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'fOP SHORB! HANDLE VIA BYEMAN CONTROL SYSTEM 

Pol1t1cal and SecuritL Aapecta or NonMilitary_ji.onlicat1one of Satellite Earth-Sene1ng 

l. The NSAi-1 156 Corn.mi ttee ho.fl rev1.et1ed the Hrnues 

raised in the lotter of April 4 from nr. ChD.rleo L. Schultze 

ond Dr. Donald F. Hornig to Secretory of State Donn Rusk 

(Ar.>p0nd1=t A),, and oubmi ts the foll01:1in.c; report "..'lf 1 ts 

concluoions. 

2. We believe that the "Report on Political and 

Infornational Aopccts of Sntcllito Reconnaissance Policy" 

p:rcp::i.:;:>cd purnuont to NSM·1 155 c.nd approved on June 30,, 1962,, 

for t~ansmittal to the Prcoidcnt rcr.:::i.ins basically valid • 

The objective of avoiding open chnllcngas to satellite 

oboervotion nctivity hns been GCncrclly mat,, and the Soviet 

Union hno muted -- thouGh not rotrnctcd -- its ch311en~e to 

the principle of military space rcconnnissance. Agrec~ont 

~oo been reached on fundnmsntnl lecal principles which do 

not bnn (thoul!h they also do not o:i:plicitly sanction) opace obacrvation. Also,, oincc 1962 the Soviets have developed a 

r::ajor operational satellite reconnniosancc procram of their 

0·11n. Dovolopmonts over the paot four years have,, therefore,, 

led to a shift of enphnnis from a nocd for actions that 

will build world ncccptance of opnce obocrvntions, then a 

ccnero.ily novel 1.doa.,, to notions r1hich t·rill rcoorva the 

prcocnt wide tncit occcptnnce of ouch aotiv1 eo. 

uccordingly, there docs not seem to be ony imperative to 

launch disclosure initiatives for the purpose of furthering the general principle of space observation. On tho otb.or 

hnnd,, it rerr.3.ino necessary to constdcr the possibly adverse 

effects of new public disclosures or other initiatives 

uhich could upset the present oo.tiDfactory situation. 

3. Our chief concern over a challenge to the legitimacy and propriety of satellite reconnaissance h~o been the 

Soviet position. Over the past aevoral years,, the Russians 

hnve u1thdraun ins1otence on brnnd:tng such activity no 

:.tllc13al 1n the caoeo of internntional epnce agrecconts that 

they desired,, and they do not prcso such nrc;uments in the 

un,, but they have not stopped referring to such activities 

t".S oopionngo. r.1oroovor,, the s ta tcm::3nts by Iihrushchov o.nd 

his son-in-lnw, Adzhube1,, admitting ouch Soviet nctivitiea 

huve never been p:rlnted in the Sov~ot prcno or aclmonlcdged 

aa official. In the first post-Khrushchev stntom~nt 

referring imnlicitly to Soviet entellite reconnaisonnce, 

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tl:c US311 hno. IJoti1:l. tl:.ot;nndir..r; th:!.o ir:".)11cd ad...,isoion of' 

f.Q.Y.1:.P ·;; n n ~o 11 i t_g _ _r~Q.Q.Q.;;,.~.Q!.OJ.lC.:.'J,C_Q_μ·,;:o......G.QC.....c.on.tinu.lng_ 

pa:.."''..:;·i nonce of tb.c I~3.0J1 15 Ropcnrt co:-iclt:nion thD.'G: "It 1e 

c~~~cc3ly iwpo~tnnt thnt the US nvoid public otntcm~nt3 

o".Jout our ontcl11to opcrat1or..n tb.:l.t i·muld pose a direct 

po2:!.t!cn1 challeno;c to the Sovtct Union on the ocnoitive 

i::i:mo of rccon..'11o.:1ooc.nce. n 

L~. It 1a no't1 necessary to .r;1vo more attention thnn · hcre"co?ore to the renctions of otl'lor cou.ntrieo. To date, ~.nc1~00.01ng publie Ot1n:t"'cncoo of the o.x1otonce of US ~nd 

[oviot rnilita~y cp~co rccon..~nioonnca hns not pro~ytcd 

co:!cor."n in othci;:o cot'!...'i"ltrics for th'3ir otm pol1 ticnl O!" 

c111t8ry occur1ty 1ntcrcoto, but ouch concern is 11Icely 

to Covclop no othor.o bccorr.~ t'!lo::;io m·mro or the nntnro one! 

ccopc of ootollito ourvo111Qnco. Dioclonurc of ourvcillanco copnbil1t1co, even 1nd1rcctly in non-military 

contexts, t1ill am.l!!:on net: 1ntcrcot nnd in some coooa concern-. AccordinG1Y~ nny such d1oclosuro ohould b3 cnrofully considered nnd planned oo QD to prevent or reduce adverse 

r-cnot1.ono by other otntcs tl:::lt tioulcl be undcoirnble in 

tl:(;;il"' otm I"ic;ht o.nd could o.loo bo m~nipulated to our dotr~r:10nt by tho Soviet Union. 

5. D!roct dioclonu.re of sateJ.11 te reoonna!sm:mce tor 

tho pu.rponc .··of gainin~ 't'10rld nccoptnnco of the pr1nciplo 

ot ep~ce ou~vo11loncc 1s both unnuccocnri and liable to 

Pl'Ovol!:e adveroc :r.•ca.ctions from tho USSR and otho!" otctoa. 

O:i the othO!' l1Qnd,, 1n the 10!23 run the oecuri ty of oti.r ~cconnaicoancc p~ocrnrn con be oorvod by encournGi~B the 

prcoont nn'curnl,, c;ro.du.al grct1in~ uorld recognition of tho 

potontinlitico of oatoll1te cnrth-oonoing 1n tho conte~t 

o? ociontific p:ror;::rcoo ond economic betterment. Such 

rccou.11tio:1 t1!11 c:rc:·1 i-1hothor t1o otir:r.llnto it or r!Ot. 

t·Io can 1.n.f'lt~cmcc ond chc!'..ncl,, ond if uc t·r!oh rotnrd,, ouch 

n dcvolop~nt -- but tm C0.?."!.:."1.0t pr-event it. Uc ohonld 

r-ococ;,."1i2e th~t any opp~~cnt US offorts to oupprooo or 

hobble peaceful app11cntlona bocauoe of prcouc~d (and 

rig..."ltly preoumed) seno1t1vi ty over pi-•otect1ng milita1~y 

i..,econna.1osance would not serve our objective of retaining 

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or improvin~ too1t aeeoptnnce of u..?ll'estr1oted enrth observation nnd ocn~ing. A US ponition of fovorin3, lending, and s~nrin3 in non-wil1tary npplicat1on~ of ontcllito earthoc::.:::i ~ng t11ll not invo2 ve tl10 oat!~ l'iol:o of provo~:1n3 a conf!:'o:itn t ion tli th tho Sovlot Un!on uo t1ould d:1.roct d:!.oclo!3u.re 

of ~oconnniooonco. tlc ohould 1noure, 1caofnr ao posn1blc, t~~t thcoo initiativco nro not co~ot!'Ucd by tho s~viots as 

lil::oly to rcou1t in c;cz:Q!'i'.ll diocloouro of 1nforr:.::ltion c.bout be~ c211tary cop3bilitics which tho USSR w1sbas to protect. 

6. fill noted above, non-r.iilitnry usoa of apcice \·1hich 

!'cqui!'o aurvo111anco of the cnA"th by 't"<lr~ous ocnoo:rn r::ould 

ao o o:'Lda cfi"oct 1r:.cvitnb1y st:!.!T.'.1lntc r:11dcr m·mronoso of the 

C::l:'.7.::lb:1J.1t1oo of rocolli'1C.ioonncc, b:.rt in o. nore favoruble con- 'co~t tl!:ln t.rould c1h"'oct d1.ocloou!'o., t·Ja should rocoGOize that 

d:lff'o::ont unco of cny technology t·11.ll continue to ovol:e · d~.ffo:::ont rcnctiona., T'.::.::c f'cn~1J.io.r l~oc0, t:ravol ond hobby 

uooo of ord1c~sY CQC~~QO do not 2oooon objections to their 

uoc fo:r 1n.to111ccncc colloctio:i. Tho oo.r:::J u11l be tru.c of 

ontollito cnc~~20, c~d tho Sovioto have already ohiftcd their 

pooit!on oovoval ycnro cco to objoctinG to tho uoo of catol11to intelliconco collection, rnthor th2n objecting to 

oo.toll:tte oboo!'vnticn J?C.£. E.£.• (If' 1n tb.c futu.:.."e tb.o Rt1esia:na 

tnc1. tly odo:'L t to lwv,_n3 rocor!nnioonnce sntclli tcs of their 

mn,, nlong t!::c l:t!lcn of Brc~h~cv 1 o otntoc::mt rof.£:u;•_:;;oQ.....t.Q 

above, they nould prob~bly ot1ll cla1o thnt 1ntclliacnca 

co:.J.oction by t!-;.c 1::.:1:!.tod Sta.too cc!"vod different ond ncfari.ouo purpooco.) i:t:h:'!.o dooo not, hc~·JOvor, ocem to bo u vnlid b~o~o for oppo3in~ dovolop~~nt of concur~cnt non~n1litnry 

ncd contincod nilitary reconnniooanco p~ogramn. 

7. NlBA's nnd other propoonlo for developing earthscnsing proc.rot"!O> uhich might overlap, bo derived in so.n1t1.zed 

fora from, or oticr~lnte.publio into2cot in, clasoifiod ~oconnnioonnce p::r·oc;:;;G.n3 ohould be judr;cd en the bnaio of c::::ltc:i...,ia 

ouch us feno1b1lity1 preference to non-space alto!'nnt!vcn, 

coot, problo~~ in p~otocting clnoo1f1od·tcchnoloGY, and 

l 

rio!'.:O of oocu:r1 ty cc~:n:ooioc of tL-:o clnooif1ed rcconn::i.ioonnce . I 

proc;:i."c.n., It 021oc.i.ld t:.Ot"!.::llly be ponoiblc by careful plnnning 

to o1t1~oto poooiblc odv0roo politico! ropercuno1ono of tho incicont~1 dioclcot!.!'o of ourvo111nncc cap3b11itica end hence 

to Give polit!cn1 nnd national oocurity clcarnncc to ouc~ 

proc~ncs. Tho boat juot1f1cnt!on for ouch p~oc;rQms, ond 

tho bcot gcnor~l baois for col~1n~ any olerm ovor tho1r 

effects nill be valid ac1ont1f1c or economic pnyoff in uhich 

other countries can eJcpect to share .. 

TO!' BEORB':P 

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G& The pric:i~y orco of co~'et1t1on 1n op~ce betueen 

tho Uni tcd Sto:coo nc.d ti:.() E:ov~ct C:i1.0!'l h::lo been Qr..d t1ill 

fo!' t~:o c:J~t fc:·1 scn'.'.:"o cont:!..n-:.::.c to co t:'!e race to t~o r:::.H:m. 

i:L~lo ic., t~.Q:Jovor., 2c.r-co2y o. ot~~rt tc:!:'n cc~ot~. tio:l f.'o'!.' the 

_,../.....,\.) 1C'r::""'~r. ...,.,.. Tn ......:...i tho -- ......... 1on,..,.o7"1 --.......> - "· .,...,~,n ...... .:..~, ~~r"''"''r'C y....,_....,._ ""'"TY ~r.J C~A-vQ10""' ._,, ........ J..."' u "" CO"""""'"'.A..v"'J~v··'ion ;i.__,...,....., - ..... 

'.Z.:l op.'.lcc 09;.:>lico.t:lo:::!J c:::::"Volop:1n3 tho r-ooc'.'..:.:'cos of tho trorld, 1~:::r::"cicuJ.o:-ly of tl~'3 t::::C.C!!."'C:Jvo2op::::id tJC~:>].cJo Cor.:.~..:!:11co.t!ons 

catollitoo end c~tco2o!cc1cal cat~llitco h~ve alrc~dy 

cc~trib~tod to thia end., b~t t~oi~ bo~~fito do ~ot e~h~ust 

t~:::: potential vol~o of ca~th-co2~1~3 catcllitcs for dovclop- i~~ c~a uoir~ nnt':.:!!.~n1 ~ooourcooo 

9o In t!.7.~ do!ibcrn.ttons of th1a Cor::nittee, dif'fc!'cncea 

of v:1c:'r arooc over tl2e I'o2at1vo c::n"2. to or t'!.D1.ri..g sntolli tea 

o:.• n '.L'.:.:'Cr>O.?t for co tt'!.:':'.11 I:"CCO'Q'.:"CO OU!'VOYD O~d oth'.JI' cn!'t:1-

ocr~'.J 1~G o.ctivitioo in the 'rcco~r:::i.iccc.~ce r<~.n.c;e n of oo.tc111te cc::::::i:1x~3 ( thn t :lo., raor:ct!.ly bclc:1 20 r::Jtc:i:·a in precioio:'.1 of 

c::.'OL:2d rooolution)o ':i.1.:.:1.o Coc.'!!1ttoc ho.s not attom:;>tod to !'OOO~~vo ouch dlf?e::>c!'lccn; they clcnrly :ro?lcct on it::!:?e>:rtc~t 

(:.:::;0·01.cn,, t:.:it o~':r p:-..,cocnt foct:.n io on p:::>1,.t1co.1 nnd oocti.:;>ity c:1::.c:il~st.:.".:l::J fo'Z:' t::>c of mi.ch oo.tollito proc::·o.!:12 in th:lo rCX!.;30. 

ca c~y b~ eoto~Dic~d to be oconc~icolly n~d oo1ont1f1cally 

jc.::;t'lfioc'.J. 1!1 eCd:tt:ton,, tho!'o t1ou1d nppea.r to bo t!.:!ricoolvcd 

qt:';jot1,o:13 t:J::!.t!1 !'oopoct to tl:.c olto;::>n::itivoo of uoinc c.r::-.::::i.nn::)d 

o~ c~n~od ootc11itao £or theoo pt:!!'paooo. 

IO. A n!ltu.rnl l'COOt!!'CCS pr>O[!!'nI::l or the ltin.d in tihich !'!~'iJ2!'i. ~-D 1ntc:-:ootod co.n in t:tm:J p::....,ov:~da vnnt dnto,, un1nG o. 

vo.:':1.oty of' op:::lcob;:,:-r:':.c cm;sol"S. 'Z:!c E~O.ll. proera!!l no no:·1 

cnv:'U:ic.c;cd dooo r.ot; :'!.nc2t:de opo!'nt~.o::~'.ll t:oo of rcc:::>to001:.:J:!.r:.:; tocb.:.'1:'!.qt:GG 1.Je:f'o:'e the 29·70:1.,, p:i1~c:1p:!lly bocnc.nc 

r::c::.t o1" tho oor.:Do.::>a n:ro presont:l.y p!'0C':.:'O.t:::Jd for r:oo in oor:-~irrc1cntod r::'..l:::::.od cpncccro.:ft co p:::i:r:,t of the li.9::>110 

L\:)Jlic::.'cio:J.3 Pi•cn::::o.n.. r.:~:mei;;rcr, c::pc:.."'it::G:J.tnl proc:!"o.c::J nir;ht 

bo initiated 20 cn~ly no 1958. ~Y!Orc io ~o .f'undi~3 no yet 

of loco coi:::,>lo:t., loco c.:::pcno1 vc tT..:.:::~:iocl oyotce!J o 

2.l. C:!o ce:rront problem t'lb:!ch c.r:.orcoo 1o tho Qucoticn 

or t!~o of cortn1n cqn1p~ent ond p~otoc:~8p~ic m:lto~iolo f~oo 

t::e clo.co if1od riocm:~!O.ioo~nco p!'oc:;;~o.n to ooo!.o t W\D_I\ in ovnl~o.t;i.!:'-3 tL:.c ut:11:'!.ty or, and c~:rvc:2.op:!r!3 tcch.:1iquco for, o~·~c1:u. to p!.:otoc:';:ir;:'.:1y for e:::p:!.oi ti~G r.:::i ·0m~a.1 rooot".'.'l."coo.. In 

o!'C.Q;:a to covolop a thorot!Ch t:..:.dc:::ntc.r.i~1:1r:..::; of ob::;o:.:vntion 

nntolli to tocb:.olo[!y" it imuld ocor..i doo1:ro.blo to co~~:ldor 

uhothcr VASA con be provided -- on n claoaif1od.b~s1s, but 

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pe~b..:lps under lcoo ~cotr!ct1ve clnaa1f1catio!13 controls -- both cc2cctcd octcl!ito photoGrQp~~ for cvn~u~tlon, end 

cclcct;cd o:::rtc!J.i to l"~o.:>Ct·mro,, inc:i.udin.c; cc:r::::i!"C!O. Tl:..c G!'Ounduor:r: t:o::J.J..d t!1!1n be p:>op::i:::od fo!' p::)no:!.b2c fntt:zio o~;:,:rc.tlc~!l.1 

U'.JO i:i t:::l turnl 1.:'COO~CO Ot!!'VOY 1:1:100 ion:J. 'Zi::..o eq,t1.:.:pc3::i·::; to 

to u:Jcd r..~cd not -- nnd in OD:' v:1ot1 ob.ocld not -- r>onrcscnt 

tl:..o lntoot, b.:1c:1cnt r>cooJ.ut:ton cc.ccr'cn. E'.:r~ cono::..c:ci'.::ible ·c.~of't.12. r:orl~ co:J.ld, fo:r CZ.C!C:!lO,, C:) o.c com91 inhcd v1 i th 

r'OD01nt::0::'.J C:l t~1'J O::'COz:' of 10-15 feet. S6r:::3 of the: t:'~ny 

c.:;pJ.ic::i.~~.cn'.J tt::::it oic:Y~ to n!Joft1}.1y co;:;>vcd t1ith :roc;olu'c1o:::.s 

o? t:1'.lo lcvo1 :!..nc2ud::; t:::'.\p):l.n[j,, m.'.!'voyo of t10.tor rccot::rccn,, Q3~~c~ltu~~2 c~d fo~oot~y ou.:rvcyo, er:.d ot~dicn of ln~d unc 

ovc:- b::'C:ld n::c:::.oo .S::~.t:lblc cc:c::i:."~D fo!' tl?.'.)GC pt::r-p:J::::oa 

n2.:."'c3c1y c:;i:i::r~ in tl:a r:n p::~oc;:r~::J, m:~1 t:r..c telcnoo to r:_l\SA 

of bo'cl1 oolcc~i;cd c(].::1:~p::.::nt u!!d p~~:::/coc;r<:;p~y tcl::c:'l :tn the 

r;:J.nt n:1.c;l1t bo t:ocf"t.:.1 c2d p:'o:::n:: .. -::~bly cou1d be dona u:l thou.t 

:i."Cl. io ir!,3 ·prii'...,,r:.o.cco. blo co cv.ri ty pr>o b2cr.:.s.. 'l:'l:.3 cm:::n::»:J o end 

p::otoc:::...,.:::iphy fr-c::i tt:o Ell oyotcc.3 could :r:c::::d.n c2o.ao:lfled; 

or:.ly t!.:.o procncto of nctt:o.1 !'!£1.fJA nic.oioi:.13 uoulc1 prob2bly ~aod to be er:.olnooifiod. !n caoaa nhoro a daclo~on h3d 

teen I:'.:'.J.C!O fO:' E[~['.1\ to f;::'OCCOd t'!:'!. th 0 lj~.vcn PI'O[).~~:HJ fol .. ub.ic!J. t:.."'!clo.ooif1od coc'.:)='o.o o:r o'chor cqn1.)):::::nt could ba uoed,, r:~'\.Dl\ could lot cont;~nct:J to t!.:o FJ.O ir~clC'.at::::tnl co:1tz>nctors, 

i·1l:.0 conld tr:~n in rnct ado.pt on c.n t.:!1olo.on:l.f:'Lcd t::ioio 

cqt1:'!.r:::'.)!1'c o:::::!.cir:.::2.1_y d.ooic;nod for t110 clo.coifiod p:::'cc:::~:o .. 7::J. tb3 cn.oe of c1.asoifiod oqv.ip::.~::it,, tb.o ISO could provido 

oecl'). C'.O'.Jisto.~co,, an it :to doin3 in tl:.c v.nc of tl::'.) O!~r::IET 1n 

tl:a n::ollo lu::'.:l::'-o:>bitcr procr.::H:l,, or- clnon1.f1cd co::.t::'D.cto co:~J.d bo nr:i:~::-~cd for: t:accnoo.ry o.C.:Jptn tion of e:1::1o t:'.1.n3 

c.!.O.CJ'.:i :'.1..ficd cc:.u:'l..p:.:'.:Jnt. E0.S1\ t1onlc1 p:·ofo!' to the c:.~cn tco t c:~~ont. poooiblo to t'lJJO v.nclo.soii'lod cqaipc'.:mt. On tho 

otbar 1:.:J.r..d,, pormion:lblc W\SA p::ct:::i:.1Gt.::'.3 uc,uld ncco::::100.::.":tly be 

co:rc severely lioi'God if only t!nalnosif:lcd equip:::::n1t could 

be t:ccd,, nnd fora a rnnsc ·of cnoco vnh:nb!o photo0rnl:::::dc 

C:ltn could be l'Oloo.ncd trh1le tt:o cqu1p::::~nt uould need to ~oe::lin clcooifiod. 

120 r"'Dbl!c nnnrcncaa of tha q~n1ity of oo~~ of the lcnc~ vanolntio~ c~to~!alo ~olcnocd in Don-~ilitnry 

con~o~~o ~Qod not hnvc cnc~cic3 offoct on the vinbi11ty of t~ri:tlntc::>nl roco~:.::d.noo.ncc p:;ocrnc:J,, p!'ov:l.dec1 co.11 0 :lo 

O::C:t:CiCCd in tho typo Of re:'.ltm.;"10.1.0 l."'O!CO.OOU 0.!1d tb'.) I::'.!'1-1'!0r 

cf r:clooooo E;3cur:1.ty of the clnooifioc1 c.::it:'!..cn::ll roconr..aiocnncc progrnn tiould o.loo bo ct:I'.::::mcod by h::win::; El\S.!\ 

co::~C:u.ct the actual launch and rotl"1cvnl op.:::rnt1oi:i.s of the 

non-reconr..niosance prog:i:•::rms. 

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13., Tl'!o D'i'.'!:1 tccl Statco ·' 'f.1~.11,, !n nny cnce., fir..d '! t i!1Cr'C~:J:l~ly c1i?:Z'lCu3. t to C'O:'ltZ:Ol pt:b.l:!..C C~.GC~.08lTO Of 

c~tcl~~to nu~vc1l!ancc cop~bilitico. ~o C~ta thQ CS end 

t::a U.SS:J b.::ivo c::i.int:o:tr..od taci t:-Ly o.c:~c:12.cc,:cc1 b:')t CT::?:-:bl:tc ~.~ocJ C"...l tt.:.'.J.l roco:J.r..'.l 1.080.nco ct.:.::vo 222.cr:oo. !.:::i. to :.1.~r., t~a 

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.::::-.. '.~] .:. .. ::r;:i.n,, t:::i'c even uith the U3:'JI1.., 1 .. f tb3 polit'!co.1 c1ir...:ito ~o~o op~~op~!atoo 

ll!-o Z:.".J U:'l~. tcd States oho".1ld conn1-C:.o!' otcp::J to app!y 

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t=~Gib!o ov~Ccncc of o~r intoro~t in !~0101~3 ~ovc!opl~~ 

cot::1tri.on, uhilc fo:::estnllin3 m .... ovo:i:',x .. 1tc!1.ir~3 po::::i2.blo 

Soviet prop8cand3 initiative in thnt field. T~in uill 

requ1t>e considcx·ation of a uhole rung~ of' poli t1c3l, .:J~:> 

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well as scientific-technical and security, factors. For 

exnr;rple, merely advising develop1n3 countries of new 

resources and opportunities nill not alnnys nin us plaudits 

i:f r.-10 ore not prcpo.red to assist thcoo countrie3 in ~iz1n')_ these potentialities. r:onetheless, in the longer I'I.!.~ there would appear to be real political opportunities 

to us in to.ldng n more active role than the Soviet Union 

in applying satellite earth observation to non-military econooic uses. This long-run pol1t1ccl interest reinforces 

other rcosono for developing the potentialities or nonmili t~ry u3es of earth-sensing by satellites. 

15. Fro~ the standpoint of protecting security or 

the classified national reconna1soance program, NASA 

proGrn:ms should proceed gradually throu,Vl current aerial 

eKpcricentation, to UP..re3nned and manned satellites, and 

in gonornl moving from less to more precise grou..~d resolution. The technical lioits placed on s~cv~ity ground3 

could probably change as the general state of the art of 

clnooified technoloGical capabilities improves and as 

public auaror..cos n.nd appreciat:ton of them advances. Thie p~ocoos of reducing the security ~~rgin could, not go on 

indefinitely, but the line of ~cnoitiv1ty probably could 

recede along the lines indicated above as both technologi- cnl nnd political security lim1tnt1ons become leas acute. 

n.t p:-•oocnt, it io generally agreed that the limiting 

opticnl ground resolution should be nbout 20 meters from 

:Low onrth orbit; public discussion of potential future 

economic applications should, ho~cver, be less restricted. 

16. At some point, probnbly nfter. ther~ had been 

further initial exploratory study and if the procrnm proved practicable, it nould appear that the United States -- pGrhapa the President himself -- ~ight launch n tn.jor public program. At tho.t time, experir-ental NASA noI"inl 

nnd space photographs could be :released, ond NASL\ program 

plnns and expectntiono described -- all nithout contion 

of the clasaif'ied pro(3ro.m. Such nn initio.tive would ~~ximize politicnl gnins for the United States. It could, 

of courne, aloo prom~t prominent opoculation about clonsificd reconnoiaoance nctivitioa, but such speculation could probably be fonded off, nnd pooniblo hostile Soviet 

ronct1ono would probably be forocloood or undercut by the 

i·1ide interco t tho. t the progrnm should gcmorn te. I!ot·mver, 

the queotion of t·1hether and hot·r nny ouch inini tive ohould 

be made should probably be deferred at this tirn8, nnd in 

any case will require further cnx•eful consideration. 

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17. It ohould be noted thnt public recognition, even 

on an inco~pletc b~ois, of satellite observation capabilities ~ould aloo hove rcverberntions in other fields. For 

exam:ple,, publ:tc m·mrcncos of such capnb111 ties ehould assist 

in bu1ld1n3 a conocnous in support of disarmament proposals t·1hich rely on ontcllito ourveillnncc. T'nc c:ristence of nn 

openly nclmm·1lcd0e d photoc;rnphic sa tclli te 13ys tern, even 

uith poorer quality products, nould under aome circu~stances 

i;ive the US (Sovcrnment an additlonnl option: to !!!OJrn public 

use of satellite photoc;raphy to prove a violation of on 

DGrcemcnt to a world forum, tlithout disclosure of the 

clnonificd reconnaisnnnce proGrnm. In the nbnence of such 

a publicly lmot·m system, it rnic:ht be more difficult to rr.:J.l~e 

n convincing cnoe that a violation hnd indeed ooc~rrcd. At 

the onme time, it mn.y also be t:nod by others to nrcue neni~o t requirements for other vcrifica tion meamn·cn in 

cnoco uhere such requirements rcrri...:J.in. By and lc.rc;e, hoi:-mver, 

diaclooure of surveillance cap3b1lities within the limits 

't'JC o.re sul'.jc;csting 't·1ould probably facilitate distinC;,1Jish:l.ng 

bot1·1con whnt satellite observation can nnd cannot verify 

for tho p~rpooea of d1sarma.rn~nt necotiations. 

18. Recornmendnt1ons: 

(1) The classified 

protected by 

nnd sccurit 

11 

. • cr•co '-' can req1uest the l!SAr·l 15 

1 

_1.~"'-

1.;ommi t tee to review poosible poJ.it cal or security ... isoucs i·1hich might arise from particular NASA or other non- - .c:· 

military plnns, programs, or other rolntcd activities , _ _, ;, 

concerned with spaceborne earth-scnsin0. L ~~: 

(2) There is potential grent polit1cnl capital 

in a US program of natural resource surveys and othor 

scientific nnd economic exploitation of ontell1te earth 

obsorvntion and sensing, provided the bnsis hns been properly 

lnid, nnd tho nnnom1cemcmt of ouch n pro~ram is nblo to draw 

upon nnd project vinblo economic promise. Further consideration should therefore be given to a m3jor politicnl initiative advancing tho concept of economic betterment 

through space activities. If ouch an initiative io decided 

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upon, it should come at a time when sufficient work has been 

done to deconotrnte the potentialitieo and offer reasonable 

promise of come early payoff. 

(3) At present, and for the next several years, 

from the stnndpoint of political nnd oecurity considerations 

there is no objection to NASA proceeding vith its tenta~ively 

planned exper1centol program, complying with th0 limitation 

previously eotablished between N~SA and !IBO.* 

(4) In discussion of the use of observation satellites for nntur a ou c no~c ve yonra au uture review and possible rcvioion of GUidclinco -- rcntrict its discussion of future 

syotor:i..3 to thoi:w 1nvolving eround reaolution of 10-15 feet. 

Tho 00~0 reotriction should apply to all other interested 

Covcrn=ent neonc1cn. In order to facilitate proper clnao1fied 

control to opply the nbove ccneral euidclines, and additional 

detailed inploccntinG cu1de11nea dcvelopad by NASA ttith the 

concurrence of rmo, n NSL\.!·l ohc:;t.1ld be ioouod d1rectinc; all 

other c1v111on occncica with on 1ntcrcat in satellite earthoonoing for thane p:..i..rponco to r. .. '.).li;:e lmm·m their interests in 

thnt field to., o.nd coo::::'dinatc fully t1ith,, Nfl.SA. Apart from 

other advnntncco to be expected from ouch nn articulation 

of responoib111t1es, it should ennblc NASA to apply the 

DErecd claonifiod Guidelines limitations to otho~ civilian ! 

o.gcncico. 

1

·1 ·;.!. . ·. 

' 

e'The Committee accepts nB a satisfactory present definition of the limitation on the study,, dcoign,, development, 

fnbr1cat1on, or test of earth ocnoors by NASA (as propoocd 

in Dr. HcMillan's letter to Dr. Sell.nnn.s of August 5, igS5, 

nnd accepted by Dr. Seamans in hio reply to Dr. f·1oiUllnn of Au~st 24,, 1965) no thooe senso:ro not mrneoding n cnpnbility of 1

·an D.n[!Uln::r :reoolut1on of' O. l rnill:'.l.t•a.di.on or finer, o:s: an 

optical 01" in:f:rn-rod imnge fo:i.0 oing oyotcm t1ith a physico.1 

npcrtt!l..,c c;rontor them 30 cm. nnd rm optical fi~rc controlled 

to b0tter thnn l/L~ tmve lcn3th 11 • Thin limiting optical 

rcoolution is rou~hly cqu1vclent to 20 ~c:ters froo lm-1 cnrth 

orbit. 

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(5) NASA and other appropriate agencies ohould 

consider cnrcfully the rolo.tivc r::eritn nnd costs of aerinl 

and other ponaiblc nltornntivca to vnrio~s opnco-borne en~t~-acnsin3 proGrQW~ in tc~~3 of prncticnl political intercata no ncll no coat cffcctivc~eaa. Similerly, the 

rcopoc ti vc r::or:l. ta of r.;.0.nncd D.~d t:~r:i...'.J~ned sn telJ.i 'ces will 

of courac rcq~irc cons~ccrntlonc To nasiot in deciding 

tl:.eoo qucstiona, !Jll.SL\ o.nd otl10:;: npproprintc Govcrn::ismt pc~ao~nel should be pc~oittcd to uoc selected U-2 end K!-!-4 p~otocrophy, most of uhich is nou codeuord clacsifiod, to 

nuvnnce its studico of non-rnilitnry cnrth-sensing application3. 

(6) With a view to fnc111tat1ng the above studies 

noted in pnrn ( 5), USIB should be osked to reviet1: 

(a) The qucotion of removing reference 

to the fact that the US hns an operational 

satellite reconnaisannce proGrnm from codetlord 

control, retaining either n SECRET or TOP 

SECnET clnoo ifica tion.. Thin \.'rould pcrm1 t 

explanation of the rcooon for limitations, on, 

a clnoo1ficd b~sis, to Govcrnrr.ent pGrnonnel · concerned nith non-military nntellite carth- . II 

,{) ... 

ocno ing proc;rnrnn but i-11 thout n nocd~to~lcnou , '. ~·,, . the porform::mce capnb111 tics or product of . , 

. ,• ., 

the clnnsificd pror;rnm.111 O;;o Qf t.h.e cono1c1o:r,- ·· - . ations involved is that nt p~ooont, unclcnrod · GovcrnTcnt pcroonnol often voice their 

spaculat1ons about rcconnnioacnce pro~rams 

and even capab1lit1eo on an unclassified and 

uncontrolled basis. 

(b) Selective removal of appropriate 

photoGrnphy from codc~ord control for clocaified 

use by selected NASA nnd other cleared porconnel 

otudying the potential1t1cs of non-military enrth-nonsin~ act1v1t~.co, o~, nltarnntivcly but 

leas dc31rably, clonruncc of an 1ncrcnocd ~~;::;lbcr of IU\.Sl\ peroonu31 for ouch use of those 

r::::i.'ccrinlo 1..'.n.dcr proocnt coc1cuord control. 

(7) The Director of Central Intell1ccncc, 1n 

~ILl"t~th. the Director of the !~ntionnl Reco!lnn:tssance Office, should review and establish appropriate 

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security restrictions on cameras and other sensinG apparntus n!:.d equipr.:ent i·1hicl1 cnn be I:'3dc nvnilnble for :U!l.S.'i. 'n proc;::c..,., 

of non-m11:1.tnry npplicntions of sntell:1.tc cQrt~-oonsing. 

I'c is recognized tlm'c nubnto.ntinl cot2::i~:.:'cr::2~1'cali::::it:1.on uill 

p!'ot:n':>ly hnvc to rorr..:iin, but tho no::-2-m~.li tD.I'Y prosrc.r.:.3 

n2ould be enabled to p~ofit from rclcvnnt nchicvo~~nts of t~8 military procrno to the extent feasible • 

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