devoted to a review of AVE 

software testing and validation. Particular subjects for discussion 

were scientific validation, interpretive computer simulation, 

quantitizing software functional requirements, and the fidelity, 

visibility, and availability of the simulator. 

Other activities in support of testing are listed below: 

a. The Category I Test Plan for the MDAC "OnBoard set" computer programs was received. A review was 

initiated for meetings with MDAC during the next reporting period. 

b. The Test Integration Committee was supported 

with Hardware Test Route Analysis. A briefing was prepared, 

which is to be given during the next reporting period, on the software development and test flow with particular emphasis on the 

critical paths for hardware/software interface verification. 

c. The weekly GE Segment Office hardware-software 

interface meetings were supported. Of particular concern with 

the test and operational software development status for DSS-1 

and the documentation plan for this software. Discussions will 

continue into the next reporting period with a meeting with GE 

planned for 24 March 1969. 

nor! 
NRO APPROVED FOR BIF-107-50125-69 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 Page 11 

SECRET DOEIAN 

14.2 Ground Software 

Aerospace efforts in the ground software area have been 

primarily concerned with the STC 6600 re-direction effort and the 

resulting impact on all ground software (including the orbit 

program). 

15.0 OPERATIONS INTEGRATION 

On 19 February a meeting was held at MDAC-WD to discuss 

the BATMAN/MX09 computer program interface. BATMAN 

provides an automatic Flight Vehicle Time Line. MX09 provides an 

automatic OV Mission Power Time Line. BATMAN is supposed to 

drive MX09 which in turn provides power profiles for BATMAN use. 

The interface providing BATMAN output to MX09 is incomplete 

in the area of Mission Module equipment modeling. MDAC-WD 

just recently recognized this internal problem, and it was flagged 

by Aerospace during recent fact-finding on the contract re-negotiation. 

MDAC-WD wants about 3800 man hours to correct the problem. 

Systems Office/Aerospace position is that the problem does exist; 

MDAC-WD proposed solution is reasonable; but it is within scope 

of the BATMAN/MX09 work statement and that additional charges 

should not be allowed. 

16.0 SAFETY 

MDAC-WD's MOL Space Simulation Laboratory System 

Manrating Analysis report was reviewed. A meeting was convened 

at Huntington Beach on 24 February 1969 to obtain additional 

Pr7",r,r-r NT 
BIF-107-50125-69 

Page 12 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

SECRET DORIAN 

16.0 SAFETY - Continued 

information on MDAC-WD's position regarding specific criteria 

for manned chamber testing. Safety Office recommendations with 

respect to the adequacy of safety requirements are being formulated. 

MDAC-ED's ECP 111R for the replacement and accounting 

of nonmetallic materials in accordance with criteria specified in 

SAFSL Exhibit 10010 was reviewed. Safety Office comments were 

presented to the Aerospace MAC Office at a meeting on 28 February 

1969. Approval of the ECP has been deferred pending the submittal 

of additional information by MDAC -ED. 

Meetings were held with MDAC-WD for the purpose of 

completing "Fact finding" of CCN 125 which established the upgraded 

materials flammability program. Meetings were also held at which 

MDAC-WD outlived their plans for full scale materials flammability 

verification testing. 

17.0 

A Technical Advisory Group was convened to review 

proposals for ground software. 

Members include Program Office and ESO personnel. The final 

evaluation report is to be presented on 13 March. 

18.0 ADVANCED PLANS 

18.1 Wide-Band Data Systems Review 

The study of suitable wide-band data systems continued. 

Particular emphasis was placed on investigating satellite programs 

scheduled for the 1972-75 time period which could be used as relay 

stations. Support Division analytical studies on the limiting capacity 

of digital and analog data links also continued through the month. 

DOFI AN 
BIF -107-50125-69 

Page 13 NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

DORIAN 

18.2 National Launch Vehicle Studies 

The MOL Advanced Plans and Requirements Office 

participated in planning sessions with representatives of the 

Aerospace Vehicle System Office and industry. These meetings 

resulted in an exchange of views relating to manned military space 

requirements on launch vehicle developments of the next decade. 

The mechanics for continuing discussions during the coming months 

were established. 

18.3 National Space Planning Goals 

Agreement was obtained between the MOL SO, PO and 

DDR&E on the necessity of MOL Advanced Plans and Requirements 

Office involvement in NASA, DOD and industry studies pertaining 

to the next generation of manned space systems. 

DOR AN