LETTER TO DICK FROM BURT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00878R000300080005-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 27, 2002
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 13, 1958
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2002/06/13: CIA-RDP81 B00878W0030O080005-
SECRET
February 13, 1958
CMCC Doc. No. 151X5.977
Copy i of 2
Page -1-of 1
We are forwarding herewith Progress Letter No. 16
covering work performed in connection with System No. 4 during
the period extending from 1 January to 1 February 1958.
Sincerely,
Enclosures:
CMCC Doc. No. 163X5.63
Copies 1-8 of 12
This document contains information affecting the national
dr.f-:nso of h- U i'cd Sates within thi nearing of the
Esoiona. L s, Ti I~ 18 U.S.C., S-'c:ion 793 and 794. Its
trensn:ission or ih^ revelation of its contents in any
manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2002/06/13 : CIA-RDP81 B00878R000300080005-1
 Approved For Release 2002/06/13: CIA-RDP81 B0087$W003000800,05-1
SECRET
Progress Letter No. 16
Contract No. A- t 01
System 4
1 January to i February 1958
CMCC Document No. 163X5. 63
Copy / of 1.2 Copies
(This document contains a total of 6 sheets,
including this title sheet. )
Approved For Release 2002/06/S 100878R000300080005-1
This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Lows, Title
18, U.S.C., Section 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by low.
 Approved For lease 2002/0 l,~, 11 B0087SWO0300080005-1
1. General
During the period covered by this progress letter, the
following work was performed:
(1) Unit environmental tests on Model 103 were completed,
and overall environmental system tests were started.
(2) Corrective action was taken as required to remedy
deficiencies appearing in environmental tests.
(3) Construction of Model 104 was essentially completed.
2. Environmental Testing
a. During the first week of this reporting period, environmental
tests were conducted on the individual units. On the basis of
these tests, all units appeared satisfactory with the exception
of the Band 1 receiver which displayed frequency drift at high
temperature. Since the facility to be used for environmental
system tests was made available to the contractor for only a
three- or four-week period starting at the end of the first week
in January, the initiation of system tests appeared in order
even though all of the deficiencies had not been corrected in
the Band 1 receiver.
be The entire system was moved to the system test facility on
January 9, installation was completed on January 10, and tests
commenced the following Monday, January 13. The system
tests originally called for a cold soak at +14?F with the
equipment not operative. It was found that condensation
problems resulting from a cold soak of this nature caused
numerous failures after the equipment was taken up to altitude
and energized electrically. It was hypothesized that the
condensation was occurring because of air stagnation in the
various boxes. The test was accordingly modified so the
equipment was operating as the temperature was :lowered in
Approved For Release 2002/06/S RE' OO878R000300080005-1
This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C., Section 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any'manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
 Approved Fok Release 2002/0 fjLl B0087OW00300080005-1 CKET
order to have the equipment blowers circulate the air. After
approximately 20 minutes of operation, the equipment was
shut down and the cold soak carried out for approximately one
hour. The types of failure previously incurred because of the
moisture then disappeared.
c. During the environmental test program the test personnel
worked in two shifts. The first shift provided the count-down
necessary to start an environmental test run; the second shift
conducted the actual run. Several days were spent attempting
to operate the equipment for sustained periods of time at a
simulated altitude of 50, 000 feet.
d. The 3--kv supply in the camera indicator exhibited poor
voltage regulation due to temperature rise after several hours
of operation. The Band i receiver showed a complete loss of
sensitivity during .such operating periods.. Temperature- rise
problems were explored for several days by operating the
system at simulated altitudes between 40, 000 and 45, 000 feet.
At 40, 000 feet, major problems appeared to vanish with the
exception of frequency drift in the Band 1 receiver.
e. After operating through January 24, during which period
the majority of the system operated quite successfully for
intervals of five to six hours, it was concluded that enough
minor deficiencies had been observed to warrant corrective
action in lieu of sustaining environmental tests. The last
week of this reporting period was given to correcting these
deficiencies.
f. The deficiencies observed in the process, of environmental
testing are listed below together with the corrective action
taken.
(1) Band 1 Receiver -- The Band 1A receiver showed a
complete loss of sensitivity after operating at altitude for
Approved For Release 2002/06/4SEZ00878R000300080005-1
This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C., Section 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by low.
 Approved Forrlease 2002/0 1 ~~j1 B00879WO0300080005-1
a short time. This had been identified as a heat problem
affecting the first conversion process. In the last week of
this reporting period, it was determined that both the first
IF amplifier and the second local oscillator showed drift
with temperature rise. The drifts were in opposite
directions and were so severe cumulatively as to cause the
signal to be far removed from the pass-band of the first IF
amplifier. The first IF amplifier bandwidth has been
broadened by staggered tuning, but no basic oscillator
changes have been effected as yet. Means are being
provided to cool the affected units more effectively during
operation by means of an auxiliary blower and radiation
fins on the units. The Band 1B receiver exhibits the same
tendency although it has not shown as poor a performance
as the Band IA receiver.
(2) Band 2 Receiver -- The Band 2 receiver exhibited
some tendency to generate spurious signals as its internal
temperature rose with operation at altitude. It was found
that these were caused by mechanical deficiencies which
now appear to have been corrected.
(3) Band 3 Receiver Voltage-breakdown problems
developed in the local oscillator of the Band 3 receiver.
These had not occurred in unit tests, nor to our knowledge,
in either Models 101 or 102.. Corrective action was taken
and the unit underwent a high-potential test for several
hours with no breakdown.
(4) Camera Indicator -- The camera indicator exhibited a
tendency towards intensity variation as the operating
temperature rose under ambient conditions. Corrective
action was taken through minor circuit redesign; future
environmental tests will prove its effectiveness. During
the period of minor rework, an investigation was made to
Approved For Release 2002/06/SEz00878R000300080005-1
This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C., Section 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any'manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by low.
 Approved For lease 2002/0S6/1~~~~~1 B0087$$,,p00300080005-1
determine if the delay time in the synchroscope circuits
could be improved by insertion of additional electrical
delay lines. Although synchroscope action is satisfactory
with laboratory test signals, the present design can fail
to provide reliable synchroscope action with signals having
extremely poor rise time.
(5) Programming Equipment Shift-,register cards have
exhibited a tendency to develop open. joints, thus causing
loss of digital information. A new board design has been
effected which will minimize this occurrence. In addition,
the printed circuitry has been coated with a high.-dielectric,
non-hygroscopic spray to minimize condensation problems.
Water condensation has caused failure of these boards on
several occasions.
(6) Tape Transport -- The tape transport showed a jam-
roller-solenoid failure during one test run. This did not
appear to be caused by any environmental conditions. No
other difficulties have been observed with the tape transport.
(7) Power Supply -- Some low-voltage failures occurred
during the early part of the system tests due to the
condensation problems mentioned above. With the revised
test procedure, no further difficulties have occurred.
3. Production
With the exception of a few subassemblies of the Band I
receiver (which are undergoing corrective modifications), all
units and subassemblies for Model 104 have been constructed.
Test effort will be applied to these units as soon as manpower
has been released from the environmental test program for
Model 103.
Approved For Release 2002/06/S REt00878R000300080005-1
This document contains information affecting the notional defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C., Section 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
 Approved For lease 2002/0 fL/U & 1 B0087WO0300080005-1
Se-F
4. Planning
During the next reporting interval the following work is
scheduled:
(1) Completion of environmental tests on Model 103,
including corrective action where necessary.
(2) Release of Model 103 to the field for flight tests. If
the flight-test program is completed successfully, Model 103
will be ready for delivery before the end of February.
(3) Start of unit testing of Model 104.
Approved For Release 2002/06/SE z00878R000300080005-1
This document contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C., Section 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.