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

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Project Apollo: Americans to the Moon
first stage would be necessary. (3) Concurrent development would have to be
initiated on alternative components and subsystems to give better assurance that
schedules could be met. (4) The current contractor overtime rate and amount of
double and triple shifting would be markedly increased and extensive overtime and
multiple shift ing would be necessary. (5) A crash contractor manpower buildup and
heavy NASA effort would be required to reschedule and execute the new plan.
The runout cost from FY 1965 through FY 1967 for the late 1966 target date
is estimated to be 10-15% higher than the funds required for a late 1967 date. The
funds required in FY 1963 and FY 1964 to meet this schedule are approximately $900
million and $800 million more respectively than the current FY 1963 availability and
FY 1964 budget request. The total would be distributed as follows:
(In Billions)
1963 1964
Spacecraft and Flight Missions $1.1 $1.9
Development of Launch Vehicle and Propulsion
Systems
Facilities, Launch Operations, Integration and
Checkout, Systems Engineering and Aerospace
Medicine
1.0 1.2
.8 1.1
$2.9 $4.2
Summary
On the basis of our current analysis, we believe that we can maintain the
late 1967 target date for the manned lunar landing with $3.7 billion in FY 1963
funds and $6.2 billion in FY 1964. A budget increase of $427 million to $4.1 billion
in FY 1963 and $6.2 billion in FY 1964 is required for a mid-1967 target date; and
total resources of $4.6 billion in FY 1963 and $7.0 billion in FY 1964 are required
for a late 1966 target date.
Let me emphasize again the preliminary nature of our conclusion that a
target date of late 1966 could be established for the manned lunar landing with the
indicated funding levels. This conclusion is not based on detailed programmatic
plans. With this qualification, however, we are prepared to place the manned
lunar landing program on an all-out crash basis aimed at the 1966 target date if
you should decide this is in the national interest.
Respectfully yours,
[Signed James E. Webb]
James E. Webb
Administrator