COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A003500060017-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 9, 2003
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: January 10, 1967
• Content Type: MF

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COMOR-D-13/52-20
10 January 1967
MEMORANDUM FOR: Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance
SUBJECT: Color Photography in the National
Reconnaissance Program
REFERENCE: COMDR-D-13/ 52-17
1. The following is a rundown of various actions taken
or pending with regard to the use of color photography in the
National Reconnaissance Program. Also attached are answers to
a cable from the CIA COMOR member, briefed below for your
convenience, forwarded by NRO (Tab A) and NPIC (Tab B), respectively.
2. In August (COMOR-M-378, paras 3 and 4), September
(M-381, paras 14-16), and October (M-384, paras 8 and 9), COMOR
discussed the need for color film in Mission 1037J and to
its decision,
The conclusion of these
discussions was to postpone further consideration of the use of
color in 1037J to the spring of 1967.
3. On 10 November NRO summarized for COMOR (see
reference):
a. The present status of color photography
as seen by the NRO,
b. Current and planned color production
capabilities within the NRP, and
c. Development efforts currently under
way, or planned.
The information contained in this memorandum was extremely helpful.
On 6 November the CIA COMOR member cabled a request (OPCEN 0590)
NRO review(s) completed.
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for additional information. The questions asked are repeated below:
a. What is the cost of the film and
decreased film capacity expressed in per cent (due
to the increased thickness of the emulsion) for:
(1)
One camera of the KH-4 system
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c. Cost of providing the community with
color materials as specified by customer requirements
as stated in COMOR-D-34/69 of 5 October 1966. If
breakdown by customer is possible this information
would be appreciated because the requirements for
color mission have not been finalized and addition or
deletion may occur.
d. Aside from the requirement for additional
light, is there any degradation effect on color film caused
by weather /atmospheric conditions?
e. At a previous COMOR meeting it was
mentioned that some interpreters experience fatigue when
looking at stereo pairs one of which is in color. Can you
give us some idea of the seriousness of this problem?
f. Accepting the losses in resolution and
magnification limites as expressed in COMOR+D-13/52-17,
do you believe these losses will signific~.ri.tly extend the
time required for complete exploitation?
As stated in the first paragraph, the replies to this cable are attached.
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5. It is requested that all those interested in any aspects
of the use of color in either primary or secondary camera systems
restudy the papers and information referred to above and be
prepared to discuss the use of color .in the NRP at the COMOR meeting
on 2 .Marsh. Should there be questions involving any facts
reported in the two attached memoranda, it is urged that those having
the questions. call either NPIC or NRO, as appropriate. Should the
results of this interface produce information that should be made
available to other members, this office will be glad to publish a
supplement to this memorandum.
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mxecurive ecre ary
Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance
Attachments:
Tabs A and B
Copies 2, 3
4 DIA
5,6, 7, 8 DIA. TCO
9, 10 OACSI TCO
11,12 ONI TCO
13,14,15,16 AFNIN TCO
17,18 NSA T C O
19,20,21 NRO TCO
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Tab A
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December
MEMORANDUM FOR CHAIRMAN, COMOR
SUBJECT: Color Film vs Black and White Film
REFERENCE: OPCEN Message 0590, 5 December 1966
The following data comparing color film with black and white is
provided per your request:
1. Film Capacity. Color film, having three emulsion layers
and a thicker back coating is approximately .6 mil or 15% thicker than
normal thin base black and white film. Comparable film capacity data
is as follows:
Camera
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13, 500 ft
16, 000 ft
0
It should be noted that when using
black and white lm 38 duplicates are required, and when using color
film 12 duplicates are required:
Film Processing
Costs Chemicals Total
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Color 13, 500 ft
Black & White 16, 000 ft
Duplicates
12 Color 13, 500 ft
38 Black & White 16, 000 ft
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Tab A
3. Film Distribution. The following is a list of organizations
receiving color film copies from KH-4
AGENCY NO. COPIES
NPIC 4
DIA PROD CEN 1
CIA./IAD 1
SAC 1
ARMY/SPAD 1
NRTSC 1
FTD 1
ENGINEERING 2
4. Weather Effects. Color film imagery is a synthetic dye,
which has a tendency to gradually change color characteristics while in
storage. This defect is accelerated by increased temperature and
humidity or by prolonged exposure to ultravic:iet or other strong
illumination. However by careful storage and handling it will probably
take from 5 to 8 years before serious change occurs. Of more direct
consequence is the latent image deterioration of color film after exposure
and prior to processing. Should the exposed color film go unprocessed for
periods up to 16 days or more we should expect some loss in speed and a
reduction in color saturation. Howeverex has recently
been improved and it is expected that these degradations are no longer
serious.
Information concerning other atmospheric and weather conditions;
and interpreter fatigue will be presented separately by NPIC.
/S/
HENRY C. HOWARD
Colonel, USAF
Deputy Director for Operations
NRO Staff
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Tab B
(15 Dec
ember
19
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Com
mittee on Overhead Re
conna
issance
THROUGH:
SUBJECT:
CIA
Color
Member, COMOR
Photography in the N
ation
al
REFERENCE:
Reco
A. C
nnaissance Program
OMOR-D-13/52-17, 1
9 No
vember 1966
B. O
PCEN Message 0590
Dece
mber 1966
1. In reply to Reference B, NPIC has prepared comments on
paragraphs applicable to its operation.
2. Re paragraph 2d.
a. This paragraph implies that more light is
required for the acquisition of color than for black and white
photography. Actually the color film used in the programs
under discussion requires approximately one-third the light
required by black and white acquisition material.
The quality of the light and not the quantity is the restriction
on color acquisition. A single filter -pack has not been
developed that will compensate for the "color" of the light at
both high and low geodetic latitudes. Camera systems that
have the capability of in-flight exposure and filter selection
can extend the usefulness of color towards the extremes of
geodetic latitudes.
b. Clouds have an adverse affect on the acquisition
of all photography. The loss of information in cloud shadows
is more pronounced in color photography because of the narrow
exposure latitude inherent in color emulsions. Present color
materials cannot provide detail in both sun lit and cloud shadow
areas.
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Tab B
c. Atmospherics cause scattering and refraction
of light. Various wave lengths are affected differently.
Filters are used to reduce atmospheric degradations by
absorbing those wave lengths most detrimental. The same
filters used with black and white emulsions cannot be used
with color emulsions which are dependent upon a broader
range of wave lengths, thus the atmosphere can cause a
greater degradation of color photography than of black and
white.
d. The physical chemistry of color film is more
significant than degradations introduced by light, weather or
atmospheric conditions. The physical size of the chemicals
in color emulsions will be a controlling factor as to what
scale of color photography will be acceptable for intelligence
exploitation. Laboratory and simulated tests have not been
conclusive in making this determination.
3. Re paragraph 2e. The comment on interpreter fatigue as a
result of viewing stereo pairs, one which is in color, is no longer valid.
Through use and familiarity with new type materials (e. g. color) the
fatigue that may be initially experienced probably diminishes to a point
where it no longer is considered a serious problem.
4. Re paragraph 2F. The inability to achieve large
magnifications due to the lesser resolution of color emulsions should
not extend the time required to complete first and second phase
exploitation; it may possibly reduce the time. The degree to which it
would effect third phase exploitation depends on the nature of the
intelligence required as well as the level of detail required.
/S/
Assistant for Operations, NPIC
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