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

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
(2) Approximately fourteen ATLAS/117L flights are scheduled during the next
eighteen months in connection with the WS-117L program. This would give
a capability during this period of achieving 4, 000 pounds in a low orbit and
offers the most promising early capability of placing a man in orbit with sufficient
safety considerations.
(3) A project to design a high energy upper stage (liquid hydrogen liquid oxygen)
rocket for ATLAS/TITAN with an engine thrust of approxi mately 30,000
pounds has been authorized. This has promise of placing 8,000 to 10,000
pounds in orbit during 1960.
(4) A project to construct a 1 - 1.5 million pound thrust booster utilizing existing
hardware in a “cluster” arrangement has been authorized. This should permit
placing 25,000 pounds in orbit by 1961. It is our intention that this project
be carefully coordinated with the single-chamber super thrust engine being
developed by NASA so that much of the booster equipment later could be
used on the large engine when it becomes available in 1964-l965. The early
capability afforded by the cluster project would make possible a space platform
for manned reconnaissance and for a related military space operating
base. [3]
With these projects forming a basis for the propulsion requirements, parallel
efforts should go forward as a matter of urgency on the recoverable vehicle itself.
It is my understanding from talks with members of our staff that the NASA will
concentrate on the “capsule” tech nique. I agree that this offers the earliest promise
and urge that the program be pursued vigorously. As an alternate approach it
is the intention of the DoD to proceed with a winged vehicle based on the general
concept of the DYNA SOAR Weapon System 464L. The winged vehicle approach
is believed to most nearly satisfy the military objectives in regard to flexibility
of mission and independence from ground guidance and recovery operations
during hostilities. Many of the design require ments, especially those relating to
human factors, will be similar for the two approaches. Thus we would expect to
make maximum use of the NASA capsule data in our alternate approach.
I therefore urge that you join with me at the earliest practicable date to consider
every possible step that we might take to achieve a U.S. lead in this important
program.
[signed]
Roy W. Johnson
Director
Document I-11
[Handwritten: ARPA]
September 1958
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL AERONAUTICS
AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION