Evening star., 1962-09-23
By WILLIAM HINES
Star Science Writer

By WILLIAM HINES
Star Science Writer
An expanded military role
in space appears likely in the
light Of three key statements
In the last fortnight. These
are:
/. A speech at Houston, Tex,
on September IL in which Pres
ident Kennedy proclaimed "a
hostile flag Of conquest" must
not be permitted to prevail in
space.
q. An address by the head OF
the Government-owned Aero
space Corp. last Tuesday,
strongly supporting increased
military space activity.
3. A statement on Friday by
the executive secretary of the
Space Council affirming the
military significance Of recent
Soviet accomplishments in
space.
In the hope that these state
ments are true straws in the
wind, military space experts
have devised an informal pri-
ority hst-things that should
be done starting now-to bring
the defense establishment in
step with the times.
Priority List Established
For the present, the military
is prepared to leave the head
lines to NASA, staying largely
out Of the glamorous aspect
Of manned space flight. At the
same time, however, high-rank-
ing Air Force officers intend
to push for an "active partici-
pant role" In some NASA
manned programs that appear
to have interesting military
application.
The priority list" has not
been made official, and, indeed,
runs contrary to some top-level
thinking in the Pentagon. Con-
sequently, it Is not q subject
that Is being discussed openly
at present. However, the fol-
lowing is an accurate repre-
sentation Of prevailing military
opinion on defense require
ments in space.
Top priority includes six
programs that can be carried
out only by space craft, or bet
ter by space craft than by any
other means. Three activities
surveillance, warning and nav
igation-are already in the de-
velopment stage, under military
auspices, as Projects Samos,
Midas and Transit respectively.
GeOdesy Neglected
Two Of the remaining three
communications and weather
are being pursued by NASAI
but at q rate the military be-
ieves to be too slow. The sixth
-geodesy or mapping-is not
being done very vigorously by
anyone. possibly because all
three military services plus
NASA are involved. creating a
situation where too many cooks
spoil the broth.
Next priority, or what a top
official termed "a fuzzier area,
includes things needed but not
clearly within the so-called
state Of the art" They do not
require any break-throughs,
however. Included are improved
satellite detection sytems In or
bit and communications satel-
lites ,of the stationary orbit"
type.
Still farther down the list
are things for which no imme-
diate need Is perceived, or
which seem desirable but not
feasible Just now. This priority
group includes offensive sys-
TENS In space and large manned
stations in orbit.
o The greatest singly military
requirements not being pushed
vigorously Is in the field Of COM
munications satellites. Ranking
officers believe the unmet needs
can be fulfilled within three
years If the go-ahead Is given.
Civilian Network Questioned
The first military system
would be what Is known as a
"low-orbit random" arrange
ment with q fairly large num-
Der Of satellites In the sky at
attitudes Of o few thousand
miles. This would give high
probability Of constant commu-
nication between all parts Of
the globe; or, to look at 1t an
other way, continuous contact,
with only a few seconds dead
time each day between any two
conceivable points.
Military men emphasized that