OSP'S NRO QUARTERLY REPORT ON NRP SATELLITE SYSTEMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72R00410R000100110002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2003
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: July 28, 1969
• Content Type: MF

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2 8 JUL 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
SUBJECT : OSP's NRO Quarterly Report on NRP
Satellite Systems
Attached for your consolidation into an overall CIA
Reconnaissance Report-is OSPts NRO Quarterly Progress
Report. Two additional copies are attached for Dr. McLucas
and General Berg, and one copy each of CORONA
is attached for forwarding to SAFSP.
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NRO
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NRO
Director of Speciz l Projects
Attachments: a/s
dart;:;:as~r, asd
NRO review(s)
co JI For ReI 5W~
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'SUBJECT: OSP's NRO Quarterly Report on NRP Satellite Systems
Distribution:
Cys 1 thru 4 - D/Recon(w/att)
5 D/OSP(w/att)
6 - DD/OSP(w/att)
7 - EO/OSP(w/att)
8 - C /PAD /OSP (w /att)
9 - D&AD/OSP(w/D&AD att)
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N-RO-1 l0
11 -
12 - COR/OSP(w/COR att)
13 - RB,'OSP(w/att)
14 - RB/'DD/S&T(w/att)--
15 - PPBB File
25X1 DD/S&T/OSP/PAD/PPBB,I:m 1(28 Jul 69;
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QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT
SATELLITE SYSTEMS
1 April 1969 through 30 June 1969
I. CORONA PROGR gM
A. General
Maintenance 3 f system reliabilit y is. of continuing concern
industry personnel
during the phase down period as XPer
are being assigned out of the program. Positive steps are being
taken to attempt to reduce or hopefulfrequency eliminate
ng recentnmissions.
which have occurred. with increased ish
a Discussions have been initiat e withcontractors
to enhancesquall ty conto aJ
conservwtiti~? personnel reduction
procedures. A special report on these efforts will be submitted
under separate cover.
O en Items From Last Quarter
B.
Di ital Shift i'Le ister DSR) CR-6 Anoilzalies
t has been determined that the DSR malfunction which occurred 25X
I nd Rev 22 is not a design
during Mission 1106 on Rev 9 25>
changes are
deficiency. The contractor analysis indicates no circuit
DSR assigned
required, and no hardware changes are being made. The
e
ano to Mission 1107 was subjected to speciatests recogni
Over 800 command
if it occurred and to establish flight ready conf Software loads were initiated successfully during loads wouldtbe generated withgeS
were made so that in-flight comma to identify the anomaly
other than a "200" word in the first position,
more easily if it should occur. Retransmit: ion of the load can then be
A further software and
accomplished to obtain correct operations.
the exult of Mission 1107
procedural change has been found necessary a
to prevent occurrence of cases which can word into
first position and preclude the desired TM verification.
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C. :r- I System Status
J-44 Flight Summary
1. On 2 May 1969 J-44 (Mission 10..51) was success-
fully launched. This mission was only the second in the
CORONA series that was flown using a low inclination
orbit and
This type o orbit provided saturation type 'overage of
specific denied areas.
2. The Mission lasted a total of 17 days (one day
longer than nominal). This extra day was ~.vailable due to
an unexpected bonus from the Agena batteries. During the
Mission the only hardware anomaly which occurred was that
the Horizon Optics failed to operate for 20 frames during
Rev 7. It is believed that a particle of dirt caused. a relay
to fail for this short period.--no action is recommended.
3. Photographically, this system did not produce
the results that were expected. The PEIR reported that
the photography
"exhibits extreme image variability with overall
quality of forward camera being poorer than an
average J-1 Mission. The overall image quality
of the aft-looking camera is somewhat better
than the forward. and. exhibits examples of imagery
comparable to an average J-1 Mission. In general,
the imagery of both pan cameras is soft and lacks
crispn?. ss and, overall edge sharpne., s.
The PI comment on suitability of 1051-1 ranges
from good to poor with the majority in the fair to
poor category. The suitability of 1051-2 ranges
from good. to poor with the majority in the fair
category. Weather is considered. a major degrading
factor, hindering the readout. "
Efforts have been directed to test and. evaluation of t?'e
dynamic film behavior of J-46, the single remaining J-1 system.
This, it is believed., will reduce the probability of similar
results from J-46.
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D. Ultra Thin Base Film - Testing
1. Since CR-5 (Mission 1105) Itek has conducted
studies of UTr3 handling characteristics. A brief descrip-
tion of these tests and results is given below:
a. Random flatness errors appear similar
for 3404 and SO-380 films;
b. Average lift increases in vacuum from
ambiextt levels, and. SO-380 has a larger increase;
c. The increase in average lift seems to be
larger the first two days, when the moisture content
of the film is highest;
d. ' No definite relation of magnitude of random
flatness errors is observed between ambient and
vacuum conditions;
e. Average lift is characteristic of a particular
instruanent;
f. Higher tensions tend to stabilize the SO-380
film during the first two days while drying is occurring.
2. Itek, West Coast, has also begun a series of film
thermal/vacuum tests. The purpose of this test series is to
study the tension--curl relationship, sensitivity, and moisture
characteristics of certain types of film as a function of tension,
temperature, and, vacuum, using interferoinetry to measure the
film distortion quantitatively. The second. group of tests will
study the effects of environment on film speed and. granularity.
The last test will study the change in moisture content of the
film under specified. environmental conditions, using a micro-
wave detector to measure the moisture content. These tests
are under way and are scheduled-to be completed in early
August.
3. CR-8 will be subjected. to -a Dr. "A" test during its
environmental test in the HIVOS chamber. If results are
acceptable, the system will fly with SO-380 in late October 1969.
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E. Proposals and. Future Changes
1. Glass Filters - CR-14 and up will use glass filters.
2. Splices - Ultrasonic splices tested, thus far have
proved satisfactory. Testing will continua, this summer with
a decision to be made sometime this fall.
F. Itek has delivered. the final J-3 systems and has shut down
the manufacturing ard test facility in Boston. The Program direction
and engineering support will be located. in the Palo Alto Directorate and
A/P on the West Coast. The Photoscience Group will be maintained in
Lexington providing support to the CORONA Program.
General Electric has delivered. the final order of SRV's, with
only 17 forebodies remaining to be manufactured and delivered to A/P.
G. E. is maintaining engineering and .management support in Philadelphia
with two persons in the field. at A; - '.
G. Deliveries to A/P
H.
330/331 20 May 1969
332/333 11 April 1969
300/301 9 May 1969
Mission Completed This. Quarter
Mission No. 1051
Booster No. 69-037
Agena No. 1649
Payload No. J-44
Instrument No. 212/213
SI No. D-115/122
DR CG No. 617
Film Type 3404
Flight Date 2 May 1969
Feet Payload. Flown 32, 600 feet
Feet Payload. Recovered. 32, 600 feet
Recovery Dates 9 May 1969
18 May 1969
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I. Missions Planned for Next Quarter
Date
23 July 1969
Mission
1107
Payload
CR-7
17 September 1969
1052
J-46
J. Meetings and Briefings
1. Dr. McLucas was given a CORONA briefing and
tour of A/P on 22 April.
2. Mi:.sion 1051 PET Meeting was held 4-6 June 1969.
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