Intelligence Collection Compendium
Satellites
Ikonos 2
The first private, high-resolution imaging satellite, launched in 1999 by Space Imaging of
Thornton, Colorado. Resolution is 1 meter.
Space Imaging
A private company specializing in launching and controlling high-resolution imaging satellites.
The first satellite was launched in 1999.
Global Security
A Virginia intelligence research organization that does contract intelligence analysis for
various U.S. Government agencies. Web page address: globalsecurity.org.
Digital Globe
A Longmont, Colorado company, formerly named Earth Watch until September 7, 2001. This company
analyzes images from Quickbird II, a DOD high-resolution imaging satellite. This company does contract image analysis
for the U.S. Government. Digital Globe provides black and white images at 19 inch resolution.
Quickbird II
A $100 million, DOD high-resolution imaging satellite built by Ball Aerospace and Technologies
of Boulder, Colorado. A Quickbird II was emergency launched into an optimal orbit for image acquisition of Afghanistan
on October 18, 2001, following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001.
Private (commercial) satellites
The next high-resolution private satellite launch is scheduled for 2005.It will have the same resolution as
the current Quickbird II. Advantages of commercial satellites:
lower resolution than DOD satellites which provides a wider angle of view. This is valuable for some U.S.
Government requirements, and it buys many images from commercial imaging companies.
images are unclassified, so they may be shared with alliance partners of the U.S.
National Imaging and Mapping Agency
A U.S. Government Agency formed in 1996 to provide mapping products for natural and cultural
objects.
NRO
National Reconnaissance Office, a supersecret U.S. Government Agency tasked with launching
and controlling highly classified satellites. Two such unnamed, highly secret intelligence satellites were emergency
launched October 1, 2001 and October 10, 2001 in the wake of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The
mission of these birds is not publicly known, but it is assumed that they were tasked to gather intelligence from
real and potential terrorism threat nations as well as target acquisition, secure communications, and post-action
damage assessment in Afghanistan. The NRO maintains a reserve of intelligence satellites that can be launched on
short notice to cover threat situations and to replace dead satellites killed by EMP (electromagnetic pulse) due
to a ground, air, or space nuclear detonation.
Corona
The first U.S. satellites to do mapping, launched from 1960 to 1972. 100 Corona satellites
were built by Lockheed Aerospace and placed into orbit by USAF and CIA launch platforms. These satellites collected
images, then were forced out of orbit by command of ground-based control stations. After the satellites reached a
certain altitude, they deployed a parachute and were plucked from the air by specially equipped aircraft. The first
aircraft to be modified for this mission was a C-119 flying boxcar. Image resolution provided by the cameras of these
satellites was 5 feet (1.7 meters). Information on these satellites was declassified by order of then President
Clinton in 1995.
US Space Command
Headquartered at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, this classified
unit controls about 120 DOD satellites including those for GPS (Global Positioning System), Defense operations,
weather monitoring, and navigation.
North American Aerospace Command
Headquartered at Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado, this unit operates the defense
system that detects missiles fired at the U.S. and deploys the anti-missile missiles designed to shoot them
down.
Military Satellite Monitoring
DOD satellites are monitored and controlled from secure sites.
2nd Space Warning Squadron
This unit gathers intercepts from satellites and forwards them to the U.S. Space Command at
Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado for disposition throughout the U.S. Military.
DSP (Defense Support Program)
Infrared imaging satellites that detect launches and nuclear detonations. This information is
relayed to NORAD (North American Air Defense Command).
DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program)
A consortium of civilian and DOD weather satellites that provide weather information at target
areas.
KH-11 Big Bird Satellites
Visible and infrared spectrum sensitive digital imaging satellites first launched in 1976 that
relay images to a secret Washington, D.C. area ground station. Big Birds orbit at 300 to 500 mile altitudes.
KH-12 Big Bird Satellites
A more advanced, follow-on to the KH-11.
Hexagon
A spy satellite first launched in 1971.
Keyhole
A spy satellite first launched in the late 1970s.
Lacrosse
A radar imaging spy satellite first launched in 1988.
Crystal
An infrared imaging spy satellite first launched in 1989.
Communications
Milstar
A jam-resistant, secure communication satellite network for civilian and military leaders for
command and control of military forces, worldwide.
UHF (Ultrahigh Frequency)
Used for LOS (Line-of-sight) tactical communications, ground, sea, and air.
SHF (Superhigh Frequency)
Used by DSCS (Defense Satellite Communication System) for long distance communications.
Manned Intelligence Aircraft
U2
Built by Lockheed Aircraft's "Skunk Works" in the mid-1950s, it flies at 75,000 feet. 35 are
believed to exist and are planned to be utilized for reconnaissance until 2020.
RC-135
A four-engine, jet powered intelligence platform based on the Boeing 707, first flown in the
late 1950s, that gathers IMINT (Imagery Intelligence), TELINT (Telemetry Intelligence), and SIGINT (Signals
Intelligence). It flies at 41,000 feet and has a 5,600 mile range. With airborne refueling, it can remain airborne
for long periods and span the globe.
EP-3E
A four-engine turboprop mid-level reconnaissance platform based on the Lockheed Electra of
the 1950s. It flies at an altitude of 28,000 feet at a speed of 466 mph, has a 2,300 nautical mile range, and a six
hour endurance.
NP-3
Similar to the EP-3E, this four-engine turboprop aircraft monitors movement of enemy troops
and transmits that information in real time via satellite. It has a strut-mounted dish on top of the fuselage, similar
to that of AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) aircraft. This plane loiters at 138 mph at 25,000 feet,
providing a 16 hour endurance.
SR-71 Blackbird
Officially retired by the U.S. Air Force in 1988, a variant of these mach 3.2 reconnaissance aircraft
first flew in 1963. They can fly above 80,000 feet, fly faster than a bullet, zoom to 100,000 feet, and have never
had to deviate from a flight plan to avoid a threat. Following their retirement, it became apparent that satellite
technology did not provide the necessary flexibility for threat reconnaissance, worldwide, and the CIA took over
operational control of these expensive, complex, titanium aircraft. These fast-movers have collected imagery of
nearly every square inch of the planet. Although rumors of a follow-on platform have persisted for decades, no
official announcement has been forthcoming. Rarely seen in flight, their sonic boom is sometimes heard during
overflights to reposition reconnaissance assets, as happened following the shoot-down by Russian MIGs of a Korean
747 in 1984.
Ready Pads
The intelligence community has become more dependent on emergency ready-pad launches of reconnaissance satellites
which require minimal support when not needed. Several reconnaissance satellites were emergency-launched from ready
pads in October 2001, following the terrorist attacks on September 11. Those launches were delayed several weeks,
until early October, to facilitate reconnaissance target selection and to program the launch vehicles to place the
satellites in an optimum orbit to collect intel on the selected targets, ostensibly, Afghanistan and other selected
terrorist areas of the world.
Unmanned Intelligence Aircraft
UAV (Unmanned Arial Vehicle)
An unmanned airborne intelligence collection vehicle.
Globalhawk
A jet-powered, unmanned, fully automated airborne vehicle that operates at 67,000 feet, has a
42 hour endurance, a 116 foot wingspan, a length of 44 feet, and a speed of 397 miles per hour. This aircraft carries
high-resolution imaging equipment for real-time transmission via satellite. It looks like a long-winged cruise
missile.
Predator
An unmanned aircraft that carries high resolution video, infrared, and radar imagery
technology that can be transmitted to ground stations for real time intelligence information. It also carries a
laser that can be used to guide smart bombs and missiles to a target. It has a speed of 138 mph, flies at 26,000
feet, can fly 500 nautical miles, and has a 29 hour endurance.
Hunter
An unmanned aircraft that provides real time imagery of ground forces, day and night. It
is intended for operating with other Hunter UAVs (Unmanned Arial Vehicles). This aircraft has a front-mounted engine,
a speed of 122 mph, can fly up to 15,000 feet, has a range of 144 nautical miles, and an endurance of 12 hours. This
aircraft has twin tail booms and looks similar to a Cessna 337 Skymaster.
Black Widow
This is an unmanned, short-distance micro-air vehicle that transmits ground troop images by
radio to a nearby ground control unit. It has a length of 6 inches, a span of 6 inches, a speed of 43 mph, a maximum
altitude of 800 feet, a maximum range of 1 nautical mile, and an endurance of 30 minutes. The miniature aircraft
looks like an octagonal plate with some small vertical surfaces and a front propeller.