SOVIET EARTH SATELLITE CAPABILITIES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: DNI
• Collection: Intelligence Warning of the 1957 Launch of Sputnik
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0006687229
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: September 22, 2017
• Document Release Date: October 4, 2017
• Case Number: SC-2017-00012
• Publication Date: January 24, 1957

Approved for Release: 2017/09/08 CO6687229
EO 13526 3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs,-. =
EO 1352E0 13526 3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
24 January 1957
NSC BRIEFING
SOVIET EARTH SATELLITE CAPABILITIES
I. In April 1955, the U SSR announced the formation of the Permanent
Interagency Commission for Interplanetary Communications. There is
other evidence indicating the existence of this Commission nt least as
early as the fall of 1954. The public announcement vas the first
official indication that the USSR was actively en 'aged on problems
associated with the launching and orbiting of earth satellite vehicles.
TI. The six commission members named are among the leadirT Soviet
scientists; their competance in such fields as astrophysics and nuclear
research is internationally recognized. One of the first tasks of this
commission was stated to be the organization of work for rthe creation of
on
"automatic" laboratory for scientific research of outer space. This
"automatic" laboratory is believed to he an unmanned earth satellite.
-TI. Since late 1955, numerous unofficial statements have been
attributed to Soviet scientists concerning Soviet intentions to launch
satellites during the International reo)hysical Year (1 July 1957 to
31 Jecewther 195). In September 1956, the Soviet ICY Committee announced
its intention to participate in the ICY rocket and earth satellite programs.
However, no detailed program was submitted 3/1:-1 we still do not have firm
information on the numbers of vehicles, their size, and the Soviet
launching plans., although we do have some data which indicates that the
numbers of vehicles involved in tdk
in our program.
ogram generally approximates those
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SEW
IV. The USSR will probably make a ma or effort to be the rirst country
to orbit an earth satellite. On the basis of our estimate of Soviet
guided missile capabilities, we believe that the USSR possesses the
basic technical capabilities, skills, and other resources rechlired to
develop, build, and orbit an unmanned satellite vehicle. 7e believe
that the USSR has :he capability of orbiting, in early 1957, ,= satellite
vehicle which could acquire scientific information and data of limited
military value. A satellite vehicle possessing substantial reconnaissance
capabilities of military value could 1,robably be orbited in the period
1963-65.
Approved for Release: 2017/09/08 C06687229