HISTORY

 Program Inception

In 1960 it became clear to Dr J. V. Charyk, Undersecretary of the Air Force, that the operation of certain highly classified military programs could be significantly enhanced if cloud cover over the Eurasian continent were known accurately on a daily basis. Inquiry as to the capability of the National Meteorological Satellite Program (or National Operational Meteorological Satellite (NOMS), under development by the NASA and the US Weather Bureau, to meet this need was made. After thorough analysis it was determined that the critical period when Eurasian coverage was required would occur in Summer, 1962, and the National System could not meet the needs; therefore, a plan for a one time, single purpose, minimum cost program was developed, approved and funded.

Program Constraints

By direction of DOD and the Undersecretary of the Air Force, the program, originally named Program 35, then changed to Program 417 or the Defense Satellite Applications Program (DSAP), was approved on 21 August 1961 subject to the following constraints:

a. Strict security provisions would prevail. Certain special management aspects and the mission itself would be considered especially sensitive to protect other highly classified programs interfacing with P-35 and to prevent embarrassing the United States in international relationships concerning the acquisition and distribution of meteorological data. Knowledge of the program would be held to the absolute minimum number of persons required to conduct the program.

b. A hard funds ceiling and program schedule (10 million dollars and 9 months to first launch) was imposed with direction to terminate the program without further instructions if either was to be exceeded.

c. All equipment would be purchased on fixed price contracts. Maximum use would be made of existing design and techniques and development work would be held to a minimum.

The program director would report directly to the Undersecretary of the Air Force, in person, at monthly intervals. Other program reporting, except essential planning, fiscal and historical records, was to be waived.

Program Office

A program office was originated within the Space Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command (AFSC), in Los Angeles, CA. The office and its method of operating were significantly different form other programs in SSD in the following ways:

a. A total of only five officers and two secretaries were authorized. (The average SSD program office at the initial stage of a program consists of 36 Persons.) This small office was justified by the expected short duration of the program, the prohibition on development work, and the elimination of normal program reporting requirements.

b. It was decided not to use Aerospace Corporation or other "System Engineering and Technical Direction" contractor. The requirements for fixed schedule, fixed funds ceilings and fixed price contracting were completely incompatible with the SE/TD type of operation normal to SSD programs, and Aerospace Corporation was unwilling to accept a different role.

c. The program office was deleted from all SSD organizational charts, etc. The unusual reporting procedures and requirement for special security precautions made it advisable to avoid calling attention to the program office.

d. Consistent with the above, it was decided to perform as much as possible of the systems engineering, program documentation, operations performance analysis, etc. entirely within the program office rather than to use contractor or SSD staff support offices. Exceptions were procurement of boosters and participation of computer programs necessary for on-orbit support.

Original Responsibilities

Under the overall authority of the program office the following specific responsibilities were assigned:

a. Booster Procurement (Scout vehicle) was handled by the SSD Blue Scout program office. Direct fixed price contracts were negotiated with Ling-Temco-Vought and Aerojet for booster hardware and first stage motors respectively. A firm price agreement was arranged through the Army's Redstone Arsenal for the second stage motors which were supplied by Thiokol to the Army on a captive contract. Third and fourth stage motors were to be supplied by Allegany Ballistic Laboratories through the NASA captive contract on a guaranteed price basis.

b. Launch support was provided by the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing with support from NASA and Ling-Temco-Vought. Most of the Scout vehicle launch crew were Air Force personnel who had previously launched Blue Scouts from AMR.

c. Satellites were bought from RCA Astro-Electronics Division on a fixed price contract by the program office.

d. On orbit support was provided by the 6594th Aerospace Test Wing with supporting contracts administered by the SSD Satellite Control Office. On-orbit control was exercised by the Satellite Test Center in Sunnyvale, CA through the Vandenberg AFB, CA and New Boston, New Hampshire, tracking and readout stations and was operated by RCA personnel on contract to the program office.

Orbital Operations

From August 1962 until July 1963 on-orbit operations were directed from the Satellite Test Center (AFSC) at Sunnyvale, CA. A mixed team of AF and RCA personnel provided engineering analysis backup to the 6595th ATW controllers. The tracking and readout stations at Vandenberg AFB and New Boston, New Hampshire, had video reconstruction and command generating equipment peculiar to this program manned by RCA technicians. Data were recorded at the readout stations and then transmitted to the Air Force Global Weather Center (GWC) at Offutt AFB, NE via land line where the pictures were reconstructed for analysis. Transmission was made at quarter speed to reduce bandwidth requirements and line costs. Tracking support was furnished from the outset by Spacetrack which supplied vector parameters to the STC where and expanded ephemeris was produced.

After 1 Jul 63, operations were shifted to special ground stations located at surplus Nike missile sites near Loring AFB, Maine, and Fairchild AFB, WA. These stations consist of advanced design 40-ft diameter antennas operating in a pneumatic radome, and three mobile vans; one each for communications, video reconstruction and command, and antenna controls and receivers. These stations are controlled from a minimum communications and control center at Offutt AFB. The 4000th Support Group (Strategic Air Command (SAC)) mans the stations and center completely including a computer support facility (shared with other SAC operations) and a systems Analysis Division which provides full technical backup to the operators and controllers. Further technical backup for abnormality analysis, etc., is provided by the 417 SPO and an analysis group in RCA/AED. Overall technical and configuration control is exercised by the 417 Program Office through a System Concept and Procedures (SCAP) document which contains detailed procedures for every man in the system for both normal and abnormal operations. The SCAP is continuously updated by the 417 SPO with 4000 Spt Gp assistance. Completely detailed ground equipment drawings are maintained by AFLC at SMAMA and all logistics support is furnished by a Systems Support Manager at SMAMA. Training requirements for all military personnel have been met by the Air Training Command.