DISCLOSURE / FILE
A 93-page FOIA bundle of State Department, USAF, and DIA cables from 1967 to 1972 documenting Project Moon Dust and Project Blue Fly recoveries of fallen space objects, including unidentified fragments examined in Nepal, Mexico, and elsewhere.
A 93-page FOIA bundle of State Department, USAF, and DIA cables from 1967 to 1972 documenting Project Moon Dust and Project Blue Fly recoveries of fallen space objects, including unidentified fragments examined in Nepal, Mexico, and elsewhere.
The release compiles joint State/Defense traffic on the Moon Dust and Blue Fly programs, originally chartered to recover foreign space debris of intelligence value. Cables in 1967 and 1968 track the recovery of a titanium gas storage sphere in Chiapas, Mexico (identified as US Titan IIIC hardware), and a separate set of metallic fragments in Nepal that Nepal opened to inspection by interested states after failing to identify the launching authority. A two-man US team examined the Nepalese pieces on August 26, 1968, concluding the objects were not of US origin and possibly Soviet, perhaps from Cosmos 208, while noting some pieces appeared to come from a different space object. The cables show parallel British and Indian interest, NASA and DIA coordination, and an explicit US concern about Nepalese or others reading Chinese origin into any written report.
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Description of documents: Department of State (DOS) Communications Regarding Recovery of Deorbited Space Debris (Moon Dust), 1967- 1972 Source of documents: National Archives and Records Administration Records, College Park, Maryland, Record Group 59 Photographed: March 2022 The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is a First Amendment free speech web site and is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website.
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I IHOIC ATC 0 COl..\,CC • 0 c ....... ,:;r: ~o 0,STRIWTIOH ACTl CW STATE I SEC - 1,IMOtS- Ol ' OIIN \ I! 7 7 ?. 'L · ~· S P /6 · .TELEGRZ,:tate ~~ Amembassy KAT HM/1.NDU 1, ~ ~~ ~'e'a L \t \ \ f. OECl-ASSIF IEO Authority 11.IJQ 16 9 OQ() 7 JOI NT STATE/DEFENSE MESSAGE LJ !YI i:>/ S Space Fragment I SUBJECT: REF: Kathm andu 4685 Aug 28, 1968; Stat e 114584, l Feb l . Reftel noted Foreign Secre tary KHAW..L intended explore possibility s pace obje cts examined by US team in August 1968 being brought to US for analysis. ~e I con tinue to be interested in t h e f ,ragmonts but are not certain about their present status . I f Embassy per- ceives no objecti on , r,equost you make low key inquiry of whereabouts and dispositi on of f r agment s , unless of course Embassy already has information that object s have been released to cl a i mant and no longer i n Nepal . 2 . If i t ems stil l have noc been claimed and r emaiin under GO N custody you may r epea t previous o ffe r at _J "
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.. ' . .'' -'Yl . , . :.I . • I I , ' . .j ' .. ' . .. ; .. .. • • .!- . ' \ . : .. •,. , .I .. • • • .; ~.:i ~ . ;,,_ ·{ . •... , . -:: . .. . I ' -, . ' ; . \ I •• Soyuz•9 cosmonauts Nlkoleyev ad "M'on.:,in-Spncc" Conference Tl n Sevae~y~nov both Ottcndt-d th~ Yerevan hove nov completely t:cco~cred !r&.n the '• 5. 6, ct:fcc,~s of their fl 1.&ht. • tey 'Che Soviets are empho,t 1 h • reseor.ch hos detnon &tt'lot:d n:h t t e :tudy of hypoxic occllC13t;on. 'their f 1 · 3 0 optotion to hl&h caoun~alnous t crroln Ot: nst,,ncc, con ieiport a mcos•Jt:C of increased toleroncc of hypoxia ' T'hcy .,l~ave conducted enologoue nudics of cold tolerance and C•tolero~ce l' obt.ii,f!l 1 \& comparoble results. While thU 1.•ork ic undoubt,cdly volid ' the q~-~r~t tons l question ts "i1ether or not the ge l n of hal.£ 8 ,C or ; fcv de1;re,s Justifies spend lng t hree to f our ""ecl(s livi ng tnd · exerc ls fog on a ht.gti' mountain. tc seems likely thot 1119st specf.ollstt "'ill decide that the ~newer is no . ShOf .k~d by the Soyuz-11 dUut'cr, Sovlct of'Mclol8 probably ticel that chei.r ·spocccroft c.Jcsign cng1necrins· ovst now drop back to the bui.c cheor~tical phase of it8 cycle , since they ha"c explof.t~d; ~heir present hordwOrc co its m.txlmum potential for progress. ('mu certainly ls a rf.,nc~ 0 fri'ecor bch t r. t lntere,::t {n lnforr..otf.on exclHtngc - , • .:Jo int dO&ki g~p;:g..c.c,du&,es,, etc . ) Wh lle Li e ac nt s l~c oz. n o . ave. , h~ fi fcrcd no odver8e change• in status or prestige fr.om th~ cr.,gedy, 1.t . wouhJ ' Oc unUkcly that any search (or sc:ipegoot s vould extend beyond the . . • I r nnk8 of ho"C-dwt1re c,,ginecrs , olncc theirs, .,ppRTCf!t'l,y, is the orco o.f .• . · s ill th rcoppr:it.sol brought on · by the dee.th# U undcrttondably /'""•.'t f-,Uure . t:: , e h h t ,,cnc.r ol. It hos served to ct'i,s,gcr the bcloted rcollr.otldon ht • 1 t dt c 1 r - 1 0 • - f 1ss1on objcetlvC':> h36 dontc~ously ouutirippc t C i; es gn • \ .,• . ., pursv:1.t o m . · :L ccrl . os ca coutsc fort c 1 ov \.'OU o {:, ~n&, n C_ l(ploit the· t"ctl'!oining "potcnttn·l" Of tl\etr ~rescnt tcchnolo&)', ... ( pcl::!\fPS vith a mlS$iOn llnking four s.oy~z , carryi.nt 8 -12 cosmon:i~CS) -..: .= _ =l _ =---- whil.tf: ottcn1ptlns to ochlcvc the ncccuory quontur:1 Junip ln•,pocccroft : · ., t.le~.l&\l eni;) nccct.n& throu&h n cocubln;ur ion o f info"Cfflat lon cxchon~cs "'lt·h endi · . I I The. erincip:il contr.ibutlon the SoviC~3 could m~kc to ~h1 ch an exchange vould stem f.rO!I\ their more. cxtcasiVe. # rcoCOl)Ch Oil scLE#t cncr.otin& tffe suppOt:t -Systcias',:··such ·01 : chat dcnlt.ng' ..... with fh• ~Orcllo .,nd. othc- r olgve . Th(!?C. ~esc11rch,ee, l.~ ho\l'cvcr, ~oncern not only ,Oxyg.cnJ but olso encOCIIP.~.•.8 ~om• ,PJ0.8,rOfl!S .concerned,.wlth food •. • .. ·- • :..1Concatenated page-by-page transcript. Born-digital pages came through pdf.js; scanned pages were transcribed by Claude vision OCR. Pages marked unreadable failed multiple OCR retries (heavy redaction, microfilm artifacts, or blank separators) and are kept in place for audit.
Description of documents: Department of State (DOS) Communications Regarding Recovery of Deorbited Space Debris (Moon Dust), 1967- 1972 Source of documents: National Archives and Records Administration Records, College Park, Maryland, Record Group 59 Photographed: March 2022 The governmentattic.org web site (“the site”) is a First Amendment free speech web site and is noncommercial and free to the public. The site and materials made available on the site, such as this file, are for reference only. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals have made every effort to make this information as complete and as accurate as possible, however, there may be mistakes and omissions, both typographical and in content. The governmentattic.org web site and its principals shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information provided on the governmentattic.org web site or in this file. The public records published on the site were obtained from government agencies using proper legal channels. Each document is identified as to the source. Any concerns about the contents of the site should be directed to the agency originating the document in question. GovernmentAttic.org is not responsible for the contents of documents published on the website.
I IHOIC ATC 0 COl..\,CC • 0 c ....... ,:;r: ~o 0,STRIWTIOH ACTl CW STATE I SEC - 1,IMOtS- Ol ' OIIN \ I! 7 7 ?. 'L · ~· S P /6 · .TELEGRZ,:tate ~~ Amembassy KAT HM/1.NDU 1, ~ ~~ ~'e'a L \t \ \ f. OECl-ASSIF IEO Authority 11.IJQ 16 9 OQ() 7 JOI NT STATE/DEFENSE MESSAGE LJ !YI i:>/ S Space Fragment I SUBJECT: REF: Kathm andu 4685 Aug 28, 1968; Stat e 114584, l Feb l . Reftel noted Foreign Secre tary KHAW..L intended explore possibility s pace obje cts examined by US team in August 1968 being brought to US for analysis. ~e I con tinue to be interested in t h e f ,ragmonts but are not certain about their present status . I f Embassy per- ceives no objecti on , r,equost you make low key inquiry of whereabouts and dispositi on of f r agment s , unless of course Embassy already has information that object s have been released to cl a i mant and no longer i n Nepal . 2 . If i t ems stil l have noc been claimed and r emaiin under GO N custody you may r epea t previous o ffe r at _J "
SECR t T .,:L_lMD 1S-NOFORN Clait.1>1ifie1tr,on Department uf SJate TELEGRAM Ot$TAl8Ull0N ACTION· Am embassy l<AT!!Mi\NDU Page 2 DECLASSIFIED Authoritv I/ND 16900/) 7 Ok,11,-TCO G'I' C\ot•"-""cci appropriate level to undertake complete laboratory analysis in US to determine origin and technical characteristi cs of fragments, with results to be fully shared with GON. In order to obtain complete data, largest amount available of rocket nozzle debris would be required, and analysis would be destructive, although residue could be returned if desired. par~y to 3. You may note that as/~ Outer Space Treaty and the Assistance and Retut:n Agreement, both which now in force, · /we respect right of originating nati on to space fragments but if there has been no claimant in course of last year we as space nation are interested in all aspects of space flight including effects of reentry and would be interested in examining item s for this purpose and assisting GON in detennining origin. GP-1 END . _j 0111,U' HNG QA TC Tia, C)(T APPA;OYCO 0V \R O GERS\ DECLASSIFIED Authority tJ)JD 76jO(I/) • I
T l-IE YOMfURl - Tho A1c,,ilirno Sufofy A gon t-y ( MSA ) f tid t\y •,ortod o fc,1'l•scolo in'••os lii'<tlio n to d oto, ml n o wh;at hod of;\uo\\y lolle n on ,he No I Sh inei Motu off tho Sovi•t Mori.timo Ttu,lto,y of Siborio on l YCP .Sc domog ln g tho '2,996•ton lreir;,htor ond inj11ring four crow mombon, ono s~rious\y. Th(' fl~t ndl() N.•p()t"I,, ~a,\(\. " . .. wn ... ~ a().(t('\\\\'l1'¢\.l;,T th(lt th(' -ihtp hM\ bc('n l'll\t-\\"(\. 0"¥- c-,.,•y Wl'\\\(' ~\(-C(! ot 'tt\1! hut llcti•r MS i'- (\flll \">l"'fl.'fll((- \0.\ tl\:'L\ \oo"\t••d \\\':.~ "'- ,-\\"' A{(<'r"l<'Y of-Xl>N't" 1<a\d 1,13.t. \\\ty frM,;M,:lt\ '""\\\\ W\\'\l\g. l>t-11,C,\•,-d th(- lo\llln; o'b)eClfl ·w,-~-,c, The \\'\r\ng \\:.,,<.\ l\"'"""' (•1th~t- Jlll!l«llc-. h'n5 m ('I)\;; w: W0l'(.\ll ;,\\\\}. t\\\l'l'\~'C'~ \_)'1'\1' po rt o( n i'JB'fl'>'mp, Ott \t,, ·rhll,) ).18A oo,~\ n.Nl n \>tl {'kCl• \ '\'\W l\uY.1t,\~\l\ W()t'\\t,. \nc\ tul of f"l":'l.gtn<'nt~ w \\\ch t.\\e U,Qt-1.' m~an\n~ \.}'\)(!, ~ Shinel Maro brO\\ght home l!.i;. , \nil\\"\nY\~"" 'f\\\m~,· a·nt.\ c,•td<:nc.c. and ;:iq;kcd \.he Oe-\rrum\)("Y-. tense Agency to nnM:,.·1.e t\V•M. S\;,\-p~,· ~\t\~\\O "T'a\qwa' 'J'h(' $hlncl )\;,U'\1. c1·c,,• h~\\ ~\SA \nv e:~\\~"-\O'N. '-\\t\\ concealed the tragmcnts un1.\.-,· \1:\~n \\O\i.C ,,.a'!\ \,~at-\\ Us IOO.d ot Ru~~ian h1mbelt ~umn~ 0£ w a\~\• s.\\<,\ • during a Sovtet. inspect\on o\ G OO m<!\~,·~ oi't \\\c- the ship Smmed)a\e\y attN:· the sl.<.le 0£ 'h\s ~\\\'{). "i;helllng'' occtwred ~ k\\o- S~o,,c.\-:-, ah~·r-. t\:'-\' 1neter~ off De-'Ka$trl~ort \n h\t, \\\$ ~l\\l). \c~w\ni tt?e. Scr·let M ai·lt'fme 'teTr{lorv . (\\t'tel'N\\ \l\at-c~. Other fragments i•ere con~s- h1·ol<e\\ In ca\>ln \>< cated by t.he Soviet authorit\~. ihe ,•3.U\o anHmna . The · freighter rettwne(I to An MSi>- offi6tll Nanao Port. l shikawa-ken. on falling fr(l!l,llW\\t• 'T'l-r.,n ~tl<),• vi-, <'it M•1, l.fl\\:\:n.h\n n:n'()nth: ,\\·«""'~"'@ ✓ /noo!J l)VST OUTGOING TELEGRAM Department O INOtCAU, O <oum 0 ~10 te ACTION, Ame01bassy Amembassy __ SEQ-;:R~ s Class, fca, i'iio ~n ~ --'""'-=1- KATHMANDU NEW DELHI -- - Amembassy LONDON OECLASSl1'1£0 Aulhority //,VD 169000 JOINT STATE/DEFE!fSE / REF : A) Kathmandu 4685 notal; Bl State 221876; DAO MSG 0006 Aug 68; D) State 114584 Subject: MOONDUST C) New Delhi 7 ~ ~ V\ ~ 1 . We are concerned over what Nepalese and others might read in~ written report or any statelllenta implying trag,nents could be of Chinese origin . 8ml<l!xlC!txt:""',m1txi,.«11:,aq,r:km«lt"""'lllr""J.:"«i>tx1Qt>CRdldi ~Rxl\x ¼ 2 . Pending determination mentioned para 4 ref D, Embassy should not raise subject with GON. If GON raises subject, you should • l 1 ot information reply you uninstructed pending completion o.na ya a dorived fr<>m t&a~ visit . 3. !113'1 DELHI : GP- 3 ~- sent when analveis completed. Instructions will -vo ~ BND DECLASSIFIED IJ.uih«ily)/)Jf) 169000 <2h, ' oze I .... , , ____ .., Mr. vad· .u ,-,~!""~:rr-- _\ - .ll~C: BQ /lix,1 en,_gab,_9/9/68 2625 .,.,.._ - ~>(lo( ~"">i'l<roc~~ INR/RSF - Mr. Munn raft) SGI - Mr. Nesbit Jr G/PM - Mr, Le /UJIA - Hr. Reei,ti L/IIBA - Hr. NeumanJVIO/UNP - Mr . L CIA - Mr. Shart substance) DOD/ISA/SA - Col. ~J,Qvit~ (J•S Col, Bradburn)l)l'I:) SE,CRS'.£1:LlMDIS __ _ -- Clos:Ji/icat/o11
fl u .. •• .. , . .. SP lb D epartment (Jf " :5tate TELEGRAM $0 SECRET 739 PAGE 0! KATHMA 0~ 685 290748Z 20 ACTION SS 70 INFO CIA£ 00, 1070 W R 2803002 AUG 6 8 FH AMEMSASS Y KATHMANDU 10 SECSTATE W A SHOC ••• • S E C R £ T K,A THMANOU fi.685 L!MOJS;NOFORN C O R R E C T E O C O p y PASS DEFENSE DECLASSIFIED J Authority IIIJD 16 yooo RE, , SIATE 2218 78 _... 5 p /~ I• AMBASSADOR , MILATT A NO DEFENSE TECHNICIANS , SWO~ TZEL ANO VAN ~tNK LE, CALLEO ON FOR£lGN SECR£T A RY KHANAL AUGVST ?6 TO PREStNT PR£LtttlN4AY ~£PORT OF TEAM' S F t NOt~GS ON UN!Ot,Tl•IEO SPACE 08.ECTS I~ GON POSSESS!ON • RE?ORT '"'H:!CH WILL SE F'OfUU.ROEO THROUGtt APPROPR! AT E OQO CHANNELS NAOE ONEQVJYOC A L STATENENT THAT OBJECTS NOT Or V• S • ORIGI N• IT CONCLUD(O , ON BASIS or EXAMIN~TiON A~O COLL AT ERAL rRACK!NG DATA, THAT SOHE PIECE$ COULD SE or SOVIET ORIGIN, POSS tSLY COSMOS 208 ~HiCH RE-ENTEREO THE EARTH 1 S ATMOSP~ERE ON NIGHT Of MARC~ ~5 , 1968 • REPORT ~L SO NOTEO, HO~EVER, THAT BECAUSE SOVIET ROCKET TECHNO LOGY HAS HAO PROFOUND I NFLUENCE ON CH!NESE ROCKET OEVELOPHENT OEf!NliE IDENT IFICATION OF LAUNCHING A UTHORI TY S Y u.s ~ TECHNICIANS WOULO 8£ POSSIBlE ONLY AFTER FURTHER EXAtt l NAT i ON IN THE U, S. UNDER L•BORATORY CONDI TIONS • POINT ALSO HA DE TMAT SOHE PIECES APPEARED TO 8E f"ROM DIFFERENT SPA CE OBJECT WHl t'' LIKELY ,ELL ON A DIFFERENT OATE• 2 , FOREIGN SECRETARY EXPRE$ ; ao APPREC IATION f"OR INf"ORHAT! ON AND QUESTIONED US CLOSELY A BOUT HOW 00U8T AS 10 ,OR I GIN COULD eE RESOLVED• ALTHOUGH ME s,10 i..:.T-~~~~!'!!!!!!'!'----~ ' A S UNLl~EL Y All 08JECTS COULD BE RELEASED FOR D'ECLASSIFIEO ., ,.,,.,,u\Al.l II U/1 SECRET Authorir,, /JND 16 9000
t D epartment of State TELEGRAM SECRET PAGE 02 KATHMA 0 46 85 2907~8Z £ XA HINAT10N IN U. S . , HE THOUGHT THAT AS GON ANXIOUS TO HAVE 0£~fN I TIVE 10€NTi FI CATION OF OWNERSHIP IT MIGHT S E P0SSl 8LE TO GET GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT TO ALLOW s0ME . PI ECES TO 8F, TAKEN TO THE U•S • FOR <URTHER EXAMINATION• HE PROM ISED TO JNOUIRE ANO AOVISE AH8ASSAOOR RESULT~ MIS EF FORTS . I N RESPONSE TO AM8ASSAOOR•s QUES TI ON ABOUT • HICH OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SHOWN INTEREST I N 08JEc TS< ~OREIGN SECRETARY REPL I EO THAT INDIA ANO CHINA HAVE ASKEO TO SEE OBJECTS , 80TH ONLY TOOK PICTURES. THE SOVIETS HAVE SHOWN NO INTEREST AT ALL• 3 , WHILE WE CANNOT PREDICT GON WILLINGNESS ALLOW US TO SEND SACK SOME PI ECES OF OBJECTS , S!TUAT!ON APPEARS TO FAVOR THIS COURSE • GON HAS NO USE FOR OBJECTS ONCE POSSIBLE LAUNCH I NG AUTHORITIES fl AVE SEEN GIVEN CHANCE TO CLAIM THEM . SOVI E T LACK OF INTEREST , IF I T CONTI NUE S , WOULD LEAVE OWNERSHIP PERPETUALLY IN DOU8T AND GON SEEMS DES I ROUS TO RESLOVI NG POSSIBLE QUE STI ON OF CHINESE OR IGIN • • • FOREIGN SECRETARY AGAI N GIVEN TO TH IS MATT ER • XVH REQUESTED NO PUBLICIT Y BE 0'£Ct.ASSIF1£0 AufhontyJ/.N.D 16 700()
OAIOIH/!\C iiijlQ O&Cl.ASSIFl& D AU1hori1y !l)//) ',6 90/)0 • • -; O,i9i,.ol 10 ~o Filod In #tf FILE OESIGNATK)H cu• f' C N C. A CU · -· C 111- tO L -,-+.=+-,=-I--J TO ••o AIO Department of State ,,~, t-1• l,NAL / SIS BRAHCII ••• ••• • •• '"' FROM USUN - New York LU ... '" ... SUBJECT Nepalese Communication ... .... ,. ......... •• REF l,l)IA "" ... r copyo!a 7 1- ,.~v !Wl=t--t----,r--l Enclose~ is a/note f.rom the SYG-UN, dated August 21, 1968, t,ransmitting the text of a communication from the Nepalese UN Representative concerning certain metallic pieces discovered on Nepalese territo?iy which arc believed to i e parts of an object $ GGC.U'fO o,nttUIUl'tOH TO; Ao.on ,.,.,., ..ttl•h ....... , •O ... ••• "'''' launched into space. The note atates that Nepal, having failed to identi,iy them and determine the launching authority, a.nd in the spirit of the agree- me~ on the rescue o! ast•ronaut- s, the return of astronauts and the ret·urn of objects launched into outer s~ce, has decided to open them for examination by inte,rested states and return them to the launching autho?1ity on identification • Enclosures: {,v ,J. I, Copy o! note from the SYC-UN 2. Nepalese Communi cation UNCLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Authonw //Nfl 16 9000 " :ADMIN:DADarrer :dad KAllen f3COPY - The Permanent Representative ot Nepal to the United Nations presents his canpl.iJRente to the Seeretarr-Oeneral ot the United Nations and has the honour to transmit herewith the following c~unication fran H.E. lC.N. Biata, Deput:, Prime Hiniater and Minister tor Foreign Affairs of Nepal to the Secretary--Oener&l. ot the United Nationa. "The Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal has the honour to inform the Secret~neral of the United Nations that certain -ta)lic pieces discovered in Nepalese territory are believed as parts of object launched into space. His Majest:,•s GoverrmSl t haTe fail.ed to identity them and. determine launching authority. In spirit of Agreement on the rescue of Astronauts, the return of Astrona~ts and the return c£ objects launched into <lilt.er space, His Majesty•a Goverrmten t have decided to open the11 for exsaination by interested states and return them to launching authority on receipt of identifying data. Highest consideration." The Parmanent RepreeentatiTe of Hepa1 to the United Nations &Tail.a biwselt of this opportunity to renew to the Secretary-- General of the United Nations the assurances of his highest consideration. DECLASSIFIED AulhorityJ/.ND 16 9/Mf) 16 J\lly 1968
- • - UN ITED :-IATI OI\S ® N\T I O:SS u ,;1ES ' ........ -··· ........... _. _., ____ -·- ---·-- nae S.cre t.ary-Gc:M ru or coa:pl.--ct:: :.o i.hit IJD.ited Su tea or \.h,I" t.MU.4d !l'aUona p-reaent,s ~~ Jltptt.Sct&Uff ~ A»erlca to the Un.ited. ~attona ... . . and ho: u.e ho:,our to tn~U., ror- ~ tn!'o:-:.ti a o~ Ma (",oru:w:A, !,M ~~ C~ t'X l~;&e!Wd <CO tr'ic&t1CO dated 16 .iul,y 1968 t"rcc tbe ~n--.o.nf'nt. Reptt;ent.&~1ve nf .«pal to the tm1ted 1'atio01. I---====== ==::---...:.--'-- _ _:::, /'Ji,,_.{t-,;, "'---iF-- , c:. ---~~ ·'@j_ ,,;; SP OUTGOING TELEGRAM Department of State lt'fOICAT£1 Q (Ol.ll<'f Iv! 1218711 i • • • • 0 0WGC10 ... SECRET - NOFORN Classification g I J\CTION, Amemassy KATHMANDU Amembassy LONDON Amembassy NEW DEUII 1 5Aus68 22 OSz STATE: !,Jc>fot,/V i J/117); S LIMITED DI5TRlBl1rION I - DECLASSIJ11€0 Aut'r>o,;ty.JlUD 16 fO()() REFS: a. USDAO Kathmandu 265; b . USDAO New Delhi 0004 1. Based on examination of photos previously provided by DATT, determination has been made by DIA that potential value of physical examination of fragment by US experts sufficiently justifies dispatching team to !IX Nepal. In response to CON invitation submitted by UNSYG and in accordance with approval of GON and Embassy reported reference!!. two man team plans arrive Kathmandu 1530 August 21 via IAC. Team desires access to greatest possible extent but will be governed, of course, by arrangements dictated by GON. If, as indicated by pre- liminary examination of photos and by tracking dat a, fragment is part of Soviet rocket body (Cosmos 208), team is authorized advise CON object appears to be of Soviet origin. If examina- _Jindicates otherwise, rerun io to request further guidance from Washington, Any public statement is responsibility 2, British Defense Intelligence Uaison Office here requesced approval from Joto,'.lD for team enroute to Nepal Co meet with appropriate individuals in London re results UK e:,:smination :/ of three other objects recovered Nepal. HMG concurrence received August 15 and team scheduled arrive London between August 16 and 18. 3. In view Indian Air Force interest in object, we hope be able to relay informally to IAF our detet"mination as to origin based on expert exruninetion. !}~CLASSIFIED A"hoti1~,J/Jjf)_ 1690Q0 7
I / I Department 2 l ACTlON S$ 7 0 INFO CIAE 00,/070 W P 1906102 J UL 68 FH AN[HSASSY KA THHANOU SECRET 190652Z TO SECSTATE WASHOC PRIORJTY ~205 INFO ANEM8ASSY LONDON ? RtORITY O! A WASMOC S£COEF WASHOC $EC R ( T KA TMttANOU ~?.5 8 LIHOIS - - SU8JECT 1 SPACE OBJECTS SP /t of State TELEGRAM c/ OECbASSIFlEO Aulh<,d1y/JJJ.D 169000 I• BRI TI SH AHBASSAOOR (KELLASI INFORHEO HE LAST NIGHT (~ULY is l IN ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE ' THAT NEPALESE Cle GENERAL SURENORA SHAH ANO CGS GENERAL BAS NA YAT HA O APPROACHED H I H SONE T IHE AGO TO ASK BRIT ISH ASSISTANCE IN I OEN T!F Y!NG UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS • BRITISH VIEWED THEH, TOOK P I CTURES ANO " BITS ANO PIEtES• t APABL E OF BEING EASILY TR ANSP ORTED HAVE BEEN SHIPPED TO LONOON• ONLY ONE VERY LARGE OBJECT REHalNS' HERE ' APPARENTLY • AMBASSADOR KELL AS OOES NOT KNOW WHETHER HFA AWAR E OF TH I S ACTION ANO I NCL!NEO TO OOUB T IT• I TOLD AM BASSAOOR KELLAS THAT ON CONFIDE NT IAL BASiS THROUGH MIL ITAR Y CHANNELS WE HAO ALSO SEEN SOME OF OBJECTS· ANO RECEIVED P HOTOS BU T WER E INTERESTED IN HORE COMP ETEN T" INSPEC T ION. I ALS O SPECULATED 18ASEO ON INFORHATJON FROM JAPA ~E SE AHBASSAOORI THAT INDIANS MAY HAVE BEEN ACCOROEO SAHE TREATMEN T AS WE MAD TMROUGH THEIR CONTACT S I N HltlTARY• ALL THIS COULD POSE EMBARRASSING PROBLEM FOR NE PAL ESE WHEN OBJECTS UNVEILED FOR INSPECTION 00• NOT TALLY WIT H WHAT WE PRIVATELY KNOW TkE Y HAVE. BRITISH AMBASSADOR AGREED BUT STRESSED ESSEN T! ALITY OF PROTECTING I NFORMA TI ON WHICH ME WAS SHARING' WITH HE IN CONFIDE NCE • HE SAID HE ASSUHEO LONDON WOULD ACQUAINT ' US IN ANY CASE WITH RESULTS OF THEIR INSPECTION • GP-1 LAISE SECRET DECLASSIFIED Authoritv /J}JD 16100 0
Sf' /t D epartment of State TELEGRAM CONFIDEmlAL J •1ttlt£0 OFFIII/L t,9! PAGE e1 KATHHA 04240 l7tl15Z 17 ACT l ON SC l 05 [NFO NEA 13 , INR 07,CIAE 00, NSAE 0 0,000E 00, NASA 10 13, RSC 0!~ ~ ~~=~.: ............ . 00 7 P 1710•02 JUL 68 FH AHEH8ASSY KATHHANOU TO S£CSTATE WASHOC PRIORITY 4195 DECLASSIFIED Auth«;1y /JI./D 16f000 I lt1 II fO CFFl@IAt lJOC • KA!HHANOU lt~\0 SUBJECT • POSSIBLE SPACE MATERIAL - SP ;t,, REF • KATHHANOU•S A•208 A ND PREvi ous, USD A O•S 0207 JULY 68 I • IN LETTER TO AMBASS ADOR YESTERDAY, FOREIGN SE CRETARY ADVISED OF GON D ECISION TO PERMiT EX A MIN ATION ! A NO EVENTUAL RE TURN TO LAUNCH ING AUTHORITY IF' IDENTIF I CATION MAOEJ or METALLIC PIECES• sELIEVEO TO BE POSSIBLE COHPONENTS OF SPACE OBJECT WHICH GON HAS BEEN UN~BLE IDENTIFY OR OETERH I NE LA UNCHING A UTHORITY !SEE DAD'S 02071• 2• OCH TH ANKED DHITAL AT MFA TODAY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, ANO SAID HE ASSUHEO WE HIGHT HAVE ONE OR TWO EXPERTS FROH WASHINGTON CONE TO MAK E EXAHINATfON • DH!TAL SA ID THIS W OULD SE F I NE ANO INDI CA TED THAT WE COULD, IF WE W I SHED, WORK OUT DE TAI LS OF EXAMINATION DIRECTLY WI TH OEFENSE MI NISTRY , HE KNEW OF NO TIME LIMITATION ON OPpORTUN! TY EXAMINE OBJECTS • WHEN DATT PAID PERSONAL CALL ON DEP UTY PRIME MINISTER S I STA LATER TODAY, LATTER A LSO INDICATED THERE WOULD BE NO REST RICTION ON EXAHI NATION OF OBJECTS A NO PHOTOGRAPHY WOULD SE PERM ITTED, 3, WE ARE CONSULTING D EFENSE MINISTRY TO SEE JF REPRESENTATIVES CAN HA YE PRELIMINARY A CCESS· NQW PREJUDICE TO LATER EXAM I NATION BY EX PE RTS , EM BA SSY W ITHOUT ~} CONFIDENTI AL IMITEO QSEICJ ♦ ! OSSr DECLASSIFIED Aulh<><;IY //I.JD 16 yooo
Upon Removal ol FOi CASE NO. 7900693 To./~ 7?., 6 .,,,,f Auachm~ms) MEMORANDUM TO: OPR/f'AIM - Mr. Price FROM: A/CDC Clayton E. McManoway ) ) SUBJECT: Chanie of Document Classification to CONf-lOENTIAL 5,P / b Included in the documents of FOi Ca$e \\'o. 7900GSZ ate four documents (No. 177 Memcon with Soviet Embassy; No. 179, Memcon with Soviet Embassy} No. 180, Note to the Soviet Embassy, an<J Kathmandu c able No, '+240 ~f July 16, 1 968) which were designated LIMITED OFFICIAL USE. These documents have been denied to the requester under EO 12065 1-301 (b) and (d) and o,nder Paragraph (I>) (I) ol Title 5 USC 552. I have accordingly exercised my authority under Seclion 1-606 of the Executive Order to classify the !our documents CONFIDENTIAL, Please make the appropriate changes in the Department's record copies of the documents. DECLASSIFI ED Aulhoritv @ D ?69000 • • .. ' ,
.:) 7~ /~ D epar tm ent of State TELEGRAM LIMITED OFFICI AL USE 10 ACTION ARA 19 DJ,;Cl,ASSIFIED Au1hori1y lllJQ ?69000 INFO SCI 05,GPM 03,DOO 01,NSC 10,NASA 0•,Rsc 01,L 03,fNR ~ . CIA 0• , NSAE 00,USIA 12,ACDA 17,0S! 01,R~0li/092 W R 0800~SZ AUG 67 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO SECSTAT E WASHOC 386• LIMITED OFFICIAL USE MEXICO 557 JOINT STATE/DEFENSE MESSAGE SUB JECT, FAL LEN SPACE OBJECT IDENTIFIED AS US REF• MEXICO CITY 350 -,<I(\\., I• DE FENSE ATTACHE ICRAWFOROIWAS INFORMED AUG• • BY DEFENSA THAT GOM ORDNANCE OFFICIALS WERE EXAMINING SPH ERE TWO FEET IN DIAMETER WHICH FOUN~ IN ·cH!APAS ON JULY 13 • PAGE 2 RUESHO 557 LIMITED OFFICIAL USE 2, ARRANGEMENT S WERE MADE FOR AIR ATTACHE tHOELICHI TO EXAMINE IT AUG, 7 AT 1000A•M• HE MADE POSITIVE iOENTtflCATtON OF US TJTANtUH GAS STOWAGE SPHERE • SECTION OF SPHERE HAO BEEN CUT AWAY ANO VARIOUS "TEST eORiNGS MACE BY GOH ORDNANCE OFFICIALS, . 3• DEFENSE AUTHORIT IES WILL ADVISE EMBASSY REGARDING PROCEDURE FOR RETURN OF SPACE OBJECT• • • UNL ESS EMBASSY INSTRUCTED OTHERWISE, AIR .(TTACHE WILL TRANSPORT SPACE OBJECT WHEN RElURNED TO KELLY LIMITED OFFICIAL USE DECLASSIFIED Aulhod1y JJ}JD 16 9000
I INCOMING TfLtbKAM vepartment Of :!>tate 12 - ARA '"'• GPM L p USIA I.NR CIA NSC NSA DOD ACDA SCI NASA ~ RSC LIMITED OFFICIAL USE VZ IZCESA, 10A064 11! RUEHC DE RUE5"0 3,0 2030130 7NY CCCCC R 220109Z JUL 67 1-<'l AMEM8ASSY MEXICO TO SECST ATE VASHDC S'ATE GRNC if Lll'IITEO OFFICIAL USE MEXl,CO l~e .PINT ST AT £/DEFENSE MESSAGE 0 1 9536 1%1 JUL ?! SJ8JECT: POSSIBLE SP•CE OBJECT FALLS IN CHIAPAS 1, EMBASSY RECEIVED TELEGRAM THIS MCJlNING FRO~ CHILON , SlATE OF O!IAPAS, IHFOOMIHG lHAl " SATELLITE CJl SIMILAR 08JECl" FELL THERE 1 IS JULY 13, • Z. APPROPRIATE GO.~ AUTHCJllflES HAVE BEEN INFCJlMEO INFORMALLY CF REPCl!l, WHICH CANNOT SE VER IF iEl> BY ANY INFCJll'IAT ION AVAILABLE TO EMBASSY • .l. WILL ADVISE SOONEST RESULT GO., INVESTIGAT I ON, IREENAN Ol!CL,\ SSIFIEO Ao,ho<oyJJ/JD 161000
1NCOMING TELEGRAA\ Departnient {)Ro/ 7 r/R Sl'J 'l of State X a s P / {p LIMITED OFFICIAL USE t/rnNVZCZCESA9801'ili'lTVV M OA 121 n' RUEIIC O E RUES,~0 6457 1400125 l!IY CCCCC P 200 1152 MAY 67 r.,; AM EM BASSY MEXICO 10 SECSTA TE WASIIDC PRIORITY 9"ATE GRNC I ff '1 , ~; ¢./ LI M l ~ED o,F ! CIAL usE MEXICO 6457 6 ,.!JA " 1. sr 1 \; SJ3J EC-T : RETURN OF S ,PACE FRAGMENT l)- fi£F : r,EX I CO CITY 4899 AIID ST Ai E 15221S . I. $PACE FRAGr,ENT I/AS OFFICIALLY TU!NED OVER TO US CU ,STODY TH I S M ORN ING , PUR SUANT E..,SASSY" S RE QUEST IN NOTE OF MAR CIi 14, 2° JN ()[£ ACTA DE E~TR EGA U NQT E SIGNING OVER T ITAN I UM SPHER E, ;;f.ASC~ GIVt~ rOi'. DEL AY I S QT£ ST U DY AN D ANJ\I.YSIS ORDER ED SY .:UPti<IOk AUTIIORir Y UNOTE . THIS APPEARS TO HAVE ENTAILED ABOUT fl f! EEN TEST BORINGS INTO M ETAL AND CUTT lijG AWAY OF SECT ION (f SPHER E, 3, AI R ATTACH£ lll!LL TRANSPOOT CRATED SPHERE TO KELLY ,A,FB MAY re FOR TRANSS!liPM ENT TO FOil EIGN TECHNOLOGY D IVJ.SION, wRITIIT• il\T TERSON AFB IN ACCORDANCE USAF INSTRUCT I ON RECEIVED APRIL 11, 4. PLEAS£ ADV I SE NASA ANO DIA, . ,,..,ullltl II 'X! DECLASSIFIED AuthorityJ/}l.Q 169000 · LIMITED OFFICIAL USE ,' lp ·- . OUTGOING TELEGRAM Departn1 I it«All [ '.(('I.UC! C '1'<~•GI ~ .... J..!MIXED OFI:1C!AL USE- Clas.,r / 1 ,:4,ri~" ACHON: Amembassy MEX!CO C!TY ! NFO: Amconsul MONTERREY STATE : / ~ ).'). !J REF: MEX!CO ~899 DECLASSI FIED AutM<i1yJU/.D 16111,00 Embassy rttguestod arrange wtu, foreign omce for space !ragment, whlch dcilnltoly Identified as o! US o,·lgln. oo turned ov~r to Embassy . Embassy s hould ship by most e xpeditious moans to NASA !!eadquartei·s, Code MAO (AHentlon Richard SchuJh:err) 600 l odepatKlence Avenue, SW, Washin~ton, D. C . ?,0546. Shipping expenses to be c harged to N~SA . Sine<> analysts of results of t,xpo.sur-0 o! fragment to space environment of scientific interest and sh1ce chance of eUecl\vr: analysis dlmlnlsht;l'S rapidly, rec<>tpl o! fragmt·nt in Washington desired ASAP. FYI: Nevertheless, sctenti!i.c value of analysts would not repeat not warrant undue piessure on • • ' scientific va lue o( analysis would not repeat nol •~arrant undue pressure on GOM ior i.mmediale release. Establishment ol principle of ownership and orderly tur ning over procedU1·e more lmporlan~ ln lhls case . This orderly procedure , however, should take only 1 ·easonably short lime . NASA will tut·n O•J<!r fragment to DOD since It ldenlll\ed as DOD launch vehicle . END FYI. Classi/ic11 tlo11 DECLASSIFIED " '-J Aulhority JJND 16 ?e{)O _J I l • I t I r. ! I i ) '' 85 SCI •· 'o C!A NSA DOD NASA RSR !.1! ✓ .lT:D Or'FiCTAi. USr. S~N>:C!C.! : 1 :sso 12 RR q~f.VC DE RUcSMO 4899 0660 t a ) ZNY CCCCC n £623~ GZ i'I AR 67 c~ Ar[~SA SSY r.r.xi co TO RU'•:HC IS£CS7 ,,r~: 'N1SKOC ZiSIAY.CO~SUL ~ONTER~EY S7 4T:: GRNC 8! . 1·- ~v ')i'Fi.:tAL U!.iE MEX I CO 11899 R'"i X~.<tCO 1,c;11 Sl.iB.; I S? AC,: i'R AG:4f.lil ! - 5864 1967 MAR 6 PM 9 08 DECLASSIFIED Au1hori1y /JA/D 16 9000 1. ·, 'I • .. t:·:x·' r x1tV.JN.-:o SPt,CE FRAr,:n:: oJT T~IS r. OR~:I\l:i I~ Oi"F'I CE Of' :>·:iz:-:oi 'll{;' J')~ ltl. M<T i L1..f.R'f ARS;:NAi. . )( ~ " 'ttS 4\~CCi':r>MH EO SY ~ACKAY .,.,; ~h lC:7 sc;:;N,iST . Dt?T or NATION4L S£CORi"fY (OF. LA ROSA>. 2. t:>C! iX,\'l':t,ilON OF ,\RT!iACf A9i:RNETltY i:STAi3LISHED CONCLIJS!V • tY n I s \;$ iANUi'AC'( IJR l:D TIT AN! u~ GAS SiO'J AGE SP H ER E FROII TITAN ~ "I 11 · C UPPER ST AG,:. . 3. A,;Ef/ 11,'.T!iY Bi;L I £V!::S f"l!O;; STUD Y Or AV Al LABi. !:. REPORTS REG~RD I NG EX ACT TJ :!t: i<ND Cik;':•J.~>TANCES R!: -~NTil Y KI GH PROBABl LIT'f SPHERE \/AS P.\1:T Or ROCXi'.T LAU)ICH.:::l) BY DOD 1;1 HiCH RE- ENTERED F'!:8 7 AF'TER LAuNC HING SEVEN CO,:t'.UN ICATIONS S ATELLITES . 3 . i\3~R~ET~Y R~'.TUR~IN!l ,1ASHJ NGT ON M A RCH 7 ON £ASTERN 9i4 A NO W I LL wt~·: "U· L R"?OR- .• . !\• . r t.. l'.. I • ?~ZC:ri AN !li •• Au1hori1yJ)_}jf) 1610Q0 I DECLASSIFIED ] . •INCOMINr\ LEGRAM 83 ~-----'---------------- - --. D epa1·t11te1it of State A 12 _v _ s _ r-_ " .. / _G _ SC l A"-A l~!R DOO N,\SA l ;y .__ UNCIASS;:FIED . :,~l/~VZCZCFSA46 i VV MOA589 RR RUEHC r.r RUF.S~O • ~? I 5?012 • Z~n ll'JUlllJ R ~3i~~g7 ~ Aij 67 ~ f,~F.~'lASSY ~f.X !CO T:l RIIDIC/SFCST ATf. ~ASHD C Zf .N/ A " C:)NG FN ~ ONTERREY ST Al F CRNC m UNCLAS ~EXICO •~~I OF: PART~f.NT' S 1444~ 1 . 196'1 ~~\R 2 PM 8 58 Oli:CLASSIFIED Authoriry /JND. 16 '1000 I , ()0f\£RNACI:l~ HAS BF ,N INFO~:-. ro Of ABERt-lETHY·S Plt,NS AND ~il.l. Ft.CJLITATE HIS :"I I SS!ON BOTH IN '10NTERREY A ND ~F:XICO " !T Y, 7.. rrc;u:r AilY f.Cl!f.VARR IA HAS AIITIIOR !Zf.D I NSPECT ION OF SPArf. r RACXENT Ill :-IEXICO CITY CY NASA OFF ICIAL IJPON PRIOR NOT JFIC~T I ON C Y E~8f.SSY OF DATF. AND Tl ~E RF.QUESTED , i , C ONCFN: ~ONTERRf.Y llffORl'.f.D BY TELEPHONE , ri?f.E.~AX ITT ; • ' I •
·04 ;( I'<, G ~AM Dcpart1ne11t of State 77z~ p I(,, .L...L...; '--,. ·. - · ~ l i OUTGQING TE IUOlCAH , ! ; (Otlt(r -r..; ,oc,.,Q 10 .... ___ _ UNCLASSIFIED Cl,1ssi/l tM tlo,, ACIION, A membassy M.t:XICO CITY Amconsul MONTERREY STATE: / 1--/ IP<j 'j { ,, )'." .. .,,.;..,, REF: 145577 IYj , > \' ,<- . ) ' ' DECLASSIFIED AuthorityJJJ/.f). 16 9/2P.O Despite report suspected f r agment now in Mexico City Abernethy wishes discuss with Consulate Monterrey initially and will proceed from there t o Mexico City for examination of the suspected fragment. ETA ia Monterrey remains firm . Amembassy Mexico City requested assure if possible that . suspected fragment will be available for examination. • • , • i • 0 '- --·------ .. - ..... • 'Jtf '\ {).-L 9- 7 fi. .( e-,l_ , · J<.R .StP/t : INCOMING t ,GRAM Depctrtnie1it of State ...... , •••· _ 9 1 SCI ('Pf' I. ,\I(,\ I' Nt;C . I t:ll CIA N<;A ll0D ACl>A NA~i\ OST RSR LIMITED OFFICIAL USE__ VZClCf.SA27. 5V V 00 RUFl!C ' n: P.UfS:10 il7 7? ~ ViZ2 11.5 ZNY CCCCC 0 0 12 1J5Z r- AR 67 F~ Al'.E~BASS Y MF.X I CO TO RUr.HC/SF.CSTr,Tt ¥ASIIOC lllll f.DIATE INFO 2FN/ f.'lCONSUL i'<ONTERRr.Y SI A T I'. GRNC P.T LIMITFO Of f ! CI AI. l)Sf. ~F.X!CO •772 rueJ : SPr,CF. , RAC~EN T ----~- ... 1967 MNl PM s o'1o ·, 0 · · I 8 I - DECLASSJF!EO ' Authority !IJJD 16 ?MO kf., : STATF. 1•5577: MACKAY - 1.F.ONHA ROY TF.LECON. 1. Sf.CY F.CHF.Vt.ilR I A Ht-$ JNfOR~ F.O f.)IB THAT SUSPF.CTEO SPACE f RA G MF.NT HAS AEf.N ~OVf.D FRO~ ~ONTERRF.Y TO MEXICO CITY, 2 , ACCO.~D INCL Y, AAf.RNF.THY SHOULD PROCEf.0 OJRf.CTLY ~tXICO CITY • J'/Slf.AD Of ~ONTF.i!Rf Y. TO C~NDUCT I N SPECT JON f OR NA SA, Ei'I B l':AKING ljOTf.L ilfS,RVA T l O ~S llEXI CO CITY , OR HIM THROUGH ~ARCH 6 A NO "'I LL MF.E T A T AIRPORT. 3, CONGF.N ~ON TERRE Y ADVISED O F FOREGOING BY TF.LF.PHONE , PLEASE 11,')VJSE SOONEST Nf. 1 •' ETA i'lEKJCO CITY FOR ABERNETHY , fREi. i'lAN IJT NOTE: AD VANCr. COPY TO S'S-0, IJHI TB HOUSE, USIA 3-1-.67 ~:10 PM : I - DECLASSJF(ED Authoriiy NA/D 16 ?OOO III q ·XI< ..:; ,., 9 .~!, ~~I,~~. TELEG~~MiDepartment of State--+--- '/() ~ J ;j I I:. • • o (lo!•-(;( 10 u LIMITED OFFICIAL USE Claul/lcatlon • • > • 'i • • • ACTION, Ait>consu l MONl'ERREY INFO: Amembassy MEXICO CITY fro lu v 13Pli 'bi STATE: /q§''577 SUBJ: Space Fragment Leo Abernethy, NASA official to arrive Monterrey March 2 1505 local time via Mexican Airline flight 1715, Hotel reservations ·requested 7 hrough March 6 and Consulate representative meet him on arrival if possible. Request notification soonest if suspec,ted fragment moved from l'.onterrey. DECLASSIFIED Au1hori1yJ/jj.D_ 16 '/000 end
II q ·XI< ..:; ,., 9 .~!, ~~I,~~. TELEG~~MiDepartment of State--+--- '/{). ~ J ;j I I:. • • o ()IA'(;( 10 u LIMITED OFFICIAL USE Claul/lcatlon • • > • 'i • • • ACTION, Ait>consu l MONl'ERREY INFO: Amembassy MEXICO CITY fro lu v 13Pli 'bi STATE: /q§''577 SUBJ: Space Fragment Leo Abernethy, NASA official to arrive Monterrey March 2 1505 local time via Mexican Airline flight 1715, Hotel reservations ·requested 7 hrough March 6 and Consulate representative meet him on arrival if possible. Request notification soonest if suspec,ted fragment moved from l'.onterrey. DECLASSIFIED Au1hori1yJ/jj.D_ 16 '/000 endINCOMING T ELEGRAM Depctrtment of State 53-44 SCI it1fo> GPM ARA p USIA NSC I NR CIA NSA DOD ACDA NASA ~ UNCIASS IF Il:l> R 17 I 9302 FEB 67 FM AMCONSIIL MONTERREY \%1 Ftll 24 TO RUEHC/SECSTATE ~ASHDC INFO ZEN /M!EMBASSY MEX !CO STATE GRNC BT IINCLAS O!ONTERREY 160 REF : MONTERREY 156 PRESS TODA Y REPORTS f!JLLY ON DI SCOVER Y ANO HANDLING Of OBJECT INCLU!l!NG fTS HftVTNG BEEN TURNED OVER TO CONGEN . F.L NORT, •DDS THAT IT YAS REC:OVf.RED BY STATE OFFICIALS ANO PL ACf'D AT DISPOS!T!Oll l'IINISTRY G08ERNACION ~HICH WILL SEND I T TO MEXICO CITY FOR EXA~!NATI ON . J AMISON IJNOTE ST - -"'n oi'i:;c';::L 'A;-; S ;;; S:;:IF ~- , r:;~ . D ,,_ ._...._ Authwity iJA/f) ?6 90(!0
IN( I INCOMING TELEG M Department of State 82 - --------l;.--l------- -------------- SCJ GPI L AR NS I~ :'" ~ ~ CI C?:A ?\,- :•A NS ... ,:.in DC !JOD AC">A A( NASA NI ~ _8· , - _ ..JLli(US.S.lil NNNNVZCZCESB6l1VV K0A88I PP RUEHC DE RUESMO 4623 511909 ZNR UUUUU P 20 18561: FEB 67 FM AMEM8ASSY MEXI CO TO RUEHC/SECSTATEV ~ASHDC PRIORITY INFO ZEN/AMCONGEN MONTERREY PRIORITY STATE GRNC BT UNCLAS MEXICO ~623 fl \l., STATE"S 138873. ?I I 0 18 4 24 r;.1 3 29 1. SECGOVT LU I S ECHE VERRIA TOLD NE TODAY THAT SPACE OB,JECT NO',· IN CUSTODY SCHOOL Of ENGINEERING, UNIVER SITY NlJEVO LEON AND THAT GOM VOULO BE VERY HAPPY HAVE NASA EXPERT OR EXPERTS EXAMINE IT JOINTLY WITH "EXICANS. HE ASKED THAT I INFORM HIM Of TH£ NAMES Of NASA EXPERTS ANO THEIR EXPECTED DATE OF ARRI VAL IN MONTERREY IN ORDER THAT HE IN TURN MAY INFORM TH E GOVERNOR. 2. I WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING SOONEST THIS INFO IN ORDER ~ HAT I ~AY PASS IT TO ECHEVERRIA. J;REEIIAN If
.. illCOMlN T EGRAM Depart1nent of S ta te 82 SCI Wo GPM L ARA NSC INR CIA NSA DOD ACDA NASA f!) CONFIDENTIAL VZCZCESB844VY MOA789 PP RUEHC OE RUESMO !58 04903111 ZNY CCCCC 16843 P 1800301: FF.8 67 FM AMCONSUL MONTERREY 1967 FE8 17 PM 10 25 TO SECSTATE WASHOC PRIORITY INFO ZEN/Ar.EMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY GRNC BT CON FI OE N T I AL MONTERREY 158 REF: MONTERREY 156 1. ACTING ON WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS INSTRUCTIONS FROM MINISTRY Of GOBERNACION, STATf. AUTHORITIES REQUf.STf.0 RETURN or OBJECT ASA SUR ING US IT WOULD BE HELO IIITACT PENDING EXAMINATION BY NASA EXPERT. CONGEN COMPLIED . 2. CHIEF LEGAL SECTION HAS RECEIVED REPORT FROM CONFIDENTIAL SOURCf. THAT MINISTRY G08£RNAC!ON DISPLEASED STATE AUTHORITIES RELEAS£1l 08JECT TO CONGEN ANO ¥!LL SEND REPRESENTATIVE s•HO V!LL TAKE 08,IECT TO MEXICO CITY. 3. NEVERTHELESS If NASA WISHES SEND EXPERT EX AMI NE OBJECT WE WILL OF COURSE ASSIST AS MAY BE FEASIBLE, GP•3, JAMISON BT DECLASSIFIED ..._l Auolvx;1yJIJID 1610/')0
DEPARTMENT OF STATE um@m~M FOR RM USE ONLY A-4 1 UNCLASSIFIED t NO. • TO Departme nt of State > INFO : Me xico City . FROM Ameonsul MONTERREY DATE: February 17, 1967 ,R SUBJECT : Report of unidentified object which fell near Municipio of General Teran, N. L. :!- REF ) r - () I I L Deptel 138873 and Monterrey 156 l£c.-.,c. There is attached for forwarding to NASA a translation of a letter, and its enclosure, from t he mayor of General Teran to the Private Secretary of the Governor-of the State of Nue vo Leon regarding an unidentified object which fell near the town of General Teran on February 7 , 1967. DECl.ASSIFIED AuthorityJ/J/ll 16 90~( JAMISON t~~ ~ Enelosures: 1. Trans lation of letter of Feb. 16, 1967 from the Mayor of General Teran , N. L. to the Private Secretary of the Governor of N. L. 2 . Translation of the memorandum attached to lllmATIOIW. SCl9lllflC NFAIRS above letter. FEB 24 1967 Al PM 7 1 8 1 9 1 1011 1 U.1 1 ! 1 3,t,5,G
.Lra l Te r.Sn ,.y Holl DECLASSIPlED'-- Autho<;,y,J//./D 1610PO Page I of I Encl. No. I A- 41 from M onterrey Ref: Submitting sphere To the At,torney Juventino Gonz.&.lez Ramos Private Secretary to the Governor Monterrey, N . L. I am sendi ng you with a Traffic Department officer ln a vehicle o wtied by LP . I. ol th.is town the sphere found Jn territory of this municipality, as par descri ption made In the attached Memorandum for the necessary action . Very truly Y◊Uts , Gral. Teran , N. L., February 16 , 1967 The Ma yor Ing . Plutarco El!as Calles S4enz The Secretary
• Page 1 of I Encl. No . 2 , A-41 from Monterrey In the Vi Ila of Gener 1 T s . a eran, late of Nuevo I.con , on tho fifteenth da of February of nineteen hundred sixty seven a t e leven o 'clo ,. p f E Y TORRES M 1 6 ' c , · ro . rnesto • a ag n appeared before the Presldente Municipal , Ino. Plutarco Ehas CALLES S6enz. Prof . Torres Is a teacherln the Federal Rural School of the EUdo Las Anacuitas , Secci6n Victoria, of the municipality of General Teran and said that on arriving 10 work on Tuesday , February 7 , the neighbors alarmed Informed him that about 10:30 of that day they heard two or three e x- plosions and suddenly they saw descending a sphere of Indefinite size with direction to the West, covered by smoke and some signs of fire, which fell in t he land belonging to the Ejldo about l,S00 meters from the center of town, on seeing It they decided to go towards the place where the object fell but they could not reach the location due to the fact that the said object smelled strongly of gunpowder , so they decided to return to their place of origin . Next, Mr. Reyes PERALES Perez, on Sunday 12 accidentally found the object first seen , which consisted of a metal sphere, of some unknown metal, of indefinite colo,·, about thirty kilos In weight and about sixty centimeters In diameter. On advise from the Professor the following persons went to the location of the object : CC . Prof. Ruben GARZA Rodrfguez , Secretary of the Ayuntamlonto (City Hall), Mr. Genaro RODRIGUEZ Ramirez, Second Municipal Commandant and Prof. Leopoldo DIAZ Alejandro, Chief of the Traffic Depart- ment of that town, who agreed thoroughly with what the neighbor and the teacher had reported, and furthermore they could Investigate that tho sphere touched the branches of a tree on falling and that lt was lying on a beehive . In order to transport it into town, it was rolled about forty meters to reach a road where It w::is loaded on a wagon and taken into town where three small screws were removed. Nelghlx>rs also Informed that other particles of the object continued flying and that another one fell In a pasture nearby which ls a private p:operty and they have been unable to locate it. The man who found the sphere , It should be explained, gave the Information very laconical- ly and appeared somewhat selfish in giving Information In this res pact. The sphere , on falling, made a loud noise, a sort of humming noise. This memorandum was written as p:oof and Is signed by those who Intervened and wis hed to do so . Wo a gree------------------- -- - --- ---- - -- - -- - - --- To rres Malagon (signed) Garza R. (Signed) Leopoldo Dfaz A. (signed DECLASSIFIED ] Au1hori,y J/1/ D 76 9 Of2()
INCOMIN Elb.iRAM L'efr.,·tment of .~ta!e • 82 Action UNCLASSIFIED $Cl Info GPM ARA p USIA NSC INR ClA NSA ~~NN,lCZr.~S0728~;736 p> RUEHC DE RUESMO 156 0481725 ZNR UUUUU PR 1717281: FEB 67 FM A"CONSUL MONTERREY TO RUEHC/SECSTATE IIASHDC PRIORITY INFO ZEN/AMENBASSY MEXICO STATE GRNC { 0 I 54 3? ~ I 1967 FES 17 PM 2 26 '-l '- v( ~ BT Uf'ICLAS MONTERREY 15 6 DECLASSIFIED · - Aulhoriryjfj/1)_ 16fO(i0 DOD FEB 17 ,v ACDA '?~ ' NASA REF: STATE 138873 _95L ON FEBRUARY 16 CONGEN NOTIFIED BY PRIVATE SECRETARY TO STATE ~ GOVERNOR THAT REPORT HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM MAYOR OF MUNICIPALITY OF GENERAL TEHRAN THAT UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT HAD FALLEN NEAR TO't•N AND BEEN RECOVERED BY LOCAL l'EOPLE. CONGEN OISl'ATCHEO CHIEF , LEGAL SECTION TO GENERAL TEHRAN BUT ON ARRIVAL WAS TOLD OBJECT HAO BEEN TRANSPORTED l'!ONTERRSY. {!) ON FEBRUARY 17 CHIEF LEGAL SECTION ANO VICE CONSUL EXAMINED OBJECT AT STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND GATHERED FOLLOWING INFORMATION: OB~ECT FIRST SEEN BY GAMPF.SINOS FALLING FROl'I SKY TRAILING SMOKE ON FEBRUARY 7. AFTER IMl'ACT HEARD TWO EXPLOSIONS. OBJECT FI~ALLY P~~E 2 RUESMO 156 U NCLAS LQCATED Off F-EBRUARY 12 ABOUT 1599 METERS FROII'\ TOWN. ·:NOT f O GASEOUS $)!~LL SURROUNDING OBJECT. BELIEVE THERE IS STILL ANOTHER PART NOT YEj FOUND SINCE OB,JECT IS SMALLER THAN THAT OBSERVED FALLING FROM S~y. ~I l l SEARCH FURTHER. CONGEN STAFF' IIEl'!BERS DESCRIBE OBJECT AS ROIJND IN SHAl'E, Cl8CUKFERENCE 75 INCHES, WEIGHT APPROXIMATELY 7g POUNDS, MADE OF HARD METAL , BRONZE IN COLOR, WITH BURNED SPOTS ON EXTERIOR. IS MAl!E OF TWO PARTS WELDED TOGETHER, ON EITHER SIDE T 'HERE I S FLANGED TH~EAOED SOCKET WITH INSIDE DIAMETER OF I INCH. AROUND EACH THESE SOCKET SARE 3 SMALL THREADED HOLES APPARENTLG MEANT FOR SCREWS. NEAR 2 SOCKETS THERE IS MOLTEN METAG. CURSORY PEEP INTO SOCKET HOLES INQICATES BALL CO~PlETElY EMPTY. RE~RESENTATIVES PRESS HAVE SEEN OB~ECT AND VRIT!NG STORIES LOCAL NEWS MEDIA. OEC'l,,\SSIFIED AuthorilY 1/NQ 16100() -UNCLASS IFlED -2-1-'.01''TERRJ::Y 156, FEBRUARY 17. .. DtCLASSlrl EO Auw/4yJ}JJD. ~$9000 AF'T£11 R£C£Il"T R£l'TEL , CON GEN REQUESTED ST ATE AUTKORIT IES SURRENDER OBJ ECT F"OR SH!l'l!ENT lilASll! NGTON, REPLIED lillSKEO TO SEND TO DEl'ARTl!E~T l!ECKANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING or LOCAL STATE UNIVERSITY l'OR EXAl!INATION AND STUDY. ON CONOEN I NSISTANCE OBJECT NOT BE R£ LDAl'£0 UNI VERSITY UNTIL EXAMI NATION NASA EXPERT, AU THORITIF.S SURRENDERED OBJECT TO US ON UNDERSTANDING Iii£ W OULD DELIVER TO UNIVERSITY AfTER NASA INSPECTION. SUGGEST NASA SEND EXPERT Il!l'lEO I ATEL Y. PAGE 3 RUESl!O 15 6 UN Cl. AS IF AFTER EXAM INATION l' OSSESSION DESIRED, BEL I EVE VE CAN SUCCESSF ULLY NEGOTIATE IT. Pl.EASE /JlJV IS£. YAN ISON BT
' ACTIO" iw,oonsul MONTERREY ~-~--J Info Amembassy MEXICO CIT\: <'i'!Rlc' /35W7} Ref: '.('olec<.m Stuer•-'.!'sylor Feb 1~ ConGen reque<tBd to inform 001! ' I 3 ' B I ' l>OC\.ASSlt\f.l) Au,ho, ey ./}jJD. fil,W/J thot obj.,et found quite likely psrt of space ""hiele but without analytics! e><smiruition it is not poosible to identify oo to n"tion,.lity or technical orgin. If GOM o.greesble NASII P""'P"""'d to conduct expert examination preferably 3 by hevl.ng object shipped et NASA expense to NASA Head- quarters {Code W.O) Attn Mi,. Abernethy, Washington, D.C. MAS/I also prepared send expert to examine object locally. ACflNG ' • • ' • ' • ' 7 • I ' l f\07 r, _ _,..,. .. ,.. SP • ourGol'IK TELEGRAM Department of State - l./ a • o4677Z ~ s p 'r • J-1('_ ; -.. .. ·''"""' o,~ ... •• - ~ • . \f' ACTION; ~ INFO; SUBJ: -~ a11y CANBl!.R!Vi ••••Y cot.OMIO • "" , • __ , asoy 1)1.R !S SAt.V.M -:•••Y DJIJ(AllTA Me ,.... -•••Y U>NDON A,nernb assy HOGADISCI O ••••Y H,\llOBl assy NEW Dl!.Ull Iv, , _ .. A,nembaeay TANAw.RlVE -· "'""' baasy 11:lSCOW _,_ -··· oi:c,..,.ss 1v11::o ,....,....,..&IJJlfil\WO USSR Raquasc for Astronaut Ase1acance ,. s.,arc 0 f British Embassy in f ora,ad us September 28 of Soviet request 1n event specify ·o UJ; for asoi a ranc • in locating and re.acuing coamonauet< landing in Indian Ocean area, soviet noto doea not ., .. , o,: c1.,1n11. ancionat but reqoeatt that Gove.rnment of U• and Ind Lan Ocea n territories under jurledlction of UK be prepared co ,,.,r aastacance necessary, Noce also reques t s UJ: r..nder whsce ~·· av&ilab le facilities for Soviet recovery activities, shoul need ari•"· ' . smart " por t ed UK intend• respond sff1rmat1vely to Sovie t u..quest citi ng UK adherence to Outer Space Tresty 8 in 1 • -=: SC , TllENeabitt UNP• JPLorenz -- EIJR/SOY- Mr .CANBERRI\, COLOMBO, OF<R BS SAL/IZM, DJl\K/IRT/1, LOIIDON , ETC -- SECRET - NOFORN 0£.CLASS!FI CO ""''"''"> .iJ.N D..JJJ.. Qj) 0 7 particular, to provision on assistance and return, Since return aspgct not mentioned in soviet note, UK rosponse will stato asswnPtion that USSR dosires return of cosmonaut(s) and/or spacecraft, should recovery b<> made by UK personnel or personnel under jurisdi c tion of UK and that UK considers return to launching state or launchin9 or9anization obligatory under terms of 'J'reaty, UJ( reply will rese r ve decisions on 9tent of assistano" and request from USSR orbital characteristics and other data relevant to rescue, as well as description of scale and natur" of assistance desired. lt .,,;_11 ask that such details be made available by appropriat" Soviet authorities for revi"w by UK Ministry of Defense, UK has transmitted substance of Soviet note to governments in Indian Ocean area under UII :8;1'olxix,li£ jurisdiction. Another sourcg has reported that the USSR has approached the Government of Madagascar requesting facilities to assist in recovery of space vehicles and cosmonauts. 3. FOR LONDON, UII Embassy here did not have copy cf USSR note. Department would very much like receive text by telegram. 4 . FOR ALL l\DOllESSEES, Department will appreciate any information on USSR interest in res cue and return of Soviet astronauts that _ ,nay con,e to the atten t ion of posts in the area , K,\TZ.ENBACH SECRET - NOFORN Cfa11lflcatton _J
- . INCOMIN G TELEGRAM D ejJc1rt1ne1it of State • ACTION COPY I VZCZCDTA 8)1 RR RUE>IC D£ RUE>IDT 3~51 132200 ZNY CCCCC R 1321302: JAN 61 FM USUN NEWYORK TO SECSTATE WASHOC STAWO GRNC CONFlDENT.lAL BT CO NF IDE NT I AL USUN 355 1 E X D I S OUTER SPACE 010743 JANUARY 13, 5 :23 P.M. 1967 - l, UNDER LETTER DATED 5 JAN SOVS HAVE TRANSMITTED INFO ON OBJECTS LAUNCHED INTO OUTER SPACE FOR UN SPACE REGISTRY. THIS SUBMISSION , UN DOC A/AC.105/ NF.50 OF 9 JAN , COVERS PERIOD FROM 27 AUG TO 12 NOV, SPECIFICALLY LAUNCHES OF COSMOS 129, 130 ANO 131 ON 14, 20 OCT ANO 12 NOV , MOLNIYA I ON 20 OCT, AND LUNA 12 ON 22 OCT. 2, THIS SUBMISSION FAiLS MENTION T 1 ~0 SOVIET LAUNCHES WHICH PUT INTO LASTING ORBIT AT LEAST FOUR SOVIET OBJECTS; ACCORDING TO MOST RECENT ISSUE AVA I LABLE HERE OF SRTELLITE SITU~ REPORT (15 DEC), THESE WERE THREE OBJECTS PUT IN ORBIT 17 SEPT <BBB, SSE AND BBAY) AND ONE ON 2 NOV Cl0!G>, ALL OF WHICH HAD SIMILAR ORBITAL CHARACTERISTICS. 3. ON FACE OF IT THIS SOV SUBMISSION IS INCOMPLETE AND RAISES TRICXY QUEST ION OF HOW WE RESPOND , /_ S f'/0 //N l 'I 5p /() // ~ 4, SOME OF THE COM~XITIES OF TH IS QUESTION HAVE BEEN NOTED IN USUN A-1343 AND EARLIER MESSAGES WHICH DISCUSS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN US AND SOV METHODS AND CRITERIA FOR SUBMITTING INFO TO UN SPACE REGISTRY, SOVS H AVE CONSISTENTLY REFRAINED FROM REPORTING ANCILLARY OBJ ECTS , DESPITE THEIR VOLUNTARY ACCEPTANC E OF OBLIGATION TO REGISTER , I ASSERTION THAT THE Y DO REGISTER, LAUNCH AND PAYLOAD ONLY. PERTINENT TO CURRENT QUESTION IS INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTING THAT 11 SEPT AND 2 NOV SHOTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL TESTS OF ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT WEAPON IN WHICH PAYLOAD MAY NOT HAVE COMPLETED ONE ORBIT, OR IF IT DID MAY NO LONGER HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY USSR AS MORE THAN USELESS DEBRIS OF SORT SOVS NORMALLY DO NOT REGI STER. THERE IS THUS QUE·STION AS TO WHETHER THESE TWO LAUNCHES QUALIFY FOR WHAT IN PAST WE HAVE TERMED "SECRET" LAUNCHES, CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL -2-USUN NEW ¥ORK 3551, JANUARY 13, 1967 I DECLASSIFIED ··-1 Authori r:, .NlLJJ. .Jj.J_qp I) • 5 • STEVENSON LETTER 6 JUNF. 1963 ON SUBJECT or SOVIET SECRET LA U NCH ES ADDRESSED ITSELF TO SOVIET FAILURE IN SIX SPECIFIC INSTANCES TO REGISTER "VEHICLES" AND DID NOT ADDRESS ITSELF TO NIJ'lBEROUS A N CILLARY OBJECTS SOVS ALSO FAILED TO REGISTER. PRESS, WHICH MAY NOT APPRECIATE THIS DISTINCTION, M IGHT BE TEMPTED TO PORTRAY THIS SL8MISSION AS FIRST SOVIET CONCEALMENT OF "SLCRET" LAUNCHES SINCE THAT LETTER. 6 . SATELLITE SITUATION REPORT APPEARS PRESENT CONVINCING EVIDENCE or EXISTENCE TH ESE OBJECTS IN ORBIT AS or 15 DEC, BY GIVING PRECISE ORBITAL CHARACTERISTICS. IF SOVS WERE TO DISPUTE THIS W E PRESUME THAT PROPERLY EQUIPPED OBSERVERS COULD IN FACT D ETECT PRESENCE or THESE O BJECTS <PROVIDING THEY ARE STILL IN ORBIT> AND THAT MATHEMATICA L ANALY SIS or THEI R ORBITS WOULD SATISFY SCIENTIFIC COMM UNITY THAT THE IR ORIGIN WAS USSR. UNFOR- TUNATELY, ISSUES or SATELLITE SITUATION REPORT SINCE OCTOBER HAVE ALSO LISTED THREE OBJECTS, CATALOGUE NUMBERS 2 428, 2429, AND 2 430 , WITH E QUALLY PRECISE INFO ~S TO THEIR ORBITAL CHARACTER I ST ICS, BUT FOR WHICH THE SOURCE AND DATES or LAU NCH ARE " UNKNOWN". TH IS SUGGESTS THAT OUR CASE MIGHT NOT APPEA R CONVINCING TO AN UNINFORMED AUDIENCE. · 7. AL TH ING$ CONS IOEREO IT WOULD APPEAR ADV I SABLE TO PULL TOGETHER ALL FACTS (IN CLUDING QUESTION OF WHETHER OBJECTS WERE STILL IN ORBIT ON 5 JAN, ANO IF SO HOW MUCH LONGER THEY MAY REMAIN IN ORBIT> ANO PREPARE URGENTLY FOR FRANK DISCUSSION WITH SOVIETS. NEED FOR SPEED IS SUGGESTED BY PENDING SPACE TREATY WITH ITS UNINSPECTEO BAN ON ORBITING NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND BY FACT THAT PRESS ALREADY HAS AT LEAST SOME or THE STORY, SEE "TECHNOLOGY WEEK" or 31 OCT . s . ONE POSSIBLE LINE or APPROACH WOULD ~E T~o I~A!:~u~Ii~ ESTABLI SOVIETS THE POINT THAT N OW THAT SPACE TR A EM HIGHLY INTERNATI ONAL LIABILITY IN ARTICLE VII, IT WOULD SE AD VI SA BLE FOR ALL LAUNCHING STATES OT INCLUDE IN THE I R REGISTRATION NOT ONLY THE FACT or LAUNCH or PAYLOAD BUT ALSO or ANCILLARY OBJECTS, PARTICULARLY SINCE LIAB ILITY S ITUATIONS A RE MO RE LI KELY TO ARISE FROM iNC\LLARY OBJECTS. ON THIS BAS IS THEIR ATTENTION SHOULD BE ~ ~~~~ 1 0 • ACT THAT NOT ONLY W ERE FOUR ABOVE OBJECTS STILL IN ' "s OF" 1 5 DEC• BU T ADD I TIONALLY THERE WERE AT LEAST CONF"IDEI/ITlAL
-<.!S UK >f t:\~ YORK 3551, JANUARY 13, 196 7 49 ANCILLARY OBJECTS PUT IN ORBIT ON 17 SEPT WHICH HAO DECAYED BY MID NOV AND AT LEAST 32 SIMILAR OBJECTS PUT IN O RBIT ON 2 NOV OF WHICH 21 HAO DECAYED BY MIO NOV (THESE FIG UR ES FROM SATELLITE SITUATION REPORT OF 15 NOV> . W E M IGHT MAKE CLEAR TO SOVIETS THAT WE EXPECT QUESTIONS ON THIS SCO RE TO AR I SE DU RING SENATE CONSIDERATION OF SPACE TREATY TO • .iH ICH 'JIE WILL HAVE TO RESPOND AND WE FEAR THEIR FAILURE TO REGI STER 17 SE PT AND 2 NOV LAUNCHES OR OBJECTS WI LL CREATE U N NEC ES SARY EMBARRASSMENT FOR THEM. <U SUN OFFICER CON VEY ED ESSENCE OF THIS POINT TO TIMERBAEV IN EARLY NOVEMBER• SEE THACHER MEMO FOR RECORD OF 9 NOV . ) 9 . PLEASE ADVISE. GP-2, G OLDBER G BT I DECLASSIFIED .... .,. ] AuthorityJ/.N fJ. '16 Yqpo
-t.1S UK >f t:\~ YORK 3551, JANUARY 13, 196 7 49 ANCILLARY OBJECTS PUT IN ORBIT ON 17 SEPT WHICH HAO DECAYED BY MID NOV AND AT LEAST 32 SIMILAR OBJECTS PUT IN O RBIT ON 2 NOV OF WHICH 21 HAO DECAYED BY MIO NOV (THESE FIG UR ES FROM SATELLITE SITUATION REPORT OF 15 NOV> . W E M IGHT MAKE CLEAR TO SOVIETS THAT WE EXPECT QUESTIONS ON THIS SCO RE TO AR I SE DU RING SENATE CONSIDERATION OF SPACE TREATY TO • .iH ICH 'JIE WILL HAVE TO RESPOND AND WE FEAR THEIR FAILURE TO REGI STER 17 SE PT AND 2 NOV LAUNCHES OR OBJECTS WI LL CREATE U N NEC ES SARY EMBARRASSMENT FOR THEM. <U SUN OFFICER CON VEY ED ESSENCE OF THIS POINT TO TIMERBAEV IN EARLY NOVEMBER• SEE THACHER MEMO FOR RECORD OF 9 NOV . ) 9 . PLEASE ADVISE. GP-2, G OLDBER G BT I ' DECLASSIF IED :....,. ] Authority JI.NJ), '16 Yqpo
I V • El E R r rr rw! 12 23 NOV 72 I ROGERS ?. IZ 2 l O2 3 1 ; FORM DS 322<0CR> I 210234 J 1723212 CONFIDENT I AL PM/AE:-'sRTURRENTINE:BPlil 11/17/12 EXT 21835 PM/AE:COL-AB~I T KO f SCI/SAM:LTC BAST EDO {SUBS} 7b02 AIG:MAJ.NEMETH {SUBS} DO,D/.ISA:MR • ANDERSON <SUBS} ROUTINE ~ELLINGTON ROUTINE RUEKJCS/SECDEF, RUEfHQA/CSAF, RUEKJCS/DIA, RUVAADA/FTD WP,AFB OHIO , RUEFHQD/7b02 AIG FT BELVOIR SUBJECT : MOONDUST: NEW ZEALAND REFS: A, USDAO WE LLING TON 0821052 NOV 72; 8, FTD/FAM 071~452 NOV 72. 1. EMBASSY MAY INFORM GNZ THROUGH CHANNEL DEEMED MOST APPROPRIATE THAT EXTENSIVE LABORATORY STUDY Of SPACE OBJE{T SAMPLES HAS BEGUN • ~E EXPECT CLASSIFIED REPORT ON RESULTS WIL L BE ISSUED IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS. WE WILL Of COURSE SHARE THIS REPORT WITH GNZ. 2 . YOU MAY INDICATE THAT SPACE OBJECTS WERE OF GREATER INTEREST THAN ORI GINALLY ESTI MATED AND THAT EXPLOITATION IS PROVIDI NG VALUABLE INFORMATION. COOPERATION Of GNZ IN THIS EFFORT GREATLY APPRECIATED• 3. DAO AND OTHER EMBASSY O FFICERS WHO HAVE ASSISTED ARE COMMENDED FOR THEIR SKILLFUL HANDLING OF THIS DELICATE ISSUE• 4. DOD CONCURS. TURRENTINE-GDS YY DECLASSIFIED AuthorilY //NO 1£90 52 L------ (()NF T 'f\ ► tJTT Al PM/AE: PM/AE: SCI/,$ DOD/,l 7b020,!''' '"'' "-i ,,o.., --- . _·3 " Oecenuoliud Fihn. FILE OESIGNATION 1,.tll C •• ....!<l(,,'-1-,="'f-=-l---lTO t. f'.0 A \0 I ••• •• FROM SUBJECT A•44 Deportment of state RECEIVED O F.~ARTME~ ~ TE SE ~ U?.s ,yi,/~l7t Ame01bassy KATIIMANDifNALYSIS BRAHG!lrE , May 12, 1972 l,litlTP.D DISTRIBl/1'10N HOON DUST, Space Fragments - Nepal N AV Y ••• I I I REF l'"- (a) Department's A - 3864, April 17, 1972; (b) Kathmandu's 997, March lS, 1972; (c) State March 1, 1972 f '1 034850, CIA , /'_,..,-. I ,,,,,, --1--'/'-ll--'--l--'--I r 'lbe Nepalese toreign Mioistey , which moved with great deliberation pr.ior to lo~ning u$ the apace fragment, hu continued to operate at sveou,e.oonrtU&u1'tO~ 3 rather stately tempo in •rranging for its return. As indicated in the attached MefflOr•ndum of Conversat i~ n, the fragment t s still being held by the F.obassy pending co2pletion of paper work within the Min·UU:y to tran&fcr the fragment to the National Huteu:=. The Eaba.ssy 18 not , therefore, yet in a position to report CON reaction to the fragment itself. However, on the basis o f ou~ ovn visual inspection, we fotesee no probl em once the fragm.ent is returned . Ve believe the technicians who performed the s urgery did an excellent job and should be cocaplimented f or their vor\c:. T01 A<••~ l,.ft, ,_11, eb ::• Ye pa.ssed one copy of the Technical Report transm,itted under covAr ".~,'- .-1---1- -11---l of reference (a) to the Foreign Secretary persona;lly on May 9, 4 ..;;.:c...i---+--+--1 recorded in the attached Memcon. As "1111 be noted, the Foreign~ .. , .. -'"'-l---+--+--1 Secretary readily agreed to our stipulations regard ing control cg cco,. the docum.ent. ..:, CO" J o, ,. -•----l--+---1---l Although the operation as noted above has not qui te been completely wrapped up~ ve consider it timely and appropriate at this stage to um express our appreciation f.or the sensitivity to our requirements .::.::.:...-1--+---l---l and responsiveness to our suggestions which the Department and --l----1---1---l other concerned Washington agencies have shO\.-n in can:ying out . ., --l----1---1---l their end of t-he vork . o1tti ---------1 Encl : Mc11con .., ;;:: "' \JI .. ... SttREX - l,IMDIS o,,, o,,,e.,o on~ i, .. .,. A~ Ql:l,C&C-
SO'BJECT: PARTICIPANTS: DATE AND PLACE: -------- --- SECRET • LIKDIS American Elllbusy Kathmandu, Nepal lm!ORANDIJM OF CONVERSATION Space F-cagment , , r~ OECl,ASSIFIEO •-1 L:;:,~~'l1.2r,s2 _, Page l, Encl. l K.athuaandu A-44 Mr . H<. Bharat Raj Bhandary, Foreign Secretary Shardul s. Rana, Joint Secretary Ambassador Laise Carleton S. Coon, Jr. - DCM May 9, 1972 Otfic~ of the Foreign Secretary, Singha Durbar ------------------------------ Mr , coon recalled that in mid-March he and the Foreign Secretary had discussed the return of the space fragi:r:ent and it had been agreed that the fore,ign Mintstry would arrange to have i t picked up fr«a the F.mbassy to be taken to the National Museum. Foreign Secretary Bhandary confirced that this was his understanding also. He said he hadn't finished the paper work required t ,o get it into the Museum. and that he "'•ould turn the project over to Hr. Shardul Rana (Joint Secretary in the Foreign M1nistiy). (At this point he called Sho.r- dul Rana ~n to join the group.) He asked if we would be willing to keep the fragment for a while longer until the formalities could be coaapieted . Mr. Coon agreed to this. M r. Coon said that he had received a technical report from Washington of the results of the evaluation. He had been authorized to convey it t·o His Majesty's Government on the understanding that: (a) HMG would not make the report available to any other govertUllent, and (b) it would not be made available to Nepalese officials who would not othervise have access to material of this nature and secr,et classi£ication. Foreign Secretary Bhanda~y expressed gratitude for the report and assured Mr. Coon and A=bassador Laise that these two understandings would be strictly adhered t ,o. Re pointed out that it was at lea.st as auch in RMG 1s interests as in that of the USC that the r,eport not get SECRET - LDIDIS
• • into the wrong hands. SECRET - LIMDIS Page 2 , Encl. l Kathmandu A-44 Mr. Coon told the Foreign Secretary that he had been asked to convey the United States G,overnment's deep appreciation for HMG's cooperation in this matter. He said the instructions he had received had pointed out that the investigation had been of considerable interest and value t - o the United States Government. efA DOI: CS~ o : ew
- Copy to, 10 BUR INR L PM SCI S/PRS RF J N 7 20 5730 SECRET 0£PARTM£NT OF STATE ACTIO N MEMORAN DUM s•i\ \:W ,prrJ March 2Z 1972 ff"._ To: The, Secretary / '7/ /l V From: PM ~ onald I. Spiers r 1 y 0'-; Disposition of Soviet Space Fragments-.._~_..-- Bnckground : s p </ Six fragments were recovered from a Soviet satellite (COSMOS 316) which broke up and fell across the US Middle West on August 28, 1970 . The United States 111et its obligations under the 1968 agreement on the return of astronauts and space objects by informing the UN Secretary General and the Soviet Embassy that the fragments had been recovered and by offering Soviet representatives several opportunities to identify and claim them. Soviet Embassy officers declined either to inspect or claim the frag,nents. On June 9, 1971, the Soviet Embassy informed the Depart• mcnt by note (informal translation) , 11 Thc Soviet side is not interested in further steps to study the origin of the said fragments, and believes that the American side can decide to its satisfaction the question about further destiny of said fragments . ti At the time of the Soviet note, negotiations on the Outer Space Liability Convention were in the final phase, therefore, we deferred disposing of the space objects or making detailed information available to the public to avoid a possible disrupti on. The Depar tment of State has physical custody of the Soviet space fragments, the largest of which is roughly a square, 4 ft by 4 ft, weighing 640 lbs . '.the Problem: As you know, you signed the Outer Space Liabi li t y Convention on March 29. Publicity a t tendant on the sign i ng o f the Convention could SECRET
SECRET 2. revive public and press interest in the fragments. Concur- rently, our tactical reasons for withholding information regarding the Soviet space objects will largely disappear as soon as the forthcoming meetings of the Outer Space Legal Subcoamittee (Geneva, April 10-May 5) and the Scien- tific and Technical Subcommittee (New York, May 3-13) are over. At that time the public's right to know more about the fragments becomes a primary consideration. In addition, we believe it is essential that disposition of the space fragments be completed and pertinent information be placed in the public domain officially by the Executive Branch prior to Senate hearings on the Liability Convention. We do not wish to draw undue attention to the fragments prior to the signing of the Liability Convention. We also wish to ovoid stimulating interest in the Mid -West fragments during the upcoming sessions of the UN space groups. Perhaps t he best time to place the fragments in the public domain, t herefore, would be in June, shortly after the President's trip to the Soviet Union . The attached Staff Study contains a more detailed analysis of the above considerations and sets forth the options that were examined by the various agencies directly concerned with the problem. Recommendation : The recommended course of action, in which the various interested agencies concur, proposes that the Department of State arrange with the Smithsonian Institu tion's National Air and Space Museum and the Air Force Museum (Wright- Patterson AFB , Ohio) for the fragments to be put on public displ ay starting in June. Under the agreements to be con- cluded by the Department of State and the two museums, State would retain legal custody rights enabling recall if in the national interest. Prior to displaying the fragments publicly, appropriate press guidance will be worked out on an interagency basis. I recommend you approve this action. Approve ~ Disapprove ------ SECRET
SECRET ACTION MEMO to: from: The Secretary PM - R.I.Spiers 3. Subject: Disposition of Soviet: Space Fragments Attachment: Sraff Study . Drafted: 3/23/72 ~ Jl.-:-- PM/AE :ARTurrentine/HGHafidyside :bpw Clearances: SECRET x21835 S/PC - Mr. Gathright (subs)~Rr IO/UNP - Mr. Rothenbe°tg/Mr. Blackw,l SCI/SAM - Mr. Chapin (subs)lllif EUR/SOV - Mr. Matlock/Mr. Kadilis (subs)~T L/UNA - Mr. Stowe (subs)/111.T INR/RSG - Mr. Lissfelt (subs)/111.T t¢. DOD/OSD/ISA - Mr. Anderson (subs--includes USAF and DIA clearances) NASA/I - Mr. Carl Jones (subs)~"'T
The Problem SECRET f - - OF.CLASSIFfEO Authority //Ill> 'ji 1liz2 L - - -- Disposition of Space Fragments from Soviet COSMOS 316 On August 28, 1 970, a number of fragments from the Soviet satellite COSMOS 316 impacted across a wide section of the Middle W est of the United Stat es . Six fragments were recovered by the United States Government, I n accord- ance with Arti cle 5 (1) of the 1968 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts , the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, the US notified the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Soviet Government of the recovery of the six space fragments. The Soviet Union was provided a full physical description of the fragments and invited to claim them if inspection con- firmed Soviet origin . Soviet Embassy officers declined either to inspect or claim the fragments. On J une 9 , 1971, the Soviet Embassy sent a note to the Department of State which stated in part (in formal translation), "The Soviet side is not interested in further s t eps to study the origin of the said fragments, and believes that the American side can decide to its satisfaction the question about further destiny of said fragments." At the time of the Soviet note in June 1971, negotiations on the Outer Space Liability Convention were in the final phase, there fore, the question of how best to dispose of the fragments was deferred in order to avoid any unhelp ful distraction. Since we now have agr eement on the Liability Convention, with arrangements underway for signing hopefully by late March, we will soon be in a position to dispose of the fragmen ts without jeopa rdy to the Liability Convention. Inscription of an item on registration and identifica- tion on the agenda for the upcoming UN Outer Space Legal Subco111nittee meeting (scheduled to open in Geneva on April suggests we reinforce our position that national means of identification are adequate to deal with returning space objects. Although we hope no one will raise the Mid -West SECRET 1 10)
SECRET 2. case, it would be prudent to prepare ourselves to counter the arguments of those who might cite our "inability" to identify the Middle West fragments as evidence of the need for an international means of identification. The fragments are currently in the physical custody of the Department of State. Ownership The question of ownership of the fragments is not clear. Under the Treaty on Outer Space, Article VIII stat~s, "Ownership of objects launched into outer space ... LS not affected . •• by their return to the Earth . " From a literal interpretation of the treaty it would seem that no state other than the launching authority could claim ownership of any space object unless the launching authority specifically transfers title of ownership to that state. If a state refuses to acknowledge ownership of a space object, as in the instant ca,se, the state holding the object could be considered as the permanent custodian, but under the treaty would not become the owner. Identification In considering liability, several countries have suggested creating an international space object identifi- cation system. For several years now, the United States has taken the position publicly that national means are adequate for the identification of space objects. We have not provided extensive supporting evidence for our stand. For security reasons we cannot reveal openly all of the identi- fication techniques used by the intelligence community. However, we have cited publicly the basic methods of identificatio~, i .e., examination of manufacturers' markings and numbers; analysis of bolts, threads, component configura- tion and design; analysis of alloys; and analysis of time and t,rajectory of reentry . ln view of the extensive initial coverage accorded the Mid-West fragments by the media and the fact that the USG has not officiall y identified these fragments publicly, we must anticipate that the proponents of an elaborate international registration and identification SECRET
SECRET 3. system may use our "inability" to identify these fragments as proof of the need for international registration and identification. To reasse.rt the val idity of our "nationa,l- means-are-adequate11 position, we may cite for the record if need be that we have in fact identif i ed the Mid-West fragments as Soviet. On the other hand, we do not wish to precipitate a confrontation needlessly or call undue attention to the fragments during the UN Legal Subcommittee meeting (April 10-May 5) if the issue is not raised. It would be desirable to surface the fragments without fanfare after the next sessions of the UN Legal and Scientific and Technical Subcommittees, (the latter meets May 3-13 in New York) and after the President's trip to the Soviet Union. This could be accomplished by placing the Soviet space fragments on public display in early June and indicating the primary methods (tracking data and other means) used to determine their origin. Preliminary dis- cussions indicate that both the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, are interested in the fragments. The Smithsonian plans to display them together with other space debris. Display Conditions If the fragments are loaned for display purposes, it would be desirable to include the following provisions in the transfer agreement: 1. The physical appearance of the fragments will not be a l tered in any way: the fragments will not be broken up further; no indelible markings or cuttings of any kind will be made on any fragment; no part of any fragment will be con- sumed in destructive testing. 2 . The Department of State may reassume physical custody of the fragments at any time i t determines it to be in the national interest to do so . 3. If additional fragments are ~ecovered which are suspected to have come from COSMOS 316, all of the fragments may be assembled and used for an appropriate time in further intelligence evalua- tions. SECRET
SECRET 4. 4. If additional fragments from COSMOS 316 are recovered, and the Soviet Union does not exercise its option to have them returned, the conditions which apply to the six fragments currently held by the USG will apply to the additional fragments upon their release for public display . 5. When on public display, identification signs will bear the following text: "The space fragments on display are from a Soviet COSMOS satellite which broke up and impacted in the US Middle West on August 28, 1970. US tracking data confirms that a Soviet satellite deeayed from orbit over the Middle West on this date. In compliance with provisions of the 1968 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, the United States informed the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Soviet Government that a number of space fragments had been recovered. The United States invited Soviet representatives to examine the fragments and offered to turn them over to the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union did not exercise its option to have the fra,gments returned under the 1968 agree- ment.'' No other text will be used or further explanation given without the explicit approval of all interested agencies. Present Interest After the initial flurry of inquiries following the recovery of the fragments, public interest dropped off, but has not disappeared completely. The Executive Branch has not yet officially placed in,formation about the Soviet space debris in the public domain. Late last year, however, a Library of Congress Staff Report stated without qualifica- tion that the Mid-West fragments had come from the Soviet satellite COSMOS 316. The report, entitled Soviet Space SECRET
[ -·- DECLASSIFl.€0 - - Authority.P/Jf> '1t,1r, 52 --·-- - .. SECRET 5. Programs, 1966-70, was prepared for the Senate Committee on Aeronautics and Space (see page 341). Recently an AP reporter asked about the fragments and was told the USG had no coll1llent at this time. With the signing of the Liability Convention, we may face additional, more aggressive press inquiries. In addition, the coll1llunity of Pratt, ~ansas, the sma-11 town near where the largest fragment impacted, has shown a continuing interest. The local farmer on whose land the fragment fell turned it over to the USAF only after being assured the USG would take under consideration his desire that the newly founded Pratt Museum received some appro- priate memorabilia associated with the fragment. The USAF carefully made no commitment to return the fragment. Instead a cast of the fragment was made by the US Army Topographic Command for the USAF to present the town of Pratt at an appropriate time . Since the presentation will likely attract press attention, the USAF has agreed to delay turning the facsimile of the fragment over to the Pratt Museum until after the signing of the Liability Convention. Courses of Action Several feasible options for disposing of the Soviet space fragments have been considered. Option No. 1 - Turn the fragments over to the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution and the US Air Force Museum on a permanent loan basis with the Department of State retaining its legal custodian role . PRO - the Smithsonian and Air Force museums are the most appropriate sponsors for public display of the fragments. - public display of the fragments, clearly identifiable as Soviet in origin, supports US position that national means are adequate for identification. SECRET
I N L--- SECRET 6. - best app:oach for maintaining control over events and keeping the surfacing of the fragments in a low- key framework to insure US inte rests are best served. - State retention of legal custody avoids establishing US precedent on question of ownership of fragments. - public display is responsive to interest the public has shown in space objects . - retention of legal custody by State allows recall if the US desires to return fragments to Soviets in future. CON - placing Soviet space fragments on disply could draw more attention to the identification probl em than other- wise might be the case. - indication that soviets failed to claim fragments could be used as evidence of weakness in the Liability Convention by critics. - soviets could possibly consider display provocative . Option No. 2 - Turn the fragments over to the Secretary General of the United Nations for appropriate disposition. PRO - demonstrates US dedication to the "spirit" of the agreement on the return of space objects. - allows US to demonstrate routine identification techniques CON - could establish precedent of returning space objects via the Secretary General, which may not be in US interest. - the,re is no obligation under the agreement to turn over unclaimed objects to the Secretary General. - presents Secretary General with political dilemma. - could cause Secretary General to use UN mechanism to confirm US identification of fragments thereby estab- lishing precedent that may not be in US interest . - soviets could possibly consider action provocative. SECRET
N SECRET 7. - is not responsive to interest of US public in space objects. - indication that Soviets failed to claim fragment could be used as evidence of weakness in Liability Convention. Option No. 3 - Make another effort to persuade the Soviet Union to acknowledge ownership of the fragments and accept them under the conditions of the Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts the Return of Astronauts and the unc e 1..nto uter pace. eturn o ects PRO - Soviet acknowledgement that fragments are theirs would demonstrate adequacy of national means of identification and workability of return agreement. - Soviet acceptance of fragments avoids leaving question of legal ownership unresolved. return of the fragments under the Liability Conven- tio,n, even though the one-yea, r statute of limitations has expired and there are no liability claims in- volved, would confirm the Convention and establish a useful precedent. CON - The Soviet Union has had plenty of time to consider accepting the fragments, another approach would probably fail and at the same time suggest that we were begging them to take their fragments back. The Soviet Union is under no obligation to take its fragments back under the terms of the 1968 agreement. Option No. 4 - Keep the fragments in storage in the physical custody of the Department of State. PRO - obfuscates fragment issue. - if the Soviets ask us to return the fragments at some time in the future, it would be possible to do so on a very low-key basis without attracting any public attention. SECRET
CON SECRET 8. - leaves US 1 b f vu n~ra le to charge we unable t o identif ragments and Lnternational system of identificatio~ necessary. - not responsive to interest US public has in space objects. - could invite criticism if issue raised in Senate hearings on Liability Convention. - more difficult to effectively handle possible aggressive press inquiries after signing of Liability Convention. - invites press speculation about range of topics much broader than fragments. Timing In Options l, 2, and 3, the question of timing is central. To maximize the political usefulness of the fragments, yet keep risks a t a reasonable level, we should be prepared to take action in early June. This would be after the signing of the Liability Convention, after the the next sessions of the UN Legal and Scientific and Technical Subcommittees, and after the President's trip to the Soviet Union, but prior to Senate hearings on the Liability Con- vention. OECLASSIFIEO Attachments & Clearances: i - -- \ Aulhori\y B ,if) 'I I q l: S 2 See Drafted: 3/23/72 L ·- - --- attached sheet /11\:{ _J. PM/AE:ARTurrentine/HGH~de:bpw x21835 SECRETSECRET STAFF STUDY: Disposition of Space Fragments from Soviet COSMOS 316 Attachments: 1. Chronology of Events 2. Description of Fragments 3. Article VIII of Outer Space Treaty 4. Article 5 of Return of Astronauts and Space Objects Agreement Clearances: S/PC - Mr . IO/UNP - Mr. 9. SCI/SAM - Mr . EUR/SOV - Mr. L/UNA - Mr. Gat hright (subs) M:T Rothenberg/Mr. Slack~ , Chapin (subs)MT Matlock/Mr . Kadilis (subs)""-f Stowe (subs).M-~ Lissfelt (subs)~Kf INR/RSG - Mr. DOD/OSD/ISA- Mr. NASA/I - Mr . Anderson (subsMincludes USAF and DIA clearances) Carl Jones (subs)II""
SECRET ATTACHMENT l Chronology of Events Related to Soviet Space Fragments from COSMOS 316 December 23, 1969 January 29, 1970 August 28, 1970 September 8, 1970 September 9, 1970 September 14, 1970 mid-September 1970 September 17, 1970 September 29, 1970 Soviet Union launched COSMOS 316. Soviet Union reported launch of COSMOS 316 to UN. Fragments from COSMOS 316 entered atmosphere and impacted in the Middle West of the us. US Mission UN formally notified the Secretary General of recovery of three space fragments. Copy of US note to the Secretary General passed to Soviets at UN. Note handed to Soviet Science Counselor Belov by Soviet Country Director in- forming Soviets of recovery of four fragments and offering, as soon as fragments assembled in one location, the Soviets an opportunity to examine the fragments with subsequent turnover if Soviet origin confirmed. USUN notified Secretary Gene,ral of recovery of fourth space fragment. Fifth and sixth space fragments recovered. EUR/SOV telephoned Soviet Science Counselor Belov and informed him that the objects mentioned in our note of September 11 had been assembled and were ready for exami- nation. Belov telephoned EUR/SOV and said that the appropriate Soviet officials have "a doubt" that the space frag,nents are of Soviet origin. He requested 1) objects be photographed, 2) description SECRET
• October 9, 1970 November 2, 1970 November 10, 1970 January 15, 1971 February l, 1971 April 27, 1971 June 9, 1971 SECRET 2. of appearance, 3) chemical analysis and 4) list of numbers or figures • appearing on fragments. Belov noted that his instructions did not give him permission to view the objects . In conversation with EUR/SOV, Soviet Counselor Bubnov following up Belov conversation of September 29 again requested identifying information. USUN informed Secretary General of recovery of fifth and sixth frago,ents. EUR/SOV informed the Soviet Embassy by note of the recovery of fifth and sixth space fragments, and provided requested data. EUR/SOV telephoned Soviet Science Counselor Belov and reminded him that we have had no response following our note of November 10. During call on Soviet Country Director, Soviet Minister-Counselor Vorontsov expressed thanks for photos and data. Vorontsov stated that the data had been examined and found not to be related to a Soviet space vehicle. Amembassy Moscow delivered a note reaffirming the US conviction that the six fragments are of Soviet origin. EUR/SOV received a note from the Soviet Embassy indicating that the American comnunication had been taken into con- sideration and that the Soviet Union had no interest in any further study of the origins of the fragments. Further, " ... the American side can decide to its satisfaction the question about the further destiny of the said fragments." (Informal translation) SECRET
IJNCl.ASSlFlF.D ATTACffiU::NT 2 ,. ,enc• Recovered fron Soviet satellite cos~os 3 16 yra gmcnt No. 1 : Dimensions: Appcoroncc : Place found : Fragiaen t No. 2: Dimensions : 28" X 7 11 X 4" 180 lbs Rcctongull\r solid Prate , l(nnsas 31" x 10" x 5 11 l - Weight: Appearance: Place found : Fragment No . 3: Dimensions: Weight: Appear3nce: Ploce (ound : Fra gment No. 4: Oimens ions: Weight: l -- p£CLASSIFIRO \ A..-, l~'L'!.~ 2 --- - Ap1 ,cartlnce : Place found : • 230 lbs Three flat plates burned by re-entry; impoctcd os a single object; subsequently broke aporc while in transit ; one plate has jagncd curve burned are3 on one of the long sides Beaver City,Oklohomtl 27" X 7 11 X 2 11 86 lbs Generally rectangular with curved cut along one of the long sides Perryton, Texas 47 11 x 8 11 x llj" 125 lbs Plote, presumnbly flat origino lly, appear• to hove been deformed into its present curved shnpc by impact Adrian, Texas UNCl.ASSIFIED
UNClASSTl'lED rrasn1cnt No . 5 : Dimens tons : \~eight: Appe,u:ancc: Place £ ound : Fragment No. 6: Dimensions: Weight: Appearance: Place found: r --oF :CLASSIFIED 1 I J\IN>Orily JIIJO 't 'l . ~2 L---- - - 2 48" x 48" x l\" 640 lbs Very large, square , slightly concave plate with circular hole approximately 10" in diameter in the center Pratt, Kansas 27 11 X 7" X 1 11 40 lb.; Generully rectangular with curved cut along one of the long sides Dumas, Texas
Jl'ITAO!MENT 3 UNCLASSIFIED 1reaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States In the Ex loration and Use of Outers ace Includin the Moon and Oth_ e4 Celestial Bodies Entered int f October 10, 1967) (TIAS 6347) o orcc A<ticle VIII A State Party to the Treaty on whose registry an object launched into outer space is carried shall retain jurisdiction and control over such object, and over any personnel thereof, while in oute·r space or on a celestial body. Ownership of objects launched into outer space, including objects landed or constructed on a celestial body, and of their- component parts, is not affected by their- presence in outer space or on a c,elestial body or by their return to the Earth. Such objects or component parts found beyond the limits of the State Party to the Treaty on whose registry they are carried shall be returned to that State, which shall, upon request, furnish identifying data prior to their return. J>ECl..ASSIFJ£0 Auu,ority /II~ 16 9(; 22 ----- - J - 1 -
r D£CLASSlf1£0 J AuthorilY //Ill) '11, '/(; 22 L----·- UNCLASSIFIED ATTACHMENT 4 ~greement on the Rescue of Astronauts, The Return of Astronauts and The Retu.rn of Ob ects Launched into Outer Space Entered into force December 3, 1968 (TlAS 6599) Article 5 1. Each Contracting Party which receives information or discovers that a space object or its component parts has returned to Earth in territory under its jurisdiction or on the high seas or in any other place not under the jurisdiction of any State, shall notify the launching authority and the Secretary General of the United Nations. 2. Each Contracting Party having jurisdiction over the territory on which a space object or its component parts have been discovered shall, upon the request of the launching authority and with assistance from that authority if requested, take such steps as it finds practicable to recover the object or component parts. 3. Upon request of the launching authority, objects launched into outer space or their component parts found beyond the territorial limits of the launching authority shall be returned to or held at the disposal of representa- tives of the launching authority, which shall, upon request, furnish identifying data prior to their return. 4. Notwithstanding paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article, a Contracting Party which has reason to believe that a space object or its component parts discovered in territory under its jurisdiction, or recovered by it elsewhere, is of a hazardous or deleterious nature may so notify the launching authority which shall inrnediately take effective steps, under the direction and control of the said Contracting Party to eliminate possible danger or harm. 5. Expenses incurred in fulfilling obligations to recover and return a space object or its component parts under paragraphs 2 and 3 of this article shall be borne by the launching authority. UNCLASSIFIED
-~---~ --------------- P•llt 01 l('J. TMl'tA 8 tt997 1586-hl: 2, ACTfON PN .. 93 INrO OCT-01 SS ·I ♦ sc 1- e3 NSC-1 0 ~SAE -ea ,c ... .. e6 10 .. ~3 L- e2 /f51 w R J 5e&asz "AR 12 rft AM(N8ASSY kATH~ANOU TO S(CSTAT( NAS~oc 2•~1 !N~O S(COEf OJ ' CA.Ar rro WPAF'8 OHJO 1127 USAF' flOACTY OP fl Btt,.VOJP VA s E C R C T "'" T,+Os,ur,;ov ,,,, t.l"DIS JOJ~T $ TA J£ OErtNS( ~ESSAOr SuaJ, NOO~ OUST/SPA([ rqAG~£~T~, ~fD A L Rtr- , Shtt 03~850 - Sf/(, Q[STQREO SPACE rRAGNtvt AQP I V(O J~ 1000 CONO JT JON• I HAY[ ~Or1r1c~ fORCJG~ S£CD£T A RY B~•~OA QY ANO W f AR! woqKJNG OH ... ~, NO( Ntu r s PHYSICALLY TO D£ TURN I T TO GO'I. WILL iltEDO~T Gn~ REA.CTI ('• •i,.('11 A YAILA8L[ o COON l\ ... -· Ocou.= □-,. ACnON, Amembassy KATHMANDU INFO: SECDEF /"" DIA CSAF FTD WPAFS OHIO 1127 USAFFLDACT'lGP FT BELVOI R VA STATE LIMDI JOINT STATE/DEFENSE MESSAGE SUBJ : MOON DUST/Space Fragments : Nepal - SI'/(. REFS: A. Kathmandu 762 NOTAL; 034850 SP It B. State 231792 (DTG 282l23Z Dec 71) . 1. Restored space fragment will be on board Embassy support flight 115 arriving Kathmandu on or about March 10. Fragment is packed in shipping crate (cargo no . 72-33365) marked in care of DAO. 2. State and Defense representatives examined fragment prior to shipment finding restoration acceptable and _J ~OAfC l "• ~ OU"t• ....,..,..,. PM/AE:ARTurrentine :bpw 2/29/72 21836 PM/A$. - H. de NJ!A/INC- Mr. Burleigh (subs)~ INR/RSG-Mr, Lissfelt (subs)~ SCI/SAM- LTC Campbell (subs )«W' DOD/ISA-Mr. Anderson (subs)fl'C! DIA - Mr. Green (subs) ~ SECRET a...<facotl<n
·--,-•-· . - ' D epartinent of State TELEGRAM ~ PAGE 2 DEPTEI, to KA:r!!MANDll fragment in good condition. Restored fragment does not vary significantly from its appearance prior to removal of sample. 3. Report on fragment for Embassy to share with GON will be forwarded soon under separate cover. 4. Please confirm satisfactory condition of fragment upon receipt and report GON reaction when fragment returned. 7
om ..)/" llfi D epat·t1nent of State TELEGRAM SEC•ET 819 t-.., PAGE 3 1 < ATHKA 0076P. 25 11 35! \ ~ V\ \ ~ NAS A.fl OOOE -0~ R 25135?2 FEB 1l r¥ •~E~~ASSV KAT~HANDU T= SECSlAT~ ~•s~oc 1~94 llMOIS 5Jl2Jt --oo"' !>JST/SPACE F'RAG'1ENTS1 "E°'.lL ~£F' 1 SlATC: 231792 .,,- Sf>J' r - otcLAss,P,ro l I A_, f,1,'1> q _ q :i2 L ___ _ -- ~~t, CA, ~E EXP~CT RETURN OF THE RESTORED S~ACE F~ AGNEN T? IT ~ouLC ~£ ~uc~ APPREC lATEO AT f~t~ EN; IF' IT COJLD 9£ l"CLUOEO I~ ,txT E~a•SSV SJPpOqT FLtl~T . L• ISE ~ ~
- c ~ ;:;,\\-5;,ace ; · 21 23 Department of State 2317 9 2 S?/6 J J coi..u:.cT □ C""I\_C ¢ TO f DECi,ASS I FJEO i I Amhor;ty /1110 'I· 7 !1~ J L _ _ _ __ _ m E GltAM ' . J C>tSTRl8UTIOH ACTtOO: INFO: STATE LIMDIS SUBJ: Arnembassy KATHMANDU SECO'EF - DIA €SAF FTD WPAFB 01110 1127 USAFFLOACTYGP FT BELVOIR VA MOO'N OUST/Space Fragments: Nepal - 5p/(. 7 REFS: A. &athmandu 4567 (DTG 230610Z Dec 71) NOTAL B. State 155730 (DTG 251419Z Aug 71) C. State 82264 (DTG 121725Z May 71) NOTAL 1 . We expect to return restored space fragment soon after Embassy support flight #l l 5 is resumed. 2. In conjunction with return of restored fragment, or shortly thereafter, preliminary analysis of fragment will be forwarded to Embassy under seperate cover in appropriate form for sharing with G0N. Full scale technical exploitation of sample removed from fragment _J __..... • ~u:o OYI ~ PM/AE:ARTurrentine:art ' , . ... ,.,ccs, DIA - Mr. Green (subs)N° DOD/ISA - Col. Nolan (informed)/\ll.T NEA/INC - Mr. Burleigh ( subsll(T INR/RSG - MR, Lissfelt (sdbsjliq'
.. OfSUIIOUTIOH SECRET c, .. ,.utu 11011 D epartment of State TELEGRAM r--D£C1,ASSiFltD I j Authori<y /11/1) 't(.'lf, S2 L - J -·--··-·- PAGE 2 ~~ 7 will not be completed for several months. When final analysis completed, at disc-retion of Embassy additional results may be shared with CON. 3 . FYI: Delay in restoration of f,ragment was due to i llness of skilled craftsman rather than any technical probl em. Instead of holding to estimated 45-day schedule, it ~as decided to wait until best c~aftsman able to r.etux:n to duty and complete restoration . END FYI END
o,, SP ;t, 0 i ; D epartment of State TELEGRAI ~c DECLASSIFIED J 11 "1li$ o• if' Authority /1111> 'U 9D 2~ ----- - - SECRET PAGE 01 KATMMA 0456 7 2308392 628 JNF' O OC T-0 1 ss- 1• NEA•06 ' NASA -01 SCJ•03 OODE -00 S A• 01 CIAE - 00 NSAE - 00 NSC-04 NSCE-00 e l Rsc-0 1 130335 R 230 61 0 z DEc 71 ;H A~EM6 ASSY KAT HM ANOU TC SECST ATE wASH DC 1468 SE: RE T KATHM ANDU 45 67 ~ SUBJ, SP ACE <"RAGMENT S1 NEPAL <; f /(,, -- REF , ! A l S TAT E 1557301 18! STATE 0 82264 I • I N CALL BY AMBASSADOR ON FORE I GN SECRETARY BHANOARY DE C 21, FONS~ C RAI SED QUESTION OF SPACE FRAGME NT BEING ANALYZED IN llS• HE WAS TOL D FRA GMfNT WOULD BE RE TURNED SHOR TLY• ME IND ICATED SATISFACT ION AT HEARING TH IS BUT ADDED THAT Hr WAS INTERESTE D I N GETTING A '' REPORT'' • WE REPL IED WF WOULD GET H JM ONE • 2 , LAS T MAY W E GAVE FONSEC GIST OF FIRST, THIRD, ANO LAST SENT ,NC<"S OF STATE M ENT W E WERE AUTHORIZ ED TO CONVEY IN PAPA 3 Of REF 8 ■ IC F• OUR 1792 OF MAY ?.l • l OBVIOUSLY 8HANDAR Y EXPFCTS MORE• WE CAN OF COURSE S I M PLY GIVE HIM THE FULLL STATEMENT AUTHORIZED REF 8 , BU T WE BELIEVE SOMETHING FROM WASH I NG TON, HOPEFULLY MORE I MPRESSIVELY PAC~AGEO IF NOT HEFTIER I N SUBSTANCE, IS IN ORDE R o WE AWA J T YOUR S UG GESTIONS, • I '
. , Oco\.\.CC<r Oc--.•c TO Dt$1'RIIM,ITIOH --· .. ·, • I , . .......... .,,, .. A(Tf(lN: INFO: Ll!'OIS STATE SECRET - --- .. I \' " _,;;.uu ..iili,n l ' l 19 Depart111e11t of State TELEGRAM l l>f.C'l,ASSIPJF.I) Aud1on l)' 11 h " ..., - An,emba8Sy KAl'IIM/\NOU 000 • DIA CS/\.F FTO WPAFB OHIO 1127 USAFFLOACTYGP FT BELVOIR VA SUBJECT : MOON OUST/Space Fragn,ents: Nepal REF: A. Kathmandu 2850 ; - ':, I' I(, B. K athmandu 2833 ; C. State 146350 7 l. Method of removing sample proposed Ref C is deemed most lf.lil! desirable taking into account all of our interests. We arc proceeding, therefore, with method outlined Ref C, para three. 2 . FYI : Estimate 45 days required for removal of sainple and r estorat ion . END FYI. 3. Embassy's indefatigable efforts in securing loan of _J p114''1"CO ... , t\'i.JI PM/AE ;ARTurrentine:bpw A.Pl'HOYCO 0'1'1 PM/AE - H. G. Handysid· . - . - - NEAtINC:APBurleigh Ct.C .. 11tAN C~ • 1 h' NEA/INC:DTSneid~ INR/RSG:RWBogos i an(i n draft~ SCI/SAM:Col. Campbell(in draft-ft, DIA:SGr een (in sub stance)· DOD/ISA :Cap t . Heg (in substance)ilte SECRET
10 JTIOH SECRET C lo1uilic tttl on Department of State TELEGRAM r-0EcLAss1111Eo ~ \ I Authority /JI/I) ~, q ~ 22. L --- -··- ·- PAGE 2 DEPTEL TO KATHMANDU space fragment and permission to remove sample are greatly appreciated. GP-3 END .l 7
I I SI' /6 Deparl111ent of Stale l or.Ct..As..\1 Fl ru I A~'r /1'1, 4 .,. ,, TELEGRAM 8£CR£f 1,3 Jt.J'O ocr-a1 SS•1• SCl • IJ ••n: • -•· 1 .... q •• ~ DOD£ - 0" PS~ q$C •• I lt•e w tit u1e• ~Z AUO 71 r~ AN[N8•SSY (ATM~ANDU •o ttCSTAT[ ~•SMOC 5 • • IV8JI •cav(ST rOLlOVJNG CORArcr10~ 8E ~AOC TO -[J'T[l' - A-• ONE ,cco~o S(t.T[hC( SHOULD AEA Ot fONS[C lHttlAllY ~(Nu••co, ST•Tt .... G "' CO~C[AN[O AtPAJ A JOB COULD IE NOTJCtO ANO 40ULO C• usr £M e •~RA8$~£Nt • o-• 3• COCH .., ....
P AGE 01 KATHMA 02833 i210ss z 10 ACTION ?11•03 SECRET 903 INFO OCT • 0 '1 ~ 01 Rsc-01 R l~✓ . U G 71 SC!•03 NEA•96 INR-es OOOE•00 10,0 W ~M AHEM8ASSY KATHMANDU TO SECSTATE WASHDC 534 SEC R E T KATHMANDU 2833 L I MOI S ' SU8J t SPACE FRAGHENTS't NEPALI REF '• STATE I ~6350 / Sp ff, SP /6 TELEGRAM
S E CR E T KATHMANDU 2833 L IHOI S ' SU8J t SP >.CE F'R~GMENTS'I N£P'.AL • REF• STATE 1463 50 , SPI~ ! , I !NFORHED FONSEC BHANDAR,y TODAY THAT WE HAO DETERMINED JT FEAS IBLE REMOVE STRIP FROMI FRAGMENT ANO STILL RETURN IT IN CON OI TJON SUITABLE FOR DISPL AY ANO ESSENTIALLY IN ! ACT, ro~sEc INITIALL Y DEM URRED, STATING HE CONCERNED REPAiR J OB :IOULD NO T BE NO TICED ANO WOULD CAUSE EMBARRASSMENT • SUGGESTED ?NSTEAD THAT PIECE BE T~KEN OFF TOP OR BOTTOM AND REMOVAL . 1AOE TO LOOK AS THOUOHI JT occuRREOl DURING FRAGMENT•$ RE•ENTRY . J SAI D t DOUBTED THIS . W QULO M ~ET· ouR REQUIREMENTS, AFTER SOME •UR THER CONVERSATION I ASKED HI ~ POINT BLANK WHETHER HE WOULD -~UST ME TO GO AHE AD AS I SAS FIT UPON MY PERSONAL UNDERTAKING -~. , THE F'RAGMENT w ouL5 SE RETURNED "ESSENTIALLY INTACT ''• A FTER SOM E THOUGHT , FONSEC AGREED, 2• A CT I ON REQUES TED, IF• OUR REOU!REMENT CAN BE MET BY REMOVA L or >ODERATE SIZED PIECE FROM TOP OR BOTTOM , I W OULD PRErER THJS, OTHERWISE , BELI EV E YOU CAN PROCEED WITH SURGERY AS INDICATED REF TEL, PROVI DED YOU ARE SATlsFiEo THAT REPAIR JOB WILL BE GOOD ENOUGH TO PASS MUSTER UNDER ANY THING SHORT Or DETAILED ANO EXPERT VISUAL INSPECTION• TRUST YOU• WILL BEAR IN MINO THAT WHI LE THIS IS A. ~6TTER INVOLVING VALUE JUDGMENTS RATHER THAN PRECISELY QUAN T I~ I A BLE CR I TER ,I A, OUESTl ON OF USG GOOD FA I TH IS INVOLVED, SECRET
S? Ir; Departrnent of State TELEGRAM SECRET 975 PAGE 01 KATHMA 0!875 28102•Z 20 I l •CTION NEA•08 OCT-01 NSCE • 00 PN•03 INR-07 000E•00 ,;;;.01 /05• w L ~----·-----------~ - SC! • 03 NSC • 10 R 2809•8Z M AY 71 FH AMEHBASSY ~ AT~HANO~ TO SECST•TE WASHDC 09 SECRET KA THMANOU 1875 LIMDIS SUSJ1 MOON OUST/SP ACE fRAGHENTS1 N(? AL 1 REF • KAT HN A NDU 1792 - SP JI,, f DECLASSIFIED I Authority /l!JT>'j/'{/ 52 I - J .___ ___ _ I• FON SEC RA~ 8HANO~RY TOLO OCH1 £VENJNG MAY 27TH THAT WHEN HE CONSULTED PRIME MIN SIST~ PER REFTEL~ 8!STA DISTINCTLY UNENTHUS!ASTlC <ABOUT IDE A OF REMOVING SECTJQNS FROM MIDOL E OF FRAGMENT AND PA TCH ING THEM UP TO PASS VI SUAL INSPECTION , ACCORDING TO BH~NOARY, 8!STA ASKE D WHETHER USG COULD NOT SETTLE FOR• T~KING A COUPLE OF PIECES FROM THE• TOP OR' BO • TTOMI OF THE FRAGtlENT SO AS TO LEAVE NO i.tOLES• 2• REGRET THIS SWITCH IN S!GNALS· BUT BELIEVE WE HUST PATIENTLY CONTJNUE TO !NOICATE OUR INTEREST IN COOPERATING FULLY WITH GON DESIRES• DESPITE THEIR OBVIOUS TECHNICAL NAIVETE , LEVEL AT WHICH THIS BEING• HANOLEO HERE INOICA TES !HPOR'[ANCE OON ATTAC><ES TO 111,!0l,E OPERATION, 3• WHA T CAN WE TELL GON RE THIS LATEST SUGGESTIONQ LAIS£S? /6 D epartnient of State TELEGRAM SECRET 872 PAGE 01 KATHHA 01792 211127? 50 •~,. ACT tON NEA•08 lNFO PK~03 I NR • 07 OOOE ~00 SCl·03 NSC - 10 OCT • OI NSCE•00 ss-20 RSC • 01 ~'.'.-~!:~-~- -- -~- R 2110~9% ~AY 71 fM AMEH8ASSV KAT~HANOU TO SECSTATE WASHOC 9957 SECRET KATHMANDU 1792 LlNOIS ~HOON REF • ousrrsPACE F'RAGMEN1S1 NEPAL -Sf ft $TAT& 8226~ B• $TATE 87869 r 1 ii:c1,Ass1FTI:li • \ I Amh<>ri1y /If.I!>% qr, :z2 , L~----- 1 • OCH $Aij fONSEC 8RARAT RAJ 8HANOARY TODAY TO EXPLAIN IMPORTANCE VSG ATTACMEO TO F'RAGHEN,T ANO OUR DESIRE CONDUC T T£CHNICAL A NALYSIS tNVOLVJ NG REMOVAL OF T~O OR THREE $£GHENT$ EACH APPROXtH~TELY 20 SOUARE INCAES JN AREA• OCH ALSO GAVE FONSEC PORTI ONS OF INFO CONYEYEO PARA 3, REF A 10MJTTJNG ttORE TECHNICAL PORTIONS THIS tNFO ON THEORY THEY CAN BE PROVtOEO! LATER IF GON £XHl81TS INTEREST!, '2• FONSEC EXH181TED SOME CONCERN RE PBOPOSAL REMOVE T•.fO OR THREE SEGMENTS • Hf SAID IN ANY EVENT HE WOULO H~YE CHECK MATTLR OUT WITR PRINE MIN 8JSTA • HE NOTEO THAT INTEtHlON HAO BEEN EVENTUALLY TOl EXHIBIT FR AGMENT {N MUSEUM • HE SAID JT WOULD 8E EHBARRASSING tF ll APPARENT THAT P IECE5 HAO 8E[N REMOVED I GON WOULD N.OT KN,OW H OW TO COPE WITH PAEDICT•8LE QUESTIONS AS TO CIRCUMSTANCES or REMOVAL • HE I HPL I ED M E i;,i,s CONCERNED ONLY W l T 'H OUES TI ON or VJSUAL INSPECTION AND SUGGESTED WITH UNEXPECTED FRANKNESS , THAT IF USG C00LO NOT SETTLE FOR 11 0NE 08 TW:O L1TTLE PIECES • ROM TOP OR 80TTOH, " PERHAPS WE COULD PATCH THE THING UP AFTER REMOV t NG SEGMENTS SO THAT NO ONE COULD iEE THE Ol•FERENCE • OCH SAID HE WOULD CHECK TH Is our . · SECRET ,,, ) •00tlt11UTION 'Olh• 0$-Jll ... ~~ lrJMDTS c;...m(fl,°"' D epart,nent of State TELEGRAM SOINEIOOR !»": KathMndu 1656 f - - l)f .Cl.,ASSIFIF.0 Author1t) JIii. o_ I) L-- ... 7 l . ¥our April 27 letter reoeivcd and your o::imoonts given oonsidcra- tion before sencllrq State 82264 . - 2. Mo.lysis "'0Uld entail ren:,val of probably not rrorc than two or three _,.,..,ts of sllghUy differing shalXlS fron fragrront (.ru.ch is roughly hollow cone) • Ellch piooc wow.d bo approx.i.!Mtely 20 squaxe inches .iJ'l aroa (4 by s , 6 by 3. 5, etc. l ond of thickness of pc"'J'8't, Fragment "'0Uld still be whole after analysis but owstantial pieces missinq. 3. We ,nlcrstand tilore oonsidcrably less .iJ'ltcrest in other pieces >hlch oo,i possesses. 'lhus we swld like to procccd with analysis this piece . we underst:ancliR:J there possibility that GCtl may refuse request. We will back \4' y<)<lr o:xmu.tment to the Foreign Secretary and if his reply is negative are pr<:parcd return fr"'J!ICS't intact (900 State 18945) • ~ J' 4, Although we fully understand and appreciate = t-csitancy, _J fC.I..Cltf, 20653 Af'P1'0Vtl0 OV ~ NP.A/INC - !la T. Schneider SEJ:RET/LD'1>IS
J I r 9 I .. Ol( Altt Q t,~~··, □ < ....... ~(. ,o DIU RI IUII ON _ __ ...:Sl ;;,,l!!1/f_ .1'11> _ IS , .. ,,, .,,_ D epart111e11J of SJaJe TELEGRAM 7 ACflOH we bolieYC intolUqcno., r<>qUironenta o.rguo in fA- of &ttarl)t. to secure~ ,Jt¥nxso,t . If dcst.ruetive er.alysi.1 in tact p'l'Oduoca info-tion ,Jud> i.o Mtic1pal.ad, ..t,olo \II Sp<IOC progtffll will ultilMtolY t,cncfit. fl,,'D L OF.C-1..ASSIFll'.0 AulilOOh ') . - - -- -- C
DEPARTMENT OF STATE WuP\lr,(tO~. 0 .C . ffl20 February 24, 1971 CONFIDENTIAL r-- OEcLAss1111tD · \ Au1hori1y //1/f) '1} 14 z2 ·· 1 L - - - -----. - .! TO: THRU: SUBJECT: Re-entry and Identification of Space Fragments: ACTION MEMORANDUM Representatives of IO, SCI, PM, L/UNA and S/PC have unanimously agreed that early discussions among State, Defense and NASA officers should be held to consider the US response to a growing international concern with the implications of impacting space fragments. ACT ION REQUESTED That you sign the attached letters to Under Secretary of Defense Packard and Acting Administrator Low of NASA. Attachments: Tab A - Letter to Deputy Secretary Packard Tab~ Letter to Dr. Low IO/UNP :RGBrown:avw:clh 1/21/71 Ext . 20572 Clearances: IO - A~ , R~p~erg, Mci?~e, ~ S/PC - Gathwright- SCI/SAM'~1..tCol Campbell PM - Handys ide ~ L/UNA - Doud~ CONFIDENTIAL
SI' It Depart111e11t of Statt TELEGRAM , .. .. •C'"' lO"- ,,..,, 1,ro OCl-1: MtA•03 OC •el RSC•91 RIR•91 /819 W ••••••••••••••••••• ,. 12 t11 1 ~ e,e,s,z rca 11 _.,, ~- • ~c•~ •s1v <Af"~.,~u ~o ~,csr,rr WASM DC 9?61 ::: d $ JC L O t cussniu:o ·- }11'J ·~ ~ - - •rF1 •• <•'""A Jrr.OU ,,2z , • · KATH"AN DU 8 18 1 I ~, AOV~r . ,,~rCJ ATC RrCC IY(NQ A( KNQWL[D0EH£NT or rOR[OOl~G , wo ~£$~AG[! •• , ~-s 1PAC( ,.AO"[NT RtCElYEO, AhO 18) ,~c•sc CONrJ~~ YOU ~ILL M ANDLt fAAO"[HT IN A CCOAOANCE PARA,, R£F •• GP • 1• COO" >- . I-> ~ ' '- ~ ~ ~ • • '
' SP / I, D epartnient of State TELEGRAM SECRET ~ PAGE 01 KATHl'lA 00181 i 60752Z INFO 0CT•0I SS\. 20 SC !•03 R 1•10,sz J AN 71 FM AMEM8ASSY KATHMANDU TO SECSTATE WASHOC 9166 SECRET KA THMANOU 0 i8I Lil<O!S NOFORN SU8J1 SPACE FRAGMENTS REF I KATHMANDU • l 22 / s r I (p INR•07 C!AE•00 RSC..,01 cco-00 008725 BOX SHIPPED ON SUPPORT FLIGHT TO NEW OELH! JANUARY I• UNQER POUCH NUMBER• BOX NO • I I REGISTRAT I ON NO • 797082, eox AODRESSEO TO OEPT OF STATE , AAFB•lis, INDICA TOR NO • AF •305•1 • WASH• 0 • Co LA!SE ....__ I '- '<::_ ' ~ \ ' <:: -
- __ C ~ ON ~!lrut .&:iHatl07. 20 . ·: 06 c, ..... ,,,,,,.,,.,. Depat·tment of Stalt T ELEGRAM •enc..• Amembassy KHARTOUM Amembassy KAMPAIA Amembassy NAIROBI UMlTED DISTRIBUTION 2011322 S? /2-11 {)'> xe S /' /t, f) 5 , -,:- Xe S P I b 7 mft:-- . ··- .. sr1t •'I V',1,t1s , r t&, ,, , o - ~ .:..Sf / .,_,., st" REF:A,State 195262; B, ~tate 114584, Feb. 13, 1968 SUBJ: ReentrY, of NASA OAO Satellite Ref ,A 1.../.= being transmitted for info to KHARTOUM" 2. NASA has advised Department of more precise reentry Astronomical info on Orbitin&fA~§i~~~~lol~*I Observatory (OAO) satellite launched 1740 Nov 30, 1970 from Cape Kennedy, but which nose failed to achieve orbit as result failure oljn•~• fairing to jettison from launch vehicle upper stage, Any parts of satellite, nose fairing, and upper stage of launch vehicle which might have survived reentry conditions and fallen to earth 30 to 40 minutes after launch time would probably have come down along a line defined by coordinates . (a) 4,81 deg N by 31,86 deg E, and (b) 3,82 deg N by ..JI @ f \- ' L FoRn •s 3i!i!<OCR> - 1 DEC 101 l1,s2b2 01ob2oz •cc ,a I IRWIN LIMITC> orfICIAL use COL• R• H • CANP8CLL : li!/l/70 SIS-0: G· RUCCKCRT Af/C : [ . N ARKS OCI/SAN NSA/I: C· JONCS {INfO) PRIORITY KAMPALA, NAIR08I SUSJCCT: NASA SATCLLITC fAILS TO OR8IT .,... v--- 06 20 !I] l vNASA LAUNCHCD AN ORBITING ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY {OAO) SATELLITC fROM CAP[ KCNNCDY AT ABOUT S:30 PM £ST ON NOVCMBCR 30, 1,10. DU[ TO NOS[ FARING NOT SEPARATING fROM THC PAYLOAD, THC OAO SPACCCRAfT DID NOT ACHIEVE ORBIT• BCST CSTIMATE Of NASA AT THIS TIME IS THAT PATH Of RCENTCRING SATCLLITC IS OVCR UGANDA AND KCNYA INTO INDIAN OCCAN• PRCCISC IMPACT POINT Of A NY SATCLLITE PARTS THAT MIGHT HAVC SURVIVED REENTRY CONDITION NOT K . NOWN AT THIS TIME. 2- NASA PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE LAUNCH HELD AT CAPE KENNEDY CV[NING Of NOV, 30 , PRESS INFORMED THAT SATELLITE DID NOT ACHIEVE ORBIT AND THAT PROJECTED GROUND TRACK Of REENTRY EXTENDED OVER CEN~RAL AND EAST AFRICA INTO INDIAN OCCAN, NASA MADE NO PREDICTION ON PARTS SURVIVING RE- ENTRY TO IMPACT ON LAND OR IN OCEAN. 3. FYI POSTS MAY AT THEIR DISCRETION INFORMALLY NOTIFY HOST GOVERNMENTS ABOUT OAO SATELLITE LAUNCH FAILURE USING C~~-- .. PARAS l AND 2 ABOVE, EXCEPT THAT SPCCIFIC COUNTRIES { U GANDA AND K[NYA) SHOULD NOT BC IDENTIFIED . SAME INFO, ~ITH SAME RESTRICTION OH COUNTRY IDENTIFICATION, MAY BE USEI> TO MAKE INTERIM RESPONSE TO INQUIRIES FROM NElilS ' - -] MEJ>IA . DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE NOTIFIED I MMEDIATELY Of ANY .. REPORTS Of IMPACT Of SPACE l>EBRIS . POSTS TO TAKE NO, RPT NO, ACTION ON ANY SUCH REPORTS Of SPACE DEBRIS UNTIL ..J • ' \' I l>EC 1..A$S1Flf.l) , Authorily /JIit> '1, 'l 2~ ' CONFirt» .Tii\L .[Jl DEPARTMENT OF STATE Mcmorondum ol Con•cna tion • -- - OATE:Novcmbor 10, 1970 Soviet Space Objects PARTICIPANTS: v Mr . Yevgeniy Bclov~ Scio.nee counaolor, Soviet Embassy M r . Adolph Dubs . Country Diroctor. EUII/SOV COPIES TO : Petor Semler, EUlVSOV EOR - Mr . Davies EU11/SOV - Mr . Duba sov (3) DOD/ISA - Mr. Anderson SCI - Col . Campbell NASA - Mr . D. Mor ris L - Mr . Doud INR - Mr. Wolff PM - Mr . Handyside UN/P - Mr. Armitage USUN NEW YORK Embassy Moscow /,,Y!<:f Mr. Dubs handed Mr. Belov the attached note which reports that two additional space frasments of Soviet origin ir.lpacted on the mi dwcst of the united States on ~ugust 28 in addition to the four Mr . Dubs had told Mr . Belov abou't on Septomber 10. An annex to the no te contains descriptive material and a photograph of the frng:nents, as requested by Mr. Belov in;/ telephone conversation with Mr . Semler on SeptCfflber 29 . Mr. Belov thanked Mr . Dubs for the note . He said that it would be somo timo before ho heard ro~ Moscow since tho Soviet Embassy's pouch had just l eft on Ni ember 10 and another pouch would not be going until Nover.>ber 20. Mr. Belov also checked to make sure that the Department 's note crnt ained an identification nu.mber from the fragments . EIJR/SOV/PSer{for :ama tD,~/11111 Olu ,,,,; Olm! I 11/12/70 CONFIDENTIAL u- SECRET-EXDIS c,,,,.1liet11l on Depa·rt1nent of State T~lg{Jftr!ijVl OU.TIU &U TION USUN . N ACTION: l: /VI 7 INFO: NASA STATE BXDIS DOD A m embassy MOSCOW SUBJECT: Space Fragments Found in Middle West REF: USUN 1777 - S P I, 5 ~ ~~ us: P- 1. A number of objects from space re-entered earth's atmosphere evening August 28 and impacted in several states of US Middle West. Article 5(1) of 1968 Astronaut Agreement requires USG to inform UN Secretary Genera1 and authorities of launching state, if know~,of return to earth of space objects. Although it would normally be preferable to hold up formal notification UNSYG until fragments had been thoroughly examined and their origin determined definitively, widespread publicity already accorded these Approved by: S/S-0 objects together _j PM/ :HGHandyside:bpw 9/4/70 20620 IO - Martin Her I.CA IU.HC C:JI (\<j1(.._ PM/AE:JTKei'(l:!rick SOV:ADubs/6C./Fi:> INR:ltlolff(in draft L/UNA :GAldrich(in draft}jl SCI :RFPacl<ard(in draft~ 10/U NP - Mr. DOD/ISA :DAnderson(if\ 1 draft) NASA :DMorx-1s (in substance) . ;!t- <,J!.:,. S/S-0 :JBri ~ · SECRET-EXDIS Armitage /! .;:{draft)""' 0 SECRET ~ ,_ O ,.. G l(J isMti cotion j D epartment of St a te ""•n• o• .+ \ TELEGRAM f - P ECLASSJF!E,? c;' ro \ Authority Jl!l'O _o~~ ~~ 58 ! ~------ 7 ACTION, Amembassies BANGUI, BLANTYRE, BRUSSELS, BUJIMBURA, OAR es S[\LAAM FORT LAMY KHARTOUM, KIGALI, KINSHASA, LONDON, LUSAKA: NAIROBI, OTTAWA, PARIS, REYKJAVIK, ROME, TANANARIVE, TRIPOLI , and TUNIS - AmConsul Generals GENOA, LOURENCO MARQUES, LUBUMBASHI and PALERMO Pr. iority Request all posts repor,t any indications in press or from oral reports or sightings of entry into atmosphere or landing of "space debris 11 on July 6 . -- ~ "Space debri s" could have been desc,r,ibe.d as meteorite, crashed plane, or satelli te, etc. Local reports might not be accurate as to time. W ashington estimates indi cate t itne of impact probably between 1700 and 1800 GMT along trajectory fz,om Mozambique and Malawi oYer Chad and Libya t o United K i ngdom, Iceland and Canada. Recovery of any material from such space debris woul d be o i great sci.entific i nterest to USG. Posts should not inform or initiate action with local government but should follow- up on leads as expeditiously as possible. Report priority. Avo i d public comment. End f,lO\-INSOlt'. .J ' ORA J'TI NG OA TE TEl. ex T ' 7/9/70 22585 INR/DDC - W Coerr 00D/SA'FSS - 1.t. r.nl _ A. M.1,&ina
) SECRET 044 PAGE 01 KATHMA 0 1450 1503~77 87•82 - I - -1)£CLASSJF1E0 2, AuthorilY //1/i) '.it, l"f l 2 ACT ION PM•03 INFO OCT•01 ss -20 NEA•08 NSC-10 NSCE•00 '1S~E•00 OOOE•00 .::::~I• t.~-~~50 W R 1•112sz MAY 70 , ~ ~~E~BASSY KATHMANDU YO SECSTATE WASHDC 7761 , !MOJS IIIOFORN DEPT PLEASE PA SS DE F ENSE SUBJ: SPACE FRAGMEN TS REF't STA TE 059 3 03 - 5 f , , ' .. (N" 06 CJAE •00 08592 2 :• AMBASSADOR HAS AGA I N DISCUSS ED M~TTER WIT H FOREIGN SECRETAR) (HANAL WHO: AF' TER CHECKING QUESTlO N AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL, RE• SPONOEO VERBA LLY THA T HE SAW NO REASON WH Y GON SHOULD NOT REPEi NOT AGREE TO MAKE AVAILABLE AT LEAST SOME SPACE FRAGMENTS FOR ANALYSIS, HE S TRESSED, HOW EVER, GON DES ! ~E WHOLE MATTER BE HANDLED AS HI GHLY CONFIOEN T !AL• 2• DCM CALLEO ON KHANAL • S I MMEDI ATE DEPUTY• ~P~C!AL SEC RETAR Y RAJBHANDARY , MA Y 14 TO DISCUSS SPECIF I CS, RAJ8HANDARY SHOWED 01 F IVE OBJECTS P LUS ASSOCIA TED DEBRIS WHIC H APPE AR TO BE ITEMS DESCRI BED IN F I RST ' PAR A OF AUGUST 26, 1968 '' RE PORT OF EXAM!NA T : OF SPACE OBJ EC TS CON DU CTE D AT SI NGHA DU RBAR DURING PERI OD AUGU! • 22 • 26 , 1968 BY A UNI TED S TATE S TE CHNIC AL TF.AM•" ITEMS ARE • I• , AND 31 ''CONICAL IT EM AN D TW O P I ECES OF CORRUGATED MATERIAL FROI EXHAUS T NOZZ LE S OF ROCKET ENGINES" • 41 '' FLECTRICAL CONNECTOR Fl A CONT ROL CIRCUIT''t S t '' OBL ONG METALLIC AND NON•METALLIC ITEM FROM AN ANT ENNA COMP ONEN T , '' !LATTER r ·•o IT EMS PACKAGED I N CARDBOARD BOXES WI l'H ABOUT A POUND 01 DEBRIS• I
D ep art1n e11t of State TELEGRAM SECRET PAGE 02 KATHM A 01•s0 ,503i7 z 3 • RAJBHAhOARY OBVIOUSLY UNW [LLl~G PART •! TM ?TEM O~l OR WlTH All OF E?THER ITEMS rwc OR THRrE AS LIS'EO •BOVE , DCM PROPOSED, AO REF'ERENCU~, S(•:"~r\1 c,;-~ f'OUR ,;;q r ;v - 0 o•·~o VERTICAL SLICE OF El THER !TEN TWO OR ITEft TMRfE •~R SN(OM£NT TC us o, UNDERSTANO : NG [T WOULD BE CONSUeED av •'ALYSJS A~D ,or RETUR,ED , RAJBHANDA~Y THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE SA TISFACTORY, Q£ 1TEYS FOUR ANO F!VE, R;.~P~.~~,oy OSYJQU~• v L~'i'll!NG MAVE 30N PAR T WJTH THEM PERMANENTL Y aur REACTED FAVORABLY TO SUGG(STIO~, ALSO AO Q~F~R£~0~~, ,~.~ THEY e~ sr~T TO us FOR ANALVS!S ON UNOERSTANO!~G T 1-1£Y lofOULO er ."?[~llOt,.C-') "SUE&ST-.,;T• Lt_V !~TACT", WJT~ FURTMEq U~0(~$T-~~!~G THAT ·~~nc • FO OFPP <OULO ALSO BE LOANED TO U$G ON $AMF. PAS!S• • • SMOULD EMBASSY PROCEED ON SASS OF OUR TO ao, •S SU3GESr•n •BOvE• i• SA •,R HOw SHOULD WE REQUEST RE1fNTION OF ITEMS •OUR !SSTRUCT!ONS? LAISE l - OECI..ASS!Flf.O A Ull>orit Y pl ft) 'j · 'I 2 --· - \ ••VE PROPOSALS ,. " ""E~!OO ANn •IVE? ANY FURTHER
. ~. (25} ,,. Of.PARTI-4ENT OF STATE SI' /t /- C ~il'11@ '1l~M •• AR4 O,ig:nol to be Fllod In Oeeon1rolhod Plloa, FILE DESIGNATION ••• .., LIHITBD OFFICIAL USE A•7 NO. • ,o HAN0LIM0 INOICATOfil I ,r;- TO :Amconsul MARTINIQUE ••o 15 -- ; - - ~ I l)f.CLASSI fl EO ~,,, j Au1hori1y /1 '·. 1 ,. 22 !fay ·6 6 111 PH •to L.,.,_ z • ••• .., FROM ,Department of State DATE: 'l T• , ... SUBJECT :Space Object Recovered , N ?Y q~ REF ,Martinique A- 8, February 6, 1970 .,. 0 .<.s. lfhe tentative identification of the space object, as 7 ,.. IC >7' V~< stated in State 030284 has been confirmed. The object • J is a portion of a shroud from an Atlas launch vehicle • • I 01$TRIDUT10N These shrouds are jettisoned after launch from Cape Kennedy under controlled conditions and impact in the ocean with a wide safety margin. Some parts are on occasion buoyant and may drift great distances . Algae and barnacles on the object indicate it has been afloat for a considerable time, The cooperation of the Consulate and the local authorities ~ '"'°· lnlllolt is appreciated. ROGBRS (") 0 ..., -< ... ,- 0 I ..., CD "' •n: '1/J -IJNCLASS W I T H D R A W A L N O T I C B Box, 2973 [ - DF.Cl.ASSf11lf.D I Aucbori1y}UI'() '/, '1 52 - ·--· -- I TAB#: 4 1 / 2 / C / ___ _ __ co;iss/ ;;si cw.SS/ SPECM1'R RBGRADBD: C ACCBSS RESTRICTED The ' item identified below has been withdrawn trom this file : Folder Title: SP 1 - 1 US-USSR Document Date : 12 / 11/71 Document. Ser.#: INTEL RBPORT FR TO rn the review of thi s file this item was removed because access to it is restricted. Restrictions on records in the National Archives are stated general and specific record group restriction statements which are availal for examination. The item i dentified above has been withdrawn because it c ontai ns: x Security Classified Information NND : 969052 -· --- WITHDRAWN: 10/01/9 8 by: SB FOIA RBTRIBVAL # : 969052 02973 00004
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--= .......... ·-·- .... ____ _ OIUCTOUtt Of INfUIIOtHC( COUNTRY ussa SU&JOCT OA:TE OF ,. ,•. :• . . " ·- - r- . ' -.:.ltelligence lnfor"mation· ·.tleport ' ., thh -'••kl "'"'01 ,., .,.,.,_~ .,,__,_, ..,_. "•~ O.f.,.,_ ,.f "'- ~- ito,o, -1~ ""- -kt~ of .._ (,,i.,.. .. t o.,,. Tltt. 1i, U.S.C. kor n~ .,..., 1'•, ..,. ., _ _,,.:.,. .. •• .... h ll- of whMI I" .,.,. .,.. _, to 0" ~,,.., ,..,_ h .,...,-;w....i _ t,,y '-""• C•O:oH- P- t-D-1•"•1- t-A-L ' .. PLACE &. OAlE ACQ. av SOURCE IN RMATION : .. ' SOURCE . . ... l. '.' ~ - \ .~. l ·. .,·. . ' • ~ .. . . .... . . ' t • • . • • • ' ., 2 . Conccrntns: antlrodlotton drug•, Yu C Crlgorle.v ,co'?_fil:'00~ thee the Sovhu h .--ve indeed c:Offlplctcd human to>cicologlcol toe , on • uch a c:oepound, but lt · ·: hoe nevo'l' been uacd on o coaoon1_1.ut in •poc:c. 11tc)' probably do l'\Ot know ,.. ".• .. the p 1'1CCi8C r.'ICC:httnl!'lm by vhich lC- "{unctt.on,, but they thlnk thot f.t COGbf.nca ' ·_. .. ' I .I with aomotl1t.na within tho cell .'to inc-reAU thC! cell's 1 t:olcrance..V: . ;.rJ1.~.J,cion •• :;' - •· It WO\ll-d · not• be- eq.rct1ve~_ t1g•.ins~ a ~u i.vo udJ,tf~n do&c, Crtgor,lcv hu ."· :: .. 'l.( ahown thoc· in doge it hae no therapeutic voluo •nd fuoction•_onty __ , /.llf :::::: 1 :::~::::~::~;:-:; · ~=:.~- :~~ - : ~:~- -:~~ b:~ ,~~-=- lower body , , I 3 ' ncg:otivc prceouro t:h(ln their US coll~•sue• teen to bo, While t - hoy bcllove'· & , thot it i • o foctor in pr,otcctlng tho l ndf..vldual , they do not cond~•r it •n eifecttvc oub•ttt\ltC for cxorcl•o ond carth•nO!ul srovtt:y • ) ,, • • • \! ' . . I l s:&• 8•U• 'l'c t • lc•b.. ' . .'' -'Yl . , . :.I . • I I , ' . .j ' .. ' . .. ; .. .. • • .!- . ' \ . : .. •,. , .I .. • • • .; ~.:i ~ . ;,,_ ·{ . •... , . -:: . .. . I ' -, . ' ; . \ I •• Soyuz•9 cosmonauts Nlkoleyev ad "M'on.:,in-Spncc" Conference Tl n Sevae~y~nov both Ottcndt-d th~ Yerevan hove nov completely t:cco~cred !r&.n the '• 5. 6, ct:fcc,~s of their fl 1.&ht. • tey 'Che Soviets are empho,t 1 h • reseor.ch hos detnon &tt'lot:d n:h t t e :tudy of hypoxic occllC13t;on. 'their f 1 · 3 0 optotion to hl&h caoun~alnous t crroln Ot: nst,,ncc, con ieiport a mcos•Jt:C of increased toleroncc of hypoxia ' T'hcy .,l~ave conducted enologoue nudics of cold tolerance and C•tolero~ce l' obt.ii,f!l 1 \& comparoble results. While thU 1.•ork ic undoubt,cdly volid ' the q~-~r~t tons l question ts "i1ether or not the ge l n of hal.£ 8 ,C or ; fcv de1;re,s Justifies spend lng t hree to f our ""ecl(s livi ng tnd · exerc ls fog on a ht.gti' mountain. tc seems likely thot 1119st specf.ollstt "'ill decide that the ~newer is no . ShOf .k~d by the Soyuz-11 dUut'cr, Sovlct of'Mclol8 probably ticel that chei.r ·spocccroft c.Jcsign cng1necrins· ovst now drop back to the bui.c cheor~tical phase of it8 cycle , since they ha"c explof.t~d; ~heir present hordwOrc co its m.txlmum potential for progress. ('mu certainly ls a rf.,nc~ 0 fri'ecor bch t r. t lntere,::t {n lnforr..otf.on exclHtngc - , • .:Jo int dO&ki g~p;:g..c.c,du&,es,, etc . ) Wh lle Li e ac nt s l~c oz. n o . ave. , h~ fi fcrcd no odver8e change• in status or prestige fr.om th~ cr.,gedy, 1.t . wouhJ ' Oc unUkcly that any search (or sc:ipegoot s vould extend beyond the . . • I r nnk8 of ho"C-dwt1re c,,ginecrs , olncc theirs, .,ppRTCf!t'l,y, is the orco o.f .• . · s ill th rcoppr:it.sol brought on · by the dee.th# U undcrttondably /'""•.'t f-,Uure . t:: , e h h t ,,cnc.r ol. It hos served to ct'i,s,gcr the bcloted rcollr.otldon ht • 1 t dt c 1 r - 1 0 • - f 1ss1on objcetlvC':> h36 dontc~ously ouutirippc t C i; es gn • \ .,• . ., pursv:1.t o m . · :L ccrl . os ca coutsc fort c 1 ov \.'OU o {:, ~n&, n C_ l(ploit the· t"ctl'!oining "potcnttn·l" Of tl\etr ~rescnt tcchnolo&)', ... ( pcl::!\fPS vith a mlS$iOn llnking four s.oy~z , carryi.nt 8 -12 cosmon:i~CS) -..: .= _ =l _ =---- whil.tf: ottcn1ptlns to ochlcvc the ncccuory quontur:1 Junip ln•,pocccroft : · ., t.le~.l&\l eni;) nccct.n& throu&h n cocubln;ur ion o f info"Cfflat lon cxchon~cs "'lt·h endi · . I I The. erincip:il contr.ibutlon the SoviC~3 could m~kc to ~h1 ch an exchange vould stem f.rO!I\ their more. cxtcasiVe. # rcoCOl)Ch Oil scLE#t cncr.otin& tffe suppOt:t -Systcias',:··such ·01 : chat dcnlt.ng' ..... with fh• ~Orcllo .,nd. othc- r olgve . Th(!?C. ~esc11rch,ee, l.~ ho\l'cvcr, ~oncern not only ,Oxyg.cnJ but olso encOCIIP.~.•.8 ~om• ,PJ0.8,rOfl!S .concerned,.wlth food •. • .. ·- • :..1