REPORT OF A SPECIAL PANEL ON SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP89B00980R000400120011-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2003
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: August 25, 1960
• Content Type: REPORT

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THE lAirtITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 26, 1960
ALLEN:
Attached for your
records is the report of the
special panel which was the
basis of the briefing by
Dr. Land at the NSC meeting
on August 25..
G. B. B. isti eakowsky
NRO and USAF review(s) completed.
? ? .....Islirtirt,:=:?:????? ?
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onneE OF THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE
PRESIDENT rot scum= & TECHNOLOGY,
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REPORT OF A SPECIAL PANEL ON,
RECONNAISSANCE
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?.?
August ZS. 1960,
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The concept of an artificial satellite orbiting around the earth has
been aittociatedi 'from the outeeti; with the thought that awakavebisla
be used to Maintain a continuorsoretessiaisamece amlourvoilimace ovoroalt :
desired' part of the globe.'- The plan mu tit instali *Ault
televleion Mantra in the saleUite- Meottotransmit ita:itatasite:hiredia
tidally's* to a ground station where this signals would be reassembled into
a photograph. With such equipment, a systematic search was to be made
of the Etcraitinn land mass 'for airfields and other,znilitarrinstallatiame .
-large Meath fob* detectid.Wtiktholimited resolving petwerotsecka system.
Ifyirepiated obiervatione it Imo haped,that chaises weebtlia detected with
iefietisat relisbiHt tOprovidevernieg ollemeinentottatiu..-
The appeal of this fundamentally straightforward approach lies in its
relati4.001attal iunobtresiveaiseptrtherappereat power Jat eileVistelas,?, .
techniques for making obtiervations almost instantly available; in the pro-
longed utilisation of satellites le their orbits; and in the freedom from the
logistic ietrfeaciell' at recoeesor tischaiteeski:,J, At first eight. thie-N11oottonic
remtenito esiperikrirto be the fultyMadassrappreack to ye *a** it
- deserved., Met batted has buddies:est easeful. etudy. iksesattiv,we !have
now 'arrivodlit a- clear understudies. d the techeolosicat problems which
':rematts bOttaiived:' TbOthithaSAMOS'developmseet pmejectomazeismed. at
the iftlectraelit ishitiss of thelarproblemai shalkohertirdiecnerthe
diffieliatiu: (.0211-SiZ ..?4:1,71j.j.-,.i ? ? =
? 'f'; '1; . ' . $
year* avoi` it was ,ireslittatthie orbiting asteilitousnigOvbe used
; 141* the.detestiaa of-ballistic missile ansaiLis sauebtointpiestandlnottpvi,,
sfriet meniatthaintolniolosi oerpiastegraphicAtbeervatilmc 1111141.41m40144 1e
Wig lausched. zits unqiissI.lkimertneirsalsieseermetAlt4s(ansed
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T8-1074S- 4 of 6 Copies
7 r- SICRIZEI 7 Pages)
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radiation, and this radiation, can be detected, above the atmosphere. -front
satellites manly kindred miles away. The, explottatios at this oarly-wasiting
*chemists going fairway* as Preject MIDAS; - itlial, bear separated front the
reconnaiseaace project (SAMOS) and will not be discussed further in this
paper. As a consequence of this deparate development, the warning function
Is no loager-* printery requirement for SAM0111:).,
; Meanwhile, a much more urge** elicottualetaned seetlisslieen-pointed
out by the tr. fk-httelligence, Board.. The over:Wag ktleiligence requirement
at the present time is !atomisation as thoormitionel- states-4f Seviormissile
laiinc.k skew, This requires photographs; OtArevry Idaltmosobstion--4ighistoegh
to enable a: skilled phot,o?interpreter toreaegatse amtidestity die objects of
interest in amissil. leuecit site:'
The, exactfvesahttion prirfarntaace iriquired: ter this ?parpOso, limit net be
discuses& haroi -Its techeicali specitication,iocemplicatedi angiSiftaiis, controversial.
One must realfte, ?for that ? a systenti Which feet- on
the granted will not: permits phota-iaterporetertodeseribeaMobjact 20 frit
lenittoo . 47. ; : . ; ; f t
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? Up?Mtiow, there-has bees. onlyansitource for high- resetetion photographs
et? the Akmietiaissile inatsllatie.andthstilesuresitawbeeiscilbalhatedwitic,:i
the grounding of the .11,0L.airciralt._.-.CSAVINS substitute* satellitsas
Obaerfbigonthboloand obtain comparable ressitel'qUeso :
look to SAMOS to yield results of the necessary quality within a short tins?
:?I
itsfortnantely, ao.far as electronic readiset-is cencente4,-diarassiirer
NO. - . v-
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V ? Thehessenee of the problese-iirthatta plietegrapltwhich aostatite?thel.,
einem* otdetail that is required to istoei thsatittil of readittesitaad kW* of,'?*?
activity at a missile site must be made up of a fantastically large number of
bits of informudiew..*uveinbey as largo, that there is net ttnise-Mmitighlo transmit
alt ottbembitsotintemiettionlvems eatellitisto earth, vshilortbek satellite .111-'
averourvelvertri?lidireerrftlirri: 114oite boespeetedtdertertbe Use ten
youvethat thweliteirettearitc4tatelltseteeheelorplittiresiisretbeeplat **ay
satellitedi istarbiti` mid,insixrevelmientelitaareloilteadli.MrtegOwlitiltftitiitely
raetitteseibbrolotertealt# to traearadvitetatleitiohniatteiiikbeete
petit as thirearth. -Iluevitisd-welitteleSesuphasise here today is that Ili is not
feasible new, and it is not likely to be feasible fatale to give our country the
kind"eilioratilliihiftr.011111101i110.40841161111111.4140
odattaii(lkiiecatinat.oW diessmtecteesiesktpriattlelsotettasitioiti
Aria wom:vieo triZenTrvAiaia -..1)0,:iatt the .r.41.7dsratieroc,42 uatt13 *itesc, with
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orbital flights flights which are now planned, we must warn that we cannot rely on
the elettroeic readout approach for military purposes and urge that higher
operational priority be given to other Air Force developments 'which we are
about to discuss.
Physical recovery, in the air or ,An,, t.ke sea, of a satellite that has com-
pleted a number of revolutions in orbit has become feasible. The improvement
of recovery techniques is-going forward in the DISCOVERER project. One
can therefore consider the possibility of using advanced photographic
techniques which are capable ofvery high resolution, and of recovering the
expoled photoiraphic film on or near the surface of the earth. The subsequent
processing and evaluation of the fain can then be performed under the same
favorable conditions that are used in the best aerial pkotography..
While this approach may superficially appear clumsy and pedestrian
when compared with electronic readout. a detailed, analyiii will *how its
performance to be distinctly superior in providing the kind' Cif detailed in-
formation- that is required forth. study of operational missile sites. In fact,
we are convinced that this primary objective at satellite reconnaissance can
be realized most promptly and meet effectively hi the PitTitcal4ectmery of
? film exposed in a high-resolution convergent stereo camera system. The
principles and techniques of this kind of photography are now well understood:
Therefore; if timely action is taken', We. can ,OXPOO. to barS an adequate' ?
photographic payload by the time we have mastered the technique', for. recovery.
Thai is short. We should acquire *formation on &Mot missile launch
sites while they are under construction. In. order to counter the deception and
concealment that CILII be used in a completed site. It will take *a year and a
half at best to fill the present gap in our reconnaissance ability. And we can
expect useful performance in 1942 only g we clearly establish high resolution
photography as the first goal of the U. S. satellite reconnaiiisance program..
?
We are not unmindful of other objectives associated with SAMOS.
Photographic surveys of broad areaset: in which; extensive coverage is obtained
at the expense of reduced resolving power.. have impeitaxii uses. The de-
tection ant recording of electrest transmissions by view*/ of the
Iwill provide valuable information espedatly in areas
of technical intelligencee- of new aspects 4st,F eau nix* can.* Links, in missile
defense? systems, in nevigation4 41411.f ??
, di) not consider thoekekiectiVeikpai Importance to
the task at getting. -at the earliestlieesibledsorii." higtht*es41,0**Abtegraphs
that will provide information about the operational status of missile sites. with
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detail nearly as good as that from the U-2. We therefore reconmsend
carefielf planned progrant.:'-with'ilinjeltiiiWinnitagitiniiiii;'ind With
onipbtitieeisit
(a) High resolution stereo photography
(b) Recovery techniques
Mindful' etthe urgency Of this eated for detalliedAlbotegrapi*.
Tete. 'salt greatly modified thO (Meta liAMOS
of coacofred-photogiaphia recoierk *leis:yes are' iteti ned'er studiend
eValeailat. ThesIdeitgnOf? Wolin, distinct
1. A system to aichliverenxiirtioti Coveraigis w4. grotniiiiteolutien'
stiottate,tomentity intistur- dtSsd1r"crimiterietiaiki
-.;
Z. A system capable of photographing a large number of selected
installation' with-thObigher residetian-ireqeffeettfor'eviifttatioie''
- of the operational .-ititio-ras* aittigui ittib
We are tionvbieold that with iftritigbiforeardIgOod'inanagetient lithe 'Utilisation
of t4.ttak* teehnologylieerieientielly Una
trystsrnItooM Ur placed in' Opokiitisittrylit. /-4)421 the higher resolution system
becoming operational about one year later. We therefore urge a resolute
concentration Of'effert on these tWitoiretientrentra'etelit'deeliiiiiiiitirlisitign
to this task a higher priority than twat otheVaipectiriogether-ofthe- SAMOS
prograni: " -
?'Slate we 'must 1*W-rely*** tlielphrsital retrieve.' ei Seitalitelotietiigrepluit
it is nevi-elan that inereaied 'efforts biliAviddi to bilproblii tbill'reliatillity of
recovery techniques. Recent achievements in the DISCOVSRER program
are most encouraging. An alternative procedure. unproven operationally.
but most appealing in concept,. iirirsiveslike use of a drag brake mechanism
to effect reentry. The applicability of this technique to the SAMOS recovery
operation should receive serious consideration. ,
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to the vomit toream. ? 'Ast a, *waft Of Oa littiVelitlid coldideilitc*:611 iPriiiiision
efilletroseitiOilipetittlegte.the AtrIriArfoiligtrattAttaittlieiehillilkilif 44 4
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probability of success of the recovery, opesatioat
thek Rapport of Air roves efforts inthiiaru!?,?
heartily recommend
piocrosING AND JCVALUAXION
The reconnaissance "take" ef, the proposed., systems is recovered as
a set of latent gimes** on phetigtiqpile fiterk.' The intelligence yield that will
be extracted from these latent images is critically dependent on quality
factors in the cheroical-precessing#,thefilmjiad, in. theanalysis
sad iaterpretation of the neighed photographs. We milt* -Osimphosise toe ?
strongly that much of the detailed Jahozonation Captured in thitateat Image
can bo,irretri?elatii-14i '1,10414,1**!;14*.?1901" 41130,k1!4!
h
laboratory! mad in the int4orpretiitio3t coaters, - - ? .
?
f
iii;11 purely techaical domain, we must point out that the ithierement
of optbaum image-quality calls for the closest possible interaction between
individuals coaceraed with emoision,doeigsk manufacture,,end individuals
concerned with processing techniques! U these two activities we're to be
organised as iniparate and' Independent enterpriees it is most unlikely. in our
view, that the' result* would. be the 114,0 -
A fidl awes**, of, these facietslediO the special organization of
processing and evaluation that was used in the handling of the U-2 films. Our
experiestee with, the eePoSiOr resulteAkteined und-exithatt stFangentent leads
us to recommand-iirsatethat the isms patter* be ;0444 Lap paring the
outp4 of the proposed satelliticrecoosaiantaCe Systems. We &siker recommend
that this output be distributed by ? centralised community laboratory.
WICATHER
its" over
the target has leas been ? primary censideratioa: Per satellite reconnaissance
operattkosit. the ,sensitivity to weather. in 1101111.11.-,raipplAs. svonlowtse a if
kimtlit.14 4/1 ?INiarii4 ?0;144.014..*kt#14,1?SeS,#;:the
tid. ..preirta.$:_1,,,kaomt.sbasmrs,Abs-tiro?ediuttAki,014), gi:00:,,,Oksewsio lasses
amvostfoggis:. ,,,:thipikby the orbit parameters; and i
situation is
flexible than the scheduling of aircraft!, Moreover, the weedier over the
great majority of Soviet targets is very bad indeed. and this opportunities for
good photography are Raire14%,
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The program outlined in this discussion can succeed only if it is
closely integrated with theiteatherloorriceirthat will be- atriOciated with
the =LOS preject. Itrith the Air rime* 433-I. eystem; am& with-other ?
sources of weather data that may come into existence. Because of the short
reaction intervals- that are ac emissary hero; these arrangements will be
difficult to establish.- and we reeontMead attentimsto 'Omitting.
,
Oar anaiiiirie of the kirestigittlittis already Carritti out liy',the Air Toree
leads. us tab thivcosselusies that froiatha'artiy-itf imPortaintifitiidir-a'feir
can now be -extracted and integrated Wait einglierlitspit Mild Powerful -1-
prograuttostv4uirtlai recomislosince-Wii Woad: 't-Theretere, our recommen-
dation is that the following /selected components of the Air Tore. ,satellite -
reconlaitaiiiico.progratt-lis now iisiaillasdAtito- per high
priori*.
-
I . A recoverable satellite-payload for high resehdtion eon-
.
%veriest -stereo' pitotograpbri:.
34f To be recovered for the: tintsibeinient -sea.
3. To be recovered as soon as feasible on land.
4. To carry in seine of the satellites cameraand film
competeattaildentii* With CtirtabitY *Woo both
in construction and after completion.
S. To carry in ether- sitalliiteiNeanitira sad ftles,conspotsat
to study the Statai'ef readineoti type of activity, and type
of missiles.
,
We recommend ikliphailWititlittvelopment of mere advanced re-
covory techniques. partitmliiiir itariatit'ittitOrtiry.
We recommend that electronic readout techniques be given lower
priority but be contbuted as a research project and that the extensive
program few a gromid-based electronic readout system be cut back very
substantially and pt_Unitpdy.
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Also. the gathering rdictsuumagn.tic in-
telligence should be given lower priority than that assigned to photography.
?
We further recommend that this program be raanaged with the
directness that the Air Force has used?on ?caste*. with great success.
for projects of, overriding priority. Wito suggest thatthis can best be
accomplished by e direct line of command from the Secretary of the Air
Tore* to the general officer in o-perational charge of the whole program,
with ippropriate boards of scientific advisers to both the secretarial level
and to the operational level. The general officer in connuml, ? WIDOW 109k
to associated militaryboards for support in the execution ei his plans. We
recommend this iiiiianlidinary type of organisation to irxecute the program
because we arei.cOnvinced that the situation presents an unusual combination
of urgency and inherent amenability to* direttappresch*,,:.?
: ? ;. ;
In addition we recommend that the4aaaeorganinatkolrOLIPnsal, -a4.4411
the handling of the 11-2 films be used fairiCheseical:preesssiisg* the recovered II\
film and that the output be distributed irroacentrallicossieuutity4asiiity.
- . ? ,.
We also recommend that this pregrambo closely integrated with the
weather Services that will be associated with Taos promis*,wh, USAT's
433-L system satiother sources of weather dal**
,
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PANE& OW8ATELUT Rir.COPISAISSANCX
Dr J.
' ? Dr. IrdwirriL--loadi' -"Ty7
Dr. Willfancelowinhor
Mr.'Ztcid*t Ii
, ? ,??:,?
Dr. !Award M. Purcell
1
e..
? g.1- ? , ; ? ;''t 41.i'4'1.; ?
?Y.t ?"-??646-. ? JO. ;
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