Yes, Thanks for binging that up!drnayar wrote: ↑24 Jul 2025 13:10 ..as someone said., the US optical spy sats [ KeyHole 11 or KH11 ] are similar to Hubble satellites , have mirrors comparable in size to Hubble's (2.4 meters) and utilize similar electro-optical digital imaging, KH11s are bigger as well..looking in the other direction .. and there are quite a few of them.. one can just imagine how much each would cost!
It’s well-known (though not officially confirmed by the U.S. government
) that the KH-11 series, especially the later “CRYSTAL” have mirror sizes around 2.4 meters, just like Hubble... same designs as Hubble’s Ritchey–Chrétien telescope, but pointed down at Earth instead of out into space!Electro-optical imaging sensors for real-time or near-real-time digital imagery.. (as opposed to old film-return satellites as it was common in 1970''s).
Fun fact: in 2012, two spare Hubble-class telescopes were donated by the NRO (National Reconnaissance Office) to NASA—proof that these spy satellites are indeed Hubble’s secret twins.
Later KH-11s are thought to have longer focal lengths, enabling ultra-high resolution (estimates range from 10–15 cm GSD—ground sample distance).
Yes we can imagine cost is astronomical..
These systems form the backbone of U.S. strategic intelligence gathering ..
In some ways, the U.S. has had “Google Earth-level” resolution (and far better) decades before it became public tech.
(Added: Per Google: KH-11 satellites have been launched regularly since 1976, with the most recent ones in 2021 and 2022, as part of the Evolved Enhanced CRYSTAL class under the NROL (National Reconnaissance Office Launch) missions. They represent the U.S.’s most advanced optical reconnaissance capability.