Project Horizon: full transcription

There is a requirement for a manned outpost on the moon. The lunar outpost is required to develop and protect potential United States interests on the moon, to develop techniques in moon based surveillance of the earth and space, in communications relay, and in operations on the surface of the moon, to serve as a base for exploration of the moon, for further exploration into space and for military operations on the moon if required, and to support scientific investigations on the moon.

The political implications of our failure to be first in space are a matter of public record. To be second to the Soviet Union in establishing an outpost on the moon would be disastrous to our nation's prestige and in turn to our democratic philosophy.

Reference letter to Chief of Ordnance from Chief of Research and Development, subject as above. Subsequent to approval by the Chief of Staff of reference, representatives of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency were directed to conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing a lunar outpost.

Until further study is made a realistic qualitative and quantitative personnel estimate cannot be provided. The training requirements of earth based support personnel would resemble those of personnel in long range ballistic missile units and radar tracking systems. For the relatively small number of personnel actually transported to the moon base, training requirements would be exacting in many fields.