Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

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First Steps into Space: Projects Mercury and Gemini
While NASA will immediately dispatch public information representatives
to such an area, it is recognized that, for a limited period of time, Department of
Defense or NASA personnel may be the only representatives of this government
at the scene.
According to the provisions of the “Overall Plan, Department of Defense
for Project Gemini Operations,” dated November 7, 1963, Section IX, 4b, “when
a contingency recovery operation has been initiated, acknowledgement may be
made subject to the condition that NASA has made the initial announcement
that reentry and landing operations have been initiated. Any other responses
to news media will be based upon instructions forwarded through operational
communications channels on the basis of particular circumstances involved.
Contingency recovery communications channels are the appropriate operational
communications channels for this purpose as long as those circuits are maintained
in operational status.”
It is recommended that the above quoted provisions be applicable to any
landing area except the planned landing areas.
In the absence of NASA Information Officers, Department of Defense
personnel on the scene will initiate and maintain communication on a priority
basis with the Public Information Officer for the Department of Defense Manager
for Manned Space Flight Support Operations and will keep him informed of
activities at the contingency landing site, including medical examinations and/
or other debriefing activities. He will serve as a point of contact for the Gemini
Information Director and relay public information [6] to the Department of
Defense personnel on the scene.
Following NASA’s announcement that the astronauts are being taken to
a specific site, the Department of Defense Public Information Officer there may
respond to news inquiries with approval of the Gemini Information Director.
Under no circumstances may he comment on the physical condition of
the astronauts or the conditions which resulted in the termination of the flight,
with the exception of certain cleared releases which have been forwarded through
communications channels from the Mission Control Center.
In the event the astronauts’ arrival at any installation precedes that of NASA
Public Information personnel, the Department of Defense Public Information
Officer may confirm the pilots have arrived on the base. With the concurrence of
the Gemini Information Director, the Department of Defense Public Information
Officer may authorize news media to photograph the arrival.
Upon arrival of NASA Public Information representatives, the Department
of Defense Public Information Officer will be relieved of public information
responsibility in connection with the specific mission. He may, however, be
requested to assist in accommodating local news media.
As regards NASA personnel: