Slashdot Mirror
The Shadow Space Race
vm writes "NOVA's recent documentary, "Astrospies," was written and co-produced by journalist and NSA expert, James Bamford. It details the U.S. Air Force's orbiting spy station program begun in the 1960s, the Manned Orbital Laboratory. Designed from a heavily modified Gemini 2 capsule and launched from a Titan III booster rocket, MOL was basically intended to be a Hubble telescope pointed at Earth with the sole intention of collecting photo intelligence on the Soviets using an impressive array of optics and gyro balanced cameras operated onboard by specially trained astronauts. The lab was never launched, however, due to the competing Corona unmanned spy satellite program funded by NASA and the National Reconnaissance Office.
Partly spurred by the success of the Apollo missions, the Soviets, meanwhile, sent cosmonauts to its own succesfully launched spy platform, the Almaz. In addition to an onboard film lab and a space-to-ground image relay system, it included an alarming first in manned space exploration; a 23mm aircraft cannon — which is rather ironic in light of Russia and China's recent attempts to ban space weaponry. At a time when we're still unearthing details about the post 9/11 domestic spying debacle, it's a fascinating look at the history of technology used to look over our neighbors' fences."
There is
more to the story but what these sorts of stories always make me wonder, is since this was the 60s, what are they doing NOW!
Why not drop a couple of listening devices on the other countries spy sat recievers, monitor their communications, steal their passwords, then secretly control what they think they are controlling when they are looking at us looking at them while they are pretending that they are not looking at us when we are looking at them looking at us looking at them. Then we could send their pictures of us to them from someone else with a note about us not liking them.
Form: NRO-10977/A
From: Nasal Reconnaissance Office
What are we doing? Nothing. Nope. Nothing going on here. Move along. But I do have a request from the folks down in Monitoring Division: Please stop sneezing. It really shakes up the cameras. And for pete's sake, ask your girl friend to shave that thing.
Sincerely,
Your Friendly Government
The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
Actually, I remember that the week Hubble was launched (after many, many delays), it was described as "Basically an out-of-date spy satellite pointed the wrong way" by a scientist on the news. Obviously, though, Hubble has been upgraded since launch.
I held a clearance in the USAF (1971-1975) and saw stuff that is still classified.
That's what they told you!
TWW
"Encyclopedia" is to "Wikipedia" what "Library" is to "Some people at a bus stop"
...forcing the Soviets to cancel construction of "F" and "K"-shaped buildings of their new large space complex, leaving only buildings "U", "C", "Y", "O", and "U" for use.
SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
I link from the article about hints that an agent in British Intelligence was also involved perhaps a Commander in the British Navy??
"No records were found for the other suit, identified with the spy- appropriate number 007. It still belongs to NASA, and the agency's plans for what to do with the spacesuit are still being determined."
[i]I held a clearance in the USAF (1971-1975) and saw stuff that is still classified.[/i]
That's because they're probably embarrassed about releasing info on rocket powered elevator shoes and inflatable life raft bell bottoms.
That reminds me- in jr. high, we had a bonus question on a science test: "What will be the first country to land on Mars?" The teacher warned us it was a trick question. The correct answer was, of course "Multiple countries will have to work together."
However, one very special girl answered "Countries can't move." She never lived it down.
I just found my 2nd wife ;-)
Also, I suggest you check out the Veropedia.
I prefer the uncyclopedia. I mean, neither Britannica nor Wikipedia have articles about asplosions.
mcgrew's razor: Never attribute to stupidity that which can be explained by greedy self-interest
Screw that, thats nothing they've got systems now that can loop rays right around the sun and see the licence details of the car which will be in that lot 1 hour from now !
You need to use a laser.
And Sharks. Dont forget the Sharks.
A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.