~ aT I eee
area (Cullington in Nature 182, 1365 (1958); Space H
dbook:
Astronautics and its Applications, prepared by Rand orp. for
House Select Committee on Astronautics and Space Exp oration,
made public Jan. 9, 1959).
3. A report by Van Allen that Explorer IV detec ed a
tripling of radiation intensity in association with 1 ne
Johnston Island explosions (A.A.A.S. Annual Meeting, DeMe
session, Dec. 27, 1958, and press conference thereaft er).
4. A special report by the National Bureau of 5S! pandards,
North Atlantic Radio Warning Service on the magnetic
disturbance of Sent. 3-4 "difficult to associate ... with any
specific solar event."
(CRPL<-Js 1155-1, Sept. lL, 19! 58)
5. Questions asked by science writers at the Aap ALS,
annual meeting, suchas that which provoked Van Alle 1 is
statement in item 3, suggest that some of them are o: n the
track of Argus.
In view of the above, we doubt that we can contin he to
withhold publication of at least a limited account of Argus.
We have consulted with some six scientists who were co neerned
with the project and are fully briefed on its military implications.
They have been unanimously of the view that discl osure of
the experiment, without giving its exact height, input and
location, would not disclose anything which was not al ready
known, from the scientific and military point of view. The
majority of these consulted were in favor of making t
public.
pre ject
We have been told that the objections to publicat ion were
diplomatic, anfear that partial disclosure would lead to
complete disclosure and a reluctance to bring the effac t -- and
ultimately its military consequences -- to the attenti on of
those abroad who hitherto may not have given them mucH thought.
Next September the United States will be require » under
the terms of its IGY commitments, to publish the tele etermd data
from Explorer IV (see CSAGI Guide
to IGY World Data Centers,
Section XI, Artici® 16). In view of the long battle by
the
United States to include such a firm commitment in th IGY Guide,
it is inconceivable that this country should now back down.