The war in Ukraine spotlighted the power of satellite imagery in new ways, and has already changed the way the military uses orbital reconnaissance tactically and to shift public perception. As an example, when Russia was initially staging to invade Ukraine, the United States government purchased more commercial satellite imagery to provide a flow of information to the public and Ukraine at unprecedented levels, leaving no room for question of Russia’s intent. In the evolving landscape of satellite imagery for aerospace and defense, the strategic significance of very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is becoming increasingly apparent. Specifically, satellites flying at half the altitude of legacy low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites — commonly 250 to 350 km — are twice as close to the action on the ground, and therefore better able to observe it. The ability to position satellites closer to Earth has unlocked new possibilities for military and intelligence operations in particular. While orbiting at this altitude came with engineering challenges to overcome, the fruits of R&D labor are now being realized. However, VLEO is not truly a new domain.
In 1960, an Air Force U-2 spy plane wAmong the U.S.’s early foray into space-based reconnaissance during the Cold War era was the Corona satellite program.as shot down by a surface-to-air missile while collecting imagery over the Soviet Union, accelerating U.S. plans to begin collecting overhead imagery from satellites instead of planes. Launched throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, Corona was a family of strategic reconnaissance satellites procured and operated by the CIA in collaboration with the Air Force. These satellites were in fact modified Agena rocket upper stages equipped with cameras which flew at VLEO altitudes — commonly below 150 km. At this time digital cameras did not exist, so film would be jettisoned back to Earth in Satellite Return Vehicles, which were then recovered and processed by…
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