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New CIA Tech Museum: Spy Scat and Robo-Fish

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the marshall-will-provide-the-op-tech dept.

PSaltyDS writes "According to this AP story, the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology is celebrating its 40th anniversary by revealing a few dozen of its secrets for a new museum inside its headquarters near Washington. When the CIA's secret gadget-makers invented a listening device for the Asian jungles, they disguised it so the enemy wouldn't be tempted to pick it up and examine it: The device looked like tiger droppings. Besides the jungle transmitter, the exhibits include a robotic catfish, a remote-controlled dragonfly and a camera strapped to the chests of pigeons and released over enemy targets in the 1970s. There is also an International Spy Museum in D.C. with more pics, including an early version of the Pigeon-Cam."

6 of 91 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting, but ... by richg74 · · Score: 5, Informative
    This new museum sounds really interesting, but just to avoid disappointment for anyone who is planning a visit to the DC area:

    It is accessible only to CIA employees and guests admitted to those closed quarters.

    The International Spy Museum mentioned is open to the public, but admission is quite pricey: about $10 per head, if I recall correctly.

  2. I loved the NSA museum by way2trivial · · Score: 4, Informative
    http://www.nsa.gov/museum/

    this place has a enigma you can touch, and free coloring books for the kids (free as in tax dollars)

    --
    every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
  3. Re:AP? by Lars+T. · · Score: 2, Informative

    The Associated Press press agency.

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    Lars T.

    To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

  4. Tiger poop by Lord+Kano · · Score: 2, Informative

    When the CIA's secret gadget-makers invented a listening device for the Asian jungles, they disguised it so the enemy wouldn't be tempted to pick it up and examine it: The device looked like tiger droppings.

    Vietnam vets have talked about these for years, I also heard stories that they disguised radio beacons as tiger droppings as well. Special forces could call in air strikes and guide the fighter/bombers to the target with a beacon that looked like tiger poop.

    LK

    --
    "Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
  5. National Cryptological Museum by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you live around Washington, or are visiting the area, you might also be interesting in seeing the National Cryptological Museum near the NSA headquarters in Fort Meade, MD. More information is available here.

  6. You mean Acoustic Kitty? by Robber+Baron · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here's a link.

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    You're using her as bait, Master!