What Can Spy Satellites Do

Historical background the very first artificial satellite ever was launched by russia in 1957 it was known as sputnik 1.

What can spy satellites do.

Since the satellites are in orbit they cannot hover over a given area or provide real time video. Optical image reconnaissance satellites use a charge coupled device ccd to gather images that make up a digital photograph for transmission back to earth from an altitude of about 200 miles. Space is a battleground for dominance among major powers. Spy satellites are a special type of artificial satellites intended primarily for espionage purposes.

The first generation type i e corona and zenit took photographs then ejected canisters of photographic film which would descend back down into earth s. You can think of a kh satellite as a gigantic orbiting digital camera with an incredibly huge lens on it. Spy satellite can given clear skies and a good viewing angle probably read a license plate from space. Spy satellites were used for spying since the 1970s.

Explorer 1 was launched by us in 1958. What isro s new spy satellite can do and how it can penetrate clouds with isro s launch of its new spy satellite theprint takes a look at risat 2b s functioning and use and how it will be affected by clouds. About a fifth of all satellites belongs to the military and are used for spying. If you have a good viewing location away from large cities where the milky way would be visible for instance you can try to spot the noaa satellites.

A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite commonly although unofficially referred to as a spy satellite is an earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications. Began developing spy satellites in the mid 1950s years before it had a rocket capable of placing anything in orbit. A russian satellite made a series of maneuvers in late january to get closer to a u s. A united launch alliance delta iv heavy rocket carrying the nrol 44 spy satellites stands atop pad 37 of the cape canaveral air force station florida ahead of a planned launch on sept.

Corona midas samos the u s. Spy satellite in orbit. But there are other kind of orbits which are much more useful for spy satellites like the molniya orbit an elliptic orbit that spy satellites can take to keep the northern hemisphere in view 22.