CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION The success of the U. S. Army has always been greatly dependent upon the competence of its Technical Services. This competence has steadily expanded and matured as the demands of warfare have progressed from muskets and mules to rockets and missiles and to space technology. The United States is not only dependent upon technology for its physical security, but is inexorably dependent upon technology for the maintenance of United States prestige as man begins to penetrate worlds, outside his own. This publication discusses the past performance and the existing capabilities of the U. S. Army's Technical Services The Corps of Ordnance, Engineers, Signal, Quartermaster, Chemical, Transportation, and the Medical Service, organizations which have already made invaluable contributions in the advancement of United States space technology. Considerable treatment is given the Army's record of accomplishments. There is, perhaps, little apparent relation between the development of a semi-automatic rifle and the launching of the first United States satellite, or between the solving of the Panama Canal malaria problem and the successful transport of primates through space. But however divided these accomplishments may be in point of time and purpose, they are nonetheless the product of a single, timeless mission of the Army Technical Services: To provide the Army whatever technical support the United States of America requires. The Army Technical Services presently own and operate approximately one billion dollars worth of research and development facilities. The research and development resources of the Army include approximately 40,000 personnel, with a high percentage of scientific and engineering talent capable of conducting and controlling the most advanced efforts in research and development. These personnel and facilities represent an annual operating expense of over $400 million, and are supported during the current fiscal year by an approximate $3/4 billion effort from industry and private institutions. These activities include research and development work in four general categories: 1. The development of missiles for land and air combat and missile defense, and the development of space vehicles. 2. Research and development to maintain man's operating effectiveness, regardless of environmental conditions. 3. Electronic research applicable to both weapons and space exploration. 4. Construction, mapping, and engineering materiel. Within the framework of these four categories, the Army Technical Services are conducting a significant portion of the United States missile and space programs. These programs, being conducted for the Army, for other elements of the Department of Defense, and for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), include: Ordnance As prime developer of Army missile systems, Ordnance has conducted a broad program of rocket and missile development since 1944. Seven Ordnance-developed systems -- CORPORAL, NIKE AJAX, NIKE HERCULES, HONEST JOHN, LITTLE JOHN, REDSTONE and JUPITER have been deployed or are ready for deployment. Systems now in development include: MAULER, HAWK, REDEYE, LACROSSE, NIKE ZEUS, SERGEANT, and PERSHING. Ordnance programs being conducted in support of the national space program have an estimated value of some $300 million. These programs began with the launching of EXPLORER 1, the first U. s. satellite, and have expanded to include: SATURN Program - development of a 1.5 megapound booster the basic element of the first U. S. space vehicle with significant payload capability. Project MERCURY -- a project to place a man in space by means of a ballistic vehicle. Ordnance participation includes manufacture of REDSTONE and JUPITER boosters, mating the payload capsules with the boosters, and launching. JUNO II - satellite and space probe firings with the JUNO II vehicle (JUPITER plus upper stages). - Research Projects Ordnance is directing study programs in virtually every area of missile and space systems development. These projects include research in the fields of electronics, propellants, heat rejection, space intercept systems, and ballistic missile defense. Engineers As the largest. single construction organization in the world, the Corps of Engineers is constructing missile bases and launching sites and facilities wherever the requirement exists. The Army Map Service is currently working on a project to map the moon. map. Research, development, and procurement projects totalling almost $9 million are being conducted in support of Ordnance missile systems development programs. This effort includes development of such items as propellant generation, storage and transfer systems, power plants, shelters, and peculiar system components. Signal Signal is conducting eleven missile and space projects for Department of Defense agencies and for NASA. These projects have a projected gross value of some $70 million. Signal has contributed to VANGUARD, Project SCORE (the first communications satellite), and other U. S. satellite and space probe projects. Signal is now conducting a number of satellite and satellite systems programs for the Army, for NASA, and for the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). These include: Project TIROS (TV and infrared scanning), the COURIER communications satellite, and a communications system much larger in scope than COURIER. Ordnance and Signal are jointly sponsoring a contract to develop improved surveillance techniques. Although the major share of these programs currently falls within the mission of Ordnance, Engineer, and Signal, these programs are supported by the applicable resources of Transportation, Chemical, Quartermaster, and the Medical Service. These Technical Services have space-related support missions in the following areas: Army Medical Service The Army Medical Service has responsibility for the bio-medical aspects of Army missile transport, and has responsibility for the psychological aspects of NASA's Project MERCURY. Quartermaster Quartermaster is engaged in the development of non-perishable food pastes and tablets for consumption under zero gravity conditions, the utilization of algae for food production and oxygen regeneration, studies of the effects of confinement, and development of special clothing, shelters and handling equipment. Transportation Transportation is supporting national missile and space programs in managing the movement of personnel and materiel, and in developing techniques for handling and moving missiles, space vehicles, and ground support equipment. Chemical Chemical is presently engaged in research and development work in alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron dose and spectrum measurements, thermal radiation, shielding requirements, nuclear weapons effects, chemical oxygen production, toxicity studies, wound ballistic studies, and other activities relating to the protection of man from biological, chemical and radiological hazards. This publication also discusses the projected activities of the Army those activities which are planned or proposed to further advance this nation's space technology. The current policy of the United States reflects recognition of an urgent need for that advancement. The Conference Committee Report on the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 stated: "The establishment of a national space program More recently, a report of the House Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exploration stated: "The military potentials of space technology, which the United States would prefer to see channeled to peaceful purposes, are greater than the general public discussion to date suggests. Military space capabilities are technically worth pursuing in their own right." The magnitude of our dual dependence on technology for both military and peaceful purposes demands economy in the expenditure of our national effort. To effect that economy, national space programs must take advantage of all available resources, particularly those which have demonstrated their capability and which offer even greater potential. This publication reviews the resources of the U. S. Army -- the performance and potential of its technical team in the advancement of space technology. |