Pike said the satellite was the third
of three Mercury spacecraft.
Other experts added that the
satellite probably was intended
to monitor troublespots
includingIndia, Pakistan, the
Middle East and Russia.
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is a U.S. agency that
oversees the construction and operation of several expensive,
sophisticated and allegedly "top secret" spy satellites.
So much for secrets in the age of the Internet.
Although NRO spokesmen said virtually nothing about the $700
million to $800 million satellite that blew up last week in
the Titan
IVA explosion at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., John
Pike of the Federation of American Scientists and other experts
supplied numerous details, which the NRO has neither confirmed
nor
denied. But the data appears to be accurate, government sources
have
said privately.
Pike told Space Business News that a so-called Mercury
signal-intelligence satellite, one of several developed by the
Air Force, was the payload that blew up with the Titan. The
Mercury uses a mammoth antenna, which has a diameter of
328 feet, to intercept broadcast transmissions.
Pike said the satellite was the third
of three Mercury spacecraft.
Other experts added that the
satellite probably was intended
to monitor troublespots
includingIndia, Pakistan, the
Middle East and Russia.
Under new boss Keith Hall, the NRO
has attempted to be more open in
discussing aspects of its mission but
draws the line when satellites go up.
The NRO's silence, however, clearly
is not enough to keep the Mercury in
the dark.
NRO At A Glance
Established in the 1960s to build and operate spy satellites.
Accused by Congress in the mid-1990s
of mishandling funds and
underwent a major shake-up.
Got a new director in 1996 when
Keith Hall took over. Hall also
is the assistant secretary for
space for the Air Force.
Source: SBN Files
Question: Are the satellites considered
male or female?
Answer: When the are working, they're
neutral; when they fail, they're female.
But then I'll bet you already figured that one out--considering most
engineers are male.
