KH-11

KH-11 is a United States space-based reconnaissance system operated by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and National Security Agency (NSA), with significant contributions from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. The KH-11 program is closely related to the Corona program, Lacrosse satellite, and Onyx satellite, and has been supported by NASA and the United States Air Force (USAF). The system has been used in conjunction with the DMSP and NOAA satellite systems to provide geospatial intelligence to the US Department of Defense and other Five Eyes nations, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Introduction

The KH-11 system was first launched in 1976, with the first satellite, USA-2, being launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base using a Titan IIID rocket, and has since been used for a variety of reconnaissance and surveillance missions, including support for the CIA, NSA, and US Department of State. The system has been upgraded several times, with new satellites being launched to replace older ones, and has been used in conjunction with other systems, such as the Landsat program and the SPOT satellite system, to provide Earth observation and geospatial intelligence to the US military and other NATO nations, including France, Germany, and Italy. The KH-11 system has also been used to support humanitarian and disaster response efforts, such as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross. The system has been operated in conjunction with the US Strategic Command and the US Space Command, and has been supported by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Design and Development

The KH-11 system was designed and developed by Lockheed Martin and Boeing, with significant contributions from Northrop Grumman and TRW Inc., and has undergone several upgrades and improvements over the years, including the development of new sensor and communication systems, such as the SHARP and TDRS systems. The system has been integrated with other systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), to provide navigation and timing support, and has been used in conjunction with the US Navy and the US Army to provide tactical and strategic support. The KH-11 system has also been used to support the US Air Force and the US Marine Corps, and has been operated in conjunction with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The system has been supported by the University of California, Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and has been used in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Operational History

The KH-11 system has been used for a variety of reconnaissance and surveillance missions, including support for the CIA, NSA, and US Department of State, and has been operated in conjunction with the US Strategic Command and the US Space Command. The system has been used to support humanitarian and disaster response efforts, such as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross. The KH-11 system has also been used to support the US military and other NATO nations, including France, Germany, and Italy, and has been operated in conjunction with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The system has been supported by the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and has been used in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Specifications

The KH-11 system consists of a series of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, each with a sensor and communication system, such as the SHARP and TDRS systems. The system has a resolution of approximately 1 meter and can provide real-time imagery and video support, and has been integrated with other systems, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), to provide navigation and timing support. The KH-11 system has been used in conjunction with the US Navy and the US Army to provide tactical and strategic support, and has been operated in conjunction with the US Air Force and the US Marine Corps. The system has been supported by the University of California, Berkeley and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and has been used in conjunction with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Launch History

The first KH-11 satellite, USA-2, was launched in 1976 from Vandenberg Air Force Base using a Titan IIID rocket, and subsequent satellites have been launched using a variety of launch vehicles, including the Space Shuttle and the Delta IV rocket. The KH-11 system has been launched in conjunction with other systems, such as the Landsat program and the SPOT satellite system, to provide Earth observation and geospatial intelligence to the US military and other NATO nations, including France, Germany, and Italy. The system has been supported by the NASA and the US Air Force, and has been used in conjunction with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The KH-11 system has also been used to support humanitarian and disaster response efforts, such as the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross. Category:Reconnaissance satellites