Background In February of 2019, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) released “Challenges to Security in Space,” a report that examines the space and counterspace programs that could challenge U.S. or partner interests in the space domain. The advantage that the United States holds in space – and our perceived dependence on it – will continue to drive actors to improve their abilities to operate in and through space. The report notes that “space-based capabilities provide integral support to military, commercial and civilian applications” and that “longstanding technological and cost barriers to space are falling, enabling more countries and commercial firms…
Author: John Greenewald
Background In support of The Commissions to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack, this paper examines the potential damage to satellites from high altitude nuclear detonations not specifically targeting space assets. We provide and overview of representative classes of satellites, their orbits, and their economic and military importance to the U.S. lessons learned from atmospheric nuclear test of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s are presented. In particular, the STARFISH PRIME test of 1962 injected long-lived trapped energetic electrons into Earth’s magnetic fields, causing the early demise of several satellites. Document Archive Collateral Damage to…
Background According to the document, the purpose of this task was was to: “Advise the DCI on issues attendant to the future of the National Reconnaissance Office, including those raised by The Senate “Intelligence Reorganization Act of 1992″ (S. 2198) and House National Security Act of 1992″ (HR 4165).” Although previously released, I requested a Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) on it in April of 2018. In October of the same year, I received the below document. I highlighted changes so you can see the newly released information. Document Archive DCI Task Force on the National Reconnaissance Office, Final Report (The…
Background The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board is an independent organization within the executive branch of the United States Government, chartered with the responsibility of providing recommendations and advice to the President and the Secretary of Energy regarding public health and safety issues at Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities. In February of 2018, I requested a copy of their intranet website, which would include the home page(s) and each page accessible via “one click” from that home page. This gives a good representation of what the intranet site has. In February of 2019, I received more than 650 pages…
Background Beginning in 1969, the Journal of Defense Research (JDR) has published defense related classified research, development and experimentation. The intent is to selectively rake available the peer refereed results of classified research and to serve as an archival Journal of this information to be used by future researchers. Below, you will find various documents released about this publication. Document Archive Cumulative Index of the Journal of Defense Research papers, 1969 – 1983 [65 Pages, 16.8MB] Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Journal of Defense Research (JDR), August 27, 1985 [20 Pages, 1.1MB] – The task force…