NRO APPROVED FOR 

.RLLZA§Fx. JULY 2015 

1.2q1011A1YDDI-1 TO DIRECTOR MOL PROGRAM 

SUBJECT: DOD Participation. in EASA E th Sensing. Prof g.aras 

.P.ttached. is a recent me orendt lfith attachments, issue 

by the Director, National Reconxistiszance Office, which.,I con 

alder to be import'ant, funclamentalsi)olicy. • • 

Please insure that MOL Systems Office personnel are 

informed of the. provisions of this policy, consistent Into. 

security considerations. • 

7ITZ L. EVALS 

Yajor Gener21, USAF 

Vice Director, MOL Program 

Atch 

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Col Norman SAP-SLM/55674/180Ct66.c 

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NRO APPROyED FOR 

RELEASE 1.,JULY 2015 COra71.01. aVil u 

NAT:ONAL 07f-71C.-Z. 

WA: -11Ni.VTON, D.C. 

Octobei431, 1966 

p Virg kaMy 

TE3.SECAETA1Y -01 THE NAVY 

THE CHIEF OF STAFF :USAF ;• 

DOD Participation in NASA Earth Sensing D:cograms 

1're have -.ez.,en.t17,7revie.w..sd and coordinated on a proposed 

NASA -.,rofs-ram to develop and operate a Multiband Synoptic 

Photora--,hic Experiment (also known as the Itritatispectral 

aeview o:.?. the proposed NASA program was carried. .

consult2.tio.n with DDR&E and was conducted under 

estE.blished 1,.y Deputy Secretary of Defense memorancium, 

for 3.2.rth Sensin&r. from Satellites," dated gust. 

The 1.--,urz;o1:e of this letter is , advise you of our posi-. 

ion on t.1-1e. Eult:.thpectral Eroerime'nt, and to request that you 

direct action to insure that DOD elements and personnel respon7 

sible to you are in of the governing policies. The DOD 

-position on this program as stated in my reply to NA:..: (Attac 

rent 1) was specifically approved by Mr. Vance withrespect 

policies a.nd related ouestions, and is suir.mariz d as 

(1) DOD ,personnel will not make oral or written 

state::ents implying current or intended DOD-endorsew_ent -

direct partici-oatiori.. in, or co-sponsorship of NASA satelli." 

such a the Multis?aectral ExIDeriment which. can `be 

cl.,.imac..1 to have reconnaissance .-2..r.ilice.tions. The establishea 

meteorological satellite programs are excepted; s 

?revolvem ent is Ti d to meteorological 'matters 

"LOD o It S4. not oecul4 a,- to an earth sensing mission 

soca -as launch, range, and .tracking 'Station services„'is not 

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NRO APPROyED FOR 

RELEASE 1'JULY 2015 

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SYST:m,. 

• ." ,:.eco,,-,:ss,,nce Office has the 

so:e resonsibility for all DOD activities in satellite 

reconnaissance, and no open acknowledgment ,o2 such activity,' 

either current cr planned, is authorized. 

(3) DOD agencies and personnel will not be 

authorized to particinate in open NASA space experiments 

involving optical sensors. 

(4) DOD agencies and personnel will be .authorized 

to partici mate in and provide logistical and technical suppart to NASA aircraft-borne earth sensing programs in accorda-ace with atproved DOD procedures and DOD/NASA agreements, 

but such participation shall not extend to NASA satellite 

..)grazs which may follow,and special care must be taken to 

L...s:are that DOD is not associated with such follow-ons to -

aircraft nrograms in any nubile announcements. 

It, is essential that these policies be disseminated 

-aromptly to the many DOD .aL encies havino-interests in ear 

sensing programs. Ta assist you in releasing this informa 

tic_: outside the 3121MAY system,. 7 have attached a set of 

guidelines :_aving TO,, SnRt,T classification. 

Attachments 

cc:.. Dr. Foster 

Lt. Gen.,carroll 

Sderetary SylvOter. 

CXCLUSE4 FR:04 ZUTCRATiC RICaA0Isa 

COS 

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IF • 

NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 • 

---(C NATIO NAL 

. • .r, •••••• F., 7". 

RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE. 

SilASHiNGTON, O.C. 

1,7 A 7 

'4.1 'Wog: 

SVS:P4 

.D1R-cCTOR • • 

r'his is in response:to:your letter of :hint 23, 

reg:.rdin NASA's proposed MultispeCtral Photo-graPhic 

In accordance with the existing DOD/CIA-NASA agreement 

a:IL the s-,:pple:y.ent thereto, z.n.s z.xzeriment does not 4 nV01VZ3Z:::301'S of reconnaissance quality and I see no on3ection 

from the stand-aoint of the NRO toNASA proceeding with it a 

in 1ne .. a6acnment to your letter 4, 

4.%rranf,1.- ements for the actual conduct of the,,.Eperiment 

„articularly with res:ard to aay orbits involving overfligh 

of denied areas) as veil as tha exnloitation of the camera 

nroducts are, of course, to be worked out in accordance with 

Recommendation No. 2 of the. NS AM 157'Ad Hoc Committee July 11 

• 

• 

. However, since the question of nap participation in 

1,:ultis-sectral Experiment has implications extending beyond 

the _\ :.0 to the Department o Defense at large, I have 

discussed the cuestion with the annroprdate officials in 

Z.:.ffice 02 the Secretary of efense. - 

While there is, of cou:7- tense an interest in 

scientific advances in such f cs as geogranhy, oceanography, 

and the environmental scien enel-ally, we believe .t at new 

satellite-borne sensor systems are neither the only way nor 

necessarily the best way to collect 'much of the pertinent 

data, When weighed against possible international sensitivi 

t'e benefits which could accrue a.re not sufficient to warrant 

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RELEASE 1 JULY 2005 4. 

-"ion by scial".tifica.:_iy-orient,ea aqencles' 

G.2: the DOD in activities can be claimed to have 

:secor. - ssance innlicationL. resnect to the 

.Inort:-..r.t military app.lica-.:ions oa: satellite recennaisS e tha NRO has the solo responsibility)for all DOD 

a.ctivities in'this field and no open acknowledgment of 

Luch activity, either ourr(;nt or planned, is authorized. 

. 

0,1r studies have shownthat tha particular military 

fivant::ges sate.14 te/,-ccollnaissance arise from its • 

over foreign terri-.:ories denied to aircraft eve 

by heavy defenses a oolitical inhibition. 

,:ther'„iise most military reconnaissance is best performed 

from air:„raft. ';;`:?is does not involve high ouality sensors 

aircraft sensor activity is not limited to the NRO 

aro; therefore, interested in the•a r ircaft-borne sensor 

a::::,-eriments which N:_SP nlans to conduct and appropriate 

• .7.= asycncias will be authol.ized to participate and to 

lo:Tistical and tecnical support in accordance 

▪ a=oved DOD procedul.cs and DOD/N_.5A agreements if 

that is an,-;ronriate. However, Dal) agencies ana oersonne 

• net be authorized to.:-articipate in open NASA space • 

exnerinents with optical sansors. 'This is, of couz.se, 

in-:,ended to D-.^ eclude DOD sunDo-r't not 'oectiiar to the 

e.:..rth sensing program such as daunchl .range, and tracking 

..;taticn services. ' -

:n lio.ht of the above; we request that you delete fro 

tha MuItienectral Experiment brochures any reference .to 

connotation of DOD endorsement, direct narticipation, or 

cc-sponsorship (i.e., letters such as those includedfr 

the U. Ss. Oceanographic Office,,the Office of'llaval Researc 

"C-r..5 Army Cold Regions Research laboratory, etc.). 

Roe-e-t C. Seamans, 

Administrator 

AeronatticS .4 Sp. D. C. 

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000 CIRECUit 514:: 1G COES has Arra 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

. . . ,.. • 

4/ 0 I .0 I' 0 I' 5 0 . • • 4 

- rtrent.^:r°n 

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• 1 

GUIDELINES na- DD 1)AITICVDAT= 

411 

NASA EA= S'7NS"NG 7=0GAI:S 

o 

CJ to deal exclusively with the Assistant Secretary 

2orce-(a2zD).on'll.atters concerning satallite-borne. 

earth sensors. Direct contacts with. the NASA, • • 

or sta',:ements, either oral or writ'ten, to i tersons Outside the, 

cl oe ..,.--terp7eted as indi atang endorsement o. 

co.-:.sponsOrsin of, or 'a'teiatol,in, proans iriv6:1,11;tg 

such Lonsors, are specifiCally orollibited. The eStabiiShed.. 

meteorological satellite programs, T:ROS, NIMBUS,: 

TS anz. NC:.:SS, are excepted 2..c- this prohibition. 

!, 

! 

international relations of t.1,.. - Un.ited States and previous .•• 

stataments by this. covernmant require that no action 

be taken y any member 'of the Department of Defense which 

•4.H 

ould suport in any . way a claim .that NASA satellite prograMs 

• .o• 

are . - dirctly.supportingmilitary - 'obj'ect:tVes.- .the 
NRO APPROVED FOR 

11-73,71i7 

g tidd 

of rs3 :ust :amine ay rues made of other 

Cov;:rynt ncie2 to that they cannot be more economicalwithin existing andan:;ed DD ec.ou-f.cac. 

• 2t.ch of tha data dasi-ed by'L3D acencias - .7r= NASA Can be 

•:::_:c1rzicly, at less cast, and with higher accuracy 2 - 

.sing c:Ltn D3D aircraft as saasor platforms. All agencies 

urged to e::-.)loit this resource to meat valid requ-am=nts. 

• . - 

.'_gencias - and .ol-sonnel shOuld not 

Levy -acu4-,emer.t.. on X:1.7.3 d*ta,1e,the- or 

-oroczzsed, which are to 1.e. obtaiacd from satellite-borne. 

ae for:zing earth sanscrL, or 

ndicate in any actual or intezdad DOD partici- 

. 

-...tion in, or co -sponsor or endorsemant of NASA. 

maga forming earth sensors 

s:.zellite programs are excepted). 

B.. s!'7),.Ift validated reouire - -2.ants for 

obtained from a.:tsTI4 teborne earth sensors directly • 

„ A Secretary • :1.1* Air Torce (1:13). 

• 

• 

c 

rz TT:TT 
NF O APPROVED OR 

RELEASE 1 JULY 2015 

4 

C. DOD personnel nay ,attend technical.. neetings at 

• 

';las or results of N.:LSA Satellite activities are-dis- 

/ 

-:,rOv'ded rmragraph SA, - ove,'is not violated. 

and ,..,01.sonnel nay participate in -

• L.ogistical and tech..ical sur:port to NASA aircraft- -

' 

c=th progrz-m in accordance with 2.-oroved DOD - 

D.32)./NSA agrants. 

sort.not to the earth-sensing,nis 

sion suc rc-r_ve, tY'aching services may be 

„o ITAA.sate.,lit• ,,a1th sensing programs in accordwith ap"proved DOD .r,rocc,d:zres and DCD/NASA agreements.. 

When- NASA requests Iparticipation 6.1. aDOD ageacY.- 

individzal in » technical consultin7 or technical support 

Lc t.ne sazeJ._..L.6e earth sensing prograr.i, 

rzcluBst should be forwLnded directly to the Assistant 

ecatary of the Air Force:2-,D) for 

.2:.-0.0-late. response and ax:rova 

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