Manned Orbiting Laboratory
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| MOL test launch Nov. 3, 1966 from Cape Canaveral, FL. (USAF) | ||
| Station statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Crew: | 2 | |
| Mission status: | Cancelled | |
| Mass: | 14,476 kg | |
| Length: | 21.92 m | |
| Diameter: | 3.05 m | |
| Living volume: | 11.3 m³ | |
| Orbit inclination: | polar or sun synchronous orbit | |
| Days in orbit: | 40 days | |
The Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) was part of the United States Air Force's manned spaceflight program, a successor to the cancelled X-20 Dyna-Soar project. It was announced to the public on the same day that the Dyna-Soar program was cancelled, December 10, 1963. The program was supposedly intended to prove the utility of man in space for military missions. However, this was just a cover story for the Russians and the public. The program was developed as a space station used for reconnaissance purposes (KH-10). The space station used the Gemini B spacecraft that was derived from NASA's Gemini program. The contractor for the MOL was the Douglas Aircraft Company. The Gemini B/MOL craft was externally similar to NASA's Gemini spacecraft although it underwent several modifications. The most obvious was the addition of a circular hatch through the heat shield to allow passage between the spacecraft and the laboratory.
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History
There was one test flight of an MOL mockup that was built from a Titan II propellant tank. The Gemini 2 spacecraft was re-flown on a 33-minute sub-orbital test flight. After the Gemini was separated for its sub-orbital reentry, the MOL mockup continued on into orbit and released three satellites. A hatch was installed in the Gemini 2 heat shield to provide access to the MOL and was tested in the sub-orbital reentry. The test flight was launched by the USAF on November 3, 1966 at 13:50:42 UTC on launch vehicle Titan IIIC-9 from LC-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Gemini 2-MOL space capsule was recovered near Ascension Island in the South Atlantic by the USS La Salle.
The MOL was going to have a helium-oxygen atmosphere. It used a Gemini B spacecraft as a reentry vehicle. The crew were to be launched with the Gemini B and MOL and returned to earth in the Gemini B. They would conduct up to 30 days of military reconnaissance using large optics, cameras, and side-looking radar.
In response to the announcement of the MOL, the USSR commissioned the development of its own military space station, Almaz. Three Almaz space stations flew as Salyut space stations.
In 2005, two MH-7 training space suits from the MOL program were discovered in a locked room in the Launch Complex 5/6 museum on Cape Canaveral.
MOL astronauts
- MOL Group 1 - November 1965
- Michael J. Adams (Air Force)
- Albert H. Crews Jr. (Air Force)
- John L. Finley (Navy)
- Richard E. Lawyer (Air Force)
- Lachlan Macleay (Air Force)
- Francis G. Neubeck (Air Force)
- James M. Taylor (Air Force)
- Richard H. Truly (Navy)
- MOL Group 2 - June 1966
- Karol J. Bobko (Air Force)
- Robert L. Crippen (Navy)
- Charles G. Fullerton (Air Force)
- Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr. (Air Force)
- Robert F. Overmyer (Marine Corps)
- MOL Group 3 - June 1967
- James A. Abrahamson (Air Force)
- Robert T. Herres (Air Force)
- Robert H. Lawrence, Jr. (Air Force)
- Donald H. Peterson (Air Force)
MOL flight schedule
Completed
- 1966 November 3 - MOL mockup - Gemini 2 launched unmanned
Proposed
- 1970 December 1 - MOL 1 - First unmanned Gemini-B/Titan 3M qualification flight (Gemini-B flown alone, without an active MOL).
- 1971 June 1 - MOL 2 - Second unmanned Gemini-B/Titan 3M qualification flight (Gemini-B flown alone, without an active MOL).
- 1972 February 1 - MOL 3 - A crew of two (James M. Taylor, Albert H. Crews) would have spent thirty days in orbit.
- 1972 November 1 - MOL 4 - Second manned mission.
- 1973 August 1 - MOL 5 - Third manned mission.
- 1974 May 1 - MOL 6 - Fourth manned MOL mission. All Navy crew composed of Richard H. Truly and Robert Crippen.
- 1975 February 1 - MOL 7 - Fifth manned MOL.
Operational MOLs were to be launched on Titan IIIM rockets from SLC-6 at Vandenberg AFB, California and LC-40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
KH-10
Starting in 1965 a large optical system was added to the spacecraft for military reconnaissance. This camera system was codenamed "Dorian" and given the designation KH-10. The project was cancelled on June 10, 1969 before any operational flights occurred.
The preceding Key Hole Project was KH-9 and the next in series project was the KH-11.
Cancellation
The first launch of the MOL was scheduled for December 15, 1969, but was then pushed back to the fall of 1971. The program was cancelled by Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird in 1969 after the estimated cost of the program had risen in excess of 1 billion dollars ,and had already spent 300 million. It was determined the capabilities of unmanned spy satellites met or exceeded the capabilities of manned MOL missions. There were 14 MOL astronauts in the program when it was canceled, and NASA offered those under 35 years of age the opportunity to transfer to the NASA astronaut program. Seven of the 14 MOL astronauts were younger than 35 and took the offer: Richard H. Truly who later became the NASA Administrator, Karol J. Bobko, Robert Crippen, C. Gordon Fullerton, Henry W. Hartsfield, Robert F. Overmyer, and Donald Peterson. All eventually flew on the Space Shuttle.
A test article at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is the Gemini B spacecraft (sometimes confused with Blue Gemini). It is recognized by its distinctive "US Air Force" written on the side, and the circular hatch cut through the heat shield.
Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Maximum duration: 40 days
- Orbit: Sun synchronous or polar
- Length: 21.92 m
- Diameter: 3.05 m
- Cabin Volume: 11.3 m³
- Mass: 14,476 kg
- Payload: 2,700 kg
- Power: fuel cells or solar cells
- RCS system: N2O4/MMH
See also
- Almaz - Soviet equivalent to MOL; launched under "Salyut" name
- Polyus - Soviet orbiting battle station
- Big Gemini
- Titan III
- Tiangong 1
- TKS Spacecraft - Soviet equivalent to MOL and Big Gemini spacecrafts
- Splashdown
- Manned Orbital Development System
Sources
- Wade, Mark (April 18, 2004). MOL. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved April 23, 2004.
- "Astrospies" Nova. WGBH/PBS. First aired February 12, 2008
References
Gallery
 MOL spacesuit |
 14 of the 17 MOL astronauts: |
 Manned Orbital Laboratory early 1960 conceptual drawing that did not use the Gemini spacecraft |
 Gemini B reentry module separates from the MOL. 1967 conceptual drawing using Gemini reentry spacecraft. (USAF) |
 Gemini-B capsule |
 Configuration of the MOL space station |
 Gemini B capsule intended for the MOL program. This is often confused with Blue Gemini, but they were different spacecraft.(NMUSAF) |
 Heat Shield with Hatch |
 Display Panel |
 Gemini B Hatch |
 Gemini B Hatch |
 Gemini B Hatch |
 Gemini B Nose |
 US Air Force stenciling |
External links
- Astrospies: (complete episode of Nova)
- Gemini B - MOL Mockup - Titan III Test Flight 11-03-1966 Mission Report
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