: poograned, ‘Lookhest had installed ;

: ese, The teniote period Conia | the vephicle borng

“~

Spabiatte, to make react to earth bound 1 afustnent commands. & vol.

In adastion, the: SAM coco ovbtt confused the

fet vehicle te. guidance and cokrol Syston remit 4 in the premture.

‘mustion ‘of. the: control wae The mica emt was thatthe





Stiice ‘the. close of the Second. Workd War American -

military ‘serviess hgve been’ activiay interested in. earth-circling

“satellites Pertinant German reasearch came to the attentior

¥sythe RAND Corporation. undertook ibility ss dies

telii te, * ‘2 .
- ‘htependent service, ‘oquested sero estal plish a.

prograni for. the further investigation of possible satellite ‘Gevelbpment. .

‘Daring the next few years, RAND stuiied. the problen under the code

pee _ By 1954 had :
“fame 5 Teeex Feedback. Athe compnay reported that. a space vehicle could



cA A chaice: to hepa 8 the: goon ‘ae

for wintry. ‘Power and addtional a’ ad ‘for atictude o control.

in the agene B seta atts the Air Force to. a Plan for delayed

: : ‘capsule attempts -.
ty neoorery: operations. ‘ictdachiemnctes Previgusly,: sui/recovery Cpanabiens—
yn atte wwe Bh ti,

were planned Gee ees Now, a3z. tetra ooulld Be
aon, pore, .

‘ consdiered . for iy as-tome-tays. cocaezenty, the flight.

‘Plan called. for a recovery ‘on the wiry to orbit which would

oceur in daylight hours: over the dee

a TM> ; —_ period had littie effect on ‘satellite.
opération or e Pecovery omg to ‘gake the xk teinate "pass he!

: thedty féret more desirable. than. the “fnitertne: cma.



desi icige. | 4 Fea " as: =
“aan ‘nattatedflnten study. ieee

a standin, Agen wehtele. fee acento to serve-all known

requirersnts. “ae Nov 61)

and oli .of Defense Research and Prgineesin,
Rabel poceted Aad sdmpaicd 2 tian:
Ae ode: a further quali fleation that the conepet, be’.

‘Peviewed further after ‘tonabe ‘ockheed. completed ‘the. ne ten]

{ltr ¢ 6 Nov. a)



Sovee fottonte: Spent, the My -Foee oa 2 planet pro



: fie te mm

one e plogamed, and reortainted Atel with toe angie ‘ind in

“the. forvard ponttion However, by the tenth oy the vehicle

: Progen -nanagers decided. 1 te _attsigt a recarery. isn the second:

Tin. orbit rather than the fourth, - it thon eee ground command,
. . @ oe a
stir thé vehicle efectea the capsule, but into a new and tighas

orbit, Simarthe e vehicle's: abet, -wanoog

dais of ‘alomatay tte tad that: ma ersten ea .

slectric ibakets. (ws? 4 Hoy v4)
(AF OH ay f



econd stage | Ssatelli te vehtele.tneting the necessary subeystais
and, Casting ‘about. for zum Possible. subcontractors to develop these subs
Lockheed Sonolnded that perhaps a Rig fed Propulsion system would’ a

: should ‘be. co
(L 32 Jan. ts P sree

wolopnent program,’ Bell. had ‘Hoon ‘a subcontractor vod
(ont Diary, nm, 22 oy ST)and Uy Nov 57). -

Convair at Ft. Worth )
on ited Oogge ee Gms 2g a ;



F tak of a firen decision on, the Class | of ei by the “aemed Force

_Boplosive: Satety Board mecave the Pes completion of | 2 ‘storms

fasts for the soldd rockets in time far" mk ‘the first launches.”

on ait
ir Force farsonnel hed to teat wax for the ‘board to Serta te

. " eauled inadvertenthy :
the. ‘rooksts * mam exploded or burn, ae This would determin

S: ape iiiunts are AR
“the nature ‘of, (ealttng Svell bs. = Cris San
Es the ¢ mecntine emp nenegers nade agnor to hosue .

“tins rockets. Lompérarisly in an $et000 me cons tructon used “

wy, the ‘Bie Scout program. . .

, Pinally in October the safety board ruled that these rockets’ would

- not inddvertenly, explode and in February. construction began ona:

prefabricated metal building near. the Thor, Launch pads.

- Gnterviow with Uppeb J B Ranhut, SSNF, 6 Mar 63)
additional”
Douglas * ENTRAR Provided snow ground equipment

&
- ‘te. accomodat i t cont

launch complexes and readied Pa 5

-aee


a ‘the Senta Cruz teste: obitatn eerioation had -

tO 46, be. overcome’ tnely

Nevertheless, teste had: confirmed ‘tha
48 the. previous Aenea A model-~the R81

corfour mimtes." ty 6m “bencs's « |



‘nother ship. Subsequently, the ‘capsule ja: delive:

on 18 ‘August. ”
= orbit Actually: setominttatenn at “one point “the

- itself. on subsequent passes. While on the seventesnth yaxa. orbit |

“| ‘ satellite Programmer. sutomatically intitited: the recovery sequence *

wxExX over the north pot:

§ recovery y force's, homed in on the. capa’ oH Deacon: signal and

. “ 4n ‘the’ afternoon’ sky. aoa
: visually sighted the canes On the hind pass under. ‘the sapeule as.



5 to lisigesion aye propulsion! systen desien ‘and the. fuel,

of eed ag recommended a Blightly ‘heaveir and higher energy fuel,’
a ‘Setubal hydr .

aznie, ©

Kz 4pese. ; -
wh hp one 3, P 20393 Wkly Diary, : 2 Ma Mar 38) (a5 ape/=pt9

a signe: increase.’ i thecsise,

1 to 20,

aloesiney

thingy ti



Prior to sedeehovieué,

‘to 3 Centon. ann had to modifyy sons of tha ground | wo

ve feet shorter, som: malin,
wv thatn the old combination. *~

r was normal and ‘the new combination iftea off the pad at’

Roon.and rolled ious southward as rogrammed, 10~-Die ~
“but instead of separting from the Thor and’ heending into orbit the Agena
plunged back to. earth with theTMbooster, . : .

‘ . fete _a malfunetion /'s Ss oO -
‘Telenetry,shoved’ that nthefAgena ‘timer febiewe prevented a sepration

~ se ROUGH DRAFT



‘The first modi fie
(hist rpt, Jul-Dec 62)

“F, chriical cartcatis ‘

several postyoneuanta on the ped. Finally: si on 26 rah

196,

Q new " gamiconciione booster conbination rose ‘off its ‘pad pushing an.
, ‘gona D into the sky. Howoyor, the Wwebiele veered off course and

‘the Pacific Missile Range xtaiy’ safety officer sexier pushed the

the anes hardware. .
button to ost see /

the: ized Rocketdyne ‘engine, spyreached liftoff thrust,. a purrent fron

ine obese

rough installed cirouits was designed ‘to. sepia’ ‘the three solid
: : 4

‘notors. However, in ‘in thes case , there wa an improper connection
me, | as : Ys

. which cuased one solid motor not to ignite. Thus an Agena was

inadvertantly lost. on what was in essence thé first ‘flight..test -

of this particular mami hardvare combination: a

Despite the initial seta, ndoxbtety ‘the: th

Thor would be used as a booster for future space "rltghte measiring

‘thrusts ratings between that of the DM-21 and the more powerful, but .-


them.

Bseparate

ted d yey facilities:

‘after their arriy
deme: ® fous d second stage veheiles, Upes hair
st aces et a
el Chery 'c jas mired lin, Aegon to.

sbout the Bane ‘tine the corps had comple

‘ these faetlities inspection, .
Foros’ © sontrectars ite installed | mat/naintanance, mai and

‘heckout. samt .



- Agena, D Progran, the entire ordain oncept was to steefaline

“te ootabl hm within the , Soave Satins Piven a * epparste | Agena, D
: _ Progran, ottice, Sertiy, remponsible ‘to Batam Te office shovld
* tnelmde’ “eretmering and. contract aditnintrative fimetione. wat

- Shriver te spproval, Pitta shee Colonel F B Buobeium to vs the

Be

: “program asector, In n addition Schriver authorized direct Comminieatio

"between: Kucheman 's office and General Holampple'e. ottice at. Air Foca

a heaton tar for, contact at. ‘that command lene or higher

(ate 2k, Nov 61,1 ltr 20 Now &)

* Lockheed Missile and Syace Company setablished a Separate”

| organ ation for’ the Avena D porgran headed cm Fred: ¢ 0tGr0en and.”

_ Biysolaliy located xa apart fron the. rest, of. tne Sumas Plants

- O1dreen had “ye comprehensive authority insluding control over

: 2 (cou atens at, Aug


The Morgen, boonter-atel te couisination Tepresentad

an carly and mbox Bajor Air Force dchievenent in that’ it was;
. the first hardtvare Combination to progress a almost routing
‘amnohings and peylonab mm zecpventes.- Taine each. stage

was used with other space hardware combination, the MEForee : °

nb : .
aged: ine typteteges soi St than ay other =m

: combination, The original Thor-Agena flight proposal, was a
in Jamary 1958, increased to 10, B, 15, 19 and then | 2s Atents
| ty 30 tert 1959. . Shortly after: te e first complete  Aitght sucesses,

tends, orb, and Capsule recovery=-ix a new F production goortt

Doge in August 1960, The approved total ove ward from % “to I,

: then to bh, 605, and 65 by July 1962, Of mummy: comparable or ghéater
Depeuse >
“apentance, Director of Devetopnent, Research and Tagineering in. 2 etaber 196

. " peoduction
2 had authorised inaftinite contimata: n of *eeciagihe to provide moines,
sdegusiat munbers of There and Agenas for’ a viet of space preci,

(oas0d ‘largely on: USAF Space Programs, I9ls-2962)



rae an oe gens :
‘Personnel form both Wright, center and the’ divis ion

Sag seer gen i Storetary of the air ‘Force Donald A.

oppor. riyb: ¥ “ geareatly
Quarles, and. the Predldnst'e Science avisory Commitee 7 ‘rovect : dhe, Phn,

The oat nl plan aalied for a two stage vehitla whiebicould, be ‘Yaunobed a

Myited States, tertitory. The yooster or firet stage would
‘be an intercontinenbél ballistic missile-which would fall away

when the engine. burned out at about 3,000. mi ch pad.

the second otage would be ahe orbiting vehécle, which would have a

_ oki propsion systen to supply the necessary power”

where an orbit would, be assuned;: anf

the vehiole in the-proper attitade.



operated

a ell the engines warttionnixin v

(Jen. 6a, Feb ‘gy: :
the engine would operate in orbits A The: Six Force compl dhrdtthe



‘the Programmer would: axip an ‘orbital’ sycle..

capaule , .
spparently nal fur toned and prevented/ covery,

“2 On 3M Mareh 1961
- A Aechnicans Jaunehed for the first’ time a'Th Pena

a CaceofeHaaye- - +
convineion, guided, by ‘the\Bel. Relerhine Labogatoris

The Thor. had:used fe axtoptiot and Frogramer: +6 perform trajectory

aoe With the Bell guidance sSysten a. mdre accurate taser

+ Soul be. had, Tk addition the Rak canister in the’ thor” connected

‘ oy wire | to tha Agena akioh’ controlled the ‘second stage engine ore

; senttion, and mvbcartmeemis other. oi lad isms.

"the. booster = eetifpace and shoe Separation ana d engine, ignition

- Pein swt, but 20 seoohytor to angine ooh repia 2

> ap. in hydraulie pressure caused the Joss. of aigite control resulting’

+

in rs velocity being less hin required to athain an orbit,

“ROUGH Dna



eo:

“Knowledgeable - persons with ‘the'S

"were . dubious about th Proposed program.’

Is. i: ase 6 6 Nov 62). ‘he opr srettetiy compressed: tine

m the Vehicke, and “

“ asoording ‘to the recomendations, foimal tool design would. not be -

ed (Bvens 6 ‘Wov 61):

’ : ‘Nevertheless on? ¥,venber 1961, Gharyi approved the e Jonson :
oo rhs?

edures.” (7 fioe “6)

str
oaals, wii called the rea hsos
ee



‘THOR-AGENA
STORY:

-» d¥aft preparad vy

Clyde R, Littlefield '

Tt
a wt

“Gontente:

“. Ghap' 1. = Introduction

Ghap 2 - Thor Adaptation

Span 3 = ~ Agena Developuent ce eS

~ onep 4e . Launch, Flight, ain. Zecovery aa
Chep:5 ~ Agena Do

Chap 6 - Thrust Augmented Thor :
; Chep, 7 = Conclusions 4



‘had prove Sieselv/etee « @ space Progran manager requested, ihn aly i , 162,

tet that the. guidance syste be ued to" Provide greater trajectony
: sone ett launchée from Vingooers Air Force Base.

missile |
Be ‘ayttenchad: sicconenty guided early "tan and Thor/tast Flights

4 “and Thor boosted reentzy vehicle test Aiea and there was evalliple —

"-ground . ~ aenipment at Venienberg 4 intel by the Titan wm Pomgren,



With those -pisittive-reports, the Air Force faat that

“'-4% could begin hardware development under: the title WS 117L: -

"The Air Reseaok ‘and Development Command beloived that, it would’
“be best for Wétarn Developan,Disiaton located in the Los Angeles are

yo’ atta los Angeles division managed! ;

obs mnage te soe

fe vanuistte misetle fougeen top national priority program en :

ince - etiam systen would have to use a missile ‘aS urinate

of Sacre.
fre Chonse, atteunt ‘bo remote


In yx ereat part due to the oneineering and neinagertal

Air F
sidas of/space program personne? in Los Angeles > the Se Taoe-Agena.

: -soncern was: a fto the "Agena to: achieve a polar orbit, later there

"Mone ater. tes in the: the .: ‘ground-shtellite commmoxations, ©

capsale ejects ‘
and atin ike wi? Mettude control, and Slee election and reen +

Pro. Febresry 1959 Peeps Decem bin SICA, - 4
ee

bo vewe, 2 or and Sega . Atthoubgh inane the first

flown

wtage may be. uaa: in combination with anohtar configuration,” ,

or F second

ord

by fare the’ niost ‘Air Force satellite Latnabes have been % ith
“the Thor- Agena - ‘soxbination. The Phr-Aena combination hes

Proved the back bone of the, Air Force" space program,

-ghte have - ‘pecone ereiplgnay m more successful. At firet the Primary.

Farce. wed lascnhed tthe, :

Sr Stem.

yy



inate -at- Palo Alto, “ten, ahippand. the ‘vehicle

engine’ fring ana system checkout" Santa “Oras : Pro

“The Mr Force planneds/that setint etna

‘north’ ‘ot Senta oras ‘be used, for static firing and a complete:

: ee Sea Sote' ‘en on So,
» vgyetens checkout: of the entire vehicle,*: Dev’ Plan Mar 58)
oan ee 2400 rae - tan Cine lial s
Workers completed the components. test la labor tory in April, cor

2 he tro: ,
‘and Finished tha somata tapttcatetesdnd anenaiate v



“of the Agena D development phase, Lockheed fabricated sever

a) : cone
ce-tot oputakion test. rns to: Proof: tet ne

premarin ‘systayend se dual’ stert onmabtiity of the. rocket »

inate, eteta te

iota of the destien, (te 23 Fin Jan 2). .

Ast “deve 29pm nt test Vehicle 1 was SoG on’ 3n March 2 March 1962
. wa Sec hheod sf. Lorre faxi -
wat ‘te anes

fivvh Lome. -

hot. Santa Crus on 23: May. 1962. (ltr 33 a

ens vhexe necessary, hot firing,
Pefeg 4-2) .
iF

gaan

it te eipprot exxof all ssing programs, (ver 13 Jun 62)

chassis. For a1 ‘vehotles prior to that one, lncktheed we anf

checkout equipment. However, tl romans i fe §

: ee
onl... | .



he Tookheed. ‘Goncerning the development contract as: a. a result of proposals:
. o, F,
7, - a forina for (memo: Ur e 62
‘and. counter propasels revolving sround/{neentive feee. Ate. 22 Mer 62

“ROUGE

“By tis time over half of: the veheiles, were. in Process of Lenton

- - The bac
. + (ti, Mar 62) Stee ah (Reece we aiviai on fae Gee sege/d
‘Wttercontraste, “may have ’ ‘ :
25 Apr 63) 2. i ~ a
{tr an er fa) fehl y a



But when this ‘aotesen wi made, the  guidinoe systems ere.

still under development. Develapers gradually decreased the minis

wigant of the aon dadto~guidance sys tui, whike the sehekgeatiy’ :
. ; Reavine datpertinn systen gained more weight. by the end of 1959 :
the cparatoniy congigured Thor guidance aysten weighed 2,800 pounds.’
. Bel ‘had a rte st weight to,1h0. pounds Et four “7 2

* successfully guided reentry vehicle tests. during wnspeiret half of. ;

1959. The Rane configured bysten was used in Mitel flight tests

“Bovina in February 2960. “The Bell ‘Byeten! also contributed. to

ae snecessiul ‘Lemon of a- The boosted: satellite foan ape: Canaveral

_ 00 1 fori 29604 Po OB om
At Vandenberg, ° *

. : Abs ‘Dirt of th titan propre, sam th Air Frc had

. ‘eatin

oy, cell,

SS = consequently, the: ground kee ‘equipment

— al

booster! rammed tre ey the di : Ss of
cog ter 's
the x bee nev 3. programe ajectary, vision minh deoidad ‘to use



oay on. 3 ‘Sune ‘the crew Bonpadtedaresuntdom: witha a leanch Which’

ine

“was. to ind om The “Yaunch sient, ascent, vehile

‘separation; ‘Agen, a coasts nd: engine, boost were accomplished as



, ade Ao
For the, Ry a D contention,

®
.-:

KgenatBsincPitght.” Micept £6r a change in the turbine’ exhaust duct

- Howeve: rn in order to insure positive identification the as Foros
, cian model IRBL-Be-l (ater. toon Jul 1 605 “ltr 3 dug &).
. . During i962 National keronantics and 4 Space Admininstration
“pote et fr a amie en eA The ,
vebvibdaty space ageey wanted to’ usecthe: Agena as eer As renitpous
5 veh in. the Gemins oer bit in order to nator
“with wottss orbiting-vehicle, in pane oe able to: “
mae & ssjnetntia in ite fight path.;, Ths Space: Systems. Piste.
; 4 direbtad sae Tgsttaa te suraeconceency snppovonanta to
reet 8 thex Gemini requirenents ‘but at the same time > este: the, onetne
: to be campetable with the Agena D. _Attor -te 1963 * sente, “the division :
". mighb adopt the miltiple start-engine as the x stanterd a tin Agena D,
: Thorp#indipal task at hand was to s

+ the sold wDage rockats and diitne

the bedi genmreten vv valves


<) to soar mf into the sky and curve woubttiwapd: in
. ~ but. the fesna failed erbiene, sufficient.
: Log Lop’

Se



“om sted ees cei. ga hat Sante Grua!
Completed propulsion test sasenmee/ The entire | E



Shen
a the ‘fies .
weld ontbratsn, = one

i “ five Seconds aston countawon mz

‘ctntea§ andi!

40 allow . ‘train to pass,

+
—_






ee

Se aq Ss
“tne feasibiiity of sind stting the vabdce. Caled

RSS Sea

ieee a ees ;
cicneod foted ses "six erecely dissintler’ operational: ane ons

: ne He

Advest that seemed feasible was “then fabrication of three or four



i febrtcation fectlity. _ These otc prttotantd with | ‘Diores

7 “and. his péreonrel in al 1 matings

discuss tons, ry evaluations and

* decisions at ‘ths: cin tractor's taotisty.

ns Space Syaten Division pereonne, as lee

the Air Foren Plant prom

on arrangenonts under sr Colonet tahoe aecton . In this kindof":

. Yelationshtp, + 9

Be .

the Air Force Progran director’ Was sohualiy involved

7 “in what amounted toa contintng fact finting creation with the

contractor 's program ' manager, (te 13 Aug 62)

hy the few People. from the Space’ Syetens Division : “

‘ Ake Force Plant Representatives otto, and Tooktheed who were”

Ed had ‘esponsibie roles ‘in the eer to. ite ‘peration, of the |

‘sens -alD program had access to @ a restricted area Rjecent to the

. Ayena. a assembly line. |

_ order ‘to help Air Force and Tocinesa engineers Aeteriing

‘a suitable design, the co:



intograt id" weapon systen tests and combat washing Lmnohes
: : ‘
of both. ntermmatata and snteroontinental, x Fangs. “Ait, cary in, 1958

tha ats Toons de

". : launched into’ po orbit, and considering, veri se, a outta



/Bbout the time RAND was completing ite study, the Air Force”

eotablished « a research and devepmet Brogran on ‘an advanced

‘ecomatseance sytem “Seeneqnm eens toon

a Weight Air Development Center, Dayton, Ohio, was responsible for 5

: managing the Progra. called Froject sf) Mtr. ‘Force:}persbiitek ‘aade

intensive Yeasibility- studies iBplading such critical semponentt

8 ‘contracts to Radio Corporation « of Ameria, ana L. Martin Company, and

‘Vookheed Mreraft Corporation. for the Purpose of £ aterpining

-Tecomaisance xix satellite system could be cemaepd within :

‘time span which would warrent a full seals sivetopna ‘stort,

‘These Pied. Piperstadies:s

enimt tact wea eontrdctire showed ‘the

. cyt could be sind



Tos" ‘sngetes space Progren’ managers, ‘pproache? thetéatellitet -

comp onents were’ '-' which ones
pets development Drang what F/avai aie and/rieadineeded

te

to be develope ; cat ie this ‘method “the” + manager® 0 ‘could shorten overall

| development stag anid reduce costs. ‘oxeve ‘emopotentsdeveorent

. was ore mitt jis “Purposes “behind the early sniellite concepts.



: thirty mimtes later ers
Fadio signe te second . vainéraft stented cx the

weit, “the worstning sea ‘and weather pond tna plans were “abanids



The Air Force has’ stablish

‘after computing the orbital. period afound the:
: %o thet “Pemoctiengermmix/a : omosborachtos

ae trothern

\-  yehicleborn :
“eoula sajuat the/timer Dect” a0 that’ tke.

air.and ground” a ao
American. ona eae failed to! ‘tind ¢ “the ‘capsuel although:

- 5 Bas Fore poeta a
local cbeervare had: a sighted ed jas howe to: befacedain :

parachate ‘and foi: ‘chaff.”



“performance of the engines ani the effects of their‘ exhausts: in

the new envigyiment. “In order to reduce the Probability:

oo conbustion stability in the main engine, the, dtvieian directed
aceatayn to inet a baffled injector in the M3, Block II engin.
The modification had been successful. “in similar engines used by the.

itlas vboster... ‘ea 1-tug 62).

Pom


6% :
; ie 2 dm, the division extablianea ‘such. aboard. —

asta te
sects shh mee r bocster oifice xupronmcianar often and



~The. space divisior
‘with reimbursable: funds; ttiat’
“had an alloted | ~':
Jmmiboganadccatete

‘fund for sboemettemrbrax dine



vous ne 1986 thiecugh 6," Ye Les Boreham oceo
tie span of Seven mn years). the. destérn Development . cao

—_ the “havanaea Research. Projects Agency These adntnistrative
scvngennt were denionstrated in the go-sioe attitude pitied
y iseistant Sééretary of Defense Quarles an 1956 and 1957, the
~~ ‘of mumerical srdere published by the sytial defense agency,

“during 1958 and'1959,, and ‘the continual dialogue Bet!




in, the next egitfomtiguntion, the Be Forse yor delayed the.

"Lena ‘anith 3. Novenber. Gu no rpt, Ost 59):

on Pet tour :
H owevery seman abortive countdowns dalajad a Vannetsenitt for.

oS getual :
- four sign. ‘The/Launeh and” orbit soqusttion Wasa Completeg success.

“but 3 botinen that tine ant fee. ‘iret pass over *hpinnstidiana, t
Dattery ;

bod muri lary po powers mpi saa, imetitie etic ton,
Mazon Since Te opens ion of the guidance ayston, te :

“sodomy and gyro, 0 stabtitzer, depended on: that power, 80 consequent

Crews also found it impossible to activate

Heda” began to tumble.
revovery capeule ejection seqengo., :



“Increasing Launoti' Rate

j ” the inate ation for Space. Projects.

sre, the some would :

os Pallistic Mn ssiles Somttee aa not apErove any. ‘aaemeed aiodi Pt cats on,
a

. until, Sune 2960.



Paces ag January”
"space > Perponee was on ‘the mk horizon. In retworrect/the ans fe



‘In October 1962, '»

the “division Sade son terre arta

with pts t& hove. the chassis and associated sin aro

. “wersonot-an uses

| They were. te be stored 5 a ‘suttaable savtorremnt

‘on a. ¢ firet tn firetaont, basis inorder to Gad vt aatig nd

B ‘woathsiing. * (iat: 12' oct 625

ltr 2 Nov 62; hist rpt Jul-Dec 62)"

“Stage oosta ee -(

tirected “the Froduo tion rate be cut back to ‘three fx) er month, ~’

he

Gre review 26 Jax 62)



Chepter-2-
THOR ADAPTATION’

are Novenber 1955. the Department of Defense assigned
lithed
ballistic mis, Le

a developaent 0 of “the. ‘Thor ‘2,500 nile internode

ty te the Air “Force, By the end of the year the ‘Air Force! s Weotern

os , Devehoaent Diviaton: ([Diseitebint Senbiieetirtigerto-peresin,

had ‘let a letter |

ballistic missile, 1

Under "evelopment for the tong "range | mieatles, the x Thor developmeiié

a “time | was 6. greatly, lessened... He. fact, jek finrteen | ‘nenthe : after i
_ ‘the contract award, flight tests began at Sus Canaveral, ‘and ‘they .

\.,” Sontimed until February 1960 after 49 thors had been expended”



ariente, ;
. as ee as, a orbit ‘the igen wan ora tate ted‘ and. reas zed

thirty—ththd orbit as Planned, but die to a miscaloulation the.

foestonan, the tore force piskna up the capsule! 8 electronte

‘Lthin a’ few hours
sme men reactied

. _ amc dumped into. the water, inflated a raft, and by men the

ote was Safely ondinas raft. The next & morning



“(TWX 30 Nov ‘aye be :
: pian to be Presented in Washington. / The divsion's ‘plan iricludea

protein of moré. The division estimated ‘that. ‘the Bropran voula

“cost 8. 9 mt Lon site Fines year 1960 and $8815 Dison ae 1963.

"Ths. the. intention of the Director of Defense Research and

Taconering that tha ‘Agena D. “program be budgeted & a separate line item,

Howevet. ‘principelty bectise: the using prograns: had  maroiaty ean a

: ‘tuned for fiscal 1962 (dostnang Afena, rrosupest), 9: i was not undtl |

an Magy 2962 that iia Air Force rms _ converted funds to cover”

the: Mona D chete development, socoering and  aitusteia facie requironente 4

a bugntea Program. Until that tine, Ajene D buyers were operating |

on ‘a system of reinburaable’ funds whereby the using Program would pay. the
coe, ; for proturiay Bervcas harchnce,
= ‘gona D program A(x 8 Des 615 ltr 19 Dee 615 ltr 2 Apr 625. Deni

es aaadde ROTH DR AL



* ‘sunding continued,

‘date for the. first

Pog oF

Se a :

: tanith Set thet Lf. the qemmaxt devel of

current: -

ch Seberfed

se: Septanher 1959 would be a realistic c treet

Launch. Horeve, a more desirable lawabint ounding—

| Wer asaaiatctee tsoat 1958 and 142.5 million for fiscal 1959—~

‘would, iensbid: sattintd nc in March 1959. The Air Force Council

: mel ‘recoimended the "desirable deyel" of funds, but before

Sevier Yaian launched

the Respiey Sutnigk J on 4,
anal: Peper casée,
- : : PONS eed. cc!
: a Yew says bYen, ie : the ‘cles. 56 “vel
Foamy Air Forse’ secretary Jams H Douglas! approved ~t Force

headgunters released suxctimoatiotaien net. itis 1958 aaa te te

aeriaton., When the new defense secretary

‘én 29 October 1953;

Ne 1. .MeELroy was brieted

he was. so extn ‘he ‘sirected tre inmediat-

we
release of ‘the valance | of the" 1958 funds and ‘that they’. rogram

. Proceed as rapidly

pede

Shel


!

‘The Comnitee belived that the ‘Tye 1962 Launch date could

. the Air Forse met oes
Tree Ui ftitteen Condi tions. sameThese were:

hy

a program. :
be sitdlar ta that of the: |.
‘drawings to tool, -build and serfice the yshio:

Do, “he. The engineezS should be located in a secure area -imiediatiy
"> adjacent to the, tooling and mamifacturing area. _ eo 2

: "A rapid drawing Telease system (2 hours maximum) from:
engineer!s~approval to ‘the manufacturing, group is ‘neqessary,

8. Fundigg should. be ssmmmxkinx adequste and tinly,

ve 7. Delete technical directive: neetings inviaving lar;
Have Air’ Force Personnel working close engough with the LMSC , .
, Missile and Space C REoject engineer so that formal meetings are: :
not ‘required. Keep. extranghous visitors away. eS

[fees 8. - Reasonable overtime mikk should be, approved. In some. cases
. ‘this may come after and not prior to its use. ° oo : oS
9 hie Force approval of vendor selection mits should be furn:
‘on the spot at Sunnyvale

. Single source procuremnt is necessary,
,& short written record of why this was done must be kept on file, i

eee) Tooling should be of the simplest type that will give
interchangeabiaity, as atated an the basic Agena "D1 spot fication. :
No tool OP ‘outside approval of. ‘tooling shougd be ‘equired,

: ii. Jpterchangeabiiity on the first, four Ageria’ "Dist wily”
‘ ‘be-Limited to major structural and equipment items. - onrs, for: instance.
"may require trim to fit, ‘ : .

“, 12.° No engineering analysis reports, should be required, :
to the old system of using the basic engineering Yepopts, which furnsih
' ‘Comparable data. : .

p Ps 23. crc pea should be made avaiaable at Vandenberg
ad #2-~ Comer 75-1), ‘ ; .

. “15. The
. and ‘delegated er
communications and“co:
‘directives? sh



e Nevertheless y Air Force satellite: owe 'a! gheat debt

: to other ‘programs voflghe of the: components and systems “ee :

were mate sain various ae of.

> for the, B58 program.’ This fect, is not Kat many pettoeninte

Schad ‘a a. and that improvements were desirable. Bell vedéeigiiedd:
—

thesshyihestorse at energy fuels later increased the fuel burn time:

and established, a restart capability,” and then went on to increase

af

* tne thrust,

’ Following Sputnigk, the decision to use the ‘nor as a booster,

"Was predicated’ on the fact that the missile would be availablo. before

“ths ottier Air Force alternative, the Atlas. Nevertheless, space ba

Ao)”
; phe | =
Projedt managers were not satiofied “er taste and so consequély m

redesigned ‘the. frame and. increased the gine thst, and selected ‘hat

"they though’: was an improved fash carob in ‘the Hafaho progran,

In a further, effort: to‘increase the first stage booster cavacity, 2...



Ge. determination | of any ‘future ronimmretion chasse,
(aw e008 rk 13Ja} 62)
; Qtr u Jay 625" ltr 9 7 duty, 623. ltr 25 Sp 62).

” was vas aglieal’ “tO. ‘define 2 configuration ‘baseline’ ‘bt. te Coe CH

: OF oazel ae geeere thie chassis saltscnt fee eithtte.

A ocimentatinn as Pre sernted. cos : r : co

Tooiteed. took action ‘bo. make the necessery correstions as recomnendes :

te ln i torte iam inpected te a

ws

ana determined that the douunentation | was aaequate to mmmi defing

TM rae te, ,
Pitas arian sim The team: “nog ‘asrectcbls Force ~~

douctmentation’

PE aan snspecte

f BAB reoth chases 5
Preduedionsundi

a Ch phe: ; ,
\Plant representapive to began accepting’ the ‘witha SACO Mo’ mah



: another week . :
The. actual Litters Was Satinags. deqyaed/by several, abortive

adhe * aed -



: The Thor-a,, ena conbination ‘had. “been a: wabng oni dannch

Be several weeks before. final

ach.
a Thor-igen had been installed on v(t ent “rows did not ~

"emmmieex. ot such bad luck, only one ix postponement ‘th

fie sixth £14

; al days ‘tol



tener ‘the m2 Pisilicntocna. “The principle dittereme we

mee ‘and that of the operational. configuration was that
Meine ‘section, where the ‘AC Spark: Plug

Hricance Svten _
. 4 five feet.
rteied/ The space: prgrenmers were not using a

to another, the dmntractor’ could install: the ‘ies, x

xa mage’, PCOS TIM SEL iret,

rim ;



On. each Right, te e Ais Force

. “m(L vol:2)..
oa Special telemetry famtpmente a”

Br



Feb, 565). CT
: “ countdown a& the’ first £1 ght ier Stncer:the: Brogran speci

a . without recovery capsules; | .
‘ony te!  SBsepriptin AgenssA* the. next. Stet ould. ed

. arry 8 recovery capsule. | ¥
*dimota. pdreslanl *t Mah 39) we tine ‘the crew: ‘laumoea ani

Agena. anto- orbit .
at the end of the: first couitdown,



Pesrwbile i ee
“a Fhe Space ‘Systens. Division 1 eed let acontr

. raved proasdires for eotting the standard sgn D4 into:
‘ cerlier operation." ” A week later tne committee reported its 2 findings
- char « Propésed = pacers whch it thought would

* “result in a * Jane 1962 first 7aunch, and the posesblty of starting

. “a standard: ‘Prduction of five p

‘a reliable: vehicle



: Kor the Atlas mimxtey missile,. the Rocketdyne Piriston
of. Nort: Ameria ‘Aviation Gompany was devettpiang ‘aorcwaartet
booster: sa two vernier ‘enginde: with thruste of 150,000 Pounde a ‘ana

oe for tx ‘each: booster and 3,000 pounds for "each verter.

In sarly 1956, the. Air "Force directed Rocetdyne to. att one. of. the

booster orgies ant soon: the: two Vernier Yonge ‘or use in the a

“Thor a missile. “Recketayne vas/fattver the required, cngiase to

Peas tho, wat carpongtite

tips instatlation tn the: -mtnétintrane

“Dodges received Somtbe
ant ma:

Senki) Zoho Lighiéstasts in November 1958. _ , S

static and | 7 difficeinties
“However, uty Proviouk/21ight tests revealed mochnongocey



£ Baljistic Myssile Division postponed ::

in both Pilate thet the satellites had, not: ‘aghetved sufficient

velocity: at ‘the’ time. of second ste Dumont, 4 ito:

desirable but ‘hot essentaal
jequipnent “a and instrumentation,



; Meanwhile in March 1956, an Air, Foroe board convened at

. weet center ‘to study the Pied iver csign ant to recdnend 2 a.

contractor for, hakéware evelopment. Te board Peoonmeridod Lockheed ee

as the" “prime systems contractor ‘ana this action tras sidosoquentiy” approved poe
. aa 7 Departnent ot Bhssnas. The Air Fores formally averded the contract “t

to Lockhed's Missile and Sapce Division. at: + Sarre, Oalitoria

on, 29 October 19564.

a



| guidanée. system in -tex®enex

; tekciboniioey. At-the. pad,” me ; * guidance
Seitenmntturticr Technicians installed lets

. _ . Servek
_ ground syeten 80 that at Soul Sansa zen launches several

; ‘povided
: On this inch, techriioans emesl/an open: oor circuit
FEN Q an pes).
“aysten. Aunts, 1 this time booster teajotory had depended on ‘tha -

‘the Stostea otzeutt, kaskutesks any slight devatatich: ftom the desired” :

oy path sould: be. oatrected, RO : i DRA

th dapat Leon and flig setiatactory ugh
minima ‘ctncans ¢ de

‘on the + six ABEA fae van re “seni



‘was: responsible, for. the e refurbishing: ‘of the Rta 2-5,

Block Z,enginee,



wert at: “their -

©, Rmemmmmba
" preseribea Locations cece when the parachute opened.

and @ c-19s: sirpratt snagged the felting package on the first attonpt

: esectea the capsule, al elements of the recovery foree.

Babsequent to capsule ejection, the ground signals reoritipfed the Agena

to the normal hit orbital ath tude. pore = ieiy recormed: a stable

fetiatne-ooarts for te moat two. days ei SoHE thchfens etc

bowenysource no ” donee had the energy to keep the atistade control -

ROUGH



eet atroraft and sbhips of the qoeorsny force that

Sunk With thé help of »



might f ten 2h ant ate 1959: to ite In the mantine, if the dir Fores

with an anthortaation ofr. four more © Mtcsmmrines 1 me2h ‘poco tare

cv 26 tv 60) “Attar the ° Spam ‘the Thor office’ had: made. ‘presentatio:

io sects te Air’ Research andDeveloprent Command headquarters

Abr ieteriel Command headquarters and the Air Staff, Warkt

Z : “(Ltr 12 Dec 60)
asking for peraiarion to- “procure 48» more: wsstlee, Machington approve

an additional procurement of l2ata coated production rate of two

. _s would ep the Thor assembly
per month. this December axthontiseton teach we, Thor eave



as ion, By 22201 se

“he Bee stun 6. PB 2-are

LON Tag were in Yoon
it Santa Crug Pe-acceptance ‘testis seeing
cee c4 “nelodecl |

‘bot omeind: Strings ‘napections



: . ‘sea and ‘air : a
planed poise, aso bot 5b tent the/recovery. forces 3

to 0 the, last, minnte Changes: only aircraft were 0 -able to reach the.
: moo revised 1 Amat areas. tsiciox“barovethe capsule ould normally
m= ena ‘eocean wanes, ‘Sete The “forces. sity”
“received” ‘scattered raddp. dignals” from: the. “eietn igi Pom

ompoule and nothing from the sixth Aight te. _ (oe rpt 3 i 9)"



: at the vaio: ot Bens
entintting boostdr j produc: luction

Moment

6;
‘ae Uy Mar Yar 61; ‘WK 30 Mar 63/0 ahs 1961; ltr 13: Nov 623. sete
contra 55 and ~6o) an



‘ ‘standard chassie. “According to. plan, Tookhsed iwowld, checkin:

i #mkedenipmantrpatiispente tn pasts a a “

a present ~
: > Sheckout ‘the entire Chassis and aetionr ,

» “Force personne! for ascetpance, “Sex Toetned wo

9 ‘optional: and yoert mission Peculiar spat Sento

7 ee! manually

“ctttng, Bhe: contractor would tnen/ ecko the entive

°F vebiole for. acceptance by the using Program personna( Uh r ee Dee ean
Tins oneal Ri taand correctly observed, teat in order. to have @ usable

7 d acceptanne . i
voice, ——- varnices were necessary,”

- (meno 25. sr. 62)



only one Leunch--complex Consisting 6f 2 lamch’ control ‘ioc

‘had begin wr on the first Thor launch faotities in the fal, of 1957

and as decision vere made in regardg to ‘the other fecttsties,,

Like the 11713 program
: cond activities tant atin ME with oyein Progr,

“the

qituted.

s Cif dal6a)
5 sould be completed iat ox Aiko Semen, Aix F,

the blockhouse fro



. mueiiea ‘tbo evetep the fret twelver Ae onas, D- were to be contimed

-Ancto the produotin Phares. + on Johnson ahd 4 Ritland: understood this,

‘ ° nesting ‘this. -sopreccha, Cate 25. ‘Arp 62) aks - Ky, - Low.

scoapted first tana ont on schedule (Lie 28 Arp 62).

Following the ‘Decenber 1961, issuance. of- the letter contract for .

a 2 mf chassis. ca 30

Cry ve ead


occuness -

on n 9 June. 1980, Diicenera:

trough ‘the. cutort of the Second’. stage cnet. ;

swlshitle failed to ‘achleve orbit. ‘etenstey: ‘omdamahamieait

pitah dae

: Saiveotigebten lieth the vehicle was_in’ so-tnrciayptstate

: during engine ‘operation. causing ‘the - vehicle to- “reenter the.

_ Haboaguent, investigation oot showed that the. o satelite ‘telnéter
trabemitter Antertared with BEoshdeprevonted the. horizon scanner to

perform eer, (us Q Aug.60)



—



"fine For the ‘iret fights; ieee

some’ of these zai shanks and consequently expenses,



10

retro. nah money to support..the febrication of the first 12
*, vehicles. ‘ ~ By. this tine, thetotal a7L ottort was under tze new a

sororse oonteety the Seoretan ‘ee mney mtg the ©

mang vebiean February and June.

AL:
Paring, December 1958, the savenoetRenearch Projects Aeoney
. iB "three |, ; ; 2
‘Givided the origi WS: 117L program te Suse projects ito of

these went Inclus the Abaas ‘booster. andthe. sik weudd retaing
a)

The Thor boosted progran . TRE 7
ond dnvelved Space. engineering test Finotione, biomedical esperinantaton,

: teretgmnt/Seorery techniques 2° -and asgociated military support activities. a

Presid ahr, on 17 Novenber 2),

- trariaferred the ‘Tor-tgmne (as the second stage “begen to be called)

to the Air Force -tactoox However, for ay Prog changed, Lemsometes

“the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division: woul have to rookitve2

Faeprovaa fron the. ‘Departnent of Defense Dizeotar. of Developaott,

‘Resoarch and Engineering, .



The Ain Force chose sites: 2k ty tomroraey.

fect « and equipment at: pote in Hawaji,

dnd Maske by fagust:

Cue

Font: Stevens: was: “approved: for’ the’



‘

Also. sdurthg.thé. crtspscatmosphere falowing fam the first

Sputnifc, both RAND and the Department of the Air Force urged thet

. amnted -
_—Thor boosters be used in conjuction vith Hooch 1L7L upperstoge

‘to provide an early space demonstr-tion. Tn. addttion two special :

. advisory groups created to consider steps, for reviving, United Spates
. :

prestige arpived indépendently at: the same conclusion.

of program “sccelération: base on sderséxpaniod | use of Thor-boosted

: Department of Defense's WE
estates, maietston were eanyea panding the/activation of. the new. .

Advanced Research Projeists somes The etre ihanagéent of the.

apmroved the Bhop-I27Ltcombination for“early'Cight tests and ca a

means of conducting. biomedical. exper:

Herston _Pemained func. :z.

The principal obstaclee eS aul

_ Not until. Jpne 1958 were the "various ‘proposals ard contents

oe

the Thor-WS_ uum phase



apply that work toward ‘mproviig, the os. restart ongine.

After several onthe of stanting, the Air Force sppeitied

. at of ‘the ‘new model “(tr 18 Feb 60; conte =347 couse
that 'nouth(shoubd be hi tines larger than: the taroat The” erate 2 60)

H
i
i

othe ‘ise  ditterences, the greater the. Speed: across 5 the throat and:

“the eroster the force cxerted against the nozzle’ extension.

At bot Bell's facilities and at ‘the ‘Arnold technicians tested nozzle

(nse Dees 3/Mar¢o)
Jitaniun proved

abrasive.
hari materials such as



begin droduction of the DMA21s, However, the, authorlty mtted the:

x

production to-"‘two per month, Sdumsx so the con tract specified



“-ventractors nad Propssed. artes y

“of, dnerastng @ the * thrust to i pte

4 In Ni-11, ims available for tae nT " Spare booster.

.

engines for RJ-1 consumption.



mo : ae

Tae development Plan had specified $32.1 milion for
“fiscal 19ST». "However, despite ‘the progran’'s high national 7

Betortty, tere was a wo diate rae of funds 2 during the, eming.

i mae montis scan ass: “opis thtchtc abd phoned: “ite.”

flaca) 1987 “budget ‘and sonsoquentiy shendiwes i time’ tg whine |

‘the ‘badget was, a juggled. ‘

eee
(ae :

is) Thecfirst=? seed on

‘Re would ‘not authorize + the “fabrication exes or experisental vebicles, :
te wanted the devlopment to continue at'a slow w pace, he conduc ted shong, -

. 2 January 1960... Aside

“the usefulness of a military satellite,xxm 3 bere was conée: ofer the

Possible political reperoustions — fn the use of a military -



. * — Pelican’ IT OS
. wana a “few mim tes later anotek craft spbbted the parachute:

* and oapeute stem through the air. Oy the secdaa we pas
ander. the deiting spostan, an aireratt “succes

te as (a0: rpt Nov 60; MSP Q Nov 0).

_ -Iptanagnta, to fhe toned the. naw entigure :

harware ‘Provided a by Doiglas and Lockheed, neither the see too

“ higher thiust
ena, B ‘hea 1 te meotcnineeret/engines. _ The Ady "Force /planned

aoa “ghte: ising the- “bigher thrust engines, tottovig four Fine testa

ae less adavanced . ~
5 ‘with the isen/eedele, However, by Dedenber 1960 the higher thrust”

i a chien ip eon, ke ome,
ontigerstions were avaiaable ‘and due. to

ent eth gre

| Sole iis ene, Se
: engihes, with he’ lower thrust ones. So, Stee q Decenber the -

a ae Far ee



design of tie mh late in 1959. Th August’ 1961, ‘the Mr Foros:

a Tew. dcoeptance specification coy licahle ‘to. those booster

ming, off the sseeiy Moe begining in M aij: Gat xpt 26 Feb.

nie 387).
. 1B aan of he rte:



~: For thw Antercontineiial ballistic iissiles the hae Force
“had let ey ntsc (deren rn ae Spark Plug’

Conpeny— pubsidary of Gpneral “Notore—-was!) developieg an ‘all-inertial

7 em ‘systent sonia Westérn Electrica Belk 2 Feepione Laboratori .
: was ta develop Micadiowinertial pcttras systen, ‘Beldewtan tbe

httor the Thor ‘became part of the Ar Fores, nlaetle development proge

‘

_ there was ne Ammediate decison on which : glance system to apply to.
° the’ ut range 3 missile. However, after a series. of: Progra changes

‘ending’ in May. 155, th Air. “Force Ballistic Missile Rivision detested.

” assigned
* suockiobckieck ‘the AC Spark Pach ta sand Sat Thor ‘and the Bell:-

. “to :
_syoten ‘km the early Titan ‘combat squadrons.

However, the AC Spark Plug ayoten woul, not. be ready for

flight tests. wets November, while Air Force plamers had scheduled some |

Thor development flights bewbeen June and october to carry the Bell system:
. oe t . Tee . “. .





the oapabihity ‘of the 110,00 Pound ‘thrust: of a esing
Moonee 358 1s May 6 6 ator ‘to lr. 4M May, 62) On’ 27 1 Yosiard
. director “asked that Douglas make a ‘bw month iy and in séordinet

: with Locked, defing fore prt th perforce and doniga oft

: proponde. thrust angneiited Thor. (ltr: 27 Feb 62) | Pedigwing the detatie
study, the progran: director felt that since additional thrust would |

es ‘noedod dn the dmmediate fetnire, the prone oman was ‘the ony :

‘one teastine, On 6 April, he requested the Space Stee Division's
7 the envisioned ,

Thor booster ° béfice : -to Provide few: ‘hardware . combination ready ‘go
“ tor’ the 2 first ‘Tight: téveimmonths7hénce and- ‘for’ nine, sinilar fig

during the tottering year. oe 26 Aer 62)



- . the eked Progran m mangers was *oeponsible 2 for control tg

_Contiguiation, : » However, Aart Force managers promlgsted overal

“extagines” fd x4, se for soma expertaantation in tien,

, ie thet al the' parts of the fret’ Several chassis were 2 hot |
-

wos serhagnaae, In Arti, Cotonet acted a asked oreen to.

a _standandine | the congigurati.on tetonog with the sixth chassis. to

: | be deliverd to the Air Foree’ fo

a sccepience, Cte .

(nemo 18 Apr 623. prog ‘ept 13 Jud 62)

° ‘Tocked Bad ad Ulbeady redesigned: the snitaa “tanta configuration ‘

A at least } tirdce,

(meno 26 Feb 62) and the colo wanted to

: 0 Ltn tn Fan
-_ make. sure tet sutsanigeneeings » specifications, and Earners

whe 19th ttonaartontrrdaameart pe: an
ceptar We Wiirteerrt? us E .

ee Five f ody 196 2, ae .
TS pace Sys tent Divieity, Sottitahed a configuration contro

: beard Lmeckie



2 Begining in July. 1958. there was a series of three rot

‘from Cape Canaberal
ening ‘the Thor as the first stage booster.but seithout a

; extdince systen. “a three were failures ik primarily due to
; somtabitity in Ceo rather ‘than due to tmxo,

: : sngadequate guidance,

bh the nomtim, the Me Force Ballistic Missile Division

Was asking plane for the ‘firet Thor-217 laanches from Cooke Air Force Basoe—

"By Septenber 1958, the division had definitely decided not to use any.

' ‘of the unproven guidance systems and to rely on tBe Ty lg autopilot

‘and electronic prograner, ’ (contr ~65;; sup 15, -amend 1529 Sep. 58).



: “Chapter 6
THRUST “AUGMENTED THOR

a ‘* analyning |
During 2959. and. we, Povgtas. Aircraft Company was ee

smd the basic “Thor booster to. determine how ets Secepettatee

oO : .
‘feiemgs Saad heavéer object into eeheL es Vice atitadss 7

ight be achieved.” From these studies cane ct at Jeast two uasolicite
Fropossits . One snvolved an sneine with. h-erpater : tarist and propellant .
tanks with snereased. capacity. However, since the: My ac a would have

, ‘evenon a new engine, the pursuits of. such a counipt. would: have been

. ER sane 1961, Douglas revealed « :
-seatively womebre 3 more expedient way of incresing: booster Capabilit;

@ an
— 1 hee Pale Ses
ee anil mins Tete ye :

“mgs. wats would be by the use of the standard DM-?1 booster with three.

Ring,
eee:

“nN

solid propellant rockey notors: strapped on. the a! sides $e the soo a

 mme33Be . from Thiokol :
_ Teee/peae rockets were avallabla/paring been used bs the second :
- . +? ory Met
: ‘stage’ of the Air’ nie Blue Scout leupch mani fs ‘ :

ui

“these | three rockets combined with the DM-21 pope sypten would give: about

u

i Riu



fPoduetion, De Ivery tend aameh
_ Space Systems Division’ ‘plamed to have Pouglas produ

3! Diez!
the neceesary fia ate st sg in a normal

So

“assembly 3 ‘line fashion. | Bowron, the new. oneieering we aggctrned

: "Package would not’ be, revdy ‘mmetdately ‘and in order to. ‘expedite. early

- FG canines wrth
: daaivery conacctbate cthéi Atvisionsdtrectads” oP onglisrta. Ok

‘prodige tires standard DM-21 boosters and: ther nodi ty them after © :

. . *
“they vame off the assembly line.

we, In addition, two iblestar configured: or bodetire were.-to. be
. similarly, ¥. modified)

(te 1 duly 625. conte - 186)

“to Vendneberg
Ih the- past. Denglaeend ctéoktbed, shippedftte Pirstcand: 2
"second stages ‘fromSanbs Monica and Sunnyvale respectively;
as Now, Thiokol was’ obligated to ship motors: if nonthly increnente
Se beginning in September 1962. (contr 7148)to be tempo rarily
"stored ania ‘weryphee with the other kiyborne hardware at the,

launching pad. |

RO ea



the control gas conmamption was excessive. ‘on’ ‘the seveatesnth pass!

. choppy waters of. the Pacific’ zum about 1,000 xtles ‘iow of the

: pla ined. impact point.

; reach the-mm scene’. °



: before completion of the first: orbit, 5
ssee/and that the vehciles Had beconie Rnetabl

The/non-recoverable payload fights ilies

wn ee a oe
ae AUUUET .



7 Stat to retastaté has

arly. denons trations of an intercontinental
and possible space lawishes.. Under Sectetary-of the Air Force’ Malco
Macliityre approved the additional missiles and antifjized

production rate of eight Per month: beginning in Novenber rose

Withia-enother year and half, Washington authurtties mui allocated
total of-6lj Thors for “special purposes." dnd/anthorized a Broductign
te of nine niseiles per month: beginning in Tebruary 1959 extending
through Sepbeaberisy, and then: ‘tapering off: to. four per month From
we ; sus A dope bach sches whe fase ~ isaite:
“pogieratmenden reocunr rege ‘(STL final rpt) '.
would ce AF hee vssen by fine: _
Since February 958s the Air Force had lanned on activating
“tow hordrequadrons of 1B missiles each in the Uatted Kington,

th addition, late in 15 thn. Nate had rected the Air’ Force

. “Ballistic Missile Division to protect the capability ‘of activating .

“a fifth squadron with ten iaetles. On 23 February 1960, Mh For



The requesting program office was providing the.

a estimated to amount to $3.35 million. For, budget purposes

: Abe ‘Systems Division estimated that after the first unit,
‘edth thrust. augmented Thor would cost $700,000 or $256,000 ‘more than

the ‘standard DM-22, “(itr 9'May 62), Lausich costs would be another”,

$700,000 or $100,000. more than tie a DM-21, launcti.x® (hist ‘rpt,

fests
Ta carly July 1962, ‘the Thovebdoster office adubdcherospace -

Gonporation to be technical consultants: for the thrust augmented. Thor

oy integration. “ate, a Sep 62) operating under an n extrenely short deat tima





‘when me ‘nents combination ‘zoomed: off into ‘the mid-day

; * ir smelled into.a southernly ‘direction,
. sky. ds’ a programm e Mena separted from ths Boostendands ichegan

poibr - -

S “sonsting: a orbi. Radar at Vandenberg and- Point yeu. and telemetry

rhelcing onitment at Vendneberg received oSguale from the agen, ‘for

more than’ eight mdinutes after Scocaoomiex iittore. thous

! the ‘vahicla was in orbit. :

“success, : tm apt Feb 595 Lb vol 1)



Ci nent, ovement :

{ improvenent vontract. ‘ae au 1 May 62) sees ga te develope!

ari contract -aamdenat: provided’ for some product, snes tthe repidity

_ Re-vhich ‘the “design was frpten, Adoos the division te here host of thé

(tre. 28 Ine Sas ltr 27 June 62)

5 :
| Masala division was onidented to defeRdrylens | to sroven particular
$eomonenta bdfore. the Air Staff. (TH 30 Ww '¥ 62)

One. of ‘the most + Amppotant advanced “evelopnent reqkrements was for the ~

" Amprovenent of the Bell engine for the Gemini Program. , , (ix 28 Sep 62):

Stet Oui DNAC fo



=" :
inlud tar
ing 2 8 regis 2 solid propeliant change ‘allege ats),

ae poe. ora contro ree; ‘and. auxilYary’



: With ‘te termination ok ft Goel opant Poured at the end of.

eel for engines), the: Metomnabtinite Air Research and

frm to the Air Materfel Command,

Devision Eeancelled the system engines

Di. 4es, 3.Sep 59, 2906



situation.

the Donglas crew launched a a Tor-Agena conbination ‘into, ‘tie-

sth met countdown:

“iat that! the re-entry. teseatny was preety too hgh. -

: Fin rocket firing was not ¥erified, The was: the: “first oitng

"radar system could be tested



‘apace .vehicle. ©

The dund limitation’ atid the defense department's gener

“attitude sumtin program activity to be channeled into component

On @ short senply of Fons, :
rather taan total system development. 2b

err Lockheed began ‘satellite airframe design.studies, investigated :

poses Bix for satel lite-borst auxitary ‘Power 4nd attitude contol. h evetonsy

lect a
and art satellite p ropuision oystons whieh would be ;

available at an early date. Tadeod ‘some, tebhitoal Progress was

equal : ;
made but ‘of wexe imprptame a contractor, team: had been make ‘assembled

ani a bovad’ base ettablished row which Page.

(based largely on hist rpt,. WS 1471, Jan-De S63 shoot hist & chron? zy‘ +f
Ww 1171, 1916-1959) * , oF



: Sino ‘the ridgia sontidihtson ‘ “control proveaures. were,”
"not applied before the thirteenth chassis, the Agnes office plained:
“that any serginal peetoraance on: “ties flights during June and July

would "be: ‘Aetatted 30 that Teokheea could my: the.

production 5 aed package « Secordingly. (w Prog. ‘pt 13 Je $2

7 om the orinion, of General 2 Meteo, the fina proof of the A’ena D

‘effort would be shown in the flights ae. 25 Apr, oy

“ye Rooting Ro. Sere akgénaD progran plan, . using programs



‘vend te previous, “sosepeetone, tye rtgiot contrast, ‘the: * Agena’

. useless . .
tte frengines were defa once the proppllant was

art ‘the fret of March’ 1959, the. ide Force Badttstte Missi

Diviston | haa. set. Sully 1960 as the

‘goat for fhe urs ingitat tiest
bite idm SY reer é rs) : ,

6. teste A

* «
, : PH dreds pan % Aeneid to Ares):
* eapacity be ino: (onre ia Beast enginsers had 4s had’ decided thet’ tanks

with aatly itn Agena 4. capacity would dé: the best with both Tir and:

designers added, six feet to: tl
| used Component’ aidénaterials Proved

orion

o bao Sens tae



fhe tats fe, the aoa. motor directa ;

‘from Thiokol (conte - 148) and negotiated ‘an agreenent win Dougias

tr
TAs: Moines ve tin, L
omnes Wore:

Peoktie srprotetype thrust: sugtedscbfigarebion:

‘by ad a men booster, ; attaching the solid notors ‘to. ott, ry

sting ‘the new ' Gonbination at “the “kenya ‘Redstone soe (contr ~182).-
Douglas modified the naa ‘dignt control, amt, ‘bridrdased: thes.
buena and. . installed ‘brackets on. the aft section of the booster

franc.” Each>sat!of rbracektacwas?to!ho2aain Pave one: of, Tatokol'e,

sca motara. Pougias demonstrated the 0 capacity of, the 16 Thor: :

: to suport such tb and velitied the suitability of the booster

i modi fieations bya series of bibrations and, Sead: tests.

Ia connection with the aft. brackets there :were:a-:munberS

‘of evlesive dolte desigand to sever} the rockets. fou’ the booster /
-_ : / .
" . frame upon a programed  atgna. ‘Static firings at the soso ‘awe

‘that this - severance mechanism needed to be tefinedd. In adaiton ,

from scale model. ne 9 ongineere were ‘able to ‘improve the timing of

2 the severQnce,

va By! watting a minute after the

attitude would be dn & bot tm panttton te aeei 4c gore ie FS enintg:
. woof te
Cases as thavafall avav.. 6°. : : vy



i and Marci: 1960, i ne “thas series:

- One.of the prine objectives was”
Sapageecx

thelaaing several  restarta,,