Project UPWARD – Lunar Mapping Mission During Apollo Missions

The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) describes the Project UPWARD as the following:

In August 2014, the NRO released declassified Project UPWARD records from their archives. Project UPWARD was a joint project that began in 1964, when the NRO and NASA signed an agreement to transfer optical technology from the NRO to NASA. UPWARD was initiated as a low orbit, high resolution contingency program, should NASA’s primary effort to certify lunar landing sites fail.

The primary NASA lunar landing certification effort consisted of a high orbit camera program called Lunar Orbiter and a landing vehicle program called Surveyor. Since NASA’s programs were successful in certifying four lunar landing sites, there were no further requirements for UPWARD. In 1967, NRO and NASA jointly decided to cancel the project.

The program was going to fly a modified version of the KH-7 GAMBIT into orbit.

The KH-7 (Air Force Program 206) was a reconnaissance satellite used by the United States from July 1963 to June 1967. Like the older Corona system, it acquired imagery intelligence by taking photographs and returning the undeveloped film to earth. It achieved a typical ground-resolution of 2 ft (0.61 m) to 3 ft (0.91 m). Though most of the imagery from the KH-7 satellites was declassified in 2002, details of the satellite program (and the satellite’s construction) remained classified until 2011.

The NRO posted over 1,000 pages on UPWARD to their website, however, many times agencies only post a portion of what was available. So, in early 2015, I filed a request for UPWARD documents, and came up with additional records. Both releases can be downloaded below.

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Declassified Documents on Project UPWARD

   Communications between NASA, and the NRO, along with all documents, reports, etc., regarding the Lunar Mapping and Survey System, which had the classified codename UPWARD [72 Pages, 3.1MB]

#	Document Title	Date	No. of Pages
1	DOD/CIA/NASA Agreement on NASA’s Reconnaissance Program	08/28/1963	3
	Draft copy of agreement to be signed by D/NASA and SECDEF
2	Manned Lunar Reconnaissance	10/1/1963	2
	Memorandum for the Record about a 30 September 1963 meeting held at the Pentagon regarding the implementation of the NASA-DOD-agreement on reconnaissance system development.
3	Support of the NASA Lunar Program	3/24/1964	18
	Letter from Brockway McMillan to Dr. Robert Seamans Jr. regarding the initial steps taken to support the NASA Lunar Program. Also includes changes to the agreement and security instructions for NASA.
4	DOD/NASA Agreement on the NASA Manned Lunar Mapping and Survery Program	4/20/1964	1
	Agreement formalizing the arrangments between NASA and DOD with respect to lunar mapping and survey operations. Signed by Brockway McMillan and Robert Seamans.
5	NASA’s Reconnaissance Activities	04/23/1965	4
	Internal memorandum and draft related to percieved NASA infringement of DOD functions and security of the NRP’s satellite reconnaissance programs.
6	Letter to the Secretary of Defense	05/19/1965	1
	James Webb to Robert McNamara informing him of continued consideration of the mechanics of the agreements from April.
7	Chronology	08/13/1965	6
	An untitled chronology of NASA efforts 1963-1965
8	DOD Concern with NASA Remote Sensing Activities	04/11/1966	9
	A memorandum for the Manned Spaceflight Policy Committee regarding criteria and organizational mechanisms for identifying NASA activities of concern to the DOD.
9	LM&SS Program	12/9/1966	2
	Talking Points for DNRO regarding certain statuses requried for LM&SS missions and clarifications on viability of components under long term storage conditions.
10	Cable: Information Policy regarding LM&SS System Development	01/27/1967	7
	Background on the LM&SS effort and information policy stance. Cable also includes answers to potential queries.
11	NASA Plans regarding UPWARD	2/3/1967	5
	Briefing background for the Manned Space Flight Policy Committee (MSFPC) meeting on 9 Feb 1967. Discusses changes in schedule for the first launch and high-level desciptions of the various missions.
12	NASA’s Use of UPWARD Cameras in Earth Orbit: Memos from Donald Hornig (White House) to DNRO and D/NASA	2/9/1967	2
	Donald Hornig to DNRO and D/NASA brings up the issue of classification for the imagery taken by UPWARD in the context of the 1968 program descriptions to Congress.
13	NASA’s Use of UPWARD Cameras in Earth Orbit: Memo from Acting DCI to DNRO	2/13/1967	1
	Acting Director of Central Inteligence request to review procedures in place to protect the imagery taken by UPWARD in appropriate classified channels.
14	NASA Use of the UPWARD Cameras in Earth Orbit	2/15/1967	3
	DNRO to Deputy Secretary of Defense regarding steps being taken to protect the GAMBIT camera in light of NASA’s extended use UPWARD after 1967.
15	NASA’s Use of UPWARD Cameras in Earth Orbit: Memo from DNRO Flax to Dr. Hornig	2/15/1967	2
	DNRO Flax responds to Dr. Donald Hornig’s (White House) 9 February memo indicating the creation of a working group to look into his concerns.
16	NASA’s Use of UPWARD Cameras in Earth Orbit	2/17/1967	1
	DNRO Flax responds to Acting DCI’s 13 February memo indicating the creation of a working group to look into his concerns.
17	Procedures for Handling LM&SS Photography and Related Public Information	2/23/1967	2
	Dr. Seamans’ response to Dr. Hornig’s letter of 9 February regarding the procedures for handling LM&SS photography.
18	Alternative Operational/Information Plans for an Earth-Orbiting Test of the UPWARD Camera	2/24/1967	1
	MISSING STAMP – Memo to DNRO Flax regarding status of operational plans for handling of the information from Earth orbit test flights of UPWARD.
19	Memo for Dr. Flax re Reservations on Use of Camera	3/11/1967	1
	MISSING STAMP – Memo to DNRO Flax regarding Dr. Vance’s reservations against the use of GAMBIT camera in the Apollo Applications Program.
20	Minutes of the February 9 MSFPC Meeting Part 1	3/16/1967	1
	Memo For Dr. Foster, Dr. Flax, Mr. Fink from William Yost re: Following up on the Minutes from 9 Feb MSFPC meeting
21	Minutes of the February 9 MSFPC Meeting Part 2	3/16/1967	1
	Memo For Dr. Seamans, Dr. Mueller, Dr. Newell, Mr. Sweet from William Yost re: Following up on the Minutes from 9 Feb MSFPC meeting
22	Memo for the ExCom: Astronomical Observations from Space	3/17/1967	5
	Memo to the ExCom to summarize the present status of discussions between the MOL office and NASA regarding use of the DORIAN optics and the general security concerns for a NASA program of astronomy from space.
23	Alternative Operational/Information Plans for an Earth-Orbiting Test of the UPWARD Camera	3/17/1967	3
	Memo for Dr. Flax from Paul E. Worthman re Alternative Operational/Information Plans for an Earth-Orbiting Test of the UPWARD Camera
24	Conference with CIA on NASA matters	3/20/1967	2
	Memo for Dr. Flax from Paul E. Worthman re: Conference with Mr. Sheldon on NASA matters including concerns associated with the use of the UPWARD camera.
25	Memorandum for Gen. Stewart on MOL/UPWARD	3/28/1967	1
	Memorandum for General Stewart, SAFSL regarding security concerns for MOL for astronomical purposes based on the UPWARD experiences. Dr. Flax is preparing comments on MOL/NASA for discussion at the next ExCom meeting.
26	Manned Space Flight Polic Committee (Agenda Item: Earth Orbit Test of LM&SS)	3/31/1967	1
	NRO internal memo to General Stewart regarding NOT to release LM&SS Earth Orbit Planning documentation to NASA until committee policy review is completed.
27	LM&SS Earth Orbit Test Objectives (preliminary)	3/31/1967	10
	Document defines the Earth orbit test objectivess for the payload module of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS).
28	DCI to DNRO on use of the GAMBIT camera by NASA	4/5/1967	1
	Memorandum from Director CIA (Helms) to Dircetor NRO (Flax) regarding delaying endorsement of the proposed NASA use of the Gambit camera pending ExCom consideration.
29	Comparison of Lunar Orbiter and LM&SS	4/11/1967	8
	NASA Document – Comparison of the Lunar Orbiter and Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS). NASA re-examined the need for the continuing development of the LM&SS and makes a comparison of the baseline and augmented versions of the Lunar Orbiter and the LM&SS.
30	Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS)	4/19/1967	2
	NASA Document – Memorandum raises concerns on the direction of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS) and the role of the LM&SS in the NASA program.
31	Release of UPWARD Earth-Orbit Information to Dr. Steininger	4/21/1967	2
	Memorandum for Dr. Flax from Paul E. Worthman regarding the advisability to release of UPWARD Earth-Orbit Information to Dr. Steininger prior to ExCom meeting.
32	Cable: Support to NASA	04/25/1967	1
	Cable requesting USAF provide a plan for exploitation of NASA MSS Systems used in the Lunar environment and recommendations for a Lunar Mapping System to provide MC&G support for proposed Lunar surface exploratin programs.
33	NASA Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS)	04/28/1967	4
	Memoranum DNRO to Mr. Vance, Mr. Helms, Dr. Hornig and extension/continuation of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS)/UPWARD past 1967.
34	Meeting to Formulate Action Plan for Making AAP Decisions	5/31/1967	2
	NASA Document re meeting to identify and clarify the specific program details and requirements that need to be resolved to formulate an action plan for the AAP program decisions.
35	Difficulties in Proceeding with the UPWARD Program	6/1/1967	1
	Memorandum for Dr. Hornig to Mr. Helms and Mr. Vance re difficulties in proceeding with the UPWARD program.
36	June 1, 1967 Meeting to Discuss AAP Payloads	6/9/1967	3
	NASA Document re June 1, 1967 meeting to formulate action plan for making AAP decisions.
37	Lunar Mapping and Survey System	6/19/1967	6
	NASA Document re the accomplishments of the basic Lunar Orbiter project and the cancellation of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS).
38	LM&SS Earth Orbit Test Objectives	6/23/1967	1
	Memorandum from Gen Martin to DNRO Flax re providing a preliminary copy of the LM&SS Earth Orbit Test Objectives to NASA pending LM&SS E.O. approval.
39	Lunar Mapping and Survey System Part 1	7/5/1967	5
	NASA Document re Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS) review based on requirements and budget factors.
40	Lunar Mapping and Survey System Part 2	7/13/1967	2
	NASA Document from AD/Deputy Seamans to Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight re Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS). Based on the requirements considered in the review, Dr. Seamans concluded NASA was not justified in continuing the LM&SS in the NASA program. He also requested a rapid study to examine a justification for continuing the LM&SS on the basis of a requirement for high resolution photography from lunar orbit to determine the status of equipment used in a lunar landing mission.
41	Lunar Mapping and Survey System Part 3	7/18/1967	4
	NASA Document – Memorandum from Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight to AD/Deputy Administrator Office of the Administrator re Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS) memo dated July 13, 1967 regarding resolution requirements.
42	Termination of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System	7/25/1967	2
	NASA Document – Memorandum Mr. Seamans to Dr. Mueller re termination of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS). Based on the review of the LM&SS requirements, Mr. Mueller concluded that there are no requirements sufficient to warrant continuation of the development effort.
43	Termination Plan for the Lunar Mapping & Survey System	8/21/1967	25
	NASA Document – Memorandum Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight to Deputy Administrator re the termination plans for the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS).
44	NASA Lunar Mapping and Survey System	8/22/1967	2
	Memorandrum DNRO Flax to Mr. Nitze, Mr. Helms, Dr. Hornig re NASA Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS). After review, NASA has now taken action to terminate the program.
45	Storage and Disposition of LM&SS Hardware	9/18/1967	2
	Cable re the storage and disposition of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS). This process will be conducted in such a manner to minimise cost but also protect the NRO security requirements.
46	NASA to DNRO on Termination of LM&SS	10/12/1967	5
	Memorandum Dr. Seamans to Mr. Flax regarding termination of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS)/UPWARD. Mr. Seamans concluded that it would not be prudent for NASA to retain the classified hardware, with the one exception of the three Itek (-9) mapping cameras.
47	DNRO to NASA on Termination of LM&SS	12/1/1967	2
	Memorandum DNRO Flax to Dr. Seamans re termination of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS). DNRO Flax also advised on the approval for NASA retention of the Itek (-9) mapping cameras with appropriate security precautions.
48	Disposition of ITEK (-9) Mapping Cameras	1/2/1968	1
	NASA Memomrandum Dr. Seamans to Dr. Flax thanking him for the action to decontrol the Itek (-9) mapping cameras and advised that NASA can utilize this hardware within the contraints outline. He also advised of the debriefing process of NASA personnel holding the UPWARD clearance.
49	Project UPWARD	1/8/1968	1
	Memorandum via NRO Staff to Dr. Flax re NASA appreciation for decontrolling the Itek (-9) mapping camera.
50	“Terms of Reference” (TOR) for the Release of ITEK (-9) Mapping Cameras to NASA	3/6/1968	5
	NRO internal memo for signature to allow the release of terms of reference for the Itek (-9) mapping camera to NASA
51	TOR Covering NASA’s Use of ITEK (-9) Mapping Camera	3/7/1968	4
	Memorandum NRO Staff Director Berg to Dr. Newell/NASA re Terms of Reference which will allow NASA to use the Itek (-9) mapping cameras.
52	Dod Policy on NASA’s On-Orbit Astronomical Experiments	8/30/1968	7
	Memo to DNRO on offical DOD security attitudes toward NASA’s on-orbit astronomy program.
53	NASA Query re: Fairchild Briefing on SI Camera	5/1/1969	3
	Memorandum for the Record re NASA query for Fairchield briefing on the SI camera. Memo addresses security concerns of Fairchild briefing NASA personel on the SI camera and the approval of reinstatement of UPWARD clearances for two NASA employees to allow discussions with Fairchild.
54	UPWARD Security	1/12/1970	1
	Memorandum from NRO Staff to BCO, NASA advising NRO’s plans to close the UPWARD compartmentation effective March 1, 1970. Residual material would be handled under the GAMBIT compartmentation.
55	Trip Coordination	5/4/1970	2
	NASA request for concurrence of NASA personnel to travel to SAFSP facilities for deliberations regarding dispositionof residual LM&SS materials.
56	UPWARD Mapping and Survey System	11/9/1970	2
	Internal Deliberations providing Dr. Naka background information on the UPWARD development.
57	Disposition of ITEK (-9) Mapping Cameras	6/29/1972	1
	NASA memorandum to Lt. Colonel Hofmann, USAF SACC member advising the disposition of the Itek (-9) mapping cameras. The cameras have been declared surplus at Manned Space Center, Houston, Tx and are available at Surplus Sales at MSC. No documentation associating NRO programs is with the cameras.
58	Project UPWARD: The NRO and NASA	2/27/1976	107
	Chapter of NRO history pertaining to the UPWARD program.
59	Alternative Operational/Information Plans for an Earth-Orbiting Test of the UPWARD Camera	no date	9
	Study of alternatives to cover status of LM&SS as per action item in 4th meeting of the MSFPC
60	Termination of LM&SS	no date	4
	A paper sent internally at NASA regarding the termination of the Lunar Mapping and Survey System (LM&SS).
61	Preliminary Engineering Description of the Survey Camera for the Apollo Mapping and Survey System, Volume 1	no date	374
	Preliminary Engineering Description of the Survey Camera for the Apollo Mapping and Survey System, Volume 1. The engineering study prepared under contract by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY for Headquarters Space System Divison (SAFSP)
62	Preliminary Engineering Description of the Survey Camera for the Apollo Mapping and Survey System, Volume 2	no date	520
	Preliminary Engineering Description of the Survey Camera for the Apollo Mapping and Survey System, Volume 2. The engineering study prepared under contract by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY for Headquarters Space System Divison (SAFSP)

 

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