PROPOSED LETTER TO CHAIRMAN KHRUSHCHEV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150093-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Sequence Number: 93
• Content Type: LETTER

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CONFIDENTIAL
PROPOSED LETTER TO CHAIRMAN KHRUSHCHE'V'
On'February, 2:2 last I wrote you that:-.I was :instructing
,appropriate officers of this government to prepare.concrete
proposal for immediate projects of common action in the
exploration of space. We have long felt that. cooperation
in the explorationc.of space would be highly desirable and
.we therefore welcomed your statement of February 21 affirm-
ing the same view. I believe that the peoples of our
countries and of the whole world will now welcome evidence
of our readiness to translate this accord.into specific
practice. ,
The exploration of space is a broad .and varied activity
and the possibilities for cooperation are many. In suggest-
ing the possible first steps which are:set out below, I do
not intend to limit our mutual consideration of desirable
cooperative.activities. On the contrary, I will welcome
your concrete suggestions along these orother..lines.
1. Perhaps we could render no greater service to
mankind through.our space programs than by the joint
establishment of an early. operational.weather..satellite
system. Such a system would-be-designed to provide global
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weather.data for prompt use by, any, nation. To initiate
this service, Y propose that the Uni.ted.S.tates and the
Soviet-Union each launch a. satellite~to photograph cloud-
cover and provide other.agreed meteorological services
.for all nations. The two satellites would be placed.in
near-polar -orbits. in .planes approximately.. perpendicular
to each other, thus providing regular. coverage of all areas.
This immensely,valuable data would then be disseminated
.through normal international meteorological channels and
would make a significant contribution to the research and
service programs. now under. study, by, the .World Meteorological
Organization. in response to Resolution :1721.(XVI) adopted
by. the UnitedNations General Assembly on December 20, 1961.
.2. It would.be of great interest:to those responsible
for the conduct. of our respective space programs.if they
could obtain operational tracking. services from each other's
territories. Accordingly, I propose that each of our
.countries:establishand operate a radio tracking station
.to provide traeking.._servicesto the other, utilizing equip-
ment which we-would each.provideto the other. Thus, the
United .States would provide the technical. equipment for a
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tracking station to be established in the Soviet Union and
to be operated by Soviet. technicians. The United States
would in turn establish and operate a radio tracking station
.utilizing Soviet.. equipment. Each.country would train the
other's technicians in the operatioii.of its equipment,
would utilize the station located on.its territory to pro-
vide tracking. services to the other, and would afford such
access as may, be necessary to accommodate modifications and
maintenance of equipment from. time to time.
3. In the field of the earth sciences, the precise
character.of the earth's magnetic. field is central to many
scientific problems. I propose therefore that we cooperate
.in mapping the earth's magnetic field in space by utiliz-
ing two satellites, one in a near-earth. orbit and the
second in.a more distant orbit. The United States would
launch one of these satellites while the Soviet Union would
launch.the other. The data would be exchanged throughout
the world scientific community, and opportunities for
'correlation of supporting data obtained on the ground
would be arranged.
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4. In the field of experimental communications.by
,satellite,. the 'u'nited States has already undertaken arrange-
vents to test.and demonstrate the feasibility of inter-
continental transmissions. A number of countries are
:constructing equipment suitable for participation in such,
testing. I would welcome-the Soviet Union's joining in
this. cooperative effort which will be a step toward meeting
the objective, contained in United Nations General Assembly
,Resolution 1721-(XVI), that.communications.by means of
satellites should be available to the nations of the world
as soon as.:practicable on a global and non-discriminatory
.,basis. I note also that Secretary;Rusk has broached the
-subject of cooperation in this field with I1inister'Gromyko.
and that Plr. Cromyko has expressed some interest. 'Out
technical-representatives might now discuss specific.possi-
bilities.in this field.
5. Given our common .. interestinmanned space.flights
and in insuring man's ability to survive in space 'and
return safely, I propose that.we pool our efforts and
exchange our:knowledge in.the field of space medicine,
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where future research can be. pursued in cooperation with
scientists from various countries.
Beyond these specific.prof ects we are prepared now to
discuss broader cooperation in the still more. challenging
projects which must be undertaken in the exploration of
outer space. The tasks are so challenging, the costs so
great, and the risks to the.brave men who engage.in space
exploration so grave, that 'e must. in all good conscience
try every possibility of sharing these-tasks-and costs and
of minimizing these risks. Leaders of the United States
space .program have developed detailed plans for an orderly
,sequence of manned and unmanned flights for exploration of
space and the planets.. Out-of discussion of these plans,
and of your own, for undertaking the- tasks of this decade
would undoubtedly,emerge possibilities for substantive
.scientific.and.technical cooperation in manned and.unmanned
..space investigations. Some possibilities are not yet
precisely identifiable; but. should. become clear as the
:space programs...of'our.-two countries proceed. In the case
.of-others it may be possible to start planning together
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now. For example, we might cooperate in unmanned explora-
tion of the lunar. surface, or we might commence now the
mutual definition. of. steps to be taken in sequence for an
exhaustive scientific investigation of the planets Mars
or Venus, including consideration. of the possible utility
of manned flight in such programs. When a proper. sequence
for experiments has been determined, we might share responsi-
-bility for the necessary projects. All data would be made
freely,:available.
I believe it is both appropriate and.desirable that
we take full cognizance of.the scientific and other contribuy
tions;which other states the world over might be able to
make.in such programs. As: agreements.' are reached between
...us -on .any_:parts of these or. similar programs, I propose
that we report them.to the United.Nations Committee on the
Peaceful .Uses of Outer Space. The Committee offers a
.variety of additional. opportunities for. joint. cooperative
.efforts within the framework of.its mandate asset.forth
_in General Assembly,'1.esolutions.1472 (XIV) and 1721 (XVI).
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X am designating. technical representatives who will
be prepared to meet, in Moscow or elsewhere as you may
suggest, and discuss with your representatives our ideas
and yours in a spirit of practical cooperation. I hope
this maybe accomplished at an early. date.
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