NASM.XXXX.0093, Subseries III.D.4.
Bellcomm, Inc.
1961-1971
National Air and Space Museum Archives
As originally planned the Apollo Program was an initial reconnaissance of the lunar surface to be followed by more intensive exploration of the moon and experimentation in lunar and Earth orbit. This second phase was to use the Apollo spacecraft system as its basis, with added capability provided by additional vehicles and technology. NASA initiated a series of studies in 1962 examining various aspects of the Apollo follow-on exploration/experimentation regime to be instituted in the late-1960s/early-1970s time frame. By late 1964 the various studies had been organized as the Apollo Extension System (AES). AES still envisioned a combination of lunar surface, lunar orbit, and earth orbit missions lasting up to 120 days (six months). Geared toward utilizing Apollo-era hardware as much as possible, it examined the possibilities of using spent Saturn stages as orbital workshops (OWS) or lunar surface bases. In August 1965 AES was placed under the control of the Saturn/Apollo Applications Office and a month later was renamed the Apollo Applications Program (AAP). Over the next several years AAP was progressively reduced in response to budget cuts. The lunar surface missions, as immediate follow-on to the Apollo landings, were the first missions to be cut. The earth orbital missions (OWS) were also pared back. In mid-1969 NASA inherited the food/diet and spacesuit contracts and the astronauts from the Defense Department's cancelled Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) program. Despite this addition, in July 1969 AAP was cut to a single OWS launch and three manned missions. In February 1970 the AAP program was renamed Skylab. The material in this subseries relates to NASA studies conducted under AAP and its predecessors, both as an organized program and as separately-funded study contracts. Materials relating to early development work on Skylab systems and operations as well as materials relating to Skylab as named, are included with materials on earth orbital projects as subseries III.D.4.g. (Earth Orbital Program Studies/Skylab). For documents relating to NASA's post-Apollo programs, including the Manned Orbital Research Laboratory (MORL) and space station programs, see subseries III.D.5. (Space Station Programs). For documents relating to NASA's planned manned interplanetary program, including studies involving the use of Apollo and Saturn hardware for interplanetary missions, see subseries III.D.6. (Manned Interplanetary Concepts) The materials in this subseries are grouped into subseries by topic. Unless otherwise noted, documents are arranged chronologically by study within each subseries. III.D.4.a. General (1962-1970) III.D.4.b. Apollo Spacecraft Design Modifications (1965-1968) III.D.4.c. Experiment Design (1965-1967) III.D.4.d. Logistic Systems (1962-1969) III.D.4.e. Lunar Surface Projects (1963-1970) III.D.4.f. Lunar Orbital Program Studies (1963-1969) III.D.4.g. Earth Orbital Program Studies/Skylab (1961-1971)
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Bellcomm, Inc Technical Library Collection, Accession XXXX-0093, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Archival materials