KH-11 KENNEN

[Blackstar]

I am working on an article on the chronology of the development of near-real-time reconnaissance. It is mostly based upon a chronology released by NRO a few years ago, with some additional inputs and more explanation by me. I'm going to post that chronology below, and if anybody has corrections or suggestions for additional dates, please post them.

[Blackstar]

Here is the chronology. Any additions or corrections welcome.


1951 – The RAND Corporation conducts a study of a satellite using TV-like pictures from space and concludes that the technology is currently not available.

1954 – RAND conducts the “FEED BACK” study of a reconnaissance satellite, a much more detailed evaluation of how to obtain near-real-time satellite reconnaissance.

1956 – Lockheed is awarded the “Pied Piper” contract to develop a reconnaissance satellite. But very little money is allocated to the project.

1957 – President Eisenhower authorizes building of an imaging satellite.

1957 – Work begins on SAMOS, as part of WS-117L, a very ambitious Air Force constellation of reconnaissance satellites. SAMOS developed film onboard the satellite and scanned it, transmitting the imagery to ground.

August 1960 – The first successful CORONA reconnaissance satellite mission returns film to Earth. Soon after, the SAMOS film-scanning program is curtailed, although SAMOS continues as a film-return program for several years.

1962(?) – CIA founded the Development Projects Division (DDP). It was renamed the Office of Special Activities (OSA) in 1962.

April 1963 – United States Intelligence Board (USIB) study on reducing satellite vulnerability recommends near-real-time tasking and readout. CIA/OSA begins study of a covert satellite.

Summer 1963 – The GAMBIT high-resolution reconnaissance satellite enters service. It proves complimentary to CORONA.

Nov 1963 – OSA, DST/SAS, and OSI conclude that time between collection and analysis is critical to indications and warning intelligence.

June 1964 – CIA’s Office of Special Activities reports to the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office on the desirability of a near-real-time satellite.

July 1964 – The CIA/OST begins the ZOSTER study to investigate various near-real-time associated technologies. Four contracts let:
1. reuseable photo-sensitive material
2. vidicon tube
3. video-transmitted photo simulation
4. guidance system

March 1965 – ZOSTER produced few conclusions. Reduced to a development planning exercise and assigned to Les Dirks' Design and Analysis Division.

Oct 1965 – The Office of Special Projects (OSP) is founded. The Office of Special Activities is transitioned into aircraft operations only (U-2 and A-12).

Dec 1965 – Office of Special Projects study begun to pursue near-real-time possibilities.

Late 1965 – A contractor is given contracts to develop photo-sensitive elements: a solid-state device.

1965 & 1966; Parallel efforts underway:
CIA – near-real-time using new technology
Air Force – near-real-time using GAMBIT, a system known as Film Read-Out GAMBIT, or FROG.

15 Sept 1966 – The Secretary of the Air Force Special Projects office (SAFSP) (NRO’s West Coast office) briefed the Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance (COMOR) on FROG.

22-23 Sept 1966 – Office of Special Projects briefed COMOR on ZAMAN. ZAMAN was the new code word, replacing ZOSTER.

23 Nov 1966 – The NRO’s Executive Committee (EXCOM) curtailed level of effort on FROG.

Nov 1966 – Aug 1967 – The Tidwell study on FROG vs. near-real-time, directed by Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms.

June 1967 – D&AD/OSP included an Advanced Systems Branch, made up of Les Dirks and Norbert Crookston.

June 1967 – Thomas Appleberry joined OSP.

Aug 1967 – ZAMAN created in OSP to develop various technologies to the point where a specific system design could be initiated. Two years funding was provided.

Frank Eliot and Thomas Appleberry joined Advanced Systems Branch.

14 Feb 1968 – DCI Helms sent Tidwell Study to NRO for comment.

15 May 1968 – “Application of Electro-Optical Technology to Satellite Reconnaissance” report published by the CIA’s Office of Special Projects. This was often referred to as Les Dirks’ "Blue Book." It was a comprehensive report on the subject.

May 1968 – Intelligence advisor Edwin “Din” Land proposes a full-speed effort on electro-optical imaging. Land was the founder and CEO of Polaroid and very highly regarded as an advisor. He was the most strident, and important advocate for electro-optical imaging technology, and opposed film-readout technology.

Nov 1968 – Approval given to ZAMAN by the NRO’s Executive Committee for near-real-time development.

18 Dec 1968 – The Land Panel is briefed by Frank Eliot, CIA’s Office of Special Projects, on solid-state technology. The panel endorses it as the most promising of the technologies under study.

Jan 1969 – Technology development on relay satellite began. This became known as the Satellite Data System, or SDS.

1969 – CIA conducts a study on the impact of a near-real-time system on intelligence production.

Mar 1969 – NRO responded negatively to Tidwell study.

June 1969 – Director of NRO John McLucas sends the United States Intelligence Board a message favorable to the CIA’s near-real-time work.

Jan-June 1969 – Inlow study on effects on user community and the National Photographic Interpretation Center of a near-real-time system.

15 June 1969 – The Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) and its DORIAN optical system are canceled. DORIAN was being developed by Eastman-Kodak, giving the company substantial experience in large optics development.

July 1969 – The United States Intelligence Board approved the requirement for a near-real-time system.

1 Aug 1969 – Photo Systems Division is formed in CIA’s Office of Special Projects, to merge CORONA and HEXAGON personnel.

Aug/Sept 1969 – Project financing is revamped: money is authorized to pursue solid-state
effort with no system-level design work authorized.

Nov 1969-Jan 1970 – Fubini Panel eventually threw cold water on near-real-time reconnaissance. Eugene Fubini was a senior intelligence advisor to the government who had served as Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and was the chief scientist at IBM in the late 1960s.

14 Feb 1970 – Fubini Panel report cites serious technical problems and uncertainties about solid-state devices.

27 Feb 1970 – CIA official Les Dirks rebuts Fubini Panel with support from Richard Garwin, a Fubini Panel member. Garwin was a highly regarded intelligence and defense advisor, and the designer of the first American hydrogen bomb. He also had substantial knowledge about solid-state technology.

18 Mar 1970 – Joint meeting of Fubini and Land Panels, with Garwin chairing. This results in a more favorable outlook on electro-optical imaging.

April 1970 – Program Office formed in SD. [WHAT IS SD?]

Late July 1970 – ZAMAN becomes a separate program in OSP, with Charles Roth as Project Director. Known internally as the “EOI Program.”

Sept 1970 – System definition request for proposals is issued.

Oct 1970 – Completed testing of imaging system to relay system antenna. This was a key milestone because the imaging system would use a very high frequency transmitter to send its images to the relay satellite.

Nov 1970 – Contract Review Committee begins looking at system concepts.

9 Dec 1970 – The NRO’s EXCOM is still not satisfied, put off considering system development until January 1971.

Jan 1971 – OSP asked for new bids; program divided into five segments: relay, imaging system, command and control, and two others.

15 Jan 1971 – Memo from Secretary of State William Rogers to DCI Helms on the benefits of
FROG over EOI.

Spring 1971 – United States Intelligence Board examines alternatives to ZAMAN because of concern over the time it would take to achieve initial operating capability (late 1975).

Spring 1971 – A still-classified effort was created after a Defense Intelligence Agency simulation cast doubt on area coverage capability in frame mode during crisis.

22 April 1971 – Memo from Office of Management and Budget director George Shultz to David Packard, which requests near-real-time reconnaissance system be flown in Nixon's last term.

23 April 1971 – EXCOM considers FROG.

Summer 1971 – David memo to President- to be signed by Packard as C/EXCOM. The memo gave options to President Nixon and let him decide.

Summer 1971 – EXCOM changed directions, decided to develop both FROG and ZAMAN with primary funding to FROG.

June 1971 – Carl Duckett lobbies to have FROG decision overturned.

June 1971 – Duckett meets with Senator Ellender and William Woodruff.

13 July 1971 – Memo from Director Office of Special Projects to Director of the NRO on alternative EOI configurations which could ultimately replace GAMBIT and HEXAGON.

9 August 1971 – Memo from DCI Helms to President Nixon, urging that EOI be
built instead of FROG and other quick reaction reconnaissance systems that were then under consideration.

17 Aug 1971 – Memo from Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to Nixon on EXCOM decision to fund EOI, noting disagreements between Packard, Helms, and David.

1971 – Land Panel Report, EOI vs FROG.

Mid-1971 – John Hicks replaced Art Lundahl as Director of NPIC.

1971 – Kerr Special Study Group.

Late August 1971 – Sidney Drell and Dick Garwin gave a secret briefing to Henry Kissinger on desirability of building ZAMAN.

Sept 1971 – Kissinger letter giving go-ahead to ZAMAN and cancelling FROG.

30 Sept 1971 – EXCOM stated that Kissinger intended to limit spending on EOI, with first launch in 1976.

Nov 1971 – Relay satellite authorized by DNRO and assigned to Air Force for development. Work began in July 72.

Late 1971 – Kodak is chosen as prime contractor for optics. Lockheed was selected to build the satellite. Other companies were responsible for guidance, command and control, antennas and recorders.

Jan 1972 – ZAMAN is renamed KENNEN. “Kennen” is an old English term (also German) meaning “to know.”

April 1972 – NRO approved procurement of the relay satellite for KENNEN.

June 1972 – Hughes Aircraft gets contract for relay satellites 1-3.

Sept 1972 – HEXAGON is transferred to SAFSP, primarily so that ZAMAN could be retained entirely within CIA.

Late 1972 – The area search requirement is given to ZAMAN at instigation of Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Presidential Science Advisor.

20 April 1973 – CIA’s Office of Special Projects becomes OD&E (Office of Development and Engineering).

1974- The CIA’s Office of Special Activities is disbanded and its U-2 aircraft are transferred to Air Force.

1974 – Imaging systems mix study, led up to summer 1974. EXCOM decision for the 1976-80 time frame.

Sept 75 – R.P. Hazzard became Program Director, vice Charles Roth.

Late 1975 – A still-classified effort was terminated by DNRO. Continued in Program B (CIA) at a very low level in 1976 and 77.

Feb 1976 – The first relay satellite completed system test.

June 1976 – The first relay satellite is launched.

Aug 1976 – The second relay satellite is launched.

19 Dec 1976 – The first KENNEN is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

21 Dec 1976 – The first imagery satellite to relay-satellite acquisition.

1977 – The first KH-11 KENNEN satellite is declared operational on January 20, 1977.

14 June 1978 – The second KENNEN is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

[ExGeek]

Here is the chronology. Any additions or corrections welcome.


1951 – The RAND Corporation conducts a study of a satellite using TV-like pictures from space and concludes that the technology is currently not available.

1954 – RAND conducts the “FEED BACK” study of a reconnaissance satellite, a much more detailed evaluation of how to obtain near-real-time satellite reconnaissance.

1956 – Lockheed is awarded the “Pied Piper” contract to develop a reconnaissance satellite. But very little money is allocated to the project.

1957 – President Eisenhower authorizes building of an imaging satellite.

1957 – Work begins on SAMOS, as part of WS-117L, a very ambitious Air Force constellation of reconnaissance satellites. SAMOS developed film onboard the satellite and scanned it, transmitting the imagery to ground.

August 1960 – The first successful CORONA reconnaissance satellite mission returns film to Earth. Soon after, the SAMOS film-scanning program is curtailed, although SAMOS continues as a film-return program for several years.

1962(?) – CIA founded the Development Projects Division (DDP). It was renamed the Office of Special Activities (OSA) in 1962.

April 1963 – United States Intelligence Board (USIB) study on reducing satellite vulnerability recommends near-real-time tasking and readout. CIA/OSA begins study of a covert satellite.

Summer 1963 – The GAMBIT high-resolution reconnaissance satellite enters service. It proves complimentary to CORONA.

Nov 1963 – OSA, DST/SAS, and OSI conclude that time between collection and analysis is critical to indications and warning intelligence.

June 1964 – CIA’s Office of Special Activities reports to the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office on the desirability of a near-real-time satellite.

July 1964 – The CIA/OST begins the ZOSTER study to investigate various near-real-time associated technologies. Four contracts let:
1. reuseable photo-sensitive material
2. vidicon tube
3. video-transmitted photo simulation
4. guidance system

March 1965 – ZOSTER produced few conclusions. Reduced to a development planning exercise and assigned to Les Dirks' Design and Analysis Division.

Oct 1965 – The Office of Special Projects (OSP) is founded. The Office of Special Activities is transitioned into aircraft operations only (U-2 and A-12).

Dec 1965 – Office of Special Projects study begun to pursue near-real-time possibilities.

Late 1965 – A contractor is given contracts to develop photo-sensitive elements: a solid-state device.

1965 & 1966; Parallel efforts underway:
CIA – near-real-time using new technology
Air Force – near-real-time using GAMBIT, a system known as Film Read-Out GAMBIT, or FROG.

15 Sept 1966 – The Secretary of the Air Force Special Projects office (SAFSP) (NRO’s West Coast office) briefed the Committee on Overhead Reconnaissance (COMOR) on FROG.

22-23 Sept 1966 – Office of Special Projects briefed COMOR on ZAMAN. ZAMAN was the new code word, replacing ZOSTER.

23 Nov 1966 – The NRO’s Executive Committee (EXCOM) curtailed level of effort on FROG.

Nov 1966 – Aug 1967 – The Tidwell study on FROG vs. near-real-time, directed by Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms.

June 1967 – D&AD/OSP included an Advanced Systems Branch, made up of Les Dirks and Norbert Crookston.

June 1967 – Thomas Appleberry joined OSP.

Aug 1967 – ZAMAN created in OSP to develop various technologies to the point where a specific system design could be initiated. Two years funding was provided.

Frank Eliot and Thomas Appleberry joined Advanced Systems Branch.

14 Feb 1968 – DCI Helms sent Tidwell Study to NRO for comment.

15 May 1968 – “Application of Electro-Optical Technology to Satellite Reconnaissance” report published by the CIA’s Office of Special Projects. This was often referred to as Les Dirks’ "Blue Book." It was a comprehensive report on the subject.

May 1968 – Intelligence advisor Edwin “Din” Land proposes a full-speed effort on electro-optical imaging. Land was the founder and CEO of Polaroid and very highly regarded as an advisor. He was the most strident, and important advocate for electro-optical imaging technology, and opposed film-readout technology.

Nov 1968 – Approval given to ZAMAN by the NRO’s Executive Committee for near-real-time development.

18 Dec 1968 – The Land Panel is briefed by Frank Eliot, CIA’s Office of Special Projects, on solid-state technology. The panel endorses it as the most promising of the technologies under study.

Jan 1969 – Technology development on relay satellite began. This became known as the Satellite Data System, or SDS.

1969 – CIA conducts a study on the impact of a near-real-time system on intelligence production.

Mar 1969 – NRO responded negatively to Tidwell study.

June 1969 – Director of NRO John McLucas sends the United States Intelligence Board a message favorable to the CIA’s near-real-time work.

Jan-June 1969 – Inlow study on effects on user community and the National Photographic Interpretation Center of a near-real-time system.

15 June 1969 – The Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) and its DORIAN optical system are canceled. DORIAN was being developed by Eastman-Kodak, giving the company substantial experience in large optics development.

July 1969 – The United States Intelligence Board approved the requirement for a near-real-time system.

1 Aug 1969 – Photo Systems Division is formed in CIA’s Office of Special Projects, to merge CORONA and HEXAGON personnel.

Aug/Sept 1969 – Project financing is revamped: money is authorized to pursue solid-state
effort with no system-level design work authorized.

Nov 1969-Jan 1970 – Fubini Panel eventually threw cold water on near-real-time reconnaissance. Eugene Fubini was a senior intelligence advisor to the government who had served as Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations and was the chief scientist at IBM in the late 1960s.

14 Feb 1970 – Fubini Panel report cites serious technical problems and uncertainties about solid-state devices.

27 Feb 1970 – CIA official Les Dirks rebuts Fubini Panel with support from Richard Garwin, a Fubini Panel member. Garwin was a highly regarded intelligence and defense advisor, and the designer of the first American hydrogen bomb. He also had substantial knowledge about solid-state technology.

18 Mar 1970 – Joint meeting of Fubini and Land Panels, with Garwin chairing. This results in a more favorable outlook on electro-optical imaging.

April 1970 – Program Office formed in SD. [WHAT IS SD?]

Late July 1970 – ZAMAN becomes a separate program in OSP, with Charles Roth as Project Director. Known internally as the “EOI Program.”

Sept 1970 – System definition request for proposals is issued.

Oct 1970 – Completed testing of imaging system to relay system antenna. This was a key milestone because the imaging system would use a very high frequency transmitter to send its images to the relay satellite.

Nov 1970 – Contract Review Committee begins looking at system concepts.

9 Dec 1970 – The NRO’s EXCOM is still not satisfied, put off considering system development until January 1971.

Jan 1971 – OSP asked for new bids; program divided into five segments: relay, imaging system, command and control, and two others.

15 Jan 1971 – Memo from Secretary of State William Rogers to DCI Helms on the benefits of
FROG over EOI.

Spring 1971 – United States Intelligence Board examines alternatives to ZAMAN because of concern over the time it would take to achieve initial operating capability (late 1975).

Spring 1971 – A still-classified effort was created after a Defense Intelligence Agency simulation cast doubt on area coverage capability in frame mode during crisis.

22 April 1971 – Memo from Office of Management and Budget director George Shultz to David Packard, which requests near-real-time reconnaissance system be flown in Nixon's last term.

23 April 1971 – EXCOM considers FROG.

Summer 1971 – David memo to President- to be signed by Packard as C/EXCOM. The memo gave options to President Nixon and let him decide.

Summer 1971 – EXCOM changed directions, decided to develop both FROG and ZAMAN with primary funding to FROG.

June 1971 – Carl Duckett lobbies to have FROG decision overturned.

June 1971 – Duckett meets with Senator Ellender and William Woodruff.

13 July 1971 – Memo from Director Office of Special Projects to Director of the NRO on alternative EOI configurations which could ultimately replace GAMBIT and HEXAGON.

9 August 1971 – Memo from DCI Helms to President Nixon, urging that EOI be
built instead of FROG and other quick reaction reconnaissance systems that were then under consideration.

17 Aug 1971 – Memo from Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to Nixon on EXCOM decision to fund EOI, noting disagreements between Packard, Helms, and David.

1971 – Land Panel Report, EOI vs FROG.

Mid-1971 – John Hicks replaced Art Lundahl as Director of NPIC.

1971 – Kerr Special Study Group.

Late August 1971 – Sidney Drell and Dick Garwin gave a secret briefing to Henry Kissinger on desirability of building ZAMAN.

Sept 1971 – Kissinger letter giving go-ahead to ZAMAN and cancelling FROG.

30 Sept 1971 – EXCOM stated that Kissinger intended to limit spending on EOI, with first launch in 1976.

Nov 1971 – Relay satellite authorized by DNRO and assigned to Air Force for development. Work began in July 72.

Late 1971 – Kodak is chosen as prime contractor for optics. Lockheed was selected to build the satellite. Other companies were responsible for guidance, command and control, antennas and recorders.

Jan 1972 – ZAMAN is renamed KENNEN. “Kennen” is an old English term (also German) meaning “to know.”

April 1972 – NRO approved procurement of the relay satellite for KENNEN.

June 1972 – Hughes Aircraft gets contract for relay satellites 1-3.

Sept 1972 – HEXAGON is transferred to SAFSP, primarily so that ZAMAN could be retained entirely within CIA.

Late 1972 – The area search requirement is given to ZAMAN at instigation of Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Presidential Science Advisor.

20 April 1973 – CIA’s Office of Special Projects becomes OD&E (Office of Development and Engineering).

1974- The CIA’s Office of Special Activities is disbanded and its U-2 aircraft are transferred to Air Force.

1974 – Imaging systems mix study, led up to summer 1974. EXCOM decision for the 1976-80 time frame.

Sept 75 – R.P. Hazzard became Program Director, vice Charles Roth.

Late 1975 – A still-classified effort was terminated by DNRO. Continued in Program B (CIA) at a very low level in 1976 and 77.

Feb 1976 – The first relay satellite completed system test.

June 1976 – The first relay satellite is launched.

Aug 1976 – The second relay satellite is launched.

19 Dec 1976 – The first KENNEN is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

21 Dec 1976 – The first imagery satellite to relay-satellite acquisition.

1977 – The first KH-11 KENNEN satellite is declared operational on January 20, 1977.

14 June 1978 – The second KENNEN is launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Maybe SD is shorthand for DS&T?

You omitted the ground processing (takes the signals from the sensor and creates the images used for intel) and photo production pieces of the ground system in the contractor awards.

[Blackstar]

Maybe SD is shorthand for DS&T?

You omitted the ground processing (takes the signals from the sensor and creates the images used for intel) and photo production pieces of the ground system in the contractor awards.

I was wondering if it was "Space Division."

Where do those contractor awards go? What date? This is mostly from the KENNEN chronology document (I need to post that pdf link), and that part confused me.


Addendum: but you are right to separate out both the processing and the photo reproduction. For many years, the common way to exploit the KH-11 imagery was to print it out as photo positives and look at the images on a light table. Digital manipulation on screens took many years.

[Jim]

Maybe SD is shorthand for DS&T?

You omitted the ground processing (takes the signals from the sensor and creates the images used for intel) and photo production pieces of the ground system in the contractor awards.

I was wondering if it was "Space Division."

they were only white

[ExGeek]

Maybe SD is shorthand for DS&T?

You omitted the ground processing (takes the signals from the sensor and creates the images used for intel) and photo production pieces of the ground system in the contractor awards.

I was wondering if it was "Space Division."

Where do those contractor awards go? What date? This is mostly from the KENNEN chronology document (I need to post that pdf link), and that part confused me.


Addendum: but you are right to separate out both the processing and the photo reproduction. For many years, the common way to exploit the KH-11 imagery was to print it out as photo positives and look at the images on a light table. Digital manipulation on screens took many years.

Should be with the other segments/components in '71 you listed (antennas, etc) I believe.  They were all issued around the same time frame - might have varied by a few months so some might have slipped into '72.  The confusion is probably due to redaction on some of the contractors so the timeline sort of gets lost in the mix in that document.

[Blackstar]

Should be with the other segments/components in '71 you listed (antennas, etc) I believe.  They were all issued around the same time frame - might have varied by a few months so some might have slipped into '72.  The confusion is probably due to redaction on some of the contractors so the timeline sort of gets lost in the mix in that document.

Here it is: 5 segments--relay, IS, C&C, PF and SI. I could not figure out what PF and SI stood for.

I have also attached the KH-11 chronology that provides most of these dates.

One date that I need to add is the invasion of Czechoslovakia, which highlighted the need for near-real-time imagery. If anybody can think of other significant milestones for this time period, please let me know.

[ExGeek]

Should be with the other segments/components in '71 you listed (antennas, etc) I believe.  They were all issued around the same time frame - might have varied by a few months so some might have slipped into '72.  The confusion is probably due to redaction on some of the contractors so the timeline sort of gets lost in the mix in that document.

Here it is: 5 segments--relay, IS, C&C, PF and SI. I could not figure out what PF and SI stood for.

I have also attached the KH-11 chronology that provides most of these dates.

One date that I need to add is the invasion of Czechoslovakia, which highlighted the need for near-real-time imagery. If anybody can think of other significant milestones for this time period, please let me know.

Those were early-on names for the various segments. 
C&C later became the O/F (Operations Facility), responsible for scheduling, tasking, command and control.

PF was Processing Facility, which later became DP/F (Digital Processing Facility) and PP/F (Photo Processing Facility)

SI stands for Systems Integrator or Systems Integration.   That contract isn't a development contract.  Its main purpose was to ensure a consistent set of program requirements, development and maintenance of interface control documents and that the contract deliverables met all of those.

See this post earlier in the thread:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29545.msg2293968#msg2293968

[Blackstar]

Thank you, most helpful.

I believe that General Electric got the processing facility contract.

Something mentioned in the chronology a few times that would be really interesting to learn about is how this new capability affected the interpretation effort at the National Photographic Interpretation Center. With the film systems, they brought in people when the film was processed, and they tended to work around the clock with the initial exploitation. Then they got some down time. But with near-real-time reconnaissance, the imagery was coming into Washington in the middle of the night. Presumably they started hiring people for night shift duty. That also would have increased their personnel requirements.

[ExGeek]

Thank you, most helpful.

I believe that General Electric got the processing facility contract.

Something mentioned in the chronology a few times that would be really interesting to learn about is how this new capability affected the interpretation effort at the National Photographic Interpretation Center. With the film systems, they brought in people when the film was processed, and they tended to work around the clock with the initial exploitation. Then they got some down time. But with near-real-time reconnaissance, the imagery was coming into Washington in the middle of the night. Presumably they started hiring people for night shift duty. That also would have increased their personnel requirements.

I suppose they will declassify the contractor associations at some point.  It's only been 50+ years.

Re: NPIC and analysts, not only was the main haul coming in overnight in DC, it was coming in every night, as opposed to the more sporadic bucket-droppers.

[hoku]

This is what I gathered on segments and contractors from cross-reading the (2021?) doc release:

   Segment
#   Term      Name         Contractor
1   SI   Systems integration      GE (over LMSC/Boeing)
2   I/S   Imaging satellite      LMSC (over GE/Boeing)
3   R/F   Receive facility         GE (over LMSC/Boeing)
4   O/F   Operations facility      GE (over LMSC/Boeing)
5   P/F   Processing facility      E-Systems (over General Dynamics)?
(5)   DP/F   Digital processing facility   BDM Corporation? (Texas based)
(17)   PP/F   Photoprocessing facility
6   O/S   Optics subsystem      Eastman Kodak? (ULE mirror blanks by Corning supported by egg-crate structure)
7   R/S   Relay segment         Hughes Aircraft

Additional contractors:
Term      Subsystem
ACS      Attitude control system
ADCA   Antenna directional control assembly,
      Communications antenna

      Image chain performance program

LIR      Laser image reconstructor      EK (New Jersey based)
OBC      Onboard computer                     Rockwell
SSA      Star sensor assembly                 Bendix/Itek?
TDPS   Transducer data processing subsystem   Fairchild Research and Development Lab?
TWT      Traveling wave tubes
TWTA   Traveling wave tubes amplifier   Hughes Aircraft (Space Group)
      Encryption/decryption system

edit: contractor for OBC (see comment below by LittleBird)
edit2: likely SSA contractor added - see https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474667017671349 and assuming that the redacted program in https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/foia/declass/ForAll/090919/F-2019-00076_C05118665.pdf and https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/foia/declass/ForAll/090919/F-2019-00076_C05118666.pdf is "KENNEN"

[Blackstar]

By coincidence I just came across this:

[LittleBird]

This is what I gathered on segments and contractors from cross-reading the (2021?) doc release:

   Segment
#   Term      Name         Contractor
1   SI   Systems integration      GE (over LMSC/Boeing)
2   I/S   Imaging satellite      LMSC (over GE/Boeing)
3   R/F   Receive facility         GE (over LMSC/Boeing)
4   O/F   Operations facility      GE (over LMSC/Boeing)
5   P/F   Processing facility      E-Systems (over General Dynamics)?
(5)   DP/F   Digital processing facility   BDM Corporation? (Texas based)
(17)   PP/F   Photoprocessing facility
6   O/S   Optics subsystem      Eastman Kodak? (ULE mirror blanks by Corning supported by egg-crate structure)
7   R/S   Relay segment         Hughes Aircraft

Additional contractors:
Term      Subsystem
ACS      Attitude control system
ADCA   Antenna directional control assembly,
      Communications antenna

      Image chain performance program

LIR      Laser image reconstructor      EK (New Jersey based)
OBC      Onboard computer
SSA      Star sensor assembly
TDPS   Transducer data processing subsystem   Fairchild Research and Development Lab?
TWT      Traveling wave tubes
TWTA   Traveling wave tubes amplifier   Hughes Aircraft (Space Group)
      Encryption/decryption system

I think somewhere they also mentioned Rockwell on board computer?

[Blackstar]

Maybe SD is shorthand for DS&T?

You omitted the ground processing (takes the signals from the sensor and creates the images used for intel) and photo production pieces of the ground system in the contractor awards.

I was wondering if it was "Space Division."

they were only white

I think I figured it out--Photo Systems Division, which was created in the CIA's Office of Special Projects. A few months later ZAMAN became "a separate program" in OSP. This was an administrative move.

Note that a number of these events in the 1969-1971 period may be explained in documents released in 2021. I just have not gone through all of them.

[Blackstar]

https://thespacereview.com/article/5003/1

The long road to near-real-time satellite reconnaissance: a chronology
by Dwayne A. Day
Monday, June 9, 2025

In late 1976, the United States Air Force launched a revolutionary top secret satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Known as the KH-11 KENNEN and managed by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), it was the first near-real-time reconnaissance satellite capable of transmitting imagery from around the globe nearly instantaneously. Up to this time, American reconnaissance satellites used film to take their photographs, meaning that it could be days to weeks from when an image was taken to when it was seen by intelligence analysts in Washington.

KENNEN changed that, giving reconnaissance satellites the ability to provide intelligence about events around the world within minutes. Just last week we saw how powerful this capability could be, with commercial satellite images of Russian airfields showing bombers destroyed by Ukrainian drones. It took a few days for that imagery to become public, but US intelligence agencies certainly had better imagery within hours of the attacks, provided by the descendants of the KENNEN satellites launched nearly a half century ago.

[Targeteer]

Just had a near overhead pass of USA-186 according to Heaven' Above and saw a satellite on track, but 3 minutes early, flare brilliantly--near/equal to ISS--near zenith.  It flared again briefly but not as brightly as it continued North.  What a sight.

[Blackstar]

KENNEN has been in operation in some form for nearly fifty years. The U-2 has now reached its 70-year mark and celebrated with a record-breaking flight:

https://dragonladytoday.com/2025/08/03/happy-u-2-birthday-a-record-flight-and-at-least-another-year-of-operations/

The U-2 was scheduled for retirement this year, but that has now been extended by at least another year, and possibly to 2030. The reason is that the combatant commands indicate that they still want the U-2's capabilities. Satellites are insufficient.

[catdlr]

Harry Stranger has completed/updated his aerial/satellite photo website.

This now makes it much easier for anyone to dig through all of my uploads on Soar!

https://soar.earth/profile/spacefromspace

https://x.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1952874834440143138

Soar MapMail | 📬 5th August 2025 | BIGGER profiles & more!

https://x.com/Soar_Earth/status/1952657227170619576

(Please note: the embedded photos that are included in this post were extracted.)

Welcome to the first Twitter Map Mail 📫👋 Normally these go out to our subscribers, but we thought it'd be fun to post them here for everyone to enjoy! This week we're back with a fresh update from the Soar team, packed with platform improvements, a peek at what's coming next, and a few exciting changes you’ll definitely want to check out.
BIGGER profiles!😱

Maps are beautiful and what makes them worth sharing is the way we can easily visualise data and important information. For years now, we've had a handy profile page which catalogued all of your uploads, but some of you may have wanted more - and we agree! 😁

Above is a screenshot from the old profile page, which was a floating window with an expandable list view of all your uploads. It worked and was an easy way for users to get to content. But we felt something was missing. We really wanted people to fully see the details of a map before they clicked in. Our developers have been hard at work and have now improved the experience. 👏

Introducing the new profile page! BIGGER, better, and perfect for anyone looking to use Soar as a host for their map portfolio. Many mappers are proud of their work (as you should be!) so we want to give it the best possible view for anyone checking out your profile. 🔍

What's more, in a future update we plan to add the ability to personalise your page with a custom banner, and other social features we hope you'll love. We want Soar to be a place every mapper wants to build a community on, so come along for the ride.

Making Maps More SOCIAL!🗣
We've also spent some time improving the visibility of the comments section. Before, comments were restricted to the small speech-bubble icon near the likes. Many people didn't know about the ability to comment on a map. So, now you’ll now see the comment section pinned at the bottom of every map page, ready for feedback, questions, or map-loving chatter. 👀

Just tap the yellow speech-bubble icon below it to dive into the discussion and see everyone else's comment. We’re hoping this sparks new connections between creators and viewers alike.

We’re always listening. Tweet us right here (or message us on Bluesky, Linkedin, Instagram) and let us know what features or changes you want to see next. 😎

Find Soar on Instagram! 📸
Finally, we just launched our Instagram page for Soar! Here, we'll be posting some visually striking maps that really catch our eye. If you want some more maps in your feed, give us a follow! It goes a long way in supporting our little team. 💙

Thanks for reading this edition of Map Mail, mappers! We hope these update help make your maps and interactions more fun to experience.👋

As always, you can dive into the world of Soar right here:
https://soar.earth/discover

Until next time!

[Blackstar]

Harry's photos are really from the KH-9 and KH-7, not the KH-11. I say leave that post here, but I thought I should point out that there's no available archive of KH-11 images. However, some KH-11 images were released by the government, and some were also leaked.

[catdlr]

Harry's photos are really from the KH-9 and KH-7, not the KH-11. I say leave that post here, but I thought I should point out that there's no available archive of KH-11 images. However, some KH-11 images were released by the government, and some were also leaked.

I was considering whether to start a special thread just for Harry, but since everyone who enjoys images is here, I thought I'd share it in this thread instead.