[sci.military] Spy Satellites

averys@mist.CS.ORST.EDU (Scott Avery) (10/10/90)

From: Scott Avery <averys@mist.CS.ORST.EDU>
There has been some talk of satellites over the Gulf and their
usefulness, but not a lot of data on what they can do.  I checked
my small set of books and found a little bit of information, it
is probably out of date (1985), but it was all I could find.  I
would love to see more posting with more up to date info.  This 
is also my first posting to any newsgroup so if I is not up to
par with the rest of the excellent postings to this group, sorry.

KH-11 Satellite

     Weight          28,000-32,000 pounds

     Dimensions      50' long, 10' wide.(not sure if this is Max. width.)

     Orbital Height  150 miles initially.  Max. between 175-210 miles.

     Resolution      "A reliable source who has seen a photo says he was
                      able to clearly read the identification numbers on
                      the wings of an airplane on a Soviet airstrip."
  
     Notes            First launched in 1978.

                      Capability for 'near real time' images. (It takes time
                      to process the image)  Vast improvement over previous
                      film systems which had to be dropped into the ocean and
                      picked up by ships or literally snagged out of the air
                      by a plane.

                      Infrared capability and side-looking radar.(to see
                      through clouds)

     Source           "Spy Tech", Graham Yost 1985


Have a Nice Day                    Scott Avery
My opinions are my own.            averys@mist.cs.orst.edu
"A pound of food taken from the enemy is worth 20 pounds of your own food"
                                                      Master Sun