New Secret Satellite Launched

[MA-Caver]

Is it to watch OVER us or to watch US?? (probably BOTH!).

This story was updated Nov. 22 at 1:28 p.m. ET.
A huge unmanned rocket carrying a secret new spy satellite for the United States roared into space Sunday (Nov. 21) to deliver what one reconnaissance official has touted as "the largest satellite in the world" into orbit. ?
The giant booster ? a Delta 4 Heavy rocket ? blasted off at 5:58 p.m. EST (2258 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida carrying a classified payload for the U.S. [COLOR=#366388 ! important][COLOR=#366388 ! important]National [COLOR=#366388 ! important]Reconnaissance [/color][COLOR=#366388 ! important]Office[/color][/color][/color]. [Photo of the spy satellite's dazzling night launch]
"This mission helps to ensure that vital NRO resources will continue to bolster our national defense," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Ed Wilson, commander 45th [COLOR=#366388 ! important][COLOR=#366388 ! important]Space [COLOR=#366388 ! important]Wing[/color][/color][/color], after the successful launch.
The satellite, called NROL-32, launched after a series of delays from technical glitches. The most recent glitch, a pair of faulty temperature sensors, thwarted a Nov. 19 launch attempt.
The exact purpose of the new spy satellite NROL-32 is secret, but one NRO official has hinted at the huge size of the reconnaissance spacecraft.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20101122/sc_space/secretusspysatellitelaunchesintoorbitonhugerocket

Well of course they're secret... God knows what ELSE we got floating up around there.

Tonight's launch marked the fourth launch of a Delta 4 Heavy rocket and the second satellite launch in three months for the NRO. An Atlas 5 rocket launched the NROL-41 reconnaissance satellite on Sept. 20.
In his address last month, Carlson said that the current plan for NRO satellite missions ?"is the most aggressive launch campaign that the National Reconnaissance Office has had in 20 years, almost a quarter of a century."

Oh to replace older ones floating around. Yeah that makes sense... at least we're finding out where a lot of our $$ is going.

Last I heard, satellites opticals could read the fine print off of someone's newspaper while in orbit. I can only imagine what these new ones can do. Count the freckles on a bald guy's head most likely... and each individual shade of freckle.

Go outside and flip the bird up at the sky ... you just MIGHT get a knock on your door a little while later.

 

[WC_lun]

Not really much of a secret satelite now, is it?

 

[MA-Caver]

Not really much of a secret satelite now, is it?

Like with a lot of things... it's what's INSIDE that counts! That's the secret... right?

Besides one can try to imagine the stuff the Space Shuttle has put into orbit.

 

[Bruno@MT]

Last I heard, satellites opticals could read the fine print off of someone's newspaper while in orbit. I can only imagine what these new ones can do. Count the freckles on a bald guy's head most likely... and each individual shade of freckle.
.

Not really. IIRC, a pack of cigarettes was the current useful resolution.
Possibly a bit more for static images.
Reading newspaper print is not very likely, due to of atmospherical influences and other circumstances.