The Chairman of MSSD Manned Flight Steering Board is Mr. J. Bromberg. Three meetings have been held as of this date. One meeting reviewed the status of the safety program for MOL and another S-IVB. A third meeting was held to review the above two presentations and assigned action items. A continuation of these meetings is planned.

tiveness/Vehicle Flight Readiness reports to the Vice President, Reliability and Launch Operations and has in his charter the authority to stop any test or launch that does not meet his requirements in reliability and safety.

GRUMMAN AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING CORP.

NOVEMBER 17, 1967

REPORT FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NASA OVERSIGHT

The LM Program during the past year has accomplished several major milestones. Included among the more prominent events are the shipment of LM-1 to KSC where it will be launched early next year; successful launch and performance of the structural test article LTA10R aboard the recent SA502a and the shipment and preparation for thermal vacuum test of the manned test article LTA-8 in the thermal vacuum chamber at MSC Houston. Successful progress of the M-6 flammability tests at MSC Houston contributed to the advancement of both the LTA-8 and flight vehicles and programs.

Significant engineering and management goals were also achieved during the past 12 months. LM weight, a matter of continuing concern was maintained within. control weight by the establishment of firm change control coupled with a vigorous weight reduction program. During the past 12 months, the impact of the recent Apollo accident has been absorbed and overcome. Approximately 96 pounds of fireproofing changes have been accommodated. All of the LM subsystems have shown continued improvement and none of them exhibit any major weakness. The LM Ascent Engine program at Bell Aerospace Corp. has produced a number of successful firings and currently points to the establishment of a stable production engine. The establishment of an efficient electrical test program has added considerable confidence to the timely production of flight spacecraft.

Close management attention to manpower and cost control during this time has enabled the program to progress within the established projections.

Manpower at Bethpage while exhibiting an abrupt decline immediately after the accident showed a subsequent upturn as a result of incorporating the resultant changes. Current manpower projections indicate a continuing down trend through final hardware deliveries into Calendar Year 1970.

Costs at both GAEC Bethpage and at each of the LM major subcontractors have been maintained within projected limits by the exercise of vigorous subcontractor management. During the next 12 months, many of the LM Program major subcontractors will have completed their hardware deliveries and will begin phasing out of production. In conclusion, it can be pointed out that this has been a difficult 12 months. Several development problems have been dealt with and overcome. LM subsystems are maturing rapidly and none of them exhibit any major weakness. The LM Program has regained momentum and expects to support the Apollo Program.

89-149 0-68- -14

1967 MAJOR MILESTONES

NAME

⚫ LTA-2R REFURBISHED FOR FLIGHT - SHIPPED TO KSC

2/14

• DOCKED STRUCTURAL TESTS OF LTA-3/ CM 2S-1 COMPLETED

5167

LTA-8 DELIVERED TO MSC (RE-CONFIGURED FOR FIREPROOFING)

9/13/67

FIGURE 14.-Tabulation of Major Lunar Module Program Milestones for 1967.

FIGURE 15.-Tabulation of Lunar Module Program Major Milestones accom plished during 1967 at the White Sands Propulsion Test Facility in New Mexico.

Testing at WSTF continues to build confidence in propulsion system as Lunar Module flight vehicles approach launch.

FIGURE 16.-Tabulation of Lunar Module Program Major Milestones accomplished during 1967 at the MSC field site in Houston, Tex. Items of special significance include:

Structural testing of LTA-3

Flammability testing of M-6

Progress in readying LTA-8 for test operations

FIGURE 17.-Tabulation of Lunar Module Program Major Milestones accomplished during 1967 at the KSC in Florida. Items of special significance include successful performance of LTA-10R aboard AS-502 and the continued progress in preparing LM for launch.

FIGURE 18.-Lunar Module Program Operating Plan (October 1967). All vehicles are on schedule and supporting NASA launch dates.

FIGURE 19.-Lunar Module Subsystem Status-Most subsystems have improved

during the past year. Many subsystems are judged to be in good condition and none of them exhibit any major weakness.