CORONA IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 3, 2013
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 22, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
?
Draft
ADWHeelon
22 Oct 63
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National Reconnaissance Office
SUBJECT: CORONA Improvement Program
REFERENCE: DNRO Memorandum to DCI of 11 September 1963
DNRO Memorandum to DCI of 4 October 1963
1. The Purcell Panel recommended that rather than
proceeding with a new camera system that we improve our only
satellite search system, CORONA, so as to yield its peak
resolution performance all the time. This report suggested
a number of technical improvements in the basic CORONA system
M\cs too e_
over and above those incorporated ini9056 C titaniuOnvar drum
which the Panel felt would reduce the spread in the resolution
distribution curve.
cLO?rt,p41-,
2. It is my understanding that General Greer's4people
were instructed by the NRO to implement this recommendation.
With the contractors involved, General Greer developed a list of sul
system improvements which were represented as providing a
technical solution to the wide distribution of resolution;
jgoth in briefings to General Carter and his staff and in your
memorandum to me of 11 September 1963.
50X1
3. In August, I directed the CIA/DD/S&T people to play
an active, constructive role in implementing the Purcell Panel
iMIIP i'--1
Exc.;I; fmn mp:mak
' drni,'sii'mlaiAlid
Onif:ssilicMa
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
2
V*
report. Because of apparent misunderstanding the NRO staff
and on the West Coast they were forced to conduct an independent
the
and somewhat slower 'analysis of/CORONA resolution problem.
In retrospect it seems most fortunate that this parallel effort
was created since they addressed themselves first to analyzing
the basic sources of resolution degradation and then to
measuring the actual distribution of resolution in film from
CORONA missions.
As I understand the matter, the actual
distribution is much broader than anyone had imagine$including
the Purcell Panel.
4. This spread apparently cannot be accounted for by
analysis of any of the error sources to which General Greer's
improvement program was directednd the CORONA Configuration
Control Board rejected this program on 20 September As soon
as the results of this study began to emerge I directed that
they be made available to you and your staff in a most preliminary
form. This took place on 17 September. The results of this
study have also subsequently been briefed individually to each
of the members of the Purcell Panel who unanimously concur in
its conclusions.
5. Under the circumstances I heartily endorse your
decision to cancel or withhold much of the CORONA improvement
program proposed by General Greer's organization. Some of the
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
? ? ?
rri17so.71
71(
3'
proposed actions are desirable for other reasons and I leave
it to you to balance the reliability danger of subsystem
Pvatz,
innovations the increased performance potential. However,
I want to be quite clear that we do not confuse the decision
process by considering that the items presented in your
4 October memorandum will alter the resolution problem in
any measurable way. I am convinced by what I have heard and
read on this problem in the last few months that one must
understand this problem thoroughly before one can cure it.
6. For this reason I was glad to note your enthusiasm
for proceeding with a "specific detailed quantitative analysis
of a recent good quality CORONA mission with the intent of
assessing quantitatively the separate contributions of various
system elements and atmospheric 7S- conditions". It
was my understanding that Dr. Wheelon proposed that just such
a program be carried out in DD/S&T at the time of the original
N 50X1
presentation (17 September) to you the NRO staff. This
5-CuDy
orgaaIea4en was estimated to cost
and 50X1
was to involve continuous participation by a small group of
senior technical people from I4TEtiotktiRetl-aA4,41Rwstmatl 44 a 1\
4"c) V,?")ZeiZ e csL-LA--(4? s .
This working party was to be managed by CIA staff personnel
from the DD/S&T and carried out at NPIC where the essential
data base is exploited and stored.
^
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
?
sr37-1,4
A,
4
7. It is my desire that this effort be authorized and
vigorously supported by the NRO. Its assignment to CIA is
important in my mind because these people have already
demonstrated a capability for doing original analyses of
this type and because they are not haqnessed to a satellite
launch schedule. Of course)it is important that technically
qualified members of your staff play an active role in this
effort and I would hope one or two officers could be made
available.
8. This leads me to another point that has been very
much on my mind lately. There are a number of distinct
applications of satellite reconnaissance for intelligence
purposes: (a) Search, (b) technical intelligence, (c) geodesy
and (4) indications. It seems to me that much of the effort
and imagination of NRO in the last few yeas years has been
avfk
devoted to the technical intelligence oa high resolution
spotting problem; viz., GAMBIT, LANYARD,
etc. At
ideas for
our only
the same time we seem to have developed no attractive
a successor to CORONA, which continues to provide
.0gcl:Samal search capability.
50X1
9. I have, therefore, directed the CIA people to explore
the needs and possibility of a second generation search system.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
. ?
5
They are to work closely with the consumers here at CIA
and elsewhere in the community and are to work closely with
the photographic exploitation people at NPIC.totztrn.1
r-eefYgfi444-QD?DS--the?naw?ps:aaitki,Li.t.i.e.s_tar?p,b,Qtsa?i-rrtvrpTet-a-ti-d'n
so as to come up with a specific proposal for a new satellite
system. However, it appears that one cannot provide such a
solution until the results of the CORONA resolution working
party are thoroughly understood. The CIA people maintain that
?1 the limit to which we can push the present system and the ways
one can circumvent such limits by working ?in other parts of
the electromagnetic spectrum need to be established first,
Ca ?Nt6"
and I am inclined to agree. This consideration davombrtztaleAlame,
double weight to the CORONA working party effort) bothas a
basis for tightening up the present system and for designing
its successor. Naturally I attach the greatest importance/
to this effort and trust you will support this enterprise
with all the resources of your office.
cc: Gilpatric
r 7.0
DCI
, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
22 October 1963
1. What steps are taken to improve the existing CORONA system?
a. Troubles with the CORONA-J
b. Improve resolutions
c. Improvements in faster film
d. Improvements in film processing - Eastman vs. Air Force
facilities
2. What improvements are anticipated in the existing GAMIT
program?
3. What do we do about a higher resolution search follow-on to
.the CORONA?
4. What do we do to improve resolution target systems as a
follow-on to the GAMBIT?
NOTE: With respect to the above 2 questions, who is
responsible? What contractors? What money is provided?
What is the time schedule?
5. Disposition of the OXCART?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
50X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/26: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004120004-1