Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 211
SECTION V. AMENDMENTS
This agreement may be amended at any time by the mutual consent of the Agencies
concerned. The agreement will be reviewed formally for necessary changes at least once
every two years from the date of the agreement or as required at the request of either
agency. For particular programs, a Memorandum of Understanding may be used at the
working level to clarify any of the functional responsibilities and procedures.
SECTION VI. RELEASE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
Release of public information on the operational and R&D programs may be initiated
by either the Weather Bureau or by NASA. Before any [12] release is issued to the public,
however, clearance and final approval must be given by the agency having the assigned
function listed in Section 2 D or Section 3 B. Coordinated or joint releases should be
issued where appropriate.
SECTION VII. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Regarding the international aspects of meteorology and space satellites, international
negotiations may be carried out by either agency according to its basic responsibilities
and functions as defined in this agreement, with due regard to the provisions 2 and
3 below and subject to normal State Department policy guidance.
2. Where such negotiations imply obligations or place commitments upon the other
agency, that agency will be consulted in advance of international agreement or commitment.
3. The design of operational meteorological systems will give due consideration to
commitments already expressed or implied by the United States.
Hugh L. Dryden
Deputy Administrator Luther H. Hodges
for JAMES E. WEBB LUTHER H. HODGES
ADMINISTRATOR, NASA SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
January 30, 1964 January 30, 1964
Document II-6
Document title: Robert M. White, Administrator, Environmental Science Services
Administration, National Environmental Satellite Center, U.S. Department of Commerce,
to Dr. Homer E. Newell, Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications,
NASA, August 15, 1966.
Source: NASA Historical Reference Collection, NASA History Office, NASA
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Transcending the turf battles that marked its relationship with NASA in the early 1960s, the U.S.
Weather Bureau made progress during the later half of the decade in refining its requirements for an
operational meteorological satellite program. Using information gathered from three separate satellite
programs—TIROS, Nimbus, and the Advanced Technology Satellite (ATS)—in August 1966, the
Weather Bureau issued to NASA this statement outlining its objectives for an operational meteorological
satellite program.