207 



and marine science knowledoe obtained is important to this Nation's 

 continued exploration of the oceans. 



Second, the application of air space technojofries to the Nation's 

 ocean needs is contributing- to social and economic progress by using 

 sophisticated tools developed and paid for already by our Nation, 



Third, the cooperative venture between the public and private sec- 

 tors in programs of national scope made possible by the interagency 

 and industry Tektite team offers a valuable model for the effective 

 accomplishment of future programs. 



It gives me great pleasure now to introduce to you Mr. Brendon 

 Thompson, the General Electric program manager for Tektite, who 

 will describe the underwater habitat and associated equipment. 



Mr. Lennox. Thank you, Mr. Kay. 



STATEMENT OF BUENDON THOMPSON, GENEEAL ELECTRIC CO. 

 PEOaRAM MANAGER FOE PEOJECT TEKTITE I 



Mr. Thompson. Mr. Chairman and members, I will now give you a 

 short summary description of the equipment, both the habitat on the 

 bottom and the equipment on the surface, that comprised this mission. 



May I have the lights, please. 



The major considerations that influenced the design of the habitat 

 were as follows: 



First of all, we were designing for the crew of four scientists who 

 represented a group size of interest to the psychologists both in NASA 

 and Nav3\ We were going to be located in 50 feet of water approxi- 

 mately, which was the depth of interest to the marine scientists, and, 

 third, that it was going to be a 60-day submersion, which approaches 

 the length of space missions in the near future while minimizing the 

 program cost and maintaining high safety standards. 



The design of the habitat and its associated systems was started in 

 the early months of 1968 and work proceeded through the summer at 

 the Valley Forge plant of the General Electric Co. Final assembly of 

 all equipment was completed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in De- 

 cember, and on January 6, 1969, exactly on schedule, a Navy ship de- 

 parted for St. John, Virgin Islands, with the operating equipment 

 which was to be used on this program. 



The major operating elements required to sustain the aquanaut crew 

 on the ocean bottom consisted of two groupings of equipment. The 

 first grouping consisted of surface barges and control center, housing- 

 all the necessary machinery to supply the vital services of air, water, 

 electrical power and communications to the submerged crew on the 

 bottom. 



The second grouping consisted of the habitat and its appurtenances, 

 together with auxiliary equipment needed to sustain the crew in 

 safety and comfort. 



Mr. Lennox. May I interrupt you a minute. Would it be helpful 

 for you to come and sit by Chairman Garmatz ? There is a little light. 



Mr. Thompson. I am afraid the cord is not quite long enough, Mr. 

 Chairman. Thank you very much for your consideration. 



The second grouping consists of the habitat and its appurtenances, 

 together with auxiliary equipment needed to sustain the crew in safety 

 and comfort when they were outside the habitat. 



