—

. ‘ 25 Mared 1959

Director, Satellite systens

ATTN: = WDZWF

The Honorable Malcolm A. MecIntyre’ |

Under Secretary of the Air Force  easADED AT 3 YEAR IN

Washington 25, D. 0. DECLASSIFIED ‘fren 12 vee
. DOD DIR 5200.10

Dear Mr. MacIntyre: 7
ry . . .
“Mr. Jolmson's mamo to yon, subject: "Recovery Plan for DISCOVERER, "
dated 13 February 1959, requested thet Mr. Jolson be informed on status,
reliability, future plans for surface recovery support backup, and ARPA
assistance required. AFCCM THX 57013 vequested the Ballistic Missile
Division to prepare such @ briefing for delivery on 10 March.

The briefing conducted for Mr. Johnson on 10 March as briefly out-
lined to Mr. Horner, Asst Secretary of the Air Force (R&D), on the same -
aay covered the following aspects of the DISCOVERER Recovery System:

Development requirements of the Recovery. System.

Development philosophy and restrictions.

System description and operation. ..

Component ond systen Test and test results.

An assesament of system reliability. .

Further development, testing and objectives.
Copies of Lockheed Missiles and Space Division documents outlining the
test program, Operations Plen, and System Analysis were left with
General McCorkle's people for their retentian.and use. -

"Ho objections or changes to the Program as presented by AFEMD
were suggested by ARPA members. ARPA approval of the program as
outlined is assumed.

Prior to the AFEMD briefing to ARPA, the Navy presented their
. Broposal. to modify tyo CV-2 vessels to provide surface support of the

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVALS Gi WDZW 59-280 .
DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS. . Cy 33 of 7
aren ols



DISCOVERER Recovery Program. . The modifications proposed included the
inctallation of large vedars, helicopter platforns, and other Sppur-
tenances. The follqwing conclusions vere reached after discussion:

Zhe installation cf the large radars and Control Center vas’
not a DISCOVERER requirement since passive detection of the descending
capsule and control of the Recovery Force was a function of the RC-121's.

. The Pacific Missile Range (MR) vould attempt to provide
operating costs for the two ships fron FY 60 PMR funds.

., Chief, eval Operations representatives would investigate the
eveilebility of the helicopters from Navy resources, .

_. * The proposal as presented was & Navy initiated proposal to
“Teplece the destroyer support of DISCOVERER.

_ AFEMD positione stated during the disouseions vers as follows:
. The current recovery Support of 3. destroyers is. adequate.
APBD expects to reduce the number required to two or one after expe-
xience is gained in the recovery system. : a

The Navy (PMR) proposal of two CV-2 vessels with’ helicopter
platforms is &n' acceptable substitute for. the destroyer support.

The lerge search radars ars not required for the DISCOVERER
Progran, :

It is suggested thet the briefing of 10 March, outlined above,
completely fulfills the desires stated by Mr. Johnson in his 13 February
memo to you. an oo
, Sincerely yours,

ARDe Segwsed_
. Sy Furnished: Mr. Horner.
co Be ae scumzeven .
tmjor Gengrai, USAF
Commander -

WOZMF . 88/21 Mar 59
L/ool, Riepe * 2751 -

. . Fd woZiT 59-280
Lo, : - , vy 2ors.