- 16 July 59 letter from Teller to Starbird Is midyear review of LRL pro-
grams.
Among many other things, notes weapons development with con- —
tinulng moratorium.
LRL Is making effort to become and remain pre~ |
pared for testing underground and in deep space.
as helpful in moratorium.
calendar 61
FP
Vortex is mentioned
Plowshare effort is increasing:
early
is proposed for Chariot, Gnome for mid-calendar 60, end
ad
Oxcart is mentioned.
~
.
Meeting #1529, 17 July 59:
Starbird presented to the Commission three studies prepared by Barton
the subject of Weapons Testing, one concerning requirements for additional —
weapons tests, one concerning
high altitude weapons tests.
underground weapons tests, and one concerning
These have been prepared as a result of the
an
vue a ee
meeting between McCone and Killian in April of 59 in which certain studies
were assigned to the AEC and others to the DOD,
As for undergra nd testing,
it would be feasible to conduct 14 tests between November 59 and September
of 60 at an estimated cost of 50 million dollars. | As for high altitude testing,
the plans are for 6 devices for weapons development and
The estimates for completion range
to 220 million dollars in 4 to 5
detonation.
two calibration tests,
from 85 million dollars in
2years
years depending on the altitude to be used for
The lowest figure is for 500 to 1000 kilometers and the highest
figure is for 100, 000 kilometers or higher.
only minimal diagnostics could be obtained,
In all such high altitude tests
The 100,000 kilometer altitude
would be required if it was an absolute. requirement that there could be no
atmospheric fallout,
The Commission then discussed at some length who ‘should
reports outside of the AEC,
receive these
McCone stressed the extreme sensitivity of the
content and the fact that the reports had been done and it was agreed that
in
the Department of State only the Under Secretary of State and Philip Farley
would receive copies.
Chairman
McCone
also Goodpaster on the
.
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wl.
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