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AND 

THE ARMY SP ACE ?RCGR..~fS OFFICE (ASPO) 

1. References: 

1 

a. ·DA Chief of Staff letter, (DP.RD-DDS-E), subject: 

Materiel· Need for Army Tactical Requirements for National 

'Level Re-connaisance-, to Director, NRO, dated 25 June 1973 

(TCS 101069/73). 

·-"""·--=:- b. DA .Chief of. Staff letter, (DARD-DDS-E), subject: 

Materiel.Need for_Army Tactical Requirements for National 

Level Reconnaiss.ance,' to· Commander, ·uos. Army Materiel Command, 

dated 25 June 19 73 (TCS 10106 7 / 73) . 

2. Purnose: The purpose of this .memorandum is to describe 

the relationship which exists between the National Reconnaissance 

Office (NRO) Staff and the A..'""'ITly Space Progr~u Office (ASPO). 

3. ASPO Description: 

a. General. The Army Space Program Office is a ~mall, 

special element wit~in the Army Materiel Command created for 

the purpose of conducting technical studies and analyses 

rega=ding application of the satellite reconnaissance syste~s 

~nd associated technology developed and operated by the NRO 

for support of tactical land force operations .. , To accomplish 

this mission, the ASPO has been authorized by Department of 

the Army to establish close working relationships with the 

NRO Staff and its Progr&~ Offices as may be required. This 

memorandu~ describes the ASPO and establishes the specific 

terms of its relationship ·with the l'IKO. The need for sucn a 

technical interface is predicatec oncthe complex, advanced 

technology associated with satellite reconnais~~nce systems 

Co;:i:rol !io:S.YE:-."2._.2.~C:;;_-_74 

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by ~hie~ :~~s~ s~s:ems a=e cievelcpeci i~ s~;~0r: - . ... . ~ ~.!._ :..:-:e: i.'iC::.::.c-;-,r:1.L 

Corrrma!l.c: .. a'... :_i:.hc:-i:ies . 

... 

u. 

gra~s ex2cuced by the ASFO ~ill involve ch~ :allowing: 

(1) Identifyi~g e:-:isting 

reconnaissance capabilities wi=~in che ~RC a~ particular 

-significance to the intell~gence support o~ t~ccical grounc 

forces. 

(2) Developing speciric concept op:ions utilizing 

,NRO capabilities for concept approval by Dep~rcrnent of the 

Army (DA), including in-house and/or contract studies and 

analyses and coordination within the Army. 

. (3) Upon DA approval, developing detailed plans for 

'the-implementation of an appropriate interface between·the 

s~tellite collection system and the exploitation means and providing technical assistance in presenting Arr:1y developed concepts 

and systems to the NRO. 

c. Funding. Funds for ASPO activities have been provided 

from elements of the Army RDT&E Program. 

4. Suecific NRO - ASPO Relationships: 

a. Policy Matters. Nothing in this MOA in any way modifies 

the responsibilities of the Army General Staff, as outlined in 

AR 10-5, for coordination with the NRO or for the expression 

of requirements through USin channels for NRO action. All 

matters and activities impacting upon or effectively creating 

new Army policies regarding satellite reconnaissance operations 

will be coordinated through the Army General Staff for review, 

analysis and determination of further action(s) to be taken. 

Except for specific matters under coordinated NRO-ASPO action, 

the Rush memorandum, dated 17 Octqber 1972, applies for Army 

satellite reconnaissance activities. · 

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b. Tech~ic2l Coordina:ic~. Wi:h :h£ prior concurrence e~d 

direc: .t:ech:-.::..:::21 coordi;-iat:io:: ·,.;ith ::.=:s v2::-i.ous ;.;;:::c P-::o;rar:: 

Offices o~ f~srems and tech~clogy wi:~ cxis:i~; c::- pccen:ial 

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ASPO will w~~k closely with SS-6 in orcie~ :o ass~re that the 

!li'RO has full 2.pprecia.tion of the potential needs of the tac:ic2l 

commander. The NRO wil 1 unciert:ake E continuing ass cs s~me~ t c :f 

collection c2pabilicies for satisfying these potential USIE 

.requirements. I 

c .. Security. NRO/ASPO interfaces require BYE:t-i,;N or TALENTKEYHOLE protection. NRO Program Office/ASPO interfaces require 

BYEMAN protection. ASPO study analysis activities will confonn 

to the security requir~ments of DOD Instructions 5210.51 (M-1) 

and 5001.2 (M-2) for BYEMAN and TALENT-KEYHOLE efforts respectiy~J:,y as promulgatud by the Army General Staff and implemented 

by"?tne BCO/TCO Army. Security for those ASPO ac·tivities which. 

require contractor iiccesses- to BYEMAN controlled information 

will be administered by the appropriate Ptogram Office. Requests 

for BYB-1"-4.N billets required for ASPO activities will be ·submitted 

through normal channels. 

d. Contractual Support. ASPO study and analysis activities 

are expected to require the support of suitably q~alified and 

ac·credited BYENAN contractors. Such contractual support will 

be requested through the NRO Scaff, and irnp~emented by a cooperative effo~t wit:h an appropriate NRO Program Office utilizing 

its existing BYEHAN contractual procedures and resources. The 

ASPO will app=ise the NRO Scaff upon the reaching of contractual 

.milestones. ~~moranda of Agreement or Understanding created at 

the Program Office level will be reviewed by the· DNRO. Contracting Officer Representative functions, inclbding work statement development ~nd performance evaluation will be performed 

by the ASPO. ?rocedures for necessary cransfer of funds will 

be as directed bv the NRO Comptroller . ., . 

e. Communications Support.· Message traf fie be tween NRO 

and ASPO will use existing communications faciliti-!s and 

(EM AN· T !i LE i{ T ·t\ EY HOLE TBP SECRET CO Ni 11OL .-d3YE-: '7 7 :~~~ 

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procedures. Sho~l~ AS?C ~c:ivities and traffic levels indica~e 

a requi::·c::ienc far adc.i~iona.::. ce:-mii:1.2l .::apabilitie:.::, .L'l1W :.-:ill 

consid~~ establisiing a cerninal in th~ NRO ~cdica:eci syste= 

2.t ASPO i.-:::E:!n requested by ECO Army. 

5. Revision: 

relati.onships. 

required. 

This i!lemorandum establishes -:i.::r:cent KRO/.ASPO. 

It will be reviewed annua.11;' and t.:?datec as 

~/! CZ .f. 

,,, . .. .,. ~"· ,. - ~ ,..._, r( l~ • :._ .../_.- l..11. ~.._ 

J. W, PLL[..C,1ER, Di rec tor 

National Reconnaissance Office 

N. R. AUGUSTINE ,.;,,· 

Assistant Secretary of the Army 

(R&D) 

.,. -

t1ANDL[ V 1,:, 

BY EMA N -TAlEr:iT -i,EYHOLE TOP SECR[T 

C0nv ______ o: ______ rc?iCS 

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.. n\'';:'_1?7n..'.L-74 Ceint ~ ... :.~ .. , ~ · _;.J ),..__ ~·.'!'- - ... -

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BACKGROUND 

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cSi'B) The U.S. Army Space Program Office was chartered in 1973 to execute the Army's efforts to 

leverage the tactical potential of National Reconnaissance assets. The Army Space Program 

Office (ASPO) was created in 1973 as a TDA element assigned to Headquarters, US Army 

Materiel Command. Funding lines were established by the Department of the Army to support 

the ASPO's efforts. 

--fSrB7 Contracting support for collateral level efforts was available through the AMC and other Army 

elements if required. Because of the SCI nature of the relationships with the National 

Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the unique responsibilities of that organization to develop 

space~based reconnaissance systems, a principle contracting mechanism through that 

organization was required to develop tactical system!:; interfacing with the BYEMAN Program 

environment. The assigned responsibility for the relationships between the US Army and the 

· NRO is the Memorandum of Agreement (BYE 13253-74). The agreement totally supports the 

common interests of the NRO and the US Army in leveraging and evolving the tactical potential of 

existing and future national space systems. Under the agreement, the NRO provides contracting 

support to the ASPO for execution of the Army Program objectives. This includes materiel 

acquisition of national-tactical systems and selected theater/tactical support to Army forces in 

peace, crisis, and wartime. Under the MOA, the US Army provides an Army Element to the NRO 

20 qualified offices and 2 noncommissioned officers with appropriate technical degrees and 

operational experience. The Memorandum of Agreement was updated on 30 June 1978 (BYE0505438) and then again on 22 September 1997. 

~Si'B~ The Army's effort continues to be focused on the tactical applications of national space systems 

and theater reconnaissance systems that are designed to support strategic requirements. The 

concept is to develop, field and support systems and processes into the structure of military 

forces of the U.S. Army that leverage the tactical potential of national space reconnaissance 

asset developed and operated by the NRO. The tremendous early successes of the program and 

the structure that the Army put in place to execute the efforts, prompted the Congress in 1977 to 

order the Departments to establish a TENCAP Program based on the Army's base concept. 

--tStB) On 27 May 1975, the Director of the Army Staff signed the coordinated memorandum formally 

establishing the US Army Tactical Exploitation of National Space Capabilities (TENCAP) Program 

(TCS-100108/75). All mission responsibilities for the program were established. The ASPO was 

given the mission responsibilities for technical interface with the NRO and for execution of the · 

Army's TENCAP Program. The PPBS baseline for the program was defined. Oversight 

responsibilities for. the Army Space Program Office and the TENCAP Program was vested in an 

Army TENCAP General Officer Steering Group. The CSA memorandum was updated on 7 April 

1976 (TCS-100165/76) 

4StB~ The funding baseline for the program has been maintained since inception of the effort under the 

TIARA Program and later the JMIP Program was added. This includes the RDT&E and 

Procurement efforts for the total effort. OMA 'is supported in the same manner. Currently the 

ASPO ROTE and procurement level is ROMI per year and 80% of this budget 

funds TENCAP initiatives through the NRO. ASPO OMA Budget isl per year and 25% of 

this Budget funds TENCAP initiatives through the NRO. 

(U) A series of TENCAP Master Plans has been developed and promulgated. The latest 

were dated 18 November 1982 and April 1988. The 1982 Master Plan was promulgated by a 

CSA letter. Paragraph 1 of General Meyer's letter states: .. "The TENCAP Program will continue 

to be exempt from adhering to the Army Life Cycle System Management Model but those tasks 

that aid smooth fielding and operations of the systems will be accomplished ... ". Paragraph 3 of 

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the letter stated: .. "The 1982 TENCAP Master Plan provides guidance for near term (FY 83-84) 

implementation and planning guidance for FY 85 and beyond. The Army TENCAP General 

Office Working Group will be authorized to provide any modification to the Master Plan deemed 

necessary." The 1988 master plan was coordinated under DAMO-FDX Staff action dated 25 April 

1988 (TCS 31 0-E-16614-87/A). . 

(U) From 1975 until 1998, the TENCAP General Officer Steering Group provided program 

oversight and the approval authority for the Army's TENCAP Program. The Steering Group 

consisted of General officer membership from the Department of the Army Staff: 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development, and Acquisition 

Assistant Chief of Staff for lntelHgence 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel 

(U) The formal membership was modified as the structure of the Army Staff evolved. The 

first chairman for the Steering Group was the DCS/RDA, then later the Office of the Deputy Chief 

of Staff for Operations and Plans was added as Co-Chair of the Steering Group. Over time, 

observers to the Steering Group included the following organizations: 

US Army Training and Doctrine Command 

US Army Materiel Command 

US Army Information Systems Command 

US Army Satellite Command Agency, 

US Army Security Agency then the US Army Intelligence and Security Command 

Office, Chief of Engineers 

User Representatives from deployed forces 

(U) This Steering Group provided strategic oversight, policy guidance, funding direction, and 

execution authority to the Army Space Program Office in implementation of its missions. 

iSrBr The TENCAP Program was permitted waivers to the DoD 5000.1 and 5000.2-R 

Directives to support the Army's need to keep up with the rapid pace of changes in technologies 

and systems applications inherent in the very nature of the National Reconnaissance Program. 

The Army Space Program Office developed guidance for acquisition methodology in response to 

the necessity of meeting all requirements in "The TENCAP System Management Model, March 

1986". 

~Sil□~ The ASPO has overseen the development of some 60 type systems and a total over 100 

systems worldwide. Where the interfaces with elements of the National Reconnaissance 

Program required the use of the contracting mechanisms of the NRO, the acquisition and fielding 

was executed under the procurement processes of the NRO. Where appropriate, systems are 

and have been procured through contracting channels other than that of the NRO. The 

Topographic Engineering Center developed the MIES. The USAF/ESC developed the JSIPS. 

These are examples of the best value support for acquisition of system that did not require the 

NRO Program acquisition system controls for implementation. In each case, the systems 

developed by these agencies (such as TEC and ESC) are within their general mission areas and· 

capabilities. 

-f8fBr On 1 July 1994, the Army Space Program Office was provisionally transferred to the US 

Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for administration and logistics support. In 1996, 

the Army Space Program Office was re-subordinated from Headquarters, Department of the 

Army, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans to the US Army Space and Strategic 

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Defense Command. On 22 February 1999, at the direction of the Army Acquisition Executive, the 

· Deputy Director, Space and Missile Defense Center was appointed the Deputy of Systems 

Acquisition for all Army Space Program Office Programs. In 1998, the responsibilities for 

Program Oversight held by the TENCAP General Officer Steering Group was transferred to the 

US Army Space and Missiles Command. On 22 February 1999, the US Army Space and Missile 

Command was appointed as the Deputy for Systems Acquisition for oversight responsibility for 

the Army Space Program Office and the TENCAP Program. · 

-tSter- None of the actions noted above have modified the Army's relationship with the NRO. 

(U) Currently, the organizational Structure of the US Army Space and Missile Command includes the 

Army Space Program Office. All Army TENCAP oversight, funding and approval responsibilities 

were transferred from the TENCAP General Officer Steering Group. The Army's TENCAP 

Program is executed under the following organizational structure: 

US Army Space and Missile Command 

(Major Command for the Army's TENCAP Program) 

Director, Space and Missile Command Acquisition Center 

(Deputy for Systems Acquisition) 

Army Space Program Office 

{Execution of the Army's TENCAP Program) 

NRO 

(Support for Army's TENCAP Program) 

~ As of May 2000, the Army Space Program Office got TENCAP contract services from the NRO. 

Other contract services for maintenance of TENCAP program and other support is provided from 

the following activities: 

Activity Contract Services/Support 

SMDC FedEx 

NIMA Dissemination Element R&D, Procurement and Support 

Air Force Rome Labs CIGSS/IPL; Guard Support; IESS; Sterling Software 

Detachment 8 MIST 

NCCOSC TRE 

CE COM Chariot 

Norfolk Detachment CIGSS/COTS Workstations 

SSD/FDEA Aerospace 

DSS-W IMPAC Card 

Army Research Lab (ARL) GB 

Topograpt,iic Engineering Center (TEC) MIES/ETRAC/TES/SAIP/EV 11/TSS 

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