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-(-C) NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

THE NRO STAFF 

25 March 1968 

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD 

SUBJECT: MOL/DORIAN Requirements 

During the past week I have made a review of the documents in the 

SOC to determine what MOL/DORIAN requirements have been stated by 

COMIREX (formerly COMOR) or USIB. Attached is a listing in 

chronological order of the pertinent documentation found in this limited 

review. The documents are summarized briefly in the following 

paragraphs. 

NPIC completed analysis of resolution required to satisfy elements 

of information established previously by COMOR. The 5 July 1965 report 

contains a list of EEI's and resolution required to satisfy two categories 

of requirements: identification and/or location, and mensuration. 

COMOR used the NPIC study together with judgments and comments 

from other committees and agencies to prepare the 27 December 1965 

report which was "in response to DCI requests that a. COMOR, assisted 

by NPIC, study in depth the meaning of and need for particular levels of 

higher resolution from the intelligence viewpoint"(request dated 7 Jan 65), 

"and b. COMOR examine the intelligence requirements for very high 

resolution photography of the character envisaged for acquisition by the 

Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL)" (request dated 21 July 65). On the 

basis of this study COMOR concluded "that there are clearly identifiable 

needs for overhead photography with a ground resolution of about 

and that such photography will substantially improve the strength of our 

intelligence on subjects vital to U.S. national security." On the subject 

of ground resolution COMOR stated that the intelligence 

needs "can be identified, and based on past experience with very high 

resolution ground and low-level aerial photography and the potential 

indicated by simulated very high resolution photography (presented in 

the MOL briefing) such a resolution can satisfy between 5 and 10 percent 

of our photo intelligence needs, some of which are critical." COMOR 

recommended that USIB note the study findings and that COMOR be 

instructed to consider them "in completing a statement of long-term 

intelligence requirements for reconnaissance of denied territories by 

photographic satellites." 

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The COMOR report was circulated to USIB members and discussed in 

restricted session at the USIB meeting on 13 January 1966. USIB noted the 

findings as stated above, noted that the DCI would send the report to SECDEF, 

and instructed COMOR to "(1) take account of these findings in completing a 

statement of long-term intelligence requirements for reconnaissance of 

denied territories by photographic satellies. (2) Continue to examine the 

need for very high resolution photography in satisfying the most important 

intelligence requirements and to incorporate its findings concerning such 

need in recommendations to USIB and NRO whenever appropriate. (3) 

Discuss with the Director, NRO, the working data and rationale COMOR 

used in preparing the resport and the possible need for development of 

additional data." 

On 13 December 1966 the Chairman of COMOR reported to USIB that 

the intelligence community's current needs for periodic 

surveillance of targets in the Soviet Bloc and Communist China by high 

resolution photographic satellites had been reviewed, but COMOR was 

unable to agree on periodicity and sample size required. As part of 

their recommendations, COMOR suggested that USIB advise the NRO to 

recognize in its planning that the yearly requirements for KH-8 missions 

"can be reduced to the extent that MOL provides successful coverage of 

targets that would normally be covered by KH-8." After considerable 

discussion at the 15 December 1966 meeting, USIB referred the subject 

back to COMOR for further study. In the minutes of the USIB meeting 

the following paragraph is of interest: 

"The Acting State Member raised the question of the status of MOL 

which to date has been justified almost entirely on its contribution to 

intelligence. Mr. Tidwell stated that COMOR had never addressed the 

problem of the intelligence need for MOL. Dr. Flax said that the former 

DCI had expressed himself on this matter, also Dr. Flax felt there is a 

need for the MOL's capability which would providellresolution. The 

Chairman agreed that this problem does need further examination." 

On 19 May 1967, USIB approved an appraisal of intelligence 

requirements vs collection assets in regard to the Soviet ABM Program. 

The photographic portion of the appraisal contains the following assessment 

of the "MOL (high resolution manned, USAF)" project: 

"Has potential to provide through higher resolution photography 

improved technical performance estimates. It is uncertain that the 

improved resolution will be of significant value to ABM intelligence 

analysis." 
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The most current reference to the MOL/DORIAN system was in the 

COMIREX report on Warning/ Indications Needs dated 5 January 1968. While 

the photographic requirements were only about 2 1/2 feet ground resolution, 

the report noted: 

Also oncoming is the Manned Orbital Laboratory which, while 

configured to acquire very high resolution technical intelligence photography 

of objectives, will have a potential to obtain some coverage of warning/ 

indications installations. Of particular interest are the plans for achieving 

long-on-orbit life and readout and transfer of imagery to ground stations 

via data link and reporting by voice. But, as with the KH-8/KH-9 mix 

discussed above, unless provisions are made to achieve continuous onorbit capability either by adding launches or by developing ways to increase 

on-orbit life, warning/indications requirements will not be met. A benchtested concept based on modification of the KH-8 system and providing for 

readout of photography at about 2 1/2 foot resolution by data link has been 

suggested. This system proposes to have a response time of hours 

from collection to readout depending on target location in relation to ground 

stations. Since on-orbit life probably could not exceed one month, and since 

access to the target area would be limited, two to three vehicles on orbit 

simultaneously or up to 36 launches a year would be required to obtain daily 

coverage." 

On 27 February 1968, General Berg requested the Chairman, COMIREX, 

to provide the NRO a current listing of EEI's for all targets in the national 

data base. In a memorandum dated 14 March 1968, the Chairman replied 

that COMIREX was engaged in the orderly development of EEI's to be 

satisfied by overhead photography, but the complexity and importance of 

the task were such that "some months" would be required for completion. 

The Chairman indicated that the 5 July 1965 study by NPIC was still a 

reasonably accurate picture of EET's and could be used as a valid indication 

of the scope and nature of present EEI's. 

In summary, COMOR presented a study to USIB in December 1965 on 

the intelligence requirements for high resolution photography and specifically 

on the value of MOL/DORIAN quality photography. USIB noted the findings 

and instructed COMOR to continue to examine the need for very high 

resolution photography. In December 1966, COMOR reported their inability 

to agree on periodic requirements for high resolution photographic coverage. 

USIB directed COMOR to continue studying the problem. This study is still 

in progress, however, it is oriented toward defining periodic coverage 

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requirements for current systems and the DCI's instructions in July 1965 

regarding an evaluation of intelligence requirements for MOL quality 

photography appears to have dropped by the wayside. 

c4,—, 

DANIEL L. LYCAN 

LTCOL, USA 

1 Ind 

References 

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REFERENCES 

1. Memorandum for USIB from Executive Secretary, 7 January 1965, 

subject: Report by Chairman on NRO Executive Committee Meeting. 

(USIB-D-41.13/18; COMOR-D-13/31). 

2. Memorandum for COMOR from Executive Secretary, 5 July 1965, 

subject: Background Papers for Long-Range Requirements for Satellite 

Image-Forming Sensors: Elements of Information. (COMOR-D-13/46-7; 

PWG-D-44/ 7) 

3. Memorandum for USIB from Executive Secretary, 21 July 1965, 

subject: The Manned Orbital Laboratory. (USIB-D-41.13/24; COMOR-D13/48) 

4. Memorandum for Chairman, USIB from Chairman, COMOR, 27 Dec 65, 

subject: Meaning of and Need for Higher Resolution of Overhead Photography. 

(USIB-D-41.13/30; COMOR-D-13/56) 

5. Memorandum for USIB from Executive Secretary, 17 January 1966, 

subject: Meaning of and Need for Higher Resolution of Overhead Photography. 

(USIB-D-41.13/31; COMOR-D-13/57) 

6. Memorandum for USIB from Executive Secretary, 13 December 1966, 

subject: Requirements for High Resolution Photographic Satellites. (USIBD-41.14/304; COMOR-D-13/67) (See also Memorandum for Holders of 

USIB-D-41.14/304, 21 December 1966) 

7. Memorandum for COMIREX from Executive Secretary, 5 October 1967, 

subject: Value of Photography to Collection on the Soviet ABM Program. 

(COMIREX-D-14.3/ 1) 

8. COMIREX report to USIB, 5 January 1968, subject: Requirements for 

Image Forming Satellite Reconnaissance Responsive to Warning/Indications 

Needs. (USIB-D-46.4/ 3; COMIREX-D-13.7/ 4) 

9. Memorandum for Chairman, COMIREX, from Director, NRO Staff, 

27 February 1968, subject: Essential Elements of Information. 

10. Memorandum for Director, NRO Staff from Chairman, COMIREX, 14 March 

1968, subject: Essential Elements of Information. 

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