REFERENCES TO THE PURCELL PANEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP71B00508R000100070005-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 8, 2002
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: December 14, 1964
• Content Type: MF

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Approved F -Release 2002/06/14: CIA-RDP71 B005JR000100070005-5
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14 000232320
14 December 1964
25X1A MEMORANDUM FOR:
25X1A
SUBJECT References to the Purcell Panel
1. Sporadically during the past year or so, I
have heard several derogatory comments made concerning
the Purcell Panel and its obvious shallow approach or
lack of true understanding of the satellite reconnaissance
requirements. I think that such observations are made
unjustly due to lack of understanding by the commentators
of exactly what the Purcell Panel was supposed to do;
what it had been briefed during the course of its meeting;
and, on what basis the Panel drew its conclusions.
2. I direct this memorandum to you, since I believe
you are in a. pretty good spot where such comments will
focus, or the results of such comments will pass through.
For instance, the very recent FIAB Report by Dr. McMillan
refers to the Purcell Panel Report, and one would draw
the conclusion that upon reviewing the world at large,
Purcell said simply that the best thing to do is stay
with CORONA. This is not really the case. The Purcell
Panel was briefed by various contractors, military and
Governmental personnel, as to what the present satellite
reconnaissance systems were and what systems were in design
development or undergoing conception. They were further
briefed by James Reber as to the latest COMOR requirements
at that time; and thirdly, they were briefed by Mr. Art
Lundahl, Director of NPIC, as to what resolution is desirable
:eor a Photographic Interpreter to do his job. At that time,
-the Panel was advised that as far as a PI was concerned,
-there was no difference in acquiring intelligence from a
:L0-foot system or a 5-foot system. The Purcell Panel had
also been briefed that the present CORONA system varied in
its resolution from 9 feet to as much as 20 or more.
Additionally, it was briefed that the last thing down the
ik
p
e as far as reconnaissance system to the then
two-foot resolution over a wide swath. However, this
~uy1c
].0,000 lb. monster would require a TITAN IIIC to place
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it in orbit. The Panel felt that rather than bankrupt
25X1A the U.S. Treasury by launching the 0 system to
acquire our area coverage, that we turn to CORONA
and make CORONA work well all the time, i.e. optimize
the CORONA system to the 9-foot resolution that it
had proven it was capable of.
25X1A
4. You may file this in you "Things to be Remembered."
25X1A Orig -
1 - Chrono
1 - Purcell Panel File
25X1A
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3. Where the Purcell Panel Report falters is the
fact that the Panel's recommendations are not preceded
by a thorough documentation of the presentations made
to the Panel, which form the basis for its recommendations.
I am confident that should you convene the same group and
present them with the current systems underway and advise
them of the facts of the true resolutions required, you
would get a, different recommendation than that of July 1963.
O/DDS&T/SPS Iamp:7905 (14 Dec. 64)
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