LinkNotes: spy

Showing posts with label spy. Show all posts

2011-09-20

Declassified US Spy Satellites One Day on Display

HEXAGON (KH-9) Viewing Opportunity, One Day Only - National Air and Space Museum Event

Please note, this event has ended.

HEXAGON (KH-9) Viewing Opportunity, One Day Only
Newly Declassified Satellite Saturday, September 17
10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Admission: Free, Parking $15

Collected from:HEXAGON (KH-9) Viewing Opportunity, One Day Only - National Air and Space Museum Event

Spy satellite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A spy satellite (officially referred to as a reconnaissance satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications.
These are essentially space telescopes that are pointed toward the Earth instead of toward the stars. 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 downloaded the images via encrypted radio links.

Collected from:Spy satellite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GAMBIT and HEXAGON Programs

The declassification of GAMBIT and HEXAGON was publicly announced on September 17, 2011. Two GAMBIT systems were developed for surveillance of specific targets. GAMBIT 1 initially launched in 1963 and was equipped with the KH-7 camera systems. GAMBIT 3 followed in 1966 and was equipped with the KH-8 camera system. The HEXAGON system was launched in 1971 and was developed for wide-area searches of denied territory. Together these satellitites became America's eyes in space.

Additional Information can be found under NRO's History and Studies page: Gambit/Hexagon Programs.

Collected from:NRO - Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Declassified US Spy Satellites Reveal Rare Look at Secret Cold War Space Program | American Spy Satellites, Military Space Program | US National Reconnaissance Office Satellites &Hexagon and Gambit Satellites | Space.com

The massive KH-9 Hexagon spy satellite on display at the Smithsonian National Air Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center,

This National Reconnaissance Office released graphic depicts the huge HEXAGON spy satellite, a Cold War era surveillance craft that flew reconnaissance missions from 1971 to 1986. The bus-size satellites weighed 30,000 pounds and were 60 feet long.

Collected from:Declassified US Spy Satellites Reveal Rare Look at Secret Cold War Space Program | American Spy Satellites, Military Space Program | US National Reconnaissance Office Satellites &Hexagon and Gambit Satellites | Space.com

Collected from:KH9 Recon Satellite and Reentry Vehicle on Display at Udvar Hazy Center - YouTube

Collected from:KH9 Reentry Vehicle on Display at Udvar Hazy Center - YouTube

Related

2009-05-08

PD-100 Black Hornet -- World’s Smallest Spy Helicopter

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk

Fly another day: The James Bond inspired 'microcopter' that will come in packs of three

The world's tiniest helicopter has been specially developed for spies and soldiers

Weighing in at just 0.5g, the tiny servos mean the PD-100 is even smaller than a toy battery helicopter.

Powered by an electric motor, the microcopter has 4in rotor blades, carries a tiny digital camera and flies at speeds of up to 20mph.

It has been tested successfully inside and outside in very light winds.

clipped from www.theregister.co.uk

The idea is that soldiers might carry a few Black Hornets in a pocket. If they fancied a look inside a building, over a hill or crest, down a tunnel or something, they'd simply launch an almost-silent palmtop microcopter for a recce. Should the tiny chopper come to grief due to flat batteries, a prang or perhaps a rolled-up newspaper, no matter - several cheap replacements could easily be carried. The standard package will come with three aircraft, a pocket controller and a charger.

clipped from www.youtube.com

PD-100 Prototype - Flight testing

clipped from www.proxdynamics.com

PD-100 Black Hornet

PD-100 Black Hornet is a small video camera equipped helicopter not more than 100 mm long, weighing less than 20 grams. It can be carried in your pocket and launched within seconds to give immediate situational awareness. This new ultra small aircrafts is a valuable tool in situations where a closer look at a hostile area or inside a contaminated building is crucial.

Operational Concept

Deployment
• Complete PD-100 System Carried by One Man
• Ready to Fly – In the Air Within One Minute
• Requires No Prepared Surface
• Stealth – Small and Quiet
• Reusable with Fly Home Capability
• Low Cost
• Easy to Fly, Requires Little Training

Missions
• Look Behind Objects
• Birds Eye View of Areas of Interest
• Visual Information in Urban Operations
• Reconnaissance Inside Buildings
• Hover and Stare
• Object Identification
• Target and Damage Assessment
• Deployment of Special Payload

Sources:

Miami's Spy-in-the-sky Drone

clipped from www.reuters.com

Spy-in-the-sky drone sets sights on Miami

MIAMI (Reuters) - Miami police could soon be the first in the United States to use cutting-edge, spy-in-the-sky technology to beef up their fight against crime.

A small pilotless drone manufactured by Honeywell International, capable of hovering and "staring" using electro-optic or infrared sensors, is expected to make its debut soon in the skies over the Florida Everglades.

clipped from www.youtube.com

clipped from www.reuters.com

Miami-Dade police are not alone, however.

The CIA acknowledges that it developed a dragonfly-sized UAV known as the "Insectohopter" for laser-guided spy operations as long ago as the 1970s.

"The FBI is experimenting with a variety of unmanned aerial vehicles," said Marcus Thomas, an assistant director of the bureau's Operational Technology Division.

SAFETY, PRIVACY CONCERNS

Some privacy advocates, however, say rules and ordinances need to be drafted to protect civil liberties during surveillance operations.

LinkNotes

Pages