Office of the Historian

388. National Security Action Memorandum No. 1291

Washington, February 23, 1962.

TO

  • The Secretary of State

SUBJECT

  • U.S.-U.S.S.R. Cooperation in the Exploration of Space

The President has responded to a message of congratulation from Chairman Khrushchev by indicating his desire that the U.S. and U.S.S.R. should cooperate in the exploration of space.2 While emphasizing his belief in strong support of the work of the United Nations in this same field, he told the Chairman that he was “instructing the appropriate officers of this Government to prepare new and concrete proposals for immediate projects of common action.” He also expressed his hope that “at a very early date representatives of our two space teams may meet to discuss our ideas and yours in a spirit of practical cooperation.”

Accordingly, the President requests that in cooperation with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Executive Secretary, National Aeronautics and Space Council, and the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology, the Department of State promptly develop such new and concrete proposals, together with recommendations as to the best way of opening discussion with Soviet representatives on these matters. These recommendations [Page 888] should, of course, be consistent with continued support of the work which has begun in the UN, but the President does require that there be a prompt and energetic follow-up of his message to Chairman Khrushchev.

The President further requests that you designate one officer of the Department of State to have general charge of this project and inform us when this designation has been made.3

McGeorge Bundy4
  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM No. 129, U.S.-USSR Space Cooperation, Box 334. No classification marking. Copies were sent to the Administrator of NASA, Director of the Bureau of the Budget, the Director of USIA, Executive Secretary of the NASC, and the Special Assistant to the President for Science and Technology. A typed notation indicates that this NSAM was revised on February 27. An attached memorandum from Bundy to Webb, dated February 23, urged NASA to “go a little out of their way to find good projects” in view of the political advantages that could be derived from being “forthcoming and energetic in plans for peaceful cooperation with the Soviets in this sphere.”↩
  2. For texts, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, vol. VI, Documents 35 and 36. See also Document 389.↩
  3. On February 27 Executive Secretary Lucius D. Battle informed Bundy that Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs George C. McGhee had been designated as the officer in charge of preparing proposals for space cooperation with the Soviet Union. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM No. 129, U.S.-USSR Space Cooperation, Box 334)↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩