Approved for Release 2019 152 113 c031r7reo I POSSIBLE PREPARATIONS FOR SOVIET FLIGHT TEST Comment on i the Soviet KRUG direction-finding 5 complex indicate that tracking activ- ities possibly with a balloon for a target previously associated with prefiring preparations at the Tyura Tam missile test range were tried on 13 November A resumption of this activity was scheduled for about 05092 on 14 November Similar KRUG tracking activities with balloon targets were noted a few hours prior to the launch- ing of the first two earth satellites The balloons apparently are used for determining upper air data The local Tyura Tam range net began a period of practice 4- and 5-hour count downs less than 46 hours after the launching of sputnik II on 3 November This practice has been conducted daily through 10 November and may be continuing On three of these days the direct link between Tyura Tam and Klyuchi as well as the local Klyuchi net were also active suggesting an impending operation Such extensive practice operations have not been observed before on this range suggesting that the test event for which this practice is being conducted is of an important and possibly advanced nature in the earth-satellite vehicle and or ICBM fields This event may occur in the near future possibly within two or three days 14 Nov Current Intelligence Bulletin Page 3 Tee-seesaw Approved for Release 2019M E10 00317 760 This document is from the holdings of The National Security Archive Suite 701 Gelman Library The George Washington University 2130 H Street NW Washington D C 20037 Phone 202 994-7000 Fax 202 994-7005 nsarchiv@gwu edu