From: Allen Thomson (thomsona@netcom.com)
Subject: Satellite vulnerability concerns in CORONA days
Newsgroups: sci.space.history, sci.space.policy, alt.politics.org.cia
Date: 1998/06/14



On November 26, 1997, the NRO declassified a memo from early CORONA
days showing that vulnerability concerns were quite real at the time,
and that an interestingly wide variety of countermeasures
were under consideration.  I'm posting it here in the interests of
giving it wider distribution and putting it into searchable form.



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                                     8 [6? copy blurred] January 1963




   MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD


   SUBJECT : 9-10 January Meeting On Satellite Vulnerability



       1. The vulnerability meeting on 9-10 January should result in
   two fairly well detailed programs. One would be directed specifically
   at the "C" [i.e., CORONA] vehicle.  The second would be a broad, long
   term program of a more fundamental nature, aimed at providing the
   basic data we will need for succeeding systems and for more
   sophisticated approaches with the current system.


       2. "C" Vehicle Program


          This is already well underway. The communications system has
   been hardened and all reasonable efforts have been made to reduce
   the possibilities of anomalous recovery. In addition, a pellet attack
   reporter is being readied and a shield is being designed.  Some very
   basic measurement work has been done on the radar response and a few
   simple decoys have been designed. What is left to be done?


          a. First, we do not have a clear understanding of vehicle
      vulnerability to nuclear explosions.  The damage effects of
      prompt gamma and low flux x-rays are not known, nor have we
      measured the kill distance of high x-ray fluxes.  These
      measurements should be made. Some effects, probably those
      from low flux x-ray may be quite easy to overcome.


          b. SS[E? copy blurred]D should undertake an extensive program
      of cross section reduction and concurrent decoy design. At the
      same time they should investigate scintillation techniques to
      confuse radar signatures. (This may be particularly suitable for
      "J" which will scintillate naturally for part of its lifetime.)


          c. We should develop, test and maintain as shelf items one or
      more hardened models of the "C" mission. Such models would
      incorporate cross section reduction techniques, decoys,
      shielding and other countermeasures. Undoubtedly severely
      reduced payloads would result.  However, without such models
      we may find ourselves out of business during a trying period
      when we need coverage most.


       3. Broad Program


          A great deal of basic work needs doing. The following,
   surely, is just a partial list.


          a. Development of orbit adjust capability and the associated
      guidance and thrust mechanism.


          b. General pellet shield development and weight reduction.


          c. Development of decoy materials and designs, drag life
      studies, thrust and ejection mechanisms, decoy jammers,
      decoy propulsion, etc.


          d. Methods of reducing optical cross sections.


          e. Radar cross section study, low cross section shapes,
      absorbers signal attenuation and modification, scintillation
      techniques, flush mounted antennas.


          f. Air and underwater launch systems.


          g. X-ray shielding.


          h. Study and development of capability to hide among existing
      space objects.



                                                  Signed
                                               [ CENSORED ]
                                           Development Division
                                                 OSA-DD/R


                                      [Office of Special Activities -
                                       Deputy Directorate of Research]
                                      [[Central Intelligence Agency]]




DD/OSA/[CENSORED]
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