238. Memorandum of Conference with the President1
OTHERS PRESENT
- Secretaries Herter, Douglas, Generals Cabell, Twining, Dr. York, Mr. Charyk, Dr. Kistiakowsky, Mr. Gordon Gray, General Goodpaster
This group met with the President in the Cabinet Room to consider questions relating to military space reconnaissance, surveillance, detection and inspection. Before taking up this subject, General Cabell commented that the intelligence community has as yet not been able to identify the “dark object,” believed to be a Soviet satellite, picked up a few days ago. Dr. York said that it may be a Soviet satellite, but might also be material from a satellite of ours. General Cabell also reported on a recent successful special reconnaissance mission conducted by the British.
[text not declassified] He mentioned in particular that this project is planned to terminate with the end of this year, and suggested that this point needs further consideration. He then followed with presentations on the Samos reconnaissance satellite program, which is planned to include both “readout” and recoverable capsule versions. He ended with a description of the Midas early warning satellite.
Dr. Kistiakowsky said that, as spokesman for Dr. Land, who has taken a great interest in this matter, he would like to voice concern about the “readout” satellite. This is an apparatus of very great complexity. It will be very valuable when obtained, and should be the ultimate objective. It will provide a resolution of 20 feet. Since an interpreter can identify an object about two and one-half times as large as this, it will give an ability to recognize objects of fifty feet in dimension. He thought there would be a danger of putting undue confidence in the readout [Facsimile Page 2] system, and thought that maximum effort should be put into the recovery system. Dr. York said that about three months ago the Air Force was put on to the recovery system as the top priority effort. The readout system is apparently not interfering with or delaying the development of the recovery system.
Assistant Secretary Charyk then described a possible space surveillance system. This is a project under ARPA which has been assigned to the Air Force. The key element is a space surveillance and control center, into which information is fed from all sources, including the U.S. space tracking network. For the project, consideration is being given [Typeset Page 993] to establishment of three very large radars in the U.S. which would give coverage up to a height of 2000 miles against objects with a one square meter cross-section and up to 4000 miles against objects with a ten square meter cross-section. This system is estimated to cost about $20 million per radar.
The next element in the system is an [text not declassified] interceptor satellite system. This is now under consideration—not under development. He described the operation of satellites having such a purpose. In addition, there is some possibility that the Nike-Zeus system could be used to knock down satellites initially at altitudes of 150 miles, perhaps later at altitudes up to 1000 miles. A nuclear weapon explosion would be used to accomplish the destruction.
Dr. Kistiakowsky commented that this proposal raises a difficult policy question—whether we should in fact create a capability to incapacitate satellites. We have supported proposals for the peaceful use of space, utilizing definitions which would permit the use of reconnaissance satellites. Mr. Gray suggested that the emphasis should be on detection and inspection, rather than on shooting satellites down. The Soviets have a great quantity of information about the U.S., and reconnaissance by satellite is not important to them. As previously mentioned in the discussion, it is of tremendous importance to us. Dr. York said it would take about seven years to develop the kind of [text not declassified] interceptor satellite that is being discussed. It will [Facsimile Page 3] cost a very considerable amount of money. If we wish to have this capability, we must start now to develop it, however.
Dr. Kistiakowsky recommended that the project not be advertised publicly. The President agreed and said we should simply state we are investigating outer space. Dr. York said we could simply state that we are working on methods of achieving rendez-vous.
[text not declassified]
Secretary Herter said that, in connection with disarmament studies, there is a recommendation to seek an agreement not to use explosives in outer space. He wondered whether inspection can be made as to whether satellites contain explosives. Dr. York said such an inspection could be made on the ground, but could not be made in flight. Mr. Herter asked whether such an inspection on the ground would interfere with our utilization of reconnaissance satellites. Dr. York said we would not be able to keep secret the fact that a satellite is designed for reconnaissance purposes, if it is to be inspected. However, so long as cameras are allowed to be flown in satellites, there will be no problem. [text not declassified]
Brigadier General, USA
- Source: Military space reconnaissance. Secret. 3 pp. Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. Drafted on February 8.↩