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WhorERN"DEVILOPMENT

HEADQUARTERS AIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMAND

Paw °► ai 505 MI

INTEROFFICE CORMPONDENCIE

To: Colonel Urbane, WC CC: Colonel Leonhard, 1113I DATE:

summon RADC Sled Track Requirements and Related

Requirement for BeloodingRasting Launch

Stands

FROM: LtCo3. Jacobson, WDTT

1. On 1? January 1956 WDD stated tff NI to Readqparters USAF the projected W

requirements for track testing (see Incl 1 to this memo). These requirements called

for:

150 runs for inertial guidance campOnent testing (tests are already

scheduled for the SNORT track at ROTS.

150 runs for IOW guidance and nose cons component testing at velocities

of 2,500 ft/second for one to tin seconds, accelerations of 5-350 and decelerations

from 10-16G.

100-150 runs fOr IREN development.

Unspecified umber of test runs for the VS-LITL Program.

2. To date the following tests have been identified, planned and/or conducted

support of IMEIvenjects:

150 run for inertial guidance component testing (to date, 12 runs of this

series have been made at NOTS).

1540 test runs for impact fuse testing on GS nose cone on Sandia track.

Testing is to take place during the period February to December 1957.

15-20 test runs for impact fuse testing on MO nose cone on Sandia track;

teats to be conducted in 1957.

10-20 test runs tor Bell Telephone Lab guidance components eaviroseental •

testing; to be complete by April 1957. Track to be used is linkman at this thee.

e. 10-20 test runs for ARCO stable platform (nose cone) testing; to be

completed during the period April to July 1957. Track to browsed is unknown at this

time.

t. Testing of 1IS-317L components. At present, wprodsmtelygltest runs

have been identified. Testing is to start in November 1957. Track to tWused

unknown at this time but due to the expected requirement of high velocities for several

seconds, the RADC track is indicated.

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS

DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS,

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g. 10 test runs for the North Mexican Aviation engine structural integrity

tests at 10-15 G acceleration are proposed. Tests to be run in late 1956 and early

195?. AFFTC track would be used. Requirements for this series of tests are now being

reviewed.

3. The originally stated requirements for sled testing made in Jannari 1956 are

proving firm in that of the original estimate of 1150 sled test runs, 280 rons.alreadi

have been identified. Additional runs are expected to be identified as the program

progresses. Among these already being considered are:

A second series of tests for GE, ATCO and Sandia. These tests will total

approximately 30 runs.

Advanced systems test for inertial guidance sub-systems. These tests

would total at least 50 runs.

4. The recent progress of the ROTS test runs indicates that sled testing min

prove satisfactory, for inertial guidance components. There la an indication that

drift measurements villbe available at Accuracies commensurate with velocity measuremanta. If such proves to the case, additional inertial component test runs will

be programmed.

The extension of the EADC track has cut across the missile test range in such

a fashion as to divide the launch complexes from the impact areas. Missiles therefore

must overfly the track. Considering ail types of missiles, the average number of

launchings per month is approximately 21. This indludes MITADOR, X-7E's

ETV's and the air-to-air rockets. 'Inclosure 2 summarises the EADC position on relocation of these facilities. The cost involved is that required for relocation of

the instrumentation facilities. This is, in essence, the complete Ibllaman test range.

(Colonel Leonhard, WMT, is preparing a memo this da;e for General Schriever summarising

the background on the planning for relocation for this area).

.Simetaneons operation of the sled track and the lam& complex is not considered practical for several reasons. Among these are:

The entire sled track area must be evacuated drain's:is:Bile launchings

as missiles overflying the trick would endanger personnel working on the track. Proper

ached"(' g could eliminate this danger to personnel but would result in greaCky increased costs of operation for both the missile lanndh range and the track.

Missiles eiehednIed to avrelythe track present definite hazards to the

track and the related facilities. On 26 July 1956, ETV Launching Flight V .2 terminated &pm:CI:mealy 150 yards from the new trade. Vnen the track is completed, each

rail will be a prewetressed continuous been of 35,000 feet, stretched 12 feet longer

than normal in order to keep it under continuous tension. Hits on or near the track

would rewire repair and the *attested cost of re-stressing the track is $900,000.

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Lt Colonel, use

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Chief, Test hoop

CONFIDENTIAL •

. T. From the above, it appears that relocation of the acistiog HIDC

nentation for ground and air launch missiles is necessary in order to insure uninterrupted operations of both the track and test facility. This relocation

result in sayings of funds to the Air Force.

2 Incl

Cy TI WMT-1-8-C-E,

17 Jan 56

Cy ARDC ltrailst

26 Apr 56, sap Re- - Area

siting of Missile Launch ii.a.cosig •