KH-7 Gambit

Codenamed Gambit, the KH-7 (Air Force Program 206) was a reconnaissance satellite used by the United States from July 1963 to June 1967. Like the older CORONA system, it acquired imagery intelligence by taking photographs and returning the undeveloped film to earth. It achieved a typical ground-resolution of 2 ft (0.61 m) to 3 ft (0.91 m).[1] Though most of the imagery from the KH-7 satellites was declassified in 2002, details of the satellite program (and the satellite's construction) remained classified till 2011.[2]

Contents

System Configuration

A feasibility study for the Geodesic Optical Photographic Satellite System reveals three subsystems for US optical reconnaissance satellites in the 1960s: the Orbital (or Orbiting) Control Vehicle (OCV), the Data Collection Module (DCM), and the Recovery Section (RS).[3] For the KH-7, the DCM is also called the Camera Optics Module (COM), and is integrated in the OCV, which has a length of 5.5 m (18 ft) and a diameter of 1.52 m (5 ft 0 in).[4]

Camera Optics Module

The Camera Optics Module of KH-7 consists of three cameras: a single strip camera, a stellar camera, and an index camera.

In the strip camera the ground image is reflected by a steerable flat mirror to a 1.21 m (48 in) diameter stationary concave primary mirror. The primary mirror reflects the light through an opening in the flat mirror and through a Ross corrector. It took images of a 6.3 degree wide ground swath by exposing a 22 cm (8.7 in) wide moving portion of film through a small slit aperture.[5][6] The initial ground resolution of the satellite was 1.2 meters (4 ft), but improved to 0.6 m (2 ft) by 1966. Each satellite weighed about 2000 kg, and returned a single film bucket per mission. The KH-7 was manufactured by Lockheed. The camera and film transport system were manufactured by Eastman Kodak Company.[6]

The index camera is a copy of cameras systems previously used in the KH-4 and KH-6 satellites, and takes exposures of Earth in direction of the vehicle roll position for attitude determination. The stellar camera takes images of star fields with a reseau grid being superimposed on the image plane.[5] The S/I camera was provided by Itek, are horizon sensors were provided by Barnes Engineering Co.[1]

Orbital Control Vehicle and Recovery Vehicle

The primary contractor for the Orbital Control Vehicle and the Recovery Vehicle was General Electric.[1]

Mission

All KH-7 satellites were launched from Point Arguello, which became part of Vandenberg Air Force Base in July 1964. KH-7 satellites flew 38 missions, numbered 4001-4038, of which 34 returned film, and of these, 30 returned usable imagery. Mission duration was 1 to 8 days.[7] KH-7 satellites logged a total of almost 170 operational days in orbit.[1]

Functionality

A high-resolution instrument, the KH-7 took detailed pictures of "hot spots" and most of its photographs are of Chinese and Soviet nuclear and missile installations, with smaller amounts of coverage of cities and harbors.[8] Most of the imagery from this camera, amounting to 19,000 images, was declassified in 2002 as a result of Executive order 12951,[9] the same order which declassified CORONA, and copies of the films were transferred to the U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation Systems office.[10] Approximately 100 frames covering the state of Israel remain classified.[11]

The later KH-8 also used the Gambit codename.

ELINT subsatellite

Mission 4009 included an ELINT P-11 subsatellite for radar monitoring, which was launched into a higher orbit.[12][13]

List of launches

Name Mission No. Launch Date Alt. Name NSSDC ID No. Launch Vehicle Perigee (km) Apogee (km) Inclination (deg)
KH7-1 4001 1963-07-12 OPS-1467 1963-028A Atlas Agena D 164 164 95.4
KH7-2 4002 1963-09-06 OPS-1947 1963-036A Atlas Agena D 168 263 94.4
KH7-3 4003 1963-10-25 OPS-2196 1963-041A Atlas Agena D 144 332 99.1
KH7-4 4004 1963-12-18 OPS-2372 1963-051A Atlas Agena D 122 266 97.9
KH7-5 4005 1964-02-25 OPS-2423 1964-009A Atlas Agena D 173 190 95.7
KH7-6 4006 1964-03-11 OPS-3435 1964-012A Atlas Agena D 163 203 95.8
KH7-7 4007 1964-04-23 OPS-3743 1964-020A Atlas Agena D 150 366 103.6
KH7-8 4008 1964-05-19 OPS-3592 1964-024A Atlas Agena D 141 380 101.1
KH7-9 4009 1964-07-06 OPS-3684 1964-036A Atlas Agena D 121 346 92.9
KH7-10 4010 1964-08-14 OPS-3802 1964-045A SLV-3 Agena D 149 307 95.5
KH7-11 4011 1964-09-23 OPS-4262 1964-058A SLV-3 Agena D 145 303 92.9
KH7-12 4012 1964-10-08 OPS-4036 1964-F11 SLV-3 Agena D --- --- ---
KH7-13 4013 1964-10-23 OPS-4384 1964-068A Atlas Agena D 139 271 88.6
KH7-14 4014 1964-12-04 OPS-4439 1964-079A SLV-3 Agena D 158 357 97
KH7-15 4015 1965-01-23 OPS-4703 1965-005A SLV-3 Agena D 146 291 102.5
KH7-16 4016 1965-03-12 OPS-4920 1965-019A SLV-3 Agena D 93 155 0.0
KH7-17 4017 1965-04-28 OPS-4983 1965-031A SLV-3 Agena D 180 259 95.7
KH7-18 4018 1965-05-27 OPS-5236 1965-041A SLV-3 Agena D 149 267 95.8
KH7-19 4019 1965-06-25 OPS-5501 1965-050B SLV-3 Agena D 151 283 107.6
KH7-20 4020 1965-07-12 OPS-5810 1965-F07 SLV-3 Agena D --- --- ---
KH7-21 4021 1965-08-03 OPS-5698 1965-062A SLV-3 Agena D 149 307 107.5
KH7-22 4022 1965-09-30 OPS-7208 1965-076A SLV-3 Agena D 98 164 95.6
KH7-23 4023 1965-11-08 OPS-6232 1965-090B SLV-3 Agena D 145 277 93.9
KH7-24 4024 1966-01-19 OPS-7253 1966-002A SLV-3 Agena D 150 269 93.9
KH7-25 4025 1966-02-15 OPS-1184 1966-012A SLV-3 Agena D 148 293 96.5
KH7-26 4026 1966-03-18 OPS-0879 1966-022A SLV-3 Agena D 162 208 101
KH7-27 4027 1966-04-19 OPS-0910 1966-032A SLV-3 Agena D 139 312 116.9
KH7-28 4028 1966-05-14 OPS-1950 1966-039A SLV-3 Agena D 133 358 10.5
KH7-29 4029 1966-06-03 OPS-1577 1966-048A SLV-3 Agena D 143 288 86.9
KH7-30 4030 1966-07-12 OPS-1850 1966-062A SLV-3 Agena D 137 236 95.5
KH7-31 4031 1966-08-16 OPS-1832 1966-074A SLV-3 Agena D 146 358 93.3
KH7-32 4032 1966-09-16 OPS-1686 1966-083A SLV-3 Agena D 148 333 93.9
KH7-33 4033 1966-10-12 OPS-2055 1966-090A SLV-3 Agena D 155 287 91
KH7-34 4034 1966-11-02 OPS-2070 1966-098A SLV-3 Agena D 159 305 91
KH7-35 4035 1966-12-05 OPS-1890 1966-109A SLV-3 Agena D 137 388 104.6
KH7-36 4036 1967-02-02 OPS-4399 1967-007A SLV-3 Agena D 136 357 102.4
KH7-37 4037 1967-05-22 OPS-4321 1967-050A SLV-3 Agena D 135 293 91.5
KH7-38 4038 1967-06-04 OPS-4360 1967-055A SLV-3 Agena D 149 456 104.8

(NSSDC ID Numbers: See COSPAR)

History

Section source: Space Review[6]

In early 1963, the GAMBIT program began with failures. The first test launch was in May 1963 with an Atlas-Agena D launch vehicle on a pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The non-operational payload simulating a GAMBIT satellite was atop the Atlas and failed its launch with an accident.

The first successful GAMBIT mission was launched on July 12, 1963. Another Atlas-Agena D was used at Vandenberg. The Atlas rocket performed properly and when the fuel was exhausted it fell into the Pacific Ocean south of Vandenberg. The Agena’s Bell second-stage rocket engine then fired and put Gambit into polar orbit with a 102-mile (189 kilometers) altitude. The Air Force designated this mission number 4001.

Aerospace Corporation recommended that, during GAMBIT’s first flights, the Orbital Control Vehicle (OCV) should remain attached to the Agena. This was a proven successful process for other Agena tests; and whereas the OCV was not. This decision limited GAMBIT's functionality, meaning that photographs could only be taken of targets directly below the vehicle. Once the successful photographic phase of the mission 4002 was completed, the OVC and the Agena was separated and the reentry vehicle would come down into the ocean northwest of Hawaii. The re-entry vehicle was caught in mid-air with a C-130 Hercules aircraft. The film canister was then immedidately transported to Eastman Kodak's Hawkeye facility in Rochester, New York for processing.[14] The developed results was sent to USAF imagery research analysts in Washington, DC.

GAMBIT mission 4003, was successfully launched on October 25, 1963. The film canister was again ejected successfully after the photographic phase and the capsule recovered by an aircraft. Other tests was carried out with the OCV.

GAMBIT mission 4004 was successfully launched and film canister recovered on December 18, 1963. Missions 4005 thru 4007 were also successful.

In May 1964 mission 4008 suffered major problems when the Agena did an unexplained roll during the boost phase. Even with OCV system problems, the film canister was able to return some imagery.

A variety of problems occurred with many of the remaining missions, with 2 ending with complete failure, and some with satellite placement but no imagery returned.

The KH-7 GAMBIT was an overall success, even with some failures; thus providing National Reconnaissance Office and the President with quality intelligence collection. Following KH projects had greatly improved major upgrades in the spacecraft and its camera systems.

Cost

The total cost of the 38 flight KH-7 program from FY1963 to FY1967, without non-recurring costs, and excluding five GAMBIT cameras sold to NASA, was US$ 651.4 million in 1963 dollars (inflation adjusted US$ 4.67 billion present day).[15] Non-recurring costs for industrial facilities, development, and one-time support amounted to 24.3% of the total program cost, or US$ 209.1 million. The resulting total program costs were US$ 860.5 million in 1963 dollars (inflation adjusted US$ 6.17 billion present day).[1]

Other U.S. imaging spy satellites

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Summary Analysis of Program 206 (GAMBIT)". National Reconnaissance Office. 1967-08-29. http://www.nro.gov/foia/declass/GAMHEX/GAMBIT/2.PDF. 
  2. ^ Flashlights in the dark, The Space Review
  3. ^ "Fesibility Study Final Report: Geodetic Optical Photographic Satellite System, Volume 2 Data Collection System". National Reconnaissance Office. 1966-06. http://www.nro.gov/foia/CAL-Records/Cabinet4/DrawerE/4%20E%200008.pdf. Retrieved 2010-12-19. 
  4. ^ Day, Dwayne A. (2010-11-29). "Black Apollo". www.thespacereview.com. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1734/1. Retrieved 2010-12-17. 
  5. ^ a b "KH-7 Camera System- Part I". National Photographic Intepretation Center. 1963-07. http://www.nro.gov/history/csnr/gambhex/index.html. 
  6. ^ a b c Day, Dwayne A. (2010-11-29). "Ike’s gambit: The development and operations of the KH-7 and KH-8 spy satellites". www.thespacereview.com. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1279/1. Retrieved 2009-01-25. 
  7. ^ "NRO review and redaction guide (2006 ed.)". National Reconnaissance Office. http://www.fas.org/irp/nro/declass.pdf. 
  8. ^ NARA ARC database description of "Keyhole-7 (KH-7) Satellite Imagery, 07/01/1963 - 06/30/1967", accession number NN3-263-02-011
  9. ^ "National Archives Releases Recently Declassified Satellite Imagery". National Archives and Records Administration press release. 2002-10-09. http://www.archives.gov/press/press-releases/2003/nr03-02.html. 
  10. ^ edc.usgs.gov
  11. ^ "Historical imagery declassification". National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/nga01/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&itemID=5b08f8d62404af00VgnVCMServer23727a95RCRD&beanID=1629630080&viewID=FAQ. 
  12. ^ "1964-036B". NASA National Space Science Data Center. 2010-10-08. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=1964-036B. 
  13. ^ Day, Dwayne (2009-04-27). "Robotic ravens: American ferret satellite operations during the Cold War". thespacereview.com. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1360/1. 
  14. ^ "National Reconnaissance Office Review and Redaction Guide: Appendix C - Glossary of Code Words and Terms". National Reconnaissance Office. 2008. http://nro.gov/foia/NRO_RRG_redacted.PDF. 
  15. ^ "The GAMBIT story". National Reconnaissance Office. 1991-06. http://www.nro.gov/foia/declass/GAMBHEX.html. 

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