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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE (OSAF) 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

NOV 2 0 1967 

MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL STEWART 

SUBJECT: MOL Monthly Management Report, 25 Sep-25 Oct 1967 

Attached is the monthly report of significant events, 

25 Sep-25 Oct 1967. 

1 Atch 

Report 

. S. B IER, Maj Gen, USAF 

Deputy D rector, MOL 

BYE-66879/67 

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DORIAN 

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DETATTY,D MONTHLY REPORT 

OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 

25 SEPTEMBER 1967 - 25 OCTOBER 1967 

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1. A Schedule Adjustment Exercise was conducted 19-20 Oct at 

Douglas, HUntingtOn Beach. All MOL contractors were represented. 

On 20 Oct a new program baseline, which incorporated a 13 week 

schedule adjustment, was signed off by all contractors and SPO/ 

Aerospace. The MOL Program Integrator (MPI) will forward final 

documentation to the participants on or about 30 Oct. This package 

will include the minutes of the meeting, a 20 Oct Hardware Exchange 

List (HEL), and a schedule "beddheet" for the 20 Oct baseline. A 

Data Management Meeting was held concurrently with the schedule 

exercise. Final distribution of documentation for this effort 

will also be made on or about 30 Oct. 

2. A Schedule Control System Working Group Meeting was held on 

18 Oct to finalize the development of PERT/TIME Air Force Program 

Management Network (AFRO). Attendees were GE, DAC and MPI, and 

SPO/Aerospace. Three basic sheets have been developed: one for 

Flights 1 and 2, a second for Flight 3, and a third for the test 

flow. Final publication is schedule for November. 

3. The formal Statement of Work for the SAMSO Survivability Group 

Study of the radiation vulnerability of the IBM 4 pi computer has 

been forwarded to IBM for action. This $100K study (at no cost to 

MOL) should provide usefUl data as to the level of hardening of our 

computer, as well as determine techniques to bring it to a desired 

hardness level. 

4. During the period of this report, 15 additional interface 

documents were signed off by contractors and one was cancelled. 

5. The effort to remove CEI level material from the SP/DR has 

continued. An effort to prepare a draft of the rewritten SP/DR 

was initiated with a planned completion date of 31 Oct 1967. 

6. The MOL CCB dispositioned 72 ECPs; 23 were approved; 14 were 

disapproved and 35 were deferred for farther evaluation. The 

major cost bearing ECPs approved by CCB actions totaled approximately $4,430,000 based upon non-negotiated contractor estimates. 

7. The T-IIIM CCB dispositioned 83 ECPs; 47 were approved; 9 were 

disapproved and 27 were deferred for farther evaluation. The cost 

bearing ECPs approved by CCB actions totaled approximately $600,000 

based upon non-negotiated contractor estimates. 

DORIAN 

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8. Several meetings on the real-time powered flight executive 

computer program were held during the month. A special task group 

set up by AFSCF presented data on three alternatives: (a) Have 

TRW modify SYMON, (b) Have SDC modify SYMON, and (c) Use CDC's 

SUMMIT Program instead of MON. Recommendations are still under 

review by the SPO. 

9. A basic agreement was reached with GE on their role as CPIC 

for the AVE software system. A CCN is being prepared to implement 

this assigned responsibility. 

10. A briefing concerning the development of the MOL/DORIAN 

Target Deck was presented to Gen Stewart and Gen Berg on 9 Oct 

1967. They concurred with the need for the deck and the suggested 

procedure for obtaining an analysis deck for the SPO by 15 Feb 

1967. The Satellite Operations Center (SOC) was tasked with 

leading the project to produce this analysis deck. The deck vill 

be used for engineering analysis by the SPO and the mission 

planning software contractor. 

11. A change to the MP&E contract delivery schedule to allow 

inclusion of greater capabilities in the study program has been 

negotiated with TRW. This change will result inra one-month 

later delivery of the program with three additional options on 

a no-cost charge basis. 

12. The Powered Flight Controllers, newly assigned from NASA 

to the SPO, began indoctrination training on Monday, 16 Oct 67. 

Specific project assignments have been levied on each individual. 

Formal technical training by Air Training Command commences on 

6 Nov 67. 

13. The Douglas Technical Direction meeting was held on 11 and 

12 Oct; there were no major Action Items or problems identified. 

14. The Tracking Mirror Blank was received at EK for Flight 

Vehicle 3 on 17 Oct 67. 

15. The second set of Data Return Containers (DRC) simulators 

was shipped to GE on 12 Oct for Zero G flight to simulate the 

transfer from laboratory to Gemini B. 

16. Ten CON's for a total of $3.5 million were negotiated with 

EK bringing the total value of the contract to $264.4 million. 

These MN's covered the design of mounts for Cer-Vit mirrors, 

the design, development and fabrication of data return containers, 

the provisioning of termal slats for the tracking mirror, 

conformal coating of electrical circuitry, studies for an 

auxiliary display in the main optics and IVS flip mirror, and 

additional special industrial requirement. 

DORIAN 

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17. The AF/Aerospace technical evaluation team for the General 

Electric deferred effort proposals have been identified. The 

cost and technical proposals for Block I and II changes have been 

received and are being reviewed. Present planning is to complete 

the SPO/Aerospace technical evaluation by 1 Dec 67 and have the 

GE/Air Force contract negotiations at SAMSO in mid-December. 

18. A Technical Interface Meeting was held 4 Oct 67 at Rochester 

for the purpose of discussing the technical detail of the GE 

alignment monitor set. GE has proposed four ways to accomplish 

the on-orbit alignment monitoring required to compensate for 

orbital thermal deformations and EK internal realignment 

operations. The meeting narrowed the approaches to two, with 

both contractors outlining studies they will accomplish in order 

to determine feasibility of the two preferred approaches. The 

technical studies scheduled to be completed by the end of Oct 1967 

will allow a technical decision to be made on the preferred 

approach and the nature of the interface between EK and GE. 

19. GE's pin requirements for the Douglas Electrical Umbilical 

were reviewed. In the umbilical, there are 188 pins, of which 

Douglas has identified a need for over 80%. Since GE is 

requesting 107 pins, there is an obvious incompatibility. 

Before adding more connectors, which would impact the vehicle 

significantly, the contractor's umbilical needs must be thoroughly 

re-evaluated. It is the SPO plan to review the contractor's 

umbilical list and, if possible, to keep within the 188 pin 

capability. 

20. The environment the Mission Module will see during aircraft 

landings was reviewed. It is planned to lock out the MM Transporter Suspension System during flight to eliminate oscillations 

in the suspension system; however, the MM may see up to 3 g's 

dynamic loading forces during landings if the suspension system 

is locked out during this period. Three g dynamic force is 

considered excessive, and we are now exploring ways of unlocking 

the suspension system just before landing. 

21. A detailed plan has been prepared describing the quality 

assurance effort to be implemented by the Air Force Plant 

Representative Office at General Electric. This plan will be 

transmitted to the AFPR for review and comments. Upon acceptance 

by the AFPR, this document will establish, by formal agreement, 

the AFPR role in accomplishing the required quality assurance and 

surveillance effort. A similar agreement will be prepared in 

the area of development engineering as soon as we have some final 

indication as to the level of effort that the AFPR is prepared to 

support. 

DORIAN 

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22. Negotiations with McDonnell on the 12-month schedule extension 

were resumed at SAMSO on 25 Sep 67. Negotiations are continuing 

in order to resolve the major difference concerning the rates 

proposed by McDonnell. 

23. A final design review of the Gemini B Interface Adapter (GIA), 

Attitude Control Electronics Group (ACED), and Pad Abort Thruster 

Electronics (PATE) was held at Honeywell Aeronautical Division, 

Minneapolis, Minnesota on 27-28 Sep 67. Representatives of 

Honeywell, McDonnell, Aerospace and the MOL SPO were in attendance. 

A review of the Honeywell contract requirements and management 

procedures, as well as a review of the hardware design, was 

accomplished. The review revealed no significant problems. 

24. CCN No. 25 dated 17 Oct covering the Dual Gas Atmosphere 

System, estimated cost of $2,800,000 was sent to McDonnell. 

25. The first T-IIIM MOL SPO Management Reviews were held with 

UTC, AGC and ACED during the week of 23 Oct 67. 

26. Direction was given to the United Technology Center to cease 

work on the present Thrust Vector Control (TVC) system and submit 

an ECP to incorporate the Ullage Blowdown System. This will 

result in a minor cost savings to the program and increase payload 

capability a minimum of 250 pounds. The change from hydraulic to 

electric values has not as yet been settled. 

27. The T-II1M booster costs have experienced no reduction due 

to slips in the MOL Program because of the interplay from a 

commonality and development standpoint with the other T-III 

family of vehicles. So long as the agreement to protect the 

launch schedules of the T-IIIC, B and D exists and that the 

T-IIIM will pay for the development costs of 15:1 engine, CAGE, 

Ullage Blowdown system, 1pidance, etc., no reduction in FY 68 

or FY 69 funding can be realized. 

28. MOL Manpower Status: 

TITLE AUTHORIZED ASSIGNED DIFFERENCE 

*OFFICERS 129 126 —3 

AIRMEN 6 5 —1 

CIVILIANS 72 69 —3 

HIGHGRADES (22) (20) (-2) 

CLERICAL (50) (49) 

207 200 -7 

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

Flight Crew, 1 SAC and 1 MAC are not included. 

Plus 15 Powered Flight Controllers overage. 

T-IIIM not shown. 

DORIAN 5 

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29. Of the $228.4 Million FY 67 funds received, $228.4 Million 

has been initiated. 

30. Of the $240.0 Million FY 68 funds received, $226.2 Million 

has been initiated. 

DORIAN 

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