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READOAR%RS

AIR RESEARCH A1!D DEVELOPTANT COMYAND

Post office Box 1395

Baltimore 3, 'laryler.:

No,s

17 ...etober 1955

ARDO SYSTIM a:NT

1. DIREOTED ACTION

Submission, coon r:,quest, to i!eadcuarters ARIZ (Aestern

Dr•velopment Division) of information necessary fc r t'ne nrcpar!!tion

of a system Development i_an by the fo12owing participLAing centers

is directed:

*;right air Development Center -

,sir Force ;.:ambri4;e Aesehrch Center.

Honoman Air Development Center

home Air Developr,ent Ocntx,

Arnold Zngineering Development Center.

Air Force Missile l'est Center.

Air Force Personnel and Training Research Center.

2. OLNSRAL IrFo;NATIO-A4

Tit1o: (UNCLASSIFIED) Advanced Reconnaissance System.

System No: 1171

Responsible Azoncy: Headquarters ARLO (Jest n.rn Dewlopment Divielon) is responsible for preparation of a Systc.a Development

Plan based on the requiremumts contained herein in accordance wit'

ARDCM 80-I., dated 1 :July 1955.

.Texzet Dates:

(1) Submission of System Development Plan to Boadquarters USAF: 1 April 1956.

Th!s as supersedes ji; No dated 29 November 1954, title, ".".dvenced

.iecnnaissance .iystom." SECRET

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(2) Operational time period of this system: Prior to

1965 through 1970 (See par 5a).

e. Participation, Coordination, or Inters t:

Air Materiel Commanc - I./.

Air Proving Ground Command - (P).

(3) Air Training Command - (P).

Strategic Air Command - (C).

Air Defense Command (C).

CNO, USN - (I).

C/S, USA - (I). (8) CIA (I)

f. Funding Information: Funds for this program are carried

for FY 1956 under BPSN 2-1115.

g., References

GOR No: 80 (SA-2c), dated 16 March 1955.

DD Form 613, title, "Advanced Reconnaissance System",

Project No., 1115, dated 19 April 1955, RCS:

DD-R&D/A/119.

4S4rea)r3. REQUIMMEVT

a. General Philosophy

In order to permit selection of the most effective approach

to an Advanced Reconnaissance System concept which utilizes an earth

satellite as a system platform, it is essential that the existing and

projected state-of-the-art in this field be adequately surveyed, and

a determination made through system design studies by selected contractors, of the technical and economical magnitude of full system

development effort. From these studies there will be prepared a Development Plan which will be used as a basis for choice of the Advanced

Reconnaissance System to be developed for the Air Force inventory. It

has beeegenerally accepted that, with the advent of the very high

yield super weapon,-strategic target intelligence requirements for

efficient use of such a tJaapon have become far less detailed than

heretofore; but at the same time, the requirement for routine surveillance of an enemy's territory becomes all the more necessary to

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anticipate and cl.7.-cnnvont his effoctive use of the esma calibsr weapon.

In concept at least, the eeehnical approach to this tree of Advanced

Reconnaissance System leads one to the artificial earth satellite

which, with its inherent capability for routine, long duration flight'

and its apparent capabilities for the collection of reasonably detailed

information from the surfuco of the earth, seems to make a satellite

system attractive for strategic and national reconnaissance. (SECRET)

b. Objectives of the Advanced Reconnaissance System

As a matter of general guidance, the following may be considered the intelligence objectives for the Advanced Reconnaissance

System:

Continuous reconnaissance (visual, electronic, or

other) coverage of the USSR and satellite nations,

for surveillance purposes. Timeliness of receipt

of the intelligence information is essential, with

daily reconnaissance cover age at high resolution

the ideal, in consideration of the requirement for

earliest availability of the Advanced Reconnaissance

System, the engineering progression and Air Force

acceptance should be from the lesser to the greater

resolution.

The resolvable surface dimension detail should be

of the order of 100 feet or smaller. A capability

of resolving detail to the degree that objects approximately 20 ft on the side can be positively

identified is the optimum in order to positively

identify enemy weapon launching sites and associated

activity. if this objective can be met, the many

other intelligence requirements of larger surface

dimension would automatically be satisfied.

(3). The volume of intelligence delivered by this

Advanced Reconnaissance System will be staggering.

Therefore, the system, in order to be considered

complete, wt include a suitable associated data

handling, recording. reduction, and filing system.

The earliest acceptable system must have provisions

for automatic data indexing, filing and storage.

Final objective will be for completely automatic

data processing, interpretation, presentation, and

dissemination All data handling systems conceived

for the Advanced Reconnaissance System will be compatible with data handling equipment in contemporary

use within the intelligence community.

In,

to laI A.110

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The accuracy with which points on the oarth'3 surface can be located by the Advanced Reconnaiscance

System should be studied. While grosnor accuracies

can be accepted as interim solutions, the finer

accuracies should be considered as the optimum and

the goal for ultimate complete development.

Thorough investigation of all possible means of

improving the intelligence collection capability

of tho Advanced Reconnaissance System; such as the

application of stereo techniques to the analysis

and interpretation of television images.

ieWilisf)

c. Mission

(1) The primary operational mission of the Advanced

Reconnaissance System will be to provide pioneer

and surveillance reconnaissance coverage of the

territories controlled by the USSR and its allies.

The system must be capable of obtaining:

Routine target, mapping, pioneer terrain,

weather, and photo intelligence data.

Eamb damage assessment of high yield weapon

strikes.

(2) An alternate and co-equal mission for the Advanced

Reconnaissance System will be to provide and maintain continuous and comprehensive surveillance of

the electronic activities of the USSR as a means

of seouring basic Soviet intentions, intelligence,

and capabilities intelligence. The electronic

reconnaissance (ferret) system should be capable

of:

Sensing, coding, recording and retransmitting

all significant electronic emissions on both

a qualitative and quantitative basis.

The location of areas of high electronic densities compatible with the resolution capabilities obtainable.

(3) Each mission carries a firm requirement for a

suitable data handling and processing capability

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bath in the vehicle and or the kround.

(SECRET)

d. Physical Characterf.si

The Advcnaced iieconnaissance %In % Y :- scr 4 hed hs

follows:

A launchini7 :)%se whcl Lf all facilities and equilinent neeessar:. iz,r the proper launching

of the satell.-ite vehicle

A satel.kits vehicle which will consist of the following sub-systems:

Fropulzion or stages rivssary to boost

the reb.lnIrlica pay :I nd tc its orbital

aitatcde and once at this altatune to impart

the velootty require,: tbestabLish tht s: teliite

on its orbit.

Quidanea and control equipment to (a) guide the

vehicle. from the ib .:.nchi:w base t) its orbit

:b; n%iatain the riiconnaiszsnoLt oay.load in thp• cjrroct fIttitune after it

nas been ;.lacer on orbit.

Reconnaissance equipment that provides useable

pictorial reConnuissance information for transmission to a ground receiving station-. The

alternate mission will require sensing equipment

that is capable of detecting electromagnetic

radiations instead :f physiographic features.

Informaidon storage ei),,Ipmvnt kit}: a capnbility

of routinely storing the information gathered

by the satellite vehicle until it can be transmitted to a ground receiving station.

Transmitter equipment for transmission of the

collected reconnaissance information, transmission and reception of any other information

that is required to properly operate the satellite and its equipment.

Miscellaneous equipment required for the proper

functioning of the satellite; e.g., a transponder beacon to a.d in the tracking of tha

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satellito by a ground receiving station might

coMceivably be used.

An auxiliary power supply to provide sufficient

power for all of the satellite's needs.

Provision for self-destruction of the satellite

vc.hicle upon termination of its operational

usefulness.

(3) The •ound receiving station will consist of the

following sub-ay:atoms:

Racoiving equipment to (a) receive the transmitted reccnnaissance information, (b) enable

vehicle tracking, and (c) any other information

transmitted from the satellite.

Transmitter equipment to transmit any required

information to the satellite.

information storage equipment that will retain

the reconnaissance information transmitted from

the satellite until it is fully used.

Display equipment that will display the reconnaisaanaa information as it is received and

which can also be used for viewing stored

information.

(926.i)

4. GUIDANCE

(e) Other cluipment that is required for the handling, interpretation and dissemination of the

reconnaissance data that is received.

Throe parallel system design studies on the "Advanced

Reconnaleeznce System • are currently being conducted under Task No.

2101C, Et.•cject No. 1115. The 'purpose of these studies is to determine

whether a uccful military intelligence system, utilizing an artificial

earth satellite as a carrier, can be foreseen with sufficient definitude to indicate full development at this time. Maximum utilization

of those design studies in preparing the System Development Plan

`directed.

In the artificial satellite we see a 'platform which at

the precent time appears to be limited in its military usefulness to

that of making observations or relaying communications. This is a

vehicle vat= singularly applicable to use as a reconnaissance system.

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The approach to the design of the overall system Nust be that of

assuring a plAximtryty irWtty and ziliabiliza (since car] models

of the Advanced Reconnaissance System will und.oubtedly be crammed) of

the ranroissnact sub-RVste; these factors will determine in turn the

design objeotivos of the vehicle with to propulcicn and guidance subsystems.

c, One of the basic advantagss of a satellite is its morn-orless unlimited duration of flight, If we were to try to take full

ad/tentage of this flight duration capability, it would be necessary to

achieve flight equipment reliability far in wasess of that which is

possible today, There is a point at which a balance can be struck

between efforts aimed at improving the reliability of flight components

of the satellite, and the economy to be realized from the extended

flight duration characteristics of a satellite, The system design

studies directed herein should result in a suggested optimum system

flight time, for which in-flight components should be designed.

In design of the Advanced Reconnaissance System, full

advtmtago must be taken of those components, in existence or under

development for other systems, which have application to a satellitetype vehicle system. Activity resulting from this directive must be

fully coordinated, within ARDC, with related system developments to

insure that no unwarranted duplication of study or design effort

exists. Headquarters USAF will undertake necessary inter-service

coordination.

The proposed test program for the Advanced Reconnaissance

System should be oriented so as to maximise the usefulness of the test

vehicles to the scientific community in general, as well as to satisfy

environmental and engineering requirements of the Advanced Reconnaissance System, The System Development Plan should contain provisions

for the fabrication and launching of "research laboratory models" of

the satellite teat vehicle, capable of obtaining and transmitting to

earth valuable scientific data on the space environment and astronomical bodies., Such vehicles should be planned for launching early in

the system test program, with the first."research laboratory model"

launching prior to 1 January 1959, if possible.

In addition to the three system design studies referred

to in ha above, Project No, 1115 encompasses state-of-the-art study and

experimental hardware development in the critical component areas of

the Advanced Reconnaissance System. The current technical program involves thirteen separate tasks, carried out principally by contract.

This program was established to provide state of art inputs to the

syetem design studies; fullest exploitation of the Project.1115

technical program should be insured in this respect.

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5. ovLa riPUW,ATION

SECURITY

.Y..intenance of proo,r c: this program 15 of

paramount importance. . • n.sic zo security will be the following: all information whie.-1 or implias a date of operational

availability for the fedvanc•:d RoLlaisaance Syctem; as well hS

information pc:I-tail:in.; to f.ts 1:1--02-c:3:: as a •eapons by stem will be

classified 22E SCRET. Otnor ;Lspects of toe A• o.ranced Aeconnaiesence

-Tatem program, including its exploitntien of the will be

S4CUT. (5%4E40-

USE OF SCIESTIE. 'IO OONSULIOTS

The broad croup of the enzimeerine, physicel, and geophysical sciences, which is encompassed by a development such as that

contemplated in the Advanced Reconnaissance System, requires that ARDO

make maximum 'Ice of the scientific and technical competence within

the nation. This cempetenee should ba recognized r.nd utilized when

required in a non?Latrnt amd sextFory capacity the 'seapoas Systems

l'roject Office respone:Lble for the Advanced Reconnaissance System.

4),:rever possible, civilian scientists who can contribute to the

success of this project should be en:743d in the capacity of consultant to ARDC, and the rosulta of their efforts made available to all

contractors on an equal basis. ieONFIDER-11-1-Ye. PRIORITY

• Preparaticn of the System Development Plan directed

herein will be carried out under Priority 1A, Precedence 11-3.

(UNCLASSIFIED`

I$ITID SUM at FORCE

14

NEADQUACT• to &IR D ESTA:tC9 :7iVC, Ontfil • C.„):.:;I:.%

OFFICIA iI

JOHN A. CONNOR v

Chief, Prosram Control Div

Directorate of Systems Plans

..SMANLK

Brige.dier U.AF

Assistant for Guided • iseilvs byptcms

Leputy Commandtr/weupon oystems

opra

L'Cis.;

8

This SR is classified S60RET

IAA! AFR 205-1, par 23c.

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