SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE SCHEDULING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP63-00313A000500170005-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2002
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 11, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

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USIB-D-41. 14/7
(COMOR-D-48/21)
Final-USIB Approved
11 February 1963
Limited Distribution
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
SUBJECT . Satellite Reconnaissance Scheduling
REFERENCE USIB-D-41. 14/7, 4 February 1963
1. USIB, at its 6 February meeting,. considered the subject matter
and, with respect thereto, took the following actions:
a. Noted the report on the subject (referenced above) which
had been. prepared. by its Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance
(COMOR).
b. Approved the COMOR recommendations regarding satellite
scheduling in paragraph 8 of the reference, subject to: (1) amend-
ment of the first sentence in sub-paragraph 8. a. and (2) modification
of the text of sub-paragraph 8.b. to reflect USIB agreement that the
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) be requested to investigate
and inform USIB regarding the possibility of providing a standby
reconnaissance capability for use on call in crisis situations.
c. Agreed, with further reference to the subject schedule,
that NRO should be requested to arrange a sufficient back-up of
proven boosters to lift the existing type of CORONA payloads
which may be required to provide essential coverage, in the event
of failure or delay in operation of the new systems.
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USIB-D--41. 14/7
(COMOR-D-48/21)
Final-USIB Approved
11 February 1963
Limited Distribution
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2. The above USIB actions, together with a copy of the referenced
paper, revised to incorporate the afore-indicated Board approved changes,
were transmitted to the Director, NRO.,by memorandum of this date.
The Director, NRO, was requested.in that communication to advise the
USIB regarding NRO actions on the foregoing matters.
3. Attached for record purposes is a copy of the COMOR paper in
its revised and approved form, less Tab A, which was not revised and
which remains, as previously circulated, a limited distribution item.
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Executive Secretary
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Attachment
USIB-D-41. 14/7
(COMOR-Dl-48/21)
Final-US.IB Approved
11 February 1963
Limited Distribution
MEMORANDUM FOR : United States Intelligence Board
SUBJECT COMOR Recommendation on Satellite
Scheduling
1. The Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance in pursuance of
the request of the United States Intelligence Board (see USIB-D-41. 14/4,
COMOR-D-48/20) has, with the cooperation of the National Reconnaissance
Office (NR.O) reviewed the schedule for satellite photographic and electronic
systems for the period through June 1964. Submitted as Tab A is a re-
vision of the NRO schedule for satellite photographic and electronic
systems. The COMOR recommendations on this are in paragraph 8
below.
2. Other actions pertinent to requirements guidance for the NRO
are summarized as follows:
a. To assist in further research and development planning, a
statement of the essential elements of information and the require-
ment for the resolution desired for satellite photography submitted
to the NRO on 28 August 1962 (COMOR-D-61/1). This still con-
stitutes valid guidance for research and development.
b. With regard to the electronics systems section of the
schedule, COMMOR believes that at this time it will meet require-
meats. However, a new statement of requirements is in the
process of preparation and will be forwarded as soon as completed.
C. COMOR has completed and forwarded to the D/NRO the
targeting guidance for programming the L mission scheduled for
February. COMOR will continue to provide specific guidance for
each of these missions.
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a. The average time lapses permissible in coverage of the
various types of targets.
b. The average optimum time lapses for purposes of
comparative coverage.
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USIB-Dm41. 14/7
(COMOR-D048/21)
Final-USIB Approved
11 February 1963
Limited Distribution
d. The USIB has notified NRO of the requirement for an.
ARGON mission in April to be followed by one in June if required.
3. In studying this program in cooperation with the NRO, COMOR
was advised that the present schedule for photographic systems is not in
competition with the electronic systems schedule or vice versa.
5. Our present major concern in the photographic field, therefore,
is to evaluate the adequacy of the search and surveillance program for
which the M and J systems were designed. Experience since the in-
ception of the satellite program has furnished a basis for determining
the frequency of coverage in general needed to satisfy most of our highest
priority intelligence requirements using the present system in operation.
In establishing the intervals at which this coverage should be obtained,
the following factors were considered.
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USIB-D?41. 14/7
(COMOR-D-48/21)
Final.USIB Approved
11 February 1963
Limited Distribution
C. The time required to process and interpret the results
of a .mission to a degree which will permit review of the highest
priority objectives and revision or refinement of the target file
and. photo interpretation requirements.
6. The revised NRO schedule for the Jvtype satellite reflecting
use of 4 of the spare systems as shown in the revision of Tab A is an
adequate approach for satisfying the intelligence community requirement
for a search and surveillance program conducted through satellite
photography. (CO.MOR notes that failure of the J system would require
the substitution of 2 M systems. for every J.. in the schedule as revised
if the requirement is to be met.) The revision takes into account the
need for increasing surveillance during the good weather periods. of
1963. and the first half of 1964, times which are optimum for maximum
photographic collection. In summary, it should provide.
a. Potential coverage of priority targets at 10-day intervals
during summer months when. daylight and weather conditions are
favorable,
b. Potential coverage of priority targets at l5 day intervals
during the winter months, when adverse weather conditions and
inadequate daylight render missions less productive.
7. The Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance has been concerned
that, there should be available on a continuing standby a satellite recon-
naissance capability for emergency, such as was faced by the United States
Intelligence Board in the Berlin crisis of 1961 and the Cuban. crisis of
1962. It is. COMOR's feeling that even under the best of circumstances,
satellite reconnaissance both today and in the foreseeable future cannot
produce information on a sufficiently timely basis to serve as an "indi-
cation source" as. the term is normally used. However, in a_ continuing
cold-war crisis period, even with the time lapse between. launch and
readout satellite reconnaissance can provide valuable intelligence
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USIB-D-41. 14/7
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Final-USIB Approved
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Limited Distribution
information that could be critical in policy decisions. It is for this, reason
that COMOR submits for USIB consideration. and approval the recommenda-
tion below in paragraph 8. b.
a. USIB considers that the NRO schedule in Tab A (including
the revision proposed by COMOR) will, if successfully carried out,
meet essential intelligence requirements for. satellite reconnaissance
coverage as currently anticipated. The additional missions proposed
will provide needed intelligence coverage during the good-weather
months (July and September) in 1963 and the good-weather months
up to mid-64 (April and June);
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b. USIB requests that NRO investigate and inform USIB whether
it would be possible to provide for use on call in future crisis situa-
tions a standby satellite reconnaissance capability, which would
incorporate a vehicle programmed against the type of targets desig-
nated as possible indicators. during the tension last October
3684-62). Such a capability would include provision for immediate
replacement of vehicles. fired and a means for these vehicles, taking
priority over other firings, in the U. S. satellite schedule. The
targets would be relatively few in number and the plan would be to
program in such a.manner as to cover a broad and representative
selection of targets, and as many as possible, during each day's
orbits.
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Attachment. "Schedule"--distributed
only to USIB members and COMOR
members.
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