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MEMORANDUM FOR: 

VIA 

SUBJECT 

C;R~ COMlREX-D-15.1/1 

LiYnited :Jistribution 1111111111111111111111 11111 11111111111111111111111111111111111111 14000752760 

16 July'1968 

Chairman, COV:i\S)\ 

Maj. General Reynolds r-O. (,....,b(l.' 

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COMIREX Partici.pation in the Field of MC&G 

1. I am re sponding to your memorandum of 15 July Vla 

General Reynolds so that he may append his comment. While 1 do 

not want to upset the present working arrangements on the handling 

of photographic collection for MC&G until a decision is made on 

General Reynolds' study, I find one factor that bothers me and is 

not made clear in your memorandum. I refer to the establishment 

of requirements. As you know, it is my view that MC&G should not 

be considered as an intelligence program. Therefore, I do not 

think that USIB should establish the requirements for collection of 

information for MC&G. 

2. The description of what your Committee does with 

regard to the assignment of priorities for photographic collection of 

MC&G data seems quite reasonable to me. As I view it, what you're 

d()ing is making a determination of how much coverage we can 

allocate to MC&G without undue interference to intelligence collection. 

This seems to me to be an appropriate function for your Committee . .. ', 

However, as soon as it can be done without upsetting the program, ~:., I think that USIB, and hence your Committee, should get out of the 

. business of establishing requirements for photo coverage for MC&G , . , 

,.}:mrpose s. 

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Conclusions 

19. In the course of its review and asseBsmen~ 

COMIREX reached the following c'onclusions: 

a. During the next six to 12 months, 

prospects for the basic photographic satellite 

reconnaissance program are, to, an abnormal degree, 

dependent upon the unique, essentially one-time, I· ' 

circumstances and risks incident to fntrodtiction of 

Inajor new systems into the National Reconnaissance 

Program inventory. In this period these same-facto~~_:-j 

will als 0 restrict even further the inherently limited 

capabilities of the present photo-satellite systems 

for flexibility and responsiveness to urgent crisis needs. 

Aircraft and drones will be the only available supplementary 

platforms. 

b. With regard to the basic program the NRO 

should be advised that the USIB endorses adoption of 

conservative operationa.l approaches for early HEXAGON 

launches, if necessary at the expense of initial exercise of 

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the system's more advanced capabilities, in 

orde r to as sure vital continuity of search cove rage 

for the basic prog~am. 

c. As insur",nce for als 0 maintaining 

continuity of satellite photo coverage in the future, 

in the event of a major system failure, the NRO 

should develop the capability to launch a back-up 

vehicle from that system or'to move up the launch 

date of an alternate system within 30 to 45 days 

if needed. 

d. After initial success with HEXAGON, 

any remaining CORONA vehicles should be held as 

contingency reserves and the capability maintained 

to launch them on a 30-day standby basis. 

e. The NRO should continue its planned 

acquisition of the operational capability to adapt a 

GAMBIT vehicle for very-high-altitude missions 

(Higher boy ·program). 

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i. Under the ba~.lc GAMBIT /HEXAGON 

launch schedule au prcscr>.tly projected, significant 

gaps between periods of satellite coverage will 

continue to exist in the FY 1973-75 period. In terms 

of cost-eifectivenl~ss, this deficiency in total annual 

days-on-orbit can best be offset by increases in 

mission:-life. rather than by additional launches. 

Present programs to increase the GAMBIT mission 

d,uration to 27 dayl~ and that of HEXAGON eventually 

to 45 days should be supported. 

g. The present review again confirms the 

long-standing Corrununity judgment as to the essential 

capabilities l1ecessaryfor an imagery satellite 

system effectively responsive to warning and crisis . 

intelligence needs~ The USIB requirements for a" 

near- real-time im"agery satellite system c01}tinue to 

represent th~j;ii.iPary goal against which the major 

effort in this field should be directed. 

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h. The p_ropos~ls available to the NRO for 

limited, int~rim specialized photographic satellite 

systems and techniques variously designed to meet 

some aspects of the need for crisis quic~_~_reaponse 

capability, which were reviewed ior COMIREX in 

the present study, do not appear to afford sufficient 

capabilities to warrant a redirection of resources iroxn 

present NRO programs. 

i. Recognizing, however, the continuing 

deficiencios in timeliness of response which will exist 

until the major near-real-time system is available, 

and that throughout the intervening period supplementing 

airborne systems will be the only means of performing 

additional photographic reconnaissance if -spec:ial needs 

arise, it is desirable to continue to examine 'the 

possibiliti,~s of these interim satellite systems in the 

context of the' re lative trade - oHs between their benefits 

and costs. 

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Recomnlendations 

20. COMIREX recommends that the USIB: 

a. Note the attached COMlREX study and 

approve its dissen:lination as background for guidance to 

the NRO. 

b. Approve conclusions _ ' to ~ in paragraph 19, -

above, and forward them as supplemental guidance to the NRO. 

c. Approve paragraphs _' to _ of the attached, 

COMIREX study as updated guidance relat~d to potential 

needs for SALT, supplementing that provided in reference a. 

d. Reaf,firm that the USIB requirements for a 

near-real-tiIne imagery satellite system continue to represent 

the objective against which the major effort in the area of 

warning intelligence and crisis response should be directed. 

e. ' If the Board finds a potential requirement for 

an interim, 'limited, fast~response satellite capability to 

augment collectionduring tho FY 73 to FY 75 period, instruct 

COMIREX and the NRO to study and evaluate jointly the 

capabilities, relative benefits, andcosts of acquiring such 

systems. 

IDEALIST / TACKLE / TAGB OARD 

HEXAGON / EARPOP I 

CORONA IT 

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