reconnaissance satellites
Eyes in orbit
Reconnaissance satellites are spacecraft that orbit Earth to gather intelligence, primarily through photography and electronic surveillance.
Military powers use them to monitor adversaries' military installations, troop movements, and weapons development.
During the Cold War, reconnaissance satellites largely replaced spy planes for strategic intelligence: Satellite imagery revealed the missile buildup.
Also called spy satellites.
- optical sensorsDevices converting light to signals
- enemy territoryArea controlled by opponents
- national securitySafeguarding a country's interests
- radar systemsEquipment detecting objects via radio waves
- eyes in the skyAerial monitoring devices
spy plane · geostationary orbit · border security · onboard computers · solar panels · orbital velocity · orbital decay · ground stations · propulsion systems · launch window · Cold War
reconnaissance satellitescommunication satellites
Spacecraft relaying transmissions worldwide
navigation satellites · GPS satellites · weather satellites · space telescopes
reconnaissance satellitesradio beacons
Transmitters broadcasting location signals
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