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ch10-7.html
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<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<title>Chariots For Apollo, ch10-7</title>
<meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
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<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF">
<p>
<h2>The Outlook</h2>
<p>
At midyear 1968, chances for landing on the moon within the decade were
still touch-and-go. It did seem likely that NASA would have to fly only
five, instead of six, preparatory flights that year, but one of these
might have to be another unmanned Saturn V. Not knowing exactly what
would follow the third mission of the year (a manned Saturn IB launch)
caused some extra planning. For example, the Kennedy spacecraft
preparation team had to prepare both a boilerplate and a qualified
production command module for the next Saturn V shot, since the choice
for launch depended on the outcome of the pogo investigations. Mission
planners in Washington also revived the plan for launching two Saturn IB
missions to give both the North American and the Grumman spacecraft a
workout in earth orbit, if another unmanned Saturn V had to be flown.<a
href = "#source45"><b>45</b></a> Even this plan was tentative, however,
as the delivery date for LM-3 was still not firm.<p>
On the brighter side of the ledger at mid-year was North American's work
in getting CSM-101 ready for the first manned Apollo mission. Although
the contractor was late in shipping the craft from its California
factory to the Florida launch site, improvements in the fabrication of
this machine indicated that future spacecraft should be on time. After a
traumatic and pressure-packed 18 months, North American was finally
delivering satisfactory, flight-ready hardware. When 101 arrived at the
Cape on 30 May, the receiving inspectors found fewer discrepancies than
on any spacecraft previously delivered to Kennedy.<a href =
"#source46"><b>46</b></a><p>
Mueller had told the Senate space committee in February 1968 that the
first manned Apollo mission would be flown in the last quarter of the
year.<a href = "#source47"><b>47</b></a> In June, this still seemed
feasible.
<p>
<hr>
<p>
<a name = "source45"><b>45</b>.</a> Phillips TWX to MSFC, KSC, and
MSC, "AS-503 Launch Preparations," 9 April 1968; James TWX to
MSC, Attn.: Low, "AS-503 Unmanned Contingency Payload
Considerations," 28 May 1968; NASA, "Launch Readiness Flight
Planning schedule," 11 June 1968; Teir to OMSF, Attn.: Phillips,
"Saturn IB Dual Launch Capability," 23 May 1968, with encs.<p>
<a name = "source46"><b>46</b>.</a> Low to Phillips, 3 June 1968; ASPO
Rept., 7 June 1968; Phillips to Low, 24 June 1968; Bergen to Low, 3 May
1968; Low to Bergen, 7 May 1968; Low to Dave W. Lang, "North
American award fee," 11 May 1968; Bernhardt L. Dorman memo,
"Appraisal of NR activities for award fee determination," 22
May 1968.<p>
<a name = "source47"><b>47</b>.</a> John E. Riley to Low, "Mueller
testimony to Senate Space Committee on Budget Authorization," 28
Feb. 1968; Mueller to Morton E. Henig, 23 May 1968.<p>
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