Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback Canadian Treaty Series

Exchange of Notes (August 13 and 23, 1963) between Canada and the United States of America concerning the Testing of Experimental Communications Satellites [1963] CATSer 6 (23 August 1963)

E103808 - CTS 1963 No. 13

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONCERNING THE TESTING OF EXPERI­MENTAL COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITES

I

The Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Canadian Embassy in the United States of America to the Secretary of State of the United States of America

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 13, 1963

No. 439

The Honourable Dean Rusk,
Secretary of State,
Washington, D.C.

Sir,

I have the honour to refer to a Memorandum of Understanding concerning the testing of experimental communications satellites, signed by representatives of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Transport on April 25, 1963 and April 4, 1963, respectively.

On the instructions of my Government, I have the honour to express the concurrence of the Canadian Government in this Memorandum, a copy of which is attached, and to propose that this Note and the Memorandum attached thereto, together with your reply, shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments on this subject with effect from the date of your reply.

Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

H. B. Robinson

Chargé d'affaires a.i.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

The Department of Transport of the Government of Canada and the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as cooperating agencies, intend to participate jointly in the testing of experimental communications satellites launched by NASA to the extent that such testing is technically feasible.

To facilitate such experimental testing, each cooperating agency agrees to provide a ground station to receive and/or transmit television and multi channel telephonic or telegraphic signals between the two stations and over other paths in the course of these tests. No exchange of funds between the two agencies is contemplated.

Each cooperating agency agrees:

(i) to obtain the necessary radio frequencies;

(ii) to make available to the other such operating schedules as are neces­sary for the communications tests;

(iii) to facilitate demonstration tests involving, as necessary, temporary connection to its telecommunication networks.

Since there are additional experimenters participating in the testing, NASA will undertake to determine suitable schedules in the interests of all experi­menters.

NASA agrees to provide satellite radiation characteristics and orbital parameters as required for the design, construction and operation of the Depart­ment of Transport ground station. In this connection, the exchange of such information as is covered by proprietary rights shall be arranged in such a manner as fully to respect those rights.

Data, including information relating to the space environment, obtained in the communications tests shall be exchanged and made freely available to the scientific community. Signals transmitted over the satellite links in this cooperative program are to be used for test purposes only and are not for commercial exploitation.

Each cooperating agency shall designate a point of contact for technical liaison purposes in the conduct of this program and shall provide suitable and periodic progress reports to the other.

This understanding between the cooperating agencies shall not preclude the use of the ground stations for tests outside the cooperative projects covered by this understanding.

This Memorandum is conditional upon the concurrence of the respective Governments and shall be confirmed by an exchange of notes;

FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

J. R. Baldwin

Ottawa, Ontario, April 4, 1963

FOR THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Hugh L. Dryden

Washington, D.C., April 25, 1963

II

The Secretary of State of the United States of America to the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Canadian Embassy in the United States of America

WASHINGTON, August 23, 1963

The Honorable H. Basil Robinson,
Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Canada

Sir:

I have received your Note dated August 13, 1963 concerning a Memorandum of Understanding on the testing of experimental communications satellites, signed by representatives of the Department of Transport and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on April 4, 1963 and April 25, 1963, respectively.

The Government of the United States concurs in this Memorandum, and agrees to your proposal that your Note and the Memorandum attached thereto, together with this reply, shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments on this subject with effect from this date.

Accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my high consideration.

William C. Burdett

For the Secretary of State