(U) SAMOS III

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A000600080022-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2004
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: August 31, 1961
• Content Type: MEMO

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Intel/DPD
others in DPD
RETURN TO SENDERC/SRS/DPD
REMARKS and return
NRO and USAF review(s) completed.
NAME AND ADDRESS
C/SRS/DPD
DATE
A roved For Release 2004/09/15: CIA-RDP79B 769AODO ob0 022-5
(40)
FORM 1582
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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE ~'~
REPLY TO ~/7
ATTN OF: A VIN
(U) SAMOS III
31 AUG 1961
Director Central Intelligence Agency (Mr. Dulles)
Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence (Major General Willems)
Department of the Army
Assistant Chief of Naval Operations
Director Naval Intelligence (Rear Admiral Lowrance)
Department of the Navy
1. (S) The launch of SAMOS III is currently scheduled for on, or about,
9 September 1961. This will be a readout system utilizing the ground
readout equipment at the Vandenberg, California and New Boston, New
Hampshire readout stations.
2. (S) While the objectives of this launch are primarily R & D the
CO)R nationally approved objectives have been passed to the System
Developers and will be utilized as the priority list for all operation-
al take programmed.
3. (S) If launch and injection into orbit are successful, the first
intelligence take is programmed to be read out commencing on the second
day after launch. The estimated active life of the sensor is seven
days. The photographic take, in the form of electronic signals recon-
structed onto four separate 35 mm primary records, will be air couriered.,
undeveloped, to the Air Force Satellite Photographic Processing Labora-
tory (AFSPPL) at Westover AFB, Mass.
4+. (S) After initial processing of the 35 mm primary records the fol-
lowing photo products are produced and distributed within each 2l hour
period in quantities requested by your exploitation elements.
a. Duplicate positives and/or negatives of the 35 mm primary records.
b. Untitled, reassembled 9J x 18 inch block negatives constructed
from fourteen 18" long 35 mm primary record striplets.
c. Printouts containing unrefined but reasonably accurate loca-
tional information keyed to film frame numbers.
NRO review(s) completed.
Approved For Release 2004/09/15 CIA-RDP79B01709A00060'
0086022-5
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
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d. Titled reassembled 9J x 18 inch data block negative. This
product will not be available until the data extracted from the film
and that obtained from the tracking stations is correlated and refined
by computers into precise locational and attitude titling information.
This process is expected to take from 10 to 15 days.
5. (S) To expedite the delivery of these products a plan is in effect
that provides for a daily air courier from Westover AFB to the Wash-
ington, D. C. area.
6. (U) Every effort has been undertaken to obtain maximum high priority
take in consonance with the R & D objectives, insure quality processing
and duping of all products and provide for their timely distribution.
7. (U) This letter classified SECRET because it deals with a sensitive
collection system. Special Handling Required. Not releasable to
foreign nationals.
Info cy: JCS J-2 (Major General Collins)
ROBERT A. BR TTW^TS
Major General, USAF
Assistant Chief of Staff
Approved For Release 2004/09/15 : CIA-RDP79B01700d0006000Sb022-5' .