ARGO STEERING COMMITTEE, OCTOBER 1, 1969, ROOM 208 EOB

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01137A000200060015-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 26, 2010
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: October 22, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

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`fl IORANDU FOR TIIE RECORD
SUI!Tf CI': ARGO Steering Committee, October 1, 1969, Room 208 FOB
1. I lopened the meeting with the announcement that
he was moving from Office Science ?; Technology/White House Staff to
the CIA (while he did not describe the new Position I understand since
the meeting that it will he as Deputy to lie announced
that from II)A is his replacement. He also called attention
to the absence of (NASA) and referred to new corpora-
tion EART1!SAT. I noticed that Rowland Inlow was not present while Otto
tCuthc# was.
2. The briefings on the agenda were as follows:
a. replacement from NASA reported on the APOLLO
t,w.a~ a.A Wbfin"s
INgnlllIs ad
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'['his series of air flights are providing a sequential coverage
Mostly of the agricultural growing season in the Southwest.
Fifteen agricultural sites are covered including the Imperial
Valley and the Southern Arizona farm region; also other areas
such as North California farm region and Oregon fishing region
at the mouth of the Colombia River. The project is encompassing
various fields in geology, conservation, etc. The project is
slow but eventually hopes to cover all the various disciplines.
It hopefully will contribute a perspective to review the APOLLO
role in all earth resources.
h. The Dept. of Transportation representative briefed on and
spoke of requesting satellite and SR 71 coverage. They had
hoped with the SR 71 to get SLAB sensing which lie stated is
best for ice reconnaissance. They did receive some limited
data from satellites but it was principally cloud covered.
Satellite coverage, except tests, is too expensive. The
SR 71 coverage was too risky clue to the necessity to rendezvous
with tanker planes. `IRO is working with The Department of
Transportation representative regarding possible [12 or RD
co-operation. The Department of Transportation will use
Autometrics for some selected readout on the recent US Manhattan
Journey. Some sensings were made from available aircraft and the
take was dropped on the same air mission to the '?Ianhattan where
it was read out and used for immediate command control purposes.
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Sti1 ThCT: Ai:GO Steering Committee,, October 1, 1969, Room 20,9 LOB
of ('IA briefed on his project covering analyses at
f photography both foreign and domestic taken by
sensitive satellites. he announced that project would terminate
this year unless the "Peaceful Uses" Agencies see fit to fund it.
he commented that they were looking at SO 180 color and black
and white ------ SO 180 was good for agricultural assessment -
while black and white was alright for disaster although this
could also be obtained from color. Then followed some discussion
of recent non-military information of importance to the national
security obtained from sensitive photography (example given by
concerning impact of wheat-yield having serious
e e on e world wide wheat prices. Other agricultural examples
were given by Parks on India and Turkey.
d. briefed on an OEP study of Camille within OEP.
A copy of this report and it's attachments have been provided
the Director) NPIC since the meeting. The study included some
use of excellen_photography over Biloxi. i0i-4 photography
of December 1964 provided the data base for damage assessment.
iiie sway is available tor review for those interested. It will
be used by OEP to learn needs for specific advance planning for
disasters. (As an example the availability of roads, bridges and
airports is critical for communications purposesi It was also
pointed out that in the event of a disaster all agencies undertook
to cover the disaster with their own equipment or by request obtain
assistance from others. There was some discussion of the need to
co-ordinate coverage in a disaster.
3? spoke of the tentative Agenda for the next ARGO
Meeting to be held on November 25th. He proposed that ESSA provide a
report on the snow coverage photography of last Spring; USGS discuss
the engineering survey for the Alaskan Pipe Line; and NPTC provide the
briefing on the new color film which will be flown before the next meeting
(compare resolution to black and white and cover color sensitivity).
This will be arranged by who accompaned me to the meeting,
briefing on their interest in high altitude photography.
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SUBJECT: ARGO Steering Committee, October 1., 1969, Poom 208 EOIB
Distribution:
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