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  10/22: NMUSAF's MOL crew secrets panel (Ohio)

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Author Topic:   10/22: NMUSAF's MOL crew secrets panel (Ohio)
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-28-2015 10:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force release
The Dorian Files Revealed

The Manned Orbiting Laboratory Crew Member's Secret Mission in Space

Oct. 22, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
Dayton, Ohio

In the 1960s, the U.S. Air Force initiated a program to carry out experiments in space by a two-man crew in a laboratory orbiting the earth for up to 60 days. The program, known as the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), provided a platform for a highly secret program to gain Cold War intelligence on the Soviet Union and other adversaries. The MOL crew members pioneered efforts to carry out long term missions in space.

The museum will host a panel discussion by five individuals who trained as MOL crew members and went on to have distinguished careers in space exploration and national security. They will share their insights into the MOL program and how the program prepared them for leadership in the nation's space and national security programs.

The National Reconnaissance Office will also reveal, for the first time, information about the classified elements of the program.

Panelists:

  • Karol Bobko
  • Albert Crews
  • Bob Crippen
  • Richard Truly
  • Michael Yarymovych (MOL technical director)

Nigel Mc
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Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 07-28-2015 10:48 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You guys in the states are very lucky! MOL has always been a big interest for me!

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-28-2015 10:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The museum will record and post the audio of the panel discussion afterwards as part of its lecture series podcast.

cosmic_buffalo
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Posts: 58
From: Dayton, Ohio
Registered: Jul 2014

posted 07-29-2015 07:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cosmic_buffalo   Click Here to Email cosmic_buffalo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Looking forward to this!

albatron
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Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 07-29-2015 07:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I had originally heard of this from Crip at the last Astronaut Hall of Fame induction. I should be going with another aerospace writer.

SpaceAholic
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Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-30-2015 05:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceAholic   Click Here to Email SpaceAholic     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Some MOL hardware continues to be leveraged for scientific application to this day. Hopefully NRO will be at liberty to release those details as part of its presentation.

albatron
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Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 07-30-2015 09:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Apparently this is in conjunction with a major declassification of MOL files.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 07-31-2015 12:15 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) on Facebook:
In the summer of 1965, President Lyndon Johnson announced details of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL), a program developed by the United States Air Force with assistance from NASA to assess the utility of man in space. Tasks visualized for manned orbital activity by astronauts included photographing both space and earth, conducting scientific and technological experiments for future manned and unmanned flights, and testing astronauts' response and coping methods in unusual circumstances. Later on, MOL's primary purpose was to spot and photograph objects on the ground, referred to as the Dorian mission.

The first of three documents, a copy of President Johnson's press statement, can be accessed here. Two more documents will be released later this summer, culminating with the release of even more information — all recently declassified — at a special event, "The Dorian Files Revealed: The Manned Orbiting Laboratory Crew Member's Secret Mission in Space" to be held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on October 22, 2015.

Constellation One
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Posts: 119
From: Lorain, Ohio, USA
Registered: Aug 2008

posted 10-22-2015 08:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Constellation One   Click Here to Email Constellation One     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'll be attending. Anyone else?

Editor's note: Threads merged.

Jim Behling
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Posts: 1463
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010

posted 10-22-2015 11:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jim Behling   Click Here to Email Jim Behling     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by albatron:
Apparently this is in conjunction with a major declassification of MOL files.
Here they are.

Nigel Mc
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Posts: 182
From: Sheffield, UK
Registered: Jan 2011

posted 10-24-2015 12:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Nigel Mc   Click Here to Email Nigel Mc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Looking forward to hearing the podcast.

Hart Sastrowardoyo
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Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 10-24-2015 09:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Hart Sastrowardoyo   Click Here to Email Hart Sastrowardoyo     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm surprised Don Peterson wasn't there. I wonder if he couldn't make it or just couldn't travel.

Neil DC
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Posts: 140
From: Middletown, NJ, USA
Registered: May 2010

posted 10-25-2015 08:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Neil DC   Click Here to Email Neil DC     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Was a well organized event with a large turn out at the impressive USAF museum in Dayton. Crippen, Truly, Crews, Bobko and technical director Yarymovich were on stage and at the last moment General Abrahamson turned up too. No MacLeay, Neubeck or Peterson, the surviving MOL astronauts.

After introductions there were two sessions of carefully chosen questions including the astronauts training, cancellation of the program and what they learned from the it. The questions could have been more probing, but since members of the National Reconnaissance Office were there, questions on the MOL camera, etc. were not asked. I could only think of how the Russians finally realized this concept in the seventies with their military Salyut's 3 and 5. Space stations in LEO with an enormous camera aboard pointing Earthwards.

All were very interesting, especially Abrahamson and Yarymovich. One could see how the former ended up working on SDI for Reagan. His tales of how he was interviewed by Reagan were fascinating.

At the end members of the NRO described how they had worked on a declassified book and website on the subject. A limited number of free copies were available at the end, plus the astronauts had a signing session. Abrahamson and Bobko stayed the longest to sign, with the General making much time for everyone. Worth the long trip there.

JBoe
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Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012

posted 10-26-2015 03:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for JBoe   Click Here to Email JBoe     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The lecture looked like it was a great event! Do you have any other details, like the title, of the limited quantity book that NRO/USAF provided at the event?

I know there was a mention of a podcast of the lecture, is there any details of a future posting of the event? Thanks again!

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-26-2015 05:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The book, "The DORIAN Files Revealed: A Compendium of the NRO's Manned Orbiting Laboratory Documents," is available in PDF here.

The podcast, when available, will be posted here.

Constellation One
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Posts: 119
From: Lorain, Ohio, USA
Registered: Aug 2008

posted 10-26-2015 08:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Constellation One   Click Here to Email Constellation One     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My wife and I attended the lecture. We arrived about 45 minutes early and secured front row seats. By starting time, it was just about standing room only in the auditorium.

For me, it felt that I was sitting in the lap of history. This group of gentlemen were perhaps some of the most unknown heroes of the era. I felt honored to listen to them finally being able to discuss a significant part of their lives.

Even though it was 40 years ago, it was apparent that the gentleman were still uncomfortable talking about the project. This was obviously because it has been drilled into them not to discuss it!

I did get autographs and was able to thank each one for their service to our country. I am fortunate to be able to pass along the story now to my students.

Michael Cassutt
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Posts: 358
From: Studio City CA USA
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 10-29-2015 11:04 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Michael Cassutt   Click Here to Email Michael Cassutt     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The newly-released documents -- especially the monthly status reports -- confirmed facts about the selection of MOL astronauts that I had run across in the past decade.
  1. The program wanted 20 astronauts (see below as to why). Eight were selected a year before the program received official approval in August 1965 -- Adams, Crews et al.

  2. A second pool of 25 finalists was created in early 1966 -- five (Bobko, Crippen) were chosen by a board in May of that year.

  3. An additional increment was selected in 1967 with eight finalists (all from the early 1966 group). Only four received approval (Abrahamson group).

  4. There was a lot of discussion among program managers about how much information to release about the astronauts (who were actually called "aerospace research pilots"), ranging from NASA-style publicity dumps to zero. One official noted that zero publicity was the right choice for the program, but was impossible. So they chose to release minimal information.

  5. Why twenty? One planning document shows that prime, alternate and support crews were to be assigned for each MOL mission a year prior to launch. And launches were to take place every three months, then five months. Either way, that method required eighteen astronauts to be assigned at a given time.

albatron
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Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 10-30-2015 04:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for albatron   Click Here to Email albatron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great insight Michael - wish you had been there, I know your interest in the program.

To echo what others have said, it was a spectacular event, and the compendium handed out (they didn't bring enough but I managed to get one) is excellent. And huge. So much declassified now that wasn't before.

The panel discussion was chaired by two NRO members, both involved in the book that was released. Declassifying the info was a committee within the NRO, the Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance (CSNR), and all for members of the board were present.

Very approachable men as was Ms. Loretta De Sio, the Director of Corporate Communications.

The panel was moderated by the Director of the CSNR, Robert McDonald, who was assisted by the Chief of the CSNR's Historical and Documents and Research division, Dr. James Outzen.

Abrahamson did talk about how for years he was never able to discuss much about it, and was glad to be able to do so now. The other four also agreed.

Listening to Dr. Michael Yarymovych, the Technical Director for the MOL program, was more of an eye opening experience.

Nice guy but afterwards I approached him about follow up information and he was a tad reticent. After more discussion though, he did open up more and I'm going to sit down with him in the near future.

Overall a big tip of the mad beanie prop!

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