CO 

ri) 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

TOP SECRET HANDLE v'4 BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE immummunix 

WASH I NGTON 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

9 DEC 1965 

9/555?"::378 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

SUBJECT: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Monthly Status 

Report 

The attached Status Report on the Manned Orbiting 

Laboratory (MOL) Program covers activities through 

November 30, 1965, and is submitted in accordance with 

the November 22, 1965 instructions from the Office of 

the Secretary. 

I am submitting an additional copy of this month's 

report in anticipation that you might wish to forward it 

to Dr. Foster, DDR&E, for his,4.nformation4 

I

, 1 .^1, , f \ i 

c

J 

B. X.SCHRIEVER 

General, USAF 

Director, MOL Program 

1 Atch 

Status Report 

EXCLLTL-7, FriC%7AUTC7APC PECRAD (Ng; 

DOD 13;1; :32,3110 130S NOT APPLY 

DORIAN Page 1 of 9 pages 

Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

MOLE VM BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY TOP SECRET 

• 1 
r7rarirl yy HANDLE VIA HENAN SYSTEM DRY 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

PROBLEMS 

A. Manned/Unmanned Considerations 

A round-table discussion on DORIAN was held November 8, 1965, 

by the PSAC Reconnaissance Panel for the purpose of ensuring a better 

understanding of their desires concerning the manned and unmanned modes 

of operation. The views of the Reconnaissance Panel on the MOL development program were summarized in a paper dated November 22, 1965, from 

Dr. Hornig, Chairman PSAC, to Dr. Flax, DNRO. 

"The Panel is convinced that a high resolution 

orbital reconnaissance system is a high priority national goal. 

Although the Panel concurs that the proposed manned MOL can attain such 

resolution and that the presence of a man on board the spacecraft can 

enhance certain aspects of the mission, the Panel concludes that a 

properly designed unmanned system can, in an equivalent time, attain the 

same resolution with acceptable mission reliability . . . . The Panel 

foresees a future requirement for operational missions on a continuing 

basis and considers it likely that in such an operational program the 

unmanned system will show advantages for the routine missions, and manned 

system for situations which require special capabilities." Toward this 

objective, the Panel observed "that a properly planned development program can accommodate identicality between major elements of the system 

(primarily the optics, certain subsystems, the lab module, and booster) 

if the requirements of both manned and automated missions are fully 

considered in the initial systems design." 

Page 2 of 9 pages 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

HANDLE VIA BYEIVAN SYSTEM ONLY !

t"' , 91711 

U 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 71!A -a ET AIIBLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

The above guidance, in greater detail, has been passed on to 

key participants on the MOL definition program. A status briefing on 

the progress and results of system analyses reflecting the Panel's 

guidance was given to the MOL Policy Committee on November 30, 1965. No 

specific impact on program costs or schedules resulting from this guidance 

is as yet known. The principal contractors, Douglas, General Electric, 

and Eastman Kodak, have been advised of this change and more definitiVe 

information is expected by mid-December 1965, when current studies and 

analyses are completed. 

B. Funding 

The approved level of funding for the MOL Program in FY 1967 

is approximately $375 million. The Air Force was advised in late 

November that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is proposing a 60 

per cent cut in FY 1967 RDT&E funds for MOL from the approved level of 

$374.4 million to approximately $150 million. This drastic reduction 

will have a major impact on the MOL Program, resulting in an immediate 

schedule stretch-out of at least one year and in addition will require a 

major reorientation to the program. 

Recognizing the objective of the Secretary of Defense to 

economize during FY 1967 in order to fund other national defense needs, 

the MOL Program Office undertook an exercise to reexamine the MOL 

schedule. By delaying the first manned flight date approximately six 

months from late 1968 until April 1969, it appears possible to readjust 

certain of the unmanned flight tests which precede the first manned flight 

in a manner which decreases the risk of meeting those unmanned flight 

DORIAN 

MAME ViA IS EVI SYSTEM ONLY 

Page 3 of 9 pages 

Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 HANDLE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM UNIT 

dates. Also, an April 1969 date for the first manned flight is 

compatible with the availability of the primary optical sensor equipment. Such rescheduling of flight test activities could provide 

savings on the order of $80 million during FY 1967, with a resultant 

requirement for $300 million FY 1967 funds. 

Funding at levels below approximately $300 million and 

attempting to provide a somewhat balanced program, in each case results 

in further test schedule slippage and slippage of all elements of the 

program including the optical sensor. 

Discussions on this issue are continuing in an effort to 

arrive at a satisfactory level of funding for MOL in FY 1967. 

C. Unsatisfactory Performance by General Electric Missile and 

Space Division 

Correspondence from Director of Special Projects, SAFSP, 

indicates an overall unsatisfactory condition which warrants immediate 

attention. The performance refers to GE's responsibilities in Programs 

201 and 206. It is SAFSP's view that GE management is to blame for the 

present difficulties in Program 206 and prior difficulties in Program 

201. The Director of Special Projects seriously doubts that GE can 

deliver the quality of performance essential to a successful MOL program and has recommended that appropriate steps be taken to assure that 

an option will exist which permits discontinuance of presently planned 

use for GE (MSD) in the MOL program at the conclusion of the present 

Phase I contracts. The Director, MOL has reviewed this matter and 

recommended to the Secretary of the Air Force that a survey team, under 

DORIAN 

HANDLE VIA DYNAN SYSTEM ONLY aT 

Page of 9 pages 

Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 TOP SECRET -NUE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

his direction, examine conditions at General Electric in order to permit 

him the opportunity to prepare a recommendation as to the appropriate 

course of action in this matter. 

II. CHANGE PAST MONTH 

A. By Secretary of the Air Force memorandum dated November 9, 

1965, Dr. Alexander H. Flax in addition to his other duties as Assistant 

Secretary of the Air Force (R&D) was delegated the authority to act for 

the SAF on all Air Force matters associated with the NRO including the 

MOL reconnaissance payloads. 

B. A presentation was made to the Director, MOL, on November 5, 

1965 on the source selection criteria to be used in selecting major 

subsystem contractors for the laboratory to assure that competition is 

being used to select the best subcontract structure. 

C. A press conference, introducing the MOL pilot selectees to the 

public media, was held in Los Angeles, 1100 PST, November 12, 1965• 

Meeting was intended for low-key publicity and the results would indicate that this was accomplished. 

D. A Hqs USAF selection board, chaired by General Page, was 

convened at Randolph during the week of 15 November to perform preliminary 

screening of the final increment of MOL Aerospace Research Pilots. 

E. A MOL Program Management Review was conducted on the West 

Coast on November 15-16. Discussed at that time were the following items 

with the decisions and actions relative to each: 

Flight Schedules and Alternate Mission Payload V/ 

The first manned MOL flight scheduled for late 1968 will be 

DORIAN 

Page 5 of 9 pages 

Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

HANDLE VIA OYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

dANDLE flYEVAN SYSTEM ONLY 

flown with as complete an optical system as possible. It is recognized 

that owing to lead-time required, this will not include the large primary 

and flat mirrors. 

Apollo Insertion Ship 

The Apollo ship problem was examined from all aspects. It is 

clear that NASA does not wish to permit MOL the use of their ships if 

the Apollo schedule is in any way compromised. As an alternative to use 

of the Apollo ships, the NRD is examining what support can be given to 

meet MOL requirements. NRD recommendations will include consideration 

of the use of aircraft if practical to meet requirements. 

MOL Abort Recovery 

The use of Henderson Island (UK) would considerably reduce 

the number of ships and aircraft required. Action is being taken to 

determine the resources and timing required to provide an airstrip with 

minimum support for use as a recovery deployment site. 

F. Mr. Herbert Roback and Mr. Daniel W. Fulmer were briefed on 

November 17, 1965 by General Evans and the MOL Program Office personnel 

on status of the MOL program. This briefing was given at the SECRET 

classification level and focused on the area of management and support, 

including the facilities and contract arrangements to be used. 

G. The fourth meeting of the MOL Policy Committee was held on 

November 30, 1965 from 1000 to 1130 in 4E871. A status report was 

presented on the issues pertaining to manned versus unmanned capabilities. 

In addition, a review of the currently approved MOL funds to meet 

Page 6 of 9 pages 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

raj • 

Fun SYSTEM DRY re7., 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 IT HANDLE BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

directed program requirements and the schedule impact of the proposed 

60 per cent reduction in MOL FY 1967 RDT&E funds was covered with 

members of the MOL Policy Committee. 

III. CURRENT STATUS 

A. Subcontracts 

(1) Communications System. Douglas invited eleven companies 

to bid on the Laboratory Communications System: RCA, Collins Radio, 

Philco, Hughes Aircraft, TRW Systems, ITT, ECI, GE, Northrop, Motorola, 

and IBM. Collins Radio, Philco, and RCA were the major contenders who 

responded with bids and proposals. Based on management, technical 

competence, and cost factors the award was given to Collins Radio on 

November 11, 1965. 

(2) Attitude Control and Translation Control System. Douglas 

invited ten firms to bid on the Laboratory Attitude Control System: 

Bendix, Sperry, Honeywell, GPI, American Bosch, Autonetics, TRW Systems, 

RCA, Northrop, and IBM. Bendix, Honeywell, and Sperry were the major 

contenders submitting bids and proposals to Douglas. The successful 

contractor was Honeywell. 

(3) Power Supply System. Douglas received bids on the fuel 

cell power supply system from General Electric and Pratt and Whitney. 

Selection of the single contractor to do this effort will be made in 

early December. 

(4) Data Management System. Request for proposals for this 

system went to RCA, Hughes, IBM, Raytheon, TRW Systems, Honeywell, 

Litton, Univac, Autonetics, GPI, Nortronics and GE. Douglas has received 

Page 7 of 9 pages 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

HANDLE VIA GYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

HANDLE VIA OMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

bids from RCA, IBM, Raytheon, Honeywell, Univac, Autonetics and GE. 

The final decision and selection of a subcontractor for this system is 

being withheld pending further analysis by the Systems Office and 

Aerospace on total data system requirements. 

(5) Laboratory Navigation System. Twelve companies were 

initially invited to make proposals on the Navigation System. Upon 

closer examination by the MOL Systems Office and Aerospace on the requirements for an autonomous navigation system, the decision was reached to 

drop further consideration of this system for the immediate future. 

Douglas has informed the prospective bidders of this decision. 

(6) Environmental Control and Life Support System. The 

AiResearch Division of Garrett Corporation and Hamilton-Standard were 

the two companies competing for this subsystem. Based on management, 

technical competence, and cost factors, the award was given to HamiltonStandard. 

IV. FORECAST FOR FUTURE 

A. At the request of the NRO staff, Mr. Arthur W. Barber, Deputy 

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arms Control, will be given a special 

MOL briefing at the DORIAN level on December 1, 1965. 

B. Information on the selection of the pointing telescope versus 

the in-line tracking approach should be available by mid-December. An 

early decision is necessary in order to permit total effort to be placed on 

the selected configuration during the remainder of the CDP with Eastman 

Kodak and General Electric. 

Page 8 of 9 pages 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

S''STEA ONLY 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 HARDIE VIA BYEMAN SYSTEM ONLY 

C. Additional information should be available by mid-December 

on the impact of the recent guidance from PSAC concerning the design on 

the unmanned optical sensor system. 

D. The results of the Titan III/MOL booster configuration 

studies will be completed by the end of December. 

E. December 20, 1965 is the scheduled date for the December MOL 

Program Review meeting at SSD. 

V. DUE DATE FOR NEKT STATUS REPORT 

Next monthly MOL PrOgram Status Report to be submitted January 5, 

1966. 

Page 9 of 9 pages 

DORIAN Copy 1 of 10 copies 

SAFSL BYE 37555-65 

SY:TL71 ONLY r 4'