Project Hexagon Satellite Surveillance Declassified (1977)

Project Hexagon Satellite Surveillance Declassified (1977) The Hexagon vehicle performs world-wide search and surveillance missions with two cameras that provide stereo panoramic photography. The film is recovered as each of four (4) large reentry vehicles (Mark 8) is filled. Each reentry vehicle is ejected from the Hexagon vehicle and is caught by USAF JC130 aircraft near the Hawaiian Islands. The film is then flown to Eastman Kodak at Rochester, N. Y. , to be de-spooled, processed, and then copied for the using agencies. The Hexagon vehicle also performs mapping and geodesy missions with stellar and terrain frame cameras. The film is retrieved via the small (Mark V) reentry vehicle mounted on the Hexagon vehicle nose. Accurate Hexagon vehicle location for the mapping mission is determined with the Doppler Beacon System and in the future via the Navigational Package. The Hexagon vehicle files in a near polar orbit (97 deg inclination) at a typical perigee/apogee of 88/155 NM, respectively. Mission durations of up to 180 days have been flown. In addition to the stereo panoramic cameras and the Mapping Camera System, the Hexagon vehicle [censored] tags: satellite, surveillance, Cold War, spying, CIA, military, camera, NSA, USA