Reconnaissance satellite

U.S. Lacrosse radar spy satellite under construction

The complete list of U.S. Reconnaissance Satellite from 1960 to current days

Aerial view of Osama bin Laden’s compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad made by the CIA.

A model of a German SAR-Lupe reconnaissance satellite inside a Cosmos-3M rocket.

vation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. The first generation type (i.e., Corona [1] [2] and Zenit) took photographs, then ejected canisters of photographic film which would descend to earth. Corona capsules were retrieved in mid-air as they floated down on parachutes. Later, spacecraft had digital imaging systems and down- KH-4B Corona satellite loaded the images via encrypted radio links. A reconnaissance satellite (commonly, although unof- In the United States, most information available is on pro- ficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth obser- grams that existed up to 1972, as this information has

1 2 4 BENEFITS

telephoto. Corona (satellite) is the earliest known. Spectral imaging is commonplace.

Electronic-reconnaissance Signals intelligence, inter- cepts stray radio waves. Samos-F is the earliest known.

Radar imaging Most space-based radars use synthetic aperture radar. Can be used at night or through cloud cover. Earliest known are US-A series.

3 Missions Microwave interception (Rhyolite) Examples of reconnaissance satellite missions: been declassified due to its age. Some information about programs prior to that time is still classified, and a small • High resolution photography (IMINT) amount of information is available on subsequent mis- • sions. Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) A few up-to-date reconnaissance satellite images have • Communications eavesdropping (SIGINT) been declassified on occasion, or leaked, as in the case • of KH-11 photographs which were sent to Jane’s Defence Covert communications Weekly in 1984.[3] • Monitoring of nuclear test ban compliance (see National Technical Means) 1 History • Detection of missile launches

On 16 March 1955, the United States Air Force officially On 28 August 2013, it was thought that “a $1-billion high- ordered the development of an advanced reconnaissance powered spy satellite capable of snapping pictures de- satellite to provide continuous surveillance of 'preselected tailed enough to distinguish the make and model of an au- areas of the earth' in order 'to determine the status of a tomobile hundreds of miles below”[6] was launched from potential enemy’s war-making capability'.[4] California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base using America’s most powerful rocket. On 17 February 2014, a Russian Kosmos-1220 originally 2 Types launched in 1980 and used for naval missile targeting until 1982, made an uncontrolled atmospheric entry.[7] There are several major types of reconnaissance satellite.[5] 4 Benefits Missile Early warning Reconnaissance satellites have been used to enforce hu- Main articles: Defense Support Program and Space- man rights, through the Satellite Sentinel Project, which Based Infrared System monitors atrocities in Sudan and South Sudan. During his 1980 State of the Union Address, President Provides warning of an attack by detecting Jimmy Carter explained how all of humanity benefited ballistic missile launches. Earliest known are from the presence of American spy satellites: Missile Defense Alarm System. ...photo-reconnaissance satellites, for ex- Nuclear explosion detection Identifies and character- ample, are enormously important in stabiliz- izes nuclear explosions in space. Vela (satellite) is ing world affairs and thereby make a significant the earliest known. contribution to the security of all nations.[8]

Photo surveillance Provides imaging of earth from Additionally, companies such as GeoEye and space. Images can be a survey or close-look DigitalGlobe have provided commercial satellite 3 imagery in support of natural disaster response and [2] “Corona Program”. JPL Mission and Spacecraft Library. humanitarian missions.[9] Retrieved 16 February 2014.

During the 1950s, a Soviet hoax had led to American [3] Wright, Michael; Herron, Caroline Rand (8 December fears of a bomber gap. In 1968, after gaining satel- 1985). “Two Years for Morison”. New York Times. Re- lite photography, the United States’ intelligence agencies trieved 16 February 2014. were able to state with certainty that “No new ICBM com- plexes have been established in the USSR during the past [4] Erickson, Mark. Into the Unknown Together - The DOD, year.”[10] President Lyndon B. Johnson told a gathering NASA, and Early Spaceflight (PDF). ISBN 1-58566-140- 6. in 1967: [5] reconnaissance satellite, Infoplease, retrieved 2014-02-17 I wouldn't want to be quoted on this ... [6] Hennigan, W.J. (27 August 2013). “Monster rocket to We've spent $35 or $40 billion on the space blast off from Pacific coast, rattle Southland”. Los Angeles program. And if nothing else had come out Times. Retrieved 16 February 2014. of it except the knowledge that we gained from space photography, it would be worth ten times [7] Melissa Goldin (2014-02-17). “Fragments of Soviet-Era what the whole program has cost. Because Satellite Burn Up in Earth’s Atmosphere”. Mashable. Re- tonight we know how many missiles the enemy trieved 2014-02-17. has and, it turned out, our guesses were way [8] “The State of the Union Annual Message to the Congress”. off. We were doing things we didn't need to 1980 State of the Union Address. The American Presi- do. We were building things we didn't need to dency Project. Retrieved 11 April 2014. build. We were harboring fears we didn't need to harbor.[10] [9] “Commercial Satellite Imagery Companies Partner with the U.S. Geological Survey in Support of the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters"". USGS Newsroon. 5 In fiction United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 4 April 2014. [10] Heppenheimer, T. A. (1998). The Space Shuttle Decision. Spy satellites are commonly seen in spy fiction and NASA. pp. 191, 198. military fiction. Some works of fiction that focus specif- ically on spy satellites include: 8 Further reading • The OMAC Project • Kupperberg, Paul (2003). Spy satellites. Rosen Pub- • Enemy of the State (film) lishing Group. Retrieved 15 February 2012. ISBN 0-8239-3854-9 • Body of Lies (film) • Richelson, Jeffrey (1990). America’s Secret Eyes • Ice Station Zebra in Space: the U.S. Keyhole Spy Satellite Program. • Karlsson-on-the-Roof is Sneaking Around Again Harper & Row. Retrieved 15 February 2012. ISBN 0-88730-285-8

• Norris, Pat (2008). “Spies in the Sky: Surveillance 6 See also Satellites in War and Peace”. Berlin; New York: Springer; Chichester, UK: In association with Praxis • Defense Support Program (U.S.) Publishing. Retrieved 15 February 2012.

• European Union Satellite Centre

• List of intelligence gathering disciplines 9 External links

• List of Kosmos satellites • Israel Launches New Spy Satellite

• National Reconnaissance Office (U.S.) • FAS Intelligence Resource Program - Imagery In- telligence (IMINT) 7 References • GlobalSecurity.org: Imagery Intelligence • Iran to Launch first spy satellite [1] “Corona History”. National Reconnaissance Office. Re- trieved 15 February 2014. • Egyptsat1 (MisrSat 1) 4 9 EXTERNAL LINKS

• Spaceports Around the World: Iraq’s Al-Anbar Space Research Center • Military Intelligence Satellites (NASA, remote sens- ing tutorial) 5

10 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

10.1 Text

• Reconnaissance satellite Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconnaissance_satellite?oldid=671661815 Contributors: TwoOneTwo, Bryan Derksen, SimonP, Edward, Arpingstone, SeeSchloss, Mulad, Emperorbma, David.Monniaux, Chealer, Lowellian, Alan Lieft- ing, 0x0077BE, MSGJ, Alensha, Bobblewik, Mzajac, Balcer, N328KF, JTN, Jkl, Rich Farmbrough, Avriette, ArnoldReinhold, ESkog, ZeroOne, Ylee, CanisRufus, El C, Mkosmul, Sasquatch, Idleguy, Kierano, 1or2, Gunter.krebs, Gpvos, Gortu, Cfrjlr, Gene Nygaard, Woohookitty, Bluemoose, Isnow, Kralizec!, Gimboid13, MarkPos, Stefanomione, Ashmoo, BD2412, Ketiltrout, Rjwilmsi, XLerate, FlaBot, Fivemack, Catsmeat, Simesa, Whosasking, YurikBot, Arado, Killervogel5, Akamad, Ksyrie, Curpsbot-unicodify, Stuhacking, SmackBot, IddoGenuth, Nickst, Constan69, Egg plant, Frap, Chlewbot, Lojikbom, MJBurrage, Andy120290, Joema, Flyguy649, Soo- brickay, ALR, Johndoe0307, John, Stwalkerster, Kvng, Dl2000, Keycard, Iridescent, Joseph Solis in Australia, Antonine, Van hels- ing, Fnlayson, Nabokov, PaladinWriter, JamesAM, Thijs!bot, Pmrobert49, Kaaveh Ahangar~enwiki, Liebgard~enwiki, Lumbercutter, Jj137, Yellowdesk, Magioladitis, Yurei-eggtart, VoABot II, SHCarter, Flayer, KConWiki, Jim.henderson, Tdadamemd, Ash sul, Coin945, Olegwiki, DMCer, Sdsds, TXiKiBoT, Ddelestrac, Dunee, Broadbot, LanceBarber, Enviroboy, Nibios, Species2112, SieBot, Le Pied- bot~enwiki, WannabeAmatureHistorian, Camille Grey, Lightmouse, Hamiltondaniel, Martarius, MBK004, ClueBot, Binksternet, The Thing That Should Not Be, Easphi, DragonBot, Phileasson, Mumiemonstret, ParisianBlade, Arjayay, LobStoR, Harman malhotra, Inter- netMeme, Poli08, Soguin, Aprilicus1, WikiDao, MystBot, JCDenton2052, JChinky, Jerryjf, Addbot, Fieldday-sunday, Numbo3-bot, Tide rolls, Pietrow, GDK, LuK3, Luckas-bot, Amirobot, AnomieBOT, VanishedUser sdu9aya9fasdsopa, Essin, MauritsBot, Xqbot, Kc271, Jf06, Nasa-verve, Turevus, Mark Schierbecker, Irtek, Peyman Ghasemi, Nosedown, Bambuway, Pinethicket, SpaceFlight89, Retanollo, Electricmaster, Enemenemu, DexDor, Tommy2010, Yattum, ZéroBot, ChiZeroOne, ClueBot NG, Helpful Pixie Bot, Northamerica1000, Glacialfox, EuroCarGT, 93, Kieranfitzgerald, Theo’s Little Bot, Madhusudhan27, Wikiuser13, Frinthruit, Petervschorm, Simonfreeman, Csm104, Giuseppe De Chiara 1968 and Anonymous: 117

10.2 Images

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10.3 Content license

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