KH-9 HEXAGON and KH-7/8 GAMBIT spysats

[Winston]

KH-9 HEXAGON and KH-7/8 GAMBIT spysats





The flight of the Big Bird (part 1)
The origins, development, and operations of the KH-9 HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/1761/1
The flight of the Big Bird (part 2)
The origins, development, and operations of the KH-9 HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/1774/1
HEXAGON KH-9 Reconnaissance Satellite at the National Museum of the USAF

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/V...195921/hexagon-kh-9-reconnaissance-satellite/
GAMBIT 3 KH-8 Reconnaissance Satellite at the National Museum of the USAF

https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/V...95922/gambit-3-kh-8-reconnaissance-satellite/
Here's an NRO page with all kinds of goodies. All images we are allowed to see are degraded according to Dr. James Outzen of the NRO in the second video above where he gave the resolution of GAMBIT as better than one foot while the post-declassification brochure about it says only better than two feet. An "oops"?:

The GAMBIT and HEXAGON Programs

The declassification of GAMBIT and HEXAGON was publicly announced on September 17, 2011. Two GAMBIT systems were developed for surveillance of specific targets. GAMBIT 1 initially launched in 1963 and was equipped with the KH-7 camera systems. GAMBIT 3 followed in 1966 and was equipped with the KH-8 camera system. The HEXAGON system was launched in 1971 and was developed for wide-area searches of denied territory. Together these satellites became America's eyes in space.

https://www.nro.gov/History-and-Stu...connaissance/The-GAMBIT-and-HEXAGON-Programs/

 

[OverTheTop]

There is a 1/4 scale model of the film transport mechanism at the Smithsonian in DC. It is really a mechanical wonder of engineering given the relatively archaic electronics used and the capability and quality of images produced. Keep an eye out for it when you visit.

 

[Sooner Boomer]

First video - "Meeting the Challence"???

 

[OverTheTop]

Found the details of a book I have on the Keyhole KH-9.
https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/book/10.2514/4.102042
Keep in mind that the film feed reels need to contrarotate so as to not upset the dynamics if the satellite. The satellites photographed in stereo so there were two complete camera systems. Both cameras also contrarotated for the same reason, as did the takeup reels in the film return capsules.
The two reels, feed and takeup, also have to rotate at different speeds depending on how much film is on the reel. IIRC a full reel was 3000 feet of film. A very clever mechanism was designed so all the rates could be balanced. I think the film rate was 204 inches per second maximum. Lots of cleverness in getting the film to follow the rotating camera without smearing, as well as backing up at the correct time, with each rotation of the camera, so film wasn't wasted.

https://www.osa-opn.org/home/articl...013/features/spy_in_the_sky_the_kh-9_hexagon/
https://spie.org/news/spie-professi...ober/hexagon-kh-9-meeting-the-challenge?SSO=1
Remember that Hubble Space Telescope is a Keyhole-class satellite. These satellites are the size of a bus.