ARGON PRIORITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01580R002004110016-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 24, 2013
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: July 10, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/27 : CIA-RDP80R01580R002004110016-9
O0a0NALAROON
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN
RANDLE VIA BMW CONTROL SYSTEM ONUf
MEMORANDUM FOR TIE =MOTOR, NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
SUBJECT : AROON Priority
REFERENCES: a.
b.
U8121441.13/111 2 july 1963
Limorandum for the Chairman, USIB from DNRO,
name subject, dated 8 July 1963
1. At its meeting on 10 July, the United States Intelligence
Board (USIB) discussed. with Mr. Kiefer your memorendum on the
subject of 8 July (reference b.) in response to the recommendations
of the USIB in its 2 Ally meeting (reference a.).
2. The USIB agreed that the photographic satellite schedule
in the attaehments to reference b. appeer generally responsive to
the intelligence requirements of the us:al provided that:
a. In the event of a failure of 3-1001, NRO arranges for
the conversion of J-1002 to a CORONA M and takes preparatory
steps to mieimize any time delay required for such conversion.
b. The qeestion of scheduling 9c59 as an MOM is
reviewed about the middle of August.
c. NROmeambile investigates the feasibility of moving
the launching of 9059 up to early October in the event it is
decided to schedule it as AROON.
3. Accordingly, the above action by the USIB is transmitted
herewith for the guidance of NRO. It is requested that um be
kept advised of any further developments regarding the launching
schedule, with particular reference to the provisos in 2.a., b.
ad C. above.
USIB:JSLay:mmk(10 Jul 63)
DISBRIBUTION:
Copy #1&2 - Addressee
DDCI
DD/I
Chairman COMOR
USIB/S
ER
RANDLE
JOHN A. McCOVE
Chairman
BYE-4270-63
Copy No.
VIA BYEMAN COMM% sysTat ONLY
CORONA/ ARGON
EXECUTIVE REIolitY
ROOM 7-E-12
, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/27: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004110016-9
STAT
. e4
,
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oLuriLi c
?
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY
ontrol System
DEPARTMENTOFTHE AIR FORCE
WASH I NGTON
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN, USIB
SUBJECT: ARGON Priority
References:
8 JUL 1963
tti
a. Memorandum for DNRO from Chairman, USIB,
same subject, dated 27 June 63
b. Memorandum for Chairman, USIB from DNRO,
same subject, dated 1 July 1963
The slowdown in the satellite reconnaissance launch
schedule that was caused by our earlier technical diffi-
culties, combined with the inherent lead times required to
change from a CORONA J or a LANYARD to a CORONA M or an
ARGON restrict the options available to us for meeting your
requirements of an ARGON in July or August, a CORONA M in
July, August and September plus a backup CORONA M.
Review of these options indicate that the requirements
can best be satisfied by:
a. Maintaining the present schedule in July.
b. Changing one CORONA J (J-1002) to an ARGON
in August.
c. Retaining the option to launch one of the
CORONA J's (J-1004) scheduled in September as either an M
or a J until we see the results of the three CORONA missions
scheduled for July.
d. Maintaining the three CORONA J's and three
LANYARDS scheduled during July, August and September.
This schedule does not include a CORONA M launch in
August, but it does contain a CORONA J launch in late July,
which if successful will permit coverage well into August.
I EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC REGRADING; !
i
DOD DIR. 5200.10 DOES NOT APPLY
Handle via BYEMAN
Control System
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sApssAzE-J-2-3 9-6 3
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TOP SECRET hallow via linioN
Control System
At this time, I do not consider the CORONA J, through
first recovery, appreciably less reliable than the CORONA M.
A few months ago before we had satisfactorily demonstrated
the Thrust Assisted THOR, this was not the case. ?The CORONA
J was risky and backup with CORONA M was justified. Now,
although CORONA M must be considered slightly more reliable
than CORONA J, this advantage probably does not apply to a
system that has been converted to an M from a J.
Based on the above, I am revising the launch schedule,
to include an ARGON in August as shown on the attached
schedule.
i/tv/(gzio
Brockway McMjfLlan
Director
National Reconnaissance Office
2 Atchs
1. July-Oct NRP Photo
Satellite Schedule
2. FY 64 NRP Photo
Satellite Schedule
Haue via ORMAN
Control System
2 :COPY_ _ op:76-6-6FF
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Handle via BYEMAN
Control System
Mission
Type
Date
Mission
Type
Date
Mission
Type
Date
Mission
Type
Date
JULY-OCTOBER 1963 NRP PHOTOGRAPHIC SATELLITE SCHEDULE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
9057
CM
9058A
ARGON
1003
CM or J3
1005
J5
16
15
17
15
?
1001
8004
1004
9059
J1
L4
J4
C*
29
27
27
8003
1002
8005
1006
L3
J2
L5
J6
29
30
30
24
4001
i
4002
G
G
13
17
I
* Primary CORONA M standby, secondary ARGON backup
TOP SECRET
.,ECLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC REGRADING;
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Pnnfvell SAFSS r3YE-S2- 3
8 ,JUL 1963
.601-775:7-t7oPIEE
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viaef
'thd
liatiie v
Control System
FY 64 NRP PHOTOGRAPHIC SATELLITE SCHEDULE
CORONA "M?
ttjtt
ARGON
GAMBIT'
NOTES:
()
*
**
SPARES
CY 63
CY 64
' 8 JUL 1963
Pay-
load
Sys-
ternH
J
A
S 0 N
D
J
F
M
A
a
J
1
(1) (1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
4.*:
1
1
2**
2 1
1
1
1
1111
***-
3
5
1
1
1
1
1*****
1
1
1 2
1
1
1111
(1)
_ .
(1)
Standby launches at continuous (sequential) R-7 condition
One each complete system available Oct, Nov, Dec 1963 and Jan 1964
One each of these J launches will be scheduled for primary launch
as single recovery CM's secondary J. Decision to be made pending
success of preceding J.
*** Three L payloads are currently available. Five additional LANYARD
payloads available for launch Jan-June 1964.
ARGON payloads available for launch beginning June 1964
****.
*****
Primary CORONA :m standby, secondary ARGON backup
Handle via HYMAN
Control System
TOP SECRET sApssive-6-L 3 5/-6
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/27
: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004110016-9
UNCLASSIFIED ' CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DAT9JA4.
INITIALS
1
Chairman, USIB
e
2
3
4
5
6
ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
1
SIGNATURE
Remarks:
The attached memorandum for the Director,NRO
is submitted for signature in accordance with
the USIB action today.
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
FROM: NAME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NO.
DATE
S. Lay, Jr., Exec. Secretary USIB
10 Jul
UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
I
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/27
.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1961 0-587282
: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004110016-9