A spy satellite is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications.
Examples of spy satellite missions:
- high resolution photography (IMINT)
- communications eavesdropping (SIGINT)
- covert communications (HUMINT)
- enforcement of nuclear test bans
- detection of missile launches
- Corona, the first US spy satellite took photographs of Russia and then ejected the negatives which descended to the Earth by parachute.
- KH-9
- Cosmos
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