SEGRET-3.
the President on March 10, 1958, to discuss the ballistic missile
program. The need for a stronger basic research effort on solid
propellants was stressed.
A copy of the Panel report was sent to the
Secretary of Defense on March 18. On July 2, 1958, the status of
ballistic missile programs was again reviewed by the Ballistic Missiles
Panel for the Special Assistant. The next report of the Panel was submitted on July 18, 1958. On December 2, 1958, the Panel submitted an
analysis of such questions as to whether the Atlas test program should
be accelerated, problems of hardening Atlas and Titan, and the realism
of the Minuteman schedule. In this report the Panel stated its belief
that Titan should not be considered for cancellation. I recommended
an over-all review the following spring. The next progress report was
made on April 22, 1959, in which the Panel, based on a field trip to
the Titan contractor and the Ballistic Missile Division, particularly
emphasized the problem of base construction and the elaborateness of
planned ground instrumentation. This report also strongly endorsed the
proposal to introduce modifications in operational Titans primarily the
non-cryogenic storable propellants and in-silo launching. This report
was summarized to the President and made available to the Deputy
Secretary of Defense and the Special Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs. The aforementioned reports were discussed
with and approved by the PSAC during the indicated time interval. The
Missiles Panel includes Dr. Kistiakowsky, Chairman, and four other
members.
5.
Missile Ranges
A report on the national missile ranges and world-wide space
surveillance was prepared by two members of the staff of the Special
Assistant and submitted to the Special Assistant on April 24, 1959, after
discussion with the FSAC. The report pointed up certain major problems
requiring early resolution, including those of coordinated management,
funding, and the establishment of long-term technical requirements.
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6.
Solid Propellant Fuels
After discussion in the PSAC, an Ad Hoc Panel on Solid Rocket
Propellants was established. A report was submitted to the Special
Assistant on March 13, 1958. The Panel made comprehensive recommendations concerning the need for a vigorous 8 & D program on solid
propellants centrally coordinated and based on existing industrial and
governmental resources.
The Panel was chaired by Dr. Kistiakowsky
and included four other outstanding university chemists and senior
chemists from industrial companies involved in the solid propellant
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