DOP SECRET
Mr. Allen Dulles stated that at 1930 hours on October 4 the
initial path followed the range, crossing approximately over the
Its
range's other end at Klyuchi.
Two hours after the successful orbiting of the earth satellite and after the second circuit of the earth
by the satellite, the Soviets announced their achievement.
This de-
ley in the announcement was in line with the previous statements of
the Soviet Union that they would not announce an attempt tc orbit
their satellite until they had been assured that the orbiting had
been successful.
Moreover, all the indications avatlaple to the intelLligence community prior to the actuel launching of the satellite
pointed to the fact that the Soviets were preparing to laursh either
an earth satellite or an irtercontinental ballistic missile.
Mr. Dulles then etated that the actuel iauncring of the
earth satellite had not come es e surprise.
Indeed as early as last
November the intelligence community had estimated that the Soviets
would be capable of launching an earth satellite any vime efter November 1957.
Information on the earth satellite itsel* remains rathesparse, but it is believed tc we.gh between 165 and 125 potnds.
The President interrupted to stete that fhe Vice President
of the Soviet Scientific Academy had informed Dr. Bronk that someone
here had got a decimal point out of place.
(There seemed t= be no
inclination in the Council tc question the estimatec weigh* as given
by Mr. Dulles.)
Mr. Dulles continued by pointing out that the Soviets had
joined together their ICBM and earth satellite programs, which fact
helps to explain the speed of the Soviet launching of its earth satellite.
We do not as yet know if? the satellite is sending cut encoded messages.
Furthermore, we must expect additional laurchings
of Soviet earth satellites durins the International Geophysical Year.
The Soviets have said that they would launch betweer sun ani .j such
satellites.
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHT D.
BISENHOWER LIBRARY
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(D
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Mr. Dulles then turned to the world reaction tc t1e Joviet
achievement.
He first pointed out that Khrushchev had movei ell his
propaganda guns into place.
The launching of an earth satelite was
one of a trilogy of propaganda moves, the other two being tie announcement of the successful testing of an ICBM and the recent +t
of e la
Pili
Pliibiiii:
TOE SECRET
et
Soviets had fired their earth satellite from the Tyura Tam range.