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Key Hole (KH)
The name used by the intelligence community for various series of United States PHOTINT military reconnaissance satellites. Missions in the Corona series, for example, were designated KH-1 to KH-4B. Argon missions were known as KH-5 and Lanyard as KH-6. More recent launches with Key Hole designations, including KH-11 and KH-12, remain classified.
| Designation | Other name(s) | Time period | Notes |
| KH-1 to KH-4 | Corona | 1959-1972 | First series of US spy satellites; photos returned by film cannister ejection |
| KH-5 | Argon | 1961-1964 | Film return |
| KH-6 | Lanyard | 1963 | Film return; camera from Samos program |
| KH-7 | Gambit | 1963-1967 | Film return |
| KH-8 | Gambit | 1966-1984 | Film return |
| KH-9 | Hexagon; Big Bird | 1971-1986 | Film return |
| KH-10 | Dorian | cancelled | Manned Orbiting Laboratory |
| KH-11 | Crystal; Kennan | 1976-1995 | First known digital imaging spy satellite |
| KH-12 | Ikon; Improved Crystal | 1990-present | Digital imaging; possible live intelligence gathering |
| KH-13 | EIS? | 1999-present | Stealth technology? Possible radar imaging |
Related categories
• MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE AND SURVEILLANCE
• SATELLITES AND SPACE PROBES
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