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21 March 1963

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT: Bilateral Talks Concerning US-USSR Cooperation

in Outer Space

I., • On 19 March 1963 the undersigned attended a meeting at which

Z Lt Co AFRST, reported on the recent US-USSR

discuss me on above subject. Lt ColMfifilouyareAerved

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as the DOD observer/advisor during these bilateral discussions.

t:! While he did not actually attend the bilateral sessions, he was present

during all oat-session critiques. Others present during Lt Col

eport were:

•

Coloneljelp

Lt Col

Lt Co DCA

Mr Packard, State Dept

The bilateral meetings convened in Rome during the week of

March. The first day's discussions were held in a private apart-

... meat, adjacent to the US Embassy. Subsequent meetings were held

in both the US and Soviet Embassies. The Chief US representative

was Dr. Hugh Dryden, NASA, while the Chief Soviet delegate was

Professor Blagenravov, Soviet Academy of Sciences.

Prior to the first day's session, select members of the US delegation met to discuss procedural aspects. It was decided:

Dr. Dryden would be primary US spokesman and would

be responsible for (1) maintaining discipline of US members - i. e.

no US member would speak without approval by Dr. Dryden, (2)

Dr Dryden would set parameters of US discussions - once approved,

US members would confine their discussions to texts previously cleared

by Dr. Dryden.

If Soviets attempted to introduce non-technical agenda

items (i.e. , legality of overflights, etc. ), such assertions would not

be responded to by US. If Soviets persisted, Dr Dryden would terminate talks. (As it developed, such items were not introduced into the

discussions by the Soviet delegates. )

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The programs discussed for US-USSR cooperation involved:

Exchange of weather data from satellites.

A proposal to map the magnetic field of the earth by means

of coordinated launches of geomagnetic satellites.

Cooperation in the experimental relay of communications

via satellites.

Establishment of a ground link communications system

between Moscow and Washington.

Principal points:

The Soviet delegation was composed of scientific personnel

with an apparent genuine interest in the collection and exchange of technical data. No legal/political types present.

Warm camaradie was tone of meeting.

Soviets appeared very anxious to reach agreement on

exchange of technical da surmised Soviet anxiety may

be at least partly attributed par c iy in meterological satellite

field) to fact Soviets are technologically behind US in this area and

have more to learn than to lose.

During the third day's session (Wednesday) the Soviet delegation proposed "hemispheric division of the areas of responsibility

for provision of certain items of metro data. Initially, some contusion

and concern resulted on this point due to language (interpretation)

problems. However, after proper interpretation of the Soviet proposal,

it was learned their intent was merely to propose primary responsibility

for provision of data over Soviet controlled territories exist with the

USSR technicians (since they know their own territory best) and vice

versa as concerns provision of data by US technicians. Dr Dryden

agreed to this proposal.

e. At one point, the Soviet delegate stated he hoped US-Soviet

agreement could be reached in meterological area, since they wished

to expand mutual US-USSR cooperation to other areas in space programs.

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f. Soviets wtiet.garticularly anxious to implement comma

link between Moscow and Washington to be used for exchange of data.

This link is to be a land line from Moscow, thru Poland, Paris,

London, New York, to Washington. Link is to be all commercial

circuits - no military/DOD circuits involved. Funding là to be shared

equally by Soviets/US. -If other countries wish to participate, arrangements will be made to place such countries on "for receipt only --

no send basis" for meterological data. Such countries will be assessed

a pro-rata share of the cost of the entire COM1X10 link for such service.

The comma link is scheduled to be operational by next summer (June).

Soviets did not appear too enthusiastic (as described

"no steam on either side") concerning either the

n gnec mapping and/or the experimental communications relay. The

magnetic mapping program is now dormant while discussions are continuing on the communications satellite relay. In latter instance, discussions centered around best frequencies to be utilized (i. e. , 163 mkc

vs 1750 mkc). Proposals covering exchange of meterological data and

establishment and funding of the Moscow-Washington communications

link were drafted by the Joint delegations in Rome. Both sides agreed

to a 60-day interval during which both Soviets and US would consider

possible changes to the draft agreement. If no unresolvable items

presented, drafts would be accepted and proposals implemented.

h. Lt CoMeeported that Dr. Dryden had stated

that copies of the b agreements will be made available

for DOD coordination within a matter of the next few da .

nel, USAF

Mist Deputy for Plans & Policy

Office of Space Systems

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