FEASIBILITY OF A POWERED BALLOON AS A HIGH ALTITUDE PLATFORM FOR INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040029-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: April 14, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300040029-2
? CONFIDENTIAL. A- /
14+ April 1959
) MORANDUM FOR: Assistant Chief/TSS/Research and Development
SUBJECT : Feasibility of a Powered Balloon as a High Altitude
Platform for Intelligence Collection
REEERE1(E : 1. Report
Sponso
red by
"Controllable Balloon Study",
25X1
25X1
2. Report) "Final Report on a
Meteorological Study, Sponsored by TSS/ED
3* Memorandum for AC /TSS /R&D from C /TSS /ED dated
28 April 1958
1. Since the date of the memorandum, reference 3 above, considerable
study work has been done in an effort to apply predicted powered balloon
performance to possible target areas under realistic meteorological con-
ditions. Reference 1 was accomplished for a very specific mission, Refer-
ence 2 was more general in nature. In both cases the studies suffered
from lack of observed data at very high altitudes.
2. From the accumulated studies on powered balloons a feasibility
study is presented designed to outline the estimated usefulness of such
a vehicle as a platform for intelligence collection devices. In an attempt
to make this study stand by itself, some of the estimates previously made
have been repeated. Since References 1 and 2 summarize in detail the
estimated performance they are referred to in this study.
3. The possibilities for intelligence collection operations using
the potential of this vehicle are obviously far from exhausted. It was
hoped that complete missions could be run on paper plugging in values
for powered balloon performance and upper winds against specific missions.
Little hope is now entertained for this idea because of the lack of data
on high altitude winds that can be based on actual observations. Wind
trajectories in Reference 2 were based on extrapolations of estimates.
It is believed that the value of these reports is primarily based on the
light they shed on general conditions that can be expected in the areas
covered,
aircraft.
4+. The feasibility may be briefly summarized by the statement that
a powered balloon is the only vehicle now or in the foreseeable future
that can remain aloft for extended durations at very high altitudes and
under certain conditions can reach targets not accessible by any other
CONFIDENTIAL
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300040029-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040029-2
CONFIDENTIAL
5. Should an R&D effort be applied toward the establishment of a
powered balloon, it is highly recommended that a requirement be levied
on the Air Weather Service to take very high altitude weather soundings
in areas of possible interest. Further recommendations are:
aL..
a. Establish av=MW technical con-
sultant on radar shielding methods to follow all phases
of design work.
Attachment:
Feasibility Study: Section I - General
Section II - Technical
DD/P/TSS/&D~ ~mt
Chief
TSS/Engineering Division
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/14: CIA-RDP78-03642A001300040029-2