Reconnaissance satellite for obtaining military information

A reconnaissance satellite that obtains military intelligence.

Reconnaissance satellite, also known as spy satellite, is a military satellite used to obtain military information. Reconnaissance satellites use reconnaissance equipment such as photoelectric remote sensor, radar or radio receiver to reconnoiter, monitor or track the target from orbit, so as to obtain electromagnetic wave information emitted by ground, ocean or air targets, and store it in the return cabin with recorders such as films and tapes, or send it to the ground receiving station by radio transmission.

After optical, electronic equipment and computer processing, the ground receiving station can extract valuable military information. Reconnaissance satellites are divided into photographic reconnaissance satellites, electronic reconnaissance satellites, marine surveillance satellites, early warning satellites and nuclear explosion detection satellites according to different tasks and equipment. Reconnaissance satellites have the advantages of large reconnaissance area, wide range, high speed, good effect, regular or continuous surveillance, and are not limited by national boundaries and geographical conditions.

The types of information collected can include military and non-military facilities and activities, distribution, transportation and use of natural resources, or meteorological, marine and hydrological data. Since noon, the current airspace does not include the orbital airspace around the earth, and the use of satellites to collect information has avoided the red dispute of violating airspace; And because of its high running height, it is not easy to be attacked.

The main reconnaissance means of early reconnaissance satellites is to use cameras in visible light band. With the progress of science and technology and the diversification of intelligence types, the collection methods used by reconnaissance satellites can be roughly divided into active and passive. The active means is to send out signals through satellites, and analyze their meanings by receiving the reflected signals. For example, radar waves are used to scan the ground to obtain images of terrain, features or large man-made buildings.

Passive means is to collect and analyze some signals from the detected object. This kind of reconnaissance is the most common one, including taking photos or recording continuous images by using visible light or infrared rays, and intercepting signals by using various radio bands, such as various radars and communication facilities.

The maximum resolution of various optical photography effects is a secret of all countries, but from various public or semi-public information, many people think that it is easy for reconnaissance satellites to obtain the number of license plates on the ground at present, and even it is uncertain whether the words in newspapers can be clearly obtained.

The world's first spy satellite was launched by the United States from vandenberg air force base, California on February 28th, 1959.

The rocket launched Discovery 1. 1960 10, "Aquinas A" took another spy satellite "Samos" into the blue sky.

These two satellites have made a lot of audio and video records in space operation. The information collected by flying a volume in orbit over the Soviet Union and China is dozens of times that collected by the most experienced and knowledgeable spies in one year.

The Soviet Union also launched a space spy satellite in 1962 to conduct high-altitude spy reconnaissance on the United States and Canada. By the end of 1982, the United States and the Soviet Union had launched 373 full-time spy satellites and 796 full-time spy satellites respectively. This 1000 "super spy" watches every corner of the earth day and night in space hundreds of kilometers high.

Spy satellites have the advantages of wide reconnaissance range, fast flight speed and few provocative attacks. The Soviet Union and the United States especially like it and regard it as a "super spy".

1973 During the Middle East War in June, the United States and the Soviet Union competed to launch satellites to detect the situation. The American spy satellite "Dase" photographed the union of the second and third armies of Egypt without military defense, and quickly informed Israel of this information. The Israeli armored forces attacked the Suez Canal, which cut off the logistics supply line of the Egyptian army and turned the disadvantage into an advantage.

At the same time, the Soviet Prime Minister flew to Cairo with photos taken by spy satellites to persuade the Egyptian army to cease fire. 1982 During the Anglo-Arab War, the United States and the Soviet Union frequently launched spy satellites to closely monitor the war situation in the South Atlantic, and provided satellite photos of the enemy to Britain and Yangentin respectively.

It can be said that the number and launch times of spy satellites have become a "barometer" of the international political and military struggle.

America's most advanced military spy satellite can "see" gun models and newspaper headlines in the hands of soldiers on the ground. Satellites with a resolution of 3~7 meters can find smaller targets such as radars, detachments, missile bases and command posts. Satellites with a resolution of 1 m can "identify" urban buildings, roads and cars, and can "confirm" weapons and equipment such as aircraft carriers, planes and tanks.