LETTER TO HONORABLE JAMES B. ALLEN FROM STANSFIELD TURNER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R001100030055-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 14, 2005
• Sequence Number: 55
• Publication Date: March 8, 1978
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2005/12/24: CIA-RDP81
Office of Legislative Counsel
Note for File:
Per telephone
conversation this date with
Charles Mitchell in Senator
Allen's office, a written response
is not necessary.
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 The DUedor
Central Intelligence Agency
` Approved For Release 2005/12/24: CI"DP81 00980R001 100030055-7
Honorable James B. Allen, Chairman
Subcommittee on Separation of Powers
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Thank you for your letter of January 30, 1978,
conveying your request for information on possible Soviet
uses of space for military purposes. I am sorry that it
has taken us so long to compile answers to your requests,
but, as my staff has previously explained to your own,
the questions you asked relate to a complicated and
specialized area and a considerable amount of effort
was needed to respond completely to your questions.
The research has now been completed and several
documents are ready for your personal review. Since these
documents contain very sensitive information which is
highly classified and compartmented, I will appreciate
your forebearance in allowing me to provide the documents
through the mechanisms of the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence which has instituted appropriate procedures
for maintaining the physical security of the documents.
The documents will be delivered to the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence offices at G-308 Dirksen Senate Office Building
where you can peruse them at your convenience after which
they will be retrieved.
With specific regard to your question about our updating
the information we provided you on 22 July 1977 on Soviet
efforts to modify atmospheric or weather conditions on a
macrocosmic basis, the only additional information we have
is classified and is included in the package of materials
that we have prepared for you.
I hope this procedure will not inconvenience you, I am
sure that you will understand that my statutory obligations
to protect such sensitive material require special handling.
Yours sincerely,
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 JAMES B. ALLEN, ALA., CHAIRMAN
JOHN L. MC CL m L??+, ARK. bT(tOM THURMOND, S.C. "ALT4 WILLIAM L. SCOTT, VA.
COWARD M. KENNEDY.
B N KE N. r A ~I+e ,s&12005/12/24: CIA-RDP81 M00980RO AML 119. WORRIN G. HATCH, ILLIAM L. SCOTT, VA
BIRCH
ROBERT C. BYRDL. W. VA. PAUL LAXALT, NEV.
JAMES ABOUREZR. S. OAK. ORRIN O. HATCH, UTAH CIUENTIN CROMMELIN, JR.
JAMES B. ALLEN, ALA. MAL.COLM WALLOP, WYO. CHIEF COUNSEL AND STAFF DIRECTOR
JOSEPF4 R. BIDEN, JR., DEL.
JOHN C. K CULVER. IOWA ~I ifeb zfafe ~ e
HOWARD M M. . METLfiNBAUM, OHIO
January 30, 1978
Hon. Stansfield Turner
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
IOLC#*d,Y
.70
I am deeply concerned that the Soviet Union may be conducting
space missions designed for military applications beyond mere intelli-
gence gathering. Specifically, I am struck by the possible military
potential of the technology and techniques developed by the Soviets in
conducting the Soyuz 25 through 27 missions. Additionally, as you
know, on January 24, 1978, the Cosmos 954 mission terminated when that
satellite crashed into the Great Slave lake region of the North West
Territories in Canada. Newspaper accounts report that the satellite
carried 100 to 110 pounds of enriched Uranium 235 for use as a compo-
nent in the nuclear powered, intelligence-gathering equipment on the
satellite. Finally, the Soviet Union has done extensive work in
developing a fractional orbital bombardment system which would permit
attack of the United States from virtually. any point on the compass
with little or no warning.
In view of this apparent developmen of military wea o systems
for use in outer space, I request that th Library of Congres prepare
for my use a full report on all Soviet space of mi itary po-
tential together with an analysis of the present and future capability
of the Soviet Union to wage war in outer space. Particularly, the
report should discuss in detail the need for 100 pounds of enriched
Uranium 235 to power a nuclear reactor installed in a satellite and
should discuss the possibility that the nuclear fuel involved was a
component part of a weapons system rather than an atomic reactor.
Also the report should discuss the military applications of high energy
particle beam research in connection with Soviet satellite missions.
The present capabilities of the Soviet Union to destroy American com-
munications and intelligence satellites should also be covered in as
much detail as is possible.
Incidentally, I would also appreciate receiving any unclassi-
fied information you may have updating the report you previously
prepared for my use concerning Soviet efforts to modify atmospheric
or weather conditions on a macrocosmic basis.
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 Hon.'AftpftWcMr @]9e 2005/12/24: CIA-RDP81 M00980R001100030055-7
page 2
January 30, 1978
I consider the work I am asking to be done to be of paramount
importance, particularly inasmuch as the Strategic Arms Limitation
Talks could well lead to the submission of a new Strategic Aram
Limitation Treaty to the Senate in this session of the Congress.
With kindest regards, I am
JBA/qmc
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 UNCIp?DvdyFor e7- - 09 OR001100030055-7
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EXECUTIVE S.EXAMT-ARIAT
Routing Slip
DCI
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Please prepare interim response and
advise target date for conveyance of report.
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E' Ru Ve f.Crz q/
Feb 78
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