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Guide to the Larry A. Manning Papers, 1967-1988
PP05.04
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Title: Guide to the Larry A. Manning Papers
Date (inclusive): 1967-1988
Collection Number: PP05.04
Creator:
Manning, Larry A.
Extent:
Number of containers: 2
Volume: .70 cubic feet
Volume: .70 cubic feet
Repository:
Ames Research Center,
Ames History Office
Moffett Field, California 94035
Abstract: This collection includes technical publications, project reports and proposals that Larry A. Manning
produced, collaborated on or referenced during his career as a scientist and science administrator. The bulk of the
collection reflects his career as a mission analyst and aerospace engineer for NASA during the late 1960s and 1970s.
The collection is divided into two series: technical works authored by Manning and documentation supporting his research
and administrative activities.
Language:
English
Collection is open for research.
Copyright does not apply to United States government records. For non-government
material, researcher must contact the original creator.
NASA Ames History Office, NASA Ames Research Center. Moffett Field, California. PP05.04, Larry A. Manning Papers 1967-1988,
[Container number] : [Folder number]. [Identification of item]. [Date, if available].
Donated by Larry A. Manning in February 2005.
Larry A. Manning entered the aerospace industry during the 1960s and spent most of the ensuing four decades at the NASA Ames
Research Center, working on some of the most exciting areas of America’s space exploration. He started as an aerospace engineer
doing mission analysis for planetary probes, and spent his later years in operations management of the space life sciences.
Throughout his long and distinguished career, Manning earned many honors and awards, including a NASA Exceptional Service
Medal, NASA Group Achievement Awards, Ames Honor Awards, and letters of commendation.
Education and Early Career
In 1960, Manning earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering (aeronautical option) from the University of
Utah. He then accepted a job with the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company (LMSC) in Sunnyvale, California, where he worked
four years as senior engineer. Manning conducted aerodynamic analyses for missiles and lifting entry vehicles, developed
a control system for expanding the entry corridor of lifting entry vehicles, performed aerodynamic design studies in support
of the LMSC proposal for the Apollo mission, and conducted studies on the nuclear vulnerability of missiles in the upper atmosphere.
While with Lockheed, Manning also attended Stanford University, and in 1962 earned a master of science degree in aeronautics
and astronautics.
From July 1964 until August 1965, Manning joined the technical staff at the Aerospace Corporation in southern California.
While there, he provided technical monitoring of Air Force contracts dealing with nuclear vulnerability issues and defenses,
and developed a computer program for predicting the survivability and impact dispersion of missiles subject to a nuclear explosion
in the upper atmosphere.
Career with NASA
In August1965, Manning accepted a position as mission analyst with NASA Headquarters, although he was based at the NASA Ames
Research Center. As mission analyst, Manning developed software which he used to conduct numerous studies: trajectories and
payloads for interplanetary flyby and for orbital and/or probe missions to the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
and to comets. He also developed the mission plan that was adopted by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) for the out-of-the-ecliptic
mission that was launched by ESA (Ulysses). During this period, Manning published more than 20 peer reviewed technical papers.
In October 1975, Manning began working directly for the NASA Ames Research Center as an aerospace engineer. Over the next
fourteen years, Manning wrote five technical papers and several project documents. He provided system engineering support
for the study of the Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar Mission, and led the study team that performed a complete design study for
a Mars Penetrator Mission. Manning also supported the Pioneer Jupiter Probe Mission by developing the deflected probe concept
for the mission and proving that the achievable guidance accuracy was sufficient to meet the targeting requirements. This
concept was adopted for the mission. In addition, Manning researched planetary quarantine restrictions and showed that the
Pioneer Venus spacecraft could meet them without having to resort to the imposition of heat soaking.
As deputy chief for Pioneer Venus maneuver operations, Manning helped develop the final command system for the Pioneer Venus
Orbiter and Probe spacecraft. He was responsible for final review of all maneuver commands and for recovery of the spacecraft
whenever the communication link was lost during the mission. He was also responsible for the probe separation commands.
Manning was a major contributor to the Shuttle Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF). As SIRTF systems engineer, he developed
the operational concept for SIRTF, and provided the systems engineering support for the study on the conversion of SIRTF from
a Shuttle-attached mission to a low Earth orbit free-flyer, which was subsequently renamed the Space Infrared Telescope Facility.
As Deputy SIRTF Project Manager, Manning lead the study team that recommended that SIRTF be converted to a high-altitude elliptical
orbit free-flyer in order to reduce the effects of the earth’s radiation belts and the thermal load from the earth. This recommendation
was accepted and became the reference orbit for SIRTF. Manning also provided technical monitoring of SIRTF support contracts
and cost assessments.
From April 1989 until April 1990, Manning once again worked directly for NASA Headquarters, this time as a program manager
for the SIRTF and the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) projects. He also worked with the NASA Headquarters
astrophysics division to support the development of the Great Observatories Program. This program was fully implemented with
the launches of the Hubble in 1990, then the Compton (1991), Chandra (1999) and Spitzer (2003) space telescopes.
For the next seven years, until the end of 1997, Manning again worked for the NASA Ames Research Center as technical assistant
for the space research directorate. In this role, he was responsible for the daily administration of the directorate office.
Manning provided technical review of on-going small projects, such as the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) proposals
and the Director’s Discretionary Fund proposal review.
From December 1997 until early 2001, Manning served as the associate director for management operations for the astrobiology
and space research directorate. He performed zero-based reviews of Center infrastructure requirements, helped define Center-wide
technical objectives for annual reports, served on source selection boards, allocated manpower across directorates, and implemented
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) safety programs.
Manning retired in March 2001, but soon returned to the NASA Ames Research Center under contract as senior business manager
for the Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) until it was terminated in 2006. At present, he is assisting the
systems management office of the project management and engineering directorate in the development of procedures for project
management.
The following terms may be used to index this collection.
Manning, Larry A.
Ames Research Center
Launch vehicles (Astronautics)
Navigation (Astronautics)
Pioneer 10 space probe
Pioneer project
Pioneer Venus spacecraft
Space Infrared Telescope Facility (U.S.)
Space probes
The Larry A. Manning Papers collection (.70 linear feet) includes technical publications, project reports and proposals that
Manning produced, collaborated on or referenced during his career as a scientist and science administrator. The bulk of the
collection reflects his career as a mission analyst and aerospace engineer for NASA during the late 1960s and 1970s. The collection
is divided into two series: technical works authored by Manning and documentation supporting his research and administrative
activities.
The first series, Works Authored by Manning, contains technical publications, reports and memoranda related to mission research
projects. Specific issues focused on in these documents include spacecraft propulsion and power, trajectories, and guidance,
predominantly for space probe and orbiter maneuvers. Papers about the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) are also included.
The second series, Reference and Research Materials, includes technical reference material relating to Manning's research,
as well as project documents and proposals, and a small amount of related correspondence.
Arrangement of the Larry A. Manning Papers
The papers are arranged into two series:
- I. Works Authored by Manning, 1967-1981 (17 folders).
- II. Reference and Research Materials, 1971-1978 (8 folders).