TAGBOARD MISSIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A000100060007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 9, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 20, 1970
• Content Type: MF

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NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
March 20, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs
Attorney General.
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs)
Director of Central Intelligence
Executive Secretary, 40 Committee
SUBJECT: TAGBOARD Missions
Following. is a brief summary of the November 10, 1969
operational mission and the February 20, 1970 test mission.
A summary of all flights to date is attached.
TAGBOARD flew its first limited operational mission
over South China on November 10, 1969. Launch and early
flight were successful as the drone obtained the programmed
altitude of 84,000 feet and a cruise mach of 3.27. During
the terminal phase of the flight the drone was not acquired
(visually or electronically) and the payload was not recovered.
NSA reported no SIGINT that could be correlated with
the mission. The drone's position was fixed at only 50 miles
off the Island of Hainan and 80 miles from the China mainland,
just prior to the drone's telemetry being turned off on the
inbound track well within range of coastal air defense radars.
The drone's operating altitude, speed and small radar cross
section (.2 sq meter frontal area with a 150 depression
angle) give it a high probability of survival.
Investigations and laboratory simulations now indicate
that computational errors in the drone's inertial navigation
system (INS) prevented the drone.from flying the programmed
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route. Self destruction probably occurred after fuel exhaus-
Software changes have since been made and tested to correct
the computational errors, and a "fail safe" feature has been
incorporated in the INS that will provide positive control of
-the drone's flight path.
On February 20, 1970, TAGBOARD flew a completely success-
ful test mission to validate the software and "fail safe"
changes to the INS program, 25X1A~
tion upon descent at the pre-set altitude 25X1A~,
The TAGBOARD system is now ready for another operational
test mission. Drones are located at Beale AFB and are ready
for flight.
1 Attachment
Summary of Flights
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SUMMARY OF TAGBOARD B-52 LAUNCHES
November 6, 1967. Drone #507. PMR. (PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE)
Launch and boost were
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Launch and boo successful. Free flight continued
on course for
feet less than normal). Flight terminated prema ure y
after failure of the hydraulic system and subsequent loss
of control. The hatch was not recovered.
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hatch was not recovered.
successful. Drone attained a mach
Cruise flight was not sustained
due to low inlet recovery; deformed inlet cone primary
suspect. Drone travelled 134 miles down range and the
December 22 1967. Drone #509. PMR.
January 1.9, 1968. Drone #508. PMR.
Launch and.boost were successful. The drone travelled
550 miles down range, then the flight terminated prematurely
when the drone began a pitch down and roll to the left.
Telemetry was lost. Most probable cause of failure was
electrical malfunction. The hatch was not recovered.
April 30, 1968. Drone #511. PMR. -
Launch and boost were successful. Following booster
ejection, the drone was unable to sustain cruise and lost
altitude and speed due to low thrust from the engine (in-
let not started). Drone travelled 150 miles down range
and was destroyed. Hatch-not recovered.
June 16, 1968. Drone #512. PMR.?
Successful test flight. I
The hatch was air-recovered by JC-IJU alrcra .
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July 1, 1968. Drone #514. PMR.
During pushover at the top of boost phase, the drone
became laterally unstable due to insufficient-autopilot
gains. At separation, the booster struck the drone,
rupturing the drone's fuel tank. The hatch ejected upon
command and was recovered from the water in good condition.
August 28, 1968. Drone #516. PMR.
Launch and boost were successful. However, the drone's
engine remained at minimum power and cruise altitude
was not maintained. The hatch ejected at an excessive
speed on descent and was not recovered.
December 15, 1968. Drone #515. PMR.
t flijzht. , 25X1A
This was the first mission
to test the total system with the camera aboard. The
hatch was air-recovered by JC-130.
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February 11, 1969. Drone #518. PMR.
Launch and boost successful. Apparent shift in autopilot
control at excessive mach caused the drone to descend
resulting in the inlet remaining only partially started
with attendant loss in thrust. Severe--asoillations
resulted. Drone believed to have structurally destroyed
itself. Hatch was'not recovered.
May 10, 1969. Drone #519. PMR.
Successful test flight.
July 10, 1969. Drone #520. PMR.
Successful test flight.
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Hatch was air recovered by JC-130.
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Hatch was air-recovered by JC-130.
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November 10, 1969. Drone #517. First operational mission.
Launch and boost successful. Computational errors in the
drone's Inertial Navigation System prevented drone from
flying the programmed route. Self-destruct believed to
have occurred upon descent at 0 feet. Hatch was 25X1A
not recovered.
February 20, 1970.. Drone-#521. PMR.
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Successful test flight. 1 ::1
Changes to INS program validated.
Hatch was air-recovered by JC-130.
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