Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

Exploring the Unknown 567
Considerable thought has been given to the proper geographical
location for this most important facility. It is the purpose of this
memorandum to advise you of the recommended location and to
request your concurrence.
2. The factors which were determined to be of prime importance in
selecting the site are:
a. The Center should be co-located with the Gemini and Apollo
Project Offices (so that project personnel would be available for advice and
consultation during its construction and during operations. Project personnel
would be needed, in case of an emergency situation on-board the spacecraft, to
provide immediate and detailed information about the spacecraft.)
b. The Center should be co-located with the Flight Operations
Division (so that the Flight Operations personnel can guide the construction of
the Facility and have the Facility readily available for training and operation.)
c. The Center should be co-located with the astronauts (so that
the facility is readily available for their training, as well as their advice during an
operation.)
d. The Center must have good communications (in order to link the
Center with the world-wide facilities and forces involved in an operation.)
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e. The Center must be able to keep completely abreast of the status
of preparations for an operation (in order to have the information required to
make operational decisions.)
3. The choice of sites narrowed rapidly to either Cape Canaveral or
Houston. Both sites have good communication capabilities. At the
Cape it is a little easier to keep abreast of preparation for a launch,
although good communications between the Cape and Houston
reduces this Cape advantage. However, the overriding factor in
recommending a specific site is the existing location of the Project
personnel, the Astronauts and the Flight Operations personnel at
Houston. Therefore, after a careful consideration of pertinent factors
and extensive consultation and coordination, it is recommended
that Mission Control Center be located in Houston.
4. It is planned to control the Gemini rendezvous flights, all manned
orbital Apollo flights, and all subsequent Gemini and Apollo
flights from this Center. Thus the schedule requires the Center
to be operational in April, 1964. To keep this schedule, a vigorous
development effort must be initiated and maintained. Procurement
actions must be undertaken immediately, in which, to provide
proper guidance for bidders, it must be stated that this Center will
be located in Houston. Therefore, your early concurrence on the
Houston location for the Mission Control Center is requested.