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THE PRESIDENT'S SCIENCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE BUILDING
Washington 25, D. C.
May 8, 1959
MEMORANDUM FOR J. R. KILLIAN, JR.
4
BS32
Subject: Aide Memoire on Major Actions of the President's Science < ~
Advisory Committee November 1957 - May 1959
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Christofilos, dated January 10, 1958.
At the suggestion of the PSAC,
By
A report concerning the military use of relativistic electrons
trapped in the earth's magnetic field was originated by N. C.
Date
Argus
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study was conducted at the University of California Radiation Laboratory
during 10-21 February 1958 further to define the theory and applications.
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The study group included 25 scientists from more than a dozen different
The group recommended further theoretical work, labora-
tory experiments, and high altitude nuclear detonations. The matter was
presented to the National Security Council on March 6 by representatives
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of the FSAC, and the Argus experiment, with the approval of the President,
was planned during April and May under the direction of ARPA and
executed in late August and early September 1958. The results yielded
by the experiment verified and confirmed the earlier predictions. Cn
March 16, 1959, the PSAC concluded that continued security classification of certain of the Argus effects was not of significant military
advantage to the U. S. and recommended declassification of the scientific
results accompanied by release at the April meeting of the National
Academy of Sciences. A report prepared under the direction of the PSAC
and the IGY Committee of the National Academy of Sciences covering
the scientific aspects of the Argus experiment was released by the
White House on March 26, 1959. The scientific details were presented
at the meeting of the National Academy of Sciences on April 29, 1959.
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AUVMHL' YHMOHNASIS "d DHOIMG aL DW Ge00dO0edss
2.
Strategic Posture of the U. S. 1956-64
An analysis of the technical factors affecting the strategic posture
of the United States during the period 1956-64 was developed by
Dr. Brockway McMillan, Consultant to the Special Assistant to the
President.
This report examined the vulnerability of the U. S. during
this period with principal emphasis on Soviet AICBM capabilities and
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