The following documents are not categorized in their proper sub-category. Until then, they will remain indexed here. The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance [390 Pages] A History of the Military Polar Orbiting Meteorological Satellite Program, September 2001 [56 Pages, 4.41MB] – In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, a director of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) authorized the construction and launch of a small meteorological satellite to support CORONA and other film-limited imaging satellite systems. Though undertaken as an “interim” measure while awaiting completion and launch of a national weather satellite, in the months that followed the NRO spacecraft would incorporate so many…
Author: John Greenewald
The Defense Support Program (DSP) is a program of the U.S. Air Force that operates the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the Satellite Early Warning System currently used by the United States. Below are reports and documents relating to the DSP program. DSP/ALERT Ground Consolidation: Space Based InfraRed System Increment 1. 1998 Operational Assessment [22 Pages, 9.68MB] – The Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) will be a consolidated, flexible system meeting United States infrared space surveillance needs through the next several decades. An integrated “system of systems,” SBIRS consists of multiple satellite constellations and an evolving ground element SBIRS will consolidate, enhance, and replace Defense Support…
The Samos E or SAMOS (Satellite and Missile Observation System) program was a relatively short-lived series of reconnaissance satellites for the United States in the early 1960s, also used as a cover for the initial development of the KH-7 Gambit system. Reconnaissance was performed with film cameras and television surveillance from polar low Earth orbits with film canister returns and transmittals over the United States. Samos was first launched in 1960, but not operational until 1963 and all were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base. SAMOS was also known by the unclassified terms Program 101 and Program 201. SAMOS To…
The NRO designs, builds and operates the nation’s reconnaissance satellites. NRO products, provided to an expanding list of customers like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Department of Defense (DoD), can warn of potential trouble spots around the world, help plan military operations, and monitor the environment. Although it remained secret for decades, the NRO is now an officially aknowledged organization. BUT, many of it’s inner workings are still classified. Below, you will find the directives for the NRO that have been declassified. NRO Directives List Index Released in September 2014 [ 7 Pages, 0.5MB ] NRO Directives List Index Released in…
According to Wikipedia, “The Air Force Special Projects Production Facility was a top-secret facility operational at Westover Air Force Base from 1961 to 1976. It was responsible for developing film from the Corona satellite program and other film projects that were top secret. The facility was co-located with the 8th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron and developed the film used during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was also the primary production facility for the National Reconnaissance Program during this time.” Below, you will find records relating to the Air Force Special Projects Production Facility, and it’s history. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)…