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July 1 7, 19 6 9 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

SUBJECT: NASA Initiative in Strategic Arms Limitation 

On July 11 I visited Admiral Lemos to ask the status of 

a response by Mr. Laird to Dr. Paine on the NASA proposed initiative in the field of strategic arms limitation. 

After locating a copy of the document in the OASD/ISA, Adm 

Lemos indicated that it was his impression that no response was 

expected by NASA. I pointed out that, on the contrary, NASA 

was looking for a response and specifically was hoping for some 

DOD support for the initiative. Adm Lemos pointed out that he 

was under the impression that the NSSM 28 Steering Committee 

had remanded a similar proposal to the NSAM 156 C mmittee for 

policy review. I agreed that such action had been taken but suggested that it would be most helpful to NASA if OSD were to at 

least provide the courtesy of an OSD response. Adm Lemos asked 

me to wait then while he went to see Mr. Packard and to ask his 

advice. 

Adm Lemos returned and indicated that it was Mr. Packard's 

decision that a response at this late date would be embarrassing 

and that a telephone contact and apology might be in order. Adm 

Lemos asked me if I could "get OSD off the hook. 11 I told him I 

could, but that I suggested very strongly that he call an appropriate 

individual in NASA and at least provide some brief explanation and 

add at least tacitly an indication of OSD support for the NASA initiative. He agreed that this might be the better course and asked 

me for a contact. 

I provided General Smart's name, title, and telephone number. 

I returned to the office and called Gen Smart' s office to alert them 

to Adm Lemos' call. 

:MMmtr VIA 3 

CONJ"ROL SYSTEM 

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NATIONAL AEROMAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 

111111111111 illll 11111 HIii 1111111111111111111111111 Ullll 1111111 14 000492100 

Dr-nr;('.'. er- i!-11! i'IOMINISTnl\'l'Ol1 

HEMORANOUM FOR: Secretary of State 

Secretary of. Defense 

Dtrector of Centr~l Intelligence Agency 

Administrator, ACDA 

REFERENCE: Memo from U. Alexis Johnson, dated l May 1969, 

(tCS--38626/69) 

Attached ia a paper summarizing a possible new Administration 

initiative in the Held of strategic anns limitations. If 

/you agree that th:l.s approach may have substantive worth, ,I // l suggest thot lt be considered by the NSSM 28 Steering 

. / Committee ~-" l]dir\it:ton to the tlu:oe approaches suggested in 

the refe:".'eo~e<l rnomor:,:mdum$ NASA t-mul.d be glad to assist in 

r1cvelop;1.tt:1g ti:1.11'. □ !,llr.'OJ9lODol in mor:"-l dctd1 U thio €lppei:n."a 

. n[l)piropr.,tatc .. 

Attachment 

To Os Paine 

Admi n is tl: x-a tor: 

~aper - A Possible 

1~itiat!vc in Strrat~gic 

Ar.ms Li.mh.ntion .. (TCS .. 38833/69) 

11mnnm

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A roooible Init~ative in St~atesic Arma Limitation 

A ma.1ot" problem in developing ll. baoio fo_r otrate1rlc armo 

:U.mMntfons £1K"ti;"t1n3emento \-rl.th the USSR io that of a C'!t'otUble meano 

for. velC'UicoUon~ Ao of today, cmphtrnh io being pl.oiecd upon the 

£onnula, "reliance upon national meano of verification, 11 referring 

arecifically to the present US reconnaissance satellite program. 

Xf the intelligence collection ectivitiea of the US are to be 

p~otected from public revelation, an alternative to this formula 

would 81ppear to recommend itself: bilateral negotiations on vcri.ficat!on 

means to include the development and utilization of an open satellite 

.system designed for the single purpose of verifying US and USSR 

8Ghercnce to treaty conditions. 

~~ch a proposal, H made, would not require the diaclosm:e by 

either the US or the USSR of the existence, acope, utility, or 

cophistication of the present overhead reconnaissance progrems of 

~oth nations. The concern over international confrontation on this 

llsrme could thel!."eby be minimized, while both parties could rightly 

c1aim to be actin3 in tho spirit of using apace for peaceful purposes. 

Such a proposal, if accepted, wou!d not interfere with covert 

f,nte1i1.3ence-gathedng activiti.es ond might provide l30 imp01rtant 

oil: !ntel Hgcnco each wao £1blc to obtain from overhead reconniaoomu::c 

,.,,. 

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~·Jould remain a function of technical progl't'eaa and evaluative 

tt:BpiDbiHties@ Further~ tho mdote~cc •of an oVei.C't oyotem would 

become necessary in the event tr.eaty violations were diacerned through 

An overt system that could be bilaterally implemented must be 

tedmico lly feasi.ble, ehould be based on technologies there !o reason 

to believe neitheir party would consid.er highly senoitive, and wuld 

have to have a lead time commensurate, with the time-frame of the ar.ms 

Hm:l.tation agreement desired. Assuming that. satellite imageey i,1ould . 

· be the most useful class of treaty verification data, the key factor.a 

become those of appropriate ground resolution, flexibility of tar3et 

cove~age, and parity of data availab~lity to both par.ties. Image 

qua Uty must be sufficiently good to offer a basis for public :i.nter .. 

piretation of the conditions felt or knm·m to exist yet ohould not 

~eveal actual or projected covert system capabilities. Target coveroga 

ia necessarily a determination made by each party concerning the other; 

polar orbiting satellites with long life and command response should 

be sufficient to afford photographic access to any part of the world. 

l'Jari.ty of: data coul.d be achieved through a number of means: APT i.C'eadoa.&t 

along the lines of current meteorological satellites, jointly manned 

ond operated data acquisition centero, at independent but 'eooentially 

!den Uc a 1 systems each under nationa1l control .. 

HANDLE VIA 

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~ONTRO~ SYSTEM ON~Y TOP SECFtET 

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Aa a political initiative, thio approach appears both realistic 

and lH1eful; it. would offer new pdnciplea for negotiation uithout 

ccmprom:lsing the unacknowledged activities of either p.iu:.-ty, it would 

underline the US commitment to peaceful uses of outer space, and it 

\ 7 

would appear publicly 'er.edible ·as a verification means both at home• ---· ... -- ----- and abroad. While there would have to be more work done to delimit 

the system characteristics operationally possible, there seem to be 

no technological barriers that would negate the concept. The task 

appears to be much more one of systems engineering than one of 

~dvanced development. To protect covert and classified capabilities, 

NASA might offe~ a logical instrumentality for the technical and 

operational aspects of the system, with ACDA providing interpretation. 

'.il.'hesc agencies ,-.rould, of course, work in concert 1rrl..th and under the 

policy guidance of other appropriate government departments and agencieo. 

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C(ifi\l'fRAL INTELLIGENC!Z AGENCY .. . . 1111111111111111111111 lllll llllllllll lllll 11111111111111111111111 WA.l'i!HING'll'OII\I, D. C. 20605 14000492120 

OFF8Cf Of- 'fHI': OHHECTOR 

20 May 1969 

MEMORANDUM FOR: The Honorable Thomas O. Paine 

Administrator, National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration · 

SUBJECT Proposal to Use Satellite Reconnais 1

-

sance in Arms Limitation Verification 

1. I appreciate your memorandum of 14 May 

suggesting the use of an "open" satellite reconnaissance program designed to verify U.,S.; and Soviet 

adherence to any arms limitation treaty. The proposal 

was imaginative and well presented., 

2. I believe the subject was discussed by the 

NSSM 28 Steering Committee on 14 May and remanded 

to Uo Alexis Johnson in his capacity as Chairman of 

the NSAM 156 Committee. As you know. this Committee 

is responsible for considering political aspects and 

general policies on satellite reconnaissance. 

Richard Helms 

Director 

1 UP :;[t;hLT 

TCS 1958/69 

Copy No. ')..6 I 

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Recorm:nendation 

1. The DOD and NASA undertake a joint experiment program 

to develop and fly on NASA AAP the acquisition and tracking 

system developed for the K>L for the purpose of obtaining 

definitive data on man's capabilities, limitations and the 

definition of his role in future spaceflight missions. This 

experiment be scheduled for the first NASA MP Workshop in · 

second quarter calendar year 1972. 

2. FY 70 funds in the amount of $400,000 be provided 

to imnediately permit the definition of this experiment. 

3. Hold actions be taken to prevent disposit~on of the 

MOL ATS and MOL mission development simulator equipments 

until the ATS experiment program can be formally gotten 

underway. 

4. NASA and DOD carefully select the experimental and 

tecl:mical management personnel for managing this experiment 

to insure that details in engineering, missions and operations 

planning and scientific quality of data will be insured. 

5. Actions be started immediately to begin the clearance 

of the MOL ATS. system and mission development simulator from 

the MOL speci~l security constraints to normal military security 

to facilitate joint NASA/DOD actions 

DORIAN 

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PROGRAM or MAJOR MILESTONES 

ALPHA EXPERIMENT 

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SCANNER 

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