U.S. SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 29
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2003
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 22, 1962
• Content Type: REQ

 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 :, CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
i OP SECRET
tl e it.. necessary for its sncc l implement .
a. The essential security and technical requirements of the U. S.
satellite r+~c alp o program are not necessarily incompatible with
foreign 90bey objectives enunciated by the us S. , nor do theY necessarily
c" Wet with a iug c mtitme~nts assumed by the U. & in international
Ot reements OR outer space matters. However, there is potential cm-
flia> t of a serious n uare Uwe" U. S. foreign policy actums are most
carefully formulated and conducted in full recognition of the characteristics
and problems of satellite reconnaissance. It in clear that in negotiations
iaanrolving outer space and disarmament certain issues have been and
will be raised that have serious implications for the U. S. reconnaissance
satellite program and OR which the U. S. position must be carefully
rma t ed and vigorously defended.
b. The U. g. is not at present lagal& bound to observe my
eo> ttmes s regarding the use at outer apace. However, as a matter of
pry allWW policy, the U. S. dew consider itself bound to comply
with the United Hatloi* General Assembly Resolution 17210, which
the U. 8. drafted and sponsored and which was unanimously adopted by
the UI A on December 20, 1961. That Resolution commends to states
for their guidance is the exploration and use of outer spaace~ two
(1) International law, includieag the Charter of the United
Nations, applies to outer space and celestial bodies;
Y~~f~
Approved For Release 03 RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R0001001
TOP SECRET
and celestial bodies are free for .xpk>ration
sod am by all states in conformity with international law and are not
subject to national apprapriaties.
C. Pant to UNI A Uesolsstioa 1721, the United Rats Is
presently rreglsst~esrissg sataelliate is things with the U. N. T her* Is
isternatIonally agreed formula governing the data provided for
registration with the United Nations.
d. Also p ssst to USA Resalot ion 1721, the U. S. has takes
part in the work of the U. N. Outer Space Committee. At the recant
meetings of the Comm e's Legal Subcommittee In Geneva, the U. S.
(1) A draft General Assembly Resolution regarding assist
awe to sod return of space vehicles and their occupants, and
(2) A draft resolution; requesting the Secretary General
of the U. N. i 4i iitut a panel of TV i 4s to draft inter l
agree t dealing with liability at Winching states and international
organisations for IWury, loess or dam ge caused by apace yOhicles.
proposals were carefully framed with the intent of not
Ming the U. S. satellite reconnaissance program. It should be noted,
fir, that the issue band reconnaissance satellites Was specifically
raised by the Soviets in a Draft Declaration of PrincUAss. The question
of enre tins reconnaissance satellites from any agreement to return
Approved For Release I 9SE RE t P66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 :. CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
TOP SECRET
fps" vehicles ia"d VVII W "ediallg on the territory of other States was
s raised and supported not o by the Bloc, but by some other countries
as well. The regal Subcommittee was unable to reach agreement on any
s tantive i t and agreed only to establish working groups to examine
p ibis co romise proposals. The U. S. Delegation in the Outer
Spec* Technical t~nhen five, which met concurrently proposed that
reports on general nil plans for international space activities be
sttbmittasd to the Comer Space Committee and agreement was reached on
this point. It was made clear by the United States (and by the Soviet
Usio that s infora ation will be submitted on a purely voluntary
basis and at the discretion of the reporting State.
e. There are at present no international agreements an disarma-
ment or arms control. However, the present U. S. disarmament proposal,
to which we are committed, includes a provision which would affect the
reeu siss a satellite program. The Treaty Outline on General and
Complete Disarmament of April 18, 1982, includes as a measure in
Stage On* provis for prohibition the placing into orbit of weapons
apable of producing mass destruction.: For verification of this measure,
i ti of vehicles and advance notification of all launchings of . apace
vehicles and Vdasiles, including in rmation an the track of the spa-.:e
vehicles or mInUe s, would be provided. In addition, the international
Disarmament Organization would establish any arrangements necessary
TOP SECRET
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved Forelease 2003/09/30
P=
limitations. The U. S. is also c
oa outer space. We
for final years prior
publicity
perm,, have co ed the U. a.
The
g+eral
in
The
had over a ye
stockpiling
to
ilderation of the general
the
mii taz
e
t U. S. serfs to develop
me cam, U. S.
e d to banning
Approved For Release 2003/09/?`3 AAffP66ROO638ROO0100150008-9
 Approved For,, Release 2003TOP:SEW0069@RO001 00150008-9
tally row
Ewa
weri
with NASA
have aroused
a reluctance
eat Ush ent of V
ome invu' d.
hi z
NI
have argued
ent Wlt '1 a Ctrs
r U. S.
p? These
mlitsry
e) sateWte
-U. a. e1e e s but
U
togs
it is
could at this time
the U. N.
fori
et
e of M4
is irdlatteiy greater to the U. L th= to,
vtets may choose to
sstelUtes should ha,
pproove For Felease 2003/ 9/30 :SCI
e concept
UQ
the right b conduct
U.
66 R00638 R000100150008-9
d to c d
 Approved ForjZelease 20 (V3~MNR0063&R000100150008-9
critical U. S. wed for satellite roe
to
IC
When the
it zn3esUes will be much mars Mcult to locate,
AMea1 to
tonal std of de
)b M
for
Short time
impor ce, azlid U. S.
2e basis
omplete. bsequed
i ration to commling them from
high acuity sat
order of
e neei ees OT of rwflnon SOXICUUMN
sea a activities unless the mere foot
satellite is sufficient for defense of
observation satellites, which WOMB MOSt
re alt
sett
Approved For Release 2003/0.91
is
issse
 Approved ForBelease 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
TOP SECRET
Approved For Release 2003/09/301: ~8R000100150008-9
 Approved Forr$elease 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R0063$R000100150008-9
TOP SECRET,
r)
at Uw *a* a a
>
as an
Approved For Release 2003/09%3 a 638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
UP SECRET
uch
Utty
IYr smAb*
4) of
t ! a
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
iUP SECRET
In
seer
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 TOP CE
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R0063PR000100150008-9
not be able to cots
to time or the direc-
tion to expect or the duration of the flight, and that many other flights
that are detected wig be tracked insufficiently to determine the orbit or
the launch location, such capability will require different hunch capa-
bility than that being used at the present, and will involve relatively
short orbital lifetimes, ranging from as little as a single pass or orbit
to a maximum of four or _five days. Present possible reconnaissance
orbits are constrained by launch location. and existing boosters to it
relatively narrow band. The completely secret operations will require
the capability to launch on a wide variety of inclinations, and must in-
clude mobile launch sites via aircraft and/or Naval vessels. (it should
be noted that since these secrete rations will involve single launches,
there to no substantial risk of war due to possible misinterpretation as a
ballistic missile strike, as it is unreasonable to expect either the U. S.
or the Soviets
war on the basis of a single ballistic missile.
The need for these secret operations arises from the following two reasons:
l) Satellite reconnaissance will have to be accomplished in
this manner to)be effective in the relatively near future. Without surprise,
the intelligence value of such operations will decrease sharply as
C D initial deployment is completed and these missiles enter the opera-
tional
Soviets
not exp
ii necessary to obtain recont
ng it and. cannot predict the
e when the
e and general orbital
Approved For Release 2003/09130 : CIArRDP,86R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
SECRET
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIAIRD'O'Rk6R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66 06388000100150008-9
SECRET
TOP
U 1 9461"t V *# DOW"
b*b
Of
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
I& SECRET'
U.
to
ii cu-
r 4ts
WOW
United Mess
tc
be detected by t
or point of
1-
>e wbIcb
bloc
h az
orb
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIAPf6R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 CIA-RDP66R 00 8#000100150008-9
OP SECREI
U.
!tn't1
'. 8. Cbdw& tilt 1a tec laI
Or
or to
such
 Approved For Release 200,3/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00&38R000100150008-9
1fl
cd Will bo do" in A
Utta ite itch at
e that certain
iagly difficult to Identify
bii
actI? C
goer military spiwe
or timing these actions or of the sW
tved.
amw related actions that are necessary to toot
+ rcted that Borne time vW be Wised
ch maximum a eetivenees. fir, It has aalrowW
PR
one year.
wltbdraw
most imp
U. : . will ever
U. N. CO
secret I
ae elites the
U.
Approved For Release 2003/09F GI. 6R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For.Release 201)!/3SER66R0063eR000100150008-9
is circuit
ye the phere at relati
Zanlya is In an
easy s
The
orbiting satellites
cad simply state
Ales
could be fogged by nuclear
indeterminate period
onnible for
lcd. Bach a
reconmissa'ace is III,
oreover, C
cud not pr+
c over their range unless sim,
The e '
for nuclear
oled with the consistent SM*t ins
or from
Any & wag* to vehicles that should be recover
at
would
U. S. would
be in a far more
ate
at at
the U. N.
the U. S.
ree,
V. S. lic a au
ry
to break established precut without plausible public
tiom. Fur-
Imo, on the order of 2-3 years, will be required
bitity of secret operations before such operations could
ent will necessarily involve
fligbis prior
Mont of
'arced to
stems.
b pnr-+r eteerds bS4m1 e8 o s idt l i igh the U. S.
 Approved For Release 200310913701 SEh1fiEPR0001 00150008-9
Is M,
h
stoblished precedent,
Approved For Release 2003/09/30' 6lA DR$SROO$38R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 20031 IP: SEW0063BR000100150008-9
U. S. spec
deleme why
Co
'x the U
or o $ constant bIC
shouM be kei
rig
by the OVI .
Id
l words j+ t c tt were used, such an min*esichoble
rat the U44: XU=tlon In this regez%, It .:.
h .fir the 8(n4* airy kww this for eerts * they WOM V* be
forced t*
tiI
t be
Approved For Release 2003/09130 , C1 6R00638R000100150008-9
U. S. Is Obtat
 Approved For.Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
1 OP SECRET
44 t* "WA SM COMPr
nu. _
so Mat "tul reem"],
(F? s
(6) The ~.
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-ROP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
SECRET
The V.
U. .
* w md the u
almid VA deftuded
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003/09/3as:-i
Tomtr 382000100150008-9
ad
e"uatta1 law
'C< $am boa
Vantft
U. an
but
I In c. `1 . PAd
u
T U.'
fth
ter er"v u which
P
ble to charg
this doss
Approved For Release 2003/09/30: G.lA=RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 200310. 0 6R00638R000100150008-9
tick, but We 4m wit a*
C , _ -:t at j
be
pprovea - or Release
pry
W-6
 Approved For;,,elease 2003/TJW% R!OO63ROOOl 00150008-9
4. -
quantitatft remulft - be prime
any maull.
S
?t z^. Nam" Md Ric,
I and
e
to shouM be &wcouUmed - - coat.
c : ? car!
completely t? with **Mftd
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 2003 Oi/31i 6R00ft8R000100150008-9
pat h
Vi i. be harWftd In a*
The
hakIbrow territory
or that they w
N
reltaxable
v*Wd be to OstgbUsh the U. vial
4 rt
r - its c
() Feconu
we 6-cam;
CA,
c
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 :' CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 20tMf"-S.VW
6R006e36R000100150008-9
141
U. .
au eaieUtte
cuo
erg or mted
at1Y4
c t
Tt
Wred to
Approved For Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For Release 20 U9/3SEQ RJ6RO06UR000100150008-9
glare ...
ancePr .. 1 .
ad :s
but
ch the U to tto If t, Its
0 any -r a arms !
Approved For Release 2003/09/30: CIA-RDP6eR00638R000100150008-9
 Approved For'Release 2003/09/30 : CIA-RDP66R00638R000100150008-9
I omit; a Problem of ~ WtY ~
whit for vi
e tl
got an
weapow of WNW
0 program is Uw
dew
carried , from the p*Ut of view
in
to
IDLP66ROO638ROOOI Approved For Releas e 2 9/ 00150008-9