History of satellite reconnaissance

History of satellite reconnaissance
Author: Robert L. Perry
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2012
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781937219031

The United States developed the Gambit and Hexagon imagery satellite systems in the 1960's to improve the nation's means for peering over the iron curtain that separated western democracies from East European and Asian communist countries. The programs were declassified in September of 2011, after which redacted documents and histories were released to the public, including the two contained in this volume. --Summarized from Preface.

Intelligence Revolution 1960

Intelligence Revolution 1960
Author: Ingard Clausen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 260
Release: 2012
Genre: Astronautics, Military
ISBN:

Overview: Provides a history of the Corona Satellite photo reconnaissance Program. It was a joint Central Intelligence Agency and United States Air Force program in the 1960s. It was then highly classified.

The U.S. Air Force in Space, 1945 to the Twenty-First Century: Proceedings

The U.S. Air Force in Space, 1945 to the Twenty-First Century: Proceedings
Author: Air Force Historical Foundation. Symposium
Publisher: Department of the Air Force
Total Pages: 216
Release: 1998-09-02
Genre: History
ISBN:

Contains papers presented at the Air Force Historical Foundation Symposium, held at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, on September 21-22, 1995. Topics addressed are: Pt. 1, The Formative Years, 1945-1961; Pt. 2, Mission Development and Exploitation Since 1961; and Pt. 3, Military Space Today and Tomorrow. Includes notes, abbreviations & acronyms, an index, and photographs.

Hexagon (KH-9) Mapping Camera Program and Evolution

Hexagon (KH-9) Mapping Camera Program and Evolution
Author: Maurice G. Burnett
Publisher:
Total Pages: 386
Release: 2012
Genre: Artificial satellites, American
ISBN:

The United States developed the Gambit and Hexagon programs to improve the nation's means for peering over the iron curtain that separated western democracies from east European and Asian communist countries. The inability to gain insight into vast "denied areas" required exceptional systems to understand threats posed by US adversaries. Corona was the first imagery satellite system to help see into those areas. Hexagon began as a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) program with the first concepts proposed in 1964. The CIA's primary goal was to develop an imagery system with Corona-like ability to image wide swaths of the earth, but with resolution equivalent to Gambit. Such a system would afford the United States even greater advantages monitoring the arms race that had developed with the nation's adversaries. The Hexagon mapping camera flew on 12 of the 20 Hexagon missions. It proved to be a remarkably efficient and prodigious producer of imagery for mapping purposes. The mapping camera system was successful by every standard including technical capabilities, reliability, and capacity.

Corona

Corona
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 400
Release: 1995
Genre: Artificial satellites in telecommunication
ISBN:

Whither Space Power?

Whither Space Power?
Author: Simon P. Worden
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2005-01-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 9781410219800

The influence of space power pervades almost every sphere and level of human existence, from politics to military affairs to commercial activities to cultural mind-sets. Yet there is little to be found today in the way of coherent space power doctrine and strategy, particularly in national security circles. To what extent do our national interests rely on space? How shall we defend our interests in space and how shall we deny our adversaries the benefits of space power in time of conflict? How can we control and exploit the space environment? How can we effectively wield space power against the full spectrum of threats -- from the lone terrorist to global peer competitors? What should be our long-range strategy and objectives if our goal is to achieve and maintain long-term space superiority? The purpose of this paper is two fold: first, to illuminate the historical and ever-increasing importance of space in modern society; and second, to prescribe, in view of this importance, the foundations of a strategy for achieving lasting space superiority and ensuring national and world security.

Space Weapons Earth Wars

Space Weapons Earth Wars
Author: Robert Preston
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2002-02-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0833032526

This overview aims to inform the public discussion of space-based weapons by examining their characteristics, potential attributes, limitations, legality, and utility. The authors do not argue for or against space weapons, nor do they estimate the potential costs and performance of specific programs, but instead sort through the realities and myths surrounding space weapons in order to ensure that debates and discussions are based on fact.

Historical Dictionary of United States Intelligence

Historical Dictionary of United States Intelligence
Author: Michael A. Turner
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 423
Release: 2014-10-08
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0810878909

While the United States has had some kind of intelligence capability throughout its history, its intelligence apparatus is young, dating only to the period immediately after World War II. Yet, in that short a time, it has undergone enormous changes—from the labor-intensive espionage and covert action establishment of the 1950s to a modern enterprise that relies heavily on electronic data, technology, satellites, airborne collection platforms, and unmanned aerial vehicles, to name a few. This second edition covers the history of United States intelligence, and includes several key features: Chronology Introductory essay Appendixes Bibliography Over 600 cross-referenced entries on key events, issues, people, operations, laws, regulations This book is an excellent access point for members of the intelligence community; students, scholars, and historians; legal experts; and general readers wanting to know more about the history of U.S. intelligence.

United States Military Space: Into the Twenty-First Century

United States Military Space: Into the Twenty-First Century
Author:
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 168
Release: 2002
Genre:
ISBN: 1428961240

This is the 42nd volume in the Occasional Paper series of the U.S. Air Force Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). This volume presents two important papers on United States military space. The first paper, "What is Spacepower and Does It Constitute a Revolution in Military Affairs?", examines the concept of "spacepower" as it is emerging within the U.S. military and business sectors to establish the basis for military space roles and implications. It also posits military-commercial sector linkages as the best near-term road map for future development. As commercial activities expand the importance of United States space, and as technological advances enable military missions, Hays sees expanded military roles, including space weaponization, on the horizon. He concludes that military space has already had a significant impact on the American way of war. That trend will only continue as the promise of a true space-led revolution in military affairs awaits eventual space weaponization. Given an increasingly important U.S. commercial and military presence in space, the second paper, "Space-Related Arms Control and Regulation to 2015: Precedents and Prospects," presents a detailed analysis of existing regulations and controls that constrain and shape military space use and development. It also presents a comprehensive examination of current and future issues that will define likely arenas of international efforts to further control military space. The United States must be very aware of the possible consequences for its overall commercial and military space efforts in addressing these issues. Finally, the paper suggests areas where some current regulatory emphasis could benefit the United States, indicating areas for current policy emphasis. Together, the two papers provide a timely and important examination of the current state and the likely future of United States military space.