CORONA TRIP REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP63-00313A000600110060-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2006
• Sequence Number: 60
• Publication Date: October 23, 1958
• Content Type: MFR

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Copy / of cj
23 October 1958
SUBJECT: CORONA Trip Report
1. During the period 12 - 17 October 1958, a trip was made to the
Palo Alto area, tI purpose of which was to attend scheduled conferences
and to coordinate matters pertaining to Project CORONA. On 15 October,
the undersigned attended the 'JS 117-L program review conference at LtS D;
16 and 17 October were devoted to the monthly CORONA progress meeting and
coordination of CORONA matters.
a. _ 117-L Program Review Conference - Items which are listed
below were considered to have a possible bearing on CORONA.
(1) Pad facilities - Some minor construction still remains
to be completed. There is also a lack of equipment which is
expected to be delivered in time. No slippage effects expected.
(2) Tracking stations - Some construction still remains
and completion is expected so that all tracking stations will
be operational no later than 30 November. An operational exer--
ci.se has been scheduled for 1 December by B10.
(3) Integrated countdown - Is still in work between
Douglas and LMSD. No difficulty expected.
(4) Mating of vehicle and nose cone - To be accomplished
between 15 and 20 November. No problems expected.
(5) Subsystem C - The preliminary visual system design is
expected by January 1959; the ferret version by February 1959;
and the infra-red version by June 1959. In addition, the pro-
posed pioneer visual flight version is expected by March 1960.
_sa
1 referring to
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(6) Subsystem E - The first flight for the 6 inch version
is expected by November 1959, and the first flight of the 36
inch version by May of 1960.
(7) Subsystem L - Thel numbers 3, i, 7, 25X1
10, and 14, are still scheduled. There was no indication at
the meeting, that @Ay of these flights might be cancelled. The
payload for flight 73 has been received at UvBD.
b. Practically the entire k6 117-L conference was devoted to
the THOR boost phase or program IIA. Following the general review,
Col. Evans from BNLJ gave a brief "pep" talk to the group. He em-
phasized the necessity for meeting the first flight date in December,
saying that it was extremely important to the Air Force, as well as
the government, that this be done prior to the first of the year.
He further felt that since the first firing is becoming more imminent,
the program review meetings should be held approximately every two to
three weeks, instead of once a month as at present. He further stated
that he was calling a meeting at Inglewood for 6 and 7 November to go
over in detail the factors which may effect the first launching. He
also asked that Lockheed be prepared to present a plan to recover the
one month slippage which has already occurred, as well as any sub-
sequent slippage which may occur. Following Col. 'vans' talk, Jack
Carter confirmed LNSD's appreciation for the importance of meeting
the schedule and gave assurance that this would not be at the expense
of quality. He also agreed with Col. Evans' proposal that they call
program meetings more frequently. I felt attendance at this meeting
was quite beneficial and gave me a detailed insight into the function-
ing, as well as the progress of development, of the basic hardware. N RO
Of special note is the fact that throughout the entire meeting NM
representatives (especially Col. Oder and were very active 25X1
in delving into the technical whys and wh r o s each component
and subsystem reported on. They also appeared very alert to financial
aspects of the program.
(1) Recovery phase - Testing of hardware and techniques is
proceeding substantially on schedule. The main difficulty to date
has been construction of a parachute which can be made sturdy enough
to withstand an air snatch, while staying within the weight limit
of approximately 5 pounds. The AHA-2l transmitter which will be
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installed in the capsule, on initial test, proved better then
expected. To test distances at which the signal from the trans-
mitter could be received, the capsule was put in the ocean west
of Point Mugu. Signals from the transmitter were picked up by
a C-119 205 nm away. Signals were also picked up by a destroyer
59 nm away, Disappointing was the fact that the two six million
candle power flashing lights could not be seen except at very
close range. This was also the case with the aluminum dye.
Further testing will, of course, be conducted on this equipment.
A design change has been made which will incorporate a swivel
between the capsule and the shrouds of the parachute to prevent
possible shroud fouling in the event the despin rockets have not
completely stopped rotation at the time of chute deployment. A
complete dress rehearsal of all phases of the recovery operation
will be conducted sometime prior to the number 3 launching (the
first to be recovered). Jim Plummer informed me that it is
probable that he will be able to get an X-17 which will fire a
replica of the pod to an altitude of approximately 1400,000 feet.
This should give a realistic test to all phases of the recovery
operation. It will not test re-entry, but it will have the
actions which take place after chute deployment.
(2) Reports Control Manual - Drafts of operational control
messages were coordinated with I
l
and Jim Plummer to 25X1
see if any were scheduled to be ou o pease with the technical
countdown. There was no conflict, therefore the drafts will. be
cleaned up and presented for approval prior to publication and
distribtuion. This series of messages will be known as
25X1
The messages between Project Headquarters and the father Central
for the support of CORONA will still use the slug
with 25X1
(3) Weather support - The initial weather requirement for
target areas has been laid on ADJS. Col. Peterson, Commander of
A US, has been briefed and gave the initial indication that he did
not expect to have any difficulty in meeting this requirement.
BIVID has also laid on the requirement for launch and recovery
weather in support of program IIA of ir1,S 117-L. L/C Gaertner and
others from AvB are dealing directly with Col. Oder at BIB on this
phase. As it is believed that we will want to have recovery area
weather forecasts in our 0 erations Control Room, arrangements will
be made with B1,TD and/or to pass these on to us. 25X1
25X1
Deputy or era o s
1 - S PD/DCI L. - Cover, DPS 7 - Dir Admin, Di
2 - Dep Dir DY,i 5 - S0, D s sub j
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