Letter, Assistant Secretary of Defense to Joseph Dodge Regarding the Department of Defense's Interest in the International Geophysical Year Program

Assistant Secrutary of Defense Hashington 25, D.C. Hareh 19, 195h Dear Dr. Dodge: I am writing to you with respect to a broad, basie program in geophysical research, planned for the years 1957-58 by the National Academy of Sciences as the Unitod States endeavor during the "International Geophysical Year." The Director of the National Science Foundation, Dr. Alan T. Taterman, has advised me that this program has been submitted, as a major basie research activity, to the National Science Foundation, which in turn is transmitting the program and budget to you for your consideration. From a scientifie point of view the Department of Defense has definite interest in ourtain cloments in the program. There is no doubt that the results of a coordinated world-wide effort in the main felds of atacapheric physics ean be expested to yield basie information net only of general technieal value but of value to our national defense probless. or partieular importance to us would be basie information relevant se radio and weather predictions and the propartias of the apper atmosphere. Advances in these fields require investigation of several phenomena including the donsaphere, aurors, geomagnetisn, solar activity, cosmie rays, and atmospheric winds. Many of these observations oan be obtained only by the rocket probing sapability developed by the Department of Defense. Up to the present tima our examination of the IGX plans has been based upon the provisional IGY program, dated January 195h. The investigation has bean carried out by my @ourdinating Committee on General Seiences, whose sembarship includes representatives from each of the three military Services. Based upon the Committae¹s initial recommendations, I have advised the researeh and devolop- ment agencies of the three Services in general terms regarding the Dop position with respect to the 10Y program. These gaide lines ara as follows: first, we will cooperate in the program consistent with defense objectives and within defense means and capabilities; second, we will question any project proposed for Department of Defense funding in light of our missiong and third, will not ask for funds to support anything outsida of the defense mission.