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DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 

WASHINGTON, IJ.C. 20301 lilll\1111\llllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllllflillllllillilllll 14 00079162D 

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE STAFF 

SUBJECT: Mc.&G Contribution to Objective I of STG Program Opportunities 

1. As discussed with Lt Col Yost, attached are two copies of a TKH 

version of an Mc.&G contribution to Objective I of the STG Program 

Opportunity Project. A SECRET version of this attachment was reviewed 

by your office and made available to Mr. Palley. The attached TKH 

version is substantially the same as the SECRET version except for 

Option I and the table setting forth the Technical Characteristics of 

Options. 

2. The attached TKH version was prepared following conversations with 

Colonel Allen and Lt Col Yost which called for review and discussion 

with representatives of DIAMC as to content and optimum manner of 

including this information with material already prepared by NRO. 

1 Enclosure a/s (2 cys) 

ASSIST DiR f"OR M/\PPH!fi. 

CHARTlNG ANO GEODESY 

J:iRO.Ue il! Excluded from Automatic Downgrading 

ru1d D.eclassification 

Y iOP SECRET 

T C S· .. 6 5 7 6 3 4 -- 6 9 

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TALENT-KEYHOLb 

CONTROL.: SYSTEM ONLY 

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ISSUE: A progl'atm for systematic acquiaition of accurate and timely 

mapping; charting, and geodesy information to satisfy military 

requirements. 

DISCUSSIONS: 

Objective: The program will fulfill the military requirements for 

space collectible data necessary to provide peacetime and wartime 

mapping. charting, and geodesy requirements. Present products vary 

exten1ively in design to support the total range of submarine• surface, 

air, and space weapon systems. Althou,gh some data is not suitable for 

air or space acquisition means; e.g., names. road claes1f1cation. air 

facilitie, data, etc •• the major elements of MC&G data are considered 

collectible by potential space acquisition system,. 

Prosram Features: 

Teehnicd 

(1) Accuracy 

(b) Positional consistent with weapon, navigation, and 

tracking system requirements. 

(2) Geometric relationships provide for locating physical and 

cultural feature, relative to required accuracies. 

(3) Include topographic 1 bathymetric, hydrographic, cultural, 

geodetic, geophysical and other related data. 

(4) Continuous {peacetime and wartime). 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) Multi-spectral (to include development of systems for 

precise bathymetric and hydrographic surveying from space. with uffl!lerwater 

object location and identification capabilities). 

(8) Multi--sensol't, active and passive. 

(9) Mu.lti-planetary coverage. 

(10) Autoi:netic :inflight change detection capability. 

HANDLE VIA 

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(11) Selective sensor control and monitorshtp. 

(12) Secure system. 

Non ... Technical 

(l) Selected materials reless•ble to cooperative countries. 

(2) Releasable end products for general military use by 

United States and allied forces. 

Progr~,ValuE\: 

a, ibe value of the program is nationwide, with prlmary emphasis 

to support the weapont and operations of the Department of Defense. Civil 

upping agencies would benefit dl:rectly within their respective functional 

areas (USGS, USC&OS, Agricultute, Foreatry1 etc.). Civil user, of 

topographic, hydrographic, geodetic, and related materials and data would 

also benefit, e.g., the scientific community interested in such technical 

areas as geology, geomorphology, oceanography~ forestation. agriculture, 

etc •• and the governmental - administrative community concerned with land 

usage, ower•htp. resources management, etc. 

b. Would reduce/ eliminate menu: <:urrent DoD manned a1.n:vey systems. 

c. Essential to fulftl'.lment of OoD MC&G requirement•• t:baelinesa, 

accuracy, and scope of coverage~4'rojected for the 15-year period. 

d. Would reduce DoD MOS:G data banks. 

OPTIONS: 

s. Qetion 1 ... No DoD Funding (assumes m-9 system with 12n SI): 

(1) Under this option. the technical features of the space 

acquisition systems would be modified a1 follows: 

(a) Intermittent rather than continuous. 

(b) Spectral range limited to the visual range. This 

restriction would deny the development of systems for precise bathymetric 

and byd:rographic surveying from space• with unde:rwat1tr object location 

and identification capab11itiea. 

(e) Pai:r weather I 

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(d) Coversge confined to the earth. DoD MC&G requirernents 

for covel'age of the moon and other planets would depend upon NASA or 

other acquisition progratna. 

(e) No automatic inflight chang$ detection capability. 

(f) Degraded accuracy capability. 

(g) Single sensor. 

(h) No sensor control or monitorthip. 

(2) this option would continue the us• of manned surface; 

eubm.arine• and air systems and their appreciable dependenc• upon 

international cooperation for access to geographic areas, exchange of 

data, and participation in data acquisition and exploitation. 'the space 

acquisition systems would continue estentiaily as presently configured. 

Research and development program, would be designed to optimize 

conventional data acqu.bitlon systems in sub .. surfsce. s1.rtface, and air 

environments. and at the same time improve the optical space acquisition 

systems for MC&G purposes. Inherent technical and political restrictions 

would continue to render the data acquisition capability and capacity 

!nsdequate to satilfy DoD needs and thus degrade--the effectiveness and 

potentiali~y of the United State, weapon systtmli!I, forces, strategyt and 

tactics. 'l!hit option would deny the application of the state of the art 

to mapping. ch•rting, and geodesy operations. 

b. Qpt1o~ 2 --lnter~diate hogr8JI,!: 

(1) Under this option, the technical features of the acquisition 

systems would be modt!!ed ea follows: 

(a) Intermittent rather then continuous. 

(b) Limited spectral range, excluding bathymetric and 

hydrographic capabilities. 

(c) Degraded accuracy capability. 

(d) Limited sensor control. 

(e) No automatic inflight chang& detection capability. 

(f) Loss of data currency and monitor capability. 

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(2) Re1ponsiveness to MO&G support requirements would continue 

to be severely limited in hydrographie and nautical data and produets. 

Flexibility to react to unforeseen tactical situations would be improved, 

but not optimized, for lack of assurance that data requir~d could be 

obtained when and where needed. 

c. ion 3 - Full The program provides for the 

advancement o state e art to minimize reatrictive surface, 

aub~surface, and air environment data aequieition systems and effectively 

apply space technology to the acquisition of MC'&G in consonance with 

military weapon 1yatems development and operations. and national military 

objectives. This program, within technical limitations. would establish 

and maintain adequate MC&G support of the United States military posture 

and potentiality. 'lbe United States independence in data acquisition 

would be approached, and international involvement in data reduction 

minimized consistent with related economics and other reasons for 

international involvement. 

UC~TION: Option 3. 

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2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

1. 

8. 

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10. 

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TECHNICAL CHARAC'l'IRlSTICS or OPTIONS 

OPTION l OPTION 2 OPTION 3 

Accuracy (1969-1984) 

(a) Resolution for large scale and No Partial Yes 

local area maps. 

(b) Positional accuracy No Partial Yes 

Geometric relationships (1969 .. 1984) No Yes Yes 

Data categories 

- topographic Yes Yes Yes 

... cultural Yea Yee Yes 

- geodetic Yes Yes Yes 

- geophysical Partial Yes Yes 

- hydrographic No No Yes 

.. bathymetric No No Yes 

Continuous No No Yes 

Multi-spectral No Partial Yes 

Multi-sensors No Partial Yes 

Multi-planetl!'ry No ,Yes Yes 

Auto. Change detection No No Yes 

Selective sensor control and No Psrtial Yes 

m.onitorship 

Secure Yes Yes Yes 

5 H/~NDLE VIAi 

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