Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–1, Documents on Global Issues, 1969–1972

234. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon¹ ²

Washington, December 23, 1969.

SUBJECT:

• Dr. Paine’s Recent Trip to Europe

Dr. Paine has sent you a letter (Tab A) reporting both the results of his recent three day visit to Europe and other related activities seeking to promote greater international participation in future space programs. These are the highlights of his report:

• -- In meetings with senior Western European space officials, emphasis was placed on opportunities for cooperation in our space station/shuttle program. The net result of these meetings was a clearer perception on the part of the Europeans of the utility of manned space flight and of the benefits and economies achievable through greater identification with U.S. programs.
• -- Following your remarks at the UN on earth resource satellites, educational programs are getting underway which will acquaint other nations with the potential value of earth resource surveys and which will prepare the way for meaningful foreign participation as the satellite technology develops over time.
• -- Several initiatives to the Soviet Union have gone unanswered, but the exchange of astronaut/cosmonaut visits may foreshadow greater Soviet receptivity in the future.
• -- Dr. Paine intends to follow his European trip with visits to Canada, Australia and Japan.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 249, Agency Files, NASA Vol. I. No classification marking. A notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it. Nixon wrote on the first page: “Good report.” Kissinger wrote: “Tell Paine in a note from me.” In a January 12, 1970, memorandum to Paine, Kissinger stated that the President had reviewed Paine’s letter of November 7 and “he endorses your approach and is pleased with results you have reported so far. (Ibid.) Attached but not published was Tab A. It is printed as Document I-15 in Exploring the Unknown, Vol. II, External Relations. For a report of Paine’s trip to Australia and Japan, see ibid., Document I-16.
2. Kissinger summarized the highlights of NASA Administrator Paine’s European trip to promote international space cooperation in post-Apollo programs.