EAST GERMANY -- DISCOVERER I POINTS UP U.S. WAR AIMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R01095A000800030020-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 3, 1959
• Content Type: TRANS

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E A S T G E R M A N Y
Mar 3, 1959
DISCOVERER I POINTS UP U. S. WAR AIMS
Berlin, East German Home Service, Mar. 2, 1959, 2115 GMT-L
(Guenther Seidel military-political talk)
(Text) No day passes without some news from the West to
make sensible people angry. Once again it is a matter of
rockets and earth satellites. While only a few weeks ago,
U. S. President Eisenhower emphasized that all U. S. experi-
ments with earth satellites were for peaceful purposes and
intended to open new fields of knowledge in the International
Geophysical Year, it is now learned from the Pentagon that
the first military satellite has been launched.
In view of the well-known lack of reliability of U. S.
rockets, the fact that Discoverer I is connected with the
U. S. reconnaissance service does not indicate any super-
iority of this service. That this is not a prejudiced
view, is shown by the launching of this satellite by means
of. a U. S. Air Force Thor rocket from the Vandenberg base
in California.
At 224.9 Central European Time it was launched. A control
station 150 kilometers away received radio signals. But 10
minutes later, barely audible radio signals were received
only on a battleship. Since then the satellite has been
silent. In spite of its silence, however, it raises pro-
blems. Its mechanism and the mechanisms of future satellites
clearly serve military purposes, whether by radio signals
or television cameras. The Americans fired it without even
talking to other states over whose territories the Discoverer
is to perform espionage services. The elipse of its course
passes over the Soviet Union. Built-in film cameras and
infrared visual detectors (Infrarotsichtgeraete), directed
toward the earth from the satellite, automatically measure
the coordinates of industrial areas, towns, power stations
and canals. These observations, are used later to make entries
on the map and for determining rocket targets.
I cannot imagine what stroke of genius illuminated the brains
of the U."S. military people when they gave the order to fire
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EAST GERMANY
Mar. 3, 1959
this satellite. They must realize one thing; namely, that
in this instance, as in rocket technology generally and in
interplanetary research, they will come out second-best.
This :satellite, the second heaviest U. S. rocket to date,
which was carried by a 26-meter two stage rocket weighing
45 tons, contained a payload of 18 kilograms.
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The observation stations have lost all trace of the Discoverer,
as with so many previous satellites and rockets launched from
U. S. testing grounds. Sputnik III still circles our globe
and carried 20 times as heavy a payload.
The Soviet Union has emphasized at all conferences and by
many proposals that it aims at lessening the tension between
the two social systems. This is also reflected by the Soviet
rocket research program and by the program for the investi-
gation of the planetary, interplanetary, and cosmic spaces.
(Word indistinct) U. S. politicians and military men are
carrying the cold war into space. It would be better for
Mr. Eisenhower and his generals not to engage in military
espionage from planetary space but to listen to the views
of the people and to adjust their policies accordingly.
The Soviet Union has undoubtedly for some time been in a
position to put satellites into orbit which are capable of
measuring the U. S. continent by the yard. To do so how-
ever is not in the interests of its policy. Moreover, since
.the Second World War, the Soviet Union has the experience,
which is reflected in the organizational and geographical
structure of Soviet economy and industry, of using all
opportunities to adjust its defense industries to the speci-
fic features of modern aerial warfare. The objects of
observation of most interest to the Discoverer would thus
remain hidden.
The position if different with regard to the U. S. war indus-
tries which are concentrated to an extraordinary degree in
various regions and are absolutely open to view. The U. S.
generals are thus, as in so many other fields, involving
themselves in a race in which they should know from the start
that they will be left far behind ...
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D A I L Y M I R R O R
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London, England
U. S. SPACE SPY "REPORTS"
Soviet Secrets Snapped 300 Miles Up
"American missile scientists yesterday began studying "Space
Spy" photographs of Soviet rocket bases. The Space Spy is a
Discoverer satellite with high-precision cameras aboard. It
spent four days last week whirling over Russia's main military
installations.
"And its cameras are so powerful that the photographs - pro-
vided there is no cloud - can show parked aircraft and vehi-
cles from 300 miles up.
"One thing United States scientists want to check is the
possibility of another Soviet space launching. Preparations
for such a "shot" will show up on the photographs.
"The United States Air Force in a brief statement issued in
Washington, yesterday revealed that a transport plane
snatched a package of instruments - ejected from the satel-
lite - in mid-air over the Pacific.
"The satellite was launched last Tuesday from the base at
Vandenberg, California - on an orbit that took it repeatedly
over Soviet territory.
"Then a radio signal, beamed to the Discoverer as it passed
over Alaska, fired braking rockets in the satellite.
"The plane, waiting over the Pacific scooped up the satellites
instrument capsule. It was caught in a giant "butterfly"
net trailing behind the aircraft. For the Space Spy-mission
completed.
"The terse Air Force announcement shows that America is taking
an increasingly tough line with Russia.
"For it follows President Kennedy's week-end warning that
America intends to resume nuclear tests in the atmosphere
unless the Russians agree to a test-ban treaty.
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DAILY MIRROR
5 Mar 62
"America has been flying spy satellites over Russia since
a U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers, came down
over Soviet territory in 1960.
"Powers was released by the Russians last month after serv-
ing eighteen months of a ten-year jail term for spying."
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G U A R D I A N
Manchester, England
19 June 63
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"Five 'Secret" USAF Satellites. By a Science
Correspondent"
"Publicity attending the progress of Vostoks 5 and 6
has effectively obscured the launching of five "secret"
satellites by the USAF within the past week
"Four of these satellites were placed in orbit in
the two-day interval between Colonel Bykovsky's launching
on Friday and that of Valentina Tereshkova on Sunday, and
three of the four were placed in orbit by one rocket.
"The USAF does not now identify the satellites which
it places in orbit. In the absence of official identifica-
tion, it can be deduced that two of the recent Air Force
space craft could have been for reconnaissance, with a parti-
cular interest in the Baikonur site from which the Russian
cosmonauts are launched.
"The first of the five Air Force satellites was launched
by a Thor Agena rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California on June 13, the day before Bykovsky's launch, when
rumours in Moscow were suggesting an imminent space flight."
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Official Organ of the Royal hero lub
THURSDAY 15 MARCH 1962
Number 2766 Volumne 81
Editor-in-Chief
MAURICE A. SMITH DFc
Editor
H. F. KING MBE
Technical Editor
W. T. GUNSTON
Air Transport Editor
J. M. RAMSDEN
Production Editor
ROY CASEY
Managing Director
H. N. PRIAULX MBE
World News
382
Defence Debated
384
Air Commerce
385
The Utmost Salo
392.
French Industry
396
AAFCE: Europe's Air Defence
397
Straight and Level
403
Industry International
404
Sport and Business
407
Letters
409
Missiles and 8pacoflight
411
Service Aviation
418
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[on to reproduce illustra-
P
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1962.
tions and letterpr b an ~,only
under written a it xtr Releasi@ 2904M/*: -' @}0 0
or comments may be made with due brinkmanship in space.
acknowledgement.
rinkzmanShip in Space
AST week, after the transformation scene in the U-2 affair had pro-
L-~ duccd a national hero from an unpromising situation, applause
deadened a noise off-stage-the launching, by the US Air Force, of a fourth
secret satellite. The lesson of the U-2, it seems, has not been learned.
In 1956 Flight was first to spotlight U-2 activities. We were first again,
last December, in calling attention to apparent attempted deception by
the omission of a USAF satellite launching from internationally agreed
records kept since the IGY and Sputnik 1. The facts follow.
On November 22, 1961, the USAF announced that a satellite had been
"successfully launched" by Atlas Agena rocket from Point Arguello,
California. On December 22, 1961, a similar announcement stated that
another such satellite had been launched. No further details were
supplied. Neither satellite was given an international designation, and
both were omitted from an allegedly full list of space launchings in a
report by President Kennedy. At the same time, in the United Nations,
Mr Adlai Stevenson was introducing a resolution (adopted on December
11) which, among other things, called on States launching spacecraft "to
furnish information promptly for purposes of registration of launchings."
Mr Stevenson commented: "The first principle is that international law,
including the UN charter, applies to outer space . . . we should state
explicitly that the rules of good international conduct follow [man]
wherever he goes . . ." The discrepancy was clear.
On February 21 this year, a USAF Thor Agena was launched from
Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying "secret equipment." This was
correctly designated as 1962 Delta, but no further information was given.
Discoverer 38, launched on February 27, was also given its 1962 Epsilon
designation but nothing further was disclosed. The most recent launching
of a USAF "secret satellite" was from Point Arguello on March 7.
It appears that the launchings of November 22 and December 22,
1961, and March 7, 1962, were of Samos reconnaissance or Midas early-
warning satellites, and that those of February 21 and February 27 were
Discoverers carrying Samos and/or Midas equipment. Together with
Midas 4 (October 21, 1961), this makes six major launches on which
basic orbital information has been withheld from world scientists.
Our Objections
Let us list our objections. US Air Force secrecy on basic orbital data
is not in line with the US-sponsored United Nations resolution. It
prevents world scientists from studying the orbits and so learning new
facts about the structure of the high atmosphere. It is of doubtful
military value, for the satellites concerned can undoubtedly be observed
from the Soviet Union, as at least one has been observed from this country.
And this secrecy represents a double standard, which is not tenable.
For world science and world politics, then, the American attitude is
dangerous. Scientifically, there is a parallel in the ill-advised West Ford
project to place a belt of dipoles in orbit-a second attempt at which is
now to be made. Politically, the parallel with the U-2 is too close for
comfort. In 1956 Flight readers observed U-2 operations. Now a reader
has reported the observation of a secret USAF satellite. The 1960
Summit meeting preparations were blasted by the ill timing of the U-2
affair. Now, a satellite carrying observation equipment is launched on the
This
ace
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day following Mr Khrushchev's suggestion of co-operat
_.... ,. ~: ,.., .,i -"Aunt " This is
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TEXT FROM LEAD EDITORAL
FLIGHT MAGAZINE
22 March 1962
Brinkmanship and Gamesmanship
"Among many newspapers which commented on our
'Brinkmanship in Space' leading article last week was the
New York Daily News. An editorial headed 'Just Keep 'em
Secret' took an issue with us in picturesque terms, thus:
"They (the satellites) are Midas or Samos jobs, for early
missile-launch warnings and TV pictures of Soviet Russian
Terrain respectively. Our refusal to state what they are up to
is denounced as not scientific cricket. Cricket Schmicket.
Our first duty is to defend ourselves against an enemy that has
sworn to bury us. If these secret satellites are indeed working
on that assignment we wish them long and productive careers
in orbit - and we hope the Pentagon will keep the secrecy wraps
on them as long as it pleases, regardless of squawks from any
quarter. "
"Our own further comment devolves not upon newsprint
but on a document prepared for the United Nations, received at
the US Embassy in London on March 16, and examined by us on
that day. The title is 'Registration Data for US Space Launches
as of February 15, 1962.' Yet the USAF launches of November 22
and December 22, 1961 are still omitted. For the first time orbital
data are included for Midas 4, launched on October 21, 1961. It
is our understanding that these American registrations are to be
'updated' every fourteen days. We shall scrutinize future editions
with interest, and hope that we shall find everything present and
correct. "
"Meanwhile, a fraternal word with the editor of the New
York Daily News may be in order. We wish to remind him that
in Britain we play our cricket without the schmicket. Even so,
we find that it is a game in which one can very easily be caught out.
It is better played with a leather-covered ball on the village green
than with satellites in space. "
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FLIGHT MAGAZINE
16 August 1962
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(This editoral, coupled with Bernard Lovell's 15 August remarks
on Sovs capability to shoot down US Recce Satellites, formed
basis for front page stories in Telegraph and Guardian. Mirror
carried story on back page but in much more subdued tone than
blast some months ago.)
"Keeping the record straight. By a directive dated
March 23 the US Defense Department vigorously suppressed
information on certain space launches and banned all mention of
Military Satellite names such as Discoverer, Midas, Samos,
Saint and Vela Hotel. Moreover, the Department ruled that the
directive stating that these names were 'classified' would itself
be classified. The Soviet Union, 'too, has been secretive in
recent months concerning its satellites, and the Seven Cosmos
Spacecraft described as 'scientific' have not been shown in
pictures, nor has their weight been disclosed.
"One result of this secrecy became apparent when Flight
International began its research for the "Spacecraft Scoreboard"
feature in this issue. As intended, it was extremely difficult to
pin down such basic details of USAD launches as date, booster
and place. A Goddard Space Flight Center Satellite Situation
Report (normally the acme of accuracy, if not of detail) listed
one satellite as having been launched on April 29 and as having
re-entered on April 28. This we doubted. Two USAF satellites
were launched, by Blue Scout and Atlas Agena, on April 26.
Only one achieved orbit, but the Air Force did not say which.
No US Aerospace publication has correctly reported all the Air
Force launchings, notwithstanding the several capable correspondents
covering the West-Coast sites. International news agencies have
no record of some of these shots. Major US newspapers have
omitted to report certain of them, even on occasions when
News-Agency messages have been filed.
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FLIGHT MAGAZINE
16 August 1962
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"It is appropriate to recall an editorial which appeared
in this Journal on March 15. Shortly after that article was
published - on April 3 - Ambassador Adlai Stevenson presented
a list of US Satellites to the United Nations and publicly admitted
''inadvertent omission in our previous report.' Retrospectively
he added to the list one of the 1961 Air Force launches.
Today, as we have said, the Russians are being as coy
as the Americans in respect of certain launches. So do military
undertakings bedevil the scientific recording of man's entry
into space. Indeed, as the compiler of our table remarked with
a sigh, keeping the record straight becomes daily more and more
like Alice in Wonderland. "
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Department Telegram dated 30 July 1962 reported the following
from Rabat, Morocco:
"Istiqlal Journal AL ALAM July 28 carried without
dateline item entitled 'USIA Discloses America's Military
Secrets.' Referring to alleged quotation from J. Edgar Hoover
to effect USSR need not spy on US since Soviets can obtain all
they want from USG publications, report stated last week pro-
phecy came true. USG circulated 10, 000 copies of booklet
'containing many details about, satellites launched by America
for syping purposes.' Report continues 'one of Pentagon's
generals' made 'big fuss' when he found booklet contained
details of 'American spying satellites Samos and Midas.' Article
concluded without further comment that USIA still repeating
'America has achieved great success in space research, why
then not publish information?
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CHARLOTTE, N.C., DEC 4 (AP)-DR. RALPH E. LAPP, APPHYSICIST
WHO WORKED ON THE WARTIME MANHATTAN PROJECT, SAID TODAY SATEL-
LITES ARE PROVIDING EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS OF RUSSIAN MISSILE
INSTALLATIONS.
DR. LAPP, SPEAKING AT UQEENS COLLEGE, SAID THAT THE
INFORMATION GATHERED BY HIGH-POWERED CAMERAS IN OUR SATELLITES
SHOULD BE REVEALED TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
DR. LAPP SAID SATELLITES HAD "ENORMOUS IMPLICATIONS" FOR
SOVIET MILITARY STRATEGY.
"THEIR WHOLE STRATEGY HAS BEEN BASED ON HAVING A WALLED
COUNTRY," HE SAID. "NOW TECHNOLOGY IS OPENING UP THE SOVIET
UNION. THEY HAVE TO BEHAVE AS IF THEY WERE AN OPEN COUNTRY."
DR. LAPP WORKED DURING WORLD WAR II ON THE TOP-SECRET
MANHATTAN PROJECT WHICH DEVELOPED THE ATOMIC BOMB. HE IS NOW
WITH A WASHINGTON CONSULTING FIRM.
THE CAMERAS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS PUT IN VRBIT, LAPP
SAID, PHOTOGRAPH 70-MILE WIDE STRIPS OF LAND. THE EXPOSED
FILM PASSES INTO CAPSULES THAT ARE PARACHUTED BACK TO EARTH.
THE LATEST MODEL SATELLITE, HE SAID, CARRIES SIX FILM
CAPSULES, EACH ABOUT THE SIZE OF A B
THE CAMERAS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS PUT IN ORBIT, LAPP
SAID, PHOTOGRAPH 70-MILE WIDE STRIPS OF LAND. THE EXPOSED
FILM PASSES INTO CAPSULES THAT ARE PARACHUTED BACK TO EARTH.
THE LATEST MODEL SATELLITE, HE SAID, CARRIES SIX FILM
CAPSULES, EACH ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BUSHEL BASKET.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS, WHILE NOT AS DETAILED AS THOSE ONCE
TAKEN BY CAMERAS IN U-N AIRPLANES, ALLOW THE UNITED STATES TO
MAKE FAIRLY ACCURATE ASSESSMENTS OF SOVIET MISSILE POTENTIAL,
ACCORDING TO DR. LAPP.
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