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~ATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

GAMBIT /HEXAGON 

DORIAN /EARPOP 

WASHINGTON , D.C. 

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASST SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE 

(FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT), 

SUBJECT; NRO Command and Control Communications System 

The NRO communications system, established in 1963, has been 

expanded to its present state on a circuit-by-circuit basis in response 

to the increasing requirements of individual NRO satellite programs 

over the past four years. The present system, augmented in this 

fashion, provided adequate support to NRO operations through calendar 

1966. 

Last fall, we reviewed our capability to determine the adequacy of 

the system t o support NRO operations through the 1967 -1972 time period. 

We concluded from this review that our present syst em was marginal in 

its capability to support our operations through this cal endar year, and 

inadequate to support the increased volume and sophistication of NRO 

satellite operations traffic in the time period 1968 and beyond. For example, our digital communications terminals are currently averaging 

550 hours per month in the processing of operational payload data and 

our te l etype relay center is currently handling an average of 18, 000 

teletype operations per mont h (almost exclusive ly mission generated). 

Using our current mission experience as a communications workload 

mode l, we can predict for the 1970 time period an average of 1,650 

hours of payload data processing and 46, 000 t eletype operations per 

month, generated by anticipated GAMBIT~ HEXAGON and EARPOP 

missions alone. 

Several alternative approaches to enhancing this capability were 

considered. We investigated t he possible use of other existing systems, 

We found that none of these possessed the data handling capability of even 

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our present system and that none were programmed to attain the required transmission speeds during the 1967-1972 time period. We 

examined the relative costs and performance capabilities of an automated relay system and what would amount to a major expansion of 

our present manual system. The comparison showed an automated 

system to be most effective in satisfying our anticipated requirements. 

For an automated system, we have examined the equipment, and 

in several cases, installations of the various manufacturers who offer 

ADPE equipment purported to be capable of meeting our system specificati ons. For example, we have examined: 

-- a CDC facility at General Motors; 

-- the Western Union/RCA/IBM complex for AUTODIN; 

-- the GE Dat a Net 30 at Poughkeepsie, New York; 

- - the Defense Intelligence Special Security Communications 

System (DISSCS) planned for DIA/NSA. 

We found none of these systems to be easily adaptable to our particular situation. 

We have reviewed the performance and procedures of yet another 

system -- the fully operational and reliable NASA Communications 

System (NASCOM) at the Goddard Spaceflight Center. This system --

a UNIVAC 494 -- presently supports satellite missions similar to that 

anticipated by the NRO in the early 1970 time period. This type system is ideally suited to handle our current and anticipated needs and 

can be easily adapted to our particular situation. 

We have taken preliminary steps to design, procure and install 

an Automatic E lectronic Switching Center at Andrews Air Force Base, 

and are working toward an operational capability for March 1968. We 

have centered our design effort about a UNIVAC 494-type system, and 

in anticipation of requirements, have commenced training of our communications operators in UNIVAC system procedures. 

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In addition to the technical considerations involved, we have the 

problem of program security. A formal solicitation of proposals for 

such equipment would result in the public disclosure of the sensitive 

details of our NRO communications network. 

In order to complete this installation in a timely manner and to 

avoid disclosure of the sensitive details of our system, we need an 

exception to the provisions of DOD Directive 4105.55, which requires 

the formal solicitation of proposals from all manufacturers who offer 

ADPE equipment capable of meeting system speCifications. 

As an indication of precedent in this area, such an exception was 

previously approved -- in late 1964 -- to enable our proceeding sole 

source on the procurement of ADPE for the high speed data communications system between our intercept points and the SAC Global Weather Center. 

I would appreciate your signature on the attached memorandum. 

Alexander H. Flax 

Attachment 

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