KH-11 KENNAN

A leaked KH-11 photo showing the Nikolaiev 444 shipyard in the Black Sea taken in 1984

The KH-11, also referenced by the codenames 1010^[1], Crystal and Kennan^[2], also commonly known as "Key Hole", was a type of reconnaissance satellite launched by the American National Reconnaissance Office between December 1976 and 1990 and used until present.^[when?] Manufactured by Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California, the KH-11 was the first American spy satellite to utilize electro-optical digital imaging, and create a real-time optical observation capability.

Launch History

Nine or ten KH-11 satellites were launched between 1976 and 1990 aboard Titan-3D and -34D rockets, with one launch failure. The KH-11 replaced the KH-9 film return satellite, among others, the last of which was lost in a liftoff explosion in 1986. It is believed to resemble the Hubble Space Telescope in size and shape, as the satellites were shipped in similar containers. Furthermore, a NASA history of the Hubble^[3] states about the reasons for switching from a 3 meter main mirror to a 2.4 meter design: "In addition, changing to a 2.4-meter mirror would lessen fabrication costs by using manufacturing technologies developed for military spy satellites."

Assuming 2.4-meter mirror, the theoretical ground resolution with no atmospheric degradation and 50% MTF would be roughly 15 cm (6 inches). Operational resolution would be worse due to effects of the atmosphere. Different versions of the KH-11 vary in mass from 13,000 to 13,500 kilograms. Its length is believed to be 19.5 meters, and diameter is 3 meters or less.^[4] Data was transmitted through the United States military's Satellite Data System relay network.

Replacement

This section appears to contain speculation and unjustified claims. Information must be verifiable and based on reliable published sources. Please remove speculation from the article.

It is believed that the KH-11 began to be replaced by the KH-12 around 1990^{[citation needed]}.

Many observers believe that the KH-12 is really just an incremental improvement over the KH-11, so some still call later satellites KH-11s. The "Improved Crystal" nickname that the KH-12 has also comes from the idea that it is just incrementally better. The main difference is that the KH-12 might include the ability for "live" viewing of imagery. An additional capability reportedly was developed under the code name of DRAGON and adds thermal imaging, probably in the 3 to 5 micrometre mid-wavelength infrared band, though perhaps at 10 micrometres.^{[citation needed]}

Los Angeles Times article reported that the KH-13 (8X program) was intended as "a major upgrade to the KH-12", in 1995.^{[citation needed]}

Compromise

In 1978, a young CIA employee named William Kampiles sold the Soviets a technical manual describing the design and operation of KH-11s. Kampiles was convicted of espionage and sentenced to 40 years in prison.^[5]

Launch specifications

• Typical orbit: Elliptical, 185 miles (298 km) by 275 miles (443 km)^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Yenne, Bill (1985). The Encyclopedia of US Spacecraft. Exeter Books (A Bison Book), New York. ISBN 0-671-07580-2. p.82 Key Hole
2. ^ John Pike. "KH-11 Crystal/Kennan". http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/imint/kh-11.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-27. 
3. ^ The Power to Explore, NASA. In particular, Chapter XII - The Hubble Space Telescope Chapter 12, p. 483
4. ^ Mark Wade (August 9, 2003). "KH-11". Encyclopedia Astronautica. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/kh11.htm. 
5. ^ Patrick Radden Keefe (February 2006). "I Spy". Wired. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.02/spy_pr.html. 
6. ^ "SatCat". http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt. Retrieved 2009-05-23. 

• Aviation Week, Oct. 25, 2005, p. 29

External links

• John Pike (2000-09-07). program. Federation of American Scientists. Accessed 2008-02-23.
• John Pike (January 1, 1997). KH-11 product. Federation of American Scientists. Accessed April 24, 2004.
• Mark Wade (August 9, 2003). KH-11. Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed April 23, 2004.

v • d • e U.S. Reconnaissance Satellites IMINT Photographic KH-1 CORONA · KH-2 CORONA · KH-3 CORONA · KH-4A CORONA · KH-4B CORONA · KH-5 ARGON · KH-6 LANYARD · KH-7 GAMBIT · KH-8 GAMBIT · KH-9 HEXAGON · KH-10 DORIAN Electro-optical SAMOS · KH-11 KENNAN · KH-12 · KH-13 · FIA Synthetic Aperture Radar LACROSSE · Infrared  · SIGINT Low Earth orbit GRAB · Poppy · White Cloud · SAMOS F Highly elliptical orbit Jumpseat · Trumpet Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Canyon · Magnum · Mentor · Mercury · Rhyolite/Aquacade · Vortex MASINT Primary Mission FORTE · GPS · DMSP · Vela Secondary Mission MIDAS · DSP · SBIRS R&D Primary Mission MiTEx · Secondary Mission  · Unknown USA Number USA-193 · USA-202