U.S. Satellites May Warn Of Attack

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29099, 11 January 1960, Page 9

U.S. Satellites May Warn Of Attack

(Rec. 8.45 p.m.)

CAPE CANAVERAL, January 9.

The United States Air Force expects next month to make the first flight test for “Project Midas,” a satellite system designed to provide the United States with almost instant warning of a missile attack.

Midas, which stands for Missile Defence Alarm System, will use infra-red sensing devices to detect an inter-continental missile the moment it is launched, American Associated Press reported. The alarm would be flashed immediately to the United States, which would then have about 30 minutes to prepare for nuclear bombardment. This is the approximate travel time for an 1.C.8.M. This is short notice, but it is twice the warning which will be given by the giant radar screens of the missile early warning system. This system, expected to go into operation late this year, in Greenland and Alaska, is expected to spot an 1.C.8.M. headed for America after it has been airborne about 15 minutes. The extra 15 minutes provided by Midas would be immensely valuable in defensive and retaliatory measures, the Air Force says. America’s liquid-fuel missiles, which have a minimum operational count down of 15 minutes, would have more time to get off the ground, out of the way of the attack missiles and on the way to enemy targets. Strategic Air Command planes would have the extra time to get into the air, and thousands more persons could reach protective shelters. Test Launchings Officials have emphasised that only research and development

phases of the Midas system will be handled at Cape Canaveral. Several experimental launchings, including the first one, scheduled for February, will be made at the Cape to test vehicle design, electronic systems and ground support equipment. The infra-red technique will be tested during rocket firings from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, in California, probably beginning in 1961. It is believed that five or six satellites, launched into polar orbit at different times, would provide complete and constant scanning of the earth’s surface. The Midas detectors will be sensitive to infra-red rays given off by missile exhausts. After spotting the rising rocket, the satellite will track it for as long as the missile engine bums, normally about five minutes. This information, relayed to ground stations, will give the missile’s approximate course and enable the warning radar to more quickly and accurately get a fix on it. Launching vehicle for the experimental Midas satellites will be the new Atlas-Agena rocket This consists of an Atlas intercontinental missile for the first stage, and the second stage, which will become the orbiting satellite, will be an advanced version of the Agena rocket. The Agena has been fired eight times in the Discoverer satellite series from Vandenberg, and six times It achieved orbit