Spying from space : constructing America's satellite command and control systems / David Christopher Arnold ; foreword by Forrest S. McCartney.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Arnold, David Christopher, 1967-

McCartney, Forrest, author of foreword.

Series:

Centennial of flight series ; no. 12.

Centennial of flight series ; no. 12

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Air Force. Satellite Control Facility.

United States.

Space surveillance--United States--History.

Space surveillance.

Command and control systems--United States.

Command and control systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xix, 209 pages) : illustrations.

Edition:

1st edition.

Place of Publication:

College Station, TX : Texas A&M University Press, c2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

On August 14, 1960, a revolution quietly occurred in the reconnaissance capabilities of America. When the Air Force C-119 Flying Boxcar "Pelican 9" caught a bucket returning from space with film from a satellite, the American intelligence community gained access to previously denied information about the Soviet Union. The Corona reconnaissance satellite missions that followed lifted the veil of secrecy from the communist bloc, revealing, among other things, that no "Missile Gap" existed. This revolution in military intelligence could not have occurred without the development of the command and control systems that made the Space Race possible. In "Spying from Space," David Christopher Arnold tells the story of how military officers and civilian contractors built the Air Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) to support the National Reconnaissance Program. The AFSCF also had a unique relationship with the National Reconnaissance Office, a secret organization that the U.S. government officially concealed as late as the 1990s. Like every large technology system, the AFSCF evolved as a result of the interaction of human beings with technology and with each other. "Spying from Space" fills a gap in space history by telling the story of the command and control systems that made rockets and satellites useful. Those interested in space flight or intelligence efforts will benefit from this revealing look into a little-known aspect of American achievement. Those fascinated by how large, complex organizations work will also find this an intriguing study of inter-service rivalries and clashes between military and civilian cultures.

Contents:

""Contents""; ""List of Illustrations""; ""Foreword""; ""Preface""; ""Introduction""; ""1 The Inescapable Premise""; ""2 Of Vital Strategic Importance""; ""3 Getting Off Dead Center""; ""4 Too Many Fingers in the Pie""; ""5 Unbounded Faith""; ""6 The Pressure Cooker""; ""Conclusion""; ""Glossary of Acronyms""; ""Notes""; ""Bibliography""; ""Index""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-202) and index.

ISBN:

1-60344-399-1

OCLC:

698586538