1974 Skylab photography Area 51

groom lake (upper left) , papoose lake (lower right). photo doc searls, 2010.

in january 2006, space historian dwayne a. day published article in online aerospace magazine space review titled astronauts , area 51: skylab incident . article based on memo written in 1974 cia director william colby unknown cia official. memo reported astronauts on board skylab 4 had, part of larger program, inadvertently photographed location of memo said:

there specific instructions not this. <redacted> location had such instruction.

although name of location obscured, context led day believe subject groom lake. day noted:

[i]n other words, cia considered no other spot on earth sensitive groom lake.

the memo details debate between federal agencies regarding whether images should classified, department of defense agencies arguing should, , nasa , state department arguing against classification. memo questions legality of unclassified images retroactively classified.

remarks on memo, handwritten apparently dci (director of central intelligence) colby himself, read:

[secretary of state rusk] did raise it—said state dept. people felt strongly. inclined leave decision me (dci)—i confessed question on need protect since:

the declassified documents not disclose outcome of discussions regarding skylab imagery. behind-the-scenes debate proved moot photograph appeared in federal government s archive of satellite imagery along remaining skylab 4 photographs, no record of noticing until day identified in 2007.

other satellite imagery

other satellite imagery available, including images show appears f-16 fighting falcon aircraft stationed on base.