Exploring the Unknown - NASA's History Office

Meeting at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), August 25,
1966, regarding Remote Sensing and South America
The enclosed is a fairly complete memorandum on the subject meeting, but following
comments are in order:
(1) USGS is apparently the prime mover in soliciting the Agency for International
Development (AID) to promote South American use of orbital remote sensing techniques
in general support of the Rostow Report recommendations approved as the National
Security Action Memorandum 349 (NSAM 349) enclosed.
(2) USGS would like to budget for an “operational” satellite as soon as possible to
establish jurisdiction.
(3) Plan based on the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) proposal to develop
Delta class satellite with TV camera of 5,000 line resolution.
(4) USGS and Department of Agriculture agree that the South American need is
urgent and that the system proposed by RCA would be useful.
(5) The RCA proposed camera is far beyond the Nimbus/TIROS state of the art.
(6) We made note at the meeting that there is some agreement between Department
of State and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that NASA
should establish and chair an interagency committee to develop governmental thoughts
on the subject.
(7) I suggested that the agencies pull together requirements for such a lower resolution
system and convey them to NASA. NASA will then determine how such a development
might proceed from a technical standpoint and in the interests of overall economy
in the space budget.
(8) I suggest that the Deputy Administrator (AD), NASA, organize the committee recommended
in the Administrator’s memorandum to AD, dated August 12, 1966, (See also
NSAM 349) and that the agencies’ requirements and the NASA suggested approach to
development be submitted to that committee. This will insure that NASA is the focal point
for advice during the developmental period. This is most appropriate—because of the
multi-agency interest, NASA is in the best position to serve all of the interests of the government.
[rubber stamped: “Leonard Jaffe”]
Leonard Jaffe
Enclosures
NSAM 349
The Frontiers of South America
Memo For the Record, from SAR/Reeves, dated August 31, 1966
SA/LJaffe/mc 8/31/66
bcc: S/Newell
AXC
Concurrence: ____________
Homer S. Newell
Associate Administrator for
Space Science and Applications
I/Morrison
[handwritten note: “9/6/66”]
EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN 241
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