However, this MDR case was a little strange. In most cases, an MDR “success” is when redacted are lifted, even in part. An MDR “failure” is when nothing changes. This? Not sure what you call this, but additional redactions were ADDED, and not removed.

In a rather humorous (albeit frustrating) outcome, I highlighted both releases below so you can see what they felt the need to cover-up now vs. not cover up in the past.

Note: The below montage of images may be too small to read, depending on your monitor. Simply click on the pages individually to make them larger. Each page is side by side with its corresponding page from the old release to the new one.

Document Archive

The post DoD/CIA-NASA Agreement on NASA Reconnaissance Programs, 28 August 1963 first appeared on The Black Vault.

Below are the declassified volumes made available through the FOIA.  The remaining volumes are under review for declassification and release.

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 1 [241 Pages, 9.3mb]

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 2A [326 Pages, 9.7mb]

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 2B [182 Pages, 5.59mb]

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 3A [338 Pages, 5.15mb]

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 3B [153 Pages, 3.4mb]

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 4 – NRO History [134 Pages, 5.25mb]

 The History of Satellite Reconnaissance, Volume 5 [218 Pages, 8.6mb]

The post History of Satellite Reconnaissance first appeared on The Black Vault.

Project Isinglass was the code name given to two heavily classified, manned reconnaissance aircraft studied by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as potential replacements for the Lockheed A-12 and SR-71 during the mid 1960s.

The first proposal under the Isinglass name, a high-altitude plane to fly at Mach 4 to 5, was considered an insufficient advancement over existing aircraft; the second, much more advanced design, sometimes referred to as Project Rheinberry, was an air-launched, Mach 20 rocket-powered boost-glide aircraft that would use a very-high-altitude trajectory to avoid defenses. This aircraft was considered too costly for development, and the project was abandoned in 1967.

Below, are documents received about Project Isinglass.

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Documents

 ISINGLASS Research & Development Program, 1966 [125 Pages, 14.5MB]

The post Project Isinglass first appeared on The Black Vault.