Space and Telecommunications
73. Memorandum From the Acting Chairman of the National Security Council Undersecretaries Committee (Johnson) to President Nixon
Johnson reported the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on International Space Cooperation.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–236, NSDM 187 (1 of 2). Secret. Annexes A, B, and C are published as part of Document 75. Annex D is attached but not published.
74. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the Council on International Economic Policy (Flanigan) to President Nixon
The memorandum summarized the arguments in favor of a proposed National Security Decision Memorandum concerning technology and launch assistance.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–236, NSDM 187 (1 of 2). Confidential; Noforn. Sent for action. Nixon approved the recommendation. A stamped notation indicates the President saw it.
75. National Security Decision Memorandum 187
The President outlined objectives guiding international cooperation in space activities, approved polices governing the transfer of space technology, and promulgated guidelines for the provision of launch assistance to foreign governments or business entities.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–236, NSDM 187 (1 of 2). Confidential; Noforn. Copies were sent to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology, the Executive Secretary of National Aeronautics and Space Council, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Printed from a revised copy circulated on September 12. For Nixon’s announcement of the policy on October 9, see the Department of State Bulletin, November 6, 1972, pp. 533–534.
76. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs (Spiers) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Porter)
Spiers recommended consultation with French officials to request reconsideration of military and intelligence concerns arising in negotiation of the Space Registration Convention.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, Box 2960, SP 16. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Archelaus R. Turrentine and Holsey G. Handyside (PM/AE); and concurred in by EUR/WE, IO/UNP, L/UNA, IO/UNA, IO, and EUR. In the margin next to the third line in the third paragraph, written in an unknown hand, is “now confirmed.” Written in an unknown hand under the Approve/Disapprove lines is “Due to Ambassador Porter’s departure to San Clemente, demarche made by PM Acting Director Pickering to Fr. Counselor Masset 4/5/73.” Michel Debre’ was French Minister of State for National Defense. Tab B is published in the Department of State Bulletin, May 28, 1973, pp. 712–715. Attached but not published at Tab C is Canadian telegram 4643 from Paris to Ottawa, December 18, 1972. Attached but not published at Tab D is a memorandum from Porter to De Palma and Acting Legal Adviser Charles N. Brower, approving the U.S. negotiating position regarding registration of space objects.
77. Telegram 1501 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The telegram summarized events at the UN Outer Space Legal Subcommittee session. It focused on advances toward completion of a treaty on registration of space objects and relative lack of progress in Moon Treaty negotiations.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Priority. Repeated for information to Moscow, Paris, Ottawa, and the Mission to NATO.
78. Report on SKYLAB Utilization of Earth Terrain Camera Data
The report explained the potential consequences of publicly releasing high-resolution photographs taken from space, and recommended approval.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files, Job 80M01066A, Executive Registry Files (OPI 10), 1973 S–35 SSYLAB (01 Jan 72–31 Dec 73). Top Secret; Codeword. An April 26, 1973 cover letter from CIA Assistant Deputy Director for Science and Technology Donald H. Steininger to Schlesinger indicates that 40 Committee members would vote by phone whether to accept the report, and that approval of the report’s recommendations was anticipated.
79. Letter From the Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy (Whitehead) to the President’s Assistant for International Economic Affairs (Flanigan)
Whitehead updated Flanigan on the status of international telecommunications issues, including various satellite systems, submarine cables, the structure of the international communications industry, and preparations for an upcoming International Telecommunications Union conference.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, Subject Files, Utilities, Box 14, EX, UT 1 Communications-Telecommunications, 1–1–73. No classification marking.
80. Memorandum From the Deputy Secretary of State (Rush) to the Acting Secretary of Defense (Clements)
Rush recommended a high-level interagency review of proposed U.S. responses to Soviet anti-satellite activity.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SP 12 US. Secret. Copies were sent to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
81. Telegram 124445 From the Department of State to the United States Mission to the United Nations
The telegram updated instructions for the U.S. delegation to the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SP 6 UN. Confidential; Priority. Drafted by Black; cleared in L/UNA, EUR/SOV, NASA/I, S/PC, PM/AE, and DOD/ISA; and approved by Stull. Repeated to Moscow.
82. Action Memorandum From the Director of International Scientific and Technological Affairs, Department of State (Pollack) to the Acting Secretary of State (Rush)
Rush approved Pollack’s recommendation to negotiate an agreement with interested Western European nations for cooperative development and utilization of Spacelab and the Space Shuttle.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SP 10 US. Unclassified. Drafted on June 14 by Bastedo; and concurred in by NASA, DOD/ISA, PM/AE, H, EUR/RPE, L/SCI and L/T. Rush initialed his approval on July 13. Attached but not published at Tab A is the July 2 final draft of the U.S. version of the proposed agreement. Attached but not published at Tab B are the working drafts of the proposed agreement and at Tab C is the undated authorization from the Legal Adviser to conclude the agreement.
83. Letter From the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Fletcher) to the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy (Shultz)
Fletcher proposed reorienting earth-sensing satellite assets toward global assessment and establishing a national policy to exploit earth resources data obtained from space.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SCI 20. Secret. Copies were sent to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
84. Memorandum From Helmut Sonnenfeldt and David D. Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Kissinger approved the memorandum’s recommendation that President Nixon attend a ceremony to formalize an agreement for nine Western European nations to participate jointly in U.S. post-Apollo space programs.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 393, Subject Files, Space Programs Foreign Cooperation, (1 of 1), (1972–). Secret. Sent for action. Kissinger initialed his approval on September 10. The signing ceremony initiated the Memorandum of Understanding Between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the European Space Research Organisation for a Cooperative Programme Concerning the Development, Procurement, and Use of a Space Laboratory in Conjunction with the Space Shuttle System, signed at Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on August 14.
85. National Security Council Under Secretaries Decision Memorandum 113
The memorandum recommended to the President continued cooperation with the USSR on remote sensing initiatives, while attempting to gain more scientific and technical information from the Soviets.
Source: Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files, Subject Files, Outer Space, Box 1, EX, OS Outer Space, 1–1–73. Confidential. Forwarded to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, and the Executive Secretary of the National Aeronautics and Space Council. Copies were sent to the Departments of Commerce and Interior.
86. Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Porter) to the Acting Secretary of State (Rush)
Porter recommended that, in order to take sufficient account of foreign policy and security interests, the Under Secretaries Committee should consider Earth Resources Satellite issues.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, SCI 20. Secret. Attached but not published is a September 5 letter from Fletcher to Shultz.
87. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Pickering) to the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Pickering discussed the potential ramifications of NASA’s pilot global crop survey proposal. In the event of a decision to proceed, Pickering recommended consultation with international organizations and interested governments, as well as guidance from the Under Secretaries Committee regarding implementation.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/OA Files, Lot 99 D 369, Space, Remote Sensing, 1973. Secret. Drafted by Chapin (SCI/SAM); and cleared in S/PC, IO/UNP, PM/AE, INR/DDC/RPS, and L/UNA. Blakeburn signed for Pickering above Pickering’s typed signature. Fletcher’s letter to Shultz is Document 83.
88. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Chairman of the National Security Council Under Secretaries Committee (Rush)
Kissinger requested that the Under Secretaries Committee examine and report on U.S. policies concerning launch assistance and the sharing of space technology.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, EB/CTA/TD Files, Lot 78 D 237, NSDM 187, 1972–. Secret. Sent for action. Forwarded on November 23 as NSC–U/SM–112–A to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy, and the Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs. Above “recently” in the second paragraph is written in an unknown hand, “ESRO.” In the right margin next to the second paragraph is written in an unknown hand, “L3S (France).” In the right margin next to the last paragraph on the first page is written in an unknown hand, “Japan, PRC, India.”
89. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Colby)
The President approved modification of certain security controls applied to satellite-based photographic reconnaissance.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject Files, Box 1, Committee for Civil Applications of Classified Overhead Photography of the United States. Top Secret; Sensitive. A copy was also sent to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
90. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the Department of State (Pickering) to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
The Department of State recommended retaining civilian control over the management and operation of weather satellites.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, Box 2960, SP 12–3. Confidential. Drafted by Chapin. Deputy Executive Secretary Samuel R. Gammon signed above Pickering’s typeset signature.
91. Intelligence Memorandum BGI RP 74–13
The report summarized the current status of international negotiations concerning the legal regime to be applied to remote sensing activities.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/UNA Files, Lot 99 D 364, Box 12, Space-Remote Sensing-1974. Confidential; No Foreign Dissemination. Prepared in the Directorate of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency. Only the summary is published.
92. Action Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs (Buffum), the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Lord), and the Deputy Legal Adviser (Maw) to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Sisco)
The memorandum recommended submitting to the UN Working Group on Direct Broadcast Satellites a draft of principles acceptable to the United States.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/OA Files, Lot 99 D 369, Box 11, Space—Direct Broadcast Satellites (DBS), 1973–1975. Limited Official Use. Drafted by Gathright, Stowe, and Black. Concurred in by CU and EB. Sisco initialed his approval on March 9. The attachment has not been published. The Draft Principles on Direct Broadcast Satellites, circulated by the U.S. delegation on March 12, are published in UN document A/AC.105/127, Annex IV.
93. Telegram 48280 From the Department of State to the United States Mission to the United Nations at Geneva
The telegram forwarded instructions for the U.S. delegation to the UN Working Group on Direct Broadcast Satellites.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Limited Official Use; Priority. Repeated for information to USUN New York. Drafted by Gathright and Black; cleared in L/UNA, IO/UNP, EB/TD, and CU; and approved by Blake. The Draft Principles on Direct Broadcast Satellites, circulated by the U.S. delegation on March 12, are published in UN document A/AC.105/127, Annex IV.
94. Paper Prepared by the Department of State
The paper discussed issues related to the draft Moon Treaty likely to arise during negotiations at the May 1974 session of the Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/OA Files, Lot 99 D 369, Box 8, Space—1974. Confidential. Drafted by Black; and cleared in L/UNA, S/P, NASA/I, USUN, IO/UNP, EUR/SOV, NASA–G, and DOD/ISA. Attached but not published is an undated proposal to reconfigure the order of articles in the draft Moon Treaty.
95. Telegram 96877 From the Department of State to the Mission to the United Nations at Geneva
The telegram communicated the United States negotiating position on issues related to remote sensing likely to arise during negotiations at the May 1974 session of the Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/OA Files: Lot 99 D 369, Space–1974. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted and approved by Stowe; and cleared in IO/UNP, S/P, PM, DOD/ISA, and NASA/I.
96. Telegram 2488 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The telegram communicated the U.S. delegation’s appraisal of the 1974 session of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Repeated for information to Bonn, Brasilia, Geneva, Moscow, Nairobi, New Delhi, Ottawa, Paris, Stockholm, Tokyo, and Vienna.
97. National Security Decision Memorandum 266
President Ford directed Secretary of Defense Schlesinger to take immediate steps to counter Soviet interception of government communications.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 54, NSDM 266, Long Term Washington Communications Security (5). Top Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to the Deputy Secretary of State, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy.
98. National Security Council Decision Memorandum 92A
The memorandum informed President Ford about disagreements between executive branch agencies concerning U.S. policy on space launching assistance for other countries.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P810014–1034. Confidential. The attachment has been published in the Department of State Bulletin, November 6, 1972, p. 534.
99. Memorandum From David Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Elliott summarized the status of cooperation on space-related matters between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Agency File 1974–1977, Box 12, NASA 8/9/74–4/30/75. Confidential. Sent for information. Attached but not published is a November 2 memorandum from Cole to Ford, which presents the agenda for a November 4 meeting between Ford and several space policy advisers.
100. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Ash) to President Ford
Ash presented the President with an assessment of NASA funding requests in light of larger budgetary restrictions and domestic and international political considerations.
Source: Ford Library, Presidential Handwriting File, Subject File, Box 19, Finance–Budget NASA. No classification marking. Attached but not published at Tab A is a page of general budgetary information. Ford approved the first two recommendations and disagreed with the third. A November 29 covering memorandum provided a brief agenda for the meeting. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates the President saw it and another notation indicated that the meeting would take place from 2 until 3 p.m. on December 2 with Ford, Ash, OMB Associate Director Frank Zarb, OMB Assistant Director for Budget Review Dale McOmber, and OMB Deputy Associate Director for Management Donald Ogilvie in attendance. No other record of the meeting was found.
101. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to the Executive Director of the Domestic Council and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs (Cole)
Scowcroft supported Cole’s recommendation to President Ford to keep the Office of Telecommunications Policy functions within the Executive Office of the President only if coordination of international activities improved.
Source: Ford Library, F. Lynn May Files, Box 24, Study of the Office of Telecommunications Policy (1). No classification marking. For Cole’s recommendation see Document 102.
102. Memorandum From the Executive Director of the Domestic Council and Assistant to the President for Domestic Affairs (Cole) to President Ford
Cole urged Ford to reconsider plans to remove the Office of Telecommunications Policy from the Executive Office.
Source: Ford Library, Presidential Handwriting File, Subject File, Box 14, Office of Telecommunications Policy. No classification marking. On January 17, the White House announced cancellation of plans to remove Office of Telecommunications Policy functions to the Department of Commerce (, January 18, 1975, p. 60).