Early systems operated with a single bucket, while later systems were configured with two buckets. Evolved to include two film return buckets and serve as the mainstay of the corona program. The intelligence community used the designators kh 1, kh 2, kh 3, kh 4, kh 4a, and kh 4b for the corona systems. Some satellites carried secondary payloads mounted on the satellite. Kh stood for key hole or keyhole code number 1010, 48 with the name being an analogy to the act of spying into a persons room by peering through their doors keyhole.
A variety of camera systems were used with the satellites. The origins of high resolution civilian satellite imaging. It is known 16 that the geometry of corona kh 4b satellite image frame is not the same with a common aerial photo frame, because the twin photographic cameras on the satellite obtained a pair of images, one forward and one backward from the same point, with a rectangular format 16 x 217 km footprint, on negative panchromatic film grayscale. The argon systems used the designator kh5 and the lanyard. The kh 4b was the last and most advanced camera system used in project corona, america and the worlds first photoreconnaissance satellite program. Kh 4b corona satellite panchromatic image for a partial area extending across the syrian and turkish border in the aljazira region of syria.
President dwight david eisenhower approved the project in february 1958. Between 1965 and the end of the corona program in 1972, it would be photographed 36 times. The third option was to return the exposed film to earth in a capsule. The project was conceived to take pictures in space of the soviet bloc countries and deorbit the. The kh 4b satellites, which flew between september 1967 and may 1972.
The classified military satellite systems codenamed corona, argon, and lanyard acquired photographic images from space and returned the film to earth for processing and analysis. Eyes on the bomb u2, corona, and kh 7 imagery of foreign nuclear installations. Demonstration of satellite images geocarto international. This paper discusses the derivation of elevation data from corona kh 4b satellite imagery, and assesses the accuracy and resolution of the derived dem. Early keyhole kh all kh1 thru kh3, plus some kh4 and kh5 reconnaissance satellites were first known as the discoverer corona series.
The kh4a keyhole4a was fifth version in the corona program to build an optical reconnaissance satellite. Stereoscopic cameras mounted in the corona satellite, kh 4b. Mission numbers were a means for indexing the imagery and associated collateral data. High resolution landscape change analysis with corona kh. The images were not transmitted back to earth like. Corona would usually operate for a day taking photographs and return its first srv. The national reconnaissance office nro is a member of the united states intelligence community and an agency of the united states department of defense. Usgs eros archive declassified data declassified satellite. Kh 5 argon was a series of reconnaissance satellites produced by the united states from february 1961 to august 1964. 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 the first generation type i. Discoverer corona keyhole program article and checklist by charles j.
It would then enter zombie mode with its systems shut down for up to two weeks. Forward and afterward images of the corona kh 4b sensor, covering. The kh 8 reconnaissance satellite kh 8a to operate much like the kh 4a corona satellites. The kh4b keyhole4b was sixth version in the corona program to build an optical reconnaissance satellite. How the us built its supersecret spy satellite program. Aquacade, previously designated rhyolite, was a class of sigint spy satellites operated by the national reconnaissance office for the united states central intelligence agency. The corona systems were designated kh1, kh2, kh3, kh4, kh4a, and kh4b. The kh4b was the last and most advanced camera system used in project corona, america and the worlds first photoreconnaissance satellite program. This us air force photo surveillance satellite was launched from vandenberg afb aboard a thor agena d rocket. The number following the kh designation indicates what type camera system was used on the satellite.
The corona systems were designated kh 1, kh 2, kh 3, kh 4, kh 4a, and kh 4b. Declassified corona kh 4b satellite photography of remains from romes desert frontier. Lefstad launch base, james alkofer eastman kodak, richard r. Early systems kh1, kh2, and kh3 carried a single panoramic camera while. The national security agency nsa was also reportedly involved. Blackjack is a name used for small american surveillance satellites to be launched starting in 2021. Additional technical details regarding the corona program and image. The argon systems used the designator kh 5 and the lanyard systems used kh 6. Corona satellites were used specifically for photographic surveillance of the former soviet union, the peoples republic of china, and other places of interestthreat between june 1959 and may 1972. Forthisstudythekh4bimagerywasusedofferingthe sohn et al. At least 12 missions were attempted, but at least 7 resulted in failure. This designation system came into use during 1962 with the 4th camera system, with its predecessors retroactively identified as kh 1, kh 2, and kh 3. It was first photographed by a corona satellite in 1965, the same year the soviet union sold north korea a small research reactor.
Mathematical modelling of historical reconnaissance corona. Nearly all images obtained for this atlas were capture by the kh4b corona. Kh 4b corona satellite imagery captured on 4 may 1968, kh 7 gambit satellite imagery captured on 18 february 1966, u2 aerial photos captured on 30 october 1959, and aerial photos captured using a dji phantom 4 in april 2017. The study area 2004 is situated in the left hand side of the images ca. The argon systems were designated kh 5 and the lanyard systems kh 6. The camera system included two 24inch focal length, f3. However, cloud coverage prevents 40% of the images from the full use.
Early systems operated with a single bucket, while later systems were configured with two. Satellite imagery for the corona, argon, and lanyard program. Detection of archaeological crop marks on declassified. Corona, usas first operational intelligence satellite, carried sophisticated optical cameras kh 4b system to acquire imagery of the earth from space at an altitude of 80 nautical miles 150 km. About the project corona is the codename for the united states first photographic spy satellite mission, in operation from 19601972. Kh4b corona satellite panchromatic image for a partial. During that time, corona satellites took highresolution images of most of the earths. Processing techniques for corona satellite images in order.
Modelling the acquisition times of corona kh 4b satellite photographs. The first reconnaissance satellite launched by the united states was launched in 1959 called corona. Aerial archaeology research group news aargnews, 33. Corona is the name for the first operational space photo reconnaissance satellite. The corona systems were designated kh1, kh2, kh3, kh4, kh4a, and kh 4b. The program, also known by sigad afp720 and sigad afp472, respectively, is still classified. Mathematical modelling of historical reconnaissance corona kh 4b imagery 52 2004 the remote sensing and photogrammetry society and blackwell publishing ltd. These will replace or compliment larger systems such as misty and kh 11. In reassessing the site and its hinterland, four imagery datasets proved useful.
This imagery is from missions flown by the corona, lanyard, and argon photoreconnaissance satellite systems kh 1 through kh 6, including kh 4a and kh 4b between august 1959 through may 1972. Google scholar for estimating the acquisition times of corona photographs using freely available historical two line element orbital ephemeris data together with a commercial offtheshelf modelling. Between august 1960 and may 1972, when the program ended, 145 corona satellites were launched and they produced over 800,000 usable images of the ussr and other nations. In this study, corona satellite images of the very successful last kh 4b mission with the ground resolution of 1. An evaluation of the stereoscopic capabilities of corona. Kh 4b corona satellite panchromatic image for a partial area extending across the syrian and turkish border in the aljazirah region of syria. Additionally, the fore and aft cameras film were packaged separately for missions.
The kh 4b keyhole 4b was sixth version in the corona program to build an optical reconnaissance satellite kh 4b carried two j3 panoramic cameras, with a focal length of 61 cm, and a ground resolution of 1. The kh 5 operated similarly to the corona series of satellites, as it ejected a canister of photographic film. Kh 4b corona j3 main features the corona satellites were designated kh 1, kh 2, kh 3, kh 4, kh 4a and kh 4b. Digital surface model generation from corona satellite. Imaging geometry of corona kh 4b imagery the cameras for the corona missions were designated kh 1, kh 2, kh 3, kh 4, kh 4a,andkh 4b. The imagery provides comprehensive geographic coverage of satellite passes over asia, europe, south america, africa, and australia. The corona reconnaissance satellites, developed in the immediate. Corona photographic surveillance satellites heroic relics. The earliest cameras could resolve objects as small as 10 feet 3 meters in diameter at first. Kh4a carried two j1 panoramic cameras, with a focal length of 61 cm, and a ground resolution of 2. Modelling the acquisition times of corona satellite. The argon systems used the designator kh5 and the lanyard systems used kh6.
How much and how well can surveillance or spy satellites. Even now, information on the early satellites is sparse and anything after 1972 is nonexistent save for a few photos taken by the kh 11 satellite which were leaked to janes defence weekly in 1985. The corona program encompassed kh 1, kh 2, kh 3, kh 4, kh 4a, and kh 4b. The corona program encompassed kh1, kh2, kh3, kh4, kh4a, and kh4b. The best film resolution varies between 160 lmm for kh 4b and 30 lmm for kh 5, and the best ground resolution is between 1. During that time, corona satellites took highresolution images of most of the earths surface, with particular emphasis on soviet bloc countries and other political hotspots in order to monitor military sites and produce maps for the department of defense. The kh4b keyhole4b was sixth version in the coronaprogram to. I dont totally remember the specifics, but i think this was a proposal that was largely overtaken by the development of the disic mapping camera on the kh 4b, which was probably also incorporated into the kh 8 and maybe the later kh 7. First launch preceded the final kh 3 and first kh 4 flights, but experienced developmental. The launch vehicle had a very cold boattail due to a hose discovered to be leaking away warming air to the boattail. Early systems kh 1, kh 2, kh 3 and kh 6 carried a single panoramic camera, or a single frame camera kh 5, while the later systems kh 4, kh 4a, and kh 4b carried two panoramic. By the mid 1960s corona cameras could make stereo photographs, which allowed cartographers to derive the relief of terrain below the satellite. These new orbiters will be cheaper, more numerous and shortlived than existing systems.
Corona kh4b satellites the corona reconnaissance satellites, developed in the immediate aftermath of sputnik, are arguably the most important space vehicles ever flown, and that comparison includes the apollo spacecraft missions to the moon. First launch preceded the final kh3 and first kh4 flights, but experienced. The corona program was a series of american strategic reconnaissance satellites. Detection of archaeological crop marks on declassified corona kh. Early systems kh1, kh2, kh3, and kh6 carried a single panoramic camera or a. During the same period, the canyon signit satellites were. In 1963, the kh4 system was introduced with dual cameras and the program now made completely secret. Kh 1, kh 2, kh 3, kh 4, kh 4a, kh 4b, argon kh 5, lanyard kh 6 summary. Kh4b carried two j3 panoramic cameras, with a focal length of 61 cm, and a ground resolution of 1.
Nro is considered, along with the central intelligence agency cia, national security agency nsa, defense intelligence agency dia, and national geospatialintelligence agency nga, to be one of the big five u. The disic dual improved stellar index camera provided a mapping capability superior to the kh 5 argon system. It was a very successful mission and image quality was good. Group photograph of corona reconnaissance satellite program pioneers in front of the central intelligence agencys headquarters building, may 24, 1995.
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