Approved for Release: 2019/05/02 C051 07453 

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THE DE?UrY SECRETARY OF DEFENSe 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301 

f' MEMORANDUM FOR TIm PRESIDENT 

5 NOV 19GB 

111111/1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1400075595D 

I have reviei'lcd the various components of the National Geodetic Satellite 

Program and find that there are t"'0 differing forces attempting to achieve 

the same data validity for seemingly different purposes) 'both with and 

~ithout classification of, the data. The Department of Defense continually 

strives to reduce geodetic and gravimetric errors for purposes of improving 

our target accuracy in our weapons systems) and thereby classifies both 'the: 

processes involved and the results achieved. ~ The scientific community 

spearheaded by NASA on the other. hand j.s attempting to derive similar gravimetric and geodetic data ,,rith similar accuracies) on an unclassified basis) 

,for the purpose of motivating the international scientific community to do 

scientific investigations related to understanding our physical environment 

to a much finer degree. For example, continent,al drift is of vital concern 

to the scientist and has been for hundreds of years. Similarly, the determination of the size and shape' of the earth to a mathematical accuracy vlhich 

eliminates uncertainties is a worthwhile endeavor. Obviously there are 

others. I find} hOvTever} that the enemies of the U. S. ,do not share this 

scientific drive in lieu of illilitary need. Specifically} the Soviet Union 

considers its geodetic and gravimetric data to be classified Top Secret and 

maintains such strict control that it cannot be acquired even by covert 

efforts. Further, there has not peen any quid pro quo in this entire data 

area relative to Communist nloc nations and the renminder of the free world. 

Therefore I request that an examination of this problem be undertaken by 

the National SecUrity Council and a national geodetic classifica~ion policy 

be established which protects appropriate defense information wheri itiexceeds 

the';f"ollowing unclassified data accuracies: .. 

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,1. .A national policy is necessary to protect as defense information: 

(a) Gravitational models of the' earth more accurate than' 

pr?vided by the ,NGSP} 1. e." the NWL 5-E solution. 

(b) Intercontinental positional relationships more accurate: 

than provided by the NGSPj i.eo" + lO,meters. • ! .,' ' ,. " • ,-.. "" 

(c), Advanced data reduction methodology and instrumentation, 

advancements. " 

Approved for Release: 2019/05/02 C051 07453 

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l.''Urthel', I l'cco::l~cnd t.ho.t JGhc fol10id.nz pol:i.cy considcr,):cioua be ir:tplc;r;ented 

, \luti1 tho lio."don!ll Geodetic C1Cl.D&ificlltion Policy ho.s bean devoloped; 

", 1. ' As a bn::;ic guidclin.j, the disr.cJ:iina"tion of i'lorld-ilidc Geodetic 

results e.nd dat.a is not to be relcc.ccd ,until and unless reciprocal 

a.rl'D.nGe.'Ilent~ Lll'e Ml.de by the scientific' cOii:.r.lunity. ' 

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2. 'Scientists f'rom Con:mullict countX'ien 110t be (tuthol'ized llCCeDG, to 

ol'gD.niz,r.tioil3 "i1101'o £;p.odetic satellite analyse's are bei~ " 

conducted. 

Signed 

:PAUL H. N'ITZE 

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co:' Ac1rdn:\.strator, nASA '. , . 

Dr. DODnld 1? Hornig, CGT 

Deputy Undel' Secretm'Y ofStete 

fol"' Political Aff&ir~ 

~ V Adm Rufus TClYlor I Dep Dil", CTA 

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OASD(ISA) . 

Dil"', DIA (DIAMC ~ , ~/hff~' , ' ~,\.,,\:,~ 'H .McGough, Jr/fp/21 Oct 68 

OSA(TA), ODDR&E - 78914 

Retyped 4 Nov 68 per Col.,Furlong/fp 

COORDIliATI ON: 

OASD(ISA) (See attached sheet) 

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