CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY THE PRESIDENTS DAILY BRIEF- I 50Xl I MARCH 1966 Declassi ed in Pan - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015 07f23 CIA-RDP79T00936A004300310001-5 v a WAQgBoved for Reiease 2015l07 23 RDP79TOUI936A004300310001 -5 1 Delqlassifiedin Part Samtized Copy a f SECRET RUFF I i 4 Otv DeciaSSIfsed iri Part Copy for Release 201 _5 _Q_7l_23 CIA RDP79T00936A004300310001 5 l Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for'Release 2015 07 23 50 -- ANNEX New Developments in the Soviet Space Program- The Soviets have been investing very heavily in the immense space launch Complex at their Tyura tam missile test center Construction was initiated in mid 1963 and has continued on a high priority basis without interruption The complex is now expected to become partially operational by the end of this year The first launchings could take place early next year The most recent photographs of the two launch pads in Complex see attachedi lsketch The na _ ture and the size of the now indicate that the pads could handle Space boosters develop- ing thrusts as great as ten million pounds By com- parison the Saturn booster to be used in the US Apollo program develops 7 5 million pounds of thrust The largest Soviet booster launched to date had a thrust estimated at between 2 5 and three million pounds It will be possible to estimate more precisely the size of the booster once the gantry is built Gantry tracks some 60 feet wide are now being inn stalled between the launch sites and the massive missile assembly building some two miles away The twin launch pads are spaced only 1 700 feet apart 'This suggests that the Soviets plan an unhurried launching program that does not re quire having two assembled boosters in place at the same time Housing facilities at Complex provide-an in- dication of the large number of personnel to be in volved in the programs planned there There is a high quality apartment house project that could accommodate some 5 000 people and a barracks area with about the same capacity Contld Deolassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2015 07 23 50x1 50x1 50X1 DIeclassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Reiease 2015 07 23 ANNEX Cont d It is impossible at this pOint of course to be sure of the objectives of the space program planned for Complex J The following would be among the feasible possibilities manned lunar landings sophisticated planetary probes and the orbiting of 1arge manned Space stations 50X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Reiease 201 5 07 23 Deciassified in Part Sanitized Copy Approved for Retease TYURATAM SKETCH OF PADJ Possible loading axis Possibie umbilical 9 tower founduhon Possible'deiuge system piping Hun mm 50x1 Degleseilfiec i in Peri - enitized Copy Approved for Release 2015107723