VULNERABILITY OF U.S. RECONNAISSANCE SATELLITES: THE DELINEATION OF COMPONENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00285R000200070013-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: January 1, 1965
• Content Type: MF

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP75B00285R000200070013-9
SC-03480-65
Cy No I of 10
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant Director, OSA
Assistant Director, OSI
Chief, Special Projects Staff
SUBJECT: Vulnerability of U.S. Reconnaissance
Satellites: The Delineation of
Component Responsibilities
1. With the emergence of a potential Soviet threat
to the United States reconnaissance satellite capability,
it is vitally important that the responsibilities of the
various DDS&T components in the assessment and countering
of this threat be coordinated and carried through in a
timely and thorough fashion. The purpose of this memo-
randum is to define clearly these responsibilities in
order to insure that all aspects of this problem are
being actively and efficiently addressed by the relevant
line organizations.
2. The general satellite vulnerability problem is
functionally resolvable into two areas of activity:
(a) the assessment of the Soviet capabilities to inter-
fere with the U.S. satellite program, and (b) the
development of techniques and tactics to reduce the
vulnerability of these satellites to such interference.
The former area is basically an intelligence analysis
problem, while the latter is properly an operational
and hardware development concern. As it has been in the
past, the intelligence analysis activity is the responsi-
bility of the Office of Scientific Intelligence. This
responsibility shall include the identification of Soviet
anti-satellite related activities, as well as the estima-
tion of the characteristics of any emergent Soviet anti-
satellite weapons system. In order to expedite the flow
of information to the operational components of the NRO
concerned, AD/SI will institute a series of quarterly
status reports summarizing the current understanding of
the possible Soviet anti- satellite program. These reports
should be issued at an all-source classified level and be
aimed at the particular requirements of those concerned
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP75B00285R000200070013-9
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-R DP75B00285R000200070013-9
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SUBJECT: Vulnerability of U.S. Reconnaissance Satellites:
The Delineation of Component Responsibilities
with the development of satellite systems and the conduct
of satellite operations. These reports will be given
appropriate distribution by the Deputy Director for
Science and Technology.
3. The DDS&T does not have exclusive responsibility
for satellite vulnerability reduction within the NRO,
however. Within this Directorate, the Special Projects
Staff should have the responsibility for supporting all
NRO programs in the area of developing tactics and
techniques for reducing the vulnerability of satellite
systems. This responsibility includes a detailed
assessment of the effectiveness of any measures and
tactics now in operational use or being considered for
operational use, as well as any detailed damage level
estimates requiring particular configuration knowledge
of current or planned operational systems. It is
imperative that in these matters the Special or Jects
Staff, in coordination with the AD/OSA as Director of
Program B, be the single point of contact with the NRO
and other Government agencies having operational satellit
missions within the National Reconnaissance Program.
For these reasons it is essential for OSI, SPS and OSA
to develop and maintain a close working relationship.
ALBERT D. WHEELON
Deputy Director
for
Science and Technology
Distribution:
Cy 1 & 2 - AD/OSA
3 & 4 - AD/OSI
5 & 6 - C/SPS
7 - Subj.
8 - Chrono
9 & 10 - Reg
DD/S&T/ADWheelon/amc/12 Jan 65
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HANOL.g V1,4 COMIMr
T u 11 SECRET CONTROL, SYSTEM ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP75B00285R000200070013-9