Robert M. Dienesch

This is a pioneering effort to put the shadowy WS-117L program, the first effort to develop a viable recon satellite, into operation. WS-117L remains mysterious as though it didn't lead directly to the CORONA program, it's essentially the roots from which the program grew; WS-117L's main downfall was that it was designed around a real-time television imaging system and the atmosphere of emergency generated by the brick through the window that was Sputnik meant that simpler approaches were the order of the day.

Apart from that much of this book is a case study of how Eisenhower handled issues of national security, with a great deal of consideration devoted to getting his unruly service chiefs under control; the key of which being sound intelligence so as not to be blind-sided by the service-generated emergency of a given fiscal cycle.… (meer)