16 September 1965 

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Functions: 18 Points 

Functions: MQL 

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD 

SUBJECT: NSAM on MOL 

On 9 September, Colonel Battle advised me that Dr. Brown, 

DDR&E, had asked him to prepare a NSAM on MOL. He showed 

me Attachment No. 1, for information. I suggested he clear it 

with ASD/ISA. 

On 10 September, Colonel Sanders called to tell me that he 

had Colonel Battle's proposed NSAM. He discussed responsibility 

for this effort with Mr. Friedman who agreed to work on the matter. 

By the evening of the 13th, Major Yost and I had prepared Attachment No. 2. Dr. Brown's Comment on the paper appeared on 

15 September. 

Mr. Friedman will try to get White House approval of the 

NSAM this week (White House expressed the original concerti over 

the need for such a paper to Mr. McNamara). 

E. WORTHMAN 

Colonel, USAF • 

2 Attachments 

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Dr. Brown: 

The third paragraph refers to "the 

mission" of MOL in order to keep the 

classification at Top Secret. If necessary, 

the other word could be substituted and 

the classification adjusted accordingly. 

411- .1010111 
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4 

DRAFT 

9/10/65 

NATIONAL SECURITY ACTION MEMORANDUM 

SUBJECT: Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

To The Vice President of the United States; Secretary of Defense McNamara; 

Secretary of State Rusk; Dr. Donald F. Hornig, Dir. Office of Science and 

Technology; Mr. James E. Webb, Administrator of NASA; Mr. Charles L. 

Schultze, Dir., BOB; V/Adm. William F. Raborn, Dir., CIA 

The President wishes to have the security of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory " 

Program conducted under the guidelines established in NSC Action 2454, dated 

10 July 1962. This Action has resulted in a carefully-ordered security environment for military space programs. Its purpose is to avoid provocation in 

the national arena and to forestall initiation of 'international action that might 

impair the freedom of the United States to use satellites for military purposes. 

A firm position must be maintained to ensure that the public information 

programs associated with MOL are kept modest and low-key. , The publicly 

announced mission of the MOL should continue ...to be expressed solely as 'the .. 

investigation and development of orbital capabilitieif manned and. unmanned, 

associated with national defense.4y 

Statements made about the MOL should be worded ao as to avoid calling 

attention to its principal mission.' Explicit discussion of the mission by 

responsible government officials, even off the record, in especially undesirable. 

The. MOL has been initiated as a logical element in in continuing military 

space program; an such, it should be regarded as a part of the mainstream of 

activity with no particular need for public justificatron. 
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MEMORANDUM FOR DM F 

SUBJECT: MOL 

(f) 

Attached is a draft NASM on certain aspects of the MOL prom 

gram. In a discussion I had with Dr.. Brown on Friday afternoonshe 

indicated that in the future you would be responsible for these types 

.of problems within the Air Force; During the past year I have 

worked with Dr. McMillan on comparable matters and would sipped,* 

ate getting together with you in a day or so to discuss this-draft and $ 

related issues.. In this connection. as you may know. them* is a ' - 

x • meeting scheduled of the Thompson Committee on Wechtesday. Sep- 

 tember 22nd, which yon will wish to attend as` one of the ,two 

DoD representatives.:'.".:,- .,' '' , 

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KN 0 ' Vlt. .; Ph 

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\T cc: Dr. xtrown 

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Date 

NATIONAL SECURITY ACTION MEMORANDUM No. 

TO: The Chairman, National Aeronautics & Space Council 

The Secretary of State 

The Secretary of Defense 

The Director of the Budget 

The Director of Central Intelligence 

The Administrator, National Aeronautics & Space Administration 

The Director, U. S. Information Agency 

SUBJECT: Political and International Aspects of the Manned Orbiting 

Laboratory Program 

The Department of Defense's Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) • 

will be developed and operated under the policy guidelines ,established 

in National Security Council Action 2454. In addition to (and derivative 

from) this broad policy, specific guidance for MOL is contained in 

Attachment 1 to this memorandum. The basic objective of the guidance 

is identical with that of NSC Action 2454; to forestall international and 

unilateral actions that might prevent the United States from using 

satellites for observation purposes. 

Because of the ultrasensitive nature of this directive, its distribution will be limited to the addressees plus those few additional cleared 

associates to whom disclosure is considered absolutely essential. A. 

paraphrased version is attached for limited distribution to other personnel 

who do not require complete program knowledge but who can assist in 

assuring compliance with MOL security discipline'(Attachment 2). 

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POLITICAL AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY FOR 

THE MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY PROGRAM 

1. The Department of Defense will continuo to preserve the 

security of the National Reconnaissance Program by conducting 

development and operation of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) 

within a disciplined security environment as expressed in NS.0 Action 

2454. The MOL Program will be treated as an ultrasensitive activity 

within the National. Reconnaissance Program; access to its sensitive 

elements will be extraordinarily curtailed. 

2. MOL is a logical element of a continuing military space 

program; it will be regarded as a part of the mainstream of U. S. space 

activity and as such will require no more public justification than any 

other military space program. 

3. The mission of MOL will be described to the public as the 

investigation and development of manned orbital capabilities essential 

to national defense. 

4. Public information on MOL will be planned carefully at a 

modest, low-key level. All public information releases or statements 

on MOL made by representatives of Executive Departments or Agencies 

will be processed for approval through the Office of the Secretary of 

Defense. 

5. Any MOL reconnaissance products will be controlled in the 

TALENT-KEYHOLE security system as a national intelligence resource. 

6. The United States will promote, within the established bounds 

of security, the free exchange of bona fide non-sensitive technical data • 

accruing from MOL experiments. 

7. The United States government will reaffirm, as necessary, its 

abhorrence of orbiting weapons and will adviee, publicly and privately, 

that no U. S. satellite -- operational or developmental -- manned or 

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unmanned — carries weapons of any kind. 

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NATIONAL SECURITY ACTION MEMORANDUM NO. 

TO: The Chairman, National Aeronautics & Spaas'Council 

The Secretary of State 

The Secretary of Defense 

The Director of the Budget 

The Director of Central Intelligence . 

The Administrator, National Aeronautics & Space Admirilstration 

The Director, U. S. Information Agency 

SUBJECT:. Manned Orbiting Laboratory 

The Department of Defense will conduct development and operation 

of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) within the existing disciplined 

security environment established by the Secretary of Defense (DOD 

Directive S-5200.13). 

MOL is a logical element of a continuing space program; it 

requires no more public justification than any other military space program. Public information on MOL will be planned carefully at a modest, 

low-key level. All public information releases or statements on MOL 

made by representatives of Executive Departments or Agencies will be 

processed for approval through the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 

The United States government will reaffirm, as necessary, its 

abhorrence of orbiting weapons and will advise, publicly and privately; 

that no U. S. satellite 6- operational or developmental -- manned or 

unmanned -- carries weapons, of any kind. 

Control No..?"...e2(,..i_e -a 5-,