CANCELLATION OF PROJECT ED-135 BALLOON (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030005-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2012
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: January 14, 1957
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030005-9
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14 January 1957
SUBJECT: Cancellation of Project ED-135 Balloon
1. The object of Project ED-135, Balloon ~~was to investigate 25X1
various possibilities for determining accurately the upperwind vectors from
the site of a balloon operation. The standard method is by use of a pilot
balloon and theodolite which introduces an error into these calculations and is
soanewhat time consuming. Two methods were considered as possible fields
for exploration; one was the utilization of the pillow balloon as a tracer; 25X1
the other was the utilization of Radar Wind Sounding techniques used by the
Air Force and Weather Bureau. 25X1
2. A ~~site near Andrews AFB was visited and
of APD visited and Andrews
with the problem.
25X1
for familiarizatio25X1
25X1
3. A series of pillow balloon studies conducted by 25X1
was accomplsihed. An interim system proposed by ~ of and 25X1
forwarded to this office was rejected as being too inaccurate. Further
studies indicated that a pillow balloon is accurate only to ~ or - 500 feet
below twelve thousand.
~+. Current plans are to stay away frcen the complexity of a Radar
installation and to continue the investigation of comparati~dy simple
methods such as the utilization of the Radiosonde and pillow balloon etc.
Since this work will be done on a low priority basis it is planned that it
be undertaken under the ED-139 project and therefore it is requested that
ED-135, balloon ~~ be cancelled.
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'v='G CL:~S ~1lG~S ---L_____ REV CL~~S ~-
JUST ~_ NEXT REY ~ w~/ A,- At;TH: ~ ~~.1
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/02 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300030005-9