6 ms·

So, if it's true that these KH-12 spy satellites are basically modified versions the Hubble space telescope, would it be reasonable to assume that Webb will get

by michaf 5y ago

So, if it's true that these KH-12 spy satellites are basically modified versions the Hubble space telescope, would it be reasonable to assume that Webb will get copied in a similar way for spy satellites?

nyokodo 5y ago
> would it be reasonable to assume that Webb will get copied in a similar way for spy satellites? Unlikely. You have the origin mixed up. The spy satellites came first, and then Hubble.
- twinge 5y ago
  Next comes the space telescopes that are based on the KH-11 spy satellites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_National_Reconnaissance_Office_space_telescope_donation_to_NASA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_National_Reconnaissance_O...
- mturmon 5y ago
  Yes, the spy satellites were first by a long shot. The KH-11 (2.4m mirror, CCD focal plane) was first launched in 1976. Hubble (2.4m mirror, CCD focal plane) was launched in 1990. The shared mirror size is not a coincidence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KH-11_KENNEN#Size_and_mass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KH-11_KENNEN#Size_and_mass The two also share a multi-billion dollar budget.
  - 6nf 5y ago
    The mirror size is largely limited by the size of the vehicle launching the satellite into space, if I recall correctly.
    - ArnoVW 5y ago
      Which in turn is based on the size of a equine derriere, as the story goes. https://www.precisioncontent.com/blog/on-rocket-ships-and-horses-behinds-where-did-your-content-standards-come-from/ https://www.precisioncontent.com/blog/on-rocket-ships-and-ho...
micah94 5y ago
Doubtful, I think Webb only sees in the infrared. Looking at the earth would blind it. This is why it'll be a million miles away protected by a fancy heat shield.
- BrazzVuvuzela 5y ago
  > Looking at the earth would blind it Wouldn't that depend on how much dynamic range it has? Webb is intended to look at very dim signals in space so Earth would blind it, but if a spy-Webb were intended to track rocket or jet engines, things quite hotter than the rest of earth, perhaps it might be capable of that?
echelon 5y ago
The space shuttle was funded and designed to meet Department of Defense specifications. Its cargo bay designed to ferry satellites up and to potentially return them back to earth. https://www.space.com/34522-secret-shuttle-missions.html https://www.space.com/34522-secret-shuttle-missions.html https://launiusr.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/nasas-space-shuttle-and-the-department-of-defense/ https://launiusr.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/nasas-space-shuttl... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Department_of_Defense_Space_Shuttle_missions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Department_of_Defense... The Hubble design was remarkably close to Keyhole: https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/3448/was-hubble-really-related-to-spy-satellites https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/3448/was-hubble-re... Keyhole satellites were seriously cool. Photos were taken on film, and the film reels were jettisoned over the ocean. C-130 transports would capture the payloads as they parachuted back to earth: https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/us/declassified-spy-satellite-hexagon/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/us/declassified-spy-satellite...

by michaf 5y ago

nyokodo 5y ago

> would it be reasonable to assume that Webb will get copied in a similar way for spy satellites? Unlikely. You have the origin mixed up. The spy satellites came first, and then Hubble.

twinge 5y ago
Next comes the space telescopes that are based on the KH-11 spy satellites: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_National_Reconnaissance_Office_space_telescope_donation_to_NASA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_National_Reconnaissance_O...
mturmon 5y ago
Yes, the spy satellites were first by a long shot. The KH-11 (2.4m mirror, CCD focal plane) was first launched in 1976. Hubble (2.4m mirror, CCD focal plane) was launched in 1990. The shared mirror size is not a coincidence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KH-11_KENNEN#Size_and_mass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KH-11_KENNEN#Size_and_mass The two also share a multi-billion dollar budget.
- 6nf 5y ago
  The mirror size is largely limited by the size of the vehicle launching the satellite into space, if I recall correctly.
  - ArnoVW 5y ago
    Which in turn is based on the size of a equine derriere, as the story goes. https://www.precisioncontent.com/blog/on-rocket-ships-and-horses-behinds-where-did-your-content-standards-come-from/ https://www.precisioncontent.com/blog/on-rocket-ships-and-ho...

micah94 5y ago

Doubtful, I think Webb only sees in the infrared. Looking at the earth would blind it. This is why it'll be a million miles away protected by a fancy heat shield.

BrazzVuvuzela 5y ago
> Looking at the earth would blind it Wouldn't that depend on how much dynamic range it has? Webb is intended to look at very dim signals in space so Earth would blind it, but if a spy-Webb were intended to track rocket or jet engines, things quite hotter than the rest of earth, perhaps it might be capable of that?

echelon 5y ago

The space shuttle was funded and designed to meet Department of Defense specifications. Its cargo bay designed to ferry satellites up and to potentially return them back to earth. https://www.space.com/34522-secret-shuttle-missions.html https://www.space.com/34522-secret-shuttle-missions.html https://launiusr.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/nasas-space-shuttle-and-the-department-of-defense/ https://launiusr.wordpress.com/2012/11/12/nasas-space-shuttl... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Department_of_Defense_Space_Shuttle_missions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Department_of_Defense... The Hubble design was remarkably close to Keyhole: https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/3448/was-hubble-really-related-to-spy-satellites https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/3448/was-hubble-re... Keyhole satellites were seriously cool. Photos were taken on film, and the film reels were jettisoned over the ocean. C-130 transports would capture the payloads as they parachuted back to earth: https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/us/declassified-spy-satellite-hexagon/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/01/us/declassified-spy-satellite...