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Could be something to do with this: http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB509/ http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB509/ "NASA's Applications Satellites and

Could be something to do with this: http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB509/ http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB509/ "NASA's Applications Satellites and National Security Requirements: NASA planned on launching the Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite-3 (GEOS-3) with a radar altimeter whose data would generate more accurate gravity models than any measuring devices previously flown. The data would be used to meet civilian requirements and by the U.S. Navy to improve the accuracy of its submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Because it also had the potential to be used by the Soviets for the same purpose, the DoD requested NASA to encrypt the data, limit the acquisition of data over the ocean areas where Soviet ballistic missile submarines operated, or delay the planned April 1975 launch until the issue could be resolved. It also requested encryption of the data from the even more capable radar altimeter planned for SEASAT-A. NASA rejected these requests but quickly agreed to restrict the dissemination of the GEOS-3 data collected over the regions where Soviet ballistic missile submarines operated (Document 38)." However is it still the case that NASA continue to withhold this data, or is it data collected by the NSA/NRO/et al's satellites that's considered classified?

8note 11y ago
they should be keeping that secret; good gravity models are a major part of the difference in accuracy of American missiles vs Russian ones.
- dogma1138 11y ago
  Yes because the last thing you want is for the "soviets" to be able to hit their target. Surely them hitting instead a city near by or just using bigger nukes to compensate for lesser accuracy is a much better approach.
  - hga 11y ago
    No, the more inaccurate their targeting, the harder it was for them pull off a counter-force first strike. No need to lead them into temptation.... Once they're launched, you've already lost catastrophicly, no matter exactly where they come down. And why the scare quotes for our adversaries who build 40,000 nuclear warheads, most of them aimed directly at us?

8note 11y ago

they should be keeping that secret; good gravity models are a major part of the difference in accuracy of American missiles vs Russian ones.

dogma1138 11y ago
Yes because the last thing you want is for the "soviets" to be able to hit their target. Surely them hitting instead a city near by or just using bigger nukes to compensate for lesser accuracy is a much better approach.
- hga 11y ago
  No, the more inaccurate their targeting, the harder it was for them pull off a counter-force first strike. No need to lead them into temptation.... Once they're launched, you've already lost catastrophicly, no matter exactly where they come down. And why the scare quotes for our adversaries who build 40,000 nuclear warheads, most of them aimed directly at us?