24 November 1959

SUBJECT: Project CORONA 411k,

TO: Commander

Air Research & Development Command

Andrews Mr Force Base, D.C.

This latter transmits information relating to Project CORONA

which may be helpful to you in accomplishing the actions requested

in my letter of 19 November, subject as above.

A meeting was held in this office, this date, with Mr. Richard

M. Bissell, Jr of CIA during which the following occurred:

Mr. Bissell reaffirmed CIA's responsibilities for Project

CORONA to be:

(1) Over-all security.

(3) Covert procurement.

(3) The preliminary physical processing of the product.

(This is considered to be essential not only for

security reasons but to utilise the spisciallie4

processing equipments and techniques which the

agency bag effected through Eastman Kodak.)

Mr. Bissell made reference to a memorandum 'which was

written late last year or early this year which specified, among other

things, CIA's role in Project CORONA., the fact that SAID would be

the agency responsible for research and development, integration,

procurement, operation of the system, and established CIA-BMD

relationships. A copy of this memorandum will be hirnished this

office and forwarded to you upon receipt.

c. Mr. Bissell read my letter to you of 19 November, concurred.

in the objectives sought therein, and agreed to work with your repro- '

senauves in furtherance of these objectives.r /ILuotd th .,_./M; • however, that CIA's_rdsiathis particular activity and others of a

Thls dec=ent ccasias of • ;2' Pa.

CVC

SPECIAL pgir

NEI SF-&' : --- Copy NO.--A2L-- of
Ltr to Ccandr ARDC, Subj: "Project CORONA CS)." did 24 Nov 58

le

similar nature would bepro4ressivek reamed and eventually be

limited tothe ee t at the operaUonda redact ap__119,_5111Z one t

customers. We should help in achieving this.

d. In order to obtain maximum benefit from the product of

CORONA and subsequent systems. specialised equipments will be

required. Much at this equipment can be procured off the shelf.

Other equipment may have to be developed. The character and

amount of equipment required and the skills and numbers of people

required to operate it should be determined as early as practicable.

With this in mind, the Assistant Chief at Staff. Intelligence will be

read into Project CORONA and will work with CIA on this matter.

Major General James R. Walsh therefore should be included al one

of the persons in this headquarters with whom representatives of your

command may discuss CORONA. Your assessment of this project

should include inquiry as to adequacy of preparations to exploit fully

the product.

Attached hereto as %closure 1 is • copy at a memorandum from

Undersecretary MacIntyre to the Director of ARPA, did 17 Nov 58.

Subj: "FY '59 1171, Program."

Attached as Inclosure 2 la • draft reply to %closure 1 which

was furnished this headquarters for review as to adequacy prior to

signature and dispatch. This headquarters proposes to °miller in the

attached memorandum with a request that agreements an funding referred

to In the fourth paragraph at the proposed memorandum be promptly

resolved.

•

5. Attached as Incloeure 3 is • proposed memorandum to the Secretari.?....t:

of the Air Force, Subj: "Public Information - Project DISCOVERY," with

two attachments. This memoranduns was referred to the Air Force for -

review as to adequacy prior to dispatch. This memorandum and attachmeats thereto are currently being reviewed along with efforts to develop

public relations policy guidance for Vandenberg APB. USAF: reaction

to the proposed memorandum and attachments will be communicated to -7

ARPA subsequent to 26 Novensber. If you desire to comment upon either • •

of these matters, your thoughts will be appreciated. •

3 Incl.

As stated

sigra.d_

c. -orfnrr

Ntik;;41410

41.,;:grat Via; *lei-fital

•

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