Satellite Design

2018 Communications Satellites Breakdown by Mission Segment

The majority of communications satellites deployed in 2018, ##% (##), were for... The majority of communications satellites deployed in 2018, 66% (85), were for commercial purposes (or “missions”). Civil government…

2016 – Military Satellites

Military satellites—spacecraft acquired, launched, and operated by a nation’s military forces—share many of the same mission types used in commercial and civilian applications. Communications, remote sensing, positioning, navigation, and timing…

2015 – U.S. Military Satellites

A military satellite, like its civilian counterpart, can fulfill purposes such as communications or remote sensing. Military satellites also serve unique missions not addressed by civil or commercial services, such…

2010 – U.S. Military Satellites

An unmanned U.S. Air Force space plane, the X-37B, was launched in April 2010 aboard an Atlas V rocket. The X-37B remained in orbit for ## days, testing its capabilities…

2011 – U.S. Military Satellites

In March 2011, the U.S. Air Force launched the ## test flight of the top secret X-37B space plane. Originally scheduled to land after ## days, the mission was extended…

[exhibit:spacecraft-by-mission][/exhibit]

Defining the Satellite Intelligence Collection disciplines.

Definitions of the various intelligence disciplines for an understanding of how they may apply to satellite collection operations. Before talking about reconnaissance satellites one must understand the language of the…