Information on CORONA Spy Satellite Cameras
More than 860,000 photo images of the Earth's surface taken by the CORONA and similar spy satellites were declassified in 1995. The photos were taken by the CORONA, ARGON, and LANYARD spy satellites from 1960 to 1972.
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CORONA's Purpose
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The CORONA space reconnaissance spy satellite project was created in order to confirm developments in the Soviet Union's strategic missile capabilities. Secondarily, the photo images were used to produce maps and charts for the United States Department of Defense.
Functions
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CORONA space satellites were built by Lockheed Space Systems for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the United States Air Force. The CORONA utilized a 70-degree panoramic camera developed by Itek using Eastman Kodak film. Among the successful functions served by CORONA were the identification and monitoring of Soviet atomic weapon storage installations and Chinese missile launch sites, monitoring of Soviet compliance with the SALT I Treaty, and identification of the Soviet Union's assistance in nuclear weapons development to the People's Republic of China.
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Retrieval of Photo Images
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CORONA film capsules were retrieved while deorbiting (mid-air) by specially equipped spacecraft. Early CORONA systems carried only one panoramic camera while later CORONA satellites (such as the KH-4, KH-4A, and KH-4B) carried two cameras.
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