SAFSP Study #10067 

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 

JUL 3 1969 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

WASHINGTON 20330 

01,41111 

HANDLE VIA B 

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MEMORANDUM FOR DR. SEAMANS 

SUBJECT: MOL Termination Status Report 

There follows a summary of the status of MOL Program 

termination as of July 1: 

CONTRACTORS: 

o McDonnell-Douglas (Laboratory and Gemini B): 

On June 10, McDonnell-Douglas was directed to terminate 

all MOL activities except for temporary stopwork notices 

to three subcontractors--Hamilton Standard for the ECLS; 

Fairchild Hiller for the Waste Management System; and IBM 

for the spacecraft computer. This was done to give NASA 

3> an opportunity to review work in those areas in a reasonably orderly environment, and so that SAFSP might determine 

the need to continue computer development for possible 

future unmanned use. On June 24, with NASA and SAFSP 

agreement, the MOL Systems Office directed McDonnellDouglas to terminate those three subcontracts. As of that 

date, all McDonnell-Douglas MOL contracts were totally 

terminated. 

o Eastman Kodak: (Camera, Optics, etc.): On June 10, 

EK was directed to terminate all man-unique aspects of the 

camera system--the spacecraft Bimat film processor, visual 

optics, etc.--and reduce effort on all other work, pending 

a determination of what would be continued. On July 1, 

SAFSP signed a contract with EK for the camera system 

development that will be continued; and simultaneously, 

the MOL contract with EK was totally terminated. ...011111101IMNA 

o General Electric (Tracking Mirror Drive; Camera 

Controls; Simulators; etc.): On June 10, General Electric 

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was directed to terminate all man-unique elements of the MOL 

camera system and reduce effort on all other work pending a 

determination of what would be continued. On July 1, the 

camera system development effort being continued at GE was 

assumed as an Eastman Kodak subcontract (under the SAFSP 

contract with EK described above); simultaneously, the 

remainder of the GE MOL contract was totally terminated. 

o Martin/Aerojet General/AC/United Technology 

(Titan IIIM): On June 10, the Titan IIIM Program at these 

contractors was terminated except for certain components 

and subsystems planned and programmed for the T-IIIB, C, 

and D, as well as the T-IIIM. At a June 30 meeting in 

Washington (SAFRD, MOL, AFRDS, Hq AFSC, and SAMSO participation), agreement was reached on the specific work to be 

continued under other Titan III SPO contracts, starting 

July 10; simultaneously, the MOL Titan HIM contracts will 

be totally terminated. 

o Hamilton Standard (Pressure Suit): On June 10, this 

MOL Systems Office-held contract with Hamilton Standard was 

placed in a temporary stopwork status so that NASA might 

examine the work in progress. On June 23, at NASA's request, 

Hamilton Standard was redirected to resume work on a minimum 

expenditure basis until July 31. On or before that date, 

NASA plans to let a new contract with Hamilton Standard to 

continue the bulk of the effort; simultaneously, the MOL 

contract will be terminated. 

o Whirlpool (Feeding System): At NASA's request, this 

work is being continued until July 31 unless NASA can let a 

new contract with Whirlpool at an earlier date; simultaneously with NASA action, the MOL contract will be terminated. 

o TRW (Software): The ascent and spacecraft software 

contracts were terminated on June 10 and June 19. 

o Aerospace Corporation (Technical Support to MOL 

SPO): Approximately 350 Aerospace MTS's (Members of the 

Technical Staff) were working on MOL matters--about 50 

on the T-IIIM; 250 on other elements of the MOL system; and 

50 on MOL-related Satellite Control Facility items. This 

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total began to be reduced on June 11 and, for all practical 

purposes, MOL had no further need for Aerospace technical 

people after June 30. However, to insure both some limited 

Aerospace technical assistance to the MOL Systems Office 

during the termination process and also an orderly Aerospace 

phasedown of MOL activities, the MOL Program will fund about 

150 Aerospace MTS man-months in early FY 70 (approximately 

$500K). 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION: 

The military construction portion (e.g. steel, cement, 

mechanical, etc.) of the SLC-6 launch facility was virtually 

complete on June 10 and acceptance testing is underway. 

Except for a few MOL-peculiar items, this phase of the SLC-6 

will be completed. All such work and mothballing will be 

finished by early Fall. 

Five major MOL support buildings at VAFB were more than 

90 percent complete. Except for partitions, clean room 

provisions and other MOL-peculiars, these are being completed. 

Future use will be determined by Commander, SAMSO. 

Other minor MOL support facility construction and/or 

modification underway at VAFB has been stopped. Where 

desirable, a few sites and facilities will be returned to 

their original configuration. Future use of all such 

facilities will be determined by Commander, VAFB. 

PERSONNEL: 

Twelve of the 14 MOL flight crew members (9 AF, 2 Navy, 

1 Marine) have been nominated to NASA for astronaut duty. 

A preliminary NASA reaction is expected before July 10. As 

an alternative, if they are not assigned to NASA in an 

astronaut capacity, tentative other assignments (flight test, 

school, etc.) have also been selected for the 9 AF officers. 

The Navy and Marine Corps have deferred reassignment considerations for their three MOL flight crew members pending 

NASA reaction. 

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Thirteen officers and two civilians, along with 13 

military and 5 civilian manpower spaces, are being transferred 

from the MOL Systems Office to SAFSP in conjunction with the 

continuing camera system development responsibility assumed 

by SAFSP. 

General Hudson (AFSC DCS/Personnel) headed up a team of 

AFSC Personnel people who interviewed all MOL Systems Office 

people for reassignment late in June. Special emphasis was 

placed on assigning individuals in accordance with desires, 

skills, vacancies, personal considerations, etc. Firm 

immediate or future assignments have already been made for 

about 80 percent of the approximately 180 officers and 

airmen assigned to the MOL Systems Office. The approximately 

100 MOL civilian personnel are being reassigned by SAMSO. 

By mid-August, the Systems Office will have been reduced to 

perhaps 40 military and 20 civilian personnel; and although 

this total will be gradually reduced in the future, termination activities will require a MOL Project Office in SAMSO 

for a considerable period. 

As you know, prior to MOL cancellation, Gen Bleymaier 

had tentatively planned to retire near the end of this year 

(a few months earlier than his mandatory retirement date). 

He would therefore have started terminal leave in the Fall. 

It appears, at this time, that MOL termination activities 

which need his direction and guidance will progress at a 

rate such that he can retire as previously planned. 

The Aerospace Medical Division is in the process of 

reassigning their more than 100 military and civilian 

personnel who were directly involved in MOL. A small number 

(involved in pressure suit/feeding system development) may 

be attached to NASA. 

The 16 military and 8 civilian personnel assigned to 

the MOL Program Office in Washington on June 10 will be 

reduced in number to 4 military and 2 civilian by mid-August. 

Appropriate reassignment actions are underway. Because of 

the special MOL financial, personnel, security, L&L, PIO, 

etc. management procedures, a small MOL office will be 

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re kr, 

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required in Washington throughout much of FY 70. Colonel 

Ralph Ford will head-up MOL Washington activities, effective 

upon my departure, for as long as necessary. 

The MOL Field Detachment at NASA-Houston will be 

continued and reassigned to SAMSO this Fall. 

FINANCIAL: 

Just prior to cancellation, it was estimated that about 

$75 million more than was available to the MOL Program would 

be needed for termination, phasedown, etc. Subsequently, 

it was determined that some work should be continued longer 

than planned (Titan IIIM, space suit, etc.), and that a larger 

portion of the EX. and GE efforts would be terminated than 

originally anticipated (this latter action will result in 

higher termination costs for MOL but less continuing FY 70 

costs for SAFSP). Also, it became clear that MOL FY 70 

Obligating Authority (via Continuing Legislation) should 

be provided SAFSP to continue camera system development 

until FY 70 Authorization/Appropriation Legislation was 

enacted. 

The result of all of 

being requested in the FY 

Of this total, 

finance oontinuing camera 

few months in FY 70. 

the above is that $125 million is 

1970 Budget for MOL "liquidation." 

will be transferred to SAFSP to 

system development for the first 

The $110 million FY 1970 Obligating Authority for MOL 

termination looks about "right" at this time. This FY 70 

OA, plus the small amount of MOL FY 69 and prior funds not 

expended by June 10, will pay for all work continued on 

MOL contracts after June 10 until total termination, plus 

all termination costs. Most of the funds will be expended 

in the first half of FY 1970. A detailed financial analysis 

will be available about the end of this month. 

MISCELLANEOUS: 

Because of the large number of MOL contracts across 

the country, the AF Contract Management Regions, their Navy 

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counterparts, and the Defense Contract Administration Service 

will all be involved in varying degrees in MOL termination. 

General Bleymaier is negotiating working agreements with each 

because of security considerations and MOL contract 

arrangements. 

Dr. Yarymovych's Ad Hoc Group of SAFRD, Air Staff, MOL, 

Hq AFSC, SAMSO, NASA, and DDR&E people, established to insure 

that maximum national benefit is derived from MOL residuals, 

had their initial planning meeting in Washington on June 30, 

The formal review will begin about July 10 on the West Coast. 

Their report will be submitted o/a August 1. 

FUTURE TERMINATION STATUS REPORTS: 

Monthly status reports on MOL termination progress 

will be submitted as long as they seem worthwhile. When 

appropriate, special subjects will be reported on as they 

occur. 

JAMES T. STEWART 

Major General, USAF 

Vice Director, MOL Program 

Cys: SAFUS 

SAFRD 

AFSC (SCG) 

AFRDC 

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