LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL COMMITTEE ON AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE SCIENCES, U.S. SENATE, March 27, 1962: Hon. ROBERT S. KERR, DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Transmitted herewith is a staff report entitled "Soviet Space Programs: Organization, Plans, Goals, and International Implications" written for the committee by a number of experts at the Library of Congress as outlined in the attached letter from Dr. Hugh Elsbree, Director, Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress. This report is one of a series on important space matters that has been in preparation over the past year for the committee by the Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress. A particular need was felt for a report on Soviet space programs, based on open sources, because in spite of the general Soviet fanfare that has accompanied some of their spectacular results, little has been done to summarize their overall program. It is hoped that this report will help to fulfill this need and to place the Soviet achievements in better perspective, so that we may better understand our own position and efforts. In the formulation of the report the staff requested informal reviews by a number of executive agencies. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Aeronautics and Space Council, the Federal Council on Science and Technology, the U.S. Air Force, the Department of State, the National Academy of Sciences, and other experts submitted comments and suggestions. These were incorporated in the report wherever possible. While these agencies are not responsible for the material in the report, their suggestions were sincerely appreciated. The report was edited by Dr. Glen P. Wilson and reviewed by all the members of the professional staff of the committee. The staff also appreciates the services rendered by Mrs. Beatrice C. Grabbe, Legislative Reference Service of the Library of Congress, and Mr. Jim Olsen, of the Government Printing Office, in the preparation of the report. Respectfully, EVERARD H. SMITH, Jr., LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Hon. ROBERT S. KERR, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, Chairman, Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, DEAR SENATOR KERR: Pursuant to your formal request of March 14, 1961, and previous communications from the committee staff, the Legislative Reference Service has undertaken a study of the Soviet space program. The purposes of the study were to identify, insofar as possible, Soviet intentions, organizations, plans, and programs in space, and to analyze their international implications. Only open sources were to be used in the preparation of the study, and the attitudes of the Russians themselves on space matters were to be presented when relevant and where possible. The report has now been completed and is herewith submitted. This study has been divided into three major sections: Part I provides as an introduction a general survey of science in the Soviet Union; part II deals extensively with Soviet science in space; and part III concerns certain implications of the space activities of the U.S.S.R. for international cooperation and international law. Chapters subsumed under these major categories attempt to provide a descriptive account of Soviet science and technology, an estimate of possible Soviet goals in space, an examination of the possible organizational structure of the Soviet space program, a review of some Soviet achievements in space, and an analysis of the Soviet attitude toward international cooperation in space and international space law. Serious limitations are inherent in a study of the Soviet space program. The most serious is the lack of available data. The Soviet Union is a closed society. Data normally published in the United States as a matter of course is highly restricted in the U.S.S.R. This is particularly true in the field of space exploration, since it is a subject that impinges directly on Soviet national security interests. Little meaningful information is published on space activities, and that which has been divulged, as this study demonstrates, is often suffused with political propaganda. At best, therefore, this study can provide only an approximation of Soviet space activities. Notwithstanding these built-in limitations, it is hoped that the material and analysis presented here will be useful. The study was carried forth under the general direction of Dr. William C. Olson, Chief of the Foreign Affairs Division, Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress. Dr. Joseph G. Whelan, analyst in Soviet and East European Affairs, Legislative Reference Service, prepared chapters II, III, V, and VII. Dr. George A. Llano, science specialist in the Library's Science and Technology Division, prepared chapters I and IV. Dr. Llano is now Associate Program IV Director, Science Program, Office of Antarctic Programs, National Science Foundation. Chapter VI was based upon research papers prepared for Legislative Reference Service by Dr. Samuel Kucherov, senior research analyst, Reference Department, Library of Congress, Dr. Joseph G. Whelan, and Mr. Robert D. Crane, director, Space Research Institute, World Rule of Law Center, Duke University. The chapter was written by Dr. Whelan. Mr. Leon Herman, specialist in Soviet economics, Legislative Reference Service, prepared those sections relating to the economic aspects of the space program. Dr. Robert V. Allen, Soviet area specialist in the Library's Slavic and Central European Division, assisted by examining certain Russian language material relating to space. Sincerely yours, HUGH L. ELSBREE, Director, Legislative Reference Service. CONTENTS Chapter I. The general background of science in the U.S.S.R... PART I SOVIET SCIENCE A. Origins: Scientific tradition and learning. III. Scientific establishments of the Soviet Union B. Soviet rule: Ideological control. tication of |