PROPOSED CORONA SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, FILM ANALYSIS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05707A001100030002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 11, 2013
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 3, 1962
• Content Type: MEMO

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CIA-RDP78B05707A001100030002-8
LUNDAHL
0/Dr RoutIaa
TO
5 Ur 1962
STAT
INITIALS DATE
-171-4
REMARKS:
STAT
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_., III TOP SECRET
41PBYE-635-62
3 December 1962
?Copy /
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, National Reconnaisance Office
THROUGH: Deputy Director for Research, CIA
SUBJECT:
Proposed Corona Systems Performance Evaluation, Film
Analysis Report
1. Engineers and scientists from Lockheed Missile and Space
Company (LMSC), prime contractors for the system, and ITEK Corporation,
camera designers and manufacturers, currently visit the National
Photographic Intrepretation Center (NPIC) after each mission to review
the resulting photography and together with NPIC technical personnel
conduct a critique in the form of a system performance analysis. This
critique must often be performed on a duplicate positive in order to
effect adjustments or correct malfunctions in time for the next mission,
since duplication requirements delay receipt of the original negatives.
at NPIC until approximately three to four weeks after recovery. The
original negatives are reviewed during subsequent visits both to verify
preliminary critiques and for more refined analysis. As a corollary
to this system performance analysis, NPIC currently conducts a detailed
film evaluation, the results of which are published in a Photographic
Evaluation Report for each mission (sample copy, attachment A). This
report includes an evaluation of the photography, performance information
on the five cameras, vehicle attitude, film density values, and other
pertinent technical information. Normally NPIC conducts a preliminary
evaluation of the photography prior to the arrival of LMSC and ITEK
personnel and upon their arrival, they are given a short briefing on
the mission results, including both good and bad points.
2. During the time the contract personnel are at NPIC, specific
problems within given areas of responsibility are discussed with each
group; i.e., problems pertaining to camera operation, vehicle performance,
film processing, etc. During their visit?,_they_analyze thesT-Vroblems,
draw specific conclusions and Laajl.t,m9_mm.s..r2sla_t3_f6r improvement. Some
of these recommendations are long range, but many are directed for
incorporation into the next mission. For this reason the analysis must be
completed rapidly, accurately, and the findings reported as soon as possible.
3. The current NTIC Photographic Evaluation Report, based on the
analysis of the original negatives, as now prepared does not include
recommendations for equipment changes, suggestions for corrective measures
to overcome malfunctions, etc. Although NPIC technical personnel discuss
these items in some detail with the contract engineers and OSA/DD/R
personnel, it is felt that it is not within NPIC's area of responsibility
to include this information in the present type of report.
GROUP I
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downgrading and declassification
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4. 6-mi-s proposqp that NPIC now revise the format of its present nej re -
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Photographic Evaluation Report and make it a Systems Performance '
Evaluation--Film Analysis Report, rearranging the presentation of
information and including a new item; e.g., a statement prepared by the
contractors. This statement would, for example, outline briefly the
proposed action by the responsible contractor to correct such defects
as a malfunction in the camera shutter, light leaks, new phenomena,
comment on the success of previously recommended actions, etc. The report,
however, would continue to be an evaluation of the current input; in
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addition it would include proposed corrective procedures, new procedures,
etc., as stated by the responsible contractor.
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5. The final analysis and evaluation cannot be completed until the
negatives are at NPIC. However in order not to delay early engineering
Aanalysis of the mission, OTs su4 that,NPICIiptify the contractors
of,the arrival_e_the_duplicate_positives at NPIC so they can come in and
examine the duplicate positives. It is recognized that a complete analysis
?cannot be accomplished using these duplicate positives, but certain types
of analysis can be undertaken. Whep the schedule is such that new launchings
follow shortly after the recovery of a completed mission, it is necessary
that a preliminary study be undertaken immediately, and within this time
schedule the duplicate positives must be used. Under these conditions
a preliminary report can be issued to be superseded by the final report
when the original negatives have been delivered to NPIC and the complete
analysis-evaluation accomplished.
6 As one method of accomplishing this, the following procedure
(proposed:-
a. That NPIC notify AD/OSA, LMSC, ITEK and Eastman Kodak (EK)
upon the arrival of the duplicate positivesat NPIC.
b. That upon the receipt of the duplicate positives at NPIC,
NPIC technical personnel conduct a preliminary review to ascertain
or verify any major problem area and consider overall quality.
c. If the preliminary review of the duplicate positives indicate
a need for immediate analysis, that a meeting time be established for
LMSC, ITEK and EK personnel to meet at NPIC and that AD/OSA be so
advised.
d. That immediately following this meeting a brief preliminary
report be prepared by NPIC (distribution by cable or memorandum).
e. If the preliminary review does not reveal a need for an
immediate analysis from the duplicate positives, that the analysis
by the combined technical team be performed from the original negatives
when they arrive at NPIC.
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WM-4635-62
f. That areas of responsibility for reporting be established
for each major division of the resulting report. (See suggested
report form, attachment B.)
g. That NPIC function as coordinator and publish the
resulting report.
h. That the report include the names of'all the participating
personnel and identification of their parts of the report.
i. That the report include the success or failure of
recommended changes noted in previous reports, new problems,
conclusions an recommendations
j. That the report be completed within three weeks- of
arrival of the original negatives at NPIC.
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k. That the final report be distributed to all participating
members of SETD meetings.
7. If the above proposal is accepted, it is recommended that this
method of reporting be tried for the next three missions and, if satisfactory,
It then be adopted as standard procedure. NPIC is prepared to accept its
part in the reporting responsibilities as coordinator in publishing the
report.
ARTHUR C. LUNDAHL
Director
National Photographic Interpretation Center
Attachments:
A - BYE-3819-62 (Photographic Evaluation Report) -
B - Suggested Report Format
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Distribution:
Cys. 1, 2, 3 - DD/R/CIA (cys 1 & 2 for Dir/NRO)
4 - PD/I/CIA
5 - DD/oSA/CIA
6 - OD/OSA/CIA
7, 8 - OD/NPIC
9 - Asst. for Plans and Dev., NPIC
10, 11,12 -TID/NPIC
NPIC:TID
BYE-4635-62
(3 Dec 62) 50X1
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ATTACHMENT B TO BYE-463562
SUGGESTED REPORT FORMAT
Title: Systems Performance Evaluation--Fiim Analysis Report
Objective of the Report: To analyze, evaluate and report the results
of the most recent Corona: mission for both operational performance
and photographic interpretation fulfillment.
Participants: Organization and individual
Mission number, date, etc.:
Major Report Divisions Responsible Reporting Activities
I Summary NPIC
II Vehicle LMSC, NPIC
III Cameras ITEK, LMSC, NPIC
IV Film EK, NPIC
V PI Evaluation NPIC
Smaluary of the Mission (NPIC)
A brief summary of the mission from both an operations and photo
interpretation viewpoint, commenting on both the good points and the bad
points as noted in Sections II through V below.
II Vehicle (LMSC, NPIC)
1. Performance according to plan
2. Vehicle attitude
3. Problem areas
4. Other
5. Contractors' comments and recoMmendations. To include the
results of previously incorporated corrective actions as well as
new corrective actions considered necessary.
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III Cameras (ITEK, LMSC, NPIC)
A. Pan No. I (Forward)
1. Apparent resolution
2. Focus
3. Exposure
4. Shutter
5. Binary data block
6. Timing pulses (pips)
7. Camera number
8. Fiducials
9. INC
10. Light leaks
11. Film metering
12. Film tracking
13. Film tearing
14. Pressure streaks
15. Strange phenomena
16. Other
17. Contractors' comments and recommendations. To include the
results of previously incorporated corrective actions as well as
new corrective actions considered necessary.
B. Pan No. 2 (Aft)
Same as above
C. Framing Camera
1. Apparent resolution
2. FOCUS
3. Exposure
2
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4. Shutter
5. Reseau grid
6. Light leaks
7. Film metering
8. Film tracking
9. Film tearing
10. Strange phenomena
11. Other
12. Contractors' comments and recommendations. To include the
results of previously incorporated corrective actions as well as new
corrective actions considered necessary.
D. Horizon Cameras, Pan No. 1 (Forward)
1. Starboard
a. Apparent resolution
b. Focus
c. Exposure
d. Shutter
e. Fiducials
f. Light leaks
g. Film metering
h. Contractors' comments and recommendations. To include
the results of previously incorporated corrective actions as well as
new corrective actions considered necessary.
2. Port
Same as above
3
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E. Horizon Cameras, Pan No. 2 (Aft)
1. Starboard (same as above)
2. Port (same as above)
F. Stellar Camera (same as above)
IV Film (original Negative) (EK, NPIC)
A. Pan No. 1 (Forward)
1. Processing data
2. Processing problems
3. Apparent gramlArity
4. Contrast
5. Crimping
6. Pinholes
7. Abrasions
8. Scratches
9. Tearing
10. Water marks
11. Processing streaks
12. Blistering
13. Density readings
14. Other
15. Contractors' comments and recommendations. To include the
results of previously incorporated corrective actions as well as new
corrective actions considered necessary..
B. Pan No. 2 (Aft)
Same as above
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C. Framing Camera
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D. Stellar Camera
Same as above
V Evaluation of Material from PI Viewpoint (NPIC)
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