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Current News
NEXT ROCKET REUNION – FALL BANQUET IS NOW BEING PLANNED FOR A TENTATIVE DATE OF FRIDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2010. MORE DETAILS WILL BE POSTED IN AUGUST.
April 2010 Newsletter
MSRP President's Message I am sure you are aware of what an interesting and challenging time it has been and will be for our United States Space Program. What you may not be aware of is that an interesting and challenging time is also ahead for us in the MSRP organization.
As I have mentioned, the Pioneers are facing some challenges. Most of the Board Members have served for several years. While having an experienced team is fortunate for me as President, it is a challenge for our organization. Like most organizations, we lose some active members to burnout. The feelings of "been there, done that" and that "it is time for someone new to take over" eventually causes people to step down. For the Pioneers this is even a greater concern due to the average age of our members and the loss of members due to health issues. Because of this, I am asking each of you to consider helping us meet this challenge. Come out to a Board Meeting and see what it is like. Our Board Meetings are open to all our members. By attending one or more of our meetings it will give you an opportunity to see how we operate before our fall elections. As I described earlier, these meetings are interesting and enjoyable as we strive to carry out the core purpose of MSRP which is to meet socially and renew acquaintances. I can't tell you in a short letter all the interesting things I have learned from and about the members on our board, the Pioneers they have worked with, and the Programs they have worked on, but it has been one of the best experiences of my life. So, yes there are challenges in the Space Program, but there are also challenges ahead with the Pioneers. While for the most part you can only sit and watch what is going on with the Space Program, you can make a positive difference with the Space Pioneers. The Pioneers have a long and proud heritage, and our task is to continue the preservation of that heritage for the men and women - the Pioneers of the Space Program. I look forward to seeing each of you at our Spring Gathering on Friday, 21 May 2010, at the Hilton in Cocoa Beach, and I hope to see a few new faces at our Board Meetings over the next few months. The Pioneers Board Meetings are on the third Tuesday of each month at the Tides Club. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me at jlewis@cciflorida.com. Thanks and best wishes. Jim Lewis - MSRP President
Planners envisioned a pressurized laboratory module, approximately the size of a small house trailer, that would enable up to four Air Force crewmembers to operate in a "shirt-sleeve" environment. The laboratory would be attached to a modified Gemini capsule and boosted into near-Earth orbit by an upgraded Titan III. Astronauts would remain in the capsule until orbit and then move into the laboratory. The astronauts would conduct a variety of scientific experiments and assess the adaptability of humans in a long-duration space environment (up to four weeks in orbit). When their mission was complete, they would return to the capsule, which would separate from the laboratory and return to Earth. Launch facilities would be located at Vandenberg AFB, CA to permit launch into polar orbit for over flight of the Soviet Union. " The summary above is a broad outline of the MOL Program as it evolved. In the years after the early 1960 studies, a formidable government and industry workforce was assembled to design, develop and operate what was to be one of the first orbiting manned space stations. The DOD MOL Team. The MOL Program included The MOL Program Office in Los Angeles CA., the MOL astronauts selected in 1965-1967, as well as the assignment of 128 Air Force officers to NASA's Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston TX. Additionally, the MOL Program was supported by the following DOD organizations:
The Contractor MOL Team. A formidable industry team was assembled to design & develop the elements of the MOL program. This list of industry partners included:
Operational Launch Complex. A new launch complex at Vandenberg AFB, CA designated Space Launch Complex (SLC) - 6 was to be the MOL Operational launch complex. Construction on the complex began on March 26, 1966. Mission Control. The USAF Satellite Control Facility in Sunnyvale, CA was to be the Mission Control Center for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory. Test Flight. In November 1966, a Gemini capsule attached to a modified Titan II propellant tank (to simulate the MOL) was launched from SLC-40 at the Eastern Test Range by a Titan IIIC. This test flight marked the only occasion that the Titan IIIC/MOL configuration was actually flown. Summary. The MOL Program was moving toward its objectives over the timeframe from 1965 to 1969. However, cost and budget issues arose, and on 10 June 1969 the Department of Defense announced cancellation of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program.
October 2009 News Letter
Tradition Continues with Pioneers Fall BanquetThe 2009 Fall Banquet will be held at the Tides on Friday, November 13 at 6:00 PM. Our speaker is none other than Brig. General Edward Bolton, Commander of the 45th Space Wing and Director of the Eastern Range. He will speak to us on a favorite subject... Space-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. We look forward to his perspective on the Nation’s Space Programs, especially as applies to Space and our national security. Please join us for this important meeting and for a good time socializing with other Pioneers. Reservation forms are provided on page 3. The cost is $35 per person. The US Space Program (both the Air Force and NASA) is the engine that feeds our local economy. . Unfortunately, we are in a time of uncertainty on the direction of the human part of the space program. With new national priorities and severe funding constraints, the original plan to replace Space Shuttle with the new Constellation system, is at risk. The President appointed a blue-ribbon panel to re-assess the original plan for sending astronauts to the Moon and on to Mars. Their preliminary report presents several options for a new direction but none of these options would prevent major local workforce reductions when Shuttle stops flying in late 2010. Local agencies are working overtime to mitigate this loss by bringing other Space related work to the Space Coast and we are assisting their efforts. As Pioneers, we have seen times like this before. We did recover and we will again. Back to partying, the Pioneers have two events each year for the membership and friends. These are a Spring Gathering and the Fall Banquet. Our purpose has remained the same, that is…get together with other Pioneers to renew friendships, discuss past glories of the Space Program and help “pioneer” the future. We consider the current space initiatives to still be in the Pioneering stage. Come share your stories and memories with friends and fellow pioneers.
Brig. Gen. Edward L. "Ed" Bolton Jr. is the Commander, 45th Space Wing, and Director Eastern Range, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. He is responsible for the processing and launching of U.S. government and commercial satellites from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and is the final approval authority for all launches on the Eastern Range, a 15-millionsquare- mile area which supports an average of 20 launches per year aboard Delta and Atlas launch vehicles. He also manages wing launch and range infrastructure supporting the space shuttle and missile test missions.
Brigadier General Bolton is Featured Speaker at Fall BanquetGeneral Bolton began his Air Force career as an enlisted cost and management analyst. In 1980, he was selected for the Airmen Education and Commissioning Program and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1983 after completing an electrical engineering degree and Officer Training School. His staff experience includes serving a systems requirements manager at Headquarters Air Force Systems Command and Chief of the Spacelift Vehicles Requirements Branch at Headquarters Air Force Space Command. For two years he was Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the Executive Office of the President. The general commanded the 30th Range Squadron and the 30th Operations Group at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. His squadron won the General Kutyna Award in 1999 as the top spacelift squadron in Air Force Space Command, and he led the 30th Space Wing to its first Guardian Challenge victory. He has also commanded the Satellite and Launch Control Wing and the Launch and Range Systems Wing. The California Air Force Association selected the Launch and Range Wing as the 2005 Unit of the Year. Prior to his current position, the general served at the National Reconnaissance Office as the Deputy Director for Systems Integration and Engineering as well as the Principal Deputy to the Chief Operating Office. At the NRO, he won the NRO Leadership Award for 2008 and was awarded the NRO Gold Medal. For additional information on assignments, awards, and promotions, please visit: http://www.af.mil/information/bios/bio.asp?bioID=9511
Fall Banquet - 2009Featuring Brig. Gen. Edward L. “Ed” Bolton, Jr. Commander, 45th Space Wing
Reservations Required! Invite your friends!- Reservation form inside PDF Document ... click HERE- Friday, 13 November 2009, 6:00 P.M. Social 7:00 P.M. Dinner
The Tides All Ranks Club
Address questions to: fwatkins@cfl.rr.com October 2007 Newsletter
FLORIDA Spring Gathering BIG SUCCESS
The plaque was designed and produced by MSRP secretary and well known Atlas Team Member Frank Watkins for display in a suitable location for all Atlas team members to enjoy. We will post a photo of the plaque on the web site in the near future. Those present were treated to a "scoop" as Jay Barbree was present and announced that his latest tome would go on sale in September -- we plan to have more on this in our next newsletter. TJ O'Malley and several other "old timers" regaled us with "war stories" from the good old days. It was determined that Bobbie Grine was the earliest of the Atlas Pioneers in attendance having gone to work for Convair in August 1955 and husband Ken Grine took credit for naming the Atlas! Bobbie was suitably rewarded with a nice bottle of wine by MSRP president Jerry Johnson. Of the "war story" presenters, John Hilliard took home a nice bottle of wine from a special drawing. Also, several Pioneer mementoes were distributed via a door prize drawing. We were pleased to have so many Pioneers attending from out of town. Dick Dunlap (at the Cape 1964-1967) traveled all the way from Pittsburgh to attend!! Lots of Pioneers have lots of good stories -- we would like to publish a few in our running series: "Tales of the Pioneers". They need to be brief and remember that humor wins the day!! Just write 'em up and email them to your old friend at zsifter@aol.com. Pioneers President Jerry Johnson announced that the newsletter will be mailed only to those folks without email -- you emailers will get your newsletter via...EMAIL! Also, please visit the web site now and then to see the latest posting. To get there: http://www.missileers.org Plans are being made for a great program on Friday, 16 November spotlighting the 10th anniversary of the Cassini launch to Saturn. The Pioneers are targeting a couple of great speakers for the occasion! |
The Spring Gathering of the Pioneers will honor men and women who worked on the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) Program. We are most fortunate to have former MOL Astronauts Bob Crippen and Al Crews lined up to speak to the Pioneers about their experiences on this program. Also, Hank Fisher and Frank Watkins will briefly speak on the MOL Program and its only test launch from Cape Canaveral AF Station on a Titan IIIC Launch Vehicle. So don't miss this GREAT PROGRAM and a chance to socialize with other Pioneers. This Spring Gathering will include a sit down dinner and cash bar. You may purchase your tickets with the reservation form in this newsletter or online at 
Currently, I am fortunate to have a cadre of dedicated and experienced Officers and Directors associated with our organization. These individuals work diligently for the MSRP making our Board meetings productive as well as fun. A good example of their positive efforts is the program planned for our Spring Gathering honoring the pioneers of the MOL Program. With the material prepared and the guest speakers, I am confident it will be a great evening.
It is hard to believe that it has been over 46 years since the Secretary of Defense announced the beginning of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL). As noted by Steven R. Storm in an Aerospace Corporation's Crosslink magazine in 2004, " During press conference on December 10, ] 1963, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara announced both the death of the Dyna-Soar space plane and the birth of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)." MOL was a farsighted Air Force program that explored the military potential for piloted space flights. Like the Dyna-Soar, it was cancelled before reaching its goal—but not before making some important contributions in the field of space-1 flight and space-station technologies.
Orbital Elements. The on-orbit operational elements of the MOL included a modified Gemini capsule called Gemini B, a MOL adaptor (a connecting element between the Gemini and the Laboratory Module), and the Laboratory Module. These flight elements were to be launched operationally and put into orbit by a Titan HIM vehicle launched from SLC-6 at Vandenberg AFB Ca. The Titan HIM vehicle was a USAF Titan III booster with two primary booster motors that were increased to seven segments rather that the five segment boosters of the TITAN IIIC.
Brig. Gen. Edward L. “Ed” Bolton Jr., U.S. Air Force
with a bunch of the musicians from Lee Caron’s Carnival Club. The memory is as vivid today as the event was then. One of the first missions I worked on was the Apollo Soyuz mission which I covered as journalist for local radio. I have covered hundreds of launches since, not just here at KSC and CCAFS, but also at Vandenberg, AFB, the Baïkonour Cosmodrome and the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
