The record for the year shows important progress with a variety of unmanned scientific spacecraft flights. RANGER spacecraft televised to Earth some 13,000 photographs, which, when added to the pictures taken in 1964, gave this country more than 17,000 photographs of the Moon's surface and furnished significant new knowledge of the lunar environment. MARINER completed a 325 million mile trip during a 228-day journey to Mars and returned the first close-up photographs of its surface and provided much new scientific information on that planet. Three PEGASUS satellites were launched during the year and have returned useful information regarding the intensity and number of meteoroid impacts. The second Orbiting Solar Observatory (OSO) was orbited with six experiments operating successfully, the second Orbiting Geophysical Observatory (OGO) was orbited, and the PIONEER satellite reported new data from interplanetary space.

The first commercial satellite (EARLY BIRD) was put into synchronous orbit for the Communications Satellite Corporation. Also, effective application of space knowledge was continued with an expansion of our weather satellite system (TIROS), navigational satellite system, geodetic satellites and nuclear explosion detection satellite system (VELA).

The program of the SATURN I, with its 12 million pounds of thrust, was completed with ten successful launches in ten attempts. Ground tests progressed for the more powerful SATURN IB and the SATURN V launch vehicles, while a major development took place on schedule with three successful launches of the 2.4 million pound thrust TITAN IIIC rocket. Encouraging progress in the testing of the NERVA nuclear reactors was made, and initial testing was successful for the more advanced PHOEBUS nuclear reactor. Another propulsion milestone was reached with the ground test firing of the world's largest solid propellant rocket motor when 3.5 million pounds of thrust was attained from the 260-inch engine. Also, the first nuclear space reactor (SNAP 10A) was orbited and produced practical evidence of the potential of atomic power as an energy source in space.

Cooperation with other nations in space progress continued during the year. The ALOUETTE was orbited for Canada and the FR-1 for the French. These were part of a growing program of international cooperation in space which includes mutually beneficial relations with about 70 nations. The space program became an even more effective arm of foreign policy when experienced astronauts were sent on educational and goodwill visits to a number of nations around the world. Particularly important was a decision announced by the President that efforts would be undertaken by highlevel officials to expand cooperative space activities with nations in Europe."

70

71

The past year saw the realization of efforts to accelerate research, development, and initial operational use of a variety of aircraft for both civil and military applications. Advanced aeronautical research activities resulted in new world speed and altitude records by the United States, as well as the accumulation of much useful data on hypersonic flight. Valuable experience continued to accumulate through flights of the XB70s. An expanded effort in V/STOL aircraft development brought the potential application of this very useful aircraft type much closer to fruition. Significant advances took place in the field of large transport planes through design refinement and wind-tunnel testing of the supersonic transport concept and the decision to build the huge new C-5A military transport aircraft. Parallel development of a civil version of the C-5A and the supersonic transports can form the basis for great advances in the large scale use of the airplane for the long-range transportation of peoples and goods.

While the United States was building an impressive record as it orbited more spacecraft than any other nation, the U.S.S.R. was far from idle. In fact, during the year, that nation almost doubled its earth-orbiting activities over the previous year compared with a 36% increase for the United States. The Soviets also showed their determination to speed their space program as they more than doubled the U.S. activity in lunar and planetary exploration during the year.

To See post, doc. IV-70.

71 Vertical/Short Take-Off and Landing.

Part IV

Document IV-1

Reply Made by the Secretary of State (Rusk) to a Question Asked on an NBC Television Program, January 3, 19651

United States Expectation of Continued French Membership in NATO

No, [President de Gaulle has not informed the U.S. that France is going to withdraw from NATO in 1969]. He, as you know, draws a sharp distinction between what he calls the alliance, which is the North Atlantic Treaty," and the NATO organization, which is the structure which has been worked out since 1950 for the organization of the forces of NATO. This is largely because he does not himself wish to integrate French forces into NATO forces as such. He feels that he wants to strike their roots deep into France and to build his armed forces on a national basis rather than on an integrated basis. There are special circumstances in the recent history of France which perhaps have led him to that conclusion.

So I don't believe that he anticipates withdrawing from the alli

1 Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 18, 1965, p. 71.

2 Text in American Foreign Policy, 19501955: Basic Documents, vol. I, pp. 812-815.

ance. He does have misgivings about the organization of NATO. We hope that at some stage France will come forward with specific suggestions about how they see the organization of the alliance-thus far, they haven't done so-so the rest of us can take a look at it to see what they have in mind. But I suppose that between now and 1969 these matters will be up for review. The alliance continues after 1969. The only significance of 1969 is that at that time any member has a privilege of withdrawing if they wish to do so. But the general assumption among the members of the alliance is that it will continue.

Document IV-2

Reply Made by the President (Johnson) to a Question Asked at a News Conference, Johnson City, Texas, January 16, 1965'

The Need for NATO To "Provide an Opportunity for the Nonnuclear Members To Participate in Their Own Defense, While Avoiding the Spread of Nuclear Systems"

3 Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965, vol. I, p. 58.