JFK'S PROPOSALS FOR JOINT ACTION IN SPACE WITH USSR
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 18, 1962, a letter from President John F. Kennedy to Chairman Nikita Khrushchev was released by the White House.
In the letter's introduction, the President wrote...
"The exploration of space is a broad and varied activity and the possibilities for cooperation are many...and I welcome your concrete suggestions."
The letter listed five proposals for joint American-Soviet action in the exploration of outer space. Following is a summary of those proposals:
1. Joint establishment of an early operational weather satellite system.
2. Joint use of both nation's operational tracking services.
3. Co-operation in mapping the earth's magnetic field in space
4. USSR joining in on the testing of intercontinental transmissions
5. Pooling of efforts & knowledge exchange in the field of space medicine
The President's letter concluded...
"I am designating technical representatives who will be prepared to meet and discuss with your representatives our ideas and yours in a spirit of practical cooperation. In order to accomplish this at an early date, I suggest that the representatives of our two countries who will be coming to New York to take part in the United Nations Outer Space Committee* meet privately to discuss the proposals set forth in this letter.
Sincerely, John F. Kennedy"
*United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, founded in 1962, is part of the UN Secretariat located in Vienna, Austria. It implements UN decisions on the peaceful uses of outer space.
SOURCE
"Message to Chairman Khrushchev Proposing Joint Action in the Exploration of Outer Space," released March 18, 1962, dated March 7, 1962. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy, January 1 to December 31, 1962. United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1963.
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