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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE (OSAF) 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

0111111111111._ 

SAFSL-4 2 1 MAR 1988 

NOIDRANDUM FOR GENERAL STEWART 

SUBJECT: MDL Monthly Management Report, 25 Jan-25 Feb 1968 

Attached is the monthly report of significant events, 

25 Jan-25 Feb 1968. 

1 Atch 

Report 

Gen, USAF 

BYE-89612/68 

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OF SIGNIFICAIIT MINIS 

25 JANUAR! - 25 FEBRUARC 1968 

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1. Major effort has continued throughout this reporting period to 

fulfill the objectives of Project Upgrade. As an intimate part of 

these activities, the preparation of the MDL System Package Program (SPl a 

is progressing toward a finalized document. It is anticipated the [ vo 

document will be submitted to the Director, MDT, for approval in April. ir 

2. A detailed analysis of the MIL System Integrated Schedules has been Ire 

completed. All contractor inputs are compatible with the current baseline. 

3. Members of the Advanced Planning Division met with representatives 

of North American Rockwell to discuss their interest in studying a 

rendezvous-resupply vehicle. Their interest is predicated on an advanced 

Apollo-CSM vehicle to mate with the MK, tong Duration Operations (LDO) 

Vehicle. 

4. As a result of the guidance received from General Stewart after a 

briefing on Advanced Planning activities, plans have been made to 

present a similar briefing at the next meeting of the Program Review 

Council. 

5. The Berthiez grinder was accepted at EKC and trftining of 

personnel in the use of the grinder began on 10 Feb 1968. 

6. The fused silica Tracking Mirror blank for flight model 4 (FV-6) 

was received on 2 Feb 1968. All Primary Mirror blanks have been 

received. 

7. The weight and center of gravity test on the Structural Development 

Model (SDM 4(1) was conducted 16 Feb 1968. Results were satisfactory. 

8. Unpriced Supplemental Agreement No. 27 was sent to EKC. This 

supplemental agreement included all additional work in the 8 Dec 1967 

baseline which could be defined, but had not been negotiated. 

9. The current approach on low coefficient materials as briefed on 

20 Feb 1968 has been accepted by the Program Review Council. The EKC 

contract is being modified by supplemental agreement to incorporate 

the following approach for Primary, Tracking, and Folding Mirrors. 

a. Primary Mirrors: The program requirement calls for ULE on 

Flights 5, 6 and 7. A program objective is to use ULE on Flights 3 

and 4. EKC has been authorized to begin procurement of UI8 Primary 

Mirror blanks, but will use the present fused silica if ULE proves 

unacceptable. 

b. Tracking Mirror: The program requirement is to use a low 

coefficient material on all flights. The decision between Cer-Vit 

and ULE is to be made no later than Aug 1968. 

c. Folding Mirror: U1E is to be used on all flights. 

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10. Systems Office representatives attended a progress review meeting 

on the DOR/AN Target Model at ITD, Wright-Patterson AFB on 1-2 /eh 1968. 

FID has analyzed and assigned technical intelligence collection 

requirements to approximately 359 of 1771 aiming points in the "608 

Yodel." FTD personnel expect completion of this work by approximately 

15 Mir 1968. SAC is currently reworking the procedure for expansion 

of the Yodel into the analysis deck, with completion scheduled prior 

to delivery of the aiming point data by FTD. The expanded analysis 

deck should be available for Systems Office use by 15 Apr 1968. 

11. The abort simulation program at LTV was completed on 13 Feb 1968. 

Preliminary results indicate a highly successful program, in terms of 

both engineering data and flight crew training. Further data evaluation 

is in process. She contractors will submit reports to the Systems 

Office on 21 Mar 1968. 

12. Flight Vehicle Timeline (FVTL) meetings were held with DAC, GE 

and EKC durpg the month to answer questions on a recent target study 

with the 90 orbit. The associates were directed to use the reference 

orbit ephemeris prepared by DAC. lb support in-house contractor 

studies relating to mission operations, the Systems Office agreed to 

provide sun angle data, target locations to the nearest degree, target 

altitude, and other target summary data. 

13. Mission Correlation Data (MCD) meetings were held during the 

month to review and validate current design requirements for the 

photographic frame correlation data to be placed on the film and on 

the PCK recorder. Presentations covered current film data block 

design by EKC, on-board data computation by GE, and MCD ground 

software functions by TRW. The collection, calculation and use of 

the data for mission payload system segment, crew performance 

evaluation, and exploitation of the photographic payload was discussed. 

Review of MCD requirements is underway with each of the contractors 

involved. Definition of the exact reporting requirements will be 

sought from the intelligence community. 

14. On 26 Jan 1968 the AFSCF announced the opening of bids for 

construction of the Advanced Satellite Test Center building at 

Sunnyvale, Calif. The Systems Office provided the AFSCF with a 

letter summarizing the MOL MCC availability dates which must be met 

to satisfy integration, simulation, and readiness activities befbre 

MDL operations. A request was made for immediate flagging of 

potential inability to meet any of the key dates. 

15. At a recent Systems Office/GE "Drive A" working group meeting, 

information on the Angular Accelerometer was exchanged and GE 

presented analytical test results indicating some improvement in 

the "Drive A" loop when the Angular Accelerometer mirror loop is 

used. The Systems Office presented arguments to question the 

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validity of the GE data and identified this area as a topic of 

discussion at the Interface Signoff meetings scheduled fOr 26 through 

29 Feb. GE will continue with a parallel design approach pending 

further investigation by their organization and the Systems Office. 

16. During this reporting period, discussions were conducted with 

EKC, GE and Aerospace on the Image Velocity Sensor (IVS). EEC was 

briefed by Aerospace on the general approaches of the three IVS 

subcontractors. In addition,GE and 1= discussed (1) the possibility 

of obtaining more light for le IVS, (2) the Flight Alignment 

Monitoring System, and (3) the IVS tester program. EEC estimates 

that the amount of light which will be delivered to the IVS will be 

less than previous estimates. However, EEC stated the possibility 

of taking off the anti-reflectance coating on the pellicle, which 

would increase the light level. On Flight Alignment, it was 

determined the best approach would be to place the source in the 

Ross Barrel and place the sensor on the tripod. Discussions on the 

IVS tester were included to update all attendees on the general test 

program. 

17. A meeting was held at GE, Radnor, on 28 Feb to determine whether 

a firm requirement exists for GE to have an airconditioned AGE room 

on level 12 of the Mobile Service Tower. Br the conclusion of the 

meeting, Systems Office representatives were reasonably convinced 

that a valid requirement does exist. This conclusion was reached 

after a thorough investigation of signal levels which would cause 

interference in the ground AGE room. The Systems Office is 

evaluating the impact of this requirement. 

18. Systems Office simulation personnel met at GE during the month 

to review the quantitative requirements matrix, all GE and Air /Norco 

action items, and the engineering design trade studies and costs. 

The outcome of these meetings resulted in a determination of the 

simulation program content. 

19. Technical agreement was reached with GE on the Unpriced 

Supplemental Agreements No. 20 (Contract C-0018) and No. 8 (Contract 

AF-2955), implementing the 8 Dec schedule changes. Technical 

negotiations with GE took place on 14-15 Feb with Aerospace 

participation. 

20. The Systems Office, supported by the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing, 

Aerospace Corporation, Douglas Missile Division, and NAHTTANTREPO 

conducted a PDR for the Gemini B to Laboratory Vehicle Electrical 

Interface Substitute at McDonnell, St Louis, Missouri on 13 Feb 1968. 

The meeting was completed successfully with McDonnell accepting 

action items in three minor areas. 

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21. A follow-up review of the blastshield was conducted at McDonnell, 

St Lauis, Missouri on 7 Feb 1968 to establish that McDonnell had 

completed the open items to the previously held PDR and could proceed 

with the blastshield design. The open items have been satisfied and 

the PDR is DOW considered complete. 

22. Joint T-III/T-IIIM Program Reviews were held with all booster 

contractors (Martin Co, United Technology Corp, Aerojet General, 

AC Electronics, and Spacecraft Incorporated) during the week ending 

16 Feb 1968. No major problems were identified during the reviews. 

21. Modification F111 (Unpriced Supplemental Agreement) to Contract 

with Douglas, was distributed on 20 Feb 1968. This 

bilateral agreement places on contract the baseline program described 

in summary terms to Dr. Flax on 8 Dec 1967. Work is proceeding, in 

coordination with Project Upgrade, in defining this baseline program 

to the degree essential to pricing the required effort. Milestones 

are contained in the supplemental agreement which provide for 

positive and visible tracking of progress toward this goal. The 

first three, (1) provision to the contractor of program and flight 

objectives, (2) provision to the contractor of program test flow, 

and (3) provision by the contractor of recommendations for reductions 

in contract data submittals, were met and reported to the Assistant 

Director, ))L (Procurement). 

24. A Program Management Review with Douglas was conducted by the 

Systems Office on 6 Feb 1968. A. detailed analysis of actual 

expenditures to date and expected expenditures was conducted, with 

particular attention paid to predicted situations at end yr 68 and 

IT 69. To support this analysis, the financial status and 

projected status of major subcontractors and critical major component 

suppliers were also reviewed. 

25. A major Laboratory Vehicle Technical Review was conducted by a 

Systems Office team at Douglas on 7 and 8 Feb 1968. Considerable 

technical progress has been made since the last review. The 

majority of the technical problems which were isolated at the review 

could be, and were, resolved during the course of the meeting. 

Specific action items and completion dates were assigned fOr the 

following problem areas of particular interest which could not be 

resolved in the meeting. 

a. T-IIIur Separation: If Stage II of the Titan III( does 

not occur d nominal limits, another means other than Stage II 

SECO must be provided for triggering Laboratory Vehicle Ascent 

events. Action to be completed 4 March 1968. 

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b. Lab Vehicle Bey 1 Cooling: Detailed thermal characteristics 

of EEC equipment have not yet been defined. Douglas is required to 

maintain cooling conditions in Bay 1 which will maintain film 

temperature at specification values. Douglas recommends, with EIC 

concurrence, that DAC-EKC termal interface be moved from the film to 

the outside of the film handling equipment. This action was completed 

on 19 Feb 1968 upon approval by the ROL Systems Office with the movement 

of the interface as recommended. 

c. Bey 5 Cooling for Unexposed Secondary Film Storage: Bey 5 

contains gyro packages which are major heat sources. Bay 5 

temperatures are also affected by adjacent Bays 4 and 6 activity, 

and all are directly related to operational timelines. 7101183BS will 

conduct a detailed time-temperature analysis for Bay 5 to determine 

expected conditions and develop a design concept to satisfy cooling 

requirements. Action to be completed 20 Mar 1968. 

d. Pressure Suit Coo11'g: Pressure suits, which are cooled 

by oxygen flow, merrequire additional flow to handle increased 

heat produced by suited crewmen under certain operational conditions. 

The ME0 will examine operational timelines in detail and establish 

firm suit flow requirements. Some modification to the EC/LS Subsystem 

maybe involved. Action to be completed 18 Mar 1968. 

26. An internal laboratory lighting configuration hens been selected 

which utilized a combination of both electroluminescent panels and 

ambient sources. This hybrid configuration is very satisfactory 

from the crew operations standpoint, and was also bound to require 

less electrical power than other configurations studied. 

27. As a result of concern expressed by Dr. Flax at the Program. 

Review Council on 20 Feb 1968, a summary analysis of Laboratory 

Module acoustical qualification testing of the JAW is being 

prepared. This analysis will be submitted by mid-March to the 

Vice Director for subsequent transmittal to Dr. Flax. 

28. The third Interface Technical Signoff meeting was convened at 

CE, Radnor, 27 Feb through 1 Mar. This meeting was even more 

successful than previous meetings. This method for arriving at 

technical interface agreements has resulted in shortening the cycle 

of interface approvals by at least six weeks, and in some instances 

by months. The next Technical Signoff meeting will convene on 

16 Apr to work off interfaces scheduled for April resolution, and 

to hear reports on problems isolated, and action items assigned at 

the February meeting. Completion of interface signoffs is now 

beyond the 50 per cent point. 

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29. Douglas R. lord, Deputy Director Advanced Manned Missions 

Program, Office of Manned Space Flight, Hq NASA, was given a 

comprehensive MTh briefing at the DORIAN level at Douglas MSSD, 

Huntington Peach, Calif on 22 Feb. Mr. Lord expressed considerable 

interest in the M)L Long Duration Operations study, and in the 

utilization of the MDL camera for planetary photography. 

30. The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the Laboratory Vadule 

was conducted 19 to 23 Feb 1968 at the Douglas Facility, Huntington 

Beach, Calif. This review tied together the previous PDR's which 

were conducted at the subsystem level. For example, the Coarnmications 

Subsystem PDR was conducted in Feb 1967. The Command Subsystem and the 

Data Requisition Subsystem have not had PDR's to date and were not 

included in the Laboratory Module PDR. The laboratory Module PDR 

included a review of all Laboratory Module interfaces, electromagnetic 

compatibility, electroexplosive devices, reliability, safety, 

maintainability, weight, space and power utilization, and general 

design features. There were approximately twenty action items assigned 

as a result of the PDR. The PDR was conducted in a thorough fashion 

and the design approach appears to be acceptable. No major design 

inconsistencies were noted. 

31. Secure Voice Communication System: The capability to communicate 

by voice in a secure mode between the flight crew on orbit and the 

flight controller in the MCC is under detailed review by the Systems 

Office and affected contractors in order to complete technical 

definition by 1 Jun. The system is contractually complex as well 

as being technically complex due to the large number of contractors 

and agencies involved in the system. At this time, top level system 

and interface requirements have been established, detailed roles and 

responsibilities assigned, and a plan of action established which 

will permit system and system element definition by 1 Jun. The 

major technical considerations were in specifying the system 

intelligibility requirements and in developing a test program that 

will permit early demonstration of the system. Early analyses 

indicate that the currently conceived system is capable of providing 

in excess of 80% intelligibility on individual words and over 95% 

intelligibility on sentences or word groups. This is considered 

adequate. A test approach has been formulated which appears to 

satisfy the objective of early system demonstration. 

32. The first increment of the Laboratory Module Simulation 

Equipment (LMSE) Critical Design Review was conducted during the 

week of 26 Mb 1968. This review was limited to the computer 

complex and its associated peripheral and signal conversion equipment. 

The Instructor Operator Station, Simulated Laboratory Endule and 

interface equipment will be reviewed at a future date. In general, 

it was determined that the Douglas design is in accordance with the 

perfOrmance and design requirements established in the SP/DR and the 

LMSE CEI. Concurrence with this first incremental CDR is expected 

within the next few weeks. 

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33. The MOL CCB processed 37 ECP's; 19 were approved, 10 were 

disapproved and 8 were deferred for further evaluation. The cost 

credit Egos approved by CUB action totalled approximately $236,000 

based upon non-negotiated contractor estimates. 

34. The 1()L CCB also processed 17 SAFSL Exhibit changes; 9 were 

approved, 4 were disapproved and 4 were deferred for further 

evaluation. The approved Exhibit changes resulted in a credit 

of approximately $53,000. 

35. The T-IMCCB processed 52 ECP's; 18 were approved, one (1) 

was disapproved and 33 were deferred for further evaluation. The 

major cost bearing ECP's approved by CCB action totalled approximately 

$333,000. 

36. The financial statement flub this reporting period is as follows: 

Of the $349.9 million FT 68 funds released to the Systems 

&Tice, $346.0 million has been initiated. 

37. MIL Manpower Status: 

AUTEDIUZXD ASSIGNED DIFFERENCE 

*OFFICERS 125 146 +21 

AIR= 9 8 -1 

czynsANs 100 92 - 8 

BIGHGRADES 

CLERICAL (g61;3 

* ROL Flight Crew included. 

Crew, 1 SAC & 1 MAC are not 

T-=ON Military not shown 

Six attached officers 

included). 

(4 Man/Marine Flight 

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