. B. LeBAILLY 

Major General, USAF 

Director of Information 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

REPLY TO 

ATTN OF: SAF-OIPO 10 January 1966 

SUBJECT: (U) Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Information Plan 

AFSC CONAC SAC ACIC 

ATC .HQCOND USAF TAC AFAFC 

AU MAC USAFE OAR 

USAFS0 CINCPACAF USAFSS USAFA 

I 

(Office of Information) 

1. -(76.. Forwarded for information and/or appropriate implementation 

is the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Information Plan. Strict 

adherence to the policies and procedures contained in this plan is 

vital to MOL program success. Any questions regarding interpretation 

of the direction in the plan should be referred to SAF-OIP. 

2. -eel- Request you insure that all personnel and organizations 

within your sphere of activity, that may in any way become 

involved in any type of information activity relating to MOL, are 

aware of this plan and understand the importance of following it 

closely. This includes contractors. 

3. (U) Local reproduction of the plan is authorized. 

FOR THE CHIEF OF S t 

TO: AAC 

ADC 

AFCS 

AFLC 

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MOL Information Plan 

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS; 

DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. 

DOD DIR. 5200.10 

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Department of the Air Force 

Washington, D. C. 

January 5, 1966 

INFORMATION PLAN 

CLASSIFICATION: 

TITLE: Information Responsibilities for Manned 

Orbiting Laboratory Program (MOL) 

REFERENCES: 1. Air Force Information Plan 63-6, TITAN III 

6 June 1963 

2. Department of the Air Force Letter: 

"Security Policy and Procedures, MOL 

Program," (Confidential), 25 February 

1965, to Hq AFSC (MSF) 

3. AFSDC-S message #89459 (Confidential), 

26 February 1965 

1. TASK ORGANIZATIONS: 

U. S. Air Force (SAF-OI) 

Air Force Systems Command 

U. S. Navy (CHINFO) 

Participating Contractors 

2. PURPOSE: 

To establish general information policies and responsibilities 

relative to the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program (MOL). 

3. OBJECTIVE: 

To provide for a carefully planned program of public information on 

the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program which can be released as 

required. 

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS; 

DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. 

DOD DIR. 5200.20 

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4. SITUATION: 

a. Background 

(1) Study of military manned space concepts by the Air Force 

goes back to about 1958. Since then, various concepts and design 

proposals were studied. These included the Military Test Space Station 

(MTSS); NASA's Manned Orbital Space Station (MOSS); the Military 

Orbital Development Systems (MODS) --- which provided specific hardware 

proposals and clearer concepts --- and a National Orbital Space Station 

(NOSS). 

(2) On 10 December 1963, the Secretary of Defense announced 

the assignment of a space program to the Air Force and identified it as a 

"near-earth Manned. Orbiting Laboratory." 

(3) On 23 January 1965, the Secretary of Defense announced 

the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP's) from industry for design 

studies to assist in developing cost and technical information required 

to proceed with full-scale development of the MOL. At that time, DOD 

outlined broadened guidance concerning the program. 

(4) On 1 MarCh 1965, the Department of Defense announced 

that the Air Force had selected four contractors to perform preliminary design studies for the MOL. The four were selected from seven 

contractors which responded to the RFP's. The four announced were: 

Boeing Company, General Electric Corporation, Douglas Aircraft Company, 

and Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. Each contractor was to perform 

60-day design studies at a cost of about $400,000 each. 

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(5) On On 25 August 1965, President Johnson announced that he 

was instructing the Department of Defense to proceed with MOL, and that 

Douglas and General Electric had been selected to carry out the 

developmental work required. The President indicated that initial 

unmanned and manned launches of a fully-equipped'laboratorY were 

expected to take place in 1968. 

b. Policy 

(1) The mission of MOL will be described solely as that of 

learning more about what man is able to do in space and how that 

ability can be used for defense purposes. The/research and experimental 

nature of MOL will be emphasized. Statements or connotations that MOL 

is to be an operational system or an intermediate step toward an 

operational system will be avoided. 

(2) No special effort will be made to justify the MOL program 

publicly. The objective is not to generate publicity, but rather to 

provide enough material to respond to legitimate public interest in the 

program and to cope with its international repercussions. 

(3) Public information on MDL will be carefully planned to 

avoid or minimize international controversy or apprehension. This will 

be especially important at the time permissible information on the 

operational phase will be released at or near launching times. All 

public information releases or statements on MOL made by representatives 

of any Executive Department or Agency will process for approval through 

a single DOD point of review --- the Office of the Assistant Secretary 

of Defense (Public Affairs), Directorate for Plans and Programs, which 

will be responsible for clearing before release, with the Bureau of 

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Public Affairs, Affairs, Department of State. Public releases will deal 

exclusively with nonsensitive technological or other aspects of the 

MOL program, such as the booster system, the life support system, 

engineering for long life in orbit, launching technology, 

communications plans, biomedical experiments, and the like. Military 

objectives, operational goals and capabilities will not be discussed 

in public information releases. 

(4) All MOL launchings will be included on the U.S. portion 

of the United Nations' registry of satellite launchings. 

(5) Public Affairs policy and guidance not otherwise included 

in this plan (or referenced) will emanate from OASD(PA) (or SAF-OI 

subject to the approval of OASD/PA). Such guidance will be coordinated 

in advance with State by OASD(PA). 

(6) Proposed public participation or appearance of designated 

MOL astronauts will be forwarded to SAF-OI for action. Participation 

of Navy astronauts will be coordinated with Navy Office of Information 

(CHINFO) by SAF-OI. SAF-OI will process these proposed appearances 

through OASD(PA), which will coordinate with State. 

5. RESPONSIBILITIES: 

a. Within the policies approved by the Assistant Secretary of 

Defense (Public Affairs), the Director of Information, Office Secretary 

of the Air Force (SAF-0I)„ is responsible for implementation of this 

plan and overall monitorship. 

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b. Air Air Force Systems Command will carry out Information actions 

for SAF-OI as outlined in this plan and future annexes and/or specific 

procedural plans to be developed. 

c. Agencies of the U.S. Navy, as well as the Air Force, participating in the MOL program will follow the policy and procedures in 

this plan. 

d. All Major Commands will follow closely the policies and 

procedures of the MOL Information Plan. 

6. INFORMATION ACTIONS: 

a. Tasks 

(1) SAF-OI will: 

(a) Assign a qualified Information Officer as a single 

point of contact to work in the Office of the Director, MOL. He will 

serve as a single point of contact for information activity and will 

prepare answers4o-queries to be used as required in the accomplishment 

of this very limited information program. All SAF-OI divisions will 

assist this offiper as required. 

(b) Monitor implementation of this Plan. 

(c) Prepare and/or recommend specific items of public 

interest pertaining to U. S. Navy MOL activities for submittal to 

GRIM for release through Navy information channels, and/or OASD(PA), 

(2) AFSC will: 

Coordinate the Information activities of all participating 

AFSC divisions and centers along with•thOse of the contractors and. 

insure their compliance with this plan. 

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(3) Major Air Commands will: 

Provide support to SAF-OI and AFSC as may be directed. 

(4) U.S. Navy will coordinate any proposed information 

activity relating to MOL with OASD(PA) and SAF-OI prior to execution. 

b. Procedures 

(1) News Releases: 

Proposed releases concerning the MOL program will be 

submitted through channels to the OASD(PA) for approval. Information 

will be submitted for clearance as early as practicable in order that 

sufficient time can be allotted to the extensive inter-agency coordination required prior to approval. 

(2) Speeches: 

Speeches concerning the MOL program will be discouraged, 

and must not be made without specific authorization by the OASD(PA). 

References to the MOL program in public addresses on related or other 

topics will be held to an absolute minimum and will also be subject 

to review and approval by the OASD(PA). 

(3) Answers to Queries: 

Answers to queries may be provided only within the context 

of the aggregate of material that has been released officially since 

the Presidential announcement of August 25, 1965. A resume of this 

material is attached. Queries which do not fall within the aggregate 

will be submitted through channels to OASD(PA) for review and guidance, 

as appropriate. 

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(4) Proposed Proposed changes to this plan: 

Proposed changes to this plan will be submitted to 

SAF-OI for approval subject to policy decisions of OASD(PA). 

(5) Information annexes: 

The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary 

of the Air Force (SAF-OI), is assigned the responsibility for the 

preparation of an annex to this plan which treats in detail the 

planned actions for each significant scheduled event in the MOL 

program including the following: 

Selection of astronauts 

Contract awards 

TITAN IIIC test launchings 

First "all up" launching 

First unmanned launch 

Selection of crew and backup crew for first manned 

launching 

First manned launch 

(6) Coordination: 

The Directorate for Plans and Programs will be the focal 

point within OASD(PA) to assure necessary coordination is accomplished; 

within DOD coordination will include as a minimum OASD(ISA), ODDR&E, 

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1 T r _OA111 T I, 11 
E. B. LeBAILLY 

Major General, USAF 

Director of Information 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

'-.RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 -CONFIDENT& 

SAF-SS, and SAF-OI. In addition, coordination will be accomplished 

with State, USIA, and NASA. 

FOR THE CHIEF OFF STAFF 

Attachments 

1. Presidential state, 25 August 1965 

2. Department of Defense release, 25 AUgust.1965 

3. Fact Sheet 

4. Approved Questions and Answers 

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Extract From 

THE PRESIDENT'S NEWS CONFERENCE OF AUGUST 25, 1965 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY 

After discussion with Vice President Humphrey and members of 

the Space Council, as well as Defense Secretary McNamara, I am 

today instructing the Department of Defense to immediately proceed 

with the development of a manned orbiting laboratory. 

This program will bring us new knowledge about what man is 

able to do in space. 

It will enable us to relate that ability to the defense of 

America. 

It will develop technology and equipment which will help 

advance manned and unmanned space flight. 

It will make it possible to perform very new and rewarding 

experiments with that technology and equipment. 

The cost of developing the manned orbiting laboratory will 

be $1.5 billion. 

Unmanned flights to test launchings, recovery, and other 

basic parts of the system, will begin late next year or early 

1967. Th.e initial unmanned launch of a fully equipped laboratory 

is scheduled for 1968. This will be followed later that year by 

the first of five flights with two-man crews. 

The Air Force has selected the Douglas Aircraft Co. to design 

and to build the spacecraft in which the crew of the laboratory 

will live and operate. The General Electric Co. will plan and 

develop the space experiments. The Titan IIIC booster will 

launch the laboratory into space and a modified version of the 

NASA Gemini capsule will be the vehicle in which the astronauts 

return to earth. 

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NEWS RELEASE 

OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) 

August 25, 1965 

PRESIDENT APPROVES DOD DEVELOPMENT- OF MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY 

The President announced today at the White House that he has 

approved the Department of Defense proceeding with the development 

of a Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) at a cost of $1.5 billion. 

Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara recommended the action 

to the President after discussions with the Vice President and 

members of the Space Council. 

The Air Force has selected the Douglas' Aircraft Company to 

design and build the spacecraft in which the men will live and 

operate. It has chosen General Electric Company to plan and 

develop the space experiments. 

The TITAN IIIC booster will launch the laboratory into space 

and a modified version of the NASA GEMINI capsule will be the 

vehicle in which the astronauts return to earth. 

The primary objectives of the MOL program are to: 

(a) learn more about what man is able to do in space and how 

that ability can be used for military purposes. 

(b) develop technology and equipment which will help advance 

manned and unmanned space flight. 

(c) experiment with this technology and equipment. 

Unmanned flights to test launching, recovery and other basic 

parts of the system are due to begin late next year or early 1967. 

The initial unmanned launch of a fully-equipped MOL is scheduled 

for 1968. This will be followed later that year by the first of 

5 flights with two-man crews. 

Astronaut candidates will be military test pilots and graduates 

of the Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, 

California. 

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On the basis of Department of Defense-NASA studies, the National 

Aeronautics and Space Administration will decide which of its 

scientific or technological experiments are carried out in the MOL. 

These will not interfere with DOD experiments. 

The MOL project was begun in December 1963 when the DYNASOAR, a 

project dating from the 1950's, was cancelled. At that time it was 

decided that DOD's manned space efforts should be concentrated on 

finding what man can do in space and getting the equipment to help 

him do it. 

The MOL program to date has cost $30 million. Another $150 

million is in the FY 1966 budget.. 

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FACT SHEET 

MANNED ORBITING. LABORATORY (MOL) PROGRAM 

Chronology 

On December 10, 1963, the Secretary of Defense announced the 

assignment of a space station development program to the Air 

Force to determine the usefulness of man in space for defense 

purposes. He identified it as a "manned orbiting laboratory." 

Both in-house and industry Studies were undertaken on various 

concepts and design proposals for the MOL. 

The program was broadened in January, 1965, to include development 

of technology to improve the capabilities for manned and unmanned 

experimentation. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were issued for 

design studies to assist in developing cost /and technical information 

required to proceed with full scale development of the MOL. 

Four contractors were selected in March, 1965, to perform 

preliminary design studies for the MOL vehicle. 

The Air Force presented a program proposal to the Secretary 

of Defense who later recommended approval to the President, after 

discussions with the Vice President and members of the Space . 

Council. The President instructed DOD to proceed with the program 

on August 25. 

The. Air Force selected Douglas Aircraft Company to design 

and build the laboratory in which the men will live and work. 

General)Electric Company was selected to work on the task of 

experiment integration. 

On August 31, the Secretary of the Air Force designated General 

Bernard A. Schriever as Director of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

Program--in addition to his duties as Commander, Air Force Systems 

Command. Brigadier General Harry L. Evans was named Vice Director 

of the program, and Brigadier General Russell A. Berg was assigned 

as Deputy Program Director in charge of the MOL Systems Office 

located in Los Angeles, Calif. 

The first eight out-of a planned total of 20 aerospace 

research pilots were assigned to the program on November 12, 1965. 

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Program Plan 

The primary objectives of the MOL program are to: 

- Learn more about what man is able to do in space and 

how that ability relates to the defense of the nation. 

- Develop technology and equipment which will help 

manned and unmanned space flight, and to experiment with this 

technology and equipment. 

The MOL aerospace research pilots will be launched into space 

inside a modified Gemini spacecraft by a Titan III booster. Once 

in orbit, they will enter the laboratory attached to the spacecraft 

through a hatch in the heat shield. 

The laboratory will be designed to allow them to work in a 

"shirt-sleeve" environment--that is, without space suits--for up 

to 30 days. For return to earth they will go back into the Gemini 

spacecraft, detach the laboratory and re-enter the atmosphere for 

an ocean landing and pickup. 

The initial unmanned launch of a fully-equipped MOL is ' 

scheduled for 1968. This will be followed later that year by 

the first of five flights with two-man crews. 

NOVEMBER 1965 
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ANSWER TO QUERIES MAY BE GIVEN WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE 

ATTACHED MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN RELEASED OFFICIALLY 

1. Q. What is the MOD project? 

A. A manned space flight project, of a research and experimental 

nature, which will put two men into space for periods of up to 30 

days, in a "shirt-sleeves" environment, with the object of finding 

out more about what man is able to do in space and how that ability 

might be related to defense purposes. Five such manned launches are 

presently planned, starting in 1968. MOL experimentation will run 

into the 1970's. 

2. Q. Who will carry out the project? 

A. The U.S. Air Force, under the directiqn of the Department of. 

Defense. The Douglas Aircraft Company and the General Electric. Company 

will build the spacecraft and plan and develop the experiments respectively. 

MOL flights will be directed by the Air Force Satellite Control Facility, 

Sunnyvale, California. We anticipate that MOL launches will be carried 

out from both the East and West Coast. 

3. Q. What kind of experiments will be conducted? 

A. The project directors will be considering for some time yet what 

defense-related experiments would seem to offer the most promise, but 

there is interest by the Air Force in building and assembling large 

antennae for communications purposes, and by the Navy in experiments 

of potential usefulness in antisubmarine warfare. The Army has not as 

yet recommended any experiments. Other representative examples of 

defense research that might be carried out would be experiments dealing 

with space structures technology, guidance and navigation, and extravehicular activity and equipment. In addition to defense related 

experiments, scientific experiments devised by NASA may be included. 

4. Q. What is the relationship between MOL and nuclear weapons in space? 

A. There is no relationship whatever. The MOL is a military 

program which is peaceful --- i.e. non-aggressive --- in character. 

MOL will not be a bomb carrier. 

At the same time that he announced the decision to proceed with 

MOL, President Johnson reaffirmed the U.S. intention not to place 

weapons of mass destruction in orbit. The President said "We continue to 

live up to our agreement not to orbit weapons of mass destruction and we 

will continue to hold out to all nations, including the Soviet Union, the 

hand of cooperation in the exciting years of exploration which lie ahead 

for all of us." 

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,RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 -CONFIRENTALBy way of background, two years ago the U.S. and USSR each stated 

it would refrain from orbiting weapons of mass destruction in outer 

space or stationing such weapons on celestial bodies. The U.S. and 

Soviet statements were expressly welcomed by the UNGA in resolution 

1884 (XVIII) adopted unanimously October 17, 1963, as an important 

step in preventing the spread of an arms race to outer space. The 

resolution calls on all states to refrain from conducting or encouraging such activities. 

5. Q. Doesn't the MOL approval nevertheless mean that the U.S. has 

embarked on a new policy with respect to military activity in space? 

A. No, it does not. The MOL fits into and is a logical next step 

in a continuing U.S. military program in space which; derives from 

our Space Act. The Act itself makes clear that the U.S., while' 

seeking to help develop space for peaceful purposes for the benefit 

of all mankind, intends to utilize its space activities in maximizing 

its defensive capability. 

The MOL was first announced in December, 1963, at the time when 

DYNASOAR, a military manned spaceflight project dating from the 

1950's, was cancelled. DYNASOAR was cancelled because it was aimed solely 

toward the development of advanced reentry techniques. MOL began to 

be studied at that time because it seemed to give promise of being'a 

broader and more useful research and experimental program, focussing on 

man himself in space rather than machinery, equipment, and techniques 

as such. 

6. Q. Won't the MOL approval touch off a military space race with the 

Soviets? 

A. We see no reason to think this. The Soviet Union has for some 

time been carrying out a comprehensive space program involving manned 

and unmanned flights of various kinds, and doubtless will continue to do 

so. The U.S. has no desire or intention to engage in a military space 

race with the USSR. Our only intention is to take those measures in 

space as elsewhere that responsibility and prudence dictate in terms 

of our national security. The decision to proceed with the MOL is 

motivated by the need to do more research; it is not a reaction to any 

Soviet space project, program, or statements. 

7. Q. Why does this have to be a manned operation; couldn't unmanned 

satellites do the job? 

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A. If there were a computer which did not have to be programmed and 

could therefore think independently, and had eyes and hands to be put 

at the service of that thinking ability, the human element might well 

be taken out of the manned orbiting laboratory project. Despite the 

onrush of automation, this is not the case now or in the foreseeable 

futire. Man still has a unique role to play on the land, sea and in 

the air for many defense and other purposes. The MOL project is a 

research effort to see whether this is true in the new environment 

of space as well. 

8. Q. Will the TITAN IIIC as it is now configured be used to launch 

the Manned Orbiting Laboratory? 

A. As previously stated, TITAN III consists of a family of vehicles 

in our building block concept. This family may run from the use of the 

TITAN III core alone to the use of the TITAN III with 7 segment 120 inch 

solid motors, or 2 or 3 segment, 156 inch solid motors. For MOL we 

anticipate TITAN III with the 7 segment 120 inch motor. 

9. Q. Why do you need a 7 segment 120 inch rather than 5 segment? 

A. We must be prepared to launch the MOL from the Western Test 

Range and to do this requires more thrust than that necessary from 

the Eastern Test Range. 

10.i Q. Are you planning to launch the MOL from the Cape and from 

Vandenberg AFB? 

A. Yes we are. 

11.A. What'launch will take place out of the Cape and what will take 

place out at Vandenberg AFB? 

A. This will be determined later on basis of experiment schedule 

and orbits desired for each flight. 

12.1 Q. Where will the MOL mission control be located? 

A. From Eastern Test Range on the East Coast and the Air Force Satellite 

Test Center, Sunnyvale, California. 

13.IQ. Will TITAN III still continue to be launched from Gape Kennedy 

following the research and development program? 

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A. Yes TITAN III will be used for the Initial Defense Communication 

Satellite Program plus any other payloads assigned to us. 

14. Q. Will you build a fully equipped Integrate Transfer Launch (ITL) 

facility at Vandenberg AFB; and when will.tbis be available? 

A. We are planning to build an initial launch capability at 

Vandenberg AFB. This consists of one pad where the vehicle will be 

built up on the pad and we anticipate having a launching capability • 

in mid-1968. 

1 5.,Q. Have you acquired the land for your launching facility at 

Vandenberg AFB. 

A. No. 

16.Q. What is meant by a "shirt-sleeves" environment? 

A. An environment spacious enough and safe enough to enable men 

to live, move, and work in it without having to use space suits. The 

MOL was once described by Secretary McNamara as intended to be about 

the size of a small house trailer; what is now envisaged is a 

laboratory "canister" about 40 feet long and 10 feet in diameter, 

joined to a GEMINI capsule, the whole thing to be launched by a • 

TITAN IIIC booster. Each man will have about 400 cubic feet of 

space in which to live and work. 

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