Office of the Historian

158. Briefing Note for May 13 NSC Meeting1

Washington, undated
[Facsimile Page 1]

Priorities for Space Programs

On January 22, 1958, the President on the advice of the National Security Council, by NSC Action No. 1846, established the highest priority for certain ballistic missile and space programs. In March 1959, as a result of developments in various satellite programs over the intervening months, the Secretary of Defense recommended certain changes in satellite priorities. These changes are:

1.
That the VANGUARD-JUPITER C scientific satellite programs be deleted from the priority list.
2.
That three other satellite programs be added, notably, SENTRY (Satellite-borne visual and Ferret reconnaissance system); DISCOVERER (Satellite guidance and recovery); and MERCURY (Manned satellite).

In addition, the Secretary of Defense recommended a change in the system whereby he determined satellite priorities, so that in the future changes in priorities for space programs will be made by the President on the advice of the National Aeronautics and Space Council. The proposed changes were approved by the President on the advice of the National Aeronautics and Space Council at its meeting on April 27, 1959.

The purpose of bringing this matter before you this morning is to ask the National Security Council to note these changes and make necessary revisions in the existing NSC statement of policy on the subject (NSC Action No. 1846). The Joint Chiefs of Staff concur in this proposal.

  1. Source: Priorities for space programs. Top Secret. 1 p. Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records.↩