NRO-MOL_2015

44 The Dorian Files Revealed: a Compendium of the NRO’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory Documents
spacecraft study (McDonnell); 15 June, attitude control
and stabilization (Minneapolis-Honeywell); 17 June,
Titan III interface (Martin-Marietta); 7-16 July, electrical
power subsystems (Allis-Chalmers, North American
Aviation, and General Electric); 13 July, environment
control subsystems (Garrett Corp. and Hamilton
Standard); 22 July, autonomous navigation (Hughes); 23
July, multiband spectral observation definition (Aerojet-
General); 10 August, image velocity sensor subsystem (
IBM) ; 1 September, short-arm centrifuge (Douglas); and
24 September, manned electro-magnetic (EM) signal
detection (Airborne Instrumentation Laboratories). The
most expensive contracts were for the Gemini B study
($1,189,500) and the Titan III interface investigation
($910,000). Total costs of 13 pre-phase I studies came
to $3,237,716. ‡‡
Dr. McMillan, meanwhile, had again reemphasized to
General Shriever the importance of using simulations
during the various experiments and studies. On 15 May,
he informed the AFSC commander that he thought the
contractors might be misled by the preliminary technical
development plan’s emphasis, especially as it related to
the proposed image velocity sensor subsystem study.
“The objective,” he said, “is to determine what man can
do in acquiring and tracking and compensating for image
motions. Design of orbital gear is incidental to a third
phase of the task. The first two phases are simulation
and aircraft tests, which are prerequisite to, rather than
concurrent with, the third phase.” Consequently, he
asked that the plan be rewritten to clearly establish the
main objective. This additional guidance was dispatched
to SSD on 28 May and a revised development plan was
published on 20 June. 41
Endnotes
1. See TS Atch, “Manned Orbital Program,
Department of Defense,” to Memo (S), Brown to Flax, 11
Dec 63, subj: Manned Orbital Program.
2. Ibid.
3. Memo (S), Brown to Flax, 11 Dec 63, subj as
above.
4. Ltrs (S), Maj Gen H. C. Donnelly, Asst DCS/R&D
to AFSC, 16 Dec 63, subj: MOL; Schriever to Funk, 16
Dec 63, Subj: MOL Program.
5. Ibid.
6. Memo for Record, Maj B. J. Loret (MSF-1), Hq
AFSC, 19 Jun 64; Mins (S), 78th DSMG Mtg, 6 Jan 64;
SSD Hist Rprt (S), MOL Program, 1st Half CY 1964, p2.
7. Rprt of ASB Mtg 64-1; Mins (S), 78th DSMG Mtg,
6 Jan 64; Ltr (S/SAR), Lt Gen Howell M. Estes, Jr., Vice
Cmdr, AFSC to Hg USAF (Ferguson), 8 Jan 64, Subj:
Prelim Plan for Implem of MOL Program.
8. Mins (S), 78th DSMG, 6 Jan 64.
9. Ibid.
10. Memo (S), Kinney to Ferguson, 10 Jan 64, Subj:
MOL.
11. Msg SAFSS-1-M-0136 (S-BYEMAN), Martin to
Greer, 7Jun 63.
12. SAFSP-F/30-7-863 (S-BYEMAN), Greer to Martin,
30 Jun 63; SAFSS-1-M-0215 (S-BYEMAN), Martin to
Greer, 14 Oct 63; 0319022 Martin to Greer, 4 Jan 64.
13. Memo (TS/DORIAN), Gen Martin, Dir/NRO Staff
to McMillan, 14 Jan 64, Subj: MMOL.
14. Memo (S), McMillan to Ferguson, 15 Jan 65, Subj:
Rqmts & Objs of MOL.
15. Ltr (U), Kinney to McMillan, 19 Feb 64, Subj:
Rqmts & Objs of MOL; Activity Rprts (S), D/Adv Plng,
Space, Wks Ending 7, 14 Feb 64.
16. Ltr (S), Flax to DDR&E, 18 Jan 64, subj: Manned
Orbital Program.
17. Memo (C), Brown to Flax, 29 Jan 64.
‡‡ In addition to these contracts, SSD was responsible for a cost plus-incentive
fee (CPIF) contract previously negotiated with Ling Temco-Vought Astronautics
for development of a Modular Maneuvering Vehicle unit for the NASA Gemini
program. The cost was $5,890,183.
18. Msg (S) SCG 29-1-34, AFSC to SSD (Schriever to
Funk), 29 Jan 64.