Ground-Based Instrumentation Systems The ground-based instrumentation needs of the civilian space program encompass such things as: 1. Communication with and transmission of commands to vehicles both near the earth and in interplanetary space. 2. Active and passive tracking of space vehicles. 3. Reception of telemetry signals from space. 4. Calculation of real-time search ephemeris data. 5. Calculation of final orbits for scientific analysis. The instrumentation necessary can thus be listed as: 1. A network of stations suitably located for tracking of a communication with vehicles in interplanetary space. These stations must be tied together with reasonably rapid communication links. The stations will consist of very large antennas, sensitive receiving equipment, and high-power transmitting equipment. 2. A network of radio receiving stations to obtain orbital information from active satellites. These stations may be, in part at least, the same as those in the preceding paragraph. 3. A network of optical stations to make very precise optical observations on some satellites, and a supplementary set of optical observing stations, probably similar to the present Moonwatch teams, for rough orbital data. 4. A set of telemetry receiving stations which will be in part, but not necessarily completely, at the other radio sites. 5. A special network of stations for re-entry experiments. 6. Computing facilities to calculate and publish search ephemeris data. 7. Computing facilities to generate orbital data of sufficient accuracy to satisfy scientific needs. [11] This complete instrumentation network should be coordinated with similar activities of the Department of Defense, but the special requirements of the civilian space program are such as to require the NASA to establish and operate some of the stations. The technical requirements of the space communication channels, telemetry, et cetera, should likewise be coordinated with the Department of Defense. In view of the radio frequency requirements of the space program for communication with space vehicles, it is recommended that NASA take the necessary steps to insure that frequency assignments for this purpose are available. Overseas stations of the NASA could be operated by local technical groups, universities, et cetera, and this phase of the problem should be actively pursued by NASA, for reasons both of efficient and economical operation and of international cooperation. It is not recommended that the NASA offer to support the continued operation of the present IGY tracking system for an interim period after the expiration of the present IGY support. It is recommended, however, that a study be made of possible radio tracking systems to replace or supplement the present Minitrack stations. It is believed that a permanent radio tracking system should be capable of receiving signals at higher frequencies and from larger numbers of satellites, should probably offer greater angular coverage, and may require a different geographical plan. Special attention needs to be given to the reception of signals of broader bandwidth to take care of future satellites which may have a relatively large quantity of information to transmit back to earth. Real-Time Communication Certain projects will require real-time computation of orbits and communication of the data to other ground stations at large earth distances. A capability for communication with the satellite essentially all the time may also be desirable, particularly for manned flights. It appears, however, that such a situation may not be completely feasible, either technically or economically, in the near future, and therefor the communication system which can be provided may prove to be one of the limiting factors in the design of the experiment. Hard wire, which is considered to be the only currently available communication system whose reliability approaches 100 percent, extends only from Hawaii to Italy by commercial cable. All radio systems of substantial range are less reliable, except for line-of-sight operations such as communication satellites might provide. Since many agencies are concerned with this matter, and many important design decisions must be taken to yield the most [12] generally useful satellite communications relay system, NASA should take the initiative in coordinating the various requirements and settling on a preferred system at the earliest possible date. Furthermore, projects requiring real-time communication should formulate a rather complete communications plan early in the project-planning stage. Recovery The requirements of recovery of instrumented and manned satellites from orbital flight pose problems involving equipment, communication, and operation which are of very great magnitude. The escape maneuver during both the launch and recovery phases will require recovery capability over large areas of the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and possibly the United States Zone of the Interior. It appears that a coordinated national effort is required to cope with this problem. It is recommended, therefor, that NASA establish a working group on recovery systems which will summarize the experience obtained to date, will define the problems to be solved, and propose operational techniques and equipment which should be developed. One possible solution would be for the Atlantic, Pacific, and White Sands Missile Ranges to establish coordinated operational groups for these three areas, making maximum use of existing organization and facilities, for all national space programs requiring recovery techniques. Space Surveillance It is not considered necessary for NASA to set up the ground equipment and to maintain current ephemerides of all passive satellites, although, of course, ephemerides will be required for all satellites during the course for their experiments and for all satellites intended for recovery. It is considered important that some kind of control be applied to limit the life of any satellite radio transmitter to a reasonable duration of experiment, in order to prevent cluttering up useful parts of the radio spectrum. However, no non-military need is anticipated, at this time, for a "vacuum cleaner" to remove from orbit the satellites that have outlived their usefulness. Types of and uses for non-satellite probes and instrumented satellites have already been commented upon. Manned satellites, however, must be capable of safely re-entering the earth's atmosphere and being recovered. As a result of study of a number of suggested satellite vehicles for manned flight, it is concluded that: 1. The ballistic (pure drag) type vehicle can probably be put in operation soonest because: hicle. a. The booster problem is simplest by virtue of the low weight of this satellite ve b. The aerodynamic heating problem is well understood. c. The development of the vehicle appears to be straight-forward. 2. The high-drag, high-lift vehicle study should be carried on concurrently because: a. The ability to steer during re-entry eases the recovery problem, since it reduces the accuracy required of the retrograde rocket timing and impulse, and allows the vehicle to be flown to or near the ground or sea recovery stations. b. The danger of excessive accidental decelerations due to malfunction in either the boost phase or re-entry phase of flight is greatly diminished. 3. The low-drag, high-lift vehicle looks less attractive for application to manned space flight for the near future. The advantages of better range control and greater maneuverability after re-entry may eventually make this vehicle more desirable. Propulsion There has been much discussion of the relative merits of developing a large booster engine or of clustering small ones. Both of these developments are required. [14] Schedule studies clearly indicate that a booster of one million pounds thrust or more could be available about three years earlier of it were based on the clustering of existing rocket engines. This would lead to a fourth generation of space vehicles (with Vanguard Jupiter C being the first; IRBM-boosted space vehicles being the second; ICBM-boosted vehicles the third generation.) Progress in the rocket engine field offers a high degree of confidence that multiple-barrel boosters of one to one and a half million pounds total thrust could be ready for flight test in two to three years. Fifth-generation boosters based on the one million pounds-plus thrust, single-barrel engine (whether using one such engine or several) would offer orbital payloads up to 100,000 pounds, and would be available three years later. It is strongly recommended that a study be made to assess the advisability of developing recoverable first-stage boosters. Recovery techniques should be optimistic from a system point of view. Strong research effort on novel propulsion systems for vacuum operations is urged, and development of high-energy-propellant systems for upper stages should receive full support. Vehicles for Early Experiments In the preceding section several generations of space vehicle boosters are identified in general terms. The first generation, already in being, is capable of putting into orbit payloads of approximately 30 pounds. Such a vehicle enables the observation of a relatively small number of space environmental factors, or the conduct of simple experiments in the space environmental factors, or the conduct of simple experiments in the space environment. The second generation, with payload capabilities up to roughly 300 pounds, enables more sophisticated or larger numbers of experiments and environmental observations. The third-generation vehicles should make possible payloads of 3,000 pounds or more. Heavy or bulky observing instruments with provision for long-time attitude control and data transmission can be carried, and minimal manned space flights should be possible. In each of these generations a number of boosters and upper stages are either available or under development. Proper combinations of these should make possible a wide spectrum of payloads and performances. Furthermore, it is likely that early generation vehicles will continue to be used even after later generation vehicles are available. Therefor the NASA should make a thorough study of the capabilities of existing stages to determine whether there are any serious gaps in the spectrum, and to select particular combinations of further development and use in these early experiments. [15] With properly selective effort going into the early generations, a more vigorous development program for later generations of boosters and vehicles should be possible. Conclusion Scientific advances of the broadest import can result from substantially improved understanding of cosmic processes and their influence upon the environment, and therefor the inhabitants, of the earth. The acquisition of such understanding depends critically upon the establishment of observational vantage points outside the insulation of the earth's atmosphere. The discussions and suggestions regarding research policies, procedures and programs presented in this report are intended to further the rapid and efficient development of the requisite space flight capabilities. All of these suggestions include recommendations, either stated or implicit, for cooperation or close coordination within related work by other civil and military agencies. More detailed discussions and program recommendations in particular fields are treated by Working Group reports.... Document III-2 Document title: Office of Program Planning and Evaluation, “The Long Range Plan of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,” December 16, 1959, pp 1-3, 9-11, 17-18, 26, 44. Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, History Office, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. This initial ten-year plan for NASA was developed during the agency's first year of operation. Because it contained both target dates for various accomplishments and budget estimates for the decade, it received a "Secret" security classification, and was later declassified. The long-term national objectives of the United States in aeronautical and space activities are stated in general terms in the enabling legislation establishing NASA. It is the responsibility of NASA to interpret the legislative language in more specific terms and to assure that the program so generated provides an efficient means of achieving the following objectives expressed in PL 85-568, Sec. 102(c) as: "The aeronautical and space activities of the United States shall be conducted so as to contribute materially to one or more of the following objectives: (1) The expansion of human knowledge of phenomena in the atmosphere and space; (2) The improvement of the usefulness, performance, speed, safety, and efficiency of aeronautical and space vehicles; (3) The development and operation of vehicles capable of carrying instruments, equipment, supplies, and living organisms through space; (4) The establishment of long-range studies of the potential benefits to be gained from, the opportunities for, and the problems involved in the utilization of aeronautical and space activities for peaceful and scientific purposes; (5) The preservation of the role of the United States as a leader in aeronautical and space science and technology and in the application thereof to the conduct of peaceful activities within and outside the atmosphere; (6) The making available to agencies directly concerned with national defense of discoveries that have military value or significance, and the furnishing by such agencies, to the civilian [2] agency established to direct and control non-military aeronautical and space activities, of information as to discoveries which have value or significance to that agency; (7) Cooperation by the United States with other nations and groups of nations in work done pursuant to this Act and in the peaceful application of the results thereof; and (8) The most effective utilization of the scientific and engineering resources of the United States, with close cooperation among all interested agencies of the United States, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort, facilities, and equipment." In operational terms, these objectives are instructions to explore and to utilize both the atmosphere and the regions outside the earth's atmosphere for peaceful and scientific purposes, while at the same time providing research support to the Department of Defense. These objectives can be attained only by means of a broad and soundly conceived program of research, development and operations in space. In the long run, such activities should make feasible the manned exploration of the moon and the nearby planets, and this exploration may thus be taken as a long-term goal of NASA activities. To assure steady and rapid progress toward these objectives, a NASA Long Range Plan has been developed and it is presented in this document. In interpreting the Plan, it must be remembered that the implications for the national economy reach far beyond the specific program goals. For example, the space science activities cover the frontiers of almost all the major areas of the physical sciences, and these activities thus provide support of the physical sciences in specific applications in the fields of electronics, materials, propulsion, etc., will contribute, directly or indirectly, to all subsequent military weapons developments and to many unforeseen civilian applications. Reciprocally, the NASA program is provided with [3] support, direct or indirect, from all the related research and development activities outside NASA. The Plan is presented at a level of effort which corresponds to an efficient and steadily growing capability. The rate of progress could be improved by an increased funding level, primarily by improving the certainty of the timely completion of the many essential engineering developments. On the other hand, a significantly lower scale of funding could be accommodated only by arbitrarily limiting the activities to a narrow line and by greatly reducing the rate of approach to the long-term goals. 1961 1961-1962 First launching of a Passive Reflector Communications Satellite. First launching of a Scout vehicle. First launching of a Thor-Delta vehicle. First launching of an Atlas-Agena-B vehicle (by the Department of Defense). First launching of a lunar impact vehicle. First launching of an Atlas-Centaur vehicle. Attainment of manned space flight, Project Mercury. First launching to the vicinity of Venus and/or Mars. 1962 1963 1963-1964 First launching of two stage Saturn vehicle. 1964 1965-1967 Beyond 1970 First launching of unmanned vehicle for controlled landing on the moon. Manned flight to the moon. |