MEMO(SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• 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
• Content Type: MEMO

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
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 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.
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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