America's Space Sentinels

America's Space Sentinels
Author: Jeffrey T. Richelson
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Total Pages: 351
Release: 2012-11-20
Genre: History
ISBN: 0700618805

Originally published in 1999, America's Space Sentinels won the American Astronautical Society's prestigious Eugene Emme Astronautical Literature Award and quickly established itself as the definitive book for understanding a crucial component of our national defense capabilities. It focused on the emergence and evolution of the Air Force's Defense Support Program (DSP) satellite system, which came on line in 1970 and continued to perform at a high level through the turn of this century and beyond. For this new edition, Jeffrey Richelson covers significant developments during the last dozen years relating to the deployment of these satellites, especially the struggles to develop and launch the follow-on Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), beginning in the late 1990s and continuing up to the present. The result is a book that remains the first and best source of information regarding these vital programs. As Richelson notes, SBIRS, like its aging but still functioning predecessor, has been designed primarily to provide instant early warning of missile launches from around the globe-particularly China, Russia, North Korea, Pakistan, India, and Iran-through the infra-red sensors carried on each satellite. But the new system-beset by hardware, software, fiscal, and political problems-has only managed to move forward in fits and starts. While it has done so, the DSP system has continued to monitor the skies above the earth; two key ground stations in Australia and Germany have closed; nuclear powers Russia and the United States conferred extensively over the so-called Y2K problem (concerned that a computer malfunction might produce false alarms of a missile attack); and worries over potential launches from nations perceived as hostile to American interests have increased substantially.

America's Space Sentinels

America's Space Sentinels
Author: Jeffrey Richelson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 360
Release: 1999
Genre: History
ISBN:

During much of the Cold War, America's first line of defense was in outer space: a network of secret satellites that could provide instant warning of an enemy missile launch. The presence of these infrared sensors orbiting 22,000 miles above the earth discouraged a Soviet first strike and stabilized international relations between the superpowers, and they now play a crucial role in monitoring the missile programs of China, India, and other emerging nuclear powers. Jeffrey Richelson has written the first comprehensive history of this vital program, tracing its evolution from the late 1950s to the present. He puts Defense Support Program operations in the context of world events - from Russian missile programs to the Gulf War - and explains how DSP's infrared sensors are used to detect meteorites, monitor forest fires, and even gather industrial intelligence by "seeing" the lights of steel mills.

The U.S. Intelligence Community

The U.S. Intelligence Community
Author: Jeffrey T Richelson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 513
Release: 2018-05-04
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0429973950

The role of intelligence in US government operations has changed dramatically and is now more critical than ever to domestic security and foreign policy. This authoritative and highly researched book written by Jeffrey T. Richelson provides a detailed overview of America's vast intelligence empire, from its organizations and operations to its management structure. Drawing from a multitude of sources, including hundreds of official documents, The US Intelligence Community allows students to understand the full scope of intelligence organizations and activities, and gives valuable support to policymakers and military operations. The seventh edition has been fully revised to include a new chapter on the major issues confronting the intelligence community, including secrecy and leaks, domestic spying, and congressional oversight, as well as revamped chapters on signals intelligence and cyber collection, geospatial intelligence, and open sources. The inclusion of more maps, tables and photos, as well as electronic briefing books on the book's Web site, makes The US Intelligence Community an even more valuable and engaging resource for students.

The Politics of Space Security

The Politics of Space Security
Author: James Clay Moltz
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Total Pages: 542
Release: 2019-04-16
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1503609405

Updated third edition: “An excellent work. . . . This history may be the best space summary currently in publication.” —Journal of Military and Strategic Studies For more than sixty years, countries have conducted military and civilian activities in space, often for competitive purposes. But they have not yet fought in this environment. This book examines the international politics of the space age from 1957 to the present, the reasons why strategic restraint emerged among the major military powers, and how recent trends toward weaponization may challenge prior norms of conflict avoidance. James Clay Moltz analyzes the competing demands of national interests in space against the shared interests of all spacefarers in preserving the safe use of space in the face of emerging threats, such as man-made orbital debris. This new edition offers analysis of the 2011 to 2018 period, including the second term of President Obama and the beginning of the Trump administration. Focusing on great power competition and cooperation, as well as questions related to the sustainability of current and future national space policies, The Politics of Space Security is an authoritative history of the space age. Praise for previous editions “Most of [this] well-written study is blessedly free from jargon . . . .a particularly valuable contribution to the space security debate, given both the wide range of the historical dimensions . . . .and the incisive quality of its analysis.” —Issues in Science and Technology “An impressive and timely contribution to security studies . . . .it is difficult to find fault with this thoughtful and comprehensive volume.” —Review of Policy Research

Remote Sensing Handbook, Volume I

Remote Sensing Handbook, Volume I
Author: Prasad S. Thenkabail
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 626
Release: 2024-11-29
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1040203582

Volume I of the Six Volume Remote Sensing Handbook, Second Edition, is focused on satellites and sensors including radar, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), microwave, hyperspectral, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and their applications. It discusses data normalization and harmonization, accuracies, and uncertainties of remote sensing products, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) theory and practice, crowdsourcing, cloud computing environments, Google Earth Engine, and remote sensing and space law. This thoroughly revised and updated volume draws on the expertise of a diverse array of leading international authorities in remote sensing and provides an essential resource for researchers at all levels interested in using remote sensing. It integrates discussions of remote sensing principles, data, methods, development, applications, and scientific and social context. FEATURES Provides the most up-to-date comprehensive coverage of remote sensing science. Discusses and analyzes data from old and new generations of satellites and sensors. Provides comprehensive methods and approaches for remote sensing data normalization, standardization, and harmonization. Includes numerous case studies on advances and applications at local, regional, and global scales. Introduces advanced methods in remote sensing such as machine learning, cloud computing, and AI. Highlights scientific achievements over the last decade and provides guidance for future developments. This volume is an excellent resource for the entire remote sensing and GIS community. Academics, researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as practitioners, decision-makers, and policymakers, will benefit from the expertise of the professionals featured in this book, and their extensive knowledge of new and emerging trends.

The Politics of Space Security

The Politics of Space Security
Author: James Moltz
Publisher: Stanford University Press
Total Pages: 397
Release: 2011-06-29
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0804780749

The past five decades have witnessed often fierce international rivalry in space, but also surprising military restraint. Now, with an increasing number of countries capable of harming U.S. space assets, experts and officials have renewed a long-standing debate over the best route to space security. Some argue that space defenses will be needed to protect critical military and civilian satellites. Others argue that space should be a "sanctuary" from deployed weapons and military conflict, particularly given the worsening threat posed by orbital space debris. Moltz puts this debate into historical context by explaining the main trends in military space developments since Sputnik, their underlying causes, and the factors that are likely to influence their future course. This new edition provides analysis of the Obama administration's space policy and the rise of new actors, including China, India, and Iran. His conclusion offers a unique perspective on the mutual risks militaries face in space and the need for all countries to commit to interdependent, environmentally focused space security.

Remote Sensing Handbook - Three Volume Set

Remote Sensing Handbook - Three Volume Set
Author: Prasad Thenkabail
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 2262
Release: 2018-10-03
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1482282674

A volume in the three-volume Remote Sensing Handbook series, Remote Sensing of Water Resources, Disasters, and Urban Studies documents the scientific and methodological advances that have taken place during the last 50 years. The other two volumes in the series are Remotely Sensed Data Characterization, Classification, and Accuracies, and Land Reso

Remotely Sensed Data Characterization, Classification, and Accuracies

Remotely Sensed Data Characterization, Classification, and Accuracies
Author: Ph.D., Prasad S. Thenkabail
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 698
Release: 2015-10-02
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1482217872

A volume in the Remote Sensing Handbook series, Remotely Sensed Data Characterization, Classification, and Accuracies documents the scientific and methodological advances that have taken place during the last 50 years. The other two volumes in the series are Land Resources Monitoring, Modeling, and Mapping with Remote Sensing, and Remote Sensing of

The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force

The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force
Author: Lauren Caston
Publisher: Rand Corporation
Total Pages: 185
Release: 2014-02-04
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0833076264

The authors assess alternatives for a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) across a broad set of potential characteristics and situations. They use the current Minuteman III as a baseline to develop a framework to characterize alternative classes of ICBMs, assess the survivability and effectiveness of possible alternatives, and weigh those alternatives against their cost.

Handbook of Surveillance Technologies

Handbook of Surveillance Technologies
Author: J.K. Petersen
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 1040
Release: 2012-01-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 143987316X

From officially sanctioned, high-tech operations to budget spy cameras and cell phone video, this updated and expanded edition of a bestselling handbook reflects the rapid and significant growth of the surveillance industry. The Handbook of Surveillance Technologies, Third Edition is the only comprehensive work to chronicle the background and curre