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June 5, 1969 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD 

SUBJECT: Query from Houston MOL Field Office re GEMINI 

Experiment Classification 

Last week Col Worthman received a call from ~-----~ 

in which he was asking some adjudication on declassification of 

certain information pertaining to the old GEMINI program experiments Dl, D2, and D6. Col Worthman asked~~~~-~~to note 

down his query and explanation of just exactly what it was he was 

attempting to do in order that we might review it. 

On June 3 we received the attached letter from ~-----~ 

which explained his problem. After reading the letter it was obvious 

that he was associating two particular items -- (1) Col Worthman1 s 

letter dated September 22, 1965 which restricted the dissemination 

of GEMINI 5 photographic product and (2) a report dated May 1966 

by SSD which reproduced the results of several DOD GEMINI experiments, Dl, D2 and D6 -- which were clearly not related. 

Since~----~ problem seemed to center around enabling 

Dr. H. Masur sky to participate in the Apollo 11 and subsequent 

flights with photographic experiments, and anticipating I I 

further questions, I called Myron Krueger before calling I I 

back on his problem. I suggested to Myron that the previous DOD 

experiments could not possibly have a bearing on the new series 

of Apollo experiments since only NASA was involved in the latter. 

I explained briefly~~--~ problem on Masursky to Myron and 

Myron agreed that (1) I should calll land disassociate the 

problems, (2) I should refer I I to the office of DOD and 

Interagency Affairs at NASA Headquarters for help. 

I called~---~ n June 3 and reviewed with him the history 

associated with the DOD GEMINI experiments, specifically those 

flown on GEMINI 5. I further provided a distinction between that 

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r: 
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involvement on our part and the report by SSD on the GEMINI 

experiments per se. I explained to ~---~that we were not here 

interested in, involved in, or authorized to declassify the report he 

was attempting to declassify for Masursky1 s use. I suggested to 

him that Masur sky could see the report in its Secret format for 

purposes of preliminary coordination with those cleared NASA people 

in Houston, and from that point on should process any requests for 

experimental effort in the Apollo series through the regular NASA 

channels and perhaps use the good offices of Myron Krueger to 

accomplish his objectives. ~------~indicated he understood 

the situation and would proceed accordingly. 

On June 5 I received a call from M} on; Krueger which served 

to confirm my advice tol xcept that Myron indicated 

that~---~was still seeking through his Air Force Headquarters 

(probably SAMSO) to have the old report declassified -- for what 

purpose neither Myron or I could understand. In any event, any 

requests by ~---~/Masur sky will proceed in the NASA channels 

and will not be encumbered by the DOD. 

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DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 

MANNED ORBITING LABORATORY, HOUSTON FIELD OFFICE (OSAF) 

NASA MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058 

1111111111111111011111111 14 

Reply to 

Attn of: SAFSL-9 483-3541) 29 May 1969 

Subject: 

To: 

~------~ 

Air Force/Gemini Photography Experiments Dl, D2 and D6 

SAFSS (Col Paul E. Worthman) 

I. Reference your tel econ with 28 May 69. 

2. As explained in reference telecon, Dr. Harold Masursky of the u. s. 

Geological Survey is attempting to persuade NASA to use the Dl/2/6 

photography equipment and technique on Apollo 11 and subsequent Apollo 

flights. He has all necessary equipment available {questar lens, camera, 

etc.), and he also has the approval and backing of the Air Force Avionics 

Laboratory,~------~ principal investigator for Dl/2/6 during the 

Gemini program, However, Dr. Masursky's greatest stumbling block is the 

Secret classification imposed by the Air Force on these three experiments. 

NASA is reluctant to use the Dl/2/6 equipment and technique, since doing 

so would yield lunar and earth resource photographs which, according to 

existing guidance from your office, would have to be classified as Secret. 

3, The problem could be solved by declassifying or downgrading, as much 

as possible, the Dl/2/6 final report (technical report no. SSD-TR-66-130-

Vol 11, titled 11 (U) Program 631A, 11 dated May 1966, DDC no. AD 37770IL). 

The report was pub] ished by this office {formerly designated Detachment 2 

of Space Systems Division). The entire report, expect for some appendices, 

was marked 11Secret, group 3, 11 even though there was no security classification guide which dictated such a classification. While searching for 

a security guide, this office could find only the attached SAFSS letter 

of 22 Sep 65 from the Deputy Director, Office of Space Systems, to the 

Commander of Detachment 2, SSD. This letter specified a requirement to 

classify certain photographs contained in the final report, but nothing 

more. 

4. This office therefore requests that SAFSS declassify or downgrade the 

report to the maximum extent possible. An appropriate form, AF Form 289, 

is attached for that purpose. Your immediate attention would be 

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2 

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appreciated si~ce there ls such little time remaining before the launch 

of Apollo 11 (now scheduled for 16 Jul 69). 

5. This letter does not contain classified information. 

2 Atch 

l. SAFSS ltr, 22 Sep 65, Review of 

Photography from DOD Experiments on 

Gemini Flight 5 (C) 

2. AF Form 289 (U) (2 cys) 

cy to: HQ USAF (AFRDS w/o a~t_c_h------~ 

HQ SAMSO (SMMIC ~---~ 

w/.o atch 

MOL SO (SAFSLO3b~--~ 

w/o atch 

U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff 

(Dr. M~surskv) wlo atch 

AFAL (AVRP~ I 

w/o atch 

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------------------------------------------------...----------------JTo: 

REQUEST FOR OR NOTICE OF CHANGE OF CLASSIFICATION FILE 

(Read instructions on reverse before preparing this form. Reviewing officials 

refer to paragraph 3 before taking action.) 

Secretary of the Air Force 

SAFSS/Col Paul E. Werthman) 

Washington, D. C. 20330 

From: MOL Houston Field Office 

NASA MSC (ZR l) 

Houston, Texas 77058 

DATE 

29 May 69 

THE OOCUMENT(S) AND/OR ITEM(S) DESCRIBED BELOW HAS/HAVE BEEN REVIEWED 

□ FOR REGRADING AND ACTION HAS 81:EN TAKEN AS INDICATED IN COLUMN (C). 

NOTIFY EACH ADDRESSEE TO WHOM YOU TRANSMITTED THE MATERIAL. 

REQUEST THAT THE OOCUMENT(S) AND/OR ITEM{S) DESCRIBED BELOW BE 

REVIEWED FOR REGRADING. JUSTIFICATION IS INCLUDED IN THE 

"REMARKS" SECTION. 

DESCRIPTION OF DOCUMENT(S) AND/OR ITEM(S) 

(Type organization, date, subject, title, 

reference number, etc.) 

(A) 

Tee rprt no SSD-TR-66-1 30-Vol 11 

Prepared by: 

AFAL and SSD, Det 2 

Dated: May 1966 

Subject: AF/Gemini Program 

experiments Dl, 02, and 06 

Title: (U) Program 63 lA 

Ref. No.: SSD-TR-66-130, Vol 11 

DOC No.: AD37770ll 

REMARKS 

See attached letter. 

AUTHORITY OR COMMAND LINE 

PREVIOUS EDITION OF THIS 

FORM WILL BE USED. 

CLASSIFICATION 

(8) 

I SIGNATURE 

CHANGE TO 

(C) 

EFFECTIVE DATE 

(D) 

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OFFICE 

TAKING 

ACTION 

(E) 

NAME AND TITLE OF OFFICE 

AUTHORITY FOR CHANGE 

( Name and position) 

(F)