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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, SYSTEMS PROGRAM OFFICE (OSAF) 

AF UNIT POST OFFICE, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90045 

MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL STEWART DEC 1 2 1967 

SUBJECT: MOL Monthly Management Report, 25 Oct-25 Nov 1967 

Attached is the monthly report of significant events, 

25 Oct-25 Nov 1967. 

1 Atch J. S. B IER, Maj Gen, USAF 

Report Deputy Director, MOL 

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MONTHLY REPORT 

OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 

25 OCTOBER 1967 - 25 NOVEMBER 1967 

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1. During the period of this report the MOL Program Baseline has been 

subject to schedule exercises in an attempt to arrive at a schedule in 

concert with the FY dollar constraints. At this time the problem has 

not been resolved. 

2. No significant program milestones were accomplished during this 

period. 

3. A General Electric unsolicited proposal on the Recovery Section 

of the Support Module was submitted for review. The proposal requested 

that GE be given the integration responsibility for the Recovery Section 

which includes the DRV's, film handling, structures, thermal control and 

electrical portions of the Support Module. GE would assemble, align, 

test and ship this section to VAFB. This proposal was reviewed by 

approximately 23 Aerospace and Air Force people representing the Program 

Office and all relevant technical disciplines. A briefing was prepared 

and presented on 27 November summarizing the findings of the review team. 

A memo summarizing these comments is also in preparation. 

4. The efforts on the Phase IA activity on the Support Module are 

continuing. The contractors will present final results of design and test 

flow studies the 4th and 5th of December. System Engineering work for 

Phase IA will continue through December. A briefing on the recommended 

baseline design and flow is in preparation and is planned for completion 

in early December. Minimum essential efforts to be accomplished during 

the time period 1 January 1968 to 1 July 1968 by the contractors and 

Aerospace are being defined. 

S. On 21 Nov Douglas hosted and the SPO conducted the Electrical Wire 

Stripping Symposium. Fourteen contractors presented information pertinent 

to Kapton wire. This included the Kapton manufacturer, seven stripper 

manufacturers, and four wire manufacturers. The reports from all sources 

indicated that Kapton was a superior insulation and that the Kapton wire 

could be used without significant difficulty. All of our associate 

contractors were present and received this information with emotions 

ranging from acceptance to skepticism. Test data was reviewed which 

proved Raychem wire insulation is unacceptable for use on MOL. 

6. During the period 7-13 Nov, meetings were held with each Orbiting 

Vehicle associate contractor pertaining to SAFSL Exhibit 10010, 

Nonmetallic Material Control. The purpose of these meetings was 

to discuss our intent in implementing SAFSL 10010, to clarify any 

question of the individual contractor relative to his role in the 

nonmetallic program, and to assess associated costs for incremental 

implementation of SAFSL 10010. 

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7. General Higgins reviewed with Colonels Coleman and Dietrich the 

black contracting procedures and authorities. The procedures which 

have been comprehensively documented satisfied General Higgins. A 

draft PCO letter was also reviewed relieving black prime contractors 

of some Government peculiar clauses for their white subcontracts. 

General Higgins questioned the authority to include the relief from 

the "Price Reduction for Defective Pricing Data" clause without 

Secretarial approval. Action has been initiated to acquire the 

necessary authority from SecAF, since such is not now included in 

the Delegation to General Higgins. 

8. In discussions with Lt Col Taylor, AFPR at General Electric, 

the following information was exchanged: 

a. To date, Col Taylor has not reapproved their property 

management nor their purchasing systems. Therefore, General Electric 

does not have either an approved property or purchasing system. 

b. Their cost accounting system has not been reviewed since 

1963. This is one of the areas that we could assist by pressing 

through the DCAA-Washington (Mr. Petty) to have a review made of 

their accounting system. 

c. With respect to their QC system, a quality survey by CMD 

showed many deficiencies, and, therefore, will not be approved in 

the near future. 

d. Their security system also needs to be reviewed and 

overhauled. The security people have discovered 150 documents 

not accounted for within the GE system. 

e. The tri-service overhead negotiations are being accomplished 

about two years after the fact. In this area we should press for 

Air Force cognizance of the overhead negotiations. This would have 

to be done through Brig Gen Snavely in DOD. 

9. The first pour was made of CerVit on the production contract for 

71 inch, piano and sperhical flight pieces. Results are as yet 

unknown. 

10. ULE (Ultra low expansion material): One 27 inch and two 

24 inch pieces are being polished at Perkin-Elmer. These pieces are 

sized as Newtonian fold and Ross fold mirrors. Polishing is down to 

1/2 wave. These pieces are scheduled for delivery to EK during the 

first week of January for coating. 

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11. Test Chambers Irmand IIrm in Bldg 601 are in operation. The 

quality of test soliTi in finrihing is being determined and results 

to date reported by the contractor are satisfactory. 

12. The Primary Mirror blank for FV-4 was received by EK on 

2 November 67. It is presently in storage awaiting grinding as 

grinders become free. 

13. Initial acceptance testing has begun on Chamber B at Bldg 101. 

This Chamber is to be used primarily to test the Thermal Model in 

a soft vacuum and additionally will be used to thermally test 

tracking mirrors. 

14. The Structural Development Model #1 (SDM#1) assembly is moving 

along on schedule toward modal survey testing at the lens assembly 

level the end of December. After lens assembly level testing, the 

SDM will be installed in a Mission Module shell for acoustic testing 

at the MM level before shipping to DAC. 

15. A meeting was held between SAFSL-7D and AFSCF during the month 

to discuss AFSCF plans to contract with SDC for development of the 

Real-Time Executive Computer Program for Powered Flight. To monitor 

this effort closely, the AFSCF plans to establish a management 

committee which will include SPO personnel. 

16. Major B. R. Hodgson, Hq USAF (AFNICAD), visited the Operations 

Division to participate in working level discussions on SPO-identified 

requirements for Mission Operations Special Support (MOSS). 

Discussion centered on external agency support necessary to develop 

an effective mission collection requirements training program, and 

on external agency support in the preparation and production of 

special materials required for flight crew mission collection 

requirements training and on-orbit operations. Another working 

level discussion has been tentatively scheduled for the week of 

4 December 1967, at which time AFNICAD will provide Operations 

Division personnel with a review of their own work in the area and 

will offer suggestions and recommendations. These discussions will 

be held at frequent intervals in the future in connection with the 

SPO effort to satisfy MOSS-related requirements. 

17. A presentation was given in Washington on 15 November 1967 to 

report results of two mission operations studies requested by 

General Stewart. One study pertained to the selection of orbital 

parameters to allow continuous viewing of a target such as Tyura Tam. 

A method was presented by which continuous viewing of this installation 

is achievable within the capabilities of the MOL baseline system. 

The second study pertained to the practicality 

General Stewart concurred in the 

presentations as made. 

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18. On 16 November 1967 a joint meeting was held with Chairmen 

of three Committees responsible for establishing national intelligence 

requirements to discuss the future development of the MOL target model. 

It was determined that these people, who are presently developing the 

national intelligence data base, are not prepared to support our 

current development requirements for the MOL target model. Subsequent 

discussions with personnel of the SOC, who have been tasked by 

General Stewart and General Berg to pursue the future development 

of the MOL target model, indicate the development effort will be 

pursued further with the FTD at Wright-Patterson AFB. 

19. Representatives of the SPO attended the briefings of SAMSO's 

Multipurpose Reusable Spacecraft studies- by Douglas Aircraft Missiles 

and Space Division and Martin-Marietta Corporation. These studies 

were to design reusable lifting-body type spacecraft that can do any 

or all of several missions: logistics, surveillance or satellite 

intercept. Both concepts utilized only Titan IIIM and Titan IIIM-156" 

boosters. Both were expensive, about $4 billion total program,at 

$75 million a launch. Addition of man would add about another 

billion to the total costs. There are two critical technology areas: 

(1) a satisfactory form of heat shield and (2) an all-weather landing 

capability. These and other shortcomings were discussed with 

representatives from General Hedrick's office. 

20. The SPO Advanced Plans staff attended the final briefing of the 

Lockheed-Sperry study effort for SAMSO on 

Much of this study effort is applicable to an advanced 

resolution payload system. SAMSO intended to do a follow-on effort 

but due to lack of funding and no firm "requirement" it will not be 

continued. We had hoped to see this study continued as one of 

critical advanced technology areas; however, due to financial and 

schedule restraints, additional efforts will be postponed at 

this time. 

21. Demonstration of the Hycon IVS was witnessed by SPO personnel 

during week of 27 October 1967. The unit, similar to operational 

optical units in the field, was demonstrated successfully. 

22. An ATS technical cost proposal is in preparation by GE. 

However, the effort is being delayed because Itek has not submitted 

the detail cost back-up data for a $5.2M ROM to GE. Data was due 

18 October, but is now scheduled for 1 December. An uddfficial 

delta change from GE shows the total estimate has increased 

significantly. 

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23. Power interrupt meetings were held with GE/DAC/Aerospace and 

SPO to discuss the method of implementing the return from a power 

interrupt. The previously directed method using automatic return 

was felt to be too severe a requirement and that the GE approach 

of safing the system is considered more realistic. As a result, 

GE/DAC prepared a joint presentation on safing the vehicle using 

the existing AMU for software. All participants agree that this 

approach is sound and should be implemented. EKC indicated that 

their systems need no safing for the one second interrupt. GE, 

EKC and DAC are documenting their company positions and the impact 

on their designs by this approach. 

24. Preparation has been completed for technical fact-finding 

(Prenegotiation) 29 Nov - 1 Dec at GE on the following items: 

(a) Deletion of Acoustic Noise Testing 

(b) Deletion of 115 Vibration Qualification 

(c) Vibration Modal Survey 

(d) DRV Deletion 

(e) DRC Integration and Handling 

(f) Two Degree Gimbal Realignment 

(g) TM Material Change 

With the exception of DRV deletion, technical agreement has been 

reached with GE on all items. DRV deletion will be agreed to at GE 

and documented in the minutes. 

2S. GE has cancelled the order placed with Bell Aerosystems for the 

low G accelerometer on the basis that it is no longer a system 

requirement. This decision seems to place more emphasis on pre-flight 

experimental data to be utilized to improve the Earth's gravity model. 

26. A Preliminary Design Review of the Sliding Door was held at 

General Electric on 8 and 9 November. The review covered in depth 

all elements of the design. Minutes were prepared and signed off by 

representatives of the SPO, Aerospace and contractor outlining those 

areas wherein the design concept was questioned or additional 

supporting data was desired. The contractor has submitted an outline 

of the proposed schedule for providing the additional data and 

completing the actions of the PDR. 

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27. Initial operation of the EDS in the revised single frame mode 

with software voting logic has slipped from 20 November to 

18 December 1967. 

28. The Itek MDS optics bench test is now tentatively scheduled for 

25 December or later. Final design requirements for optics (stimulus 

subsystem) of MDS and MMSE are being held up pending completion of 

this bench test. Preliminary cost information from GE indicated 

that the cost of the ATS simulation has increased significantly and 

delivery of the MDS has tentatively slipped an additional 9 months 

to March 1969. 

29. The POGO, with respect to the Titan IIIM Booster, still remains 

a problem that requires resolution. A joint decision (Titan-III SPO 

and MOL SPO) was made to have Martin proceed on a 15 week study 

effort to come up with a solution. 

30. The Gemini B Division conducted design reviews of the Pad Abort 

Control System (PACS) and the blast shield at McDonnell Douglas 

Corporation 31 Oct - 2 Nov. The PACS review resulted in acceptance 

of the McDonnell approach with action items assigned to provide 

additional information in specific areas. Acceptance of the design 

approach for the blast shield was withheld pending completion of 

further investigation in critical areas. These investigations 

were assigned as action items with their completion and acceptance 

by the SPO being the criteria for acceptance of the blast shield 

design approach. 

31. Zero "g" testing under pressurized and unpressurized conditions 

was conducted at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio on 13, 14, and 15 November 

1967 with the objective of completing the development testing of the 

crew transfer task and determine the compatibility of the Gemini B 

spacecraft and crew transfer tunnel with current design Data Return 

Containers (DRC's) and Pressure Suit Assembly (PSA). The objective 

was generally satisfied, however, further testing is anticipated 

in conjunction with future crew training at which time final 

configuration PSA's and DRC's will be available. 

32. Eleven Specification Control Group (SCG) meetings were held. 

Eight of the interfaces were approved with comments and three were 

disapproved. 

33. First Article Configuration Inspection (FACI) Instructions 

have been sent to MOL SPO contractors. These instructions supplement 

Exhibit XIV of AFSCM 375-1 and are intended to establish guidelines 

for conducting FACIs for both the MOL SPO and the contractors. 

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34. The MOL CCB dispositioned 86 ECPs; 32 were approved, 8 were 

disapproved and 46 were deferred for further evaluation. The major 

cost bearing ECPs approved by CCB action totalled approximately 

$851,000 based upon non-negotiated contractor estimates. Twenty-one 

new MOL ECPs were received during this reporting period. 

35. The T-IIIM CCB dispositioned 95 ECPs; 32 were approved; 12 were 

disapproved and 51 were deferred for further evaluation. The major 

cost bearing ECPs approved by CCB action totalled approximately 

$1,446,000. Thirty-four new T-IIIM ECPs were received during this 

reporting period. 

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

a. Of the $228.4M FY 67 funds received, $228.4M has been 

initiated. 

b. Of the $240.0M FY 68 funds received, $237.8M has been 

initiated. 

37. MOL Manpower Status: 

AUTHORIZED ASSIGNED DIFFERENCE 

*Officers 125 138 +13 

Airmen 9 6 - 3 

Civilians 100 72 -28. 

Highgrades (34) (22) ( -12) 

Clerical 

~4 

( -16) 

216 -18 

*MOL Flight Crew included. Six attached officers (4 Navy/Marine 

Flight Crew, 1 SAC and 1 MAC are not included. 

Titan-IIIM not shown 

Figures above are corrected due to errors in last month's report. 

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