Source Notes

Chapter 6: LC-39 Plans Take Shape

  1. 1. Logsdon, "NASA's Implementation," p. 22; Ivan D. Ertel and Mary Louise Morse, The Apollo Spacecraft, A Chronology, vol. 1 (NASA SP-4009, 1969), pp. 95, 108-109.

  2. 2. Logsdon, "NASA's Implementation," p. 34.

  3. 3. Ibid., pp. 40-44; Shea interview; Rosen interview, 14 Nov. 1969; Ertel and Morse, Apollo Chronology, 1:118-20, 134.

  4. 4. Ertel and Morse, Apollo Chronology, 1: 131-34; Akens, Saturn Chronology, pp. 33-35.

  5. 5. James Grimwood and Barton Hacker, with Peter Vorzimmer, Project Gemini, A Chronology (NASA SP-4002, 1969), pp. 2-20.

  6. 6. Ertel and Morse, Apollo Chronology, 1: 111.

  7. 7. Ibid., p. 101.

  8. 8. Ibid., pp. 101-104, 121, 128; NASA release 66-15, "Apollo Spacecraft Contract," 21 Jan. 1966.

  9. 9. Martin Marietta Corp., Saturn C-3 Launch Facilities Study Final Report, vol. 1, Selection of Optimum Concept, report ER 12125-1 (Baltimore, Dec. 1969), p. 1.

  10. 10. Ibid., pp. vii, 1-1 1, 70-85; Martin Co., Special Study Saturn Launch Facilities, report ER 11996 (Baltimore, 17 Oct. 1961), pp. II-1 through II-5; calendar and schedule of events in O. K. Duren's private papers.

  11. 11. LFSEO, LOD, A Preliminary Study of Launch Facility Requirements for the C-4 (Huntsville, AL, 27 Oct. 1961), p. 38.

  12. 12. George von Tiesenhausen, memo for record, "Launch Complex 39," 11 Oct. 1951.

  13. 13. Harvey F. Pierce, Maurice H. Connell & Assoc., Inc., to Debus, 21 Nov. 1961, Debus papers.

  14. 14. Poppel to Petrone, memo, "Saturn C-3/C-4 Study," 9 Oct. 1961.

  15. 15. Biographies, KSC Archives; Owens interview, 21 Nov. 1972.

  16. 16. MSFC, Saturn Mobile (Canal) Concept Flame Deflector and Launcher/Transporter Emplacement Evaluation, by George Waiter, report MIN-LOD-DH-2-62 (Huntsville, AL, Feb. 1962).

  17. 17. Poppel to E. House, "Temporary Employment of Naval Architecture Consultant," 22 Dec. 1961; "LFSEO Monthly Progress Report," 15 Feb. 1962, p. 8.

  18. 18. Martin, Saturn C-3 Study, vol. 3, Design Criteria for Launch Facilities, report ER 12125-3, Dec. 1961, pp. 57-84.

  19. 19. "LFSEO Monthly Progress Report," 15 Feb. 1962, p. 8.

  20. 20. Debus to Petrone, "Transportation Proposals for Complex 39," 30 Jan. 1962; DDJ, 30 Jan. 1962.

  21. 21. Duren interview, 29 Mar. 1972; Zeiler interview, 24 Mar. 1972; private papers of Duren.

  22. 22. "LOD Weekly Notes," Petrone, 8 Feb. 1962; W. T. Clearman, Acting Sec., Heavy Vehicle Systems Off., memo for record, "Complex 39 Staff Meeting," 12 Mar. 1962, Petrone papers.

  23. 23. MSFC, Appraisal of Transfer Modes for Saturn C-5 Mobile Systems as of 11 June 1962, by Donald D. Buchanan and George W. Waiter, report MIN-LOD-DH-9-62 (Huntsville, AL, 11 June 1962), pp. 5-8; Buchanan interview, 7 Nov. 1972; Waiter interview, 7 Nov. 1972.

  24. 24. MSFC, Transporter for Nova Track Design and Stresses, by William H. Griffith, report NASA-MFSC-LOD-D; MSFC, Appraisal of Transfer Modes, p.5; MSFC, Saturn Mobile (Rail) Concept: An Examination of Rail Transfer Systems for a Launcher/Transporter, by George W. Waiter, report MIN-LOD-DH-3-62 (Huntsville, AL, 3 Apr. 1962).

  25. 25. Maurice H. Connell & Assoc., Inc., Saturn C-5 Launch Facilities Complex 39: Study of Rail Systems for Vertical Transporter/Launcher Concept (Huntsville, AL: MSFC, May 1962), p. 7.

  26. 26. MSFC, Appraisal of Transfer Modes, pp. 9-11; MSFC Weekly Notes, Debus to von Braun, 28 May 1962; Buchanan, memo for record, "Analysis by H. Pierce, 15 May 1962,"Buchanan's private papers.

  27. 27. LOD Weekly Notes, Zeiler, 15 Feb. 1962; Poppel, Zeiler, Buchanan, and Duren made up the team.

  28. 28. Donald Buchanan, memo for record, "Launcher/Transporter Crawler Version," 23 Mar. 1962; Buchanan interview, 28 Nov. 1972; Duren interview,29 Mar.1972; MSFC, Appraisal of Transfer Modes, pp. 5, 8-9.

  29. 29. LOD Weekly Notes, Poppel, 16 May 1962; MSFC, Appraisal of Transfer Modes, p. 9; Buchanan, memo for record, "TDY at Bucyrus-Erie, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin," 16 Apr. 1962, Buchanan's private papers; Buchanan interview, 28 Nov. 1972; Buchanan, memo for record, "Analysis by H. Pierce, 15 May 1962," Buchanan's papers.

  30. 30. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville Off., "Summary of Opinions Developed by the Jacksonville District Engineering Staff on Mobile Launch Concepts for the Advanced Saturn C-5 Vehicle," June 1962, in Buchanan's papers.

  31. 31. MSFC, Appraisal of Transfer Modes, p. 11.

  32. 32. William T. Clearman, Jr., memo, "Launch Operations Directorate Complex 39 Review," 18 Sept. 1962; E. M. Briel's notes, 12-13 June 1962.

  33. 33. Biographies, in KSC Archives; Claybourne interview; Clearman interview, 5 Jan. 1973.

  34. 34. Launch Operations Center (hereafter cited as LOC), "Summary of Conference with Members of Manned Space Flight Sub-Committee of House Committee on Science and Astronautics at the NASA Launch Operations Center," 23 Mar. 1962, p. 27.

  35. 35. Martin, Saturn C-3 Study, 3: 46-52.

  36. 36. Clearman, "Complex 39 Staff Meeting," 12 Mar. 1962; Deese to Moser et al., "Preliminary Concepts, Vertical Building," 6 Mar. 1962; Brown Engineering Co., Inc., An Evaluation of an Enclosed Concept for a C-5 Vertical Assembly Building (VAB)," 2 Apr. 1962, pp. 7-8; Brown Engineering Co., Inc., An Evaluation of an Open Concept for a C-5 Vertical Assembly Building, 2 Apr. 1962, pp. 9-10.

  37. 37. Briel's notes, 12-13 June 1962; Brown Engineering Co., "Evolution of the Saturn C-5 Mobile System Vertical Assembly Building," a mimeographed report prepared by E. M. Briel, 7 Sept. 1962.

  38. 38. LOC, "Minutes of the Saturn C-5 Launch Operations Working Group Meeting, 18-19 July 1962," 8 Aug. 1962, pp. 2-6.

  39. 39. Briel's notes, 31 July 1962; DDJ, 15 Aug. 1962.

  40. 40. URSAM, "VAB-LC39: A Report of Meeting with Representatives of LOC, Corps of Engineers and Component Contractors" (Cape Canaveral, FL, 28 Aug. 1962), app. A.

  41. 41. Isom G. Rigell, memo, "LC-39 Networks," 4 Sept. 1962; Norman Gerstenzang, memo for record, 5 Sept. 1962; unsigned memo, "Information Required by LO-FEE for LC-39, VAB Criteria," 6 Sept. 1962.

  42. 42. Joe J. Koperski, Chief, Engineering Div., Corps of Engineers, to R. P . Dodd, "Back-to-Back vs. In-Line Configuration, Comparisons and Conclusions - Launch Complex 39-Vertical Assembly Building," 21 Sept. 1962.

  43. 43. Deese interview, 4 Oct. 1973.

  44. 44. NASA, "A Report on Launch Facility Concepts for Advanced Saturn Launch Facilities," by Marvin Redfield, John Hammersmith, and Jay A. Salmonson, 13 Feb. 1962.

  45. 45. House, Hearings: 1963 NASA Authorization, p. 941.

  46. 46. LOC, "Summary of Conference with Members of Manned Space Flight," 23 Mar. 1962, pp. 13-34.

  47. 47. Ibid., pp. 21, 30. In an interview with James Frangie on 13 Aug. 1969, Col. Bidgood pointed out that LC-39 provided launch rate flexibility but had limitations in its ability to accommodate different vehicles.

  48. 48. NASA, "Minutes of the Management Council Office of Manned Space Flight," 29 May 1962.

  49. 49. Ibid., 22 June 1962; DDJ, 15 June 1962.

  50. 50. Logsdon, "NASA's Implementation," pp. 56-60.

  51. 51. The mode selection story continued several more months as NASA had to defend the choice against strong criticism from the President's Science Advisory Committee. For a lengthier treatment of one of Apollo's most interesting episodes, see Logsdon, "NASA's Implementation."

  52. 52. "LOD Weekly Notes," Sendler, 5, 19 July 1962, Bidgood, 5 July, 2, 23 Aug. 1962; DDJ, 15, 21 Aug. 1962.

  53. 53. Poppel to Bidgood, "Preliminary Design for a Mobile Arming Tower for Launch Complex 39," 10 Aug. 1962.

  54. 54. LOD, "Minutes of the Saturn C-5 Launch Operations Working Group Meeting, 18-19 July 1962," 8 Aug. 1962, pp. 1-5 and app. 9.

  55. 55. Redfield interview.

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