This fascinating story of the origins and evolution of US spy satellites describes how pioneers in space technology worked in secret to build the world's first photo-reconnaissance and surveillance cameras and activate them from orbital platforms developed in secret and operated without public disclosure. Instigated by President Eisenhower in the chill of Cold War, the satellites were able to provide the first positive evidence of Russia's military strengh, its missile development programmes and its potential for waging nuclear war. Under the name Discoverer, several score satellites were launched, beginning in 1959, as part of the "silent" space programme, which in reality pioneered much of the engineering and science that underpinned America's prowess in space during the 1960s. This is a story which has for decades remained hidden behind a veil of secrecy - at the time essential in the light of threats posed to the United States. This extensively illustrated manual, featuring many previously unpublished images and technical diagrams, provides details of the evolutionary development of the technology involved in an expanding inventory of satellites, rockets and space vehicles, but it also tells the story of the repeated failures during the early days of development and testing. The book focuses on the development of the spy satellites themselves and on the political arena in which their successes, and failures, were played out. Here is the story of an intensive ana costly effort to learn about a secretive and closed society behind the Iron Curtain, which to the public eye appeared to pose a military threat to the United States. However, from the intelligence gathered using advanced photographic and imaging systems, the truth emerged that Russia was in fact behind theUnited States in its capability to wage nuclear war. Accordingly, successive US governments limited the expansion of America's nuclear deterrent, and therebypulled back from unnecessary provocation. The resulting cost savings more than paid for the entire US spy-satellite programme.
