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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASH I NGTON 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

MAR 4 1966 

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 

February 28, 1966, and is submitted in accordance with 

the February 23, 1966 instructions from the Office of the 

Secretary. 

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General, USAF 

Director, MOL Program 

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I. PROBLEMS INIS111111 

A. Eastman Kodak Facilities 

Eastman Kodak has proposed, and the Director, NRO has 

deemed acceptable, the position that EK lease to the Government 

the contractor-owned property for construction of Governmentfinanced buildings. Under this arrangement, the Government would 

retain for a fixed period an option to buy the land at the price 

paid by the contractor. A proposal that the facility be operated 

by EK under a CPFF contract is also acceptable to the Director, NRO, 

subject to the option that the Government can change operators if 

EK's performance is not satisfactory. It is believed that the 

preceding agreement will serve as a basis for future action with the 

contractor to arrive at a mutually satisfactory agreement and 

authority to proceed with the industrial facilitization is anticipated during March. 

II. CHANGE PAST MONTH 

A. Congressional Actions during February 

(1) On February 8 General Schriever appeared before the 

House (Miller) Committee on Science and Astronautics on the subject 

of MOL. Per agreement between Secretary Brown and Chairman Miller, 

the closed hearing covered primarily the areas of booster, life 

support, tracking stations, ships, recovery areas, schedule, and 

rendezvous. In response to questions by the Committee, a list of 

answers and comments were compiled and submitted for the Committee 

record. A particular set of questions were posed by Congressman 

Gurney in a letter to Director, MOL. These questions, related to 

the potential of ETR rather than WTR as the launch site for MOL, 

were answered directly to Congressman Gurney. 

(2) On February 15 at the request of Senator Holland of. 

the Senate (Anderson) Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences 

and the Senate (Hayden) Committee on Appropriations, a briefing was 

given to Senator Holland and members of the "Florida delegation." 

The briefing was on the subject of ETR vs. WTR as the launch site 

for MOL. As a result of this briefing, a number of items and reports 

were requested by Senator Holland. These were submitted to the 

Senate Committee. 

(3) On February 24 Dr. Foster, Dr. Flax and Dr. Seamans 

appeared before the Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space 

Sciences. This hearing on ETR vs. WTR for MOL had been set up at 

the request of Senator Holland. Dr. Foster and Dr. Seamans both 

read prepared statements and, along with Dr. Flax, answered questions 

for the record. 

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(1.) In connection with the ETR vs. WTR problem, numerous 

queries have been received within the AF, DOD, and the Executive 

Department. These queries have apparently been generated by 

Floridians and Florida newspaper articles decrying the "move" of 

MOL from ETR to WTR in the face of the vast capabilities at ETR for 

space launches. The line of answer has been that MOL requires high 

inclination orbits, and the range safety and dog-leg penalties 

associated with MOL launches from ETR prevent mission accomplishment. 

B. Briefing to Senator Margaret Chase Smith 

On February 4, 1966 a special DORIAN briefing on the MOL 

Program was given by the MOL Program Office to Senator Margaret Chase 

Smith, member of the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, the 

Appropriations Committee, and the Armed Services Committee. The 

same briefing material was used as had been used for the briefing of 

Senator Clinton Anderson on January 21, 1966. 

C. MOL Program Review - February 5 

Based on information presented during the MOL Program 

Review meeting held at Los Angeles on February 5, 1966, it was 

agreed that for planning purposes, October 1969 is now the scheduled 

planning date for the second manned launch (currently the fourth 

launch from WTR). Launches conducted prior or subsequent to that 

date will be at four-month intervals. 

D. MOL Policy Committee and PSAC Meetings 

A meeting of the MOL Policy Committee was held on 

February 8, 1966 to review the substance of the briefing to be given 

to PSAC on February 9. These briefings on February 8-9 covered the 

progress and status of program activities primarily associated with 

the response to guidance received from PSAC on mission payload 

considerations and requirements. The PSAC seemed pleased with the 

briefing and their only suggestion was that a flight be designated 

for the first unmanned reconnaissance mission. This is tentatively 

agreed as being Flight 46 (June 1970). 

E. Briefing to Congressman Teague 

Chairman Teague and members of his Subcommittee on Manned 

Space Flight, House Committee on Science and Astronautics, visited 

Douglas (Huntington Beach Space Center) during a West Coast trip on 

February 11, 1966. The visit was principally an orientation for 

Congressman Teague of plant facilitiqs and an indoctrination of the 

technology to be utilized by MOL. Discussions during the tour at 

Douglas emphasized the use of previously generated technology from 

primarily the Gemini and Apollo Programs. 

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F. Briefing to Department of the Navy 

On February 23, 1966 staff officers of the MOL Program 

Office briefed the Department of the Navy on MOL recovery planning. 

Principal Naval officers in attendance were: V. Adm. Colwell, DCNO 

(Fleet Operations and Readiness); R. Adm. Smith, Strategic Plans 

Division, Op Navy; R. Adm. Fleming, ACNO (Plans and Policy); and 

members of their staff. 

G. Release of MOL FY 1966 Deferred Funds 

On February 14, 1966 DDR&E approved the release of $14.0.0 

million of MOL FY 1966 deferred funds to cover program requirements 

through June 30, 1966. In addition to the $150 million budgeted for 

FY 1967, $60.0 million of FY 1966 deferred funds remain available 

to apply toward meeting FY 1967 program requirements. Firm estimates 

on FY 1967 funding requirements, as well as total program costs, will 

be submitted in mid-May 1966. 

H. Release of Military Construction Funds for WTR 

On February 25, 1966, FY 1966 Military Construction funds 

for acquisition of Sudden Ranch ($4.0 million) and funds for 

construction of the ILC ($18.0 million) were apportioned by Bureau 

of Budget and OSD. The $4.0 million for land acquisition and $2.5 

million for site preparation for the IIC have been transferred to the 

Corps of Engineers. 

I. MOL Data Computation Subsystem 

After careful Air Force/Aerospace review of the Douglas 

Subsystem Source Selection Board results on the Data Computation 

Subsystem, the decision was made that additional information was 

required before a choice could be made between the top two competitors. 

For this reason, IBM Corporation and Univac will conduct parallel 

competitive efforts in this area through May 1, 1966. Between May 1 

and May 15 an evaluation of these efforts will be made by Douglas and 

a single contractor chosen. The additional cost of the program for 

this competitive effort is estimated at $400,000. Funds have been 

made available to the Systems Office for this effort. 

J. MOL Simulator Program 

General Martin and General Berg requested and received 

approval for a Simulator Program to support the development of the 

DORIAN system. This program, consisting of an elemental engineering 

simulator and a stimulus generation effort, will be conducted by 

General Electric Company in their role as experiments integrator. 

The objective of the elemental engineering simulator program is to 

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determine the optimum design criteria for the Acquisition and 

Tracking Scope (NTS), tracking control loop, control stick, cue 

displays and other equipments required for manned operation of the 

DORIAN payload. The stimulus generation program will provide 

stimulus material of the proper scale, field of view and resolution 

for use in the elemental engineering simulation and the subsequent 

mission development and crew training simulation programs. Estimated 

funds required for the initial design and development of these efforts 

is $4.5 million, of which approximately $2.0 million is required to 

be funded in FY 1966. Funds are available in FY 1966 to cover this 

requirement. 

K. MOL SIGINT Study Program - Program Directive 66-1 

The MOL SIGINT Study Program - Program Directive 66-1 was 

approved by the Director, NRO and Director, MOL during February. 

This Directive provides for a study of an Electromagnetic Pointing 

System for use with large optical sensors, 

To implement the MOL SI Study Program, the Electromagnetic Pointing System Study RFP's were released on February 17 

to Airborne Instruments Lab, Lockheed Missile and Space Company, 

Sylvania-EDL, TRW-Systems, and LTV-Electrosystems. Proposals are 

due March 14 and will be evaluated by Air Force/Aerospace. Contracts 

for the three-month study will be let to the successful bidders during 

the week of March 28. Funding in the amount of $300,000 is available 

for this study effort. The Aircraft Test Program will be conducted 

under a black contract with LTV-Electrosystems for the payload 

installation, checkout, maintenance and operation. AFSC will be 

tasked for the aircraft and its operation and support. $500,000 is 

available to fund the Aircraft Test Program. 

L. Quantitative Assessment of Man's Usefulness in Space 

A task force composed of members of the MOL Program Office 

has been formed to identify, if possible, in quantitative terms, 

man's contribution to space system effectiveness. Toward this 

objective, trips were made to the Systems Office in Los Angeles and 

the Manned Spacecraft Center at Houston to review the mid-program 

results of the GEMINI Program. During the latter trip, Dr. Charles 

Berry, Captain Alan Sheppard, and Mr. Donald Slayton were interviewed. 

The purpose of these interviews was to attempt to identify specific 

functions which man has accomplished under actual space flight 

conditions that might not have been included in open literature. 

Impressions and judgment were recorded as possible clues to areas 

requiring more detailed evaluation. 

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III. CURRENT STATUS 

A. Responsibilities for MOL Mission Payload System Hardware 

Following discussions during Program Review meeting on 

February 5 and again at a meeting on February 18 with Director, NRO 

and Director, MOL attending, the delineation of the following 

contractors' roles and responsibilities were firmly established for 

MOL mission payload system hardware: 

(1) Mission Module Structure 

GE will be responsible for the design of the mission 

module structure. As integrating contractor, DAC will be responsible 

for preparation and release of fabrication drawings and verification 

test of the mission module structure. 

(2) Structure for Tracking Mirror Drive 

The tracking mirror drive will be supported by a 

structure separate from the main lens barrel. The structure for the 

tracking mirror drive will be furnished by GE and will be attached 

to the mission module structure. 

(3) Main Lens Barrel and Ross Corrector Barrel Structure 

The structure for the main lens barrel and Ross 

corrector barrel will be furnished by EK and will be separate from 

the mission module structure. 

(4) Tracking Mirror Drive 

GE will furnish the tracking mirror drive. This includes 

the gimbals, bearings and servo drive motors. 

(5) Tracking Mirror Control 

GE will furnish the necessary tracking mirror control 

hardware and software, with the exception of the airborne computer 

which will be furnished by DAC. With the exception of the V/h sensor 

which will be furnished by EK, the tracking mirror control hardware 

will include those instruments required for accurate positioning 

information such as: star tracker subsystem, drag accelerometer (if 

required), rate gyro package, and the instrumentation to measure 

angular displacement between the lens barrel and the structure for 

the tracking mirror drive. GE will be responsible for development 

and mechanization of the tracking mirror control equations. 

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(6) Acquisition and Tracking Scopes (ATS) 

The ATS will be furnished by GE. The same basic 

hardware configuration and software providing control of the tracking 

mirror will be used for the ATS. Any additional control hardware or 

airborne computer software will be furnished by GE. 

(7) Dynamic Performance of the Mission Payload System 

GE will be responsible for the dynamic performance 

of the mission payload system and will provide dynamic analysis of 

the system. 

(8) Mounts and Locks for Main Barrel and Ross Corrector 

Barrel 

GE will provide the mounts and locks for the main 

lens barrel and Ross corrector barrel including the connection between 

the Ross corrector barrel and the laboratory module pressure bulkhead. 

(9) Thermal Control of Main Lens Barrel and Ross Corrector 

Barrel 

EK will provide the necessary insulation, heaters and 

control devices to maintain the main lens barrel and Ross corrector 

barrel within the required temperature range. 

(10) Thermal Control of Tracking Mirror 

GE will provide all necessary insulation, heaters and 

control devices in the tracking mirror bay (defined for discussion 

purposes as the area between the laboratory module pressure bulkhead 

and the forward position of the main lens barrel) to maintain the 

tracking mirror within the required temperature range. Environmental 

doors for control of thermal flux on the tracking mirror during 

photographic periods will be furnished by GE. GE will also furnish 

the required servo controls for the environmental doors. 

(11) Data Readout System 

EK will provide the on-board film processor. GE will 

provide the editing console and scanner. 

(12) Electrical Power Conditioning and Distribution 

DAC will provide the raw DC electrical power and 

GE shall be responsible for receiving, controlling and distributing 

the electrical power for the mission payload segment. This will 

include provision of converters for DC power and inverters for AC 

power. 

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B. Contractors' Integration and Test Functions 

In association with the above delineation of contractors' 

responsibilities for mission system hardware, the following integration 

and test functions have been specified in the factory-to-pad flow: 

(1) Mission Module Structure at GE 

GE will install the tracking mirror drive, control 

devices located in the mission module, the thermal control system 

for the tracking mirror bay and the environmental door system. The 

mission payload system will be integrated during this period as much 

as feasible using simulation hardware for the lens barrel and Ross 

corrector barrel thermal control system and using a simulated system 

for the tracking mirror and mount. A preliminary system test will be 

conducted which will include thermal, vacuum and vibration tests of 

the integrated system. After completion and sign-off by the Air 

Force/Aerospace of this system test, the mission module structure 

and installed hardware will be shipped to EK. 

(2) Mission Module Structure at EK 

EK will install the main lens barrel, Ross corrector 

barrel, tracking mirror and mount and the thermal control system for 

the lens barrel and Ross corrector barrel. Thermal, vacuum, optical 

performance and vibration tests will be performed on the assembled 

system to verify optical integrity of the system. Following Air 

Force/Aerospace sign-off, the assembled mission module will be shipped 

to DAC, Huntington Beach, for integration with the laboratory module. 

(3) Mission Module Structure at DAC 

The mission module will be mated electrically to the 

laboratory module with GE integrating the mission payload systems. 

GE will then perform an integrated system test of the mission payload 

system. The results of this syStem test must be approved by Air 

Force/Aerospace prior to releasing the mission payload system to DAC 

for final orbiting vehicle integration and system test. A final 

combined Laboratory Module/Mission Payload System test will be 

accomplished by DAC. This system test will include thermal and 

vacuum tests. The results of this system test also must be approved 

by Air Force/Aerospace prior to release of the laboratory module/ 

mission module for shipment to Vandenberg Air Force Base. 

C. MOL Heat Shield Qualification Flight 

The planning and preparation for a Gemini Heat Shield 

Qualification (HSQ) flight from ETR in October this year utilizing 

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a Titan IIIC R&D booster is progressing satisfactorily. A group of 

scientific experiments have been identified and will be incorporated 

in the simulation laboratory structure. The flight plan for Titan 

III involves a second transtage burn after Gemini separation to place 

the simulated laboratory structure in a 160 nautical mile orbit, 

with a third burn to circularize the orbit. 

IV. FORECAST FOR FUTURE 

A. The MOL Program Office is scheduled to brief the Director, 

NSA on March 4, 1966 on the SIGINT study effort. 

B. NASA is considering an airlock unit experiment for flight 

on Saturn IB Flight SA 209 during the last quarter of 1967. A low 

circular earth orbit will be flown. The experiment is to demonstrate 

an airlock unit, attached to existing LEM mounting fixtures and 

capable of being connected to the dome hatch of the S-IV-B stage 

hydrogen tank. This configuration would provide an ingress-egress 

capability and self-contained life support, power and environmental 

control systems required to pressurize and maintain the S-IV-B stage 

hydrogen tank so that astronauts can work inside in a shirt-sleeve 

environment during a 14-day or longer mission. Unofficially, NASA 

views this experiment with considerable favor and the chances are 

good that this project will be approved. The early flight date may 

offer a unique opportunity to design experiments, directly supporting 

the MOL development, to obtain information on crew activities in a 

large volume orbital vehicle. This is being examined, along with 

consideration for including a MOL flight crewman in the three-man 

SA-209 crew. This experiment will be a subject of the next NASA 

Manned Space Flight Experiments Board meeting scheduled for March 21, 

1966. 

C. Firm cost estimates on FY 1967 funding requirements, as 

well as total program costs, will be submitted during mid-May 1966. 

Contractors' cost proposals will be submitted on a baseline of nine 

launches from WTR, scheduled on four-month centers starting in 

October 1968. Also, as a planning and costing baseline, three of 

the nine scheduled launches are to be flown in the automatic mode, 

with Flight #6 designated as the first flight in the automatic mode. 

V. DUE DATE FOR NEXT PROGRESS REPORT 

Next monthly MOL Program Progress Report to be submitted 

April 6, 1966. 

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