'NFtf) APPROVED FOR . 

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DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING 

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MAR 10 1969 

ftEtrci Systom 

WASHINGTON. D. C. 20301 

MEMORANDUM FOR DDR&E 

SUBJECT: MOL Program Alternative Decision 

It is understood that on March 6, 1969 you received a 

decision from DepSecDef Packard to proceed with a four manned 

mission MOL Program. The purpose of this memo is to confirm 

this fact and advise the Air Force and other involved 

organizations of Mr. Packard's decision. 

The four manned mission alternate is one of four MOL 

Program Alternatives submitted to Mr.. Packard on February 26, 

1969 by Dr..Seamans with your concurrence. It protects with 

minimum commitment, until December 1970, a continuing very 

high resolution operational reconnaissance capability in the 

1970's, provides time in which to carefully assess other 

options, and sustains a minimum cost development program leading 

to manned or unmanned operational systems. The funding 

requirements and schedule for,this option are summarized below: 

FY69 End Prgm lst Manned 4th Manned 

& Prior FY70 FY71 Total Launch LaunCh 

$1,237M $556M $545M $2,835M Feb 72 Sept 73 

The four flight program will reduce the total MOL develop 

ment costs approximately $200 million over the present baseline 

program. The program will continue to be directed towards the 

program objectives approved by*the President in 1965, namely: 

semi-operational use to achieve resolution photography 

of significant targets; development of the necessary high 

resolution optical technology and a camera system for manned 

and unmanned use; the provision of a space facility for the 

possible development, test, and use of other military applications; and information on the extent of man's military utility 

in space. 

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This "manned only" option does not eliminate the unmanned 

capability but would delay its availability about lk years 

assuming no follow-on decision is made until December 1970. 

The interval between now and December 1970 will be devoted 

to systematic and comprehensive analyses of a variety of 

options: optimized unmanned systems using the MOL camera 

system; more efficient and effective MOL systems; other possible 

MOL applications and configurations; etc. To assure that the 

necessary deliberate evaluations of manned and unmanned operational considerations and analyses of lower cost unmanned 

systems are made in a timely fashion the AF will submit by 

it 15, 1969 their detailed study outline for DDR&E review. 

Approximately $5 million is included in the FY 1970 budget for 

such studies. 

By indicating your approval below you will confirm that 

Mr. Packard has selected the four mannedmission alternate, 

and provide the Air Force authority to proceed with this 

alternative. Testimony and Congressional back-up material will 

be changed accordingly. A revision to the DCP will follow. 

. 

I. NEVIN PALL

Assistant Director 

(Space Technology) 

Approved trtuu- r\ 

Jo S. Foster, Jr. - 

Date y/1/4, 

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• 10 March 1969 

Dr. Tucker: 

The attached memorandum confirms 

my understanding of the decision on 

NM, made by Mr. Packard. If you 

agree, would you please forward for 

Dr. Foster's approval. 

I. NEVIN PALLEY 

Assistant Director 

(Space Technology) 

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