posted 10-22-2003 06:24 PM            

To Gerson, the problem was capturing the missile's signal. Because
the signal was line-of-sight ~and the launch pad was far inland, it was dif-
ficult to intercept with peripheral ferret flights. Gerson explored ways to
create atmospheric conditions that, like a mirror, would reflect the sig-
nallong distances. Once the signal had been reflected beyond Soviet bor-
ders, land-based or airborne collectors could intercept it. In 1959 Gerson
submitted his report, "Six Point Program for Improved Intercept," was
given an initial $1 million in research money, and began to experiment.
An intercept station was set up in the Bahamas. Its target was an
unsuspecting television station in Shreveport, Louisiana, about 1,500
miles away. (Television broadcast signals are line-of-sight.) At a certain
point over the southwestern United States, a rocket that had been
launched from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida detonated into the at-
mosphere a chemical bomb containing aluminum oxide and cesium ni-
10 Ionosphere Observatory in Puerto Rico. A scientific antenna
0 explore the earth's ionosphere and surrounding space, it was
)ver a large sinkhole, which acted as a perfect base for the an-
s 9OO-foot-plus dish. Thedisv:S size ensured enormous receiving
lity. However, because it used a natural sinkhole, the antenna it-
as fixed in place; only the gOO-ton feed platform that was sus-
1 above the bowl-shaped reflector could move.
rerson thought the Arecibo dish would be a perfect antenna to
~ Soviet signals as they drifted into space, bounced off the moon,
~re reflected back to earth. He approached the director of ARPA,
s Herzfeld, to broach the possibility of allowing NSA to experiment
..ith the antenna. "Herzfeld told us in no uncertain terms that
.recibo Ionosphere Observatory] had been funded as a wholly sci-
and open facility," said Gerson, "and would not be allowed to un-
~ classified studies, and that it was presumptuous of us to ask."

posted 10-24-2003 09:11 PM            

"Body of Secrets"