KH-11 KENNEN

A conceptual drawing based upon Hubble Space Telescope (HST) layout.
A conceptual drawing based upon Hubble Space Telescope (HST) layout with internal views.

The KH-11 KENNEN[1][2][3][4] (later renamed CRYSTAL,[5] then Evolved Enhanced CRYSTAL System, and codenamed 1010[6]: 82  and Key Hole[6]: 82 ) is a type of reconnaissance satellite first launched by the American National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in December 1976. Manufactured by Lockheed in Sunnyvale, California, the KH-11 was the first American spy satellite to use electro-optical digital imaging, and so offer real-time optical observations.[7]

Later KH-11 satellites have been referred to by outside observers as KH-11B or KH-12, and by the names "Advanced KENNEN", "Improved Crystal" and "Ikon". Official budget documents refer to the latest generation of electro-optical satellites as Evolved Enhanced CRYSTAL System.[8] The Key Hole series was officially discontinued in favor of a random numbering scheme after repeated public references to KH-7 GAMBIT, KH-8 GAMBIT 3, KH-9 HEXAGON, and KH-11 KENNEN satellites.[9]

The capabilities of the KH-11 are highly classified, as are the images they produce. The satellites are believed to have been the source of some imagery of the Soviet Union and China made public in 1997;[citation needed] images of Sudan and Afghanistan made public in 1998 related to the response to the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings;[10] and a 2019 photo, provided by then President Donald Trump,[11] of a failed Iranian rocket launch.

  1. ^ "Develop Acquire Launch Operate (NRO Brochure)" (PDF). NRO. 22 March 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2016. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Day, Dwayne A. (30 January 2012). "The geometry of shadows". The Space Review.
  3. ^ Casey, William J. (18 January 1982). "Letter to Honorable Edward P. Boland from William J. Casey proposing visit by permanent select committee members to KENNEN Ground Station, CIA-RDP83M00914R000700040112-1". CIA. Archived from the original on 23 January 2017. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ "Briefing of Bill Woodruff and Ralph Preston, Senate and House appropriations committee staff, on KENNEN, CIA-RDP74B00415R000100010065-5". CIA. 15 August 1972. Archived from the original on 24 January 2017. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Richelson, Jeffrey T. (2001). The Wizards of Langley. Inside the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology. Westview Press, Boulder. ISBN 0-8133-4059-4.p.199-200
  6. ^ a b Yenne, Bill (1 September 1990). "Key Hole". The Encyclopedia of US Spacecraft (1st ed.). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 82. ISBN 978-0671075804. OCLC 664345179. OL 7645664M.
  7. ^ "SOVIET MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND INTENTIONS IN SPACE (NIE 11-1-80)" (PDF). Central Intelligence Agency. 8 June 1980. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2010. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ Clapper, James R. (February 2012). "FY 2013 Congressional Budget Justification, Volume 1, National Intelligence Program Summary, Resource Exhibit No. 13" (PDF). DNI. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ Jeffrey T. Richelson (1990). America's Secret Eyes in Space: The U.S. Keyhole Spy Satellite Program. Harper & Row. p. 231.
  10. ^ Mervin, David (2000). "The Law: Controversy: Demise of the War Clause". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 30 (4). Wiley: 770–776. doi:10.1111/j.0360-4918.2000.00143.x. ISSN 0360-4918.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference brumfiel20190830 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).