Critical to US security : the Gambit and Hexagon satellite reconnaissance systems compendium / edited by James Outzen.

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

Outzen, James D.

Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance (U.S.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Space surveillance--United States--History.

Space surveillance.

Astronautics, Military--United States.

Astronautics, Military.

Military surveillance--United States--History.

Military surveillance.

Artificial satellites, American--History.

Artificial satellites, American.

United States.

Genre:

History

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 683 pages) : color illustrations

Other Title:

Critical to United States security

Place of Publication:

Chantilly, Va. : Center for the Study of National Reconnaissance, [2012]

Summary:

Overview: This study traces the origins and development of the Gambit and Hexagon programs. It details the technological problems, breakthroughs, and accomplishments encountered as NRO, CIA, Air Force, and private industry engineers, designers, and program managers pushed the cutting edge of space reconnaissance technology. It outlines the evolving close partnership and working relationship between the NRO and industry in pursuing far-reaching scientific and technological goals. This study also describes the bureaucratic battle among the CIA, the NRO, and the Air Force over control and management of these systems. Finally, it places the development of these unique satellite systems squarely in the crisis atmosphere of the Cold War and the constant demands of U S officials for more and better pictures. It is a remarkable story.

Contents:

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Section 1: History By Gerald Haines, PH D:

Gambit

Hexagon

Conclusion

Endnotes

Section 2: Systems Requirements:

Report: U S Air Force, General Operational Requirements for a Reconnaissance Satellite Weapon System, 26 September 1958

Memorandum: Air Force, Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Major General James H Walsh, Intelligence Requirements for SENTRY, 10 November 1958

Report: CIA Director Allen W Dulles, Intelligence Requirements for Satellite Reconnaissance Systems of Which Samos is an Example, 5 July 1960

Report: Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, Report of a Special Panel on Satellite Reconnaissance, 25 August 1960

Memorandum and Report: Edward Purcell to the Director of Central Intelligence, Panel for Future Satellite Reconnaissance Operations, 3 July 1963

Memorandum and Attachments: United States Intelligence Board, Long-Range Requirements for Satellite Photographic Collection, 27, July 1964

Memorandum: United States Intelligence Board, Long-Range Requirements for Satellite Photographic Collection, 31 July 1964

Section 3: Program Initialization:

Organizational Instruction: Operational Order for the Satellite and Missile Observation System, Lieutenant General Bernard A Schriever, undated

Organizational Instruction: The Basic Policy Concerning SAMOS, Memorandum from Major General R M Montgomery, 29 December 1960

Security Instruction: Security Guidance of an Unclassified Nature Relating to SAMOS, Colonel Harry L Evans, undated

Letter: Kodak's Arthur B Simmons to Air Force Undersecretary for Research and Development Joseph V Charyk, Preliminary Schedules for Blanket and Sunset Strip, 22 July 1960

Report: Major General O J Ritland, Project Cue Ball: Outline Development Plan, 9 November 1961

Report: Colonel William G King, Program Management Plan, Project G-3, 1 February 1966

Report: CIA Directorate of Science and Technology, Preliminary Project Fulcrum Phase 1 Tasking, 1 July 1964

Memorandum: CIA Deputy Director for Science and Technology Albert D Wheelon to the Director of Central Intelligence, Project FULCRUM, 30 September 1964

Memorandum: Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Alexander Flax to Director of Special Projects, SAF and Director of Reconnaissance, CIA, System Operational Requirements for the New Search and Surveillance System, 29 April 1966

Letter: President of the Perkin-Elmer Corporation Chester W Nimitz, Jr, Cover Letter for Design Definition of Hexagon Optical Sensor, 21 July 1966

Section 4: Systems Capabilities:

Technical Document: KH-7 Camera System (Part 1), National Photographic Interpretation Center, July 1963

Technical Document: The KH-8B Camera System (Third Edition), National Reconnaissance Office and National Photographic Interpretation Center, October 1970

Briefing Book: Project Hexagon Overview, National Reconnaissance Office, 25 January 1978.

Section 5: Systems Contributions:

Report: Analysis of Gambit Project, 24 August 1967

Report: Analysis of Gambit (110) Project, Brigadier General William G King, 28 April 1970

Report Excerpts: Program 206-II System Performance, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company, undated

Letter: Major Factors Contributing to Program 206-II Success written to Alexander Flax, 13 November 1966

Memorandum: Innovations, and trends in exploitation in the Western Geographic Division, IEG caused by the KH-9 System, 20 March 1973

Report: The KH-9 Search and MC & G Performance Study (Volume II), National Photographic Interpretation Center, October 1977

Section 6: Program Controversies:

Report: US Air Force, Minutes of Joint Meeting of Reconnaissance Panel and SAMOS Working Group, 1 July 1960

Memorandum: National Reconnaissance Office, Approval to Re-Orient Program 206 to Air Retrieval Over Pacific Area, 19 September 1962

Memorandum: Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Brockway McMillan for the Vice Chief of Staff, USAF, Space Recovery Responsibility, 18 October 1963

Letter: Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Brockway McMillan to Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director of Science and Technology Albert Wheelon, Concerning the Establishment of the Satellite Photography Working Group, 18 November 1963

Memorandum: Colonel Paul E Worthman Memorandum for the Record, Telephone Conversations with Representatives of the Itek Corporation, 24 February 1965

Memorandum: Colonel Paul E Worthman Memorandum for the Record, Itek Discussions with Dr McMillan and Dr Land, 25 February 1965

Memorandum: DNRO Brockway McMillan Memorandum for the Record, Discussion with Itek Leadership and Pullout from Fulcrum Follow-on, 25 February 1965

Memorandum: Fulcrum Program Manager Jackson D Maxey to Deputy Director for Science and Technology, Ground Rules for the New Search System Competition, 2 August 1965

Memorandum: John Martin, SAFSP Director to Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Dr Alexander Flax, Comments on Alternate Management Arrangements for the New Photographic Satellite Search and Surveillance System, 4 November 1965

Memorandum: Huntington D Sheldon CIA's Director of Reconnaissance to the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Alexander Flax-CIA Comments Concerning Alternative Management Arrangements for the New Photographic Satellite Search and Surveillance System, 4 November 1965

Memorandum: Brigadier General James T Stewart, Director of NRO Staff Department of the Air Force for Dr Alexander Flax, Task Group Report for Alternative Management Arrangements for the New Photographic Search and Surveillance System, 5 November 1965

Letter: Acting Director of CIA Rufus Taylor to Director of Bureau of the Budget Charles Zwick, Concerning Memorandum Regarding FY1970 Hexagon Funding, 20 December 1968

Letter: Robert Mayo Bureau of the Budget to Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms, Concerning Assessment of Hexagon Contributions, 22 March 1969

Report: Deputy Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Robert Naka, Report of the Hexagon Review Committee, 4 September 1969

Letter: CIA Program Manager Robert Kohler, Concerning the Reliability of Corona, Gambit, and Hexagon Film Return Systems, 20 February 1973

Section 7: Program Congratulations:

Letter: Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms to Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Dr Alexander Flax, Congratulations on First KH-8 Mission, 18 August 1966

Letter: Director of Central Intelligence William Casey, Commendation for the Operation of Hexagon Mission 1217, 3 January 1983

Memorandum: Director of the National Reconnaissance Office Edward C Aldridge, Letter of Appreciation from the Director of Central Intelligence William Casey, 7 January 1983

Report: National Reconnaissance Office, Hexagon Transition Plan, March 1972.

Notes:

"January 2012."

Title from title screen (viewed on Apr. 13, 2012).

Electronic reproduction. [Place of publication not identified]: HathiTrust Digital Library. 2020.

Other Format:

Print version: Critical to US security

OCLC:

785820227

Access Restriction:

Use copy Restrictions unspecified