a o 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

HEADQUARTER:: UNITED STATES AIR FORCE 

WASAINGTON 25 D.C. 

1 • • 

NRO-APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

REPLY TO 

ATTNOFI AFRDC 

SLIOJECT: MOL Experiments on Electromagnetic Signal Detection 

TO. AFSC (MSF-l) 

Reference is made to the telephone conversation on 6 July 1964 between 

Colonel R. K. Jacobson, AFSC, and Colonel K. W. Schultz of this Headquarters. The attached SAF-US memorandum Subject: MOL Experiments on 

Electromagnetic Signal Detection, is forwarded for your compliance. 

Request you notify the Assistant for Manned Orbiting Laboratory (AFRMO) 

as to the date you anticipate the revised work statement will be forwarded 

to this Headquarters. 

1 Atch 

SAF-US Memorandum, 

JAMES FERGUSON 

Lieutenant General, USAF 

DCS/Research & Developmea 

UPON REMOVAL OF ATTACHICENT(s), THIS DOCUMENT 

or; RIMMED AS: uNciAssiDlk 

rFYT?.r''T' 

:JO L 

/17 SF 6 '71-9S-5- 

i CIA 
• 

NRO APPFOVeD F,OR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

DEPARTMENTO;fl—riE AIR FORCE • 

ishr TON 

Ds 42's f 471- 9s-s—. 64/21$ (.0) 

AT 12 MR IZT:JIWALS; 

DnnASSIVIED '; 

"1 '• TA01.10 ! 

OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY 

'July 2,.1964 

ACTION 

SUSIWSZ 

DA= 

ME4ORANDUM FOR COLONEL SCHULTZ, ASSISTANT FOR MANNED 

• ORBITING LABOVATORY, AFRMO 

SUBJECT: MOL Experiments on Electromagnetic Signal 

Detection 

UFO: 

1 am returning the attached statement of work for 

revisiz,n in accordance with the following comments. 

One objective of the MOL is to provide for tests of 

man's contribution to military missions in space. It is 

a stated MOL policy that orbital tests will be conducted 

only when it is determined, from all necessary studies and 

0 `tests short of orbital, that it is both desirable and 

necessary to perform tests 'in space. These rules apply 

to the detectioil, identification, recording, etc. of 

electromagnetic signals, and this policy provides an 

objective framework within which a pre-Phase I must be 

defined and accomplished. 

The Study tasks should include the following steps: 

1. A preliminary estimate made of man's potential 

contribution to the mission of signal detection, based on 

the best current data as to signal environment, man's 

capabilities, etc., and using such simulations as can be 

accomplished within the time and funds available. 

2. A preliminary determination made that man's potential 

contribution warrants pursuit of the necessary experiments. 

Since this determination will be made by the Secretary of 

Defense prior to the approval of the initiation of Phase 1, 

the determination must be supported by results of a substantive comparison of man's capabilities helped by. automatic 

• ; • 
o #41 d APJDR.OVED FOR 

' REL SE 1 JULY 2015 

• 

equipment against purely aut:rutic equipment. Such a 

comparison should make use of (!xisting tests and 

simulations, existing hardvarc, and suitable extrapolations 

to denser signal environment. 

3. A preliminary identification of the questions which 

must be settled by further experiment. 

4. A preliminary identification of those experiments, 

short of orbital ones, which appear to be required. 

5. Preliminary designs and statements of objectives 

for the necessary non-orbital experiments, and an evaluation 

of their feasibility. 

6. A preliminary identification of the orbital experiments 

that are thought to be necessary, with a statement of the 

. criteria to be applied in determining whether these are to 

be performed. 

ti 7. Preliminary designs, and statements of objectives, 

for the proposed orbital experiments, and evaluations of 

their feasibility, 

8. Development of a plan for Phase I. .This plan will 

provide for detailed planning during Phase I of experiments 

as identified above, and for conduct of such non-orbital 

experiments as are determined to be necessary and to be 

-le within the period of Phase I. Criteria and data 

are to be developed in Phase I which will apply to decisions, 

at the close of Phase I, about the further experiments, 

including orbital ones, that will or may be conducted during 

Phase II. 

The proposed RFP addresses only the question of 

feasibility, not the desirability of orbital tests. It 

raises the issue of non-orbital experiments only incidentally. 

It does not directly face the problem of defining the necessary experiments, orbital or otherwise, or of establishing 

criteria or data upon which to base the decision to conduct 

-4EGREE.- 
BROCKWAY cMILLAN 

Under Secre y of the Air Force • 

• .• 

• NRO APPROVED FOR 

RE E 1 JULY 2015 

orbital experiments. In pal:ticular, the matter of signal 

environment is crucial to such decisions; the RFP does 

not provide for a realistic es.:imate of this environment, -

or for giving the contractor f 'formation necessary to make 

such an estimate. 

One promising area for ,ontribution by man has been 

completely overlooked. It riot be practical to explore 

this area with the same con=ators that are involved with 

the issues discussed above, but the matter must be considered: 

One advantage of the benign space environment is that a very 

large antenna could be supported by a light structure, 

provided it could be erected and adjusted. Man's best 

contribution might be in erecting and adjusting such an 

antenna outside a vehicle in orbit. Both the value of 

such an antenna to the electromagnetic mission, and the 

feasibility of managing its construction, must be considered 

as the MOL program takes shape. 

It is implicit within this guidance that a clear analysis 

and summary of "man's contribution' in this area must be 

defined, taking into account the relative performance of 

man versus unmanned systems, the worth of "man's contribution," 

relative costs, confidence of success; comparative risks, and 

the probability that most of the penalties of the life support 

system are borne by other experiments. 

Pre-phase I studies must conform to the criteria set 

forth above. A new RFP, or new RFP's as necessary, should 

be prepared accordingly for my approval. Every effort will 

be made to expedite approval upon their submission. 

Attachment 

Statement of Work for 

1401, Experiments • 

3 

/'2s P. 6 -474- ? 

T