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:• ,I", I 

. , , .. • Washington, D. C. 

,, April 23; 1969 

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. DAVID WILLIAMSON, NASA 

SUBJECT: Single Governmental Focal Point for Space Activities 

The attached memorandum brings up an old, but important subject 

which hasn't been discussed in polite company for a long time. I suggest that you and I prepare an acceptable draft NSDM and endorse it to 

the Manned Space Flight Policy Committee at the next Survey Applications Coordinating Committee meeting. 

Attachment 

PAU ORTHMAN 

Colonel; USAF 

Member 

BYE 1'2779-69 

TQ~ SECRET EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC REGRADING 

DOD DIRECTIVE 5200.10 DOES NOT APPLV 

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ASSlST ANT SECP.ET ARY OF DEFENS!: 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301 

16 APR 1969 

1NTUtHAYJOHAL SICUlnY AffAilS In !'(..'Ply rei'er to: 

I-3032/69 · 

ME.MOR/\NDill4 Fi.JR TI-iE DIRECTOR., OFFICE OF SP.ACE AND ENVIRJ:NMENTAL 

SCIEJ:WE AF.fr' AIP.S, IBP A.tt'I~,tENT 0F STATE 

SUBJECT: Internationnl. Prospects and Preble~~ in Remote Sensing 

of Earth Res~~rcea by s~tellite 

Ycur draft on "International Prospects end Problems in Renmto Sensin0 

of E~rth HesGur~es 'by Satellite" prenento a very well-reGsoned npp:rooch 

to 1.ntermitionAl porticipatlon in prospective progl'Et,is for recnote 

sensing b:,, s:;itellite. I rigrce ·vi.th you completely that it is nt:•t too 

early to prepr,re f'or the grOT,lin:; domestic and :foreign interest that 

see:is l:ikely to urine on this subject. 

The draft v.lso provides o thou,zhtful discuGsicm , .. f the mnny hi:Pnrds 

inherent in t1 vcntu~o of tl:is n.'lture. One of the more in,'})orti:mt emong 

these is the general lack of :m internationnl m(:nsure:;2ent to <listingntsh 

bet'i.;-een infor.notiun g;:i.tl:ered for so--cnlled 11 beneficJ.ol purposes 11 and 

thot which is ec0no:ntc i:ntellieence. Your sugge::rti0n to include rnaxtmum 

foreis"U partlclpr.::tion-f'rv,a the very beainning in the Re:n~te Sen.sine 

Program cculd be cne vs:1r to assist in reducing suspicion of the prcgrcm' s 

objective ond of ossuring C.'l)tic,um develop::tent in tl:is cnde.:lvor. 

As you indicate in the draft, the best soluticn to internstionril problems 

in this field will evolve f'rcm clenr e·tidence that the prop·nm is 

economicrilly acund ~nd beneficfol. The step-by-step cpprorich in the 

draft to have the Unlted Notions end selected countr-iee pnrticlp<1te in 

NAS!{S first expe:rir::iental re:...ote senslng sstellite will certvinly prove 

U1:V sincerity in vtint1.ng intenrnti.om:il coc:perntion in this f'ield and wUl 

.ossist materielly in .. P0pulori ,·tng the ci:ipabiltties of the progrnm. 

/ 

F.er.,cver, I do not see s need f'or o new tnteragency COT..ntttee to coordlnate 

US ef'.forts in e::irth sent:; lng ot this time. As ~ ou know, the Depart,nent o.f 

Defenso ccnsistently has sponsored the concept of a slngle gc,·1crn:11ental foce.l 

poi::;t to monitor spcce nctlvities. Specificelly, we have suggested thnt 

the Nationnl Aercnr,ut:tcs rmd Space Administraticn (Xl\SA), an active participant in intern~tiun$l space effortn, sr.o~ld be the lcglcal ogency for 

this :res-vonslbllity. NASA could be directed es the "action ncenc;y" in 

:remote sensing b:., isaulng n !'rational Se curl ty Decision Memorandu::i (NSDM) 

to that efi'ect. Once this wss accomplished, the State Department could 

then negotlote directly with NAS.~ on the political implic~tions of 

euch endeavors. 

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2. 

Fin~.lly, r w01.tld prefer not. to give o ce:nclustve respcmh=l to t.~e or.o.:ft. 

until I Lw0 atuo 1.ed tbe rcc~end8ti ot.s cf' the Pres l.cent 'o ftl~ce Tn5k 

GrCl.11), concern trio th! s ::md other n~ti cni;;l npt,ce n,t..rtters end i t.3 pr-:::pos.ed 

nfltlcn,$.l ::;p0ce prcgra:n. J..n you :r-ccoll, this Gri.:up ,rns orgoni :ed by 

oi:rectiein of the Presiaent en() cp,~rates ur.<lel."" the leude.:rzhip of the Vice 

Pr-3:c:.ith:mt. 1.'he cptlr.::um VS r:pprwch to the sens~ng pro,zrum will be better 

defirwd af-c,.er the::;e studien ore cc,rtl;)lct~d. 

'We s 1:ace.rel.y $Ttpr0<0 late 'the opp or-t.uY.1.:t:ty to rev':1.011 ti!r1d ciet;ll'c.cn.1t on yc:;uxt'l:rc<ft p!:ipe:r t:ind I assure yeti thot the l)Bpartment cf DefC:nse wlll be 

laip-r,y to contribute, wht1ne...,,.er nv:prvpri.9.te, to this very interestir..g 

subject. 

Copies made; 

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cc - R&C 

cc - ISA Read File 

cc - Comeback 

cc - Hold 

cc SD-IOP Chron. 

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Prep: 

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