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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

WASHINGTON

; OFFICE OR 114C UNDID DOCIUCTANY

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LIEJORANDUE FOR The Chairman, President's Foreign

Intelligence Advisory Board

SUBJECT: t

National Reconnaissance Program Status

This brief report summarizes the significant events

and activities in thellaillpEational Reconnaissance Program

since my last report to the Board on 30 January 1964.

The 1964 record of the (S),NRO shows several important

successes marred by some failures. In February we successfully completed the first CORONA J dual recovery mission

The CORONA J mission in February was operated during.

a period of exceptionally fine weather and provided 6.5

million square miles (nautical) of coverage. Unfortunately,

the next 2 CORONA J's, 'larch and April, experienced Agena

electrical troubles and were unsuccessful.

As a result of these Agena problems, I directed an intensive investigation into all phases of the CORONA program.

This has been conducted by Major General Greer's project

office, assisted by the Air Fbrce Space Systems Division

personnel and by Aerospace Corporation, which has now been

brought into Alio Agena portion of the CORONA program.

Changes to simplify Agena electrical circuits have been made,

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order im ze t e possibi ity of e ectrical fai u .

I have, in

CORONA payload

In addition to removing the Agena rom orbital operations,

such a change would provide flezibilities such as command

and orbital adjust which are not possible in the present

configuration.

In looki to the future in •hoto •hic satellites

In our aircraft programs we are continuing the flight

test of the OXCART aircraft. Total flight time is now over

1100 hours. The aircraft have been flown at Mach 3.27 at

81,700 ft. Flights at design speed have been sustained up

to 32 minutes. The pilotless drone (TAGEOARD), to be air

launched from specially modified A-12 aircraft will be

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delivered this month. The first flight with drone attached

is scheduled for September. Testing of the drone recovery

system is underway at Edwards Air Force Base. One camera

system for the aircraft is in flight test. The system for

the drone is scheduled for November delivery.

ass gne• o C. Three airp anes have • en so modified,

with numbers 4 and 5 to be completed on 5 and 8 June, on an

accelerated modification schedule. Subsequent modernization

will be accomplished in the routine maintenance schedule.

In order to increase our inventory for contingencies,

14 new production 1478 drones are scheduled for delivery -

1 in June, 2 in July, 4 in August, 4 in September and 3 in

October.

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for hese drones are a so on procuremen . •

As a result of these activities, our ability to meet

our commitments and to satisfy requirements has been increased.

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SCHEDULE CY 64 

J A S 0

CORONA J. 2 2 2 1 1

CORONA Reserve 1 1 1

ARGON 1 1 (1)

417-THOR 1 1

.* Spare payloads

() Available for launch if required