DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

HILAIXHIARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

WASHINGTON 25. O.C.

HMV WI

AMON AFDSD-AT

swum (U) Exploitation of Initial SAILS Data JIM 1 19(6

Via ADC

INFO TO: CINCSAC ADC AMC AflND

By letter of 20 April 1960, the Director of Defense, Research and

Engineering approved in principle the Research and Development Plans

for DISCOVERER, SAMS and MIDAS, dated 15 January 1960. Separate

ONEM correspondence as to specific changes and fUnds pertaining to this

approval is being prepared; however, questions of operational comma,

operational facilities and user relationships for the SANS reconnaissance satellite continue to be tatters of considerable discussion.

The Under Secretary of the Air Force directed on 27 Nay 1960 that

the R&D exploitation and operational plans for SAWS be re-evaluated.

The Under Secretary stated that there is considerable technical uncertainty as tothe character sad quality of the information that say

be obtained by the different payloads of this grebes and that the

operational interest and the character of the initial operational

programs will be strongly conditioned by the results of the R&D progress

Be noted that a very elaborate plan had been originally conceived for

the operational control, data handling, data utilisation, ata volume,

and data display elements of the SAMOS and MIDAS operational systems,

but that approval of such a plan with authorisation for expenditure of

funds has not been forthcoming. This dela/has occurred because of

concern that the assumptions on such item as technical capabilities

schedules, data quality, frequency of coverage, payload capabilities,

lifetime, computer requirements, optimum camera types, etc. are open

to considerable question and can affect in a major way the

etc.,

of

I•=0. operational system that will ultimately be required. If, as a rand&

of the R&D experimental flight program, recovery rather then readout'

turns out tote the best primoryseans for satisfying the bulk of the

operational requirements, than the ground complex required far handling

such data will be enormously simpler than if complete reliance is placed

on readout tamest these requirements.

3. It is directed that a revised SANDS Development Plante prepared and

mdbmitted as soon as possible within the ground rules specified below.

Deviations for valid reasons will be considered and:maybe presented as

altercate plans.
In order to have parallel R&D tests of readout and recovery

systems, re-examine all apag.icable cfninra equircent, both on the shelf

and in development, and make recommendations for the introduction of

an additional recoverable payload development program with associated

schedules and cost.

Endeavor to achieve the earliest flight dates for the different

psyloads with priorities in this order: photographic recovery, photographic readout, ferret. Consideration is to be given to possible delaying elements and added insurance against such delays.

c. Mike provision for the minimum essential capability to handle in

a reasonable fashion any operational take from the R&D flights:

CO Include facility details, schedules, costs, manpower, and

subsystem descriptions.

Initial readout is limited to tiro sites.

No wide-band data links authorized except VandenbergSunnyvale.

No provision is to be made for alternate satellite cartrol

centers: control to be examined originally from Sunnyvale center.

Capability viii be limited to that required to handle one

operating readout satellite at a time.

(6) System should be planned to permit growth capacity if R&D

program results are promising and decision is made later to use readout

primarily.

(7) Processing capability should be adequate for recovered as

well as readout data.

Personnel staffing and training should be geared to the

modified program. The present activities in this regard appear to be

completely out of scale and out of phase time-vise.

Provision viii be made only for essential elements of subsystem I. Complexity and computer requirements introduced into this

subsystem as a result of ferret payloads should be carefully reassessed.

The very limited value of possible data from F-1 and F-2 militates against

sophisticated data handling system. Subsystem I appears to have been

greatly over-engineered, at least for the ferret aspects of the program.

(34) Computer programing problems, schedules and computer requirements for photographic readout payloads will be re-evaluated to

determine whether it is reasonable to anticipate extensive pre-determined

selective area coverage on request by intelligence in the R&D =Oats now

scheduled. The interim facility requirements should be planned accordingly.

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SECRET
d. Determine the effects of the above on MIDAS and prepare necessary revisions to the MIDAS plans.

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4: The proposed SAMS interim operational capability should be located

in thi area *here it is desired to establish the final operational facility and control center, if appropriate, or can consist of an augmentation to the R&D capability with Air Force personnel ratter than contractor

personnel responsible for the operation. The plan for this capability

moat include recommendations for its location with justification for the

choice. The current plan is to use a very small portion of the old

Martin bomber ;ant in Omaha with overlapping control systems for MIDAS

and SANDS. The Under Secretary questions the desirability of this plan

and reports that CIMMOULD believes this is unacceptale and that MIDAS

control, readout, display, etc. must be integrated in a common. location with other defense subsystem elements such as those related to BMWS.

Therefore, questions of the following types suet be considered in asking

a new plan for the interim operational capability:

a.' Should the Air Faroe plan ultimately to establish the complete

operational data handling, display and control elements of SAMS and

MIDAS at the old Martin Bomber Plant?

If not, or if there is serious question as to such desirability,

is it sound to reactivate a minute area of this large plant for the

interim operational equipment?

Should the entire complex be considered as basically a "peacetime"

operation with survivability of all or part of the equipment of little

loportance?

d. Is it necessary or desirable to co-locate data handling and

processing facilities with future control centers and should the SANDS

and MIDAS control centers be integrated? •

5. Request this headquarters be notified of the earliest possible date

that the requested plans can be formally submitted for appropriate

briefing' and presented to the Air Force Ballistic Missile Committee.'

ARDC is to act as team captain for the preparation of these plans with

other commands participating as necessary. Further guidance will be

provided by this headquarters on the questions in paragraph 4.

/signed/ ROscoe C. Wilson

ROSCOS C. wino

Lt General, USAF

Deputy Chief of Staff, Development

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