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

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
2. Capsule and Subsystems
a. Preliminary specifications mailed to prospective bidders on
October 23, 1958.
b. Bidders conference held at Langley Field on November 7, 1958.
About 38 firms represented.
c. Nineteen firms indicated by November 14 that they plan to
prepare proposals. Final specifications sent to these firms on
November 17.
d. Proposals must be received by December 11.
e. Technical assessment will be started by members of the Space
Task Group on December 12. Mr. Charles Zimmerman heads
the technical assessment team. Concurrently, cost and management
assessment will be carried out by Mr. A. E. Siepert’s office.
f. Source Selection Board will meet on December 29. Membership:
Messrs. Gilruth, Wyatt and Low, and representatives from the
Offices of the General Counsel and of the Director of Business
Administration; ARPA has been invited to participate in a nonvoting
capacity.
3. Booster Procurement
a. Little Joe. This booster consists of a cluster of four Sergeant rockets;
it is capable of imparting a [2] velocity of 6000 ft/sec to a fullscale
capsule, and will be launched from Wallops. A contractor is
now being selected.
b. Redstone. The Redstone vehicle is also capable of achieving a
velocity of 6000 ft/sec with a full-scale capsule; it will be used for
manned short-range ballistic flights. ABMA has submitted a tentative
proposal for 8 boosters at a total cost of $13.179 million. The
Redstones will be ordered as soon as a firm proposal is received.
c. Thor or Jupiter. Either vehicle has a capability of boosting a fullscale
capsule to about 16000 ft/sec. A tentative decision to purchase
Jupiter was made on December 8; this decision will be firm
if proposed flight test schedules can be met. Probable cost for 3
vehicles: $5.634 million.
d. Atlas. This booster will be used both for sub-orbital and orbital
flights. Funds have been transferred to AFBMD for one Atlas C
and nine Atlas D boosters.