• KH-9 Hexagon Spy Satellite
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    Discoverer XIII demonstrated that objects could be recovered after spaceflights, the basis of NRO reconnaissance systems that culminated in the KH-9 Hexagon, shown here, the last spy satellite to return physical film canisters.  The return buckets can be seen in this photo of the KH-9 Hexagon being raised to vertical. The next version, the KH-11, was digital.

  • KH-9 Hexagon Spy Satellite

ID#:

F15-0088-2

Credit:

<p>U.S. National Reconnaissance Office</p>

Source:

U.S. National Reconnaissance

Owner:

U.S. National Reconnaissance Office

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Contact U.S. National Reconnaissance Office

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