RECOMMENDATIONS* ON WHICH CIA HAS SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPORTING TO THE

Created: 5/12/1955

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

5

Submitted by CIA

MR Case

Occyr.erl

ohi&/us

BsspoMsiamiY for KMiatgL^fl ji^u^

SUBJECT TO COORDINATION WITH OTI-SR AGENCIES

recommendation reads as follows:

;. Intelligence applications warrant anprogram leading to very small artificialin orbits around the earth. Construction of large surveillance satellites must wait, upon adequate solutions to some extraordinary technical problems n the information gathering and reporting and its ower of supply, and should wait upon development of the intercontinental ballistic missile rocketsystem. The ultimate objective of research and development on the large satellite should be continuous surveillance that Is both extensive and selective and that can give fine-scale detailfor the identification of objects (airplanes, trains, buildings) on the ground.

is an increasing, ascunt of avidence that the

nlaelnr norfi ard ^ore emphasis on thelaunching of the satellite. Press and radiolncu aepTemperaverowing, scientific effort directed toVard the successful laflTicnTng of the firstVlflBntally the Soviet union has concluded that their satellite' program can contribute enough prestige of cold war value or knowledge of military value to justify the diversion of the necessary skills, scarce material and labor from immediate military production. If the Soviet effort shouldimilar United States effort, there is

the Technological Capabilities Panel.

BPPRDVID FOR REltflSE DATE-8

no doubt but that their propaganda vould capitalize on the thomo of the scientific and industrial superiority of the communist system.

Tha Successful launching nf^11

do aa event KSarp*JcJssfu'

th2compSpafiJ^Wblicltybe centered on the sat^ni nprn^t Kgand layaen have dreamed of exploring iv firfJ successful ponetration of space willbe the small satellite vohicle recommended byCapabilities Panel. The*nt.Itim hi fr ^ttgoufihoutorld.

nited States' reputation as the scientificleader of the world has beon of immeasurablecompeting against Soviet aims in both neutralaT the reputation of the United States'

scientific commity has been sharply challenged by Soviet

Union would like to surpass our scientific and industrial reputation in order to further her influence over neutralist itmJU B Jhe confidenc3 of states allied with the

I1 lion's scientists,industrialists were apparently to surpassuter space, her propapanda machine

^ccessfully launches the first satellite, it is most Important that this be done with un-

Sl5SJk^^ sovlet

taiU^SS* tile motivation to this development in order to cover her own inability to win this race. To majlmlze our cold war gain ln prestige and to minimize the

o^culS be

launched ln an atmosphere of international good will and

forest. For this reason the CIA strongly concurs in the Department of Defense's suggestion that a

- ^tionalBCommittee of theto the international scientific

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S^BST

The small scientific vehicle isecessary step in the developmentarger satellite that could possibly provide early warning information through continuousand photographic surveillance of the USSR, uture satellite that could directly collect intelligence data would be of great interest to the intelligence community.

The Department of Defense has consulted with the Agency, and we are aware ol theirhich have our full concurrence and strong supportt

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Original document.

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