The wizard war in orbit (part 2) Black black boxes

The Space Review ^ | June 27 2016 | Dwayne Day

[Purdue77]

By fall 1959, a number of CORONA photo-reconnaissance spacecraft had already been launched under cover of the Discoverer program, but none had operated successfully. Program officials became concerned that the Agena spacecraft that carried CORONA might be vulnerable to tracking by Soviet radars, or possibly even deliberate electronic interference. They did not think this explained CORONA’s early string of failures, but it was a possibility they worried about. At the time, Harold Willis was working in the Office of ELINT located at CIA Headquarters when CORONA officials briefed him about their program and told him about their concerns.

Willis also learned about the Samos Subsystem F signals intelligence satellite program, which at the time consisted of the F-1 and F-2 payloads. The former was a relatively small payload that would fly attached to a Samos photo-reconnaissance satellite and the latter a larger and more capable payload that would occupy the front end of an Agena spacecraft. Although the specialized F-2 satellite might be able to detect Soviet transmissions or interference, it was then scheduled to fly years after CORONA became operational. Willis thought that the Soviet threat to CORONA and other military satellites could develop sooner and they should not wait for the Samos signals intelligence satellites to provide data. He was not simply worried about problems over the Soviet Union but even far out over the oceans: the Soviets also had ships and trawlers with radomes, and nobody knew what they were for.

[Purdue77]

Agena spacecraft being prepared for launch in August 1961. This mission carried both a TAKI payload for intercepting Soviet TALL KING air surveillance radar emissions and a SOCTOP payload for determining if the vehicle was being tracked or the Soviets were attempting to take control of it. The payloads may have been mounted under the gray box structure on the aft rack of the Agena. The CORONA photo-reconnaissance payload has not yet been attached to the front of the Agena. (credit: Peter Hunter)

[wbarmy]

They are doing the work outside, this I can see and understand.

I see a door frame and a large door to the left. Why is there a door frame and no building?

Or is it a convertible building? The sides can go up in a few minutes?

[Steely Tom]

And what’s with the headbands? Almost every man in the picture is wearing a headband; they appear to be color-coded.

[Purdue77]

This was before my time. I can’t answer your question, with knowledge. When I first saw the picture I thought it was a Soviet rocket because that is how they integrate their satellites with boosters.

[Purdue77]

I don’t know. But if you remember Star Trek, the color shirt showed in what department you worked. Perhaps the headbands did the same.

[wbarmy]

Hard hats, color coded hard hats. Just like the Navy color codes the different vests for its flight-line personnel. they color coded the hardhats for management, electrical, hydraulic, etc.

[wbarmy]

Wow, does that mean the red bands die during a launch?

[Steely Tom]

But they’re not in uniform!

Does that mean this is a CIA production?

[Purdue77]

Funny, I was thinking the same. Red shirts with no names -—BAM!

[Purdue77]

Not necessarily. The personnel working on these are usually contractors. The CIA and /or USAF just supervise.

[NonValueAdded]

Interesting stuff! Part 1: The wizard war in orbit (part 1)

[Steely Tom]

Not necessarily. The personnel working on these are usually contractors. The CIA and /or USAF just supervise.

Yes of course. Just like today.

I didn't realize they did things that way back then, but I guess I should have known.

[Steely Tom]

Could it have been an inflatable building?

There looks to be quite a large blower apparatus in the background, with a large-diameter flexible hose. That might have been used to maintain positive pressure within.

As to why they took it away for this picture, I have no clue.

The door with no building certainly looks odd, doesn’t it?

Kind of reminds me of Les Nessman and his phantom office.

[Ancesthntr]

“When I first saw the picture I thought it was a Soviet rocket because that is how they integrate their satellites with boosters.”

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Yeah, except for the “USAF” thing on the top end of the rocket, and the American cars in the background. :>)

[Purdue77]

That was the second look. And on closer inspection I did see the "USAF". Plus, it does look like Vandenberg AFB setting. So, I quickly came to the conclusion that it wasn't a Soviet booster. But, thanks for pointing it out.

[chaosagent]

Kind of reminds me of Les Nessman and his phantom office.

---

Yes, but at least Les’ was outlined on the floor with tape.

[Utilizer]

Ping for later.

[Utilizer]

Bump...

[MikeD]

The building is on a rail that can slide in and out of place to protect against inclement weather. You can see the rail at the bottom left of the picture. They probably had the building open because it was a warm August day and too warm to work inside (probably little AC in August 1961). White Sands has a similar building that can slide back, and then the payload raises up vertical on the launch rail.

The amazing thing to me is none of the workers are wearing ground straps. Maybe because the booster is liquid-fueled they weren’t as worried about accidental ignition?