MEMO(SANITIZED)

Document Type: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80T01137A000200030002-4
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 28, 2016
Document Release Date: 
March 25, 2010
Sequence Number: 
2
Case Number: 
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80T01137A000200030002-4.pdf94.37 KB
Body: 
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/25: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200030002-4 Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology Your memorandum dated March 5, 1968 discussing the completion of Project ARGO has been received and the results of the project have been evaluated by cleared personnel of this Department and reported to me. I concur in the desirability of at least a pilot continuing activity along the lines initiated by Project ARGO and, i~ccordance with your request, name as the Commerce Department member of the Steering Committee, Director of the National Environmental Satellite Center of the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA). His alternate will be ments Division. Chief of ESSA' s Plans and Require- Other than the information presented in the ARGO eport and the general comments which follow, we are not in a position at this time to provide 3r additional detailed information. We have evaluated the ARGO conclusions from the stand point of the interests of the Department of Commerce and concur. With regard to the evaluation report you requested, the Department of Commerce has concluded that this general class of system is and will be an important source of environmental data, although there are serious deficien- cies in the present system for our purposes, particularly the security classification and the lack of color or other multi-spectral capability. At the same time, even with these deficiencies, the system may be of value STAT STAT STAT Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/25: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200030002-4 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/25: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200030002-4 assuming that we may obtain ready access to existing U.S. coverage and that some degree of'priority will be given to the needs of the civilian agencies in the planning of future missions. Principal areas of immediate Department of Commerce application are mapping, hydrology, and oceanography. Mapping is the subject of a separate study and will not be discussed here, although it will be an area of con- tinuing interest to the Department. In the other two areas, we propose to initiate experimental use of the system on a pilot basis using personnel based at the National Environmental Satellite Center. For the immediate future, studies would involve only the use of material already in the files. The first tasks will be the definition of specific pilot studies that we would wish to undertake, more detailed evaluation of requirements mrfoccs and applications, and additional analysis of cost effectiveness of ^ app lica- tions. At a later date, we would propose the following types of data require- ments for operational'use: Hydrology - Coverage of the principal snow covered mountainous areas of the United States approximately six times between January and June with KH4 or KH7 where possible. Oceanography and Hydrography - Coverage of the principal harbors and estuaries df the United States with KH-7 once every five years. ~- - Both of these applications were covered in the ARGO report as to feasibility and benefits. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/25: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200030002-4 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/25: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200030002-4 We recognize that Project ARGO was only the beginning of an era when satellite data will be regularly used in support of the missions of the civilian agencies. I am pleased that members of this Department were participants in the pioneering effort and assure you of our interest in cooperating with you in the continuing pursuit of better and more cost effective ways to use our national facilities and resources for the public good. Sincerely yours, STAT Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/25: CIA-RDP80TO1137A000200030002-4