WEEKLY DIARY ITEMS - LBZSA
10 December Thru 16 December 1959
(U) Letter contract AF O4(647)-L9 with Aeronutronics - Program 609A .

System 609A has money problems which affect both this contract and the NASA
Intergovernmental Delivery Orders to Purchase GFP for this contract. There is
doubt that Headquarters USAF will release additional money for the 609A
Program. Since Aeronutronics will run out of Toney about 1 January 1960,
@xpeditious action must be taken to insure that no commitments are made by the
~ Contractor to obligate himself for any amount in excess of the money now on
the Letter Contract. this end, we have instructed the Contractor and his
ACO to award no additional subcontracts until this money problem is resolved.

(0) Contract AF 04(6¥7)-476 with General Electric - Commnications satellite

The possible cancellation of Project Steer (mentioned in last week's Diary) is
still being discussed. In“this interim, we have instructed GE (and the ACO) to
curtail outside commitments to a bare minimum while the fate of the program is
being decided. ‘he rate of expenditure to "keep alive" in this state of suspended
animation 1s $200,000 per month, whereas the normal expenditure rate to meet
contract schedules is close to 9000 per month. Of course there will come a
time in the near future when we will either litt the ban on subcontracts/purchase
orders or suffer the consequences of schedule slippages. .

(U) Contract ar Oh(647)-361 with st - Tiros, Transit and Courier Projects

1. On 1 December sty Proposed a price of $6.8 million for the definitization
of Amendment 2 (S/T for Commmication Satellite only) to L/c ar 04(647)-361.
Their proposal contained a level-of-effort considerably in excess of our written
instructions to them, so we have asked them for a revised proposal that conforns
to the effort we want to buy. In addition, their Proposal was deficient in back-up
information. ‘The effect of this perturbation on the definitization of the contract
is not yet known.

“€e). 2. courier I-A ana I-B, under ARPA Order Wr. 98 Project Code Nr. 2200, for
delivery and launch of two Thor-Able-Star vehicles are proceeding according to
Program plan. Courier I-A schedule is firm for 15 May 1960 leunch from Atlantic
Missile Range into a 650 Nautical Mile High Orbit. Design and/or fabrication

Contractor (Aerojet-General) has been selected. ‘Technical problems discovered
late in the second stege engine testing program have been resolved and no further

+(e} 3. Transit I-A, I-B, 2-A and 2-B, under ARPA Order Nr. 91, Project Code
Nr. 2300, provides one Thor-Able and three Thor-Able Star for launching into
Circular Orbit. Transit I-A was launched 15 September 1959, was only Partially

soe Ga: 99 LBZS 4390
DEGLASSIFigy, BOD din saunly


(u) Tong Range Valve R&D Program

A follow-on effort for a series of tests on the solenoid valve developed under
Contract AF 0h(647)-160 with Rocketdyne Division of forth Aterican Aviation is
being negotiated. Rocketdyne proposed a cost of $14,000 with two months to
complete. We anticipate completion of contractual coverage by 15 February 1960,
therefore, tests should be completed by 15 April 1960.

(U) Lox Pumps

Byron- Jackson (Contract AF Oh(647)-223) encountered difficulties in installing
their lox Pumps at Edwards AFB. However, their Problems have been resolved and
‘they will complete their testing of the Pump by 31 December 1959. ‘his thirty-day
slippage is not expected to j ze the program, The LOX pump developed by
Aerojet (Contract AF Oh(647)-22h) is scheduled for testing as soon as possible
after completion of testing on the Byron- Jackson pump.

59 Lazs 4390


Successful and will have Pinal launch report this month. Transit I-B has received
a schedule delay to 15 March 1960 due to lack of ARPA funds to complete ground
equipment requirements. Technical difficulties with the Able-Star Stage also

created delay. the Transit 2-A is now scheduled for launch on 15 April 1960.

Transit 2-B is now implemented by choice of a second stage contractor and establish-
ment of a production schedule. .

-€€} Contract ar O4(647)-302 with STL - Able 3 and &
1. This project is designed to eccomplish a deep space probe by launching a

59-LB2ZS-4390


Amon LB2S/oT12 . 17 December 1959
omer. Weekly Diary - ii thru 17 December 1959

wo LEG

Satellite Systems ,

1. Space For 659kth Test Wing : (UNCL)

Locked Sone einti2S, sece for Atr Force personnel et or near the
Lockheed Sunnyvale. facility has been @ contiming one which does not
lend itself to ready solution. A short Trangé solution has been reached
which will permit the contractor to furnish Space and necessary support
to the Wing under the supplies contract, The long range aspect of this .
Problem is still under study by BMD.

expected that cost. discussions will commence for SAMOS epproximately
4 January. The objective of these @iscussions is to definitize all
Portions of Letter Contract AF O4(647)~347 except that relating to
the Commnication and Control System. A definitive cost Proposal.

for the Commnication and Control System is not expected from Lockheed
defore 1 February 1960.

3. Engineere Meee tics Static Inverter Fatlure on satellite Systems
Program: ( )



4. Loan of Weston Collant Guantity Indicators :and coe indicators
ry Corp.) St. Louis, sourt: (UNCL)

This office arranged ea loan of the above eouipment to LMBD on a 60 day
desis from the Mercury Program, being processed by McDonnel Aircraft.
The indicators are urgently required by LMSD in support of Satellite
Systems Testing. It is noted that the Mereury program is under the
auspices of the Bureau of Wespons and is also a DX rated program.

_ 9+ Spares Procurement: (uNcL)

The Satellite Systems Preliminary Spares list vas submitted by LMSD
on 14 Dec 59. This list contained spares for SAMOS, MIDAS and DIS-
Programs, with common Spares for all three segregeted by
costs and requirements. The list is in the Process of being reviewed
“in house and will be further reviewed with LMSD personnel. One of the
primary objectives of the review will be to effect @ possible reduction
in the quantitative requirements for Hi Vaeilue items. It is intendea

to negotiate spares separately at the completion of the basic program
negotiations. .

aff,

E. ELLE Copy: LBZ
Colonel, USAF LEP
Director, Space & Satellites LAL


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(0) Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc. DOWNGTATER aT 12 AHOALLY
1.” Contract Ho. AF 04(645)=65 INTE Near ian DUO OR 5200.10

8. Letter Contracts - Supplemental Agreement Wo. 52 (definitizea letter
Contract. Designated SA of #8 087 oe and services in support of the WB 117L
Program at an increase of wes muwally epproved at Hq AMC and was .
distributed, Supplenental Agreenent No. 58 (definitizes Amendment Ho. 3 to Letter
Contract No. 26) for THOR Booster Modifications has been initially approved and
will be forwarded to the Contractor for execution on 17 December 1959.

on 1k December 1959. When these documents are finally executed there will reneia .
(84's) under Contract AF O8(645)-65. Negotiations
are seheduled to begin on or about 22 Decenber 1959 on three af hoes,

be. Modification of Launch Stand 178 AFNIC. As a result of the AF-ARPA-NASA
neoting held in Washington on 9-11 Deceaber 1959 & CCN is being iseued against
Contract AF O4(645)-65 to expedite the stand modification.

(U) Specializea Training Course

A five-day Specialized Training Course on Duprovement Curve Avalysis Teckniques
is presently being conducted at AFEBMC by Harbridge House, Ine., Encino, California
under Coutract AF 0lK(647).525 negotiated by IBESP. Sixteen EMC Start menbers and
senior buyers are attending the course.

(U) Planning Research Corporation

The additional work required by BMD under Contract AF 04(647)-372 on the Btudy of
Missile Mobility has been negotiated for a fixed price of $4,300 and a Supplemental
it will be issued on or about 28 December 1959 reflecting this Sgreement. -