spies in space1 ted spitzmiller. spies in space2 seeking “high ground” to observe the enemy
TRANSCRIPT
Spies in Space 1
Spies in Space
Ted Spitzmiller
Spies in Space 2
Seeking “High Ground” to observe the Enemy
Spies in Space 3
The “High Ground”
Science Fiction of the 1930s foresaw space travel as a domain for conflict
Spies in Space 4
German V-2 1942-45
• First large liquid fueled rocket
• Made long range intercontinental missiles possible
• Technology enabled the move into space
Spies in Space 5
The Cold War
• Soviet Union subversive socialists
• A threat to world peace• Sinister espionage
network• Copycat technologists
Spies in Space 6
The Need for Information• Led to developing the U-2
• High resolution cameras
• Illegal over flights• Allowed viewing Soviet capabilities
Spies in Space 7
How long could these flight continue without being shot down?
Spies in Space 8
First Artificial Satellite – Sputnik I
• Soviet Union 1957
• More than a triumph of technology
• Impact took on powerful dimensions well beyond technology
• Brought science fiction into the present
• President Eisenhower’s concern for satellite right of “overflight”
Spies in Space 9
America’s Complacency Shattered
• Soviets have the ICBM?
• Could they dominate Earth from space?
• How could this have happened?
• How can we protect ourselves?
Spies in Space 10
?
Concern over Soviet Technology• Hidden behind a veil of
secrecy• Without the U-2 America could
only guess• But how long could the U-2
continue to fly?
• Enabling technology– Soviet ICBM… the R-7– 3 X power of US ICBM
Spies in Space 11
Sputnik Established Soviet Union in World Power Politics
• Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev achieved credibility with world leaders
• Allowed influence of Communism to spread into many non-aligned countries
• Solidified Khrushchev’s power base within the USSR
Spies in Space 12
DiscovererA replacement for the U-2…
Spies in Space 13
May 1, 1960 U-2 Shot Down over Soviet Union
Ike promises “no more Flights”
Major international incident
Spies in Space 14
Spies in Space 15
Project CORONA• Reconnaissance Satellites of 1960• Used “Discoverer” series as a cover
Spies in Space 16
Mig-29 from 200+ miles
Spies in Space 17
Impact of Corona
• Became a critical espionage asset following downing of U-2 in May 1960
• Ability to assess the size and disposition of Soviet forces
• First success Discoverer XIV– 1,432 frames of photos– 3,548 feet of 70-millimeter film – 1.65 million square mile – More data than from 4 years
and 20 U-2 flights
• No Missile Gap
Spies in Space 18
SAINT—SAtellite INTerceptor
• Program approved in Jun 1959
• Unmanned 2400 lb. satellite launched by an Atlas D
• Rendezvous with “unknown” satellite
• Use TV cameras to inspect
• Destroy or “Spay paint” to disable sensors
Spies in Space 19
Space as a Battleground?
• 1958 U.S. Air Force initiated DynaSoar
• Orbital “interceptor” and reconnaissance platform
• Perform potential hostile satellite “inspection”
Spies in Space 20
Inaugurated the term ‘Aerospace’
• Two man crew• Test Vehicle designated X-20• Reusable
Spies in Space 21
First Air Force Astronaut Selection
• April 1960, seven astronauts secretly chosen
– Albert H. Crews Jr– Henry C. Gordon– William J. "Pete" Knight– Russell L. Rogers– Milton O. "Milt" Thompson– James W. Wood – Neil Armstrong
Spies in Space 22
Death of the DynaSoar
• Escalating cost of advancing the state-of-the-art
• Questionable role of man in space• Limited maneuverability once in orbit • Less costly unmanned satellites
showed great promise• Sec Defense McNamara accepted a
compromise in 1963—cancelled X-20 initiate MOL
Spies in Space 23
Manned Orbital Laboratory—MOL
• Reference to “lab” emphasized scientific aspect
• Sophisticated spy satellite• Use Gemini spacecraft
being developed for NASA
Spies in Space 24
A Space Station
• Ten foot in diameter• Seventy feet long• 30,000 pounds• Two man crew
Spies in Space 25
14 astronauts were selected in three sets over a period of three years
Maj. Robert H. Lawrence (not shown), America’s first black astronaut died in a training accident (Dec 1967)
Spies in Space 26
Spies in Space 27
• Nov 3, 1966 only MOL launch—unmanned test of the full configuration
• Gemini spacecraft was recovered
• Cost over-runs and schedule slippages
• MOL Project Cancelled—1969
• Military Experiments flown on – Skylab in 1973-74 – Space Shuttle
Spies in Space 28
Soviet Equivalents
• Raketoplan (DynaSoar) — canceled May 1964
• Soyuz-R and Soyuz-P (MOL) — canceled
• Almaz (MOL) — Several iterations flown – designated Salyut 2, 3, and 5 – 1973 through 1977– Only known weapon (23 mm cannon) fired in
space
Spies in Space 29
Almaz
Spies in Space 30
SpySats To The Present
• Only one part of a comprehensive array of ships, planes, radar and communication interception sites, and seismic detection stations
– IMINT; Imagery intelligence – SIGINT; Signals Intel– ELINT; Electronic Intel– COMINT; Communications Intel– FISINT; Foreign Instrumentation Signals INTelligence
Spies in Space 31
National Reconnaissance Office
• Design, build and operate nation's recon satellites. – Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)– Department of Defense (DoD), – Warns of potential trouble spots around the world, – Help plan military ops, and monitor environment.
• DoD agency staffed by DoD and CIA personnel. – 16-member Intelligence Community,
Spies in Space 32
NRO Launch 21 (NROL-21)
• Also known as USA 193• Launched December 14, 2006• Weighed about 5,000 pounds
15 feet long and 8 feet wide• Malfunctioned—lost ability to
communicate • Destroyed February 21, 2008• Modified $9.5 million SM-3
missile fired from USS Lake Erie • Kinetic energy “impact””
Spies in Space 33
Into the Future
• Advances in electronics, computers and imagery will continue to forge new intelligence pathways
• Still seeking an “inexpensive access” to space (the primary purpose of the Shuttle)
• Relevance of the human presence in space is still a question given…– high cost of safety and – life-support issues
Spies in Space 34
Additional Reading
• Deep Black, William E. Burrows, 1988
• Mayday, Michael R. Beschloss, 1988
• Astronautics, Ted Spitzmiller, 2007
Spies in Space 35
Questions?
Spies in Space 36
Spies in Space 37
Spies in Space 38
Spies in Space 39
Credit: © Mark Wade
Spies in Space 40
Credit: © Mark Wade
Spies in Space 41
Credit: © Mark Wade
Spies in Space 42
Spies in Space 43
Spies in Space 44
Spies in Space 45
A Space Station